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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE __________________ 1
1.1 Same-Sex Marriage ________________________________ 1
1.2 Abortion Law in India _____________________________ 3
1.3 Appointment of Judges in Higher Judiciary ____ 5
1.4 Regulation of OTT__________________________________ 7
1.5 Immunity to Legislators on Bribery ____________ 9
1.6 The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act ____ 10
PRELIMS NEWS
1.7 18 years of RTI Act _______________________________ 13
1.8 Copyright Law in India __________________________ 13
1.9 The State of India’s Scheduled Areas _________ 14
1.10 Habitat Rights ___________________________________ 14
1.11 Question Hour in Lok Sabha __________________ 14
1.12 Article 142 of the Constitution _______________ 15
1.13 PRAGATI Platform _____________________________ 15
SHORT NEWS ____________________________________________16-18
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ________________ 19
2.1 Belt and Road Initiative _________________________ 19
2.2 Indo-Pacific Region ______________________________ 21
2.3 Israel-Palestine Conflict ________________________ 23
2.4 India-Maldives Relations _______________________ 25
PRELIMS NEWS
2.5 India ASEAN Trade Relations __________________ 27
2.6 India-Palestine Relations _______________________ 27
2.7 Indian Ocean Rim Association _________________ 28
SHORT NEWS ____________________________________________28-29
3. ECONOMY ______________________________ 30
3.1 India’s Informal Economy ______________________ 30
3.2 Farmer Producers’ Organisations (FPOs):
Engines of agri-innovation __________________________ 32
3.3 Freight Corridors Should Improve Logistics
Position ________________________________________________ 34
3.4 Indian Solar Manufacturers Battling Chinese
Threat: PLI Brings Hope _____________________________ 34
3.5 Green Revolution in India ______________________ 38
iii
3.6 Impact of Monsoon on Indian Economy _______40
3.7 Nobel Prize in Economics 2023 _________________42
3.8 Millets Cultivation ________________________________44
3.9 World Energy Outlook 2023 ____________________46
PRELIMS NEWS
3.10 Index of Industrial Production ________________49
3.11 Nutrient-Based Fertilizer Subsidy ____________49
3.12 Amrit Kaal Vision 2047: A Long Term
Blueprint for the Indian Maritime Blue Economy
___________________________________________________________49
3.13 Bond Yield ________________________________________50
3.14 Central Bank Digital Currency/e-Rupee _____50
3.15 Regional Rapid Transit System _______________50
3.16 Global Innovation Index _______________________51
3.17 Angel Tax _________________________________________51
3.18 GDP Estimates ___________________________________51
3.19 RBI’s Status Quo _________________________________52
3.20 Open Acreage Licensing Policy _________________52
3.21 Prompt Corrective Action Framework _________ 52
3.22 Cabinet Approves Royalty Rates For Critical and
Strategic Minerals. ______________________________________ 53
DATA POINT
3.23 India's Tourism Challenge: Foreign Arrivals
Remain Below Pre-Covid Levels ____________________54
3.24 Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for
Bulk Drugs (APIs) _____________________________________54
SHORT NEWS ____________________________________________55-56
4. ENVIRONMENT AND GEOGRAPHY____________ 57
4.1. 100 Million Hectares of Arable Land Lost Yearly
to Degradation: UN Report __________________________57
4.2. State of Global Coastal Adaptation ____________60
4.3. Challenges Around Air Pollution ______________62
4.4. Stubble Burning __________________________________64
4.5. Interlinking of Rivers ____________________________66
PRELIMS NEWS
 4.6. Bihar To Get Second Tiger Reserve In Kaimur
District _________________________________________________ 69
4.7. Large Ozone Hole Detected over Antarctica 69
4.8. Migratory birds arrive in Odisha’s Chilika __ 69
4.9. Snow Leopard Population Assessment ______ 70
4.10. Cyclone Hamoon. ______________________________ 70
4.11. Green Egergy Corridor ________________________ 71
4.12. Frequent Earthquakes in Afghanistan______ 71
4.13. Green Credit Programme and Ecomark
Scheme _________________________________________________ 72
4.14. Global Framework on Chemicals ____________ 72
4.15. Antarctica Ice Shelves: Study Finds 40%
Volume Lost in 25 years _____________________________ 72
4.16. State of Global Water Resources 2022 Report
73
4.17. Methane Emissions ____________________________ 73
DATA POINT
4.18. Over 70% of India Reports Drought-like
Conditions _____________________________________________ 74
SHORT NEWS____________________________________________75-76
5. PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE _____________________ 77
5.1 Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Sikkim _77
6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ________________ 81
6.1 AI in Modern Defense ___________________________ 81
6.2 Nobel Prize In Medicine_________________________ 83
6.3 Safety Test For Gaganyaan _____________________ 85
PRELIMS NEWS
6.4. Freedom from Avian Influenza ________________ 87
6.5 New Targets for ISRO ____________________________ 87
6.7 Deep Fakes ________________________________________ 87
6.8 Monoclonal Antibodies _________________________ 88
6.9 CAR-T Cell Therapy ______________________________ 88
SHORT NEWS________________________________________________89
7. DEFENCY AND SECURITY ___________________ 90
7.1 Terrorism: A Threat to Humanity _____________ 90
iv
7.2 Illicit Trade ________________________________________92
7.3 Left Wing Extremism(LWE) _____________________94
PRELIMS NEWS
7.4 National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-
Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) _________________________97
7.5 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty _______________97
SHORT NEWS ________________________________________________97
8. SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE _______________ 98
8.1 Surrogacy in India ________________________________98
8.2 Global Hunger Index 2023 ____________________ 100
8.3 India Ageing Report 2023 _____________________ 102
8.4 Parliamentary Committee Report on Education
_________________________________________________________ 104
8.5 Caste-Based Survey _____________________________ 106
PRELIMS NEWS
8.6 Human Shields and Forced Displacement __ 109
8.7 International Migration Outlook 2023 ______ 109
8.8 POCSO Act ________________________________________ 109
DATA POINT
8.9 Poverty In India _________________________________ 110
8.10 Health, Nutrition and Population Trends of
Scheduled Tribes ____________________________________ 111
SHORT NEWS ______________________________________________111
9. Ethics __________________________________ 112
9.1 Indian Athletics Championship Marred by
Doping ________________________________________________ 112
10. ART AND CULTURE _______________________ 114
10.1 Parliamentary Panel Report on ASI ________ 114
PRELIMS NEWS
10.2 Jagannath Temple _____________________________ 116
10.3 New Tunnel being built at Mahakaleshwar
Temple in Ujjain _____________________________________ 116
SHORT NEWS_______________________________________________117
11. PERSONALITY IN NEWS ___________________ 118
12. PLACES IN NEWS ________________________ 119
13. SCHEMES IN NEWS _______________________ 122
14. AWARD IN NEWS ________________________ 124
TEST YOURSELF
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1.1 Same-Sex Marriage
Context:
A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by the Chief Justice of India unanimously ruled against legalising same-sex
marriage in India.
More on News:
• Same-sex marriages refer to marriages between two individuals of
the same gender. In India, same-sex marriages are not currently
legal.
• Legalizing same-sex marriage would not only provide legal
recognition and protection for LGBTQ+ couples but also promote
greater social acceptance and reduce discrimination against the
community.
• LGBTQ: An acronym used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer or questioning persons or the community.
LGBTQ+ rights developments in India:
• Decriminalization of Homosexuality (2018):
 The Supreme Court abolished Section 377 of the Indian Penal
Code (Navtej Singh Johar v/s Union of India 2018 case),
decriminalizing consensual same-sex relationships and ending
the threat of prosecution.
• Legal Recognition of Transgender Rights:
 The Supreme Court recognized transgender individuals as a third
gender in 2014 (Nationals Legal Service Authority v/s Union of
India case), advocating for their equal rights and protections.
 The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act was
enacted in 2019, provided legal recognition and safeguarding
the rights of transgender individuals.
• Same-Sex Marriage:
 Delhi High Court (2017) affirmed the right to marry as fundamental and underscored the denial of this right to same-sex
couples as a violation. However, this was later deferred to the legislature by the Supreme Court.
Arguments in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage:
• Fundamental Rights and Equality: Denying individuals the right to
marry based on sexual orientation violates fundamental rights. Legality of Same-Sex Marriage:
Everyone should have the right to choose who they marry and enjoy the • Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. and others 2018 Case: Right
same legal benefits and protections. to marry a person of one's choice is integral to Article 21
of the Constitution.
• Marital Rights: Same-sex couples do not enjoy Marital Rights.
• Navtej Singh Johar and others v. Union of India 2018: The
 Marital rights are rights and benefits that a couple can exercise and
SC held that members of the LGBTQ community "are
enjoy upon marriage. Marital rights include the right to live with entitled, as all other citizens, to the full range of
each other, maintain a physically intimate relationship and constitutional rights.
procreation. • Constitutionality of Same-sex Marriages in India: The
• Promotion of Equality and Inclusivity: Legalizing same-sex marriage Indian Constitution does not expressly recognise the right
promotes equality inclusivity, and reduces discrimination against the to marriage as a fundamental or constitutional right.
LGBTQ+ community, fostering a more equitable society.

1
• Positive Impact on Mental Health:
 Legalizing same-sex marriage positively impacts the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals, reducing
discrimination
and stigma
they face,
leading to a
more
accepting and
tolerant
society.
• Secularism and
Democracy:
Legalizing same-
sex marriage
aligns with India's
democratic
principles and
guarantees of
equality and
freedom to all
citizens,
irrespective of
sexual
orientation.
Arguments Against
Same-Sex Marriage:
• Preservation of
Traditional
Definition of
Marriage:
Marriage is
traditionally
defined as a union
between a man and a woman. Altering this definition undermines traditional family values and the institution of marriage.
• Procreation and Child Upbringing: Procreation and childrearing are Central Government Stands on Same-Sex Marriage:
the main goals of marriage, same-sex couples may not be unable to • As per the law, marriage was permissible between a
achieve these goals. There is a view that child's upbringing can only “biological man” and a “biological woman”.
come from having both a mother and a father. • Same-sex marriage is not recognized or accepted in any
• Preservation of Cultural and Religious Traditions: Same-sex marriage personal or statutory laws in India.
is seen as inconsistent with Indian cultural and religious beliefs by • Same-sex relationships and living together as partners are
opponents. They fear legalizing it would erode traditional values and not comparable to the traditional Indian concept of a
contribute to the Westernization of Indian culture. family unit consisting of a husband, wife, and children.

• Issues with Adoption of Children: Adoption by queer couples in India • Interference with marriage laws could upset India's
personal law equilibrium and generate discrepancies in
can face societal stigma, harming both the child's and parents' well-
Christian and Muslim marriage laws.
being due to limited LGBTQ+ acceptance.
• Gendered terms: Argument that gendered terms like 'mother' and 'father', 'husband' and 'wife' would be problematic in
same-sex marriages.

2
Way Forward
• Amendment to Special Marriage Act 1954: The court said that it cannot strike down the provisions of the Special Marriage
Act (SMA), and left the decision to the Parliament.
 Amend the Special Marriage Act, to permit same-sex marriage with equal rights and benefits as opposite-sex couples.
Simultaneously, establish contract-like agreements to grant LGBTQ+ individuals similar legal rights to heterosexuals
• Advocacy and Awareness: LGBTQ+ organizations should actively raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues through rallies,
protests, and campaigns, striving for greater rights and societal acceptance.
• Role of Civil Society: Organizations like Naz Foundation and Humsafar Trust are at the forefront of policy and legal reforms,
advocating for anti-discrimination laws, inclusive policies, and legal recognition of same-sex relationships, including marriage.
• Counselling and Support: Various organizations offer crucial counseling and support services, aiding the LGBTQ+ community
in addressing discrimination, bullying, mental health issues, and other challenges.
 In the 1990s, the first LGBTQ+ organization, the AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan (ABVA), was founded in Delhi to fight
against discrimination and violence faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
• Community Building: LGBTQ+ organizations play a vital role in fostering a sense of community and support by organizing
events, social gatherings, and support groups to create safe and welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals.

1.2 Abortion Law in India

Context:
A two-judge all-woman Supreme Court bench disagreed on allowing a 27-year-old married woman to terminate her 26-week
pregnancy and referred the plea to the Chief Justice of India for consideration by a larger bench.
More on News:
• The bench had different opinions regarding a request
to recall the October 9 order allowing a married
mother of two to terminate her 26-week pregnancy:
 One judge was against allowing the abortion.
 The other judge emphasized that the woman's
choice to terminate her pregnancy should be
respected.
• The woman had moved the apex court seeking its
approval to terminate her pregnancy citing medical
grounds, including that she was suffering from
postpartum depression.
 Postpartum depression (also called PPD) is a
medical condition that many women get after
having a baby. It’s strong feelings of sadness,
anxiety (worry) and tiredness that last for a long
time after giving birth.
Evolution of Abortion Law in India:
• Pre-1960s: Illegal Status of Abortion Abortion was
illegal and punishable under Section 312 of the Indian
Penal Code (IPC) before the 1960s.
• 1964: Formation of Shantilal Shah Committee
 The Committee recommended liberalization of abortion laws to reduce unsafe abortions and maternal mortality.
• 1971: Introduction and Passage of MTP Act
The Act allowed abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy and granted immunity to doctors performing abortions in line with
its provisions (refer Infographics).

3
• 2002: Brief Amendment for Medical Abortion Pills
 The MTP Act was briefly amended in 2002 to allow the use of medical abortion pills, mifepristone and misoprostol.
• 2021: Amendment to Extend Abortion Limit
 The MTP Act was amended in 2021, extending the abortion limit from 20 to 24 weeks. (Refer Infographics)
 The amendment specified seven categories of
women eligible for termination between 20
and 24 weeks of pregnancy:
✓ Survivors of sexual assault or rape or incest,
minors, women with physical disabilities,
mentally ill women including mental
retardation, the foetal malformation,
change of marital status during the ongoing
pregnancy (widowhood and divorce) and
women with pregnancy in humanitarian
settings or disaster or emergency
situations.
What are the concerns?
• Foetal Pain: Concern that fetuses beyond 20
weeks of gestation may experience pain during
abortion.
• Psychological Impact: Some argue that young
women who undergo abortion may face an increased risk of subsequent depression.
• Reduced Adoptable Babies: Critics suggest that instead of abortion, women should
consider giving unwanted babies up for adoption, as single parenthood becomes more
accepted.
• Abortion as Contraception: Moral objections to using abortion as a convenient method
of birth control, emphasizing the value of unborn life.
• Responsibility and Morality: Argues that individuals should accept responsibility for their
actions and consequences, especially when becoming pregnant.
Arguments in Favor of Abortion:
• Bodily Autonomy: Abortion upholds a woman's right to bodily autonomy, enabling her to
make decisions about her own body and reproductive choices.
• Choice and Life Course Impact: Allowing abortion provides Key Facts (WHO):
individuals the freedom to choose their life course, preventing • Around 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide
unwanted pregnancies from adversely affecting education, each year.
career, and mental well-being. • Six out of 10 (61%) of all unintended pregnancies, and 3 out of
• Avoiding Unsafe Abortions: Legalizing abortion helps to prevent 10 (29%) of all pregnancies, end in induced abortion
unsafe abortions, which can pose serious risks to women's health • Around 45% of all abortions are unsafe, of which 97% take
and may lead to fatalities. place in developing countries.
 8 women die every day in the country (the UN Population • Unsafe abortion is a leading - but preventable - cause of
Fund) maternal deaths.

 Unsafe abortions accounting for 20 percent of all maternal

deaths in India (the Center for Reproductive Rights).
• Changing Social Norms: Laws should adapt to changing social norms, acknowledging the prevalence of premarital sex, live-in
relationships, and diverse family structures.
• Foetal Abnormalities: The abnormalities are not always found upto 20 weeks, not allowing women a safe access to abortion
puts her life in danger.

4
• Addressing Marital Rape Victims: Abortion should be accessible for women who may have conceived due to sexual assault
or marital rape, respecting their mental and physical well-being and preventing further harm.
Way Forward:
• Recognize Abortion as a Human Right: Acknowledge abortion as
a fundamental human right, as supported by international
frameworks such as the United Nations, the European Court of
Human Rights, and the African Commission on Human and
People's Rights.
• Commit to Prevent Unsafe Abortions: Reiterate and uphold the
commitment made by 179 governments at the 1994
International Conference on Population and Development to
prevent unsafe abortions.
• Address Criminalization of Abortion: The UN Recognize that the
criminalization of abortion is a form of gender-based violence
and may violate women's rights to health, dignity, autonomy,
and equality.
• WHO's Safety Classification: The WHO has classified abortion
procedures into three categories, namely, safe, less-safe and least-safe.
 Lancet study from 2010 to 2014 showed 54% of abortions were safe, 30% were less safe, and 14% were least safe.
 The developing world accounted for more than 97 per cent of abortions classified under the latter two categories.
• Maternal Health and Mortality: Acknowledge that unsafe abortions are a leading cause of maternal mortality, contributing
to 13% of such deaths.
 Address the urgency of improving the safety of abortion procedures.
• Promote Societal Well-being: Emphasize that ensuring safe abortion access is not just about human rights but also contributes
to the overall well-being of societies.

1.3 Appointment of Judges in Higher Judiciary

Context:
The Supreme Court expressed concern related to unprecedented loss of fresh talent in the judiciary due to prolonged delays
in government decisions.
More on News:
• Favoritism in Appointments: The lawyers who left their law practices to Constitutional Provisions for appointment of Judges:
become judges have been affected by the government's favoritism in the • Article 124: The appointment of Supreme Court
selection process without clear reasons. judges should be made by the President.
• Segregation of Names: The government continues to segregate names • Article 217: The appointment of High Court judges
with impunity despite the Collegium forbidding the practice. should be made by the President after consultation
 There are 70 names recommended by High Court Collegiums for with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the Governor
judgeships, and these names have been waiting for government of the state.

approval for over 10 months.

Procedure of Appointment of Judges:
• Supreme Court Judges:
 Recommendations by Collegium: All appointments must be recommended by the collegium.
 Government approval: This recommendation is then sent to the Central government via the law minister and then the
prime minister before ending up at the President's desk for approval and appointment.
• High Court Judges:
 Recommendations of Collegium: High Court collegium - the chief justice of the High Court along with its two senior-most
judges - must send a recommendation to the chief minister and the governor of the state.

5
  Recommendations of State Executive: The governor, based on the advice received from the chief minister, will send the
recommendation to the Union Minister of Law and Justice, who after consideration will forward the recommendation to
the CJI.
 Government's Approval: The CJI, after being informed by the two senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, should send
the recommendation to the Union Minister of Law and
Justice.
✓ He then puts the recommendations before the Prime
Minister who will advise the President about the
appointment.
What is the Collegium System?
• It is a system through which judges are appointed and
transferred in the Supreme Court and high courts across the
country.
 It is a forum including the Chief Justice of India and four
senior-most judges of the SC, which recommends
appointments and transfers of judges.
 Judges of the higher judiciary are appointed only through
the collegium system, and the government has a role only
after names have been decided by the collegium.
Challenges with the Collegium system:
• Lack of Statutory Timeframe Limit: The Supreme Court(SC) in 2021 set a time frame of maximum of 18 weeks for the
government to review the names submitted by the High Courts, after which they should be forwarded to the Supreme Court
Collegium for final approval.
 Since, the guideline is not mandatory, it is rarely followed.
• Opaque Functioning: The system operates largely behind closed doors, with limited public disclosure of the reasons behind
the selection or rejection of candidates.
 This lack of transparency has led to accusations of favoritism, nepotism and a lack of accountability.
• Lack of Merit-based Selection: The collegium has not established clear criteria for appointing or elevating judges to
constitutional courts, making these appointments appear arbitrary.
 For Instance: Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice S Muralidhar were not elevated to the SC.
• Overemphasis on Seniority: The collegium system’s heavy reliance on seniority has been a subject of criticism.
 It hinders the selection of younger, talented, and diverse candidates, limiting opportunities for fresh perspectives and
innovation within the judiciary.
• Poor Social Representation: Despite existing for three decades, the system has failed to remedy the lack of social diversity in
the higher judiciary.
 Out of 537 appointments to high courts in the five-year period, 424 (79%) were from the general category (upper caste),
57 (11%) were from Other Backward Castes (OBCs), 15 (2.8%) were from Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 7 (1.3%) were from
Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• Absence of Institutional Support for the Collegium: It remains an ad hoc body with little constitutional or statutory backing.
 There is no permanent secretariat and support staff dedicated to the task of helping the collegium with the complicated
appointments procedure and ensuring timely meetings.
Alternate Proposal by the government to appointment judges:
• The government has suggested a three-step process of appointments based on justice Madan B. Lokur's part of the 16 October
2015 ruling.
• Appointment by way of applications or nominations: Apex court nominations should be made by the collegium, other judges
of the court, the prime minister, president and the attorney general.

6
• Committee of eminent citizens: A participatory appointment process is needed which must seek inputs from a committee of
eminent citizens.
• Submission of Written file to the executive: The entire file with all views recorded in writing must be sent to the executive
for its views.
Way Forward:
• Statutory Backing to Procedure of Appointment of Judges: International Practices of Appointment of Judges:
This will streamline the process and procedure of • US: Judges of the Federal Court are appointed by the President
appointment of judges with the advice and consent of the Senate.
• Strengthening the Role of the Executive in the Appointment • UK: The independent Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC)
Process: This could involve a collaborative approach where oversees the process of judges appointments.
the executive and judiciary work together to select and • France: Judges are appointed by the President on the
appoint judges, ensuring a balance of power and diverse recommendation of the Higher Council of the Judiciary.
inputs.
• Search and Evaluation Committee: As recommended by the union law ministry, it should have representation from the
central and the state governments in the selection of judges for the SC and the HC respectively.
• Reservation for Marginalized Communities: Provision for reservation for marginalised communities to ensure social diversity.
• Establish a Comprehensive Regulatory Framework: It should clearly define the criteria, qualifications, and procedures for
judicial appointments.
 It should incorporate provisions for transparency in decision-making, merit-based selection, and performance
evaluations including the disclosure of reasons for appointments and transfers.
• Strengthen Public Participation: It can be achieved through public consultations, open hearings, or the establishment of a
judicial appointments commission that includes representatives from civil society.
 It will incorporate diverse perspectives and promote a more inclusive judiciary that reflects the aspirations and values of
society.

1.4 Regulation of OTT

Context:
Recently, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) invited responses About TRAI: It was established on 20th February,
to a consultation paper it released on a regulatory mechanism for over-the-top 1997, under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of
India Act, 1997 to create and nurture conditions for
(OTT) communication services and Selective Banning of OTT Services.
telecom growth in the country.
Background:
• Discussion on selective banning of OTT services initiated after a
Parliamentary Standing Committee's notice to Department of
Telecommunications (DoT).
• Concerns arose due to unrest caused by widely-used OTT communication
platforms.
• Scope of Consultation:
 Consultation paper exclusively addressed OTT communication services
(e.g., WhatsApp, Signal, Meta, Google Meet, Zoom). Not applicable to
'content' OTTs like Netflix and Amazon Prime, as content regulation
falls under the
 Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).

• TRAI's Inquiries:
 TRAI asked stakeholders to provide definitions of OTT.
 Also sought proposals on cost-sharing mechanisms between Telecom
Service Providers (TSPs) and OTT services.

7
About OTT Communication Services:
• As per International Telecommunication Union (ITU), OTT is an “application accessed and delivered over the public Internet
that may be a direct technical/ functional substitute for traditional international telecommunication services.” The bestknown
examples of OTT are Whatsapp, Telegram, skype, etc
Need for OTTs Regulation:
• Conflict Between Telecom Service Providers(TSPs) and OTTs: The key points of contention are:
 Infrastructure Dependence on TSPs: OTTs should be regulated and charged because they use and thrive on the
infrastructure built by operators over the years.
✓ Telcos build and pay for the network, internet service providers buy bandwidth from it, and consumers pay for services.
OTTs freely use these infrastructure provide services and profit from the infrastructure.
• Revenue Erosion:
 TSPs claim that OTT communication services have resulted in Challenges in Regulating OTT Platforms:
● Multiple Stands: The 2015 DoT Committee concluded
a decline in their revenue streams.
that there is no potential for regulatory arbitrage
• In the Indian Context, in the period from the year 2013 to 2022, between licencing service providers and OTT
the number of outgoing SMS per subscriber per month declined application service providers because "OTT
by about 55%. application services are not similar to licenced
 This shift in consumer behavior has led to a significant communication services."
reduction in revenue for telecom companies. ● Equality and Level-Playing Field: It is challenging to
determine what constitutes "equal treatment" when
• Regulatory Parity: TRAI contends that telecom operators and
telcos and OTTs are fundamentally different in terms
OTT platforms, like WhatsApp, provide similar services but are
of their services and infrastructure.
subject to different regulatory requirements. ● Net Neutrality Violation: The proposed model goes
• Licensing Requirements: Telecom operators are required to against the principle of net neutrality, where
obtain service licenses for offering voice and SMS services. networks are expected to be neutral to all
 In contrast, OTT communication service providers offer voice information being transmitted through them.
calls, messaging, and video call services without holding ○ It could create a situation where certain
similar licenses. content or services are favored over others,
violating the principle of treating all content
• Legal Framework: Telecom service providers in India are governed by various laws, including the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885,
equally and without discrimination.
the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
 These laws establish legal frameworks that govern telecom operators' operations, including requirements such as lawful
interception, which do not currently apply to OTT services.
• Financial Contribution: TRAI notes that OTT services do not make financial contributions to support the expansion of telecom
services in the country.
 In contrast, telecom operators are obligated to contribute to the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), which is aimed
at promoting telecom services penetration in underserved areas.
Way Forward:
 Hybrid Governance Model: A hybrid model that involves self-regulation by industry stakeholders could be considered. It
involves:
 Independent Self-Regulatory Body: Establishing an independent self-regulatory body comprising industry stakeholders to
address grievances and complaints related to OTT content.
 Appeal Mechanism: Recommendations by the self-regulatory body can be appealed before an appellate committee with
independent members.
 Quasi-Judicial Body: The final level of regulation could involve a quasi-judicial body with industry experts and judicial
members, whose decisions would be conclusive.
 Speedy Resolution: Such a structure aims to ensure speedy resolution of content-related issues and reduce the burden on
higher courts.
• Policy Framework for Fair Contribution:

8
  Establishment of a policy framework that ensures fair and proportionate contributions from large OTT service providers
to telecommunication network operators.
 The contribution should be based on assessable criteria such as the number of subscribers or data usage.
 Support for Network Expansion and Exchequer Contribution: The funds collected from OTTs should be used to support
the expansion and improvement of telecommunication networks.
• Recommendation of Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022:
 Inclusion of OTT Communication Services: The current draft of the Bill proposes expanding the definition of
"telecommunication services" to encompass OTT communication services.
 Licensing Parity with TSPs: This expansion would mean that OTT communication services may face the same licensing
conditions as Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
 Unified Access Service Licence (UASL): TSPs must hold a Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) to provide telecom services
in India.If OTT communication services are mandated to obtain the same UASL, they would also be subject to various
conditions, including
✓ Maintaining 'know your customer' (KYC) details of their users.
✓ Compliance with encryption regulations.

1.5 Immunity to Legislators on Bribery

Context:
Recently, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud has set up a
seven-judge bench that will reconsider the correctness of the
1998 five-judge Constitution bench judgment in the P V
Narasimha Rao case also Known as the JMM bribery case (1993).
More On News:
• The question arose in the context of bribery charges against
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLA Sita Soren in
connection with the 2012 Rajya Sabha elections to two seats
from the state.
• The larger bench would deal with the question of the
correctness of the verdict on the interpretation of Articles
105(2) and 194(2) of the Constitution which extends the
privilege to a member of Parliament and a member of state
legislature, respectively.
• The top court had then said the object of the constitutional provisions under Article 105(2) and Article 194 (2) clearly is not
to set apart the members of the legislature as persons who wield higher privileges in terms of immunity from the general
criminal law of the land, which citizens of the land do not possess.
Sita Soren Case:
Constitutional Provisions:
• Sita Soren, a daughter-in-law of JMM chief Sibu Soren, was
accused of bribery during the Rajya Sabha elections of 2012 • Purpose of Immunity: The purpose of these Articles is to
ensure that MPs/MLAs are able to discharge their duties in an
from one R K Agarwal but did not cast a vote in his favour. atmosphere of freedom without fear of consequences that
• Soren claimed immunity from prosecution under Article may follow in the manner in which they speak or exercise
194(2) of the Constitution of India. their vote on the floor of the House.

• The Jharkhand High Court dismissed Soren's plea, holding
that she could not claim immunity since she had not cast her
vote in the manner agreed upon.
• Soren appealed to the Supreme Court against the Jharkhand
High Court judgment.
• Article 105(2) of the Constitution: It states, "No member of
Parliament shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in
respect of anything said or any vote given by him in
Parliament or any committee thereof."
• Article 194(2) of the Constitution: It provides similar
immunities to State legislatures.

9
The P V Narasimha Rao case:
• A five-judge Constitution Bench had in 1998 in PV Narasimha Rao’s case held that a lawmaker was immune to prosecution
even if he/she took money to vote on the floor of the House. However, Two judges on the bench dissented, arguing that this
immunity should not apply to cases where bribery is alleged.
• The majority view was that immunity is necessary to protect the independence of parliamentarians and to ensure that they
can participate freely in debate.
• The Supreme Court is currently reconsidering the Narasimha Rao judgment, and it is possible that the court will change its
position on the immunity of parliamentarians from prosecution for bribery.
Criticism:
• Anomaly: If a person [MP/MLA] accepts a bribe and votes, then there is immunity. If a person accepts the bribe and does not
fulfill the bargain by abstaining from the vote or does not give the speech, he or she is liable to be punished.
 Attorney General K K Venugopal said that Narasimha Rao's judgment does not apply to the facts of the case as the
immunity is only for actions with respect to the business of the House.
• Subverting anti-corruption law: The Supreme Court of India, in (P.V. Narasimha Rao-1998) - has held that MPs and MLAs are
public servants and can be prosecuted for offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act. 1988. The said judgment has been
consistently followed and the proposition was reiterated in Abay Singh Chautala -Vs- CBI in 2011.
• Against the Notion of Equality: The term 'equality' means the absence of special privileges to any section of the society, and
the provision of adequate opportunities for all individuals without any discrimination.
 Article 14 Of the Constitution seeks to It establish equality before the law and provide equal protection of the law to all.
• Constitutional Morality and Constitutionalism: The issue of bribery has a significant bearing on the morality of polity which
demands transparency and accountability of parliamentarian actions.
Way Forward:
• Codification of Privileges: There is a need for proper codification of privileges, as suggested by the National Commission to
Review the Working of the Constitution in its report in 2002.
 For this, India can look into Australia, as the country has codified the privileges and working without much tussle since
1987.
• Prosecution of MPs/MLAs: Creating a narrow exception for cases of bribery and corruption while keeping Immunity
Provisions. This would allow legislators to be prosecuted under general common laws (Prevention of Corruption Act-1988)
while protecting their independence.
• Special Tribunal: There is a need for a special body to investigate and prosecute allegations of bribery against legislators.
This body could be made up of independent judges and experts, and it could be given the power to compel witnesses to testify
and to produce evidence.
• Finding Balance: There should be a balance between seriousness of offence and safeguarding Parliamentarians prieveleges.
 Any judgement in the future should not lead to a narrow construction of the constitutional provisions, as this may result
in hampering the guarantee of "parliamentary participation and debate".
Conclusion: Any constitutional immunity will have to be read with what the Constitution intended, and it could be in two parts -
• First, immunity from prosecution to a vote or a speech;
• Second, criminal liability with respect to an illegal act done irrespective of the bargain.

1.6 The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act

Context:
Recently, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been invoked against the news portal “NewsClick”.
More on News:
• NewsClick faces allegations of receiving illegal funding from China aimed at propagating Chinese propaganda, routed through
the United States.
 Officials are probing if the foreign funds were being used for information warfare.

10
About UAPA:
• The UAPA is an anti-terrorism law that was first enacted in 1967 with Supreme Court’s (SC) Stand on UAPA:
the primary objective to effectively prevent and deal with activities that • In Arup Bhuyan v. State of Assam, the court held that
pose a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India. mere membership of a banned organization will not
make a person a criminal.
• Objective: It provides for more effective prevention of certain unlawful
activities of individuals and associations and for dealing with terrorist • The declaration of an organisation as unlawful is
publicly notified by the Centre. This means that every
activities and other connected matters.
member of the organisation would know about the
• Unlawful Activity: It refers to any action taken by an individual or ban.
association intended to disrupt the territorial integrity and sovereignty • A person who is or continues to be a member of a
in India. banned organisation is liable to be found criminally
• Applicability: It extends to the whole of India. The provisions of this Act liable.
apply also to:
 Citizens of India outside India.
 Persons in the service of the Government, wherever they may be.
 Persons on ships and aircrafts, registered in India, wherever they may be.
• Amendments:
 2004: Added specific chapter aimed at prosecuting terrorist acts.
 2008: Any act “likely to threaten the unity, integrity, security or sovereignty
of India” or “likely to strike terror in the people” is also a terrorist act.
 2012: Expanded definition of “terrorist act” to include offences that
threaten the country's economic security.
 2019: The government can now declare an individual as “terrorist” and
append their name in Schedule IV of the Act without any due process.
Need for UAPA:
• Counterterrorism Legislation: UAPA provides law enforcement agencies with
enhanced powers to deal with individuals or organizations involved in activities
that are detrimental to the country's security.
• Designation of Terrorist Organizations: This designation empowers authorities
to take stringent actions against members and supporters of such
organizations. It empowers the government to ban terrorist organizations.
 For instance, the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and Jammu and Kashmir
Ghaznavi Force (JKGF) are designated as terrorist organizations under UAPA.
• International Cooperation: UAPA facilitates cooperation with foreign
governments in matters related to counterterrorism. The United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) requires the States to take action against certain
terrorists and terrorist organizations.
• Preventive Detention: This allows law enforcement agencies to take pre-
emptive action against individuals who are perceived to be a threat to national
security.
• Enhanced Investigative Powers: The law provides law enforcement agencies with enhanced powers of investigation.
Challenges Associated with UAPA:
• Curtails Fundamental Rights: An individual may be identified as a terrorist without any judicial scrutiny and even before the
commencement of a trial. This is violative of the right to equality (Article 14), free speech (Article 19) and life (Article 21) of
the Constitution.
 Sajal Awasthi v Union of India claims that the right to equality is violated since the provision does not provide any detailed
grounds on which one may be categorized as a terrorist.

11
• Guilty Until Proven Innocent: A presumption of innocence of the accused until they are proven guilty is the basis of most of
the criminal justice systems.
 UAPA takes away this right from individuals because even in the absence of any trial or any judicial scrutiny, the law allows
a person to be declared a terrorist.
• Misuse: UAPA is created for extreme and exceptional circumstances, but it is being used routinely to suppress dissent.
According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2019, 1,226 cases under UAPA were filed, which indicates a
hike of 33% from the year 2016.
 For instance, Delhi police used UAPA to block websites of non-governmental organisations (including activist Greta
Thunberg’s domain) campaigning against the draft
Environmental Impact Assessment, 2020.
The Constitution of India guarantees the following Fundamental
• Vague Definitions: The definition of ‘terrorist act’ in UAPA is Rights available to individuals upon being arrested:
vague with the usage of words such as unity, integrity, and • Article 22:
national security.  The person should be conveyed the grounds of arrest.
 This allows the Act to be invoked discriminately even  Within 24 hours of the arrest, the person should be
against protestors, agitators and extremists using brought before a magistrate.
literature to propagate hate against the government.  Right to consult a lawyer.
• Impact on Civil Liberties: UAPA may infringe on civil liberties, • The right to a fair, just, and speedy trial is provided under
including the right to a fair trial. Article 14 and 21 as laid down in the case of Huissainara
Khatoon v. State of Bihar.
 For instance, in Romila Thapar v. Union of India case filed
against the arrest of five activists after inter-caste violence • Right to free legal aid is accorded under Article 39A.
in Bhima Koregaon, SC clarified that state cannot infringe
upon an individual's liberty based on speculation.
• Admissibility of Confessions: The Act allows confessions made to police officers to be admissible in certain circumstances
which might lead to coerced confessions and undermine the principles of fairness and due process.
Way Forward:
• Implementing Constitutional Safeguards: The Constitution Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal (UAPT) Court:
provides certain safeguards to restrain the misuse of preventive • It is a body constituted by the Central Government to confirm
detention laws: a ban on a political organisation based on evidence and
 Grounds of detention have to be informed. analysis of the allegations. The tribunal is made up of a High
 A person can be kept in custody for 90 days for the first Court judge appointed by the Central Government.
instance, requiring board approval (consisting of a person • Under Section 4 of the UAPA, after an association has been
qualified for appointment as a High Court judge) for extension. declared unlawful, the Centre must, within 30 days from the
date of the publication of the notification, refer the matter
• Specific Definitions: There is an immediate need to define the
to a tribunal for the purpose of "adjudicating whether or not
terms pertaining to terrorist acts and activities. there is sufficient cause for declaring the association
 For instance, UNSC defines terrorism as ‘terrorism would be unlawful".
an overt act of violence that causes death or injury to the
public’.
• Recognising Dissent: There is a need to recognise that political dissent is a part of a healthy democratic nation, and laws like
UAPA should be constrained to matters affecting the defence of the nation.
• Following Due Process of Law: The state should not seize more power to circumvent restraints under a stringent law.
 The SC bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, underlined that the state using national security as a tool
to deny citizens remedies is not compatible with the rule of law.
Conclusion:
The concern for the security of the nation is common for all nations. The principle of liberty exists because of the rule of law. It
exists and may cease whenever the state deems it necessary only if the state’s survival is in danger and should not be used in
common parlance. It is vital to strike a balance between national security imperatives and the protection of individual rights,
fostering a legal framework that is effective, transparent, and accountable.

12
PRELIMS NEWS

1.7 18 years of RTI Act

Context: An independent annual study conducted by
Satark Nagarik Sangathan on the eve of the 18th
anniversary of the Right to Information Act (RTI)
implementation has revealed that the Jharkhand
Information Commission has been defunct for over three
years.
More on News:
• The state information commissions in Jharkhand,
Telangana, Mizoram, and Tripura have been defunct due
to retirements and a lack of new appointments.

• The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust publishes books and

commentaries on Indian religious philosophy and
spiritualism, especially classic Vaishnava texts.

Copyright Law in India:

• Additionally, six commissions, including the Central
Information Commission, are functioning without a
chief, while seven others are operating at reduced
capacity, leading to increased waiting times for
information seekers.
The Central Information Commission:
• It is a statutory body constituted under the RTI Act 2005.
The jurisdiction of the Commission extends over all
Central Public Authorities.
• State information commissions perform similar
functions and their jurisdiction extends over all state
public authorities of respective states.
1.8 Copyright Law in India
Context: The Delhi High Court has found “large-scale
infringement” in the reproduction of copyrighted works of
the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
• Indian copyright law Copyright Act, 1957 protects
“original work” — a creative and independently created
expression fixed in a tangible medium.
• The law grants the creator/ author of the work the
exclusive right to “use, reproduce, distribute, perform,
and display their work”.
• Unlike the case with patents, copyright protects the
expressions and not the ideas. There is no copyright in an
idea.
• The law also protects transformative work which is a
creative/ artistic work that takes existing material (text,
music, art) and significantly modifies, reinterprets, or
builds upon it to create something new and distinct.
Are religious texts protected under copyright law in India?
• Religious texts, in general, are considered part of the
public domain thus, they are not subject to copyright
protection in India.
• However, modern translations of the Bible represent
new and creative works developed by the translators.
Hence, they are covered by copyright law in India.
• While the Ramayana and Mahabharata are not
protected by copyright, the television series Ramayana
created by Ramanand Sagar or B R Chopra’s
Mahabharata are “transformative works” that are be
protected.

