Daily News Analysis

The Hindu Important News Articles & Editorial For UPSC CSE
Thursday, May 30, 2024

Edition: International Table of Contents

Page 9 Open access is crucial for
Syllabus : GS: 3 [Science and self-reliance in science
Tech]
Page 10 An overview of the AMRUT
Syllabus : GS: 2 [Governance] scheme

Page 12 S&P revises outlook on

Syllabus : GS 3 : [Indian India’s sovereign rating to
Economy] positive
Syllabus : Prelims : [Important WTO’s 13th Ministerial
Global Conference] Conference

Syllabus : Prelims : Location In Humboldt Glacier

News

Page 8 : Editorial Analysis: Dispelling population

Syllabus: GS 2: Governance : myths triggered by a
Government Scheme/Policies working paper
Topic:
Mapping Physical Divisions of
Europe
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Page 9 : GS 3 : Science and Tech
The State of Scientific Research in India:
India’s Scientific
Progress: India has
made significant strides
in scientific research,
ranking third globally in
research output and
eleventh in quality
according to the Nature
Index. However, the ease
of doing science in India
is hampered by a lack of
robust infrastructure and
resources.

Growth of Universities:
The number of
universities in India
increased from 760 in
2014 to 1,113 in 2021.
Despite this growth,
many universities lack
essential resources such
as instrumental access,
sophisticated labs, and
access to scientific
literature.
I-STEM Initiative: The I-
STEM initiative aims to
bridge the resource gap
by cataloguing all
publicly funded research
facilities nationwide and
making them available to researchers based on need.
The Issue of Access to Scientific Literature:
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One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS): The ONOS proposal aims to make scientific journals
universally available to all publicly funded institutions in India. However, the cost of accessing these
commercial journals is high, with Indian institutions spending an estimated ?1,500 crore annually.
Limited Reach of Subscription: The benefits of this expenditure are reaped by only a few top
institutes, leaving many others without access to crucial scientific literature.
Negotiations with Publishers: The government is currently negotiating with five major commercial
publishers who dominate the market to implement ONOS.
Open Access and its Implications:
Shift Towards Open Access (OA): A significant portion of scholarly articles is now available via OA,
which provides free online access to articles. The fraction of OA publications globally increased from
38% in 2018 to 50% in 2022.
International Push for OA: Major countries like the U.S. and the European Union, as well as
philanthropic funding sources such as the Wellcome Trust, have mandated OA for the research they
fund.
Questioning the Need for ONOS: Given the increasing availability of free content, the necessity
and efficiency of paying for a unified, costly subscription like ONOS is being questioned.
Challenges and Solutions:
Long-term Preservation of Content: A recent study found that approximately 28% of academic
journal articles with DOIs appear entirely unpreserved, suggesting a risk of these research papers
vanishing from the Internet.
Green Open Access: This practice allows authors to deposit a version of their work in a university
repository, making it freely accessible to everyone globally. Indian funding agencies have mandated
green OA for a long time, but enforcement has been lacking.
Self-reliance in Scientific Publishing: To become self-reliant, India needs to improve its own
journal system, with no burden of payment to authors or readers. With its capabilities in digital
technology, India should also become a pioneer for the global south by creating and sharing digital
public infrastructure for low-cost, high-quality scientific publishing.
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Page 10 : GS 2 – Governance – Government policies – Issues
arising out of their design & implementation.
Around 36% of India’s population is living in cities and by 2047 it will be more than 50%. The World Bank estimates
that around $840 billion is required to fund the bare minimum urban infrastructure over the next 15 years.

About AMRUT Scheme

It is a flagship urban development scheme launched by the Government of India in June 2015.
 Daily News Analysis
The mission is being operated as a Central Sponsored Scheme.
Aim: To provide basic urban infrastructure to improve the quality of life in cities and towns.
Objectives:
o Ensure that every household has access to a tap with an assured water supply and a sewerage
connection.
o Increase the green areas in the cities.
o Reduce pollution by promoting public transport and constructing facilities for non-motorized
transport.
Funding: It is divided among States/UTs in an equitable formula in which 50:50 weightage.
The Mission covers 500 cities including all cities and towns with a population of over one lakh with
notified Municipalities.
Revenue Set Aside for the Scheme:
o AMRUT 1.0: Total outlay was ₹50,000 crore for five years from FY 2015-16 to FY 2019-20.
o AMRUT 2.0: Total outlay is ₹2,99,000 crore, with a central outlay of ₹76,760 crore for five
years, starting from October 1, 2021.

