Daily Prelims Notes 13 March 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

13 March 2023

Table Of Contents

1. RBI’s ‘sandbox’ tests for fraud-proof fintech
2. Government to provide financial support to eligible agencies to promote GI
3. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
4. Mauritius loses edge on equity inflows
5. Why is 2023 the International Year of Millets?
6. Silicon Valley Bank ‘contagion’ may leave India unscathed, say Finance Ministry
7. Rajasthan Right to Health Bill
8. Scientists devise ‘glowscope’ to bring fluorescent microscopy to schools
9. Same-sex union can rock societal values
10. 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5)
11. History of Oscars
12. Oscars won by Indians
13. Purple Revolution
14. Environmental, Social, and Governance
15. Net-zero waste to be mandatory for buildings
16. Climate change and catfight in the Himalayas

1. RBI’s ‘sandbox’ tests for fraud-proof fintech

Subject: Economy

Section: Monetary Policy

Context: RBI picks fintech’s to test ways of preventing, mitigating financial fraud

What’s the news?

• On January 5, the Reserve Bank of India called for applications for the testing phase of the fourth cohort of its ‘regulatory sandbox’. The theme is ‘prevention and mitigation of financial fraud’.
• For this regulatory sandbox, the RBI received nine applications, of which six were selected for testing the following products: (i) a comprehensive surveillance mechanism for monitoring transactions and events from loan accounts on a continuous and real-time basis (BahwanCybertech Pvt Ltd); (ii) an early warning system for credit monitoring and fraud identification (Crediwatch Information Analytics Pvt Ltd); (iii) risk-based authentication solution for frictionless (without one-time password) low-value transactions (enStage Software Pvt Ltd — Wibmo); (iv) closed user group artificial intelligence/machine learning based solution for card-not-present fraud detection (HSBC in collaboration with Wibmo); (v) lock the login form, payment form, ATM, and point-of-sale machines, and enable it only for the authorised user to initiate transaction using credentials via napID zero-factor authenticator app (napIDCybersec Pvt Ltd); and (vi) address verification by running proprietary AI algorithms on non-personally identifiable data such as subscriber usage and location signals (Trusting Social Pvt Ltd).

What is regulatory sandbox?

• Regulatory sandbox usually refers to live testing of new products or services in a controlled/test regulatory environment for which regulators may (or may not) permit certain relaxations for the limited purpose of the testing.

Why it is needed?

• The regulatory sandbox allows the regulator, innovators, financial service providers and customers to conduct field tests to collect evidence on the benefits and risks of new financial innovations.
• The objective of the regulatory sandbox is to foster responsible innovation in financial services, promote efficiency and bring benefit to consumers.

2. Government to provide financial support to eligible agencies to promote GI

Subject : Economy

Section: Msc

Context: The government will provide financial assistance to eligible agencies for undertaking initiatives for the promotion of Geographical Indications (GIs) products.

What is the news?

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has issued operational guidelines for financial assistance for undertaking the initiatives for the promotion of GIs.
• DPIIT is an arm of the commerce and industry ministry which deals with investments and intellectual property rights (IPRs).
• A GI, a kind of IPR, is primarily an agricultural, natural or manufactured product (handicraft and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory.
• Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin.
• The famous goods that carry GI tag include Basmati rice, Darjeeling Tea, Chanderi Fabric, Mysore Silk, Kullu Shawl, Kangra Tea, Thanjavur Paintings, Allahabad Surkha, Farrukhabad Prints, Lucknow Zardozi and Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving.
• This is inline with the objectives of national IPR policy.
• Government of India will provide financial assistance to eligible agencies for undertaking initiatives for Promotion of GIs, which aims to create awareness about significance of GIs and its uniqueness, promoting registered Indian GIs, identify potential GIs and encourage stakeholders towards registration.

3. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Subject : International Relations

Section: Groupings

What is it?

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a law enacted by the European parliament in May 2016 to lay down stringent ground rules for all entities that collect, store or use personal data belonging to residents in 28 EU countries. The law came into force on May 25 after a two-year grace period. The primary objective of the GDPR is to establish the right to privacy as one of the fundamental rights for EU residents. It requires all firms dealing with personal data to be open and transparent about what they will do with it, and to take the user’s permission before they share it. The law also requires firms to seek user consent through an explicit opt-in, or a signature on a consent form. That’s bye-bye to check-boxes that are ticked by default.

4. Mauritius loses edge on equity inflows

Subject: Economy

Section: External Sector

• Mauritius is fast losing its relevance as being the preferred destination for equity investments into India given the greater regulatory oversight over the island nation and the perception of it being a tax haven.
• Investments from Mauritius as gauged by the equity assets under custody have dipped 46% to Rs 2.5 trillion in February from Rs 4.67 trillion last year, with the last few months seeing a significant decline.
• “Old investments made through Mauritius which were grandfathered are getting sold. Buying into Indian equities is happening through better and safer jurisdictions such as Singapore and the Netherlands because there is no treaty benefit for equity investments from Mauritius
• The tax treaty between India and Mauritius was renegotiated in 2016 post which capital gains on sale of shares was made taxable. Shares acquired prior to April 1, 2017, were to be grandfathered under the amended treaty agreements. The tax rate for capital gains arising during the transition period from April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2019, were to be limited to 50% of the domestic tax rate in India.
• Mauritius was put on the grey list by FATF in February 2020, and that had a significant impact on its credibility as a prudent and compliant jurisdiction. Jurisdictions under increased monitoring actively work with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies. The island nation, however, managed to make its way out of the grey list in October 2021.
• With the tightening of KYC norms as per FATF standards and Singapore introducing the VCC regime around the same time, FPIs from Mauritius are now trying to shift base to other jurisdictions by exiting from the Indian capital market
• Singapore has succeeded with the VCC model, with more than 300 VCCs set up since January 2020.
• A part of the selling could also be attributed to the decline in the Indian rupee, which has depreciated more than 8% in the last one year, eating into the returns of the FPIs. The current tax season could also coax FPIs to book losses and set it off in the books of account. The increased scrutiny on Mauritius funds in the light of the Adani issue could have also prompted some selloff, said experts.

• However, debt investments from Mauritius have remained stable as capital gains on debt investments are protected under the India-Mauritius tax treaty. Mauritius also continues to remain the top 3 destination for FDI investment into India as of December last year.

5. Why is 2023 the International Year of Millets?

Subject : International Relations

Section : International Organisation

Context: The UN is celebrating 2023 as the International Year of Millets.

What are millets?

• Millets, hardy dryland crops grown in Asian and African countries, are gaining popularity for their nutritional qualities

Why celebrate?

• Commemorations such as these draw attention to lesser-known topics, in this case crops. They also foster a global exchange of ideas, research and development as well as bolster trade.
• After 2013, the International Year of Quinoa, the superfood rose in popularity and is grown across the world. Researchers say sudden rise in popularity benefited farmers, but also resulted in a boom-and-bust cycle. There are concerns the same could happen to millets.

How International Year decided?

• Generally, a member nation makes a proposal to the UN through a relevant agency, such as the FAO in case of millets.
• India’s proposal to FAO went through internal approvals before being presented at the UN General Assembly and was approved with the support of 71 countries. India is the Chair, and Nigeria and ICRISAT are the Vice-Chair of the FAO International Committee for the International Year of Millets.
• While this is a UN-wide event, because millets fall under food and agriculture, the FAO is the corresponding implementing agency coordinating with relevant technical experts, several UN member countries and representatives from all regions, and stakeholders such as academia, private sector, and civil society.
• The IYM2023 consolidates and pushes for global cooperation to promote millet in various ways.
• One of the most famous food fads of recent times is quinoa, which rose to global fame as a superfood thanks in part to the International Year of Quinoa 2013 (IYQ2013). Quinoa too was a neglected and underutilised crop and was grown in 50 countries before 2013. After IYQ2013, this number grew to over 123 countries. This staple from the Andean region, is now grown in diverse climatic zones. Like millets, quinoa too is climate resilient, can improve nutritional security and an alternative to wheat and rice. However, experts have identified a boom-and-bust cycle when crops like quinoa rise into prominence suddenly.

Millets in India:

• Even as area under millet cultivation dropped by 56% drop in India, production increased from 11.3 to 15.3 million tonnes, Hughes points out. This was due to the development and adoption of improved varieties and hybrids, and better crop management practices. Overall, millet productivity has increased by more than two times, and pearl millet productivity has tripled.

6. Silicon Valley Bank ‘contagion’ may leave India unscathed, say Finance Ministry

Subject : Economy

Section: External Sector

Concept :

• As the fallout from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank is starting to spread around the world, experts say the Indian banking system is unlikely to witness any major spillover effects. However, there will be some impact on the sentiment of the market.
• Silicon Valley Bank’s downfall is the largest failure of a financial institution since Washington Mutual collapsed at the height of the financial crisis more than a decade ago.

About Silicon Valley Bank

• Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was a commercial bank headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
• SVB was the 16th-largest bank in the United States at the time of its failure on March 10, 2023, and was the largest bank by deposits in Silicon Valley.
• As a state-chartered bank, it was regulated by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) and was a member of the Federal Reserve System. The bank operated from offices in 13 countries and regions.

What went wrong at SVB?

• The financial institution best known for its relationships with high-flying world technology startups and venture capital experienced a bank run.
• A bank run, which is typically the result of panic (customers withdraw their deposits simultaneously) rather than true insolvency, pushes a bank into actual insolvency.
• Bank runs have occurred throughout history including during the Great Depression and the 2008-09 financial crisis.

Implications

• The SVB’s large deposits (startups and wealthy tech workers) are unsafe.
• The Federal government insures deposits to $250,000 and anything above it is considered uninsured and likely to be released in an orderly process.
• But many businesses want to access funds to meet payroll and office expenses → could lead to furloughs/layoffs.
• There’s no buyer of SVB.

Is this a sign of a repeat of the 2008 global financial crisis?

• SVB was large but had a unique existence by servicing nearly exclusively the technology world and VC-backed companies.
• Other banks are far more diversified across multiple industries, customer bases and geographies and could survive a deep recession and a significant rise in unemployment.
• However, if the ‘contagion effects’ from SVB or higher interest rates hit more foreign banks, a flight to safety among global investors could hit capital flows into emerging markets.
• The contagion effect explains the possibility of the spread of economic crisis or boom across countries or regions.
• The fundamental underlying this scenario where price movements in one market are resultant of shocks or volatility in the other market is a perfect information flow.

Impact on the Indian economy

• Many Indian start-ups [especially in the SaaS (software as a service) sector] not only have accounts, but the bank had also been an important lender.
• For example, an investment of a total of $1.7 million in One97 Communications, the parent company of Paytm.
• As the funding for start-ups is dwindling, this could prove to be a major roadblock, especially for young businesses.

7. Rajasthan Right to Health Bill

Subject : Governance

Concept :

• The Rajasthan Assembly’s recently completed budget session restarted discussion about the Right to Health Bill.
• If the bill is approved, hospitals, clinics, and laboratories that are both publicly and privately operated must offer free and reasonably priced medical services.
• The Bill is opposed by private hospital doctors who claim it was quickly drafted, ignores practical considerations, and could tighten standards in an industry that is already overly regulated.

Key points of the Bill

• The Right to Healthcare Bill, 2022 was introduced to the State Legislature by the Rajasthan State government in September 2022.
• Patients and healthcare professionals are given rights under the Bill, which also obliges the government to uphold these legal rights and requires the establishment of grievance redressal systems.
• Residents of Rajasthan will be entitled to free examinations, medications, diagnostics, emergency transport, and care at all public health facilities, as well as reasonably priced surgeries. The Bill views healthcare as a public good rather than as a means of profit.
• 20 rights are outlined in clause 3 of the bill, including the right to informed consent, the right to information (in the form of medical records and documentation) regarding diagnosis and treatment, and the right to treatment free from caste, class, age, gender, and other discrimination.
• The obligation for providing adequate medical services is transferred to the government under Section 4 of the Bill. The government is “obligated” to allocate funding, establish institutions, and create grievance redressal procedures.
• The government must create a human resource policy for the health sector under section 4, which calls for a fair distribution of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals throughout all levels of the system.

Right to health under the Indian Constitution

• The right to health is not specifically mentioned in the Indian Constitution.
• The theoretical “right to health” is drawn from the constitutionally protected rights to life and liberty (Article 21).
• In the past, courts have underlined the State’s duty to safeguard and advance citizens’ health, citing constitutional clauses like Article 38 (promotes the welfare of people) and Article 47 (directs the government to meet the population’s nutritional and health needs).

Health Index for States

• The Health Index for States developed by Niti Aayog in consultation with the health ministryand the World Bank has rankings for large states, smaller states and Union territories.
• It is based on 23 health parameters ranging from mortality rate and sex ratio to functioning cardiac care units.
• In 2019, Kerala was the top performer followed by Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• The index results indicated that states even with a lower economic output are performing better on health and well-being.

8. Scientists devise ‘glowscope’ to bring fluorescent microscopy to schools

Subject : Science and technology

Section: Msc

Concept :

• Researchers at the Winona State University, Minnesota, have created a design for a ‘glowscope’, a device that could democratize access to fluorescence microscopy.

About Fluorescence Microscopy:

• A fluorescence microscope views an object by studying how it re¬emits light that it has absorbed, e., how it fluoresces. This is its basic principle.
• How it works?
• The object is illuminated with light of a specific wavelength.
• Particles in the object absorb this light and re¬emit it at a higher wavelength (i.e., different color). These particles are called fluorophores.
• The object is infused with fluorophores before being placed under the microscope.
• When the fluorophores fluoresce, a fluorescent microscope can track them as they move inside the object, revealing the object’s internal shape and other characteristics.
• Scientists have developed different fluorophores to identify and study different entities, from specific parts of the DNA to protein complexes.

Applications:

• It is used to image specific features of small specimens such as microbes.
• It is also used to visually enhance 3-D features at small scales.
• It allows the use of multicolor staining, labeling of structures within cells, and the measurement of the physiological state of a cell.
• It is the most popular method for studying the dynamic behavior exhibited in live-cell imaging.
• Different molecules can now be stained with different colors, allowing multiple types of molecules to be tracked simultaneously.

Optical Microscopy

• An optical microscope, also known as a light microscope, views an object by studying how it absorbs, reflects, or scatters visible light.
• It uses one or a series of lenses to magnify images of small samples with visible light.
• The lenses are placed between the sample and the viewer’s eye to magnify the image so that it can be examined in greater detail.

9. Same-sex union can rock societal values

Subject :Polity

Section :Constitution

Concept :

• The Centre has briefed the Supreme Court that it is opposing petitions asking for the legal recognition of same-sex unions, arguing that the “legislative understanding of marriage in the Indian statutory and personal law regime” only refers to unions between biological men and women and that any interference “would cause a complete chaos with the delicate balance of personal laws in the country and in accepted social norms”.
• Also, it stated that “the Petitioners cannot claim a basic right for same-sex marriage to be recognised under the laws of the country” despite the decriminalisation of Section 377 of the Indian Criminal Code (IPC).
• The affidavit was submitted by the Union Government before the Supreme Court in response to several petitions that asked for the legal recognition of same-sex unions. In November 2022 and in January 2023, the Supreme Court had given notifications regarding these petitions.

Same-Sex marriage around the Globe

• Same-sex marriage is the marriage of two people of the same sex or gender.
• Same-sex unions were also known in Ancient Greece and Rome, ancient Mesopotamia, some regions of China, and at certain times in ancient European history.
• As of 2022, marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, etc.
• Adoption rights are generally not covered, though most countries with same-sex marriage allow those couples to jointly adopt as other married couples can.
• 34 countries have definitions of marriage that prevent marriage between couples of the same sex.
• Some other countries have constitutionally mandated Islamic law, which is generally interpreted as prohibiting marriage between same-sex couples.
• In some countries, homosexuality itself is criminalized.
• The first law providing for marriage equality between same-sex and opposite-sex couples was passed by the Netherlands in 2000.
• Social science research indicates that the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage stigmatizes and invites public discrimination against gay and lesbian people.
• Opposition to same-sex marriage is based on claims such as that homosexuality is unnatural and abnormal.