13
1.9 The State of India’s Scheduled Area
Context: Despite persistent demands by Adivasi
organizations, 59% of India’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) remain
outside the purview of Article 244.
Demand for Notifying Schedule Areas:
• Around 59% of India’s STs remain outside the purview of
Article 244 leading to persistent demands by Adivasi
organizations for notifying these places as scheduled
areas.
 For instance, In 2015, Kerala proposed to notify five
gram panchayats and two wards in five districts. It
awaits the Indian government’s approval.
• In 1995, the Bhuria Committee, constituted to
recommend provisions for the extension of panchayat
raj to Scheduled Areas, recommended including these
villages, but this is yet to be done.
About Scheduled Areas:
• Article 244: Administration of Scheduled and Tribal
Areas.
 Articles 244(1) provides for the application of Fifth
Schedule provisions to Scheduled Areas notified in
any State other than the Sixth Schedule states viz.
Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
 5th Schedule States: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and
Telangana.
• Tribal Areas: Generally refer to regions predominantly
inhabited by tribal communities. These areas may or
may not be officially designated as Scheduled Areas.
Governance of Schedule Area:
• The President of India notifies India’s Scheduled Areas.
• States with Scheduled Areas need to constitute a Tribal
Advisory Council with up to 20 ST members.
 They will advise the Governor on matters referred to
them regarding ST welfare.
• The Governor can also make regulations for a Scheduled
Area and regulate the allotment of land to STs and
money-lending to STs.
 The Governor will then submit a report every year to
the President regarding the administration of
Scheduled Areas.
1.10 Habitat Rights
Context: The Baiga, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group
(PVTG) became the second to get habitat rights in the state
of Chattisgarh, after the Kamar PVTG.
14
What are Habitat Rights?
• Habitat rights are given to PVTGs under section 3(1) (e)
of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest
Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 also
known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
• Habitat rights recognition provides the community with
rights over their customary territory of habitation,
socio-cultural practices, economic and livelihood means,
intellectual knowledge of biodiversity and ecology,
traditional knowledge of the use of natural resources,
and protection and conservation of their natural and
cultural heritage.
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG):
• In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive
Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, which are
less developed among the tribal groups.
• In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and
followed the following criteria for identification of
PVTGs.
 Pre-agricultural level of technology
 Low level of literacy
 Economic backwardness
 A declining or stagnant population.
1.11 Question Hour in Lok Sabha
Context: Recently a Member of Parliament (MP) is alleged
to have accepted bribes from businessmen in exchange for
asking parliamentary questions targeting the Prime
Minister.
• The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha has asked MP to
appear in connection with cash-for-question allegations
About Question Hour:
• The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is slotted for
Question Hour. During this time, the members ask
questions and the ministers usually give answers.
Procedure:
• Governing Rules: The procedure for raising questions is
governed by Rules 32 to 54 of the “Rules of Procedure
and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha” and Directions 10
to 18 of the “Directions by the Speaker, Lok Sabha‟.
Ethics Committee:
• Lok Saha Ethics Committee came into force in 2015 with
a mandate to oversee the moral and ethical conduct of
the MPs.
• Function:
 Examine complaints relating to unethical conduct of
an MP and make recommendations as it may deem
fit.
• Composition: Lok Sabha Ethics Committee- 15 members
appointed by Speaker; Rajya Sabha Ethics Committee -
10 members appointed by Chairman respectively.
• Term: 1 year
• Procedure for complaints: Any person can complain
against a Member through another Lok Sabha MP.
• Types of Questions: There are four different types of
questions
Starred • A Starred question is asked by an MP
and answered orally by the Minister-
in-charge.
• Each MP is allowed to ask one
starred question per day. Starred
questions have to be submitted at
least 15 days in advance (so that the
Minister-in-charge has the time to
prepare the answers).
• When a question is answered orally,
supplementary questions can be
asked thereon.
Unstarred • An unstarred question receives a
written reply from the Ministry.
• Supplementary questions are not
permitted.
Short-notice • Short notice questions are ones
questions pertaining to a matter of urgent
public importance.
• They can be asked with less than 10
days’ notice, with reasons for the
short notice.
• They are answered orally, followed
by supplementary questions.
Questions • It is asked when the subject matter
addressed to pertains to any Bill, Resolution or
private any matter relating to the Business
Members of the House for which that MP is
responsible.
• Procedure: Same as starred
question (written above).
15
1.12 Article 142 of the Constitution
Context: In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court invoked
Article 142 of the Constitution to appoint a postal assistant
after the postal department refused to hire him despite his
high merit list ranking.
More on News:
• The Supreme Court held that a public employer, which is
a ‘state’ within the meaning of Article 12 of the
Constitution, would have no authority to act in an
arbitrary manner.
About Article 142:
• Article 142 was envisaged to allow the Supreme Court
the opportunity to provide 'complete justice' to even
those who may have been wrongly sentenced or denied
justice due to the intricacies or inefficacies of the legal
justice system.
• The article was meant to empower the apex court to
deliver justice in exceptional cases without being
hindered by legal or bureaucratic red tape.
Significant cases where Article 142 was invoked:
• Babri Masjid Case: The article was used in the Ram
Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case and was
instrumental in the handover of the disputed land to a
trust to be formed by the union government.
• Bhopal Gas Tragedy:The Supreme Court invoked its
plenary powers in the Union Carbide vs Union Govt case
and intervened to provide compensation to victims of
the deadly Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
1.13 PRAGATI Platform
Context: The Prime Minister chaired the meeting of the 43rd
edition of the PRAGATI portal.
• About PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely
Implementation):
• It is the ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active
Governance and Timely Implementation, involving
Centre and State governments.
• It uses three latest technologies: Digital data
management, video-conferencing and geo-spatial
technology.
• Objective: To monitor and review important programs
and projects of the Government of India and projects
flagged by State Governments.
• It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government
Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States).
• The PMO team designed the system in-house with the
help of the National Informatics Center (NIC).
SHORT NEWS IN TABLE

Officer as Rathprabharis The Centre has planned to depute joint secretaries, directors and deputy directors as district “rath
prabharis”.
● Campaign: To highlight achievements of the past 9 years of the Government of India through
“Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra” from 20 November 2023 to 25 January 2024.
● Aim: Disseminating information, awareness and extending services at Gram Panchayat level.

Panel Suggests An NCERT committee for curriculum development in India has recommended replacing the term
Replacing 'India' with 'India' with 'Bharat' in school textbooks.
'Bharat' in NCERT ● Other Suggestions: Highlight the victories of Hindu kings and represent the history since
Textbooks Independence more accurately.
● Scholars have recorded the country's original name ’Bharat’ for thousands of years, including in
Kumarasambhavam by Kalidasa.

National Symposium on The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation addressed the ‘National Symposium on
Cooperative Exports Cooperative Exports’ organized by the National Cooperative for Exports Limited (NCEL).
● The NCEL was established as an umbrella organization for cooperative sector exports registered
under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.
● It covers agriculture, allied activities, handloom, and handicrafts items by enrolling many co-
operatives under its fold with a target to double its revenue by 2025 (currently -2160 crore).

APAAR card The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR)– under the new ‘One Nation,
One Student’ scheme launched by the Union government.
● The government plans to implement a unique identification number for students in private and
government schools, known as the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry
(APAAR) ID.
● It is part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
● The APAAR ID unique to each student, will track the educational progress, achievements and
other particulars about specific students.
● It will be linked to the student's Aadhaar ID but will not replace it.

India’s Bid to Olympics The Prime Minister confirmed that India will formally bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
● India is also hosting the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session at the Jio World
Centre in Mumbai.
How is the Olympic host city decided?
● The next three editions of the Olympics will be held in Paris in 2024, Los Angeles in 2028 and
Brisbane in 2032.
● The members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) choose the host through a secret
ballot where the majority vote gets to the host.
● There are 99 members in the Olympics committee and each active member gets a vote.
About IOC Session:
● The IOC session is a key meeting of International Olympic Committee members where crucial
decisions pertaining to the future of the Olympic Games are made.

16
 ● Newly Added Sports in 2028 Olympics: Cricket, Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse Return, Flag
Football.

Constitution Bench The Supreme Court referred the electoral bonds case to the 5-judge Constitution Bench.
● A Supreme Court bench with a strength of minimum five judges is called the Constitution Bench.
● It is constituted under Article 145(3), whenever a matter of law arises that requires a provision
or provision of the Constitution to be interpreted, or there is a “significant legal question”.

Reaffirmation of Adivasi The Madras High Court upheld the convictions of over 200 government officials from the forest,
rights: Vachati police and revenue departments of Tamil Nadu for the atrocities committed on tribal people of
Judgement Vachathi village in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu.
● Significance of Verdict:
 In Vachathi Judgement, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 has served its purpose.
 The judgment will be remembered as a case where despite India’s stark inequities, the
convergence of an alert civil society, committed lawyers, an independent judiciary and the
resolve of victims seeking justice could use the judicial system to their advantage.

electronic First The Law Commission of India (headed by retired Karnataka High Court judge Ritu Raj Awasthi) has
information Reports (e- recommended registering electronic first information reports (e-FIR) in its 282th report.
FIR) What is e-FIR?
● An E-FIR is a digital version of the FIR that can be filed online through the official website of the
police department.
● Key Recommendation: The e-FIR scheme will not apply to all offences, especially matrimonial
disputes, commercial offenses, medical negligence cases, corruption cases, and those with
abnormal delays in reporting, in which the Supreme Court has mandated preliminary inquiries
(Arnesh Kumar guideline).

Special Leave Petition Kerala government to move a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court seeking to issue
(SPL) directions to the Governor to decide on the eight Bills passed by the Kerala legislature.
About SPL:
● Under Article 136 of India's constitution, the SC at its discretion may grant Special leave to
appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence, or order in any cause or matter,
passed or made by any court or tribunal in the territory of India. This is called a special leave
petition.
● Under SPL, The Apex Court has discretionary powers to ensure no miscarriage of justice.

Curative Petition The Chief Justice of India outlined that a curative petition against the apex court’s judgment holding
the Maratha reservation law unconstitutional will be listed soon.
● A curative petition may be filed after a review plea against the final conviction is dismissed.
● It is meant to ensure there is no miscarriage of justice, and to prevent abuse of process.

Remote EVM (R-EVM) Election Commission of India (ECI) postponed the introduction of REVM due to the lack of support
from most political parties.
How REVM works?
• Separate polling booths for remote voting are set up.

17
 ● To cast the vote remotely, the voter will have to register online or offline for a remote voting
facility before the polling day.
● Once the voter is verified and declared eligible for casting his or her vote remotely, a multi-
constituency remote polling station will be set up in the area where they are currently staying.
● These RVMs will have a different electronic ballot display system with candidates and symbols
instead of a fixed ballot paper sheet.
● When the voter scans his/her constituency card in the presence of the Presiding Officer at the
polling station, their respective constituency and candidate list will appear on the RVM display.

National Common The NCMC is an interoperable transport card that aims to provide seamless and hassle-free travel
Mobility Card (NCMC) across various modes of public transport, through the RuPay platform, developed by the National
Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
• The NCMC holds significant value as it contributes to automating and digitising fare collection
through Automatic Fare Collection Systems (AFCs).

Dynamic Injunction Delhi HC recently passed ‘dynamic injunction’ against illegal ICC World Cup broadcast.
About Injunction:
• An injunction is an official order given by a law court, usually to stop someone from doing
something.
About Dynamic injunction:
• A dynamic injunction is passed to protect copyrighted works even before they are publicly
released, distributed, or created.
• It ensures that no irreparable loss is caused to its authors and owner, owing to the imminent
possibility of such works being uploaded on rogue websites or their newer versions immediately
after their creation or release.

18
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
2.1 Belt and Road Initiative
Context: Recently, the third Belt and Road(BRI) Forum for International Cooperation was convened in Beijing, China.
• China started the forum as a platform for collaboration and networking that would periodically review the broad direction
of the BRI, finalize its action agenda, and announce new frameworks and agreements.
More on News:
• The Taliban administration has expressed its interest in formally joining China's Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor, in a bid to attract investment in Afghanistan.
• Dampening Enthusiasm: About 27 world leaders attended the first forum in Beijing in 2017. That number was 37 in 2019.
Only 23 world leaders attended the third forum, suggesting decreased enthusiasm among participating countries to take debt,
and China's less desire to lend.
• Italy, a member of the G7, is also expected to leave
the BRI
About Belt and Road Initiative:
• The BRI was launched by Chinese President Xi
Jinping in 2013.
• Objective: To connect Asia with Europe and Africa,
through a network of railways, highways, ports,
airports, and other infrastructure projects with the
intent to promote trade, investment, and economic
growth in participating countries.
• Principal components: The Silk Road Economic Belt
and the Maritime Silk Road
• Geographic Corridors under BRI:
 China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
 New Eurasian Land Bridge Economic Corridor.
 China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor.
 China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor.
 China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor.
 China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
✓ Since India refused to join BRI, the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) corridor has also stalled and has been
replaced by a later-launched China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
• Renaming from ‘One Belt and One Road’ to BRI: Earlier, it was named as ‘One Belt One Road’, which brought about
numerous misinterpretations, as the partners tend to focus too much on the word “one”, assuming that there is to be only
one maritime route and a single land belt, whereas, in reality, “The Belt and Road Initiative aims to connect Asia, Europe and
Africa along five routes.”
India’s Stand:
Motivations Behind Belt and Road:
• India strongly opposes China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),
• China’s rivalry with the US: The vast majority of Chinese particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),
international trade passes by sea through the Malacca Strait off because it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
the coast of Singapore which is a major US ally. The initiative is o CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) which connects
integral to China’s efforts to create its own more secure trade Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s Baluchistan with China’s
routes. Xinjiang province is the flagship project of BRI.

• Political influence: Enhancing China’s intention is also to make • India's main concern is that this project disregards its
sovereignty and territorial integrity.regarding
participating nations interdependent with the Chinese economy,
multilateralism.
thereby building economic and political influence for China.

19
 • Boosting Development: The Belt and Road is a vital tool in
China's efforts to uplift its less affluent central provinces,
with the government providing substantial budgets and
promoting competition among businesses in these areas to
secure contracts.
Concerns of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI):
• Debt Trap Diplomacy: Nations have borrowed heavily from
China for BRI projects, and they now face challenges in
repaying these loans. This has led to accusations of "debt
trap diplomacy," where countries risk losing control of
strategic assets if they default on their loans. For example,
due to mounting debt, Sri Lanka had to hand over control
of the Hambantota port to China.
• Risks involved with major infrastructure projects: Potential
environmental, social, and corruption risks are associated
with any large infrastructure project.
 For Example: In 2016, China was involved in 240 coal projects in BRI countries, responsible for greenhouse gas emissions.
• Macro risks: For some countries, the financing required for BRI projects may expand debt to unsustainable levels.
 For instance, the construction of the Lao PDR section of the Kunming -Singapore Railway has an estimated cost of US$ 6
billion – nearly 40 percent of the GDP of Laos in 2016.
• Slow Pace of Projects: In Pakistan, BRI projects worth around $19 billion are either completed or underway but that has not
impeded structural economic reforms.
 As a result, Pakistan’s economy is on the brink of a default
with high amounts of debt, an ever-growing current account
deficit, and very low foreign exchange reserves.
• Slowdown of the Chinese Economy: The recent slowing down
of the Chinese economy presents another key challenge to the
BRI.
 The Chinese economy grew 5.5% in the first half of 2023,
above the official 5% target but below its historical rate. It is
also facing deflation and rising youth unemployment.
• Governance Issue: In contrast to initiatives such as the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI) does not possess a centralized governing
framework, complicating the collective resolution of issues.
Proponents of BRI:
• Tremendous size and scope: BRI economies account for one-
Alternatives to BRI:
third of global GDP and trade, and close to two-thirds of the
 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment: PGII is
world population. Countries that have joined the BRI have seen a West-led initiative to fund global infrastructure projects,
a jump in investment and trade with China and preferential seen as a response to China's BRI.
treatments in policy, although these are, again, enabled through  India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC): It seeks to link
bilateral arrangements. As the India, West Asia, and Europe through railways and shipping
 White Paper on BRI noted, between 2013 and 2022, trade lines.
with BRI partners grew 6.4% annually reaching $19.1 trillion  Global Gateway: The EU aims to raise €300 billion by 2027 to
support the financing of high-quality, sustainable
while total investment reached $380 billion.
infrastructures, which comply with social and environmental
• Large unexploited Potential: While BRI economies, including standards.
China, have significantly increased their global exports in the

20
 past two decades, some countries like Afghanistan, Nepal, Tajikistan, and Laos face challenges such as insufficient
infrastructure and weak policies, hindering their trade potential.
 A successful BRI has the potential to address these gaps and enhance international commerce, particularly for less-
integrated economies.
• Improving connectivity: It currently takes about 30 days to ship goods from China to Central Europe, with most goods being
transported by sea. Shipping goods by train can cut transit time in half but costs much more.
 If successful, BRI projects stand to make trade easier in some of the world’s most important economic corridors.
• Investment Window: The proponents of the BRI argue that it is not a debt trap and that the initiative provides much-needed
investment and infrastructure for developing countries.
• Moving towards BRI 2.0: Beyond big-ticket infrastructure projects with low short-term returns, BRI partners are moving into
strategic sector ties with China, such as 5G network deployment through the Digital Silk Road.
 Amid the U.S.-China technology war., the average deal size has dropped 48% since 2018, making BRI projects smaller but
more strategic.
Conclusion:
Through BRI, China has established an investment network to safeguard its interests, which has resulted in many low- and middle-
income nations accumulating significant debts. In response, global initiatives such as PGII, and Global Gateway must be prioritized
for more inclusive and sustainable development.
2.2 Indo-Pacific Region
Context: Recently, the 13th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs’
Conference (IPACC), was held alongside the 47th Indo-Pacific
Armies Management Seminar and the Senior Enlisted Leaders
Forum in New Delhi.
More on News:
• According to the Army Chief General (Indian Army),
territorial disputes and transnational threats of terrorism
are among the many land-related challenges in the Indo-
Pacific region.
About Indo-Pacific Region:
• Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe articulated the idea of the
“Indo-Pacific” in his address to the Indian Parliament in
August 2007 and also called for the creation of a coalition of
Asian democracies.
• Indo-Pacific region: Refers to a geopolitical concept that
surrounds a vast maritime area in the Indian Ocean and
Pacific Ocean.
• It spans from the eastern coast of Africa to the western
coast of the Americas and is strategically significant due to
its major trade route, important sea lanes, and critical maritime chokepoints it contains.
 The USA sees the Indo-Pacific as a free and open region based on rule-based order.
 ASEAN interprets it as a model of cooperation based on shared power.
• Track 1.5 Dialogue: Held between India, France and Australia with focus on the identification of security challenges and issues
in the Indo-Pacific.
India’s Indo-Pacific Strategy:
• India stands for a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific. For India, the Indo-Pacific is an inclusive space for all stakeholders
based on common responsibilities and common interests.
• India’s vision towards the region is based on the trinity: open, integrated and balanced region.
• India’s Indo-Pacific policy has been transformed significantly covering the whole gamut of the ocean and it has taken various
new policy initiatives on the Indo-Pacific.
 Act East: Moving from Look East Policy to Act East policy.
 SAGAR: Strategic vision for the Indian Ocean, “Security and Growth for All in the Region” (SAGAR).

21
  Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative: It is an initiative that builds upon the SAGAR initiative. It endorses an open, inclusive, non-
treaty-based global initiative for mitigating challenges especially in the maritime domain through practical cooperation.
Significance of Indo-Pacific Region:
• Economic Vitality: It is the most populous region and encompasses some of the world's fastest-growing economies, including
India, USA, Japan, China, and Four Asian Tiger Countries/Economies, etc.
• Strategic Location: This region serves as a crossroads for trade and transportation between Asia, Europe, the Americas, and
Africa.
 Important Chokepoints in the region: Strait of Malacca, Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, and Mozambique Channel.
• Security: Maintaining peace and the law-abiding nature of stakeholders in the region has gained significant importance in the
backdrop of rising security challenges in the region with China emerging as an aggressive player.
• Opportunities for India:
 China Plus One strategy: The ongoing trade war
between China and the United States, as well as the Territorial Disputes in Indo-Pacific:
repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, have led Tensions over competing territorial claims have the potential to escalate
and disrupt regional stability.
many multinational corporations to pursue this
strategy, which involves diversifying their supply • The Spratly Islands: Involves six countries in the South China Sea viz.
China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei.
chains outside of China in order to reduce
dependence on the country. • The Paracel Islands: China and Vietnam have competing claims over
 Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF): It is a US the Paracel Islands in the.
led initiative and aims to strengthen economic • Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands: Controlled by Japan, are also claimed by
partnership among participating countries. India China as well as Taiwan.
agreed to three out of four pillars viz. supply chains, • Ladakh: India and China are holding commander-level talks due to
tax and anti-corruption and clean energy. territorial disputes in the Pangong Tso region.

Challenges Related to the Indo-Pacific Region: • Taiwan Strait: China considers the Republic of Taiwan as a part of its
territory and is increasing aggressive actions including flying fighter
• Chinese Threat: China is using military and economic jets near the island.
coercion to bully its neighbours, advance unlawful
• The Chagos Archipelago: The United Kingdom and Mauritius have a
maritime claims, threaten maritime shipping lanes, and
sovereignty dispute over the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
destabilise territory along its periphery.
 For instance, China invaded and occupied
• Dokdo/Takeshima Dispute: South Korea and Japan have a territorial
dispute over the islets known as Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima
Scarborough shoal in spite of the Philippine’s claims.
in Japan.
• Maritime Security: Preventing piracy and illegal fishing
• Sabah Dispute: The Philippines and Malaysia have had historical
which are ongoing challenges in the region.
disputes over Sabah, located in Borneo.
 For instance, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)
alliance held several joint defence operations for
mitigating Indo-Pacific piracy.
• Regional Extremist Groups: Some countries in the Indo-Pacific have faced threats from regional extremist groups with local
grievances.
 For example, Jemaah Islamiyah in
Southeast Asia.
• Transnational organised crimes: They pose
significant challenges to security, stability,
and economic development. Major crimes
in the region involve drug trafficking
(Golden Triangle), human and wildlife
trafficking, money laundering and smuggling.
• Geopolitical Alignments: The region sees evolving geopolitical alignments as countries seek to balance between major powers
like the United States and China. Striking a delicate balance in alignment choices is a challenge for many nations.
• Other Issues:
 North Korean Threat: North Korea's nuclear program and its missile tests pose a security challenge in the region. Its long-
range missile poses an immediate security challenge.
 Environmental Issues: The region is home to fragile marine ecosystems, including coral reefs.

22
  Humanitarian Crises: Including refugee and migrant flows, can strain regional resources and stability. The Rohingya crisis
in Myanmar and Bangladesh is an example of such a challenge.
Way Forward:
• Multilateral Diplomacy and Dialogue: Promote dialogue and diplomatic negotiations as the primary means of resolving
territorial issues, addressing security concerns, and finding peaceful solutions to conflicts.
• Strengthen Regional Organisations: Enhance the role and capacity of existing regional organisations like ASEAN, SAARC, and
the Pacific Islands Forum to foster cooperation and conflict resolution in the Indo-Pacific.
• Counterterrorism Cooperation: Strengthen counterterrorism cooperation among countries in the region by sharing
intelligence, conducting joint exercises, and implementing measures to combat terrorist financing and recruitment.
• Transnational Crime Combating: Regional and international organisations like INTERPOL and UNODC (United Nations Office
on Drugs and Crime) can play a crucial role in coordinating responses and building capacity to address the challenges including
drug trafficking, human trafficking, and wildlife trafficking.
• Promote Rules-Based Order: Encourage adherence to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS), to resolve maritime disputes and ensure freedom of navigation.
2.3 Israel-Palestine Conflict
Context: Israel declared a state of war after the Palestinian terrorist
militant organization Hamas launched an attack on it.
More on News:
• The attack has raised concerns over Israel’s defence system, with
many questioning the intelligence failure. Some observers have
referred to the latest escalation as the beginning of the “Third
Intifada”.
• The First Intifada lasted from 1987 to 1993, and the Second
Intifada from 2000-2005.
(Intifada: It is an Arabic word that means to ‘shake off’. It became
popular in December 1987, with Palestinians using it to describe
their uprising against the Israeli presence in the West Bank and
Gaza.)
Who is Hamas?
• It is the largest Palestinian militant Islamist group and a significant
regional political party.
• It currently governs over two million Palestinians
in the Gaza Strip.
• However, it is designated as a terrorist group by
Israel, the United States, the European Union, the
United Kingdom, and other countries due to its
armed activities.
• Formation: Founded in the late 1980s during the
first Palestinian intifada (uprising) against Israeli
occupation, Hamas emerged from the Palestinian
Muslim Brotherhood.
Hezbollah:
• Hezbollah, whose name means ‘Party of God’, is a
Shiite Islamic militant organization from Lebanon.
Why did Hamas launch a surprise attack on Israel?
• Deteriorating Relations: Palestinian-Israeli
relations have steadily deteriorated in recent
years, marked by frequent Israeli military raids in
the occupied West Bank.

23
• In April, Israeli police raided Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque compound (Islam’s third holiest place of worship).
• Exploiting Public Anger: Hamas sought to capitalize on the public anger against the occupation and emerge as the leading
force in the Palestinian cause. Hamas aimed to position itself as the primary advocate for Palestinian rights.
• Israeli Domestic Divisions: Israel is experiencing internal
divisions, with a right-wing government pursuing an ambitious Why Mahatma Gandhi opposed a Jewish nation-state in
legislative agenda and facing protests against attempts to curtail Palestine?
the judiciary's powers. • The Mahatma was deeply sympathetic to the plight of the
• Geopolitical Considerations: The timing of the Hamas attack Jewish people in Europe. But he was against Zionists and the
coincided with Israel and Saudi Arabia being in advanced talks for attempt to create a state of their own by force in Palestine.
normalization. Gandhi's opposition was based on two principal beliefs.
• A potential normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, • First, that Palestine was already home to Arab Palestinians,
supported by the United States, would reshape regional and the settlement of Jews, which Britain actively enabled,
dynamics and potentially weaken Hamas. was fundamentally violent.

India’s Stand over Conflict: • Second, Gandhi felt that the idea of a Jewish homeland was
fundamentally antithetical towards their fight for greater
• Historical Stand: India has expressed solidarity with the rights elsewhere in the world.
Palestinian cause and supported the establishment of a
sovereign Palestinian state.
 In 1975, India became the first non-Arab country to recognize
Places linked to Dispute:
the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinian people.
 In 1988, when the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) • Al Aqsa Mosque. It is one of the holiest structures in the
Islamic faith known by Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, or the
declared an independent state of Palestine with its capital in
Noble Sanctuary, and by Jews as the Temple Mount.
East Jerusalem, India granted recognition immediately.
• Recent Years: In recent years, India's foreign policy has shifted, • West Bank: West Bank is a landlocked territory in West
Asia. It also contains a significant section of the western
with Prime Minister Modi's visit to Israel in 2017, bypassing the
Dead Sea.
traditional Palestine stopover.
 The current administration aims to balance relations with • Gaza Strip: The Gaza Strip is located between Israel and
Egypt. Israel occupied the strip after 1967.
both Arab states and Israel, navigating new complexities in
West Asia. • Golan Heights: The Golan Heights is a strategic plateau that
 Prime Minister expressed shock at the recent conflict and he Israel captured from Syria in 1967.
called “terrorist attacks” and conveyed “solidarity with • Sinai Peninsula: It is bordered to the north by the
Israel”. Mediterranean Sea, and to the east by Israel and the Gaza
Strip, to the southwest by the Gulf of Suez, and South by the
What is the Conflict between Israel and Palestine? Red Sea.
• Jerusalem in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:
 UN Partition Plan (1947): The original UN plan proposed
Jerusalem as an international city.
 First Arab-Israeli War (1948): Israelis captured the western half of Jerusalem.
✓ Jordan took the eastern part, including the Old City and Haram al-Sharif.
✓ Six-Day War (1967): Israel defeated a coalition of Arab states, including Jordan.
✓ Jordan lost control of the al-Aqsa Mosque.
✓ Israel captured and annexed East Jerusalem.
 Post-Six-Day War: Israel considers the city its "unified, eternal capital."
✓ Palestinians insist on East Jerusalem as the capital of any future Palestinian
state.
Impact of Israel-Palestine conflict:
• Oil Prices: Escalation in the Middle East can lead to a surge in crude oil prices, affecting
global economies, including India.
• Inflation: Rising oil prices can trigger high imported inflation in major economies like
the US, India, and China, impacting production costs and energy expenses.
• Global Markets: Equity markets may experience volatility, with investors shifting
toward safe-haven assets like gold, and foreign institutional investors selling in
response to higher bond yields and oil prices.

24
• Global Geopolitics: The conflict's geopolitical implications may influence regional dynamics, including India's foreign policy
and relations with key players in the Middle East.
Key Terms:
• On India:
 Economic Impact: Disruptions in trade with Israel may • White Phosphorous bombs:
○ The white phosphorus bombs are believed to be used in a
lead to price increases for goods, affecting India's
recent Israeli strike on Hamas, which falls under war crime.
economy.
○ About White Phosphorous bombs: It is a chemical substance
✓ Israel is the third-largest Asian trade partner of India dispersed in artillery shells, bombs, rockets, or mortars, used
and 10th overall. primarily to obscure military operations on the ground.
✓ India’s exports to Israel account for 1.8% of India’s
• Laws of War: Laws of war are in focus due to the ongoing Hamas-
total merchandise exports led by petroleum
Israel Conflict.
products. ○ International humanitarian law, or jus in bello, provides the
✓ Israel buys around $5.5 - 6 billion of refined rules to be followed during an armed conflict.
petroleum products from India. In FY23, India’s total ✓ International humanitarian law (IHL) is contained in
exports to Israel stood at $8.4 billion customary international law, the Geneva Conventions of
 Defense Equipment: India relies on Israel for defense 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977 to protect
equipment; any interruptions could impact its defense civilians in war.
capabilities. ○ jus ad bellum: Under what conditions or when can countries
use force in their international relations during war. It is
Way Forward:
regulated by the United Nations (UN) Charter.
• Implementation of Oslo Accords (1993): The Oslo Accord is • Iron Sting: Iron Sting is the latest weapon system used by Israel
an ongoing American-mediated effort to broker a peace treaty between Israelis and Palestinians.
against Hamas. It is a laser and GPS-guided system that fires
• Two-State Solution: The two-state solution has for decades been120mm mortar and is built to engage targets in around 1 to 12 km
the primary focus of efforts to achieve peace in the Israeli-range Oslo Accord:
having around 90% accuracy and ensuring minimal collateral
Palestinian conflict ● Israel accepted the PLO as the representative of the
damage.
 The two-state solution aims to establish an independent○ It fulfills Palestinians,
the needsandofthe PLO renounced
adapting terrorism and
combat capabilities to contend
Palestinian state alongside Israel, ensuring two states for two withrecognized
enemies hidden
Israel'swithin
right tocivilian
exist inand urban environments.
peace.
peoples. ● Both sides agreed that a Palestinian Authority (PA) would
• Policy of De-hyphenation: India stated about the “de-hyphenated” be established and assume governing responsibilities in
relationship, means India would deal with each country the West Bank and Gaza Strip over a five-year period.
separately.
In fact, the de-hyphenation is actually a careful balancing act, with
India shifting from one side to another as the situation demands.
2.4 India-Maldives Relations
Context: Mohamed Muizzu of the People's National Congress (PNC) party was elected in the recently held presidential elections
in the Maldives.
More on News:
• India-Maldives relations have been on an upward trajectory ever since
Ibrahim Solih (lost in elections) Government came into power in 2018.
• Increase Chinese Influence: The victory of Muizzu is widely seen as being to
China’s benefit as he was the housing minister and undertook infrastructure
projects connected to Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• Muizzu continued the “India Out” campaign and questioned bilateral ties in
defence and infrastructure investments.
Background of India-Maldives Ties:
• India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and
commercial links and the relations have been close, cordial and multi-
dimensional.
• India was among the first to recognize Maldives after its independence in
1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.

25
• India established its resident High Commissioner in 1980 and Maldives opened a full fledged High Commission in New Delhi
in November 2004.
• The importance of India’s strategic role in Maldives is well-recognized, with India being seen as a net security provider.
 ‘India First’ has been a stated policy of the Government of Maldives.
• Area of Cooperation: Cybersecurity, Capacity Building, Housing, Disaster Management and Infrastructure Development etc.
 Bilateral engagements flourished beginning in the late 1980s, when India launched ‘Operation Cactus’ to abort a coup in
Maldives.
Significance of India-Maldives Ties:
• Geographical Proximity: Maldives’ proximity to
the west coast of India, around 70 nautical miles
away from Minicoy island (separated by 8-degree
channel), and its strategic location at the hub of
commercial sea-lanes running through Indian
Ocean influence its significant strategic
importance to India.
• Convergent Security Interests: A comprehensive
Action Plan for Defence was also signed in April
2016 and under the Neighbourhood First policy
and Security and Growth for All in the Region
(SAGAR), security cooperation between the two
countries has grown.
 In may 2023, India handed over a Fast Patrol
vessel and a Landing Craft Assault ship to the
Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
• Partnership at Security Groupings: India has
sought to enhance security cooperation with the
Indian Ocean island and littoral nations, through
a new ‘minilateral’ group called the Colombo
Security Conclave (CSC).
 Held at the National Security Advisor (NSA)-level, CSC brings together India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius, along
with Bangladesh and the Seychelles as observers.
• Economic Assistance: India has been providing economic assistance to support Maldives in times of economic hardship.
 In November 2022, India handed over a financial assistance of US$ 100 million in response to a request from Maldives.
• India’s Development-led Approach: India’s outreach has not simply been with the government but aimed at benefiting the
people of Maldives.
 For example, emphasis on High Impact Community Projects (HICP), financial assistance for the Greater Male Connectivity
project.
• Tourism and Connectivity: The Maldivian economy is heavily dependent on its tourism sector, which directly accounts for
about a quarter of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Maldives.
 In March 2022, India & Maldives agreed for an open skies arrangement which will further improve connectivity between
two countries.
Challenges faced by India-Maldives Ties:
• India Out Campaign: The campaign accused India of violating Maldivian sovereignty by allowing Indian military presence on
the islands.
 The government issued a presidential decree banning such campaigns and specifically mentioning the India-Out protests.
• Increasing Chinese Footprint: China and Maldives signed a Free Trade Agreement and negotiated on establishing a Joint
Ocean Observation Centre.

26
  China offered Maldives mega-infrastructure projects and loans, most of them under opaque terms and conditions.
• Criminality, Radicalisation and Extremism: Presence of high unemployment and poverty with politicisation of news media is
increasing the vulnerability of citizens of Maldives to extremism leading many towards terrorist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
• Political Uncertainty: Muizzu focused on the Indian military stationed on an island and alleged it as a threat to the Maldives'
sovereignty. With Muizzu coming to power, India has to go through a hard diplomatic balancing with Maldives government.
• Climate Change: As low-lying island nations, both India and the Maldives are vulnerable to the effects of climate change,
including rising sea levels and marine heatwaves.
Way Forward:
• Timely Project Completion: India must offer lucrative alternatives that focus on development and ensure early completion of
its current projects to maintain its footprint in Maldives.
 For example, timely completion of India-funded sea bridge under the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) meeting
an ambitious deadline.
• Targeting Youth Employment: According to the World Bank, that despite its strong economic growth, Maldives has a high
rate of youth unemployment. Future projects that are targeted at youth employability and entrepreneurship will be
extremely beneficial to Maldives.
 India’s HICPs in Maldives must include projects that aim to improve employability and foster entrepreneurship among the
youth.
• Tackling China’s Influence: India can expect that Chinese projects under the BRI will likely increase in the coming years. India
must offer credible and lucrative alternatives to Chinese projects.
• Tackling Terrorism and Other Issues: India continues to be Maldives's strongest defence partner for collaboration and the
exchange of best practices in the areas of counter-terrorism, preventing and countering violent extremism.
• Maneuvering Internal Politics: Constructively engaging with the ruling government and adept navigation of internal politics
while balancing competing interests will require the ability to align foreign policy goals with domestic priorities.
Conclusion:
Building trust, fostering understanding, and finding common ground on regional and global issues will contribute to a stronger
and more resilient partnership between the two nations.

PRELIMS NEWS:
2.5 India ASEAN Trade Relations
Context: China’s growing trading relationships with ASEAN
nations has propelled it far ahead of India in Southeast Asia.
India- ASEAN:
The ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok,
Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration
(Bangkok Declaration).
• The 10 member states of ASEAN are: Brunei, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Trade between India and ASEAN:
• Top Goods Exported from ASEAN to India in 2021:
Animal or vegetable fats, oils and products (14.7%),
Electrical machinery, equipment and their parts (14.4%),
Mineral fuels, oils and products of their distillation (12.5),
Nuclear reactors, machinery and mechanical appliances
(9.8%), Plastics and articles (6.1%), Organic chemicals
(5.7%) etc.
• Top Goods Imported to ASEAN from India in 2021:
Mineral fuels, oils and products of their distillation
(16.2%), Iron and steel (10.3%), Nuclear reactors,
machinery and mechanical appliances (7.7%), Pearls,
precious metals and stones (7.4%), Organic chemicals
(5.6%), Pharmaceutical products (3.8%), Vehicles and
accessories (3.7%) etc.
2.6 India-Palestine Relations
Context: Recently, the Prime Minister conveyed
condolences to Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas at the
loss of civilian lives at the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza.
Evolution of India-Palestine Relations:
• 1974: India became the first Non-Arab State to recognize
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole and
legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
• 1988: India became one of the first countries to
recognize the Palestinian State.

27
• 1996: India opened its Representative Office in Gaza,
which was later shifted to Ramallah in 2003.
• 2003: India also voted in favor of the UNGA Resolution in
October 2003 against construction of the separation wall
by Israel.
• 2011: India voted in favor of Palestine becoming a full
member of UNESCO.
• 2012: India co-sponsored and voted in favor of the UNGA
Resolution that enabled Palestine to become a ‘non-
member Observer state’ at the UN without voting rights.
• 2017: Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime
minister to visit Israel, without visiting Palestine, paving
the way for Dehyphenation in foreign policy towards
Israel-Palestine.
India’s Dehyphenation of Policy towards Israel and
Palestine:
• De-hyphenation means dealing with two countries,
having an adversarial relationship between them, in an
independent manner. This would mean building a
relationship with one, ignoring the complexities of its
relations with the other.
 For Example: The United States (US) has advocated
such a policy vis-à-vis India and Pakistan, since the
second-term Bush presidency, connoting that its
relationship with India would stand on its own rather
than getting affected by its relations with Pakistan.
2.7 Indian Ocean Rim Association
Context: Sri Lanka is set to take over the chairmanship of the
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) during the 23rd Council
of Ministers' Meeting scheduled for October, 2023, in
Colombo.
About Indian Ocean Rim Association:
• The IORA is an intergovernmental organization
established in 1997, comprising 23 member states and
11 dialogue partners.
• IORA Members:
 Asia: India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia,
Maldives, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
 Africa: Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia ,
South Africa, Tanzania, Comoros, Mauritius,
Seychelles.
 Oceania: Australia.
 Europe: France
• Dialogue partners: China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany,
Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia, Turkiye, United
Kingdom and United States of America.

SHORT NEWS:

Vienna Conventions India recently rejected Canada’s attempt to “portray” the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats
from the country as a violation of international norms.
More on News:
• The Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi has shut down its operations), citing “lack of support
from the host government”.
• In accordance with Article 45 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), all
property and facilities of the Embassy will be transferred to the custodial authority of the host
country.
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations:
• It is an international treaty signed by 61 countries in 1961.
• It puts forth a framework for diplomatic interactions between independent nations and aims
to ensure the ‘development of friendly relations among nations’.

Global Security Initiative Recently, Nepal rejected calls from China to join the ‘Global Security Initiative (GSI)’.
• The GSI is a new Chinese initiative that seeks to challenge the Western-led global governance
system and de-legitimize the United States' role in Asia.

Asia-Pacific Economic US President Joe Biden indicated the possibility of holding a meeting with Chinese President Xi
Cooperation Jinping during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco, USA.

28
 • APEC is a forum of 21 Asia-Pacific economies.
• Member Nations: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South
Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia,
Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States.
• India is not a Member of APEC.

Operation Ajay India launched Operation Ajay to help Indians stuck in Israel to return home amid Israel-hamas
Conflict.
Other Recent Operation:
• Operation Dost (2023): Operation Dost is a search and rescue operation launched by the Indian
government to assist Syria and Turkey following a violent earthquake that devastated both
countries on February 6, 2023
• Operation Ganga(2022): It is an evacuation mission to bring back all the Indian nationals who
are currently stranded in Ukraine.

India-UAE Bilateral Recently, India and the UAE discussed a bilateral investment treaty that could see the UAE invest
Investment Treaty in India's renewable energy, health, semiconductor and asset monetization sectors.
Key Points:
• India-UAE trade rose to $85 billion in 2022.
• UAE was India’s third-largest trading partner and second-largest export destination in
FY2022-23. Conversely, India was the UAE’s second-largest trading partner.
• UAE is the fourth largest investor in India.
• Bilateral investment treaties (BITs) are agreements between states establishing minimum
guarantees regarding the treatment of foreign investments.

Shanghai Cooperation The 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of
Organisation (SCO) Government (CHG), is to be held under the chairmanship of Kyrgyzstan.
• The CHG is the second-highest forum in SCO. It focuses primarily on economy, finance,
commerce, and socio-economic cooperation.
• The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001.
• The SCO has mainly focused on regional security issues, and its fight against regional
terrorism, ethnic separatism and religious extremism.
• Member States: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran and
Uzbekistan.

India Sri Lanka ferry An international, high-speed passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam on the eastern
service coast of Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in the northern province of Sri Lanka, has resumed after
a gap of nearly four decades.
About Sri Lanka:
• Location:
○ It is situated both in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth.
○ It is separated from the peninsular Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk
Strait.
○ It shares maritime borders with the Maldives to the southwest and India to the northwest.
• The Mahaweli Ganga is the longest river of Sri Lanka.

29
3. ECONOMY
3.1 India’s Informal Economy
Context:
According to the annual Periodic Labour Force Survey Report (PLFS) 2022-23, 74% of non-farm workers are in proprietorships
and partnerships, officially classified as informal-sector
enterprises.
More about the news:
• While the informal sector produces almost half of the
country's GDP, more than 90% of the overall workforce is
employed in the informal economy.
• According to e-Shram portal, over 94% of the informal
sector workers enrolled on the e-Shram platform earn less
than Rs 10,000 per month.
 Agriculture ranks first, accounting for 52.11% of all
enrolments, followed by domestic and household
employees and construction workers.
• The social-security benefits remain available to
only around half of people working for a salary.
Key Findings PLFS:
• LFPR:
 In rural areas, LFPR increased from 50.7% in
2017-18 to 60.8% in 2022-23 while for urban
areas it increased from 47.6% to 50.4%.
 LFPR for male in India increased from 75.8%
in 2017-18 to 78.5% in 2022-23 and
corresponding increase in LFPR for females
was from 23.3% to 37.0%.
• WPR:
 In rural areas, WPR increased from 48.1% in
2017-18 to 59.4% in 2022-23 while for urban
areas it increased from 43.9% to 47.7%.
 WPR for male in India increased from 71.2% in 2017- About PLFS:
18 to 76.0% in 2022-23 and corresponding increase • Launched by: the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in 2017.
in WPR for females was from 22.0% to 35.9%. • Objective: To estimate the key employment and unemployment
• UR: indicators.
 In rural areas, UR decreased from 5.3% in 2017-18 to The key employment and unemployment indicators are defined as:
2.4% in 2022-23 while for urban areas it decreased • Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR is defined as the
from 7.7% to 5.4%. percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking
 UR for male in India decreased from 6.1% in 2017-18 or available for work) in the population.

to 3.3% in 2022-23 and corresponding decrease in
UR for females was from 5.6% to 2.9%.
• Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined as the percentage
of employed persons in the population.
• Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is defined as the percentage of
persons unemployed among the persons in the labor force.

30
About Informal Economy:
• Definition of Informal worker: According to OECD employees are considered to have informal jobs if their employment
relationship is, in law or in practice, not subject to national labour legislation, income taxation, social protection or
entitlement to certain employment benefits (advance notice of dismissal, severance pay, paid annual or sick leave, etc.)
 Over 90% of workers in India are informal and out of these, those engaged in rural areas (dominated by farm and
agriculture activities) are significantly more than those of urban areas.
 Informal employment lacks a written contract, paid leave, and may not pay minimum wages or pay attention to working
conditions.
• Informal businesses Include: Street vending, artisanal production, home-based businesses, local transport workers, shop
workers, domestic servants, community services like street cleaning and garbage collection, small workshops like shoe makers,
garment makers, and embroiderers etc.
Challenges Associated With the Formalisation of Indian Economy:
• Goods And Services Tax (GST) and Associated Complications: It is assumed that the higher revenue collections mean a more
formal economy and vice versa. However, in trying to maximize
GST collection, policymakers have made the GST extremely Key Terms:
complicated. • Formal Economy: The part of an economy of which the
government is fully aware and that is regulated by
 For instance, the productivity gains from the GST unifying the
government authorities, particularly in the areas of contract
country into a single market have gone almost entirely to and company law, taxation and labour law.
large businesses and digital startups whereas the compliance • Informal Economy: It refers to all economic activities by
burden has put smaller firms at a disadvantage. workers and economic units that are not covered or
• Lack of Yields from Industrial Policy: A five-year package of $24 insufficiently covered by formal arrangements. The informal
billion in production-linked incentives is provided to those who economy does not cover illicit activities.
are willing put up factories.
 However, By September 2022, the program had managed to create fewer than 200,000 jobs.
• High Uncertainty Regarding Job Security: The high insecurity due to a high degree of economic informality is making even
some PhDs and engineers graduates to compete for a government office for stability of tenure and retirement benefits.
• Aging Population: By 2050, India’s elderly population would more than double to 350 million. This low-productivity work
offers less chance to save for old age or medical emergencies.
• Social Challenge: Social norms and safety concerns curbs physical mobility of women who make up the majority of informal
participants, yet they face lower salary, income volatility, and a lack of a strong social safety net.
 Meanwhile, Dalits, the caste groups at the bottom of a repressive, hierarchical ladder, are stuck in casual, daily-wage work.
• Access to Financing: The domestic credit-to-GDP ratio compares credit to people and businesses to the economy.
 The World Bank reports that India's private sector domestic credit at 55% of GDP in 2020 is well below the global average
(148%) and below China (182%), South Korea (165%), and Vietnam (148%).
Way Forward:
Government Initiatives to Formalise Indian
• Formalizing Informal Sector: Bringing informal workers and economic
Economy:
units under the coverage of formal arrangements.
• Introduction of the Goods and Services Tax
 For example, Material Recovery and Segregation Facility (MRF) in (GST)
North Delhi provides formal employment to waste workers. • Digital Payment System
• Creation of Database: There are no official statistics available that reflect • Production-Linked Incentives
the true state of the informal economy making it sector with “invisible • Make in India
workforce”. As part of the National Data System, a comprehensive • PM Vishwakarma Scheme
statistical base on many elements of the informal economy is required to
• E-Shram Portal
enable policymakers to make informed decisions.
• Labour Codes
• Equal Wages and Salaries: Equal compensation for equal effort is a • Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan
directive principle of state policy (Article 39(d)), but women farm
• PM SVANidhi
laborers typically earn less than their male colleagues.

31
  Through appropriate legislative support and its proper implementation, the government should enhance and enforce this
DPSP
• Rationalising Regulations: There is a need to relax restrictions for formal business conduct in order to pull informal work into
the fold of formality.
• Collective Working: There is a need for workers to collaborate with others with complementary skills so that they can
collectively perform and benefit from complex and high value-added tasks that none of them could do on their own.

3.2 Farmer Producers’ Organisations (FPOs): Engines of agri -innovation

Context:
Eastern Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a hub of vegetable and fruit exports in the past two years. Progressive farmers are
associating with regional FPOs and becoming agents of change.
More on News:
• The FPO Shakti portal has been launched to provide a platform
to all active FPOs in UP. It is a one-stop solution for grievance
redressal, forging business partnerships and fostering
convergence.
• As of July 15, close to 1,600 FPOs, with a total turnover of Rs
229 crore have registered on the portal. More than six lakh
farmers are associated with these organizations.
What are FPOs:
• An FPO is a collective of farmers with holdings or works in a
geographical cluster.
• It can be registered under the Companies Act or as a
cooperative under the Societies Registration Act.
Need for FPOs:
• Fragmented land holdings prevent economies of scale and
discourage agricultural investment.
 The average size of operational holding has declined to
1.08 ha. in 2015-16 as compared to 1.15 in 2010-11
(Agriculture Census 2015-16).
• FPOs have demonstrated their potential to trigger cluster-
based farming, bringing in economies of scale in input
management facilitating agri-extension, enabling technology
adoption, providing quality assurance and helping farmers
market their produce.
• Current Status:
 As of 30th June 2023, 10,000 FPOs have been allocated to
various Implementing Agencies (IAs) out of which 6319 FPOs
have been registered across the country.
Challenges:
Various studies commissioned by NABARD, have established the
positive role of FPOs, However, there are challenges and policy
gaps in the ecosystem.
• Lack of/ Inadequate Professional Management: FPOs are
required to be efficiently managed by experienced, trained, and professionally qualified CEOs and other personnel under the

32
 supervision and control of democratically-elected Boards of Directors. However, such trained manpower is unavailable in rural
areas to professionally manage FPO business.
• Poor Capitalization And Funding Scope:
 There is a provision of funding support under various government schemes to the FPOs promoted by NABARD or SFAC.
However, such financial assistance is not available to all the
FPOs, particularly outside the ambit of NABARD/SFAC. The
National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development
average paid-up capital (PUC) of most FPOs is between ₹1.0
(NABARD):
to 3.0 lakhs.
• It is India's apex development bank, established in 1982
 Due to the lack of any collateral assets with the FPOs, financial under an Act of Parliament.
institutions are hesitant to finance the FPOs. • Its mission is to promote sustainable and equitable
• Business plan and scaling opportunities: agriculture and rural development through participative
 Most FPOs lack a business plan and long-term vision, so they financial and non-financial interventions, innovations,
only buy and sell inputs or farm produce in bulk. Lack of technology and institutional development for securing
prosperity.
Awareness:
Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC):
 Inadequate awareness among the farmers about the
• It is an Autonomous Society promoted by the Ministry of
potential benefits of collectivization & non-availability of
Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers' Welfare,
competent agencies for providing handholding support. Government of India. It was registered under the Societies
 Further, lack of legal and technical knowledge about various Registration Act XXI of 1860 on 18th January 1994.
Acts and Regulations related to forming FPOs and statutory • It is a pioneer in organizing small and marginal farmers as
compliances thereafter. Farmer's Interest Groups, Farmers Producers Organisation
• Inadequate Access to Infrastructure: Inadequate access to the and Farmers Producers Company to endow them with
bargaining power and economies of scale.
basic infrastructure required for aggregation like transport
Average paid-up Capital:
facilities, storage, value addition (cleaning, grading, sorting, etc.)
• It is the average shareholder investment in a company's
and processing, brand building and marketing.
stock.
• Lack of Risk Mitigation Mechanism: Presently, while the risks
related to production at the farmers’ level are partly covered under the existing crop/livestock/otherinsurance schemes, there
is no provision to cover business risks of FPOs
Way forward:
• Federation of FPOs: FPO federations foster cross-functional Success Stories OF FPOs:
learning through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and • Oriental FPO: It has developed cold chain infrastructure and
collective learning. These platforms let FPOs share created the brand name 'Safe N Fresh' in Jammu and Kashmir
knowledge, experiences, and resources to improve learning. UTs.
 For example the Maha FPO Federation in Maharashtra • Prayag Raj Farmer Producer Company Limited: The
demonstrates the positive impact of such federations. establishment of input retail outlets a boon for both the farmers
and consumers, in Uttar Pradesh
• Professional Management: An appropriate capacity-building
method should be used to enable FPO members and office • Rameshwar Farmer Producer Company Limited: The
establishment of Wholesale counter for vegetable sale provides
bearers to make timely and appropriate decisions. This
a more remunerative channel to farmers, in Uttar Pradesh
improves FPO management.
• In Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, the FPO collaborated with the district
• Linkage with the financial institutions: Appropriate linkage administration for the "Aahaar Se Upchar Tak" campaign to
with the financial institutions and FPO should be supply nutrition-rich products to Anganwadi Kendra. Their efforts
strengthened, to promote the establishment of agri- led to an improvement in nutritive outcomes in the area.
enterprises on a large scale.
 For example: Grameen Foundation launched the second phase of its Market Access eNabled by Digital Innovation in India
(MANDI-II) project, funded by a $2-million grant from Walmart Foundation.
• Marketing:
 Adequate skill-embedded knowledge related to processing, value addition, storage of agricultural products, and
application of Information and Communication Technology in the marketing of produce should be provided.

33
• Foster learning and innovation among FPOs: By embracing innovation, FPOs can create a competitive advantage that allows
them to thrive in the market. They can differentiate themselves by offering unique products, establishing strong relationships
with consumers, and building a reputation for quality and reliability.
 Samunnati, one of India’s largest agri enterprises, has signed an agreement with Singapore-headquartered B2B (business-
to-business) SaaS FinTech finbotsAI, to transform credit risk management using artificial intelligence (AI).
• Comprehensive Policy: A Policy should be developed to establish the FPO as the grassroots organization for extension
delivery to scale out the farmers' agricultural and agri-entrepreneurial knowledge.
Conclusion:
Formation & promotion of FPOs is the first step for converting Krishi into Atmanirbhar Krishi. This will enhance cost-effective
production and productivity and higher net incomes for the members of the FPO.
3.3 Freight Corridors Should Improve Logistics Position
Context:
The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor spanning the 1,337 km Ludhiana in Punjab and Sonnagar in Bihar is complete.
Commercial operations on the full corridor are likely to start in November 2023.
More On News:
• The operational corridor will benefit the thermal power
plants in UP, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan as it
will cater largely to coal traffic.
• The surging domestic economy, booming infrastructure
construction and growing international trade led to the
conception of the Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC).
• India improves the logistics ranking of the World Bank by
jumping 6 places to Rank 38 out of 139 countries in the
Logistics Performance Index (LPI 2023).
• However, the logistics cost in India is 13 percent of the GDP
compared to 8 percent of the global average, making it
difficult for Indian exports to compete globally.
About DFC:
• The Ministry of Railways (MoR) has taken up the
construction of two Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC)
(Refer Table below).
Significance Of DFC:
Saturation of the Existing Infrastructure:
• The Indian Railways' Golden quadrilateral and Western Dedicated Freight Corridor Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor
1,468 km 1,760 km
its two diagonals (Delhi-Chennai and Mumbai-
Howrah) comprises 16% of the route but carry Dadri, U.P to Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Ludhiana, Punjab to Dankuni West
Mumbai. Bengal
more than 52% of the passenger traffic and 58%
of revenue earning freight traffic of IR. The WDFC covers Haryana, Rajasthan, The EDFC route covers Punjab,
Gujarat, Maharashtra & Uttar Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
● This trunk route is highly saturated with Jharkhand & West Bengal
Pradesh.
line capacity utilization varying between
115% to 150%. The Japan International Cooperation The World Bank is funding EDFC
Agency.
Efficiencies:
The Connecting Link for Eastern & Western Arm is under construction between
• Railways are about 12 times more efficient in Dadri & Khurja.
freight traffic than road transport and three
times more efficient in passenger traffic.

34
• The average speed of freight trains on the DFCs
will be 50-60 kmph from the existing 25 kmph on
Indian railway tracks.
• The Western DFC has cut freight travel times
between 24 to 48 hours for cargo moving
between North India and port infrastructure on
the western coast of India. Reduce logistic cost:
Railway transportation is generally more cost-
effective than road transportation for bulk goods
like salt, Coal, cement, etc.
• Each kilometer-long freight train on the EDFC will
replace some 72 trucks on average (World Bank
report).
Green Impact: The corridor will rely entirely on
electric locomotives.
• It is expected that DFC will save more than 450
million tons of CO2 in the first 30 years of
operation (Assessment based on Ernst &
Young study).
Industrial Development And Regional
Revitalisation:
• Establishing industrial zones at strategic
junctions along its route is poised to breathe
new life into some of India's poorest and most
densely populated regions.
 For example: The Nangal Chaudhary
Integrated Multi-Modal Logistics Hub
(IMLH) Projects.
The Challenges of the DFC:
• Project Target and Cost:
 The Project is facing a delay over the
original deadline of 2017-18. This delay has
increased costs for both legs of the project
by 54 percent to Rs 1.24 trillion.
 In 2022, for instance, the Comptroller &
Auditor General pulled up the DFCCIL for
cost overruns.
• Planning and execution:
 Planning has been an issue since the project's conception. The original EDFC was to extend as far as Dankuni, West Bengal.
The current one terminates at Son Nagar, Bihar.
• Double stack vs Single stack:
 The project has adopted different technical standards for WDFC and EDFC. This makes a seamless movement of double-
stack trains from WDFC (7.1 meters) to EDFC (5.1 meters.) impossible.
• Transition to Renewable Energy:
 With an inclination towards using renewable resources in the future, the viability of the EDFC could be a concern since
most of the traffic was expected to be coal for power plants in northern India from the coal fields in the east.
• Industrial Corridors: The progress for Logistics Parks and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) has been very slow.
DMIC was approved in 2007 by the Union Cabinet. Eleven years after the approval, the DMIC is progressing slowly.
• Land acquisition: It can pose a problem in constructing the DFC and further delay the project's completion timeline.
Presumably due to difficulties in land acquisition), these have a higher number of affected patches per kilometer.

35
Way Forward:
• Land acquisition: Given the land acquisition difficulties in India, the fact that 1077 km out of 1504 km of WDFC and 1111 km
out of 1318 km of the non-PPP EDFC are adjacent to the existing IR network has been a positive for DFCCIL.
• Ownership of SPV: The Committee on Infrastructure had constituted a Task Force in May 2005. It recommends that the SPV
should have a joint ownership between MoR and the “users of bulk freight services largely in the public sector. It would have
ensured an adequate equity base, which could be used to leverage market borrowings to raise capital for investment in the
DFCs.
• Industrial Corridor: Establishing industrial zones at strategic junctions along its route is poised to breathe new life into some
of India's poorest and most densely populated regions. This development will create jobs and stimulate economic growth in
areas that have traditionally lagged behind in industrialization.
• Future DFC Corridors: The Union Budget 2021-22, announced that the government would in the future undertake dedicated
freight corridor projects — East Coast, East-West Corridor and North-South Corridor from Itarsi to Vijayawada. The Processes
are still in the nascent stage and need to be fast-tracked for timely completion of projects.
• Expansion to Neighbouring Countries: Enhancing intra-regional trade is necessary to increase connectivity in south asian
regions. The ensuing economic growth would also play a key role in bridging the trust deficit in the region and raising the
opportunity cost of conflict.
 It also helps to counter increasing China’s presence through its Belt and Road initiative.
Conclusion:
The National Rail Plan (NRP) strives to enhance the rail share in the country's freight transport from 27 percent to 45 percent in
which DFCs will play a very important role owing to the reduced transit time and lower logistics cost.
3.4 Indian Solar Manufacturers Battling Chinese Threat: PLI Brings Hope
Context:
India experienced a 76% drop in solar module imports from China in the first
half of 2023, signaling a significant move towards self-sufficiency in solar
manufacturing.
More on News:
• As per the report by global energy think tank Ember, Year-on-year, India’s
solar module imports from China plummeted from 9.8 GW in the first half
of 2022 to a mere 2.3 GW during the corresponding period in 2023.
• This decline is linked to India's focus on boosting domestic manufacturing,
supported by policies like a 40% customs duty on solar modules and 25%
on solar cells initiated in April 2022.
About Solar Energy:
• Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources
and can even be harnessed in cloudy weather.
• Solar technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy
either through photovoltaic (PV) panels or through mirrors
that concentrate solar radiation (CSP).
 PV cells convert solar radiation (sunlight) into
electricity.
 Concentrating Solar Power systems, use concentrated
solar radiation as a high temperature energy source to
produce electricity.
 This energy can be used to generate electricity or be
stored in batteries or thermal storage.

36
• Global Solar Trends: China remains dominant in the
solar panel market, exporting 114 GW worldwide,
primarily to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East,
marking substantial growth.
 China’s dominance in the solar panel
manufacturing market, accounting for about 80
per cent of the global market share.
Challenges in India’s Solar Equipment Manufacturing:
• Dependency on Chinese Equipment: India heavily
relies on Chinese solar equipment, with about 70% of
the country's solar capacity being built using
Chinese-made solar equipment.
 India has no manufacturing capacity for solar
wafers and polysilicon ingots, and currently imports 100% of silicon wafers.
• Competitive Pricing and Scale by China: Chinese manufacturers dominate the global market due to their ability to provide
solar equipment at a competitive price and scale, making it difficult for Indian manufacturers to compete effectively.
 Costs in China are 10% lower than in India, 20% lower than in the United States, and 35% lower than in Europe.
• Policy Instability: The solar manufacturing industry in India has faced challenges due to inconsistent policies and frequent
changes in regulations related to import duties and manufacturing incentives.
 In 2014, following a dumping complaint by Indian solar makers, the ministry of commerce finalised duties to the tune of
$0.48-$0.81 per unit on solar cells and modules imported from the US and China. But the Ministry of Finance did not
impose them and let the proposed duty lapse.
• Insufficient Market Share for Indian Manufacturers: Despite various initiatives, Indian solar manufacturers struggle to gain a
significant market share, capturing less than 10% of the domestic market. This limits their ability to compete globally.
• Delayed Projects and Cost Overruns: The imposition of import restrictions and changes in policies, such as the Approved List
of Module Manufacturers (ALMM), have led to project delays and increased costs for developers, hindering the growth of
the solar sector.
 In 2021, the union government announced an Approved List of Module Manufacturers (ALMM) in which all are indigenous
players. Project developers were mandated to procure from the list of companies in ALMM.
• Financial Barrier to Solar Manufacturing Setup: In India a major
financial disadvantage for setting up of industries is the high rate • PLI Scheme for Solar PV Modules: The Union Government
of interest. The cost of debt in India is 11% or highest in the Asia- established Rs 19,500-crore production-linked incentive
Pacific region, compared to 5% in China. scheme to boost high-efficiency solar PV module
manufacturing.
• Technology Gap: Indian industry predominantly uses older
 Aims to attract Rs 94,000 crore in investments for the
technologies and smaller wafer sizes compared to the global
sector.
shift towards newer, more efficient technologies and larger
• The leading players from both private and public sectors are
wafer sizes. expected to build a manufacturing capacity of 39.6 GW
Way Forward: under the PLI scheme.
• Promoting Domestic Manufacturing: The Indian government's  The government aims to achieve operational
initiatives like the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme aim manufacturing capacity of 7.4 GW by October 2024,
to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on 16.8 GW by April 2025, and the remaining 15.4 GW by
April 2026.
imports.
• Participation of Foreign Companies: US-based First Solar
• Investment in Research Facilities:
has been selected as the only foreign player under the PLI
 Invest in creating high-quality research and development scheme for solar manufacturing, emphasizing global
facilities to support innovation and technology development participation in the initiative.
in the solar sector.

37
  India has hardly invested in creating high-quality high-TRL
technology centres such as IMEC Belgium or the Holst
Centre in the Netherlands, which can help the industry to
try and test the technologies in a cost-effective manner.
• Recycling of solar PV panels: It offers environmental, social
and economic benefits while enhancing security of supply in
the long term.
 If panels were systematically collected at the end of their
lifetime, supplies from recycling them could meet over
20% of the solar PV industry’s demand for aluminium,
copper, glass, silicon and almost 70% for silver between
2040 and 2050 in the IEA’s Roadmap to Net Zero Emissions
by 2050.
• Diversifying Supply Chain:
 Work on diversifying the supply chain by exploring
alternative sources and fostering collaborations to ensure
a consistent and reliable raw material supply.
• Other Government Initiatives:
 Support for Semiconductor Fabrication Plants: 50% fiscal The International Energy Agency's (IEA’s) five key policy action
support for setting up semiconductor fabrication plants to areas to ensure solar PV security of supply:
address silicon wafer shortages. 1. Diversify manufacturing and raw material supplies
 M-SIPS for Manufacturing Facilities: Modified Special 2. De-risk investment
Incentive Package Scheme offers a 20-25% subsidy on capital 3. Ensure environmental and social sustainability
4. Continue to foster innovation
expenditure for setting up manufacturing facilities.
5. Develop and strengthen recycling capabilities
 Local Sourcing Mandate for Solar Producers: Mandate for
solar power producers to source a certain percentage of solar cells and modules locally to benefit from government energy
purchase guarantee.
3.5 Green Revolution in India
Context:
MS Swaminathan, the Father of the Green Revolution who transformed India’s image from a begging bowl to a bread basket
passed away recently.
More in News:
What is the Green Revolution?
• During the 1960s, when the country was on the brink of a mass • The term ‘Green Revolution’ refers to the new agricultural
famine and faced severe food shortages, Swaminathan technology developed during the 1950s and 1960s by a team
collaborated with fellow scientist Norman Borlaug and others of agricultural experts at the International Centre for Maize
to develop high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice. and Wheat Improvement in Mexico and at the International
Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines.
• His efforts helped the country to double the total crop yield of
Focus Areas:
wheat from 12 million tons to 23 million tons in four crop
• Farm Mechanization
seasons and ended our dependence on grain imports. • Use of hybrid varieties of seeds
Green Revolution in India: • Irrigation using the new dams
• India has achieved self-reliance in the production of food grains
in the last several decades and is inching towards self-reliance in pulse production.
• Today, India is the world’s largest sugar-producing country and holds the second position in rice production only after China.
 India is also the second largest producer of wheat with a share of around 14.14 percent of the world’s total production in
2020.
• As per the 4th Advance Estimates, the production of food grains in the country is estimated at 315.72 million tonnes which
is higher by 4.98 million tonnes than the production of food grains during 2020-21.

38
• Though the green revolution helped India move out of a
ship-to-mouth situation, since the mid-1980s, its second-
generation environmental impact and the intensive farming
it promoted started showing its impact.
Positive Impacts of the Green Revolution
• Increase in production and productivity of food grains
(Refer Image): Increased cereal production due to:
 Increase in net area under cultivation
 Growing two or more crops in a year on the same piece
of land
 Use of HYV seeds
• Increase in farmer's income:
 Since farmers and agricultural labour comprise a sizeable
proportion of the rural population, a rise in their income
is due to agricultural development.
 The per capita income of Punjab stands at Rs.1,73,873 in 2022-23 (Advance Estimates) which is higher than Rs. 1,70,620
at National level.
• Reduction in Poverty: Due to increased income for farmers and agricultural labor.
• Bullock Capitalism: Emergence of a new class of wealthy farmers and their subsequent impact on economic and agricultural
policy evident post-Green Revolution especially Green Revolution belt.
Negative Impacts of the Green Revolution:
• Environmental challenges:
 Decline in Soil fertility: Due to the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, making it less fertile and more susceptible
to erosion. For example there had been a decline of 16 percent in the production of wheat and 17 percent in per acre
wheat with increasing use of chemical fertilizers in Punjab.
 Depletion of groundwater resources: It led to a significant increase in water consumption for irrigation, which has
depleted groundwater resources in many areas. Punjab has 76% groundwater blocks which are overexploited, Rajasthan
has 72% and Haryana has 61%. (Ground Water Resources Assessment for 2022).
 Biodiversity and ecosystem: The Green Revolution's focus on a few high-yielding varieties of crops (Especially
Monocroping of wheat and rice) has reduced biodiversity and made agricultural ecosystems more vulnerable to pests and
diseases.
• Economy challenges
 Debt trap: The high cost of inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides has led many farmers to fall into debt. According
to the 2019 National Sample Survey, more than 50% of India’s farmers are debt-ridden and often seek alternatives
outside of agriculture, or tragically, end their own lives.
 High production costs: The Green Revolution has made agriculture more capital-intensive, increasing the production costs
for farmers.
 Regional disparities: The benefits of the Green Revolution have been unevenly distributed, with some regions benefiting
more than others ( benefits concentrated in Punjab, Haryana and Western UP regions).
 Big farmers: Small and marginal farmers have been disproportionately affected by the Green Revolution, as they have not
been able to compete with large farmers who have access to more resources.
• Social Challenges:
 Health: The overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has led to health problems for farmers and consumers. For
example, exposure to pesticides has been linked to cancer and other diseases. For example: The Malwa region in Punjab
is known as the Cancer Belt with 14,682 of the 33,318 deaths.
 Farmers' suicide: The debt burden and other challenges faced by farmers have led to a high rate of suicide in many areas.
A written reply in Parliament revealed that a total of 1,056 farmers committed suicide over the past five years (2017-21)
in Punjab.

39
  Drug abuse in Punjab: The Green Revolution led to a problem of drug abuse in Punjab, as many farmers turned to drugs
to cope with the stress and challenges of modern agriculture.
Challenges Post Green Revolution:
• Shrinking Land holdings: At present, the per capita available land is only about 0.10 hectares. This is much below the world
average of about 4.50 hectares. Over 75% of the landholding are less than one hectare.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP): MSP aims to provide guaranteed remunerative prices to farm produce. Against this
background, farmers have been demanding a ‘legal status’ to the MSP.
 A survey by the government showed that less than 6%, or over nine crore agricultural households, are the direct
beneficiaries. Further, only 19% of farmer families sold paddy under MSP, whereas only 9.7% of wheat farmers benefited
from MSP.
• Climate Change: Agriculture in India is highly vulnerable to climate change and variability and the frequency of climatic
extremes has increased in recent years resulting in increased risks to agricultural production and food security.
 In the absence of the adoption of adaptation measures, rainfed rice yields in India are projected to reduce by 20% in 2050
and 47% in 2080 scenarios while irrigated rice yields are projected to reduce by 3.5% in 2050 and 5% in 2080 scenarios.
Way Forward:
• Need for Evergreen Revolution: The evergreen revolution is based on an appropriate blend of different approaches to
sustainable agriculture such as organic farming, green agriculture, eco-agriculture and agriculture based on effective micro-
organisms.
• Green Revolution 2.0: We need to improve productivity in dry-farming areas, which can grow pulses, oilseeds and other high-
value crops that require less water, but many of which we continue to import.
• Natural Farming: Agroecological practices like Natural Farming are a cost-effective and ecologically compatible alternative
that can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. They can reduce input costs, improve income and financial stability,
alleviate poverty, promote gender equality, and ensure sustainable production and consumption patterns.
• Cooperative Farming: It was, therefore, necessary to make cost-effective usage of new technology on small and marginal-
size holdings through some institution-building measures like the formation of group farming.
• Green Revolution to Gene Revolution: GM seeds are considered to be more productive, more pest-resistant and more
suitable to all categories of farms and all the agricultural regions.
 However, the adoption of gene technology in Indian agriculture is subject to debate and discussion, as its positive and
negative effects on plants, animals and human lives have not yet been fully examined.
3.6 Impact of Monsoon on Indian Economy
Context:
Around 31% of India received less than normal rainfall in the monsoon season of June
to September, 2023.
More on News:
• Rainfall Deficit: The southwest monsoon season ended with rains that were 'below
normal'. India saw a rainfall deficit of six percent in monsoon 2023 of the long-
period average of 50 years.
 Six states viz. Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Kerala recorded
major deficits.
• El Nino Impact: India is currently in an El Nino year which is generally associated
with less intense rainfall than normal during the monsoon season for India.
Indian Economy and Monsoon Reliance:
• Agriculture Dependency: India has a predominantly agrarian economy,
contributing substantially to the country's food security. Insufficient rainfall,
particularly during the month of August, has significantly hindered the timely
sowing of the majority of kharif crops.

40
  The all-India unemployment rate (UR) edged up to 8.1% in
August 2023 from around 7% in June 2023 on account of higher
UR in urban areas.
• Water Reservoirs and Irrigation: The monsoon season replenishes
water reservoirs and helps in maintaining adequate water levels in
rivers and lakes. Reliable monsoons reduce dependence on
Major Phenomenon Influencing Monsoon:
• Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): It involves fluctuations in sea
surface temperatures (SST) across the Western Indian
Ocean near the Arabian Sea and the eastern counterpart
near Indonesia in the Indian Ocean.

expensive irrigation methods and contribute to the sustainability of
agriculture.
 Adequate monsoon rainfall ensures sufficient water levels in
rivers and dams, facilitating hydropower generation.
• Rural Economy: Increased farm income contributes to higher rural
spending, supporting various local businesses and services. States
with low deficit or deficient rainfall have witnessed more demand
for work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
• Inflation Control: A good monsoon season helps in maintaining
stable food prices by ensuring an adequate supply of agricultural
commodities.
 Due to deficit rainfall, headline inflation stood at 6.8% with food
inflation at around 10% in August 2023.
• GDP Growth: A robust agricultural sector contributes to higher GDP,
as it is a major component of the country's economy. Conversely,
 Positive IOD: When the western part of the Indian
Ocean experiences higher SSTs compared to that over
the eastern Indian Ocean, it signifies a positive IOD,
which tends to be conducive for the stronger than
normal Indian monsoon.
 Conversely, a negative IOD phase results in weaker than
normal Indian monsoon.
• El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is one of the major
drivers of the interannual variability of monsoon.
 ENSO refers to the large-scale ocean-atmosphere
climate interaction linked to periodic variation in the
winds and SSTs across the central and east-central
Equatorial Pacific.
• Madden-Julian Oscillations (MJOs): The 30-60 days
oscillations are the dominant component of the intra-
seasonal variability in the tropical atmosphere.
 It can be characterised as an eastward moving 'pulse' of
cloud and rainfall near the equator.

poor monsoons can lead to agricultural distress and have a negative

impact on economic growth.
Challenges Posed by Monsoon to Indian Economy:
• Agricultural Output: Insufficient rainfall can lead to crop failure which in
turn, impacts farmers' income, disrupts the supply of essential food
items, and contributes to food inflation. The Indian economy suffers
heavy losses due to floods and droughts almost every year.
• Impact on Rural Economy: Below normal monsoon conditions can lead
to a slowdown in economic activities in rural areas, affecting various
businesses and services that depend on agricultural income.
 For instance, about 800 million people live in villages and depend on
agriculture, which accounts for about 15% of India’s gross domestic
product (GDP) and a failed monsoon can have a rippling effect on the
country’s growth and economy
• Pressure on Government Finances: The government may face Relation between Monsoon and Agriculture:
increased financial pressure due to the need for relief measures to • Farmers have been facing crop losses in many states, including
support affected farmers. Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand due to the uneven
 Subsidies, loan waivers, and other financial assistance monsoon.
programs may be required to mitigate the economic impact on • 8.68 lakh hectare crop area was affected by floods or heavy
the agricultural sector. rainfall between April 1, 2023 and October 4, 2023.
• Trade Imbalance: A decline in agricultural production due to • El Nino phenomenon: In August, lead to deficit in rainfall
below normal monsoons can affect India's export performance across India. This kharif season, sowing has been the weakest
for pulses (8.6% lower than last year as on September 9).
which can contribute to a trade imbalance and impact the
country's foreign exchange earnings.

41
  For instance, India’s imports of pulses such as tur (pigeon pea) and urad (black matpe) have more than doubled in the
April-June quarter of 2023-23.
Way Forward:
• Groundwater Conservation: The Atal Bhujal Yojana is community-led groundwater management program helping improve
rural livelihoods and build resilience in Indian states which have the highest rates of groundwater depletion.
 The “Paani Bachao, Paisa Kamao” (Save Water, Earn Money) scheme incentivizes farmers to reduce groundwater usage.
 For example, switching from rice to millets such as pearl millet & sorghum during the Kharif season and shifting from
wheat to sorghum in the Rabi season could lower water consumption by 32%.
• Ensuring Supply: To check food inflation, the government needs to ensure domestic supplies of vegetables, pulses and other
crops through imports.
 Recently, the government resorted to imposing restrictions on the export of rice, wheat and sugar and took other
regulatory measures because of the irregular nature of the monsoon.
• Tackling Floods and Droughts: Climate change is increasing unpredictability in weather patterns and leading to more extreme
weather events.
 Government had drawn up drought contingency plans for 571 districts with help from the Central Institute for Dryland
Agriculture, similarly crop insurance through PM Fasal Bima Yojana can help farmers tide over potential crop losses.
• Research and Development: The water resources monitoring system is getting expanded to cover the entire country,
including the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra-Barak river basins.
 World Bank-supported hydrology projects have introduced new systems and technology that give an accurate picture of
the water situation for a comprehensive knowledge base that can improve the overall management of water resources in
the country.
• Artificial Rains: Artificial rain making techniques involving cloud seeding can be used for bringing rain clouds to rainfall deficit
areas.
 For instance, Maharashtra government is considering cloud seeding to tackle deficient rainfall which could save kharif
crops and also address depleted water levels in dams.
3.7 Nobel Prize in Economics 2023
Context:
Professor Claudia Goldin has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics 2023, for her comprehensive research on women's
contribution to the labor market.
More on News:
• Before her, only two women scholars — Elinor Ostrom in 2009 and Esther Duflo
in 2019 — had won this honor since 1969.
• This is only the 26th time when this prize has been awarded to a single laureate.
Contribution of Claudia Goldin:
• Claudia Goldin has written several books on the topic, such as Understanding
the Gender Gap: An Economic History of American Women (Oxford, 1990), and
Career & Family: Women’s Century-Long Journey toward Equity (Princeton
University Press, 2021).
• Her research reveals:
 The causes of change and the main sources of the remaining gender gap.
 The participation of married women decreased with the transition from an
agrarian to an industrial society in the early nineteenth century but then
began to increase with the growth of the service sector in the early twentieth
century.
 Limitations of Marriage: By the beginning of the 20th century, while around
20 percent of women were gainfully employed, the share of married women

42
 was only five per cent. Legislation known as “marriage bars'' often prevented married women from continuing their
employment as teachers or office workers.
 Contraceptive pills: By the end of the 1960s, as easy-to-use contraceptive pills became more popular, women could
exercise greater control over childbirth and actually plan careers and motherhood.
 Pay Gap and Parenthood: One factor significantly impacted how men were paid versus women — childbirth.
✓ As women had to shoulder more of the parenting responsibilities once a child was born, they were also punished for
this at the work front in terms of a slower rise on the payscale.
Women Labour in India:
• Female Population in India: According to Indian Census figures from 2011, there are 587 million women in India, accounting
for 48 percent of the population.
 Despite this, only 29% of women over the age of fifteen participate in the labor.
• Low Female LFPR: In India, the female labor participation rate had fallen to 20.3% in 2019 from more than 26% in 2005,
according to World Bank estimates.
• Stagnation: India’s notoriously low female labor force participation rate (LFPR) seems to have stagnated, data from the
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS July 2021-June 2022) shows.
 29.4% of women (aged 15-59) were part of India’s labour force in 2021-22, as compared to 29.8% in the preceding year.
In contrast, men’s LFPR improved from 80.1% in 2020-21 to 80.7% in 2021-22.
• Recent Trend: In recent years, women’s LFPR saw some improvement. In 2017-18, 22.9% of women aged 15-59 were part of
the labor force. This improved to 23.4% in 2018-19, and saw a jump of nearly 5 percentage points in 2019-20.
Challenges Faced By Women in the Labor Force:
• Gender Pay Gap: Men in India capture 82% of labor income,
while women earn just 18%, according to the World
Inequality Report 2022.
• Imposter syndrome: A 2020 KPMG study revealed that
almost 75% of female executives across industries have
faced imposter syndrome.
 Imposter syndrome is a self-doubting tendency that
makes an individual feel skeptical and undeserving of
their accomplishments.
• Difficult to overcome career gap: According to an Indeed
survey, 67% of women respondents find it challenging to
re-enter the workforce.
 Pregnancy, childbirth, and caring for children or the
elderly are just a few personal reasons that frequently
require more women than men to take a job break.
• Barriers in leadership: The difficulty of juggling work and
home obligations often prevents women from pursuing
leadership positions.
 A recent McKinsey analysis claims only 21% of C-suite
roles are really held by women.
• Double Burden Syndrome: It is the workload of people who
work to earn money, but who are also responsible for
significant amounts of unpaid domestic labor.
 For Example: A Kelly Global Workforce Insights (KGWI)
survey on Women in STEM (science, technology,
engineering & mathematics), found that women in India tend to drop out of workforce at key phases in their lives, notably
around childbearing years and later at mid management levels.

43
• Covid-19 and women’s jobs: The lock-downs immediately impacted women, with 37.1 percent losing jobs (compared to 27.7
percent for men) between April 2020 and April 2021, as per data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).

