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Shortage of Natural Rubber in India

Source: TOI

Why in News?

India is experiencing a significant shortage of natural rubber (NR), with domestic production lagging behind demand by approximately 5.5 lakh tonnes.

What are the Causes of Shortage of Natural Rubber in India?

• Demand-Supply Gap: Despite an increase in NR production from 8.39 lakh tonne in 2022-23 to 8.57 lakh tonne in 2023-24, consumption has surged from 13.5 lakh tonne to 14.16 lakh tonne.
  • Currently, about 70% of NR is consumed by the tyre industry. The remaining 30% is utilised by non-tyre companies, predominantly small and micro enterprises, which are suffering the most.
• Import Dependence: India has historically depended on NR imports due to insufficient domestic production.
  • India imports natural rubber to meet local demand from neighbouring countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia.
• High Import Duty: NR imports face a 25% customs duty or Rs 30 per kg whichever is higher. Latex rubber used for making gloves and balloons has a total 75% duty.
  • There is a shortage of latex rubber but imported mattresses, balloons or surgical gloves attract a much lower duty of just 10% which encourages the import of these products rather than local manufacturing. It represents a case of Inverted Duty Structure.
    • Inverted duty structure is a situation where the rate of tax on inputs used is higher than the rate of tax on the finished goods.
• Geopolitical Situation: China is currently stockpiling NR, and Bangladesh, once a reliable source, is in turmoil due to political protests and change in government.
  • The turmoil in Bangladesh has disrupted the smooth supply of NR to India.
• Monsoon: The availability of NR is uncertain due to heavy monsoons reducing tapping activities. This situation particularly impacts industries that depend on NR.

What are Key Facts About Rubber?

• About: Rubber is an elastic material that deforms when an external force is applied to it, but then quickly regains its original shape when the force is removed.
  • It can be natural or synthetic, and is made up of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, along with other organic compounds.
  • Natural Rubber: Natural rubber is produced from plants and is classified as a polymer. It is one of the most important polymers for human society.
    • Natural rubber is obtained from latex, a whitish milky fluid containing proteins, starch, alkaloids, etc., that is produced by many plants.
  • Synthetic Rubber: Synthetic or man-made rubber can be produced through a chemical process.
• Production in India: India is the third largest producer, fourth largest consumer of natural rubber and fifth largest consumer of natural rubber and synthetic rubber together in the world.
  • Kerala is the largest producer of rubber in India. Tripura is the second largest producer.
• Trade Scenario:
  • Exports: In 2022-23, India exported 3,700 tonnes of NR.
    • USA, Germany, UAE, UK and Bangladesh are the countries which constituted the largest markets for India’s rubber exports.
  • Imports: In 2022-23, India imported 5,28,677 tonnes of NR.
    • India imports rubber primarily from Indonesia, Thailand, China, South Korea and Japan.
• Factors for Growth of Natural Rubber:
  • Climate: Rubber (native of Amazon rainforest) is a tropical tree. It requires high temperatures throughout the year ranging between 20°-35°C or average monthly mean of 27°C.
  • Soil: Rubber is grown in loamy or Laterite soil, typically on sloped or slightly elevated flat land with good drainage and no risk of water stagnation.
  • Rainfall: More than 200 cm.
  • Labour: Cheap and adequate supply of skilled labour is needed for this plantation crop.
• Government Initiatives for Promoting Production of Rubber:
  • Sustainable & Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector (SIDNRS)
  • Rubber Plantation Development Scheme
  • Rubber Group Planting Scheme
  • 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is allowed in plantations of rubber.
  • National Rubber Policy 2019

What is National Rubber Policy 2019?

• Ministry: The Ministry of Commerce & Industry brought out the National Rubber Policy in 2019.
• Basis of the Policy: is based on the short term and long term strategies identified by the Task Force constituted on the rubber sector for mitigating problems faced by rubber growers in the country.
• Key Provisions: The Policy covers new planting and replanting of rubber, support for growers, processing and marketing of natural rubber, labour shortage, grower forums, external trade, Centre-State integrated strategies, research, training, rubber product manufacturing and export, climate change concerns and carbon market.
• Implementation and Support: Rubber Board is implementing the scheme Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector in the Medium Term Framework (MTF) (2017-18 to 2019-20).
  • The developmental activities include financial and technical assistance for planting, supply of quality planting materials, support for grower forums, training and skill development programme.

