30 September 2023 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related POLITY 1. Cauvery dispute: CWMA upholds panel’s decision C. GS 3 Related ENVIRONMENT 1. CM announces 15-point winter action plan to fight air pollution D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Global dispute settlement, India and appellate review F. Prelims Facts 1. Ruixiang Zhang to receive SASTRA Ramanujan Prize 2. Electoral bonds to go on sale from October 4 3. NABARD announces listing Social Bonds on BSE 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. Cauvery dispute: CWMA upholds panel’s decision
Syllabus: GS-2, Statutory, Regulatory and various Quasi-judicial Bodies.
Prelims: Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, Cauvery Water Management Authority, Cauvery’s Catchment Area, Inter-State River Water Disputes
Mains: Impact of Inter-State River Water Disputes on Federalism, Water Governance, Role of Cauvery Water Management Authority
Context: Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) asking Karnataka to release 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to Tamil Nadu till October 15.
About the Cauvery River:
Source: Cauvery.com
- Origin: Tala Kaveri, Coorg district (Brahmagiri hills of Karnataka)
- Riparian states: total drainage area of 81,155 sq. km., of which 34,273 Sq.Kms lies in Karnataka, 43856 sq. km. in Tamil Nadu, 2866 sq. km. in Kerala and 160 sq. km in the Union Territory of Pondicherry.
- Total length: 800 km (320 km – Karnataka, 416 km – Tamil Nadu, 64 km border).
- Major left bank tributaries: Hemavathi, Shimsa, Harangi
- Major right bank tributaries: Noyll, Bhavani, Kabini, Amaravathi.
Read more on the Cauvery Water Dispute
History of the Cauvery Dispute
- 1892 agreement: British government agreement with the state of Mysore and Madras.
- 1924 agreement: Allocated 75% of water to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry; 23% to Mysore; rest to Kerala (Travancore).
- Post-independence, especially post-1956 reorganization, both states clamoured for more share.
- 1990: Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal
- Final verdict in 2007.
- 419 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water to Tamil Nadu, 270 TMC to Karnataka, 30 TMC to Kerala, and 7 TMC to Puducherry.
- Karnataka was also directed to release some water every month based on the reservoir levels.
- 2018 Supreme Court judgment: Reduced share of Tamil Nadu. Reduced annual share of water release by Karnataka; established Cauvery Water Management Authority to implement this.
Also read Inter-State Water Disputes Tribunals in India
Present issues:
- Deficit rainfall in the catchment. Karnataka also pointed out that it was only dependent upon the southwest monsoon, which was inadequate this year, but Tamil Nadu could fall back on the northeast monsoon.
- The Karnataka government has decided to file review petitions before the Supreme Court and CWMA. It has also decided to form an advisory panel to collect data and provide advice to the government on the issue.
Nut Graf: The Cauvery River’s catchment areas are experiencing drought-like conditions, highlighting the need for a distress-sharing formula for water resources. The longer-term solution should be on sustainable use of water and reviving of rivers.
C. GS 3 Related
1. CM announces 15-point winter action plan to fight air pollution
Syllabus: Environmental pollution and degradation
Prelims: 15-point winter action plan to fight air pollution
Mains: The National Capital Region of India Air Quality, the major reasons for this and steps undertaken to address the issue.
Context: The Chief Minister of Delhi announced a 15-point action plan to tackle air pollution during winter when the city struggles with smog, poor visibility, and a drop in air quality mainly due to meteorological factors and stubble burning. The stubble burning has commenced. The winter season might see the Pollution Dome effect.
Source: The Hindu
Key Highlights of the Plan
- For Stubble Burning: Use of bio-decomposer made by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa in over 5000 acres of surrounding farmlands.
- To reduce the concentration of PM 2.5 and PM 10, a complete ban on the sale, storage, production, and bursting of firecrackers for the third consecutive year.
- Identification of 13 pollution hotspots, and action plans for all.
- 591 teams to monitor construction sites.
- 611 teams had been formed to implement the existing ban on burning garbage in the open.
- To control dust pollution on roads, 82 mechanical road sweeping machines, 530 water sprinkling machines, and 258 anti-smog guns will be deployed during winter.
- Set of emergency measures that kick in if the air quality levels bypass a threshold.
- Approved by Supreme Court in 2016; notified in 2017.
- Till 2020, implemented by SC-appointed EPCA.
- EPCA dissolved in 2020. Since 2021, implemented by the Commission for Air Quality Management.
- Data used: forecasts from IMD and IITM
Source: The Indian Express
Read more on the Graded Response Action Plan.
Pollution Dome
- A pollution dome, also known as an inversion layer, is a type of air pollution event where a layer of cold air is trapped below a layer of hot air near the ground.
- This creates a dome-like shape that prevents the dispersion of pollutants into the atmosphere, leading to the accumulation of high concentrations of pollutants in the lower layer.
- The formation of a pollution dome is typically caused by a combination of meteorological conditions and human activities.
- During the day, the sun heats the ground, which in turn heats the air above it. This warm air rises, allowing pollutants to disperse and mix with the surrounding air.
- However, at night, the ground cools faster than the air above it, leading to the formation of a stable layer of cooler air near the ground. If there is little or no wind, this cool air gets trapped under a layer of warmer air, creating a pollution dome.
Also read AIR Spotlight: Air Pollution – Effects and Precautions.
Nut Graf: Despite action plans being announced by the Delhi administration at the onset of every winter in recent years, for effective pollution combating measures, all the affected northern states should work in tandem with each other and with the centre and try to resolve the issue in a comprehensive manner.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Global dispute settlement, India and appellate review
Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
Mains: Provisions for Dispute Settlement at WTO, ISDS
Context: G-20 called for WTO reforms to ensure the dispute settlement system, especially the appellate body, becomes functional and accessible by 2024. There is also a need to fast-track an appellate review mechanism for ISDS (Investor-State Dispute Settlements).
Background:
- The WTO’s dispute settlement system has been dysfunctional since 2019 because the United States has blocked the appointment of appellate body members.
- The dispute settlement system is considered the crown jewel of the WTO. It has the scope for appellate review and mechanisms to enforce rulings. It has issued over 493 rulings since its establishment in 1995.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement Mechanism (ISDS)
- It is a common component of the Bilateral Investment treaties. A principal means to settle international investment law disputes.
- The arbitration tribunals consist of 3 arbitrators (1 each by the 2 parties; 3rd mutually agreed upon by an international agency.)
Issues with ISDS
- Hundreds of ISDS tribunals operating under different arbitral institutions have, on several occasions, offered diverging interpretations of the same treaty provision.
- There is no means of appeal.
- It operates through ad hoc or one-off arbitration tribunals without any appellate review.
Benefits of an appellate review
- An appellate mechanism will be better than existing mechanisms such as the annulment proceedings, which only apply to arbitrations administered by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (India is not a member).
- It will have the power to uphold, modify, or reverse the decision of a first-tier tribunal and thus bring coherence and consistency, which, in turn, will infuse predictability and certainty into the ISDS system.
- An appellate review mechanism will allow for rectifying errors of law and harmonising diverging interpretations.
India’s status
- India has had a checkered history with ISDS, with five adverse awards: four in favour, and several pending claims.
- Supports the idea of an appellate review in the ISDS because Article 29 of the Indian model BIT talks of it.
WTO’s Dispute Resolution Procedure
Source: ORF
Nut Graf: Since India’s quest has always been to establish a rule-based global order, it should support an appellate review in the WTO which will lead to greater confidence for states and investors in international investment law.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Ruixiang Zhang to receive SASTRA Ramanujan Prize
Context: The 2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize will be awarded to Ruixiang Zhang of the University of California, Berkeley. This annual $10,000 prize is for outstanding contributions by individuals in areas of mathematics influenced by Indian mathematics great S Ramanujan.
SASTRA Ramanujan Prize
- Started in 2005 by SASTRA University to honour mathematicians working in fields influenced by S. Ramanujan.
- Will be awarded at an International Conference in Number Theory on December 20-22 at SASTRA University in Kumbakonam.
About S Ramanujan:
- Born on December 22, 1887.
- Known for his work in number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions.
- Went to Cambridge in 1914 and collaborated with Hardy to develop the Ramanujan-Hardy theorem, which relates to the partition of integers.
- Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1918.
- December 22, his birthday, is celebrated as National Mathematics Day in India to honour his contributions.
Read more on Srinivasa Ramanujan.
2. Electoral bonds to go on sale from October 4
Context: The government announced the sale of the 28th tranche of electoral bonds from October 4 to 13 at all authorised branches of the State Bank of India.
About Electoral bonds:
- Introduced with the Finance Bill (2017). Notified in January 2018 under Electoral Bond Scheme 2018.
- First sale: March 2018. Since then, electoral bonds released in 4 windows of 10 days per year.
- Apart from above: On dates specified by the Union government and an additional 30-day period in the year of the Lok Sabha election.
- Nov 2022 amendment: Power of Central Government to declare an extra fortnight of electoral bond sales in years when States and Union Territories with a legislature have elections.
- Available at 29 specified branches of SBI.
- Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and which secured not less than 1% of the votes polled in the last General Election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State, shall be eligible.
- May be purchased by a citizen of India or an organization incorporated or established in India.
- Valid only for fifteen from the date of issue.
3. NABARD announces listing Social Bonds on BSE
Context: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) announced the listing of its ‘Social Bonds’ on the BSE.
Details:
- The bank had raised ₹1,040 crore through this offering. The funds would be used to refinance the Jal Jeevan Mission (the Union government’s drinking water project) in Telangana.
- Issued to fund projects and initiatives that have a positive social or environmental impact.
- Governments, public entities, development organizations, and private corporations can issue social bonds.
- A key feature of social bonds is the requirement for issuers to measure and report on the social or environmental outcomes of the projects funded.
Types of Social Bonds:
- Green Bonds: These bonds are specifically earmarked for environmentally friendly projects, such as renewable energy or conservation efforts.
- Social Impact Bonds: These bonds are often used for social welfare programs, where investors are repaid based on the achievement of predefined social outcomes.
- Sustainability Bonds: These bonds cover a broader range of projects that have both social and environmental benefits.
- One of the earliest examples of a bond issued with a clear social mission was the “World Bank’s Kangaroo Bond” issued in 1989.
- India’s 1st Social Impact Bond: Brought about by an MoU between Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- NABARD: India’s first externally rated (AAA-) rupee-denominated bond.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements:
- River Cauvery is the largest river in southern India.
- It is known as ‘Ponni’ in Tamil.
- The Mekedatu project planned across the Cauvery River has been a source of dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
How many of these statements is/are incorrect?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. River Cauvery is the fourth largest river in Southern India.
Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):
- It was approved by the Supreme Court in 2016 for Delhi and NCR.
- GRAP institutionalizes measures to be taken when air quality deteriorates.
- GRAP works only as an emergency measure and does not include action to be taken throughout the year to tackle pollution.
How many of these statements is/are incorrect?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
None of the statements is incorrect.
Q3. Which of these statements with respect to SASTRA Ramanujan Prize is/are correct:
- The award was instituted by the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy in the 1900s.
- A cash prize of USD 10,000 is presented annually to individuals aged 32 and above, for outstanding contributions in the field of mathematics.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
A cash prize of USD 10,000 is presented annually to individuals aged 32 and below, who have made outstanding contributions in the field of mathematics, influenced by Srinivasa Ramanujan in a broad sense.
Q4. Which of these statements is/are correct with respect to Electoral Bonds?
- It is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties.
- State Bank of India (SBI) is the only authorised institution to issue and encash Electoral Bonds.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: Both the statements are correct.
Q5. Which of these statements is correct with respect to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes?
- ICSID Convention is a multilateral treaty formulated by the Executive Directors of the World Bank.
- India is not a member of ICSID.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: Both the statements are correct.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Not just Cauvery, but even other river water disputes will get exacerbated due to climate change. Elaborate. (10 marks 150 words) (GS-2; Polity )
- Every winter, the National Capital Region of India experiences a degradation in the Air Quality. What are the major reasons for this? What steps have been undertaken to address the same? (20 marks 250 words) (GS-3; Environment )
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