Protective Provisions for Women Employees:

• Constitutional Provisions:
 Article 15: Provisions for women, children, and individuals who are socially and educationally disadvantaged. These
provisions are not discriminatory in any way.
 Article 16: Guarantee of Equal Opportunity In matters of public employment.
• Employment Regulations and Safety Measures:
 The Code on Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions (OSH) 2020: It has provisions for the employment of
women in mines:
 Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act of 2013: Mandatory for every
commercial or public organization with 10 or more employees to have an internal complaints commission (ICC).
 Prohibition of Night Work: Section 66(1)(b) of the Factories Act, 1948 states that no woman shall be required or allowed
to work in any factory except between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
 The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961: It regulates the employment of women in certain establishments for certain periods
before and after child-birth and provides maternity benefits.
 Vocational Training For Women: Under the Directorate General of -Employment & Training Vocational training is provided
in the form of traditional and contemporary courses and certification to women to meet the trained skill workforce in the
industry and service sector etc.
Way Forward:
• Equal Pay and Gender Neutral Job: The International Labour Organisation suggests the following strategies to bridge the
workforce gender gap:
 Ensuring equal pay for work of equal value through legal protection, wage transparency, and gender-neutral job
evaluation.
 Addressing occupational segregation by challenging preconceived notions about the value of certain types of work
 Implementing gender-responsive policies to safeguard women's employment during economic downturns.
• Skilling, Upskilling and Reskilling: The true potential of demographic dividend cannot be harnessed if we do not ensure equal
participation of women in the economy by skilling, upskilling and reskilling them.
• Bridge the Gender Gap: if men and women are equally qualified or educated, they must enjoy equal employment
opportunities and thus participate in the labor market equally.
 For Example: Uttar Pradesh has the highest absolute number of workers - both men and women - 498.5 lakh and about
159.7 lakh respectively, however, it also accounts for the largest gender gap of about 338.8 lakh people.
• Promoting Flexible Working Arrangements: The flexibility of hybrid work allows women to be more efficient and productive,
to partake in additional training to support their careers, and to increase their visibility with senior leadership.
• Encourage Entry into Traditionally Male Occupations: Evidence shows that women benefit from crossing into traditionally
male occupations, which pay better.
 In Uganda, women who moved into male-dominated sectors such as carpentry, electricals, and metal fabrication, made
as much as men, and three times more than women who remained in female-dominated sectors
• Training and development opportunities: The women SHGs should be converged with government schemes like National
Rural Livelihood Mission for enhancing women participation in the workforce.

3.8 Millets Cultivation

Context:
A new study published in the journal Nature Water highlighted benefits of switching to millets from cereal crops.
More on News:
• The government has branded the grain ‘Shree Anna’, featuring it in menus across events such as the G20 summit.

44
• The Ganga basin has seen a significant groundwater depletion in
recent years, raising questions about the sustainability of present
agricultural practices.
• Crop switching has garnered increasing attention as a viable
solution to tackle the issue of unsustainable water consumption.
• However, its potential to produce co-benefits or trade-offs for
other dimensions of sustainability i.e., food supply and farmers’
profits remain largely unquantified.
Challenges to Crop switching:
• Demand side issues: Taste perceptions, reduced per capita
consumption due to urbanization and longer preparation times are
the biggest barriers in millets consumption.
• Supply side issues: Relatively low-profit margins, guaranteed
minimum support price (MSP) for wheat and rice, short shelf life leading to spoilage concerns, and public distribution of wheat
and rice.
• Low yields: Compared to wheat, rice and maize, millets
have lower productivity due to their cultivation in
marginal lands in rainfed farming and non-adoption of
improved cultivars.
 While wheat and rice yields are 3.5 tonnes and 2.8
tonnes per hectare, respectively, average yield for
millets is 1.3 tonnes per hectare.
• Poor shelf life: The relatively short shelf life of millets
increases risks of spoilage in the absence of
appropriate storage.
• Minimum support price (MSP): The low margins
associated with millet production are exacerbated by
the guaranteed MSP for wheat and rice, vis-à-vis other
crops, creating disincentives.
 As a result, millets, which made up 20% of Indian
food basket up to 1965–1970, stand currently at
6%, with a 33.9% decline in area under millet
cultivation between AY1951 and AY2022.
• Infrastructure and value chain: The infrastructure for
millet cultivation, processing, and marketing is often
inadequate, particularly in rural areas.
 The complex nature of initial millet processing has
led to a notable decline in millet consumption
within the nation.
Way Forward
• Quality inputs: This entails providing quality seeds,
with better efficiencies in processing so that the
recovery improves from about 55 per cent in the case
of minor millets to over 70 per cent.
 With proper crop management practices and seed improvements, yields up to 2.2 tonnes per hectare have been recorded
in the case of finger millet (ragi) in Karnataka.
 An MSP for minor millets could be considered, backed up by procurement and marketing infrastructure.

45
• Millet FPOs: For farmers to realise higher prices for millets, better post-production linkages, promotion of farmer producers’
organisations (FPOs) and stronger processing value chains for millets are
needed.
 Dharmapuri District Minor Millets Farmer Producer Company (Tamil
Nadu) is involved in the value addition of millets in the brand name of
‘DMillets’.
• Focus on women and indigenous communities: Awareness among
women and tribal farmers could help to achieve national goals of millet
output and global goals related to sustainable agriculture, production, and
consumption.
 Odisha Government’s five-year ‘Millet Mission’ is supplementing the
input as well as marketing needs of indigenous small and marginal
farmers like the Dongria Kondhs.
• Diversification of the PDS basket: It would improve prices of millets and,
in turn, encourage the diversification of cropping patterns.
 Millets are a storehouse of nutrition and their inclusion in the Public
Distribution System (PDS)could be beneficial for both the PDS
consumers and millet growers.
• Strategic marketing and export promotion: There is a need for linking
small and marginal millet farmers to online marketing platforms, such as e-NAM.
 A synergistic framework could be developed to study the market segments and map emerging food trends to top importing
countries.
 Ex-India accounts for 40 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively, of the global output of bajra and jowar.
 Thus, India can create an export impact in bajra, ragi and minor millets as sorghum is produced globally.
• Research and development: Prioritising research in low-value cereals and developing sustainable production strategies can
help address food and nutritional security concerns of millions.
 It is important to design and manufacture machinery that can enhance millet dehulling without compromising the
nutritional value.
3.9 World Energy Outlook 2023
Context:
According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest World Energy Outlook (WEO), India will see the largest energy
demand growth of any country or region in the world over the next three decades.
More on News:
• Global Geopolitics: Energy markets, geopolitics, and the global economy are unsettled and the risk of further disruption is
present.
 The risk of protracted conflict in the Middle East now accompanies continued fighting in Ukraine.
• Global Average Surface Temperature: It is already around 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, prompting heatwaves and other
extreme weather events, and greenhouse gas emissions have not yet peaked.
• The Energy Sector: It is also the primary cause of the polluted air linked to more than 6 million premature deaths yearly.
 Positive trends in improving access to electricity and clean cooking have slowed or even reversed in some countries.
About World Energy Outlook:
• The IEA releases the WEO annually which provides in-depth analysis and strategic insights into every aspect of the global
energy system.
• The analysis explores different scenarios that reflect current real-world conditions and starting points:
 Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS): It depicts the current direction for the energy economy.
 Announced Pledges Scenario (APS): It depicts future directions (if all countries were to hit their aspirational targets on
time and in full).

46
• Updated Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) Scenario: Illustrates what is required to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius
(°C).
Overview of India:
• India’s Energy Landscape: It is marked by a
long-term net zero emissions ambition,
increased regulatory sophistication, a focus on
clean energy deployment, and the creation of
domestic clean energy technology supply
chains.
• Energy Access: Since 2000, India has brought
electricity to 810 million people, larger than
the population of the European Union and the
United States combined. India has also
brought clean cooking access to 655 million
people over the same period.
• Energy Efficiency: India has had the single
largest light-emitting diode (LED) adoption
campaign globally, with around 370 million
LEDs distributed through the UJALA scheme
by 2023.
• Investment: While clean energy investment in
India will more than double in the STEPS by
2030 from around USD 60 billion in 2022, investment needs to nearly triple by the end of this decade to be on a trajectory to
meet its net zero emissions target.
Opportunities for India and the World:
• Emergence of a New Clean Energy Economy: Led by solar PV and
electric vehicles (EVs). Investment in clean energy has risen by 40% About IEA:
since 2020. • The IEA was established in 1974 within the framework of the
OECD.
• Energy Security: This is important, particularly for fuel-importing
countries, as are industrial strategies and the desire to create clean
• Primary Mission: Promote energy security among its member
countries, which are mostly industrialized and oil-importing
energy jobs. For instance, India’s oil import dependency was nations.
84.4% in 2020-21. • The IEA was established in response to the 1973 oil crisis,
• Thriving Clean Technologies: In 2020, one in 25 cars sold was highlighting the need for coordinated international efforts to
electric; in 2023, this is now one in 5 leading to more than 500 address energy-related issues.
gigawatts (GW) of renewable generation capacity to be added in • India: Although India is not a member, it is one of the
2023. association countries.
• Clean Energy Growth: India is recognized as a clean energy
powerhouse, accounting for a significant portion of wind and solar additions and EV sales. This indicates that India has the
potential to lead in clean energy adoption and manufacturing.
 For instance, solar and wind drove 92% of India’s electricity capacity additions in 2022
• Other Measures:
 Renewable Energy: Renewables are expected to contribute to global new power capacity which allows India to reduce
fossil fuel dependence.
 Improvements in Efficiency: India can make significant strides in improving energy efficiency, which can contribute to
meeting energy and climate targets.
Challenges for India and the World:
• Changing Demography: There are aging populations in the European Union, Russia, Japan, and China whereas there is an
increasing population in India and Africa.
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  India’s urban population will increase by 74% and per capita income will triple by 2050, increasing demand for oil and
natural gas and leading to a rise in India’s annual CO2 emissions by nearly 30% by 2050, one of the world's largest
increases.
• High Technology Costs: Higher input prices for critical minerals, semiconductors and bulk materials such as steel and cement
have negatively affected the financial performance of some major clean technology suppliers and project developers in the
short term.
 For example, Hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects show that more than 400 GW of
electrolysis for hydrogen and over 400 million tonnes of CO2 capture capacity are vying to be operational by 2030.
• Increasing Investment in Fossil Fuel Dependence: The share of coal, oil and natural gas in global energy supply starts to go
downwards and reaches 73% in the STEPS by 2030 whereas investment in oil and gas today is almost double the level required
in the NZE Scenario in 2030.
• Energy Poverty: The importance of ensuring cost-effective and clean technologies are deployed, especially in poorer
households and communities and affordability is a concern in India's transition to cleaner energy sources.
• Impact of Air Conditioners (ACs) on Electricity Demand: India’s demand for electricity for running household ACs is estimated
to expand nine-fold by 2050 and will exceed total power consumption in Africa today.
 Although solar PV matches well with daytime cooling needs, cooling demand is also significant in India during the late
evening and at night.
• Import Dependence: India is an importer of modern clean energy technologies as it scales up solar and wind power
generation capacity.
 For example, its imports of solar PV modules in 2021-2022 were valued at USD 3.4 billion.
Way Forward:
• Meeting National Energy and Climate Targets: Clean electrification, improvements in energy efficiency and switching to
lower- and zero-carbon fuels are key levers available to emerging and developing economies to reach their national energy
and climate targets.
 In India, it means every dollar of value added by India’s industry results in 30% less carbon dioxide (CO2) by 2030, and
each kilometer driven by a passenger car, on average, emits 25% less CO2.
• Diversification and Innovation: These are the best strategies to manage supply chain dependencies for clean energy
technologies and critical minerals and to strengthen the resilience of clean energy supply chains and reduce high levels of
concentration.
• Ensuring Affordability: India, Africa and other low-income countries need to work on policies to ensure the affordability of
clean energy technologies, especially for low-
income households.
• Meeting Energy Demand of Increasing
Population: Finding and financing low-emissions
ways to meet rising energy demand in these
economies is a vital determinant of the speed at
which global fossil fuel use eventually falls.
• Lowering Cooling Demand: Energy efficiency
policies reduce the need for investment in
batteries or expensive standby generation
capacity, and thus help to integrate renewables
more cost-effectively.
Conclusion:
India can lead in the transition to clean energy, given
its growth in renewable energy, clean electrification,
and efforts to improve energy efficiency to achieve a
sustainable and inclusive energy future.

48
PRELIMS NEWS
3.10 Index of Industrial Production
Context: India’s factory-output growth based on the Index
of Industrial Production (IIP) rose to a 14-month high of
10.3% in August.
More on News:
• Electricity production: In August 2023 grew 15.3% year-
on-year (y-o-y) and 8.1% sequentially, this rise could be
attributed to deficient rainfall.
• Manufacturing output: It was up 9.3% in August and
sequentially the output of the sector rose by 1.2%
indicating an uptick in manufacturing activity.
• Mining Activity: It remained flat during August, even
after growing 12.3% on year on account of the low base
effect.
• Use-Based Category: All the six sectors recorded y-o-y
growth with infrastructure goods’ output growing at
14.9%, followed by capital goods at 12.6% and primary
goods at 12.4%.
About IIP:
• IIP is an index that tracks manufacturing activity in
different sectors of an economy.
• Base Year: The base year was changed to 2011-12 from
2004-05 in the year 2017.
• Publishing Authority: CSO under Ministry Of Statistics
And Programme Implementation is responsible for the
publication of IIP since 1950.
3.11 Nutrient Based Subsidy
Context: The Union Cabinet approved the nutrient-based
fertilizer subsidy rates for the 2023-24 Rabi season at Rs
22,303 crore to the government on Phosphatic and Potassic
(P&K) fertilizers.
More on News:
• For the current financial year, the central government
has earmarked Rs 44,000 crore for nutrient-based
subsidy.
Nutrient-Based Fertilizer Subsidy(NBS):
• Under NBS, the government fixed a per-kg subsidy for
each fertilizer nutrient: Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P),
potash (K) and sulfur (S).
• NBS policy intends to increase the consumption of P&K
fertilizers so that optimum balance (N:P:K= 4:2:1) of NPK
fertilization is achieved.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
49
3.12 Amrit Kaal Vision 2047: A Long Term
Blueprint for the Indian Maritime Blue
Economy
Context: The Prime Minister recently unveiled ‘Amrit Kaal
Vision 2047’, the long-term blueprint for the Indian
maritime blue economy during Global Maritime India
Summit 2023 in Mumbai.
Blue Economy:
• The World Bank defines “blue economy” as “sustainable
use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved
livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of the
ocean ecosystem”.
• The concept was introduced by Gunter Pauli in his 2010
book- “The Blue Economy: 10 years, 100 innovations, 100
million jobs”
Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 Vision Document:
• Port Infrastructure: It aims to quadruple port capacity
to 10,000 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2047,
aiming to get 100 per cent public private partnership
(PPP) for 12 major ports.
• Increased investments: Investments worth Rs 75-80
trillion over the next 25 years will be used to achieve the
following goals:
 Carbon neutrality at all major ports
 Attaining the highest rank in cruise tourism
 Development of 25 cruise terminals
 Increasing operational waterways more than twofold
 500 million tonne (mt) of cargo
• Global Partnerships: Over 300 Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) were signed, further solidifying
India's global and national maritime partnerships.
• Transformative Projects: The plan includes the
development of Next Generation Mega Ports,
International Container Trans-shipment Ports, island
development, inland waterways, and multi-modal hubs.
• Make in India: Maritime clusters are being established,
with ship-building and repair centers in development.
• Sustainable Maritime Sector: Efforts are underway to
make major Indian ports carbon-neutral through a net-
zero strategy for the sector, as India aims to create a
'Green Planet' through its blue economy.
 Ease of doing business: The initiative aims to reduce
the cost of conducting business and mitigate
environmental deterioration.
• Sustainability: The plan includes a strategy to make
major ports carbon-neutral and push for domestic
hydrogen production and distribution.
3.13 Bond Yield
Context: The Yield on 10-year government bonds in the US,
the benchmark for asset prices across the globe, rose to hit
5.02 per cent.
More on News:
● Factors like rising crude oil prices, inflation risks
and interest rate signals from the US Federal
Reserve have contributed to the hardening of
bond yields
● A higher government borrowing is also a reason
for the rise in bond yields.
About Bond and Bond Yield:
• Bond: It is an instrument to borrow money. A bond could
be issued by a country’s government or by a company to
raise funds.
 A bond can be purchased for more than its face
value, at a premium, or less than its face value, at a
discount.
 Bond Yield:It is the return an investor realizes on a
bond.
Impact on bond investors:
• Rising Interest Rates: The rise in bond yield means that
investors are expecting a rise in interest rates and are
therefore selling the bond papers they are holding.
 Since a rise in interest rates would result in decline in
bond price of existing bonds (and thereby capital loss
on sale before maturity), investors rush to sell those
bonds so as to limit the capital loss.
• Equities: Rising bond yields could also have a cascading
negative impact on equities.
3.14 Central Bank Digital Currency/e-Rupee
Context: India’s Central Band Digital Currency i.e., e-rupee
has seen very little adoption in its ongoing trial phase.
More on News:
• The daily transactions of e-rupee are reportedly around
in the range of 10,000-12,000, though 3.5 million
merchants and 1 million customers were selected for the
pilot project across 13 cities.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also initiated a pilot
program for the wholesale segment of its central bank
digital currency (CBDC) in the interbank call money
market.
About CBDC:
• CBDC is a legal tender issued by the RBI in digital form.
It is the same as the fiat currency, and is exchangeable
one-to-one with the fiat currency.
50
• It is a fungible legal tender, for which holders need not
have a bank account.
• CBDC will appear as ‘liability’ (currency in circulation) on
the RBI’s balance sheet.
 A token CBDC is a “bearer-instrument” like a
banknote, meaning whoever ‘holds’ the tokens at a
given point in time will be presumed to own them.
About e-rupee:
• The retail CBDC was launched by RBI, is a digital token
that will function as the digital equivalent of a banknote
that can be transferred electronically from one holder to
another.
• It can be kept in a wallet on a mobile phone, and spent
as cash is spent
Call Money Market:
• Call money rate is the rate at which short term funds are
borrowed and lent in the money market.
 Duration: The duration of the call money loan is 1
day.
• Call Money Market: Banks engage in short-term
borrowing and lending activities among themselves,
with interest rates determined by prevailing market
conditions.
3.15 Regional Rapid Transit System
Context: The Prime Minister inaugurated a 17-km stretch
classified as the ‘priority section’ of the 82-km-long Delhi-
Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor.
About Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS):
• RRTS is an integrated, mass transit network which aims
to ensure “balanced and sustainable urban
development” through better connectivity and access
across the NCR.
• Implementing Agency: National Capital Region
Transport Corporation (NCRTC) Or Namo Bharat under
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
 NCRTC is a joint venture company of the Central
government and Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar
Pradesh.
Benefits:
• Faster: Unlike metros, the RRTS network is faster. It will
cater to commuters who want to travel relatively longer
distances across the National Capital Region (NCR) in a
short time.
• Higher Frequency: Compared with the Indian Railways,
though the RRTS train will cover relatively smaller
distances, it will do so at higher frequency and provide
relatively more comfort than the average Railways
coach.
• Connectivity: It will enhance multi-modal connectivity at
the existing transportation hubs within NCR.
• Employment Generation: It aims to give a push to
employment generation and the opening up of newer
commercial hubs along the current contours of the NCR.
3.16 Global Innovation Index
Context: India has retained its 40th spot amongst 132
economies in the latest Global Innovation Index 2023
released by the World Intellectual Property Organisation
(WIPO).
About WIPO
• World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO):
• WIPO was created in 1967 to encourage creative activity,
to promote the protection of intellectual property
throughout the world.
• India joined WIPO in 1975.
• Palestine has permanent observer status in WIPO.
• It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
• It used 80 indicators to track global innovation trends
Global Trends:
Switzerland (1st place), followed by Sweden, United States,
United Kingdom, Singapore.
• India’s Performance:
 India has been on a rising trajectory, in the Global
Innovation Index (GII), from a rank of 81 in 2015 to 40
in 2023.
✓ Reason for Improved Ranking: The consistent
improvement in the GII ranking is owing to the
immense knowledge capital, the vibrant start-up
ecosystem, and the amazing work done by the
public and private research organizations
 India holds top rankings in key indicators such as:
✓ Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
services exports (5th place),
✓ venture capital (VC) received (6th place),
✓ graduates in science and engineering (11th place)
✓ global corporate Research and Development
(R&D) investors (13th place).
• India also retained its top position in the lower-middle-
income group and the Central and South Asian region.
3.17 Angel Tax
Context: The Income Tax Department has notified new
angel tax rules that comprise a mechanism to evaluate the
shares issued by unlisted startups to investors.
51
Previous Angel Tax Rules:
• While previously the angel tax applied only to local
investors, the Budget for 2023-24 fiscal (April 2023 to
March 2024) widened its ambit to include foreign
investments.
New Angel Tax Rules:
• As per the changes in Rule 11UA of I-T rules, the Central
Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) provides that the valuation
of compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS)
and equity shares issued by unlisted startups can be
based on the fair market value.
• The amended rules also retain the five new valuation
methods proposed in the draft rules for consideration
received from the non-residents:
 Comparable Company Multiple Method,
 Probability Weighted Expected Return Method
 Option Pricing Method
 Milestone Analysis Method
• Replacement Cost Method.
About Angel tax:
• Angel tax is the tax levied on the capital raised via the
issue of shares by unlisted companies if the share price
of issued shares is seen in excess of the fair market value
of the company.
• Earlier, it was imposed only on investments made by a
resident investor. However, the Finance Act 2023
proposed to extend angel tax even to non-resident
investors from April 1, 2024.
• It is levied at a rate of 30.9% on net investments in
excess of the fair market value.
3.18 GDP Estimates
Context: GDP estimates based on an outdated base would
not adequately capture new activities being undertaken in
the economy.
• The current GDP estimates place India as the fifth largest
economy in the world.
• One of the most important tasks to measure GDP
accurately is the immediate revision of the base year of
the national accounts statistics which has already been
delayed due to various reasons, including the pandemic.
What is GDP?
• Gross domestic product (GDP) is the total valuation of
final goods and services produced within the
geographical borders of a country during a specified
period (usually a year).
• In 2015, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) moved away
with GDP at factor cost and adopted the international
practice of GDP at market price and the Gross Value
Addition (GVA) measure to better estimate economic
activity.
  GDP at market price = GDP at factor cost + Indirect
Taxes – Subsidies
What is the base year?
• The base year is a benchmark with reference to which
the national account figures such as gross domestic
product (GDP), gross domestic saving, and gross capital
formation are calculated.
Why has there been demand to revise the base year for
calculation of GDP?
The base year has to be revised periodically in order to
reflect the structural changes taking place within an
economy, such as increasing the share of services in GDP.
3.19 RBI’s Status Quo
Context: The RBI Monetary Policy Committee has kept the
key policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5%.
• RBI emphasizes on addressing inflation risks until they
dissipate completely.
Key Outcomes:
• Status Quo on Rates and Policy Stance: RBI maintained
the policy repo rate at 6.5% and retained the policy
stance as the "withdrawal of accommodation.
• "Inflation Target and Projection: The fight against
inflation remains a priority, targeting an inflation rate of
4% (rather than a range of 2-6%).The CPI inflation
projection for FY24 is 5.4%, with specific projections for
different quarters.
• OMO Sales of Government Securities: RBI may consider
Open Market Operation (OMO) sales of government
securities to manage liquidity, aligning with the
monetary policy stance.
• Introduction of Card-on-File Tokenization (CoFT): RBI
proposed the introduction of card-on-file tokenization
(CoFT) facilities.
The implication of RBI Status Quo:
Impact on Borrowers and Depositors: Pause in Repo rate
hike ensures stability in external benchmark lending rates
(EBLR) and Banks will not raise their lending rates, which, in
turn, will mean that the equated monthly installments
(EMIs) on home, vehicle and personal loans will remain
steady.
3.20 Open Acreage Licensing Policy
Context: The government is expected to open the ninth
round of bidding under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy.
52
About Open Acreage Licensing Policy:
• Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) is a policy reform
introduced by the Government of India (GoI) to provide
relief to hydrocarbon companies.
• Under it the company can undertake prospecting for
fuels in areas the GoI does not notify.
 Prospecting refers to drilling the selected area to
check the availability of hydrocarbon fuels.
• The OALP is used by companies engaged in extracting
hydrocarbon fuels to locate new areas where
hydrocarbon fuels can be obtained.
• Under OALP, Companies can put in an expression of
interest (EoI) for any area throughout the year but such
interests are accumulated thrice in a year. The areas
sought are then put on auction.
It is part of the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing
Policy.
3.21 Prompt Corrective Action Framework
Context: Reserve Bank of India extends the Prompt
Corrective Action Framework to government Non-banking
Financial Companies (NBFCs) (except those in base layer)
with effect from October 1, 2024.
About Prompt Corrective Action:
• It is a system that the RBI imposes on banks showing
signs of financial stress.
• As per the revised PCA norms issued in 2017, banks were
to be evaluated on capital, asset quality, profitability
and leverage.
• Capital Adequacy Ratio: It governs the capital that a
bank ought to hold as a percentage of its total assets.
• Asset Quality: Tells us what portion of the loans is
unlikely to be paid back, reflected in the net non-
performing asset ratio.
• Leverage Ratio: It shows how much a lender has
stretched itself in borrowing funds to generate income.
The more the leverage, the riskier the turf on which the
lender stands.
What changes does the PCA Framework bring in for Banks?
• It allows the RBI to place certain restrictions such as
halting branch expansion and stopping dividend
payment.
• It can cap a bank’s lending limit to one entity or sector.
• Other corrective actions that can be imposed on banks
include special audit, restructuring operations and
activation of recovery plans.
• Banks’ promoters can be asked to bring in new
management.
• The RBI can also supersede the bank’s board, under PCA.
3.22 Cabinet Approves Royalty Rates For
Critical and Strategic Minerals.
Context: The Centre has approved the amendment of the
Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development
and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) for specifying the
rate of royalty in respect of 3 critical and strategic minerals,
namely, lithium, niobium and Rare Earth Elements.
More on News:
• The MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2023, delisted six
minerals, including lithium and niobium, from the list of
atomic minerals, thereby granting concessions for these
minerals to the private sector through auction.
• The amendment provided that the mining lease and
composite license of 24 critical and strategic minerals
(which are listed in Part D of the First Schedule of the
Act), including lithium, Niobium and REEs (not containing
53
uranium and thorium), shall be auctioned by the central
government.
• Earlier, The Second Schedule of the MMDR Act
mandated a royalty rate of 12% of ASP for all minerals
not specifically provided a royalty rate, making them
non-competitive and not on par with global standards.
• The 3% royalty for Lithium is based on prices at the
London Metal Exchange Price. For Niobium, the royalty
has been calculated from the ASP, considering both
primary and secondary sources, and REEs' royalty is
based on the ASP of Rare Earth Oxide.
Lithium: White gold
• A soft, silvery metal used in rechargeable batteries for
mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric
vehicles.
Niobium:
• Niobium is a silvery metal used in jet engines, beams and
girders for buildings, and oil and gas pipelines.
Rare Earth Elements (REE) :
The REE are a set of seventeen metallic elements used as
components in high technology devices, including smart
phones, digital cameras, computer hard disks, fluorescent
and light-emitting-diode (LED) lights, flat screen televisions,
computer monitors, and electronic displays.
DATA POINT:

3.23 India's Tourism Challenge: Foreign Arrivals Remain Below Pre -Covid Levels
Context: August 2023 data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) shows a 19.7% decline in foreign tourist
arrivals compared to August 2019 when 0.8 million tourists visited.
Key Highlights:
Foreign Tourist Arrivals:
• Bangladesh is India's largest source of foreign tourists, contributing
to 23.7% of all arrivals.
• Other significant sources include the US, UK, Canada, and
Australia.
Indian Travelling Abroad:
• The top five destinations for outbound Indian travelers are UAE,
Saudi Arabia, USA, Thailand, and Singapore, accounting for over
50% of all outbound travel.
Foreign Exchange:
• Foreign exchange earnings from tourism have also fallen below the
2019 figures, registering at $2.3 billion in August 2023 compared
to $2.6 billion in August 2019.

3.24 Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Bulk Drugs (APIs)

Context: The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for bulk drugs (APIs) has boosted local production of some key APIs,
However, it would take at least 5-7 more years before India can see tangible results.
About API:
• Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) is the biologically active component of a drug product (tablet, capsule, cream,
injectable) that produces the intended effects.
Data: India’s Import from China
• Currently, China is the global leader in the production
and export of APIs, which is around 20 percent of the
world's API production.
• The Indian pharmaceutical industry is the 3rd largest in
the world by volume and 14th in value. India contributes
3.5% of total drugs and medicines exported globally.
• India imports bulk drugs largely for economic
considerations. Bulk drugs accounted for around 63% of
the total pharmaceutical imports in the country.
• Data from the Pharmaceutical Exports Promotion
Council (Pharmexcil) shows India imported $3.18 billion
worth of APIs and intermediates from China in 2022-23,
up 1.74 percent from the previous year.
• In 2021-22, India had imported $3.12 billion worth of APIs and intermediates from China, which was up 19.5 percent from
2020-21.
• Therefore, the growth rate has slowed, but the imports continue at similar levels.
Production-linked incentive (PLI) Scheme for Bulk Drugs (APIs):
• Budgetary Outlay: Rs 6,940 crore.
• Objective: To boost domestic manufacturing of identified Key Starting Materials (KSMs), Drug Intermediates and APIs by
attracting large investments in the sector, thereby reducing India’s import dependence on critical APIs.
• Scope: Under the Scheme, financial incentives shall be given based on sales made by selected manufacturers for 41 products.
54
SHORT NEWS IN TABLE

India’s New Import The government has launched a new system of authorization aimed at monitoring shipments
Management System of electronic hardware without hurting market supply.
• New Import Management System: It requires companies to register the quantity and
value of imports.
• Purpose: The government will not reject any import requests and will use the data for
monitoring.

Social Bonds National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) said it has issued its first
rupee-denominated AAA-rated social bonds with a total size of ₹1040.50 crore..
About Social bonds:
• It is also known as social impact bonds (SIB), the bond issuer raises funds for a project that
has some socially beneficial implications..
• Eligible social projects include affordable basic infrastructure, access to essential services,
affordable housing, employment generation, food security, socioeconomic advancement,
and empowerment.
NABARD:
• It is India’s apex development bank, established in 1982 under an Act of Parliament.
• Mission: To promote sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural development through
participative financial and non-financial interventions, innovations, technology and
institutional development for securing prosperity.

India-Japan Fund (IJF)
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) launches $600 million India-Japan Fund
(IJF) with Government of India and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) as anchor
investors.
• It will focus on investing in environmental sustainability and low carbon emission
strategies besides further enhancing Japanese investments into India.
About NIIF:
• An Indian government-backed entity established to provide long-term capital for the
country's infrastructure sector.
• Initiated by the Budget 2015, NIIF was formed as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) in
December 2016, with a planned corpus of ₹40,000 crore.
• The Indian government holds a 49% stake in NIIF, while the remaining ownership is shared
by prominent foreign and domestic investors, including Abu Dhabi Investment Authority,
Temasek, and HDFC Group.

Card-on-File Tokenization In its attempts to further secure online transactions, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
proposed to allow banks to directly “tokenize” debit or credit cards.
• Card-on-File Tokenization is a process where the cardholder’s original card number and
card identification are replaced with a surrogate term called ‘token.’

Trade and Development United Nations Conference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD) released Trade and
Report 2023 Development Report 2023.
• Key Findings:

55
  The report calls for a change in policy direction – including by leading central banks –
and accompanying institutional reforms promised during the COVID-19 crisis to avert a
lost decade
 It urges global financial reforms, more pragmatic policies to tackle inflation, inequality
and sovereign debt distress.
• About UNCTAD:
 A permanent intergovernmental United Nations body.
 Founded in 1964, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

New GI Products New GI Products:

• Goan cashew (kernel): Native to northeast Brazil in Latin America was introduced to Goa
by the Portuguese in the 16th century (1570)
• Yak Churpi: Churpi is a cheese product prepared from the milk of Arunachali yak
● widely consumed in the Himalayan region of India, Nepal and Bhutan.
• Tangsa textile: Textile products of the Tangsa tribe of Changlang district are famous for
their exotic designs and colors.
• Khamti rice: It is a variety of sticky rice produced in Namsai district.
What is a Geographical Indication Tag?
• A Geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical
origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• The first product in India to be accorded with GI tag was Darjeeling tea in the year 2004-
05.
• In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical
Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

National Turmeric Board The Prime Minister announces the setting up of the National Turmeric Board.
• Benefit: The Board can be expected to implement a market intervention scheme with the
help of Central and State governments to provide profitable prices for the farmers’
produce.
• Turmeric Production:
 India produces nearly 1.1 million tonnes of turmeric, making up 80 per cent of the
global output.
 Turmeric exports are currently around 1.5 lakh tonnes with shipments picking up pace
since the pandemic

56
4. ENVIRONMENT AND GEOGRAPHY
4.1 100 Million Hectares of Arable Land Lost Yearly to Degradation: UN Report
Context: The UN Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD) has launched its
first-ever Data Dashboard, aggregating
national reporting figures from 126
countries.
• The data indicates that land
degradation is rapidly increasing in
severity across all regions,
underscoring the pressing need
forglobal action.
Key findings from the UNCCD Data:
• Extent of Land Degradation: Between
2015 and 2019, the world lost at least 100 million hectares of healthy and productive land each year, which is twice the size
of Greenland.
• Regional Disparities: Eastern and Central Asia, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean, witness the most severe land
degradation, impacting over 20% of their total
land area.
• Faster Degradation: Sub-Saharan Africa,
Western and Southern Asia, Latin America and
the Caribbean experience land degradation at
rates exceeding the global average.
• Notable Loss: Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America
and the Caribbean have lost 163 million and 108
million hectares, respectively, to land
degradation since 2015.
• Land Restoration "Bright spots":
 Botswana: Reduced land degradation from
36% to 17% of its territory. Committed 45.3
million hectares to land degradation
neutrality and reported 1.42 million hectares as "bright spot" areas.
 Dominican Republic: Decreased degraded land from 49% to 31% between 2015 and 2019. Ongoing efforts to restore
240,000 hectares.
 Uzbekistan: Reported the highest proportion of degraded land (26.1%) in Central Asia but reduced it from 30% to 26%
compared to 2015. Conducted saxaul planting on 1.6 million hectares to combat the drying of the Aral Sea.
• Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Goal Achievability: To achieve Sustainable Development Goals, the world must restore
1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030 if current land degradation trends continue.
• Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land calls for protecting, restoring, and sustaining land-based ecosystems.
 In doing so target 15.3 specifically aims to achieve a land degradation-neutral world by 2030.

57
About Land Degradation:
• Land degradation results from human-induced actions
that exploit land, causing its utility, biodiversity, soil
fertility, and overall health to decline.
• Land degradation is caused by multiple forces, including
extreme weather conditions, particularly drought.
• Desertification is a form of land degradation by which
fertile land becomes desert.
• Land degradation within dry land regions (arid, semi-
arid and dry sub-humid regions) is termed as
‘desertification’.
• Status of Land degradation in India (refer to Image).
Causes of Land Degradation:
• Natural Cause:
 Loss of Soil Cover: Soil erosion significantly
contributes to land
degradation in the
country, primarily due
to rainfall and surface
runoff. This factor was
responsible for 11.01%
of desertification in the
country.
 Water Erosion: Water
erosion contributed to
10.98% of
desertification in India
during 2011-13.
 Wind Erosion: Wind
erosion, where the wind
carries away soil,
accounted for 5.46% of
desertification in India.
• Anthropogenic Causes:
 Poor Agricultural
Practices: Land
degradation in India is
exacerbated by poor agricultural practices, including improper crop rotations and the overuse of agrochemicals.
 Deforestation: Activities such as deforestation and shifting cultivation contribute to the degradation of vegetation, which
is essential for maintaining soil health.
✓ The degradation of vegetation was found to be responsible for 9.15% of desertification in the country.
 Increasing Urbanization: The increasing population pressure in India has led to higher urbanization rates. This has resulted
in the diversion of land from agriculture to urban development.
 Overgrazing: India has one of the largest cattle populations in the world. However, unsustainable grazing practices
contribute to land degradation.
• Climate Change: Climate change intensifies desertification as rising temperatures and frequent droughts become prominent.
Forest fires, a consequence of this, devastate forests and contribute to desertification.

58
Impact of Land Degradation:
• Economic Impact: Land degradation resulted in the country UNCCD’s Goal of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN):
losing more than 2% of the GDP for 2014-15, as per The • Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) is a state where
Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). land resources needed for ecosystems and food
• Environmental Impact: security remain stable or improve over time.
 Soil Erosion: The process by which topsoil is detached • A key part of this strategy is to restore one billion
from land and carried away by water, ice, sea waves, or hectares of land by 2030 with proper funding and
wind. action.
 Loss of Fertility: Resulting from the use of scientific inputs • Promisingly, 109 countries have set voluntary LDN
like irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides, as well as targets for 2030.
unscientific cropping practices. • Between 2016 and 2019, approximately $5 billion
 Salinity/Alkalinity: Occurs in areas with temporary water from bilateral and multilateral sources has been
surplus and high temperatures due to over-irrigation or allocated to combat desertification, land
excessive rainfall, affecting soil fertility. degradation, and drought, supporting projects in 124
 Water Scarcity: The dryland population vulnerable to nations.
water stress and increased drought intensity is projected The UNCCD’s objectives for LDN include:
to reach 178 million under ideal conditions of 1.5 degrees • Maintaining or improving the sustainable delivery of
Celsius warming by 2050. ecosystem services
• Potential Impacts on Human Health: • Maintaining or improving land productivity to
 Reduced food and water supplies can lead to higher enhance global food security
threats of malnutrition. • Increasing the resilience of land and the populations
 Increased risk of water- and food-borne diseases due to dependent on it
poor hygiene and a lack of clean water. • Seeking synergies with other social, economic, and
 Respiratory diseases can result from atmospheric dust environmental objectives
caused by wind erosion and air pollutants. • Reinforcing and promoting responsible and inclusive
 The spread of infectious diseases may occur as land governance
populations migrate, impacting public health.
• Rights of Indigenous People: Insecure land tenure affects the ability of people and communities, including indigenous groups,
to combat climate change. Land degradation further endangers their rights and livelihoods.
Government Measures to Combat Land Degradation:
• Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas:
 Published by Space Applications Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
 Provides data on the extent of land degradation and desertification in India.
 Estimated land degradation and desertification in India: 97.84 million hectares in 2018-19.Offers state-wise information
on degraded land to aid restoration planning. Global Efforts:
• Online Portal for Visualization: • The Bonn Challenge:
 Developed in collaboration with Space Application Center (SAC), Aims to restore 150 million hectares of deforested and
Ahmedabad. degraded land by 2020 and 350 million hectares by
 Allows visualization of degraded land areas and the processes 2030.
causing degradation. • Great Green Wall:
• Centre of Excellence at ICFRE Dehradun: Initiated by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Eleven countries in Sahel-Saharan Africa are working to
 Envisioned at the Indian Council for Forestry Research and
combat land degradation and restore native plant life
Education (ICFRE), Dehradun. to the landscape.
 Focuses on South-South Cooperation for knowledge sharing and
best practices.
 Aims to share India's experiences in sustainable land management.
 Supports transformative projects, capacity building, and program development.

59
Way forward:
• Integrated Land Use Planning: Implementing integrated land use planning is vital. This approach involves identifying optimal
land use combinations to meet the needs of stakeholders while preserving land resources.
• Identifying Global Restoration Hotspots: A cost-effective strategy involves pinpointing global restoration hotspots within
landscapes to maximize benefits and focus restoration efforts efficiently.
• Regenerative Agricultural Practices: Promoting regenerative agricultural practices, such as terrace farming and rainwater
harvesting, plays a crucial role in land restoration.
 These practices not only restore land but also have the potential to increase crop yields, reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
and sequester atmospheric carbon.
• Convergence with the MGNREGS and PMKSY: The government is now planning to bring convergence between the Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
 It could help treat about 30% more land than feasible with the current scheme size.
• China Experience:
 Great Green Wall (Three-North Shelterbelt Program): China has been implementing this afforestation program since the
late 1970s. It involves planting large-scale monoculture forest strips of non-native species to combat desertification and
dust storms in the Gobi Desert region.
4.2 State of Global Coastal Adaptation
Context: Recently, the journal Nature Climate Change published a new study on the status of global coastal adaptation.
More on News:
• Findings regarding coastal adaptation efforts: No systematic
correlation can be established between the level of adaptation
effort and the level of socioeconomic development.
• Low-to-Moderate levels of adaptation efforts: These included
Africa and Small Islands due to lower adaptive capacities.
• Moderate levels of adaptation efforts: This category included
Australia and New Zealand.
• High-to-Very-High adaptation efforts: Only around 13% of the case
studies were placed in this category exclusively in Europe and North America.
About Coastal Adaptation:
• Coastal Adaptation refers to the strategies put in place to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change, sea-level rise,
and other environmental changes on coastal areas.
• Coastal Adaptation Strategy Involves:
 Protection from Sea-Level Rise, Mitigation of Erosion, Resilience to Extreme Weather Events, Sustainable Land Use,
Restoration of Natural Ecosystems, Community Engagement, Infrastructure Resilience, Early Warning Systems
• State of Coastal Adaptation Study: The study assessed the state of global coastal adaptation by analyzing 61 coastal case
studies.
Need for Coastal Adaptation:
• Rising Sea-Level: It is primarily caused by the melting of polar Coastal Adaptation in Odisha:
ice caps which can lead to coastal erosion, increased • Odisha is prone to coastal erosion, sea level rise, storm surges,
cyclones, and offshore tsunamis.
flooding, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources.
• According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change • The government of Odisha has implemented coastal adaptation
measures in villages affected by these hazards:
(IPCC), by the end of the century the world may see a rise up Creation of Embankments: Protect against land loss due to
to 1.1 meters, relative to 1986–2005. erosion
• Climate Change: It is contributing to more frequent and Geo-synthetic tube sea-walls: A World Bank-supported sea-
severe weather events such as hurricanes, storm surges, and wall in Pentha village.
heavy rainfall which can lead to flooding, erosion, and Mangrove restoration and regeneration.

damage to infrastructure.
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  Global Climate Risk Index
2021: It ranked India 7th in
the list of most affected
countries in terms of
exposure and vulnerability
to climate risk events.
• Population Growth: Many
coastal areas are densely
populated, and population
growth in these regions
continues to increase, making
adaptation measures essential
for protecting lives and
property.
 For instance, almost two-thirds of the world's cities with populations of over five million are already located in areas at
risk of sea level rise, among them, megacities such as Chennai, Kolkata, Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila.
• Protecting Biodiversity and Ecosystems: Coastal adaptation is essential to protect coastal ecosystems, such as wetlands,
mangroves, and coral reefs which provide various services, including habitat for marine life and storm surge protection.
• Protecting Coastal Heritage: Many coastal areas are rich in cultural heritage, with historical sites and communities.
 For example, Kolkali and Parichakali are the two popular folk art forms in Lakshadweep that are an integral part of the
cultural milieu.
Challenges:
• Sea Level Rise: This rise is not uniform worldwide, and some regions are more vulnerable than others. The study identified
certain Asian megacities, western tropical Pacific islands, and the western Indian Ocean as particularly at risk from sea-level
rise.
 Other Vulnerable Regions: They include low-lying coastal
Some Significant Government Steps for Coastal Region
areas, such as the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and small
Conservation:
island states in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Project: The
• Internal Climate Variability: It can increase sea-level in some Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has
locations by 20%-30% more than what would result from demarcated the Hazard Line for the entire mainland coast of
climate change alone, exponentially increasing extreme India.
flooding events. • Coastal Regulation Zone: Introduced to conserve and protect
the unique environment of coastal stretches and marine areas
 For example, the study predicts that coastal flooding
to promote sustainable development.
events in Manila will occur 18 times more often by 2100
• National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC): The
than in 2006 based solely on climate change. NAFCC projects implemented in the states of Kerala, Tamil
• High Adaptation Gap: Coastal adaptation efforts are short- Nadu and Andhra Pradesh include activities relating to coastal
sighted and focus on single hazards, inadequately addressing areas.
the root causes of climate exposure and vulnerability and • Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): It is a section of the ocean
where a government has placed limits on human activity.
were poorly monitored.
 For instance, globally, almost half of the 61 case studies
show an adaptation gap higher than 50% and more than 20% faced a wide gap.
 In India, there were no adaptation plans for the Konkan region. Although Mumbai has a climate action plan, its adaptation
strategies did not accurately assess risks or specifically consider its vulnerable inhabitants' adaptation needs.
• Economic Challenge: Coastal regions are often significant economic hubs, hosting industries like tourism, shipping, fishing,
and commerce.
 Low-lying coastal settlements account for 14% of the global gross domestic product and face a severe risk of coastal
flooding.

61
• Assessment Challenges: Uncertainties are associated with predicting sea-level rise due to the complex and unpredictable
interactions in the Earth’s climate system.
 It is critical for society to be aware of the potential of extreme sea-level rise to develop effective adaptation strategies.
Way Forward:
• Ensuring Comprehensive Study: Include other socio-geographical systems (such as cities, mountains, Arctic regions, and rural
areas), biodiversity systems (transboundary ecosystems) and other sectors (health, infrastructure, water and food security,
and peace) in future studies.
• Expanding Adaptation Framework: Involving four steps viz. information collection and awareness raising, planning and
design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
 Establish a framework for adaptation that is integrated within current coastal management processes and practices and
takes a broader view on the subject.
• Introducing Needs-based Assessment: An emerging strategy that relies on requirements for deepening climate action, in
particular with inequality in consideration which could provide a way to show the inequity problems at all levels.
• Providing Nature-Based Solutions: These solutions enhance natural defenses against coastal hazards and benefit biodiversity
and water quality.
 For example, mangrove restoration, beach nourishment, and wetland preservation.
• Improving Infrastructure Resilience: This includes retrofitting existing infrastructure, designing building flood-resistant
structures, elevating critical facilities, and enhancing stormwater management systems to reduce flood risks.
4.3 Challenges Around Air Pollution
Context: The air quality in Mumbai has been consistently declining in recent years.
More on News:
• Worsening Air Quality Index (AQI): It went beyond 300 in some
parts of the city.
 An AQI of 200 or above is considered ‘poor’ air quality, while
300 and above signifies ‘very poor’ air.
• According to CSE analysis based on real-time data from the working
monitoring stations, the number of bad-air days in Mumbai
doubled between 2019 and 2021, while good days were down by
20 percent.
• The concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Mumbai
was 14.7 times the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of
five micrograms per cubic meter.
Reasons behind increasing pollution in Mumbai:
• Disruption of Wind Pattern: Mumbai experiences regular wind
patterns alternating between sea-to-land and land-to-sea
movements every 3-4 days, which naturally clears dust particles. What is AQI?
 However, current poor air quality is caused by frequent and • The AQI is a color-coded air monitoring and
extended disruptions in this wind cycle, with direction changes classification tool launched by MoEFCC to
communicate air quality status to people effectively.
occurring after eight to ten days.
 As per scientists, this could be due to the prevailing La Nina
• There are six AQI categories: Good, Satisfactory,
Moderate, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.
conditions in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
• Each category is decided based on the ambient
✓ La Nina is a condition in which the sea surface temperatures
concentration values of air pollutants and their likely
in the eastern Pacific Ocean become cooler than normal. health impacts (known as health breakpoints).
• Calm Winds and Temperature Gradient: The calm winds due to the
monsoon retreat and high October temperatures caused winds from
hilly areas( Sahyadri) to carry dust to the city.

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• Increase in the Number of Sources of Pollutants:
The increasing air pollution levels in Mumbai
indicate a high emission load from industrial
hotspots and the worsening transport situation
in and around the megacity.
 For Example- Trans-Thane Creek, Taloja,
Ambernath and Dombivali are the major
industrial clusters surrounding Mumbai. The
massive use of coal in them is one of the key
factors for the deteriorating air quality.
• Vehicular Pollution: It is the most significant
contributor to Mumbai’s air pollution.
 A study conducted by the System of Air
Quality Weather Forecasting and
Research(SAFAR) shows that the share of
vehicular emissions has increased considerably to over 30%, a significant rise from 16% in 2016-17.
• Increased Dust Pollution: Mumbai's long-term air quality decline is driven by increased economic activity, extensive
construction, and higher emissions, with no matched mitigation norms.
 The increase in construction activity has resulted in high PM2.5 levels, making it one of the most polluted months in the
city's recent history.
• Increasing Deforestation:
 The metro project claimed over 2100 trees in the Aarey forest and over 5000 trees across the city.
 The Ahmedabad Mumbai bullet train project sought over 125 hectares of forest land from Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
 The Tungareshwar sanctuary in Vasai involves the reclamation of 40000 mangroves.
Challenges with Air Pollution:
• Premature Deaths: As per the Lancet 2022 study, air pollution is estimated to have caused around 1.7 million premature
deaths in India in 2019, accounting for nearly 17.8 percent of the total deaths recorded in the country that year, the highest
in the world.
• Loss of DALY: Nearly 40 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), comprising 11.5 percent of the total DALYs, are lost due
to air pollution.
• Decrease in Life Expectancy: As per a study by the Centre for Science and
Environment (CSE), life expectancy in India has decreased by 2.6 years What is a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)?
due to the diseases brought on by air pollution. • The GRAP is a framework designed to combat
• Increase in Non-Communicable Diseases: It has emerged as the most air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.
significant risk factor for lung cancer, respiratory obstructions, • It was introduced as an emergency response
cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and acute respiratory infections, etc. mechanism, and its implementation is
triggered when the AQI reaches "poor" levels.
• Impact on Child Health: As per new epidemiological studies, it impacts
Implementing agency:
children's birth weight, development, and cognition, insomnia, fertility,
• The Commission for Air Quality Management
cerebral health.
(CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas oversees
• Economic Cost: Air pollution costs about $95 billion annually, i.e., almost the implementation of GRAP.
7 lakh crore, forming around 3.3 percent of India’s total GDP.
• Welfare Cost: According to the report ‘Economic Policy Reforms 2023:
Going for Growth’, the Ambient particulate matter led to the welfare cost of premature deaths at 8.4 percent of India’s gross
domestic product in 2019.
Steps by the Government:
• Clean Air Mumbai Initiative: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced a seven-step action plan to battle
air pollution as part of the initiative.

63
• Installation of Artificial Lungs: A pair of white
artificial lungs were installed in west Mumbai, to
create awareness regarding increasing pollution
levels and associated health hazards.
• Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy 2025: Under
this, the municipal administration has allocated Rs
99.22 crore towards dust mitigation Rs 992 crore to
public transport electrification.
• Graded Response Action Plan(GRAP): The
Maharashtra Government has formulated a GRAP
similar to the one planned by the Delhi Government
to combat air pollution.
• National Clean Air Programme: It is a national-level
strategy to combat rising air pollution by 2024.
Way Forward:
• Implementation of Pollution Mitigation Plans: The
authorities need to implement them with simple
measures such as sprinkling of water and dust
screens.
• Sectoral Emission Load Reduction Targets: The
government should include them to improve air
quality levels.
 A holistic, integrated, and comprehensive year-wide action plan to tackle air pollution must be formulated, as practiced
in Delhi-NCR (the GRAP).
• Monitoring System: Install a sensor-based monitoring system that can calculate air quality within a radius of three km around it.
 Various air pollution monitoring mechanisms should be consolidated into one robust and standardized monitoring system.
• Tackling Dust Pollution: One solution to tackle road dust is to build better roads that do not require revamping.
 Mechanical dust-sweeping machines, using chemical dust suppressants that make the dust particles heavier and prevent
them from spreading into the air.
• Fast Pacing the Drive Towards Electric Vehicles: The Indian automobile sector could drive the shift towards electric vehicles
and become a world leader in this segment.
 Environmental sustainability, along with economic growth, is a win-win situation.
• Inculcating Environment-Positive Behaviors: Habits like car-pooling, public transport, cycling to work, and circular
consumption patterns should be ingrained among the people.
4.4 Stubble Burning
Context: As the key Kharif season crop (paddy) IISER Study Findings on Emissions of Crop Burning:
harvest gains pace in Punjab, the perennial problem • The Bhopal-based IISER collaborated with the International Maize and Wheat
of stubble burning is also rising. Improvement Center (CIMMYT) to develop satellite-based technology that offers
insights into GHGs emitted from the burning of crop residues in India.
More on News:
• Rise in greenhouse gas emissions: Emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and
• Farmers across Punjab face the challenge of
greenhouse gasses(GHGs) increased by approximately 75 per cent over the
managing nearly 20 million tonnes of paddy decade.
straw. It is estimated that over 15 million tonnes • Leading emitter state: Punjab emerged as the leading emitter, followed by
of paddy straw is burnt in the open fields. Madhya Pradesh.
• According to the Punjab Pollution Control Board • Primary Crops: Rice, wheat, and maize accounted for 97% of India's agricultural
(PPCB), 656 cases of farm fire occurrence have burning emissions, with rice being the largest contributor at 55%.
been reported in the State till October 4, 2023.
 By comparison, the same period last year saw only 415 such incidents.
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• According to Punjab’s State Action Plan, the government is committed to reducing paddy stubble burning incidents by half.
• In Punjab, the ban and action against people burning crop residue are regulated under the Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981.
About Stubble Burning:
• Stubble burning is a practice of removing agricultural waste from
the field by setting on fire the straw stubble (parali) that is left on
the land after harvesting of grains like paddy, wheat etc.
• Paddy stubble burning is practised mainly in the Indo-Gangetic
plains of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to clear the fields for
rabi crop sowing.
 The paddy crop is harvested between the first and last weeks of
October and wheat is sown from the first week of November
until the middle of December.
• Although rice and wheat account for large volumes of crop residues,
sugarcane leaves are also burnt on fields.
• Burning crop residue is a crime under Section 188 of the IPC and
under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
Challenges Associated with Stubble Burning:
• Air Pollution: Stubble burning in North India is seen as a major
cause of air pollution affecting the Air Quality Index (AQI). Each
year, air pollution levels rise and the AQI reaches a ‘severe’ and
‘hazardous’ level.
• Heat Penetration: Stubble burning generates heat that
penetrates the soil, causing an increase in soil erosion, loss of
useful microbes and moisture, leading to soil degradation and
loss of soil fertility.
 For instance, the heat from burning paddy straw penetrates 1
centimeter into the soil, elevating the temperature to around
400 Celsius.
• Lack of Political Will: As farmers are an important political
constituency, the state government adopted a soft approach.
 In recent years, the government has developed a framework
and action plan for effective prevention and control of stubble
burning, their successful implementation and enforcement remains a challenge.
 For instance, following the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order of 2015 banning stubble burning, the PPCB has been
imposing penalties on farmers, still, the cases are rising.
• Lack of Viable Alternatives: Although farmer outfits in Punjab are against the burning of stubble, they would continue with
the status quo without a viable alternative or financial incentive.
• Harmful Health Impacts: Stubble burning emits toxic pollutants in the atmosphere containing harmful gases like Carbon
Monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds (VOC).
 These pollutants disperse in the surroundings and eventually affect air quality and people's health by forming a thick
blanket of smog (fog with soot or smoke).
• Global Warming: Pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) lead to global warming. These are also responsible for the
haze in Delhi and the melting of Himalayan glaciers.
Government Initiatives to Tackle Problems Associated with Stubble Burning:

65
• National Policy for Management of Crop Residues: Control of burning
National Air Quality Index (NAQI):
of crop residue by promotion of in-situ management (incorporation in
• Air Quality Index is a tool for effectively
soil, mulching) of crop residue. communicating air quality status to people in terms
• Waste to Energy Programme under the Umbrella scheme of the that are easy to understand.
National Bioenergy Programme: It supports the setting up of Waste to
Energy projects for the generation of biogas, bioCNG, power, and
syngas from urban, industrial and agricultural residues.
• Promotion of agricultural mechanization for in-situ crop residue
management in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi.
 It aims to address air pollution and subsidize machinery required for
in-situ crop residue management.
• Crop Residue Management Guidelines: For efficient ex-situ
management of paddy straw generated, surplus paddy straw will be
collected and biomass collection depots will be built in the States of
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
 It would generate employment opportunities, reduce air pollution,
and would result in new investments in biomass to the biofuel and
energy sectors.
Way Forward:
• Subsidizing Innovative Farm Technologies: Recent innovations like
happy seeder, rotavator, baler, paddy straw chopper, etc. are costly
but they could help farmers to manage crop residues effectively. Best Practices:
• New and Improved seed varieties: Using improved varieties of rice and • The Punjab government instructed brick kiln
wheat crops, particularly short-duration crop varieties. owners to replace at least 20 percent of coal with
paddy straw pellets for fuel after the Central
 For example, Pusa Basmati-1509 and PR-126 mature quickly and also
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) introduced a
improve the quality of the soil. scheme to reduce pollution and use of fossil fuel.
• Using Bio-Waste Decomposers: These decomposers contain agricultural • Chattisgarh Gauthans Model: As a goodwill
micro-organisms which increase the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). gesture the paddy growers are donating the crop
 For instance, using Pusa-bio-decomposer, developed by the scientists residues in thousands of Gauthans (cattle shed
at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, which turns crop residue premises for conservation and augmenting
into manure in 15-20 days by accelerating the decomposition process. livestock) where it is used as fodder.

• Sustainable farm management practices: Such measures include the

production of biochar in-situ management with mechanical intensification. These measures could not only manage the crop
residues but also help control GHG emissions.
• Educating and Empowering the Stakeholders: It could be an important step to make farmers feel that they are also
responsible for the crop residue and empower them to better utilize agricultural waste for financial and environmental gains.
4.5 Interlinking of Rivers
Context: After six years of provisional approval, the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) finally obtained the necessary forest
clearance.
More on News:
• In December 2021, the Union Cabinet approved KBLP at a total cost of Rs 44,605 crore.
• In this project, the national and the Madhya Pradesh governments will link the Ken river with the Betwa river so that the latter
can water the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh.
Interlinking of Rivers:
• It is the interbasin water transfer from the water surplus rivers to water deficit rivers or regions.

66
Recent developments on Interlinking of Rivers in India:
• Revival of the River-Linking Idea: In the late 1970s, the idea of
transferring water from water-rich areas to water-deficit regions
was proposed by then Union Irrigation Minister.
• National Perspective Plan (NPP) in 1980: In August 1980, the
Ministry of Irrigation formulated the NPP for water resources
development, which included inter-basin water transfer in India.
 It comprised two components: Himalayan Rivers
Development and Peninsular Rivers Development.
• National Water Development Agency (NWDA) and River Links:
 The NWDA identified 30 river-linking projects based on the
NPP, categorized into 16 under the Peninsular component
and 14 under the Himalayan Component.
• Revival under Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government: The river-
linking idea was reinvigorated during the tenure of Atal Bihari
Vajpayee's government. The Ken Betwa Link Project is one such initiative,
falling under the Peninsular component.
What is the Ken Betwa Link Project?
• The Ken-Betwa Link Project is located in Bundelkhand, a drought-prone
region across 13 districts in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• It is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking
of rivers.
• Aims: To transfer water from Ken river to Betwa river, both tributaries of
the Yamuna river.
• Phases:
 Phase I: Focus on completing the Daudhan dam complex, including
related structures like tunnels, link canal, and power houses.
 Phase II: Involves constructing Lower Orr dam, Bina complex project,
and Kotha barrage.
• Expected Benefits:
 Annual irrigation potential of 10.62 lakh hectares.
 Drinking water supply to approximately 62 lakh
people.
 Hydropower generation capacity of 103 MW.
The concerns related to the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP):
• Legal Approval Questions: The approval by the Standing
Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for
the KBLP is questioned, arguing that it hasn't been proven
necessary for wildlife improvement and management as
required by Section 35(6) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972.
• Ultra Vires Approval: The Central Empowered Committee
(CEC) of the Supreme Court has deemed the wildlife
approval granted by NBWL as ultra vires, suggesting that
it exceeded legal authority.

67
• Ecological and Wildlife Impact: The proposed dam's potential destructive impact on the ecology and habitats, particularly in
the Panna Tiger Reserve and downstream Ken Gharial Sanctuary,
Previous examples of river-linking in India:
is a significant concern.
Issues/challenges in Interlinking of Rivers:
• Periyar Project: Commissioned in 1895, this project
involved the transfer of water from the Periyar basin to
• Impact on Monsoon Cycles: Interlinking river projects can disrupt the Vaigai basin.
monsoon cycles, leading to altered precipitation patterns. • Similarly, other projects such as Parambikulam Aliyar,
 A new study in Nature Communications highlights a 12% Kurnool Cudappah Canal, Telugu Ganga Project, and
decrease in mean rainfall in September across dry arid regions Ravi-Beas-Sutlej were undertaken.
already experiencing water stress due to surplus irrigation from Global Example:
interlinked basins. • USA: California’s State Project provides for diversion of
water from better-watered northern California to the
• Connected River Basins: The assumption that river basins act as
central and southern part of the state.
independent entities is debunked.
• Sri Lanka: Mahaveli-Ganga Project includes several
 The study also emphasizes that river basins are interconnected
inter-basin transfer links.
through feedback loops between land
and the atmosphere, and changes in
one basin can affect neighboring basins,
impacting climate patterns and water
availability.
• Ecosystem and Soil Moisture Impact:
Excess irrigation from transferred water
can lead to drying of soil moisture,
contributing to declining rainfall and
increased temperatures across central
Indian regions.
• Human Impact: The project poses a
significant challenge of displacing and
disrupting the livelihoods of people,
especially those from impoverished and
tribal communities residing near forests,
necessitating careful rehabilitation efforts.
• Financial Burden: The interlinking project is
a high-cost endeavor, with estimates
reaching Rs 5,60,000 crore in 2001 for connecting Himalayan and peninsular rivers. Current costs are likely much higher,
affecting the overall cost-benefit ratio unfavorably.
• Ecological and Biodiversity Concerns: The merging of rivers could potentially impact biodiversity, as each river has a unique
ecology.
 Moreover, considering the pollution levels in many rivers, mixing less polluted rivers with more polluted ones could
aggravate environmental concerns.
Way Forward:
• Virtual Water Trade (VWT): Several countries have begun to act early, adopting the VWT route to address worldwide water
distress.
 Water-guzzling activities are getting outsourced for production to other countries. Thus, crops, meat, leather, chemicals
and industrial goods are imported to ensure a positive water balance.
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): To mitigate the Environmental, Ecological and Climate Change challenges, it is
necessary that a broad study by way of environment impact assessment must be conducted and through that study, the
government could prepare a crystal-clear road map.
• Comprehensive Water Law: The apprehensions about ill - effects of Inter-linking of Rivers from various sector experts like
environment, geography, ecology, archeology and sociology etc. exist till date.
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  These apprehensions could be counter by drafting a comprehensive water law covering with the solution and resolution
mechanism of all the issues and problems arising out before installing the Interlinking.
• Groundwater Management: India’s water security hinges on nurturing groundwater system. There is a need to identify,
protect and enhance recharge areas, use artificial methods, and regulate usage to ensure a sustainable future.
PRELIMS:
4.6 Bihar To Get Second Tiger Reserve In
Kaimur District
Context: Bihar is set to get a second tiger reserve in Kaimur
district (Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary) by the end of the year or
early 2024.
More on News:
The State Forest Department officials said they were
working to obtain the National Tiger Reserve Conservation
Authority’s (NTCA) approval for declaring Kaimur Wildlife
Sanctuary a tiger reserve.
• The total tiger count in Bihar currently is 54.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):
• NTCA is a statutory body established in 2005 following
the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forests and
Climate Change.
About Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary:
• The Sanctuary has two parts, viz. plains and plateau
regions
• Established in 1979, it features diverse forest types, rare
flora and fauna.
 Fauna: leopard, sloth bear, chital, sambar, wild pig,
nilgai, 'chowsingha' (four-horned antelope)
 Flora: Khair (Acacia catechu), Palas (Butea frondosa)
• Geographical Spread:Kaimur and Rohtas Districts.
• It is the largest and first wildlife sanctuary to be declared
in Bihar.
• It is connected with Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary of
UP, which again has links with Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve
and Panna landscape in Madhya Pradesh through
stepping stone forests of Marihan, Sukrit, Chunar ranges
and wildlife sanctuaries of Ranipur (UP).
4.7 Large Ozone Hole Detected over
Antarctica
Context: The European Space Agency Copernicus Sentinel-
5P satellite made the recordings of a large ozone hole over
Antarctica as part of the EU’s environmental monitoring
program.
69
About Ozone Hole:
• The ozone hole is not technically a “hole” where no
ozone is present, it is the region over Antarctica with a
total ozone of 220 Dobson Units or lower in the
stratosphere.
 The Dobson Unit is the most common unit for
measuring ozone concentration.
• Size: The size of the ozone hole over Antarctica
fluctuates each year, opening each year in August and
closing again in November or December.
 This hole was 26 million square kilometers in size,
roughly three times the size of Brazil, one major
reason may be the volcanic eruptions at Hunga
Tongain Tonga.
• Climate Change: Experts believe the hole in the ozone is
not likely to increase warming on the surface of
Antarctica and is not a concern for climate change.
• Montreal Protocol: The world took action after scientists
raised alarm over the ozone holes. In 1987, Montreal
Protocol was created to protect the ozone layer by
phasing out the production of these harmful substances.
Ozone Layer:
• The ozone layer is a trace gas which sits in the
stratosphere between 15 km and 30 km above the
earth.
• It functions as a protective gas shield that absorbs
ultraviolet radiation (UV), protecting humans and
ecosystems from dangerous amounts of UV.
 Most skin cancers are caused by exposure to high
amounts of UV radiation.
• Bad Ozone: Ozone at ground level is a harmful air
pollutant, because of its effects on people and the
environment, and it is the main ingredient in “smog”.
4.8 Migratory birds arrive in Odisha’s Chilika
Context: Migratory birds have started their annual journey
to Chilika —India’s largest waterbird habitat in Odisha —
ahead of winter this year.
More on News:
• Migratory birds, mostly from beyond the Himalayas in
Northern Eurasia, the Caspian region, Siberia,
Kazakhstan, Lake Baikal and the remote areas of Russia
 and neighboring countries visit the Chilika every winter • Conservation Initiatives:
and start their homeward journey before the onset of  Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection
summer. (GSLEP) Programme: India has been part of it since
• Northern shovelers, ruffs, godwits, plovers, gadwalls 2013.
and a variety of birds arrive in large numbers.  Project Snow Leopard (PSL): It aims to promote an
About Chilika Lake: inclusive approach to conserve snow leopards.
• It is a brackish water lake and a shallow lagoon with
estuarine character spread across Puri, Khurda and
Ganjam districts in Odisha. at the mouth of the Daya
River, covering an area of over 1,100 km2
• In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian
wetland of international importance under the Ramsar
Convention.
• It has been listed as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage
site.
Asian Migratory Bird Flyway:
• Five flyways cover Asia, The Asian-East African, the 4.10 Cyclone Hamoon
Central Asian, the East Asian-Australasian, the West
Context: The weakening of Cyclone Tej in the Arabian Sea
Pacific and the African-Eurasian.
might have strengthened its counterpart Cyclone Hamoon
• The Central Asian Flyway starts from the northern across Peninsular India in the Bay of Bengal, as per India
breeding grounds of water birds in Siberia and leads
Meteorological Department (IMD).
across Asia to the Indian subcontinent. Little has been
More on News:
published about birds using this flyway.
• It is after 5 years that the marginal seas of the Indian
• Chilka Lake lies on the central Asian flyway, It is the Ocean are together witnessing cyclones.
largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the
• The last time such a phenomenon took place was in
Indian sub-continent.
2018, when Cyclones Luban and Titli formed over the
4.9 Snow Leopard Population Assessment Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal respectively.
Context: A recent estimation was conducted in Himachal Factors Responsible for strengthening Hamoon:
Pradesh, as part of the Snow Leopard Population • Shifting of Tej in the Arabian Sea: In a twin cyclonic
Assessment. system — Tej and Hamoon — often one gets stronger at
the expense of the other. Since Tej already made landfall
Key Findings of Snow Leopard Population Assessment:
and is gradually weakening, Hamoon now seems to be
• Hotspots of Snow Leopards: The highest densities of getting stronger.
snow leopards were found in the trans-Himalayan
• Surface temperature:The sea surface temperature of the
regions of Spiti and Pin valley.
region where it is now located is more than the earlier
• Wild-Prey Population: The trans-Himalayan region also position, further contributing to the intensification.
supports the highest densities of wild prey.
Cyclone Tej:
About Snow Leopard:
• A Cyclone is a rapid inward air circulation around a low-
• Geographical Spread: Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, pressure area. In other words, it is a low-pressure system
Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, besides
that forms over warm waters.
Himachal Pradesh.
• It is the first post-monsoon cyclone of the 2023 season in
• Threat: Habitat destruction, invasive species, climate the Arabian Sea.
change and pollution are having an unprecedented
• Named by: It has been named by India.
impact on the snow leopard worldwide.
• Origin: Arabian Sea
• Protection Status:
 Appendix I: Convention on International Trade of
Endangered Species (CITES). Cyclone Naming Process:
 Schedule I: Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
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• Rotational Basis: Cyclones are named by countries on a  Implemented in seven states: Gujarat, Himachal
rotational basis. Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,
• Regional Meteorological Centers: Worldwide, six and Uttar Pradesh.
 Objective: To install 10,750 circuit km of transmission
specialized regional meteorological centers (RSMCs) and
lines and 27,500 MegaVolt-Amperes (MVA)
five regional Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs)
transformation capacity of substations by 2025-26.
are mandated for issuing advisories and naming tropical
 Funding: The Centre will provide assistance covering
cyclones. 33% of the project cost.
• IMD's Role: The Indian Meteorological Department
4.12 Frequent Earthquakes in Afghanistan
(IMD) is one of the RSMCs providing advisories and Context: Recently, the Multiple earthquakes have hit
naming for the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Afghanistan.
Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
Why do frequent earthquakes occur in Afghanistan?
• Member Countries: IMD serves 13 member countries
• Location: Afghanistan is located over multiple fault lines
under the WMO/Economic and Social Commission for
in the region where the Indian and the Eurasian tectonic
Asia-Pacific (ESCAP) Panel, including Bangladesh, India, plates meet. These plates collide often, leading to
Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi significant tectonic activity in the region.
Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and • Northward movement of the Indian Plate: The
Yemen. northward movement of the Indian Plate towards the
4.11 Green Energy Corridor Eurasian Plate causes compression, uplifting the
Himalayas and generating tectonic stress that deforms
Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs the crust and creates earthquakes through fault
(CCEA) has approved Green Energy Corridor Phase-II, an movements.
inter-state transmission system for a 13-gigawatt
• Active Fault Systems: Afghanistan is also crisscrossed by
renewable energy project in Ladakh.
various active fault systems like the Chaman Fault and
About:
the Main Pamir Thrust. These faults are the sources of
• Completion Target: 2029-30. many earthquakes in the region.
• Project Cost: It is estimated to cost ₹20,773.70 crore, • Tectonic Plates cause earthquakes in Hindu Kush and
with central financial assistance at 40%. Pamir Knot: Afghanistan is situated in the Hindu Kush
• Implementing Agency: Power Grid Corporation of India mountain range, which is one of the most seismically
Limited(POWERGRID) active regions in the world.
• Transmission Line: The transmission line will run through
Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, integrating with the
National Grid in Haryana.
Green Energy Corridor(GEC) Project: This aims to integrate
electricity generated from renewable sources like solar and
wind into the grid. It has two phases:
• Phase I:
 Implemented in eight states: Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat,
Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
 Objective: To install 9700 circuit km of transmission
lines and 22,600 MegaVolt-Amperes (MVA)
transformation capacity of substations by 2022.
 Funding: 40% Government of India Grant, 20% state
equity, and 40% loan from KfW Bank, Germany.
• Phase II:

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4.13 Green Credit Programme and Ecomark 4.15 Antarctica Ice Shelves: Study Finds 40%
Scheme Volume Lost in 25 years
Context: To take ahead the 'LiFE' (Lifestyle for Environment' Context: A recent research, published in the journal Science
movement), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Advances, found that almost all the ice shelves on the
Climate Change has introduced the Green Credit Program western side of Antarctica experienced ice loss.
(GCP) and the Ecomark Scheme.
Key Findings of the Study:
Green Credit Program:
• Loss of Ice Shelf Volume (1997-2021): 40% of the most
• It is an innovative market-based mechanism designed to
vulnerable parts of the Antarctic ice sheet.
incentivize voluntary environmental actions.
 Green Credit refers to a unit of an incentive provided • Mass Loss of Ice Shelves: Out of the 162 ice shelves
for a specified activity; delivering a positive impact on studied, 71 of them lost mass during this period,
the environment. releasing approximately 7.5 trillion tonnes of meltwater
• Aim: Incentivizing Environmental Actions. into the oceans.
• Implementation: The Indian Council of Forestry • Lack of Recovery: The study found that almost half of the
Research and Education (ICFRE) ice shelves are shrinking with no sign of recovery.
Ecomark Scheme:
• Surface Melting Intensification: The study predicts that
• Aim: Promoting Eco-Friendly Products.
surface melting of ice shelves is likely to intensify in the
• About: It provides accreditation and labeling for
household and consumer products that meet specific coming century, which could lead to further
environmental criteria. disintegration.
 The scheme seeks to prevent misleading information • Freshwater Release: The research shows that the
about products. Antarctic ice shelves released approximately 67,000
• Administration: The Central Pollution Control Board billion tonnes of freshwater into the Southern Ocean
administers the Ecomark Scheme in partnership with from 1997 to 2021.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
• Long-term Trends: The study noted a pattern of rapid ice
4.14 Global Framework on Chemicals shelf mass decrease between 1997 and 2002, followed
Context: Delegates at a United Nations (UN) Conference in by some mass gain from 2002 to 2021, particularly in
Bonn adopted a new global framework to reduce specific ice shelves like Ronne, Filchner, Amery, and
environmental risks from chemicals and waste. Cook.
Global Framework on Chemicals:
• Aim: To phase out lethal agricultural pesticides by 2035.
• Concrete Targets: The Framework sets targets and
guidelines across the lifecycle of chemicals.
 It is based around 28 targets, designed to improve
responsible management of chemicals and waste.
• Commitment by National governments: It was
committed to formulate policies and regulations in order
to reduce chemical pollution by 2030 as well as
promoting safer alternatives.
• Pledge by Industries: To manage chemicals in order to
reduce pollution and its adverse impacts.
• Bonn Declaration: It aims to prevent exposure to
harmful chemicals, and phase out the most harmful ones
and enhance the safe management of such chemicals.
• Dedicated trust fund: It will be set up and managed by
the United Nations Environment Programme.

72
4.16 State of Global Water Resources 2022
Report
Context: According to the World Meteorological
Organization’s (WMO’s) State of Global Water Resources
2022 report, the world’s water cycle is severely impacted by
climate change and human activities in 2022.
Findings of State of Global Water Resources 2022 report:
• Increasing Extreme Weather Events: The effects on the
hydrological cycle are leading to droughts and extreme
rainfall events and the erratic water cycles unleashed
widespread disruption, burdening livelihoods and
economies.
• The Asian Water Tower (AWT): It is the world’s largest
reservoir of ice and snow after the Arctic and Antarctic
regions which saw significant glacial melting in 2022.
This altered the natural downward flow of major rivers
viz. the Indus, Amu Darya, Yangtze and Yellow River in
the region.
 AWT covers the Third Pole, which includes the
Tibetan Plateau, the Himalayas, the Karakorum, the
Hindu Kush, the Pamirs and the Tien Shan
Mountains
• Alps: The snow cover in the Alps remained below the
30-year average during the 2023 spring despite late
snowfalls in May, as observed in the basins feeding the
four major rivers viz. Rhine, Rhone, Danube and Po.
4.17 Methane Emissions
Context: The International Energy Agency, the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UNEP-
73
convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition(CCAC) jointly
released the report named ‘’The Imperative of Cutting
Methane from Fossil Fuels- An Assessment of the Benefits
for the Climate and Health.’’
Highlights of reports:
• Methane Emission Scenario:
 Around 580 million tonnes (Mt) of methane is
emitted annually globally, 60 percent of which comes
from human activities, according to the latest
assessment cited in the report.
 In 2022, fossil fuel operations alone were responsible
for around 120 Mt of methane emissions.
 Under current trajectories, total anthropogenic
methane emissions could rise by up to 13 percent
between 2020 and 2030
About CCAC:
• It is a voluntary partnership of governments,
intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific
institutions and civil society organizations committed to
improving air quality and protecting the climate through
actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants
• India joined CCAC in 2019, becoming the 65th country to
join the partnership.
• It is the only international body working to reduce
powerful but short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) –
methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and
tropospheric ozone, that drive both climate change and
air pollution.
DATA POINT

4.18 Over 70% of India Reports Drought-like Conditions

Context: Over 500 of India’s 718 districts are currently reporting meteorological drought conditions, indicated by the
Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI).
• SPI is a probabilistic tool deployed by IMD for monitoring drought.
Negative values mean drought-like conditions, while positive values
mean wetter conditions.
Analysis of Data:
• Over 70% of the District reported Negative SIP values indicating
(drought-like, ranging from mildly dry to extremely dry) data from August
20, 2023 to September 24, 2023, maintained by the India Meteorological
Department (IMD).
• Most of India — 53 percent of the districts — was found to be in the
‘mildly dry’ category.
Types Of Drought
• Drought is a rainfall-scarce period, affecting the availability of water for
irrigation, drinking, etc.
 They are classified into three types.
✓ Meteorological drought is a prolonged dry spell in periods when
rainfall is expected.
✓ Hydrological drought is when scarcity of water begins to hit
normal supplies in the system.
✓ Agricultural drought is when scarcity of water begins to affect
the agricultural production.

74
SHORT NEWS

World Food Day 2023 The report, titled The High Cost of Cheap Water, was released on the occasion of World Food Day
October 16 by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
• Key Findings:
 Water and freshwater ecosystems offer several direct and indirect benefits.
✓ Direct economic benefits, such as water consumption for households, irrigated
agriculture and industries, amount to a minimum of $7.5 trillion annually
✓ Indirect benefits — purifying water, enhancing soil health, storing carbon, and
protecting communities from extreme floods and droughts — are seven times higher
at around $50 trillion annually.
• Theme of World Food Day 2023: 'Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind'

Badis Limaakumi Recently, Scientists have discovered a new fish species from the Milak River, Nagaland.
• Geographical Spread: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Myanmar. There are
26 recognised fish species in this family.
• Fish from the Badis family are also known as chameleon fish for their ability to change colour.

Dhole A recent study suggests that the presence of overlapping prey resources may lead to a favorable
correlation between dholes and tigers, potentially promoting their coexistence

About Dhole (Cuon alpinus):

• Dhole is a member of the dog or canid family that also includes wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals
and domestic dogs.
• Geographical Spread:
 Global: Historically, dholes purportedly occurred throughout southern Russia, all across
central Asia, south Asia and southeast Asia.
 India:Western and Eastern Ghats, central Indian landscape and North East India.
• Conservation Status:
 IUCN List of Threatened Species: Endangered
 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
Appendix II
 Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 : Schedule II

Mainstreaming LiFE Recently, the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying inaugurated
(Lifestyle for International Conclave on Mainstreaming Climate Change into International Fisheries
Environment) for Governance and Strengthening of Fisheries Management Measures in the Indo-Pacific Region at
Fisheries Management Mahabalipuram.
• Prediction by Recent Studies: Nearly half of the shared marine fish stocks will relocate by the
end of this century. This relocation of marine fish stocks challenges the existing fisheries
management framework.
• Role of Climate Change: It significantly alters the distribution of shared (straddling,
transboundary, and highly migratory) marine fish stocks worldwide.
• Mission LiFE: Launched by India, to bring individual behaviors to the forefront of the global
climate action narrative at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP26)

75
World Health Summit “India has launched the 75/25 initiative, aimed at screening and providing a standard of care for
2023 75 million individuals with hypertension and diabetes by 2025”, said the Union Minister of State
for Health and Family Welfare, during the summit meeting
• The World Health Summit(WHS) is held annually in Berlin.
• It brings together stakeholders from politics, science, the private sector, and civil society
worldwide.
• Objective: To set the agenda for a healthier future by inspiring innovative solutions for better
health and well-being.
• Theme (2023): “A Defining Year for Global Health Action.”
FAO: Livestock To tackle methane emissions, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
Methane Emissions suggested four strategies for better management of livestock.
Four broad strategies in mitigating methane emissions:
• Animal breeding and management,
• Feed management, diet formulation and precision feeding,
• Forages,
• Rumen manipulation.
About Methane:
• Methane (CH4) is a hydrocarbon that is a primary component of natural gas.
• It is also a greenhouse gas (GHG) and is emitted from a variety of anthropogenic and natural
sources.
 Anthropogenic Sources: Landfills, oil and natural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal
mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial
processes.
 Natural Sources: Wetlands, gas hydrates, termites, oceans
• Methane is more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Jamrani Dam The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the incorporation of the Jamrani Dam
Multipurpose Project in Uttarakhand under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-
Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP).
• The project envisages the construction of a dam near Jamrani village on the Gola River, a
tributary of river Ganga, in Uttarakhand's Nainital district.