What can be Done to Increase Rubber Production in India?

• Expand Support Under the National Rubber Policy: Increase support for rubber growers through subsidies and financial assistance for supporting new plantings and replanting of rubber.
• Skill Development: Enhance training programs for growers to improve cultivation techniques and productivity.
• Invest in Research: Increase funding for research on high-yielding and disease-resistant rubber varieties through government-supported research institutions and universities.
• Collaborative Projects: Foster collaborations between the government and private sector to invest in rubber plantations and processing infrastructure.

Conclusion

• India's rubber industry is vital to the economy but faces a persistent shortage, leading to increased imports and high costs. Addressing this requires boosting domestic production, improving supply chains, and supporting policies like the National Rubber Policy 2019. With focused growth and research, India can reduce import dependency and meet demand.

Drishti Mains Question: Q.Discuss the causes of demand supply gap in India's rubber sector, including domestic production shortfalls and global supply chain issues. What measures are adopted by the government to address these challenges?

Discount on New Vehicles Against Scrapping Certificates

Source: TH 

Why in News?

Auto manufacturers have agreed to offer discounts on commercial and passenger vehicles against a scrappage certificate of an old vehicle for a limited period of time.

• This scrappage discount will replace the discount customers were getting for exchanging their vehicles from car dealers.

What is the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program (V-VMP)?

• About: The Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program (V-VMP) or Vehicle Scrapping Policy 2021 is a government sponsored programme to scrap old and unfit vehicles on Indian roads.
  • The policy stops re-registration for cars over 20 years old and commercial vehicles over 15 years old.
• Recent Developments:
  • Agreement on Discounts: Automakers have agreed to offer discounts of 1.5% to 3%, or up to Rs 25,000, to customers who purchase a new vehicle after scrapping the old vehicles.
  • Scrappage Terms: Commercial vehicle (CV) manufacturers are willing to offer discounts for a limited period of two years and passenger vehicle (PV) manufacturers are willing to offer discounts for one year against a Certificate of Deposit (Scrappage Certificate).
  • Discount by State Governments: State governments have taken a big interest in scrappage policy.
    • Many States which are offering 25-30% discount on road tax for recycled cars.
• Categorisation of Vehicles for the Scrappage Policy: The rules applied to scrap these vehicles shall vary depending on the categorisation of the vehicles.
  • Private vehicles: All private cars must undergo a fitness test after 15 years of their registration. If the car clears the fitness test, renewal of registration can be done which is valid for 5 years.
  • Commercial vehicles: Commercial vehicles, like buses, trucks, etc., are eligible for fitness tests every two years for the first 8 years of registration and every one year after 8 years till the registration age of the vehicle reaches 15 years.
  • Government vehicles: All State and Central government vehicles that are above 15 years of age will be scrapped.
  • Vintage vehicles: Old car scrap policy does not apply to vintage vehicles as they are mostly well-maintained and driven less frequently.
• Benefits of V-VMP:
  • Reduction in Pollution: It will reduce pollution by scrapping around 1 Crore vehicles without valid fitness and registration.
    • Scrapping of current End-of-life vehicles (ELVs) burden of the country will lead to 15-20% reduction in emissions due to vehicular pollution.
  • Formalisation of Scrappage Industry: The policy also aims at making the Indian scrappage industry organised, transparent and environment friendly.
  • Demand for New Vehicles: Scrapping old and unfit vehicles will create demand in the automobile industry, as the old ones will now be replaced with new vehicles.
  • Vehicular Safety: The nature of demand for vehicles will get augmented. There will be a demand for comparatively safer and technologically upgraded vehicles that come with better and superior features.
  • Circular Economy: It will provide a major push to the recycling industry.
    • This will not only make the recycling sector more active but create jobs in this industry as well.
    • In addition, it will also create further improvement in the R&D of waste and recycling management.
  • Road Safety: It will Improve road, passenger and vehicular safety.
  • Fuel Efficiency: It will improve fuel efficiency. In the BS VI era, petrol engines were upgraded to emit 25% less NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) as compared to diesel engines.

What Incentives and Disincentives are Provided Under V-VMP?

• Incentives under V-VMP: Various incentive mechanisms have been included in the policy to induce End-of-life vehicle owners to scrap older vehicles.
  • Discount on New Vehicles: The scrap value for an old vehicle provided by the scrapping centre is usually around 4-6% of the ex-showroom price of a new vehicle.
    • Government had issued an advisory to auto manufacturers to offer a discount of 5% on showing scrappage certificates while buying a new vehicle.
  • Concession in Motor Vehicle Tax: Rules are notified for state governments to offer concession on motor vehicle tax of up to 25% for non-transport vehicles and up to 15% for transport vehicles.
  • Waiving Registration Fees: Registration fees to be waived off for purchase of new vehicle.
• Disincentives under V-VMP:
  • High Fees for the Fitness Test: If a commercial vehicle is older than 15 years, then the fees for the fitness test and the issuance of a fitness certificate will attract higher charges.
  • High Registration Renewal Fees: If a private vehicle is older than 15 years, then the registration renewal charges will be higher.
  • Green Cess: In addition to the road tax, following the policy outlines of the vehicle scrap policy 2021, a green cess of 10-15% will be levied on old vehicles.

Conclusion

Vehicle Scrapping Policy 2021 is a significant step toward reducing vehicular pollution and promoting sustainability by incentivizing the scrapping of old and inefficient vehicles. The program encourages automakers and consumers to adopt newer, more efficient vehicles, thereby supporting the government's goals of a circular economy and environmental preservation. Ultimately, the V-VMP is expected to contribute to economic growth while aligning with global standards of emission control and resource management.

Drishti Mains Question: Q. Discuss the significance of the Vehicle Scrapping Policy 2021 in the context of India's efforts towards environmental sustainability and economic modernization.

Supreme Court Ruling on the SC and ST Act 1989

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) of India made a significant ruling regarding the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The Court addressed a key issue, whether insults or intimidations directed at individuals from Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) automatically constitute an offense under the Act.

• This ruling came in the context of granting anticipatory bail to an editor of a YouTube channel, who faced accusations under the Act.

What is the Supreme Court Ruling on Insults Under the SC/ST Act,1989?

• Case Background: The case was based on allegations that the editor (YouTuber) had made derogatory remarks about a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) who belongs to the SC community.
• SC Ruling:
  • Scope of the Act: The SC ruled that insults or intimidations aimed at members of SCs or STs do not automatically constitute an offense under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
    • For the Act to apply, the insult or intimidation must be specifically linked to the caste identity of the victim.
      • Under Section 3(1)(r) of the Act, the Court interpreted ‘intent to humiliate’ as needing to be closely associated with the caste identity of the victim.
    • Simply knowing the victim’s SC/ST status is not sufficient; the insult must be intended to humiliate based on caste.
  • Clarification on Section 18: The Court clarified that Section 18 of the Act, which traditionally bars anticipatory bail, does not completely prevent the granting of such bail.
    • Courts must conduct a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the allegations meet the criteria for an offense under the Act before applying Section 18.
  • The Court granted anticipatory bail to the editor, finding no prima facie evidence that his remarks were made with the intent to humiliate the MLA due to his caste identity.
    • The Court concluded that the editor's comments did not demonstrate an intent to insult based on the MLA’s Scheduled Caste status.

What is the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989?

• About: The SCs and the STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, also known as the SC/ST Act 1989, was enacted to safeguard the members of SCs and STs from caste-based discrimination and violence.
  • Rooted in Articles 15 and 17 of the Indian Constitution, the Act aims to ensure the protection of these marginalised communities and to address the inadequacies of previous laws.
• Historical Context: The Act builds on the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955, and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, which were established to abolish untouchability and discrimination based on caste.
• Rules and Implementation: The Central Government is authorised to frame rules for the Act’s implementation, while State Governments and Union Territories administer it with central assistance.
• Key Provisions: The Act defines specific offenses against SC/ST members, including physical violence, harassment, and social discrimination. It recognizes these acts as "atrocities" and prescribes stringent penalties for perpetrators.
  • The Act prescribes stringent punishments for those found guilty of committing atrocities against SCs/STs. These include higher penalties than those provided under the Indian Penal Code 1860 (now replaced as Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023).
  • Anticipatory Bail Provisions, Section 18 of the SC and ST Act, 1989 excludes the application of Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure1973 (now replaced as Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023), which provides for anticipatory bail. 
  • The Act mandates the establishment of special courts for speedy trial and SC/ST Protection Cells at the state level, led by senior police officers, to oversee the implementation of the Act.
  • Investigations into offenses under the Act must be conducted by officers not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and must be completed within a stipulated time frame.
  • The Act provides for relief and rehabilitation of victims, including financial compensation, legal aid, and support services.
• Exclusions: The Act does not cover offenses between SCs and STs neither can invoke the Act against another
• Recent Amendments:
  • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015: The 2015 Amendment aimed to strengthen the protection offered to SCs and STs by introducing more stringent provisions and expanding the scope of the Act.
    • New categories of offenses, such as garlanding with footwear, forcing manual scavenging, and imposing social or economic boycotts and any form of social ostracism are now considered offenses.
    • Sexual exploitation and intentional touching of SC/ST women without consent are defined as offenses. Practices like dedicating SC/ST women as devadasis are explicitly outlawed.
    • Public servants who neglect duties related to SCs and STs face imprisonment.
  • Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2018: The requirement for Senior Superintendent of Police approval before arresting an accused is removed. Immediate arrests are permitted without prior approval.

What are the Drawbacks of SC and ST Act, 1989?

• Inadequate Resources for Special Courts: Special Courts designated to handle atrocity cases often lack adequate resources and infrastructure.
  • Many of these courts handle cases beyond the scope of the SC/ST Act, resulting in a backlog and slow resolution of atrocity cases.
• Insufficient Rehabilitation Provisions: The Act provides limited details on the rehabilitation of victims, focusing only on social and economic support in a vague manner.
  • Victims face significant challenges, including physical, psychological, and social difficulties. There is a need for more comprehensive rehabilitation measures to support victims in becoming economically self-sufficient.
• Lack of Awareness: Beneficiaries, including victims and law enforcement officials, often lack awareness about the Act’s provisions.
  • The Act’s stringent provisions, including warrantless arrests and non-bailable offenses, have led to allegations of misuse. Critics argue that the broad scope of the law can result in false accusations and harassment of individuals from non-SC/ST backgrounds.
• Limited Scope of Covered Crimes: Certain crimes, such as blackmailing that leads to atrocities among SC/STs, are not explicitly covered under the Act.
  • The Act’s definition of atrocities may not encompass all forms of abuse faced by SCs and STs, necessitating amendments to include such crimes.

Drishti Mains Question: Q. Discuss the key provisions of the SC/ST Act, 1989. How do recent amendments and judicial rulings shape the enforcement and interpretation of this legislation?

Caste Movement in India

Source: IE

Why in News?

Recently, many political parties called for a new Indian caste census after the Supreme Court's judgement on sub-categorisation within reserved castes.

• Caste is often considered as central to South Asian society much like race in the United States, class in Britain, and faction in Italy.
• The last caste census at national level India occurred in 1931 during British rule.

What is the History of Caste Movements in India?

• Historical Context: By the end of the 19th century, caste began to obtain ubiquitous meaning in the daily lives of Indians.
  • Definitions of caste often revolved around Brahminical notions of purity and pollution, and often aggressive resistance to such notions by lower castes.
  • Castes remained ‘constrained within watertight social compartments,’ with ‘social mobility’ between them prohibited by restriction on inter-caste marriages.
• Colonial Legislation: Colonial administration brought legislation like Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, in North India, and later extended to the presidencies of Bengal (1876) in East and Madras (1911) in South.
  • It authorised the colonial state to designate entire communities as criminals.
  • This designation was often rooted in pre-existing biases about certain caste or tribal groups, reinforcing negative stereotypes and institutionalising them through law.
  • They were considered too inferior in their jati and varna traits to be employed in the colonial army and state apparatuses.
  • The Act continued till 1949 and was replaced by the Habitual Offenders Act, 1952.
• Divide and Rule Policy: The 1857 Revolt which was apparently led by upper class hindu and muslim elites forced British leaders to push for a more diverse Indian army and colonial offices and reduce the presence of one community dominance in these roles.
  • Thus, caste emerged as an important criterion in provincial education and employability of candidates in government service.
  • Caste was recognised as a potential obstruction to the emergence of nationalist sentiments and helped in perpetuation of British rule in the subcontinent.

What were the Key Figures in Caste Movements?

• Jyotiba Phule: He was a 19th century Marathi activist and founder of the Satyashodhak Samaj and was among modern India’s first anti-caste ideologues.
  • He wrote Gulamgiri (1873), an account of the plight of ‘untouchables’ in India that paid rich tributes to Muslim rulers, Christian missionaries, and the British administration for instilling egalitarian consciousness in Indian society.
  • He also introduced the word ‘Dalit’ (‘untouchables’ or broken people) into the lexicon of anti-caste movements.
  • He promulgated his version of the Aryan invasion theory and projected texts like Manusmriti as exploitative and oppressive towards the nation’s indigenes and tribes.
  • Phule’s mobilisation of anti-caste ideas later inspired BR Ambedkar.
• BR Ambedkar: He mobilised Dalits and members of depressed classes with the slogan, ‘We must become a ruling community.’
  • In 1927, he led the Mahad Satyagraha to agitate for the rights of ‘untouchables’ to draw water from a public tank in Mahad, in Maharashtra, that was hitherto denied to them by leaders of privileged castes.
  • In December 1927, Ambedkar publicly set fire to the Manusmriti which was seen as the source for perpetuation of the caste system and the practice of untouchability.
  • In 1930, he founded the All India Depressed Classes Association.
  • Before the colonial administration, Ambedkar and Ambedkarites agitated for a separate electorate for Dalits and depressed classes.
  • Other Initiatives by BR Ambedkar were Independent Labour Party (1936),All India Scheduled Castes Federation (1942) etc.
• M C Rajah: The first major 20th century event of pan-Indian Dalit movements was the All India Depressed Classes Leaders’ Conference at Nagpur, in 1926.
  • It resulted in the formation of the All India Depressed Classes Association, presided by Rao Bahadur M C Rajah, and with Ambedkar as one of its vice presidents.
• Periyar: In the Madras Presidency, Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy (or Periyar) founded the anti-Brahminical Self-Respect Movement.
  • It became an important foundation in his rise to become the leader of the Justice Party in 1939.
• Mahatma Gandhi: After the announcement of separate electorates (under Communal Award) for Depressed Classes, Gandhiji decided to go on a fast unto death to protest against this supposed ‘vivisection’ (cutting) of the Hindu community.
  • Gandhi and Ambedkar signed the historic Poona Pact 1932 which secured joint electorates for all Hindus and awarded a reservation to the depressed classes of nearly double the number of seats in Communal Award.
  • In 1932, Gandhi founded the Harijan Sevak Sangh for eradication of untouchability and caste upliftment but Gandhi’s focus on varnashrama was not liked by Ambedkar.
• Reversal in British Policy: Given the imminent pressures of the Partition of the subcontinent, the Ambedkarite movement was gradually overshadowed by the need to build India’s constitutional frameworks.
  • By 1945, the colonial administration chose to depoliticise caste during the transfer of power for an united India.

Drishti Mains Question: Q. Discuss ideological differences between Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar. Also, give a brief account of the caste movement in pre-independence India.

Leptospirosis Outbreak in Kerala

Source: DTE

Why in News?

Kerala has recently experienced a sigh of relief as the threat of a Nipah virus outbreak diminished, with no new cases reported during the critical 42-day observation period.

• However, this respite has been overshadowed by the outbreak of Leptospirosis, commonly known as "rat fever."
• This bacterial infection has emerged as a pressing public health concern, particularly in the wake of monsoon-related challenges.

What are the Key Facts About Leptospirosis?

• About: Leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira. These bacteria are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted from animals to humans.
  • Leptospires are bacteria that can be pathogenic. Pathogenic leptospires are found in the kidneys and genital tracts of certain animals and are the primary cause of leptospirosis in humans.
• Reservoirs: Many mammalian species can harbour leptospires in their kidneys, with rodents, cattle, pigs, and dogs being common reservoirs.
  • Rodents are particularly significant as they can excrete leptospires throughout their lifespan without showing symptoms.
  • Not all infected animals exhibit symptoms. Natural hosts often show no or few ill effects, but may develop illness after infection with another serovar (a distinct variation within a species of bacteria).
• Transmission: The disease is primarily transmitted through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or through contact with water, soil, or food contaminated with their urine.
  • It can enter the human body through cuts, mucous membranes, or waterlogged skin. Rarely, the disease can be transmitted from human to human.
• Symptoms: It presents with a wide range of symptoms, from mild flu-like illness to severe conditions like Weil's syndrome (dysfunction of the kidneys and liver), meningitis, and pulmonary hemorrhage.
  • The incubation period is typically 7-10 days, with symptoms such as fever, headache, and jaundice being common.
  • Leptospirosis is often underdiagnosed due to its wide range of symptoms that mimic other diseases, and limited access to diagnostic tests.
• Epidemiology: It is a global disease but is most common in tropical and subtropical regions with high rainfall.
  • It is particularly prevalent in South-East Asia, with India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka reporting most cases, especially during the rainy season.
  • People in occupations with frequent animal contact, such as farmers, veterinarians, and sewer workers, are at higher risk.
• Prevention: Prevention involves controlling animal reservoirs, avoiding contact with contaminated water or soil, wearing protective clothing, and maintaining good sanitation practices.
  • Dogs, pigs, and cattle can be vaccinated with serovar-specific vaccines. Immunisation helps prevent disease but may not eliminate renal carriage.
• Treatment: It is treated with antibiotics, such as penicillin G, doxycycline, and ceftriaxone.

Speedy Grievances Redressal under CPGRAMS

Source: BS

Why in News?

Recently, the Centre has issued revised guidelines for timely redressal of public grievances raised on the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) portal.

• During the Prime Minister’s interaction with government secretaries, he asked to make CPGRAMS more sensitive, accessible and meaningful to the citizens.

What are the Key Highlights of Revised Guidelines on Public Grievance Redressal?

• Reduction in Grievance Redressal Time: The maximum time for resolving public grievances has been reduced to 21 days from the previous 30 days.
  • If more time is needed, an interim reply must be provided, indicating the reason and expected timeline for resolution.
• Dedicated Officers and Nodal Officers: Ministries with high grievance volumes should appoint a nodal officer with sufficient rank to ensure timely and quality resolution..
• Whole of Government Approach: Officers need to handle complaints emphasising "whole of the government approach”.
  • This means that in no case grievance shall be closed by stating 'Does not pertain to this Ministry/Department/ Office' or its equivalent language.
  • Efforts shall be made to transfer the same to the right authority if the subject of the grievance does not pertain to the receiving Ministry.
• Use of Technology and AI Tools: Technology improvements like integration of grievance portals, root cause analysis using AI enabled dashboards and assessment matrix like the Grievance Redressal Assessment Index (GRAI) should be adopted to improve quality of grievance redressal.
  • GRAI offers an organization-wise comparison and provides valuable insights into the strengths and areas for improvement in the grievance redressal mechanism.
• Escalatory Appeal Mechanism: The appeal process in CPGRAMS currently requires appointing an officer of Additional or Joint Secretary rank as the Nodal Appellate Authority (NAA).
  • Sub Appellate Authorities (SAA) may be appointed by the Ministries/Departments under the NAA for speedy grievance redressal.
• Establishment of Dedicated Grievance Cells: A dedicated grievance cell shall be set up in every ministry with staff having domain knowledge of schemes/ programmes, experience and skill for data analytics and root cause analysis of grievances.
• Handling of Serious Complaints: Complaints relating to corruption, bribery, harassment or having any other vigilance angle of citizens shall be examined closely under the guidelines of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
• Feedback Mechanism: If the citizen is not satisfied with the redressal, they can provide feedback on the portal and raise an appeal on it.
  • Feedback process will be integrated with WhatsApp, chatbot etc so that unsatisfied citizens can file an appeal through any of the above modes of feedback.
• Capacity Building and Training: Capacity building for grievance redressal officers will be done through state administrative training institutions.

Productivity of Houses of Parliament

Source: TH

Recently, both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) were adjourned sine die after the Budget session.

• Adjournment sine die refers to the termination of a parliamentary session for an indefinite period, without a scheduled date for reconvening.
• The Lok Sabha held 15 sittings, totaling 115 hours, with a productivity rate of 136%. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha functioned for 90 hours and 35 minutes, achieving a productivity rate of 118%.
• During the session, over 27 hours in the Lok Sabha were dedicated to Budget discussions.

Productivity of the Houses of Parliament:

• It refers to the amount of legislative work accomplished during a session. This includes the number of bills passed, questions answered, and debates held.
• Factors Affecting the Productivity:
  • The number of sittings: More sittings allow the House more time to execute its work.
  • The Length of Each Sitting: Longer sittings allow for more debate and discussion.
  • The Number of Members Present: A larger number of members present means that there are more people to participate in debates and votes.
  • The Level of Disruption: Disruptions, such as protests and walkouts, can waste valuable time and prevent the Houses from doing their work.

Read More...

Factor Investing

Source: LM

Recently, more Indians have begun investing in factor funds, a relatively lesser-known investment option, as awareness of this stock selection strategy grows.

• Assets under management in this category surged more than 3 times between 2023 and 2024, highlighting a significant increase in investor interest.
• Factor-Based Investing Strategy:
  • About:
    • Factor investing involves targeting specific drivers of return (factors) like size, value, momentum, growth, low volatility, and quality across asset classes.
    • In India, the evolution of factor investing has moved from basic indices like Sensex and Nifty to more specialised single-factor funds that emphasise qualities such as quality, value, alpha, and momentum.
  • Advantage:
    • These help improve portfolio returns, reduce volatility and enhance diversification.
  • Examples:
    • Strategic indices on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) include Nifty50 Value 20 and Nifty200 Momentum 30.
  • Performance:
    • These have significantly outperformed the benchmark Nifty 50 in 2024, achieving returns between 15-38%, compared to the Nifty 50's 12% increase.

Read More...

Electricity Supply to Neighboring Countries

Source: BS

Recently, the Ministry of Power has modified the guidelines for the Import/export (cross-border) of Electricity, 2018.

• It allows power plants that export electricity to neighbouring countries to sell their output back in India.
• It also allows sale of power to the local grid if there is a delay in payments from neighbouring countries.
  • Rules were amended in the wake of ongoing unrest in Bangladesh.
• Indian Electricity Suppliers to Bangladesh:
  • Adani Power’s 1600 MW Godda power plant in Jharkhand sells electricity exclusively to Bangladesh since 2023.
    • An exclusive power purchase agreement between Adani Power and the Bangladesh Power Development Board was signed in 2017.
  • National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) also has an agreement to supply 500 MW of power to Bangladesh.
  • The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) secured a contract to sell 300 MW to Bangladesh in 2018.

Read More...

Sensor for Parkinson’s Disease Management

Source: PIB

Recently, the Scientists at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology have developed an affordable, portable smartphone-based fluorescence turn-on sensor system to enhance Parkinson's disease management by accurately monitoring L-dopa levels.

• Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a continuous decrease in neuron cells, leading to a reduction in dopamine (neurotransmitter) levels in our body
• L-dopa is a chemical that converts to dopamine, acts as an anti-Parkinson's drug, helping compensate for the dopamine deficiency.
• However, the progressive nature of Parkinson's requires increasing L-dopa dosage, which can cause serious side effects, while insufficient dosage leads to the return of symptoms.
• The sensor is made by coating a layer of silk-fibroin protein, from silk cocoons, onto reduced graphene oxide nanoparticles.
  • This combination helps the sensor glow when it detects L-dopa in blood, sweat, or urine.
• The researchers have designed a smartphone-based electronic device that connects to a 365nm Light Emitting Diodes (LED) via a 5V smartphone charger and is housed in a dark chamber to block external light.
  • By shining the LED on the sensor and taking pictures with a smartphone, the device captures color changes.
• The RGB (red, green and blue) values from the images are used to evaluate L-dopa concentration using a mobile app, making it ideal for quick testing in remote areas.

Read more...

Master Clock System of Indian Railways

Source: TH

Indian Railways is set to develop a master clock system to synchronise time across its operations, addressing challenges in safety and accident investigations.

• Currently, timekeeping is manual, leading to discrepancies across zonal railways. This inconsistency complicates investigations into rail accidents, where accurate timelines are essential.
• Key Features of Master Clock:
  • These digital clocks will have GPS synchronisation for precise timekeeping through GPS, uniform design across stations, and suitability for both platforms and office areas.
  • They include GPS receivers, NTP synchronization, LED illumination, and can send alarms for monitoring.
    • NTP synchronization involves using the Network Time Protocol (NTP) to align clocks across devices over a network with a standard time source, usually Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), ensuring accurate timekeeping.
• Need for a Master Clock System:
  • Safety: Accurate time records are crucial for analysing accidents and understanding event sequences.
  • Operational Efficiency: A unified system will enhance train operations and management.
  • Technological Advancements: Modern technology demands reliable timekeeping solutions.
• The system will utilise time data from Navigation with Indian Constellation (NAVIC) or the National Physical Laboratories (NPL).

Read More: Evolution of Timekeeping Devices, Atomic Clock.