29 July 2023 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. India, Japan will work to strengthen ‘peacetime cooperation’: Jaishankar C. GS 3 Related SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. Semicon India 2023 D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. Charting the path for the Sixteenth Finance Commission ENVIRONMENT 1. Mercury rising: Climate change calls for a renewed sense of urgency F. Prelims Facts 1. Two health Bills passed without debate in LS 2. BS-III petrol, BS-IV diesel cars can’t ply when AQI hits severe category G. Tidbits H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. India, Japan will work to strengthen ‘peacetime cooperation’: Jaishankar
Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s Interests
Prelims: Defence exercises with Japan, Trade deals with Japan
Mains: India-Japan relations, Indian Ocean Region
Context:
- Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is currently on his India Visit for 15th annual India-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue.
- Emphasis place on Peace-time cooperation over war-time cooperation wrt tensions in the Taiwan Strait region.
Background:
- Pragmatic approach of India: During heightened U.S.-China tensions in the Taiwan Strait after U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei in August 2022, India had issued its own statement urging “restraint”, but had not joined the Quad partners U.S., Japan and Australia Foreign Ministers in a statement demanding that China cease military exercises in the Taiwan Strait.
- New Delhi has also made it clear that it hopes to resolve issues with Beijing “diplomatically” and bilaterally, indicating India’s preference for a less strategic posture within the Quad.
India-Japan Relations:
- India and Japan signed a peace treaty and established diplomatic relations on 28th April, 1952. This treaty was one of the first peace treaties Japan signed after World War II.
- 2005: Global Partnership between Japan and India. Elevated to “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” in 2014.
- Since 2005: Annual Summits. Both committed to having a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” region.
- October 2008: “the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation between Japan and India“
- There are also various frameworks of security and defense dialogue between Japan and India including Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2” meeting), annual Defense Ministerial Dialogue and Coast Guard-to-Coast Guard dialogue.
- On September 9th 2020, the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of India Concerning Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Indian Armed Forces (so-called “Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement” or ACSA) was signed. ACSA came into force on July 11th, 2021.
- Bilateral exercises: JIMEX (naval exercise), SHINYUU Maitri (air force exercise), and Dharma Guardian (military exercise).
- Both countries also participate in Malabar exercise with the USA.
- Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).
- Japan started providing yen loans to India in 1958, as the first yen loan aid extended by the Japanese government.
- India was the 18th largest trading partner for Japan, and Japan was the 13th largest trading partner for India in 2021.
- Also, direct investment from Japan to India has increased, and Japan was the 5th largest investor for India in FY 2021.
- During the Ministerial Dialogue, two sides recommitted to a 5-trillion yen target for Japanese investment in India in the period 2022-2027.
- Japan’s New Indo-Pacific Policy also has a special focus on ties with India, including projects in third countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Details about the recent visit:
- Objective is to strengthen cooperation between India and Japan, in economics, supply chains, digital domain or critical technologies and maritime security’
- The Japanese Foreign Minister said the two countries were “natural partners” in facing the challenges of a “future world order”.
- India-Japan military and maritime exercises that included the first-ever joint fighter exercise in January 2023 and strong bilateral ties and more people-to-people cooperation would increase stability in the region.
- Mr. Jaishankar praised Japan for being an “exemplar moderniser” that is a role model for India. He also credited Japan with several industrial “revolutions” in India including the introduction of the Maruti-Suzuki collaboration for a passenger car, Metro rail services in various Indian cities, and high-speed rail projects like the under-construction, but much-delayed Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shikansen project.
- He said Japan was keen to align its G-7 presidency goals with that of India’s G-20 priorities including the need to involve the Global South.
Conclusion:
Unless we keenly listen to the voices of the “Global South” and show our commitment to cooperation on urgent issues facing these countries, our appeal for upholding the free and open international order based on the rule of law may sound like a mere slogan.
Nut Graf: Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi’s visit has highlighted the strengthening ties of cooperation, in economics, supply chains, digital domain or critical technologies and maritime security’ between India and Japan.
C. GS 3 Related
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Syllabus: Indigenisation of technology
Prelims: Semicon India 2023
Mains: Significance of promoting Semiconductor fab units, opportunities for India and the efforts undertaken by the government.
Context
- The second “Semicon India” is being held in Gandhinagar.
- It is being organised by India Semiconductor Mission in partnership with industry and industry associations. By Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- AIM: make India a global hub for Semiconductor Design, Manufacturing and Technology Development which will help propel the vision of India Semiconductor Mission.
- In this event Vedanta group chairman Anil Agarwal said that the first phase of its semiconductor project will involve $5 billion investment of the overall $20-billion outlay, and the venture will be ready with made-in-India chip in two and a half years.
About Semiconductors
- A semiconductor material has an electrical conductivity value falling between that of a conductor, such as copper, and an insulator, such as glass. Their resistance decreases as their temperature increases, which is behavior opposite to that of a metal.
- Can be made of pure elements like silicon or germanium or compounds like gallium arsenide or cadmium selenide.
- Used to make semiconductor chips used in things ranging from a mobile phone to an aircraft.
- The World recently saw an extensive shortage of these chips due to: High Demand, Supply chain Constraints due to the Pandemic.
- Recently China has also come up with a policy to limit export of materials needed for their manufacture.
Also read Semiconductor Shortage.
Semicon India Program
- Launched December 2021.
- Outlay: Rs.76000 Crore
- For the development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.
- Modified in September 2022
- Fiscal Incentive of 50 percent of the project cost is available to companies/consortia/ joint ventures for setting up of Semiconductor Fabs in India
- Fiscal incentive of 50 percent of the project cost is available for setting up of Display Fabs of specified technologies in India.
India Semiconductor Mission
- Setup as an Independent Business Division within Digital India Corporation.
- Responsibility of catalysing the India Semiconductor ecosystem in manufacturing, packaging and design.
- Has an advisory board consisting of some of the leading global experts in the field of semiconductors.
- Working as nodal agency for the Schemes approved under Semicon India Programme.
Read more on India Semiconductor Mission.
Nut Graf: The ‘Semicon India 2023’ highlights investment opportunities in India’s semiconductor sector. Our PM said the fourth industrial revolution currently underway was being driven by India’s aspirations.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Charting the path for the Sixteenth Finance Commission
Syllabus: Powers, Functions & Responsibilities of various constitutional bodies
Mains: Various issues associated with the distribution of tax revenue by the Finance Commission
Context:
- Time has come to establish the 16th Finance Commission.
Background:
- 15th FC was set up in 2017.
- Changes since then: COVID Pandemic and Geopolitical Challenges
- Combined Government debt- GDP Ratio close to 90% at the end of 2020-21.
- 14th FC raised share of states in divisible pool of taxes to 42% (revised to 41% when states reduced to 28).
- There may not be a strong case for recommending any further increase in the States’ share of central taxes in view of the Centre’s large fiscal imbalances. But need to re-examine shares of surcharges and cesses.
- During 2020-21 to 2023-24 (BE), the effective share of States in the Centre’s gross tax revenues (GTR) averaged close to 31%. (corresponding share of nearly 35% during 2015-16 to 2019-20.)
- Inordinate increase in the share of cesses and surcharges to 18.5% of the Centre’s GTR during 2020-21 to 2023-24 (BE) from 12.8% during 2015-16 to 2019-20. This requires scrutiny by 16th FC.
About the Divisible Pool
- The share of individual States in the Centre’s divisible pool of taxes is determined by a set of indicators that includes population, per capita income, area, and incentive-related factors such as forest cover and demographic change.
- For per capita income, the indicator with 45% weight, it is the distance of a State’s per capita income from a benchmark, usually kept at the average per capita income of the top three States.
- Why we need to transfer higher funds to lower-income states: Many of them are expected to provide a relatively larger share of the ‘demographic dividend’ to India in future provided attention is paid to the educational and health needs of their populations.
- Article recommends: It may be useful to freeze the weight to distance criterion at the current level or even reduce it to 40%, but some upward adjustment in the resources transferred to the poorer States may be done through grants.
Other Recommendations?
- The debt-GDP ratio for the combined account of central and State governments had peaked at 89.8% in 2020-21, of which the Centre’s debt-GDP ratio excluding any on-lending to the States amounted to 58.7%, and that of States was 31%.
- Still considerably above the corresponding Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) norms of 40% and 20%, as in the 2018 amendment.
- In 2020-21, the Centre’s fiscal deficit had shot up to 9.2% of GDP and that of States to 4.1%.
- In view of the large departures of the debt and fiscal deficit to GDP ratios from their corresponding norms and the reduction of the States’ debt-GDP target to 20%, the 2018 amendment to the Centre’s FRBM needs to be re-examined.
- A few State governments appear to have relatively larger debt and fiscal deficit numbers relative to their GSDPs. In this context, two concerns appear: these relate to the proliferation of subsidies and the re-introduction of the old pension scheme in the States without a clear identification of the sources of financing and the resultant fiscal burdens. Often, such subsidies are sought to be financed by raising the fiscal deficit.
- Sixteenth Finance Commission should examine the subject of non-merit subsidies in detail.
- Setting up of a LOAN COUNCIL (recommended by 12th FC) to oversee the loan magnitudes and profiles of the central and State governments.
- The Finance Commission should be strict about States maintaining fiscal deficit within limits. Carrot and Stick Policy.
- Set up under Article 280 every 5 years.
- To make recommendations on the distribution of financial resources between the Union and the states.
- Vertical and Horizontal Devolution; Grant-in-aids by Centre to States.
- Recommendations are advisory and not binding.
- Union government notifies acceptance of recommendations via Presidential order.
- They also need to table in the Parliament an explanatory memorandum regarding actions taken and deviations made from the recommendations.
Nut Graf: The upcoming Finance Commission will determine the distribution of tax revenue between the central government and states, facing challenges such as population figures, deficit grants, and wealth disparities. Guidelines for cesses, surcharges, and freebie spending should be established for fiscal balance and cooperation.
1. Mercury rising: Climate change calls for a renewed sense of urgency
Syllabus: GS-3, Climate change.
Mains: Rapid Climate change calls for urgent steps need to be taken
Context:
- The earth had passed from a warming phase into an “era of global boiling” : United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres
- Scientific evidence converging on the conclusion: July is set to be the hottest month in the last 12,000 years.
- Scientists from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Change Service: July saw the hottest three-week period on record.
- Average July temperature so far has been 16.95° Celsius, 0.2° C warmer than in July 2019 — a record in the 174-year observational data of the European Union.
Concerns
- With the change in Central Equatorial Pacific Ocean transitioning from La Niña conditions — where average sea surface temperatures are below normal — to El Niño conditions, the opposite, it was widely expected that temperatures would be warmer than that in the last three years.
- But the concern is the impact of this increased temperature in various regions of the world:
- Temperature in northwest China touching 52° C
- Wildfires in Greece
- The baking heat in the United States’ Southwest.
- The extraordinarily high rains in north and western India, while largely due to prevailing monsoon conditions, were also due to the warm air increasing atmospheric capacity to hold moisture resulting in short torrential bursts, causing floods and devastation.
Also read Global Warming Likely to Breach 1.5°C [WMO Report].
Solution
- Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius. Possible only through “dramatic, immediate climate action”.
- World’s largest economics should target for more emission cuts.
- If India wishes to become the 3rd largest economy, we need to up our targets too: E.g. Net zero by 2050 instead of 2070; generating fossil-free electricity by 2040.
Also read India’s Net Zero Plan Document at COP27.
Climate Tipping Points
- A critical threshold that, when crossed, leads to large and often irreversible changes in the climate system.
Source: The Guardian
Gulf stream collapse?
- The Gulf Stream is weakening, and it might collapse as soon as 2025, according to a study in Nature Communications. It is part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation which, according to reports 5 years ago, is already at its weakest in the past 1600 years.
- Global warming is causing more and more influx of coldwater from Greenland into the Northern Atlantic Ocean, which is stifling the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current.
- Global Impacts of the Collapse of AMOC and the Gulf Stream:
- It will alter the atmospheric Pressure patterns and the movement of Jet Streams, wreaking havoc with the rainfall patterns in west Africa, south America, and India. (This can cause famine as a majority of farmers in these regions are involved in Rainfed Agriculture. It can also parch the Amazonian Rain forests)
- Cooling down of Western Europe (Warm current: Gulf Stream-> North Atlantic Drift -> Norwegian Current) and intensification of storms in the region.
- Sea level rise on the Eastern Coast of North America due to water pile up (as the currents that carry the water away, would have been weakened.)
- The changes in atmospheric and oceanic circulations due to this might also cause the weakening of Antarctic ice sheets, further exacerbating the sea level rise.
Nut Graf: Climate change and increased temperature is impacting various regions of the world and this era of global boiling can be solved only by taking urgent measures.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Two health Bills passed without debate in LS
Syllabus: GS 2- Polity
Prelims: The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill (NNMC) and the National Dental Commission Bill
Context: Two key health Bills – the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill (NNMC), and the National Dental Commission Bill – were passed by Lok Sabha on 28th July 2023 during the Monsoon Session of Parliament without debate and amid Opposition uproar.
- The Bills are aimed at repealing the Dentists Act, 1948, and the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947, and will enhance transparency and quality in the fields of nursing, midwifery, and dentistry.
National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill – Important provisions:
- Will repeal the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947
- Aim is to Set up the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC)which will replace the existing Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947, to reform nursing and midwifery education and profession in India.
- Seeks to provide for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by nursing and midwifery professionals
- Assessment of institutions will be undertaken.
- Maintenance of national and State registers and creation of a system to improve access
- Research and development along with the adoption of the latest scientific advancement in the nursing and midwifery profession
- According to the Indian Nursing Council records, till 2022, there were around 33.41 lakh nursing personnel registered in the country.
National Dental Commission Bill – Important provisions:
- Seeks to repeal the Dentists Act, 1948
- Regulate the profession of dentistry
- Provide quality and affordable dental education.
- Make accessible high-quality oral healthcare.
- According to government data, the country has 2.89 lakh registered dentists.
2. BS-III petrol, BS-IV diesel cars can’t ply when AQI hits severe category
Syllabus: GS 3- Environment
Prelims: BS norms, GRAP
Context: To strengthen the measures to combat sudden or anticipated deterioration of air quality in Delhi- NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revised the norms under the Graded Response Action Plan.
- These will come into force from October 1 2023, Depending on the air quality forecast or outcome, GRAP regulates the use of generator sets based on their wattage and fuel types, bans BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars in Delhi and NCR districts and also prohibits the entry of light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi from entering the city.
- The exceptions are e-vehicles, CNG cars and BS-VI diesel vehicles and those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services.
- GRAP is an emergency response mechanism based on the AQI level of Delhi and brings together multiple stakeholders, implementing agencies and authorities to respond to situations of deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR.
- It added that the revised GRAP contained targeted actions that needed to be taken by the agencies concerned or those implementing the anti-pollution norms when AQI in Delhi went beyond a certain threshold or is expected to go beyond a certain threshold as per the dynamic model and weather/meteorological forecast provided by India Meteorological Department or Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune.
- GRAP was first notified in January 2017 and came into action first in October 2017. Its operation, however, faltered due to the lack of air quality forecasting technology.
- The amendments incorporated last year and the changes made on recently allows the state government scope to take additional measures such as announcing work from home and road rationing, and suspending non-essential services and classes in educational institutions.
BS Norms:
- In the early nineties that the first emission standards were introduced in the country.
- Other regulatory norms followed in the form of making the catalytic converters mandatory for petrol vehicles and then, by the introduction of unleaded petrol.
- In 1999, the apex court of the country made it mandatory for all vehicles to meet the India 2000 norms by June 2000, in a ruling.
- In 2002, the Mashelkar Committee report was accepted by the Indian Government.
- It recommended a roadmap for the implementation of the Euro norms-based emission standards for India.
- It also recommended that the roll-out of the norms be implemented in major cities first to be followed by the rest of the country in a phased manner.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. With reference to the 'SemiconIndia 2023' event, which of the following statements is/are incorrect?
- It is organized by India Semiconductor Mission in partnership with industry and industry associations.
- The event aims to promote India as a global hub for Semiconductor Design, Manufacturing, and Technology Development.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation: Both statements are correct. It is organized to promote India as a global hub for semiconductor activities.
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill:
- It focuses on regulating and maintaining standards in the nursing and midwifery profession.
- The bill proposes the establishment of the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC).
- It aims to repeal the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- Only three
- All of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation: It repeals the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947, establishes NNMC, and regulates education and services in the nursing and midwifery profession.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the Finance Commission of India:
- It is established every 5 years under Article 280 of the Constitution.
- The Finance Commission makes recommendations on the distribution of financial resources between the Union and states.
- Its recommendations are binding on both the Union and states.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: Finance Commissions recommendations are advisory and not binding.
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the World Meteorological Organization (WMO):
- It is an intergovernmental organization that is not a part of the United Nations specialized agency system.
- WMO supports National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.
- It has released the State of the Global Climate Report 2022.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- None
- Only two
- All three
- Only one
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: It is a specialized agency of the UN. It also supports National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and releases the State of the Global Climate Report 2022.
Q5. Which of the following statements is true about GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan)?
- GRAP is an annual air quality monitoring system for Delhi-NCR.
- GRAP is a long-term strategy to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
- GRAP is an emergency response mechanism based on AQI levels to address deteriorating air quality.
- GRAP is a government scheme to provide financial assistance to farmers in Delhi-NCR.
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: It is an emergency response mechanism which brings together stakeholders to respond to worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR using AQI as a reference.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- The 16th Finance Commission, when set up, will have some tough tasks ahead of it. Elaborate. (10 Marks, 150 Words) (GS-2; Polity )
- The world has moved beyond global warming, into the territory of Global Boiling. Elucidate. (15 Marks, 250 words) (GS-3; Environment)
Read the previous CNA here.
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