6af04 April 2023

April 2023
Security
International Relations
Science & Technology

Geography
Environment
Economy
CO2
Ethics
Government Schemes
Art & Culture

Polity
M nthly
CURRENT AFFAIRS 8468022022 | 9019066066 www.visionias.in
DELHI | JAIPUR | HYDERABAD | LUCKNOW | AHMEDABAD | PUNE
BHOPAL | PRAYAGRAJ | RANCHI | GUWAHATI | CHANDIGARH
Live - online / Offline
Classes
Scan the QR CODE to

download VISION IAS app
DELHI
15 JUNE, 5 PM 30 MAY,1 PM 16 MAY, 9 AM 28 APR, 9 AM
Table of Contents
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ________________3 3.10.5. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and
1.1. Basic Structure Doctrine ___________________ 3 Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) __________ 50
1.2. Democratic Decentralisation in India ________ 5 3.10.6. Business Environment Rankings ___________ 51
3.10.7. Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) may
1.3. Cooperative Federalism ___________________ 7
drive India digital consumption to USD 320-340 billion by
1.4. Inter-state Border Disputes ________________ 9 2030: Report _________________________________ 51
1.5. Aadhaar ______________________________ 10 3.10.8. UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) 5.0 _______ 51
1.6. Land Records Modernization in India _______ 13 3.10.9. Kochi Water Metro ______________________ 52
1.7. Regulation of Online Gaming ______________ 15 3.10.10. Logistic Performance Index 2023 __________ 52
1.8. News in Shorts _________________________ 16 3.10.11. National Logistics Portal Marine __________ 52
1.8.1. Rural-Urban Areas ________________________ 16 3.10.12. Marketing and Logistics Development for
1.8.2. National Party Status _____________________ 17 Promotion of Tribal Products from North Eastern Region
1.8.3. Governor _______________________________ 17 (PTP-NER) ___________________________________ 52
1.8.4. Central Administrative Tribunal _____________ 17 3.10.13. Dakar Declaration ______________________ 53
1.8.5. Technology in Judiciary ____________________ 18 3.10.14. National Devices Policy, 2023 ____________ 53
1.8.6. India Justice Report _______________________ 18 3.10.15. SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication and
1.8.7. Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel ____________ 19 Holistic Inventory) Portal _______________________ 53
1.8.8. Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023 _______ 19 3.10.16. Millets And OtHer Ancient Grains International
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________20 ReSearcH Initiative (MAHARISHI) _________________ 54
2.1. India-Bhutan ___________________________ 20 3.10.17. Mid-Day Meal Pulses ___________________ 54
2.2. India-Latin America _____________________ 21 4. SECURITY _____________________________ 55
2.3. India, Iran, Armenia Trilateral _____________ 24 4.1. Weaponisation of Space _________________ 55
2.4. Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for 4.2. Left Wing Extremism (LWE) _______________ 57
Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)______________ 25 4.3. News in Shorts _________________________ 59
2.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 26 4.3.1. Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2022 Report
2.5.1. International Fund of Agricultural Development ____________________________________________ 59
(IFAD) _______________________________________ 26 4.3.2. Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings
2.5.2. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ____ 27 (CCOSW) ____________________________________ 59
2.5.3. G7 Meeting _____________________________ 27 4.3.3. First Anti-Spyware Declaration _____________ 60
2.5.4. United Nations Statistical Commission _______ 28 4.3.4. Ransomware Report-2022 _________________ 60
2.5.5. North Sea Summit ________________________ 28 4.3.5. Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) ___________ 60
2.5.6. Chabahar Port ___________________________ 28 4.3.6. Pralay Ballistic Missile_____________________ 61
2.5.7. Good Friday Agreement ___________________ 29 4.3.7. Exercises in News ________________________ 61
2.5.8. Operation Kaveri _________________________ 29 5. ENVIRONMENT ________________________ 62
3. ECONOMY _____________________________30 5.1. Project Tiger ___________________________ 62
3.1. Foreign Trade Policy 2023 ________________ 30 5.2. Project Elephant ________________________ 64
3.1.1. Trade Facilitation and Ease of Doing Business 5.3. Circular Economy _______________________ 66
(EoDB) ______________________________________ 30 5.4. Groundwater __________________________ 69
3.1.2. Export Promotion Initiatives by FTP 2023 _____ 31 5.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 71
3.1.3. Other initiatives by FTP 2023 _______________ 32 5.5.1. State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22 __ 71
3.2. De-dollarization ________________________ 34 5.5.2. First Census of Water Bodies _______________ 71
3.3. Gig Economy ___________________________ 36 5.5.3. PRAYAG Platform ________________________ 72
3.4. Stand-up India _________________________ 39 5.5.4. Eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) __________________ 72
3.5. Transfer Pricing_________________________ 40 5.5.5. Prosopis Chilensis ________________________ 73
3.6. Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) ___________ 41 5.5.6. Environment Statistics 2023 _______________ 73
3.6.1. Digital Services Act _______________________ 43 5.5.7. Agrifood Systems ________________________ 73
5.5.8. Open-Source Seeds Movement (OSSM) ______ 73
3.7. National Gas Grid _______________________ 44
5.5.9. Fly-Ash _________________________________ 74
3.8. Aquaculture Sector ______________________ 45 5.5.10. Carbon Market Reforms __________________ 74
3.9. Agri Tech ______________________________ 47 5.5.11. Mission 50K-EV4ECO ____________________ 74
3.10. News in Shorts ________________________ 49 5.5.12. Sea Surface Temperature (SST) ____________ 75
3.10.1. Direct Tax Statistics ______________________ 49 5.5.13. Upward Lightning or Upward Flashes _______ 75
3.10.2. Dabba (box) Trading _____________________ 49 5.5.14. Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 ___________ 75
3.10.3. Mahila Samman Savings Certificates (MSSC) __ 49 6. SOCIAL ISSUES _________________________ 76
3.10.4. Green Deposits _________________________ 50
1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
6.1. National Curriculum Framework for School 7.7.8. Magnetoresistance _______________________ 98
Education (NCFSE) __________________________ 76 7.7.9. New Uranium Isotope ____________________ 98
6.2. National Credit Framework (NCrF) _________ 78 7.7.10. State of the World’s Children (SOWC) 2023 Report
6.3. 7th National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates ____________________________________________ 98
7.7.11. The Big Catch-Up _______________________ 99
(for 2019-20) ______________________________ 79
7.7.12. Shingrix Vaccine ________________________ 99
6.4. State of World Population Report 2023 _____ 80 7.7.13. Know Your Medicine ____________________ 99
6.5. Global Food Policy Report 2023 ____________ 81 7.7.14. International Prize in Statistics ____________ 99
6.6. News in Shorts _________________________ 83 8. CULTURE ____________________________ 100
6.6.1. Triple Threat Report ______________________ 83
8.1. Indian Knowledge Systems in Higher Education
6.6.2. Assessment of Child Suspects _______________ 83
6.6.3. Triple Tests for Surrogacy __________________ 84
________________________________________ 100
8.2. National Mission for Cultural Mapping _____ 101
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ______________85
8.3. Raja Ravi Varma _______________________ 103
7.1. Indian Space Policy – 2023 ________________ 85
8.4. News in Shorts ________________________ 103
7.2. LIGO-India Project ______________________ 87
8.4.1. Global Buddhist Summit 2023 _____________ 103
7.3. Dark Matter Map _______________________ 89 8.4.2. Sanchi ________________________________ 104
7.4. National Quantum Mission (NQM) _________ 90 8.4.3. Manamadurai pottery ___________________ 104
7.5. Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) Mission __ 92 8.4.4. Ladakhs wood carvings ___________________ 104
7.6. Preparedness and Resilience For Emerging 8.4.5. Nagri Dubraj rice ________________________ 104
Threats (PRET) Initiative _____________________ 95 8.4.6. Pushkaralu/Pushkaram Festival ____________ 104
7.7. News in Shorts _________________________ 95 8.4.7. Hakki Pikki _____________________________ 104
7.7.1. Rare Earth Elements ______________________ 95 8.4.8. Abhilekh patal __________________________ 105
7.7.2. Blockchain Project ________________________ 96 9. ETHICS ______________________________ 106
7.7.3. Support for Up-gradation Preventive Repair & 9.1. Ethics of Migration _____________________ 106
Maintenance of Equipment (SUPREME) ____________ 96 10. SCHEMES IN NEWS ___________________ 108
7.7.4. PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-2 (POEM-2) 96
10.1. Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small
7.7.5. Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution
(TEMPO) instrument ___________________________ 97
Enterprises (CGMSE) _______________________ 108
7.7.6. Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) waves __ 97 10.2. FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of
7.7.7. Deep Learning Geomagnetic Perturbation Hybrid and Electric Vehicle) Scheme __________ 109
(DAGGER) model ______________________________ 97 11. APPENDIX __________________________ 110

1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1.1. BASIC STRUCTURE DOCTRINE
Why in news?
The
landmark Kesavananda
Bharati judgement, 1973
which propounded the
basic structure doctrine
completed 50 years.
About the Kesavananda
Bharati Case,1973
• The case dealt with a
petition against the
Kerala Government
challenging the
compulsory
acquisition of his land
by the government
under the Kerala Land
Reforms Act 1963, as a
violation of
Fundamental Rights (FRs), as enshrined in - Articles 25, 26 and 31 of the Constitution of India.
• The case was heard by a Bench of 13 judges — the largest formed in the Supreme Court (SC).
• Key Outcomes:
o Introduction of Basic Structure Doctrine: SC upheld the validity of the 24th amendment and held that Parliament
had the power to amend any or all provisions of the Constitution (including FRs), with a condition that the
amendments should not alter, damage or destroy the essential features or the fundamental principles of the
Constitution.
✓ This came to be known as the “Basic Structure Doctrine”.
o Corrected judgments of the Golaknath case: SC held that Article 368 contained both the power and the
procedure for amending the Constitution and that amending powers and legislative powers of Parliament were
different.
o Other judgments: SC upheld the 25th and 29th Amendments except for the parts that curtailed its power of
judicial review and also asserted that the Preamble is a part of the Constitution and hence amendable.
About Basic Structure Doctrine Some Principles that are presently part of the ‘Basic Structure’
• Sovereignty of India
• The basic structure doctrine holds
• Essential features of the individual freedoms secured to the Citizens
that certain fundamental features of • Mandate to build a welfare State
the Constitution, cannot be • Supremacy of the Constitution
amended or abrogated by the • Republican and democratic form of government
Parliament through a constitutional • Secular and federal character of the Constitution
amendment. • Separation of powers between the legislature, executive and the
• There is no mention of the term judiciary
“Basic Structure” anywhere in the • Unity and integrity of the nation
Constitution of India. • Power of judicial review
• Harmony and balance between FRs and DPSPs

Significance of the doctrine
• Serves as a check on the power of the
Parliament to amend the
Constitution.
• Ensures that the Constitution
remains a living document that is
responsive to changing times while
preserving its fundamental values and
principles.
• Laid down several principles that
have become the bedrock of
constitutional law in India such as
rule of law, separation of powers, and
the independence of the judiciary.
• Ensures that the federal structure of
the Constitution is not undermined
• Instrumental in shaping the Indian
judiciary's approach to
constitutional interpretation.
Major challenges with regard to Basic
Structure
• Scope of Basic Structure: The
interpretation of what constitutes the
"basic structure" is often contested
which can lead to differing interpretations and confusion.
• Judicial Activism: The use of the Basic Structure Doctrine allows the courts to invalidate constitutional amendments
passed by the elected representatives of the people.
o For instance, in the 2019 the Supreme Court’s struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC)
Act to reform the appointment process for judges.
• Conflict with parliamentary sovereignty: The Doctrine is often seen as a limitation on the powers of Parliament to
amend the Constitution, which can be perceived as a challenge to the principle of parliamentary sovereignty.
o For example, the move to remove special status for Jammu and Kashmir under the Jammu and Kashmir
Reorganisation Act in 2019, was challenged in the Supreme Court on the grounds that it undermines federalism,
secularism, and the right to self-determination. However, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the
act.
• Difficulty in Amending the Constitution: The doctrine might make it difficult to amend the Constitution, even when
such amendments are necessary to address changing societal needs.
Way ahead
• Clarity in the definition: The Supreme Court needs to provide a clear definition of the basic structure, including the
fundamental principles and values that cannot be amended.
• Consistency in application: The doctrine must be applied consistently in all cases, ensuring that the basic features of
the Constitution are not tampered with by any organ of the state.
• Limiting judicial activism: The courts should exercise restraint in interpreting the Constitution and upholding the basic
structure, respecting the separation of powers and the role of the Parliament.
• Public awareness and participation: There is a need for public awareness and participation in understanding the
importance of the basic structure doctrine and its impact on the governance of the country. This can help in building
public support for the doctrine and its continued relevance in protecting the Constitution.

1.2. DEMOCRATIC DECENTRALISATION IN INDIA
Why in news? About 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts
The year 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment 74th Constitutional
73rd and 74th Amendment to the Indian Act, 1992 Amendment Act, 1992
Constitution that led to the establishment of local • Panchayati Raj Institution was • Urban local
self-governments in rural and urban areas thereby constitutionalized through the governments were
a three-tier federal structure. Act. constitutionalized.
• This act has added a new Part- • It added Part IX -A and
More on news IX to the Constitution of consists of provisions
• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration India and consists of provisions from Articles 243-P to
with the Government of Madhya Pradesh from Articles 243 to 243 O. 243-ZG.
celebrated National Panchayati Raj Day on • In addition, the act has also • It also added the
added a new 11th Schedule to 12th Schedule to the
24th April at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh (first
the Constitution that contains Constitution that contains
state in the country to implement the 3-tier 29 functional items of the 18 functional items of
panchayati raj envisaged in the 73rd panchayats. Municipalities.
Constitution Amendment Act, 1992).
• On the occasion,
o PM inaugrated integrated e-GramSwaraj and GeM portal.
✓ The objective of eGramSwaraj–Government e-Marketplace (GeM) Integration is to enable the Panchayats to
procure their goods and services through GeM leveraging the eGramSwaraj platform.
o PM handed over the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas)
Property Card to select beneficiaries, symbolizing the attainment of the milestone of 1.25 crore property cards
distribution under SVAMITVA Scheme in the country.
About Democratic Decentralisation in India
• Democratic decentralization in India refers to the devolution of power, resources and decision-making authority
from the central government to local governments, such as panchayats and municipalities.
• The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts of 1992 that came into force in 1993 are landmark pieces of
legislation that introduced democratic decentralization in India.
Significant achievements after democratic decentralisation in India
• Empowerment of women and marginalized communities: The proportion of elected women representatives has been
steadily rising since the enactment of the 73rd amendment Act.
o Currently, 49 percent of elected local representatives (1.4 million) are women and over 400,000 members belonged to
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
o In states like Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Kerala, the number of elected women representatives has
exceeded the number of their male counterparts.
• Positive impacts due to increased representation of women and SC/STs: This includes increased spending on community-
based welfare for women, and increased reporting of crimes. At the same time, SC sarpanch/pradhans are more likely to
invest in public goods in SC hamlets—an important change in the severely segregated villages of India.
• Healthy competition among states: The acts have also created healthy competition among various states regarding
devolution of funds, functions, and functionaries(the 3Fs).
o For example, while Kerala has devolved all 29 functions to Panchayats, Bihar came out with the idea of “Panchayat
Sarkar” and states such as Odisha have increased 50 percent seats for women.
Challenges to democratic decentralisation
• Limited powers and resources: PRIs and ULBs lack control over key areas like education, health, and policing. They
rely on central and state government grants, constraining their capacity to execute independent development plans.
• Economic Inequalities: Some states and districts have better resources and infrastructure than others, leading to
uneven development.
• Bureaucratic hurdles: PRIs and ULBs face bureaucratic hurdles in executing their plans and projects, including delays
in approvals, inefficient implementation, and corruption.
• Lack of political will: The central and state governments
often resist devolution of power due to fears of losing
control.
o There is delay in appointment of the finance commission
and its recommendations are rarely taken into the
budgetary plans. This undermines the autonomy of local
governments.
• Creation of parallel bodies: Many states have created
parallel bodies to take over the functions assigned for
panchayats. For instance, recently the Haryana government
created a Rural Development Agency under the
chairmanship of the chief minister to oversee the works of
local bodies.
• Social inequalities: Women and marginalized communities
often face discrimination in local decision-making processes,
which limits their participation and influence.
• Lack of accountability: There is often a lack of accountability
and transparency in local decision-making processes, which
can lead to corruption and misuse of resources.
• Weak capacity building: PRIs and ULBs often lack the necessary technical and administrative capacity to manage their
functions effectively.
Steps taken to strengthen PRIs in India
• Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): For developing and strengthening the capacities of PRIs to become more
responsive towards local development needs.
• e-GramSwaraj: A user friendly web-based portal unifies the planning, accounting, and monitoring functions of Gram
Panchayats.
• People’s Plan Campaign (PPC)- Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas: To draw up Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs)
in the country and place them on a website where anyone can see the status of the various government’s flagship
schemes.
• Backward Regions Grants Fund (BRGF): Under this, untied funds are given for meeting critical gaps in local
infrastructure and other development requirements in some identified backward districts.
• National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj: It is an autonomous organisation under the Union
Ministry of Rural Development for capacity building of rural development functionaries, elected representatives of
PRIs, bankers, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
• National Panchayat Awards: Under this, best performing Panchayats are selected based on various criteria and
indicators.
• SWAMITVA Scheme: Aims to provide the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners issuance of property cards
to the property owners. This empowers PRIs with better data on land ownership.
Way Forward
• Strengthening financial devolution: This can be done through higher allocation of funds from the Finance
Commissions, and by exploring innovative sources of financing such as municipal bonds.
• Capacity building and training: There is a need to provide continuous capacity building and training to elected
representatives and officials in PRIs through the establishment of dedicated training centers, such as the National
Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, and by developing training modules in regional languages.
• Empowering PRIs through legislation: This can include provisions for participatory planning, public disclosure of
budgets and plans, and greater involvement of citizens in the decision-making process.
• Leveraging technology: Efficient implementation of and awareness building about e-governance platforms, such as
online portals and mobile applications, that enable citizens to interact with PRIs and access information.

• Strengthening the role of women: A parliamentary panel in its report calls for focus on empowering women elected
representatives (ERs) in PRIs through training and capacity building to curb prevalent concepts "Sarpanch Pati" or
"Pradhan Pati" (husbands trying to act as the proxy for elected women sarpanches).
1.3. COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM

Why in news? Constitutional Provisions to promote cooperative federalism in India
Prime Minister recently underlined the • 7th schedule which demarcates central, state, and concurrent lists based
importance of cooperative federalism in on the principle of subsidiarity.
India. • All India Services under Article 312
• Integrated judicial system to enforce both states as well as central laws.
About Cooperative Federalism • Inter-State Council under article 263 of the constitution to discuss and
investigate the subject of common interest between the center and the
• Cooperative federalism is the horizontal states.
relationship between union and states • Full Faith and Credit Clause under article 261 provides that full faith and
and shows neither is above the other. credit shall be given throughout the territory of India to all the public acts,
o It envisages that national and state records, and judicial proceedings of the Union and every State.
agencies undertake government • Zonal council established as statutory bodies under the State
functions jointly rather than reorganization act of 1956 to ensure coordination.
exclusively. • Finance Commission under article 280 for recommending the distribution
• Indian constitution has incorporated of financial resources between the Union and the States.
instruments to ensure co-operation • GST Council under article 279A which is responsible for deciding the rates
between the centre and states. of the GST and the modalities of its implementation.
• National Institution for Transforming
India Aayog (NITI) Aayog acts as a platform to promote cooperative federalism in India.
o Some of the key roles of NITI Aayog include Collaborative policy-making, Center-state dialogue, Incentivizing
states and Monitoring and Evaluation.
Need for cooperative federalism in India
• Addressing regional disparities: To achieve inclusive and balanced development, states must collaborate with the
central government to bridge socio-economic and infrastructural gaps.
• Effective implementation of policies: Effective implementation of central government policies requires crucial
cooperation between central and state governments as many policies are implemented by the latter.
• Sharing of resources: Cooperative federalism facilitates fair and equitable sharing of resources, ensuring that all states
have access to resources for development.
• Strengthening Democracy: Cooperative federalism promotes decentralization of power, giving more autonomy to
the states. This helps to ensure that the diverse needs and aspirations of the people are taken into account in the
decision-making process.
• Collaboration on emerging issues: Cooperative federalism ensures that issues such as national security, disaster
management, and environmental protection are tackled in a coordinated manner, with all levels of government
working together towards a common goal.
Challenges to cooperative federalism in India
• Over-Centralization of power: The centre enjoys more power
than states on certain matters and imposes rules and
regulations which many states find discriminatory to them. As
a result, conflict of interest situation arises between the centre
and state.
o For example, during the COVID pandemic, Disaster
Management Act was used by the centre to effectively
bypass States and assume complete control.

• Political differences: The central government has been accused of using its power to target opposition-ruled states
and deny them funds and resources.
• Inter-state disputes: The central government has often been called upon to mediate disputes between states over
resources such as water and land and has been criticized for taking sides.
• Diversity: India's diversity demands a Steps Taken to foster Cooperative federalism in India
customized approach to policymaking for • Share of states in central tax revenue has been increased from 32% to
different regions. This makes cooperation 42% after the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission.
between centre and state governments all • States have freedom to plan their expenditure based on their own
the more difficult. priorities.
• Interference in state matters: This has led • Restructuring of centrally sponsored schemes.
to a lack of autonomy for states. • Financial sector bailout programme under Ujwal DISCOM Assurance
o For example, the recent controversy Yojana (UDAY) scheme.
over the new farm laws, which are • State wise Ease of Doing Business ranking
opposed by several states, has • Goods and Services tax (GST)
• Various steps taken by NITI Aayog such as:
highlighted the tension between the
o Meetings between the Prime Minister/Cabinet Ministers and all
central government and the states. Chief Ministers;
Way forward to strengthen cooperative o Subgroups of Chief Ministers on subjects of national importance;
federalism in India o Sharing of best practices among states;
o Policy support and capacity development of State/UT
• Empowering Local Bodies: Empowering functionaries;
local bodies such as Panchayati Raj o Launching of the Aspirational Districts Programme for
Institutions and Urban Local Bodies to development of backward districts;
take up developmental activities and to o Framing model laws for land leasing and agriculture marketing
enable them to play a more significant reforms
role in the development process. o Area-specific interventions for the North-Eastern and Himalayan
States and island development.
• Financial Devolution: Increasing the share o Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital (SATH)
of States in central taxes to increase the programme to initiate transformation in the education and health
financial resources of States and to sectors and to identify and build three future ‘role model’ states.
promote fiscal federalism.
• Sharing of Best Practices: Sharing of best practices among States specially on contentious issues like land, labour
and natural resources.
• Resolving Centre-State Disputes: The Supreme Court of India has set up various tribunals to resolve disputes related
to water sharing, inter-state borders, and other issues.
o This will help in building trust and creating a conducive environment for cooperation and collaboration.
• Promoting Paradiplomacy: States are often equipped better to undertake diplomatic measures in areas of trade,
commerce, FDI, education and cultural exchanges. Paradiplomacy(i.e. foreign policy decentralisation) is therefore
emerging as a great example of cooperative federalism, making states as equal partners in the development of the
country.
o India’s presidency of G20 and the meetings held in different cities will give a further boost to cooperative
federalism.
• Inclusive Decision-Making: Ensuring inclusive decision-making processes that involve all stakeholders, including civil
society organizations, to promote greater accountability and transparency in governance.

1.4. INTER-STATE BORDER DISPUTES
Why in news?
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end
a decades-long inter-state border dispute.
More in news
• The dispute in question is over 123 villages
that stretch across 12 districts of
Arunachal Pradesh and eight of Assam.
• According to the MoU, the state
governments agree that no new claim
area or village will be added in future
beyond these 123 villages.
• As per the MoU signed, disputes over 34
of these villages stand resolved.
o The disputes over 37 villages had
been resolved through the Namsai
Declaration of July 2022.
o Of 71 villages, an understanding has
been reached where Arunachal
Pradesh cedes one village to Assam
while receiving 60 villages from Assam;
10 villages remain in Assam.
• The exercise to resolve the dispute had
started with the formation of 12 regional
committees in 2022 from both states.
o The suggestions made by these
committees have been accepted by the two states.
Causes of inter-state border disputes
• Colonial legacy: Britishers prioritized easy governance, leading to administrative unification and not cultural or
linguistic unification. This caused a mismatch
between people’s personal identities and
the territories they inhabited.
• Varied geographical features: Complex
terrain across the borders in form of rivers,
hills and forests makes it difficult to clearly
mark physical boundaries.
• Inadequacy of mechanisms to solve border
dispute: Although the Constitution provides
for judicial redressal (Article 131) and the
Inter-state Council (Article 263), the former
cannot address political disputes, and the
latter is underutilized for resolving inter-
state border disputes.
o Meetings of inter-state council have
been sporadic. In last 16 years, just two
meetings have been held.

• Non-binding nature of commissions/committees formed: Committees are generally formed to understand the
ground situation. However, their success depends on effective implementation. Varied political interests of various
groups, resulted in poor acceptance or implementation of recommendations.
o For instance, in 1966, Centre set up the Mahajan Commission to resolve the border dispute in Maharashtra,
Karnataka and Kerala. However, Commission’s recommendations regarding Belgaum were rejected by
Maharashtra.
• Political differences: Differences in political ideologies, party affiliations, and regional interests can also cause inter-
state border disputes, with political parties and leaders using such disputes as a tool for mobilization and gaining
electoral advantage.
• Lack of political will: Inter-state border disputes continue due to a lack of long-term efforts and political commitment
to their resolution, ultimately exacerbating tensions and conflicts.
Road ahead
• Adopting a give and-take approach: Right Methods to resolve disputes among states
approach towards such dispute is not • Judicial redressal: Supreme Court in its original jurisdiction decides
seeing it as a zero-sum game. It must be imputes between states. Article 131 provides that Supreme Court shall,
a win-win situation for all parties. to exclusion of any other court, have original jurisdiction in any dispute.
Redressal must be the responsibility of o Between the Government of India and one or more States; or
the union government and due o Between the Government of India and any State or States on one
compensation must be given on time. side and one or more other States on the other; or
• Understanding core issues: Policymakers o Between two or more States.
• Inter-state Council: Article 263 gives powers to the President to set up
must understand the dispute's core
an Inter-state Council for resolution of disputes between states. The
issues. Efforts should be redoubled to find
Council is envisaged as a forum for discussion between the states and
a political solution, mediated by the the Centre and charged with the duty of
Union government, which is binding on all o Inquiring into and advising upon disputes which may have arisen
the parties. between States;
• Raising awareness among people: o Investigating and discussing subjects in which some or all of the
Political leaders should also spread States, or the Union and one or more of the States, have a common
awareness about the benefits of settled interest; or
and peaceful borders in terms of better o Making recommendations upon any such subject and
infrastructure, connectivity and recommendations for the better coordination of policy and action
with respect to that subject.
development.
• Zonal Councils: They are the statutory bodies established by States
• Inclusion of all stakeholders: The Reorganisation Act of 1956. They aim at promoting cooperation and
inclusion of locals would bridge the gap coordination between states, union territories and the Centre. They are
between government and people, thus, only deliberative and advisory bodies.
enhancing communication.
o With the help of NGOs, civil societies and student organisations, the government must propagate the idea of
‘mutual co-existence and development’.
• Framing proper Re-habilitation Policy: Resolution of border disputes, at times, leads to displacement of people. A
people-friendly settlement policy will make dispute-resolution process peaceful and help develop trust among the
people.
• People’s interests must remain paramount: Resolving inter-state border disputes at the village level can address
genuine grievances and put people's interests first for effective solutions.
1.5. AADHAAR
Why in news?
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has proposed rules to enable Aadhaar authentication by
entities other than Government Ministries and Departments for better delivery of services to citizens.

More in news
• In 2019, an amendment to the Aadhaar Act
allowed entities to enable Aadhaar
authentication with the Unique Identification
Authority of India’s (UIDAI) approval after
ensuring compliance with security and privacy
requirements.
• At present, Ministries and Departments are
allowed to undertake Aadhaar Authentication
under 2020 rules.
o It is allowed for purposes like in interest of
good governance, preventing leakage of
public funds and enablement of innovation
and spread of knowledge.
• Also, entities such as banks and telecom
companies were allowed to perform
authentication if UIDAI was satisfied about
standards of privacy and security.
• Now, it is proposed that any entity other than a
ministry or department that desires to use Aadhaar
authentication need to submit its proposal to concerned
ministry/department at Centre or state level.
Issues with the Aadhaar
• Faulty database: A CAG report (2022) pointed out that
UIDAI generated Aadhaar numbers with incomplete
information, along with a lack of proper documentation or
poor- quality biometrics. This has resulted in multiple or
duplicate Aadhaar cards being issued to the same person.
• Concerns about residence status: UIDAI has not prescribed
any specific proof, document, or process to confirm
whether a person who is applying for Aadhaar has resided
in India for the period specified by the Rules.
• Incidences of authentication errors: The authentication
transaction success rate has remained a cause of
dissatisfaction among the users due to biometric
authentication failures.
o A 2019 survey found that 2.5 percent of respondents
experienced exclusion from a welfare service because of problems with Aadhaar.
• System vulnerability: It lacks standard security elements seen in other photo IDs, including a microchip, hologram,
or official seal, making it more vulnerable being copied or falsified.
• Data leaks and privacy concerns: Security flaws in Aadhaar's operations have made it vulnerable to data leaks.
• Bal Aadhaar: The issue of Aadhaar numbers being issued to minor children (below the age of five), based on the
biometrics of their parents, goes against the basic tenet of the Aadhaar Act.
o CAG report highlighted that UIDAI has incurred avoidable expenditure of ₹310 Crore on issue of Bal Aadhaars
till 31 March 2019.
• Updating biometrics: Biometrics are not stable over the lifespan of an individual, so they are asked to update/re-
enrol their biometrics.

Initiatives taken to strengthen Aadhaar system
• Roadmap drawn for Aadhaar 2.0:
Roadmap covers areas like continued
focus on Resident centricity; enhancing
the use of Aadhaar; further
strengthening the people’s trust on
Aadhaar; technology up gradation; and
increasing international outreach.
• Biometrics based de-duplication:
Biometric Service Providers (BSPs)
presently operational use Facial image
as additional biometric attribute for
de-duplication along with 10
fingerprints and two IRIS.
• Biometric fraud detection: Biometric
Service Providers (BSPs) can currently
detect mixed biometrics, wrong fingers,
non-human fingers, gummy fingers,
inverted IRIS images, and closed eyes
during enrolment.
o UIDAI introduced two-factor
authentication using AI/ML
technology to verify fingerprint
liveness and prevent spoofing
attempts.
• Inspection of operators: UIDAI regularly
carries out inspection to find out
deviant behavior among operators.
• Others
o The State governments have been roped in for quality check of all new adult enrolments.
o An updated and user-friendly list of supporting documents required for Aadhaar enrolment/update has been
notified.
o To discourage misuse of system, GPS fencing Constitutionality of Aadhaar Act (Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v UoI)
• Aadhaar Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies,
has been embedded in the Enrolment
Benefits and Services Act, 2016 (Aadhaar Act) was
machines. challenged before the apex court on the grounds that it was
Road ahead passed as a money bill, thereby circumventing the upper
house of Parliament.
• Authenticate the residence status: UIDAI should • In its 2018 judgment, top court affirmed the constitutionality
prescribe a procedure and required of the Aadhaar act.
documentation other than self-declaration, to • Key Observations:
confirm and authenticate the residence status of o Act was competently passed by Parliament, even though
applicants. it was passed as a Money Bill.
• Strengthening grievance system: UIDAI may o Act does not violate the fundamental rights guaranteed
explore the possibility of introducing a single under Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21.
o Aadhaar would be mandatory for accessing social
centralized system to capture
welfare schemes, but it cannot be forced on people for
grievances/complaints lodged to enhance the opening bank accounts or for mobile and internet
quality of customer servicing. connection.
• Strengthening digital framework: It is crucial to
establish appropriate digital network such as power, internet and mobile connectivity and ensure correct Aadhaar
linking. Further, there is a need to invest in households’ digital literacy and skills to use digital tools to maximise
Aadhaar usage.
• Comprehensive data protection legislation: In 2017, the Indian Supreme Court ruled that privacy is a fundamental
right and asked the government to implement a robust regime for data protection. A robust data protection
framework is essential to
o Protect citizens’ privacy,
o Prevent companies and governments from indiscriminately collecting data,
o Holding companies and governments accountable for data breaches to incentivize appropriate data handling.
1.6. LAND RECORDS MODERNIZATION IN INDIA

Why in News?
28 States/UTs have adopted the
National Generic Document
Registration System (NGDRS) for
Land Records and 26 States/UTs
have adopted the Unique Land
Parcel Identification Number
(ULPIN) or Bhu-Aadhar.
About National Generic
Document Registration System
(NGDRS)
• Application: NGDRS is a
common, generic, and
configurable application developed for document registration departments across the country.
• Initiated by: Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development.
• State-specific: NGDRS facilitates states to create state-specific instances and configure the software as per
requirements.
• Citizen services: Offering a complete user interface for property and document registration, the application enables
citizens to proceed with land buying online.
• Objectives:
o Enabling the idea of One Nation One Software
o Citizen empowerment by enabling property valuation (including auto calculation of duty) and online document
submission
o Single platform for all stakeholders in the registration process.
Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) or Bhu-Aadhaar
• ULPIN: ULPIN is part of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) and is a 14-digit identification
number accorded to a land parcel.
○ It was developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC).
• Identification basis: The identification is based on the longitude and latitude coordinates of the land parcel and depends on
detailed surveys and geo-referenced cadastral maps.
• Significance: It provides single window service to citizens, standardization across states, easy sharing of land records, protects
government land and ensures transparency.
Need for land record modernization in India
• Move towards Conclusive Land Titling: The land records modernization program aims at adopting the system of
Conclusive Titles instead of present Presumptive Titles.
o In India, currently, the ownership of a property is proved through presumptive land titling (Record of Rights -
RoR) i.e., a chain of documents that provide evidence of the transfer of title from person to person over the years
all the way to the current owners.
o Also, according to Registration Act 1908, presumptive titling implies that the State does not give a guarantee for
such titles.

• Land Disputes: The 2017 Access to
Justice Survey by Daksh, 66% of all Civil
suits in India are related to land or
property disputes, and the average
pendency of a land acquisition dispute is
20 years.
• Standardisation of land records: The
system of land records management
varies from state to state. Standard
templates throughout the country are
needed for registration and record of
rights.
o Land and its management fall within the
legislative and administrative jurisdiction of
the state governments as provided under
Entry 18 and 45 of the State List of the 7th
Schedule to the Constitution.
• Difficulties in the present system: The manual
system of record keeping has become
cumbersome, opaque, susceptible to
manipulations and hard to administer by the
administration.
• Other advantages of land record
modernization-
o Reduced process and time of document
registration.
o Automatic updation of land ownership with
new registrations
o Single window delivery of citizen services
for land records
o E-linkages to credit facilities as clear land titling
provides easy access to institutional credit.
Other efforts towards Land record modernization
• Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme
(DILRMP): The DoLR is implementing the DILRMP since
2016 as a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding by the
Government of India.
○ It is a revamped version of the earlier National Land
Records Modernization Programme (NLRMP)
initialized in 2008.
o It attempts to develop an appropriate Integrated Land
Information Management System (ILIMS) across the
country, on which different States can also add State-
specific needs as they may deem relevant and
appropriate.
• Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) Scheme: It is a
central sector scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched in 2021.
o It aims at establishing the clear ownership of property in rural inhabited (Abadi) areas, by mapping land parcels
using drone technology and providing a ‘Record of Rights’ to village household owners with the issuance of legal
ownership cards (Property cards/Title deeds) to the property owners.

Conclusion
Best practices under Land Records Modernization
The present land record modernization process should culminate in • BHOOMI – KAVERI programme of Karnataka
the adoption of the system of conclusive land titling along with • Mee-Seva of Andhra Pradesh
addressing legacy issues. Also, the digitization programme could • Dharaa app of Rajasthan
adopt next-generation technologies like Artificial Intelligence and • Proof of Concept of use of blockchain for land
Blockchain technology to create a system of clear land titles and record management by NITI Aayog
automatic records of mutations.
1.7. REGULATION OF ONLINE GAMING

Why in News?
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY) has amended the Information Technology
(Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules (IT Rules) 2021.
More on News
• The aim of these amendments is to enforce greater due diligence by online gaming and social media intermediaries
in respect of online games & fake or false misleading information related to Government business.
• The rules and amendments to IT Rules 2021 have been brought out under Section 87 of the Information Technology
Act, 2000.
o IT Rules 2021 were brought out for regulating social media intermediaries.
To read more about the Regulation of Fake News, please refer to Article 1.6. Regulation of Fake News of March 2023
edition of Monthly Current Affairs Magazine
Key Features of the Rules on Online Gaming
• Clear definitions:
o “Online games” mean a game that is offered on the Internet and is accessible by a user through a computer
resource or an intermediary.
o “Online gaming intermediary (OGI)” means any intermediary that enables the users of its computer resource to
access one or more online games.
• Role of Intermediaries: To make a reasonable effort to not host, publish or share any online game that can cause
the user harm, or that has not been verified as a permissible online game by an online gaming Self-Regulatory
Body/Bodies (SRBs) designated by the Central Government.
o The intermediary will also have to ensure that no advertisement or surrogate advertisement or promotion of an
online game that is not a permissible online game, is hosted on its platform.
• Additional Obligations on OGI: The amended rules cast additional obligations on OGI in relation to online games
involving real money. These include:
o The displaying of a mark of verification by the self-regulatory body on such games;
o Informing their users of the policy for withdrawal or refund of the deposit;
o Obtaining the KYC details of the users; and
o Not giving credit or enabling financing by third parties to the users.
• Multiple SRBs: The MeiTY may notify multiple SRBs, for the purposes of verifying an Online game as a permissible
one. An SRB should fulfil the following criteria:
o Company registered under Section 8 (Not-for-Profit entity) of the Companies Act 2013.
o Representative of the online gaming industry, promoting online games in a responsible manner.
o Incorporates provisions related to grievance redressal, arm’s length principle, disclosure and reporting and clear
criteria for membership.
• Authority of SRBs: The SRB may categorise any Game as a permissible game if it is satisfied that:
o the online game does not involve wagering on any outcome,
o the OGI and the game comply with the rules and the requirements under law for being competent to enter into
a contract (currently at 18 years), and

o the OGI and the
game complies with
the framework
made by the SRB
regarding
safeguards.
• Prohibition: Online
games that involve any
kind of gambling
(including ads) will be
prohibited.
Concerns with Regulating Online Gaming Activities
• Game of skill vs. Game of chance: The Indian laws allow games of skill while prohibiting games of chance. However,
there is no prescribed definition of either term. The Rules do not bring any clarity on the definition of a game of skill
and a game of chance.
• Obstacles to foreign investment: India does not permit FDI in betting and gambling, hence lack of clarity in defining
games of skill may hinder foreign investment in this sector.
o Also, ambiguity in this arena can act as a backdoor entry for foreign investment in betting and gambling.
• SRB discretion: It is the subjective discretion of SRBs to ascertain if an online game does not involve wagering, i.e.,
element of chance.
• Different state laws: Gambling (whether offline or online) and betting is a state subject (under Entry 34) as per the
Constitution of India, which means that each state can make laws to regulate online gaming and those laws will
supersede the Rules.
o This enables different legal frameworks in different states. For instance, Tamil Nadu recently banned Online Real
Money games in alignment with Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Odisha.
Way forward
The amended IT rules provide significant clarity to the Online Gaming Ecosystem. For effective regulation of Online
Gaming, these rules need to be accompanied by clear definitions, multi-stakeholder engagement (including State and
Union Governments), and most importantly acknowledgement of the size and importance of this industry.
1.8. NEWS IN SHORTS

1.8.1. RURAL-URBAN AREAS
• Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister • Problems with current labelling of settlement
(EAC-PM) suggested changing definition of rural-urban o Current classification often inadequate in
areas in India. capturing speed and scale of urbanization in India.
• EAC-PM member in a working paper titled ‘What is o Panchayats in de facto urban areas are ill
Urban/Rural India’ suggested that government needs equipped in terms of human resources.
a more dynamic approach to define rural-urban areas. o Slow transition from rural administrative
• Current Definition of Rural and Urban settlements panchayats to ULBs results in incorrect standards
o As of 2017, any settlement that is not considered of services being applied; unmet requirements of
'urban' is automatically considered 'rural'. local public goods, etc.
o There are 2 types of urban settlements • Solutions provided by EAC-PM
✓ Administratively urban settlements are those o Establish “trigger mechanisms” which automate
that are governed by an Urban Local Body transition from rural to urban settlement after
(ULB). prescribed threshold is reached.
✓ Census Urban Settlements are those that have o Ministries should utilise census and other
a population greater than 5000, 75% of male settlement wide indicators to determine rural
population working in non-agriculture, and a definition that best suits their particular
density of 400 people per sq. Km. programme’s mandate.
• Resolution has been passed in backdrop of pending
assent, to nearly 20 bills, by governor.
• When a bill is sent to governor after it is passed by
state legislature, he can:
o Give his assent to the bill, or
o Withhold his assent, or
o Return the bill (if it is not a money bill) for
reconsideration of state legislature. However, if
bill is passed again with or without amendments,
governor has to give his assent, or
o Reserve bill for consideration of President.
• Other issues w.r.t Governor and state governments in
recent years include:
o Lack of provisions for the manner in which
1.8.2. NATIONAL PARTY STATUS Governor and state must engage publicly when
there is a difference of opinion.
• Citing Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) ✓ Example – Recently West Bengal, Tamil Nadu,
Order, 1968, which stipulates criteria for recognition as and Kerala saw bitter and acrimonious
a national or state party, Election Commission of India exchanges between state governments and
(ECI) now recognises six national parties: Governors.
o Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National o Passing negative remarks on state administration
Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist (law and order and political violence etc.).
Party of India (CPI) (Marxist), National People’s o No clear distinction between constitutional and
Party (NPP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). statutory roles- Governors as a chancellor is a
o Trinamool Congress (TMC), Nationalist Congress point of conflict.
Party (NCP) and CPI lost their national party o Misuse of discretionary power (Time taken to
status. decide over disqualification of members).
• ECI reviewed parties’ performances in 2014 and 2019 o Removal of Governor - no written ground or
Lok Sabha polls and 21 state assembly polls since procedure.
2014.
How is a Party’s National Benefits of National Party
status decided? Status
• Votes in Lok Sabha (LS), • Exclusive allotment of
state polls: A party its reserved symbol to
should secure at least candidates set up by it
6% of votes polled in throughout India.
four or more states in • Need only one person
LS or assembly to propose a
elections, and, in candidate’s name to
addition, have at least enable them to file
four members in LS. nominations.
• Seats in LS: It should • Get broadcast/telecast
have at least 2% of total facilities over
Lok Sabha seats, and Akashvani/Doordarshan
have candidates from during general
not less than three elections. 1.8.4. CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE
states. • Can have up to 40-star TRIBUNAL
• Must be a state party: campaigners while
• Recently, Parliamentary Standing Committee on
in at least four states. other can have up to 20-
Personnel, Public Grievances, Law, and Justice noted
star campaigners.
mounting pendency of cases in Central Administrative
1.8.3. GOVERNOR Tribunal (CAT).
• As many as 80,545 cases are pending in different
• Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution Benches of the tribunal as on December 31, 2022.
urging Centre to set time limit for Governor for There are about 1350 cases pending for over ten years.
clearing Bills.
o According to CAT (Procedure) Rules, 1987, every o Speedy justice delivery and cost effective.
application should be heard and decided as far as o Reducing pendency burden on the Courts
possible, within six months from date of its o Enhanced transparency and accountability.
registration. o Bridging rural urban gap in making justice equally
• Reasons for pending cases accessible.
o Non-availability of sufficient number of Members. • Challenges in using technology in Justice delivery:
✓ Some Benches of CAT are operating with 50% Digital divide, lack of know-how, initially capital
of the sanctioned strength. intensive, risk of cybersecurity, etc.
o CAT is contemplating to implement an Advance • Other initiatives taken
Case Information system which facilitates hearing o e-Court mission: a mission mode project for
of cases through videoconferencing and complete digitisation of judiciary.
digitization of the functioning of the Tribunal. o Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) to
• Recommendations enable seamless transfer of data and information
o CAT should dispose of cases related to pensions, among stakeholders like courts, police, jails
matters related to senior citizens and cases which o Fast and Secure Transmission of Electronic
are more than 10 years old on priority basis. Records (FASTER) by SC, a software to transmit
o Steps should be taken to ensure that vacancies in Court Orders swiftly, securely through electronic
the tribunal are filled up at the earliest. mode.
o SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software)
to translate English judgments into regional
language.
1.8.6. INDIA JUSTICE REPORT

• The third edition of the report was released by Tata
Trusts in collaboration with representatives from a
number of civil society organizations including the
Centre for Social Justice, DAKSH, Vidhi Centre for Legal
Policy, etc.
o Report assesses and ranks each state’s progress in
capacitiating its major justice delivery
mechanisms—the judiciary, police, prisons, and
legal aid.
• Key Findings of the Report:
Judiciary • No court works with a full capacity of
judges in the country except the High
Court of Sikkim and the district courts
in Chandigarh.
• At the district court level no state/UT
could fully meet all its SC, ST and OBC
quotas.
• Data on SC/ST/ OBC judges is not
1.8.5. TECHNOLOGY IN JUDICIARY available for High Courts.
• In a step aimed at bolstering technology adaptation in Police • Not a single state/UT meets their
the judiciary to enhance efficiency, equity, and ease, reserved quotas for women in police.
Supreme Court (SC) issued directions to all the High • Only Karnataka fulfilled the mandated
Courts for ensuring digitalisation of lower court quotas for SC, ST and OBCs in the police
records. force.
o SOP issued by E-committee of SC requires all high • In 19 states/UTs urban police stations
courts to establish a digitisation cell, judicial serve greater populations than their
digital repositories, and a standardised system for rural counterparts.
conversion of records. Prisons • Share of undertrials is more than 60%
• Need for use of technology in judiciary in 32 states.
o Overcoming pandemic like situation to stay open • Only less that 5% inmates were
and improve participation rates. educated in 24 states during 2020-21
Legal aid • The number of Legal services clinics o It is invoked by a plaintiff to ensure execution of a
dropped from 14,159 (2020) to 4,742 contract or seek compensation for failure to
(2022). perform the contract.
• The Lok Adalats has settled cases to • In Chhaganlal Keshavalal Mehta v. Patel Narandas
the value of 7,322 cr in 2021-2022. Haribhai case (1981), Supreme Court listed out a
State • 33,312 cases are pending across all 25 checklist for when the doctrine can be applied.
Human SHRC as on March 2021.
Rights • There is a 44% vacancy on average in 1.8.8. CINEMATOGRAPH (AMENDMENT)
Commission all 25 SHRCs. BILL 2023
(SHRC)
• Cabinet nod to Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023.
• It has provisions to curb the transmission of pirated
1.8.7. DOCTRINE OF PROMISSORY
film content on internet.
ESTOPPEL o It has provisions to classify films based on age
• In a hearing related to Agnipath scheme, plaintiff group, instead of current practice of ‘U’, ‘A’, and
(party moving court in a civil action) cited doctrine of ‘UA’.
promissory estoppel. ✓ “U” is for unrestricted public exhibition, “A” is
• Promissory estoppel is a concept developed in restricted to adult audience, and “UA” is for
contractual laws. unrestricted public exhibition subject to
o It essentially prevents a “promisor” from backing parental guidance for children below age of
out of an agreement on the grounds that there is 12, “S” is for special category audiences such
no “consideration.” as doctors and scientists.
o It seeks to add new classification – "UA-7+", "UA-
13+" and "UA-16+" in place for 12 years.

2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
2.1. INDIA-BHUTAN
Why in News?
The King of Bhutan recently visited India to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Outcomes of the Visit
• Support to Bhutan:
o Additional Standby Credit Facility (SCF) for a period of five years.
✓ SCF provides financial assistance to low-income countries with short-term balance of payments needs.
o Assistance in digital infrastructure such as establishment of Third International Internet Gateway for Bhutan,
✓ International gateway is any facility that provides an interface to send and receive electronic communications
(i.e., voice, data and multimedia images/ video) traffic between one country’s domestic network facilities and
those in another country.
✓ In India, there are multiple International Internet Gateway like in Mumbai, Chennai, Agartala etc.
o Integration of Bhutan's Druk Research & Education Network (DrukREN) with India's National Knowledge
Network, key co-
operation in the
domain of e-
Learning e-Learning.
• Hydropower: Discussion
on Hydroelectric Power
Plants in Bhutan like
Mangdechhu, Chhukha,
Basochhu,
Punatsangchhu-I,
Sankosh project etc.
• Security: Established
first integrated check
post at Jaigaon (West
Bengal, India) and
Phuntsholing (Bhutan.
• Connectivity: Expedited
Kokrajhar (Assam)-
Gelephu rail link and
supported Gelephu
airport construction for
investment attraction.
Areas of Cooperation
• Hydropower: Mutually
beneficial hydro-power
cooperation with Bhutan
forms the core of
bilateral economic
cooperation.
• Trade: India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner and it is around $ 1422 Mn for 2020-21.
o Major exports from India to Bhutan: mineral products, machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical
equipments, base metals, vehicles, vegetable products, etc.

o Major items of export from Bhutan to India: electricity, ferro-silicon, portland cement, dolomite, carbides of
calcium carbides of silicon, cement clinkers, wood products, cardamom, fruit products etc,.
• Cultural Relations:
o Buddhism connects both the countries on similar ideologies.
o The India-Bhutan Foundation, established in 2003, aims to enhance people-to-people exchanges in the cultural
field.
• Security: The Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) is permanently based in western Bhutan and assist and trains
the Royal Bhutan Army.
o The Eastern Air command of Indian Air force provides Bhutan with Air security, as the country does not have an
air force.
o India’s Border Road Organisation, has built the majority of roads in Bhutan under project ‘DANTAK’
Challenges in improving the relationship:
• Chinese influence: China disputes the following territories with Bhutan:
o in the north, Pasamlung and Jakarlung valleys, both of which are culturally vital for Thimphu and
o in the west, Doklam, Dramana, Shakhatoe, Yak Chu, Charithang Chu, Sinchulungpa and Langmarpo valleys.
✓ India backs Bhutan's claim over Doklam as it is strategically important for India's security.
✓ Dominance of the region by China could threaten the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow stretch that connects the
Indian mainland with its north-eastern states.
• Issues in hydropower trade: India's past changes in power purchasing policy, refusal to admit Bhutan into the National
Power Grid, etc has created a rift in the relationship.
• Hideout for militants: Militant outfits like United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), National Democratic Front of
Bodos (NDFB), etc use the dense forests of Southern Bhutan as their hideouts and operate against India.
o Operation All Clear (2003-04) was the first action against these militants by Bhutan.
• BBIN initiative: The Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement, proposed by India to improve
connectivity in the region, is on hold by Bhutan due to environmental concerns.
• Access to trade: Bhutan is diversifying its market by reaching out to Bangladesh, with the two countries having signed
a preferential trade agreement in 2021.
Way Forward
• Initiating Trilogue: Opening such communication channels can minimise uncertainties as questions of peace and
conflict cannot be resolved by potential stand-offs (like Doklam) in the future.
• Diversifying economic engagements: For now, India’s economic relations with Bhutan continue to be dominated by
hydropower projects.
o Strengthening collaboration in fields such as fintech, space tech, and biotech between the two countries can lead
to a stronger partnership.
• Improving people-to-people ties: Soft power diplomacy can be induced through Buddhism and by encouraging more
tourist exchanges between the two countries.
• Security measures:
o Establishment of contact points between countries and mechanisms for real-time sharing of information in
criminal matters,
o Capacity building and skill development of law enforcement personnel manning border check-posts,
o Development of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on repatriation for the Indo-Bhutan border
2.2. INDIA-LATIN AMERICA

Why in news?
Indian External Affairs Minister paid visit to four of the Latin American countries- Panama, Guyana, Colombia and
Dominican Republic.

More on news
• He is the first Indian foreign minister to have made a bilateral visit to these countries.
• He also attended the India-Central American Integration System (SICA) Foreign Ministerial Meet.
• He also co-chaired the fourth India-CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) ministerial meeting.
Significance of the Meet
Guyana • Guyana is home to one of the world’s largest oil reserves. Important for India to diversify its oil sources.
• Commissioned an India-made ferry MV Ma Lisha to improve connectivity and mobility within Guyana.
Panama • India’s largest Central American trade partner, with reportedly $610 million in annual trade in 2022.
• Has significant Indian Diaspora presence.
• Positioned to serve as India's gateway to the Latin American region, offering unique logistical capabilities as a
maritime hub.
Colombia • Signed the Cultural Exchange Program for 2023-26.
• Supplies crude oil, coal to India.
Dominican • Inaugurated the Embassy of India in the Dominican Republic.
Republic • India’s automobile dealers, like Bajaj, Hero and Royal Enfield have established local dealerships in the
Dominican Republic.
Significance of India Latin America relations
• Trade relations: Trade between India and LAC was at an all-time high of US$50 billion in 2022. Overall, if Latin America
were a country, it would be India’s fifth largest trade partner in 2022-23.
o With war in Ukraine, which has been the largest supplier of sunflower oil to India, India’s imports of edible oil
from Latin America have increased.
• Investment opportunity for
Indian businesses: For Indian
business, Latin America lies in the
so-called ‘goldilocks zone’—a
sweet spot between the highly
regulated, competitive markets of
the US and Europe, and the less
competitive markets of Africa that
have lower purchasing power.
o Indian IT companies employ
more than 40,000 people in
the region, nearly all of whom
are locals.
o India’s total investments in
the region are valued at
US$16 billion.
• Food and energy security: India
sources 15% of its crude oil from
LAC countries and in order to sustain its growing energy needs, its demand will increase in the future.
o The region can also contribute towards food security as Latin America region is five times that of India and only
has half as much population.
o India can import pulses and oil seeds from these countries.
• Strategic significance: Latin America accounts for 40% of global production of copper, supplies 35% of the
world’s lithium.
o India is already working on acquiring mines of strategic minerals such as lithium and cobalt in countries like,
Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.
• Developmental cooperation: LAC region was one of the main recipient of the India-UN Development Partnership
Fund in 2021 ($20 million, 26 projects).

o India can also learn from Latin America’s experience with conditional cash transfers (CCTs).
o This is because the region is a pioneer in CCTs globally and has more than three decades of experience
implementing such programs.
• South-South cooperation: India held the first Voice of Global South Summit which had 29 Latin American and
Caribbean countries.
o India is cooperating with Brazil at platforms like BRICS, IBSA, which has provided an alternative platform for
developing countries.
• People to people relations: Indian philosophy, yoga and teachings of Gandhi have had an indelible imprint in the
minds of many Latinos in the region.
o Many Latin Americans are also well-versed with Rabindranath Tagore, who spent two months in Argentina in
1924.
Challenges in relations
• Lack of mechanism to engage
region as whole: India has yet to
formulate a mechanism to deal
with the Latin American region as a
whole.
o has good relations with
countries like Brazil, Mexico,
Chile but other countries lag
behind.
• Physical distance as a factor:
Distance between India and Latin
America is perhaps most acutely
felt in the social interactions
between both sides, which have
been few and far between.
• Perception in foreign policy: Latin
America was always relegated to the far end of the three concentric circles that drive India’s foreign policy.
o The first circle refers to the neighbourhood (thus India’s ‘Neighbourhood first’ policy), the second includes
the extended neighbourhood, particularly Asia, as well as strategic partners like the US and Russia, and the
third and final circle includes the rest of the world, including Latin America.
o For instance, till recently, the Latin American region has been managed by India’s Minister of State for External
Affairs.
o Only recently, that the bilateral relationship with three Latin American countries, namely Argentina, Brazil, and
Mexico, are managed directly by India’s foreign minister.
• Lack of FTAs: Current preferential trade agreements (PTAs) that India has with Mercosur (trading bloc in South
America region comprising of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and Chile remain limited in scope.
• Limited engagement as compared to China: India’s annual trade of US$30 billion to US$50 billion with Latin America
is a mere shadow of China’s US$400 billion. Also, there is over 3 million Chinese diaspora in the Latin American region,
while India has a scant 30,000 people living in the region.
Way Forward
• Frame a Latin America policy for comprehensive engagement across sectors
• Upgrade the current PTAs with Chile and Mercosur to FTAs, and also sign new, comprehensive trade agreements with
other countries in the region
• Enhance cultural linkages, through academic institutions, media, tourism etc
• Leverage civilisational strengths, democratic governance which Latin America identifies more closely with India than
with China.

2.3. INDIA, IRAN, ARMENIA TRILATERAL
Why in news?
India, Iran and Armenia held a round of political consultations in
Yerevan and agreed to hold future meetings in a trilateral format.
Key highlights of the meet
• This is the first such meet.
• Three sides discussed economic issues, regional
communication channels and the prospects of deepening
cultural and people-to-people contacts.
Significance of the trilateral
• Revitalise the INSTC: Following the Ukrainian conflict, the
changing geopolitical landscape presented an opportunity to
revitalise the INSTC.
o Also, India intends to extend the INSTC through Armenia
to connect the Chabahar port in Iran and the Indian
Ocean to Eurasia and Finland.
• Seen as counter to the Pakistan-Azerbaijan-Turkey
trilateral: In 2021 Baku Declaration, Pakistan-
Azerbaijan-Turkey agreed to support each other’s
territorial integrity, while underlining their respective
priorities. The declaration is seen as an expression of
overt support for
o Azerbaijan’s campaign in Karabakh,
o Pakistan’s claims in Jammu and Kashmir, and
o Turkey’s standpoint vis-à-vis the Cyprus, Aegean
and East Mediterranean disputes.
o In September 2021, these three also held the ‘Three
Brothers’ joint military exercises.
• Nagorno-Karabakh: This disputed territory between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, is also a key factor in these two
different trilaterals.
o Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognised as
part of Azerbaijan, but most of the region is
controlled by Armenian separatists.
o Separatist Armenians have declared it as
“Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast”.
o However, efforts to produce a permanent
solution to the conflict, primarily led by the
Minsk Group of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), have
failed.
o The Minsk Group was created in 1994 to
address the dispute and is co-chaired by the
United States, France, and Russia.
✓ Turkey and Pakistan have traditionally
supported Azerbaijan in the conflict, Iran
and India have supported Armenia.

Points of Convergences
India and • Celebrated 30 years of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2022.
Armenia • Enjoy active political ties and effective cooperation within international bodies.
• Under a newly inked export agreement, India would send military weapons such as missiles, rockets, and
ammunition to Armenia.
• India’s External Affairs Minister visited Armenia in 2021. It was the first visit by an Indian Foreign Minister
since establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992.
• Free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is currently being
negotiated.
o Since Armenia is an EAEU member, the conclusion of this FTA would contribute to boosting bilateral
trade.
India and • Relations span millennia with both countries having historic ties and sharing a common cultural heritage.
Iran • The Chabahar port in Iran has been key to connectivity between the two nations.
• Both are signatories to INSTC agreement.
Iran and • Share a border and enjoy robust ties.
Armenia • Two countries have been focusing on deepening their trade and economic cooperation.
• Armenia serves as a transit route for Iran to access the EAEU.
Conclusion
In trilateral terms, the Iran-India-Armenia would-be axis is focused on trade, in particular a Persian Gulf-Black Sea trade
route that would allow Indian goods to be shipped West. Also, this regional cooperation is going to strengthen the Asian
and Eurasian regions of the world.
2.4. COMPREHENSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE AGREEMENT FOR TRANS -PACIFIC

PARTNERSHIP (CPTPP)
Why in news?
Recently, the United
Kingdom agreed to join
CPTPP. It will become the first
new member and the first
country in Europe to join the
CPTPP.
Significance of CPTPP
• Trade in goods:
Elimination of tariffs and
reduction in non-tariff
barriers in CPTPP export
markets.
Related Information
• Equal treatment in
Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
Government
• About: The GPA is a plurilateral agreement within the framework of the WTO. (The
procurement: Foreign agreement is binding on its members)
companies will receive • Aim: To mutually open government procurement markets among its parties.
the same treatment as • Administration: The GPA is administered by the Committee on Government Procurement
domestic suppliers which is composed of representatives of all its parties.
when bidding on • Members: It has 21 parties (covering 48 WTO members, counting the European Union and
government its 27 member states as one party).
procurement o Another 36 WTO members/observers and several international organizations
opportunities. participate in the Committee on Government Procurement as observers.
o India is not a member of GPAs (It is one of the observers).

• Predictability and transparency: Common and transparent trade
and investment rules between 11 Asia-Pacific countries, assisting
in the reduction of administration costs.
• Labour and the environment: CPTPP includes clear
commitments to uphold CPTPP members’ respective standards
on labour and environment.
• Addressing governance and emerging issues: It includes rules
against corruption, reducing unfair competition by state-owned
enterprises, and ensuring a liberalized environment for
electronic commerce.
India and CPTPP

Why India did not join the CPTPP? What is India missing by not joining CPTPP?
• Stringent standards on intellectual property rights: It can extend • Competitiveness: Reduced tariffs would have
pharmaceutical company monopolies and drastically affect India’s made Indian exports less expensive in partner
pharmacy ecosystem. countries.
• CPTPP Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism: It hinders • Access to new clients: New preferential access
regulation of the investment ecosystem and by passes economic to key markets in Indo-pacific regions
sovereignty of India. including Japan, Malaysia, and Chile.
o ISDS is a mechanism in an FTA or investment treaty that provides • Market transparency and stability: CPTPP
foreign investors, with the right to access an international tribunal would have offered Indian services suppliers
to resolve investment disputes. improved protection, predictability, and
• Required economic concessions: India has recognized that the transparency for conducting business in
sweeping economic concessions required to join CPTPP are too drastic partner markets.
to take from an Indian perspective. • Exclusion from the Global Value Chain
• Possibility of deindustrialisation: CPTPP template of rules on market (GVCs): The Rules of Origin (RoO) under the
access to goods, could pose severe challenges to India’s manufacturing CPTPP coupled with the tariff reduction will
sector. This may harm the industrial sector in the long term. encourage creation of new GVCs. Not joining
CPTPP decreases this opportunity for India.
Conclusion
Given the trade-offs, India can negotiate with FTA groups such as CPTPP and RCEP. But at the same time, it has to maintain
a sound balance between sovereign commitments in the international economic arena and maintaining crucial domestic
policy space.
2.5. NEWS IN SHORTS

2.5.1. INTERNATIONAL FUND OF o By working with small-scale food producers,
private sector partners such as food companies can
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT (IFAD)
contribute to sustainable agriculture and resilient
• IFAD and Japan announced the launch of the Enhanced food systems.
Linkages between Private Sector and Small-scale • Finance: Japan will support IFAD with approximately
Producers initiative (ELPS). US$2 million for the initiative.
• Aim: To make small-scale producers and local food • Significance: Small-scale farmers are the cornerstone
systems around the world more resilient and of global food security, producing one third of the
sustainable together with the enhanced engagement world’s food.
of private sector companies.
• Objectives: ELPS investments will be geared towards
improving agricultural productivity, raising incomes,
and enhancing the livelihoods of small-scale
producers in developing countries.
o It was established as a military alliance, against
the then USSR in the European region.
o It derives its authority from article 51 of the UN
charter.
• Significance of NATO:
o It promotes democratic values and encourages
cooperation between member countries.
o It has played a crucial role in crisis management in
the region.
o It has helped to maintain peace and stability in the
region among member countries.
• Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status is a designation
under U.S. law that provides foreign partners with
certain benefits in the areas of defence trade and
security cooperation.
2.5.3. G7 MEETING
• G7 Climate and Environment Ministers’ meeting
concluded in Sapporo, Japan
2.5.2. NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY • Key highlights
ORGANIZATION (NATO) o G7 countries set the urgent need to reduce global
GHG emissions by around 43 percent by 2030 and
• Finland became the 31st country to join NATO. 60 percent by 2035.
o Finland, once neutral under a "friendship o They targeted 2040 for reducing additional plastic
agreement" with the Soviet Union, moved closer pollution to zero, bringing the target forward by a
to NATO after the collapse of the Soviet Union. decade.
• As a member of the Alliance, Finland is part of NATO’s o G7 members pledged to collectively increase
collective defence and is covered by the security offshore wind capacity by 150 gigawatts by 2030
guarantees enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic and solar capacity to more than 1 terawatts.
Treaty. o G7 will accelerate the phase-out of unabated
o Collective defence means that an attack against fossil fuels so as to achieve net zero in energy
one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies. systems by 2050.
• About NATO
o NATO was established in 1949 by the Washington
Treaty.
2.5.4. UNITED NATIONS STATISTICAL • North Sea, part of Atlantic Ocean, is located between
COMMISSION Norway and Denmark (east), Scotland and England
(west), and Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France
• India has been elected to United Nations Statistical (south).
Commission for a four-year term beginning January 1, o It is connected to Atlantic by Strait of Dover and
2024. English Channel.
2.5.5. NORTH SEA SUMMIT

• European nations participated in Second North Sea
Summit in Ostend, Belgium.
• North Sea Summit aims at making the North Sea the 2.5.6. CHABAHAR PORT
largest powerhouse of Europe by 2050 by taking its
offshore wind capacity to 120 GW by 2030 and 300 • First meeting of India-Central Asia Joint Working
GW by 2050. Group on Chabahar port took place in Mumbai.
o 7 European Union (EU) countries (Belgium, • Chabahar Port is located in Sistan-Baluchestan
Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, province in South-eastern Iran, on Gulf of Oman.
Netherlands), and 2 Non-EU countries Norway o In 2016, India signed a tripartite agreement with
and United Kingdom participated in this second Iran and Afghanistan to develop the Shahid
summit. Beheshti Terminal at Chabahar.
• At the end of first summit in Denmark in 2022, Belgium, • It is considered a crucial gateway that would enable
Denmark, Germany and Netherlands signed the India to bypass Pakistan and access Afghanistan, and
Esbjerg Declaration. ultimately Central Asia.
o Esbjerg Declaration aimed at making the North • With its strategic location near Strait of Hormuz and
Sea into the “Green Power Plant of Europe”, an Indian Ocean, port offers significant potential.
offshore renewable energy system.
o Declaration set the targets for offshore wind
energy capacity of 150 GW by 2030 and 20 GW
green hydrogen production capacity by 2030.
• Wind energy in India
o India stands 4th globally in wind power capacity
as per REN21 Renewables 2022 Global Status
Report.
o As of February 2023, India’s total installed wind
power capacity is approximately 42 GW.
o National Wind Solar Hybrid Policy, 2018 provides
for promoting large grid-connected wind-solar
energy projects.
2.5.7. GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT o This resulted in violence between those who
wished to remain with UK and those who wanted
• US President is visiting Northern Ireland to mark 25th to join Ireland.
anniversary of Good Friday Agreement (GFA).
• GFA was signed in 1998, between factions of Northern 2.5.8. OPERATION KAVERI
Ireland, and governments of Britain and Ireland, to
• India has launched ‘Operation Kaveri’ to bring back its
end 30 years of violence known as ‘The Troubles’.
citizens stranded in war-torn Sudan.
o Northern Ireland, created in 1921 by partitioning
Ireland, remained with United Kingdom after
Ireland’s independence from UK.

3. ECONOMY
3.1. FOREIGN TRADE
POLICY 2023
Why in News?
The Union Ministry of Commerce and
Industry notified the Foreign Trade
Policy 2023.
About FTP 2023
• Notification: FTP 2023 is notified by
Central Government, in the exercise
of powers conferred under Section 5
of the Foreign Trade (Development
& Regulation) Act, 1992.
• Principles: It is based on the
continuity of time-tested schemes,
adopting principles such as
responsiveness to the
requirements of trade and ‘trust’
and ‘partnership’ with exporters.
• FTP 2015-20: It was extended due to
the COVID-19 pandemic and volatile
geo-political scenario till March
2023.
o India has reached record high Export
Performance and India's Merchandise
and Services exports are expected to
cross record USD 760 Billion in FY
2022-23.
• Need for the policy: A clearly demarcated
FTP is required for promoting exports
through collaboration, ease of doing
business, identifying potential areas of
trade relations and beneficial integration
into the global economy.
o The Policy lays out clear roles for
different stakeholders and lays out a
vision for India’s foreign trade.
3.1.1. TRADE FACILITATION AND EASE OF DOING BUSINESS (EODB)

About Trade facilitation and EoDB
Trade facilitation is the simplification, modernization and harmonization of export and import processes. Ease of Doing
Business acts as a yardstick to measure this simplification and harmonization.
Initiatives taken
• National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF): To facilitate coordination and implementation of WTO’s Trade
Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

o WTO’s TFA came into force in 2017 to address
the issue of “red tape” across borders and
streamline the movement of goods.
• Initiatives by Directorate General of Foreign Trade
(DGFT): Facilitator of exports and imports. It also
consults various Export Promotion Councils and
Trade and Industry Bodies.
o Niryat Bandhu: Being implemented for
mentoring new and potential exporters.
o Issuance of e-IEC (Electronic–Importer Exporter Code): IEC
is a 10-character alpha-numeric number allotted to an entity
and is mandatory for undertaking any export/import
activity.
o e-Certificate of Origin (e-CoO): Online facility for CoO. e-CoO
has a unique number i.e., UDIN (Unique Document
Identification Number) and a QR code for validation.
o Online facility to file Quality Control and Trade Disputes
(QCTD).
• Initiatives for Trade facilitation at customs:
o 24x7 Customs clearance in 20 seaports and 17 Airports
o Single window in customs
o E-Sanchit – enabling paperless clearance environment
o Pan-India Implementation of Faceless e-Assessment in
Imports
o TURANT Customs and TURANT Suvidha Kendras for
contactless Customs clearance processes
• Towns of Export Excellence (TEE): For development and growth of
export production centres.
o Selected towns producing goods of Rs. 750 Crore or more may
be notified as TEE based on the potential for growth in exports
(TEE in Handloom, Handicraft, Agriculture and Fisheries sector,
threshold limit would be Rs.150 Crore).
• Rationalization of the criteria of Status Holder Certification:
“Status Holder” certificate is to recognize exporter firms as
business leaders who have excelled in international trade and
have contributed to the country’s foreign trade.
o Privileges to status holders include clearances on a self-
declaration basis, exemption from various documents,
preferential treatment in consignment handling etc.
3.1.2. EXPORT PROMOTION INITIATIVES BY FTP 2023

About Export Promotion
Export Promotion refers to initiatives which enhance the potential of export activities at the company, industry, state or
national level. The following initiatives have been taken to fulfil this objective-
Districts as Export Hubs Initiative
• Institutional Mechanism: At the State and District level to strategize exports (State Export Promotion Committee &
District Export Promotion Committee (DEPC)).
o Preparation of District Export Action Plans (DEAPs) by DEPCs and their online monitoring.

o Export promotion outreach programs in
districts to focus on branding, packaging,
design and marketing of identified products &
services.
o Districts to focus on the development of
logistics, testing facilities, connectivity for
exports and other export-oriented ecosystems.
o Convergence of ongoing schemes to support
these initiatives.
Export Promotion of Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme
• Objective: To facilitate the import of capital goods
for producing quality goods and services and
enhance India’s manufacturing competitiveness.
o It allows the import of capital goods at zero
customs duty.
• Eligibility: It covers manufacturer exporters, merchant exporters, and service providers who are certified as
Common Service Providers (CSP) by the DGFT.
• Export Obligation: Imports under EPCG are subject to Average Export Obligation (AEO). However, some sectors have
been exempted from AEO requirements.
Export Promotion Units
• Eligible units: Units which export their entire production of goods and services, may be set up under the Export
Oriented Unit (EOU) Scheme, Electronics Hardware Technology Park (EHTP) Scheme, Software Technology Park
(STP) Scheme or Bio-Technology Park (BTP) Scheme for the manufacture of goods.
o Trading units are not covered under these schemes.
• Objective: To promote exports, enhance foreign exchange earnings, and attract investment for export production
and employment generation.
Deemed Exports
• Definition: Deemed Exports refer to those transactions in
which goods supplied do not leave the country, and
payment for such supplies is received either in Indian
rupees or in free foreign exchange.
o In simpler terms, under deemed export, the goods can
be sold within India to anybody who holds a licence for the import of these very goods. The seller selling the said
goods against an import licence is the deemed exporter and the buyer is the deemed importer.
• Objective: To provide a level-playing field to domestic manufacturers and to promote Make in India.
3.1.3. OTHER INITIATIVES BY FTP 2023

Quality Complaints and Trade Disputes
• Committee on Quality Complaints and Trade Disputes (CQCTD): CQCTD will be constituted in the Regional
Authorities (RAs) of DGFT.
o CQCTD will be responsible for enquiring and investigating all Quality related complaints and other trade-related
complaints falling under the jurisdiction of the respective RAs.
o It will take effective steps to resolve the grievances of the importers/exporters and overseas buyers/ sellers
preferably within three months.
• Coverage: Under this mechanism, complaints/disputes between two or more Indian entities are not covered.
Similarly, complaints/disputes between two or more foreign entities are also not covered.
• Nature: CQCTD proceedings are conciliatory in nature and the aggrieved party is free to pursue any legal recourse
against the other erring party.
Promoting Cross Border Trade in Digital Economy
• Promotion of e-commerce exports: Niryat Bandhu Scheme (NBS) shall have a component for the promotion of e-
Commerce and other emerging channels of exports.
o DGFT shall organise outreach activities/workshops in partnership with Customs Authorities, the Department of
Post, ‘Industry Partners’ and ‘Knowledge Partners’ for the promotion of e-Commerce exports.
• E-Commerce Export Hubs (ECEHs): To establish designated areas as ECEHs, which would act as a centre for favourable
business infrastructure and facilities for Cross Border E-Commerce activities.
o Creation: ECEH may be set up through private initiative and in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
o Nature of ECEH operations: ECEH will function to achieve agglomeration benefits for e-commerce exporters.
ECEH shall provide for:
✓ Storage, packaging, labelling, certification & testing and other common facilities for the purposes of export.
✓ Dedicated logistics infrastructure for connecting to and leveraging the services of the nearest Logistics hub(s).
o Entitlements: ECEH may be provided financial assistance under the Market Access Initiative (MAI) scheme.
• Promotion of e-commerce exports through postal route: Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras shall be operationalised
throughout the country to work in a hub-and-spoke model with Foreign Post Offices (FPOs) to facilitate cross-border
e-Commerce.
Duty Exemption / Remission Schemes
• Advance Authorisation (AA): Imports under AA are exempted from payment of Basic Customs Duty, Additional
Customs Duty, Education Cess, Anti-dumping Duty, Countervailing Duty, Safeguard Duty, Transition Product Specific
Safeguard Duty, wherever applicable.
• Duty-Free Import Authorization (DFIA): Duty-Free Import Authorisation shall be exempted only from payment of
Basic Customs Duty (BCD).
• Schemes for Remission of Duties and Taxes on
Exported Products (RoDTEP): Its objective is to
refund, currently unrefunded
duties/taxes/levies, at the Central, State and
local level, borne on the exported product.
o It was notified by the Department of
Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and
Industry and is administered by the
Department of Revenue, Ministry of
Finance.
SCOMET: Special Chemicals, Organisms,

Materials, Equipment and Technologies
• Regulation of dual use items: In consonance

with the guidelines and control lists of
international conventions and obligations as
well as Multilateral Export Control Regimes
(MECRs), India has regulated the exports of
dual-use items, nuclear-related items,
including software and technology viz.
SCOMET.
o It is either prohibited or permitted under an authorization unless specifically exempted.
• SCOMET list: It is India’s National Export Control List and is aligned to the control lists of all the MECRs and
conventions.
o SCOMET items are regulated under the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition
of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005.
o Imported goods covered under the SCOMET list are not permitted for export.

• Outreach Programmes on SCOMET: Will be organized by DGFT in association with Administrative
Ministries/Departments and Trade Associations for effective awareness among the exporters/importers dealing with
trade and manufacture, in particular, of SCOMET items.
Conclusion
The Foreign Trade Policy 2023 paves the way for an unencumbered trade regime. To support this externally, efforts can
be made to acknowledge the trends of the emerging era and take forward the internationalization of Rupee.
3.2. DE-DOLLARIZATION
Why in News?
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations are in the process of creating a new currency for payments.
More on News
• BRICS currency will be used for cross-border trade.
• In recent times, BRICS has emerged as an Institution which is challenging the dominance of the Western world in the
economic sphere.
• Also, India and Malaysia have agreed to settle trade in Indian rupees in addition to current modes of settlement in
other currencies.
• These are seen as a major step towards de-dollarization.
Need/Reasons for the De-dollarization

• Weaponization of Trade: Imposition of sanctions and the exclusion from SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank
Financial Telecommunication) creates impediments for countries to carry out trade. For instance, sanctions were
imposed on Russia after the Ukraine war, Iran (after the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).
o US uses sanctions as a cost-free way to fight with
other countries without risking troops.
o Ability to blacklist an individual, an institution,
or an entire nation from the usage of the dollar
has powerful and immediate consequences.
o It will Insulate them from geopolitical risks,
where the status of the USD as a reserve
currency can be used as an offensive weapon.
• New Emerging Economies: Rise of Asia as an
economic powerhouse has raised the importance of
currencies like the Indian rupee and the Yuan.
• Diversification: Multi-currency foreign currency
reserves reduce the pressure on external sectors.
• Promoting Local Currencies: Trading in local
currencies allow exporters and importers to balance
risks, have more options to invest, to have more
certainty about the revenues and sales.
• Macro-Economy Effect: Dominance of the USD
allows the U.S. to manipulate the global financial
system to its own benefit, often at the expense of
others, especially in terms of interest
rates.
Initiatives for De-dollarization
• Bilateral Efforts:
o Russia has signed an executive
order in March 2022 that forbade
"unfriendly" countries from
settling natural gas contracts in
any currency other than the
rubble.
o China has established RMB
(Renminbi) trading centres in
Hong Kong, Singapore and Europe.
o Russia-China payment system
was set up that bypass SWIFT and
combines the Russian SPFS
(System for Transfer of Financial
Messages) with the Chinese CIPS
(Cross-Border Interbank Payment
System).
• Multilateral Efforts:
o In 2021, the People’s Bank of China submitted a
“Global Sovereign Digital Currency Governance”
proposal at the Bank for International
Settlements to influence global financial rules via
its digital currency, the e-Yuan.
o African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is
promoting intra-African trade using local
currencies.

o European Central Bank’s TARGET2 System (2007) enables EU member countries to conduct trade and financial
transactions in euros.
• India’s Efforts: The demand for the rupee is rising as a result of the booming commerce and investment in the domestic
market. (refer infographics for steps taken by India)
Challenges in De-dollarization
• Availability of Alternative Currency: Currently, no single currency fully meets criteria such as degree of stability,
liquidity, and acceptability.
• Credibility of Other Currencies: For instance, RMB in China is pegged to the dollar and tightly managed by the
government.
o Also, the Chinese economy is not as open and has trust deficit due to tactics like debt trap diplomacy.
• Implementation Challenges: Will create financial instability in emerging markets and countries with substantial
dollar-denominated debt.
o Increased volatility in currency exchange rates, particularly during the initial phases of transition.
o Adjustments in the composition of global reserve assets may lead to shifts in capital flows and changes in asset
prices.
o Also, local currencies may also be prone to wider fluctuations and depreciation as the overseas investor
sentiment will not be as certain.
• Resistance: US and Bretton Woods system are aggressively promoting USD. The other currencies are not able to
create a niche in front of the dollar.
• Fear of Financial Crises: Issuance of foreign debt in the domestic market may pose risk especially when the debtor
defaults. For instance, the financial crises of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2008.
• Limit over Monetary Policy: It will limit the country’s ability to anchor monetary policy to its domestic economic
landscapes.
Conclusion
In light of these considerations, developing countries like India should adopt a prudent and measured approach towards
dedollarisation. Policymakers must strike a delicate balance between the potential benefits of reducing reliance on the
US dollar and the risks and costs associated with such a transition.
3.3. GIG ECONOMY

Why in news? What is Gig Economy and Gig Worker?
Recently, Blinkit delivery agents • A Gig economy is a free market system in which temporary positions are common
went on strike as a reaction to and organizations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements.
changes in their pay structure. • Gig Workers are those engaged in livelihood outside the traditional employer-
employee arrangement. They can be broadly classified into-
More about news o Platform Gig Workers: Those whose work is based on online software, apps, or
digital platforms such as food aggregator platforms- Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, and
• The protests are primarily others.
happening at dark stores. o Non-Platform Gig Workers: They are generally casual waged and own-account
o A dark store is a brick-and- workers in the conventional sector, engaged part-time or full-time.
mortar location that has
been shut down and turned into a centre for fulfilment operations.
• These protests show the rising conflict between workers and firms in the gig economy.

Major Challenges with Gig Economy
• Unavailability of reliable data:
There is no official data that can
authoritatively estimate the
extent of gig work in India,
thereby rendering the gig
workforce invisible.
• Poor service conditions for
platform workers: Low wages,
bait-and-switch incentives,
opaque pay calculations, commission deductions, and constant monitoring on aggregator platforms.
o Bait-and-Switch refers to a situation when you apply for one role and interview for it, then get offered a lesser
role for less money.

• Bound by the Terms of Contract: Working conditions on digital platforms are largely regulated by the terms of service
agreements. As a result, platform workers cannot access many of the workplace protections and entitlements such
as Health Insurance etc.
Regulatory Framework of Gig Economy in India
• Nascent regulatory framework: It can be seen as an extension • The Code on Wages, 2019: It provides for
of India’s informal or unorganized labour sector. This hinders universal minimum wage and floor wage across
effective regulation as the nature of the gig economy is organized and unorganized sectors, including gig
independent of the informal sector. workers.
• Other challenges: • Code on Social Security 2020: It seeks to protect
o Limited opportunities for skill upgradation as career gig workers’ rights by giving them social security
progression in these areas is very slow due to a lack of skill protections.
upgradation, especially in Blue-collared jobs. o It attempts to define gig, platform, and
unorganized workers while spelling out
o The income earned by the gig workers is unpredictable
entitlements.
and they are at a particularly high risk of having unclear o It also proposed to establish a Social
employment status. Security Fund and a National Social
o Potential exploitation of workers due to the individualistic Security Board to supervise and formulate
nature of gig work. Unlike traditional employees, gig schemes for the well-being of gig and
workers cannot form unions and bargain collectively. platform workers.
Way Forward - Recommendations of India’s Booming
Gig and Platform Economy Report (NITI Aayog)
• Proper estimation of Gig Workers: Enumeration
exercises to estimate the size of the gig economy and
the characteristic features of gig workers.
o Data collected by the E-Shram portal can be
used.
• Catalyse Platformization: A Platform India initiative,
built on the pillars of Simplification and Handholding,
Funding Support and Incentives, Skill Development,
and Social Financial Inclusion, may be introduced. On
similar lines to Stand-up India.
• Accelerate Financial Inclusion: Access to
institutional credit should be enhanced to bolster the
Government’s existing efforts to promote financial inclusion.
o FinTech and platform businesses can be leveraged.
o Giving Priority Sector Lending Status to associated activities.
• Skill Development: Platforms should pursue ends or outcome-based models of skilling and job creation to further
increase the employability of workers.
o Platforms can collaborate with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and the National Skill
Development Corporation (NSDC).
o Platforms can enable the creation of potential “Skill Certificates”
o Integration of Employment and Skill Development portals such as National Career Services portals of the
Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• Enhancing Social Inclusion: Incentivise inclusive businesses – women led-platforms or platforms that encourage
recruitment of women employees and those with disabilities.
o Special emphasis on access to formal credit for women, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), or platform businesses
started in small cities, towns, and villages in India.
• Social Security: The Central and State governments could adopt the five-pronged RAISE approach to ensure the
realization of full access to social security for all gig and platform workers.
o Recognize the varied nature of platform work to design equitable schemes.
o Allow augmentation of social security through innovative financing mechanisms.

o Incorporate, while designing schemes, the specific interests of platforms, factoring in the impact on job creation,
platform businesses, and workers.
o Support workers to subscribe to government schemes and welfare programs through widespread awareness
campaigns.
o Ensure benefits are readily accessible to workers.
3.4. STAND-UP INDIA

Why in news?
Recently, Prime Minister acknowledged Stand-Up India’s role in empowering the SC/ST communities, women, and job
creation at the completion of 7 years of the Scheme.
About the scheme
• Ministry: It was launched
in 2016 under the
Ministry of Finance,
Government of India.
o This scheme has been
extended up to 2025.
• Objective: To promote
entrepreneurship among
Scheduled Castes
(SCs)/Schedule Tribes
(STs) and Women.
• Features:
o It covers all branches of Scheduled
Commercial Banks (bank loans of ₹10-
100 lakh to at least one SC/ST and
one-woman borrower per branch).
o Applicants can draw up to ₹10 lakhs as
working capital by an Overdraft.
o The government does not allocate funds
for loans under the Stand-Up India
Scheme. It can be accessed in three
potential ways:
✓ Directly at the branch
✓ Through Stand-Up India Portal
✓ Through the Lead District Manager
(LDM)
Significance of the scheme
Achievement of the scheme (till March, 2023)
• Identification of prospective entrepreneurs: Linking prospective Over ₹40,000 crore Over 0.13 million bank
borrowers to banks for loans. E.g., linking through an online portal sanctioned branches connected
developed by the Small Industries Development Bank of India Over 0.18 million Over 75% of the
(SIDBI). borrowers borrowers are women
• Collateral-free loans: To extend collateral-free coverage, the Government has set up the Credit Guarantee Fund for
Stand-Up India (CGFSI).
• Financial inclusion: It is based on “Funding the unfunded” and has ensured the availability of credit to SC/ST and
women entrepreneurs.
o Easy repayment schedule as entrepreneurs can repay the loan in seven years. Only a certain amount has to be
repaid each year according to the borrower’s preference.

• Guidance: The scheme also provides post-set-
up assistance to consultants.
• Socio-economic empowerment: It can act as a
positive boost for job creation, improving social
standing, and resulting in the socio-economic
empowerment of women, Dalits, and tribals.
Challenges to the scheme
• Limited credit availability: The maximum loan
limit is Rs 1 Crore which is sometimes small in
the case of enterprises established in the
manufacturing or trading sector.
• Lack of parallel skill development: The
applicants of the scheme may need additional
handholding along with financial help in the
form of training, and network support among
others.
• Bank-related issues: The scheme offers interest
rates below the market rate, which indirectly
affects the viability of the system, especially the Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
o Also, several studies have found that the bank staff has limited awareness regarding the scheme in the
hinterland.
Way forwards
• Holistic empowerment: The SC & ST population needs to be educated and empowered further (socio-politically) to
reap the benefits of the Stand-Up India scheme.
• Awareness generation: It is important to invest in (Information, Education, and Communication) IEC activities and
create a general sense of awareness that reaches the target beneficiary and the banking ecosystem.
• Convergence with other schemes: More synergy in implementation among schemes such as Startup India, MUDRA,
Jan Dhan Yojana, etc.
• Strengthening the banking system: Overall strengthening of the Banking system will lead to optimal allocation of
credit, better monitoring of the credit risk and ultimately better performance of entrepreneurs.
3.5. TRANSFER PRICING

Why in news? About ITAT
Supreme court altered the approach to resolving transfer pricing • ITAT is a quasi-judicial institution set up in 1941.
disputes in India. • It specializes in dealing with appeals under the
Direct Taxes Acts.
More in news • The orders passed by the ITAT are final, an
appeal lies to the High Court only if a substantial
• Supreme Court set aside an earlier Karnataka High Court ruling
question of law arises for determination.
which held that in transfer pricing matters, the determination
• Starting with three Benches at Delhi, Kolkata
of the arm's length price(ALP) by the Income Tax Appellate and Mumbai, the numbers of Benches have
Tribunal (ITAT) is final and cannot be subject to judicial scrutiny. progressively increased and presently ITAT has
• The apex court now held that any ALP determined outside the 63 Benches in 27 different stations.
purview of relevant transfer pricing (TP) provisions in the
Income Tax Act can be considered as ‘perverse (unjust)’ and in such cases decision of the tribunal is not final.
o In such cases, both, the Indian Revenue Authorities (IRA) as well as taxpayers, can approach a HC after a decision
by the ITAT.
• The SC ruling has restored TP issues to the same pedestal as other tax issues in India.

About Transfer Pricing Understanding TP to reduce tax burden through an
• Transfer pricing is an accounting practice that allows for example-
• Let's say that an automobile manufacturer has two
the establishment of prices for the goods and services
divisions: Division A, which manufactures software,
exchanged between , divisions, subsidiaries or affiliates and Division B, which manufactures cars.
that are part of the larger enterprise. • Division A is in a higher tax country than Division B.
• Usually, Companies use transfer pricing to reduce the • Division A decides to charge a lower price to Division
overall tax burden of the parent company. B instead of using the market price. As a result,
o This is done by charging a higher price to subsidiaries Division A's sales or revenues are lower because of the
in high-tax countries (reducing profit) while charging lower pricing resulting in lower taxes.
a lower price (increasing profits) for subsidiaries in • On the other hand, Division B's costs of goods sold are
low-tax countries. lower, increasing the division's profits, resulting in
higher taxes. But, Division B will be taxed at a lower
About Arm’s Length Principle (ALP) rate than division A.
• ALP was agreed upon by all OECD member countries and • Therefore, the overall company can save on taxes by
making Division A less profitable and Division B more
adopted as an objective guideline for use by
profitable.
multinational companies and tax administrations in
international taxation.
• It means that the price the a company pays to purchase goods
or services from a related company entity should be the same
as if the two entities were unrelated (known as arm’s length
price).
o There should be no price adjustment or special conditions
for the transaction simply because the parties are related
legal entities.
• Its objective is to avoid the erosion of the tax base or the
transfer of profits to low tax jurisdictions.
• In India, Transfer Pricing and ALP provisions are contained in Chapter X of Income-tax Act, 1961 and arm's length price
is determined by the Assessing Officer.
3.6. MARKETS IN CRYPTO ASSETS (MICA)

Why in News?
The European Parliament has recently passed
the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA)
legislation, which is expected to regulate the
Crypto industry.
About Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA)
• It is considered as the first set of
regulations in the world establishing a legal
framework for crypto-asset services providers as well as consumer protection.
• MiCA will apply directly across the European Union (EU) without any need for national implementation laws.
• MiCA regulation focuses on certain categories of crypto-assets which are currently out of scope of existing regulations
- i.e. it does not apply to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), DeFi (Decentralized Finance) & Central bank digital currencies
(CBDCs).
• MiCA distinguishes between different types of cryptoassets and provides regulatory requirements specific to each
category. Sub-Categorisation of Crypto assets:
o Electronic Money Tokens (EMTs),
o Asset Referenced Tokens (ARTs)
o Utility Tokens (UTs).

