31 Jan 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. India’s Climate Action  - Economic Survey 2022-23
2. National Commission for Women - 31st Foundation Day

1. India’s Climate Action – Economic Survey 2022-23

Syllabus – GS3, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Prelims – Economic Survey 2022-23.

Context – The Economic Survey 2022-23 tabled by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted India’s Climate Vision.

Details –

Progress on India’s Climate Action 

• India’s Forest Cover – India has increased its forest area in the past decade and ranks third globally in average annual net gain in forest area from 2010-2020. India added an average of 2,66,000 hectares of additional forest area every year during the period.
  • This net gain in average annual forest area is due to initiatives like Green India Mission (GIM), Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, CAMPA  etc.
  • The state of Andhra Pradesh has the maximum carbon stock in forest and Jammu & Kashmir contributes the maximum per hectare carbon stock of 173.41 tonnes.
• Preservation of Ecosystems –
  • At present, India has 75 Ramsar sites for wetlands. (13.3 Lakh hectares).
  • There is an increase in mangrove cover by 364 sq.km in 2021 due to various regulatory and promotional measures to protect and conserve mangroves.
• Energy Transition –
  • The likely installed capacity by the end of 2029-30 is expected to be more than 800 GW, of which non-fossil fuel would contribute more than 500 GW. This will result in a decline of the average emission rate of around 29% by 2029-30, compared to 2014-15.
  • The National Green Hydrogen Mission is to make India an energy-independent nation and to decarbonise the critical sectors (3.6 Giga tonnes of cumulative carbon dioxide reduction by 2050).

Finance for Sustainable Development-

Finance being an important input for achieving climate action goals, the survey throws light on India’s efforts to mobilise private capital –

• Green Bonds – 
  • Sovereign Green Bonds will help the government to tap the requisite finance from potential investors for use in public sector projects to reduce the carbon intensity of the economy.
  • A framework has been issued in accordance with ICMA (International Capital Market Association), Green Bond Principles, 2021.
  • A Green Finance Working Committee has also been set up to oversee and validate key decisions on the issuance of the Green Bonds.
• Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR)-
  • SEBI has issued new sustainability reporting requirements under the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR).
  • The BRSR has been made mandatory for the top 1000 listed entities (by market capitalisation) from 2022-23.

The survey also mentions doubling the number of tigers in 2018, four years before the target year 2022. The Asiatic lions have also grown in population from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020. In order to promote a circular economy, New Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 and E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 have also been notified.

2. National Commission for Women – 31st Foundation Day

Syllabus – GS2: Statutory, Regulatory & Various Quasi-Judicial Bodies

Prelims – National Commission for Women

Context – The President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu addressed the 31st Foundation Day celebrations of the National Commission for Women (NCW).

Details –

• The President of India while highlighting the importance of women in society said that women’s empowerment is not just an issue of social justice but is also crucial for economic development. India is the fifth largest economy in the world and is moving towards becoming a five trillion dollar economy. The active participation of women will help in achieving this goal.
• A two-day event was organised by the commission (Jan 31 & Feb 1) with the theme ‘Sashakt Nari Sashakt Bharat’ aimed at acknowledging and celebrating the stories of women who have excelled and paved their journey to leave a mark.
• NCW was founded in 1992 as a statutory body under the National Commission for Women Act 1990 to
  • review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women,
  • recommend remedial legislative measures,
  • facilitate redressal of grievances and
  • advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

January 31st, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here