Daily Prelims Notes 16 August 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

16 August 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Per capita income could go up to ₹14.9 lakh by 2047
2. SC plans expansion of infra; e-Courts to offer national link
3. PM Modi’s New Scheme to Help Urban Poor Build Houses
4. Vishwakarma Yojana soon for artisans, says PM
5. On I-Day, Stalin seeks transfer of education back to State List
6. HC bats for animals’ right to live without fear, orders relocation of 495 families near T.N. Tiger reserve
7. 275 bird species counted during survey at corbett tiger reserve
8. With amended act kicking in, Odisha has no ‘deemed forest’
9. India accounts for 35% of cargo handled by Murmansk this year
10. India steps up exploration for critical minerals, including lithium
11. The lead-up to Indian independence from a British perspective: Path to Indian Independence unraveling the British Perspective on the Empire’s Decline
12. Why the Red Fort became the venue for the PM’s Independence Day speech
13. Karnail Singh Isru

1. Per capita income could go up to ₹14.9 lakh by 2047

Subject :Economy

Section: National Income

Context: India’s per capita income is set to increase 7.5 times to ₹14.9 lakh, or about $12,400, per annum by FY47 from ₹2 lakh ($2,500) in FY23

Key Points:

• Per capita income is expected to increase from ₹2 lakh in FY23 to ₹14.9 lakh in FY47 (in USD terms, the corresponding increase comes to about $12,400 in FY47 from about $2,500 in FY23), per the estimates by SBI’s economic research department (ERD) , published in its economic research report “Ecowrap”.
• Weighted mean income of Income Tax Return (ITR) filers increased to ₹13 lakh in the Assessment Year (AY) 2023 from ₹4.4 lakh in AY2014, and could  further jump to ₹49.7 lakh in 2047 with shifting of distribution of tax-filers from lower income group to upper income group.
• Income Tax Return (ITR) numbers:
  • The tax filer base could reach 48.2 crore IT filers in FY47 (from about 7 crore in FY23), increasing its share in taxable workforce/workforce eligible to pay taxes to 85.3 per cent from current 22.4 per cent.
  • State wise ITR filed during AY23 shows that Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and West Bengal are the top 5 States. These States constitute about 48% of the total income tax returns filed in AY23
• Other growth projections:
  • India is likely to become the third largest economy by 2027. The Indian economy is currently ranked fifth and is behind the US, China, Japan, and Germany.
  • India’s real GDP will need to grow at 7.6% annually over the next 25 years to achieve the per capita income level to become a developed economy. India’s per capita income is currently estimated at $2,500, while it must be more than $21,664 by 2047, as per World Bank standards, to be classified as a high-income country.

2. SC plans expansion of infra; e-Courts to offer national link

Subject :Polity

Section: Judiciary

Announcement by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud

• Plans to expand Supreme Court with 27 additional courts and 51 judges’ chambers.
• Currently, Supreme Court has 17 courtrooms and 2 registrar courts.
• Current judicial strength: 32 judges.

Importance of Overhaul

• CJI emphasizes need for overhaul of court infrastructure for accessibility and inclusivity.
• Focus on modernizing judicial infrastructure.

Phases of Expansion

• First Phase
  • Demolition of court museum and annexe building.
  • Construction of new building with 15 courtrooms, judges’ chambers, SCBA library, offices for SCBA and SCAoRA, canteen, women lawyers bar room, and other facilities.
• Second Phase
  • Demolition of portion of existing court complex.
  • Construction of new building with 12 courtrooms, judges’ chambers, registrar courts, and SCBA and SCAoRA lounge.

eCourts Project Overview and Implementation Details

• Introduction and Origin
  • The eCourts Project was launched based on the “National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary – 2005.”
  • The eCommittee, Supreme Court of India, proposed the project to transform the judiciary through the adoption of technology.
• Project Phases and Implementation
  • The eCourts Project operates under the National eGovernance Plan.
  • Phase I, concluded in 2015, computerized 14,249 Court sites across the country.
  • Phase II aims to computerize 18,735 District & Subordinate courts to enhance technology-enabled justice.
  • Phase III envisions further modernization and accessibility of judicial processes.

Project Milestones and Achievements

• WAN Connectivity
  • 99.3% of court complexes (2972 out of 2992 sites) now connected with bandwidth speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps.
  • Various technologies such as Optical Fiber Cable (OFC), Radio Frequency (RF), and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) used for connectivity.
• Case Information Software (CIS)
  • based on customized Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS).
  • CIS National Core Version 3.2 implemented in District Courts.
  • CIS National Core Version 1.0 implemented for High Courts.
  • COVID-19 Management Patch integrated into CIS for intelligent scheduling of cases, prioritizing urgent cases.
• National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)
  • Utilizes elastic search technology.
  • Offers access to case status information for a massive 20.86 crore cases and over 18.02 crore orders/judgments.
  • NJDG includes reasons for case delays to improve transparency.
  • Introduction of open APIs allows government departments to leverage NJDG data for research and analysis.

