Daily Prelims Notes 25 February 2023

February 25, 2023
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
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Daily Prelims Notes

25 February 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Carbon Calculator

Subject: Economy

Section: Climate Change

Context: British Petroleum created an advertising campaign that encouraged average people to use a personal carbon calculator. The campaign told consumers that it was time to go on a low-carbon diet – a guilt-laden message that intentionally suggested individuals might halt climate change if only they had the will.

More on the News:

Before BP’s ads, Google searches for “carbon footprint” and “carbon footprint calculator” barely registered, often receiving a zero from Google Trends.
With the campaign in force, the terms gained popularity, and by 2008 both terms sometimes scored near the top of the Google Trends scale.
According to the “Carbon Majors” report from the Climate Accountability Institute, 108 fossil fuel and cement entities release nearly 70% of all global carbon emissions, with BP in third place among US-tied fossil fuel polluters, just behind Chevron and ExxonMobil. The reality is that they the fossil fuel industry must drastically change if the world is going to reckon with the climate crisis.
This is why, at the end of the day, carbon footprint calculators have a place in individuals’ lives. They may have been promoted by Big Oil in an act of misdirection, but used knowingly, they can guide us toward the top-to-bottom collective action needed to address climate change.

Carbon Calculator

A carbon calculator is a tool that helps individuals or organizations estimate their carbon footprint.
Carbon calculators work by asking users a series of questions about their energy consumption, transportation habits, and other relevant activities, and then calculating the estimated amount of carbon emissions associated with those activities.
By using a carbon calculator, individuals and organizations can get a better understanding of their environmental impact and identify ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
Many carbon calculators also provide tips and recommendations for reducing emissions, such as driving less, using energy-efficient appliances, or investing in renewable energy sources.

Carbon Footprint:

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, product, or activity.
It is usually measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e).
Carbon footprints are calculated by taking into account all the sources of greenhouse gas emissions associated with an individual or organization’s activities, including:
- Direct emissions from burning fossil fuels (such as gasoline, diesel, or natural gas) for heating, electricity, transportation, and industrial processes.
- Indirect emissions from the production, transportation, and disposal of goods and services used by an individual or organization, including food, clothing, and electronics.

Ecological Footprint

The ecological footprint is a method promoted by the Global Footprint Network to measure human demand on natural capital, i.e. the quantity of nature it takes to support people or an economy.
It tracks this demand through an ecological accounting system.
In short, it is a measure of human impact on the environment.
Both the Ecological Footprint and biocapacity are expressed in global hectares—globally comparable, standardized hectares with world average productivity.
Ecological Footprint accounting measures the demand on and supply of nature.
- On the demand side, the Ecological Footprint adds up all the productive areas for which a population, a person or a product competes. It measures the ecological assets that a given population or product requires to produce the natural resources it consumes (including plant-based food and fiber products, livestock and fish products, timber and other forest products, space for urban infrastructure) and to absorb its waste, especially carbon emissions.
  - The Ecological Footprint tracks the use of productive surface areas. Typically these areas are: cropland, grazing land, fishing grounds, built-up land, forest area, and carbon demand on land.
- On the supply side, a city, state or nation’s biocapacity represents the productivity of its ecological assets (including cropland, grazing land, forest land, fishing grounds, and built-up land). These areas, especially if left unharvested, can also serve to absorb the waste we generate, especially our carbon emissions from burning fossil fuel.
If a population’s Ecological Footprint exceeds the region’s biocapacity, that region runs a biocapacity deficit.
- Its demand for the goods and services that its land and seas can provide—fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, wood, cotton for clothing, and carbon dioxide absorption—exceeds what the region’s ecosystems can regenerate.
- In more popular communications, we also call this “an ecological deficit.”
- A region in ecological deficit meets demand by importing, liquidating its own ecological assets (such as overfishing), and/or emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
If a region’s biocapacity exceeds its Ecological Footprint, it has a biocapacity reserve.

What is Earth Overshoot Day?

When the entire planet is running an ecological deficit, we call it “overshoot.” At the global level, ecological deficit and overshoot are the same, since there is no net import of resources to the planet.
Overshoot occurs when:

HUMANITY’S ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT > EARTH’S BIOCAPACITY

Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services (Ecological Footprint) in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year (biocapacity).
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), humanity has again used up all biological resources that our planet regenerates during the entire year by 29th July, 2021.
Humanity currently uses 74% more than what the planet’s ecosystems can regenerate — or 1.7 Earths.
From Earth Overshoot Day until the end of the year, humanity operates on ecological deficit spending.

Global Footprint Network

Global Footprint Network, founded in 2003, is an independent think tank originally based in the United States, Belgium and Switzerland. It was established as a charitable not-for-profit organization in each of those three countries.
Global Footprint Network develops and promotes tools for advancing sustainability, including the ecological footprint and biocapacity, which measure the amount of resources we use and how much we have. These tools aim at bringing ecological limits to the center of decision-making.
The Network brings together over 70 partner organizations, including WWF International, ICLEI, Bank Sarasin, The Pictet Group, the New Economics Foundation, Pronatura México, and the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

2. Mercury Pollution

Subject: Economy

Section: Pollution

Context: Kodaikanal Mercury Poisoning Episode Has Lessons for Current, Future Generations

Mercury:

Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80.
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.
It is a dense, silvery-white metal.
It is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature.
Mercury has a relatively low melting point and boiling point compared to other metals
It is useful in various applications, such as thermometers, barometers, electrical switches, and fluorescent lamp Mercury is also used in dental amalgams and in some medical and scientific instruments.

Sources of Mercury Pollution

Mercury pollution can come from both natural and human-made sources. Natural sources of mercury pollution include volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and weathering of mercury-containing rocks. However, the majority of mercury pollution is caused by human activities, including:
- Coal-fired power plants: Coal contains trace amounts of mercury, which are released into the air when coal is burned. These emissions can travel long distances and accumulate in the environment.
- Artisanal and small-scale gold mining: Mercury is used to extract gold from ore in small-scale gold mining operations. It can release large amounts of mercury into the air and water, causing serious health and environmental problems.
- Industrial processes: Certain industrial processes, such as chlorine production, can release mercury into the air and water.
- Waste incineration: Burning waste, particularly medical waste, can release mercury into the air.
- Consumer products: Mercury is used in some consumer products, such as thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, and batteries.

Effects of Mercury Pollution

Mercury pollution can have a wide range of negative effects on human health, wildlife, and the environment. Here are some of the major effects of mercury pollution:
Health effects: Mercury is a toxic substance that can cause serious health problems, particularly to children and pregnant women. Exposure to high levels of mercury can damage the brain, kidneys, and central nervous system, leading to developmental delays, impaired cognitive function, and other health problems.
Wildlife impacts: Mercury pollution can have serious impacts on wildlife, particularly fish and other aquatic species. Mercury can accumulate in the food chain, with larger fish at the top of the chain containing higher levels of mercury. This can lead to reproductive failure, decreased growth and survival rates, and other health problems for wildlife.
Environmental impacts: Mercury pollution can also have a range of environmental impacts, including reduced biodiversity, changes in species distribution, and decreased nutrient cycling in ecosystems. In addition, mercury pollution can contribute to climate change, as mercury emissions can lead to the formation of ozone, a potent greenhouse gas.
Economic impacts: Mercury pollution can also have significant economic impacts, including reduced fish populations, decreased tourism revenue, and increased health care costs associated with mercury exposure.

Minamata Convention on Mercury

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds.
It was agreed at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva, Switzerland 2013.
The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.
The Convention covers all aspects of the life cycle of mercury, controlling and reducing mercury across a range of products, processes and industries. This includes controls on mercury mining, the manufacture and trade of mercury and products containing mercury, disposal of mercury waste, emissions of mercury from industrial facilities.
India has ratified the Convention.

3. Net-zero buildings

Subject: Economy

Section: Climate Change

Context: Net-zero buildings in India witness a rise but lack government guidelines, regulations

More on the News:

In the last few years, several buildings in India have become net-zero energy buildings by offsetting their total annual energy requirement with renewable energy and by increasing their energy efficiency.
The Indian federal government currently has its Model Building Bye-Laws, Energy Conservation Building Code which promotes increased usage of clean energy in building design but broader norms and regulations on this are still lacking.
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) started voluntary ratings of net-zero buildings in 2018, where energy-efficient building design and climate-responsive designs were also given weightage, besides the use of renewables.

Concept:

Net zero energy buildings

Net zero energy buildings refer to such buildings which are producing the same amount of non-fossil fuel energy that they consume from the grid annually.
However private rating agencies have stricter norms for net-zero buildings where energy efficiency designs are also taken into account.
There is no clear definition of net-zero buildings in India from the government side. But usually in the building ecosystem, in general terms, net-zero refers to net-zero energy buildings where the total amount of energy required in the building is compensated by the total amount of electricity produced by renewable sources of energy.

Norms for net-zero energy buildings

Energy Conservation Building Code 2017

Released by Ministry of Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines
It prescribes new energy performance standards for new commercial buildings to be constructed across India.
The code provides present as well as futuristic advancements in building technology to cut down building energy consumption and promote low-carbon growth.
The code sets clear criteria for builders, designers and architects to integrate renewable energy sources in building design through the inclusion of passive design strategies.
ECBC 2017 aims to optimise energy savings with the comfort levels for occupants. The code aims to achieve energy neutrality in commercial buildings.
To be ECBC-compliant, the new buildings should be able to demonstrate minimum energy savings of 25%. Energy savings of 35% and 50% will enable the buildings to achieve higher grades like ECBC Plus or Super ECBC status respectively.

Shunya scheme

Ministry of Power in 2021 also started rating net-zero buildings with its Shunya scheme where the BEE gives certification of net-zero buildings.
This is given if the buildings can offset their building energy requirements with renewable energy.
Buildings producing renewable energy equivalent to their total consumption get a Shunya (net-zero) label whereas those producing more renewable energy than their connected load get a Shunya Plus rating from BEE.
The documents of BEE certification for net-zero do not account for energy efficiency while granting net-zero rating certifications.

Indian Green Building Council

The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), a part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) which was earlier known for rating Green Buildings in the country, started rating “net zero” buildings in 2018.
The IGBC rating, which is intent oriented and voluntary in nature, rates net zero buildings based on their usage of renewable energy, energy efficiency, passive design strategies, and thermal comfort (comfortable room temperature).
It gives merely 25 percent weightage to the use of renewable energy and focuses more on energy-efficient designs and other architectural parameters.

4. Great Backyard Bird Count

Context: Bengal reports 489 species in Great Backyard Bird Count 2023

More on the News:

West Bengal reported the highest number of species followed by Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh during the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2023 across 35 States and Union Territories from February 17-20.
Kerala, on the other hand, recorded the highest number of checklists of birds.
The GBBC 2023 showed India’s birds are thriving in diverse habitats from the city to the countryside. A remarkable increase in participation across the country helped India upload the second-highest number of checklists after the United States of America and the third-highest species of any country.

Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an annual citizen science project that takes place over four days in February.
The purpose of the GBBC is to engage bird watchers of all ages and skill levels in collecting data on bird populations and distribution around the world.
During the GBBC, participants are asked to count birds in their backyard, local park, or any other location for at least 15 minutes and report their sightings online.
The data collected during the GBBC helps researchers and conservationists understand changes in bird populations and inform conservation efforts.
The GBBC was first launched in 1998 and has since become a popular event, with tens of thousands of people from over 100 countries participating each year. In addition to collecting important data, the GBBC also provides an opportunity for people to connect with nature and learn more about the birds in their area.

5. Low tides and drought: Why have Venice’s famous canals gone dry?

Subject: Geography

Section: Places in News

Context: Some of Venice’s iconic secondary canals have almost dried up in the past few days, rendering it impossible for water taxis, gondolas and even ambulance boats to navigate.

Details:
Experts say the reason is a prolonged spell of low tides coupled with the lack of rain.

In 2019, it witnessed the worst floods since 1966, resulting in damage worth hundreds of millions of euros.

Reason for drying up of canals:

Weather analysts believe that a high-pressure system is stuck over the region, which has created low tides, leading to low water levels.
However, researchers say the root cause is the drought-like situation in Italy, especially in its northern parts.

Water crisis in Italy:

Italy has been seeing a severe shortage of water in its rivers and lakes.
In 2022, Italy experienced its worst drought in 70 years and authorities declared a state of emergency in several northern areas.
Italian Alps have received about half the normal snowfall during this winter.
Italy’s longest river, the Po, which travels from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, has 61 per cent less water than normal at this time of year.
Its largest lake, Lake Garda, also has low water levels.

Worst Drought in Europe:

After the record-breaking summer heat, 2022 was the worst drought year in Europe in 500 years. Large rivers have been reduced to shallow streams, hitting power generation.
Some of Europe’s biggest rivers — Rhine, Po, Loire, Danube — which are usually formidable waterways, are unable to support even mid-sized boats.
Causes include:
- Significant deviation from normal weather patterns.
- Prolonged heatwave
- Unusually high temperatures have led to increased evaporation of surface water and soil moisture.
Impact of drought:
- Damage to transport and tourism sector.
- Electricity shortages leading to increased energy prices.
- Food has become sharply more expensive
- Agriculture has also been affected badly

Important rivers of Europe:

River	Description	Map
Volga river	The Volga River is about 3,531 km in length and is the longest river on the European continent. The Volga is also widely considered as the National River of the Russian Federation. It originates in the Valdai Hills and flows through the central part of Russia to its southern part where it eventually drains into the Caspian Sea. The Volga River is fed by numerous tributaries, notable among which are Sura, Oka, Vetluga, and Kama. During Soviet rule, many hydroelectric reservoirs were built on the Volga River. Some of these reservoirs are Volgograd, Saratov, Uglich, Gorky, and Cheboksary.
Denube river	The Danube River has a length of about 2,850 km and is considered the second-longest river in the European continent. It rises at the confluence of the Brigach and Breg rivers, near the German town of Donaueschingen in the Black Forest region of Germany. The river flows across major portions of central and southeastern Europe, passing through the 10 European nations of Germany, Austria, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Moldova. There are many tributaries of the Danube river including Lech, Isar, Inn, Enns, Rába, Drava, Mlava, etc. The Danube River finally drains into the Black Sea via the Danube Delta.
Dnieper River	The Dnieper River has a length of about 2,200 km and is the fourth-longest river in Europe. It originates in the Valdai Hills located near the Russian city of Smolensk. The river then flows in a southerly direction through the western part of the Russian Federation and the European nations of Belarus and Ukraine before draining into the Black Sea. It has been estimated that there are more than 32,000 tributaries of the Dnieper River. Some of these tributaries are Berezina, Bilozerka, Drut, Desna, Prypiat, Sozh, Myareya, Samara, Sula, and Vyazma.
Don river	The Don River has a length of about 1,870 km and is the fifth-longest river in Europe. It originates in the Russian Tula oblast near the city of Novomoskovsk. It then flows in a southeasterly direction towards the Volga river, but abruptly turns in the west to join the Gulf of Taganrog in the Sea of Azov. Some of the tributaries of the Don River include Chir, Seversky Donets, Chyornaya Kalitva, Krasivaya Mecha, Khopyor, and Medveditsa. The 101 km-long Lenin Volga-Don Shipping Canal links the Don River with the Volga River.
Elbe River	The Elbe River has a length of about 1,112-km and originates in the southern part of the Krkonose Mountains which is located near the boundary between Poland and the Czech Republic. It then flows through Bohemia in the northwestern part of the Czech Republic and enters Germany through its eastern side and finally ends in the North Sea near the town of Cuxhaven. Some of the major tributaries of the Elbe River include Saale, Mulde, Ohre, Vltava, Schwarze Elster, Havel, and Alster.
Loire River	The Loire River has a length of about 1,006 km and is recognized as France’s longest river. It rises from the foothills of the Massif Central in the Cévennes mountain range which is located in the French department of Ardéche. It then flows across the northern and western areas of France and finally drains into the Bay of Biscay. Some of the major tributaries of the Loire river include Erdre, Nièvre, Maine, Cher, Vienne, Sèvre Nantaise, Allier and Indre. Located in the central part of the Loire river valley is the Forest of Orléans which encompasses an area of 94,480 acres and is considered as the largest forest in France. About 164 bird species and 57 fish species are found in the Loire River basin.
Oder river	The Oder River has a length of about 840 km and is the second-longest river in Poland. It originates in the rugged mountains of the eastern Czech Republic and flows through the western part of Poland where it forms a border between Poland and Germany. The main branch of the river empties into the Szczecin Lagoon and its other three branches, the Peene, Świna, and Dziwna drains into the Baltic Sea.
Po river	The Po River has a length of about 652 km and is Italy’s longest river. It rises from the upper reaches of the Cottian Alps and flows from west to east across the northern portion of Italy and eventually drains into the Adriatic Sea. The Po River flows through several major Italian cities including Cremona, Milan, Ferrara, Piacenza, and Turin. The cities of Milan and Turin, which serve as major industrial centers in the country, utilize the waters of the Po River for industrial purposes. The river is fed by a total of 141 tributaries such as Rotaldo, Pellice, Grana del Monferrato, Nure, Adda, Chisola, and Dora Riparia.
Tagus river	The Tagus River measures about 1,007 km long and is the Iberian Peninsula’s longest river. It originates from the Montes Universales mountain range in the eastern part of Spain and flows westwards across the country. It then enters Portugal and flows in the southwestward direction before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon. Some of the major tributaries of the Tagus river include Gallo, Alberche, Jarama, Alagón, Algodor, Guadiela, Ibor, and Almonte.
Shannon river	The Shannon River has a length of about 360.5 km and is the Republic of Ireland’s longest river. It rises from the Shannon Pot, a small pool on the slopes of the Cuilcagh Mountain. The river then flows southwards through a series of lakes and turns west to eventually drain into the Atlantic Ocean via the Shannon Estuary. The river passes through 11 Irish counties that are situated in the massive Shannon River Basin that covers about one-fifth of the total land area of Ireland.
Rhone river	The Rhône River has a length of about 813 km and originates in the Rhône Glacier of the Swiss Alps. This fast-flowing river flows into the eastern end of Lake Geneva and then moves in the southward direction through the southeastern part of France. Before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea, the Rhone river divides into two sections, namely the Great Rhône and Little Rhône, at the French city of Arles.
Rhine river	The Rhine River has a length of about 1,230 km and originates from the southeastern part of the Swiss Alps in the Canton of Grisons, Switzerland. The river then flows northwards through the large Rhine Valley and forms the international boundary between Switzerland and Liechtenstein and later the boundary between Switzerland and Austria. In Austria, the river flows into Lake Constance. The river then flows westwards out of the lake as High Rhine and forms Switzerland’s northeastern border with Germany. The river then falls over 22 m and is then known as the Rhine Falls. In the city of Basel in Switzerland, the river turns in the northward direction and is referred to as the Upper Rhine. This part of the river forms the boundary between Germany and France. Then, the Rhine flows into the Netherlands where it is divided into three branches (Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt). The river then finally empties into the North Sea. Some of the notable tributaries of the Rhine river include Aare, Tamina, Moselle, Erft, Rein da Tuma, Plessur, Rotach, and Wiese. The principal cities that are located along the Rhine river include Düsseldorf, Basel, Rotterdam, Cologne, and Strasbourg.

