Daily Prelims Notes 14 August 2024

August 14, 2024
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

14 August 2024

Table Of Contents

1. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and Their Impact During Crises

Sub: Eco

Sec: Monetary Policy

CBDCs as Safe Havens During Crises:
- Risk of Bank Runs: In times of financial crises, CBDCs could be perceived as safer alternatives to traditional bank deposits, especially uninsured deposits, increasing the risk of bank runs as depositors may prefer holding CBDCs.
Impact on Deposit Insurance:
- Uncertainty in Impact: The effect of CBDCs on bank deposits and deposit insurance is currently largely unknown.
- Crucial Design Features: The operating models and design features of CBDCs in different jurisdictions will play a crucial role in understanding and balancing the associated risks.
Factors of Concern for Deposit Insurers:
- Replacement of Bank Deposits: The degree to which CBDCs might replace traditional bank deposits is a major concern.
- Division of Labor: The role division between central and commercial banks in managing CBDCs is crucial.
- Privacy Concerns: The degree of privacy attached to CBDC transactions is another key factor in determining its impact.
Advantages of CBDCs:
- Finality of Transactions: CBDCs offer finality in transactions, eliminating settlement risk as they don’t require bank intermediation.
- Efficient Global Payments: They provide real-time and cost-effective global payment solutions.
- Financial Inclusion: CBDCs could significantly enhance financial inclusion by offering digital currency options to unbanked populations.
- Mitigating Risks from Private Digital Currencies: As the use of private digital currencies grows, CBDCs could serve as a stable alternative backed by central banks, thus mitigating associated risks.
Challenges for Deposit Insurers with 24×7 Payment Systems:
- Operational Risks: The advent of continuous, real-time payment systems introduces new operational risks for deposit insurers, requiring a reassessment of risks to depositors and member banks.
- Cross-Border Financial Services: While beneficial for cross-border services, digital innovations could increase risks for insurers, particularly with banks holding a significant share of non-domestic depositors.
Preparation for Tokenised Deposits:
- Understanding Tokenised Deposits: These are digital representations of traditional bank deposits hosted on a secure blockchain.
- Insurer Readiness: Deposit insurers need to prepare for tokenised deposits by considering modifications to their mandates and coverage.
- Risk Modelling: The risks associated with tokenised deposits must be carefully modeled to determine appropriate fund sizes and premium rates.

Bank Run:

A Bank Run occurs when a large number of a bank’s customers withdraw their deposits simultaneously due to fears that the bank may become insolvent. This mass withdrawal can lead to the bank’s collapse if it cannot meet the sudden demand for cash.

CBDCs: –

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are digital forms of a country’s fiat currency issued by the central bank. They are legal tender and serve as a direct liability of the central bank, similar to physical cash but in digital form.

2. MSCI’s Lifting of Restrictions on Adani Group Stocks

Sub: Eco

Sec: Capital market

Resumption of Normal Operations:
- MSCI has lifted restrictions on the treatment of Adani Group stocks during its August 2024 Index Review.
- Updates include resuming adjustments to the free float status and other metrics for Adani Group securities.
Background on Restrictions:
- In February 2023, MSCI halted certain adjustments due to concerns about the free float status of Adani Group stocks.
- The characteristics of certain investors created enough uncertainty for MSCI to exclude them from the free float calculation.
Impact on Key Adani Group Stocks:
- The weightage for Adani Enterprises and Ambuja Cements in the MSCI Standard Index has been reduced as part of the latest review.
- Other Adani Group stocks like Adani Ports, Adani Green, and Adani Power are also affected by these updates.
Ongoing Monitoring by MSCI:
- Despite lifting the restrictions, MSCI emphasized that it will continue to closely monitor Adani Group securities.
- MSCI remains vigilant regarding any developments related to the free float and will issue further updates if necessary.
Market Reactions and SEBI’s Response:
- On 12 August 2024, Adani Group stocks experienced mixed results in the market, with some recovering partially after being hit by a fresh Hindenburg report.
- The report alleged improper investigations by SEBI into Adani Group firms, but SEBI and its chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch have denied these allegations, confirming proper disclosures were made.

About Free Float:

Free Float, also known as Public Float, refers to the shares of a company that are publicly traded and not restricted.

Exclusions: It excludes shares held by:

Promoters
Government/Strategic Holding
Other locked-in shares that are not available for trading under normal circumstances.

Formula:

Free Float = (Outstanding Shares – Restricted Shares – Closely Held Shares)
- Outstanding Shares: Total number of shares held by all shareholders.
- Restricted Shares: Shares that are not transferable until certain conditions are met, usually held by corporate management.
- Closely-Held Shares: Shares held for a very long-term, such as those owned by major long-term shareholders and insiders.

Purpose:

Free Float Methodology is used to provide a more accurate reflection of market movements and the stocks actively available for trading. This methodology has been adopted by many of the world’s major indexes.

MSCI Index:

MSCI Overview:
- MSCI stands for Morgan Stanley Capital International.
- It is an investment research firm that provides stock indexes, portfolio risk and performance analytics, and governance tools to institutional investors and hedge funds.
Free Float-Adjusted Market Capitalization:
- MSCI calculates free float-adjusted market capitalization for each security to determine their weights in the MSCI indexes.
- Calculation: The share price of an equity is multiplied by the number of shares available in the market, excluding the locked-in shares.
MSCI India Index:
- Designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the Indian market.
- Constituents: With 96 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the Indian equity universe.
Review Frequency:
- The MSCI India Index is reviewed quarterly to ensure accuracy and relevance of the included stocks.

3. ILO to Help Farmers Eliminate Child Labour and Forced Work in Cotton Fields

Sub: IR

Sec: Int organisation

Background:
- Cotton and hybrid cotton seeds from India are still on the United States Labour Department’s “List of Goods Produced by Child Labour or Forced Labour”.
Partnership:
- The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has partnered with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to support farm workers and small and medium farmers involved in cotton cultivation.
Joint Project – Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW):
The project aims to:
- Promote effective recognition of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.
- Eliminate child labour and forced labour.
- Eliminate all forms of discrimination.
- Promote a safe and healthy working environment in the cotton-growing community in India.
Target Audience: Expected to reach out to 65 lakh cotton farmers in 11 States.
ILO’s Commitment:
ILO emphasized:
- The importance of addressing issues at the grassroots level through a productive approach.
- ILO’s agenda to promote freedom, equity, and dignity, ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of decent work.
- The ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Convention applies to all member states, irrespective of ratification, as it is integral to the ILO’s Constitution.
CITI’s Role:
CITI highlighted:
- Leveraging CITI’s existing farmer connections and network.
- Collaboration with government bodies, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and civil society groups to empower cotton-growing communities.
- The goal to uphold the FPRW and foster a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous environment for all workers.
Additional Objectives:
- The project also seeks to promote financial inclusion and bank linkage for farmers and agricultural workers.

ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998)

Adopted in 1998, this declaration commits all ILO member states to respect and promote eight fundamental principles and rights, regardless of whether they have ratified the relevant conventions.
Four Key Categories of Fundamental Principles:
- Freedom of Association and The Right to Collective Bargaining:
- Conventions: No. 87 (Freedom of Association) and No. 98 (Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining).
Elimination of Forced or Compulsory Labour:
- Conventions: No. 29 (Forced Labour) and No. 105 (Abolition of Forced Labour).
Abolition of Child Labour:
- Conventions: No. 138 (Minimum Age) and No. 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour).
Elimination of Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation:
- Conventions: No. 100 (Equal Remuneration) and No. 111 (Discrimination in Employment and Occupation).

Core Conventions of the ILO

The eight fundamental conventions are crucial components of the United Nations Human Rights Framework.
135 member states have ratified all eight fundamental conventions, while 48 member states (including those with large populations) have not ratified all.
The Eight Core Conventions:
- Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
- Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105)
- Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100)
- Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No. 111)
- Minimum Age Convention (No. 138)
- Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182)
- Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (No. 87)
- Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98)
Relevance Today:
- These conventions are crucial in the face of global economic challenges affecting workers’ welfare and livelihoods.
- They are integral to the global human rights framework and are key to achieving social justice in a globalized world.

India and the ILO: The Scenario

India is a founding member of the ILO and has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since 1922.
The first ILO Office in India was established in 1928.
India has ratified six out of the eight core ILO conventions:
- Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
- Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105)
- Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100)
- Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No. 111)
- Minimum Age Convention (No. 138)
- Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182)
Non-Ratified Conventions:
- Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (No. 87)
- Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98)
Reason for Non-Ratification:
- Certain restrictions imposed on government servants prevent the ratification of Conventions No. 87 and 98.
- Ratification would involve granting rights that are prohibited under statutory rules for government employees, such as:
  - The right to strike.
  - The right to openly criticize government policies.
  - The right to freely accept financial contributions.
  - The right to freely join foreign organizations

4. What are the contentious amendments to the Waqf Act and what are the implications?

Sub: Polity

Sec: Legislation In news

Context:

The Union government on Thursday (August 8) introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the 1995 Waqf Act (1995 Act).

More on the news:

The Bill proposes major changes to the Waqf Act 1995, by introducing sweeping changes in the governance and regulation of Waqfs in India.
The proposed amendments seek to significantly reform the law by enhancing the Centre’s regulatory authority over waqf properties and, for the first time, permitting the inclusion of non-Muslim members in Waqf Boards.

What is Waqf property?

A Waqf is a personal property given by Muslims for a specific purpose of religious, charitable, or for private purposes.
The concept of Waqf (endowment) was introduced in India with the advent of Muslim rule.
The Waqf can be formed through a deed, or Instrument, or even orally.
Once a property is declared as Waqf, its character changes forever, and cannot be reversed.
While the beneficiaries of the property can be different, the ownership of the property is implied to be with God.

What is the current governance structure of Waqf?

The Central Waqf Act, 1954 was enacted after independence to provide for the regulation of Waqfs which was ultimately replaced by the Waqf Act, 1995.
Each waqf is managed by a mutawalli (custodian) who oversees its administration.
The Waqf law provides for the appointment of a survey commissioner who maintains a list of all Waqf properties by making local investigations, summoning witnesses, and requisitioning public documents.
A Waqf property is managed by a mutawalli (caretaker), who acts as a supervisor.

What is the waqf board?

A Waqf Board formed under the state government works as a custodian for Waqf properties across the state.
It administers Waqf properties and taking measures for the recovery of lost properties of any Waqf.
A Waqf Board is headed by a chairperson, and has one or two nominees from the state government, Muslim legislators and parliamentarians.
It sanctions any transfer of immovable property of a Waqf by way of sale, gift, mortgage, exchange, or lease.

What is waqf tribunal?

The Waqf Act provided for a Waqf tribunal to be constituted by the state governments to resolve disputes related to Waqf properties in India.
According to the Section 6 of the Waqf Act 1995, the tribunal’s decision is taken as final in case of disputes regarding a property’s status as Waqf.
The tribunal is chaired by a state judicial officer not below the rank of a District, Sessions or Civil Judge, Class I.

What are the key changes in the proposed law?

The Bill seeks to change the name of the parent Act from the Waqf Act, 1995, to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
Under the Bill, only lawful property owners who have practised Islam for at least five years are authorised to create ‘waqf’ properties through the execution of formal deeds.
The responsibility of surveying waqf properties, previously managed by survey commissioners under the 1995 Act, will now be assigned to district collectors or officers of equivalent rank.
The Bill proposed the inclusion of non-Muslims in key waqf institutions — the Central Waqf Council, State Waqf Boards, and waqf tribunals.
Waqf board has been changed from a three-member body to a two-member body and the waqf tribunal will now consist of a district judge and an officer of joint secretary rank to the State government.
Central government will have the authority to order audits of Waqf properties by auditors appointed by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or designated officers.
The Bill have removed provisions to allow a property to be considered Waqf based on oral declarations.
- Properties without a valid waqfnama will be treated as suspect or disputed.
The proposed law allows courts to intervene in waqf disputes and it removes the finality of decisions made by waqf tribunals, allowing aggrieved parties to appeal directly to the concerned High Court.
Under the proposed law, tribunals must resolve disputes within six months, with a possible extension of an additional six months.

5. Tech that keeps vehicles from bumping into each other

Sub: Sci

Sec: Msc

Context:

As many as 15 people have been killed and dozens injured after a freight train collided with a passenger train in India’s West Bengal state.

What is a collision avoidance system?

A collision avoidance system (CAS) is a collection of technologies to help a vehicle steer clear of another vehicle or obstacles.
Most CAS devices require two pieces of information, preferably in real-time: the locations of all the other vehicles and the location of this vehicle relative to those vehicles.

How does CAS help land-based vehicles?

Suppose two cars, called the Front Car and the Back Car, are moving in sequence and both are fit with CAS devices.
If the separation between the two cars is expected to drop within a certain value within a stipulated time frame, the CAS may be empowered to deploy an automatic emergency brake as required of cars in the European Union, for example without the driver’s intervention.

What is ‘Kavach’?

Kavach System is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) under Indian Railway (IR).
It is a set of electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identification devices installed in locomotives, in the signaling system as well the tracks, that talk to each other using ultra-high radio frequencies to control the brakes of trains and also alert drivers, all based on the logic programmed into them.
The system can alert the loco pilot, take control of the brakes and bring the train to a halt automatically when it notices another train on the same line within a prescribed distance.
The device also continuously relays the signals ahead to the locomotive, making it useful for loco pilots in low visibility.
It also controls the speed of the train by an automatic application of brakes in case the loco pilot fails to do so.
It helps the loco pilot in running the train during inclement weather conditions such as dense fog.

How does CAS work in ships and aircraft?

An important component of CAS is the transponder which is a device that, when it receives a radio-frequency ping, produces a response.
Using the transponders of various other aircraft, the host aircraft can build up a 3D view of the air traffic around itself.
If another aircraft is within 48 seconds away on a potential collision course, the computer sounds a traffic advisory that requires the pilots to visually identify the other aircraft.
Ships use a combination of visual sighting and radar to steer clear of each other, while these operations are similarly assisted with the use of additional systems like Automatic Identification System(AIS) and Long Range Identification and Tracking(LRIT).

How have satellites changed CAS?

An important alternative to the transponder-based system for aircraft is the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system, which collects and processes information shared actively by each aircraft via satellites.
Similarly, the AIS for ships can be facilitated by satellites as well such as S-AIS systems are particularly useful to track ships that are too far from AIS stations on land.

6. Melting polar ice due to climate change is making earth’s days longer

Sub: Geo

Sec: Climatology

Slower Earth Rotation Due to Melting Polar Ice Caps:

Scientists have found that the melting of polar ice caps is causing the Earth to spin slower, leading to slight changes in the duration of a day.
Although this change is minor and does not significantly affect daily life, it can have implications for technologies that rely on precise timekeeping, such as computer networks and space travel systems.

Conservation of Angular Momentum and Earth’s Rotation:

The phenomenon is explained by the conservation of angular momentum, where the Earth behaves similarly to an ice-skater. When ice sheets and glaciers melt, water moves towards the equatorial regions, increasing the Earth’s oblateness and moment of inertia, thus slowing its rotation rate.
This pole-to-equator mass flux causes the Earth to bulge at the equator, leading to a lengthening of the day as the rotation slows.

Impact of Climate Change on Earth’s Rotation:

Researchers used climate models and data spanning 200 years to show that over the past two decades, the slowing of Earth’s rotation due to climate change has reached around 1.3 milliseconds per century.
If high emission scenarios continue, this rate could increase to 2.6 milliseconds per century, making climate change the dominant factor in slowing Earth’s rotation.
These changes, though measured in milliseconds, can impact precise timekeeping with atomic clocks, necessitating adjustments such as the addition of leap seconds to maintain synchronization.

Lunar Tidal Friction and Other Influences:

Lunar tidal friction, or the moon’s gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans, has already been slowing Earth’s rotation by about 2 milliseconds per century.
Other processes, like the slowed rotation of Earth’s core and crustal rebound after the ice age, have been contributing to a faster rotation, prompting discussions on the potential need for a negative leap second.

Climate Change and Earth’s Axis Shift:

Studies have shown that melting ice is not only slowing Earth’s rotation but also affecting the Earth’s axis of rotation, causing a slight shift in the location where the axis intersects the crust.
For people in low-lying coastal areas, the rising sea levels from melting ice have more severe consequences, highlighting the urgency of addressing climate change and reducing emissions to prevent further disruption of planetary systems.

Source: TH

7. Does India have laws against invasive species from ballast water?

Sub: Env

Sec: Pollution

Context:

The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) has requested ₹160 crore from Kamarajar Port in Ennore, Tamil Nadu, for the removal of invasive charru mussels (Mytella strigata) from the coast. These mussels harm marine ecosystems and disrupt fishing activities. The WRD claims Kamarajar Port is responsible for the spread of the mussels by not regulating ballast water discharge from ships.

What is Ballast Water?

Ships need to have a certain level of immersion into the sea to be stable. When a ship discharges cargo, it rises up in the water and therefore, to keep a minimum level of immersion, ship staff take in sea water called ballast water inside tanks in the ship.
And when the ship loads cargo, leading to more immersion, the ballast water is pumped out of the ship.
Until recently, there was no bar on taking in and pumping out of ballast water at ports, in the ocean, along the coast and so on.
Since ballast water carries invasive species into other countries that destroy ecosystems, global shipping has sought to regulate ballast water discharge.

The Severity of the Problem:

Nearly 30 invasive species have been recorded in India from ship ballast water. The charru mussel, in particular, has taken over habitats in places like Pulicat Lake in Tamil Nadu and Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala due to its high survival and reproduction rates.

Global Regulations on Ballast Water:

The Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) came into effect in 2017, requiring ships to manage ballast water to remove or neutralize aquatic organisms before discharge.
Newly built ships use chemical treatments to ensure no organisms are present in the ballast water.
Older ships exchange ballast water in the ocean to mitigate risks.

India’s Position on Ballast Water Management:

Despite 97 countries signing the BWM Convention, India has not joined, leaving ballast water discharge in Indian ports unregulated.
There is a need for India to sign the convention to hold vessel owners accountable for ecological damage caused by ballast water discharge.

Source: TH

8. What is Bangladesh’s St Martin’s Island, under spotlight after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation?

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Sajeeb Wazed’s Denial of Resignation Statement:

Sajeeb Wazed, son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, dismissed as “completely false and fabricated” a newspaper statement that suggested Hasina said she could have stayed in power by handing over Bangladesh’s St. Martin’s Island and the Bay of Bengal to America.

Location and Description of St. Martin’s Island:

St. Martin’s Island is in the northeastern Bay of Bengal, near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, and is nine kilometers from the southern tip of Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula.
The island is 7.3 km long, mostly flat, with an elevation of 3.6 meters above sea level.
It is Bangladesh’s only coral island, featuring reefs 10-15 km to the west-northwest and serving as a breeding ground for sea turtles.
The island has a permanent population of about 10,000 and hosts an average of 10,000 tourists daily.

History of St. Martin’s Island:

The island was originally part of the Teknaf peninsula about 5,000 years ago but gradually submerged into the sea.
Around 450 years ago, the southern part of present-day St. Martin’s Island resurfaced, with the northern parts rising above sea level in the next 100 years.
Arab merchants were among the first settlers on the island in the 18th century. They initially named it “Jazira” (meaning “the island” or “the peninsula”) and later changed it to “Narikel Jinjira” or “Coconut Island.”
In 1900, British India annexed the island during a land survey, and by then, fishermen, either Bengali or from the Rakhine community of present-day Myanmar, had settled on the island.
During British occupation, the island was named St. Martin’s Island after the then Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong, Martin.
After the partition of British India in 1947, the island became part of Pakistan and later part of independent Bangladesh following the 1971 Liberation War.

Source: IE

9. Global supply shortage buoys tobacco prices in AP

Sub: Geo

Sec: Eco Geo

Context: Strong export demand due to supply shortage in the global market lifted tobacco prices at the ongoing auctions in Andhra Pradesh, the largest producer of the commodity in the country.

Stakeholders said a shortfall in supplies from countries such as Zimbabwe and Brazil, among others, had led to increased demand for Indian produce in the overseas market in the recent months

Tobacco crop:

Tobacco cultivation in India was introduced by the Portuguese in 1605.
It is a drought-tolerant, hardy and short-duration crop which can be grown on soils where other crops cannot be cultivated profitably.
The cultivation of tobacco usually takes place annually.
The tobacco is germinated in cold frames or hotbeds and then transplanted to the field until it matures.
It is grown in warm climates with rich, well-drained soil.
For tobacco 50-100cm annual rainfall and 15-20^o C temperature during the growth period is ideal.
Tobacco cannot stand if rainfall is more than 100cm. After harvesting to dry the leaves it requires bright sunshine & dry weather but not less than containing 8% moisture.
About 4.2 million hectares of tobacco were under cultivation worldwide in 2000, yielding over seven million tonnes of tobacco.

Varieties of tobacco crop:

Ninety-three varieties including Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) (29), Burley (3), Natu (5), Lanka (2), Chewing (17), Bidi (15), Cheroot (3), Cigar (4), Hookah & chewing (15) types have been released for the farming community. Breeding efforts are made for developing varieties with high solanesol, high flavour, low nicotine etc. CMS hybrids having higher levels of flavour compounds have also been developed.
80-85% of India’s tobacco exports continue to be FCV alone.

Top products:

The top producers of tobacco are China (39.6%), India (8.3%), Brazil (7.0%) and the United States (4.6%).
In India, Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of tobacco. Gujrat, Karnataka, Bihar and Odisha are other tobacco-producing states.
India has seven tobacco research centres that are located in: Jeelugumilli, A.P., Kandukuru, A.P., Guntur, A.P., Kalavacherla, A.P., Hunsur, Karnataka, Vedasandur, Tamil Nadu,Dinhata, West Bengal; and Rajahmundry houses the core research institute.
The government has set up Tobacco Board Guntur which works to increase the production, sale and exports of Indian tobacco. Guntur is also well known for its tobacco plantations.
India is one of the leading exporters of tobacco and occupies second place after Brazil. The country accounts for 6% by volume and 0.7% by value of the world tobacco trade.

Risks faced by tobacco farmers:

Farmers are trapped in a vicious cycle of debt as a result of unfair contractual agreements with the industry.
Green tobacco sickness, a form of occupational poisoning which is caused by nicotine absorbed through the skin from the handling of wet tobacco leaves,
Exposure to heavy use of pesticides and exposure to tobacco dust.
Child labour and gender inequality.
Environment pollution.

10. Organic farmers want certification cost lowered

Sub: Geo

Sec: Eco Geo

Context: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Agency (Apeda), an arm of the Commerce Ministry, is unable to help farmers get certification for their organic produce at a lower cost.

The cost of certification by various agencies/companies for individual farmers is over ₹1 lakh, which they cannot afford

Certification of Organic Products in India

Any organic food manufactured, packed, sold, offered for sale, marketed or otherwise distributed in the country is regulated as per the provisions of Food Safety and Standards (Organic Food) Regulations, 2017, which were notified on 29.12.2017 and enforced from 01.07.2018. These regulations require Organic Food to comply with the provisions of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) or Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). However, to support small original organic producer or producer organisation, those with annual turnover not exceeding 12 lakhs per annum have been exempted from certification through NPOP or PGS. The Organic food covered through these regulations should bear FSSAI organic logo i.e. Jaivik Bharat logo along with PGS- Organic (or) India Organic logo. Jaivik Kheti portal (https://www.jaivikkheti.in/) has also been created for promotion and sale of organic produce to connect farmers involved in organic farming with consumers directly for better prices. Already 80,000 farmers are registered on the portal.

Third-party certification of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).
In terms of market development, there is a dedicated ‘Jaivik Kheti’ portal
there is evidence of low awareness regarding traceability norms among growers registered in the TraceNet scheme of APEDA

National Programme for Organic Production

NPOP launched during 2001 was the first such quality assurance initiative by the Government of India under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The NPOP not only provided the institutional framework for accreditation of certification agencies and operationalization of certification programme through its accredited certification bodies but also ensures that the system effectively works and is monitored on regular basis.
During 2004 the NPOP was brought under the ambit of Foreign Trade Development and Regulation (FTDR) Act wherein it was mandated that no organic products can be exported unless they are certified under NPOP.

Participatory Guarantee System

To make the certification system affordable and accessible without the need for third party certification agencies a farmer group centric certification system was also launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under PGS-India programme for local and domestic market.
Both the programmes (NPOP and PGS-India) are independent of each other and products certified under one system cannot be processed or labeled under another system.
While NPOP certified products can be traded in export and in the domestic market including imports, PGS-India certified products can be traded only in the domestic market.

