Daily Prelims Notes 20 January 2023

January 20, 2023
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

20 January 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Nature Based Solution

Subject: Environment

Section: Conservation

Context:

Nature-based solutions (NbS), a hotly debated concept, gained significant political traction throughout 2022, even as challenges and concerns over the failure to implement biodiversity and human rights safeguards in current and future NbS projects have increased among Indigenous peoples and NGOs.

About Nature based solutions:

In March 2022, the N. Environment Assembly (UNEA) passed a resolution adopting a multilaterally agreed-upon definition for NbS, describing it clearly as:

“Actions to protect, conserve, restore, sustainably use and manage natural or modified terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, which address social, economic and environmental challenges effectively and adaptively, while simultaneously providing human well-being, ecosystem services and resilience and biodiversity benefits”.

For instance, the restoration and/or protection of mangroves along coastlines utilizes a Nature-based solution to accomplish several goals. Mangroves moderate the impact of waves and wind on coastal settlements or cities and sequester CO2. They also provide nursery zones for marine life that can be the basis for sustaining fisheries on which local populations may depend.
Recent global policy instruments have recognised NbS, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in December 2022.

Features of Nature-based Solutions:

Embrace nature conservation norms (and principles);
Can be implemented alone or in an integrated manner with other solutions to societal challenges (e.g. technological and engineering solutions);
Are determined by site-specific natural and cultural contexts that include traditional, local and scientific knowledge;
Produce societal benefits in a fair and equitable way, in a manner that promotes transparency and broad participation;
Maintain biological and cultural diversity and the ability of ecosystems to evolve over time;
Are applied at a landscape scale;
Recognise and address the trade-offs between the production of a few immediate economic benefits for development, and future options for the production of the full range of ecosystems services; and
Are an integral part of the overall design of policies, and measures or actions, to address a specific challenge.

Category of NbS Approaches	Examples
Ecosystem restoration approaches	· Ecological restoration · Ecological Engineering · Forest landscape restoration
Issue-specific ecosystem-related approaches	· Ecosystem-based adaptation · Ecosystem-based mitigation · Climate adaptation services · Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction
Infrastructure-related approaches	· Natural infrastructure · Green infrastructure
Ecosystem-based management approaches	· Integrated coastal zone management · Integrated water resources management
Ecosystem protection approaches	· Area-based conservation approaches, including protected area management

International Support for NBS:

NbS rose rapidly to prominence in the past year, it was included within the final cover decision of the COP27 U.N. climate summit held last November in Egypt
And figured notably in two targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at the COP15 U.N. biodiversity conference in December, held in Canada.
UNEA resolution also called on the N. Environmental Programme (UNEP) to support the implementation of nature-based solutions that safeguard the rights of communities and Indigenous peoples.

Concerns over NBS:

The potential for misuse and abuse of nature-based solutions as a greenwashing mechanism by businesses to offset their ongoing carbon emissions, but without curbing them, and as a market mechanism to commodify and put a price tag on nature.
Countries such as Bolivia and India fear that its inclusion in the CBD text, and its scaling up as a major policy, could pave the way for land grabs and the commodification of nature.
It is possible to misrepresent actions that may not be biodiversity friendly as complying with nature-based solutions. For example, promoting monocropping or single species plantation forestry can be marked as afforestation but may create more ecological and socio-cultural harm.

About Green-washing Mechanism: https://optimizeias.com/what-is-greenwashing/

2. Hydrogen as fuel

Subject: Science and technology

About Hydrogen:

Hydrogen is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, flammable gaseous
Hydrogen is the lightest and the most abundant element in the universe and is what the stars are mostly made of. Hydrogen is so light that about 3 cubic meters of it is leaking out of the earth’s atmosphere every second.
It has one proton, one electron and no neutron. However, very few hydrogen atoms do have one neutron – such hydrogen is called Deuterium. Even fewer have two neutrons and those are called Tritium.
When two atoms of Deuterium join with an atom of oxygen, ‘heavy water’ is obtained, used in nuclear reactors as a coolant. Similarly, Tritium water too, a poison. An extremely rare hydrogen atom could have even more neutrons.
It also carries a lot of energy. One kilogram of hydrogen packs 140 mega joules (MJ) of energy, while petrol and diesel carry close to 46 MJ. So, it’s a pretty good automobile fuel.

Type of Hydrogen Fuel:

Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of resources, such as natural gas, nuclear power, biogas and renewable power like solar and wind. Based on the source type of hydrogen varies.
Grey Hydrogen:

Constitutes India’s bulk Production.

Extracted from hydrocarbons (fossil fuels, natural gas).

By product: CO2

Blue Hydrogen:

Sourced from fossil fuels.

