Daily Prelims Notes 16 November 2022

Daily Prelims Notes

16 November 2022

Table Of Contents

1. World population set to cross 8-billion mark
2. Cess and surcharge as deductions
3. Seven exotic primates and drugs seized in southern Assam
4. COP27: India’s national statement lacked teeth; was centred around mission LiFE
5. Water action plan at COP27 gives hope to drought-ravaged Africa
6. COP27: Climate vulnerable countries, G7 launch plan for quick loss and damage funding
7. Attempt No. 3 for Artemis 1, with the promise of a new space age
8. PM calls for new world order
9. People in public office should not blabber disparaging things
10. India abstains from UN vote against Russia:
11. Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act 1996
12. Immunity against action for mp and mla SC appoints amicus Curiae
13. Digital Shakti program
14. ‘Greenprint for Chennai’ report launched at CoP 27
15. Water Credits
16. National Anti-Profiteering Authority set to be subsumed into CCI

1. World population set to cross 8-billion mark

Subject : Geography

Context-

• The number of human beings inhabiting the earth is set to cross the 8-billion mark today, November 15, 2022. The population growth has been led by Asian countries, especially India and China, in recent years.

Historical trend of Global Population-

• The global population hit the one billion mark in 1804. It took another 126 years to hit the second billion in 1930, and another 30 years to hit the third. The fourth billion just took 14 years, while the fifth billion was even faster at 13 years.
• In less than 100 years since 1930, the world population has grown four times and will cross 8 billion in a few hours.

Global Population growth rate-

• The annual population growth rate was the highest between 1963 and 1972, at over 2 per cent.
• The growth rate has declined since then and has fallen below 1 per cent since 2021.
• It is further projected to decline till 2050, according to World Bank data.

Population share-

• In 2022China and India account for over a third of the world’s population, with China‘s share at 18.2 per cent and India’s at 17.7 per cent.
• The US and Indonesia follow with 4.2 per cent and 3.5 per cent share of the global population.

Projected populations by 2050-

• This is expected to change by 2050, with India having the world’s highest population share at 16.8 per cent, while China’s population share would have declined by over 4.2 per cent.  
• India’s fast growing population will see it surpass China as the most populated country in the world in 2023. India is projected to add over 2.3 billion people by 2050, while China’s population is projected to shrink from 2030 onwards.
• The population of the US, Indonesia and Pakistan is also expected to grow with the addition of 41 million, 51 million and 108 million people, respectively, by 2050.

Median age-

While Asia has the largest share of the world’s population, Africa is home to the youngest population with a median age of just 20, and Europe has the oldest population with a median age of around 43. 

India’s Demography-

• Period of Stagnant population(1901-1921)
  • The census of 1921 recorded a negative growth rate of -0.31%, which happened only once throughout the demographic history of India, so the year 1921 is called the ‘Demographic Divide’ in the demographic history of India.
• Period of Steady Growth(1921-1951)
  • Population growth during this period is called the mortality induced growth.
• Period of Rapid High Growth(1951-81)
  • This period experienced very high rate of population growth and is often referred to as the Period of Population explosion.
• Period of High Growth Rate with definite signs of slowing down(1981-2011)

Spatio-Temporal Variations in Population growth-

• The phenomenon of low growth has spread beyond the boundaries of the southern states during 2001-11, where in addition to Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Karnataka in the south, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in the north, West Bengal and Odisha in the east and Maharashtra in the west have registered growth rate between 11-16% in 2001-11
• Among smaller states and Union territories, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu registered the highest growth rate of 55.5% and 53.54% respectively, between 2001-11
• A glaring down trend in the growth rate has been observed in Nagaland, where there has been a steep fall in growth rate from 64.53% in 1991-2001, to negative growth rate of -0.47% in 2011 census
• The second minimum growth rate of 4.86% has been recorded in Kerala
  • This state has reached high level of demographic transition and can be compare to the advanced countries of Europe and America
• States which have registered very high growth rate of over 20% include – Bihar (25%), Jammu & Kashmir(23%), Chhattisgarh(22%) and Jharkhand(22%)
• Other small states with higher growth rate are Meghalaya (27%) and Arunachal Pradesh (25%)

2. Cess and surcharge as deductions

Subject: Economy

Section: Fiscal policy

Context:

India’s fiscal federalism turning into coercive because of increasing cess and surcharges

Cess and surcharge are the taxes levied by the Union Government in order to raise funds for government operations. Though both Cess and Surcharge add money to the government’s revenue, these are different in many aspects.

Cess

Example-Every individual in India is liable to pay income tax and has to also pay the health and education cess at the rate of 4% on the tax including surcharge.

Definition– A cess is collected by the government for the development of a particular service or sector. So, as the name suggests, the health and education cess cannot be used for any other means. Cess is imposed as an additional tax besides the existing tax (tax on tax). However, certain cesses, such as the Swachh Bharat Cess (SBC), are levied as a percentage of the total value. The SBC is 0.5 percent of the total value of the facilities in this case.

Cess is paid to the Consolidated Fund of India, but it can only be used for particular purposes.

Surcharge

Example-

• In the case of individuals earning a net taxable salary of more than Rs 1 crore, a surcharge of 10% is levied on tax liability.
• Surcharge at the rate of 5% is levied on domestic corporations if net income is in the range of Rs 1 cr to Rs 10 cr. If the net income exceeds Rs 10 cr, surcharge at the rate of 10% is levied.
• Surcharge at the rate of 2% is levied on foreign corporations if the net income is in the range of Rs 1 cr to Rs 10 cr.
• If the net income exceeds Rs 10 cr, the surcharge is increased to 5%. Marginal relief is given to both domestic and foreign companies in case the net income exceeds Rs 1 cr and Rs 10 cr.

Definition-A surcharge applies to those persons whose income is more than Rs. 50 lakhs. This money is not collected for any specific cause, but can be used for any reason as the Union Government sees fit. Interestingly, it is applicable on the tax payable and not the total income. This collection also goes to the Consolidated Fund of India and can be used for any purpose.

The surcharge is a fee added to any tax that has already been paid. The surcharge is a term that refers to an extra fee or levy. Personal income tax (on high-income slabs and the ultra-wealthy) and corporate income tax are the two largest surcharges.

It’s worth noting that it only applies to the tax due, not the whole income.

3. Seven exotic primates and drugs seized in southern Assam

Subject: Environment

Context-

• The police in southern Assam’s Hailakandi and Cachar districts seized seven exotic primates, narcotic drugs worth ₹10 crore and Burmese areca nuts and foreign-made cigarettes — both illegal commodities — in hidden chambers of trucks.

More in news-

• Wildlife officials have not been able to identify the species but they are endangered and not Indian.
• At least 175 other exotic mammals, reptiles and birds seized in Assam since September.
• The Cachar police seized 54,000 tablets of Yaba, a narcotic drug.
• The police in Cachar district’s Lailapur also seized two trucks and seized a total of 3,505 kg of Burmese areca nuts.

Illegal Wildlife trafficking (IWT)-

• IWT describes any environment-related crime that involves the illegal trade, smuggling, poaching, capture or collection of endangered species, protected wildlife (including animals and plants that are subject to harvest quotas and regulated by permits), derivatives or products thereof.
• The IWT involves poachers, armed non-state actors from source nations, international crime groups and institutional corruption across global network chains and a range of players involved in demand countries – from organized crime syndicates and non-state actors to legitimate authorities.

Drivers for the demand of wildlife trafficking-

• Demand in Zoo, parks and personal desire
• perceived medicinal value of some products
• social status
• Ignorant tourists who purchase souvenirs or pets to take home
• Indian star tortoise has become the most trafficked tortoise worldwide because of its high demand as a pet

Implications of IWT-

• Compromises the security of countries
• Profits can be used to finance civil conflicts and terrorist-related activities.
• Hinders sustainable social and economic development
• Reduce the effectiveness of governments
• Deter civil engagement
• Erode the rule of law
• Harm the reputation of and trust in the state
• Affect the growth of local communities
• Destroys natural wealth

Situation in India-

• Emerged as a form of organised transnational crime that has threatened the existence of many wild species across the globe.
• A large part of this trade is meant for the international market and has no direct demand in India.
• The main consumer markets are China and South East Asia, but wildlife—alive or as body parts— is also smuggled to the Gulf, Europe and Northern America.
• Beyond India, the main transit countries are Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
• Commonly smuggled wildlife species are-
  • Tiger and leopard skins, their bones and other body parts, rhino horns, ivory, turtles and tortoises, sea horses, snake venom, mongoose hair, snake skins, tokay gecko, sea cucumber, chiru fleece, musk pods, bear bile, medicinal plants, red sanders timber and caged birds such as parakeets, mynas and munias.

Legal and Statutory Provisions to Curb IWT in India

• Trade in over 1,800 species of wild animals, plants and their derivative is prohibited under the country’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Since 1976, India has also been a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora, an international agreement that aims to ensure that global trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is a statutory multi-disciplinary body, established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to combat organized wildlife crime in the country. Under Section 38 (Z) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, it is mandated-
  • to collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities and to disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action so as to apprehend the criminals;
  • to establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank;
  • co-ordinate actions by various agencies in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of the Act;
  • assist foreign authorities and international organization concerned to facilitate co-ordination and universal action for wildlife crime control;
  • capacity building of the wildlife crime enforcement agencies for a scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and assist State Governments to ensure success in prosecutions related to wildlife crimes;
  • and advise the Government of India on issues relating to wildlife crimes having national and international ramifications, relevant policies and laws.
  • It also assists and advises the Customs authorities in the inspection of the consignments of flora & fauna as per the provisions of the Wild Life Protection Act, CITES and EXIM Policy governing such an item.
• Further, to bring legal wildlife trade within sustainable levels and stop all illegal wildlife trade that has threatened and even pushed many species towards extinction, TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network and a joint programme of WWF, (the global conservation organization) and IUCN, (the International Union for Conservation of Nature) works closely with the National and the State Governments and various agencies to help study, monitor and influence action to curb illegal wildlife trade and bring wildlife trade within sustainable levels.

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) led operations

• It had launched the operation “Save Kurma” to focus on the poaching, transportation and illegal trade of live turtles and tortoises.
• “Operation Turtshield- I”andOperation Turtshield-II” was taken up to tackle the illegal trade of live turtles.
• WCCB conducted Operation “Lesknow”, “Lesknow-II” and Operation “Lesknow-III” to gain the attention of enforcement agencies towards the illegal wildlife trade in lesser-known species of wildlife.
• WCCB’s “Operation Clean Art” to drag the attention of enforcement agencies towards the illegal wildlife trade in Mongoose hair brushes.
• “Operation Softgold” to tackle Shahtoosh Shawl(made from Chiru wool) illegal trade and to spread awareness among the weavers and traders engaged in this trade.
• Operation Birbil to curb illegal trade in wild cat and wild bird species.
• “Operation Wildnet”, “Operation Wildnet-II”, “Operation Wildnet-III” and “Operation Wildnet-IV” to draw the attention of the enforcement agencies within the country to focus their attention on the ever-increasing illegal wildlife trade over internet using social media platforms.
• “Operation Freefly” on the illegal trade of live birds and “Operation Wetmark” to ensure the prohibition of the sale of meat of wild animals in wet markets across the country.

Campaign- Not All Animals Migrate by Choice

• In collaboration with the Airports Authority of India and GMR Group, the campaign will travel across 22 airports across India over the next year.
• Both WCCB and UN Environment initiated a comprehensive approach with a focus on awareness building of various stakeholders towards the issue of prevention of illegal trade and smuggling of wildlife and wildlife products through exit points.
• In the first phase of the campaign, tiger, pangolin, star tortoise and tokay gecko have been taken as flagship species as they are highly endangered.
• The awareness campaign is expected to complement the efforts of Government Agencies.

4. COP27: India’s national statement lacked teeth; was centred around mission LiFE

Subject: Environment

Context:

India’s national statement made November 15, 2022 during the plenary session of the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, was dominated by LiFE — ‘lifestyle for environment’ — that was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during COP26 at Glasgow.

Mission LiFE

• It is a global initiative by India to help the world in its fight against climate change and lead to a sustainable way of life to achieve the sustainable development goals set by the U.N.
• Introduced by India during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021.
• Launched at Statue of Unity, Gujrat
• Piloted by NiTi Aayog and implemented by- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change.
• The idea promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on ‘mindful and deliberate utilization’ instead of ‘mindless and wasteful consumption i.e. Net-zero living or sustainable lifestyle.
• On 5 June 2022, on World Environment Day, India furthered the vision of LiFE by launching the LiFE Global Movement, inviting academicians, researchers, and start-ups across the world to think about specific and scientific ways in which the full potential of collective action can be harnessed to address the environmental crisis.
• The Mission encourages the P3 model, i.e., Pro Planet People.
• Advocates for the circular economy.
• Mission LiFE makes everyone trustees of the environment.
• Mission LiFE aims at following a three-pronged strategy–
  • First is by nudging individuals to practice simple yet effective environment-friendly actions in their daily lives (demand);
  • Second is by enabling industries and markets to respond swiftly to the changing demand (supply) and;
  • Third is to influence government and industrial policy to support both sustainable consumption and production (policy).
• Mobilize at least one billion Indians and other global citizens to take individual and collective action for protecting and preserving the environment in the period 2022 to 2027.

India’s commitment to Mission LiFE

• The annual per capita carbon footprint in the country is only about 1.5 tons, compared to the world average of 4 tons per year while India has the fourth largest capacity for renewable energy in the world.
• India is ranked fourth in wind energy and fifth in solar energy.
• India’s renewable energy capacity has increased by about 290 % in the last 7-8 years.
• The country has also achieved the target of 40% of the electric capacity from non-fossil-fuel sources nine years ahead of the deadline.
• National Hydrogen Mission to move towards an environment-friendly energy source. This will help India achieve its goal of a net zero carbon footprint.
• Establishment of the International Solar Alliance
• Leading the creation of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

India had launched several initiatives to support the fight against climate change:

• National Afforestation Programme (NAP)
• National Mission for a Green India (GIM)
• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
• National Biodiversity Action Plan

5. Water action plan at COP27 gives hope to drought-ravaged Africa

Subject: Environment

Context:

• World leaders at the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change launched a water adaptation and resilience action plan on November 14, 2022. The initiative will have an Africa-first focus, giving hope to drought-ravaged populations, especially in the Horn of Africa.

About the Action on Water Adaptation or Resilience (AWARe)-

• The multisectoral initiative was a result of collaboration between various stakeholders, including the African Union (AU), Water and Climate Coalition Leaders, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), among others.
• Aims to foster political efforts in establishing pan-African water hubs.
• It will address water security as part of climate change adaptation and will focus on three priorities:
• Decrease water losses worldwide and improve water supply;
• propose and support implementing policies for cooperative water-related adaptation action
• cooperation and interlinkages between water and climate action.
• One of the critical goals of the initiative is to ensure there is 50 per cent less damage from floods and droughts by 2030.
• The action plan has six comprehensive data-driven solutions it recommends regional blocks or heads of governments to put in place to enable a quick transition from awareness to action.

1. A set of global water information services like accurate hydrological data to help understand the scarcity and availability of water per region.
2. Water and climate stock take that integrates water and climate-related databases to inform decision-making.
3. A cryosphere information mechanism that details data on frozen water parts of the earth
4. A new financing rationale focusing on areas of priority
5. Need for local engagements on how to implement climate-resilient investments on the ground at different government levels
6. Need for regional cooperation are necessary for shared early warning systems to reduce the impact of loss.

• The plan calls for concerted efforts to stop pollution, manage wastewater and restore or preserve water towers and catchment areas, including glaciers and snow that are melting away, impacting sources of streams and rivers.

Increasing severity of hazards-

• Over the past 20 years, water-related hazards have consistently increased in frequency and intensity, with at least 1.6 billion people affected by floods and 1.4 billion by droughts, according to a World Bank report of 2021.
• Weather, climate or water-related disaster has occurred on average every single day within the past 50 years (1970-2019), taking the lives of 115 people daily and causing US$ 202 million in daily losses as per the study carried out by WMO in 2021.
• Early warning systems do not cover a third of the world’s population, doubling the risk of the number of individuals exposed to floods and droughts due to climate change.

Horn of Africa-

• The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.
• Located on the easternmost part of the African mainland, it is the fourth-largest peninsula in the world.
• It is composed of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti; broader definitions also include parts or all of Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda.
• The term Greater Horn Region (GHR) can additionally include Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
• It lies along the southern boundary of the Red Sea and extends hundreds of kilometres into the Guardafui Channel, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean and shares a maritime border with the Arabian Peninsula of Western Asia.

6. COP27: Climate vulnerable countries, G7 launch plan for quick loss and damage funding

Subject: Environment

Context:

• The Vulnerable Twenty (V20) group of finance ministers — representing 58 countries vulnerable to climate change — and the G7 (group of seven industrialised countries) launched the Global Shield Against Climate Risks initiative November 14, 2022. The initiative was launched at the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

About Global Shield Against Climate Risks-

• It is envisioned as a social protection and insurance-based finance mechanism for loss and damage outside the UNFCCC process.
• The finance facility, based on a polluter pays principle, is being intensely argued by the Least Developed Countries and the Association of Small Island States negotiating blocs at the negotiations in COP27.
• The initiative will provide pre-arranged financial support designed to be quickly deployed during climate disasters such as the devastating Pakistan floods in August.
• Pakistan, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Fiji, Senegal, Philippines and Ghana will be among the first countries to receive assistance from the Global Shield initiative.
• Initial contributions to the initiative include 170 million euros from Germany, 35 million danish kroner from Denmark,10 million euros from Ireland and seven million dollars from Canada.
• The US is also part of the Global Shield initiative and is funding the African Risk Capacity, an insurance and disaster risk solutions company.
• The initiative is also supported by other countries such as the United Kingdom and UN organisations such as the UN Development Programme and the UN Office of Disaster Risk Reduction.
• The Global Shield is touted to expand financial protection instruments for governments, communities, businesses and households.
• In terms of implementation, it will align with the vulnerable country’s financial and economic strategies, helping close the financing gaps.
• This would include livelihood protection, social protection systems, livestock and crop insurance, property insurance, business interruption insurance, risk-sharing networks and credit guarantees.
• It will support the integrated development of instruments at the level of governments, humanitarian agencies and non-profits, to ensure that money is available when needed.
• The Global Shield, and its predecessor, the InsuResilience Global Partnership, have thrived whilst delay tactics from rich countries have ensured no progress within the UNFCCC.
• Another crucial issue is that the financing mechanism may put an additional burden on already vulnerable populations under debt burden.

What is the Polluter Pays Principle?

• The ‘polluter pays’ principle is the commonly accepted practice that those who produce pollution should bear the costs of managing it to prevent damage to human health or the environment.
• For instance, a factory that produces a potentially poisonous substance as a by-product of its activities is usually held responsible for its safe disposal.
• The polluter pays principle is part of a set of broader principles to guide sustainable development worldwide (formally known as the 1992 Rio Declaration).
• The principle underpins most of the regulation of pollution affecting land, water and air.

7. Attempt No. 3 for Artemis 1, with the promise of a new space age

Subject: Science and Technology

In news-

• At 1.04 am Eastern time in the United States on Wednesday (11.34 am in India), a two-hour window will open for NASA to make a third attempt to send its new 322-foot-tall, multi-billion-dollar rocket known as the Space Launch System (SLS), to the Moon.

Details-

• The debut flight of the rocket was scrubbed twice earlier, on August 29 and September 3, after technical issues were detected during the countdown.
• This mission, known as Artemis 1, is unmanned and is intended to test the rocket and the Orion space capsule, in which astronauts will ride on future missions.
• If Wednesday’s launch takes place, Orion will spend a couple of weeks in lunar orbit before returning for a Pacific Ocean splashdown next month.

What is Artemis-1 mission-

• NASA’s Artemis mission is touted as the next generation of lunar exploration and is named after the twin sister of Apollo from Greek mythology.
• Artemis is also the goddess of the moon.
• It is the first in a series of increasingly complex missions that will enable human exploration to the Moon and Mars.
• With the Artemis programme, NASA aims to land humans on the moon by 2024, and it also plans to land the first woman and first person of colour on the moon.
• NASA will establish an Artemis Base Camp on the surface and a gateway (the lunar outpost around the Moon) in lunar orbit to aid exploration by robots and astronauts.
• The gateway is a critical component of NASA’s sustainable lunar operations and will serve as a multi-purpose outpost orbiting the moon.

Other space agencies are also involved in the Artemis programme.

• Canadian Space Agency has committed to providing advanced robotics for the gateway,
• The European Space Agency will provide the International Habitat and the ESPRIT module, which will deliver additional communications capabilities among other things.
• The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency plans to contribute habitation components and logistics resupply.

What are the Key Points of Artemis I Mission?

• Artemis I, formerly Exploration Mission-1, will be the first integrated flight test of NASA’s Deep Space Exploration Systems:
• Orion spacecraft: Orion spacecraft is going to remain in space without docking to a space station, longer than any ship for astronauts has ever done before.
• Space Launch System (SLS) rocket: It is the most powerful rocket in the world — and travels 2,80,000 miles from the earth for over four to six weeks during the course of the mission.
• Newly upgraded Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• It is an uncrewed space mission where the spacecraft will launch on an SLS rocket.
• The primary operating goal of the mission is to assure a safe crew module entry, descent, splashdown, and recovery.
• SLS and Orion under Artemis I will be launched from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, U.S.
• The mission will end with the Orion spacecraft’s ability to return safely to the earth.

Why Artemis 1 matters-

• Under this mission, human beings will go back to the moon, explore the possibilities of long lunar stays, and assess the potential of the moon as a launch pad for exploration into deep space.
• Currently, Artemis-1 is only a lunar Orbiter mission which has a return-to-earth target.
• The CubeSats it will carry are equipped with instruments meant for specific investigations and experiments, including searching for water in all forms and for hydrogen that can be utilised as a source of energy.
• Biology experiments will be carried out, and the impact of deep space atmosphere on humans will be investigated through the effect on dummy ‘passengers’ on board Orion.
• The SLS rocket, the most powerful ever built, will also be on test for its potential for more ambitious missions in the future.

History of moon exploration-

• In 1959, the Soviet Union’s uncrewed Luna 1 and 2 became the first rover to visit the Moon.
• The US began trying to put people in space as early as 1961.
• Eight years later, on 20th July, 1969, Neil Armstrong along with Edwin “Buzz”Aldrin became the first human to step on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission.
• Before the USA sent the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon, it sent three classes of robotic missions between 1961 and 1968.
• After July 1969, 12 American astronauts walked on the surface of the Moon until 1972.
• In the 1990s, the USA resumed lunar exploration with robotic missions Clementineand Lunar Prospector.
• In 2009, it began a new series of robotic lunar missions with the launch of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS).
• In 2011, NASA began the ARTEMIS.
• In 2012, the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft studied the Moon’s gravity.
• Apart from the USA, the European Space Agency, Japan, China, and India have sent missions to explore the Moon.

China landed two rovers on the surface, which includes the first-ever landing on the Moon’s far side in 2019.

8. PM calls for new world order

Subject: IR

Context:

• PM Narendra Modi, while addressing the G20 session said that the Covid pandemic, climate change and Ukraine conflict have together caused “havoc in the world”, leaving supply chains “in ruins” and triggering a “crisis of essentials”, adding that the poor face a “more severe” challenge.
• He called for a “new world order for the post-Covid period”

Key highlights of the speech:

On Global supply chains are in ruins

• PM Modi termed the current phase of climate change, the Covid pandemic, the developments in Ukraine, and the global problems associated with it as a “challenging global environment” and all these together have caused havoc in the world and global supply chains are in ruins.
• He called for building mutual agreement to keep the supply chain stable
• The current shortage of fertilizers in terms of food security is also a huge crisis.He asked the world leaders to build a mutual agreement to maintain the supply chain of both manure and food grains stable.

Regarding the reforms in the United Nations

• PM Modi said that multilateral institutions such as the UN have been unsuccessful in tackling these issues. We have all failed to make suitable reforms in them.

Regarding the Ukraine conflict

• Modi called for a way to return to the path of ceasefire and diplomacy in Ukraine. He urged the world leaders to build a new world order to ensure peace and harmony.

On the energy security front

• PM Modi said that India’s energy security is also important for global growth, as it is the world’s fastest-growing economy. He said that the world must not promote any restrictions on the supply of energy and stability in the energy market should be ensured.
• He also highlighted India’s commitment to clean energy by 2030.

What is G20 Summit:

• G-20 was a group of finance ministers and central bank governors from 19 individual countries and the European Union.
• It was established in 1999 and was elevated to a forum of Heads of Government in 2008 to effectively respond to the global financial crisis of 2008.
• G-20 is a forum, not a legislative body and its agreements and decisions have no legal impact, but they do influence countries’ policies and global cooperation..
• The G20 membership accounts for
  • Two-thirds of the world’s population, 
  • 85% of global gross domestic product,
  • 80% of global investment 
  • 75% of global trade.
  • Contribute 79% of the world carbon emissions
• G20 does not have any permanent secretariat or headquarters.
• The G20 Summit is formally known as the “Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy”.

How G20 works:

• Since the G20 has no permanent secretariat. The agenda and work are coordinated by representatives of the G20 countries, known as ‘Sherpas’.
• The presidency of the G20 rotates every year among members, and the country holding the presidency, together with the previous and next presidency-holder, forms the ‘Troika’.
• Troika ensures continuity of the G20 agenda.
• During India’s presidency, India, Indonesia and Brazil will form the troika.

What is “New World Order”

• The term “new world order” refers to a new period of history evidencing dramatic change in world political thought and the balance of power in international relations
• It is primarily associated with the ideological notion of world governance only in the sense of new collective efforts to identify, understand, or address global problems that go beyond the capacity of individual nation-states to solve. 
• The phrase “new world order” was used in the period toward the end of the First World War in relation to Woodrow Wilson’s vision for international peace

9. People in public office should not blabber disparaging things

Subject: Polity

Context:

• The Supreme Court reserved its judgment on whether free speech by public functionaries, including inter alia ministers, MLAs, MPs, should have greater restrictions than those imposed by Article 19 (2).
• The Five-Judge Constitution Bench consisting of  Justices S A Nazeer, B R Gavai, A S Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian and B V Nagarathna gave this verdict.

What was the verdict of the bench:

• People holding public office should exercise self-restriction and not blabber things which are disparaging or insulting to other countrymen.
• There is no need to formulate a separate code of conduct for public functionaries. 
• There is always a civil remedy available to citizens on account of a public functionary making a speech that affects someone.
• Irrespective of what Article 19(2) may say, there is a constitutional culture in the country where there is an inherent limitation or a restriction on what people holding responsible positions say.

What is Article 19(2) of the constitution:

• Article 19 (2) relates to the powers of the State to make laws imposing reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right to freedom of speech and expression in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of the country, public order, decency, morality etc.

What are some important Judgements on Freedom of Speech vs. Hate comments:

• RangilaRasool case:
• RangilaRasool was a tract brought out by a Hindu publisher that had made disparaging remarks about the Prophet’s private life.
• Cases against the first pamphlet, filed under Section 153A, were dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which examined the question whether targeting religious figures is different from targeting religions.
• This debate in interpretation prompted the colonial government to enact Section 295A with a wider scope to address these issues.

Ramji Lal Modi v State of Uttar Pradesh:

• The Supreme Court upheld the law on the grounds that it was brought in to preserve “public order”.The constitutionality of Section 295A was challenged.
• Public order is an exemption to the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression and the right to religion recognised by the Constitution.

RamlalPuri v State of Madhya Pradesh:

• In 1973, the Supreme Court said the test to be applied is whether the speech in question offends the “ordinary man of common sense” and not the “hypersensitive man”.
• However, these determinations are made by the court and the distinction can often be vague and vary from one judge to the other.

BaragurRamachandrappa v State of Karnataka:

• A 2007 decision of the Supreme Court, “a pragmatic approach” was invoked in interpreting Section 295A.
• The state government had issued a notification banning Dharmakaarana, a Kannada novel on the ground that it was hate speech, invoking a gamut of provisions including Section 295A.

10. India abstains from UN vote against Russia:

Subject: Polity

Context:

• India abstained in the UN General Assembly on a draft resolution seeking to hold Russia accountable for violations of international law by its invasion of Ukraine and requiring it to pay reparations for damage, loss and injury resulting from the war.

What was the resolution all about;

• The draft resolution, “Furtherance of remedy and reparation for aggression against Ukraine” was  introduced by Ukraine, was adopted on in the 193-member UN General Assembly.
• 94 voted in favour, 14 against and 73 remain absent, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
• Belarus, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Russia and Syria voted against the resolution.

What was India Explanation:

• India, in its explanation of the vote, questioned whether reparations would contribute towards efforts at resolving the conflict and cautioned against

precedents.

• Moreover the legal validity of such a process by a General Assembly resolution remains unclear.

Are UNGA resolution binding on the members:

• Except concerning UN budgetary matters and instructions to lower UN bodies, General Assembly resolutions are non-binding.
• The resolutions are the expression of member states’ views, and are not legally binding upon member states.

11. Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act 1996

Subject: Polity

Context:

• Recently, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, had given more power to gram sabhas, which ensure that conversions and marriages done by “alluring” tribal women to get land notified as tribal land is stopped.

What is Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996.

• The PESA Act was enacted in 1996 to provide for the extension of the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to the Panchayats to the Scheduled Areas.
• Part IX, comprising Articles 243-243ZT of the Constitution which contains provisions relating to municipalities and cooperative societies.

What was the objective of implementing PESA:

• To extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to the Panchayats to the Scheduled Areas with certain modifications.
• To provide self-rule for the bulk of the tribal population.
• To have village governance with participatory democracy and to make the Gram Sabha a nucleus of all activities.
• To evolve a suitable administrative framework consistent with traditional practices.
• To safeguard and preserve the traditions and customs of tribal communities.

What are the applicability of PESA:

• Under the Act, Scheduled Areas are those referred to in Article 244(1), which says that the provisions of the Fifth Schedule shall apply to the Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• The Fifth Schedule provides for a range of special provisions for these areas.
• Ten stateseAndhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Telangana have been notified in Fifth Schedule areas that cover partially or fully several districts in each of these states.

What are the power of Gram Sabha entrusted by PESA act:

• To enforce prohibition or to regulate or restrict the sale and consumption of any intoxicant.
• The ownership of minor forest produce lies with the gram sabha.
• To prevent alienation of land in the Scheduled Areas and to take appropriate action to restore any unlawfully alienated land of a Scheduled Tribe.
• To manage village markets by whatever name is called.
• To exercise control over money lending to the Scheduled Tribes.
• To exercise control over institutions and functionaries in all social sectors.
• To control over local plans and resources for such plans including tribal sub-plans.

12. Immunity against action for mp and mla SC appoints amicus Curiae

Subject: Polity

Context:

• The Supreme Court on Tuesday appointed senior advocate P S Patwalia as amicus curiae to assist it in examining whether an MP or MLA can claim immunity from criminal prosecution for taking bribe to make a speech or vote in the Legislative Assembly or Parliament

What is the issue:

• In 2019, a bench headed by then chief justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices S. Abdul Nazeer and Sanjiv Khanna had referred this question to a five-judge bench, the crucial question, noting it had “wide ramification” and was of “substantial public importance”.
• The three-judge bench had then said it will revisit its 24-year-old verdict in the sensational Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) bribery case on an appeal filed by Sita Soren, a JMM MLA from Jama constituency in Jharkhand.
• The top court, in its 1998 five-judge constitution bench verdict delivered in the V. Narasimha Rao versus CBI case, had held that parliamentarians had immunity under the Constitution against criminal prosecution for any speech made and vote cast inside the house.

What is the privileges of Members of Parliament

• Parliamentary privileges are special rights, immunities and exemptions enjoyed by the two Houses of Parliament, their committees and their members.
• These privileges are defined in Article 105 of the Indian Constitution.
• Under these privileges, the members of Parliament are exempted from any civil liability but not criminal liability for any statement made or act done in the course of their duties.
• The privileges are claimed only when the person is a member of the house.
• As soon as the membership  ends the privileges are said to be called off.
• Parliament has not made any special law to exhaustively codify all the privileges. They are rather based on five sources:
  • Constitutional provisions
  • Various laws made by Parliament
  • Rules of both the Houses
  • Parliamentary conventions
  • Judicial interpretations

What are some privileges enjoyed the member of Parliament:

• Freedom of Speech in Parliament:
  • It has been guaranteed under Article 105(1) of the Indian constitution. But freedom is subject to rules and orders which regulate the proceedings of the parliament.
  • Freedom of speech should be in accordance with the constitutional provisions and subject to rules and procedures of the parliament, as stated under Article 118 of the Constitution.
  • Under Article 121 of the Constitution, the members of the parliament are restricted from discussing the conduct of the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Court. 
• Freedom from Arrest:
  • The members enjoy freedom from arrest in any civil case 40 days before and after the adjournment of the house and also when the house is in session.
  • No member can be arrested from the limits of the parliament without the permission of the house to which he/she belongs so that there is no hindrance in performing their duties.
  • If the detention of any members of the parliament is made, the chairman or the speaker should be informed by the concerned authority, of the reason for the arrest.
  • But a member can be arrested outside the limits of the house on criminal charges against him under the Preventive Detention act, the Essential Services Maintenance Act , the National Security Act , or any such act.
• Right to Prohibit the Publication of Proceedings:
  • Article 105(2) of the Constitution states that no person shall be held liable for publishing any reports, discussions etc. of the house under the authority of the member of the house.
  • For paramount and national importance, it is essential that the proceedings should be communicated to the public to make them aware of what is going on in the parliament.
• Right to Exclude Strangers:
  • The members of the house have the power and right to exclude strangers who are not members of the house from the proceedings.
• What are some key rulings on the privileges:
  • Dr Zakir Hussain case(1966): In 1966 by Dr Zakir Hussain it mentioned that Members of Parliament do enjoy certain privileges so that they can perform their duties.
  • K Anandan Nambiar and another: The Supreme Court of India held that the true Constitutional position is that so far as a valid order of detention is concerned, a Member of Parliament can claim no special status higher than that of an ordinary citizen and is as much liable to be arrested, detained or questioned even during the Session.
  • State of Kerala Vs K. Ajith and Others: The Supreme Court observed that “privileges and immunities are not gateways to claim exemptions from the general law of the land, particularly as in this case, the criminal law which governs the action of every citizen.

13. Digital Shakti program

Subject: Environment

Context:

• The National Commission for Women launched the 4th phase of the Digital Shakti Program.

What is Digital Shakti Program:

• It is a pan-India project on digitally empowering and skilling women and girls in cyberspace and focuses on making women digitally skilled and aware to stand up against any illegal/inappropriate activity online.
• It is run in collaboration with CyberPeace Foundation and Meta.
• The first phase of the program was launched in 2018.

What is the National Commission for Women:

• The National Commission for Women was set up as statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 to:
  • Review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards for women
  • Recommend remedial legislative measures
  • Facilitate redressal of grievances
  • Advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.
• The commission consists of a chairperson, a member secretary and five other members.
• The chairperson of the NCW is nominated by the Central Government.
• The first commission was constituted on 31st January 1992 as Jayanti Patnaik as the chairperson.
• Alok Rawat IAS is the first male member of the National Commission for Women.

14. ‘Greenprint for Chennai’ report launched at CoP 27

Subject : Environment

Context: The Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, today launched a report titled ‘Greenprint for Chennai – Integrating Natural Infrastructure in City Planning’, at the COP27 international climate conference currently underway here.

Concept:

• The report has been prepared by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), an environmental advocacy body based in the US.
• It has its presence in India since 2017.
• TNCis the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 76 countries and territories.
• Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.
• The Greenprint report ends in a bunch of recommendations such as,
  • Creation of new wetlands
  • Restoration of existing wetlands where urbanization is projected to increase.
  • Creation of Water Fund
• Water fund: A water fund is a governance and finance mechanism that improves water security by allowing downstream water users to invest collectively in upstream water and land conservation.

About CoP 27 Conference: 

• Egypt’s coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh is hosting the 27th session of the Conference of Parties (COP27) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 6 to 18 November 2022.

Background :

• The CoP comes under the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC) which was formed in 1994.
• The UNFCCC was established to work towards “stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.”
• The UNFCCC has 198 parties including India, China and the USA. COPmembers have been meeting every year since 1995.

Key agenda of the COP27

 Loss and Damage Funding

• The term ‘Loss and Damage’ refers to the economic and non-economic impacts of climate change, including extreme events in countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
• Rich countries, historically responsible for the climate crisis, have bullied poorer nations to protect polluters from paying up for climate damages.
• The term was brought up as a demand in 1991 by the island country of Vanuatu, which was representing the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

Major initiatives announced in the COP 27 meeting:

International Climate Change University:

• The President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed to set up an international climate change university in Sri Lanka, with an ancillary institution in the Maldives.
• It was reiterated that Sri Lanka and Maldives as island nations are vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change.

UAE-Egypt Deal:

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt have struck a deal on the sidelines of the summit to develop one of the world’s largest wind farms.
• Once completed, the 10 GW onshore wind project in Egypt will produce approximately 47,790 GWh of clean energy annually.
• This would offset nearly 9% (23.8 million tonnes) of Egypt’s current carbon dioxide emissions.

Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund

• IRAF, a multi-donor trust fund of 50 million dollar is launched by Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure.
• It is established with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), will be managed by the United Nation Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (UN MPTFO) in New York.

India’s Participation in COP27:

• The Environment Minister of India Shri Bhupender Yadav is leading the Indian delegation to COP-27.
• India would press developed countries to fulfil their commitment to delivering $100 billion of climate finance annually.
• It would also press for enhanced transparency and more institutional mechanisms to make these funds available to developing countries that are most vulnerable to climate change.

15. Water Credits

Subject: Environment

Concept: 

• Water credits are one of the financing mechanisms to drive collective action toward common climate adaptation goals.
• Water credits represent a fixed quantum of water that is conserved or generated and can be transacted between water deficit and water surplus entities within a sub-basin.
• Water credit is an initiative of Water.org. Water.org is a global non-profit organization working to bring water and sanitation to the world.
• The Water Credit Initiative has been funded by social entrepreneur Gary White and Hollywood Actor Matt Damon through their organization Water.org which has invested US$ 2.2 million in Water Credit programs.
• Water credit applies the principles of microfinance to the water and sanitation sector in developing countries. By making small loans to individuals and communities who do not have access to credit, Water-Credit empowers people to address their own water and sanitation needs instead of depending on government funds and charity.
• The concept of water credits is similar to carbon credits; however, unlike the atmosphere, the spatial limit for transaction should remain within the same hydrological unit — that is, a river basin or watershed.
• For example, multiple industries can offset their impact by buying water credits from municipalities that are fund-crunched to finance large-scale floodwater harvesting or wastewater treatment projects that conserve freshwater resources at a city level and promote wastewater reuse.
• This also means that the adoption of water credits would require a multiplayer approach.
• Its implementation would need some pre-requisites such as,
  • a systemic-level intervention (regulatory players and local governance institutions)
  • innovation in adaptation finance to achieve water resilience.

16. National Anti-Profiteering Authority set to be subsumed into CCI

Subject : Governance

Context : National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) is all set to be subsumed into the Competition Commission of India (CCI) despite concerns from CCI.

Concept : 

• NAA is the anti-profiteering watchdog of GST. Its term ends in November, and no extension has been planned, per the report.
• NAA came into existence in 2017 and has received two extensions since then.
• NAA is a statutory body comes under the Finance Ministry and was established under Section 171 of CGST Act.
• It started working with effect from December 1, 2017.
• It was intended as a transitional arrangement with a specific time limit in view of the sudden changes in tax levels due to the introduction of GST, which was followed by periodic rationalisation.
• The law empowers NAA to determine whether reduction in rate of input tax credit (ITC) has been passed on to the consumers or not, by lowering prices. If not, then the Authority may ask for reduction of prices, levy penalty and in extreme cases can even order cancellation of registration.
• NAA consists of a chairman and four technical members. The authority needs a quorum of Chairman and three technical members.
• The orders of the NAA can be appealed against only in the high court.

Implementation:

• NAA’s investigation arm will continue to function in some form under CCI. The move will reduce the multiplicity of regulators as CCI can handle cases independently.
• The implementation of anti-profiteering provisions in GST law has faced several challenges.
• NAA’s role is to make sure that the benefit of tax rate reduction reaches the consumer
• This has been the role of NAA primarily because the GST council has been rejigging the rates in the last five years. NAA has little to do when rates go up.
• Authorities are still receiving several complaints about the early years of GST, saying that the benefit of the input tax credit has not been fully passed on to consumers.
• Sectors like eateries, cinemas, real estate, fast-moving consumer goods, etc., have faced NAA’s scrutiny the most.
• In many cases, the regulator ordered the business to return the allegedly overcharged amounts to the consumer.