Daily Prelims Notes 5 December 2023

December 5, 2023
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Daily Prelims Notes

5 December 2023

Table Of Contents

1. EU’s Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EU-DR)

Subject : Environment

Section: Int Conventions

Context: India has raised concerns about the EU’s Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EU-DR), which will be implemented in December 2024, possibly leading to discrimination against some countries and acting as a disguised restriction on international trade. However, the bloc has said the proposed rules were based on objective, scientific, non-discriminatory and proportionate criteria.

EU’s Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EU-DR)

It is a European Union regulation that aims to counter deforestation by requiring companies registered in the EU that import or export specific items (list of 479 for India) have not been produced on land that was deforested after December 31, 2020.
The EU-DR covers seven primary commodities and a variety of products derived from these. While the main commodities are cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya, and wood, the derived commodities are several such as meat products, leather, chocolate, coffee, palm nuts, palm oil derivatives, glycerol, natural rubber products, soybeans, soy-bean flour and oil, fuel wood, wood products, pulp and paper and printed books.

Why India opposing EU-DR?

There is criticism that this is just a form of non-tariff barrier to trade, as EU itself has reduced its primary forest cover to increase agricultural output before the said date, and now is not allowing other countries to do the same as they struggle with population pressure on resources.
India’s stand is that it violates Most Favored Nation (MFN)and National Treatment principles. This is the second such measure by the EU after its Cross Border Adjustment Mechanism. It is estimated that both together are likely to adversely affect exports from India to EU worth $9.5 billion.
In its reply to India’s queries, the EU said that no commodities or countries will be subject to discrimination, and the regulation will apply equally to commodities and products produced inside and outside the EU.

2. The need to transform agri-food systems

Subject : Environment

Section: Agri & SD

Context:

UN-FAO Report highlighted that the hidden costs of our global agri-food systems has surpassed an astonishing $10 trillion.

Details:

In middle-income countries like India, these costs constitute nearly 11% of the GDP, which manifests as higher poverty, environmental harm, and health-related impacts, including undernourishment and unhealthy dietary patterns.
The report blames “unsustainable business-as-usual activities and practices” for these escalating costs.
There is a need to transform agri-food systems via shift to multi-cropping systems that have the potential to protect farmers’ well-being, improve nutritional outcomes for our communities, and positively impact ecological health.

What are the impacts of intensive agriculture?

Technological improvements in agriculture in India has led to mono-cropping and chemical intensive farming systems.
HYV seeds of wheat and paddy constitute more than 70% of India’s agricultural production. These seeds and fertilizers undermined seed sovereignty, dismantled Indigenous knowledge systems, compromise the nutritional needs, bring ecological disasters like excessive groundwater extraction, increase the debt burden among agricultural households and fuelled a shift from diverse crop varieties and staples such as pulses and millets to monoculture plantations.

Which are the crops being favoured?

Rice and wheat are heavily favoured due to it being included under the PDS scheme of central government. The area under rice and wheat increased by nearly 20% and 56% respectively between 1966-67 and 2017-18.
Other crops that are favoured by the government- Sugarcane (water-intensive), arecanut,
Jowar, bajra, ragi, maize, and barley are not paid much attention as they constitute less than 1% of total foodgrain procurement.

How can crop diversification help?

It will revitalise degraded land and soil.
Millets, whose yield per hectare is comparable to those of rice and wheat, are also more nutritious, grow in semi-arid conditions without burdening groundwater tables, require minimal input, and provide a diversified food basket.
Diversified multi-cropping system-
- Known as ‘akkadi saalu’ in Karnataka, involve intercropping with a combination of legumes, pulses, oilseeds, trees, shrubs, and

How can farmers transition?

Gradual shift from chemical-intensive practices to non-pesticide management, then adopting natural farming practices, can reduce input costs.
Diversification by including livestock and poultry.

Source: The Hindu

3. Mapping the socio-economic changes in the lower Cauvery delta

Subject :Geography

Section: Mapping

Context:

In 2018, the Foundation for Agrarian Studies launched a project to study agrarian relations in the lower Cauvery delta with a special focus on two villages– Palakurichi and Venmani.

Details:

Both the villages are at the “tail-end” of the Cauvery irrigation system, and thus are deeply affected when there is a fall in Cauvery water supply.
The lower Cauvery delta was known for its cultivation of rice and agricultural surplus.

