In News:

The President of UNFCCC COP26 has recently visited India to discuss India’s implementation of its COP 26 commitments.

About the News:

• A mechanism is being planned to be put in place to achieve the target of climate financing of up to USD 100 billion by 2023.
• At the UNFCCC COP15(held in Copenhagen) in 2009, the developed nations had jointly set a target of USD 100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries.
• The climate finance goal was then formally recognized by the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties at COP16 in Cancun.
• Later, the $100 billion goal was extended through 2025 at COP21 in Paris.
• Following COP26, a consensus was built on the fact that developed nations will double their collective provision of adaptation finance from 2019 levels by 2025, in order to achieve the balance between adaptation and mitigation.

Understanding Climate Finance:

• Climate Finance refers to local, national or transnational financing drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing that seek to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change.

• The UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement call for financial assistance from Parties with more financial resources to those that are less endowed and more vulnerable.
  • This is in accordance with the principle of“Common but Differentiated Responsibility and Respective Capabilities” (CBDR).
• In COP26, new financial pledges to support developing countries in achieving the global goal of adapting to the effects of climate change were made.
• The New Rules for international carbon trading mechanisms that were agreed upon at COP26 are aimed at supporting adaptation funding.
• Need and Significance of Climate finance:
  • Climate finance is needed for mitigationas large-scale investments are required to significantly reduce emissions.
  • It is equally important for adaptation,as significant financial resources are needed to adapt to the adverse effects and reduce the impacts of a changing climate.
  • Climate Financing recognizes that the contribution of countries to climate change and their capacity to prevent it andcope with its consequences vary enormously.
• Therefore, it is required for the developed nations to continue to take the lead in mobilizing climate financethrough a variety of actions, including supporting country-driven strategies and taking into account the needs and priorities of developing country Parties.
  • Climate finance is critical to tackle the issues posed by climate change and to achieve the goal of limiting the rise in the earth’s average temperatureto below 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels.

 Green Finance- A Complementary to Climate Financing:

• In order to assist the provision of climate financing, UNFCCC had established a financial frameworkto give financial resources to the developing nation Parties.
  • The finance structuresupports the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
• Green financing aims to increase the level of financial flows(from banking, micro-credit, insurance and investment) from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to sustainable development priorities.

• A key part of this is to better manage environmental and social risks, take up opportunities that bring both a decent rate of return and environmental benefit and deliver greater accountability.
• The Parties had established the Green Climate Fund (GCF) at COP 16 in 2010and designated it as an operating entity of the financial mechanism in 2011.
• The financial mechanism reports to the COP, which determines its policies, programme priorities, and financing eligibility criteria.

In addition to providing guidance to the GEF and the GCF, Parties have established two special funds namely:

• Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)
• Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF)

Source:

• Attempt on to achieve $100bn climate finance target by 2023: COP 26 chief
• Climate finance for poor countries to hit $100bn target by 2023, says report

Image source:

• https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/what-is-climate-finance

In News:

The 15^th President of India, Ms Droupadi Murmu during her swearing-in ceremony, has invoked four tribal revolutions that she said had strengthened tribal contribution to the freedom struggle.

A Brief on the Tribal Uprisings:

• Santhal revolution:
  • On June 30, 1855, over 10,000 Santhals were mobilised by their leaders- Kanho Murmu, Chand Murmu, Bhairab Murmu and Sidho Murmu to revolt against the East India Company over oppression by revenue officials, zamindars, and corrupt moneylenders.

• • The landmark event in tribal history, referred to as Santhal Hul, took place in Bhognadih village in present-day Jharkhand.
  • Soon after their open rebellion, Santhals took to arms to resist the imposition of East India Company laws.
  • The seeds of the protracted rebellion, however, were sown in 1832 when the East India Company created the Damin-i-Koh region in the forested belt of Rajmahal hills and invited the Santhals to settle there.
  • Over the years, Santhals found themselves at the receiving end of exploitative practices aided by the British.
  • After the rebellion broke out in 1855, both sides continued clashing till the uprising was crushed in 1856. The British defeated the Santhals using modern firearms and war elephants in decisive action in which both Sidho and Kanho died.
• Paika rebellion:
  • In several recent descriptions, the 1817 Paika Rebellion in Odisha’s Khurda is referred to as the “original” first war of Indian Independence.
  • In 1817, the Paikas-a class of military retainers traditionally recruited by the kings of Odisha had revolted against the British colonial rulers mainly over being dispossessed of their land holdings.

