17 Sep 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. India - Middle East - EU corridor
2. What is driving the Global Biofuel Alliance
3. Winds of change in the global governance
F. Prelims Facts
1. AI cameras to curb poaching
2. 75% of european bumblebee population threatened
3. Nikshay Poshan Yojana
4. Songbirds
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Nothing here for today!!!

B. GS 2 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

C. GS 3 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. India – Middle East – EU corridor

Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Mains: Significance of India – Middle East – EU corridor

Prelims:  India – Middle East – EU corridor

Context: Recently India, the U.S, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other countries launched the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). However many experts informed many of the details are still being ironed out, and multiple route options are being considered that will include ports such as the one at Haifa in Israel and Piraeus in Greece.

Details: 

• The IMEC MoU was signed by India, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the European Union, Italy, France and Germany, in the presence of all their leaders.
• Other than the co chairs – India and US, signatories include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the European Union, Greece, Italy, France and Germany.

The proposed route

Source: The hindu

Source: The hindu

Opportunities

• The all-sea route is convenient because Indian cargo will land from point to point. It moves seamlessly without any obstructions.
• The IMEC has been proposed to counter the Belt and Road Initiative of China.
• Open up a new dimension in trade and transportation for the region – West Asia, especially Saudi Arabia, has a huge role in IMEC where a railway corridor is being proposed to be built.
• Increased transit efficiency – 40% faster movement
• Reduced costs- The route will reduce the transportation cost.
• Reduced level of emissions
• Generation of Jobs
• Integration of Asia, Europe and the Middle East
• Infrastructure development – Electricity, Digital Connectivity
• Pipeline for Hydrogen supply

Hurdles and challenges

• Handling costs- In the proposed IMEC, the number of times the cargo will get offloaded as it changes hands from ship to rail will increase the handling costs which include terminal-handling charges, container yard charges etc. 
• Very complex programme and will require everything to be brought to common standards. Example- trains should run on the same gauge, similar technologies for engines should be used, dimensions of containers should be similar. 
• Large missing links still to be constructed- There is a missing link between Ghweifat and Haradh, which will need to be constructed.
• Standardization of the transportation medium will be needed.
• Egypt could raise objections to the plan because it will lose revenue if the Suez Canal is bypassed.
• Impact on Ties between Israel and Gulf states.
• Chinese presence cannot be wished away along the IMEC route- because the Piraeus port is controlled by China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company which is a Chinese state-owned company. 

Nut Graf: The India-Middle East-EU corridor will have multiple routes and provide great opportunities, but multiple challenges remain.

2. What is driving the Global Biofuel Alliance

Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Mains: Global Biofuel Alliance importance and challenges

Prelims: Global Biofuel Alliance

Context: Questions are being raised on what type of biofuel is the alliance going to concentrate on and why are countries trying to find alternatives. While opinion is divided on this, some experts say 2G ethanol will allow the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions even while stretching the life of internal combustion engines, giving time for automakers to develop robust alternatives

Background:

• On the sidelines of the annual G-20 summit in New Delhi, an India-led grouping came together to give impetus to the production and use of biofuels, an alternative to fossil fuels like petroleum and diesel. 
• The grouping, called the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) would attempt to bring countries together to co-develop, accelerate technological advances in production processes, and advocate for the use of biofuels particularly in the transport sector. 

Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA)

• Three founding members – India, the U.S, Brazil
• Other supporting countries – Argentina, Canada, Italy and South Africa (G20)
• G20 Invitees – Bangladesh, Singapore, Mauritius, UAE
• Non G 20 nations – Iceland, Kenya, Guyana, Paraguay, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Finland

What are Biofuels?

• As per International Energy Agency – Liquid fuels derived from biomass and used as an alternative to fossil fuel based liquid transportation fuels like gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel.
• 1st generation biofuel – Crops such as Sugarcane, Corn, Soybean etc
• 2nd generation biofuel – Agricultural waste, used cooking oil, processed animal residues

Need for the Alliance

• Increased price shocks for fossil fuels.
• Increased carbon emissions.
• Need for alternatives for long haul transport, aviation etc.
• Alternate modes of energy are still in formative stages.
• Increase in farm income.
• Creation of Jobs.

Benefits for India

• Will strengthen India’s position globally.
• Will provide additional opportunities to Indian industries.
• It will help accelerate India’s existing biofuels programs such as PM-JIVANYojna, SATAT, and GOBARdhan scheme.
• The global ethanol market was valued at USD 99.06 billion in 2022 and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% by 2032 and surpass USD 162.12 billion by 2032.

Moving ahead

• USA (52%), Brazil (30%) and India (3%), contribute about 85% share in production and about 81% in consumption of ethanol.
• It is in line with meeting net zero targets.

Nut Graf: The IEA predicts that about two-thirds of the global biofuel demand will come from three emerging economies  India, Brazil and Indonesia, and that they have ample domestic feedstocks, additional production capacity, relatively low production costs and a package of policies they can leverage to increase demand. However, it remains to be seen if this would indeed hasten decarbonising of the energy sector.

3. Winds of change in the global governance

Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Mains: Change in the global governance

Context: From last year’s climate change conference in Egypt to the G-20 summit in Delhi, there is a growing consensus among the world’s powers that the agenda of developing countries should be given top priority

What is the global south?

• The term ‘Global South’ is believed to have been coined in the U.S. In 1969, American anti-war activist Carl Oglesby, who campaigned against what he called the oppression by ‘the North’ (the U.S., Europe, Russia, etc.) of the ‘Global South’
• In the early 1970s, discussions around organising countries of the Global South also resulted in the setting up of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation by the UN General Assembly in 1974
• In the present times global organisations as well as powers all make their play for the Global South’s participation in decision making

Source: ResearchGate

Need for the emergence of the global south

• It has around 3/4th of the global population. 
• It was impacted the most due to supply chain disruptions.
• It is impacted the most due to climate change.

Groupings for global south – G 77

• Founded on June 15, 1964, by 77 developing nations. 
• They were the original signatories of the “Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Countries” declared at the end of the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva.
• Aim – to ensure that the developing world’s collective interests are safeguarded along with the enhancements of its negotiation capabilities in the wider United Nations system and other international forums. 

UNOSSC

• United Nations office for South South Cooperation.
• Established by the UNGA in 1974.
• Aim – Improved multilateralism.

Nut Graf: The sense that the centre of gravity of global governance has now shifted Southwards is growing, as organisations like G7, G-20, BRICS, the EU, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Quad, the Indo-Pacific Economic Forum and global players all make their play for the Global South’s participation in decision making.

F. Prelims Facts

1. AI cameras to curb poaching

Source: The Hindu

• Cameras set up in remote regions are a key tool in surveys and census counts of tigers and elephants.
• A year back experiments done at the Kanha-Pench corridor in Madhya Pradesh, the system has caught poachers on camera. It helped forest authorities secure a conviction of a person involved in the experiment.
• Wildlife officials in India are experimenting with new cameras or camera traps with infrared sensors placed in forests to monitor the movement of potential poachers and to count wild animals harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Challenges:

• They are bulky. 
• It requires personnel to physically access the machine to upload photos. 

2. 75% of european bumblebee population threatened

Source: EU Science Hub

• The bumblebee (Bombus) is a genus of bees considered to be especially important for the pollination of crops in the temperate and cold regions of the northern hemisphere.
• Most crop plants and 90% of all wild plants benefit from pollination by animals.
• According to a paper published in Nature more than 75% of European bumblebee species may be threatened in the next 40-60 years.
• Population decline is due to alterations of climate due to human activity and degradation of habitats.

3. Nikshay Poshan Yojana

• A 2022 study noted that 45% of people in India are undernourished, accounting for nearly 1.2 million TB cases each year.
• Undernutrition is the leading risk factor for TB disease. In 2019, the Health Ministry noted in a letter that undernutrition at the population level contributes to 55% of annual TB incidence in India.

About Nikshay Poshan Yojana 

• It was launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Aims to support every Tuberculosis (TB) Patient by providing a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of Rs 500 per month for nutritional needs.
• Since its inception around Rs 1,488 crore has been paid to 5.73 million notified beneficiaries.

Read more about Nikshay Poshan Yojana.

About Nikshay Mitra 

• The initiative ensures three-pronged support includes: Nutritional, Additional diagnostic, and Vocational support. 
• The programme was brought in to fill the critical “community’’ elements into India’s fight towards the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan aimed at eliminating TB by 2025.
• Ni-kshay Mitra (Donor) for this programme includes co-operative societies, corporates, elected representatives, individuals, institutions, non-governmental organisations, etc. who can support by adopting the health facilities (for individual donors).

4. Songbirds

Source: The hindu

• According to a study the ability to imitate sounds or vocal learning complexity is associated with better problem-solving abilities and larger brains in songbird species.
• Complex vocal learning is an important component of human spoken language and has been supposed to be associated with advanced cognitive abilities. Except humans, it has been observed in a small number of taxa, including songbirds.

Q1. With reference to the bumblebees (Bombus) and their role in pollination, which of
the following statements is/are correct?

Q2. With reference to the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, consider the following statements:

Q3. Consider the following statements about the TrailGuard system:

Q4. Consider the following statements:

Q5. With reference to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor,which of the 
following statements is/are correct?