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Bi-Weekly Current Affairs Compilation

September month Current Affairs for UPSC Students

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Bi-Weekly Current Affairs Compilation

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  1. BIASA Bi-Weekly Current Affairs Compilation Address: 06, Skandagraja, 1st Floor 100 ft ring road, 02nd Stage, above Punjab National bank, BTM Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560076 Contact: 096113 21616 Mail: info@believersias.com

  2. Effecting the ban on single-use plastics For Prelims About Single Use Plastics • Single-use plastics are those plastics which are used once or for a short period of time before disposing of them. • The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibits the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of plastic carry bags whose thickness is less than 75 microns. For Mains Why are single-use plastics more harmful? • Due to their disposable nature, there is a greater likelihood of single-use plastic products ending up in the sea than reusable ones. • Littered single-use plastic items have an adverse effect on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. • The plastic typically used in bottles, bags and food containers contains chemical additives such as endocrine disruptors, which can cause adverse health effects

  3. including cancers, birth defects and immune system suppression in humans and wildlife. Global measures against Single use plastics • Bangladesh became the first country to ban thin plastic bags in 2002; • New Zealand banned plastic bags in July 2019. • China had issued a ban on plastic bags in 2020 with a phased implementation. • As of July 2019, 68 countries have plastic bag bans with varying degrees of enforcement. What have been done by India • India spearheaded a resolution on single-use plastics pollution at the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly in 2019, which was adopted. • Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, which came into effect from September 30, 2021, prohibits the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of plastic carry bags whose thickness is less than 75 microns. • Plastic carry bags whose thickness is less than 120 microns will be banned from December 31, 2022. • The notification states that plastic or PVC banners/ hoardings should have more than 100 microns in thickness, and non-woven plastic (polypropylene) must be more than 60 GSM (grams per square metre). • For effective enforcement of the ban, national and State-level control rooms will be established, as well as special enforcement teams for monitoring the illegal sale and use of single-use plastics. • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has launched a grievance redressal application to empower citizens to help curb the plastic menace. • The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022 gives the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) which makes it the responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life. • The guidelines also provides a framework for strengthening the circular economy of plastic packaging waste, promote the development of new alternatives to plastic packaging Indian-made HPV vaccine this year

  4. For Prelims About Cervical Cancer: • Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix which creates a malignant tumour of the cervix (the lowermost part of the uterus). • Cervical cancer is curable; however, the possibility of recurrence exits. • Various strains of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) play a role in causing most cervical cancer. • 27% of global cervical cancer cases are from India. About CERVAVAC • CERVAVAC is a quadrivalent vaccine, making it effective against at least four variants of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). • CERVAVAC, developed by Serum Institute of India (SII), was approved by the Drug Controller General of India in July. •CERVAVAC was developed by SII in partnership with DBT’s Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. •CERVAVAC is expected to cost ₹200-400 a shot and will be commercially available later this year. About Human papillomavirus: • Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA virus from the Papillomaviridae family. • Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). • Most people with HPV don't develop any symptoms but can act as carriers infecting others through sexual contact. • HPV vaccines can prevent the most common types of infection.

  5. Vostok-2022 begins in Russia with India, China participating For Prelims About Vostok-2022: • Vostok – 2022 is a multilateral strategic and command exercise. • The exercise is scheduled to be held from September 01 to September 07. • The exercise will involve more than 50,000 troops from China, India and several other countries. • The exercise aims to allow the armies of the participating countries to "practice defensive and offensive operations" at seven training grounds of the Eastern Military District and in maritime and coastal areas of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan. • The Indian Army contingent including troops from 7/8 Gorkha Rifles has been sent to participate in the exercise. For Mains Concerns for India • The United States has concerns about India participating in the exercise due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict. • The strong presence of China shows growing defence cooperation between Russia and China as they both face increasing tensions with the United States. Why India needs Russia: • Russia has been a traditional ally for India, from the Soviet era till now.

  6. • 70% of Indian military equipment are built by or are of Russian origin. • India has been buying large quantities of Russian oil at a cheaper rate since the conflict began. Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks •Scheme for “Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks”: provides for financial assistance to three States (Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh) for establishing Bulk Drug Parks • It aims to bring down the cost of manufacturing of bulk drugs by creation of world class common infrastructure facilities supported by the Central Government and thereby increase the competitiveness of the domestic bulk drug industry. • The Indian Pharmaceutical industry is the 3rd largest in the world by volume. India exported pharmaceuticals worth Rs. 1,75,040 crores in the financial year 2021-22, including Bulk Drugs/ Drug Intermediates. • India is one of the major producers of Active Pharma Ingredients (API) or bulk drugs in the world. India exported Bulk Drugs/ Drug Intermediates worth Rs. 33,320 crores in the financial year 2021-22. • However, the country also imports various Bulk Drugs/ APIs for producing medicines from various countries. • The Government strives to minimize the country's dependence on imports and to give fillip to indigenous manufacturing. Paddy cultivation sees decline For Prelims About Rice

  7. • Rice is a Kharif Crop sown during June-July and harvested during September- October. • It is believed that the indica variety of rice was first domesticated in the area covering the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas (i.e. north-eastern India), stretching through Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Southern China • Rice requires a temperature between 22-32°C with high humidity. • Rice requires a rainfall of around 150-300 cm. • Rice needs to be planted in a deep clayey and loamy soil. • Rice cultivation in India extends from 8 to35ºN latitude and from sea level to as high as 3000 meters. • Top Rice Producing States are West Bengal > Punjab > Uttar Pradesh > Andhra Pradesh > Bihar. • India is the second largest producer of rice in the world after China. For Mains What are the concerns regarding rice cultivation: • This year the area under paddy cultivation has decreased by 5.62% (22.90 lakh hectares) compared to the area covered in 2021. State wise decrease: • Jharkhand (decrease of 9.80 lakh hectares), Madhya Pradesh (decrease of 6.32 lakh hectares), West Bengal (decrease of 4.45 lakh hectares), Chhattisgarh (decrease of 3.91 lakh hectares), Uttar Pradesh (decrease of 2.61 lakh hectares) and Bihar (decrease of 2.18 lakh hectares). States which have increased area under cultivation: • Telangana (increase of 4.71 lakh hectares), Haryana (increase of 0.94 lakh hectares), Nagaland (increase of 0.78 lakh hectares) and Gujarat (increase of 0.55 lakh hectares).

  8. Cultivation of other crops • The cultivation of pulses this year is 129.55 lakh hectares compared to 135.46 lakh hectares in 2021. • Tur/arhar cultivation has also decreased marginally at 44.86 lakh hectares as against 47.56 lakh hectares in 2021. • Oilseeds have been cultivated in 188.51 lakh hectares in the country, slightly less than 189.66 lakh hectares by 2021. • In the case of sugarcane, the cultivation is 55.65 lakh hectares, which shows a slight increase in the production as compared to 54.70 lakh hectares in 2021 kharif. Dark Sky Reserve Context: • In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Department of Science & Technology (DST) has announced the setting up of India’s first dark sky reserve at Hanle in Ladakh in the next three months. Why this location is chosen? • Hanle which hosts numerous telescopes is considered as ideal location for astronomical observations. • However, ensuring that the site remains well-suited for astronomy implies keeping the night sky pristine, or ensuring minimal interference to the telescopes from artificial light sources such as electric lights and vehicular lights from the ground.

  9. What is Dark Sky Reserve? • The International Dark Sky Association which is a U.S.-based non-profit organization that designates this status to places as international dark sky places, parks, sanctuaries and reserves, depending on the criteria they meet. • This is the first site in India which has received this status. • The Union Territory administration, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). • Under this they had agreed upon using and maintaining the telescopes, for launching the dark space reserve. Promotes Tourism • After getting this tag, the region can promote Astro-Tourism, the local population which stay in the surrounding villages would be encouraged to promote homestays equipped with telescopes that visitors can use to view the night sky. • This can boost the local economy by providing employment through Astro- tourism. • This would also help in inculcating scientific temper among the people in the region as those regions hugely lag behind in many social parameters. Seat belts, head restraints and safety regulations For Prelims About Seatbelts • The three-point seat belt is a passive safety device which was engineered by Nils Evar Bohli. • It was first incorporated into a car by Volvo in 1959. For Mains What are the reasons to make seat belts mandatory for every passenger? • The Ministry of Road Transport has found that during 2017, 26,896 people lost their lives due to not wearing seat belts, while 16,876 of them were passengers.

  10. • During a car crash, especially at moderate to high speeds, the driver or passenger who has not worn a seat belt will continue to move forward at the speed of the vehicle. This will result in an impact that could cause injury or even death to the occupant. • The Centre for Road Safety at the Transport Department of New South Wales, Australia (NSW Centre), have found that “even if the vehicle is fitted with an airbag, the force at which an unrestrained occupant strikes the airbag can cause serious injuries.” • Not wearing seat belts could lead to rear seat occupants colliding with internal objects, such as seats or other passengers, in the car, or even being ejected through the front windscreen during the collision. What has been done to ensure the wearing of seatbelts • The Motor Vehicles Act of 2019 mandates the occupants of a passenger vehicle to wear a seat belt. • Section 194(B) of the Motor Vehicles Act of 2019 states that, whoever drives a motor vehicle without wearing a safety belt or carries passengers not wearing seat belts shall be punishable with a fine of one thousand rupees. • On February 11, 2022, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a draft notification which mandated that three-point seat belts to be provided in all vehicles coming under the M1 category, viz, for carriage of passengers comprising not more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat, for vehicles manufactured from October 1. What needs to be done • Even though cars are equipped with seat belts for rear seats as well, the enforcement for rear seat occupants is almost absent in India. This needs to be rectified. • Taxicabs often have missing seat belts which results in passengers not using them. This needs to be rectified as well. Preventive detentions rose in 2021 For Prelims What is preventive detention

  11. • Preventive detention is detainment of a person so as to prevent that person from committing any possible crime. • Indian Constitution on Preventive detention • Article 22 (3) says that “Nothing in clauses (1) and (2) shall apply (a) to any person who for the time being is an enemy alien; or (b) to any person who is arrested or detained under any law providing for preventive detention.” • Which means that any person under preventive detention will not get the protections against arrest and detention given under Article 22 of Indian Constitution. • India also has the distinction of being the only modern democracy to incorporate preventive detention into its constitution. • Both Union and State governments are allowed to make laws which allow for preventive detention. • Also, Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the police are empowered to make preventive arrests if they have reason to believe they must do so to prevent the commission of “any cognisable offence”. •This detention can be extended beyond 24 hours if required “under any other provisions of this Code or of any other law”. For Mains. Preventive Detention in India • According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Preventive detentions in 2021 increased by over 23.7% compared to the previous year, with over 1.1 lakh people being placed under preventive detention. • Over 24,500 people detained under preventive detention were either in custody or still detained as of the end of 2021. • The number of persons placed under detention has been steadily increasing since 2017, except for a small dip in 2020. • Goonda Act (State and Central) (29,306), Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (1,331), and a category classified as “Other Detention Acts” (79,514) are the laws under which most of preventive detention cases are charged. ‘Teesta delay holding up Hilsa fish supply to India’ For Prelims About Teesta River

  12. • Teesta river is a tributary of the Brahmaputra which originates in the Tso Lhamo Lake near Chunthang, Sikkim and flows to West Bengal before entering Bangladesh and merging with Brahmaputra. • Teesta river water conflict is one of the most contentious issues between India and Bangladesh. • There are two major large barrages on Teesta that diverts water for mainly irrigation purpose which are: a) Gajoldobha in India b) Duani in Bangladesh. Major Tributaries of Teesta River Left-bank Tributaries Right-bank Tributaries Lachung Chhu Zemu Chhu Chakung Chhu Rangyong Chhu Dik Chhu Rangit River Rani Khola Rangpo Chhu

  13. About Hilsa Fish IUCN status: Least Concerned • Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is a species of fish in the family Clupeidae. • It is also the national fish of Bangladesh. • The largest number of these fishes are found in the Ganga Brahmaputra delta while a smaller number is found in Godavari River as well. • Bangladesh is the top hilsa-producing country in the world, followed by Myanmar and then India. Other bilateral issues between India and Bangladesh About Chittagong Hill Tracts [CHT] Accord: • Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) Accord was signed in 1997 between The government of Bangladesh and Parbatya Chattogram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) representing Jumma indigenous people especially the Chakma People. About Chakmas • Chakmas are a group of predominantly Buddhist community who lived in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. • They fled erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1964-65 and came to India and have since settled in Arunachal Pradesh. • The refugees were given voting rights in 2004. • In 2015, the Supreme Court asked the Union Government to grant citizenship to Chakmas who had migrated from Bangladesh in 1964-69. SC asks Centre, States to allay EWS quota concerns For Prelims About EWS Quota • The 103rd Amendment Constitution Act, 2019 introduced 10% reservation for economically weaker sections of those sections who are not eligible for any other

  14. reservation for admission to central government and private educational institutions and recruitment in central government jobs. • It amended Articles 15 and 16 by inserting Article 15 (6) and Article 16 (6) to allow reservation for the economically backward in the unreserved category. •The reservation is “in addition to the existing reservations and subject to a maximum of 10% of the total seats in each category.” The eligibility for EWS category • The candidate must not be covered under reservation for SC, ST or OBC. •The candidate’s family’s gross annual income should be below Rs. 8 lakhs. This includes income from all sources such as agriculture, salary, business, etc. for the financial year before you apply for the exam. •The candidate’s family should not own agricultural land of size 5 acres or more. •The candidate’s family should not own a residential flat of area 1000 square feet or more. •The candidate’s family should not own a residential plot (in notified municipalities) of an area 100 square yards or more. •The candidate’s family should not own a residential plot (other than in notified municipalities) of area 200 square yards or more. About Indra Sawhney Case • Also known as the Mandal case. The Judgement gave the following guidelines when it came to reservation. • Backward classes under Article 16(4) cannot be identified on the basis of economic criteria but the caste system also needs to be considered. • Article 16(4) is not an exception to clause 1 but an instance of classification as envisaged by clause 1. • Backward classes in article 16(4) were different from the socially and educationally backward classes mentioned in Article 15(4). • The concept of a creamy layer was laid down and it was directed that such a creamy layer be excluded while identifying backward classes. • Article 16(4) does allow the classification of backward classes into backward and more backward classes. • Reservation shall not exceed 50 percent, moreover, reservation in promotions shall not be allowed. • Any new disputes regarding criteria were to be raised in the Supreme Court only. African cheetahs may arrive on Modi’s birthday

  15. For Prelims • About African Cheetahs • Scientific Name: Acinonyx Jubatus • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable. • CITES: Appendix 1. • Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule-2. About Asiatic Cheetah • Scientific Name: Acinonyx Jubatus Venaticus • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered. • CITES: Appendix 1. • Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule-2. • Asiatic Cheetahs became extinct in India by 1948 • Asiatic Cheetahs are smaller and paler than the African cheetah. • Cheetahs will be relocated from Namibia and South Africa. •Cheetahs are the world’s fastest land mammal that lives in Africa and Asia. • About Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary • Kuno National Park is located in Sheopur District in Madhya Pradesh. • It was established in 1981 as a wildlife sanctuary and given the status of National Park in 2018. • The dominant communities in the area are Sahariyas, Gujjars and Yadavs. • The main livelihoods of the people are agriculture, pastoralism, casual labor and collection of non-timber forest products. • Kuno River, which is one of the major tributaries of Chambal River flows through the National Park bisecting it.

  16. •The Kuno wildlife sanctuary has been the home of four of India’s big cats, the tiger, the leopard, the Asiatic lion and also cheetah historically. • Currently, the leopard and striped hyena are the only larger carnivores within the Kuno National Park. India, China troops disengage at LAC friction point in Ladakh For Prelims About Line of Actual Control • The Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the military held demarcation line that separates the Indian-controlled territory from the Chinese-controlled territory. • This was set up after the 1962 Indo-Chinese war. The Chinese currently control the Aksai Chin region. • LAC is not agreed upon by the two countries, and is neither delineated on a map nor demarcated on the ground. • It is divided into three sectors: • the eastern sector which covers Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim and is 1346 km long; • the middle sector in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh which is 545 km long; • and the western sector in Ladakh which is 1597 km long. About McMahon Line • The 3,488 km long boundary between India and China is known as McMahon Line after its designer Sir Henry McMahon.

  17. • McMahon Line was created as a result of a tripartite conference in 1913 between the British Indian Government, Government of Tibet and Government of China. • It spans 890 kilometres from the corner of Bhutan to the Isu Razi Pass on the Myanmar border, along the crest of the Himalayas. • China refuses to acknowledge McMahon line as the border and has claimed Indian territories as part of their territory. SC takes up pleas against Places of Worship Act For Prelims About Places of Worship Act: Places of Worship Act aims to “prohibit conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.” Exemptions to Places of Worship Act: · The disputed site at Ayodhya has been exempted from the provisions of this act. · Any place of worship which is an ancient and historical monument, or an archaeological site covered by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. · A suit that has been finally settled or disposed of. · Any dispute that has been settled by the parties or conversion of any place that took place by acquiescence before the Act commenced. Provisions of Places of Worship Act: · Section 3: This section of the Act bars the conversion, in full or part, of a place of worship of any religious denomination into a place of worship of a different religious denomination or even a different segment of the same religious denomination. · Section 4(1): It declares that the religious character of a place of worship “shall continue to be the same as it existed” on 15th August 1947.

  18. · Section 4(2): It says any suit or legal proceeding with respect to the conversion of the religious character of any place of worship existing on 15th August, 1947, pending before any court, shall abate and no fresh suit or legal proceedings shall be instituted. The provision to this subsection saves suits, appeals, and legal proceedings that are pending on the date of commencement of the Act if they pertain to the conversion of the religious character of a place of worship after the cut-off date. · Section 5: It stipulates that the Act shall not apply to the Ram janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, and to any suit, appeal, or proceeding relating to it. Vande Bharat Production to Begin in Oct.: Minister For Prelims About Vande Bharat Express: Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously designed and manufactured semi high speed, self-propelled train that is created as the next major leap for the Indian Railways in terms of speed and passenger convenience. The Vande Bharat Express project was designated as Train 18 during the development phase. The first Vande Bharat train was manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, as part of the ‘Make in India’ programme. The new train is faster, easier to maintain, consumes less energy, and has greater flexibility in operation. Currently two Vande Bharat Express are running in the country; one between New Delhi and Varanasi and the other from New Delhi to Katra. India aims to build 400 Vande Bharat trains which will be manufactured by 2025. It comes in addition to the current plan to be able to run 75 Vande Bharats across India by Independence Day in 2023. They are estimated to create additional employment generation of about 10,000-15,000.

  19. Features of Vande Bharat Trains: · These trains operate without an engine and are based on a propulsion system called distributed traction power technology, by which each car of the train set is powered. · The coaches of Vande Bharat incorporate passenger amenities including on-board WiFi entertainment, GPS-based passenger information system, CCTVs, automatic doors in all coaches, rotating chairs and bio-vacuum type toilets like in aircraft divyang friendly toilet and automatic sliding cabin doors. · They can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph due to faster acceleration and deceleration, reducing journey time by 25% to 45%. · It also has an intelligent braking system with power regeneration for better energy efficiency thereby making it cost, energy and environment efficient. · The current Vande Bharat trains have seating only in two classes — chair car and executive chair car.

  20. Army in Arunachal Pradesh receives modern artillery About the weapons delivered: Sig Sauer rifles: The SIG Sauer SIG716i is a semi-automatic rifle manufactured by SIG Sauer. It is an AR-15 style rifle using 7.62x51mm NATO type bullets and has an effective range of 600m. Negev Light Machine Guns (LMG): The Negev is a gas-operated selective fire light machine gun that uses propellant gases from the barrel to cycle a short-stroke gas piston operating system under the barrel and a rotary bolt locking mechanism. It uses the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. Carl Gustaf-Mk3 84 mm rocket launchers: The Carl Gustaf 84 mm recoilless rifle is a Swedish developed 84 mm caliber man- portable shoulder-fired recoilless rifle. M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers: The M777 howitzer is a towed 155 mm artillery piece in the howitzer class manufactured by BAE Systems' Global Combat Systems division. Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopters: The Boeing CH-47F(I) Chinook is a tandem rotor helicopter developed by American rotorcraft company Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol.

  21. Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles: Articulated All-Terrain Vehicle is a twin cabin, tracked, amphibious carrier for off road mobility. The special design of this equipment exerts low ground pressure on the soil and a pull-push mode of locomotion between two cabins facilitates mobility over varied terrains like snow, desert and slush. About Rest of Arunachal Pradesh (RALP): RALP is used by the Indian Army to refer to the area in Arunachal Pradesh other than the Kameng area. Other than the Kameng area consisting of East and West Kameng districts, the rest of the State is referred to by the Army as the RALP. The build-up of Chinese infrastructure development and troop build-up in the Rest of the Arunachal Pradesh (RALP) area is a matter of grave concern for India. Pradhan Mantri TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan • Pradhan Mantri TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is launched by the President of India. • This initiative has been launched because TB causes the largest number of deaths among all other infectious diseases in our country. • India has a little less than 20 percent of the world's population, but has more than 25 percent of the total TB patients of the world. • The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has been envisioned to bring together all community stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination. Operation “Gear Box” • The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) along with ATS, Gujarat, detect 72 hidden packets weighing 39.5 kg of powder in bags, suspected to be narcotic substances, in a container from Dubai. • Examination and seizure proceedings by DRI are done under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. ‘Aheli Khadi’

  22. •CoEK is presenting an exhibition and a Fashion Show ‘Aheli Khadi’ at the Tana Riri Auditorium, NIFT Gandhinagar. • The show will be attended by KVIC officials, academia, designers, industry members, and students. • The Center of Excellence for Khadi (CoEK) was created by the Ministry of MSME to support Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) in association with the National Institute of Fashion Technology. Arunachal villagers fight losing battle to save forest For Prelims About Border Roads Organisation (BRO) • Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is the multifaceted, transnational, modern construction organisation created to meet the strategic needs of the armed forces. • The Border Roads Organisation has been functioning under the control of the Ministry of Defence since 2015. • It plays a role in socio economic development of the nation through its contribution to infrastructure development. • BRO plays an important part in the infrastructure development of the border areas of the country. About Indian Red Panda: IUCN Status: Endangered CITES: Appendix I Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I They have been selected as the state animal of Sikkim. Red Pandas are endemic to the forests of India, Nepal, Bhutan and the northern mountains of Myanmar and southern China. About Nyukmadong War Memorial

  23. Nyukmadong War Memorial is in the form of a 25 feet high ‘Chorten’(Tibetan Buddhist shrine) conforming to the local ethos and traditions. Nyukmadong War Memorial is erected in honour of officers and Jawans, who died there on 18 Nov 1962 during the Indo-China war of 1962. For Mains The Issue? 80% of a 36-sq. km sacred forest has been destroyed for a “strategic” road to Sela. The amount of trees felled during construction of the road is negligible compared to the damage done by earth dumped indiscriminately on valuable trees and medicinal plants down the slope from the edge of the under-construction road. Other than Nyukmadong some other areas such as Gyandrabrangsa, Halftangmu, Penpeytang, Chendhuphu, Yangphu and Changphunakphu have also been impacted by the construction of these roads. The need to protect this area? The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has declared this area as a community reserve forest because of its rich biodiversity. The Indian Red Panda (IUCN Status: Endangered) is found in this area. Take Science out of the lab For Prelims About IndiaBioscience Outreach Grant • IndiaBioscience Outreach Grant (IOG) was set up to motivate young researchers to step out of their labs and build stronger connections with the public through innovative science outreach efforts. • IndiaBioscience Outreach Grant (IOG) was launched in 2020. • Eligibility: Researchers in Life Sciences, who have set up a lab in India not more than eight years ago. • IOG is an initiative of IndiaBioscience, which itself is operated by the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru.

  24. • The aim of IndiaBioscience is to bring the whole life-science research community under one roof to promote networking, foster partnerships, and enable resource and knowledge sharing. For Mains The need for outreach? • Building scientific temper within our society is crucial for maintaining the health of our communities as well as for fighting misinformation and superstition. • This became extremely evident during the Pandemic as there was a large number of underreporting of cases as well as vaccine hesitancy among even educated people. • Scientists can play an important role in overcoming these hurdles by encouraging theories which are supported by experimentally-validated facts, as well as by using their expertise to influence public perception on important issues. • However, there exists a large communication gap between scientists and common man, and the results of scientific research are often confined to elite journals and do not reach the public, including the taxpayers who have contributed to funding the research. What can be done • We can encourage/mandate science outreach and Science communication activities by researchers. • Make such activities a parameter for promotions, awarded grants, and so on and officially allocate time for such activities. • Create awards and fellowships for researchers who perform outstanding science communication. • Create more avenues for researchers to engage with science communicators and public engagement experts. • Create a dedicated science communication/ outreach office that will oversee researchers who undertake such activities. • Create a dedicated budget for such activities.

  25. ‘China must cooperate with Sri Lanka on debt restructure’ For Prelims About United States Agency for International Development (USAID): • The United States Agency for International Development is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government. • Its primary responsibility is to administer foreign aid and development assistance. • USAID works in over 100 countries to Promote Global Health, Support Global Stability, Provide Humanitarian Assistance, Catalyse Innovation and Partnership, Empower Women and Girls and to promote American Interests. • USAID has partnered with India to tackle various issues such as food insecurity, fuel the Green Revolution; eradicate polio and strengthen health systems; promote biodiversity and preserve India’s food crops; develop industry and infrastructure; establish leading research universities; develop its economy; and reduce poverty. About Sovereign Bond: • A sovereign bond is a debt instrument issued by the government which can be denominated in both foreign and domestic currency. • They promise to pay the bearer a certain amount of interest for a stipulated number of years along with the face value on maturity. • Generally sovereign bonds have a lower yield compared to bonds given by corporates; however, they are more desirable to investors due to their higher trustworthiness. About International Monetary Fund (IMF):

  26. • International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organisation founded on 27 December 1945 at the Bretton Woods Conference. • The IMF currently has a strength of 190 member countries. • The idea behind the formation of the IMF was propounded by Harry Dexter White and John Maynard Keynes. How IMF functions • The IMF maintains a collective fund which mainly comes from the money that countries pay as their capital subscription (quotas) when they become members. • Each member of the IMF is assigned a quota, based broadly on its relative position in the world economy and the degree of its financial security. • Countries can then borrow from this pool when they fall into the Balance of Payment Crisis. Retail inflation resurges to 7% as food prices mount For Mains • The Current Inflation Rate: •India’s retail inflation increased to 7% in August from 6.71% in July. • Rural inflation was at 6.8% in July, rose to 7.15% in August. • Urban inflation rate moved up from 6.49% in July to 6.72% in August. • Inflation in cereals rose from 6.9% in July to 9.6% in August. • Inflation in vegetable prices, which was 10.9% in July, rose to a high level of 13.23% in August. The major cause of inflation: The major driver behind this increase in inflation is the 7.62% increase in food prices. Since kharif crop sowing is increasingly unlikely to reach last year’s levels, food inflation could remain high even with healthy reservoir levels give good omens for a timely rabi sowing. A rebound in demand for services also increased miscellaneous and housing inflation, and is likely to remain in effect.

  27. Why this is concerning: This is the eighth consecutive month that retail inflation has stayed RBI’s prescribed higher threshold of 6% inflation for the economy, and results in a reduction of spending power among the poorer households. Since industrial output growth in July dropped to the lowest level since April to just 2.4%, and output levels dropping 2.75% month on month would make the RBI’s ability to control inflation using monetary policy a bit more complicated. India raises Sri Lankan Tamil issue in UN For Mains Who are Sri Lankan Tamils? • Sri Lankan Tamils also known as Ceylon Tamils or Eelam Tamils, are Tamils speaking people living in the north and eastern parts of Sri Lanka and form the most significant minority group in the country. • They have been subjected to oppression by the majority Sinhalese population which led to a civil war from 1983 to 2009 between the pro Tamil group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan Army. • In the initial days of the conflict, LTTE received clandestine support from India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), while the Tamil population received humanitarian aid from the Indian Government. • This collaboration became strained after conflicts with the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in the 1980s and ultimately collapsed which led to the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, by LTTE agents in 1991. • The civil war ended in 2009 with the victory of the Sri Lankan government and death of LTTE founder cum leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. • There were numerous allegations of human rights violations by Sri Lankan army during the final days of the conflict. • The Report of the Secretary-General's Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka in 2011 stated, "A number of credible sources have estimated that there could have been as many as 40,000 civilian deaths."

  28. Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission: Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission was a commission of inquiry appointed by Sri Lankan Government in May 2010 to “investigate the facts and circumstances which led to the failure of the ceasefire agreement made operational on 27 February 2002, the lessons that should be learnt from those events and the institutional, administrative and legislative measures which need to be taken in order to prevent any recurrence of such concerns in the future, and to promote further national unity and reconciliation among all communities.” What was promised by Sri Lankan government: The Sri Lankan government promised to find a political solution for the concerns of the ethnic Tamils in the country. However even after 13 years since the Civil War, there has been no visible progress in finding a political solution to the issue. States told to implement adoption rules For Prelims • About Adoption (First Amendment) Regulations, 2021. • According to the new regulations; • From September 1 adoption orders are to be passed by District Magistrates (DMs) instead of courts.

  29. • Indian diplomatic missions abroad are charged with safeguarding adopted children whose parents move overseas with the child within two years of adoption. About Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA): • Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is a statutory body of Ministry of Women & Child Development. • It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. • ARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in 2003. For Mains What are the concerns regarding the Revised Adoption Rules? • There have been concerns regarding the jurisdiction of DMs in civil matters such as inheritance and succession which can disrupt separation of Judiciary and Executive. • It can also cause delays in cases where the court has already passed orders. • There is a lack of clarity in what happens to the cases where court has passed orders between September 1 and September 12. • Currently the concerns are raised regarding an amendment to the rules, and not the principal Act, hence must be easier to resolve. • Experts have raised the concern that when a child turns 18 and if his or her inheritance rights are contested before a court, a judicial order is more likely to ensure the entitlements. What can be done • The rules should not apply retrospectively, and should state that only new cases after September 1 should be brought to DMs for seeking adoption orders. • The Centre should clarify what happens to the cases where orders have been passed between September 1 and September 12, and how CARA and DMs should deal with such cases. • Parliament passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021 in order to amend the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act), 2015. • This amendment authorises District Magistrates and Additional District Magistrates to issue adoption orders under Section 61 of the JJ Act by striking out the word “court”, this needs to be enacted as soon as possible.

  30. ‘103rd amendment was a fraud on Constitution’ For Prelims About 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act: • The 103 Constitutional Amendment Act amended Article 15 and 16 of Indian Constitution to provide 10% reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among those who are not eligible for any other form of reservation. • This 10% will be in addition to the existing cap of 50 percent reservation for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and the Other Backward Classes, thus resulting in a total of 60% reservation in the total number of seats. • Reservation provided under the 103 Constitutional Amendment Bill does not have any basis on one’s religion or caste. Who are classified as Economically Weaker Section (EWS) • Those with a family income of fewer than 8 lakhs annually or own agricultural land of fewer than 5 acres. • Those who are not beneficiaries of any existing reservations. • Those owning a house above 1,000 square feet or a plot of 100 yards. • Those owning a residential plot less than 200 yards in a non-notified municipality area. • The major criticism against the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act is that it violates the upper limits for reservation set by the Supreme Court in the Indira Sawhney Case. About Indra Sawhney case 1992:

  31. • Indra Sawhney Case is also known as Mandal Case due to the impact Mandal Commission or Second Backward Class Commission had in the case. Key directions given by the court: • Backward classes under Article 16(4) cannot be identified on the basis of economic criteria alone and need to consider the caste system as well. • Article 16(4) is not an exception to clause 1 but an instance of classification as envisaged by clause 1. • Backward classes in article 16(4) were different from the socially and educationally backward classes mentioned in Article 15(4). • The concept of a creamy layer was laid down and it was directed that those who belong to such a creamy layer be excluded while implementing reservation for backward classes. • Article 16(4) does allow the further classification of backward classes into backward and more backward classes. • Reservation shall not exceed 50 percent, moreover, reservation in promotions shall not be allowed. • Any new disputes regarding criteria were to be raised in the Supreme Court only. The fall in natural rubber prices in India For Prelims About the Rubber Tree: • Scientific Name: Hevea brasiliensis • Hevea brasiliensis is a tall deciduous tree capable of growing to a height of up to 43 m. • The milky latex extracted from the wood of the tree is the primary source of natural rubber. • The Rubber Tree was indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and was later transported to South and South East Asia during the 19th Century. About Natural Rubber:

  32. • Natural Rubber also called India rubber or Amazonian rubber consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, along with minor impurities of other organic compounds. • The Olmecs of Mesoamerica were the earliest civilisations to extensively use latex in their daily commodities. • Rubber is produced from the milky Latex of the Rubber tree through a process known as Vulcanisation. • Vulcanisation refers to an array of processes for hardening rubbers traditionally by treating Natural Rubber with Sulphur. • Thomas Hancock was the first person to patent vulcanization of rubber in 1845. • It was Hancock's friend William Brockedon who coined the term 'vulcanization'. Rubber Production: • Thailand is the largest producer of natural rubber in the world followed by Indonesia and Malaysia. •India currently is the world’s fifth largest producer of natural rubber and is the second biggest consumer of the material globally. • Kerala is the largest producer of natural rubber in India and accounts for nearly 75% of the total production in the country. About Rubber Board: • Government of India created a statutory body, Rubber Board under Rubber Act 1947 for the overall development of the rubber industry in the country. • It is Headquartered in Kottayam, Kerala.

  33. For Mains What are causes of fall in the price of Rubber? • The zero COVID strategy in China, which is the largest consumer of rubber at about 42% of the global volume, has resulted in a drastic reduction in demand. • The domestic tyre industry has large volume of inventory especially in the form of block rubber from the Ivory Coast and compounded rubber from the Far East which further reduces the demand. Colour Revolutions Context: • all the countries participating in the summit including India to cooperate with each other in order to prevent foreign powers from destabilizing their countries by inciting “colour revolutions”. In the ongoing SCO summit in Samarkand, the Chinese President has appealed • So, this has triggered a debate around the world regarding the colour revolution. About the Colour Revolutions: • series of uprisings that first began in former communist nations in Eastern Europe in the early 2000s, but are also used in reference to popular movements in the Middle East and Asia. The Colour Revolution which is being widely debated around the world was a

  34. • with demands for free elections or regime change, and calls for removal of authoritarian leaders The mode of the protests was in form of large-scale mobilization on the streets, • but the term has also been used to describe movements named after flowers like the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia. Protesters often wear a specific colour, such as in Ukraine’s Orange Revolution, • revolution because of the similar characteristics or nature of protests. The movement in Hongkong in 2019 was also seen as a part of this colour • wear a specific colour, such as in Ukraine’s Orange Revolution. The movements are often named after a colour because the Protesters often • as Jasmine for the revolution which took place in Tunisia. In some other cases, the movements have also been named after flowers such • influences that have been orchestrated by the United States and its Western allies to overthrow regimes in order to further their own geopolitical interests. Moscow and Beijing have long criticised colour revolutions for being destabilising Country Colour Revolutions Ukraine Orange Kyrgyzstan Tulip Tunisia Jasmine Typhoon Nanmadol makes landfall in Japan For Prelims: About Typhoons: • A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere aka the Northwestern Pacific Basin. About Tropical Cyclones

  35. • Tropical cyclones are violent storms with a diameter of about 320kms that originate over oceans in tropical areas and move over to the coastal areas. • The direction of rotation of cyclones is influenced by Coriolis Force hence cyclones rotate in a counterclockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise direction while in the Southern Hemisphere. • The passage of a tropical cyclone over the ocean results in the substantial cooling of upper layers of the ocean, which can influence subsequent cyclone development. The trigger mechanisms required for the formation of tropical cyclones are: 1. temperatures normally in the region of, or in excess, of 27 °C. A source of warm, moist air derived from tropical oceans with sea surface 2. causing air to rise and storm clouds to form. Winds near the ocean surface blowing from different directions converging and 3. allows the storm clouds to rise vertically to high levels. Winds which do not vary greatly with height – known as low wind shear. This 4. Sufficient distance from the equator to provide spin or twist. Cyclones are called different names depending on the location, such as; 1. Large sea surface with temperature higher than 27° C. 2. Presence of the Coriolis force. 3. Small variations in the vertical wind speed. 4. pre-existing weak low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation. 5. Upper divergence above the sea level system. Cyclones which form in each ocean around the world are named by the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs). Including the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), there are six RSMCs present in the world and five TCWCs. The IMD is mandated to naming of cyclones as well as issuing advisories to 13 countries in the region namely Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Southwest monsoon begins early withdrawal in Rajasthan

  36. For Prelims About Monsoon: • The term "monsoon" refers to the climate associated with the seasonal reversal of wind direction. • The monsoons are a double system of seasonal winds that travel from the sea to the land in the summer and from the land to the sea in the winter. • Monsoons in India occupy 2 divisions, namely. • The southwest monsoon season - Rainfall received from the southwest monsoons is seasonal in character, which occurs between June and September. • The retreating monsoon season - The months of October and November are known for retreating monsoons. About ITCZ: The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is a low-pressure belt that determines precipitation in the tropics by its northward and southward movements along the equator. This convergence zone lies parallel to the equator but moves north or south with the seasonal movement of the sun. For Mains: Factors Influencing Monsoon: The differential heating and cooling of land and water: This creates a low pressure on the landmass of India while the seas around experience comparatively high pressure. The shift of the position of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ):

  37. If the ITCZ in summer, moves over the Ganga plain i.e., the equatorial trough which is normally positioned about 5°N of the equator, it creates what is known as the monsoon- trough during the monsoon season. The presence of the high-pressure area: High pressure area formed east of Madagascar, approximately at 20°S over the Indian Ocean. The intensity and position of this high-pressure area affect the Indian Monsoon. The Tibetan plateau: If the Tibetan plateau gets intensely heated during summer, it will result in strong vertical air currents and the formation of low pressure over the plateau at about 9 km above sea level. The movement of the westerly jet stream: Westerly jet stream moving to the north of the Himalayas and the presence of the tropical easterly jet stream over the Indian peninsula during summer. Southern Oscillation (SO): Also known as El Nino, the presence of the El Nino leads to an increase in sea-surface temperatures and weakening of the trade winds in the region. Delays mar MGNREGS social audits For Prelims About MGNREGA: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was enacted in 23rd August 2005 and it guarantees 100 days of employment, every financial year to rural households. About MGNREGS: • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was launched in 2nd February 2006 under the MGNREGA Act to guarantee 100 days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work.

  38. • It also aims to create durable assets in rural areas such as wells, ponds, roads and canals. • MGNREGS can help reduce migration from rural areas to urban, thereby reducing the population stress felt by major cities in India. • Unlike previous employment guarantee schemes, MGNREGA aims at directly tackling the root causes of poverty by creating a rights-based framework which also helps to improve public infrastructure. It also has statutory obligations which says • At least one-third of beneficiaries have to be women. • Minimum Wages Act, 1948 must be paid to workers under MGNREGA. The minimum wages specified for agricultural labourers in the state under the • Employment must be provided to the applicant within 15 days of the application. • Works conducted under MGNREGS must undergo social audit The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) is the implementing agency for MGNREGS. The Eligibility criteria: The applicant must be a citizen of India. They must have completed 18 years of age at the time of application. The applicant must be part of a local household in a rural area. For Mains What are the concerns regarding MGNREGS According to a report titled ‘Social audit calendar vs audits completed’ released by the MoRD, only 14.29% of the planned audits have been completed in this financial year.

  39. This is mainly due to the fact that the Social Audit Units of many States had not received the administrative funds that owed by the governement, and whatever little has come about has been delayed. According a periodic report on social audits by the non-profit People’s Action For Employment Guarantee eight State Social Audit Units in 2020-21, and nine in 2021-22, have received less than half of the fund to which they are entitled. This results in near paralysis of the social auditing structure. ‘Yuva Samvad: India @2047’ An interaction session titled “YuvaSamvad: India@2047” was organized by the Department of Youth Affairs under the Chairship of Secretary (Youth Affairs) with the youth delegates who have been sent abroad to various countries as a part of Indian Youth Delegation to participate in various International Youth Exchange Programmes organized by the Department of Youth Affairs. "Swachhata" Portal "Swachhata" Portal has been launched for the Special Campaign 2.0 which is scheduled to begin on October 2. Developed by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in the Union Ministry of Personnel, the Portal is dedicated to Swachhata and reducing pendency of work in Government offices. Till date, more than 67,000 Sites have been identified by Ministries/ Departments of Government of India for conducting the cleanliness campaigns and it is likely to touch one lakh sites by 30th of September, while it was only 6,000 sites in the first special campaign undertaken in October, 2021. Special Campaign 2.0 will focus more on field/outstation offices in addition to the Ministries/ Departments and their attached/subordinate offices and the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) will oversee implementation of the Special campaign 2.0. BLO e-Patrika The Election Commission of India today released a new digital publication ‘BLO e- Patrika’ to establish direct communication with Booth Level Officers. The intent behind introducing BLO E-Patrika is to ensure a cascading information model for a better informed and motivated Booth Level Officer.

  40. SCO fights ‘anti-West dictators club’ tag For Prelims About Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): • Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organization for regional security. • SCO was created in 2001 as a successor to Shanghai Five which was constituted by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. • After Uzbekistan joined the organization in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. • India and Pakistan joined the grouping in 2017, Iran is joining the grouping in 2022 while Belarus has applied for membership. • India is going to be the next Chair of the SCO, and will be hosting the summit in 2023. For Mains India’s concern: India believes that SCO is a venture for constructive cooperation and peace and stability in the world. However, there is a rising perception that the organisation is China’s counter to NATO and is perceived as Anti-American or Anti-West. There is also a perception that SCO promotes authoritarianism and is anti democratic. This creates problems for India since India is also a member of multiple multilateral organisations including the QUAD, I2U2 etc of which US is a key member.

  41. India is also trying to create Free Trade Agreements with UK and EU and those discussions could be adversely impacted by these rumours. Why this image has been generated? A major reason for such a perception is that two of the major stakeholders in the grouping are China and Russia. Russia is perceived as a threat by the most of the European countries due to their ongoing conflict in Ukraine. China is perceived as anti-Capitalist by the US and is seen as a threat to its global superiority and has multiple areas of potential conflict such as Taiwan, the islands in the South China sea and China is also seen as threatening US’s economic power on a global stage. SCO is also seen as promoting authoritarianism since many of its member countries including China and Russia are seen as authoritarian nations while the latest prospective member, Belarus, has a leader who is called as the “Last Dictator of Europe.” ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa’ (SHS) Fortnightly Campaign • The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, has started a fortnightly campaign, ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa’ (SHS) to accelerate the efforts towards complete sanitation in rural India. It is a massive community mobilization drive for cleaning up of legacy waste and activities for solid waste management. • As part of this annual campaign, States are requested to organise activities with the objectives of (i) ensuring community mobilization and participation, a “jan andolan” towards Open Defecation Free (ODF)Plus villages (ii) disseminating importance of a “sampoorn swachh” village (iii) reinforcing the concept of “Sanitation as everyone’s business” and (v) commemorating Swachh Bharat Diwas (2nd October) at the village level. • The Campaign has started from 15th September and will culminate on 2nd October. • The gender-pay gap, hard truths and actions needed For Mains What are the causes of pay gap based on gender:

  42. • There has been a disproportionate effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on women workers in terms of job and income losses. • Many women reverted to full-time care of children and the elderly during the pandemic, giving up on their career and ambitions. •International Labour Organization’s “Global Wage Report 2020–21” has suggested that the crisis inflicted massive downward pressure on wages and disproportionately affected women’s total wages compared to men. • While individual characteristics such as education, skills or experience are amongst the reasons for existing gender pay gap, a large part of the gender pay gap is still because of discrimination based on one’s gender or sex. The current condition: • Indian women earned, on an average, 48% less compared to their male counterparts in 1993-94. • Since then, the gap declined to 28% in 2018-19 as in the labour force survey data of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO). • The pandemic reversed decades of progress as preliminary estimates from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2020-21 show an increase in the gap by 7% between 2018-19 and 2020-21. • The data further suggests that faster decline in female wages during the pandemic contributed to this decline, compared to a faster growth in male wages, which requires urgent policy attention. • Gender-based discriminatory practices include: lower wages paid to women for work of equal value; undervaluation of women’s work in highly feminised occupations and enterprises, and motherhood pay gap — lower wages for mothers compared to non-mothers. Why we need gender parity: • Full and productive economic growth requires a human-centred recovery from the pandemic, which will be made possible by improving women’s employment outcomes and reducing the gender pay gap. •UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 is “achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities and equal pay for work of equal value” by 2030. • Closing the gender pay gap is key to achieving social justice for working women, as well as economic growth for the nation. What has been done:

  43. •The ILO has enshrined ‘equal pay for work of equal value’ in its Constitution and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) • This provides an international legal framework for realising gender equality and addressing the intersecting forms of discrimination and vulnerabilities among women and girls. • The Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC), was launched in 2017 as a multi- stakeholder initiative led by the ILO, UN Women and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that seeks to achieve equal pay for women and men everywhere. • India is one of the pioneering countries to enact the Minimum Wages Act in 1948 and followed by the adoption of the Equal Remuneration Act in 1976. • India also carried out comprehensive reforms in both the legislation and enacted the Code on Wages in 2019. • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005 benefited rural women workers and helped reduce the gender pay gap. • It raised the pay levels of women workers who participated in the programme, and women involved in agricultural occupations gained benefits since MGNREGA contributed to the rapid rise in overall rural and agricultural wages in the country. • In 2017, the Government amended the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961, which increased the ‘maternity leave with pay protection’ from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for all women working in establishments employing 10 or more workers. • The hijab case and the essential practices doctrine For Prelims About Doctrine of Essentiality: •The doctrine of “essentiality” was invented by a seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court in the ‘Shirur Mutt’ case in 1954. • It prescribes that the constitutional protections for religions only apply to those religious practices which were essential and integral to the religion. For Mains What are the decisions given by Karnataka High Court: • The Karnataka High Court made three primary findings in its judgment. • First, it held that the use of a hijab is not essential to the practice of Islam. Thus, the right to freedom of religion was not violated.

  44. • Second, it ruled that there exists no substantive right to freedom of expression or privacy inside a classroom and, therefore, these rights were simply not at stake here. •Third, it held that the ban did not stem directly out of the government’s order, which only called for a uniform dress code to be prescribed by the State or school management committees hence, the law did not discriminate, either directly or indirectly, against Muslim students. What is the question in front of Supreme Court. • To decide on the constitutionality of this verdict, the Supreme Court need not answer all the questions posed before it. A reversal of any of the three findings made by the High Court ought to result in a nullification of the ban. • If the petitioners can establish that the law’s seemingly neutral language does not negate the ringfencing of most forms of expression against the singling out of the hijab, and for that reason if they can show that Muslim women have been discriminated against, the Bench must reverse the High Court’s judgment. • Similarly, if the petitioners can establish that there is nothing to suggest that there exists no right to freedom of expression within the confines of an educational institution, then the onus shifts to the State to show that the ban is proportionate and legitimate. • That analysis was never conducted by the High Court because in its belief, classrooms are “qualified public spaces” where individual rights must give way to the interests of “general discipline and decorum”. The legal basis for Doctrine of Essentiality: • The idea behind essential practices doctrine was created a speech made by B.R. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly. • Ambedkar wanted to distinguish the religious from the secular, by arguing that the state should be allowed to intervene in matters that are connected to religion but are not intrinsically religious. • Based on his views Supreme Court, in the Shirur Mutt case in 1954, held that to determine what constituted an ‘essential’ aspect of religion, the Court ought to look towards the religion concerned, and to what its adherents believed was demanded by their faith. The criticism of Essentiality Doctrine: • There have been criticisms from multiple religious experts saying that the Court has assumed something akin to an ecclesiastical power and is determining

  45. whether a practice which was religious in nature was also “essential” to that religion, which is beyond its capability. •The Court’s usage of this doctrine is said to have achieved two things, neither of which is particularly desirable. • First, it has allowed the Court to narrow the extent of safeguards available to religious customs by directly impinging on the autonomy of groups to decide for themselves what they deem valuable, violating, in the process, their right to ethical independence. • Second, it has also negated legislation that might otherwise enhance the cause of social justice by holding that such laws cannot under any circumstances encroach on matters integral to the practice of a religion. What are the alternatives to Essentiality Doctrine: Justice D.Y. Chandrachud proposed one such doctrine: a principle of anti-exclusion. Anti-exclusion as explained by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud means “the anti-exclusion principle allows for due deference to the ability of a religion to determine its own religious tenets and doctrines. At the same time, the anti-exclusion principle postulates that where a religious practice causes the exclusion of individuals in a manner which impairs their dignity or hampers their access to basic goods, the freedom of religion must give way to the over-arching values of a liberal constitution”. Scandinavian Social Democracy For Prelims: Which are the Scandinavian countries: • Scandinavia is a subregion in Northern Europe, which is also known as the Nordic region due to the ethnic Nords who are considered as the original inhabitants of the region. • Scandinavia includes Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, along with the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. • As per the Human Development Index Norway ranked second (0.961), Iceland stands at fourth (0.959) Denmark at sixth (0.948), Sweden at seventh (0.947) and Finland at 11 (0.940).

  46. For Mains What is Democratic Socialism? • Democratic Socialism is completely different from the socialism practiced in the erstwhile communist countries, which had a heavy preponderance of the state in not just the ownership of the major means of production but also in political life with a one-party system drawing its ideological basis for rule on behalf of the working class. • Democratic socialism instead focuses on retaining the functioning of market economies, while emphasising redistribution of wealth and a greater preponderance for the state in this process. • They aim to achieve socialist goals of redistribution and restructuring of formal democratic and liberal institutions in vastly unequal and elite driven systems. • The regimes in Latin America led by ruling parties in Venezuela, Bolivia and recently in Chile, can be termed “democratic socialist”. What happens in Scandinavian countries: • Scandinavian countries practice social democracy. • Scandinavian Social Democracy have the following features; • reliance on representative and participatory democratic institutions where separation of powers is ensured; • a comprehensive social welfare schema with emphasis on publicly provided social services and investment in childcare, education and research among others, that are funded by progressive taxation; • presence of strong labour market institutions with active labour unions and employer associations which allow for significant collective bargaining etc;

  47. • labour and environmentalist movements in civil society is thriving; • even right-wing organisations support the welfarist model. • All these countries also follow a capitalist model of development, allowing for entrepreneurism and funding of welfare policies through a large degree of wage taxation in relation to corporate taxes. Features of Socialism in Scandinavia • Education is free in all the Nordic States; • health care is free in Denmark and Finland and partially free in Norway, Sweden and Iceland; • workers get several benefits — from unemployment insurance to old age pensions, besides effective child care. • Therefore, labour participation rates in these countries are among the highest in the world (even among women). • Among the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, Iceland (90.7% of the workforce), Denmark (67%), Sweden (65.2%), Finland (58.8%) and Norway (50.4%) have the highest proportion of the workforce belonging to trade unions. Death penalty: SC moots fair hearing For Prelims History of death penalty: •Death penalty is also called Capital punishment from the Latin word ‘capitalis’ which signifies ‘regarding the head’. • The earliest codification of death penalty laws dates back to the 18th century B.C. and can be found in the Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon. • Based on these laws it was possible to be executed for theft, perjury, and other crimes that today are punished much more lightly in most countries. • However, the punishments were based on the social status of the accused. • The Draconian Code of Athens, in 7th century B.C., made death the lone punishment for any and all crimes which resulted in the common usage of the term "draconian" to describe extremely harsh penalties. Capital Punishment in India:

  48. The Indian Penal Code enacted in1861, prescribed capital punishment for offenses such as murder. While there were debates on removing the capital punishment in the constituent assembly, it was preserved to stay as a deterrent against those who aim to commit capital offenses such as murder, rape, terrorism etc. The Supreme Court in the Bachan Singh (1980) judgment decided that capital punishment should just be utilized only in the rarest of rare cases. However, the court has not described what characterizes the term ‘rarest of the rare’ and was left to the judgement of judges. For Mains The Argument against death penalty: • Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the Fundamental Right to Life and Liberty for all people. • The death penalty is considered by many to be in violation of this right despite the Supreme Court repeatedly confirming its legitimacy through Jagmohan Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh, in Rajendra Prasad v. State of Uttar Pradesh and lastly, in Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab. •The Gandhian philosophy of ‘An eye for an eye would turn the entire world blind‘, which has relevance even in a modern society.

  49. • The primary aim of punishment in any modern society is to reform the convict and return him/her into society as a fully functioning member. Death Penalty removes the opportunity for this to happen. • Death penalty has been abolished in over 109 countries, with many more making it applicable only in extreme cases. Hence, we must realise that the world is moving away from capital punishment. India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) is a collaborative initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), State Governments and World Health Organization-India. Significance of the initiative can be adjudged from the fact that one in four adults in India has high blood pressure. The control of hypertension at primary care system level will contribute to reducing deaths due to heart attacks, stroke and kidney failures. IHCI has been able to leverage and strengthen the existing healthcare delivery system, hypertension control interventions under National Health Mission and improve the linkages between populations-based screening initiative with health care. Rules for identifying criminals For Prelims About Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022: The new law provides legal sanction to the police to take physical and biological samples of convicts as well as those accused of crimes. It is aimed at replacing the Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, which itself is a colonial- era law. The Bill describes: 1. the type of data that may be collected 2. persons from whom such data may be collected 3. the authority that may authorize such collection. 4. It also provides for the data to be stored in a central database.

  50. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) will be the central agency to maintain the records. • It will share the data with law enforcement agencies. • respective jurisdictions. States/UTs may authorize agencies to collect, preserve, and share data in their • The collected data will be kept in digital or electronic form for 75 years. What Data that can be collected: Finger-impressions, Palm-Print impressions, Footprint impressions, Photographs, Iris and Retina scan, Physical, Biological samples and their analysis, Behavioural Attributes including signatures, Handwriting, or any other examination. What does the new Rules say: The notified rules state that samples of those detained under preventive Sections such as 107, 108, 109, 110, 144, 145 and 151 of the CrPC shall not be taken unless such person is charged or arrested in connection with any other offence punishable under any other law. The rules do not mention the procedure to be adopted for convicted persons. For Mains: What are the concerns? The Act empowers a Magistrate to direct any person to give measurements, which till now was reserved for convicts and those involved in heinous crimes. It also enables the police those who are at the rank of a Head Constable or above to take measurements of any person who resists or refuses to give measurements. This can lead to violation of privacy since it allows the recording of samples of even political detainees. The procedure for destruction and disposal of records are yet to be specified by the NCRB.

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