• MiCA is part of the European Commission's digital Crypto-assets
finance strategy, which also includes the DLT Pilot Crypto-assets can be defined as a digital representation of
Regime and the Digital Operational Resilience Act value or rights which may be transferred and stored
(DORA). electronically, using distributed ledger technology or similar
technology.
Need for Crypto Asset Regulation Different types of Tokens under Crypto Assets
• Stablecoin (also known as electronic money tokens):
• Enforce accountability: The Crypto firms are to be held These are tokens whose values are fixed; often they are
accountable in one form or the other, as they deal with pegged to a currency such as the US dollar.
consumers money and there are very few laws to hold • Security tokens : These are tokens that indicate that the
them accountable in most countries. owner possesses a stake in some real world asset or
• Protect the Consumers: Regulations will help to enterprise.
establish a legal framework for crypto-asset services • Asset tokens: These are tokens that represent real-world
assets such as gold or real estate.
providers as well as protect the interests of the
• Utility tokens: These tokens provide users with special
consumer. access to a product, service, or offer, and are often issued
• Ensures financial stability: Regulation ensures to as part of a project or company’s initial coin offering
safeguards potential risks to financial stability. (ICO).
• Supports innovation and fair competition: The • Non-fungible tokens (NFT): It is a unique token that
regulations help to promote the development of crypto- corresponds to a specific and unique digital item (or a
digital representation of a physical item).
assets by instituting a safe and proportionate
framework between the different players.
• To address the environmental concerns: Crypto-assets
can require considerable amounts of electricity usage,
which can result in greenhouse gas emissions.
o The regulation would consider addressing these
concerns to promote sustainable practices.
Cues for India
As India is currently in the process of developing its own
regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, MiCA can
serve as an example of how a comprehensive framework
could be developed.
Implications of the MiCA regulation
• Boost investor confidence: The MiCA's
• Harmonises the industry: The Comprehensive framework
landmark move will likely boost investor
harmonises the existing crypto industry and categorises them
confidence in the crypto industry in Europe and under different levels pertaining to their risk levels.
other parts of the world. • Blueprint for other economies: This being a pilot initiative
o This could potentially lead to increased provides a blueprint for the other world countries to regulate
investment in the crypto industry in India, the Crypto industry in near future.
with India planning its own version of MiCA. • Educates the investors: The necessity to provide a white paper
• To regulate the unregulated sector: The Crypto on the products and services provided by the companies
sector is highly unorganised in the country and educates the investor about the real risks involved.
the successful implementation of MiCA will • Avoids liquidity crisis: The framework calls for maintaining a
persuade India to regulate the sector on similar certain reserve in the form of cash, according to the company’s
lines. size in order to avoid liquidity crisis at any moment.
• Central Bank Supervision: The Crypto Asset Service Providers
o Recently, India and UK also discussed the
(CASP) will be under the supervision of the Central banks for the
need for “robust global approaches” for first time and also be provided license for their functions.
dealing with crypto-assets.
• To protect the Indian investors: By making the CASPs accountable and bringing them under the framework of the
Central Bank a possible liquidity crisis like that of FTX Collapse, can be averted in India.
• To prevent Money Laundering: Crypto assets are extensively used to stack the black money and use them in abroad,
by bringing the CASPs under the purview of regulations money laundering can be avoided to great extent

o In 2022, the OECD also approved the Crypto- Attempts to regulate Crypto Assets in India
Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) which • 2017: RBI issued caution on holding Virtual Currencies/Crypto
provides for the reporting of tax information Currencies in India and are considered to illegal.
on transactions in Crypto-Assets in a • 2019: RBI held that trading/holding/ mining of Crypto coins
standardised manner, with a view to in India as illegal and imposed a fine of 10 Lakhs.
automatically exchanging such information. • 2020: The Supreme Court nullifies the ban by RBI and
• To encourage healthy competition: While the advocated the Government to take a decision over the same.
sector is being dominated by few big players, a • 2022: A 30% tax was levied on the income earned from the
regulation will safeguard the new start-ups in the transfer of Virtual Asset, by the Finance Ministry.
sector and sets a level playing field. • 2022: Government has set up a panel to explore the
possibility of issuing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
Way Ahead for India and was successfully issued as a pilot run in retail banking
segment.
• To alter the definition of Currency: The term • 2023: All transactions involving Virtual Digital Assets are
Currency is currently defined under the Section brought under the purview of Prevention of Money
2(h) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, Laundering Act.
1999 (FEMA) and Crypto currency should be
included in the definition through an amendment.
• To set up a regulatory body: An independent regulatory body should be made in charge of overseeing the Crypto
sector in the country.
• To create penal provisions: A separate set of penal provisions are to be created for the theft, fraud and cheating
cases with respect to Crypto assets, to inhibit such actions.
• To set norms for CASPs: A minimal set of standards and requirements are to be set for a company to be licensed
as CASP in the country and should be regulated under the superivisory function of a Government regulatory body.
3.6.1. DIGITAL SERVICES ACT

Why in news?
The European Union (EU) has confirmed the names of 19 platforms that will be subject to its online content rules under
Digital Services Act (DSA).
More on news
• The content rules under DSA aim at tightly regulating the way big technology platforms moderate user content.
• The entities identified by the EU for the strictest level of regulation under the DSA include Alibaba,
Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Instagram among others.
About Digital Services Act (DSA)
• DSA is a first-of-a-kind regulatory toolbox globally and sets a benchmark for a regulatory approach to online
intermediaries.
• In 2020, DSA together with Digital Markets Act (DMA) proposed a comprehensive framework to ensure a safer, more
fair digital space (will be applicable from 2024).
o DMA affects gatekeeper platforms like Google, Amazon and Meta, and covers the need for user consent before
processing personal data for targeted advertising.
How does the EU’s DSA compare with India’s laws for digital content regulation?
• India’s Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, also known as
the IT Rules, 2021 are similar to EU’s DSA in terms of Due Diligence Requirements on social media platforms,
Content Regulation and a Co-Regulatory approach for monitoring compliance and for grievance redressal.
• However, there are also some differences in their approach and scope:

Key Provisions India’s IT Rules (Information Technology Rules, 2021) EU’s DSA
Scope Apply to social media intermediaries, digital news DSA applies to a wider range of online platforms,
publishers, and OTT platforms operating in India, including social media, online marketplaces, and
irrespective of their country. cloud computing services operating in EU, irrespective
of their country.
Content Rules require social media intermediaries to appoint a DSA proposes a range of compliance requirements
Moderation grievance officer, a nodal officer, and a chief for online platforms, including content moderation
compliance officer, and establish a mechanism for measures, transparency obligations, and data
receiving and resolving complaints from users. protection requirements.
Conclusion
Overall, the DSA is a more comprehensive regulatory framework, taking a more nuanced approach to governing digital
content and online platforms. However, the effectiveness of each will depend on how they are implemented and
enforced.
3.7. NATIONAL GAS GRID

Why in News? About Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)
The Bihar portion of the Barauni - Guwahati pipeline • It was established under The Petroleum and Natural Gas
which connects Bihar to National Gas Grid was Regulatory Board Act, 2006.
• It aims to protect the interests of consumers and entities
completed recently.
engaged in specified activities relating to petroleum, petroleum
About the National Gas Grid products and natural gas and to promote competitive markets.
• It also oversees Petroleum Products Pipelines construction and
• It is a 33,764 Kms long, Natural Gas pipeline also a Gas Exchange for the trading of Natural Gas in India.
network that the Centre has started to connect • It is the authority to grant authorization to the entities for the
all major supply and demand centres in the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in
country under the purview of Petroleum and Geographical Areas (GAs).
Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). • It is under Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
• The Grid when fully established will ensure easy
availability of Natural Gas across all regions of the Other Measures to develop National Gas Grid
country and reduce our reliance on Crude oil. • Pradan Mantri Urja Ganga project (2016): It is a gas
• Out of this, around 21,500 km Natural Gas Pipelines are pipeline project that aims to provide uninterrupted
operational and a total of around 13,500 km length of cooking gas to households in U.P, Bihar, Jharkhand,
West Bengal and Odisha.
pipelines is under various stages of construction.
o It is also known as Jagdishpur- Haldia & Bokaro-
Need for a National Gas Grid Dhamra pipeline project.
o The 2,655 km long pipeline project connects the
• To meet the rising demand: While the Automobile eastern states to the National Gas Grid.
companies are gradually moving away from diesel • North East Gas Grid (2020): It is a 1,656 km long
vehicles to meet the BS VI norms, the next in line pipeline, which aims to connect the eight north eastern
alternatives for automobile fuel are LNG and CNG. states to the National Gas Grid.
• To adhere to the climate goal commitments: By shifting • City Gas Distribution Network: The Network Currently
to natural gas as fuel in various sectors, the country covers more than 400 districts in 27 States/UTs.
moves towards meeting its Paris Agreement o It consists of four distinct segments namely
commitments to reduce its carbon footprint in a phased delivery of CNG for automobile usage in cities,
delivery of PNG for domestic, commercial and
manner.
industrial usage.

• Positive trade balance: Shifting towards a Gas based economy will reduce our Crude oil bills, which strengthens Indian
Rupee and makes the balance of trade favourable for India.
• Encourage Private players: Establishment of a uniform grid will enable a conductive environment for businesses to
invest in the sector.
• Economical & Uninterrupted delivery of fuel: Establishment of a pipeline ensures safe, economical and uninterrupted
supply of Natural gas, CNG and PNG to various end users.
Challenges with National Gas Grid Natural gas
• Natural gas is a mixture of gases which are rich in
• Capacity utilisation of pipelines: The existing natural
hydrocarbons consisting of methane, nitrogen, carbon
gas pipelines are currently operating only at 10% to dioxide etc.
20% level of utilisation. Further, pipelines operating • Natural gas reserves are deep inside the earth near other
for over 10 years have been constrained by limited solid & liquid hydrocarbons beds like coal and crude oil.
availability of domestic gas. • It is not used in its pure form; it is processed and converted
• Functioning of PNGRB: The regulatory body is marred into cleaner fuel for consumption.
with several key position vacancies, even the position • It could be used in feedstock in the manufacture of
of Chairperson stands vacant thereby reducing the fertilizers, Fuel for electricity generation, Cooking in
body’s efficiency. domestic households, Transportation fuel for vehicles etc.
• Delays in project execution: There are various delays • India has targeted to increase the share of natural gas in
primary energy mix in India from current 6.5% to 15% by
in laying the pipelines due to land acquisition, issue of
2030.
right of use and multiplicity of agencies.
• Skewed coverage of PNG: The PNG connections are not able to reach every household even when that particular area
has been marked as covered as penetration level is not marked as a criterion.
• Reduced role of States: The subjects of Petroleum & Natural Gas fall under the Union list, which limits the role of
states in aiding the development of pipeline infrastructure.
Way Forward
• Enhancing Exploration: The PSUs and companies should be provided with enhanced number of blocks for exploration
of new gas reserves.
• Dedicated Diplomatic push: Diplomatic efforts are necessary in enhancing the trans-national pipelines from
neighbouring areas to the country.
• Improving the criteria for coverage: A certain level of penetration in each district should be earmarked as a major
criterion of declaring districts covered under PNG, as current system doesn’t focus on increasing the number of
household usage.
• A better coordination mechanism: Issues like multiplicity of agencies for receiving clearances and permissions should
be streamlined along with improving coordination with states.
• Ensuring availability: The number of CNG pumps in highways needs to be improved at a dedicated phase, as the lack
of sufficient number of highway pumps inhibits the usage of CNG as a preferred fuel.
3.8. AQUACULTURE SECTOR

Why in News?
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
Dairying introduced the Coastal Aquaculture
Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
More on News
• The bill seeks to amend certain provisions of
the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) Act,
2005 and decriminalise offences under it.

o This 2005 act established the Coastal Aquaculture Authority for regulating coastal aquaculture.
• It aims at promoting ease of doing business and fine-tuning the operational procedures of the Coastal Aquaculture
Authority.
Features of the Bill
• Definitions:
o Aquaculture: It basically refers to
the breeding, rearing,
and harvesting of fish, shellfish,
algae, and other organisms in all
types of water environments.
o Coastal Aquaculture: The Amended
Bill defines “Coastal Aquaculture” as
the rearing and cultivation of any
life stages of fish, including
crustaceans, molluscs, finfish,
seaweed or any other aquatic life
under controlled conditions, either
indoor or outdoor, in saline or
brackish water in coastal areas.
▪ It also includes activities
such as the production of
broodstock, seed, and
grow-out, but does not
include freshwater
aquaculture.
• Scope: It expands the scope of the
CAA Act beyond coastal
aquaculture ‘farms’ to cover all the
verticals and activities of coastal
aquaculture for its sustainable
development.
• Regulation of allied coastal
aquaculture activities: The Bill
prohibits coastal aquaculture
activities in Ecologically sensitive areas, No-Development Zones (NDZs) and within Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZs).
o Although some allied activities like Seaweed culture, nucleus breeding centres etc. have exemptions from these
regulations.
• Changes to Coastal Aquaculture Authority:
o Composition of CAA: The Bill adds a representative from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
as a member.
o Increased scope: The Bill enhances the scope of regulation by requiring any facility that is engaged in coastal
aquaculture or any allied activity to be regulated as a coastal aquaculture unit.
o Expanded Functions: The bill adds that the Authority shall regulate coastal aquaculture inputs, monitor
aquaculture units and fix environmental standards.
• Decriminalization: The Bill removes the imprisonment provisions of the Act for its contravention and replaces them
with suitable monetary and other penalties.
• Adjudication and Appeals: Under the Bill, the central government may authorise an officer of at least Under
Secretary level to adjudicate penalties.
Significance of aquaculture
• Food and Nutrition Security: Aquaculture has great potential to feed and nourish the world’s growing population

• Delivery of ecosystem services:
Responsibly managed aquaculture
supports healthy ecosystems by
filtering water and sequestering
carbon.
o For instance, Seaweed farming
can mitigate the acidification
caused by the ocean’s
absorption of carbon dioxide.
• Livelihood Support: Millions of lives
and livelihoods are supported by
aquatic food systems.
o 58.5 million people were
employed in the primary
fisheries and aquaculture sector
in 2020.
• Source of foreign exchange: It is an important sector for developing countries to earn foreign exchange by exporting
high-value products.
Issues with Aquaculture
• Habitat loss: Fish farms can destroy or degrade local habitats through direct destruction, via effluent runoff, siltation
of nearby areas, or other knock-on effects.
o Aquaculture farms create a risk of entanglement for marine wildlife and can pose a barrier to migrations.
• Water Pollution: Chemicals and waste products in aquaculture effluent can cause toxic algal blooms, eutrophication,
and oxygen-free dead zones in the water.
• Introduction of non-native species: Farmed fish can enter nearby ecosystems and transmit disease to wild
populations, compete with or displace native species, or interbreed with wild populations, affecting those
populations’ survival.
• Unsustainable practices: Fishery resources continue to decline due to overfishing, pollution, poor management and
other factors.
Way Forward
A responsible aquaculture policy will include:
• Blue Transformation: It proposes a series of actions designed to support resilience in aquatic food systems and
ensure fisheries and aquaculture grow sustainably.
• Protecting small-scale farmers: Does not displace small-scale fishers by privatizing coastal zones or creating other
inequities.
• Global Fisheries Management: Improving global fisheries management remains crucial to restore ecosystems to a
healthy and productive state and protecting the long-term supply of aquatic foods.
• Technical Innovations: Focus priority areas for innovative aquaculture practices are aquafeeds and feeding,
digitalization, and the promotion of efficient and pro-environment practices.
o For instance, Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) provides a process where seaweed and molluscs
counteract nutrient and organic enrichment processes to keep balance.
3.9. AGRI TECH

Why in News?
Recently, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) have
jointly launched a whitepaper aimed at making India a global leader in Agri-Tech innovation.

Need of Agritech in India
• Streamlining the agriculture sector: The Indian agriculture sector, predominantly unorganized and fragmented,
involves numerous intermediaries and middlemen across the value chain.
o However, the burgeoning tech ecosystem in India presents an opportunity to transform and organize the sector
more efficiently, ultimately benefiting farmers and consumers alike.
• Address Food Security and climate change: As per Global Multidimensional Poverty Index(2022), India have around
228 million poor population. Agri tech companies can revolutionize agriculture sector improve food security of
country.
• Increase agricultural productivity: Farmers lack access to high-quality agricultural inputs, farm machinery and other
allied equipment, which leads to low agricultural productivity or low-quality crops.
o New technologies such as Biotech, Nano tech can improve crop yield and production.
• Address changing Consumer behaviour: Tech companies can play a pivotal role in adopting cutting-edge technology
to ensure that their products are clean, fresh, and sustainably sourced, thereby meeting consumer preferences and
expectations.
• Enhanced quality management and traceability: Agritech solutions can improve post-harvest produce handling,
quality assessment, and analysis, while also enabling monitoring and traceability during storage and transportation.
• Streamlined supply chain and output market linkage: Agritech can provide both digital platforms and physical
infrastructure to manage post-harvest supply chains and connect farm outputs directly with customers.
• Accessible financial services: Agritech can facilitate credit facilities for input procurement and equipment acquisition,
as well as offer insurance or reinsurance for crops.

Challenges of Agritech utilization in India
• Affordability: Agricultural machinery is often unaffordable for smallholder farmers because of their small
landholdings.
o For example, providing insurance services for horticulture crops requires costly high-resolution satellite imagery.
• Low or no access to Farm related data: Inadequate farm and farmer-level datasets hinder technology penetration in
agriculture, as most agritech companies require up-to-date data to enhance their software and serve end-users
effectively.
• Poor digital literacy: Farmers are not aware about new technology which affects farm mechanization and hence
resulting in low adoption of Agritech solutions. Factors include a lack of awareness, inadequate incentives, and
insufficient technical support.
o In addition, the recent increase in digital fraud cases using mobile devices has affected the trust in digital mode.
• High cost of customer acquisition for Agritech companies: The combination of fragmented landholding and diverse
geographies presents a significant challenge for agritech companies in connecting with smallholder farmers, leading
to high customer acquisition costs.
• Inefficient supply chain: The supply chain is inefficient due to numerous intermediaries, which raises procurement
costs for retailers and increases wastage because of inadequate infrastructure, such as cold storage facilities.
Way forward
• Improving last-mile connectivity: Collaborating with local institutions like Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) or
FPOs or corporates having a significant farmer base to roll out agritech solutions.
• Access to public data: Utilize the government's extensive data on farmers, land records, financial health, weather
reports, meteorological data, market prices, and mandi data, which is crucial for agritech companies to provide
valuable services.
• Digitize licensing regimes: Increase transparency in the licensing process by digitizing it entirely, which will help
startups access information more efficiently and serve smallholder farmers better.
• State-specific AgriTech policies: Implement distinct agritech startup policies that can promote and facilitate growth
in the sector on a regional level.
• Establishment of facilitation centre for agritech at local as well as global level: A state-level facilitation centre should
ensure that the tech companies can conveniently access public resources or leverage the government’s infrastructure.
3.10. NEWS IN SHORTS

3.10.1. DIRECT TAX STATISTICS • Dabba trading is informal trading that takes place
outside the purview of stock exchanges.
• Key statistics released by Central Board of Direct o Traders bet on stock price movements without
Taxes (CBDT): incurring a real transaction to take physical
o Net Direct Tax Collections have increased by ownership of a particular stock as is done in an
121.18% in FY 2021-22 from FY 2013-14. exchange.
o Direct tax to GDP ratio rose from 5.62% in FY 2013- • Since there are no proper records of income or gain, it
14 to 5.97% in FY 2021-22 helps dabba traders escape taxation.
o Direct tax buoyancy at 2.52 was highest in the last • It is recognised as an offence under Securities
15 years. Contracts (Regulation) Act (SCRA), 1956.
✓ Tax buoyancy refers to responsiveness of tax
revenue receipts to changes in national 3.10.3. MAHILA SAMMAN SAVINGS
income. CERTIFICATES (MSSC)
✓ A tax buoyancy greater than 1 signifies that
tax revenues grow at a faster rate than • Ministry of Finance has released an official notification
growth in national income. for MSSC, 2023 and it has been made available in 1.59
lakh post offices with immediate effect.
3.10.2. DABBA (BOX) TRADING o Scheme was announced in 2023-24 Union Budget
with the objective of promoting financial inclusion
• National Stock Exchange (NSE) issued notices naming and empowering women, including girls.
entities involved in dabba trading.
• Key features of scheme o Excluded projects include Projects involving new
o Two-year tenure (valid upto 2025) and provides or existing extraction, production and distribution
fixed interest rate of 7.5% compounded quarterly. of fossil fuels; Nuclear power generation; Direct
o MSSC accountholder can withdraw a maximum up waste incineration; Landfill projects; Hydropower
to 40% of eligible balance once after expiry of one plants larger than 25 MW etc.
year from date of opening of account but before o Funds raised through green deposits shall be
maturity of account. subject to an independent Third-Party
o Minimum amount to be invested is Rs.1,000 and Verification/Assurance on an annual basis.
any sum in multiples of Rs.100. Maximum • Greenwashing means the practice of marketing
investment limit is Rs.2 lakh. products/services as green, when in fact they do not
• Small savings schemes (SSS) are savings instruments meet requirements to be defined as green
managed by government to encourage citizens to save activities/projects.
regularly.
o SSS includes Post Office Savings Account, Kisan
Vikas Patra, Public Provident Fund, Sukanya
Samriddhi Account etc.
o Money raised through these schemes goes to
National Small Savings Fund (NSSF).
o Formula to arrive at interest rates for a SSS was
given by Shyamala Gopinath Committee.
3.10.4. GREEN DEPOSITS 3.10.5. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT

TRUSTS (REITS) AND INFRASTRUCTURE
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued framework for
acceptance of ‘green deposits’. INVESTMENT TRUSTS (INVITS)
• Green deposit means an interest-bearing deposit, • NSE Indices Ltd, subsidiary of National Stock Exchange
received by regulated entities (REs) for a fixed period (NSE), has launched India’s first ever REITs and InvITs
and proceeds of which are earmarked for being Index to track performance of REITs and InvITs that are
allocated towards green finance. publicly listed and traded on NSE.
• Key highlights of framework for acceptance of green • REITs are listed entities which own, operate and
deposits manage buildings/properties for generating income.
o Applicability: Scheduled Commercial Banks • InvITs are investment scheme like mutual funds that
including Small Finance Banks (excluding Regional allow investment from individuals and institutional
Rural Banks, Local Area Banks and Payments investors in infrastructure projects.
Banks), and
✓ All Deposit taking Non-Banking Financial
Companies (NBFCs) registered with RBI
including Housing Finance Companies (HFCs).
o Green deposits shall be denominated in Indian
Rupees only.
o Sectors/projects included for allocation of
proceeds raised through green deposits includes
Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Clean
Transportation, Climate Change Adaptation,
Sustainable Water and Waste management,
Green Buildings etc.
3.10.6. BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT o NOCS, developed under guidance of RBI, will
enable smooth, secure and timely transfer of
RANKINGS
funds to network participants.
• Business Environment Rankings (BER), by Economist o It is integrated with banks, fintechs and e-
Intelligence Unit (EIU), measures the attractiveness of commerce players and will soon go live.
the business environment in 82 countries on a
quarterly basis across 91 indicators.
o Singapore topped the latest rankings.
• India improved its ranking by six spots due to its
improved score in parameters like technological
readiness, political environment, and foreign
investment among others.
3.10.7. OPEN NETWORK FOR DIGITAL

COMMERCE (ONDC) MAY DRIVE INDIA
DIGITAL CONSUMPTION TO USD 320-340
BILLION BY 2030: REPORT 3.10.8. UDAN (UDE DESH KA AAM
• Report titled `Democratising Digital Commerce in NAGRIK) 5.0
India’ was launched by ONDC with McKinsey & • Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Regional
Company as knowledge partners. Connectivity Scheme (RCS)- UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam
• Key highlights Nagrik) 5.0
o ONDC will facilitate India to record 500 million • RCS-UDAN, a market-driven scheme, aims to enhance
digitally transacting consumers by 2030, regional air connectivity from unserved and
increasing 3-4 times from 165 - 190 million in FY22. underserved airports and making air travel
o Lack of comfort with online shopping, low affordable.
penetration of business-to-business sellers (1-1.5 o It was formulated based on the review of National
percent), and high supply chain costs are key Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)-2016.
challenges in India’s digital commerce ecosystem. • Key features of UDAN 5.0
• ONDC was launched by Department for Promotion of o Focuses on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of 3 (>80 seats).
Commerce and Industry to control digital monopolies. o Length cap of 600 km is waived off.
o It promotes open networks for all aspects of o No predetermined routes would be offered.
exchange of goods and services over digital or o Viability gap funding (VGF) increased to 600 km
electronic networks. from 500 km earlier.
o Task to integrate e-commerce platforms on ONDC • Over the years, depending upon priorities of
has been assigned to Quality Council of India. government as well as market response, there have
o ONDC does not require the use of same been several additions / modifications in UDAN
platform/application by buyer and seller to do a scheme.
business transaction. o Under UDAN 2, enhanced focus on hilly areas, and
• Significance of ONDC North Eastern Region (NER) and island states.
o Promotion of local languages, products and o Under UDAN 3, seaplanes operations and concept
cultural heritage. of tourism routes were introduced.
o Creation of opportunities for small businesses and o Under UDAN 4, enhancement of VGF support for
artisans. smaller aircraft, inclusion of State routes and focus
o Equitable and fair treatment for all stakeholders on shorter routes for development of regional
due to absence of any preferred sellers. hubs.
o Growth of digital commerce ecosystem in India. o Lifeline UDAN for transportation of medical cargo
Related news during pandemic.
o Krishi UDAN for value realization of agriculture
• NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) has launched NOCS products especially in NER and tribal districts.
platform will provide reconciliation and settlement o International UDAN routes for NER to explore
services for transactions undertaken on ONDC International Connectivity from / to Guwahati and
network. Imphal
3.10.10. LOGISTIC PERFORMANCE INDEX
2023
• India improved its rank to 38 (from 44 in 2018) in
World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index (LPI) 2023.
o Significant investments in both soft and hard
infrastructure as well as technology has led to an
improvement in India’s port performance.
o Singapore topped the index.
• LPI is a benchmarking tool created to help countries
identify challenges and opportunities they face in their
3.10.9. KOCHI WATER METRO performance on trade logistics.
• LPI 2023 ranks countries on six dimensions of trade --
• Recently, India's first water-based metro, Kochi Water including customs performance, infrastructure quality,
Metro (KWM), was formally inaugurated by Prime and timeliness of shipments.
Minister.
• The Kochi Water Metro is an innovative and 3.10.11. NATIONAL LOGISTICS PORTAL
sustainable mode of transportation that connects MARINE
various parts of the city through its intricate network of
waterways. • The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
launched the Sagar Setu Mobile App of National
• The project aims to reduce traffic congestion and
improve the connectivity of the city while promoting Logistics Portal Marine (NLPM).
• NLPM is a national maritime single window platform
eco-friendly means of transportation.
encompassing complete end-to-end logistics
• The project received funding from the Kerala
solutions.
government and a loan from KfW- a German state-
o It helps exporters, importers, and service providers
owned investment and development bank.
exchange documents seamlessly and transact
• KWM's boats are being built by Cochin Shipyard.
business.
• Innovative Boat Technology: The boats use Lithium
o The overarching NLP Marine Vision is to cater to
Titanate Oxide (LTO) batteries that can be charged in
various stakeholders in the G2G, G2B and B2B
15 minutes using a specially built charging system.
model.
o LTO batteries are not only the safest commercially
• It has the capability to integrate with various Port
accessible batteries in the world, but they are also
Operating Systems/ Terminal Operating Systems and
the longest-lasting, with a life cycle of 7-10 years.
other stakeholder(s) systems in the ecosystem.
• Last year Kochi Water Metro won the prestigious
Gussies Award (France) for the best commercial 3.10.12. MARKETING AND LOGISTICS
passenger electric boat in the world. DEVELOPMENT FOR PROMOTION OF
Other such Inland Water Transport (IWT) services in India TRIBAL PRODUCTS FROM NORTH
• Ro-Ro (roll-on, roll-off) ferry service for the movement
EASTERN REGION (PTP-NER)
of vehicles and passengers across waterways. The • The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the PTP-
services are available in various locations such as NER scheme, a Central Sector Scheme for the benefit
Mumbai, Goa, Kerala, and the Brahmaputra River in of Scheduled Tribes of the North-eastern Region.
Assam. • It will assist tribal craftsmen through backward and
• Ro-Pax (Roll on-roll off cum passenger) ferry service forward linkages via. incubation support, aggregation,
between Mumbai and Mandwa (Maharashtra) skill and entrepreneurial development, marketing,
developed under Eastern Waterfront Development. transportation, etc.
• River Cruise Service: World’s longest river cruise • The empanelment of tribal artisans will be done
‘Ganga Vilas’ was recently flagged off to promote river directly or through Tribal Artisan Melas (TAMs).
cruise tourism in India. It will cover a distance of more • Partners: North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms
than 3,200 kms across 27 river systems in 5 states in Development Corporation (NEHHDC), India Post and
India and Bangladesh. North Eastern State Government Departments/
Agencies.

common infrastructure facilities in
proximity to economic zones.
Facilitating R&D • Establishing Centres of Excellence
and Innovation in academic and research
institutions, innovation hubs, ‘plug
and play’ infrastructures and
support to start-ups.
Attracting • Encouraging private investments,
Investments in series of funding from Venture
the Sector Capitalists, and also Public-Private
Partnership(PPP).
Human • Leveraging available resources in
3.10.13. DAKAR DECLARATION Resources Ministry of Skill Development and
• Dakar Declaration has been adopted in principle by 21 Development Entrepreneurship for skilling,
African countries after the first African sub-regional reskilling and upskilling of
professionals.
conference on implementing Global Plan for Road
• Develop partnerships with foreign
Safety.
academic/industry organizations.
• It is a guiding document to support the
• Multidisciplinary courses for
implementation of Decade of Action for road safety
medical devices in existing
2021–2030.
institutions.
o It sets the ambitious target of preventing at least
Brand • Creation of a dedicated Export
50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. Positioning and Promotion Council for the sector.
3.10.14. NATIONAL DEVICES POLICY, Awareness • Learning from best global practices
Creation of manufacturing and skilling
2023 system.
• Cabinet approved National Medical Devices Policy,
2023. 3.10.15. SATHI (SEED TRACEABILITY,
• Policy aims to AUTHENTICATION AND HOLISTIC
o Make India global leader in manufacturing and INVENTORY) PORTAL
innovation of medical devices over next 25 years.
• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW)
o Help medical devices sector grow from present
launched SATHI Portal and mobile app.
$11 Bn to $50 Bn by 2030.
• SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication and Holistic
o Facilitate an orderly growth of medical device
Inventory) Portal and Mobile App is a Centralized
sector to meet public health objectives of access,
Online System for seed traceability, authentication
affordability, quality and innovation.
and inventory designed to deal with challenges of
• Significance of the Policy
seed production, quality seed identification and seed
o To prepare against future pandemics certification.
o To promote innovation and entrepreneurship o Seeds authenticity can be traced through a QR
o To strengthen the health care sector and reduce code system.
cost of treatment. o Portal has been developed by National
o Promote employment generation Informatics Centre in collaboration with MoA&FW
on theme of ‘Uttam Beej – Samriddh Kisan.
• Salient features of Policy
o It’ll consist of integrated 7 verticals of seed chain
o Medical devices sector, a sunrise sector, will be
- Research Organisation, Seed Certification, Seed
cover by six broad areas of policy interventions:
Licensing, Seed Catalogue, Dealer to Farmer Sales,
Regulatory • By creation of a Single Window Farmer Registration and Seed DBT.
Streamlining Clearance System for Licensing, • Seed certification is a process designed to maintain
enhancing Role of Indian and make available to the general public continuous
Standards like BIS and designing a supply of high quality seeds.
coherent pricing regulation. o Seeds with valid certification can only be sold by
Enabling • Establishment and strengthening valid licensed dealers to centrally registered
Infrastructure of large medical device parks, farmers who will receive subsidy through DBT
clusters equipped with world class directly into their pre-validated bank accounts.
• In India, legal status to seed certification was given by 3.10.17. MID-DAY MEAL PULSES
Enactment of Seeds Act, 1966. Seed certification is
voluntary but labelling is compulsory in India. • Recently, the Ministry of Education urged states to
o India established Protection of Plant Varieties and procure pulses for the Prime Minister’s Overarching
Farmers Rights (PPV&FR) Authority, under Scheme for Holistic Nutrition (PM-POSHAN) from
PPV&FR Act, 2001 to ensure availability of quality NAFED.
seeds and planting material to farmer. o The Government of India maintains buffer stocks
of pulses through NAFED.
o Centre asked this for ensuring benefit from
economy of scale and assured subsidised rates
in the interest of students.
• However, earlier detailed guidelines issued to states
and UTs in 2022, were silent on the purchase of
pulses from NAFED. As per 2022 guidelines:
o Only packed dals, salt, spices, condiments and
oil with AGMARK quality symbol should be
purchased.
o No loose ingredient should be bought and the
packaging and expiry date of the ingredients
should be checked.
• Also, as per 2019 rules, the states and UTs may
procure pulses as per their local taste for the Mid-
Day Meal from the central buffer stock created by
the Government of India.
• NAFED, i.e. National Agricultural Cooperative
Marketing Federation of India Ltd. is a national level
farmers Cooperative Marketing organization which:
o Promotes Cooperative marketing of Agricultural
3.10.16. MILLETS AND OTHER ANCIENT Produce, and
GRAINS INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH o Stabilizes price of essential commodities like
INITIATIVE (MAHARISHI) pulses.
• Participants of G20 Meeting of Agriculture Chief About PM-POSHAN
Scientists on “Sustainable Agriculture and Food • Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) is
System for Healthy People and Planet” unanimously a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, earlier known as
National Scheme for Mid-Day meal in Schools or
supported launch of MAHARISHI.
simply Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
o Its secretariat will be housed at Indian Institute of
o Mid-Day Meal Scheme was launched in 1995 to
Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad with technical
meet twin objectives of:
support from ICRISAT, One CGIAR Centres and ✓ Enhancing the enrollment, retention and
other International organisations. attendance of students, and
o It will focus on Research and Awareness about ✓ Improve nutritional levels among school
agro-biodiversity, food security, and nutrition going children.
aligning with International Year of Millets 2023. • It will provide one hot cooked meal in Government
• Millets are known as nutri-cereals or superfoods, and Government-aided schools from 2021-22 to 2025-
mainly grown on marginal land in dry areas of 26.
temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions.

4. SECURITY
4.1. WEAPONISATION OF SPACE
Why in News?
Recently, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India spoke
about the weaponization of space at the Indian DefSpace
Symposium (IDSS).
More about News
• Indian DefSpace Symposium (IDSS) was organised by
the Indian Space Association (ISpA) in association with
the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO).
o IDSS event is part of deliberations under ‘Mission
Def-Space’.
• ‘Mission Def-Space’ is an initiative by the Indian
government to develop innovative
solutions for defense requirements in
the space domain.
o It involves opening 75 challenges
for startups, innovators, and the
private sector to provide solutions
for both offensive and defensive
capabilities.
o These challenges have been
categorized into existing
Department of Defense
Production (DDP) initiatives,
including the Innovations for
Defense Excellence (iDEX) scheme,
Make-I, and Make-2.
About Weaponisation of Space
• It entails putting weapons in space or
on celestial bodies, along with
developing weaponry that can travel
across space as well as from Earth to destroy targets in the outer spectrum
o It may include the deployment of a full range of space weapons like satellite-based systems for Ballistic Missile
Defence (BMD), space-based Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapons and a variety of Space to Earth Weapons (STEWs).
o Two subsets of weaponisation of space are space control and Space force application.
• Weaponisation of Space and Militarisation of the space are interchangeably used.
o Militarisation of the space refers to the use of the space to support the ground, sea and air based military
operations.
o Herein, the assets such as early warning communication system, navigation, command and control, etc are being
placed in space in order to assist the ground infrastructure of military.
Factors behind Weaponization of Space
• Protecting Space assets: To safeguard satellites in space against other countries Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile or from
space based weapons. For this countries taking path of weaponization of space.

• Enhanced Combat Capabilities: Space-based
assets, such as satellite surveillance,
communication systems, and navigation
technologies, greatly improve capabilities in land,
sea, and air operations, making space a crucial
component in modern warfare and strategic
planning.
• Outer space geopolitics: Many countries like
China, Russia, USA etc are focusing on dominating
the 4th dimension of warfare.
o The rivalry between the USA and China for
superpower status led China to successfully
conduct an ASAT test in 2007, raising security
concerns in India.
o In 2019, India joined the United States,
Russia, and China as the fourth country to conduct
Global Effort to Control Weaponization
an Anti-Satellite missile test, known as Mission • Outer Space Treaty (1967): Bans the stationing of
Shakti. weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in outer space,
• Insufficient Existing Treaties: While the Outer Space prohibits military activities on celestial bodies, and
Treaty (OST) explicitly prohibits the deployment of details legally binding rules governing the peaceful
weapons of mass destruction in space, it does not exploration and use of space.
address non-WMD weapons, such as counter-space • Partial Test Ban Treaty (1963): Treaty Banning Nuclear
capabilities. Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and
o This oversight leaves a potential gap in Under Water.
international regulation concerning the • Prevention of an Outer Space Arms Race (PAROS): For
using space for peaceful purposes, avoiding an arms race,
weaponization of space.
etc.
Implications of Space Weaponization • Others: Sino-Russian proposal of Prevention of
Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and Threat
• Rise of Space debris: Space weapons that shatter (PPWT), the European Space Agency’s ‘Code’, as well US’
missiles in outer space, poses enormous dangers Artemis Accords focusing on preventing space arm race.
because it would create a massive amount of
debris and can trigger the Kessler Syndrome.
o This may also pose a risk to astronauts aboard
the International Space Station (ISS).
✓ ISS is a co-operative programme
between Europe, the United States,
Russia, Canada, and Japan for the joint
development, operation and utilisation of
a permanently inhabited Space Station in
low Earth orbit.
• Narrowing already scarce radio frequencies and
orbital slots: The monopolization of orbital slots
or non-disclosure of military satellite orbital slots
and radio frequencies for security purposes can further reduce the availability of radio frequencies and orbital slots.
o This constriction limits the scope of activities for commercial space enterprises.
• Trigger the space arm race: The ongoing weaponization of space creates an environment of uncertainty, suspicion,
miscalculations, competition, and aggressive deployment among nations, potentially leading to an arms race in space
o US created U.S. Space Force in 2019 as a separate branch of the U.S. military focused on space operations and
defense.
o Russia has been working on ground-based ASAT weapons like the Nudol system, designed to destroy satellites in
low Earth orbit.

• Affecting Critical Infrastructure: Satellites play a crucial role in supporting various aspects of Earth's critical
infrastructure, such as communication networks, weather forecasting, navigation systems, and disaster management.
• Peacefull exploration of outer space will be impacted: Placing weapons in outer space would increase the risk of that
domain turning into a battlefield hence impacting exploration of outer space and research activities.
Way forward to prevent Weaponization of Space
• Treating space as Global Common like Antarctica: Emphasizing the importance of using space as a global common,
similar to Antarctica, promotes the idea that space should be utilized for peaceful purposes and in the interest of all
countries.
o This approach encourages international collaboration and responsible use of space resources, while
discouraging the weaponization and militarization of space..
• Need of binding international legal framework: There is a need for a binding international legal framework to address
space weaponization through regulation and monitoring.
• Collaboration among like-minded states: Encourage collaboration among like-minded states to establish a less formal
"code of conduct" for space security, promoting responsible behavior even if not all governments participate..
• Developing dual-use platforms for deterrence purpose: Focus on developing platforms that serve both civilian and
military purposes, with an emphasis on incorporating cutting-edge technology for deterrence purposes.
• Secure satellite-assisted communications: Enhance the security of satellite-assisted communications by utilizing
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology, which harnesses the laws of quantum physics to ensure secure
communication at the atomic and subatomic levels..
• Space-based Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR): Strengthen space-based ISR capabilities by
establishing dedicated teams and deploying specialized equipment for effective intelligence gathering and analysis.
4.2. LEFT WING EXTREMISM (LWE)

Why in news?
Recently, few District Reserve Guards (DRG) died in an
explosion of improvised explosive device (IED)
triggered by left wing extremists in Dantewada district
of Chhattisgarh.
Left Wing Extremism (LWE)
• Left-wing extremists, commonly referred to as
Maoists globally and as Naxalites within India.
o LWEs are individuals or groups who espouse
radical leftist ideologies and seek to
overthrow established systems of power
through violent means.
• In India, Birth of Naxalism is pinpointed to the
Naxalbari uprising of 1967.
• During the 1970s, the movement was fragmented
into disputing factions.
• Maoist factions, to this day, continue operating in
India’s “Red Corridor” which includes central and
eastern states (Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha,
Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala) in
varying degrees.

Factors that led to the Emergence of Left-Wing Extremism in India
• Governance Related Factors
o The failure to implement welfare schemes effectively and efficiently.
o Malfunctioning of government machinery in terms of inefficiency, corruption and exploitation.
o Weak governance allowed Maoists to gain legitimacy in deprived areas.
• Socio-Economic and Cultural Factors
o Poverty, inequality fuel LWE support, especially in rural areas.
o Land acquisition displaces farmers/tribes, fuels LWE violence in tribes.
o The cultural alienation of tribal communities, who feel marginalized and excluded from mainstream society.
o The lack of basic infrastructure, such as roads, schools, etc. has contributed to the sense of neglect among people
living in remote and underdeveloped regions
• Political Marginalisation of the Downtrodden
o Slow pace of political reforms and participatory democracy.
o The lack of political representation of marginalized communities, particularly tribal populations
Important initiatives for LWE affected states
• Creation of LWE division: LWE division was created in 2006 in the
Ministry of Home Affairs, to effectively address the LWE insurgency in a
holistic manner.
o The LWE Division implements security related schemes aimed at
capacity building in the LWE affected States.
• National Policy and Action Plan to address LWE (2015): This policy
envisages a multi-pronged strategy involving security related measures,
development interventions, ensuring rights and entitlements of local
communities, etc.
• Various sub-scheme of the Umbrella Scheme ‘Modernization of Police
Forces’: Sub-scheme includes:
o Security Related Expenditure scheme under which Centre
reimburses to the affected states expenditure relating to training
and operational needs, ex-gratia payment to the family of civilians/security forces killed/injured etc.
o Special Central Assistance (SCA) to fill the critical gaps in public infrastructure and Services, which are of
emergent nature.
o Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) under which funds are provided to States for strengthening the infrastructure
related to Security.
o Civic Action Programme (CAP) to bridge the gaps between Security Forces and local people through personal
interaction and bring the human face of SFs before the local population.
• Improving road connectivity: Road Requirement Plan-I (RRP-I) and Road Connectivity Project are being
implemented by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and Ministry of Rural Development respectively.
• LWE Mobile Tower Project: To improve mobile connectivity in the LWE areas, the Government on approved
installation of mobile towers in LWE affected States.
• Aspirational District: The Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked with the monitoring of Aspirational districts
programme in 35 LWE affected districts.
Road Ahead
• Policy measures: Policy measures require the state to provide security, uphold the law, and ensure efficient and
accountable development in affected areas.
o Appropriate security strategies are needed in areas where the Naxalites are said to run a parallel government.
In areas where there is only a thin presence of Naxalites, developmental initiatives could be undertaken
alongside.
• Adopting Andhra Pradesh Model: “Andhra Model”, achieved Operational strategy ‘SAMADHAN’ to fight LWE
commendable success in pacifying the affected areas of Andhra Brought by Ministry of Home Affairs in 2017, Key
Pradesh. The basic course of action was guided by vision, mission elements are:
orient self-belief, duly backed up with quality training, and
capacity and capabilities development.
• Clamp down on Maoist finances: To restrict the flow of money
some measures that can be considered are:
o Closely monitor known sources of finance.
o Register criminal cases against sources of finance,
irrespective of their social/economic standing.
o Ruthlessly crack-down on illegal mining and timber felling.
o Penalize government servants paying extortion money etc.
• Inclusivity: Government needs to seriously undertake land and
electoral reforms and ensure that the deprived sections are
brought into the mainstream of development.
• Strengthening coordination: Coordination and cooperation
among the states and the Centre and among the security forces is
needed. Formation of the coordination centre, the task force on
inter-state coordination and an inter-ministerial group can be
undertaken to continuously monitor and ensure such
coordination.
• Enhancing capabilities of the state police forces: Setting up counterinsurgency and jungle warfare training centres
which would strengthen the prowess, morale and operational efficiency of the state police forces.
o The forces must also be equipped with the latest technological equipment and devices.
• Connecting common people: A sound strategic communication campaign is a prerequisite for the success of anti-
Naxal operations. The common people in remote areas must be reached through pamphlets, regional radio and
television programmes, drama, and theatre groups etc.
4.3. NEWS IN SHORTS

4.3.1. TRENDS IN WORLD MILITARY o Personnel expenses (salaries and pensions)
remained the largest expenditure category
EXPENDITURE, 2022 REPORT
(around 50%) in Indian military budget.
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute o India’s expenditure on capital outlays amounted
(SIPRI) released Trends in World Military Expenditure, to 23% of total military spending in 2022.
2022 Report. • India’s defence exports have reached an all-time high
• SIPRI is a Sweden-based independent international of Rs 16,000 crore in FY 2022-23.
institute dedicated to research into conflict, o India aims at achieving annual defence export
armaments, arms control, and disarmament. target of ₹35,000 crore by 2025.
• Key highlights of report o India’s major platforms being exported include
o Five biggest spenders in 2022 were United States, Dornier-228, 155 mm Advanced Towed Artillery
China, Russia, India and Saudi Arabia, which Guns (ATAGs), Brahmos Missiles, Akash Missile
together accounted for 63% of world military System etc.
spending. • Government efforts to push defence export
✓ With military expenditure of $81.4 billion, o iDEX (Innovation for Defence Excellence); Make in
India was fourth largest spender in 2022. India; Notified three Open General Export
o World military expenditure rose by 3.7% in real Licenses (OGEL) for export of Parts and
terms in 2022, to reach a record high of $2240 Components/Transfer of Technology/Major
billion (2.2% of global GDP). Platforms and Equipment; etc.
✓ Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a major
driver of growth in spending in 2022. 4.3.2. COMMAND CYBER OPERATIONS
AND SUPPORT WINGS (CCOSW)

• Army to raise CCOSW for handling cyberspace 4.3.4. RANSOMWARE REPORT-2022
challenges.
• CCOSWs will assist its formations in taking up • Ransomware Report-2022 released by Indian
cyberspace security challenges posed by the growing Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
warfare capabilities of adversaries. • CERT-In, under Ministry of Electronics and
o CCOSWs will safeguard the networks and increase Information Technology, is the national nodal agency
preparedness levels in this niche domain. for responding to computer security incidents.
o Army will also nominate ‘Lead Directorates’ and • Key highlights of the report
‘Test Bed’ formations for absorption of niche o Ransomware incidents have gone up by 53% in
technologies and enhancing fighting potential. 2022 over 2021.
• Cybersecurity is linked to national security as o Not only money, but Geo political conflicts also
o Cyberspace has emerged as an essential influenced ransomware attacks this year.
competence of military domain both in grey zone o Broadened Ransomware attacks across critical
warfare(activities that occur between peace and sectors with increased frequency and complexity
war) and conventional operations. of the attacks.
o Many countries have created their own cyber o Lockbit was the most prevalent ransomware
warfare related strategies that can alter outcome variant in India, followed by Makop and
in battlefield. DJVU/Stop ransomware.
o Adversaries can attack critical infrastructure like ✓ New variants such as Vice Society and BlueSky
dams, power & energy, Banking and financial were noticed in 2022.
services etc. o IT and IT-enabled services sector was the most
o Rising number of digitally vulnerable targets impacted sector, followed by finance and
because of technology use, government’s digital manufacturing sectors.
push etc. o Ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) ecosystem
• Challenges faced: Import dependency for electronic becoming prominent.
devices, lack of coordination among agencies, lack of o Makop and Phobos Ransomware families mainly
adequate infrastructure and trained staff, widespread targeted medium and small organizations, while
digital illiteracy etc. Djvu/Stop variants used for attacks on individuals.
• Initiatives taken
o National Cyber Security policy (2013),
o Framework for enhancing Cyber Security (2013),
o Setting up of Indian Computer Emergency
Response Team (CERT-In) and National Critical
Information Infrastructure Protection Centre
(NCIIPC).
Related News
4.3.3. FIRST ANTI-SPYWARE LockBit ransomware
DECLARATION • LockBit ransomware was found to be targeting Mac
devices, making this first major ransomware operation
• The USA and 10 other nations issued the first-ever to specifically target Apple computers.
significant anti-spyware declaration. • LockBit ransomware is designed to infiltrate victims’
• It recognized the threat posed by the misuse of systems and encrypt important files.
commercial spyware o It was dubbed the “abcd” virus, due to file
• It seeks to realize the importance of stringent domestic extension used when encrypting victim’s files.
and international controls on the proliferation and use o It is categorised as a “crypto virus” due to its
of this technology. requests for payment in cryptocurrency to decrypt
• About Spyware files.
○ Spyware is a type of malicious software or o It operates on ransomware-as-a-service (Raas)
malware that is installed on a computing device model.
without the end user's knowledge.
○ It invades the device, steals sensitive information 4.3.5. CENTRAL BUREAU OF NARCOTICS
and internet usage data, and relays it to (CBN)
advertisers, data firms, or external users. • Unified Portal of Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN)
was launched to facilitate a balance between narcotics
substance availability for medical/scientific/industrial • Its missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art
use and law compliance. navigation and integrated avionics.
o It’ll instill efficiency and transparency and reduce
time taken by pharma industry to get a trade 4.3.7. EXERCISES IN NEWS
licence.
• SLINEX-23: It is a Bilateral Maritime Exercise between
• CBN is a subordinate office under Department of
India and Sri Lanka.
Revenue of Ministry of Finance.
• Exercise Kavach: Conducted by Andaman and Nicobar
o It deals with international trade of narcotic drugs,
Command (ANC), it is joint military exercise involving
under ambit of various United Nations
the assets of Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Conventions and provisions of Narcotics Drugs &
• Exercise Cope India 23: It is a bilateral Air Exercise
Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
between the Indian Air Force and United States Air
o Composition: Narcotics Commissioner is assisted
Force.
by three Deputy Narcotics Commissioners.
• Exercise Orion: It is a multilateral exercise. Besides
4.3.6. PRALAY BALLISTIC MISSILE Indian Airforce and French Air and Space Force (FASF),
Air Forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands,
• Indian Armed Forces plans to acquire around 250 United Kingdom, Spain and United States of America
more units of Pralay ballistic missiles. would also be flying in this exercise.
• Pralay Ballistic Missile is a Surface-to-Surface missile, • INIOCHOS-23: Indian Air Force will participate in
developed by the Defence Research and Development Exercise INIOCHOS-23, a multi-national air exercise
Organisation (DRDO). hosted by the Greece Air Force.
• It has a range of 150 to 500 kilometres and is propelled
by a solid-propellant rocket motor.

5. ENVIRONMENT
5.1. PROJECT TIGER
Why in News? International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA)
PM recently inaugurated the • Genesis: It was first proposed by India at an international group against poaching and
programme 'Commemoration of illegal wildlife trade in 2019.
• Aim: IBCA has been launched for the conservation of seven big cats namely Tiger, Lion,
50 years of Project Tiger' in
Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.
Mysuru, Karnataka.
o It aims to reach out to 97 range countries covering the natural habitats of the
More on News aforementioned species.
• The International Big Cats • Timeline: It will provide assured support over five years with guaranteed funding of
Alliance (IBCA) was also over Rs. 800 crores.
launched by India during the
event. Key Finding of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) Framework, 2022
• The ‘Amrit Kaal Ka Vision For • It has reported an overall increase of 8% in mean MEE Score (77.92%) in comparison
to fourth cycle of MEE TR assessment 2018 (70%).
Tiger Conservation’, a
• Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) topped the list with a MEE score of 94.38% among the 51
summary report of the 5th
reserves that were evaluated.
cycle of Management • Satpura and Bandipur came second (93.18%), while Nagarhole was ranked third
Effectiveness Evaluation (92.42%).
(MEE) of Tiger Reserves and • No TRs in the poor category.
the summary report of All
India Tiger Estimation (5th cycle) was also released. Key Finding of All India Tiger Estimation (5th
o MEE is a global framework, is an evaluation of management cycle) Report
effectiveness of protected areas based on six main categories- • Number of tigers in India is 3,167.
Context, Planning, Output, Input, Process and Outcomes. • Population grew by 200 from 2018 to
About Project Tiger 2022 (6.7 % growth rate).
• Highest number (1,161) of tigers were
• A Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, noted in the Central Indian Highlands and
Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), launched in 1973. Eastern Ghats.
o Initially launched in 9 Tiger reserves (TRs) in different states of • Nilgiri cluster (Nagarahole to Biligiriranga
India. Hills) of the Western Ghat has the largest
o Provides central assistance to tiger range States for in-situ tiger population in the world.
conservation of tigers in designated tiger reserves.
• Objective: To ensure the maintenance of a viable population of tigers
in India for scientific, economic, aesthetic, cultural and ecological
values.
• Implementing Agency: Statutory body, National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA).
o Overarching supervisory/coordination role and approves the
Tiger Conservation Plan prepared by the State Governments.
• Funding pattern: Centre provides financial assistance to States of 60%
and 50% for expenditure on all non-recurring items and recurring items respectively.
o North-eastern and Himalayan States are provided 90% central assistance in both cases.
• Activities undertaken under Project Tiger
o Establishment and development of new TRs: 53 tiger reserves account for 2.3% of India’s land area.
o Core-buffer strategy for TRs: Core areas are kept free of all human activities, a co-existence agenda adopted in
buffer and fringe areas with landscape approach.
o NTCA banned new construction in tiger reserves’ core areas.
o NTCA conducts assessment using application M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers Intensive-Protection &
Ecological Status): Uses GPS to geotag photo-evidence.
o Independent monitoring and the evaluation
of tiger reserve by developing Management
Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) Framework.
o Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF)
deployed in several TRs for focused anti-
poaching operations.
o Technological advancements: E-Bird project
uses Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for
Surveillance and Monitoring.
• Factors that Led to Rise of Tiger Population in
India
o Conservation efforts: Project Tiger, Wildlife
Protection Act, 1972 and other initiatives.
o Curbed poaching: Increased vigilance by the
Forest Department.
o Human-Animal Conflict:
Rehabilitating villages
outside core areas has
led to more inviolate
space for tigers.
o Habitat Restoration: In
Sariska Tiger Reserve,
where tigers were once
completely wiped out,
efforts have been made
to restore the habitat and
reintroduce tigers. About Indian Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris)
• International Efforts • A flagship species of India, declared as the National Animal of India.
o Global Tiger Forum, 1993 • Habitat: Largest population is in India, smaller groups in Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan,
China and Myanmar.
exclusively set up for the
o India home to more than 75% of global tiger population.
conservation of tigers in • Distribution of Tiger population in India: Habitats ranging from the high mountains,
the wild in the range mangrove swamps, tall grasslands, to dry and moist deciduous forests, as well as
countries. evergreen and shola forest systems.
o Global Tiger Initiative • Significance of tiger conservation:
(GT), 2008 is a global o Ecological: Both an Umbrella species and a Keystone species.
alliance of governments, ▪ Keystone Species- A keystone species helps define an entire ecosystem.
international Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different
organizations, civil or cease to exist altogether.
society and the private ▪ Umbrella Species- Umbrella species are often conflated with keystone
sector. species. The key distinction between umbrella species and keystone species
o St. Petersburg is that the value of an umbrella species is tied to its geographic species range.
declaration, 2010 o Economic: Ecotourism and related industries.
adopted to double tiger o Cultural and spiritual: Symbols of power, strength, and beauty.
numbers by 2022 (India • Characteristics:
has achieved this). o Solitary and territorial animal, and an adult male’s territory may encompass
o Global Tiger Day (July 29 territories of two to seven females.
every year) to raise o Stripes are individually as unique as human fingerprints.
awareness.
o Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CATS) framework, 2013 to check if their management will lead to
successful tiger conservation.

o Bilateral instruments/MoU with several tiger range countries India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, and
Myanmar.
Challenges in Tiger Conservation
• Habitat and loss of prey species: Out of the approximately four lakh square kilometres of forests in states that have
tiger habitats, only one-third are in relatively healthy condition.
• Human-animal conflict: It has resulted due to linear infrastructure such as roads, highways, mining, etc.
• Funds: States are dependent on Union for the funds. The allocation of funds is less than the requirement. Also,
sometimes funds are not released on time.
• Hunting, poaching, and illegal trade: They are hunted as status symbols, decorative items such as wall and floor
covering, as souvenirs and curios, and for use in traditional Asian medicines.
• Monitoring: TR such as Mukundra, Ranthambore, Nagarhole, etc. are situated along the boundaries of the state,
which creates an issue of monitoring as the animal moves from one generation to another.
• Climate change: Shifting temperatures are altering the habitats of tigers in the Himalayan States.
o Climate change accelerates, and wildfires are becoming more frequent in ecosystems that do not typically
experience a fire season.
• Other: At least 20% of the reserves are also threatened by invasive plant species such as Lantana camara.
o About 20% of the reserves have unsustainable pressure from pilgrims visiting temples inside these.
Conclusion
People have become more conscious of the issue of biodiversity and have taken measures to keep them from declining.
For many people, Project Tiger also created jobs. Since the project began, biodiversity has faced marginally less issues.
Not only has Project Tiger saved tigers, but also saved other aspects of biodiversity.
5.2. PROJECT ELEPHANT Success of the Project Elephant

• India is home to more than 60% of all wild Asian
Why in News? elephants.
• As per the Elephant Census 2017, India had
President Participated in Gaj Utsav at Kaziranga National Park and
29,964 elephants.
Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) in Assam to mark 30 years of Project • Karnataka has the highest number of elephants,
Elephant. followed by Assam and Kerala.
More on News • Census is carried out at every five-year interval.
• Objective of the Gaj Utsav was to raise awareness of elephant conservation, protect their corridors and habitat, and
reduce human-elephant conflict.
Project Elephant
• About: It was launched in 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change (MoEFCC).
• Support and Coverage: Financial and Technical support are being provided to major elephant-bearing States in the
country. Presently the Project is being implemented in 22 States/UTs.
• Main activities under the Project:
o Conserve and protect viable populations of wild elephants in their natural habitats.
o To conserve, protect and to restore natural habitats and traditional corridors/migratory routes used by the
elephants through eco-restoration, acquisition etc.
o Protect the elephants from poaching and other threats by taking suitable measures like deployment of patrolling
squads, intelligence gathering, etc.
o Ensure inter-state and regional and national level coordination in protecting and conserving the elephant and its
ranges.
• Steering Committee: It includes representatives of the Government as well as non-government wildlife experts and
scientists.
o It advises the centre on the project related issues.

• Elephant reserves:
o Declared as an administrative category by the government to demarcate large landscapes that hold elephants
and their movements.
o 33 elephant reserves together cover a total area of nearly 80,000 sq km.
o Tamil Nadu and Assam have the highest number of ERs (5 each) followed by Kerala (4) and Odisha (3).
o Mysore ER in Karnataka is the largest ER.
About Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus)

• Characteristics:
o Highly intelligent animals characterised by strong family bonds
with sophisticated forms of communication.
o Complex behaviour, including the ability to feel grief and
compassion.
o Form herds of related females led by the oldest female, the
'matriarch'.
o Have the longest gestation period of all mammals (18 to 22
months).
o Adult male Asian elephants are less social than females.
o They enter musth -- a mate-searching strategy for old (above 30
years of age) males, annually.
• Habitat: Found in the central and southern Western Ghats, North East India, eastern India and northern India and in some
parts of southern peninsular India.
• Threats: Human-elephant conflict, habitat loss and fragmentations, poaching and the loss of genetic viability resulting from
small population size and isolation.
Other Conservation measures

• National Level:
o Elephant Corridor- Has been formed by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) with assistance from State Forest
Department of elephant range states.

✓ They are linear, narrow, natural habitat linkages that allow
elephants to move between secure habitats without being
disturbed by humans.
✓ Currently, there are 101 corridors in India.
o National Awareness Program - Gaj Yatra (launched by NGO Wildlife
Trust of India (WTI) and Haathi Mere Saathi, aimed at raising
awareness about the shrinking habitat for wild elephants and the
importance of securing elephant corridors.
o Elephant Task Force (2010)- It was set up to review the existing policy
of elephant conservation in India and formulate future interventions.
o National Heritage Animal (2010) – It was declared so because of its
unique role in socio-religious life people.
o RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks Using Bees) initiative
launched by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
o Other Initiatives: Building hard and soft barriers (trenches
and fences) and anti-depredation squads, controlling
elephant population, initiating alternate livelihoods and
compensating for losses to life and livelihood.
Global Level
• Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme-
Launched (COP resolution of CITES) in South Asia in the year
2003.
o Provides information needed for elephant range States to
make appropriate management and enforcement
decisions, and to build institutional capacity.
o There are currently 28 sites participating in the MIKE
programme in Asia, distributed across 13 countries: India
has 10 sites (refer map).
o In 2017, IUCN was engaged by CITES to implement the
MIKE Asia programme in two sub-regions:
✓ South Asia (via the IUCN India Country Office in New
Delhi);
✓ Southeast Asia (through the IUCN Asia Regional Office
in Bangkok).
• International Elephant Foundation- A non-profit corporation
of individuals and institutions dedicated to the conservation of
Elephants worldwide.
• Elephant – 8 Ministerial Meeting (2011)- It was hosted by
India. Botswana, Congo, Indonesia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand participated in it.
Conclusion
The consistent efforts of the government and all the stakeholders have played a key role in enhancing the population of
elephants in India. A dedicated authority based on the line of NTCA needs to be set up so that conservation efforts are
more effective.
5.3. CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Why in News?
For the first time, International Day of Zero Waste (IDZW) has been observed to encourage everyone to prevent and
minimize waste and promotes a societal shift towards a circular economy (CE).

More on News
• A zero-waste approach entails responsible production,
consumption and disposal of products in a closed,
circular system.
o This means that resources are reused or recovered
as much as possible and that we minimize the
pollution to air, land or water.
• United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a
resolution in 2022 to proclaim 30 March as the IDZW,
to be observed annually.
o It is jointly facilitated by the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the UN Human
Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
o Theme of the day was ‘Achieving sustainable and
environmentally sound practices of minimizing
and managing waste’.
• Also, the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime
Minister of India (PMEAC) released a working paper
‘India’s Tryst with a Circular Economy’.
About Circular Economy
CE is essentially an economic system where means of production are organized around reusing and recycling the inputs.
o The central idea here is to achieve a circularity of inputs.
• At the end of a product’s life, the materials used to make it are kept in the economy and reused wherever possible.
• According to the Circularity Gap Report 2023,
only 7.2% of the global economy is circular with a
declining trend.
Need of the Circular Economy
• Replacing Linear Economic Model: In this,
resources are used to make things, consumed,
and finally thrown away.
o From 1970 to 2015, India witnessed a six-fold
increase in its annual material consumption.
• Reduce waste generation: According to the
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India
generates over 62 million tonnes of waste every
year.
o About 70% of it is collected, of which only
about 12 million tonnes are treated, and 31
million tonnes are dumped in landfill sites.
• Job Creation: Create new job opportunities for the repair and refurbishment of goods, recycling and recovery of
materials, and waste management.
• Global Commitment: Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 (making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe,
resilient, and sustainable) and SDG 12 (ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns).
o India has promised to become a net zero emitter by 2070 at COP26 Glasgow. This is why circular economy is
important for India.
• Economic Growth & Resource Optimization: Its emphasis on localizing production and using locally sourced
materials could create new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
o India’s resource extraction is 251% higher than the world average of 450 tonnes/acre.

o It can potentially
generate an annual
value of US$ 218
billion by 2030 and
US$ 624 billion by
2050.
• Self-Reliance: Reducing
dependence on
imported resources
could improve India's
resource security and
resilience, reducing its
vulnerability to global
price fluctuations and
supply chain
disruptions.
• Climate Change and
Environment
Conservation: India is the third highest emitter of greenhouse gases, and accounts for 9.2% of total world emissions.
o CE will prevent land degradation, air, water, and noise pollution, the release of toxic substances, and greenhouse
gas emissions.
Challenges in Transitioning to Circular Economy
• Lack of awareness: Policymakers, businesses, and consumers lack understanding about the concept of CE.
o There is lack of focus on reducing waste and maintaining the value proposition of material and components.
• Require Systemic Change: Design, produce, consume, and dispose of goods and services need remarkable changes.
• Waste Management Sector: Inefficient and dominated by the informal sector (waste collection and disposal).
Percentage of goods recycled in India is just 20 %.
• Infrastructure: Municipal Corporation/concerned authorities lack waste collection vehicles, sorting facilities, and
waste management technology.
o For instance, in the national capital ‘New Delhi’ mountains of garbage have been created.
• Downcycling: It refers to the process of recycling materials into products of lower value and quality compared to
the original material.
o It is mainly prevalent in the plastic recycling industry.
• Limited Research & Development: It requires innovation and new approaches to address the challenges of resource
depletion, waste, and environmental degradation.
• Incentivization of Businesses: Transitioning to CE can be costly and time-consuming, and businesses need incentives
to make the shift.
• Limited availability of recycled materials: India generates a vast amount of waste every day, which is not adequately
collected or segregated. Due to this, businesses are forced to rely on virgin materials.
Way Forward
• Policy Making: National-level vision document of a CE will establish clear goals, strategies, and initiatives that
promote circular practices across different sectors.
• Regulatory framework: Promotes circular practices and provides incentives for businesses and consumers to adopt
circular solutions.
• Monitoring and Evaluation system: To track the advances made towards achieving the vision of a CE.
• Waste disposal and Waste Management: Reducing waste generation and managing waste more efficiently by
promoting recycling, composting, and other forms of waste recovery.
o For example, French car maker Renault uses 33% recycled materials in all its cars in Europe.
• Incentivization: On using reused, repaired, and recycled (3 Rs) products.
o Investing in innovation and technology to develop new circular solutions can help develop new materials that
are more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
5.4. GROUNDWATER
Why in news?
Standing Committee on Water Resources
presented its report on ‘Groundwater: A
Valuable but Diminishing Resource’.
Key highlight of the report
• The committee noted that the progress
made in terms of bringing down the
groundwater use is “minimal.”
• As per the 2020 assessment, 61.6% of India's
annual extractable groundwater resource
of 398 billion Cubic Meter (BCM) was being
utilized, with 245 BCM being extracted for
all uses.
• Over-extraction of groundwater for
meeting irrigation needs is prevalent
mainly in northern states, particularly in
Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
• The Committee find that regional
distribution of Ground water varied
o Northern mountainous terrain of Himalaya (from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh) being major source of recharge
for the vast Indo- Gangetic and Brahmaputra alluvial plains.
o Peninsular Shield located south of Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra plains has limited Ground water potential while
coastal tracts have potential multi-aquifer systems in the States of Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh,
and Orissa.
Groundwater
Issues related to groundwater in India. • Water that exists underground in saturated zones
beneath the land surface.
• Dependency on Groundwater: More than 60% of • The upper surface of the saturated zone is called the
irrigated agriculture and 85% of drinking water supplies water table.
are dependent on groundwater. o The water table may be located only a foot below
o Urban residents increasingly rely on groundwater the ground’s surface, or it can sit hundreds of feet
due to unreliable and inadequate municipal water down.
supplies.
• Unregulated extraction: Groundwater, regarded as a
“common pool resource”, has historically witnessed
little control over its extraction.
o India uses an estimated 230 cubic kilometers of
groundwater per year - over a quarter of the global
total.
• Poor knowledge of groundwater: In-depth
understanding of groundwater requires expensive and
sophisticated technology that is difficult to run and
maintain.
o It also requires significant experience in data collection, analysis, and management which is largely missing.
• Institutional vacuum: The various organisations that manage India’s groundwater lack accountability and
responsibility.

o Standing Committee on Water Resources (2022-23) has highlighted that there is a lack of coordination among
various bodies to manage ground water.
• Groundwater contamination: It refers to the presence of pollutants
such as bacteria, phosphates and heavy metals from human activities
including domestic sewage.
o In India, high levels of arsenic, fluoride, nitrate, and iron are also
naturally occurring in groundwater, with concentrations likely to
rise as water tables fall.
• Lack of Fund: Standing Committee on Water Resources (2022-23) has
highlighted that National Water Mission (one of the Missions
implementing the National Action Plan on Climate Change) is hindered
by lack of funds and autonomy.
• Lack of political will: 19 states in India have enacted laws on
groundwater management based on a 1970 model Bill (last revised in
2005). However, the lack of guidelines has hindered implementation.
o The Committee recommended urgent action by the Department of Water Resources to address this issue.
Government initiatives for Groundwater management
• National Aquifer Mapping and
Management Programme (NAQUIM):
It aims to map and manage aquifers
through a multi-disciplinary approach
involving geological, geophysical,
hydro-geological, hydrological, and
water quality studies.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana: It is a Central Sector
Scheme, with focus on community
participation and demand side
interventions for sustainable Ground
water management in identified water
stressed areas.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): JSA (first launched in 2019) aims to effectively harvest the monsoon rainfall through
creation of artificial recharge structures, watershed management, intensive afforestation, and awareness
generation etc.
• Groundwater recharging: Schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana implement projects for artificial recharge of groundwater.
• Schemes to reduce water consumption in agriculture: Schemes such as PMKSY-Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) and
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) have been brought to reduce Ground water
consumption in agriculture.
o Punjab and Haryana brought innovative schemes such as ‘Pani Bachao Paisa Kamao’ and ‘Jal Hi Jeevan/Mera
Pani Meri Virasat’ etc. respectively to motivate farmers towards water conservation.
• Guidelines to regulate groundwater: Guidelines for regulation and control of Ground water extraction in India (2020)
have been issued by CGWA with pan-India applicability to promote sustainable withdrawal.
• Amrit Sarovar Mission: The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the
country.
• Focus on water conservation in MBBL: MoHUA formulated Model Building Bye Laws (MBBL), 2016 for States/UTs,
wherein adequate focus is given on rainwater harvesting and water conservation measures.
• Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater (2020): The plan prepared by the CGWB with States/UTs
envisages construction of about 1.42 crore Rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures in the Country.

Road Ahead
• Creation of a central body: Standing committee recommended to form a body with inter-ministerial representation
as well as representation from State Government Departments.
o Such a body should be entrusted with the responsibility to regulate Ground water in a cohesive and holistic
manner.
● From ‘land productivity’ to ‘water productivity’: The committee recommend that water productivity i.e., production
per cubic meter of water should be a major criterion in decisions relating to crop production.
o Measures should be taken to wean away farmers from water intensive crops in areas with severe Ground water
shortage.
• Adopt water-sensitive urban design: Water-sensitive urban design and planning can help maintain the water cycle
by managing groundwater, surface water and rainwater for water demand and supply.
o Also, explore potential role of the green (trees, parks, gardens, playgrounds, and forests) and the blue (seas,
rivers, lakes, wetlands and water utilities) spaces in addressing groundwater challenges.
• Evidence based policy making: Availability of real time data will help in formulation of appropriate strategy and
measures by both the Government and user communities, suitable to the local requirements.
• Encouraging community participation: Close cooperation with the user groups/communities is key to make
Government’s efforts to conserve, augment and manage Ground water resources successful.
5.5. NEWS IN SHORTS

5.5.1. STATE ENERGY EFFICIENCY INDEX o Mainstream monitoring and reporting of energy
data through transparent online portals.
(SEEI) 2021-22
• Ministry of Power released SEEI 2021-22.
• SEEI assesses the annual progress of states and UTs in
energy efficiency (EE) implementation. It improves
data collection, enables cross-state collaboration, and
develops EE program ideas.
o Index uses 51 indicators across seven sectors:
buildings, industry, municipality, transport,
agriculture, distribution companies (DISCOMs),
and cross-sectoral initiatives.
• Index has been developed by Bureau of Energy
Efficiency (BEE) in collaboration with Alliance for an
Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE).
o AEEE is an industry led, membership based not-for-
profit organization that drives EE markets and 5.5.2. FIRST CENSUS OF WATER BODIES
policies in India.
• Ministry of Jal Shakti released All India report of the
• Key Highlights
first census of Water Bodies.
o Categorizes states and UTs as ‘Front runner’ (>60),
• Objective is to develop a national database for all
‘Achiever’ (50-60), ‘Contender’ (30-49.5), and
water bodies by collecting information on subject
‘Aspirant’ (<30).
including their size, condition, status of
o States in Front Runner category: Andhra Pradesh,
encroachments, use, storage capacity, status of filling
Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan and Telangana.
up of storage etc.
o Telangana and Andhra Pradesh showed most
o Census was launched in convergence with 6th
improvement since the last index.
Minor Irrigation Census under Centrally
• Recommendations
Sponsored Scheme “Irrigation Census”.
o Develop and implement State EE Action Plans.
• Water bodies include all natural or man-made units
o Facilitate fiscal support for EE by earmarking
bounded on all sides with some or no masonry work
funds.
used for storing water for irrigation or other purposes
o Strengthen institutional capacity by appointing EE
(refer image for types).
nodal officers in all government departments and
setting up EE cells in district and head offices.
• Key highlights of the Census effective abatement of pollution, conservation and
o 24.24 lakh water bodies have been enumerated, rejuvenation of Ganga.
out of which 97.1% are in rural areas and only 2.9% o It was launched in 2014 and now extended till
are in urban areas. 2026.
o Top 3 states with most water bodies: West Bengal, o There is no State-wise allocation under NGP.
Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh. • Under NGP, Central Pollution Control Board is carrying
✓ West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district has out studies for water quality assessment of River
highest number of waterbodies. Ganga.
o States/UTs with least water bodies: Sikkim,
Chandigarh, Delhi.
o 78% are man-made water bodies whereas 22%
are natural water bodies.
o 55.2% are owned by private entities whereas rest
are under public ownership.
o Water User Associations (WUA) has helped in
preventing encroachments.
5.5.4. ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES (ESZ)

• Supreme Court (SC) modified order on eco-sensitive
zones (ESZ) around protected forests
• Modifying its June 2022 order that mandated a
minimum 1-km ESZ around national parks or wildlife
sanctuaries, SC stated that ESZ cannot be uniform
across the country and has to be “protected area-
specific”.
o Earlier, Centre and several States had sought
modification of the order as it affected villages in
the peripheries of forests.
• Significance of ESZ
o Create a kind of shock-absorber around protected
areas
o Minimize impact of urbanization and other
developmental activities
o Helps in in-situ conservation
o Minimise man-animal conflict
• Key highlights of modified order
o 2022 order will not be applicable:
✓ To ESZs for which draft and final notifications
have been issued by Ministry of Environment,
5.5.3. PRAYAG PLATFORM Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC ) and in
• PRAYAG stands for Platform for Real-time Analysis respect of proposals which have been
of Yamuna, Ganga and their Tributaries received by Ministry.
• Prayag is a real tme monitoring centre for planning ✓ Where national parks and sanctuaries are
and monitoring of projects, river water quality, etc. located on inter-state borders or share
through various online dashboards such as Ganga common boundaries.
Tarang Portal, Ganga Districts Performance Monitoring o No mining would be allowed, either within
System, etc. national parks and sanctuaries or in a 1-km radius.
• Launched by: Ministry of Jal Shakti, Under the ambit o Any developmental activities undertaken within
of Namami Gange Programme (NGP). ESZs should follow the MoEF&CC 2011 guidelines
• NGP, under Ministry of Jal shakti, is an integrated and also provisions of the 2022 Office
conservation mission to accomplish objectives of Memorandum by MoEF&CC.

• ESZ are ecologically important and fragile areas men’s –irregular, informal, part-time, low-skilled,
around protected areas designated under or labour-intensive.
Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986. o Women also have less secure tenure over land,
o As per National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016), less access to credit and training, and have to work
land within 10 km of boundaries of national parks with technology designed for men.
and wildlife sanctuaries is to be notified as ESZ. o Women’s equality in agrifood systems could boost
the global economy by $1 trillion, reduce food
5.5.5. PROSOPIS CHILENSIS insecurity by 45 million.
• As per the study Prosopis chilensis, an alien invasive • FAO defines agrifood systems as: entire range of
plant is threatening to pulverize native vegetation actors, and their interlinked value-adding activities,
across 21 islands in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere engaged in the primary production of food and non-
Reserve (GoMBR). food agricultural products, as well as in storage,
• About Prosopis chilensis: aggregation, post-harvest handling, transportation,
o It is a drought-resistant plant native to the arid
processing, distribution, marketing, disposal and
regions of four South American countries consumption of all food products including those of
namely Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. non-agricultural origin.
o It is a small to medium-sized legume tree that
grows up to 12 m in height and 1 m in diameter.
o The Prosopis chilensis is also known as Chilean
mesquite.
• The GoMBR, India’s first marine biosphere reserve, is
one of the important habitats for coastal birds
migrating from the Arctic Circle.
5.5.6. ENVIRONMENT STATISTICS 2023

• Recently, Volume 1 of Environment statistics 2023
was released by Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI).
• Key findings
5.5.8. OPEN-SOURCE SEEDS MOVEMENT
o In 2022, annual rainfall measured in India has (OSSM)
increased in comparison to 2021. • OSSM affirms that plant genetics and their physical
o In 2022, maximum heatwave days were reported traits cannot/shouldn’t be owned by individuals or
in Rajasthan, followed by Punjab and Haryana, corporation.
Jharkhand, and Delhi. o Genetics of open source seeds are protected and
✓ Notably, Assam and Himachal Pradesh have pledged to forever remain in public domain.
not reported a heatwave day since 2010. o This is done by providing new varieties with an
o Number of cyclonic storms experienced by North open-source licence which provides:
Indian Ocean (NIO) increased substantially in 2018 ✓ Anyone may use it, grow it, propagate it and
which persisted in subsequent year but again develop it further through breeding.
reduced in 2022. ✓ No one is allowed to privatise the seed and its
further developments; patent and plant-
5.5.7. AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS
variety protection are thus excluded.
• The status of women in agrifood systems report ✓ Each recipient transfers same rights and
released by Food and Agriculture Organization of the obligations to future users of seed and its
United Nations (FAO). further developments.
• Key Highlights of the report • Concern: Lack of IPR (Intellectual Property Rights)
o Globally, 36% of working women are employed in discourages innovators to invest in new technology.
agrifood systems, along with 38% of working men. • IPR in agriculture in India
o Agrifood systems are a more important source of o India Patent Act 1970 provides patents for
livelihood for women than for men in many agricultural tools and machinery or processes of
countries. development of agricultural chemicals.
o Women’s roles tend to be marginalized and their
working conditions are likely to be worse than
o Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights • Government measures
(PPV&FR) Act, 2001 provides rights to farmer who o Mobile app for ash management-ASH TRACK.
has bred or developed new variety. o Mandatory use of fly ash-based products in all
✓ It's the world’s only IPR legislation which Government schemes e.g. Pradhan Mantri Gramin
grants IPR to plant breeders and farmers by Sadak Yojana.
protecting new, extant and farmers’ varieties. o Maharashtra became first state to adopt Fly Ash
Utilisation Policy, 2016.
5.5.10. CARBON MARKET REFORMS
• European Union (EU) lawmakers adopted carbon
market reform.
• These adopted measures are part of the EU's Fit for 55
package.
o Fit for 55 refers to the EU’s target of reducing net
greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030
from 1990 levels and achieve net zero emissions by
2050.
• Measures adopted
o Social Climate Fund will support people in Europe
with the costs of transitions.
o Reforming Emission Trading System (ETS):
European industries and energy companies should
cut emissions by 62 % by 2030 compared to 2005
levels, compared to previous target of 43%.
o Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):
To put a tax on foreign company imports which
5.5.9. FLY-ASH does not meet EU’s climate protection standards.
✓ Goods covered by CBAM are iron, steel,
• First evidence of industrial fly-ash in an Antarctic ice cement, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and
core. hydrogen etc.
• Spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCP), a ✓ Under this, importers must purchase carbon
component of fly ash, have been identified by certificates equivalent to the EU's carbon
researchers for the first time in an Antarctic ice core, pricing rules.
which are dated back to 1936. ✓ EU importers can claim CBAM liability
o SCPs have no other anthropogenic or natural deductions if non-EU producers have already
sources other than fossil fuel combustion. Thus, paid emissions fees in their respective
they are an unambiguous environmental indicator countries.
of industrialisation.
• Fly Ash is a fine powder, which is the by-product of
burning coal in Thermal Power Stations (TPS).
o Indian coal is of low grade with ash content of 30-
45 %, in comparison to imported coal (10-15%).
o Fly ash disposal not only requires large area of land
but is also pollutes air and water.
o It resembles Portland cement but it is chemically
different.
o Fly ash is toxic due to organic pollutants, heavy
metals etc.
• Composition: Substantial amounts of oxides of silica,
aluminium and calcium. Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, 5.5.11. MISSION 50K-EV4ECO
lead etc. in trace concentrations.
• Uses of fly ash: Agriculture (improves water holding • Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
capacity and soil aeration), Construction industry has launched a pilot scheme called Mission 50K-
(manufacturing of cement, bricks etc.). EV4ECO.
• The mission aims to strengthen the Electric Vehicle • Contrary to this, SST gives information only about the
(EV) ecosystem in India by financing EVs purchase thin upper layer of the ocean and does not reflect the
through direct and indirect lending to Micro, Small and thermal energy available in the upper ocean.
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and NBFCs respectively.
• It will serve as precursor to SIDBI-World Bank's
EVOLVE programme
• SIDBI is a statutory body established in 1990 as the
principal financial institution for promotion, financing
& development of the MSME sector.
o It works under Ministry of Finance.
5.5.12. SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE
(SST)
• The global average Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
reached 21.1° Celsius (C), highest in recorded history,
according to data released by Climate Change Institute 5.5.13. UPWARD LIGHTNING OR UPWARD
at University of Maine. FLASHES
o In the Indian Ocean, it was 29 to 31° C on April 16
• Brazilian researchers recently succeeded in taking
- which is 1-2° C above normal.
pictures of upward lightning.
o Due to this, there are patches of strong marine
• Upward lightning is a phenomenon whereby a self-
heat waves over the south Arabian Sea and Bay of
initiated lightning streak develops from a tall object
Bengal.
that travels upward toward an overlaying electrified
• SST is the water temperature close to the ocean's
storm cloud.
surface.
• For this to happen, storm electrification and the
o It varies mainly with latitude, warmest near
resulting presence of a cloud charge region are
equator and coldest at poles.
enabling factors:
o It provides fundamental information on the global
o The vertical elevation of a tall object accentuates
climate system.
the electric field locally on the ground.
o It helps in the study of marine ecosystems,
o This results in conditions favourable for the
weather prediction and atmospheric model
initiation of an upward streak (called a leader)
simulations; including the onset of El Niño and La
from a tall object.
Niña cycles, i.e. the
• Reasons Behind SST Rise: Global Warming (Climate 5.5.14. ANIMAL BIRTH CONTROL RULES,
Change), high solar radiation combined with certain 2023
ocean dynamics etc.
• Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
• Impact:
has notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023
o Helping in the onset of Monsoon and rain through
under Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960.
development of low-pressure systems,
o Coral Bleaching and Fish mortality.
• As per rules:
Related Information
o Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes for the
• Scientists use Ocean mean temperature (OMT), sterilisation and immunisation of stray dogs are to
measured up to a 26-degree C isotherm depth, to be carried out by the respective local
predict the Indian summer monsoon. bodies/municipalities etc.
• 26 degrees C isotherm is seen at depths varying from o Animal birth control programme should be run by
50–100 meters. an Animal Welfare Board accredited organization.
o Municipal Corporations need to implement the
ABC and Anti Rabies Program jointly.

6. SOCIAL ISSUES
6.1. NATIONAL CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK FOR SCHOOL EDUCATION (NCFSE)
Why in News?
The Ministry of Education (MoE) released the pre-draft of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education
(NCFSE) for public feedback.
About Proposed National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE)
• NCFSE is intended to guide the development of textbooks and curriculum in accordance with the National Education
Policy (NEP) 2020.
o The NCFSE was last revised in 2005 and the existing sets of NCERT text books were prepared using it.
• Proposed NCFSE is for the age group 3 to 18 years.
• The NCFSE, after its adoption by the CBSE and other state boards, will also restructure various other aspects of the
classroom, including choice of subjects, pattern of teaching, and assessment of students.
National Curriculum Framework (NCF) & National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
• NEP is a comprehensive framework to guide the development of education
in the country.
o It guides the development of education and provides directions for
regulating and promoting education.
• NEP 2020 aims to devise 4 National Curriculum Frameworks (NCFs), for
which a comprehensive strategy has been worked out jointly by the MoE
and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
• National Steering Committee under the Chairpersonship of Dr. K.
Kasturirangan was set up by the MoE to undertake and guide the
development of NCFs.
• The NCF addresses education for the age group 3 to 18 years, across the
entire range of diverse institutions in India.
o This is across the four Stages in the 5+3+3+4 Curricular and
Pedagogical restructuring of School Education as envisioned in NEP
2020.
• National Curriculum Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education (NCFECCE) is already prepared and the rest NCF for
teacher education and adult education are underway.
• The NCF brings to life the aims and commitments of the NEP like
o Includes the full range of human capacities, values and dispositions that are aimed to be developed in school education.
o Pedagogy, practices, and culture must work in tandem to develop these, and move away from an overemphasis on
memorization and content accumulation; in fact, content reduction is required to create space for such development.
o Integrative and holistic with equal status to all subjects and learning domains from Math to Sports.
o Confronts and address real challenges facing our countries' education system.
Proposed Curriculum Changes
• Class wise approach
o For Children aged 3-8 (preschool to class II), a play based
pedagogical approach using toys, puzzles, and
manipulatives is suggested.
o For the middle stage (class VI, VII, VIII), natural as well as
social sciences will be introduced. The textbooks are to
play a central role from the Middle Stage.
o For class IX and X, the students are to study 16 courses
categorised under eight varied curricular areas and will
have to clear eight papers to obtain the final certification.

✓ The suggested curricular areas Importance Of NCF for School Education
are Humanities (that includes • Holistic in nature: Students are provided the opportunity to pursue a
languages), Mathematics & variety of subjects under different streams.
Computing, Vocational • Imbibes Cultural Connect: The curriculum's goal is to make the students
Education, Physical Education, understand their cultural connect better, so as to relish and propagate it
Arts, Social Science, Science, better.
and Inter-disciplinary Areas. • Imparts Equality: It advocates against the discriminations based on caste,
o For class XI and XII, choice based gender, religion, socio-economic conditions, student performance in the
campus.
courses from the same disciplines
• Improved learning levels: The Semester based approach reduces the
are provided and semester system
anxiety created due to one-time board exams and helps the students
of examination with cumulative prepare and learn better.
grade points is to be introduced for • Ideal for the Country's future: The pedagogy is not only designed to make
class XII. the student learn better but also to make him a law abiding ideal citizen.
• No hard separation among arts,
humanities, and sciences: There is to be no hard separation among arts, humanities, and sciences, the students are
provided with the opportunity of pursuing subjects under mixed background.
• Academic year and and School Schedule: The NCFSE provides for a specific framework, suggesting that the academic
year should be 180 school days or 34 weeks across all stages of education.
o It calls for a five and half day week schedule with 29 working hours for students, with periods of 40 mins (Upto
Class VIII) and 50 mins (from Class IX).
• Other Recommendations:
o Modular Board
Examinations will be
offered as opposed to a
single examination at the
end of the year.
o The pre-draft NCF proposes
the integration of ancient
Indian knowledge systems,
such as the 6 pramanas
(ways of acquiring
knowledge) and the
Panchakosha system for
Moral Development
described in the Taittiriya
Upanishad.
The draft has proposed ways
through which the Indian education
system could be fine-tuned to meet
the needs of the current and future trends, without missing away from our roots but adapting ourselves to the growing
demands of a pluralistic world.

6.2. NATIONAL CREDIT FRAMEWORK (NCRF)
Why in News?
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently released the National Credit Framework (NCrF).
Background of NCrF
• To realise objectives of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Centre approved a High-Level Committee (2021) to
develop a National Credit Accumulation and Transfer Framework for both General and Vocational Education and
Training/skilling.
• NCrF has been jointly developed by a High-Level Committee with members from UGC, All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE), National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), NCERT, Ministry of Education,
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, CBSE, etc.
About National Credit Framework (NCrF)
• It is an inclusive one single meta framework to seamlessly integrate
the credits earned through school education, higher education and
vocational & skill education.
• For creditization and integration of all learning, the National Credit
Framework (NCrF) shall encompass the qualification frameworks for
higher education, vocational & skill education and school education,
namely:
o National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF),
o National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)
o National Curriculum Framework (NCF)/ National School
Education Qualification Framework (NSEQF).
• It seeks to integrate the credits earned through school education,
higher education and vocational & skill education to ensure flexibility
and mobility among them.
o It will provide the guideline to be followed by schools, colleges and universities in adopting the credit system.
• It makes the education more holistic by enabling broad based, multi-disciplinary education across sciences, social
sciences, arts, humanities and sports.
• The Framework has been built on the strength of existing regulations, guidelines and qualification frameworks as
being followed by IITs, IIMs, NITs and other Institutes of National Importance so that the options for Multiple Entry-
Multiple Exit (ME-ME) are available, accessible and applicable across the higher education, school education and
vocational education.
• It aims to provide skills and in-hand experience to the students regarding various industries that enable them to
acquire better knowledge and skillset making them more suitable for the needs of the industries.
Key Highlights of NCrF
• Credit system: It divides
education into 8 levels
where levels 1-4 refer to
the School Education and
4.5-8 refers to Higher
education and for
Vocational education &
training from level 1 to 8.
o The credits earned
after the completion of
academic education,

vocational education, training & Skill education - the collected credits will be stored in the Academic Bank of
Credits (ABC).
• Different means to earn Credit: A student can earn credit by three different means:
o By completing academic education,
o By undergoing vocational education, training or skill programme,
o By taking up experiential learning, such as relevant experience and proficiency levels acquired from industries.
• Integration of earned Credits: It aims to integrate the credits earned through schools, colleges, vocational and skill
education by encompassing the NHEQF, NSQF and NSEQF.
• Multiple Entry and Exit Options: It enables lifelong learning through multiple entry and exit Options as credit transfer
mechanism will enable a student to enter, exit and re-enter the educational ecosystem at any point of time during
his/her career.
o The Framework has been built on the strength of existing regulations, guidelines and qualification frameworks
as being followed by IITs, IIMs, NITs and other Institutes of National Imporatnce.
• Concept of Notional Learning Hours: It refers to the time that an average student needs to attend all classes, appear
for tests and submit assignments.
o The total notional learning hours for school, college, vocational and skill education is fixed at 1200 Hrs/Year.
Conclusion
NCrF is a necessary step to make the NEP more effective, so that the real benefits of the demographic dividend can be
reaped to transform India in all aspects.
6.3. 7 TH NATIONAL HEALTH ACCOUNTS (NHA) ESTIMATES (FOR 2019 -20)

Why in news?
Recently, 7th National
Health Accounts (NHA)
Estimates (for 2019-20)
were released.
About National Health
Accounts (NHA)
Estimates
• Released by: the
Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare
(MoH&FW).
• Prepared by:
National Health
Accounts Technical Secretariat (NHATS) with guidance and support from NHA Steering Committee and the NHA
Expert Group for India.
• These estimates enable policymakers to monitor the progress in different health financing indicators of the country.
• NHA for India was envisaged in the National Health Policy, 2002 and is based on the framework of System of Health
Accounts, 2011.
Key Findings:
Health Indicator Trend 2019-20 (In Key Information
comparison to 2013-14)
Total Health Expenditure • THE as declined from 4% to THE constitutes current and capital expenditures incurred by
(THE) as a percent of 3.3%. Government and Private Sources including External funds.
GDP and Per Capita • THE per capita increased to
₹4,863 from ₹3,638.

Current Health Declined from 93% to 90.52%. CHE constitutes only recurrent (operational) expenditures for
Expenditure (CHE) as a healthcare.
percent of THE
Government Health Increased from 28.6% to 41.41%. GHE constitutes spending under all schemes funded and
Expenditure (GHE) as a managed by Union, State, and Local Governments including
percent of THE quasi-Governmental organizations etc.
Out-of-Pocket Declined from 64.2% to 47.1%. OOPE are expenditures directly made by households.
Expenditure (OOPE) as a
percent of THE
Share of Social Security Increased from 6% to 9.3% SSE includes social health insurance program, government-
Expenditure (SSE) on financed health insurance schemes, etc. made to the
health as a percent of THE government employees.
Private Health Insurance Increased from 3.4 % to It constitutes spending through health insurance Companies.
Expenditures as a 7.0%
percent of THE
External/ Donor Funding Increased from 0.3% to It constitutes all funding available to the country by assistance
for health as percent of 0.5% from donors.
THE
System of Health Accounts (SHA) 2011
• It provides a standard for classifying health expenditures according to the three axes of consumption, provision,
and financing.
• This framework is drafted by an intense collaboration between Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD), EUROSTAT, and World Health Organisation (WHO), and supported by a wide-world
consultation process.
• It gives guidance and methodological support in compiling health accounts.
• Purpose:
o To provide a framework of the main aggregates relevant to international comparisons of health expenditures
and health systems analysis.
o To provide a tool, expandable by individual countries, which can produce useful data in the monitoring and
analysis of the health system.
o To define internationally harmonized boundaries of health care for tracking expenditure on consumption.
6.4. STATE OF WORLD POPULATION REPORT 2023

Why in News?
The United Nations Population fund (UNFPA),
has released the State of World Population
report 2023: 8 Billion lives infinite
possibilities
More about News
• This report is an annual report published
by the UNFPA covering and analyses
developments and trends in world
population and demographics.
• It also sheds light on specific regions,
countries and population groups and the
unique challenges they face.

• 2023 report discusses the milestone of 8 billion recently reached by the human population and the narratives
surrounding population change
Key findings with respect to India
• Most populous country: India’s population is set to reach 1428.6 mn by mid-2023, thereby replacing China as the
most populous country (1425.7 mn).
• One of the Youngest Countries: Around 68% of India’s population is of the age group 15-64 years and around 26%
of the population fall between 10-24 years, making India one of the youngest countries.
• Set to raise old age population: Currently 7% of the Indian population is above 65 years and this proportion is set to
increase gradually.
• Falling fertility rate: The Total Fertility rate currently stands at 2.0, which has fallen from 2.2 in 2015-16.
• Improved life expectancy: The average life expectancy of an Indian male is 71 years and that of Indian female is 74
years.
Other Key findings:
• The Global life
expectancy has
reached 72.8 years in
2019 and expected to
reach 77.2 years by
2050.
• Migration is
predicted to be the
sole driver of
population growth in
many high income
countries.
• Eight countries namely Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo
are set to provide more than 50% of the projected global population by 2050.
Suggestions provided
• Ensuring gender equality, empowerment and advancing greater bodily autonomy for women and girls—is one of
the key determinants of a sustainable future.
• With almost half the population under 25 years of age, India has a time-bound opportunity to benefit from the
demographic dividend. The focus should be on giving women more power to control when and how they have
children.
• Report strongly recommends governments institute policies with gender equality and rights at their heart, such as
parental leave programmes, child tax credits, policies that promote gender equality in the workplace, and universal
access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
6.5. GLOBAL FOOD POLICY REPORT 2023

Why in News?
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has recently released the Global food policy report 2023: Rethinking
food crisis responses.
Key Highlights of the report
2023 Report explores a growing body of evidence on how diverse policy responses can reduce both the immediate and
longer-term impacts of food crises, and improve livelihoods, incomes, and food security and nutrition for the future.
• Food insecurity: Food insecurity has raised during 2020-2022 due to multiple crises such as COVID-19 pandemic,
climate change, natural disasters along with civil unrest and political instability.
o With climate change, as many as 72 million more people will be undernourished by 2050.
• Stagnation of Global Development Progress: Global development progress has stagnated and even reversed in some
regions, fueled by the outbreak of the pandemic, thereby affecting both the quantity and quality of available food.
• Surge in Food Prices:
Food prices surged in
2021-22 due to supply
bottlenecks of COVID-19
recovery and the Russia-
Ukraine war, with basic
food basket prices
increasing by at least 10%
in many countries,
making food
unaffordable to many.
• Women's
Underrepresentation in
Disaster Management:
Women's voices are
rarely heard in disaster
management, and they
are not involved in the
design of projects,
despite evidence that
their participation can improve outcomes.
• Displaced Populations Facing Hunger and Malnutrition: About four-fifths of displaced people in the world have
experienced acute hunger and malnutrition.
Recommendations
Areas Measures
Proactive • More proactive response to food system shocks with focus on three key areas:
response to food o Crisis prediction and preparation;
system shocks o building resilience before and during crises; and
o making crisis response supportive and inclusive of women, forced migrants and other vulnerable
groups.
Risk Monitoring • Revise protocol for declaration of a famine to ensure it is operational in conflict-affected locations.
• Also, a better integration of existing agricultural early warning systems with the acute food insecurity
warning systems is critical for any country.
Humanitarian • Support interventions that reflect humanitarian–development– peace nexus, such as nutrition-sensitive
Response programming, use of local procurement etc.
• Empowering women in crisis situations is crucial; they shoulder a disproportionate share of negative
impacts.
Building resilient • Tailor crisis response to type of shock, particular context and value chain.
food systems • Invest in improved and innovative technologies and tools that build resilience, such as climate-smart
agriculture and index-based insurance.
Adaptive safety • Invest in incorporating shock-responsive designs into social protection programming such as investment
nets for crisis in monitoring and in predictive early warning systems.
recovery • Improve coordination between emergency humanitarian aid and pre-existing social protection programs.
Emphasizing • Provide more focus on social protection systems as they will build resilience prior to a crisis and facilitate
Social Protection better crisis recovery.
Systems

6.6. NEWS IN SHORTS
6.6.1. TRIPLE THREAT REPORT • National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
(NCPCR) issued guidelines for assessment of child
• Report, by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), suspects
examines “triple burden” of Water, Sanitation and • In compliance with Supreme Court directive (in Barun
Hygiene (WASH) related threats faced by children. Chnadra Thakur vs Master Bholu, 2022 case),
o WASH is a collective term to access safe drinking Guidelines will enable Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) to
water, improved sanitation facilities, and conduct Preliminary Assessment to
maintain basic level of hygiene. o Determine whether a child should be treated as a
• Triple threat/burden is defined as minor or not in criminal cases which come under
o Less than 50 percent access to at least basic water “heinous” offences category of Juvenile Justice
or sanitation services. (Care and Protection of Children) Act (JJ ACT),
o Within top 20 countries with highest burden of 2015.
deaths attributable to unsafe WASH among • Although JJ Act defines child as a person who has not
children under 5. completed 18 years of age, in 2015 it was amended to
o Within top 25 percent of countries facing highest add a provision wherein a child in age group of 16-18
risk of climate and environmental hazards in years could be tried as an adult in case of heinous
UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI). offenses.
(refer image) o JJB carries assessment to determine whether to
• Key findings of report try such a child as an adult or a minor.
o Globally, 600 million children still lack safely
managed drinking water, 1.1 billion lack safely
managed sanitation and 689 million lack basic
hygiene service.
o Unsafe WASH led to 4 lakh children deaths under
age of 5 each year.
o Triple burden is heavily concentrated in 10
countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Recommendations
o Scale up current investment to meet WASH-
related SDG targets by 2030.
o Strengthen resilience in WASH sector and
communities.
o Increase effective and accountable coordination
and capacities to provide water and sanitation
services.
6.6.2. ASSESSMENT OF CHILD SUSPECTS • Key highlights of Guidelines

o General Principles: Follow fundamental
principles which guide JJ Act implementation (refer
box for major principles under it).
o Preliminary Assessment Purpose: Determine age child under provisions of Surrogacy (Regulation) Act,
and four determinants, i.e. Physical capacity of 2021.
child, mental capacity, circumstances, and ability o Act allows only altruistic surrogacy and penalises
to understand consequences of alleged offence. commercial surrogacy.
o Role of JJB: solely responsible for assessment and • The triple test
can take assistance from child psychologists etc. o Genetic test for husband to ensure child is not
o Completion of Preliminary Assessment: Within a born with any disorder.
period of three months. o Physical test for couple to ascertain their capacity
to manage the child
6.6.3. TRIPLE TESTS FOR SURROGACY o Economy test for couple to ensure that they can
• Karnataka High Court has evolved “triple tests” to protect the future of the child.
help a couple facing legal hurdles to have a surrogate

7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
7.1. INDIAN SPACE POLICY – 2023
Why in news?
Recently, Indian Space Policy-2023 was approved by the Government.
More on News
• The Space policy underlines the growing importance of Private Sector participation in Space.
• Government of India had started reforms in space domain in 2020, opening the doors for enhanced participation of
Non-Government Entities (NGEs) with an aim to provide them a level playing field.
• Subsequently, Government sought to provide regulatory certainty to space activities by various stakeholders.
• Indian Space Policy – 2023 has thus been formulated as an overarching, composite and dynamic framework to
implement this reform vision.
Strategy outlined in the policy

Stakeholder Role
Government • Encouraging advanced Research & Development.
• Stable and predictable regulatory framework to provide a level playing field to NGEs through IN-SPACe.
• Promoting and support to start-ups.
• Using space as a driver for overall technology development.
Non- • Offer national and international space-based communication services.
Governmental • Establish and operate
Entities (NGEs) o Ground facilities for space objects operations, e.g. Satellite Control Centres (SCCs).
o Remote sensing satellite systems.
• Use Orbital Resources to establish space objects for communication services over India and outside India.
• Commercialise technologies for enhancing and augmenting the satellite navigation, communication and
remote-sensing.
• Engage in the commercial recovery of an asteroid resource or a space resource.
Department of • Nodal department for implementation of the Indian Space Policy-2023.
Space (DOS) • Ensure availability of continuous & improved earth observation capability and data to fulfil the national
requirements.

• Participate in international efforts by providing critical remote sensing satellite data for disaster
management, for sustainable development goals etc.
• Establish framework to ensure safe and sustainable space operations, in compliance with relevant
international space debris mitigation guidelines.
Indian Space • Role under policy
Research o Focus primarily
Organization on research
and
development
of new space
technologies
and
applications.
o Expanding the
human
understanding
of outer space
o Share
technologies,
products,
processes and
best practices with NGEs
o Enable open data access from remote sensing satellites of ISRO.
o Demonstrate human spaceflight capability and develop a long term road-map for sustained human
presence in space.
IN-SPACe- • Act as the single window agency for the authorisation of space activities by govt entities and NGEs.
Indian National • Work with industry to establish India as a preferred service provider at global level.
Space • Ensure a level playing field for the utilization of all facilities created using public expenditure. Decisions of
Promotion & INSPACe shall be binding on the operators of such facilities.
Authorisation • Facilitate the transfer of technologies developed by ISRO.
Centre • Prescribe guidelines regarding liability of potential damages due to the space activities.
New Space • Responsible for commercialising space technologies and platforms created through public expenditure.
India Limited • The operational part of ISRO's missions will be moved to the NSIL.
(NSIL) • Service the space-based needs of users.
Significance of Private Participation in Space
• Focus on R&D: This approach allows ISRO to concentrate
on cutting-edge research and development, exploration
missions and human spaceflight programme.
• Shift from supply driven model to demand driven model:
Almost every sector, starting from agriculture to
transport, weather department and even urban
development, now wants satellite data and space
technology.
o Entry of the private sector into end-to-end space
activities enables to meet the new demands in these
areas.
• Rapidly rising space industry: The Indian space sector is
projected to increase at a ~48% CAGR over the next five
years to reach US$ 50 billion.
• Enhance share in global space economy: Currently, India
accounts for only about two per cent of the space
economy, much behind the major players - the US and
China.
• Diversify space activities to new areas: In the global space market, rocket and satellite launch services—an area in
which ISRO specialises—amount to only 5% share. Satellite-based services and ground-based systems account for the
remaining 95%.
Private sector participation in Space sector: Current status
• Innovation and Indigenisation:
• There are around 100 start-ups registered with the ISRO and are working closely
Focus on public-private in “various domains of the space sector.
partnerships, technology • India had more than 350 space tech companies in 2021.
transfer enables sharing of • In 2022, Vikram-S, India’s first privately built rocket was launched under Mission
resources, knowledge, and Prarambh’. It was developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace.
expertise between the public • PSLV Production: NSIL and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) exchanged the
and private sectors. MOU for producing PSLVs. L&T is partnering with HAL in the consortium.
• Promote Make in India: With Other measures private participation in space
active private participation, India Apart from NSIL and IN-SPACe, other institutions include;
can aspire to become a satellite • Indian Space Association (ISpA): Launched in 2021, it is the apex, non-profit
manufacturing hub and a industry body exclusively working towards successful exploration, collaboration,
and development of private and public Space Industry in India.
launchpad for the world ranging
o It will undertake Policy Advocacy, Engage and Operate with all Stakeholders
from the Small Satellite Launch and act as a catalyst for accelerating the exchange of knowledge, technology
Vehicle to the Geosynchronous of space-related domains.
Satellite Launch Vehicle. • Antrix Corporation Limited: Incorporated as a marketing arm of ISRO. It handles
Conclusion ISRO’s commercial deals for satellites and launch vehicles with foreign
Indian Space Policy 2023 sets the customers.
stage for a bold and ambitious • Space Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development (SEED): Conceived as a
future for India’s space sector, competitive early-stage encouragement programme to startups and MSMEs in
opening the door to innovation, focus areas of interest to ISRO.
collaboration, and international
cooperation. However, it is essential to recognise that the global space landscape is not static but constantly evolving.
India must embrace adaptability and strategic foresight to keep pace with these rapid changes.
7.2. LIGO-INDIA PROJECT

Why in news? Current LIGO facilities
• LIGO-India will be the third observatory of its kind.
Union Cabinet has approved the Laser
• Currently, LIGO consists of two widely separated installations
Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or
within the United States -- one in Hanford Washington and the
LIGO, project to build an advanced gravitational- other in Livingston, Louisiana.
wave detector. • The instruments at these observatories are so sensitive that they
More on News can easily get influenced by events like earthquakes, landslides,
or even the movement of trucks, and produce a false reading.
• Components will be made in India- improving • That is why multiple observatories are needed to revalidate the
the technological expertise of Indian scientists signals.
and engineers. • Also, multiple detectors can help tap all possible sources of
• The project will have multidisciplinary benefits gravitational waves, and to improve the quality and accuracy of
on India's Astrophysics research, high end information.
technological development. LIGO sister facilities
• Virgo: Located in Italy, Virgo is gravitational wave interferometer
About the project with arms 3 km long (LIGO's are 4 km long). It is funded by the
European Gravitational Observatory (EGO), a collaboration of the
• LIGO - India is a planned advanced gravitational- Italian and French governments.
wave observatory to be located in India as part • GEO600: It is a 0.6 km (600 m) interferometer located near
of the worldwide network. Hannover, Germany, funded by both the German and British
• Genesis: The project was given “in principle” governments.
approval in 2016 to be completed by 2030. • KAGRA: Japan is currently building a 3 km interferometer inside
• Location: Hingoli district in Maharashtra. of the Kamioka mine.

• Funding: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• Capacity: It is a collaborative project between a consortium of Indian research institutions and the LIGO Laboratory in
USA. The US will provide key components for the lab.
• Institutions and departments involved:
o Department of Atomic Energy.
o Department of Science and Technology.
o U.S. National Science Foundation.
o Directorate of Construction, Services &
Estate Management, Mumbai.
o Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and
Astrophysics, Pune.
o Institute For Plasma Research,
Gandhinagar.
o Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced
Technology, Indore.
What is LIGO and how it works?
• LIGO is a tool to detect gravitational waves with
the use of laser interferometers.
• LIGO detectors consist of two 4-km-long
vacuum chambers, arranged at right angles to
each other, with mirrors at the end.
• The experiment works by releasing light rays
simultaneously in both chambers.
• Normally, the light should return at the same time
in both chambers.
• However, if a gravitational wave passes through,
one chamber gets elongated while the other gets
squeezed, resulting in a phase difference in the
returning light rays.
• Detecting this phase difference confirms the
presence of a gravitational wave.
What are gravitational waves?
• Gravitational waves are 'ripples' in space-time

caused by some of the most violent and energetic
processes in the Universe.
• Gravitational waves are invisible.
• They travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles per
second).
o Gravitational waves squeeze and stretch
anything in their path as they pass by.
• Albert Einstein predicted the existence of
gravitational waves in 1916 in his general theory About Spacetime
of relativity. • In our everyday lives we think of three-dimensional space and
• One of the main conclusions of general theory of time as completely separate things.
relativity is that objects of mass warp the very • But Einstein’s theory showed that the three spacial dimensions
fabric of spacetime. plus time are actually just part of the same thing: the four
dimensions of spacetime.
• Not only are space and time part of the same thing, but they are
both warped by mass or energy, causing a curved spacetime.

• The greater the mass of an object the more extreme the warping of
space it causes, so a star warps spacetime more than a planet, and
a black hole warp it more than a star.
• Most powerful gravitational waves are created when objects
move at very high speeds. Some examples of events that could
cause a gravitational wave are:
o When a star explodes asymmetrically (called a supernova).
o When two big stars orbit each other.
o When two black holes orbit each other and merge.
o Black hole-neutron star merger
Conclusion
Detection of gravitational waves help understand black holes, neutron
stars, supernovae, even the Big Bang. Extracting the information
carried by the waves addresses the questions in both physics and
astronomy.
7.3. DARK MATTER MAP

Why in News? Big Bang Model
Astronomers have made the most • It is the only model that is able to explain the existence of the Cosmic Microwave
detailed map of dark matter Background (CMB).
• According to this model, the Universe started with a very dense and hot phase that
showing that both the ‘lumpiness’
expanded and cooled itself; for several hundreds of thousands of years the
(piece of a solid substance, usually
temperature was so high that neutral atoms could not form.
with no particular shape) of the • Matter consisted mostly of neutrons and charged particles (protons and electrons).
universe and the rate at which the • Electrons interacted closely with the light particles, and therefore light and matter
universe is growing. were tightly coupled at that time (that is, light could not travel for a long distance
More on News in a straight line).
• Light could therefore not propagate and the Universe was opaque.
• They have created a map by • It took about 300 000 years for the Universe to cool down to a temperature at which
using the microwave detector atoms can form (about 3000°C).
of the Atacama Cosmology • Matter then became neutral, and allowed the light to travel freely, then Universe
Telescope (ACT). became transparent.
• Astronomers were observing the data collected Einstein's Theory of Relativity
by the ACT to find out whether Einstein’s • It was propounded by him in 1915.
predictions in his theory are correct regarding the • In this theory, he contradicted Isaac Newton’s concept of space
expansion of the Universe. who saw space and time as fixed.
• They also observed the sanctity of the standard • But according to his theory, space is fluid and malleable.
• Gravity is not a force, but rather a distortion of time and space.
model of cosmology (SMC).
• Tiny ripples are caused by colliding black holes.
Observation Made by Astronomers
• Invisible world: Features of the invisible world (dark matter and energy) were observed which are hundreds of
millions of light-years across.
• Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation: Gravitational pull of large, heavy structures including dark matter
warps the CMB radiation on its 14-billion-year journey to Earth.
o CMB or fossil radiation is the cooled remnant of the first light (or leftover of the Big Bang) that could ever travel
freely throughout the Universe.
o The CMB light gets deflected by dark matter, just like a magnifying glass deflects light that passes through it.
• Lumpiness: Measurements showed that the 'lumpiness' of the universe is of the exact right size as per SMC.
• Expansion: Rate at which it is growing is just what was expected from our SMC based on Einstein's theory.
• Gravitational lensing: It was observed while recording the movement of the CMB.

o It is a phenomenon in
Composition of the Universe
which light moving
• Unlike normal matter, dark matter does not interact with electromagnetic force.
through a region of space-
o This means it does not absorb, reflect or emit light, making it extremely hard
time warped (bend or twist to spot.
out of shape) by powerful • Researchers have been able to infer the existence of dark matter only from the
gravitational fields travels, gravitational effect it seems to have on visible matter.
in a curve until it emerges • It seems to outweigh visible matter roughly six to one, making up about 27% of
as a stretched-out arc the universe.
called an Einstein ring. • Astronomer Fritz Zwicky first used the term "dark matter" in the 1930s.
o Gravitational lensing helps • It makes up approximately 68% of the • It makes up 5% of the Universe.
in detecting dark matter. universe and appears to be associated • It includes Earth, the sun, other
with the vacuum in space. stars, and galaxies.
Einstein’s Prediction in the Theory • It is distributed evenly throughout the • It is made of protons, neutrons,
of General Relativity (GR) universe, not only in space but also in and electrons bundled together
• Motion in Space: time. into atoms.
Concentrations of mass and energy curve the structure of spacetime, affecting the motion of anything passing near,
including light.
o He expected a beam of starlight should bend when passing through the sun’s gravity.
• Expansion of Universe: He provided the mathematical framework for describing the structure and evolution of the
universe (once hotter and denser than it is today) from its beginnings 13.8 billion years ago and into the future.
o Galaxies are moving away from each other.
o Also, he predicted that the universe is lumpy.
How does the new map confirm Einstein’s Prediction?
• Crisis in Cosmology: Previous maps indicated that the lumpiness of the universe was not as dense as Einstein’s theory
had proposed, under the standard model of cosmology and led to concerns that the model may be broken.
o These findings used a different background light, one emitted from stars in galaxies rather than the CMB.
o However, the latest results from ACT were able to precisely assess that the lumpiness seen are as per Einstein’s
theory.
• Standard Model of Cosmology (SMC): Findings proved that the expansion of the universe is as per the SMC.
o It is also called the “Concordance Cosmological Model” or the “ΛCDM Model,”.
o It is based on the principle that the universe was created by the “Big Bang” from pure energy.
o Also, it believes that Universe is composed of about 5% ordinary matter (visible), 27% dark matter, and 68% dark
energy.
• Presence of CMB shows that Universe started with a very dense and hot phase that expanded and cooled itself and
later released CMB. Its movement depicts it is Universe is still expanding.
o Also, its deflection by Massive object upheld that Gravity is not a force, but rather a distortion of time and space.
Conclusion
The latest finding with the help of the ACT has upheld the SMC and solved the crisis in cosmology up to a large extent. It
will give new opportunities to astronomers and researchers for space-related research. Space agencies such as NASA,
ISRO, etc. can use these findings for their space exploration programs.
7.4. NATIONAL QUANTUM MISSION (NQM)

Why in News?
Recently, National Quantum Mission received cabinet approval at a total cost of about Rs. 6000 crores.

About the Mission
• Aim: To seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial
R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in
Quantum Technology (QT).
• Implementing agency: It will be implemented by the
Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the
Ministry of Science & Technology.
• Mission duration: From 2023 to 2031.
• Targets:
o Developing intermediate-scale quantum computers
with 50-1000 physical qubits (refer image) in 8 years.
o Satellite-based secure quantum communications
between ground stations over a range of 2000
kilometres within India and with other countries.
✓ Also, inter-city quantum key distribution over
2000 km.
• Applications areas:
o Magnetometers with high sensitivity in atomic
systems;
o Atomic Clocks for precision timing, communications,
and navigation.
o Design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures, and
topological materials for the fabrication of quantum devices.
o Single photon sources/detectors, and entangled photon sources for quantum communication, sensing, and
metrological applications.
• Themes
o It includes setting up four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in top academic and National R&D institutes in the domains-
✓ Quantum Computing,
✓ Quantum Communication,
✓ Quantum Sensing & Metrology,
and
✓ Quantum Materials & Devices.
Significance of the Mission
• Technological advancement: NQM can
take the Technology Development
ecosystem in the country to a globally
competitive level.
• Help various disciplines: The Mission
would greatly benefit various sectors,
including communication, health,
finance, and energy with applications in drug design,
space, banking, security, etc. s
• Research and Development: It will help establish a
research ecosystem in and around quantum technology.
• Global leader: India can take an early advantage in
developing the technology and harnessing the benefits.
o Currently, only six other countries – the United
States, Finland, Austria, China, Canada, and France
are working in the field of developing quantum
technology on a large scale.
• National Security: It will aid national security in areas
such as optimized intelligence collection, encryption,
stealth technology, communications etc.
Way forward
National Quantum Mission is a giant stride in the future. To
realise its potential, a collaboration between businesses,
universities, and government must happen. This will help
address the financial and human resource gaps and at the same time, aid in the creation of a national quantum research
ecosystem.
7.5. JUPITER ICY MOONS EXPLORER (JUICE) MISSION

Why in News?
European Space Agency (ESA) has launched JUICE from Europe's spaceport French Guiana on an eight-year-long voyage
to Jupiter and its moons through Ariane-5.
More on News
• Spacecraft will complete fly-bys of Venus, Earth, and the Earth-Moon system to arrive at its destination in 2031.
• It is the first large-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 programme.
• For the first time that the ESA has sent a spacecraft beyond the asteroid belt.
• It is a product of "global" cooperation between 23 countries, academic institutions, and private companies.

About JUICE Mission
• Objectives: It will make detailed observations about Jupiter and its three large ocean-bearing moons – Ganymede,
Callisto and Europa.
o It will inspect and analyse the moons' weather, magnetic field, gravitational pull and other elements.
• Time Period: It will spend at least three years studying the gas giant and its moons.
• Spacecraft: It has a record 85 square metres of solar panels, which stretch out to the size of a basketball court.
• It will collect as much energy as possible near Jupiter, where sunlight is 25 times weaker than on Earth.
• Payload: It includes GALA (GAnymede Laser Altimeter), MAJIS (Moons and Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer), UVS (UV
imaging Spectrograph) etc.
Benefits of the JUICE Mission

• Life in Solar System: It may find the evidence of life on the moons of Jupiter.
• New Scientific Knowledge: It will reveal new set of information about Jupiter.
o Also, it will help in understanding the formation of planets and moon.
• Inspiration for Other Space Agency: Using renewable source of energy (solar panels) will set an example in front of
other space agencies such as ISRO.

Challenges in JUICE Mission
• Complex: Mission is dependent on several manoeuvres which are required for the insertion of spacecraft in the orbit
of Jupiter and Ganymede.
• Extreme Atmospheric Condition: Temperature around the gas planet stands at a chilly -230°C. This contrasts starkly
with the scorching 250°C near Venus.
• Gravity-assisted flyby: Of Venus, Earth, and the Earth-Moon system may change the trajectory of the mission.
• Monitoring: Spacecraft will travel more than 1.7 billion miles in space.
• Collision: Solar panels on the spacecraft are under threat due to Space debris (also known as space junk).
Jupiter Trojan Asteroids (Related News)
• NASA’s spacecraft ‘Lucy’ has captured images of the Jupiter Trojan asteroid for the first time.
• Images will help scientists to analyze how the Trojan asteroids reflect light from certain angles.
o Trojans (also known as ancient population of asteroid fossils) orbit the Sun in two loose groups, with one group leading
ahead of Jupiter in its path, the other trailing behind.
o They are stabilized by the Sun and its largest planet in a gravitational balancing act.
• Lucy was launched in 2021 as the first space mission to study the Trojans. It is on a 12-year mission that will take close
observations of nine of Jupiter’s Trojans and two main belt asteroids along with that.

7.6. PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE FOR EMERGING THREATS (PRET)
INITIATIVE
Why in news?
Recently, World Health Organisation (WHO) launched Preparedness and Resilience For Emerging Threats (PRET)
Initiative.
About Preparedness and Resilience For Emerging Threats (PRET) Initiative
• PRET is an innovative approach to improving disease pandemic preparedness.
o It recognizes that the same systems, capacities, knowledge, and tools can be leveraged and applied for groups
of pathogens based on their mode of transmission (respiratory, vector-borne, foodborne etc.).
o It incorporates the latest tools and approaches for shared learning and collective action established during the
COVID-19 pandemic and other recent public health emergencies.
o It places the principles of equity, inclusivity, and coherence at the forefront.
o PRET provides a platform for national, regional
and global stakeholders to collaborate to
strengthen preparedness.
• PRET recognizes that there are 3 tiers of systems and
capacities relevant for pandemic preparedness those
that are:
o cross-cutting for all or multi-hazards,
o relevant for groups of pathogens (respiratory,
arboviruses etc.),
o are specific to a pathogen.
• PRET operate under the aegis of the International
Health Regulations (IHR).
o IHR 2005 are a legally binding agreement of 196
States Parties, including all 194 Member States of
WHO to build the capability to detect and report potential public health emergencies worldwide.
o IHR sets out the core capacities that countries need to be able to detect and respond effectively.
o WHO plays the coordinating role in IHR implementation and, together with its partners, helps countries to build
capacities.
o IHR require that all countries have the ability to Detect; Assess; Report; and Respond.
• The technical actions in PRET are mapped to the IHR core capacities, grouped according to five subsystems for health
emergency preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR).
o HEPR under WHO is a learning channel brings together resources for WHO, national counterparts and partners
to outline the process of developing national investment plans to apply for additional resources, including
Pandemic Fund resources.
• PRET can also serve to operationalize the objectives and provisions of the Pandemic Accord, which is currently being
negotiated by WHO Member States.
7.7. NEWS IN SHORTS

7.7.1. RARE EARTH ELEMENTS o Group consists of yttrium and 15 lanthanide
elements (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium,
• Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium,
Institute has found large deposits of 15 Rare Earth gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium,
Elements (REE) in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium).
district. o REEs are all metals having many similar
• REEs (aka rare earth oxides) are a group of 17 silvery- properties, and that often causes them to be
white soft heavy metals that occur together in periodic found together in geologic deposits.
table.
• REEs are used in high end technology, defence • Project has been launched in accordance with
applications, electronic devices like cell-phones, objectives of National Strategy on Blockchain, 2021
computers, electric vehicle etc. because of their (launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information
luminescent and catalytic properties. Technology).
• In similar development, scientists from Institute of o It creates a trusted digital platform by evolving a
Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, national Blockchain infrastructure.
have estimated the quantity of REEs that can be • Blockchain is a distributed or decentralised ledger
recovered from Red Mud. technology that facilitates the process of recording and
• Red Mud is a toxic byproduct of aluminium extraction tracking transactions between users.
from bauxite ore using Bayer process. o Each transaction in a blockchain is recorded as a
o Red Mud contains REEs. There are two strategies “block” of data which is linked with other blocks
to recover REEs from red mud: extract only REEs or before or after it.
extract all metals (such as iron, titanium, and
sodium) including REEs.
7.7.3. SUPPORT FOR UP-GRADATION

PREVENTIVE REPAIR & MAINTENANCE
OF EQUIPMENT (SUPREME)
• SUPREME was launched by Department of Science and
Technology.
• It is a first-of-its-kind program to provide financial
support for repair/ upgradation/ maintenance/
retrofitting or acquiring additional attachments to
increase functional capabilities of existing Analytical
7.7.2. BLOCKCHAIN PROJECT Instrumentation Facilities (AIFs).
• Government launched Blockchain Project to explore o Funding pattern: 75:25 for all private and
potential of Web3 government owned institutions except for state
• Project is titled ‘Design and Development of a Unified funded institutions which will get 100% funding.
Blockchain Framework for offering National o Support under the scheme will be upto 3 years.
Blockchain Service and Creation of Blockchain • Analytical Instruments are vital for pursuing research
Ecosystem’. through sample analysis in many areas of modern
o It is a part of government's effort towards realizing science and technology.
Web3, as blockchain plays a crucial role in it.
7.7.4. PSLV ORBITAL EXPERIMENTAL
o It will facilitate the creation of Open Application
Programming Interfaces (APIs) for smooth MODULE-2 (POEM-2)
integration and provision of blockchain-as-a- • ISRO carried out scientific experiment using POEM-2
service (BaaS) over distributed infrastructure. in PSLV-C55 mission.
• BaaS refers to third-party cloud-based infrastructure • PSLV-C55 is a dedicated mission of NewSpace India
and management for companies.. Limited (NSIL), for the international satellite customer
o It allows Government Departments to leverage from Singapore.
Blockchain services to build, host and use their o PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle (1st & 3rd
own blockchain apps, smart contracts and stage: Solid; 2nd & 4th: Liquid).
functions on blockchain.