Same-sex marriage: in the Indian context

• The right to marry is a fundamental right under article 21.
• However, same-sex marriage is also not legalized in India.
• Section 377 in The Indian Penal Code: Unnatural offences; Whoever voluntarily has carnal inter­course against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with life imprisonment for life, or with impris­onment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years, and shall also be liable to pay a fine.
• The adoption law prohibits the adoption of a child by same-sex couples.
• Under present law, one partner cannot inherit properties left behind by their same-sex partner.
• At Present Marriages between same-sex partners are not recognized in India, but this can be changed by inserting a provision in the Special Marriage Act.

Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954

• The original Special Marriage Act was enacted in 1872, following a campaign launched in 1860 by Brahmo Samaj for simpler marriage ceremonies.
• Its requirement of renouncing one’s religion was not consistent with modern ideas of liberalism, individualism and autonomy of the individual.
• Therefore the 1954 law replaced the 1872 Act, and the requirement to renounce one’s religion was removed.
• The law was the first step toward a Uniform Civil Code. The objective was that if we want a liberal, modern, secular and progressive law, we first start the experiment voluntarily.
• Therefore, those going for an inter-faith marriage could register under the SMA.
• Once your marriage is registered under SMA, your religion’s laws won’t apply.
• The provision under the law requires couples getting married to give notice to the Marriage Officer 30 days before the date of marriage.
• The notice can be inspected by “any person and anyone can object to the marriage.

Supreme Court on IPC 377, Homosexuality

• The constitutional bench of the Court unanimously held that the criminalization of private consensual sexual contact between adults of the same sex under Section 377 of IPC was unconstitutional.
• Article 14, Granting equality before the law.
• Article 15, prohibits discrimination on Grounds of religion, race, Caste, Sex or place of birth.
• Article 21 Guarantees the protection of life and personal liberty.
• Equal Citizenship and equal protection of laws

Key Points of the Judgement

• Homosexuality is documented in 1500 species and is not unique to humans.
• Majoritarian morality cannot dictate constitutionality morality and Human rights are more important than religious rights.
• Social morality cannot be used to violate the fundamental rights of even a single individual.

10. 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5)

Subject : International Relations

Section: International Organization

Concept :

• The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) concluded with adoption of the ‘Doha Political Declaration’ by the world leaders.
• The declaration made by the head of the states is a key outcome of the second part of LDC5 conference held under the theme “From Potential to Prosperity” at Qatar from March 5-9, 2023.
• It was adopted a year after the text of DPoA for the Decade (2022-2031) was agreed upon during the first part of the LDC5 conference on March 17, 2022 in New York.

About the Declaration

• This declaration focuses on implementing the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) — the 10-year plan to put the world’s 46 most vulnerable countries back on track to achieving the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
• The five key deliverables from the DPoA– an online university, a graduation support package, a food stock holding solution, an investment support centre and a crisis mitigation and resilience building mechanism – will answer key challenges facing the LDCs, and set the path for a more prosperous, equitable future.
• The political declaration made at Qatar is significant since it comes amid simultaneous global risks of rising cost of living and inflation as well as climate change impacts.
• It is expected to help the LDCs address the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, to return to a pathway to achieve the SDGs, address climate change and make strides towards sustainable and irreversible graduation.
• It is also expected to help the LDCs overcome the socio-economic impacts following the Ukraine-Russia war.

Least Developed Country (LDC)

• They are developing countries listed by the UN that exhibit the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development.
• The concept first originated in the late 1960s and was codified under UN resolution 2768 passed in November 1971.
• According to the UN, an LDC is defined as “a country that exhibits the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development, with low levels of income, human capital and economic diversification, high levels of economic vulnerability, and a population that is disproportionately reliant on agriculture, natural resources, and primary commodities.”
• The UN identifies three criteria for a country to be classified as an LDC:
• It must have a gross national income (GNI) per capita below the threshold of USD 1,230 over a three-year average.
• It must perform poorly on a composite human assets index based on indicators including nutrition, health and education.
• The country must demonstrate economic vulnerability such as being prone to natural disasters and possessing structural economic constraints.
• Countries must meet a selection from all three criteria simultaneously and are reviewed on a three-year basis by the UN.
• Currently, the UN lists 46 countries that qualify as LDCs. Of those, 33 are from Africa, nine from Asia, three from the Pacific and one from the Caribbean.
• Note :
• Bhutan, the mountainous, landlocked country that is consistently ranked one of the happiest in the world, will on December 13th of this year, become the seventh nation to graduate from the United Nations’ (UN) list of Least Developed Countries (LDC).

11. History of Oscars

Subject : International Relations

Section : Awards and Prizes

Awards

Concept:

• The first Oscar statuette was created in 1927 and was sculpted the following year.
• The figure was partially based on Mexican filmmaker and actor Emilio Fernández, who was ‘coaxed’ into posing for sketches for the initial design by MGM creative director Cedric Gibbons – the draft sketches were then sent to a young Los Angeles sculptor, George Stanley, who created the legendary figurine.
• The Oscar statuette features a knight holding a sword in both hands, standing on a circular base shaped like a spool of film.
• The Oscar statuettes were traditionally manufactured in solid bronze and then gilded in 24-karat gold. The procedure has evolved in response to technological advancements.

Process of making

• A 3D printer is used to construct a digital Oscar, which is subsequently cast in wax.
• After cooling, each wax figure is coated in a ceramic shell and allowed to cure for a few weeks before being fired at 1,600°F.
• The wax melts away throughout this procedure, leaving a hollow, Oscar-shaped structure. They are then cooled, sanded, and polished after being cast in liquid bronze.
• The statuettes are then taken across town to Brooklyn, where Epner Technologies Inc. electroplates each one in 24-karat gold.

Face Value of One Dollar

• The award itself – the trophy – has a face value of only $1, or Rs 82.
• Despite its low value, it is not for sale because the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences requires each winner to follow strict rules when it comes to the industry’s most coveted award, including no selling or disposing of the statuette without first offering it back to the Academy for a single dollar bill.
• In July 2015, a California judge forbade Oscar winners or their heirs from putting their statuettes up for sale, declaring that they “were never intended to be handled as an article of trade”.

12. Oscars won by Indians

Subject : International relations

Section : Awards and Prizes

Context: India had scored this year’s Oscars — For Best Original Song (RRR song “NaatuNaatu”), and Best Documentary Short (Kartiki Gonsalves-directed The Elephant Whisperers).

Concept:

About Oscars:

• The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the global film industry.
• Given annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)
• The 1st Academy Awards were held in 1929 at a private dinner hosted by Douglas Fairbanks in The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
• 1958: Though not an official entry, Mehboob Khan’s Mother India (1957) was the first Indian film to receive an honorary  mention in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 30th Academy Awards.
• 1961: At the 33rd Oscars, producer Ismail Merchant’s 13-minute short film The Creation of Woman (1961) and directed by Charles F Schwep was nominated in the Best Short Subject (Live Action) category.

NaatuNaatu -RRR

• Crew :Composer MM Keeravani and lyricist Chandrabose,KaalaBhairava the two singers of ‘NaatuNaatu’, along with Rahul Siplingunj
• ‘RRR’ is set in 1920, it tells a fictionalised story of two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Sitharama Raju (who fought against the British Raj) and Bheem (who fought against the Nizam of Hyderabad).
• The film was inspired by ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ (2004), the biopic of Argentine Marxist revolutionary leader Che Guevara, which is set in the period before he became famous.

The Elephant Whisperers

• Gonsalves is the first Indian to win in the short documentry category.
• Kartiki Gonsalves ( won as a debut director)  and Guneet Monga’s Netflix documentary short, Produced by Achin Jain and Guneet Monga, and directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, the 41-minute short follows the family from Tamil Nadu’s Mudumalai Tiger Reserve who end up adopting two orphan baby elephants
• Featuring the charming Raghu and Ammu, and Bomman and Bellie,it truly is a testament to,the ‘sacred bond between us and the natural world and respect for indigenous communities

13. Purple Revolution

Subject: Geography

Section: Economic Geography

Concept :

• The Ministry of Science and Technology initiated the Purple Revolution or Lavender Revolution in 2016 through the Aroma Mission of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

About Purple Revolution:

• It aims to promote the indigenous aromatic crop-based agro-economy by shifting from foreign aromatics to homegrown kinds.
• First-time producers were offered free lavender seedlings as part of the goal, and those who had previously produced lavender were paid Rs. 5-6 per plant.
• The CSIR-Aroma Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM)’s Initiative have begun lavender cultivation in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Lavender farming is done in nearly all of Jammu and Kashmir’s 20 districts.
• Particularly, the districts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Srinagar, Bandipora, Budgam, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Kulgam, Baramulla etc. have made huge progress in this direction.

Products:

• The main product is Lavender oil which sells for at least Rs. 10,000 per litre
• Lavender water, which separates from lavender oil, is used to make incense sticks.
• Hydrosol, which is formed after distillation from the flowers, is used to make soaps and room fresheners.
• Significance:
• It is significant since it aligns with the government’s objective of doubling agricultural earnings by 2022.
• It would provide a livelihood for aspiring farmers and agri-entrepreneurs, as well as strengthen the Start-Up India programme and encourage an entrepreneurial spirit in the region.
• Over 500 young people benefited from the purple revolution, which eventually led to the doubling of their income.
• Agricultural development is one of the most powerful tools to end economic constraints, boost shared prosperity and feed a projected 9.7 billion people by 2050.

Aroma Misson

• The CSIR Aroma Mission aims to bring about transformational change in the aroma sector by implementing targeted interventions in agricultural, processing, and product development in order to boost the aroma industry’s growth and rural employment.
• It will encourage the development of aromatic crops for the production of essential oils, which are in high demand in the aroma sector.
• It is anticipated that Indian farmers and the aroma business will be able to become worldwide leaders in the production and export of various essential oils in the menthol mint pattern.
• Aroma Mission is drawing entrepreneurs and farmers from all across the country.
• CSIR assisted in the cultivation of 6000 hectares of land in 46 Aspirational districts across the country during Phase I.
• In addition, almost 44,000 employees were trained.
• The CSIR has started Phase II of the Aroma Mission, which will include over 45,000 skilled human resources and help over 75,000 farming families.

14. Environmental, Social, and Governance

Subject: Economy

Section: MSc

Context: Over the last decade, regulators and corporations around the world have embraced the idea that businesses should be measured not just on traditional economic metrics such as shareholder return, but also by their environmental impact, commitment to social issues and the soundness of their corporate governance and protection of shareholder rights.

Environmental, Social, and Governance:

• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals are a set of standards for a company’s operations that force companies to follow better governance, ethical practices, environment-friendly measures and social responsibility.
• It focuses on non-financial factors as a metric for guiding investment decisions wherein increased financial returns is no longer the sole objective of investors.
• Investors use ESG criteria to assess a company’s risk profile and to identify opportunities for investment in companies that are well-managed and have a positive impact on society and the environment.
• ESG considerations are increasingly important to investors who are looking for long-term value and who are concerned about the impact of their investments on the world. Companies that score well on ESG criteria may also be more attractive to customers and employees who are concerned with sustainability and social responsibility.
• Environmental factors include a company’s impact on the environment, such as its carbon footprint, resource use, waste management, and pollution.
• Social factors include a company’s impact on people, such as its treatment of employees, customers, suppliers, and the communities in which it operates.
• Governance factors include a company’s management and oversight practices, such as its board composition, executive compensation, and transparency and accountability to shareholders.

ESG Regulations in India:

• India has long had a number of laws and bodies regarding environmental, social and governance issues. These include –
  • Environment Protection Act of 1986
  • Quasi-judicial organisations such as the National Green Tribunal
  • Range of labour codes and laws governing employee engagement and corporate governance practices.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) substantially revised the annual Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) required by the 1,000 largest listed companies in India. The BRSR report demands sustainability reporting by listed entities with the intent towards having quantitative, qualitative and standardized disclosures on ESG parameters.

How ESG differs from CSR?

• ESG is a broader set of criteria that investors use to evaluate the sustainability and ethical impact of a company or organization’s ESG criteria include environmental, social, and governance factors that are considered alongside financial factors when making investment decisions.
• CSR, on the other hand, refers to a company’s voluntary actions and initiatives to improve its social and environmental impact, beyond what is required by law. CSR activities may include charitable donations, employee volunteer programs, reducing environmental impact, and promoting ethical business practices.
• CSR activities may align with ESG criteria, ESG is a more structured and systematic approach that focuses on evaluating a company’s overall sustainability and ethical impact.

15. Net-zero waste to be mandatory for buildings

Subject: Schemes

Context: According to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, all upcoming housing societies and commercial complexes in the country will soon mandatorily have to ensure net zero waste.

More on the News:

• The directive is part of the Manhole to Machine-hole scheme for the complete removal of manual scavenging and has been formulated as a convergence of programmes like Swachch Bharat, NAMASTE and AMRUT.
• India currently generates 72,368 million litres per day of urban wastewater of which only 28% is treated.
• According to a 2021 report – ‘Circular Economy in Municipal Solid and Liquid Waste’, if the sale of treated sewage is institutionalised, it can add close to ₹3,285 crore annually.
• The UN SDG 6.3 aims at halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally by 2030.
• The Ministry is also looking at integrating septic tank design into the building by-laws and adherence to standard specifications, geo-tagging all septic tanks and manholes for proper tracking, and reducing GST on mechanised cleaning vehicles.

NAMASTE scheme

• NAMASTE envisages safety and dignity of sanitation workers in urban India by creating an enabling ecosystem that recognizes sanitation workers as one of the key contributors in operations and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure.
• Ensuring safety and dignity of sanitation workers in urban India and providing sustainable livelihood and enhancing their occupational safety through capacity building and improved access to safety gear and machines.
• National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme is a central sector scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE).
• It is being jointly implemented by MoSJE and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Five hundred cities (converging with AMRUT cities) will be taken up under this phase of NAMASTE. The category of cities that will be eligible are given below:
  • All Cities and Towns with a population of over one lakh with notified Municipalities, including Cantonment Boards (Civilian areas),
  • All Capital Cities/Towns of States/ Union Territories (UTs), not covered in 4(i),
  • Ten Cities from hill states, islands and tourist destinations (not more than one from each State).
• The NAMASTE Scheme has been approved with an outlay of Rs. 360 crore for four years from 2022-23 to 2025-26.

16. Climate change and catfight in the Himalayas

Subject : Environment

Section: Species in News

Context: A warming climate threatens to push Nepal’s three big cat species — tigers, leopards and snow leopards — into closer proximity to each other, with unknown consequences for the survival of each.

More on the News:

• Both tigers and leopards have been observed at elevations above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet), well within snow leopard territory, although conservationists say tigers are less likely to persist at these altitudes over the long term.
• Research shows that snow leopards are also moving uphill. But with limited room to move into, their habitat will effectively shrink, even as they compete with leopards for this scant space.

Tiger:

• Habitat distribution:
  • Tigers are found in a variety of habitats across Asia, including forests, grasslands, and swamps. In India, the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigristigris), the most common subspecies of tiger, is found in a range of habitats, from tropical and subtropical forests to mangrove swamps and grasslands.
• Protection Status:
  • Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • IUCN Red List:
  • CITES: Appendix I.

Leopards:

• Habitat distribution:
  • Leopards (Panthera pardus) have a wide distribution across Africa and Asia, and they are found in a variety of habitats, from forests and grasslands to deserts and mountains.
  • In India, leopards are primarily found in forested areas, but they can also be found in scrublands, grasslands, dry and moist deciduous forests, as well as in the Himalayan foothills, Western Ghats and even in urban areas.
• Protection Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule 1

Snow Leopards:

• Habitat distribution:
  • Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) are found in the high-altitude mountain ranges of Central and South Asia, including the Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindu Kush, Pamir, Tien Shan, and Altai Mountains. Their range covers 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
  • Within these mountain ranges, snow leopards are found in a variety of habitats, including alpine meadows, subalpine scrub, and rocky areas. They are known to range from an elevation of 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) in some areas to as high as 5,500 meters (18,000 feet) in others.
• Protection Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule 1