• • In the run-up to the revolt, the British had dethroned and exiled the Khurda king in 1803 and then started introducing new revenue settlements. For Paikas, who were into rendering martial services in return for hereditary rent-free land (nish-kar jagirs) and titles, this disruption meant losing both their estates and social standing.
  • The trigger for the revolt came as some 400 Kondhs descended from the Ghumusar area to rise against the British.
  • Bakshi Jagabandhu the highest-ranking military general of the banished Khurda king, led an army of Paikas to join the uprising of the Kondhs.
  • The Paikas set fire to government buildings in Banapur killed policemen and looted the treasury. They then proceeded to Khurda and killed several British officials.
  • Over the next few months, the Paikas fought bloody battles in several places, but the colonial army gradually crushed the revolt.
  • Bakshi Jagabandhu escaped to the jungles and stayed out of reach of the British until 1825 when he finally surrendered under negotiated terms.
• Kol revolt:
  • The Kols, tribal people from the Chhota Nagpur area, rose in revolt against the British in 1831.
  • The trigger here too was the gradual takeover of tribal land and property by non-tribal settlers who were aided by new land laws.

• • The simmering discontent over the economic exploitation of the original inhabitants led to an uprising led by Buddhu Bhagat, Joa Bhagat and Madara Mahato among others.
  • The Kols were joined by other tribes like the Hos, Mundas and Oraons.
  • The tribals fought with traditional weapons taking the battle to colonial forces who finally overpowered them with modern weaponry.
  • The uprising spread to areas like Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamau, and Manbhum and continued for almost two years before being snuffed out, mainly targeting colonial officials and private money-lenders.
• Bhil uprising
  • After the British intruded into the Bhil territory in Maharashtra’s Khandesh region, the tribals pushed back fearing exploitation under the new regime in 1818.

• • The revolt was led by their leader, Sewaram and was brutally crushed using the British military might.
  • This uprising again erupted in 1825 as the Bhils sought to take advantage of reverses being suffered by the British in the first Anglo-Burmese war.

Source:

• Explained: Four tribal revolts President Murmu invoked in her inaugural speech
• Explained: The forgotten Santhal Revolt of 1855 that President Droupadi Murmu invoked in her speech

Image source:

• https://www.livehistoryindia.com/story/eras/the-forgotten-santhal-revolt-of-1855

In News

Principal Scientific Adviser has recently stated that the government would soon come up with a new space policy that could initiate the rise of India’s own “SpaceX-like ventures”.

About the News

• The proposed move would increase private sector participation in the industry. Consultations have already been held and the final version of the policy would soon be referred to the Empowered Technology Group for further examination.
• India has not tapped into its complete potential in this sector. In 2022, the space sector is witnessing what the information technology sector experienced in the 1990s.
• Private sector’s involvement in the long term, as with other commercial sectors, is believed to help spur investment and expertise in the realm which is capital-intensive and demands high technology.

Importance of space sector

• Enhancing space technology would be beneficial to bolster connectivity and combat climate-related implications through a more secure and effective means.
  • Satellites provide more accurate information on weather forecasts and assess (and record) long-term trends in the climate and habitability of a region.
  • For example, by monitoring the long-term impact of climate change at regional, territorial, and national scales, governments would be able to devise more pragmatic and combative plans of action for farmers and dependent industries.
• Additionally, they can also serve as real-time monitoring and early-warning solutions against natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, wildfires, mining etc.
• Real-time tracking can also serve multiple purposes in d
• As for connectivity, satellite communication can reach more remote areas where conventional networks would require a heavy complimenting infrastructure.
  • The World Economic Forum had stated (in September 2020) that satellite communication can help connect 49% of the world’s unconnected population.
• Satellite communications are among the major categories for investment in the space technology sector. Other prominent categories include spacecraft and equipment manufacturing.
• Space avenue is an integration of the aerospace, IT hardware and telecom sectors. It is thus argued that investment in this arena would foster positive carryover effects to other sectors as well.

