Daily Prelims Notes 18 July 2024

Daily Prelims Notes

18 July 2024

Table Of Contents

1. WTO Pact Concerns for Small Fisher Bodies
2. China’s Gold Buying Trends
3. Dip in India’s childhood immunisation
4. The peace deal in Colombia has affected its cocaine industry
5. Finance Ministry eases procurement rules for scientific research equipment
6. What does Maharashtra’s Public Security Bill stipulate?
7. States cannot tinker with the Scheduled Castes List, says SC
8. IPEF: India likely to sign clean, fair economy pacts
9. Green Credit Rules: Death by trees?
10. Israeli settlement threatens Palestinian UNESCO village

1. WTO Pact Concerns for Small Fisher Bodies

Sub: Eco

Sec: External sector

• Background:
  • Small-scale fisher organizations from India, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Gambia, and Indonesia have raised concerns about the WTO’s comprehensive agreement on curbing overcapacity and overfishing (OCOF) subsidies.
  • They believe this agreement will have serious implications for their future and that of indigenous communities worldwide.
• Demand:
  • These organizations demand that subsidy negotiations be kept out of the WTO.
  • They propose that such negotiations be handled by the Committee of Fisheries under the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Sub-Committee on Trade, which they argue has the requisite expertise.
• Special and Differential Treatment:
  • A major concern is the limited special and differential treatment provisions in the draft agreement, which offer exemptions for small-scale fishing in developing countries.
  • They fear the definition and application of these exemptions may not adequately protect small-scale fishers.
• Challenges:
  • There are concerns about how “small-scale fishers” are defined, ensuring that exempted activities do not become industrialized.
• Organizations Involved:
  • The World Forum of Fisher Peoples and the World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers represent national organizations of traditional small-scale fishing communities, including those in India.
• Current Status:
  • The issue was highlighted at the recent Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Summit and Committee on Fisheries meeting in Rome.
  • The fisher organizations are actively seeking to shift negotiations to an entity with more relevant expertise, such as the FAO’s Sub-Committee on Trade.

Implications:

• Economic Impact: The potential impact on the livelihoods of small-scale fishers if the WTO agreement goes through as currently drafted.
• Policy Influence: The role of specialized bodies like the FAO’s Sub-Committee on Trade in handling fisheries-related negotiations.
• Global Fisheries Management: The broader implications for global fisheries management practices and sustainability.

Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) – Key Points

The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) addressing significant issues related to overcapacity, overfishing, and illegal fishing practices.

Agreement Details

• Provisions:
  • Prohibits subsidies for Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and overfished stocks.
  • Bans subsidies for fishing on high seas outside the jurisdiction of coastal countries and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations.
• Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT):
  • Developing Countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) get a two-year transition period to comply with the agreement.
• Exemptions:
  • No prohibition on subsidies if the vessel or operator is not engaged in IUU fishing.
  • Subsidies for overfished stocks allowed if aimed at rebuilding stocks to sustainable levels.

Benefits of the Agreement

• Eliminates Harmful Subsidies:
  • Targets subsidies to vessels/operators involved in IUU fishing.
• Supports Coastal Countries:
  • Reduces large-scale IUU fishing, protecting fisheries resources and livelihoods.

India’s Stand on AFS

• Minimal Fisheries Subsidies:
  • Despite its large population, India provides minimal subsidies compared to advanced fishing nations.
• Sustainable Practices:
  • India’s fisheries sector relies on small-scale and traditional fishers, practicing sustainable resource utilization.
• Principles for Obligations:
  • Advocates for higher obligations on nations historically providing large subsidies and engaging in industrial fishing, adhering to ‘polluter pay principle’ and ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’.

2. China’s Gold Buying Trends

Sub: Eco

Sec: External sector

Introduction

• China has the largest foreign currency reserves globally, at $3.22 trillion as of June 2023.
• Despite this, gold’s share in China’s reserves is at a record high of 4.9%, still below the global average of 16%.

Reasons for Gold Buying

• Safety: Gold reserves are safe from seizure as they can be stored onshore.
• Diversification: Amidst geopolitical tensions and sanctions (e.g., Russia-Ukraine conflict), China aims to diversify away from U.S. dollar-denominated assets.

Historical Context

• The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) resumed gold purchases in November 2022 after a three-year pause.
• This resumed buying helped drive global gold prices to record highs in 2024.

Current Trends

• China paused its gold purchases in May and June 2024, attributed to high gold prices.
• Despite the pause, China’s gold buying is expected to continue due to its low gold reserve share relative to its economic size and ongoing geopolitical risks.

