Daily News Analysis

st
21 March 2024
Topics To be Covered:
✓ Violence Against Women in India
✓ World Happiness Report 2024
✓ 'Profits and Poverty: The Economics of Forced Labour':
ILO
✓ India’s Second Privately Developed Rocket
✓ CDSCO Mandates Online Safety Reporting for Medical
Devices
✓ India to Generate 600 Kilotonnes of Solar Waste by 2030
✓ Global Peace Summit on Ukraine
✓ World Inequality Lab Report
✓ Government notifies Press Information Bureau’s Fact
Check Unit under IT Rules
✓ Guidelines On Solid Waste Management In Aquaculture
Units
✓ Personalities in News: Usha Mehta
 Topics
Violence Against Women in India
Subject: GS: 01: Women Issues
Context:
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) presents a concerning picture of the pervasive violence against
women in India, highlighting its intersection with mental health conditions and homelessness.
Violence against Women:
❖ Definition: The UN defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in or
is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts,
coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”.
❖ Occurrence: The issue of violence against women occurs throughout the life cycle from pre-birth, infancy,
childhood, adolescence, adulthood to old age.
❖ A Matter of Concern: The issue of violence against women is a social, economic, developmental, legal,
educational, human right and health (physical and mental) issue.
➢ It is a human rights violation, and the immediate and long-term physical, sexual, and mental
consequences for women and girls can be devastating, including death.
Status of Violence against Women:
❖ UN Data: About the National Family Health Survey (NFHS):
➢ As per UN Women: One in three ❖ A large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a
women worldwide experience representative sample of households throughout India,
physical or sexual violence, mostly by with an objective to collect reliable and up-to-date
an intimate partner. information.
✓ The United Nations Entity for ❖ Conducted by: The Ministry of Health and Family
Gender Equality and the Welfare (MoHFW).
Empowerment of Women is also ➢ Nodal Agency: MoHFW designated the
known as UN Women. International Institute for Population Sciences
➢ As per United Nations Office on (IIPS), Mumbai, as the nodal agency for the surveys.
Drugs and Crime: Globally, 38% of
murders of women are committed by a male
intimate partner.
❖ National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) Data:
➢ Prevalence:
✓ 30% women between the age of 18 and
49 have experienced physical violence
since the age of 15 years, while 6% have
experienced sexual violence in their
lifetime.
✓ Only 14% of women who have
experienced physical or sexual violence
by anyone have brought the issue up.
 ➢ Age and Types of Violence:
✓ Women in the 40-49 age bracket experience more violence than those in the 18-19 category.
✓ 32% of married women (18-49 years) have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional spousal
violence.
✓ The most common type of spousal violence is physical violence (28%), followed by emotional
violence and sexual violence.
➢ Regional Divide:
✓ Domestic violence against women is highest in Karnataka at 48%, followed by Bihar, Telangana,
Manipur and Tamil Nadu.
▪ Lakshawdeep has the least domestic violence at 2.1%.
✓ The experience of physical violence is more common in rural areas (32%) than urban areas (24%).
➢ Impact of Education & Wealth:
✓ Violence declines sharply with increased schooling and wealth – both for the female victim, as
well as the male perpetrator.
✓ Schooling: 40% women with no schooling are subject to physical violence compared to 18% who
completed their schooling.
✓ Wealth: The experience of physical violence ranges between 39% among women in the lowest
wealth quintile and 17% in the highest wealth quintile.
➢ Husband as Perpetrator: In over 80% cases of physical violence against women, the perpetrator is the
husband. It has impact of various following factors:
✓ Education and Alcohol Consumption of husbands significantly impact spousal violence rates.
➢ Interrelation with Mental Health and Homelessness: There is a recursive interaction between violence
against women, homelessness, and mental health almost universally.
➢ Underreporting:
✓ As per WHO, less than 40% of women seek help from family and friends.
✓ Less than 10% seek help by appealing to the police.
Causes of Violence faced by Women:
❖ Gender Disparity: It is one of the major causes of violence against women.
➢ Discriminatory gender norms and gender stereotypes result in structural inequality.
➢ Stereotypes of gender roles have continued over the ages.
❖ Socio-Demographic Factors: Patriarchy is the main cause of violence against women.
➢ If women have a higher economic status than their husbands and are seen as having sufficient power to
change traditional gender roles, risk for violence is high.
❖ Family Factors: Exposure to harsh physical discipline during childhood and witnessing the discriminatory
behaviour between gender roles in childhood is a predictor of victimization and perpetration of violence.
❖ Female Genocide: It causes long-term psychological trauma with increased physical suffering.
❖ Acid Attacks: It has emerged as a cheap and readily accessible weapon against females for various reasons
such as family feuds, inability to meet dowry demands, rejection of marriage proposals, etc.
❖ Honour Killing: In several countries of the world including Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan,
Turkey, and India, women are killed to uphold the honour of the family due to varied reasons such as-alleged
adultery, premarital relationship, rape, etc.
❖ Early Marriages: Early marriage is a form of violence as it undermines the health and autonomy of millions
of girls.
➢ The primary roles thought for women have been marriage and motherhood.
➢ Women must marry because an unmarried, separated or divorced status is a stigma.
❖ Low Education & Sensitivity: Men are more likely to perpetrate violence (and female victims) if they have
low education, a history of child maltreatment, exposure to domestic violence against their mothers, harmful
use of alcohol, unequal gender norms including attitudes accepting of violence, etc.
Legislative Framework addressing Violence against Women in India:
❖ Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005: To protect women from domestic violence,
defined as including physical, emotional, verbal, sexual and economic abuse within the family and the home.
❖ Indian Penal Code (IPC) Amendments: Section 498A of the IPC: To tackle the problem of the large
number of women dying in their homes.
➢ It addresses the subjection of any woman to cruelty (whether mental or physical) of such a nature that
is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health.
➢ Section 304B (2) of the IPC: Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprisonment for
a term which shall not be less than 7 years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life.
❖ Other Key Laws for Women’s Safety in India: The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, The Dowry
Prohibition Act, 1961, The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987, The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and The Indecent Representation of Women
(Prohibition) Act, 1986.
Consequences of Violence against Women:
❖ Health Issues: Violence in any form affects physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health of women with
an adverse affect on their self-esteem, ability to work and make fertility decisions.
❖ Economic Issues: Violence against women poses serious impacts on the economy of the household as well as
of the nation.
➢ Examples: Loss of income, productivity, cost of social services, impact on child well-being,
intergenerational social, psychological cost, etc.
❖ Development Issue: Such violence resists women participation in the workforce, prevents their ability to act
or move freely and hence in development and planning programs.
➢ Violence against women is an obstruction to poverty alleviation programs as it impedes equitable
distribution of resources.
❖ Violation of Constitutional Rights & Values: Any form of Violence against women is against the
fundamental rights under articles 14 (equality before the law and equal protection of the laws), 19 (freedom
of speech), 21 (Protection of Life and Personal Liberty) and 32 (Right to Constitutional Remedies) of the
Indian Constitution.
❖ Impact on Future Generation: Many victims of such violence attempts suicides or escape with their children
and in such an environment they face threats or even received disabilities (if a suicidal attempt got failed during
train jump or self-fire).
➢ Throughout their homelessness, they faced the arduous task of survival, finding food and safe spaces
to rest every day.
 Case Study: Understanding the Interplay of Violence, Mental Health and Homelessness in Women
❖ Survey Findings: Survey at The Banyan (a Mental Health Service Organisation) found that relational
disruptions, often linked to violence, predicted homelessness among womens, even when they had accessed
care for their mental health.
❖ Qualitative Interviews: Women living with mental health conditions reveal that homelessness not only as
a lack of access to care but also as an escape from cycle of violence.
➢ A recurrent theme that emerged was the impact of child sexual abuse and intimate partner violence
on individual mental health and homelessness.
❖ Social Withdrawal: Within the structural barriers of poverty and caste, violence and associated feelings of
loss of agency feature forced an exit from typical relational bonds and home.
❖ Label of Madness to Resist Women: Historically, it has been used to discredit, subjugate and silence
women who are seen as demonstrating undesirable traits (intellectual curiosity, assertiveness and
autonomy).
➢ Examples: Witch trials in the Middle Ages, incarceration of women in asylums, etc.
✓ In contemporary patriarchal society, mostly women and their values are confined within
reproductive roles and docile submission to various forms of violence.
Way Forward:
❖ Establishment for a Support Network: There is a need to recognise and compensate women for their unpaid
labour in household roles and creating the space for women to find supportive networks and alternate family
structures outside that may offer security and refuge.
➢ Example: In India, Emergency Response Support System (112) is a unified emergency number for
immediate assistance in cases of domestic violence.
❖ Ensure Economic Independence: Ensuring access to basic income, housing and land ownership may offer
economic independence and reduce vulnerability to homelessness.
❖ Cultural and Educational Shift: Such values should be embedded in the environment, specially in education
curriculum that helps to counter violence against women and respect equality.
❖ Need for Policies & Interventions: There is a need to implement such policies and interventions that reduce
violence beginning in the formative years itself.
❖ Gender-based Legislation: There is a need to enact and enforce legislation and develop and implement
policies that promote gender equality by ending discrimination against women.
➢ National plans and policies should be formed to address violence against women.
➢ Example: Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is considered the most "progressive blueprint"
for advancing the rights of women.
✓ It is focused on the goals of equality, development and peace for all women everywhere.
❖ Enhancement of Survey & Surveillance Quality: To combat this women violence issue, there is a need to
improve the system of collecting crime surveillance data on violence against women.
➢ Gender based surveys and health surveys should be conducted.
➢ There is a need for a comprehensive and systematic research and analysis on crime against women at
Central, State, district and block level.
❖ Capacity building and training should be prioritised for service providers and law enforcement officers to
handle cases of violence against women.
❖ Provide Counselling & Friendly Mental Health Care Services: There is evidence that advocacy and
empowerment counselling interventions, as well as home visitation are promising in preventing or reducing
intimate partner violence against women.
➢ Affordable and accessible mental healthcare should be the priority for the government. Here, ASHA
workers can play a significant role and is an important step towards women empowerment.
❖ Adopt a Multifaceted Approach:
➢ Need Scrutiny: Instead of addressing root causes rhetorically, there is a need to examine the complex
strands surrounding mental health.
✓ It requires opening up to new avenues, involving diverse professionals, innovative research, and
meaningful involvement of those with lived experiences.
➢ Prioritization of Responses: Prioritizing a range of robust responses can better address the plurality of
needs, especially for high-priority groups such as homeless women.
✓ No single narrative makes for a complete response.
➢ More Knowledge and Understanding: Greater exploration of issues and their influence on mental
health, the role of intersectionality, power asymmetries and the use of feminist standpoint theory in
advancing science and ways of knowing are needed.
Conclusion:
A woman’s right to live free from violence is upheld by international agreements such as the Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the 1993 UN Declaration on the Elimination
of Violence against Women. There is an urgent need for investments to increase proximal access to mental
health care with collective action that can substantively address deep-rooted violence.
Read More About: Elimination of Violence Against Women
News Source: The Hindu

World Happiness Report 2024

Subject: GS: 02: Important Reports and International Institutions
Context:
Recently, the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network released the World Happiness
Report 2024 which ranks countries on the basis of happiness.
More on News:
❖ The International Monetary Fund concurred that while GDP per capita is a “significant predictor of
happiness, but it’s not the only factor”.
➢ “Variables including social support, life expectancy, free-dom, generosity, and the absence of
corruption” explain the happiness of countries.
About World Happiness Report:
❖ An Annual Report: It is an annual report that evaluates happiness levels across more than 140 nations and is
published in celebration of the International Day of Happiness (March 20).
➢ The rankings are from nationally representative samples over three years.
➢ Six Considered Factors: Social support, income (GDP per capita), health, freedom, generosity and
the absence of corruption.
➢ Use of Cantril ladder: They also measured people’s life satisfaction, through a self-assessed evaluation
tool called the Cantril ladder.
 ✓ The Cantril Ladder asks respondents to think of a ladder, with the best possible life for them being
a 10 and the worst possible life being a 0.
❖ Source of Data: Data is sourced from various outlets, including the Gallup World Poll.
➢ Collaborators include the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Gallup, and the Oxford
Wellbeing Research Centre.
❖ Significance: It reflects a worldwide demand for more attention to happiness and well-being as criteria for
government policy. It reviews the state of happiness in the world today and shows how the science of
happiness explains personal and national variations in happiness.

Crucial Insights of the World Happiness Report 2024:

❖ Top 10 Happiness Rankings:
➢ Worldwide: Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg,
Switzerland and Australia.
✓ The top 10 countries in the list have remained the same since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
➢ In Asia: Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, China
and Mongolia.
❖ Nordic Countries Dominate Top Ranks:
➢ Finland, Denmark and Iceland retain their top positions at first, second and third place, respectively.
Sweden followed closely at fourth.
➢ Costa Rica and Lithuania have broken into the top 20 list for the first time, securing ranks 12 and 19,
respectively.
❖ Afghanistan Remains Least Happy Country:
➢ Afghanistan retained its status as
the unhappiest country in the world
followed by Lebanon, Lesotho,
Sierra Leone and Congo.
❖ A High (5th) Rank Secured by Israel:
➢ Despite ongoing conflicts, Israel
secures the fifth position in the
report.
➢ Reason: It is due to the three-year
averaging method used in the
rankings, which mitigates the
immediate impact of cataclysmic
events such as the war with Hamas.
✓ A cataclysmic event is one
that changes a situation or
society very greatly, especially
in an unpleasant way.
❖ Noticeable Shifts: For the first time,
happiest nations no longer include any
of the world’s largest countries, with
only the Netherlands and Australia with
populations exceeding 15 million within
the top 10, and Canada and the UK with
populations over 30 million within the
top 20.
➢ The U.S. missed in the top 20 list, a first in 12 years of the report’s publication.
❖ Benevolence Levels: It means how likely people are to help others in need, as feelings of social support
factor into life satisfaction.
➢ There is a post-COVID increase in how benevolent people are across all generations, particularly those
born after 1980, the Millennials and Generation Z “who are even more likely than their predecessors to
help others in need”.
❖ A Shift in Happiness Dynamics: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland (all Nordic nations),
ranked the highest, while the opposite trend was observed in Portugal and Greece.
About International Happiness Day:
❖ Observed On: 20th March every year.
❖ Established: By the United Nations General Assembly on 28 June 2012, to make people around the world
realize the importance of happiness within their lives.
❖ Theme 2024: “Reconnecting for Happiness: Building Resilient Communities”
❖ Significance: It focuses on highlighting the meaning of happiness in making objectives and aspirations
for individuals and driving them to have a better life. It likewise promotes sustainable development,
general prosperity and elimination of poverty.
 ❖ Background: The General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 66/281 of 12 July 2012
proclaimed 20 March the International Day of Happiness.
➢ The resolution was initiated by Bhutan, a country which recognized the value of national happiness
over national income since the early 1970s and famously adopted the goal of Gross National Happiness
over Gross National Product.
About Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN):
❖ It is a non-profit created in 2012 by the United Nations to promote the 17 Sustainable Development
Goals at national and international levels.
❖ Establishment: It was established under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General.
India’s Ranking:
❖ India ranked at 126 place (same as last year). India’s Position on Elder Population:
➢ India lags behind its neighbouring countries like ❖ India holds the second position (only after
China at 60, followed by Nepal at 93, Pakistan at China) globally in terms of its elderly
108 and Myanmar at 118. population, with 140 million individuals
❖ Aged 30 and Below: India ranked at 127th spot. aged 60 and above.
➢ Aged 60 and Above: India ranked at 121st spot. ❖ While this demographic shift signifies
Here, older age is associated with higher life advancements in social and economic
satisfaction. spheres, comprehending the factors that
➢ Older Indian Women: They tend to report higher impact the quality of life during old age
life satisfaction compared to men, despite facing remains paramount.
more stressors and health challenges.
➢ Older Indian Men: Particularly those in higher age brackets, presently married, and those with an
education, tend to report greater life satisfaction compared to their counterparts.
❖ Numerous elements, including marital status, social interaction, and physical well-being, impact the life
contentment of elderly Indians.
➢ Women often have broader social networks.
❖ Among older Indians, factors such as dissatisfaction with living arrangements, perceived discrimination
and poor self-rated health are linked to lower life satisfaction.
❖ Correlation Between Caste Divisions And Life Satisfaction: It highlights that life satisfaction was higher
among non-schedule caste (SC) and non-schedule-tribe (ST) than their SC-ST peers.
❖ Impact of Education & Caste: Education and caste played key roles, with older adults with higher education
and those of higher social castes reporting higher life satisfaction than their counterparts without formal
education and those from SCs and STs.
❖ Regional Variations: Regionally, older adults from Western parts of India were much happier than those
living in north-eastern or central regions.
Arising Concerns in the Report:
❖ Widening Gap: Worldwide, women were less happy than men in every region, with the gender gap widening
as they aged.
➢ The report raises concerns regarding the escalating disparity in happiness worldwide, particularly
among older individuals and in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting discrepancies in income, education,
healthcare, and social support systems.
➢ Happiness inequality is widening in every region except Europe, increasing by more than 20% over
the past dozen years.
❖ Happiness Trends among Different Age Groups: This was the first edition that looked at the intersectionality
of life satisfaction with age and generations.
➢ Aged 30 and Below: Lithuania, Israel, Serbia, Iceland and Denmark ranked in the top five, with
Finland at the seventh rank.
➢ Aged 60 and Above: Denmark claims the top spot for those over 60.
❖ Decline in Children’s Happiness: Alarmingly, the report highlights a decline in children's happiness,
particularly in North America and Western Europe.
➢ There is an urgent need for policy Finland’s Actions Towards Top on the Happiness:
action to address this concerning trend. ❖ Finland's high life satisfaction to the residents' strong
❖ Loneliness, a Significant Issue: Loneliness connection to nature and a healthy work-life balance.
emerges as a significant issue, particularly ❖ They prioritise aspects beyond financial gain, benefitting
in the US. Surprisingly, it is the younger from a robust welfare society, trust in government
generation, particularly Millennials, who institutions, low corruption levels, and universal
report higher levels of loneliness compared healthcare and education.
to older demographics.
➢ Millennials: The term used to describe a person born between 1981 and 1996, though different sources
can vary by a year or two.
Challenges with the Report:
❖ Implicit Focus on Resources: The Report uses “happiness” and “life satisfaction” interchangeably, thus tying
happiness scores with one’s access to economic and
❖ Department of Happiness: Madhya
social resources.
Pradesh is the first state in India to have a
❖ Self-Declaration: Life satisfaction in the study is self- department solely dedicated to promoting
reported, thus there always remains the possibility of happiness and well-being.
misreporting due to the fear of social stigma.
Conclusion:
❖ As rightly observed by the Dalai Lama, “the purpose of our lives is to be happy”, there is an urgent need to
address all those issues which hamper happiness.
❖ India also needs to work upon in this direction by adopting the practices of Finland that help it to be on the
top list and countering the challenges where India is lacking in this list.
❖ India needs to establish a Ministry of Happiness with academicians, economists, psychologists and social
thinkers to map the road to happiness forever.
News Source: The Hindu

'Profits and Poverty: The Economics of Forced Labour': ILO

Subject: GS:03: Economy
Context:
According to a research paper, titled 'Profits and Poverty: The Economics of Forced Labour', released by the
International Labour Organisation (ILO), forced labor earns illegal earnings of $36 billion each year.
About Bonded Labour:
❖ Definition: A person becomes a bonded laborer when their labor is demanded as a means of repayment for a
loan.
➢ The person is then tricked or trapped into working for very little or no pay.
❖ Constitutional Provisions:
Bonded labor is prohibited in
India by law vide Articles 21
and 23 of the Constitution
❖ Laws Governing Bonded
Labour: Bonded labor is a type
of contemporary slavery that has
been prohibited in India since
1976, when the Bonded Labour
System (Abolition) Act was
enacted.
❖ Data on Bonded Labour in
India: According to Union government figures, 315,302 persons were released from bonded work between
1978 and January 2023, with 94% of them rehabilitated.
Key Findings of the Research
❖ Earning Estimates of Traffickers: About International Labour Organization (ILO)
Traffickers and criminals earn close to ❖ About: It was established in 1919 as part of the Treaty
$10,000 per victim, up from $8,269 of Versailles that concluded World War I, to reflect the
(adjusted for inflation) a decade earlier. notion that universal and enduring peace can only be
❖ Contribution of Forced Commercial achieved through social justice.
Sexual Exploitation: The survey also said ❖ Goal: To promote social justice and internationally
that forced commercial sexual exploitation recognised human and labor rights, based on its basic goal
contributes for more than two-thirds (73%) that labor peace is critical to prosperity.
of overall illicit profits, despite accounting ❖ Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
for only 27% of all victims in privately ❖ Member States: The ILO has 187 state members.
imposed work. ➢ Status of India in ILO: India was a founding
❖ Data on Forced Labour: There were 27.6 member of the International Labour Organisation
million individuals involved in forced labor and has served as a permanent member of its
on any given day in 2021, which equates to Governing Body since 1922.
3.5 people for every 1,000 people ❖ Flagship reports:
worldwide. ➢ Global Wage Report
❖ Increased Investments in Enforcement ➢ World of Work Report
Measures: The report also emphasizes the critical need for increased investment in enforcement measures to
halt unlawful profit flows and hold criminals accountable.
Recommendation:
❖ Strengthening of Legal Frameworks: It has advocated for stronger legal frameworks, training for
enforcement officers, expanding labor inspection into high-risk areas, and improving coordination between
labor and criminal law enforcement.
❖ Enforcement actions: Enforcement actions must be part of a comprehensive approach that prioritizes
addressing root causes and safeguarding victims.
❖ Promoting Worker Freedom and Collective Bargaining: Ensuring the freedom of workers to associate and
to bargain collectively is also essential to building resilience to the risks of forced labor.
News Source: The Hindu
India’s Second Privately Developed Rocket
Subject: GS:03: Science & Technology
Context:
Chennai’s space start-up launched its first rocket Agnibaan Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator
(SOrTeD) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, on 22 March.
More on News
❖ Agnibaan would be India’s second privately developed rocket to be launched. It has been
developed by Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited.
❖ Vikram-S launched in 2022, was India’s first privately-developed rocket which lifted off from
the ISRO launch pad in Sriharikota.
➢ It was developed by Hyderabad-based start-up Skyroot Aerospace Private Limited, under
the mission titled Prarambh.
Key Features of Agniban-SOrTED:
❖ Single-Piece 3D printed engine: Agnibaan features the world’s first single piece 3D printed
engine designed and built indigenously, showcasing advanced manufacturing techniques.
❖ Semi-Cryogenic Engine: It is a single-stage launch vehicle demonstration that will be powered
by a semi-cryogenic engine, the Agnilet.
❖ Closed-loop feedback guidance feature: This sub-orbital mission employs a complete stack of closed-loop
feedback guidance and control, featuring gimballed thrust vector control for precise navigation.
➢ It is not merely a sounding rocket.
❖ ELaborate Safety Protocols: This is the first private space mission in India to include a flight termination
system and a meticulously calculated safety radius, based on extensive worst-case scenario simulations.
❖ Testing Crucial Spaceflight Components: The mission aims to confirm the functionality of the guidance,
control, navigation system, launch release hold mechanism, and other critical operations necessary for full
orbital flight, excluding stage separation.
Role of Tamil Nadu in Space Sector:
❖ Development of Minor Parts: Several companies and MSME’s from Tamil Nadu have contributed to the
development of minor parts for several prestigious launches, including Chandrayaan-3.
❖ Vendor Base for ISRO: Tamil Nadu hosts numerous companies that form part of ISRO's vendor base,
providing a wide array of services such as design, R&D, simulation, material and propellant supply, as well as
mechanical and structural manufacturing.
❖ Presence of Notable Private Sector Companies: Prominent private sector players like Agnikul, Data Patterns,
and L&T have a significant presence in the state.
➢ For instance, Data Patterns has evolved from a sub-system manufacturer to a complete satellite
manufacturer and is a reliable supplier to ISRO.
➢ L&T, operating in Coimbatore, manufactures rocket motors for ISRO.
➢ AgniKul Cosmos, incubated at IIT Madras, is noted for its innovative contributions to the sector.
❖ Development of Space Parks: Tamil Nadu is bolstering its space sector infrastructure by establishing two
new space parks near the upcoming space port in Kulasekarapattinam.
❖ These parks will focus on space-related manufacturing and propellant production, addressing the critical needs
of space organizations.
News Source: The Hindu
CDSCO Mandates Online Safety Reporting for Medical Devices
Subject: GS-03: Science and Technology
Context:
❖ The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has mandated that manufacturers of
medical devices and in-vitro devices submit their safety reports online.
❖ In vitro diagnostic medical devices are tests used on biological samples to determine the status of a person's
health.
More on News:
❖ Online Submission of PSUR: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO):
directive, issued by the Drugs Controller ❖ Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
General of India (DGCI), has directed the ❖ Mandate: It is responsible for ensuring quality drugs
online submission of Period Safety supply across the country.
Update Reports (PSUR), aimed at ❖ DGCI has authority to give approval to new drugs and to
improving post-market surveillance data regulate clinical trials.
evaluation.
❖ Overhauling Drug Regulation: This is part of efforts to overhaul India's drug regulation framework and
enhance safety transparency.
❖ Launch of NSWS: To simplify operations for the medical device industry, CDSCO had launched the National
Single Window System (NSWS) on 1 January 2024.
➢ This platform, aligned with the Medical Devices Rules of 2017, was developed by the central government
to create a one-stop shop for all investor permissions, facilitating business processes.
➢ The NSWS encompasses all required permits and clearances.
❖ Period Safety Update Reports (PSUR): A PSUR is a vital pharmacovigilance document that assesses the
risk-benefit balance of a drug product after its authorization, providing a comprehensive analysis based
on all available information, including new data.
➢ This report determines whether additional studies are necessary or if modifications are needed.
News Source: Live mint

India to Generate 600 Kilotonnes of Solar Waste by 2030

Subject: GS-03: Economy
Context:
A recent study ‘Enabling a Circular Economy in India’s Solar Industry – Assessing the Solar Waste
Quantum’ has been conducted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
More on News:
❖ The study has been done in collaboration with the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW)
has estimated concerning predictions about India's solar waste.
What is Solar waste?
❖ Solar waste is defined as the waste which is generated during the manufacturing of solar modules and
waste from the field during a project's lifetime.
❖ The study categorizes solar waste into manufacturing waste and field waste
➢ In the manufacturing stage, there are two kinds of waste:
✓ Scraps created during production and
✓ Waste resulting from PV modules that don't meet quality standards.
 ➢ Waste from the field has three main sources:
✓ Waste generated during transportation and handling, where damaged modules are classified as waste.
✓ Waste resulting from damage sustained by solar modules during their operational lifespan.
✓ Disposal of modules when they reach the end of their usable life and are no longer functional.
Pros of addressing solar waste Challenges in addressing solar waste
❖ They safeguard renewable ecosystems ❖ High initial cost.
❖ Create green jobs ❖ Limited recycling infrastructure
❖ Enhance mineral security ❖ Short lifespan of solar panels
❖ Foster innovation ❖ Rise in pollution due to toxic chemicals
❖ Promotes sustainable development and heavy metals into the environment.
❖ A circular solar industry and responsible waste management
will maximise resource efficiency and make domestic
supply chains resilient
Key findings of the study
❖ Current Capacity and Waste:
➢ Current Capacity and Past
Waste: India's existing
installed capacity of 66.7
GW (as of FY23) has already
produced approximately 100
kilotonnes of waste.
➢ 2030 Waste Projection:
This waste is projected to
increase significantly to 340
kilotonnes by 2030.
❖ Cumulative Waste Projections:
➢ Rise in cumulative waste:
The cumulative solar waste
from both existing and new capacity deployment, between FY24 and FY30, is estimated to reach about
600 kilotonnes by 2030.
➢ Rise in waste due to new capacities: By 2050,600 kilotonnes is projected to rise significantly to
approximately 19,000 kilotonnes, with 77% generated from new capacities.
❖ Mineral Composition in Discarded Modules:
➢ Minerals in solar waste: Discarded solar modules contain critical minerals such as silicon, copper,
tellurium, and cadmium.
✓ By 2030, expected solar waste will include 10 kilotonnes of silicon, 12-18 tonnes of silver, and 16
tonnes of cadmium and tellurium.
➢ Significance of minerals; These minerals play major roles in various industries and are significant for
India's economic development and national security.
❖ Major States of Solar Waste Production
➢ In India, 67% of solar waste is Concentrated in Five States.
✓ These states are Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
❖ Reasons for Concentration:
➢ High solar capacity: These
states currently possess a
higher solar capacity
compared to others.
✓ Therefore, they are
expected to generate a
larger amount of solar
waste.
❖ Expansion of Solar Capacity in
Targeted States:
➢ Plan for Extension of solar
capacity: The five high solar
producing states have plans for extensive expansion of their solar capacity in the coming years.
✓ This expansion can cause a higher rate of solar waste production from these states.
Recommendations to Manage Solar Waste
❖ Database Maintenance:
➢ Policymakers are urged to maintain a comprehensive database of installed solar capacity to estimate future
solar waste accurately.
❖ Incentivizing Recyclers:
➢ Policymakers should provide incentives to recyclers to encourage effective management of growing solar
waste.
❖ Creating a Market for Solar Recycling:
➢ India has been urged to focus on establishing a market for solar recycling
➢ Solar waste can be generated through other ways too. Therefore, Solar waste generation is not just a future
problem but a current concern that requires immediate attention.
❖ Approaches to Recycling: The report indicated two ways for recycling solar panels.
➢ Conventional Recycling:
✓ It is also known as bulk material recycling.
✓ It Involves mechanical processes like crushing, sieving, and shearing of waste.
✓ While it can recycle materials like glass, aluminium, and copper, valuable materials like silver and
silicon cannot be recovered through this method.
➢ High-Value Recycling:
✓ It uses a combination of mechanical, chemical, and thermal processes for recycling.
✓ Unlike conventional methods, high-value recycling can recover materials like silver and silicon
through chemical processes.
News Source: Indian Express

Global Peace Summit on Ukraine

Subject : GS:02: International Relations
Context:
Recently, the Indian Prime Minister held a telephonic conversation with the President of Russia and President of
Ukraine. He was Invited to the Upcoming Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.
Global Peace Summit on Ukraine
❖ Hosted by (Proposed): Switzerland Ukraine 10 Point Peace Plan.
❖ Aim and Agenda of the Summit: ❖ Radiation and nuclear safety,
➢ The summit aims to convene world ❖ Food security,
leaders with the primary agenda of ❖ Energy security,Release of all prisoners and deportees,
discussing strategies to halt Russia's including war prisoners and children deported to Russia.,
ongoing invasion of Ukraine. ❖ Restoration of Territorial Integrity & Implementation of
➢ It will help to demonstrate global UN Charter,
unity to advocate for a resolution to ❖ Withdrawal of Russian troops and End of Hostilities.,
the conflict ❖ Justice, War tribunal & Repatriations,
➢ Invited Nations from the Global ❖ Ecocide, protection of environment, with focus on
South to ensure diverse demining and restoring water treatment facilities.,
representation and perspectives at the ❖ Humanitarian Aid, Prevention of escalation of conflict,
summit. and building security architecture
➢ It will be largely focused On Ukraine ❖ Dialogue & Diplomacy
10 Point Peace Plan.
➢ The Swiss government has acknowledged the request and is currently in the process of finalizing
additional details for the summit's organization and execution.
Additional Reading: Russia-Ukraine War
News Source: Indian Express

World Inequality Lab Report

Subject: GS:03: Economics
Context:
According to a report titled as "Billionaire Raj" published by the World Inequality Lab (WIL), India's top 1%
will have the greatest income and wealth shares in history in 2022-23, at 22.6% and 40.1%, respectively.
More on News: About World Inequality Lab:
❖ Four economics experts, Nitin Kumar Bharti, ❖ About: The World Inequality Lab (WIL) is a research
Lucas Chancel, Thomas Piketty, and Anmol facility of the Paris School of Economics.
Somanchi, created time series data on income ❖ Objective: To foster research in global inequality
and wealth inequality in India. dynamics.
Key Highlights from the Working Paper ❖ Collaboration: It collaborates closely with a wide
Published by the WIL: international network of scholars (more than 100
❖ It claimed that the country had become more researchers from almost 70 countries) who contribute
unequal than the British Raj. to the database.
❖ Findings of the Report: The top 1%' income and wealth shares in India reached their greatest historical
levels in 2022-23, at 22.6% and 40.1%, respectively.
➢ The paper stated that India's top 1% income share is among the highest in the world, surpassing even
South Africa, Brazil, and the United States.
➢ India's top 1% has a lower wealth share than South Africa and Brazil.
❖ Disparity among Income Groups: The paper also emphasizes the degree of difference between different
economic classes.
 ➢ According to the paper, the top 1% has an average wealth of Rs 5.4 crore, which is 40 times the average
Indian.
➢ However, the lowest 50% and middle 40% had Rs 1.7 lakh (0.1 times national average) and Rs 9.6
lakh (0.7 times national average), respectively.
Key Suggestions in the Working Paper:
❖ Estimates from Multiple Sources: The paper's estimates of income and wealth disparity are based on
numerous sources.
➢ There are no official income estimates or survey-based wealth data in India.
❖ Policy Recommendations: The research makes several policy recommendations to alleviate India's inequality
problem.
➢ They include tax reform that takes into account both income and wealth, as well as broad-based public
spending in health, education, and nutrition.
❖ Imposition of Super Tax: According to the research, a "super tax" of 2% on the net wealth of the top 167
families in 2022-23 would generate 0.5% of national income in revenue.
➢ Benefit of Super Tax: It would also free up valuable fiscal space to support such expenditures, in addition
to functioning as a weapon for combating inequality.
Probable reasons for sharp rise in top 1 percent income shares
❖ Role of Capital Incomes: Wage growth in the public and private sectors until the late 1990s, followed by
the increasing role of capital incomes.
❖ Lack of Quality Education: Lack of quality, broad-based education focused on the masses has contributed
to the depressed income shares of the bottom 50 percent and the middle 40 percent.
❖ Widening Income Disparity Post-Liberalization
➢ Impact of Liberalization: The income gap between the top 10% and the middle 40% widened
significantly post-liberalization in the 1990s, leading to a sharp increase in income inequality.
➢ Steady Decline of Bottom 50%: Despite marginal increases in the 1980s, the income share of the
bottom 50% has steadily fallen, exacerbating socioeconomic disparities.
News Source: The Indian Express

Government notifies Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit under

IT Rules
Subject: GS:02: Polity
Context:
The Centre has notified Fact Check Unit (FCU) under the Press Information Bureau (PIB) to flag
misinformation about Central government departments to social media platforms.
More on News:
❖ In 2023, the Centre amended the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media
Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
➢ The amendment included a provision for a Fact Check Unit to flag fake, false or misleading online content
related to the government.
➢ The Supreme court said the matter concerns freedom of speech and Expression, adding that the
notification must be put on hold.
About Fact Check Unit:
❖ Legal Backing: The Fact Check Unit's mandate has
its origin from the IT Rules of 2021, which state
that social media sites risk losing legal liability
protections if they fail to address detected
misinformation swiftly.
❖ Statutory body: The Union Electronics and
Information Technology Ministry has designated the
FCU as a statutory body within the Press
Information Bureau.
❖ Powers of FCU: The FCU has the authority to
identify what it perceives to be wrong information
about the Central government and its agencies on
social media sites.
Key highlights of the FCU
❖ Function of Fact-Checking Unit
➢ Determination of Information: The unit will
determine whether internet information about
the Central Government is accurate or not.
➢ Identification of Fake Content: The body will
be able to identify government-related content
on online platforms like Facebook and Twitter
as "fake" or "misleading".
❖ Mandate of the Fact Check Unit
➢ Removal of Content: Content flagged by the
unit must be removed if they want to keep their'safe harbour,' which is legal immunity from third-party
content.
➢ Blocking of URL: Social media
platforms must remove such posts, and
internet service providers must block
URLs to such content.
❖ Operational Framework
➢ Reporting Authority: The Unit reports
to the Principal Director General of the
PIB, who also serves as the Government
of India's Principal Spokesperson.
➢ Headed by: The unit is headed by a
senior director general/additional
director general level officer of the
Indian Information Service (IIS) and its
day-to-day operations are handled by
IIS officers at various levels.
Fact Check Mechanism
❖ Handling Queries: Users submit requests via WhatsApp, email, or a web portal, which are handled as
'Queries' by the Unit.
❖ Process of Verification: Actionable Queries for the Government of India are thoroughly verified utilising
official sources and technological tools.
❖ Fact Check Publication: Verified information is categorized as Fake, Misleading, or True and shared on the
Unit's social media platforms to raise awareness.
Categories of Fact-Checked Content
❖ Fake: Factually incorrect information intentionally or unintentionally disseminated to deceive or manipulate
the audience.
❖ Misleading: Information presented with partial truths, selective facts, or distortion to mislead recipients.
❖ True: Information verified to be factually accurate after rigorous investigation.
Additional Reading: The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code)
Rules, 2021 (IT Rules)
News Source: HT

Guidelines On Solid Waste Management In Aquaculture Units

Subject: GS: 02: Governance
Context:
Recently, the government has introduced new guidelines for solid waste management in coastal aquaculture units
to promote sustainable practices in the aquaculture sector.
More on News:
❖ The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFADH) published the regulations that
advocate reducing and managing waste across all stages of production, including hatcheries, farms, and
breeding centres.
Challenge of Solid Waste Management In Aquaculture Units:
❖ Concerning Data: According to a report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India produces
over 62 mn tonnes (MT) of waste in a year.
➢ Untreated Waste: Most of the waste generated remains untreated and even unaccounted for. Only 43 MT
of the total generated waste gets collected, with 12 MT being treated before disposal, and the remaining
31 MT discarded in waste yards.
❖ Concerns: Inadequate waste collection, transport, treatment, and disposal have become major causes of
environmental and public health concerns in India.
❖ Need for Guidelines: To counter growing concerns over the environmental impact of coastal aquaculture,
which can contribute to rising levels of pollution if not managed effectively.
About Guidelines On Solid Waste Management In Aquaculture Units:
❖ Deals With: To delineate protocols spanning from waste handling to prohibiting its burning.
❖ Aim: To minimize waste generation and ensure its responsible disposal.
❖ Provisions:
➢ A Systemic Approach: To identify, categorize, and manage waste streams effectively.
➢ Responsibility: Each unit will have to assess waste generation, segregate solid waste into biodegradable,
non-biodegradable, and hazardous categories, and provide adequate bins for segregation.
 ➢ Actions Required: The facility managers will have to plan waste transportation and implement reuse
or recycling measures to minimize environmental impact.
➢ Ban on Plastic Burning: The guidelines also impose a ban on the burning of plastic.
✓ Plastics of any grade shall not be burnt at any time by the units, and shall be handed over to the
local body or the appointed agency.
➢ In-house Sewage Treatment Plants: Larger units generating significant sewage are also required to
operate in-house sewage treatment plants meeting Pollution Control Board standards.
➢ Methods Recommended: Various methods such as fermentation and composting are recommended for
biological waste management.
✓ Incineration of old or dead animals is advised in certain facilities.
➢ Adherence to Safety Norms: Storing of fuel, oil, and lubricants must adhere to legal requirements, with
regular maintenance and staff training to prevent spills and ensure safety compliance.
❖ Emphasis On: The importance of temporary storage and proper disposal.
➢ Each unit is required to maintain adequate temporary storage capacity to handle different categories
of waste effectively.
➢ Recyclable Non-degradable Waste: It can be stored and periodically sold or handed over to recyclers
based on storage facility capacity and disposal schedules.
➢ Designated Space for Landfill Disposal: Units will also have to create designated spaces for landfill
disposal.
❖ Challenge: The real challenge lies in the effective implementation of guidelines.
➢ Despite existing principles, pollution persists, indicating gaps in enforcement.
❖ Need To Do: The government should impose stringent penalties and robust enforcement measures to
ensure the guidelines are adhered to effectively.
News Source: Business Standard
Personalities in News:
Usha Mehta
Context:
"Ae Watan Mere Watan," movie was released recently based on the biography
of Usha Mehta.
About Usha Mehta:
❖ Usha Mehta was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Quit
India Movement for contributing to the freedom struggle.
❖ Method of Struggle:
➢ She was instrumental in establishing Congress Radio, an
underground radio station that operated during the Quit India Movement in 1942.
Setting up an underground station:
❖ Need: At the advent of the War in 1939, the British had suspended all amateur radio licenses across the
Empire.
➢ Operators were supposed to turn in all equipment to the authorities, with severe punishment for those who
failed to do so.
 ➢ To spread the message of Independence: Launched as part of the Quit India Movement, Congress
Radio was one of the earliest radio networks established in India.
➢ It was used by Gandhiji to spread the message of Independence.
❖ Organizers: Alongside Usha Mehta, Babubhai Khakar, Vithalbhai Jhaveri, and Chandrakant Jhaveri
Nariman Printer, etc. were key figures in organising Congress Radio.
❖ Congress Radio Case: The trial of the five accused in the Congress Radio case: Mehta, Babubhai Khakar,
Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, and Nanak Gainchand Motwane (who sold key pieces of equipment
to the team) generated a lot of excitement in Bombay.
➢ Acquitted: Vithalbhai and Motwane were acquitted,
➢ Punishments: Usha Mehta, Babubhai, and Chandrakant received stern sentences.
❖ Released from Jail: Usha Mehta was released from Pune’s Yerawada Jail in March 1946, and hailed in the
nationalist media as “Radio-ben”.
❖ Recognition: The Union Government conferred upon her the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest
civilian honour, in 1998.
❖ Death: She passed away after a brief illness in 2000.
Background of Quit India Movement: Do or Die
❖ Launched on: August 8, 1942.
❖ Slogan of ‘Do or Die’: by Mahatma Gandhi at Bombay’s Gowalia Tank maidan.
❖ Method of Struggle: Mass civil disobedience, massive public demonstrations calling for the end of British
rule, acts of public sabotage, and even the setting up of parallel governments in certain regions.
❖ British Response: Britishers were already stretched due to World War II.
➢ They arrested many protestors in response.
➢ The Congress’ senior leadership, including Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Vallabhai Patel, were put
in prison by August 9 itself, and the party was banned.
❖ Result: A new crop of younger leaders took the lead, sustaining the QIM even amidst brutal repression by
colonial authorities.
News Source: Indian Express
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