Citizen-Centric Services and Technological Initiatives

• Service Delivery Channels
  • Various channels established to provide real-time information to lawyers and litigants.
  • Services include SMS Push and Pull (sending and receiving SMS notifications), Email notifications, multilingual eCourts services Portal, Judicial Service centres, Info Kiosks, eCourts Mobile App, JustIS app for judges.
• Virtual Courts
  • 20 Virtual Courts operational across 16 States/UTs.
  • These courts primarily handle traffic offense cases.
• Video Conferencing
  • Video conferencing used extensively in District and High Courts.
  • District courts held 1,28,76,549 cases, and High Courts heard 63,76,561 cases (totaling 1.92 crore cases) through video conferencing till 30.04.2022.
  • Supreme Court conducted 2,61,338 hearings via video conferencing since the beginning of the lockdown period.
• eFiling and eSewaKendras
  • Version 3.0 of the eFiling system introduced with advanced features.
  • Allows online submission of Vakalatnama, eSigning, online video recording of oath, online payment, and more.
  • eSewaKendras established to bridge the digital divide and provide e-filing services and assistance to lawyers and litigants.
  • Nyay Kaushal Centre inaugurated in Nagpur, facilitating e-filing and access to e-Court service

Additional Technological Initiatives

• “Judgment & Order Search” portal inaugurated for easy search of judgments.
• National Service and Tracking of Electronic Processes (NSTEP) developed for technology-enabled process serving and summons issuing.
• Various other initiatives like Justice Clock, secure website services, and more implemented to enhance accessibility and efficiency.

Phase II Implementation

• Phase II of the eCourts project aims to computerize 18,735 District & Subordinate Courts.
• Outlay of Rs. 1670 crore for Phase II.

Steps Taken for ICT Enablement

• Allocation of funds for various components:
  • Additional hardware provision for courts.
  • Setting up technical infrastructure in existing and new court complexes.
  • Replacement of obsolete laptops for Judicial Officers.
  • Installation of VC equipment in Courts and Jails.
  • Cloud connectivity for all Court Complexes.
  • WAN connectivity establishment.
  • Solar energy provision in 5% Court Complexes.
  • Software development components like CIS, eFiling, ePayments, etc.

Phase III Vision and Ecosystem Approach

Evolving Vision

• Phase III envisions an accessible, efficient, and equitable judicial system.
• Aims to create a digitally native infrastructure.
• Aims to simplify processes and transform them for the digital environment.
• Strives to enable remote case filing, hearings, and digital administrative processes.

Ecosystem Approach for Change

• Redefining Dispute Resolution: Phase III recognizes dispute resolution as both a sovereign function and a service, involving diverse actors from the public, private, and citizen sectors.
• Encouraging Innovation: Rather than creating all solutions internally, Phase III aims to foster rapid innovation by providing open APIs, standards, and specifications for an ecosystem of solutions.

Key Building Blocks

1. Simplifying Procedures: Streamlining processes and adopting digital technology to enhance efficiency and user experience.
2. Foundational Digital Infrastructure: Creating a flexible infrastructure with open APIs and standards for a range of services.
3. Institutional and Governance Framework: Establishing technology offices to oversee infrastructure design and development, enabling collaboration.

Key Goals

1. Hardware Installation: Ensuring essential hardware, reliable connectivity, and power supply to enable digital services.
2. Data Governance: Balancing open courts’ principles with privacy and security considerations.
3. Digital Infrastructure: Developing capabilities for intelligent scheduling, interoperability, digital case management, e-filing, and more.
4. Access to Services: Providing tools for digital case management, live streaming, transcriptions, notice service, and assistance in court and remotely.

e-Committee

• The e-Committee oversees the e-Courts Project, a nationwide initiative under the “National Policy and Action Plan for ICT in Indian Judiciary-2005“.

Purpose and Origin:

• Conceived to modernize the judiciary through technology.
• Proposed by former Chief Justice of India, Mr. Justice R.C. Lahoti.

Digital Transformation:

• Empowers stakeholders with real-time access to judicial data.
• Enables case tracking, pendency management, and resource optimization.
• Facilitates fast-tracking of specific case categories.
• Analyzes data to gauge judiciary’s competency and efficiency.

e-Committee Composition:

• Patron-in-Chief and Chairperson: Hon’ble Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, The Chief Justice of India.
• Members:
  • Judicial Representatives: Judges provide insights on tech integration while upholding justice values.
  • Legal and Tech Experts: Professionals in law and tech offer strategic guidance for effective integration.
  • Government Officials: Align e-Courts with wider government initiatives.
  • Academics: Provide research-based insights for tech infusion.

IT Specialists: Ensure practical, secure, and scalable solutions.

3. PM Modi’s New Scheme to Help Urban Poor Build Houses

Subject :Schemes

Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 announced a new scheme to help urban poor build houses in cities. Under this program, they would receive relief in interest rates and loans taken from banks to construct their houses.

Scheme Details

• Aimed at assisting the urban poor in building houses in cities.
• Relief in interest rates and loans from banks for house construction.
• Targeting those living in rented houses, slums, chawls, and unauthorized colonies.
• Middle-class families also benefit from the scheme.
• Government’s support to help save lakhs of rupees for the beneficiaries.

Existing Scheme – Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U)

• Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Mission to address urban housing shortage for economically backward sections.
• Constitutes a key component of the ‘Housing for All’ initiative.
• Ensuring ‘pucca’ houses for eligible urban households by 2022.
• The scheme extended till December 2024 to complete all sanctioned houses.
• Divisions: beneficiary-led construction, affordable housing in partnership, in-situ slum redevelopment.
• Seeks to transform slums into viable urban neighborhoods.
• Credit-linked subsidy scheme (CLSS) not extended beyond March 31, 2022.

Beneficiaries

• Female members of beneficiary families are preferred as the head of the household.
• Widows, transgenders, and differently-abled individuals receive special attention.
• Focuses on empowering women through property ownership.
• Beneficiary selection involves thorough surveys and verification.

Verticals of PMAY-U

1. In Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR)
   • Encourages the use of underutilized slum land for housing development.
   • Incorporates private sector participation to leverage investment and expertise.
   • Aims to improve the quality of life in slums by providing better amenities.
2. Affordable Housing through Credit Linked Subsidy (CLSS)
   • Aims to make housing loans affordable for EWS, LIG, and MIG
   • Interest subsidy benefits are linked to the loan amount and income category.
   • Reduces the financial burden on beneficiaries and promotes homeownership.
3. Affordable Housing Through Partnership (AHP)
   • Promotes collaboration between public and private sectors for housing projects.
   • Supports the creation of a diverse mix of housing options within projects.
4. Beneficiary-led Individual House Construction (BLC)
   • Emphasizes beneficiary-driven construction or improvement of houses.
   • Beneficiaries can use the assistance for constructing new houses or adding rooms.

Features of PMAY-U

• Demand-driven Approach
  • Conducts surveys to assess housing demand at the city and state levels.
  • Beneficiary demand shapes the scale and scope of housing projects.
  • Helps avoid underutilization of resources and mismatched housing supply.
• Geotagging
  • Geotagging involves adding geographical coordinates to identify the location.
  • Houses are geotagged using the Bhuvan platform developed by ISRO.
  • Enhances transparency by enabling beneficiaries to verify house locations.
• Women Empowerment
  • Provides recognition and ownership rights to women in property matters.
  • Helps in bridging the gender gap in property ownership.
  • Promotes women’s financial security and decision-making power.

Various Initiatives under PMAY-U

• Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs)
  • Aims to provide rental housing for urban migrants and informal sector workers.
  • Aims to curb the growth of slums and improve living conditions.
  • Private and public agencies are encouraged to participate in creating ARHCs.
• Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC) – India
  • Aims to identify innovative, sustainable, and affordable construction technologies.
  • Focuses on reducing construction time and costs while maintaining quality.
  • Seeks to promote the adoption of advanced construction methods.
• CLSS Awas Portal (CLAP)
  • A web-based platform to monitor the progress of housing projects.
  • Ensures timely subsidy disbursement and efficient project tracking.
  • Increases transparency and accountability throughout the implementation process.

Progress of PMAY-U

• A total of 75.51 lakh completed houses, 71.39 lakh occupied.
• Uttar Pradesh leads with 12,87,307 houses completed.
• Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu also show significant progress.

Challenges

• Land Acquisition and Availability: Scarcity of available land for housing projects in densely populated urban areas.
• Quality Assurance: Ensuring the durability and quality of constructed homes to prevent future maintenance issues.
• Private Sector Participation: Encouraging private developers to participate by addressing concerns related to profitability and project viability.
• Technology Adoption: Overcoming resistance to adopting new construction technologies and materials.

Financial Sustainability: Balancing the need for affordable housing with the financial sustainability of the scheme.

4. Vishwakarma Yojana soon for artisans, says PM

Subject : Schemes

Introduction

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address from Red Fort.
• Vishwakarma Yojana was introduced to support traditional artisans’ skill development.
• Allocation of around ₹13,000 to ₹15,000 crore to empower traditional craftsmanship.
• Beneficiaries include weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, barbers, etc.
• Launch on Vishwakarma Jayanti, starting with initial allocation.

Support for Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

• Introduction of drones for women SHGs to aid agricultural activities.
• Empowerment of rural women through skill training in drone operation and repair.
• Government’s target of creating two crores “lakhpatididis” in villages.
• Drones facilitate agricultural work and expand women’s economic opportunities.
• Synergy with Vishwakarma Yojana for holistic rural upliftment.

Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman 

• Initiative to preserve and revive traditional arts and crafts.
• Financial aid, skill training, and technological advancement.
• Integration within the MSME value chain to amplify impact.
• Drive for self-sufficiency and global recognition of Indian craftsmanship.

Key Features

• Scheduled launch on 17 September (Vishwakarma Jayanti) with initial ₹13,000-15,000 crore allocation.
• The main focus is on traditional craftsmen and workers, particularly from the OBC community.
• Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) as the coordinating body.
• Aiming to bolster unorganized sector workers facing financial challenges.
• The scheme covers 18 trades, enhancing livelihoods across multiple sectors.

Other Government Schemes and Efforts

• PM SVANidhi scheme allocated ₹50,000 crore for street vendors’ support.
• Direct deposit of ₹2.5 lakh crore into farmers’ accounts through PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

Holistic Institutional Support for Artisans

• PM Vishwakarma Yojana provides comprehensive institutional assistance to artisans.
• Enhancing artisans’ skills, easier access to loans, and technical guidance.
• Aim to transform artisans into entrepreneurs, fostering economic growth.
• Improved product quality through appealing design, packaging, and branding.
• A dual focus on both domestic and international markets.

Significance 

• Elevating the status of craftsmen across the nation.
• Upskilling artisans and expanding the reach of their creations.
• Synergy with the MSME sector and access to global markets.
• Reinforcing India’s reputation as a hub of traditional arts.

Vishwakarma in Hinduism

• Vishwakarma is revered as the deity of craftsmanship in Hindu belief.
• Creator of divine chariots, weapons, and celestial palaces.
• Linked to various mythological narratives and intricate creations.

5. On I-Day, Stalin seeks transfer of education back to State List

Subject :Polity

Section: Federalism

Context: 

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday called for transferring education back to the State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
• The objective is to eliminate centralized examinations like NEET and regain control over the education sector.
• The Education subject was initially under the purview of states but was moved to the Concurrent List during the Emergency under the governance of Indira Gandhi.

Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution

Union List, State List, Concurrent List – Overview

• Article 246 stands as the architect of the 7th Schedule, outlining the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List.
• The Union List, comprising 100 subjects, vests exclusive legislative authority in the Parliament.
• The State List, encompassing 61 subjects, confers power upon state legislatures for independent decision-making.
• The Concurrent List, housing 52 subjects, illustrates the shared jurisdiction between the Center and the States.
• The challenge lies in achieving harmonious coexistence of local autonomy with national uniformity.

Union List 

• Originally containing 97 subjects, the Union List now encompasses 100 subjects.
• This list delineates subjects under the exclusive control of the Parliament, including vital areas like defense and international relations.
• A strong central role is aimed at fostering national unity and coherence in important policy areas.
  • The NEET controversy highlights the potential drawbacks of centralization, as regional disparities affect education accessibility.
• In cases of conflict between laws enacted by the Parliament and state legislatures, the Parliament’s law prevails.
• Parliament’s authority also extends to imposing duties on states and conferring powers on them.
• The power to impose taxes on 15 subjects solely resides with the Parliament, bolstering central fiscal authority.
• The 88th Amendment expanded the Union List by introducing “taxes on services” as a new subject.
• The Supreme Court’s jurisdiction on matters within the Union List can be extended by the Parliament.

State List 

• The State List originally contained 66 subjects, which was later reduced to 61.
• The 42nd Amendment transferred five subjects from the State List to the Concurrent Lis:
  • Education,
  • Forests,
  • Protection of wild animals and birds,
  • Weights and measures, and
  • Administration of justice
• Balancing local governance with centralized decision-making, the State List gives states the exclusive right to legislate on these subjects.
• However, the Parliament can legislate on State List subjects under specific circumstances, such as during a national emergency (Article 250).
• State resolutions, Rajya Sabha resolutions, and multi-state resolutions provide mechanisms for Parliament’s involvement in State List subjects.
• The complexity arises in cases where laws made by Parliament on states’ resolutions are applicable only to states that passed the same resolution.
• While the State List focuses on matters of regional and local importance, there are exceptions like Delhi’s special provisions regarding certain subjects.
  • The 69th Constitutional Amendment Act introduced special provisions for the National Capital Region, restricting Delhi’s legislative authority on specific State List subjects.
• The State List also includes 20 subjects on which state legislatures have the exclusive power to levy taxes.

Concurrent List 

• The Concurrent List consists of 52 subjects that can be legislated upon by both the Central Government and state governments.
• The 42nd Amendment transferred five subjects from the State List to the Concurrent List, leading to shared jurisdiction.
• This concept is derived from the Australian Constitution and aims to balance centralized and localized governance.
• Both levels of government can enact laws on Concurrent List subjects, but in the case of conflicting laws, the Central Government’s law prevails.
• The Concurrent List focuses on matters that require uniform legislation throughout the country but not at the cost of regional diversity.
• Notably, there are three subjects in the Concurrent List on which both the Central and state governments have the authority to levy taxes.

Important Subjects Under Each List

• Union List Subjects: Defense, Army, International Relations, Ports, Railways, Highways, Communication
• State List Subjects: Public order, Police, Public health, Betting and gambling, Local governance
• Concurrent List Subjects: Education, Forest, Trade unions, Marriage, Adoption, Succession, Environment

Residual Powers of the Seventh Schedule

• The residual list comprises subjects not attributed to any legislative list.
• Article 248 empowers the Parliament to enact laws concerning these residual subjects.

Modern domains like information technology and space technology find their place in this realm.

6. HC bats for animals’ right to live without fear, orders relocation of 495 families near T.N. Tiger reserve

Subject :Environment

Section: Protected Areas in news

Context:

• Highlighting the right of animals to live free from fear and distress, the Madras High Court has ordered relocation of 495 families of Thengumarahada village, situated within the eastern boundary of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, on payment of ₹15 lakh each in compensation.

Details:

• The compensation will be released from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• The NTCA was directed to transfer the amount to the Tamil Nadu Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) within two months. After receiving the amount, the PCCF must disburse the compensation and relocate the villagers within a month.

Thengumarahada village:

• Thengumarahada was formed through State action after the issuance of a Government Order on August 5, 1948 for leasing out 100 acres to ThengumarahadaVivasayaCorproation (now Thengumarahada Cooperative Society) for farming.
• In 1961, the extent was increased to 500 acres.
• This human settlement in the forest area was leading to man-animal conflict as the village was located at the confluence of the rich biodiversity regions of the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats and was serving as a corridor for most of the long-ranging wild animals.
• It blocks the crucial migratory routes of elephants in the Mudumalai- Sathyamangalam landscape.
• Thengumarahada area and the adjoining landscape is one of the rare places in India where healthy breeding populations of tiger, elephant, leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, hyena, black buck, four horned antelope, barking deer, mouse deer and sambar are found together.
• The place is also home to many reptiles like star tortoise, rock python, russell’s viper, saw scaled viper, cobra and common krait to name a few.

Compensatory Afforestation Fund:

• The CAF Act was passed by the centre in 2016 and the related rules were notified in 2018.
• The CAF Act was enacted to manage the funds collected for compensatory afforestation which till then was managed by ad hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
  • Compensatory afforestation means that every time forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes such as mining or industry, the user agency pays for planting forests over an equal area of non-forest land, or when such land is not available, twice the area of degraded forest land.
• As per the rules, 90% of the CAF money is to be given to the states while 10% is to be retained by the Centre.
• The funds can be used for treatment of catchment areas, assisted natural generation, forest management, wildlife protection and management, relocation of villages from protected areas, managing human-wildlife conflicts, training and awareness generation, supply of wood saving devices and allied activities.

Objectives of CAMPA:

• Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) are meant to promote afforestation and regeneration activities as a way of compensating for forest land diverted to non-forest uses.
• National CAMPA Advisory Council has been established as per orders of The Hon’ble Supreme Court with the following mandate:
  • Lay down broad guidelines for State CAMPA.
  • Facilitate scientific, technological and other assistance that may be required by State CAMPA.
  • Make recommendations to State CAMPA based on a review of their plans and programmes.
  • Provide a mechanism to State CAMPA to resolve issues of an inter-state or Centre-State character.

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve:

• Mudumalai National Park is a national park in the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu, south India.
• It shares boundaries with the states of Karnataka and Kerala.
• It was declared a tiger reserve in 2007.
• It is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1st Biosphere Reserve in India) along with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the West, Bandipur National Park (Karnataka) in the North, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley in the South.
• It is bordered in the north by Bandipur National Park, in the east by Sigur Reserve Forest and in the west by Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. In the south, it is bordered by Singara Reserve Forest.
• The Moyar River and its tributaries drain this area, and several artificial waterholes provide drinking water for wildlife during dry seasons.
• The river Moyar, which flows along the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border, divides the two states. The Park is bisected by the Mysore-Ooty highway, which follows the direction of the Moyar River, which divides Mudumalaiand Bandipur.
• Flagship Species: Tiger and Asian Elephant.
• The Reserve has tall grasses, commonly referred to as ‘Elephant Grass’.
• Tropical Evergreen Forest, Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest, Moist Teak Forest, Dry Teak Forest, Secondary Grasslands, Shrubs, and Swamps are among the habitats found here.

7. 275 bird species counted during survey at corbett tiger reserve

Subject :Environment

Section: Protected Areas in news

About the survey report:

• Survey conducted by: World Wide Fund (WWF) India, Tiger Conservation Foundation and Village Volunteer Protection Force
• The report is compiled by Oriental Trials, an NGO working for conservation of wildlife.
• About 275 bird species, including two critically endangered, four vulnerable ones and two endangered species, were counted during the bird survey at Corbett Tiger Reserve in Nainital.

Key findings:

• Two species, namely white-rumped vulture and red-headed vulture, considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list, have been documented in the survey, which covered the vast range of landscape in the reserve, including grassland, dense forest, rivers and hilly terrains.
• Two endangered species — Pallas’s fish-eagle, Egyptian vulture were also counted by the researchers in the survey.
• Four vulnerable bird species — great hornbill, great slaty woodpecker, grey-crowned prinia and river tern — have also been counted in the survey.
• About 10 near-threatened bird species — river lapwing, red-breasted parakeet, oriental darter, lesser fish-eagle, Himalayan griffon, great thick-knee, gray-headed fish-eagle, black-necked stork, Asian woolley-necked stork and Alexandrine parakeet — have also been found at the reserve.
• About 256 species documented in the survey are considered to be of least concern by the IUCN.

About Corbett Tiger Reserve:

• It is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand which encompasses the Patli Dun valley.
• The Ramganga, Sonanadi, Palain and Mandal, and Kosi rivers form the prominent hydrological resource for the Corbett.
• The core area of the reserve contains the Corbett National Park and the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is part of its buffer area.
• Flora: The trees which contribute to the Flora of Corbett consist of evergreen Sal and its combined trees, the Sheesham, and the Kanju found extensively on the ridges.
• Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Hog deer, spotted deer, Samber etc.

8. With amended act kicking in, Odisha has no ‘deemed forest’

Subject :Environment

Section: Environment Law

Context:

• The Odisha government has sent a letter to district officials underlining that industry requests to divert forest land for non-forestry purposes now ought to conform with the amended Forest Act and that ‘deemed forests’ as a category would cease to exist.

Details:

• Deemed forest is forest land that hasn’t been recorded as such by the Centre or States. The 1996 Godavarman verdict by the Supreme Court enjoined States to bring in such unrecorded land that conformed to the ‘dictionary’ meaning of forest.
• Nearly half of Odisha’s forest land was ‘deemed forest’, before the amended act came into existence.
• The amended Act clearly specifies and defines forest. The concept of deemed forest is now removed.
• Protection under the Forest Act means that land cannot be diverted without the consent of the Centre as well as gram panchayats in the regions concerned.
• It also puts the onus on those diverting land to grow trees on an equivalent plot of land twice the razed area, along with a significant monetary penalty, thus acting as a deterrent to deforestation.
• The Forest Act, 1980, now renamed as the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam — translated as Forest Conservation and Augmentation — only accorded protection to forest that is notified so in government and revenue records on or after 1980.
• In 1996, the Supreme Court expanded the remit of the Act to areas that weren’t notified as forest but conformed to the “dictionary” definition of forests.
• If notified forest land was legally diverted between 1980 and 1996, for non-forest use, the Forest Conservation Act would not apply.

Deemed forests in Odisha:

• The Odisha government, since 1996, had with the help of expert committees at the district level identified nearly 66 lakh acres as ‘deemed forest’ but many of them weren’t officially notified as such in government records.
• As per the new amendment there will be no check on forest diversion. It will be easier to divert forest land. As ‘deemed forest’ is not considered the ‘forest’ under the new amendment.
• The latest Forest Survey of India records Odisha as having 52,156 square km (approx. 130 lakh acres) of forest coverage, which is 33.50% of the State’s geographical area, as compared to 21.71% of forest cover at the national level.

For details on Forest conservation (amendment) Actl: https://optimizeias.com/objections-overruled-forest-bill-goes-to-house-unchanged/

9. India accounts for 35% of cargo handled by Murmansk this year

Subject : Geography

Section: Economic geography

Context:

• India’s engagement with Russia’s Arctic region has been strengthening with India-bound goods constituting the maximum share of cargo handled this year by Murmansk, located about 2,000 km northwest of Moscow.

Northern Sea Route (NSR):

• The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is a shipping route about 5,600 kilometres (3,500 mi) long, defined by Russian legislation as running from the entrances to the Novaya Zemlya straits in the west, (along the Russian Arctic coast above Siberia through the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, and Chukchi Sea), to Cape Zhelaniya on the Bering Strait, at parallel 66 °N and meridian of 168 ° 58′37 ″ W.
• India was also getting involved in the Northern Sea Route (NSR), which is the shortest shipping route connecting the western part of Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific region.
• But there are challenges in navigating the 5,600-km-long NSR. The route includes the seas of the Arctic Ocean [Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi] which remain icebound during most parts of the year.
• India and Russia are considering a sea-corridor proposal to link Chennai and Vladivostok.

Murmansk port:

• Murmansk Commercial Seaport is a seaport located on the eastern shore of the Kola Bay of the Barents Sea in the city of Murmansk, Russia.
• Murmansk port, the main northern gateway of Russia and a transshipment hub.
• The port ranks fourth in Russia in terms of processed goods and is the second-largest port in northwest Russia (after the port of St. Petersburg).
• Murmansk seaport is one of the largest ice-free ports in Russia and forms the backbone of the economy of the city.
• The port is managed and operated by JSC Murmansk Commercial Port.
• Significance of the port:
  • The route from Murmansk to Yokohama in Japan across the Arctic Ocean, including the NSR, is about 6,000 nautical miles (NM). Alternatively, the distance via the traditional shipping routes is about 13,000 NM.

10. India steps up exploration for critical minerals, including lithium

Subject :Geography

Section: Economic geography

Context:

• India has stepped up its exploration for critical and strategic minerals, including lithium, rare earth elements, and vanadium, among others.

Details:

• Minerals such as antimony, cobalt, gallium, graphite, lithium, nickel, niobium, and strontium, among others, are critical for green technologies, high-tech equipment, aviation, and national defence manufacturing needs.
• India has a high import dependence for many of these minerals.

Lithium exploration:

• Lithium, a non-ferrous alkali mineral, is in demand for the lithium-ion batteries.
• As per Geological Survey of India (GSI) the lithium exploration is underway in 3 states:

1. Korba district in Chhattisgarh;
2. South Garo Hills and East Garo Hills in Meghalaya; and
3. Jammu, Ramban, Resai, Rajoury and Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir.

•  India’s only lithium find has been in Resai, to the tune of 5.9 million tonnes (mt).
• The Mineral Exploration and Consultation Ltd — a public sector enterprise under the Union Ministry of Mines — is carrying out exploration for lithium and potassium (under the National Mineral Exploration Trust) at the Merak block in the Union Territory of Leh.

Lithium as ‘White Gold’:

• Due to its importance in technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage solutions.
• This nickname reflects its economic significance akin to traditional precious metals.

Rare Earth Element find:

• There are 17 REEs — 15 lanthanides (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium; neodymium, promethium; samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium), scandium, and yttrium. The lanthanide elements are divided into two groups — light and heavy.
• REEs are used in industrial applications including electronics, clean energy, aerospace, automotive and defence.
• Usage of REEs:
  • Manufacture of permanent magnets is the single largest and most important end-use for REEs, accounting for 43 per cent of demand in 2021.
  • Vanadium, an elemental metal, is rarely found in nature, but once isolated artificially, the formation of an oxide layer stabilises the free metal against further oxidation.
  • Niobium — used in jet engines and rockets, girders and beams.

Exploration across states:

• The explorations are spread across states like:
  • Chhattisgarh (Raigarh),
  • Maharashtra (Nagpur, Chandrapur, and Sindhudurg),
  • Bihar,
  • Jharkhand (Giridh, Simdega, and Koderna),
  • Odisha (Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Angul),
  • West Bengal (Purulia),
  • Arunachal Pradesh (KurungKumey),
  • Assam (West Karbi Anglong),
  • Meghalaya (South West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi),
  • Uttar Pradesh (Lalitpur and Sonbhadra),
  • Andhra Pradesh (Anantapur, East Godavari, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Chittoor, Annamayya, Nellore, and Prakasam),
  • Kerala (Kottayam, Idukki, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Wayanad),
  • Telangana (Bhadradri and Jayashankar),
  • Tamil Nadu (Kanyakumari),
  • Karnataka (Chamarajanagar),
  • Gujarat (Chhota Udepur, Aravalli, Mehsana, and Banaskantha), and
  • Rajasthan (Alwar, Udaipur, Sirohi, and Barmer), among others.

GSI Assessment method and stages:

• Geological Assessment, which is more or less like the classification as per ISP adopted by GSI and other agencies in India.
• The process of geological assessment is generally conducted in stages of increasing details.
• The typical successive stages of geological investigation: Reconnaissance, Prospecting, General exploration and detailed exploration, Generate resource data with clearly defined degrees of geological assurance.
• The mineral extraction process typically begins with the G4 stage.
• These four stages are therefore used as geological assessment categories in the classification.
• The geological assessment has 4 codes i.e.
  • Detailed Exploration (G1)
  • General Exploration (G2)
  • Preliminary Exploration (G3)
  • Reconnaissance (G4)
• The G3 stage is further categorized into a six-step process to extract Lithium from Salt-flat brines or Mineral ores.
  • Stage 1:Geological Surveys: Mapping on a more extensive scale and linking prepared maps with a top grid. Assessment of lithology, structure, surface mineralisation, analysis of old workings etc.
  • Stage 2: Perform Geochemical sampling rock type wise, soil survey.
  • Stage 3: Detailed ground geophysical work and borehole logging.
  • Stage 4: Check the technicality of pits/trench to explore the mineralised zone and drill borehole spacing
  • Stage 5: Sampling for litho geochemical from a well-known section, pit/trench and core sample
  • Stage 6: Petrographic and mineralogical studies: the combined study of rocks in thin sections and the chemistry, crystal structure and physical properties of the mineral constituents of rocks.
• According to the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), apart from the thorough examination of the above-mentioned geological axis, the proposal to mine minerals also needs to be assessed from a feasibility point of view along with the prospects of economic viability.

Mineral Exploration and Consultation Ltd (MECL):

• MECL was established as an autonomous Public Sector Company in October 1972, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Mines, Government of India for systematic exploration of minerals, to bridge the gap between the initial discovery of a prospect and its eventual exploitation.
• MECL has the Mission “to provide high quality, cost effective and time bound geo-scientific services for exploration and exploitation of minerals”.

National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET):

• The NMET was established by the Government of India vide Gazette Notification G.S.R.633(E) of 14th August 2015, in pursuance of subsection(1) of Section 9C of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, with the objective to expedite mineral exploration in the country.

For details on critical minerals and its significance: https://optimizeias.com/critical-minerals/

11. The lead-up to Indian independence from a British perspective: Path to Indian Independence unraveling the British Perspective on the Empire’s Decline

Subject :History

Section: Modern India

Economic crisis following World War II

• While Britain emerged victorious from World War II, it was physically and financially exhausted.
• Its treasury was nearly empty by 1945, and it had mounted significant war debt.
• The situation was ripe for some radical changes like decolonisation. Moreover, Britain did not have the resources to maintain its global empire any more.

Clement Atlee and his Labour Government:

• The 1945 general elections ousted Churchill’s Conservative Party and brought in a new Labour Party government.
• Atlee was firmly in favour of “self-governance” in India, a sentiment he had expressed as far back as the early 1930s.

Mutiny in the Royal Indian Navy:

• The mutiny of the Royal Indian Navy (RIN), which broke out on February 18, 1946 in only five days, delivered a mortal blow to the entire structure of the British Raj.
• On February 18, 1946, the ratings of ”Talwar” in Bombay harbour went into a hunger strike to protest against bad food and the worst racial arrogance.
• Others in 22 ships in the neighbourhood, followed suit on the following day, and it soon spread to the Castle and the Fort Barracks on the shore
• Further, they elected a Naval Committee headed by MS Khan, and drew up their demands, highlighting as much the national ones as their own. They demanded:
  • Release of INA prisoners
  • Freedom of all other political prisoners
  • Withdrawal of Indian troops from Indo-China and Java
  • Better food
  • More civilized treatment
  • Equal pay for European and Indian Sailors alike
• On 20th February, the ratings in Barracks were surrounded by armed guards, while their Comrades in the ships found British members threatening them with destruction.
• By 22 February, the revolt had spread to all the naval bases in the country, involving 78 ships, 20 shore establishments and 20,000 ratings.
• While the mutiny did not last long, it convinced the British that they had to grant India independence
• Atlee announced The Cabinet Mission a day after the mutiny started.

Britain’s “early” exit and the Partition:

• The Cabinet Mission under Pethick-Lawrence, Strafford Cripps, and AV Alexander, alongside then Viceroy Archibald Wavell, proposed a complicated three-tier administrative structure for India, with a weak central government.
• However, this proposal was eventually rejected by both the Congress and the Muslim League.
• Atlee decided to replace Wavell with the charismatic Louis Mountbatten in February 1947 and had announced in the House of Commons that British rule in India would end “not later than July 1948”.
• However, upon arriving in India, Mountbatten realized that waiting till July of next year would possibly not be wise in light of the already worsening situation.
• The plan for India’s independence and partition was announced on June 3, and the Indian Independence Act received royal assent on July 18. The “Mountbatten Plan” as this was known, set August 15 – the second anniversary of the Japanese surrender – as the deadline for transfer of power.

12. Why the Red Fort became the venue for the PM’s Independence Day speech

Subject :History

Section: Art and culture

Why was Red Fort Chosen:

• Red Fort has historical significance in Indian history since Mughal time. When the country got its independence India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru chose the monument to hoist the national flag and address the nation back in 1947.
• Delhi became a major capital under the Delhi Sultanate (1206-1506) under the rule of Qutubuddin Aibak, first ruler of the Slave or Mamluk dynasty, who ruled a large part of north India.
• Babur (1483-1530), the first ruler of the Mughal dynasty, referred to Delhi as the ‘capital of all Hindustan’ after he began ruling Delhi in 1526. Though Akbar, the third Mughal ruler, shifted his capital to Agra for some time, Delhi remained as the centre of rule in India.
• However, under Shah Jahan (1592-1666), Delhi became the capital of Mughal empire once again and came to be known as Shahjahanabad in 1648 (which is situated in present-day Old Delhi).
• The Red Fort became the citadel of Shahjahanabad till 1857 and even when the Mughal rule shrank, Delhi was seen as their source of legitimate sovereign authority,
• During the 1857 sepoy mutiny, also referred to as the First War of Independence, the rebels headed to Delhi and declared the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar (1775-1862) as their king at the iconic Red Fort.
• During the last stages of the Freedom Movement, Subhash Chandra Bose-led Indian National Army (INA) senior officers were publicly tried at the Red Fort. The trials firmly established the Red Fort as a symbol of power and resistance in the minds of the Indian public
• Therefore, the monuments become the symbol of indigenous authority, around which the authority of the entire country revolved.

How is Delhi’s symbolic authority co-opted:

• After 1857, the British deliberately downgraded Delhi to a minor provincial town. Despite the demotion, Delhi continued to hold significant symbolic authority in India.
• The British recognized Delhi’s symbolic importance and exploited it for their own purposes. The British organized Delhi Durbars (1877, 1903, 1911) on notable occasions. These events proclaimed the British monarch as the Emperor of India..Princely State rulers were invited to Delhi to pay homage to the British Crown.
• The British finally decided to shift their capital to Delhi from Calcutta in 1911, building a grand new city which would be completed in 1930.

13. Karnail Singh Isru

Subject: History

Section: Modern India

Context: On India’s Independence Day, Punjab Chief Minister paid homage to activist Karnail Singh Isru, who died on the same day in 1955 while participating in the Goa Liberation Movement.

Who was Karnail Singh Isru:

• Karnail Singh Isru was born on September 9, 1930, in the Chak 30 village of the Lyallpur district that is now in Pakistan.
• He was married to Charanjeet Kaur
• He joined the Communist Party of India (CPI) and became part of the Goa Liberation Movement, which aimed to hoist the Indian flag in Goa.
• Isru left his home to join the movement without informing his family and was part of a group of Satyagarhis led by Sahodrabai Rai.
• However, upon entering Patradevi village in Goa, Portuguese forces opened fire, and Isru was fatally shot in the chest at the age of 25.

What was the Goa Liberation Movement:

• Goa became a Portuguese colony in 1510 when Admiral Afonso de Albuquerque defeated the forces of Bijapur’s sultan, Yusuf Adil Shah.
• Goa started to witness an upsurge of nationalist sentiment against colonial rule in the early 20th Century. Leaders such as Tristão de Bragança Cunha, celebrated as the father of Goan nationalism, founded the Goa National Congress at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in 1928.
• In 1946, the socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia led a historic rally in Goa that gave a call for civil liberties and freedom, and eventual integration with India, which became a watershed moment in Goa’s freedom struggle.

What is Operation Vijay’:

• Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ordered a military intervention for the liberation of Goa after all the diplomatic talks failed with the Portuguese, thereby launching Operation Vijay on 17th December 1961.
• The operation lasted for two days and was done with minimal bloodshed.
• The Portuguese Governor General Vassalo da Silva was coerced to give up control of Goa with which Goa finally became independent and a part of India.
• Major-General K. P. Candeth was appointed as the military governor of Goa and kept directly under the administration of the President of India.

Some more facts:

• There was a referendum held in 1967 in Goa to let people of Goa choose between continuing as a UT or to merge with Maharashtra.
• This referendum, which is the only referendum to have been conducted in independent India, is famously known as Goa Opinion Poll. People of Goa chose to continue as a UT.