Where does India stand in the global space market?

• India is the sixth-largest player in the industry internationally having 3.6% of the world’s space-tech companies (as of 2021).
  • US. holds the leader’s spot housing 56.4% of all companies in the space-tech ecosystem.
• The Indian Space Industry was valued at $7 billion in 2019 and aspires to grow to $50 billion by 2024. The country’s standout feature is its cost-effectiveness.
  • India holds the distinction of being the first country to have reached the Mars’ orbit in its first attempt and at $75 million — way cheaper than Western standards.
• 60-odd start-ups that had registered with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a majority of them were dealing in projects related to space debris management.
  • As space becomes more congested with satellites, the technology would thus help in managing ‘space junk’ (debris of old spacecraft and satellites).
• India’s total budgetary allocation for FY2022-23 towards the Department of Space was ₹13,700 crore. Funding into the sector’s start-ups (in India) nearly tripled to $67.2 million on a year-over-year basis in 2021.

How is the private sector’s involvement regulated in India?

• An announcement for the establishment of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) was made.
• It was mandated the task of promoting, authorising and licensing private players to carry out space activities.
• As an oversight and regulatory body, it is responsible for devising mechanisms to offer sharing of technology, expertise, and facilities free of cost (if feasible) to promote non-government private entities (NGPEs).

Source:

• Explained | Why is India’s space industry looking for private sector investment?

On July 27, 2015 Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, the former president of India, passed away. While Dr APJ Abdul Kalam served as the 11th President of India, he was an instrumental force behind the development of Agni and Prithvi missiles. Dr Kalam also authored numerous books, including the famous Wings of Fire and Ignited Minds. Dr. Kalam had worked with the DRDO and ISRO and was the project director for the SLV-III, the first satellite launch vehicle, designed and produced in India. He implemented the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program, which later earned him the famous nickname of the "Missile Man of India".

Dr Kalam played a critical role in India's 1998 nuclear weapon test under.

Source:

• APJ Abdul Kalam's Death Anniversary: Know About The "Missile Man Of India":

• Context: A recent study conducted by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) under the National Mission on Himalayan Studieshas highlighted the relation between habitat uses by Snow Leopard, Siberian ibex and blue sheep.
• Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) is a large, long-haired Asian cat of the family Felidae.
• The species act as an indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem in which they live, due to their position as the top predator in the food web.

• They have a vast butfragmented distribution across the mountainous landscape of central Asia, which covers different parts of the Himalayas such as Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.
• Loss of natural prey species, retaliatory killing due to conflict with humans and illegal trade of its fur and bones are the threats faced by the species.
• They are categorised as Vulnerable under IUCN Red List and are protected under Appendix I and Schedule I of CITES and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Source:

• Study sheds light on the prey-predator relationship in Himachal
• Snow Leopard

Image source:

• Snow Leopard

• Context: The migratory monarch butterflieshave been recently declared “endangered” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species.
• The monarch Butterfly is a sub-species of the Danaus plexippus butterfly thattravels around 4,000 kilometres across America.

• It is the most recognizable butterfly speciesthat are essential pollinators and further provides various ecosystem services such as maintaining the global food web.
• A smaller population of the species is also found in countries like Australia, Hawaii, and India.
• Their population in the continent has been noted to decline by 23-72% over the last decade.
• Legal and illegal logging and deforestation for the purpose of agriculture and urban development,have caused its habitat destruction.
• This is also complemented by frequent storms and droughts that disrupt flowering cycles ultimately leading to the killing of millions of butterflies.

 Source:

• Migratory monarch butterflies officially declared ‘endangered’, but there’s hope
• Daily briefing: Monarch butterflies are an endangered species

Image source:

• https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/monarch-butterfly

• Context: The Supreme Court has recently directed the Kerala State Government to provide for relief to Endosulfan victims, in pursuance of Right to life under Article 21.
• Endosulfan is a restricted-use pesticide that is particularly effective against aphids, fruit worms, beetles, leafhoppers, moth larvae, and white flies on a wide variety of crops.

• In India, Endosulfan pesticide was used widely on crops like cashew, cotton, tea, paddy, fruits and others, until 2011, when the Supreme Court banned its production and distribution.
• This was because of the health effects of the chemical that included, neurotoxicity, late sexual maturity, physical deformities and poisoning.
• The Rotterdam Convention is an international treaty designed to facilitate informed decision-making by countries with regard to trade in hazardous chemicals.
• In this perspective, Endosulfan, has been listed by the Rotterdam Convention subject to the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure since 2011.

Source:

• Tracking decades-long endosulfan tragedy in Kerala
• Linking international conventions with pesticide risk reduction in the field
• Kerala did virtually nothing for Endosulfan victims for 5 years: SC

Image source:

• https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0304389421007433-ga1_lrg.jpg

• Context: Recent satellite images have shown a pair of cyclones in the Indian Ocean region, one in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern hemisphere respectively.
• Twin tropical cyclones are caused by what are called equatorial Rossby waves.
  • Rossby waves are huge waves in the ocean with wavelengths of around 4,000–5,000 kilometres.

• • This system has a vortex in the northern hemisphere and another in the southern hemisphere, and each of these is a mirror image of the other.
  • When the vorticity is positive in both Northern and Southern hemispheres, as is the case with Rossby waves, the air in the boundary layer, which is moist, is lifted slightly, which sets in a feedback process; the condition necessary to form a cyclone.
• These cyclones generally go westward after their formation.
  • In the northern hemisphere, they will have a slightly northward component of motion; whereas, in the southern hemisphere, they will usually have a slightly southward component to their movement.
• It is to be noted that not all tropical cyclones are born from the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), which is a large cluster of clouds and convection.

Source:

• Explained | The science behind twin cyclones

Image source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/explained-the-science-behind-twin-cyclones/article65402306.ece

Essence: Recently, Delhi High Court stayed the operation of guidelines issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which prohibited hotels and restaurants from adding a component of service charge to their bills. The guidelines stated that collection of service charge as a pre-condition to placing an order of food and beverages amounts to a restrictive trade practice as per Section 2 (41) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

The issue of service charge has passed through various committees and judgements, since independence. In the absence of formal legislation regulating the concept, the issue relating to the application of service charge might be at the risk of being viewed from the lens of the consumer and not the worker.

Why should you read this article?

• To understand the history of service charge in India

Source:

• The tipping point on service charges:

Essence: The article talks about the spread of new zoonotic diseases. SARS-CoV-2 and monkeypox virus co-infection can alter infectivity patterns, severity, management, and response to vaccination against either or both diseases. As a result, there is a need to improve diagnostic test efficiency. Public awareness of disease transmission should be prioritised to reduce the stigma associated with the diagnosis.

Why should you read this article?

• To understand the reason for increase in zoonotic diseases.
• To understand the need for increasing disease control efficiency.

Source:

• Monkeypox outbreak: It’s time to act, not panic:

Background

Covid-19 pandemic took away the livelihood options of the vulnerable sections of the society, especially the ones living in the lowlands known as Chars in Assam.

How Women are Stitching Livelihood on the Char?

• The women of the Rupakuchi island on the Beki River of Assam are working towards making a livelihood through stitching khetas.
• Khetas or patchwork quilt is a centuries old Bengali Handicraft where old cloth are used and stitched into quilt.
• The people on this island lived a sedentary life with meagre resources, and lack of socio-political
• NGO Amrapari came forward to help the women of Char to earn a livelihood with the handicraft. But, the Ngo provided the women new cloth for stitching to get a better value.
• The NGO helps in selling off the products online for better market availability and also on their their own website.

Quote: “Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture.” - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Source:

• Locked out of their livelihoods, these women stitched a new path to success: