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Climate Reparation

For Prelims: Climate reparations,Polluter Pays Principle,UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Efforts (UNOCHA),The Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM).

For Mains: Climate Reparation, Climate Change.

Why in News?

Recently, Pakistan is witnessing the worst flooding disaster in its history, therefore it has begun demanding reparations, or compensation, from the rich countries that are mainly responsible for causing climate change.

What is Climate Reparation?

• Climate reparations refer to a call for money to be paid by the developed countries to the developing countries as a means of addressing the historical contributions that the Developed countries have made (and continue to make) toward climate change.

Who is Responsible for Climate Change?

• Historical Emissions: Historical responsibility of the Western nations is important because carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, and it is the cumulative accumulation of this carbon dioxide that causes global warming.
• Polluter Pays Principle: The concept of the Polluter Pays principle makes the polluter liable for paying not just for the cost of remedial action, but also for compensating the victims of environmental damage caused by their actions.
  • The United States and the European Union, including the UK, account for over 50% of all emissions during the present time.
  • If Russia, Canada, Japan, and Australia too are included, the combined contribution goes past 65% or almost two-thirds of all emissions.
  • Further, a country like India, currently the third largest emitter, accounts for only 3% of historical emissions. Whereas, China, which is the world’s biggest emitter for over 15 years now, has contributed about 11% to total emissions since 1850.
• Global Impact: The impacts of climate change are much more severe on the poorer nations because of their geographical locations and weaker capacity to cope.
  • This is what is giving rise to demands for loss and damage compensation, countries that have had negligible contributions to historical emissions and have severe limitations of resources are the ones that face the most devastating impacts of climate change.
• Impact on India: The economic loss from cyclone Amphan in India and Bangladesh in 2020 has been assessed at USD 15 billion.

What did the International Conventions say about Climate Responsibility?

• Admission of Responsibility: The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the 1994 international agreement that lays down the broad principles of the global effort to fight climate change, explicitly acknowledges this differentiated responsibility of nations.
  • It makes it very clear that rich countries must provide both finance and technology to developing nations to help them tackle climate change.
    • The rich countries agreed to provide USD 100 billion to the developing world every year as a result of this mandate.
  • Present Status: The promise of USD 100 billion in assistance to developing countries is yet to be completed.
    • According to a recent report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Efforts (UNOCHA), prepared for the UN General Assembly, annual funding requests related to climate-linked disasters averaged USD 15.5 billion in the three-year period between 2019 and 2021.
      • The United States alone is estimated to have “inflicted more than USD 1.9 trillion in damages to other countries” due to its emissions.
      • Non-Economic Losses: There are non-economic losses, including loss of lives, displacement and migration, health impacts, and damage to cultural heritage.
      • Economic Losses: The unavoidable annual economic losses from climate change were projected to reach somewhere between USD 290 billion to USD 580 billion by the year 2030.
• Initiatives: The developing countries and NGOs managed to establish a separate channel for loss and damages at international climate change negotiations.
  • Therefore, the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) for Loss and Damages, set up in 2013, was the first formal acknowledgment of the need to compensate developing countries struck by climate disasters.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct? (2015)

1. It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (a)

Exp:

• Green Climate Fund (GCF) was established to support the developing countries in their efforts to challenge climate change by aiding them in shifting to low-emission and climate-resilient development regime. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• GCF is designed as an operating entity of the UNFCCC’s financial mechanism and is headquartered in Incheon, Republic of Korea.
• In 2010, the 194 member countries or Conference of Parties (COP) of the UNFCCC in its 16^th session agreed to create a Green Climate Fund (GCF). Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• The GCF aims to deliver equal amounts of funding for mitigation and adaptation, while being guided by the Convention’s principles and provisions.
• The GCF was given an important role in serving the Paris Agreement and supporting the goal of keeping climate change well below 2ºC. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Source: IE

India Bangladesh Agreements

For Prelims: Geography of Bangladesh, India Bangladesh Agreements, Trends in India Bangladesh Relations

For Mains: Economic Significance of Bangladesh for India, Trends of Agreements signed between India and Bangladesh, Challenges in relations

Why in News?

Recently, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh has visited India and held talks with Indian Prime Minister.

• India and Bangladesh have signed seven agreements for cooperation in areas ranging from sharing of river waters to space and unveiled new connectivity and energy initiatives.

What are the Key Highlights of the Meeting?

