ಕಾಸರಗೋಡು ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಹೋರಾಟಕ್ಕೆ ಜಯ: ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರಕ್ಕೆ 'ಭಾಷಾ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಸ್ಥಾನಮಾನ' ನೀಡಿದ ಕೇರಳ ಸರ್ಕಾರ

ಕೇರಳ ಗಡಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆ ಕಾಸರಗೋಡಿನ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಪಾಲಿಗಿದು ದೊಡ್ದ ಜಯವೇ ಸರಿ! ಕಾಸರಗೋಡು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆ ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರ ತಾಲೂಕು ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶವನ್ನು " ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಪ್ರದೇಶ" ಎಂಬುದಾಗಿ ಕೇರಳ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಘೋಷಣೆ ಮಾಡಿದೆ.

ಕಾಸರಗೋಡು: ಕೇರಳ ಗಡಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆ ಕಾಸರಗೋಡಿನ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಪಾಲಿಗಿದು ದೊಡ್ದ ಜಯವೇ ಸರಿ! ಕಾಸರಗೋಡು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆ ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರ ತಾಲೂಕು ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶವನ್ನು " ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಪ್ರದೇಶ " ಎಂಬುದಾಗಿ ಕೇರಳ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಘೋಷಣೆ ಮಾಡಿದೆ. ಈ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರ ತಾಲ್ಲೂಕಿಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಪ್ರದೇಶ ಸ್ಥಾನಮಾನವನ್ನು ನೀಡಿ ಕೇರಳ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಆದೇಶ ಹೊರಡಿಸಿದೆ.

ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಪ್ರದೇಶವಾದ ಕಾಸರಗೋಡವನ್ನು ವಿಭಜಿಸುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರನನ್ನು ಪ್ರತ್ಯೇಕ ತಾಲೂಕಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿತ್ತಾದರೂ ಆ ವೇಳೆ  ಭಾಷಾ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಸ್ಥಾನಮಾನವನ್ನು ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರಕ್ಕೆ ನೀಡಲಾಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಇದರಿಂದಾಗಿ ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಕೆಲ ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯಗಳಿಂದ ವಂಚಿತರಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಇದನ್ನು ಗಮನದಲ್ಲಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ಪ್ರದೇಶ  ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಮಿತಿಯ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಮತ್ತು ವಕೀಲ ಕೆ ಎಂ ಬಳ್ಳಕುರಾಯ2014 ರಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರ ತಾಲ್ಲೂಕಿಗೆ ಈ ಸ್ಥಾನಮಾನ ನೀಡುವ ಕುರಿತು ಹೋರಾಟಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಂದಾಗಿದ್ದರು.  ಈ ಬೇಡಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜ್ಯ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತರ ಸಮಿತಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಕ್ರಿಯವಾಗಿ ಚರ್ಚಿಸಲಾಗಿ ಇದರ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ, ಮುಷ್ಕರಗಳು ಸಹ ನಡೆದಿದ್ದವು. 

ಇಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲದೆ . ಒಂದು ನಿಯೋಗವು ತಿರುವನಂತಪುರಂಗೆ ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡಿ ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರವನ್ನು ಭಾಷಾ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಪ್ರದೇಶವೆಂದು ಘೋಷಿಸುವ ಅಗತ್ಯತೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಮನವರಿಕೆ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಟ್ಟಿತು. ಇದಾಗಿ ಕಳೆದ ಆರು ತಿಂಗಳಿನಿಂದ  ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾಕಿ ಉಳಿದಿದ್ದ ಈ ವಿಷಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ದಾಖಲೆಗಳಿದ್ದ ಕಡತವು ಇದೀಗ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಯವರ ಸಹಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಮರಳಿದೆ. ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಇನ್ನು ಮುಂದೆ ಕೇರಳದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷಾ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಗದಿನಾಡ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ. 

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ಯಾವುದೇ ಬಹುಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಮಲಯಾಳಿ ಜನರು ಈ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗದ ರೀಇ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಜಾಗರೂಕರಾಗಿರಬೇಕಿದೆ. ಐದೇ ಉದ್ದೇಶದಿಂದ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ನಡೆಸಬೇಕು.ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯರು ಕಾಸರ್‌ಗೋಡು ಡ್ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಭಾಷಾ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತರು ತಮಗೆ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಅನುಕೂಲ ಸಿಕ್ಕದಿರುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಆರೋಪಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.ಇಲ್ಲಿನ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡ-ತಿಳಿದಿರುವ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ ಇರಬೇಕು ಎಂಬ ನಿಯಮವಿದ್ದರೂ, ಮಲಯಾಳಿ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಇದನ್ನು ವಿರೋಧಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಭಾಷಾ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಪ್ರದೇಶದ ಪ್ರೌ ಢ ಶಾಲಾ ಮುಖ್ಯೋಪಾಧ್ಯಾಯರು, ಸಹಾಯಕ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಜಿಲ್ಲಾ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಮೀಸಲಿಡಲಾಗಿದೆ ಆದರೆ ಬಹುಸಂಖ್ಯಾತರಿರುವ  ಹಾಗೂ ಅವರು ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಸುವ  ಸಂಘಗಳು ಈ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಕಸಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಿಸುತ್ತಿವೆ. ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ತಮ್ಮ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಕನ್ನಡ ಮಧ್ಯಮ ಶಾಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಧ್ಯಯನ ಮಾಡುವುದನ್ನು ಖಾತ್ರಿಪಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಮೂಲಕ ತಮ್ಮ ಹಿತಾಸಕ್ತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಪೂರೈಸಿಕೊಳ್ಲಲು ಇದು ಅನುಕೂಲವಾಗಲಿದೆ. 

India Meteorological Department

India Meteorological Department

Prelims- Geography

1. The India Meteorological Department’s Regional Meteorological Centre has started including cities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in its forecasts.

2. The IMD has started including Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad, which are parts of PoK, under the Jammu and Kashmir meteorological sub-division.

3. India has maintained that the area under PoK belongs to India.

4. The inclusion of Muzaffarabad and Gilgit-Baltistan follows Pakistan’s Supreme Court order allowing elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Source: The Hindu

Luhman 16A

Prelims- Science & Technology

1. A group of international astrophysicists have identified cloud bands on the surface of Luhman 16A, one of a pair of binary brown dwarfs in the Vela constellation.

2. They have used an idea put forth by Indian astrophysicist Sujan Sengupta, that the light emitted by a cloudy brown dwarf, or reflected off an extrasolar planet, will be polarised.

3. A polarimetric technique could serve as a potential tool to probe the environment of these objects. The polarisation of brown dwarfs was also detected.

4. They have found the actual structure of the clouds — that they form bands over one of the pairs (Luhman 16A) of brown dwarfs.

5. Understanding the cloud system over a brown dwarf helps to understand the pressure, temperature and climate on the surface of the celestial body.

6. Luhman 16 is a binary star system and is the third closest system to the Sun after Alpha Centauri and Barnard’s star.

7. This pair of brown dwarfs referred to as Luhman 16A and Luhman 16B orbit each other, casting a dim light.

8. Brown dwarfs are also called failed stars as their masses are intermediate to the largest planets and the smallest main sequence stars.

9. With small masses, they are unable to sustain fusion of their hydrogen to produce energy. It is believed that some of the more massive brown dwarfs fuse deuterium or lithium and glow faintly.

10. The faintness of the glow proved to be providential in finding the cloud bands.

11. While Luhman 16A is found to have band-like clouds in its atmosphere, it is not in Luhman 16B.

Source: The Hindu

Sunderban Tigers

Prelims- Environment

1. The latest estimation of tiger numbers in the Indian Sundarbans indicates an increase in the population of Sunderban Tigers.

2. The Sunderbans delta, spread over India and Bangladesh, is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited by tigers.

3. The Sundarban mangrove forest is spread over 2,585 sq. km and includes the Sundarban Tiger Reserve and the 24 Parganas (South) Division.

4. Sunderbans is a world heritage site as well as a Ramsar site.

5. Estimation of the number of tigers in the Sunderbans, has always been a challenge because of the difficult terrain that comprises dense mangrove forests, with creeks and rivulets, and floods twice a day during the high tides.

Source: The Hindu

Domestic Violence

Prelims-Miscellaneous

1. Emergency services have seen a sharp rise in domestic abuse calls under lockdowns imposed across the continent.

2. During lockdown,  women and children are most vulnerable to abuse.

3. Countries are reporting up to a 60% increase in emergency calls by women subjected to violence by their intimate partners .

4. Domestic violence often increases in times of crisis and is exacerbated due to restrictions and containment measures put in place to limit the spread of the new coronavirus.

5. The UN agency for sexual and reproductive health (UNFPA) has estimated that there would be 31 million more cases of domestic violence worldwide if lockdowns continue for another six months.

Indian Law

1. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 was enacted to protect women from domestic violence.

2. The Act provides for the first time in Indian law a definition of "domestic violence", that is broad and includes physical and other forms of violence such as emotional/verbal, sexual, and economic abuse.

3. It is a civil law meant primarily for protection orders and not meant to be enforced criminally.

Source: The Hindu

Surge-type glaciers

Prelims- Geography

1. Scientists from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology(WIHG), Dehradun an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology have found a seasonal advancement in surge-type glaciers in the Karakoram Range of Ladakh.

2. ‘Surging’ or ‘Surge-type’ glaciers are a certain type of glaciers that have shown advancement in volume and length over a period of time.

3. The behaviour of these glaciers that represent 40% of the total glaciated area of the Karakoram goes against the normal trend of considerable reduction in volume and length of most glaciers in the Himalaya in recent decades.

4. Surging of glaciers is potentially catastrophic as it can lead to the destruction of villages, roads and bridges. It can also advance across a river valley and form an ice-dammed lake.

5. These lakes can form catastrophic outburst floods. So, monitoring of glacier surges, ice-dammed lake formation, and drainage is important.

6. The surge during winter is more hydrological controlled due to staggered subglacial flow and low amount of meltwater.

7. The surging terminates in summer due to channelized flow of meltwater and considerable heterogeneity in movement is also observed during summer and springtimes.

8. The study will help to understand the diversity of glacial behaviour and help make accurate assessments of individual glacier mass balances for disaster planning and management.

Source: PIB

CSIR & Genome Database

CSIR & Genome Database

1. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has submitted many genome sequences of the novel coronavirus to a global genome database

2. This will help in better understanding the virus and developing a vaccine.

3. The CSIR is currently sequencing the genomes of the novel coronavirus. Other CSIR institutes are also expected to join the process.

About Genome Database

1. The Genome Database (GDB) is the official central repository for genomic mapping data resulting from the Human Genome Initiative.

2. It was established at Johns Hopkins University in USA in 1990.

3. The Human Genome Initiative is a worldwide research effort to analyze the structure of human DNA and determine the location and sequence of the estimated 100,000 human genes.

4. In support of this project, GDB stores and curates data generated worldwide by those researchers engaged in the mapping effort of the Human Genome Project (HGP).

5. GDB's mission is to make available to scientists an encyclopedia of the human genome that is being constantly revised and updated to reflect the current state of scientific knowledge.

Source: The Hindu

Water wisdom

Water wisdom

1. World Water Day was observed this year on March 22.

2. Its broader aim was to raise awareness on the importance of freshwater and advocate for its sustainable management.

3. There was a recognition of the importance of water in handwashing and personal hygiene practices.

4. The theme for the event this year was “Water and Climate Change”.

5. This reflected the desire of policymakers to address the impact of climate change on the water sector.

Water and Climate change

1. Climate change and water are inextricably linked.

2. Water is the primary medium for climate change impacts to trickle down to the community and individual levels through reduced predictability of water availability.

3. Growing populations and their demand for water increase the need for energy-intensive water pumping, transportation, and treatment.

4. It contributes to the degradation of critical water-dependent carbon sinks such as peatlands.

5. Due to climate change, water cycles experience significant change that reflects in water availability and quality.

6. A warmer climate causes more water to evaporate from both land and oceans, in turn, a warmer atmosphere can hold more water, roughly 4% more water for every 1ºF rise in temperature.

Extreme weather events

1. These changes are expected to increase precipitation and run-off (flooding) in certain areas and less precipitation and a longer and more severe scarcity of water (droughts) in other areas.

2. So, wet areas are expected to become wetter and dry areas drier.

3. This influences almost all aspects of the economy including drinking water, sanitation, health, food production, energy generation, industrial manufacturing, and environmental sustainability and ultimately the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

4. In coastal areas when more freshwater is removed from rivers and aquifers, saltwater will move farther upstream into the river mouth and the aquifer. This will put pressure on the limited freshwater available on the coast, forcing water managers to seek costly alternatives like desalination plants.

5. Water is a common pool natural resource that sustains ecosystems, biodiversity, food security, economies, and society. So, judicious use with balancing multiple water needs is significant.

6. In developing countries like India, a large population depends on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, fisheries and forestry for its livelihoods.

Mitigation strategies

1. India has come up with climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies and appropriate policy measures. National Action Plan on Climate Change is being implemented through 8 National Missions, including the Water Mission.

2. But effective policies need the support of the local governments, corporates and NGOs.

3. Water resources planning must be given due consideration while dealing with climate impacts.

4. Tanks and ponds can store and recharge the excess rainwater to the aquifer. Their rejuvenation (desilting) facilitates flood and drought management.

5. The following ideas should be generated and inculcated in each citizen.

a. More public awareness on the need for climate-resilient actions,

b. protecting carbon sinks like oceans, wetlands, peatlands, and mangroves,

c, adopting climate-smart agricultural techniques, rainwater harvesting, waste-water reuse, and

d. judicious use of water

Source: The Hindu

COVID-19 law

COVID-19 law

1. The nationwide lockdown has been central to the government’s strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. The lockdown exercise has caused unprecedented economic losses to the organized sector.

3. In the unorganized sector, there has been a complete breakdown with little or no legal recourse for those affected.

4. The lockdown has helped contain community spread of the disease, but a legal and legislative audit of this exercise has evaded scrutiny.

Present laws

1. NDMA 2005

a. The lockdown has been carried out by State governments and district authorities on the directions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.

b. Invoking Disaster Management Act has allowed the Union government to communicate seamlessly with the States.

c. This was intended to provide for the effective management of disasters and for other related matters.

d. Under the Act, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was set up under the leadership of the Prime Minister, and the National Executive Committee (NEA) chaired by the Home Secretary.

e. The NDMA and NEA directed the Union Ministries, State governments and authorities to take effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and laid out guidelines on the functioning of services and establishments during the lockdown.

2. Epidemic Diseases Act 1897

The State governments and authorities exercised powers under the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 to issue further directions.

Challenges

1. The NDMA Act was not originally intended to address the threat of a pandemic.

2. The Epidemic Diseases Act reveals lack of requisite diligence and responsiveness of government authorities in providing novel and innovative policy solutions to address a 21st-century problem.

3. Any violation of the orders passed would be prosecutable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. This is a very ineffective and broad provision dealing with disobedience of an order issued by a public servant.

4. Proceedings under Section 188 can only be initiated by private complaint and not through a First Information Report.

5. Offences arising out of these guidelines and orders have a weak basis in terms of criminal jurisdiction thereby weakening the objectives of the lockdown.

UK and Singapore’s New Law

1. The U.K. enacted the Coronavirus Act, 2020, comprehensive legislation dealing with all issues like emergency registration of healthcare professionals to financial assistance to industries.

2. Singapore passed the Infectious Diseases Regulations, 2020, providing for issuance of stay orders that can send ‘at-risk individuals’ to a government-specified accommodation facility.

3. Both these laws set out unambiguous conditions and legally binding obligations.

Way forward

1. The Union government should consider promulgating ordinances.

2. These circumstances call out for legislative leadership, to assist and empower States to overcome COVID-19 and to revive their economic, education and public health sectors.

Source: Indian Express

Chemical Disasters in India

Chemical Disasters in India

The existing laws in India provide protection to victims of chemical disasters.

Laws after Bhopal tragedy

1. Bhopal Gas Leak (Processing of Claims) Act, 1985

a. It gives powers to the central government to secure the claims arising out of or connected with the Bhopal gas tragedy.

b. Under the provisions of this Act, claims are dealt with speedily and equitably.

2. The Environment Protection Act, 1986

 It gives powers to the central government to undertake measures for improving the environment and set standards and inspect industrial units.

a. Under this, the Centre has notified Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989 and the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008 for regulating hazardous substances.

b. Violation of these regulations or failure to comply with standards would constitute an offence. The Act also has provisions against government officials found violating the law.

c. The accused are booked under Section 304A of the IPC, pertaining to causing death by negligence and with a provision of jail term of maximum two years.

3. Indian Penal Code

a. At the time of the Bhopal gas tragedy, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was the only relevant law specifying criminal liability for such incidents.

b. The accused was initially charged in the case under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC.

c. The charges were later framed under Section 304A, dealing with death due to negligence and imposes a maximum punishment of two years and a fine.

4. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 

a. It is an insurance meant to provide relief to persons affected by accidents that occur while handling hazardous substances.

b. The Environment Relief Fund (ERF), a central fund under the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, was set up to provide immediate relief to victims of accidents in chemical industries.

5. The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997

Under this, the National Environment Appellate Authority can hear appeals regarding the restriction of areas in which any industries, operations or processes are not be carried out or carried out subject to certain safeguards under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

6. National Green Tribunal, 2010

a. It provides for the establishment of a National Green Tribunal for effective and expeditious disposal of cases related to environmental protection and conservation of forests.

b. Any incident similar to the Bhopal gas tragedy will be tried in the National Green Tribunal and most likely under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

7. Civil Nuclear Liability Act, 2010

a. The 2010 Act deals with instituting civil liability for nuclear damage and granting prompt compensation to victims of a nuclear incident.

b. Civil nuclear law does not deal with criminal remedies.  The principle of strict liability was evolved by the Supreme Court in the 1987 Oleum Gas leak case to fix civil liability on companies and compensate the victims.

Potential risk in India

1. There are thousands of Major Accident Hazard (MAH) units spread across India in all zones of the country.

2. There are thousands of registered and hazardous factories and unorganized sectors dealing with numerous ranges of hazardous material posing serious and complex levels of disaster risks.

Source: The Hindu and Indian Express

Styrene Gas Leak

Styrene Gas Leak

Mains-GS-3-Technology

Styrene gas leaked from a chemical factory on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam.

What is styrene?

1. Styrene is an organic compound with the formula C8H8.  It is a derivative of benzene (C6H6).

2. It is stored in factories as a liquid, but evaporates easily, and has to be kept at temperatures under 20°C.

Where is styrene used?

1. Styrene is the main raw material for synthesis of polystyrene, or (C8H8)n.

2. Polystyrene is a versatile plastic that is used to make parts of various appliances such as refrigerators, micro-ovens, automotive parts, and parts of electronics such as computers and to manufacture disposable cups and in food packaging.

3. Styrene is also used as an intermediate to produce copolymers, polymers derived from one or more species of monomers such as styrene.

How does exposure to styrene gas affect humans?

1. Exposure to styrene gas affects the central nervous system.

2. Breathlessness, respiratory problems, irritation in eyes, indigestion, nausea, transient loss of consciousness, unsteady gait, giddiness are caused by exposure to it.

3. In people suffering from respiratory illness such as asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, these conditions may get exaggerated.

4. Those suffering from diabetes or hypertension may have anxiety disorders.

5. Mucous membrane is mainly affected by exposure to styrene gas.

6. In Visakhapatnam, the styrene gas leak caused acute breathlessness leading to death of few due to asphyxiation. But as most people were exposed to the gas for a short duration, there may not be any long-term effects.

7. With long term exposure, there is a chance of developing leukaemia and headaches.

Why could it not be prevented?

1. Styrene has to be stored in gas tanks under 20°C to keep it stable.

2. The temperature has to be continuously monitored, and any exposure to light or heat may result in polymerisation.

3. Some gas accumulated at the ceiling of the storage tank and its temperature rose beyond the specified 20°C, and the styrene started vaporising and escaped. This is called auto-polymerization.

Which is the way forward?

1. Solatium payments and compensation for the victims and families

2. Access to the highest quality of health care for the victims.

3. The States have the authority under the Central government’s orders to exempt process industries.

4. Safety of industrial chemicals requires continuous watch, with no scope for waivers.

5. India needs to strengthen its approach to public and occupational safety.

6. Transparent oversight is needed to advance sustainable development by eliminating terrible mistakes.

Source: The Hindu and Indian Express  

Digital India

Digital India

What is Digital India Programme?

a) In 2015, the government launched a flagship programme ‘Digital India Programme’ to transform India to a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

b) The initiative is centered on three key vision areas,

1. Digital infrastructure as a core utility to every citizen

2. Governance and services on demand

3. Digital empowerment of citizens

c) The objective of this program is to connect the rural areas with high-speed Internet and to provide digital literacy.

d) Under this initiative, the technologies and connectivity’s merge is envisaged to revolutionize the governance and improve the quality of life of citizens.

Which are the other initiatives?

a) DigiGaon or Digital Village

1. Under the initiative, a village is conceptualized as a connected village where citizens can avail various e-services of the central government, state governments and private players.

2. These villages are projected to be change agents promoting rural entrepreneurship, building rural capacities, livelihoods through community participation and collective action.

3. The digital villages have been equipped with various facilities such as,

    i) Solar lighting facility in their community center

    ii) LED assembly unit

   iii) Sanitary napkin production unit

   iv) Active participation of ASHA and Anganwadi workers

   v) Wi-Fi Choupal

4. These digital villages have regular CSC services like banking, healthcare, education financial services and a host of other services.

b) Digital Lockers

1. This facility provides sharing or storing documents electronically.

2. The cloud storage service is now being used by millions of Indians.

c) Digital payments instruments

1. To enable digital payments, the government launched the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app.

2. As per data from the National payments Corporation of India, the app was used to facilitate transactions with a value of 1 trillion rupees till March 2018.

d) PM Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan

1. The initiative was launched to make citizens digitally literate.

2. It aims to reach around 40% rural households by covering one member from every eligible household by March-end this year.

e) Bharat Net Project

1. It was launched to strengthen digital infrastructure optic fiber connecting more than one lakh gram panchayats.

2. Many rural post office branches have been linked digitally.

f) Common Service Centres (CSC)

1. There's been a rapid expansion in the network of Common Service Centres in past few years.

2. These centres act as access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India.

How is this revolution impacting various sectors?

a) Governance

1. India has managed to break into the top hundreds of United Nation’ s e-government index in 2018.

2. Public services sector has been witnessing steady and efficient digital transformation across areas like e-governance and powering essential citizen services online.

3. The impact of the digital revolution has been inclusive empowering and transformative.

4. According to a report by Internet and mobile Association of India, internet data is becoming the tool for service delivery.

b) Economy

1. Indian economy is rapidly converting into a digital economy.

2. Digital economy of the country is expected to touch the 1 trillion-dollar mark by the year 2022.

3. India is expected to be a 10 trillion-dollar economy with half of this accounted for by the digital economy by 2030.

4. Apps like BHIM payment and platforms such as UPI integration are making it easier for people to transfer money.

5. The digital currency and payment movement took the country to another rearm of Financial Inclusion.

6. India's ecommerce market is said to grow three times by 2022.

7. The digital India initiative is not only creating empowerment but also generating employment opportunities and promoting entrepreneurship.

8. According to McKinsey Global Institute, Growth in India's Digital Index is tremendous putting it second in terms of growth among emerging digital economies.

c) Sectors of economy

1. Digital Revolution has brought about inclusive growth in the areas of manufacturing, electronic services and job opportunities.

2. Many sectors such as health care and education are benefitting from being linked to the rising digital economy.

3. The education sector in India is poised to witness major growth in the years to come.

4. India's Internet services sector is expected to double by 2022.

5. According to IBEF report, the total contribution by the travel and tourism sector to India's GDP is expected to increase almost double in next ten years.

6. Health care sector is fast catching up to meet the demands of its tech-savvy population.

7. Startups are playing a huge role in addressing areas such as preventive healthcare, analytics, emergency services and super aggregation platforms.

8. The Healthcare sector is poised to become one of the world's top three healthcare markets by 2020 with an estimated market value of 230 billion dollars.

d) Environment

1.  Next-generation technologies are helping in lowering the carbon footprint by reducing fuel consumption, waste management, greener workplaces.

2. These technologies are leading the countries to a greener ecosystem.

3. Cloud computing technology minimizes carbon emissions by improving mobility and flexibility.

Where the challenges lie ahead?

a) Reducing digital illiteracy is one of the biggest challenges. It is necessary that people know how to utilize the digital services.

b) Problems associated with connectivity.

      i) Slow rollout of Wi-Fi hotspots

      ii) Difficulty in adoption to modern technology

      iii) Lack of upgraded devices- Entry-level smartphones have limited capabilities.

      iv) Not enough skilled manpower in digital technologies

c) Lack of user education- Lacking in digital literacy leading to frauds.

d) Security of data

       i) Digital medium is still very unsafe and data vulnerability is a big issue especially in financial transactions.

        ii) India needs over 1 million trained cyber security professionals by 2025 to meet the demand.

e) India has a very low internet speed. In 2018, India was ranked 109th for the mobile internet speed and stood at 67th for fixed broadband speeds.

f) Lack of funds for creation of digital infrastructure.

Melting of Himalayan Glaciers

Melting of Himalayan Glaciers

An assessment titled “The Hindukush Himalayas Assessment mountains, climate change, sustainability and people” warns that the world's third pole is under severe threat from climate change.

What does the report say?

The report was prepared by the International Center for integrated Mountain development, a Nepal based intergovernmental organization.

1. The report states even the goals set out by the Paris agreement to limit global warming would lead to a 2.1 spike in temperature in the Hindu Kush region.

2. It will lead to melting a 1/3 of the region's glaciers by 2100, potentially destabilizing Asia’s rivers.

3. It also states that melting threatens water sources for millions of people even if current efforts to reduce climate change succeed.

4. The report claims less attention has been devoted to the region than to other areas considered more vulnerable to global warming.

Why is Hindukush important?

1. The Hindukush Himalayan region spans eight countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

2. It is referred to as the third Pole together with China's Tian Shan Mountains as it holds the most ice outside the North and South Poles.

3. It is also having some of world's tallest mountains including Mount Everest and K2.

4. Its glaciers are the source of water for the agriculture that feeds nearly two billion people.

5. These glaciers also feed into the river system including the Indus, Ganga, Yangtze, Irrawaddy, and Mekong.

How did it happen?

1. Temperatures are rising faster in the mountains than at the lower elevations, a phenomenon called “elevation-dependent warming”.

2. One theory state that when snow and ice melt, the heat reflecting properties of the white cover disappear.

3. The black rock below absorbs more heat and increases the melt.

4. This means that even if global warming is limited, the Hindukush Himalayan region will see a greater increase in temperature.

Where the impact of Climate Change can be seen?

1. Melting glaciers will increase river flows through to 2050 to 2060 pushing up the risk of high-altitude lakes bursting their banks and engulfing communities. But from 2060s rivers flows will go into decline.

2. The increasing number of devastating hurricanes is also being attributed to climate change.

3. Oceans have absorbed most of the extra heat and carbon dioxide more than the air making the seas both warmer and more acidic.

4. Warm and acidic waters are bleaching coral reefs, driving stronger storms and collapsing marine food chains.

5. Climate Change is a major threat to agriculture as it is vitally connected to the climate’s normal patterns.

6. Farms are more likely to face attacks from weeds, diseases, and pests which affect yield.

7. A warmer atmosphere increases the formation of ground-level ozone also known as smog in polluted regions.

8. Sea levels could rise, threatening coastal areas and islands, pushing wildlife to extinction.

9. Hurricanes and other storms are likely to become stronger, floods and droughts, mega-disasters will become more common. (Megadisasters - 5000 dead or more.)

10. Lower flows in rivers will cut power from the hydro dams.

11. Rising global temperature also creates a negative intergenerational inequality.

Which are the measures taken to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change?

International community:

1. In 1992 the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was established to stop dangerous human interference with climate.

2. At the Paris climate conference, 195 countries adopted the first ever universal legally binding global climate deal.

3. The agreement set out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

India’s measure:

1. International solar Alliance:

a) The initiative was launched at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris at the end of 2015 by the President of France and PM of India.

b) It is an alliance of more than 121 countries most of them being sunshine countries

c) The primary objective is to work for efficient exploitation of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

2. National Clean Air Program:

a) Under this, a long term and time-bound national level strategy were built up to tackle the increasing air pollution problems across India in a comprehensive manner.

b) First National Air Quality Index was also launched to monitor the quality of air in major urban centers across the country on a real-time basis.

3. Expansion of LPG connection among rural poor has cut down household air pollution and protect health, particularly of women.

4. “Say no to plastics” initiative of the government aims at reducing the use of single-use plastics.

5. Six waste management rules were notified by the Government, making waste management a priority issue.

6. To reduce emissions and car fuel imports the government is buying 10,000 battery-powered cars to replace petrol and diesel cars.

7. India has made huge progress towards implementing the 2030 sustainable development goal targets which integrate the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development.

8. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Namami Ganga Programme are also playing a major role in protecting the environment.

When can these effects be overcome?

1. Greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced, or else the world will continue to witness an upward trend in global average temperatures.

2. A bigger push to make diesel, petrol, and coal as negative sources of energy will reduce emissions.

3. Climate change adaptation and mitigation has to go hand in hand.

Swine Flu

Swine Flu

A swine flu outbreak has been reported from more than a dozen states in the country, with Rajasthan being the worst affected.

When was Swine Flu first detected?

1. Also known as H1N1, the virus was first detected in April 2009 in a ten-year-old girl in California, USA.

2. In June 2009 it was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization.

3. India reported its first death due to H1N1 infection in August the same year.

4. Since then nearly six lakh people have died worldwide from swine flu.

Who are at high risk?

Certain groups are at particularly high risk of contracting swine flu. These include:

a) Pregnant women and young children especially those under two years of age

b) People with asthma, people with COPD or other chronic lung conditions

c) People with cardiovascular conditions (except high blood pressure).

d) People with liver and kidney problems.

e) People with blood disorders, neurologic disorders, neuromuscular disorders, metabolic disorders including diabetes.

f) People with immune suppression including HIV infection and medications that suppress the immune system.

g) The elderly.

How it can be identified?

 1. Symptoms of H1N1 swine flu are like those of regular flu. These include- fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

2. It also involves diarrhea and vomiting.

3. It can trigger neurological symptoms in children, which is rare but can be very severe and fatal.

4. Neurological symptoms include seizures or changes in mental status including confusion or sudden cognitive or behavioral changes.

Why is it serious?

1. Though the symptoms of swine flu are similar to seasonal flu, the seasonal flu vaccine won't protect against swine flu.

2. It has become a circulating virus making it more frequent and common.

3. H1N1 is highly contagious and spreads quickly from one person to another.

4. The most common mechanism of its spreading is by droplets from coughs and sneezes of infected people.

5. It also spreads by touching a surface or the hand of a person contaminated with the virus and then touching one's eyes nose or mouth.

6. The outbreak of swine flu is also being attributed to cold weather which is conducive for the viral multiplication.

Where swine flu has affected the most?

1. The current outbreak of swine flu in the country has hit the state of Rajasthan the most with 76 deaths and nearly 2,000 positive cases.

2. The current situation arising from swine flu and the measures undertaken by the government to prevent the spread of the disease:

2. It has also affected Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh.

3. In southern parts of India, Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana are the most affected.

What are the other fatal viruses?

 Marburg virus:

1. The Marburg virus is a hemorrhagic fever virus which causes convulsions and bleeding of mucous membranes skin and organs.

2. It has a fatality rate of 90%.

Kyasanur Forest Virus:

1. It is another deadly virus that was discovered in the southwestern coast of India in 1955.

2. It is difficult to determine any carriers of the virus.

3. People infected with this virus suffer from high fever, strong headaches and muscle pain which can cause bleedings.

Ebola Virus:

1. Ebola has been deadly.

2. There are five strains of the Ebola virus each named after countries and regions in Africa- Zaire, Sudan, Tai forest, Bundibugyo and Reston.

3. Zaire Ebola virus is the deadliest with a mortality rate of 90%.

Bird Flu:

1. The spread of bird flu also triggers panic with a mortality rate of 70%.

2. The H5N1 strain of this virus is contracted through direct contact with poultry and hence mostly infects those who work at the poultry farms or live in the vicinity.

Hantavirus:

1. The hantavirus is also one of the deadliest viruses across the world.

2. Symptoms include lung disease fever and kidney failure.

Lassa virus:

1. The Lassa virus is transmitted by rodents.

2. The virus occurs in a specific region like western Africa and can reoccur in that region at any time.

Junin virus:

1. The Argentine Junin virus is associated with hemorrhagic fever.

2. Infected people suffer from tissue inflammation, sepsis and skin bleeding.

3. The disease is rarely detected in the initial days as the symptoms appear to be common.

Machupo virus:

1. The Machupo virus is the cause of Bolivian hemorrhagic fever also known as black typhus.

2. It causes high fever often accompanied by heavy bleedings.

3. The virus is carried by the rodents and it spreads from human to human.

Crimean-Congo virus:

1. The Crimean-Congo virus is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever transmitted by ticks.

2. Its symptoms include fever, muscle pains, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding into the skin.

Dengue:

1. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and affects people mostly occurring in tropical areas.

2. India faces the epidemic year after year.

All these diseases don't have a specific treatment. All these infections can turn serious can cause death. They need supportive treatment. There is no specific vaccination or specific treatment. So, they require supportive treatment.

Which are the measures taken by the government?

1. The Union Health Ministry has advised all state health officials to strengthen their surveillance for early detection.

2. It has also asked them to keep beds reserved in hospitals to deal with acute cases of swine flu.

3. State health departments have been directed to equip all government hospitals with necessary logistics required for the management of the disease like the drug oseltamivir along with personal protective equipment and masks.

4. Guidelines on case diagnosis, management, vaccination, isolation criteria, risk categorization and preventive measures have been circulated among all hospitals and health facilities.

5. Health advisories on influenza and swine flu have been prepared and issued for the general public in leading newspapers.

6. A 24/7 helpline number has been made operational where people can make queries with the director-general of health services.

7. A team from the National Center for Disease Control was also sent to Rajasthan on an investigative mission.

Water- Leaving on one behind

Water- Leaving on one behind

Recently the United Nations (UN) has launched the ‘World Water Development Report 2019- Leaving on one behind’.

What does the report say?

a) The report says the right to water cannot be separated from other human rights.

b) As per the report, more than two billion people lack even the most basic water services.

c) The report states that women and girls spend an estimated 200 million hours every hour to carry it.

d) More than 800 children under the age of five die of diarrhea every day due to poor water and sanitation.

e) Around 60% of the global population don’t have access to clean water.

 f) Refugees and internally displaced people often face severe barriers to the access of water supply and sanitation.

g) The report also warns about the increasing gap between the demand and supply.

h) Rapidly increasing global population, industrialization, urbanization etc. are putting much pressure on the existing water resources.

g) Even, other organizations such as the ‘World Economic Forum’ has warned in its report that ‘Water scarcity’ will be the largest risk in terms of potential impacts.

How the situation is in India?

a) Around one billion people live in the water scarce areas in India.

b) Out of this, 600 million live under the extreme water stress conditions.

c) 330 million Indians have been affected by drought conditions in 2016.

d) 21% diseases are water-related in India.

e) Around 21 major cities in India will face severe water crisis by 2020 in India.    

Which initiatives have been launched by the United Nations?

a) As the importance of water conservation was realized, United Nations Water Conference was organized in 1977.

b) International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade was declared during 1981-1990 for the water awareness.

c) United Nations then organized the ‘International Conference on water and Environment’ and ‘Earth Summit 1992’.

d) ‘Water for life International Decade for Action 2005-15’ was organized to promote the water conservation efforts.

e)  Water conservation has been given the focus in the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’.

Where the solutions lie?

ON DOMESTIC/ INDIVIDUAL LEVEL

a) Urgent steps should be taken to improve the water efficiency in every task. For example,

i) Irrigation using underground pipeline than canal system.

ii) ‘Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)’ system in the drinking water system.

b) Reuse water in everyday households, industries

c) Reducing consumption

i) Farmers should prefer less water-intensive crops.

ii) Plantation of millet as they require less water and can go in poor drainage area.

d) Prevention and management of waste

i) Aerators can save nearly 35-40% water per minute.

ii) Composting of the waste can help to save money as well as water usage.

e) Opting for Chemical-free products.

f) Rainwater harvesting methods

ON MASS LEVEL

a) Conserving land for forests and preserving groundwater.

b) Utilisation of ponds and lakes, building check dams, small water bodies, etc.

c) Purifying water

i) Water Purification using Micro/Ultra/Nanofiltration

ii) Reverse osmosis methods

d) Artificial recharge methods such as spreading basins, recharge pits, and shafts, etc.

ON GOVERNANCE LEVEL

a) Regulatory agencies should assure an efficient funding to the water programmes.

b) They must recognize the ‘Right to Water’ and ensure the water reach to the marginalized groups.

c) There is a need to shift from ‘Water-development’ to ‘water-management’ today.

d) Water rationing- meaning setting water limit per individual. This is being followed in Cape Town, South Africa.

Border Surveillance

Border Surveillance

Recently the Ministry of Home Affairs has launched the ‘Project BOLD-QIT’ under ‘Project CIBMS’ on India-Bangladesh border in Dhubri District, Assam.

What are ‘Project BOLD-QIT’ and ‘Project CIBMS’?

A) ‘Project BOLD-QIT’

i) Project BOLD-QIT stands for ‘Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique’.

ii) It is a project to install technical systems under the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS).

iii) It enables ‘Border Security Force (BSF)’ to equip Indo-Bangla borders with different kind of sensors in unfenced riverine area of Brahmaputra and its tributaries.

iv) As Border Security Force is responsible for safeguarding of ‘International Border’ with Bangladesh, it was required to do surveillance of difficult border areas manually.

v) Border Security Force (BSF) undertook the project in January 2018 and it was launched now successfully.

vi) Under this project, wide of electronic gadget installed along with the India- Bangladesh border. Under-ground sensors and under-water sonar sensors are installed

vii) The project is part of Project CIBMS.

B) Project CIBMS

i)  Project CIBMS stands for ‘Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS)’.

ii) It aims to establish a more robust and integrated security system that is capable of addressing the gaps in the present system of border security.

iii) It seeks to integrate human resources, weapons, and high-tech surveillance equipment.

Three main pillars of CIBMS

a) Round-the-rock surveillance using high-tech devices such as sensors, detectors, cameras, ground-based radar systems, micro-aerostats, lasers etc.

b) Efficient and dedicated communication network including fibre optic cables and satellite communication for transmitting data gathered by the high-tech surveillance.

c) Command and control centre to which the data will be transmitted to get aware about the happenings on the ground and provide a composite picture of the international border.

Components of CIBMS

i) ‘Virtual Fence’ for human-less, real-time invigilation of borders.

ii) Infrared and laser-based intrusion alarm systems

iii) Thermal imagers

iv) Aerial and All-weather Surveillance

v) Sonar and Ground systems

Which are common challenges associated with CIBMS?

i) High operational and maintenance cost

ii) Lack of technical expertise

iii) High cost of devices such as

iv) Lack of availability of spare costs of high-tech surveillance devices

v) Erratic power supply

vi) Adverse climate and terrain conditions

vii) Unsettled, un-demarcated international borders

Why the areas bordering Bangladesh needs E-surveillance?

a) Bordering states are burdened with intense illegal migration. This has resulted in the demographic change, stress on the natural resources.

b) Illegal activities such as smuggling of cattle, human trafficking, narcotics, counterfeit currency etc. take place on these borders at a great extent.

c) These borders passes through hilly terrains, swamps, marshes etc. where human surveillance is not desirable.

d) Influence of Islamic fundamentalism is increasing in Bangladesh. It is pushing large-scale foot soldiers in India.

So, to remove the gaps in the border surveillance, e-surveillance is necessary.

How is E-surveillance project beneficial?

a) With the implementation of the Project BOLD-QUIT, entire span of Brahmaputra and tributaries is covered with data network.

b) As high-tech intelligence devices are used, the precision of the information is high.

c) Also the information will be available around the clock.

d) It can alert the BSF quickly to help them to eliminate the problem.

When were the pilot projects launched on the India- Pakistan border?

In 2017, two pilot e-surveillance projects were launched on the India-Pak border.

Where does the space sector play a role?

a) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced to launch an exclusive satellite for the Ministry of Home Affairs soon.

b) Union Government has recently formed a Task Force for identifying areas for use of space technology in improving border management.

c) It was added by Joint Secretary (Border Management) with members from Border Guarding Forces (BGFs) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

d) Details of the areas identified for use of space technology in the border management-

i) Island development and security

ii) Border Surveillance

iii) Communication and Navigation

iv) GIS and Operations Planning System

v) Border Infrastructure Monitoring

e) A short, medium and long-term plan has also been prepared.

1) Short Term

Establishment of network infrastructure and computing requirements for all CAPFs, hiring of transponders for satellite communication and procurement of satellite data for immediate operational use of the forces.

2) Medium Term

i) Development of infrastructure and storage capacity for MHA, capacity building of CAPFs.

ii) Launch of one satellite for exclusive use of MHA by ISRO and establishment of ground segment to receive inputs from satellite.

iii) Operationalization of COPS/ BOPS Software developed jointly by ISRO/ CAPFs.

3) Long Term

Launch of additional satellites as per need, up gradation of ground segment, full operationalization of COPS/BOPS software, Capacity building of CAPFs for using space technology.

Western Disturbances

Western Disturbances

Recently an intense thunderstorm caused by Western Disturbances (WD), claimed over 64 lives in Rajasthan, MP, Gujrat, Bihar, and Maharashtra.

How are Western Disturbances caused?

1) It originates in the Mediterranean Sea and the Caspian Sea.

2) During winter season due to the intrusion of cold air from polar regions in the European region, the warmer air with high moisture (  system) ascends in the upper atmosphere.

3) Through Westerlies winds, the low-pressure system flows from west to east.

4) They travel through Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and enters India.

6) It is blocked by the Himalayas and causes precipitation in forms of snow in mountainous areas and rainfall in low-areas.

Why is it called as Western Disturbances?

1) It originates in the West. So, Western.

2) It is a weather system which distorts the existing conditions and passes through. So, Disturbance.

Which way does WD impact India?

1) From November to March, it causes most of the winter and pre-monsoon rains in North-Western India.

2) It causes snowfall in Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh Himalayan region.

3) Average of 4-5 WD is formed during winter season and rainfall varies during every WD.

4) It is estimated that 5-10% of the total annual rainfall is from WD.

5) Weak WD are associated with crop failure and water problems and strong WD can help residents, farmers and government avoid many of the problems associated with water scarcity.

6) Sometimes helps in the activation of monsoon in certain parts of North-Western India.

7) WD is much beneficial to Rabi Crops.  

What are the issues associated with WD?

Since WD are not high-intensity weather system, they are usually not associated with disasters, but in recent past, it is observed that this beneficial weather phenomenon is increasingly becoming disaster especially during summer and monsoon seasons.

Some of the associated disasters are:

1) Cloudburst in Leh, 2010.

2) Kashmir floods in September 2014.

3) Uttarakhand floods in 2013.

Many believe that erratic rainfall may occur due to the interaction between WD and summer monsoon. But conclusive evidence is not available to support this.

Where lies the solution?

1) The availability of data on WD is low.

2) There is no official end to end tracking of WD, unlike tropical cyclones.

3) WD needs to be studied in much more details.

4) In the age of global warming and drastic climate change are becoming all too common, studying WD is crucial.

Draft National Logistics Policy 2018

Draft National Logistics Policy 2018

Draft of National Logistic Policy has been unveiled.

What are the key objectives of the policy?

The policy outlines an ambitious set of following objectives,

a) Creation of a single point of reference for all logistics and trade facilitation matters in the country.

b) Incorporation of standard global standards to more the logistic sector more efficient, transparent, performance oriented.

c)  Creation of a ‘National Logistics e-marketplace’ as a one-stop marketplace.

d) Encouraging industry, academia, and government to come together to create a logistics ‘Centre of Excellence’.

e) Improve India’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index to between 25 to 30.

f) Creation of separate fund for start-ups.

g) Export competitiveness enhancement

h) Doubling employment by generating 10-15 million jobs along with focussing on enhancing skills and encouraging gender diversity.

i) Encouraging adoption of green logistics in the country.

Why is this policy important?

a) India’s logistics sector is very huge, roughly around 215 billion dollars in size and increasing by around 10% annually.

b) However, because of problems such as inadequate infrastructure, no strong supply chain, policy overlap, lack of organization, etc., it has not been used up to its full potential.

c) The policy seeks to organize the logistics sectors more efficiently along with doubling the employment.

d) It aims to bring all stakeholders in the logistics chain for its overall development.

e) Development of start-up ecosystems can transform the logistic system by bringing innovation.

f) Implementation of a unified portal can make the sector more transparent, globally competitive, organized, affordable.

So, this comprehensive policy is important for the sector.

Where does the policy need to focus?

a) The Policy doesn’t recognize the role of states very well. States contribution and policies can help the sector to achieve last-mile connectivity.

b) Portal doesn’t solve specific issues in all states and focusses more on general issues. As there are no such portals built by states, specific issues should be resolved through the portal.

c) Stability of the investment is very important for long- term development. Draft Policy should work on it.

How to improve the situation?

a) A network of Multi-Modal Logistics Park should be developed along with the facilitation of e-commerce.

b) State’s role should be recognized and they should be given more space.

c) Some interventions should be introduced to reduce logistics cost and promote logistics efficiency for movement of key commodities.

d) Indian warehousing market is highly fragmented and unorganized. More attention should be given to improve it.

National Mineral Policy 2019

National Mineral Policy 2019

Recently the Union Cabinet approved the ‘National Mineral Policy 2019’.

What the policy aims at?

a) NMP 2019 aims at a more effective, meaningful, transparent regulation of the mining sector of the country.

b) It aims to balance social and economic growth as well as promote sustainable mining practices.

c) It aims to strengthen regulatory mechanism by incorporating E-Governance, including satellite and remote sensing applications.

d) It aims to promote ‘Make in India Initiative’ and gender sensitivity in the mining sector.

Which are the key provisions of the policy?

a) Introduction of Right of First Refusal for Reconnaissance Permit (RP) and Prospecting License Holders.

b) Encouraging the private sector to take up exploration.

c) Encouragement of merger and acquisition of mining entities and transfer of mining leases.

d) Creation of ‘Dedicated mineral corridors’ to boost private sector mining areas.

f) Status of industry to mining activity to boost financing of mining for private sector and for acquisitions of mineral assets in other countries by private sector

g) Long-term import-export policy for mineral

h) Auction and rationalization of the unutilized reserved areas given to Public Service Utilities

i) Harmonization of taxes, levies & royalty with world benchmarks to help private sector.

j) Establishment of National inventory of mineral resources and Mining Tenement System (MTS).

Who manages mineral resources in the country?

Management of mineral resources is the responsibility of both the central and state governments under the Union List and the State List of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India.

How is the new policy different from the old policy?

a)  National Mineral Policy 2019 has replaced the ‘National Mineral Policy 2008’ by introducing some changes.

b) Online public portal with provision for generating triggers at a higher level in the event of a delay of clearances has been put in place.

c) The policy focusses on the use of coastal waterways and inland shipping for evacuation and transportation of minerals.

d) It aims to enhance the utilization of the district mineral fund for the equitable development of project affected persons and areas.

e) It introduces the concept of Inter-Generational Equity that deals with the well-being not only of the present generation but also of the generations to come.

f) It proposes to constitute an Inter-ministerial body to institutionalize the mechanism for ensuring sustainable development in mining.

Where will the policy have a positive impact?

a) It will ensure more effective regulation.

b) It will lead to sustainable mining sector development in the future.

c) It will address the issues of project affected persons especially those residing in tribal areas.

d) It will increase the share of the manufacturing sector in the economy.

e) Successful Implementation of the policy can increase the production of minerals by 200% in 7 years.

f) It may reduce the trade deficit in the minerals sector by 50% in 7 years.

National Institutional Ranking Framework Ranking

National Institutional Ranking Framework Ranking

Recently the Fourth edition of ‘National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)’ ranking has been published.

What is the ‘National Institutional Ranking Framework’ ranking?

a) It is framework launched by the Ministry of Human Resource Development to rank the educational institutions in the country.

b) It outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country. Based on this framework, ranking takes place annually.

c) This methodology draws from the overall recommendations and broad understanding arrived at by a Core Committee set up by MHRD.

d) The framework identifies the broad parameters for ranking various universities and institutions.

e) The ranking score given to the universities is a relative score, not absolute. It reflects the yearly performance of the institutions.

When was NIRF published for the first time?

a) The framework was first published in November 2015 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

b) Ranking based on the framework was published for the first time in 2016.

c) This year’s is the fourth edition of the ranking based on the framework.

d) Overall, 3,127 institutions applied for different categories of the NIRF this year.

Which are the parameters used to decide the ranking?

The rankings are based on multiple parameters and sub-parameters,

a) Teaching, Learning & Resources (Weightage- 0.30)

- Student Strength including Doctoral Students

- Faculty-student ratio with emphasis on permanent faculty

- Combined metric for Faculty with Ph.D. (or equivalent) and Experience (FQE)

- Total Budget and Its Utilisation

b) Research and Professional Practice (Weightage- 0.30)

- Publications (PU) and their quality

- IPR and Patents

c) Graduation Outcomes (Weightage- 0.20)

-Placement, Higher Studies, and Entrepreneurship

- Metric for University Examinations and graduating Students Admitted Into Top Universities.

- Metric for Number of Ph.D. Students Graduated

d) Outreach and Inclusivity (Weightage- 0.10)

- Region Diversity of Students

- Percentage of Women

- Economically and Socially Challenged Students (ESCS)

- Facilities for Physically Challenged Students (PCS)

e) Perception (Weightage- 0.10)

- Peer Perception of Employers and Research Investors, Academics

-Public Perception (PRPUB)

- Competitiveness (PRCMP)

Who ranks and who has topped the 2019 ranking?

a) National Board of Accreditation (NBA) under the HRD ministry is the Ranking Agency.

b)  Institutions are ranked on following categories along with the top universities.

i) Overall- IIT Madras

ii) Universities- IISc Bangalore

iii) Engineering- IIT Madras

iv) Management- IIM Bangalore

v) Pharmacy- Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi

vi) Colleges- Miranda House, New Delhi

vii) Medical- AIIMS, New Delhi

viii) Law- NLSU, Bangalore

ix) Architecture- IIT Kharagpur

x) Innovative institute- IIT Madras

How big is the higher education system in India?

a) India is the third biggest education system in the world.

b) There are around 903 Universities, 39050 affiliated colleges, 10011 standalone institutions.

c) There are around 34 million students and 3 million faculty.

Why is this ranking important?

a) It allows the students to choose top-rated institutions based on credible ranking. It gives a fair idea to them about the institution.

b) It allows the institution to share their own achievement with the public.

c) It promotes healthy competition among the institutions and helps to raise the standards of higher education in the country.

UNSC reforms

UNSC reforms

Recently France has said that India and nations like Germany, Brazil and Japan are ‘absolutely needed’ as permanent members of a reformed and enlarged United Nations Security Council.

What is UNSC and its current composition?

a) The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the premier global institution ‘United Nations (UN)’.

b) It is tasked to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations.

c) It also investigates any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction and takes necessary action against the aggressor state.

d) It recommends the admission of new Members.

Composition

a) The Council is composed of 15 Members. Out of these, five are permanent members,

- China

- France

- Russian Federation

- United Kingdom

- United States

b) These five states have been given veto powers on any resolutions.

c) Ten non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly (with the end of term year).

d) A State which is a Member of the United Nations but not of the Security Council may participate, without a vote, in its discussions when the Council considers that the country's interests are affected.

Why there is a need to reform the UNSC?

a) Current UNSC constitution represents the post ‘World War 2’ realities and doesn’t consider the current geopolitics.

b) Though geopolitics have changed drastically, the Council has changed relatively little since 1945.

c) There are no equal representations given regionally. Asia, Europe, and the North American continent are represented while Africa, Latin America, and Australia are not represented.

d) Only five states influencing the interests of the rest of the world, using sometimes veto power, is not desirable.

When did the UNGA start to debate on UNSC reforms?

a) United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) began debating Security Council reform in 1993.

b) Since then several models have been put forward as viable options and several countries have put themselves forward as candidates for permanent membership.

c) However, groups such as the ‘Coffee Club’- Pakistan, Mexico, and Egypt, Italy- opposed adding countries as permanent members and instead proposed that members be elected on a regional basis.

d) In 2005, then Secretary-General Kofi Annan advocated for the democratization of the council. However, the suggested reforms yet to turn into reality.

Who are the top candidates?

a) ‘G4’ countries- Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan, have put themselves forward as the most serious candidates for permanent membership in the Council.

b) The African Group has started to demand two permanent seats for themselves as there is no representation for this continent.

Which are the factors favorable for India?

a) India is a very big country with around 1 billion population. Approximately One of the seven persons in the world is Indian.

b) India is an emerging and fastest growing economy.

c) It is the largest democracy in the world and never been aggressor to other countries.

d) India is playing a big brother role in the South Asian region effectively and has maintained cordial relations with many countries in various continents.

e) Almost all Permanent members (P5 members) are favorable to India’s position as a permanent member in the council.

f) Almost a decade back ago, Chinese President stated that India should be a permanent member because one can’t neglect one billion people.

Where the challenges lie ahead for the reforms?

a) Expanding the council or giving up veto powers can dilute the powers of the existing permanent members. So, they don’t want to give up their power.

b) Reforms can change global power equations and status quos.

c) The greater representation can make the council less efficient.

d) There is no consensus on how to reform the council. There are many models suggested by many organizations. However, no one comes closer to expectations.

e) Many countries or country blocks are asking for representation. However, there is no consensus among them.

E.g. African continent wants two seats. However, there is no consensus on which two countries to be represented.

For India’s membership

a) There is direct and indirect opposition from countries such as Pakistan, China, and a few Islamic countries.

b) India is still known as ‘Third-world country’ or ‘Non-alignment country’ which is known to not take stand on various issues. However, this position should be changed.