Daily Prelims Notes 6 April 2023

April 6, 2023
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Daily Prelims Notes

6 April 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Decline in pollinators

Subject: Environment

Section: Biodiversity

Context: Decline in pollinators linked to half a million premature human deaths every year, shows study.

More on the News:

Half a million people are currently dying prematurely every year due to global insect pollinator decline that has impacted the availability and price of healthy foods such as nuts, legumes, fruits and vegetables, finds a new modeling study.
Middle-income countries, including India, Russia and China are among the hardest hit. Wealthy nations were more immune from pollinator decline.
The world’s pollinators are vanishing for a host of reasons, but the largest is loss of habitat. Other escalating impacts include the use of pesticides and climate change.

Pollination

When a pollen grain moves from the anther (male part) of a flower to the stigma (female part), pollination happens and it is the first step in a process that produces seeds, fruits, and the next generation of plants.
This can happen through self-pollination, wind and water pollination or through pollinators.

Pollinators

Vectors that move pollen within the flower and from flower to flower are called pollinators.
They visit flowers to drink nectar or feed off of pollen and transport pollen grains as they move from spot to spot.
There are two categories of pollinators:
- Invertebrate pollinators: Include bees, moths, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies.
- Vertebrate pollinators: Include monkeys, rodents, lemurs, tree squirrels and birds.

Significance of Pollination:

Ecosystem: Pollinators play a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem. Pollinators are responsible for pollinating a large variety of flowering plants, which in turn provides food, shelter, and habitat for many other animals. They also help in the formation of fruits, berries, and nuts that are a source of food for birds and mammals.
Agriculture: Pollination is essential for agriculture as it is directly responsible for the production of fruits, vegetables, and grains. About 75% of global food crops rely on pollinators for their reproduction. Without pollinators, many of our favorite foods, such as apples, strawberries, and almonds, would be difficult to grow.
Biodiversity: Pollination is essential for maintaining biodiversity as it ensures the continuation of various plant species. Without pollinators, many plant species would not survive, which would have a ripple effect on the entire ecosystem.
Economic benefits: Pollination has significant economic benefits. The value of crops that depend on pollinators exceeds $200 billion annually worldwide.

Reason for declining Pollination

Loss of Habitat: Destruction of habitat is one of the main reasons for the decline in pollination. Many plant species that depend on pollinators for reproduction have lost their habitats due to deforestation, urbanization, and other land-use changes.
Pesticide Use: Pesticides are widely used in agriculture to control pests and diseases. However, these chemicals can also harm pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other insects. Pesticide residues on flowers and plants can kill or weaken pollinators, making them less effective at pollination.
Climate Change: Climate change has also affected pollinators and their habitats. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns have altered the timing of flowering and the emergence of pollinators, making it difficult for them to synchronize their life cycles.
Invasive Species: Invasive species can also compete with native plants for pollinators, disrupting the natural balance of ecosystems. Some invasive plants, such as the Japanese knotweed, can also outcompete native plants for pollinators.
Monoculture Farming: Monoculture farming practices have also contributed to the decline in pollination. These practices involve growing large areas of a single crop, which reduces the diversity of flowering plants available for pollinators.
Bee Diseases: Diseases such as Varroa mites, Nosema fungus, and American foulbrood have also affected bee populations, reducing their effectiveness as pollinators. These diseases can weaken and kill bees, reducing their numbers and pollination services.

Way forward:

Plant a diverse range of native plants: A diverse range of plants will also ensure a longer flowering season, providing pollinators with a consistent source of food.
Provide nesting sites: Many pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, require nesting sites to lay their eggs and rear their young. Providing nesting sites such as hollow stems, logs, or bare ground can help support pollinator populations.
Reduce pesticide use: Limiting the use of pesticides or choosing less harmful alternatives can help protect pollinators.
Create habitat corridors: By creating habitat corridors, pollinators can more easily move between habitats, increasing their chances of survival.

2. Panel recommends new central body to mitigate water woes

Subject: Environment

Section: Biodiversity

Context: State- and central-level bodies that currently bear responsibility for issues related to water, lack coordination between them, a Parliamentary Standing Committee report has noted.

More on the News:

The report, tabled in the Lok Sabha two weeks ago, also recommended the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti (water resources) constitute a central body with representation from the bodies.
The bodies, alluded to by the committee, include:
- The Union Ministry of Rural Development, and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
- State departments, state and central pollution control boards
- Dedicated authorities such as the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)
The Committee observed that dependence on groundwater for irrigation was excessive. This was so because water-intensive crops like paddy and sugarcane command higher minimum support price (MSP), it noted.
Laws on groundwater management were passed in 19 states based on a model Bill circulated in 1970 and last revised in 2005. The Committee observed difficulties in implementing these laws due to the lack of guidelines.
The Committee, meanwhile, recommended the department of water resources, river development, and ganga rejuvenation takes urgent action in this regard.
A lack of sharing of data and coordination between bodies responsible for addressing groundwater pollution such as state government departments, pollution control boards, and agencies such as the CGWA.
It further recommended amendment of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, “to enable pollution control boards to impose monetary penalties, as a less severe penalty than the outright closure of industrial units”.

Central Ground Water Board

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is a governmental organization under the Ministry of Jal Shakti that is responsible for developing and managing groundwater resources in India.
The CGWB was established in 1970 as part of the Ground Water Wing of the Central Water Commission.
The primary objective of the CGWB is to carry out surveys and assessment of the groundwater resources in India and develop plans and policies for their conservation and management.
Some key functions of the CGWB include:
- Conducting hydrogeological studies and monitoring of groundwater levels and quality across the country.
- Developing groundwater management plans for areas facing water scarcity or overexploitation.
- Regulating groundwater extraction through the issuance of no-objection certificates (NOCs) and other permits.
- Promoting rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge of groundwater.
- Providing technical assistance and training to stakeholders, including state governments, local bodies, and NGOs.

Central Ground Water Authority

Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) is a regulatory body under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
It was established in 1970 under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The primary mandate of CGWA is to regulate and control the development and management of groundwater resources in the country.
Some of the key functions of CGWA are as follows:
- Grant of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for groundwater withdrawal: CGWA is responsible for granting NOCs to industries, infrastructure projects, and other water-intensive activities for groundwater withdrawal in over-exploited, critical, and semi-critical areas.
- Monitoring of groundwater levels: CGWA monitors the groundwater levels in different parts of the country and prepares an annual groundwater assessment report. It also monitors the implementation of groundwater management plans.
- Regulation of groundwater use: CGWA regulates the use of groundwater by imposing restrictions on its withdrawal, fixing the maximum permissible limit for groundwater extraction, and enforcing penalties for non-compliance.

3. The NPCI’s new circular on levy charges

Subject : Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

Concept :

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which governs the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), directed the banks that they can now levy charges on merchant transactions made via Prepaid Instrument wallets using UPI.
As these directions by NPCI got leaked to the media, the NPCI clarified that the usual bank-to-bank UPI transactions would not be charged and that customers will not have to pay for transactions made via Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) on UPI.
NPCI clarified that the new interchange charges are only applicable for PPI merchant transactions.

Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs)

Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) are a type of payment method that is used to purchase various goods and services as well as send or receive money by using the stored value in the wallet.
Under the PPI mode of transaction, the users must pre-load the digital wallet with a desired amount by using cash, or debit to a bank account, by credit/debit cards, or UPI.
PPIs can be in the form of mobile wallets, vouchers, secure tokens, physical smart cards, or any other form that allows access to prepaid funds.
The most prevalent form of PPI used in India at present is the mobile wallet.
It is to be noted that PPIs can only be used in Indian rupees.

PPI interoperability

Earlier, in order to use PPI at any merchant, it was mandatory for the respective merchant to be engaged directly by the specific PPI issuer (specific network).
The PPIs with which the merchant did not have a direct tie-up used to get rejected.
This provision restricted the customers of one specific mobile wallet to use the money in the wallet only at those merchant locations which had a direct tie-up with the same PPI wallet provider.
e. if a customer had a Paytm wallet, he/she could only use the money in the wallet for making payments to those merchants who accepted Paytm QR codes.
The RBI has now mandated interoperability among different PPI wallet providers to address the issues associated with this limitation of PPIs.
The PPI issuers have now tied up with NPCI for issuing interoperable RuPay PPI cards and for developing interoperable wallets on UPI rails.
PPIs in the form of mobile wallets can now be linked to UPI which creates interoperable wallets on UPI rails.