Comparisons and Motivations

• Russia, with 30% of its reserves in gold, serves as a cautionary example for China. Western sanctions froze about half of Russia’s reserves, highlighting the security of holding gold.
• Analysts believe China’s motivation includes reducing dependence on the U.S. dollar and mitigating risks of potential U.S. sanctions.

Future Prospects

• If China increases its gold reserves to match the global average, significant additional purchases would be required.
• Continued geopolitical tensions between China and the U.S. are likely to sustain China’s gold buying strategy.

Impact on Markets

• PBOC’s gold buying has a notable influence on global gold prices.
• Increased demand from both official and retail sectors in China supports gold as a secure investment.

Strategic Considerations

• As China looks to bolster its economic security through increased gold reserves, it faces the challenge of balancing purchase volumes with market prices.
• The strategic shift towards gold aligns with China’s broader goal of economic resilience and reduced exposure to U.S.-dominated financial systems.

3. Dip in India’s childhood immunisation

Subject: Science and tech

Sec: Health   

Context:

In absolute terms, 2.04 million children remained under-vaccinated in 2023, slightly lower than the 2.11 million children in 2019. The “slight” drop is a call to intensify efforts.

More about News:

• There was a slight dip in childhood immunisation in 2023 compared to 2022, recently released WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunisation coverage (WUENIC) revealed.
• There was a two-percentage point dip (from 95% in 2022 to 93% in 2023) in the coverage of the diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) vaccine, used as a proxy for the number of “zero-dose” children.

• This number, however, was much higher than the 87% and 88% DPT coverage seen in 2020 and 2022 respectively, and higher than the 2023 global average of 89%.
• WUENIC shows that there were 6 million zero-dose children in India in 2023, up from 1.1 million in 2022, but much less than 2.73 million seen in 2021.

What is Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DPT)?

• Diphtheria:
  • Caused by:
    • Diphtheria is primarily caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
  • Symptoms:
    • Common cold
    • Fever
    • Chills
    • Swollen gland in neck
    • Sore throat
    • Bluish skin
  • Spread:
    • Coughs and sneezes
    • Close contact with someone infected.
  • Target Population:
    • Diphtheria particularly affects children aged 1 to 5 years.
    • Occurrence of diphtheria cases in under-five children reflects low coverage of primary diphtheria vaccination.
• Tetanus:
  • Caused by:

• • Through infection of a cut or wound with the spores of the bacterium Clostridium tetani, and most cases occur within 14 days of infection.
  • Tetanus cannot be transmitted from person to person.

• • Prevention:
    • Through immunization with Tetanus-Toxoid-Containing Vaccines (TTCV).
  • Symptoms:
    • Jaw cramping or the inability to open the mouth.
    • Muscle spasms often in the back, abdomen and extremities.
    • Seizures.
• Pertussis:
  • Caused by:
    • Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
    • The disease is most dangerous in infants, and is a significant cause of disease and death in this age group.
  • Spread:
    • From person to person mainly through droplets produced by coughing or sneezing.

DPT vaccine:

• In 1978, The DPT vaccine was introduced in India as a routine immunization, resulting in a steady decline in incidence in the pediatric population.
• The need for two booster diphtheria vaccinations and was included under India’s flagship immunization program – “Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) “, under National Health Mission (NHM) , Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India.

DPT Vaccine is for:

The DPT vaccine should be administered at the following ages:

Infant

• According to UIP and NHM, the primary 3 doses of DPT are given to infants as part of the pentavalent vaccine at 6, 10, and 14-week intervals,

Children

• Two other DPT booster doses are then given by injection to children between 16-24 months and 6-7 years of age.

Adult

• Tdap is given for 10 years and thereafter every 10 years, although it is not included in the UIP NHM program.

4. The peace deal in Colombia has affected its cocaine industry

Subject: IR

Sec: Security issues

Context:

• Domestic and foreign shifts in the global drug industry have devastated many poor Colombians whose livelihoods are tied to cocaine.

More about News:

• For decades, one industry has sustained the small, remote Colombian village of Cano Cabra: cocaine.
• Those who live in this community in the central part of the country rise early nearly every morning to pick coca leaf, scraping brittle branches, sometimes until their hands bleed. Later, they mix the leaves with gasoline and other chemicals to make chalky white bricks of coca paste.
• The drug traffickers who buy the coca paste and turn it into cocaine stopped showing up. Suddenly, people who were already poor had no income.
• Coca is the only source of income.
• Colombia, the global nexus of the cocaine industry, where Pablo Escobar became the world’s best-known criminal, and which still produces more of the drug than any other nation, is facing tectonic shifts as a result of domestic and global forces that are reshaping the drug industry.

FARC Peace Deal:

• It refers to the agreement reached between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to end decades of conflict. It is a significant milestone in Colombia’s efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability.
• FARC is a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla group founded in 1964 that waged an armed struggle against the Colombian government for over five decades.
• The conflict resulted in over 220,000 deaths and the displacement of millions of people, making it one of the longest-running conflicts in Latin America.
• A peace deal was signed on November 24, 2016, and subsequently ratified by the Colombian Congress.

How does the FARC peace deal impact Columbia?

• The upending of the cocaine industry is, in part, an unintended consequence of a landmark peace deal eight years ago with the country’s largest armed group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, that ended one phase of a conflict that has lasted decades.
• The leftist group financed its war largely through cocaine and relied on thousands of farmers to provide the bright green coca plant — the drug’s main ingredient.
• But once the FARC exited the cocaine industry, it was replaced by smaller criminal groups pursuing a new economic model.
• Limiting their operations to border regions where it is easier to move drugs out of the country.

Implications on India:

• Changes in the Colombian cocaine industry may alter global drug trafficking routes.
• India, as part of the global drug trade network, could see changes in the routes used to smuggle cocaine into the country.
• Increased cocaine production globally could lead to a higher availability of the drug in India.
• This could result in an increase in drug trafficking activities within the country visible in increased seizures in major cities.
• Higher availability of cocaine could lead to an increase in drug abuse cases in India.

5. Finance Ministry eases procurement rules for scientific research equipment

Subject: Economy

Sec: Fiscal policy  

Context:

• Ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget, the Finance Ministry has announced changes that will provide greater flexibility to scientific Ministries to import and buy equipment necessary for research.

 More about News:

• In the General Finance Rules (GFR), follow demands made for years by scientists, who have often said that restrictive rules on the purchase of research equipment had slackened the pace of research productivity.
• The GFR, which are prescribed by the Finance Ministry, define the conditions under which public procurement is conducted, and they are periodically updated.
• New exemptions are specific to the “scientific Ministries”
  • Department of Science and Technology
  • Department of Biotechnology
  • Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
  • Department of Atomic Energy
  • Department of Space
  • Ministry of Earth Sciences
  • Defence Research and Development Organisation
  • Indian Council of Agricultural Research
  • Department of Health Research including Indian Council of Medical Research, and institutions conducting post-graduate research affiliated to Ministries.

Changes in Threshold Price of goods:

• The first of the changes are in raising the threshold price of goods that may be bought without going through a tendering process. The relaxations came into effect, the threshold was ₹25,000. It has now been raised to ₹1,00,000.
• The second is that for goods priced between ₹25,000 to ₹250,000, a purchase committee consisting of three members nominated by the Head of Department must survey the market to establish that it offers the most value for money and quality. That limit has now been raised from ₹100,000 to ₹10,00,000.

However, and this is the catch most scientists are not quite happy with, these relaxations are only applicable once it is established that the required goods are unavailable on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).

The GeM is a government mandated website, such as the Amazon online marketplace, which lists sellers of India-made or assembled goods, and is administered by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

General Finance Rules (GFR):

• Government has amended the General Financial Rules, 2017.
• General Financial Rules (GFRs) are a compilation of rules and orders of Government of India to be followed by all while dealing with matters involving public finances.
• These rules and orders are treated as executive instructions to be observed by all Departments and Organisations under the Government and specified Bodies
• General Financial Rules were issued for the first time in 1947bringing together in one place all existing orders and instructions pertaining to financial matters.
• These have subsequently been modified and issued as GFRs 1963 and GFRs 2005.

Government e-Marketplace:

• GeM facilitates online procurement of common use Goods & Services required by various Government Departments / Organisations / PSUs.
  • The initiative was launched in August 2016, by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
  • The current version of GeM, i.e., GeM 3.0 was launched on January 26, 2018.
• It provides the tools of e-bidding, reverse e-auction and demand aggregation to facilitate the government users, achieve the best value for their money and aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement.

6. What does Maharashtra’s Public Security Bill stipulate?

Sub: Polity

Sec: Legislation in news

Context:

• Maharashtra government had tabled the Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Act, 2024, aimed at curbing the ‘menace of Naxalism’ in urban areas.

More on the news?

• The provisions of the proposed Bill, which allows the State to declare any organization as ‘unlawful’ with offenses categorized as cognisable and non-bailable, has raised concerns and is being dubbed the ‘urban naxal’ law. 
• The Maoist-hit States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Odisha have already implemented Public Security Acts to prevent unlawful activities.

Why was the Bill proposed?

• The bill aims to curb Urban Maoism/Naxalism.
• The presence of, and activities carried out, by Naxalites or the CPI (Maoist), in urban areas are together termed as Urban Maoism/Naxalism.

What are key provisions of Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024?

• Declaration of Unlawful Organizations:
  • The Bill grants the state the authority to declare an organization as “unlawful” — a decision which can be reviewed by an advisory board set up by the state government.
• Definition of Unlawful Activities:
  • Activities which constitute a danger or menace to public order, peace and tranquility.
  • Interference with law administration and public servants.
  • Violence, vandalism, use of firearms, explosives, and disruption of transportation.
  • Encouraging disobedience to law and institutions.
  • Collecting funds or goods for unlawful activities.
• All offenses under the new bill  are cognizable and non-bailable:
  • All offenses under the new bill  will be cognizable and non-bailable, and will be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of a Sub-Inspector.
• Provision for punishment:
  • The offenses covered in the bill  carry sentences ranging from two to seven years, along with fines between ₹2 lakh and ₹5 lakh.
• Seizure and Forfeiture:
  • If an organization has been declared as unlawful, the District Magistrate or Commissioner of Police can notify and “take possession of” any place “used for its activities”.
  • Government can forfeit money and assets intended for unlawful organizations.
• Legal Review:
  • According to the Bill, an advisory board will be set up comprising three persons “who are or have been or qualified to be appointed as judge of the high court”.
  • Within six weeks of declaring an organization as unlawful, the government will have to make a reference to the board, which will then have to submit a report within three months after going through the evidence placed before it and hearing the persons involved in the organization.

How is the MPSS Bill different  from the UAPA?

• In the MSPS Act, an advisory board of three persons who are or have been qualified to be appointed as judges of the High Court shall oversee the confirmation process, while under UAPA, a tribunal led by a High Court judge verifies the State’s declaration.
• If the proposed legislation is passed, it would allow the State police and security agencies to arrest individuals without a warrant and often without informing them of the charges.

7. States cannot tinker with the Scheduled Castes List, says SC

Sub: Polity

Sec: Constitution

Context:

• The Supreme Court has held that States cannot tinker with the Scheduled Castes List notified under Article 341 of the Constitution.

More on the news?

• In a recent judgment the Supreme court held that inclusions and exclusions in the Scheduled Castes List are only possible through law made by the Parliament and neither the President nor the Centre can make changes.
• This decision came as the Supreme Court quashed a 2015 Bihar government notification that sought to categorize the Tanti-Tantwa community as Scheduled Caste (SC).
• The court observed that the Bihar government had not followed the due process and consultation with the Registrar General of India, who had not supported the proposal to include Tanti-Tantwa in the SC list.

What is the Procedure for  inclusions and exclusions in the Scheduled Castes List?

• Initiation of process:
  •  A state government proposes the inclusion or exclusion of a community from the SC list, which is scrutinized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Expert Consultation:
  • The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) along with the Registrar General of India provides expert recommendations on the proposal. 
• Parliamentary Process:
  • A Constitutional Amendment Bill is introduced in Parliament, detailing the proposed changes to the SC list.
  • The bill needs to be passed by a special majority in parliament.
• Presidential Assent:
  • After the bill is passed by both houses of parliament it is referred to the President.
  • If the President  gives his assent, the amendments to the SC list are officially enacted.

Constitutional provisions related to  inclusions and exclusions in the Scheduled Castes List.

• Article 341(1):President, after consultation with the State Governor, may by public notification specify the castes, races or tribes or parts of or groups within castes, races or tribes which shall for the purposes of this Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Castes in relation to a State or Union Territory.
• Article 341(2):Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Castes specified in a notification issued under clause (1) any caste, race or tribe or part of or group within any caste, race or tribe, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification.

8. IPEF: India likely to sign clean, fair economy pacts

Sub: IR

Sec: Int groupings

Context:

• India is close to finalizing Cabinet notes for signing the Clean Economy and Fair Economy agreements under IPEF.
• The country is not ready to join the trade pillar due to concerns over high-standard rules on the digital economy, data flows, data localization, and labour and environment issues.
• India was the only IPEF member that did not endorse the Clean and Fair Economy pacts in June 2023 due to general elections.

About IPEF:

• The IPEF, launched by US President Joe Biden in May 2022, aims to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
• The 14-member IPEF includes the US, India, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• IPEF Structure:
  • Four pillars: Trade, Supply Chains, Clean Energy, and Tax & Anti-Corruption.
  • No provisions on tariff cuts on goods.
  • All 14 members, including India, have signed the supply chains resilience agreement effective from February 24, 2024.

Clean Economy Pact:

• Focuses on energy security, climate resilience, GHG emissions mitigation, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• Promotes technical cooperation, workforce development, capacity building, and research collaborations.
• India aims to attract investments and concessional financing for clean energy projects.

Fair Economy Agreement:

• Aims to create a transparent and predictable business environment to boost trade and investment.
• Enhances anti-corruption frameworks, tax transparency, and information exchange for tax purposes.

Trade Pillar:

• Still under negotiation, with the US showing less interest in digital trade.
• India opted out of trade pillar negotiations early on.

Source: TH_BL

9. Green Credit Rules: Death by trees?

Sub: Env

Sec: Env legislation

Context:

• The Green Credit Rules (GCR) might threaten the lesser Florican and other species.

Green Credit Rules (GCR):

• Issued in October 2023 to incentivize environmental protection through market-based mechanisms.
• The amendment of the 1980 Forest (Conservation) Act in 2023 led to the implementation of Green Credit Rules (GCR), which could harm natural ecosystems.
• Industries can generate green credits by planting trees, with specific guidelines for plantations.

Objectives of the Green Credit Programme (GCP):

• GCP aims to create a land bank for plantations accessible via a web portal.
• It encourages various entities to participate in afforestation and earn green credits.
• The program utilizes digital tools for registration, verification, and monitoring of plantation activities.

Outcomes of the GCP

• Enhance India’s forest and tree cover.
• Build an inventory of degraded land suitable for plantation.
• Encourage pro-planet actions by rewarding green credits.

Impact of GCR on Indian Forests:

• States must afforest land to compensate for diverted forests, under the 2023 amendment.
• GCR allows green credits to meet compensatory afforestation (CA) obligations, focusing only on plantations.
• GCR promotes tree planting on degraded lands, including unique ecosystems, labeled as wastelands.

Problems with the GCR

• GCR lacks emphasis on planting diverse native species and involves industry in raising plantations.
• It signals a return to a revenue-centric vision for India’s forests, undermining decades of conservation efforts.
• The GCRs fail to mention local communities or their rights over forests, which the Forest Rights Act (FRA) guarantees. The 2022 Rules of the FCA eliminated the need for consent from the Gram Sabha for forest diversion.
• Misleading Criteria and Misclassification:
  • Canopy closure {Open canopies (densities <40%) or Scrub (<10%)} is used as the sole indicator of ecological worth, misclassifying many non-forest ecosystems.
  • Ecosystems like grasslands and deserts are misclassified as degraded lands needing afforestation.
  • Grasslands and deserts support a high density of mammals and 500 million livestock and are also important for below-ground carbon sequestration.
• Tree-covered Wastelands
  • Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) are often labelled as wastelands, making them prone to tree planting.
  • ONEs envelop sand dunes, grasslands and thorn scrub of the Thar, and the savanna grasslands and open woody savannas of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
  • Planting trees on these lands could harm their unique biodiversity and ecosystem services.

• Questionable Forest Cover and Afforestation
• India’s reported forest cover includes orchards, parks, and plantations.
• Studies suggest plantations do not provide the same ecosystem services as natural forests.
• Regrowing natural forests is more effective for carbon sequestration and biodiversity.
• Compensatory Afforestation (CA) Track Record
  • CA programs suffer from poor survival rates and a lack of local community involvement despite the availability of more than 50,000 crores.
  • Almost 60% of the CA funds remain unspent.
  • Plantations often fail to simulate natural forests and address the drivers of degradation.

Source: Mongabay

10. Israeli settlement threatens Palestinian UNESCO village

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

• Israeli settlers are constructing a new illegal outpost near Palestinian olive groves in Battir, a UNESCO-protected zone.

Heletz Settlement:

• The Heletz settlement was approved by the Israeli government.
• Heletz is one of five settlements approved deep in Palestinian territory.
• The settlement aims to block Battir and increase local tensions.

Palestine: Land of Olives and Vines – Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir

• Battir, with its ancient terraces and Roman-era irrigation system, is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014.

Location

• Situated a few kilometres southwest of Jerusalem
• Located in the Central Highlands between Nablus and Hebron

Landscape Features

• Terraced Valleys: Known as widian, these valleys are used for farming.
  • Irrigated Terraces: Used for market garden production.
  • Dry Terraces: Planted with grapevines and olive trees.

Agricultural Practices

• Terrace Farming: Developed to utilize the mountainous terrain.
• Irrigation System:
  • Sources: Network of irrigation channels fed by underground sources.
  • Distribution: Traditional system used to share water among Battir village families.

Source: TH