In News

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) has launched Fortified Rice Bran Oil (RBO) to boost healthy living.

About the News

• The initiative aims to significantly reduce the country's consumption dependence on imported edible oil in future, provide easy access to Nafed branded high quality rice bran oil, which will also give a boost to the indigenous oil manufacturing industry.
• RBO is crudely extracted from rice bran and then refined by different physical and chemical processes. Rice Bran oil has multiple health benefits, like lowering cholesterol level due to its low trans-fat content, acts as a booster and reduces the risk of cancer due to the high amount of Vitamin E it contains.
• RBO is recommended by the American Heart Association and the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the best substitutes for other edible oils. According to the FSSAI, fortified oil can help a person fulfil 25-30% of the recommended dietary intake for vitamins A and D.

What is Food Fortification?

Food Fortification simply means the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, vitamins A and D to staple food items such as rice, wheat, oil, milk, and salt. These important micronutrients are added to improve the nutritional content which may or may not have been originally present in the food before processing or may have been lost during processing. The addition of the vital nutrients is done to staple food items so that it can reach a larger population.

Initiatives by India

• In India, food fortification began in the 1950s with vegetable oil fortification and salt iodization. In the 2000s, the government introduced fortification of other commodities such as rice and wheat.
• In 2016, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) established standards for fortification of rice, wheat flour, edible oil, double fortified salt (DFS), and milk.
• FSSAI also established the Food Fortification Resource Centre which developed the ‘+F’ logo and helped build capacity for food producers. In order to make it popular, FSSAI in 2018 in their new regulations made food fortification in the country mandatory for the brands.
• The Centre also issued new mandates to use fortified staples in safety net programs, such as double fortified salt (DFS) and fortified edible oil through mid-day meal (MDM) and Integrated Child Development Schemes (ICDS).

Sources: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727214

https://dalberg.com/our-ideas/fortifying-india-challenges-and-opportunities-for-large-scale-food-fortification-in-india/

https://swachhindia.ndtv.com/all-about-food-fortification-and-how-it-can-make-india-a-healthy-country-41924/

https://fssai.gov.in/cms/fortified-food.php

In News: In a significant development that will help set the record straight on India’s military history, the centre has approved a new policy to declassify war histories and records of past military operations.

About the News:

• Setting a clear timeline for compilation, publication, archiving and declassification of the histories of India’s wars and operations, the Ministry of Defense has come out with a new policy which stipulates that war events must be officially recorded within five years.
• It states that records should ordinarily be declassified in 25 years and records older than 25 years should be appraised by archival experts and transferred to the National Archives of India once the war/operations histories have been compiled.

The New Policy:

• The policy envisages that each organization under the Ministry of Defense will transfer the records (war diaries, letters of proceedings, operational record books, etc.) to the History Division of Ministry of Defense (MoD) for proper upkeep, archival and writing the histories.
• The government will have discretionary power over withholding records it deems sensitive- one such example is the Henderson Brooks-Bhagat report (an operations review of the Indian Army in the 1962 war with China).

Why war histories matter?

• War histories give an accurate account of events, authentic material for academic research, and help counter rumors.
• Requirement of having war histories written with clear cut policy on declassification was recommended by Kargil Review Committee as well as NN Vohra Committee to analyze lessons learnt and to prevent mistakes in future.
• It is good to have certain aspects of a war, or a campaign declassified for people to know the rationale behind those actions and how they were carried out.

Primary source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/defence-ministry-okays-policy-to-archive-declassify-histories-of-wars-operations-7355751/

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/centre-approves-policy-to-declassify-war-histories-operations-101623521491565.html

In News

The 47th G7 summit was held from 11–13 June 2021 in Cornwall in the United Kingdom.

About the News

The G7 comprises the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan. The UK held the presidency and had invited India, along with Australia, South Korea, and South Africa, as guest countries for the Summit. The G7 members agreed upon the 2021 G7 Leaders' communiqué, which is their shared agenda for global action to build back better.

• The theme was ‘Build Back Better’, and the UK outlined four priority areas for its presidency: leading the global recovery from coronavirus while strengthening resilience against future pandemics; promoting future prosperity by championing free and fair trade; tackling climate change and preserving the planet’s biodiversity; and championing shared values and open societies.

G7 Summit 2021 and India

• India’s participation: This was the second time that India participated in a G7 meeting. India had been invited by the G7 French Presidency in 2019 to the Biarritz Summit as a 'Goodwill Partner'
• One earth, one health: India called for “one earth, one health” approach which aims for unity and solidarity among the states of the world to deal with the pandemic.
• TRIPS waiver: India sought G7’s support for proposal moved by India and South Africa at the WTO for a TRIPS waiver. The waiver will help India scale up production of anti-COVID-19 vaccines.
• Democracies 11: India signed the Democracies 11 joint statement with the G-7 countries, South Korea, Australia and South Africa. The statement pledged for open societies that reaffirm and encourage the values of freedom of expression, both online and offline, as a freedom that safeguards democracy and helps people live free from fear and oppression.
• The statement also refers to “politically motivated internet shutdowns” as one of the threats to freedom and democracy.

Criticism of Latest Summit

• Gaps in vaccine access not addressed: The pledge does not represent entirely new resources of vaccines and the donation is far short of the number of shots needed to fully vaccinate poorer nations. Moreover, the plan does not address distribution gaps and TRIPS Waiver that could make it difficult to deliver doses.
• Lack of detailing: Critics say the promises were not new, lacked in detail and some were plainly insufficient. The communique did not set out a detailed country-by-country commitment or a timetable to act on the global vaccination campaign, and many of the commitments had been agreed in advance.
• Climate Finance: The G7 failed to address the lack of trust w.r.t. Climate Finance between rich and developing countries. The pledges lack a successful G7 deal on climate finance to pave the way for vital UN climate talks at Cop26.

Conclusion

While the final communique of the G7 summit 2021 has abundant pledges, but they fall short of detailed steps, sufficient aids and timelines. It has no early timetable to eradicate coal-fired emissions, offered only 1bn extra coronavirus vaccines for the world’s poor over the next 12 months and made no new binding commitments to challenge China’s human rights abuses. Hence, the hopes to work on solutions to these problems with new momentum, linger on the G20 summit in July and Cop26 in November this year.

Question: Analyze the focus area of discussion of G7 summit and their relevance to India.

Primary Sources: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/50361/carbis-bay-g7-summit-communique.pdf

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/06/13/2021-g7-leaders-communique/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/13/g7-summit-what-have-the-wealthy-democracies-agreed-on

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/13/g7-reaffirmed-goals-but-failed-to-provide-funds-needed-to-reach-them-experts-say

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-signs-joint-statement-at-g-7-for-freedom-of-expression-internet-curbs-threat-to-democracy-7357610/

On June 16, 1925, Chittaranajan Das died in Darjeeling. After getting a degree in law from London, Das rose to fame when he successfully defended Aurobindo Ghosh in the 1908 Alipore Bomb Case. He was a moderate leader and worked closely with Ghosh and Bipin Chandra Pal and wrote in Pal’s English weekly ‘Bande Mataram’. He was elected President of Indian National Congress at the Gaya session in 1922. Later resigned and started ‘Swaraj Party’ with Motilal Nehru. Das also brought out a newspaper called 'Forward' and later changed its name to Liberty. Das published his poetries in two volumes titled ‘Malancha’ and ‘Mala’. For his immense contributions, people gave him the honorific title ‘Deshbandhu’ (Friend of the nation).

https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/deshbandhu-chittaranjan-das-freedom-fighter-who-became-a-lawyer-after-failing-ics-exam/250126/

This is the image of WISA Woodsat, a nano satellite built up from standardised boxes and surface panels made from plywood. The European Space Agency (ESA) has planned to put the world’s first wooden satellite, WISA Woodsat, on Earth’s orbit by the end of this year. The mission of the satellite is to test the applicability of wooden materials like plywood in spacecraft structures and expose it to extreme space conditions, such as heat, cold, vacuum and radiation, for an extended period. It will be launched to space from the Mahia Peninsula launch complex in New Zealand. The satellite, designed and built in Finland will orbit at around 500-600 km altitude in a roughly polar Sun-synchronous orbit. Woodsat’s only non-wooden external parts are corner aluminium rails used for its deployment into space and a metal selfie stick.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/15-metre-tree-discovered-in-andaman-nicobar-islands/article34806204.ece

• Context: approval of budgetary support of ₹500 crore for Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX) challenge under the Defense Innovation Organization (DIO) 
• The iDEX initiative was launched in 2018 with the aim of fostering innovation and technology development in defense and aerospace by engaging and funding micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups, individual innovators, etc.
• iDEx is funded and managed by DIO and functions as the executive arm of DIO.
• The scheme aims to facilitate:
• Setting up the iDEX network as independent Defence Innovation Hubs
• Rapid development of new, indigenized, and innovative technologies
• Interface with the military top brass to identify key innovative technologies and encourage their adoption

Primary source: https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/ministry-of-defence-allocates-rs-500-cr-for-designing-innovative-products-121061300900_1.html

• Context: The Centre stated to the apex court that besides the purchase of grains by the States and the UTs under the Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS) in 2021-2022, NGOs and charitable organizations have also purchased food commodities.
• OMSS refers to the selling of food grains by the government agencies at predetermined prices in the open market from time to time.
• Food Corporation of India sells surplus stocks of wheat and rice under OMSS at pre-determined prices through e-auction in the open market from time to time.

Primary source: https://dfpd.gov.in/omss_C.htm

Picture source: https://www.financialexpress.com/market/commodities/government-may-restrict-sale-of-excess-wheat-via-omss/385524/

• Context: implementation of Bihar’s biggest HEP1 MW Dagmara Project in Supaul district.
• It is a Run-of-the-River scheme which would contribute to India’s mission for energy transition for lesser use of fossil fuel.
• The project would turn Kosi from ‘Sorrow of Bihar’ to a river of opportunities.
• The barrage on the Kosi would provide an alternate route to cross over the river and the project will control river meandering to a greater extent.
• This project besides generating employment, would create recreational facilities such as fisheries and eco-tourism.

Primary source: https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/jun/14/bihar-signsmou-for-mega-hydropower-project-with-nhpcl-2316256.html

Picture source: http://love4bihar.blogspot.com/2012/04/bihar-govtsent-proposal-to-centre-for.html

• Context: National Geographic has recognized Southern Ocean as earth’s fifth ocean.
• Its northern limit is a latitude of 60 degrees south; most of the waters that surround Antarctica out to 60 degrees south latitude, excluding the Drake Passage and Scotia Sea, constitute the Southern Ocean.
• It is also defined by its Antarctic Circumpolar Current that was formed 34 million years ago. The current flows from west to east around Antarctica. The water of the ACC is colder and less salty than ocean waters to the north.
• The largest marine protected area in the world has been established at the Ross Sea off the West Antarctica. The Southern Ocean is home to large biodiversity (whales, penguins, seals, etc).
• In addition to the rapid warming of the Southern Ocean due to global warming, industrial fishing on species like krill and Patagonian toothfish had been a concern for decades.

Picture source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/theres-a-new-ocean-now-can-you-name-all-five-southern-ocean

Essence: The Government has been intermittently asking social media firms such as WhatsApp to ‘trace’ certain messages, appointment of a compliance officer, etc. In this context, the article while highlighting the principles of regulation suggests that it should not stifle business of social media in India.

Why you should read this article?

• Know about the meaning of ‘purpose’ as defined in the European Union General Data Protection Regulation and Personal Data Protection Bill (PDPB 2019)
• Understand the principles of regulation such as following due process and proper vetting before issuing and building a “trustworthy” relationship.
• Identify the importance of social media in the context of pandemic and the need for just regulation.

Article Link: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/social-media-regulation-must-ensure-fair-play/article34823848.ece

Essence- Editorial is discussing the prominent dimensions of debate around cryptocurrency, especially after El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt bitcoin as legal tender. Governments have legitimate fears like cryptocurrencies’ volatility, susceptibility to hacking, and the fact that they could potentially facilitate criminal activities. On the other hand, in some parts, there is inclination towards permissive regulation recognising the freedom of choice given to people for using a medium of exchange other than a central bank-backed fiat currency.

Why you should read this article?

• To gain understanding on prominent arguments in debate around cryptocurrency regulation/prohibition.
• To know about the emerging narrative talking about the link between cryptocurrency & freedom of choice.
• To learn about differences observed in past on executive & judiciary’s outlook on cryptocurrency policy in India.

Article Link: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/embracing-cryptocurrency/article34824894.ece

Essence- This article is written in the backdrop of protection of orphaned children which became a cause of concern specially in the second wave of the COVID 19 pandemic. Where a child faces absence of support system (problems with government documents, no place to stay) specially the girls and consequently, they end up making wrong choices. Hence, the government’s role is crucial to handle this issue and can take following steps like: yearly survey of orphan children; higher education help and skill development, a permanent fund for orphan children on the lines of CM welfare fund, etc. Our ignorance and multiple layer of oppression, put them in a disadvantaged position. Now this is the high time to deal this issue collectively and provide them a rightful opportunities to lead a quality life. As tomorrow, the Covid pandemic may abate, the questions and issues that Covid left us with will stay in our society.

Why you should read this article?

• To understand issues related with orphaned children and what possible steps government may take in dealing with the same.
• To understand why government needs to play a crucial role in dealing with the issue.

Article Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/policy-for-orphaned-children-indian-govt-covid-second-wave-7360739/

State of Versova Beach:

• It was one of the dirtiest beaches in Mumbai. However, the face of the breach was transformed with removal of 20 million kg trash. 
• The man behind the clean-up of Mumbai’s Versova beach was awarded the UN’s top environmental accolade: Champions of the Earth award - in 2016

Small Baby Steps leading to big steps:

• In October 2015, the cleaning began with clearing of litter including plastic bags, cement sacks, glass bottles, pieces of clothing, and shoes.
• With continual efforts by citizens, United Nations Environment Programme called it the world’s largest beach clean-up.
• Citizens of Mumbai are a global inspiration as everything is possible with the active participation of citizen.

Where can we use this case study:

• Example of active citizen participation, environment ethics, ethical leadership.

Quote:

• With citizen’s participation nothing is fail, without citizen’s participation nothing can succeed.