In News: The Rajya Sabha has recently passed the Indian Antarctic Bill 2022.

About the News:

• The Indian Antarctic Bill 2022 was introduced and passed with a voice note in the Rajya Sabha following the approval by the Lok Sabha.

A brief on the Antarctic Bill 2022:

• The bill seeks to protect the environment of the Antarctic along with dependent and associated ecosystems.
  • India has two active research stations in the Antarctic namely Maitri and Bharti.
  • Dakshin Gangotri was the first Indian base established in
• The Bill seeks to give effect to the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
  • The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 and implemented in 1961.
  • The total number of parties to the treaty is 54.
  • India is a member to the Antarctic

• • • Following the Antarctic treaty, member countries signed the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources at Canberra in 1980 which India ratified in 1985.
    • The countries also signed the ‘Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Madrid Protocol) in 1991, which designates the continent as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science. 

Key Features of the bill

• The bill proposes to prohibit Indian expeditions to Antarctica without a permit or written authorisation of another party to the Antarctic Treaty.
• It also provides for inspection by an officer appointed by the government and for a penalty for contravention of certain provisions of the legislation.
• The Bill also provides a regulatory framework for India’s Antarctic activities through legal mechanisms which will help in the efficient operation of the Indian Antarctic Programme.
• It provides for the constitution of the fund to be called the Antarctic fund which shall be applied towards the welfare of Antarctic research work and the protection of the Antarctic environment.
• The Bill plans to set up Indian Antarctic Authority (IAA) as an apex decision-making authority under the Earth Sciences Ministry, to provide an accountable process for supervision of Antarctic research and expeditions.
• It extends the jurisdiction of Indian courts to Antarctica and lays out penal provisions for crimes on the continent by Indian citizens, and foreign citizens who are part of Indian expeditions.

• It provides for the establishment of the Committee on Antarctic Governance and Environmental Protection to monitor, implement and ensure compliance with international laws, and emissions standards.
• The Bill prohibits mining, dredging and activities that threaten the pristine conditions of Antarctica like nuclear explosion and radioactive waste disposal, the introduction of non-sterile soil, and the discharge of plastic, garbage and other substance into the sea.

Significance:

• It plans to facilitate India’s involvement in the management of tourism in the Antarctic and the sustainable development of fisheries.
• It also aims to increase India’s international visibility and credibility in Polar governance for cooperation in scientific studies and logistics.

Source:

• Monsoon session: Indian Antarctic Bill passed in RS before adjournment
• Rajya Sabha passes Bill for protecting Antarctic environment

Image source:

• https://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/science/madrid_protocol.php

In news

The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has recently shared data on the trend of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India.

About the News:

• Despite the ongoing pandemic and global developments, India has received the highest annual FDI inflows of USD 84,835 million in FY 21-22 overtaking last year’s FDI by USD 2.87 billion.

• As per the UNCTAD World Investment Report (WIR) 2022, India has improved one position to 7th rankamong the top 20 host economies for 2021 in terms of FDI inflows.
• This was achieved following the government’s t transformative reforms under the FDI policy regime across sectors such as insurance, defence, telecom, financial services, pharmaceuticals, retail trading, e-commerce, construction & development, civil aviation, manufacturing etc.

Trends of FDI in India

• In FY22, India received the highest annual FDI inflows of $84.835 billion, which exceeded the previous fiscal year by $ 2.87 billion.
• Singapore (27.01%) and the USA (17.94%) have emerged as top sourcing nations in FDI equity flows into India.

• The top 5 sectors receiving the highest FDI Equity Inflow during FY 2021-22 are Computer Software & Hardware (24.60%), Services Sector (Fin., Banking, Insurance, Non-Fin/Business, Outsourcing, R&D, Courier, Tech. Testing and Analysis, Other) (12.13%), Automobile Industry (11.89%), Trading72% and Construction (Infrastructure) Activities (5.52%).
• The Top Five States receiving the highest FDI Equity Inflow during FY 2021-22 are Karnataka (37.55%), Maharashtra (26.26%), Delhi (13.93%), Tamil Nadu (5.10%) and Haryana (4.76%).

Government policies that have attracted FDI into India include:

• Amendments to Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
• Implementation of PM Gati Shakti, single window clearance and GIS-mapped land bank.
• Introduction of the goods and services tax (GST) regime and a significant cut in the corporate profit tax rate.
• Progressive liberalisation of the FDI regime relating to key sectors like manufacturing, railways, insurance, pension, defence, construction, single brand retail trading, coal mining, etc.
• Rationalisation of labour laws into four labour codes and the implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
• ‘Make in India’ programme and consequent ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ campaign.

Source:

• WHAT IS FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT (FDI) What is 'Fdi'
• Trend on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India
• FDI Flows to India: Recent Trends, Challenges and Way Forward

Image source:

• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

In News

The PRS Legislative Research has recently released the second edition of the “Annual Review of State Laws” Report.

About the News:

• A Delhi-based legislative think tank has recently released a report focusing on the legislative activity of 30 State legislatures, 28 States, plus Delhi and Puducherry.
• State legislatures are responsible for framing laws for states besides performing other functions such as approving government expenditure and holding the government accountable.

• At present, 28 states of India and the union territories (UTs) of Delhi and Puducherry have legislatures.
• Six state legislatures (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh) of India have two Houses, the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.

Major findings of the report for 2021:

• Functioning of state legislatures: State assemblies met for an average of 21 days and during this time, passed more than 500 Bills.
• Sittings of the state legislature: Nearly 29 state assemblies met for an average of 21 days with the average being boosted by three states – Kerala (61), Odisha (43), and Karnataka (40) which met for 40 days or more.
• Assembly sessions: Under Article 174 of the Constitution states that the gap between one sitting of the Assembly and the next should not be more than six months. Of all the sessions, Budget Sessions were the longest with 61% of sitting days.
• Number of sitting days: Between 2016 and 2021, 23 state assemblies met for an average of 25 days. The decline has been a sharp dip in 2020: States which met for fewer days include Tripura (11), Punjab (14), Haryana (14), Uttarakhand (14), and Delhi (16).
• Focus Areas of Sittings:
  • Educationwas the top priority with 21% of all laws passed in 2021 related to this subject.
  • After Education, Taxation and Urban Governanceaccounted for the largest share of state laws passed in 2021.
  • Several of the other sectors saw crucial legislations, including ones relating to online gaming, reservationof jobs for local candidates from the state, and the safety of women and children

Source:

• Original report:
• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala-tops-in-assembly-sittings-in-2021-study/article65699304.ece

Image source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala-tops-in-assembly-sittings-in-2021-study/article65699304.ece

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was set up on August 3, 1954, under the direct charge of Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru through a Presidential Order. Subsequently, in accordance with a Government Resolution, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established under the Department of Atomic Energy.

According to the Resolution constituting the AEC, the Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy is ex-officio Chairman of the Commission. The other Members of AEC are appointed for each calendar year on the recommendation of the Chairman, with the approval of the Prime Minster.

DAE has been engaged in the development of nuclear power technology, and applications of radiation technologies in the fields of agriculture, medicine, industry and basic research.

Source:

• https://dae.gov.in/node/394#:~:text=The%20Department%20of%20Atomic%20Energy,the%20Department%20of%20Atomic%20Energy.

Image:

• https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/government/what-are-the-important-commissions-in-india

• Context: The Prime Minister has recently launched the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme.
• RDSS is a Reforms-based and Results-linked scheme that is aimed at improving operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of power distribution companies (DISCOMs)/ departments.
• It is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Power.

• The scheme has an outlay of over ₹3 trillion over a period of five years (FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26).
• Rural Electrification Cooperation (REC) and Power Finance Cooperation (PFC) have been nominated as nodal agencies for facilitating the implementation of the scheme.
• It provides assistance to DISCOMs for modernisation and strengthening of distribution infrastructure.
• Objectives of RDSS:
  1. Reduce aggregate technical & commercial (AT&C) losses across DISCOMs to 12-15%.
  2. Reduce the gap between the average cost of power supply and average revenue realised to zero by FY25.
• This initiative will transform every part of the country’s power sector in terms of Generation, Transmission, Distribution and Connection.

Sources:

• PM launches Power Sector’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme | Prime Minister of India (pmindia.gov.in)
• PM urges States to clear ₹2.5 lakh cr power sector dues - The Hindu BusinessLine
• Explained: What is the new discom revamp scheme and how can it reduce the woes of the power sector? (moneycontrol.com)

• Context: The Prime Minister has recently addressed the first-ever national-level meeting of District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs).
• DLSAs are established under Legal Services Authorities Act (LSA), 1987 to provide free legal aid, organize Lok Adalats, set up Legal literacy camps etc.

• They also ensure that opportunities for securing justice and fundamental rights are not denied to any citizens for reasons of poor economic conditions. (Article 39A of the Constitution)
• There are a total of 676 DLSAs in the country.
• In every District, District Legal Services Authority has been constituted to implement Legal Services Programmes in the District and is chaired by the District Judge of the respective district.
• DLSAs also contribute towards reducing the burden on courts by regulating Lok Adalats conducted by National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

Source:

• https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-kali-bein-significance-sikhs-8044257/ https://nalsa.gov.in/about-us

Image source:

• https://lawyersgyan.com/blog/free-legal-aid-its-ignorance-can-result-in-injustice/

• Context: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has recently affirmed India’s commitment to unlock the trade potential with Central Asia through the use of Chabahar Port in Iran.
• The Chabahar port islocated in southeastern Iran in the Gulf of Oman.

• It is located in the Sistan-Balochistan province, a province that spans both Iran and Afghanistan.
• It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the ocean.
• The port is considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries.
• It will allow India to bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Afghanistan using a sea-land route. 

Source:

• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1846762

Image source:

• https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/india-committed-to-use-chabahar-port-to-unlock-trade-potential-with-central-asia-sonowal-articleshow.html

• Context: As part of reforms to make RRBs financially sustainable, the government has asked RRBs to move towards digitization, and expand their credit base further through increased lending to the MSME sector.

• RRBs are set up on the recommendations of the Narasimha Working Group (1975), under RRB Act 1976, for the credit facility to rural areas.
• They are brought under the ambit of priority sector lending on par with the commercial bank
• Their equity is held by the Central Government, concerned State Government and Sponsor bank in the proportion of 50:15:35.
• They have a number of advantages that include:
  • Providing banking services to the doorstep of rural masses.
  • Provide easy and direct finance to co-operative societies and SHGs.
  • Providing institutional credit to the weaker section.

Source:

• https://indianexpress.com/article/business/sustainability-push-govt-asks-rrbs-to-step-up-digitisation-business-economy-news-msmes-8064656/

Image source:

• https://m.economictimes.com/banking/consolidation-of-regional-rural-banks-on-government-agenda/amp_articleshow/70352683.cms

Essence:

The article highlights the present state of globalization that is driven by the digitalization of processes leading to the integration of all economic activities at national and international levels. This has enabled even small and medium businesses (that contribute to maximum employment generation) to reap the benefits of globalization.

The article rightly points out that there is a need to further regulate, monitor, and secure digital systems and to have international consensus with respect to privacy and cyber laws. It stresses an urgent need to address the present digital divide between the developed and developing economies.

India has already created the digital infrastructure needed for scaling technical and business innovations. The sector calls for increased attention to help India take a leap ahead in the globalized world.

Why should you read this article?

• To understand various stages of globalization and how it would unfold in the next decade.
• The problems related to the digital divide, cyber security, and privacy laws.
• The article highlights the digital schemes and policies of India and their impact.

Source:

• https://www.livemint.com/opinion/online-views/our-bright-economic-prospects-in-the-digital-age-of-globalization/amp-11659458771884.html

Essence – The editorial talks about the government’s intention to bring down the practice of promising freebies to which distorts the election process. It also discusses about the dilemma of defining freebies, where it mentions about some major social sector schemes, which in the view of the government is kind of freebies. It describes the condition of the COVID pandemic where these social sector schemes have proved to be life savers.

The article concludes by comparing the expenditure on incentives for the rich and the corporates with that of social sector schemes for the poor and ends with what we define as freebies that will reflect the nature of our democracy.

Why read this editorial –

• To get the clarity of what should actually be considered as freebies.

 Source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/making-sense-of-the-freebies-issue/article65717382.ece/amp/

Background

At a time of increasing Water Crisis every day, an array of eco-friendly and traditional methods of water conservation would result in sustainable solutions to address the current challenges of Water Scarcity.

Highlights of Significant Water Conservation practices in India

1. Ahar Pynes:

• Prevalent in South Bihar, these consist of reservoirs that are made with embankments at the end of diversion channels, which regulate the flow of water and store it for irrigation and other purposes.
• These diversion channels known as pynes are artificial rivulets that are extended from rivers to collect water and channel it to the Ahars for irrigation during dry months. 

2. Apatani: Practised by the Apatani tribes of Ziro, in Arunachal Pradesh, the system is used to harvest both ground and surface water for irrigation;
3. Baoli

• Baolis were step-wells with intricately carved motifs and arches, with rooms on consecutive sides, and were either built-in central points of villages or trade routes.

4. Cheo-ozihi

• Prevalent in parts of Nagaland, Cheo-ozihi is a long channel made out of bamboo, which is constructed and connected to several sub-channels that navigate the water’s flow from the river into the terraces where the cultivation is done.  

5. Eri

• Prevalent in South India, these are tanks that are fed by channels to divert river water, or are entirely fed by rain.
• These tanks are all interconnected and enable access to water to the farthest of villages, thus maintaining a balance in the water level, in case of excess supply through floods.
• This system also prevents soil erosion and runoff water wastage, especially during heavy rainfall

Source:

• https://www.thebetterindia.com/280133/water-map-of-india-what-we-can-learn-from-over-25-traditional-harvesting-systems/