o NSIL is the commercial arm of ISRO for enabling • About EMIC Waves
Indian industries to take up high technology o They are the discreet electromagnetic emissions
space-related activities. (transverse plasma waves) observed in the Earth's
• Main payloads launched: inner magnetosphere.
o TeLEOS-2, an earth observation satellite to ✓ Plasma is the ‘fourth state of matter’ along
support satellite imaging requirements of with solid, liquid and gas.
Singapore government agencies. ✓ Plasma is a superheated matter, i.e. a gas with
o Lumelite-4 to augment Singapore’s maritime sufficient energy that the electrons are ripped
navigation and benefit the global shipping away from the atoms to form an ionized gas.
community. o These waves are generated in the equatorial
• Mission, for the first time, will see solar panels latitudes and propagate along magnetic field lines
powering PSLV’s fourth (final) stage for conducting to its footprint in the high latitude ionosphere
month-long experiments. (atmosphere).
o Usually, fourth and final stage of a rocket remains o They can be recorded in both space as well as
in space for only a couple of days before dropping ground based magnetometers.
back into the atmosphere and burning up. o These waves play an important role in
• However, PSLV includes PSLV Orbital Experimental precipitation of killer electrons, which are
Module-2 (POEM-2) platform to perform in-orbit hazardous to our space-borne
experiments using the final stage of PSLV. technology/instruments.
o POEM has a dedicated Navigation Guidance and ✓ Killer electrons are electrons having speed
Control system which acts as platform’s brain to close to speed of light, which form the
stabilize it with specified accuracy. radiation belt of planet Earth.
o POEM will derive its power from mounted solar • Magnetosphere is the region around a planet
panels and a Li-Ion battery. dominated by the planet's magnetic field, rather than
the magnetic field of interplanetary space.
7.7.5. TROPOSPHERIC EMISSIONS o The Earth’s Magnetosphere is dominated by the
MONITORING OF POLLUTION (TEMPO) magnetic field of Earth, protecting earth’s
INSTRUMENT atmosphere from many types of radiation from
the sun.
• NASA launched device called TEMPO to monitor air
pollution from space.
• TEMPO will allow scientists to monitor air pollutants
and their emission sources and air quality across
greater North America on an hourly basis during
daytime.
o Situated in geostationary orbit 35,786 kilometers
above the equator.
o Among the pollutants tracked by TEMPO will be
nitrogen dioxide, produced from the combustion
of fossil fuels, formaldehyde and ozone.
o It will be able to measure atmospheric pollution
down to a spatial resolution of 10 square
kilometers or neighborhood level.
7.7.6. ELECTROMAGNETIC ION

CYCLOTRON (EMIC) WAVES
7.7.7. DEEP LEARNING GEOMAGNETIC
• Recently, Indian Scientists identified EMIC waves in the
Indian Antarctic station, Maitri, and studied its
PERTURBATION (DAGGER) MODEL
characteristics. • NASA researchers have developed a new computer
o Study can help understand the impact of energetic model called DAGGER, to forecast geomagnetic
particles in the radiation belts on the low orbiting disturbances and provide a warning for solar storms.
satellites. • The model integrates Artificial intelligence with
Satellite data, to predict the incoming solar winds

• It provides a lead time of 30 minutes for an impending o Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive
solar storm anywhere on Earth, enough to protect the element.
critical systems from solar storms. o Naturally, 99.27% of Uranium exists in form of U-
• The solar wind is a stream of material that flows from 238 while rest in other isotopes as: U-235 (0.72%),
the Sun carrying the Sun’s magnetic field out into space and U-234 (0.006%) etc.
and can cause damage to existing electrical • Theoretical calculations suggest it could have a half-
infrastructure in the world. life of 40 minutes.
• New isotope was found during a process called
7.7.8. MAGNETORESISTANCE multinucleon transfer in which two isotopes
exchanged protons and neutrons.
• Recently, Nobel laureate Andre Geim discovered that
Graphene displays an anomalous giant • Benefits: refines our understanding of nuclear physics,
magnetoresistance (GMR) at room temperature. designing nuclear power plants and models of
exploding stars.
• GMR is the result of electrical resistance of a
conductor (sandwiched between two materials) being 7.7.10. STATE OF THE WORLD’S
affected by magnetic fields in adjacent materials.
CHILDREN (SOWC) 2023 REPORT
o When materials are magnetised in same direction,
electrical resistance in the conductor is low. • The State of the World’s Children (SOWC) 2023: For
o When directions are opposite each other, Every Child, Vaccination Report released by UNICEF.
resistance increases. • Building on global strategies outlined in Immunization
• Application of GMR: Hard disk drives and Agenda 2030 and Gavi Strategy 5.0 to promote equity
magnetoresistive RAM in computers, biosensors, and sustainably scale up immunization coverage,
automotive sensors, microelectromechanical systems, report presents an agenda to put childhood
and medical imagers. vaccination first.
• New study has found that a graphene-based device, • Key priorities identified
unlike conventional counterparts, wouldn’t need to be o Vaccinate every child, everywhere by
cooled to a very low temperature to sense magnetic ✓ Catching up on vaccination of children missed
fields. during the pandemic.
• About Graphene ▪ 98% of the population in India currently
o Graphene is ‘a two-dimensional single-atom-thick perceive vaccines as important for
layer of carbon atoms bonded in a hexagonal children.
honeycomb lattice structure. ✓ Identifying zero-dose (unreached or missed
o It is extracted from graphite and displays unique out) and under-vaccinated children.
physicochemical properties like: ▪ India was among top 20 countries with
✓ High surface area, good biocompatibility, the largest numbers of zero-dose
strong mechanical strength, excellent children.
thermal conductivity, and fast electron o Strengthen demand for vaccination by talking to
transportation. communities; tackling gender barriers; rethinking
o Applications include Energy (Solar cell, Fuel cell, accountability in health systems.
Super computers etc); Sensor, Bio-sensor; o Spend more on immunization and health by
Biomedical (diagnostic, drug delivery etc); investing in primary health care at national level
Environment treatment etc. and better aligning donor support.
• In 2007, Albert Fert and Peter Grünberg received the o Build resilient systems by improving data
Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery of GMR in collection and disease surveillance; Securing
1988. vaccine and other supplies etc.
• In 2010, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov ✓ In India, digital health platform TeCHO+
received Nobel Prize for Physics for their work on (Technology Enabled Community Health
graphene. Operations) and electronic vaccine
intelligence network (eVIN) increased
7.7.9. NEW URANIUM ISOTOPE vaccination coverage while enhancing data
entry efficiency.
• A previously unknown isotope of uranium, with atomic
number 92 and mass number 241, i.e., uranium-241
discovered.

7.7.11. THE BIG CATCH-UP o It was approved by US Food and Drug
Administration and European Commission.
• WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation, along with Immunization 7.7.13. KNOW YOUR MEDICINE
Agenda 2030 and other health partners, are
• National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has developed
implementing the “The Big Catch-up”.
the Know Your Medicine web and mobile application
• It is a targeted global effort to boost vaccination
with an aim to create a clean sporting environment in
among children aiming to reverse the declines in
India
childhood vaccinations driven by COVID-19 pandemic.
• Paving the path for clean sport, the application will
o It will have a particular focus on 20 countries
enable the sports ecosystem to:
including India where three quarters of the
o Check if any prohibited substance is present in
children who missed vaccinations in 2021 live.
medicines.
o It will strengthen healthcare workforces, improve
o Make informed choices about use of medicines.
health service delivery, build demand for vaccines
and address obstacles to restoring immunization. • Available in Hindi and English, the users can search by
image and text options and search by medicines and
7.7.12. SHINGRIX VACCINE ingredient options.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharma has launched vaccine 7.7.14. INTERNATIONAL PRIZE IN

“Shingrix” in India to prevent shingles. STATISTICS
o Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the
varicella zoster virus (VZV), same virus that causes • Indian American C R Rao won the Nobel Prize
chickenpox. equivalent in statistics at the age of 102.
o Those suffering from diabetes, heart disease and • International Prize in Statistics was established in 2016
kidney diseases were at an increased risk of by a group of five major statistical organizations,
developing shingles because of weakened o American Statistical Association, Institute of
immunity. Mathematical Statistics, International Biometric
• Shingrix aims to prevent shingles (herpes zoster) and Society, International Statistical Institute, and
post-herpetic neuralgia in adults aged 50 years or Royal Statistical Society
more. • It is awarded once in every two years to an individual
o It is the world’s first non-live, recombinant or a team.
subunit vaccine to be given intramuscularly in two • Prize is given for major achievements using statistics
doses. to advance science, technology and human welfare.

8. CULTURE
8.1. INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Why in news?
University Grants Commission (UGC) has
released draft guidelines for the incorporation of
the Indian knowledge systems (IKS) in higher
education for undergraduate (UG) and
postgraduate (PG) courses.
More on News
• Earlier, in 2020, IKS division under Ministry
of Education was setup to promote research
on and disseminate “Indian Knowledge
Systems”.
• Also, expertise in the Indian Knowledge
System has been added in the recently
released final version of the National Credit
Framework.
Key Features of the Guidelines
• Credit courses in IKS: UG and PG Students be
encouraged to take credit courses in IKS
amounting in all to at least five per cent of the
total mandated credits.
o At least 50% of the credits apportioned to
the IKS should be related to the major
discipline.
• Emphasis on authentic sources: IKS are to be
based on authentic sources—such as source
texts, historical accounts, inscriptions, etc.
• Focus on continuity: Continuity of the Indian
Knowledge Traditions, from ancient times up
to the relatively recent period in the design of
the course content.
• Instructions: Medium of instruction for the
IKS courses could be any of the Indian
languages, apart from English and Sanskrit.
• Translation from Sanskrit: Technical terms
and citations from the Sanskrit sources
should be given in the Devanagari script as
well as in English transliteration.
Significance of integrating Indian Knowledge
system in higher education
• Nurturing the rich legacy: For instance, India had distinguished institutions like Nalanda and Takshashila, even
before the existence of globally eminent universities like Oxford, Cambridge.
• Decolonising Indian education system: Colonial roots of education system acted as obstacle to understand the structure
and foundations of our own scientific thought. Integrating IKS will aid in preserving and disseminating IKS for further
research and societal application.
• Applications of IKS in current times: Knowledge of Ayurveda,
construction of ships in ancient times, aircraft knowledge,
architecture of Indus Valley Cities, and political science in
ancient India- have applications in today’s world.
o This can allow to teach the world the ‘Indian way’ of doing
things.
• Multidisciplinary approach: Multidisciplinary and
crossdisciplinarity nature of IKS would enrich the students’ horizon
and prepare them better for life’s challenges.
o Solutions to many of world’s problems, like climate change,
health, need for sustainable living lie in IKS.
• Bring closer to cultural ethos: Exposure to the conventional and
contemporary concepts will bring engineers closer to their
cultural ethos, expand their intellectual horizons and enhance
their confidence.
Conclusion
It is important that IKS are taught in a critical and evidence-based manner. NEP 2020 also highlights the importance of
training teachers to ensure that IKS are taught in a scientifically rigorous manner, avoiding any promotion of unverified
beliefs or practices.
8.2. NATIONAL MISSION FOR CULTURAL MAPPING

Why in news?
Government has
identified and
documented distinctive
features of more than
one lakh villages under
the ‘Mera Gaon Meri
Dharohar‘ (My Village
My Heritage)
programme of the
National Mission for
Cultural Mapping
(NMCM).
About Mera Gaon Meri
Dharohar survey
• Aim: Seeks to
document the
cultural identity at
the village level by
involving citizens to
share what makes
their village, block, or
district unique.
o It aims to harness
the unique
cultural heritage of rural India.

• Mechanism: Involves Common Services Centres (CSC)
Village Level Entrepreneur conducting meetings with
locals and then uploading interesting facts about their
village on to an application.
o It can be places of interest, customs and traditions,
famous personalities, festivals and beliefs, art and
culture, etc., of the village.
• Coordination: Ministry of Culture has partnered with
the CSC, under Ministry of Electronics & IT.
• Villages have been broadly divided into various
categories based on whether they are important
ecologically, developmentally, and scholastically, if they
produce a famous textile or product etc.
About National Mission for Cultural Mapping
• Initiated by the Ministry of Culture in 2017.
• Goals of the mission
o Preserving the threads of rich Indian Art and
Cultural Heritage,
o Converting vast and widespread cultural
canvas of India into an objective Cultural
Mapping,
o Design a mechanism to fulfil the aspirations of
the artist community,
o Creating strong ‘Cultural Vibrancy’ throughout
the nation.
• Institutions involved
o CSC e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC)
is given the task by Ministry of Culture to
carryout NMCM.
o Mission is being executed under the guidance
of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts
(IGNCA).
• At broad-level, there are three important
objectives of the mission, as follows.
o National Cultural Awareness Abhiyan: Hamari
Sanskriti Hamari Pahchan Abhiyan (Our Culture Our
Identity)- It is conducted from Block to the national
level by arranging awareness programmes among
locals about cultural heritage.
o Nationwide Artist Talent Hunt/Scouting Programme:
Sanskritik Pratibha Khoj Abhiyan seeks to search hidden
as well as traditional talent.
o National Cultural Work Place (NCWP)- It is a fully
equipped cultural portal which will serve as common
interaction work place for all stake holders including
artistes, institutions, NGOs and Ministry of Culture.
Conclusion
A properly mapped, documented and designed database can be
effectively used for not only preserving the rich cultural
heritage but also providing means of livelihood and ameliorating the economic conditions of the performing artistes.
8.3. RAJA RAVI VARMA
Why in news?
175th birth anniversary of Raja Ravi
Varma was celebrated recently.
Contributions to Indian art
• Proponent of Lithography: He was
one of the earliest proponents of
lithography in India.
o Lithography refers to art of
producing a work on a flat stone
or metal plate.
o He employed this technique to
depict popular scenes and
characters from Hindu literature.
• Union of Indian tradition and
European art: He is one of the few
painters who managed to accomplish
a beautiful union of Indian tradition
with the techniques of European
academic art.
o He was also responsible in taking
the Indian art all over the world with his impeccable technique.
• Insights to mythological stories: Through his paintings, he gave an insight of the famous mythological stories.
o The most popular paintings under this category include the ones depicting episodes from the story of Dushyanta
and Shakuntala, story of Nala and Damayanti, Lord Rama’s triumph over Varuna etc.
• Artist of the people: He was notable for making affordable copies of his paintings available to the public.
o This greatly enhanced his reach and influence. His portrayal of Hindu gods and goddesses become worship
material for many people belonging to the lower castes who were often forbidden from entering temple.
8.4. NEWS IN SHORTS

8.4.1. GLOBAL BUDDHIST SUMMIT 2023 • Summit highlighted the rising role of Buddhism in
India’s soft power strategy.
• Global Buddhist Summit 2023 concluded with New o Soft power enables a change of behaviour in
Delhi Declaration. others, without competition or conflict, by using
• Summit was organised by Ministry of culture, in persuasion and attraction.
collaboration with Delhi-based International Buddhist • Other initiatives taken towards Buddhist diplomacy
Confederation, to engage global Buddhist dhamma o PM makes Buddhism a regular feature of his
leadership and scholars on matters of Buddhist and diplomatic visits and also emphasises shared
universal concerns. Buddhist heritage.
• Key highlights of New Delhi Declaration o Presence of Dalai Lama and Tibetan government-
o In the present world scenario, texts, doctrines and in-exile in Dharamshala has bolstered India’s
philosophy of Buddha Dhamma are best guide for image in global Buddhist community.
inter-faith dialogue, harmony and universal o India hosted Buddhist pilgrims from South Korea.
peace. o Creation of specialized Buddhist tourist circuits
o Recognize significance of Buddhist pilgrimage as a that cross international borders.
living heritage. o Restoration of Nalanda University etc.

8.4.5. NAGRI DUBRAJ RICE
• Chhattisgarh's Nagri Dubraj rice variety got a
geographical indication tag.
o After Jeeraphool rice in 2019, Dubraj is the second
brand to get the GI tag.
• The women's self-help group “Maa Durga
Swasahayata Samuh” of Nagri in Dhamtari district has
8.4.2. SANCHI been harvesting Dubraj and had applied for the GI tag.
• Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) is all set to become the
country’s first solar city.
• Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi is a UNESCO world
heritage site.
• Place is related to Buddhism but not directly to life of
Buddha. It is more related to Ashoka than to Buddha.
o It comprises various Buddhist monuments dating
back to 1st and 2nd C.E, famous one being the
Sanchi Stupa.
o Sanchi stupa houses 4 gateways that showcase 8.4.6. PUSHKARALU/PUSHKARAM
Buddha’s life through intricate carvings. FESTIVAL
o It is also home to Gupta temple, one of the earliest
example of temple architecture. • 12-day Pushkaralu festival of Telugu-speaking people
commenced in Varanasi.
8.4.3. MANAMADURAI POTTERY • Pushkaralu refers to the worship of the 12 sacred
• Recently Manamadurai pottery of Sivagangai district, rivers in which the god Pushkar appears every 12
Tamil Nadu got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. years.
o Rivers are: Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna,
• A unique type of clay is sourced from water bodies like
Kaveri, Bhima, Tapti, Narmada, Saraswati,
Nedunkulam, Nathapurakki, Sundaranadappu,
Tungbhadra, Sindhu, and Pranhita.
Seikalathur to make these pots.
o Main raw materials for making these pots are soil • The celebration happens annually, once in 12 years
and water. along each river which are associated with a zodiac
o Vaigai River which runs through the Manamadurai sign.
village enriches the clay used for the pottery. 8.4.7. HAKKI PIKKI
8.4.4. LADAKHS WOOD CARVINGS • Few members of the tribe are stranded in Sudan amidst
• Prime Minister applauds GI Tag for Ladakh's Wood internal war.
• They are predominantly living in Shivamogga,
Carving, a first of its kind.
• Wood carving of Ladakh has been an aesthetically Davanagere and Mysuru districts of Karnataka.
• They are known for knowledge of traditional and
vibrant art form in Ladakh region.
o It will boost exports, promotes goods at herbal medicine that is in high demand in African
international level, and will bring economic countries.
• Hakki-Pikkis are said to be a matriarchal group.
prosperity to producers and stakeholders.
• They speak an Indo-Aryan language. They
• GI sign used on products that have a specific
geographical origin and possess qualities or a communicate in 'Vaagri' (mother language) at home
reputation that is due to that origin. but speak in Kannada when conducting daily business.
o Geographical Indications (GI) of Goods • UNESCO has listed 'Vaagri' as one of the endangered
(Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 provide languages.
for registration and better protection of GI for 10
years.

8.4.8. ABHILEKH PATAL o It is an initiative of NAI to make its Indian Archival
Records available to all.
• PM praised “Abhilekh patal” a portal with over 1 Crore • NAI is an Attached Office of the Ministry of Culture and
Pages of Historical Records of National Archives. act as repository of non-current records of
• It is a full-featured web-portal to access National Government of India.
Archives of India’s (NAI) reference media and its
digitized collections through internet.

9. ETHICS
9.1. ETHICS OF MIGRATION
Introduction
The World Bank’s World Development Report 2023 proposed an integrated framework to maximize the development
impacts of cross-border movements on both destination and origin countries and on migrants and refugees themselves.
Migration is both seen as an asset and a liability by the world.
In order to utilize asset and shun away liability, countries around the world devise policies and laws as per their
suitability. Such policies often lack ethical principles.
What are the Ethical interests of different stakeholders?
Individual Origin Country Destination Country For Rescuers International
Organization
Person lives his/her home The conflict between They want to receive only Tension felt by rescuers Organizations
in search of a more decent individuals’ right to exit their productive migrants and between, on the one hand, such as
life. They expect that territories and these states’ refugees. the humanitarian imperative International
place where they are efforts to regulate the Also, they are not open to to help people in need and, on Organization for
relocating should treat recruitment and protect the migration above a certain the other hand, the danger Migration (IOM)
them as equivalent to rights of their citizens working limit as it may impact that, by doing so, one might oversee that
their citizen. They want abroad. demographic change and become coopted into the migrants’ rights
them to perceive It brings remittances and on resource utilization violent practices of either are well
themselves as an end the other hand, it causes brain patterns. states or human smugglers. protected where
rather than as means. drain (migration of talented ever they live.
people).
Ethical Issues in Migration and Refugee Policy Matrix of Migration (Match and Supply)
• Violates Human Rights: Migration policies do The destination country prefers migrants and refugee who are more
not comply with the rights enshrined in beneficial to them (upper boxes of matrix). On the other side, if they
international laws such as the Universal are not able to match the criteria of the destination country, then are
have less opportunity (lower boxes of the matrix). It keeps changing
Declaration of Human Rights (1948),
with the demand and supply condition.
International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (1966), UN General Assembly
Resolution on the Protection of Migrants
(2014), etc.
• Utilitarian Approach: Policies give priority to
the migration of skilled workforce and
discourage the distress migration and refugees.
o For instance, engineers, doctors, etc. are
given a warm welcome in developed
countries but on the other hand when an
illiterate from Syria or Lebanon arrives, they
are not mainstreamed.
• Means and End: Labor economics emphasizes
the movement of workers across borders to
countries where their labor can be employed
more productively than in their origin country.
Humanity’s perspective is missing from it.
• Apathy: Thousands of Migrants and refugees
die while moving toward their destination
place. North African migration to Europe is a
relevant example of it.
• Sensitiveness: At the global level, policies have not been formulated to deal with this fresh wave of Climate Refugees
and Migrants.
• Ethics of temporary labor migration programs (TLMPs): Faced with labor and skills shortages in sectors such as
social care and food production, many high-income countries have been actively considering the expansion of TLMPs,
including for lower skilled migrant workers.
o TLMPs violate principles of domestic equality because they always afford migrant workers more restricted
rights than those enjoyed by citizens.
Impacts of Migration and Refugee Policy-making
Spheres When Ethical Principles are Not Incorporated When Ethical Principles are Incorporated
Citizenship Treated like a Secondary Citizen (considered Treated equally in different arenas of life.
status subordinate).
Rights Social, political, and economic rights are not They enjoy all the rights in an effective way. This helps them to
entitled to them. live a decent life.
Potential In adverse situations, they are not able to give Due to equal opportunities, they are able to fully utilize their
their best in a different arena. potential. Jews community in India is the best example of it.
Activities Due to unfavorable situations, they get involved Along with their development, they contribute to the
in illegal activities such as terrorism, drug development of society and the country at large.
trafficking, etc.
Peace and Improper integration with society leads to They are well integrated into society. Principles of tolerance,
Security various conflicts such as ideological, sympathy, etc. are being upheld in society.
psychological, etc. E.g. Issue of Rohingyas Exodus.
How we can Integrate Ethical Principles in Policy-Making?
• Equality and non-discrimination: It prohibits distinction,
exclusion, restriction or preference on the basis of a list of non-
exhaustive grounds such as race, colour, descent, ethnic origin,
etc.
o States should address direct and indirect discrimination
against and unequal treatment of people in laws, policies,
and practices, etc.
• Respecting Human Rights: Nations should refrain from human
rights violations of migrants. This includes refraining from
arbitrary detention, torture, or collective expulsion of
migrants.
• Participation and inclusion: Everyone is entitled to active,
free, and meaningful participation in decisions that affect the
enjoyment of their rights.
o Migrants should be consulted and included in the development of relevant public policy.
• People-centric Approach: It recognizes that migrants and refugees are men and women who make often difficult
choices and deserve fair and decent treatment. They are people with identities, skills, cultures, and preferences.
• Accountability and rule of law: States should ensure transparency in the design and implementation of their policies
and ensure that rights-holders have access to redress mechanisms and enjoy effective remedies when human rights
breaches occur.
o The system governing migration should allow migrants full access to justice, including redress and remedies if
they experience human rights violations.
Conclusion
The policies related to migration and refugee needs to be comprehensive and broad in nature. The interest of the
vulnerable needs to be given priority. Sustainable Development goals will be achieved only when all the people of the
world will prosper.

10. SCHEMES IN NEWS
10.1. CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME FOR MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES
(CGMSE)
Why in news?
Revamped Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGMSE) was launched recently.
Objectives Salient Features
• To strengthen credit • The scheme was formally launched in 2000.

delivery system and • The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, GoI and SIDBI established a Trust named
facilitate flow of credit Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to implement the
to the MSE sector. Scheme.
• Availability of bank o The corpus of CGTMSE is being contributed by the GoI and SIDBI in the ratio of 4:1
credit without the respectively.
hassles of collaterals / • Eligible
third party enterprises: Both
guarantees. the existing and
• To enable access to the new
finance for unserved, enterprises are
under-served and eligible to be
underprivileged, covered under
making availability of the scheme.
finance from • Eligible activity:
conventional lenders Manufacturing
to new generation and services
entrepreneurs. including Trading
(Retail /
Wholesale Trade)
and Educational /
Training
Institution. SHG
and agriculture
are ineligible for
coverage.
• Eligible Lending
Institutions: All
Scheduled
Commercial Banks, selected Regional Rural Banks, NBFCs, Small Finance Banks (SFBs), Scheduled
Urban Co-operative, Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) etc.
• Eligible Credit Facility: Fund and non-fund based (Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantee etc.) credit
facilities up to 500 lakh per eligible borrower are covered.
• Annual Guarantee Fee (AGF): AGF will be charged on the guaranteed amount for the first year
and on the outstanding amount for the remaining tenure of the credit facilities.
o Recently, guarantee fees for loans upto ₹1 crore is reduced by 50% bringing the minimum
guaranteed fee to the level of 0.37% pa only.
• Claim settlement when account turns NPAs: The lending institution may invoke the guarantee
in respect of credit facility when accounts turn into Non-Performing Assets.
o However, initiation of legal proceedings as a pre-condition for invoking of guarantees is
now waived for credit facilities upto 10 lakh (earlier 5 lakh).
• Tenure of Guarantee: The Guarantee cover under the scheme is for the agreed tenure of the
term loan/composite credit. In case of working capital, the guaranteed cover is of 5 years or
block of 5 years.

10.2. FAME (FASTER ADOPTION AND MANUFACTURING OF HYBRID AND
ELECTRIC VEHICLE) SCHEME
Why in news?
A Parliamentary Panel observed that Government
achieved only 52% of the target during the last four years
under the 2nd phase of the FAME scheme.
Objective Features
• To increase • Ministry: It was launched in 2015 under the Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises.
demand for hybrid • Background: The scheme is a part of the National Mission on Electric Mobility (NEMMP).
and electric o NEMMP was launched in 2013. It aims to achieve 6-7 million sales of hybrid and electric
vehicles by making vehicles year on year from the year 2020 onwards.
them more • Implementation: The FAME scheme is implemented through the following verticals:
affordable and o Demand Incentives
accessible. o Establishment of a network of Charging Stations
• To reduce the o Administration of Scheme including Publicity, IEC (Information, Education & Communication)
country's activities etc.
dependence on • Monitoring: By Project implementation and sanction committee, headed by the Secretary
fossil fuels. (Department of Heavy Industry).
• To reduce air Phases of the scheme
pollution, and • FAME India - Phase 1 (2015-2019): It had four focus areas - technological development, demand
mitigate the generation, pilot project, and charging infrastructure components.
impact of climate • FAME India - Phase 2 (2019-
change. 2022): It focuses on the
electrification of public and
shared transportation.
o The scheme aims to
provide incentives to
various categories of
vehicles, including
electric two-wheelers,
electric four-wheelers,
hybrid four-wheelers, e-rickshaws, and e-buses.
• FAME II – Redesigned (2022-2024): The scheme was redesigned based on the experience of Covid-
19 pandemic and feedback from the industry and users.
o The redesigned scheme aims at faster proliferation of Electric Vehicles by lowering the upfront
costs. This would be through increased incentives and aggregating demand for making
procurement more viable.
To know more about Electric Vehicles (EVs), kindly refer to Article 5.8 Electric Vehicles (EVs) Policy, March 2023 Edition
of Monthly Current Affairs Magazine

11. APPENDIX

Copyright © by Vision IAS
All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Vision
IAS.
SPACE FOR NOTES
8 IN TOP 10 SELECTIONS IN CSE 2021
from various programs of VisionIAS
CIVIL SERVICES
EXAMINATION 2020
2AIR 1 AIR
ANKITA
AGARWAL SHUBHAM KUMAR
3AIR
4AIR
5
AIR
6AIR
GAMINI AISHWARYA UTKARSH YAKSH

SINGLA VERMA DWIVEDI CHAUDHARY
7
AIR
8AIR
9
AIR
SAMYAK ISHITA PREETAM YOU CAN

S JAIN RATHI KUMAR BE NEXT
HEAD OFFICE: Apsara Arcade, 1st Floor, 1/8-B, Near

Gate 7, Karol Bagh Metro Station, Delhi
+91 8468022022 +91 9019066066
Mukherjee Nagar Center: 635, Opposite
Signature View Apartments, Banda Bahadur
DELHI Marg, Mukherjee Nagar
JAIPUR PUNE AHMEDABAD BHOPAL GUWAHATI HYDERABAD RANCHI LUCKNOW PRAYAGRAJ CHANDIGARH
/c/VisionIASdelhi /vision_ias /visionias_upsc /VisionIAS_UPSC www.visionias.in

6af04 April 2023

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

6af04 April 2023

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

6af04 April 2023

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

April 2023

Science & Technology

Art & Culture

Scan the QR CODE to

2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

3 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

4 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

6 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

1.3. COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM

7 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

8 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

9 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

10 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

11 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

1.6. LAND RECORDS MODERNIZATION IN INDIA

13 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

14 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

1.7. REGULATION OF ONLINE GAMING

15 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

1.8. NEWS IN SHORTS

1.8.6. INDIA JUSTICE REPORT

19 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

20 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

2.2. INDIA-LATIN AMERICA

21 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

22 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

23 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

24 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

2.4. COMPREHENSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE AGREEMENT FOR TRANS -PACIFIC

25 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

India and CPTPP

2.5. NEWS IN SHORTS

2.5.5. NORTH SEA SUMMIT

29 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

3.1.1. TRADE FACILITATION AND EASE OF DOING BUSINESS (EODB)

30 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

3.1.2. EXPORT PROMOTION INITIATIVES BY FTP 2023

31 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

3.1.3. OTHER INITIATIVES BY FTP 2023

SCOMET: Special Chemicals, Organisms,

• Regulation of dual use items: In consonance

33 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

Need/Reasons for the De-dollarization

35 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

3.3. GIG ECONOMY

36 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

37 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

38 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

3.4. STAND-UP INDIA

39 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

3.5. TRANSFER PRICING

40 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

3.6. MARKETS IN CRYPTO ASSETS (MICA)

41 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

42 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

3.6.1. DIGITAL SERVICES ACT

43 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

3.7. NATIONAL GAS GRID

44 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS