Daily Prelims Notes 15 February 2024

February 15, 2024
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

15 February 2024

Table Of Contents

1. MSP guarantee across crops can raise income and demand

Subject: Environment

Section: National economy and National Income

Context:

CRISIL Market Intelligence & Analytics has said that Guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) across crops would support farm incomes and spur consumption demand, estimating the “real cost” of such a guarantee at around ₹21,000 crore, based on Marketing Year (MY) 2023 trends.

Details:

MSP-based procurement is done in only a few States.
CRISIL’s analysis focused on 16 of the 23 crops for whom MSPs are announced, which account for over 90% of India’s farm output.
In Kharif 2022 and rabi 2023, just 9% of mustard production was procured, and 3% of five other crops.
In this milieu, guaranteeing MSP for all crops can lead to farmers moving to crops other than paddy and wheat.

Minimum Support Price (MSP):

MSP is the guaranteed amount paid to farmers when the government buys their produce.
MSP is based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), which considers various factors such as cost of production, demand and supply, market price trends, inter-crop price parity, etc.
- CACP is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It came into existence in January 1965.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister of India takes the final decision (approve) on the level of MSPs.
The MSP is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to growers for their produce and encouraging Crop Diversification.

Crops Under MSP:

The CACP recommends MSPs for 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane.
The mandated crops include 14 crops of the kharif season, 6 rabi crops and 2 other commercial crops.

Three Kinds of Production Cost:

The CACP projects three kinds of production costs for every crop, both at state and all-India average levels.
- ‘A2’: Covers all paid-out costs directly incurred by the farmer in cash and kind on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, hired labour, leased-in land, fuel, irrigation, etc.
- ‘A2+FL’: Includes A2 plus an imputed value of unpaid family labour.
- ‘C2’: It is a more comprehensive cost that factors in rentals and interest for owned land and fixed capital assets, on top of A2+FL.
CACP considers both A2+FL and C2 costs while recommending MSP.
CACP reckons only A2+FL cost for return.
However, C2 costs are used by CACP primarily as benchmark reference costs (opportunity costs) to see if the MSPs recommended by them at least cover these costs in some of the major producing States.

Need for MSP:

The twin droughts of 2014 and 2015 forced the farmers to suffer from declining commodity prices since 2014.
The twin shocks of Demonetisation and the Rollout of GST, crippled the rural economy, primarily the non-farm sector, but also agriculture.
The slowdown in the economy after 2016-17 followed by the pandemic further ensured that the situation remains precarious for the majority of the farmers.
Higher input prices for diesel, electricity and fertilisers have only contributed to the misery.
It ensures that farmers receive a fair price for their crops, which helps in reducing farm distress and poverty. This is particularly crucial in states where agriculture is a major source of livelihood.

Source: TH

2. Scientists seek more protections for ‘living fossil’

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

Environmental groups are advocating for endangered species protection for the American horseshoe crab, citing threats from commercial exploitation, habitat loss, and climate change.

Details:

These ancient marine arthropods, not true crabs but closer to spiders and scorpions, have seen significant population declines, particularly in the Delaware Bay, once their largest habitat.
Overfishing for biomedical use, where their unique blue blood is harvested, along with use as bait, has contributed to a sharp decrease in numbers.
This decline also affects other species reliant on horseshoe crab eggs for food, such as the Rufa red knot bird.
The petition to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) seeks both protection under the Endangered Species Act and the establishment of critical habitats for their preservation.

About Horseshoe crabs:

Horseshoe crabs are ancient marine arthropods that have been around for more than 450 million years. They are found in shallow waters along the Atlantic coast of North America and in the Gulf of Mexico and are known for their unique appearance, with a hard exoskeleton and a long, pointed tail.
The crabs are represented by four extant species in the world. Out of the four, two species are distributed along the northeast coast of India.
Only T gigas species of the horseshoe crab is found along Balasore coast of Odisha.
The crab was included in the Schedule IV of the Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972, under which, the catching and killing of a horseshoe crab is an offence.
Horseshoe crabs play an important ecological role as a food source for migratory shorebirds and other animals, and their eggs are an important food source for fish and other marine animals.
Horseshoe crabs are also important to the biomedical industry because of their blue blood, which contains a substance called Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) that is used to test for bacterial contamination in medical equipment and vaccines. It is such an important animal that all COVID-19 vaccines were tested against blood of Horseshoe crabs to ascertain if the vaccine was free from any contamination.

Source: TH

3. COP14: Draft resolutions on the Atlas on animal migratory species, and maltreatment of seabirds submitted

Subject: Environment

Section: International conventions

Context:

At the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (COP14) held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, draft decisions were submitted on the development of an Atlas on Animal Migration.

“Atlas on Animal Migration” initiative:

This initiative is proposed by the European Union (EU).
It aims to document and understand the migration patterns of migratory mammals in Central Asia and birds in the Eurasian-African region, including the impact of human activities like hunting.
The atlas is seen as a crucial tool for conservation efforts, assisting in identifying key sites for migratory species and informing policy and management decisions to align with global biodiversity goals, such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The draft decisions encourage parties to utilize the atlas in their conservation strategies and direct the Secretariat to enhance and expand the atlas’s modules for better accessibility and usability.
Additionally, the COP14 addressed the issue of seabird bycatch in fisheries, particularly in the southwest Atlantic Ocean, urging measures to prevent harm to these species and highlighting the significant threat posed by overexploitation, with millions of birds, including albatrosses and petrels, killed annually in fishing operations.

Source: DTE

4. Does updating COVID-19 vaccines frequently have any benefits?

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Health

About News:

Researchers update the composition of influenza vaccines every six months to match the strains of the virus that are circulating in the wild, so that the shots may provide protective immunity against the flu.
But despite their best efforts, researchers rarely perfectly match the strains loaded in the vaccine with the strains circulating by the time the vaccines reach the market.
The reason for this is the long gestation period usually at least six months between identifying the circulating strain and the development, manufacturing,and distribution of the vaccines.
By the time the updated flu vaccine is available, the circulating strain may have drifted from the one contained in the vaccine, thanks to the high mutational rates of influenza viruses.
The Omicron variant, with its antigenic distance, has further complicated vaccine efficacy. Despite efforts to update vaccines, newer variants like XBB.1.5 and JN.1 present hurdles. Studies suggest updating vaccines may enhance neutralizing antibody titers against future variants, but uncertainties persist about long-term efficacy and T-cell immunity. India, with its Corbevax and Gemcovac vaccines, faces decisions on updating formulations to counter emerging variants.

Virus Variant:

Variants of a virus have one or more mutations that differentiate it from the other variants that are in circulation. While most mutations are deleterious for the virus, some make it easier for the virus to survive.
The SARS-CoV-2 (Corona) virus is evolving fast because of the scale at which it has infected people around the world. High levels of circulation mean it is easier for the virus to change as it is able to replicate faster.
The original pandemic virus (founder variant) was Wu.Hu.1 (Wuhan virus). In a few months, variant D614G emerged and became globally dominant.

Concerns Related to Different Variants:

Increased Transmission:
- In many countries, including India, variants, by virtue of increased transmissibility, have kicked off new wave(s) of epidemic transmission.
Increased Severity:
- Regarding virulence (propensity to cause severe/life-threatening disease), the UK variant is worse. The South Africa and Brazil variants do not seem to have higher virulence.
Lowered Immunity:
- The third concern is regarding the immunity cover offered by vaccination using antigens made from the D614G variant — which applies to most vaccines in current use.
- Lowered efficacy of vaccines was found more with the South African and less with the Brazil variant. Hence, reinfection can occur in spite of immunity by earlier D614G infection or vaccination.
- Vaccine efficacy may be lower now than what was determined in phase-3 trials as VOC were not then widely prevalent.

5. PM Modi to inaugurate BAPS temple in UAE

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the BAPS Mandir, a stunning architectural marvel which is Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple.

More on news:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the sprawling Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, built by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha or the BAPS society.
Built on 27 acres of land, this will be the first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi which features a unique blend of Indian culture and the United Arab Emirates’s (UAE) identity.
The inauguration of the temple in Abu Dhabi also redefines multiculturalism, which remains a contested concept in the Islamic world.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the tenth spiritual guru and head of the sect, on April 5, 1997 had envisioned a Hindu temple in the desert sands of Abu Dhabi which could bring countries, communities and cultures together.
The Indian diaspora is almost 3.3-million strong in UAE, a huge percentage of the country’s population.

What are the features of the temple?

The Abu Dhabi temple is a traditional stone Hindu temple with seven shikhars.
Built in the traditional Nagar style, the temple’s front panel depicts universal values, stories of harmony from different cultures, Hindu spiritual leaders and avatars.
Spread over 27 acres, the temple complex is on 13.5 acres, with a parking area of 13.5 acres that can accommodate around 1,400 cars and 50 buses.
The 13.5 acres of land was gifted by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE in 2019.
The height of the temple is 108 ft, length 262 ft and width 180 ft.
While the external facade uses pink sandstone from Rajasthan, the interior uses Italian marbles.
A total of 20,000 tonnes of stones and marble was shipped in 700 containers for the temple.
More than Rs 700 crore was spent on the temple’s construction.
The temple has two central domes, Dome of Harmony and Dome of Peace, emphasizing human coexistence through the carvings of earth, water, fire, air, and plants.
A Wall of Harmony, one of the largest 3D-printed walls in the UAE, features a video showcasing key milestones of the temple’s construction.
The word ‘harmony’ has been written in 30 different ancient and modern languages.
The seven shikhar’s (spires) are representative of the seven Emirates of the UAE.
Other amenities include an assembly hall with a capacity of 3,000 people, a community center, exhibitions, classrooms, and a majlis venue.

What are the key architectural features?

The temple was judged the Best Mechanical Project of the Year 2019 at the MEP Middle East Awards, and the Best Interior Design Concept of the Year 2020.
Among the key architectural features are 96 bells and gaumukhs installed around the path leading to the temple.
These 96 bells are a tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s 96 years of life.
Nano tiles have been used, which will be comfortable for visitors to walk on even in the hot weather.
On the top left of the temple is a stone carving of the scene of Pramukh Swami Maharaj envisioning the temple in Abu Dhabi in 1997.
Non ferrous material (which is more vulnerable to corrosion) has been used in the temple.
While many different types of pillars can be seen in the temple, such as circular and hexagonal, there is a special pillar, called the ‘Pillar of pillars’, which has around 1,400 small pillars carved into it.
Buildings surrounding the temple are modern and monolithic, with their color resembling sand dunes.
Deities from all four corners of India have been featured in the temple.
These include Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman, Lord Shiv, Parvati, Ganpati, Kartikeya, Lord Jagannath, Lord Radha-Krishna, Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj (Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami), Tirupati Balaji and Padmavati and Lord Ayappa.
The temple also has some special features, like a ‘holy river’ surrounding it, for which waters from Ganga and Yamuna have been brought in.
The river Saraswati has been depicted in the form of white light.
A Varanasi-like ghat has been created where the ‘Ganga’ passes.
Apart from 15 value tales from Indian civilisation, stories from the Maya civilisation, Aztec civilisation, Egyptian civilisation, Arabic civilisation, European civilisation, Chinese civilisation and African civilisation have been depicted.

What is the significance of the temple?

A Muslim king donated land for a Hindu Mandir, where the lead architect is a Catholic Christian, the project manager a Sikh, the foundational designer a Buddhist, the construction company a Parsi group, and the director comes from the Jain tradition.
Gujarat, especially Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, has recently seen increasing interest from and presence of realtors from the UAE.

What is BAPS?

The temple has been built by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a denomination of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, a Vaishnav sect of Hinduism.
BAPS has a network of around 1,550 temples across the world, including the Akshardham temples in New Delhi and Gandhinagar, and Swaminarayan temples in London, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Nairobi.
It also runs 3,850 centers and 17,000 weekly assemblies globally.

6. What did Trump say about NATO funding and what is Article 5?

Subject: IR

Section: International organisation

Context:

NATO is a “sacred commitment” for the US, President Joe Biden has said as he slammed his predecessor Donald Trump for his recent remarks encouraging Russia to attack certain nations.

More on news:

Former US President Donald Trump raised a storm of criticism from the White House and top Western officials for suggesting he would not defend NATO allies who failed to spend enough on defense and would even encourage Russia to attack certain nations of the 74-year-old military alliance by calling the comments “dangerous” and “un-American”.
Trump took his criticism to a new level at a campaign rally on Saturday in Conway, South Carolina, when he recounted what he said was a conversation with the “president of a big country”.

What is NATO?

NATO was founded in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union with Cold War tensions rising, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a political and military alliance of countries from North America and Europe.
Enshrined in Article 5 of its founding treaty is the principle of collective defense – the idea that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all of them.
NATO takes decisions by consensus but the political and military strength of the United States means that it is by far the most powerful country in the alliance, with its nuclear arsenal seen as the ultimate security guarantee.

Which countries are in NATO?

NATO currently has 31 members – most of them European nations, plus the United States and Canada.
The newest member is Finland, which joined last April in reaction to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Sweden applied to join along with Finland but is waiting for Hungary to ratify its application as the final major step before membership.
During the Cold War, NATO’s main focus was protecting Western Europe from the Soviet Union.
After the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall,NATO expanded to take in former communist bloc countries from Central and Eastern Europe.
NATO’s members range from large countries such as Britain, France, Germany and Turkey to small nations such as Iceland and Montenegro.

What is Trump ‘s view about NATO?

Trump always lambasted NATO and members such as Germany and accused them of not paying enough for their own defense and relying on Washington to protect them.
He openly questioned the collective defense principle of NATO.
Other US administrations have also accused Europeans of not spending enough on defense, but in less strident terms

How is NATO funded?

Trump has often accused other NATO members of not paying their dues, giving the impression that the alliance is like a club with membership fees.
NATO has some common funds, to which all members contribute.
Vast bulk of its strength comes from members’ own national defense spending – to maintain forces and buy arms that can also be used by NATO.
However, NATO members have committed to spending at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year on defense and most of them did not meet that goal last year.

How many NATO members meet the defense spending target?

According to NATO estimates from July last year, 11 members were expected to meet the 2% target in 2023.
Those members were Poland, the United States, Greece, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Latvia, Britain and Slovakia.
Germany, Europe’s economic heavyweight, was estimated at 1.57%.
The lowest spenders as a share of national GDP were Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg, according to the NATO figures.

What is NATO’s Article 5?

In Article 5 of the founding treaty, NATO members declared that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America “shall be considered an attack against them all”.
They agreed they would “assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force”.
Article 5 stops short of a commitment to an automatic military response to help an ally under attack.
That means the strength of Article 5 depends on clear statements from political leaders that it will be backed up by action.

7. China moves its nationals into its vacant ‘defense villages’ along LAC

Subject: IR

Section: Places in new

Context:

Chinese nationals have started occupying several of their model “Xiaokang” border defense villages across India’s north-eastern borders which the country has been building along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since 2019.

More on news:

Senior officials said the Chinese in the last few months, have started occupying a couple of these villages built on its side of the LAC across from Lohit Valley and the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh.
While the exact nature of these villages is unclear, the dwellings are understood to be “dual-use infrastructure” for both civil and military purposes.
These are seen as a Chinese assertion of its territorial claims along the LAC.
They have thus remained a concern for the military.
In the last few months Chinese nationals have been moving in — it’s not known if the occupants are civilians or military personnel.

About the Recent Developments:

China has been constructing 628 such “well-off villages” along India’s borders with the Tibet Autonomous Region, including Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh for over five years now.
Sources said the Chinese are building infrastructure all along the LAC bordering the northeast, even as the LAC remains far off from most inhabited areas or areas of importance except for Tawang and the Siliguri Corridor.
The Chinese have built sufficient infrastructure along the LAC at Tawang.
Even in other areas such as Siang valley of Arunachal Pradesh, we have been seeing rapid development of Chinese infrastructure,” an official said.
According to official sources,Chinese have consistently improved their existing infrastructure including improving their connectivity through passes, constructing roads and bridges and their model villages.
China has also been constructing infrastructure, including border villages, in Bhutanese territory.
In the last three to four years, India has also stepped up work on its border infrastructure which includes improving forward connectivity, constructing alternate routes to the LAC as well as connecting them.

About the Vibrant Villages Programmes:

Under the Vibrant Villages programmes, India plans to develop 663 border villages into modern villages with all amenities in the first phase.
Of them, at least 17 such villages along the borders with China in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, have been selected for development as a pilot project under the programme.
In Arunachal Pradesh, villages in the eastern part of the state and in the Tawang region have been identified such as Zemithang, Taksing, Chayang Tajo, Tuting and Kibithu.
In Arunachal Pradesh, three major highways are at different stages of construction:
- the Trans-Arunachal Highway;
- the Frontier Highway; and
- the East-West Industrial Corridor Highway.
There are plans to improve connectivity to Tawang with the construction of at least two alternate axes — in addition to the existing one connecting Guwahati and Tawang.
Earlier, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang valley, there were roads just till a little ahead of Anini, but now roads are being constructed at all sides of the valley.