By product: CO, CO2

By products are Captured and Stored, so better than grey hydrogen.

Green Hydrogen:

If hydrogen is produced through processes that do not emit green house gases, such hydrogen is called ‘green hydrogen’.

Generated from renewable energy (like Solar, Wind).

Green methods of producing hydrogen:

Biomass route: Green hydrogen can be produced by gasification of biomass.

Electrolysis:Splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen is the most trusted route of producing green hydrogen. It involves supplying electrons (through electricity) to disturb the tight bond between two hydrogen and one oxygen atom, so that the hydrogen separates itself out.

Established electrolysis technologies in the market – ‘alkaline electrolysers’, ‘proton exchange membrane’ (PEM) technology, ‘solid oxide electrolysers’ and ‘anion exchange membrane’ (AEM) electrolysers which is emerging technologies

3. NHPC submits pre-feasibility report on Upper Siang hydroelectric project, as counter to China’s dam on Brahmaputra

Subject :Geography

Section :Mapping

Context:

National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has submitted a pre-feasibility report to the Central Electricity Authority of India for the ‘Upper Siang Multipurpose Storage’, India’s largest hydel power project to date to come up in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Upper Siang Multipurpose Storage:

Location: Arunachal Pradesh, across the river Siang (in Arunchal Pradesh, Brahmaputra river is called as Siang river.)
Main purpose:
- To counter China’s water diversion scheme to the YarlungTsangpo river in China – which flows into Arunachal as the Siang and then as the Brahmaputra in Assam.
- Production of hydel power.
The Upper Siang reservoir will store 9 billion cubic meters of water.

Need for Upper Siang hydroelectric project:

China is building its biggest (60GW) dam in Medong (a region near Arunachal Pradesh), to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
Some other projects developed by China near Arunachal Pradesh are:
- 360 MW dam at Gyatso
- 560 MW dam at Jiexu.
- Three more dams – 640 MW at Dagu, 710 MW dam at Bayu and 800 MW dam at Zhongyu – are in advanced stages of planning.
This is a significant concern for India, as the water diversion will lead to a thinning of the river water during our peak season. As well as a possible release of water will lead to significant flooding.
As a solution, this plant will act as a reservoir. In the event of a diversion of water by China, the massive reservoir will be able to feed Arunachal Pradesh and its irrigation requirements.

About Siang/Brahmaputra river:

The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river which flows through Tibet, northeast India, and Bangladesh.
It is also known as the YarlungTsangpo in Tibetan, the Siang/Dihang River in Arunachali,Luit in Assamese, and Jamuna River in Bangla.
It is the 9th largest river in the world by discharge, and the 15th longest.
With its origin in the Manasarovar Lake region, near Mount Kailash, on the northern side of the Himalayas in Burang County of Tibet where it is known as the YarlungTsangpo River, It flows along southern Tibet to break through the Himalayas in great gorges (including the YarlungTsangpo Grand Canyon) and into Arunachal Pradesh.
It flows southwest through the Assam Valley as the Brahmaputra and south through Bangladesh as the Jamuna (not to be confused with the Yamuna of India).
In the vast Ganges Delta, it merges with the Ganges, popularly known as the Padma in Bangladesh, and becomes the Meghna and ultimately empties into the Bay of Bengal.

4. Rising demand for kewda oil a blessing for 200,000 people in Odisha’s Ganjam

Kewda oil:

Ganjam kewda (Pandanus fascicularis) oil is steam-distilled from the flower of the aromatic screw pine plant.
It is registered under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 by the Government of India.
The flower is harvested from around 5,000 hectares in the district.
Its oil is produced in Ganjam, Chatrapur, Chikiti and Rangeilunda blocks of the district.
Used as an aromatic in the food industry, flavoured tobacco and pharmaceutical companies among others.
An oil maker needs 30,000 flowers to extract a litre of kewda oil.

5. Recycled waste glass can help solve sand shortages

Context:

Waste glass — a by product of natural sand — can be an option to natural sand. Crushed waste glass may show geotechnical behaviour (properties) comparable to the sand.

Alternative to sand:

Using crushed waste glass as an alternative to traditional sand could offer a double-duty benefit by addressing the geo-environmental challenges of natural sand depletion and disposal of ever-increasing waste glass.
The geotechnical behaviour of crushed waste glass is similar, or sometimes even superior, to traditional construction sands
Benefits include: Smart geo-material, recycling of waster glass, reducing the burden on landfills, conserving natural resources and transitioning towards circular economy.

Exploitation of natural resources:

Natural aggregates, such as manufactured sand and gravel, has a wide range of applications.
At present, the construction industry is the world’s biggest consumer of natural resources.
The consumption of aggregates is expected to increase at a rate of 5 per cent per annum in India.
Major sources of natural construction aggregates include crushed stone, gravel and sand.
There are ecological concerns as well:
- The extraction and logistics of aggregates has a carbon footprint, which is harmful to the ecosystem.
- Extraction of natural sand can endanger aquatic organisms, destroy marine habitat and environment.

6. Fourth industrial revolution: ‘4IR critical for India’

Fourth Industrial Revolution:

The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in India (C4IR) was established in October 2018 to focus on the role of emerging technologies across different sectors and to plug the challenges that will emanate as we go through this journey.
Three pillars that the centre work on is:

The first is the 4IR technologies such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things, blockchain and others.
The second focus is on public-private cooperation. India recently announced drone services.
The third pillar is a multi-stakeholder partnership with the government, industries, start-ups, civil society, and consumers, for inclusiveness.

About the Inustrial revolutions:

The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production.
The Second used electric power to create mass production.
The Third used electronics and information technology to automate production.
Now a Fourth Industrial Revolution is building on the Third, the digital revolution that has been occurring since the middle of the last century.

It is characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres. Example: artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, genetic engineering, quantum computing, and other technologies.

4IR in India:

In India, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 is based on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. The fourth revolution is expected to affect the Indian sectors inside out from villages to big industries.

It will help provide better and affordable health care through AI-driven diagnostics, personalized treatment, etc.
It can enhance the farmer’s income by introducing technologies for crop improvement, better yield, real-time advisory, advanced detection of pest attacks, and prediction of crop prices to inform sowing practices.
It will help strengthen infrastructure and improve connectivity from villages to cities- bridging the urban divide.
The ease of living and ease of doing business will improve by the use of smart technologies.
The smart city mission, drone policies, Gati Shakti scheme, etc, are the evidence of the revolution influencing the policy-making in the country.

Challenges include:

New form of inequality i.e. Digital inequality.
Rising unemployment
Digital divide and digital inaccessability
Breach of personal information and threat to privacy
Policymaking is a challange
Security threat

7. Women officers in command soon

Subject: Defence

Section :Msc

Concept:

The Indian Army has initiated the process for the selection of women officers for command postings such as the rank of Colonel, which hitherto have been the domain of male officers.
The vacancies for the Special No. 3 Selection Board were announced by the government to promote women officers in order to ensure gender parity in the Army.
244 women officers are being considered for promotion from the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel to Colonel against 108 vacancies.
This move is in line with the judgment by the Supreme Court which upheld an earlier judgement that granted permanent commission and command postings to women officers in all arms and services other than combat.
Following this judgment by the Supreme Court, theArmy has granted Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers on a par with the male officers.
Fuhrer, five women officers have cleared the Defence Services Staff Course (DSSC) and the Defence Services Technical Staff Course (DSTSC) Exam recently for the first time ever.
These five officers will undergo a one-year course and will be given adequate weightage while being considered for command roles.

Permanent Commission for Women

Under the Short Service Commission (SSC) scheme, women were commissioned into the Army for a period of 10 years, extendable up to 14 years.
Women were, however, restricted to roles in specified streams such as Army Education Corps, Corps of Signals, Intelligence Corps, and Corps of Engineers. These specified streams excluded combat arms such as infantry and armoured corps.
While male SSC officers could opt for permanent commission at the end of 10 years of service, this option was not available to women officers.
Women officers, were, thus, kept out of any command appointment, and could not qualify for government pension, which starts only after 20 years of service as an officer.
However, in the February 2019 policy statement, the Government endorsed the permanent commission for SSC women officers in 10 streams of the ‘Combat Support Arms’ and ‘Services’ sections.
A Permanent Commission means a career in the Army till you retire.
But it was said that the women officers would not be offered any command appointments, and would serve only in staff posts.

8. Court can’t reduce minimum sentence given in Pocso Act

Subject : Governance

Section : Vulnerable population

Concept :

The courts have no power to reduce the minimum sentence prescribed in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on convicting the accused for committing sexual assault on children, the High Court of Karnataka has said while enhancing lesser sentence imposed on a convict by a special court.
It is settled principle of law and requires no emphasis that when a statute prescribes minimum sentence, the trial judge or the appellate judge has no discretion whatsoever to reduce the minimum sentence prescribed by the statute.

Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development led the introduction of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in 2012 in consequence to India’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992.
It was enacted to protect the children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography with due regard for safeguarding the interest and well-being of children.
It defines a child as any person below eighteen years of age and regards the best interests and welfare of the child as a matter of paramount importance at every stage, to ensure the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child.
It defines different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative assault, as well as sexual harassment and pornography.
It deems a sexual assault to be “aggravated” under certain circumstances, such as when the abused child is mentally ill or when the abuse is committed by a person in a position of trust or authority like a family member, police officer, teacher, or doctor.
It also casts the police in the role of child protectors during the investigative process.
The Act stipulates that a case of child sexual abuse must be disposed of within one year from the date the offence is reported.
It was amended in August 2019 to provide more stringent punishment, including the death penalty, for sexual crimes against children.

9. National Export Co-operative Society to trade to trade nano fertilizers and dairy products

Subject : Polity

Section: National body

Concept :

Nano fertilizers produced by IFFCO and dairy products from Amul will be among the first few products that are expected to be exported by the first-ever National Export Co-operative Society.

National Export Co-operative Society

The Union Cabinet, has approved setting up and promoting a National Level multistate cooperative export society under the Multi State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002.
The proposed society will provide thrust to exports from cooperative sector by acting as an umbrella organisation for carrying out and promoting exports.
This will help unlocking export potential of Indian cooperatives in global markets.
Further, it will have a paid-up capital of about Rs 2,000 crores.
This Cooperative Society will be different from the Export Promotion Council under the Ministry of Commerce that plays a role of a facilitator and helps provide information about the potential markets.
Promoters of the Society include leading cooperatives such as the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), Gujrat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) (famously known as Amul) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
All the above cooperatives will contribute 100 crores each.
The Union Cabinet has announced the establishment of Multi State Seed Society, Multi State Organic Society and Multi State Export Society.
Cooperatives at present have a presence in most of the sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, livestock, fertilizers, handicrafts, etc.
The contribution of cooperatives is significant in these various sectors. Cooperative contribute:
- 28.80% in fertilizer production
- 35% in fertilizer distribution
- 30.60% in sugar production
- 17.50% in the procurement of a marketable surplus of milk
Currently, in the country, there are 8.54 lakh registered cooperatives with over 29 crore members.

10. ‘UAE and India discuss rupee non-oil trade’

Subject : International Relations

Section : Relations with other nations

Concept :

The United Arab Emirates and India have held discussions to trade non-oil commodities in Indian rupees.
The A.E. had signed a broad ranging Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India, and India along with China, is among the biggest trade partners for Gulf Arab oil and gas producers but most of the currencies of Gulf countries are pegged to the U.S. dollar.
A significant proportion of Gulf trade is conducted in U.S. dollars but countries like India and China are seeking to trade in local currencies for various reasons such as lowering transaction costs.

India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

The UAE’s trade deal with India, against the backdrop of the World Economic Forum in Davos, aims to increase bilateral non-oil trade to $100 billion in the next five years.
India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed on 18th February 2022, during the India-UAE Virtual Summit.
The Agreement entered into force on 1st May 2022.
CEPA provides for an institutional mechanism to encourage and improve trade between the two countries.
As per the CEPA signed between India and the UAE:
90% of India’s exports will have duty-free access to the Emirates.
It covers goods, services and digital trade.

What is CEPA?

It is a kind of free trade pact which covers negotiation on the trade in services and investment, and other areas of economic partnership.
It may even consider negotiation on areas such as trade facilitation and customs cooperation, competition, and Intellectual Property Rights.
Partnership agreements or cooperation agreements are more comprehensive than Free Trade Agreements.
CEPA also looks into the regulatory aspect of trade and encompasses an agreement covering the regulatory issues.

11. Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)

Subject: Government Schemes

Concept:

The citizens’ committee to save Chamundi Hills and its environment has resolved to press for clearance from the heritage committee before the implementation of development works at the hill top under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD).
Infrastructure works worth ₹49.5 crore will be taken up ostensibly for providing amenities to the tourists under the PRASHAD Scheme.
Conservationists said that given the heritage and spiritual importance of Chamundi Hills, the subject should be placed before the district heritage conservation committee.
The Chamundi Hills are located 13 km east of Mysore, Karnataka, India. The name comes from the Chamundeshwari Temple at the peak.
The average elevation is 1,060 metres.

PRASHAD Scheme

The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive’ (PRASAD) was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15 with the objective of holistic development of identified pilgrimage destinations.
The name of the scheme was changed from PRASAD to “National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)” in October 2017.
After the discontinuation of the HRIDAY scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the development of Heritage destinations was included in the PRASAD Scheme, changing it to PRASHAD.
Under the PRASHAD Scheme, several religious cities/sites in have been identified for development such as Amaravati and Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), Kamakhya (Assam), Parasuram Kund (Lohit District, Arunachal Pradesh), Patna and Gaya (Bihar),

Implementation Agency:

The projects identified under this scheme shall be implemented through the identified agencies by the respective State/ Union Territory Government.

Funding Mechanism:

The Central Government provides 100% funding for the project components undertaken for public funding.
This scheme seeks to leverage the voluntary funding available for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for improved sustainability of the projects under this scheme.

12. Major blow to Pakistan as World Bank delays loans

Subject: International Relations

Section : International bodies

Concept :

In a major blow to cash-strapped Pakistan, the World Bank has delayed the approval of two loans worth $1.1 billion until the next fiscal year, according to a media report.
The Washington-based lender has also opposed slapping a flood levy on imports, creating a new hole in an already ambitious $32 billion annual financing plan.
The Bank’s decision to withhold approval of the second Resilient Institutions for Sustainable Economy (RISE-II) loan worth $450 million and the second Programme for Affordable Energy (PACE-II) worth $600 million will be a major jolt for the government.
RISE-II loan:The conditions for the RISE-II loan pertain to the country’s fiscal and macroeconomic framework, involving the provinces too.
PACE-II loan : The PACE-II loan aims to reduce circular debt flow through reducing power generation costs, decarbonising the energy mix, improving efficiency in distribution, and retargeting electricity subsidies.

The World Bank Group is an international partnership comprising 189 countries and five constituent institutions that works towards eradicating poverty and creating prosperity.

The five development institutions under the World Bank Group are:

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
International Development Association (IDA)
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

The WBG is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The World Bank Group is a specialized agency of the United Nations.

World Bank Group Membership

To join the World Bank Group, a country must first become a member of the IMF.
To become members of the IDA, IFC, and MIGA, the countries must first become members of IBRD.

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

The IBRD calls itself a global development cooperative. It has a membership of 189 countries.
It is the world’s largest development bank.
It provides loans, guarantees, advisory services, and risk management products to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries.
Middle-income countries represent more than 60% of the IBRD’s portfolio.
IBRD finances investments across all sectors and offers technical support and expertise at every stage of a project.
IBRD deals only with sovereign governments and not private players.
It also assists governments in augmenting the investment climate of countries, removing service delivery bottlenecks, and strengthening institutions and policies.
IBRD sources most of its funds from the world’s financial markets.
IBRD and India

India is a founding member of IBRD.

It started lending to India in 1949, the first project being undertaken for the Indian Railways.
Since the 1960s, the IBRD is an important source of long-term funding for India.
India is the largest IBRD client of the World Bank.
India is a blend country, which means it is transitioning from a lower-middle-income to a middle-income country.

India is eligible for loans from both the IBRD and the IDA.

International Development Association (IDA)

The main objective of the IDA is to provide grants and concessional loans to the world’s poorest countries.

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

The IFC is a sister organization of the World Bank (IDA + IBRD). It is the largest international development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries.
It functions as the private sector arm of the WBG.
It works for economic development by investing in for-profit and commercial projects for poverty reduction and augmenting development.
It also engages in mobilizing third-party resources for projects.
The IFC works with the private sector to boost entrepreneurship and create sustainable businesses.
The IFC provides investment, advice, and asset management offerings.
It lends to businesses and private sector projects.

IFC and India

India is a founding member of the IFC.
Over the past few years, IFC has augmented its portfolio in India, improving profitability and investing in high impact projects.
It is expanding its activities in the LIS (the Low Income States and the NE States) in India.
Improving the investment climate for private sector development and inclusive growth.
Financial inclusion by focusing on microfinance institutions.
Focus on renewable energy and cleaner production methods.
Developing PPP transactions with a focus on social services (health and education) and climate change impact projects.

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

MIGA’s chief goal is to enhance cross-border investment in developing countries by giving guarantees (political risk insurance and credit enhancement) to lenders and investors.
The agency’s guarantees to protect investments against non-commercial risks.
It emphasizes on Fragile and Conflict-affected States.
Political risk insurance products:
Coverage against losses due to war, terrorism, and civil disturbance.
Coverage against expropriation by governments.
Coverage against breach of contract.
Protection against losses arising from an inability to legally convert local currency into hard currency.
Credit enhancement – protection when governments fail to honor financial obligations.
India became a member of the MIGA in 1994.

International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

ICSID engages in international investment dispute settlement.
It settles disputes between investors and governments.
It also settles state-state disputes under investment treaties and free trade agreements and acts as an administrative registry.
The Centre provides for settlement of disputes by arbitration, conciliation, or fact-finding.
It also disseminates information on international law on foreign investment.

India is not a member of the ICSID because it claims that the ICSID’s functioning and structure are biased towards the developed countries.

India set up the BRICS Arbitration Centre (BRICS Centre) to address and reinforce international arbitrations with foreign investors. Although this is limited to the BRICS countries, it will be available for all developing countries in the future

13. Govt increases fee for facilitators to help start-ups apply for IP

Subject : Economy

Section : Policy

Concept :

The government has increased the fee payable to empanelled facilitators who help start-ups apply for patents, trademarks or designs.
The facilitator shall not charge anything from the start-up or the entrepreneur, and this fee shall be paid directly to the facilitator by the Centre through the office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM).
The financial assistance of IP facilitators or IP Mitra remunerations have increased 4X times according to CGPDTM.

IP Mitra

It is a concept introduced by Office of CGPDTM for Startups in patents, trademarks, and designs under the Scheme for Facilitating Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) wherein IP Mitra can help the intended entrepreneurs in a variety of ways.
They can provide assistance in filing, support & facilitate in processing of IP applications along with expert advice on various legal aspects of Intellectual Property.
IP Mitra can help to broaden one’s IP portfolio and enable stakeholders for new ventures in IP world through their experiences and skills.
SIPP scheme has been extended for a further period of three years to increase its effectiveness in the light of the knowledge gathered from its initial deployment.
The structure of reimbursement to IP Mitra for facilitation of startups has also been revised in extended SIPP scheme.

Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP)

To protect and promote Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of Startups and to encourage innovation and creativity among them, Government of India had launched a Scheme for facilitating Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) in 2016.
The scheme facilitated startups in filing and processing of their patent, design or trademark application through the assistance of IP Facilitators, whose fee was borne by the Office of the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India.
After its successful implementation resulting in a significant increase in IP fillings by Startups the Scheme was extended for a period of three years till 31st March 2023.

14. U.S. hits debt ceiling as partisan standoff sparks economic worries

Subject : Economy

Section :External Sector

Concept :

The U.S. government hit its $31.4 trillion borrowing limit on Thursday, amid a standoff between the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and President Joe Biden’s Democrats on lifting the ceiling, which could lead to a fiscal crisis in a few months.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen informed congressional leaders including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy that her department had begun using extraordinary cash management measures that could stave off default until June 5.
The prospect for brinkmanship has raised concerns in Washington and on Wall Street about a bruising fight over the debt ceiling this year that could be at least as disruptive as the protracted battle of 2011, which prompted a downgrade of the U.S. credit rating and years of forced domestic and military spending cuts.

What is Debt ceiling? Who sets this figure?

Congress adopted a comprehensive debt ceiling, the statutory maximum of debt the government can issue, in 1939, intending to limit its growth.
United States will not be able to borrow any more money if it cross the debt ceiling and would, in theory, be forced to slash spending to make ends meet.
The debt limit does not control or limit the ability of the federal government to run deficits or incur obligations. Rather, it is a limit on the ability to pay obligations already incurred.
It does not prohibit Congress from creating further obligations upon the United States.
Possible, but desperate, remedies would include halting pay to the military, retirement health benefits, social security, and failing to pay government debts.
The US will not default on its own debt immediately.
The Treasury has various extraordinary measures in its armory, including halting the issuance of securities to state and local governments, which could buy about two months of leeway.

15. ARI team recently discovered a rare low-altitude basalt plateau

Subject :Geography

Section :Geomorphology

Context: A rare low-altitude basalt plateau housing 76 species of plants and shrubs from 24 different families discovered in Thane region in the Western Ghats, one of the four global biodiversity hotspots in India, can prove to be a repository of information for species interactions.

Concept:

The Western Ghats is one of four global biodiversity hotspots in India, and Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune has been studying its biodiversity, particularly its rock outcrops, for a decade.
Plateaus are dominant landscapes in the Western Ghats, significant because of the predominance of endemic species.
They are classified as a type of rock outcrop and provide a unique and challenging environment for species to adapt to.
These outcrops have seasonal water availability, limited soil and nutrients, making them ideal laboratories to study the effects of climate change on species survival.
Plateaus are thus a valuable source of insight into how species can survive in extreme conditions.
The ARI team recently discovered a rare low-altitude basalt plateau in Manjare village, Thane district. This is the fourth type of plateau to be identified in the region; the previous three are laterites at high and low altitudes and basalt at high altitudes.
Surveying the plateau, the team documented 76 species of plants and shrubs from 24 different families.
The plateau shares the vegetation with the three other rock outcrops, simultaneously holding a few unique species. This gives a unique model system to study the species interactions in varying environmental conditions.
It can help study effects of climate change on species survival and increase awareness of the conservation needs of rock outcrops and their immense biodiversity value in the global context.

16. A new study that traced the dynamics of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) over the 10000 years

Subject :Geography

Section : Atmosphere

Context: Regions surrounding northern Bay of Bengal (BoB) received higher precipitation than the other parts of India for the last 10200 years, says a new study that traced the dynamics of Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) over the 10000 years

Concept:

The Bengal Basin or the ‘Bengal region’ being located at the trajectory of the Bay of Bengal (BoB) branch of the ISM is very sensitive to changes in the ISM strength.
Even a minor change in ISM strength may have adverse effects on the agrarian-based socioeconomic conditions of the region.
However, no systematic long-term record (beyond the range of instrumental period) for the past ISM variability in the region was available.
BSIP, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology (DST), for the first time, reconstructed the history of the ISM variability from this region by using both biotic and abiotic proxies that predates instrumental records (records taken before 19th Century).

The evolution of ISM:

In the hydro-climatic history of the last 10.2 ka (10,200 years) of the Bengal region published in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, a team of scientists show that a heavy ISMR was witnessed during 10.2 – 5.6 ka by this region and the ISMR decreased since 4.3 ka.
The ISM again got strengthened between 3.7 and 2.1 ka following which it switched to a drier mode for some time.
The ISM regained its strength during 0.2–0.1 ka. Of the weakened phases, weakening around 4.3 ka was the most severe one, and had adverse impact of the ecosystem.

The inferences from the study

The period witnessed the development and fall of numerous ancient civilizations around the world, many of which were associated with climate instability.
They explored the drivers influencing the variability of the monsoon in the Indian part of the Bengal Basin and found that while the millennial-scale variations in the ISM rainfall may largely be attributed to changes in solar insolation and dynamics of Inter tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ— area where the northeast and the southeast trade winds converge), the centennial scale variations may be collectively triggered by phenomena like North Atlantic Oscillation, El Nino Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole.
The scientists combined both biotic (phytoliths, NPPs and stable carbon isotopes) and abiotic (environmental magnetic parameters, and grain size data) proxy data to understand the ecosystem response to past hydroclimatic changes. They inferred that changes in Lake Ecosystem were strongly influenced by the ISM rainfall.

17. Purana Qila

Subject: Art and Culture

Section: Architecture

Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is all set to begin excavation at Delhi’s Purana Qila again. The excavation will be led by Shri Vasant Swarnkar and would be the third season of excavation at Purana Qila after excavations in the year 2013-14 & 2017-18.

Concept:

The site is identified as ancient settlement of Indraprastha, a continuous habitation of 2500 years at Purana Qila was established in earlier excavations.
The findings and artefacts unearthed in earlier excavations comprises painted grey ware, belonging to 900BC, an earthen pottery sequence from Maurya to Shunga, Kushana, Gupta, Rajput, Sultanates and Mughal periods.
Excavated Artefacts such as sickles, parers, terracotta toys, kiln- burnt bricks , beads , terracotta figurines, seal and dealings etc. excavated earlier are now displayed at the Archaeological Museum inside the fort complex.
Purana Qilla, the 16th-century fort, was built by Sher Shah Suri and second Mughal emperor Humayun. The fort is standing on a site with thousands of years of history.
Padma Vibhushana Prof. BB Lal also carried out excavation works inside the fort and its premises in the year 1954 and 1969 -73.
PuranaQila is built on the banks of river Yamuna and is the oldest fort of Delhi.
It has been said that the fort was previously built by the Pandavas for their kingdom Indraprastha as some grey ware of that period was found during excavation.

Purana Qila under Mughals

PuranaQila was renovated by Humayun in 1533 and it took around five years to complete.
The fort was built inside Din Panahwhich was a small city in Delhi. Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun in 1540 and captured the fort.
Sher Shah Suri ruled for five years and in his reign he constructed many structures inside the fort and named the fort as Shergarh.
After winning again, the renovation of the fort continued by Humayun.
Shah Jahan wanted to shift his capital from the old fort so he constructed Lal Qila or Red Fort.
New Delhi became the capital of British India in 1920 and Edwin Lutyens linked Rajpath with PuranaQila.

Gateways of the fort

The walls of the fort are 18m high and the circumference of the fort is 1.5km. There are three gates in the fort which are Bara Darwaza, HumayunDarwaza, TalaqiDarwaza
The Bara Darwaza is still in use and it faces west. HumayunDarwaza was named so because Humayun’s tomb is visible from here.
TalaqiDarwaza or forbidden gate is the third gate of the fort. Each of the gates has two storeys and are built with sandstone. Each gate also has two bastion towers made up of marble.
Qila-i-KuhnaMosque: Sher Shah Suri built this mosque in 1541. Five doorways are there having pointed arch in each. In this mosque the king and his courtiers used to offer prayers.
Sher Mandal: The construction of Sher Mandal was started by Babur and completed by Humayun. The building is made up of red sandstone and is octagonal in shape. Babur used the building as an observatory and library.

18. Sagar Parikram

Subject : Government Schemes

Concept:

It is a navigation journey to be conducted in all coastal states/UTs through a pre-decided sea route to demonstrate solidarity with all fisherfolk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders.
It is envisioned as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava’ saluting our great freedom fighters, sailors and fishers.
It will also conduct interaction programmes with fishermen, fisher communities and stakeholders in these locations and districts in order to know the problems of Coastal Fisher folk.

Aims :

facilitate interaction with fishermen, coastal communities and stakeholders so as to disseminate information of various fisheries related schemes and programs being implemented by the Government,
Demonstrating solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders as a spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat
Promote responsible fisheries with focus on the sustainable balance between the utilization of marine fisheries resources for food security of nation and livelihoods of coastal fisher communities, and
Protection of marine ecosystems. ‘Sagar Parikrama’ program envisages to cover the maritime States/UTs in a phased manner.

19. Artforms

Subject: Art and Culture

Context: As part of the Republic Day Celebrations 2023 and to mark the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (celebrated as Parakram Diwas), a Military Tattoo & Tribal Dance Festival ‘Aadi Shaurya – Parv Parakram Ka’ will be held at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium

Concept:

Khukuri Naach is performed by Gurkhas. Since arms are associated with men, only they performed Khukuri Dance. A group of men gathers to dance with a Khukuri on the subtle beats of various instruments. Khukuri dance is performed as a tribute to the brave soldiers who put their life at stake for our sound sleep. It is a tribute to their courage to stand on the border and protect us from danger.
Gatka literally is used as a term for the sticks of woods used as dummies for swords during practices. Practiced much by the people in and around Punjab, Gatka is an art that is continuing even before the area of Punjab.
Mallakhamba or mallakhamb is a traditional sport, originating from the Indian subcontinent, in which a gymnast performs aerial yoga or gymnastic postures and wrestling grips in concert with a vertical stationary or hanging wooden pole, cane, or rope.The pole is usually made from sheesham (Indian rosewood) polished with castor oil. the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh declared Mallakhamba the state sport.
Kalaripayattu(also known simply as Kalari) is an Indian martial art that originated in modern-day Kerala, a state on the southwestern coast of India. Kalaripayattu is known for its long-standing history within Indian martial arts, and is one of the oldest surviving martial arts in India
Thang Ta “The Art of the Sword and Spear” is the traditional martial art of Manipur in Northeast India. It integrates various external weapons – the sword, spear, dagger, etc. – with the internal practice of physical control through soft movements coordinated with the rhythms of breathing. It is part of the great heroic tradition of Manipur. Its origin lies in the timeless creation myths where, according to local legend, all movements of the Manipuris originated from Thang Ta. The proper name for Thang-Ta is HUYEN LALLONG (“method of safe-guarding”).

20. First evidence of Solitary waves or distinct electric field fluctuations in the Martian magnetosphere

Subject: Science and Technology

Section: Space technology

Context: Scientists have reported the first evidence of the presence of solitary waves or distinct electric field fluctuations in the Martian magnetosphere. The study of these waves is crucial as they directly control particle energization, plasma loss, transport, etc., through wave-particle interactions.

Concept:

Our Earth is a giant magnet, and its magnetic field protects us from high-speed charged particles that are continuously emitted from the Sun in the form of solar wind.
Unlike Earth, the planet Mars do not have any intrinsic magnetic field.
This allows the high-speed solar wind to interact directly with the Mars atmosphere, like an obstacle in flow. It has been suggested that even in a weak and thin magnetosphere as that of the Mars, one can observe frequent occurrences of solitary waves.
For the first time, a research team from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has identified and reported the solitary waves in the Martian magnetosphere with the help of high-resolution electric field data recorded by Langmuir Probe and Waves instrument on the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft of NASA.
The magnetosphere is weak but highly dynamic and formed due to the direct interaction of solar winds with the Martian atmosphere.
Solitary waves are the distinct electric field fluctuations (bipolar or monopolar) that follow constant amplitude-phase relations.
Their shape and size are less affected during their propagation. The magnitude and duration of these pulses are found to be 1-25 milivolt/meter and 0.2–1.7 milliseconds, respectively. These pulses are dominantly seen in the dawn and afternoon-dusk sectors at an altitude of 1000–3500 km around the Mars.
The dominant occurrence of solitary waves in the dawn and dusk sector is still a mystery and needs further investigation. Through simulations, it is found that the spatial extent of these structures is very small (30-330 meters).
As these waves are known to be responsible for the plasma energization and its transport in Earth’s magnetosphere, the team is further exploring their role in the particle dynamics in the Martian magnetosphere and whether such waves play any role in the loss of atmospheric ions on the Mars.