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5. PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE
5.1 Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Sikkim
Context:
The recent catastrophic Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Sikkim, triggered by the burst of South Lhonak Lake, has claimed
lives and left a trail of destruction.
More on News:
• The GLOF of the South Lhonak Lake and subsequent flash floods
destroyed the Teesta-III dam on the Teesta River causing huge
devastation and damage downstream.
• This brings focus on the hydel projects built and proposed on Teesta
River.
• Questions are now being raised about the neglect by dam
authorities and the state and central governments to ensure
adequate dam safety measures.
About South Lhonak Lake:
• It is a glacial-moraine-dammed lake situated in Sikkim's far
northwestern region.
• The lake is situated at an altitude of 5,200 m (17,100 ft) above sea
level and formed due to the melting of the Lhonak glacier.
What is Glacial Lake Outburst Floods(GLOF)?
• Definition: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain
Development defines a GLOF as the sudden release of water from
a lake fed by glacier melt that has formed at the side, in front,
within, beneath, or on the surface of a glacier.
• Causes: GLOFs occur when the water levels of glacial lakes breach
their boundaries, which can cause large amounts of water to flow
into nearby streams and rivers, creating flash floods.
Impacts of GLOF:
• Massive Damage to Infrastructure: Houses, buildings, and other
establishments along the Teesta River and Lachen Valley were
swept away in the floods.
 According to government data, the GLOF swept away 14
bridges, damaged 1,825 houses, claimed at least 94 human
lives, and forced 2,563 displaced people into 21 relief camps. About Teesta River:
 Threat to Downstream Communities: Communication towers were • Teesta River, a tributary of the Jamuna River
affected, resulting in loss of mobile network. (Brahmaputra River), flows through India and
 The collapse of highways and bridges have left major regions Bangladesh.
inaccessible, including Gangtok. • It rises in the Himalayas near Chunthang in Sikkim
• Disruption of NH-10: A 30-metre stretch of NH10 that falls within the (India) and flows through the Indian States of
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in West Bengal has been Sikkim and West Bengal before entering
damaged. Bangladesh, where it flows into the Brahmaputra.
• Explosives Damaging Teesta-III Dam: The dam could have been
damaged by Army explosives swept down with floodwaters weakening
the structure of the dam.
 Army explosives being recovered from the downstream of Teesta up to the Bangladesh border.

77
How did South Lhonak Lake become susceptible to GLOF?
• With the rising global temperatures, glaciers in
Sikkim Himalayas have been melting rapidly, giving
rise to many glacier lakes and expanding the already
existing ones in the region.
• A report published by the Sikkim Forest and
Environment Department found that the lake’s area
had significantly increased in the past five decades
due to retreating of the South Lhonak glacier.
 The glacier receded nearly 2 km in 46 years from
1962 to 2008. It further retreated by ~400 m
from 2008 to 2019.
Possible Reasons behind GLOF in Sikkim:
• Glacial Melting: The rapidly warming Himalayas has
led to an acceleration of various geomorphic
processes, including the melting of glaciers.
 This has led to the accelerated growth in the
number and size of proglacial lakes (i.e. lakes
growing in front of the glaciers).
 As the glaciers retreat they leave a large void
behind. These dams are structurally weak and
unstable and run the risk of causing GLOFs.
 According to the Sikkim State Disaster
Management Authority, there are currently
more than 300 glacial lakes in Sikkim Himalayas.
• Seismic Activity: Earthquakes deteriorate the structural stability of the
Why is the Himalayan region more vulnerable to
moraines. They may not necessarily result in outburst floods but they
GLOF?
could trigger significant ice and/or rock avalanches. An earthquake of
• The changing climate has increased glacier
6.2 magnitude occurred in western Nepal which could have led to a
thinning and heterogeneous mass loss globally.
landslide/avalanche or weakened the lake’s embankment starting a
• The Himalayas exhibit more GLOF events than
GLOF.
any other mountainous area with a frequency of
 South Lhonak Lake is located in an area characterised by a high level 1.3 GLOFs per year.
of seismic activity. • As per Centre for Science and Environment, there
 According to the National Institute of Disaster Management, Sikkim has been a 40 percent increase in water spread
lies in a region classified as seismic zones IV and V – i.e. having the area in India, China and Nepal, posing a huge
highest level of seismicity. threat to seven Indian states and Union
• Ocean Warming: It has increased moisture levels over the region. Territories.
 The low-pressure area near the region further increased the • Of these, six are Himalayan states / UTs: Jammu
moisture providing a conducive environment for torrential rains. and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim,
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Avalanche: The Lhonak lake overflow is reminiscent of the 2021 deluge that resulted from an avalanche involving the Nanda
Devi glacier in the Himalayas that flooded the Rishiganga river in Uttarakhand.
• High Rainfall: Sikkim receives high rainfall which could have caused the GLOF.
 According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Sikkim received 40.9 millimetres of rainfall in two days – almost
five times its normal rate of 8.6mm for this time of the year.
Sikkim GLOF: A Man-Made Disaster:
• Ignored Scientific Warnings: In a study published in the journal Geomorphology, the expanding dimensions of the Lhonak
glacial lake was already highlighted which rendered a GLOF more likely due to cloudbursts.

78
  Researchers from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela found that 36
lakes across the Indian Himalaya were exposed to potential avalanche-impact
zones.
 This study identified South Lhonak Lake as potentially dangerous, with a high
outburst probability with the upper Himalayan region to be highly unsuitable for
the construction of dams and tunnels.
• Erratic Dam’s Spillway: The dam spillway was not designed to accommodate high
flow due to GLOF.
 The dam break led to massive flooding downstream, destroying roads, bridges,
water and power lines, inundating towns and districts.
• Delayed Response: The spillways were not being opened on time. It is being argued
that if the dam gates of Teesta-III were opened on time, the impact of the flood
would have been much milder.
• Natural River Flow Blockage: The impact has extenuated due to the construction of
dams along the rivers blocking the natural river flow.
 The complete washing away of the dam at Teesta Urja hydro-power project is an
example of that.
• Lack of Proper Risk Assessment: Although multiple hazards were recognised for
Teesta III, but risks were neither adequately assessed nor a mitigation strategy
designed.
 The high risk project received
clearance from multiple regulating
agencies despite opposition from
the local community and
environmental groups.
 Even clearance conditions did not
mandate an early warning system or
modifications in the dam’s design, to
account for the possibility of a GLOF.

Initiatives by India for Management of

GLOF:
• Preparedness
 Sendai framework: India is a
signatory to the Sendai Framework
for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-
2030 to work towards disaster
resilience.
✓ The Sendai Framework sets goals
and guides disaster risk
reduction.
 National Disaster Management
Plan (NDMP)2019: It aims to make
India disaster resilient and significantly reduce the loss of lives and assets.
 NDRF Guidelines To Tackle GLOF (Refer Image)
 Remote Sensing by ISRO: Satellite remote sensing technique is used for near real time flood & cyclone monitoring &
mapping in the country by ISRO.
 Aapda Mitra: It provides the community volunteers with the skills needed to undertake basic relief and rescue tasks during
emergency situations like Heavy Rains, Floods, and Cyclones etc.
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• Response
 Siphoning off Water: High-density polyethylene pipes were installed to siphon off water from the glacial lake to prevent a
GLOF event.
 Logistics Support: It includes the deployment of adequate teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Air
Force helicopters and Army personnel.
 Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT): The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted IMCT which will visit the affected
areas of the State.
✓ Based on the assessment of IMCT, further additional Central assistance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)
to Sikkim will be approved.
 Trishakti Corps Troops: The troops rescued 245 people stranded in Rabom village due to the flash flood in Sikkim.
✓ Trishakti Corps have been undertaking rescue operations in villages cut off from the rest of the state following the flash
flood.
• Recovery:
 National Glacial Lake Outburst Floods Risk Mitigation Programme (NGRMP): Implementation in four Himalayan states
and Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
✓ Component 1: GLOF hazard and risk assessment.
Global Best Practices: Peru
✓ Component 2: GLOF monitoring and early warning system.
• It is monitoring glacial lakes and implementing
✓ Component 3: GLOF mitigation measures. early warning systems after its deadly 1941 GLOF
✓ Component 4: Awareness generation and community centric event which resulted in a large number of
capacity building casualties.
 Early Warning System: Installation of an early warning system and • Mitigating measures include draining lakes and
automatic weather station. constructing spillways for glacial lakes to drain
 Rehabilitation Housing Scheme: The 'Punarwas Awas Yojana,' a without breaching and a population of
Rehabilitation Housing Scheme has been announced to aid those approximately 1.4 billion people.
affected by the devastating flash floods.

Way Forward:
• Proper Monitoring Network: It is needed to gather information to understand the events, their causes, locate hotspots and
the degree to which climate change worsened the situation.
• Moderating Construction Activities in the Himalayan region: Hydroelectric power generation facilities need to be moderated
against the uncertainty related to the vulnerability of Himalayan region.
• Re-evaluation of the Environmental Impact Assessment and the Environment Clearance procedures(EIA/EC): The existing
EIA/EC framework has repeatedly shown inadequacies in handling high-risk projects.
 The existing EC approach must be equipped to address the challenges and unpredictability of the climate crisis, especially
in the Himalayas.
• Establishing Independent Bodies: They are needed to conduct such assessments to inform decisions and maintain objectivity
in the decision-making process.
 For the Himalayas, a Trans-Himalayan Environmental Assessment and Management Agency staffed with experts from
Himalayan states and UTs is needed.
• Reducing Volumes in Glacial Lakes: It includes controlled breaching, construction of an outlet control structure, and making
a tunnel through the moraine barrier or under an ice dam.
• Downstream River Engineering Structures: They are needed to withstand the disastrous surges of the water and debris
associated with the bursting of the glacier lakes.
• GLOF Exposure Reduction: It concentrates on the people and assets at stake rather than on the hazard itself.
 Exposure can be reduced in the short term through evacuations or in the long term through relocation or spatial planning.

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6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
6.1 AI in Modern Defense
Context: The Indian Army has been deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) surveillance systems along its borders with Pakistan and
China.
More on News: Increasing Deployment of AI in the Indian military:
• A total of 140 AI-based surveillance systems have • AI-Based Real-Time Monitoring: The Indian Army is using AI-based
been deployed for this purpose. real-time monitoring software for generating intelligence in counter-
• These systems include high-resolution cameras, terrorist operations.
sensors, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) feeds, and • High-Tech Military Simulators: The military is also adopting high-tech
radar feeds. military simulator technologies to train recruits, with the potential for
broader implementation in future training programs.
• The data collected from these various sources is
processed and analyzed using artificial intelligence
• AI Technologies Launch: Defense Minister launched 75 newly-
developed AI technologies during the "AI in Defense" symposium,
technology. showcasing robotics, automation tools, and intelligence surveillance.
• The primary goal of these systems is to detect • Defense AI Dialogue with the United States: The United States and
intrusions at the borders and classify potential targets India have agreed to launch a Defense Artificial Intelligence Dialogue
for more effective border security. and expand joint cyber training efforts.
About AI: • AGNI-D Surveillance Software: An AI-based surveillance software
• AI is the simulation of human intelligence by called AGNI-D was unveiled at Aero India for surveillance and security
in the eastern Ladakh sector, near the China border.
computers. It relates to the ability to learn, rationalize
Features of AGNI-D: AGNI-D can recognize movement, weapons,
and undertake appropriate actions to achieve a
vehicles, tanks, and missiles in real-time and recorded video
specific goal. footage.
Significance of AI in Defence: • WARDEC: The Army Training Command and Rashtriya Raksha
• Game-Changer in Various Fields: AI is seen as a University are collaborating to establish a 'Wargame Research and
game-changer in logistics, information operations, Development Centre' in New Delhi, known as 'WARDEC'.
and intelligence collection. This center will be India's first simulation-based training facility using
AI and virtual reality for metaverse-enabled gameplay.
 Logistics and Supply Chain Management: AI can
significantly improve military logistics and supply • It aims to train soldiers and test strategies for various scenarios,
including warfare, counter-terrorism, and counter-insurgency
chain management, enhancing efficiency.
operations.
 AI-Based Border Surveillance: India employs 140
AI-based surveillance systems at its borders with
Pakistan and China, reducing human involvement and enhancing security by detecting intrusions and classifying targets.
 AI-Powered Drones: AI-equipped drones excel in day and night reconnaissance missions, capturing images and extracting
data from remote locations. They also detect enemy drones, offering cost-effective threat mitigation.
 Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS): LAWS autonomously detect, select, and engage hostile targets, multiplying
force effectiveness while requiring minimal personnel.
 Autonomous Combat Vehicles and Robots: These technologies enhance soldier protection and performance, aiding in
monitoring casualty evacuation,
• Positioning in Intelligent Warfare: India aims to position itself at the forefront of intelligent warfare strategies, recognizing
the importance of AI in various military applications, including border control, comprehensive surveillance, and AI-equipped
drones for reconnaissance missions.
• Data Management and Enhanced ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) Capabilities:
 AI can process vast amounts of military data, providing actionable intelligence.
 Supports on-field warfighters with credible intelligence.
 Example: Project Maven in the United States uses AI for data analysis in counter-insurgency operations.
 AI aids physical ISR in harsh terrains and weather conditions, reducing risks to human soldiers.

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• Cybersecurity:
 AI is used for both ISR activities and as a weapon system (offensive or defensive).
 Trained AI systems are more efficient in identifying and responding to cyber threats.
 Essential in combating evolving and sophisticated cyber threats that surpass human capabilities.
Concern:
Budget Constraints: India's current AI investment in
the military is seen as inadequate compared to its
strategic rival, China.
 According to the Delhi Policy Group, a security
think tank, the Indian military allocates
approximately US$50 million annually for AI
spending. China invests more than 30 times as
much in AI technology.
• Over-Reliance on Surveillance Systems: There is a
concern that overreliance on even advanced
surveillance systems may not be foolproof, as
demonstrated by the surprise attack on Israel.
anticipating and preventing unexpected threats.
• Complexity of Counter-Terrorism: Counter-
terrorism and counter-insurgency operations often
involve complex and nuanced situations that AI
systems do not interpret easily. Human intelligence
is crucial in understanding the subtleties of human
behavior and decision-making in such contexts.
• Misidentification of Targets: AI systems may make
mistakes in identifying targets, potentially leading to unintended attacks on non-combatants or friendly forces, resulting in
unacceptable collateral damage.
 Ex, U.S. drone surveillance footage has misidentified civilians as terrorist targets in the August 2021 strike in Afghanistan.
• Data and Privacy: Balancing personal data protection with AI's benefits poses challenges and trade-offs between privacy and
prosperity.
• Ethical Dilemma: There is a moral question regarding whether AI systems should have the authority to autonomously select
and engage targets without human intervention, especially in situations where human lives are at stake.
Way Forward:
• Human Accountability: Defining the extent of
human involvement and responsibility in AI-
driven military operations is crucial. Clear lines of
accountability need to be established for any
mishaps or wrongdoing.
• Doctrinal Variations: The extent of AI system
autonomy may vary among different military
doctrines, but there is a general consensus that
fully unpredictable autonomous systems may
not be preferred in military operations.
 The US, for example, recently updated its
policy directive on autonomy in weapon
systems, allowing them to use lethal force,

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 but with the caveat that such autonomous systems must be explicitly designed to allow commanders to “exercise
appropriate levels of human judgment over the use of force”.
• Set-up Processes and Practices: Establish processes and practices that facilitate collaboration with research labs, academia,
startups, and the private sector.
 The Indian Army has been closely collaborating with Academia, the Indian Industry and DRDO for the realization of
complex AI-based projects.
 For this, an AI Lab has been established at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering wherein AI projects
have undergone extensive in-house testing.
• Role of Private Sector: Recognize the private sector's pivotal role in making AI accessible and efficient for military purposes.
Foster an ecosystem that promotes the flow of both capital and skills, which is essential for AI innovation.
• Robust Hardware and Enabling Data Banks: Invest in robust hardware and establish data banks to support AI operations.
Critical infrastructure availability is crucial for AI's success in both civilian and military applications.
6.2 Nobel Prize In Medicine
Context: The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their
discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications.
More On News:
• The discoveries by the two Nobel Laureates were critical for developing effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 during
the pandemic that began in early 2020.
mRNA vaccines: A promising idea
• In our cells, genetic information encoded in
DNA is transferred to messenger RNA
(mRNA), which is used as a template for
protein production.
• RNA contains four bases, abbreviated A, U, G,
and C, corresponding to A, T, G, and C in
DNA, the letters of the genetic code(Refer
image).
• During the 1980s, efficient methods for
producing mRNA without cell culture ( in a
lab ) were introduced, called in vitro
transcription.
• In vitro transcribed mRNA was considered
unstable and challenging to deliver, requiring
developing sophisticated carrier lipid
systems to encapsulate the mRNA.
Moreover, in vitro-produced mRNA gave rise
to inflammatory reactions.
• The duo showed that converting the RNA
base uridine to pseudouridine in mRNA produced in vitro could reduce the inflammatory response.
• In subsequent years, mRNA vaccines were developed against Zika virus and MERS-CoV, but the technology was fully
exploited only in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, with their nucleoside bases modified, were developed at
record speed.
Nucleoside base Modification:
• A nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA) is a synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) in which some nucleosides are
replaced by other naturally modified nucleosides or synthetic nucleosides (For Example uridine to pseudouridine).

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• modRNA (Modified RNA) is used to induce the production of
a desired protein in certain cells. An important application is
the development of mRNA vaccines, of which the first
authorized were COVID-19 vaccines.
• Using modified nucleosides is a critical approach to mitigate
the intrinsic immuno-response of exogenous mRNA and
increase its translation for mRNA therapeutic applications.
However, for vaccine applications, the intrinsic
immunostimulatory nature of unmodified mRNA could help
induce productive immunity.
• Additionally, the ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) used to
deliver mRNA vaccines can possess immunostimulatory
properties that may influence the impact of nucleoside
modification.
What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine
manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines?

Vaccine Name Platform Manufacturer

Covishield A Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus Serum Institute of India, Pune

vector vaccine

COVAXIN Inactivated vaccine Bharat Biotech

ZyCoV-D DNA based vaccine Cadila Healthcare Ltd

Sputnik V Combined Vector vaccine Gamaleya Institute, Russia

COVOVAX SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein Indian Council of Medical Research and
nanoparticle vaccine (SARS-CoV-2 rS) Serum Institute of India

Biological E’s novel Corbevax containing Receptor Binding Biological E. Limited

Covid-19 vaccine Domain of SARS-CoV-2

mRNA and Other Vaccines:

• All vaccines aim to induce an immune
response by introducing the pathogen in
advance. The critical difference is that most
vaccine platforms inject either the virus
(killed or inactivated) or a part of it. (Refer
Image).
• In contrast, an mRNA vaccine delivers only
the instructions, enabling the body to create
the protein.
• Once the protein is synthesized, the immune
system responds against it. The objective is
for the body to recognize the virus's protein
if it infects the person in the future, and
neutralize it.

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• In COVID-19 vaccines, the synthesized protein is Sars-CoV-2’s
Advantages and disadvantages of mRNA vaccines.
spike, responsible for latching on to and infecting a cell.
Advantages
• DNA vaccines: which are often referred to as third-generation • Rapid research and development, simple production process,
vaccines, use engineered DNA to induce an immunologic mRNA vaccines do not require nuclear localization signals.
response in the host against bacteria, parasites, viruses, and transcription in vivo, No risk of integration into the host DNA,
potentially cancer. Effectiveness is higher than inactivated vaccines
• The basic working principle behind any DNA vaccine involves Disadvantages

using a DNA plasmid that encodes for a protein originating from • mRNA is unstable and easily degraded, Strong
immunogenicity, triggering unnecessary immune response. ,
the pathogen in which the vaccine will be targeted.
Safety is lower than inactivated vaccines, Effectiveness is
Conclusion: lower than DNA vaccines
The advantages of the mRNA vaccine approach are numerous and,
in addition to being used as a vaccine, mRNA can also be used as a
protein supplement or replacement therapy to treat other diseases, driving the necessary research to overcome the current
obstacles and limitations with the ultimate goal of developing an ideal form of medicine.

6.3 Safety Test For Gaganyaan

Context: ISRO has successfully conducted the Flight Test Vehicle Abort
Mission-1 (TV-D1) as part of the Gaganyaan project.
More on News:
• The Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) will demonstrate
the performance of the Crew Escape System of the Gaganyaan
project.
• It marked the first in a series of tests for launching an Indian
astronaut into space by 2025.
About Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1):
• Payloads: The payloads consist of the Crew Module (CM) and Crew
Escape Systems (CES).
• Crew Module: It will demonstrate a basic version of the crew
module
Functioning of Crew Escape System: The test will check the
functioning of systems for separating the crew module from the rocket
in case of a mid-flight emergency (abort mission) and astronauts'
escape.
• Simulation of Abort Condition: The flight will “simulate the abort
condition during the ascent trajectory corresponding to a Mach
number of 1.2 encountered in the Gaganyaan mission”, including
crew module separation and its safe recovery.
Significance of Test Flight:
• Simulation for Gaganyaan Mission: It is a near-complete system integrated for a flight test.
 Its success set the stage for the remaining qualification tests and unmanned missions, leading to the first Gaganyaan
mission with Indian astronauts.
• Crew Safety: Scientists aim to ensure the crew's safety who would be actually sent in the Crew Module on an LVM-3 rocket
on the Gaganyaan mission.
Significance of Gaganyaan Mission for India:
• A Platform for Innovation: It will help scientists better understand the effects of microgravity on the human body and develop
new technologies for space exploration.

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  The ISRO is considering a minimum of 10 microgravity
experiments for the mission, including space
medicine, sensor development for medical devices,
etc.
• Scientific Exploration: It is a significant step towards
India's ambitious goals in space exploration, including
setting up an Indian Space Station by 2035 and sending
an Indian astronaut to the moon by 2040.
• Advanced Technology Capability: It will help undertake
human space exploration, sample return missions, and
scientific exploration.
 It will give way to progress toward a sustained and
affordable human and robotic program to explore the
solar system and beyond.
• Economic Opportunities: Ample scope for employment
generation and human resource development in
advanced science and R&D activities.
 The mission will also boost India’s tourism industry, as
people worldwide will want to visit the country to see
where its astronauts were trained and launched.
• Space Diplomacy: The mission will help India to forge
closer ties with other spacefaring nations.
 India has already signed agreements with Russia, the
United States, and France to collaborate on the mission.
 India joined the US-led Artemis Accord for international partnership on planetary exploration and research.
 After this manned mission, India will become the 4th country after Russia, the US and China to send humans into space.
Challenges with the Mission:
About Gaganyaan Programme:
• Long Delay in the Project: The Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO) has been facing delays with the mission • About: It is India’s first human spaceflight mission. Two
unmanned missions and one manned mission will occur as part of
which was scheduled to launch in 2022.
the program.
 The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the work schedules of
space agencies and disrupted the supply chain disruptions. • A 3 member Indian crew will be sent to space for a period of seven
days.
• Risks of Failure: Sending humans to space missions is
extremely dangerous, evident in the failure of the Russian • Aim: To demonstrate the capability to launch human beings
(three crew members) to low earth orbit and bring them back
Soyuz FG rocket with two astronauts aboard.
safely to earth by landing them in either the Bay of Bengal or the
 The mission marked its first failure in 55 launches.
Arabian Sea.
• Radiation: Astronauts on space stations are exposed to
radiation levels more than ten times that of Earth, which can
• Launch Vehicle: Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)
increase cancer risk and harm the central nervous system.
 This radiation exposure may also lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and fatigue.
• Challenges of Gravity: Transitioning between gravity fields poses challenges that can impact hand-eye and head-eye
coordination.
 As per NASA, in the absence of gravity, the human body experiences mineral loss in bones, leading to a higher risk of
osteoporosis-related fractures even after returning from a space mission.
• Harsh Environment: Space presents a hostile environment with no atmosphere. In such conditions, without pressure, it
creates challenges for the human body.
 To address this, the 'Gaganyaan' mission must simulate an Earth-like atmosphere within a confined space.
Conclusion:
• The successful execution of this Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 marked a critical milestone in India's journey towards
achieving human spaceflight capabilities. It will reinforce ISRO's commitment to advancing space exploration.
• It will elevate India’s reputation as a technologically advanced nation and a player in international space exploration.

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PRELIMS NEWS
6.4 Freedom from Avian Influenza
Context: The World Organisation for Animal Health
(WOAH) has approved India's self-declaration of freedom
from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in specific
poultry compartments.
About Avian Influenza in India:
• Avian influenza, also known as 'bird flu', is a disease
primarily affecting birds and is caused by a virus of the
Orthomyxoviridae family.
• Subtype:
 The Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (LPAIV)
can cause a mild illness, often unnoticed or without
any symptoms.
 The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (HPAIV)
caused by subtypes (H5 and H7) of type A, causes
serious illness in birds that can spread rapidly,
resulting in high death rates in different species of
birds.
• Threat to Human Health: Most of the influenza viruses
circulating in birds are not zoonotic.
 However, some HPAI strains have the ability to infect
humans, posing a threat to public health.
• Strategies to Curb Spread: Zoning and
compartmentalization are strategic tools used to
establish and maintain groups of animals with specific
health statuses for the purposes of international trade
and disease prevention or control.
• Monitoring: WHO continuously monitors avian and
other zoonotic influenza viruses closely through its
Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System
(GISRS).
• India's Approach to Control HPAI: India follows a "detect
and cull" policy as outlined in the National Action Plan
for Prevention, Control, and Containment of Avian
Influenza.
 It includes the humane destruction of infected and
exposed animals, eggs, feed, litter, and other
contaminated materials.
○ Additionally Measures: Restricting the movement of
poultry and poultry products, disinfection and clean-
up of infected premises, and a Post-Operative
Surveillance Plan (POSP) have been implemented.
○ Vaccination against HPAI is not permitted in India.
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6.5 New Targets for ISRO
Context: Setting up ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ (Indian
space station) by 2035 and taking the first Indian to the
Moon by 2040 are new targets for space agency ISRO.
India’s New Space Targets:
• Space Station: According to the ISRO chief, the Indian
space station is likely to be much smaller, weighing only
20 tonnes as compared to 450 tonnes of the
International Space Station and 100 tonnes of the
Chinese Tiangong Space Station.
• Moon Missions: The Department of Space has been
tasked with developing a roadmap for Moon exploration,
including a series of Chandrayaan missions.
○ The next Chandrayaan mission will likely bring Moon
samples back, eventually leading the first Indian to
the Moon by 2040.
• Mars Missions: India has already sent an orbiter. The
next step would be to send a lander, which the US and
China have already achieved.
• Indigenous Lander Technology: India did not have lander
technology before the Chandrayaan 2 mission, the
lander was indigenously developed after Russia backed
out following the failure of one of their landers to the
Martian moon Phobos.
• Others: The scientists will also work towards a Venus
Orbiter Mission and a Mars Lander Mission.
6.7 Deep Fakes
Context: Government is looking at IT rules to make
WhatsApp disclose source ID. The basis for this are multiple
deepfake videos of politicians circulating on WhatsApp.
More on News:
• The government is in the process of seeking the identity
of the people who first shared the videos on the
platform.
About Deepfake:
• Deepfake AI is a type of artificial intelligence used to
create convincing images, audio and video hoaxes. The
term describes both the technology and the resulting
bogus content, and is a combination of deep learning
and fake.
• Deepfakes often transform existing source content
where one person is swapped for another.
• They also create entirely original content where
someone is represented doing or saying something they
didn't do or say.
• IT Act 2000: Section 66E of the act is applicable in cases
of deepfake crimes that involve capturing, publishing or
transmitting a person's images in mass media, violating
their privacy.
○ This offense is punishable with imprisonment of up
to three years or a fine of up to ₹2 lakh
6.8 Monoclonal Antibodies
Context: India reached out to Australia to procure
monoclonal antibody doses to combat the Nipah virus
outbreak in Kerala.
About Monoclonal Antibodies:
• Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins
that mimic the behavior of antibodies produced by the
immune system to protect against diseases and foreign
substances.
• They are produced through a process that involves
extracting specific antibodies from human blood and
then cloning them.
• Niels K. Jerne, Georges J.F. Köhler and César Milstein
were awarded the medicine Nobel Prize in 1984 for their
work on “the principle for production of monoclonal
antibodies”.
How do monoclonal antibodies work?
• Monoclonal antibodies are specifically engineered and
generated to target a disease.
• They are meant to attach themselves to the specific
disease-causing antigen. An antigen is most likely to be a
protein.
○ For Example:
✓ REGEN-COV2 is a cocktail of two monoclonal
antibodies developed to target the SARS-CoV-2
spike protein.
✓ The monoclonal antibodies bind to specific parts
of the spike protein, blocking its ability to infect
healthy cells.
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6.9 CAR-T Cell Therapy
Context: Recently, Immuno ACT received market
authorization for their chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-
cell therapy called NexCAR19 from the Drugs Controller
General of India.
What Is CAR-T Cell Therapy?
• CAR-T therapy is a novel and highly complex immune
therapy that redirects the body’s own immune system to
fight cancer.
○ CAR-T cells are often described as ‘the living drug’
because they actively search and target malignant
cells.
○ It uses a type of immune cell called a T-cell, which is
extracted from patients’ blood before being
genetically altered to allow it to target surface
proteins found on cancer cells.
• NexCAR19 is India's first indigenously developed
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.
• It targets relapsed-refractory B-cell lymphoma and
leukemia, marking a significant advancement in cancer
treatment.
• Success Rate: In studies, 9 out of 10 people with acute
lymphoblastic leukemia whose cancer didn't respond to
other treatments or whose cancer came back had full
remission with CAR T-cell therapy.
○ Remission means the cancer can't be detected in
tests.
SHORT NEWS

Fast Radio Burst (FRB) A remote blast of cosmic radio waves has been recently discovered that lasted less than a
millisecond in June last year.
About Fast radio burst (FRB):
• FRBs are intense, millisecond-long bursts of radio waves with unknown origins.

Web Portal ‘Apna The Union Ministry of Education launched a web portal ‘Apna Chandrayaan’ with activity-
Chandrayaan’ based support material such as quizzes, puzzles, etc for school students on Mission
Chandrayaan-3 developed by NCERT.

Antimicrobial Resistance The Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Surveillance Network of the Indian Council of
Medical Research (ICMR) released its annual report for 2022.
Key Findings:
• Escherichia coli (E. coli) was identified as the most commonly occurring pathogen,
followed by Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii,
and Staphylococcus aureus.
• Resistance to common pathogens is more pronounced to fluoroquinolones,
carbapenems, and third-generation cephalosporins classes of antibiotics.

Invisible e-waste Brussels-based organization Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum
organizes International E-Waste Day on October 14 every year.
• The term “invisible e-waste” refers to e-waste that goes unnoticed due to its nature or
appearance, leading consumers to overlook its recyclable potential.
○ For example Cables, e-toys, e-cigarettes, e-bikes, power tools, smoke detectors, USB
sticks, wearable health devices and smart home gadgets.

Uterus Transplant Recently, doctors at the Churchill Hospital Oxford, in the U.K., conducted the uterus
transplant.
About Uterus Transplant:
• A uterus transplant is a surgical procedure by which a healthy uterus is transplanted in a
woman whose uterus is absent or diseased.
• It can help women who lack a uterus fulfill their reproductive needs.
• A new uterus is obtained from a live or deceased donor and fitted into the recipient.
• India’s first uterine transplant baby, was delivered through a Cesarean section at Galaxy
Care Hospital in Pune in 2018.
• Approximately 1 in 500 women are estimated to have uterine factor infertility according
to the British Medical Bulletin.

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7. DEFENCE AND SECURITY

7.1 Terrorism: A Threat to Humanity

Context:
The Prime Minister of India urged the world to define and condemn terrorism in one voice, as a divided world can’t find solutions
to humanity's problems.
More on News:
• Moving away from good and bad terrorism: He also rejected efforts to justify it on grounds of good or bad terrorism while
warning that the international community's continuing failure to define terrorism had helped terrorists.
• Recent attack on Isreal by Hamas: His remarks come in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Palestine war that has claimed more
than 2,800 lives.
• In this context, in 1996, India proposed to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) the adoption of the "Comprehensive
Convention on International Terrorism” (CCIT).
• Global Terrorism Index: India placed 13th in 2023, slightly improving from the previous year. India scored 7.175 on the GTI,
making it one of the countries with the "highest" impact of terrorism.
What is Terrorism?
• There is no current agreement regarding a
universal legal definition of terrorism.
• However, Comprehensive Convention on
International Terrorism(CCIT) defines
terrorism as follows: Any person commits an
offense within the meaning of this
Convention if that person, by any means,
unlawfully and intentionally, causes:
 Death or serious bodily injury to any
person; or
 Serious damage to public or private
property, including a place of public use, a
State or government facility, a public
transportation system, an infrastructure
facility or the environment; or
 Damage to property, places, facilities, or
systems resulting or likely to result in
major economic loss, when the purpose of
the conduct, by its nature or context, is to
intimidate a population or to compel a
Government or an international
organization to do or abstain from doing
any act.
• The UAPA act in Section 15 defines a
“terrorist act”: Any act intended to threaten
or likely to threaten India's unity, integrity,
security, economic security, or sovereignty or
to strike dread in the people or any segment
of the people in India or abroad.

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Hurdles in Adoption of CCIT:
• Despite India’s efforts to push a global intergovernmental
convention to tackle terrorism, the conclusion and ratification of
the CCIT remains deadlocked.
• Mainly due to opposition from three main blocs - over the
“definition of terrorism" (the most divisive of the issues) and
seeking exclusions to safeguard their strategic interests
• The United States and its Allies:
 The US wanted the draft to exclude acts committed by states'
military forces during peacetime. For example, the US’s ‘War
on terror’ policy Post 9/11 in Afghanistan and Iraq has been
criticized for War Crimes and Human rights violations.The
Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC):
• OCI
 The OIC wants the exclusion of national liberation
movements, especially in the context of the Israel-Palestinian
conflict.
 They also sought to include the actions of “all parties” to The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, formerly the
an armed conflict, including that of the armed forces of a Organisation of the Islamic Conference, is an intergovernmental
organization founded in 1969, consisting of 57 member states,
state within the scope of the CCIT under Article 18 of the
with 48 being Muslim-majority countries.
CCIT.
• The Latin American countries:
 Latin American Countries want a comprehensive definition
India's Policy Towards Terrorism:
of Terrorism and support the inclusion of foreign
Legislative Measures To Deal With Terrorism:
interventions as ‘State terrorism’ and also emphasize the
• Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019
inclusion of International human rights laws.
 According to NCRB's records,in the seven years, 2019
However, consensus eludes to the adoption of the saw the highest number of cases 1,226, followed by
terrorism convention. 2018 (1,182 cases). This number dropped by 35% to 796
in 2020.
Global Efforts to Counter Terrorism:
• NIA (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2019
• Global Conventions and Treaties: At its 49th session, the
 This Bill gives NIA officers power to investigate offences
General Assembly approved the Declaration on Measures to committed outside India and mandates the setting up of
Eliminate International Terrorism (resolution 49/60) and Special Courts.
further discussion yielded the following Conventions. Other Measures:
 The International Convention for the Suppression of • Terror Funding and Fake Currency (TFFC) Cell: A new cell
Terrorist Bombings, was adopted on December 15, 1997. has been constituted in the National Investigation Agency
 The International Convention for the Suppression of the (NIA) to conduct a focused investigation of terror funding
and fake currency cases.
Financing of Terrorism, adopted on 9 December 1999; and
 International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of • Renewed focus on Currency Counterfeit: A terror financing
advisory was issued in April 2018 to States/ UTs. Guidelines
Nuclear Terrorism, adopted on 13 April 2005.
have also been issued in March 2019 to States/ UTs for
• The 1267 committee: It was set up in 1999 (updated in 2011 investigation of cases of high-quality counterfeit Indian
and 2015) and allows any UN member state to propose currency notes.
adding the name of a terrorist or terror group to a • The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID): To track
consolidated list. potential terrorists and stop terrorist attacks;l use of
 India has successfully proposed the listing of several terror technologies like big data and analytics to analyse vast
volumes of data from various intelligence and law
entities in the past two decades, including Pakistan-based
enforcement organizations.
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

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• Financial Action Task Force: To counter the threats of the abuse of the financial system by criminals and terrorists, and
strengthen its capacity to respond to these threats that all countries face.

Way Forward:
India has condemned terrorism in all its forms and stressed that tackling it requires a holistic approach and collective action.

• Political will: All UN members summon the political will to unhesitatingly combat terrorism. All Member States must fulfill
their obligations enshrined in international counter-terrorism instruments and conventions.
• No double standards: Terrorists are terrorists and an era
of classifying terrorists as 'bad, 'good' on the basis of United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy
political convenience must end immediately. It is a unique global instrument to enhance national, regional and
• Transparency, accountability and effectiveness: Enlisting international efforts to counter-terrorism.
and delisting individuals and entities under the UN It was adopted by consensus in 2006, and all United Nations Member
sanctions regimes must be done objectively, not for States agreed to a common strategic and operational approach to
fighting terrorism.
political or religious considerations.
It is based on four pillars:
 China Blocks UNSC Listing of LeT's Sajid Mir as a Global
• Measures to address the conditions conducive to spreading
Terrorist in June 2023.
terrorism.
• Anti-radicalism strategies: Discourage exclusivist thinking • Measures to prevent and combat terrorism.
that divides the world and harms our social fabric. Such
• Measures to build States’ capacity to prevent and combat terrorism
approaches facilitate radicalization and recruitment by and to strengthen the role of the United Nations system in that
breeding fear, mistrust, and hatred among different regard.
communities. • Measures to ensure respect for human rights for all and the rule of
• Holistic strategy: Linkages between terrorism and transnationallaw organized crime must
as the fundamental basisbe fully
of the recognized
fight and addressed
against terrorism.
vigorously.
 India, has seen the crime syndicate responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts not just given State protection.
• Terror Financing: Combating terrorist financing will only be as effective as the weakest jurisdiction. The Financial Action Task
Force (FATF) should continue to identify and remedy weaknesses in anti-money laundering and counter-terror can make a big
difference.
• Anti-terror Finance: Adequate funding to UN Counter Terrorism bodies from the UN regular budget requires immediate
attention.

Conclusion:
To counter global terrorism in all forms, countries must agree upon a definition of terrorism and rise above narrow self-interest
and break the prism of good and bad terrorism.

7.2 Illicit Trade

Context:
Recently, FICCI CASCADE reported on illicit markets associated with financial flows and revealed their linkages with organized
crime and terrorism.

More on News:
• According to FICCI, the illegal economy in India has an overall score of 6.3, which is higher than the average score of 5 of other
122 countries.
 In the organized crime segment, India has a lower score of 4.3 against 5.2 for an average of 122 countries.
• India has a Global Terrorism Index (GTI) score of 7.43 and a Global Crime Index score of 44.7, reflecting positive
developments in these areas compared to the levels observed in 2016.
• Revenue Loss: India has faced an approximate total potential revenue loss of US $13 billion between 2009-2018.

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About Illicit Trade:
• Illicit trade refers to the illegal exchange of goods and/or services, often in
violation of national or international laws. It comprises trade of
manufacturing and export of counterfeit goods.
• It is vast and full of complexities, however, smuggling and counterfeiting
are the most common types of illicit trade.
• Counterfeiting is a practice of dealing in goods, often of inferior quality,
under a trademark that is identical to a registered trademark, without the
approval of the registered trademark owner.
 Counterfeits are most commonly called “fake goods” or “knock-offs.”
• Smuggling: It includes the secret movement of goods across national
borders to avoid customs or trade restrictions.
 Smuggling in India report 2021-22 identified 437 instances of duty
evasion totalling Rs 3,924 crore, which was a 40 percent jump from
2020-21.
Linkages of Illicit Trade:
• Nexus: There is an intricate nexus between the illegal economy, terror and organized crime. The report highlights the role
played by criminal networks in a number of illicit activities, including drug and human trafficking, smuggling of cigarettes,
alcohol and illegal trade of wildlife products.
• Organised Crime and Illegal Economy: The profits generated by the illegal economy often support organized crime syndicates,
foster corruption and undermine security.
 FICCI report stated that 3,172 cases of drug seizures were
recorded during 2014-2022, significantly due to India’s location Reasons for High Volume of Illicit Trade:
near major drug-producing regions, including the Golden • Price differentials resulting in purchasing power mismatch.
Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand) and the Golden • Lack of stringent enforcement.
Crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran). • Technological advancement leading to ease of creation of
replicas.
• Linkages with Terrorism: The porous borders facilitate the
movement of illicit goods and funds. The direct link of these
• Legal and regulatory vulnerabilities.
activities with terrorists is a cause of concern. • Differential import tariff across nations.
 For example, according to the United Nations millions of • Consumer obliviousness.
dollars from the trade of illicit tobacco reach terror outfits such
as the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
Challenges Associated with Linkages of Illicit Trade:
• Economic Impact of Violence: Central and state
governments suffer heavy losses by way of loss of sales
tax, customs and excise tax etc. Further dealing with
both terrorism and crime has resulted in a considerable
economic cost.
 In 2021, India’s economic cost for violence was at US
$1170 billion at purchasing power parity (PPP)
which accounts for approximately 6% of GDP.
• Enforcement: As perpetrators of illicit trade are
becoming increasingly sophisticated, well-connected
and adequately funded, the activities of counterfeiting
and smuggling are presenting a bigger challenge for
enforcement authorities and governments globally.

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• Breeding Ground for Criminal Activities: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) study suggested that money laundering and
terror funding was consequential to illicit trade in tobacco.
 Visible Consequences: Such as adverse impact on innovation, investment, brand reputation, health and wellness and
national security are well-known. However, the bigger concern is the manner in which it is impacting the social fabric of
nations.
• Technology Adoption: Online marketplaces have become a preferred hub for illicit operators owing to their wider reach and
ease of access.
• Downfall of Local Industries: Illicit trade drastically cuts prices of locally manufactured goods thereby destroying the market
for local products, resulting in local industries to break down. The impact of the problem is to the extent that it leads to
unemployment.
Role of Government Agencies in Checking Illicit Trade in India:
• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI): It investigates a wide range of criminal activities, including corruption, economic
offenses, and cases related to organized crime.
• Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): It coordinates with other law enforcement agencies to address the illicit drug trade and
associated criminal activities.
• Enforcement Directorate (ED): It investigates economic The 6 Cs approach:
offenses, including money laundering and illicit financial ● Cognisance of Terrorism and Organised Crime Under
Regulatory Framework
activities and plays a crucial role in tracking and seizing assets ● Continuous and Critical Evaluation of Illicit Financial Flows
acquired through illicit means. ● Central Nodal Agency for Greater Coordination
• National Investigation Agency (NIA): It investigates and ● Creating Awareness and Changing Consumer Preferences
● Combating Trade Based Money Laundering
combats terrorism and offenses that have national and ● Cooperation and Coordination at International Level
transnational implications.
Way Forward:
• Combating Terror Financing: Terror financing is more dangerous than terrorism itself, because the 'Means and Methods' of
terrorism are nurtured from such funding. The government has taken several proactive measures, but there is a need to choke
the flow of funds by nefarious entities.
• Customized Approaches: India’s geographical location is sandwiched between two of the world’s biggest drug producing
zones, presence of porous borders, cross border terrorism etc. call for a customized approach to deal with illicit trade and
associated issues.
 For instance, to curb digital piracy one could adopt technical controls, including digital rights management (DRM),
network management, and content identification systems.
• Integrated Anti-Counterfeit Approach: It is vital that enforcement agencies take into account the diverse methods used by
criminals.
 For instance, the finished leather trade in the Dharavi slum area in Mumbai lacks any formal addresses and securing
adequate police protection when executing an anticounterfeiting raid becomes a challenging task.
• Consumer Awareness: A combined effort involving manufacturers, government and various enforcement agencies is critical
to generate consciousness amongst consumers by running targeted campaigns, highlighting dangers of buying and using these
goods, etc.
• Improving Regulatory Landscape: There are certain gray areas and other laws including the Information Technology Act,
Indian Contract Act, Companies Act, 2013, intellectual property, laws in copyrights and trademarks etc. Stringent anti-piracy
regulations are a must to enforce IP rights and empower various enforcement agencies in India.

7.3 Left Wing Extremism(LWE)

Context:
In a meeting to review the security situation in LWE-affected States, the Union Home Minister said Left Wing Extremism will be
totally eliminated from the country in two years.
More On News:
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• In April 2023, Ten personnel of the Chhattisgarh Police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the civilian driver of their vehicle
were reported killed in an IED attack by Maoists in the state’s Dantewada district.
• It was the biggest attack after the April 2021 ambush by Maoists in Chattisgarh's Bijapur District in which 22 security forces
(CRPF Black Cobra Commandos) personnel were killed.
Red Corridor is Shrinking:
• The Red Corridor is the region in the central, eastern and
southern parts of India that experiences severe Naxalite–
Maoist insurgency (Refer Map).
• Present Situation: There has been significant improvement
in the LWE security situation in the country over the last five
years.
• The year 2022 witnessed the lowest number of incidents of
violence and deaths in Naxal-hit areas in the last four
decades.
• Violent incidents in Naxal-affected States have come down
by 77% in 2022 compared to the high of 2010. The no. of
districts affected dropped from 90 to 45.
• The number of deaths of security forces and civilians in LWE
violence has also reduced by 90% in 2022 compared to the
high of 2010, (98 in 2022 from 1005 in 2010).
• There were 17,679 LWE-related incidents and 6,984 deaths
between 2004 and 2014.
• In contrast, there have been 7,649 LWE-related incidents and 2,020 deaths from 2014 to 2023 (till 15 June 23), the data
showed.
About Left-wing Extremism/Naxalism:
• Naxalism is a form of armed insurgency against the State motivated by leftist/Maoist ideologies and thus is also known as
Left Wing extremism (LWE) or Maoism.
Origin Of Naxalism:
• Trigger Point: The origins of the LWE can be traced back to 1967 in the three areas of Naxalbari (from which the term Naxal
originates), Phansidewa and Khoribari in West Bengal’s Darjeeling District.
• Initial Leader: The initial uprising was led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal and Jangal Santhal, who were members of the
Communist Party of India (Marxist).
• Nature of Initial Uprising: The initial uprising was in the form of a peasant revolt. Spread: Although originated in West Bengal,
the movement spread to the less-developed rural regions of southern and eastern India, in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha
and Chhattisgarh. Today, almost all the Naxal groups trace their origins to the CPI (M-L).
Factors Responsible For The Rise Of Naxalism:
• Land Related Factors: The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 forbids tribals who depend on forest goods for their livelihood
from harvesting bark.
• Jal-Jangal-Jameen (3Js): Encroachment and occupation of govt. and community lands, Non-regularizing traditional land rights,
Evading ceiling laws, Acquisition of land without appropriate compensation and rehabilitation, etc
• Political Factors: Nature and apathy of the political system towards tribals remained one of the most important factors that
led to such uprisings.
 Inability of political authority towards the deprived sections of society in India to provide avenues for structural uplift in
the affected states.
• Economic Factors: A few problems include communication, access to energy, poverty, a lack of access to health care, a lack
of awareness and education, and unemployment.
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  Income Gap: The gap in wealth between the wealthy and the poor is growing. (The poverty levels in the Naxal-affected
states of Orissa, Bihar,
Chhattisgarh and
Jharkhand are much
higher (with more than
40 percent of the
population living below
the poverty line).
 Issues of agrarian
community: The
Maoists have included
in their program
signing off the
peasant’s debts,
besides restoration of
farm subsidies,
investment in
irrigation, proper
prices of farm produce
and restricting
Multinational
Companies.
• Environmental
Degradation:
Environmental
degradation is the
destruction of land and
water resources due to
mining and industrial activities. For Example Chhattisgarh Tribals Protest Against Coal Mines In Hasdeo Arand Region.
• Lack of basic facilities: The socially backward tribals form the major support base for Naxalites because of inequality, illiteracy
and lack of opportunities, healthcare, education, freedom, sanitation and food.
• Governance Deficit: Regular administration, lack of state government action to solve the issue, absence of administration in
remote areas, execution, and improper management of government initiatives.
• Social deficit: Violation of human rights, Abuse of dignity of life, Disconnect with mainstream society.
Way Forward: Converting Vicious Cycle Into A Virtuous Cycle Of Development
• Promoting Cooperative Federalism: The Centre and states should continue their coordinated efforts where the Centre should
be supportive with state police forces taking the lead.
• Eliminate The Feeling Of Alienation From Tribals: Eliminate the root cause of the problem leading to tribals' alienation in this
area.
 Forest Rights: Effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of
Rights) Act, 2006.
• Financial Empowerment: Introduce measures to encourage the formation of ‘Self Help Groups’ (SHGs) and cooperative
societies to improve access to credit and marketing and empower the disadvantaged.
• Leveraging The Use Of Technology: Such as micro or mini-UAVs or small drones, high-resolution PTZ cameras, GPS tracking,
hand-held thermal imaging, radar and satellite imaging to minimize the loss of lives of security personnel.
• Open the channels for Political dialogues: With their domination being very weak and confidence low, it is the best time to
have a peace dialogue with rebels.
• Learning from best Practices: Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh have successfully minimized Maoist activities to a large extent.

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  Similarly, as Chhattisgarh police have experience in tackling Maoists in Bastar, they are now coordinating with the
bordering states to strengthen intelligence and ground presence.
PRELIMS NEWS

7.4 National Mission on Interdisciplinary

Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS)
Context: C3iHub, a cyber-security Technology Innovation
Hub (TIH) of The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK)
hosted the 3rd National Workshop on Technology
Innovation in Cyber-Physical Systems (TIPS).
Key Points:
• Organized by: The Department of Science & Technology
(DST), National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-
Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).
• Cyber-Security Focus at C3iHub, IIT Kanpur: The C3iHub
which is one of the 25 TIHs is the first of its kind Cyber
Security Center in India.
• National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical
Systems (NM-ICPS):
 It was launched by the Department of Science &
Technology (DST) in December 2018.
 Aim:
✓ To address the ever-increasing technological
requirements of the society by fostering advanced
technologies and international collaborations.
7.5 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
Context: Recently, Russia indicated it was moving swiftly
towards revoking its ratification of the Comprehensive
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) after President Vladimir
Putin held out the possibility of resuming nuclear testing.
More on News:
• Russia has suspended participation in the New START
nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States in
February 2023, after accusing the West of being directly
involved in attempts to attack its strategic air bases.
What is CTBT?
• The CTBT is a multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear
explosions, whether for military or peaceful purposes. It
was negotiated at the Conference on Disarmament in
Geneva.
• The CTBT has been signed by 187 countries and ratified
by 178 but cannot go into force until eight countries have
signed and ratified it.
• China, Egypt, Iran, and Israel have signed but not ratified
it. North Korea, India and Pakistan have not signed.
While Russia ratified the agreement in 2000, the US is still
to do so.
India and the CTBT:
• India’s stand on the CTBT is principled. India has declared
that it would be unable to sign and ratify the CTBT in its
discriminatory form.
• However, India has pledged to continue its voluntary and
unilateral moratorium on further nuclear testing. .
• The Post 1998 Pokhran test India stipulated its Nuclear
doctrine in 2003 and reiterated its commitment to
complete disarmament.

SHORT NEWS IN TABLE

Fifth Positive Indigenisation List The Defence Minister released the fifth positive indigenisation list of 98 items.
What is a positive indigenisation list?
● It entails that the Indian Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force, will
exclusively source the listed items from domestic manufacturers

DNA and Face Matching Centre is ready to roll out DNA, face matching systems at police stations across India.
● Legislative Mandate: The Criminal Procedure Identification Act, 2022, enables police
and Central investigating agencies to collect, store and analyse physical and biological
samples of arrested persons.
● Implementation: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has constituted a Domain
Committee for the successful implementation of the Act with representatives from State
police, Central law enforcement agencies and other key stakeholders.
● Measurement Collection Unit (MCU): The States have been asked to identify the
locations and prepare the sites where the MCU may be established.
 The Central body under MHA will be the repository of the database at national level.

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8. SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
8.1 Surrogacy in India
Context: Recently, the Delhi High Court asked the Centre why marital status is a criteria for a woman to avail surrogacy under
the Surrogacy Law.
More on News:
• The court was hearing a plea by a 44-year-old single, unmarried woman challenging section 2(1) (s) of the Surrogacy
(Regulation) Act (SRA) 2021 which excludes women like her from availing the procedure.
• Under this section, an “intending woman” means an Indian woman who is a “widow” or “divorcee” between the age of 35
and 45 years and who intends to avail the surrogacy.
About Surrogacy:
• Surrogacy is a contractual undertaking whereby the
surrogate mother agrees to conceive a child through
artificial insemination with the sperm of the natural
father, and to terminate all of her parental rights after
the child’s birth.
 Altruistic Surrogacy: When the surrogate offers to
carry the child of the commissioning couple in her
womb purely out of love and empathy for their need
to have a child.
 Commercial Surrogacy: When money is paid to the
surrogate for her services, it is taken as an act of
commercialisation.
• Reasons for booming surrogacy market in India:
 Infertility is a growing healthcare which is increasing the need for alternative methods of reproduction to enable people
to become parents.
 Availability of potential surrogate mothers.
 Availability of medical technology at an affordable cost.
 Access to high-quality medical care is easy, cheap, and hassle-free.
Need of Surrogacy Regulation in India:
• Exploitation Concerns: Surrogate mothers faced economic vulnerabilities, leading to jeopardizing their rights and well-being
during and after the surrogacy process.
 Lion’s share is taken by middlemen who connect
women with the clinics, leaving little cash with
surrogate mothers.
• Commercialization Issues: It raised ethical questions
and created a market-driven approach to human
reproduction.
 For instance, the contracting party has no
obligation towards pregnancy loss, maternal
mortality, other health risks, post-natal care and
recovery of the surrogate mother.
• Grey Area: The absence of comprehensive and clear
legal guidelines created uncertainty for all parties involved, including intended parents, surrogate mothers, and medical
practitioners.

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  For instance, surrogate mothers often did not know the terms of their contract leading to their economic and social
exploitation.
• Parental Rights and Citizenship Issues: Legal uncertainties
The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021:
regarding the citizenship and parental rights of children born
• The Act defines ART procedures as all techniques that
through surrogacy need clarification. attempt to obtain a pregnancy by handling the sperm or the
Challenges Associated with Surrogacy: oocyte (the immature female egg) outside the human body
and transferring into the reproductive system of a woman.
• Constitutional Validity of Surrogacy Law: The surrogacy law
has been challenged before the Supreme Court.
• It regulates the assisted ART clinics and ART banks
 Under Sarmishta Chakraborty v/s Union of India the
• This is open to married couples, live-in partners, single
women, and also foreigners.
court held that the right of women to have a
• ART procedures include gamete donation, intrauterine
reproductive choice is an integral part of her personal
insemination, and in-vitro fertilisation or IVF.
liberty as enshrined under Article 21 of the Indian
Constitution.
• Against Right to Equality: Permitting limited conditional surrogacy to married Indian couples and disqualifying other persons
on basis of nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or age does not pass the test of equality.
 The surrogacy law is seen as discriminatory, exclusionary and arbitrary, and negates reproductive rights.
• High Potential Misuse: Section 42 of the Surrogacy Act presumes that the surrogate mother was compelled by the intending
couple to render surrogacy services.
 A surrogate mother can negate an altruistic surrogacy agreement or allege that her consent was taken on account of
some fear of injury, or under a misconception to compel the intending couple to give extortionist payments.
• Unsupportive to Medical Practitioner: The Act provides for 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh for a medical
practitioner for contravention of any provision of the Act. It will fend off doctors and they might not undertake surrogacy
procedures.
• Balancing Competing Interests: On the one hand, the state has a responsibility to safeguard the interests of the unborn child
and prohibit the surrogate’s exploitation.
 On the other hand, lies the right of women to control their own reproductive processes and the right of individuals to
parent.
Way Forward:
• Ensuring Human Rights are Upheld: Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that all men and women of full age
have the right to marry and have a family [Article 16] and to the decisions of Indian Supreme Court declaring that family,
procreation and sexual orientation are integral to the dignity of an individual.
• Solving Ethical Dilemmas: Some argue that surrogacy
exploits and commodifies women’s bodies and
children. Loss of natural reproduction can cause
psychological problems for the surrogate mother.
 However, according to the utilitarian stance,
whatever is beneficial to the greatest number of
people is considered to be good. In this case, the
couple completes their family and surrogates may
receive monetary or other kinds of benefits.
• Providing Practical Solutions: Unlike the proverbial
ostrich burying its head in the sand, hoping that the
surrogacy market will disappear by merely banning commercial surrogacy, the government may improve the regulation of
surrogacy in India.
• Regulation:The implementation of the laws must be periodically reviewed including regular consultations with stakeholders
to ensure that the rights of the surrogates, children born into surrogacy, and ART donors are protected.

99
Conclusion:
Instead of imposing a ban in the commercial surrogacy market, a balanced path by the Government would be the adoption of a
rights-based approach addressing the concerns of the surrogate mother, children born out of surrogacy, and other stakeholders
in the surrogacy market.
8.2 Global Hunger Index 2023
Context: India ranked 111th out of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023.
More on News:
• According to the report, the compounding impacts of climate
Government initiatives to Combat hunger:
change, conflicts, economic shocks, the global pandemic, and
• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY):
the Russia-Ukraine war have exacerbated social and economic
Ameliorating the hardships faced by the poor due to
inequalities and slowed or reversed previous progress in disruptions caused by the COVID-19.
reducing hunger in many countries. • National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: The Act
• The 2023 GHI score for the world is 18.3, which is considered subsidized foodgrains covering about two-thirds of the
moderate. population.
• Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: Integrated
Critique of Global Hunger Index:
Nutrition Support Programme for tackling malnutrition in
The Ministry of Women and Child Development not only dismissed children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating
the GHI but also questioned the intent of its authors. An official mothers.
statement has described the report as part of a “consistent effort’’ • The Zero Hunger Programme: Ensuring access to food all
to “taint India’s image”. year round and create stable food systems.
• Methodological Issues: Three of the four indicators used for • Eat Right India Movement: Ensuring that the Indian
calculating the index are related to children's health and cannot population has access to healthy and safe food.
be representative of the entire population.
• Limited Sample Size: The fourth and
most important indicator ‘Proportion
of Undernourished (PoU) population’
is based on an opinion poll conducted
on a very small sample size of 3,000.
• Source of Data: Data used in the Global
Hunger Index report are sourced from
international agencies which are not
updated as per the latest data
available in the country.
 For Example The percentage of
child wasting, as seen on the
Poshan Tracker, has been
consistently below 7.2%, month-
on-month, as compared to the
value of 18.7% used for child
wasting in the Global Hunger Index
2023.
• Inconsistent Evidence: There is hardly
any evidence that child mortality (one
of four indicators) results from hunger.
• Variations: The experts also claim that
in India children and adults have more petite body frames, which is why overweight and obesity classification is different
(lower cut-off for Asians). The same argument would also apply to children.

100
• The Government outlined that the proportion of child wasting, as determined from 'Poshan Tracker' is consistently below
7.2% month-on-month, as compared to 18.7% in the Global Hunger Index 2023.
Response from GHI Team:
• Data Standardization and Consistency in GHI Reporting: The same data sources are used for all countries, ensuring
comparable methodologies for calculating country scores. Introducing exceptions for any country would compromise result
comparability and rankings.
 Poshan tracker data may be considered for future GHI editions when included in UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Joint Data Set
or WHO Global Database.
• Famine vis-i-vis Hunger: Famine is a specific term defined by the
Source of Data for GHI:
UN as occurring when certain conditions are met: when at least
20 percent of the population faces extreme food shortages. • State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)
report for undernourishment.
 Through the Green Revolution, India has long fought to
• The child mortality from United Nations Inter-Agency Group
ensure that the country would have a sufficient food supply
for Child Mortality Estimation’s (UN IGME)
to avert the devastation of famine.
• The child stunting value and the child wasting value from
 However, the Global Hunger Index is a multidimensional India’s National Family Health Survey (2019–2021) (NFHS-5)
measure of hunger that reflects not only calorie deficiencies
but also undernutrition, and it is child undernutrition, in particular, that drives up India’s GHI score.
• Reason for the choice of GHI indicators: It reflect deficiencies in calories as well as in micronutrients. These indicators are
part of the internationally recognized set of indicators designed to measure progress toward the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 “Zero Hunger,” upon which the international community—including India—agreed.
 By combining the proportion of undernourished in the population (1/3 of the GHI score) with the indicators relating to
children under age five (2/3 of the GHI score), the GHI captures both the food supply situation of the population as a
whole and the effects of inadequate nutrition within a particularly vulnerable subset of the population.
• The Choice of "Hunger Index" Over "Nutrition Index": Deficiencies in calories and micronutrients are reflected in the four
component indicators used to calculate the GHI (prevalence of undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child
mortality).
 These deficiencies may result from a range of underlying factors, including household food insecurity; inadequate maternal
health or childcare practices; or inadequate access to health services, safe water, and sanitation.
Way Forward:
• Consensus on a definition of Hunger and parameters: A new Index could be developed following consensus on a definition
of hunger and objectives.
 The following four indicators may be used to construct the Hunger Index: percent food insecure population; percent
undernourishment population; dietary intake of major food commodities.
• Composite Nutritional Index: There is a need for a composite nutritional index, as an important tool, that brings all the states
to one platform and reveals the fair picture and helps analyze the true status of not only hunger but overall nutritional security.
• Real-time Data and Trackers: Efforts should be channelized to make data available in real-time through The Poshan Tracker,
known as the ICDS-CAS (Integrated Child Development Services-Common Application Software to ensure the nutritional
management of beneficiaries.
• National Nutrition Act: Food Security Act (FSA) which envisages doling out food (cereals) at low price to BPL population is
necessary to reduce hunger, but without other components of environment, safe drinking water and health care it may not
impact nutrition.
 Besides, FSA is unlikely to improve the nutrition status of people above the poverty line, who are also undernourished,
or impact on micronutrient deficiencies.
• Inclusive Governance: Put inclusive governance and accountability at the center of efforts to transform food systems.
 For Example: Improve public distribution and civil supplies network, especially the local rationing system. People should
have the option to at least take a minimum amount of wheat, rice, salt and other requisite items without Aadhaar also.

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8.3 India Ageing Report 2023
Context: UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) India, in collaboration with the International Institute for Population Sciences
(IIPS) released the India Ageing Report 2023.
More about the Report:
• It highlights the challenges, opportunities and institutional
responses related to elderly care in India, as India navigates
United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA):
a demographic shift towards an aging population.
• UNFPA is an international development agency, created in
 Population ageing is associated with a rise in the
1968 to support the execution of projects and programmes
proportion of population termed as ‘old’, usually at 60 or in the area of population and sexual and reproductive
65 years and above. health.
• It represents a thorough review of the living conditions and Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI):
welfare of older individuals in India. • It is a national survey of scientific investigation of the
• It leverages the latest data available from the Longitudinal health, economic, and social determinants and
consequences of population ageing in India.
Ageing Survey in India (LASI), 2017–18, Census of India,
Population Projections by the Government of India (2011–
2036) and World Population Prospects 2022 by the
United Nations Department of Economic and Social
Affairs.
Ageing in India: Levels and Trends
• Prospects of the Older Population:
 The share of population over the age of 60 years
is projected to increase from 10.5 percent in 2022
to 20.8 percent in 2050.
 By the end of the century, the elderly will
constitute over 36 percent of the total
population of the country.
 Four years before 2050, the population size of the
elderly in India will be higher than the population
size of children aged 0–14 years.
• State Differentials:
 Most of the states in the southern region and
select northern states such as Himachal Pradesh and Punjab reported a higher share of the elderly population than the
national average in 2021.
✓ This gap is expected to widen by 2036.
• Decadal Growth of the Elderly Population:
 The decadal growth of the elderly population in India declined slightly from 32 per cent between 1961 and 1971 to 31 per
cent in 1981–1991.
 Growth picked up pace during 1991–2001 (35 per
cent) and is projected to shoot to 41 per cent
between 2021 and 2031.
Challenges of Ageing Population:
• Feminization of the Ageing Population: Women, who
generally outlive men, are at the centre of this crisis.
 As a high share of them are out of the labour force,
they lack savings and thus, more prone to health
issues.

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  They are also less aware about government schemes than men.
 The share of elderly population is estimated to double to 20.8% by 2050.
• Ruralization: According to Census of India 2011, on
an average, 71 percent of older persons live in rural
areas.
 Large parts of rural India are still remote with
poor road and transport access.
 Income insecurity, lack of access to adequate and
quality healthcare and isolation are, therefore,
more acute for the rural elderly than their urban
counterparts.
• Ageing of the Aged: During 2000–2022, the total
population of the country grew by 34 percent, while
the population of 60+ years grew by 103 percent.
 The population growth of older persons aged 80+
years has been even higher at 128 percent during
the same period.
• Poor Health: Ageing is associated with poor health status due
to chronic morbid conditions and degenerating physiological
capacity.
 With the increase in age, disability becomes a major concern
and thus, increasing the caregiving burden.
 Over 30 percent of the elderly women and 28 percent of the
men suffered from one chronic morbid condition and
nearly one fourth suffered from more than two morbid
conditions.
 Mental Health: As per the LASI survey, Incidence of
depression was seen to be rising with increasing age and
was higher among elderly women than men.
• Physical Impairment and Disabilities: Women
over 80 years reported a far higher incidence of
impairments (179 per 1,000) than their male
counterparts (119 per 1,000).
 Among the 60+ years, incidence of any
impairment was found to be 105 per 1,000
population.
• Pension-Related Issues and Income Security:
There is no dedicated funding available for the care
of older persons.
Way Forward:
• Healthcare Services for the Elderly:
 Mobile clinics for elderly can provide free
healthcare to the elderly, including free
medicines, palliative care. Ex- On the lines of
Vayomithram project of Kerala.

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  Mental health programs: It should include companionship to senior citizens during the daytime through day-care centres.
Ex- Pakal Veedu project of Thrissur.
• Regulatory Body for Old Age Homes: Numerous private old
age homes remain out of the purview of any form of scrutiny.
 Hence, these should be brought under government
monitoring, and a regulatory body should be set up for
the same.
• Elderly Self-Help Groups(ESHG): They should be actively
promoted and supported.
 They should also be linked with the Livelihood Mission,
wherein senior citizens may be provided with raw
materials to make finished products for sale in the
market.
 Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction(AGRASR)
Programme is to create and make Senior citizen SHG
functional and self-sufficient at each village level.
• Creche for Elderly: Creche-like facilities or equipped day-care centres may be developed for them where they may stay for
the duration for which family members are away.
● Digital Literacy: Exposure to computers, internet and new modes of communication is very important, particularly
amongst the elderly. This requires regular training as technology gets updated frequently.
● Awareness Programs: It is imperative that the benefits of the schemes reach the rural areas and also address the needs
of elderly women.As per the LASI Report, only 12 percent elderly were aware about the Annapurna Scheme.

8.4 Parliamentary Committee Report on Education

Context: Recently, the Parliament Standing Committee on Education tabled a report on the “Implementation of the National
Education Policy (NEP), 2020 in Higher Education.”
More on News:
• The report assesses the salient features of the NEP’s implementation in the higher education sector and the progress made
so far.
• University Distribution: The Department of Higher
Education, Ministry of Education has informed that there are
a total of 1043 Universities in the country at present.
 Out of which 70% are governed under the State Acts, 18%
are governed by the Central Government.
 The details of break-up of Universities are given in pie-
chart.
• Student Enrollment: It has further been informed that 94%
of students are enrolled in State/private Institutions while
6% are enrolled in Central Institutions.
• Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER): There has been a gradual
increase in the GER for all students and it has risen from
24.1% in 2016-17 to 27.3% in 2020-21.
 Further observes that GER for ST and SC students has also
risen from 2016-17 to 2020-21.

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About New Education Policy:
• Background: The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) had constituted a Committee for drafting the NEP (Chair:
Dr. K. Kasturirangan) in June 2017.
 The NEP replaces the National Policy on Education, 1986. Various steps taken to reform education in India:
• Emphasis: The NEP 2020 lays particular emphasis on the development of • Radhakrishnan Committee
the creative potential of each individual. • Kothari Commission
• Principle: It is based on the principle that education must develop the • T.S.R. Subramanium Committee
foundational capacities of literacy and numeracy and higher-order • Kasturirangan Report (Draft National Education
cognitive capacities, such as critical thinking and problem solving and also policy)
social, ethical, and emotional capacities and dispositions.
Status of Implementation:
• Fruitful Progress: Through various appreciable measures like PM National Curriculum Framework (NCF):
Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI), e-VIDHYA, NIPUN Bharat etc. the As per the NEP, 2020, following four NCFs will be
implementation is on course to transform the higher education system developed:
to be more inclusive, flexible, and aligned with global standards. • National Curriculum Framework for Early
• Best Practices: Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is one of the first in the Childhood Care and Education (NCFECCE)
country to implement NEP 2020 from the academic session 2022 in all • National Curriculum Framework for School
the Higher Education Institutions. Education (NCFSE)

 Introduction of "Design Your Degree" based on Choice Based • National Curriculum Framework for Teacher
Education (NCFTE)
Credit System(CBCS) launched by Jammu University under which
• National Curriculum Framework for Adult
students will be offered an opportunity to craft a personalised,
Education (NCFAE)
interdisciplinary learning experience.
• Focus on Creativity: Cultivating innovation and creativity in learners
through industry-institution linkages and collaborative programs which will transform India into a vibrant knowledge society.
• Internationalisation of Education: Freedom being given to Indian universities to set up campuses in other countries and
initiate start-up incubation centres and from among the top 100
universities in the world will be facilitated to operate in India.
 G20 New Delhi Declaration: Supported promoting open, equitable,
and secure scientific collaboration and encouraging mobility of
students, scholars, researchers and scientists across research and
higher education institutions.
• Implementation of the Multi Entry and Multiple Exit (MEME) options
within the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) is a vital
component of NEP 2020, offering students greater flexibility and choice in
their educational pathways.
Issues Associated with NEP:
• Multiple Entry And Multiple Exit (MEME): According to the report, while
the MEME looked like a flexible system, which was being operated by
Western educational institutions effectively, it might not work well in the
country.
 The panel, citing high population, said the estimated intake of students
in higher education every year was high. It would be very difficult for
the institutions to predict the flow of student which will disturb the
pupil-teacher ratio.

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• Role of State: Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) Scheme aims to provide strategic funding to eligible state higher
educational institutions. Strategic funding to higher educational institutions based on critical appraisal of State’s plans.
• Accessibility: Limited access to higher education in socio-economically disadvantaged areas due to financial barriers,
geographical constraints, stereotype threat faced by students of marginalised sections etc.
• Linguistic Issue: Most of the HEIs primarily use English as a medium of instruction and there is a lack of HEIs that teach in
local languages. This leads to exclusion of non-english speakers, cultural and regional disconnect, and exacerbation of
economic disparities.
• Lack of Funding: Public investment in the Education sector needs to reach 6% of GDP at the earliest. According to the
Economic Survey 2022-23, total education outlay added up to 2.9% of the GDP.
Way Forward:
• Fulfilment of Goals: By 2030, every district in the country should have
at least one multidisciplinary HEI and the GER in higher education,
including vocational education, should be increased to 50% by 2035.
• Effective Funding: Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) needs
to diversify its funding sources beyond government allocations and
explore partnerships with private sector organisations, philanthropic
foundations, and international financial institutions.
 Reviewing and adjusting the interest rates on loans provided by
HEFA can make them more competitive and affordable for HEIs.
• Digitisation of Education: Various steps are taken to promote the use
of digital technologies in education, including the development of
digital libraries & SWAYAM PRABHA portal.
 The creation of a National Educational Technology Forum (NETF)
can go a long way in expansion of digital infrastructure to make the
country a Global Knowledge Hub.
• Student Involvement: Proper involvement of the student community,
incorporation of their feedback and suggestions towards the changes
proposed in NEP, creating institutional mechanisms to handle student’s queries on issues such as the Academic Bank of
Credits (ABC), MEME system can generate beneficial results.
• Inclusive Education: Enhancing access to education for marginalised communities through various initiatives like awareness
campaigns, infrastructure development, teacher training and recruitment, scholarship and financial support, digital inclusivity,
etc.
• Ensuring Smooth Operation of MSME: Implementation of a standardised Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) system
allows students to earn and transfer credits seamlessly across institutions.
Conclusion
Successful implementation of NEP can help in meeting the 4th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), Education for all while
ensuring equitable, inclusive and quality education for all by 2030.

8.5 Caste-Based Survey

Context: The Bihar government recently released the findings of the caste survey conducted earlier this year.
More on News:
• The Bihar caste-based survey is the first such exercise since India became independent in 1947.
• The share of Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) is more than 63%.
• The combined population share of the reserved categories in Bihar—OBC, EBC, SC, ST is more than 84 per cent.

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• The Hindus are the majority community in the state comprising 81.99 per cent of the total population, followed by Muslims
17.70%.
 Christians, Sikhs, Jains constitute less than 1 percent.

Phases of Census Operations in India:

• Houselisting and Housing Census: In this, all
buildings, Census Houses and Households are
identified and systematically listed in the
relevant schedules.
 It provides comprehensive data on the
conditions of human settlements, housing
deficit and consequently the housing
requirements to be taken care of in the
formulation of housing policies.
• Population Enumeration: It follows the
Housing Census within a gap of six to eight
months.
 Each person is enumerated and her/his
individual particulars like Age, Marital
status, Religion, Scheduled
Caste/Schedule Tribe, Mother tongue,
Education level, Disability, Economic
activity, Migration, Fertility (for female)
are collected.
Difference between Census and Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC):
• The aim of a regular Population Census is to provide an overview but is not concerned with any particular
individual/household i.e., personal data given in the Population Census is confidential.
• On the contrary, all the personal information given in the
Stand of Judiciary over the Caste Based Survey:
Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) is open for use by
• The Patna High Court(HC) upheld the validity of the survey, allowing
Government departments to grant and/ or restrict it to resume.
benefits to households. • The court held that the state government is competent to conduct
caste-based surveys for the purpose of uplifting backward
Controversy/Challenges with the Caste-Based Survey:
communities.
• Demand for National Level Survey: With the caste survey • The HC relied on Indra Sawhney v Union of India (1992), which
in Bihar, the demand for a caste survey at the national recognised that there can be a reasonable method and procedure for
level has gained momentum. the identification of backwardness in society.
• Demand for Increased Reservation: It is likely to intensify
calls for an increase in the OBC quota beyond the current 27% and for the implementation of a sub-quota for the EBCs.
 It is expected to reignite the longstanding debate surrounding the 50% cap on reservations, which was established by the
Supreme Court in the case of Indra Sawhney v Union of India (1992).
• Lack of Economic Data: Unless the caste data is interpreted with the economic figures, the government won’t be able to
frame policies and target schemes at the most-deprived sections of the society.
 There is a possibility that the creamy layer might end up cornering all the benefits.

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• Debunking Myths of Classless Muslim Population: The survey
has highlighted the existence of social divisions in muslim
population based on birth, similar to the majority community.
• Stabilization of Muslim Population: Within the 17.7% of the
state's population represented by Muslims, the growth rate of
the Muslim population is approximately 0.8%.
 These findings contradict the general narrative that the
Muslim population is growing at a faster pace and will
surpass the Hindu population in the near future.
• Fear of Religious Reservation: If the 50% reservation limit is
exceeded in Bihar, it would result in a significant increase in
reservation for Muslim population in government jobs and
college seats.
 This situation would bear a resemblance to religious
reservation under the guise of securing quotas for the
backward classes.
Conclusion:
• An accurate enumeration of OBCs may aid in the formulation
and development of affirmative action based programmes of
the government.
• The data can also be used in the debate related to reservation
policy, and poverty alleviation schemes targeted towards
OBCs. However, it may further perpetuate caste identities.
• Thus, the caste data will become actionable only when
interpreted in conjunction with the economic data and result-oriented schemes are implemented.
• With the economic data, the politics of caste might be replaced by the politics of economics with the poor among the castes
demanding a greater share in electoral politics and government schemes.

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PRELIMS NEWS
8.6 Human Shields and Forced Displacement
Context: The United States President on October 15
accused the Palestinian militant group Hamas of using
innocent Palestinians as human shields.
• Meanwhile, protests rage in the Arab world and beyond,
condemning Israel's forced displacement of Gazans and
other Palestinians.
What are Human Shields?
• The term ‘human shields’ is used in International
Humanitarian Law (IHL) with respect to civilians or other
protected persons, whose presence or movement is
aimed, or used to render military targets immune from
military operations.
 International humanitarian law (IHL):
 International humanitarian law is also known as the
law of war or the law of armed conflict.
• Using human shields is considered a war crime.
 War crimes are violations of international
humanitarian law (treaty or customary law) that
incur individual criminal responsibility under
international law.
What is Forced Displacement?“
• Ordering the displacement of the civilian population for
reasons related to the conflict, unless the security of the
civilians involved or imperative military reasons so
demand,” constitutes forcible displacement according to
Rome statutes.
• The International Committee of the Red Cross and the
Norwegian Refugee Council described the order to
“forcibly transfer” civilians as unlawful.
8.7 International Migration Outlook 2023
• Context: India saw the highest migration flows to
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) countries in 2021 and 2022,
according to the ‘International Migration Outlook 2023’
International Migration Outlook 2023, was released by
OECD.
About OECD:
• It is an intergovernmental economic organisation,
founded to stimulate economic progress and world
trade.
• It was founded in 1961 with its Headquarters at Paris,
France and total membership is 38 countries.
• India is not a member, but a key economic partner.
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Key Findings of International Migration Outlook 2023:
• India replaces China as the main country of origin of new
migrants to OECD countries in 2020. In 2021, for the
second consecutive year, India, with 0.41 million new
migrants, was the top country of origin.
• Growing Policy Focus on Climate-Induced
Displacement: Few OECD countries have introduced
explicit policies to respond to climate-induced
displacement.
 For instance, in April 2023, Colombia’s Congress
began discussing a bill to recognise climate-induced
displacement, the first of its kind in Latin America
• Indian Nationals Acquiring OECD Nationality: 0.13
million Indian citizens acquired the nationality of an
OECD country in 2021.
 As in previous years, these acquisitions took place
mostly in the United States (56,000), Australia
(24,000) and Canada (21,000).
• Impact of Russia-Ukraine War: Inflows of refugees from
Ukraine reached the highest level on record, OECD-wide,
due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war; more than 10
million people have become either internally displaced
or refugees in the OECD region.
8.8 POCSO Act
Context: The Law Commission report on the age of consent
under the POCSO Act was submitted to the Law Ministry.
The Justice J.S. Verma Committee had suggested lowering
the age of consent under the POCSO Act to 16 years.
About POCSO Act:
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child
Development
• Amendment: Act was amended in 2019, to make
provisions for enhancement of punishments to deter the
perpetrators and ensure safety, security and dignified
childhood for a child.
Law Commission Recommendations on Age of Consent:
• Age of Consent: The government should retain the
existing age of consent i.e. 18 years. The panel said that
reducing the age of consent would have a direct and
negative bearing on the fight against child marriage and
child trafficking.
 ‘Age of consent’ refers to the legally defined age at
which an individual is considered capable of granting
consent for sexual activities.
• Guided Judicial Discretion: In the matter of sentencing
in cases involving tacit approval of children in the 16-18
age bracket.
  The panel also advised courts to be cautious as the • Reporting Crime in Real Time: Rolling out registration of
criminal intention may be missing in certain cases as e-FIRs in a phased manner and setting up a centralised
adolescent love cannot be controlled. national portal to facilitate registration of e-FIRs.

DATA POINT
8.9 Poverty In India
Context: Recently, the Prime Minister outlined that 13.5 crore plus people came out of poverty in 5 years.
More in News:
• Five official committees have so far estimated the number of people living in
Name of Five Committees
poverty in India.
• V N Dandekar and N Rath (1971)
• Since 2021, India has abandoned the poverty line measure to opt for the
• Y K Alagh Task Force (1979)
Multidimensional Poverty Index.
Poverty at the national level: • D T Lakdawala Expert Group’s (1993)
Given the different ways poverty has been measured over the years, the available • Tendulkar Expert Group (2009)
data is limited and conflicting. • Rangarajan Committee (2014)
• For instance, while the NITI Aayog MPI said 53.7% (625 million) of Indians were
poor in 2004-05, the global MPI put the figure at 55.1% (645 million).
• According to the national and global MPIs, about 420 million and 415 million people escaped poverty between 2004-05 and
2019-21.
• The Tendulkar Expert Group appeared to undercount the poor
even more at 37.2% (408 million) in 2004-05.
• As per the Tendulkar Expert Group, between 2004-05 and 2011-12,
about 138 million people were lifted from poverty.
• Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland were the only states
to see an increase in the poverty rate between 2004-05 and 2011-
12.
• During this period, nine states saw poverty decline by at least 20
percentage points.
How is poverty measured?
• India adopted the Multidimensional poverty index, with some modifications, in 2021. The national MPI is measured now by
the NITI Aayog.
 The modification includes addition of two new sub - indicator Maternal health and Bank Account.
• After India switched to its version of the MPI, poverty data was published for 2015-16 and 2019-21 based on the NFHS data
for the corresponding years.
• In 2015-16, Bihar was again the only state with more than 50% of the population living in poverty.
• In six states, more than a third of the population was poor. The proportion of poor people in eight states and UTs was below
5%.
The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI):
• In 2010, the United Nations Development Programme and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative created
the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
• It measures “acute deprivations in health, education, and living standards that a person faces simultaneously” in addition to
income and expenditure levels.
 It includes outcome-based indicators like malnourishment, school attendance and years of schooling, and access to water,
sanitation, electricity and cooking fuel.
• According to the global MPI, a person is considered poor if they are deprived of a third or more indicators.

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8.10 Health, Nutrition and Population Trends of Scheduled Tribes
Context: In the recent study “Population, Health and Nutrition Profiles of Scheduled Tribes in India”, published by LANCET,
researchers provide a detailed analysis of the health, nutrition, and population trends of Scheduled Tribes (STs) from 2016 to
2021.
About Study:
• The study offers an overview of the performance metrics for STs based on 129 parameters.
Findings:
• Non-STs vs STs:
 In 2021, the non--ST population outperformed the ST population in 81 out of 129 indicators.
 The 48 indicators on which STs surpassed non--STs include overall gender balance, gender balance at birth, use of family
planning methods, etc.
• Under Five Mortality Rate: It was alarmingly high, with 50 out of every 1,000 children not reaching their fifth birthday.
• Child Malnutrition: More than 40% of ST children under five were stunted, with a similar percentage being underweight.
• New Challenges for STs: From 2016 to 2021, there was a significant rise in high blood pressure levels among men and women
aged 15–49.
• Major Improvements:
 Access to improved sanitation facilities.
 More births were being attended to by skilled health personnel.
 Full vaccination coverage among children aged 12–23 months.
 The civil registration of births increased from 76% in 2016 to 88% in 2021.

SHORT NEWS

Serum, Mylab launch TB kit A point-of-care skin test for detecting latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI) is developed by Serum
for Latent Infections Institute of India (SII) and Mylab Discovery Solutions was launched recently.
About Latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI)
• In latent TB infection, TB germs are present in the body but the person does not show any
symptoms. However, in later phase active TB may be diagnosed.

Mera Yuva Bharat (MY The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of an autonomous body, Mera Yuva Bharat
Bharat) (MY Bharat).
• It will benefit the youth aged 15-29 years, in line with the definition of ‘Youth’ in the
National Youth Policy.
• It will serve as an overarching enabling mechanism powered by technology for youth
development and youth-led development.

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9. ETHICS
9.1 Indian Athletics Championship Marred by Doping
Context:
A steeplechaser and a sprinter at the Delhi Athletics Championship fled dope testers, highlighting the deep-rooted doping menace
in Indian athletics.
More in News:
What is Sports Ethics?
• The rot runs so deep that syringes lying in the washrooms (viral Sports ethics is a positive concept that guides human action in
Images and videos) during even school and university events are sports.
a common sight in the country. It is defined as the code of conduct for promoting and ensuring
healthy sporting practices.
• At the core of this corruption is the encouragement of coaches
Sports ethics signifies not just a certain form of behavior but also
and parents for quick fixes, and the lethargy of India’s anti-doping a particular way of thinking
machinery.
• The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has been ineffective
in preventing doping, with competitions in remote corners of What is Doping?
India taking place without anti-doping officials present. • The use of substances prohibited by the anti-doping agencies in
Ethics in Sports: order to gain a competitive advantage is called doping.
• Narcotics and analgesics, anabolic steroids, hormones, and
• The World Anti-Doping Code states that there is an intrinsic selective androgen receptor modulators are among the most
value in sports that is the celebration of the human spirit, frequently utilized substances.
body, and mind, and is reflected in values other than winning • For example: SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators)
or being the first in any sports game. are getting more and more popular in India.

• The spirit of sports includes ethics, fair

play and honesty. Anti-doping practices
are based on this ethical ground and are
supported all through the world.
• Sports can teach values such as fairness,
team building, equality, discipline,
inclusion, perseverance and respect.
• Sport has the power to provide a universal
framework for learning values, thus
contributing to the development of soft
skills needed for responsible citizenship.

Doping in Sports: Cheating In Sports

Ingrained?
 India is already one of the top-tier anti-
doping violators in the world.
 A World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
report published in December 2022
revealed that India, with 59 instances,
comes behind the perennial chart-topper, Russia, which has 135 cases in 2020.

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Reasons For Moral Misconduct:
• Attraction of Sports: Young people are attracted to sport for
Case Study
a variety of reasons including quests for excitement,
Lance Armstrong was a professional cyclist and cancer survivor.
participation, health, competition, acknowledgment,
prestige, and profit.
• He was accused of doping for years, and in 2012, the United States
Anti-Doping Agency released evidence that verified his doping
• What differentiates elite athletes from their non-elite activities.
counterparts is their ability/talent, and their desire to • Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and
compare and contest this against other elites. banned from Olympic sports for life.
• Pressure for performance enhancement: Depending on the • In 2013, he admitted to doping for the first time, saying that he
sport practiced and the physical attributes it requires, the did it to remain competitive because other cyclists were also
athletes will look for one or more of the following benefits doping.
of doping: recovering from an injury, increasing body
recovery capacity after training, increasing muscle mass Doping Cases in India:
and strength, decreasing fat tissue, and increasing Sanamacha Chanu (WEIGHTLIFTING)
endurance. In September 2010, she, tested positive for a banned substance, her
• Excessive Wealth and Fame: Today sports mean sponsors, second offense after being caught at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Monika Devi (WEIGHTLIFTING)
advertising contracts and money and for that some believe
India’s lone weightlifting entry at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, tested
that any risk is worth taking.
positive for an anabolic salt.
 sports are no longer just sports; as sports become an Narsingh Yadav (WRESTLING)
industry, a business, and a reason for political or national Days before heading to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics, tested
pride, these facts can only lead to breaking any rules to positive for methandienone, a banned anabolic steroid.
win. Renjith Maheshwary (ATHLETICS)
• Advancement in Technology: The Kerala triple-jumper was suspended for three months in 2008. He
 Although anti-doping controls are becoming more had tested positive for ephedrine.
rigorous, doping and, very importantly,
masking doping methods are also advancing,
and these are usually one step ahead of
doping detection techniques.
Implication:
Since sport plays an important role in physical and
mental education and in promoting international
understanding and cooperation, the widespread use
of doping products and methods has consequences
not only on the health of the athletes but also on
the image of the sport.
Way forward:
• Clean Sports Concept: Conceptualizing doping as
a sports integrity issue, we need to move away
from the archaic and delimiting view of clean
sport as a drug-free sport.
• Behavioral Approaches: Reconciliation of values-
based education, awareness raising and anti-doping education within the broader scope of integrity, to support informed
decision-making and personal agency.
 The focus here should be on developing life skills that help to cope with stress and pressure without resorting to unethical
means necessary to establish and maintain correct attitudes and behaviors.
• Anti-doping Strategy: NADA must keep athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and regular testing, more out of
competition than during competition.
• Strict Legislation and Regulation: Stricter legislation with the involvement of authorities is required to prevent the spread,
marketing and use of such substances.

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10. ART AND CULTURE
10.1 Parliamentary Panel Report on ASI
Subject: GS-1: Art and Culture
Context: A parliamentary committee, led by Rajya Sabha MP V Vijaisai
About the Committee:
Reddy, has raised concerns about the Archaeological Survey of India
(ASI) and its management of centrally protected monuments (CPMs). • The parliamentary committee's recommendations
are part of the '359th Report on the Functioning of
More on News: Archaeological Survey of India.'
• The committee consists of MPs from various political • The committee belongs to the Parliamentary
parties.Recommendations have been made by the committee Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and
Culture.
regarding the ASI's administration, security, restoration efforts, and
overall maintenance of heritage sites.
• These recommendations are aimed at
addressing the issues surrounding the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):
functioning of ASI in relation to CPMs in India.
• The ASI under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the
Concern Raised by Committee: archaeological research and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.
• Inclusion of Minor Monuments: The list of • It regulates all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of
centrally protected monuments (CPMs) the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
comprises a significant number of minor • It also regulates the Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
monuments lacking national significance, with National Monuments Authority (NMA):
an estimated 25% of the current 3,691 • NMA under the Ministry of Culture has been set up as per provisions of The
monuments categorized as such. Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains AMASR
(Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 which was enacted in March, 2010.
 This includes the protection of 75 graves of
• No construction work or related activity is generally permitted in these
colonial-era soldiers or officials that lack
prohibited and regulated areas unless a specific approval is taken from the
notable historical importance. National Monuments Authority (NMA).
 Some monuments, like a small brick wall Criteria for Declaration as Monuments of National Importance:
enclosure in Kumta, Karnataka, containing • The monument or site must be at least 100 years old.
two graves, receive the same level of • It should possess special historical, archaeological, or artistic importance,
protection despite their lack of justifying its recognition as a national importance.
architectural value and historical • The monument or site must meet specific criteria outlined in the Ancient
significance. Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
• Restrictions around Monuments: The 100- • It should not be burdened with significant encumbrances or restrictions.
meter prohibited area and 300-meter Framework regarding protection of monuments:
regulated area around ASI-protected • Article 51 A(F): Citizens must value and preserve India's rich cultural heritage.
monuments lead to public inconvenience and • Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act),
hostility in affected areas. 1958: Protection of ancient monuments and archaeological sites.

 This provision was introduced in 2010 • AMASR (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010: Establishment of the National
Monuments Authority (NMA) for monument protection.
through an amendment in the AMASR Act,
1958, and prohibits and regulates all
• Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972: Control over antiquities.
activities like mining and construction.
• Loss of Monuments: The CAG declared 92 centrally protected monuments (CPMs) as "missing," with only 42 of them located
by the ASI.
 Once lost, these monuments cannot be recovered, which poses a significant threat to India's historical heritage.
• Shortage of Resources and Fund Crunch:
 ASI faces a shortage of human resources, particularly in conservation work.

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  The panel said India spends “a little amount” on the protection and upkeep of monuments. “It amounts to Rs 11 lakh per
monument of national importance (Rs 428 crore for 3693 monuments in 2019-20).
• Restoration Activities:
 Restoration work is often undertaken without
considering the original design and beauty of the About Adopt a Heritage scheme:
monument, resulting in incongruities with the • Collaborative Effort: Involves the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of
original structure. Culture, ASI, and State/UTs governments.
 Indigenous systems and traditional practices are • Aim: To promote responsible tourism and enhance sustainability by
fostering collaboration between public sector companies, private sector
not given the attention they deserve in
companies, and corporate citizens/individuals.
restoration efforts. Monument Mitras:
• Ineffective Monument Mitras Engagement: Out of • Agencies/Companies can become 'Monument Mitras' through a unique
24 agreements signed with Monument Mitras under 'Vision Bidding' approach, where the agency with the best vision for the
the Adopt a Heritage scheme, only four have heritage site is granted the opportunity to incorporate their CSR
witnessed effective engagement. activities, contributing to heritage preservation and tourism
 Concerns are raised about the lack of prior development.
experience among private firms involved in
restoration and conservation projects.
• Monument Encroachments: Approximately 14.4% of ASI's total centrally protected monuments (CPMs) have been
encroached upon.
 Only encroachments from nine monuments have been removed since 2015.
• Other Challenges with Monuments:
 Lack of Master Plan: Non-world heritage sites lack proper master plans.
✓ Haphazard growth around sites diminishes their appeal.
 Pollution: Environmental pollution damages heritage properties.
✓ Taj Mahal affected by Sulphur dioxide from oil refinery and local furnaces.
Recommendations:
• Pruning the List of Protected Monuments:
 Rationalization and Categorization: The committee Suggests rationalizing and categorizing the list of ASI-protected
monuments based on national significance, unique architectural value, and specific heritage content.
 Consideration of Removal: Recommends considering the removal of certain monuments, such as kosminars (Mughal
milestones), that obstruct road-widening efforts.
 Emphasis on Indian Ethos: Recommends including monuments that "reflect Indian ethos" in the protected list,
emphasizing indigenous heritage and cultural significance.
• Reassess Restricted Zones: Reevaluate and potentially revise the restricted zones, taking into account monument significance,
to reduce public inconvenience and mitigate hostility while maintaining monument preservation.
• Enhancing ASI's Core Mandate: The committee highlights the importance of preservation as a core mandate of the ASI.
 The ASI should develop preservation plans for all its work, especially before excavations.
 These plans should include strategies for documenting findings, conserving artifacts, and restoring structures with minimal
impact on the site's integrity.
 Emphasizes the use of advanced technologies like LiDAR, ground-penetrating radar, and 3D scanning to enhance the
accuracy and efficiency of excavations.
• Recommendations for Bifurcation:
 Core Mandate for ASI: ASI should focus on core mandates, including exploration, excavation, and conservation aspects.
 Revenue Management by IHDC: The India Heritage Development Corporation (IHDC) can handle revenue-related
activities, such as ticket collection, auctions, licensing, cafeteria operations, souvenir sales, and sound and light systems,
to enhance ASI's efficiency.
• Addressing Missing Monuments:

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  Conduct a survey of all remaining monuments to ensure their physical existence and safety.
 Implement regular physical surveys for all CPMs to monitor their condition and security.
 Maintain digital log books containing textual and photographic/video records of the monument's physical state and
location coordinates.
• Sustainability and Environmental Impact:
 There is a need to integrate sustainable practices in conservation and restoration projects, including the use of eco-friendly
materials and energy-efficient techniques, while considering long-term environmental impacts.
• Experienced Monument Mitras: The committee recommends hiring only experienced Monument Mitras to ensure the quality
of restoration and conservation work.

PRELIMS:
10.2 Jagannath Temple
Context: There is a growing demand to open the Ratna
Bhandar (treasure room) of the Puri Jagannath Temple.
What is the Puri Temple Ratna Bhandar?
• The Ratna Bhandar of the Puri Jagannath Temple houses
precious ornaments donated by devotees and erstwhile
kings.
• It comprises two chambers: The Bhitar Bhandar (inner
chamber) and Bahara Bhandar (outer chamber).
 The outer chamber is opened regularly to fetch
ornaments for the deities. The inner chamber has not
opened in the past 38 years.
• Process to Open the Treasure House: Permission from
the Odisha government is required. An attempt in 2018
was unsuccessful due to missing keys. A judicial inquiry
was ordered to investigate the key's loss.
About Jagannath Temple:
• The Jagannath Temple is one of the four dhams (char
dham) where Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu, is
worshipped there with His elder brother Lord Balabhadra
and sister Devi Subhadra
• The present temple was built in the 12th century and
begun by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, first of
the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
• It is built in the Kalinga style of architecture, with the
Pancharatha (Five chariots) and is built on an elevated
platform.
• Feature of Kalinga style of architecture:
 Resembles Nagara style but with a distinctive regional
variation.
 Exhibits a step-like built structure.
 Follows the Rekha Deula architectural style,
comprising the sanctum sanctorum (deula),
Mukhashalam, Nata mandir, and Bhoga Mandapa.
10.3 New Tunnel being built at
Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain
Context: Construction of a 250-meter-long underground
tunnel is being carried out on a war-footing at Mahakal
Temple in Ujjain.
About Ancient City of Ujjain
• Ujjain is ancient and historical city that is 5000 years old.
It is described as the best city in Adi Brahma Puran and
it is called mokshda and bhukti-mukti in AgniPuran and
Garuda Puran.
• This city has a Jyotirling out of 12 Jyotirlings, one city out
of seven salvation providing cities, Gadhkalika and
Harsiddhi, the two Shakti Peeths, and sacred Kumbh
that takes place in four cities of India.
About Mahakaleshwar Temple:
• Mahakaleshwar, which means the Lord of Time, refers to
Lord Shiva, the one among the trinity of Hinduism, i.e.
Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, wherein Lord Shiva is
also known as Maheshwara.
• Located on the banks of Shipra river,, this temple is one
of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas in India.

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• Shri Mahakaleshwar of Ujjayini is known among the
twelve celebrated Jyotirlingas in India.
• It's a popular Hindu pilgrimage site, where the Bhasma-
Aarti lures tons of devotees from across the country.
• The temple complex comes with a spacious courtyard
that is adorned with finest sculptures that are believed
to be influenced by Chalukya, Maratha, and Bhumija
styles of structural design.
Significance of Mahakal Temple’s Location:
• Popularly known as the Greenwich of India, Ujjain is
geographically located at a spot where the zero meridian
of longitude (Madhyarekha) and Tropic of Cancer
(Karkavrutta) intersect

SHORT NEWS

Toto Shabda Sangraha Toto language is set to receive its own dictionary.
About Toto language:
• It is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by tribal Toto people residing in regions of West Bengal
adjacent to Bhutan.
• It is a crucial move towards safeguarding the language, which has previously been solely oral, by
documenting its vocabulary in written form.

The Maharashtra Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Victoria and
Chhatrapati Shivaji’s Albert Museum in London to bring back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legendary “Wagh-Nakh”.
Wagh-Nakh What is the Wagh-Nakh?
• Literally ‘tiger claws’, the wagh nakh is a medieval claw-like dagger used across the Indian
subcontinent.
• It was used for personal defense or stealth attack, and could easily slice through skin and flesh.
• The most famous use of the Wagh-Nakh in history comes from the story of Afzal Khan’s killing by
Shivaji.

• The Supreme Court agreed to examine a series of petitions alleging that the Tamil Nadu government
Agamic Traditions of is attempting to appoint “non-believers” as archakas (priests), contrary to the age-old Agamas
Temples governing temples in the State.
Agamas:
• The Agamas are a body of ancient Indian texts dealing with all rituals and ceremonies to be observed
in temples.
• They deal with rules as to how each iconic representation of divinity (archa murthy) is to be
conceived, constructed and worshipped.
• On identification of the temples constructed as per particular Agamas, the appointment of Archakas
(priests) is governed accordingly.

Gujarat's Dhordo: Best • Dhordo, a village located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, known as the gateway to the Great Rann
Tourism Village by of Kutch has been conferred the Best Tourism Village Award by the UNWTO
UNWTO • About United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO): It is a United Nations agency
working to promote tourism for sustainable development.

Hattee community The inclusion of the Hattee community in Himachal Pradesh's Scheduled Tribes (ST) list has led to
confusion in the Tribal Development Department.
• The Hattees are a close-knit community who take their name from their traditional occupation of
selling home-grown crops, vegetables, meat, and wool at small-town markets known as ‘haats’
• Location: Himachal-Uttarakhand border in the basin of the Giri and Tons rivers, both tributaries of
the Yamuna

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11. PERSONALITY IN NEWS
Shyamji Krishna Varma The Prime Minister paid tribute to Shyamji Krishna Varma, on his 160th birth anniversary.
About Shyamji Krishna Varma:
• In 1905, he founded the Indian Home Rule Society.
• He became the first President of Bombay Arya Samaj.
• He had organized a revolutionary center in “India House” at London and propagated the
cause of India’s independence through his writings in his publication journal called The
“Indian Sociologist”.

Sammakka and Sarakka The Union cabinet approved a tribal university for Telangana – the Sarakka Central Tribal
University, which will come up in Mulugu district.
• The university would be named after Sammakka-Sarakka – a mother-daughter duo
revered among the local tribal community.
• The Sammakka Sarakka Jathara is a famous tribal festival; It is often referred to as the
Kumbh Mela of the tribals.
• The event commemorates the battle of the 13th-century mother-daughter duo against
the local rulers in protest against imposing taxes on the Koya people.
• About Koya Tribe: They are concentrated in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and
Odisha and speak Koya language.

Shri Ramalinga Swamy PM addresses on the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Shri Ramalinga Swamy.
About:
• He is also known as Vallalar, Ramalinga Swamigal, or Ramalinga Adigal.
• He belonged to a line of Tamil saints known as ‘gnana siddhars’ (gnana meaning higher
wisdom).
• Vallalar endeavored to eliminate the caste system through the notion of Suddha
Sanmarga Sangam (pure path of absolute truth).
 According to Suddha Sanmarga, the prime aspects of human life should be love,
connected with charity and divine practice, leading to pure knowledge.

Loknayak Jayaprakash Jayaprakash Narayan (11 October 1902 – 8 October 1979), popularly called JP or Lok
Narayan Birth Anniversary Nayak was a Freedom Fighter, theorist, socialist and political leader.
• JP actively worked underground during the Quit-India Movement to fight the tyranny of
British rule, he organized an “Azaad Dasta” (freedom brigade) in Nepal.
• He is remembered for leading the mid-1970s opposition against Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi, whose overthrow he had called for a "total revolution".
• He was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna 1999.

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 Rani Durgavati Prime Minister performed ‘bhoomi poojan’ of ‘Veerangana Rani Durgavati Smarak aur
Udyaan’ in Jabalpur in line with the 500th birth centenary celebrations of Rani Durgavati.
About Rani Durgavati:
• Durgavati was born on 5 October 1524 in Kalinjar, one of the most impregnable forts of
medieval India, which lies in the Banda, Uttar Pradesh.
 The Fort was held by her father Raja Salbahan of Ratha and Mahoba, a descendant of
the famous Chandellas who had built the Khajuraho temples.
• Assisted by two able ministers, Adhar Kayastha and Man Brahman, Rani Durgavati
administered the kingdom after Her Husband, Dalpat Shah death in 1548.
• She constructed reservoirs such as the Ranital, Cherital and Adhartal.
• She was a patron of learning, and allowed Acharya Bitthalnath to establish a seat of the
Pushtimarg Cult at Garha.
• 24th of June each year, is celebrated as `Balidan Divas' or Martyr's Day, in honour of the
Rani. On this very day she breathed her last in a battlefield, fighting for the safety of her
kingdom, against the Mughals.
• In 2018, the Indian Coast Guard commissioned the 3rd Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) called
'ICGS Rani Durgavati' at its district headquarters in Visakhapatnam.

12. PLACES IN NEWS

Colombo Port Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6 docked at Sri Lanka's Colombo port
despite security concerns raised by India.
About Colombo Port:
• The Colombo Port is primarily a container port.
• Due to the port’s natural geographic location, it has become a
strategic hub which connects South Asia’s Colombo Harbour to the
East-West shipping route.
• Cargo originating from and destined for Europe, East and South Asia,
the Persian Gulf, and East Africa is conveniently and efficiently
connected through the Colombo Port.
• Colombo Port and Hambantota Port are key parts of China’s ‘string
of pearls’ strategy to encircle

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 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Earlier, an Indian delegation led by the Union Minister for Power and
New & Renewable Energy, participated in the Middle East and North
Africa (MENA) Climate Week 2023, (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
• The MENA region includes approximately 18 countries. 7 of the 13
OPEC nations are within the MENA region.
• The region has 60% of the world's oil reserves (810.98 billion barrels
(128.936 km3) and 45% of the world's natural gas reserves (
2,868,886 billion cubic feet (81,237.8 km3) ( the Oil and Gas Journal).

Scarborough Shoal
China recently installed a floating barrier in part of the Scarborough
Shoal.
About Scarborough Shoal:
• Scarborough is the largest atoll in the South China Sea, located some
220 kilometers from the Philippines.
• The shoal is located inside the Exclusive Economic Zone of the
Philippines but has been claimed by China as its ancestral territory
since the 13th century.
 Claimed by China, the Philippines, and Taiwan, it is called
Huangyan Island by China and Panatag Shoal by the Philippines.
• The surrounding waters have rich fishing grounds, and the seabed is
believed to hold substantial mineral resources, including petroleum
and natural gas.

Haiti The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has approved a foreign
security mission, led by Kenya.
Objective: To restore security, protect critical infrastructure and control
violence in Haiti as armed groups took control of large parts of the
country, including Capital Port-au-Prince.

Vietnam Recently, the External Affairs Minister outlined that Cooperation in the
Indo-Pacific is in the interests of India and Vietnam.

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Severe Drought in Amazon Rainforest
• Vietnam is situated in Southeast Asia along the eastern coast of the
Indochinese Peninsula. It is located in the Northern and Eastern
hemispheres of the Earth.
• Vietnam has land borders with three countries: China, Cambodia
and Laos.
• The Annam Highlands covers much of the central landscape.
• The Red River (Song Hong), and the Mekong are the most significant
rivers.
The Amazon rainforest is reeling from an intense drought. As a result,
there is no water, food, or medicine in villages of Indigenous
communities living in the area.
About Amazon rainforest:
• The Amazon rainforest is a wet broadleaf forest that takes up the
majority of South America’s Amazon basin.
• It flourished during the Eocene era allowing different species to
evolve and survive.
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13. SCHEMES IN NEWS
Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma The government recently launched the PRIP scheme.
and MedTech sector (PRIP) Scheme
Swachh Bharat Mission
National Green Hydrogen Mission
About PRIP scheme :
• The scheme aims to strengthen research infrastructure in India.
Scheme components:
• Infrastructure building: It includes establishing centers of excellence
in seven campuses of the National Institutes of Pharmaceutical
Education and Research (NIPER).
• Financial assistance to large industries, micro, small and medium
industries (MSME’s) and startups.
• They will carry out research in collaboration with academic
institutions as well as for in-house R&D.
A working paper by the World Bank states that despite early gains of the
Swachh Bharat Mission, toilet use has declined since 2018-19.
Key Findings:
● The first phase of 2015-2019 was marked by large
improvements, followed by some stagnation and decline over
the last two years. The recent negative trends are most
concerning and raise questions about sustainability.
About SBM:
● Under the mission, all villages, Gram Panchayats, Districts, States
and Union Territories in India declared themselves "open-
defecation free" (ODF) by 2 October 2019, the 150th birth
anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, by constructing over 100
million toilets in rural India.
● Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) will reinforce
ODF behaviors and focus on providing interventions to manage
solid and liquid waste in villages safely.
India aspires to become a global hub for green hydrogen production, but
it faces resource challenges.
About National Green Hydrogen Mission:
• The Union Cabinet has approved the National Green Hydrogen
Mission in Jan 2023.
• Budget Outlay: Rs. 19,744 crore, for various components.
• Aims: To make India a global hub for the production, utilization, and
export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
• Implementation: Ministry of New & Renewable Energy
• Sub Schemes:
 Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition
Programme (SIGHT):
✓ It will fund the domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and
produce green hydrogen.
 Green Hydrogen Hubs:
✓ States and regions capable of supporting large scale production
and/or utilization of hydrogen will be identified and developed
as Green Hydrogen Hubs.
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 • Mission Outcomes by 2030:
 Development of a green hydrogen production capacity of at least
5 million metric tonnes (MMT) per year.
 Addition of about 125 GW of renewable energy capacity.
 Over Rs. 8 lakh crore in total investments.Creation of over six lakh
jobs.
 Reduction in fossil fuel imports over Rs. 1 lakh crore.
 Averting nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Recently, the union government has extended support under the scheme
Exported Products) Scheme for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) till 30
June 2024.
About the Scheme:
• RoDTEP is a WTO-compliant scheme.
• Eligibility to claim benefits of the RoDTEP scheme:
 Every exporter of goods in India is eligible to obtain the benefits
under the RoDTEP scheme, subject to certain conditions.

Electoral Bonds Scheme The Supreme Court outlined that it will hear petitions challenging the
electoral bonds scheme on October 31,2023.
About Electoral Bonds:
• The Electoral bonds are similar to bank notes that are payable to the
bearer on demand and are free of interest.
• There is no limit on the number of bonds an individual or company
can purchase.
• Condition:
 Any party that is registered under section 29A of the
Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 and has secured at least
one percent of the votes polled in the most recent General
elections or Assembly elections is eligible to receive electoral
bonds.

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14. AWARDS IN NEWS:
About Noble Prize: Nobel Prize is an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden, and based
on the fortune of Alfred Nobel, Swedish inventor and entrepreneur. Each prize consists of a medal, a personal diploma, and a
cash award.
• Categories of Noble Prize: Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded in the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology or
medicine, literature and peace, while a memorial prize in economic sciences was added in 1968.
Nobel Prize 2023:( Note- Noble prize for Medicine and Economics are dealt in Mains part.)
Nobel Prize for Peace The 2023 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to jailed Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi for
"her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and
freedom for all.

Nobel Prize in Physics 2023
The 2023 Nobel Prize for Physics was shared by three scientists—Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz
and Anne L'Huillier.
About Nobel Prize Physics 2023:
• Nobel Prize Physics 2023 has been awarded for “experimental methods that generate
attosecond pulses for the study of electron dynamics in matter.
• The laureates have been awarded the Prize for experiments that have allowed scientists to
produce ultra-short pulses of light, with which they can finally ‘see’ directly into the super-
fast world of electrons.
• The short pulses are generated on a timescale that is known as attosecond.
What is Attosecond?
• Attosecond is an infinitesimally brief unit of time that could enhance our understanding of
the fundamental forces and processes that govern the universe.
• It is equivalent to one quintillionth of a second, or 10 to the power of (-18) seconds.

Nobel Prize Chemistry 2023 The 2023 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was shared by three scientists—Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis
E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov.
About Nobel Prize Chemistry 2023:
• Nobel Prize Chemistry 2023 has been awarded for the discovery and synthesis of quantum
dots.
What are quantum dots?
• Quantum dots are particles that are a few nanometres wide.
• They exhibit unique optical properties due to their small physical size.
 Their structure and atomic composition are the same as bulk materials, but the properties
of the latter don’t depend on their size.
• In fact, the properties of quantum dots can be changed by changing their size.
Applications of Quantum Dots:
• Quantum dots have the ability to convert a spectrum of light into different colors.
• They are also used to map biological tissues by biochemists.

Nobel Prize Literature 2023 The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2023 has been awarded to the Norwegian author Jon Fosse.
• He was awarded the Nobel laureate award “for his innovative plays and prose which give
voice to the unsayable."
• His major works include "Boathouse" (1989), and "Melancholy" I and II (1995-1996).

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TEST YOURSELF
3. The bonds are similar to bank notes that are
Polity and Governance
payable to the bearer on demand and are free of
1. With reference to ‘Question Hour in Lok
interest.
Sabha’,consider the following statements:
Which of the statement/s given above is/are not
1. A Starred question is asked by an MP and
correct?
answered orally by the Minister-in-charge.
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only
2. Short-notice questions are not followed by
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
supplementary questions.
3. Supplementary questions are not permitted in 5. Consider the following statements regarding
unstarred questions. Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry
How many of the statements given above is/are not (APAAR):
correct? 1. Under this, a unique APAAR ID will be provided for
(a) Only one (b) Only two students in both private and government schools.
(c) Only three (d) None of the Above 2. It is part of the National Education Policy (NEP)
2020.
2. Which of the following states are under the Sixth 3. It will be used to track the educational progress of
Schedule of the Indian Constitution? students.
1. Assam 4. It will replace the Aadhaar ID of students.
2. Meghalaya Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct ?
3. Tripura (a) One only (b) Two only
4. Mizoram (c) Three only (d) All four
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer Key: 1-(a); 2-(d); 3-(c); 4-(b); 5-(c)
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 2. 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 International Relations:
1. Consider the following countries:
3. Consider the following with respect to the power of the 1. India
Supreme Court? 2. Australia
The Article provides a unique power to the Supreme 3. Iran
Court, to do “complete justice” between the parties, 4. China
where, at times, the law or statute may not provide a 5. Tanzania
remedy. In those situations, the Court can extend itself How many of the above countries are members of the
to put an end to a dispute in a manner that would fit Indian Ocean Rim Association?
the facts of the case. (a) Only two (b) Only three
The above information is related to which Article of (c) Only four (d) All five
Indian Constitution?
(a) Article 131 (b) Article 136 2. Consider the following statements related to Vienna
(c) Article 142 (d) Article 143 Convention on Diplomatic Relations:
1. The Convention puts forth a framework for
4. Consider the following statements regarding ‘Electoral diplomatic interactions between independent
Bonds Scheme’: nations.
1. There is no limit on the number of bonds an 2. It provides protection for the wounded and sick
individual or company can purchase. as well as prisoners of war.
2. Any party that has secured at least five percent of 3. Under the Convention, a diplomatic agent
the votes polled in the most recent General enjoys immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of
elections or Assembly elections is eligible to the receiving State.
receive electoral bonds.
1
 4. Such an individual is provided with immunity Select the correct answer using the code given below:
from its civil as well as administrative (a) 1 and 4 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
jurisdiction. (c) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) None of the above
How many statements given above is/are correct?
(a) One only (b) Two only 4. The Nobel Prize in Economics 2023 is awarded to the
(c) Three only (d) All four Professor Claudia Goldin for:

3. Consider the following countries: (a) experimental approach to alleviating global

1. Laos poverty.
2. Brunei (b) comprehensive research on women's contribution
3. Thailand to the labour market.
4. Vietnam (c) Behavioural Economics Theory
5. Papua New Guinea
(d) None of the Above
6. Philippines
How many of the above countries are members of
ASEAN grouping? 5. Which of the following statements is/are correct ‘the
(a) Only three (b) Only four ‘Prompt Corrective Action Framework’?
(c) Only five (d) All six 1. It allows the RBI to place certain restrictions such
Answer Key: 1-(c); 2-(c); 3-(c) as halting branch expansion and stopping dividend
payment.
Economy
2. It can cap a bank’s lending limit to one entity or
1. Arrange the following core sector industries in sector.
ascending order, according to their weightage.
3. The RBI can also supersede the bank’s board, under
1. Refinery Products
2. Crude oil it.
3. Electricity Select the correct answer using the code given below:
4. Steel (a) Only one (b) Only two
Select the correct answer using code given below (c) All three (d) None of the above
(a) 2-4-3-1 (b) 1-3–4-2
(c) 1-4-3-2 (d) 2-3-4-1 Answer Key: 1-(a); 2-(d); 3-(a);4-(b); 5-(c)
Environment
2. With reference to the ‘World Intellectual Property
Organisation (WIPO)’, consider the following 1. Consider the following statements regarding the Ken-
statements:
Betwa interlinking:
1. India has secured 40th spot in Global Innovation
Index 2023. 1. It involves transfer of water from the Betwa to the
2. India joined WIPO in 1975. Ken River through the construction of Daudhan
3. Palestine has permanent observer status. Dam.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 2. The inter-linking canal will flow through the Panna
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only Tiger Reserve.
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
3. The important tributaries of Ken are Alona,
Bearma, and Chandrawal.
3. Which of the following states are common to the
Eastern & Western Dedicated Freight Corridor? Which of the statements given above are correct?
1. Haryana (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
2. Rajasthan (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3
3. Gujarat
4. Uttar Pradesh
2
2. Consider the following statements: Science and technology
Statement-I: Most of the ozone depletion happens 1. Consider the following statements regarding
over Antarctica. monoclonal antibodies:
Statement-II: During August and December, there is 1. Monoclonal antibodies are produced by the
presence of stratospheric clouds and absence of immune system to protect against diseases and
atmospheric mixing between the south polar latitudes
foreign substances.
and air from elsewhere.
2. They can bind to more than one antigen.
Which of the following is correct in respect of the above
3. They are used to boost natural immunity in the
statements?
human body.
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and
Statement-II is the correct explanation for How many statements given above is/are correct?
Statement-I (a) One only (b) Two only
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and (c) All three (d) None
Statement-II is not the correct explanation for
Statement-I 2. With reference to CAR T-cell therapy, consider the
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect following statements :
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct 1. It is used for treating cancer.
2. It includes genetic modification of T-cells.
3. With reference to the ‘Snow Leopard’, consider the
Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct?
following statements:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
1. It is listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
1972.
2. It is found in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh,
Uttarakhand only. 3. Consider the following statements related to fast radio
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? bursts (FRB):
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 1. Fast radio bursts, or FRBs, are intense, millisecond-
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 long bursts of radio waves with unknown origins.
2. A FRB was discovered recently for the first time.
4. Statement-I: Afghanistan is prone to frequent 3. FRBs can be used to measure missing matter
earthquakes. between galaxies.
Statement-II: Afghanistan is situated in the Hindu Kush Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
mountain range, which is one of the most seismically
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
active regions in the world.
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) All of the above
Which of the following is correct in respect of the above
statements?
4. Consider the following statements regarding Avian
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and
Statement-II is the correct explanation for Influenza:
Statement-I 1. Avian influenza viruses can not infect humans.
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and 2. India follows a "detect and cull" policy approach to
Statement-II is not the correct explanation for controlling Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
Statement-I Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer Key: 1-(b); 2-(a); 3-(a); 4-(a) Answer Key: 1-(d); 2-(c); 3:(c) 4:(b)

3
Defense and Security Art and culture
1. With reference to the ‘ Armed Forces Special Powers 1. Consider the following statements regarding
Act (AFSPA)’,consider the following statements: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj:
1. The Centre can take a decision to repeal AFSPA 1. He founded the Maratha Empire after carving an
enclave from the sultanate of Bijapur.
after getting a recommendation from the state
2. Saint Ramdas was a contemporary of Shivaji.
government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
2. There can be no prosecution against members of (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
security forces without the prior approval of the (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
State government.
3. The Central Government can declare the whole or 2. Consider the following pairs:
part of the State or Union Territory as a disturbed
Festival State
area.
Which of the statements given above is/are not 1. KatiBihu Assam
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only 2. Kharchi Puja West Bengal
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
3. Yugadi Karnataka

2. Consider the following statements regarding
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT):
1. The CTBT bans all nuclear explosions, whether for
military or peaceful purposes.
2. On signing the CTBT, a State automatically
becomes a member of the Preparatory
Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-
Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).
3. The Commission builds the global verification
regime to monitor compliance with the Treaty.
Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) All of the above
Answer Key: 1-(b); 2-(d)
Society and Social Justice
1. Consider the following statements regarding Global
Hunger Index(GHI) 2023:
1. It is released by the World Health Organization.
2. India's ranking is poorer than neighboring
countries Pakistan and Bangladesh.
3. India's ranking has improved in 2023 as compared
to 2022.
4. Index is based on three indicators of child stunting,
child wasting, and child mortality.
Which of the above statements given above is/are not
correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) All of the above
Answer Key: 1-(c)
Which of the above given pairs is/are not correctly
matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2 and 3 only
3. Which of the following best describes ‘Agamas’ in
context of ancient India?
(a) They are a body of ancient Indian texts dealing with
all rituals to be observed in temples.
(b) It was the fundamental moral law governing the
functioning of the State.
(c) It was a compilation of poetry.
(d) None of the Above.
4. Choose the incorrect statement regarding process for
inclusion of communities into Scheduled Tribes (ST)
list:
(a) The President may, with respect to any State or
Union territory after consultation with the
Governor, specify the tribes or tribal communities
relation to that state or Union Territory.
(b) Parliament may by law include in or exclude from
the list of Scheduled tribes.
(c) The listing of scheduled tribes is done State/Union
Territory wise and not on an all India basis.
(d) The criterion followed as per Article 342 for
specification of a community, as scheduled tribes
are indications of primitive traits, distinctive
culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact
with the community at large, and backwardness.
Answer Key: 1-(c); 2-(b) 3-(a)4-(d)

4
Places in News 2. Nobel Prize Chemistry 2023 has been awarded for:
(a) experimental methods that generate attosecond
1. Which of the following countries share ‘Amazon Rain
pulses for the study of electron dynamics in matter.
forests’?
(b) the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.
1. Brazil
(c) the development of asymmetric organocatalysis.
2. Ecuador
(d) None of the above
3. Venezuela
4. Suriname
3. Nobel Prize Physics 2023 has been awarded for:
5. Peru
(a) experimental methods that generate attosecond
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
pulses for the study of electron dynamics in matter.
(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2, 4 and 5 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (b) experiments with entangled photons, establishing
Answer Key: 1-(d) the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering
quantum information science.
Award in News: (c) theoretical discoveries in physical cosmology.
1. The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2023 is awarded to the (d) discovering an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star.
Norwegian author Jon Fosse for:
(a) his innovative plays and prose, which give voice to 4. Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2023 has been
the unsayable. awarded for:
(b) the courage and clinical acuity with which he (a) discoveries concerning the genomes of extinct
uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective hominins and human evolution.
restraints of personal memory. (b) the discovery of receptors for temperature and
(c) his uncompromising and compassionate touch.
penetration of the effects of colonialism and the (c) for the discovery of Hepatitis C virus.
fate of the refugees in the gulf between cultures (d) None of the above
and continents. Answer Key: 1-(a) 2-(b) 3-(a)4-(d)
(d) an influential work that with linguistic ingenuity
has explored the periphery and the specificity of
human experience.

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