State of the World’s Forests 2022

Why in News?

Recently, the State of the World’s Forests 2022 (SOFO 2022) was released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

• In January 2022 the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released the India State of Forest Report-2021.
• At the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, 140 countries pledged to eliminate forest loss by 2030 and to support restoration and sustainable production and consumption.

What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• Loss of Forests:
  • The 420 million hectares (mha) of forests have been lost between 1990 and 2020, due to deforestation, though forests cover 4.06 billion ha of the earth’s geographical area.
    • Although the rate of deforestation was declining, 10 mha of forests were lost every year between 2015 and 2020.
    • An estimated 289 mha of forests would be deforested between 2016 and 2050 in the tropics alone, resulting in the emission of 169 GtCO₂e if additional action is not taken.
      • The greenhouse gas total is expressed in terms of billions of tonnes of global annual CO₂ equivalent emissions (GtCO₂e/year).
• Rise in Infectious Diseases:
  • 15% of 250 emerging infectious diseases have been linked to forests.
    • Example: Covid-19, Drug-resistant infections (Antimicrobials), Zika Virus, etc.
  • 30% of new diseases, reported since 1960, can be attributed to deforestation and land-use-change.
• Rise in Poverty:
  • The cost of global strategies to prevent pandemics based on reducing the illegal wildlife trade, avoiding land-use change and increasing surveillance was estimated to be USD22 billion to USD31 billion.
  • Approximately 124 million more people fell into extreme poverty after Covid-19 and this may have longer-term impacts on wood-based fuel (such as firewood, charcoal) due to increase in wood-based fuel use in some countries during the pandemic.
• Consumption of Natural Resources:
  • The world population is projected to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050, which will increase competition for land, as the demand for food for this large population will rise by 35 to 56% by the 2050s.
  • The annual global consumption of all natural resources combined is expected to more than double from 92 billion tonnes in 2017 to 190 billion tonnes in 2060 due to increases in population size and affluence.
    • Annual biomass extraction is expected to reach 44 billion tonnes by 2060, from 24 billion tonnes in 2017.
    • Demand for forest-based biomass is expected to rise further, mainly due to construction and packaging.
• GDP Dependence on Forests:
  • It is estimated that more than half of world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (USD 84.4 trillion in 2020) depends moderately (USD 31 trillion per year) or highly (USD 13 trillion per year) on ecosystem services, including those provided by forests.
    • Ecosystem services make human life possible by, for example, providing nutritious food and clean water, regulating disease and climate, supporting the pollination of crops and soil formation, and providing recreational, cultural and spiritual benefits

What are the Suggestions?

• Conservation, Restoration and Agroforestry:
  • Forest protection, such as stopping illegal wildlife trade and avoiding land-use change, can help prevent the next pandemic, and the cost is a fraction of the damages that an actual pandemic would cause.
  • Agroforestry holds special potential for boosting biodiversity, food security and even crop production.
• Sustainable Use:
  • Supply chains that incorporate forest products are another way to make sustainable development a reality, particularly as the world's population is projected to double by 2060 and demand for natural resources will double to 190 billion metric tons.
• Funding:
  • A massive uptick in funding will require, specifically, a three-fold increase by 2030.
    • Establishing and maintaining forests, for example, may cost USD 203 billion every year by 2050.
• Supporting Local Producer Organizations:
  • Supporting local producer organizations and protecting land tenure rights are also crucial for allowing small communities and Indigenous groups to continue sustainably managing their forests.
    • For this, governments can give smallholders long-term rights to their tree products, which would help de-risk agroforestry, as well as formalize the recognition of customary land rights.

Source: DTE

India’s Civil Registration System Report

Why in News?

According to the recently released annual report on Vital Statistics based on the 2020 Civil Registration System Report (CRS), the Union Territory of Ladakh recorded the highest sex ratio at birth in the country in 2020.

• The report was published by the Registrar General of India.
• Sex ratio at birth is the number of females born per thousand males. It is an important indicator to map the gender gap of a population.

What are the Highlights of the Report?

• Highest Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB): In 2020, it is reported by Ladakh (1104) followed by Arunachal Pradesh (1011), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (984), Tripura (974), and Kerala (969).
  • In 2019, the highest sex ratio at birth was reported by Arunachal Pradesh (1024), followed by Nagaland (1001), Mizoram (975) and A&N Islands (965).
  • The information from Maharashtra, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi on sex ratio at birth was “not available.”
• Lowest Sex Ratio at Birth: The top five states that recorded Lowest Sex Ratio at Birth in 2020 are Manipur (880), followed by Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (898), Gujarat (909), Haryana (916) and Madhya Pradesh (921).
  • In 2019, the lowest sex ratio was reported by Gujarat (901), Assam (903), Madhya Pradesh (905) and Jammu & Kashmir (909).

• Birth Rate: States like Nagaland, Puducherry, Telangana, Manipur, Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Mizoram, and Chandigarh recorded a decrease in the registered birth rate.
  • Lakshadweep, Bihar, Haryana, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan recorded an increase in the registered birth rate.
• Death Rate: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Nagaland, Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Andaman & Nicobar Island and Assam recorded an increase in death rate in 2020 with respect to 2019.
  • Bihar saw the maximum increase in the death rate with 18.3% followed by Maharashtra with 16.6% and Assam with 14.7%.
  • Meanwhile, states like Manipur, Chandigarh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, and Kerala saw a decrease in death rates in 2020 with respect to 2019.
• Infant Deaths: The report noted that 1,43,379 infant deaths were registered in 2020 and the share of rural area was only 23.4%, while that of the urban area was 76.6% of total registered infant deaths.
  • Non-registration of infant deaths in rural areas was a cause of concern, due to non-reporting of infant deaths to the Registrars, especially in case of domiciliary events.

Source: TH

Declaration for the Future of the Internet

Why in News?

Recently, the United States and 60 other partner countries signed a political declaration called the "Declaration for the Future of the Internet".

• India, China and Russia are among the large nations that are not part of this declaration.
• India also did not sign the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, 2001.

What is the Declaration for the Future of the Internet?

• About:
  • In an era of "state-sponsored or condoned malicious behavior," the Declaration aims to foster "an interconnected communications system for all humanity."
  • The Declaration is an inclusive initiative, and the partners under the declaration will continue to reach other governments to involve them in the Declaration.
    • All partners will reach out to the private sector, international organisations, the technical community, academia, and civil society, and other relevant stakeholders worldwide to work in partnership to achieve the vision of an open, free, global, interoperable, reliable and secure Internet.
  • The Declaration and its guiding principles are not legally binding.
    • It should be used as a reference point for public policy makers, as well as citizens, businesses, and Civil Society Organisations.
• Aim:
  • The Internet must reinforce core democratic principles, fundamental freedoms and human rights as reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  • Internet should operate as a single, decentralised network of networks, where digital technologies are used in a trustworthy way, avoiding unfair discrimination between individuals and allowing for contestability of online platforms, and for fair competition among businesses.
  • The aim is to protect human rights, promote a single global internet, promote trust and inclusivity, and protect a multistakeholder approach to internet development.

What are the Concerns Raised?

• There has been a recent rise in repression of Internet freedoms by some authoritarian governments, the use of digital tools to violate human rights, the growing impact of cyberattacks, the spread of illegal content and disinformation and the excessive concentration of economic power.
• The world is witnessing a global trend of rising digital authoritarianism, with countries such as Russia and China have acted to repress freedom of expression, censor independent news sites, interfere with elections, promote disinformation, and deny their citizens other human rights.

What is the State of Internet Freedom in India?

• About:
  • A total of 182 internet crackdowns were reported globally in 2021.
    • Out of 106 shutdowns in India, 85 were reported in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • India was one of 18 countries that blocked mobile internet during protests.
  • The number of countries that shut down the internet in 2021 has increased to 34 from 29 in 2020.
• Related Court Judgements:
  • In Anuradha Bhasin versus the Union of India, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that an undefined restriction of internet services would be illegal and that orders for internet shutdown must satisfy the tests of necessity and proportionality.
  • In Faheema Shirin versus the State of Kerala, 2019, the Kerala High Court declared the right to Internet access as a fundamental right forming a part of the Right to Privacy and the Right to Education under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Source: BL

Indian PM’s Visit to European Countries

Why in News?

The Prime Minister (PM) of India is on visit to three European countries namely, Germany, Denmark and France. This foreign visit comes at a time Europe is witnessing the Russia-Ukraine War.

• The visit of Indian PM highlights the importance India attaches to its ties with Europe.

What is the Significance of the Visit?

• India-Germany Relations:
  • Background: Germany is one of India’s most important partners in Europe, with deep bilateral relations, and because of its key role in the European Union.
    • India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the Federal Republic of Germany after World War II (WWII).
    • India and Germany have a ‘Strategic Partnership’ since May 2000, and it has been strengthened with the launch of the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) in 2011 at the level of heads of government.
    • India is among a select group of countries with which Germany has such a dialogue mechanism.
  • Significance: Germany has made key strategic choices in the Russia-Ukraine war.
    • It has promised to reduce its energy dependence on Russia and decided to increase defence spending — a significant move, given its post-WWII posture.
    • With India too dependent on Russia for defence supplies, it will be important for India and Germany to exchange notes on strategic choices — and moving away from Russia for their respective needs.
• India-Denmark Relations:
  • Background: Bilateral relations were elevated to the level of a “Green Strategic Partnership” during the Virtual Summit held in September 2020.
    • The first India-Nordic Summit took pla.ce in April 2018 to explore new areas of cooperation.
    • This format is special, the only other country with which the Nordic countries — Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland — have this kind of engagement is with the US.
  • Significance: Nordic countries are pioneers in innovation, clean energy, green technologies, education, health-care, human rights, rule of law. This presents enormous opportunities for India to expand its own strengths by collaborating with these countries.
    • Also, India presents an ideal opportunity to these countries because of its large market.
    • Many new flagship schemes have been launched by India — like Make in India, Smart Cities Mission, Start-up India, Clean Ganga etc — in which Nordic countries can take active part and provide their expertise.
• India-France Relations:
  • Background: India and France have traditionally had close relations.
    • In 1998, the two entered into a Strategic Partnership, with defence & security cooperation, space cooperation and civil nuclear cooperation being its pillars.
    • India and France also have a robust economic partnership, and are increasingly engaged in new areas of cooperation.
    • France was among the few western countries to not condemn India after the 1998 Pokhran tests.
    • It has continued to support India’s claim for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.
    • France’s support was vital in India’s accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime, Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group.
    • France continues to support India’s bid for accession to the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
    • France has also supported India’s requests to block attempts by Pakistan to enlist Indian citizens under the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee.
  • Significance:
    • Indian Ocean, the Common Shared Interest: France needs to protect its colonial territorial possessions like reunion island and Indian ocean being the zone of influence for India.
    • Counter Terrorism: France backed the India’s proposal for a global conference on terrorism.
      • Both the countries also support organizing a new “No Money for Terror” - an International Conference on Fighting Terrorist Financing.
    • France Backing India: France also continues to steadfastly back India on Kashmir while its relations with Pakistan have plummeted in the recent past and China has become an object of suspicion.
    • Defense Cooperation: India and France have entered in the phase of close defense partnership. For example, recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has inducted French Rafale multi-role combat aircraft.
• India-Europe Relations:
  • Background: India in 1962 had been one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community — the precursor of the European Union.
    • A Cooperation Agreement signed in 1994 broadened the relationship to include ministerial meetings and a political dialogue.
    • These ties have expanded to include political and security issues, climate change and clean energy, information and communications technology, space and nuclear, health, agriculture and food security, and education and culture.
  • Significance of the Visit: The visit to Europe is likely to set the stage for the India-EU summit and a boost in Free Trade Agreement negotiations, which have been ongoing for a decade and a half now.

Source: IE

India-Nordic Countries Bilateral Talks

Why in News?

Recently, the Prime Minister of India held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland.

• At the meetings, a discussion was made regarding ways to further deepen bilateral ties and views were exchanged on regional and global developments.
• The meeting was organized on the sidelines of the second India-Nordic Summit in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.

What is the Background of Second India-Nordic Summit?

• The second edition held against the backdrop of the two most significant events that affected the world.
  • One is post-pandemic economic recovery, and the other is the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
• Besides economy, trade and investment, the summit can be seen from the perspective of the concept of the welfare state that goes along with capitalism and democratic practices, blending the welfare model with the market economy.
• India invited Nordic companies for investing in the blue economy sector, especially in Sagarmala Project.
  • India’s Arctic Policy provides a good framework for expansion of India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region.
• The Nordic countries reiterated their support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed and expanded United Nation Security Council.
• At the inaugural edition of the summit in 2018, the focus of the leadership was on global security, economic growth, innovation and climate change while emphasizing innovation and digital transformation as a driver of growth.
  • The first summit sought to explore an extension of the application to New Delhi's flagship programmers like Make in India, Startup India, Digital India and Clean India, besides the support of the Nordic countries' Sustainable Cities Project to India's Smart Cities project.
  • At the first summit, the Nordic countries welcomed India's application for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.

What are the Highlights of the Meeting?

• India-Denmark: Discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest to boost bilateral relations, including the war in Ukraine, the India-European Union (EU) free trade deal and the situation in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Agreed to further strengthen the Green Strategic Partnership with a focus on green hydrogen, renewable energy and wastewater management.
• India-Norway: Both leaders discussed the potential for deepening engagement in areas like Blue Economy, renewable energy, green hydrogen, solar and wind projects, green shipping, fisheries, water management, rainwater harvesting, space cooperation, long term Infrastructure investment, health and culture.
  • Indian PM asserted that Norway is a key pillar of India’s recently announced Arctic Policy.
• India-Sweden: During the meeting, the two leaders took stock of the progress in the Joint Action Plan and appreciated the expanding scope of the jointly launched Leadership Group on Industry Transition (LeadIT) initiative.
  • This was an India-Sweden joint global initiative to set up a Leadership Group on Industry Transition (LeadIT) in September 2019 at the UN Climate Action Summit to help guide the world’s heaviest greenhouse gas emitting industries toward a low-carbon economy.
  • During the 2018 visit of Prime Minister Modi to Sweden, the two sides adopted a wide-ranging Joint Action Plan to take forward a wide range of initiatives in defense, trade and investment, renewable energy, smart cities, women’s skill development, space and science and healthcare etc.
• India-Iceland: Both leaders discussed ways to further strengthen economic cooperation especially in the sectors of geothermal energy, Blue Economy, Arctic, renewable energy, fisheries, food processing, education including digital universities, and culture.
  • Discussions also took place on expediting the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) trade negotiations.
• India-Finland: Discussions were done regarding opportunities to expand cooperation in the fields of new and emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, future mobile technologies, clean technologies and smart grids.
  • Indian PM invited Finnish companies to partner with Indian companies and take advantage of the enormous opportunities that the Indian market presents, particularly in telecom infrastructure and digital transformations.

What is the Significance of Nordic Countries for India?

• India and Nordic countries enjoy robust business partnerships though the economics of these countries individually is much smaller than those of the G20 countries.
  • The combined GDP is over USD 1.6 trillion, with a per capita income of around USD 54,000.
  • The total bilateral trade and services between India and the Nordic countries is USD 13 billion.
• Areas of Cooperation: The countries which have technological prowess and growing business ties will explore cooperation in five areas of mutual interest.
  • These include green partnership, digital and innovation economy, trade and investment linkages, sustainable development, and collaboration regarding the Arctic region.
  • Apart from the United States, India is the only other country with which the Nordic countries have summit-level meetings.

Source: TH

India and Denmark

Why in News?

During the Indian Prime Minister's Visit to Denmark, India and Denmark agreed to further strengthen the Green Strategic Partnership with a focus on green hydrogen, renewable energy and wastewater management.

• Further, India conveyed its acceptance of the Danish invitation to join the International Center for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) as a Mission Partner.
• The Danish Prime Minister confirmed Danish accession to the Global Digital Health Partnership on India’s invitation to improve public health and well-being through evidence-based digital technologies.

What is the Status of India-Denmark Ties? 

Background: The diplomatic relations between India and Denmark, established in September 1949, are marked by regular high-level exchanges.

• Both countries share historical links, common democratic traditions and a shared desire for regional, as well as international peace and stability.
• Bilateral relations were elevated to the level of “Green Strategic Partnership” during the Virtual Summit held in 2020.

• Commercial and Economic Relations: Bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Denmark has grown by 78%, from USD 2.8 billion in 2016 to USD 5 billion in 2021.
  • The major export items from India to Denmark are textiles, apparels and yarns related, vehicles and components, metal goods, iron and steel, footwear, and travel goods.
  • Major Danish exports to India are medicinal/pharmaceutical goods, power generating machinery, industrial machinery, metal waste and ore, and organic chemicals.
• Cultural Exchange: India's 75th Independence Day was celebrated in Copenhagen with a great enthusiasm with a flag hoisting ceremony and vibrant Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, attended by a large number of the diaspora.
  • Indian community in Denmark include IT professionals, doctors and engineers.
  • Important streets and public places have been named after Indian leaders which include the Gandhi Plaene (Gandhi Park), Copenhagen and a Nehru Road near Aarhu University in Aarhus.

Way Forward

Cooperation at Multilateral Forum: India and Denmark have shared values of human rights, democracy, and rule of law and they should cooperate in multilateral fora like the World Trade Organization, International Solar Alliance, Arctic Council to advance democracy and human rights and promote a rule-based multilateral system.

Source: TH

Unique Disability ID Scheme

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has asked states to speed up implementation of the Unique Disability ID (UDID) scheme for Persons With Disabilities (PwD) in the 75 districts.

• The Rural Development Ministry has selected the UDID programme as a part of its 90-day campaign in districts “selected on the basis of unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle” under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• The campaign aimed for 100% coverage of 17 Central schemes in the 75 districts.

What is UDID?

• About:
  • The Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities project is being implemented with a view of creating a National Database for PwDs, and to issue a Unique Disability Identity Card to each person with disabilities.
  • The objective is to enable the PwDs to obtain the new UDID card / Disability Certificate to avail schemes and benefits provided by the Government through its various Ministries and their Departments.
• Significance:
  • The project will not only encourage transparency, efficiency and ease of delivering the government benefits to the person with disabilities, but also ensure uniformity.
  • The project helps in stream-lining the tracking of physical and financial progress of beneficiaries at all levels of hierarchy of implementation – from village level, block level, District level , State level and National level.

Source: TH

Shigella Bacteria Outbreak

Why in News?

An outbreak of shigella bacteria is believed to be the reason behind the recent incident of suspected food poisoning in Kasaragod district, Kerala.

• Earlier in 2019, the bacteria were found in Koyilandy district, Kerela.

What is Shigella Bacteria?

• About: Shigella is a genus of bacteria that causes an infection called shigellosis. It is the second leading cause of diarrhea (after Rotavirus) worldwide and the third leading cause of death in children less than 5 years old.
  • The annual number of shigellosis episodes throughout the world is estimated to be 164.7 million.
• Possible Symptoms: Symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, stomach cramps which can last for seven days.
• Transmission: Shigella is generally transmitted through contaminated food or water, or through person-to-person contact.
  • Shigellosis is primarily a disease of poor and crowded communities that do not have adequate sanitation or safe water.
• Incubation Period: The incubation period of shigellosis is typically 1–4 days.
• Different Species: The severity of the disease varies by the infecting species:
  • Shigella dysenteriae infections usually cause dysentery, which may also occur in infection with Shigella flexneri .
  • Shigella boydii and Shigella sonnei often have self-limited watery diarrhea.
• Vaccines: Currently, there are no vaccines available for shigellosis.
• Medium Priority Bacteria: Due to the increasing rate of multidrug resistance, in particular resistance to fluoroquinolone in Asian and African regions, this has been classified as a medium priority for research and development of new and effective antibiotic treatments by the WHO Priority Pathogens List of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

What is the Treatment Protocol?

• Hydration: The cornerstone of shigella treatment is the maintenance of hydration and electrolyte balance.
  • In young children, oral rehydration with a reduced osmolarity solution is indicated to treat the WHO-defined category of some dehydration and is preferable to intravenous fluids unless severe dehydration is present.
• Use of Antibiotics: Although shigellosis is primarily self-limiting, antibiotics are recommended for reducing illness duration and for preventing transmission.
  • The current drugs of choice are third-generation cephalosporins (ceftriaxone or cefixime) and macrolides (azithromycin).
• Public Hygiene: Handwashing is said to reduce shigella transmission by 70%. Recommended public health control measures are exclusion of ill people with shigellosis from work, food preparation, and childcare.

Source: TH