26 Jul 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 26 July 2023:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1. Drawn from gig workers' struggles, hewn in Rajasthan
GOVERNANCE
1. Lok Sabha passes the contentious biodiversity bill
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. Moving away from the ‘take-make-dispose’ model
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. Himachal floods: a man-made disaster?
F. Prelims Facts
1. Full reserve banking: where banks act solely as custodians of customers' money
G. Tidbits
1. Final orbit raising manoeuvre of Chandrayaan 3 completed
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

Category: GOVERNANCE

1. Lok Sabha passes the contentious biodiversity bill

Syllabus: Government policies and interventions aimed at development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Mains: Significance of the biodiversity bill

Prelims: About Biodiversity and the Biodiversity bill

Context:

The Lok Sabha has passed the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021, to amend the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The Bill aims to address concerns raised by traditional medicine practitioners and industry about compliance burdens and promote Ayurveda.

Introduction

  • The Lok Sabha passed the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
  • The Bill aims to amend the existing Biological Diversity Act of 2002.

Purpose of the Amendments

  • The purpose of the amendments is to guarantee that tribes and vulnerable communities derive benefits from the revenue generated by medicinal forest products, while also fostering the growth of Ayurveda and facilitating business operations.
  • Complaints from traditional Indian medicine practitioners, the seed sector, industry, and researchers led to the recognition of a heavy “compliance burden” imposed by the Act.

Exemptions Introduced by the Amended Bill

  • The revised Bill aims to grant exemptions to registered AYUSH medical practitioners and individuals accessing codified traditional knowledge, among others, from the obligation of providing prior intimation to State Biodiversity Boards when accessing biological resources for particular purposes.
  • Environmental organisations, such as Legal Initiative for Forests and Environment (LIFE), have raised concerns that these exemptions would primarily benefit AYUSH firms and could pave the way for “biopiracy.”

Decriminalization and Monetary Penalties

  • The Bill decriminalises several offences under the Act and replaces them with monetary penalties.
  • This move aims to make the implementation of the Act less punitive and encourage compliance.

Analysis of Implementation and Shortcomings

  • A joint analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth magazine reveals significant shortcomings in the practical implementation of the Biodiversity Act.
  • There is a lack of data, except in a few states, regarding the money received from companies and traders for accessing traditional knowledge and resources and sharing benefits.

Parliamentary Committee Review

  • A Joint Parliamentary Committee was constituted in December 2021 to analyse the amendment Bill.
  • Some of the members of this committee expressed concerns that the exemptions introduced in the Bill could potentially lead to abuse of the law.

Nut Graf: The Lok Sabha passed the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2021, seeking to amend the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The amendments aim to address compliance burdens, benefit traditional medicine practitioners, and promote Ayurveda, but environmental organisations and opposition members have raised concerns over potential bio-piracy and misuse.

Category: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Himachal floods: a man-made disaster?

Syllabus: GS-3, Disaster and disaster management.

Mains: Anthropogenic Factors for increased Himalayan floods

Context:

Recently, flash floods have caused unprecedented damage to both lives and assets in Himachal Pradesh. 

Climate Change and Increased Rains: 

  • The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) VI report clearly highlighted that climate change will have the greatest impact on India’s Himalayas and the coastal regions. 
  • The combined impact of the southwest monsoon and western disturbances is thought to be responsible for the increased precipitation in the Himalayas. 

Anthropogenic Factors: 

  • Anthropogenic factors have greatly contributed to the disaster in addition to climate change. 
  • The Dr. Parmar model, the state’s development strategy, was successful in making Himachal Pradesh a role model for development in mountain states. 
  • Due to this, hydroelectric projects were built quickly, frequently harming rivers and their ecosystems, and farming practices were changed to focus on cash crops, which had an impact on the environment and river systems.
  • Hydropower Projects:
    • The unregulated building of these hydropower facilities is a major factor in the region’s disastrous flood effects. 
    • The pursuit of hydroelectric projects, with their capacity quantified in terms of megawatts (MW) to attract investments, became a predominant priority for hill States. 
    • The increase in hydropower development raises questions about the likelihood of looming calamities in the area.
  • Unprecedented Road Expansion:
    • The purpose of the development-driven road expansion is to increase traffic and promote tourism. However, this has led to the neglect of crucial geological knowledge and mountain engineering abilities.
    • The mountains have been vertically cut in both the four-lane projects in Manali and Shimla, causing significant landslides and harm to the pre-existing roadways. 
    • Such road expansions have negative effects that are obvious even during light rain because they increase the likelihood of slips and slides, which magnifies the damage caused by heavy rain or flooding.
  • Development of Cement Plants:
    • Large-scale cement plant construction and widespread mountain-chopping in regions like Bilaspur, Solan, and Chamba have led to severe land use changes that exacerbate flash floods during rainy seasons. 
    • The natural environment is changed by cement plants, and the loss of vegetation lowers the soil’s ability to absorb water.

Change in crop patterns 

  • Agriculture and horticulture practices are undergoing a stealthy metamorphosis that will result in significant changes to both land ownership and output. 
  • A cash crop economy is currently being preferred by more farmers over conventional cereal production. 
  • However, due to their perishable nature, this move has repercussions for the quick transit of these commodities to markets.

Way Forward

  • To give local communities more control over their resources, a new architecture is needed. It is necessary to make up for the losses suffered in the form of culverts, village drains, tiny bridges, schools, and other social infrastructure.
  • The assets will be rebuilt more quickly as a result. To involve the key players and analyse both the shortcomings of the policy framework and the odd features of the projects undertaken, a commission of inquiry must be established.

Nut Graf: Humans should not exacerbate climate change; instead, they should make the necessary adjustments to infrastructure design to stop the tragedies that the mountainous regions have been experiencing.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Full reserve banking: where banks act solely as custodians of customers’ money

Syllabus: GS 3 – Economy

Prelims: Concepts of full reserve banking and its implications for the banking system.

Full-Reserve Banking System

  • Under full-reserve banking, banks cannot lend out money received as demand deposits.
  • Banks act as custodians and hold all demand deposits in their vaults at all times.

Lending in a Full-Reserve System

  • Banks can only lend money received as time deposits, allowing time to repay depositors with interest.
  • This contrasts with fractional-reserve banking, where banks create electronic loans exceeding actual cash reserves.

Reduced Risk of Bank Runs

  • Full-reserve banking prevents excessive loans and reduces the risk of bank runs.
  • Demand for cash remains minimal due to non-cash transactions and central banks provide emergency cash if needed.

Economic Growth Debate

  • Supporters of fractional-reserve banking believe it spurs investment and economic growth.
  • Proponents of full-reserve banking argue it prevents crises and restricts banks’ influence on the money supply.

Advantages of Full-Reserve Banking:

  • Full-reserve banking prevents bank runs as banks must back loans with actual cash reserves.
  • Restricted money supply in full-reserve banking prevents artificial economic booms and busts.

G. Tidbits

1. Final orbit raising manoeuvre of Chandrayaan 3 completed

  • ISRO successfully completed the fifth and final orbit-raising manoeuvre of the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
  • The “earth-bound perigee firing” manoeuvre was executed from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC) located in Bengaluru.
  • Chandrayaan-3 is now in an orbit of 1,27,609 km x 236 km, with the closest point to Earth at 236 km and the farthest point at 1,27,609 km.
  • The previous four orbit-raising manoeuvres were performed by ISTRAC between July 15 and July 20.
  • The next step is the TransLunar Injection (TLI), which is planned for August 1, 2023, between midnight and 1 a.m. IST, to slingshot Chandrayaan-3 towards the moon.
  • Chandrayaan-3 consists of a lander module (LM), propulsion module (PM), and a rover, launched by the LVM3-M4 on July 14.
  • After TLI, the PM and LM separation is scheduled for August 17.
  • Deboost manoeuvres are planned before the power descent phase for a soft landing on the moon.
  • The lander is expected to touch down on the moon’s surface on August 23 at 5.47 p.m. IST.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements, with reference to the Biological Diversity Act 2002:
  1. The Act aims to conserve biodiversity and ensure fair usage of its resources.
  2. Offences under this Act are non-bailable and cognizable.
  3. Grievances related to benefit sharing can be taken to the National Green Tribunal.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Only one
  2. Only two
  3. All three
  4. None
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: 

The Act focuses on biodiversity conservation, non-bailable offenses, and recourse to the National Green Tribunal.

Q2. Consider the following statement regarding the GOBAR-Dhan scheme:
  1. It aims to convert cattle dung and organic waste into compost, biogas, and biofuels.
  2. The scheme has created rural livelihoods and improved sanitation with functional biogas plants.

Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2 
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation: 

Both statements 1 and 2 are correct. It promotes sustainable agriculture, reduces pollution, and supports rural livelihoods with functional biogas plants.

Q3. Which of the following individuals falls under the category of a gig worker?
  1. Gig workers are people who work full-time for a single employer and have a fixed salary.
  2. Gig workers are those who engage in income-earning activities outside of standard work arrangements.
  3. Gig workers are individuals who work exclusively in traditional, long-term employer-employee relationships.
  4. None of the above.
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation: 

Gig workers engage in short-term, contract-based, or freelance work instead of traditional full-time employment, operating outside standard employer-employee relationships.

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding full-reserve banking:
  1. It requires banks to hold all customer demand deposits in their vaults at all times.
  2. Under full-reserve banking, banks act as custodians to depositors’ money and charge a fee for safekeeping.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2 
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: 

Full-reserve banking mandates banks to keep all customer demand deposits in their vaults, acting as custodians and charging a fee.

Q5. Consider the following statements about Chandrayaan-3 mission:
  1. It aims to explore the south pole of the Moon.
  2. Its main objective is to demonstrate India’s technical capabilities and achieve a successful soft landing on the Moon.
  3. Chandrayaan-3 will focus on studying lunar quakes, thermal properties, plasma changes, and chemical compositions.

How many of the statements given above are incorrect?

  1. None
  2. All three
  3. Only one
  4. Only two
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation: All three statements are correct.

CNA 26 July 2023:- Download PDF Here

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