Daily Practice Sheet 17 March 2021

Daily Practice Sheet

17 March 2021

Daily Prelims Topic

• NATIONAL MONETISATION PIPELINE
• WORLD AIR QUALITY REPORT
• TENTH SCHEDULE
• SYNTHETIC MEAT
• MGNREGA
• ARTICLE 342 A
• DEVELOPMENTAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
• SOFR
• FOOD WASTE INDEX REPORT
• RULE CURVE
• IRENA
• CENSUS
• MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY (AMENDMENT) BILL 2020
• SEBI FRAMEWORK ON IPO

Daily Mapping

• Xinjiang region

Daily Constitution

• Art 342 A

Daily Data

Air pollution (World Air quality report)

• Delhi has been ranked as the world’s most polluted capital in a new report that placed India as having the third worst air quality out of 106 countries in 2020
• 22 of the top 30 most polluted cities globally are in India.
• India continues to dominate annual PM 2.5 rankings by city.
• The average concentration of PM 2.5 in Delhi in 2020 was 84.1 µg/m3, the highest among the capital cities of 92 countries mentioned in the report

Air Pollution

• According to World Health Organisation, in 2018 India was home to 14 out of the 15 most polluted cities in the world; while in 2019, India had 21 out of 30.
• India is the fifth most polluted country in the world, going by Air Quality Index, and the third largest producer of green-house gases.
• In 2019, 1.6 million deaths were attributed to poor air quality. Microscopic particulate matter (PM2.5) and common pollutants like sulphates, nitrates and black carbon are particularly harmful as they reduce lung capacity and damage the cardiovascular system.
• Indians are exposed to roughly 83.2 micrograms/cubic metres of PM2.5 pollutants versus the OECD average of just 8 micrograms/cubic metres.

Emission

• The UN Environment Programme’s Food Waste Index conveyed that 931 million tonnes of food in 2019 went directly to the bin—8-10% of global GHG emissions are associated with this unconsumed food.
• Currently, eight supply chains are responsible for more than 50% of global emissions: food, construction, fashion, fast-moving consumer goods, electronics, automotive, professional services, and freight.
• Supply chain emissions are, consequently, 11.4 times higher than operational emissions.

Plastic waste

• 90% of the plastic produced has never been recycled.
• 350 million tonnes of plastic is manufactured annually

E-waste

• 55% of Indians believe that the way to stay updated with technology is by regularly replacing one’s phones and laptops, and 40% of smartphone users like to upgrade their phones annually, resulting in significant electronic waste
• Merely 20% of the electronics in India is recycled

Daily Mains Mantra

GS3: Governance

1. The recent pandemic has demonstrated the importance of public health and health care. Discuss the state of India’s public health. [Reference: The Hindu]

GS3: Economy

1. Sustainable supply chains can guide us to environment conservatism. Comment. [Reference: Financial Express]

GS2: Environment

1. What do you understand by man-animal conflict? What are the causes of man-animal conflict? Suggest measures to overcome this. [Reference: Indian Express]
2. Pandemic has halted or even reverse gains in addressing plastic pollution. In this context discuss the challenge of single-use plastic and what we must do to check it. [Reference: Indian Express]
3. Sound sustainable growth policy should ensure that societal costs are adequately captured in economic costs and societal benefits accrue congruently with economic benefits. Explain. [Reference: Financial Express]

GS 3: Science

1. Without adequate safeguards, AI can widen social and economic schisms, leading to discriminatory outcomes. In this context discuss the need for responsible AI.