Daily Prelims Notes 12 April 2023

April 12, 2023
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Daily Prelims Notes

12 April 2023

Table Of Contents

Subject: Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

Context: Last week, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to stop raising interest rates. This was unexpected — since May 2022, RBI had consistently raised interest rates, trying to pull runaway inflation down closer to its target 4%level. India’s central bank is required by law to target a certain level of inflation. It does this primarily by raising interest rates in the economy. Higher rates slow down economic growth because loans of kinds become costlier. Thus, if any central bank were to focus relentlessly on targeting the inflation rate, the result could be an overall contraction in economic growth— in other words, a recession. In the United States, the Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates in a bid to achieve its target of 2% inflation. This is dragging down overall demand and economic activity, and there is a risk that the Fed might push the US economy into recession

What is runways inflation?

When inflation is uncontrolled (say in double-digit) and experienced over a long period of time, it gets the dreaded name of runaway inflation

Flexible inflation targeting regime

Flexible inflation targeting is adopted when the central bank is to some extent also concerned about other things, for instance, the stability of interest rates, exchange rates, output and employment.
In case of India, the flexible Inflation targeting was introduced through the Monetary Policy Framework Agreement signed between the RBI and Government in 2015.
The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 was amended to provide a statutory basis for a FTI framework.
The amended Act provides for the inflation target to be set by the Government, in consultation with the RBI, once every five years.
As per terms of the agreement, RBI’s primary objective would be to maintain price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth.
- The RBI is required to maintain a rate of inflation of 4% with a deviation of 2% i.e., inflation has to be maintained between 2% to 6%.
Under the flexible inflation targeting regime, the monetary policy decision making is vested with the Monetary Policy Committee but its implementation falls in RBI’s domain.
- The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) constituted by the Central Government under Section 45ZB of RBI Act determines the policy interest rate required to achieve the inflation target.
When the Reserve Bank of India fails to meet the inflation target for 3 consecutive quarters, it will send a report to the central government stating:
- A breach of the “tolerance level” for three consecutive quarters will constitute a failure of monetary policy
  - the reasons for failure to achieve the inflation target;
  - remedial actions proposed to be taken by the bank; and
  - an estimate of the time period within which the inflation target shall be achieved.
These would be presented in a report to the Union Ministry of Finance.
It would be up to the government to make the RBI report public.
The special meeting of the MPC will discuss the RBI report before it is submitted.

Challenges to monetary policy to control inflation

Inflation, mainly cost-push caused by supply chain disruption-Russia-Ukraine conflict and high crude oil prices are the two immediate factors contributing to upside risks to inflation.
Fiscal-monetary conflict– as tightening monetary policy would increase cost of borrowing for government
Crowd out effect of tight monetary policy- as cost of borrowing would rise leading to decline in private consumption and investment.
Output gap is still negative– as output is below full-capacity production due to COVID pandemic.

Rational Expectations?

Rational expectations is an economic theory that states that individuals make decisions based on the best available information in the market and learn from past trends.
Because people make decisions based on the available information at hand combined with their past experiences, most of the time their decisions will be correct. If their decisions are correct, then the same expectations for the future will occur. If their decision was incorrect, then they will adjust their behavior based on the past mistake.
Increasing information–would help build expectations of low inflation by increasing credibility of the government and would help tame inflation in future.

2. DPIIT in talks with IBA to improve banks’ outreach to start-ups

Subject: economy

section: national Income

The Department for Promotion of Investments and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is in discussions with the Indian Banks Association (IBA) on ways to get banks to reach out to Indian start-ups to understand their financial requirements and help improve penetration of branches across sectors and cities, said a senior official.

Concept :

About the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS):

Aim: To provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization.
Launched by: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with an outlay of Rs. 945 Crore.
Some Eligibility Conditions:
- A startup, recognized by DPIIT, incorporated not more than 2 years ago at the time of application.
- Startups should not have received more than Rs. 10 lakh of monetary support under any other Central or State Government scheme.
Features:
- It will support an estimated 3,600 entrepreneurs through 300 incubators in the next 4 years.
- An Experts Advisory Committee (EAC), constituted by DPIIT, will be responsible for the overall execution and monitoring of the Scheme.
- Grants of upto Rs. 5 crore will be provided to the eligible incubators selected by the committee.
- The selected incubators will provide grants of up to Rs. 20 lakh for validation of proof of concept, or prototype development, or product trials to startups.
- Investments of up to Rs. 50 lakh will be provided to the startups for market entry, commercialization, or scaling up through convertible debentures or debt-linked instruments.
Expected Benefit:
- It will help in creating a robust startup ecosystem in Tier 2 and 3 regions, as the smaller towns in India are often not provided with appropriate funding.

The MAARG Portal

It is by Startup India is a one stop mentorship platform to facilitate mentorship for startups across diverse sectors, functions, stages, geographies, and backgrounds.
Startups can connect with academicians, industry experts, successful founders, seasoned investors, and other experts to get personalized advice on growth strategy, seek clarity, and get practical advice.

Startup India

Startup India was introduced in 2016 as a call to innovators, entrepreneurs, and thinkers of the nation to lead from the front in driving India’s sustainable growth and create large scale employment opportunities.
The entrepreneurial portal had more than 65,000 startups registered.
Of which, 100 attained the ‘unicorn’ status recently, bringing the total as of date to 90.
India is ranked third among global startup ecosystems.
India’s largest online entrepreneurship platform allows startups to network, access free tools & resources and participate in programs & challenges.

About IBA

It is a representative body of management of banking in India operating in India or an association of Indian banks and financial institutions based in Mumbai.
It was formed in 1946 for development, coordination and strengthening of Indian banking, and assist the member banks in various ways including implementation of new systems and adoption of standards among the members
Public Sector Banks, Private Sector Banks, Foreign Banks having offices in India, Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks and All India Financial Institution are its member.
IBA currently represents 237 banking companies operating in India.

3. IPO pricing

Subject : Economy

Section: Capital market

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Tuesday asked stock exchanges to set a “common equilibrium price” for stocks on the first day of the listing post the IPO in order to remove any ambiguity over price discovery.
Currently, the price discovery for shares happens through a call auction process.
Call auction session would continue to be conducted separately on individual exchanges and orders would be matched by respective exchanges after computation of equilibrium price
CEP will be a volume-weighted average of equilibrium prices on individual exchanges as determined by the call auction. The exchanges will set the aforesaid CEP in their trading systems and apply uniform price bands based on the CEP. Further, only unexecuted pending orders from call auction sessions within the price band will be carried forward to the normal market segment. The provisions of this circular will come into effect after 60 days from the date of issuance.

Why change?

SEBI has asked exchanges to put in place systems for implementation of the circular, including necessary amendments to the relevant bye-laws, rules, and regulations. SEBI has also asked stock exchanges to communicate the status of the implementation of the provisions of this circular in the monthly development report.

The call auction mechanism for IPOs was started by SEBI in January 2012. According to SEBI, since call auction sessions are conducted on multiple stock exchanges, the discovered price or equilibrium price pursuant to such call auction sessions could be different on each exchange.

IPO

IPO is the selling of securities to the public in the primary market.
Primary market deals with new securities being issued for the first time. It is also known as the new issues market.
It is different from secondary market where existing securities are bought and sold. It is also known as the stock market or stock exchange.
It is when an unlisted company makes either a fresh issue of securities or an offer for sale of its existing securities or both for the first time to the public.
It is generally used by new and medium-sized firms that are looking for funds to grow and expand their business.

4. Gujarat put MPLADS to best use in FY23; 4 UTs got no funds

Subject : Polity

Section: Parliament

Under MPLADS MPs can recommend works of developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets in the areas of drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and roads in their constituencies.
MPLAD is a Central Sector Scheme which was announced in December 1993.
The recommendations of the works are made by the Members of Parliament for the betterment of the community.
These works are executed by District Authorities in accordance with the respective State Government’s financial, technical and administrative rules.
Initially, the Scheme was under the control of the Ministry of Rural Development and Planning. In October, 1994, the scheme was transferred to the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation.
Under this scheme, every MP is entitled to spend Rs 5 crore annually.
- MPs to get ₹2 cr. each instead of previously approved ₹5 cr.
According to the ‘Guidelines on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)’ published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation in June 2016, the MPLAD funds can also be used for implementation of the schemes such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), conservation of water through rain water harvesting and Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana, etc.

Functioning

Each year, MPs receive Rs. 5 crore in two instalments of Rs. 2.5 crore each. Funds under MPLADS are non-lapsable.
Lok Sabha MPs have to recommend the district authorities projects in their Lok Sabha constituencies, while Rajya Sabha MPs have to spend it in the state that has elected them to the House.
Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.
MPs are to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 per cent of the MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 per cent for areas inhabited by ST population.
The District Authority would be responsible for overall coordination and supervision of the works under the scheme at the district level and inspect at least 10% of the works under implementation every year.

5. Central Equipment Identity Register

Subject: Science and Technology

Section: Awareness in IT

Context: The CIER initiative was started by the DoT in Maharashtra in 2017 to address the issue of the theft of mobile phones as well as the growing number of counterfeit mobile phones in the market.

CIER initiative

It is essentially an equipment identity register that tracks the International Mobile Equipment Identity Register (IMEIR), the unique 15-digit identification code for each mobile device.
Using the IMEIR, the CIER project can block mobile devices that have been reported to be stolen and facilitate recovery of the mobile device by local police if the stolen device is activated. This will protect the valuable data of the consumer present on the device. Similarly, counterfeit mobile phones can also be identified since they don’t have these unique IMEIR.
TAF-COP is also set for a pan India expansion, and might be consolidated with CIER.

What is TAF-COP

TAF-COP is a cybersecurity project that notifies consumers about all the mobile phones listed under an Aadhar number.
Consumers can enter their Aadhar number into the TAF-COP portal and get a detailed account of mobile phone connections registered under their name.
In case there is fraudulent registration of mobile numbers under a person’s name, they will be able to regularise the matter.
At present, TAF-COP is live in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Telangana, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. However, DoT is planning to expand TAF-COP nationwide by May as well.

6. SC to review 1992 judgement barring police custody beyond 15 days

Subject: polity

Section :Judiciary

Concept:

The Supreme Court said that its existing position on whether an accused can be detained in police custody beyond a period of 15 days from the initial date of arrest needs a review.

The case:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had moved the Supreme Court seeking additional custody of an accused.
The investigative agency’s claim is that it requires fresh custody since he could not be interrogated by the CBI earlier despite police custody remand.
The accused opposed this fresh demand for police custody citing a 30-year-old precedent of the court which has ruled that police custody which shall be beyond the period of 15 days from the date of arrest is not permissible.
The Supreme Court in Central Bureau of Intelligence vs Anupam J. Kulkarni held that an accused cannot be detained in police custody after the lapse of 15 days from the date of arrest.

What does the law say about police custody?

Although magistrates mechanically grant police custody in virtually every case, the law allows police detention only in special circumstances.
Police custody is granted by a magistrate for reasons that must be recorded in the order.
Section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedure governs how this works.
It gives power to the Magistrate to authorise the detention of the accused in such custody as such Magistrate thinks fit, for a term not exceeding fifteen days in the whole.
This provision, the SC said is intended to protect the accused from the methods which may be adopted by some overzealous and unscrupulous police officers.

Why is police custody allowed only at the time of arrest?

After the 15-day police custody, further remand during the period of investigation can only be in judicial custody.
Judicial custody is in a central jail under the supervision of a magistrate, whereas police custody would be in a police station for officers to interrogate an accused.
The law is a check on the state’s power to restrict an individual’s liberty so when the police know that they only have fifteen days, it will strive to finish the investigation on time.
However, this is routinely circumvented using an exception to the 15-day rule.
The exception:
The 15-day bar does not apply if the accused is involved in a different case arising out of a separate cause of action.
Then, even if he is in judicial custody in one case, he can formally be arrested in the other case and the police can seek custody again, starting another 15-day cycle.

Judicial custody vs police custody

In police custody, the investigating authority can interrogate a person while in judicial custody, officials need the permission of the court for questioning.
In police custody, the person has the right to legal counsel, and the right to be informed of the grounds which the police have to ensure.
In judicial custody, the person is under the responsibility of the magistrate, while the Prison Manual comes into the picture for the routine conduct of the person.

What happens after the 15-day custody?

The CrPC allows an accused to be released on bail if the investigation is not completed within the prescribed number of days.
This is usually referred to as ‘default bail’ or ‘statutory bail’.
The first limit is 24 hours.
Then, this can be extended by a magistrate to a maximum of 15 days.
This cannot be further exceeded beyond 60-90 days.
In its 1975 ruling in “Matabar Parida vs. State of Orissa”, the Apex Court held that if it’s not possible to complete the investigation between the 60-90 day period, then even in “erious and ghastly types of crime the accused will be entitled to be released on bail.
The objective of this provision is to ensure the investigating agency completes its investigation expeditiously within a reasonable time.

7. Indian Space Association

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Space technology

Concept :

CDS Gen. Anil Chauhan has said that the world is witnessing the militarissation of space at the Indian DefSpace Symposium organised by the Indian Space association (ISpA) in association with DRDO.
According to the CDS (General Anil Chauhan), the very nature of warfare is on the cusp of major transformation with space being used to enhance combat capabilities in land, sea and cyber domains

Militarisation Of Space

It refers to the use of outer space for military purposes, including the deployment of military assets such as satellites, weapons, and communication systems.
The term generally refers to the integration of space capabilities into military planning and operations, as well as the use of space-based assets for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and navigation.

Weaponisation Of Space

The Weaponisation of Space refers to the development and deployment of weapons systems in outer space. It is the next level of militarisation and envisages a situation where space is being used for military warfare. In this term, it can be said that space becomes the new frontier of war.

Initiatives by India towards the militarisation of space

In 2019, India concluded the first table-top joint war game called ‘IndSpaceEx’ – run by the military and space scientists.
Demonstration of India’s Anti-Satellite (ASAT) capability under Mission Shakti.
Establishment of the new tri-service Defence Space Agency (DSA) – tasked with operating the space-warfare and Satellite Intelligence assets of India.
Mission DefSpace was launched in 2022 for the development of innovative solutions in the space domain by the industry.
Indian DefSpace Symposium, organised by the Indian Space Association (ISpA) and the DRDO under Mission DefSpace, to create a platform for all stakeholders who have a keen interest in boosting India’s military space capability and plans.
Indian Space Association (ISpA) is a voluntary association of leading space industries established with the objective of providing advisory and advocacy support to the space industry in India.

Indian Space Association (ISpA):

ISpA aspires to be the collective voice of the Indian Space industry ISpA will be represented by leading domestic and global corporations that have advanced capabilities in space and satellite technologies.
ISpA will undertake Policy Advocacy and engage with all stakeholders in the Indian Space domain, including the Government and its Agencies, to make India self-reliant, technologically advanced and a leading player in the space arena.
ISpA will also work towards building global linkages for the Indian space industry to bring in critical technology and investments into the country to create more high skill jobs.

Significance of ISpA:

One of the main goals of the organisation is to supplement the government’s efforts towards making India a global leader in commercial space-based excursions.
Of late, ISRO’s rockets have been carrying the payload and communication satellites of various countries; now, private players will also look to touch on this space with the new organisation.
Several private sector companies have shown an interest in India’s space domain, with space-based communication networks coming to the fore.

Other Related Organisations:

IN-SPACE:
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) was approved in 2020 to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.
NSIL:
In the 2019 Budget, the government had announced the setting up of a New Space India Limited (NSIL), a public sector company that would serve as a marketing arm of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation).
Its main purpose is to market the technologies developed by ISRO and bring it more clients that need space-based services.
That role, incidentally, was already being performed by Antrix Corporation, another public sector undertaking working under the Department of Space, and which still exists.

8. Abuse of preventive detention law

Subject : Polity

Concept :

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) of India observed that preventive detention laws in India are a colonial legacy that confers arbitrary power to the state.
The Court warned that these laws are extremely powerful and have the potential to provide the state with free discretion.

Preventive Detention

Preventive detention means detention of a person without trial and conviction by a court. Its purpose is not to punish a person for a past offence but to prevent him from committing an offence in the near future.
The detention of a person cannot exceed three months unless an advisory board reports sufficient cause for extended detention.
Protection:
Article 22 grants protection to persons who are arrested or detained.
Article 22 has two parts—the first part deals with the cases of ordinary law and the second part deals with the cases of preventive detention law.

Two Types of Detentions:

Preventive detention is when a person is held in police custody only on the basis of a suspicion that they would conduct a criminal act or cause harm to society.
The police have the authority to hold anyone they suspect of committing a criminal offence and also to make arrests without a warrant or a magistrate’s authorization in certain cases.
Punitive detention, which means detention as a punishment for a criminal offence. It occurs after an offence is actually committed, or an attempt has been made towards the commission of that crime.

9. 25 Years Of Good Friday Agreement

Subject : International Relations

Section: Msc

Concept :

US President visited Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

What were The Troubles?

Northern Ireland was created in 1921 and in 1922 the rest of Ireland gained independence from the British (the today’s Republic of Ireland, with its capital in Dublin).
Northern Ireland remained with the UK, but tensions simmered between those who wished to remain with the UK (Protestants) and those who wanted to join Ireland (Catholics).
By the 1960s, the Protestants had become more powerful and the Catholics started facing discrimination.
The violence erupted between both factions – The Troubles, claiming the lives of more than 3,500 people.

Good Friday Agreement

The Good Friday Agreement was signed on April 10, 1998, between factions of Northern Ireland, and the governments of Britain and Ireland, to end decades of violence in Northern Ireland among those who wished to remain with the United Kingdom (UK) and those who wanted to join Ireland.
The negotiators included then British Prime Minister Tony Blair, then Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, George Mitchell, a former Democratic senator who acted as the envoy of then US President Bill Clinton, and eight parties from Northern Ireland.

Terms of the Good Friday Agreement

Northern Ireland would remain part of the UK, but could join Ireland if, in a referendum, a majority of people on both sides voted for it.
People born in Northern Ireland could have Irish or British nationality or both.
Weapons by paramilitary groups would have to be decommissioned, but people in jail for violence so far would be released.
Northern Ireland would get a new government, where both the nationalists and unionists would be represented.
This devolved government would sit at Stormont and have powers over most local matters, while the UK government would look after security, foreign policy, tax laws, immigration rules, etc.
On May 22, 1998, a referendum was held in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the agreement was approved by 94 per cent of voters in Ireland and 71 per cent in Northern Ireland.

10. Govt. unveils Quality Control Orders for technical textiles

Subject: Economy

Section : External sector

Concept:

The Ministry of Textiles has announced two Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for 31 technical textile items which include 19 geo textile and 12 protective textile products.
The latest QCO is the first-ever technical regulation for technical textile products in the country.
In the next phase, the Ministry of Textiles is looking to issue two more QCOs for 28 items that aim to cover 22 agro textile products and six medical textile items.
Recently Quality Control Orders (QCO) were introduced for fibres such as cotton, polyester and viscose which are the basic raw materials in the Indian textile industry.

Quality Control Orders (QCOs)

For ensuring the availability of quality products to consumers, Quality Control Orders (QCOs) are issued by various Ministries/Departments of the Government of India in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 16 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 stipulating conformity of the products to Indian Standards.
The main aim of the QCO is to control the import of sub-quality and cheaper items and to ensure that customers get quality products.
QCOs can only be challenged at WTO if they are imposed on grounds of health, safety, environment and deceptive trade practice, or national security.
BIS certifies it for International and domestic products.

India’s stand:

All orders are in line with WTO norms
India has the right to impose QCOs since they are first applied in the domestic market and then on imports.
India’s rationale behind issuing QCOs is to curb the dumping of cheap products from China and to address the widening trade deficit, which is nearly 40% of the total deficit.

Technical Textiles

Technical textiles are functional fabrics that have applications across various industries including automobiles, civil engineering and construction, agriculture, healthcare, industrial safety, personal protection etc.
Technical Textile products derive their demand from development and industrialization in a country.
Based on usage, there are 12 technical textile segments: Agrotech, Meditech, Buildtech, Mobiltech, Clothtech, Oekotech, Geotech, Packtech, Hometech, Protech, Indutech and Sportech.
For example, ‘mobiltech’ refers to products in vehicles such as seat belts and airbags, airplane seats; geotech, which is incidentally the fastest growing sub-segment, used to hold back soil, etc.

11. India’s first 3D-printed post office

Subject: Science and Technology

Concept :

About 3D-printed post office:

It is located in Cambridge Layout in Ulsoor, Bangalore.
It is being implemented by Larsen & Toubro, which has experience in constructing 3D-printed buildings.
It is a 1,100 sqft building which is expected to cost 30-40 per cent less than conventional buildings because of the technological intervention.
It is being built at a cost of Rs 23 lakh.

What is 3D-printing?

