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Daily News Simplified - DNS

01 09 19
Notes
SL. THE HINDU
TOPICS
NO. PAGE NO.

1 Economics behind E-Vehicle Batteries 14

2 Gig Economy (Magazine) 06

3 Southern Ocean could control global climate 15

4 Theyyam Dance (Magazine) 17

5 Plastic Waste Management Rules 14


Dated: 01.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

Title 1. Economics behind E-Vehicle Batteries (The Hindu, Page 14)


Syllabus Mains: GS Paper III – Indian Economy
Theme Adoption of E-Vehicles in India
Highlights Context:
The NITI Aayog has recently proposed to ban the sale of all internal combustion engine
(ICE) powered three-wheelers post March 2023. It also suggested that all new two-
wheelers below 150cc sold after March 2025 should be electric. Accordingly, the Union
Budget 2019 has proposed a tax deduction of up to Rs 1,50,000 on interest paid on loans to
purchase an electric vehicle. This deduction will be applicable for loans sanctioned between
FY 2019-20 and FY 2022-23.
In this regard, this article discusses the financial viability of the electric vehicles as
compared to conventional vehicles.

Why the need to push for Electric Vehicles?


Climatic change and raising pollution levels: According to a recent study by WHO,
India is home to 14 out of 20 most polluted cities in the world. India has committed to
cutting its GHG emissions intensity by 33% to 35% percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
Advances in renewable energy and battery technology: Lower cost of clean, low-
carbon energy with higher energy densities, faster charging and long-lasting batteries.
Rapid urbanization: Electric vehicles (EVs) can improve pollution scenario in cities by
reducing local concentrations of pollutants in cities.
Energy security: EV’s will facilitate lower reliance on fossil fuel imports and geopolitical
dynamics.
In its recent report, NITI Aayog has stated that adoption of shared and connected electric
mobility in India can cut its energy demand by 64% and carbon emissions by 37%. This
would imply net savings of around 3.9 lakh crores.

Government's initiatives
 National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 provides the vision and the
roadmap for the faster adoption of electric vehicles and their manufacturing in the
country.
 As part of the NEMMP 2020, Department of Heavy Industry has formulated Faster
Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India)
Scheme in the year 2015 to promote manufacturing of electric and hybrid vehicle
technology.
 The phase-I of the scheme was implemented from 2015 to 2019. The scheme has 4
focus areas i.e. Technology development, Demand Creation, Pilot Projects and
Charging Infrastructure. Presently, the Phase-II of the scheme is being
implemented.

Reasons for the higher cost of Electric Vehicles


 The major difference in the cost structures between conventional vehicles and
electric vehicles lies in the drivetrain and battery packs. The drivetrain of a motor
vehicle is the group of components that deliver power to the driving wheels.
 The drivetrain of the electric vehicles is cheaper as compared to conventional
vehicles due to less number of components.
 However, the battery pack accounts for 35-50% of the cost of an electric vehicle
leading to higher costs of electric vehicles as compared to conventional vehicles.

Cost of Battery Pack in Electric Vehicles


 Predominantly, the electric vehicles use the Lithium-ion batteries. The cost of the
key components of the battery include cathode, anode, electrolyte, separator etc
which together account for almost 60% of the total cost. The labour cost is quite
less. Hence, the reduction in the battery cost has to come about through the
reduction in the raw materials cost.
 The cost of the battery pack has steadily declined from 2010 onwards due to
technological improvements, higher economies of scale and fierce competition
Dated: 01.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

between the manufacturers.

Challenges before India with respect to Battery Packs


 According to NITI Aayog, 79% of the vehicles on Indian roads are two-wheelers
and hence the electric mobility has to target this segment of vehicles which need
smaller batteries as compared to 4-wheelers.
 Presently, the Lithium-ion cells are imported and then assembled into batteries and
hence there is a need to set up Li-ion manufacturing unit in India. However, it
requires huge capital expenditure.
 India does not have enough lithium/cobalt reserves for manufacturing lithium-ion
batteries and hence would be required to import the raw materials and hence this
can significantly alter our energy needs.
 The charging of battery packs require electricity. Presently, 90% of the electricity is
generated from using conventional fuels. While, the renewable energy accounts for
remaining 10%. Hence, the electric vehicles may not be completely environment
friendly.
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Dated: 01.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

Title 2. Gig Economy (Magazine) (The Hindu, Page 06)


Syllabus Mains: GS Paper 3 – Indian Economy
Theme Gig Economy- Prospects and Challenges
Highlights Context
The recent Periodic Labour force survey (PLFS) report has highlighted that the unemployment
rate in India has increased to 45-year high at 6.1%. This has in turn forced the urban youths
to look towards the gig economy to find the employment opportunities. A large number of
urban youths have been able to find jobs are now employed in technology based jobs such as
Uber, Ola, Swiggy, Zomato etc. In this regard, this article discusses the prospects and
challenges of the growing Gig Economy in India.

What is Gig Economy?


It refers to the form of economy in which the organisations employ contractual, non-
permanent employees instead of permanent employees. The Gig-economy workers range
across the spectrum of professions, from the highly paid to below-minimum-wage. This trend
is very strong in advanced economies like the US wherein a large number of firms hire
contractual workers on a short term basis. With the rapid adoption of technology, this trend is
slowly evolving in Indian Economy.

Gig Economy in India


10 million employees are currently working as freelancers in India. Most of the freelancers
work on web and mobile development, web designing, internet research, and data entry,
indicating clearly that Indian freelancers are likely to engage in technology-enabled IT work
According to the recent estimates, 13 lakh Indians have joined the Gig Economy in the last half
of 2018-19, registering 30% growth compared to the first half of the financial year. Further, it
is estimated that out of 21 lakh jobs that will be created in the metros in 2019-20, 14 lakh jobs
will be created in Gig Economy. Food and e-commerce companies would account for the major
share of job creation in the Gig Economy.

Reasons for the development of Gig Economy


Firstly, the emergence of Gig Economy can be attributed to rapid growth of the digital
communication wherein the workforce is highly mobile and work can be done from anywhere
without any geographical barriers.
Secondly, the adoption of Gig Economy reduces the operating costs of the firms since the
companies would not be liable to pay pension and other social security benefits.
Thirdly, it gives the necessary flexibility to the workers wherein they can switch jobs frequently
and choose work which suits their area of interest.
Fourthly, the recent slowdown in the formal employment creation has also boosted the
development of Gig Economy.

Why should India focus on development of Gig Economy?


Impact on Employment: Presently, the Indian Economy is facing Jobless Growth leading to
lack of inclusive growth. The creation of Jobs in the Gig Economy would boost the employment
creation in Indian Economy. Further, the Indian agriculture is facing the problem of disguised
unemployment. The Gig economy would be able to provide gainful employment to such rural
youths.
Improve the Organizational Competitiveness: The hiring of short term contractual
workers depending upon the quantum of work helps the companies to rationalize their work
force and reduce the costs. This leads to improve competitiveness and enhanced efficiency of
the firms.
Freedom to the workers: The Gig workers have the freedom to work as per their
convenience with no fixed working hours. They can switch jobs according to their areas of
interest.
Opportunities for Women: The requirement of working fixed number of hours per day can
dissuade the women from taking up formal sector jobs. The Gig economy enable the women to
have flexibility in terms of work place and number of working hours leading to their higher
enrolment in such jobs.
Dated: 01.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

Concerns/challenges
Non-Optimal Utilisation of Demographic Dividend: Indian is presently staring at
demographic dividend with more than 50% of the population in the working-age group. This
section of the population needs to skilled and trained so as to optimally use the demographic
dividend to fuel economic growth. The Gig Economy leads to creation of informal sector jobs
and thus hinder the optimum utilisation of demographic dividend.
Unclear Legal Framework: Current Indian labour laws do not explicitly consider gig
workers. Various workplace related acts like maternity benefit, sexual harassment at workplace
and others are also silent or unclear about if they are applicable to the gig workers.
Lack of Social Benefits: Unlike their counterparts in the formal sector, the Gig economy
workers lack access to social security benefits such as insurance, pension, provident fund etc.
Lack of Job Security: The Gig economy workers can be hired and fired at the will of the
employers leading to lack of job security.
Management of Human Resources: The organisations would find it difficult to supervise
and manage its gig workers who are geographically distributed. Further, the Gig economy may
not optimally benefit the companies that need its workforce to work in a team and collaborate
with each other.
Personal
Notes
Dated: 01.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

Title 3. Southern Ocean could control global climate – (The Hindu, Page 15)
Syllabus Prelims: Environment & Biodiversity
Theme Oceans as Carbon Sink
Highlights Context:
 A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs and stores the
atmosphere’s carbon with physical and biological mechanisms
 Coal, oil, natural gases, methane hydrate and limestone are all examples of carbon
sinks.
 After long processes and under certain conditions, these sinks have stored carbon for
millennia.
 On the contrary, the use of these resources, considered as fossil, re-injects the
carbon they hold into the atmosphere.

Oceans
 Biological and physical processes which take place in a marine environment are
important carbon sinks. These processes form the Ocean carbon pump
 It is composed of two compartments: a biological pump* which transfers surface
carbon towards the seabed via the food web (it is stored there in the long term), and
 The physical pump which results from ocean circulation. In the Polar Regions, more
dense water flows towards the Deep Sea dragging down dissolved carbon. In high
latitudes water stores CO2 more easily because low temperatures facilitate
atmospheric CO2 dissolution (hence the importance of Polar Regions in the carbon
cycle)
 In the high seas, the planktonic ecosystem is a major player. All organic materials
that reach the bottom participate in the biological pump and when conditions permit
it, they also participate in oil formation.
 Calcium-containing materials such as coccolithophore, a microscopic one-celled alga,
participate in subtracting carbon from the natural cycle. When they die, they generate
a vertical net flux of carbon. This carbon can then be stored in the Deep Sea for long
geological periods.
 Healthy coastal ecosystems play a mitigation role against climate change, especially
by capturing carbon for their development. For instance, mangroves, seagrass beds
and salt marshes are significant carbon sinks. These last three examples, store at
least ten times more carbon than continental forests when they develop by capturing
carbon
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Notes
Dated: 01.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

Title 4. Theyyam Dance (Magazine) – (The Hindu, Page 17)


Syllabus Prelims: Art and Culture
Theme About Theyyam
Highlights Kaliyattam is also known as Theyyam. It is a folk theatre form of Kerala. It is performed in
temple, sacred groves, village shrines as a form of ancestor worship.
Usually performed in Northern Kerala (Kannur and Kasargod) and have element of dance,
music, drama and mime.
People wear colorful costumes, do elaborate makeup and wear headgears of 5ft to 6ft. It is
only performed by men and Theyyam is derived from Sanskrit word ‘Daivam’ which means
God’s dance.
It has following forms:
 RakhtChamundi
 Kari Chamundi
 Gulikan
 Pottam
It is performed by caste – Malayan, Vannan and other tribes and communities.
When performed once a year, it is known as Kaliyattam (Dec to April ), whereas when
performed after many years it is known as Perumkaliyattam.
Personal
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Dated: 01.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

Title 5. Plastic Waste Management Rules - (The Hindu, Page 14)


Syllabus Prelims: Environment & Biodiversity
Theme Plastic Waste Management Rules
Highlights The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 -

1. Increase minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 to 50 microns and stipulate
minimum thickness of 50 micron for plastic sheets also to facilitate collection and
recycle of plastic waste
2. Expanded the jurisdiction: earlier the rules were applicable only in municipal areas
however they have now been expanded rural areas as well including every waste
generator, local body, Gram Panchayat, manufacturer, Importers and producer.
3. Responsibility of waste generators :
 All institutional generators of plastic waste shall segregate and store the
waste generated by them in accordance with the Solid Waste Management
Rules, and handover segregated wastes to authorized waste processing or
disposal facilities or deposition centers, either on its own or through the
authorized waste collection agency.
 Every person responsible for organizing an event in open space, which
involves service of food stuff in plastic, or multilayered packaging, shall
segregate and manage the waste generated during such events, in
accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules.
 User fee: All waste generators shall pay such user fee, or charge, as may be
specified in the byelaws of the local bodies for plastic waste management,
such as waste collection, or operation of the facility etc.

4. Collect back system for the producer/ importer / brand owner:

 The producers, importers and brand owners who introduce the plastic carry bags,
multi-layered plastic sachet, or pouches, or packaging in the market, within a period
of six months from the date of publication of these rules, need to establish a
system for collecting back the plastic waste generated due to their products.
 They shall work out modalities for waste collection system based on Extended
Producers Responsibility and involving State Urban Development Departments, either
individually or collectively, through their own distribution channel or through the local
body concerned.
 This plan of collection has to be submitted to the State Pollution Control Boards while
applying for consent to Establish or Operate or Renewal.
 The introduction of the collect back system of waste generated from various products
by the producers/brand owners of those products will improve the collection of plastic
waste, its reuse/ recycle.

5. Responsibility of retailers and street vendors

 Retailers or street vendors shall not sell, or provide commodities to consumers in


carry bags, or plastic sheet, or multilayered packaging, which are not manufactured
and labelled or marked, as prescribed under these rules and shall be liable to pay
fines for its violation.
 However, those who wish to provide plastic carry bag shall register with a local body
and pay the plastic waste management fee of minimum rupees forty-eight
thousand per month.
 Only the registered shopkeepers or street vendors shall be eligible to provide plastic
carry bags for dispensing the commodities The registered shop keepers shall display
at prominent place that plastic carry bags are given on payment.
 The local body shall utilize the amount paid by the customers for the carry bags
exclusively for the sustainability of the waste management system within their
jurisdictions.
Dated: 01.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

 The introduction of provision to collect fee from the producers, importers of plastic
carry bags / multilayered packaging and vendors selling the same, will strengthen the
financial status of local authorities and improve Plastic Waste Management System.

6. Responsibility of local bodies and Gram Panchayat for setting up, operationalization
and co-ordination of the waste management system and for performing associated functions.

7. Reuse of plastic waste: The options on reuse of plastic in various applications namely,
road construction, waste to oil, waste to energy will enhance the recycling of plastic.

8. Land for waste management facility: The responsibility to provide land for
establishing waste management facility has been made to the Department with business
allocation of land allotment in the State Government. This would eliminate the issue of
getting land for the waste management facility.

Issues with plastic waste management


1. Neither is plastic marked with numerical symbols (such as 1 for PET, 4 for Low Density
Polyethylene, 5 for Polypropylene and so on) to facilitate recycling using the correct
industrial process.
2. non-compliance to the rules
3. alternatives to plastic have limitation of cost and scale : Although compostable,
biodegradable or even edible plastics made from various materials such as bagasse, corn
starch, and grain flour are promoted as alternatives, these currently have limitations of scale
and cost.
Some biodegradable packaging materials require specific microorganisms to be broken down,
while compostable cups and plates made of polylactic acid, require industrial composters.

In India, though, in the absence of robust testing and certification to verify claims made by
producers, spurious biodegradable and compostable plastics are entering the marketplace. In
January this year, the CPCB said that 12 companies were marketing carry bags and products
marked ‘compostable’ without any certification, and asked the respective State Pollution
Control Boards to take action on these units.

Way forward

 A ban on single-use plastic items would have to therefore lay down a comprehensive
mechanism to certify the materials marketed as alternatives, and the specific process
required to biodegrade or compost them.
 A movement against plastic waste would have to prioritise the reduction of single-use
plastic such as multi-layer packaging, bread bags, food wrap, and protective
packaging. Consumers often have no choice in the matter.
 Other parts of the campaign must focus on tested biodegradable and compostable
alternatives for plates, cutlery and cups, rigorous segregation of waste and scaled up
recycling.
 City municipal authorities and other local authorities should play a key role
 Packaging industry should look at innovation and new materials to tackle the menace
of plastic.
Dated: 01.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

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