08 Apr 2019: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS1 Related

B. GS2 Related

Context:

A new study from the Research Institute for Compassionate Economics (r.i.c.e) shows that 85% of Ujjwala beneficiaries in rural Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan still use solid fuels.

Details:

• It was deduced that the beneficiaries use solid fuels for cooking, due to financial reasons as well as gender inequalities.
• The resultant indoor air pollution can lead to infant deaths and harm child development, as well as contribute to heart and lung disease among adults, especially the women, cooking on these chulha.
• The survey, conducted in late 2018, covered a random sample of 1,550 households in 11 districts of the four States, which collectively have two-fifths of the country’s rural population.
• The report found that only 27% of households exclusively used the gas stove. Another 37% reported using both the chulha and the gas stove, while 36% made everything on the chulha.
• However, the r.i.c.e study shows that in the four States surveyed, there has indeed been a substantial increase in LPG ownership due to the scheme, with 76% of households now owning an LPG connection.
• “Ujjwala beneficiaries are poorer, on average, than households who got LPG on their own. Refilling the cylinder is a greater fraction of their monthly consumption, and they may be less likely to get a refill immediately after a cylinder becomes empty,” says the report.
• The study argues that these women, who do the unpaid labour needed for “free” solid fuels, are not typically economic decision-makers in the household, hindering a shift to LPG usage.

Way forward:

• Awareness needs to be created on the harmful effects of using chulah, on women’s’ health. Bringing about a behavioural change is the need of the hour.
• Higher refill subsidies and monitoring may help to change behaviour.
• The survey found that while 70% of respondents thought the gas stove was better for the health of the cook (typically a woman), more than 86% felt that cooking on the chulhawas better for the health of those eating, reflecting ignorance of the fact that ambient air pollution is harmful even to those who are not cooking the food. Such myths need to be dispelled.
• Awareness campaigns for the Ujjwala Yojna need to move beyond benefits for women in order to change household behaviour.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY):

• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – Scheme for Providing Free LPG connections to Women from BPL Households.
• The Ujjwala Yojna, launched in 2016, subsidises LPG connections for rural households by providing a free gas cylinder, regulator and pipe.
• Central government data shows that more than six crore households have received a connection through the scheme.
• Providing LPG connections to BPL households was aimed at ensuring universal coverage of cooking gas in the country. This measure empowered women and protect their health.
• It was expected that the scheme will reduce drudgery and the time spent on cooking. And also provide employment for rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas.
• This is the first time in the history of the country that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas would implement a welfare scheme benefitting crores of women belonging to the poorest households.
• About 75 crore Indians, especially women and girls, are exposed to severe household air pollution (HAP) from the use of solid fuels such as biomass, dung cakes and coal for cooking. A report from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare places HAP as the second leading risk factor contributing to India’s disease burden.
• According to the World Health Organization, solid fuel use is responsible for about 13% of all mortality and morbidity in India (measured as Disability-Adjusted Life Years), and causes about 40% of all pulmonary disorders, nearly 30% of cataract incidences, and over 20% each of ischemic heart disease, lung cancer and lower respiratory infection.

C. GS3 Related

Context:

The Periyar River, which provides drinking water to Kochi city and adjoining areas yet again turned black near the Pathalam Regulator cum Bridge.

Details:

• The discolouration of Periyar and fish kill has been a serious issue for last couple of years. Decrease in dissolved oxygen level has caused several fish-kills in the past few years.
• Discolouration of water, which has been a major cause of concern, continues.
• While water turned pitch black in one stream, it was milky near the regulator.
• Environmental activists have been protesting against the pollution of the river and demanding steps for its protection. For the record, the pollution of the river system had earlier led to violent protests in the region.

What is the reason for discolouration?

• It was found that the discolouration was due to the poor quality of water as a result of eutrophication.
• When excessive nutrients reach the waterbody, it will lead to algal bloom. A few days later, algae will die and decay, resulting in a foul smell and discolouration of water. Water in some reaches of the river system has been stagnant. Reduced water flow in the system has added to the deteriorating water quality.
• Huge quantities of organic load in the form of sewage from nearby townships are regularly reaching the river system.
• On residents’ charge that the discharge of untreated effluents into the river from industrial units was causing discolouration of water.
• Eutrophication due to dumping of sewage is to be largely blamed for discolouration.

Way forward:

• The river flow should not be restricted by closing the bund so that the natural pollutants will flow away from the water.
• Excessive discharge of pollutants from an unauthorized industrial unit functioning upstream must be controlled.
• Areas near industrial units are to be regularly monitored.

Periyar River:

• Periyar (meaning: big river) is the longest river and the river with the largest discharge potential in the Indian state of Kerala.
• It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns.
• The Periyar is of utmost significance to the economy of Kerala.
• It generates a significant proportion of Kerala’s electrical power via the Idukki Dam and flows along a region of industrial and commercial activity.
• The river also provides water for irrigation and domestic use throughout its course besides supporting a rich fishery.
• Due to these reasons, the river has been named the “Lifeline of Kerala”.
• Kochi city, in the vicinity of the river mouth, draws its water supply from Aluva, an upstream site sufficiently free of seawater intrusion.
• Twenty five percent of Kerala’s industries are along the banks of river Periyar.
• The source of the Periyar lies high in the Western Ghats.

Context:

• Data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) show that the small finance banks, in total, saw their deposits grow 31.6% in the third quarter (ended December) of this financial year, compared with the second quarter.
• The SFBs are catering to a segment of the market that was not catered to by regular banks. There is no direct competition from SFBs to the scheduled commercial banks, but are complementary.
• The phenomenal growth of small finance banks has come on a very small base which is why bigger banks and NBFCs don’t see them as competition yet.

Details:

• The ₹30,000-crore deposits held by small finance banks constitute only 0.2% of all scheduled commercial banks’ deposits.
• Although the consensus opinion in the industry is that small finance banks do not pose a threat to either conventional banks or non-banking financial companies (NBFC), the sector has nevertheless been seeing remarkable growth in credit disbursement as well as deposits, albeit on a low base.
• This phenomenal growth, however, has come on a very small base and that’s perhaps why the bigger banks and NBFCs don’t see small finance banks as a competition just yet.
• If the genesis of small finance banks is looked at, they have all emerged from being a non-deposit NBFC or micro-lenders.
• If you look at the genesis of small finance banks, they have all emerged from being a non-deposit NBFC or micro-lenders.

Small Finance Banks:

• Small finance banks are a type of niche banks in India.
• Banks with a small finance bank license can provide basic banking service of acceptance of deposits and lending.
• The aim behind these to provide financial inclusion to sections of the economy not being served by other banks, such as small business units, small and marginal farmers, micro and small industries and unorganised sector entities.
• The RBI has not put any restriction on the operations of small finance banks. They are meant to provide basic banking facilities for the poor and small businessmen.
• Small Finance Banks should have a minimum capital of Rs. 100 crore and maintain a capital adequacy of 15%. Further, Minimum initial contribution of the promoter to the paid-up capital shall be 40% and they can bring down his holding to 26% in 12 years from commencement. RBI makes listing mandatory once the net worth reaches Rs. 500 crore.
• They have been mandated to extend 75% of their credit to priority sector lending. Further, at least half of these loans should be below Rs. 25 Lakh.

D. GS4 Related

E. Editorials

Context:

The assessments from Skymet, has indicated that there is a prospect of an El Niño, often associated with drought conditions, taking hold.

Read more about: El Niño

Details:

• A forecast of a below average monsoon in 2019, after last year’s erratic rainfall that flooded Kerala and crippled agriculture in eastern and western States, is a cause for worry.
• The prediction by Skymet must, of course, be considered along with other factors that seem to weaken the El Niño link, such as a dipole weather phenomenon in the Indian Ocean.
• Should the monsoon, which normally sets in between June 1 and July 15 across the country, turn out to be deficient, it will add to the pressures on rural employment and the economy as a whole.
• Things may become clearer when the India Meteorological Department also issues its forecast, although error margins and the erratic nature of rainfall in different regions render the exercise fraught with uncertainty. Last year, for instance, the realisation of rainfall was 91% of the long-term average, while the prediction was for 97%.
• During the current year, there is apprehension that the focus of administrators will mainly be on the conduct of the elections, relegating the public health risk of heat waves to the backburner.

Indian Ocean Dipole:

• Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is a miniature version of the El Nino – La Nina phenomenon occuring in the Indian Ocean from time to time.
• It has negative and positive phases.
• In the negative case, the sea surface warms up to the east of the Ocean basin relative to the west. This causes convection and precipitation to be confined to the East Indian Ocean, robbing mainland India of its share and affecting rainfall.
• During a positive IOD phase, exactly the reverse happens; but a warmer west Indian Ocean has been found to fuel a concurrent Indian Monsoon.
• Thus the event has a more direct and immediate impact on the monsoon than the El Nino-La Nina event.

Heat Wave:

• World Meteorological Organization defines a heat wave as five or more consecutive days during which the daily maximum temperature exceeds the average maximum temperature by five degrees Celsius.
• If the maximum temperature of any place continues to be more than 45° C consecutively for two days, it is called a heat wave condition.
• Heat wave is also called a “silent disaster” as it develops slowly and kills and injures humans and animals nationwide.
• In India, heat waves typically occur between March and June, and in some rare cases even extend till July.
• Heat waves are more frequent over the Indo-Gangetic plains of India.

Read more about Heat Wave Risk Reduction (Disaster Management)

Way forward:

• It is the responsibility of State administrations to prepare for the likelihood of a heat spike, particularly during April and May, to prevent loss of life and extreme distress to communities.
• Official agencies and NGOs should start adopting the drill on this, using the template drawn up by the National Disaster Management Authority.
• Local administrations must draw up plans to address heat stress and possible water scarcity.
• The key elements of protection in a heat wave are avoiding exposure during the hottest part of the day around noon, especially in the case of senior citizens, staying adequately hydrated, wearing suitable clothing including headgear, and creating shade in public places.
• These messages and weather alerts can be disseminated through television, mobile phone messaging and social media platforms.
• Urban local bodies, in particular, have a responsibility to care for the large number of vulnerable city dwellers.
• Yet, few cities have drawn up proper heat action plans to respond to extreme weather or made them public.
• With the availability of advance weather alerts, there is no reason why local bodies cannot institute remedial measures. Mitigating the effect of heat waves is vital to ensuring a high turnout in the elections by making it safe for voters.
• India is looking at another uncertain monsoon, bringing into sharp relief the neglected potential of decentralised water-harvesting.
• It is more than a decade since the National Commission on Farmers suggested the wider adoption of both rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge, in order to provide irrigation for small farmers. It is time to take measures that will help communities achieve resilience.

Category: ECONOMY

1. Capital high

Q1) Consider the following statements:

Q2) Dudhwa National Park is in

Q3) Consider the following statements:

Q4) Consider the following statements: