22 May 2024 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related C. GS 3 Related ENVIRONMENT 1. Analysing local environmental footprints ECONOMY 1. RBI’s proposed framework to administer project financing D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials POLITY 1. Climate change, a passing cloud in Indian politics GOVERNANCE 1. Spotlighting pre-eclampsia, ensuring safe motherhood INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. The risks of Russia’s nuclear posturing F. Prelims Facts 1. X chromosome revival in older women increases risk of autoimmune disease G. Tidbits H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
C. GS 3 Related
Category: ENVIRONMENT
1. Analysing local environmental footprints
Syllabus: Environmental Pollution and Degradation
Mains: Environmental footprints by elite vs poor
Introduction:
- Understanding the environmental impact of households is crucial for addressing local and regional environmental issues.
- Localized problems like water scarcity and air pollution can be exacerbated by household consumption patterns.
- Evaluating household environmental footprints helps in identifying areas for intervention and promoting sustainable behaviours.
Analysis of Environmental Footprints in India:
- A recent study titled ‘Water, air pollution and carbon footprints of conspicuous/luxury consumption in India’ examines CO2, water, and PM2.5 footprints associated with luxury consumption choices.
- Luxury consumption categories include dining out, vacations, furniture, and social events.
- The study contrasts luxury consumption footprints with those associated with non-luxury consumption to understand their environmental impact.
Methodology and Key Findings:
- The study employs input/output analysis of the entire economy to assess environmental impacts.
- CO2, water, and PM2.5 footprints increase as households move from poorer to richer economic classes.
- The wealthiest 10% of households exhibit approximately double the overall average footprints across the population.
- Key contributors to heightened footprints include eating out, consumption of fruits and nuts, and luxury items like personal goods and jewellery.
Implications for Policy and Environmental Justice:
- Policymakers need to prioritize efforts to reduce consumption levels of affluent households to align with sustainability goals.
- Local and regional environmental issues disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
- Multi-footprint analysis is essential for addressing environmental justice concerns and ensuring equitable sustainability efforts.
Nut Graf: A recent study in India examines the environmental impact of luxury consumption, revealing increased CO2, water, and PM2.5 footprints among affluent households. Urgent policy action is needed to align consumption with sustainability goals and address environmental justice concerns.
Category: ECONOMY
1. RBI’s proposed framework to administer project financing
Syllabus: Mobilization of Resources
Mains: Bank loan NPA in infrastructure project and RBI’s proposed framework in this regard
Introduction:
- RBI aims to strengthen regulations surrounding long-gestation period financing for projects in the infrastructure, non-infrastructure, and commercial real estate sectors.
- Infrastructure projects often face delays and cost overruns due to various factors such as land acquisition, environmental clearances, and scope changes.
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s review highlighted significant delays and cost overruns in numerous projects.
Key Revisions Proposed:
- Provisioning Enhancement: General provision raised to 5% from the previous 0.4% at the construction stage.
- Phased Implementation: The 5% provisioning to be implemented gradually.
- Impact on Infrastructure Developers: Anticipated medium-term dampening of bidding appetite, as per CareEdge Ratings.
Prudential Conditions and Guidelines:
- Pre-requisites before Financial Closure: Mandatory clearances including environmental, regulatory, and legal, along with clearly defined DCCO.
- Disbursals Based on Progress: Financial disbursals and equity infusion linked to project completion stages, overseen by an independent engineer or architect.
- NPV Assessment: Positive NPV (Net Present Value) prerequisite for project finance, with annual independent re-evaluation by lenders.
- Revised Repayment Norms: Maximum tenure not to exceed 85% of the project’s economic life.
- Revised Repayment Schedule Criteria: Criteria for revising repayment schedule due to increased project outlay, contingent upon lender reassessment and project viability.
- Standby Credit Facility: Guidelines introduced for a standby credit facility to address funding overruns due to delays.
Initial Observations and Impact:
- Near-term Impact on Non-Banking Financial Companies: Higher provisioning requirements are expected to impact the near-term profitability of NBFCs and infrastructure financing companies, according to ICRA.
- Confidence from Major Banks: SBI, Union Bank of India, and Bank of Baroda expressed confidence in the proposal, anticipating no “significant” impact as per a recent earnings call.
Nut Graf: RBI’s proposed framework aims to bolster project financing by enhancing provisioning, setting prudential conditions, and revising repayment norms. Initial observations suggest potential impacts on profitability for financial entities, while major banks express confidence in the proposal.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: POLITY
1. Climate change, a passing cloud in Indian politics
Syllabus: GS-2, Functions and Responsibilities of the Union and the States
Mains: Climate change as a narrative in election
Introduction: Electoral Rhetoric and Climate Change
- India’s major political parties have largely ignored climate change in their electoral campaigns.
- Despite the pressing need for sustainable development and the global environmental crisis, climate change has been sidelined in political discussions.
- Environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk’s concerns over ecological degradation in Ladakh highlight the urgent need for climate action in national policy.
Calculated Omission of Climate Issues:
- Two major parties deliberately avoid highlighting climate change to prevent alienating industrial constituencies that rely on fossil fuels and high-emission industries.
- The manifestos of both parties lack specific, measurable commitments to combat climate change.
Current Climate Policies and Challenges:
- India’s climate policy is guided by the National Action Plan on Climate Change and various sector-specific strategies and laws.
- Key documents include the National Electricity Plan 2023, the National Green Hydrogen Mission, and the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022.
- Despite these efforts, India has not committed to phasing out coal, and climate policies remain top-down rather than bottom-up.
- The Climate Action Tracker rates India’s policies and actions as “Highly Insufficient.”
Bridging the Gap Between Politics and Climate Action:
- India must shift its political priorities to value long-term environmental and social gains over immediate economic benefits.
- The media and civil society play crucial roles in emphasizing the importance of climate change in political discourse.
- The 2024 general election is a pivotal moment for voters to demand proactive climate policies from their leaders.
- A Supreme Court ruling in March 2024 affirmed the right of Indians to be free from adverse climate change effects, potentially increasing legal accountability for government actions on climate policy.
Nut Graf: India’s major political parties have sidelined climate change in electoral rhetoric, prioritising short-term economic gains over long-term sustainability, despite pressing environmental crises. A shift in political priorities and voter demands is crucial for integrating robust climate action into national policies.
Category: GOVERNANCE
1. Spotlighting pre-eclampsia, ensuring safe motherhood
Syllabus: GS-2, Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation
Mains: Policy support to reduce IMR and MMR
Context: Congenital anomalies and neurological challenges in newborns are more common than acknowledged. Proper antenatal and perinatal care can prevent many neurological deficits.
Collective Responsibility for Safe Motherhood:
- Stakeholders in Perinatal Care: Obstetricians, radiologists, fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, and frontline workers such as ASHA and Anganwadi workers play crucial roles in antenatal care.
- Preventable Conditions: Prematurity, low birth weight, growth restriction, and pre-eclampsia (HDP) are preventable conditions contributing to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
- Long-Term Complications: HDP can lead to long-term health issues for mothers and babies, including hypertension, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, dyslipidemia, and stroke.
The Data and Current Challenges:
- India’s Statistics: India accounts for nearly a quarter of the world’s adverse pregnancy outcomes, making addressing these issues a moral and economic necessity.
- NFHS-5 Statistics: Perinatal mortality rates are 32 per 1,000 pregnancies, neonatal mortality rates are 25 per 1,000 live births, and hypertensive disorders are a leading cause of maternal death.
Proactive Measures and Awareness:
- Pre-eclampsia Awareness: May is “PE Prevention Month” with May 22 as World PE Day. Pre-eclampsia can lead to multiorgan dysfunction, with symptoms like high blood pressure, swelling, headaches, and vision changes.
- Screening and Management: Early screening for pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction, combined with the management of high-risk pregnancies, is crucial. Comprehensive care with colour Doppler ultrasound throughout pregnancy is essential.
IRIA’s Initiative: Samrakshan Programme
- IRIA’s Mission: The Indian Radiological and Imaging Association’s “Samrakshan” programme aims to reduce pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction rates significantly by the decade’s end.
- Community Engagement: The programme emphasises community involvement and leadership to ensure safe motherhood and childbirth for every woman.
Nut Graf: Perinatal care’s cruciality is underscored by prevalent risks like pre-eclampsia and congenital anomalies. Stakeholders’ collective responsibility and initiatives like IRIA’s “Samrakshan” program aim to reduce these risks, ensuring safe motherhood.
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. The risks of Russia’s nuclear posturing
Syllabus: GS-2, Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests
Mains: Future of Nuclear deterrence amidst threat of nuclear option by Russia
Context: Russia’s Nuclear Posturing
- The war between Russia and Ukraine has entered its second year with no resolution in sight.
- Russia recently announced plans to conduct drills simulating the use of tactical nuclear weapons along the Ukrainian border.
- Earlier, Russia indicated intentions to station nuclear weapons in Belarus, escalating tensions.
Shift in Understanding:
- Russia justifies its nuclear posturing as a response to perceived existential threats from statements by leaders supporting Ukraine.
- However, these claims are seen more as brinkmanship and coercion rather than genuine responses to imminent threats.
- The war’s destabilising effects don’t directly jeopardize Russia’s existence, questioning the justification for nuclear preparedness.
Dangerous Precedents and Consequences:
- Russia’s willingness to lower the threshold for nuclear use challenges established norms of nuclear deterrence.
- This may encourage other nations to adopt similar tactics, potentially escalating conflicts.
- Non-proliferation efforts could suffer as states consider nuclear arsenals for deterrence, undermining disarmament agreements.
- The situation creates new nuclear flashpoints and raises concerns about instability and proliferation globally.
Conclusion: Implications and Future Concerns
- Russia’s actions redefine the understanding of nuclear deterrence and blur the line between conventional and nuclear warfare.
- The implications extend beyond the Russia-Ukraine conflict, affecting global security and non-proliferation efforts.
- The risk of escalation and proliferation heightens nuclear instability, urging a reevaluation of nuclear policy and international cooperation.
Nut Graf: Amidst the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia’s nuclear posturing, citing perceived threats, challenges established deterrence norms, risking escalation and proliferation. This shift raises global security concerns, necessitating an urgent reevaluation of nuclear policy and international cooperation.
F. Prelims Facts
1. X chromosome revival in older women increases risk of autoimmune disease
Introduction: X Chromosome Inactivation
- Discovery by Mary Frances Lyon: Lyon proposed in 1961 that one of the X chromosomes in females is randomly inactivated during early embryonic development to prevent overexpression of X-linked genes.
- Mechanism: X chromosome inactivation (XCI) involves epigenetic changes that silence most genes on one X chromosome, ensuring balanced gene expression.
- Role in Disease: Incomplete or skewed inactivation can lead to abnormal gene expression, contributing to X-linked disorders, certain cancers, and autoimmune conditions.
Autoimmune Diseases and X Chromosome Alteration:
- Sex Bias in Autoimmune Diseases: Diseases like lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren’s syndrome are more common in females. Antibodies acting against specific proteins characterize autoimmune diseases.
- Study Findings: Perturbing the expression of Xist, a gene involved in XCI, in female mice led to the reactivation of previously inactive genes on the X chromosome. This included genes in the Toll-like receptor 7 signalling pathway in immune cells, resulting in lupus-like inflammatory signs.
- Implications: The findings reinforce the molecular link between altered XCI and autoimmune diseases, suggesting potential new drug targets for treatment.
X Chromosome and Alzheimer’s Disease:
- Sex Bias in Alzheimer’s Disease: Women have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s compared to men.
- Gene USP11: Research suggests that the gene USP11, involved in a protein-modifying process, may play a role in Alzheimer’s. Studies on mice brains indicate that USP11 escapes X inactivation and is expressed more in females.
- Potential Treatment Avenues: Understanding the role of USP11 in Alzheimer’s opens new avenues for developing treatments targeting this gene.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. ‘Climate Action Tracker’ recently seen in the news has been developed by:
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Climate Analytics
- National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: The Climate Action Tracker has been developed by Climate Analytics, an independent global climate science and policy institute with an office in Berlin.
Q2. ‘Preeclampsia’ recently seen in the news is:
- A group of eye diseases that lead to damage of the optic nerve
- Persistent high blood pressure during pregnancy or postpartum period
- A group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels
- An abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland due to iodine deficiency
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: Preeclampsia refers to persistent high blood pressure during pregnancy or postpartum period. It is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy leading to multiorgan dysfunction in the mother.
Q3. How many among the following are features of India’s Nuclear Doctrine?
- No First Use
- Credible Minimum Deterrence
- Non-use Against Non-Nuclear Weapon States
- Retaliation to a Nuclear Attack
Choose the correct answer from the code given below:
- One only
- Two only
- Three only
- All four
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation: All the given features are the key features of India’s Nuclear Doctrine.
Q4. ‘Carbon footprint’ often seen in the news is:
- The total amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activity
- The total amount of carbon stored in a carbon pool through carbon sequestration
- The reservoir of carbon that has the capacity to both take in and release carbon
- It is a market-based system that aims to offer financial incentives to persuade enterprises to lessen greenhouse gas emissions
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation: Carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular individual, organization, or community.
Q5. Consider the following statements with respect to chromosomes in mammals:
- Chromosomes are composed of DNA and histone proteins.
- The males have two copies of the X chromosome.
- The females carry a single copy of X chromosome.
How many of these statements is/are incorrect?
- One only
- Two only
- All three
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect. In mammals, the females have two copies of the X chromosome while the males carry a single copy.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- RBI’s proposed framework for project financing puts significant pressure on banks’ lending books. Discuss. (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-3, Economy]
- Politicians promise what the voters demand. in this context, analyze why ‘climate change’ has never been an important agenda in India’s electoral politics. (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-2, Polity]
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