CNA 10 July 2023:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related GOVERNANCE 1. Objections overruled, Forest Bill goes to House unchanged 2. Report highlights impact of pandemic on education C. GS 3 Related ENVIRONMENT 1. In Varanasi, turtles help clean the Ganga D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Restoring the World Trade Organization’s crown jewel SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. Untangling Threads F. Prelims Facts 1. LVM-3: the other ISRO rocket G. Tidbits H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
1. Objections overruled, Forest Bill goes to House unchanged
Syllabus: Government policies, transparency and accountability
Mains: Government policies and interventions aimed at development in various sectors
Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance
Context:
A parliamentary committee has endorsed the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, which seeks to amend the 1980 law to protect India’s forest land from unauthorised non-forestry activities.
Introduction:
- A parliamentary committee examining proposed amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, has endorsed the amendment Bill in its entirety.
- The committee’s draft report is expected to be tabled in Parliament during the Monsoon Session starting on July 20.
Analysis of the Bill:
- The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, aims to amend the 1980 law to safeguard forest land from unauthorised non-forestry activities.
- The joint committee analysed the Bill clause by clause and sought input from various stakeholders.
- Objections were raised, claiming that the proposed amendments diluted the Supreme Court’s 1996 judgement in the Godavarman case, which extended protection to non-classified forest areas.
Read more on Deemed Forest.
Controversial Amendments:
- Exemption from forest clearance for construction projects within 100 km of International Borders or the Line of Control was considered “deeply problematic.”
- Proposed name change of the law to Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam received objections for being non-inclusive.
- The Environment Ministry defended the name change, emphasising the need to augment forests and clarifying that forest conservation involves more than clearances.
Amendments’ Objectives:
- The amendments aim to remove ambiguities and provide clarity about the Act’s applicability to different lands.
- Specific provisions encourage cultivating plantations on non-forest land to increase tree cover and act as a carbon sink.
- The amendments also remove restrictions on creating infrastructure for national security and livelihood opportunities near forests.
Public Opposition:
- The draft amendments were made available for public comment since June 2022, leading to opposition from various quarters.
- Northeastern states expressed concerns about unilateral taking away of forest land for defence purposes.
- Environmental groups opposed the removal of central protection from deemed forests, potentially compromising their integrity.
Referral to Joint Committee:
- The Lok Sabha referred the Bill to a Joint Committee, with objections raised by Jairam Ramesh MP.
- The decision to refer the Bill to a Joint Committee instead of the Standing Committee drew criticism.
Nut Graf: The parliamentary committee examining the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill has endorsed the proposed amendments, despite objections raised regarding dilution of forest protection and concerns about unilateral land acquisition for defence purposes.
2. Report highlights impact of pandemic on education
Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services
Mains: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Prelims: About Performance Grading Index for Districts
Context:
The Ministry of Education’s report on the Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGID) reveals a decline in educational performance in many districts due to the pandemic.
Introduction:
- A report from the Education Ministry reveals a decline in the educational performance of many districts in the country due to the pandemic.
- The Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGID) assesses the school education system’s performance at the district level.
Read more on Performance Grading Index (PGI).
Grading Categories:
- The report categorises districts into 10 grades based on their performance.
- Grades from highest to lowest: Daksh, Utkarsh, Ati-Uttam, Uttam, Prachesta-1, Prachesta-2, Prachesta-3, Akanshi-1, Akanshi-2, and Akanshi-3.
Impact of the Pandemic:
- None of the districts achieved the highest grades (Daksh and Utkarsh) in the latest report.
- The number of districts graded as Ati-Uttam decreased from 121 in 2020-21 to 51 in 2021-22.
- The number of districts under Prachesta-2 increased from 86 in 2020-21 to 117 in 2021-22.
Examples of Districts:
- Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra (Satara, Kolhapur, Nashik, Mumbai), and Kolkata achieved Ati-Uttam status.
- Tamil Nadu has several districts in the Uttam grade and three districts in Prachesta-1.
- Uttar Pradesh has districts under Uttam, Prachesta-1, and Prachesta-2.
- Most districts in Jammu and Kashmir fall under Prachesta-1 and Prachesta-2.
- South Salmara-Mankachar district in Assam was the only district under Akanshi-1 for 2021-22.
Importance of the PGID Report:
- The report helps State education departments identify gaps at the district level and improve performance.
- It provides indicator-wise PGI scores to highlight areas requiring improvement.
- The PGI-D structure includes six categories and 12 domains to assess various aspects of the education system.
Nut Graf: The PGID report assesses the performance of the school education system at the district level, categorising districts into grades. The report highlights the impact of the pandemic on educational performance and aims to help districts identify areas for improvement and prioritise interventions.
C. GS 3 Related
1. In Varanasi, turtles help clean the Ganga
Syllabus: Environment- Conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation
Mains: Environmental pollution and degradation, Conservation. Issues related to conservation, sustainability, and initiatives for environmental protection.
Prelims: Environmental ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change topics and conservation efforts.
Context:
Since 2014, the Namami Gange Programme has been working to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga river network, and marine life, particularly turtles, has played a crucial role. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Ministry of Forest, in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga, have been running a turtle breeding and rehabilitation centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, since 2017.
Introduction:
- The Namami Gange Programme aims to clean the Ganga river network and rejuvenate it.
- Turtles, both herbivorous and carnivorous, have been playing a crucial role in this initiative.
- The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Ministry of Forest, in collaboration with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), established a turtle breeding and rehabilitation centre in Varanasi in 2017.
Turtle Rehabilitation Centre:
- The centre releases turtles into the river to support the Namami Gange Programme.
- Approximately 5,000 turtles have been released since 2017, and another 1,000 will be released this year to strengthen the program.
- The centre has released over 40,000 turtles into the river since its establishment in the late 1980s under the Ganga Action Plan.
- The Namami Gange Programme brought renewed attention to the centre in 2014.
Turtle Breeding Process:
- The Forest and Wildlife Department collects turtle eggs from coastal areas in the Chambal region.
- The eggs are monitored for 70 days and placed in a specially adapted room for hatching.
- The eggs are buried in sand-filled wooden boxes, with each box containing 30 eggs.
- Hatching occurs between June and July at temperatures ranging from 27 to 30 degrees Celsius.
- The turtles are then monitored in an artificial pond for two years before being released into the river.
Turtles’ Role in Water Quality Improvement:
- Turtles contribute to cleaning the river by consuming meat and waste products.
- River water quality checks have shown improvements in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), fecal coliform (FC), and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels.
- pH assessments have indicated suitable water quality for bathing.
- Improved DO, BOD, and FC levels have been observed at various locations along the river.
Read more on Indian Flapshell Turtle.
Long-Term Impact and Future Assessments:
- The long-term impact of turtle species on the river’s cleanliness will be evaluated over 10-15 years.
- Microbial analysis will be conducted to determine the effectiveness of the turtles’ role.
- Ongoing efforts will continue to assess and monitor the impact of the turtle rehabilitation program on the Ganga river network.
Nut Graf: Under the Namami Gange Programme, the turtle breeding and rehabilitation centre in Varanasi has released thousands of turtles into the Ganga river to aid in its cleanup efforts. The turtles, which feed on organic waste and help improve water quality, are nurtured at the centre before being released. Their role in the long-term ecological health of the river will be assessed through ongoing monitoring and analysis.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Restoring the World Trade Organization’s crown jewel
Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
Mains: Critical analysis of Dispute Settlement System (DSS)
Context: In 2022, the member-countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) resurrected the dispute settlement system (DSS), also called WTO’s ‘crown jewel’, by 2024.
What is the Dispute Settlement System (DSS)?
- The Dispute Settlement System (DSS) was established to settle trade disputes between WTO members.
- Since its inception in 1995, this multilateral trading system has faced unprecedented hurdles.
- Dispute settlement is the core pillar of the multilateral trade system, and the WTO makes a distinctive contribution to global economic stability.
- The WTO mechanism promotes the rule of law while also making the trading system more secure and predictable.
- The Dispute Settlement System (DSS) is the second tier of the World Trade Organization’s DSS, hearing appeals from WTO panels.
Also read About WTO Ministerial Conferences.
Significance
- The WTO’s dispute settlement system is critical to the multilateral trading system’s security and predictability.
- As a result, the appellate body must ensure uniformity in the interpretation and application of WTO provisions without creating a binding precedent.
- This necessitates striking a delicate balance, which is precisely what the appellate body attempted to achieve.
- It has encouraged WTO panels to rely on prior interpretations, particularly where the concerns are similar.
Concerns with DSS
- International Law Critics: The appellate body has defended the international rule of law by holding powerful governments like the United States and the European Union accountable for violations of international law. The appellate body, on the other hand, has become a victim of its own success.
- Judicial Overreach: The appellate body has been chastised for judicial overreach and for exceeding its institutional mandate. As a result, it contends that the appellate body cannot be resurrected unless the role of the appellate body is explicitly defined.
- Problem with Precedents: Another key issue identified by the US is that the appellate body has established binding precedents through its judgements. This is in violation of the WTO’s dispute settlement understanding (DSU).
De-judicialisation of trade multilateralism
- The World Trade Organisation was established in a world dominated by the neoliberal consensus that evolved during the Cold War and the collapse of communism.
- The United States’ wider game plan appears to be the de-judicialization of trade multilateralism.
- Nations’ sovereignty is eroded as they lose authority over vital decision-making. De-judicialisation is the opposite process in which governments undermine international courts in order to regain decision-making power.
Conclusion
Given the developing geoeconomic concerns posed by a rising China, the United States desires complete control over its trade policies. This has freed the WTO from the constraints of judicial scrutiny. This de-judicialization should not be mistaken with exercising political control over the appellate body in order to improve its functioning. While the US has highlighted numerous issues with the DSS, it has rarely presented meaningful solutions.
Nut Graf: The WTO dispute settlement mechanism is promising and effective when viewed as a channel via which its member nations can seek legal counsel and adjudication if their rights are violated. However, it should be highlighted at this point that this is only one perspective on the complete system.
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Syllabus: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Mains: What is Threads and issues faced in the EU
Background
- Threads, a text-based public chat app launched by Meta, was created by the team behind the photo-sharing app Instagram.
- Users in the European Union were unable to download Threads 5, as Meta postponed its release in these countries due to regulatory compliance issues in the region.
What are Threads?
- Threads is a text-based public chat app developed by the same team that created Instagram.
- Threads users must sign up using Instagram and can utilise their original username as well as the accounts they were following on Instagram.
Threads facing issues in the EU
- Users in the European Union were unable to download Threads since Meta delayed its release in these countries due to regulatory compliance issues in the region.
- Separately, the European Court of Justice sided with Germany’s anti-cartel authority, which wanted to halt Meta’s practice of combining data from Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Conclusion
- Meta’s Threads intends to leverage the ActivityPub protocol, which Mastodon currently employs, in the future so that the platforms can collaborate.
- Twitter, on the other hand, is a centralised social media network with more direct control over user actions and content regulation. If Twitter users want to move their accounts to another platform, they must start from scratch with no followers or posts.
Nut graf: Meta is the finest competitor to an increasingly volatile Twitter. However, the recently introduced Threads app introduces experimental features, dark patterns, and algorithmic feeds at a time when more internet users expect accessibility, openness, and responsibility from social media firms.
F. Prelims Facts
1. LVM-3: the other ISRO rocket
Syllabus: GS 3- Science and Technology
Prelims: General awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nanotechnology, bio-technology
Details:
- ISRO has three classes of launch vehicles: PSLV, GSLV, and SSLV
- PSLV
- PSLV is known as a “workhorse” with a low failure rate and has been launched the most
- PSLV can lift up to 3.8 tonnes to low-earth orbit
- GSLV
- GSLV is used for heavier payloads and higher orbits
- GSLV has multiple configurations, with LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3) being the most powerful
- LVM-3
- It can lift up to 10 tonnes to low-earth orbit
- LVM-3 has three stages: S200 boosters, Vikas engines, and a cryogenic engine
- S200 boosters use hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene as solid fuel
- Vikas engines use either nitrogen tetroxide or unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine as liquid fuel
- The final stage of LVM-3 is powered by a cryogenic engine that uses liquefied hydrogen and oxygen
- Chandrayaan 3 mission will be launched on July 14 onboard an LVM-3
Read more on Satellite Launch Vehicle Program.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following pairs regarding the classification of support given to the agricultural sector by the WTO:
- Research and development : Green Box Subsidy
- Production Limiting Subsidy : Amber Box Subsidy
- Minimum Support Price : Blue Box Subsidy
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
Blue box subsidies aim to limit production by imposing production quotas. MSP comes under Amber Box subsidy as they are trade-distorting support.
Q2. What is the theme of the 15th BRICS summit to be held in South Africa from 22 – 24 August 2023?
- BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Global Security, Shared Destiny and Innovative Ideas.
- BRICS and Africa : Partnership for Global Stability, and Innovative Growth.
- BRICS Partnership for Global Sustainability, Shared Health and Innovative Technology.
- BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism.
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation: The theme of BRICS 2023 is: “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism”.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the forest laws in India:
- The Forest Conservation Act 1980 aims to restrict the diversion and leasing of forests to private individuals and entities.
- The National Forest Policy 1988 introduced the concept of Joint Forest Management.
- The Forest Rights Act 2006 recognized the rights of forest dwellers, including ownership, settlement, cultivation, and collection of Minor Forest Products.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- Only three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
All three statements are correct, as they represent the major objectives and provisions of the respective forest laws in India.
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV):
- PSLV is a second-generation launch vehicle.
- It is the first Indian rocket to be equipped with liquid stages.
- It successfully launched Chandrayaan-1 (in 2008) and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft (in 2013).
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle of India.
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the Namami Gange Programme:
- It is a comprehensive river rejuvenation plan, aimed to clean and conserve the Ganga river.
- Ganga Gram focuses on ensuring proper sanitation and waste management practices in the villages along the Ganga river.
- It focuses on pollution control measures, riverfront development, and afforestation.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
All three statements are correct.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Forest laws of India have evolved from being economy-centric to the environment and society centric over time. Elaborate. (15 marks; 250 words) [GS-3, Environment]
- What is the Dispute Resolution System of WTO? Why is it under threat recently? (10 marks; 150 words) [GS-3, Economy]
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 10 July 2023:- Download PDF Here
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