Daily Prelims Notes 20 December 2021

December 20, 2021
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Daily Prelims Notes

20 December 2021

Table Of Contents

Subject – Governance

Context – Data recorded in the Poshan (Nutrition) Tracker have not been made public in the interest of privacy of women and children, the government told Parliament last week

Concept –

The tracker is one of the important pillars of the Poshan Abhiyan and helps the government monitor services delivered at 12.3 lakh anganwadi centres and record nutritional indicators of 9.8 lakh beneficiaries, including children in the age of six months to six years as well as pregnant women and lactating mothers.
It was earlier known asknown as the ICDS-CAS (Integrated Child Development Services-Common Application Software).
The Poshan Tracker App has been launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).
Anganwadis provide six services, which include supplementary nutrition in the form of hot-cooked meals and take-home ration, immunisation and pre-school education.
On its Poshan Tracker website (https://poshantracker.in/), the government hosts a dashboard which provides only limited administrative details at national, State and district levels.
- This includes total attendance on a given day, vaccinations, take-home ration and hot cooked meals delivered.
- But it provides no information on the nutrition status of the beneficiaries such as stunting and wasting among children or prevalence of anaemia.

POSHAN Abhiyaan

The Abhiyaan targets to reduce stunting, under nutrition, anaemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively.
The target of the mission is to bring down stunting among children in the age group 0-6 years from 38.4% to 25% by 2022.
POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to ensure service delivery and interventions by use of technology, behavioural change through convergence and lays-down specific targets to be achieved across different monitoring parameters.
Under the Abhiyaan, Swasth Bharat Preraks will be deployed one in each district for coordinating with district officials and enabling fast and efficient execution of the Abhiyaan across the country.
- Swasth Bharat Preraks would function as catalyst for fast tracking the implementation of the Abhiyaan.

Poshan 2.0

Ministry for Women and Child Development inaugurated Poshan 2.0 and urged all Aspirational Districts to establish a Poshan Vatika (nutrition garden) during the Nutrition Month (Poshan Mah) in September.
A month-long celebration of the POSHAN Abhiyan mission places special attention on Severe Acute Malnourished (SAM) children.
Poshan Vatika – It’s main objective is to ensure supply of nutrition through organically home grown vegetables and fruits simultaneously ensuring that the soil must also remain healthy.
- Plantation drives for Poshan Vatikas would be taken up by all the stakeholders in the space available at anganwadis, school premises and gram panchayats.

To know about POSHAN Maah, please refer September 2021 DPN.

2. Retail Inflation preferred over Wholesale Inflation

Subject – Economy

Context – Policymakers are not concerned with rise in wholesale inflation

Concept –

Policymakers within the government prefer to focus on retail inflation.
The RBI, which is India’s central bank charged with the mandate to maintain stable prices in the country, also chooses to “target” retail inflation instead of wholesale inflation.
The wholesale and retail (consumer) inflation rates are based on the wholesale price index (WPI) and the consumer price index (CPI), respectively.
The percentage change is the rate of inflation.
The CPI-based inflation data is compiled by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (or MoSPI) and the WPI-based inflation data is put together by DPIIT.

Difference between WPI and CPI

WPI is dominated by the prices of manufactured goods while CPI is dominated by the prices of food articles.
WPI does not take into account the change in prices of services. But CPI does.
- If services such as transport, education, recreation and amusement, personal care etc. get significantly costlier, then retail inflation will rise but there will be no impact on wholesale price inflation.
- Wholesale inflation does not capture price movements in non-commodity producing sectors like services, which constitute close to two-thirds of economic activity in India.
Over the past two years, the wholesale inflation rate has varied far more than the retail inflation rate.

RBI, as the monetary authority, has little ability to control food and fuel prices, which together account for well over 50% of the CPI.
Wholesale inflation “does not generally reflect price movements in all wholesale markets”. This happens because price quotations for some important commodities such as milk, LPG etc. are taken from retail markets.
Movements in WPI often reflect large external shocks and as such, the wholesale inflation rate is often subject to large revisions.
Almost all central banks in Advanced Economies and Emerging Market Economies use CPI as their primary price indicator.