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model
The term “3D printing” can refer to a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer control to create a three-dimensional object,with material being added together (such as liquid molecules or powder grains being fused together), typically layer by layer.
3D printing starts by making a virtual design of the object to be created. Virtual design can be made using a 3D modelling program such as CAD (Computer Aided Design) or 3D scanners.
The 3D digital copy is then put into a 3D modelling program. The model is then sliced into hundreds or thousands of horizontal layers in preparation for printing.
This prepared file is thus uploaded in the 3D printer which reads each slices in 2D format and then proceeds to create the object layer by layer and the resulting object has no sign of layering visible, but a 3 dimensional structure.

12. 6 GHz band spectrum for Wi-Fi to drive broadband penetration

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Awareness in IT

Concept :

New Delhi-based policy think tank Broadband India Forum (BIF) on Tuesday said the spectrum in the 6 GHz band is crucial for Wi-Fi and the same is required to drive broadband penetration across the country.
The 6 GHz band includes 1200 MHz spectrum in the range of 5.9-7.1 GHz. According to National Frequency Allocation Plan 2022, the spectrum in the band is allocated for fixed satellite and mobile services.
BIF has conducted a very exhaustive study for co-existence in the 6GHz band based on actual data, which has conclusively proved that Wi-Fi can co-exist with incumbent users of Fixed Services (FS) and Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) in the band.
However, Broadband India Forum and other experts believe that the government should either delicense the complete spectrum available in the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi or at least give part of the spectrum.

Need for allocating the spectrum to WiFi :

Given that public Wi-Fi is the way to accelerate broadband penetration across the country, liberalisation of public Wi-Fi through the PM-WANI scheme is one of the important steps to help achieve the government of India’s vision of Digital India and to attain the objectives of providing ‘Broadband for all‘.
Allocating the spectrum for Wi-Fi include indoor coverage of internet better than mobile networks, boost innovations including artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality, etc, using Wi-Fi6E and Wi-Fi 7 technologies, mobile data offloading on Wi-Fi in areas with lower telecom coverage, among others.

For further notes on spectrum allocation, refer – https://optimizeias.com/spectrum-2/

13. Radioactive contamination increasingly found in scraps for recycling

Subject: Environment

Section: Pollution

Context: Radioactive contaminated metal, if used to manufacture household goods, could pose a potential health problem to unsuspecting consumers: International Atomic Energy Agency.

More on the News:

Radioactive materials or contaminated devices are entering into the booming scraps recycling chain, posing a grave health hazard, according to the annual data on illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The latest data has been extracted from the IAEA Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB), where some 143 member states and international agencies report incidents of illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material under or out of regulatory control.
The annual number of reported incidents of this kind over the last decade has averaged at around 131 incidents per year according to the IAEA dataset.
Radioactive-laced waste products— including vehicles like ships — is being increasingly recycled without taking care of the hazard gains credence from the fact that during 1993-2022, more than half of incidents reported under this group were not from radioactive sources.
Only 10 per cent of all such incidents involved enriched uranium, plutonium and plutonium-beryllium neutron sources. Even for this, many incidents involved scrap metals with high enriched uranium landing up in scrapyards.
The most common source of such contamination is the feed material (in most cases, metal) from which the product had been manufactured.
Much feed material is often obtained from the metal recycling industry and, in the process of being melted down, can become contaminated with material from an undetected radioactive source such as cobalt-60.
The resulting contaminated metal, if used to manufacture household goods, could pose a potential health problem to unsuspecting consumers.

International Atomic Energy Agency

Widely known as the world’s “Atoms for Peace and Development” organization within the United Nations family, the IAEA is the international centre for cooperation in the nuclear field.
The IAEA was created in 1957 in response to the deep fears and expectations generated by the discoveries and diverse uses of nuclear technology.
Headquarter: Vienna, Austria.
Objective:
- The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.
- In 2005, it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work for a safe and peaceful world.
Board of Governors:
- 22 member states (must represent a stipulated geographic diversity) — elected by the General Conference (11 members every year) – 2 year term.
- At least 10 members states — nominated by the outgoing Board.
- Board members each receive one vote.
Functions:
- It is an independent international organization that reports annually to the United Nation General Assembly.
- When necessary, the IAEA also reports to the UN Security Council in regards to instances of members’ non-compliance with safeguards and security obligations.

14. This winter most polluted for Maharashtra and Gujarat in last 4 years: CSE report

Subject :Environment

Section: Pollution

Context: The last winter (2022-23) turned out to be the most polluted one for Maharashtra and Gujarat in the previous four years, revealed a new analysis by the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

More on the News:

The average winter pollution level in the cities of Maharashtra rose by 13 per cent compared to the mean of the previous three winter seasons. Winter pollution has been rising in Maharashtra on a yearly basis and stood at 66 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) this winter, the study found.
Winter pollution has been on a decline in Gujarat since 2019, but it spiked up this winter. In absolute terms, Gujarat was the more polluted of the two states, with a winter average of 73 µg/m3. Gujarat registered an increase of 6 per cent compared to the mean of the previous three winters.
The regional influence of pollution is sharply evident in the synchronised spread of winter pollution across the cities.

Analysis:

In these states, winter pollution typically sets in during late November and early December, when the cooler and calmer conditions trap local pollution.
In the western regions experience temperature inversion, which occurs when the surface temperature in the surrounding regions is lower than the air temperature. As a result, pollutants get trapped closer to the ground, leading to a significant rise in PM 2.5 levels.
Overall, winter amplifies the effects of various sources of pollution, including industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and agricultural burning, leading to a significant rise in PM 2.5 levels. The geographical phenomena, including temperature inversion and the direction of the wind, play a crucial role in exacerbating the pollution levels during winter in various regions of India.

Causes of Air Pollution in Delhi https://optimizeias.com/soon-delhis-air-pollution-sources-to-be-available-in-real-time/

15. European Union’s collusion with fishing lobbies is damaging the Indian Ocean tuna

Subject :Environment

Section: Species in news

Context: Members of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) agreed to reduce the use of drifting fish-aggregating devices (FADs) and to impose three-month closures on the devices, despite opposition from the European Union.

More on the News:

The EU dominates Indian Ocean tuna fisheries; its fleet of industrial fishing vessels has long reeled in the lion’s share of tuna, including yellowfin, a stock that is now perilously close to collapse.
Through their numbers and influence in EU delegations, industrial fishing lobbyists have stymied efforts to impose appropriate catch quotas and limit the use of destructive fishing gear like FADs, an investigation by the French NGO BLOOM Association found.
From 3rd to 5th February, IOTC members gathered in Kenya for a special session on the use of these fishing aids. At the meeting, India pushed for a ban on drifting FADs, saying it was necessary to apply the precautionary principle given the alarming state of yellowfin tuna. Another plan, backed by several major fishing nations, including the Maldives, Indonesia and India sought annual three-month drifting FAD closures. It called for a steep cut to the number of devices a vessel can deploy at any one time, from 300 to 150.
Kenya abruptly rescinded its support for the plan at the start of the talks. BLOOM accuses the EU of pressuring the East African nation to withdraw by threatening to cut off funding for the country’s Blue Economy program.
In a statement, the European Commission denied the NGO’s allegations, noting that the pandemic led to increased participation from stakeholders and that these stakeholders were observers and not authorized to negotiate on the commission’s behalf.

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is an intergovernmental organization that was established in 1993.
The Commission is responsible for the conservation and management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean, as well as the protection of the marine environment and the livelihoods of those who depend on these resources.
Membership: The Commission has 23 Member countries and the European Union.
Objectives: The main objectives of the Commission are to promote the sustainable use of tuna and tuna-like species, to conserve the marine environment, to ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries in the Indian Ocean, and to promote the socio-economic development of the region.
Functions: The Commission carries out a range of functions, including the collection and analysis of data on fish stocks and fishing activities, the development of conservation and management measures, the monitoring and control of fishing activities, and the promotion of scientific research.
Conservation measures: The measures include the establishment of fishing quotas, the regulation of fishing gear, the protection of vulnerable species, and the reduction of bycatch.
Monitoring and enforcement: It include vessel monitoring systems, observer programs, and port state control measures.

Tuna fish

Tuna fish are a group of large, fast-swimming, pelagic (open ocean) fish found in the world’s oceans. They are popular both as a game fish and as a food source.
Tuna are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for human health.
They are also an important part of the marine ecosystem, serving as a top predator and helping to regulate the populations of other species.
There are several species of tuna, including skipjack, yellowfin, and bluefin tuna.
Bluefin tuna is the largest and most prized species, with some individuals growing to over 500 kg in weight. However, bluefin tuna populations have been severely depleted due to overfishing, and they are now classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Tuna are migratory fish, moving across vast distances in search of food and suitable breeding grounds.
They are found in all of the world’s oceans, from the tropics to the poles.