Conclusion of the article: The need to take a balanced approach combining holistic urban planning,
enhanced city participation, empowerment of local bodies, nature-based solutions, climate-responsive
strategies, and a strong public health focus is essential for sustainable urban development.
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Page : 12- GS 3: Indian Economy
Introduction:
S&P Global Ratings revised India’s outlook from ‘stable’ to ‘positive’. The agency maintained its
long-term unsolicited foreign and local currency sovereign credit rating at ‘BBB-’ and short-term
rating at ‘A-3’.
This revision is underpinned by expectations of
continued policy stability, deepening economic reforms,
and significant infrastructure investment, which S&P
believes will sustain India’s long-term growth prospects.

Conditions for Rating Upgrade:

Fiscal and Monetary Improvements
o S&P indicated that it might raise India’s ratings if
fiscal deficits narrow significantly, leading to a
reduction in general government debt to below
7% of GDP on a structural basis.
o India’s weak fiscal settings have been a major
vulnerability. An improvement in the central
bank’s monetary policy effectiveness and
credibility, resulting in lower inflation, could also
lead to a rating upgrade.
Fiscal Consolidation Path
o S&P acknowledged that India’s economic
recovery post-COVID-19 has enabled the government to outline a gradual path to fiscal
consolidation.
o Increased public investment in infrastructure is expected to boost economic growth, which,
coupled with fiscal adjustments, could alleviate the country’s weak public finances.
Growth Projections and Fiscal Challenges:

Economic Recovery and Growth Rates

o India’s economy has shown a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with an average
real GDP growth of 8.1% annually over the past three years, the highest in the Asia-Pacific
region.
o S&P expects this momentum to continue, with GDP growth projected at around 7% annually
over the next three years. This growth is likely to moderate the debt-to-GDP ratio despite
ongoing fiscal deficits.
Long-Term Prospects and Risks
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o Continued policy stability, economic reforms, and infrastructure investment are expected to
sustain India’s long-term growth. S&P suggests that cautious fiscal and monetary policies
that reduce debt and interest burdens while enhancing economic resilience could lead to a
higher rating within the next 24 months.
Potential Downside Risks
o S&P cautioned that India’s outlook could be downgraded to stable if there is a weakening in
the political commitment to maintaining sustainable public finances, which would signify a
deterioration in the country’s institutional capacity.

Prelims : Important Global Conference : WTO’s 13th

Ministerial Conference
The 13th Ministerial Conference
(MC13) of the World Trade
Organization (WTO) convened in Abu
Dhabi, UAE, from February 26 to March
2, drawing participation from 166
member countries.
The conference culminated in the
adoption of a ministerial declaration
outlining a reform agenda to bolster
the WTO’s role in regulating global
trade and facilitating seamless cross-border commerce.

Key Decisions at MC13

Dispute Settlement System: Member countries reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a fully
functional dispute settlement system by 2024.
Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT): Emphasis was placed on enhancing the utilization of
S&DT provisions to support the development objectives of developing and least developed
countries (LDCs).
Challenges to Multilateral Trading Order
Rising Protectionism: Developed economies, amid growing domestic pressures, have exhibited a
propensity towards protectionist policies, challenging the prevailing globalized trade paradigm.
Supply Chain Disruptions: Ongoing conflicts and sanctions have disrupted global supply chains,
necessitating a reassessment of trade norms to ensure resilience and efficiency.
Development Disparities: Concerns persist regarding the equitable treatment of nations, with
attention directed towards mitigating disparities between richer nations and LDCs.
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India’s Approach
Public Stockholding (PSH) Programme: India advocated for a resolution concerning the PSH
program, crucial for ensuring food security. The program enables the procurement and distribution
of essential food grains to millions of beneficiaries at subsidized rates.
Fisheries Subsidies: India proposed measures to regulate fisheries subsidies, advocating for
support to poor fishermen within national waters while curbing subsidies for industrial fishing in
international waters.
E-commerce Customs Duties: India pressed for the removal of the moratorium on customs duties
for cross-border e-commerce, citing the need to safeguard revenue generation in the digital trade
landscape.
Outcomes
Agriculture: MC13 witnessed the formulation of a text addressing agricultural issues, marking a
significant milestone after decades of negotiations.
Fisheries: Progress towards consensus on fisheries regulations was noted, with expectations of
finalization by mid-year.
E-commerce Duties: Despite efforts, the exemption from customs duties for e-commerce
transactions was extended for an additional two years, disappointing several developing economies.
Conclusion
The outcomes of MC13 underscore the imperative for collaborative efforts to address pressing
challenges in global trade.
While strides were made in certain areas such as agriculture and fisheries, unresolved issues
surrounding e-commerce and development disparities persist.
As nations navigate the evolving trade landscape, sustained dialogue and concerted action are
essential to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth worldwide.
 Daily News Analysis
Prelims : Location In News : Humboldt Glacier
Recently, Venezuela has become the first country to
likely lose all its glaciers due to climate change.
The last remaining glacier, Humboldt, has shrunk
significantly and is now classified as an ice field.
Venezuela used to be home to six glaciers (5 of them
vanished by 2011), located about 5,000 metres above
sea level in the Andes mountains.
The Andes mountains, have experienced significant
temperature increases, accelerating glacier melt.

o These are the mountain

systems of South America with
an average height of 8,900
kilometres.
o It ranges from the southern tip
of South America to the
continent’s northernmost
coast on the Caribbean
covering parts of Argentina,
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The 2023 El Nino event further intensified melting in the Humboldt Glacier.
Similar to Venezuela, many glaciers worldwide are disappearing faster than expected, with two-
thirds of total glaciers projected to vanish by 2100, according to a 2023 study.
Hindukush Himalayan glaciers also face a major threat, potentially losing 80% of their volume by
2100 if greenhouse gas emissions remain high.

About Humboldt Glacier

It is also known as Sermersuaq Glacier, which is one of the major glaciers in northern Greenland. It
borders the Kane Basin in North West Greenland.
It holds the distinction of being the widest tidewater glacier in the Northern Hemisphere.
The standard size for an area to be considered a glacier is approximately 10 hectares.
The Humboldt glacier in Venezuela has diminished to less than 2 hectares in size, prompting a
downgrade in its classification from a glacier to an ice field.
 Daily News Analysis
Page : 08 Editorial Analysis

GS Paper 02 : Governance : Government Scheme/Policies

PYQ: (UPSC CSE (M) 2020): Demographic Dividend in India will remain only theoretical unless our

manpower becomes more educated, aware, skilled, and creative.” What measures have been taken

by the government to enhance the capacity of our population to be more productive and
employable?

Practice Question: India is on the right side of demographic transition that provides a golden

opportunity for its rapid socio-economic development, if policymakers align the developmental

policies with this demographic shift. Discuss. (250 words/15m)

 Daily News Analysis
Context:
The working paper released by the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to the Prime Minister makes an
erroneous assertion regarding the growth of the Muslim population.

Composition of the Population of various communities highlighted by EAC:

Absolute Increase in Population (1950-2015): Hindu population grew by 701 million. The Muslim
population increased by 146 million.
Proportional Changes: The proportion of Hindus in the population fell by 6.64 percentage points
(from 84.7% in 1950 to 78.06% in 2015). The proportion of Muslims increased by 4.25 percentage
points (from 9.84% in 1950 to 14.09% in 2015).
Despite these changes, the Muslim population remains significantly smaller compared to the Hindu
population.
What does the 2011 census say?
The proportion of the Hindu population to the total population in 2011 declined by 0.7 percentage
points (PP); the proportion of the Sikh population declined by 0.2 PP and the Buddhist population
declined by 0.1 PP during the decade 2001-2011.
The proportion of the Muslim population to the total population has increased by 0.8 PP. There has
been no significant change in the proportion of Christians & Jains.
Issue of Misinterpretation and Sensationalism of Data:
Misleading Media Reports: Many media reports and politicians have sensationalized the findings
of the EAC-PM working paper inaccurately suggesting that the Muslim population in India is
growing rapidly while posing a threat to the Hindu population.
o Such interpretations contribute to a divisive political narrative and misinform the public about
population issues.
Limitations of the Paper: The working paper itself states that understanding changes in religious
demography is a multivariate phenomenon. However, the paper does not contain sufficient
evidence to support this claim.
The true story behind this Data:
Influence of Socio-Economic Factors: Population growth is significantly influenced by socio-
economic conditions such as education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Higher fertility
rates in a community often reflect lower levels of socio-economic development rather than religious
factors.
Policies and Development Indicators: The Muslim community in India has a higher population
growth rate primarily because it lags in some of the Population and Marriage policies that affect
socio-economic development indicators as compared to the Hindu community.
Need for Exact Data:
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Contextual Analysis: Detailed analysis is essential to avoid misinterpretation of demographic
changes. Understanding the multi-faceted reasons behind population changes requires considering
socio-economic, cultural, and political factors.
Religious Composition: According to the Pew Research Center (2021), the proportion of India’s six
largest religious groups has remained relatively stable since Partition.
Fertility Rates: Recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS) rounds indicate significant declines in
Muslim fertility rates.
Conclusion: Accurate and comprehensive analysis is necessary to understand population trends and
avoid fueling divisive narratives.
 Daily News Analysis
Mapping : Physical Divisions of Europe
Physical Divisions of Europe

1. Western Upland
2. North European Plain
3. Central Uplands or Plateau
4. Alpine Mountain Systems
5. Islands of Europe
6. Drainage Pattern
7. Gulfs and Bays

Islands of Europe

As surrounded by a number of seas from all

sides, Europe is an island rich continent. The
British Isles is the largest and the most important
group of islands consisting of England, Scotland,
and Ireland.

Largest European islands by area are as follows:

Great Britain
Iceland
Ireland
Severny Island
Spitsbergen
Yuzhny Island
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Sicily
Sardinia
Nordaustlandet
Cyprus

Peninsula

Europe’s main peninsulas are the Iberian,

Italian, and Balkan, located in southern Europe,
and the Scandinavian and Jutland, located in
northern Europe.
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Drainage Pattern

The rivers of Europe are perennial being fed by melting snow or by the rain brought by the
Westerlies.
Many of them have their origin in the Alps.
Rivers that flow into the Mediterranean Sea are Rhone (France) and Ebro (Spain).
River Po of Italy flows into the Adriatic Sea.
The Danube, Dnieper, and Don flow into the Black Sea.
Rivers that flow into the Atlantic Ocean are – Guadalquivir (Spain), Tagus and Douro (Portugal), Loire
and Seine (France), The Rhine Weser and Elbe (Germany)
Many rivers flow into the Baltic Sea.
The Thames, the chief river of England, flows into the English Channel.
Rhine and Danube are international rivers because they pass through many countries.

The Rhine starts from the Alps in Switzerland and flows northwards through Germany and enters
the sea through Holland. It passes through heavily industrialized regions and is used for
transporting heavy goods. It is the busiest waterway in Europe. Rotterdam, the largest part of
Europe, is on its delta.
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The Danube is also an international river. It rises from the Alps in Germany and flows through
Austria, Hungary, Serbia, and enters the Black Sea in Romania. It is not as important as the Rhine for
international trade because of the Black Sea in the interior.
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Major rivers of europe

Gulfs and Bays

These are the parts of large water bodies

which are adjacent to a massive land may
it be continents or countries which are of
economic importance for any human
civilization, As Europe is surrounded by
number of large water bodies such as the
Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, The North
Sea etc. there are a lot of Gulfs, Bay, and
straits.
The Gulf of Finland is situated in the
easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea and
extends between Finland (to the north)
and Estonia (to the south) all the way to
Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the
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river Neva drains into it. Other major cities around the gulf include Helsinki and Tallinn. The eastern
parts of the Gulf of Finland belong to Russia, and some of Russia’s most important oil harbors are
located farthest in, near Saint Petersburg.
The Gulf of Bothnia situated in the northernmost part of the Baltic Sea and bordered by Sweden at
its western side and Finland at the eastern side.

The Gulf of Riga is a brackish water body which is considered as a sub-basin of the Baltic Sea. The
areal extent of the Gulf of Riga is approximately 16,300 km². It is also called the Bay of Riga which is
a very shallow water sea with a maximum depth of 67metres.
The Gulf of Lions extends from the easternmost spurs of Pyrenees and covers various lagoons, the
Rhone River delta, limestone hills of Marseille. It’s an embayment of the Mediterranean coastline of
Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence in France.
Daily News Analysis