Thursday, 27th October 2022
Green Crackers - Edukemy Current Affairs
In News:
- Experts advocates manufacturing of green crackers to counter Diwali pollution
About the News:
- In the aftermath of the Diwali festival, the issue of firecrackers and their health and climatic hazards has once again been in circulation in the mainstream media.
- A lot of the pollution is observed during Diwali can be attributed to the burning of firecrackers or fireworks which release toxic chemicals during combustion and makes breathing difficult.
- Different agencies have observed in the last few years that Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to the ‘critical’ category the day after Diwali and the harmful effects of burning crackers persisted for several days after the festival.
- Lead in crackers impact the nervous system while copper triggers respiratory tract irritation, sodium causes skin issues and magnesium leads to mental fume fever.
- In this regard, several environmentalists in recent years have advocated the effective mainstreaming of green crackers as an alternative to traditional toxic crackers.
Green crackers
- About: According to CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR NEERI), green crackers as firecrackers made with a reduced shell size, without ash, and/or with additives such as dust suppressants to reduce emissions with specific reference to particulate matter.
- Composition: Green crackers use alternative chemicals such as potassium nitrate and aluminium instead of magnesium and barium as well as carbon instead of arsenic and other harmful pollutants.
- Types: Launched first in 2019, at present, Indian rules allows three types of green crackers:
- SWAS- Safe Water Releaser
- STAR- Safe Thermite Cracker
- SAFAL- Safe Minimal Aluminium.
- Identification: To identify green crackers, customers can look for the CSIR NEERI logo on the fireworks packaging.
- Advantages:
- Lesser pollution: green crackers cause 30 per cent lesser particulate matter pollution as compared to traditional crackers
- Self-disposal: On bursting, green crackers releases water vapour which helps in settling down the dust emitted.
- Lesser noise pollution: While regular firecrackers emit around 160 decibels of sound, green crackers produce between 110 and 125 decibels of sound.
- Less toxic: Most green crackers do not contain barium nitrate, which is the most dangerous ingredient in conventional crackers.
Problems of traditional crackers:
- Toxic: When fireworks are burnt, metal salts and explosives undergo a chemical reaction that releases many toxic chemicals into the atmosphere in the form of smoke.
- Fuels global warming: The toxic released includes carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides — three greenhouse gases responsible for climate change.
- Pollution: Toxic gases and pollutants emitted during burning of crackers contaminate air, water and soil and are harmful to birds, wildlife, pets, wildlife and human beings.
- Health hazard: The gases released from bursting seriously affect a person's mental health and cause hormonal imbalance.
- Smog: This results in a remarkable increase in smog (smoke+fog) in the atmosphere in urban areas.
Challenges of green crackers:
- Limited pollution: Green crackers are not completely pollution-free but are relatively cleaner and safer than regular crackers.
- Regulated manufacturing: These are only manufactured by companies who have an agreement with CSIR to produce these crackers.
- Limited ingredients: The compounds needed to make green crackers are not available in abundance and everyone may not be able to access these.
Source:
- https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/pollution/green-crackers-answer-to-diwali-pollution-but-manufacturing-limited-85561#:~:text=Green%20crackers%20use%20alternative%20chemicals,to%20about%20100%2D130%20decibels
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The shift in Sugarcane Production from South to North
In news:
The recent National Statistical Office (NSO) report noted a shift in sugarcane production in India from the South towards the north.
Beyond News:
According to the report:
- Six sugarcane-producing northern Indian states (P, U.P, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand) saw a 42% increase in their output value between 2011 and 2020.
- Five states from the south (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra) saw a decline of 32.4% during the same period.
Reasons for the Northward shift:
- Larger irrigated area in Northern region.
- Higher State Advisory Price (SAP) over and above the Centre’s Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) being offered in North.
- The Centre announces FRP, states fix their own sugarcane price called ‘SAPs, which are usually higher than FRP.
- Also, southern states divert their water to other high-value and commercial crops.
