In news

Recent studies on Arctic Amplification have suggested that the region is fast changing and that the best of climate models may not be able to capture the rate of change and predict it accurately.

Key Findings

• The Arctic is heating four times faster than the rest of the planet.
• The warming is more concentrated in the Eurasian part of the Arctic,where the Barents Sea north of Russia and Norway is warming at an alarming rate - seven times faster than the global average.

What do the previous studies say?

• The Arctic was warming twice the global rate prior to the beginning of the 21st century.
• The Arctic surface air temperature has likely increased by more than double the global average over the last two decades as per a ‘Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate’ in 2019 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
• In 2021, the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) warned that the Arctic has warmed three times quicker than the planet, and the chance of the sea ice completely disappearing in summers is 10 times greater, if the planet is warmer by two degree Celsius above the preindustrial levels.
• The report also said that the average annual temperature in the region increased by 3.1 degrees Celsius compared to the 1 degree Celsius for the planet.
• However, recent studies have shown that the mean Arctic amplification saw steep changes in 1986 and 1999, when the ratio reached 4.0, implying four times faster heating than the rest of the planet.

What is Arctic Amplification?

• Global warming has hastened due to anthropogenic forces or human activities since pre-industrial times and has increased the planet’s average temperature by 1.1 degrees Celsius.
• While changes are witnessed across the planet, any change in the surface air temperature and the net radiation balance tend to produce larger changes at the north and south poles.
• This phenomenon is known as polar amplification; these changes are more pronounced at the northern latitudes and are known as the Arctic amplification.

Causes of amplification

• Among the many global warming-driven causes for this amplification, the ice-albedo feedback, lapse rate feedback, water vapour feedback and ocean heat transport are the primary causes.
• Sea ice and snow have high albedo (measure of reflectivity of the surface), implying that they are capable of reflecting most of the solar radiation as opposed to water and land.
• In the Arctic’s case, global warming is resulting in diminishing sea ice.
• As the sea ice melts, the Arctic Ocean will be more capable of absorbing solar radiation, thereby driving the amplification.
• The rate at which the temperature drops with elevation i.e. lapse rate decreases with warming.
• Studies show that the ice-albedo feedback and the lapse rate feedback are responsible for 40% and 15% of polar amplification respectively.

Consequences of Arctic warming:

• Greenland ice sheet
• Reduced biodiversity in the Arctic
• Rainfall patterns
• Reduced accessibility to food
• Greenhouse gas emission
• Other consequences: Experts fear that the thaw and the melt will also release the long-dormant bacteria and viruses that were trapped in the permafrost and can potentially give rise to diseases.

Impact on India:

• The impact of the changing Arctic on the monsoons in the Indian subcontinent is reflected in the extreme weather events. India also has a heavy reliance on rainfall for water and food security.
• Studies have found that the reduced sea ice in the Barents- Kara sea region can lead to extreme rainfall events in the latter half of the monsoons in September and October.
• The changes in the atmospheric circulation due to diminishing sea ice combined with the warm temperatures in the Arabian Sea contribute to enhanced moisture and drive extreme rainfall events.
• According to the World Meteorological Organization’s report, ‘State of Global Climate in 2021’, the sea level along the Indian coast is rising faster than the global average rate. One of the primary reasons for this rise is the melting of sea ice in the Polar Regions, especially the Arctic.

Content Source link:

• https://www.thehindu.com/specials/text-and-context/explained-what-is-causing-arctic-warming-should-india-be-worried/article65778586.ece#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20World%20Meteorological,polar%20regions%2C%20especially%20the%20Arctic, 

Image Source Link:

• https://besthotelshome.com/arctic-ocean-map-images-and-reasons-to-visit-the-breath-taking-arctic-ocean/, https://www.thehindu.com/specials/text-and-context/explained-what-is-causing-arctic-warming-should-india-be-worried/article65778586.ece#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20World%20Meteorological,polar%20regions%2C%20especially%20the%20Arctic, ESO/M

In news

• The Himachal Pradesh government has proposed the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2022,seeking to criminalize the process of mass conversions.
• It is a more stringent version of The Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2019, which was enacted with the aim of preventing conversions from one religion to another.

Proposed Amendment

• Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act-2019 prohibits conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, inducement or any other fraudulent means or by marriage and for matters connected therewith.
• However, there is no provision to curb mass conversion.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Under the bill, “mass conversion” takes place when two or more people are converted at the same time.
• The Bill also provides for an increase in punishment for mass conversion.
• According to the current law, there is a provision of 7 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of fifty thousand rupees for mass conversion, if a person contravenes the provisions of Section 3 in respect of mass conversion.
  • Section 3 of the Freedom Act states that no person shall convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any other person from one religion to another by use of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, inducement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage.
• Complaints received should be investigated or inquired into by a police officer, not below the rank of sub-inspector.
• The offences punishable under the Actwould be triable by the sessions court.
• If a person marries someone by concealing his religion in such a manner that another person believes that his religion is truly the one professed by him shall be punished with a minimum imprisonment of not less than three years and maximum imprisonment of 10 years.

Status of Anti-Conversion Laws in India

Constitutional Provisions:

• The Indian Constitution under Article 25 guarantees the freedom to profess, profess and practice religion and allows all classes of religion to manage the affairs of their religion, however subject to public order, morality and health. Is.
• No person shall forcibly enforce his religious beliefs and thus the person should not be forced to practice any religion against his will.

Current legislation:

• There is no central law prohibiting or regulating religious conversions.
• However, Private Member’s Bills were introduced in Parliament on several occasions since 1954 to regulate religious conversions.
• Apart from this, in the year 2015, the Union Law Ministry said that Parliament does not have the legislative power to pass anti-conversion laws.
• Over the years many states have enacted ‘religious freedom’ laws to prohibit religious conversions by force, fraud, or inducement.

SC Judgments on Marriage and Conversion

• Hadiya case of the year 2017:
  • The Apex Court observed that ‘the matter of dressing of one’s choice, of food, of thoughts or ideologies and of love and of choice of spouse is one of the central aspects of a person’s identity.’
  • In such cases neither the state nor the law can give any order to a person regarding the choice of a life partner, nor can they limit the freedom of a person to take decisions in such matters.
  • The right to marry a partner of his choice is an integral part of Article 21.
• KS Puttaswamy or ‘Privacy’ Judgment 2017:
  • Autonomy of a person refers to his decision-making ability in important matters of life.

Content Source link: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/shimla/himachal-now-brings-a-more-stringent-bill-on-religious-conversions-8087293/, https://www.opindia.com/2022/08/himachal-pradesh-govt-brings-anti-conversion-bill-with-stringent-provisions/, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shimla/hp-house-passes-bill-for-more-stringent-anti-conversion-law/articleshow/93550400.cms#:~:text=SHIMLA%3A%20The%20Himachal%20Pradesh%20assembly,of%20parents'%20religion%20or%20caste., https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/himachal-assembly-passes-bill-against-forced-mass-conversion-101660428921240.html, 

Image Source Link:  https://www.worldatlas.com/maps/gabon 

In news

The Central Government has recently, approved a StartUp loan of Rs 1.15 crores for commercialising “compostable” plastic, thus also mitigating the usage of Single Use Plastics (SUP).

About Compostable Plastic

• Compostable plastics are a subset of biodegradable plastics that are designed to break down under controlled environmental conditions into water, biomass, and gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.
• Environmental conditions affecting composability include temperature, moisture level, pH, oxygen, and the microorganisms present; while the duration of exposure under these conditions is a significant factor also.
• Although compostable plastics are biodegradable, not all biodegradable plastics are compostable.
• Biodegradable or compostable plastics can be produced from either bio-based or fossil raw materials.
• Further, they can be produced to have similar functionality to or the same functionality as conventional plastics.

About the recent Government move on Compostable Plastics

• An MoU was signed between the Technology Development Board, a statutory body under the Department of Science & Technology and a private company in Maharashtra for the manufacturing & commercialization of compostable plastic.
• This unique project has received seed funding under NIDHI Prayas(DST), Niti Aayog and UNIDO for the prototype development.
• The NIDHI’s Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring technology entrepreneurs (PRAYAS) programme is specifically to support young innovators turn their ideas into prototypes/ proof of concept (PoC).
• The current move is in alignment with the ongoing countrywide Coastal Clean Up Campaign launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences on 5th July 2022.

Measures to mitigate the usage of Single Use Plastics (SUP)

• During the 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, India engaged constructively with all member states to develop a consensus on the resolution for driving global action on plastic pollution.
• In line with the Prime Minister's call to phase out single-use plastic items by 2022, the Government of India has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, which prohibits the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags with specifications and deadline.
• Also, The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Guidelines on Extended Producers Responsibility on plastic packaging as Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022 on 16th February 2022.

• The Guidelines will provide a framework to strengthen the circular economy of plastic packaging waste, promote the development of new alternatives to plastic packaging and provide the next steps for moving towards sustainable plastic packaging by businesses.
• Capacity-building workshops are being organized for MSME units to provide them with technical assistance for manufacturing of alternatives to banned single-use plastic items with the involvement of CPCB/SPCBs/PCCs along with the Ministry of Small Micro and Medium Enterprises and Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering (CIPET) and their state centres.
• The Government of India has also taken steps to promote innovation and provide an ecosystem for accelerated penetration and availability of alternatives all across the country.
• CPCB Grievance Redressal App has been launched to empower citizens to help curb the plastic menace. For wider public outreach, the PRAKRITI - mascot has also been launched.
• The Government of India through the Central Pollution Control Board has been taking measures for awareness generation towards the pressing need of the elimination of SUP and has brought together entrepreneurs (startups, MSMEs, and other industries), Central, State and Local Governments, regulatory bodies, citizens, R&D and academic institutions, in this perspective.

Source:

• What Are Compostable Plastics?
• Union Minister approves StartUp loan for manufacturing and commercialising “compostable” plastic
• Ban on identified Single Use Plastic Items from 1st July 2022.

Image source:

• https://twitter.com/Nyksindia/status/1543890506244968454/photo/1 

• Context: Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has recently suspended the All-India Football Federation (AIFF), for undue interference from third parties.

• Third-party interference (here the Supreme Court intervening to constitute the COA) refers to a situation in which a member association of FIFA fails to remain independent, is co-opted, and no longer has control over its organisation.
• The ban means that there would be no international football participation by India, and this applies to all national teams, and club teamsacross all age groups.
• The suspension alsoimpacts international transfers, as well as any courses or developmental programs that AIFF officials could, or were taking part in.
• This in effect means a total ban on all football-related activities outside India.
• However, the league in the country, as well as domestic transfers, can continue.
• According to FIFA, to lift the ban on AIFF, it needs to follow the directives which are as follows:
  • The mandates of the Committee of Administrators (COAwould have to be repealed in full.
  • The AIFF administration would needto be completely in charge of its day-to-day running once again.
  • TheAIFF constitution is to be revised on the terms of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) policies, and the election is to be held on current AIFF membership structures that are based on state associations only.

Source:

• https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/fifa-india-football-ban-explained-8094435/

Image source:

• https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/aiff-suspension-fifa-football-supreme-court-centre-206683

• Context: Ministry of Civil Aviation’s flagship program UDAN (Ude Deshka Aam Nagrik) has completed 5 years of success since the launch of its first flight in 2017. 
• UDAN is a Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) to stimulate regional air connectivity and make air travel affordable to the masses.
• It was formulated based on the review of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), 2016.

• Airports Authority of India is designated as the scheme’s implementing agency.
• Regional Connectivity Fund (RCF) funds the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) requirements of the scheme through a levy on certain domestic flights.
• RCS-UDAN was awarded Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration under Innovation Category for the year 2020.
• In the last five years, UDAN has increased the regional air connectivity in the country under which Operation airports have increased from 74 to 141.
• Also, with 425 new routes initiated under the scheme, UDAN has provided air connectivity to more than 29 States/ UTs.
• The initiative created a framework based on the need and led to the formulation of:
  1. Lifeline UDAN (transportation of medical cargo during pandemics).
  2. Krishi UDAN (value realization of agriculture products especially in Northeastern Region and tribal districts) and
  3. International UDAN routes for NER to explore International Connectivity

Source:

• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1852532

Image source:

• https://blog.mygov.in/giving-wings-to-every-indian-udan-scheme/

• Context: The Union Cabinet has recently approved the widening access of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) database to users other than patent offices.
• Until now, access to the complete TKDL database is restricted to 14 Patent Offices worldwide for the purposes of search and examination.
• TKDL, the first of its kind globally is a database/repository of Indian Traditional Knowledge, especially about medicinal plants and formulations used in Indian systems of medicine.
• It contains information related to Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Yoga in five international languages (English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish).
• It was established in 2001 with the primary mandate of preventing the grant of wrong patents on Indian traditional knowledge and preventing biopiracy.
• It is managed jointly by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H, now Ministry of AYUSH).

• The opening up of the TKDL to users would encourage thought and knowledge leadership through Bharatiya Gnana Parampara under the New Education Policy 2020.
• The approval will also help in enabling the integration of traditional knowledge with current practices.
• This will also help boost research & development, enhance innovation based on India’s valued heritage across diverse fields and provide safer and more effective solutions for a healthier and technology endowed population.

Source:

• https://www.thestatesman.com/india/cabinet-approves-widening-access-traditional-knowledge-digital-library-database-1503101122.html
• https://theprint.in/india/govt-widens-access-of-traditional-knowledge-digital-library-database-beyond-patent-offices/1086520/

Image source:

• https://www.legalogy.in/the-traditional-knowledge-digital-library/

• Context: Scotland has become the first nation in the world to legally protect the right to access free period products and has made period products free for all by passing the Period Products Act.
• Under thePeriod Products Act, schools, colleges, universities as well as local government bodies must make a range of period products available for free in their bathrooms.
• Every council in Scotlandis required with local communities to determine the best access point for menstrual products.

• A mobile phone app (PickUpMyPeriod)will also be established to help people find the nearest place such as the local library or community centre from where they can pick up the period products.
• The period products would be available at libraries, swimming pools, public gyms, community buildings, town halls, pharmacies & doctor’s offices.
• Period poverty is when those on low incomes can't afford, or access, suitable period products.
• According to UNICEF, only 13% of girls in India are aware of menstruation before menarche (first occurrence of period) and 60% of girls missed school on account of menstruation.
• Shuchi scheme, SABLA Program, and National Guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management are some of the initiatives of the Indian Government for menstrual hygiene.

Source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/scotland-becomes-first-country-to-make-period-products-free-for-all/article65775900.ece

Image source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/scotland-becomes-first-country-to-make-period-products-free-for-all/article65775900.ece

Essence – This editorial talks about the insufficient and uncertain incomes, and poor working conditions which still plague the Indian labour market even after 75years of independence contrary to the vision of Mahatma Gandhi and JL Nehru. It analyses the efficacy of the labour reforms undertaken after 2014 for improving the employment condition. It mentions that there is no significant improvement in employment even after the passage of labour codes. It has been highlighted that the intended benefit got concentrated in big corporations instead of trickling down to the employers.

Towards the end, it compares the employment generation per unit GDP growth from 1980 to 2010 for each subsequent decade which kept on decreasing. It concludes with the suggestion that policy formulation needs to be made more inclusive taking all stakeholders in confidence.

Why should you read this editorial?

• To know about the impact of labour reform on the ease of doing business and ease of earning a good livelihood.

Source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/hard-truths-about-indias-labour-reforms/article65784627.ece

• Essence - This article is a discussion on the ongoing debate between the political parties on freebies and welfare expenditure. Recently, the Supreme Court’s statement stated that while freebies cannot be stopped altogether, we need to find the balance where the loss of government exchequer towards freebies should be reasonably planned with a distinct purpose of fulfilling the aim of being the welfare state.
• The discussion highlights that while welfare measures are mentioned in the DPSP of the constitution, the actual expenditure on welfare measures like education is actually on the decline. The RBI report amidst the current situation highlights that at least five states are likely to experience financial pressure in near future. The discussion calls out to rationalize the scope of freebies in the present situation.

Why should you read this editorial?

• The article is important to understand the current debate on freebies and welfare schemes.
• The article discusses the present situation concerning budgeting for welfare schemes and their expected output.

Source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/should-there-be-limits-on-freebies/article65783997.ece

Background 

Madhusudan Das, was a lawyer and social reformer, who did trailblazing work in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, laying the foundations for the present state of Odisha.

About Madhusudan Das

• He was born into a Zamindar family and grew up with privilege as a member of the ‘Karana’ or writer caste, but soon “made a clean break with tradition and changed his religion” to Christianity.
• As present-day Odisha’s first graduate and advocate, he founded an organisation called the ‘Utkal Sammilani’ in 1903, through which he campaigned extensively for the creation of Orissa Province, while also giving a strong impetus to the Odia linguistic movement struggle under the British.

• Besides this, Das also used his education and extensive training as a lawyer to highlight other issues afflicting the region.
• Further, as the first person of Odia descent to enter both the provincial Legislative Council (Bihar and Orissa Province) and Central Legislative Assembly, he used his platform to highlight the public health situation in rural Odisha.
• Going further, he also used his platform as an elected leader to eradicate superstition in rural Odisha and promote modern medicine and the genuine advancements made in public health work related to dealing with epidemics.
• His Literary works like, “Utkal Santan”, “Jati Itihash” and “Jananira Ukti” stand out with the spirit of the Odia linguistic movement and patriotism at the forefront of his writings.
• However, his standout contribution remains the creation of present-day Odisha carved along linguistic lines, for which he even parted ways with the Indian National Congress.
• Sadly, he passed away just two years before the official creation of Odisha.

Quote

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world - Nelson Mandela 

Source:

• First Odia to Get a Law Degree, This ‘Grand Old Man’ Helped Give Birth to Odisha 

Image source   

• First Odia to Get a Law Degree, This ‘Grand Old Man’ Helped Give Birth to Odisha