11. Kiren Rijiju launches portal for Jiyo Parsi Scheme

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Marginalised

Context:

The Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju launched the Jiyo Parsi Scheme portal, a Central Sector Scheme to arrest the population decline of the Parsi community in India.

Jiyo Parsi Scheme

The Jiyo Parsi Scheme was introduced by Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2013.
by aims to contain the population decline of the Parsi community in India.
The scheme has three components, Medical Assistance, Advocacy & Health of Community:
1. Medical Component: financial assistance is provided to Parsi Couples for medical treatment under standard medial protocol
2. Health of Community Component: financial assistance is provided to Parsi Couples for child care and assistance of elderly people
3. Advocacy Component: advocacy/outreach programmes are conducted to generate awareness among the Parsi Population.
The scheme is applicable to all couples, irrespective of their financial status.

About the portal

The portal will enable Parsi couples to apply online under the scheme.
The beneficiaries and applicants will be able to check the status of their application and will be able to receive the financial assistance online through Direct Benefit Transfer mode.
Since inception in 2013-14, the scheme has supported more than 400 Parsi children.

About Parsi community

The Parsis are an ethnoreligious group that follow Zoroastrianism, founded by Zoroaster in 6^th century BC in modern Iran.
In India, they are known as ‘Parsis’ or ‘one from Persia’.
Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic religion that follows one God called Ahura Mazda.
The holy scripture in Zoroastrianism is called Avesta.
Navroz the Iranian New Year is celebrated in India by the Parsi community.
Zoroastrians (Parsis) are among the six religious communities notified as minority communities by the Union Government.

Decline in Population

According to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, the population of Parsis declined from about 114,000 in 1941 to 57,264 in 2011.

12. Sperm or egg donor has no parental right on child: Bombay HC

Sub: Science and Tech

Sec: Health

Context:

The Bombay High court in the case of in Shailaja Nitin Mishra v. Nitin Kumar Mishra ruled that an egg or sperm donor does not have parental rights or duties in relation to the child.
The court held that merely donating eggs or sperm does not give legal entitlement to the donor to claim that he or she is the biological parent of the child.
This decision came after a woman, who had donated eggs to her sister and brother-in-law, claimed maternal rights over the twins born through surrogacy.

Observations by the court:

The judge referred to the National Guidelines for Accreditation, Supervision and Regulation of ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) Clinics in India, enacted in 2005.
As per Guidelines, a child born through ART shall be presumed to be the legitimate child of the couple, born within wedlock and with the consent of both spouses.
Guidelines clearly state that the sperm/oocyte donor shall not have any parental right or duties in relation to the child.

What is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman (the surrogate) agrees to carry and give birth to a child on behalf of another person or couple (the intended parents).
Altruistic surrogacy: Surrogacy which involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy.
Commercial surrogacy: Surrogacy undertaken for a monetary benefit or reward.

Surrogate vs. gestational carrier

A surrogate is a woman who becomes pregnant with sperm from the male partner of the couple.
- This may pose legal issues since the baby is genetically related to the surrogate. Therefore, it is necessary to have a legally binding surrogacy agreement.
A gestational carrier becomes pregnant with an egg from the female partner and the sperm from the male partner.

13. The container that cools just right

Sub: Science and Tech

Sec: Msc

Evaporation of water

The molecules of any liquid are in constant motion but all of them don’t move with the same speed. Their energies vary over a small range and the temperature we measure represents only the average kinetic energy of all the molecules.
Even when left undisturbed, the fast-moving molecules escape from the surface and vanish into air. As a result, the mean kinetic energy or the temperature of the water is lowered.
This process is facilitated by a large surface area as more molecules come into contact with air.

How does water stored in a mud pot remain cool?

The pores in mud pots provide a large surface area for evaporation and significantly cool the water in the pot, especially when the temperature outside is higher.
Interestingly, the water in the pot can never become ice. This is because the pitcher is not a closed system: it can also take up heat from its surroundings.
Thus, an equilibrium temperature is reached when the process of heat loss and gain are balanced.
Further conversion of water (even at 0^o C) into ice would require a further removal of heat to bring about a phase change. This will only be possible by using a refrigerant.