- Over the years, the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, have moved away from SAP and adopted the revenue-sharing model. However, they are not able to realise a remunerative price as the mills have been reporting precarious financial situations.
Sugarcane:
- The sugarcane sector plays a significant role in the Indian economy as it provides the raw material for sugar and industries producing alcohol, paper, chemicals and cattle feed.
- There are two distinct agro-climatic regions of sugarcane cultivation in India:
- Tropical and
- Subtropical.
- The largest producers of sugarcane include U.P, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh etc.
- The optimum temperature for germination of stem cuttings is 32° to 38°c. It slows down below 25°.
- Rainfall:Around 75-100 cm.
- Can be grown on all types of soils ranging from sandy loam to clay loam. Very high or very low temperatures deteriorate juice quality and thus affect sugar quality.
- It needs manual labourfrom sowing to harvesting.
It is the main source of sugar, jaggery, khandsari and molasses. - Scheme for Extending Financial Assistance to Sugar Undertakings (SEFASU) and National Policy on Biofuels are two of the government initiatives to support sugarcane production and the sugar industry.
Source:
- https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/sugarcane-production-in-india-shifting-from-south-to-north-nso-report-122101901271_1.html#:~:text=Data%20sourced%20from%20the%20Reserve,161.7%20mt%20to%20222.51%20mt
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Forest conservation Rules - Edukemy Current Affairs
In news
Stating that new rules are infringing upon the land rights of tribal people, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) panel chief has recommended to the Environment Ministry (MoEF&CC) to put them on hold.
Beyond news:
- Forest Conservation Rules, 2022 deal with the implementation of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980 and aim to streamline the process of approvals and help to increase forest cover in the country.
- They prescribe procedures to be followed for forest land to be diverted for non-forestry uses such as highway development, railway lines, and mining.
- The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has recently cautioned the government against some of the norms of the new Forest Conservation Rules, 2022.
- The new rule essentially eliminates the requirement of consent of local tribes-people and forest dwellers for the diversion of forest land for other purposes.
- It has been criticized for infringing upon the land rights of tribespeople under the Forest Rights Act, of 2006.
- The rules have however been defended on grounds of aid to the government’s “ease of doing business” mission.
Key provisions of new rules:
- Constitution of an Advisory Committee, a regional empowered committee at each of the integrated regional offices and a screening committee at the state/UT level.
- States have been given the responsibility of settling the forest rights of forest dwellers and allowing the diversion of forest land.
- Prescribe time frame of review for different kinds of projects.
Criticism:
- Dilution of rights: The new change is feared to dilute the rights of tribal communities as these rules simply aim to “streamline” project clearances.
- Accountability: Once forest clearance is granted, everything else becomes a mere formality and almost inevitably, no claims will be recognised and settled.
- Role of state: The settling of forest rights now needs to be carried out by the state government instead of the Center, as was the case earlier.
- More pressure: The state governments will be under even greater pressure from the Center to accelerate the process of diversion of forest land.
- Dilution of Gramsabha role: The new rule does not mention the earlier requirement of attaining a gram sabha NOC before diverting forest land for a project.
Major highlights:
- Background: The forest Conservation Act of 1980 brought the diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes under the purview of the central government — prior to this the states were solely in charge of clearing projects and diverting forest land.
- Forest Rights Act, 2006: It was enacted by the government to mandate that the rights of forest-dwelling communities need to be recognised and that they needed to be consulted before the project was sanctioned.
- Conservation rules, 2019: The union ministry of environment 2019 introduced a rule that no clearance for the diversion of forests would be considered unless the rights under the FRA, 2006 (a still-ongoing process) were settled.
- Forest conservation rules 2022: It allows forest rights to be settled after the final approval for forest clearances has been granted by the Central Government.
Sources:
- https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/national-commission-for-scheduled-tribes-asks-centre-to-put-new-forest-conservation-rules-on-hold/article66035744.ece
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FATF Grey List - Edukemy Current Affairs
- Context: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has excluded Pakistan from the grey list of the global watchdog on terror financing and money laundering after four years.
- FATF, an inter-governmental body (currently has 39 members) established in 1989, to protect the global financial system against money laundering, terrorist financing and financing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
- It sets standards (known as Global anti-money laundering (AML) and Counter-terrorist financing (CFT) standards) and promotes effective implementation of:
- legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering.
- protecting the international financial system from misuse.
- FATF has 2 types of lists:
- Grey List: Officially known as Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring, it is a list of countries that are actively working with FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.
- Countries in the grey list may face
- Economic sanctions from IMF, World Bank, ADB
- Problem in getting loans from IMF, World Bank, ADB and other countries
- Reduction in international trade
- International boycott
- Blacklist: Officially known as High-Risk Jurisdictions, it is a list of countries that FATF considers non-cooperative in the global effort to combat money laundering terrorist financing, and financing of proliferation.
- India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group.
- FATF also removed Nicaragua from increased monitoring jurisdiction
Source:
- Pakistan out of FATF's grey list after 4 years | Mint (livemint.com)
- What is Financial Action Task Force (FATF) | FATF Objectives | FATF Pakistan News | Business Standard (business-standard.com)
Image source:
- https://fatfplatform.org/context/fatf-explained/
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Lothal - Edukemy Current Affairs
- Context: Recently, Prime Minister reviewed the construction of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal (Gujrat) which is also called the oldest dock in the world.
- Lothal is a Gujrati word which means “mound of the dead.” It is the only ancient port city which was one of the southernmost sites in IVC and was believed to be built around 2200 B.C.
- Location: Bhāl region in Gujrat
- Discovered by: Archaeologist R. Rao led the excavation of many Harappan sites including Lothal (1957).
- Beads, gems and ornaments were traded from Lothal to other parts of the world.
- It was nominated as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2014 the application for which is pending.
- Its heritage value is comparable to many other ancient port towns around the world
- Xel Ha (Peru)
- Ostia & Carthage in Italy
- Hepu in China
- Canopus in Egypt
- Gabel (Byblos of the Phoenicians), Jaffa in Israel,
- Ur in Mesopotamia,
- Hoi An in Vietnam
- In the region, it can be compared with other Indus port towns of Balakot (Pakistan), Khirasa (in Gujarat’s Kutch) and Kuntasi (in Rajkot).
SOURCES:
- https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-culture/heritage-complex-coming-up-at-lothal-why-this-indus-valley-civilisation-port-town-is-important-8218667/
- https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/world-s-oldest-dock-lothal-set-to-get-national-maritime-heritage-complex-122101901509_1.html
- https://www.harappa.com/slideshows/walk-through-lothal
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UNSC 1267 COMMITTEE - Edukemy Current Affairs
- Context: China has placed a “hold” on two joint India-US proposals, to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) top leaders at the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) 1267 list of terrorists affiliated with Al Qaeda and ISIS.
- The UNSC resolution 1267 sanctions committee is one of the most important and active UN subsidiary bodies working on efforts to combat terrorism, particularly in relation to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
- The 1267 committee was set up in 1999 (updated in 2011 and 2015) and allows any UN member state to propose adding the name of a terrorist or terror group to a consolidated list, maintained by the Committee.
Source:
- https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/explained-held-up-by-the-chinese/article66032861.ece
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Sampurnanand Telescope - Edukemy Current Affairs
- Context: Recently a workshop was organised in Uttarakhand to commemorate 50 years of the Sampurnanand Telescope.
- ST: It is a telescope in India installed for the study of celestial objects at optical wavelengths in 1972 by Carl Zeiss, Germany at Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES).
- It is functional under the Department of Science and Technology.
- It is located on the Manora peak (1,951 metres above mean sea level) to the southwest of Nainital.
- It has helped in the discovery of new rings of Saturn and Uranus.
- It carries out sky scanning for continuous observations of galaxies, star clusters, Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs), star-forming regions, Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) and more.
- Other identical telescopes apart from ST are located in
- Kavalur in Karnataka,
- The Osmania University in Hyderabad
SOURCES:
- https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/half-century-old-telescope-helped-discover-saturn-and-uranus-rings-8213125/
- https://www.aries.res.in/facilities/astronomical-telescopes/104m-telescope
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US gambles on sanctions to retain tech dominance
- Effect of Policies and Politics of countries on India’s Interest
General Studies – 3
- Growth and Development Policies Formation
Exam View: Semiconductors and their application, Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, IR 4.0 and Critical Infrastructure, Significance of Semiconductors.
In News: Recently, the US has banned the sale of advanced computer chips to China, escalating efforts to contain China’s tech and military ambitions. The moves are designed to cut off supplies of critical technology to China that may be used across sectors including advanced computing and weapons manufacture.
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Highlights of the United States Ban on China |
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SEMICONDUCTOR
Semiconductor Chips: Semiconductors are materials which have a conductivity between conductors and insulators. They can be pure elements, silicon or germanium or compounds, gallium, arsenide or cadmium selenide.
Semiconductors are essential to almost all sectors of the economy including aerospace, automobiles, communications, clean energy, information technology and medical devices etc. Demand for these critical components has outstripped supply, creating a global chip shortage and resulting in lost growth and jobs in the economy.
Shortage of Semiconductor Chips
The Semiconductor Industry is facing an acute crisis with a global semiconductor shortage. Multiple industries are dependent on semiconductor chips for their inputs. Hence, the shortage is expected to have a major impact on the global manufacturing industry and consequently the economy. The shortage has persisted for almost a year now with no immediate respite in the foreseeable future.
What is concerning is that the IMF has already predicted a slowdown in the global economy. The semiconductor crisis may exacerbate the slowdown further.
Government Initiative:
- Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme: To encourage the manufacturing of various semiconductor goods within India. Semiconductors and displays are the foundation of modern electronics driving the next phase of digital transformation under Industry 4.0.
- Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS): For manufacturing of electronics components and semiconductors.
- Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme: It offers financial incentives, design infrastructure support across various stages of development and deployment of semiconductor design for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor linked to design.
India should aim to become a key player in a trusted, plurilateral semiconductor ecosystem that keeps key adversaries out. Considering India’s talent and experience, it may be best if the new policies focus on fiscal support and favourable trade policies are critical for building a plurilateral semiconductor ecosystem.
- https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/us-sanctions-targeting-chinas-semiconductor-industry-are-a-gamble-aimed-at-maintaining-american-hegemony-8219494/
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Transit Bail - Edukemy Current Affairs
Why in news?
Allahabad High Court observed that the High Court of one State can grant transit bail in respect of a case registered within the jurisdiction of another High Court in the exercise of power under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
About
- The term ‘transit’ means the act of being moved from one place to another while the word ‘bail’ means a temporary release of any accused person who is anticipating trial, therefore, transit bail refers to when any person is apprehending arrest by police of a State other than the State he presently located in.
- The court does not have jurisdiction over the place where the case is registered or where a crime has been alleged to have been committed but since the question of personal liberty is involved, the High Courts across India generally allow such prayer depending upon the merits of the case.
- Section 438 of CrPC specifies direction for the grant of bail to a person apprehending arrest and confers power only upon the High Court and the Court of Sessions to grant anticipatory or transit bail if they deem fit.
- No legislation or law defines ‘transit or anticipatory bail’.
- The 41st Law Commission Report in 1969 recommended the provision of Anticipatory bail to safeguard the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
- https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/high-court-one-state-grant-transit-bail-case-registered-jurisdiction-another-hc-allahabad-high-court-210885
- https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-transit-bail-and-transit-remand-7192786/
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Great Indian Bustards Spotted in Pakistan
Why in News?
The recent sighting of three Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) in Pakistan’s Cholistan desert has given rise to speculation that the endangered birds might have flown across the international border from India’s Desert National Park (DNP).
About
- GIB (Ardeotis nigriceps), locally known as Godawan, is the heaviest flying Bird and State bird of Rajasthan.
- Habitat: Arid and semi-arid grasslands, open country with thorn scrub, tall grass interspersed with cultivation. Avoids irrigated areas.
- Population: Rajasthan and Gujarat. Also in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
- GIB is kept under the species recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the MoEFCC.
- IUCN Status: Critically Endangered; Schedule 1 of CITES; Appendix 1 of CITES and CMS.
- Important Sites: Desert National Park Sanctuary (Rajasthan), Naliya (Gujarat), Warora (Maharashtra) and Bellary (Karnataka).
- Threats: Hunting, Habitat Loss, predators praying on eggs, High-tension power lines, etc.
Source:
- https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/are-critically-endangered-great-indian-bustards-now-migrating-to-pakistan/article66040102.ece
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International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision
Why in News? Amid a shortage of cholera vaccines, ICG decided to temporarily suspend the standard two-dose vaccination regimen, using a single-dose approach instead.
About
- ICG on Vaccine Provision: established in 1997, to manage and coordinate the provision of emergency vaccine supplies and antibiotics to countries during major outbreaks.
- Works closely with vaccine producers, through WHO and UNICEF, ICG monitors its vaccine security global stock levels for cholera, meningitis and yellow fever to ensure the availability of sufficient supply.
- It is made up of members from WHO, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent /societies.
Source:
- https://www.who.int/news/item/19-10-2022-shortage-of-cholera-vaccines-leads-to-temporary-suspension-of-two-dose-strategy--as-cases-rise-worldwide
- https://www.who.int/groups/icg/about
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Pulitzer Award - Edukemy Current Affairs
Why in News?
A team of four Indian photographers from the Reuters news agency -slain photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo and Amit Dave — have won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography for their coverage of the Covid-19 crisis in India.
About
- Established in 1917, named in honour of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer.
- Administered by Columbia University and is awarded for newspaper, magazine and online journalism, photojournalism and literature annually across 22 categories.
- Each winner receives a certificate and a US$15,000 cash award. The winner in the public service category is awarded a gold medal.
- Prizes are announced by the president of Columbia University on Pulitzer Prize board recommendation.
- Gobind Behari Lal was the first from India to win the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1937
- https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-a-history-of-the-pulitzer-prize-and-the-indians-who-have-won-it-7910395/#:~:text=In%202011%2C%20Siddhartha%20Mukherjee%20(Indian,Maladies%3A%20A%20Biography%20of%20Cancer.
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Mana Pass - Edukemy Current Affairs
Why in News?
Recently, Prime Minister attended the ‘Saras Mela’ in Mana village of Chamoli district during his visit to Uttarakhand.
About
- Mana Pass is the last point between India and China Border. It was an ancient trade route between India and Tibet.
- Mana Pass also known as Mana La, Chirbitya, Chirbitya-la, or Dungri La, is a mountain pass in the Himalayas on the border between India and Tibet, located within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
- Mana pass is also the key col for climbing Chaukhamba peak.
- Mana village rests on the banks of River Saraswati and is home to the Bhotias (Mongol tribe).
- River Saraswati flows into the Alaknanda River to form the Keshav Prayag.
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Ancient to Modern & Regional Language Promotion
Background:
The government has decided to set up centres across the country, that will prepare textual material and syllabi for each of the 22 Scheduled languages mentioned in the Constitution.
Regional language promotion in India
- A regional language means a language that is used by the majority of people in the region as a mode of communication in preference to other languages and is either the people’s native language or a language with which they identify their sociolinguistic identity.
- The current aim of setting up centres is to promote understanding of regional languages and build cultural bridges in various parts of India.
- The centres will prepare booklets of literature and manuscripts, enrich designated Indian languages with modern science and social models, and develop courses at the college undergraduate level.
- These Bhasha Kendras have the potential to seed equality of opportunity and help build a more egalitarian and progressive nation.
Quote
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart." - Nelson Mandela
Source:
- Giving regional languages their due
Image source:
- https://preview.redd.it/at1igq510y581.jpg?auto=webp&s=0b605749fc0849d6c45d686e8d1705206b036caa
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