Working of PPI interoperability through UPI

Linking one’s PPI wallet to UPI would enable individuals to transact using the Scan and Pay option on all UPI interoperable QR codes and facilitate the use of PPI wallets at all merchant locations.
With the help of PPI interoperability, individuals can also send or receive money to any other wallet user.
Likewise, a merchant with any UPI QR code would be able to accept payments from any PPI issuer or mobile wallet.
PPI on UPI is expected to increase the incidence of merchant transactions in rural areas and enhance digital financial inclusion by catering to services such as healthcare, education, utility bills, transit, etc.

4. Open-Source Seeds Movement

Subject : Economy

Section:

Concept :

As public sector breeding declined and the private sector began to dominate the seed sector, the need for alternatives became keenly felt to safeguard the plant varieties and indigenous seeds.

Background

Farmers have innovated and shared seeds without any intellectual property rights (IPR) claims for centuries.
Farmers also haven’t sought exclusive rights over seeds and germplasm to prevent others from innovating on the seeds.
In 1999, a Canadian plant-breeder named E. Michaels suggested an approach to seeds based on the principles of open source software.
Seed movement is required to provide proper rights to the plant breeders.

Open -Source Seed

An open-source crop variety is one that is not restricted by plant patents or other proprietary limitations used by F1 hybrids and crops of CMS and GMO technologies.
The open-source seed movement affirms that plant genetics and their physical traits cannot, and should not, be owned by individuals or corporations.
In other words, plants should never be privatized or restricted because they are a collective resource.
The genetics of open-source seeds are protected and pledged to forever remain in the public domain.
The Open Source Seed Initiative simply asks for a pledge, that an individual won’t “restrict others’ use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives”.

State of such Initiatives in India

Open Worldwide, the number of seed firms using open source models and the crop varieties and seeds made available there under is small but growing. India is yet to test and adopt it widely.
Under the Plant Variety Protection and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPVFRA) 2001, farmers can register varieties as ‘farmer varieties’ if they meet certain conditions, and have the right to reuse, replant, and exchange seeds.
However, they can’t breed and trade in varieties protected under the Act for commercial purposes.
Using the open source approach here will enable farmers to gain more rights over germplasm and seeds and facilitate innovation. So there is a need to test this approach with farmers and the three FPOs can take the lead.

How is Intellectual Property protected in agriculture?

In effect, there are now two forms of IPR protection in agriculture: plant-breeders’ rights and patents.
Traditionally, farmers and cultivators have innovated and shared seeds without any intellectual property rights (IPR) for centuries.
However, the advent of hybrid seeds and advancements in scientific plant-breeding have led to the grant of plant breeders’ rights (PBR) and patents.
As per PBR and patents regime, rights-holders can demand royalty on seeds and legally enforce intellectual property rights (IPR) and in the case of a few regimes, rights-holders can also limit the unauthorised use of such seeds.
Together, they restrict farmers’ rights and the freedom to develop new varieties using germplasm from IP-protected varieties. They have thus further consolidated the seed sector and increased the number of plant varieties covered by IPRs.
The high prices of genetically modified seeds and IP claims triggered many problems, including the State’s intervention on Bt cotton seeds in India.
As public sector breeding declined and the private sector began to dominate the seed sector, the need for alternatives became keenly felt.
This is when the success of open-source software inspired a solution. In 1999, a Canadian plant-breeder named T.E. Michaels suggested an approach to seeds based on the principles of open-source software.

Concerns associated with IPR protection in the agriculture sector

There are mainly two modes of IPR protection in agriculture namely plant-breeders rights (PBR) and patents.
These modes of IPR protection have restricted the rights of the farmers and the freedom to develop new varieties using germplasm from IP-protected varieties.
Further, the high costs and prices associated with genetically modified seeds and IP claims have given rise to various problems and issues which have led to the State’s intervention in Bt cotton seeds in India.
Also, the IPR regime in agriculture has led to the decline of public-sector breeding and the domination of private companies in the seed sector.

5. UN Statistical Commission

Subject : International Relations

Section: International Organizations

Concept :

India has been elected to the highest statistical body of the United Nations for a four-year term beginning January 1, 2024.

About UN Statistical Commission

The United Nations Statistical Commission, established in 1947, is the highest body of the global statistical system bringing together the Chief Statisticians from member states from around the world.
It is the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities, responsible for setting of statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national and international level.
The Statistical Commission oversees the work of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), and it is a Functional Commission of the UN Economic and Social Council.
Sessions : The 54th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission was held on 28 February – 3 March 2023.
Mandate :
The Statistical Commission was established by the Economic and Social Council. Commission shall assist the Council:
- In promoting the development of national statistics and the improvement of their comparability;
- In the coordination of the statistical work of specialized agencies;
- In the development of the central statistical services of the Secretariat;
- In advising the organs of the United Nations on general questions relating to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistical information;
- In promoting the improvement of statistics and statistical methods generally.
Items considered
The Statistical Commission considers special issues of concern in international statistical development, methodological issues, coordination and integration of international statistical programmes, support of technical cooperation activities in statistics and organizational matters.
Frequency of meetings
In July 1999 the Economic and Social Council decided that the Commission should meet annually for four days each session, starting in the year 2000.
Membership
The Commission consists of 24 member countries of the United Nations elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council on the basis of an equitable geographical distribution according to the following pattern:
- Five members from African States;
- Four members from Asia-Pacific States;
- Four members from Eastern European States;
- Four members from Latin American and Caribbean States;
- Seven members from Western European and other States.
The term of office of members is four years.
Bureau
The officers of the Commission, also referred to as the Bureau, are the Chairman, 3 Vice-chairmen and the Rapporteur.

About United Nations Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental.
It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals.
It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.
The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations.

6. Stand Up India Scheme

Subject : Schemes

Concept :

The Union Government has released data about the funds sanctioned under the Stand-Up India Scheme.

About Stand-up India Scheme

Stand up India scheme was launched in 2016. The scheme is anchored by Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
The scheme was launched to encourage entrepreneurship at the grassroots level especially for promoting economic empowerment and employment generation among SC, ST and women entrepreneurs.
It does so by helping them to start a greenfield enterprise in manufacturing, services or the trading sector and activities allied to agriculture.
Stand-Up India Scheme facilitates bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 Crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise.
The scheme endeavors to create an eco-system that facilitates and continues to provide a supportive environment for doing business. The scheme seeks to give access to loans from bank branches to borrowers to help them set up their enterprises.
The scheme, which covers all branches of Scheduled Commercial Banks, will be accessed in three potential ways:
- Directly at the branch or,
- Through Stand-Up India Portal or,
- Through the Lead District Manager (LDM).

Who all are eligible for a loan?

SC/ST and/or women entrepreneurs, above 18 years of age;
Loans under the scheme are available for only greenfield projects. Greenfield signifies; in this context, the first time venture of the beneficiary in manufacturing, services or the trading sector and activities allied to agriculture.
In the case of non-individual enterprises, 51 per cent of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either SC/ST and/or Women Entrepreneur.
Borrowers should not be in default to any bank/financial institution.
The Scheme envisages ‘upto 15 per cent’ margin money which can be provided in convergence with eligible Central/State schemes. While such schemes can be drawn upon for availing admissible subsidies or for meeting margin money requirements, in all cases, the borrower shall be required to bring in a minimum of 10 per cent of the project cost as own contribution.

Monitoring of Scheme

Scheme is monitored and its performance is reviewed periodically at various levels such as District Level Consultative Committee (DLCC), State Level Implementation Committee (SLIC), State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), through video conference with banks, etc.

7. Govt. introduces Aquaculture Bill amid din in Lok Sabha

Subject: Governance / Environment

Concept :

The government introduced the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 amidst the disruption of the Lok Sabha by the opposition over demands for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Adani issue.
The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill was introduced by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
The Bill aims to decriminalize certain offences listed under the 2005 Act in order to promote ease of doing business.
The Bill also seeks to fine-tune existing operational procedures of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority and promote newer forms of environment-friendly coastal aquaculture as these new forms have the potential to create additional job opportunities.
Further, the Bill also has provisions that restrict the use of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances which are harmful to human health in coastal aquaculture.

Coastal Aquaculture Authority:

The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) was established under the provisions of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005 for regulating the activities connected with coastal aquaculture in coastal areas.
It takes measures for regulation of coastal aquaculture by prescribing guidelines to ensure that coastal aquaculture does not cause any detriment to the coastal environment and the concept of responsible coastal aquaculture contained in the guidelines shall be followed in regulating coastal aquaculture activities to protect the livelihood of various sections of people living in the coastal areas.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture essentially means, breeding, raising, and harvesting fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants.
In a nutshell, it’s farming in water.
Saline water along the coast has been found to be suitable for practising aquaculture which produces shrimp, majorly.
If aquaculture is not practised on this land, it will be left idle and uncultivated as it is not suitable for the cultivation of crops.
Aquaculture can be practised on about 12 lakh hectares in the country along the coast, of which only 14% has been utilized so far.

It can be classified into following categories

Freshwater aquaculture
Coastal aquaculture
Sea farming
Brackish water aquaculture

8. IFC says to stop funding new coal related infra projects

Subject : International Relations

Section: International Organizations

Concept :

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is the private sector division of the World Bank Group, has held that it will not support investments in new coal-related projects.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) extends funds to banks and other financial institutions to promote infrastructure and energy projects.
The IFC has so far lent around $5 billion to about 88 financial institutions in India.
In 2023, the IFC is looking to undertake various steps which are in line with the Paris Agreement ambitions.
The IFC is looking to mandate a commitment from financial institution clients to not originate and finance any new coal projects.
In 2020, the IFC announced a policy that mandated clients to reduce their exposure to coal projects by half by 2025, and to zero by 2030, however, it did not halt any new investments, but the latest update disallows this too.

About the International Finance Corporation (IFC):

It is an international financial institution that offers investment, advisory, and asset management services to encourage private sector development in developing countries.
It is a member of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States.
It was established in 1956 as the private sector arm of the World Bank Group to advance economic development by investing in strictly for-profit and commercial projects that purport to reduce poverty and promote development.
The IFC is owned and governed by its member countries, but has its own executive leadership and staff that conduct its normal business operations.
It is a corporation whose shareholders are member governments that provide paid-in capital and which have the right to vote on its matters.

Roles and functions:

Since 2009, the IFC has focused on a set of development goals that its projects are expected to target. Its goals are to increase sustainable agriculture opportunities, improve healthcare and education, increase access to financing for microfinance and business clients, advance infrastructure, help small businesses grow revenues, and invest in climate health.
It offers an array of debt and equity financing services and helps companies face their risk exposures while refraining from participating in a management capacity.
It advises governments on building infrastructure and partnerships to further support private sector development.

9. Unseasonal rain is a natural calamity: Maharashtra

Subject :Geography

Section: Indian geography

Concept :

In a move to provide relief to affected farmers, the Maharashtra cabinet said unseasonal rains will be considered a natural calamity in the state.

Background

Crops of several farmers were damaged in unseasonal rains and hailstorms in Maharashtra last month. The Opposition had demanded that the state government give immediate relief to the affected farmers.

How does the Law define a Disaster?

Disaster Management Act, 2005 defines a ‘disaster’ as a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area – arising from natural or man-made causes, or by accident or negligence.
A natural disaster includes earthquake, flood, landslide, cyclone, tsunami, urban flood, heatwave; a man-made disaster can be nuclear, biological and chemical.
It results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area.

Provisions to Classify a National Calamity

There is no provision, executive or legal, to declare a natural calamity as a national calamity.
The existing guidelines of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)/ National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), do not contemplate declaring a disaster as a ‘National Calamity.”

Earlier Attempts in this Direction

The 10th Finance Commission (1995-2000) examined a proposal that a disaster is termed “a national calamity of rarest severity” if it affects one-third of the population of a state.
The panel did not define a “calamity of rare severity” but stated that a calamity of rare severity would necessarily have to be adjudged on a case-to-case basis taking into account.
The intensity and magnitude of the calamity
Level of assistance needed
The capacity of the state to tackle the problem
The alternatives and flexibility were available within the plans to provide succour and relief, etc.
In 2001, the National Committee on Disaster Management under the chairmanship of the then Prime Minister was mandated to look into the parameters that should define a national calamity.
However, the committee did not suggest any fixed criterion.

Local Disaster:

A State Government may use up to 10 per cent of the funds available under the SDRF for providing immediate relief to the victims of natural disasters that they consider to be ‘disasters’ within the local context in the State and which are not included in the notified list of disasters of the Ministry of Home Affairs subject to the condition that the State Government has listed the State-specific natural disasters and notified clear and transparent norms and guidelines for such disasters with the approval of the State Authority, i.e., the State Executive Authority (SEC).

10. Idu -Mishmi Tribes and Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary

Subject : Environment

Section: Places in news

Concept :

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has said that the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh would soon be notified as a tiger reserve.
The announcement has caused disquiet among the area’s Idu Mishmi people, who feel that a tiger reserve would “hinder their access” to the forest.

Idu Mishmi – Tiger brothers

The Idu Mishmi is a sub-tribe of the larger Mishmi group (the other two Mishmi groups are Digaru and Miju) in Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring Tibet.
Known for their weaving and craftsmanship skills, the Idu Mishmis primarily live in Mishmi Hills, bordering Tibet.
Their ancestral homelands are spread over the districts of Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley as well as parts of Upper Siang and Lohit.
The tribe is estimated to comprise around 12,000 people (as per census 2011), and their language (also called Idu Mishmi) is considered endangered by UNESCO.
Traditionally animists, the tribe has strong ties with the region’s rich flora and fauna. Animals such as the hoolock gibbons and tigers have deep cultural relations with the Idu Mishmi.
Tigers are especially important to the Idu Mishmis — according to Idu mythology, they were born to the same mother, and thus, tigers are their “elder brothers”.
While hunting has traditionally been a way of life, the Idu Mishmis also follow a strict belief system of myths and taboos — ‘iyu-ena’ — that restrict them from hunting many animals, including a complete prohibition on killing tigers.

Reasons for resistance

In its current form as a wildlife sanctuary, the community’s access to the Dibang forests has not been impacted.
But many say a tiger reserve would increasingly restrict access.
An upgrade to a tiger reserve would feature stricter security measures like a ‘Special Tiger Protection Force’, which would be guarding the area at all times. This, the community believes, would cut off access to their forest lands.
Moreover, members of the community claim that Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary was created without people’s consent or knowledge.

About Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary:

It is located nearby Anini district, Arunachal Pradesh.
It has been named after the Dibang River, a tributary of Brahmaputra River.
It occupies part of the Eastern Himalayas, and is a massive spread of lofty mountains, snow covered peaks, deep gorges, lush forests and glistening rivers.
Its altitude ranges between 1800m and 5000m.
Flora:
The two main categories of vegetation are temperate broad leaved forest and temperate conifer forest (Rhododendra, Bamboo, Gregaria, Tsuga etc).
Alpine vegetation occurs at higher altitude with herbs, stunted trees and dwarf bushes.
Fauna:
Mishmi takin, asiatic black bear, tigers, gongshan muntjac, red panda, red goral and musk deer.

11. FM review financial inclusion schemes

Subject: Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

Context: The review meeting, which will be chaired by DFS Secretary Vivek Joshi, will cover Jansuraksha Schemes, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Stand UP India and PM SVANidhi scheme, sources said.

PM SVANidhi scheme

It is a special micro-credit facility scheme for providing affordable loan to street vendors.
The scheme is aimed at enabling the street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to COVID-19 lockdown.
Under the scheme, each of these streets vendors will be given a credit loan of Rs 10,000, which they can return as monthly installments within a year.
Those who repay their loans on time will get 7 percent annual interest as subsidy which will be transferred in their bank accounts. There is no provision for penalty
The scheme targets to benefit over 50 lakh street vendors, who had been vending on or before 24th March this year, in urban areas. The duration of the scheme is till March 2022. The street vendors belonging to the surrounding peri-urban or rural areas are being included as beneficiaries under the urban livelihoods programme for the first time.
The lending institutions under the Scheme include Scheduled Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance Banks, Cooperative Banks, NBFCs, Micro Finance institutions and Self Help Group banks.

Jan Suraksha Schemes

It comprises of Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana which offer Rs. 1000 to Rs. 5000, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana offering Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh for accidents, and Atal Pension Yojana offering Rs.2 lakh insurance cover.
Following the success of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana scheme, an accidental cover scheme, which became a hit with the citizens of the country, the Modi-led government has introduced three new schemes known as the Jan Suraksha Schemes. The schemes cover areas such as insurance for the poor, pension and so on.

The three schemes introduced under the Jan Suraksha Schemes are,

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
Atal Pension Yojana

The schemes were simultaneously launched in 160 cities and towns across India.

1. Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana

The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana was introduced by the government to encourage the citizens of India to get insurance access and coverage. The minimum annual premium for the scheme is Rs.12, and subscribers are given two types of insurance coverage – Accidental death or complete disability and partial disability insurance cover. The terms for both types of insurances are between 2 to 4 years. The insurance cover for partial disability is up to Rs.1 lakh and for complete disability or death is Rs.2 lakh. The tax-free premium is debited from one’s bank account automatically in the case of a long-term insurance plan. Subscribers can nominate their family members, who would receive the insurance coverage in the case of death or complete disability.

The eligibility criteria for the scheme are:

Should be an Indian resident between the ages of 18 to 70 years.
Should have a savings account with any bank in India, from which the premiums would be automatically debited.
Should provide his/her Aadhaar card and regular KYC documents when applying.
Every Indian citizen is eligible for the scheme.

2. Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana

With only 20% of the country’s population having insurance, the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana was introduced to provide insurance for the poor of the country and raise awareness on the need for an insurance cover. The premium of the scheme is at an affordable Rs.330 per annum and the risk coverage per annum is at Rs.2 lakh. While applying for the scheme, subscribers can nominate a person, usually family members, to avail the insurance in the case of complete disability or death. The scheme can be availed from any public insurance company across the country.

The eligibility criteria are mentioned below:

The applicant should be between 18 to 50 years of age.
Should be an Indian resident.
Should have a savings bank account from which the annual premium is automatically debited.
Should have an Aadhaar card and regular KYC documents when applying.

Since the introduction of the Jan Suraksha Schemes, over 63 million Indians have subscribed to either the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, the Atal Pension Yojana or the Pradhan Mantri jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana at banks across the country making the Jan Suraksha yet another successful move by the government.

3. The Atal Pension Yojana

The Atal Pension Yojana was introduced by the Modi-led government to make amends to the already existing National Pension Scheme. In a bid to make the people of India aware of the necessity of having a retirement corpus, either as an investment or to earn a monthly pension, the Atal Pension Yojana aims at giving pensioners a fixed monthly income. Subscribers of this scheme are not allowed to make withdrawals before the time of maturity – retirement age or 60 years – and can earn a monthly pension income between Rs.1,000 to Rs.5,000, depending on their contribution through the tenure.

The eligibility criteria for Atal Pension Yojana are listed below:

The subscriber when applying should be between 18 to 20 years of age as a minimum of 20 years of contribution before retirement is required.
Should have a savings account from which the contribution will be automatically debited towards the scheme.
Should provide the regular KYC documents, preferably Aadhaar card.
Should have their mobile registered with the bank holding their account.

Financial Index

The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) announced the formation of acomposite Financial Inclusion Index (FIIndex) tocapture the extent of financial inclusion across the country.
The FIIndex for the period ended March 2021 stood at53.9 compared with 43.4 for the period ended March 2017.
The annual FIIndex will be published in July every year, the RBI said in a release.
The index incorporates details of banking, investments, insurance, postal as well as the pension sector in consultation with the government and respective sectoral regulators.
The index captures information on various aspects of financial inclusion in a single value ranging between 0 and 100, where 0 represents complete financial exclusion and 100 indicates full financial inclusion.
The FI Index comprises three broad parameters (weights indicated in brackets)
- Access (35 percent),
- Usage (45 percent), and
- Quality (20 per cent) with each of these consisting of various dimensions, which are computed based on a number of indicators.
It has been constructed without any ‘base year’.
A unique feature of the index is the Quality parameter that captures the quality aspect of financial inclusion as reflected by financial literacy, consumer protection, and inequalities and deficiencies in services