Key changes:

During Green Revolution, the region changed from single crop region to a double cropped region, but again in 2018, the region has changed into single rice crop region.
The delta has declined as a hub of rice cultivation in the State, coinciding with the fall in the availability of water, caused mainly by changes in water-sharing arrangements for cauvery river between Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Reasons for decline in crop production- Uneven supply of water from the Cauvery, Agriculture and irrigation policy failure, crop unsuitablity, lack of modernisation of micro-irrigation system, events of drought and flood (due to cyclone Gaja).
Acute inequality persists among the agricultural workers and landlords.
The largest class in the villages is a class of wage labour, engaged in multiple agricultural and non-agricultural jobs.

Source: The Hindu

4. Countries agree on host for the Santiago Network; divergences on GST

Subject : Environment

Section: Climate change

Context:

At the ongoing COP28 of UNFCCC, nations are agreed upon to host the Santiago Network, but there is a divergence among countries on

About Santiago Network:

The Santiago Network aims to provide technical knowledge and resources to developing countries on averting, minimising and addressing loss and damage.
The United Nations for Disaster Risk Reduction and United Nations Office for Project Services have been selected as hosts.
The vision of the Santiago Network is to catalyze the technical assistance of relevant organizations, bodies, networks and experts, for the implementation of relevant approaches for averting, minimize and addressing L&D at the local, national and regional level, in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change
COP 25 in Madrid, Spain:
- Parties established the Santiago network as part of the WIM (Warsaw Implementation Mechanism), to catalyse technical assistance of relevant organizations for the implementation of relevant approaches in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change.
COP 26 in Glasgow, UK:
- COP 26/CMA 3 decided on the functions of the Santiago Network and issued a call for submissions.
COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt:
- Terms of reference for the Santiago network was adopted and established the Advisory Board of the Santiago network.
COP 28 in Dubai, UAE:
- Countries agreed upon hosting the Santiago Network.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement:

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement recognizes that some Parties choose to pursue voluntary cooperation in the implementation of their nationally determined contributions to allow for higher ambition in their mitigation and adaptation actions and to promote sustainable development and environmental integrity.

Global Goal on Adoptation (GGA):

It was established under the Paris Agreement to enhance climate change adaptation by increasing awareness of and funding towards countries’ adaptation needs in the context of the 5/2°C goal of the Paris Agreement.
At COP26, Parties established the 2022-2023 Glasgow-Sharm el-Sheikh (GlaSS) Work Programme on the Global Goal on Adaptation to define the key elements of the goal, including the methodologies, indicators, metrics, and data sources to support the assessment of overall adaptation progress.
Negotiations around the GGA currently focus on what metrics and indicators can be used at both global and local levels to effectively monitor collective progress, while incorporating and addressing outstanding concerns on bridging the gap between the local- and context- specificity of adaptation and the need to track it at a global scale.

Decarbonisation:

The decarbonisation of the cement sector through Carbon, Capture and Storage (CCS) in developed and developing economies very slow and will take at least five years to effectively start capturing carbon dioxide (CO2).
There is the risks of leakage — the possibility of dissolution of heavy metals in drinking water through leaked CO2 in storage wells.

Sovereign debt and climate event:

Hosted by the Debt Relief for a Green and Inclusive Recovery project hosted prominent speakers such as Colombia and
The amount of resources that annually flow from poor countries to developed countries are in trillions and only 7/29 low-income countries have the fiscal space to implement actions in their National Adaptation Plans.
Developing countries export raw materials and buy industrialised products that keep them in debt.

Source: Down To Earth

5. Coal concern has prohibited India from signing global pledge on renewables and energy at COP28

Subject : Environment

Section: Climate change

Context:

Concern about mounting pressure to phase out coal any time soon has mainly prevented India from signing the global pledge on renewable energy and energy efficiency at the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge:

Some 116 countries signed the Pledge, agreeing to triple the worldwide installed renewable energy generation capacity to at least 11,000 gigawatts and double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements to more than four per cent by 2030.
According to the IEA (International Energy Agency) and IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change), in order to meet the Paris Agreement goal, renewables deployment must be accompanied in this decade by a rapid increase of energy efficiency improvements and the phase down of unabated coal power, in particular ending the continued investment in unabated new coal-fired power plants, which is incompatible with efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.

Details:

Under Indian presidency, G20 has recently mentioned the need to triple renewable energy globally.
Both India and China, major emitters, have not signed the pledge.
India is planning to add coal-based power plants soon to meet its rise in power demand. The country has added an average five gigawatts of coal-based electricity generation capacity annually over the last five years, apart from aggressively pushing up renewable energy.

Global Decarbonization Accelerator (GDA):

It is a new mechanism unveiled by COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber to decarbonise and achieve the target under the pledge.
GDA is a set of initiatives designed to speed up the energy transition and sharply reduce global emissions.
It is focused on three key pillars: (i) rapidly scaling the energy system of tomorrow; (ii) decarbonising the energy system of today; and (iii) targeting methane and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases.
Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC):
- Under the GDA, 50 companies representing over 40 per cent of global oil production have signed on to the (OGDC). They have thus committed to zero methane emissions and ending routine flaring by 2030 and to total net-zero operations by 2050 at the latest.
- Signatories to the Charter agree to target a number of key actions, including investing in the energy system of the future including renewables, low-carbon fuels and negative emissions technologies; increasing transparency, including enhancing measurement, monitoring, reporting and independent verification of GHG emissions and their performance and progress in reducing emissions.
The GDA also proposes to have a formal mechanism to track mode of decarbonisation across key heavy-emitting sectors.

6. Why cyclone Michaung headed to Andhra coast

Subject : Geography

Section: Physical geography

Context: Cyclone Michaung, headed to the Andhra coast

More about the news

Tropical Cyclone Michaung is anticipated to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast in Bapatla district, between Nellore and Machilipatnam, on Tuesday morning (December 5), as confirmed by the India Meteorological Department .
The storm, located approximately 80 km southeast of Nellore and 120 km north-northeast of Chennai as of 5:30 pm on Monday, is moving northward along the Andhra Pradesh coast.
Michaung has already brought heavy rainfall to various regions in Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, and southern Odisha.
The occurrence of such a high-intensity cyclone in December is unusual, as storms in the North Indian Ocean during this period typically don’t reach such destructive intensities.
Initially classified as a ‘tropical cyclone,’ Michaung was upgraded to the status of a ‘severe’ storm on Sunday, featuring wind speeds ranging from 88 kph to 166 kph—an uncommon intensification for December cyclones, attributed to above-normal heat index values off the southern Andhra Pradesh coast.

Some facts about Indian tropical storms:

Climatologically, the North Indian Ocean basin, encompassing the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, experiences the development of approximately five cyclones each year. Of these, an average of four cyclones develop over the Bay of Bengal, while one typically forms over the Arabian Sea.
Cyclones occurring in the Arabian Sea often achieve higher intensities, posing an increased risk of causing widespread damage.
The North Indian Ocean basin is most susceptible to cyclone development during the pre-monsoon months (April-June) and post-monsoon months (October-December).
Cyclones formed in May and November tend to reach higher intensities compared to storms originating at other times due to favorable ocean conditions.

How are Cyclones Classified

Cyclones are classified on the basis of wind speed by the Indian Meteorological Department
- Depression: Wind speeds of between 31–49 km/h
- Deep Depression: Between 50-61 km/h
- Cyclonic Storm: Between 62–88 km/h
- Severe Cyclonic Storm: Between 89-117 Km/h
- Very Severe Cyclonic Storm: Between 118-166 Km/h
- Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm: Between 167-221 Km/h
- Super Cyclonic Storm: Above 222 Km/h

How Storm intensification happen:

Tropical cyclones are fueled by ocean heat in addition to other factors.
Ocean temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius or more, prevailing at depths between 50 metres and 100 metres, are conducive for cyclogenesis, which refers to the processes that lead to the development and strengthening of a cyclone.
Warm oceans contribute to a cyclone’s rapid intensification while at sea.
An oceanographic parameter called the Tropical Cyclone Heat Potential (TCHP) is considered an important factor in cyclone genesis, intensification, and propagation.
The intensification process of tropical cyclones is a complex phenomenon influenced by various favorable atmospheric conditions.
These include boundary layers (the fluid layer adjacent to a bounding surface), wind shear (changes in wind direction and/or speed over a vertical or horizontal distance), convection (the transfer of heat within a fluid), Rossby waves (which occur in rotating fluids), upper ocean circulation, and air-sea interaction.
The interaction of these factors contributes to the development and strengthening of tropical cyclones.

What is landfall of a cyclone:

Landfall occurs when a tropical cyclone moves from a position over water to coming onto land.
According to the IMD , a tropical cyclone is considered to have made landfall when its center, or eye, crosses the coast.
The “eye” of a cyclone is a zone of relatively calm weather situated at the center of the storm, characterized by light winds, clear or partly cloudy skies, and reduced precipitation.
Within the eye, winds are gentle and variable, often accompanied by clear or partially cloudy skies.
The size of the eye can vary widely, ranging from a few kilometers to over 50 kilometers in diameter in larger cyclones.
During landfall, the outer bands of the storm may have already reached the coast, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surge.
Landfall signifies the official moment when the cyclone reaches the land.
It’s important to note that landfall is distinct from a ‘direct hit,’ which occurs when the core of high winds (or eyewall) comes onshore while the center of the storm may remain offshore.
Cyclones lose their intensity once they move over land because of sharp reduction of moisture supply and increase in surface friction.

7. Navy Rank to be renamed in line with Indian tradition

Subject : History

Section: Medieval India

Context: Navy Day function at Sindhudurg Fort

More about the news:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision to rename ranks in the Indian Navy to reflect Indian culture, erasing colonial military lineage.
During the Navy Day function at Sindhudurg Fort in Maharashtra, PM Modi stated that the epaulettes worn by Naval officers would now carry the symbol of Shivaji Maharaj’s army.
He congratulated the Navy for appointing the country’s first woman commanding officer on a naval ship.
The PM emphasized the nation’s move towards self-reliance and praised Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy, stating that the new epaulettes would carry the symbol of Shivaji Maharaj’s army.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the unveiling of Shivaji Maharaj’s statue a moment of privilege, highlighting Shivaji’s recognition of the relevance of the Navy.
Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar acknowledged Shivaji’s foresight in investing in sea power and mentioned the new insignia inspired by Shivaji Maharaj’s royal seal.

Some facts about Chola Navy

The Chola navy was known for its innovative shipbuilding techniques and advancements in naval warfare.
They developed specialized warships with multiple decks, powerful catapults, and effective incendiary weapons.
Several Chola kings emerged as skilled naval commanders, including:
- Aditya Chola I (871-907 CE): Expanded the Chola navy and initiated naval raids against neighboring kingdoms.
- Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 CE): Established Chola dominance over the seas, defeating the Sri Lankan navy and launching expeditions to Southeast Asia.
- Rajendra Chola I (1014-1044 CE): Conquered the kingdom of Srivijaya in present-day Indonesia, marking the Chola navy’s peak power.
Some of famous Chola Ports are:
- Poompuhar: Situated on the Kaveri River Delta, Poompuhar was the oldest and most prominent Chola port. It served as a major trading hub, connecting India with Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean.
- Nagapattinam: Located on the Bay of Bengal, Nagapattinam was another major port and a strategic location for Chola naval operations. It provided access to maritime routes and facilitated trade with neighboring kingdoms.
- Kulachal: Situated on the Malabar Coast, Kulachal was a significant trading hub and a gateway to the Indian Ocean. It was particularly important for spice trade with Southeast Asia.
- Korkai: Located on the Vaigai River, Korkai was an early and important Chola port. It served as a center for maritime trade and cultural exchange with the Roman Empire.
- Kadalur: Situated on the Pennar River, Kadalur was a strategic port and a base for Chola naval operations in the lower reaches of the river. It played a role in controlling the trade routes in the region.
- Thoothukudi: Located on the shores of the Palk Strait, Thoothukudi was a bustling port and a major center for trade and shipbuilding. It facilitated maritime connections with the Sri Lankan subcontinent.

Some facts about Maratha Navy

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj put great emphasis on sea-faring prowess, and laid the foundations of a modern naval force in the 17th century.
Shivaji’s strategic thought ensured that a strong naval presence was established along the Konkan coast to protect the sea trade of the Maratha empire. As per an Indian Navy document,
Shivaji built ships in towns such as Kalyan, Bhivandi, and Goa, both for trade and to establish a fighting navy. “He also built a number of sea forts and bases for repair, storage and shelter.
Shivaji fought many lengthy battles with Siddis of Janjira on coastline. The fleet grew to reportedly 160 to 700 merchant, support and fighting vessels. He started trading with foreigners on his own after possession of eight or nine ports in the Deccan,
His fleet was equipped with ghurabs (gunboats) and gallivats (row boats).
The Maratha Navy was primarily a coastal “green water” navy, compared to an ocean-going or “blue water” navy.
Their ships were dependent on land/sea breezes. The Maratha did not build ships large enough to engage the British out at sea far from the coastal waters
Some of Notable Commanders and Victories of Marathas:
- Kanhoji Angre, the renowned Maratha admiral, played a crucial role in expanding the navy’s power and establishing its supremacy in the Konkan region.
- The Maratha Navy inflicted significant defeats on the Portuguese, Siddis of Janjira, and the English East India Company, challenging their dominance in the region.
- Their victories, such as the Battle of Colaba (1662) and the Battle of Vishakhapatnam (1719), demonstrated their prowess and established their reputation as a formidable naval force.
Some of the famous ports were:
- Kalyan, Ratnagiri, Khanderi, Colaba along the Konkan coast and Golrah, Harishpur, Bishenpur, and Manikpatna: along the Odisha coast

8. Indian companies should invest in ‘climate vulnerable’ nations: Nasheed

Subject : Environment

Section: Int Conventions

Context:

The former President of Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, emphasized the need for Indian companies to invest in clean energy projects in Maldives and other climate-vulnerable countries.
Nasheed suggested that such investments would be more beneficial than putting money into traditional sectors like “iron and steel.”

Key Highlights:

Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF):
- International partnership of 58 countries highly vulnerable to climate change.
- Represents regions including Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Pacific.
- A platform for South-South cooperation to address global climate change challenges.
- Rotating chairmanship with Ghana currently holding the position for 2022-2024, following Ethiopia’s leadership.
CVF’s Objectives:
- Formation in November 2009 near Male’, Maldives.
- Adoption of the Manila-Paris Declaration and the 2016-2018 Roadmap during the CVF High-Level Meeting at UNFCCC COP21.
- Commitment at COP22 to ambitious climate action, including achieving maximal resilience and 100% domestic renewable energy production.
India’s Commitments:
- India committed to installing 500 GW of electricity from non-fossil fuel sources.
- Pledged to reduce emissions by 45%, aligning with the Paris Agreement’s goals of limiting global temperature rise below 2°C and ideally below 1.5°C.
Mohamed Nasheed’s Recommendations:
- Nasheed encourages Indian companies to invest in renewable energy projects in climate-vulnerable countries.
- Highlights the importance of development banks and richer countries in “de-risking investments” for climate-vulnerable nations.
- Nasheed notes interest from several Indian investors in renewable energy projects within the CVF, particularly in solar and wind.
Role of Development Banks:
- Nasheed underscores the significant role development banks can play in de-risking investments in climate-vulnerable nations.
- The focus is on attracting real investments rather than relying solely on grants.

9. Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU)

Subject : Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

Context: The Ministry of Finance has clarified that offshore cryptocurrency exchanges serving the Indian market have to be registered with the Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU) as reporting entities

As many as 28 Virtual Digital Assets (VDA) service providers, including WazirX, Coin DCX and Coinswitch, have registered themselves with the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND)

The Finance Ministry in March had said entities dealing in VDAs, crypto exchanges and intermediaries would be considered “reporting entity” under the Prevention of money laundering Act (PMLA). Accordingly, crypto exchanges and intermediaries dealing with VDAs were required to perform KYC of their clients and users of the platform.

Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND)

It was set by the Government of India on 18th November 2004 as the central national agency responsible for receiving, processing, analyzing and disseminating information relating to suspect financial transactions.
FIU-IND is also responsible for coordinating and strengthening efforts of national and international intelligence, investigation and enforcement agencies in pursuing the global efforts against money laundering and financing of terrorism.
FIU-IND is an independent body reporting directly to the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC) headed by the Finance Minister.
FIU-IND is a multi disciplinary body with a sanctioned strength of 75 personnel–from different organizations namely Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Department of Legal Affairs and Intelligence agencies.

Organisational Structure:

Main Functions:

Collection of Information: Act as the central reception point for receiving Cash Transaction reports (CTRs),Non-Profit Organisation Transaction Report(NTRs), Cross Border Wire Transfer Reports (CBWTRs), Reports on Purchase or Sale of Immovable Property (IPRs) and Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) from various reporting entities.
Analysis of Information: Analyse received information in order to uncover patterns of transactions suggesting suspicion of money laundering and related crimes.
Sharing of Information: Share information with national intelligence/law enforcement agencies, national regulatory authorities and foreign Financial Intelligence Units.
Act as Central Repository: Establish and maintain national data base on the basis of reports received from reporting entities.
Coordination: Coordinate and strengthen collection and sharing of financial intelligence through an effective national, regional and global network to combat money laundering and related crimes.
Research and Analysis: Monitor and identify strategic key areas on money laundering trends, typologies and developments.

Daily Mapping:

Sindhudurg fort
KG Basin

Personalities:

Kanhoji Angre, Mayaji Naik Bhatkar and Hiroji Indulka