6. FATF suspends membership of Russia

Subject : International Relation

Section : International Organizations

Concept :

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has suspended Russia’s membership over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The move marks the first suspension of a country from the Financial Action Task Force.
In a statement, it said that Russia’s actions are completely in violation of FATF core principles aiming to promote security, safety, and the integrity of the global financial system.
The FATF identified Russia’s involvement in the arms trade and malicious cyber-activities, as well as evasion activities.
The suspension comes after a campaign by Ukraine for FATF to add Russia to the FATF blacklist.
Implications :
- The suspension of Russia means Russia can no longer attend the group’s meetings both physically and virtually and can no longer access FATF documents. However, Russia remains accountable for implementing FATF’s anti-money-laundering standards.
- Russia since June 2022 has been restricted from holding any leadership or advisory roles or participating in decision-making on standard-setting, peer-review processes, and governance and membership issues.
Note : On February 24, FATF also added Nigeria and South Africa to its ‘grey list’, while removing Morocco and Cambodia from the list.

About Financial Action Task Force (FATF):

FATF is an inter-governmental policy-making and standard-setting body dedicated to combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
Objective: To establish international standards, and to develop and promote policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris to develop policies against money laundering.
In 2001 its mandate expanded to include terrorism financing.
Headquarters: Paris, France.
FATF members include 39 countries, including the United States, India, China, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Germany, France, and the EU as such.
India became a member of FATF in 2010.

FATF has 2 types of lists:

Black List:
Countries knowns as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put on the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.
Three countries North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar are currently in FATF’s blacklist.
Grey List:
Countries that are considered a safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put on the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.
United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkiye, Jordan, South Africa and 20 other nations are in its ‘Grey List’

Consequences of being on the FATF blacklist:

No financial aid is given to them by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Union (EU).
They also face a number of international economic and financial restrictions and sanctions.

7. NSE Indices unveils municipal bond index

Subject : Economy

Sections : Msc

Concept :

NSE Indices Ltd., an arm of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), had introduced the country’s first municipal bond index.
The new Nifty India Municipal Bond Index will track the performance of municipal bonds issued by Indian municipal corporations across maturities and having investment grade credit rating.
Currently, the index has 28 municipal bonds issued by 10 issuers, all having AA credit ratings. The index constituents are assigned weights based on the outstanding amounts.
Raising money from capital markets incentivises municipal corporations to fund new projects and improve civic infrastructure while encouraging them to become financially disciplined and governance oriented.
The index is computed using the total return methodology including price return and coupon return. The index has a base date of January 1, 2021, and a base value of 1,000. The index will be reviewed quarterly.

Municipal Bond Market

The Indian municipal bond market has seen an upturn in issuances after SEBI’s Issue and Listing of Municipal Debt Securities Regulations, 2015 was implemented and it led to an improved emphasis on municipal finance by policymakers.
Raising money from capital markets stimulates municipal corporations to fund new projects as well as further enhance civic infrastructure while encouraging them to become financially disciplined and governance oriented.

Union Budget 2023

In the Union Budget session 2023, the government mentioned that it will be granting incentives to urban civic bodies for the improvement of their finances and creditworthiness.
Around 9 municipal bodies raised Rs 38.40 billion through bonds in the years 2016-17 and 2020-21, as stated in the report of the Reserve Bank of India.

For notes on municipal bonds, refer – https://optimizeias.com/municipal-bonds/

8. Government to amend offshore mining law

Subject: Economy

Concept:

The Ministry of Mines is planning to map offshore mineral blocks to mine polymetallic nodules.
This follows the Ministry’s efforts to open up the sector to private miners after bringing in amendments to the Offshore Area Mineral (Development & Regulation) Act, 2002.
Composite License – Exploration cum production licences will also be offered once the proposed amendments go through.
However, Mining of atomic minerals will, however, remain under State control and will not be opened up to private miners.

Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulations) Act

In 2002, the Parliament passed the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulations) act.
This Act aims at the development and regulation of mineral resources on specific marine territories such as territorial waters, exclusive economic zone, continental shelf, and other maritime zones of India.
However, the act officially came into effect from 15th January 2010, vide an order dated 11th February 2020 notified by the Central Government.
The Act provides mandates for all minerals in offshore areas. Even minerals listed under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, are included in the said Act.
However, it excludes oils and related hydrocarbons. Oils and hydrocarbons though are offshore minerals are dealt with under separate legislation.

Current procedure for offshore mining

The government currently allocates offshore production leases for blocks containing higher grade atomic minerals, such as uranium and zircon to state controlled entities.
However, the proposed amendments will allow production leases to be granted to the private sector and state controlled firms through auction route.
The proposed amendment give powers to central government to fix the threshold value, above which the allocations will be given to state controlled entities.

Polymetallic Nodules and formation

Polymetallic nodules, also known as manganese nodules, are potato-shaped, largely porous nodules found in abundance carpeting the sea floor of world oceans in deep sea.
Besides manganese and iron, they contain nickel, copper, cobalt, lead etc which are of economic and strategic importance.

Formation :

Formed by slow precipitation of the metallic components from seawater.
This is thought to produce nodules with similar iron and manganese content and a relatively high grade of nickel, copper and cobalt.
Location:
Three areas have been selected by industrial explorers: the centre of the north central Pacific Ocean, the Peru Basin in the south-east Pacific Ocean and the centre of the north Indian Ocean.
They can occur at any depth, but the highest concentrations have been found between 4,000 and 6,000m.

Significance of Polymetallic Nodules:

They contain Rare Earth Elements and metals which are important to high-tech industries.
The amount of copper contained in the CCZ nodules is estimated to be about 20% of that held in global land-based reserves.
These Rare earth minerals are considered as the great source of valuable minerals such as gold, silver and zinc.

9. Environmental cost of Russia-Ukraine War

Subject : International Relations / Environment

Concept :

The conflict in Ukraine has racked up environmental costs that will far outlive the actual fighting.

How the Russia-Ukraine war induced destruction?

Fighting-induced destruction :
The conflict has seen many damages with incidents involving nuclear power plants, energy infrastructure, mines and industrial sites.
It resulted in air pollution and contamination of ground and surface waters.
More than 2 million hectares of forest have been destroyed putting the rare endemic species at risk.
According to claims by the Ukraine’s environment ministry, altogether the losses from land, water and air pollution amounted to $51.4 billion.

Carbon footprint :

Emission from the conflict was estimated to be around 33 mn tonnes of CO2 and 23 mn tonnes of CO2 from fires.
The reconstruction could emit 49 mn tonnes of CO2.

Leopard 2 Tanks :

The state-of-the-art Leopard 2 tanks have a fuel capacity of 1200 litres.
This roughly consumes between 3.5-5.5 litres of fuel per km.

Radioactive exposure :

Russian troops dug up deep trenches in the protected Chernobyl sanctuary, an area largely untouched since the nuclear disaster in 1986.
This could have dug up dangerous radioactive material.
Deforestation:
More than 2 million hectares of forest have been destroyed, wrecking ecosystems and putting rare endemic species at risk.

What is the way forward?

Even when the conflict ends, the immediate efforts of reconstruction will focus only on housing and building infrastructure.
Restoration of environment should not be given priority.
World Nations should take immediate actions to stop the war and its deleterious impact on environment.
Restoration of ecosystem should be given equal priority as reconstruction of infrastructure.

10. FM highlights rising debt vulnerabilities in G20 Finance meet

Subject : International Relations

Section : International Events

Concept :

Speaking at inaugural session of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors (FMCBG) meeting, Finance Minister highlighted rising debt vulnerabilities in many developing countries and sought views from G20 member nations on ‘multilateral coordination’ for managing the burden.
Sitharaman also sought views on how multilateral development banks, like the IMF and World Bank, can be strengthened to address shared global challenges of the 21st century, while maintaining a focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and poverty eradication.

First G 20 Finance meet

First G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under India’s G20 Presidency meeting began in Bengaluru.
The discussions of the first session of G20 FMCBG meeting focused on issues relating to international financial architecture, sustainable finance and infrastructure.

G20 Finance Track 2023

G20 Finance Track discusses global macroeconomic issues through its meetings of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, their Deputies and various working group meetings.
Some of the key issues dealt by the Finance Track are
- Global economic outlook and monitoring of global economic risks;
- Reforms for a more stable and resilient global financial architecture;
- International taxation;
- Financing quality infrastructure;
- Sustainable finance;
- Financial inclusion;
- Financial sector reforms and
- Financing for future health emergencies and investments in pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

G20 Finance Track Achievements

Some of the key achievements of the Finance Track especially in the post-pandemic phase are-
- Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI),
- Common Framework for debt treatments beyond DSSI,
- G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap,
- Two pillar solution to tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the economy,
- G20 principles for quality infrastructure investment,
- Proposal to create a Financial Intermediary Fund (FIF) for pandemic PPR etc.

Note : India’s G20 Presidency Theme is “Vasudhaiva Kutumba-kam” or “One Earth One Family One Future”.

11. FSSAI notifies comprehensive group standards for millets

Subject : Polity

Section: National body

Concept :

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has specified a comprehensive group standard for millets w.e.f. 1st September 2023.
It has notified Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Second Amendment Regulations, 2023.

About :

Currently, individual standards for only a few millets like Sorghum (Jowar), whole and decorticated Pearl Millet grain (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi) and Amaranth are prescribed by FSSAI in 2011.
FSSAI has now framed a comprehensive group standard for 15 types of millets specifying 8 quality parameters e., maximum limits for moisture content, uric acid content, extraneous matter, other edible grains, defects, weevilled grains, and immature and shrivelled grains, so as to ensure availability of good quality (standardized) millets in domestic and global markets.
The group standard is applicable to the following millets.:
- Amaranthus (Chaulai or Rajgira)
- Barnyard Millet ((Samakechawal or Sanwa or Jhangora)
- Brown top (Korale)
- Buckwheat (Kuttu)
- Crab finger (Sikiya)
- Finger Millet (Ragi or Mandua)
- Fonio (Acha)
- Foxtail Millet (Kangni or Kakun)
- Job’s tears (Adlay)
- Kodo Millet (Kodo)
- Little Millet (Kutki)
- Pearl Millet (Bajra)
- Proso Millet (Cheena)
- Sorghum (Jowar)
- Teff (Lovegrass)

For further notes on Millets , refer – https://optimizeias.com/millets-3/

12. INS Sindhukesari

Subject :Geography

Section : Places in news

Concept :

INS Sindhukesari has become the first Indian submarine to dock in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The submarine, which was on operational deployment, travelled through the Sunda Strait and undertook the maiden docking in Indonesia for Operational Turnaround.
It significantly expands the area operational reach of the submarine arm near crucial shipping lanes and the strategic Malacca Strait.

About INS Sindhukesari :

It is a 3,000-tonne Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine.
It was designed as part of Project 877 and built under a contract between Rosvooruzhenie, Russia, and the Ministry of Defence (India).
Features:
- It has a displacement of 3,000 tons.
- It has a maximum diving depth of 300 meters, a speed of up to 18 knots, and can operate solo for 45 days with a crew of 53.

Strait of Malacca

Strait of Malacca connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
Stretching about 800km, it is the longest straits in the world and facilitates not just shipping and the movement of people in the surrounding communities but is a confluence of trade, cultures, ideas, and knowledge between the East and West.
It runs between the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the west and peninsular (West) Malaysia and extreme southern Thailand to the east and has an area of about 25,000 square miles (65,000 square km).
The strait derived its name from the trading port of Melaka (formerly Malacca)—which was of importance in the 16th and 17th centuries—on the Malay coast.
As the link between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca is the shortest sea route between India and China and hence is one of the most heavily travelled shipping channels in the world.
Singapore, one of the world’s most important ports, is situated at the strait’s southern end.
The global shift in economic power from the West to the East coupled with burgeoning trade, investments, and production in areas spanning the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions has given increasing importance to this region.

Sunda Strait

It links the Java Sea (Pacific Ocean) with the Indian Ocean (south).
Sunda Strait, Indonesian Selat Sunda, is a channel, 16–70 miles (26–110 km) wide, between the islands of Java (east) and Sumatra.
The Sunda Strait is an important passage connecting the Indian Ocean with eastern Asia.
The strait stretches in a roughly northeast/southwest orientation, with a minimum width of 24 km (15 mi) at its northeastern end between Cape Tua on Sumatra and Cape Pujat on Java.
It is very deep at its western end, but as it narrows to the east it becomes much shallower, with a depth of only 20 m (65 feet) in parts of the eastern end.
It is notoriously difficult to navigate because of this shallowness, very strong tidal currents, sandbanks, and man-made obstructions such as oil platforms off the Java coast.
The strait’s narrowness, shallowness, and lack of accurate charting make it unsuitable for many modern, large ships, most of which use the Strait of Malacca instead.

13. Caveat Petition

Subject : Polity

Section :Judiciary

Concept :

Apex Court bench headed by CJI D Y Chandrachud reprimanded a law student for filing a caveat in “Shailendra Mani Tripathi v. Union of India & Others”, a petition seeking menstrual leave for female students and working women across Indian institutions
It added that “this is a publicity-oriented caveat” and the student had “no business here.”

Caveat Petition

In common parlance, a caveat refers to “warning” or “caution”.
However, legally it connotes a “formal notice requesting the court to refrain from taking some specified action without giving prior notice to the person lodging the caveat.”
The person lodging the caveat is called a “caveator”.
The provision was inserted by the Amendment Act of 1976 after the Law Commission’s recommendation by Section 148A of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC).
However, the term is not expressly defined anywhere except in the Calcutta High Court’s 1978 ruling.

Who can fill the Caveat?

Any person has a right to lodge a caveat in a Court.
Any person claiming a right to appear before the Court on the hearing of such application may lodge a caveat in respect thereof.
The caveator or the person lodging is also required to serve a notice of the caveat by “registered post” to the person on whose plea they are lodging the application