Daily Prelims Notes 27 October 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

27 October 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Why Bhutan’s Sakteng wildlife sanctuary is disputed by China
2. ‘Super rich’ incomes’ share ebbing amid middle-class mobility: CBDT
3. What does the Supreme Court’s abortion verdict mean for reproductive justice in India?
4. Unmasking India’s osteoporosis care crisis
5. 90% of paint samples tested contain lead above permissible limits in India: Study
6. Climate crisis is already affecting the Brazilian Amazon
7. Only the Gir indigenous cow breed is being promoted under Rashtriya Gokul Mission; here is why
8. World on brink of 6 interconnected risk tipping points: UN report
9. China­ Bhutan boundary talks
10. Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry(APAAR ID)
11. Qatar hands death penalty to 8 ex navy men
12. SC allows surrogacy, strikes down rule banning use of donor gametes
13. India to produce its own “reference fuels”
14. India’s green hydrogen move may worsen pollution if steps are not in place, says study
15. Row over TDB’s ban on using temple for martial arts training
16. US withdraws proposal on digital trade at the WTO Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce
17. Selling organic produce in India
18. RBI raises data updation bar for banks, credit info firms

1. Why Bhutan’s Sakteng wildlife sanctuary is disputed by China

Subject: Environment

Section: Protected Area

Context:

• China claims for the first time to Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, which spans about 740 sq km (285 sq miles) in eastern Bhutan.

Details:

• Bhutan rejected the claim, pointing out the area had never featured in 24 previous rounds of boundary talks.
• Sakteng national park was never a disputed area and it was always under Bhutanese control. There is no evidence of any affiliation to China.
• The plateau is of strategic importance to Delhi because it overlooks the Siliguri corridor, known as the “chicken’s neck”, a narrow strip of land that connects India’s north-eastern states with the rest of the country.

China-Bhutan Border talks:

• China and Bhutan held their 25th round of boundary talks in Beijing and signed a Cooperation Agreement on the “Responsibilities and Functions of the Joint Technical Team (JTT) on the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Bhutan-China Boundary.”
• This advances their 3-Step Roadmap initiated in 2021 for border resolution, building on the positive momentum since their last talks in 2016.
• Bhutan and China don’t have diplomatic ties, as Bhutan has avoided diplomatic relations with all the United Nations Security Council permanent members.

About the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Itis a wildlife sanctuary in Bhutan, located in Merak and Sakteng Gewogs of Trashigang District and just crossing the border into SamdrupJongkhar District.
• It is one of the country’s protected areas and is listed as a tentative site in Bhutan’s Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion.
• The sanctuary has three ranges: Merak Range, Sakteng Range, and Joenkhar Range.
• Sakteng Range is the largest range, followed by Merak Range (287.352 sq.km) and Joenkhar Range (121.442 sq.km).
• The Sakteng sanctuary borders India’s Arunachal Pradesh.

Source: BBC

2. ‘Super rich’ incomes’ share ebbing amid middle-class mobility: CBDT

Subject: Economy

Section: National Income

Context:

• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) released statements on income tax statistics and income inequality in India.

Details:

• India’s tax base has widened sharply since 2013-14, with individuals moving up the income ladder and the proportion of super-rich taxpayers’ incomes declining.
• As many as 7.41 crore I-T returns have been filed so far this year, which include 53 lakh first-time tax filers.
• The overall number of income tax (I-T) returns filed by individuals has risen from 3.36 crore to 6.37 crore through assessment years 2013-14 to 2021-22.

Migration to higher range:

• There is also an increase in the number of returns filed by individual taxpayers across various ranges of gross total income.
• In the range of gross total income up to ₹5 lakh, the number of returns filed by individual taxpayers has increased from 2.62 crore in AY 2013-14 to 3.47 crore in AY 2021-22, registering an increase of 32%.
  • This range of income includes individuals having income below taxable limit who may not be filing returns.
• For higher income ranges of ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh, and ₹10 lakh to ₹25 lakh, the number of individual returns filed surged 295% and 291% individuals over the same period, respectively.
  • This indicates that individual taxpayers are showing a positive trend of migration to a higher range of gross total income.

Increase in income of individual:

• The average gross total income for individual taxpayers increased from about ₹4.5 lakh to about ₹7 lakh over the nine-year period, representing an increase of 56%.
• The increase in average gross total income for top 1% individual taxpayers is 42% while that for bottom 25% individual taxpayers is 58%.
• The increase in net direct tax collections has increased from ₹6.38 lakh crore in 2013-14 to ₹16.61 lakh crore in 2022-23.

Decreasing income inequality:

• The proportionate contribution of gross total income of top 1% individual taxpayers vis-à-vis all individual taxpayers has decreased from 15.9% to 14.6%, while the share of the bottom 25% taxpayers increased from 8.3% to 8.4% over the same period.
• The proportion of gross total income of the middle 74% group of individual taxpayers increased from 75.8% to 77% in the above period.

CBDT:

• Under the Ministry of Finance
• It is a statutory authority functioning under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963. The officials of the Board in their ex-officio capacity also function as a Division of the Ministry dealing with matters relating to levy and collection of direct taxes.
• The Board was split up into two, namely the Central Board of Direct Taxes and Central Board of Excise and Customs with effect from 1.1.1964.
• It consists of a Chairman and six Members.

Source: TH

3. What does the Supreme Court’s abortion verdict mean for reproductive justice in India?

Subject: Polity

Section: Constitution

In the news:

• A woman — 26 weeks pregnant, married, with two children, and undergoing postpartum psychosis — requested termination because she was “physically, emotionally, mentally, financially and medically unable to carry, deliver or raise a child. But the Supreme Court rejected her plea for abortion saying that the Court’s recognition of a woman’s autonomy cannot eclipse the “rights of the unborn child.”

Abortion law in India:

• India’s Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971 allows abortion up to 24 weeks, post which termination is permitted only if a board of doctors attests that continued pregnancy presents a risk to the woman’s life or if there are foetal abnormalities.
• In ‘X v NCT case 2022’ Supreme Court declared that ‘it is the woman alone who has the right over her body’ and is the ‘ultimate decision-maker’ in deciding if she wants an abortion.
• The court also said that “continuing with an unwanted pregnancy has an adverse impact on the pregnant woman’s mental health and can be a ground for abortion”.
  • The Court eventually decided that the mental health grounds for abortion did not extend beyond 24 weeks of gestation.
• However in this case, there is a conflict between foetal right to life against women’s right to autonomy.

The Union Government argued the foetus is “a viable baby with a reasonable chance of survival”. What is the viability theory?

• When the foetus reaches a point of viability– where it can exist outside the womb of the woman (with medical support)- the right to abortion should be curtailed.
• Viability was most famously endorsed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Roe v Wade in 1973. In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court replaced the viability standard with a different test, and in 2022, the Court rejected the viability standard completely.

India’s stance on viable foetus:

• 1971 law: There is no violation of the right to life in any manner for the abortion.
• 2009: The SC emphasized ‘compelling interest’ to protect the foetus which is a form of ‘potential life.’
• 2016: The Punjab and Haryana High Court claimed that once the pregnancy is viable, the ‘potential child’ becomes a part of the determination.
• 2019: The Calcutta HC said that at an advanced stage of pregnancy, ‘the right to life of the foetus outweighs the mental trauma’ suffered by the mother.

 Rights of a foetus under Indian law:

• It is not clear under the Indian Constitution.
• A 2016 Bombay High Court decision relied on international human rights law to hold that the foetus does not have rights till birth.
• Any form of recognition of the foetus will grievously invade women’s legally recognised rights.

Four details of abortion law in India: https://optimizeias.com/supreme-court-said-that-we-cannot-kill-child-and-need-to-balance-out-right-of-unborn-child/

Source: TH

4. Unmasking India’s osteoporosis care crisis

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Health

Context:

• Only a small percentage of people in India receive care for their osteoporosis – a condition characterized by weakening of bones.

Osteoporosis or weakening of bones:

• Osteoporosis day: 20 October
• Theme: Build better bones
• Osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the quality or structure of bone changes. This can lead to a decrease in bone strength that can increase the risk of broken bones (fractures).
• It causes long-term pain, changes in posture and increases chances of fractures and nerve injury.
• These symptoms negatively impact the quality of life and increase disability and financial burden on the family.
• Data shows that at least 46 million women in India currently live with post-menopausal osteoporosis, which is only one type of osteoporosis.
• Other causes of Osteoporosis:
  • Women who had surgeries to remove their uterus, people who used steroid medication for a long time, and Old age.
• A 2019 study also revealed that India was the highest contributor to osteoporosis fracture-related deaths/disabilities worldwide.
• Endocrinologist: Doctors/practitioners having knowledge about bone conditions.
• Most of the Indian population does not have access to DEXA or the bone mineral density scan – the gold standard test for osteoporosis.
• A study found that in India, there are only 0.26 DEXA machines per million of the population.
• Singh index to diagnose osteoporosis:
  • It is a score that requires only an X-ray of the patient’s pelvis to diagnose osteoporosis.

Source: TH

5. 90% of paint samples tested contain lead above permissible limits in India: Study

Subject: Environment

Section: Pollution

Context:

• 51 paints used to paint houses, which are available in the Indian market, analyzed by two research and advocacy groups Toxics Link and International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), a network of over 600 non-governmental organizations.

Findings of the research:

• According to the ‘Regulation of Lead Contents in Household and Decorative Paints Rules, 2016’, which came into force in 2017, manufacture, trade, import and export of household and decorative paints containing lead or lead compounds in excess of 90 ppm is prohibited in India.
• Over 90% of them contain lead concentrations above the Central government’s permissible limit of 90 parts per million (ppm).
• 76.4% of these paints contained lead more than 111 times the permissible limit.

What is Lead?

• It is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the Earth’s crust.
• Lead in the body is distributed to the brain, liver, kidney and bones. It is stored in the teeth and bones, where it accumulates over time.
• Human exposure is usually assessed through the measurement of lead in blood.
• Lead in bone is released into blood during pregnancy and becomes a source of exposure to the developing foetus.
• There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects.
• Lead exposure is preventable.

Sources of lead contamination:

• Burning materials containing lead, for example during smelting, recycling, stripping leaded paint and using leaded aviation fuel.
• Ingestion of lead-contaminated dust, water (from leaded pipes) and food (from lead-glazed or lead-soldered containers).

Effect of lead concentration:

• The toxic effects of lead on children’s brains are irreversible and lifelong and children aged six years and below are the most vulnerable to lead poisoning.
• Lead can affect different organ systems, including hematological cells, brain, kidney, gastrointestinal tract and liver.
• It gets stored in bone and can be released gradually from there.
• It can also be transferred from a pregnant woman to a foetus.

Poor market surveillance:

• The surveillance is poor and there is an incentive for the manufacturers as pigments used in making paints that contain lead are cheaper compared to pigments without lead.

Global efforts:

• The World Health Organisation (WHO), along with the United Nations Environment Programme, has formed the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint, which has the aim of encouraging all countries to have legally binding laws to control the use of lead in paint.

International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN):

• IPEN is a global network forging a healthier world where people and the environment are no longer harmed by the production, use, and disposal of toxic chemicals.
• Over 600 public interest NGOs in more than 120 countries, largely low- and middle-income nations, comprise IPEN and work to strengthen global and national chemicals and waste policies, contribute to ground-breaking research, and build a global movement for a toxics-free future.
• Objective include:
  • Reducing and eliminating the world’s most hazardous chemicals.
  • Promoting stronger international chemicals standards.
  • Halting the spread of toxic metals.
  • Building a global toxics-free movement.

Source: TH

6. Climate crisis is already affecting the Brazilian Amazon

Subject: Environment

Section: Ecosystem

Context:

• The Amazon rainforest is home to at least 40,000 plant species, 427 mammals, 1,294 birds, 378 reptiles, 427 amphibians and around 3,000 fish. The latest edition of the Living Planet Report reveals an average drop of 69 per cent in the monitored populations of vertebrates — mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish — over the last four decades.

Details:

• Since 1970, the world has lost a third of its remaining wetlands, while freshwater wildlife populations have fallen by an average of 83 per cent.
• In Brazil, the population of pink dolphins in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, in the state of Amazonas, fell by 65 per cent between 1994 and 2016.
• Pink dolphins and Tucuxis from the Lake Tefé region are declining sharply and the cause of death is warming of water.
• Abnormal warming of the Atlantic Ocean coupled with El-Nino, the region is facing a severe drought.
• Water and thermal stress, nutrient depletion and altered population dynamics directly affect the survival of species.
• Savannization: If 20% or 25% of the forest is destroyed, the forest will enter a process of savannization and that would represent the death of the forest.

Amazon river dolphins (or pink dolphins):

• The Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), also known as the boto, bufeo or pink river dolphin, is a species of toothed whale which is native to and is exclusively of South America classified in the family Iniidae.
• Three subspecies are currently recognized: I. g. geoffrensis (Amazon river dolphin), I. g. boliviensis (Bolivian river dolphin) and I. g. humboldtiana (Orinoco river dolphin) while position of Araguaian river dolphin (I. araguaiaensis) within the clade is still unclear.
• The three subspecies are distributed in the Amazon basin, the upper Madeira River in Bolivia, and the Orinoco basin, respectively.
• It is the largest species of river dolphin.
• Like other toothed whales, they have a melon, an organ that is used for bio sonar. 
• They are carnivorous animals.
• IUCN Red list: Endangered

Amazon river dolphin range

Source: DownToEarth

7. Only the Gir indigenous cow breed is being promoted under Rashtriya Gokul Mission; here is why

Subject: Schemes

Context:

• Instead of improving the quality of all the indigenous breeds, as envisioned under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission scheme, it has ended up promoting only one indigenous variety, the Gir cow, across the country.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission:

• Launched in 2014 by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
• It is India’s flagship scheme to improve indigenous cattle breeds.
• Two major components: research and development of high-quality semen to increase the chances of female calf births and the setting up of semen stations to ensure easy access to high-quality semen for livestock rearers across the country.
• Aim: Research on a host of high milk-yielding indigenous bovine varieties and then depending on the geographical location, the high-quality semen will be used to impregnate other indigenous varieties.
• Objectives:

1. To enhance productivity of bovines and increase milk production in a sustainable manner using advanced technologies.
2. To propagate use of high genetic merit bulls for breeding purposes.
3. To enhance Artificial insemination coverage through strengthening breeding network and delivery of Artificial insemination services at farmers doorstep.
4. To promote indigenous cattle & buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner.

• Indigenous Cow varieties: Sahiwal, thar parkar, Red Sindhi, Gir, Badri cows and Hariana etc.
• Impact of the programme: The country witnessed a 70 per cent jump in the population of purebred Gir cows (from 1.38 million to 2.3 million) from 2013 to 2019.

Funding Pattern:

• All the components of Scheme will be implemented on 100% grant-in-aid basis except the components of: i) accelerated breed improvement programme under the component subsidy of Rs 5000 per IVF pregnancy will be made available to participating farmers as GoI share; ii) promoting sex sorted semen under the component subsidy upto 50% of the cost of sex sorted semen will be made available to participating farmers and iii) establishment of breed multiplication farm under the component subsidy upto 50% of the capital cost maximum upto Rs.2.00 crore of the project will be made available to entrepreneur.

Issue arising in the scheme:

• Almost all states are demanding Gir varieties for carrying out artificial insemination.
• Why is there a high demand for Gir cows only?
  • The mission was started in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh where milk production of indigenous bovine varieties impregnated with Gir increased by three to four litres a day. Subsequently, livestock rearers across the country started to demand only Gir.
  • Being a native of the west and central parts of India, Gir has the ability to adapt to the entire central belt and northern and southern stretches. Sahiwal, a native of Northern India or Tharparkar, from the Northwest, does not adapt as well to new environments.
  • Gir has the highest milk production among indigenous varieties at 18-20 litres a day.
• During White Revolution, the country imported exotic breeds like Jersey to crossbreed with Indian varieties. Though the country’s milk production increased, it did not translate into higher income for livestock rearers as the crossbred cows were more prone to diseases and required more care.

Solution:

• Genetically superior cows should be identified and bred from among the indigenous cows.
• Currently, almost 30 percent of all calves in the country are born through artificial insemination. The guidelines of the Mission target increasing it to 70 per cent.

Source: DownToEarth

8. World on brink of 6 interconnected risk tipping points: UN report

Subject: Environment

Section: Climate Change

Context:

• World is coming closer to six interconnected risk tipping points, according to a new report from the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS).

Risk Tipping Point:

• A risk tipping point is the moment at which a given socio-ecological system can no longer buffer risks and provide its expected functions. After this point, the risk of catastrophic impacts to these systems increases substantially.
• The six risk tipping points include extinctions, depleting groundwater, melting mountain glaciers, space debris, unbearable heat and an uninsurable future.

Mass extinction:

• Extinctions have been part of Earth’s natural process, but human activities such as land-use change, overexploitation, climate change, pollution and introduction of invasive species have accelerated extinctions.
• The disappearance of one species can trigger the extinction of other dependent species, leading to a ripple effect on the already fragile ecosystem.
• Gopher tortoise:
  • Facing an extinction risk.
  • These are known to dig burrows that are used by more than 350 other species, including the critically endangered dusky gopher frog. These frogs help control insect populations and prevent pest outbreaks in longleaf pine forest ponds.
  • If the gopher tortoise goes extinct, the dusky gopher frog will likely follow, affecting the entire forest ecosystem.

Depleting groundwater:

• Some 21 of 37 world’s largest aquifers are depleting faster than they can be replenished. Aquifers are essentially a non-renewable resource.
• Most of the groundwater depletion is due to intense irrigation activities.

Melting glaciers:

• The world’s glaciers are melting at double the speed relative to the past two decades
• Glaciers are projected to lose around 50 per cent of it (excluding Greenland and Antarctica) by 2100.

Space debris:

• Out of 34,260 objects orbiting Earth, only around 25 per cent are working satellites, while the rest are junk, such as broken satellites or discarded rocket stages.
• These objects travel over 25,000 kilometres per hour, the smallest debris can cause significant damage, including collisions between functional satellites.

Unbearable heat and Wet bulb temperature:

• It combines temperature and humidity.
• High humidity hinders the evaporation of sweat and worsens the effects of heat, causing organ failure and brain damage.

United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS):

• The United Nations University (UNU) is the academic arm of the United Nations and acts as a global think tank.
• The mission of the Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) is to carry out cutting edge research on risks and adaptation related to environmental hazards and global change. The institute’s research promotes policies and programmes to reduce these risks, while taking into account the interplay between environmental and societal factors.
• Research areas include climate change adaptation incorporating insurance-related approaches, environmentally induced migration and social vulnerability, ecosystem services and environmental deterioration processes, models and tools to analyse vulnerability and risks linked to natural hazards, with a focus on urban space and rural-urban interfaces.

Source: DownToEarth

9. China­ Bhutan boundary talks

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Context: China and Bhutan held their 25th round of boundary talks in Beijing and signed a Cooperation Agreement on the “Responsibilities and Functions of the Joint Technical Team (JTT) on the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Bhutan-China Boundary.”

More about the news:

• China and Bhutan held their 25th round of boundary talks in Beijing and signed a Cooperation Agreement on the “Responsibilities and Functions of the Joint Technical Team (JTT) on the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Bhutan-China Boundary.”
• This advances their 3-Step Roadmap initiated in 2021 for border resolution, building on the positive momentum since their last talks in 2016. 
• The visit of Bhutan’s Foreign Minister to China was unprecedented on several levels as Bhutan and China do not maintain diplomatic relations and thisvisit is the first ever by a Bhutanese Foreign Minister

What is Bhutan-China border dispute:

• China and Bhutan share about 477 kilometers of border.
• The dispute over the boundary can be traced back to 1950 when China occupied Tibet and refused to recognise the dividing line between Tibet and Bhutan.
• Beijing also took over the control of eight Bhutanese enclaves in Tibet during its retaliatory action to the Tibetan uprising in 1959.
• China claims certain territories from Bhutan:
  • In the north – Pasamlung and Jakarlung valleys;
  • In the west – Doklam, Dramana, and Shakhatoe, Yak Chu and Charithang Chu, and Sinchulungpa and Langmarpo valleys.
• These places are pasture-rich and strategically located in the Bhutan-India-China trijunction, lying close to India’s Siliguri Corridor.
• In 2020, China made new claims on Bhutan’s East in the Sakteng sanctuary.
• Surprisingly, there has been no mention of Eastern Bhutan in the previous rounds of boundary negotiations held between the two countries.

What is the 3­Step Roadmap:

• In 2021, an MoU was signed between the Bhutanese Foreign Minister and the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister.
• The MoU aimed to establish a 3-step roadmap for delineating the border between Bhutan and China.
• This is significant because it marks the first attempt to clearly define the territorial boundaries between the two countries.
• The 3-step roadmap involves:
  • First, reaching an agreement on the border through negotiations.
  • Second, conducting site visits on the ground to physically inspect and assess the border areas.
  • Third, formally demarcating the boundary, thus establishing a clear and recognized border between Bhutan and China.

10. Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry(APAAR ID)

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Awareness in IT

Context: Recently, several state governments requested schools to seek parental consent for the creation of a new student identity card.

What is APAAR ID:

• APAAR, which stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry.
• It is envisioned as a special ID system for all students in India, starting from childhood.
• Under the initiative, each student would get a lifelong APAAR ID, making it easy for the learners, schools, and governments to track academic progress from pre-primary education to higher education.
• APAAR would also serve as a gateway to Digilocker

What is the goal behind the APAAR  ID for students:

• The goal behind introducing APAAR is to make education hassle-free and reduce the need for students to carry physical documents.
• This initiative was launched as part of the National Education Policy 2020 by the Education Ministry.
• APAAR also aims to reduce fraud and duplicate educational certificates by providing a single, trusted reference for educational institutions.
• Only first party sources that issue certificates will be allowed to deposit credits into the system, ensuring authenticity.

How will the  APAAR ID work:

• Every individual will have a unique APAAR ID, which will be linked to the Academic Bank Credit (ABC)  which is a digital storehouse that contains information of the credits earned by students throughout their learning journey.
• With the APAAR ID, students would be able to store all their certificates and credits, whether they come from formal education or informal learning.
• When a student completes a course or achieves something, it is digitally certified and securely stored in his/her account by authorised institutions.
• If the student changes schools, whether within the state or to another state, all related data in the ABC gets transferred to the new school just by sharing the APAAR ID.

What do students have to do to get their single ID created:

• To sign up for APAAR, students will have to provide basic information such as name, age, date of birth, gender, and a photograph.
• This information will be verified using their Aadhar number.
• Students will need to sign a consent form, and they can choose to either accept or decline sharing their Aadhar number and demographic information with the Ministry of Education for creating the APAAR ID.
• For minors, parents will have to sign the consent form, allowing the Ministry to use the student’s Aadhar number for authentication with UIDAI.
• Registration for creating APAAR ID is voluntary, not mandatory.

11. Qatar hands death penalty to 8 ex navy men

Subject: IR

Section: places In news

Context: Qatar hands death penalty to 8 former Indian Navy men

More about the news:

• Eight former personnel of the Indian Navy have been sentenced to death by a court in Qatar in an alleged case of espionage.
• The charges against these Indian nationals were not disclosed by Qatari authorities, but it’s believed they were working with a private company in Qatar to oversee the induction of Italian small stealth submarines.
• India expressed shock and disappointment at the death sentence and is actively exploring all possible legal options to secure their release.
• The Ministry of External Affairs in India has stated that it attaches “high importance” to this case and will provide consular and legal assistance to the Indian nationals.
• This case has implications for India’s diplomatic ties with Qatar, which is a powerful Gulf state with which India has been trying to build friendly relations.
• Efforts are being made to work with the Qatari establishment to address the situation due to Qatar’s significant role in international diplomacy.
• India’s former Ambassador to Doha, Deepak Mittal, met with the detainees during their detention, and the Indian government has been closely monitoring the situation and providing support.
• India is following a legal playbook similar to the Enrica Lexie-Italian Marine case, emphasizing adherence to international laws and legal procedures.
• The government is committed to following due process in accordance with international laws and the laws of the country where the former Navy personnel are being held, to resolve the situation.
• In addition to the GoI’s efforts, the families of the former Navy personnel have also filed a Mercy Plea to the Emir of Qatar, who is known to grant pardons during Ramadan and Eid.

Some facts about Qatar:

• Qatar is a peninsula in the Middle East, bordering Saudi Arabia to the south and the Persian Gulf to the east and north.
• The Gulf of Bahrain, an inlet of the Persian Gulf, separates Qatar from nearby Bahrain
• Capital: Doha
• Official language: Arabic
• Currency: Qatari Riyal (QAR)
• It is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas
• It hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
• Indians are the largest expatriate community in Qatar.

12. SC allows surrogacy, strikes down rule banning use of donor gametes

Subject: Polity

Section: Constitution

Context:

• In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has safeguarded a woman’s right to parenthood, particularly in cases of medical conditions, by suspending the enforcement of a law that jeopardized her aspiration to become a mother through surrogacy.
• This significant ruling provides protection and empowerment for women facing unique medical challenges on their journey to parenthood.

Case Details

• Medical Condition: The woman suffers from the rare Mayer Rokitansky Kuster Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. Medical records confirm her condition, which includes “absent ovaries and absent uterus,” rendering her unable to produce her own eggs.
• Hope through Gestational Surrogacy: She and her husband embarked on the path of gestational surrogacy using a donor’s eggs (a process where one person, who did not provide the egg used in conception, carries a fetus through pregnancy and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple.).

Threatening Amendment

• No donor gamete use: A government notification dated March 14 of the current year introduced an amendment to the law, prohibiting the use of donor gametes in surrogacy. It mandated that “intending couples” must employ their own gametes for the surrogacy process.
• A Violation of Parenthood Rights: This amendment was challenged in the Supreme Court, alleging a violation of a woman’s fundamental right to parenthood. The court found that the amendment contradicted the core provisions of the Surrogacy Act, both in form and substance.

Gametes Regulation and ART Act, 2021

• Gametes are reproductive cells. In animals, the male gametes are sperms and female gamete is the ovum or egg cells.
• On March 14, 2023, the Health Ministry published Rules that said:
• A couple undergoing surrogacy must have both gametes from the intending couple and donor gametes are not allowed;
• Single women (widow/divorcee) undergoing surrogacy must use self-eggs and donor sperms to avail surrogacy procedure.
• Section 2(h) of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Act, 2021 defines a “gamete donor” as a person who provides sperm or oocyte with the objective of enabling an infertile couple or woman to have a child.

Court’s Ruling: Allows Donor’s Gametes

• Prima Facie Contradiction: The SC Bench issued a decisive order, stating that the amendment obstructed the intending couple from achieving parenthood through surrogacy and was prima facie contrary to the Surrogacy Act’s intentions.
• Petitioner’s Argument: Senior advocate Sanjay Jain, representing the petitioner, argued that the amendment invalidated the possibility of gestational surrogacy, which the Surrogacy Act, 2021, recognized as a valid option for couples facing medical conditions.
• Rule 14(a) Clarification: Jain referred to Rule 14(a) of the Surrogacy Rules, emphasizing that it explicitly listed medical or congenital conditions, such as the absence of a uterus, as valid reasons for gestational surrogacy. The rule affirmed that the choice was solely the woman’s.
• Retrospective Implementation: The petitioner contended that the amendment could not be applied retrospectively to her case.

Court’s Ruling and Interpretation

• Woman-Centric Perspective: The court concurred with Mr. Jain’s argument that gestational surrogacy was “woman-centric.” It recognized that the decision to opt for surrogacy was driven by the woman’s inability to become a mother due to her medical or congenital condition.
• Validation of Rule 14(a): The court asserted that the amendment could not contradict Rule 14(a), which explicitly acknowledged medical conditions, including the absence of a uterus, as valid reasons necessitating gestational surrogacy.
• Genetic Relation Interpretation: Addressing the government’s contention that the surrogate child must be “genetically related” to the couple, the court clarified that this was related to the husband when Rule 14(a) applied.

Conclusion

• The Supreme Court’s decision not only upholds right to parenthood but also reinforces the significance of gestational surrogacy as a woman-centric solution for individuals facing challenging medical conditions on their path to becoming parents.
• This ruling sets a precedent for protecting the parenthood rights of women across India.

13. India to produce its own “reference fuels”

Subject: Schemes

Context:

• India has marked a significant milestone in its quest for self-reliance with the commencement of ‘reference’ petrol and diesel production.
• This specialized fuel, crucial for automobile calibration and testing, has been indigenously developed by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), reducing the nation’s dependence on costly imports.

Understanding Reference Fuel

• Octane Number Distinction: Unlike regular and premium fuels with octane numbers of 87 and 91, reference-grade fuel boasts an impressive octane number of 97. The octane number measures the ignition quality of petrol or diesel.
• Stringent Specifications: ‘Reference’ petrol and diesel adhere to a host of stringent specifications, encompassing parameters like cetane number, flash point, viscosity, sulphur and water content, hydrogen purity, and acid number, as mandated by government regulations.
• Emission Testing: These specialized fuels are indispensable for emission testing of vehicles equipped with spark ignition engines.

Economic Significance

• Reduced Import Costs: While imported ‘reference’ fuel costs approximately Rs 800-850 per liter, domestic production slashes the cost to approximately Rs 450 per liter, providing a significant cost advantage.
• Critical for Auto Industry: ‘Reference’ fuels, characterized by higher specifications, are vital for calibrating and testing vehicles by automobile manufacturers and agencies such as the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) and the Automotive Research Association of India.
• Innovation by IOC: The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has achieved a breakthrough by creating indigenous alternatives, ensuring a dependable supply of reference fuel at a significantly lower cost to support vehicle manufacturers and testing agencies.

Indigenous Technical Prowess and Export Potential

• Boosting Make in India: The production of ‘reference’ fuel domestically underscores India’s indigenous technical capabilities, bolstering the Make in India initiative.
• Export Prospects: After catering to domestic demand, IOC intends to explore export opportunities for reference fuel.

Energy Security Strategy and Environmental Commitment

• Four-Pronged Energy Security: The Indian government has adopted a four-pronged energy security strategy to achieve energy independence by 2047. It involves diversifying energy supplies, expanding exploration and production, leveraging alternate energy sources, and embracing a gas-based economy, green hydrogen, and electric vehicles (EVs).
• Ethanol Blending: India has advanced the rollout of petrol blended with 20 percent ethanol to 2025, accelerating its commitment to reduce emissions. The target of 12 percent ethanol blending has been achieved, with plans to reach 20 percent by the end of 2025.

Conclusion

• India’s achievement in producing ‘reference’ fuel domestically is a testament to its technical prowess and commitment to self-reliance.
• This development not only reduces import costs but also bolsters the nation’s automotive industry and contributes to environmental sustainability.
• It reflects India’s dedication to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission, serving as a model for self-sufficiency in specialized sectors.

14. India’s green hydrogen move may worsen pollution if steps are not in place, says study

Subject: Schemes

What is Green Hydrogen?

• Hydrogen is a key industrial fuel that has a variety of applications including the production of ammonia (a key fertilizer), steel, refineries and electricity.
• However, all of the hydrogen manufactured now is the so-called ‘black or brown’ hydrogen because they are produced from coal.
• Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. But pure, or the elemental hydrogen, is very scarce. It almost always exists in compounds like with oxygen to form H2O, or water.
• But when electric current is passed through water, it splits it into elemental oxygen and hydrogen through electrolysis. And if the electricity used for this process comes from a renewable source like wind or solar then the hydrogen thus produced is referred to as green hydrogen.
• Colors attached to hydrogen indicate the source of electricity used to derive the hydrogen molecule. For instance, if coal is used, it is referred to as brown hydrogen.

What is the National Green Hydrogen Mission?

• It is a program to incentivise the commercial production of green hydrogen and make India a net exporter of the fuel.
• The Mission will facilitate demand creation, production, utilization and export of Green Hydrogen.

Sub Schemes:

• Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT): It will fund the domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and produce green hydrogen.
• Green Hydrogen Hubs: States and regions capable of supporting large scale production and/or utilization of hydrogen will be identified and developed as Green Hydrogen Hubs.

Objective:

• Developing green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum, alongside adding renewable energy capacity of about 125 GW (gigawatt) in India by 2030.
• It aims to entail over Rs 8 lakh crore of total investments and is expected to generate six lakh jobs.
• It will also lead to a cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports by over Rs 1 lakh crore and an abatement of nearly 50 MT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Significance: It will help entail the decarbonisation of the industrial, mobility and energy sectors; reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock; developing indigenous manufacturing capabilities; creating employment opportunities; and developing new technologies such as efficient fuel cells.

Potential:

• India has a favorable geographic location and abundance of sunlight and wind for the production of green hydrogen.
• Green hydrogen technologies are being promoted in sectors where direct electrification isn’t feasible.
• Heavy duty, long-range transport, some industrial sectors and long-term storage in the power sector are some of these sectors.
• The nascent stage of this industry allows for the creation of regional hubs that export high-value green products and engineering, procurement and construction services.

What are the Challenges?

• In Nascent Stages Globally: Green hydrogen development is still in the nascent stages globally and while India can take the lead in being a major producer, it doesn’t have the necessary infrastructure yet to execute all these intermediary steps.

• Economic Sustainability: One of the biggest challenges faced by the industry for using hydrogen commercially is the economic sustainability of extracting green hydrogen. For transportation fuel cells, hydrogen must be cost-competitive with conventional fuels and technologies on a per-mile basis.

How India’s move can cause pollution:

• The main concern is that if electrolysers were run 24×7, they would be expected to operate even at night when no solar power is available.
• Where will the electricity come from? If it comes from India’s coal­ powered grid in general, it will in fact increase carbon emissions, since about 70% of the electricity on the grid is coal­ generated more in non­ daylight hours when solar generation is nil.
• The vast majority of projects have not disclosed their source of electricity.

15. Row over TDB’s ban on using temple for martial arts training

Subject: History

Section: ART AND CULTURE

What are the Various Martial Art Forms in India?

Thang Ta – Manipur:

• Huyen langlon is an Indian martial art from Manipur.
• In the Meitei language, huyen means war while langlon or langlong can mean net, knowledge or art.
• Huyen langlon consists of two main components:
• Thang-ta (armed combat)
• Sarit Sarak (unarmed fighting).
• The primary weapons of huyenlanglon are the thang (sword) and ta (spear). Other weapons include the shield and the axe.

Lathi Khela – West Bengal:

• Lathi is a wooden weapon to fight and is an ancient weapon used in martial arts in India.
• Lathi or stick are used in martial arts in the state of Punjab and Bengal.
• Lathi is also popular for its utility in sports specially in the Indian villages.
• A practitioner is known as lathial.

Gatka – Punjab:

• Gatka is a traditional martial art form associated with the Sikh gurus.
• It imbibes sword and sticks fighting skills and self-control.
• Gatka is believed to have originated when the 6th Sikh Guru Hargobind adopted ‘Kirpan’ for self-defense during the Mughal era.
• A style of stick fighting between two or more practitioners, Gatka is a toned-down version of the deadlier Shastar Vidya. The sharp swords of Shastar Vidya have been replaced by wooden sticks (soti) and shields in Gatka.
• It is considered as a battle technique.
• 10th Guru Gobind Singh made it compulsory for everyone to use the weapons for self-defense.

Kalaripayattu – Kerala

• Kalaripayattu is a martial art based on the ancient knowledge of the human body.
• It originated in Kerala during the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD. It is now practiced in Kerala and in some parts of Tamil Nadu.
• The place where this martial art is practiced is called a ‘Kalari’. It is a Malayalam word that signifies a kind of gymnasium. Kalari literally means ‘threshing floor’ or ‘battlefield’. The word Kalari first appears in the Tamil Sangam literature to describe both a battlefield and combat arena.
• It is considered to be one of the oldest fighting systems in existence.
• It is also considered as the father of modern Kung – Fu.

Mallakhamb- Madhya Pradesh

• Mallakhamb is a traditional sport, originating from the Indian subcontinent, in which a gymnast performs aerial yoga or gymnastic postures and wrestling grips with a vertical stationary or hanging wooden pole, cane, or rope.
• The name Mallakhamb derives from the terms malla, meaning wrestler, and khamb, which means a pole. Literally meaning “wrestling pole”, the term refers to a traditional training implement used by wrestlers.
• Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been the hotspots of this sport.

16. US withdraws proposal on digital trade at the WTO Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce

Subject: Economy

Section: External Sector

In News: US withdraws its proposal on digital trade at the WTO giving boost to India’s position on regulating Big Tech.

Key Points:

• The US has decided to withdraw its proposal on digital trade at the WTO to retain the policy space for regulating big-tech firms.
• The US proposal on e-commerce rules, has been withdrawn at the WTO’s Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce meeting.
• The US is reportedly reviewing its approach to trade rules in sensitive areas such as data and source code to balance the right to regulate in the public interest and the need to address anticompetitive behavior in the digital economy.
• The US’ change in position on the matter is likely to be a dampener for on-going efforts of the JSI to highlight the need for global rules on e-commerce at the WTO 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in February 2024.

What was the US e-commerce rule proposal?

• The proposal was made in 2019 by the Trump regime.
• The proposal called for free cross-border data transfers without data localisation requirements and restricting mandatory software source code disclosure.

What will be the impact of the change?

• As the US holds a dominant digital position through its MNCs, the decision to withdraw the digital trade proposal will lead to a worldwide reassessment of national e-commerce policies.
• This will potentially reshape the future of digital trade agreements.

Indian position:

• The new US stand on digital trade syncs with India’s approach on the subject.
• India had refused to be part of the JSI on e-commerce over concerns that such rules may strengthen the dominance of large e-commerce companies and go against smaller local companies.
• With China and India being major data generators and China already safeguarding its data, India believes in maintaining flexibility in data-sharing with domestic companies rather than international tech giants
• This is an opportunity for India to rethink its strategy of negotiating provisions on digital trade in its FTAs.

17. Selling organic produce in India

Subject: Economy

Section: Agriculture

Key Points:

• Organic farming is being practiced by about 3.7 million growers worldwide, with India accounting for 1.6 million.
• The Agriculture Corridor under the Namami Gange project has covered 1.23 lakh hectares for organic farming.
• Producers in India can register for organic certification in two ways — third-party certification and the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).
• In terms of market development, there is a dedicated ‘Jaivik Kheti’ portal with a registration of about 6.09 lakh farmers.
• APEDA launched the TraceNetas an internet based electronic service offered by to the stakeholders for facilitating process certification for export of organic products.
• In 2022, the US terminated India’s organic recognition agreement due to anti-dumping countermeasures for soyabeans.
• How to push organic growth:
  •  Scale and quality are vital for commercialisation of organic produce. Contract farming, perhaps, can be a way towards this.
  • In contrast to conventional farming, organic farming often yields less, but the price premium compensates for the deficit, ensuring its profitability. This makes certification and marketing important.

18. RBI raises data updation bar for banks, credit info firms

Subject: Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

Context: RBI comes out with Framework for compensation to customers for delayed updating/ rectification of credit information.

Key Points:

• Credit institutions (CIs) and credit information companies (CICs) will have to compensate complainants at the rate of ₹100 per day in case their complaint regarding delayed updating or rectification of credit information is not resolved within 30 days from the date of the initializing of the complaint, according to the RBI.
• RBI released a circular on “Framework for compensation to customers for delayed updating/ rectification of credit information”.
• Provisions:
  • Compensation to be provided by the CIs (such as banks) or CICs to the complainant for delayed resolution beyond 30 days of filing the complaint should be apportioned proportionately among the CIs or CICs concerned.
  • The compensation amount shall be credited to the bank account of the complainant within five working days of the resolution of the complaint.
  • The complainant can approach the RBI Ombudsman under the Reserve Bank Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021, in case of wrongful denial of compensation by CIs or CICs.
  • In cases of wrongful denial of compensation which are yet to be covered under the Reserve Bank Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021, the complainant can approach the Consumer Education and Protection Cell (CEPC)
• The Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005 (CICRA, 2005) and  Credit Information Companies Rules, 2006 provide the CI and the CIC, collectively, with an overall limit of 30 days to resolve or dispose of the Complaint.
• CI would get 21 days, and CICs would effectively get the remainder of nine days for complete resolution of the complaint.