3. India’s Missile Capability

Subject – Defence and Security

Context – At a seminar organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Defence Minister encouraged scientists to work towards developing hypersonic missile technology.

Concept –

History of missile technology in India –

Before Independence, several kingdoms in India were using rockets as part of their warfare technologies.
- Mysore ruler Hyder Ali started inducting iron-cased rockets in his army in the mid-18th century.
- By the time Hyder’s son Tipu Sultan died, a company of rocketeers was attached to each brigade of his army, which has been estimated at around 5,000 rocket-carrying troops.
At the time of Independence, India did not have any indigenous missile capabilities.
The government created the Special Weapon Development Team in 1958.
- This was later expanded and called the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), which moved from Delhi to Hyderabad by 1962.
In 1972, Project Devil, for the development of a medium range Surface-to-Surface Missile was initiated. A large number of infrastructure and test facilities were established during this period.
- By 1982, DRDL was working on several missile technologies under the Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP).

What kind of missiles does India have?

India is considered among the top few nations when it comes to designing and developing missiles indigenously, although it is way behind the US, China and Russia in terms of range.

Among the surface-launched systems –

ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILE:
- Nag has already been inducted into the services. Nag is the only “fire-and-forget ATGM meeting all weather requirements for its range (around 20 km)”.
- Recently Heli-Nag was tested, which will be operated from helicopters and will be inducted by 2022.
- There is also a Stand-off Anti-Tank (SANT) missile, with a range over 10 km.
SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE:
- The short-range SAM system Akash has already been inducted in the Army and the Air Force.
- For Akash 1, which has a seeker, which enhances target detection in all weather conditions, the Army has already got the Acceptance of Necessity from the government.
- For Akash (New Generation), the first tests were conducted in July this year.
MEDIUM-RANGE SAM:
- Production of MRSAM systems for the Navy is complete, and it is placing its order.
- The Jaisalmer-based 2204 Squadron of the Air Force became the first unit to get the MRSAM systems in September this year.
- Technology for MRSAM for the Army “is also in a good shape and will be flight-tested soon”.
SHORT-RANGE SAM:
- For the Navy, the first flight tests have been successfully conducted.

Several air-launched systems –

AIR-TO-AIR
- Astra, India’s Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), has been completely tested and is under induction. It has a range of around 100 km.
- A long-range Astra is also being developed, for which initial tests have been conducted. The missile uses solid fuel ramjet technology, which enhances speed, and will have an indigenously-built seeker.
AIR-TO-GROUND:
- Rudram, a New Generation Anti-Radiation Missile (NGRAM), has cleared initial tests. With a maximum range of around 200 km, the missile mainly targets communication, radar and surveillance systems of the adversary.
- BrahMos, which India developed jointly with Russia, is already operational. It has a 300 km to 500 km range, and is a short-range, ramjet-powered, single warhead, supersonic anti-ship or land attack cruise missile.

Which of India’s missile systems are most important?

The two most important are Agni and Prithvi, both being used by the Strategic Forces Command.
Agni (range around 5,000 ) , is India’s only contender for an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is available with only a few countries.
Prithvi, although a short-range surface-to-surface missile with a 350 km range, has strategic uses.
India also tested a anti-satellite system in April 2019. A modified anti-ballistic missile named Prithvi Defence Vehicle Mk 2 was used to hit a low-orbit satellite. It put India only behind the US, Russia and China in this capability.

Hypersonic technology

India has been working on this for a few years, and is just behind the US, Russia and China.
DRDO successfully tested a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrated Vehicle (HSTDV) in September 2020, and demonstrated its hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology.
According to sources, India has developed its own cryogenic engine and demonstrated it in a 23-second flight. India will try to make a hypersonic cruise missile, using HSTDV.
Sources said only Russia has proven its hypersonic missile capability so far, while China has demonstrated its HGV capacity.
India is expected to be able to have a hypersonic weapons system within four years, with medium- to long-range capabilities.

Where do China stand compared to India?

China is ahead of India. According to a Pentagon report in 2020, China may have either achieved parity, or even exceeded the US in land-based conventional ballistic and cruise missile capabilities.
India’s only nuclear missiles are Prithvi and Agni, but beyond those, tactical nuclear weapons can be fired from some IAF fighter jets or from Army guns, which have a low range, around 50 km.

4. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

Subject – Environment

Context – Parties in Glasgow finally adopted the long pending Article 6 rulebook.

Concept –

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement provides for market and nonmarket approaches in achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
On markets, Article 6 has been finally resolved in a balanced manner that takes into account the concerns of developing countries.
India, along with other developing countries, managed to convince developed countries to agree for a transition of pre2020 projects/activities, and units from the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol.
The Article 6 market mechanisms will play a crucial role in driving investments from private and public enterprises into India and help us achieve our mitigation and adaptation targets.
Under Article 6.2, India set the terms for accounting of units outside the NDC.
- Our call for countries to have flexibility in defining what is inside and outside our country’s NDC was accepted, and corresponding adjustments based on the authorisation of projects helps us, as it gives us additional flexibility while maintaining the quality of units.
Under Article 6.4, we were able to secure the transition of CDM projects, activities and units.
Under Article 6.8, the adoption of work programme for nonmarket approaches will help developing countries in relation to, inter alia, mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity-building.

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral financial mechanism that provides grants to developing countries for projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods in local communities.
It was setup as a fund under World Bank in 1991
In 1992, at the Rio Earth Summit, the GEF was restructured and moved out of the World Bank system to become a permanent, separate institution.
Since 1994, however, the World Bank has served as the Trustee of the GEF Trust Fund and provided administrative services.
GEF was re-established during the Rio Earth Summit of 1992.
It is based in Washington, D.C., United States.
The GEF is jointly managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
183 nations are united under GEF in partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs), international institutions, private sector, etc. to address the environmental issues across the globe.
It addresses six designated focal areas:
- biodiversity,
- climate change,
- international waters,
- ozone depletion,
- land degradation and
- Persistent Organic Pollutants.
GEF also serves as a financial mechanism for the following conventions:
- United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- Minamata Convention on Mercury.
India is both a donor and a recipient of funding from the GEF. The political focal point for GEF in India is the Finance Ministry while the operational focal point is the Environment Ministry.

Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF)

The Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) for action and support is a central component to the design, credibility and operation of the Paris Agreement.
The framework specifies how parties to the agreement must report on progress in climate change mitigation, adaptation measures and support provided or received.
It also provides for international procedures for the review and evaluation of those reports.
Transparency Framework is of central importance. Parties must report regularly on their progress in implementing their NDC targets and goals, and the reports are subject to international peer review.
The Transparency Framework thus creates the basis for the global public to publicly name and denounce those states that have failed to meet their self-imposed targets and goals. This procedure, known as “naming and shaming”, could offset the lack of binding NDC achievement and is thus a central pillar of the Paris regime.

5. Sumi Naga tribe

Subject – Environment

Context – The Sumi Naga tribe has developed a whole portfolio of ecological indicators to help predict weather.

Concept –

The ‘Sümi Naga’ are the major ethnic group among nagas in Nagaland, India.
Sümi Naga tribe practiced Aki Kiti (semi-contact combat sport characterized by kicking and blocking solely using the soles of the feet) and were head hunters as every other Naga tribe.
The Sümis practised headhunting like other Naga peoples before the arrival of the Christian missionaries and their subsequent conversion to Christianity.
The Sümi is one of the recognised scheduled tribes of India.
Tuluni is a festival of great significance for the Sümi.
Ahuna is a traditional post-harvest festival of the Sümis.

6. Energy Efficiency

Subject – Economy

Context – The human development index of countries like Japan and Germany is similar to the US but their energy consumption is significantly lower

Concept –

The world’s energy usage is projected to double in a few decades. “Net Zero by 2050”, a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) released in May 2021, states that per capita electricity consumption will rise.
In India, Passenger and freight transport in the railways is much less compared to road transport.
China has the highest network of high-speed trains.

Another important point for India is its dependence on energy imports. In 2040, oil imports are likely to account for 90 per cent of consumption, as per “India Energy Outlook 2021” and “World Energy Outlook” published by IEA, while gas import will account for 50 per cent to 70 per cent of India’s energy import.

Measures to reduce energy consumption and achieve energy efficiency

Public transport in place of private transport
Limits to conspicuous consumption
Non vegetarian diets have a huge energy, water and land footprint.
Recycling can help in achieving material efficiency.
Electric vehicles rely on materials like lithium and cobalt, which can be recycled.

Goal 12 in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals is “Responsible Consumption and Production.

Energy and Human Wellbeing is a report published by UNDP.

7. Electric Vehicles

Subject – Science and Tech

Context – EV to be under priority

Concept –

An EV operates on an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine and has a battery instead of a fuel tank.
In general, EVs have low running costs as they have fewer moving parts and are also environmentally friendly.
India is among a handful of countries that support the global EV30@30 campaign, which aims for at least 30% new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030.
India’s advocacy of five elements for climate change — “Panchamrit” — at the COP26 in Glasgow is a commitment to the same.
The government of India has taken various measures to develop and promote the EV ecosystem in the country such as:
- The re-modelled Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME II) scheme
- Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) for the supplier side
- The recently launched PLI scheme for Auto and Automotive Components for manufacturers of electric vehicles.

FAME India Scheme

FAME India is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. Main thrust of FAME is to encourage electric vehicles by providing subsidies.
The FAME India Scheme is aimed at incentivising all vehicle segments.

Two phases of the scheme:

Phase I: started in 2015 and was completed on 31st March, 2019
Phase II: started from April, 2019, will be completed by 31st March, 2022
The scheme covers Hybrid & Electric technologies like Mild Hybrid, Strong Hybrid, and Plug in Hybrid & Battery Electric Vehicles.
Monitoring Authority: Department of Heavy Industries, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
Fame India Scheme has four focus Areas:
Technology development
Demand Creation
Pilot Projects
Charging Infrastructure

Objectives of FAME Scheme:

Encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by way of offering upfront Incentive on purchase of Electric vehicles.
Establish a necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles.
To address the issue of environmental pollution and fuel security.

Salient Features of Phase II:

Emphasis on electrification of the public transportation that includes shared transport.
This phase aims to support, through subsidies, approximately 7000 e-Buses, 5 lakh e-3 Wheelers, 55000 e-4 Wheeler Passenger Cars and 10 lakh e-2 Wheelers.
In 3-Wheel (W) and 4-Wheel (W) segment incentives will be applicable mainly to vehicles used for public transport or registered for commercial purposes.
In the 2-Wheel (W) segment, the focus will be on the private vehicles.
To encourage advanced technologies, the benefits of incentives will be extended to only those vehicles which are fitted with advanced batteries like a Lithium Ion battery and other new technology batteries.
The scheme proposes for establishment of charging infrastructure, whereby about 2700 charging stations will be established in metros, other million plus cities, smart cities and cities of Hilly states across the country so that there will be availability of at least one charging station in a grid of 3 km x 3 km.
Establishment of Charging stations are also proposed on major highways connecting major city clusters.
On such highways, charging stations will be established on both sides of the road at an interval of about 25 km each.

8. Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Subject – IR

Context – Islamic countries scrambled to find ways to help Afghanistan avert an imminent economic collapse

Concept –

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states.
It is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.
It was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on the 25th of September 1969.
Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
India is not a member of the OIC. However, India was invited as a guest of honour at 46th Session of the Council of Foreign Minister in 2019. 2019 is the 50th anniversary of OIC.
The OIC has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union.
Its official languages are Arabic, English and French.

9. NDRF & SDRF

Subject – Disaster management

Context – Better coordination needed between NDRF, SDRF: Shah

Concept –

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is an Indian specialized force constituted “for the purpose of special response to a threatening disaster situation or disaster” under the Disaster Management Act, 2005
The “Apex Body for Disaster Management in India is the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The Chairman of the NDMA is the Prime Minister.
The head of the NDRF is designated as Director General. The Director Generals of NDRF are IPS officers on deputation from Indian police organisations. Director General is a three-star officer.
The NDRF is a top-heavy organisation which in addition to the Director General has several Inspector Generals (IG) and Deputy IGs, who are flag officers and wear badges of rank
The ‘Nodal Ministry’ in the central government for management of natural disasters is the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The responsibility of managing disasters in India is that of the State Government.
When ‘calamities of severe nature’ occur, the Central Government is responsible for providing aid and assistance to the affected state, including deploying, at the State’s request, of Armed Forces, Central Paramilitary Forces, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and such communication, air and other assets, as are available and needed.

Composition of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is a force of 12 battalions, organized on para-military lines, and manned by persons on deputation from the para-military forces of India: three Border Security Force, three Central Reserve Police Force, two Central Industrial Security Force, two Indo-Tibetan Border Police and two Sashastra Seema Bal.
The total strength of each battalion is approximately 1149. Each battalion is capable of providing 18 self-contained specialist search and rescue teams of 45 personnel each including engineers, technicians, electricians, dog squads and medical/paramedics.

State Disaster Response Force

As per of National Policy on Disaster Management 2009, the State Governments are required to raise their own SDRF for quickly responding to disasters.
As per information available, 24 State/UTs have raised their SDRF.
These SDRF are placed strategically at suitable locations well connected to the airport, rail heads and roads for their immediate deployment at the disaster sites.
The SDRF are also be used for Community Capacity Building and Awareness Generation programmes within the State.
During these programmes, SDRF can familiarize themselves with terrain, critical buildings and other existing infrastructure for prompt responses at the time of disasters and simultaneously work with the community, including school children, village volunteers and other stakeholders on what to do during disasters.

10. Gadchiroli’s first Jumbos

Subject – Environment

Context – Cautious welcome for Gadchiroli’s first jumbos

Concept –

The herd of 22 wild elephants that has been in Kanker, Balod, Gariaband and Dhamtari districts of Chhattisgarh for the last nine years has successfully surmounted the last natural barrier to settle down in its new habitat in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.
Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra is categorised as tribal dominated with about 76% of its area is covered with forest.
The main river basin of the district is the Godavari, while Vainganga, Pranhita and Dina are three other major rivers flowing through the district.
However, the district does not have any records of regular and resident elephants.
Gadchiroli is known for its forests. Teak is grown commercially and bamboos are used for various crafts.

11. Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative

Subject – Governance

Context – Private hospitals to be tagged for being breast-feeding-friendly

Concept –

A new initiative will now help mothers identify “breast-feeding¬-friendly” hospitals before they give birth.
The Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), in collaboration with the Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI), which comprises more than 12,000 private hospitals, has launched an accreditation programme that will enable hospitals to get a “breastfeeding-friendly” tag. This programme is called “Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)”.
The initiative is only for private hospitals and is based on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s MAA programme for government hospitals launched in 2016.
The certification process involves two stages — the first stage includes self-assessment by a hospital, followed by an external assessment by an authorised appraiser who interviews doctors, nurses and patients as well as reviews different practices and training of staff.
The accreditation process costs ₹17,000 per hospital.
Provision of mother’s breast milk to infants within one hour of birth ensures that the infant receives the colostrum, or “first milk”, which is rich in protective factors, according to the WHO.
Lack of support and counselling for expectant mothers during pregnancy and at birth as well as aggressive promotion of baby foods are the reasons for poor early breastfeeding rates.
A rise in caesarean sections is also known to negatively impact breastfeeding rates.During caesarean operations everyone is focused on recovery, wound surgery, infection control and breastfeeding within the golden hour is missed.
Evidence shows that improving breastfeeding rates in hospitals reduces neonatal mortality and infant mortality rates.
The tools for this evaluation process have been developed in partnership with the Health Ministry and World Health Organisation. The BFHI programme is a worldwide programme of the WHO and UNICEF. Though India adopted it in 1993, it fizzled out by 1998 and is now being revived after more than two decades.
Chennai’s Bloom Healthcare has become the first hospital to be recognised as “breastfeeding-friendly” under this programme.

MAA – “Mother’s Absolute Affection”

MAA – “Mother’s Absolute Affection” is a nationwide programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in an attempt to bring undiluted focus on promotion of breastfeeding and provision of counselling services for supporting breastfeeding through health systems.
The programme has been named ‘MAA’ to signify the support a lactating mother requires from family members and at health facilities to breastfeed successfully.
‘Vatsalya – Maatri Amrit Kosh’, a National Human Milk Bank and Lactation Counselling Centre has been established at the Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), Delhi. It has been established in collaboration with the Norwegian government, Oslo University and Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI).