In news

• The Union government recently informed the Supreme Court (SC) that it was considering how to make it easier for non-resident Indians (NRI), especially migrant workers, to cast vote remotely.
• The Plea was submitted in 2013 "at a point when nothing was being done to enable such persons to cast their votes,".

SC recommended Committee

• After a PIL, a committee was constituted to look into the matter “with regard to ways and means to facilitate voting for the NRIs and migrant workers”.
• A report was submitted to the court.
• The central government had accepted the recommendations made by the Election Commission and thereafter, decided to introduce the Representation of Peoples Amendment Bill in 2018 in the Lok Sabha to amend a provision of section 60 of the Act (1951).

Content Source Link:

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/considering-ways-to-facilitate-nris-to-cast-vote-centre-tells-sc/article66082958.ece/amp/

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In News:

• India’s evolving Carbon market is under consideration for uniform emissions trading and Net Zero target

 About the News:

• India is on the path to establishing a carbon market at the national level beginning with the voluntary carbon market and then moving on to a compliance-based market.
• In this regard, Minister for Power, New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has recently announced steps to establish a carbon credit market in India.
• The step aims to help the country meet its nationally determined contributions (NDC) and play a key role in India’s drive towards decarbonisation.
• NDCs are submitted by countries under the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC and it represents pledges on climate action that seeks to limit global warming to meet the 1.5 °C temperature goal.
• Once the NDC targets of the country are achieved, the remaining credits can be sold in bulk to other countries that will benefit from them.
• Previously, India submitted its updated NDCs in 2022 stressing that it is a step ahead in achieving the long-term goal of Net Zero in 2070.
• Under the updated NDCs, India is committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its gross domestic products by 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving 50 per cent of its cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources of energy by 2030.

Carbon market in India:

• About: The clean development mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol provides a primary carbon market for the players in India while the secondary carbon market is covered by the perform-achieve-trade scheme (which falls under the energy efficiency category) and the renewable energy certificate.
• Potential sector: The global carbon credits market rose by 164 per cent in 2021 and is expected to cross $100 billion by 2030.
• Mechanism: One carbon credit permit allows one tonne of carbon dioxide or any other greenhouse gas to be emitted.
• Expanding supply chain: The country is working on expanding its supply chain in the solar manufacturing division to tackle volatility in energy markets. For example, the energy crisis due to the Russia-Ukraine war.
• Diversification: The government has introduced a production-linked incentive scheme for the manufacturing of polysilicon cells into modules in a step towards diversification of the supply chain.

Importance of Carbon market:

• About: The carbon credits market favoured by appropriate regulations and policy will help in the creation of suitable opportunities for the next decade.
• Wider impact: Unified carbon market will be beneficial since the location of the carbon projects is scattered, so mitigation activity happens over a wider area.
• Effective carbon credits: Enabling the carbon market at the domestic level will help organisations in the country trade in their carbon credits effectively and in turn, will speed up the energy transition objectives of the country for climate change mitigation.
• New avenues: Carbon markets will open up fresh options for organisations that are engaged in developing, trading and consulting carbon credits while stunting the growth of fossil-fuel generation capacities.
• Economic growth: Carbon credits will help developing countries like India carry out economic activities while keeping the country’s carbon goals in perspective.
• Source of funding: The required $10 trillion investment in areas such as power and hydrogen can be generated through carbon credit trading.

 Source:

• https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/energy/india-s-evolving-carbon-market-eye-on-policies-for-uniform-emissions-trading-net-zero-85690

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In news

The instance of the Kerala Governor, threatening to sack ministers who 'lowered the dignity' of his office, has resulted in accusations of the Governor overstepping constitutional limits.

Role of Governor

• Articles 153-161 of the Indian Constitution, prescribe the position, role, powers, and conditions of office of the Governor.
• Governor is the head of state’s executive power, and barring some matters, acts on the advice of the council of ministers.
• The office acts as the vital link between the Union and the state governments.
• Governor enjoys certain powers such as giving or withholding assent to a Bill passed by the state legislature or determining the time needed for a party to prove its majority.

Pleasure Doctrine: Issue in Kerala

• Article 164(1) says state 'Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor'.
• Related Court Judgements:
• Supreme Court: Shamsher Singh & Anr vs State Of Punjab (1974)

President and Governor, who are custodians of all executive and other powers under various Articles, shall, by virtue of the provisions, exercise their formal constitutional powers only upon and in accordance with the advice of their Ministers except in few well known exceptional situations.

• Supreme Court: Nabam Rebia And Etc. vs Deputy Speaker And Ors (2016)
• What does the “pleasure” of the Governor mean?
  • The pleasure doctrine is a concept derived from English common law, under which the crown can dispense with the services of anyone in its employ at any time.
  • Under Article 164, the Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor; and the other Ministers are appointed by the Governor on the CM’s advice.

It adds that Ministers hold office at the pleasure of the Governor.

• In a constitutional scheme in which ministers are appointed solely on the CM’s advice, the ‘pleasure’ referred to is also taken to mean the right of the Chief Minister to dismiss a Minister and not that of the Governor.
• Overall, the Governor of an Indian State cannot remove a Minister on his own.

• Opinion of Kerala State Government
  • The Constitution does not give the Governor “dictatorial powers”, and it shows a “political bias” against the government.

How to reduce conflicts relating to the Governor's office?

• National Commission To Review the Working of the Constitution (2000)
  • The Governor of a State should be appointed by the President, after consultation with the Chief Minister of that State, ensuring Political coherency
• Sarkaria Commission (1983)
  • It proposed that the Vice President of India and Speaker of Lok Sabha should be consulted by the Prime Minister in the selection of Governors.
• Madan Mohan Punchhi Committee (2007)
  • Committee comprising the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Vice President, Speaker, and the concerned Chief Minister should choose the Governor.
  • Also recommended deleting the “Doctrine of Pleasure” from the Constitution, but backed the right of the Governor to sanction the prosecution of ministers against the advice of the state government.
  • Further, it also argued for a provision for impeachment of the Governor by the state legislature.

Source:

• Explained | What is the doctrine of pleasure?
• Tussle in Kerala: Can Governor Khan dismiss a state minister?

Image source:

• https://img.etimg.com/photo/msid-61667226,quality-100/governer.jpg

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In news

The Government’s Agricultural export promotion body, APEDA has decided to focus on shipments of its organic variety to achieve the target of at least ₹2,000 crore export by FY26.

Millets in India

• Millets are a group of cereal grains that belong to the Poaceae family, commonly known as the grass family.

• Large millets include pearl, foxtail, proso, finger (or ragi); Small millets include Kodo, barnyard, little, Guinea, browntop, fonio, adlay (or Job’s tears).
• India is the largest producer of Millet in the world, with a cultivated area of 12.45 million hectares.
• Millets are grown in about 21 states in India, with Rajasthan(29.05%) having the highest area under Millet cultivation, followed by Karnataka(13.46%).

Importance of millets cultivation

• They are drought-resistant crops and grow under harsher conditions, and hence are best suited for arid/semi-arid regions.
• They are dual-purpose crops, as they provide both food and fodder.
• They help mitigate climate change as their cultivation help reduce Carbon pressure, unlike Paddy cultivation which emits Methane.
• Its cultivation suits poor farmers as they are pest-resistant, tolerant to temperature change, requires less water due to an efficient root system and doesn't require the addition of chemical fertiliser.

Challenges associated with Millet production in India

• Low productivity of millets
  • This is attributed to their cultivation in marginal lands in rainfed farming and non-adoption of improved cultivars.
• Resistance to pests and diseases
  • No productive cultivars with highly significant resistance to pests and diseases are available and management options are mostly limited to agronomic and chemical methods.
• Area expansion in non-traditional areas
  • Bringing the additional lands under millets cultivation is another important factor in increasing the production, especially the fallow and wastelands and the non-traditional areas are more sustainable without competing with the high remunerative crop.
• Seed hubs & breeder seed production
  • There is need for identifying various product-specific cultivars and establishing the seed hubs for breeding and producing such seeds so as to establish demand-driven production.

Measures taken to promote Millets in India

Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion (INSIMP)

• Launched in 2012 as a part of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), to advancing equipment and technology related to millet harvest and increasing productivity of inefficient areas.

• Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)
  • This Incentivized manufacturing of Ready to Cook/Ready to Eat (RTC/ RTE) millet-based foods.
• Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME)
  • Under this Millet was made part of One District One Product (ODOP) approach to reap the benefit of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products.
• Introduction of millets in PDS, mid-day meal
• India’s initiative to promote millet was recognized and the United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets, to increase awareness about millet in food security, and to encourage investments in research and development.

Source:

• https://www.assocham.org/uploads/files/Report_Millets%202022%20(Print%20Version)%20(1).pdf

Image source:

• https://twitter.com/AgrozeeO/status/1546460136452943872/photo/1

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• Context: A phenomenon called "coronal holes" was spotted on the sun which sometimes interacts with the earth’s magnetic field.
• The Sun sometimes emits a strong surge of solar wind called a coronal mass ejection. This gust of solar wind disturbs the outer part of the Earth's magnetic field, which undergoes a complex oscillation. This generates associated electric currents in the near-Earth space environment, which in turn generates additional magnetic field variations called "magnetic storm."

• How do they affect life on earth?

1. Radio and GPS signals travel through the Ionosphere and so communications can get disrupted.
2. Satellite drag can have a serious impact on the orbital lifetime of low-Earth-orbiting satellites.

Sources

• https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-magnetic-storm
• https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/why-the-sun-was-smiling-in-an-image-shared-by-nasa-8243451/
• https://www.britannica.com/science/space-weather/Effects-on-satellite-communications-and-navigation

Image Source:

• https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/storms-on-sun.html

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• Context: The European Research and Innovation Days ASEAN 2022, the flagship regional event of EURAXESS ASEAN, will take place virtually, bringing together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs and the public to debate and shape the future of the world.

• What is it?
• ASEAN 2022 will focus on green and digital transitions in ASEAN and EU, highlighting the creation of a circular economy, and on leveraging digital transformation to contribute to cutting emissions and moving towards sustainable development goals.
• Objectives

The event features several tracks, engaging with different research areas and thematic. These include:

(I) Energy Transition and Digitalisation for Sustainable Development

(II) EU-ASEAN Partnership in Green and Digital Transformation;

(III) Digitalisation to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals;

(IV) The Transformative Effect of Science to Reach the Green and Digital Goals; and

(V) Digitalisation and Energy Transition and Climate Change: Collaboration Opportunities with European Partners.

Source:

• https://asean.org/european-research-and-innovation-days-asean-2022-focus-on-twin-transition-of-green-and-digital-in-asean-and-eu/

Image Source:

• https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/01/asean-is-50-and-it-s-come-a-long-way-here-s-why-you-should-care/

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Context: Cabinet approves Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for decontrolled fertilizers.

• The Government introduced the NBS Policy in continuation of the erstwhile Concession Scheme for decontrolled P & K fertilizers.

• NBS Policy was introduced with the following major objectives:
  • to ensure balanced application of fertilizers;
  • to improve the growth of the indigenous fertilizer industry;
  • to contain the subsidy bill; and
  • to leave open MRP to be fixed by fertilizer manufacturer/importer at a reasonable level.
• The government is making fertilizers, namely Urea and 25 grades for P&K fertilizers available to farmers at subsidised prices through fertilizer manufacturers/importers.

Sources:

• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1873019

Image source:

• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/to-shield-farmers-govt-raises-fertiliser-subsidy-by-rs-40000cr/articleshow/91136916.cms

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Exam View: Major Sources of Air Pollution, Issues Associated with Air Pollution in India, Initiatives taken by India for Controlling Air Pollution.

In News: As key environmental indicators worsen across India, it is clear that State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees are falling short in meeting their statutory mandate.

Their primary role is to regulate emissions from point sources such as industries and power plants that contribute substantially to ambient air pollution in urban and rural areas. More recently, they have also been tasked with guiding cities in meeting targets under the National Clean Air Programme and spending Finance Commission grants for air quality improvements.

In recent years, Air Pollution has acquired critical dimensions and the air quality in most Indian cities fails to meet WHO guidelines for safe levels.

According to the report of The Lancet Planetary Health, Air pollution was responsible for 16.7 lakh deaths in India in 2019, or 17.8% of all deaths in the country that year and air pollution is most severe in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Burning of biomass in households was the single largest cause of air pollution deaths in India, followed by coal combustion.

The levels of PM2.5 and PM10 as well as concentration of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) have reached alarming proportions in most Indian cities, putting people at additional risk of respiratory diseases and other health problems.

At the rate with which air pollution is increasing in the country, immediate action has become an absolute necessity. It is therefore necessary to revitalise the government's efforts to curb this menace.

Impact of Air Pollution in India:

• Impact on Human Health: The Air Quality Life Index shows that particulate matter pollution reduces life expectancy more than communicable diseases. Not only humans but animals too are affected by air pollution. it adversely affects lungs, triggers asthma, increases the chances of skin cancer and causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Impact on Indian Economy: A World Bank report titled ‘Diagnostic Assessment of Select Environmental Challenges in India” highlighted that the annual cost of air pollution, specific pollution from particulate matter (burning of fossil fuels) amounts to 3% of the GDP of the country, outdoor air pollution accounting for 1.7% and indoor air pollution for 1.3%.

 Impact on the Environment:

• Acid Rain: the combustion of fossil fuels emits nitric oxide and sulphur dioxide, also acidic substances, into the atmosphere which reacts with airborne water molecules and decreases rainwater pH, leading to the formation of acid rain. It acidifies the water bodies, Damage crops, and natural vegetation Changes in soil chemistry etc.
• Ozone depletion: Emissions of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons from various sources is ozone-depleting substances.
• Global Climate Change: Immense quantities of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane released into the air contribute to climate change

 Initiatives taken by India for Controlling Air Pollution:

• System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) Portal
• Graded Response Action Plan (for Delhi)
• Turbo Happy Seeder and Microbe Pusa (for reducing stubble burning)
• National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP)

 Way Forward:

There is a need to urgently confront air pollution and global warming and strengthen health systems. The short-term respite from air pollution that most big cities in the world experienced was because of lockdown measures that will save some lives, but only long-term reductions in air pollution can have lasting impacts.

• Green-Transition Finance: There is a need to create a financial architecture that can mobilise private finance for clean-air solutions in India. Green sectors such as clean energy and e-mobility offer tangible solutions to improve air quality.
• Increasing solar power generation: It is a critical measure that needs to be adopted in order to reduce air pollution.
• Reducing Emission, Securing Purse: Recent World Bank report observed that a 30% reduction in particulate emissions by 2030 would save India 105 billion dollars in health-related costs.
• Improving access to public transport, electrifying the transport fleet, raising regulations or pricing emissions on power plants and factories, and developing new technology alternatives to polluting industries, such as steel and cement – all of these measures lead to cleaner air (and lower carbon emissions).

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-weakest-link-in-the-air-pollution-fight/article66082739.ece

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Why in news? Saffron Festival was organised recently.

About:

• Saffron cultivation is believed to have been introduced in Kashmir by Central Asian immigrants around the 1st Century BCE.
• Saffron is a plant whose dried stigmas (thread-like parts of the flower) are used to make saffron spice.

• It is a very precious and costly product.
• It rejuvenates health and is used in cosmetics and for medicinal purposes.
• It is referred to as bahukam’ in Sanskrit literature.
• It is cultivated and harvested in the Karewas (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir and has been assigned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry.

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/this-year-saffron-fields-to-spice-up-tourists-reel-life-in-kashmir/article66081917.ece/amp/

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Why in news? Astronomers discovered three asteroids in the twilight because they were hidden in the Sun’s glare. Out of the three near-Earth asteroids discovered, one is classified as a ‘planet killer’ and named “2022 AP7”.

About

• The diameter of the planet killer is between 1.1km and 2.3km.
• It is the biggest potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) discovered since 2014.
• It may probably be among the top 5% of the largest PHA.

Asteroids:

• Asteroids are rocky objects that orbit the Sun, much smaller than planets. They are also called minor planets.
• They are believed to be created by the Big Bang which occurred when the stars and planets came into being.
• The mass of all the asteroids is less than that of Earth's moon. But despite their size, asteroids can be dangerous.

https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/planet-killer-asteroid-found-hidden-in-suns-glare-read-to-know-details/amp_articleshow/95262981.cms

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Why in news? Recently, a newly renovated colonial-era suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi, Gujarat.

About

• The suspension bridge, or Jhulta Pul, was built by the ruler of the princely state of Morbi, Sir Waghji Thakor, in 1877.
• The town of Morbi is situated on the Machchhu River, 35 km from the sea and 60 km from Rajkot

Macchu River:

• It is a river in Gujarat whose origin is Madla hills and disappears in the Little Rann of Kachchh. This is one of the North flowing rivers of Saurashtra.
• Beti, Asoi, Jamburi, Benia, Machchhori, Maha are the tributaries of the Machchhu river.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/morbi-bridge-collapse-generations-wiped-out-in-disaster/article66083435.ece/amp/

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Why in news? Recently, strategies planned to halt the spread of invasive species over 800 hectares of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve buffer zone.

About

Senna spectabilis:

• It is a deciduous tree native to tropical areas of America.
• It grows up to 15 to 20 meters in a short period of time and distributes thousands of seeds after flowering.

• The thick foliage of the tree arrests the growth of other indigenous tree and grass species.
• Thus, it causes food shortages for the wildlife population, especially herbivores.
• It also adversely affects the germination and growth of native species.
• It is categorised as ‘Least Concern’ under IUCN Red List.
• Invasive species, also called introduced species, alien species, or exotic species, any non-native species that significantly modify or disrupt the ecosystems it colonizes. Such species may arrive in new areas through natural migration, but they are often introduced by the activities of other species.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/strategies-planned-to-halt-spread-of-invasive-species-over-800-hectares-of-mudumalai-tiger-reserve-buffer-zone/article66082345.ece/amp/

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Why in news?  Chhattisgarh celebrated the 23rd edition of the state's foundation day.

About

• November 1 is celebrated as the Chhattisgarh Foundation Day - or Chhattisgarh Rajyotsava - since 2000 when the Union government declared it an independent state. Earlier, Chhattisgarh was a part of Madhya Pradesh.
• Chhattisgarh is an important hub for the production of steel and electrical power in India, producing about 15% of the total steel produced in India.
• Chhattisgarh is mainly famous for its agriculture accounting for about 80% of the workforce. It is also known as ‘Dhan Ka Katora’ meaning ‘Bowl of Rice’ for the production of rice.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chhattisgarh-foundation-day-today-raipur-to-host-national-tribal-dance-festival-101667263600804-amp.html

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Why in news? An invasive species, Senna spectabilis, an exotic tree, has taken over between 800 and 1,200 hectares of the buffer zones of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in the Nilgiris hill district.

About

• Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu at the tri-junction of three states - Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• It is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1st Biosphere Reserve in India) along with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the West, Bandipur National Park (Karnataka) in the North, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley in the South.
• It has tall grasses-“Elephant Grass”, Bamboo of the giant variety, and valuable timber species like Teak, Rosewood, etc.
• The fauna include: tigers, elephants, Indian Gaur, Panther, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Common Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Wild Dog, Mongoose, Jungle Cat, Hyena, among others.
• 8% of bird species found in India are recorded in Mudumalai.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/strategies-planned-to-halt-spread-of-invasive-species-over-800-hectares-of-mudumalai-tiger-reserve-buffer-zone/article66082345.ece#:~:text=An%20invasive%20species%2C%20Senna%20spectabilis,the%20picturesque%20Nilgiris%20hill%20district

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Background

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), conducted India’s First Floating Financial Literacy Camp with an initiative called ‘Niveshak Didi’ to promote Financial Literacy ‘By the women, for the women, in Srinagar, J&K recently.

About Niveshak Didi

• ‘Niveshak Didi’ initiative is based on the ideology of women for women as rural area women feel more comfortable sharing their queries with a female herself.
• It is launched by IPPB, in collaboration with the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA)under the aegis of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
• As part of the launch of the initiative, India’s First Floating Financial Literacy Camp was conducted by a newly appointed ‘Niveshak Didi’, who held the Financial Literacy session in local Kashmiri language.
• The session covered topics ranging from:
  • banking and financial products
  • importance of joining the mainstream financial services offered by regulated entities
  • protection against various types of risks involved with investments and measures of fraud prevention.
• The initiative will address the challenges faced by rural masses in terms of language and their understanding of financial products and services.

Source:

• India Post Payments Bank conducts India’s First Floating Financial Literacy Camp

Image source:

• https://twitter.com/IPPBOnline/status/1585490359747911680/photo/1

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