KSG Current Connect - 2023 Compilation UPSC CSE 2023

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CONTENTS
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
Issues with Judiciary.................................................................................................................................... 9
EWS Judgment........................................................................................................................................... 10
Bail Reforms in India ................................................................................................................................. 11
Custodial Deaths in India .......................................................................................................................... 12
Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System .................................................................................................. 13
Article 142 of the Indian Constitution ..................................................................................................... 14
Lok Adalat .................................................................................................................................................. 14
Legal Services Clinic .................................................................................................................................. 15
Supreme Court clears FCRA changes ....................................................................................................... 15
Olga Tellis Judgment ................................................................................................................................ 16
Uniform Civil Code .................................................................................................................................... 16
Northeast Border Dispute......................................................................................................................... 17
Centre- State dispute ................................................................................................................................ 18
Centre-State power struggle over India’s waters ................................................................................... 19
State Legislature and Lotteries ................................................................................................................. 20
Reconstitution of Inter-State Council (ISC) ............................................................................................. 21
Inter-State police arrest ............................................................................................................................ 22
Delimitation Exercise in Jammu & Kashmir ............................................................................................ 22
Audit of local-self government ................................................................................................................ 23
Federalism: Unique status of Delhi .......................................................................................................... 23
Party symbol & ECI.................................................................................................................................... 24
Election of President and Vice President................................................................................................. 24
Aadhaar –voter ID linkage ........................................................................................................................ 26
Appointment of ECI members .................................................................................................................. 26
Electoral bonds .......................................................................................................................................... 26
National Party status & Recognised & unrecognized) .......................................................................... 27
MLA/MP Suspension ................................................................................................................................. 28
Disqualification of MP/MLA ..................................................................................................................... 29
ONE candidate one constituency ............................................................................................................. 29
Remote voting for migrant workers: ....................................................................................................... 29
First Amendment ....................................................................................................................................... 30
Ninth Schedule .......................................................................................................................................... 30
Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) ......................................................................................... 31
Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 .................................................................... 31
DELEGATED LEGISLATION ........................................................................................................................ 32
PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGES.................................................................................................................. 32
The Anti-Defection Law ............................................................................................................................ 33
Reservation in Local Bodies ...................................................................................................................... 33
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The Office of Profit ................................................................................................................................... 34

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Legislative Councils ................................................................................................................................... 35

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Prevention of Money Laundering Act ..................................................................................................... 36
law for treating Juvenile as an Adult ....................................................................................................... 37
Media accreditation guidelines ................................................................................................................ 38
Digital Free Speech.................................................................................................................................... 38
Child Rights and Corporal Punishment ................................................................................................... 39
Personality Rights ..................................................................................................................................... 40
Age of Consent .......................................................................................................................................... 41
Cooperatives .............................................................................................................................................. 41
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) Quota .......................................................................................... 42
Crackdown of child marriage ................................................................................................................... 43
Preventive Detention ................................................................................................................................ 44
Women Right Issues: Section 498A ......................................................................................................... 45
Vulnerable Witness ................................................................................................................................... 45
Reasonable Accommodation and Fundamental Rights ......................................................................... 46
Section 6A of Citizenship Act ................................................................................................................... 47
CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX .......................................................................................................... 48
UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA (UIDAI) .................................................................... 48
National Commission for Women............................................................................................................ 49
Reconstitution of Inter-State Council ...................................................................................................... 49
Anti-Doping Act (ADA) ............................................................................................................................. 50
Issues with the Right to Information (RTI) ............................................................................................. 51
Process of Inclusion/Exclusion in Scheduled Tribe/Caste Category ..................................................... 51
National Emblem of India ......................................................................................................................... 52
Suspension of Member of Parliament ..................................................................................................... 54
Uniform Civil Code .................................................................................................................................... 54
Phone Tapping in India ............................................................................................................................. 55
Facial Recognition Technology and Right Issues.................................................................................... 56
Creating a New District in India ............................................................................................................... 57
Kuki-Chin Refugees ................................................................................................................................... 57
Criminality under NDPS Act ..................................................................................................................... 58
Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 ........................................................................................ 59
Protection Of Monuments In India .......................................................................................................... 59
ART & CULTURE
Monuments of National Importance: Sannati ........................................................................................ 61

Monument of National Importance- Mangarh hillock .......................................................................... 61
Buddhist cave in bandhavgarh forest area. ............................................................................................ 61
Coins with Religious Symbols .................................................................................................................. 62
Ratnagiri Rock Art ..................................................................................................................................... 64
International Literature Festival-Unmesha ............................................................................................. 64
Kartavya path:............................................................................................................................................ 64
Bathukamma .............................................................................................................................................. 65
Kashi Tamil Sangamam ............................................................................................................................. 65
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Indian heritage textile. .............................................................................................................................. 66
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Dokra craftsmanship ................................................................................................................................. 66
Mandala art Buddhism.............................................................................................................................. 67
Assam Charaideo: ...................................................................................................................................... 67
Sant tukaram: ............................................................................................................................................ 68
Gandhi –mandela award ........................................................................................................................... 69
Indian council for cultural relations......................................................................................................... 69
Person in news ........................................................................................................................................... 70
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
India Bangladesh Relation ........................................................................................................................ 72
India-Nepal ................................................................................................................................................ 73
China India ocean forum........................................................................................................................... 75
India-Pakistan: Indus water treaty ........................................................................................................... 77
India and Mauritius CECPA ....................................................................................................................... 78
India-Usa ties and initiative on critical and emerging technologies (iCET) ......................................... 79
EU’S NEW LAWS TO REGULATE CONTENT ONLINE ............................................................................... 79
India-Canada relationship. ....................................................................................................................... 80
India Australia critical mineral collaboration .......................................................................................... 81
India france relation: ................................................................................................................................. 82
India-Armenia: ........................................................................................................................................... 83
India –Egypt ............................................................................................................................................... 84
Partnership in blue pacific initiative: ....................................................................................................... 85
Indo-pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)................................................................................................ 86
Eastern Economic forum ........................................................................................................................... 86
Delhi Declaration Adopted ....................................................................................................................... 87
Brics 14th summit held at Beijing (china): ............................................................................................... 87
I2U2 summit:.............................................................................................................................................. 88
SCO Summit: .............................................................................................................................................. 88
G-20 Summit .............................................................................................................................................. 89
Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) ................................................................ 91
Black sea grain initiative: .......................................................................................................................... 91
SOCIAL ISSUES
Natural Resource Accounting (NRA) ....................................................................................................... 93
Multi-State Cooperatives .......................................................................................................................... 93
About Multi State Cooperative Societies ACT, 2002: ............................................................................. 93
National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM)................................................................. 94
Organ Donation in India ........................................................................................................................... 95
Urban Planning: Pariman Portal .............................................................................................................. 95
Gig Workforce in India: NITI Aayog ........................................................................................................ 96
SMILE-75 Initiative .................................................................................................................................... 97
PM-DevINE ................................................................................................................................................. 98
Performance Grading Index for Districts for school system ................................................................. 98
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Displacement of Tribes ............................................................................................................................. 99

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Old and New Pension Schemes ................................................................................................................ 99
India in Global Gender Gap Index 2022 ................................................................................................ 100
PM-POSHAN Scheme (Mid-Day Meal Scheme) .................................................................................... 101
Smart Phones and Indian Children ........................................................................................................ 102
SARAS Food Festival ............................................................................................................................... 103
Abortion Laws around the World .......................................................................................................... 103
Women and STEM ................................................................................................................................... 103
ASER Report 2022 ................................................................................................................................... 104
One Health ............................................................................................................................................... 105
Global TB Report ..................................................................................................................................... 106
Malnutrition challenges in India's Northeast ....................................................................................... 106
Food Subsidy ........................................................................................................................................... 107
WHO report on Health Equity for Disables ........................................................................................... 108
Global Sustainable Development Report 2022 ..................................................................................... 108
First National Food Security Ranking .................................................................................................... 109
World Bank's Report on Poverty ........................................................................................................... 109
Global Hunger Index 2022...................................................................................................................... 110
UN Population Report ............................................................................................................................ 111
India In Multidimensional Poverty Index (Mpi) ................................................................................... 111
FIRST EVER UN RESOLUTION MENTIONS HINDI ................................................................................. 112
Nobel Prize in Literature ......................................................................................................................... 112
Nobel Peace Prize .................................................................................................................................... 112
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES ........................................................................................................................ 113
ECONOMY
Digital Divide in Financial Inclusion ...................................................................................................... 121
Neobanks ................................................................................................................................................. 122
Tokenisation of cards .............................................................................................................................. 122
Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) ........................................................................................ 123
Depreciation of Indian rupee ................................................................................................................. 123
Embedded Finance .................................................................................................................................. 124
RBI Issues guidelines to regulate digital lending ................................................................................. 125
RBI’s Fraud Registry ................................................................................................................................ 126
DIGITAL BANKING UNITS DEDICATED TO NATION ............................................................................. 127
Internationalisation of Rupee ................................................................................................................ 127
Central Bank Digital Currency ................................................................................................................ 128
Foreign Exchange Reserve and Rupee Depreciation ............................................................................ 129
Failure in Inflation Targeting ................................................................................................................. 129
INDIA'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL GOLD EXCHANGE ............................................................................. 131
SC VERDICT ON THE MONEY LAUNDERING ACT ................................................................................. 131
Surety Bonds ............................................................................................................................................ 132
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DRAFT OF NCRF RELEASED .................................................................................................................... 133

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Sovereign Green Bond ............................................................................................................................ 133
Crypto-Bankruptcy .................................................................................................................................. 134
Blended Finance ...................................................................................................................................... 136
RBI INTRODUCED UPI LITE ..................................................................................................................... 136
BHARAT BILL PAYMENT SYSTEM .......................................................................................................... 137
Digitisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies ........................................................................... 138
SCHEMES TO STRENGTHEN MSMES...................................................................................................... 138
NATIONAL LOGISTICS POLICY LAUNCHED ........................................................................................... 139
RAISING & ACCELERATING MSME PERFORMANCE' SCHEME INAUGURATED ................................. 140
PLI and Indian Economic Growth ........................................................................................................... 140
Open Network for Digital Commerce .................................................................................................... 141
Moonlighting ........................................................................................................................................... 142
Taxing Online Gaming ............................................................................................................................ 142
INDIA CLIMBS SIX NOTCHES IN GII 2022 ............................................................................................. 143
World Competitive Index ....................................................................................................................... 143
Startup Ranking 2021 ............................................................................................................................. 144
Financial Inclusion Index ........................................................................................................................ 145
Kirit Parekh Panel .................................................................................................................................... 145
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM’S 2023 EVENT ENDS ............................................................................... 145
RBI Report on State Government Budget ............................................................................................. 146
World Economic Outlook........................................................................................................................ 148
RBI ANNOUNCES 2ND GLOBAL HACKATHON ..................................................................................... 149
Windfall Tax ............................................................................................................................................. 149
GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX ......................................................................................................................... 150
CCI Fine on Google .................................................................................................................................. 151
Critical Information Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 152
WTO APPROVES PACKAGE OF TRADE AGREEMENTS .......................................................................... 153
CENTRE AWARDS NINE GI TAGS ........................................................................................................... 153
NOBEL PRIZE 2022 IN ECONOMICS ....................................................................................................... 153
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Liquid Nano Urea:.................................................................................................................................... 154
AmbiTAG .................................................................................................................................................. 155
Anocovax ................................................................................................................................................. 155
New telescope at ARIES .......................................................................................................................... 156
NOROVIRUS ............................................................................................................................................. 156
ISRO POEM Plate form: ........................................................................................................................... 156
ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operation and Management (IS4OM): ...................... 156
MONKEYPOX DECLARED A GLOBAL EMERGENCY ............................................................................... 157
Marburg virus: ......................................................................................................................................... 157
Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN): .................................................. 158
Langya Henipavirus ................................................................................................................................. 158
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SSLV launch .............................................................................................................................................. 159

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India first private space situational awareness observatory ............................................................... 159

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Space Junk: What are Space Debris? ..................................................................................................... 160
KESSLER SYNDROME:.............................................................................................................................. 160
INDIGENOUS VACCINE LAUNCHED FOR LSD (Lumpy Skin Disease) .................................................. 160
FIRST BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE IMPLANTED ............................................................................. 161
INDIA’S FIRST HYDROGEN FUEL CELL BUS ........................................................................................... 161
PENPLUS Strategy ................................................................................................................................... 161
NASA Artemis Mission ............................................................................................................................ 162
Quantum computing: Government effort in promoting the Quantum computing National Mission on Quantum
Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA) ............................................................................................... 163
The inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD) .................................................................................... 164
CERVAVAC................................................................................................................................................ 164
INDIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUS AIRCRAFT CARRIER COMMISSIONED ................................................... 165
STEALTH FRIGATE 'TARAGIRI' LAUNCHED ........................................................................................... 165
NASA’S DART SUCCESSFUL TESTED ...................................................................................................... 165
DOT MAKES IMEI REGISTRATION MANDATORY ................................................................................. 165
DRDO TESTED VSHORADS MISSILES ..................................................................................................... 166
eSIM .......................................................................................................................................................... 166
Noble prize in chemistry ......................................................................................................................... 167
Noble prize in physics ............................................................................................................................. 167
Noble prize in physiology or Medicine ................................................................................................. 168
5G SERVICES LAUNCHED ........................................................................................................................ 169
'PRACHAND' INDUCTED INTO IAF ........................................................................................................ 169
CHINA LAUNCHES FIRST SOLAR OBSERVATORY (KUAFU-1) .............................................................. 170
IN A FIRST-IN-HUMAN TRIAL OF FLASH RADIATION ......................................................................... 170
Organic fertilizer...................................................................................................................................... 170
Launch Vehicle Mark (LVM) 3................................................................................................................. 171
Pillar of creation: JWT (James Webb Telescope): ................................................................................. 171
Mission Prarambh ................................................................................................................................... 172
C295 tactical transport aircraft .............................................................................................................. 172
Shaped Antenna measurement of the background RAdio Spectrum-3 (SARAS-3) telescope: ........ 172
National repository for life science data ............................................................................................... 172
NASA’S CAPSTONE MISSION REACHED THE MOON ........................................................................... 173
Bluebugging ............................................................................................................................................ 173
Lab Grown Meat ...................................................................................................................................... 173
Base editing ............................................................................................................................................. 174
Deep Fakes ............................................................................................................................................... 175
Lecanemab drug ...................................................................................................................................... 175
Wormhole ................................................................................................................................................ 176
Iknife......................................................................................................................................................... 177
Nuclear fusion and clean energy............................................................................................................ 177
Drdo developes UFRA for space Radar .................................................................................................. 178
Bharos ....................................................................................................................................................... 178
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Hybrid immunity ..................................................................................................................................... 178

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ChatGpt .................................................................................................................................................... 179

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ENVIRONMENT
UN deal to save oceans ........................................................................................................................... 181
Wildlife protection amendment act ...................................................................................................... 181
India first dark sky reserve ..................................................................................................................... 183
India Updated climate pledge ................................................................................................................ 183
Mangrove alliance for climate ............................................................................................................... 184
Bio energy program ................................................................................................................................ 184
Arctic Fires ............................................................................................................................................... 185
Food waste and climate change ............................................................................................................. 185
Bill to mandate clean energy passed ..................................................................................................... 186
Stockholm +50 meeting ......................................................................................................................... 187
UNFCCC cop 27 ........................................................................................................................................ 188
Cites Cop 19 ............................................................................................................................................. 189
UN biodiversity Conference (Cop 15) .................................................................................................... 190
Environment Performance Index ........................................................................................................... 191
IPBES report ............................................................................................................................................. 192
Groundwater distress in India ................................................................................................................ 193
Report in air quality and health ............................................................................................................. 195
Living Planet report................................................................................................................................. 196
Unicef report on heatwave ..................................................................................................................... 198
Emission Gap Report ............................................................................................................................... 199
Global carbon atlas.................................................................................................................................. 199
State of finance for nature report.......................................................................................................... 200
Forever chemical contaminated water .................................................................................................. 201
Battery waste management rules notified ............................................................................................ 201
Glyphosate ............................................................................................................................................... 202
World bank report on air pollution ....................................................................................................... 202
Lifestyle for environment movement .................................................................................................... 203
Community forest resource rights ......................................................................................................... 205
Shoonya campaign .................................................................................................................................. 205
Digital decarbonation ............................................................................................................................. 205
Mission life ............................................................................................................................................... 207
Green washing ......................................................................................................................................... 207
Combating future pandemics................................................................................................................. 207
Keibul lamjao national parks .................................................................................................................. 209
Cheetah translocation project ................................................................................................................ 209
Indian pangolin ....................................................................................................................................... 210
Rhino horn ............................................................................................................................................... 210
Great nicobar ........................................................................................................................................... 211
Balkan Lynx .............................................................................................................................................. 213
Bar headed goose .................................................................................................................................... 213
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Chestnut winged cuckoo ........................................................................................................................ 213

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Neelakurinji sanctuary ............................................................................................................................ 214

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Slender loris ............................................................................................................................................. 214
Monarch butterfly ................................................................................................................................... 214
Asian Giant Tortoise ................................................................................................................................ 214
Indian Skimmer ....................................................................................................................................... 215
New tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh........................................................................................................ 215
Kangar valley national parks .................................................................................................................. 216
GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE
One nation one fertilizer......................................................................................................................... 219
India’s first ever Animal Health Summit ............................................................................................... 220
Shifting Monsoon patterns .................................................................................................................... 221
Cyclone intensification............................................................................................................................ 223
FUJIWHARA EFFECT ................................................................................................................................ 225
Millets ....................................................................................................................................................... 226
Bomb Cyclone .......................................................................................................................................... 228
Joshimath Crisis ....................................................................................................................................... 229
Warming of the Ocean ............................................................................................................................ 230
Landslide atlas of India ........................................................................................................................... 232
ECONOMIC SURVEY- ............................................................................................................................... 233
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POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

Judiciary
Issues with Judiciary
Context: On the occasion of the celebration of Constitution Day, the President of India in her speech asserted that citizens
should be effective stakeholders in the dispensation of justice
Uncle Judges Syndrome:- It refers to the corrupt practice in
the Indian judiciary where relatives of a judge are either
favored in the judgement or appointed in the judiciary. Former
CJI RM Lodha once remarked that every third High Court
Judge is an Uncle. This creates a breeding ground for
favouritism and nepotism in the Indian judiciary
Quality of Free Legal Aid
Free Legal Aid is implicitly a fundamental right under Articles
14 and 21. Further, DPSP- Article 39-A advocates the
provision for free legal aid to citizens in need.
Free legal services are provided under the Legal Services
Authorities Act, 1987, and are operationalized by the National
Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
Who are entitled to Free Legal Services?
(a) A member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe;
(b) A victim of trafficking in human beings or begar as referred to in Article 23 of the Constitution;
(c) A woman or a child; (a woman is entitled for free legal aid irrespective of her income or financial status)
(d) A mentally ill or otherwise disabled person;
(e) A person under circumstances of undeserved want such as being a victim of a mass disaster, ethnic violence, caste
atrocity, flood, drought, earthquake or industrial disaster; or
(f) An industrial workman; or
(g) In custody
(h) a person in receipt of annual income less than the amount mentioned in the respective state’s schedule
(i) Senior citizens’ eligibility for free legal aid depends on the Rules framed by the respective State Governments
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Digital Judiciary
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SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software) is an artificial intelligence system that can help with the translation of
court decisions into regional dialects.
SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency) to first understand judicial processes that require
automation, and then to assist the Court in improving efficiency and reducing pendency by encapsulating judicial
processes that can be automated through AI.
E-Courts Mission Mode Project: was conceived to transform the Indian judiciary by enabling courts with ICT (Information
and Communication Technology). It is a pan India project for District Courts across the country, overseen and sponsored
by the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Department of Justice. The goal was to deliver citizen-centric services in a
timely and effective manner.
EWS Judgment
Context: A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in a 3:2 majority decision upheld the validity of the 103rd
Constitutional Amendment.
About Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Reservation
Genesis Mandal Commission
rd
• EWS was introduced through the 103 Constitutional ❖ In 1979, the Morarji Desai government set
amendment act. up the Mandal Commission to identify
• The act amended Article 15 and Article 16 of the socially or educationally backward classes
constitution and inserted 15(6) and 16(6). to address caste discrimination.
❖ Chaired by B.P. Mandal, the Commission
• It provides for reservation in jobs and admissions in
recommended that members of OBCs be
educational institutes for EWS.
given 27 per cent reservations for jobs
• Both Centre and the states can provide reservations to EWS.
under the Central government and public
• The reservation is in addition to the existing reservations sector undertakings.
and carries a maximum limit of 10% of total seats. ❖ This would take the total number of
• The basis of the EWS lies in Article 46 (DPSP) of the reservations for Scheduled Castes and
constitution which mandates that the state should protect Scheduled Tribes and OBC to 49 per cent.
the educational and economic interests of the weaker
sections of society.
• Minority educational institutions under Article 30 (1) are excluded from the reservation.
• Economic weakness will be decided based on criteria such
as family income and other indicators of economic
disadvantage.
Benefits
➢ It fulfils the goal of social, economic, and political
inclusion. It opens the doors for the most distressed,
poorest of all people who due to their economic
backwardness have remained excluded from attending
higher educational institutions and public employment.
➢ It will remove the stigma associated with reservation
because reservation has historically been related to caste.
➢ It diversifies national priorities as it introduced a form of
economic criteria for the poor.
Challenges
✓ It might twist the idea of social justice by bequeathing
further privilege to communities that are believed to be
beholders of an oppressive caste system
✓ Lack of unavailability of Data on whether forward castes are inadequately represented in government jobs and higher
educational institutions.
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✓ The criteria used by the government to decide the eligibility for this reservation are vague & arbitrary. There was no
consideration of GDP per capita for every State. Without knowing the income distance between states, fixing a yardstick
would be difficult.
Court Observation
Since it was a split verdict two views emerged
Majority View:
▪ EWS Quota doesn’t violate the basic structure of the constitution
and reservation in addition to the existing reservation does not Will private college have EWS
violate provisions of the constitution. quota?
Under Article 15(5) of the Constitution,
▪ Reservation is an instrument of affirmative action by the state for
the state has power to make
the inclusion of both socially and economically backward classes reservations in private educational
along with the class at a disadvantage. institutions. They cannot be standing
▪ The 50% ceiling limit provided under the Indira Sawhney outside national mainstream. As they
judgment is not inflexible. Also, the ceiling is limited to the are education centers and everyone
SC/ST/SEBC/OBC communities and not the general category. have right to education. They will have
EWS quota.
▪ The basic structure is not breached when the state makes
provisions for education.
▪ Article 15(4), 15(5), and 16(4) makes SC/ST and backward classes a separate category altogether.
Minority View:
▪ The idea behind reservation was to enable equal access and therefore any economic criteria which exclude SC/ST/OBC
just because they had pre-existing benefits is injustice.
▪ Though the EWS quota claims that it creates a level playing field exclusion of SC, ST, OBC discriminates against the
equality code and violates basic structure.
▪ Breach of the 50% ceiling limit would become “a gateway for further infractions and result in compartmentalization
Bail Reforms in India

Context: The Supreme Court expressed its concern over the situation of bails given in India. It asserted that there is a
pressing need for reforms in the law related to bail. It also called on the government to make legislation regarding bail
rules in India on the lines of the law in the United Kingdom.
Pre-Connect
Criminal Jurisprudence in India
• Legally bail means procurement of release from prison of
❖ The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the official criminal
a person awaiting trial or an appeal, by the deposit of security
code of India drafted in 1860 on the
to ensure their submission at the required time to legal recommendations of the first law commission of
authority. India established in 1834 under the Charter Act of
• The Magna Carta of 1215 prohibited imprisonment without 1833 under the Chairmanship of Lord Thomas
being judged by his peers or the law of the land. Babington Macaulay.
• In 1275, the Statute of Westminster was enacted which ❖ The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is the
divided crimes as bailable and non bailable. main legislation on procedure for administration
• The Bill of Rights of constitution of US through the 5th, 6th of substantive criminal law in India. It was
enacted in 1973 and came into force on 1st April
and 8th Amendments, guaranteeing citizens the right to due
1974.
process of law, a fair and speedy trial and protection against
excessive bail.
Situation in India
➢ The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 does not define the word bail rather chapter 33 of the code relates to
the provisions related to bail in India.
➢ The basic scheme of granting bail is a legislative division or judicially evolved conditions.
➢ CrPC categorises offences as bailable and non-bailable
o Section 436 of the CrPC states that a person accused of a bailable offence under I.P.C. can be granted bail.
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o Section 437 of the CrPC states that the accused does not have the right to bail in non-bailable offences. It is
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the discretion of the court to grant bail in case of non-bailable offences.
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➢ A provision mandates the court to consider granting bail to an accused below 16 years, someone who is sick, or
is a woman.
➢ The Code lacks a proper system or framework to govern the bail procedure.
➢ The extent of problem can be underlined from the fact that according to data compiled by the National Crime
Records Bureau (NCRB) for 2020, about 76% of all prison inmates in the country were under trials. This shows
the rot in the criminal justice system.
➢ In 2005, CrPC was amended to add two
new principles: Protection against Indiscriminate Arrest
o Granting bail on the personal ❖ Article 20:“No person shall be convicted of any offence except for
bond to a person who is indigent violation of the law in force at the time of the commission of the act
without sureties. However, charged as an offence, nor be subjected to a penalty greater than that
financial obligation still remains a which might have been inflicted under the law in force at the time of the
major obstacle for bail. Though commission of the offence.”
such obligations are necessary as ❖ Article 21: “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty
without them chance of except according to procedure established by law.”
absconding of accused might ❖ Article 22:Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases.
increase. o Right to be informed of the grounds of arrest.
o Provision of 436A was added o Right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner.
according to which any accused o Right to be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, excluding
incarcerated for the period the journey time.
prescribed in the provision has o Right to be released after 24 hours unless the magistrate authorises
right to bail. further detention.
➢ Though Law commission had called bail
system in India as inadequate and inefficient. It recommended reforms as an amendment to the Code rather than
bringing a new standalone law.
Supreme Court Observations
✓ Courts have underlined and suggested various reforms such as:
o If not otherwise required bails application have to be disposed of within two weeks and anticipatory bail
within six weeks.
o Unwarranted arrests are carried out in violation of Section 41 (empowers police to arrest without a warrant)
and Section 41A (deals with the procedure for appearance before police) of the CrPC. There is need to stop
rising culture of too many arrests for this lower courts should make sure that:
o No arrest for non-cognisable offence
o For cognisable offence arrest must be necessitated only prevent accuse from further committing
crime or tampering with evidence or from disappearing.
o One is arrested because they are requiring to be produced before courts.
o In any other, situation bail should be granted.
✓ Supreme Court recently reiterated the need for a separate law for bail in India. It is of opinion that colonial legacies
are reflected in our bail system. Despite amendments of CrPC required change has not been observed on the ground.
It believes that uniformity and certainty in the decisions of the court are the foundations of judicial dispensation.
Uniformity and certainty in the decisions of the court are the foundations of judicial dispensation.
Custodial Deaths in India

Context: Custodial death has been a cause of concern in India. A lot of emphasis is now placed on the scientific methods
of investigation and still incidents of custodial deaths continue
What does a Custodial death (CDs) mean?
▪ CDs are the death of a person in police custody, it also includes death of a person in judicial custody i.e., undergoing
trial and serving a sentence.
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▪ It happens when interrogation frustrates officers and when they seem to arrive at a dead end they resort to torture
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and violence which could lead to the death of the suspect.

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▪ Custodial torture and other excesses often lead to death under police custody, however sometimes due to any health
conditions which might be unknown to police, custodial
death occurs. Constitutional Provisions against Custodial violence
❖ Article 21: “No person shall be deprived of his life or
Data on custodial deaths
personal liberty except according to procedure
➢ National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows that in established by law”. It also provides protection from
the last 20 years, 1,888 custodial deaths were reported torture as fundamental right.
across the country, 893 cases registered against police ❖ Article 22:provides “Protection against arrest and
personnel and 358 personnel charge-sheeted. But only 26 detention in certain cases”. It also includes right to
policemen were convicted in this period. counsel.
➢ Data also points towards the grim situation in which more
than 2,000 human rights violation cases were also recorded against the police between 2000 and 2018. And only 344
policemen were convicted in those cases.
Role of Judiciary
▪ In Kishore Singh Vs.
State of Rajasthan
(1981) SC held that
the use of third
degree by the police
is violative of Article
21 of the Constitution
of India.
▪ In Joginder Kumar
Vs. State of UP & Ors
(1981) case SC held
that those police
should avoid arrest
provided only in
heinous offence. It
opined that the
existence of the power
to arrest is one thing.
The justification for
the exercise of it is
quite another.
▪ In D. K. Basu Vs. State of West Bengal (1994) case SC has established norms required to be followed during
arrest and detention. This includes
It is the duty of the Police Officer not to use third-degree methods while having investigation and interrogation
from the accused.
Attention must be required in checking the working environment, training, and orientation of the Police Officials
with the basic human values.
Surprise inspections by Non-Official Visitors (NOVs) should also be made mandatory which would act as a
preventive measure against custodial torture.
A balanced approach should be used by the police to extract the information from hardened criminals.
Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System

Context: Recently, Centre has approved the implementation of Phase II of the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System
(ICJS) project by the Ministry of Home Affairs at a total cost of Rs 3,375 crore during the period from 2022-23 to 2025-
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26.
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• ICJS is a national platform for enabling integration of the main IT system used for delivery of Criminal Justice in the
country. It seeks to integrate the five pillars of the system viz Police (through Crime and Criminal Tracking and Network
Systems), e-Forensics for Forensic Labs, e-Courts for Courts, e-Prosecution for Public Prosecutors and e-Prisons for
Prisons.
According to MHA, in Phase-I of the project, individual IT systems have been implemented and stabilized even as search
of records have been enabled on these systems.
What is ICJS?
➢ICJS is an initiative of the e-Committee to enable seamless transfer of data and information among different
pillars of the criminal justice system, like courts, police, jails and forensic science laboratories, from one platform.
➢With the aid of the ICJS platform, the metadata of FIR and
National Crime Record Bureau was set-up in 1986 to
charge sheet can be accessed by all the High Courts and
function as a repository of information on crime and
subordinate courts. Documents like FIR, case diary and charge
criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking
sheet are uploaded by police in PDF format for utilization by the crime to the perpetrators based on the
courts. recommendations of the Tandon Committee,
➢ High Courts are also requested to appoint one Nodal Officer National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the
to ensure that apart from the police, other State functionaries like MHA’s Task force (1985).
Provident Fund Organisation, Forest Department, Municipal National Information Centre under the Ministry of
Authorities, Labour Welfare Boards Town Planning Authorities and Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is the
Food and Drug Administration are also part of ICJS. technology partner of the Government ofIndia. NIC
was established in the year 1976 with the objective to
➢ The ICJS platform is an effective tool for the case and court
provide technology-driven solutions to Central and
management, as all the relevant information of a case will be
State Governments.
available in real-time for use by the courts. Compliance of judicial
orders and summons can also be achieved expeditiously, ensuring
effective time management.
Phase-II of ICJS
✓ Under Phase-II, the system is being built on the principle of ‘one data one entry’ whereby data is entered only once
in one pillar and the same is then available in all other pillars without the need to re-enter the data in each pillar.
✓ The ICJS system would be made available through a dedicated and secure cloud-based infrastructure with high-
speed connectivity.
✓National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) will be responsible for the implementation of the project in association
with National Informatics Centre (NIC).
Article 142 of the Indian Constitution

Context: Supreme Court invoked its extraordinary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to release AG
Perarivalan, who has served over 30 years in jail in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
▪ Article 142 of the Constitution of India provides a special and extraordinary power to the Supreme Court to do
complete justice to the litigants who have suffered traversed illegality or injustice in the proceedings.
▪ Perarivalan, who was 19 years old at the time of Rajiv Gandhi’s killing in 1991, was accused of buying the two 9-
volt batteries used in the bomb to assassinate the former prime minister.
▪ Perarivalan was sentenced to death by a TADA court in 1998. The Supreme Court upheld the sentence the next
year but commuted it to life imprisonment in 2014.
About Article 142 of the Constitution
➢ Subsection 1 of Article 142 mentioned about enforcement of decrees and orders of Supreme Court and orders as
to discovery, etc.
Lok Adalat
Context: Supreme Court has ruled that LokAdalats are not courts as it does not resort to judicial adjudication in
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resolving disputes.
▪ The Lok Adalat is a forum where the cases (or disputes) which are pending in a court or which are at pre-litigation
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stage (not yet brought before a court) are compromised or settled in an amicable manner.
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▪ The Supreme Court has explained the meaning of the institution of Lok Adalat as: The ‘Lok Adalat’ is an old form
of adjudicating system prevailed in ancient India and its validity has not been taken away even in the modern
days too.
▪ The word ‘Lok Adalat’ means ‘People’s Court’. This system is based on Gandhian principles. It is one of the
components of ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) system. As the Indian courts are overburdened with the
backlog of cases and the regular courts are to decide the cases involving a lengthy, expensive and tedious
procedure. The court takes years together to settle even petty cases.
▪ The Lok Adalat, provides alternative resolution or devise for expeditious and inexpensive justice. In Lok Adalat
proceedings, there are no victors and vanquished and, thus, no rancour.
▪ The Lok Adalat is another alternative in judicial justice. This is a recent strategy for delivering informal, cheap
and expeditious justice to the common man by way of settling disputes, which are pending in courts and also
those, which have not yet reached courts by negotiation, conciliation and by adopting persuasive, common sense
and human approach to the problems of the disputants, with the assistance of specially trained and experienced
members of a team of conciliators.
Legal Services Clinic

Context: Aiming to make legitimate assistance more accessible to women, the National Commission for Women
(NCW) in collaboration with Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) launched a legal aid clinic which will act as a
single-window facility for resolving the grievances of women.
• "Legal services clinic" means the facility established by the National Legal Services Authority, State Legal Services
Authority and the District Legal Services Authority to provide basic legal services to the People with the
assistance of para-legal-volunteers or lawyers, as the point of first contact for help and advice.
• A legal clinic (also law clinic or law school clinic) is a Legal Services Authority/law school program providing hands
–on- legal experience to law school students and services to various clients. Clinics are usually directed by clinical
professors. Legal Clinics typically do pro bono work in a particular area, providing free legal services to clients.
• Lawyers/Law graduates/Law Students typically provide assistance with research, drafting legal arguments
and meeting with clients. Clinical legal studies exist in diverse areas such as immigration law, environmental law,
Intellectual property, housing, Criminal defence, Criminal prosecution and the Civil and Revenue Indian law.
Clinical education presents an interesting intersection between the academic and professional environments.
What is the New NCW Legal Services Clinic all about?
• Under the new legal aid clinic, proper counselling will be given for walk-in complainants, information and
advice on numerous schemes of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)/ DSLSA, women in distress will be
given legal assistance, assistance in Mahila Jansunwai, free legal aid, hearings in matrimonial cases and any other
complaints which have been registered with the Commission will be provided among other services.
• NCW is also preparing to set up similar legal services clinics in other State Commissions for Women as well.
Supreme Court clears FCRA changes

Context: Supreme Court upholds constitutional validity of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020,
says it serves to safeguard India’s ‘sovereignty and integrity’.
• The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 was passed in both houses of Parliament in 2020. It seeks
to regulate the process involving acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions by individuals, associations and
companies.
Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)
➢ The FCRA was enacted during the Emergency in 1976 in an atmosphere of apprehension that foreign powers were
interfering in India’s affairs by pumping in funds through independent organisations. These concerns had been expressed
in Parliament as early as in 1969.
➢The law sought to regulate foreign donations to individuals and associations so that they functioned “in a manner
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consistent with the values of a sovereign democratic republic”.

➢An amended FCRA was enacted in 2010 to “consolidate the law” on utilisation of foreign funds, and “to prohibit” their
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➢The law was amended again in 2020, giving the government tighter control and scrutiny over the receipt and
utilisation of foreign funds by NGOs.
➢ Broadly, the FCRA requires every person or NGO wishing to receive foreign donations to be registered under the Act,
to open a bank account for the receipt of the foreign funds in State Bank of India, Delhi (“one-point entry” for
foreign donations), and to utilise those funds only for the purpose for which they have been received and as stipulated in
the Act.
➢They are required to file annual returns, and they must not transfer the funds to another NGO.
➢ The Act prohibits receipt of foreign funds by candidates for elections, journalists or newspaper and media broadcast
companies, judges and government servants, members of legislature and political parties or their office-bearers, and
organisations of a political nature.
How is FCRA registration granted?
✓ NGOs that want to receive foreign funds must apply online in a prescribed format with the required documentation.
FCRA registrations are granted to individuals or associations that have definite cultural, economic, educational,
religious, and social programmes.
✓Following the application, the MHA makes inquiries through the Intelligence Bureau into the antecedents of the
applicant, and accordingly processes the application.
✓ Under the FCRA, the applicant should not be fictitious or benami; and should not have been prosecuted or convicted
for indulging in activities aimed at conversion through inducement or force, either directly or indirectly, from one religious
faith to another.
✓ The applicant should not have been prosecuted for or convicted of creating communal tension or disharmony; should
not have been found guilty of diversion or misutilisation of funds; and should not be engaged or likely to be engaged in
the propagation of sedition.
✓ The MHA is required to approve or reject the application within 90 days. In case of failure to process the application
in the given time, the MHA is expected to inform the NGO of the reasons for the same.
For how long is approval granted?
Once granted, FCRA registration is valid for five years. NGOs are expected to apply for renewal within six months of the
date of expiry of registration. In case of failure to apply for renewal, the registration is deemed to have expired, and the
NGO is no longer entitled to receive foreign funds or utilise its existing funds without permission from the ministry.
Olga Tellis Judgment

Context: North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s recent use of bulldozers’ against roadside stalls, and push carts in Delhi’s
Jahangirpuri was seen by a constitution Bench of the Supreme Court.
What is the Olga Tellis judgment?
• The judgment, Olga Tellis vs Bombay Municipal Corporation, in 1985 by a five-judge Bench led by then Chief
Justice of India Y.V. Chandrachud agrees that pavement dwellers do occupy public spaces unauthorised.
• However, the court maintained they should be given a chance to be heard and a reasonable opportunity to
depart “before force is used to expel them.”
• The Supreme Court reasoned that eviction using unreasonable force, without giving them a chance to explain
is unconstitutional.
• Pavement dwellers, too, have a right to life and dignity. The right to life included the right to livelihood.
Uniform Civil Code

Context: Government of Uttarakhand will go ahead with the implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and had urged
other states to follow the same path.
• The idea of UCC germinated during the colonial era, in 1835 British government called for codification of Indian
laws relating to crimes, evidence and contracts. They also emphasized on keeping laws of Hindus and Muslims
to be kept outside the purview of codification.
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• Later, British formed BN Rau committee in 1941 to codify Hindu Law. This was later culminated into Hindu
Succession Act, 1956 which would cover Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs. Separate personal laws for Muslims,
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• The UCC calls for formulation of one law to be made applicable to all religious communities in civil matters
such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.
• One of the reasons behind the government’s ambivalence is the potential fallout of a move on tribal
communities. In Assam, tribals have their own personal laws and the government wouldn’t like to disturb the
equation.
• The issue of UCC has seen a renewed push in the Supreme Court as well, especially after the top court indicated
that the government should explore the UCC as a means to secure gender justice, equality and dignity of women.
• The court’s view is based on several petitions claiming that personal laws governing the followers of certain
faiths discriminate against women.
Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
➢Article 44 of the Directive Principles in the Constitution says the “State shall endeavour to provide for its citizens a
uniform civil code (UCC) throughout the territory of India.”
➢The objective of this endeavour should be to address the discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonise
diverse cultural practices.
➢The stand taken by B.R. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly debates has survived the years. Rd. Ambedkar had
said a UCC is desirable but for the moment should remain voluntary.
Federalism
Northeast Border Dispute
Context- Clashes b/w police personnel of Assam and Mizoram have spotlighted long-standing border disputes among
states in India’s northeast
Why do Inter-State Border Disputes still continue?
Assam is involved in all disputes because most of the north-eastern states were carved out of Assam.
• Geographical Factors
o The presence rivers, hills, and forests straddle at various places between the two states makes marking of
border difficult.
o Original maps are available with government date back to colonial times in which several areas are just marked
as “unexplored” or “thick forests”.
• Political Factors
o The reorganization of Indian states was done on the pretext of administrative convenience but it was done on
the linguistic basis of the idea of one language one state.
o However, this has backfired as the linguistic diversity of India is always greater than the land availability.
• Tribal Issues
The distribution of Indigenous communities was not kept in mind while demarcating boundaries. This becomes more
visible in the case of North-East states.
• Indigenous Communities:
o Indigenous communities were, for the most part, left alone. Boundaries would be drawn for administrative
convenience when the “need” arose.
o The 1956 demarcation did not resolve the discrepancies.
o When new states were carved out of Assam (Nagaland in 1963, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur in
1972, and Arunachal Pradesh in 1987), it was still not addressed.
How can we resolve Inter-State Border Disputes?
Constitutional Mechanism
1) Article 263 of the Constitution provides for Inter-State Council. It was envisaged as a conflict resolution body that
will inquire and advise on disputes, discuss the issues at play and then recommend solutions accordingly. The 2nd
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ARC also recommended creating more than one Inter-State Council, providing a more decentralized solution to the
problem.
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2) Statutory Provisions
The system of Zonal Councils can also be used for deliberation and discussion.
It will allow for direct deliberation between states in conflict.
3) Technical Provisions
Satellite Mapping can be used to develop new maps based on which boundary questions can be resolved.
4) Cooperative federalism principles must be used to resolve conflicts. Unity in diversity is India’s strength and
leveraging it would help resolve such issues.
5) The Sundaram Commission recommended a border between Assam and Nagaland, but Nagaland rejected the
report. In 1988, Assam filed a case in the Supreme Court. It did the same over its dispute with Arunachal Pradesh, in
1989. Both reports are still pending.
6) With this in mind, the Setalvad Study Team on Centre-State Relationships had in 1968 recommended an inter-state
council
Constitutional provisions over Indian Territories
• Article 2 states “Parliament may by law admit into the Union, or establish, new States on such terms and
conditions as it thinks fit.”
• Article 3 states Parliament may by law:
1) Form a new State by separation of territory from any State or by uniting two or more States or parts of States
or by uniting any territory to a part of any State
2) Increase the area of any State o diminish the area of any State
3) Alter the boundaries of any State or alter the name of any State
Centre- State dispute

Context: Recently, the decision of Chhattisgarh government of transferring land from forest department to revenue
department was flagged by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for the want of the violation of due
process. Ministry is of the opinion that the transfer of land violates Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and multiple
Supreme Court order.
Forest in India
• In India, Forest is not defined by a unified definition rather it varies from state to state.
• However, Supreme Court in T.N. Godavarman Thirumulkpad vs the Union of India (1996) held that the
definition of forest must be taken according to its dictionary meaning; therefore it covered all statutorily
recognized forests, irrespective of the status of the land it standson.
Constitutional provisions for forest:
• Article48A-Directive Principles of State Policy-It calls on the state to protect and improve the environment and
also safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
• Article 51A (g)-Fundamental Duty-It is the fundamental duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural
environment including forests and Wildlife.
• 42nd Constitutional Amendment had made Forests and Protection of Wild Animals and Birds as a concurrent
subject under seventh schedule.
• States under Indian Forest Act 1927 were given rights for Reserve Forest (No activities allowed unless permitted
otherwise) and Protected Forest (EVERY activity is permitted unless prohibited otherwise). Further village forest
was given to revenue department of the state
• Article131
• Under the Constitution, laws made by Parliament are presumed to be constitutional until a court holds otherwise.
However, due to India’s quasi-federal structure, inter-governmental disputes are a common sight.
• The framers of the Constitution expected such differences, and added the exclusive original jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court for the irresolution under Article131.
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• In State of Karnataka v Union of India, SC held that it’s the responsibility of States to prove that the dispute
involves a legal question and cannot be used to settle political differences between state and central
governments.
• Centre doesn’t sue states under Article 131 as it has others power to do so, for instance, if states do not comply
with the directions, the Centre can move the court seeking apermanent injunction against the states to force the
mtocomply with the law.
Forest Clearance Procedure in India
• Forest Conservation Act, 1980 requires statutory clearance irrespective of the department which holds the forest
area, if they wish to use forest area for non-forest purpose such as industry, construction and mining etc.
• Clearance for non-forest use of forestland under the FC Act requires giving back twice the area for
compensatory afforestation (CA) from Revenue to Forest.
• Environment Clearance: It involves procedure of Environment impact assessment which is mandatory for
projects beyond a certain size. In, some cases it even involves public hearings involving local population.
Centre-State power struggle over India’s waters

Context: In recent times several issues like electricity, water resources, law and order, judiciary, and finance have emerged
as new fault lines between the Centre and States.
Water in the Constitution of India
• The right to clean drinking water has been read into the right to life under Article 21 of the constitution.
• Article 246 grants the Centre the exclusive power to make laws on the following subjects under List I of the Seventh
Schedule:
• Decide on shipping and navigation on inland and tidal
JalJeevan Mission (JJM)
(sea) waterways and national waterways for vessels
❖ It aims to provide a Functional Household Tap
• Regulate training and education of mercantile marines by Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by
states and other agencies 2024, in collaboration with States and Union
• Decide on goods, and passengers by sea or national Territories (UTs).
waterways via mechanically propelled vessels ❖ The scheme also aims to develop bulk water
• Regulate and develop interstate rivers and river valleys transfer facilities, treatment plants and a robust in-
• Decide on fishing and fisheries beyond territorial waters village water distribution network.
❖ Since the launch of the scheme in 2019,
Similarly, List II of the seventh schedule empowers states to
7,00,05,724 (44%) households have received new
develop roads, bridges, ferries, municipal tramways, ropeways,
tap connections.
and other means of communication on inland waterways in the
❖ Goa, Telangana, Haryana and UTs like Andaman &
State Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli
• Decide on water supply, irrigation and canals, and Daman & Diu have achieved 100% tap water
drainage and embankments, water storage, and water connections.
power
• Taxes on goods and passengers carried by road or on inland waterways
• Decide on shipping and navigation on inland waterways via mechanically propelled vessels and carriage of
passengers and goods on such waters
• The overlap in the powers of the Centre and State in several areas is also an area of conflict between States.
Inter-State Water Dispute
Inter-State Water disputes are governed by the Inter-State River Water Dispute Act, 1956.
The mechanism under the Act
• State Government makes a request to the Central government for any water dispute.
• If the Central government is of opinion that the dispute cannot be resolved through negotiations then it constitutes
a Water Dispute Tribunal for the adjudication of the Water Dispute.
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• In 2002, the act was amended which provided major time frames along the lines of recommendations made by the
Sarkaria commission. The constitution of the tribunal had to be done in a one-year time frame and Tribunal had to
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Active River Water Dispute Tribunals in India National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
▪ Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II (2004) – Karnataka, ❖ The river Ganga originating from the Himalayan
Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra mountainrange flows through Uttarakhand,
▪ Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal (2018) – Odisha & Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
Chhattisgarh ❖ NMCG was formed Under the Environment
(Protection) Amendment Act (EPA) ,2016.
▪ Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (2010) – Goa, Karnataka, ❖ The NMCG was given a two-tier management
Maharashtra structure Governing Council and Executive
▪ Ravi & Beas Water Tribunal (1986) – Punjab, Haryana, Committee (at National, State and district levels).
Rajasthan ❖ NamamiGange is the project under NMCG
▪ Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal (2010) – Andhra Pradesh (managed by the Jal Shakti Ministry) that was
&Odisha. started in 2014.
❖ Aimed at rejuvenating Ganga, it comprises of
Key Highlights of the Inter-State River Water Disputes
developing sewerage treatment infrastructure,
(Amendment) Bill.
river-front development, river-surface cleaning,
o It envisages a standalone tribunal that would be permanent, afforestation, industrial effluent monitoring,
so there would be no need to create a tribunal on a case-by- enhancing the river’s bio-diversity, developing
case basis. Ganga Gram (villages on Ganga banks) and raise
o It envisages a Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) by the public awareness.
Central Government for resolving amicably. DRC would resolve
the inter-State water disputes within a maximum period of one year and six months. If DRC fails, then matters will be
referred to the Tribunal for its adjudication.
o It removes the publication of the final decision of the tribunal in the official gazette.
o It allows for a transparent data collection system at the national level for each river basin and a single agency to
maintain a data bank and information system.
o It decides the bench of the tribunal will be final and binding on the parties involved in the dispute.
State Legislature and Lotteries

Context: Supreme Court held that a State legislature has the right to impose tax on lotteries conducted by other
states within its jurisdiction.
• Betting is the act of placing a wager. Whether that's laying chips on the table, putting a certain amount on a
certain outcome with a bookmaker, or buying stock in a company that one think will become more valuable, the
act of committing money to be held pending an outcome (where if it happens, one gets paid, and if it doesn't,
one loses bet) is betting. If one is putting up money to possibly earn more with it based on the outcome of a
future event, one is betting.
• Gambling is the act of betting, but on an uncertain outcome. Good examples include buying a lottery ticket (one
doesn’t know what numbers will come up), choosing red/black on roulette (one doesn't know where the ball will
land), or selecting a winning horse (one doesn't know who is going to cross the finish line first).
• Betting and Gambling is part of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. In other words, this
simply means that the state government can exercise full control over betting and gambling practices in their
state. They can also formulate their state-specific laws. A good example of this is the choice given to most states
for the adoption of the Public Gambling Act, 1976.
• SC Judgment: The power to tax is on all activities which are in the nature of betting and gambling including
lotteries; State legislatures have the power to tax lotteries under Entry 62 of the State List.
What is the legal position of gambling in India?
• Horse racing and lotteries are legal in India. Horse racing involves some prior skills so it isn’t all about gambling.
• Online gambling and land-based casinos are legalized in Goa, Sikkim, Nagaland, and Daman under the Public
Gambling Act, 1976.
• All India Gaming Federation, The Rummy Federation, and Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports have adopted a
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Reconstitution of Inter-State Council (ISC)
Context: The Centre has reconstituted the Inter-State Council, which works to promote cooperative federalism.
Inter-State Councils
1. Article 263 contemplates the establishment of an ISC to effect coordination between the states and between
Centre and states.
2. President can establish such a council if at any time it appears to him that the public interest would be
served by its establishment.
3. President can define the nature of duties to be performed by such a council and its organisation and
procedure.
4. Even though the president is empowered to define the duties of an ISC, Article 263 specifies the duties that can
be assigned to it in the following manner:
✓ Enquiring into and advising upon disputes which may arise between states;
✓ Investigating and discussing subjects in which the states or the Centre and the states have a common interest;
and
✓ Making recommendations upon any such subject, and particularly for the better coordination of policy and
action on it.
Composition of the newly constituted ISC
• Headed by the PM, the Council will comprise six Union ministers, besides the Chief Ministers of the 28 states
and UTs with a legislature, and administrators of UTs without a legislature. It will also have 10 Union ministers
as permanent invitees.
• Mandated with creating a strong institutional framework to promote and support cooperative federalism, the
Council helps the Centre and states iron out differences on policy and governance.
Standing Committee of the ISC
✓ The government has also reconstituted the standing committee of the Council, with Home Minister as its
chairman.
✓ Members include few Union ministers & Chief Ministers
✓ The standing committee will have continuous consultation and process matters for consideration of the
council, process all matters pertaining to centre-state relations before they are taken up for consideration in
the inter-state council.
✓ The standing committee also monitors the implementation of the decisions taken on the recommendations
of the council and consider any other matter referred to it by the chairman or the council.
✓ The standing committee may, if necessary, invite experts and persons eminent in specific fields to have the
benefit of their views while deliberating upon the related subjects.
The mandate of the Inter-State Council
• A recommendatory body on issues relating to Inter-state, Center-States, and Center-Union Territory relations.
• It aims at promoting coordination between them by examining, discussing and deliberating on such issues. Its
duties, in detail, are as follows:
• Investigating and discussing such subjects in which the states or the centre have a common interest;
• Making recommendations upon any such subject for the better coordination of policy and action on it; and
• Deliberating upon such other matters of general interest to the states as may be referred to it by the chairman.
• The Council may meet at least thrice in a year. Its meetings are held in camera and all questions are decided
by consensus.
Analytica
• The council’s function to enquire and advice upon inter-state disputes is complementary to the Supreme
Court’s jurisdiction under Article 131 to decide a legal controversy between the governments.
• The Council can deal with any controversy whether legal or non-legal, but its function is advisory unlike that of
the court which gives a binding decision. Under the above provisions of Article 263, the president has
established the following councils to make recommendations for the better coordination of policy and
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action in the related subjects:

✓ Central Council of Health and Family Welfare.
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✓ Central Council of Local Government

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✓ Four Regional Councils for Sales Tax for the Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern Zones.
Inter-State police arrest

Context: A political leader was arrested by the Punjab police from his home in Delhi, stopped in Haryana while being
taken to Punjab and brought back to the national capital by Delhi Police.
✓ Inter-state police arrest means when the police of one state arrest the accused or culprit in some other state,
though this type of investigation or arrest is constitutionally invalid.
✓ The police force can only arrest or investigate an accused who lies within the boundaries of their state. For e.g. -
If someone commits a crime in Delhi and is vested in Delhi then only.
✓ Delhi police have the authority to arrest that criminal and not the police of some other state.
✓ In order to arrest an accused of some other state, the police force of a state must communicate with the
police force of that particular state where the accused is and that has the authority to take immediate actions.
Constitutional and Legal Provisions
✓ The powers of the police to arrest an accused in another state have not been defined clearly as far as arresting
without a warrant is concerned. Section 48 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) gives the police such powers,
but the procedure is not defined.
✓ Article 22(2) of the Constitution of India stated that “Every person who is arrested and detained in custody shall
be produced before the nearest magistrate within a period of 24 hours of such arrest excluding the time
necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court of the magistrate, and no such person shall be
detained in custody beyond the said period without the authority of a magistrate.”
Judicial Observations on Inter-State Arrests
In ‘Sandeep Kumar vs The State (Govt. Of NCT of Delhi)’ 2019, the Delhi High Court issued certain guidelines for inter-
state arrests:-
✓ A police officer must seek permission from his superior, in writing or on the phone, to visit another state to
arrest a criminal.
✓ Police personnel must record reasons for a such a move in writing, and first make an endeavour to get an arrest
warrant from a court except in “emergent cases”.
✓ Before visiting the other State, the Police Officer must endeavour to establish contact with the local Police
Station in whose jurisdiction he is to conduct the investigation.
Delimitation Exercise in Jammu & Kashmir

Context:
A commission set up by the Centre submitted its final report for the delimitation of Assembly and parliamentary
constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.
✓ Delimitation was carried out in accordance with the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. This exercise
led to increase the number of seats in the Assembly.
✓ As per the final Delimitation Order, the following will come into effect from the date to be notified by the Central
Government:-
✓ Out of the 90 Assembly Constituencies in the region, 43 will be part of Jammu region and 47 for Kashmir
region
✓ The Delimitation Commission was set up in 2020 under the chairmanship of retired Supreme Court Justice
Ranjana Prakash Desai, it has the Chief Election Commissioner and J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer as members,
and J&K’s five MPs as associate members.
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Audit of local-self government
Context: the comptroller and auditor
general has proposed to expand its Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG)
presence up to the district level to • Constitution of India (Article148) provides for an independent office of the
exercise audit control over three- Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). He is the head of the Indian
tier Panchayati raj institutions that are Audit and Accounts Department.
at present not audited by any • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar said that the CAG shall be the most important Officer
government audit. under the Constitution of India
• A large part of government • CAG is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and sea.
expenditure directly goes to • Removal from office in like manner and on like grounds as a Judge of the
local bodies for Supreme Court.
implementation of several • In order of precedence, the CAG is ranked 9th and enjoys the same status as
central and state level schemes. a sitting judge of Supreme Court of India.
• CAG has propose to open its
offices in each district and “exercise control and supervision” over the proper maintenance of accounts and
audit of PRIs.
• Government departments draw funds from the consolidated fund, PRIs draw money from separate fund
accounts kept in bank or treasury
• The PRIs which also mobilize revenue through rents, rates, taxes, fines, fees etc. are beyond the scrutiny of any
central or state audit system.
• At present the CAG has presence in state capitals and its accountant general’s office is responsible for auditing
accounts of state government
Constitutional Provisions for Audit
✓ Article 243 J: The Legislature of a State may, by law, make provisions with respect to the maintenance of accounts
by the Panchayats and the auditing of such accounts.
✓ Article 243 Z: The Legislature of a State may, by law, make provisions with respect to the maintenance of
accounts by the Municipalities and the auditing of such accounts.
Federalism: Unique status of Delhi

Context: overlapping of functions between Centre & UTs affecting
The 69th CAA of 1991
routine administrative work in UTs. (With reference to Delhi)
✓ Special status given to National Capital of
• The complex power structure of Delhi, on account of its
Delhi with its own democratically elected
status as a national capital where jurisdiction over different government & legislative assembly.
subjects is split between the central and the Delhi ✓ Insertion of new Articles 239AA and 239AB
government, is executed through the provisions of Article after Article 239A of the Constitution.
239AA, the GNCTD Act 1991 and TBR 1993.
• The SC had, in its 2018 verdict, stated that the Delhi L-G is bound to act on the “aid and advice” of the city-state’s
council of ministers in all matters that fall under the state legislature’s jurisdiction – the excepted issues being
land, public order and police, all of which are under central jurisdiction.
Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
NOTE-
(Amendment) Act (GNCTD) 2021 • No law or constitutional provision that dictates
Following are broad changes have now been made to the uniformity in conduct rules of different
GNCTD Act: legislatures, and certainly, none that says an
✓ The expression Government referred to in any law to be assembly’s rules must be the same as those of the
made by the Legislative Assembly shall henceforth Lok Sabha.
mean the Lieutenant Governor. • Conduct rules of the RajyaSabha and the Lok
Sabha aren’t the same, despite both being
✓ Conduct of business in the Delhi Legislative Assembly
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Houses of Parliament.
will have to be consistent with Rules of Procedure and
Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.
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✓ Before taking any Executive action in pursuance of the decision of the Council of Ministers or a Minister, to
exercise powers of Government, the opinion of the L-G shall be obtained on all such matters by a general or
special order by the L-G.
Elections
Party symbol & ECI
Context: Political split among the political parties is becoming a common phenomenon. Recently, a political party
approached the Election Commission of India to stake a claim over the party symbol.
Elections Symbol
• An election symbol is a standardized identification associated with
Terms to remember
the candidate which helps voters to identify which political party
Article 324-329, Model code of conduct Election
candidate belongs or does not belong,
Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, and
• The idea behind these symbols is to facilitate voters in voting even 1968.
if they are illiterate. Symbols play crucial role in early decades after
Independence as Indian literacy rate were low.
•The regulation, reservation and allotment of electoral symbols is entrusted with Election commission of India and
done in accordance with Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
• Rules classify Election symbols as
a) Reserved: Symbol reserved for a recognised political party for exclusive allotment to contesting candidates set up by
that party.
b) Free: Symbol other than a reserved symbol.
• Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, Under Paragraph 15 empowers ECI to decide disputes
among rival groups or sections of political party who stake claim over party name and symbol.
• Supreme Court in Sadiq Ali and others vs. ECI (1971) also upheld Election Commission as the only body to decide
in such disputes.
The decision of ECI is based on support enjoyed by a claimant within a political party in
a) Organizational wing- Examines party constitution and its list of office-bearers at the time when it was united. Then it
classifies them into rival factions and look out their numerical strength.
b) Legislative wing-It classify Member of Parliament and Member of Legislative Assemblies into the factions which they
support by providing an affidavit.
• ECI may then rule to give party name and symbol to the faction which has majority in both the wings.
• It may also allow the losing faction to register as separate political party.
In case where there is no certainty i.e., no clear majority visible of any rival faction ECI:
i) Can freeze party symbol and allow groups to register as new party with a new name.
ii) It may also allow adding prefixes or suffixes to the party’s existing names.
• If claimants reunite in future, then may approach the EC again and seek to be recognised as a unified party. ECI
may restore the symbol and name of the original party.
• In case when large party breaks into various factions and register themselves as new political parties then they
cannot lay claim to national or state party status of their parent party. They will have to follow the procedure for
status anew.
Election of President and Vice President

Context: Recently new President and Vice President of India were Terms to remember
elected. President, Vice-President, Voting, Types of
Manner of the Election of the President of India is borrowed from the electoral system
Irish Constitution and the office of vice-president comes from USA.
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Article 324 and the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 along with the Presidential and Vice-
Presidential Elections rules, 1974 vest the superintendence, direction and control of elections to the Election commission
of India.
Elections to Office of the President and the Vice President are done using the instrument of Single-Transferrable Vote.
In this voter do not caste single vote but instead rank candidates in order of preference. This allows voters to vote across
party lines and select the most preferred candidate. Further, it doesn’t cause wastage of voter’s vote.
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Aadhaar –voter ID linkage
Context: Election commission of India in accordance with Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 had started a drive to
link voter-ids with Aadhaar. The idea is to develop a fool proof electoral roll without any duplication or bogus voters.
This move however raised several concerns as people fear that if they didn’t link their voter-id with Aadhaar they might
not be able to vote.
• It will help in establish the identity of electors and authentication of
entries in electoral roll and weed out duplication. Terms to remember:
GDPR, Election Commission of India,
• It was launched in 2009 as a 12-digituniqueidentification number as
SVEEP, VVPAT, BAPU, AEPS, JAM-Trinity
proof of residence. It draws its legal status from Targeted Delivery of
Financial and other Subsidies, benefits and services Act, 2016.
• It captured biometric and demographic data, which is to be collected by Unique Identification Authority of India
(UIDAI) which is a statutory body under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• Data of Aadhar is stored in the Central Identities Data Repository of UIDAI.
• NRI are also eligible for Aadhar, they had to provide Passport as Identity document.
• In 2017, SC in Justice K. S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) and Anr. Vs Union of India and Ors case prescribed "necessary
and proportionate" test to make Aadhaar compulsory for any service.
NOTE: The Minister of Law and Justice, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, informed that the Election Laws
(Amendment) Act, 2021, allows Electoral Registration Officers to require the existing or prospective elector to provide the
Aadhaar number for the Purpose of establishing identity on a voluntary basis.
Appointment of ECI members

Context: The SC has now given the Opposition and the judiciary a say in the matter, ruling that the CEC and ECs must
be appointed by the President on the advice of a committee comprising the PM, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha,
and the Chief Justice of India.
• The Bench headed by Justice K M Joseph ruled on a batch of petitions seeking a selection process similar to what
is followed in the case of the Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
• As of now, the central government essentially has a free hand in appointing these officials.
How are the CEC and ECs currently appointed?
• There are just five Articles (324-329) in Part XV (Elections) of the Constitution. Article 324 of the Constitution
vests the “superintendence, direction and control of elections” in an Election Commission consisting “of the Chief
Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners, if any, as the President may from time
to time fix”.
• The Constitution does not lay down a specific legislative process for the appointment of the CEC and ECs.
The President makes the appointment on the advice of the Union Council of Ministers headed by the Prime
Minister.
• Parliament enacted The Representation of the People Act, 1950, and The Representation of the People Act, 1951,
to define and enlarge the powers of the Commission.
• The Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991
(EC Act) requires that the EC and CEC must hold the post for a period of six years. This law essentially governs the
conditions of service of the CEC and ECs.
• Until 1989, the Election Commission was a single-member body, with only a Chief Election Commissioner
(CEC).
Electoral bonds
Context:
The Supreme Court is hearing case- petitions challenging the Terms to remember
validity of the contentious electoral bond scheme to a Money bill, Shell Companies, FCRA Amendments,
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Representation of People Act 1951

Constitution bench after the petitioners said the matter regarding
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funding of political parties strikes at the root of democratic functioning in the country.
About Electoral Bonds
• The scheme was introduced in 2017, under which bonds in multiples of Rs 1000, Rs 10000, Rs 1 Lakh, Rs 10
lakh, and Rs 1 crore are issued without any maximum limit.
• Only the State Bank of India’s (SBI) dedicated branch is authorized to issue and in cash such bonds. They are
valid for fifteen days from the date of issuance. They are only redeemable in the designated account of a
registered political party.
• Any citizen can purchase these bonds either singly or jointly with other individuals. The name of the donor is
not required, for a bond value less than Rs 20000 even PAN
details are not required.
• Bonds are available for ten days each in January, April, July,
and October as may be specified by the Central Government.
Another 30 days window in case of Lok Sabha elections can be
designated by the Central government.
• Every political party which is registered under section 29A of the
Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and has
secured at least one percent of the votes polled in the most recent
Lok Sabha or State election is eligible for donation through EBs.
• According to SBI data, since the introduction of the scheme in
2018, political parties have received around Rs 10,246 crore, till
July 2022.
• Other than EBs, Political Parties can also receive cash donations
of less than 2,000 from anonymous sources through cheque or
digital mode.
National Party status & Recognised & unrecognized)

Context: 1) Election Commission had been writing to the government to grant it power under the Representation of the
People Act to de-register a political party on certain grounds.
• Political parties are essential institutions of democracy. By competing in Terms to remember
elections parties offer citizens a choice in governance, and while in opposition National Party, regional
they can hold governments accountable. party, multi-party
• India is a multi-party democracy and Election Commission facilitates and democracy
regulates registration of political parties under section 29A of the Representation
of the People Act, 1951.
• Consequent upon registration, a political party gets several entitlements, inter-alia; party can collect
donations, which is fully exempted from income tax. In elections, they are entitled for privileges of common
symbol, preference over independents on ballot, star campaigners etc.
• In the last two decades, the growth in registration of parties has been 300%. Evidence suggests that there is a
spurt in registration before general election of Lok Sabha/Vidhan Sabha.
• Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) are the recently registered political groups or those political
organisations which have not secured enough percentage of votes in the assembly or general elections to become
a state party, or those groups which have not contested any election from the date of its registration as
unrecognised parties.
• The Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) don’t enjoy all the benefits extended to the recognised
parties.
2) Updated list of national party
TMC, NCP and the CPI were stripped of 'national party' status by the Election Commission recently, Meanwhile, the AAP,
which was recognised as a national party, will now be entitled to several benefits.
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Conditions for to be recognised as 'national' party -

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• The particular party should hold the 'regional party' status, in at least four states
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• It should have won at least 3 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha from the four states
• It should have secured at least 6 percent of votes in the Lok Sabha or the Vidhan Sabha elections
Once a political party is recognised as a national party -
• It can contest elections anywhere in the country
• The party can field candidates in any state
• The party is allotted one election symbol valid across the entire country, no other party can use it
• A proposer can remain present with the candidate at the time of filing of nomination
• The party will get two sets of voter list revisions by the Election Commission
• Party candidates also gain access to the voter list
• The party could open a central office in Delhi, on land provided by the government
• The party can field 40 star campaigners
• Expenditure on the star campaigners will not be included in the election expenditure of the party candidate
• The party gets time to convey its message to the masses through All India Radio and Doordarshan
National Parties
• Aam Aadmi Party
• Bahujan Samaj Party
• Bharatiya Janata Party
• Communist Party of India (Marxist)
• Indian National Congress
• National People's Party (NPP)
MLA/MP Suspension
Context: The Supreme Court has observed that the suspension of 12 MLAs from the Maharashtra Assembly for a full
year is prima facie unconstitutional, and “worse than expulsion”.
• The state legislature occupies a preeminent and central position in the political system of a state.
Articles 168 to 212 in Part VI of the Constitution deal with the organisation, composition, duration,
officers, procedures, privileges, powers and so on of the state legislature. Though these are similar to
that of Parliament, there are some differences as well.
Rules for the Suspension
• Rules 373, 374, and 374A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha provide for the
withdrawal of a member whose conduct is “grossly disorderly”, and suspension of one who abuses the rules
of the House or will fully obstructs its business.
• The maximum suspension as per these Rules is “for five consecutive sittings or the remainder of the session,
whichever is less”.
• The maximum suspension for Rajya Sabha under Rules 255 and 256 also does not exceed the remainder of
the session. Several recent suspensions of members have not continued beyond the session.
• Similar rules are in place for state legislative assemblies and councils which prescribe a maximum suspension not
exceeding the remainder of the session.
The Counter Arguments
• Article 212 (1) states that “The validity of any proceedings in the Legislature of a State shall not be called in
question on the ground of any alleged irregularity of procedure”.
• The next subsection says “no officer or member of the Legislature, in whom powers are vested by or under this
Constitution for regulating procedure or the conduct of business, or for maintaining order, in the Legislature shall
be subject to the jurisdiction of any court in respect of the exercise by him of those powers.”
• The state has referred to Article 194 on the powers and privileges of the House, and argued that any member
who transgresses these privileges can be suspended through the inherent powers of the House.
• It has denied that the power to suspend a member can be exercised only through Rule 53 of the Assembly.
Suspension beyond the remainder of the session
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• Article 190 (4) of the Constitution, which says, “If for a period of sixty days a member of a House of the
Legislature of a State is without permission of the House absent from all meetings thereof, the House may
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declare his seat vacant.”
• Under Section 151 (A) of The Representation of the People Act, 1951, “a bye-election for filling any vacancy… [in
the House] shall be held within a period of six months from the date of the occurrence of the vacancy”.
• This means that barring exceptions specified under this section, no constituency can remain without a
representative for more than six months. Anything in excess of that would be irrational
Disqualification of MP/MLA
Context: Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has lost his Lok Sabha seat after being convicted of criminal defamation by a
Surat court.
• Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 states that “a person convicted of any offence and
sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified from the date of such conviction
and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since his release
• Thus, the disqualification is triggered by the conviction itself, and not by the Lok-Sabha notification.
• The Supreme Court in its ruling in Lok Prahari v Union of India (2018) clarified that a disqualification triggered
by a conviction will be reversed if the conviction is stayed by a court.
Article 102 of the Constitution deals with grounds for disqualification of a parliamentarian.
• Sub-clause (e) of Article 102(1) says an MP will lose his membership of the House “if he is so disqualified by or
under any law made by Parliament”. The law in this case is the RP Act.
• Section 8 of the RP Act deals with disqualification of a lawmaker for conviction in certain offences. The provision
is aimed at “preventing criminalisation of politics and keeping ‘tainted’ lawmakers from contesting elections.
ONE candidate one constituency

Context: The Supreme Court refused to set aside a provision in the election law which allows candidates to contest polls
from two constituencies simultaneously.
• Reason for rejection: ‘a policy matter and an issue concerning political democracy. It is for the Parliament to take
a call’ – CJI
• A candidate can contest from two seats under Section 33 (7) of the RP's Act.
• There have been cases where a person contests election from two constituencies, and wins from both. In such a
situation he vacates the seat in one of the two constituencies. The consequence is that a by-election would
be required from one constituency involving avoidable expenditure on the conduct of that bye-election.
• Therefore, the Election Commission had, in an affidavit in 2018, supported the petition. It had informed the
Supreme Court that it had proposed an amendment to Section 33(7) in July 2004.
• The poll body had even suggested that a candidate should deposit an amount of 5 lakh for contesting in two
constituencies in an Assembly election or 10 lakh in a general election. The amount would be used to cover the
expenses for a by-election in the eventuality that he or she was victorious in both constituencies and had to
relinquish one.
Remote voting for migrant workers:

Context: Recently the Election Commission showcased the remote electronic voting machine prototype for migrant
voters, to representatives of political parties.
• However, it met with strong objections from opposition parties who questioned the need to deploy such a system,
according to party leaders who attended it.
• ECI said it has developed a prototype of a multi-constituency remote electronic voting machine for domestic
migrants, a potentially landmark development that can boost voter participation and eliminate problems of
travelling to home districts during polls for voting.
• Currently, a voter has to physically travel to the district where they are a registered voter in order to cast their
vote, but if the new initiative is implemented, migrant voters will not be required to travel to their home district
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to exercise their franchise and will be able to use a remote electronic voting machine (EVM) instead.
• There was only 67.4 per cent of voter turnout in the general elections in 2019 and over 30 crore electors did
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not exercise their voting rights, the EC noted, and one of the main reasons was that a significant chunk of the
migrant population failed to vote. The commission has also stated there was differential voter turnout in various
states and union territories.
• The Representation of the People Act, The Conduct of Election Rules and The Registration of Electors Rules
will need to be amended to introduce remote voting
Legislative functions
First Amendment
Context
The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a PIL challenging changes made to the right to freedom of speech and
expression by the first amendment to the Constitution in 1951.
About the First Amendment
• The First Amendment was passed by the Provisional Parliament, members of which had just finished drafting the
Constitution as part of the Constitutional Assembly, in 1951.
o Thus, Articles 15, 19, 85, 87, 174, 176, 341, 342, 372, and 376 were amended.
• It provided for the preservation of laws governing the acquisition of estates, etc.
• The Ninth Schedule was added to protect land reforms and other laws from judicial review.
• Articles 31A and 31B were added after Article 31.
• Changes such as exempting land reforms from scrutiny to providing protections for backward classes were introduced.
• Restrictions on the right to free speech increased.
Ninth Schedule
Context
Recently, the Government of Jharkhand passed two bills in
Understanding Judicial Review
the assembly but asserted that they would come into force
only after the Centre carries out amendments to include ➢ Judicial Review act as a cornerstone for the principle of
these in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. constitutionalism as it upholds the principle of the rule of
law and the doctrine of separation of powers.
About Ninth Schedule
• The Ninth Schedule contains a list of central and state ➢ On a broader scale there are mainly three aspects of
laws which cannot be challenged in court. The Schedule judicial review, they are
became a part of the Constitution in 1951 through the first o Judicial review of administrative actions
amendment. o Reviewing Judicial pronouncements, and
• Through the First Amendment, Article 31A (extends o Review of the action of the legislature.
protection to ‘classes’ of laws) and Article 31B (shields ➢ The nature of the judicial review is procedural Indian
specific laws or enactments- giving birth to Schedule IX) Judicial review has its root directly in several Articles of the
were also added. Indian Constitution e.g. Articles 13, 32, 131 to 136, 143,
• Article 31B has a retrospective operation. If an act is held 226, and 227.
unconstitutional and thereafter is put under the 9th ➢ Judicial review is responsible for balancing the interests
schedule it will be considered as its part since its and powers of different organs of the government and in
commencement. SC had termed it as a drastic and novel assisting in the maintenance of control by marking a
method of an amendment boundary to limit uneven encroachment of the authorities
• The first Amendment added 13 laws to the Schedule. towards a person’s constitutional rights and among
Currently, there are 284 such laws are shielded from judicial themselves.
review.
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• Most of the laws protected under the Schedule concern agriculture/land issues, the list includes other subjects, such as
reservation.
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Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)
Context
Recently, Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2022 notified by the Central Government to reduce
compliance burden on citizens.
About FCRA Rule, 2022
❖ Any person receiving Foreign Contribution (FC) more than Rs. 10 Lakh in a financial year from relatives [as defined
in section 2(1) (r) of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010] has to intimate to Central Government within
three months of receipt of FC.
o Earlier such monetary threshold limit was Rs 1 Lakh and intimation to Central Govt. was required within
thirty days.
❖ It has given individuals and organizations or NGOs 45 days to apply for 'registration' or 'prior permission' under
FCRA to receive funds. Earlier in FCRR, 2011 it was 30 days.
❖ Organizations receiving foreign funding may not use more than 20% of such funding for administrative purposes.
Before 2020, this limit was 50%.
❖ Five more offenses were made "compoundable" under the FCRA, making 12 offenses instead of directly
prosecuting organizations or individuals. Earlier, only seven offenses were compoundable under FCRA.
FCRA
✓ The Act regulates the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution by individuals, associations and
companies.
✓ Foreign contribution is the donation or transfer of any currency, security or article (of beyond a specified
value) by a foreign source.
✓ FCRA is implemented by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), supported by Intelligence Bureau in approvals and
rejections through investigation on antecedents.
✓ Persons, who are prohibited to accept any foreign contribution are:
o Public servant,
o Judge,
o Government servant or
o Employee of any corporation or
o Any other body controlled or owned by the Government
✓ According to the Act, foreign contribution must be received only in an account designated by the bank as
“FCRA account” in such branch of the State Bank of India, New Delhi, as notified by the central government.
✓ It was amended in 2016, 2018 and 2020.
Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996

Context
Recently, Madhya Pradesh has notified its PESA Rules on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on 15th November, 2022.
About PESA
❖ PESA Act was enacted in 1996 for tribal empowerment and to bring them into mainstream.
➢ It was based on recommendations of Dileep Singh Bhuria Committee.
❖ Ministry of Panchayati Raj is nodal Ministry for implementation of provisions of PESA in States.
❖ PESA Act is called a ‘Constitution within the Constitution’.
❖ The PESA Act will empower the Gram Sabhas to take decision on the rules and regulations with regard to all
natural resources in the forest areas.
❖ The PESA Act will give more constitutional rights to the tribal people to reap the benefits of natural resources
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from the forest areas where they live.

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❖ With the objective of effective implementation of PESA, Ministry of Panchayati Raj circulated Draft Model PESA
Rules in 2009.
➢ Out of the ten PESA States, eight States namely; Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana have framed and notified their State
PESA Rules under their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts.
➢ State of Chhattisgarh has notified their PESA Rules on 8th August, 2022.
❖ Presently, 10 States viz. Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana, have Fifth Schedule Areas in their respective States.
❖ PESA is an Act to provide for the extension of the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to the
Panchayats to the Scheduled Areas. In terms of section 2 of this Act, “Scheduled Areas” means the Scheduled
Areas as referred to in clause (1) of article 244 of the Constitution.
DELEGATED LEGISLATION
Context
Recently, Supreme Court was upholding the Centre’s 2016 decision on demonetisation. The majority ruling upheld the
validity of the delegated legislation, the dissenting verdict noted that excessive delegation of power is arbitrary.
About delegated legislations
➢ Parliament routinely delegates certain functions to authorities established by law since every aspect cannot be
dealt with directly by the law makers themselves.
o This delegation of powers is noted in statutes, which are commonly referred to as delegated legislations.
➢ The delegated legislation would specify operational details, giving power to those executing the details.
o Regulations and by-laws under legislations are classic examples of delegated legislation.
➢ Delegated legislation can only exist in relation to an enabling act.
➢ Delegated legislation contains the many administrative details necessary to ensure that the provisions of the act
will operate successfully.
o It may be administered by Government Departments, Local Councils or Courts.
➢ Regulations and Statutory Rules are the most common forms of delegated legislation. Laws, and Ordinances are
also its form.
➢ This delegation is also known as secondary legislation or subordinate legislation. The Act that gives the
executive the power to legislate is called the Enabling Statute or Parent Act.
PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGES
Parliamentary privilege refers to rights and immunities enjoyed by Parliament as an institution and MPs in their individual
capacity, without which they cannot Parliamentary privileges
discharge their functions as entrusted upon
Individually enjoyed by the Enjoyed by the members
them by the Constitution.
members collectively
o The Indian Constitution's
❖ Freedom of speech in ➢ Right to prohibit the
Article 105 defines
parliament publication of
parliamentary privileges.
❖ Freedom from arrest proceedings
❖ According to the Constitution, the
❖ Freedom from appearing ➢ Right to exclude strangers
powers, privileges and immunities
of Parliament and MP's are to be as a witness ➢ The right to punish
defined by Parliament. ❖ Power to make rules of members and outsiders
procedure for breach of its privileges
❖ No law has so far been enacted in
this respect. In the absence of any ➢ The right to regulate the
such law, it continues to be internal affairs of the
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governed by British Parliamentary House

conventions.
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❖ Members of Parliament are not held liable in civil or criminal court for their words or acts while carrying out their
official duties.
❖ Only when a person is a member of the House can they make use of the privileges.
❖ The privileges are supposed to be terminated as soon as he ceases to be a member.
❖ The members' privileges are required to carry out their constitutional duties.
❖ These rights are crucial for all processes and functions' orderly and disciplined conduct.
The Anti-Defection Law

Context
Anti-defection law become most important and debatable in recent years.
About Anti-defection law
❖ The anti-defection law is contained in the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. It was enacted by Parliament in 1985.
❖ The anti-defection law, as it is popularly known, aims at checking toppling of governments by party-hopping
MLAs in the 60’s and 70’s.
❖ The law punishes individual MPs and MLAs from changing party after being elected. They could be disqualified
from their membership of the House by the presiding officer.
❖ A member is deemed to have defected if he or she gives of primary membership of his party or does not obey
party during voting in the House. However, if at least two-third members of the legislative group of a political
party decide to merge with any other political party, they could not be punished under the Anti-Defection law.
The grounds of disqualification
✓If the member voluntarily gives up the membership of the party, he shall be disqualified. Voluntarily giving up the
membership is not the same as resigning from a party. Even without resigning, a legislator can be disqualified if by his
conduct the Speaker/Chairman of the concerned House draws a reasonable inference that the member has voluntarily
given up the membership of his party.
✓If a legislator votes in the House against the direction of his party and his action is not condoned by his party, he can
be disqualified.
✓ However, there is an exception that was provided in the law to protect the legislators from disqualification. The 10th
Schedule says that if there is a merger between two political parties and two-thirds of the members of a legislature party
agree to the merger, they will not be disqualified.
Amendments in the Anti-Defection Law till date
▪ The law was amended in the year 2003. When it was enacted first, there was a provision under which if there occurs a
split in the original political party and as a result of which one-third of the legislators of that party forms a separate group,
they shall not be disqualified.
▪ This provision resulted in large scale defections and the lawmakers were convinced that the provision of a split in the
party was being misused. Therefore, they decided to delete this provision. Now, the only provision which can be invoked
for protection from disqualification is the provision relating to the merger, which is provided in Paragraph 4 of the 10th
Schedule.
Reservation in Local Bodies

Context
Supreme Court allowed that Madhya Pradesh State can provide reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBC) in local body
elections for now.
About Reservation in local bodies
❖ The Supreme Court has emphasised since 2010 that OBC quota in elections should be backed by empirical data,
unlike reservation for OBCs, (along with SCs and STs) in education and employment.
❖ Local body elections in at least three states, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh had been stalled in the
absence of updated empirical data on OBC groups.
❖ The court had directed that the elections to the local bodies be notified within two weeks without providing for
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OBC reservation as the state was yet to complete the triple test laid down by the SC before providing for such
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❖ The Madhya Pradesh government again approached Constitutional provisions
the court seeking permission to implement the OBC According to Article 243(T) of Indian constitution-
quota saying that the first report of the commission was ✓ For Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,
revised keeping in view the concerns expressed by the the Constitution specifies that seats have to
court and contended that the second report satisfies be reserved in proportion to the population
the triple test requirement. of these groups in the area.
❖ The triple conditions to empirically establish the need ✓ However, on the “backward class of citizens”,
for OBC quota were the Constitution only says that state
o a state commission must “conduct governments have the power to reserve
contemporaneous rigorous empirical inquiry seats for these groups without specifying
into the nature and implications of the how this is to be done.
backwardness qua local bodies, within the ✓ One third of the total number of seats
state”; reserved for women.
o specify the proportion of reservation required to be provisioned local body wise in light of
recommendations of the commission; and
o total “reservation (must) not exceed the aggregate of 50% of the seats”
The Office of Profit

Context
The Election Commission has sent a notice to Jharkhand Chief Minister over an office-of-profit charge against him for
allotment of a mining lease in his name last year.
Office of Profit in India
➢ In India, the office of profit disqualifying the holder was imported from Britain and made its appearance for the first
time in the Act of 1909 which embodied the Morley- Minto Reforms proposals.
➢ The basic idea was - and remains - that the legislators should not be vulnerable to temptations an executive can offer.
The framers of the Constitution thoughtfully incorporated Article 102(1) and 191(1), prescribing the restriction at
central and state levels. In the Indian constitution Article 102 and Article 191 deal with disqualification of the members
of Parliaments and state legislature respectively.
➢ Article 102(1) (a) provides for the disqualification of the membership of either house of parliament and read it as
follows:
o Article 102 (1) (a) of the constitution says that a person shall be disqualified from being chosen as and for being
a member of the either house of the parliament.
o If he holds any office of profit under the Government (center or state) other than an office declared by parliament
by law not to disqualify its holder.
o An office of profit need not be necessarily conferred pecuniary benefit, it is sufficient if it bestows administrative
and executive powers.
➢ There is a similar provision in the Constitution for the disqualification of members of the legislative assembly under
Art.191 (1).
➢ The expression, “office of profit” has not been defined in the Constitution or in the Representation of People Act, 1951.
➢ Its ambit has to be inferred only from the pronouncement of the courts and other competent authorities like the
Election Commission and the president.
➢ The object of the provision is to secure the independence of the members of Parliament and do not contain persons
who have received favors or benefits from the executive and who consequently being under an obligation to executive
might be amenable to influence.
➢ The object of enacting Articles 102(1)(a) and the 191(1)(a) is that there should not be any conflict between the duties
and interests of an elected member and to see that such an elected member can carry freely and fearlessly his duties
without subjected to any kind of governmental pressure, thereby implying that if such an elected person is holding an
office which brings him remunerations and if the Government has a voice in his functions in that office there is every
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likelihood of such persons succumbing to the wishes of Government.

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Legislative Councils
Context
Recently, Elections to the Karnataka Legislative Council’s graduate and teacher constituencies were conducted. In this election
only graduates and teachers can vote.
Composition of the Legislative Council
About Legislative council
❖ The members of the Council are either nominated by the Governor
• Constitution of India provides for a bicameral
of the state or are indirectly elected.
system at both the center and state level. At the
❖ One-third of the members of this House are elected by the Legislative
level of state houses are divided into Legislative
Assembly.
Assembly or Vidhan Sabha and Legislative Council
❖ One-third members are elected by the local bodies like a municipality
or Vidhan Parishad.
or other local authorities.
• Under Article 169- Legislative Council can be
❖ One-twelfth of the members are elected by graduates.
formed ―if the Legislative Assembly of the State
❖ One-twelfth of the members are elected by teachers.
passes a resolution to that effect by a Special
❖ About one-sixth of the members are nominated by the Governor.
majority (the total membership of the Assembly
❖ The legislative Council elects its chairman, who plays the role of
and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the
presiding officer and Deputy Chairman from amongst its members.
members of the Assembly present and voting)
❖ Eligibility criteria to become an MLC are Indian citizen who is at least
Parliament can then pass a law to this effect. 30 years of age; a person cannot simultaneously be a Member of
• Under Article 171 of the Constitution, the Parliament and State legislature.
Legislative Council of a state shall not have more
than one-third of the total number of MLAs of the state, and not less than 40 members.
• The tenure of the members of the council is six years, and a third of the members of the House retire after every two years
• Currently, six states have Legislative Councils (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and U.P). Legislative
Council pf Andhra Pradesh, set up in 1958, was abolished in 1985, and then reconstituted in 2007. Proposals to create
Councils in Rajasthan and Assam are pending in Parliament.
Role and Responsibilities of Legislative councils
✓ MLCs are expected to help the state government make laws and regulations based on their knowledge and experience.
✓ MLCs can ask questions of ministers and initiate debates and can introduce ordinary bills. However, it cannot introduce
or vote on money bills.
✓ Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Councils enjoys the status of Cabinet Ministers in the state.
✓ It ensures it act as a check on hasty actions by the popularly elected House.
✓ It ensures that individuals who might not be cut out for the rough-and-tumble of direct elections too are able to
contribute to the legislative process.
✓ There are certain criticisms which Legislative council faces such as
Legislative Council (LC) vs Rajya Sabha (RS)

❖ LCs and RS carries several similarities which are o LCs and RS members have same term and retirement procedure.
o They both are void of “Power of Purse” i.e., they cannot introduce or vote on money bill.
o They both provide for checks and balances in ordinary legislation and act as revisionary house.
o They both provides for adequate representation to section who are left behind due to first past the post-election system
❖ However, RS differs from LC on several grounds
o RS institutionalize the principle of federalism, while LC provides for larger representation within states.
o RS offers a degree of continuity while LC can be abolished by Legislative Assemblies passing resolution to that effect
with special majority.
o RS carries special power which are not available to LCs such as
▪ Under Article 312 Creation of additional All India Services.
▪ Under Article 249 Transfer subject from state to Union list.
▪ Under Article 352 Endorse emergency for a limited per
o It can be used to park leaders who have not been able to win an election.
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o It can be used to delay progressive legislations.

o It creates a burden on state finances.
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Laws & Bills

Prevention of Money Laundering Act
Context
Supreme Court of India upheld the constitutional validity of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002. Court
highlighted that principle of innocence of the accused is through a human right but this presumption can be interdicted
About Money laundering (ML)
• According to Black's Law of Lexicon laundering means a process where illegal is converted into legal money in a
manner that original source of the money cannot be traced.
• The origin of money laundering can be traced back to American gangsterism which started with the prohibition of
sale of alcoholic drinks in the US. To convert their ill-gotten money into a legitimate business they started investing
in laundry business in US which was a cash business.
• Over the time these criminals moved further into business where use of cash was higher like casinos and narcotics.
• ML involves three basic steps which are:
▪ Placement- In this stage the idea is to introduce illegal profits and money into formal financial system.
Technique used here is called smurfing i.e., breaking down large volumes of cash into smaller and untraceable
amounts. This money can be used to buy high value goods such as in India purchase of gold, silver and bullion.
O Layering- In this fund are moved far Enforcement Directorate
away from their source of origin. In this Founded on 1st May 1956 as enforcement unit under the
wealth can be taken to a country with Department of Economic Affairs for handling exchange
weak anti-money laundering laws and control laws violation under Foreign Exchange Regulation Act
then can be used to legitimate (FERA) 1947.
investment instruments, for this bogus Agency play different role under different act which are:
companies which exist only on paper o Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of
are created. Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA)
O Integration- Money which is placed • ED is empowered to sponsor cases of preventive
and integrated is brought back into the detention with regard to contraventions of FEMA.
economy as a legitimate transaction o The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA):
into sectors like real-estate, luxury • Investigation of suspected contraventions of the
assets etc. rules and regulations of Act
• Money laundering is a threat to national security • Adjudicate and impose penalties on the convicts
as it led to loss of tax revenue to the government. under the act.
In order to compensate government raises tax o The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA):
rates, this undermines tax equity and promotes • Enforce provisions of the PMLA and investigate
tax evasions, thereby creating an unending cycle. and trace the assets derived from proceeds of
• Corruption is a source of ML as it generates large crime.
amounts of proceeds to be laundered. Corruption may • Ensure prosecution and confiscation of the
also enable the commission of a ML offense and hinder property by the special court.
its detection, since it can obstruct the effective o The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FOEA):
implementation of a country's judicial, law • ED is mandated to attach the properties of the
enforcement and legislative frameworks. fugitive economic offender's and confiscate their
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 properties.
➢It was enacted in January 2003 and came into force
from 2004. It was enacted to prevent and control money laundering. It provides for confiscation and seizure of properties
derived from laundered proceeds.
➢ Nodal Agency for the implementation of the act is Enforcement Directorate (ED) works under the Department of
Revenue in the Finance Ministry.
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➢ Act also provides for adjudicating authority and appellate tribunal to hear against the order of adjudicating authority.
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➢ Government of India can enter into agreement with government of any country for enforcing provision of the PMLA.
This will include information exchange for the prevention of offence and investigation of cases relating to any offence
under PMLA.
➢The act empowers Director of FIU-IND (Financial Intelligence Unit-India) to impose fines on the financial intermediaries
if they fail to comply with the provisions of the act.
New amendments to PMLA and Issues
Government of India brought changes in the PMLA which includes:
✓ Redefinition of crime: not only it will include the properties derived from the scheduled offences but also include any
other properties obtained while indulging in the scheduled offence.
o It stopped looking ML in silos, rather started looking it in connection with another crime which are known as
the predicate offences. It also made ML as stand-alone crime.
Keywords
o It recognized ML as offence of continuing nature and therefore person
PMLA, ED, Money laundering
involved in the offence of money laundering till the time that person is
getting the fruits of activities.
✓ Expansion of the scope of crime: by amending Section 3 of MLA, now a person shall be accused if they are involved in
crimes such as:
o Concealment
o Possession
o Acquisition
o Use or claiming as untainted property
law for treating Juvenile as an Adult

CONTEXT
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has come up with draft guidelines on the preliminary
assessment of whether certain minors are to be tried under law as adults in particular cases, under the Juvenile Justice
(Care and Protection of Children) Act.
About draft guidelines on the preliminary assessment
✓ Earlier, all children under the age of 18 were considered minors by the law, but through an amendment in
2015, a provision was added to the JJ Act for trying a child in conflict with the law as an adult.
o Under this, a child in the age group of 16-18 years could be tried as an adult in case of heinous
offences. Section 15 (1) of the Act
NCPCR
states that the Juvenile Justice Board shall
• National Commission for Protection of Child
conduct a preliminary assessment to
Rights (NCPCR was established in March 2007
determine whether to try such a child as an
under an Act of Parliament (December 2005)
adult or a minor.
under the Commission for Protection of Child
✓ The Act directs that the Board shall consider the
Rights Act, 2005.
mental and physical capacity of the child for
• The commission's mandate is to ensure that all
committing the alleged offence, the ability to
laws, policies, programs and administrative
understand the consequences of the offence, and the
systems conform to the vision of the rights of the
circumstances in which the offence was committed.
child as enunciated in the Constitution of India as
o It states that the Board can take the
well as the United Nations Convention on the
assistance of experienced psychologists or
Rights of the Child.
psychosocial workers or other experts.
• It is a seven-member body consisting of a
o The Act also gives a disclaimer that the
chairman and six members.
assessment is not a trial, but is only to assess
the capacity of the child to commit and understand the consequences of the alleged offence.
✓ After the assessment, the Board can pass an order saying there is a need to try the said child as an adult
and transfer the case to a children’s court with the relevant jurisdiction.
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o If tried as a minor, the child could be sent to a special home for a maximum of three years.
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o If tried as an adult, the child can be sentenced to a jail term, except being sentenced to death or life
imprisonment without the possibility of release.
Media accreditation guidelines

Context
Recently, Central government released the Central Media Accreditation Guidelines2022.
How this is different from the past?
For one, the guidelines prepared by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting are more in the nature of proscriptions
rather than prescriptions. In laying down the conditions for withdrawal of accreditation, they serve more as censorship
rules rather than guidelines. Previous guidelines were more general in nature and did mention that accreditation would
be withdrawn if found to be misused. In the new guidelines, there are 10 provisions under which accreditation to a
journalist can be withdrawn.
What has changed?
• The new policy, prepared by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) and issued by the Press Information
Bureau, lays down guidelines on how PIB accreditation will be granted to eligible journalists. At the moment there are
2,457 PIB-accredited journalists in the country.
• For the first time, it specifies conditions that can result in the journalist losing accreditation. If a journalist “acts in manner
which is prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states,
public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement of an offence”, her
accreditation can be cancelled.
• The previous policy, issued in 2013, had stated, under general terms of accreditation, that accreditation “shall be
withdrawn as soon as the conditions on which it was given cease to exist. Accreditation is also liable to be
withdrawn/suspended if it is found to have been misused”.
• The new policy has ten points that may result in the accreditation being cancelled, including if a journalist is charged
with a “serious cognisable offence”.
FR/DPSP/FD
Digital Free Speech
Context
Microblogging site Twitter has recently filed a case against A ‘constitutional tort’ is a violation of one’s
constitutional rights, particularly fundamental rights,
government of India in Karnataka High Court alleging
by an agent of the government, acting in his/her
disproportionate use of power by officials and challenging several
official capacity. A court of law can award monetary
blocking orders from the Union government on content posted on compensation to the victim in such a case.
its website.
Freedom of Speech and Expression
• Freedom of speech and expression had existed since ancient times, dating back at least to the Greek Athenian era more
than 2400 years ago.
• It means everyone can express themselves through any media and frontier without outside interference, such as
censorship, and without fear of reprisal, such as threats and persecutions
• It includes: Keywords
o Freedom of opinion and expression IT act 2000, Freedom of speech
o Freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds and expression
• Constitution of India provides for freedom of speech and expression for its citizens
under Article 19 (1) (a). It also places several restrictions on the following grounds:
o Sovereignty and integrity of India
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o Security of the State

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o Friendly relations with foreign States
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o Public Order
o Decency or morality
o Contempt of court
o Defamation
o Incitement to an offence
• In 2020, The High Court of Tripura has held that posting on social media was virtually the same as a fundamental right
of speech and expression applicable to all citizens, including government employees.
Regulation of digital speech in India

Information technology Act, 2021
• It mandates social media to exercise greater diligence with respect to content on their website.
• They should establish a grievance redressal officer to take down objectionable content within stipulated time frames
• A Grievance Appellate Committee where user can complain against the redressal officer if they are not satisfied with the
resolution. However this won't curtail user right to approach courts
Section 66 IT Act 2000

• It empowers police to make arrest if in its their subjective discretion they found any post as offensive or menacing and
can cause annoyance, inconvenience etc.
• Under its ambit punishment prescribed is conviction of maximum of three years in jail.
• Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal vs Union of India case (2015) used doctrine of severability and removed the word
offensive given in the act as it was very vague.
Section 69A of IT Act 2000

• Central and State government are empowered to intercept, monitor or decrypt any information generated, transmitted,
received or stored in any computer resource.
• It enables the Centre to ask any agency of the government, or any intermediary, to block access to the public of any
information generated, transmitted, received or stored or hosted on any computer resource. Any such request for
blocking access must be based on reasons given in writing.
• Such powers can be exercised when it's a matter of
o Sovereignty or integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state.
o Regulation of Digital Speech in India
o Friendly relations with foreign states.
o Public order, or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to these.
o For investigating any
Child Rights and Corporal Punishment

Context
Despite several efforts of the government and civil society, menace of corporal punishment has not been eliminated in
India. Incidents of excessive use of force against school students continues, they are being intimated and often thrashed
sometimes causing grievous injuries and, in some cases, even caused death.
Corporal Punishment
• There is no statutory definition of corporal punishment of children in Indian law. However, United Nations Committee
on the Rights of the Child defines corporal punishment as "any punishment in which physical force is used and intended
to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light." It also includes non-physical form of punishment such as
belittling, humiliating, denigrating, scapegoating, threatening, scaring or ridiculing the child.
• Problem of corporal punishment is quite rampant and this is even reflected in the study conducted by the Ministry of
Women and Child Development children are facing physical abuses in the setting which were meant for care and
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protection of children such as hostels, orphanages, ashram shalas, and juvenile homes and even in the family setting.
Legal Provisions against Corporal Punishment
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Constitutional Provisions
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▪ Corporal punishment violates the multiple articles of the constitution such as
o Article 21- Right to life and dignity.
oArticle 21A- Free and compulsory education for children up to 14 years of age however fear of corporal
punishment makes children more likely to avoid school or to drop out altogether.
oArticle 39(e) directs the State to make sure that the
tender age of children is not abused. Role of National Commission for Protection of Child
Rights (NCPCR)
oArticle 39(f) directs the State to ensure that children are
❖ Statutory Body formed under section 3 of Protection of
given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy Child Rights (PCR) Act 2005.
manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that ❖ It is entrusted with the following:
childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and o Monitoring implementation of Right to Education.
against moral and material abandonment. o Safeguards child rights provided under the PCR Act
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education 2005
(RTE) Act 2009 o Recommend measures for effective
o Section 17(1) and 17(2) prohibits physical implementation of rights provided under PCR Act
punishment and mental harassment and makes it a 2005.
punishable offence. o Enquire into any matters relating to child’s right to
o Section 8 and 9 places responsibility on the free and compulsory education under RTE Act 2009.
Role of State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights
government to ensure that there is no discrimination
(SCPCRs)
against children belonging to dis-advantaged group
❖ It’s a statutory body formed under section 4 of Protection
and weaker sections. The of Child Rights (PCR) Act 2005.
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, ❖ In absence of SCPCR state government can appoint another
2000 competent authority which performs the functions which an
o The act under Section 23 criminalizes acts that may SCPCR will perform.
cause a child mental or physical suffering. ❖ SCPCRs are the appellate authority to receive appeals from
o It makes corporal punishment punishable with the aggrieved persons who would prefer such appeals when
imprisonment for a term which may extend to six their grievances relating to children’s right to education are
months, or fine, or with both. not redressed by the designated local authorities.
❖ SCPCRs is also entrusted with the same functions which
o It covers anyone in a position of authority over a
NCPCR performs.
child, which would include parents, guardians,
teachers and employers.
Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
o Provisions of the act can be used to prosecute an adult in the general category who inflicts corporal punishment
upon a scheduled caste or scheduled tribe child.
Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
o Provisions of the act prosecute a person/ manager/trustee as well as warrant resumption or suspension of grants
made by the Government to the educational institution or hostel on the ground of untouchability.
Personality Rights
Context
Recently, The Delhi High Court passed an interim order to prevent the unlawful use of a Bollywood star's name, images,
and voice. Through its order, the court restrained persons at large from infringing the personality rights of the actor.
Understanding Personality Rights
• Personality rights refer to the right of a person to protect her/his personality under the right to privacy or property.
• These rights are important to celebrities as their names, photographs or even voices can easily be misused in various
advertisements by different companies to boost their sales.
• Therefore, renowned personalities/celebrities must register their names to save their personality rights.
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• Attributes which are needed to be protected includes-name, nickname, stage name, picture, likeness, image, and any
identifiable personal property, such as a distinctive race car.
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Personality vs Publicity Rights

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➢ Personality Rights include two sets of rights
O Right to Publicity- This is similar to the use of a trademark. It includes the right to keep one’s image and
likeness from being commercially exploited without permission or contractual compensation
O Right to Privacy- This is the right to not have one’s personality represented publicly without permission.
➢ Publicity rights fall under the realm of the ‘tort of passing off’. Passing off means passing your goods and services
intentionally or unintentionally as those belonging to another party. This might result in misrepresentation and can cause
reputational damage.
➢ Publicity rights are governed by statutes like the Trademarks Act 1999 and the Copyright Act 1957.
Personality Rights in India
✓There is no separate codified law in India dealing with personality or celebrity rights. However, there are several statutory
provisions broadly governing and protecting Personality Rights which include:
O Right to Life (Article 21): Personality Rights are contained and governed as part of the fundamental right of the
Right to Life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
O Intellectual Property Law- Personality Rights are construed as property of well-known public figures which
cannot be misused or misappropriated by anyone.
O Copyright Act 1957- The Authors or the Performers have the right to be given credit or claim authorship of their
work and have a negative right to restrain others from causing any kind of damage to their work which
consequently disrupts their reputation.
O Indian Trademarks Act, 1999- Section 14 of the Act prohibits the use of personal names.
o Personality Rights are also protected under the common law remedy of passing off and that of the Law of Torts
protecting against the tort of disparagement, libel, or slander.
✓In Arun Jaitley v. Network Solutions Private Limited and Ors. Case Delhi High Court observed that the popularity or fame
of an individual will be no different on the internet than in reality. Court asserted that the name also falls in the category
wherein besides it being a personal name it has also attained distinctive indicia of its own.
Age of Consent
Context
Karnataka High Court has urged the Law Commission of India to rethink the age of consent for adolescents. The court
asserted this while dismissing a plea on POCSO Act.
Understanding the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual offense) Act
• Under the act, a child is a person who is below 18 yrs of age. Age of consent
• Under the act, different forms of sexual abuse are included The age of consent is the age at which a person is
ranging from penetrative to non penetrative assault. It also considered to be legally competent to consent to
includes sexual harassment and pornography. sexual acts. POCSO fixed the age of consent for both
• It casts police in the role of child protectors during the boys as well as girls at 18.
process of investigation.
• Under the act, any case of child sexual abuse must be disposed of within one year from the date the offense is reported.
• Sexual assault is considered aggravated when the abused child is mentally ill or when the abuse is committed by a
person in a position of trust or authority like a family member, police officer, teacher, or doctor.
• The Act was amended in 2019 and more stringent punishment like the death penalty, for sexual crimes against children
was added.
Cooperatives
Context
Recently, Lok Sabha referred the Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill-2022 to a joint committee of
Parliament comprising 21 members from the Lower House and 10 from the Upper House.
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About the bill

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• The Bill amends the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. It establishes the Co-operative Election
Authority to conduct and supervise elections to the boards of multi-state co-operative societies.
• A multi-state co-operative society will require prior permission of

government authorities before the redemption of their
shareholding.
• A Co-operative Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development
Fund will be established for the revival of sick multi-state co-
operative societies. The Fund will be financed through
contributions by profitable multi-state co-operative societies.
• The Bill allows state co-operative societies to merge into an
existing multi-state co-operative society, subject to the respective
state laws.
About Co-operative societies
• A cooperative (also known as co-operative, co-op, or coop) is "an
autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet
their common economic, social and cultural needs Multi State Cooperative Societies ACT, 2002
and aspirations through a jointly owned and An Act to,
democratically-controlled enterprise". • consolidate and amend the law relating to co-
• It is aiming to provide goods and services, eliminate operative societies, with objects not confined
the unnecessary profits of middlemen in trade and to one State and serving the interests of
commerce and prevent the exploitation of the weaker members in more than one State,
members of society. • facilitate the voluntary formation and
• Cooperatives are democratically controlled by their democratic functioning of co-operatives as
\members, with each member having one vote in people's institutions based on self-help and
electing the board of directors. mutual aid and
• Constitutional provisions are: • enable them to promote their economic and
o The right to form cooperative societies was social betterment and
included as Right to Freedom (Article 19 (1)). • Provide functional autonomy was being felt
o Promotion of Cooperation societies was necessary by the various cooperative societies,
inserted as one of the DPSPs (Article 43-B). and federation of various cooperative societies
o Cooperatives are a state subject under as well as by the Government.
seventh schedule.
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) Quota

Context
A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in a 3:2 majority Mandal Commission
decision upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment. ❖ In 1979, the Morarji Desai government set up the
About Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Reservation Mandal Commission to identify socially or
Genesis educationally backward classes to address caste
• EWS was introduced through the 103rd Constitutional amendment discrimination.
act. ❖ Chaired by B.P. Mandal, the Commission
• The act amended Article 15 and Article 16 of the constitution and recommended that members of OBCs be given 27 per
inserted 15(6) and 16(6). cent reservations for jobs under the Central
• It provides for reservation in jobs and admissions in educational government and public sector undertakings.
❖ This would take the total number of reservations for
institutes for EWS.
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and OBC to
• Both Centre and the states can provide reservations to EWS.
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49 per cent.
• The reservation is in addition to the existing reservations and
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• The basis of the EWS lies in Article 46 (DPSP) of the constitution which mandates that the state should protect the
educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of society.
• Minority educational institutions under Article 30 (1) are excluded from the reservation.
• Economic weakness will be decided based on criteria such as family income and other indicators of economic
disadvantage.
Crackdown of child marriage

Context
The Assam government recently launched its crackdown on child marriage. Supreme Court is set to look into whether the
age limit for marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act overrides Muslim personal law provisions, so long
referred to by courts in such cases.
About Child Marriage
• It refers to any formal marriage or informal union. Between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another
child.
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
• The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, (POCSO) Act
fixes 21 years as the marriageable age for women. • The POCSO Act was enacted in 2012. It
Legal status of Child marriage criminalizes sex between a minor and an
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 adult and defines a child as someone under
• A The act says that child marriages are illegal but not void. the age of 18. The law does not recognize a
They are voidable only when the minor partner asks the court minor's consent as valid.
to declare the marriage void. • It is a gender-neutral act and recognizes
• It prescribes 18 and 21 years as the minimum marriageable that boys can also become victims of sexual
violence.
age for women and men respectively. It punishes child
marriage with imprisonment which may extend to 2 years or
with a fine which may extend to Rs 1 lakh or both. The punishment also extends to anyone who performs or
conducts any child marriage.
Muslim legal age of marriage under personal law:
• Under Muslim personal laws, the marriage of a bride who
Juvenile Justice Boards
has attained puberty is legal. About: Juveniles accused of a crime or detained for a
• The age gap difference provision between Muslim personal crime are brought before the Juvenile Justice Board
law and special legislation prohibiting child marriages or (JJB) under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
the sexual activity of minors classifying it as a criminal Children) Act, 2015.
offence. Aim: To hold a child culpable for their criminal activity,
Central Government's Stand not through punishment, but counseling the child to
• In 1978, the government increased age of marriage to 18 understand their actions and persuade them away
for girls and 21 for men and before that it was 15 years for from criminal activities in the future.
Structure: The JJB consists of judicial magistrate of the
female and 18 for men since independence.
first class and two social workers, at least one of whom
• Indian Parliament enacted several laws including the
should be a woman.
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and the Protection Tenure: The tenure period for members of the board
of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, to protect the is 3 years. However, members can also be appointed
human rights of Children. consecutively for a maximum of two terms.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao to address the declining Child Sex Powers: The Bench shall have all the powers conferred
Ratio. by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 on a
• PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) Providing Cash Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate First
incentives for improved health and nutrition to pregnant Class. The onus of sensitizing and providing training to
all the Board Members lies on the State Government.
and nursing mothers.
• Scheme for Adolescent Girls aims at girls in the age group
11-18, to empower and improve their social status through nutrition, life skills, home skills and vocational training.
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• Government started programmes like Rashtriya mahilakosh, national creche scheme, ujjawala scheme, one stop
centre etc. for women empowerment.
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Preventive Detention
Context
Recently, Supreme Court has ruled that preventive detention is to
be used only in exceptional circumstances.
About Preventive detention Security
• Preventive detention means to detain a person so that to of state,
prevent that person from commenting on any possible
crime or in other words preventive detention is an action maintenance of
Maintenance of
supplies and
taken by the administration on the grounds of the
essential
defense
Grounds services
suspicion that some wrong actions may be done by the For

Preventive
person concerned which will be prejudicial to the state. Detention
• Multiple laws like Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic
Substance Act (NDPS) 1985, Code of Criminal Procedure
and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act etc. permit maintenance of Foreign affairs or
Preventive Detention.
public order security of India.
• Preventive Detention is the most contentious part of the

scheme fundamental rights in
the Indian constitutions. DIGITAL RIGHTS
• Digital rights are those human rights and legal rights that allow individuals to
• Article 22(3) provides that if
access, use, create, and publish digital media or to access and use computers,
the person who has been
other electronic devices, and telecommunications networks.
arrested or detained under
• The concept is particularly related to the protection and realization of existing
preventive detention laws rights, such as the right to privacy and freedom of expression, in the context
then the protection against of digital technologies, especially the Internet. The laws of several countries
arrest and detention provided recognize a right to Internet access.
under article22 (1) and22 (2) • According to the UN, disconnecting people from the internet violates these
shall not be available to that rights and goes against international law.
person.
• A person may be detained without trial only on any or some of the above grounds. A detainee under preventive
detention can have no right of personal liberty guaranteed by Article 19 or Article 21.
Safeguard Against preventive Detention
Article 22(a): No person who is arrested shall be detained in custody without being informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds
for such arrest nor shall he be denied the right to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice.
Article 22 (b): Every person who is arrested and detained in custody shall be produced before the nearest magistrate within a
period of twenty-four hours of such arrest excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court of the
magistrate and no such person shall be detained in custody beyond the said period without the authority of a magistrate.
Article 22 (3): Nothing in clauses (1) and (2) shall apply—
(a) to any person who for the time being is an enemy alien; or
(b) To any person who is arrested or detained under any law providing for preventive detention.
Article 22 (4): No law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the detention of a person for a longer period than three
months. unless—
(a) an Advisory Board consisting of persons who are, or have been, or are qualified to be appointed as, Judges of a High
Court has reported before the expiration of the said period of three months that there is in its opinion sufficient cause for
such detention
(b) Such person is detained in accordance with the provisions of any law made by Parliament under sub-clauses (a) and
(b) of clause (7).
Article 22 (7) (b): Parliament may by law prescribe the maximum period for which any person may in any class or classes of cases
be detained under any law providing for preventive detention
• The object of Preventive Detention is not to Punish but to prevent the detenu from doing something which is
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prejudicial to the State. The satisfaction of the concerned authority is a subjective satisfaction in such a manner.
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Women Right Issues: Section 498A
Context
Recently, Supreme Court has said that it becomes pertinent to mention that incorporation of Section 498A of IPC was
aimed at preventing cruelty committed upon a woman by her husband and her in-laws by facilitating rapid state
intervention.
About Section 498A
• Section 498A was introduced in Cognizable Bailable By what
the year 1983 to protect a Offence Punishment or Non- or Non- court
married woman from being Section Cognizable Bailable triable
subjected to cruelty. It claims to
Cognizable
provide protection to women
if the
against dowry-related
Punishment information
harassment and cruelty. On the
498A for Fine and relating to Non Magistrate
other hand, it became an easy
subjecting a imprisonment the bailable of the first
tool for women to misuse it and
married for 3 years commission class
wreak revenge from their NRI
woman to of the
husbands or to file a false case.
cruelty offence is
Section 498A is one of the most
given to the
controversial sections of the IPC.
officer.
• Section 498A of the Indian
Penal Code (IPC) deals with the violence done on women after her marriage by her husband or her in-laws or any relative
of the husband. It prescribes punishment for 3 years and a fine. It gave a new definition to cruelty. Cruelty can be defined
as –
o If the act done is of such a nature that the woman is enticed to commit suicide or cause an injury to herself, which
may prove fatal. This was added in the case of Shobha Rani v. Medhukar Reddy. It was held in the case that evidence
is required to prove cruelty.
o If the act done is to harass women or any other person related to her to meet unlawful demands.
Vulnerable Witness
Context
Supreme Court expanded the definition of "vulnerable witness" in a criminal case, which earlier used to be a child below
the age of 18, to include age and gender-neutral victims of sexual assault and witnesses suffering from mental illness
among others.
Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centre

• The Vulnerable Witness Deposition Scheme aims at providing safety to vulnerable witnesses based on threat assessment
and protection measures.
• The Supreme Court of India has expanded the meaning of vulnerable witnesses to also include among others sexual
assault victims, those with mental illness and people with speech or hearing impairment.
• SC evidently mentioned that vulnerable witnesses would not just include child witnesses but also,
o Age-neutral & Gender-neutral victims of sexual assault
o Witnesses suffering from mental illness as defined in Mental Healthcare Act
o Witnesses with threat perception and any speech or hearing- impaired individual
o A person with other disabilities is considered vulnerable by the court
Witness Protection Scheme, 2018
• India’s First Witness Protection Scheme was introduced in the year 2018. It was drawn by the central government with
the objective of ensuring protection to the witnesses who may be intimidated or frightened to give evidence.
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• The Scheme provides for three categories of witness as per threat perception:
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o Category ‘A’: Where the threat extends to the life of the witness or his/her family members, during
investigation/trial or thereafter.
o Category ‘B’: Where the threat extends to safety, reputation or property of the witness or his/her family
members, during the investigation/trial or thereafter.
o Category ‘C’: Where the threat is moderate and extends to harassment or intimidation of the witness or
his/her family member’s, reputation or property, during the investigation/ trial or thereafter.
• A State Witness Protection Fund was also introduced under the scheme that would be managed by the
Department/Ministry of Home under State/Union Territories. Trial or thereafter.
About Vulnerable Witness
• The definition of “vulnerable witnesses” would now also include those with speech or hearing impediments and
a “person suffering from any other disability who is considered to be vulnerable by court concerned.”
• A Bench of SC issued the new guidelines while hearing a plea on protection of vulnerable witnesses in compliance
with a 2018 Supreme Court verdict.
• In the 2018 case, the Supreme Court had issued directions for setting up special centres for examining vulnerable
witnesses in criminal cases to create a “conducive environment” which would allow them to make statements
before the court.
• According to Supreme Court women and children are vulnerable witness.
Reasonable Accommodation and Fundamental Rights

Context
The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) along with two other petitioners has moved the Supreme Court against
the Karnataka High Court judgement that upheld the ban on wearing hijab in educational institutions of the state.
The principle of “Reasonable Accommodation”
➢ ‘Reasonable accommodation’ is a principle that promotes equality, enables the grant of positive rights and
prevents discrimination based on disability, health condition or personal belief. Its use is primarily in the disability
rights sector.
➢ Article 2 of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD) defines reasonable
accommodation as “necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate
or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or
exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms”.
➢ The International Labour Organization (ILO), in its recommendation on HIV/AIDS and the world of work, defines
it as “any modification or adjustment to a job or to the workplace that is reasonably practicable and enables a
person living with HIV or AIDS to have access to, or participate or advance in, employment”.
How does the principle of “Reasonable Accommodation” work?
✓ The general principle is that reasonable accommodation should be provided, unless some undue hardship is
caused by such accommodation.
✓ In 2016, the ILO came out with a practical guide on promoting diversity and inclusion through workplace
adjustments. The need for workplace accommodation may arise in a variety of situations, but four categories of
workers were chosen for the guide: workers with disabilities, workers living with HIV and AIDS, pregnant workers
and those with family responsibilities, and workers who hold a particular religion or belief. These categories of
workers come across different kinds of barriers at work. These may result in either loss of employment or lack of
access to employment. “The provision of reasonable accommodation plays a major role in addressing these
barriers and thus contributes to greater workplace equality, diversity and inclusion,” according to the ILO guide.
✓ A modified working environment, shortened or staggered working hours, additional support from supervisory
staff and reduced work commitments are ways in which accommodation can be made. Suitable changes in
recruitment processes — allowing scribes during written tests or sign language interpreters during interviews —
will also be a form of accommodation.
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The legal position of the principle of “Reasonable Accommodation” in India

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▪ In India, the Rights of People with Disabilities Act, 2016, defines ‘reasonable accommodation’ as “necessary and
appropriate modification and adjustments, without imposing a disproportionate or undue burden in a particular
case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise of rights equally with others”.
▪ The definition of ‘discrimination’ in Section 2(h) includes ‘denial of reasonable accommodation’.
▪ In Section 3, which deals with equality and non-discrimination, sub-section (5) says: “The appropriate Government
shall take necessary steps to ensure reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.”
▪ In Jeeja Ghosh and Another v. Union of India and Others (2016), the Supreme Court, while awarding a
compensation of ₹10 lakh to a passenger with cerebral palsy who was evicted from a flight after boarding, said:
“Equality not only implies preventing discrimination, but goes beyond in remedying discrimination against groups
suffering systematic discrimination in society. In concrete terms, it means embracing the notion of positive rights,
affirmative action and reasonable accommodation.”
▪ The Supreme Court elaborated on the concept in Vikash Kumar v. UPSC
Keywords
(2021). This was a case in which the court allowed the use of a scribe in the
Fundamental rights
Union Public Service Commission examination for a candidate with
dysgraphia, or writer’s cramp. The court ruled that benchmark disability, that
is a specified disability to the extent of 40%, is related only to special reservation for the disabled in employment,
but it need not be a restriction for other kinds of accommodation.
Miscellaneous
Section 6A of Citizenship Act
Context
As Citizenship issue gets more controversial in Assam, a constitution bench of the Apex Court will examine the
constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act.
Understanding Section 6A of Citizenship Act
▪ The section was inserted in to the Citizenship Act, 1955, after the tripartite agreement between the Centre, the
Assam government and the All-Assam Students Union was signed in 1985, known as “Assam Accord”.
▪ Under Section 6A of the Act, a special provision for Assam was created under which:
o A person who entered between January 1, 1966, and March 25, Constitutional Provisions
1971, and who are residing in the state, upon being detected as • Citizenship is listed in the union
foreigners, will be allowed to register. list; Thus, it comes under exclusive
o After registration, such a person will have the same rights and jurisdiction of parliament.
obligations as a citizen of India, but will not be entitled to be • The term ‘Citizen’ is not defined in
included in any electoral roll for a period of 10 years. the constitution, but Categories
o Foreigners who had entered Assam before January 1, 1966, and of persons who are entitled to
been “ordinarily resident” in the State, would have all the rights citizenship are given in Part-2
and obligations of Indian citizens including the right to vote. (Articles 5-11).
About the National Register of Citizens (NRC) • Article-11 empowers Parliament
▪ NRC is the register containing names of Indian citizens. to make any provision with
▪ After conducting the Census of 1951, the National Register of Citizens respect to the acquisition and
(NRC) was prepared by recording particulars of all the persons termination of citizenship and all
enumerated during the 1951 Census. matters relating to it.
▪ The Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 called for the updating
of the NRC
▪ It has been implemented for the state of Assam starting in 2013–2014.
▪ The Government of India announced plans to implement it for the rest of the country in 2021, but it has not yet
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been implemented.
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CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX
Context
Recently, Corruption perception index, 2022 published by transparency international.
About CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX, 2022
• The 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that most countries are failing to stop corruption.
• The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories around the world by their perceived levels of public sector corruption,
scoring on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
• Global peace has been deteriorating for 15 years.
Corruption has been both a key cause and result of this. Transparency international
• High CPI scores play a role in the threats that corruption • Transparency International is a global
poses to global security. movement working in over 100 countries
• The Index ranks 180 countries and territories by their to end the injustice of corruption.
perceived levels of public sector corruption according to • It is independent, non-governmental, not-
experts and businesspeople. for-profit and work with like-minded
o More than two-thirds of countries (68 per cent) partners across the world to end the
score below 50 and the average global score injustice of corruption.
remains unchanged at 43. • Its mission is to stop corruption and
o Denmark heads the ranking, with a score of promote transparency, accountability and
90. Finland and New Zealand follow closely with integrity at all levels and across all sectors
a score of 87. of society.
o On the flip side, countries experiencing conflict or where basic personal and political freedoms are highly
restricted tend to earn the lowest marks. This year, Somalia (12), Syria (13), and South Sudan (13) are at
the bottom of the index.
o India ranked 85th out of 180 countries.
UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA (UIDAI)

Context
Recently, government has amended Aadhaar regulations, specifying that supporting documents need to be updated “at
least once” by Aadhaar holders on completion of 10 years from enrolment date.
About Amendment
• The updation would ensure “continued accuracy” of Aadhaar-related information in the Central Identities Data
Repository (CIDR).
• The UIDAI has developed a new feature of ‘update document’. This feature can be accessed online through the
my Aadhaar portal, and my Aadhaar app or residents can visit any Aadhaar enrolment centre to avail of the facility.
• The new feature permits Aadhaar number holders to revalidate details by updating the POI (containing name and
photo) and POA (containing name and address) documents.
About UIDAI
• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory authority.
• It is established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits
and Services) Act, 2016 (“Aadhaar Act 2016”) on 12 July 2016 by the Government of India.
• It comes under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• The UIDAI is mandated to assign a 12-digit unique identification (UID) number to all the residents of India.
• Under the Aadhaar Act 2016, UIDAI is responsible for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication, including operation
and management of all stages of Aadhaar life cycle, developing the policy, procedure, and system for issuing
Aadhaar numbers to individuals and perform authentication and the security of identity information and
authentication records of individuals.
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• Vision: Its vision is to empower residents of India with a unique identity and a digital platform to authenticate
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• Composition: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) consists of a Chairperson, two part-time
Members and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who is also the Member-Secretary of the Authority.
Constitutional bodies
National Commission for Women
Context
Recently, Prime Minister said that “In order to address the evolving needs of women in the country the National
Commission for Women (NCW) must broaden its ambit.
About National Women Commission
The National Commission for Women was set up as statutory body in January 1992 under the National
Commission for Women Act, 1990 (Act No. 20 of 1990 of Govt. of India) to:
• review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards for women;
• recommend remedial legislative measures;
• facilitate redressal of grievances and
• Advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.
Composition
• The commission consists of a chairperson, a member secretary and five other members.
• The chairperson of the NCW is nominated by the Central Government. The Central Government also
nominates the member secretary.
• The member secretary should be an expert in the field of management. He or she is an officer or
organization who is a member. The five members nominated by the Central Government should be
individuals with ability, standing and integrity.
• They should have experience in law, legislation, management, women voluntary organization, economic
social development and so on.
Constitutional status
• The Constitution does not contain any provision specifically made to favor women as such. Though Art.
15 (3), Art. 21 and Art. 14 are in favor of women they are more general in nature and provide for making
any special provisions for women, while they are not in themselves such provisions.
Reconstitution of Inter-State Council

Context
The Centre has reconstituted the Inter-State Council, which works to promote cooperative federalism.
About Inter-State Council
• Article 263 contemplates the establishment of an Inter-State Council to effect coordination between the
states and between Centre and states.
• Therefore, the President can establish such a council if at any time it appears to him that the public
interest would be served by its establishment.
• President can define the nature of duties to be performed by such a council and its organization and
procedure.
• Even though the president is empowered to define the duties of an inter-state council, Article263 specifies
the duties that can be assigned to it in the following manner:
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• Enquiring into and advising upon disputes which may arise between states;
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• Investigating and discussing subjects in which the states or the Centre and the states have a common
interest; and
• Making recommendations upon any such subject and particularly for the better coordination of policy
and action on it.
Composition of the newly constituted Council
• Headed by the PM, the Council will comprise six Union ministers, besides the Chief Ministers of the 28
states and UTs with a legislature, and administrators of UTs without a legislature.
• It will also have 10 Union ministers as permanent invitees.
• The government has also reconstituted the standing committee of the Council, with Home Minister as its
chairman.
Mandate of the Inter-State Council
• The Council may meet at least thrice in a year. Its meetings are held in camera and all questions are
decided by consensus.
• There is also a Standing Committee of the Council. It was set up in 1996 for continuous Consultation
and processing of matters for the consideration of the Council. It consists of the following members:
• Union Home Minister as the Chairman
• Six Union Cabinet Ministers
• Ten Chief Ministers
• The Council is assisted by a secretariat called the Inter-State Council Secretariat. This secretariat was
set-up in 1991 and is headed by a secretary to the Government of India. Since2011, it is also functioning
as the secretariat of the Zonal Councils.
Constitutional & Democratic issues

Anti-Doping Act (ADA)
Context
The government of India has recently enacted the Anti-Doping About NADA
Act, 2022 which is a mark of India’s commitment to the anti- • National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)
doping movement. was set up as a registered society
About doping under the Societies Registration Act of
1860 on November 24, 2005, with a
• Doping refers to the use of banned substances in competitive
mandate for Dope-free sports in India.
sports. Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are another
• National Anti-Doping Agency is
term used for drugs used by athletes to improve their athletic mandated for Dope-free sports in India
performance.
• In general, the following classes of drugs are banned: Street drugs, stimulants, anabolic steroids,
peptide hormones (i.e., human growth hormone [hGH]), alcohol and beta blockers (for archery and rifle
shooting only), diuretics, beta-2 agonists, anti-estrogens, blood doping, and gene manipulation.
• National Anti-Doping Agency becomes a statutory body, headed by a director general appointed by the
central government.
• Agency will plan, implement and monitor anti-doping activities. It will investigate anti-doping rules and
promote anti-doping research.
• National Dope Testing Laboratory will now be the principal dope testing laboratory. More labs can
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be established by the central government.

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Issues with the Right to Information (RTI)
Context
According to a report by Satark Nagrik Sangathan, the backlog of appeals or complaints is steadily increasing
in commissions every year.
About RTI
• RTI was enacted in 2005 to empower citizens and promotes transparency and accountability in
governance. It makes democracy in India more people-oriented.
• RTI provides rules and procedures for access to information from a public authority. Those agencies are
required to reply expeditiously or within 30 days.
About Recent Amendments
• RTI (Amendment) Act, 2019 was criticized on grounds of diluting the law and giving more powers to
the central government.
• The amended act provided that the Chief Information Commissioner and an Information
Commissioner of Centre and States shall hold office for such term as prescribed by the Central
Government. Before this, their term was fixed for 5 years.
• The same act provided that the salary, allowances, and other service conditions of the Chief Information
Commissioner and an Information Commissioner (of Centre as well as States)shall be such as prescribed
by the Central Government.
• Before this amendment, the salary, allowances, and other service conditions of the Chief Information
Commissioner were similar to those of the Chief Election Commissioner and that of an Information
Commissioner were similar to those of an Election Commissioner(State Election Commissioners in the
case of States)
Process of Inclusion/Exclusion in Scheduled Tribe/Caste Category
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National Emblem of India
Context
Recently, the Prime Minister of India unveiled a national emblem atop the new Parliament House coming up
as part of the Central Vista Project.
Adoption by Constituent Assembly Legal Provision
• Constituent Assembly adopted Sarnath pillar as the ❖ State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act
national emblem as the pillar epitomized the 2005 and the State Emblem of India (Regulation of Use)
Rules 2007 allows for the use of National emblem.
power, courage and confidence of the free nation.
❖ It also provides punishment for any unauthorized use
• On January 26, 1950, the Lion Capital of Asoka at with punishment for imprisonment of up to 2 years or a
Sarnath officially became the national emblem of fine up toRs5000ifsomeoneviolatesthelaw.
India. However, the bell- shaped lotus has been
omitted.
• The words Satyameva Jayate from Mundaka Upanishad, meaning ‘Truth Alone Triumphs’, are inscribed
below the abacus in Devanagari Script.
• The emblem represents the seal of the Republic of India.
• It was designed by Dinanath Bhargava who observed lions at the zoo from close quarters for months
and then finalized it.
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Suspension of Member of Parliament
Governance
Uniform Civil Code
Context
Government of Uttarakhand will go ahead with the implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and had urged
other states to follow the same path.
About UCC
• The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) calls for the formulation of one law for India, which would be applicable
to all religious communities in matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption.
Provisions for UCC
• “Article 44” of the Indian Constitution states that “the State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens
a uniform civil code (UCC) throughout the territory of India.”
• The desirability of a uniform civil code is consistent with human rights and the principles of equality,
fairness and justice.
• UCC comes under non justiciable part of constitution and also Personal laws come under Concurrent
List.
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Current Trend
• Different religious communities in India are currently governed by a system of personal laws, which have
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been codified over the years through various pieces of legislation.

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• For example, Hindu personal law is codified in four bills:
o The Hindu Marriage Act,
o Hindu Succession Act,
o Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, and
o Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act.
• The term ‘Hindu’ also includes Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists for the purpose of these laws.
• Muslim personal law is not codified based on their religious texts, though certain aspects of these are
expressly recognized in India in acts such as the Shariat Application Act and Dissolution of Muslim
Marriages Act.
• Christian marriages and divorces are governed by the Indian Christian Marriages Act and the Indian
Divorce Act, while Zoroastrians are subject to the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act.
• Goa is, at present, the only state in India with a uniform civil code.
• The Portuguese Civil Code of 1867, which continues to be implemented after India integrated the
territory in 1961, applies to all Goans, irrespective of their religious or ethnic community. There are more
‘secular’ laws, which disregard religion altogether, such as
o The Special Marriage Act, under which Inter-religion marriages take place, and
o The Guardians and Wards Act, which establishes the rights and duties of guardians.
Phone Tapping in India

Context
The Mumbai Police investigating the alleged phone •Telephones along with other
tapping case against a senior Indian Police Service communication devices
7th mention under Entry 31 of
(IPS) officer submitted a charge sheet before the
schedule Union list
magistrate at Esplanade court.
About Phone tapping
• Definition: Telephone tapping is the monitoring •Freedom of Speech
Article
of telephone and Internet-based conversations 19
by a third party, often by covert or illegal means.
• Legal wiretapping by a government agency is
•Telephone tapping would breach
called lawful interception. Article 21 unless it is permitted
• Word ‘phone tapping’ also means Article under procedure established by
21 Law.
wiretapping or line bugging or interception of
the phone.
• It was first initiated in USA in 1890’s.
Indian •It regulates Phone Tapping.
• Both, Central and State Governments have a telegraph
Act,1885
right to tap phones.
• In the states, police have the powers to tap
phones.
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• At the Centre, 10 agencies are authorized to do so: Intelligence Bureau, CBI, Enforcement Directorate,
Narcotics Control Bureau, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, National
Investigation Agency, R&AW, Directorate of
Signal Intelligence, and the Delhi Police
Commissioner.
• Tapping by any other agency would be
considered illegal.
• As per Rule 419A of the Indian, Telegraph
(Amendment) Rules, 2007, Orders could be
issued by the Secretary in the Ministry of Home
Affairs in both centre and state.
• The order has to convey to the service provider
in writing, only then can the tapping begin.
• However, in exceptional cases the order may
be issued by lower authorities also.
• Such order has to be communicated to competent authority within a specified time period.
Facial Recognition Technology and Right Issues

Context
Internet Freedom foundation in an RTI response from Delhi Police has found out that the positive result for
Delhi Police in establishment of a criminal identity is minimum 80% match. This raised serious concerns as
Facial Recognition Technology is relatively a nascent technology in criminal identification in India.
About Facial Recognition Technology (FRT)
• FRT used distinctive facial features to create a
biometric identity of an individual. Using
algorithms, FRT creates a digital map of the
face.
• It is an ever-evolving technology with recent
developments including 3D contours of a face
to recognize skin patterns.
• FRT database contains features of a face which
then can be integrated with any software based
on the application such as banking service,
security service etc.
• Whenever a face is captured in any CCTV
network the software compares it with the
existing database and use Artificial
Intelligence technology, for pattern-finding
and matching.
• It is using Section 3 and 4 of the Identification
of Prisoners Act, 1920, (replaced by the
Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022) for
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matching the photographs/videos against

photographs collected.
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National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS)
• It’s a central government scheme under which work stations were set up in every state for identification
through fingerprint and palm print database and matching system.
• It aims to establish a robust online searchable national database of Finger prints from all states and UTs.
• NAFIS solution is implemented and managed by the Central Fingerprint Bureau (CFPB) of National
Crime Records Bureau.
• It assigns a unique 10-digit National Fingerprint Number for each criminal, based on biometrics. This
identity remains linked to criminal and used in all the FIRs registered against him.
• The first two digits of the ID will be the state code of the state where the criminal registered, followed
by a sequence number.
Creating a New District in India
Miscellaneous
Kuki-Chin Refugees
Context
Recently, fearing security threats from Bangladesh security forces many Kuki-Chin refugees entered the state
of Mizoram. The state is providing all the support and relief as per its capacity
India’s Refugee Policy
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• There is no specific legislation in India that deals with the problem of refugees. India is also not a party
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to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.

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• Despite this, India follows the principle of Vasudev Kutumbkam and has a stellar record on the issue of
refugee protection.
About Kuki-Chin Refugees in India
• They belong to Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) • Partition refugees from Pakistan in 1947.
Area in Bangladesh. The area sprawls over more • Tibetan refugees that arrived in 1959.
than 13,000 sq km of the Khagrachari, • Chakma and Hajong from present day
Rangamati, and Bandarban districts of Bangladesh in early 1960s.
southeastern Bangladesh. • Other Bangladeshi refugees in 1965 and 1971.
• It borders Mizoram to the east, Tripura to the • Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from the 1980s.
north, and Myanmar to the south and • Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, 2022
southeast. A significant population of CHT is
tribal, and culturally and ethnically different from the majority Muslim Bangladeshis.
• They have ethnic links with tribal populations in the adjacent areas of India, mainly in Mizoram.
Refugee’s vs. Migrant’s
• Refugees are people who face serious threat to their life, physical integrity or freedom in their country of
origin. This might be because they face persecution, armed conflict, violence or serious public disorder.
There are specific grounds which makes a person a refugee.
• Migrants are people who leave their country for better work opportunities or to study or join their family
settled in abroad. There is no internationally accepted legal definition of a migrant.
Criminality under NDPS Act

Context
Karnataka High Court in its judgment placed Bhang outside the purview of the Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
NDPS Act 1985
About Cannabis • Section 8 of the NDPS Act prohibits the cultivation of
• They are produced from a flowering plant that is any cannabis plant for reasons other than medical and
used to make hashish (from resin), ganja (leaves) scientific purposes.
and bhang (leaves and seeds).Cannabis has two • Section 20 (b) of the NDPS Act prescribes the
punishment for use of cannabis. It is based on the
components:-
quantity of the cannabis seized. Minimum quantity for
• HC (Tetra Hydro cannabinoid): It produces the any punishment under the section is 100gm.
psychoactive effects such as euphoria, relaxation • Section 64 provides immunity from prosecution to
and heightened sensory experiences. addicts volunteering for treatment.
• CBD (Cannabinoid): It has a few psychoactive

effects and has anti-inflammatory and Neuro Protective effects.
• Taxation on cannabis was started by British parliament in 1798 to reduce their consumptions. Indian
Hemp Drugs Commission (IHDC) of 1894 advised against the criminalization of cannabis.
• Post- Independence India enacted Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, in
line with the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961.
• Cultivation of Cannabis is only permitted in Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir through a state license.
Further poppy cultivation in India is regulated by the Central Board of Narcotics (CBN) and permitted
only in parts of MP, UP & Rajasthan.
Initiatives to Control Drug Addiction in India
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• NCORD: Narco-Coordination Centre (2016) was established to provide financial assistance to states for
controlling Narco-menace.
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• An online database of offenders was created known as Seizure Information Management System.
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• Ministry of Health and Family welfare started Project Sunrise in 2016 to tackle growing HIV cases in
north-east due to drug abuse.
• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had started:
• National Drug Abuse Survey which measures trends of drug abuse in India. In this it is supported by
AIIMS.
• Nasha Mukta Bharat Abhiyan
Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022

Context
Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022
has come into force and will replace the
Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920. It
authorizes police officers to take
measurements of people convicted, arrested
or facing trial in criminal cases.
About CrPC
• Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC),
1973 is the primary legislation regarding
the procedural aspects of criminal law.
• Section 53 or 53A of the CrPC allows
police to collect data.
• In State of UP vs. Ram Babu Misra case SC
called for amendment for the CrPC and
expands the scope of measurement.
• Law commission also called for several amendments in the CrPC act and asserted that there is a need to
recognize more kinds of “measurements” that can be used by law enforcement agencies for investigation.
• Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 will now act as a Legal sanction to the police to take
physical and biological samples of convicts as well as those accused of crimes.
Protection Of Monuments In India

Context
The Ministry of Culture recently submitted its report titled ‘Issues relating to Untraceable Monuments and
Protection of Monuments in India’ to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture
in which it told Parliament that 50 of India’s 3,693 centrally protected monuments have gone missing.
About Monuments in India
• India ranks sixth in the world with 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of which 32 are cultural sites.
These sites are a reminder of the past, acting as the guardian of Indian culture.
• They present a combination of different styles and influences of various dynasties, religions, traditions and
customs and vary from rock cut architecture, temple architecture, tombs, forts, palaces, minars, stupas to
the monument complexes at Hampi, Mahabulipuram and Khajuraho representing a very wide range
and diversity.
• They directly contribute to the economy by attracting tourists. The iconic Taj Mahal, Ajanta and Ellora
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caves, Konark Sun Temple, etc. are on all tourists bucket list.
• There are countless masterpieces which are not well known with even locals being unaware of their
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• It is very important to ensure the protection of historical monuments across the country and the sameis
also reflected in Article 49 of the Constitution of India which states the following:
• Protection of monuments and places and objects of national importance: It shall be the obligation of
the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interest, [declared by or under
law made by Parliament] to be of national importance, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction,
removal, disposal or export.
AMASR Act
• The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act regulates the
preservation of monuments and archaeological sites of national importance.
• The Act protects monuments and sites of historical significance that are more than 100 years old
monument includes temples, cemeteries, inscriptions, tombs, forts, palaces, step-wells, rock-cut caves, and
even objects like cannons.
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which works under the Ministry of Culture, functions under this
Act.
• According to the provisions of AMASR Act, ASI officials are supposed to regularly inspect the monuments
to assess their condition.
• Apart from various conservation and preservation operations, ASI officials can also file police complaints,
issue show cause notices for the removal of encroachments, and communicate to the local administration
the need for demolition of encroachments.
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ART & CULTURE
Art and Architecture
Monuments of National Importance: Sannati
News Excerpt
The Archaeological Survey of India has taken up conservation work at this important Buddhist site near Kalaburagi.
This ancient Buddhist site is located on the bank of Bhima river near Kanaganahalli (forming part of Sannati site)
in Kalaburagi district.
Sannati and Kanaganahalli were small and ordinary villages on the bank of Bhima till 1986 when the Kali temple
at the Chandralamba temple complex in Sannati collapsed.
In the process of clearing the debris, they discovered an Ashokan edict that put the villages on the world map
and opened new avenues of historical research on Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and Buddhism in its early years.
Excavation Finds
➢ The Kanaganahalli excavation opened up many marvels. For example, an ‘abandoned well’ in the eyes of local
villagers turned out to be the magnificent Maha Stupa, which was referred to as Adholoka Maha Chaitya (the Great
Stupa of the netherworlds) in the inscriptions and, more significantly, the stone-portrait of Emperor Ashoka,
surrounded by his queens and female attendants.
➢ While the Stupa is believed to be one of the largest of its time, the stone-portrait is considered to be the only
surviving image of the Mauryan Emperor which had the inscription ‘Raya Asoko’ in Brahmi on it.
➢ The Maha Stupa is believed to have been developed in three constructional phases – Maurya, Early Satvahanas and
Later Satvahanas periods stretching from 3rd Century B.C. to 3rd Century A.D.
➢ The ASI site in Sannati is worth being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a preparation a detailed report on
the historical importance of the site to submit to UNESCO.
Monument of National Importance- Mangarh hillock

News Excerpt
A team from National Monuments Authority submits report to declare Mangarh hillock in Rajasthan as a monument
of National Importance as tribute to 1500 Bhil tribal freedom fighters.
➢ Mangarh, the hillock in Banswara District situated at the Gujarat-Rajasthan border, is a site of a tribal uprising where
a massacre of over 1500 Bhil tribal freedom fighters took place in 1913.
➢ The place is also known as the Adivasi Jallianwala, and there has been a demand to build a memorial.
➢ On November 17, 1913, British forces opened fire on tribals gathered at the site who were holding a meeting in
protest, led by a leader from the community Govind Guru, killing over 1,500.
Who are the Bhils?
➢ Bhil, an ethnic group of some 12.6 million people in western India.
➢ Historically, many Bhil communities have been known for rugged independence, and some have been associated
with banditry.
➢ The Bhil are distributed widely in upland areas of several states, from Ajmer in central Rajasthan on the north,
to Thane in western Maharashtra on the south, to Indore in western Madhya Pradesh on the east, and to Surat
in south-eastern Gujarat on the west.
➢ Nearly all of the Bhil engage in agriculture, some using the slash-and-burn (jhum) method but most employing
the plough.
Buddhist cave in bandhavgarh forest area.

In a major exploration, the Archaeological Survey of India has unraveled remarkable archaeological remains of temples,
caves, monasteries, stupas, sculptures, Brahmi inscriptions, and scattered remains in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh
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Forest Reserve.
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About The Exploration Kalachuri Temple Architecture
➢ The Archaeological Survey of India has explored 26 Kalachuri Temple Architecture were mainly based on
ancient temples/relics of the Kalachuri period, 26 caves Nagara Style of Temple Architecture. Such temples
which are mostly Buddhist, 2 monasteries, 2 stupas, 24 have some common features such as:
Brahmi inscriptions, 46 sculptures, 20 scattered remains, ❖ Temple is constructed on a high platform
and 19 water structures recorded. which is accessible through stairs.
➢ Among the 46 sculptures, also is a Varah sculpture which ❖ They don’t have elaborate boundary wall or
is one of the largest. The Varaha sculpture is among the gateways
many monolithic sculptures of the 10 incarnations of Lord ❖ Garibhagrah is always lies below the tallest
Vishnu that were discovered by an ASI at the national park tower.
earlier. The exploration took place 84 years after the last ❖ Amalaka or Kalash installed on Shikhara
such effort in 1938. ❖ Shape of Shikhara decides the subdivision
➢ The ASI team discovered 26 mostly Buddhist caves dating under Nagara Style of Temple Architecture.
❖ There are three schools of Nagara Style which
back to the 2nd and 5th centuries. The caves and some of
their remains had ‘Chaitya’ (rounded) doors and stone are Odisha, Chandel and Solanki.
Some unique features of Kalachuri
beds typical of Mahayana Buddhism sites.
Temple Architecture are:
➢ The ASI team found 24 inscriptions in Brahmi text, all
❖ Vrittasamsthanaka (Circular
dating back to the 2nd to 5th centuries. The inscriptions Sanctum Sanctorum) and Sunken Sanctum
mention sites such as Mathura and Kaushambi, Pavata, Sanctorum
Vejabharada, and Sapatanaairikaa. The period of the ❖ They are crowned with pancharathshikhara and
findings covered the reigns of the kings Shri Bhimsena, had pyramidal mandap
Maharaja Pothasiri, and Maharaja Bhattadeva.
➢ The remains of 26 temples which dates back to the
Kalachuri period between the 9th-11th centuries were also found.
➢ Two Saiva mutts have also been documented. The Kalachuri dynasty, which spread over parts of Gujarat,
Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, is also associated with the earliest Ellora and Elephanta cave monuments.
➢ Some remains of the Gupta period, such as door jambs and carvings in caves, have also been found.
Buddhist Caves Architecture-Key Features
➢ It included sectionalizing areas for specific purposes like the viharas and chaityas and embellishing the areas with
fine carvings, reliefs, and paintings. Some caves also included elaborate facades, arches, and pillars.
➢ The Buddhist chaityas and viharas stand as examples of early cave structures. While the viharas were residential
areas of the monks, the congregational worship was conducted in the cave shrines known as chaityas.
➢ A pillared circular chamber in the garbhagriha hewn out of rock enabled one to circumambulate around the stupa.
➢ Buddhist architecture saw a second phase that started in the 5th century AD. The most prominent aspect of
architectural design that emerged during this period was the introduction of the image of Lord Buddha.
➢ Huge statues of Lord Buddha in various postures as also Jataka stories and deities associated with Buddhism in the
form of paintings and carvings found a place on the stupas. Sculptures associated with Buddhism were also
introduced in the viharas.
Coins with Religious Symbols

News Excerpt
Recent political discourse in the country pointed towards the printing of God and Goddess on the Indian rupee. The
practice of using images of God and goddesses is age-old in India. The Kushans, who hailed from the Central Asian
region and ruled till the 3rd century AD, were the first to use the image of Goddess Lakshmi on their coins, along with
Ardochsho, the Iranic Goddess of wealth.
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Coins with a religious depiction in India

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Dynasty Religious symbol
Gupta Dynasty Images of Garuda, Lord Vishnu’s bird mount, or his consort Goddess Lakshmi.
Pallavas A humped bull represents Nandi, the mount of Lord Shiva and on its reverse is the wheel,
which symbolized the chakravartin or universal monarch. But it is also a symbol of Lord
Vishnu.
Kushans Oesho (Shiva), moon deity Miro and Buddha in their coinage.
French and Dutch Vishnu and Kali.
Britishers The Three Swamy Pagoda, which depicts Lord Balaji flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi on
either side Venkatesa (Star/Single Swami Pagoda), Hanuman, Goddess Chamundi and the
stylized Lion-Boar motifs of the Viraraya Panam.
Mohammed bin Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi; Siva-Parvathi motif of the Ikkeri Nayakas.
Sam and Hyder Ali
Gurhara Pratihara Varaha Avatara
Greek Governor Shiva and Vishnu
and Sakas
Panchalas Agni, Naga, Indra, and Shiva
Kalachuri Seated Goddess Laxmi
The Chandellas of Hanuman and Laxmi
Jejakabhukti
Yadavas Hanuman and Laxmi, Hanuman and Garuda, and the attributes conch
and disc of Vishnu and boar motif symbolizing Vishnu’s incarnation.
Gahadavalas Laxmi
Chalukya Shiva Linga, Hanuman, and Garuda and the attributes conch and disc
of Vishnu and boar motif symbolizing Vishnu’s incarnation.
Kadambas Chakra which is associated with Vishnu.
Kakatiyas Hanuman and Garuda and the attributes conch and disc of Vishnu and
boar motif symbolizing Vishnu’s incarnation.
Vijaynagar Empire Siva-Parvathi, Lakshmi-Narasimha, Lakshmi- Narayana, Balakrishna, Venkatesha, Rama-
Sita-Lakshmana, Hanuman, Garuda, and their attributes such as conch, wheel, gandab
heru nda, and Vis hnu- n ama.
Harsha of Kashmir The Standing king and the Seated goddess.
Chola The Standing king and the Seated goddess.
Nawabs of Arcot Vishnu and his two consorts (Three Swami Pagoda),
Mysore Wodeyars Vishnu and his two consorts (Three Swami Pagoda),
Madurai Nayakas and Ganesha and Shiva linga
the Siva- Gangas
The Travancore Conch
Rajas
Hoyasalas Goddess Durga
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Ratnagiri Rock Art
➢ These sites in the Konkan region are among three
Indian attractions that may soon become World
Heritage Sites. The other two include Jingkieng Jri,
the living root bridge in Meghalaya, and Sri
Veerabhadra Temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Lepakshi.
➢ The list mentions seven sites with petroglyphs in
Ratnagiri district — Ukshi, Jambharun, Kasheli, Rundhe
Tali, Devihsol, Barsu and Devache Gothane, one in
Sindhudurg district –Kudopi village, and nine sites at
Phansamal in Goa.
➢ Such pieces of art are called “Katal shilpa”.
➢ While the UNESCO dates these sites to be over 12,000 years old, some experts have claimed that these sites might
go as far back as 20,000 years.
➢ Ratnagiri’s rock art is evidence of the continued existence of human settlements from the Mesolithic (middle stone
age) to the early historic era.
➢ The largest rock engraving or geoglyph in India is at Kasheli in the Ratnagiri district, which has a large figure of an
elephant with dimensions of 18X13 metres.
The figures depicted in the geoglyphs include humans and animals such as deer, elephant, tiger, monkey, wild boar,
rhinoceros, hippopotamus, cattle, pig, rabbit, and monkey. Moreover, they also include a high number of reptilian and
amphibian creatures such as tortoises and alligators, aquatic animals such as sharks and sting rays, and birds like peacocks.
Festivals and Events

International Literature Festival-Unmesha
News Excerpt
Unmesha- an International Literature Festival which is largest in the country is organised in Shimla.
Highlights of the event
The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and Sahitya Akademi organised Unmesha, an International Literature
Festival in Shimla as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, with the support of Department of Art and Culture,
Government of Himachal Pradesh.
➢ The festival was organised in the heritage buildings, the Gaiety Heritage Cultural Complex and the Town Hall, on
the Ridge, Shimla.
➢ Literature of any country represents and reflects culture of that country. Literary Festivals bring out these reflections
and representations in all their colours.
That is the reason why the Ministry of Culture and Sahitya Akademi organized this Festival. With over 425 writers, poets,
translators, critics and distinguished personalities from various walks of life from 15 countries including India, representing
over 60 languages and 64 events.
Kartavya path:
In his address to the nation on August 15, this year, Prime Minister emphasized the need to shed colonial symbols
that still latch on to the national capital. Acting on similar lines, Rajpath renamed Kartavya Path (Path of duties) and
Installed 28-foot statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose under the Grand Canopy, which once had the statue of George
V, are meant to represent that spirit.
History of Rajpath (King's Way)
➢ In 1911, the British Imperial Government changed the capital of the British Indian Empire from Calcutta to Delhi.
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The Emperor of India George V had visited Delhi during the Durbar of 1911 and formally proclaimed the decision
to move the capital.
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➢ Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, the leading British architects of that time, constructed the new city of Delhi.
➢ They wanted to construct a modern imperial city centered around a “ceremonial axis” like London. They constructed
the boulevard (artificial road) that connects Viceroy's Palace to India Gate and ends at Purana Qila. They have named
the road as " Kings Way" to honor George V.
➢ The Viceroy's house (Rashtrapati Bhavan) was built on Raisina Hill overlooking the Kingsway till Purana Qilla. With
a view of Jama Masjid to the left and Safdarjung’s Tomb to the right, the view from the house of the Viceroy was
to comprise all objects of historical interest in the city.
➢ After India attained its independence, the road was given its Hindi name, 'Rajpath'. Now it is renamed Kartavya Path
(Path of duties).
The concept of new Kartavya Path (Path of duties)
➢ It symbolizes Public Ownership and Empowerment towards Nation.
➢ It will inspire everyone, who visits or crosses this road to fulfill their duties.
➢ Netaji's statue at such a prominent place, will surely remind people, sacrifices made by innumerable freedom
fighters.
It will inspire people to take the challenges the nation is facing today, so that the tryst with destiny is redeemed.
Bathukamma
Ministry of Culture organizes the Bathukamma festival- an annual 9 day celebration in Telangana and overlaps with
navratra at Kartavya Path. Bathukamma means festival of life and it was celebrated to thank Goddess Parvati for her
blessings for the crop harvest.
About Bathukamma
➢ The festival is celebrated with colourful exotic flowers of the region that symbolizes the collective spirit of the
people of Telangana. A beautiful flower stack is arranged in a unique style in the shape of a temple, which usually
consists of seasonal flowers, having medicinal values.
➢ Every year this festival is celebrated as per the Shathavahana calendar for nine days starting Bhadrapada Pournami
(also known as Mahalaya Amavasya or Pitru Amavasya) till Durgashtami, usually in September–October of the
Gregorian calendar.
➢ Bathukamma is followed by Boddemma, which is a 7-day festival. Boddemma festival marks the ending of Varsha
Ruthu whereas the Bathukamma festival indicates the beginning of Sarad or Sharath Ruthu.
Significance of Bathukamma Festival Celebration at Kartavya Path:
➢ It is the festival for feminine felicitation and celebrates the spirit of womanhood.
➢ Kartavya Path is the symbol of National Unity and therefore celebration of the regional festival will not only
showcase India’s cultural tradition but also integrates India culturally.
➢ It also gives a boost to cultural tourism and with schemes like “Dekho Apna Desh” in place, the tourism sector will
get a big boost.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam

News Excerpt
Recently, Prime Minister inaugurated a month-long Kashi Tamil Sangamam at the amphitheater ground of the Banaras
Hindu University in Varanasi.
About Kashi Tamil Sangam
➢ It is a month-long program to celebrate, reaffirm and rediscover the ancient links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.
➢ Both Ancient cities are timeless centers of our culture and civilization. Kashi is the cultural capital of India whereas
Tamil Nadu and Tamil culture are the centers of India’s antiquity and pride.
➢ PM also released a book called ‘Tirukkural’ along with its translation into 13 languages
➢ More than 2500 delegates from Tamil Nadu will be visiting Kashi.
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➢ The program is in line with the Ek Bharat Shrestha
Sangam Literature
Bharat program.
The Period between 3rd century BC TO 3RD century
➢ The program aims to provide an opportunity for
AD is termed as Sangam Literature termed as
scholars, students, philosophers, traders, artisans,
Sangam literature. But the well known scholar of
artists, etc. from the two regions to come together,
Tamil literature and history Kamal Zvelebil suggests
share their knowledge, culture, and best practices, and
that the most acceptable period for creation of
learn from each other’s experiences.
Sangam poems is between 100 BCE to 250 CE.
How Sangam of Kashi and Tamil Nadu are connected?
➢ Both Sanskrit and Tamil are one of the most ancient Sangam literature has different phases, third phase
languages that existed. being the last. All the Sangam literature available to
➢ Both are sources of literature and art, are the birthplace us now belong to the third Sangam period and Post
and workplace of India’s finest acharyas. Sangam period.
➢ ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ is a dream of Mahakavi Some of the work of Sangam literature are:
Bharathiar, a Tamil poet. Thirumurugatrupadai, Viracoliyam, Iraiyanar
➢ The Kashi Kaam Koteshwar Panchayatan Mandir which Ahapporul, Tolkapiam – Porulatikaram, Kalittohai
is a Tamilian temple located on the ba nks of – the first of the Eight Anthologies (Ettuttohai).
Harishchandra Ghat, and the two-hundred-
year-old Kumaraswamy Matt and Markande Ashram on Kedar Ghat
➢ Swami Kumargurupar came to Kashi and got Kedareshwar Mandir was constructed in Kashi. Later, his disciples got
Kashi Vishwanath temple constructed in Thanjavur on the banks of river Kaveri.
➢ Manonmaniyam Sundaranar wrote a Tamil State song and the connection of his guru with Kashi.
Art Forms
Indian heritage textile.
UNESCO released a list of 50 exclusive and iconic heritage textile crafts of the country.
About UNESCO: UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at promoting world peace and security
through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences, and culture.
About the List
➢ The list was named Handmade for the 21st Textile Place
Century: Safeguarding Traditional Indian Sungadi and Toda Tamil Nadu
Textile.
Himroo Hyderabad
➢ The list aims to bridge the gap of lack of
proper inventory and documentation and has Bandhia tie and die weaving Sambalpur, Odisha
researched 50 selected textiles. Khes Panipat
➢ UNESCO recommended the protection and
Chamba rumals Himachal Pradesh
revitalization of the textile crafts, which cover
a broad spectrum of issues extending from Thigma or wool tie and dye Ladakh
policy to grass-root-based micro- Awadh Jamdani Varanasi
interventions. Ilkal and Lambadi or Karnataka
Textiles that are included in the list Banjara embroidery
No textile practices from India have been included Sikalnayakanpet and Kalamkari Thanjavur
in the list so far and an inscription in the list would
be due to recognition of the talent and diversity of the country’s extraordinary weaving traditions.
Dokra craftsmanship
Lal bazar part of city of Kolkata in the state of West Bengal has emerged as a centre for Dokra metalcraft. West Bengal
was presented with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Dokra Art in 2018.
Dokra Metalcraft: Dokra art is an ancient tradition (practiced by the Ojha metalsmiths), with a documented history of
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about 5,000 years, practised in the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, etc.
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➢ Two places are famous in West Bengal for dokra work — Bikna in Bankura and Dariyapur in Bardhaman.
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➢ Dokra is derived from the Dhokra Damar tribes of West Bengal who were
traditional metal smiths. Dhokra Damar Tribes are found in the states of
Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Kerala.
➢ Dokra is basically a brass-work (metal craft) using the traditional “Lost Wax
Technique”.
➢ Making Dokra art is a difficult process with each figurine taking about a
month to complete.
➢ There are many processes involved, for which seven to eight varieties of
clay is required, apart from other raw material.
Mandala art Buddhism

A mandala the size of one and a half football pitches has been created by artist James
Brunt at the Halewood Park Triangle in UK. It has used the materials such as leaves and
rocks.
Background
➢ Mandala literally means “circle” or “centre” in Sanskrit and it is a symbolic picture
of the universe.
➢ Mandala patterns are centuries old motif that was used to depict the cosmos.
➢ It has been adapted by artists around the world, each of whom has added their
own interpretation and painted it as their own.
Relevance of Mandala art Buddhism
➢ Mandala is defined by a geometric configuration that usually incorporates the circular shape in some form.
➢ It is believed to be rooted in Buddhism, appearing in the first century BC in India. Over the next couple centuries,
Buddhist missionaries travelling along the silk road took it to other regions.
➢ By the sixth century, mandalas have been recorded in China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Tibet. In Hinduism, the
mandala imagery first appeared in Rig Veda (1500 – 500 BCE).
Importance of Mandala art Buddhism
➢ It was a belief that by entering the mandala and moving towards its center, one is guided through the cosmic
process of transforming the universe from one of suffering to that of joy.
➢ A Traditional Buddhist mandala, a circular painting drawn with coloured sand, aided in meditation, with the main
objective of aiding its creator to discover their true self.
➢ There are various elements incorporated within the mandala, each of which has its own meaning.
➢ The eight spokes of the wheel (the dharmachakra) represent the eightfold path of Buddhism (practices that lead to
liberation from rebirth), the lotus flower depicts balance, and the sun represents the universe.
➢ Facing up, triangles represent action and energy, and facing down, they represent creativity and knowledge.
Assam Charaideo:
Centre has decided to nominate Assam’s Charaideo Moidamssite for the prestigious United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites list. If selected, Assam will have three world
heritage sites, the other two being Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park.
Charaideo Moidams
➢ Charaideo Moidams, home to over 90 royal burial mounds, is also referred to as the Pyramids of Assam.
➢ Located approximately 30 km from Sibsagar town in Assam is Charaideo, the first capital of the Ahomestablished
by the firstAhom king Chao Lung Siukapha in 1253.
➢ Charaideo symbolizes the Ahom power, the place of origin of the royal Ahoms. The mausoleum or the burial
mounds of the Ahom royals are called Charaideo Moidams.
➢ Surrounded by hills and forests, water bodies, and tufted wild grass, the Moidams in Charaideo are considered
sacred. For the local people, it’s a place where holy spirits reside under the endless sky.
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➢ It was in 1951 that the ASI declared four large Moidams in Charaideo as protected sites for their historical
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significance.
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Ahom Kingdom
• The Ahoms were one of India’s longest- Moidams
reigning ruling dynasties. At their peak, their ❖ A moidam is a mound of earth raised over a grave
kingdom stretched from modern-day of Ahom royalty and aristocracy. While Charaideo
Bangladesh to deep inside Burma. Known to exclusively contains moidams of Ahom royals, other
moidams of aristocrats and chiefs can be found
be able administrators and valiant warriors,
scattered across Eastern Assam, in the region between
the Ahom dynasty has enduring cultural the towns of Jorhat and Dibrugarh.
appeal in Assam. ❖ A typical moidam at Charaideo contains one or more
• Last year, Ahom general and folk hero chambers in a vault. On top of these is a hemispherical
Lachit Borphukan’s400th birth earthen mound, rising high above the ground, covered
anniversary was celebrated in New Delhi. in grass. On top of this mound, there is a pavilion,
This Lachit Diwas is special because it marks known as the chow chali. A low octagonal wall
surrounds the mound with one entrance.
the 400th birth anniversary of the great
❖ Ahom kings and queens were buried inside these
Lachit Borphukan. He epitomized moidams. Unlike Hindus who cremate their dead, the
unparalleled courage. He placed the well- predominant funerary method of the Ahoms,
being of people above everything else and originating from the Tai people, was the burial.
was a just as well as visionary leader. ❖ The height of a moidam is typically indicative of the
Significance of CharaideoMoidams power and stature of the person buried inside.
➢ The word Charaideo has been derived from
three Tai Ahom words, Che-Rai-Doi. “Che”
means city or town, “Rai” means “to shine” and “Doi” means hill. In short, Charaideo means, “a shining town
situated on a hilltop.”
➢ While the Ahoms shifted capitals multiple times over their 600-year history, Charaideo is considered to be their
first capital city established in 1253 AD by king Sukaphaa.
➢ Throughout the Ahom rule, it remained a symbolic and ritual center of power, due to its salience in the dynasty’s
founding. After Sukaphaa was laid to rest in Charaideo in 1856, subsequent royals also chose it as their resting
place.
➢ Today, these moidams are major tourist attractions. While there are over 150 moidams in the region, only 30 are
protected by the Archaeological Survey of India with many in a state of disrepair.
➢ According to the dossier on the CharaideoMoidams, such burial sites have been seen across East and Southeast
Asia but the “cluster of moidams in Charaideo distinguishes itself in scale, concentration and being located in the
most sacred land of the Tai-Ahoms”.
Personality and Awards

Sant tukaram:
Prime Minister inaugurated a shila (rock) temple at the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Mandir.
➢ Sant Tukaram was a Warkari saint and poet, famously known for Abhanga
devotional poetry and community-oriented worship through spiritual songs
known as Kirtans.
➢ He lived in Dehu.
➢ A Shila Mandir was built after his demise, but it was not formally structured as a
Temple. It has been rebuilt in stone masonry with 36 peaks, and also carries an idol
of Sant Tukaram.
Sant Tukaram- Background
➢ Sant Tukaram Maharaj, also known as Tuka, Tukobaraya, and Tukoba in Maharashtra,
was a 17th-century Marathi poet and Hindu sant. In Maharashtra, India, he was a
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Sant of the Varkari sampradaya.

➢ He was a follower of the Varkari devotionalism tradition, which was egalitarian and personalised.
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➢ He devoted the most of his final years in spiritual worship, community kirtans (singing group prayers), and Abhanga
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poetry composition.
➢ Tukaram’s kiratans and Abhangs exposed the evils of the time’s society, social system, and Maharajs. As a result of
this, he encountered some resistance from society and some individuals.
➢ Tukarama mentions four more people in his Abhangas work who had a major influence on his spiritual development:
the previous Bhakti Sants Namdev, Dnyaneshwar, Kabir, and Eknath.
Gandhi –mandela award

Recently, the 14th Dalai Lama was conferred the Gandhi Mandela Award 2022. Himachal governor calling him “universal
ambassador of peace”. The Tibetan spiritual leader is the recipient of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize.
About Gandhi Mandela Award
➢ The award was instituted by the Gandhi Mandela Foundation on the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the
Nation, MK Gandhi.
➢ It is a highly prestigious International award, for promoting Gandhian and Nelson Mandela’s values, community
service, and social development (in Asia & African countries)
➢ The award is given annually, and the nominations are invited from the Head of the States that includes President,
Vice president, and Prime Minister of Asian & African Countries
The award is given to personalities who have carried forward the legacies of Gandhi and Mandela by making significant
contributions in the fields of Peace, Social Welfare, Culture, Environment, Education, Healthcare, Sports, and Innovation.
Miscellaneous
Indian council for cultural relations
News-Excerpt
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to honor Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to commemorate the 50th anniversary
of the country's Liberation War as well as India's ties with Dhaka.
About ICCR
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), is an autonomous organization of the Government of India,
involved in India's global cultural relations, through cultural exchange with other countries and their people.
➢ It was founded on 9 April 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of independent India.
➢ The ICCR Headquarters is situated in New Delhi
➢ Registered as a Society under the Societies Act, ICCR operates as an independent body under the administrative
control of the Ministry of External Affairs.
Role of ICCR
➢ The Council addresses its mandate of cultural diplomacy through a broad range of activities
➢ In addition to organizing cultural festivals in India and overseas, the ICCR financially supports several cultural
institutions across India and sponsors individual performers in dance, music, photography, theatre, and the visual
arts
➢ It also administers the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, established by the Government of
India in 1965.
Significance
ICCR has instituted several awards, which are conferred upon foreign nationals for their contributions in different
fields, under its mandate of promoting India’s cultural relations. Such awards include–
➢ World Sanskrit Award
➢ Distinguish Indologist Award
➢ Gisela Bonn Award
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Person in news
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India’s World Heritage Sites

Cultural Sites-32
❖ Agra Fort (1983)
❖ Ajanta Caves (1983)
❖ Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)
❖ Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
❖ Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004), Gujarat
❖ Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)
❖ Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
❖ Dholavira: a Harappan City (2021)
❖ Elephanta Caves (1987)
❖ Ellora Caves (1983)
❖ Fatehpur Sikri (1986)
❖ Great Living Chola Temples (1987, 2004)
❖ Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)
❖ Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
❖ Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)
❖ Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)
❖ Historic City of Ahmadabad (2017)
❖ Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)
❖ Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)
❖ Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana (2021)
❖ Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
❖ Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)
❖ Mountain Railways of India (1999, 2005, 2008)
❖ QutbMinar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
❖ Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)
❖ Red Fort Complex (2007)
❖ Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)
❖ Sun Temple, Konârak (1984)
❖ Taj Mahal (1983)
❖ The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern
Movement (2016)
❖ The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)
❖ Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018)
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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
India and its neighbourhood countries
India Bangladesh Relation
Passenger train services between India and Bangladesh resumed after an over two-year gap owing to the pandemic with
the flagging off of Bandhan Express from Kolkata station to Khulna.
Trains between India and Bangladesh
o Bandhan Express - from Kolkata station to Khulna
o Maitree Express - between Kolkata and Dhaka
o Mitali Express - between New Jalpaiguri and Dhaka
India Bangladesh Relation
• India-Bangladesh relations today are deeper than any other strategic partnership. It is a role model for relations
between two neighbouring countries. The spirit of friendship, understanding and mutual respect engendered
during the liberation of Bangladesh continues to permeate different aspects of this relationship.
• India was the first country to recognize Bangladesh as a separate and independent state and established diplomatic
relations with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971.
• Defence ties: India and Bangladesh share 4096.7 km. of border, which is the longest land boundary that India shares
with any of its neighbours. Defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh has seen significant progress in the
last few years. This push is illustrated in the exchange of visits between leaders of the two nations, as well as the
conduct of training programmes, joint exercises, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
Eg- Exercise MILAN (Navy) and Exercise Sampriti (Army).
• Economic Ties: Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second biggest trade
partner of Bangladesh. Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh has grown steadily over the last decade and
the exports of Bangladesh have tripled over the last decade to cross $1 bn in 2018-19. In the FY 2019-20, India’s
exports to Bangladesh were $8.2 bn and imports were $1.26 bn.
o In order to promote cooperation on bilateral trade, an India-Bangladesh CEO’s Forum was launched in
December 2020 to provide policy level inputs in various areas of trade and investment and also to facilitate
exchanges among the business communities of both the countries. The first meeting of the India-
Bangladesh Textile Industry Forum was held in February 2020 to enhance linkages and collaboration in
the textile sector.
Natural Sites- 7
• Cooperation in the power sector has become one of the ❖ Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
hallmarks of India- Bangladesh relations. Bangladesh is (2014)
currently importing 1160 MW of power from India. The ❖ Kaziranga National Park (1985)
❖ Keoladeo National Park (1985)
Joint Working Group (JWG)/Joint Steering Committee ❖ Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)
(JSC) on power provides an institutional framework to ❖ Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
promote bilateral cooperation in cross border trade of (1988, 2005)
electricity. ❖ Sundarbans National Park (1987)
❖ Western Ghats (2012)
• Cultural Cooperation: The year 2021 was historic in India- Mixed Sites- 1
Bangladesh relations as both countries commemorated ❖ Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)
the fiftieth anniversary of the Liberation War and the
establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh. The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) in
Dhaka plays an important role in celebration of common cultural links between the two countries.
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Kushiyara River Agreement : Kushiyara River It is a distributary (a river branch flowing away from the mainstream) of
the Barak River (which flows through the Manipur,
Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam states) which flows from India to Bangladesh.
- It forms the India-Bangladesh border as Barak separates into Kushiyara and Surma.
- It re-joins Surma at Bhairab Bazar in Bangladesh and is known as Kalni.
- Kalni along with Dhanu (a branch of Surma) forms Meghna .
India-Nepal
The Government of Nepal has decided to hand over the contract of the 750- megawatt West Seti Hydropower Project
and 308-megawatt SR6 Storage Hydroelectric Project to National Hydro Power Company Limited, India.
Recent Developments
Infrastructure
Government of India is building Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) on either side of the Indo-Nepal border. ICP will
systematize the movement of cross-border cargo trucks between two countries and will bring customs and
immigration facilities under one roof.
India having operationalized a 35 Km cross-border rail link between Jayanagar (Bihar) to Kurtha (Nepal) will be
further extending it to Bijalpura and Bardibas.
Energy
▪ Several hydroelectric projects in Nepal are build with India helps these includes:
o Arun-3 hydro project on Arun River in Eastern Nepal
o Arun-4 Hydro power project to be developed jointly by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) and Nepal
Electric Authority (NEA)
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o Pancheswar Multipurpose project came after Mahakali Treaty

o West Seti Hydropower Project.
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o West seti dam is a proposed 750-megawatt Hydropower Project, which is to be built on the Seti river
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in far-western Nepal, which has remained on the drawing board for the last six decades.
▪ A double circuit transmission line between connecting Tila
(Solukhumbu) to Mirchaiya (Siraha).
▪ Motihari-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline project it will transport fuel
from the Barauni refinery in Bihar to Amlekhgunj in south-east
Nepal and is the first cross-border petroleum products
pipeline in South Asia.
▪ Close cooperation between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal
Oil Corporation on ensures regular supplies of petroleum
products in Nepal.
▪ India had also inducted Nepal in International Solar Alliance.
Cultural and Human resource development
India will be developing an India International Centre in Lumbini, Nepal
for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in the Lumbini Monastic Zone. The
center will allow people to enjoy the essence of spiritual aspects of Buddhism. It will also cater to scholars.
India will be establishing a satellite campus of IIT in Rupandehi, Nepal.
Boundary Issue
o Nepal released new maps claiming Indian territory during the Kalapani controversy. It claimed three areas viz.
Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh of Uttarakhand and the area of Susta of Bihar.
o By publishing maps Nepal made the bilateral issue into an international one and as a result negotiation on the
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issue will now be a diplomatic quagmire.

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China India ocean forum
China has launched a new initiative known as CIOF concerning the Indian Ocean region, however, ironically enough it
didn’t invite India to participate in this initiative.
About the Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the centrepiece of the wider Indian Ocean Region and the third largest water body in the world
with major sea communication lanes which connect east to west. The Indian Ocean has a high global value such as:
Geo-Political importance:
Religious extremism, terrorism, the collapse of state structures, the transnational power of non-state actors,
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and a host of non-traditional security threats express
themselves most virulently in the Indian Ocean Region.
The relations between nations both intra and extra-regional and changes in political thought shape the overall
architecture and security scenario of the region.
Any expansion of naval military forces especially the U.S., China, and India, growing of extra-regional powers,
and nuclear-capable nations can influence the whole Indian Ocean Region's political scenario.
Geo-Strategic importance:
Strategically the Indian ocean with some 2.7 billion people is a vast theatre, stretching from the Strait of Malacca
and the western coast of Australia in the East to the Mozambique Channel in the West.
Its regional forum, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, includes countries as politically and socially different as
Australia, Indonesia, Iran, and South Africa, leading to striking new power dynamics.
Resource-rich Africa and energy-dense Middle East to South Asia’s labour markets and manufacturing industries
make it strategically and economically important.
China’s Ambition in the Indian Ocean
China aims to challenge major power
including India, ensure its energy Responding to String of Pearls
❖ India is using a multi-pronged strategy to counter the Chinese String of Pearls
security, and reflect its status as a
Strategy. “Necklace of Diamonds” strategy, a phrase first used by India’s former
significant power by establishing
foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh.
institutions with Indian Ocean Region ❖ The strategy involves building ports, extensive Coastal Surveillance Radar (CSR)
countries. There are two major systems to track Chinese Warships and Submarines, importing state of the art
strategies associated with China’s surveillance planes which can track down Chinese submarines, operating Airport
approach: in the neighbouring country to keep a check on the Port built by China, deepening
‘String of Pearls Strategy’: defence ties, expanding bilateral relations with South Asian countries, Island
➢ It refers to a geopolitical nations in Indian Ocean region, Southeast Asian Nations and carrying out regular
military exercises with navies of USA, Japan, Australia.
theory that the network of
❖ India's Act East Policy intents to integrate India's economy with South-East Asian
Chinese intentions in the India
nations. It has been used to make important military and strategic agreements
Ocean Region (IOR) is with Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and
inexorably linked to its West Thailand helping India to counter China.
Pacific military control ❖ Several Ports in key areas such as Chahabhar (Iran), Sabang (Indonesia), Sittwe
strategy. (Myanmar), Mongla and Chittagong (Bangladesh), Oman, Changi (Singapore).
➢ India has been encircled by ❖ Developing Indian Navy as blue water force capable of maintaining open sea
Chinese military and lanes, upholding freedom of navigation and the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
commercial facilities and now
❖ Signing of Military logistics agreement with like minded powers.
China is aiming to capture
❖ Putting strategically located in Andaman & Nicobar Islands to optimum use. The
Pakistan’s side which is a tri-services command there has the mandate to protect the strategic interests of
matter of concern for India. India and its allies and friendly nations in the Strait of Malacca.
➢ The Str ait of Malacca,
Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan are important strategic centers for China which are already in
control.
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➢ Along with these China has already made a significant presence of China in the Greater Indian Ocean Region.
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China’s Two-Ocean Theory:
✓ The theory of “two oceans” is associated with the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
✓ The Pacific Ocean the regions which are close to China carry many concerns for the country’s political and military
elite. For example, Taiwan has still considered a “rogue” state; American presence in South Korea and Japan, etc.
✓ The Indian Ocean is suitable for naval training and economic and trading interests in the regions bordering the
Indian Ocean. For example, the ports of Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
1.3.1 Taiwan conflict:
China-Taiwan Conflict
• Foundation of China-Taiwan conflict lies in the Chinese Civil War of 1945-1949, wherein Communist forces of China
defeated Kuomintang
government and forced them to Understanding US-China Rivalry
flee towards Taiwan an island ❖ The post-2008 Global Financial Crisis saw a rise of a proactive
located off the coast of China China and slew of polices followed from ‘March West’ policy to
across the Taiwan Strait. Belt and Road Initiative. The counter also came from US in form
of Rebalance to Asia and Pivot to Asia.
• Ever since the formation of
❖ China’s periphery strategy conceives East Asia, South Asia,
People Republic of China (PRC)
Central Asia, or Asia-Pacific as its new frontier forming one
by communist party it considers
organic whole to the Chinese Central Kingdom. This naturally
Republic of China (ROC)
pits against the US idea of frontier underscored in the Indo-
government of Taiwan as its
Pacific strategy.
province that awaits
reintegration. This territorial want of China lead to Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1950s.
• In 1970s a rapprochement between US and China led to dramatic turn of events wherein ROC was stripped off of
its permanent seat in UNSC and was given to PRC. This event also gave birth to One China Policy.
One China Principle and One China Policy
➢ One China Principle makes PRC as a sole legitimate China with Beijing as capital and Taiwan as its
province.
➢ US on the other hand follows One China Policy- Taiwan is not a separate entity but China doesn’t
have sovereign rights over Taiwan. In other words, US acknowledges Chinese position but at the same
time maintains as strategic ambiguity to maintain the status quo over Taiwan.
Taiwan and India

➢ India has approached ties with Taiwan cautiously, keeping Chinese red line in mind. The consistent compliant
from Taiwan is that India always shies away from political support while happily engaging in other areas.
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➢ In 2018, Parliamentary committee on external affairs urged the government to reconsider its “deferential foreign
policy towards China. It suggested that if China does reconsider its stance on outstanding border issues and
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sovereignty concerns, India should “contemplate using all options including its relations with Taiwan.
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India-Pakistan: Indus water treaty
The Government of India issued a notice to Pakistan seeking a modification in the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960 just
two days before the sitting of a court of arbitration set up on the dispute over the Kishenganga and Rattle hydroelectric
power projects being constructed by India.
India shares natural water bodies with many neighbouring states. Of them, rivers have remained a constant source of
conflict between India and these neighbours. India has riparian disputes with Nepal (over Kosi and Sarada), Bangladesh
(over Ganga and Kushiyara, among others), and Pakistan (over Indus and Chenab, among others).
Understanding Indus Water Treaty
• The Indus River system consists of five major rivers: Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Beas, and Sutlej, that start in the Himalayas
and travel westwards to flow into the Arabian Sea.
• After the British took control of the area in the 19th century, they expanded the canal system, irrigating new areas
and transforming the economic and social makeup of the region.
• The end of British rule in 1947 and the formation of India and Pakistan sowed the seeds of the riparian conflict because
of the way the international borders divided the basins and flow of the rivers.
• Both countries first signed the Standstill Agreement of 1947, upon expiration of which India stopped water from
flowing into Pakistan. Then they signed the Inter-Dominion Agreement of 1948 by which India asked for annual
revenues to be paid to it for the water. This accord failed too.
• The Indus Waters Treaty, 1960, is a water-sharing pact between India and Pakistan that covers six rivers beginning in
India and flowing into Pakistan. The treaty was signed on September 19, 1960.
• The preamble to the treaty aims at satisfactory utilization of the Indus system of rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Indus, Jhelum,
and Chenab) based on the goodwill between the two countries. It was essentially a confidence-building measure
between the two neighbours.
• The treaty divides the Indus system into two segments: Eastern Rivers-Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, and Western rivers -
Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum. India gets the right of unrestricted use over the Eastern rivers. Pakistan is entitled to
"unrestricted" use of Western rivers. India is under obligation to let flow the western rivers unrestricted.
• Under the treaty, India got roughly 20 percent of the river system water while Pakistan got 80 percent. However,
India also got the right to use the water of this 80 percent share for agricultural, domestic, non-consumptive, and
hydroelectric power purposes.
• Both India and Pakistan have the right to non-consumptive use. However, both sides have the rights of drainage
issues and river conservation aspects. Both sides are mandated to prevent the pollution of the rivers. As
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responsible partners, both sides are expected to create permanent Indus Commissions with Commissioners in
charge.
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• Any dispute will have to be examined by the Commissioners. Under Article 8 of the treaty, both sides are expected
to meet at least once a year to discuss bilateral problems. However, after the Uri attack, India decided to suspend
talks between the Commissioners and stopped short of reviewing the treaty.
• The water of the Indus system flowing into Pakistan helps irrigate about 110.000 square kilometers and supports
its agriculture belt In Punjab and Sindh
Genesis of the Present Conflict
➢ Pakistan raised issues on the Kishenganga project and the Rattle project at the Permanent Indus Commission. Then,
in 2015, Pakistan asked for the appointment ‘neutral expert’ for the examination of its objections.
India and Mauritius CECPA

The Cabinet has approved signing of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA)
between India and Mauritius. The High-Powered Joint Trade Committee had been constituted as per the mandate of the
India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership agreement (CECPA), to review the general
functioning and implementation of the India-Mauritius CECPA which entered into force on 1st April, 2021.
About CECPA:
• CECPA is the first trade Agreement signed by India with a country in Africa.
• The Agreement is a limited agreement, which will cover Trade in Goods, Rules of Origin, Trade in Services, Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, Dispute Settlement, Movement of Natural Persons,
Telecom, Financial services, Customs Procedures and Cooperation in other Areas.
• CECPA provides for an institutional mechanism to encourage and improve trade between the two countries
• Indian exporters have to obtain a Certificate of Origin (CoO) from the authorised Indian agencies to avail the
preferential benefits under the CECPA.
• The CECPA between India and Mauritius covers 310 export items for India, including food stuff and beverages,
agricultural products, textile and textile articles, base metals and articles thereof, electricals and electronic item,
plastics and chemicals, wood and articles thereof, and others.
• Mauritius will benefit from preferential market access into India for its 615 products, including frozen fish, speciality
sugar, biscuits, fresh fruits, juices, mineral water, beer, alcoholic drinks, soaps, bags, medical and surgical equipment,
and apparel.
• As regards trade in services, Indian service providers will have access to around 115 sub-sectors from the 11 broad
service sectors, such as professional services, computer related services, research & development etc.
• India has offered around 95 sub-sectors from the 11 broad services sectors, including professional services, R&D,
other business services, telecommunication, financial, distribution etc.
• Both sides have also agreed to negotiate an Automatic Trigger Safeguard Mechanism (ATSM) for a limited number
of highly sensitive products within two years of the Signing of the Agreement.
• The bilateral merchandise trade between India and Mauritius, which rose to USD 786.72 million in 2021-22
from USD 690.02 million in 2019-20, both sides agreed to enhance bilateral collaboration to further increase
bilateral trade and realise the true potential of the bilateral relationship especially under the CECPA
• Both sides agreed to the inclusion of the General Economic Cooperation (GEC) Chapter and Automatic Trigger
Safeguard Mechanism (ATSM) in CECPA.
• ATSM: It protects the country from sudden increase in imports. Under it, if the imports of a product are rising
dramatically, then after reaching a certain threshold, both can impose safeguard duties on imports.
• GEC: The GEC will enable enhancement of export competitiveness and enlarging the existing scope for collaboration,
inter-alia, in the fields of Investments, Financial Services, Textile, Small and Medium Enterprises etc.
• In Services sector with regard to establishing equivalence in certification, skills and licensing requirements of various
professional bodies and exploring collaboration/ cooperation arrangement between Ministry of Skill Development
& Entrepreneurship and its counterpart in Mauritius on developing skill-sets. Mauritian side, while conveying the
shortage of professionals in Mauritius in various sectors such as ICT, Financial Services, Film production,
Engineering, Health, Tourism/Hospitality and Ocean Economy etc., welcomed movement of high skilled
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professionals from India to Mauritius.

• Both the sides expressed willingness to enter into a Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Agreement
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(CMMA) and agreed to initiate discussions on the Agreement soon.

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India and rest of the world

India-Usa ties and initiative on critical and emerging technologies (iCET)
Recently, India-US ties saw an elevation with
the launch of the U.S.-India initiative on iCET and Indo-Pacific
Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) • Critical and Emerging Technologies (CET) could become central to maintaining a
announced in May 2022 during the Quad sustained relationship between partners in the Indo-Pacific, resilient supply chains
as well as in ensuring a favourable balance of power in the region by thwarting
summit. It is a step towards adapting to new
adversarial steps of hostile actors. With China working hard to reduce India’s
strategic realities in the Indo-Pacific region.
influence in the Indian ocean region,
➢ Launched in May 2022, the initiative aims • Primary concern for India is to remain ahead in a turbulent environment by
to position the two countries as trusted ensuring some early gains through sustained and adaptive technological
technology partners. It will facilitate cooperation as well as tech-driven initiatives.
building of technology value chains and • With iCET as a roadmap, India and the US are rapidly adapting to the changing
realities of the global order. The two most important ways in which this shift is
supports co-development and co-
taking place are recalibrations in regional roles and expectations in the Indo-Pacific
production of items.
region and preparing the bilateral relationship for the challenges of a new
➢ It will address bottlenecks like regulatory technology order which is likely to shape the geopolitics and more so the
restrictions, export controls and mobility geostrategy of the stakeholders in the region.
barriers through a standing mechanism.
➢ India has committed
➢ It will run under the National Security Councils of both countries. But, at the institutional level, it will be led by the U.S.
National Science Foundation and Department of Science and Technology of India.
➢ Areas of cooperation under the initiative are:
o Scientific research and development
o Quantum and Artificial Intelligence
o Defence Innovation
o Space
o Advanced Telecom- 5G and 6G wireless infrastructure
o Semiconductors
➢ The model of iCET would gradually be expanded to QUAD, then to NATO, followed by Europe and the rest of the
world.
Need for iCET
✓ It will allow both countries to build an open, accessible, and secure technology ecosystem, based on mutual trust and
confidence that will reinforce democratic values and democratic institutions.
✓ It will help weed out business and talent mobility issues by strengthening the innovation ecosystems in both India and
the United States.
✓ It could become a “game changer” in catalysing Indo-US technology cooperation by persuading the US to lift existing
export control restrictions, and encouraging the private sector of both countries to cooperate in sensitive sectors.
✓ It would help in dispel the cloud of mistrust that has hung over India-USA relationship and to demonstrate a mutual
commitment to investing in advanced technologies.
EU’S NEW LAWS TO REGULATE CONTENT ONLINE

The European Union (EU) has given final approval to online safety-focused legislation, which is an overhaul of the
region’s social media and e-commerce rules. Called the Digital Services Act (DSA), the law tightly regulates the
way intermediaries, especially large platforms such as Google, Meta, Twitter, and YouTube, function in terms of
moderating user content.
What are the key features of the Digital Services Act?
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1. Faster removals and provisions to challenge: As part of the overhaul, social media companies will have to add
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“new procedures for faster removal” of content deemed illegal or harmful.
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2. Bigger platforms have greater responsibility: One of the most crucial features of the legislation is that it avoids
a one-size fits all approach and places increased accountability on the Big Tech companies. Under the DSA,
‘Very Large Online Platforms’ (VLOPs) and ‘Very Large Online Search Engines’ (VLOSEs) , that is
platforms, having more than 45 million users in the EU, will have more stringent requirements.
3. Direct supervision by European Commission: More importantly, these requirements and their enforcement will
be centrally supervised by the European Commission itself — a key way to ensure that companies do not sidestep
the legislation at the member-state level.
4. Clearer identifiers for ads and who’s paying for them: Online platforms must ensure that users can easily
identify advertisements and understand who presents or pays for the advertisement. They must not display
personalised advertising directed towards minors or based on sensitive personal data, according to the DSA.
India-Canada relationship.
Recently Canada released an Indo-Pacific strategy that termed India as a “crucial partner”. Under the policy, Canada will
seek new opportunities to partner and engage in dialogue
India -Canada in Indo Pacific
with India in areas of common interest and values,
❖ India can be a crucial partner of Canada both
including security, and the promotion of democracy,
economically and demographically.
pluralism, and human rights. ❖ India chairing G 20 Summit makes it more relevant
Historical Background and important.
o The diplomatic relations between India and Canada ❖ Both India and Canada concerns over China's
were established in 1947. growing assertive behavior.
✓ The bilateral relationship is based on shared ❖ Both are seeking to expand market access by
concluding an Early Progress Trade Agreement as a
democratic values and the multicultural, multi-
step toward a Comprehensive Economic
ethnic, and multi religious nature of the two
Partnership Agreement.
societies. ❖ The partnership will also lead to bolstering
✓ Indian origin community is the largest in Canada Canada’s visa-processing capacity, fighting climate
and about 4 % of Canadians comprised Indian change, deploying green technologies, enhancing
Diaspora. use of renewable energy and clean technology and
✓ Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada also security issues.
❖ Canada will launch a new multi-department initiative
(IRCC) has a significant presence in India. Both
to help develop cyber security capacity with selected
are working on a Comprehensive Economic
regional partners.
Partnership Agreement and a Foreign ❖ There will be more investment in Indo-Pacific naval
Investment Promotion and Protection presence and increasing military’s participation in
Agreement (FIPA) to strengthen Indo-Pacific. regional military exercises.
✓ Since 2018, India has been the largest source ❖ There will more investment in marine environment
country for international students in Canada. and infrastructure.
Synergies Between India and Canada
• Trade Relationships: In 2021, India was the 14th largest export market to Canada and the 13th largest trading
partner overall.
• Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations, Canada-India Foreign
Investment Promotion, and Protection Agreement, and World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade
Facilitation (TFA) are some of the trade agreements.
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Security and Defence:
• India and Canada
collaborate closely in
international fora,
particularly through the UN,
Commonwealth, and G-20.
• Canada continues to provide
development assistance to
India through Indian and
Canadian Non-Governmental
Organizations and multilateral
mechanisms such as the
World Bank and the Asian
Development Bank.
• India-Canada Track 1.5
Dialogue is organized to
explore the possibility of
future cooperation.
• During COVID times Special
charter flights were operated to evacuate stranded Canadian nationals from India and medicines were
supplied to Canada.
India Australia critical mineral collaboration

India and Australia have recently decided to strengthen their partnership in the field of projects and supply chains
for critical minerals.
Australia has confirmed that it would commit A$5.8 million to the three-year India-Australia “Critical Minerals
Investment Partnership”.
Critical minerals:
Critical minerals are elements that are the building blocks of essential modern-day technologies, and are at risk
of supply chain disruptions. These minerals are now used everywhere from making mobile phones, computers to
batteries, electric vehicles and green technologies like solar panels and wind turbines.
Based on their individual needs and strategic considerations, different countries create their own lists. However,
such lists mostly include graphite, lithium and cobalt, which are used for making EV batteries; rare earths that
are used for making magnets and silicon which is a key mineral for making computer chips and solar panels.
Aerospace, communications and defence industries also rely on several such minerals as they are used in
manufacturing fighter jets, drones, radio sets and other critical equipment.
What makes these resources critical?
✓ As countries around the world scale up their transition towards clean energy and digital economy, these critical
resources are key to the ecosystem that fuels this change. Any supply shock can severely imperil the economy
and strategic autonomy of a country over-dependent on others to procure critical minerals. For minerals such
as lithium and graphite used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, demand will increase by even more — as much as
4,000 per cent.”
China’s threat in this sector:
o According to the 2019 USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries report, China is the world’s largest producer of 16 critical
minerals.
o China, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), is “responsible for some 70% and 60% of global production of
cobalt and rare earth elements, respectively, in 2019.
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China’s share of refining is around 35% for nickel, 50-70% for lithium and cobalt, and nearly 90% for rare earth
elements.” It also controls cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, from where 70% of this mineral is
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o India has set up KABIL or the Khanij Bidesh India Limited, a joint venture of three public sector companies, to
“ensure a consistent supply of critical and strategic minerals to the Indian domestic market”.
o Australia’s Critical Minerals Facilitation Office (CMFO) and KABIL had recently signed an MoU aimed at ensuring
reliable supply of critical minerals to India.
o There is a need to study an interactive map of critical mineral deposits with an aim to help governments to identify
options to diversify their critical minerals sources.
India france relation:

In the 36th India-France strategic dialogue, the first major diplomatic visit of the year, both nations shared views on
security and defense cooperation. The two sides also held deliberations on wide-ranging bilateral and global issues.
Pre Connect
India-France Relations France-All Weather Friend
• India and France have traditionally close and friendly France had emerged as “all-weather”friend of India not
relations. only in Europe but onthe larger international scenario.
There are two reasons for the same- Firstly, the ability of
• In 1998, the two countries entered into Strategic
France to maintain strategic autonomy in its foreign policy
Partnership which is a symbol of their convergence which resonates with India. Secondly, France follows the
of views on a range of international issues apart from policy of singularities despite being part of the Western
a close and growing bilateral relationship. alliance. India and France have a common identical position
• The 3 pillars of the India-France Strategic on issues that range from stability in Afghanistan, Iranian
Partnership lie in the areas of defense, space, and Nuclear Deal and Freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
civil nuclear cooperation. The defense exercises India and France can construct a new coalition that can
provide some strategicstability in the unstable world.
between the two include the Shakti exercise (Army),
Varuna exercise (Navy), and Garuda exercise (Air
Force).
• Apart from these, India and France are increasingly engaged in new areas of cooperation like climate change,
sustainable growth, and development, the
International Solar Alliance, etc. India and France in Indo-Pacific
• Both countries support a multi-polar world order. For both India and France, Indo-Pacific is a three- fold
• France also support India’s claim for permanent reality:
membership of the Security Council and the reforms ▪ Geographical Reality- Civilisational and
of the United Nations. Commercial ties have linked Africa and Asia
• France has provided consistent support to India’s through the Indian Ocean for centuries. The
candidature for membership in all four Multilateral whole region is united by "culture of shorelines".
Export Control regimes, viz. Nuclear Suppliers Group ❖ National Reality- Both countries are Indo- Pacific
(NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime Rim nations and are key actors in the region.
(MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), and the ❖ Strategic Reality- Both countries are aware of the
Australia Group (AG). threats the region faces such as threats of piracy
India-France Strategic Dialogue and illegal maritime trafficking, terrorism and
security consequences of climate change.
The two sides discussed a variety of issues in the backdrop
Further French Indo-Pacific policy is based on three
of a new security alliance by Australia, the UK, and the USA
pillars:
(AUKUS)-
❖ Security
➢ Ukraine Conflict- Both countries have called for an
❖ Environment and Blue Economy
immediate cessation of hostilities and to bring
❖ Connectivity
parties together to promote dialogue and diplomacy
The Indo-French strategic vision on Indo-Pacific was
for finding an immediate end to the suffering of the
adopted in 2018. It focuses on information exchange
people.
with French Participation in IFC-IOR, Joint military
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➢ Regional Security- Both emphasize 'zero tolerance exercises and capacity building.
against the use of Afghan territory for spreading
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➢ Counter Terrorism- Emphasised the need for collective efforts in countering the menace of terrorism and
transnational crimes through enhanced cooperation in the fields of capacity building, information exchange,
extradition, and legal assistance.
➢ Cyber Security- Reaffirmed their commitment to open, reliable, secure, stable and peaceful cyberspace and
recalled in particular the applicability in cyberspace of existing principles of international law, including the United
Nations Charter in its entirety.
➢ Defense Cooperation in Indo-Pacific- Ensure peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific based on common
beliefs in the rules-based international order and strategic autonomy.
Significance of India-France Relations
✓ Political
 The creation of the Strategic Partnership in 1998 demonstrates the ties of friendship and trust between the
two countries.
o This partnership focuses on several areas of cooperation like civil nuclear energy, defense, counter- terrorism,
space cooperation, cyber security and digital technologies.
o The signing of an agreement for the supply of 36 Rafale aircraft and an industrial agreement to build six
European pressurized water reactors (EPR) on the Jaitapur site is directly linked to this partnership.
✓ Economic
o Franco-Indian trade had been growing steadily which was slowed considerably in 2020 in the context of the
COVID-19 crisis to €9 billion.
o France ranks 24th among countries supplying India and is its 17th-largest customer.
o France is among India’s leading foreign investors, with foreign direct investment stock of €9.8 billion at the
end of 2020.
✓ Military
o Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)- France endorsed its launch while offering to take the role of the lead
partner of the Marine Resources pillar.
o Defense purchases- India is close to deciding on a fighter jet to fly off the Navy’s aircraft carriers for which
Dassault Aviation’s Rafael-M has an edge..
✓ Clean Energy
o International Solar Alliance- It was launched by India and co-founded by France. It is aimed at promoting
solar energy and mobilizing over a trillion dollars of investment for the same.
o A 100 MW solar power park is built by the French firm Engie in Mirzapur.
✓ Climate Change
o The Paris Climate Accord- India declared its commitment to the accord and the effort to save the environment
which is engrained in its heritage and ancient philosophical thought
o India-France Roadmap on the Blue Economy and Ocean Governance intended to make the blue economy a
driver of progress.
o a call in favor of an Indo-Pacific partnership on natural parks.
o Brest Commitments for the Oceans- To protect biodiversity and ocean resources to which India is a signatory.
India-Armenia:
➢ Recently Armenia and a leading private Indian defense equipment manufacturer signed a deal for the supply of
155 mm artillery systems worth more than $150 million over the next three years. This marks a continuation of
India’s stated policy of deepening defense cooperation with Armenia.
➢ India and Armenia celebrated 30 years of bilateral diplomatic relations in the year 2022.
➢ Both countries are ancient civilizations that have known each other closely for over thousand of years. Thus the
familiarity and depth of mutual affection between the two nations are significant given the vast geography that
separates them.
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➢ India has a very high-level of position in Armenia. It is the land where generations of Armenian diaspora
communities have thrived. The dream of reviving the Armenian state has its roots in India.
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➢ The Armenian republic was reborn in 1991 and it was recognized by India a day after the demise of the Soviet
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Union.
➢ Former President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sees Mahatma Gandhi as a role model who set the highest
standard for personal conduct in politics.
Significance
➢ The order closely follows a government-to-government deal with Armenia to supply $ 250 million worth of
defense equipment which includes PINAKA multi-barrel rocket launchers, anti-tank munitions, etc. It also made
Armenia India’s first international customer of the indigenously developed PINAKA system.
➢ It can benefit India’s contest over global supply chains since Armenia provides a potential outpost for India in
the Eurasian corridor.
➢ Armenia can also prove a worthy developmental partner to India in domains such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals,
manufacturing, and technology.
➢ The collaboration can provide an outstanding substitute for the debt-ridden Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
model.
➢ Armenia’s growing purchases of Indian defense hardware would provide an impetus to both public and private
sector defence manufacturing in India.
➢ Defense supply can help Armenia to counter the “three brothers” involving Pakistan, Turkey, and Azerbaijan by
leveraging its military capabilities.
Implications on Turkey
➢ In 2020, it was in Turkey’s direction that Azerbaijan attacked Armenia to connect Turkey with Azerbaijan through
Armenia’s Zangezur region. Turkey has also denounced the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir
and backed Pakistan at different open platforms and United Nations on various occasions.
➢ Armenia’s stance on Kashmir favors India viewing the complete territory as an inseparable part of India
India –Egypt
➢ The President of Egypt was invited as the chief guest for the 74th Republic Day parade. His visit was marked by
a new vigour in the relationship between the two countries as both sides agreed to elevate the India-Egypt bilateral
relationship to a “strategic partnership”.
➢ India and Egypt are two of the World’s oldest civilizations and were in trade relations since ancient times. There
are Ashoka’s edicts that refer to his relations with Egypt under Ptolemy II.
➢ Post Liberalization, India’s accelerated economic growth became dependent on the Gulf for energy, labour export,
and remittances. Therefore, India changed its strategy toward the gulf.
➢ In 2016, both countries identified political-security cooperation, economic engagement and scientific
collaboration, and cultural and people-people ties as the basis of a new partnership for a new era.
Different Facets of India- Egypt Relations
Economic Defence and Security Diplomatic Others
• India’s trade with Egypt has • Training exchange • India and Egypt are • The COVID-19
grown from $4.5 billion in program between the Air together as a pandemic acted as a
2018-19 to $7.26 billion in forces of two countries member and catalyst to bring
2021-22. It is expected to started in 1960s and lasted dialogue partner many bilateral
grow to $12 billion dollar in the mid-1980s. respectively of the relationships
the next 5 years. • India wants to supply Indian Ocean Rim between the two
• Top three Indian exports domestically produced Association (IORA). countries out of
are- petroleum products, defence equipment such • They are both deep freeze. While
meat and cotton as the LCA Tejas, missiles dialogue partners of Egypt helped India
Unclassified yarn while the like Akash, DRDO’s Smart the Shanghai during the worst
top three Indian imports Anti-Airfield Weapon, and Cooperation Delta Wave, India’s
are- crude petroleum, radars to Egypt. For this Organisation (SCO). vaccine diplomacy
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petroleum products and India is also exploring helped Egypt

fertilizers. avenues for co- vaccinate its people.
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manufacturing.
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Key Takeaways of the Visit
✓ Both countries decided to elevate the relationship to a ‘strategic partnership’ which will include
o Political, Defence, and Security Engagement
o Economic Engagement
o Scientific and Academic Collaboration
o Cultural and People-to-People contacts.
✓ Both leaders called for zero tolerance for terrorism and to strengthen cybersecurity.
Exchange of five MOUs in the crucial areas of cybersecurity, information technology, culture, youth matters, and
broadcasting.
2.8 India-Africa Defence Dialogue
The India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) was held on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar,
Gujarat on 18 October 2022. The Gandhinagar Declaration, adopted as the outcome document of the second edition
of the IADD, charted out new areas for enhancing the India-Africa defence and security partnership. Theme of
this dialogue is ‘India-Africa: Adopting Strategy for Synergising and Strengthening Defence and Security
Cooperation’
More about the news:
➢ During the IADD, Defence Minister launched the Flashback
‘India-Africa Security Fellowship Programme’. 1. The first India-Africa Defence Ministers
Conclave was held in Lucknow, UP during Def
➢ MP-IDSA (ManoharParrikar Institute for Defence
Expo on February 06, 2020.
Studies and Analysis), the knowledge partner for the
2. India’s-Africa relations is guided by
IADD, will host the Fellowship Programme. The
the Kampala Principle, affirmed by Prime
fellowship will give an opportunity to African scholars Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2018.
to pursue research on defence and security issues 3. It promotes ownership of private sector
in India. engagement (PSE) through development co-
➢ It proposes to enhance cooperation in the field of operation with partner countries and ensure PSE
training in all areas of mutual interest by increasing projects and programmes alignment with national
training slots and deputation of training teams, sustainable development priorities.
empowerment and capability building of the defence
forces of Africa, participation in exercises and humanitarian assistance during natural disasters.
➢ India does not believe in making or becoming a client or satellite state, it partners any nation on the basis of
sovereign equality, mutual respect and we work towards mutual economic development.
➢ Africa, South East Asia and Middle East have emerged as major focus areas as India looks to emerge as a
major global arms exporter. Peace, security and development are interrelated and security is essential for
enabling development in the region.
➢ India has been the first responder in providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to several
African countries during COVID-19.
Bilateral and Multilateral initiatives

Partnership in blue pacific initiative:
➢ Amid China’s aggressive push to increase its Pacific sphere of influence, the US and its allies have launched a new
initiative called ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’.
In its 2019 strategy report, the US Department of Defence called the Indo-Pacific the “single most
consequential region for America’s future”. Spanning a vast stretch of the globe from the west coast
of the United States to the western shores of India, the region is home to the world’s most populous
state (China), most populous democracy (India), and largest Muslim-majority state (Indonesia), and
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includes over half of the earth’s population.

Among the 10 largest standing armies in the world, 7 reside in the Indo-Pacific, and 6 countries in the
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region possess nuclear weapons. Nine of the world’s 10 busiest seaports are in the region, and 60
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percent of global maritime trade transits through Asia, with roughly one-third of global shipping passing
through the South China Sea alone.
Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) initiative
➢ The PBP is a five-nation “informal mechanism” to support Pacific islands and to boost diplomatic, economic ties in
the region. Announced on June 24, it speaks of enhancing “prosperity, resilience, and security” in the Pacific
through closer cooperation. It simply means that through the PBP, these counties, together and individually, will
direct more resources here to counter China’s aggressive outreach.
➢ The initiative members have also declared that they will “elevate Pacific regionalism”, and forge stronger ties with
the Pacific Islands Forum.
➢ The forum remains open to cooperating with additional partners, at every stage, PBP will be led and guided by the
Pacific Islands. The forum will seek Pacific guidance on the PBP’s selection of its lines of effort and its flagship
projects.
The areas where PBP aims to enhance cooperation include “climate crisis, connectivity and transportation, maritime
security and protection, health, prosperity, and education”.
Indo-pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)

IPEF is a US-led initiative involving other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region. It seeks to strengthen economic
engagement among partner countries with the goal of advancing growth, peace and prosperity in the region. It wishes
to make Indo-Pacific an engine for global growth. IPEF partner countries together represent about 40% of the world GDP.
➢ Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the ministerial meeting of IPEF decided to maintain its distance from one out
of the four pillars of the framework. While India agreed to sign an agreement on three pillars (Supply Chain, Tax and
Anti-Corruption, and clean energy), it decided not to sign an agreement on Fair and resilient trade.
Eastern Economic forum

Prime Minister of India addressed the 7th edition of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), organised by Russia in Vladivostok.
The forum calls for the development of Russia's Far East (RFE).
➢ RFE region is extended between Lake Baikal (world's largest freshwater lake and deepest lake) and the Pacific
Ocean.
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➢ The EEF was set up in 2015 with the mandate of economic development of Russia's Far East
and to expand Russia's international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Since then, it has focused on attracting
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investment from China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN and India for the RFE.
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Delhi Declaration Adopted
The UN counter-terrorism council, during a meeting held in the national capital on 29 October 2022,
adopted the Delhi Declaration and called on all 15 member states to ensure zero tolerance towards terrorism.
The council also reaffirmed that terrorism, in all forms, constitutes one of most serious threats to international
peace and security. It further vowed to deal with the scourge more vigorously.
What the declaration said
➢ The main focus of the meeting was to address misuse or abuse of new and emerging technologies by terrorists,
with a focus on information and communication technologies, financing of terror, and unmanned aerial systems
including drones.
➢ Ruchira Kamboj, permanent representative of India to the UN and Counter-Terrorism committee chair, said the
Delhi declaration will encourage member states to work collaboratively and collectively to counter the menace of
terrorism.
➢ It will adopt non-binding guiding principles that will encourage member states to counter the menace of terrorism.
➢ In the declaration, the global body expressed concerns over the increasing use of Internet and other information
and communications technologies, including social media platforms, for terrorist purposes.
➢ It said innovations in financial technologies such as crowd funding platforms present a risk of being misused
for terrorist-financing and noted with concern the increasing global misuse of unmanned aerial systems by
terrorists to conduct attacks against on critical infrastructure.
➢ The Counter-Terrorism Committee urged all member-states to ensure "zero tolerance" towards terrorism,
consistent with their obligations under international laws, including human rights law.
➢ The meeting underlined the need for taking "urgent action" to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations
through the full and effective implementation of various UN resolutions.
➢ It also noted the importance of continuing discussions on the misuse of emerging technologies for terrorist
purposes in other relevant international forums, including the G20.
➢ The committee emphasised the need for member-states and CTED (Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive
Directorate) to continue cooperation with the private sector and civil society for more effective means to counter
the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.
Meetings and Summits

Brics 14th summit held at Beijing (china):
BRICS countries, consisting of China, Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa, expressed their concern over the humanitarian
situation in and around Ukraine.
➢ Prime Minister of India participated in the 14th BRICS Summit, convened under the Chairmanship of President Xi
Jinping of China, in a virtual format. The theme of the 14th BRICS Summit: Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership,
Usher in a New Era for Global Development.
➢ The leaders held discussions including in fields of Counter-Terrorism, Trade, Health, Traditional Medicine,
Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Agriculture, Technical and Vocational Education & Training,
and also key issues in the global context, including the reform of the multilateral system, COVID-19 pandemic, global
economic recovery, amongst others.
➢ India called for strengthening of the BRICS Identity and proposed establishment of Online Database for BRICS
documents, BRICS Railways Research Network, and strengthening cooperation between MSMEs. India will be
organizing BRICS Startup event this year to strengthen connection between Startups in BRICS countries.
➢ India also noted that as BRICS members we should understand security concerns of each other and provide mutual
support in designation of terrorists and this sensitive issue should not be politicized. At the conclusion of the Summit,
BRICS Leaders adopted the ‘Beijing Declaration’.
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On Ukraine Crisis
➢ BRICS members — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — endorsed talks between Moscow and Kyiv amid
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the ongoing war, while voicing concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
➢ The statement was part of the formal declaration — ‘Beijing Declaration‘ — released after the 14th BRICS Summit,
held virtually.
Xi pushes for security alliance within BRICS
➢ Russian President Vladimir Putin — attending his
❖ Noting that today’s world is marked by the “dark
first forum with the heads of major economies clouds of Cold War mentality”, Chinese President Xi
since launching the Ukraine invasion — said Jinping said some countries have tried to expand
settling conflicts, among other issues, can only military alliances and create blocs in certain regions by
be done through joint efforts. forcing other countries into “picking sides”.
BRICS ❖ The Chinese president called for a larger security alliance
➢ The leaders of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and within BRICS, underlining that Beijing would like to work
with the grouping to operationalise the Global Security
China) countries met for the first time in St.
Initiative (GSI).
Petersburg, Russia, on the margins of G8
❖ Proposed by China in May this year, the GSI aims to be
Outreach Summit in July 2006. an Asian security framework that replaces
➢ Shortly afterwards, in September 2006, the “confrontation, alliance and a zero-sum approach with
group was formalised as BRIC during the 1st dialogue, partnership and win-win results”.
BRIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which met on
the sidelines of the General Debate of the UN
Assembly in New York City.
➢ After a series of high level meetings, the 1st BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia on 16 June 2009.
➢ BRICS is an important grouping bringing together the major emerging economies from the world, comprising
41% of the world population, having 24% of the world GDP and over 16% share in the world trade.
BRICS countries have been the main engines of global economic growth over the years. Over a period of time, BRICS
countries have come together to deliberate on important issues under the three pillars of political and security,
economic and financial and cultural and people to people exchanges.
I2U2 summit:
The new I2U2 grouping of India, Israel, the UAE and the US will hold its first virtual summit next month as part of the
US administration's efforts to re-energise and revitalise American alliances across the world.
➢ I2U2 is an entirely new grouping of partners that includes the United States, Israel, India, and the UAE. In the
grouping’s name, ‘I2’ stands for India and Israel, whereas ‘U2’ stands for USA and the UAE.
➢ The aim is to harness unique American capabilities to enable partners to work more closely together, which is essential
to a more secure, prosperous and stable Middle East region over the long term. The summit will discuss food security,
biotechnology, and several other issues.
Abraham Accord
➢ On September 15, 2020, former U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for the signing of the historic Abraham Accords.
According to the deal, the United Arab Emirates formally recognized the state of Israel, while the latter halted its
plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank of Palestine.
➢ The Abraham Accords is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years. Israel inaugurated its first diplomatic mission
in Abu Dhabi and direct flights, business and tourism picked up between the two countries in 2021. However, not all
Arab States have been on board with the geopolitical shifts the Accords have pushed through. Despite a lot of effort
from Israel, under Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Arabia has maintained a distance from this arrangement.
SCO Summit:
The Annual Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was recently held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The summit
ended up in Samarkand Declaration and India taking over the presidency of SCO for 2023.
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Key Highlights of the Summit

➢ Samarkand Declaration was focused on the peaceful settlement of differences and disputes between countries using
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➢ India called upon all states to provide each other with full rights to transit as connectivity can change the future of
the region.
➢ India also stressed the issue of the global food crisis and therefore promoted millet cultivation among member states.
It was in line with 2023 being an International Millet Year.
➢ Varanasi was declared as SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2022-2023. A move to boost the tourism potential of
SCO states.
Bahrain, Maldives, Kuwait, UAE, and Myanmar are the new dialogue partners of the SCO while the process has started
for the granting of this status to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
G-20 Summit
The 17th annual summit of G-20 was recently held in Bali,
Indonesia. India will now assume the G20 presidency and the 18th
summit will be held in India in 2023.
➢ G-20 was formed in 1999 in the backdrop of the financial
crisis that hit East Asia and Southeast Asia (Asian Tiger
Economy) in particular. It was formed to promote
international financial stability.
➢ It was formed as a group of 20 emerging market economies
and developed countries to promote dialogue related to
global economic governance.
➢ G-20 has been seen as a more representative and egalitarian
grouping of global leadership and was particularly useful in steering the global economy after the global financing
crisis and banking collapse of 2008.
➢ Since 2008 G20 summit has become an annual event. The chairmanship of G-20 is rotational, with one nation annually
getting the Chair. The G-20 has no formal voting criteria.
➢ Together, the G20 countries include 60% of the world’s population, 80% of the global GDP, and 75% of global trade
India and G20
➢ At G-20, India focuses on
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o Early conclusion of the UN Convention on International Terrorism.

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o Free movement of labor and capital amongst the states to bolster the global economy.
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o Calls for stronger action against black
money. India and G-20 Presidency
❖ India will be hosting the next G-20 summit as it gets the Presidency
o Calls for the right to resort to capital
of G-20. For the next summit, the theme would be Vasudhaiva
control measures if capital flows Kutumbakam or one earth, one family, one future.
become volatile ❖ The G20 presidency could provide an opportunity for India to assume
o Concerns about having the US dollar the mantle of a peace-maker on behalf of the Global South.
as a reserve global currency and Especially, in the current global scenario in which only India has a
exploring widening of the SDR basket consistent and objective view of the developments while maintaining
and adding more currencies to reduce good relations with the belligerents and their supporters.
vulnerabilities ❖ India’s G20 presidency is an unprecedented opportunity to shape the
global narrative in favor of reducing the carbon footprint and
o Poverty eradication and Inclusive
encouraging green energy and digitalization as significant
development.
components of transformational changes.
Outcomes of the Summit ❖ India’s G20 presidency should be used to pursue its thought
➢ Countries condemned Russia’s action leadership role and the broader goal of reducing polarization,
in Ukraine and demanded its inclusively channelize resources, and firming up optics in favor of
unconditional withdrawal. developmental priorities.
➢ Agreed to pace interest rate rise carefully
to avoid spill overs of the volatility to the Infrastructure (DPI)
DPI are foundational digital systems, can increase resilience and have
currency values.
indeed often been catalysed at a time of crisis. Representing nearly 60
➢ Decided to coordinate action to address food
percent of the world’s population, the G20 can be a strong advocate for
security challenges and applauded the Black
DPI as necessary for strengthening country, regional, and global
Sea grains initiative.
resilience in an age of recurrent crises. To achieve good DPI G20 member
➢ Decided to continue the efforts to achieve the
can:
temperature goal from the 2015 Paris
❖ Committing to open data access
Agreement on climate change. ❖ Encourage inclusive private and public collaboration
➢ Decided to strengthen collaboration to ❖ Increase public sector support and funding for joint DPI
develop digital skills and digital literacy to ❖ Set the global norms and standards to protect people
harness the positive impacts of digital The G20 can play a pivotal role in stewarding inclusive approaches to
transformation, especially for women, girls, digital transformation, directing international development cooperation,
and people in vulnerable situations. and strengthening multilateralism. DPI can champion standards and
➢ Reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen protocols for free, inclusive, innovative, and open DPI to transform the
global health governance, with the leading lives of the people and for the larger global good.
and coordination role of WHO and other
international organizations. They welcomed the establishment of the Pandemic Fund hosted by the World bank.
India’s G20 Presidency
Troika
➢ India will hold the Presidency of the G20 from
At the G20, the member holding the rotatory presidency every
December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023.
year, works together with its predecessor and successor,
➢ The 43 Heads of Delegations- the largest ever
together known as Troika, to ensure continuity of the agenda.
in G20-will be participating in the final New
Currently Italy, Indonesia, and India are the Troika countries.
Delhi Summit in 2023.
When India assumes the presidency on December 1, it will be
➢ Drawing inspiration from its G20 Presidency
part of the Troika with its predecessor Indonesia and successor
theme of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam-"One Brazil.
Earth One Family One Future India will host
over 200 meetings in over 50 cities across 32
different work streams.
➢ A disaster Risk Reduction working group will be established to undertake multi-disciplinary research and exchange
best practices on disaster risk reduction.
➢ Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain, and UAE are special guests.
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➢ UN, IMF, World Bank, WHO, WTO, ILO, FSB, OECD, AU Chair, NEPAD Chair, ASEAN Chair,
➢ ADB, ISA, and CDRI are G20’S invitees.
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Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII)
➢ United States and other G7 leaders have unveiled ambitious plans to mobilise $600 billion in funding by 2027 to
deliver transparent and game-changing infrastructure projects in developing countries like India, in a move seen as
a counter to China's Belt and Road Initiative.
The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) unveiled in Elmau during the G7 Summit
relaunches a scheme unveiled at last year's G7 talks in England.
The infrastructure plan was first announced in June 2021 during last year’s G7 Summit in the UK. Back then,
US President Joe Biden had called it the Build Back Better World (B3W) framework. However, it did not
register much progress and details regarding the plan’s time period or funding source were unclear.
The initiative will be geared towards tackling climate change, improving global health, achieving gender
equity and building digital infrastructure.
Partners hip for Global Infrastructure and Investment G20 Logo
Logo is inspired from the vibrant colours of India’s
➢ Essentially, G7 countries, the US, Canada, Italy, the UK, France,
national flag – saffron, white and green, and blue. It
Germany, and Japan, and the EU have noted the
juxtaposes planet Earth with the lotus, India’s national
infrastructure projects being undertaken and funded by flower that reflects growth amid challenges. The Earth
China at a global level and decided to present their reflects India’s pro- planet approach to life, one in
alternative mechanism for it. perfect harmony with nature. Below the G20 logo is
➢ The stated purpose of both the PGII and the BRI is to help “Bharat”, written in the Devanagari script.
secure funding for countries to build critical infrastructure The theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One
Earth One Family One Future”
such as roads, ports, bridges, communication setups, etc. to
The theme name is drawn from the ancientSanskrit text
enhance global trade and cooperation.
of the Maha Upanishad. It affirms the value of all life –
➢ The G7 say their initiative is meant to be transparent, focused human, animal, plant, and microorganisms – and their
on building climate change- resilient infrastructure, and help interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider
in achieving objectives of gender equality and health universe. It also spotlights LiFE (Lifestyle for
infrastructure development. Around a dozen projects are Environment).
already underway, with financing from both government and
the private sector.
➢ The US president mentioned that the fund does not mean “charity or aid”, but loans, and will be beneficial for both
the countries lending and receiving them.
Where are funds being directed under the plan?
➢ In India, the US International Development Finance Corporation, the development bank of the country, will invest up
to $30 million in the Omnivore Agritech and Climate Sustainability Fund 3, described as an impact venture capital
fund that invests in entrepreneurs building the future of agriculture, food systems, climate, and the rural economy.
The fund will invest in companies that “increase food security and promote both climate resilience and climate
adaptation in India, as well as improve the profitability and agricultural productivity of smallholder farms.” Apart from
India, projects have been announced in countries across West Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America.
Miscellaneous
Black sea grain initiative:
Recently, Russia has decided to re-join the Black Sea Grain deal.
• Ukraine is among the largest exporters of wheat, maize, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, and sunflower oil,
globally and directly approaches Russia and Europe along with grain importers from the Middle East and North
Africa through Black Sea Ports.
• Russia’s action in Ukraine has led to huge grain wasted and ships unable to secure safe passage to and from
Ukrainian ports, and land routes unable to compensate leading to the situation of food inflation, not in just
Russia or Ukraine but food price rise around the world.
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• Combined with increases in the cost of energy, developing countries facing the brink of debt default and famine.
About Black Sea Grain Initiative An agreement between the UN, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine the Black
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Sea Grain Initiative allows exports from Ukraine of grain, other foodstuffs, and fertilizer, including ammonia, to resume
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through a safe maritime humanitarian corridor from three key Ukrainian ports: Chornomorsk, Odesa, and
Yuzhny/Pivdennyi, to the rest of the world. The central idea was to calm markets by ensuring an adequate supply of grains,
thereby limiting food price inflation.
Joint Coordination Centre (JCC)

A Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) was established in Istanbul to implement the Black Sea Grain Initiative,
comprising senior representatives from the Russian Federation, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United Nations.
❖ All commercial ships are required to register directly with the JCC to ensure appropriate monitoring,
inspection and safe passage.
❖ Post -inspection accorded by the JCC post- inspection inbound and outbound ships (to the designated
corridor) transit as per a schedule.
❖ A total de-mining along the Ukrainian coastline was rejected as it could lead to vulnerability to Russian
attacks.
❖ Military ships require consultation with the parties and authorisation of the JCC otherwise no military
ships or unmanned aerial vehicles can approach the corridor closer than a pre- decided distance agreed
upon by the JCC.
❖ In suspicious cases, the JCC would provide assistance to the crew or conduct an inspection against security
guarantees.
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SOCIAL ISSUES
Growth and Development
Natural Resource Accounting (NRA)
News Excerpt
Recently, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has stated to release a report on Natural Resource Accounting
(NRA).
Key Facts
• Conventional accounting captures data only of the measurable economic activity and doesn't weigh environmental
inputs. NRA intends to interplay between the natural environment and the economy.
• NRA refers to the method of calculating the monetary value of natural assets whose environmental degradation and
depletion are triggered by economic activities (Environmental Opportunity Cost).
• The need for NRA was first identified at the 1970 Stockholm Conference of the United Nations (UN) when the
relationship between economic development and environmental degradation was addressed for the first time.
• The Brundtland Commission articulated the idea of a close relationship between the environment and economic
activities in 1987, which was followed by environmental accounting and the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.
• The UN has adopted (2012) the System of Economic and Environmental Accounting (SEEA) - Central Framework which
is the latest internationally accepted framework, for NRA. NRA has deep inter-linkages with the SDGs as 4 out of the
17 goals directly relate to management of natural resources and their accounting.
• Government Accounting Standards Advisory Board (GASAB) was constituted by the CAG of India in 2002 with
representation from all accounting services in GoI, regulatory authorities like RBI, ICAI and State Governments on
rotation for improving standards of Governmental accounting and financial reporting.
• CAG of India is a member of an international body of Supreme Audit Institutions, called WGEA (Working Group on
Environmental Auditing), which suggested (2010) that the audit institutions should aid their countries to adopt Natural
Resources Accounts.
• GASAB prepared a Concept Paper on NRA in July 2020, inter-alia, envisaging short, medium and long term goals
starting from 2020:
• Besides preparing the paper, GASAB and CAG decided to continue its engagement to assist the State Governments
in the preparation of Asset Accounts which is the first of the four stages in the preparation of Natural Resource
Accounts.
• NRA Cells in States were also constituted in all 28 States and 2 UTs (Delhi and JK) with unique collaboration of
Accountants General (Audit, A&E) and the State Government Departments to steer the project.
• As on date, all 28 States and 1 UT (J&K) have prepared the Asset Accounts for 2020-21. They are being verified and
validated by various stakeholders including the State Governments and our field Offices.
• To ensure automated collection and compilation of data from 2022-23, GASAB has developed SOPs for guiding the
States. Besides the dataflow, the Guidelines and SOPs also suggest recommendations for end-to-end mapping of
supply and use of resources which would help the States in mopping up due revenues due from these resources and
also plug the leakage and wastage.
Multi-State Cooperatives
News-Excerpt
The Union Cabinet approved the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which seeks to enhance
transparency and accountability, as well as improve ease of doing business, among others.
About Multi State Cooperative Societies ACT, 2002:
It is an Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to co-operative societies, with objects not confined to one
State and serving the interests of members in more than one State.
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It aims to facilitate the voluntary formation and democratic functioning of co-operatives.

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Cooperative societies in India:
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➢ Cooperatives are organisations formed at the grassroots level by people to harness the power of collective bargaining
towards a common goal.
➢ As per government data, there are around 8,55,000 Constitutional provisions related to Cooperatives:
cooperatives in India. Of this, 1,77,000 are credit ❖ Article 19(1)(c) guarantees freedom to form association or
societies, 700,000 are cooperative societies, 17 union or cooperatives subject to certain restrictions.
national-level cooperative unions, and 33 state ❖ Article 43B under Directive Principles of State Policy
cooperative banks. (DPSP) of the constitution says that state shall endeavour to
promote voluntary formations, autonomus functioning,
➢ There are more than 63,000 active Primary
democratic control and professional management of
Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) with more than
cooperative societies.
12 crore members. Around 91 per cent of the ❖ Part IX-B of the constitution inserted by 97th
villages have cooperatives. Constitutional Amendment deals with incorporation, terms
How cooperatives are governed? of members of board and effective managements of
✓ Agriculture and cooperation are in the state list, A cooperative societies.
majority of the cooperative societies are governed
by laws in their respective states, with a Cooperation Commissioner and the Registrar of Societies as their governing
office.
✓ In 2002, the Centre passed a Multi State Cooperative Societies Act that allowed for registration of societies with
operations in more than one state.
✓ The Central Registrar of Societies is their controlling authority, but on the ground the State Registrar takes actions on
his behalf.
Analysis
The government formed Ministry of Cooperation in 2021 to provide a separate administrative legal and policy
framework for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country.
National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM)

News Excerpt
National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) has achieved target of imparting Intellectual Property (IP)
awareness and basic training to 1 million students on 31 st July 2022, ahead of the deadline which was 15 August 2022.
Key Facts
• NIPAM, a flagship program to impart IP awareness and basic training, was launched on 8 Dec 2021 as a part of Azadi
Ka Amrit Mahotsav'' celebrations.
• The program is being implemented by Intellectual Property Office, the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs
and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) Ministry of Commerce
and Industry.
• IP rights are outlined in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides for the right to benefit
from the protection of moral and material interests resulting from authorship of scientific, literary or artistic
productions.
• India is also a member of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a body responsible for the promotion of
the protection of intellectual property rights throughout the world.
• The importance of intellectual property was first recognized in the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial
Property (1883) and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886). Both treaties are
administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Issues associated with IPR:
• The Product Patent Process: The patent is given for the process via which one makes the product rather than the
product which reduces monopoly in the market. India is a part of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
(TRIPS) agreement, this agreement needs that all members should change their patent regime from giving patent to
process to giving patent to the product.
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• India continues to remain on the United States Trade Representative's (USTRs) Priority Watch List for
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• In its latest Special 301report released by the United
States Trade Representative (USTR), the US termed National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation
(NOTTO)
India as one of the worlds most challenging major
It is a national-level organization set up under the Ministry of
economies" with respect to protection and Health and Family Welfare and functions as an apex center for
enforcement of IP. coordinating all activities and networking for the procurement
• Protecting Traditional Knowledge: The Indian and distribution of organs and tissues and maintaining of
government has to protect the traditional knowledge registry of organs and tissue donations and transplantation. At
by not allowing MNCs to take over the patents, to the state level and regional level it is State Organ and Tissue
increase make in India and to not lose the employment Transplant Organization (SOTTO) and Regional Organ and
Tissue Transplant Organization (ROTTO).
of Indians. The government has specially made a
Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) to
prevent patenting on traditional knowledge.
Organ Donation in India

News Excerpt
Recently, as per data submitted in the Parliament, the Brain Stem Death
number of Organ Donations was highest in 2021 but It is a condition of absent brain stem reflexes but the presence
deceased donations are still uncommon in India. As per of few cortical as well as hypothalamic integrity such as
data from Organ India (NGO), In 2019, India had a osmoregulation where a person permanently loses the
Deceased Organ Donation rate of 0.52 donors per million potential for consciousness and the capacity to breathe. A
person’s organs with brain stem death can survive for 2-3 days
population, far below the global average of 7.91 donors
if kept on a ventilator as the heart continue to beat. Thus,
per million population.
organs can be surgically removed with the family’s consent.
Key Facts
Data suggest that only 0.01% of Indians have given
consent to donate their organs after their death.
Process of becoming an organ donor
According to the Global Observatory on Donation and ❖ Taking pledge on the NOTTO website.
Transplantation, India performed the third-highest number ❖ Mailing a filled-in Form 7 of the Transplantation of
of transplants in the world in 2019. At the same time, India Human Organs Act.
reported a dismal organ donation rate of 0.65 per million ❖ Consent of family is required after the death of the
population. individual so it is important for donors to explain their
beliefs to the members of their family.
There is also a geographical skew in deceased donations.
❖ The organs cannot be harvested if the family refuses.
This could be because most organ transplant and
harvesting centers are concentrated in a few states.
It is estimated that 1.5-2 lakh persons need kidney transplants every year and only around 8,000 get one. Same is the case
for liver transplants and heart transplants.
The Government is implementing National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) to promote organ donation and
transplantation across all States and UTs.
Organ donation in India is regulated under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994, and
Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules, 2014. Under the act, Brain death is identified as a form of death.
Urban Planning: Pariman Portal

News Excerpt
Recently, PARIMAN portal was made open to the public of NCR which is developed National Informatics Centre (NIC).
Key Facts
• Geo-Portal for NCR known as PARIMANwas launched in 2021 by NCRPB and Union Minister for Housing
&Urban Affairs.
• The National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB), constituted in 1985 under the provisions of NCRPB Act,
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1985, is a statutory body functioning under the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. NCRPB
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has a mandate to systematically develop the National Capital Region (NCR) of India.
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• The NCR spreads over an area of 33,578 sq. km. The constituent areas of the National Capital Region are:
• Haryana Sub-region – Faridabad, Gurgaon, Rohtak, Sonepat, Rewari, Jhajjar, Mewat and Panipat districts of
Haryana (40.0 percent of NCR area);
• Rajasthan Sub-region – Alwar district of Rajasthan (23.3 percent of NCR area);

• Uttar Pradesh Sub-region – Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr and Baghpat districts of UP
(32.3 percent of NCR area)
About the PARIMAN portal
• NCR Geo-portal (PARIMAN) is a robust system to facilitate better sub-regional and local planning. This contains
various layers collected from authentic sources.
• The portal has many Base Maps, Satellite Image services and Night Light Data of different time spans. Terrain
map provides the Elevation Profile of a route.
• Administrative units like State Boundaries to Village Boundaries, various Headquarters to Habitations,
Parliamentary and Assembly Constituency Boundaries are integrated in this portal.
• Other layers include Road, Rail and Metro Networks, Points of Interest like Education, Health, Banking, Post Office,
Power and Telecom, Industries, Tourism, River and Canal Networks and many more. Area of Interest function
facilitates a comprehensive view for any information of a particular State or District or Tehsil.
Gig Workforce in India: NITI Aayog

News Excerpt
Key Facts
• In a gig economy, temporary, flexible jobs are commonplace and companies tend to hire independent contractors
and freelancers instead of full-time employees. A gig economy undermines the traditional economy of full-time
workers who often focus on their career development.
• Gig workers – those engaged in livelihoods outside the traditional employer-employee arrangement – can be broadly
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classified into platform and non-platform-based workers.

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• Platform workers are those whose work is based on online software apps or digital platforms.
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• Non-platform gig workers are generally casual wage workers and own account workers in the conventional sectors,
working part-time or full time.
• The study estimates that in 2020- 21, 77 lakh (7.7 million) workers were engaged in the gig economy.
• The gig workforce is expected to expand to 2.35 crore (23.5 million) workers by 2029-30.
• At present about 47% of the gig work is in medium skilled jobs, about 22% in high skilled, and about 31% in low
skilled jobs.
• Trend shows the concentration of workers in medium skills is gradually declining and thatof the low skilled and high
skilled is increasing. It may be expected that while the domination of medium skills would continue till 2030, gig work
with other skills will emerge.
• The report points out that the employment elasticity to GDP growth for gig workers was above one throughout
the period 2011-12 to 2019-20, and was always above the overall employment elasticity.
Vulnerable section of society

SMILE-75 Initiative
News Excerpt
Ministry of Social Justice &Empowerment has identified 75 Municipal Corporations under the SMILE(Support for
Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise)-75 initiative, in collaboration with NGOs and other
stakeholders, that will cover several comprehensive welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging.
Kye Facts
• According to census 2011, over 4.2 lakh beggars are in India, West Bengal followed by Uttar pradesh and Bihar has
most number of beggars. Among UTs Delhi has the largest number of beggars, and in North Eastern states Assam
has the most number of Beggars.
• SMILE, includes two sub-schemes – Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of
Transgender Persons and Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the
act of Begging.
• A total budget of Rs.100 crore is allocated by the Ministry of Social Justice &Empowerment for the SMILE project
(2025-26),
• The sub-scheme, Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons
includes providing scholarships for transgender students studying in IX and till post-graduation to support them in
completing their education.
• It further includes the Housing facility in the form of Garima Greh ensures food, clothing, skill development
opportunities, medical support etc. to both the marginalised community.
• The National Portal &Helpline will ensure important information and solutions to them.
• Begging is in State list, and there is no central law to govern Begging.
• Many states and Union Territories used the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 as the basis for their own
laws.
• The Act defines a beggar as anyone having no visible means of subsistence, and wandering about or remaining in
any public place in such condition or manner, as makes it likely that the person doing so exists by soliciting or receiving
alms
• The Bombay Act enables police to arrest individuals without a warrant and also empowers magistrates to detain them
(including family) in a detention centre for up to 3 years on the commission of the first offence, and up to 10 years
upon the second offence. Any individual not abiding by the rules is liable for punishment including imprisonment.
• The Supreme Court refused to ban the act of begging and stated that it is a socio-economic problem, and people
are forced to beg to eke out their livelihood due to the absence of education and employment.
• The Delhi High Court has decriminalised beggary by striking down Delhi Prevention of Begging Rules, 1960,
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formulated under the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 as unconstitutional.

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PM-DevINE
News Excerpt
The Union Cabinet has approved the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE),
The scheme will be operational for the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission, from 2022-23 to 2025-26,
and will have an outlay of Rs 6,600 crore.
Key Facts
• PM-DevINE is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% Central funding implemented by Ministry of Development of
North Eastern Region (DoNER) through North Eastern Council or
Central Ministries/ agencies. Objectives of PM-DevINE
• It aims to create infrastructure, support industries, social development ❖ Fund infrastructure convergently, in the
projects and create livelihood activities for youth and women, thus spirit of PM Gati Shakti.
leading to employment generation. ❖ Support social development projects
• Measures would be taken to ensure adequate operation and based on felt needs of the NER.
maintenance of the projects sanctioned under PM-DevINE making them ❖ Enable livelihood activities for youth and
sustainable. women;
• To limit construction risks of time and cost overrun, falling on the ❖ Fill the development gaps in various
Government projects would be implemented on Engineering- sectors.
procurement-Construction (EPC) basis, to the extent possible.
• Efforts will be made to complete the PM-DevINE projects by 2025-26 so that there are no committed liabilities
beyond this year.
• It will be ensured that there is no duplication of project support under PM-DevINE with any of the other schemes
of MDoNER or those with any other Ministry/Department.
• PM-DevINE is an additionality to the quantum of resources available for the development of the NER. It will not be
a substitute for existing Central and State Schemes.
Performance Grading Index for Districts for school system

News Excerpt
The Union Ministry of Education had recently released the Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) in the country
for the sessions 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Key Facts
➢ The Performance Grading Index (PGI) How is PGI worked out?
is a tool to provide insights on the status An 83-indicator-based PGI for District (PGI-D) was designed to grade the
of school education in States and UTs performance of all the districts in school education.
including key levers that drive their The data is filled by the districts through the online portal. The PGI-D is
performance and critical areas for expected to help the state education departments to identify gaps at the
improvement. Department of School district level and improve their performance in a decentralized manner.
Education and Literacy (DoSEL) has The indicator-wise PGI score shows the areas where a district needs to
designed the PGI to catalyse improve. The PGI-D will reflect the relative performance of all the districts
transformational change in the field of in a uniform scale which encourages them to perform better.
school education. It further stated that the PGI-D structure comprised a total weightage of
Key finding of the index 600 points across 83 indicators, which were grouped under six categories–
Outcomes, Effective Classroom Transaction, Infrastructure Facilities and
➢ The PGI-D report graded 725 districts in
Students Entitlements, School Safety and Child Protection, Digital
2018-19 edition and 733 districts in 2-19- Learning, and Governance Process.
20. The report showed that 33 States and
UTs have improved their PGI score in
2019-20 compared to the previous year with Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Punjab and Arunachal Pradesh have
improved their score by more than 20%.
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➢ Rajasthan leads the way in performance in school education. Three districts namely Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Jaipur
from Rajasthan achieved the second grade, while the number of districts in the third Uttam grade rose from 49
to 86 during 2018-29 and 2019-20.
Displacement of Tribes
News Excerpt
The cost of development in India often includes tribes displacement. One such issue emerged in Telangana where
displacement of the Gutti Koya tribes has become a
cause of concern. Fifth Schedule(Article 244(1))
Key Facts
❖ It has provisions relating to the administration of Scheduled
As per the Expert Group on Prevention of Alienation of
Areas other than in Northeast India.
Tribal Land and its Restoration setup by the
❖ Areas can be designated as well as can be ceased as
Government of India about 60 million displaced people
Scheduled Areas on the order of the President.
from independence to 2000, out of which 47 percent is
❖ The Governor of such state should submit a report to the
tribal population.
President regarding the administration of Scheduled Areas.
About Gutti Koya
❖ It provides for the creation of a Tribes Advisory Council (TAC)
• The majority of them are found in the forests of in such states to advise on matters pertaining to the “welfare
Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mulugu, Jayashankar and advancement” of the Scheduled Tribes “as may be
Bhupalpally, and Khammam districts in referred to them by the Governor”.
Telangana and few have settled in Andhra Pradesh ❖ It grants extensive powers to the Governor who can direct that
in the forests of East and West Godavari districts. a law enacted by the Parliament or the State Legislative
• Presently they are classified as Other Category Assembly shall not apply to a Scheduled Area, or may apply
and not as tribals in Telangana. subject to certain amendments or restrictions as he/she
• They have not seen much development, have no specifies after advice from TAC and President’s final assent.
electricity, no proper roads, and medical facility is
limited to
• Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Accredited
Social Health Activists (ASHA) who visit them.
• Most of the families donot have ration cards or NREGA job cards.
Old and New Pension Schemes

News Excerpt
In recent times, the revival of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) has become a center stage of Indian politics, especially after
the state of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh already reverted to the Old Pension Scheme.
Key Facts
Understanding OPS and NPS
OPS or PAYG (Pay as you Go) scheme is an unfunded pension scheme(employee do not have to contribute) where
current revenues fund pension benefits.
PAYG involved a direct transfer of resources from the current generation of taxpayers to fund the present pensioners.
Causes behind discontinuance of PAGY scheme:
• Unviable pension debt cost for the governments (because of Increasing life expectancy)
• It gave incentive for early retirement, depriving government of the service of employees.
• Pension sector reforms in India started with the OASIS report in 1999 as part of the financial sector reforms. The basic
aim of these reforms was to transform the financial markets on free market principles.
• In 2003, the Government of India decided to introduce New Pension Scheme (NPS) (based on Project OASIS report)
for all those who joined government services after January 1, 2004. For states, it was made voluntarybut within 2
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years 27 states joined the scheme.

• Contribution in NPS trust of employee: Employees (10% of Basic Pay)Government (14% of Basic Pay)
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• The NPS Trust is regulated by Pension Fund Development Regulatory Authority (PFRDA) through the PFRDA (NPS
Trust) regulations, 2015. PFRDA appoints the Chairman, Trustees and the CEO of the NPS Trust.
• Contribution to NPS trust is invested in G-Sec, Corporate bonds, shares depending on employee preferences via
fund managers (like LIC Pension fund, Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund).
Viability of OPS
There are several reasons which point toward the fact that OPS is not a viable option for India these include:
Overstretched State Government Finances: High contribution to pension from state government’s revenue
means that they have little fund left to invest in development Problems associated with NPS
projects like building roads and schools. ❖ The uncertainty associated with the
Almost 56% of the expenditure of the states that is committed pension amount on retirement.
(interest payments, salary, and pension payments) is met out ❖ Impact of market fluctuations on the
of state revenue receipts. In some states like Punjab, Kerala, pension vis-à-vis stable returns to the
West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh it is even higher than 70% inflation-linked pension of the OPS.
❖ Employee and Government
of the state's revenue receipts. This means there is very less
contributions (either or both) are not
funding available for development, for example, the
being transferred for investment in time.
Government of Rajasthan's decision to revert to OPS would ❖ A part of maturity amount is taxable
mean that 6% of families in Rajasthan will control 56% of state which makes it unpopular.
revenue while the remaining 94% have to survive on the ❖ NPS is complex with multiple options
reaming 44%. which makes it difficult for many
Unsustainable debt burden: According to an estimate If all employees to understand it.
Indian states migrate to OPS then liabilities will be around 13% ❖ Lack of any guaranteed pay out feature
deters risk averse sections.
of India’s GDP.
Demographic Factor: India’s demographic profile is currently
undergoing a structural change with declining fertility, increasing longevity, and ageing Southern States coupled
with young Northern States. An increase in the old-age dependency ratio imposes significant demands on the
working-age population to maintain the intergenerational flow of benefits to the pensioners.
Government Initiatives to make NPS more attractive
• The Government now makes a 14% matching contribution against the 10% monthly contribution of employees.
• A subscriber would be adequately compensated for any non-deposit or delayed deposit of contributions during 2004-
12.
• The employee has now the exclusive right to choose the fund manager and his investment pie.
• 60% of the corpus is tax-free and the entry age has now been raised to 70 years
Women and Child

India in Global Gender Gap Index 2022
News Excerpt
The Global Gender Gap Index for 2022 was released What is the Global Gender Gap Index?
by the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked India at 1. The Global Gender Gap index “benchmarks the current state and
135 out of 146 countries. In 2021, India was ranked evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions (Economic
140 out of 156 countries. Iceland retained its place Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health
and Survival, and Political Empowerment)”.
as the world's most gender-equal country, followed
2. It is the longest-standing index, which tracks progress towards
by Finland, Norway, New Zealand and Sweden.
closing these gaps over time since its inception in 2006.
Key Facts 3. On each of the four sub-indices as well as on the overall index
• Political Empowerment - This includes metrics the GGG index provides scores between 0 and 1, where 1 shows
such as the percentage of women in Parliament, full gender parity and 0 is complete imparity.
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the percentage of women in ministerial positions 4. The cross-country comparisons aim to support the identification
etc. Of all the sub-indices, this is where India of the most effective policies to close gender gaps.
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ranks the highest (48th out of 146). India’s score is above the global average in this category.
• Economic Participation and Opportunity -This includes metrics such as the percentage of women who are part of
the labour force, wage equality for similar work, earned income etc. Here, too, India ranks a lowly 143 out of the 146
countries in contention even though its score has improved over 2021 from 0.326 to 0.350.
• Educational Attainment -This sub-index includes metrics such as literacy rate and the enrolment rates in primary,
secondary and tertiary education. Here India ranks 107th out of 146, and its score has marginally worsened since last
year. In 2021, India was ranked 114 out of 156.
• Health and Survival - This includes two metrics: the sex ratio at birth (in %) and healthy life expectancy (in years). In
this metric, India is ranked the last (146) among all the countries. Its score hasn’t changed from 2021 when it was
ranked 155th out of 156 countries.
PM-POSHAN Scheme (Mid-Day Meal Scheme)

News Excerpt
After a gap of over two years, the cooking cost per child under the mid-day meal scheme is set to rise by 9.6 per cent,
with the Ministry of Finance approving the hike proposed by
a committee which has recommended inter-ministerial
deliberations on linking the number of LPG cylinders per school
to enrolment.
Key Facts
• The last hike was seen in early 2020.
• The prices of ingredients such as pulses, salt, vegetables,
condiments, and fuel needed to prepare cooked meals are
included in cooking cost.
About Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN):
➢ Under the scheme, one hot cooked meal is provided in the
Government and Government – aided Schools from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
➢ The Scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Education.
➢ Under the Scheme, there is provision of hot cooked meal to children of pre-schools or Bal Vatika (before class I) in
primary schools also in addition to the 11.80 crore children of classes I to VIII studying in 11.20 lakh schools.
➢ The main objectives of the PM POSHAN Scheme (earlier known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme) are two fold viz. eliminating
hunger and imparting education by improving the nutritional status of eligible children in Government and
Government-aided schools as well as encouraging poor children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to increase
retension and attendence.
Malnutrition in India: A Snapshot
✓ As per Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the Sub-Saharan
What is mid-day meal scheme?
countries of Africa have the highest prevalence of hunger but India has
❖ The mid-day meal scheme was
the highest number (one quarter) of undernourished (hungry) people launched by the central government in
in the world. 1995 to provide free cooked meals to
✓ According to NFHS-5 (2019-21) report the percentage of obese children children in primary schools (classes 1-
and adults, rose in India in the last five years. Moreover, as per the 5; age 6–10 years).
survey, several of India’s nutritional indicators have shown minor ❖ Initially, states did not participate in the
improvement, since NFHS-4 was conducted in 2015-16. The report scheme, but between 1999 and 2004,
shows: the programme's coverage increased
manifold, largely due to an order from
o Nearly three per cent decline in child stunting – from 38.4 (NFHS-4) to
the Supreme Court of India directing
35.5 (NFHS-5). state governments to provide cooked
o While child wasting has seen a 1.7 per cent decline, the percentage of
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mid-day meals in primary schools.

children under five who are severely wasted has increased by 0.2 per
cent.
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o The percentage of underweight children has also reported a 3.7 per cent drop.
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o The percentage of overweight children under the age of 5, have increased from 2.1 per cent (NFHS-4) to 3.4 per
cent which is a 1.3 per cent rise.
Steps taken by Government to address the issue of hunger and malnutrition:
▪ Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) under
the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.
▪ Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition are treated at the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres established by the Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare.
▪ POSHAN Abhiyaan launched on 8th March 2018, aims to reduce malnutrition in the country by adopting a synergised
and result oriented approach.
▪ Mission Poshan 2.0is an
integrated nutrition support
programme which has been
announced in budget 2021-
2022 for all States/UTs. It
seeks to strengthen
nutritional content, delivery,
outreach and outcomes with
focus on developing
practices that nurture health,
wellness and immunity to
disease and malnutrition.
▪ To improve nutritional
content in food products,
steps are being taken
towards universal food
fortification. A proposed
policy would provide for
adding essential vitamins
and minerals (iron, folic
acid, vitamin, iodine) to
food items (rice, wheat
flour, salt, edible oil, milk) should be sold in markets.
▪ The Right to Food Campaign (launched in March 2014), which is an informal network of individuals and organisations,
is the result of public interest litigation. Under the campaign, organised efforts are made to persuade State
governments to attend to the most pressing demands of society, including proper nutrition.
Smart Phones and Indian Children

News Excerpt
Indian children are the youngest to reach mobile maturity, said a McAfee study conducted amongst parents and children
across 10 geographies.
Key Facts
• Smartphone use in the country among children between the age of 10-14 is 83%, which is 7% higher than the
international average of 76%.
• This has resulted in several negative impacts on children such as:
• Increase in online risk: It may lead to cyberbullying of kids in India as they have high exposure to online risks.
Additionally, some 22% of Indian children experienced cyberbullying at some time which was notably 5% higher
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than the global average of 17%, found the study. Both children and parents are usually unaware of cyber security
rules.
• Financial Risk: Chances of Children leaking financial information are very high. They can engage in a private
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• Phantom Pocket vibration syndrome: Phantom pocket vibration syndrome is a condition where many children
and a few adults have a false feeling that their cell phone is vibrating in their pockets when its not. According to
recent research, the brain tissues of children absorb about two times more microwave radiation than that of
adults, and other studies have reported that the bone marrow of children absorbs ten times more microwave
radiation than that of adults.
• Excessive screen time can be associated with symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction.
• Obesity due to sedentary screen time, decrease in focus and attention spans, constant feeling of fatigue, feeling
of distance from parents are some other harmful effects of smartphone addiction.
SARAS Food Festival

News Excerpt
SARAS Food festival is under the Ministry of Rural Development and is a step towards Atma nirbhar Bharat.
Key Facts
• SARAS products are prepared by women of self-help groups.
• The aim is to get at least 25% of all sales by women's self-help groups through e-commerce portals annually. The e-
commerce portal www.esaras.in for better and more effective marketing of Ethnic and homemade handicrafts,
paintings, toys, food, and other items will be the center of attraction.
• Each woman beneficiary must save at least one lakh rupees per annum through the sale of local products.
• The Ministry has already signed agreements with e-commerce giants like Amazon, and Flipkart
• There have been efforts by States/UTs also in getting SHGs products registered on e-commerce platforms. e.g,
Flipkart, Amazon and Meesho etc.
• People can enjoy delicious cuisines of 18 States at Saras Food Festival.
Abortion Laws around the World

News Excerpt
With the US Supreme Court overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade decision that established a constitutional right
to an abortion, the United States is now among the few dozen countries that have severely restricted access to the
procedure. As of now, abortions are illegal or heavily restricted in at least 11 US states.
Key Facts
What is India’s abortion policy?
• India’s Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 allows abortion until 20 weeks of pregnancy.
• An amendment in 2021 raised the ceiling for abortions to 24 weeks for special categories of pregnant women such
as rape or incest survivors that too, with the approval of two registered doctors.
• There is no upper gestation limit for the procedure in cases of foetal disability as long as it is approved by a medical
board of specialist doctors set up by the governments of states and union territories.
Women and STEM

Coinciding with the celebrations of 75 years of Independence, the government has chosen to appoint a woman to the
topmost post in the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
What is STEM?
STEM is a common abbreviation for four closely connected areas of study: Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics. The fields are often associated due to the similarities they share both in theory and practice Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), underlined a significant trend — official data show the participation of women
in science research has been generally increasing over the past two decades in the country.
Status of women participation in STEM in India:
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• More than a quarter — 28% — of participants in R&D projects in 2018-19 were women, up from 13% in 2000-01 due
to various initiatives taken by successive governments.
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• The number of women principal investigators in R&D had risen more than four times from 232 in 2000-01 to 941
in 2016-17.
• The percentage of women among researchers went from 13.9% in 2015 to 18.7% in 2018.
• There were fewer women researchers in engineering and technology (14.5%) compared with the natural sciences and
agriculture (22.5% each), and health sciences (24.5%).
• The percentage of women researchers in the social sciences and humanities is, however, much higher at 36.4%.
• Results of the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2019
showed a 53% and 55% participation of women in science education
at the Bachelors and Masters levels respectively, numbers that are
comparable with many developed countries. But at doctoral level,
women graduates (44%) lagged behind men (56%).
Global status of women and STEM:
• World Bank data showed that in 107 of 114 economies, there are
fewer female than male STEM graduates.
• Globally, 18% of girls in tertiary education are pursuing STEM
studies compared to 35% of boys.
• Even within the STEM fields, women prefer to study life sciences and
are less represented in majors like computer science and mechanical
and electrical engineering.
• Worldwide, only 33% of researchers are women. Women account for just 22% of professionals working in
artificial intelligence and 28% of engineering graduates.
ASER Report 2022

News Excerpt
17th report of the ASER i.e., Annual Status of Education Report was released recently.
Key Facts
• This is an annual survey that aims to provide reliable annual estimates of children’s schooling status and basic learning
levels for each state and rural district in India(since 2005).
• ASER is the largest citizen-led survey in India. It is also the only annual source of information on children’s learning
outcomes available in India today. Unlike most other large-scale learning assessments, ASER is a household-based
rather than school-based survey.
• This design enables all children to be included – those who have never been to school or have dropped out, as well
as those who are in government schools, private schools, religious schools or anywhere else.
• In 2022, the ASER survey covered 7 lakh children in 19,060 villages across 616 districts in the country.
Highlights of the Report
• As the pandemic ebbed, school enrolment touched a record high in 2022 — 98.4% children in the 6-14 age group
are now in school, up from 97.2% in 2018, when the last full pre-pandemic survey was conducted by Pratham.
• The proportion of girls not enrolled in schools has also reduced across age groups. For girls aged 11-14, this share
dropped from 4.1% in 2018 to 2% in 2022. Back in 2006, the share of out-of-school girls in this age bracket stood at
10.3 per cent.
• However, there is a drop in learning levels – foundational skills in reading and arithmetic – that has confirmed the
worst fears about the pandemic and its impact on children.
• In 2022, the basic reading ability of children in Class 3 dipped by 6.8 percentage points (from 27.3% in 2018 to 20.5%
in 2022), and that of students in Class 5 came down by 7.6 percentage points (from 50.4% in 2018 to 42.8% in 2022).
• There has also been a drop in numeracy levels, though not as steep as for reading skills.
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• The proportion of children in Class 3 who could do at least subtraction fell from 28.2% in 2018 to 25.9% in 2022, and
that of students in Class 5 fell from 27.9% in 2018 to 25.6% in 2022.
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• In Chhattisgarh, for instance, the proportion of Class 3 children who can read a Class 2 textbook had dropped to an
alarming 12.3% in 2021, down from 29.8% in 2018, only to bounce back to 24.2% in 2022. In West Bengal, that number
rose from 29.5% in 2021 to 33% in All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) Report Highlights
2022. According to the (AISHE) released by the Education Ministry; crucial gains are
• In the case of maths, the share of made in closing the gender gap across different undergraduate programmes that
children in Class 3 in Chhattisgarh with suffered a setback in the pandemic year. Data show that the number of women
the ability to solve basic problems fell for every 100 men enrolled across different Bachelor’s programmes dropped in
from 19.3% in 2018 to 9% in 2021, only the academic year 2020-21.
to rise to 19.6% in 2022. In Karnataka, The total student enrolment in higher education went up from 3.85 crore in 2019
to about 4.13 crore in 2020-21, an increase of nearly 29 lakh. Out of the total
that number rose from 17.3% in 2021
enrolled, 51.3% or 2.12 crore are male and 48.7% are women.
to 22.2% in 2022 and in West Bengal,
Overall, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education for the age group of
from 29.4% in 2021 to 34.2% in 2022. 18 to 23 years is 27.3% as against 25.6 % in 2019-20.
• The ASER report also highlights The GER for women is more than the GER for men – a trend that has been on since
another trend that was reflected in 2017-18. Gender Parity Index (GPI), the ratio of female GER to male GER, has
other reports such as the governments increased from 1 in 2017-2018 to 1.05 in 2020-21.
UDISE+ data that came out last year. At the postgraduate level, too, the number of women pursuing business
ASER 2022 states that nationally, the administration, science, technology and commerce has gone down in 2020-21 as
compared to 2019-2020 due to pandemic.
percentage of children aged 11 to 14
who are enrolled in government
schools has risen from 65% in 2018 to 71.7% in 2022.
Nutrition and Sanitation

One Health
News Excerpt
Four multilateral agencies have launched a global One Health plan to better address threats to all living beings as well as
the environment. The Quadripartite—comprising the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the
UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal
Health — unveiled the five-year One Health Joint Action Plan.
Key Facts
One Health Joint Action Plan
The One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022-2026) seeks to improve the health of humans, animals, plants, and the
environment while contributing to sustainable development. The Joint Plan of Action will create a framework and integrate
systems and capacity to collectively better prevent, predict, detect and respond to health threats.
The five-year plan outlines six action tracks:
• Enhancing One Health's capacities to strengthen health systems.
• Reducing the risks from emerging and re-emerging zoonotic epidemics and pandemics
• Controlling and eliminating endemic zoonotic
• Controlling neglected tropical, and vector-borne
diseases.
• Strengthening the assessment, management, and
communication of food safety risks.
• Curbing the silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance
One Health Concept
• One Health is an integrated, unifying approach to
balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and
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the environment. It is particularly important to prevent,

predict, detect, and respond to global health threats
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such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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• The One Health approach is particularly relevant for food and water safety, nutrition, and the control of zoonosis
which are diseases that can spread between animals and humans, such as flu, rabies, and Rift Valley fever.
Global TB Report
News Excerpt
As per The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2022, as many as 1.6 million people died from tuberculosis in 2021 during
the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first time in many years that an increase has been reported in the number of people
falling ill with TB and drug-resistant TB.
Key Facts The BCG (bacille Calmette-Guérin)
• Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease that is caused by vaccine
the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is spread when This Vaccine protects against
people who are sick with TB expel bacteria into the air. tuberculosis (TB). The vaccine may be given
• The three stages of TB are Primary infection, Latent TB infection, to persons at high risk of developing TB. It is
and Active TB disease. also used to treat bladder tumors or bladder
• Isoniazid, Rifampin, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide, and Rifapentine cancer in early stages. It is one of the most
are some of the common drugs used in the treatment. widely used of all current vaccines, reading
• The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a damaging impact >80% of neonates and infants in countries
on access to TB diagnosis and treatment and the burden of TB where it is part of the national childhood
disease increased. immunization programme. BCG vaccine
• There is a large global drop in the reported number of people has a documented protective effect against
newly diagnosed from TB with 7.1 million in 2019 to 5.8 million meningitis and disseminated TB in
in 2020 and a partial recovery, to 6.4 million in 2021. children.
• The three countries that accounted for most of the reduction in

2020 were India, Indonesia, and the Philippines with 67% of the global total.
• Reductions in the reported cases suggest that the number of people with undiagnosed and untreated TB has grown.
• Globally, the estimated number of deaths from TB increased between 2019 and 2021 with an estimated 1.4 million
deaths among HIV-negative and 187 000 among HIV-positive people a combined total of 1.6 million.
• The TB incidence rate rose by 3.6% between 2020 and 2021, reversing declines of about 2% per year for most of the
previous 2 decades.
• The number of people provided with treatment for RR-TB and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) has declined between
2019-2021. Thus indicating a decline in global spending on essential TB services
• India has set a target for the complete elimination of Tuberculosis (TB) by 2025.
• India was one of the three countries that accounted for most of the reduction in tuberculosis in 2020.
• In India, TB is still one of the most commonly prevalent diseases as far as both morbidity and mortality are concerned.
Malnutrition challenges in India's Northeast

News Excerpt
o According to NFHS 5 report, most of the North Eastern States are experiencing an increased burden of malnutrition.
In malnutrition, the body becomes deficient in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients required to maintain healthy
tissues and organs.
o It occurs in people who are either undernourished or over nourished.
Key Facts
Status of malnutrition in North East Region
• Assam has improved in stunting (17% to 21.7%) but there is an increase in underweight (29.8% to 32.8%) and
overweight (2.3% to 4.9%) percentages.
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• In Meghalaya stunting has increased from 43.8% to 46.8% but wasting and underweight have decreased by more
than 2 %.
• Children with stunting, wasting, underweight and overweight have increased in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura
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• Comparatively stunting, wasting and underweight children have decreased in Sikkim and Manipur but Manipur has
increased in wasting from 6.8% to 9.9%.
• The overweight population has increased in every North Eastern State.
Food Subsidy
News Excerpt
Recently, Government has decided to distribute free food grains for one year from January 2023 under the Public
Distribution System (PDS) of National Food Security Act (2013) in a move to shield the poor from the effects of the
termination of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY).
Key Facts
• Indian Government is running the largest food security program in the world.
• A statutory body created by the Food Corporation of India Act of 1964, the FCI was established for the purchase,
storage, movement, transport, distribution and sale of food grains and other foodstuffs".
• For India to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as economic and social reforms, it is essential
to empower and safeguard the 67.7 percent of women and children in the country by ensuring their healthy
development in a safe and secure environment.
• Of this number, women make up for 48 percent and contribute 18 percent of the country’s GDP; thus, much has to
be done to solve the difficulties they face.
• The pandemic has further added to the economic and social woes for women with 47 million women and girls having
been pushed into extreme hunger.
• India has a social and legal obligation to provide its
citizens with a dignified existence by assuring their access
to food and nutritional security by making a sufficient
supply of high-quality food grains available.
Budget allocations
• During the Financial Years 2021–22 to 2025–26, the
Government of India also approved upgrading 2 lakh
Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) to Saksham Anganwadis at a
rate of 40,000 each year.
• Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0under the
Mission Poshan 2.0, brings together under one umbrella
the ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Scheme for Adolescent
girls, and National Creche Scheme, and has been allocated INR 20,554.31 crores of the total allocated INR 25,448.75
crores in 2023-24.
• This shows an increase of INR 267 crore from the INR 25,172.28 crore allotted in 2022-23.
• The Union Budget 2023-24 is disheartening with a meagre 1.08 percent increased allocation for crucial social security
programs for women and children despite the challenges faced by them
• PM-Poshan (renamed mid-day meal scheme) received an outlay of INR 11,600 crore in 2023-24 from INR 10,233
crores in 2022-23; it was increased by 13 percent but it
decreased as to the revised estimates.
• The budget for Mission Shakti, which houses the Pradhan
Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Women Helpline, Beti
Bachao Beti Padhao, and other important programmes for
the protection of women, declined by 1.2 percent from INR
3,184.11 in 2022-23 to INR 3143.96 crore in 2023-24.
• The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) has
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been underfunded since it began in 2017. As against the

requirement of INR 14,000 crore as per the National Food
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Security Act (NFSA) mandate, the allocation/budget estimate for 2023-24 has been a scanty INR 2581.96 crores.
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• The Food Subsidy program that ensures distribution of food grains at a subsidized price through the Targeted Public
Distribution System (TPDS) has been slashed by 32 percent in the 2023-24 budget to INR 1,97,350 crore from INR
2,06,831 crore allocated.
WHO report on Health Equity for Disables

News Excerpt
World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a report on health equity for persons with disabilities. The UN Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines persons with disabilities as those “who have long-term physical, mental,
intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective
participation in society on an equal basis with others”
Key Highlights of the Report
• There are near about 1.3 billion people worldwide who suffer from major disabilities. These are facing systemic and
persistent health inequities and therefore they may die 20 years earlier in comparison with the person without
disabilities (PwD).
• Near about 80% of people with disabilities reside in low-and middle-income countries with limited resources and
therefore it is difficult to address these inequities.
• PwD is at risk of contracting chronic illnesses like depression, diabetes, stroke, etc. The discrepancies in their health
outcomes are more because of unfair and unjust circumstances.
Key Recommendations
• Ensure participation of PwD in an effective manner in all facets of society.
• Instill inclusion, accessibility, and non-discrimination in the medical field. The Health system should not add pressure
on PwD rather it should alleviate the challenges they face.
• Health equity for Pwd is critical if the world needs to achieve Universal Health Coverage. It is the central component
in all efforts to protect everyone in health emergencies.
• Civil society should ensure all health sector actions are inclusive of persons with disabilities so that they can enjoy
their right to the highest standard of health.
Reports and Ranking

Global Sustainable Development Report 2022
Monuments
Recently, Indias rank in the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), 2022 has slipped for the third consecutive
year.
Key Facts
• The GSDR is a United Nations publication and it is considered as the only comprehensive, global report on sustainable
development.
• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a
shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
• At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries -
developed and developing - in a global partnership.
India's Performance in global Sustainable Development Report, 2022
• The country continues to face major challenges in achieving 11 of the 17 SDGs, which has pushed down its global
ranking on SDG preparedness.
• Ensuring decent work (SDG 8) has become more challenging.
• India is on track to achieving SDG 13 on climate action, the report mentioned. But another report presented a grim
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picture.
• Indias performance on climate action — (SDG) 13 — has slipped from 2019-2020. In 2020, the countrys overall
national score on SDG 13 was 54 (out of 100) — a significant dip from 60 in 2019.
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• This decline in Indias overall performance is primarily due to eight states — Bihar, Telangana, Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Jharkhand — whose scores have dipped under SDG 13 in the two
years.
Performance of the World
• The 2022 SDG Index ranks Finland, Denmark, and Sweden first, second, and third, and all top ten performers are
European countries. None of them, however, are on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030, given major challenges on
several Goals.
• The region that made the most progress on the SDGs since their adoption is East and South Asia, with Bangladesh
and Cambodia topping the ranks in terms of progress achieved.
• The report also notes that, halfway to 2030, countries vary greatly in terms of SDG integration in budgets, policies,
and programmes. Among the Group of 20 (G20), the US, Brazil, and the Russian Federation show the least support
for the Goals.
• Nordic countries, on the other hand, as well as Argentina, Germany, Japan, and Mexico exhibit relatively high levels
of support for the 2030 Agenda.
First National Food Security Ranking

News Excerpt
Union Food Minister Piyush Goyal released on 5 July 2022 the first State Ranking Index for implementation of the National
Food Security Act, 2013.
Key Facts
• Among the 20 big states and Union Territories (UTs), Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh scored the highest in
the list while Goa came last. Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim obtained the top positions and Ladakh came last
among the 14 smaller states and UTs.
• The states and UTs were ranked based on three parameters for the year 2022.
• The first measures “coverage of NFSA, rightful targeting, and implementation of all provisions under NFSA”.
• The second “analyses the delivery platform while considering the allocation of food grains, their movement, and last-
mile delivery to Fair Price Shops (FPS)”.
• The third “focuses on nutrition initiatives of the department”.
• The NFSA provides a legal right to persons belonging to “eligible households” to receive food grains at subsidised
price – rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg and coarse grain at Re 1/kg — under the TPDS. These are called central issue
prices (CIPs).
World Bank's Report on Poverty

News Excerpt
According to a new World Bank report, titled
“Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2022:
Correcting Course”, the Covid pandemic has been
the biggest setback to global poverty alleviation in
decades.
Key Facts
➢ Nearly 80% of people who slipped into
poverty in 2020 due to the COVID-19
pandemic hailed from India (5.6 crore out of 7
crore).
➢ The report states that global poverty reduction
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has been slowing down since 2015 but the

Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine have completely reversed the outcomes.
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➢ Globally, extreme poverty levels went up to 9.3% in 2020 compared to 8.4%
in 2019, halting the progress made by poverty alleviation programmes
worldwide for the first time in decades.
➢ About 7 crore people were additionally pushed into extreme poverty by the
end of 2020, increasing the global total of poor to over and above 70 crore.
About income inequalities
➢ There is a rise in inequalities as the poorest people bore the steepest costs
of the pandemic: income losses averaged 4 per cent for the poorest 40 per
cent, double the losses of the wealthiest 20 per cent of the income
distribution. As a result, Global inequality rose for the first time in
decades.
Analysis
India contributes significantly to global poverty levels due to the sheer size of
its population, the World Bank flagged that the lack of official data on poverty
from India had become a hindrance in drawing up global estimates. Since 2011,
the Indian government has stopped publishing data on poverty.
Global Hunger Index 2022

News Excerpt
As per Global Hunger Index (GHI), India has slipped six places and ranked 107, out of 121 countries, in 2022.
Key Facts
▪ With a score of 29.1, which falls in the ‘serious’ category of hunger, India was ranked behind its neighbours Nepal
(81), Pakistan (99), Sri Lanka (64), and Bangladesh (84).
▪ India has recorded decreased GHI scores as in 2000, it recorded an ‘alarming’ score of 38.8, which reduced to 28.2 by
2014. The country has started recording higher scores since then.
▪ Yemen has ranked in the lowest position at 121, while the top of the list is dominated by European nations including
Croatia, Estonia and Montenegro.
▪ Among Asian nations, China and Kuwait have ranked the highest.
What is Global Hunger Index (GHI)?
➢ Global Hunger Index was Jointly published by Concern Parameters used by GHI:
Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, in year 2000. Since then The GHI looks at four main indicators:
every year report is released, with this year’s report being the ❖ Undernourishment (which reflects inadequate food
15th one. availability): calculated by the share of the population
➢ A low score gets a country a higher ranking and implies a that is undernourished (that is, whose caloric intake is
better performance. insufficient);
➢ The reason behind mapping hunger is to ensure that the world ❖ Child Wasting (which reflects acute under nutrition):
achieves “Zero Hunger by 2030” — one of the Sustainable calculated by the share of children under the age of
Development Goals laid out by the United Nations. It is for five who are wasted (that is, those who have low
weight for their height);
this reason that GHI scores are not calculated for certain high-
❖ Child Stunting (which reflects chronic under
income countries.
nutrition): calculated by the share of children under
India’s performance
the age of five who are stunted (that is, those who
✓ According to the report, child wasting increased from 17.1% have low height for their age);
in 2000 to 20% in 2007; it dropped to 15.1% in 2014 and then ❖ Child Mortality (which reflects both inadequate
increased to 19.3% in 2022. nutrition and unhealthy environment): calculated by
✓ Child stunting, however, has shown a steady decline over the the mortality rate of children under the age of five (in
past two decades — from 54.2% in 2000, to 47.8% in 2007, part, a reflection of the fatal mix of inadequate
38.7% in 2014, and 35.5% in 2022, the biggest drop taking nutrition.
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place between 2007 and 2014.

✓ Mortality rate for children under 5 years has also reduced from 9.2% in 2000 to 3.3% in 2022, the report shows.
✓ The proportion of undernourished in the country has, however, increased since 2014, according to GHI. From 18.4%
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in 2000 it dropped to 17.5% in 2007 and 14.8% in 2014, to rise to 16.3% in 2022.
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Analysis
▪ India has ranked 107th out of 121 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022, down from the 101st position the
previous year.
▪ Poor nutrition not only adversely impacts health and survival but also leads to diminished learning capacity, and poor
school performance. And in adulthood, it means reduced earnings and increased risks of chronic diseases such as
diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
UN Population Report
News Excerpt
According to the 2022 edition of the United Nations’ World Population Prospects (WPP), India is projected to surpass
China as the world’s most populous country in 2023. It also projected the world’s population to reach 8 billion on 15
November 2022.
Key Facts What are the World Population Prospects?
• The world’s population continues to grow, but the pace 1. The Population Division of the UN has
of growth is slowing down: The global population is been publishing the WPP in a biennial
expected to grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion cycle since 1951.
2. Each revision of the WPP provides a
in 2050 and 10.4 billion in 2100.
historical time series of population
• Rates of population growth vary significantly across
indicators starting in 1950.
countries and regions: More than half of the projected 3. It does so by taking into account newly
increase in global population up to 2050 will be released national data to revise
concentrated in just eight countries: the Democratic estimates of past trends in fertility,
Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, mortality or international migration.
Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of
Tanzania.
• The population of older persons is increasing both in numbers and as a share of the total: The share of the global
population aged 65 years or above is projected to rise from 10% in 2022 to 16% in 2050.
• A sustained drop in fertility has led to an increased concentration of the population at working ages (between 25
and 64 years), creating an opportunity for accelerated economic growth per capita: This shift in the age
distribution provides a time-bound opportunity for accelerated economic growth known as the “demographic
dividend”.
International migration is having important impacts on population trends for some countries: For high-income countries
between 2000 and 2020, the contribution of international migration to population growth (net inflow of 80.5 million)
exceeded the balance of births over deaths (66.2 million). million), Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (-4.8 million) and
Myanmar (-1.0 million), insecurity and conflict drove the outflow of migrants over this period.
India In Multidimensional Poverty Index (Mpi)

News Excerpt
The number of people living below the poverty line in India decreased by 415 million between 2005-06 and 2019-21,
according to a new Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) released jointly by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
Key Facts
• India still has the world's highest number of poor at 228.9 million, followed by Nigeria (96.7 million projected in 2020).
• Across 111 countries, 1.2 billion people (19.1 per cent) live in acute poverty and almost half of these people (593
million) are children under the age of 18 years.
• The developing region with the largest number of poor people is Sub-Saharan Africa (nearly 579 million), followed by
South Asia (385 million).
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• The MPI highlighted that the Covid-19 pandemic had set the global progress in reducing poverty back by 3–10 years.
Despite progress, India’s population remains vulnerable to the mounting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and to
rising food and energy prices. Integrated policies tackling the ongoing nutritional and energy crises should be a
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• India had 97 million poor children in 2019-21. This translates into more than one in five children (21.8 per cent)--more
than the total number of poor people in any other country covered by MPI.
• India is the only country in South Asia in which poverty is significantly more prevalent among female-headed
households than among male-headed households. About 19.7 per cent of people living in female-headed households
live in poverty (15.9 per cent in male-headed households).
• Ninety per cent of India’s poor people live in rural areas and 10 per cent in urban areas.
Miscellaneous
FIRST EVER UN RESOLUTION MENTIONS HINDI
News Excerpt
In a resolution on multilingualism adopted in the UN General Assembly
Flashback
on 10 June 2022 mentions the Hindi language for the first time.
1. Since 2018, the UN News in Hindi is
Key Facts disseminated through UN’s website and
• The resolution adopted in the 193-member UN General Assembly, social media handles on Twitter, Instagram
presented by Andorra and co-sponsored by over 80 nations and Facebook.
including India, underlines the responsibility of the United Nations 2. A UN News-Hindi audio bulletin (UN Radio)
Secretariat towards “integrating multilingualism into its activities, is released every week. Its weblink is
on an equitable basis available on the UN Hindi News website.
3. The resolution also requests the Secretary-
• It recognises the efforts of the United Nations to use non-official
General to continue his efforts to ensure
languages, in addition to the six official languages- Arabic, Chinese,
that multilingualism, as a core value of the
English, French, Russian and Spanish. United Nations, is not undermined by the
• The resolution also mentions Bangla and Urdu for the first time. measures taken in response to the liquidity
India welcome all these additions. situation and the coronavirus disease.
• Last month, India contributed USD 800,000 towards efforts to
continue to expand the use of Hindi in the United Nations.
Nobel Prize in Literature

News Excerpt
The Nobel Prize for Literature 2022 has gone to French author Annie Ernaux, for “the courage and clinical acuity with
which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory”.
Key Facts
• Ernaux, 82, has seen a sharp increase in popularity in the English-speaking world since 2019, after her seminal work
‘The Years’, translated by Alison L Strayer, was shortlisted for the Man Book international prize.
• Her book on her illegal abortion in the 1960s, ‘Happening’ (first published in 2001) has also been in the limelight after
abortion rights were curtailed in the US.
• Her ‘A Girl’s Story’ (published in French in 2016), built on her own experiences at a children’s camp, deals with the
shaming an 18-year-old girl is subjected to for her sexuality.
Nobel Peace Prize

News Excerpt
Memorial, Russia’s most prominent and oldest human rights organisation, along with Belarusian human rights advocate
Ales Bialiatski and Ukrainian human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties received the prestigious Nobel Peace
Prize 2022.
Key Facts
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• Memorial International Established in 1987, sought to ensure that the victims of state-led oppression during the rule
of the USSR would never be forgotten. It has opposed combat militarism, promoted human rights and played a crucial
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role in collecting information about war crimes committed by Russian forces and their supporters during Chechen
Wars from the 1990’s to the 2000’s.
• Ales Bialiatski was one of the initiators of the democracy movement that emerged in Belarus in the mid-1980s. He
has devoted his life to promoting democracy and peaceful development in his home country.
• Center for Civil Liberties was founded in Kyiv in 2007 for the purpose of advancing human rights and democracy in
Ukraine. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Center for Civil Liberties has engaged in efforts to identify
and document Russian war crimes against the Ukrainian civilian population.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
➢ MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMER WELFARE

✓ Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) Scheme
Scheme by ministry of agriculture and farmer welfare
Aim: To promote Natural Farming (as the name suggests)
BPKP is promoted under a centrally sponsored scheme- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
(BPKP) as a sub scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) since 2020-21 for the promotion of traditional
indigenous practices.
Main emphasis is on negation of all synthetic chemical inputs and promoting on-farm biomass recycling.
Key practices suggested by the scheme are
• Biomass mulching
• use of cow dung-urine formulations
• plant-based preparations
• Timely working of soil for aeration
Under BPKP, financial assistance of Rs 12200/ha for 3 years is provided to facilitate capacity building, cluster
formation, certification ,residue analysis and continuous guidance by trained personnel
✓ Platform Of Platforms
It is launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare as a mobile application in 12 languages.
• Platform of Platforms has been launched under e-NAM (Electronic National Agriculture Market).
Objectives:
• To promote trade & marketing of agricultural produce wherein farmers will be facilitated to sell the produce
outside their state borders.
• To expand farmers’ digital access to multiple markets, buyers and service providers and make the business
transactions more transparent.
Other Features:
e-NAM has integrated the platform of Service Providers as the “Platform of Platforms” which includes
• Composite Service Providers
• Quality Assurance Service Provider
• Cleaning, Grading, Sorting & Packaging Service Provider
• Warehousing Facility Service Provider
• Agricultural Input Service Provider
• Technology Enabled Finance & Insurance Service Provider
• Information Dissemination Portal
➢ MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

✓ Purple Revolution/Lavender Revolution
It has been launched by Ministry of Science and Technology through the Aroma Mission of CSIR
About purple revolution:
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• Main objective is to promote the indigenous aromatic crop-based agro-economy by shifting from foreign
aromatics to home grown kinds.
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• For the first time, free lavender seedlings are offered to producers as part of the goal and A payment of Rs.
5-6 per plant to those who have previously produced lavender.
• Under the initiative of CSIR led Aroma Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM),lavender cultivation has
begun in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Major products under the Mission include
• Lavender oil which sells for at least Rs. 10,000 per litre
• Lavender water which is used to make incense sticks.
• Hydrosol is formed after distillation from the flowers and is used to make soaps and room fresheners.
Though large scale cultivation of Lavender is practiced in Jammu and Kashmir particularly, efforts are on to encourage it
in other states of India including Uttarakhand,Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh as well.
➢ MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

✓ National Bio-energy Programme
Notified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in November 2022.
Duration of the scheme: FY 2021-22 to 2025-26
Sub-schemes: The programme comprises of following sub-schemes:
• Waste to Energy Programme: Under this, CFA (central financial assistance) will be given to companies that
take up production of biogas, bio CNG, and electricity from urban, industrial and agricultural waste and
residues
• Biomass Programme: Aimed to support the manufacturing of briquettes and pellets, apart from the
promotion of biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration in industries.
• Biogas Programme to support the setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas.
➢ MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

✓ National Air Sports Policy
Launched by: Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched
Objective: To lay out the vision of making India as one of the top sports nations by 2030,
• by providing a safe, affordable, accessible, enjoyable and sustainable air sports ecosystem in India
• By enhancing participation and success of Indian sportspersons in global air sports events.
• By promoting design, development and manufacturing of air sports equipment in India in line with the
Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
Four Tier Governance Structure:
• Air Sports Federation of India (ASFI) as the apex governing body.
• National associations for individual air sports or a set of air sports
• Regional (e.g. West/ South/ North East etc.) or State and Union Territory level units of the national air sports
associations, as appropriate; and
• District-level air sports associations, as appropriate.
➢ MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
✓ Agnipath scheme
About: It is a short-service manpower model under which around 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers will be recruited
annually. Of these, 75% will leave the service in four years. 25% will be allowed to continue for another 15 years
under permanent commission
Key features of the scheme:
Eligibility: Aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 21 years will be eligible to apply. The scheme is only
applicable to personnel below officer ranks.
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Recruitment: Twice a year through rallies.

The recruitment will be done on “all India, all class” recruitment to the services (from any caste, region, class or
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Training period: 6 months + deployment for three and a half years.
During this period, they will get a starting salary of INR 30,000, along with additional benefits which will go up to
INR 40,000 by the end of the four-year service
Similar schemes in other countries:
• Voluntary tour of duty: USA
• Mandatory tour of duty (called conscription): followed in countries of Israel, Norway, North Korea, and
Sweden.
✓ SeHAT Scheme
It stands for ‘Services e-Health Assistance & Tele-consultation
Developed by: Department of Military Affairs (DMA), Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), Integrated Defence
Staff (IDS) and Centre for Development of Artificial Computing (C-DAC) Mohali
About: to provide telemedicine services in Armed Forces, further strengthening the commitment of governments
towards e-governance and digital India.
Key features:
• SeHATOPD is a patient to doctor system where the patient can remotely consult a doctor via internet services.
• Through this OPD, serving defence personnel from Army, Air force, Navy and ex- service personnel can get
tele consultations from specialists’ doctors in Armed forces.
• OPD will provide benefits to around four crore people and family members of defence personnel.
➢ MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS

✓ Onorc program
Implemented by – Ministry of Consumer Affairs
Launched in: August, 2019 as an inter-state pilot
About: One Nation One Ration Card scheme allows migrant workers and their family members to buy subsidised
ration From any fair price shop located anywhere in the country under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
How does the SCHEME work?
It is based on technology that involves details such as Beneficiaries’ ration card, Aadhaar number, and electronic
Points of Sale (ePoS).
Through biometric authentication on ePoS devices at fair price shops, the system identifies a beneficiary.
The system runs on the basis of two portals:
• Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS) (impds.nic.in)
• Annavitran (annavitran.nic.in), which host all the significant data
Mera Ration mobile app: it has been launched by Government to make best use of ONORC and it will provide
information to users in real-time in 13 languages
✓ Hallmark Unique Identification

Launched by: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
About : At the time of Hallmarking procedure, a HUID- 6 Digit alphanumeric code made up of letters and digits
is given.
There are now three symbols which authenticate purity of gold-BIS Mark, mark of weight and HUID.
Consumers can check authenticity by verifying HUID on the BIS App.
It is mandatory from June 2021.
✓ E-DAKHIL PORTAL
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About: An online portal for filing consumer complaints.

Launched by: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
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Common Service Centres (CSC) is integrated with the e-daakhil site in order to make electronic filing easier for
rural consumers.
Consumer Protection Act 2019, allows for hearing the complaints through video conferencing in consumer
commissions
✓ Free Foodgrain Scheme

Launched by: The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution through a notification
About:
From January 2023 onwards, all the beneficiaries under the NFSA, 2013 will be provided 5 kg of Free Food grains
per month, rather than charging them a subsidized amount of Rs 3 a kg of rice, Rs 2 a kg of wheat and Rs 1 a kg
of coarse cereal as is currently done.
Termination of PMGKAY: The union government has also decided to discontinue the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and it has now been merged with the NFSA
➢ MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

✓ Digiyatra
About: It is to ensure paperless entry at airports using facial recognition software.
Key features:
• To ensure that travellers pass through various checkpoints at the airport through paperless and contactless
processing, using facial features to establish their identity, which would be linked to the boarding pass.
• There will be no need for the passengers to carry their ID card and Boarding pass.
Implemented by: Digi Yatra Foundation - a joint-venture company whose shareholders are the
• Airports Authority of India (26% stake)
• Bengaluru Airport
• Delhi Airport
• Hyderabad Airport
• Mumbai Airport
• Cochin International Airport.
• (These five shareholders equally hold the remaining 74% of the shares)
➢ HOME MINISTRY
✓ NAFIS
Developed by: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) at the Central Fingerprint Bureau (CFPB) in New Delhi.
About: A web-based application which functions as a central information repository by consolidating fingerprint
data from all states and Union Territories.
Key features:
• It enables law enforcement agencies to upload, trace, and retrieve data from the database in real time on a
24×7 basis.
• It would help in the quick and easy disposal of cases with the help of a centralized fingerprint database.
Madhya Pradesh recently became the first state in the country to identify a deceased person through NAFIS.
How does it work?
• NAFIS assigns a unique 10-digit National Fingerprint Number (NFN) to each person arrested for a crime.
• This unique ID will be used for the person’s lifetime, and different crimes registered under different FIRs will
be linked to the same NFN
• The ID’s first two digits will be that of the state code in which the person arrested for a crime is registered,
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followed by a sequence number.

• It will be included in the CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems) database as both are
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✓ PM SHRI SCHEME
It stands for Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI)- Upgradation of School Infrastructure.
Scheme Type:a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
About: Under the scheme, 14500 schools will be upgraded in accordance with New Education Policy (NEP).
Other Key features
• All components of the National Education Policy 2020 will be showcased by these schools.
• Duration Period: 2022-23 to 2026-27
• Eligibility: The Elementary schools & the Secondary/ Sr. Secondary Schools managed by Centre/State/UT
Governments / local self-governments having UDISE+ code would be considered for selection under the
Scheme.
• Selection of PM SHRI schools will be done through Challenge Mode wherein Schools compete for support
to become exemplar schools.
• Schools will be selected only if the State government agrees to implement the NEP in its entirety with the
Centre
• Implementation Strategy: Same as the present administrative structure available for SamagraShiksha, KVS &
NVS
This Scheme will focus on a discovery oriented, learning centric way of teaching, including modern infra, latest
technology, smart classrooms, sports and more.
➢ HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Operation Gear Box
Launched by: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
About:
● Operation Gear Box is conducted to detect the hidden drugs in the gear boxes.
● The gears from old and used gearboxes were removed after opening them and plastic packets containing the
narcotic substance were placed in the created cavity and the gearboxes were refitted to avoid detection.
● The drug syndicate has used this unique modus operandi to conceal heroin.
● These packets were shipped concealing inside this metal scrap with other metal scrap so that it would go
unnoticed by the authorities.
➢ MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

✓ Swasth Sabal Bharat Sammelan
About- Organ Donation in India
In India, Organ donation is regulated through Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994.
About the Act: It legalised the concept of Brain Death which is the irreversible and permanent cessation of all
brain functions. In case of Brain Death, organs can be transplanted to terminally ill people.
Working mechanism:
● A panel of 4 doctors has to declare a person brain dead before their organs can be harvested.
● Doctors have to conduct 4 tests which are Cornea reflex test, Ear reflex test, Gag reflex test and Aphena reflex
test twice in a time frame of six hours, before declaring a person brain dead.
✓ Revised Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

About: The new aims in the revised BBBP scheme include:
● Ensuring 1% increment in enrolment at the secondary level particularly in STEM (Science, Technology,
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Engineering, Mathematics) subjects.

● Skilling of girls and women every year (mainly in non-traditional livelihoods)
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● Raising awareness about safe menstrual hygiene
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● Promulgating elimination of child marriages
About BBBP scheme:
● The Scheme was launched by Prime Minister on January 22, 2015 to addresses the declining Child Sex Ratio
(CSR) and related issues of women’s empowerment over a life-cycle continuum.
● It is a Tri-ministerial effort of the Ministries of Women and Child Development (MW&CD), Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare (MH&FW), and Ministry of Education
➢ MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
✓ Pm Kisan Samrudhi Kendra
About: Under this scheme, more than 3.3 lakh retail fertilizer shops in the country will be converted into PMKSK
in a phased manner.
PM SammridhiKendras:
● These are the sales centres for fertiliser.
● These will be centres where farmers can buy fertilisers and seeds.
● These centres will provide soil testing and avail useful information about farming techniques.
● It will ensure the quality of the fertiliser and its availability, as urea will be available only under the ‘Bharat’ brand
name in the entire country
➢ MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

✓ Shakti Sadan
About: Under the newly approved Mission Shakti, Swadhar Greh for women in difficult circumstances and
Ujjawala for Prevention of Trafficking have been merged and renamed as Shakti Sadan which is an Integrated
Relief and Rehabilitation Home.
Scheme Type: Centrally sponsored scheme
Aim: to create a safe and enabling environment for women in distress situations and difficult circumstances.
The Shakti Sadan have provision for shelter, food, clothing, primary health care among others. Under the
Scheme, States/UTs forward proposals on the basis of their local need and requirement and funds are released
for approved projects as per Scheme Guidelines.
➢ MINISTRY OF AYUSH
✓ Smart Program
Launched by: The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for
Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush.
It stands for Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals
Objective:
● To boost scientific research through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.
● It aims to identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas including
Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity,
Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
● To motivate teachers to take up projects in designated areas of healthcare research and create a large database.
➢ MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT,FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

✓ MISHTI
It stands for: ‘Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes’,
Launched in: Union Budget 2023-24
About: To initiate mangrove plantation along the coastline and on salt pan lands across the country.
Mangrove forests are spread across AP, WB, Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala,
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Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.

Scheme implementation:
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● By convergence of CAMPA Fund, MGNREGS, and other sources.

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● CAMPA means Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority. The fund was
established to increase the activities of afforestation in the country.
● MGNREGS is Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. It has been launched under the
MGNREGA Act of 2005.
➢ MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

✓ MGNREGA
MGNREGA is one of the largest work guarantee programmes in the world Launched in: 2005
Launched by: Ministry of Rural development.
About: The programme provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year
to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory
minimum wage.
This act was introduced with an aim of improving the purchasing power of the rural people, primarily semi or
un-skilled work to people living below poverty line in rural India.
Key features:
• Roughly one-third of the stipulated work force must be women.
• Adult members of rural households submit their name, age and address with a photo to the Gram Panchayat.
• The employment will be provided within a radius of 5 km: if it is above 5 km extra wage will be paid.
• It is the Gram Sabha and the Gram Panchayat which approves the shelf of works under MGNREGA and fix their
priority
Eligibility:
• Must be Citizen of India to seek MGNREGA benefits.
• Job seeker has completed 18 years of age at the time of application.
• The applicant must be part of a local household (i.e. application must be made with local Gram Panchayat).
• Applicants must volunteer for unskilled labour.
Funding pattern:- The scheme is funded by the central government which bears the full cost of unskilled labour and
75% of the cost of material for works undertaken under this law
✓ National Social Assistance Program

Scheme Type: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme
Ministry of rural development.
It is a social security and welfare programme to provide financial support to aged persons, widows, disabled
persons and bereaved families on death of primary bread winner Launched in:15th August 1995.
Eligibility: To avail benefits under NSAP the applicant must belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family
Five sub schemes of NSAP (currently):
• Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
• Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
• Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
• National Family Benefit Scheme NFBS) and
• Annapurna
➢ MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

✓ PM PRANAM Scheme
It stand for PM Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management (PRANAM) Yojana
About: It aims to bring down the subsidy burden on chemical fertilizers.
Implementation: An initiation of the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
Budget: There will not be any separate budget for the scheme and it will be financed through the savings of
existing fertilizer subsidy under schemes run by the Department of Fertilizers.
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Subsidies under the PRANAM

• 50% subsidy savings- used as grant to the state that saves the money
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• 70% of the grant to be used for asset creation related to technological adoption of alternate fertilisers and creation
of such units at village, block and district levels.
• 30% grant money to be used to incentivise farmers, panchayats, FPOs and SHGs engaged in the reduction of
fertiliser use and awareness generation
➢ MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

✓ Jal Jeevan Mission
Launched by: Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2019.
Objective: The aim is to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap
connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.
• The goal of the mission: To ensure ‘Har Ghar Jal’- every house in the village is to be provided with a
Functional tap connection
• Recently, the budgetary allocation for Jal Jeevan Mission has been raised by 27% for the financial year
2023-24 (FY24) to ensure that there is no delay in the programme due to a paucity of funds
➢ MINISTRY OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

✓ Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
• It is the flagship scheme running under Skill India Mission which was launched by GOI in 2015
• So far it has trained over 1.32 crore people in different skills since its inception.
• Key objective is vocational training and certification of Indian youth this ensuring them better livelihood
opportunities.
• Individuals with prior experience are also assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
• PMKVY is implemented by the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) under the guidance of the
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• This scheme has undergone three phases and PMKVY 3.0 is undergoing right now.
• It is a centrally sponsored scheme
✓ Grameen Udyami Project
• It is a unique project to multi skill India’s youth and impart functional skills to them for enabling livelihoods.
• It is funded by NSDC that aims to train 450 tribal students in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
• Six states where it is being implemented are Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh,
Jharkhand, and Gujarat.
• Recently, NSDC in partnership with Seva Bharti and Yuva Vikas Society, launched the second phase of the
Grameen Udyami Project.
• NSDC under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Enterprises (MSDE) has supported setting
up of labs and classrooms through Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) in Seva Bharti Kendra Skill Development
Center
About NSDC:
• It is a non-profit public limited company established in 2008 under the Companies Act,1956.
• The Government of India, through the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), owns
49% stake in NSDC, while the remaining 51% is owned by the private sector.
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ECONOMY
Money and Banking
Digital Divide in Financial Inclusion
News Excerpt
Recently, the Union Minister of Electronics and IT has asserted that Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platforms are worth
55% of India’s gross domestic product (GDP), pointing toward an increase in the use of the digital payment ecosystem in
India. Though it was imagined that digital payment will lead to financial inclusion automatically, however an undertone
of the digital divide still exists and need to be proactively addressed.
Key Facts
Financial Inclusion
• Financial inclusion is defined as the process of ensuring access to financial services and timely and adequate credit
where needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low-income groups at an affordable cost.
• In a diverse country like India, financial inclusion is a critical part of the development process. Since independence, the
combined efforts of successive governments, regulatory institutions, and civil society have helped in increasing the
financial-inclusion net in the country.
• The state of financial inclusion has improved considerably over time. However, financial inclusion hasn’t reached
the poorest of the poor and there exist many bottlenecks and challenges which need immediate attention.
Digital Divide
➢ A digital divide is an uneven distribution in the access to, use of, or impact of information and communications
technologies between any number of distinct groups, which can be defined based on social, geographical, or
geopolitical criteria, or otherwise.
➢ Bridging the digital divide that prevails is crucial to address the root cause of financial inclusion.
Challenges in Financial Inclusion
✓ Despite all the initiatives, India is still behind in providing universal access to bank accounts to its citizens. According
to the Findex 2017 report, about 190 million adults in India do not have a bank account. This makes India the world’s
second-largest nation in terms of unbanked population after China.
✓ The low-
income Digital Financial Inclusion Initiatives Taken in India
group is still ❖ JAM Trinity: It is the combination of Aadhar and Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana
left out (PMJDY) along with increasing mobile communication coverage. Using this trinity,
because the access to financial services is eased.
bank cannot ❖ Expansion of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) by National Payments Corporation
provide a of India (NPCI). Similarly, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) is used
favourable for offline transaction-enabling use mobile banking services without internet, even on
financial a basic mobile handset.
product. ❖ Multiple instrument for financial Inclusion is launched by RBI and National Bank for
✓ Indian Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). These includes Kisan Credit Cards,
Payment Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) scheme, Linkage of self-help groups
economy is
(SHGs) with banks, Business correspondents, bank branches in remote areas.
heavily
❖ Awareness programmes like Project Financial Literacy of RBI and Pocket Money
dominated
program of SEBI.
by cash. The
data from RBI
reveals that cash circulation has increased in 2018 after demonetization. Also, according to International Labour
Organization (ILO), about 81% of the employed persons in India work in the informal sector. This combination of the
informal sector and high dependence on cash mode of transaction poses an obstacle to digital financial inclusion.
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Neobanks
News Excerpt
Neobanks bridge the gap between the services that traditional banks offer and the evolving expectations of
customers in the digital age. They are changing the face of FinTech and could one day eclipse traditional banks.
Key Facts
• Neobanks are financial institutions that give customers a cheaper alternative to traditional banks. You could
think of them as digital banks without any physical branches, offering services that traditional banks don’t,
and doing so efficiently. They leverage technology and artificial intelligence to offer personalised services to
customers while minimising operating costs.
• In India, these firms don't have a bank license of their own but rely on bank partners to offer licensed services.
That’s because the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) doesn’t allow banks to be 100% digital yet. The RBI remains
unwavering in prioritising banks’ physical presence, and has spoken about the need for digital banking service
providers to have some physical presence as well.
• Neobanks provide products that come under the regulatory framework of the three financial regulators — the
Reserve Bank of India, the Securities & Exchange Board of India, and the Insurance and Regulatory
Development Authority of India. While there is no specific restriction on operations of neobanks, they are not
directly subjected to compliances under RBI’s licensing regime.
• NITI Aayog’s 2021 proposal to set up full-stack digital banks lays down the roadmap for a licensing and regulatory
mechanism for neobanks, so direly needed. Initially, the RBI too conceptualised in its Report by Working Group
on Digital Lending to enlist such neobanks in a regulatory sandbox.
Neobanks vs traditional banks
➢ Traditional banks have many advantages over neobanks, such as funding and -- most importantly -- customers'
trust. However, legacy systems are weighing them down and they find it difficult to adapt to the growing needs
of a tech-savvy generation.
➢ While neobanks don’t have the funds or customer ❖ The poster boy of neobanks is ‘Nubank’ that initially
base to overthrow traditional banks, they have offered credit cards in Brazil.
something special in their arsenal -- innovation. They ❖ It did not have a banking licence until 2017, much like the
present Indian players.
can launch features and develop partnerships to serve
❖ Once it acquired the licence, it became a full-stack digital
their customers much more quickly than traditional
bank offering a plethora of services. It is established that
banks. neobanks are a viable business model providing core
➢ Venture capital and private equity investors have banking services rather than collaborating with regulated
been keeping a keen eye on the market opportunities entities.
for such banks and are taking an increasing interest in
them. India’s neobank startups raised more than $230
million in 2020, according to a report by a FinTech research firm.
➢ As of 2020, India had a smartphone penetration rate of 54%, which is estimated to increase to 96% by 2040. Even
though 80% of the population has access to at least one bank account, financial inclusion levels are yet to improve,
according to a September 2021 PwC report.
Tokenisation of cards
News Excerpt
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the timeline for tokenisation of debit and credit cards by three months till
September 30, 2022 to avoid disruption and inconvenience to cardholders.
Key Facts
• Under tokenisation services, a unique alternate code is generated to facilitate transactions through cards. It is the
process of substituting a 16-digit customer card number with a non-sensitive equivalent value, referred to
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as a token.
• This essentially means that a customer's card information will no longer be available on any Merchant,
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Payment Gateway, or 3rd party that helps in the processing of digital transactions today.
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• With card tokenisation, consumers no longer need to fear saving their card details. Cardholders will have to give
an explicit consent that will be collected for tokenisation.
• The implementation of the tokenisation request is then carried out through the Additional Factor of
Authentication (AFA) by the cardholder. This algorithmically generated token protects sensitive information and
prevents card frauds as it allows you to make payments without exposing your bank details.
Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB)

News Excerpt
The government has transformed Banks Board Bureau (BBB), into Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) by
making some amendments.
Key Facts
• Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) - It’s a government body set up under the Department of
Financial Services. The board will be entrusted with making recommendations for the appointment of full-
time directors and non-executive chairman of state-run financial services institutions.
• It would also issue guidelines for selecting general managers and directors of public sector general
insurance companies.
• While its main task is to play the role of head-hunter for the state-owned financial services entities, the
board will also be involved in formulating and developing business strategies for state-run banks and help
them in their fund-raising plans.
• FSIB would be headed by a chairman, a central government nominee. The board would comprise the
Secretaries of the DFS, the chairman of IRDAI, and a deputy governor of the RBI. Additionally, it will have
three part-time members who are experts in banking and three more from the insurance sector.
• The intent is to go beyond the man-manager role and assist the government in formulating a code of conduct
and ethics for whole-time directors in these entities. It would also monitor and assess the performance of public
sector banks, government-owned financial institutions and insurance companies.
Why has it replaced Banks Board Bureau (BBB)?
• The Banks Board Bureau (BBB), came in to controversy in 2018, just two years after its inception in April 2016.
• The 2019, $2-billion fraud at PNB shocked the banking community.
• The BBB was declared an incompetent authority last year by the Delhi High Court, when a general manager at
state-owned National Insurance Company challenged the appointment of a person junior to him for Directors
position by the BBB. Consequent to the order, 10–11 directors appointed by the BBB had to vacate office.
Depreciation of Indian rupee

News Excerpt
Recently, Finance minister in Lok Sabha asserted that Indian rupee has declined by about 25 per cent in comparison with
the US dollar. Trends have shown that 1 US dollar now cost over 80 rupees, a new low in the history of Dollar-rupee
currency exchange rate.
Key Facts
▪ The price of one currency in terms of other currency is called exchange rate.
▪ Exchange rate system is classified into
• Fixed Exchange rate system
• Floating Exchange rate system
▪ Under Fixed exchange rate system central bank of a country itself decide the rate of its currency to foreign
currency:
• If it decides to strengthen its currency then it is called Revaluation.
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• If it decides to weaken its currency then it is called devaluation.

▪ Under the Floating exchange rate system market mechanism of supply and demand decides the exchange rate:
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• If currency gets strengthen then it is called currency Appreciation.
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• If currency gets weaken then it is called Depreciation.
▪ India since 1995 is following a managed floating exchange rate wherein RBI follows a minimum reserve
system in which it keeps gold of some amount along with some additional amount of foreign currency or
securities.
▪ Nominal Effective Exchange rate (NEER): Tracking of only dollar-rupee exchange doesn’t provide full picture
as India trades with others countries and thereby in their currency. Therefore, RBI calculates geometric average
of rupees exchange rate against upto 36 types of foreign currency. This average is called NEER.
▪ Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) - When NEER is adjusted as per the CPI-Inflation levels in India and
those foreign countries it is called real effective exchange rate.
▪ NEER vs REER give us the real picture on currency being strengthening or weakning against foreign currencies
and this help us in understanding our export competitiveness.
Why Is Rupee Falling?
o The rupee has been on the decline since early this year, especially after supply chain disruptions in view of the
Russia-Ukraine war, global economic challenges, inflation, and high crude oil prices, among other issues.
o Besides, there have been heavy foreign fund outflows from the domestic markets as the foreign institutional
investors (FIIs) have sold shares worth $28.4 billion so far this year, outstripping the $11.8-billion sell-off seen
during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. The rupee has depreciated 5.9 per cent versus the dollar so far this
calendar year.
o Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve recently increased the interest rates, and the return on dollar assets increased
compared with those of emerging markets such as India.
Embedded Finance
News Excerpt
Embedded finance is the new norm in payments and banking. It is poised to play a significant role in revolutionizing the
banking sector in India
and is set to play a crucial
role in financial inclusion
in India.
Understanding
Embedded Finance
• It is the seamless
integration of
financial services
into a traditionally
non-financial
service. This enables
customers to access
financial services
within the ecosystem
of the business.
• For instance, it allows
a customer to make
cashless payments
within a ride-hailing
app, or make a
cashless purchase on
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an online store
without having to
leave their buying journeys.
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➢ Advantages offered by Embedded System
o It can streamline financial processes for mid-market businesses by lowering barriers to entry for various products
and services through business-to-business payment.
o It can address and smoothen liquidity gaps and cash-flow management by making procedural work integral to
day-to-day business activities.
o It is expected to increase the total size of the financial services sector through the exponential creation of credit
and other use cases.
o It's a people-first approach to finance that allows consumers to access financial services exactly where and when
they need them without diluting the context.
o It makes the digital discovery of credit products easy by conveniently positioning credit products ‘in-context’
and by educating consumers.
Financial Inclusion through Embedded Finance
Embedded finance can provide new channels for delivering financial services to those underserved by integrating
financial services into non-financial products and services. Further, it can potentially increase competition in the financial
services market, resulting in better products and services for customers. Financial inclusion, aided by embedded finance,
makes financial services more convenient and accessible. For example, by incorporating financial services into mobile
apps, people can use their smartphones to access financial products and services anytime and from any location.
o It leverages the platform’s deep understanding of the customer and tailors the credit product for the specific
needs of the end customer.
RBI Issues guidelines to regulate digital lending

News Excerpt
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the first set of guidelines for digital lending, to crack down on illegal activities
by certain players. This follows the recommendation of a Working Group on Digital Lending (WGDL) that had
submitted its report recently.
Key Facts
• Digital Lending involves lending through web platforms or mobile apps, utilizing technology for authentication and
credit evaluation.
• Over 190 million Indian adults don't have any kind of bank account thereby representing a huge opportunity. Over
the years, the digital lending market in India has significantly expanded. The value of digital lending rose from USD
33 billion in FY15 to USD 150 billion in FY20 and is projected to reach USD 350 billion by FY23.
RBI has categorised digital lenders into three groups:
o Entities that are regulated by the RBI and are allowed to carry out lending business.
o Entities that are authorized to carry out a lending as per other statutory or regulatory provisions but are not
regulated by the RBI.
o Entities lending outside the purview of any statutory or regulatory provisions.
Guidelines by RBI
The RBI has mandated following regulations in order to check mis-selling to customers, unethical business
conduct, exorbitant interest rates, and excessive engagement of third parties in digital lending transactions.
All loan disbursals and repayments are to be executed between the bank accounts of the borrower and the entity.
This eliminates the presence of a nodal pass-through or pool account of the LSP.
Lenders must inform the borrower about all the fees, charges, and the annual percentage rate (APR) in a
standardised format.
Charges payable to LSPs in the credit intermediation process will be paid directly by the bank and not the
borrower.
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No automatic increase in credit limit can be made without the explicit consent of the borrower.
Data collected by digital lending apps must be need-based, with the borrower’s prior consent, and can be audited
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Banks and the LSPs
RBI regulates Fintech Companies
associated with them must
❖ RBI has termed Fintechs as direct service providers or DSPs, thus giving it official
appoint a nodal grievance
status of DSAs or direct selling agents, often the link between banks and
redressal officer to deal with customers in the traditional world.
FinTech- or digital lending- ❖ Any loan related transaction, whether execution of loan documents,
related complaints. disbursement, or repayment, is now mandated to be directly transacted between
The borrower can complain the borrower and the regulated entities. This ensures that money and the paper
to the Integrated trail is not left with the intermediary or the DSP.
Ombudsman Scheme of the ❖ In a bid to improve transparency and secure the trust of the customer, the
RBI if their grievance is not regulations state that the cost of the transaction will now have to be borne by
the regulated entity and like with any loan product, all-inclusive cost of the loan
resolved by the bank within
should be revealed to the customer. The room to charge exorbitant fees by
30 days.
Fintechs is now set to disappear. The issue of customer’s credit score getting hurt
Regulated Entities are without their knowledge is also effectively addressed.
required to ensure that any ❖ The RBI has mandated to report all lending transactions done through DSPs to
lending carried out through credit information bureau. Therefore, whether a customer is on boarded through
digital lending apps has to be a third party FinTech app or directly by the bank, the onus of running a check on
reported to Credit the customer’s credit worthiness fully vests with the regulated entity. This also
Information Companies addresses the issue of ever greening of loans.
❖ The RBI is insisting that data on transactions through the loan apps must be
(CICs).
preserved within the country. Likewise, it is now stipulated that the app cannot
Lending through the Buy collect customer-related data without customer consent and that data collected
Now Pay Later (BNPL) mode should be need-based. An audit trail of such data is also now necessary.
also needs to be reported to
the CICs.
RBI’s Fraud Registry

News Excerpt
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is considering setting up a fraud Government Initiatives to counter Digital
registry as part of its efforts to strengthen customer protection and Frauds
check digital frauds. It will create a database of fraudulent websites, ❖ Government launched an Inter-Ministerial
phones and various methods used by fraudsters. Committee on Phone Frauds composed of
members of stakeholder organisations such
Google Awareness
as the Ministry of Electronics and Information
❖ Google launched a New Multilingual campaign against digital
Technology (MeitY), the Department of
fraud in which it is collaborating with MeitY and Digital India to
Financial Services, Department of
create a pan-India, multilingual user awareness campaign.
Telecommunication, and Reserve Bank of
❖ Google is providing grant support to local non-profits to launch
India and law enforcement agencies.
outreach programs for these users belonging to vulnerable
❖ National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, was
communities like Senior citizens, LGBTQ+ communities, in the
launched by the central government to enable
local languages.
complainants against all types of cybercrimes,
including net and online frauds.
Key Facts
• As per the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Annual Report 2021–22, the volume of frauds reported by financial institutions
(FIs) using cards and internet banking was 34% higher at 3,596 in 2021–22 as against 2,677 frauds in 2019–20.
• The value of fraudulent transactions in 2021–22 was INR 1.55 billion – 20% more than that in 2019–20 (INR 1.29 billion).
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DIGITAL BANKING UNITS DEDICATED TO NATION
News Excerpt
Prime Minister on 16 October 2022 dedicated 75 digital banking units to the nation, taking forward an announcement
that was made in the 2022-23 Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The digital banking units will
“further financial inclusion” and “significantly improve banking experience for the citizens”.
Key Facts
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the guidelines for DBUs, following the report of a working group of the
Indian Banks Association (IBA).
• A digital banking unit is a specialized fixed point business unit or hub, housing a certain minimum digital
infrastructure for delivering digital banking products and services as well as servicing existing financial
products and services digitally in self-service mode at any time.
• Commercial banks (other than regional rural banks, payment banks and local area banks) with past digital
banking experience are permitted to open DBUs in tier 1 to tier 6 centers, unless otherwise specifically
restricted, without having the need to take permission from the RBI in each case.
• The services include saving bank accounts under various schemes, current accounts, fixed deposit and recurring
deposit accounts, digital kits for customers, mobile banking, Internet banking, debit cards, credit cards, and mass
transit system cards, digital kits for merchants, UPI QR codes, BHIM Aadhaar and point of sale (PoS).
What was the initial announcement?

In the Budget for 2022-23, the Finance Minister said: “In recent years, digital banking, digital payments
and FinTech innovations have grown at a rapid pace in the country.
The government is continuously encouraging these sectors to ensure that the benefits of digital
banking reach every nook and corner of the country in a consumer-friendly manner.
Taking forward this agenda, and to mark 75 years of our independence, it is proposed to set up 75
Digital Banking Units (DBUs) in 75 districts of the country by Scheduled Commercial Banks”
Internationalisation of Rupee
News Excerpt
Recently, the RBI deputy governor Understanding Current and Capital Accounts
highlighted the advantages and risks Every country keeps a record of all economic transactions made between the
associated with the Internationalisation of residents and non-residents for a specific time. This is known as the Balance
the Indian Rupee. of Payment (Bop). BoP is sub-classified into two parts which are:
Key Facts Current Account: It includes a transaction of Goods and Services, Income from
• An international currency is a currency primary sources such as wages, dividends, and interest, and Income from
that is freely available to non-residents, secondary sources such as remittances, gifts, and donations.
essentially to settle cross-border Capital Account: It can also be considered a financial account as it includes
transactions. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI), External
Commercial Borrowings (ECBs), NRI investment in the bank, insurance, and
• Mostly advanced economies' currencies
other schemes, and foreign exchange reserves of the RBI.
enjoy such status and it confers
substantial economic privileges to those
countries. For example, the Dollar carries not only hegemonic powers but also immune the US from any Balance of
Payment crisis as it can pay for its external deficits with its currency.
• Therefore, an internationalized rupee will be used for settling transactions in both the current account as well as capital
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account. Presently, India only has current account convertibility. The SS Tarapore Committee recommended full
capital account convertibility.
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Steps taken towards internationalisation of the Rupee
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➢ Masala Bonds which allowed for Design of Indian Currency
external commercial borrowings Design and changes in the Indian rupee have to be approved by the RBI’s Central Board
in Rupees. (Under Section 25 of the RBI Act 1934) and the central government. Changes in the design
➢ Recently RBI has allowed of coins are the prerogative of the central government. RBI’s Department of Currency
domestic traders to settle their Management looks after the design of banknotes. If the design of a currency note has to
import and export bills in Indian change, the Department works on the design and submits it to RBI, which recommends it
Rupee. Asian Clearing Union is to the central government. The government gives the final approval. Notes issued by the
also developing an arrangement department so far include:
under which importers of each ❖ Ashoka Pillar Banknotes: The first banknote issued in independent India was the Re 1
note issued in 1949 they had the symbol of the Lion Capital of the Ashoka Pillar at
country will have a choice to pay
Sarnath in the watermark window.
in domestic currency.
❖ Mahatma Gandhi (MG) Series, 1996. 2005 and 2016.
Central Bank Digital Currency

News Excerpt
The Reserve Bank of India had rolled out India’s first digital rupee pilot project for the wholesale segment and will
soon be launching it for retail users as well.
Key Facts
Evolution of Digital Currency
• David Chaum in the year 1983 imagined the concept of Digital Cash based on the cryptographic principles of privacy
and security.
• With the development of Block chain technology, Bitcoins were developed which eliminated the need for a trusted
third party and allowed decentralized payments which are cryptographically signed and secured to validate payments.
• Central banks worldwide have closely monitored the developments in virtual and cryptocurrency for many years before
it becomes very volatile and threatened economic stability.
Digital or Crypto Currency in India
➢ Initially, RBI placed a Ban on Cryptocurrency, but it was revoked in 2020 by Supreme Court as it did not pass the test
of proportionality.
➢ The government of India has formed two committees on Cryptocurrency, one under Dinesh Sharma and another
under Subhash Garg, both suggesting to ban cryptocurrency.
➢ Under the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021, the government was ostensibly
planning to ban all private cryptocurrencies. However, the government made it clear that if RBI launches a block chain-
based digital currency it will be permitted.
➢ In Union Budget 2022, the government announced a 30% Capital Gain Tax on income from virtual digital assets
including cryptocurrency and Non-Fungible Tokens. It also proposed 1% TDS on the purchase of Bitcoin.
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
Globally, multiple countries are exploring CBDC. Ten countries have launched CBDC, the Bahamas (Sand Dollar) was the
first to release it in 2020 and recently Jamaica also followed the suit.
E-Rupee
It is RBI’s CBDC which has sovereign backing and is released in accordance with monetary policy.
It is a legal tender.
It is freely convertible against the physical currency which means the digital currency can be exchanged for cash
equivalent to paper notes. Unlike UPI, a customer doesn’t need a bank account to transact using e-rupees.
The infrastructure of CBDCs is based on Distributed Ledger Technology (Block chain).
They are divided into two categories
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o CBDC-W: CBDC-Wholesale is for restricted access to select financial institutions. It is intended for the settlement
of interbank transfers and related wholesale transactions. It has the potential to transform settlement systems for
financial transactions and make them more efficient and secure.
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o CBDC-R: CBDC-Retail is primarily meant for retail transactions. It can provide access to safe money for payment
and settlement as it is a direct liability of the Central Bank.
There are two models for the issuance and management of CBDCs- under Direct Model- RBI is responsible for
managing all aspects of the CBDC system viz. issuance, account-keeping, and transaction verification. Under the
Indirect Model- the central bank issues CBDC to consumers indirectly through intermediaries and any claim by
consumers is managed by the intermediary as the central bank only handles wholesale payments to intermediaries.
CBDC-R is structured as token-based i.e. like a bearer instrument like banknotes, meaning whosoever holds the tokens
at a given point in time would be presumed to own them. CBDC-W is structured as an account-based system in which
maintenance of records of balances and transactions of all holders of the CBDC is kept to indicate the ownership of
the monetary balances. In a token-based CBDC, the person receiving a token will verify that his ownership of the token
is genuine, whereas, in an account-based CBDC, an intermediary verifies the identity of an account holder.
Foreign Exchange Reserve and Rupee Depreciation

News Excerpt
Foreign exchange reserves of India (Asia's third-largest economy) fell by $4.85 billion to $532.66 billion for the week
ending Sep 30, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India
Key Facts
● Forex or foreign exchange reserves are essentially assets held by the central bank in foreign currencies as a reserve.
They are usually used for backing the exchange rate and influencing monetary policy.
● In the case of India, our forex reserves include dollars, gold, and the International Monetary Fund’s quota for Special
Drawing Rights. Most of the reserves are usually held in US dollars given the currency’s importance in the international
trading and financial system. Though central banks also hold reserves in British pounds, euros, Chinese yuan, or the
Japanese yen, in addition to their US dollar reserves.
Cause of decline
✓ RBI’s action to check depreciation of rupee: Analysts believe a large part of the fall has been on account of the
Reserve Bank of India's intervention in the currency market to prevent the rupee from depreciating more sharply
against dollar.
✓ Appreciation of US Dollar: According to Finance minister (in the ongoing annual meeting of the World Bank and
the International Monetary Fund), the decline in India’s foreign exchange reserves is largely due to the valuation
changes arising from an appreciating U.S. dollar. The US dollar reached its highest level in two decades.
✓ Slowdown in FII inflow: Because of increasing interest rate in United States. So far, in 2022, FIIs have
removed ₹270,246.51 crore from the equities.
✓ Increasing import bills because of high crude oil and food prices.
Failure in Inflation Targeting

News Excerpt
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) will soon submit its response to the Government of India
about the high rate of inflation in the country.
Key Facts
Understanding Monetary Policy (MP)
• MP is a macroeconomic policy designed by the Central Bank of a
country. It aims to manage the money supply and interest
rates.
• RBI since 2016, is following the Inflation target regime under its
monetary policy regime. For this, it has a Monetary Planning
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committee (MPC).
• MPC, Consists of six members-
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o Three from the RBI Side (RBI Governor as Ex-Officio Chairman, Dy. Governor responsible for Monetary Policy,
and One Person nominated by the RBI central board).
o Three from Government Side (Selected by Search-cum-Selection Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary)
• They decided on Repo Rate (Also known as, Policy Rate or Benchmark Rate) by majority vote. In case of tie, RBI
governor has second casting vote.
• The inflation target is set by the Union government in consultation with the RBI governor.
• To target inflation benchmark is Consumer Price Index (combined).
Limitation of Monetary Policy

In India, the use of Monetary Policy to target inflation and boost economic growth is impacted by several reasons:
❖ Banking Issues: A huge level of Non-performing assets (NPA) impacts the transmission of monetary policy. Financial frauds in
both Public, as well as Private sector banks, restrict capital formation and impact the trust of depositors. Banks takes 6-12
month to transfer policy-cut benefits to the end customers.
❖ Culture of the Indian Economy: In western economies, there is a culture of consumerism hence their saving rate is low. But
in India, it is diametrically opposite, there is a culture of saving for rainy days. Therefore, Banks don’t depend on Repo as a
major source of its fund. Further, In India, formal lending is also low, in rural areas informal moneylenders circulate black
money and charge high-interest rates to their borrowers.
❖ Lack of ease in doing business and crucial infrastructure, coupled with heavy dependence on monsoon and high energy
imports creates a structural imbalance in the Indian economy.
❖ A high fiscal deficit and a new trend of populist measures in Indian polity create further trouble for economic policy.
❖ Unable to address supply side issues: Monetary Policy is effective in managing only the demand-side issues. However, it is
unable to address any supply-side constraints (like food inflation because of high import price).
Report to the Government in case of failure of monetary policy

➢ If the target is not within the range (within 2 to 6 percent band) for 3 consecutive quarters, then MPC must send
report to the government about the same with remedies.
➢ Under the RBI Act, 1934, MPC is required to provide the following information to the government:
o Reasons for the failure to achieve the inflation target.
o Remedial actions needed to be taken.
o An estimate of the time within which the inflation target shall be achieved under the timely
implementation of the proposed remedial actions.
RBI’s Failure: The retail inflation based on CPI (Combined) has remained above 6 per cent since January 2022. This made
RBI liable to submit report to the Government.
Challenges RBI facing on Monetary Policy Front
✓ Global Inflation: The trend of global inflation has forced central banks across the globe to resort to hawkish monetary
policy. It had led to massive capital outflows in India.
✓ Oil price rise: Ukraine War has severely affected the oil supply and crude oil prices. This is driving a rise in the Current
Account Deficit (CAD) for India as India is heavily dependent on oil imports.
✓ Rupee Depreciation: As the US dollar gets strengthened, the Indian rupee is witnessing a depreciation. This has
brought imported inflation in India.
✓ Trade Deficit and Current Account Deficit: India has been witnessing a double whammy of rising Trade deficit and
Current account deficit. Both of them are depleting India’s forex reserves.
✓ Growth Issue: There exists a risk to economic growth. As US Federal Reserve tightens its monetary policy risk of a
global economic recession looks almost certain.
Nostro vs Vostro Account

About: The government of India decided to open 9 Vostro accounts with 2 Indian banks to circumvent sanctions imposed
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on Russia and do trade in the Indian rupee.

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• Nostro and Vostro are Latin words that
mean “Our Money with you” and “Yours
Money with us” respectively.
• A Vostro account is an account that a
domestic bank holds for a foreign bank
in the domestic bank’s currency.
• A Nostro account is an account of a
domestic bank held in a foreign bank in
foreign currency.
• They have wide applications ranging
from foreign trade to remittance transfer.
INDIA'S FIRST INTERNATIONAL GOLD EXCHANGE

News Excerpt
Prime Minister on 29 July 2022 launched India's first International Bullion Exchange - International Bullion Exchange (IIBX)
- in the GIFT city (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City). India International Bullion Exchange Ltd (IIBX) is promoted by
five market institutional investor’s i.e., CDSL, India INX, NSDL, NSE and MCX.
Key Facts
• It offers a diversified portfolio of products and technology services at a cost which the exchange claims is far
more competitive than the Indian exchanges as well as other global exchanges in Hong Kong Singapore, Dubai,
London and New York.
• This exchange will facilitate efficient price discovery with the assurance of responsible sourcing and quality, apart
from giving impetus to the financialisation of gold in India.
• The global gold exchange aims to create a regional bullion hub that will allow more jewellers to import the
precious metal.
• The bourse will allow qualified jewellers to directly import gold, a change from current rules where only some
banks and nominated agencies approved by the central bank can do so.
• Apart from qualified jewellers, foreign bullion suppliers who follow OECD guidelines, public, and private firms,
and Non-resident individual (NRIs) are also eligible to become members of the IIBX.
• International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) is the regulator of IIBX.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Union Budget 2020-21 had announced the setting up of IIBX at IFSCA.
SC VERDICT ON THE MONEY LAUNDERING ACT

News Excerpt
The Supreme Court 27 July 2022 upheld the constitutional validity of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
Key Facts
o The Enforcement Directorate under the PMLA Act is not considered “police” and hence does not follow
provisions of the CrPC for search, seizure, arrest, attachment of properties.
o The petitioners, arguing that the ED effectively exercises police powers, challenged the constitutionality
of provisions that deal with arrest and seizure etc.
o This is significant because since the ED is not a police agency, statements made by an accused to ED
officials is admissible in court. A statement made before a police officer during investigation is
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inadmissible.
o The Supreme Court rejected the argument that the ED should be obligated to follow the CrPC while
conducting investigations.
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o The PMLA Act stipulates a twin condition for bail where the accused has to make a case that she is prima
facie not guilty of the offence and also satisfy the court that they will not commit any further offence.
o In a 2017, ruling Nikesh Tarachand Shah vs Union of India, the Supreme Court struck down this as
unconstitutional.
o However, in a subsequent amendment in 2018, Parliament inserted these provisions again, through the
Finance Bill.
o The petitioners had challenged the amendments on two grounds — the passing of these amendments
through a Money Bill; and a substantive challenge that these provisions were essentially declared
unconstitutional.
Financial Market
Surety Bonds
News excerpt
In a bid to break the deadlock over the launch of Surety Bonds, the Ministry for Road Transport & Highways (MORTH)
has asked insurance regulator IRDAI to develop a model product on Surety Bonds in consultation with general insurers.
Key Facts
• A surety bond can be defined in its simplest form as a written agreement to guarantee compliance, payment,
or performance of an act. Surety is a unique type of insurance because it involves a three-party agreement. The
three parties in a surety agreement are:
• Principal – the party that purchases the bond and undertakes an obligation to perform an act as promised.
• Surety – the insurance company or surety company that guarantees the obligation will be performed. If the
principal fails to perform the act as promised, the surety is contractually liable for losses sustained.
• Obligee - the party who requires, and often receives the benefit of— the surety bond. For most surety bonds, the
obligee is a local, state or federal
Types of surety bonds
government organization.
▪ Advance Payment Bond: It is a promise by the Surety provider to pay
• The Budget 2022-23, allowed the use of the outstanding balance of the advance payment in case the
surety insurance bonds as a substitute for contractor fails to complete the contract as per specifications or fails
bank guarantees in case of government to adhere to the scope of the contract.
procurement and also for gold imports. ▪ Bid Bond: It provides financial protection to an obligee if a bidder is
• Following this, Insurance Regulatory and awarded a contract under the bid documents, but fails to sign the
Development Authority of India (IRDAI) contract and provide any required performance and payment bonds.
▪ Contract Bond: It provides assurance to the public entity, developers,
released final guidelines to ensure orderly
subcontractors and suppliers that the contractor will fulfil its
development of surety insurance business
contractual obligation when undertaking the project. Contract bonds
in India. The IRDAI (Surety Insurance may include: Bid Bonds, Performance Bonds, Advance Payment Bonds
Contracts) Guidelines, 2022 will came into and Retention Money.
effect from 1st April, 2022. ▪ Customs and Court Bond: This is a type of guarantee where the
What is the benefit to a contractor, infra player? obligee is a public office such as tax office, customs administration or
By issuing the surety bond, the contractor does not the court, and it guarantees the payment of a public receivable
have to furnish a hefty bank guarantee. The bank incurred from opening a court case, clearing goods from customs or
losses due to incorrect customs procedures.
guarantee blocks a huge amount. Surety bonds
▪ Performance Bond: It provides assurance that the obligee will be
create a level playing field, empower the small and
protected if the principal or contractor fails to perform the bonded
medium contracts to bid for a project at par with a contract. If the obligee declares the principal or contractor as being
large contractor with financial muscle. in default and terminates the contract, it can call on the Surety to
Benefits of surety bonds meet the Surety’s obligations under the bond.
➢ The big challenge for new players is that
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often they find it difficult to get bank

guarantees and that’s where the role of Surety Bonds comes in. The government has planned investment worth
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Rs 7 trillion for infrastructure projects to be spent over the next 2-3 years.
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➢ To reduce indirect cost for suppliers and work-contractors, the use of surety bonds as a substitute for bank
guarantee will be made acceptable in government procurements.
➢ The large liquidity and funding requirements of the infrastructure sector can be addressed with surety bonds. It
will create a level-playing field for large, mid and small contractors.
➢ Customers may have concerns about working with an unfamiliar business, especially in an industry that may be
targeted by fraudsters. The bonding process boosts consumer confidence in your business because customers
know you can be held accountable for your performance and they won’t risk losing a large sum of money if you
fail to provide the services or products promised.
DRAFT OF NCRF RELEASED

News Excerpt
Draft National Credit Framework (NCrF), a unified credit accumulation and transfer framework applicable to school,
higher and vocational education, was put in public domain by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on 19 October
2022. It has been drafted by an 11-member committee headed by National Council of Vocational Education and
Training (NCVET) chairperson Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi.
Key Facts
• Credits are essentially a “recognition that a learner has completed a prior course of learning, corresponding to a
qualification at a given level”, according to the draft document. In other words, it is a way of quantifying learning
outcomes.
• Credit frameworks are guidelines to be followed by schools, colleges and universities in adopting the credit system.
• For example, the National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF) lays out the guidelines for higher
educational institutions that want to implement the credit system.
• The proposed NCrF seeks to integrate all the frameworks under one umbrella. Moreover, it also brings the entire
How will the credit points be obtained?

1. For the purpose of calculation, the NCrF has divided the education system into multiple levels. For school education, there
are four levels.
2. Students clearing class XII will be at credit level 4. For higher education, the levels are from 4.5 to 8 — which is basically
from first year UG to PhD.
3. The total credit points earned by the student will be obtained by multiplying the credits earned by them with the NCrF
level at which the credits have been earned.
school education system under the ambit of credits for the first time.
• So far, only the National Institute of Open Schooling followed a credit system. The NCrF also covers skill and
vocational education.
• According to the University Grants Commission (Establishment and Operation of Academic Bank Of Credits in Higher
Education) Regulations notified in July, 2021, the credits shall remain valid for a maximum duration of seven years.
Sovereign Green Bond

News Excerpt
Recently, the Government of India has approved the final Sovereign
Headline vs Core Inflation
Green Bonds Framework of India. They will be issued for mobilizing ❖ Headline Inflation: This is the measure of the
resources for green projects. total inflation within an economy which is
Key Facts presented in the form of Consumer Price Index
• A bond is an instrument to raise debt. or Wholesale Price Index.
• Since 2007, a market for bonds specifically self-labelled or ❖ Core Inflation: Headline inflation MINUS
inflation in food & energy articles.
designated as ‘green’ has emerged. They are exclusively used to
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finance or re-finance “green” projects, assets, or business activities.

• When these bonds carry guarantees related to the repayment of
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principal and payment of interest to the government, they are called sovereign green bonds.
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• A project is classified “green” based on four key principles. Battery Swapping
These include ❖ It is the procedure that involves exchanging discharged
o Encouraging energy efficiency in resource batteries for charged ones.
utilization. ❖ It provides flexibility in charging batteries and keeps the
o Reducing carbon emissions and greenhouse vehicle in operational mode with negligible downtime.
gases. ❖ It is generally used for smaller vehicles with smaller
o Promoting climate resilience. batteries that are easier to swap, compared to large
o Improving natural ecosystems and biodiversity, vehicles such solutions are yet to be developed.
especially in accordance with SDG (Sustainable ❖ NITI Aayog had released a draft on battery swapping in
Development Goals). which such swapping will fall under the Battery-as-a-
• SGB is in form of dated security. They will have a tenor Service (BaaS) business model. It calls for the Bureau
and interest rate. Money raised through SGB is part of of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to be the Central Nodal
overall government borrowing. Agency responsible for the rollout and
• They may carry lower interest rates than regular implementation of this policy.
government borrowings.
• They carry several benefits such as:
o They show the intent of the government on the climate front and provide funds to achieve sustainable
development.
o According to International Energy Agency, there is a shortage of funding required to reach net zero (around
4 trillion US dollars) emissions in emerging and developing economies. These can help in kick starting cash flow
for the process.
• In 2007, the European Investment Bank issued a Climate Awareness Bond, the world’s first green bond. The first
sovereign green bonds were issued by Poland and France as recently as early 2017.
• In end-2019, the share of sovereign issuers in total outstanding GSS bonds was only 4.2 percent, but it increased to
7.5 percent by end-June 2022.
Sovereign Green Bonds Framework
➢ It is in line with India’s commitments under “Panchamrit” made during COP 26.
➢ It will strengthen India’s commitment to its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) targets.
➢ A new Green Finance Working Committee (GFWC) will be constituted to validate key decisions on the issuance of
Sovereign Green Bonds.
➢ All fossil fuel-related projects have been kept out of the framework, along with biomass-based renewable energy
projects that rely on feedstock from protected areas.
Crypto-Bankruptcy
News Excerpt
Recently, the Lehman brother moment of crypto-currencies happened with the bankruptcy of FTX, the world's second-
largest crypto exchange. Investigations have pointed toward the malpractices in the FTX from market manipulation to
fraudulent transactions. FTX crash yet again points towards the problem with economic bubbles.
Key Facts
Understanding Economic Bubbles
• A bubble is an economic season with a very fast increase in asset prices with subsequent shrinkage of the economy. It
occurs any time that the price of a good rises far above the item's real value.
• There are a few main types of economic bubbles: stock market bubble, real estate bubble, and bubbles on other
markets, including precious metals, energy resources, and other goods.
• The causes of an economic bubble are highly debated, broadly there are two schools of thoughts
o The Classical-Liberal Perspective
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▪ Its supporters see the monetary policy of a central bank as unnecessary interventions that distort markets
thereby yielding negative consequences which lead to an economic bubble.
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▪ They believe the easy monetary policy of the
central bank leads to rapid credit growth Regulating finfluencers
and as a result an economic bubble. ❖ Finfluencers are social media influencers who advise on
finance and investment. This is a welcome step as it has
o The Keynesian Perspective
been reported in recent times that social media
▪ They believe it is the animal spirit behind the
influencers often re-purpose paid-for plugs as ‘free’
economic bubble which causes investment
educational content and monetize their large follower
prices to rise and fall based on human
base by taking hefty fees from financial firms.
emotion rather than intrinsic value.
❖ SEBI has decided to regulate finfluencers, it has barred
▪ They believe that recessions and Commission-earning mutual fund distributors from giving
depressions are unavoidable and that an fund advice.
active central bank can mitigate fluctuations ❖ Further, All individuals and firms dispensing advice on
in the business cycle. mutual funds or listed securities are required to register
• Other than these there are several other reasons with SEBI either as Research Analysts or Registered
responsible for an economic bubble these include: Investment Advisers (RIAs), adhering to minimum
o A bubble is formed when investment coverage academic qualifications and eligibility criteria.
increases in the fixed investment capacity and thus
resources of growth decrease with the efficiency of
investments rising sharply.
o Poor regulation by market regulators allows vested interests to take shape and prosper without following any
sound economic policy. A prime example is the 2008 Global Financial crisis.
• Impact of an Economic Bubble
o The majority of the burden of economic bubbles always falls on the poor. It results in job loss and an economic
recession with a global impact owing to globalization.
o For example, in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, not even a single CEO responsible for speculative
trading and following risky trading lost even a single penny out of the hefty bonuses they were making. On the
other hand majority of pension funds went bankrupt forcing old age people with low skills back into the job
market.
• Several steps can be taken to counter economic bubbles
o An increase in investment capacity. It can be done in two ways
either by occupying new markets or applying research and
development for creating new technologies.
o The early prediction of bubble formation would allow
preventing the burst of the bubble and the hard landing of the
economy.
FTX-Crash-Genesis
➢ Before the foundation of FTX its CEO SBF founded Almeda Research
which was buying crypto in the US market and selling it in a foreign
market at a higher price and therefore earning from the difference.
➢ To scale up his business he founded FTX which made money from the
commission on trading made by its users on various cryptocurrencies.
Later FTX introduced its coins FTT which were utility points but were
masked as stocks. FTT doesn’t carry any intrinsic value.
➢ FTX was running a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. If a user wishes
to buy FTT s/he cannot buy it directly from FTX as it cannot accept wire transfers (done deliberately). They have to
send money to Alemda research and then they get the coins. Now ideally, Almeda should have transferred the money
back to the FTX account, however, it didn’t happen. Rather Almeda used the money to trade into the market and lost
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huge amounts of money as other crypto giants fall.

➢ As the news of this accounting fraud came out, panic-stricken investors started withdrawing their money leading to a
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liquidity crunch and the eventual bankruptcy of FTX.
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Blended Finance
News Excerpt
India will require cumulative investments of $10 trillion to achieve Blended finance and India’s healthcare
its net zero targets by 2070. One of the financing tools India can use
India’s healthcare sector has grown rapidly over the
in achieving this target is Blended Finance.
last five years (Compound Annual Growth Rate of
Understanding Blended Finance 22%), COVID-19 has brought to the
• The term ‘blended financing’ refers to the strategic use of forefront persistent challenges such as a weak
public and philanthropic resources to mobilize private health system, lack of quality infrastructure, and lack
capital for development purposes. For example, to facilitate of quality service delivery to vulnerable populations.
the flow of new capital into high-impact sectors such as ❖ Two indicators can determine the blended
agriculture, blended finance can be used to effectively leverage finance prototypes: one, to measure the
the expertise of the private sector in identifying and executing country's health system status (build, strengthen
developmental investment opportunities and strategies. & transition), and the other to gauge investment
• The concept of blended finance refers to a structural approach attractiveness given the country's fiscal and
economic situation.
that helps enterprises achieve their various objectives at the
same time, including financial return, environmental impact, or ❖ In comparison, countries in the transition
both. phase with more established health systems and
Mechanics of Blended Finance greater participation from private sector
investors could explore more intricate
➢ Blended finance is more than an instrument; it is an investment
instruments like impact bonds, debt-buy
structure that allows multiple investors to participate according downs, and impact funds.
to their specific investment objectives.
➢ Blending finance typically involves the use of multiple
financing instruments, including grant capital, debt, Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for
and equity, the aim is to attract private-sector Innovative Delivery of Healthcare (SAMRIDH)
investment. ❖ India’s existing healthcare ecosystem is coping with those
➢ In the agriculture sector, blended finance can be used challenges, Limited access to appropriate capital, less
to support smallholder farmers, rural infrastructure incentives to adopt innovative practices. Lack of market
projects, and agricultural value chains. intelligence and network and so on.
➢ When properly structured, blended finance can help ❖ SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility aims to
catalyze innovative financing mechanisms to improve
to attract private investment while also achieving
healthcare services for India’s most vulnerable populations.
development goals. As the field of blended finance
❖ Through this initiative, SAMRIDH combines commercial
continues to evolve, it has the potential to play an
capital with public and philanthropic funds to mitigate
important role in supporting the agriculture sector barriers to private investment in healthcare. The approach
and other sectors. aims to drive greater resources towards market-based
▪ Blended finance also has a crowding-in health solutions to improve access to affordable and quality
effect wherein, when new models are workable and healthcare services for India's most vulnerable.
successful, other commercial players also start
providing funding in the space independently using similar models. Over a period, this leads to an increase in the
total capital deployed in the target areas.
RBI INTRODUCED UPI LITE

News Excerpt
Shaktikanta Das, governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), introduced UPI Lite on 20 September 2022, to speed up and
simplify low-value UPI payments. Users will be able to conduct real-time small-value payments up to Rs 200 using UPI
Lite, an on-device wallet function, without entering a UPI PIN.
What is UPI
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1. The term "Unified Payment Interface" (UPI) refers to a smartphone application that enables users to transfer money
between bank accounts.
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2. It is a mobile payment system created by the National Payments Corporation of India.
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3. Customers are no longer required to initiate transactions by divulging private information like bank account numbers
or other financial details.mission for their infrastructure
projects. How UPI lite works
Key Facts 1. You can access UPI LITE and complete UPI LITE
transactions by logging into the app you downloaded on
• To decrease cash-based transactions in India, the RBI
your phone and providing the necessary information for the
introduced UPI. For a sizable percentage of the
device's biometric or pattern validation.
population who lacked smartphones, UPI was 2. UPI LITE does not require a separate authorization or UPI
unavailable. PIN to complete a transaction. A 75-week countdown to our
• The RBI introduced UPI123Pay to solve this issue. 75th anniversary of independence and will end post a year
Customers will be able to use their feature phones on 15th August 2023.
for almost all transactions using UPI123Pay, with the
exception of scan and pay
What is UPI Lite?
• UPI Lite is an "on-device wallet". To use UPI Lite, users must first contribute money to the app's wallet from their
bank accounts.
• Users can make real-time payments without the Internet because it is an "on-device wallet."
• In phase one, UPI Lite will process transactions in near offline mode, i.e., debit (payments) can be made
without Internet connection and credits into the account will be done online.
• However, there is a plan to make UPI Lite offline in the future where customers can process transactions —
both debit and credit — in complete offline mode.
• The maximum amount that can be transferred via UPI LITE is Rs. 200, and the maximum amount that can
be in your UPI LITE balance at any given moment is Rs. 2000, or any additional limits that may occasionally
be set by NPCI
BHARAT BILL PAYMENT SYSTEM

News Excerpt
It is an integrated bill payment system or a platform which acts as connect between various billers and users. The Bharat
Bill Payment System offers customers the convenience of payment by cataloguing various utility providers under one
platform. It acts as a central reference for a customer who wants to make different payments — whether utility bills, loan
repayments, FasTag recharge, and so on.
Key Facts
• BBPS was conceptualized by the Reserve Bank of India in 2013 and is a product of the National Payments
Council of India (NPCI).
• It was piloted in 2016 and went live a year later; By 2019 BBPS on boarded all recurring payments.
• There are two key components in the BBPS system — Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (BBPCU) and Bharat
Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs).
• The BBPCU is NPCI, which lays downs the operating procedures and standards for BBPS. BBPOUs adhere to the
rules set by BBPCU.
• They are the banking and non-banking entities that handle the payments load. Then, there are billers (utility
providers) and agents, either as institutions or individuals, who provide services primarily on the collection side,
to BBPOUs.
What purpose does it serve?
• Convenience and access irrespective of the nature and form of payment; For instance, as a customer you may
have certain utilities such as phone, electricity, gas, and water bills to pay on a monthly basis.
• Under BBPS, all these utilities are listed in a single website. You must choose the payments to make and that will
take you to the vendor website for the processing. You don’t have to go to each website separately to make the
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payment.
• Likewise, BBPS is payment mode agnostic. It supports IMPS, NEFT, and UPI, cheque, wallets and even cash.
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• But note that BBPS is only a platform. If a transaction has settlement duration of T+1 or T+2, as with UPI or cheque
payments, BBPS cannot bypass the time taken for payment processing. It has only facilities in making and
concluding a payment in a common platform.
Primary Sector
Digitisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
News Excerpt
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a proposal to digitize around 63,000 Primary
Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
PACS are the smallest unit in the cooperative sector and PACS will be digitized at a cost of ₹2,516 crore, which will
benefit about 13 crore small and marginal farmers.
Each PACS will get around ₹4 lakh to upgrade its capacity and even old accounting records will be digitized and linked
to a cloud-based software
Key Facts
About the Programme
• The first Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) was formed in the year 1904.
• The Primary Agricultural Credit Societies are the association of persons, unlike in the case of the Joint Stock
Companies, where there is an association of capital.
• Association of persons in Primary Agricultural Credit Societies confers an equal level of rights on all of society
members without considering their holding of share and their social standing.
• The Primary Agricultural Cooperative credit societies (PACS) constitute the lowest tier of the three-tier short-term
cooperative credit (STCC) in the country comprising of around 13 crore farmers as its members, which is crucial for
the development of the rural economy. PACS are registered under the Co-operative Societies Act and also regulated
by the RBI.
• The other two tiers viz. State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) and District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) have already
been automated by the NABARD and brought on Common Banking Software (CBS). However, majority of PACS
have so far been not computerized and still functioning manually resulting in inefficiency and trust deficit. In some of
the states, stand-alone and partial computerization of PACS has been done. There is no uniformity in the software
being used by them and they are not interconnected with the DCCBs and StCBs.
Secondary Sector
SCHEMES TO STRENGTHEN MSMES
News Excerpt
The government on 21 July 2022 launched three schemes which envisage technology upgradation, setting up of
common research centres and effluent treatment plants in clusters for the pharma MSMEs.
Key Facts
• The chemicals and fertilisers ministry rolled out the schemes under the banner of 'Strengthening
Pharmaceuticals Industry' (SPI).
• The schemes provide for credit linked capital and interest subsidy for technology upgradation of MSME units in
pharmaceutical sector, as well as support of up to Rs 20 crore each for common facilities, including research
centre, testing labs and ETPs, in pharma clusters.
• SIDBI will be the project management consultant for implementing the scheme.
• The Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (PTUAS) would facilitate pharmaceutical MSMEs
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with proven track record to upgrade their technology.

• The scheme has provisions for a capital subsidy of 10 per cent on loans up to a maximum limit of Rs 10 crore with
a minimum repayment period of three years or interest subvention of up to 5 per cent (6 per cent in case of units
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• Similarly, Assistance to Pharma Industries for Common Facilities Scheme (API-CF) would strengthen the existing
pharmaceutical clusters' capacity for sustained growth.
• It provides for an assistance of up to 70 per cent of the approved project cost or Rs 20 crore, whichever is less.
• In case of Himalayan and north-east region, the grant-in-aid would be Rs 20 crore per cluster or 90 per cent of
the project cost, whichever is less.
• Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Promotion and Development Scheme (PMPDS) would involve
preparation of study reports on topics of importance for the Indian pharma and medical device industry. The
scheme is aimed at creating a database of pharma and medical device sectors.
NATIONAL LOGISTICS POLICY LAUNCHED

News Excerpt
The Prime Minister on 17 September 2022
launched the National Logistics Policy (NLP). It
Flashback
aimed at promoting seamless movement of
1. The Central government has been working on the National Logistics Policy
goods and enhancing the competitiveness of for three years. The commerce ministry released a draft logistics policy for
the industry. It is expected to focus on areas consultation in 2019, but it was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
such as process re-engineering, digitisation, 2. The National Logistics Policy was once again announced by Finance
and multi-modal transport. Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Budget for 2022-23.
Key Facts 3. The government is using technology to strengthen the logistics sector.
• The policy seeks to support faster Faceless assessment has started in customs and e-way bills and FASTag are
bringing efficiency in the logistics sector.
growth after two pandemic-ridden
4. Sagarmala project to connect ports and dedicated freight corridors have
years. It will streamline rules and
started to improve logistics connectivity and systematic infrastructure
address supply-side constraints, besides development work.
providing a roadmap to reduce fuel
costs and lower logistics costs. The draft
policy provides for the government creating a single point of reference for all logistics and trade facilitation
matters, reducing costs for the logistics sector to 10 per cent in five years. The logistics sector is estimated at
13-14 per cent of GDP.
• The policy is an Endeavour to LOGISTICS PERFORMANCE INDEX 2022
improve the competitiveness of • Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Gujarat are among the 15 states and UTs
Indian goods, enhancing categorized as achievers in the logistics index chart 2022, a report
released by the commerce and Industry Ministry.
economic growth and increasing
• The index is an indicator of the efficiency of logistical services
employment opportunities.
necessary for promoting exports and economic growth.
• A unified logistics interface • Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Sikkim and Tripura are
platform (ULIP) will be the other states categorised as fast movers in the ranking.
developed as part of the national • The 15 states and UTs ranked in the aspirers category include Bihar,
logistics policy to help different Chhattisgarh, Goa and Mizoram.
government and private • The report ranks the states on the basis of their logistics ecosystem,
agencies; shippers, service highlights the key logistics-related challenges faced by the stakeholders
providers enable information and includes suggestive recommendations, according to the fourth
LEADS (Logistics Ease across Different States) 2022 report unveiled by
exchange on a real time basis in
the Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
a confidential manner. • The index aims at enhancing the focus on improving logistics
• The other interventions performance across states which is essential for improving the country's
proposed include trade and reducing transaction cost.
Standardisation of physical • The first logistics report was released in 2018.
assets and benchmarking No ranking was released last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gujarat was at
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service quality standards; the first position in both 2018 and 2019 ranking lists.
Logistics Human Resources
Development and Capacity Building; state engagement; export-import logistics; Service Improvement
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framework; Sectoral Plan for Efficient Logistics; and Facilitation of Development of Logistics Parks.
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• NICDC's (National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation) Logistics Data Bank Project has been
leveraged to develop ULIP.
RAISING & ACCELERATING MSME PERFORMANCE' SCHEME INAUGURATED

News Excerpt
Prime Minister on 30 June 2022 inaugurated the 'Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance' scheme at Vigyan
Bhawan in the national capital. The scheme has outlay of around Rs 6,000 crore. The scheme aims to scale up the
implementation capacity and coverage of Medium Small and Micro Enterprises (MSME) in the states, with impact
enhancement of existing MSME schemes.
Key Facts
• It will complement the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan by fostering innovation, encouraging ideation, incubating
new business and entrepreneurship by developing quality standards, improving practices and processes, enhancing
market access, deploying technological tools and Industry 4.0 to make MSMEs competitive and self-reliant.
• Along with the RAMP scheme, PM Narendra Modi also inaugurated the 'Capacity Building of First-Time MSME
Exporters' scheme and new features of the 'Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program' (PMEG).
• 'Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program 'include an increase in the maximum project cost to Rs 50 lakh
(from Rs 25 lakh) for the manufacturing sector and Rs 20 lakh (from Rs 10 lakh) in the service sector and the inclusion
of applicants from aspirational districts and transgender in the Special Category applicants for availing higher
subsidies.
• The Prime Minister also digitally transferred assistance to beneficiaries of PMEGP for 2022-23.
• 'Udyami Bharat' is reflective of the continuous commitment of the government, right from day one, to work towards
the empowerment of MSMEs.
PLI and Indian Economic Growth

News Excerpt
Recently, NITI Aayog has asserted that the Production
Linked Incentive scheme (PLI) had attracted
investment worth over Rs 45,000 crore and has also
created three lakh jobs. The data shows the positive
contribution of PLI to Indian economic growth.
Key Facts
Why PLI?
• History shows that nearly all the countries that
have transitioned from low to high per capita
income have managed this shift on the back of
manufacturing and export-led growth. However,
Indian manufacturing has suffered from its inability
to scale up.
• Studies have shown that every job created in the
manufacturing sector has a multiplier effect in
creating 2 to 3 jobs in the service sector.
• For India to become a USD-5 trillion economy, its
manufacturing sector has to sustainably grow in
double digits. This can only become a reality when
Indian manufacturing companies become an
integral part of global supply chains and build a
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strong manufacturing base, with global champions

capable of producing for the world.
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• They need to focus on cutting-edge technology sectors, along with sectors of its core competency and high
employment generation potential. Therefore, with the onset of the pandemic, the government of India gave the clarion
call for an “Atamanirbhar Bharat” to turn adversity into opportunity by launching Production Linked Incentive (PLI)
scheme.
Service Sector
Open Network for Digital Commerce
News Excerpt
Commerce and industry minister talked about the massive role to be played by ONDC in democratise e-commerce.
Key Facts
• Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is a network based on open protocol and will enable local
commerce across segments, such as mobility, grocery, food order and delivery, hotel booking and travel, among
others, to be discovered and engaged by any network-enabled application.
• The platform aims to create new opportunities, curb digital monopolies and by supporting micro, small and
medium enterprises and small traders and help
them get on online platforms.
Open-Source Software
• It is an initiative of the Department for Promotion ❖ Open source software is software with source code that
of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry. ❖ "Source code" is the part of software that most computer
• Presently, ONDC is in its pilot stage and the users don't ever see; it's the code computer programmers
government has set up a nine-member advisory can manipulate to change how a piece of software—a
council, on measures needed to design and "program" or "application"—works. Programmers who
accelerate the adoption of ONDC. have access to a computer program's source code can
improve that program by adding features to it or fixing
• ONDC has been rolled out in 5 cities – Delhi NCR,
parts that don't always work correctly.
Bengaluru, Bhopal, Shillong, and Coimbatore.
❖ For example, while the operating system of Apple’s iPhones
• The operations are presently focused on retail and (iOS) is closed source, Google’s Android operating system
restaurants and facilitating real-time is open-source, and therefore it is possible by smartphone
transactions. The open network will later-on manufacturers to modify it for their hardware.
extend to other categories like travel and
mobility.
• Based on the pilot exercise and after the network stabilizes, ONDC will be expanded to 100 cities and towns across
India by October 2022. The goal is to accommodate 30 million sellers and 10 million merchants online.
Features of ONDC
➢ ONDC, a UPI of e-commerce, seeks to democratise digital or electronic commerce, moving it from a
platform-centric model to an open-network. Through ONDC, merchants will be able to save their data to build
credit history and reach consumers.
➢ The proposed government-backed platform aims to create a level playing field for e-commerce behemoths such
as Amazon, Flipkart, and offline traders who have been crying foul at the unfair trade practices of these e-tailers.
The platform will also be compliant with the Information Technology Act, 2000 and designed for
compliance with the emerging Personal Data Protection Bill.
➢ In this system, ONDC plans to enable sellers and buyers to be digitally visible and transact through an
open network, regardless of what platform or application they use. It will also empower merchants and
consumers by breaking silos to form a single network to drive innovation and scale, transforming all
businesses from retail goods, food to mobility.
➢ The new framework aims at promoting open networks developed on open-sourced methodology, using open
specifications and open network protocols independent of any specific platform.
Significance
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✓ The e-commerce market in India is expected to touch $5.5 billion in market size by 2025, up from $700 million
now. ONDC has the potential to break barriers and empower customers. The present e-commerce platforms are
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restrictive and favour products of the platform developers’ choice. Through ONDC, MSMEs and start-ups can
harness opportunities provided by digital advancement, in connecting with their customers.
✓ Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) will enable customers to engage with sellers of their choice
seamlessly.
✓ It is expected to digitise the entire value chain, standardise operations, promote inclusion of suppliers, derive
efficiencies in logistics and enhance value for consumers.
Moonlighting
News Excerpt
• Moonlighting — or employees working for remuneration with entities other than their employers — has been a hot
topic recently.
• Recently, Information technology giant Infosys sacked 300 employees following the discovery that they were working
for rival firms on the side, leading to conflict of interest. Infosys has warned staff against moonlighting, saying it could
lead to termination.
Key Facts
• Moonlighting means taking up a second job or multiple other work assignments apart from one’s full-time job.
Several companies have opposed the practice, saying that employees doing multiple jobs can impact their
productivity
Does Any Law Prevent Dual Employment?
Moonlighting is not defined under any statute in Indian employment laws. Moonlighting is also not necessarily
dual employment, which is a formal employer-employee relationship, complete with legal obligations like minimum
wage, provident fund, gratuity etc. It could also be side hustles or freelancing which can be with or without the
knowledge of the primary employer.
Swiggy earlier announced an “industry first" policy that allowed moonlighting for its employees.
Moonlighting could be considered cheating if an employee’s contract calls for non-compete and single employment,
which is the situation with the majority of conventional employment contracts. However, it is not cheating if the
employment contracts do not have such a clause or provide relaxations.
The Courts of law in India dealing with employment are Writ Courts and Labour Courts, which exercise jurisdiction
based on equity or fairness. Therefore, the Courts may lean in favour of the employee unless the contravention of the
employee has led to serious prejudice and loss to the employer.
Taxing Online Gaming

News excerpt
The online gaming industry is generating $20 billion in revenue and entertaining 200 million people. It is expected to
reach $25 billion by 2030 per year it is growing
exponentially. The government is planning to What gaming includes in India?
levy a GST of 28% but it has been deferred in India mainly puts the games into two broad categories to
the recent GST Council meeting. differentiate them.
Key Facts ❖ Game of chance (Gambling): Games of chance are all those games
India’s Gaming Ecosystem that are played randomly, which are based on luck. A person can play
these games without prior knowledge or understanding. For instance,
• The revenue of the Indian mobile gaming
dice games, picking a number, etc. Such games are considered illegal
industry is expected to exceed $1.5 billion in in India.
2022 and is estimated to reach $5 billion in ❖ Game of skill (Gaming): Games of skill are all those games that are
2025. played based on a person’s prior knowledge or experience of the game.
• India’s percentage of new paying users A person will require skills such as analytical decision-making, logical
(NPUs) in gaming has been the fastest- thinking, capability, etc. Some games might also require some initial
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growing in the world for two consecutive training to win. Such games are considered legal by most of the Indian
years. NPUs grew at 40% in 2020 and states.
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Taxes structure on online game
➢ The online gaming industry pays 18% GST on its revenues or platform fee intake (known as ‘gross gaming revenue’
or GGR) for providing users with a platform to play.
➢ This fee happens to be roughly 15% of the overall prize pool in any contest.
➢ It means GST is about 2.7% of the overall prize pool and if 28% GST is levied on the overall prize pool as suggested
by some policymakers, it would result in a 1,000% increase in the effective tax burden.
Challenges in Taxation
▪ The online gaming industry within India lacks regulatory oversight and it falls into a ‘grey area’.
▪ India currently has no comprehensive legislation concerning the legality of online gaming that specifies applicable
tax rates within the betting and gambling industry.
▪ Online gaming in India is allowed in most states. However, different states have their legislation
▪ The online gaming sector is one of the sunrise industries – which has been built to meet the roadmap of Atmanirbhar
Bharat. Currently, the industry employs over 50,000 people, it is expected to create one lakh new direct and indirect
jobs by the end of FY23. However, all this could hit the wall due to steep taxation.
▪ One of the looming fear is that taxation could push consumers towards more lucrative options such as offshore
betting and gambling websites.
Reports and Ranking

INDIA CLIMBS SIX NOTCHES IN GII 2022
India climbed six notches to 40th position in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2022 on account of improvement in
several parameters. It said that India's innovation performance is above average for the upper middle-income group
in almost every innovation pillar, with the exception of
infrastructure, where it scores below average.
GII 2022 puts its hopes in two novel innovation waves:
Key Facts
1. Digital Age innovation wave built on supercomputing,
• Ranking is based on two sub-indices, Innovation Input
artificial intelligence and automation that is on the verge of
Sub-Index and Innovation Output Sub Index. making ample productivity impacts across all sectors –
• Turkiye and India enter the top 40 for the first time, placed including services – and helping to achieve scientific
37th and 40th, respectively. breakthroughs in basic sciences of all fields.
• India overtakes Vietnam (48th) as the top lower middle- 2. Deep Science innovation wave built on breakthroughs in
income economy for innovation. biotechnologies, nanotechnologies, new materials and
• In the middle-income economies China, Turkiye and India other sciences that are revolutionizing innovations in four
continue to change the innovation landscape; others like fields of key importance to society: health, food,
environment, and mobility.
the Islamic Republic of Iran and Indonesia show promising
potential.
• In the rankings, the top position was occupied by Switzerland. It was followed by the US, Sweden, the UK and the
Netherlands. China was placed in the 11th position
World Competitive Index

News Excerpt
India has witnessed the sharpest rise among the Asian economies, with a six-position jump from 43rd to 37th rank on the
annual World Competitiveness Index compiled by the Institute for Management Development, largely due to gains in
economic performance.
Key Facts
• After a stable but stagnant five years, 2022 witnessed significant improvement in the competitiveness of the
Indian economy this is largely due to gains in economic performance (from 37th to 28th).
• The domestic economy has experienced a stratospheric rise from 30th to 9th position in a year.
• The labour market, a key sub-factor in the business efficiency parameter, moved up from 15th to 6th, while
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management practices and business attitudes and values also made major leaps.
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• India is also a driving force in the global movement to fight climate change and PM's pledge of net-zero by 2070
at the COP26 summit in November 2021, sits in harmony with its strength in environment-related technologies
in the ranking.
• The challenges that India faces include managing trade disruptions and energy security, maintaining high GDP
growth post the pandemic, skill development and employment generation, asset monetisation and resource
mobilisation for infrastructure development.
• The top five attractive factors of India's economy for business are - a skilled workforce, cost competitiveness,
dynamism of the economy, high educational level and open and positive attitudes.
• The three most important trends found to be impacting businesses in 2022 are inflationary pressures (50 per
cent), geopolitical conflicts (49 per cent) and supply chain bottlenecks (48 per cent) with COVID being the fourth
(43 per cent).
• IMD business school in Switzerland and Singapore released the 2022 World Competitiveness Ranking.
• Its think-tank, IMD World Competitiveness Center, ranks 63 economies and assesses the extent to which a country
promotes the prosperity of its people by measuring economic well-being via hard data and survey responses
from executives.
• Denmark has moved to the top of the 63-nation list from the third position last year, while Switzerland slipped
from the top ranking to the second position and Singapore regained the third spot from fifth, a global study
showed on 15 June 2022.
• Others in the top 10 include Sweden at the fourth position, followed by Hong Kong SAR (5th), the Netherlands
(6th), Taiwan (7th), Finland (8th), Norway (9th) and the USA (10th).
• The top-performing Asian economies are Singapore (3rd), Hong Kong (5th), Taiwan (7th), China (17th) and
Australia (19th).
Startup Ranking 2021

News Excerpt
The results of the third edition of Ranking of States on Support to Start-ups Ecosystems were released recently by
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Key Facts
• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has been conducting the States Start-up
Ranking Exercise since 2018 to facilitate the ease of building a start-up and doing business across the country.
• The exercise has grown in its impact over the last three editions, with 31 participating states and union territories
this edition, the highest till date. The State Start-up Ranking Exercise aims to support states and union territories
in developing their start-up ecosystem and learn from the best practices in each state and union territory.
• For the purposes of the Ranking, States and Union Territories are classified into 5 Categories, viz. Best Performers,
Top Performers, Leaders, Aspiring Leaders and Emerging Start-up Ecosystems.
• The rankings were accompanied by the release of the National Report which highlights the vision, framework,
evolution across the years, methodology and implementation, and the way ahead for the States` Start-ups
Ranking. A State Specific Report for each of the 31 participating States and Union Territories has also been
released, containing an extensive analysis of respective ecosystem, which highlights strengths and priority areas
for future.
• Gujarat and Karnataka emerged as the Best Performers in a category of States which included NCT of Delhi.
Meghalaya won the top honor among UTs and North-eastern (NE) States. While Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and
Telangana got the Top Performers award among states, Jammu &Kashmir emerged as the Top Performer among
UTs and NE states.
• Assam, Punjab, Tamil Nādu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh were adjudged the winners in the Leaders category
among states; Andaman &Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa bagged the Leaders honour among the
UTs and NE states.
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• Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were declared as Aspiring Leaders among the States.
Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli &Daman and Diu, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Puducherry and
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Tripura were the Aspiring Leaders from the UTs and NE states.
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• Andhra Pradesh and Bihar from States category and Mizoram and Ladakh from the UTs/NE States were clubbed
under the Emerging Start-up Ecosystem.
Financial Inclusion Index

News Excerpt
According to RBI, India’s financial inclusion index for the year ending March 31, 2022 improved to 56.4 from 53.9 in the
previous year, with growth seen across all its sub-indices. This shows rapid improvement in the reach of financial
services over the past five years
Key Facts
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) to track the process of ensuring access
to financial services, and timely and adequate credit for vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low-
income groups at an affordable cost.
• The Fi-Index is a comprehensive index, incorporating details of banking, investment, insurance, postal, as well as
the pension sector in consultation with government and respective sector regulators.
• Parameters of FI-Index:
o Access (35 percent)
o Usage (45 percent)
o Quality (20 percent)
• A unique feature of the Index is the Quality parameter, which captures the quality aspect of financial inclusion as
reflected by financial literacy, consumer protection, and inequalities and deficiencies in services.
• The FI-Index has been constructed without any ‘base year’ and as such it reflects cumulative efforts of all
stakeholders over the years towards financial inclusion.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 2019-2024.
• It sets forth the vision and objectives of financial inclusion policies in India.
• The strategy was prepared by the RBI with inputs from:
o The central government and
o Financial sector regulators (Securities and Exchange Board of India, Insurance Regulatory and
Development Authority of India and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority of India).
Kirit Parekh Panel

About: A committee has been formed by the Government to review the prices of gas produced in India.
• The Committee will be responsible for recommending price caps for natural gas produced from legacy fields of State-
owned firms.
• The committee had recommended
o For the old fields of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL). It has recommended a floor
or minimum base price and cap or ceiling rates. This will ensure that the price does not fall below the cost of
production.
For the gas from difficult fields such as those lying in deep-sea or which are in high-pressure, high-temperature zones,
and the committee has suggested not tinkering with the existing mechanism of paying them higher rates based on a
different formula to compensate for the greater risk and cost involved. This would ensure that explorers, who are seeing
a rise in the cost of services due to the spike in global energy rates, are not put to any disadvantage.
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM’S 2023 EVENT ENDS

News Excerpt
The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2023, held in the Swiss town of Davos, and ended 20 January 2023. The
theme this year was ‘Cooperation in a Fragmented World’.
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Key Facts
Key takeaways from WEF Davos 2023
• On the economy
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o Most business leaders were upbeat about the economy, with US and the European Union (EU) seemingly
beyond the risk of a recession now.
o China ending its zero Covid curbs and opening shop again added to the positive outlook.
o However, central banks of the major economies cautioned that concerns still remained, and said they
would keep interest rates high to ensure inflation is under check.
o The richer nations look to focus inwards, protecting their own workers, energy sufficiency, supply
lines, etc., concerns were raised that this policy direction would hit developing economies.
• On Ukraine
o Ukraine kept up its demand for more military aid to fight its war against Russia, and more financial aid to
rebuild after the war, saying the reconstruction fund commitments should start coming in now and not
after the war ends.
o In his address, Zelenskyy made an indirect criticism of the US and Germany dithering over sending tanks
to his country.
• On Climate
o Everyone agreed upon the need for green energy and the need for more money to flight climate
change. The World Economic Forum, supported by more than 45 partners launched the Giving to Amplify
Earth Action (GAEA), a global initiative to fund and grow new and existing public, private and
philanthropic partnerships (PPPPs) to help unlock the $3 trillion of financing needed each year to reach
net zero, reverse nature loss and restore biodiversity by 2050.
o Greta Thunberg and other activists organised a protest, with slogans such as “There is no planet B” and
“Fossil fuels have got to go”. Pakistan brought up the issue of a loss and damage fund for the developing
countries.
• Projects launched
o The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that more than 50 “high-impact initiatives” was launched at the
event.
o Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) signed a partnership with the forum on urban
transformation to give the state government “strategic and technical direction”, while a thematic centre
on healthcare and life sciences is to be set up in Telangana.
o The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovations (CEPI) aims to develop new vaccines for future
pandemics.
RBI Report on State Government Budget

News Excerpt
The Reserve Bank of India released its report on state government budgets for 2022-23. The report outlines how state
government finances, which had come under severe stress in 2020-21 because of the slowdown in the economy due
to the pandemic, have improved in the years thereafter. However, there are several areas of concern.
Key Facts
• Revenue Deficit
o Revenue Deficit denotes the difference between revenue receipts and revenue expenditure.
o Revenue Account Gap = Revenue Deficit = Revenue Receipts – Revenue Expenditure
• Capital Deficit
o Capital Deficit denotes the difference between capital receipts and capital disbursements. Capital
Account Gap = Capital Account Deficit = Capital Receipts – Capital Disbursements
• Gross Fiscal Deficit
o The gross fiscal deficit (GFD) is the excess of total expenditure including loans net of recovery over
revenue receipts (including external grants) and non-debt capital receipts.
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• Gross Primary Deficit

o Gross Primary Deficit is defined as Gross Fiscal deficit minus interest payments.
o Primary Deficit = Gross Fiscal deficit – Interest Payment
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The fiscal position of the states

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➢ Debt-to-GDP: The state debt-to-GDP ratio remains high. As per the report, the debt-to-GDP ratio has fallen
from 31.1 percent in 2020-21 – a year when states had struggled to manage the economic fallout of the pandemic
— to 29.5 percent in 2022-23.
o However, there is marked variation across states. Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and West Bengal have
the highest interest payments to revenue receipts ratio. This implies that in these states, interest
payments account for a sizable portion of the state’s revenues, leaving them with less room to spend
on other areas of priority such as health or education.
o The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management review committee, headed by N K Singh, had
recommended a debt-to-GDP ratio of 20 percent for states.
➢ Contingent liabilities: Contingent liabilities here refer to the obligations of a state government to repay the
principal and interest payments in case a state-owned entity defaults on a loan.
o State governments have also seen a significant increase in their contingent liabilities: the guarantees
issued by state governments have risen from Rs 3.12 lakh crore or 2 percent of GDP in 2017 to Rs 7.4 lakh
crore or 3.7 percent of GDP. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh have the most
guarantees outstanding at the end of March 2021.
o The state of state-owned power distribution companies or discoms also has adverse implications for state
finances.
Capital Expenditure
✓ Government capital expenditure
o Government capital expenditure refers to the outlay of government funds in the form of investments or
development spending towards the creation of assets for the long term.
o An example of capital expenditure could be the money spent on, say, Railways or building national
highways and roads.
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✓ Position of capital expenditure of States

o Higher allocation to capex but actual spending needs to pick up: Capital expenditure by states recorded
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an impressive growth of 31.7 percent in 2021-22. Strong growth in revenue collections as well as
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enhanced transfers from the central government gave the states the required space to accelerate capital
expenditure.
o There are inter-state variations in capital spending. For instance, Uttar Pradesh, accounting for 21 percent
of the total budgeted expenditure, made one of the highest allocations on capital spending made by
states.
o In contrast, Maharashtra has allocated only 14 percent of its total expenditure on capex.
o However, the actual amount spent by the states is less; around 29 percent of the budgeted capital
expenditure has been spent.
o The government launched a scheme for special assistance to states for capital investment. Under this, an
amount of Rs 1.07 lakh crore has been allocated and financial assistance is provided to states in the form
of a 50-year interest-free loan for capital projects. However, still very less has been released to the eligible
states under the scheme.
✓ Importance of government capital expenditure
o The impact multiplier effect of ₹1 spent on capital expenditure is as high as 2.45.
World Economic Outlook

News Excerpt
The IMF has released its January update of the World Economic Outlook report, marginally improving the forecast for
global growth in 2023.
Key Facts
World Economic Outlook report
• The IMF releases the WEO twice every year.
• It presents IMF staff economists' analyses of global economic developments during the near and medium
term.
Risks highlighted in the Report
The balance of risks to the global outlook remains tilted to the downside (lower growth and higher inflation), but adverse
risks have been moderated.
➢ Upside risks: To provide lower-than-expected inflation and less monetary tightening.
o Pent-up demand boost: Fuelled by the stock of excess private savings from the pandemic fiscal support, tight
labour markets, and solid wage growth, there is scope for a further boost to consumption.
➢ Downside risks: To provide lower growth while adding further to inflation.
o China’s recovery stalling: Spill over to the rest of the world would operate through lower demand and supply
chain problems.
o War in Ukraine escalating: This will impact food and fuel prices; further social unrest may increase.
o Debt distress: The combination of high debt levels from the pandemic, lower growth, and higher borrowing costs
exacerbates the vulnerability of economies.
o Persistent Inflation: Due to persistent labour market tightness translating into stronger-than-expected wage
growth, higher-than-expected oil, gas, and food prices from the war in Ukraine, and a faster rebound in China’s
growth.
o Sudden financial market repricing: Unfavourable inflation data releases could trigger a sudden repricing of assets
and increase volatility in financial markets.
o Geopolitical fragmentation: Due to the war in Ukraine, international sanctions on Russia splitting the world
economy into blocs, and earlier geopolitical tensions such as the US-China trade dispute.
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RBI ANNOUNCES 2ND GLOBAL HACKATHON

News Excerpt
The Reserve Bank on 14 February 2023 announced its second global hackathon -- 'HARBINGER 2023 - Innovation for
Transformation' with the theme 'Inclusive Digital Services'.
Fintechs have been invited to develop solutions that have the potential to make digital financial services accessible to
the differently-abled, facilitate efficient compliance, extend
Flashback
the reach of Central Bank Digital Currencies and enhance the
1. The first hackathon was announced in
scalability of block chains.
November 2021 and results were declared in
Key Facts
June 2022.
Being part of HARBINGER 2023 gives an opportunity to the
2. It had received 363 proposals submitted by
participants to get mentored by industry experts and exhibit their
teams from within India and from 22 other
innovative solutions before an eminent jury and win exciting prizes
countries including the US, UK, Sweden,
in each category
Singapore, Philippines, and Israel.
The RBI has invited innovative ideas in four segments.
a) Innovative, easy-to-use, digital banking services for differently-abled (Divyaang)
b) RegTech solutions to facilitate more efficient compliance by Regulated Entities (REs)
c) Exploring use cases/solutions for CBDC-Retail transactions, including transactions in offline mode d) Increasing
Transactions Per Second (TPS)/ throughput and scalability of block chains'
Fiscal Policy (Taxation)

Windfall Tax
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News Excerpt
Finance Ministry defended the windfall tax imposed by the Centre on domestic crude oil producers, saying that it
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was not an ad hoc move but was done after full consultation with the industry.
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Key Facts
• A windfall tax is a tax levied by governments against certain industries when economic conditions allow those
industries to experience above-average profits.
• Windfall taxes are primarily levied on companies in the targeted industry that have benefited the most from the
economic windfall, most often commodity-based businesses.
• The purpose is to redistribute excess profits in one area for the greater social good; however, this can be a
contentious ideal.
• India announced a windfall tax on domestic crude oil producers who it believed were reaping the benefits of the
high oil prices.
• Some individual taxes, such as inheritance tax or taxes on lottery or game show winnings, can also be construed
as a windfall tax...
IMF guidelines on windfall tax
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has published a note (report) on Taxing Windfall Profits in the Energy Sector,
including recommended guidelines for countries to follow when considering the introduction of a windfall profits tax.
▪ Introduce a permanent tax on windfall profits from fossil fuel extraction, if an adequate fiscal instrument is
not already in place. The tax should be imposed on a share of economic rents (that is, excess profits) because rent-
targeting taxes raise revenue without reducing investment or increasing inflation.
▪ Use caution when it comes to temporary taxes on windfall profits: These tend to increase investor risk, may be more
distortionary (especially if poorly designed or timed), and do not provide revenue benefits above those of a
permanent tax on economic rents. Investors prefer a stable, predictable tax regime over the risk of future temporary
taxes when prices rise.
▪ Encourage the switch to renewable energy, given the need for decarburizations in energy generation. It is
counterintuitive to introduce exceptional taxes on renewable energy-based electricity generation, especially if
these are poorly designed. Such taxes may deter future investment by increasing investor perception of risk.
▪ Still, apply the following design principles if political pressure makes it necessary to tax windfall profits from electricity
generation:
o The tax should apply to a clear measure of excess profit (for example, profit above a specified return on capital)
that avoids arbitrary references to specific price levels or time periods.
o The tax should not apply to revenue (as this can be inflationary and is more likely to reduce investment).
o The tax should allow for carrying forward of losses to ensure symmetrical treatment of losses and profits. The tax
can be permanent if excess profits are expected to be persistent.
Consider future reforms to market mechanisms that may unnecessarily result in windfall profits for electricity generators
and fossil fuel refiners. For example, electricity generators may earn windfall profits because of the design of electricity
tariffs or because market access is restricted.
GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX

News Excerpt
Tax Havens
The European Union, under the guidance of the
A tax haven is a country that offers foreign
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
businesses and individuals minimal or no tax liability
(OECD), adopted a plan for a global minimum 15 percent
for their bank deposits in a politically and
tax on multinational businesses. The landmark agreement
economically stable environment.
between nearly 140 countries is intended to stop
They have tax advantages for corporations and for
governments racing to cut taxes to lure the world's richest
the very wealthy, with obvious potential for misuse in
firms to their territory.
illegal tax avoidance schemes.
Key Facts
Such countries include - Belgium, Ireland,
➢ Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Firms make profits in
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Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Caribbean,

one jurisdiction, and shift them• across borders by Bermuda, Singapore, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, and
exploiting gaps and mismatches in tax rules, to take Switzerland, etc.
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advantage of lower tax rates and, thus, not paying taxes to the country where the profit is made.
➢ Example, Company A made $19.2 billion in revenues.
➢ However, it showed the profits in Bermuda, a small island in the Atlantic where it doesn’t own any tangible assets,
hardly employs any workers, and where the corporate tax rate is zero.
➢ Some terms related to “Tax Avoidance” Transfer Pricing: Transfer pricing is an accounting and taxation practice
that allows for pricing transactions internally within businesses and between subsidiaries that operate under common
control or ownership. The transfer pricing practice extends to cross-border transactions as well as domestic ones.
Royalty Payments: Royalties are fees paid to the owners of
legally-protected IP by those who exploit such IP in their Minimum Alternative Tax
businesses. So, for example, radio stations are legally required Minimum Alternate Tax is applied when the
to pay songwriters copyright royalties when they play their taxable income calculated according to the IT
music on the radio. Royalties are especially pertinent to the Act provisions is found to be less than 15.5 per
taxation of tech companies because they are at the heart of the cent (plus surcharge and cess as applicable) of
tax avoidance. The profits of the subsidiaries that sell the the book profit under the Companies Act,
multinational’s products and services in, for example, the UK are 2013.
reduced (often too little or nothing) by internal royalty For example, a company with Rs 100 crore
payments. book profit is required to pay a minimum tax
Intra Corporate Loans: Debt can be used to exploit the tax of Rs 15 crore (assuming 15 per cent MAT
deductibility of interest payments which enables both base rate). If its normal tax liability after claiming
erosion and profit shifting. Multinational corporations use deductions is Rs 10 crore (less than MAT), it is
internal debt to shift profits to tax havens. required to pay the remainder Rs 5 crore as
Round Tripping: Round Tripping is a practice where funds are MAT.
transferred from one country to another and transferred back
to the origin country for purposes like black money laundering or to get the benefit of tax concession/ evasion/
avoidance from countries like Mauritius which enjoy low taxes, etc.
Global Minimum Tax
What is it?
➢ EU members have agreed to implement a minimum tax rate of 15% on big businesses in accordance with Pillar 2 of
the global tax agreement framed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) last year.
Under the OECD’s plan, governments will be equipped to impose additional taxes in case companies are found to
be paying taxes that are considered too low. This is to ensure that big businesses with global operations do not
benefit by domiciling themselves in tax havens in order to save on taxes.
Tax evasion reforms in the past

In 2015, the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) enacted the Base Erosion and Profit
Shifting (BEPS) process to reduce the possibility of tax evasion due to a mismatch between different countries’ tax
systems.
In 2017, the US implemented its Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reducing corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, along with
new measures to reduce profit shifting by US multinationals.
However, there was no discernible decline in global profit shifting or in profit shifting by US multinationals (which
accounted for about half of global profit shifting) relative to 2015.
CCI Fine on Google

News Excerpt
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has slapped a fine on Google's parent company Alphabet Inc.
151
Key Facts
• The Competition commission of India is an affiliated offices of Ministry of Corporate Affairs works as a statutory
body established under the Competition Act 2002.
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• It consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.

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• It is a quasi-judicial body that eliminates practices harming
competition. Competition Act (CA) 2002
• It promotes and sustains competition and protects the The CA 2002 was brought on the recommendation of
the Raghvan committee. The act replaced The
interests of consumers and ensures freedom of trade in
Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act,
the markets of India. 1969 (MRTP Act). The act prohibits anti-competitive
• It is also required to give an opinion on competition issues agreements, and abuse of dominant position by
on a reference received from a statutory authority enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition,
established under any other law. acquiring of control, and M&A), which cause or are
• It also undertakes competition advocacy, creates public likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on
awareness, and imparts training on competition issues. competition within India. The Act also provided for the
Competition Appellate Tribunal which was replaced by
CCI Charged Google for two reasons:
Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in 2017.
➢ Google’s Mobile Application Distribution Agreement
(MADA) forces Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)
to pre-install Google Mobile Suite (GMS) which doesn’t Third-Party Payment
come with the option of uninstalling. This is considered by Google and Apple don’t allow third-party
CCI as a violation of Section 4 of the Competition Act which payment as it will affect the revenue they
is related to the abuse of a dominant position. earn from their cut in the app store and in-
• Google’s Play Store doesn’t allow mobile app developers app sales. This revenue accounts for about
to use third-party payment services on its app store. It forces 15% of their total revenues.
them exclusively and mandatorily use Google Play’s billing
system (GPBS) not only for receiving payments for apps and other digital products but also for certain in-app
purchases. However, it doesn’t have the same policy for its own apps like YouTube
Infrastructure Sector
Critical Information Infrastructure
News Excerpt
Union Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has declared IT resources of ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and National Payment
Corporation of India (NPCI) as critical information infrastructure.
Key Facts
• Information Technology Act (2000), 2008
amendments recognized the need for a
focused approach to cybersecurity and
divided it into two segments: Critical and
Non Critical.
• According to act, CII means the computer
resource, the incapacitation or destruction of
which, shall have debilitating impact on
national security, economy, public health or
safety.
• Section 70 of the IT Act 2000 empowers
government to declare any computer
resource which directly or indirectly affects
the facility of CII, to be a ‘Protected System’.
• The National Critical Information
Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) was created by a gazette notification with specific responsibilities
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for protecting all CII. The Computer Emergency Response Team – India (CERT-IN) would be responsible for all
non-critical system.
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• Any person who secures access or attempts to secure access to a protected system in violation of the law can be
punished with a jail term of up to 10 years.
WTO APPROVES PACKAGE OF TRADE AGREEMENTS

News Excerpt
The World Trade Organization's 164 members approved a series of trade agreements early on 17 June 2022 that included
commitments on fish and pledges on health and food security.
Key Facts
• The package included the two highest profile deals under consideration - on fisheries and on a partial waiver of
intellectual property (IP) rights for COVID-19 vaccines.
• The accord to curb fishing subsidies is only the second multilateral agreement setting new global trading rules
struck in the WTO's 27-year history and is far more ambitious than the first, which was designed to cut red tape.
• The fishing subsidies deal has the potential to reverse collapsing fish stocks. Though pared back significantly, it
still drew approval.
• The deal on a partial IP waiver to allow developing countries to produce and export COVID-19 vaccines has
divided the WTO for nearly two years, but finally passed.
• One agreement had also been reached on 16 June 2022, on maintaining a moratorium on e-commerce tariffs,
which is considered vital to allow the free flow of data worldwide.
CENTRE AWARDS NINE GI TAGS

News Excerpt
Centre has added nine new items, including gamocha of Flashback
Assam, Tandur red gram of Telangana, Raktsey Karpo Recognised by the World Trade Organization (WTO),
apricot of Ladakh, and Alibag white onion of GI is used to denote the geographical territory from
Maharashtra, in the coveted GI tag list. Kerala has been where a product, be it agricultural produce, natural
awarded five GI tags for its agricultural produce. With this, product, or manufactured, conveys the assurance of
the total number of GI tags in India comes to 432. quality, distinctiveness, and attributes that are unique
to that specific geographic region/place of origin.
Key Facts India became a signatory to this convention when, as a
The top five states holding the maximum number of GIs are member of WTO, it enacted the Geographical
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Indications (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999,
Kerala. which came into effect on 15 September 2003.
Of these, 401 are Indian origin products, 31 foreign-origins.
To protect the GI of goods, a GI registry has been
established to administer the GI of Goods (Registration
Recently, the government supported the promotion of GIs by
and Protection) Act, 1999, under the Controller
approving an expenditure of Rs 75 crore for three years for
General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks.
their advertising at awareness programmes.
NOBEL PRIZE 2022 IN ECONOMICS

News Excerpt
Ben S Bernanke, Douglas W Diamond and Philip H Dybvig have won the 2022 Nobel Prize for economics research on
banks and financial crises.
Key Facts
✓ The work for which Bernanke, Diamond and Dybvig are being recognised has been crucial to subsequent research
that has enhanced our understanding of banks, bank regulation, banking crises and how financial crises should be
managed.
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✓ The research presented by this year’s laureates in economic sciences reduces the risk of financial crises developing
into long-term depressions with severe consequences for society, which is of the greatest benefit to us all.
✓ Unlike the other prizes, the economics award wasn't established in Alfred Nobel's will of 1895 but by the Swedish
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central bank in his memory. The first winner was selected in 1969.
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Science and Technology
Liquid Nano Urea:

Prime Minister of India has inaugurated the country’s first liquid Nano
urea plant at Kalol, Gujarat. It is indigenously developed by Indian About IFFCO
❖ Founded in 1967 as wholly owned by
Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) at Nano Biotechnology
Indian cooperatives and one of the
Research Centre (NBRC) in Kalol.
biggest cooperative societies with over
India currently ranks 3 in fertilizer production and 2 in 36000 Indian cooperatives.
terms of fertilizer consumption. ❖ Core business is of manufacturing and
Urea forms 82% of the total nitrogenous fertilizer selling of fertilizer.
consumed in India, with an annual consumption of 33.6 ❖ It has diversified business interests
million tonnes in 2019- 20. ranging from General Insurance to Rural
Telecom.
About Liquid Nano Urea (LNU)
❖ It provides timely supply of reliable, high
➢ LNU is a nanotechnology based Agri-input which provides quality agricultural inputs and services in
nitrogen to plants. an environmentally sustainable manner.
➢ It contains 4 % nano scale nitrogen particles. These have a
small size (20-50 nm) and therefore covers more surface area and number of particles per unit area than
conventional urea.
Benefits
Higher Crop Yield-Average Yield increases
up to 8 % have been recorded as per 11,000
field trials conducted across India during
2019- 20.
Increased Income for Farmers- Due to
reduction in input cost average increase in
income of Rs 2000 per acre have been
registered as per Farmer Field trials.
Increased Nutritional quality- Nutritional
quality of harvested produce is better in
terms of protein and nutrient content.
Reduction in Chemical Fertilizer Usage- It
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rationalizes application of bulk nitrogenous

fertilizers like Urea and its one bottle (500 ml)
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can potentially replace at least 1 bag of
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conventional urea.
Environment Friendly- It ensures agriculture sustainability and environment safety can be ensured and
reduces excess application of bulk urea and associated volatilization as well as leaching and run off losses.
Easy to store and transport: It has a significant impact in terms of relative logistics and warehousing cost
Significance
It increases Urea availability to crop by more than 80% resulting in higher Nutrient Use efficiency.
▪ It promotes precision and sustainable agriculture.
▪ It promotes clean and green technology as its industrial production is neither energy intensive nor resource
consuming.
▪ It helps in minimizing the environmental footprint by reducing the loss of nutrients from agriculture fields in
the form of leaching and gaseous emissions which used to cause environmental pollution and climate change.
▪ It will be a step in the direction of self-reliance in terms of ‘ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT’ and ‘ATMANIRBHAR
KRISHI’.
AmbiTAG
IIT Ropar (Punjab) has developed a first-of-its-kind IoT device that monitors real- time ambient temperature during the
transportation of perishable products, body organs, blood, vaccines, etc. It is called AmbiTAg. The device has been
developed under Technology Innovation Hub – AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub) and its
Startup ScratchNest.
Pre-Connect
India witnesses food wastage worth Rs.
92000 crores each year due to the lack of
cold chain facilities and logistics. About
40% of the produced food never reaches
the end consumers.
India also witnesses huge Vaccine wastage
during recent Corona crisis, majority of
which happened due to logistics issues.
Key Features
➢ It is shaped as USB (Universal Serial Bus)
and waterproof.
➢ Its temperature range is -40℃ to 80℃ in any time zone.
➢ Works for a full 90 days on a single charge.
➢ Generates alert system when temperature changes beyond a pre-set limit.
➢ All recorded data is retrievable.
Significance
It has critical edge over other devices of same category as they work only for 30-60 days on single charge.
It promotes Atamanirbhar Bharat as it will reduce import dependence of such devices and stand as an
alternative for other countries.
It can also monitor the temperature of animal semen during transit. Providing support to intelligent bovine
management.
It will help in easing farm to fork business model and support the objective of doubling of farmers income
Anocovax
What is Anocovax?
1. Anocovax is an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Delta Covid-19 vaccine for animals.
2. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said that the immunity induced by Anocovax neutralises
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both Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.

3. The new vaccine contains inactivated SARS-CoV-2 (Delta) antigen with Alhydrogel as an adjuvant. It is safe
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for dogs, lions, leopards, mice and rabbits.
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New telescope at ARIES
India has commissioned a unique liquid-mirror telescope atop a mountain in the Himalayan range in Uttarakhand that
will keep a watch on the overhead sky to identify transient or variable objects such space debris, asteroids, supernovae
and gravitational lenses. It is the country’s first and the Asia’s largest liquid-mirror telescope. The telescope will help
in surveying the sky, making it possible to observe several galaxies and other astronomical sources just by staring at the
strip of sky that passes overhead.
More about telescope
1. The telescope, built by astronomers from India, Belgium and Canada, is located at an altitude of 2450 metres
at the Devasthal Observatory campus of Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES),
an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), in Nainital district,
Uttarakhand.
2. ARIES, referring to new facilities at Devasthal Observatory that now hosts two four meter class telescopes – the
International Liquid-Mirror Telescope (ILMT) and the Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT).
NOROVIRUS
What is norovirus?
1. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that is also sometimes referred to as the ‘stomach flu’ or the ‘winter
vomiting bug’.
2. It can be transmitted through contaminated food, water, and surfaces. The primary route is oral-faecal.
3. It is similar to diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus and infects people across age groups.
4. Disease outbreaks typically occur aboard cruise ships, in nursing homes, dormitories, and other closed spaces.
5. According to the WHO, emerging evidence suggests that “norovirus infection is associated with intestinal
inflammation, malnutrition and may cause long-term morbidity”.
6. It adds that an estimated 685 million cases of norovirus are seen annually, including 200 million cases amongst
children under 5
7. One may get infected multiple times as the virus has different strains. Norovirus is resistant to many
disinfectants and can withstand heat up to 60°C.
8. Therefore, merely steaming food or chlorinating water does not kill the virus. The virus can also survive many
common hand sanitisers.
ISRO POEM Plate form:

Orbital Platform and ISRO: ISRO in 2019 started working on reducing space junk through its idea of PS4-OP.
The core plan was to utilise the fourth stage of PSLV as an in-orbit experiment module.
- This module would can be used to carry out scientific experiments for an extended duration of upto 6 months,
instead of becoming a junk as soon as it reaches space.
- ISRO in its PSLV-C44 mission kept the fourth stage alive as an orbital platform for space-based experiments.
About POEM
It performs in-orbit scientific experiments using the spent PS4 stage as an orbital platform.
It is the first time that PS4 stage would orbit the earth as a stabilized platform.
It will be a stabilized orbital platform which will help in keeping the payload in a correct position with respect to
the Earth, sun etc.
ISRO System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operation and Management (IS4OM):
More about IS4OM
1. IS40M is a system conceived with a holistic approach towards ensuring safety and sustainability of the
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space environment while reaping the benefits of sustainable utilisation of outer space for national
development.
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2. It's part of the space situational awareness (SSA) programme to identify space debris and
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monitor them.
3. It's to identify the potential What is Space Debris?
collision of our active satellites 1. Space debris consists of rocket bodies that are used
to launch satellites, defunct satellites, materials
with other space objects and avoid
released during mission operations, fragments from on-
collisions with proper
orbit breakups of space objects, and fragments from
maneuvering to save our space
Anti-Satellite (ASAT) tests.
assets (satellites). 2. These space objects move with an average speed of
4. Space agency said 27,000 km per hour in Low Earth Orbits; therefore, a
concurrent processing of collision with even a centimetre sized tiny fragment can be
data from the observational facilities catastrophic to an operational space asset.
for space objects' orbit 3. These orbiting space debris pose a threat to about 3,000
determination, correlation and operational satellites presently in orbit, used for critical
catalogue generation will take modern communication, commerce, travel and security
systems.
place here.
MONKEYPOX DECLARED A GLOBAL EMERGENCY

The World Health Organization said the expanding monkeypox outbreak in morethan 70 countries is an
“extraordinary” situation that now qualifies as a global emergency.
- WHO previously declared emergencies for public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2014
West African Ebola outbreak, the Zika virus in Latin America in 2016.
- The emergency declaration mostly serves as a plea to draw more global resources and attention to an
outbreak. Past announcements had mixed
impact, given that the U.N. health agency Flashback
1. Monkeypox is a zoonosis, that is, a disease that is
is largely powerless in getting countries to
transmitted from infected animals to humans.
act.
According to the WHO, cases occur close to tropical
- To date, monkeypox deaths have only rainforests inhabited by animals that carry the virus.
been reported in Africa, where a more 2. Monkeypox virus infection has been detected in
dangerous version of the virus is spreading, squirrels, Gambian poached rats, dormice, and some
mainly in Nigeria and Congo. species of monkeys.
- In Africa, monkeypox mainly spreads to 3. Human-to-human transmission is, however, limited —
people from infected wild animals like the longest documented chain of transmission is six
generations, meaning the last person to be infected in
rodents, in limited outbreaks that typically
this chain was six links away from the original sick person.
have not crossed borders.
- In Europe, North America and elsewhere, however, monkeypox is spreading among people with no links to
animals or recent travel to Africa.
Marburg virus:
Marburg virus disease (MVD), earlier known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal hemorrhagic
fever, according to the WHO.
- Marburg, like Ebola, is a filovirus; and both diseases are clinically similar.
- Rousettus fruit-bats are considered the natural hosts for Marburg virus. However, African green monkeys
imported from Uganda were the source of the first human infection, the WHO points out.
- It was first detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany; and in
Belgrade, Serbia.
- The disease has an average fatality rate of around 50%. However, it can be as low as 24% or as high as 88%
depending on virus strain and case management, says the WHO.
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- After the onset of symptoms, which can begin anytime between 2 to 21 days, MVD can manifest itself in the
form of high fever, muscle aches and severe headache.
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Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN):
The government of India under the aegis of the Ministry of Science & Technology has inaugurated a first-of-its-kind,
state-of-the-art “Autonomous Navigation” facility to develop unmanned ground and aerial vehicles in the IIT Hyderabad
campus. It will be called Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN).
About TIHAN
➢ It is a multidisciplinary initiative with the objective of making India a global player in Smart Mobility technology.
➢ It will provide test bed to investigate the operation of unmanned and connected vehicles in a controlled
environment by simulating various scenarios that may occur in real-life. Incidents modeled will range from
frequently occurring to extreme cases.
➢ It will deliver value through startup support system which includes pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration
support programs for entrepreneurs and startups. For this it has program called PRAYAS.
Langya Henipavirus
A new zoonotic disease caused by Langya Henipavirus has raised concern as it is considered as Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4)
Pathogen.
Novel Langya Virus
Langya Virus is a part of genus Henipavirus which is transmitted from animals to humans.
It has a single-stranded RNA genome with negative orientation. These are larger genomes longer than
any other known phosphorprotein in the Henipavirus Paramyxovirinae family.
Novel langya virus is a phylogenetically distinct Henipavirus, Other viruses of the type Henipavirus
discovered earlier are the Mojiang, Ghanian, Cedar , Nipah and Hendra. Among them Nipah and
Hendra are other known virus which earlier have caused fatal illnesses in humans.
Langya's genome is closely related to the Mojang Henipavirus which was discovered in southern China.
General Symptoms include: Fever, Fatigue, Cough, Nausea, Headache, Loss of appetite etc.
Impact of Virus:
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o Since Langya belongs to the same family as Nipah virus hence it has potential to become another
pandemic.
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SSLV launch
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) attempted to launch its first flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle
(SSLV). Launch carried an Earth Observation
Satellite EOS-02 and a student satellite called
as Azaadi SAT. Though mission ended in a
failure it nevertheless laid foundation of ISRO
new path towards space commercialisation.
About SSLV
- It is a three-stage launch vehicle
that carries three Solid
Propulsion Stages and a liquid
propulsion- based Velocity
Trimming Module (VTM) as a
terminal stage. These weigh
around 110 tonnes and are
capable of launching 500kg
satellites into 500 km Low Earth
Orbit (LEO) and 300 kg to Sun
Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
- SSLV allows for low turn-around
time with flexibility in
accommodating multiple
satellites. Its minimal launch
infrastructure requirement makes
it a low-cost alternative.
India first private space situational awareness observatory

India's first commercial space situational awareness observatory, to track objects as small as 10 cm in size orbiting
the earth, will be set up in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand by Digantara, a space sector start-up. The space
situational awareness (SSA) observatory will help India track any activity in space including that of space debris and
military satellites hovering over the region.
What
1. Currently, the United States is a dominant player in monitoring space debris with observatories in multiple
locations and commercial companies providing additional inputs from across the world.
2. The observatory in Uttarakhand will fill the crucial gap in SSA observations in the region as there is a lack of
such facilities between Australia and southern Africa.
3. The high-quality observations, along with those of its partner ground-based sensor network, would help improve
its ability to monitor events occurring in deep space, especially in the geostationary, medium-Earth, and high-
Earth orbits.
4. With this data, it would be able to reduce the potential for collisions between satellites and other spacecraft
by making more accurate predictions of their location, speed, and trajectory.
5. With the establishment of the observatory Digantara will be able to supplement its space- based sensors in their
mission to monitor satellites and debris in orbits ranging from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geosynchronous Earth
Orbit (GEO).
6. This will improve the effectiveness of tracking and identifying pre-existing resident space objects (RSO), and
will result in the creation of a hybrid data pool that will serve both the commercial and the defence sectors of the
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space industry.
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Space Junk: What are Space Debris?
These are space junk that orbits earth at very high speed.
It consists of parts of space craft and launch vehicles debris Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
and includes smaller fragments such as screws. ❖ It monitors and track all space objects
whether man made or natural in a space
These junks exist in various sizes, however even a miniscule
weather.
debris can cause huge damages. For e.g., a 100g object could ❖ It helps in monitoring objects that can
create an impact comparable to a 30-kg stone travelling at pose as a potential threat to satellites
100kmph. and launches. This allows for preventing
These are produced when: disruptions to any crucial satellite-based
- There is a collision of satellites in such situation generally communication.
an inactive satellite collides with active satellites.
- There is an explosion in space due to Anti-Satellite weapon testing.
KESSLER SYNDROME:
Too much space junk can create a domino effect in which a chain reaction can occur wherein more and more objects
will collide and create new space junk in the process until it renders Earth's orbit completely useless.
Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA)
❖ It is an early warning system to detect debris and other hazards to Indian Satellites. Therefore, providing India with
its own SSA (Space Situational Awareness) capabilities.
❖ It consists of connected radars, telescopes, data processing units and a control centre, which can track objects as
small as 10 cm, up to a range of 3,400 km and equal to a space orbit of around 2,000 km.
❖ It will help in developing commercial potential for ISRO as it eases launch of multiple satellite, further for India
its own SSA capabilities mean a clear protection for its national security against attack on crucial commercial
satellite.
INDIGENOUS VACCINE LAUNCHED FOR LSD (Lumpy Skin Disease)

UNION AGRICULTURE Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched an indigenous vaccine for lumpy skin disease (LSD),
which has spread across states, causing deaths of hundreds of cattle since 2019. Tomar said the development of the
vaccine was a milestone event as livestock, along with human resource, is the “biggest asset of our country”.
Lumpi-ProVacInd, the vaccine, has been developed by two institutes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) – National Equine Research Center, Hisar (Haryana) in collaboration with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute,
Izzatnagar (Bareilly).
What is the Lumpy Skin Disease?
- According to a report by GAVI, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, the Lumpy Skin Disease
(LSD) disease is caused by a virus called the Capripoxvirus and is “an emerging threat to livestock worldwide”.
It is genetically related to the goatpox and sheeppox virus family.
- LSD infects cattle and water buffalo mainly through vectors such as blood- feeding insects.
- Signs of infection include the appearance of circular, firm nodes on the animal’s hide or skin that look similar to
lumps.
- There are 30 crore livestock in the country, considering the plight of mute animals, all possible measures should
be taken to provide them relief at the earliest.
- The disease was endemic in Africa, but in the last 2-3 years, after entrapping the southern states of India, an
outbreak/epidemic of LSD has spread to Punjab and other states of northern India. The disease occurs mostly
in cows and somewhat less in buffaloes.
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FIRST BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE IMPLANTED
For the first time ever, a person might be able to control a digital device directly with their brain. A brain-
computer interface (BCI) from endovascular BCI Company Synchron was implanted in a human patient for the first
time in the United States. The procedure was conducted at the Mount Sinai West medical centre in New York.
1. This procedure was part of Synchron’s COMMAND trial, which the company is conducting using a first
investigational device exemption (IDE) awarded by the United States FDA.
2. The COMMAND study is aimed at assessing the safety and efficacy of the company’s motor BCI technology
platform in patients with severe paralysis. The goal is to enable patients to control digital devices hands-free.
3. Synchron’s Stendrode is an endovascular brain implant designed to allow patients to wirelessly control
digital devices using their thoughts, helping improve their functional independence.
4. The device is implanted through the jugular vein using the kind of surgical techniques used to treat strokes. This
does not require drilling into the skull or open-brain surgery.
5. After the device is implanted, it detects and wirelessly transmits motor intent using a proprietary digital
language. This should allow severely paralysed patients to control personal devices without using their limbs.
6. The COMMAND trial will assess the impact of everyday tasks including texting, emailing, online shopping and
accessing tele health services.
INDIA’S FIRST HYDROGEN FUEL CELL BUS

A hydrogen fuel cell bus developed by KPIT-CSIR in Pune was unveiled by Jitendra Singh, Union minister of state for
Science and Technology. The hydrogen fuel cell uses hydrogen and air to generate electricity, producing only heat
and water in the process.
What is a hydrogen fuel cell?
1. Hydrogen fuel cells like the one present in the bus What is the advantage of a hydrogen fuel?
produce electricity by combining hydrogen and 1. The primary advantage of hydrogen fuel cell electric
oxygen atoms. vehicles (FCEV) is that they produce no tailpipe
emissions.
2. The two gases react across an electrochemical cell
2. They only emit water vapour and warm air. Another
similar to a conventional battery cell to produce advantage is that they are more efficient than internal
electricity, water and small amounts of heat. This combustion engine vehicles.
electricity is then used by electric motors to propel 3. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles have another
the vehicle forward. advantage when it comes to refuelling time, which
3. Fuel cells work in a similar manner to conventional makes them more practical than battery- powered
batteries found in electric vehicles but they do not electric vehicles for public transportation purposes.
run out of charge and don’t need to be recharged 4. Even with the fastest charging technologies, it could
take hours to charge a battery-powered electric bus.
with electricity.
Meanwhile, hydrogen can be refilled in a fuel cell
4. They continue to produce electricity as long as there is vehicle in a matter of minutes, nearly as fast as an
a supply of hydrogen. Just like conventional cells, a internal combustion engine can be refilled with fossil
fuel cell consists of an anode (negative electrode) fuels.
and cathode (positive electrode) sandwiched around
an electrolyte.
5. Hydrogen is fed to the anode and air is fed to the cathode. At the anode, a catalyst separates the hydrogen
molecules into protons and electrons and both subatomic particles take different paths to the cathode.
6. The electrons go through an external circuit, creating a flow of electricity that can be used to power electric
motors. The protons, on the other hand, move to the cathode through the electrolyte. Once there, they unite with
oxygen and electrons to produce water and heat.
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PENPLUS Strategy
African nations have adopted a new strategy to boost access to the diagnosis, treatment and care of severe non-
communicable diseases (NCDs) called ‘PENPLUS Strategy’ under WHO.
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About PEN-PLUS Strategy
• It is a regional strategy to address severe NCDs at First-Level Referral Health Facilities’ that is aimed at bridging the
access gap in the treatment and care of patients with chronic and severe NCDs.
• It presents a chance to build the leadership required to train, monitor, and mentor the adoption and extension of
chronic care services.
• It aims at reducing premature mortality from NCDs.
• The PEN-Plus strategy expands on current WHO projects for comprehensive NCDs detection, assessment, treatment,
and care in primary healthcare institutions.
Package of essential non communicable (PEN) strategy
- The WHO Package of essential non communicable (PEN) disease interventions for primary health care in low-
resource settings is a framework for strengthening the equity and efficiency of primary health care in low-resource
settings for the integrated management of NCDs.
- Implementation of the WHO PEN is key to achieving objective 4 of the WHO Global action plan for the prevention
and control of non communicable diseases 2013-2020, adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2013.
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
- They are illnesses or conditions that are not brought on by contagious substances.
- They are long-duration, often slowly progressing chronic diseases that are brought on by a confluence of genetic,
physiological, environmental, and behavioural variables.
NASA Artemis Mission

NASA intends to build a permanent lunar base at the moon's south pole, serving not only as a residence for moon-bound
astronauts, but also as a staging ground for crewed missions to Mars and deep space exploration. On this line
its, first step is Artemis 1 mission.
- NASA’s Artemis mission plans to enable human landing on the Moon at the beginning of
2024 and target sustainable lunar exploration by 2028.
- The program is led by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA with three partner
agencies: European Space Agency (ESA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Canadian agency (CSA)
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Artemis accord: It describes a shared vision for principles, grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.
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- It aims to create a safe and transparent environment which facilitates exploration, science, and commercial activities
for all of humanity to enjoy.
- Till now, twenty-one countries have signed the Artemis accords, which include emerging space powers such as
Brazil, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. It also includes private spaceflight companies.
- Working: The program’s first step will be testing the flight of the Moon rocket, known as the Space Launch System
(SLS), with the Orion capsule on top where astronauts will sit during future missions. This un crewed flight, during
which Orion will swing around the moon before returning to Earth, is to wring out any issues with the spacecraft
before putting people on board.
- Study: The first mission will study the geologic processes of the earliest planetary bodies
preserved on the Moon. This study will investigate rare types of volcanic processes on the Moon.
Quantum computing: Government effort in promoting the Quantum computing

National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA)
• It will be led by the Department of science and technology.
• It will look at building expertise in the quantum frontiers which will be essential for national security, and the
development of quantum computers, quantum chemistry, quantum communication, new materials, quantum
sensors, as well as quantum cryptography.
• The aim of the mission is to create skilled human resources for Quantum technology that
will be a workforce of over 25,000 over the next 5-7 years.
- It focuses on innovation and start-ups, technology development, and human and infrastructural resource
generation to address issues concerning national priorities.
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Quantum Computer Simulator (QSim) Toolkit
- It is launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- It provides the first quantum development environment for academicians, industry professionals, students, and the
scientific community in India.
Quantum-Enabled Science and Technology (QuEST): The Department of Science and Technology launched the QuEST
initiative to lay out infrastructure and to facilitate research in the field.
- AGNIi (Accelerating Growth of New India’s Innovations): AGNIi is a programme of the Office of the Principal
Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, a Mission under the Prime Minister's Science, Technology, and
Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).
- It helps in commercialising the Indian technological innovation.
The inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD)

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently announced the successful test of a supersonic 'Inflatable
Aerodynamic Decelerator' (IAD).
About IAD: IAD has been designed and developed indigenously at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
• The IAD was tested by ISRO using a Rohini-300 (RH300 Mk II) sounding rocket, from the
Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) near Thiruvananthapuram.
• IAD is an inflatable structure made of Kevlar fabric, coated with Polychloroprene.
• Its shape is maintained by a closed, gas-pressured body and the inflating gas is also
generated internally.
• Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD) is a technique used for an atmospheric entry of the rocket body (the
component known as the payload part i.e., spent rocket stages (for usability)), so that the payload is not destroyed
on speedy entry into a planetary atmosphere due to the impact.
Significance
- IAD technology that could help with the cost-effective recovery of expended rocket stages (wasted stages of
rocket during space missions) for re- usability and the safe landing of payloads on some other planets (like Mars
or Venus in the future and making space habitats for humans).
- It can also be used for interplanetary missions. IAD is designed to increase drag upon entering the atmosphere of
any planetary body, like Earth, Mars, or even Moon.
Operation of IAD
The IAD aims to do something similar to retrorocket but without firing rocket engines. It just uses friction or aerodynamic
drag.
Scope of this technology
The IAD has huge potential in a variety of space applications viz. Recovery of spent stages of the rocket, Landing payloads
on Mars or Venus and Making space habitats for human space flight missions.
CERVAVAC
India’s first indigenously developed vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer
• Cervical cancer ranks as the 2nd most prevalent cancers in India and accounts for nearly
one-fourth of the world’s cervical cancer deaths.
• It provides vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV).
• It is estimated that HPV types 16 and 18 (HPV-16 and HPV-18) together contribute to
approximately 70% of all invasive cervical cancer cases worldwide.
• Major India's Vaccine Research Programme:
o Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme,
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o National Biopharma Mission

o Ind-CEPI Mission
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o Mission COVID Suraksha

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INDIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUS AIRCRAFT CARRIER COMMISSIONED
Prime Minister commissioned India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in Kochi. The giant warship,
housing state-of-the-art automation features, will contribute significantly towards enhancing India's maritime
capabilities. The commissioning of Vikrant is being seen as a significant step towards India's self-reliance in the
defence sector.
Key points about INS Vikrant
1. INS Vikrant is the largest ship ever built in India's maritime history, built at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore
2. It has been named after India's first aircraft carrier (which was in service from 1961 to
1997) that played a vital role in the 1971 war with Pakistan
3. INS Vikrant vital stats: 262m long, 62m wide; displaces approximately 43,000 tonnes when fully loaded;
maximum designed speed of 28 knots with endurance of 7500 nautical miles.
4. With its commissioning, India joins an elite league with US, UK, Russia, China and France- countries
capabilities to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier
5. INS Vikrant designed by Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau, built by Cochin
Shipyard Limited.
6. Capable of supporting 30 aircraft; MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 and MH-60R multi-role helicopters,
Advanced Light Helicopters and Light Combat Aircraft to be deployed on ship.
STEALTH FRIGATE 'TARAGIRI' LAUNCHED

'Taragiri', the third stealth frigate of the Indian Navy's Project 17A, was launched in Mumbai on 11 September 2022,
the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) said. P17A ships have been designed by the Indian Navy's in-house design
organization, the Directorate of Naval Design (Surface Ship Design Group). Taragiri's air defence capability, designed
to counter the threat of enemy aircraft and anti-ship cruise missiles, will revolve around the vertical launch and long-
range surfaceto-air missile system.
NASA’S DART SUCCESSFUL TESTED

NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft successfully crashed into the asteroid Dimorphos on 27
September 2022. With the collision, humanity’s first planetary defence test has been completed successfully in a
mission that went exactly as planned without any hitches.
More about DART
1. The targeted asteroid Dimorphos is actually a moon to a slightly larger asteroid called Didymos.
2. While Didymos is 780 m at its widest, Dimorphos is about 160 metres. Dimorphos orbits around Didymos, and
this two-body system go around the Sun.
3. One of the reasons scientists chose to target Dimorphos was because of its relatively shorter orbit around
Didymos.
4. A deviation in this orbit was likely to be more noticeable, and thus easier to measure, than say, if Didymos itself
was targeted and an attempt was made to measure the change in its orbit around the Sun.
5. The DART mission was launched in November last year. The collision is likely to create a crater on Dimorphos.
DOT MAKES IMEI REGISTRATION MANDATORY

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made it mandatory for mobile phone manufacturers to register the
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) – the 15-digit numbers that uniquely identify each mobile device –
of all handsets made in India with the government. Importers, too, will have to register with the government the IMEI
number of each phone before importing it.
How is the DoT mandating these changes?
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1. In a gazette notification on 26 September 2022 amending the prevention of tampering of the mobile device
equipment identification number, rules 2017,
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2. The manufacturer shall register the imei number of every mobile phone manufactured in India with the Indian
counterfeited device restriction portal of the Government of India in the deptt of telecommunications
prior to the first sale of the mobile phone.
DRDO TESTED VSHORADS MISSILES

THE Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted two successful test flights of Very Short
Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles capable of neutralising low altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
What:
1. The Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile was successfully flight tested from a ground
based portable launcher, off the coast of Odisha.
2. The VSHORADS missiles were launched from a ground-based portable launcher at the Integrated Test
Range (ITR) of the DRDO at Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
3. The missile is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by
DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad in collaboration with other DRDO facilities and various
Indian industry partners.
4. The air defence missile incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturized Reaction Control
System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which have been successfully tested during the trials.
5. The missile has been designed to neutralise low altitude aerial threats at short ranges and is propelled by
a dual thrust solid motor.
eSIM
The eSIM (or embedded SIM) technology is enlarging its presence in the Indian tech market as companies like Apple
wants to introduce it by coordinating with the respective telecom companies in India.
Pre–Connect: Since 1991, SIM cards have been used to connect customers to their wireless carriers. The seventeen-digit
code on the card identifies the country or region where the service works, the connected network, and a unique customer
ID.
What is eSIM: eSIM stands for Embedded Subscriber Identity Module.
- An eSIM is a digital embedded, programmable and rewritable SIM and would use a cellular plan of a network
carrier without requiring the need for a
physical SIM.
- It would be much like a traditional SIM card
and would become a part of the phone’s
internal organs.
- It also allows users to switch operators
without having to replace any physical SIM
cards. Jio, Bharti Airtel, and VI are the only
telecommunication companies to offer
eSIM support on smart phones in India
both in Android and iOS.
eSIM Functioning: eSIM offers a new way to load
carrier information into phones without using an external physical chip.
- Technically, an eSIM is a physical part. It’s a microchip embedded inside your smart phone. This component
can download carrier data remotely, enabling to switch carriers on the spot.
- If a phone has a physical SIM tray and an eSIM, people can actively use multiple lines at the same time. Some
phones even support multiple active eSIM simultaneously. Toggling different carriers on and off can be
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accomplished easily with the press of a button in your phone’s settings.

- Beyond the simple use of keeping connected to the wireless network, there’s huge potential for unique
applications that will help streamline consumer and business connectivity practices.
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Noble prize in chemistry
Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal, and Barry Sharpless were the Nobel laureates in Chemistry (2022) for pioneering
click and bio-orthogonal chemistry.
Pre-Connect
• Click chemistry refers to a group of reactions that are fast, simple
to use, easy to purify, versatile, region specific, and give high
product yields.
• Genesis- Click name has been taken from the click sound that
airline seat belts make when they are fastened.
• Main theme- Molecules that easily fit into each other or click
with each other, make the resultant chemical reaction more
efficient.
• Bioorthogonal chemistry is a field in which click reactions are
used to carry out chemical transformations inside biological cells-
It offers a new way to study the natural processes in a living cell. Barry Sharpless, who is the
originator of the concept of ‘Click
About Click Chemistry
Chemistry’, has now won the Nobel
➢ "Click Chemistry" is a term that was introduced by K. B. Sharpless in 2001 to Prize for the second time, making
describe reactions that are high yielding, wide in scope, create only by- him only the fifth scientist to achieve
products that can be removed without chromatography, are stereo specific, this distinction. His previous Nobel
simple to perform, and can be conducted in easily removable or benign Prize had come in 2001 in
solvents. recognition of a different kind of
➢ This concept was developed in parallel with the interest within the work.
pharmaceutical, materials, and other industries in capabilities for generating
large libraries of compounds for screening in discovery research.
➢ Several types of reaction have been identified that fulfil these criteria, thermodynamically-favored reactions that lead
specifically to one product, such as nucleophilic ring-opening reactions of epoxides and aziridines, non-aldol type
carbonyl reactions, such as the formation of hydrazones and heterocycles, additions to carbon-carbon multiple bonds,
such as the oxidative formation of epoxides and Michael Additions, and cycloaddition reactions.
➢ For example, an examination of the azide-alkyne cycloaddition shows that it fulfils many of the prerequisites. Many
of the starting mono-substituted alkynes and organic azides are available commercially, many others can easily be
synthesized with a wide range of functional groups, and their cycloaddition reaction selectively gives 1,2,3-triazoles.
Applications of Click chemistry
✓ The click reaction has proven to be very useful for modifying functional bio molecules because of its high
chemoselectivity. Biologic oligomers and polymers, such as peptides, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates, have been
modified by using the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition click reaction.
✓ Biomedical science, Nano particle research, Targeted drug delivery, Natural product discovery, Biomaterials,
Biopolymers, etc.
✓ Therapeutic applications in attacking certain cancer tumors (Under clinical trials).
Noble prize in physics

Alain Aspect, John F Clauser, and Anton Zeilinger were the Nobel laureates in Physics (2022) “for experiments with
entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science”.
Their results have cleared the way for new technology based upon quantum information.
• A Series of experiments were conducted on something called entangled quantum states, where two separate particles
behave like a single unit.
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• Quantum entanglement- Pair of particles (photons); that are allowed to exist in a shared state where they have
complementary properties.
• Main theme- Experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering
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quantum information science.

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• Role of Quantum mechanics- It is the best tool we have to understand how the universe works on its smallest scales.
• Difference between Classical & Quantum mechanics- Classical mechanics follows Newton’s law of motion but it
cannot be applied to study subatomic particles.
• Chief architects of quantum mechanics- Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Erwin Schrodinger, Werner Heisenberg, and
Niels Bohr.
About Quantum Mechanics
Alain Aspect, John Clauser and Anton Zeilinger have each conducted groundbreaking experiments using entangled
quantum states, where two particles behave like a single unit even when they are separated. Their results have cleared
the way for new technology based on quantum information.
➢ In the 1960s, John Stewart Bell developed the mathematical inequality that is named after him. This states that if there
are hidden variables, the correlation between the results of a large number of measurements will never exceed a
certain value.
➢ Quantum mechanics predicts that a certain type of experiment will violate Bell’s inequality, thus resulting in a stronger
correlation than would otherwise be possible.
➢ John Clauser developed John Bell’s ideas, leading to a practical experiment. When he took the measurements, they
supported quantum mechanics by clearly violating a Bell inequality. This means that quantum mechanics cannot be
replaced by a theory that uses hidden variables.
➢ Some loopholes remained after John Clauser’s experiment. Alain Aspect developed the setup, using it in a way that
closed an important loophole. He was able to switch the measurement settings after an entangled pair had left its
source, so the setting that existed when they were emitted could not affect the result.
➢ Using refined tools and long series of experiments, Anton Zeilinger started to use entangled quantum states. Among
other things, his research group has demonstrated a phenomenon called quantum teleportation, which makes it
possible to move a quantum state from one particle to one at a distance.
Major Applications
✓ Ultra-precise clocks, super powerful computers, improved microscopes, uncrackable codes, biological compasses,
solar cells, etc.
✓ Electronic devices use transistors that apply quantum mechanical ideas. For example- A laser that applies quantum
properties of light.
✓ Futuristic aspect- Quantum cryptography and precise timekeeping as it is done in atomic clocks.
Noble prize in physiology or Medicine

Svante Pääbo received the Nobel Prize in Physiology for his discoveries concerning the genomes of extinct hominins and
human evolution.
Pre-Connect
• The 2022 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Swedish geneticist Svante Pääbo for his
research in the field of genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution
• Dr. Pääbo’s research has resulted in the rise of a new scientific disciple called paleogenomics, which is the study and
analysis of genes of ancient or extinct organisms
• Neanderthals, the closest relatives of the present-day human species, lived in Europe and West Asia as far as southern
Siberia and the Middle East – before they disappeared around 30,000 years ago
• Sequencing the genome of Neanderthal (an extinct relative of present-day humans) to reveal the link between extinct
and modern humans.
• Implication: To better understand human evolution and migration.
• Concluding fact: It demonstrated that the most recent common ancestor of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens lived
around 800,000 years ago.
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• Major hurdles: As genetic material is fragile, most of the DNA discovered in ancient bones is highly degraded,
chemically modified, and tainted with contamination. Thus it was difficult to quantify the DNA.
• He pioneered the study of ancient DNA from archaeological samples and extinct species- Established a new scientific
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About Svante Pääbo's work on evolution
➢ Through his pioneering research, Svante Pääbo accomplished something seemingly impossible: sequencing the
genome of the Neanderthal, an extinct relative of
present-day humans.
➢ He also made the sensational discovery of a
previously unknown hominin, Denisova.
➢ Importantly, Pääbo also found that gene transfer
had occurred from these now-extinct hominins
to Homo sapiens following the migration out of
Africa around 70,000 years ago.
➢ This ancient flow of genes to present-day
humans has physiological relevance today, for
example affecting how our immune system
reacts to infections.
➢ Pääbo’s seminal research gave rise to an entirely
new scientific discipline; paleogenomics.
➢ By revealing genetic differences that distinguish
all living humans from extinct hominins, his
discoveries provide the basis for exploring what
makes us uniquely human.
5G SERVICES LAUNCHED
Bringing a new era in technology, Prime Minister launched the 5G telecom services in India on 1 October 2022. The
technology seeks to provide seamless coverage, high data rate, low latency and highly reliable communications
system. 5G services are also expected to play a major role to achieve the economic goal of making India a $5-trillion
economy by 2024-25.
Ways that 5G could change your life
1. For consumers, 5G promises higher data speeds over 4G. At its peak, internet speeds on 5G could touch 10
Gbps, compared to the 100 Mbps peak of 4G.
2. 5G technology offers latency as low as 1ms. For the unversed, latency is the time taken by the device to send
packets of data and get a response; Shorter the latency, quicker the response.
3. 5G technology will provide seamless coverage in remote areas across the country . It will increase energy
efficiency, spectrum efficiency and network efficiency.
5G will also usher in the ear of technology advances in the country such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented
Reality (AR) and more. These technologies will have end-to- end affect on multiple sectors - healthcare,
agriculture, education, disaster management and others.
4. 5G will enhance the fan experience at live music festivals and sports events like football matches. The low
latency offered by 5G will offer immersive experience to sports lovers.
5. 5G technology will give a boost to the Industrial Revolution 4.0. The all-new 5G services will connect a variety of
IoT (Internet of Things) sensors and devices to automate the scheduling of various processes.
'PRACHAND' INDUCTED INTO IAF

The first batch of indigenously-developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) named " Prachand" was inducted into the
Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Jodhpur air base on 3 October 2022. The indigenous Light Combat Helicopter
(LCH) capable of destroying enemy air defence, conducting counter insurgency strikes and much more.
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Features, significance of the LCH

1. LCH has the maximum take-off weight of 5.8 tonnes, maximum speed of 268 kilometers per hour, range of
550 kilometers, endurance of over three hours and service ceiling — the maximum altitude to which it can fly
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— of 6.5 kilometres.
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2. The helicopter uses radar-absorbing material to lower radar signature and has a significantly crash-proof
structure and landing gear.
3. A pressurised cabin offers protection from nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) contingencies.
4. The helicopter is equipped with a countermeasure dispensing system that protects it from enemy radars or
infrared seekers of the enemy missiles.
5. As far as weapons systems are concerned, a 20 mm turret gun, 70 mm rockets and air-to-air missile systems
are onboard.
6. LCH is powered by two French-origin Shakti engines manufactured by the HAL. With these features, the LCH
has the capabilities of combat roles such as destruction of enemy air defence, counter insurgency warfare,
combat search and rescue, anti-tank, and counter surface force operations.
7. The LCH is the only attack helicopter in the world which can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 meters
with a considerable load of weapons and fuel, meeting the specific requirements laid out by the Indian Armed
Forces.
CHINA LAUNCHES FIRST SOLAR OBSERVATORY (KUAFU-1)

China launched the Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S), nicknamed Kuafu-1 in Chinese on 9
October 2022. Since then, ASO-S, which represents the country’s ambitions to unravel the mysteries of the Sun, has
entered its planned orbit.
IN A FIRST-IN-HUMAN TRIAL OF FLASH RADIATION

The first-in-human research on a small number of patients with bone cancer reveals that FLASH radiation
therapy, which delivers therapeutic amounts of radiation in a fraction of a second, may hold promise as a potential
treatment for difficult-to-kill malignancies. The method was previously tested on animals and proved to be
equally safe and effective without producing any unanticipated adverse effects.
Organic fertilizer
Organic Fertilisers are made from multiple
organic sources such as organic compost,
cattle manures, and domestic sewage.
• These are two types-
o Bio-Fertiliser- They are the micro-
organisms that aid in increasing the
productivity of the soil. They are
generally attached to solid or liquid
carriers.
o Organic Manure: These are partially
decomposed organic matter for
example compost or vermicompost
which provides nutrients to the soil
and improves yield.
• Organic Fertilizer performs the balancing
act between soil health and production potential, thus it helps to reduce dependence on chemical inputs.
• It lowers the leaching losses by promoting higher water retention and also provides micro-nutrients in adequate and
sufﬁcient quantities.
Potential of Organic Fertiliser in India
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➢ Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): On average India produces 150,000 tonnes per day of municipal solid waste out of
which it is estimated that organic waste hovers around 65000 tonnes per day.
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➢ If it is diverted to the biogas industry it can help in reducing the import of fossils and fertilisers.
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➢ Biogas Effluents- Effluent of biogas known as digestate has a huge potential in the generation of electricity and can
also act as fuel for vehicles. Digestate can help in aiding India’s second green revolution.
➢ The rising popularity of Organic
Farming- Organic farming produce
demand is growing in India. It is seeing
an average growth of near about 17%
per year.
Limitations
✓ Organic farming is monitored strictly to
get certified.
✓ There is no separate market for organic
produce, farmers must create their
market to sell their produce at a higher
rate- Expensive food items.
✓ Organic farming in larger fields is not
practical hence yield is low.
✓ The problem of insufficient knowledge and skills is there in India at least.
✓ The penetration of organic fertilizers is low.
Launch Vehicle Mark (LVM) 3

ISRO’s heaviest rocket Launch Vehicle Mark 3 had successfully placed 36 satellites of UK-based one web into orbits.
• Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III: GSLV (Mark III) is a three-stage vehicle with two solid strap-on
motors, one liquid core stage, and a high-thrust cryogenic upper stage. It is a heavy lift launch vehicle of ISRO for
achieving a 4000 kg spacecraft launching capability to GTO (Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit) in a cost-effective manner.
It was renamed LMV 3.
LMV 3-M2 Mission
• It is the biggest commercial mission of New Space India Limited (NSIL).
• It is the first multi-satellite mission of LVM 3 with the heaviest payload (near about 6 tonnes) in the LEO orbit.
Pillar of creation: JWT (James Webb Telescope):

About James Webb Telescope
• A successor of the Hubble Telescope it was developed by an international collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the
Canadian Space Agency.
• It is the largest and most powerful infrared space telescope which can see backward in time as it will examine every
phase of cosmic history from the big bang to the evolution of the solar system.
• It will compare and understand how galaxies assemble over billions of years.
• It will also look at the origin from where stars and planetary systems are born.
• It will observe the atmospheres beyond our solar system.
About Pillars of Creation
➢ The Pillars creation are a small part of the Eagle Nebula, a part of space where dense gas and dust birth new stars.
➢ Pillars of Creation were first made famous when NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of them in 1995.
➢ The Hubble Space Telescope photographed the Pillars of Creation twice, once in 1995 and the next in April 2015.
➢ According to NASA, these pillars resemble buttes in the desert.
➢ These pillars appear like rock formations – three towers of interstellar gas and dust which are more permeable than
they look.
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➢ They are essentially very dense clouds of molecular hydrogen gas and dust that have survived longer than their
surroundings while hot newborn stars in the vicinity throw ultraviolet light in their direction.
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About Photo evaporation
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✓ The process by which high-energy radiation like ultraviolet light causes changes in substances it hits is called photo
evaporation.
✓ This phenomenon causes the pillars to erode slowly, exposing small globules of even denser gas buried within them.
✓ These globules are called evaporating gaseous globules (EGGs) and the stars eventually emerge from the EGGs.
Mission Prarambh
Skyroot’s Vikram-S will be India’s first privately developed rocket which was launched into space under the ‘Prarambh’
Mission.
About IN-SPACe
➢ The government approved the creation of a new organization named IN-SPACe to ensure greater private participation
in India’s space activities.
➢ IN-SPACe is supposed to be a facilitator, and also a regulator.
➢ It will act as an interface between ISRO and private parties and assess how best to utilize India’s Space resources and
increase space-based activities.
C295 tactical transport aircraft
Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the C-295 transport aircraft manufacturing facility in Vadodara to be set up
by Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL).
• C-295MW is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of IAF.
Shaped Antenna measurement of the background RAdio Spectrum-3 (SARAS-3) telescope:

Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bengaluru said that in a first-of-its-kind work, using data from an Indian telescope,
scientists have determined properties of radio luminous galaxies formed just 200 million years after the Big Bang, a
period known as the Cosmic Dawn.
SARAS-3, indigenously designed and built at RRI, was deployed over Dandiganahalli Lake and Sharavathi
backwaters, located in Karnataka.
- Scientists study properties of very early galaxies by observing radiation from hydrogen atoms in and around
galaxies, emitted at a frequency of approximately 1420 MHz.
- The radiation is stretched by the expansion of the universe, as it travels to us across space and time, and arrives
at Earth in lower frequency radio bands 50-200 MHz, also used by FM and TV transmissions.
National repository for life science data

India's first national repository for life science data, generated from publicly-funded research in the country, was
unveiled by Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh. The 'Indian Biological Data Centre' (IBDC), established in
Faridabad Haryana at the Regional Centre of Biotechnology, has data storage capacity of four petabytes and is also
home to the 'Brahm' High Performance Computing facility.
1. The life sciences data was till now stored in data repositories in Europe and the US, and a need were
felt to house the data within the country.
2. The computational infrastructure at IBDC has also been made available for researchers interested in
performing computational-intensive analysis.
3. IBDC has started nucleotide data submission services via two data portals viz. the 'Indian Nucleotide
Data Archive (INDA)' and 'Indian Nucleotide Data Archive - Controlled Access (INDA-CA)' and has
accumulated over 200 billion (one billion = 100 crore) bases from 2,08,055 submissions from more than 50
research labs across the country.
4. The Centre also hosts an online 'Dashboard' for the genomic surveillance data generated by the INSACOG
labs that provides customised data submission, access, data analysis services, and real-time SARS-CoV-2
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variant monitoring across India.

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NASA’S CAPSTONE MISSION REACHED THE MOON
NASA’s CAPSTONE mission reached the Moon on 13 November 2022, becoming the first spacecraft to enter into
a special elongate orbit that could support future space missions. The microwave oven-sized satellite weighs just
around 25 kilograms and also become the first CubeSat to fly and operate on the Moon.
What is the CAPSTONE mission?
1. CAPSTONE stands for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation
Experiment.
2. The mission’s CubeSat was sent into space to test a unique lunar orbit called a near rectilinear halo orbit,
(NRHO) which is very elongated and is located at a precise balance point between the gravities of the Earth
and the Moon.
Bluebugging
With a rise in the use of Bluetooth-enabled devices, our devices have become even more vulnerable to attacks from
hackers. After bluejacking or bluesnarfing, hackers are using blue bugging to hijack devices and have access to sensitive
data on phones and laptops.
Bluetooth-based Cyber Security Threats
• BlueJacking: Under BlueJacking, one BLURTOOTH
Bluetooth based on low energy protocol and Basic Rate/Enhanced
Bluetooth device hijacks another with spam
Data Rate (BR/EDR) transport methods uses Cross-Transport Key
advertising. Since Bluetooth usually has a
Derivation (CTKD) for pairing. CTKD is vulnerable to key overwrite, which
broadcasting range of ten meters or about enables an attacker to gain additional access to profiles or services that
thirty feet, the attacker device is always placed are not restricted by reducing the encryption key strength or overwriting
nearby. It is used to do phishing attacks. A an authenticated key with an unauthenticated key. This is termed as
message sent by BlueJacking could contain a BLURTOOTH.
hyperlink to a website that has malware, or a
website that grabs sensitive information from its victim.
• BlueSmacking: It is a way to execute a Denial-
Bluetooth Impersonation Attacks (BIAS)
of-Service attack against a Bluetooth-enabled
The Bluetooth standard includes a legacy authentication procedure
device. The device gets way more data packets and a secure authentication procedure, allowing devices to
or oversized data packets than it’s designed to authenticate to each other using a long term key. Those procedures
handle. The target gets overwhelmed, so it are used during pairing and secure connection establishment to
shuts down. The attack uses the L2CAP layer of prevent impersonation attacks. However, system is prone to
Bluetooth’s networking stack. multiple vulnerabilities that includes the lack of mandatory mutual
authentication, overly permissive role switching, and an authentication
• BlueSnarfing: It is similar to BlueJacking
procedure downgrade.
however it is more dangerous than BlueJacking
These loopholes enable an attacker to establish a secure connection
because it can take data. Data such as with a victim, without possessing the long term key shared by the
individual text messages, emails, photos, and impersonated device and the victim. Such attacks are called Bluetooth
unique identifying information that a person’s Impersonation Attacks
phone or laptop uses with their cellular
provider or ISP.
Understanding Blue Bugging
➢ It was first discovered by German researcher Martin Herfurt in 2004 and was initially used to target laptops with
Bluetooth radios.
➢ Bluebugging is hacking technique hackers employ to worm their way easily into a device when its Bluetooth is on
'discovery mode'.
➢ A hacker can gain unauthorized access to these apps and devices and control them as per their wish through blue
bugging.
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Lab Grown Meat

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Lab-grown meat for Human consumption. It was made by
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UPSIDE Foods, a company that makes cell-cultured chicken by harvesting cells from live animals.
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Understanding Lab-Grown Meat
Bioprinting: It is an additive manufacturing
• It is cultivated meat grown from a test tube in a stainless-steel
process where organic and biological materials
bioreactor. This meat is manufactured by a process borrowed
such as living cells and nutrients are combined to
from Regenerative medicine. create artificial structures that imitate natural
• There are four main technological elements to the cultivated human tissues.
meat: The development of cell lines, Cell culture media,
Scaffolding, and Bioreactors.
• The cells are acquired from an animal. Then they are placed in a warm, sterile vessel with a solution called a
growth medium which contains nutrients including salts, proteins, and carbohydrates, helping in the growth of
cells.
• The flavor of this meat is like real meat.
• The nutrient profile of lab-grown meat is similar to that of real meat, we can even enhance its nutrient content.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Lab-grown meat for Human consumption. It was made by
UPSIDE Foods, a company that makes cell-cultured chicken by harvesting cells from live animals.
Understanding Lab-Grown Meat
• It is cultivated meat grown from a test tube in a stainless-steel bioreactor. This meat is manufactured by a process
borrowed from Regenerative medicine.
• There are four main technological elements to the cultivated meat: The development of cell lines, Cell culture media,
Scaffolding, and Bioreactors.
• The cells are acquired from an animal. Then they are placed in a warm, sterile vessel with a solution called a growth
medium which contains nutrients including salts, proteins, and carbohydrates, helping in the growth of cells.
• The flavor of this meat is like real meat.
• The nutrient profile of lab-grown meat is similar to that of real meat, we can even enhance its nutrient content.
Base editing
Recently, For the first time, a new gene editing technology called base
editing was used to modify immune cells and successfully treated a teen T-CELLS and T-ALL
with treatment-resistant leukemia. ❖ T- cells are a part of the immune system
Understanding Bases in DNA that focuses on specific foreign
• Molecules called nucleotides, on opposite strands of the DNA double particles. Rather, then genetically attack
helix, form chemical bonds with one another. These chemical bonds act on foreign element.
like rungs in a ladder and help hold the two strands of DNA together. ❖ T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-
There are four nucleotides, or bases, in DNA: adenine (A), cytosine (C), ALL) is an aggressive malignant
guanine (G), and thymine (T). They function as the fundamental units neoplasm of the bone marrow.
of the genetic code.
• The information in DNA is stored as a code made up of these four chemical bases. The order, or sequence, of these
bases, determines the information available for building and maintaining an organism, similar to how letters of the
alphabet appear in a certain order to form words and sentences.
Understanding Base Editing
Base editing is a method to allow scientists to zoom into a precise part of the genetic code and then alter the molecular
structure of just one base, converting it into another and changing it according to the genetic instructions.
Working on Base Editing
➢ Firstly, an individual’s T-cells are removed, then modified and reintroduced to the individual. The problem with such
an approach (besides the expense) is that very often when an individual is sick, it is simply impossible to obtain enough
healthy T-cells to create CAR-T cells.
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➢ If donors can provide healthy T-cells to an individual, these T-cells from a foreign body are going to attack every single
cell in that patient’s body, making the treatment counterproductive.
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➢ Thus, scientists have resorted to
the method of base editing,
through this technique of genetic
editing they make it possible for
one donor to supply T-cells to
multiple recipients, without the
traditional risks associated with it.
Base Editing vs Crisper
✓ Conventional CRISPR-Cas9 gene
editing introduces double-strand
breaks, which can lead to off-
target effects. Instead, Base
editing avoids double-strand
breaks, to minimize errors.
✓ Thus, Base editors allow precise
nucleotide substitutions in the
DNA without having to break
the same or force the cell
machinery to repair it and in the
process make mistakes, which is
the main mechanism of CRISPR-
Cas9.
Deep Fakes
Understanding Deep Fakes
• A DeepFakes refers to a specific kind of synthetic media where a person in an image or video is swapped with
another person's likeness.
• DeepFakes content is created by using two competing AI algorithms. Generator and the discriminator. Together, the
generator and discriminator form a generative adversarial network (GAN).
• The generator creates phony multimedia content and a discriminator is used Shallowfakes
to determine whether the content is real or artificial. Coined by Sam Gregory,
• Each time the discriminator accurately identifies content as being fabricated, Shallow fakes are videos that
it provides the generator with valuable information about how to improve are either presented out of
the next DeepFake. context or are doctored with
simple editing tools. They are
• The first step in establishing a GAN is to identify the desired output and
crude but undoubtedly
create a training dataset for the generator. Once the generator begins impactful.
creating an acceptable level of output, video clips can be fed to the
discriminator.
• As the generator gets better at creating fake video clips, the discriminator gets better at spotting them. Conversely,
as the discriminator gets better at spotting fake videos, the generator gets better at creating them.
• India does not have any law specifically for deep fake cybercrime, but various other laws can be combined to deal
with it such as Section 66D of IT Act 2000, laws related to the misusing of the tech. which include Copyright
Violation, Defamation and cyber felonies.
Lecanemab drug
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A drug named Lecanemab has been successful in reducing cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
o Alzheimer’s disease –It is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and
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brain cells to die.
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o It affects parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.
o It can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out their daily activities.
• Lecanemab has been jointly developed by pharma companies Biogen and Eisai and was tested on patients with
early Alzheimer’s.
Wormhole
Researchers have announced that they have created a “baby” wormhole. This is hailed as a theoretical achievement,
though physical wormhole remains in the realm of science fiction.
Theory of Relativity : The theory of relativity encompasses two interrelated theories by Albert Einstein: special relativity
and general relativity, proposed and published in 1905 and 1915, respectively.
Special Relativity (E = mc2)
• The theory of special relativity explains how speed
affects mass, time, and space. The theory includes a way
for the speed of light to define the relationship between
energy and matter.
• Special relativity is mostly used when discussing huge
energies, ultra-fast speeds, and astronomical distances,
all without the complications of gravity.
• The theory suggests that- As an object approaches the
speed of light, the object's mass becomes infinite and
so does the energy required to move it. That means it is
impossible for any matter to go faster than light travels.
• An implication of the theory of Special Relativity is time
dilation. In simpler terms, time dilation means that time
moves relative to the observer. So, when an object is
experiencing time dilation it means if it is moving very
fast, it will experience time more slowly than when it is at rest. This explains the slower ageging of astronauts than
people on earth.
• Time dilation also plays a crucial role in the effective functioning of the Global Position System (GPS).
General Relativity
• The theory of General Relativity adds the gravity factor to the space-time continuum. It asserts that massive objects
caused a distortion in space-time.
• For Example, Imagine setting a large object in the center of a trampoline. The object would press down into the fabric,
causing it to dimple. If we then attempt to roll a marble around the edge of the trampoline, the marble would spiral
inward toward the body, pulled in much the same way that the gravity of a planet pulls at rocks in space.
• Scientists have observed countless phenomena matching the predictions of relativity-
o Gravitational Lensing- Light bends around a massive object, such as a black hole, causing it to act as a lens for
the things that lie behind it. Astronomers routinely use this method to study stars and galaxies behind massive
objects.
o Gravitational Redshift- The electromagnetic radiation of an object is stretched out slightly inside a gravitational
field. It is the occurrence of the Doppler Effect with waves of light at all frequencies.
o Gravitational Waves- Einstein predicted that violent events, such as the collision of two black holes, create ripples
in space-time known as gravitational waves. And in 2016, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
(LIGO) announced that it had detected such a signal for the first time.
Understanding Wormhole
➢ A wormhole is a hypothetical tunnel-like structure connecting twodifferent points through space-time.
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➢ Einstein's theory of general relativity predicted the existence of wormholes.

➢ The wormhole theory says that a passage through space-time could create shortcuts for long journeys across the
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universe.
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Iknife
Intelligent surgical knife a.k.a iKnife can smell tumors thus detecting womb Cancer within seconds. With 89% accuracy,
it can reliably diagnose endometrial cancer.
• Cancer is a group of diseases in which abnormal cell growth occurs with the ability to spread to parts of the body.
• It is a disease of the genes in the cells of the human body. Genes control the way human cells work. But, changes
to these genes can cause cells to malfunction.
• There are two main categories of cancer:
o Hematologic (blood) cancers are cancers of the blood cells, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple
myeloma.
o Solid tumor cancers are cancers of any of the other body organs or tissues. The most common solid tumors
are breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers.
• According to World Health Organisation, cancer is the second leading cause of death globally.
• Cancer causing viruses are called oncovirus.
Working of iKnife Government Programme
➢ iKnife uses electro surgery method. ❖ National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes,
Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS):-For cancer, the
➢ It uses an electrical current to rapidly heat
tertiary care cancer centers scheme aims at setting up cancer
tissue cutting through it while minimizing institutes for providing comprehensive cancer care in the country.
blood loss. ❖ Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi:- The Scheme provides financial assistance to
➢ It vapourises the tissue thus creating smoke. patients, living below the poverty line and who are suffering from
➢ The smoke is sucked away by extraction major life-threatening diseases, to receive medical treatment at any
systems of the super specialty Government hospitals or institutes.
❖ National Cancer Grid:-It is a network of major cancer centers across
➢ It uses electrical currents to analyze this
India with the mandate of establishing uniform standards of patient
smoke to differentiate between cancerous
care for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
and healthy tissue.
Significance
✓ It minimizes damage to healthy tissue while ensuring the removal of all the Cancer cells.
✓ Womb cancer tests require almost two-week wait for the results. The ability to providea diagnostic test that provides
results immediately benefits early detection, diagnosis and treatment.
✓ iKnife is already being used to treat breast and brain cancers and now it canalso accurately detect the presence
ofendometrial cancer.
Nuclear fusion and clean energy

Recently, scientists for the first time performed a reaction that
produced more power than it was used generate. They used
powerful lasers to focus energy that produced 1.5 times more
energy.
Nuclear Fusion
Working
▪ When two light nuclei merge to form a single heavier nucleus, a
fusion reaction takes place.
▪ The mass of a single nucleus formed during the reaction is less
than the mass of two nuclei.
▪ The leftover mass is the energy that is released in the process.
Methods Used
Laser beam is used in this experiment. A 192-beam laser is fired at a small capsule filled with deuterium-tritium fuel.
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Tokmak- a doughnut-shaped vacuum chamber that uses powerful magnets. This turns fuel into superheated plasma
where fusion may occur.
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Advantages of Nuclear Fusion
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 Abundant energy- It has the potential to provide the kind of minimum energy needed to provide energy electricity
to our city and industries.
 Sustainability- Most fusion reactions use two elements i.e. deuterium and tritium and not fossil fuel thus ensuring
long-term sustainability.
 No carbon dioxide- The by-product of the fusion reaction is helium which is an inert, non-toxic gas.
 Limited risk of proliferation- It doesn’t use fissile materials like uranium that can be used to make nuclear weapons.
No risk of meltdown- In a tokamak fusion device a Fukushima or Chernobyl-type nuclear accident is not possible.
Drdo developes UFRA for space Radar

In a key development, Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a Bengaluru lab of the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has developed a major subsystem for space radar, which holds
significant potential not only for the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), but also for the military.
More about Space radar
1. LRDE has been involved in the development of space-borne imaging radar — mainly consisting of electronic
radar subsystems and antenna deployment mechanisms — for installation on satellites has completed the
development of an UnFurlable Reflector Antenna (UFRA).
2. UFRA is one of the major subsystems of a radar, LRDE said, adding that radars for space applications require an
antenna to be stowed in compact volume during launch and then deployed in the required shape once the
satellite is in the required orbit.
3. To meet this requirement, LRDE has developed the UFRA system which consists of a rim truss-based deployable
mechanism, primary arm, reflector mesh, tension ties, nets, and motor. A cable is routed through the diagonal
members of the rim truss elements.
4. The UFRA was realised and the deployment of the antenna to the required height was achieved successfully by an
unfurlable deployment mechanism. The design can be adapted to realise any size of UFRA.
5. The antenna, is likely to be part of space-based military radar, which LRDE is working on. The specific details
about the radar cannot be divulged at this moment, but the development of UFRA is a key milestone in the
development of the radar.
6. LRDE is a key DRDO lab with a mission to design and develop state-of-the-art radar systems meeting current
and futuristic requirements of the tri-services, paramilitary forces, intelligence and strategic missions.
7. It is also tasked with establishing indigenous production capability through industry partnership to achieve total
self-reliance in the field radars besides promoting in-house research, engaging academia and industry to build
competence towards creating a centre of excellence in the field of radar technologies.
Bharos
An incubated startup of IIT Madras developed a mobile operating system named BharOS. It is being promoted by the
government as India’s answer to the Google-owned Android and Apple’s iOS, the two most dominant mobile operating
systems in the world.
Understanding Mobile Operating System
• An Operating System is software that provides a link between the user and the system hardware. Furthermore, it
manages all interactions between software and hardware.
• A MobileOS is a software platform designed specifically for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and other
embedded devices. It allows mobile devices to run applications and other programmes.
Hybrid immunity
A recent study published in the journal ‘’The Lancet Infectious diseases held that hybrid immunity” provides better
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protection against severe Covid-19 vis-à-vis other immunities which wanes against a re-infection within a few months.
Understanding Immunity
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• Immunity to a disease is achieved through the
presence of antibodies to that disease in a person’s
system.
• The immune system forms B cells (that make
antibodies) and specialist T cells (that either aid B cells
or kill infected cells), as well as memory cells, to
prepare for any future attacks from the same
pathogen.
• Antibodies are proteins produced by the body to
neutralize or destroy toxins or disease-carrying
organisms. Antibodies are disease-specific.
• There are two types of immunity
o Active Immunity-It activates when a person is
exposed to a disease triggering the immune
system to produce antibodies to that disease. It
can be acquired through:
▪ Natural immunity is acquired from exposure
to the disease organism through infection with
the actual disease. Immune Imprinting
▪ Vaccine-induced immunity is acquired ❖ Immune imprinting is a tendency of the body to repeat its
through the introduction of a killed or immune response based on the first variant it encountered
weakened form of the disease organism either through infection or vaccination.
❖ Thus, the immune system, rather than generating new B cells,
through vaccination.
activates memory B cells, which in turn produce antibodies
o Passive Immunity- It activates when a person is that bind to features found in both the old and new strains,
given antibodies to a disease rather than known as cross-reactive antibodies.
producing them through his or her immune ❖ Although these cross-reactive antibodies do offer some
system. A new born baby acquires passive protection against the new strain, they aren’t as effective as
immunity from its mother through the placenta. the ones produced by the B cells when the body first came
One can also get passive immunity through across the original virus.
antibody-containing blood products such as ❖ To counter Immune imprinting, scientist believe that nasal
vaccines might be better at preventing infections than
immune globulin.
injected ones. They believe the mucous membranes would
• The major advantage of passive immunity is that create stronger protection, despite carrying some imprint of
protection is immediate, whereas active immunity past exposure.
takes time to develop. However, passive immunity
lasts only for a few weeks or months. Only active immunity is long-lasting.
• Hybrid immunity is gained from a previous infection plus vaccines (primary or booster doses).
Implications of the Findings
• It will help in reducing vaccine hesitancy.
• It will nudge countries to roll out booster vaccine drives in face of the ever-evolving covid virus.
• It will help people who are old or co-morbid in protection against the virus.
ChatGpt
Recently, the independent research body OpenAI
Chatbots
produced a conversational chatbot known as ChatGPT. These are form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which operates either
The chatbot is trained to follow the instruction in a via machine learning or with set guidelines. A machine learning
prompt and provide a detailed response. Users can chatbot is based on artificial neural network inspired by the neural
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simply feed in their query and the chatbot will reply to nodes of the human brain, as a chatbot receives new voice or
them. textual dialogues, the number of inquiries that it can reply to and
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Generative AI the accuracy of each response it gives increases.
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• In simple terms when Artificial Intelligence generates
Generative vs Discriminative AI
something on its own it is referred to as generative AI. Discriminative AI is one under which decisions are
• It includes learning algorithms that make predictions as well based on boundaries such as color, weight, etc. Then
as those that can use prompts to autonomously write articles the algorithm compares the pattern and based on
and paint pictures. probability gives an answer. Generative AI on the other
• A generative AI requires: hand draws model in n-dimensional plane, therefore
each object carries its own points and then the
Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs): A Generative
algorithm compares the probability curve to derive to
Adversarial Network (GAN) is a deep learning architecture a conclusion.
that consists of two neural networks competing against For e.g. If both AI are given apple and banana as data
each other in a zero-sum game framework. The goal of feed. Then Discriminative AI will decide based on the
GANs is to generate new, synthetic data that resembles features, while Generative AI will draw an apple and
some known data distribution. banana and based on its drawing gives decision.
o Variational Autoencoders (VAEs): It encodes data into a Generative AI is better than Discriminative AI as it
low-dimensional representation thereby capturing key requires less data feedback and produces more
accurate result as it has less data outliers.
features. Then the model decodes the low-dimensional
representation back into the original data. This encoding
and decoding produce a compact representation of the
Ethical Challenges due to Generative AI
data distribution, which it can then use to generate new ❖ Accountability Issues: Generative AI can produce
outputs. outputs that are difficult to trace back to the
• Generative AI also uses random noise as input to generate responsible parties, make it challenging to hold
new outputs. This new data is used as additional, synthetic individuals or organizations accountable for fake
training data for creative applications in art, music, and text news or deepfake videos generated by AI.
generation. ❖ High Risk of fraud:The quick spread of
misinformation and fraud is one more risk. It can be
Generative Pre-Trained Transformer
frequently be used for malicious or criminal purposes.
➢ Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is a neural network
❖ Envrionment Unfriendly:Generative AI like ChatGPT
machine learning model trained using internet data to are based on huge machine learning parameters
generate any type of text. It uses deep learning to produce which require huge data centers which uses a lot of
human-like text energy resulting in carbon emissions.
➢ GPT-3 on which ChatGPT is based has over 175 billion ❖ Baiseness:Generative AI will carry an inherent
machine-learning parameters. Before it was Microsoft's biasness as the sources it is based on are inherently
Turing Natural Language Generation (NLG) model, which bias.
had 10 billion parameters.
➢ It uses both natural language generation and natural language processing to understand and generate natural
human language text.
About ChatGPT
✓ It is trained using Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF). Under this model, human AI trainers provided
conversations in which they played both sides viz. user and AI assistant
✓ This is known as supervised fine-tuning. As a result, it can answer follow-up questions, admit its mistakes, challenge
incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests.
✓ However, it is not free from errors or limitations such as
o It sometimes writes plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers.
o It is often excessively verbose and overuses certain phrases.
o The chatbot is sensitive to how the input is phrased.
o Facts and Logic is missing
It's unable to understand Abstract relation-based queries.
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Environment
BIODIVERSITY AND ITS CONSERVATION
UN deal to save oceans
On 4 March 2023, in New York City, the United Nations reached a historic agreement to protect the world’s oceans and ensure that
people across the globe can benefit from the high seas while
safeguarding the marine life. Vermin
What is High Seas Treaty? ❖ Since 1972, the WLPA has identified a few species
1. The agreement on High Seas Treaty was reached on 4 March like fruit bats, common crows and rats etc. as
2023 at UN headquarters in New York. It has been under vermin or nuisance animals that spread diseases
discussion since 2004. or destroy crops and are not protected under the
2. The "exclusive economic zone," an area extending 200 act and they may be hunted freely.
nautical miles from the coast, is under the legal jurisdiction of ❖ Vermin are placed in Schedule V and animals
coastal nations, but the proposed treaty would only apply to which are placed in the Schedule I and II can
the international waters that constitute two-thirds of the not be declared as Vermin.
world's oceans. ❖ Killing animals outside this list was allowed
How is ownership proved? under two circumstances:
1. The UNESCO 1970 declaration stated that, “The requesting ❖ Under Section 62 of WLPA- given sufficient
Party shall furnish, at its expense, the documentation and reasons any species (other than liste schedule I
other evidence necessary to establish its claim for recovery and II) can be declared vermin at a certain place
and return.” for a certain time.
2. The first thing in order to prove the ownership is the ❖ Under Section 11 of WLPA- the chief wildlife
complaint (FIR) filed with the police. In India, the problem with warden can allow the killing of an animal
missing antiquities is that in many cases, there is no FIR. irrespective of its status in the Schedules if it
3. But other proof, like details mentioned by reputed scholars in becomes dangerous to human life.
research papers etc., also works. would only apply to the ❖ In recent years the Centre has started using its
international waters that constitute two-thirds of the world's powers under Section 62 declaring species as
oceans. vermin at even state levels often without any
4. The negotiations had been going on for decades, partly due credible scientific assessment.
to disagreements about funding, fishing, and mineral rights. ❖ For example, Nilgais were declared as vermin
5. If ratified the treaty would put at least 30% of the world’s across 20 districts in Bihar for a year in 2015.
seas into Marine Protected Areas. It would also help in
contributing more money to the conservation of marine life.
Moreover, the agreement would create fresh rules for seafloor mining.
6. High Seas Treaty will replace the previous UN ocean treaty, named the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea which was signed
in 1982.
7. At the time, the treaty had established the “high seas”, which are the international waters that are open to fishing, shipping, and
research by the world.
Wildlife protection amendment act

Recently The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2022 was passed in the parliament. India is a signatory to the CITES that required
certain legislative actions.
Pre-Connect
• India is the first country in the world to make provisions for the protection and conservation of environment in its constitution.
• The provisions for environmental protection in the constitution were made through the 42nd amendment act which introduced-
o Article 48A- The state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard forest and wildlife
of the country.
o Article 51A(g)- It shall be duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including
forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife an to have compassion for living creatures.
Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972
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➢ The WLPA provided the basic framework for ensuring the protection and management of wildlife.
➢ The passing of the act was an important landmark since forest (including wildlife) was then a State subject under Seventh
Schedule and Parliament had no power to make law on the same except as provided in Articles 249,250 and 252 of the
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constitution.
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➢ The rating of the Schedules I to V is in accordance with the risk of survival and animals included in them are protected from
hunting and their trade being strictly regulated.
Features of New Amendments
✓ Act seeks to strengthen the protection of endangered species and enhance punishment for illegal wildlife trade while increasing
the species protected under the law and implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES) more effectively. Elephants
✓ Implement CITES provisions- Under CITES plant and ❖ The legal dilemma over the elephant’s status which is an
animal specimens are classified into three categories endangered species and a domestic animal has persisted
based on the threat to their extinction and it seeks to for long.
regulate the trade of all listed specimens and ❖ In 1897, the Elephants’ Preservation Act prohibited the
possession of live animal specimens. killing or capture of wild elephants, in 1927, the Indian
Forest Act listed the elephant as cattle. The WLPA
✓ Rationalising schedules- The earlier act had six identified the elephant as a vehicle.
schedules and the amendment reduces the ❖ The elephant is the only animal in WLPA Schedule-I that
number to four by reducing schedules for can still be owned legally by means of inheritance or gift.
specially protected animals and vermin species. It ❖ In 2003, Section 43 of the WLPA prohibited trade in all
inserted a new schedule for specimens listed in the captive wildlife and the WLPA (Amendment) Bill 2021
Appendices under CITES. proposed an exception to Section 43 making it
✓ Obligations under CITES- The act provides for the inapplicable to the transfer of any live elephant when
central government to designate a permission is granted from the State Government.
o Management Authority- It will grant export or ❖ However, the government modified the exemption to
import permits for trade of specimens. allow the transfer of a captive elephant for a religious or
o Scientific Authority- It will give advice on any other purpose.
aspects related to impact on the survival of the ❖ Critics point out that scope of “any other purpose” will
specimens being traded. empower elephant traders and increase the risk of their
✓ Invasive alien species (IAS)- IAS refers to plant or capture.
❖ Allowing owners to transfer their elephants legally to
animal species which are not native to India and
those willing to and capable of looking after the animals
whose introduction may adversely impact wild life or
is a welcome step.
its habitat. The act empowers the central government
to regulate the trade, possession or reproduction etc.
of IAS.
✓ Control of sanctuaries- The Act entrusts the chief wild life warden who is appointed by the state government to control, manage
and maintain all sanctuaries in a state. For sanctuaries falling under special areas (scheduled area) the management plan must
be prepared after due consultation with the concerned Gram Sabha.
✓ Conservation reserves- Central and State governments and may declare areas next to national parks and sanctuaries as a
conservation reserve.
✓ Surrender of captive animals- Any person can voluntarily surrender any captive animals or animal products to the Chief Wild
Life Warden for which no compensation will be paid.
✓ Penalties- Act increases the fines-
Type of Violation 1972 Act 2022 Act

General violation Up to Rs 25,000 Up to Rs 1,00,000
Specially protected At least Rs 10,000 At least Rs
animals 25,000
Significance
▪ The Act seeks to increase the species protected under the law and implement the CITES.
▪ Many captive elephants suffer when their owners fail to bear the expenses of their upkeep which increased in the post-Covid
scenario. Thus allowing such owners to transfer their elephants legally to those willing to and capable of looking after the
animals is a welcome step.
▪ The Act regulates the protection of wild animals, birds and plants while increase the species protected under the law.
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▪ The recent amendment has taken a progressive step to improve the participation of forest dwellers within national parks while
determining the management plan.
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▪ It has mandated the need to consult the Gram Sabha in protected areas falling under scheduled areas.
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India first dark sky reserve
INDIA’S FIRST ‘DARK SKY RESERVE’: India will establish the country’s first Dark Sky Reserve in the cold desert regions of Ladakh,
Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Science and Technology, announced on 3 September 2022. This facility
will also promote astronomy-tourism.
What is a Dark Sky Reserve?
1. A Dark Sky Reserve is public or private land with a distinguished nocturnal environment and starry nights that has been
developed responsibly to prevent light pollution.
2. According to the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA), these reserves “consist of a core area meeting minimum criteria
for sky quality and natural darkness, and a peripheral area that supports dark sky preservation in the core.
3. These reserves are formed through a “partnership of multiple land managers who have recognized the value of the natural
night time environment through regulations and long term planning.
4. Individual groups can nominate a site for certification to the international dark sky association. There are five designated
categories namely international dark sky parks, communities, reserves, sanctuaries and urban night sky places.
5. The certification process is similar to that of a site being awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag or getting recognised
as a Biosphere Reserve.
6. Between 2001 and January 2022, there have been 195 sites recognised as International Dark Sky Places globally.
CLIMATE CHANGE
India Updated climate pledge
India updates climate pledges: India's updated climate pledge to the Paris Agreement has been ranked fifth in compliance and fourth
in ambition by a new study. European Union (EU) took the lead while the United States was ranked last in compliance and second to
last in ambition.
• To put forward and further propagate a healthy and sustainable way of living based on traditions and values of conservation and
moderation, including through a mass movement for 'LIFE'- 'Lifestyle for Environment' as a key to combating climate change.
• To adopt a climate friendly and a cleaner path than the one followed hitherto by others at corresponding level of economic
development.
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• To reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 percent by 2030, from 2005 level.
• To achieve about recent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030, with
the help of transfer of technology and low-cost international finance including from Green Climate Fund (GCF).
• To create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by
2030.
• To better adapt to climate change by enhancing investments in development programmes in sectors vulnerable to climate change,
particularly agriculture, water resources, Himalayan region, coastal regions, health and disaster management.
• To mobilize domestic and new & additional funds from developed countries to implement the above mitigation and adaptation
actions in view of the resource required and the resource gap.
• To build capacities, create domestic framework and international architecture for quick diffusion of cutting edge climate
technology in India and for joint collaborative R&D for such future technologies.
Mangrove alliance for climate

India on 8 November 2022 joined the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) at the 27th Summit of the Conference of
Parties (COP27) at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. UAE, Indonesia, Australia, Japan, Spain and Sri Lanka are the other MAC supporters. The
mangroves can absorb four to five times more carbon emissions than the tropical forests and can help create new carbon sinks.
What are mangrove forests?
1. A mangrove is a shrub or a small tree that grows along the coastlines and has roots in salty sediments, often underwater.
2. They also grow in swamps. Mangrove forests can survive extreme weather conditions and require low oxygen levels to survive.
3. The mangroves cannot survive freezing temperatures and thus are found mainly in tropical and subtropicallatitudes.
Sundarbans in West Bengal in India is the largest mangrove forest in the world.
4. UNESCO celebrates 26 July as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem to raise awareness
about mangrove ecosystems and to promote their conservation.
What is the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)?
1. Spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in partnership with Indonesia, MAC was launched at the COP27 Summit in
Egypt to scale up and accelerate the conservation and restoration of the mangrove forests.
2. The alliance will raise awareness about the role of mangroves as a "nature-based solution to climate change".
The MAC seeks to scale up, accelerate conservation, restoration and growing plantation efforts of mangrove
ecosystems for the benefit of communities globally, and recognize the importance of these ecosystems for climate
change mitigation and adaptation," MAC's official website said about its aim.
Bio energy program

The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy said it will continue National Bio Energy Programme till 2025-26 with a budget
outlay of Rs 858 crore for the first phase. The programme will aid the use of huge surplus biomass, cattle dung, and industrial and
urban biowaste available in the country for energy recovery.
What
1. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has notified the National Bioenergy Programme on 2 November 2022,
an MNRE statement said.
2. The MNRE has continued the National Bioenergy Programme for 2021-22 to 2025-26. The programme was recommended
for implementation in two Phases. Phase-I has been approved with a budget outlay of Rs 858 crore.
3. The National Bioenergy Programme will include the three Sub-schemes: Waste to Energy Programme, Biomass Programme
and Biogas Programme.
4. The Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes /Residues) will support
the setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and Power plants (excluding MSW (municipal solid waste) to power projects).
5. Biomass Programme (Scheme to Support Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) based
cogeneration in Industries) will support the setting up of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation and non-bagasse-
based power generation projects.
6. The biogas programme will also support the setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas.
7. The MNRE has been promoting bioenergy in India since the 1980s to utilise huge surplus biomass, cattle dung, and industrial
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and urban biowaste available in the country for the recovery of energy.
One major support extended by the MNRE has been central financial assistance provided for setting up Bioenergy projects,
such as Biogas, BioCNG, power from urban, Industrial and Agricultural Waste / Residues for reducing their capital cost/ interest
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on loans, therefore, increasing project viability.
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Arctic Fires
The area above the Arctic circle heats four times faster than the rest of the planet and it is this climate amplification that causes
abnormal fire activity.
The annual mean temperature of the Arctic has increased by more than two degrees Celsius (°C) compared to that of the pre-
industrial levels.
The forest fire burned down around 4.7 million hectares (mha) of the Arctic in 2019 and
Arctic Indigenous People Saami in
2020 and the carbon emissions from burning were estimated to be around 146 million
circumpolar areas of Finland, Sweden,
tonnes of carbon in just two years (2019 and 2020).
Norway, and Northwest Russia,
The rise in temperatures in the region may lead to the recurrence of large fires in the
Nenets, Khanty, Evenk, and Chukchi in
Arctic region.
Russia, Aleut, Yupik, and Inuit in
The fires triggered in Arctic forests by rising temperatures, in turn, caused by global Alaska, Inuit (Inuvialuit) in Canada and
warming can lead the world deeper into crisis. They can release large amounts of carbon Inuit (Kalaallit) in Greenland.
dioxide and methane from thawing permafrost peat lands, thus defeating climate goals
Reasons for forest fires in the Arctic region
▪ Wildfires are common in the Arctic and Subarctic, their size, frequency, and intensity may increase as the climate warms, giving
rise to more extreme weather.
▪ The researchers have investigated around 10 factors associated with the likelihood of fire. They are- air and surface
temperature, total precipitation, wind speed and direction, vapor-pressure deficit, length of the growing season, mean
normalized difference vegetation index, climatic water deficit, and the number of ignitions, a direct factor associated with
the likelihood of fires.
▪ Also, there is a relationship between higher temperatures, longer growing seasons, and greener vegetation leading to fires.
The higher temperatures account for the earlier snowmelt, permitting vegetation growth and increased green biomass, which
increases fuel availability.
▪ Lightning is infrequent at high latitudes; it is expected to increase as the climate warms. Hence Global warming poses a dual
threat in the Arctic increasing the susceptibility of peatlands and vegetation to fires and increase in the number of lightning-
caused ignitions.
Food waste and climate change

Every year, the world throws away around 931 million tons of food, most of it ending up in landfills this is creating a big Climate
problem.
Food waste is a waste of resources, time, and money. Food Waste Index
Food waste means
❖ It is produced jointly by the United Nations Environment
all of the environmental impacts of food production Programme (UNEP) and WRAP. It seeks to support efforts to
without any of the benefits of people being fed. halve food waste by 2030. It aims at supporting the goals of
A throwaway food when it SDG 12.3.
Decomposes and produces ❖ Key Highlights of 2021 Report are:
around a tenth of the world's climate-warming o The report estimates that around 931 million tonnes of
gases, according to the United Nations. food waste was generated in 2019, 61 per cent of which
Estimates suggest that 8-10% of global greenhouse came from households, 26 per cent from food service and
gas emissions are associated with food that is not 13 per cent from retail.
consumed. o Household per capita food waste generation is found to
Nations around the globe pledged in 2015 to halve be broadly similar across country income groups,
food waste by 2030, but few are on track to do so. suggesting that action on food waste is equally relevant in
Among the top five biggest food wasters per capita, high, upper-middle and lower-middle income countries.
at least three of the United States, Australia, and New o Previous estimates of consumer food waste significantly
Zealand have increased their food waste since 2015. underestimated its scale. While data doesn’t permit a
The average American wastes more than 700 calories robust comparison across time, food waste at consumer
of food per day – about a third of recommended level (household and food service) appears to be more
daily intake according to a 2020 study. than twice the previous FAO estimate.
7% of all food available at consumer levels was
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wasted in 2019 according to the report by the Food Waste Index.

In India, an average person wastes 137 grams of food every single day. According to estimates, food wastage cost around Rs
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92,000 crores a year. How Food Waste Impacts Climate
Change
According to UN, Globally, around 14 percent of food
produced is lost between harvest and retail, while an
estimated 17 percent of total global food production is
wasted (11 percent in households, 5 percent in the food
service and 2 percent in retail).
The greenhouse gases (GHG) from the food industry account
for 25 to 30% of the total emissions that have led to today's
climate crisis.
According to a report by the intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) the loss and waste of food caused
between 8 and 10% of emissions of the gases responsible for
global warming in the period 2010- 2016.
Effects of Food Waste
✓ Biodiversity loss: To maximize agricultural yields,
farmers have increasingly invaded wild areas in
search of more fertile lands which has led to the loss
of biodiversity.
✓ Blue water footprint: If 30
percent of all the food produced goes to waste,
then it means that more than 30 percent of
freshwater used in the production and
processing of food also goes to waste.
✓ Increased carbon footprint and the acceleration
of climate change: The food produced and then
later goes to waste is estimated to be equivalent to
3.3 billion tons of greenhouse gas emission,
accelerating the impacts of climate change. Food
waste is the third biggest emitter of greenhouse
gases.
✓ Economic consequences: According to FAO’s
report estimates, the economic losses associated
with food wastage are about $750 billion per
annum.
Bill to mandate clean energy passed

Lok Sabha passed the amendments to the Energy Conservation Act aimed at putting in place provisions to make the use of clean
energy mandatory and paves way for setting of carbon markets in the country. The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022,
seeks to mandate use of non-fossil sources, including
What are carbon markets?
biomass and ethanol for energy and feedstock along with
1. The creation of a domestic carbon market is one of the most
the use of green hydrogen and green ammonia.
significant provisions of the proposed amendment Bill. Carbon
More about the bill markets allow the trade of carbon credits with the overall
1. It also proposes to enhance the scope of Energy objective of bringing down emissions.
Conservation Building Code and bring large 2. Under the Kyoto Protocol, the predecessor to the Paris
residential buildings within the ambit of energy Agreement, carbon markets have worked at the international
conservation regime. level as well. The Kyoto Protocol had prescribed emission
2. The Energy Conservation Act, 2001 was last reduction targets for a group of developed countries.
amended in the year 2010 to address various new 3. Globally, 68 carbon pricing instruments (CPIs), covering 23%
factors which emerged with the development of the of the GHG emission, are operational.
energy market over a period of time and to provide 4. The roll-out in India is expected to happen in three phases,
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for more efficient and effective use of leveraging the existing infrastructure and building on the
energy and its conservation. learning from the Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme
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3. The context of energy transition with special focus and the global experience in this sphere.
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on promotion of new and renewable energy and National Green Hydrogen Mission, a need has arisen to further amend the
said Act to facilitate climate targets committed at COP26 summit, promote renewable energy and development of domestic
carbon market to battle climate change.
4. It mandates use of non-fossil sources to ensure faster decarbonization of Indian economy and help in achieving
sustainable development goals in line with the Paris Agreement.
The bill would also empower state governments to make rules regarding fees to be levied for the services rendered by the
designated agency for promoting efficient use of energy and its conservation along with the preparation of the budget of
the designated agency.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND MEETINGS

Stockholm +50 meeting
Recently, The two-day Stockholm+50 meet is convened by the United Nations General Assembly in Stockholm to commemorate 50
years since 1972. The Stockholm conference made the environment a pressing global issue.
Pre-Connect
Sweden will host
Stockholm+50, with the
support of Kenya. It will
be during the same
week as World
Environment Day, which
is held on 5 June each
year and is also a result
of the 1972 event.
To commemorate the 50
years since the 1972
United Nations
Conference on the
Human Environment,
which made the
environment a pressing
global issue for the first
time, around 122
countries attended, and
participants adopted a
series of principles on
the environment,
including the Stockholm
Declaration and Action
Plan for the Human
Environment.
The United Nations Environment Programme was created as a result of this conference, UNEP is a global body that has been
working for environmental protection across the world and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had attended the 1972 conference and called for global collective action to save
the environment.
About Stockholm+50
➢ Stockholm+50 will be collaborative and multi-stakeholder in nature, open to all participants who will be invited to share
experiences and initiatives to protect the planet and contribute to sustainable and inclusive development, including a
sustainable recovery from the COVID
-19 pandemic.
➢ Firstly, the open architecture of engagement at Stockholm+50 was unique and allowed the global community to make their
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voices and views known.

➢ his response to a demand for action and co-created outcomes allowed for truly inclusive multi-stakeholder engagement
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and a sense of partnership.
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India and Stockholm+50
India pitches for circularity as Stockholm+50 opens with calls to accelerate action for healthy planet and prosperity for all.
India advocated the concept of LIFE, that is, lifestyle for the environment, as an approach to combating climate change.
It promotes mindful consumption, reduction of waste and promotion of resource efficiency and circular economy
Centre NDC climate target

UNFCCC cop 27
At the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (COP 27), countries came together to take action towards achieving the world's
collective climate goals as agreed under the Paris Agreement and the Convention. The conference took place from 6-20 November
2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Climate finance
About climate finance:
Climate finance refers to local, national or transnational financing-drawn from public, private and alternative sources of
financing- that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change.
Climate finance is needed for mitigation, because large-scale investments are required to significantly reduce emissions.
Climate finance 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.
Financial mechanism
To facilitate the provision of climate finance, the UNFCCC established a financial mechanism to provide financial resources to
developing country Parties. The financial mechanism also serves the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
The Convention states that the operation of the financial mechanism can be entrusted to one or more existing international
entities.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has served as an operating entity of the financial mechanism since the Convention's entry
into force in 1994.
At COP 16, in 2010, Parties established the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and in 2011 also designated it as an operating entity of
the financial mechanism.
Parties have established two special funds-the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) and the Least Developed Countries Fund
(LDCF), both managed by the GEF-and the Adaptation Fund (AF) established under the Kyoto Protocol in 2001.
Finance at COP 27
Loss and damage fund: The UN climate summit has decided to establish fund for loss and damage, which was proposed by
G77 and China (India is a part of this group), least developed countries and small island states.
Carbon border Tax : The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is a plan from the European Union (EU) to tax carbon-intensive
products which was opposed by the BASIC group, comprising India, China, Brazil and South Africa at COP 27.
Key institutions and technology mechanism
In 2010 the COP established the Technology Mechanism with the objective of accelerating and enhancing climate technology
development and transfer. It consists of two complementary bodies that work together, - the Technology Executive Committee (TEC)
and the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN). The mechanism will also serve the Paris Agreement.
TEC: It is the Technology Mechanism's policy arm and analyses policy issues and provides recommendations to support
countries in enhancing climate technology efforts.
CTCN: It is the mechanism's implementation arm and it supports countries to enhance the implementation of climate
technology projects and programmes. It has three core services:
o Providing technical assistance to developing countries.
o Creating access to knowledge on climate technologies.
o Fostering collaboration among climate technology stakeholders.
Action for climate empowerment (ACE) and gender
About ACE
COP27 and CMA4 (Parties to the Paris Agreement) adopted a four-year ACE action plan under the Glasgow work programme,
which sets out short-term, clear and time- bound activities in the four priority areas of the work programme.
It is the term adopted by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to denote work under Article 6 of the Convention
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and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement.

The over-arching goal of ACE is to empower all members of society to engage in climate action, through the six ACE elements.
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Cites Cop 19
Recently, the Conference of Parties (COP-19) to The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) was held in Panama. Indian Pangolin
Key Highlights of the Conference It is widely distributed in India, except the arid region,
➢ In total 52 proposals were put forward and these proposals dealt high Himalayas and the North-East. The species also
with the international trade of- sharks, hippos, 200 tree species, occurs in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
etc. Major threats to pangolins in India are hunting and
➢ Parties were asked to remove the references to pangolins from poaching for local consumptive use. It is listed in
‘official pharmacopeia’ (It is a book containing a list of medicinal Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and as
drugs with their uses, preparation, dosages, and formulas) to help Endangered on IUCN Red List.
save the species.
➢ The conference listed sea cucumbers as ‘threatened’ (to
Big Cat Task Force
include in Appendix II). Sea cucumbers perform the same role
The CITES COP19 has proposed budget of
on the seabed that earthworms perform on land. As per the
$150,000 for Big Cat Task Force: It will curb illegal trade
Wildlife Conservation Society report, sea cucumbers were the
in big cats like lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs etc. The
most frequently trafficked marine species in India from 2015-
Task force will include China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR,
2021.
Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, USA and Vietnam
➢ The conference decided to regulate Shark Fin. Shark fin soup is as the key Parties to tackle the illegaltrade in illegal trade
very popular in China and other South-East Asian countries. The in Asian big cat specimens.
countries have voted to include 54 species of requiem sharks, six
species of hammerheads, and 37 guitarfish in CITES Appendix II.
➢ Parties agreed to work together to support Mexico in its fight to save the world’s most endangered marine mammal, the vaquita
porpoise.
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➢ Parties resolved to work on building gender equality into the international trade in wildlife, recognizing that women are often
guardians of wildlife and biodiversity but, just as often, are not recognized or benefit from this trade.
➢ Parties resolved to recognize and investigate ways in which CITES can contribute to mitigating the risk of zoonotic pathogen
spillover and transmission from wildlife trade and associated wildlife supply chains, including markets.
➢ World Wildlife Trade Report was launched at the conference. According to the report, international wildlife trade is worth more
than $200 billion annually to the world economy. It highlighted the fact that Humans use the resources that come from nature
for food, fuel, medicine, and shelter. Therefore all stakeholders should invest in wildlife conservation.
India at the Conference
India is a CITES Party since 1976.
At India’s behest, rules for the export of Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) based products eased. Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) is included
in Appendix II of the convention. Therefore, as per CITES regulations, every consignment of weight above 10 kg requires a CITES
permit. This resulted in a loss of export earnings for Indian handicrafts. Now in the 10kg consideration, weight of the log will be
calculated and the weight of the metal will be ignored.
The two Indian turtles red-crowned roofed turtle (Batagur Kachuga) & Leith’s soft- shell turtle which are facing a high risk
of extinction added to the list of threatened species. They are threatened due to habitat loss, illegal trade, and poaching.
India’s Operation Turtshield got appreciation and India also highlighted that it has included many species of turtle under its
Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and they were given a high degree of protection.
India decided not to vote against a proposal to re-open the international trade in ivory at the ongoing conference.
In India, a large number of marine wildlife seizures happen in the following states Tamil
Nadu>Maharashtra>Lakshdweep>Karnataka
UN biodiversity Conference (Cop 15)

The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological
The Living Planet Report: It’s a flagship
Diversity took place in Montreal Canada. The UN biodiversity conference aims to
publication of the World Wildlife Fund. It
lay out a plan to tackle the ‘unsustainable rate’ of global biodiversity loss.
is a comprehensive study of trends in
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
global biodiversity and the healthof the
• It was signed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and
planet. It revealed an average decline of
Development (the Rio "Earth Summit").
69% in species populations since 1970.
• It is the international legal instrument for the conservation of biological
diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable
sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
• It has been ratified by 196 nations.
• The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
Diversity (SCBD) is based in Montreal, Canada.
Biodiversity and Its Importance
➢ It refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its
levels, from genes to ecosystems, and can
encompass the evolutionary,
ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life.
➢ Effect of Climate Change: Climate change is
playing an increasingly important role in the
decline of biodiversity. In 2019, the
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services estimated
that three-quarters of the world’s land surface and
66 percent of its oceans had been significantly
altered.
The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15)
✓ The meeting was relocated to Montreal from Kunming China due to COVID-19 restrictions but it is still being presided over by
China.
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✓ The goal of the meeting is to help guide countries on how to protect biodiversity using the best methods.
✓ A draft of a new biodiversity framework released last year included around 21 targets to meet by 2030.
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✓ It included reducing pesticide use, increasing funding to $200bn per year, and protecting at least 30 percent of land and sea
globally.
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✓ It also included the 30×30 proposal which aims to protect and conserve at least 30 percent of land and ocean biodiversity by
2030 to avoid a crisis.
Challenges
The major challenge will be getting a strong and ambitious document together.
None of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets have been fully achieved. The implementation of targets is a matter of concern.
Funding: Securing funding
commitments and establishing
implementation mechanisms for the
agreed targets is a
major concern.
Greenpeace has urged richer
countries to take a fair financial
burden and help the Global South’s
areas at risk of destruction.
More focus should be on the rights
and sovereignty of Indigenous
peoples, who live in the world’s
remaining biodiversity.
Amnesty International urged caution
about the 30×30 idea because such
efforts in the past “have led to
widespread
evictions, hunger, ill-health, and human
rights violations.
India’s Stand
• India has participated in the Open-
Ended Working Group (OEWG) on
the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
• According to India, this framework should help address the current biodiversity-related challenges and promote the three
CBD objectives in an integrated manner.
• India wants to live in harmony with nature to be the overriding theme of the framework. India promotes restoration and the
wise use of biodiversity which can conserve as well as deliver benefits to the people.
• India is advocating for other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM) instead of Protected Areas (PA) to meet
30x30.
REPORTS AND RANKINGS

Environment Performance Index
India has been placed at the bottom on a list of 180 countries, judged for their environmental performances by Yale and Columbia
universities.
Key Points
The EPI provides a data-driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world.
Using 40 performance indicators across 11 issue categories, the EPI ranks 180 countries on climate change performance,
environmental health, and ecosystem vitality.
EPI indicators provide a way to spot problems, set targets, track trends, understand outcomes, and identify best policy
practices.
Overall EPI rankings indicate which countries are best addressing the environmental challenges that every nation faces.
The lowest scores go to India (18.9), Myanmar (19.4), Vietnam (20.1), Bangladesh (23.1) and Pakistan (24.6).
Most low-scoring countries are those that have prioritised economic growth over sustainability, or those that are struggling
with civil unrest and other crises
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EPI projections indicate that
just four countries -- China,
India, the US and Russia -- will
account for over 50
per cent of residual global
greenhouse gas emissions in
2050 if current trends hold.
Report and India
➢ India, with increasingly
dangerous air quality and
rapidly rising greenhouse gas
emissions, falls to the bottom
of rankings for the first time.
➢ The report stated that Many
other nations are headed in
the wrong direction, with
rapidly rising greenhouse gas
emissions in major countries
like China, India and Russia.
Significance
Good data and fact-based
analysis can also help
government officials refine
their policy agendas, facilitate
communications with key
stakeholders, and maximize the return on environmental investments.
The EPI offers a powerful policy tool in support of efforts to meet the targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
and to move society toward a sustainable future.
IPBES report
A report released by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has stated that the
sustainable use of wild species can meet the requirements of billions of people.
The IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body, established by member States in 2012.
Its secretariat is based in Bonn, Germany. All States Members of the United Nations are eligible for IPBES membership.
India is a member of IPBES since 2012, and IPBES is not a UN body.
The work of IPBES can be broadly grouped into four complementary areas:
o Assessments, Policy Support, Building
Capacity & Knowledge and Communications
& Outreach
Key Points of the report
The report mentioned that Global trade in wild
species has expanded substantially in volume,
value and trade networks over the past four
decades.
The report asserted that one in five people rely on
wild plants, algae and fungi for their food and
income; 2.4 billion rely on fuel wood for cooking
and about 90% of the 120 million people working
in capture fisheries are supported by small-scale
fishing.
Billions of people get benefits from the use of wild
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species for food, energy, materials, medicine,

recreation, inspiration and many other vital
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contributions to human well-being.
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The Report identifies five broad categories of ‘practices’ in the use of wild species: fishing; gathering; logging; terrestrial animal
harvesting (including hunting); and non-extractive practices, such as observing.
The report states that illegal trade in wild species represents the third largest class of all illegal trade – with estimated annual
values of up to US$199 billion.
The use of wild species defines identities and livelihoods and also holds cultural significance. Around 70% of the world’s poor are
directly dependent on wild species and businesses fostered by them.
Many species have cultural importance as they offer multiple benefits that define tangible and intangible features of people’s
cultural heritage.
The use of wild species by indigenous peoples and local communities, as well as their extensive knowledge, practices and beliefs
about such uses, are also explored in the Report. Indigenous stewardship of biodiversity is often embedded in local knowledge,
practices and spirituality.
Groundwater distress in India

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)’s Monitored wells registered a decline in groundwater levels in the range of 0 – 2 m.
Pre-Connect
CGWA is constituted under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The Body is formed to regulate and control of groundwater development and management in the country.
Presently, the Easement Act of 1882 provides every landowner with the right to collect and use groundwater or water under the
land and on the surface.
Water is mentioned under the
State List of the Constitution.
Therefore, the state legislative
assemblies can make laws on
the subject.
State of Water in India
CGWB statistics show that the
contribution of groundwater is
nearly 62 per cent in irrigation,
85 percent in rural water supply
and 50 percent in the urban
water supply.
According to government
data,Five states -- Uttar Pradesh,
R ajasthan, Bihar, Madhya
Pradesh, and Kerala -- account
for 49 percent of the overall
extraction of groundwater in the
entire country.
The stage of groundwater extraction is very high in
Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. In these states, Atal Bhujal Yojana
the annual groundwater consumption is more than ❖ The Government is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal
annual extractable groundwater resources. Jal), a Rs. 6000 crore Central Sector Scheme with World Bank
In States like Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar assistance.
Pradesh and UTs of ❖ Government of India launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) in
Chandigarh and Puducherry, the stage of groundwater 2019 in 256 water stressed districts in the country.
Extraction is between 70-100 percent. ❖ ‘Mukhyamantri Jal Abhiyan’ in Swavlamban JalyuktShibar’
In 2021, As per CGWB ,Nearly one-sixth of India’s 6,965 in Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
groundwater assessment units are ‘over-exploited’ and ❖ ‘SujalamS ufalam Abhiyan’ in Gujarat, ‘Mission Kakatiya’ in
this along with two other categories of concern — Telangana, NeeruChettu’ in Andhra Pradesh, Jal Jeevan
‘critical’ and ‘semi-critical’ — account for 35% of total Hariyali in Bihar, ‘Jal Hi Jeevan’ in Haryana, and
Kudimaramath scheme in Tamil Nadu etc.
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assessed units.
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According to the NITI Aayog's Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) 2018, 21 Indian cities could face Day Zero in the
coming years.
Day Zero refers to the day when a place is likely to have
no drinking water of its own. Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi
and Hyderabad are among the most susceptible.
Reasons for depleting groundwater
✓ Increased demand for freshwater: The warmer
temperatures, scorching summer and climate change
encourage the use of groundwater. An increase in
frequency affected the groundwater table adversely.
✓ Industrialization: Continuous pumping of water,
discharge of industrial effluents, domestic sewage,
use of fertilizers and pesticides, waste dump and
overexploitation of the resources have bad impact
on groundwater sustainability.
✓ Agricultural Subsidies: Power subsidies encourage
the farmer to exploit more volume of groundwater.
Freebies in electricity also contribute to the depletion
of groundwater. Moreover, the cultivation of water-
intensive crops further makes the level of water on an
alarming level.
✓ Lack of replenishment: Construction of hard
surfaces on the earth retard percolation in the
ground, erratic rainfall, and climate change are other
factors that delay the replenishment of aquifers.
✓ Urbanisation: It is often believed that with the urban growth, the impermeabilization and ground sealing effect might contribute
to a decrease in groundwater.
Implications
▪ Food Security: Groundwater is a critical
resource for food security, groundwater
depletion could result in a reduction in
food crops.
▪ Land Subsidence: As underground
water disappears from aquifers, drawn
out excessively, the matter underneath
becomes the sole entity for managing
the load, and the land may suddenly or
gradually sink, leading to a
phenomenon known as land
subsidence.
▪ Water Distress: lack of enough
groundwater will promote drought-like
conditions, as agricultural productivity
will be undermined due to inadequate
availability of water.
▪ SDGs: Groundwater is most explicitly
linked to ensuring availability and
sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all’ (Goal 6), Groundwater
also contributes to poverty eradication
(Goal 1); food security (Goal 2); gender equality (Goal 5); sustainability of cities and human settlement (Goal 11);
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combating climate change (Goal 13) and protecting terrestrial ecosystems (Goal 15). The progress on such goals will be
derailed.
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Report in air quality and health
According to the Global Air report on air quality and health in

cities, New Delhi and Kolkata are the most polluted cities in the
world.
Pre-Connect
According to the report, Air pollution was the 4th
leading risk factor for early death worldwide in 2019,
around 6.67 million death have occurred.
The main source contributing to air pollution are vehicle
exhaust, heavy industry including power generation,
small-scale industries including brick kilns, and
resuspended dust on the roads due to vehicle
movement and construction activities.
Earlier this year, a global report – the World Air Quality Report 2021 – listed New Delhi as the capital city with the most polluted
air for the fourth consecutive year.
Particulate matter is released in the atmosphere as air pollutants-

o PM10 : inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller.
o PM2.5 : fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.
Key Points of the Reports
New Delhi and Kolkata are the most polluted cities in the world.These cities rank the highest,based onlevels of fine particulate
matter.
PM2.5 levels in Delhi averaged 110 μg/m3, making it the world’s most polluted city in this respect.
Kolkata came second in the list, with average PM2.5 levels of 84 μg/m3. Mumbai too found a place here, ranking 14th with
average PM2.5 levels of 45.1 μg/m3.
The cities in South Asia, West Sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia reported exposures to PM2.5 higher than 35 μg/m3 (the least
stringent WHO limit).
India is home to 18 of the 20 cities with the most severe increase in PM2.5 pollution (more than 30 μg/m3) from 2010 to 2019.
With respect to NO2, the global average was 15.5 μg/m3 – higher than the WHO limit of 10 μg/m3. Out of the 103 most
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populous cities across all 21 regions, 81 reported higher NO2 exposures than the global average.
Exposure to pollutants can cause a range of illnesses, from respiratory and heart diseases to cancers and strokes.
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Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are two major air pollutants in cities and urban areas worldwide.
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Living Planet report
According to the WWF’s Living Planet Report (LPR) 2022, Wildlife populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish have
seen a devastating 69% drop on average since 1970. The report highlights the stark outlook of the state of nature and urgently warns
governments, businesses and the public to take transformative action to reverse the destruction of biodiversity.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the various life forms that exist on earth, including animals, plants, microorganisms, and the entire
ecosystem they live in.
Biodiversity is in the form of biological resources, including genes, species, organisms, and ecosystems. Thus, there are three
main levels of biodiversity are species, genetic, and ecosystem biodiversity.
Levels of biodiversity
Genetic diversity is the variety of genes within a species. Each species is made up of individuals that have their own particular
genetic composition. This means a species may have different populations, each having different genetic compositions. To
conserve genetic diversity, different populations of a species must be conserved.
Species diversity is the variety of species within a habitat or a region. Some habitats, such as rainforests and coral reefs, have
many species. Others, such as salt flats or a polluted stream, have fewer.
Ecosystem diversity is the variety of ecosystems in a given place. An ecosystem Biodiversity cold-spots
is a community of organisms and their physical environment interacting together. A “biodiversity cold spot” is an area
An ecosystem can cover a large area, such as a whole forest, or a small area, such with a limited variety of living things,
as a Biodiversity hotspots like plants, animals, fungi, and
There are currently 36 recognized biodiversity hotspots. These are Earth’s most bacteria.
biologically rich—yet threatened—terrestrial regions. To qualify as a biodiversity
hotspot, an area must meet two strict criteria:
o Contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants found nowhere else on Earth (known as "endemic" species).
o Have lost at least 70 percent of its primary native vegetation.
Many of the biodiversity hotspots exceed the two criteria. For example, both the Sundaland Hotspot in Southeast Asia and the
Tropical Andes Hotspot in South America have about 15,000 endemic plant species. The loss of vegetation in some hotspots
has reached a startling 95 percent.
Key Points of the Report
Decline in wildlife population
o Report highlighted that there is highest decline in the
wildlife populations (94%) was in the Latin America
and the Caribbean region.
o Whereas, Africa recorded a 66% fall in its wildlife
populations from 1970-2018 whereas the Asia-Pacific
recorded a decline of 55%.
Reduction in freshwater species
o The Freshwater Species populations globally reduced
by 83%.
o The threat such as habitat loss and barriers to
migration routes were responsible for about half of
the threats to monitored migratory fish species.
Decline in vertebrate wildlife species
o Report highlighted that vertebrate wildlife
populations are collapsing at a particularly staggering
rate in tropical regions of the world.
Degradation of Mangroves region
o The report highlighted that the mangroves continue to be lost to aquaculture, agriculture and coastal
development at a rate of 0.13% per year.
o Many mangroves are degrading because of overexploitation and pollution, alongside natural stressors such
as storms and coastal erosion.
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Threats to biodiversity
Habitat loss: This occurs when a particular area is converted from usable to unusable habitat. Industrial activities,
agriculture, aquaculture, mining, deforestation, and water extraction are all central causes of
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habitat loss. .
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Invasive species: When an animal, plant, or microbe moves into a new area, it can affect the resident species in several
different ways. New species can parasitize or predate upon residents, hybridize with them, compete with them for
food, bring unfamiliar diseases, modify habitats, or disrupt important interactions.
Pollution: The discharge of toxic synthetic chemicals and heavy metals into the environment has a huge impact on
species abundance and can
lead to extinctions. It’s
important to remember
that substances that are
“natural” can become
pollution when they are too
abundant in a certain area.
Human population: In the
year 1800, there were fewer
than 1 billion people on
earth, and today there are
about 6.8 billion. Even
without the vast increases
in per capita resource use
that have occurred during
this period, the pressures
on biodiversity would have
increased during this time
period simply based on
population growth. Thus
increasing populations have lead to increasing threats to biodiversity.
Overharvesting: This includes targeted hunting, gathering, or fishing for a particular species as well as incidental
harvesting such as bycatch in ocean fisheries. The mega fauna extinction example earlier was an example of
overharvesting causing biodiversity loss.
Impacts
Impacts of climate change on biodiversity:
The present global biota has been affected by fluctuating concentrations of temperature, precipitation, and
greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and has coped through evolutionary changes through the adoption of natural
adaptive strategies.
Habitat fragmentation is one of the effects of climate change on biodiversity and has already confined many species
to relatively small areas, decreasing their population and their roles and contribution in the ecosystem. It also leads to
reduced genetic variability.
Human activities have already resulted in the loss of biodiversity and thus may have affected goods and services crucial
for human well-being. For example, the dodo bird, native to Mauritius was hunted to extinction within a century.
With the current rising level of greenhouse gases emissions, its magnitude and effects will continue to diminish
biodiversity and its related aspects.
Links between biodiversity and climate change
Climate change affects biodiversity through shifting habitat, changing life cycles, as well as the development of new
physical traits.
Conserving and sustainably managing biodiversity can help to control climate change. Conserving natural habitat like
freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems and at the same time restoring degraded ecosystems is essential for
achieving global goals and controlling climate change.
The habitat of biodiversity is a major carbon sink contributing to climate change mitigation. For instance, mangrove
forests provide habitat to tigers and at the same time reduce the disastrous impacts of climate change such as flooding
and storm surges.
Henceforth, ecosystem-based adaptation integrates the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services, acting as an
adaptation strategy. It is cost-effective and stabilizes the social, economic and cultural co-benefits and contributes to
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the conservation of biodiversity.

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Unicef report on heatwave
Nearly all the world’s children will be exposed t o more frequent and
severe heat waves by 2050, according to a new United Nations Global adaptation initiative country index
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report "the Coldest Year of the Rest of Their It is developed by university of Notre Dames
Lives". The index measures of climate readiness,
Pre-Connect which consists of economic, governance
Favourable conditions for heat waves: and social components.
Transportation / Prevalence of hot dry air over a region (There Children climate risk index
should be a region of warm dry air and appropriate flow pattern It provides the comprehensive view of
for transporting hot air over the region). children’s exposure and vulnerability to the
Absence of moisture in the upper atmosphere (As the presence of impacts of climate change.
moisture restricts the temperature rise). It ranks countries based on children’s
The sky should be practically cloudless (To allow maximum exposure to climate and environmental
insulation over the region). shocks, such as cyclones and heatwaves, as
Large amplitude anti-cyclonic flow over the area. well as their vulnerability to those shocks,
Heat waves generally develop over Northwest India and spread based on their access to essential services.
gradually eastwards & southwards but not westwards (since the
prevailing winds during the season are westerly to north-westerly).
But on some occasions, heat wave may also develop over any region in situ under the
favourable
conditions.
Reasons for occurrence of heat waves:
✓ Development of urban heat islands
✓ Global warming
✓ Extreme local weather events
✓ Increasing desertification
Key findings of the report
Currently, around 559 million children are exposed to at
least four to five hazardous heat waves annually.
The number will quadruple to over two billion by 2050 —
up from 24 per cent of children in 2020. This amounts to an
increase of about 1.5 billion children.
“Virtually every child on earth” will face severe heat waves
even under a low greenhouse gas emission scenario — with
an estimated 1.7 degrees Celsius of warming in 2050.
One in four children lives in areas where the average heat
wave event lasts 4.7 days or longer as of 2020. This
percentage will rise to over three in four children under a
low-emission scenario by 2050.
At “2.4 degrees of warming, 94 per cent of children will be
exposed with only small areas of southern America, central Africa, Australasia and Asia not exposed to high heatwave duration.”
Risks associated with heat waves
Heat wave risks to health include — heat stroke, heat stress, allergy, chronic respiratory conditions, asthma, mosquito-borne
disease, cardiovascular disease, under-nutrition and diarrhoea.
High temperatures are linked to increased mental health problems in children and adolescents, including post-traumatic stress
disorder and depression.
Extreme heat affects children’s education and future livelihoods like poor health and decrement in attendance.
Mitigation measures
The report said the countries must:
o Protecting children from climate devastation by encouraging social services
o Preparing children to live in a climate-changed world
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o Prioritising children and youth in climate finance and resources

o Preventing a climate catastrophe by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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Emission Gap Report
The UNEP released report, titled ‘Emissions Gap Report 2022: The Closing Window — Climate Crisis Calls for Rapid Transformation
of Societies’, has found that in India and six other top emitters, emissions have rebounded and increased after the pandemic.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the global authority that sets the environmental agenda, promotes the
coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of
sustainable development within the UN system and serves as an India's Initiatives
authoritative advocate for the global environment. Bharat stage (BS) emission standards It is to
Key findings of the report regulate the output of air pollutants from internal
combustion engine and spark- ignition engine
For most major emitters, including China, India, the Russian
equipment, including motorvehicles.
Federation, Brazil and Indonesia, GHG emissions (excluding
UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by AffordableLEDs for All)
land use and forestry sectors) rebounded in 2021, exceeding
scheme
pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
It is also known as the LED-based Domestic Efficient
The G20 countries have just started to work on meeting their
Lighting Programme (DELP), to promote energy
new targets, and collectively, are expected to fall short of their
efficiency in all households.
promises for 2030.
International Solar Alliance (ISA)
Unconditional and conditional NDCs are estimated to reduce It is a treaty based inter-governmental organization
global emissions in 2030 by five and 10 per cent respectively, working to create a global market system to tap the
compared with emissions based on policies currently in place. benefits of solar power and promote clean energy
To get on a least-cost pathway to limiting global warming to applications.
2°C or 1.5°C, these percentages must reach 30 per cent and 45 National Action Plan on Climate Change
per cent respectively. (NAPCC)
Updated pledges since COP26 in Glasgow take less than one It outlines a national strategy that aims to enable the
per cent off projected 2030 greenhouse gas emissions; 45 per country to adapt to climate change and enhance the
cent is needed for limiting global warming to 1.5°C ecological sustainability of India’s development path.
The full implementation of unconditional NDCs and additional The Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP)
net-zero emissions commitments point to only a 1.8°C increase. It seeks to achieve blending of Ethanol with motor sprit
However, it is not currently credible based on the discrepancy with a view to reducing pollution
between current emissions, short-term NDC targets and long-
term net-zero targets.
Recommendations
Introduce carbon pricing, such as taxes or cap-nd- trade systems.
Create markets for low-carbon technology, through shifting financial flows, stimulating innovation and helping to set standards.
To advance the transformation, all sectors need to avoid lock in of new fossil fuel-intensive infrastructure, advance zero-carbon
technology and apply it, and pursue behavioural changes.
Setting up the foundations of a net-zero future: one that will allow us to bring down temperature overshoots and deliver
many other social and environmental benefits, like clean air, green jobs and universal energy access.
Global carbon atlas

Release of Global Carbon Budget 2022-Major Carbon Emitters are- China>USA>India>Russia>Japan>Iran>Germany>Saudi
Arabia>Canada>Brazil.
Established in 2013, in the Global Carbon Project and helps in visualizing data related to the global carbon cycle.
Global Carbon Project (GCP)
It was set up in 2001 to fully understand the carbon cycle.
It is the partnership between International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP)- International NGO for International Council
for Science, the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP), the World Climate
Research Programme (WCRP)-Formed by the World Meteorological Organisation+ International Council for Science and
Oceanographic Commission, and Diversitas.
It includes the global budgets for three dominant greenhouse gases which are carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), and Nitrous
Oxide (N2O).
Diversitas
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It was an international research program aimed to integrate biodiversity science for human well-being. In December 2014, its
work was transferred to the program called Future Earth.
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Future Earth
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It was launched in 2012 at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
It is an international research program that aims to build knowledge about the environmental and human aspects of
global change and to find solutions for sustainable development.
State of finance for nature report

Recently the second edition of the State of Finance for Nature report is
published by the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Nature-based Solutions (NbS)
Economics of Land Degradation (ELD).
❖ Nature-based Solutions are actions to
protect, sustainably manage, and
About the report
restore natural and modified
• The State of Finance of Nature tracks global trends in public and private
ecosystems that address societal
investment in nature-based solutions, aiming to improve data quality
challenges effectively and adaptively,
and identify opportunities for governments, businesses and financiers.
simultaneously benefiting people and
• The first “State of Finance for Nature” report was published in 2021. Its
nature.
theme was “Tripling investments in nature-based solutions by 2030.” It
❖ Nature-based Solutions address societal
is published by UNEP, WEF and ELD.
challenges through the protection,
• The State of Finance for Nature report analyzes the investment flow in sustainable management and
nature- based solutions (NbS) and identifies the future investment restoration of both natural and modified
needed to meet the climate change, biodiversity and land degradation ecosystems, benefiting both biodiversity
targets. and human well-being.
• The first edition of the report indicated that annual investments in ❖ Nature-based Solutions are
nature-based solutions will have to triple by 2030 and increase four-fold underpinned by benefits that flow from
by 2050 from the current investments into nature-based healthy ecosystems.
solutions of USD 133 billion (using 2020 as the base year). ❖ They target major challenges like
Important points of the report climate change, disaster risk reduction,
➢ If the world wants to halt biodiversity loss, limit climate change to below food and water security, biodiversity
1.5 degree celcius and achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030, loss and human health, and are critical
current finance flows to NbS must urgently double by 2025 and triple by to sustainable economic development.
2030.
➢ The current global investments in NbS are around $154
billion (Rs 12,49.44 crore) per year, which needs to be
increased to $384 billion by 2025.
➢ Investments in economic activities that release GHGs
into the atmosphere are currently three to seven
times larger than investments in NbS.
➢ Harmful subsidies are highest in the energy sector,
estimated to range from $340 billion/ year to $530
billion/year and in the agriculture sector, estimated
around $500 billion/year.
➢ The other highlight of the report was the need for
private investments in nature-based solutions,
which currently stands at only 17 per cent. Private
actors can combine Net Zero with nature positive
solutions.
➢ Tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and land
degradation with immediate action requires that
current global investments need to increase by USD
230 billion each year to 2025.
➢ Limiting global warming to 1.5°C, rather than 2°C,
is achievable only if action is immediate and with
additional cumulative investments of USD 1.5 trillion to a total of USD 11 trillion between 2022 – 2050.
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➢ This additional investment will focus on sustainable agriculture and peatland restoration.
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United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
❖ UNEP was established in 1972 in Nairobi, Kenya.
❖ The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading environmental authority in the United Nations system.
❖ UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing,
and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
❖ UNEP concentrates in six areas like climate change, post-conflict and disaster management, ecosystem management,
environmental governance, harmful substances and Resource efficiency/sustainable consumption and production.
UNEP Reports: Emissions Gap Report, Adaptation Gap Report, An Eye on Methane: International Methane Emissions
Observatory Report, etc.
Pollution and its Management

Forever chemical contaminated water
Forever chemicals: A recent study published in Environment
Science and Technology has found that rainwater from many
places across the globe is contaminated with "per- and poly
fluoro alkyl substances," (PFAS), which are called "forever
chemicals" because they tend to remain in the environment
for a longer period of time.
- Concerns related to PFAS Human Health Risk: PFAS
may cause decreased fertility rate, as it interferes with the
reproductive system and the development of the fetus.
- Developmental effects and birth defects in children.
- Interference with body hormones (so they are called
endocrine disruptors).
- Increased cholesterol levels and increased risk of some
cancers (e.g.-kidney and testicular cancer).
- Recent research has also revealed that long-term low-
level exposure to certain PFAS can make it difficult for
humans to build antibodies after being vaccinated
against various diseases.
Battery waste management rules notified

Battery waste management rules: New rules will replace the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001,
Guidelines are- The rules cover all types of batteries, viz. Electric
Vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries and
industrial batteries.
EPR: The rules function based on the concept of Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR) where the producers (including importers) of
batteries are responsible for the collection and
recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries and use of recovered
materials from wastes into new batteries.
- EPR mandates that all waste batteries be collected and sent for
recycling/refurbishment, and its prohibits disposal in landfills
and incineration.
- Digital backbone: The rules will enable the setting up a
mechanism and centralized online portal for the exchange of
EPR certificates between producers and recyclers/refurbishers
to fulfill the obligations of producers.
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- Industrial development: The rules promote the setting up of new industries and entrepreneurship in the collection and
recycling/refurbishment of waste batteries.
- Recovery from waste: Mandating the minimum percentage of recovery of materials from waste batteries under the rules will
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bring new technologies and investment in the recycling and refurbishment industry and create new business opportunities.
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- Recycling: Recommending the use of a certain amount of recycled materials in the making of new batteries will reduce the
dependency on new raw materials and save natural resources.
- Polluters pay principle: Environmental compensation will be levied for non-fulfillment of Extended Producer Responsibility targets
and commitment, responsibilities and obligations set out in the rules.
- Compensation fund: The funds collected under environmental compensation shall be utilised in the collection and refurbishing
or recycling of uncollected and non-recycled waste batteries.
Glyphosate
Recently, the government has restricted the sale of glyphosate as it has increased cultivation of "illegal" herbicide-tolerant GM
cotton.
About Glyphosate:
DMH-11
It is an herbicide used to kill weeds, i.e, an undesirable plant that The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
compete with crops for nutrients, water and sunlight. (GEAC) has recommended the “environmental
It is a broad-spectrum herbicide that can control a wide ra nge of release” of the transgenic hybrid mustard
weeds, whether broadleaf or grassy. DMH-11 for seed production and commercial
It is also non-selective, killing most plants. cultivation
When applied to their leaves, it inhibits the production of a protein About DMH-11 in India
‘5-enolpyruvylshikimate- 3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS)’. ❖ The original version containing a
Glyphosate in India single insect pest-resistant gene was
There are nine glyphosate-based formulations containing different released in 2002 and an improved
concentrations of the chemical registered for use under the double-gene product in 2006.
Insecticides Act, 1968. ❖ It incorporates three alien bacterial
These are approved largely for weed control in tea gardens and non- genes that enable hybridisation.
crop areas such as railway tracks or playgrounds.
Farmers also apply glyphosate on irrigation channels and bunds to clear these weeds, making it easier for water to flow and to
walk through them.
Weeds growing on bunds are hosts for fungi, such as those causing sheath blight disease in rice.
It can be used in tea or rubber plantations, but not in fields where the crops and weeds are at almost the same level.
Reasons for restriction of glyphosate by the government
Increase in application: With the advent of genetic modification (GM) or transgenic technology, Glyphosate application has
been increased.
GM crop tolerance: It has involved incorporating a ‘cp4-epsps’ gene, isolated from a soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens,
into crop plants such as cotton, maize and soyabean. This alien gene
codes for a protein that does not allow glyphosate to bind with the EPSPS enzyme. Thus,
GM crop can “tolerate” the spraying of the herbicide, which then kills only the weeds.
Illegal sales: There has been sale of an additional 5 million packets of “illegal” GM cotton seeds as these seeds harbour both
insect-resistance and HT traits, coming from the two Bt genes and the glyphosate-tolerant ‘cp4-epsps’ gene.
International organizations on Glyphosate
World health organizations: The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), classified glyphosate as “probably
carcinogenic to humans". However, this was based on evidence for cancer in experimental animals from “pure” glyphosate, as
opposed to that in humans from real-world exposures through diluted formulations.
The US Environmental Protection Agency: It suggested that there are “no risks of concern to human health from current uses
of glyphosate” and “no evidence” of it causing cancer.
The European Chemicals Agency: It suggested that “classifying glyphosate as a carcinogenic, mutagenic (causing DNA
changes) or reprotoxic substance is not justified
World bank report on air pollution

World Bank has released a report titled with 'Striving for Clean Air: Air Pollution and Public Health in South Asia'. The report
shows that there are economically feasible, cost-effective solutions to achieve clean air in the region, but this requires countries to
coordinate policies and investments.
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Airsheds:
• A geographical area within which the air frequently is confined or channeled, with all parts of the area, thus being subject to
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• There are six large airsheds in South Asia, where the air quality in one can affect the air quality in another. They are-
o West/Central Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) that included Pakistan, Punjab (India), Haryana, part of Rajasthan, Chandigarh,
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh.
o Northern/Central Indus River Plain: Pakistan, part of Afghanistan;
o Southern Indus Plain and further west: South Pakistan, Western Afghanistan extending into Eastern Iran.
o Central/Eastern IGP: Bihar, West Bengal,
Jharkhand, Bangladesh
o Middle India: Odisha/Chhattisgarh and
o Middle India: Eastern Gujarat/Western
Maharashtra
• When the wind direction was predominantly
northwest to the southeast, 30% of the air pollution
in Indian Punjab came from the Punjab Province in
Pakistan and, on average, 30% of the air pollution
in the largest cities of Bangladesh (Dhaka,
Chittagong, and Khulna) originated in India.
Key Points of the Report
➢ Concentrations of fine particulate matter such as
soot and small dust (PM 2.5) in some of the region’s
most densely populated and poor areas are up to
20 times higher than what WHO considers healthy (5 µg/mᶾ).
➢ Exposure to such extreme air pollution has impacts ranging from National Clean Air Programme
stunting and reduced cognitive development in children, to It was launched by the Ministry of
respiratory infections and chronic and debilitating diseases. This Environment, Forest and Climate Change in
drives up healthcare costs, lowers a country’s productive capacity, January 2019.
and leads to lost days worked. It is the first-ever effort in the country to
➢ Large industries, powerplants and vehicles are dominant sources frame a national framework for air quality
of air pollution around the world, but in South Asia, other sources management with a time-bound reduction
make substantial additional contributions. These include target.
combustion of solid fuels for cooking and heating, emissions from It seeks to cut the concentration of coarse
small industries such as brick kilns, burning of municipal and (particulate matter of diameter 10
agricultural waste, and cremation. micrometer or less, or PM10) and fine
➢ Air pollution travels long distances— crossing municipal, state, particles (particulate matter of diameter 2.5
and national boundaries—and gets trapped in large “airsheds” micrometer or less, or PM2.5) by at least 20%
that are shaped by climatology and geography. The report in the next five years, with 2017 as the base
identifies six major airsheds in South Asia where spatial year for comparison.
interdependence in air quality is high.
➢ Currently, over 60% of South Asians are exposed to an average 35 µg/m3 of PM2.5 annually. In some parts of the Indo-Gangetic
Plain (IGP) it spiked to as much as 100 µg/m3 – nearly 20 times the upper limit of 5 µg/m3 recommended by the World Health
Organisation.
➢ The report shows that current policy measures will only be partially successful in reducing PM 2.5 concentrations across South
Asia even if fully implemented.
SUSTAINABLE LIVING
Lifestyle for environment movement
Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) is an India-led global mass movement to nudge individual and community action to protect and
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preserve the environment.

About LiFE
LiFE was introduced by the Indian Prime Minister at COP26 in Glasgow on 1 November 2021 as a mass movement for “mindful
and deliberate utilization, instead of mindless and destructive consumption “to protect and preserve the environment.
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It aims to nudge individuals and communities to practice a lifestyle that is synchronous with nature and does not harm it.
It is designed to mobilize at least one billion Indians and other global citizens to take individual and collective action for
protecting and conserving the environment in the period 2022–28.
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Those who practice such a lifestyle are recognized as Pro Planet People.
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India is the first country to include LiFE in its Nationally Determined Contributions.
The mission will be incubated, curated, and piloted by NITI Aayog and subsequently implemented by the Union Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), if 1 out of 8 billion people worldwide adopts environment-
friendly behaviors in their daily lives, global carbon emissions could drop upto 20 percent.
The approach of the LiFE Campaign
➢ It focuses on Individual Behaviours:It aims to make life a mass movement (Jan Andolan) by focusing on the behaviors and
attitudes of individuals and communities.
➢ It Co-creates Globally: Crowdsourcing of empirical and scalable ideas from the best minds of the world, from top universities,
think tanks, and international organizations.
➢ Leverage Local Cultures: Leverage climate-friendly social norms, beliefs, and daily household practices of different cultures
worldwide to drive the campaign.
India and Mission LiFE:
✓ India has rich experience in implementing large-scale behavioral change programs like:
✓ Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar campaign: It aimed to remove approximately 15,000 tonnes of waste from 75 beaches in 75
days.
✓ The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): It led to the construction and use of over 100 million toilets in rural India within 7 years.
✓ India’s initiative with the International Solar Alliance proves that the country is pursuing environmentally sound policies.
✓ India has been ranked among the top 5 countries in the world, and the best among the G20 countries, based on its Climate
Change performance.
✓ India could attract close to $10 bn in renewable energy investment in 2023.
Indian Traditional Methods for Mission LiFE
▪ Several unique water harvesting techniques, contextual to local conditions, are practiced across India. These include the step
wells of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the underground tanks (tankaa) of Tamil Nadu, the check dams (johads) of Rajasthan, and the
Zabo system of Nagaland that deposit the water in pond-like structures on terraced hillsides.
▪ Clayware, for example, is commonly used for cooking and serving purposes across the country (sal tree leaves) and tea in clay
pots (kulhad).
▪ Several traditional Indian practices such as adaptive architectural forms that minimize electricity consumption and hand-washing
and sun-drying of clothes, as well as a dietary preference for plant-based foods and millet, can serve as foundations for LiFE.
▪ Through this India will put forward and propagate a healthy and sustainable way of living based on its traditions and the values
of conservation and moderation, including through a mass movement.
LiFE as a Global Programme
It envisions three core shifts in our collective approach toward sustainability they are:
o Change in Demand (Phase I): Nudging individuals across the world to practice simple yet effective environment-friendly
actions in their daily lives.
o Change in Supply (Phase II): Changes in large-scale individual demand are expected to gradually nudge industries and
markets to respond and tailor supply and procurement as per the revised demands.
o Change in Policy (Phase III): By influencing the demand and supply dynamics of India and the world, the long-term vision
of Mission LiFE is to trigger shifts in large-scale industrial and government policies that can support both sustainable
consumption and production.
o Given the global commitment to achieving the SDGs by 2030, it is important to note that Mission LiFE contributes directly
and indirectly to almost all the SDGs.
o The SDGs focused on sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), responsible production and consumption (SDG 12),
climate change (SDG 13), life on land (SDG 15), and life under water (SDG 14) are addressed by the mission.
o LiFE Global Call for Ideas: NITI Aayog (Behavioural Insights Unit) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change (MOEFCC), in partnership with the United Nations, World Resources Institute, Centre for Social and Behaviour
Change (CSBC) and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), are inviting ideas from across the world for one of the
following, or related, areas like Water, Transport, Food, Electricity, Waste Management, Sustainability. Recycle, Reuse.
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Community forest resource rights

Community forest rights and Forests Rights Act:
• The Community Forest Resource rights under Section 3(1)(i) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers
(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act (commonly referred to as the Forest Rights Act or the FRA) provide for recognition of the
right to “protect, regenerate or conserve or manage” the community forest resource.
• These rights allow the community to formulate rules for forest use by itself and others and thereby discharge its responsibilities
under Section 5 of the FRA.
• CFR rights, along with Community Rights (CRs), which include nistar rights and rights over non-timber forest products, ensure
sustainable livelihoods of the community.
• These rights give the authority to the Gram Sabha to adopt local traditional practices of forest conservation and management
within the community forest resource boundary.
Shoonya campaign
Shoonya Campaign About- Anniversary of India’s zero pollution e-mobility campaign.
• Urban freight and mobility demand is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8% through 2030.
• Evs are way out for India to meet this demand as do not emit PM or NOx emissions at the tailpipe and they release 60% less CO2
and have 75% lower operating costs.
• Shoonya supplements existing national and sub-national EV policies as well as corporate efforts in India by creating consumer
awareness and demand for zero pollution rides and deliveries in Indian cities.
• The electrification of the ride-hailing and delivery sector in India could mitigate close to 54 MT of CO2 emissions, 16,800 tonnes
of PM emissions, and 537,000 tonnes of NOx pollution, saving roughly 5.7 lakh crore in expenditures over a year.
• Shoonya can lead to dramatic emission reductions in the transport sector, supporting India’s five-point agenda (Panchamrit),
announced at COP 26, to reduce carbon emissions and secure its 2070 climate goals
Digital decarbonation
In 2020, digitisation was purported to generate 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The "dark data" is anchored to the real world
by the energy it requires. Even data that is stored and never used again takes up space on servers - typically huge banks of computers
in warehouses. Those computers and those warehouses all use lots of electricity at the cost of environment. Thus data decarbonization
can be the solution.
Dark data
Dark data is all of the unused, unknown and untapped data across an organization, generated as a result of users’ daily
interactions online with countless devices and systems
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— everything from machine data to server log files to unstructured data derived from social media.
Organizations may consider this data too old to provide value, incomplete or redundant, or limited by a format that can’t be
accessed with available tools.
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Digital carbon footprint
A carbon footprint is the total amount of
greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and
methane) that are generated by our actions.
However, the production, use and data transfer of
digital devices causes more CO2 emissions than one
might expect. These emissions are summarized
under the terms "digital CO2 footprint" or "digital
carbon footprint".
Current scenario
While most climate change activists are focused on
limiting emissions from the automotive, aviation
and energy industries, the processing of digital data
is already comparable to these sectors and is still
growing.
In 2020, digitisation was purported to
generate 4% of global greenhouse gas
emissions.
Production of digital data is increasing fast-
this year the world is expected to generate
97 zetta-bytes (that is: 97 trillion gigabytes)
of data.
By 2025, it could almost double to 181
zettabytes. It is therefore surprising that little
policy attention has been placed on
reducing the digital carbon footprint of
organisations.
The lion’s share of the digital footprint is
caused by video streaming due to large data
sizes of videos. By comparison, using a
search engine or sending text-only emails has a negligible impact.
Environmental impacts of digitisation:
Increase in Energy Demand: Digitisation has led to high global energy demand and has increased GHG's emission. global
trends such as cryptocurrency mining, cloud usage, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, autonomous driving,
the “Internet of Things” and the foreseen implementation of 5G will drive further increases in energy demand.
Impacts from mineral and metal supply chains needed for digital products and energy technologies: The extraction
process, as well as the production process to turn the minerals into cell phones, computers and servers, comes with its own
environmental footprint across the lifecycle. Similarly, the increasing level of green energy technologies that power digital
technologies also have supply chains based on extensive use of metals and rare earth minerals.
Increase of E-waste: E-wastes are the world’s fastest-growing domestic waste stream, fuelled mainly by higher consumption
rates of electrical and electronic equipments, short life cycles, and fewer options for repair. Thus affecting the soil and
environment.
Digital De-carbonization:
There is a need to act now to decarbonise data centres, and there are three key areas to address.
Less heat, less energy use: Data centres should technologically reduce the heat dissipation such as including passive cooling.
As data centre growth continues, becoming a source of heat for nearby homes and businesses is one way the centres can be
integrated into communities and contribute to wider decarbonisation efforts.
Greening the power supply: Using renewable energy as the source of supply can be another option available for data centres
to de-carbonize. One promising option is to use tidal power, which offers completely reliable power, predictable centuries in
advance.
Clean energy storage and backup: Flow batteries store their energy in tanks of electrolytes and can hold their charge
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indefinitely, making them potentially more effective. The emerging hydrogen economy may also provide an alternative. It can
be produced using surplus renewable energy and carbon emissions from industrial facilities.
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Mission life
Prime Minister and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on 20 October 2022 launched Mission LiFE, a global plan of
action aimed at saving the planet from the disastrous consequences of climate change. The launch of the mission, aimed at
encouraging people towards sustainable living, comes ahead of next month's mega UN climate meet in Egypt.
What are the action plans?
1. The action plan - a list of ideas on lifestyle changes that can be taken up as climate- friendly behaviour - along with the logo
and tagline for Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) were jointly launched by PM and Guterres at Kevadia in Gujarat.
2. PM asked people to adopt the concept of 'reduce, reuse and recycle' and circular economy and said India is committed to
tackling the menace of climate change.
3. Mission LiFE will strengthen the concept of a pro-people planet. The mission signifies “lifestyle of the planet, for the planet and
by the planet".
4. Mission LiFE aims at following a three-pronged strategy for changing people's collective approach towards sustainability.
5. This includes nudging individuals to practice simple yet effective environment- friendly actions in their daily lives (demand),
enabling industries and markets to respond swiftly to the changing demand (supply), and to influence government and
industrial policy to support both sustainable consumption and production (policy).
6. People are experiencing the effects of climate change in their surroundings, and in the last few decades unexpected
calamities were witnessed. This makes it amply clear that climate change goes beyond just policy-making,” he said.
7. The PM said the mantra of Mission LiFE is 'Lifestyle For Environment'. The mission will connect the people's power for the
protection of the earth, and teach them to utilise its resources in a better way.
Green washing
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on 8 November 2022 warned companies and other non-state entities pursing net-zero goals
for themselves against indulging in ‘greenwashing’, and said there would be zero tolerance for ‘greenwashing’. An expert- group
constituted by him last year submitted its report on 8 November 2022,
Why does it happen?
recommending a range of measures to prevent greenwashing.
1. Greenwashing is relatively easy in the
What is greenwashing absence of universal or rigorous regulations
1. It refers to the growing tendency of companies, organisations and and standards.
even countries to 2. The processes, methodologies and institutions
mark all kinds of activities as climate-friendly, often with dubious, to measure, report, create standards, verify
unverifiable or misleading claims. claims, and grant certifications are still being
2. In their bid to showcase their concern for the environment and created.
nature, they often resort to short-cuts, obtain untrustworthy 3. In the meanwhile, large number of
certifications, or indulge in plain intentional misinformation. organisations has sprung up claiming to
offer these services.
3. While the UN Secretary General spoke about greenwashing in the
4. Many of these lack integrity and robustness,
context of net-zero targets being taken by companies,
but their services are availed by corporations,
greenwashing is prevalent across the whole range of
because it makes them look good.
environmental activities.
4. Developed countries, for example, are often accused of greenwashing their investments in developing countries, by highlighting
climate co-benefits of the financial flows, often with little justification.
5. Companies are accused of greenwashing their image by sponsoring a green award or con ference, while carrying on with their
environment-damaging business activities elsewhere.
Double counting — when two or more entities claim the climate benefits of the same action — is also considered
greenwashing. The generation, certification and trade of carbon credits in voluntary settings often leads to lot of
greenwashing.
Combating future pandemics

About the Report
• The Report titled Covid-19 Pandemic: Global Response, India’s Contributions and the Way Forward.
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• It stressed the need for mechanisms other than the Crisis Management Plan put in place by the Union health ministry and the
Guidelines on Management of Biological Disasters disseminated by the National Disaster Management Authority of India.
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• This would ensure that health issues are accorded the desired priority with a whole of government approach towards prevention,
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containment and management of viral and other diseases.
Pandemics
➢ Pandemics are large-scale outbreaks of infectious disease that can greatly increase morbidity and mortality over a wide
geographic area and cause significant economic, social, and political disruption.
➢ Evidence suggests that the likelihood of pandemics has increased over the past century because of increased global travel and
integration, urbanization, changes in land use, and greater exploitation of the natural environment. These trends likely will
continue and will intensify.
➢ Significant policy attention has focused on the need to identify and limit emerging outbreaks that might lead to pandemics and
to expand and sustain investment to build preparedness and health capacity.
Challenges in combatting Pandemics
✓ Pandemics have occurred throughout history and appear to be increasing in frequency, particularly because of the increasing
emergence of viral disease from animals.
✓ Pandemic risk is driven by the combined effects of spark risk (where a pandemic is likely to arise) and spread risk (how likely it
is to diffuse broadly through human populations).
✓ Some geographic regions with high spark risk, including Central and West Africa, lag behind the rest of the globe in pandemic
preparedness.
✓ Influenza is the most likely pathogen to cause a severe pandemic. According to a study, in any given year, a 1 percent probability
exists of an influenza pandemic that causes nearly 6 million pneumonia and influenza deaths or more globally.
Global Impacts of Pandemics
▪ Pandemics can cause significant, widespread increases in morbidity and mortality and have disproportionately higher mortality
impacts on Low Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and developing countries like India.
▪ Pandemics can cause economic damage through multiple channels, including short-term fiscal shocks and longer-term negative
shocks to economic growth.
▪ Individual behavioural changes, such as fear-induced aversion to workplaces and other public gathering places, are a primary
cause of negative shocks to economic growth during pandemics.
▪ Some pandemic mitigation measures can cause significant social and economic disruption.
▪ In countries with weak institutions and legacies of political instability, pandemics can increase political stresses and tensions.
▪ E.g., outbreak response measures such as quarantines have sparked violence and tension between states and citizens.
Mitigation Measures: A Way Forward
Pathogens with pandemic potential vary widely in the resources, capacities, and strategies required for mitigation. However, there are
also common prerequisites for effective preparedness and response.
The most cost-effective strategies for increasing pandemic preparedness, especially in resource-constrained settings, consist of
o Investing to strengthen core public health infrastructure, including water and sanitation systems;
o Increasing situational awareness;
o rapidly extinguishing sparks that could lead to pandemics.
Once a pandemic has started, a coordinated response should be implemented focusing on
o Maintenance of situational awareness,
o Public health messaging,
o Reduction of transmission, and care for and treatment of the ill.
o Successful contingency planning and response require surge capacity—the ability to scale up the delivery of health interventions
proportionately for the severity of the event, the pathogen, and the population at risk.
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WILDLIFE AND NATIONAL PARKS

Keibul lamjao national parks
The State government of Manipur has announced that a heritage
park would come up near the Keibul Lamjao National Park in
Bishnupur district.
Pre-Connect
The park is located in the south western part of the Loktak
lake.
The park is the natural habitat of the brow-antlered
deer(Sangai) the dancing deer of Manipur.
The Park is the only floating park in the world.
The Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area represents an
extraordinary story of natural antiquity, diversity, beauty
and human attachment.
The Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area (KLCA) comprises of
a core area of Keibul Lamjao National Park and a buffer of
Loktak Lake and Pumlen Pat.
Issue
➢ The Manipur government has set aside ₹46 crore for the
construction of the heritage park. However, the villagers
took out a demonstration near the KLNP.
➢ The government had taken up steps to shift the site to a
place six km away from the KLNP.
➢ The proposed site has no connection with efforts to save
the endangered deer. On the other hand, the people in
surrounding villages have been doing everything possible
to protect the deer.
➢ The people of the proposed site are not associated with
steps for the protection of the endangered brow-antlered
deer (Sangai) in the KLNP.
Reason for shifting a site
It was expected that the museum of the Indian National Army where the first Indian flag of Independence was hoisted near
the Loktak lake and the heritage park will attract tourists from the country and abroad.
There will be traditional thatched houses of the different communities in this heritage park.
Cheetah translocation project

WORLD’S FIRST CHEETAH TRANSLOCATION PROJECT
Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park have been asked to prepare for the relocation of about 12-14 cheetahs in what is going to
be the world’s first intercontinental cheetah translocation project. There are three or four leopards in the area that have to be
brought out before the cheetahs can move in.
What
1. The plan to reintroduce cheetahs — a species that went extinct in the 1950s — to India has been decades in the making.
2. The Indian government had initially approached Iran, where the Asiatic cheetah, the same subspecies that went extinct in
India, exists, and was even keen on cloning the species.
3. The Kuno National Park had once been the chosen site for translocation of the endangered Asiatic lion from Gir in
Gujarat: In 2013 the Supreme Court had said relocation of the Asiatic lion was of “utmost importance” and ordered the
Ministry of Environment and Forests to complete the process within six months of the judgment.
4. In 2012, the Supreme Court had stayed the government’s plans to import cheetahs
— an order it upheld in 2013. At the time, the court had said that the government needed to produce a detailed study before
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the introduction of African cheetahs could be considered.

5. In 2017, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NCTA) appealed to the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision.
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Three years later — in 2020 — the Supreme Court allowed cheetahs to be reintroduced on “an experimental basis” even
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though a court-appointed panel rejected the project.
In January this year, the central government released an ‘Action Plan For Introduction of Cheetah in India’ laying down its relocation
plans.
Indian pangolin
Rhino horn
About Rhino
There are five species of rhino which are Sumatran Rhino, Black Rhino, Javan Rhino, Greater one horned rhino, and White Rhino.
The Great one horned rhino is found in India and Nepal. It is confined to the tall grasslands and forests in the foothills of the
Himalayas.
Conservation status is vulnerable. Current status of Rhino in India
The Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), is primarily found in the north-eastern parts of India.
Formerly the animal dwelled along the Gangetic plains but now more than 70% of the Indian Rhino population is mainly confined
to Assam.
Kaziranga National Park, being the largest protected site and home for Indian Rhino in Assam.
Now Assam counts for 2645 Rhinos, with Kaziranga National Park holding highest number of the animal followed by Manas
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National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Orang National Park.

Key findings of the study
There is evidence for declining horn length over time across species, perhaps related to selective pressure of hunting, and
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indicating a utility for image-based approaches in understanding societal perceptions of large vertebrates and trait evolution.
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The rate of decline in horn length was highest in the critically-endangered Sumatran rhino and lowest in the white rhino of
Africa, which is the most commonly found species both in the wild and in captivity.
The observation follows patterns seen in other animals, such as tusk size in elephants and horn length in wild sheep, which have
been driven down by directional selection due to trophy hunting.
During the age of European imperialism (between the 16th and 20th centuries), rhinos were commonly portrayed as hunting
trophies, but since the mid-20th century, they have been increasingly portrayed in a conservation context, reflecting a change
in emphasis from a more to less consumptive relationship between humans and rhinos.
International conservation efforts on Rhino
CITES: The five rhinoceros species are all categorized in Appendix I. Thus, the species that are or may be affected by trade are
included in Appendix I of CITES for protection.
Ramsar convention: The general importance of the Ramsar Convention for rhinoceroses lies in the protection of their habitat.
Thus, for the Indian or greater one-horned rhinoceros the Ramsar Convention carries a significant value, due its exclusive
habituation of wetlands.
The World heritage convention: The Committee in 2015 directed at India which expresses its concern about the high risk of
the extinction of the Indian rhino in the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary and encourages India to increase its efforts to combat
poaching.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): CBD lay down certain obligations for Contracting Parties like the obligation
to create protected areas or the obligation to restore degraded ecosystems, which are likely to benefit the rhinoceros.
India's efforts on conservation of Rhino
o Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV2020): The program established in 2005 for the purpose of increasing the rhino population in
Assam to 3,000 by establishing populations in seven protected areas.
o The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019: The five rhino range nations signed this declaration for the conservation
and protection of the species at the Second Asian Rhino Range Countries meeting.
National rhino conservation strategy: To conserve one-horned Rhino a conservation strategy was developed.
Great nicobar
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change gave environmental clearance for the ambitious Rs 72,000 crore development
project on the strategically important Great Nicobar Island.
Great Nicobar
It is the southernmost island of the Nicobar Islands Archipelago.
The Nicobar group includes the islands of Car Nicobar (north), Camerota (Kamorta) and Nancowry (central group), and Great
Nicobar (south).
The highest peak is Mount Thullier, rising to 2,106 feet (642 meters) on Great Nicobar.
The population consists mostly of two ethnic groups, the Nicobarese and the Mongoloid Shompens.
Indira Point on the southern tip of Great Nicobar Island is India’s southernmost point.
Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
➢ It has a wide spectrum of ecosystems comprising tropical wet evergreen forests, mountain ranges, and coastal plains.
➢ It houses 650 species of angiosperms, ferns, gymnosperms, bryophytes, and lichens.
➢ It has the well-known endemic and/or endangered Crab-eating Macaque, Nicobar Tree Shrew, Dugong, Nicobar
Megapode, Serpent Eagle, saltwater crocodile, marine turtles, and Reticulated Python.
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Governments Developmental Proposal
✓ A greenfield city has been proposed, including an
International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT), a
greenfield international airport, a power plant, and a
township for the personnel who will implement the
project.
✓ According to the NITI Aayog report, the proposed port
will allow Great Nicobar to participate in the regional and
global maritime economy by becoming a major player in
cargo transshipment.
✓ The port will be controlled by the Indian Navy, while the
airport will have dual military-civilian functions.
✓ It has planned roads, public transport, water supply,
waste management facilities, and several hotels to cater
to tourists.
✓ About 130 sq km of forests have been sanctioned for
diversion, and 9.64 lakh trees are likely to be felled.
Government’s Purpose
▪ The government’s greater goal is to leverage the
locational advantage of the island for economic and
strategic reasons apart from its tourism potential.
▪ Great Nicobar is equidistant from Colombo to the
southwest and Port Klang and Singapore to the southeast
and positioned close to the East-West international
shipping corridor, through which a very large part of the
world’s shipping trade passes. The proposed ICTT can
potentially become a hub for cargo ships traveling on this
route.
Concerns regarding the Project
✓ The proposed massive infrastructure development in an
ecologically important and fragile region, including the
feeling of almost a million trees is detrimental to the
sensitive ecosystem.
✓ This can impact the Coral reefs in the area due to
increased runoff and sediment deposits in the ocean.
✓ It can cause a loss of mangroves on the island as a result
of the development project.
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Balkan Lynx
It's considered a critically endangered species by IUCN.
The ‘forest ghost’ lives in tree-covered mountains straddling Albania,
Kosovo, and North Macedonia, and is now among the world's most
endangered mammals.
Victims of deforestation and poaching have left less than 40 in
number.
They are timid and elusive carnivore that sleeps during the day and
hunts at night for deer, hare, chamois, and rabbit.
Bar headed goose

The bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) belongs to the family,
Anatidae.
• The bar-headed goose breeds in Central Asia, mainly Mongolia
and China. They are migratory birds. They winter in South Asia,
including Pakistan, India and Myanmar.
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has
categorized and evaluated this goose species and has listed it as of
"least concern".
These birds are fairly large in size, measuring 70 to 75 cm in length
and weighing 2,000 to 3,000 grams. They have a wingspan of 140 to
160 cm.
They are pale grey in color with whitish head with distinguishing black
bars on the head. The legs of the goose are orange in color. They
mainly feed on grasses, roots, stems and other plant matter.
Chestnut winged cuckoo

The chestnut-winged cuckoo (Clamator coromandus) belongs to the family of cuckoos,
Cuculidae. These cuckoo species are distributed in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh,
Myanmar, southeast China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands (India),
Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines. They are monotypic species. The chestnut-winged
cuckoo species are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other birds.
Conservation status and concerns
The global population size of these chestnut-winged cuckoo species has not been
quantified. The overall population trend is considered to be stable. It has extremely large
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range and does not approach the thresholds for population trend criterion and the
population size criterion. Hence considered not "Vulnerable" to extinction. The loss of
habitats due to human activities is the main threat to the survival of these cuckoo species.
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The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these chestnut-winged cuckoo species and
has listed them as of "Least Concern".
Neelakurinji sanctuary
• Though the Union government has included Neelakurinji (Strobilantheskunthiana) on the list of protected plants from the
State, the proposal for a Neelakurinji sanctuary in Idukki still remains a distant dream.
• The sanctuary was announced in Idukki in 2006, but its demarcation is yet to begin.
Neelakurinji:
• These flowers belong to a shrub that is particularly found in the Shola forests of the Western Ghats in Karnataka, Kerala,
and Tamil Nadu.
• Most of these species have a unique flowering cycle, resulting from an annual to a 16-year blooming cycle. The Kurinji
Flowers at Kodagu have grown after 12 years.
Slender loris
About: India’s First Slender Loris Sanctuary.
• Located in Kadavur Wildlife Sanctuary in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu.
• 11806 hectares of forest area will be covered. It will be notified under the Wildlife
Protection Act (1972) section 26A (1)(B)
• Native to India and Sri Lanka
• Red Slender Loris is found only in Sri Lanka. While Grey Slender Loris is found both in India
& Sri Lanka
• Tropical Rain Forest, Semi deciduous forests, and swampy areas are their habitat
• They live on trees predominately and eat plant shoots and fruits.
IUCN States of Red Slender- Endangered, Grey Slender- Near Threatened.
Monarch butterfly
• Monarchs are the most recognisable species of butterfly, are important pollinators and
provide various ecosystem services such as maintaining the global food web.
Reasons for population reduction:
Habitat destruction and climate change are mainly responsible for pushing the insect
towards extinction.
One of main drivers in the decline of the migratory monarch’s population is the use of
herbicides in the U.S., resulting in a loss of milkweeds, essential for monarchs
reproduction
Present status:
▪ Their population in the continent has declined 23-72 per cent over the last decade.
▪ The population of the eastern monarchs that migrate from eastern United States and Canada — the bigger group — also
shrunk 84 per cent from 1996-2014.
▪ Known for its bright orange colors and its incredible annual migration, the migratory monarch butterfly is now classified as
“Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Asian Giant Tortoise

The Asian Giant Tortoise is the largest land tortoise in mainland Asia
• They comprised two subspecies: Manouria emys phayrei and Manouria emys emys.
• The former is generally darker in color with a dark brown, olive, or black domed upper shell, in
contrast to the latter, which is characterized by a flattened, lighter yellowish-brown upper shell.
• The Asian Giant Tortoise is native to South Asia, in particular, the countries Bangladesh, India,
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Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand

• Conservation Status:
o IUCN: Critically endangered
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o CITES: Appendix II
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o WPA, 1972: Schedule I
• They inhabit the evergreen forest, including bamboo forest, dry evergreen forest mixed with bamboo, dry evergreen forest,
stream courses, and swampy stream edges.
• The Asian Giant Tortoise is a highly social species that exhibit complex social behavior.
The threat of over-exploitation is due to the increasing demand for consumption in East Asia for meat, for use in traditional
Chinese medicine and the global pet trade.
Indian Skimmer
● They are endangered species on the IUCN list, it's a water bird species.
● In India, the species can be sighted near the Chambal river in Central India, in a few
parts of Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
● According to studies, this bird has always shown up alone.
● During November and early December, birding hits a low ebb due to the rains. There
could be fewer pairs of eyes to catch the Indian skimmer.
● Indian skimmers on the Indian coast have almost been restricted to Pulicat. In the
south, there is a record from Odiyur lake (Mudraliyarkuppam backwaters).
Inland eBird records of the Indian skimmer are restricted to the south, coming
largely from the Thiruporur belt: Sightings at Illalur lake, Kattur lake, and
Siruthavur lake
New tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved the notification of the State's
Ranipur wildlife sanctuary
fourth tiger reserve. It will come up in Chitrakoot district's Ranipur Wildlife
❖ Founded in 1977, Ranipur Wildlife
Sanctuary (RWS).
Sanctuary is home to dry deciduous forest
Pre-connect
of Bamboo, Palash, Khair, Mahua, Dhau,
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
Saal, Tendu, etc.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body ❖ According to the report, “Status of tigers,
under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change co-predators & prey in India” by the
constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, National Tiger Conservation Authority
1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per (NTCA), RWS is an important corridor for
powers and functions assigned to it under the said Act. the movement of tigers.
NTCA has been fulfilling its mandate within the ambit of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972 for strengthening tiger conservation in the country.
The objectives of NTCA are:
o Providing statutory authority to Project Tiger so that compliance of its directives become legal.
o Fostering accountability of Center-State in management of
Tiger Reserves, by providing a basis for MoU with States within Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
our federal structure. ❖ The Government enacted Wildlife
o Providing for an oversight by Parliament. (Protection) Act 1972 with the objective of
o Addressing livelihood interests of local people in areas effectively protecting the wildlife of this
surrounding Tiger Reserves. country and to control poaching, smuggling
Project Tiger and illegal trade in wildlife and its derivatives.
The Government of India has taken a pioneering initiative for ❖ The Act was amended in January 2003 and
conserving its national animal, the tiger, by launching the “Project punishment and penalty for offences under
Tiger” in 1973. the Acthave been made more stringent.
❖ The Ministry has proposed further
From 9 tiger reserves since its formative years, the Project Tiger
amendments in the law by introducing more
coverage has increased to 51 at present, spread out in 18 of our tiger
rigid measures to strengthen the Act.
range states.
❖ The objective is to provide protection to the
This amounts to around 2.23% of the geographical area of our
listed endangered flora and fauna and
country.
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ecologically important protected areas.

Core-buffer strategy in Project tiger
Core area: A particular expanse of land is identified and marked as the ‘core area of the reserve. These areas are kept free of all
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human activities. It usually has the legal status of National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary. No human activity is allowed inside the core
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area, including tourism. Even everyday tasks such as grazing and wood collection are banned.
Buffer area: The buffer areas usually surround the core area and are comparatively less frequented by the resident wildlife. Hence,
limited human interaction here will not harm their habitat. Hence, it is subjected to ‘conservation-oriented land use’. Certain
everyday activities necessary for daily life and living of surrounding villages are allowed.
The buffer area serves twin purposes. One, it serves as a habitat supplement to the spillover population of wild animals from the
core area. Two, it becomes a livelihood source for surrounding villages and relieves their impact on the core zone.
Plan of actions for tiger reserves in India
To counter poaching, wireless communication systems and outstation patrol camps have been deployed within the tiger reserves.
Fire protection is ensured through preventive and control measures. Compensatory developmental works have improved water
availability which in turn betters vegetation. Lush vegetation cover helps in increasing the tiger prey base.
Village relocation is one of the significant steps as well as a hurdle to reserve management in core zones. While some villages
relocate voluntarily, most others resist giving up their ancestral dwellings. The issue gets even more sensitive in the case of tribal
communities.
The Indian Government passed the Forest Rights Act in 2006 which recognized the right of some forest communities to their
native forest area.
Global initiatives
The Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) was launched in 2008 as a global alliance of governments, international organizations, civil
society, the conservation and scientific communities and the private sector, with the aim of working together to save wild tigers
from extinction.
o The GTI’s founding partners included the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Smithsonian Institution,
Save the Tiger Fund, and International Tiger Coalition. The initiative is led by the 13 tiger range countries (TRCs).
CITES: Tigers have been included in Appendix of CITES since 1975, which means all international trade in tigers, including parts
and derivatives, for commercial purposes is generally prohibited under the Convention.
Global tiger forum: Global Tiger Forum is an international intergovernmental body exclusively set up for the conservation of
tigers in the wild in the range countries.
o Out of the 13 tiger range countries, seven are currently members of GTF: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Myanmar,
Nepal and Vietnam besides non-tiger range country U.K.
Kangar valley national parks

Kanger Valley National Park
❖ Kanger Ghati National Park (also called Kanger Valley National Park) was declared a national park in 1982 by the Government of
India. Near Jagdalpur in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, it is one of India's densest national parks, and is known for its
biodiversity, landscape, waterfalls, and subterranean geomorphologic limestone caves, and as the home of the Bastar hill myna,
the state bird of Chhattisgarh.
❖ It covers an approximately consisting mainly of hilly terrain. It derives its name from the Kanger River, which flows
throughout it.
❖ The national park has remarkable geological diversity.
❖ The national park has mainly Cuddapah group of rock formation and at some places Vindhyan group of rock formation, shales
are the common rock formation of Cuddapah group, which are horizontally bedded, at many places calcareous, the other rock
formation is slate.
❖ Poor and rocky soil is found on the hill tops and slopes. Recent deposits are alluvial soils, high and low level laterites, and
ferruginous conglomerates.
❖ The park is Valley of Kanger River. The river flows from NW to SE direction centrally through deep gorges. Both sides of the valley
are very steep and are associated with hill ranges. The entire park area is hilly.
Kanger River
Kanger River is among one of very few perennial rivers of Bastar and herein lies the importance of the river and the park. Kanger River
is a lifeline and hills are its recharging reservoir; the whole national park is the catchment of Godavari River.
Ramsar Convention and Wetlands in India
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of international importance is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use
of wetlands.
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It was signed in 1971 and named after Ramsar city of Iran.

Every three years, representatives of the contracting parties meet at the Conference of Contracting Parties (COP). Last COP
was held at China as COP14 in 2021.
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There are over 2300 Ramsar sites in 171 Ramsar countries. UK with 175 and Mexico with 142 sites respectively have highest
number of sites.
Bolivia has the largest area under Ramsar Sites
India has 49 Ramsar sites spread across 20 states and these are:
4. Keshopur-Miani Community
Reserve
5. Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary
6. Ropar Lake
Rajasthan 1. Keoladeo Ghana National Park (NP) Keoladeo Ghana NP is the oldest
Ramsar Site in India
2. Sambhar Lake
Tamil Nadu Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary Famous for Spoon billed Sandpiper
a critically
endangered bird.
Tripura Rudrasagar Lake It is known for critically endangered
three stripped roof turtle.
Uttar Pradesh 1. Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary Parbati Arga is a ox-bow lake

2. Haiderpur Wetland associated with Saryu river a
tributaroy of river Ganga.
3. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
Haider[ur wetland is a human made
4. Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuar wetland formed in 1984 located in
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5. Saman Bird Sanctuary Hastinapur WLS.

Bakhira WLS is the largest natural
6. Samaspur Bird Sanctuary
flood plain wetland in India.
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7. Sandi Bird Sanctuary
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8. Sarsai Nawar Jheel
9. Sur Sarovar
10. Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch)
Uttrakhand Asan Conservation Reserve Located on Asan River and Yamuna

River barrage.
West Bengal 1. East Kolkata Wetlands Sundarbans is the largest
2. Sunderbans Wetland wetland in India.
Himachal Pradesh 1. Chandertal Wetland Renuka is the smallest while

2. Pong Dam/Maharana Pratap Lake Chandertal is the second smallest
wetland in India
3. Renuka Wetland
Jammu & 1. Wular Lake Surinsar-Mansar lakes were added
Kashmir in 2020.
2. Hokera Wetland
3. Surinsar-Mansar Lakes
4. Tsomoriri Lake
Kerala 1. Asthamudi Wetland Ashtamudi Lake is associated with
2. Sasthamkotta Lake Neendakara port and Muroe Island.
Vembanad Lake is associated with
3. Vembanad Kol Wetland Kochi Port and Nehru boat race. It is
also second largest wetland
Ladakh Tso Kar Wetland Complex Made up of two water bodies
Startsapuk Tso (fresh-water) and Tso
Kar lake (Saline). Situated on Rupshu
Plateau and categorized as A1 in
Bird Life International.
Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Wetlands Known for Sarus Crane
Maharashtra 1. Lonar Lake Lonar Lake turned pink in color in

2. Nandur Madhameshwar 2020 due to haloarcaea bacteria
culture. It is a crater lake.
Manipur Loktak Lake Famous for phumdis floating over it.

Keibul Lamjao National Park the only
floating national park (NP) in the
world is located on loktak lake. The
NP is last natural refuge of Sangai.
Odisha 1. Bhitarkanika Mangroves Bhitrakanika Mangroves are

2. Chilka Lake associated with AbdulKalam Island
and Gahirmatha Wildlife sanctuary.
On south of Chilka lake Rushikulya
rivers flows which is associated witl
olive ridley turtle. Chilka is also third
largest wetland in India.
Punjab 1. Beas Conservation Reserve Beas Conservation reserve is
associated with Indus river Dolphin
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2. Harike Lake
and recently Ghariyal were also
3. Kanjli Lake realsed into Beas river.
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Geography and Agriculture

One nation one fertilizer
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers announced that it has been decided to implement One Nation One Fertiliser
by introducing a “Single Brand for Fertilisers and Logo” under the fertiliser subsidy scheme named “Pradhan Mantri
Bhartiya Janurvarak Pariyojna” (PMBJP).
Under the new “One Nation One Fertiliser” scheme, companies are allowed to display their name, brand, logo and
other relevant product information only on one-third space of their bags. On the remaining two-thirds space, the
“Bharat” brand and Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana logo will have to be shown.
Following the order, all fertiliser bags, whether containing urea or di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) or muriate of potash
(MOP) or NPK will sport the brand name as ‘Bharat Urea’, ‘Bharat DAP’, ‘Bharat MOP’ and ‘Bharat NPK’ irrespective of
the company that manufacturers it, whether in the public or the private sector.
1. KRITAGYA 3.0: About- A National level Hackathon on crop improvement by ICAR
• KRI-Krishi (Agriculture), TA-Taknik (Technology), GYA-Gyan (Knowledge)
• It is organised under National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP)
• NAHEP is an ICAR project funded by World Bank
• He overall objective of NAHEP is to support participating Agricultural Universities (AUs) and
ICAR in providing more relevant and higher quality education to the student.
2. Eleventh Agricultural Census (2021-22): The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched
the Eleventh Agricultural Census (2021-22) stating that this computation will bring huge benefits in a vast and
agricultural country like India.
About 11th agricultural census: This is the first time that data collection for the agricultural census will be conducted
on smart phones and tablets so that data is available in time.
• Most of the States have digitized their land records and surveys, which will further accelerate the collection of
agricultural census data.
• The use of digitized land records and the use of mobile apps for data collection will enable the creation of a database
of operational holdings in the country.
• Thus, it will bring a major thrust towards digital agriculture in India.
Digital Agriculture
Digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), remote sensing, big data, block chain
and IoT, are transforming agricultural value chains and modernizing operations.
Initiatives taken to promote digital agriculture-
➢ Digital Agriculture Mission 2021–2025: Government signed five memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with
CISCO, Ninja cart, Jio Platforms Limited, ITC Limited and NCDEX e-Markets Limited (NeML), to forward digital agriculture
through pilot projects.
➢ The Jio Agri (Jio Krishi) platform: launched in February 2020, digitises the agricultural ecosystem along the entire
value chain to empower farmers.
➢ National Agriculture Market (eNAM): - pan-India electronic trading portal that links the existing Agricultural
Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis, to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
➢ Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Central Agri Portal: - Launched in January 2013, the DBT Agri Portal is a unified
central portal for agricultural schemes across the country. The portal helps farmers adopt modern farm machineries
through government subsidies
➢ Unified Farmer Service Platform (UFSP): UFSP is a combination of Core Infrastructure, Data, Applications and
Tools that enable seamless interoperability of various public and private IT systems in the agriculture ecosystem
across the country.
➢ Other Digital Initiatives:
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o Kisan Call Centres

o Kisan Suvidha App
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o Agri Market App

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o Soil Health Card (SHC) Portal
Analytica:
The government is focusing on increasing farmers' income. Besides, there is a need to change their standard of living,
organize small farmers in order to empower them, attract them towards remunerative crops and ensure the quality of
the produce at par with global standards. This is the time to make full use of technology in this computation.
India’s first ever Animal Health Summit

News Excerpt
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has recently Inaugurated First India Animal Health Summit 2022.
Key Facts
➢ India Animal Health Summit 2022was organized by Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) and the
Agriculture Today Group.
➢ The first India Animal Health Summit 2022 was held at the NASC Complex in New Delhi, with the goal of
understanding the importance of animal health to the country's food and nutrition security, rural income and
prosperity, and overall economic development.
Common animal diseases
1. The total livestock population in the country is
Anthrax 535.78 million, a 4.6 percent increase from the
❖ Anthrax, a highly infectious and fatal disease of cattle, is caused 2012 Livestock Census. The total bovine
by a relatively large spore-forming rectangular shaped bacterium population was 302.79 million in 2019, a 1.0
called Bacillus anthracis. percent increase from the previous census.
❖ Anthrax causes acute mortality in ruminants. 2. India has the most cattle and produces the most
❖ Signs of the illness usually appear 3 to 7 days after the spores are milk in the world, but per-animal productivity
swallowed or inhaled. Once signs begin in animals, they usually remains low.
die within two days.
❖ Buffaloes, sheep and goats are also affected. Young cattle between 6-24 months of age, in good body condition
are mostly affected. It is soil-borne infection which generally occurs during rainy season. In India, the disease is
sporadic (1-2 animal) in nature.
Foot and mouth disease
❖ The foot-and-mouth disease is a highly communicable disease affecting cloven-footed animals. It is characterized
by fever, formation of vesicles and blisters in the mouth, udder, and teats andon the skin between the toes and
above the hoofs. Animals recovered from the disease present a characteristically rough coat and deformation of the
hoof.
❖ In India, the disease is widespread and assumes a position of importance in livestock industry. The disease spreads
by direct contact or indirectly through infected water, manure, hay and pastures. It is also conveyed by cattle
attendants. It is known to spread through recovered animals, field rats, porcupines and birds.
Rabies (Mad dog disease)
❖ Rabies is a disease of dogs, foxes, wolves, hyenas and in some places, it is a disease of bats which feed on blood.
❖ The disease is passed to other animals or to people if they are bitten by an animal with rabies. The germs which
cause rabies live in the saliva of the sick (rabid) animal. This is a killer disease but not every dog which bites is
infected with rabies.
❖ When the rabid animal bites another animal or human, the germs which live in its saliva pass into the body through
the wound caused by the bite. The germs travel along the nerves to the brain. The time between the bite and the
first appearance of signs that the bitten animal or human has been infected can take from 2 to 10 weeks or more.
The time taken depends on the distance of the bite from the brain. If the bite is on the face or head, the bitten
animal or human will quickly show signs, but if the bite is on the leg it will take much longer for signs to develop.
POX
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❖ Epidemiology: sheep-pox is a highly contagious disease. It causes a mortality of 20 to 50 per cent in animals below
the age of 6 months, and causes damage to the wool and skin in adults. Of the pock diseases, sheep-pox ranks only
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second to human small-pox in virulence. The disease is transmissible to in-contact goats but not to other species
of animals. It, however, spreads slowly.
Blue tongue
❖ Bluetongue, a disease which is transmitted by midges, infects domestic and wild ruminants and also camelids,
however sheep are particularly badly affected. Cattle, although infected more frequently than sheep, do not always
show signs of disease. Virus spreads between animals occurs via the midges of Culicoides species.
❖ The likelihood of mechanical transmission between herds and flocks, or indeed within a herd or flock, by unhygienic
practices (the use of contaminated surgical equipment or hypodermic needles) may be a possibility.
Shifting Monsoon patterns

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) asserted that the monsoon has begun to retreat from Rajasthan.
A monsoon is a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing, or strongest, winds of a region. Monsoons
cause wet and dry seasons throughout much of the tropics. Monsoons are most often associated with the Indian
Ocean. Monsoons always blow from cold to warm regions. The summer monsoon and the winter monsoon determine
the climate for most of India and Southeast Asia.
Theories
Thermal theory of Admand hally- Based on phenomena of Land and Sea Breeze
o According to the theory, in Summer- Sun is over Northern Hemisphere- Land gets heat up in comparison with
ocean- Creating Low Pressure-Wind blows from Ocean to land bringing rain.
o In winter sun is over southern hemisphere-land mass cools rapidly-High pressure area over Asia-Low pressure centre
on Indian Ocean.
Dynamic theory of Flohn
o Monsoon is result of the seasonal migration of
planetary winds and pressure belts.
o The trade winds in both the hemisphere converge at
equator and form Inter-tropical convergence zone
(ITCZ)
o The northern limits called northern Inter-tropical
convergence zone (NITCZ) and southern is called
SITCZ (Southern Inter-tropical convergence zone)
o Doldrums lies between NITC and SITC-characterized by
equatorial westerlies.
o During summer solstice-trade wind of southern
hemisphere shift northward-creates south-east trade
winds- produce monsoon.
o During winter solstice winds shifts southward-
creating north-east trade winds- produce winter
monsoon.
Role of Tibet
o Tibetan plateau produces anticyclone in mid
troposphere- weakens sub- tropical jet streams (STJ) -
produces tropical easterly jet stream
o Koteswaram tried to establish relationship between monsoon and the atmospheric conditions prevailing over Tibet
Plateau.
o The northward movement of sub-tropical jet-streams is responsible for the onset of monsoon in India.
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o The westerly jet causes high pressure over northern parts in winter-winds flow north and south causing north-east
monsoon.
Role of jet streams
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o The jet streams are a narrow belt of high altitude westerly winds in the troposphere.
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o Tropical easterly jet streams are low level jet streams in northern hemisphere of southern Asia and northern Africa.
o It comes into existence when STJ moves northward.
o It does not come into existence if snow over Tibet does not melt, hampering monsoon in India.
Retreating monsoon mechanism:
The northeast monsoon derives its name from the direction in which it travels – from the northeast to the southwest.
The reversal of direction in the lower-atmosphere moisture-laden winds happens primarily due to the southward
movement of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) during the withdrawal phase.
The ITCZ is a dynamic region near the Equator where the trade winds of the northern and southern hemispheres
come together.
The intense sun and warm waters of the ocean heat up the air in this region and increase its moisture content. As
the air rises, it cools, and releases the accumulated moisture, thus bringing rainfall.
During the monsoon season, this ITCZ is located over the Indian landmass. By September, as the temperature in
the northern hemisphere begins to go down, the ITCZ starts moving southwards, towards the Equator.
Whereas in the southern hemisphere, the summer season begins to take shape.
El-Nino and La Nina seasonal impacts
El Nino and La Nina are mutually opposite phenomena, during which an abnormal warming or cooling of sea
surface temperatures is observed in the Pacific Ocean along the equator, off the coast of South America.
Together they constitute what is known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation system, or ENSO for short.
ENSO conditions can alter both temperatures and rainfall globally, due to their strong interference on global
atmospheric circulations.
It is a recurring phenomenon and the change in temperature is accompanied by changes in the patterns of upper
and lower level winds, sea level pressure, and tropical rainfall across the Pacific Basin.
Normally, El Nino and La Nina occur every four to five years. El Nino is more frequent than La Nina.
Country Normal condition El-Nino La-Nina
India Rainfall Weak walker cell over Indian Strong walker cell over Indian
ocean-causing drought ocean-causing flood
Australia Rainfall due to warm Weak walker circulation Strong walker circulation over
water in eastern over pacific in eastern pacific in eastern Australia-
pacific Australia Australia- causing warm and causing floods and heavy
dry conditions rainfall
South America Drought condition Heavy rainfall over the coast Strong trade winds causing dry
of Peru causing floods and weather condition and draught.
weakens the trade winds
Other factors affecting Indian monsoon
Indian ocean dipole: The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is defined by the difference in sea surface temperature between
two areas (or poles, hence a dipole) – a western pole in the Arabian Sea (western Indian Ocean) and an eastern pole in
the eastern Indian Ocean south of Indonesia. The IOD affects the climate of Australia and other countries that surround
the Indian Ocean Basin, and is a significant contributor to rainfall variability in this region.
Madden Julian oscillation: The MJO is an eastward moving disturbance of clouds, rainfall, winds, and pressure that
traverses the planet in the tropics and returns to its initial starting point in 30 to 60 days, on average. This atmospheric
disturbance is distinct from ENSO, which once established, is associated with persistent features that last several seasons
or longer over the Pacific Ocean basin. There can be multiple MJO events within a season, and so the MJO is best
described as intra-seasonal tropical climate variability (i.e. varies on a week-to-week basis).
Indian ocean dipole (IOD) Consequences in India
+ve IOD Western Indian ocean becomes warm and causes heavy rainfall
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-ve IOD Eastern Indian ocean becomes warm causing low or below average
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rainfall
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Combined phenomena Consequences

+ve IOD + La Nina Extreme flood
-ve IOD + El Nino Extreme drought
+ve IOD + El nino Average rainfall
-ve IOD + La Nina Average rainfall
Madden Julian oscillation Consequences in Indian subcontinent

MJO + El Nino Increase in drought conditions
MJO + La Nina Decrease in flood events
El-Nino impact on North-east monsoon
Like the southwest monsoon, the northeast monsoon is also impacted by the warming and cooling of sea surface waters
in the central Pacific Ocean. But the impact is opposite.
The northeast monsoon is known to receive a boost from El Niño, when the sea surface temperatures in the equatorial
Pacific Ocean, off the western coast of South America, are warmer than usual.
When the opposite phenomena La Niña happens, rainfall during the northeast monsoon is known to get depressed.
Other factors influencing monsoon in India
> Climate change: Marked by extreme localised rainfall events, an unusually dry August and an unusually wet
September, the summer monsoon and winter monsoon had a shift from their usual pattern.
> Irrigation pattern: The winter irrigation (November-March) actually strengthens the monsoon rains over the region
for the following year and also reduces intra-seasonal variations in rainfall. However, with year-round irrigation,
there is a noticeable decrease in the summer monsoon rainfall.
> Aerosols and dust: The local factors that have been shown to affect the monsoon rainfall in India. In a recent study
in 2022, researchers at IIT Bhubaneswar have shown that dust transported to the Arabian sea from the Middle-
Eastern deserts (the Sahara and the Sinai) could increase rainfall in India and south Asia over short time scales of
one or two weeks.
Cyclone intensification
As Earth’s climate warms, more storms are growing quickly from relat ively weak tropical storms to Category 3 or
higher hurricanes in under 24 hours.
Melting Ice and ocean acidification
Tropical cyclones
Scientists have predicted that by 2050, Arctic sea ice in
Tropical cyclone, or typhoon or hurricane are severe this region will no longer survive the increasingly warm
atmospheric disturbance that originates over tropical summers. As a result, the ocean’s chemistry will grow
oceans. more acidic, creating life-threatening problems for the
Tropical cyclones have very low atmospheric pressures in diverse population of sea creatures, plants and other
living things that depend on a healthy ocean.
the calm, clear centre (the eye) of a circular structure of
Mechanism for Ocean acidification and melting
rain, cloud, and very high winds. ❖ The water under the sea ice, which had a deficit of
Because of the Earth’s rotation, they rotate clockwise in carbon dioxide, now is exposed to the
the Southern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the atmospheric carbon dioxide and can take it up
Northern. freely.
❖ The seawater mixed with meltwater is light and
They may be 50–500 mi (80–800 km) in diameter, and
can’t mix easily into deeper waters, which means
sustained winds in excess of 100 mph (160 kph) are
the carbon dioxide is concentrated at the surface.
common. ❖ The meltwater dilutes the carbonate ion
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In the eye, however, the winds drop abruptly to light concentration in the seawater, weakening its
breezes or even complete calm. The lowest sea-level ability to neutralise the carbon dioxide into
pressures on Earth occur in or near the eye. bicarbonate and rapidly decreasing ocean pH.
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In the North Atlantic Ocean and the eastern North Pacific,

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these storms are called hurricanes. In the western North Pacific, they are referred to as typhoons. Elsewhere they
are called tropical cyclones or, simply, cyclones.
Frontogenesis
Frontogenesis is the generation or intensification of a front.
It occurs when warm air converges onto colder air, and the horizontal temperature gradient amplifies by at least an
order of magnitude.
Whenever a region experiences horizontal convergence (and therefore uplift), any pre- existing gradient will
increase.
A prerequisite for frontogenesis is that the atmosphere is baroclinic, i.e. That temperature advection occurs.
Role of Coriolis force on cyclone
Cyclones are low-pressure systems that suck air into their centre, or “eye.”
In the Northern Hemisphere, fluids from high-pressure systems pass low-pressure systems to their right. As air
masses are pulled into cyclones from all directions, they are deflected, and the storm system— a
hurricane—seems to rotate counter-clockwise.
In the Southern Hemisphere, currents are deflected to the left. As a result, storm systems seem to rotate clockwise.
Anti-cyclonic conditions:
Hemisphere Cyclone
Anticyclones are often regions of clear skies and sunny
weather in summer; at other times of the year, cloudy and Northern Anti-clock wise
foggy weather—especially over wet ground, snow cover, Southern Clock wise
and the ocean—may be more typical.
Winter anticyclones produce colder than average temperatures at the surface, particularly if the skies remain clear.
Anticyclones are responsible for periods of little or no rain, and such periods may be prolonged in association with
blocking highs.
Desert regions of the world generally have anti-cyclonic conditions.
Climate change impact on cyclones
• Climate change is making hurricanes wetter, windier and altogether more intense.
• It is causing storms to travel more slowly, meaning they can dump more water in one place. Ocean heat is
contained near the water’s surface. The additional heat
due to climate change can fuel a storm’s intensity and Dvorak technique
power stronger winds. ❖ It was first developed in 1969 and tested for
• Climate change boosts the amount of rainfall delivered observing storms in the northwest Pacific Ocean.
❖ Forecasters used the available satellite images
by a storm. Because a warmer atmosphere can also
obtained from polar orbiting satellites to examine
hold more moisture, water vapor builds up until clouds
the features of the developing tropical storms
break, sending down heavy rain. (hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons).
• The typical “season” for Hurricanes is shifting, as ❖ During day time, images in the visible spectrum
climate warming creates conditions conducive to were used while at night, the ocean would be
storms in more months of the year. observed using infrared images.
❖ The Dvorak technique was a cloud pattern
• Hurricanes are tended to make landfall in regions far
recognition technique based on a concept model
outside the historic norm.
of the development and decay of the tropical
Conclusion cyclone.
Even the most stringent mitigation efforts cannot avoid some
impacts of climate change over the next few decades. Climate change impacts such as rapid intensification of
hurricanes can be seen now. This makes adaptation essential, particularly in addressing near-term impacts. However,
unmitigated climate change would, in the long term, be likely to exceed our capacity to adapt. It is essential, then, to
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develop a portfolio or mix of strategies that includes mitigation, adaptation, technological development (to enhance
both adaptation and mitigation) and research (on climate science, impacts, adaptation and mitigation).
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FUJIWHARA EFFECT
Recently, super typhoon Hinnamnor, the strongest tropical cyclone of the year was moving towards Taiwan from the
western Pacific Ocean. At the same time, another tropical storm called
Gardo was moving towards Hinnamnor from its southeast direction.
Hinnamnor devoured Gardo and eventually made landfall in South
Korea.
Pre-Connect
Cyclones are huge swirling wind circulations that form over
warm ocean waters and are named depending on where they
form.
Cyclones are fuelled by heat, wind, and moisture and under the
right conditions can gain significant strength and size. The big
ones can have diameters of more than 1,000 km and wind
speeds of over 250 km per hour.
Cyclones are given many names in different regions of the
world-Tropical cyclones-Indian Ocean, Willy-willies-north-
western Australia, Typhoons-China Sea, and Pacific Ocean,
Hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea, and Atlantic Ocean.
The world is seeing a rise in cyclonic formations and in cases of
cyclones merging to form mega cyclones due to the warming of
oceans.
Fujiwhara Effect
➢ It is any interactivity between tropical storms formed around the same time in the same ocean region with their
centers or eyes at a distance of less than 1,400 km their intensity can vary between a depression (wind speed under
63 km per hour) and a super typhoon (wind speed over 209 km per hour).
➢ The interaction of storms leads to changes in the track and intensity of either or both storm systems.
➢ In rare cases, the two systems could merge, especially when they are of similar size and intensity, to form a bigger
storm.
➢ In 2020 hurricanes Marco and Laura formed back to back in the small region of the Gulf of Mexico and created a
possibility of the Fujiwhara Effect.
Characteristics of the Fujiwhara Effect
There are five different ways in which Fujiwhara Effect can take place
✓ It is an elastic interaction. Here only the direction of motion of the storms changes. It is the most common case.
✓ It is partial straining out in which a part of the smaller storm is lost to the atmosphere.
✓ It is completely straining out in which the smaller storm is completely lost to the atmosphere. The straining out does
not happen for storms of equal strength.
✓ It is a partial merger in which the smaller storm merges into the bigger one.
✓ It is a complete merger that takes place between two storms of similar strength.
o Merging of Extratropical cyclones: A binary interaction is seen between nearby extratropical cyclones when within
2,000 kilometers of each other, with significant acceleration occurring when the low-pressure areas are within 1,100
kilometers of one another. The precise results of such interactions depend on factors such as the size of the two
cyclones, their distance from each other, and the prevailing atmospheric conditions around them.
o Merging of Extratropical and Tropical Cyclones: When entering higher latitudes, tropical cyclones can interact
with extratropical cyclones. Classic cases in the Atlantic include the famed Perfect Storm of October 1991 and Super
storm Sandy of October 2012.
Adverse Impact of the Fujiwhara Effect
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▪ It can bring massive rain causing urban flooding, and destruction of property.
▪ It is also attributed to the sudden high wind causing damage to windfarms.
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▪ Due to its unpredictable nature, it can cause the deaths of innocents in coastal regions.
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Mitigation Measures
• Early prediction and warning in coastal areas as well as the evacuation of people is the key to saving thousands of
lives.
• The region where the maximum impact of the cyclone is likely should be completely secured by moving residents
away. It is a strategy known as ‘horizontal evacuation’. It is seen as essential.
• Programs like the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) by India address the vulnerability of the
coastal community to cyclones.
• Coordination and Cooperation between the Nations which are affected by cyclones annually: In this, a forum like
the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation can play a major role.
• On the local level Cyclone Shelters, Engineered Structures, and Coastal Shelter Belts should be built.
• Plantation of Mangroves greatly reduces the impact of incoming cyclones thus protecting the coastal economy as
well as ecology.
Millets
Millets have the potential to help achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Jowar: The United States,
mainly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 12 (Sustainable
China, Australia, India,
Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). India has signaled the
Argentina, Nigeria, and
beginning of preparations for the International Year of Millets 2023, designated the
Sudan are the major
year 2021 by the UNGA following an initiative by New Delhi.
producers
Pre-Connect
International Year of Millets (IYoM)-2023
In India, millets are mainly a Kharif crop. During 2018-19, three
millet crops — bajra (3.67%), jowar (2.13%), and ragi (0.48%) —
accounted for about 7 percent of the gross cropped area in the
country.
The Government of India had proposed to United Nations for
declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYOM). The
proposal of India was supported by 72 countries and United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as the
International
Year of Millets
on 5th March
2021.
The
Government
of India has
decided to
celebrate
IYOM, 2023 to
make it a
peoples’
movement so
that Indian
millets,
recipes, and
value-added
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products are
accepted
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globally.
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Millets
➢ Millets are a collective group of small-seeded annual grasses that are grown as grain crops, primarily on marginal
land in dry areas of temperate, sub-
tropical, and tropical regions.
➢ The word millets are used to describe
small-grained cereals like sorghum
(jowar), pearl millet (bajra), foxtail millet
(kangni/ Italian millet), little millet (kutki),
kodo millet, finger millet (ragi/
mandua), proso millet (cheena/ common
millet), barnyard millet (sawa/ sanwa/
jhangora), and brown top millet (korale).
➢ They were among the first crops to be
domesticated. There is evidence of the
consumption of millet by the Indus valley
people (3,000 BC).
➢ The several varieties that are now grown
around the world were first cultivated in
India.
➢ West Africa, China, and Japan are home
to indigenous varieties of the millet crop.
Advantages of Millets
✓ They are considered to be
“powerhouses of nutrition”.
✓ On April 10, 2018, the Agriculture
Ministry declared millets as “Nutri
Cereals”.
✓ They contain 7-12% protein, 2-5% fat,
65-75% carbohydrates, and 15-20%
dietary fiber.
✓ It helps lower cholesterol, as it is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids.
✓ They contain higher protein, fat, and fiber content.
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✓ They can thrive at relatively high temperatures (thermophilic) and reproduce in a limited water supply (xerophilic).
✓ Millets are multipurpose: They consume 70 percent less water than rice; grow in half the time as wheat, and require
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40 percent less energy in processing.
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✓ They are the one-stop solution in the wake of climate change, water scarcity, and drought conditions along with
high nutritive value to provide sustainable food security.
Steps Taken by the Indian Government for Promotion of Millets since 2018
✓ The government in 2018 declared millets as “Nutri-Cereals”, considering their “high nutritive value” and also “anti-
diabetic properties.
✓ Launched “Sub Mission on Millets” under National Food Security Mission in 2018.
✓ Several States in India launched the mission on Millets. Karnataka government’s Initiative for Millets as “The Food
of the Future” (incentive to farmers Rs. 10000/ha for the Cultivation of millets). Maharashtra promoting Millets through
Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture.
✓ Millets were included under POSHAN MISSION Abhiyan by the Ministry of Women & Child Development.
✓ On March 3, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution to declare 2023 as the
International Year of Millets.
Bomb Cyclone
A bomb cyclone in large parts of the US and Canada has resulted in very low temperature causing dozens of deaths,
flight delays, power outages, etc.
Bomb Cyclone and Bombogenesis
• A cyclone refers to a weather system in which winds rotate inwardly to an area of low atmospheric pressure.
• In case of a bomb cyclone, the process is very quick, it forms when air near the Earth’s surface rises quickly in the
atmosphere, triggering a sudden drop in pressure of at least 24 milibar within 24 hours.
• Bombogenesis is the name given to the process of fast intensification.
• This usually happens when a warm air mass collides with a cold airmass.
• In this particular case, air from the Arctic ploughed into tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico, forming a depression
bringing rain and snow.
• In the US and Canada, very cold Arctic air
was pulled by this cyclone, causing drop
in temperature.
Formation
➢ The Eastern Seaboard of the US is the most
common for the formation of Bomb
Cyclone.
➢ It’s because storms in the mid-latitudes
(temperate zone), which cover almost the
entire US, draw their energy from large
temperature contrasts.
➢ Along the U.S. East Coast during winter,
there’s a naturally potent thermal contrast
between the cool land and the warm Gulf
Stream current.
➢ Over the warmer ocean, heat and moisture
are abundant.
➢ But as cool continental air moves above and creates a large difference in temperature, the lower atmosphere
becomes unstable and buoyant.
➢ The air rises, cools and condenses, forming clouds and precipitation.
➢ Intense cyclones require favourable upper atmospheric conditions like ‘Jet Streaks’.
➢ When a strong jet streak overlies a developing low-pressure system, it creates a feedback pattern that makes warm
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air rise at an increasing rate. This allows the pressure to drop rapidly at the centre of the system.
➢ As the pressure drops, winds strengthen around the storm.
➢ In this particular case, eventually, the Arctic air will get warm which will lead to lower pressure difference and the
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Effects of Bomb Cyclones
✓ Temperatures fall drastically.
✓ Snow in affected regions,
✓ Worsens weather conditions, e.g., when combined with blizzards and snow in the Great Plains.
✓ According to U.S. National Weather Service, such cold conditions can lead to frostbites on exposed skin,
hypothermia and even death if exposed to these conditions for too long.
✓ It has also led to deaths due to power outages, poor visibility and accidents.
✓ Affects work due to flights and travel disruptions.
Analytica
Climate Change and Bomb Cyclones
▪ Atmospheric warming due to GHG effect will worsen the impact of Bomb Cyclone. Warmer sea surface temperatures
strengthen tropical storm wind speeds, giving them the potential to deliver more harm in case of landfall.
▪ Sea level rise is already making coastal storms more destructive and is likely to endure. Sea level rise increases the
risk of coastal flooding and has intensified the impact of several recent storms.
▪ The warming of mid-latitudes may be changing the pattern of tropical storms, leading to more storms occurring at
higher latitudes.
Adaptation: Bomb Cyclone
Making immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, to halt global warming, is essential to reduce the risk of the
strongest storms in the future.
o Preserving coastal wetlands, dunes, and reefs to absorb storm surge
o Ensuring new building and development do not occur in flood-prone areas
o Improving infrastructure that affords coastal protection for instance-seawalls
o Elevating vulnerable buildings to reduce the potential for flood damage
o Encouraging residents in areas
Joshimath Crisis
After cracks appeared in many roads and hundreds of houses of Joshimath, Uttarakhand, authorities on 8 January 2023
declared it a landslide and subsidence-hit zone. The announcement came after a high-level meeting took place among
the senior officials of the Central government, Uttarakhand state officials, and top officers from agencies including the
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the National Institute of
Hydrology (NIH).
What can be the reasons behind Joshimath subsidence?
1. The exact reason behind Joshimath land subsidence is still unknown but experts suggest that the incident might
have occurred because of unplanned construction, overpopulation, obstruction of the natural flow of water and
hydel power activities.
2. Not only this, the area is a seismic zone, which makes it prone to frequent earthquakes.
3. The possibility of such an incident happening in the region was first highlighted around 50 years when the MC
Mishra committee report was published and it cautioned against “unplanned development in this area, and
identified the natural vulnerabilities.”
4. According to experts, Joshimath city has been built on an ancient landslide material — meaning it rests on a
deposit of sand and stone, not rock, which doesn’t have high load-bearing capacity.
5. This makes the area extremely vulnerable to ever-burgeoning infrastructure and population.
6. Moreover, the lack of a proper drainage system might have also contributed to the sinking of the area.
7. Experts say that unplanned and unauthorised construction has led to the blocking of the natural flow of water,
which eventually results in frequent landslides.
8. Apart from the aforementioned possible reasons, reports have pointed out that subsidence in Joshimath might
have been triggered by the reactivation of a geographic fault — defined as a fracture or zone of fractures
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between two blocks of rock — where the Indian Plate has pushed under the Eurasian Plate along the Himalayas.
What is land subsidence?
1. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), subsidence is the “sinking of
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2. It can happen for a host of reasons, man-made or natural, such as the removal of water, oil, or natural
resources, along with mining activities.
3. Earthquakes, soil erosion, and soil compaction are also some of the well-known causes of subsidence.
4. This phenomenon can “happen over very large areas like whole states or provinces, or very small areas like
the corner of your yard.
Warming of the Ocean

Recently, a study published in the Journal of Atmospheric Sciences analyses factors that drive heating trends in the
world’s oceans. As per the study, the world’s oceans recorded extreme heating in 2022 on account of anthropological
activities like GHG emissions.
Pre-Connect
• The ocean absorbs vast quantities of heat as a result of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere, mainly from fossil fuel consumption.
• The Fifth Assessment Report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2013 revealed
that the ocean had absorbed more than 93% of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions since the 1970s.
• When sunlight reaches the earth, oceans absorb this energy and store it as heat.
• While the heat is first absorbed in the surface of the water body, some of it is eventually disbursed throughout.
• The heat stored in the ocean causes its water to expand, which is responsible for one-third to one-half of the global
sea level rise.
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Key Findings of the Report

➢ Spatial maps of ocean heating in 2022, relative to the mean 1981-2010 conditions, show significant warming in
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most ocean areas.
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➢ Atlantic and southern oceans are warming at a faster rate than other oceans.
➢ The increasing instances of heatwaves and droughts in the northern hemisphere is due to the intensive ocean
warming in the mid-latitude Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
➢ Salinity trends for 2022 show that most of the Pacific and East Indian Oceans are currently undergoing a freshening,
while mid-latitude Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and West Indian oceans are becoming more saline.
➢ The rise in ocean temperatures is a result of the earth’s energy imbalance, primarily associated with an increase in
greenhouse gas emissions. These gases trap heat in a blanket around the earth, not allowing it to escape, thus
raising the temperature of the earth’s surface and leading to global warming.
➢ The global long-term warming trend is so steady that annual records continue to be set with each New Year, as
noted in the last four years.
➢ The study used in-situ data obtained from the World Ocean Database.
Why Ocean Heat Matters
✓ Covering more than 70% of Earth’s surface, the global ocean has a very high heat capacity. It has absorbed 90%
of the warming that has occurred in recent decades due to increasing greenhouse gases, and the top few meters
of the ocean store as much heat as Earth's entire atmosphere.
✓ The distribution of excess heat in the ocean is not uniform, with the greatest ocean warming occurring in the
Southern Hemisphere and contributing to the subsurface melting of Antarctic ice shelves.
✓ The ocean’s ability to absorb excess heat has shielded humans from even more rapid climate changes. Without
this oceanic buffer, global temperatures would have risen much more than they have done to date.
Impact
Biodiversity o The effects of ocean warming include sea level rise due to thermal expansion, coral bleaching,
accelerated melting of Earth’s major ice sheets, intensified hurricanes, and changes in ocean
health and biochemistry.
Impact on o Marine fishes, seabirds and marine mammals all face very high risks from increasing
marine temperatures, including high levels of mortalities, loss of breeding grounds and mass
species and movements as species search for favorable environmental conditions. Coral reefs are also
ecosystems affected by increasing temperatures which cause coral bleaching and increase their risk of
mortality.
Impact on o A 2012 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that
humans marine and freshwater capture fisheries and aquaculture provide 4.3 billion people with about
15% of their animal protein.
o Fisheries and aquaculture are also a source of income for millions of people worldwide. By
altering distributions of fish stocks and increasing the vulnerability of fish species to diseases,
ocean warming is a serious risk to food security and people’s livelihoods globally. Economic
losses related to ocean warming are likely to run from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars.
o Rising temperatures also affect vegetation and reef-building species such as corals and
mangroves, which protect coastlines from erosion and sea-level rise. Rising sea levels and
erosion will particularly affect low-lying island countries in the Pacific Ocean, destroying
housing and infrastructure and forcing people to relocate.
o The rise in sea surface temperatures is causing more severe hurricanes and the intensification
of El Niño events bringing droughts and floods. This can have significant socio-economic and
health effects in some regions of the world.
o Warming ocean temperatures are linked to the increase and spread of diseases in marine
species. Humans risk direct transmission of these diseases when consuming marine species,
or from infections of wounds exposed in marine environments.
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Landslide atlas of India
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently released the Landslide Atlas of India, a detailed guide identifying
landslide hotspots in the country.
About Landslides
• These are natural disasters occurring
mainly in mountainous terrains where
there are conducive conditions of soil,
rock, geology and slope. A sudden
movement of rock, boulders, earth or
debris down a slope is termed as a
landslide.
• Naturally it is triggered by heavy rainfall,
earthquakes, snow melting and
undercutting of slopes due to flooding but
anthropogenic activities such as
excavation, cutting of hills and trees,
excessive infrastructure development, and
overgrazing by cattle.
• Some of the main factors that influence
landslides are lithology, geological
structures like faults, hill slopes,
drainage, geomorphology, land use and
land cover, soil texture and depth, and
weathering of rocks.
• In India, rainfall-induced landslide events
are more common.
• Landslides are classified into:
o Type of materials involved such as rock,
debris, soil, loose mud.
o Type of movement of the material such
fall, topple, slide, rotational slide or
translational slide
o Type of flow of the material. Another category is of landslides that spread laterally.
About landslides Atlas and its suggestions
➢ Landslides mapped in the ISRO atlas are mainly event-based and season-based.
➢ It is based on events during 1998 – 2022, primarily along the Himalayas and the Western Ghats. The pan-India
landslide database classifies landslides into – seasonal (2014, 2017 monsoon seasons), event-based and route-based
(2000 – 2017).
➢ India is considered among the top five landslide-prone countries globally, rainfall variability pattern is the single
biggest cause for landslides in the country.
➢ About 12.6 per cent of the country’s geographical land area is prone to landslides excluding snow covered area.
➢ Uttarakhand, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh reported the highest
number of landslides during 1998 – 2022.
➢ Mizoram has reported maximum number of landslides.
➢ The number of districts with the maximum landslide exposure are in Arunachal Pradesh (16), Kerala (14), Uttarakhand
and Jammu and Kashmir (13 each), Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Maharashtra (11 each), Mizoram (8) and Nagaland
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(7).
➢ Kerala has been consistently reporting massive landslides since it suffered the century’s worst floods in 2018.
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➢
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ECONOMIC SURVEY-
● It is an in-depth analysis of the state of the national economy in the financial year that is coming to a close.
● Under the direction of the Chief Economic Advisor, it is created by the department of economic affairs (DEA) economic
division. The finance minister approves the survey after it has been created.
CHAPTER 1- THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY 2022-23

The global economy battles through a unique set of challenges -
● The first threat to the third world decade that hampered global growth was the COVID-19 pandemic, which the WHO
announced in January 2020.
● After the global economy was recovering from the pandemic inducted contraction, the Russia-Ukraine conflict -
● Erupted in February 2022, sending commodity prices into a whirl and escalating already-present inflationary
pressures.
● Prices of essential commodities like crude oil, natural gas, wheat, and fertilizer skyrocketed due to the fighting.
● The Emerging Market Economies (EMEs), which were otherwise in the lower inflation zone because their
governments had implemented a calibrated fiscal stimulus to address output decline in 2020, also experienced
greater inflation due to rising commodity prices.
● The third challenge- emerged when nations undertook monetary tightening to refrain from inflation, causing growth to
weaken.
● Monetary tightening also drove capital flows to the safe- haven US market, contributed to rising sovereign bond
yield, and depreciation of modern currencies against the US dollar.
● Inflation and monetary tightening led to a hardening of bond yield across economies. They resulted in an outflow
of equity capital from most of the economies around the world into the traditionally safe-haven market of the US.
● The capital flight subsequently strengthened the US dollar against other currencies- the US Dollar index
strengthened by 16.1% between January and September 2022.
● The CAD has widened due to the other currencies' devaluation, increasing inflationary pressures in net importing
nations.
● Beginning in the second half of 2022, monetary tightening and rising inflation caused a decline in worldwide
output.
● Since August 2022, the global Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) composite index has been in the contractionary
range. In the second half of 2022, the annual growth rates of international commerce, retail sales, and industrial
production have all dramatically slowed.
● High levels of governmental and private debt were further pressured by the rise in borrowing costs, endangering the
financial system.
● The fourth obstacle to growth was caused by countries slowing cross-border commerce to defend their respective
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economic spaces in the face of the possibility of global stagflation.

● The fifth issue was growing as China went through a significant slowdown brought on by its policies.
● The loss of educational chances and income-generating prospects brought on by the pandemic represents the sixth
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Macroeconomic and growth challenges in the Indian economy-
● The pandemic's effects on India were seen in a sizable GDP decline in FY21.
● Despite the Omicron wave of January 2022, the Indian economy began to improve the next year or FY22.
● Since the pandemic's outbreak in January 2020, the third wave has had a different impact on India's economy than its
earlier waves.
● Mobility enabled by localized lockdowns, rapid vaccination coverage, mild symptoms, and quick recovery from the virus
contributed to minimizing the loss of economic output in the January-March quarter of 2022.
● As a result, output in FY22 exceeded FY20 prior to the pandemic, with the Indian economy leading the way in a full recovery.
● A cautious optimism that it was possible to maintain physical mobility and engage in economic activity even though the
experience inspired the pandemic with the Omicron variety.
● Thus, FY23 began with the conviction that the pandemic was swiftly abating and that India was ready to expand quickly and
return to its pre-pandemic growth trajectory.
● The US dollar has gained value against several currencies, including the rupee, due to monetary tightening.
● However, while being one of the better-performing currencies globally, the rupee's slight devaluation may have increased
domestic inflationary pressures and widened the CAD.
● Despite a small decline, global commodity prices are still higher than before the conflict.
● Due to India's growing pace, they have already increased CAD's size.
● India has enough foreign exchange reserves for FY23 to cover the CAD and intervene in the foreign exchange market to
control currency volatility.
India's economic resilience and growth drivers-
● Geopolitical unrest in Europe has largely been the cause of the RBI's tightening of monetary policy, the widening of the
current account deficit, and the plateauing growth of exports.
● Numerous organizations around the world have been lowering their growth projections for the Indian economy as a result of
these developments, which posed hazards to the country's economy in FY23.
● These predictions, including the NSO's advance estimations, generally fall between 6.5 and 7.0 per cent.
● Despite the downward revision, the growth projection for FY23 is higher than that of nearly all major nations and even
somewhat higher than that of the Indian economy over the decade prior to the pandemic.
● In 2022, according to the IMF, India will have one of the two fastest-growing large economies.
● If India is predicted to grow between 6.5 and 7.0 per cent despite significant global headwinds and tighter domestic monetary
policy, and that too without the benefit of a base effect, it is a testament to India's underlying economic resilience and its
capacity to recover, renew, and re-energize the country's growth drivers.
● The single most significant factor that led people to the streets to re-experience the "bazaar" was the nearly universal
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vaccination coverage in India, which the government managed. The market quickly became crowded, with service providers
returning to resume business.
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● The contact-based service providers, including those in restaurants, hotels, shopping centres, movie theatres, and tourist
attractions, quickly built up a booming business and made a big contribution to maintaining customer feelings, as recorded
in numerous studies.
● If the widespread vaccination program saved lives, on the one hand, it also acted as a health stimulant to boost consumer
confidence and, in turn, the recovery and expansion of the economy.
● The release of "pent-up" demand, which is not specifically an Indian occurrence but demonstrates
○ a local phenomenon impacted by a growth in the percentage of consumption in disposable income, has also
contributed to the recovery in consumption.
○ An even more significant recoil effect was created in India, where a major part of disposable income is spent as a
result of a pandemic-induced decline in consumption.
○ Consequently, the consumption rebound can be long-lasting.
○ In India, personal loan growth is accelerating, which attests to a persistent discharge of "pent-up" consumer demand.
● The housing market also saw the "release of pent-up desire."
○ Demand for housing loans picked up.
○ As a result, housing inventories have decreased, home prices are stabilizing, and new home development is
accelerating.
○ The building industry is recognized to carry numerous backward and forward links, stimulating them.
○ The universalization of vaccine coverage also significantly improves the housing market since, without it, the migrant
labour force would not have been able to return and build new homes.
● Aside from housing, construction activity increased dramatically in FY23 as the central government and its public sector firms
quickly deployed their much-expanded capital expenditure (Capex).
● The business investment and industrial operations have recovered due to an improvement in export demand, a pickup in
consumption, and public capital expenditures. Their improved balance sheets have also played a significant role in achieving
their spending commitments.
● India's banking industry has equally responded to the need for credit.
○ The credit growth to the MSME sector has been remarkably high, over 30.5 per cent, on average, during Jan-Nov
2022, supported by the extended ECLGS of the central government.
○ The public sector banks' financial situation has significantly improved due to profits being posted consistently and
the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India moving quickly to resolve or liquidate their non-performing assets
(NPAs).
○ In order to maintain the PSBs' strong capitalization and ensure that their Capital Risk-Weighted Adjusted Ratio
(CRAR) stays comfortably above the levels of adequacy, the government has been providing enough budgetary
support.
○ Banks' financial stability has enabled them to offset the decreased debt financing supplied so far in FY23 by corporate
bonds and external commercial borrowings (ECBs). Corporate bond yields have increased, while ECB interest and
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hedging expenses have increased, making these securities less appealing than last year.
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CHAPTER 2- INDIA'S MEDIUM-TERM GROWTH OUTLOOK: WITH OPTIMISM AND HOPE
Product and Capital Market Reforms
Initiation of the reforms- 1991
● The government's introduction of the structural changes of 1991, AKA LPG reforms, was prompted by the macroeconomic
imbalances of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
● The government introduced structural reform in 1991 due to macroeconomic imbalance of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
● The high combined deficits of the central and state governments, elevated inflationary pressure, and large and
unsustainable current account deficit(CAD) led to a
balance of payment crisis in the Indian economy.
● The deregulation of interest rates and the passage of
Continuity in reforms with a renewed impetus- the SARFAESI Act 2002 assisted the banking system,
● Over the 1990s decade, the product and capital market which had accrued bad loans throughout the period
reforms made slow progress. of economic recovery following the 1991 reforms.
● Near the conclusion of the decade, the government gave ● Interest rates were liberalized to increase bank
them new motivation. Investments were further liberalised competition, give depositors additional banking
to promote foreign direct investment as the primary options, and improve the transmission of monetary
source of non-debt-creating capital inflows. policy.
● The New Telecom Policy of 1999 completely overhauled
the telecom industry.
● It was made available to the private sector, and the regulatory framework was tightened (TRAI).
● The reforms divided a government's regulatory and policy making powers from an operator's authority (BSNL).
● These changes laid the groundwork for India's IT industry development and had significant positive spillover effects on other
economic sectors.
● During this time, the disinvestment and privatization policies also gained momentum.
● The government set up a dedicated Ministry to take this agenda forward.
● It sold equity stakes in some CPSEs and privatized companies such as Maruti Udyog, Hindustan Zinc, Bharat Aluminum,
and Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited.
● This period also marked the launch of the then-largest infrastructure project of independent India, the ‘Golden Quadrilateral’.
● The project gave the nation enormous economic advantages through greater industrial activity, trade, and economic growth.
● In addition, structural policies to solve macroeconomic imbalances were developed.
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● A number of internal and international shocks occurred during the time of these reforms, which decreased investor
confidence.
● Capital outflows to India in the months following the nuclear tests fell precipitously as a result of the sanctions the US
imposed on India in response to India's nuclear test.
● The years 2000 and 2002 also had two droughts that followed one another.
● The end of the tech boom and the 9/11 attacks led to increased global uncertainties that were accompanied by domestic
shocks.
● Additionally, the banking system and business sector balance sheets in India were in need of repair at the time.
● Even while all of these reasons eclipsed the immediate effects of the changes the government at the time implemented,
they built the foundation and structurally ready the Indian economy to take part in the subsequent global boom.
● To address the historically large combined Gross Fiscal Deficit of the Government, the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget
Management (FRBM) Act was passed.
0ne- off shocks overshadowed the reforms of 1998-2000-
Reforms for New India-Sabka Saath SabkaVikaas

● Before 2014, most of the reforms focused on the product and capital market sectors.
● They were essential and kept going after 2014.
● But over the past eight years, the government has given these reforms a fresh perspective
● With an underlying emphasis on enhancing the ease of living, doing business, and improving economic efficiency, the
reforms are well-placed to lift the economy's potential growth.
● Creating public goods, implementing trust-based governance, collaborating with the private sector for growth, and enhancing
agricultural productivity were the overarching tenets of the reforms.
● This plan reflects a paradigm shift in the government's growth and development strategy, with the focus now on forming
partnerships among various development stakeholders so that each can contribute to and profit from development (Sabka
Saath, SabkaVikaas).
● Creating public goods to enhance opportunities, efficiencies, and ease of living-
● Physical infrastructure-
● The Golden Quadrilateral project's inception in the 2000s marked the start of India's infrastructure-heavy
policymaking, which continued slowly for another ten years.
● The last several years have seen a huge increase in infrastructure spending and policy commitment, which slowed economic
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growth when the non-financial corporate sector could not invest due to balance sheet issues.
● In doing so, the government has created a solid foundation for growth and private investment in the ensuing ten years.
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● Digital infrastructure:
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● Helped increase the
economic potential of
both people and
companies.
● According to a recent
article in the RBI's Monthly
Bulletin, between 2014 and
2019, India's core digital
economy grew 2.4 times
that of the nation's overall
economy.
● The Aadhar digital
identity, the PM-Jan
Dhan Yojana's linking of
bank accounts with it,
and the widespread use
of mobile phones—
collectively known as the
"JAM Trinity"—have
served as the nation's main
pillars in the development of financial inclusion in recent years.
● The population covered with bank accounts increased from 53 per cent in 2015-16 to 78 percent in 2019-21 (as
per NFHS).
● International research demonstrates that it has taken nearly 50 years for nations at a similar stage of
development to expand bank account access to the extent that India has.
■ Some of the most recent digital efforts, including the Account Aggregator framework and Open Network
for Digital Commerce (ONDC), will expand the options for small firms to access the e-commerce sector
and obtain credit, which will support the anticipated economic growth over the medium term.
■ As an example, we can now track that, out of the 1.27 crore firms registered on the Udyam Portal, more
than 93,000 micro-enterprises have developed into small enterprises, and 10,000 small enterprises
have developed into medium enterprises during the past two years.
■ For many of these groups, establishing an identity has made formal credit easier to get.
■ The PM SVANidhi Scheme has provided first loans of 10,000 rupees to more than 32.7 lakh street
vendors, and more than 6.9 lahks of these have received second loans of 20,000 rupees.
■ Additionally, the formalization of commercial transactions has been made possible by digital systems
like the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) and the e-Way Bill system.
■ The growth of formal enterprises is evidenced by the rising number of GST taxpayers, which would increase
from 70 lahks in 2017 to more than 1.4 crores in 2022.
■ The widespread use of the UPI digital payment system has made it easy to formalize transactions,
even for the smallest of amounts.
■ The economy will become more productive as a result of increased formalization thanks to easier access to
financing and operational efficiency benefits.
○ Trust-based Governance-
■ RERA:
● The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA), the other regulatory reform, is
fostering a culture of open and honest dealing in the real estate industry.
● By introducing mechanisms for the swift resolution of disputes, registering real estate brokers and
agents with the regulator, and enabling a single window clearing for prompt approvals to
developers, the Act has completely changed the real estate industry.
● In the entire nation, the Real Estate Regulatory Authorities have resolved more than 1.06 lakh
complaints. The RERA Act encourages additional investments in the sector with 99262 projects and
71514 agents currently registered.
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■ decriminalization of minor economic offenses under the Companies Act of 2013: The government has
shown its intention to encourage ease of doing business for domestic and international investors by
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imposing civil responsibilities for handling basic defaults that do not entail fraud or where the nature of the
breach is merely procedural.
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■ The elimination of policy ambiguities has positive repercussions for enhancing public confidence in the
administration.
■ The government's commitment to ensuring a non-adversarial policy environment is demonstrated by its
efforts to streamline processes by eliminating 25000 pointless compliances, repealing more than 1400
antiquated laws, doing away with the angel tax, and removing retrospective taxation on offshore indirect
transfers of assets with Indian origins. These initiatives have boosted growth potential and boosted investor
enthusiasm.
○ Promoting the private sector as a co-partner in the development-
■ A fundamental principle behind the government’s policy in the post-2014 period has been the engagement
with the private sector as a partner in the development process.
■ With stake sales and the successful listing of PSEs on the stock market during the past eight years, the
government's disinvestment program has been resurrected.
■ During FY15 to FY23 (as of 18 January 2023), an amount of about ₹4.07 lakh crore has been realized as
proceeds from disinvestment through 154 transactions using various modes/instruments.
■ The privatization of Air India was particularly significant for re-igniting the privatization drive.
■ Evidence shows that privatization has improved labor productivity and the overall efficiency of the PSUs
disinvested during 1990-2015.
■ This led to the introduction of the New Public Sector Enterprise Policy for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, which aims
to increase efficiency gains by limiting the involvement of the government in PSEs to only a few key vital
sectors.
CHAPTER 3- Fiscal Developments: Revenue Relish

Developments in Union Government finances
● Although India's finances were already stretched before the
pandemic, the Government's careful and calculated budgetary Fiscal deficit-
approach allowed steady public finances despite the current ● It is the excess of total expenditure over total
uncertainty. receipt other than borrowing.
● The fiscal deficit of the Union Government, which reached 9.2 ● FD measures the total borrowing of a
percent of GDP during the pandemic year FY21, has government from all sources during the financial
moderated to 6.7 percent of GDP in FY22 PA and is further year.
budgeted to reach 6.4 percent of GDP in FY23.
● This gradual decline in the Union government's fiscal deficit as a percent of GDP, in line with the fiscal glide path envisioned
by the government, is a result of careful fiscal management supported by buoyant revenue collection over the last two years.
Union Government on track to achieve the Fiscal deficit target for FY23-
● Despite a macroeconomic recovery, the Union Budget for FY23 was unprepared for the geopolitical changes that took place
throughout the year.
● Early in the year, when the European battle began, supply problems were made worse and prices for food, fuel, and other
necessities increased.
● The government's fiscal policy response necessitated additional spending on food and fertilizer subsidies, accompanied by
specific duty cuts to control the pass-through of the high imported prices to the consumers/ users.
● The Union Government is on pace to meet the budget estimate for the fiscal deficit in FY23 notwithstanding further constraints
on the nation's financial resources throughout the year
● The fiscal deficit of the Union Government at the end of November 2022 stood at 58.9 percent of the BE, lower than the five-
year moving average of 104.6 percent of BE during the same period.
Performance of Union Government Non-debt Receipts
● The Union government's non-debt receipts comprise revenue receipts (tax and non-tax) and non-debt capital receipts.
● Government borrowing makes up the shortfall in non-debt receipts to meet the expenditure demand (called fiscal deficit).
● The performance of the Union Government's financial receipts side is assessed in this area.
Direct taxes propelling the growth in Gross tax revenue
● Direct taxes, which broadly constitute half of the Gross Tax Revenue (Figure III.3), have registered a YoY growth of 26 percent
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from April to November 2022, enabled by corporate and personal income tax growth.
● The major direct taxes experienced growth rates in the first eight months of FY23 much greater than the corresponding longer-
term averages.
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Customs and Excise duties act as Flexi-fiscal policy tools
● Indirect taxes, like customs and excise levies, have served as flexible policy options during the fiscal response to the
pandemic, while direct taxes have protected the revenue buoyancy.
● The government increased the excise levy on petrol and diesel to increase revenue when the pandemic year FY21 had
a negative impact on the collection of and low global oil prices gave them some leeway to do so.
● The government then cut the excise duty in November 2021 and May 2022 to prevent customers from paying more for
increasingly expensive global oil as other taxes rebounded and inflationary pressures grew in the economy.
Stabilising Goods and Services Tax yielding returns-
● The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has evolved and stabilized as a vital revenue source for central and state
governments.
● Together, their gross GST receipts totaled 13.40 lakh crore from April to December 2022. Consequently, a YoY growth of 24.8
percent is implied.
● The pick-up in GST collections was evenly distributed throughout the current fiscal year, with an average monthly collection
of 1.5 lakh crore.
● The national campaign against GST evaders and fake bills, numerous systemic changes recently put into place, the quick
economic recovery following the pandemic, and various rate rationalization initiatives taken by the GST Council to correct the
inverted duty structure are all to blame for the increase in GST collections.
● As a consequence of consistent work, the GST net has doubled, with the number of GST taxpayers rising from over 70 lakh
in 20172 to more than 1.4 crore in 2022.
● GST has improved income reporting, which has good externalities for income tax collection and economic activity aside from
directly supporting government revenues.
Centre on track to meet Non-Tax Revenue targets-
● Most of the Centre's non-tax revenue comes from dividends and profits from Public Sector Enterprises and the Reserve Bank
of India, outside grants and payments for services provided by the Union Government, and interest on loans to States and
Union Territories.
● In comparison to FY22, the budget for FY23 anticipated a collection of non-tax revenue receipts that was around 22.5 percent
lower.
● Up until November 2022, 73.5 percent of the budgeted money had been collected.
Cooperative fiscal federalism drives a well-targeted fiscal policy
● Pragmatic expenditure policy of re-prioritization:
○ During the Pandemic of 2021, the total expenditure of the Union Government in FY21 rose to 17.7 percent of GDP,
higher than the previous 5-year average of 12.8 percent of GDP. In the subsequent year, FY22, the total Union
Government expenditure was brought down to 16 percent of GDP (PA), and a more significant proportion of this
accrued to capital expenditure.
○ The capital expenditure by the Centre has steadily increased from a long-term average of 1.7 percent of GDP
(FY09 to FY20) to 2.5 percent of GDP in FY22 PA. This development has to be seen in the background of the
Government of India focusing on capital expenditure which would make way for future economic development rather
than revenue expenditure and appeasing the people.
● Capex-led growth to bring back animal spirits and manage debt levels: The Government of India had budgeted an
unprecedented ₹7.5 lakh crore of Capital Expenditure for FY23, of which more than 59.6 percent has been spent from April to
November 2022. During this period, capital expenditure registered a growth of over 60 percent, much higher than the long-
term average growth of 13.5 percent. An increase in capital expenditure indicates making ground that can be used for
economic gains by animal-spirited individuals.
● Geopolitical developments stretched the Revenue Expenditure requirements: With the winding up of the pandemic-
related support, the revenue expenditure of the Union government was brought down from 15.6 percent of GDP in the
pandemic year FY21 to 13.5 percent of GDP in FY22 PA. Due to the sudden outbreak of geopolitical conflict, the Union
Government has sought an additional ₹80,000 crore for the expenditure towards food subsidy and additional allocation under
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and ₹1.09 lakh crore for fertilizer subsidy required during the year.
As a result, the revenue expenditure from April to November 2022 has grown by over 10 percent on a YoY basis.
● Interest payments of receipts went up after the pandemic outbreak. However, in the medium term, as we move along the
fiscal glide path, buoyancy in revenues, aggressive asset monetization, efficiency gains, and privatization would help pay down
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the public debt, thus bringing down interest payments and releasing more monies for other priorities.
OVERVIEW OF STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCES-
● Performance of State finances: The combined Gross Fiscal Deficit (GFD) of the States, which increased to 4.1 percent of GDP
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in the pandemic-affected year, was brought down to 2.8 percent in FY22 PA. Given the geopolitical uncertainties, the
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consolidated GFD-GDP ratio for States has been budgeted 3.4 percent in FY23. However, the States’ Monthly Fiscal Accounts
data released by CAG shows that from April- November 2022, the combined borrowings of the 27 major states have just
reached 33.5 percent of their total budgeted borrowings for the year.
● The Centre enhanced the net borrowing ceilings (NBC) for States to 5 percent of GSDP in FY21, 4 percent of GSDP in FY22,
and 3.5 percent of GSDP in FY23.
● As per FY23 Budget Estimates of the State Governments, the States’ combined own Tax revenue and own Non-Tax
revenue were anticipated to grow at 17.5 percent and 25.6 percent, respectively, over FY22 RE.
● On the expenditure side, revenue and capital expenditures in FY22 BE were envisaged to grow at 10.4 percent and 16
percent, respectively, over FY22 RE.
● The capital outlay of States grew by 31.7 percent in FY22 PA. This increase is attributable to strong revenue buoyancy and
the support provided by the Centre in terms of advance releases of payments to the states, GST compensation payments, and
interest-free loans.
Transfer from Centre to States
● The amount of money transferred to the States includes their portion of devolved Union taxes, grants from the Finance
Commission, contributions to Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), and other payments.
● Between FY19 and FY23 BE, the total transfers to the States have increased.
Supporting the GST compensation payments during crisis-
● In addition to the regular stream of revenues from GST, compensation was also provided to the states in the post-
GST period.
● Since GST was a new tax the compensation scheme was designed to safeguard the states from any difference in
the new versus the old tax regime ensuring steady revenue growth of 14% per annum for 5 years.
● It is important to emphasise that the compensation system was not intended to serve as a safety net for the
state's finances in the event that tax revenues declined due to a slowdown in economic growth.
● However, the pandemic's occurrence has brought attention to the importance of GST Compensation as a
revenue cushion for the States.
● During FY21, revenues for centers and states were adversely affected due to the economic contraction.
● Despite a drop in CGST and compensation cess revenues, the states' demand for compensation climbed significantly.
● In addition to the usual payment of GST compensation, the Centre borrowed money despite having limited financial
resources in the midst of a crisis and handed it on to States on a back-to-back loan basis.
● These loans are not a burden on the states because they will be repaid from future contributions to the GST
Compensation Cess Fund.
Enhanced limit of borrowing for the States and incentives for reform
● Since the pandemic outbreak, the Centre has kept the Net borrowing Ceiling of the State Governments above the Fiscal
Responsibility Legislation (FRL) threshold.
● It was fixed at 5 percent of GSDP in FY21, 4 percent of GSDP in FY22, and 3.5 percent of GSDP in FY23.
● A part of this additional borrowing was linked to reforms encouraging the States to undertake them.
● Despite having limited fiscal resources in the middle of a crisis, the Centre borrowed funds and passed them on to States on
a back-to-back loan basis, in addition to the release of regular GST compensation.
● These loans will be repaid from future inflows into the GST Compensation Cess Fund and hence are not a burden on the
states.
Enhanced limit of borrowing for the States and incentives for reforms
● Since the pandemic outbreak, the Centre has kept the Net borrowing Ceiling of the State Governments above the Fiscal
Responsibility Legislation (FRL) threshold.
● It was fixed at 5 percent of GSDP in FY21, 4 percent of GSDP in FY22, and 3.5 percent of GSDP in FY23.
● A part of this additional borrowing was linked to reforms encouraging the States to undertake them.
● For instance, in FY21, a part of the additional borrowing ceiling was conditional on implementing the
○ 'One Nation One Ration Card' System,
○ ease of doing business reform,
○ Urban Local body/ utility reforms, and
○ power sector reforms.
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● As a result,
○ 17 States implemented the One Nation One Ration Card System,
○ 20 States completed the stipulated reforms in the Ease of Doing Business,
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○ 11 States had done local body reforms and
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○ 17 States carried out fully/partly Power Sector Reforms.
● Similarly, a part of the additional borrowing was
earmarked for incremental capital expenditure to Initiatives by the State Governments to improve their own
be incurred by States during FY22. Sixteen states resources
accessed the additional borrowings upon meeting
the Capex target. ● States like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala have revised
● In addition to the net borrowing ceilings fixed for the property taxes in their States during the year to support
the States, Fifteenth Finance Commission had their revenues
recommended performance-based additional ● Some states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,
borrowing space of 0.50 percent of Gross State Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Assam, and UT
Domestic Product (GSDP) to the States in the of Puducherry have considered revising their power tariffs
power sector. during FY23.
● This special dispensation has been recommended ● On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh has announced a new
for each year for four years, from FY22 to 2024-25. liquor policy whereby it increased the license fee, renewal
● For the financial year FY22, additional borrowing fees, processing fee, and registration fee across various
permission of ₹39,175 crore was allowed to 12 categories of liquor/ distilleries.
States for meeting the stipulated reform criteria.
Debt Profile of the Government-
● Given the unprecedented fiscal expansion in 2020, rising government liabilities have emerged as a significant concern
across the globe.
● IMF projects9 the global government debt at 91 percent of GDP in 2022, about 7.5 percentage points above the pre-
pandemic levels.
● While countries worldwide had started winding up the fiscal support provided during the pandemic, challenging global
financial conditions amidst global uncertainties tightened budget constraints.
● Of the Union Government's total net liabilities in end-March 2021, 95.1 percent were denominated in domestic currency, while
sovereign external debt constituted 4.9 percent, implying low currency risk.
● Further, sovereign external debt is entirely from official sources, which insulates it from volatility in the international capital
markets.
● It is estimated to decline to 84.5% of GDP by the end of March 2022.
● The emphasis on capex led growth will enable India to keep the growth interest rate differential positive.
● A positive growth interest rate differential keeps the debt level sustainable.
Summary of chapter 4 economic survey

CHAPTER 4: Monetary Management & Financial InterMediation: A Good year
Introduction
● The chapter provides an introduction to the most recent government's monetary policies, financial management through
monetary policies during the Covid-19 period, liquidity conditions of various economic sectors, the transmission of
monetary policy and the role of banks in credit issuance, credit growth in India, NBFCs and their performance after Covid-19,
the role of the insolvency and bankruptcy code in easy resolvency of Startup's in India, the significance of IFSC-GIFT CITY, and
the development of the internet.
Monetary developments
● Commodity prices skyrocketed due to the European conflict, dramatically escalating the high inflationary pressures. This
trend has set off the present strong and synchronous monetary tightening cycle.
● After executing a 115 basis point (bps) drop between March 2020 and May 2020, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept
the status quo on the policy repo rate between May 2020 and February 2022.
● As the new floor of the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) corridor, the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) replaced the reverse
repo rate at 3.75 percent. The reverse repo rate was replaced as the new floor of the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) corridor
by the SDF, which was launched at a rate of 3.75 percent.
● The policy repo rate, the SDF, and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) were all raised by 40 basis points (bps) apiece,
and the Cash Reserve Ratio was raised by 50 bps (CRR).
242
● M0, the reserve currency, climbed by 10.3% percent as of December 30, 2022, compared to last year, when it increased
by 13%. However, the reserve money reported a YoY growth of 7.8 percent as opposed to 9.1 percent a year after being
adjusted for the first-round impact of modifications in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR).
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● Except for a slight uptick during the start of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, which can be attributed to a spike in precautionary
holdings, Currency in Circulation (CIC) growth has remained constant at levels recorded after COVID-19.
● Broad money stock (M3) grew 8.7% as of December 30, 2022. When looking at the components, aggregate deposits have
been the biggest factor and have been mainly responsible for the growth of M3 this year.
● The money multiplier, or the ratio of M3 to M0, has largely remained consistent at 5.1 from April to December 2022,
down from 5.2 over the same time period in 2017.
Liquidity conditions
● The Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) corridor became symmetric around the policy repo rate when the Marginal Standing
Facility (MSF) rate was maintained at 25 bps above the policy repo rate; the corridor width was subsequently restored to 50
bps, the situation that existed prior to the pandemic. Primary liquidity of Rs. 87,000 crores was removed from the banking
system due to the RBI's decision to increase the CRR by 50 bps.
● Liquidity management by RBI: With two-way operations, the Reserve Bank maintained its flexibility and agility in managing
liquidity. With two variable rate repo (VRR) auctions of 50,000 crores each, it injected cash to ease temporary liquidity tightness.
The weighted average call rate (WACR), the operating aim of monetary policy, moved steadily closer to the policy repo rate
as surplus liquidity was gradually removed.
Monetary policy transmission
● External benchmark-based lending rate and the 1-year median marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) grew by 225
basis points and 115 basis points, respectively, during FY23 (up to December 2022). According to an analysis of transmission
across bank groups during FY23 (up to November 2022), public sector banks experienced a greater increase in the weighted
average lending rate (WALR) on new loans, while private banks experienced a greater increase in the WADTDR on outstanding
deposits and the WALR on outstanding loans.
Development in G- sec markets
● The yield on the 10-year government bond increased in 2022 after holding constant in 2020 and 2021. After reaching a peak
of 7.5 percent in June 2022, the 10-year government bond's monthly average yield was 7.3 percent in December 2022. In the
second half of 2022, volatility also decreased along with the easing of yields.
● The trade volume in G-Secs (including T-Bills and SDLs) increased 6.3 percent in Q2 FY23 to a two-year high.
● Secondary Market: Foreign banks and principal dealers were net sellers on a comparative basis. On the other hand, in the
secondary market, net buyers included public sector banks, cooperative banks, financial institutions, insurance companies,
mutual funds, private sector banks, and "others."
Banking sector
● Resilient and well-capitalized Banking System: Over time, SCBs' asset quality has increased consistently across all significant
industries. At 1.3 percent of total assets, Net Non-Performing Assets (NNPA) have reached a ten-year low. Fewer slippages
brought on this decrease, and the decline in outstanding GNPAs brought on by recoveries, upgrades, and write-offs. A
decrease in NNPA was caused by lower GNPAs and excessive provisions amassed in recent years.
● The Provisioning Coverage Ratio (PCR), which has been rising continuously since March 2021 due to falling GNPAs, reached
71.6 percent in September 2022. Even with the 11.5 percent Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB) rule, it is still far above the
minimum capital needed.
● Regarding Return on Equity (ROE) and Return on Assets (ROA), SCB profitability increased to levels last seen in FY15.
Profit After Tax (PAT) increased by a system-wide double-digit 40.7 percent in the quarter ending September 2022, driven by
a robust rise in Net Interest Income (NII) and a sizable provision reduction. According to RBI's macro-stress tests for credit
risk, all banks can meet the minimum capital requirements even in challenging stress situations because SCBs are well-
capitalized.
Credit growth is aided by a strong banking system and a deleveraged corporate sector.
● From June 2021, the growth of non-food bank loans has been supported by the improvement in the financial soundness of
banks and corporations and the rebound in economic activity in FY22. In December 2022, the growth in non-food bank credit
quickened to 15.3 percent.
● The government's greater agricultural credit objective and concessional institutional credit policy helped loans to agriculture
and related activities gain momentum. A rise in credit to MSMEs has boosted industrial credit growth, which has also been
helped by the advantages of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), the government's production-linked
incentive programme, and an increase in capacity utilization.
● During FY23, reliance on bank borrowing for supporting ongoing operations and capacity expansion increased while money
243
raised from the main domestic equity market segment decreased. The incremental credit-deposit ratio also increased
significantly on both an annual and half-yearly basis.
Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) continue to recover.
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● The dropping GNPA ratio of NBFCs from the peak of 7.2 per cent recorded during the second wave of the pandemic (June
2021) to 5.9 per cent in September 2022, approaching the pre-pandemic level, demonstrates the ongoing improvement in
asset quality.
● The capital position of NBFCs also remains strong in the face of the drop in GNPAs, with a CRAR of 27.4 percent at the end of
September 2022, just a hair lower than the 27.6 per cent in March 2022. It continues to be far above the legal requirement,
nevertheless. The rise in risk-weighted assets (RWAs) as lending increased was the main cause of the drop of 20 basis points.
● The quantity of credit given by NBFCs is increasing, with a total outstanding balance of 31.5 lakh crore as of September 2022.
The industrial sector continues to get the highest amount of credit from NBFCs' balance sheets, followed by the retail, service,
and agricultural sectors.
Progress made under the insolvency and bankruptcy code
● Ease of doing business: Facilitating the "exit" process: By the end of September 2022, 5,893 Corporate Insolvency Resolution
Processes (CIRPs) had started, of which 67 per cent had been completed since the IBC's establishment in December 2016. A
Corporate Debtor (CD) may also choose to liquidate itself voluntarily under the terms of the Code, provided that specific
requirements are met.
● Behavioural change: Recoding Business Relationships: Many debtors have been pushed to pay their debts even before the
start of insolvency procedures out of a concern of losing control of the CD upon the start of CIRP.
● Sixty-nine per cent of the distressed assets were rescued, realization value of around 178 per cent of the liquidation value:
The resolution plans realized a total of 2.4 lakh crore for the CIRP initiators (which comprises Financial Creditors, Operational
Creditors, and Corporate Debtors), which is 177.6 percent of the liquidation value and 841 percent of the fair value of the 553
CDs saved.
● Ninety-two percent of the value realized under the liquidation Process: For the CIRP initiators (financial creditors,
operational creditors, and corporate debtors), the resolution plans generated total proceeds of 2.4 lakh crore, or 177.6 percent
of the liquidation value
and 841 percent of the
fair value of the 553 CDs
preserved.
● NPAs: IBC recovers the
highest amount for
Scheduled Commercial
Banks: According to
data from the RBI, SCBs
under IBC recovered the
most money overall in FY 22 when compared to other channels like Lok Adalats, the SARFAESI Act, and DRTs.
Primary market
● Debt: Private debt placements more than makeup for the lack of public debt issuances: The primary market's resource
mobilization grew by 5% as a result of the issue of debt securities. The overall number of concerns grew by 11% during the
same time period. Nonetheless, private debt placements more than made up for the lack of activity in governmental debt
issuances. When compared to the same period in the previous year, the number of private debt placements climbed by 11%
and the number of resources mobilised by 6%.
Secondary market
● Stock Market Performance: India's stock market has performed well despite the geopolitical unrest that gripped the world
in April–December 2022. The blue-chip index Nifty 50 of the Indian stock market, on the other hand, registered a return of 3.7
percent during the same period. The Sensex closed 3.9 percent higher at the end of December 2022 than it had on March 31,
2022.
● Stock market volatility rose due to the post-Russia-Ukraine crisis supply chain disruption and heightened geopolitical
uncertainty. With the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the India VIX, which gauges anticipated short-term volatility in the
stock market, reached a high of 32.0 on February 24, 2022. The India VIX experienced a falling trend from April to November
2022 as the conflict's effects began to lessen throughout the year.
● Retail Participation in the Capital Market: Compared to the same period in FY22, the percentage of individual investors in
the cash segment somewhat decreased during FY23 (April-November 2022). On a year-over-year basis, demat accounts
increased significantly, jumping by 39% at the end of November 2022.
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● Commodity Derivatives Market: severe correction due to the Fed's tightening of credit: The conflict between Russia and
Ukraine caused disruptions in the supply of commodities, particularly those related to energy, base metals, and food. As a
result, there was a dramatic increase in the price of crude oil and some base metals like nickel and aluminum. Nevertheless,
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commodities prices have significantly improved since the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in March 2022 to fight
growing inflation.
● Mutual Funds witnessed lower net inflows: Net inflows to mutual funds were much lower than the previous year.
Nevertheless, specific growth/equity-oriented and solution-oriented schemes saw inflows much greater than they had been
the year before during the same period. Despite this, the market's performance led to a growth in assets under management
(AuM) of 8.1 percent for the mutual fund sector at the end of November 2022.
Foreign portfolio investment
● Macroeconomic solid fundamentals ensure India remains an attractive destination: FPIs were under pressure to sell in Indian
markets due to global economic reasons such as inflationary pressures, monetary tightening by central banks, and recessionary
fears in Advanced Economies. Also, investors had gained from Indian stock holdings that they might sell to offset losses
elsewhere. Compared to November 2021, the total assets under custody with FPIs increased by 3.4% at the end of November
2022.
● At the end of December 2022, the total net investments by Foreign Portfolio Investors for FY23 had decreased to 16,153 crores
from 5,578 crores at the end of December 2021. Net FPI outflows were seen in both the debt and equities sectors.
● In recent years, investments made by domestic institutional investors (DIIs) countered FPI outflows, making the Indian equity
market substantially less vulnerable to sharp declines. During FY23, mutual funds made net equity investments and net DII
inflows (until November 2022).
Other developments
● The necessity of a common approach to regulating the crypto ecosystem: The recent failure of the cryptocurrency exchange
FTX and the subsequent sell-off in the crypto markets have highlighted the need for more in the ecosystem for
cryptocurrencies. Because they lack any underlying cash flows, crypto-assets do not meet the criteria for being considered
financial assets. Instead, they are self-referential instruments. Bitcoin, Ether, and a number of other crypto assets are no longer
considered securities by US regulators. On January 3, 2023, the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(FDIC), and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a rare joint statement outlining their concerns about
the potential hazards crypto assets pose to the financial system.
IFSC- GIFT CITY
● The most crucial is creating and launching GIFT City's first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). The objective is to
help India become a significant economic force by hastening the establishment of a solid international financial services sector
there.
GIFT IFSC - emerging as a preferred Jurisdiction for International financial services
● A broad range of financial services, including banks, capital markets, insurance, fintech, aircraft leasing, gold exchanges, etc.,
are covered by the more than 390 registered organisations under the GIFT IFSC. With the strong and expanding participation
of both domestic and international financial institutions, the market for financial services is expanding quickly. You can think
of GIFT IFSC's significance as :
○ Recent developments/milestones/innovations/collaborations with other countries.
○ Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU)
○ Bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (BMoU)
○ FinTech bridge with the Monetary Authority of Singapore
○ NSE IFSC -SGX Connect
○ Visibility and Mindshare Among FinTechs globally
○ Cooperation agreement between India INX and Luxembourg Stock Exchange
○ IFSCA Vision for FY24 and beyond
PENSION SECTOR
● India’s Pension Sector demonstrated remarkable performance during Covid-19: The Indian government has proposed a
number of initiatives to pay pensions to families that have lost earning members as a result of Covid. Moreover, it made efforts
to improve and liberalize insurance compensation. Even individuals who lost earning members as a result of Covid-19 are now
eligible for the benefits of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) pension plan. Also improved and liberalised
were the insurance benefits offered by the Employees Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) programme.
● Almost three crore elderly, widowed, and crippled people in need (over the age of 60) received $1,000 in ex-gratia payments
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from April to June 2020. In light of the unprecedented pandemic, Rule 64 of the CCS (Pension) Regulations, 1972 was relaxed
to ensure prompt provisional approval of pensionary payments.
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● An Electronic Pension Payment Order (e-PPO) was merged with Digi Locker, generating a permanent PPO record in the
Digi Locker, to improve the "Ease of Living" for Central Government Civil Pensioners.
● Under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), the Government of India is implementing a number of pension
programmes, including the Indira Gandhi NationalOld Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow
Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), with a total beneficiary
coverage of 4.7 crores.
● The principal defined benefit pay-as-you-go pension system for government employees, the National Pension System
(NPS), was established in January 2004. A defined contribution plan with government co-contribution is the NPS for
government employees.
● APY was launched by the government in June 2015 as a component of the overall goal of supplying universal social security.
The programme is open to everyone between the ages of 18 and 40, with a focus on disadvantaged, disorganized, and low-
income individuals.
● PFRDA has made a number of efforts to improve financial education under the direction of the Financial Stability and
Development Council (FSDC), so that consumers can make informed decisions and take advantage of the formal financial
sector while being aware of the risks and different trade-offs involved. They include outreach initiatives through trade
associations, intermediaries like banks, and town hall meetings, as well as pension education through print and electronic
media.
OUTLOOK
● The substantial growth in the AuM of domestic mutual funds, the excellent capital levels of NBFCs, and the sound balance
sheets of banks all demonstrate the robustness of the domestic financial sector. The improvement in asset quality, the return
to profitability, and the robust capital and liquidity buffers are contributing to the brisk demand for bank lending and the early
indications of a recovery in the investment cycle.
● By 2032, India, one of the insurance markets with the fastest growth worldwide, is anticipated to rank among the top six. A
greater flow of long-term capital, a global technology, processes, and international best practices are likely to be made
possible by the digitization of the Indian insurance market and an increase in the FDI limit for insurance companies, which will
support the expansion of the Indian insurance industry.
CHAPTER-5 PRICES AND INFLATION: SUCCESSFUL TIGHT-ROPE WALKING

● Policymakers are constantly concerned about rising costs because they primarily affect the average person.
● Inflation's dangers are felt more acutely in developing economies, where essentials comprise a larger portion of the
consumption basket than in wealthy nations.
● India's inflation rate has been calm in recent years, mildly under the RBI goal range of 4% from 2017 to 2019.
● The RBI's upper tolerance level of 6 per cent for inflation was exceeded in 2020 due to supply-side disturbances.
● Through supply-chain interruptions for necessities like food, medicine, and industrial items, the pandemic caused a greater
shock to the supply than it did to the demand.
● This, in turn, made the country's cost-push inflation worse.
● As the pandemic receded, the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted, sparking global inflation mostly driven by rising crude oil and
other commodity prices.
● Prices rose to a decade-high level, eating into household budgets and forcing central banks to tighten monetary policy.
● Unprecedented inflation rates were left to confront a recovering global economy.
● Stagflation was looming large on the horizon.
● The only choice for industrialized economies to respond to was to hike interest rates.
● The US currency strengthened as the US Federal Reserve increased interest rates, increasing the cost of petroleum imports
priced in US dollars.
● The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the inflation rate in advanced economies to reach 7.2 percent in 2022, the
highest level since 1982, up from 3.1 percent in 2021.
● In September 2022, the rate in the Eurozone hit 10%. (WEO, October 20221 ).
● While the UK experienced an annual price increase of 9.2 percent in December 2022, US inflation hit its 40-year high of 9.1
percent in June 2022 before slowing to 6.5 percent in December 2022.
● In December 2022, there was 8.6 percent inflation in Germany.
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● From August through November 2022, Turkey's inflation rate was above 80%, which marginally decreased to 64.3% in
December 2022.
● The war exacerbated the impacts of the pandemic's robust recovery in consumer demand for goods and services.
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● By 2022, the inflation rate in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) is expected to rise from 5.9 percent in
2021 to 9.9 percent (WEO, October 2022).
Record consumer price inflation in the 2022 calendar year
● The sensible and well-calibrated fiscal and monetary policies used to combat the pandemic's economic effects lay the
framework for India's remarkable inflation management previously.
● India opted not to overstimulate, allowing for the containment of price pressures brought on by the crisis between Russia and
Ukraine.
● The country's excessive summer heat and subsequent unequal rainfall in some areas impacted the farm industry, which
reduced supplies and raised the price of some key goods.
● India's inflation rate peaked in April 2022 at 7.8 percent before moderating to 5.7 percent in December 2022 on the
back of good monsoons and prompt government measures that ensured adequate food supply.
● Commodity prices fell due to the global economic recession and an increase in interest rates, which also helped
significantly lower wholesale price inflation.
● Pressures on input prices for Indian industries decreased as a result.
● Core inflation- It reflects the shift in prices for goods and services but excludes the food and
energy industries. These items aren't included in the inflation metric since their costs fluctuate a
lot more.
Core inflation=headline inflation- food and fuel inflation
● Headline inflation- A country's overall inflation rate is known as headline inflation. The headline
inflation rate accounts for inflation across a variety of goods, such as energy and food
commodities. It differs from core inflation, which computes inflation without accounting for the
cost of food and energy.
Domestic retail inflation-

● In comparison to FY21, CPI-Combined (CPI-C) based retail inflation was lower in FY22.
● A few sub-groups, including "oils & fats," "fuel & light," and "transport & communication," experienced considerable inflation
during FY22. There are two reasons behind this-Supply disruptions caused by the pandemic and headline inflation caused by
the Russia Ukraine crisis.
● While core inflation remained at a low level in FY23, rising food inflation was primarily responsible for greater retail inflation.
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● Food inflation ranged between 4.2 percent to 8.6 percent, between April and December 2022, while the core inflation rate
stayed at around 6 percent except in April 2022."
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Retail inflation driven by food commodities-
● The housing, textiles, pharmaceutical, agriculture and related, and retail industries are mostly to blame for retail price inflation.
● The main drivers of headline inflation in FY23 were "food & beverages," "clothing & footwear," and "fuel & light," with
the first two contributing more this fiscal year than last.
● Food Inflation Caused by Vegetables and Cereals in FY23:-
● Based on the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), food inflation climbed to 7.0 percent in FY23 from 3.8 percent in
FY22.
● The government has banned the export of wheat goods under HS Code 1101 and slapped an export fee on rice to
rein in the skyrocketing costs of wheat and rice.
Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan ann yojana-
● Due to a shortage in worldwide supply and an
Some initiatives to combat food inflation-
increase in export taxes imposed by several
● The Central Government made the decision to offer States and
nations, the price of edible oils increased
UTs 1.5 million tonnes of Chana at a reduced price for
dramatically on the international market in FY22.
distribution under various social programs. The states would
● India imports 60 per cent of the edible oils it
be able to buy Chana for $8 less per kg than their individual
needs, making it susceptible to changes in global
issue rates.
prices. India imports 60 per cent of the edible oils
● Leading Edible Oil Associations were ordered by the Central
it needs, making it susceptible to changes in
Government to ensure that the maximum retail price of edible
global prices.
oils was reduced by '15 per litre with immediate effect.
Rural-Urban Inflation Differential has Declined:-
○ The current fiscal year has seen rural inflation remain higher than urban inflation, reversing the trend from the
epidemic years.
● Rural inflation is generally higher than urban inflation in most states and UTs:
○ In most states, CPI-C inflation rose in FY23 compared to FY22.
Domestic wholesale price inflation-

● Wholesale Price Inflation Caused by Global Supply Chain Disruption: - WPI-based inflation remained low during the
Covid-19 period, and it started to gain momentum in the post-pandemic period as economic activities resumed.
● Part of the double-digit inflation in WPI during FY23 could be attributed to food inflation, which stayed at 7.5 percent
against 6.8 percent in FY22. Due to the unpredictable weather, cereals and vegetables were the main causes of food
inflation. Inflation in the ‘manufactured products’ subgroup in FY23 saw a considerable decline compared to the previous
year due to the rationalization of duties on critical inputs and moderation in global commodity prices.
● Core inflation in FY23 remained lower than it was in FY22.
● The high import dependence on edible oil has meant that the transitory effect of rising international prices of these products
is also reflected in domestic prices.
Measures to Contain Inflation in Input prices-

● Fuel Prices: The Central Government has intervened by adjusting the excise taxes on gasoline and diesel
● Plastic products: The import duty on the import of raw materials used in the plastic industry has been reduced to lower
the cost of domestic manufacturing.
● Steel: Import duty on major inputs – ferronickel, cooking coal, PCI coal – has been cut from 2.5 percent to zero, while the
duty on coke and semi-coke has been slashed from 5 percent to zero.
● Cotton: The government waived customs duty on cotton imports until 30 September 2022, to benefit the textile industry
and lower prices for consumers.
● Diamonds and gemstones: customs duty on cut and polished diamonds and gemstones were reduced to 5 percent and
duty on the simply sawn diamond was reduced to nil.
● Chemical products: Customs duty on certain critical chemicals namely methanol, acetic acid, and heavy feedstocks for
petroleum refining were reduced in the Budget 2022-23.
Fuel price inflation: declining global crude oil prices -

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● In FY22 and FY23, inflation in WPI ‘fuel and power’ was mostly driven by high international crude oil prices.
● The price of the Indian basket of crude oil during FY21 hovered in the range of US$20-65/bbl in response to the muted global
demand brought on by Covid-19-induced constraints.
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● Following that, prices began to soar as a result of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other
oil-producing nations' extraordinary cuts to the supply of crude oil.
● Additionally, a decrease in the central excise duty on gasoline and diesel in November 2021 and May 2022, along with a
subsequent decrease in the value-added tax (VAT) levied by the State Governments, moderated the retail selling price of
gasoline and diesel in India.
Convergence of WPI and CPI inflation-
● The convergence between the WPI and CPI indices was mainly driven by two factors.-
○ Firstly, a cooling in inflation of commodities such as crude oil, iron, aluminum, and cotton led to a lower WPI.
○ Second, a rise in the cost of goods and services contributed to CPI inflation. Although they are not part of the WPI
basket, services are a major component of the CPI-C.
Falling of Inflationary expectations-
● Businesses and household inflation expectations too have moderated.
Monetary policy measures for price stability-
● Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) increased the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility
(LAF) by 2.25 percent (225 basis points) from 4.0 percent to 6.25 percent between May and December 2022.
● How is the Current Inflation Different from the 1970s?
○ Recent oil price rises are proportionally smaller. Commodity supply disruptions have played a smaller role in recent
price increases, and central banks have much clearer and more robust institutional frameworks that focus on price
stability today.However, the Bretton Woods controlled exchange rate regime collapsed in 1973 immediately after the
crisis because many nations' definitions of monetary policy's objectives and even its tools were vague.
Housing prices: recovering housing sector after the pandemic-
● In order to achieve the goals of price stability, financial stability, and growth, housing prices must be closely monitored.
With FY18 serving as the base year, the National Housing Bank (NHB) releases two Housing Price Indices (HPI), referred to as
"HPI evaluation price" and "HPI market price quarterly." Out of the 50 cities, 43 experienced an increase in the index, while 7 saw a
fall. Metros city also showed improvement.
Pharmaceutical sector-
● National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), 2015 NLEM 2022 was promulgated by the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare on September 2022 and and revised Schedule I of Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO) was notified on 11 November
2022 by Department of Pharmaceuticals incorporating NLEM, 2022.
● Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya JanaushadhiPariyojana (PMBJP) was launched to provide everyone with access to high-quality
generic medications at reasonable costs.
Conclusion-
● The CPI-C and WPI have both dropped below 6%.
● The main cause of inflation in this fiscal year, international crude oil prices, have stabilized.
● Similar to what happened during the epidemic, supply chain difficulties could result from the resurgence of Covid-19 in China.
● Our imported inflation may be particularly impacted by the geopolitics surrounding energy.
● Due to supply limitations, the RBI predicts that domestic prices for spices and grains would increase in the near future. Due to
supply limitations, the RBI predicts that domestic prices for spices and grains would increase in the near future.
● The monetary and fiscal authorities should continue to be as attentive and watchful as they have been this year in the coming
year.
CHAPTER: 6 Social Infrastructure & Employment

Introduction-
● India will reward itself with demographic dividends in its Amrit Kaal for 25 years. Quality employment opportunities and
working conditions are crucial tools to carve this potential into long-term sustainable growth.
● In the Financial Year 2023, various dimensions of the social sector are recouping lost grounds and reenergizing to meet the
vision of "sab ka sath, sab ka vikas and sabka Vishwas".
Social sector expenditure-
● Public Sector Spending Maintaining Pace with the Sector's Growing Importance.
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● Between FY18 and FY20, the government's overall spending on social services accounted for almost 25% of all expenditures.
In FY23, it rose to 26.6 percent (BE).
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● From 21% in FY19 to 26% in FY23, health spending as a percentage of overall social services spending has increased.
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● Keeping with the objective of the 15th Finance Commission to increase health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, Central
and State Governments' budgeted expenditure on the health sector reached 2.1 percent of GDP in FY23 (BE) and 2.2 percent
in FY22 (RE), against 1.6 percent in FY21.
Improving human development parameters-
● According to the UNDP report, 90 percent of countries have registered a reduction in their Human Development Index (HDI)
value in 2020 or 2021, indicating that human development worldwide has stalled for the first time in 32 years.
● The 2021/2022 HDI report placed India at 132 out of 191 countries and territories.
● On the parameter of gender inequality, India's Gender Inequality Index (GII) 9 value is 0.490 in 2021 and is ranked 122. This
rating is higher than that of South Asia.
UNDP multidimensional poverty Index for India

16.4 percent of the population in India (228.9 million people in 2020) is multidimensional poor, while an additional 18.7 percent is
classified as vulnerable to multidimensional poverty (260.9 million people in 2020).
India has a 42 percent intensity of deprivation, which is the average deprivation score among those who experience multidimensional
poverty.
Transformation of aspirational district program-

● The Government of India launched the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ (Identified 117 Aspirational Districts ) initiative
in January 2018 with a vision of a New India by 2022.
Achievements of this program-
● In numerous measures related to the theme of "Health and Nutrition," which is tracked by the programme, many aspirational
districts have outperformed typical state values. For instance, 73 ADs have outperformed state averages in 10 health indices.
● Across all parameters, districts have all seen significant improvements. In the area of health and nutrition, for instance, 46
districts have witnessed improvements of up to 45%. When examining the results of financial inclusion, it was discovered that
aspirational districts outperformed non-aspirational districts.
● According to several aspiring district ADs, fundamental infrastructure measures like the proportion of families with access to
electricity and all-weather roads have reached saturation.
● Template of good Governance: - At present, two programs have been conceptualized along the lines of ADP design, one is
‘Mission Utkarsh’ and the other is the ‘Aspirational Blocks Programme’ (ABP).
Code related to labor reforms-
Labor reforms
● Code on Wages, 2019
● Effective labour laws have been enacted, and technology has been used,
● The Industrial Relations Code, 2020
such as web-based inspection, to enhance accountability and transparency
● The Code on Social Security, 2020,
in enforcement. ● Occupational Safety, Health &
● E-shram portal: Working Conditions Code, 2020
○ The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) has developed
eShram portal for creating a first-ever National database of unorganized workers, which is verified with Aadhaar.
○ For seamless service facilitation, the NCS portal and ASEEM portal are currently connected to the e-Shram portal.
Aadhaar: the many achievements of the unique identity-

● Aadhaar – Usage in DBT: The number is sufficient to transfer any payment to an individual’s bank account through Aadhaar
Payment Bridge (APB).
● Aadhaar Enabled Payment Systems (AEPS): This has immensely facilitated providing door-step banking services and helped
mitigate the hardships of the people due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
● JAM (Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile) trinity, has helped marginalized groups of society access the formal financial system
through the power of DBT.
● One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Scheme: Free distribution of food grains under ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana’
(PMGKY) has greatly mitigated the Covid pandemic’s impact.
● PM Kisan Samman Nidhi: Improving Employment Trends.
Improving employment trends-
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● Labour markets have recovered beyond pre-COVID levels, in both urban and rural areas with unemployment rates both falling
from 5.8% in 2018-19 to 4.2% in 2020-21 and a noticeable rise in rural FLFPR from 19.7% in 2018-19 to 27.7% in 2020-21.
● According to ASI 2019–20 figures, employment in the organized manufacturing sector has also increased over time.
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Role of SHGs in women empowerment-
● India has around 1.2 crore SHGs, 88 percent being all-women SHGs. Kudumbashree in Kerala, Jeevika in Bihar, MahilaArthik
Vikas Mahila Mandal in Maharashtra, and most recently Looms of Ladakh are examples of successful organizations.
● Impact of SHGs: Women's economic SHGs have a favorable, statistically significant impact on the economic, social, and
political empowerment of women. These favorable effects on empowerment can be attained in a variety of ways.
● Quarterly PLFS for urban areas:- The labor participation rate increased to 47.9 percent in July-September 2022 from 46.9
percent a year ago, while the worker-population ratio strengthened from 42.3 percent to 44.5 percent in the same period.
Formal employment-
● Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY), launched in October 2020- total registration under the scheme is 75.1 lakh,
and total benefits of `8,210 crores have been given to 60.2 lakh beneficiaries through 1.5 lakh establishments till now.
● Demand for work under MGNREGS:- From July to November 2022, it was observed that the number of people requesting
employment via MGNREGS was roughly heading towards pre-pandemic levels.
National career service projects-

● In July 2015, the "National Career Service (NCS)" project was introduced as a one-stop shop offering a variety of
employment and career-related services. It aims to close the gap between job seekers and companies, as well as
between those looking for training and career counselling and the organisations that offer those services.
● National Career Service Project:- More than 9,100 job fairs have been held as part of the Project, which has registered 2.8
crore job seekers and 6.8 lakh companies. Additionally, 2.5 lakh active vacancies and 1.2 crore total vacancies have been
mobilised.
Ensuring a quality education for all-
● The nation's first education policy for the twenty-first century, NEP 2020, was established with the intention of addressing the
nation's numerous and pressing developmental needs.
● In order to provide inclusive and equitable quality education at all stages of schooling, Samagra Shiksha was launched in
2018 as an umbrella initiative for the school education sector, stretching from preschool to class XII.
● Gross Enrolment Ratios (GER) in schools and gender parity both improved in the FY22. GER for both boys and girls in
classes I to V as a percentage of the population between the ages of 6 and 10 years has increased in FY22.
● School Dropout: In recent years, there has been a steady fall in all levels of school dropout rates. Both boys and girls are
experiencing a drop.
● School Infrastructure: The education infrastructure in the form of schools, amenities, and digitalization has been steadily
promoted along with a focus on pedagogy.
● Further, the availability of teachers, measured by pupil-teacher ratio, an indicator that is inversely related to improvement in
the quality of education, has improved at all levels continuously from FY13 to FY22.
● PM Schools for Rising India:. These schools will have cutting-edge facilities, demonstrate how the NEP is being implemented,
and eventually become models for other schools in the area as they take on leadership roles. In accordance with the plan, it
is possible to establish more than 14,500 PM SHRI Schools between FY23 and FY27 by enhancing the current institutions run
by the federal, state, municipal, or UT governments
● The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for Foundational Stage:- The new 5+3+3+4 curricular structure known as NCF
for Foundational Stage has been introduced, integrating early childhood care and education for all kids between the ages of
3 and 8.
● Pilot project of Balvatika: For pupils in the age ranges of 3+, 4+, and 5+ years, there is a focus on developing cognitive,
emotional, and psychomotor abilities as well as early reading and numeracy.
● Toy-based pedagogy: To encourage the inclusion of indigenous toys and their pedagogy in the curricula of school education,
early childhood care and education, and teacher preparation, a guidebook for Toy-based pedagogy has been created.
● Screening tools (Mobile App) for specific learning disabilities:A mobile app for disability screening called PRASHAST has
been released; it covers 21 impairments, including the benchmark impairments listed in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Act of 2016.
● National Credit Framework (NCrF): By incorporating the National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF),
National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), and National School Education Qualification Framework, the NCrF is an
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umbrella framework for skilling, re-skilling, up-skilling, accreditation, and evaluation, seamlessly integrating the credits earned
through school education, higher education, and vocational and skill education (NSEQF).
● Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS): Over the course of five years, the STARS Project will be
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implemented as a CSS in six states: Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Kerala
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● Vidyanjali (A School Volunteer Initiative): Through community, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and private sector
involvement, the country's schools are to be strengthened and the quality of education it provides improved.
● Samagra Shiksha Scheme: A CSS of Samagra Shiksha of the Department of School Education and Literacy is an overarching
program for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class XII.
HIGHER EDUCATION-
Initiatives for higher education-
● Research & Development Cell (RDC) in Higher Education Institutions (HEI):- The University Grants Commission (UGC)
initiated an initiative to create an RDC in HEIs with the goal of fostering high-quality research that significantly advances the
objective of an independent India, in line with NEP 2020's guidelines.
● Guidelines for pursuing two academic programs simultaneously: The UGC, in April 2022, issued Guidelines to allow
students to pursue two academic programs simultaneously keeping in view the objectives envisaged in NEP 2020.
Akhil bharatiyashikshasamagam
The Ministry of Education hosted a three-day Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam at Varanasi on July 7-9, 2022, in collaboration
with the UGC and Banaras Hindu University.
Equipping the workforce with employable skills and knowledge in mission mode-
● By creating a framework for technical and vocational education, upgrading existing skills, developing new ones, and
encouraging creative thinking for both current and future occupations, skill development aims to close the gap between the
demand for and supply of skilled labor.
Skill india mission-
● Under the Mission, the government is putting various skill development programs into place all around the nation through
more than 20 Central Ministries/Departments.
Quality and affordable health for all
● As part of the National Health Mission, the Government has made a deliberate effort to interact with all significant sectors and
stakeholders in order to promote the objectives of achieving universal health coverage and provide high-quality healthcare
services to everyone at affordable prices.
Health expenditure estimates- Rural healthcare- strengthening of infrastructure and
● The social security expenditure on health, which includes the human resources
social health insurance program, government-financed
health insurance scheme, and medical reimbursements
made to government employees, has increased from 6
percent in FY14 to 9.6 percent in FY19.
Progress under major government initiatives for health-
● eSanjeevani: It is a cutting-edge, indigenous, affordable,
and integrated cloud-based telemedicine system
application that enables patient-to-doctor teleconsultation
to guarantee a continuum of care and facilitate health
services to all residents in the comfort of their homes, at no
cost.
● Progress under Ayushman Bharat:- 3 crore beneficiaries
are among the 21.9 crore beneficiaries who have had their
eligibility for the program verified.
● Deworming: a low-cost high-returns intervention.
National COVID-19 vaccination programme-
● India's national COVID-19 Vaccination program, which is the
world's largest vaccination program, began on 16th January
2021, initially with the aim of covering the adult population
of the country in the shortest possible time.
Social protection for the rainy day-
● Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJY), PM Street Vendor’s
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Atmanirbhar Nidhi Scheme (PM SVANidhi) etc.

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● Development of India’s Aspiring Rural
Economy :- It presently stands at 65
percent for 2021. Furthermore,
agriculture provides a living for 47% of
the people. Therefore, it is crucial that the
government concentrate on rural
development.
● Enhancing rural income- Deendayal
Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural
Livelihood Mission (DAYNRLM) - The
cornerstone of the Mission is its
‘community-driven’ approach which has
provided a huge platform in the form of
community institutions for women
empowerment. At the centre of the
programme are rural women
Deendayalupadhyayagrameenkaushal yojana
● A placement-linked skill development
programme called DDU-GKY is offered
by the NRLM to rurally disadvantaged
children.
● Rural housing: by 2024, all eligible
houseless households residing in kutcha and dilapidated dwellings in rural areas will receive around 3 crore pucca houses with
essential amenities.
Drinking water and sanitation-
● Jal Jeevan Mission: Since the launch of the Mission, 19.4 crore rural households, 11.0 crore households are getting tap water
supply in their homes.
● More than 1.5 lakh villages and Gram Panchayats have also been renamed as "Har Ghar Jal Block," "Har Ghar Jal
Panchayat," and "Har Ghar Jal Gaon," respectively.
● Jal Jeevan Mission as an instrument of public health: With the availability of safe and potable drinking water at the doorstep
of every rural household, water-borne diseases have drastically reduced from 1.8 crore in 2019 to 59.0 lakh in 2021, as per
data from Directorate General of Health Services, M/o Health and Family Welfare "
● Mission Amrit Sarovar- was started on 24 April 2022, National Panchayati Raj Day, with the intention of conserving water for
the future. In each district of the nation, 75 water bodies are to be improved and revitalised as part of the mission for this
Amrit Varsh, the 75th year of independence..
● JALDOOT App- On September 27, 2022, the JALDOOT app was introduced to measure the water level in a Gram Panchayat
using a few carefully chosen open wells twice a year (pre- and post-monsoon).
LPG Connection-
● 1.6 crore connections have been made available through this Ujjwala 2.0 scheme until November 24, 2022..
● Rural connectivity:-
○ Pradhanmantri Gram SadakYojna: Since its start, a total of 10,383 Long Span Bridges (LSBs) and 1,84,984 roads
totaling 8,01,838 km have been approved under all of PMGSY's interventions and verticals.
Electricity-
● On March 31, 2022, the Saubhagya project was successfully finished and shut down.
● Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)- Since the start of the Saubhagya period in October 2017, 2.9 crore
households have been electrified overall through a variety of programs, including DDUGJY and Saubhgaya.
Direct benefit transfer: a game changer
● Over 26.5 lakh crore in total transfers for Central Schemes have been done through the DBT channel since the beginning of
the DBT. Due to the removal of 9.4 crore duplicate, false, or nonexistent beneficiaries from databases during this procedure,
total savings of more than '2.2 lakh crore have been realized as of 31 March 2021 for Central programs alone.
Enhancing rural convergence for inclusive growth
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● Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan- The plan was updated and given the go-ahead in April 2022 for implementation from FY23
to FY26. The focus of the scheme of Revamped RGSA is on reimagining PRIs as vibrant centers of local self-governance with
a special focus on the Localisation of SDGs (LSDGs) at the grassroots level.
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Conclusion-
● Future advancements will hold the key to achieving more equal economic growth with the idea of "Minimum Government;
Maximum Governance." The obvious ones include strengthening community workers' contributions to healthcare, improving
learning outcomes through digital and instructional interventions in schools, and supporting SHGs through improved product
design and enterprise upscaling.
CHAPTER 7 Climate Change and Environment: Preparing to Face the Future

Introduction-
● India has combined the development objectives with aggressive climate action goals in addition to other focused government
initiatives. Examples include increased solar power capacity, higher energy saving targeting announced in PAT cycle-VII, and
improved green cover made possible by the Green India Mission.
● The absence of adequate and appropriate financing continues to impede India's efforts to tackle climate change. As of now,
the nation has mostly relied on domestic resources to meet its needs. A crucial component of their climate measures is
financing. In order to achieve its goals for climate action, the nation has increased its attempts to mobilise private financing,
notably through sovereign green bonds. In accordance with the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) Green Bond
Principles, a framework for the latter has been released (2021).
● The greatest danger to humanity is posed by GHG emissions, which are an unavoidable fact for the entire planet. There is an
urgent need for action to cut carbon emissions and adjust to changing climatic circumstances. By 2050, many countries
promise to have zero net emissions. Some want to accomplish it by 2060 or 2070.
● Around 700 million people worldwide are predicted to be at risk of being displaced by drought by the year 2030. (U.N. SDG
Portal).
● High human vulnerability global hotspots are mostly found in West, Central, and East Africa, South Asia, Central, and South
America, Small Island Developing States, and the Arctic, according to the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). Additionally,
the report states that Asia is the region most at risk from climate change, particularly from high heat, flooding, sea level rise,
and variable rainfall.
● Ironically, those who have contributed the least to global warming bear the brunt of the adaptation load.
● Thomas Schelling, a Nobel laureate, suggested in 2005 that allowing countries to expand first would be the best way
to address climate change.
Arguments in support of above view

● Economic growth would enable resource generation. This resource can be used to tackle climate change.
● It is a feasible idea for another reason: it is challenging to obtain funds from rich countries or multilateral organisations.
● Finally, when one considers that developed countries ignored their obsession with climate change and global warming to burn
more coal to produce electricity this year, it does not seem so strange that developing countries must put their own growth
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and development goals ahead of their obligations to the global climate.

● European nations were forced to turn to coal in order to maintain their homes' warmth and lighting in order to lessen their
reliance on Russian crude oil and natural gas. It is clear from the behaviour of European countries in 2022 that energy security
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is once again a top priority for governments. Therefore, it makes sense that developing economies would experience the same
thing.
India's vulnerability to climate changeGiven its extensive coastline, reliance on the monsoon for agriculture, and substantial agrarian
economy, India is regarded as one of the most vulnerable nations.
● India's cumulative contribution to global emissions is under 4% (until 2019), and its per-capita emission is significantly
lower than the global average.
Progress on India’s climate action
● In 2008, India unveiled the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which created eight National Missions to carry
out a number of programmes and initiatives in the areas of solar, water, energy efficiency, forests, sustainable habitat,
sustainable agriculture, maintaining the Himalayan ecosystem, building capacity, and research and development (R&D).
● A central sector programme called the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) was launched in 2015–16 to
provide funding for adaptation efforts in India's States and Union Territories (UTs) that are particularly susceptible to the
negative effects of climate change.
● The Indian government amended its NDC on August 26, 2022, demonstrating increased ambition in its climate efforts.
Status of forest and tree cover

● In the past 15 years, there has been a steady and gradual growth in the amount of forest and trees in India.
● In terms of the net increase in average yearly forest area between 2010 and 2020, the nation is in third place globally.The
Green India Mission (GIM), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), National
Afforestation Programme (NAP), Green Highway Policy - 2015, and others are among the most notable.
Carbon stock in India’s forest and tree cover
● The carbon stock of forests would be around 7,204 million tonnes in 2019, up 79.4 million tonnes from the forecasts for 2017
made by the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR). This is equivalent to the carbon emissions from trees and forests being
stored as 30.1 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
● Arunachal Pradesh has the highest carbon stock in the forest among the Indian states (1023.84 million tonnes), followed by
Madhya Pradesh ( 609.25 million tonnes) Jammu & Kashmir is contributing the most per-hectare carbon stock among the
States/UTs, with 173.41 tonnes, followed by Himachal Pradesh (167.0 tonnes), Sikkim (166.2 tonnes), and the Andaman &
Nicobar Islands (166.2 tonnes) (162.9 tonnes)
Preservation of ecosystem: a critical adaptation action
● India has 75 Ramsar sites covering an area of 13.3 lakh hectare, and 49 of these have been added in last 8 years.
● According to a recent study, by 2070, certain mangrove species in India's east coast Chilika and Sundarbans, west coast Dwarka
and Porbandar are anticipated to decrease and move inland due to a drop in appropriate habitats as a result of precipitation
and sea level changes.
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● To safeguard and preserve mangroves, the government has implemented both legislative and promotional efforts. It is being
done through the National Coastal Mission Programme on "Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs."
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● Regulatory actions are carried out through the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification in accordance with the Environment
(Protection) Act of 1986, the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972, the Indian Forest Act of 1927, the Biological Diversity Act of
2002, and rules made under these acts as they have been amended from time to time (2019).
● According to ISFR 2021, the country's mangrove cover has grown by 364 square kilometers since 2013.
Approach to transition to renewable energy source
● Investments in renewable energy are increasingly being made in India. As per the renewables 2022 global status report,
during the period of 2014- 21, total investment in renewable stood at US $ 78.1 Billion in india.Since 2016, the amount invested
in renewable energy has been at or above 10 billion, with the exception of a decline in 2020 that was probably brought on by
different Covid-19 regulations.
Green hydrogen- a critical source of alternate energy
● The National Green Hydrogen Mission was approved by the government on January 4, 2023, with an initial investment of
19,744 crore. The mission's goals are to make India an energy-independent country and to decarbonize crucial sectors. The
Mission will facilitate demand creation, production, utilization, and export of Green Hydrogen and mobilization of over ₹8 lakh
crore of investment by 2030.
Finance for sustainable development
Green bonds
● India has released the final framework for sovereign green bonds. The Framework has been designed to comply with the
components and the key recommendations of the international capital market association (ICMA) green bond priciple (2021).
● The indicative calendar for the issuance of sovereign green bonds (SrGB) for the fiscal year 2022–2023 has been announced
by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Critical Minerals-Key to Green Transition

Critical mineral requirements are expected to rise dramatically as a result of the transition to a sustainable energy system. This is
due to the significant differences between an energy system fueled by clean energy technology and one fueled by conventional
hydrocarbon resources. For the manufacture of electric vehicles and batteries as well as the capture of solar and wind energy,
cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements (REEs) are essential. Electric vehicles (EVs), wind farms, and solar photovoltaic
(PV) plants all require more minerals than their fossil fuel-based counterparts. An onshore wind project needs nine times more
mineral resources than a gas-fired plant does, whereas a typical electric car needs six times as much as a conventional automobile
does. By technology, several sorts of mineral resources are employed. Battery performance, longevity, and energy density depend
on the presence of lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite. Permanent magnets, which are necessary for EV motors and
wind turbines, depending on REEs. Aluminum and copper are essential for energy networks, with copper serving as the foundation
of all electricity-related technologies. The worldwide supply chain for key minerals is highly concentrated and unevenly distributed,
despite the fact that demand is expected to rise as a result of the global desire for and emphasis on renewable energy. In light of
the increased demand for the resource, its lopsided distribution creates a supply risk.
Investing in Resilience for Sustainable Development

● Since 2012, the top 100 listed companies (ranked by market value) have been subject to mandatory ESG-related disclosures.
SEBI was one of the early adopters of sustainability reporting for listed organisations.
● The requirement has been tightened over time to include the top 500 and subsequently top 1000 businesses.
Major decisions at COP 27-
● Developing countries pushed for the establishment of a separate fund for loss and damage during COP 27. After discussions,
it was determined to create new financial arrangements with a focus on loss and damage to help poor nations that are
especially susceptible to the negative consequences of climate change respond to loss and damage.
India's initiative at the international stage
● International Solar Alliance (ISA)
● Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
● Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT)
Initiatives related to other environmental issues-
● India is the fourth most varied nation in Asia and the eighth most diverse nation overall. It is also rich in fauna, and nearly 62
percent of the recorded amphibian species are endemic to India, which is majorly found in the Western Ghats.
● India is ranked seventh in the world for the origin and diversity of crop plants since it has more than 300 wild species that are
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near cousins of domesticated plants and are naturally thriving there.

● India passed the Biological Diversity Act in 2002 in accordance with the CBD's principles.
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● In order to strengthen and improve coordination and cooperation in the areas of forests, wildlife, environment, biodiversity
conservation, and climate change, including restoration of corridors and interlinking areas and sharing of knowledge and best
practises between the two countries, India and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on biodiversity
conservation in August 2022.
Project Cheetah
The introduction of Cheetahs in India is being done under Project Cheetah, the world’s first intercontinental large wild
carnivore translocation project. The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952. Eight Namibian wild cheetahs were
introduced on September 17, 2022, at Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh, as part of the plan. There are five female and
three male cheetahs out of a total of eight. A lengthy list of actions has been taken to ensure sustainability and environmental
protection, including the historic reintroduction of cheetahs in India. In India, cheetahs can assist in restoring open forest
and grassland environments. To oversee the introduction of the Cheetah, the government has established a Task Force. Two
years are allotted for the Task Force's existence. The Task Force was established primarily to Review, advance, and monitor
the health status of cheetahs; maintain the enclosures used for quarantine and soft release; ensure that the entire area is
protected; ensure that forest and veterinary officials follow the established protocols; and provide guidance on the
introduction of cheetahs to India in terms of general health, behavior, and maintenance.
Wildlife- its protection and preservation

● With 53 Tiger Reserves spread across 18 States and covering an area of over 75,796.8 sq. km, India is home to about 75% of
the world's wild tiger population. India doubled its tiger population in 2018, four years ahead of schedule compared to 2022.
Furthermore, two Tiger Reserves in the nation have achieved the International Tx2 Award, and 17 Tiger Reserves nationwide
have CA|TS international certification.
● Similar to this, there has been a continuous rise in the population of Asiatic Lions.
● The current population estimates indicate about 50,000 – 60,000 Asian elephants worldwide. More than 60 percent of the
population is in India.
Other environmental initiatives taken by india-
● Plastic Waste Management and Elimination of Identified Single-Use Plastics
● The Government published the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022
● The Government notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022
CHAPTER 8: Agriculture & Food Management: From Food Security to Nutritional Security
Introduction-
● The chapter focuses on government interventions to enhance credit availability, facilitate mechanization, and boost
horticulture and organic
farming.
● The agriculture and
related activities sector
made a substantial
contribution to the
general growth and
development of the
nation by guaranteeing
food security thanks to its
strong forward links.
○ Over the past six
years, the
agriculture industry in India has expanded at an average annual growth rate of 4.6 percent. It grew by 3.0 percent in
2021-22 compared to 3.3 percent in 2020-21.
○ India's exports of agricultural and related goods increased by 18% in 2020–21 compared to the previous year.
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○ The value of agricultural exports peaked in 2021–2022 at US$ 50.2 billion.

● This period of buoyancy could be ascribed to the measures taken by the government to promote the farmer-producer
organization, encourage crop diversification, and improve productivity in agriculture throughsupport provided for
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● Additionally, by providing income support to farmers through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) and
encouraging related activities, farmers' revenue streams have been diversified, increasing their resilience to weather shocks.
● Even though Indian agriculture has done well, the industry needs to be refocused in light of a number of issues, including the
negative effects of climate change, fragmented landholdings, inadequate agricultural mechanization, low productivity, covert
unemployment, growing input costs, etc.
Record production of foodgrains-

● According to the fourth advance estimates for 2021–22, food grain and oil seed production has been rising year over year
(YoY).
● Pulses were also produced at a rate that was significantly higher than the average of 23.8 million tonnes over the previous five
years.
● However, changing climate has been impacting agriculture adversely. An early heat wave during the wheat harvesting season
in 2022 had a negative impact on the crop's productivity. Due to the year's delayed monsoons and insufficient rainfall, the
area sown for paddy cultivation also decreased during the Kharif season.
MSP to ensure returns over the cost of production

According to the union budget for 2018–19, Indian farmers would receive MSPs of at least 1.5 times their production costs. Given
nutritional requirements and changing dietary patterns, and to achieve self-sufficiency in pulse and oilseed production, the government
has fixed a relatively higher MSP for pulses and oilseeds.
Enhance access to agricultural credit-
● To enable farmers to buy agricultural goods and services on credit whenever they choose, the Kisan Credit Card Scheme (KCC)
was created in 1998.
● The number of such cards in the fisheries and animal husbandry sector has increased as a result of the Government of India's
extension of the KCC facility to farmers in 2018–19.
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● The Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS), now known as the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS), was established by the
Government of India to offer farmers short-term credit at subsidized interest rates in order to ensure that the farmers pay the
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Farm mechanization- key to improving productivity
● Farm mechanization lowers the cost of cultivation and the labor-intensive nature of many farm operations while increasing
output through the timely and effective utilization of other inputs and natural resources.
● State governments are given assistance as part of the Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) to set up Custom
Hiring Centers, train and demonstrate agricultural machines, and support farmers in purchasing various farm tools and
equipment (CHC).
Chemical-free india: organic and natural farming
● India has the biggest number of organic farmers in the world (44.3 lakh), and by 2021–2022, roughly 59.1 lakh acres
would be used for organic farming.
● Sikkim voluntarily adopted going organic. It achieved complete organic status, becoming the first state in the world to do so.
Tripura and Uttarakhand are two more states that have similar goals.
● The government has been supporting organic farming since 2015 through the development of clusters and Farmer Producer
Organizations (FPOs) under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain
Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) programs. Cluster mode is being used to implement the PKVY
Scheme.
● Zero-Budget Natural Farming was one of the modes of ecological farming that was encouraged when Bhartiya Prakratik
Krishi Paddhati (BPKP), a sub-scheme of PKVY, was introduced in 2019–20 to help farmers adopt traditional indigenous
techniques (ZBNF). The program's main objectives are capacity building, training, support, and on-field natural farming
demonstrations by champion farmers.
Other important initiatives of agriculture-
● PM KISAN Scheme
● Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
● Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
● Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
● National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) Scheme
Climate-smart farming practices

Farmers employing renewable energy sources like solar for irrigation are helping this idea slowly gain traction. Farmers
have received incentives to connect solar-generated electricity to the local grid. Drones and artificial intelligence are being
used in crop yield prediction models to monitor soil and crop health. Crop diversity is made possible through smart
farming, and thus lessens farmers' reliance on the monsoons for water. In India, there are more than 1,000 agritech
startups. These help farmers develop their farming practices.
● The International Year of Millets was established by the United Nations General Assembly during its 75th session in March
2021. (IYM). Millets are nutritious, climate-resilient Smart Foods that support a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs). These are also significant due to their enormous potential to provide livelihood, boost farmer income, and guarantee
global food & nutritional security.
Allied sector: animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries catching up in recent years
● The Committee on Doubling Farmers' Income has recommended a targeted policy with an accompanying support system for
the allied sector in recognition of the growing importance of allied industries. These industries include dairying, livestock,
poultry, fisheries, and horticulture, which are all high-growth engines.
● Since it directly employs more than eight crore farmers, the dairy industry is the most important part of the livestock industry
and the most well-known agrarian product. The value of other livestock products, such as eggs, and meat, is also rising. India
is the world leader in milk production, but it comes in third in egg production and eighth in meat output.
Important initiative in the allied sector-

● The Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)
● National Livestock Mission (NLM)
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● The Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH&DC) Scheme

● National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP)
● Pradhan Mantri MatsyaSampada Yojana (PMMSY)
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● Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)

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Sahakar-se- samriddhi: from cooperation to prosperity

● The cooperative societies offer the rural population with livelihood options and a financial safety net using a community-
based strategy, particularly in the agriculture, dairy, and fisheries sectors. The secret to transforming rural economies lies in
cooperatives.
● The development of the cooperative sector was given new push in order to accomplish the "Sahakar-see-Samriddhi" vision.
Currently, around 19 percent of agriculture finance is through cooperative societies.
● In July 2021, a full-fledged Ministry of Cooperation was established to give the cooperative industry more attention.
In addition, the Government has taken various initiatives to promote and strengthen PACS, like the computerization of 63,000
functional PACS and the preparation of by-laws for enabling PACS to expand their activities.
New National Cooperation Policy

A new national cooperation policy is being developed with the participation of the relevant parties, including cooperative sector
experts, representatives from national, state, district, and primary level cooperative societies, secretaries (cooperation), resident
commissioners from states and UTs, and officials from the central government, with the goal of strengthening the cooperative
movement in the nation, expanding its reach to the grassroots, and promoting cooperative-based economic development. The
goal is to have a policy that unleashes the cooperation sector's full potential.
The Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022, is another decision made by the government. The bill aims to
strengthen the cooperative movement in the nation by introducing provisions relating to electoral reforms, strengthening
governance and transparency, reforming the composition, meetings, and membership of boards, enabling the cooperative sector
to raise funds, strengthening monitoring mechanisms, and enhancing "Ease of doing business." The Multi-State Co-operative
Societies Act, 2002, is being amended to conform to Part IXB of the Constitution. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 7th
December 2022 in the winter session of parliament.
Food processing sector: the sunrise sector

● There is a constant need for significant investment in cold chain infrastructure to handle logistical issues and enable the
unrestricted growth of the food processing sector. According to the NITI Aayog Strategy for New India, a significant supply-
side barrier that causes significant post-harvest losses is the absence of adequate and effective cold chain infrastructure.
● Recognizing the sector's enormous potential, the government has taken the lead in developing different interventions aimed
at the growth of food processing in the nation. Through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) component
schemes, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries offers financial support for the sector's overall expansion and
advancement.
● The Ministry also introduced the PMFME (Prime Minister's Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises) Scheme
in 2020 as a component of the ANB Abhiyan to improve the competitiveness of individual micro-enterprises in the
unorganised segment and promote the formalisation of this sector by offering financial, technical, and business support for
the renovation or establishment of 2 lakh micro units nationwide. The programme uses the One District One Product (ODOP)
strategy to take advantage of scale in input procurement, the use of shared services, and product marketing.
● Launched in March 2022, the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) has the explicit
goal of encouraging investments to establish global food champions. Support is provided to industries with high growth
potential, such as marine products, processed fruits and vegetables, and 'Ready to Eat/Read to Cook' products.
● The Krishi UDAN 2.0 version was introduced in October 2021 as a six-month experimental project with a focus on delivering
perishable food goods, including horticulture, fishery, livestock, and processed products, from the Hilly Areas, North-Eastern
States, and Tribal Areas.
Food security: social and legal commitment to the people of the nation
● In order to ensure food security, one must not only be able to produce food but also have access to it.
● Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, the government is currently implementing the largest legislation-based
food security programme in the world, serving nearly 80 crore people in India.
● The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) program was introduced by the government in 2019 to significantly simplify
the process of gaining access to food. Ration cards can be transported both within and across states thanks to the ONORC
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system. By utilizing the same ration card after biometric/Aadhaar authentication on electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices at
the FPS, it enables the migrant beneficiaries to receive their food security entitlements from any fair price shop (FPS) of their
choice.
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CHAPTER - 9 Industry Steady Recoveries

Overview of Indian industries-
● The sector plays a significant role in the Indian economy, generating around 30% of the nation's total gross value added.
● The outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in FY23 presented the Indian sector with some extraordinarily difficult obstacles.
As a result, several goods saw a dramatic increase in price.
● Demand stimulation for industrial expansion has been given by strong domestic conditions since FY22. The rise in investment
demand has proven to be a potent driver of industrial expansion.
● It was caused by the federal government's increased capital expenditures in the current and previous years compared to the
years before to the pandemic.
Demand Stimulus To Industrial growth

● The month-old crisis between Russia and Ukraine was still going strong at the start of FY23. The war seemed to have reached
a plateau as the year came to a close, but global commodity prices have not yet begun to decline to their pre-pandemic levels.
● As a result, industry has had to deal with high import input costs throughout the year. The sector has been gradually passing
on the higher production costs because to concerns about the impact on demand, which has resulted in core retail inflation
that is sticky but not growing.
● Contrarily, as local weather extremes have subsided and government efforts to limit price increases have been successful, non-
core retail inflation, which includes food and energy components, has been dropping. Because of this persistent pent-up
consumer demand in the post-pandemic Indian economy and the resulting drop in overall retail prices, an industrial recovery
has occurred despite the adverse global economic conditions.
● Core retail inflation is anticipated to slow down as a result of the current decline in world commodity prices, which is also
being seen in India's wholesale inflation rates. This would increase local demand for goods and services, which will further
spur the nation's industrial growth.
Supply response of Industry-

● High-frequency indicators demonstrate the industry's strong supply response to the demand boost. For instance, PMI-
Manufacturing has been in the expansionary zone since July 2021 for a total of 18 months.
● The subindices of the PMI-Manufacturing in December 2022 showed stable export orders, a slowing of input cost pressures,
and improved supplier delivery times. The momentum of output prices has also slowed down as a result of the slowdown in
input cost inflation. However, the rate of growth in new export orders slowed, indicating a muted global demand.
● The entire IIP, which produces consumer durables in accordance with the "pent-up" consumption demand, is likewise
exhibiting the persistent development of industrial output. Strong rise in the production of infrastructure and capital goods is
a sign that an investment cycle will start in the private sector in the upcoming fiscal year.
● The demand for inputs across sectors must be met in large part by the eight key industries of coal, fertilisers, cement, steel,
electricity, refinery products, crude oil, and natural gas. These industries' growth has remained constant, reflecting a general
uptick in economic activity.
● Uneven growth across different categories can be seen in the manufacturing landscape. For instance, the manufacturing of
motor cars is performing better than expected thanks to strong demand and an improvement in the chip shortage.
Robust growth in bank credit to industry-

● Bank loan growth has maintained up with industrial expansion, and a sequential upswing has been visible since January 2022.
While major companies continue to receive a considerable portion of bank credit, lending to MSMEs has also significantly
increased, in part due to the implementation of the ECLGS, which supports about 1.2 crore enterprises, of whom 95% are
MSMEs.
● Rebounding consumption levels, notably in the services sector, supported growth in credit to MSME. Consequently, the share
of MSMEs in gross credit offtake to the industry rose from 17.7 percent in January 2020 to 23.7 percent in November 2022.
● Businesses' confidence in future demand is supported by a strong increase in loan demand, increased capacity utilisation, and
investments in manufacturing.
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Resilient FDI flows in the manufacturing sector

● The manufacturing sector's annual FDI equity inflows have been rising over the past few years. Due to the advanced
economies' expansionary measures in response to the pandemic, it increased from US$ 12.1 billion in FY21 to US$ 21.3 billion
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● The FDI equity inflow in manufacturing in the first half of FY23 decreased compared to its corresponding level in the first half
of FY22 due to the rise in global uncertainty following the Russia-Ukraine war. The inflows of FDI equities have been further
constrained by the global monetary tightening.
● Nonetheless, a recovery in FDI inflows is anticipated as long as the Indian economy maintains its strong growth rate and as
global monetary tightening finally eases with a reduction in inflationary pressures.
● Notwithstanding a general decline in FDI in the first half of FY 23, inflows have continued to be higher than they were before
the pandemic, making India one of the most alluring FDI destinations in the world. This is due to structural reforms and policies
that make doing business easier.
● The government has put in place a pro-investor FDI policy, under which FDI up to 100% is allowed through automatic pathways
in the majority of sectors. India keeps broadening the amount of FDI it allows while easing restrictions on regular investment.
FDI policy reforms to bolster Investment

To make India a more attractive investment destination, the government has implemented several radical and transformative FDI
reforms across sectors such as defense, pension, e-commerce, etc. In FY20, 100 percent FDI under the automatic route was permitted
for the sale of coal, and coal mining activities, including associated processing infrastructure, subject to provisions of relevant acts.
26 percent of FDI under the government route has been permitted for uploading/ streaming of news and current affairs through
digital media. 100 percent FDI has been permitted in intermediaries or insurance intermediaries, including insurance brokers,
reinsurance brokers, insurance consultants, corporate agents, third-party administrators, surveyors and loss assessors, and any more
organizations that the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority may occasionally notify.
Industry groups and their challenges -

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) post-smart recovery from the pandemic
● The government has taken a number of actions through the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package to mitigate the pandemic's
economic effects on MSMEs.
● The modification of the definition of MSMEs, the provision of subordinate debt for stressed MSMEs, the infusion of equity
through the Self Reliant India Fund, the waiver of the requirement for global tenders for procurement, and the launch of the
Udyam portal for MSME registration—a paperless, free registration portal based on self-declaration and requiring only
Aadhaar—are a few of the actions taken.
● The government’s initiative of the Samadhaan Portal, set up under the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development
(MSMED) Act to monitor the outstanding dues to the MSME sector, is helping MSMEs in resolving their cashflow difficulties.
● Also, in FY23, the government launched the "Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance" scheme (RAMP).
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The electronics industry to be a key driver of manufacturing output and export

● The importance of the electronics industry keeps growing as its uses become more widespread, especially in the
socioeconomic development of a nation. Electronics will considerably increase productivity, effective service delivery, and
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societal transformation, underpinned by continually increasing communication services.

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Incentives to encourage semiconductor manufacturing in the US and India

● The United States' Providing Beneficial Incentives to Manufacture Semiconductors and Science Act, 2022, is one of the
most notable laws (CHIPS and Science Act, 2022). The legislation's primary goal is to encourage investments in US
domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity. Around 10% of the world's semiconductors are produced in this nation,
which mainly depends on East Asia for chip imports.
● As part of its pursuit of Aatmanirbharta and with the aim of integrating into the global value chain, India has made a
number of announcements to entice capital investment in the creation of an ecosystem for the semiconductor
manufacturing industry.
● Various incentives under Semiconductor Scheme- Setting up of Semiconductor Fabs in India, Setting up Display Fabs,
Setting up of Compound Semiconductors / Silicon, Photonics / Sensors Fab, and Semiconductor ATMP /OSAT facilities,
Design Linked-Incentive (DLI) scheme
● The PLI scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing, the PLI scheme for IT hardware, and the Scheme for Promoting
Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors are some of the initiatives and incentives offered by the
government to nurture and improve the electronics manufacturing base (SPECS).
● The Cabinet of India approved the comprehensive creation of a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem in the
nation under the Plan for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in India.
Coal industry: key in maintaining energy self-reliance during uncertain times.

● Due to a rise in economic activity and the emergence of severe heat waves from early March to mid-May of 2022, which
increased the demand for power in the nation, coal availability for India's primarily thermal-based power generation facilities
became a problem at the beginning of the fiscal year. The availability of coal decreased in as local production could not keep
up with the growth in demand from power plants.
India becomes the world's third largest automobile market

● India's economy is mostly driven by the automobile industry. India surpassed Germany and Japan to take over as the third-
largest vehicle market in December 2022.
● The sector's significance can be determined by the fact that, by the end of 2021, it will be responsible for 3.7 crore direct and
indirect jobs, contribute 7.1 percent to the overall GDP and 49 percent to the manufacturing GDP.
India's prospect as a key player in the global value chain

● In the wake of the US-China trade war, the Covid-19 epidemic, and the Ukrainian conflict, the potential of supply chain
disruptions has never been more real.
● This decade offers India a rare opportunity to establish itself as a centre for global manufacturing.
● The potential for huge domestic demand, the government's push to promote manufacturing, and a particular demographic
edge, including a sizable portion of the young labour, are the three key assets to seizing this special opportunity.
● India's manufacturing sector is gradually moving towards more automated and process-driven manufacturing, which should
improve efficiency and enhance industry production.
● The ‘Make-in-India’ Initiative was launched in 2014 to make India a hub for manufacturing, design, and innovation. Since then,
it has promoted investment, encouraged innovation, and created infrastructure of the highest calibre.
Make in india 2.0 and the PLI scheme

● The "Made in India 2.0" initiative is currently concentrating on 27 areas, including 15 manufacturing sectors and 12 service
sectors, to further strengthen India's integration in the global value chain.
● In pursuit of the objectives of the Make-in-India program and with a vision to achieve Aatmanirbharta, the government
launched the PLI scheme. For the next five years, the scheme is anticipated to generate capex of almost 3 lakh crore.
● It has the potential to generate employment for over 60 lahks in India and increase the share of the manufacturing sector in
total capital formation, which currently stands at around 17-20 percent between FY12 and FY20.
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shipbuilding sector: achieving self-reliance and promoting make in India
The shipbuilding industry is a strategically important industry due to its role in energy security, national defense, and the
development of the heavy engineering industry. It might boost the sector's and the services' potential contribution to the GDP at
large. The mission of a "Atmanirbhar" Bharat could be strengthened through the shipbuilding sector. The shipbuilding projects for
the Indian Navy (IN) that are now underway at various Indian shipyards are ready to give the sector the necessary boost.
● By implementing the PLI Scheme across these important niche markets, India will become a vital player in the global value
chain, increase the competitiveness of its manufacturers abroad, and attract investment in cutting-edge technology and core
competencies. The programme will help the nation's MSME ecosystem.
Fostering innovation
● The government uses incubators, support, money, industry-academia partnerships, and mentorship to encourage innovation.
● The government has also strengthened its IPR regime by modernizing the IP office, reducing legal compliances, and facilitating
IP filing for start-ups, women entrepreneurs, small industries, and others. This has resulted in a 46 percent growth in the
domestic filing of patents over 2016-2021, signaling India’s transition towards a knowledge-based economy.
● These measures have begun to pay dividends. The Global Innovation Index (GII), which includes about 80 variables including
assessments of each economy's political environment, educational system, infrastructure, and capacity for knowledge creation,
ranks the nations based on their performance in terms of innovation.
● ndia, which improved its ranking from 81 in 2015 to 40 in 2022, entered the top 40 innovating countries for the first time since
the GII's creation in 2007 according to the GII 2022 report. Moreover, India surpassed Vietnam (48th) to become the lower
middle-income group's most inventive nation, claiming the lead in Central and Southern Asia.
flipping and reverse flipping: the recent developments in start-ups

● One of the world's largest startup ecosystems is found in India. Start-ups have received a significant boost thanks to a
number of government programmes. For instance, under the Start-up India Initiative, eligible companies get recognized
as Start-ups by DPIIT to access a host of tax benefits, easier compliance, and IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) fast-tracking.
● Entrepreneurship and innovation are promoted throughout the nation's startup ecosystem under the auspices of the
National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) umbrella
programmes.
● Seed investment and subsequent credit requirements are supported by the Fund of Funds for Start-ups (FFS) and the Credit
Guarantee Scheme for Start-ups (CGSS).
Structural reforms have enhanced the ease of doing business

● The "Make in India" initiative works to make sure that the business environment in the country is favourable for foreign
investors conducting business there and contributing to the expansion and advancement of the country.
● This has been accomplished through a number of changes that have boosted economic expansion and investor inflows.The
reform measures include amendments to laws and liberalization of guidelines and regulations to reduce compliance burdens,
bring down costs, and enhance the ease of doing business in India. Regulation compliance has been made less onerous
through rationalisation, decriminalisation, simplification, and digitisation.
● Corporate tax reduction, public procurement, and the Phased Manufacturing Program are measures taken to encourage
production and investments.
India and industry 4.0

● The fourth industrial revolution, or "industry 4.0," as it is also known, has started.
● New technologies like cloud computing, IoT, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) are integrated into manufacturing
processes as part of the transformation, creating efficiency throughout the value chain.
● India has made great progress in recent years in terms of internet access, which is one of the essential requirements of industry
4.0.
○ Hyper-efficient processing technology will be erected as another pillar of this revolution in India thanks to the push
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for self-reliance in semiconductor technology and manufacture.

○ A few initiatives by the government include Smart Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Transformation Hub
(SAMARTH). In 2018, the Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution was founded in India as part of Udyog Bharat 4.0,
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with the goal of creating regulatory frameworks for cutting-edge technology.
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Conclusion and outlook
● Industrial production increased during FY23 despite global challenges, supported by persistent demand conditions. Bank loan
expansion has maintained up with industrial expansion, and a sequential uptick has been visible since January 2022. The
establishment of the ECLGS has contributed to a notable rise in credit to MSMEs. In the first half of FY23, FDI in the
manufacturing sector moderated amid increased global unpredictability.
● FDI in the manufacturing sector moderated in the first half of FY23. Nonetheless, because of structural reforms and steps to
make doing business easier, inflows continued to be significantly higher than they were before the pandemic, making India
one of the most appealing FDI locations in the world.
● Positively, lessening input cost pressures brought on by a decline in global commodity prices bodes positively for business
profitability. On the negative side, there is a decrease in exports that is likely to continue along with a possible worldwide
economic recession. In the face of fresh disruptions at the global level, volatile international commodity prices and disruptions
in the supply of raw materials may have an adverse effect on industrial growth.
CHAPTER 10 :Services: Source of Strength
Trends In high-frequency Indicators

Services PMI
● From May to September 2022, India's services industry, which had been contracting owing to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the
Omicron variant, and COVID-19, softened as economic uncertainty led to poorer sales growth and inflationary pressures
restrained the uptick in business activity. Further, price pressures and unfavorable weather also dampened domestic demand.
● However, following an overall easing of inflation, it witnessed an uptick and expanded in December 2022.
Bank credit
● Bank credit has been witnessing significant growth since October 2021 due to vaccination coverage and services sector
recovery. NBFCs shifted to bank borrowings because of high bond yields and hence, its credit grew.
● However, a fall in lending to the shipping and aviation sectors in November 2022 was brought on by unclear growth prospects
in the global markets and an uneven distribution of credit to the transport sector.
Services trade-
● The second quarter of 2022 saw the world's services trade volume surpass its pre-pandemic peak, and the third quarter was
predicted to be even stronger thanks to consumer spending on travel, information and communication technology (ICT)
services, and financial services.
● However, WTO’s Services Trade Barometer Index reading fell for October 2022 well below the previous reading in June 2022
indicating that YoY growth in real commercial services began moderating in the third quarter of 2022.
● Due to dimming growth expectations in significant service industry economies, it may slow down even more in the fourth
quarter of 2023 as well as into the first quarter.
● Nonetheless, the financial and Technology sectors have so far proven to be the most resilient to the weakening global
economy, while container shipping and construction services saw contractions.
● As far as India is concerned, some headwinds may be observed in the coming months due to the slowing growth in some of
India’s major trading partners. On the contrary, India’s services exports may improve due to higher inflation in advanced
economies driving up wages.
● The Covid-19 outbreak and the present geopolitical unrest haven't had much of an impact on software exports thanks to
rising demand for cloud services, infrastructure modernization, and digital support to meet new problems.
● The exports of transportation and travel services in FY21 and FY22 suffered the most as a result of the restrictions placed on
international travel and tourism because to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Foreign direct investment ( FDI) in services

● India was the seventh-largest beneficiary of FDI among the top 20 host countries in 2021, according to the UNCTAD's Global
Investment Report 2022.
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● India saw FDI inflows reach a record high of $84.8 billion in FY22, with FDI equity inflows into the services sector totaling $7.1
billion.
● The government has taken a number of steps to encourage investment, including the introduction of the National Single-
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Window system, a one-stop shop for the approvals and certifications required by investors, entrepreneurs, and firms.
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● To ensure the liberalization of investment in various industries, the Government has permitted 100 percent foreign
participation in telecommunication services, including all services and infrastructure providers, through the Automatic Route.
● Under Automatic Route, the FDI cap for insurance companies was also increased from 49 to 74 percent. Further, the
Government has allowed 20 percent foreign investment in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) under the automatic route.
Initiatives in the Insurance sector by the Insurance regulatory and development authority of India (IrdaI) in FY 23
● The 10th-largest insurance market in the world is in India.
● The goal of universal insurance has been taken on by the insurance regulator, IRDAI, and is anticipated to result in a major
rise in insurance penetration by the time India celebrates its 100th anniversary of independence in 2047.
● The insurance regulator has taken various steps to promote healthy growth of the insurance industry, rationalize the
regulatory framework, and reduce the compliance burden of regulated entities.
● To promote accessibility, innovation, competitiveness, distribution efficiency, and choice availability while mainstreaming
technology and transitioning to a principle-based regime, IRDAI has implemented the following measures:
● Rapid introduction of Insurance Products: All Health & General Insurance Products, as well as the bulk of Life Insurance
Products, may now be launched by Insurers without first obtaining IRDAI clearance.
● Easy entry into the insurance sector: A One Window NOC Portal (www.noc.irdai.gov.in) that makes the NOC quickly and
easily available to enable the incorporation of an insurer.
● Providing further impetus to the industry: It is being thought about giving regulated entities more latitude in terms of
making operational and commercial decisions.
● Addressing dynamic needs of the industry: Various measures as per the evolving needs of the sector, such as Tech-
based add-ons, expansion in the scope of the cashless facility in health insurance, Innovative products in Fire Insurance,
and Ease of living for Senior Citizens.
MAJOR SERVICES: SUB SECTOR WISE PERFORMANCE

Tourism and hotel industry
● The international tourism as well as Indian tourism sector has shown robust performance post pandemic with almost arrivals
reaching to the pre-pandemic level, driven by the strong pent-up demand, improved confidence levels and the lifting of
restrictions, as per the World Tourism Barometer of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (November 2022).
● The average hotel occupancy, which was falling amidst the pandemic, began a strong recovery in the third quarter of 2021,
driven by domestic leisure travel growth, partial resumption of business travel in the country, as well as wedding and social
events.
● Domestic MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference, Exhibitions) events that were small to medium in scale also made a
comeback, boosting hotel demand.
● Tourism being a contact-intensive sector was adversely impacted by the pandemic and employment in the sector was also
impacted.
● According to the Medical Tourism Association's Medical Tourism Index FY21, India is placed 10th out of the top 46 countries
in the world.. India’s handling of the sector and pandemic has increased the trust in India’s medical infrastructure which will
give big push to Medical Value Tourism (MVT).
● India is a well-known destination for medical tourism due to factors like the availability of top-notch hospitals and highly
trained medical staff, superior healthcare standards, affordable treatment costs in comparison to other nations, credibility in
alternative medical systems, and rising global demand for wellness services like yoga and meditation.
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Making India an attractive tourist destination
● The Ministry of Tourism has undertaken the following measures to boost the Tourism sector:
● The National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry(NIDHI)., which is maintained by the Ministry of Tourism, is an
endeavour to list all lodging facilities in the nation.The creation of policies and strategies for the promotion and growth of
tourism at various places would be aided by this database.
● In collaboration with the Quality Council of India, SAATHI was established to stop the spread of the virus while also
providing housing and other services following the lockdown. The program's goal is to educate the industry about the
government's Covid-19 requirements.
● The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN) for better connection in order
to facilitate/stimulate regional air connectivity by making it inexpensive, which has led to an increase in the overall number
of tourists.
● Working capital/personal loans are given to households affected by the Covid-19 pandemic via the Loan Guarantee
Scheme for Covid Affected Tourist Service Sector (LGSCATSS) supervised by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee
Corporation (NCGTC) in order to settle debts and relaunch enterprises.
● To boost the tourism sector, the first 5 lakh Tourists Visa were announced until 31st March 2022 or until 5 lakh free visas
were issued, whichever is earlier, by the government for international tourists coming to India.
Real estate -
● The Covid-19 pandemic initially caused a slowdown in the real estate sector due to project delays, property price stagnation,
scarce funding, and migration of workforces. However, the pandemic changed home buyer sentiment in favor of owning a
house and brought pent-up demand in Tier II and III cities. The government’s measures such as lower interest rates, reduction
in circle rates, and extension of RERA helped improve affordability and led to a rebound in the sector.
● Geopolitical tensions b/w Russia & Ukraine raise supply chain disruption concerns, impacting the real estate sector. A volatile
market and rising construction material costs have led to project delays. The conflict has increased the cost of steel, cement,
etc. causing a rise in housing prices.
● The real estate sector has seen growth despite challenges such as rising interest rates and property prices. Housing sales and
new launches have surpassed pre-pandemic levels in Q2 of FY23. The unsold inventory has declined to 8.5 lahks at the end of
2022 and the sustained sales momentum is helping the sector recover from the pandemic. The government’s recent measures
to reduce import duties on construction materials will help control housing prices.
● Driven by increased institutional investment and the growing number of Real Estate Investment Trusts, India’s real estate
market transparency is among the top ten most improved markets globally. Further, initiatives like the Model Tenancy Act and
digitization of land registries & market data through the Dharani and Maha RERA platforms have helped to broaden the
market and bring more formalization to the sector.
Measures taken by the government to boost the housing sector-

● To support the housing finance industry, the government has launched programmes like "Housing for Everyone" and
"Aatmanirbhar Bharat." The government contributed 75,000 crores to support NBFCs, HFCs, and MFIs, while the RBI permitted
lenders to impose a 6-month suspension on payments. The real estate industry was revived by these interventions.
● With the help of initiatives to boost credit flow and the interest subvention provided by PMAY-CLSS (U), demand for residential
housing has increased, resulting in a consumer-friendly environment for housing finance. A subsidy worth 53,548 crores has
been made available by the government, helping 22,87 lakh people. The National Housing Bank distributed $34,588 crore for
3.9 lakh housing units, and the Affordable Housing Fund helped to create liquidity in the industry. With different refinancing
programmes, National Housing Bank offered 88,400 crores in financial support during the epidemic.
● During the pandemic, government initiatives and liquidity support from the National Housing Bank assisted in reviving the
real estate industry. The rise was further aided by the Smart City initiative, co-lending, and improved affordability in the
residential market.
● The real estate sector received financial support from the government and regulators, which assisted in its recovery from the
pandemic. The co-lending strategy aims to provide formal housing financing to those at the base of the economic pyramid.
● The Smart City Project aimed to increase investment opportunities while constructing 100 smart cities. The weighted average
interest rate on home loans decreased, which is a sign that residential real estate became more accessible. Due to the focus
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on affordable housing and government initiatives, the industry had strong growth with improvements in sales and new
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IT-BPM Industry-
● India's IT-BPM sector has expanded as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic's acceleration of digital transformation.
● With an emphasis on client-centricity, domain-specific solutions, a digital-first talent pool, and solutions that are ready for the
future, the industry has proven resilient and has quickly adjusted.
● YoY revenue growth in the Indian IT-BPM sector was 15.5% in FY22 compared to 2.1% increase in FY21, with double-digit
growth seen across all subsectors. More than 51% of the IT-BPM sector is made up of IT services. Hardware exports climbed
by 17.2% in FY22 as a result of greater use of technology, cost-cutting agreements, and core business activities.
● With a greater emphasis on emerging areas including the Middle East and Latin America, the industry's top three markets are
still the USA, Europe (excluding the UK), and the UK.
● Due to business digital acceleration and transformation, the direct employee pool is expected to grow by 10% with the
highest-ever net addition, and the domestic technology industry is expected to grow by 10%.
Major growth drivers in the IT-BPM Industry
● Growing adoption of digital technology and "Made in India digital-first solutions for the world" as a result of India's
development as a worldwide innovation and R&D hub for engineering, as numerous Global Competency Centers have
been established in India during the past six years.
● Increased capacity utilization, a bigger share of offshore income, a lowering share of travel and facility expenditures, and
operating leverage are some of the primary margin defense strategies utilizing these levers.
● With a large proportion of the working population, rising undergraduate enrollment, and employment across technology
organizations, India is a country with a wealth of digital talent.
● The primary impetus has been India's IT sector, which is a global leader in hybrid work models of employee experience
with the integration of tech solutions in areas like employee onboarding, communication, collaboration, and employee
well-being & enablement.
E-commerce-
● Due to lockdowns, limits on mobility, and a stronger push toward the digital economy, the e-commerce industry also
experienced development during the epidemic. Government backing, expanding internet penetration, greater smartphone
adoption, innovations in mobile technology, and the expansion of digital payments all contributed to the boom. According to
a survey by Worldpay FIS, the e-commerce business in India is expected to expand at an average rate of 18% until 2025.
● The development into new markets, such as grocery and general retail, which have drawn a larger client base, is what is fueling
the rise of e-commerce in India. By 2027, two-thirds of the Indian e-commerce business is expected to be made up of these
developing categories, according to a report by Bain & Company.
● For greater revenue and margins, improved market reach, access to new markets, and client acquisition, MSMEs are
implementing digital solutions including e-commerce and e-procurement. According to a survey, MSMEs who implement
digital solutions perform better than offline MSMEs and have access to a sizable market without having to pay hefty prices.
By the removal of geographical boundaries, the provision of a sizable consumer base, and the ability for MSMEs to engage
directly with producers and suppliers, e-commerce platforms have helped these companies scale their operations with less
capital outlay.
● Due to the rising use of smartphones and the internet, as well as the greater purchasing power of rural consumers, e-commerce
has grown in rural India. The epidemic has also aided the expansion of e-commerce in rural areas. By emphasizing regional
solutions like bolstering rural distributor and retailer networks and utilizing neighborhood distribution hubs for logistics, new
e-commerce businesses are aiming to serve Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities.
● According to the Retail and E-commerce Trends study published by Unicommerce and Wazir Advisors, e-commerce start-ups
have also seen an increase in their order volume, with 69.4% yearly growth.
● The Government E-Marketplace (GeM), which has taken initiatives to include products from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), tribal
communities, artisans, weavers, and MSMEs, is now catching up to e-commerce behemoths like Amazon and Flipkart.
● Programs like the Digital India programme, the Unified Payment Interface (UPI),GeM, etc. have all played a significant
role in the recent expansion of e-commerce. On the other side, significant programmes like One District - One Product have
helped small retailers, producers, and Self-Help Groups by facilitating the onboarding of sellers of selected products on e-
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Commerce platforms.
● Similar circumstances applied to the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED) portal's
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● Moreover, the recently established Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is democratizing digital payments,
allowing interoperability, lowering transaction costs, and improving market access for sellers.
Digital financial services

● Financial inclusion is growing and financial products are becoming more individualized thanks to the usage of cutting-edge
technologies and digital solutions.
● The JAM trinity, UPI, and other rules have laid the groundwork for digital financial services in India. The pandemic has
prompted banks, NBFCs, insurance, and fintech to use these services even more widely.
● Fintech businesses have profited from the circumstance to assist underprivileged communities and offer affordable financial
services. In comparison to the global average of 64%, India's adoption rate of fintech is greater at 87%.
● Neo-banking platform expansion and sector investment have increased recently. Neobanks operate solely online and give
young, tech-savvy clientele, MSMEs, and underdeveloped areas access to financial services.
● In order to increase access to banking solutions, the government has also promoted digital banking by launching 75 Digital
Banking Units in 75 districts.
● Due to lower operational expenses associated with physical cash handling, the introduction of CBDC has considerably
increased the use of digital financial services. It has also promoted financial inclusion and brought innovation, efficiency, and
resilience to the payments system.
● Additionally, it encourages innovation in the area of cross-border payments and offers the general public uses for private
virtual currencies without the dangers involved.
● The RBI has also started CBDC experimental programmes in the Wholesale and Retail sectors. One such programme is Digital
Rupee, which is only intended to settle government securities secondary market transactions.
● Use of Digital Rupee-The interbank market is anticipated to become more productive with wholesale. In the retail sector, a
closed user group made up of participating customers and retailers was launched under the name Digital Rupee-Retail.
● The digitization of papers has improved use for end users and the service provider by ensuring security, online verification,
accessibility, and fraud reduction.
Account aggregator framework

● After receiving consumers' express authorization, the Account Aggregator (AA), an NBFC, gathers their financial data and
transmits it from one financial institution to another. A financial sector regulator may authorise an entity to become either
a Financial Information Provider (FIP) or a Financial Information User (FIU).
● The RBI has registered six firms as AAs and has published rules for AA in the form of a Master Directive.
Dematerialization of documents-
● The Digital Document Execution (DDE) platform has been introduced by National e-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) in
response to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India's request and with the assistance of the Department of Financial
Services to digitize document/agreement execution steps, including information submission, accommodating any document
format, consent-based process, digital payment and e-stamping, identity verification, and secure storage and retrieval.
● By doing away with a physical presence and manual execution, the platform offers advantages including faster and cheaper
execution, security, fraud protection, and evidentiary value.
● 27 banks and NBFCs use the platform, which leverages Aadhaar e-Sign for electronic signatures, to execute agreements, from
small-ticket to high-value transactions. The platform is supported by the state governments.
● With regard to issuing, transferring, and administering physical bank guarantees, the NeSL-DDE platform includes a use case
for electronic bank guarantees (e-BG), which improves efficiency and lowers costs.
● With the ability to serve as a central repository for bank guarantees, the e-BG use case has demonstrated time and cost
reductions.
● The technology will also make it possible to execute other contracts digitally, which will make doing business easier.
Conclusion-
● The contact-intensive services sub-sector, which returned to pre-pandemic levels in Q2 of FY23, helped India's services sector
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quickly recover in FY22. India is one of the top ten nations that export services and its exports have held up well during Cvid-
19.
● The government has made steps to liberalize investment in a number of sectors, including lifting the FDI cap for insurance
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● A number of sectors, including hotel, tourism, real estate, IT-BPM, and e-commerce, are showing signs of recovery as a result
of the pandemic's decline and improvements in performance.
● Growth in these sectors is being driven by the government's efforts to promote the digital economy and the use of digital
payments, and the CBDC pilot program may also help the sector of digital financial services.
CHAPTER 11 External Sectors: Watchful and Hopeful

Introduction
● India's external sector has experienced shocks and uncertainty that have taken the form of rising, though currently easing,
global commodity prices, tightening international financial conditions, increasing financial market volatility, reversal of capital
flows, currency depreciation, and an impending slowdown in global growth and trade.
● India's exports showed resiliency during FY23 thanks to record-breaking export levels in FY22.
○ The top export items included petroleum products, gems and jewellery, organic and inorganic chemicals, medicines,
and drugs.
● Yet, given the slowing nature of the global economy, which is defined by
○ slowing global trade
○ pressure encountered by the Balance of Payments (BoP)
○ widened Current Account Deficit (CAD).
Trade helping india reap the benefit of a globalized world

● Trade as a percentage of GDP has proven a reliable indicator of the global trade openness of nations across time. According
to the World Bank database, since 2003, trade as a share of global GDP has been between 50 and 60 percent, and as of 2020,
it stands at 52 percent.
● India's trade share as a percentage of GDP has also been rising gradually since 2005, when it was above 40%. (except 2020
being the pandemic year). In 2021, the ratio is 46%, and in 2022's first quarter, it will be 50%.
Global scenario
● Global trade prospects for FY22 have improved following the interruptions caused by COVID-19.
● Despite the challenges caused by the crisis in Russia and Ukraine, global trade showed resilience in the first half (H1) of 2022.
● The strengthening of the dollar in the case of the United States, the relative dynamism of intraregional trade in Europe, and
favourable terms-of-trade effects in some significant emerging countries as a result of rising energy prices were all factors
that contributed to the trend.
● However, a confluence of unfavourable factors, such as the growing likelihood of a recession in the major economies and the
tapering demand for consumer durables, aggressive monetary policy tightening by several central banks, disorderly financial
conditions, ongoing supply-chain disruptions, and higher freight costs, made the outlook for global trade worse in the second
half (H2) of 2022.
India's growing and diversifying trade

● An essential tenet of India's external sector's resiliency has been global trade. In India, trade as a share of GDP ranged from
12 to 15 percent in the 1980s to 16 to 25 percent in the 1990s, and 25 to 50 percent in the 2000s.
Trends in merchandise tradeIn FY22, India's yearly merchandise exports reached an all-time high of US$422.0 billion.
● However, the world economy has begun to experience significant headwinds, and the slowdown in global commerce is
beginning to have an impact on India's merchandise export growth, which will moderate in 2022.
● Petroleum goods continued to be the most exported good in FY22 and April–December 2022 due to the growth in the price
of crude oil in the world, followed by gems and jewellery, organic and inorganic chemicals, medications, and pharmaceuticals.
Bright spots in India's trade performance-

● In FY22, exports of engineering goods, organic and inorganic chemicals, medications and pharmaceuticals, and electronic
items all saw significant growth.
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● India's pharmaceutical exports increased significantly from US$ 15.4 billion in FY15 to US$ 24.6 billion in FY22 and stood at
US$ 18.8 billion during April-December 2022, registering a positive growth of 3.6 percent over April-December 2021. This
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growth occurred despite Covid-related disruptions in the supply chain.
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● India had a recovery in domestic demand as the pandemic subsided, which led to rapid import growth. Petroleum oil and
products continued to be the most imported commodity, with imports rising by 45.6% to US$ 163.9 billion in April–December
2022 from US$ 112.6 billion in April–December 2021.
● India may be increasing its fuel imports, including coal and Petroleum, Oil & Lubricants (POL), whose share of total imports
increased to 37.1 percent in April–December 2022 from 30.4 percent in the same period in 2021. Electronic items, coal, coke,
and briquettes, electrical and non-electrical machinery, and organic and inorganic chemicals were among the other major
imports.
● During April to November 2022, the USA continued to be the top export destination, followed by the UAE and the Netherlands.
China has been surpassed by the Netherlands as India's third-largest exporting partner.
● China, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Russia, and Saudi Arabia collectively account for 40% of India's total
imports. Nevertheless, from April to November 2022, China's participation decreased from 15.5 percent to 13.8%. Similar to
this, the USA's share decreased from 7.2 percent to 6.9 percent between April and November 2022.
Trade in services-
● In FY22, India continued to dominate the global services trade. India's services exports amounted at US$ 254.5 billion in FY22,
a gain of 23.5 percent over FY21, and registered a growth of 32.7 percent in April–September 2022 over the same period of
FY22, despite pandemic-induced worldwide limitations and dismal tourism income.
● Almost 60% of India's overall service exports are made up of software and business services, both of which saw rapid increase
in Q2FY23.
● Payments for travel, transportation, and other business services are the key drivers of the rise in service imports. Following the
return of global activity, a rise in transport payments was caused by a lack of shipping vessels and high transportation
expenses. Following the loosening of travel restrictions, imports of travel increased.
Foreign trade policy

● India's Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) is typically created for a period of five years. The FTP's main goals have been to establish a
set of guidelines for imports and exports as well as incentives to encourage exports.
● The five-year FTP 2015-20 was extended from 2020 to 2022 in order to ensure policy stability during the epidemic era. The
programme has now been extended to March 2023 due to the unstable geopolitical and economic conditions around the
world.
● In collaboration with numerous stakeholders, the government is actively striving to facilitate trade agreements and introduce
new programmes. India concluded free trade agreements (FTAs) with Australia and the United Arab Emirates in 2022.
● To assess the potential and capabilities of States, the Export Readiness Index has also been established. All stakeholders will
be directed towards improving the export ecosystem at the sub-national and national levels.
International trade settlements in Indian rupees

● With a focus on Indian exports, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a circular in July 2022 allowing for an additional
arrangement for exports and imports to be invoiced, paid for, and settled in Indian Rupees (INR). This was done to support
the growing interest in INR as a global currency among the trading community.
● As part of the system, exports and imports are invoiced in INR, exchange rates between the currencies of the trade partners
are decided by the market, and settlement is done through specific Rupee Vostro accounts opened with licenced Indian dealer
banks.
● According to this settlement agreement,
○ While using this system, Indian importers must pay bills for the supply of goods or services from an overseas seller
or supplier in INR, which must be credited into the Special Vostro account of the correspondent bank of the partner
country.
○ When Indian exporters use this technique to export products and services, the export earnings will be paid to them
in INR from the remaining balances in the designated Special Vostro account of the correspondent bank of the
partner nation.
● This framework for international settlement in INR becomes significant in light of the US Fed's aggressive policy rate hikes
and hawkish stance, the ensuing rally of the US dollar to multi-decade high levels, and the concurrent depreciation of
currencies of other EMEs, including the INR.
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● The framework could significantly lower the net demand for foreign currency, specifically the US dollar, for the settlement of
trade flows relating to the current account.
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● Additionally, it is anticipated that the usage of INR in international trade will reduce currency risk for Indian enterprises.
Protection from currency volatility increases the likelihood that Indian enterprises will expand internationally by lowering
operating costs and enabling better business growth. In addition, it lessens the need for and dependency on retaining foreign
exchange reserves, making the Indian economy less susceptible to outside shocks.
● Additionally, once the rupee settlement system takes off, it can help Indian exporters secure payments in advance in INR from
foreign clients and in the long run, promote INR as a global currency. One requirement for the development of an international
currency is that it be utilized more frequently for trade invoicing.
Initiatives to enhance trade
● India's exports performed admirably in FY22, reaching US$422.0 billion, exceeding the goal of US$400 billion, as a result of
the combined efforts of all parties and stakeholders. Below are a few examples of specific government initiatives that have
helped and still help exports.
○ Focus on Agricultural Products: India's agricultural exports reached their highest-ever level in FY22, totaling
US$37.8 billion. Supported by an efficient farm export policy, they performed well in FY23, with exports of US$26.8
billion from April to November 2022.
○ Interest Equalisation Scheme: The purpose of this Plan is to benefit exporters by reducing the interest rates that
banks charge them for pre- and post-shipment rupee export credits.
○ Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme: The programme intends to abate
Central, State, and Municipal duties, taxes, and levies that are paid at various Central, State, and local levels during
the production and distribution of exported goods but that are not currently covered by any other duty abatement
programmes.
○ Export Credit Guarantee: By offering export credit insurance services, the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation
(ECGC) aids Indian banks and exporters.
○ Krishi Udan Scheme: The Krishi Udan Program was introduced in August 2020 on both international and domestic
lines to help farmers transport their agricultural products and increase the value realization of their output.
○ Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme: During FY18, the government has started putting the Trade Infrastructure
for Export Program into practise to help Central and State Government Agencies build the necessary infrastructure
to support the expansion of State exports.
○ Districts as Export Hubs – One District One Product Initiative: The Districts as Export Hubs-ODOP initiative seeks to
promote exports, manufacture goods, and create jobs at the local level by making the States and Districts significant
stakeholders and active contributors in transforming India into an export powerhouse, supporting the AatmNirbhar
mission, realising the goal of "Make in India for the World," and being a voice for local.
CHAPTER 12: Physical & Digital Infrastructure - Lifting Potential Growth

Introduction
● As India celebrates its 75th anniversary of independence, the country is developing into a significant player in the world
economic system.
● India has the fifth-largest economy in the world, and the country has a promising future. Here, spending in top-notch
infrastructure is essential for boosting economic growth and keeping it going for the long haul.
● The government has implemented programmes including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), the National Infrastructure
Pipeline (NIP), and the National Monetization Pipeline to enhance private sector involvement in the development of current
infrastructure and the construction of new ones (NMP).
Government vision and approaches for infrastructural development in india-

● Current capital spending plans from the government for 2022–2023 (BE) show a sharp rise of 35.4% from Rs. 5.5 lakh crore to
Rs. 7.5 lakh crore, of which about 67% has already been spent from April to December 2022.
● The outcome of the work is seen in the Ministries'/ Departments' Capex spending through December 2022, which was $5 lakh
crore (around 67 percent has been achieved against the Budgeted Capex of 7.5 lakh crore) as opposed to $3.9 lakh crore for
the same period in FY22 (i.e., till December 2021).
● Moreover, the actual expenditure for FY23 is 28% greater than that of FY22 for the same time period.
● Moreover, the actual expenditure for FY23 is 28% greater than that of FY22 for the same time period.
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Key highlights: Industry & Infrastructure
● In comparison to (-) 15.3 percent in April–November 2020, the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) increased at a YoY rate of
17.4 percent during April–November 2021.
● The Indian Railways' capital spending climbed from an average annual level of Rs. 45,980 crores between 2009–14 to Rs.
155,181 crores in 2020–21, and it is budgeted to rise even higher to Rs. 215,058 crores in 2021–22, which is a five-fold
increase from the level in 2014.
● The daily length of road construction significantly rose in 2020–21 to 36.5 km from 28 km in 2019–20, an increase of 30.4
percent.
● Notwithstanding the pandemic, the net profit to sales ratio of large corporations rose to an all-time high of 10.6 percent in
the July–September quarter of 2021–22. (RBI Study).
Public-private partnerships
● The Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT), Rehabilitate-Operate-Transfer (ROT),
Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), and Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) types of management contracts are supported by private
participation in infrastructure developments in India.
● The overall approved VGF has a state share of 2710.9 crores and a government of India contribution of 3102.6 crores. Between
FY15 and FY23, the DEA disbursed a total of $2982.4 crore in VGF funds under the programme.
● The "India Infrastructure Project Development Fund Scheme" is a programme designed to provide financial assistance for
PPP project development costs over the course of three years, from FY 23 to FY 25. Its entire outlay is Rs 150 crores.
National infrastructure pipeline-
● In order to provide high-quality infrastructure throughout the nation, the government launched the National Infrastructure
Pipeline (NIP) with a forward-looking mindset and a planned infrastructure investment of around 111 lakh crore during FY20-
25.
● The NIP includes new and brownfield infrastructure projects totaling more than 100 crore rupees. The NIP currently has 8,964
projects in various phases of implementation with a total investment of more than 108 lakh crore.
National monetization pipeline- creation through monetization
● The National Monetization Pipeline (NMP) offers a chance to reduce balance sheet debt while creating financial room for
investments in new infrastructure.
● Over a four-year period, from FY20-25, the estimated total monetization potential under NMP is 6.0 lakh crore through key
assets of the Central Government.
National logistics policy: reducing the cost of logistics
government efforts to improve logistics
● India wants to significantly grow its exports. Compared to the ecosystem in India:
worldwide benchmark of 8%, logistics expenses in India have been
● UdeDesh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)
between 14 and 18 percent of GDP.
● BharatmalaSagarmala
● Parvatamala
The targets for achieving the vision of the national logistics policy
● National Rail Plan
● e-Sanchit
● By 2030, bring India's logistics costs into line with international
● Single Window Interface for Trade (SWIFT)
standards.
● Indian Customs Electronic Data Interchange
● Increase the ranking on the Logistics Performance Index; aim to be
Gateway (ICEGATE)
in the top 25 nations by 2030.
● Turant Customs
● For an effective logistics ecosystem, develop a data-driven decision
support system.
PM-Gatishakti-
● The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan calls for the development of a unified platform under which all infrastructure projects
related to various ministries and departments will be integrated into a vast database for effective planning and real-time
implementation.
Development in the physical infrastructure sector
● Over time, National Highways (NHs)/road development has increased; 10,457 km of roads were built in FY22 compared to
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6,061 km in FY16.
● 4,060 km of NHs/roads were built in FY23 (through October 2022), which is almost 91 percent more than was accomplished
during the same time of the previous financial year.
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● Overall budgetary support for sector investment has been rising quickly over the last four years, and in FY23 it was estimated
to be around 1.4 lakh crore (as of 31 October 2022).
● The Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) survey report was released on 13 October 2022.
● performance Categories:
○ Achievers: States/UTs achieving a percentage score of 90 percent or more
○ Fast Movers: States/UTs achieving percentage scores between 80 to 90 percent
○ Aspirers: States/UTs achieving percentage scores below 80 percent
Roads-
● InvIT was introduced by the National Roads Authority of India (NHAI) in FY22.
● More than 10,200 crores have been raised for NHAI InvIT from reputable foreign and Indian institutional investors (up to
December 2022).
Railway-
● With more than 68,031 route kilometres, Indian Railways (IR) is the fourth-largest network in the world run by a single
management.
● Indian railways moved 976.8 million tonnes of revenue-generating freight during FY 2022–23 as opposed to 901.7 million
tonnes during the same time period in FY 2021–22, an 8.3% increase.
Major initiatives of Indian railways-
● Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project
● Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Project
● GatiShakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT)
● Induction of semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Trainsets
● Electrical/Electronic Interlocking System
● Development of Hyperloop technology " Kisan Rail.
Civil aviation
● For the resurrection of existing unserved/underserved airports/airstrips owned by State governments, the Airports Authority
of India (AAI), public sector enterprises, and civic enclaves, the government has sanctioned a budget of Rs. 4,500 crore under
the UDAN Programme.
● Also, the establishment of 21 Greenfield airports across the nation has received "in principle" approval from the government.
● The programme focuses on improving connectivity between the country's tier 2 and tier 3 cities, and as connectivity between
unserved and underserved airports improves, the number of beneficiaries will rise dramatically.
Inland water transport
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● India has around 14,850 kilometers of navigable waterways, which are used for inland water transportation.
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The Inland Vessels Act 2021 aims to bring uniformity in the application of the law relating to inland waterways and navigation
within the country.
ELECTRICITY-
All India Gross Electricity Generation Mode-Wise (GWh)
● The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evamUtthaanMahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) programme aims to ensure energy and water
security, de-dieselize the agricultural industry, and increase farmer income by generating solar electricity.
DEVELOPMENTS IN DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Telecommunications:
● There are about 117 crore telephone subscribers in India (as of November 2022). While 83.7 crore people had internet
connections as of June 2022, more than 97 percent of all users (114.3 crore at the end of November 2022) were linked
wirelessly. India's overall teledensity was 84.8 percent, with significant regional variations.
Digital public infrastructure
● The development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which aims to empower beneficiaries and improve financial literacy,
creativity, entrepreneurship, and employment generation, has been crucial in boosting the economy and elevating it to where
it is today.
● With "MyScheme," an online marketplace for schemes, consumers can search for appropriate programmes depending on their
qualifications.
● By eliminating the need to explore numerous government department websites and study numerous scheme requirements
in order to determine their eligibility, it saves consumers time and effort.
● The programme serves as the sole national forum for the introduction of all government initiatives. More than 181 Central,
State, and UT government programmes from 14 different categories were housed on the platform as of January 16, 2023.
UMANG
● Citizens can access e-Government services provided by the Central and State Governments in a variety of sectors, including
agriculture, education, health, housing, the welfare of employees, pensioners, and students, the Public Distribution System,
among others, through the Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance (UMANG).
● Up till January 16th 2023, UMANG served roughly 21,869 people throughout 310+ departments of the federal government
and 34 states and UTs.
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● On UMANG, over 4.9 crore users have registered and are receiving services. Up till September 2022, 489 DBT (Direct Benefit
Transfer) programmes were activated on UMANG
One network for digital commerce
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● The existing platform-centric digital commerce model, in which both the buyer and the seller can utilise the same platform or
application for transactions, is what ONDC seeks to improve upon.
Open credit enablement network
● One such set of guidelines that is being heralded as a significant change in the future of lending and borrowing is the Open
Credit Enablement Network (OCEN).
● This is another another positive step towards democratising lending practises and guaranteeing that small borrowers may
take advantage of the best loan terms available.
● Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a system that combines several banking services, smooth fund routing, and merchant
payments into a single mobile application (of any participating bank). The "Peer to Peer" collection request is likewise
catered for; it can be planned and paid for at the convenience of the requestor.
● UPI was responsible for 52% of all 8,840 crore financial digital transactions in FY 22. The rise of UPI-based transactions in
value and volume terms has, on average, been 121 percent and 115 percent, respectively, between FY19 and FY22 (the
calendar year). UPI recently reached its highest-ever peak in December 2022 with 782 crore transactions totaling 12.8 lakh
crore.
.
Mission drone shakti

● Drone start-ups and Drone-as-a-Service (DrAAS) are being fostered under the "Drone Shakti" mission. Nearly 90% of the
airspace has now been designated as a green zone where drones may fly up to 400 feet in the air.
● Both a drone import policy and a production-linked incentive (PLI) plan have been announced.
● Also, over the past four years, private equity investments in the agri-tech sector have increased dramatically, growing by more
than 50% annually to reach an estimated total of $6600 crores.
Conclusion
● One of the key elements of India's future economic story would be the interdependence of its physical and digital
infrastructure.
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The Office of Profit ................................................................................................................................... 34

Legislative Councils ................................................................................................................................... 35

Monuments of National Importance: Sannati ........................................................................................ 61

Indian heritage textile. .............................................................................................................................. 66

Displacement of Tribes ............................................................................................................................. 99

DRAFT OF NCRF RELEASED .................................................................................................................... 133

SSLV launch .............................................................................................................................................. 159

India first private space situational awareness observatory ............................................................... 159

Hybrid immunity ..................................................................................................................................... 178

ChatGpt .................................................................................................................................................... 179

Chestnut winged cuckoo ........................................................................................................................ 213

Neelakurinji sanctuary ............................................................................................................................ 214

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

Bail Reforms in India

the discretion of the court to grant bail in case of non-bailable offences.

Custodial Deaths in India

and violence which could lead to the death of the suspect.

Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System

Article 142 of the Indian Constitution

Legal Services Clinic

Supreme Court clears FCRA changes

consistent with the values of a sovereign democratic republic”.

use for “any activities detrimental to national interest”.

Olga Tellis Judgment

Uniform Civil Code

Christians and Parsi persisted.

Centre- State dispute

Centre-State power struggle over India’s waters

give its verdict in 3 years.

State Legislature and Lotteries

self-regulation code for all their advertisements.

action in the related subjects:

✓ Central Council of Local Government

Inter-State police arrest

Delimitation Exercise in Jammu & Kashmir

Federalism: Unique status of Delhi

Election of President and Vice President

Appointment of ECI members

Representation of People Act 1951

National Party status & Recognised & unrecognized)

Conditions for to be recognised as 'national' party -

ONE candidate one constituency

Remote voting for migrant workers:

Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996

from the forest areas where they live.

governed by British Parliamentary House

The Anti-Defection Law

Reservation in Local Bodies

The Office of Profit

likelihood of such persons succumbing to the wishes of Government.

Legislative Council (LC) vs Rajya Sabha (RS)

o It can be used to delay progressive legislations.

Laws & Bills

law for treating Juvenile as an Adult

Media accreditation guidelines

o Security of the State

o Friendly relations with foreign States

Regulation of digital speech in India

Section 66 IT Act 2000