• The two sides have signed seven Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which includes:
  
  • The withdrawal of water from the cross-border Kushiyara river.
    • The agreement will benefit southern Assam in India and the Sylhet region of Bangladesh.
  • Cooperation in space technology.
  • Collaboration on Information Technology systems used by railways in areas such as movement of freight.
  • Science and technology cooperation.
  • Training of Bangladesh Railway personnel and Bangladeshi judicial officers in India.
  • Cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and Bangladesh Television.
• Thermal Power Project:
  • The two nations unveiled the first unit of the Maitree super thermal power project being built in Khulna division of Bangladesh with concessional funding from India.
  • The unit was synchronized with Bangladesh’s power grid in August 2022, and the project will generate 1,320MW, when completed.
• Rushpa Rail Bridge:
  • The 5.13-km Rupsha rail bridge was also inaugurated, a key part of the 64.7-km Khulna-Mongla port broad gauge railway project.
  • The bridge was constructed with an Indian line of credit of $389 million.
  • It will increase connectivity with Mongla, Bangladesh’s second largest port.
• Loans and Advances:
  • India has provided concessional loans worth USD 9.5 billion for development projects in Bangladesh, which includes:
    • Rail connectivity between Khulna and Dhaka, Chilahati and Rajshah.
    • Connecting Mongla port with Darshana-Gede at a cost of USD 312 million.
    • The Parbatipur-Kaunia rail project to facilitate the transportation of fuel is being built at a cost of USD 120 million.
    • Supply of road construction equipment and machinery worth USD 41 million to repair and maintain Bangladesh’s road network.
• Defence Procurement:
  • In 2018, India has extended USD 500 million defence Line of Credit (LoC) to Bangladesh.
  • In May 2018, Defence public sector undertaking of Kolkata had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh to provide assistance and know-how in the design and construction of warships.
  • Dhaka has shared a wish list of military platforms and systems that its armed forces would like to procure from India.
    • Bangladesh Army has approved procurement of three items:
      • 5 Bridge Layer Tanks (BLT-72) at USD 10 million
      • 7 Portable Steel Bridges (Bailey) at USD 2.2 million
      • 1 Mine Protective Vehicles at USD 2.2 million.
    • Other Proposed Procurements include:
      • Off-road vehicles, heavy recovery vehicles, armoured engineer reconnaissance vehicles and bullet proof helmets.
      • Modernisation and extension of automobile assembling unit for a Bangladesh machine tools factory, supply of explosives, raw materials and tools
    • The Bangladesh Navy has proposed the procurement of a logistics ship, floating dock, oil tanker, and an ocean-going tug.

What is India’s Vision on CEPA with Bangladesh?

• About:
  • The Prime Minister of India has said that India and Bangladesh will soon commence negotiations on a Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
  • The CEPA is likely to focus on trade in goods, services, and investment, with a key objective being the reduction of the trade gap between the two countries.
    • For the year 2021, India’s imports from Bangladesh stands at USD 1.76 billion and exports to Bangladesh stands at USD 14.09 billion, resulting in a trade gap of USD 12.33 billion.
  • Bangladesh prepares to graduate into a developing nation by 2026, after which it may no longer qualify for trade benefits that it currently enjoys as a least-developed country; it is keen to clinch the CEPA within a year.
• India Bangladesh Trade Relations:
  • In 2021-22, Bangladesh has emerged as the largest trade partner for India in South Asia and the fourth largest destination for Indian exports worldwide.
  • Exports to Bangladesh grew more than 66% from USD 9.69 billion in FY 2020-21 to USD 16.15 billion in FY 2021-22.
  • Despite Covid-19 related disruptions, bilateral trade grew 44% from USD 10.78 billion in 2020-21 to USD 18.13 billion in 2021-22.
  • India’s Exports to Bangladesh:
    • Raw cotton, non-retail pure cotton yarn, and electricity
  • India’s Imports from Bangladesh:
    • Pure vegetable oils, non-knit men’s suits, and textile scraps.

What are some Issues which Both Nations should Resolve?

• There should be efforts to resolve pending issues concerning sharing of waters, resolving continental shelf issues in the Bay of Bengal, bringing down border incidents to zero, and managing the media.
  • PM of Bangladesh held out the hope that the two countries will resolve the issue of sharing the waters of the Teesta River – an agreement on the matter has been pending since 2011.
• Bangladesh has already raised concerns over roll out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, an exercise carried out to identify genuine Indian citizens living in Assam and weed out illegal Bangladeshis.
• Currently, Bangladesh is an active partner of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that Delhi has not signed up to.
• In the security sector, Bangladesh is also a major recipient of Chinese military inventory, including submarines.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

Q1. Consider the following statements: (2020)

1. The value of Indo-Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade.
2. “Textile and textile articles” constitute an important item of trade between India and Bangladesh.
3. In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• As per data from the Department of Commerce, Indo- Sri Lanka bilateral trade value for a decade (2007 to 2016) was 3.0, 3.4, 2.1, 3.8, 5.2, 4.5, 5.3, 7.0, 6.3, 4.8 (in billion USD). It reflects continuous fluctuation in the trend of trade value. There has been an overall increase but the same cannot be said as consistent rise in trade value. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• Bangladesh has been a major textile trading partner for India, with a share of more than 5% in exports and over 7% in imports. While annual textile exports to Bangladesh averages $2,000 million, imports are worth $400 (Year: 2016-17).
• The major items of exports are fibre and yarn of cotton, man-made staple fibres and man-made include higher volatility, an increased burden of foreign debt, and an effect on the balance of trade and exports. Thus allowing full capital account convertibility will hurt the economy in the times of global crisis. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
• Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q2. In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/ participants? (2015)

1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 
(c) 1 and 3 
(d) 1, 2 and 5

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is an initiative by six countries – India and five ASEAN countries, namely, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam for cooperation in tourism, culture, education, as well as transport and communications. It was launched in 2000 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
• Both the Ganga and the Mekong are civilizational rivers and the MGC initiative aims to facilitate closer contacts among the people inhabiting these two major river basins.
• The MGC is also indicative of the cultural and commercial linkages among the member countries of the MGC down the centuries.
• Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

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Mains

Q. Critically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play a decisive role in the emergence of Bangladesh. (2013)

Source: HT

Uniformed Forces and Mental Health

For Mains: Mental Health Issues in the Uniformed Forces, Government Policies & Interventions

Why in News?

The government needs to take immediate action to address mental health issues in the uniformed services.

What are the Reasons for the Prevalence of Mental Health Issues in the Uniformed Forces?

• Tightly Structured Hierarchy:
  • Uniformed forces are tightly structured with a command-and-control hierarchy system.
  • A senior officer is the reporting authority for his immediate junior and this junior has to fulfil their tasks with manpower under his/her command.
  • The hierarchy is rarely breached and the system ensures discipline, clarity of roles and accountability.
  • However, it tends to become inhuman, especially to those who cannot communicate their personal issues in an appropriate forum.
• Stress is not Addressed:
  • Uniformed forces showing signs of mental stress are not given enough attention.
  • Those who express the problem are termed as weak and are seen as shying away from the rigours of life.
  • In a uniformed setup, subordinate staff do not want to appear weak as the “macho man” stereotype weighs them down.
• Less Recognition for their Achievements:
  • The constabulary accounts for around 85% of state police and CAPFs.
  • These personnel perform their duties as directed by their seniors.
  • They mostly remain in the background of the organisation with less recognition for their achievements and more frequent persecution for failure.
• Tend towards Alcoholism:
  • To cope with the difficulty of the types of setups, personnel often resort to alcoholism and drug abuse.
  • In the latter cases, defaulters are punished as per the law and suitable departmental action is also taken.

What can be the impact of the Rising Mental Health issues among the forces?

• Discourage Younger Generation:
  • Despite the good image that the armed forces have, and the fact that it is a very respectable job, rising mental health issues among the forces can discourage the younger generations from joining.
• Demoralize the Forces:
  • Increasing mental health issues among the forces can discourage them and negatively impact their daily operations.
• Rising cases of Suicides:
  • Suicides, fratricides and untoward incidents are causing more Army personnel to lose their lives than any enemy or terrorist activities, according to the findings of a study by United Service Institution of India (USI).

Way Forward

• Good Working Conditions: Working conditions, leave, allowances, and housing should be provided as entitlements.
• Identify Underlying Issues:
  • Bad apples should be eliminated but those with underlying issues must be identified and a different approach adopted.
  • This is where the role of the police leadership comes into the picture.
  • The need is to strive to create a working environment that provides personal fulfilment to personnel and reduces the chances of mental stress and illness.
• Proper Communication Mechanism:
  • As police leaders, the need is to increase communication with all the ranks. The enforcement of discipline has to go hand-in-hand with concern for staff well-being.
  • Regular sampark sabhas need to be conducted where personnel can air their grievances and proper follow-up action must be taken on all possible issues.
  • The senior’s office should be open to all ranks 24/7.
  • Additionally, during random inspections on the field, friendly communication with personnel on duty does not hurt discipline — it only increases his trust in the leadership and dedication to duty.
• Reward and Recognition:
  • Reward and recognition act as big motivators. Often, the incentive system is at the whims and fancy of the head of the organisation.
  • It has to be formalised in every setup and it has also been established that sports and cultural programmes increase bonhomie and create bonds between personnel, who support each other during crises.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. A positive attitude is considered to be an essential characteristic of a civil servant who is often required to function under extreme stress. What contributes to a positive attitude in a person? (2020)

Q. “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until and unless we obtain peace within ourselves.”– Dalai Lama (2021)

Source: IE

Importance of Regional Language

For Prelims: Article 343, Regional Language, University Grants Commission (UGC), National Education Policy.

For Mains: Significance of Regional Language.

Why in News?

Recently, the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) emphasised that early initiation of learning a mother tongue is important for a child’s creative thinking.

What are Regional Languages?

• Regional language is a term used to refer to a language that is spoken by a sizeable number of people but is not the de facto language of communication in the rest of the country. 
  • A language is considered regional when it is mostly spoken by people who reside largely in one particular area of a state or country.
  • Article 343(1) of the Indian Constitution states that the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagiri Script.

What is the Need for Regional Language?

• Remove Dilemma:
  • To remove the dilemma regarding giving preference to English language rather than any vernacular language and let the child think naturally in their own mother tongue.
• Colonial Mindset:
  • There was a need to change our attitudes, so that when someone asked a question in a class in a regional language, they should not feel inferior.
• Benefits:
  • Subject-Specific Improvement: Several studies in India and other Asian countries suggest a positive impact on learning outcomes for students using a regional medium rather than the English medium.
    • Performance in science and math, in particular, has been found to be better among students studying in their native language compared to English.
  • Higher Rates of Participation: Studying in the native language results in higher attendance, motivation and increased confidence for speaking up among students and improved parental involvement and support in studies due to familiarity with the mother tongue.
    • Poor grasp of English has been tied by many educationists to dropout rates at the premier engineering education institutions as well as poor performance of some students.
  • Additional Benefits for the Less-Advantaged: This is especially relevant for students who are first-generation learners (the first one in their entire generation to go to school and receive an education) or the ones coming from rural areas, who may feel intimidated by unfamiliar concepts in an alien language.

What are the Initiatives taken by the Government for the Promotion of Vernacular Languages?

• The University Grants Commission is in talks with various regulatory bodies such as Bar Council of India for promotion of vernacular languages, therefore, a committee had been formed under former Chief Justice of India which would look into how institutions could provide legal education in local languages.
• The All India Council of Technical Education too had introduced courses in regional languages in 10 colleges.
  • Further, It is also working with the High-Powered Committee on Indian Language Development established by the Ministry of Education to identify experts as well as 10-12 disciplines so that books could either be translated or written afresh.
  • The regulatory body was aiming at preparing 1,500 books in regional languages in the next one year across different disciplines.
• The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) is providing publication grant towards the publications of University Level Books in regional languages. 
• The National Translation Mission (NTM) is being implemented through the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL).

How would Regional Language be Promoted in Education?

• Either institutes would adopt a regional language as a medium of instruction or it would serve as a learning aid for students in English medium who may not be proficient in the language.
• Use of Technology: There was artificial intelligence-based technology available to enable real-time translations that would be seen in classrooms in the future.
• National Education Policy: The National Education Policy 2022 lays emphasis on promoting mother tongue which should be a medium of instruction at least till class fifth or class eighth and after which it should be offered as a language. 
• It also urges universities to develop study material in regional languages.

What are the Constitutional Provisions related to Regional Language?

• Article 345: The legislature of a State may by law adopt any one or more of the languages in use in the State or Hindi as the Language or Languages to be used for all or any of the official purposes of that State.
• Article 346: The language authorised for use in the Union for official purposes shall be the official language for communication between one State and another State and between a State and the Union.
  • For example- If two or more States agree that the Hindi language should be the official language for communication between such States, that language may be used for such communication.
• Article 347: It gives the President the power to recognise a language as an official language of a given state, provided that the President is satisfied that a substantial proportion of that state desires that the language be recognised. Such recognition can be for a part of the state or the whole state.
• Article 350A: The facilities for instruction in mother-tongue at the primary stage.
• Article 350B: It provides for the establishment of a Special Officer for linguistic minorities.
• Article 351: It gives power to the union government to issue a directive for the development of the Hindi language.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. Consider the following statements: (2021)

1. 21^st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.
2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)

Exp:

• The Constituent Assembly of Pakistan, in its session at Karachi on 23^rd February, 1948 proposed that the members would have to speak either in Urdu or in English at the Assembly. Dhirendranath Datta, a member from the East Pakistan Congress Party, moved an amendment motion to include Bangla as one of the languages of the Constituent Assembly. In the same year, the Government of the Dominion of Pakistan ordained Urdu as the sole national language, sparking extensive protests among the Bengalispeaking majority of East Bengal.
• The students of the University of Dhaka and other political activists defied the law and organised a protest on 21^st February, 1952. After years of conflict, the government relented and granted official status to the Bengali language in 1956. In Bangladesh, 21 February is observed as Language Movement Day. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• International Mother Language Day is observed on 21^st February every year. It was declared by UNESCO and not by UNICEF. It is in tribute to the Language Movement and the ethnolinguistic rights of people around the world. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

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Q. With reference to India, the terms ‘HaIbi, Ho and Kui’ pertain to (2021)

(a) dance forms of Northwest India
(b) musical instruments
(c) pre-historic cave paintings
(d) tribal languages

Ans: (d)

Exp:

• Odisha has a unique place in India due to its vast population of tribals residing in the state. 62 tribal communities live in Odisha which is 22.8% of the total population of Odisha.
• Odisha’s tribal language is divided into 3 main language families. They are Austro-Asiatic (Munda), Dravida and Indo-Aryan. Every tribe has its own language and language family. The languages include:
  • Austro-Asiatic: Bhumij, Birhor, Rem (Bonda), Gatah (Didyai), Gutab (Gadaba), Sora(Saora), Gorum (Parenga), Khadia, Juang, Santali, Ho, Mundari, etc.
  • Dravida: Gondi, Kui-Kondh, Kuvi-Kondh, Kisan, Koya, Olari, (Gadaba) Parja, Peng, Kudukh (Oraon) etc.
  • Indo Aryan: Bathudi, Bhuyan, Kurmali, Sounti, Sadri, Kandhan, Aghria, Desia, Jharia, Halbi, Bhatri, Matia, Bhunjia, etc.
  • Out of these languages only 7 have scripts. They are Santali (Olchiki), Saora ( Sorang Sampeng), Ho (Warangchiti), Kui (Kui Script), Oraon (Kukhud Tod), Mundari (Bani Hisir), Bhumij (Bhumij Anl). Santali language has been included in the 8^th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Source: TH

Extension of Sulfur Dioxide Emission Norms

For Prelims: Sulfur Dioxide Pollution and its impact, Flue-gas Desulphurization.

For Mains: Need to focus on mitigating the hazards of air pollution in India.

Why in News?

The Ministry of Power (MoP) has extended the deadline for coal-fired power plants to install Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) to cut sulphur emissions by two years.

What is the Background?

• India had initially set a 2017 deadline for thermal power plants to install FGD units to cut Sulphur emissions.
  • Removal of Sulfur Dioxide is called Flue-gas Desulphurization (FGD).
  • It seeks to remove gaseous pollutants viz. SO₂ from exhaust flue gases generated in furnaces, boilers, and other industrial processes due to thermal processing, treatment, and combustion.
• The deadline was later changed to varying deadlines for different regions, ending in 2022, and further extended last year to a period ending 2025.
• Power plants will be forcibly retired if they do not comply to norms on sulphur emissions by end-2027.
• Plants near populous regions and the capital New Delhi will have to pay penalties to operate from end-2024, while utilities in less polluting areas will be penalized after end-2026.
• Higher costs, lack of funds, Covid-19 related delays and geopolitical tension with China, which has restricted trade, are cited as the reasons for the extension.

Why is the installation of FGD Units Important?

• Indian cities have some of the world’s most polluted air. India currently emits almost twice the amount of SO₂ than the next highest country, Russia.
• Thermal utilities, which produce 75% of the country’s power, account for some 80% of industrial emissions of sulphur and nitrous-oxides, which cause lung diseases, acid rain and smog.
• Every single day delay in implementation of prescribed norms and not installing the FGD system is causing huge health and economic damage to our society.
• The high levels of damaging SO2 pollution in India are avoidable much sooner as flue-gas desulphurisation systems have proved successful in reducing emission levels in China, the country responsible for the highest level in 2005.

What is Sulfur Dioxide Pollution?

• Source:
  • The largest source of SO₂ in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities.
  • Smaller sources of SO₂ emissions include: industrial processes such as extracting metal from ore, natural sources such as volcanoes, and locomotives, ships and other vehicles and heavy equipment that burn fuel with a high sulfur content.
• Impact: SO₂ can affect both health and the environment.
  • Short-term exposures to SO₂ can harm the human respiratory system and make breathing difficult. People with asthma, particularly children, are sensitive to these effects of SO₂.
  • WHO has estimated that it causes 4.2 million deaths globally per year.
  • SO₂ emissions that lead to high concentrations of SO₂ in the air generally also lead to the formation of other sulfur oxides (SOx). SOx can react with other compounds in the atmosphere to form small particles. These particles contribute to Particulate Matter (PM) pollution.
    • Small particles may penetrate deeply into the lungs and in sufficient quantities can contribute to health problems.
  • It can also cause acid rain which leads to widespread environmental damage.
• India’s Case:
  • India’s sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions recorded a significant decline of approximately 6% in 2019 compared to 2018, the steepest drop in four years, according to a report from Greenpeace India and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
    • However, India remained the largest emitter of SO₂.
  • Air Quality sub-index has been evolved for eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term (upto 24-hours) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q1. Why is there a concern about copper smelting plants?

1. They may release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into environment.
2. The copper slag can cause the leaching of some heavy metals into environment.
3. They may release sulphur dioxide as a pollutant.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Exp:

• There are several different processes that can be used for copper production. One of the traditional processes is based on smelting in Reverberatory furnaces (or electric furnaces for more complex ores), producing matte (copper-iron sulphide). The matter from the furnace is charged to converters, where the molten material is oxidized in the presence of air to remove the iron and sulphur impurities (as converter slag) and to form blister copper.
• The principal air pollutants emitted from the process is sulphur dioxide and particulate matter and the main portion of the solid waste is discarded slag. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• The slag produced can contain significant concentrations of a number of potentially toxic elements including arsenic, lead, cadmium, barium, zinc, etc. The slag can release these potentially toxic elements into the environment under natural weathering conditions and cause pollution of soils, surface waters and groundwater. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• As slag is considered chemically inert, it is mixed with cement and is used to construct roads and railroad beds. It is also used for sandblasting. Moreover, it is also added to roofing shingles.
• Copper smelting does not release lethal quantities of carbon monoxide into the environment. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q2. With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements:

1. It is a product of oil refineries.
2. Some industries use it to generate power.
3. Its use causes sulphur emissions into environment.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d)

Exp:

• Furnace oil or fuel oil is a dark viscous residual product of crude-oil distillation. It is used as a fuel in different types of combustion equipment. The emissions of oxides of sulphur are a direct result of the sulphur content of the fuel oil. Hence, statements 1 and 3 are correct.
• Applications of Furnace oil:
  • Marine engines and slow speed engines for power generation,
  • Drying tea leaves,
  • Gas turbines for power generation,
  • Feed stock for fertiliser manufacturing,
  • Thermic fluid heaters and hot air generators. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

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Mains

Q1. Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve revised standards? (2021)

Q2. Environmental Impact Assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before a project is cleared by the Government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at coal pitheads. (2014)

Source: IE

Mohenjo Daro: UNESCO’s World Heritage Site

For Prelims: Indus Valley Civilization, Significance of World Heritage, Flood in Pakistan.

For Mains: Mohenjo Daro, UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.

Why in News?

Pakistan’s Department of Archaeology warned that heavy rainfall in the Sindh province threatened the World Heritage status of Mohenjo Daro.

What threatens the Heritage Site?

• Between August 16 and 26, 2022, the archaeological ruins of Mohenjo Daro received a record 779.5 mm of rain, which had resulted in “considerable damage to the site and partial falling of several walls, including the protection wall of the stupa dome”.
  • Muneer Area, Stupa, Great Bath and other important sites of these ruins have been badly affected by the natural disaster.
• It is feared that the ruins of Mohenjo Daro might be removed from the World Heritage list, therefore the authorities of Sindh have called for urgent attention towards conservation and restoration work at the site.

What are the Key Points of Mohenjo Daro?

• The site of Mohenjo Daro, literally meaning ‘Mound of the Dead' is one of the important sites of Indus Valley Civilization (IVC).
  • Sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation have been found in a large area extending from Sutkagen Dor in Balochistan near the Pakistan-Iran border to Alamgirpur in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh , and from Manda in Jammu to Daimabad in Maharashtra.
  • Other important sites of the Harappan civilization in India are at Lothal and Dholavira in Gujarat, and Kalibangan in Rajasthan.
• Along with Harappa, Mohenjo Daro is the best-known site of the bronze age (3300 BC to 1200 BC) urban civilization.
• It flourished in the Indus Valley between roughly 3,300 BC and 1,300 BC, with its ‘mature’ phase spanning the period 2,600 BC to 1,900 BC.
• Civilization went into decline in the middle of the second millennium BC for reasons that are believed to include catastrophic climate change.
• Excavation of Mohenjo Daro was started in 1920 and continued in phases until 1964-65, even now only a small part of the site has been excavated.
  • The prehistoric antiquity of Mohenjo Daro was established by Rakhal Das Banerji of the Archaeological Survey of India in 1922.
• The site is famous for its elaborate town planning with street grids with brick pavements, developed water supply, drainage, and covered sewerage systems, homes with toilets, and monumental buildings such as the Great Granary and the Great Bath.
• At its peak, it was estimated to have between 30,000 and 60,000 residents with a highly evolved social organization.
• The ruins of the sprawling city of unbaked brick 510 km northeast of Karachi and 28 km from Larkana in Sindh were recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980.

What are UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites?

• About:
  • A World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by UNESCO for its special cultural or physical significance.
  • The list of World Heritage Sites is maintained by the international 'World Heritage Programme', administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
  • This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.
• Sites:
  • There are around 1,100 UNESCO listed sites across its 167 member countries.
  • In 2021, ‘Liverpool — Maritime Mercantile City’ in the United Kingdom was deleted from the World Heritage List due to “the irreversible loss of attributes conveying the outstanding universal value of the property”.
    • In 2007, the UNESCO panel delisted the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Oman after concerns over poaching and habitat degradation, and the Elbe Valley in Dresden, Germany, in 2009 after the construction of the Waldschloesschen road bridge across the Elbe River.
• Sites in India:
  • India is home to a total of 3691 monuments and sites. Of these 40 are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
  • Including places like the Taj Mahal, Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves. World Heritage Sites also include natural sites like the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.
    • Harappan city of Dholavira in Gujarat as India’s 40^th world heritage site.
    • Ramappa Temple (Telangana) was India's 39^th World Heritage Site.
    • Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim has been inscribed as India's first and the only “Mixed World Heritage Site”.
  • In 2022, the Union Ministry of Culture nominated Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas temples for consideration as a World Heritage site for the year 2022-2023.

What is UNESCO?

• About:
  • It was founded in 1945 to develop the “intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind” as a means of building lasting peace. It is located in Paris, France.
• Major Initiatives of UNESCO:
  • Man and Biosphere Programme
  • World Heritage Programme
  • Global Geopark Network
  • Network of Creative Cities
  • Atlas of World Languages in Danger

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. Which of the following characterizes/characterize the people of Indus Civilization? (2013)

1. They possessed great palaces and temples.
2. They worshipped both male and female deities.
3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.

Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None of the statements given above is correct

Ans: (b)

Exp:

• Excavations at Indus Valley sites confirmed that the inhabitants of the Indus Valley Civilization did not build large monumental structures. There is no conclusive evidence of palaces or temples—or even of kings, armies, or priests. The largest structures found are granaries. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• The city of Mohenjo-daro contains the Great Bath, which may have been a large, public bathing and social area.
• The clay seals discovered during various excavations reveal the presence of a male God. The seal with a male God wearing a headdress surrounded by various animals exhorts the belief in the male symbol of strength. The figurine of a female God found in the excavation also suggests their beliefs on the female as a source of creation. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• There is no evidence of horse drawn chariots during the Indus Valley Civilization. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
• Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

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Mains

Q. To what extent has the urban planning and the culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss. (2014)

Q. Safeguarding the Indian art heritage is the need of the moment. Discuss. (2018)

Source: IE

The Rise in Preventive Detention

For Prelims: Preventive detention, Punitive detention, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)

For Mains: Issues and Solutions of Preventive Detention

Why in News?

According to the latest crime statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there is a rise in Preventive detentions in 2021 of about 23% compared to 2020, with over 1.1 lakh people being placed under preventive detention.

What is Preventive Detention?

• Article 22: Article 22 of the Indian Constitution grants protection to persons who are arrested or detained.
  • Two Types of Detentions:
    • Preventive detention is when a person is held in police custody only on the basis of a suspicion that they would conduct a criminal act or cause harm to society.
      • The police have the authority to hold anyone they suspect of committing a criminal offence and also to make arrests without a warrant or a magistrate’s authorization in certain cases.
    • Punitive detention, which means detention as a punishment for a criminal offence. It occurs after an offence is actually committed, or an attempt has been made towards the commission of that crime.

What are the Key Highlights of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Data?

• The Highest number of Detention: A total of over 24,500 people placed under preventive detention were either in custody or still detained as of the end of 2021, the highest since 2017 when the NCRB started recording this data.
• State and Union Territories: Tamil Nadu followed by Telangana and Gujarat recorded most preventive detentions in 2021 among the States while Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest number of such detentions in Union Territories (UTs).
• The Relative Preventive Laws:
  • National Security Act: The NCRB data showed that the number of people arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) had dipped significantly compared to 2020.
    • Preventive detentions under the NSA peaked in 2020 at 741. This number dropped to 483 in 2021.
  • The Goonda Act
  • Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988
  • Public Safety Act (PSA)
  • Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substance Act (NDPS),1985
  • Prohibition of Insider Trading (PIT)
  • Prevention of Black marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980(PBMSECA)
  • Further, a category classified as “Other Detention Acts”, under which most of the detentions were registered Since 2017, the highest number of persons to be placed under preventive detention has consistently been under the “Other Detention Acts” category.
• Issues:
  • Misuse of other Acts: There are several laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act which also provide for making preventive detentions.
  • Manipulation by Government Officials: District magistrates and the police also often make preventive detentions to control law and order in emerging communal clashes or clashes between any two communities, even when it might not always lead to public disorder.
• Supreme Court’s View: In July 2022, a Vacation Bench of the Supreme Court, while setting aside the preventive detention order issued for a chain-snatcher in Telangana, observed that these powers accorded to the State were “exceptional” and that since they affect the liberty of an individual, they should be used sparingly.
  • The court had also noted that these powers should not be used to control ordinary law and order problems.

Source: TH

WEST: A New I-STEM Initiative

For Prelims: Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map (I-STEM), Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WEST), Prime Minister Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) mission

For Mains: Government Initiatives to Promote Women Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

Why in News?

Recently, a new Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map (I-STEM) initiative called “Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WEST)” was launched.

What is WEST Initiative?

• The WEST programme will cater to women with a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) background and empower them to contribute to the science, technology, and innovation ecosystem.
• Through the WEST initiative, I-STEM shall provide a separate platform to scientifically inclined women researchers, scientists, and technologists for pursuing research in basic or applied sciences in frontier areas of science and engineering.
• Women may join the WEST program and explore opportunities to become stakeholders in various domains and pursue careers in R&D at various levels: technicians, technologists, scientists, and entrepreneurs.
  • Opportunities range from operating scientific equipments and maintaining them, to designing and manufacturing them.
• The Skill Development programmes under the WEST initiative will provide training for women with S&T backgrounds to brush up on their abilities and become engaged “in the field” as lab technicians and maintenance engineers.
• The access to R&D facilities and R&D software platforms (COMSOL, MATLAB, LABVIEW, AUTOCAD) will be available through the I-STEM portal.
• In addition, a digital consortium “Connect Quickly” for online discussion and immediate support has also been established through the I-STEM WhatsApp and Telegram platforms.
• A dedicated team of women will ensure the successful implementation of the WEST initiative.

What is I-STEM?

• About:
  • I-STEM is a National Web portal for sharing R&D (Research and Development) facilities.
  • The portal facilitates researchers to access slots for the use of equipment, as well as to share the details of the outcomes, such as patents, publications and technologies.
• Launch:
  • Launched in January 2020. It is an initiative of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India under the aegis of Prime Minister Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) mission.
    • PM-STIAC: It is an overarching Council that facilitates the Principal Scientific Adviser’s Office to assess the status in specific science and technology domains, comprehend challenges in hand, formulate specific interventions, develop a futuristic roadmap and advise the Prime Minister accordingly.

What is the Significance of WEST and Way Forward?

• Significance:
  • This initiative will also help bring women back into S&T domains after a career break.
  • Crucial gaps in the R&D infrastructure of the country will be filled.
  • A strong support network for women entrepreneurs in S&T will be built.
  • I-STEM shall provide a platform/forum for women researchers to deliberate on achievements, issues, and exchange ideas on taking the country forward through advances in science, technology, and innovation.
  • Women can become entrepreneurs to serve as consultants for the operation and maintenance of sophisticated equipment/instruments through the I-STEM platform.
  • This would go a long way towards filling a “skills gap”, and putting publicly-funded equipment to good use.
• Way Forward:
  • I-STEM must monitor the impact of the initiative by obtaining feedback.
  • Steps must be put in place to increase the wider participation of women in WEST and I-STEM.

Source: PIB

Status of Social Protection in India

For Prelims: World Social Protection Report 2020-22: Regional companion report for Asia and the Pacific), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGA).

For Mains: Social Security in India.

Why in News?

According to the latest report (World Social Protection Report 2020-22: Regional companion report for Asia and the Pacific) on social protection by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), only 24.4% of Indians, even fewer than Bangladesh (28.4%), are under any sort of social protection benefit.

What is Social Protection?

Social protection systems help individuals and families, especially the poor and vulnerable, cope with crises and shocks, find jobs, improve productivity, invest in the health and education of their children, and protect the aging population.

What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• About: The Report is a companion to the ILO’s ‘World Social Protection Report 2021-22’, that gives a regional overview of the social protection in the Asia and Pacific region.
• Global:
  • Social Protection: It notes that Mongolia, New Zealand, Singapore and Australia have 100% social protection net, while in Myanmar and Cambodia, the number stands below 10%.
  • Lower Coverage: As per the report, three out of four workers in the Asia Pacific region are not protected in the event of illness or injury sustained at work.
    • Countries with lower Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita tend to have low levels of work injury coverage for example, Afghanistan, India, Nepal and Pakistan cover fewer than 5% of their workers.
  • Uneven Coverage: According to the report, as of 2020, only 46.9% of the global population was effectively covered by at least one social protection benefit, while the remaining 53.1% as many as 4.1 billion people were left wholly unprotected.
    • The report further notes that the large majority of the working-age population in the world 69.4%, or 4 billion people, are only partially protected or not protected at all.
  • Gender Inequality: Highlighting the inherent gender inequality in the social protection coverage, the report makes note women’s coverage lag behind men’s by a substantial 8% points.
• Indian Perspective:
  • Low Investment in Social Protection: The report notes that owing to the relatively low investment in social protection i.e., only 24.4% of Indian population, the amounts transferred under non-contributory benefits are usually too low to provide adequate protection.
  • Disparity in Coverage: With contributory schemes typically limited to those working in the formal sector and non-contributory schemes still mostly targeted on the poorest, India's social security benefits are lower than the 5% of GDP per capita (USD 2,277).
  • Recent Initiatives: It appreciated India’s higher coverage rate achieved through a combination of contributory and non-contributory schemes through its progressive extension of coverage by combining different tiers of social protection such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGA), which offers a degree of protection for informal sector workers for up to 100 days.

What are the various Indian Government Initiatives Regarding Social Security?

• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-SYM).
• National Pension Scheme for Traders and The Self-employed Persons (NPS).
• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJBY).
• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).
• Atal Pension Yojana.
• National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).
• Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers.

What is International Labour Organisation (ILO)?

• It is the only tripartite United Nation (UN) agency. It brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member States (India is a member), to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
• Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.
• Established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations.
• Became the first affiliated specialized agency of the UN in 1946.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Other Reports:
  • Social Dialogue Report.
  • World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends
  • World Employment and Social Outlook
  • World Social Protection Report
  • Global Wage Report

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. Regarding ‘Atal Pension Yojana’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016)

1. It is a minimum guaranteed pension scheme mainly targeted at unorganized sector workers.
2. Only one member of a family can join the scheme.
3. Same amount of pension is guaranteed for the spouse for life after subscriber’s death.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only 
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (c)

• Atal Pension Yojana (APY) was announced by the Government in the 2015 Budget for the old age income security of the working poor.
• The APY is focussed on all citizens in the unorganised sector, who have joined the National Pension System (NPS) administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) and who are not members of any statutory social security scheme.
• The APY focusses on all citizens in the unorganised sector in the age group of 18-40 years. Under the APY, the subscribers would receive the fixed minimum pension (`1000-5000) at the age of 60 years, depending on their contributions. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• There is no bar on the number of members of a family joining the APY. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• In case of death of subscriber, the same amount of pension will be given to his/her spouse for life. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• After the demise of both spouse and subscriber, the nominee will be entitled to receive the pension money that the subscriber had accumulated till 60 years of age. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

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Mains

Q. Does the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ensure effectivemechanismfor empowerment and inclusion of the intended beneficiaries in the society? Discuss.(2017)

Source: BS