Monthly Current Affairs April 2020

Easy to PICK201 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 BRICS foreign Ministers discuss impact of covid-19 Part of: GS-II- I.N Organisation (PT- Chairship in 2020 and the overall theme MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) of \"BRICS Partnership for Global External Affairs Minister has emphasized Stability, Shared Security and that the current COVID-19 challenge Innovative Growth”. underlines all the more the need for reform of multilateral systems and that ‘Self -help measures’ reformed multilateralism is the way The official pointed out that BRICS was forward. In his remarks at the BRICS looking at the possibility of additional Foreign Ministers Meeting on Coronavirus “self-help” measures that the grouping through video conference, Dr Jaishankar could adopt, following the initiatives referred to the centrality of development adopted during the recently concluded and growth in the global agenda. meeting of the board of governors of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) Important points on April 20. 1. He emphasized that the pandemic is “Three days ago, the Bank fully disbursed not only posing a great risk to the a USD 1 billion emergency loan to health and well being of humanity but China. This week, we will present to the is also severely impacting global Board of Directors, an emergency loan of economy and output by disruption of USD 1 billion to India. The Bank is in global trade and supply chains discussions with Brazil and South Africa 2. The Minister said,economic activity for loans of USD 1 billion each. All three across sectors has been negatively loans are along similar lines to the China impacted leading to loss of jobs and loan. And we stand ready to do more, if livelihoods. our members request it, NDB President 3. He emphasized that there is a need to K.V. Kamath said. He pointed out that the provide support to businesses, NDB had the “financial capacity” to especially MSMEs, to tide over the provide $10 billion in “crisis-related crisis and ensure livelihoods are not assistance” to BRICS member-countries. lost. 4. The External Affairs Minister pointed BRICS out that the efficacy of traditional  BRICS is an acronym for the grouping medicine systems to strengthen immunity should be recognized and of the world’s leading emerging that BRICS should support these economies, namely Brazil, Russia, efforts. India, China, and South Africa. Facts o In 2001, the British Economist Jim BRICS, which brings together almost 42 O’Neill coined the term BRIC to percent of global population, with describe the four emerging economies impressive growth, investment and trade of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. share, has an important role to play in shaping the global economic and political o The grouping was formalised during architecture. India also reaffirmed its the first meeting of BRIC Foreign strong support for Russian BRICS Ministers in 2006.

Easy to PICK202 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 o South Africa was invited to join BRIC members with all the member countries possessing equal rights. in December 2010, after which the Contingent Reserve Arrangement group adopted the acronym BRICS.  Considering the increasing instances of  It comprises 42% of the world's global financial crisis, BRICS nations signed BRICS Contingent Reserve population, has 23% of the global GDP Arrangement (CRA) in 2014 as part of Fortaleza Declaration at Sixth BRICS and around 17% of the world trade. summit.  The BRICS CRA aims to provide  The chairmanship of the forum short-term liquidity support to the members through currency swaps to is rotated annually among the help mitigating BOP crisis situation and further strengthen financial members, in accordance with the stability.  The initial total committed resources of acronym B-R-I-C-S. Brazil is the the CRA shall be one hundred billion dollars of the United States of America current chair of the grouping. (USD 100 billion).  It would also contribute to  The BRICS Leaders’ Summit is strengthening the global financial safety net and complement existing convened annually. international arrangements (IMF).  During the Sixth BRICS Summit in Key Points : Fortaleza (2014) the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the New Development Bank (NDB). They also signed the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement. New Development Bank  NDB is headquartered in Shanghai.  At the Fourth BRICS Summit in New Delhi (2012) the possibility of setting up a new Development Bank was considered to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies, as well as in developing countries.  During the Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014) the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the New Development Bank (NDB).  Fortaleza Declaration stressed that the NDB will strengthen cooperation among BRICS and will supplement the efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global development thus contributing to sustainable and balanced growth.  NDB’s key areas of operation are clean energy, transport infrastructure, irrigation, sustainable urban development and economic cooperation among the member countries.  The NDB functions on a consultative mechanism among the BRICS

Easy to PICK203 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 UIDAI permits Aadhaar updation facility through CSC-Banking Correspondent Part of: GS-II- GOVERNANCE (PT- What are BCs? MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Business Correspondents are retail agents engaged by banks for providing banking 1. To make Aadhaar updating easier for services at locations other than a bank citizens, Unique Identification branch/ATM. BCs enable a bank to Authority of India, UIDAI has provide its limited range of banking permitted Common Service Centre, services at low cost. They hence are CSCs, which are designated banking instrumental in promoting financial correspondents of banks, to offer inclusion. Aadhaar services. What are the functions of BCs? 2. Around 20,000 such CSCs will now be BCs have to do a variety of functions viz, able to offer this service to citizens. identification of borrowers, collection of CSC Village Level Entrepreneurs are small value deposit, disbursal of small asked to start the Aadhaar work with value credit, recovery of principal / responsibility and as per instructions collection of interest, sale of micro issued by UIDAI in this regard. insurance/ mutual fund products/ pension products/ other third party products and 3. The decision would further strengthen receipt and delivery of small value the efforts of achieving the goals of remittances/ other payment instruments, Digital India as envisaged by Prime creating awareness about savings and other Minister Narendra Modi. products, education and advice on managing money and debt counseling, etc. 4. Commencement of Aadhaar updation services through CSC also comes What types of products can be provided across as a big relief during the by BCs? lockdown restrictions imposed to As per the RBI guidelines the products prevent spread of COVID-19. provided by BCs are: Small Savings Accounts, Fixed Deposit and Recurring 5. With these 20 thousand additional Deposit with low minimum deposits, centers available to Aadhaar, the users Remittance to any BC customer, Micro particularly in rural areas need not visit Credit and General Insurance. Aadhaar centres in bank branches or The BC model allows banks to provide Post Offices for this work. door-step delivery of services especially ‘cash in – cash out’ transactions at a Banking Correspondent location much closer to the rural The RBI has allowed banks to appoint population, thus addressing the last-mile entities and individuals as agents for problem. providing basic banking services in remote areas where they can’t practically start a Who can act as BCs? branch. These agents are called business The RBI has provided a long list of entities correspondents. BCs are considered as and persons who can act as BCs. Initially practical solutions to extend basic banking the entities permitted to act as BCs services to the nearly 600000 village included registered entities like NGOs/ habitations in the country. Business Correspondents are hence instrumental in facilitating financial inclusion in the country.

Easy to PICK204 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 MFIs. Later, the list expanded to include 1. Digital infrastructure as a core utility to individuals like retired bank employees, every citizen. retired teachers, retired government employees and ex-servicemen, individual 2. Governance and services on demand. owners of kirana / medical /Fair Price 3. Digital empowerment of citizens. shops, individual Public Call Office (PCO) operators, agents of Small Savings Significance of CSCs: schemes of Government of India/Insurance CSCs are more than service delivery points Companies, individuals who own Petrol in rural India. They are positioned as Pumps, authorized functionaries of well- change agents, promoting rural run Self Help Groups (SHGs) which are entrepreneurship and building rural linked to banks. Any other individual capacities and livelihoods. They are including those operating Common enablers of community participation and Service Centres (CSCs) are also allowed to collective action for engendering social act as BCs of banks. change through a bottom-up approach with Though the BC model was attractive it has key focus on the rural citizen. not delivered effectively because of the many shortcomings associated with it. Key Points : Firstly, banks have imposed higher restrictions on operations of BCs. Secondly, salaries of BCs were very low compared to the physical work they have to do to cover the distant areas. The JDY also heavily relies the operations of BCs for continuation of account activities by the village people who started the account as part of the programme. Common Services Centers (CSCs) Common Services Centers (CSCs) are a strategic cornerstone of the Digital India programme. They are the access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a digitally and financially inclusive society. They are multiple-services-single-point model for providing facilities for multiple transactions at a single geographical location. They are the access points for delivery of essential public utility services, social welfare schemes, healthcare, financial, education and agriculture services, apart from host of B2C services to citizens in rural and remote areas of the country. CSCs enable the three vision areas of the Digital India programme:

Easy to PICK205 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Common Services Centre (CSC) Part of: GS-II- Governance (PT-MAINS- PERSONALITY TEST) Common Services Centre (CSC) Partners programme is an initiative of the Ministry 1. Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) to of Electronics & IT (MeitY), Government of India. CSCs are the access points for provide service to the rural consumer delivery of various electronic services to in villages. villages in India, thereby contributing to a 2. The agency designated by the State - digitally and financially inclusive society. State Designated Agency (SDA)—to CSCs are more than service delivery points facilitate implementation of the in rural India. They are positioned as Scheme within the State. change agents, promoting rural 3. Others include central ministries, their entrepreneurship and building rural departments and other central agencies capacities and livelihoods. They are to offer various services to the citizens enablers of community participation and and partner banks (public and private collective action for engendering social sector) and regional rural banks to change through a bottom-up approach with enable CSCs to become Banking key focus on the rural citizen. Correspondent Agents / Customer CSC e-Governance Services India Limited Service Points to deliver various is a Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) banking and financial services. incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 by the Ministry of Electronics and Services offered Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, to monitor the The CSCs would provide high quality and implementation of the Common Services Centers Scheme. It provides a centralized cost-effective video, voice and data collaborative framework for delivery of services to citizens through CSCs, besides content and services, in the areas of e- ensuring systemic viability and sustainability of the scheme. governance, education, health, Common Service Centres and Digital telemedicine, entertainment as well as India Digital India is a flagship programme of other private services. A highlight of the the Government of India with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered CSCs is that it will offer web-enabled e- society and knowledge economy. governance services in rural areas, CSCs enable the three vision areas of the Digital India programme: including application forms, certificates, 1. Digital infrastructure as Utility to and utility payments such as electricity, Every Citizen 2. Governance and services on demand telephone and water bills. In addition to 3. Digital empowerment of citizens the universe of G2C services, a wide variety of content and services that are offered are: 1. Agriculture Services (Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Veterinary) 2. Education & Training Services (School, College, Vocational Education, Employment, etc.) 3. Health Services (Telemedicine, Health Check-ups, Medicines)

Easy to PICK206 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 4. Rural Banking & Insurance Services  Enablement and consolidation of (Micro-credit, Loans, Insurance) online services under single technology platform, thereby making the service 5. Entertainment Services (Movies, delivery at CSCs accountable, Television) transparent, efficient and traceable, with a technology-driven relationship 6. Utility Services (Bill Payments, Online between all stakeholders. bookings)  Providing Centralized Technological 7. Commercial Services (DTP, Printing, Platform for delivery of various Internet Browsing, Village level BPO). services in a transparent manner to the citizens. CSC 2.0 Scheme Under the Digital India programme, at  Increasing sustainability of VLEs by least one CSC (preferably more than one) sharing maximum commission earned is envisaged in 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats through delivery of e-services and for delivery of various electronic services encouraging women to join as VLEs. to citizens across rural India. This would include strengthening and integrating the Participating in CSC scheme existing 100,000 CSCs under the CSC Eligibility : scheme and making operational an  Applicant should be a village youth additional 1.5 lakh CSCs in Gram Panchayats. CSC 2.0 is a service delivery above 18 years of age oriented entrepreneurship model with a  Applicant must have passed the 10th large bouquet of services made available for the citizens through optimum level examination from a recognized utilization of infrastructure already created board as minimum level of educational in the form of SWAN, SSDG, e-District, qualification. SDC, and NOFN/BharatNet.  Applicant should be fluent in reading and writing the local dialect and should Objectives of CSC 2.0 also have basic knowledge of English  Non-discriminatory access to e- language  Prior Knowledge in basic computer Services for rural citizens by making skills would be advantage CSCs complete service delivery  Applicant should be motivated enough centres, utilizing the infrastructure to be the prime driver of social change already created in terms of other and disperse his or her duties with Mission Mode Projects. utmost dedication  Expansion of self-sustaining CSC  Should have a valid VID (Virtual ID) network till the Gram Panchayat level and PAN – 2.5 lakh CSCs, i.e. at least one CSC per Gram Panchayat, more than one Infrastructure Required for CSC preferred.  PC with a licensed operating system of  Empowering District e-Governance Society (DeGS) under the district Windows XP-SP2 or above administration for implementation.  At least 120 GB hard disc Drive  Creating and strengthening the  At least 512 MB RAM institutional framework for rollout and  CD/DVD Drive project management, thereby,  UPS with 4 hours battery back- supporting the State and District administrative machinery and up/portable generator set handholding of VLEs through local  Printer/ Colour Printer and Scanner language Help Desk support.  Web cam/digital camera

Easy to PICK207 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  Internet connection with at least 128 kbps speed for browsing & data uploading over internet.  Biometric/ IRIS Authentication Scanner for banking services Key Points :

Easy to PICK208 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 'one nation, one ration card' scheme for migrant workers, EWS Part of: GS-II- Governance (PT-  The scheme is all about inter-state MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) portability of ration cards. It enables the beneficiaries who are taking food The Supreme Court has asked the Centre grains under the Public Distribution to consider the feasibility of temporarily System (PDS) to access the same adopting the 'one nation, one ration benefits if they happen to migrate from card' scheme during the ongoing one part of the country to the other, in coronavirus lockdown period to enable the a seamless manner. migrant workers and economically weaker sections (EWS) get subsidised foodgrain.  India has been computerising its PDS operations for quite a few years. This A bench of Justices N V Ramana, Sanjay scheme of inter state portability is a Kishan Kaul and B R Gavai, in an order logical progression to the next level of passed, directed the Union of India to enabling seamless public services consider whether it is feasible for it to under the PDS, throughout the country. implement the said Scheme at this stage or not and take appropriate decision in this  The government is going to launch the regard keeping in view the present scheme on a pilot basis in August by circumstances. The directions came in the having four states in two clusters wake of a petitioner seeking indulgence of namely Andhra Pradesh and Telangana the court to protect and safeguard rights of and Maharashtra and Gujarat. migrant labourers,beneficiaries , citizens of other States and Union Territories to get o These states have fully computerized their entitlement of subsidized foodgrain their PDS operations and are fully on and benefits of government scheme etc, board to affect this transition to inter during the lockdown period.The scheme state portability. announced by Central Government is about to start in June, 2020. How important is this scheme for migrant labourers in the country? With One Nation One Ration Card  Historically, India has had food Scheme, the focus of the government is on improving efficiency and delivery of security benefit schemes which have services. domicile based access.  45.36 crore people or 37% of the Full Analysis population is that of migrant One Nation One Ration Card labourers. The scheme is therefore Scheme which will allow portability of important for anyone who is going to food security benefits will be available move from one place to the other. across the country from 1st July, o It happens that when one moves from 2020. This means poor migrant workers one place to the other (for e.g. a will be able to buy subsidized rice and government employee being wheat from any ration shop in the country. transferred from one place to another), Highlights of the Scheme it takes about two to three months to get a ration card at that next place and then further more time to start getting commodities against the same.

Easy to PICK209 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  After the implementation of the  The government is covering nearly 81 scheme, it would be ensured that a migrant is able to access the benefits crore people of the country under the which is due to him in any part of the country. This would be ensured on National Food Security Act (NFSA) the basis of Aadhaar authentication and a validated data. based on the 2011 census. How important is the scheme for  Under the NFSA, the government is curbing corruption?  Prior to the announcement of the covering some of the most vulnerable scheme, the government embarked sections namely the antyodaya on weeding out bogus ration cards. In fact, in the last five years, the families who get 35 kgs/month as a government has managed to delete nearly 3 crore duplicate and bogus family and the priority ration cards. This also helped the government in cleaning up the data of households where the members of the the PDS.  In One Nation One Ration Card family get 5 kgs/month of food grains. Scheme, the fundamental prerequisite is deduplication so that it is ensured  The government is also ensuring that the same person does not figure as a beneficiary in two different locations enough food stock in the country. of the country.  With the help of the scheme, the  Distributing food grains is a joint government would be able to rightly target the beneficiaries to provide responsibility of central and state them with the foodgrains under the PDS. The scheme is linked with governments. It has been made very Aadhaar and biometrics, this removes most possibilities of clear to all the states that no genuine corruption.  The government is creating a central beneficiary should be turned back data repository to get all the details of ration card which are being maintained only for the reason of not possessing by states so that the repository acts as a clearing house or a server to do the Aadhaar. cross checking on the basis of Aadhaar authentication. This ensures that there  The government has other mechanisms is no corruption or duplication of the benefits that are being passed on to the through which the beneficiaries can beneficiaries. The government will ensure all these things with the help of prove their bonafides and take the technology. benefits. How the government is ensuring food security in the country?  One Nation One Ration scheme will further help in adding to the nutritional values of the poor consumers.  The scheme will add to the integration of the country as wherever a person goes, he will be able to get food grains at that place. How the government will ensure the implementation of the scheme?  Within a particular state, there will be an intra state portability. There are ten states which are fully ready for the same. These are: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tripura. o In these ten states, 100% PoS machines have been arranged for green distribution and all PDS shops have been connected to the internet. o It has been seen on the ground that a beneficiary within such a state can go freely and take PDS rations from other

Easy to PICK210 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 shop i.e. apart from the shop that is Way Forward nominated for him.  The food security scheme under the  Building on this intra state portability, the government is building clusters on NFSA costs more than Rs 1 lakh crore pilot basis so that inter state portability per year. It is very expensive but is is ensured within a limited number of highly needed. There is a need to states. ensure that subsidized food grains ultimately go to the person or the Depot Online System family that is entitled to.  The government is planning to  The One Nation One Ration Card should also include access to health integrate PDS with Depot Online and other things. System. o At the principal level, within the  Integrating with the help of government, there is broad consensus technology, the depots which have on having a unified kind of service stocks and distribution activities is delivery system based on technology logical, to ensure that one has a and identity. complete blueprint of the transaction o A unified service platform combining system that goes in the area of PDS. all the citizen centric services on the  There is a need to keep a track on basis of few parameters of identity and the inventory that is being received other indicators of technology, is the and distributed from the depots, so need of the hour. that one is able to integrate the total supply chain of the PDS beginning ADB approves 1.5 billion dollars loan to from the delivery of the food grains to India to fight corona pandemic the state agencies by FCI to the The Asian Development Bank has delivery to a customer. approved 1.5 billion dollars loan to India to help fund its fight against coronavirus Challenges pandemic.  Since the scheme is based on The loan has been sanctioned with a view to support immediate priorities such as technology, the government may face disease containment and prevention, as some technical challenges during the well as social protection for the poor and implementation of the scheme. economically vulnerable sections. The  Few regional parties have expressed quick-disbursing fund is part of a larger apprehensions on bearing the cost of package of support that ADB will provide additional ration cards. This is a in close coordination with the government matter which is to be settled between and other development partners. the states and the Government of India.  One of the apprehensions mentioned About ADB: by few states is the cost of additional 1. It is a regional development bank food grain to be supplied to the 2. established on 19 December 1966. migrant workers. 3. headquartered — Manila, Philippines. o However, the whole system is based on 4. official United Nations Observer. the entitlements mandated under the NFSA and this prevents the charges of The bank admits the members additional cost. Beneficiaries will of the United Nations Economic and continue to pay the same issue prices Social Commission for Asia and the that are fixed under the NFSA. Pacific (UNESCAP, formerly the

Easy to PICK211 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Economic Commission for Asia and the Key Points : Far East or ECAFE) and non- regional developed countries. Voting rights: It is modeled closely on the World Bank, and has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with members’ capital subscriptions. Roles and functions: 1. ADB defines itself as a social development organization that is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. 2. This is carried out through investments – in the form of loans, grants and information sharing – in infrastructure, health care services, financial and public administration systems, helping nations prepare for the impact of climate change or better manage their natural resources, as well as other areas.

Easy to PICK212 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 India listed among ‘countries of particular concern’ in US religious freedom report- USCIRF Part of: GS-II- India and USA (PT- warranted” and questioned the body’s MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) “locus standi” in India’s internal In the 2020 edition of its annual report affairs. on International Religious Freedom, the 4. India has previously described the USCIRF alleged that in 2019, religious comments by the USCIRF and a \"few freedom conditions in India \"experienced a individuals\" over violence in the drastic turn downward\", with religious national capital as \"factually minorities under increasing assault. inaccurate, misleading\" and an attempt A US commission mandated to monitor to politicise the issue. religious freedom globally asked the State Department to designate 14 Reasons cited nations, including India, as \"countries of “India took a sharp downward turn in particular concern\", (CPC) alleging that 2019,” the commission noted in its religious minorities are under increasing report, which included specific concerns assault in these nations. about These include nine countries that the State 1. the Citizenship Amendment Act, Department designated as CPCs in 2. the proposed National Register for December 2019 - Myanmar, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Citizens, Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan - as 3. anti-conversion laws and the situation well as five others - India, Nigeria, Russia, Syria, and Vietnam in Jammu and Kashmir. However, two of the nine members have 4. “The national government used its expressed their dissent over the USCIRF recommendation to place India in the CPC. strengthened parliamentary majority to Established by the US Government in institute national-level policies 1998 after the inaction of the violating religious freedom across International Religious Freedom Act, India, especially for Muslims.” recommendations of USCIRF are non- The USCIRF alleged that during 2019, binding to the State Department. discriminatory policies, inflammatory rhetoric, and tolerance for violence against India’s view on report minorities at the national, state and local 1. Traditionally, India does not recognize level increased the climate of fear among non-Hindu communities. the view of the USCIRF. The report also ,mentioned about 2. For more than a decade, it has denied communal riots in Delhi in February 2020, alleging that there were reports of Delhi visas to members of the USCIRF. police, operating under the Home 3. India has earlier said that the American Ministry's authority, failing to halt attacks and even directly participating in the body on international religious violence. freedom has chosen to be guided only by its biases. The Ministry of External The USCIRF 2020 report makes a Affairs had rejected the USCIRF specific mention of Home Minister Amit statement as neither “accurate nor Shah, for not taking what it deemed as

Easy to PICK213 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 sufficient action to stop cases of mob Key Points : lynching in the country, and for referring to migrants as “termites”. In December 2019, the USCIRF had also asked the U.S. government to consider sanctions against Mr. Shah and “other principal leadership” Recommendations made by USCIRF to state department The USCIRF recommended to the State Department to impose targeted sanctions on Indian government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom. Among others, it recommended the State Department to allocate funding to support civil society to create a monitoring and early warning system in partnership with police to challenge hate speech and incitement to violence. The US Congress should continue to hold hearings highlighting religious freedom conditions in India and US policy toward India, the USCIRF said In 2005, Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was at the time the Chief Minister of Gujarat was censured by the USCIRF. The commission had recommended sanctions against Mr. Modi for the 2002 riots and the U.S. government had subsequently cancelled his visa.

Easy to PICK214 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Only 30 lakh found MGNREGA - Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act work Part of: GS-II- Governance (PT- Supreme Court, asking for full wages to be paid through the lockdown to the scheme’s MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) 7.6 crore active job card-holders. On April 20, an intervention application was filed Although the Centre gave explicit asking that as an interim measure, unemployment allowance be paid to all instructions to reopen its flagship rural who were at work on March 24, when the lockdown was announced. Almost 1.6 jobs scheme from April 20, only 30 lakh crore workers found employment under the scheme in March. people were provided work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in April, about 17% of the usual, government data show. Imp Points What to do? 1. In mid-April, only 1% of the usual “MGNREGA families should be given at least ten days’ wages as free cash for number of workers had found the loss in the month of April,” said employment. economist Reetika Khera, who teaches at 2. The figures for this April are the the Indian Institute of Management- lowest in five years, and show an 82% Ahmedabad. “The government asked the drop from the previous year’s figure of private sector to pay workers. Shouldn’t 1.7 crore workers. they lead by example?” 3. Some States had zero workers as on April 29, showing they had not The scheme stipulates that if workers restarted their work sites at all. register for work, but are not provided 4. Only 1,005 people got work in employment, they are eligible to an Haryana, along with 2,014 in Kerala unemployment allowance amounting to a and 6,376 in Gujarat, showing very quarter of their wages in the first month, low rates of employment. half in the second, and full wages 5. Andhra Pradesh, on the other hand, has thereafter. provided 10 lakh jobs, though it is still “An unemployment allowance is the very lower than the 25 lakh jobs provided least that should be paid to these last April. workers,” Why Important About MGNREGA In the light of government failure to The scheme was introduced as a social provide sufficient work at a time when the measure that guarantees “the right to loss of livelihoods due to the lockdown work”. The key tenet of this social and returning migrant workers have measure and labour law is that the local increased the need for work in Indian government will have to legally provide villages, there is a rising demand for at least 100 days of wage employment in compensation wages to be paid to workers rural India to enhance their quality of instead. life. On April 4, activists of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan had filed a petition in the

Easy to PICK215 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Key objectives: submitting the application or from the 1. Generation of paid rural employment date when work is sought. of not less than 100 days for each worker who volunteers for unskilled 5. Social Audit of MGNREGA works is labour. 2. Proactively ensuring social inclusion mandatory, which lends to by strengthening livelihood base of rural poor. accountability and transparency. 3. Creation of durable assets in rural areas such as wells, ponds, roads and canals. 6. The Gram Sabha is the principal forum 4. Reduce urban migration from rural areas. for wage seekers to raise their voices 5. Create rural infrastructure by using untapped rural labour. and make demands. The following are the eligibility criteria 7. It is the Gram Sabha and the Gram for receiving the benefits under MGNREGA scheme: Panchayat which approves the shelf of 1. Must be Citizen of India to seek works under MGNREGA and fix their NREGA benefits. 2. Job seeker has completed 18 years of priority. age at the time of application. Role of Gram Sabha: 3. The applicant must be part of a local 1. It determines the order of priority of household (i.e. application must be works in the meetings of the Gram made with local Gram Panchayat). Sabha keeping in view potential of the 4. Applicant must volunteer for unskilled local area, its needs, local resources. labour. 2. Monitor the execution of works within the GP. Key facts related to the scheme: 1. The Ministry of Rural Development Roles of Gram Panchayat: 1. Receiving applications for registration (MRD), Govt of India is monitoring 2. Verifying registration applications the entire implementation of this 3. Registering households scheme in association with state 4. Issuing Job Cards (JCs) governments. 5. Receiving applications for work 2. Individual beneficiary oriented 6. Issuing dated receipts for these works can be taken up on the cards of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled applications for work Tribes, small or marginal farmers or 7. Allotting work within fifteen days of beneficiaries of land reforms or beneficiaries under the Indira Awaas submitting the application or from the Yojana of the Government of India. date when work is sought in the case of 3. Within 15 days of submitting the an advance application. application or from the day work is 8. Identification and planning of works, demanded, wage employment will be developing shelf of projects including provided to the applicant. determination of the order of their 4. Right to get unemployment priority. allowance in case employment is not provided within fifteen days of Responsibilities of State Government in MGNREGA: 1. Frame Rules on matters pertaining to State responsibilities under Section 32 of the Act ii) Develop and notify the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for the State. 2. Set up the State Employment Guarantee Council (SEGC). 3. Set up a State level MGNREGA implementation agency/ mission with

Easy to PICK216 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 adequate number of high calibre professionals. 4. Set up a State level MGNREGA social audit agency/directorate with adequate number of people with knowledge on MGNREGA processes and demonstrated commitment to social audit. 5. Establish and operate a State Employment Guarantee Fund (SEGF). Key Points :

Easy to PICK217 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Global Report on Internal Displacement 2020 Part of: GS-II- World reports (PT- frameworks on internal MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) displacement. The ‘Global Report on Internal o Others, including Afghanistan, Iraq Displacement 2020’ revealed and the Philippines, incorporated that conflict, violence and disasters led to displacement in their development 50.8 million internal displacement across plans, in their reporting on the the world at the end of 2019. Sustainable Development Goals, or  Internal Displacement refers to the when updating risk management forced movement of people within strategies in line with the Sendai the country they live in due to Framework for Disaster Risk conflict, violence, development Reduction. projects, disasters and climate change. o The combination of official  Report is published by Norwegian monitoring of disaster displacement Refugee Council’s Internal in the Philippines with mobile phone Displacement Monitoring Centre tracking data and social media analysis (IDMC). helped improve planning for shelters, reconstruction and long term urban Important Highlights recovery.  Displacement due to conflict o All regions are affected by conflict o Improvements in the quantity and displacement, but it is highly quality of data available also enabled concentrated in a few countries. Of the global total of 45.7 million people better reporting and analysis, which in displaced due to conflict and violence in 2019, three-quarters or 34.5 million, turn informed more effective responses were in just 10 countries o Top Five countries with highest and risk mitigation measures. displacement by conflict and violence are: Syria, Democratic Data Related to India Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Burkina  Nearly five million people were Faso and Afghanistan.  Displacement related to disasters displaced in India in 2019 o Nearly 1,900 disasters sparked 24.9 o It is the highest in the world. million new displacements across 140  Reasons: The displacements were countries and territories in 2019.  This is the highest figure recorded prompted by increased hazard since 2012. intensity, high population and social  Out of the 24.9 million displaced due and economic vulnerability. to disasters, 23.9 were weather-related, o Southwest Monsoon: More than 2.6 and “much of this displacement took million people suffered displacement place in form of pre-emptive due to the southwest monsoon. 2019 evacuations”. was the seventh warmest year since  Noted efforts to prevent and respond 1901 and the monsoon was the wettest to internal displacement in 25 years. o Countries such as Niger and o Cyclones Fani and Bulbul also led to Somalia improved their policy huge displacements.  Evacuations save lives, but many evacuees had their displacement prolonged because their homes had been damaged or destroyed. Over 19,000 conflicts and violence also prompted the phenomenon. Political and

Easy to PICK218 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 electoral violence, especially in Tripura Key Points : and West Bengal, led to the displacement of more than 7,600 people. International Labour Organization (ILO) Established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations. League of Nations was disbanded in 1946 and powers and functions of ILO transferred to United Nations  Became the first affiliated specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946.  Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969. o For improving peace among classes. o Pursuing decent work and justice for workers. o Providing technical assistance to other developing nations. The organization has played a key role: o Ensuring labour rights during the Great Depression of 1929. o Decolonization process. o The creation of Solidarność (trade union) in Poland. o The victory over apartheid in South Africa. It is the only tripartite U.N. agency. It brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.

Easy to PICK219 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Dams in China Part of: GS-II- International relations It has called the study groundless and highlighted the drought faced by (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Yunnan because Lancang only accounts for 13.5% of Mekong’s flows. China has Recently, a US-funded study has maintained that the dams, it is building, highlighted the possible impact of China’s are run of the river dams which store water for power generation. dams on the Mekong river (known India’s Stand as Lancang river in China) According to Indian experts, the study is not conclusive because it only considers and countries downstream. The study the water flowing into the lower basin at one station in Thailand. It did not was published by the Sustainable consider other dams and water-use along the course of the river. The lower Infrastructure Partnership in Bangkok and basin is not entirely dependent on flows from China, but also receives water from the Lower Mekong Initiative. The Lower tributaries in all other countries it flows in, which the study did not account for. Mekong Initiative is a US partnership with India’s Other Concerns all the downstream countries of India has been expressing concerns on Brahmaputra since 2015 when China Mekong besides Myanmar. The Mekong operationalised its first hydropower project at Zangmu. Currently, three other flows from China to Myanmar, Laos, dams at Dagu, Jiexu and Jiacha are being developed. Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. For India, quantity of water is not an issue because these are run of the river Important Points dams and will not impact the Brahmaputra flow.  Key Findings of the Study More importantly, Brahmaputra is not entirely dependent on upstream o It also raised questions on other flows and an estimated 35% of its basin is in India. Chinese dams on rivers which However, India is concerned about the Chinese activities affecting the quality of originate in China water, ecological balance and the flood management.India and China do not like Brahmaputra and their have a water sharing agreement. Both nations share hydrological data so it similar impact on neighbouring becomes important to share genuine data and have continuous dialogue on countries like India. Yunnan issues like warning of droughts, o China’s southwestern floods and high water discharges. province had above-average rainfall from May to October 2019. However, there was severe lack of water in the lower Mekong in 2019 in comparison to 1992, based on satellite data. o The Mekong River Commission has emphasised on the need of more scientific evidence to establish whether dams caused a 2019 drought.  The Mekong River Commission comprises of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, o According to the study, six dams built since the commissioning of the Nuozhadu dam in 2012 had altered the natural flow of the river. China’s Stand

Easy to PICK220 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Natural Product Based Alzheimer  It is the most Inhibitor prevalent neurodegenerative Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre disorder and accounts for more than For Advanced Scientific Research 70% of all dementia. (JNCASR) have modified the structure of Berberine into Ber-D to use as an o Dementia is an overall term for Alzheimer's inhibitor. diseases and conditions characterized by a decline in memory, language,  JNCASR is an autonomous institute problem-solving and other thinking under the Department of Science & skills that affect a person's ability to Technology (DST), Govt. of India. perform everyday activities.  Berberine is a chemical found in Key Points : several plants. It is a natural and cheap product similar to curcumin (a substance in turmeric). It is found in India and China and used in traditional medicine and other applications. Berberine is poorly soluble and toxic to cells. So scientists modified berberine to Ber-D, which is a soluble (aqueous), antioxidant. They found it to be a multifunctional inhibitor of multifaceted amyloid toxicity of Alzheimer’s disease. o Amyloid is a protein that is deposited in the liver, kidneys, spleen, or other tissues in certain diseases. o In case of Alzheimer’s disease, Amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulates in the brain.  Ber-D inhibits aggregations of metal-dependent and -independent Amyloid beta (Aβ). Further, Ber-D treatment averts mitochondrial dysfunction and corresponding neuronal toxicity contributing to premature apoptosis (cell death).  These multifunctional attributes make Ber-D a promising candidate for developing effective therapeutics to treat multifaceted toxicity of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease  Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to waste away (degenerate) and die.

Easy to PICK221 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Alcohol Sanitizers and Coronaviruses Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- S&T  Indian Government’s Move: The  The novel coronavirus has a lipid Government has notified hand sanitizers as an essential commodity envelope. Soap being a detergent under the Essential Commodities destroys this envelope. The same Act, 1955. is true for alcohol also. Key Pointers:  Structure of Lipid Envelope: o SARS-CoV-2 particles, like other coronaviruses, are spherical and have proteins called spikes protruding from their surface. o These spikes latch onto human cells, then undergo a structural change that allows the viral membrane to fuse with the cell membrane. The viral genes can then enter the host cell to be copied, producing more viruses. o Recent work shows that, like the virus that caused the 2002 SARS outbreak, SARS-CoV-2 spikes bind to receptors on the human cell surface called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). o All of this is held together by a fatty layer, called an envelope.  Functioning of Alcohol in Sanitizers: o The Envelope layer is disrupted when it comes into contact with soap or a hand sanitiser with more than 60% alcohol. o Disruption of the envelope leads to the killing of the virus. o Handwashing for 20 seconds at least kills the virus.

Easy to PICK222 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Indian Government’s Latest Moves - COVID-19 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- S&T availed by foreign tourists who are stuck far away from their home land.  Combination of o The Portal has information on the Hydroxychloroquine and Ministry of External Affairs control centres and state-based/regional Azithromycin against COVID-19 tourism support infrastructure. It also lists the COVID-19 helpline numbers instead of HIV drugs for tourists. o According to the new clinical o On 19th March, 2020, the Directorate management guidelines issued on General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) had 31st March, 2020, a combination of issued an advisory stating that no hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) - used international commercial passenger for treatment of auto-immune flights will operate here from March 23 disorders, and azithromycin - the to March 29. The advisory was later antibiotic has been recommended for extended and all international flight use in severe patients. operations remain suspended till April 14. o The earlier guidelines, dated 17th March, 2020, which included use  The government has announced visa of Anti HIV drugs - Ritonavir and extensions for stranded foreigners till flight operations resume. Lopinavir in high risk patients, now stand repealed. IITs Support to the Indian Government  The Indian Institutes of Technology o Reasons:  No specific antivirals have been (IITs) has offered a range of inexpensive solutions developed by proven to be effective as per currently their faculty to assist the government available data. in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.  The azithromycin- hydroxychloroquine combination is  From low-cost ventilators and testing part of an upcoming multi-country kits to personal protective equipment trial anchored by the World Health for health workers, the directors of IIT- Organizationto examine the efficacy Delhi, IIT-Guwahati, IIT-Bombay and of various drug combinations against IIT-Kanpur shared their institute’s COVID-19. work on containing the spread of the virus with the Government.  India has announced its decision to be part of the WHO global  The institutions have also sought the trials, which are also looking at these government’s assistance in facilitating two drugs. tie-up with Public Sector Units (PSUs) to scale up production of prototypes  Portal for Stranded Foreigners in and to mitigate difficulties faced in India o The Ministry of Tourism has come up with a portal titled ‘Stranded in India’ to disseminate information regarding the services that can be

Easy to PICK223 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 procuring raw material because of the lockdown.  Example: IIT-Guwahati has offered to pitch in with its 3D-printed full-face shield and headgear for health workers, robotic cart to deliver food to isolation wards and high-grade sanitiser. It needs the government’s help to tie up with a PSU for large-scale manufacturing.  Indian Institutes of Technology are apex institutions for engineering education and research. At present, there are twenty three Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). o All are governed by the Institutes of Technology Act, 1961 which has declared them as \"Institutions of national importance\", and lays down their powers, duties, framework for governance etc. Key Pointers:

Easy to PICK224 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Covid-19 and the Orphan Drug Act – Rare diseases Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- S&T  The Act allows seven years of market exclusivity and financial incentives to  Recently, the World Health innovators of these drugs. As a result, orphan drugs are often exorbitantly Organisation (WHO) declared priced. the Covid-19 outbreak a  Privileges under the Act may be conferred to companies for drugs to pandemic.However, the United treat a disease that affect less than 200,000 people in the U.S., or for a States Food and Drug disease that affects more than 200,000 people but for which there is Administration (FDA) declared no hope of recovering R & D costs. Covid-19 an orphan disease, or o The idea is that without these incentives, companies would find it a rare disease. difficult to recover their R&D costs given the small number of people Key Points suffering from the rare disease.  The FDA granted Gilead Issues Sciences orphan drug status for its  Covid-19 not a Rare Disease: The antiviral drug, Remdesivir, on March 23, 2020. Orphan Drug Act applies to a potential o Originally developed to treat Ebola, the drug for COVID-19, which is anything drug is now being tested for treating but a rare disease, with 800,049 COVID-19. Clinical trials are already confirmed cases across the world. in Phase III.  Paradox: The U.S. FDA conferred the  But on March 25 Gilead announced status of an orphan drug on Remdesivir that it had submitted a request to the proposed to treat COVID-19 a FDA to remove its orphan drug pandemic. designation for Remdesivir. o Earlier, Gilead had sought the orphan Impact status to the Remdesivir drug to  Had Gilead not sought that orphan expedite approval of the drug. However, advocates for global access drug status be rescinded, generic to medicines, rejected the company’s manufacturers would not have been argument. able to market a drug to treat o Gilead’s exorbitant pricing of its drug COVID-19 with the same active to treat hepatitis C and its drug to treat ingredient till the seven-year period HIV also attracted attention in the past. of market exclusivity had ended.  In recent years, drug companies have  This would have given Gilead free been accused of exploiting the law to rein on pricing and licensing which reap profits, in sales. would have had disastrous consequences on the healthcare Orphan Drug Act, 1983 system.  Rare diseases became known as  However, orphan drug status of Remdesivir would have no impact on orphan diseases because drug India as Gilead Sciences holds patents companies were not interested in adopting them to develop treatments.  In the U.S., under the Orphan Drug Act, companies are provided incentives to develop therapies, or orphan drugs, for rare diseases.

Easy to PICK225 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 in India and patents are open to Committee to coordinate and steer the challenge. initiatives of different ministries and  As far as its patent rights are departments on rare diseases. concerned, Indian law permits the  It also mentions the creation of a government to issue a compulsory corpus fund at Central and State level licencein certain circumstances of a for funding treatment of rare diseases. public health crisis under Section 92 of  The policy aims to create a patient the Patents Act. registry for diseases housed in Indian o This would allow third parties to Council of Medical manufacture a patented drug without Research(ICMR). permission of the patent holder.  However, recognizing the higher cost of treatment for rare diseases, the Rare Diseases policy also seeks to strike a balance  A rare disease is a health condition of between access to treatment and health system sustainability. low prevalence that affects a small  It also aims to create awareness among number of people compared with health professionals, families of other prevalent diseases in the general patients and the public in general, population. about rare diseases. o There is no universally accepted definition of rare diseases and the Key Pointers: definitions usually vary across different countries.  Though rare diseases are of low prevalence and individually rare, collectively they affect a considerable proportion of the population.  80% of rare diseases are genetic in origin and hence disproportionately impact children.  In India there are 56-72 million people affected by rare diseases.  There is also a demand for the reformulation of National Policy for Treatment of Rare Diseases, 2017. National Policy for Treatment of Rare Diseases, 2017  The policy highlights the measures and steps, both in the short as well as in the long term, that need to be taken to deal comprehensively with rare diseases.  The policy intends to constitute an Inter-ministerial Consultative

Easy to PICK226 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 COVID-19 and Globalisation Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III-  The crisis offers the world an Economy opportunity to forge a new human- centric concept of globalisation. What is Globalisation? The meaning of Globalisation is usually Key Points interpreted to indicate the integration of  The rapid worldwide spread of Covid- the economy of the nation with the world economy, it is a multifaceted aspect. It is a 19 has a lot to do with the fallout of result of the collection of multiple globalisation, including strategies that are directed at transforming the travel industry, tourism and the the world towards greater interdependence neoliberal attack on universal health and integration. It includes the creation of care which can be understood by networks and pursuits transforming social, the examples of South Korea, Iran economic and geographical barriers. and Sri Lanka. Globalisation tries to build links in such a way that the events in India can be  South Korea: determined by events happening distances o The transmission of the Covid-19 in away. To put it in other words, Globalisation is South Korea is related to the the method of interaction and union among Shincheonji Church of Jesus. This cult people, corporations and governments facilitated the transmission of the universally. disease from Wuhan to South Korea because of frequent travel among its Effect of Globalisation in India followers. India is one of the countries that succeeded significantly after the initiation and  Iran: implementation of Globalisation. The o The coronavirus was introduced in Iran growth of foreign investment in the field of corporate, retail, and the scientific through globalisation-triggered sector is enormous in the country. It also international alignment and had a tremendous impact on the social, incubated through political and monetary, cultural, and political area. In religious processes. recent year, Globalisation has increased o The economic sanctions imposedby due to improvements in transportation and the U.S. dominated western information technology. With the countries compelled Iran to develop improved global synergies comes the ties with China. Which in turn, made growth of global trade, doctrines and the traders act as the carriers of the culture. viruses. o The initial hub of disease Covid-19 and Globalisation transmission in Iran was Qom, Global leaders have reached this consensus a popular pilgrimage centre for that the pandemic Covid-19and the crisis Shiite Muslims from where it reached it has generated is a turning point in the Iranian Parliament, having strong modern history. ties with Qom.  Sri Lanka & India: o Here the onset of the Covid-19 has a lot to do with tourism and labour

Easy to PICK227 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 migration, processes intimately  There is a need to devote special attention to the needs of less connected with globalisation. developed countries as they might not contribute to the causes but face the o Both in Sri Lanka and India, the first severity of the situation far worse. cases were reported among foreign tourists from China and Italy respectively. o The tour guides became the first set Globalisation  It refers to the economic, social and of local people exposed to the disease political integration of nations. It triggering local transmissions. entails the spread of products, technology, information and jobs o Both Sri Lanka and Kerala in India across national borders and cultures.  In economic terms, it describes have large portions of their labour an interdependence of nations around the globe, fostered through free trade. force employed overseas.  Globalisation can be further divided into subcategories based on its time o Returnees from these overseas frame and focus areas: destinations have contributed to the upsurge in the Covid-19 epidemic in South Asian countries. Challenges  The quarantine and social distancing processes may not be totally o Globalization 1.0  It was pre-World War I globalization, effective in so far as the migrant which was launched by a historic drop workers and their families are often in in trade costs.  This globalization came with almost no between two states, experiencing government support and was without global governance. difficulties at both ends.  Both migrant workers and tourist guides already experience discrimination of various kinds because of their occupations and the o Globalization 2.0 risks involved and the quarantine has  It is the post-World War II phase added to their misery. where trade in goods was combined with complimentary domestic policies. Way Forward  The market was in charge of efficiency  The world needs to think beyond while the government was in charge of social distancing and justice. quarantining the affected people and  It saw the establishment of institute- places. based, rule-based international  Broader and deeper issues like fallout governance, specifically the United from globalisation need to be Nations(UN), International analysed and questioned. Monetary Fund (IMF), World  In the recent G20 video conference, Bank, World Trade Indian Prime Minister stressed the Organisation(WTO, earlier world leaders to look at humanitarian GATT), International Labor aspects to global challenges like Organization(ILO) etc. pandemics, climate change and terrorism, not just economic ones. o Globalization 3.0  It created a new world of  The world needs to redefine the manufacturing in which high-tech was definition of globalisation and make it combined with low wages. more human-centric instead of market and profit-oriented.

Easy to PICK228 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  This was achieved through establishment of global supply chains as factories crossed international borders.  It was variously called New globalization, Hyper globalization, Global value chain evolution. o Globalization 4.0  It is the latest stage of globalization which involves cutting-edge new technologies like artificial intelligence(AI) that powers forward with the explosion of information technology.  These technologies shrink distances, open up borders and minds and bring people all across the globe closer together. Key Pointers:

Easy to PICK229 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Globalization 4.0 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- performed an essential role in planning Economy levels of savings, employment, income, and investments in society. What is Globalisation? Cross country culture is one of the The meaning of Globalisation is usually important impact of Globalisation in interpreted to indicate the integration of Indian society and has significantly the economy of the nation with the world changed several aspects of the country economy, it is a multifaceted aspect. It is a including cultural, social, political, and result of the collection of multiple economic. However, economic unification strategies that are directed at transforming is the main factor that contributes the world towards greater interdependence maximum to a country’s economy into an and integration. It includes the creation of international economy. networks and pursuits transforming social, economic and geographical barriers. Advantages of Globalisation in India Globalisation tries to build links in such a  Increase in Employment: With the way that the events in India can be determined by events happening distances opportunity of Special Economic away. Zones (SEZ), there is an increase in the To put it in other words, Globalisation is number of new jobs availability. the method of interaction and union among Including Export Processing Zones people, corporations and governments (EPZ) Centre in India is very useful in universally. employing thousands of people. Another additional factor in India is Effect of Globalisation in India cheap labour. This feature motivates India is one of the countries that succeeded big companies in the west to outsource significantly after the initiation and employees from other region and cause implementation of Globalisation. The more employment. growth of foreign investment in the field  Increase in Compensation: After of corporate, retail, and the scientific Globalisation, the level of sector is enormous in the country. It also compensation has increased as had a tremendous impact on the social, compared to domestic companies due monetary, cultural, and political area. In to the skill and knowledge a foreign recent year, Globalisation has increased company offers. This opportunity also due to improvements in transportation and emerged as an alteration of the information technology. With the management structure. improved global synergies comes the  High Standard of Living: With the growth of global trade, doctrines and outbreak of Globalisation, Indian culture. economy and the standard of living of an individual has increased. This Globalisation in Indian economy change is notified with the purchasing Indian society is changing drastically after behaviour of a person, especially with urbanisation and Globalisation. Economic those who are associated with foreign policies have had a direct influence in companies. Hence, many cities are forming the basic framework of the undergoing a better standard of living economy. Economic policies established along with business development. and administered by the government also How Globalization 4.0?

Easy to PICK230 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Globalization 4.0 was the theme o It created a new world of for World Economic Forum Annual manufacturing in which high-tech was Meeting 2019 held in Davos, Switzerland combined with low wages. in January 2019.Under the rubric of Globalization 4.0, a series of \"Global o This was achieved through Dialogues\" in Davos focused on the establishment of global supply chains interrelated areas namely geopolitics, as factories crossed international future of global economy, global dialogue borders. on industry systems etc. o It was variously called New Globalization 4.0 Globalization, Hyper globalization,  Globalization is a phenomenon driven Global value chain evolution. by technology and the movement of Characteristics of 4.0 ideas, people, and goods.  Major turbulence for Service  Globalization 4.0 is latest stage of globalization which involves cutting- Sector: While Globalization 1.0, 2.0 edge new technologies like artificial and 3.0 were mainly a concern of intelligence that powers forward with people who made/manufactured the explosion of information products for a living (since technology. globalization focused on things that we  These technologies shrink distances, made), Globalization 4.0 is going to hit open up borders and minds and bring people in the service sector. people all across the globe closer  Closely integrated with Industry together. 4.0: Ever-faster data connection speeds and new artificial intelligence tools Timeline: Earlier Waves of like machine translation, big data are Globalization opening up services jobs in rich  Globalization 1.0 countries like architecture, accounting, o It was pre-World War I globalization, and web design to competition from practitioners in emerging economies. which was launched by a historic drop  Newer modes of Migration: Due to in trade costs. faster data connection as well as nature o This globalization came with almost no of work which may involve no government support. physical presence there may be a o There was no global governance. global tele-migration in which the skilled migrants never have to leave  Globalization 2.0 home. o It is the post-World War II phase Industry 4.0  Building on the foundation given by where trade in goods was combined the Third Industrial Revolution, Fourth with complimentary domestic policies. Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) is moving from an electronic based o The market was in charge of efficiency industry to a process which is the combination of human beings and while the government was in charge of electronics.  It includes cyber-physical systems, the justice. Internet of things, big data analytics, cloud computing, cognitive computing, o It saw the establishment of institute- artificial intelligence, 3-D printing, and autonomous vehicles etc. based, rule-based international governance, specifically the UN, IMF, World Bank, GATT/WTO, International Labor Organization etc.  Globalization 3.0

Easy to PICK231 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Challenges of Globalization 4.0 while many African, Latin American and some Asian countries failed to  Political crisis and Global level benefit as much. o Globalization 4.0 will create additional conflict: Globalization 4.0 could, like challenges many African and Asian nations which were already excluded preceding waves of globalization, have from the benefits of earlier waves of globalization. mixed results e.g. even though countries are globally connected political crisis and global level conflict have also increased.  Economic exclusion: Economic opportunities will be uncertain, many Way Forward may not have the skills needed for the  Invest in strengthening local and jobs of the future. If countries and regional economies: We should communities are not fully prepared for proactively build resilient local and Globalization 4.0, problems may regional systems that can participate in exacerbate. the next wave of globalization, making  Income Inequality: Negative effects sure regions have the right mix of of globalization have a education, employment and disproportionate impact on already infrastructure to create and sustain jobs marginalized populations. locally. Globalization 4.0 may increase income  Prioritizing sustainability and inequality even if it can create more Inclusiveness: The need of the hour is wealth. to design a blueprint from the ground  Human Resource: Countries like up that can capitalize on new India, if do not step up to meet the skill opportunities while prioritizing requirements of globalisation 4.0, may sustainability and inclusiveness more already be staring at demographic than ever before. disaster, given its huge population and  Focus on the most vulnerable low employment generation. populations: Global and local  Unintended institutions need to advance both consequences: Globalization 4.0 in universal and targeted strategies to conjunction with Industry 4.0 will improve outcomes for everyone produce many unintended ensuring vulnerable population is not consequences which may not be left out. foreseeable for now and for which  Stop climate change: The challenges world is vastly unprepared the ethical, of Globalization 4.0 will be legal, environmental concerns are yet compounded if resources that could be to be seen for which no framework has put towards strengthening local been laid out. economies and education are diverted  Infrastructural challenges: Apart to mitigate climate change. Thus from skilling, India also needs to set up climate change needs to be dealt at required infrastructure and technology global level. to harness the advantages of  Promote Innovation in educational globalization 4.0. institution and education curriculum:  Challenges for Developing countries: o By 2022, at least 54% of employees o The European continent, North globally will require re- and up- America and some Asian countries have been able to take advantage of the skilling. industrial revolution and globalization, o Not only do we need to support people in getting the training they need for

Easy to PICK232 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 jobs in the next five years, but we need to prepare young students with the skills to adapt to the types of jobs we will need in the next 20 years. o New Zealand is implementing a national technology curriculum to teach students to be digital creators, as well as consumers.  Engagement and imagination: The task of dealing with challenges of Globalization 4.0 requires two things of the international community: wider engagement, participation and heightened imagination. Key Pointers:

Easy to PICK233 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Fund raising – COVID-19 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- poor to help them during the 21-day Economy terms Recently, the Government has hiked Ways national lockdown. and Means Advance (WMA) limit with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)by 60%. The fundraising resources are not only (PT SHOT)  WMA limit is proposed to be revised from the market, but also from to Rs 1.20 lakh crore and would be institutions such as the RBI. reviewed on a need basis (from Rs 75,000 crore last year). The Budget 2020-21 has pegged the  This is to compensate for the cash flow Centre’s net market borrowing, including mismatch in Financial Year (FY) 21 expected from higher spending to government securities, treasury bills and combat the spread of COVID-19. post office life insurance fund at Rs 5.36 Ways and Means Advance scheme  The Ways and Means Advances lakh crore. scheme was introduced in 1997. Out of gross borrowings of Rs 7.8 lakh  The Ways and Means Advances crore in FY21, the Centre has proposed to scheme was introduced to meet mismatches in the receipts and borrow Rs 4.88 lakh crore, or 62.56%, in payments of the government.  The government can avail the first half of the fiscal, as against of immediate cash from the RBI, if required. But it has to return the 62.25% done in the previous fiscal. amount within 90 days. Interest is charged at the existing repo rate. In FY21, the Centre also plans to issue  If the WMA exceeds 90 days, it would be treated as an overdraft (the interest the Debt Exchange Traded rate on overdrafts is 2 percentage points more than the repo rate). Fund comprising government securities to  The limits for Ways and Means Advances are decided by the widen the base of investors. government and RBI mutually and revised periodically. Exchange Traded Fund  A higher limit provides the  An Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is government flexibility to raise funds from RBI without borrowing them a basket of securities that trade on an from the market. exchange, just like a stock.  ETF reflects the composition of an PT “PIKUPS” Index, like BSE Sensex. Its trading The government has announced a Rs 1.7 value is based on the Net Asset Value lakh crore package (Pradhan Mantri (NAV) of the underlying stocks (such Garib Kalyan Yojana) to provide income as shares) that it represents. support, free food and other facilities to the  ETF share prices fluctuate all day as it is bought and sold. This is different from mutual funds that only trade once a day after the market closes.  An ETF can own hundreds or thousands of stocks across various industries, or it could be isolated to one particular industry or sector. Key Pointers:

Easy to PICK234 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Core Sector Growth at 5.5% Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Petroleum & Refinery production Economic data 28.04 According to the data released by Electricity generation the Ministry of Commerce and 19.85 Industry, the eight core sector industries recorded a growth of 5.5% in Steel production February, 2020 which is highest in 11- 17.92 months. Coal production Key Points 10.33  This spike is because of growth Crude Oil production in refinery products, electricity, 8.98 fertiliser, cement and coal production. Natural Gas production  However, crude oil, natural gas, and 6.88 steel recorded negative growth rate in February. Cement production  This was the fourth consecutive 5.37 month when the index of eight core industries reported growth. Fertilizers production  The outlook may not be very bright for 2.63 March 2020, as the lockdown to check the spread of Covid-19 has disrupted Index of Industrial Production the production process in the country and globally.  The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is an index that indicates the performance of various industrial sectors of the Indian economy.  It is calculated and published by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) every month. (PT SHOT)  It is a composite indicator of the Core Sector Industries general level of industrial activity in  The eight core sector the economy. industries include coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, Official Definition – As given by CSO “It is a composite indicator that measures fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity the short-term changes in the volume of  The eight core industries comprise production of a basket of industrial 40.27% of the weight of products during a given period with items included in the Index of respect to that in a chosen base period.” IIP – Explanation Industrial Production (IIP).  This index gives the growth rates of  The eight Core Industries different industry groups of the in decreasing order of their economy over a specified time period. weightage: Refinery Products>  The industry groups that it measures Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude are classified under the following: Oil> Natural Gas> Cement>  Broad sectors like manufacturing, Fertilizers. mining and electricity. Industry Weight (In percentage)

Easy to PICK235 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  Use-based sectors like capital goods,  Cement basic goods, intermediate goods,  Natural gas infrastructure goods, consumer  Fertilisers durables and consumer non-durables. The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) recommends including quarrying, The eight core industries of India represent gas steam and air-conditioning supply, about 40% of the weight of items that are sewerage, water supply, waste included in the IIP. The Eight Core management and remediation in the broad Sectors/Industries are: sectors. But this is not done due to the  Electricity problems in data availability on a monthly  Steel basis for all these sectors. So, the data has  Refinery products been restricted to mining, electricity and  Crude oil manufacturing.  Coal Index of Industrial Production  The latest change in the IIP was made Importance in 2017.  The Index is used by government  Any index is to be subject to changes agencies and departments such as the and modifications like changing the Finance Ministry and the RBIfor base year, including more items in the policy making. basket, etc.  It is also used for estimating the Gross Value Added of the manufacturing  The new and current base year for IIP sector on a quarterly basis. is 2011 – 12. The previous base year  In addition, the Index is also used by was 2004 – 05. business analysts, financial experts and the private industry for multiple  Another change was the inclusion and purposes. deletion of certain items in the data  It is the only measure on the physical series. volume of production.  It is also extremely useful for the  Some items introduced: projection of advance GDP estimates.  Refined palm oil  Surgical accessories IIP Latest Change  Cement clinkers Some items removed:  Chewing tobacco  Tooth brush

Easy to PICK236 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  Calculators IIP  Fans  IIP is calculated on a monthly  Watches basis.  Pens  Data for IIP are collected by This is the 9th base year revision ever various source agencies under since IIP was first published in 1950. The different Acts/statutes. first base year was 1937.  The IIP is compiled on the basis of data sourced from 16 ministries/ IIP 2004-05 covers 682 items! administrative departments. We have already seen that IIP measures industrial growth. It measures the short Industry vs Manufacturing term changes in the volume of production Though often interchangeably used, the of a basket of industrial products. The terms industry and manufacturing are current IIP basket covers 682 different. representative items. The term industry is comprehensive and  Mining (61 items) – 14.16% weight may be considered as a superset of  Manufacturing (620 items) – 75.53% manufacturing. Industry, in general, refers to an economic activity that is concerned weight with the production of goods, extraction  Electricity (1 item) – 10.32% weight. of minerals and sometimes even for the Note: Even though United Nations provision of services. Thus we have Statistics Division suggests to also include iron and steel industry (production of Gas steam, Air conditioning supply, Water goods), coal mining industry (extraction of supply, Sewerage, Waste Management and coal) and tourism industry (service Remediation activities in the IIP, due to provider). data constraints Indian IIP only covers So what is manufacturing then? three sectors – mining, manufacturing and Manufacturing: Production of goods in electricity. These three are called broad large quantities after processing from raw sectors. materials to more valuable products is Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) Vs called manufacturing. Index of Industrial Production (IIP) Industry = Manufacturing + Mining + The Industrial Output data is captured and Electricity + much more. monitored, primarily, through two Note: The share of Manufacturing in the statistical activities – Annual Survey of GDP of India – 17%. Industries (ASI) and Index of Industrial The share of Mining, quarrying, electricity Production (IIP). and gas in the GDP of India – 10%. ASI Total share of Industrial Sector = 27%  ASI is calculated on an annual basis  The ASI is conducted under the Key Points Collection of Statistics Act, since 1959.  The objective is to obtain comprehensive and detailed statistics of industrial sector with the objective of estimating the contribution of registered manufacturing industries as a whole to the national income.  ASI data is based on the actual book of accounts and other documents maintained by registered factories.

Easy to PICK237 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Indigenous Fuel Cell System Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- S&T o Steam On the occasion of the Council of reforming or steam methane reformi ng is a chemical synthesis process for Scientific and Industrial Research producing syngas (hydrogen and (CSIR) Foundation Day, the President of carbon monoxide) from hydrocarbons India recently introduced India’s first such as natural gas. indigenously developed high-temperature based Fuel Cell System.  The second mode is based on the operation of Hydrogen with  It is developed under the Public-Private Oxygen obtained by the process of electrolysis. This is generally used Partnership (PPP) model by the in the space-related applications. Council of Scientific and Industrial o Electrolysis is a chemical Research (CSIR) in partnership with decomposition process in which an Indian industries. electric current is passed through a  It is built under India’s flagship liquid or a solution containing ions. programme named ‘New Millennium Council of Scientific and Industrial Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)’. Research (CSIR) Specifications  CSIR is an autonomous research and  The developed fuel cells are based development body established by on High-Temperature Proton the Government of India on 26 Exchange Membrane September 1942. (HTPEM) technology.  It is established under the Ministry of  It is a 5.0 kW fuel cell system that Science and Technology. generates power in a green manner.  It covers a wide spectrum of science o It takes methanol or bio-methane as and technology fields from radio and the input and produces heat and space physics, oceanography, water as its bi-products, which can be geophysics, chemicals, drugs, further used. genomics, biotechnology, and  This helps to attain an efficiency that is nanotechnology to mining, aeronautics, greater than 70%, which is difficult to instrumentation, environmental achieve by other energy sources. engineering, and information technology. High-Temperature Proton Exchange New Millennium Indian Technology Membrane (HTPEM) Technology  High-Temperature Proton-Exchange- Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) Membrane (HTPEM) is the core of the  It is the largest Public-Private- fuel cells that run above 150 °C. It works on two modes of operation with Partnership effort within the R&D respect to the source of fuel.  One mode is based on the conversion domain in the country. of natural gas into Hydrogen by means of steam reforming. This mode  NMITLI seeks to catalyze is used to fulfill stationary power demands. innovation centred scientific and technological developments as a vehicle to attain for Indian industry a global leadership position, in selected niche areas. It synergizes the best competencies of publicly funded R&D

Easy to PICK238 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 institutions, academia, and private The fuel contains nitrogen oxides as industry. pollutants since hydrogen uses nitrogen as  NMITLI has so far evolved 60 largely the impurity (here we are talking about the networked projects in diversified areas molecule of hydrogen and not the atom). viz. Agriculture & Plant The pollution can be brought down if a little Biotechnology, General water is added to the container to reduce the Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Drugs temperature. That would deter the reaction & Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, between oxygen and nitrogen. Materials, Information and Compared to a petrol tank containing the Communication Technology, and fuel, a hydrogen gas cylinder in compressed Energy. form would weigh much higher. To cool down the hydrogen gas into a liquid state, Applications the temperature has to be brought down at  This fuel system is most suitable to 20 K. Due to these constraints, it is quite fulfil distributed stationary power difficult to use this fuel efficiently. Hence applications demands like in small experts around the world are conducting offices, commercial units, data centres, researchers to find ways on how to use this etc. where highly reliable power is fuel in a simple way in the future. essential with simultaneous requirement Production of Hydrogen Fuel for air-conditioning. Since pure hydrogen is not naturally  This system will meet the requirement available in large quantities on earth, it of efficient, clean and reliable backup demands primary energy to obtain on an power generators that are demanded by industrial level. Some frequent methods of telecom towers, remote locations, and production are steam methane reforming strategic applications. and electrolysis.  The Fuel Cells fit well in India’s Production through Steam-methane mission of reforming – replacing Diesel based Generating (DG  Extraction of hydrogen from methane ) sets with the green and alternate fuels.  Liberating carbon dioxide and carbon o This development is therefore monoxide into the atmosphere expected to reduce India’s  These gases help in the greenhouse dependence on crude oil. effect and contribute to the change of  The technology has placed India in the climate. Production through electrolysis – league of developed nations which are in possession of such a knowledge base.  Separation of oxygen and hydrogen atoms In the field of clean energy, Fuel Cell  This process can use solar, hydro, distributed power generation systems are emerging as a promising alternative to grid biomass, wind, geothermal, fossil power.The development of indigenous fuel cell technology carries immense national fuels, and nuclear energy importance in terms of energy security.  It is a cost-effective method. Hydrogen Economy 1. The term “hydrogen economy” or “economy of PT “PICKUPS” hydrogen” refers to the vision of using What is Hydrogen Fuel Cell? Hydrogen Fuel Cells shows how these fuel hydrogen as a low-carbon energy cells work, how they came to be, and how they are coming into wider use. source. For example, replacing natural gasas a heating fuel or gasoline as a transport fuel.

Easy to PICK239 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 2. The main benefit of this scheme is that facilities at an estimated cost of the energy transmission is done in the ₹4,500 crores over the period of form of hydrogen instead of electric seven years. power.  It supports the government's vision of 'Digital India'and 'Make in 3. Presently, this fuel is used by mixing it India'initiatives. with CNG gas to improve its  The mission is being implemented by efficiency. It is expected to be used on the Department of Science and a wider scale in the coming years. This Technology (Ministry of Science and fuel is also used in hydrogen fuel cells Technology) and Ministry of to create electricity. Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), through the Uses of Hydrogen Fuel Centre for Development of Hydrogen fuel can provide power for cars, Advanced Computing (C-DAC), aeroplanes, boats, stationary or portable fuel Puneand Indian Institute of Science cell application, which can power an electric (IISc), Bengaluru. motor. It is very difficult to store hydrogen  It is also an effort to improve the in either cryogenic tank or high-pressure number of supercomputers owned by tank which is the main problem of using India. hydrogen fuel cell in cars. o These supercomputers will also be Thus we discussed hydrogen fuel and its networked on the National importance and uses for the common man. Supercomputing grid over the National Let us hope that this fuel would soon be Knowledge Network (NKN). The used in our households in an economical NKN connects academic institutions manner over the coming years. and R&D labs over a high-speed Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel: (PT network. SHOT)  Under NSM, the long-term plan is to build a strong base of 20,000 skilled  On burning hydrogen, it emits only persons over the next five years who water vapour, will be equipped to handle the complexities of supercomputers.  When hydrogen is burned it does not produce carbon dioxide. Key Points  Hydrogen deletes little tailpipe  Progress of NSM: pollution and is considered less of a pollutant. o NSM’s first supercomputer  It has the ability to run a fuel-cell engine when compared to an internal combustion engine. named Param Shivayhas been National Supercomputing Mission installed in IIT-BHU, Varanasi, in Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- S&T India has produced just three 2019. It has 837 TeraFlop High- supercomputers since 2015 under the National Supercomputing Mission Performance Computing (HPC) (NSM). capacity. o The second supercomputer with a capacity of 1.66 PetaFlop has been installed at IIT-Kharagpur. National Supercomputing Mission o The third system, Param  The National Supercomputing Mission Brahma, has been installed at IISER- was announced in 2015, with an aim to Pune, which has a capacity of 797 connect national academic and R&D TeraFlop. institutions with a grid of more than 70  Incomplete Utilization of Funds high-performance computing allocated to NSM:

Easy to PICK240 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 o The NSM envisaged setting up a - Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad VIKRAM-100 network of 70 high-performance - Tata Consultancy Services, Pune EKA computing facilities in the country - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai Cray XC30 but skewed funding for the - Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation SAGA mission during the initial years Recent: slowed down the overall pace of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology building supercomputers. Pratyush (Cray XC40) National Centre for Medium Range Weather o Only 16.67 % of the total budget of Forecasting Mihir (Cray XC40) Rs 4,500 crore, has been utilised Key Points : during the last four-and-a-half years for execution of the mission.  Global Scenario: o Globally, China has the maximum number of supercomputers and maintains the top position in the world, followed by the US, Japan, France, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland and the United Kingdom. PT SHOTS:  Teraflops: It is a unit of computing speed equal to one million million (10^12) floating-point operations per second (FLOPS).  Petaflops: It is a unit of computing speed equal to one thousand million million (10^15) floating-point operations per second (FLOPS). India’s Super computers - Bhabha Atomic Research Centre ANUPAM-AGANYA - Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Pune PARAM Yuva - CSIR Fourth Paradigm Institute, Bangalore Cluster Platform - Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore SahasraT - Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) VaranasiParam Shivay - Indian Institute of Technology Delhi PADUM - Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati PARAM ISHAN - Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur HPC 2013 - Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai VIRGO Cluster - Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune Aaditya

Easy to PICK241 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Lifeline Udan flights launched and COVID-19 As a part of curbing the adverse impact of  Operationalization and development of 425 underserved or unserved airports COVID 19, the Ministry of Civil in the country Aviation (MoCA) launched Lifeline  Boost inclusive economic development by providing faster connectivity Udan flights on March 26, 2020 for  Development of air transport movement of medical and essential supplies infrastructure in remote areas aiding job growth across India. Over a 6 days period i.e. till UDAN Scheme March 31, 2020, 74 flights have been This scheme is a part of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)and is funded operated which had covered an aerial jointly by the GoI and the state governments. The following are its salient distance of over 70,000 km to transport features: 37.63 tonnes of medical cargo, out of which  The scheme duration is for 10 years  Airlines participating in UDAN are more than 22 tonnes was transported on selected through a competitive bidding March 31, 2020. process  The Central government will provide  The flight operators include Air India, the following:  Subsidy to cover Value Gap funding Alliance Air, IAF, Pawan Hans and (VGF) for participating airlines  Concessional GST on tickets booked private carriers. It should be noted that using the scheme  Codesharing for flights under the out of 74 flights, 56 have been policy operated by the Air India Group.Air State Governments will extend the following measures: India also collaborated with Indian  GST reduction to 1% for 10 years  Coordination with oil companies to Air Force (IAF) to carry facilitate refuelling facilities consignments forLadakh, Dimapur,  Provide land for airport and ancillary Imphal, Guwahati and Port Blair. development  Trained security personnel  The objective of these flights is to  Utilities at subsidised rates transport medical essentials to India’s  20% of VGF remote corners in the most efficient Airport operators such as AAI will provide the following concessions: and cost-effective manner.  No parking, landing and storage International Measures: charges at participating airports  Nil TNLC (Terminal Navigation MoCA and Air India are formulating plans Landing Charges) with Chinese authorities to initiate a cargo air-bridge between India and China for critical medical supplies from 3rd April 2020 onwards. About MoCA: Union Minister– Hardeep Singh Puri Secretary– Pradeep Singh Kharola UDAN UDAN is a regional connectivity scheme spearheaded by the Government of India (GoI). The full form of UDAN is ‘Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik’ and aims to develop smaller regional airports to allow common citizens easier access to aviation services. It is one of the new policies implemented since June 2016. Objectives of the Regional Connectivity Scheme

Easy to PICK242 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  Allow ground handling by the airline  Some states are reluctant on giving up selected through the bidding process the Tax Concessions on Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) and other financial  RNCF (Route Navigation and incentives that might attract different Facilitation Charges) will be airlines to operate in those regions of discounted to 42.4% of normal rates by the state that are underdeveloped. the Airports Authority of India  Since airports occupy vast areas, Value Gap Funding is not provided to acquiring land is not easy. Land cargo airlines. All other terms and scarcity followed by huge capital are conditions remain the same as passenger some issues that are faced. airlines. The fares are graded based on distance and flight hours for both fixed-  Policy reluctance due to financial non- wing and rotary-wing services. The RCS viability of the models to connect subsidy is funded by a levy of Rs 5000 per remote areas. flight on major routes. Flights regulated under this policy framework can be booked  The airline industry is known for its from the UDAN website and major travel cut-throat competitiveness and capital portals by passengers. intensive nature. This discourages them to start operations in areas where What is International UDAN Scheme? the passenger traffic is low due to low  International UDAN is an extension of profitability. the domestic UDAN scheme.  The plan is to connect India’s smaller  Another major challenge us gathering cities directly to some key foreign funds for Viability Gap Funding destinations in the neighbourhood. (VGF)  The government’s intention for such direct air connectivity was that it UDAN 4.0 would promote the development of the UDAN 1.0 city and the State by attracting tourists and business people to travel via  Under this phase, 5 airlines companies smaller towns, instead of their flying were awarded 128 flight routes to 70 through the metros. airports (including 36 newly made  The Open Skies policy can be operational airports) exercised here, wherein India and other Asian countries which allow direct and UDAN 2.0 unlimited flights to and from these  In 2018, the Ministry of Civil Aviation nations to 18 Indian destinations announced 73 underserved and  Since these routes were untested, the unserved airports. airlines could be understandably  For the first time, helipads were also reluctant to ply them. connected under phase 2 of UDAN  To encourage them to participate, the scheme. government offers a subsidy in the form of pre-decided payout per seat. UDAN 3.0  Airlines are required to bid on the  Key Features of UDAN 3 included: number of passenger seats per flight o Inclusion of Tourism Routes under for which such support is required. UDAN 3 in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism. Comment on the challenges faced in the o Inclusion of Seaplanes for connecting implementation of the UDAN scheme. Water Aerodromes. o Bringing in a number of routes in the North-East Region under the ambit of UDAN. UDAN 4.0 seeks to offer priority routes connecting Bilaspur and Ambikapur airports in Chhattisgarh.

Easy to PICK243 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 United Nation’s COP 26 climate change summit postponed till 2021 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- S&T source of up-to-date interdisciplinary The 26th session of the Conference of the knowledge on climate change. Parties (COP 26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Objective Change (UNFCCC), which was planned to  According to Article 2, the take place from 9-19 November 2020, in Glasgow, Scotland in the United Kingdom Convention’s ultimate objective is “to (UK) has been postponed to 2021 due to achieve, stabilization of greenhouse COVID-19.The date and location for the gas concentrations in the atmosphere at same is unspecified. Pre-COP and ‘Youth a level that would prevent dangerous for the Climate‘ event were also anthropogenic interference with the postponed supposed to be held in Italy. climate system”.  This decision has been taken by  This objective is qualified in that it “should be achieved within a time the COP Bureau of the UNFCCC frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to after discussion with the UK and adapt naturally to climate change, to Italian partners. ensure that food production is not  It should be noted that around 30,000 threatened and to enable economic people, including 200 world leaders, development to proceed in a had been due to attend the 10-day sustainable manner”. conference for crucial talks regarding rising global temperatures. Currently, Institutional Arrangements the focus of countries is on saving lives  The Conference of the Parties (COP) and fighting COVID-19. o Article 7.2 defines the COP as the About UNFCC: Establishment– 1992 “supreme body” of the Convention, as Headquarter– Bonn, Germany it is its highest decision-making Executive Secretary– Patricia Espinosa authority. The climate change process revolves around the annual sessions of About UNFCCC the COP.  The UNFCCC, signed in 1992 at the  COP President and Bureau o The office of the COP President United Nations Conference on normally rotates among the five United Environment and Development also Nations regional groups. The President known as the Earth Summit, the Rio is usually the environment minister of Summit or the Rio Conference his or her home country. S/he is elected  The UNFCCC entered into force on by acclamation immediately after the March 21, 1994, and has been ratified opening of a COP session. Their role is by 197 countries. to facilitate the work of the COP and The WMO and UNEP established the promote agreements among Parties. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate o The work of the COP and each Change (IPCC) in 1988, to assess the subsidiary body is guided by an elected magnitude and timing of changes, estimate Bureau. To ensure continuity, it serves their impacts, present strategies for how to not only during sessions, but between respond and to provide an authoritative sessions as well.  Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) o The Convention establishes two permanent subsidiary bodies

Easy to PICK244 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 (SBs), namely the Subsidiary Body 1996 August: The UNFCCC secretariat relocates from Geneva to its current home for Scientific and Technological in Bonn(Germany), paving the way for the city to become an international Advice (SBSTA), by Article 9, and sustainability hub and home to 18 UN organizations. the Subsidiary Body for 1997 COP 3 (Kyoto, Japan): Kyoto Protocol adopted- The Protocol legally Implementation (SBI), by Article 10. binds developed countries to emission reduction targets. These bodies advise the COP. 1998 Buenos Aires Plan of Action o The SBSTA’s task is to provide the 2001 COP 6-2(second part of 6th COP): The COP 6-2 took place from 16 to 27 COP “with timely advice on scientific July 2001 in Bonn, Germany. A major breakthrough is achieved at the second part and technological matters relating to of the sixth Conference of the Parties the Convention”. meeting in Bonn, with governments o The SBI’s task is to assist the COP “in reaching a broad political agreement on the operational rulebook for the 1997 Kyoto the assessment and review of the Protocol. 2001 COP 7 (Marrakesh, Morocco): effective implementation of the Resulted in the Marrakesh Accords, setting Convention” the stage for ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. This formalized the agreement  The Secretariat on operational rules for International Emissions Trading, the Clean o The secretariat, also known as the Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation along with a compliance Climate Change Secretariat, services regime and accounting procedures. 2002 COP 8 (New Delhi, India) Delhi the COP, the SBs, the Bureau and Declaration: The Delhi Declaration focuses on the development needs of the other bodies established by the COP. poorest countries and the need for technology transfer for mitigating climate  Other Bodies change. 2005 (February 16): Entry of Kyoto o Other bodies have been set up by the Protocol into force with the Russian Federation ratification to the Kyoto COP to undertake specific tasks. These Protocol, sealing its entry into force. 2005 COP11/CMP1 (December): The bodies report back to the COP when first Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (MOP 1) takes place in Montreal. they complete their work 2006 In January the Clean Development Mechanism, a key mechanism under the o COP 1 established two ad hoc groups Kyoto Protocol, opens for business. The CDM is one of the Flexible Mechanisms to conduct negotiations on specific defined in the Kyoto Protocol that provides for emissions reduction projects issues. which generate Certified Emission o COP 11 established the “Dialogue” to exchange experiences and analyse strategic approaches for long-term cooperative action to address climate change. Timeline of Important Events 1979 First World Climate Conference (WCC) 1988 IPCC established 1990 In November IPCC and second WCC call for global treaty on climate change and in December UN General Assembly Negotiations on a Framework Convention Begin. 1992 The text of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is adopted at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. 1994 UNFCCC enters into force 1995 COP 1 (Berlin, Germany)

Easy to PICK245 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Reduction units (CERs) which may be nations to maintain a $100bn a year traded in emissions trading schemes. funding pledge beyond 2020. 2007 COP13: Parties agreed on the Bali 2016 COP22 (Marrakech): A crucial Road Map and Bali action plan, which outcome of the Marrakech climate charted the way towards a post-2012 conference was, to move forward on outcome. The Plan has five main writing the rule book of the Paris categories: shared vision, mitigation, Agreement.Launched the Marrakech adaptation, technology and financing. Partnership for Climate Action. 2008 COP 14, Poznan (Poland): The 2017 COP23, Bonn (Germany): launch of the Adaptation Fund under the Countries continued to negotiate the finer Kyoto Protocol andThe Poznan Strategic details of how the agreement will work Programme on Technology Transfer. from 2020 onwards.First set of 2009 COP15 (Copenhagen): negotiations since the US, under the Copenhagen Accord drafted. Developed presidency of Donald Trump, announced countries pledge up to USD 30 billion in its intention earlier this year to withdraw fast-start finance for the period 2010-2012. from the Paris deal.It was the first COP to 2010 COP 16 (Cancun): Resulted in the be hosted by a small-island developing Cancun Agreements, a comprehensive state with Fiji taking up the presidency, package by governments to assist even though it was being held in Bonn. developing nations in dealing with climate 2018 COP 24, Katowice (Poland): change.The Green Climate Fund, the Poland held the Presidency of the Climate Technology Mechanism and the Cancun Convention for the third time.COP24 is the informal name for the 24th Conference of Adaptation Framework are established. 2011 COP 17 (Durban):Governments the Parties to the United Nations commit to a new universal climate change Framework Convention on Climate agreement by 2015 for the period beyond Change (UNFCCC). 2020.(Resulted in the Paris Agreement of Important Outcome of Summit 2015)  Paris Rulebook: The COP-24 finalized a “rulebook” to operationalise 2012 COP18/CMP8 (Doha): The Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol is 2015 Paris Agreement. adopted. COP18 also launched a second  The rulebook set out how countries commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. will provide information about 2013 COP19/CMP9 (Warsaw) Key their Nationally Determined decisions adopted include: Further Contributions describing their advancing the Green Climate Fund and domestic climate actions, mitigation Long-Term Finance,the Warsaw and adaptation measures. Framework for REDD Plus and the  The rulebook covers areas such as how Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss countries should report their and Damage. greenhouse gas emissions, 2015 COP 21 (Paris): Paris Agreement contributions to climate finance, what adopted. It aims: To keep global rules should apply to voluntary market temperatures \"well below\" 2.0C (3.6F) mechanisms, such as carbon trading above pre-industrial times and \"endeavor etc. to limit\" them even more, to 1.5C. Rich  The rulebook has addressed some countries should help poorer nations by concerns about the opaqueness providing \"climate finance\" to adapt to of climate financing, such as, climate change and switch to renewable developed nations will have to provide energy. The agreement requires rich hard data on the sources of future financial flows.

Easy to PICK246 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 o Climate finance refers to local, also wanted more clarity on how an national or transnational financing— already agreed $100 billion a year of drawn from public, private and climate finance by 2020 will be alternative sources of financing. provided. o The principle of common but o It seeks to support mitigation and differentiated responsibilities holds adaptation actions that will address that although all countries are climate change. responsible for the development of global society, each has a different set o The UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol and of capabilities that they can contribute the Paris Agreement call for financial to this project. assistance from developed countries to o It recognizes the historical correlation developing and less developed between higher levels of development countries in accordance with the and a greater contribution to the principle of “common but degradation of global environmental differentiated responsibility and resources by developed countries and respective capabilities”. enables the sharing of responsibility accordingly. o Under Paris Agreement, developed  Climate Finance: No roadmap countries have committed to provide adopted for the mobilisation of funds $100 billion annually from 2020 for till 2020, no specific process has been dealing with climate change. initiated for fixing the long-term goals of finance by 2025, which is a legal  The rulebook describes which loans, mandate of the Paris Agreement. concessions and grants can be o No clear guarantees could be obtained classified as climate finance,how they from the developed countries to even should be accounted for, and the kind report their financial commitments of information about them needed to be through an international process. submitted. o The language under the provision related to climate financing is  The modalities and procedures ambiguous allowing countries to report for Monitoring and Progress Report the value of loans (which are to be System proposal (MPR) to (INDC) repaid to lenders) as climate finance, were also discussed. rather than only the grant portion of the total. Issues in Conference  Market Mechanism: The conference  Disagreement on Intergovernmental could not reach a consensus on voluntary market mechanisms. Article Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6 of the Paris Agreement talks about Report: The 1.5°C Report, produced setting up a market mechanism for by the Intergovernmental Panel on trading of carbon emissions. An Climate Change in October 2018, was emissions trading system already exists not acknowledged as an evidence- under the Kyoto Protocol, though it has based cause for alarm by the U.S., become ineffective over the last few Saudi Arabia, and Russia. years and is meant to end with the end  No ambitious action promised: The of Kyoto Protocol in 2020. absence of any indication towards o Market-based mechanisms provide increasing “ambition” of climate flexible instruments reducing the costs actions, so as to rein in temperature of meeting emissions rise at 1.5°c at a faster pace, was one major disappointment of the Katowice conference.  Issue of Equity: Provisions did not reflect the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities. Poorer nations vulnerable to climate change

Easy to PICK247 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 targets. Emissions trading systems, to the 2015 Paris Agreement that will Joint Implementation become effective in 2020 to replace the 19 (JI) mechanism and the Clean 97 Kyoto Protocol (comes to an end in Development Mechanism 2020). (CDM) established under the Kyoto The issues like the creation of new carbon Protocol are market-based markets, emission reduction targets, country’s individual targets, etc. remained mechanisms. o CDM allows a developed country with unresolved during COP24 at Katowice an emission-reduction commitment (Poland) 2019. Thus the rulebook under under the Kyoto Protocol to implement the Paris Agreement could not be an emission-reduction project in any of finalized. those developing countries Certified  The summit will also discuss the Emission Reduction (CER) credits, functioning of international emissions each equivalent to one tonne of CO2. trading systems, compensation for poor o The countries which are unable to countries to deal with rising sea levels reduce their emissions in their business and other consequences of climate in a cost-effective manner in their change. country, they can invest in clean  It will consider the Annual Emissions projects in developing countries. (Joint Gap Report,produced by the UN Implementation). Environment  Carbon Credits: Developing Programme (UNEP)and a series of countries like China, India, and Brazil reportsfrom the Intergovernmental argued that their accumulated unused Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). carbon credits should be considered o Both the reports summarise that the valid in the new market mechanism. goal of keeping average temperatures o In the recent years, as several countries within 1.5°C from pre-industrial times is “on the brink of becoming quit Kyoto Protocol, and no country was feeling compelled to meet its 2020 impossible.'' As the overall emission reduction targets, there has emissions are still been virtually no demand for carbon increasing worldwide. credits. As a result, developing  The processes and methods of countries like China, India and Brazil reporting information about climate have accumulated huge amounts of change would be fixed during the unused carbon credits. summit. Specifically, the developing o The developed countries questioned countries will try to ensure that there the authenticity of the unused carbon are greater appreciation and credits, pointing to weak verification recognition of the issue of loss and mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol. damage due to climate change. The discussion over carbon markets is o There is a demand to institute a deferred to the next year. mechanism to compensate countries Note: Carbon Credit-A carbon credit is a that suffer major losses due to climate permit or certificate allowing the holder to change-induced events like cyclonesor emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse floods. gases. Carbon trading involves trading of  It puts into efforts for committing to carbon one of the market-based a long-term action plan to fight mechanisms set up under Kyoto Protocol. climate change. o So far only 71 countries, most of them COP25:The prime objective of the small emitters, have committed conference is to complete the rule-book

Easy to PICK248 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 themselves to achieve net-zero highlighted by several pacific island countries. emissions by 2050.  Non-binding agreement: The US India’s Agenda withdrawal from the 2015 Paris  India is unlikely to announce climate agreement, citing, that the deal punished\" the US and would cost any enhanced targets during the millions of American jobs”, has created new barriers and more pressure summit. on rest of the nations in achieving the  India’s current efforts are already targets of Paris agreement. o As part of the US withdrawal, USA much more compared to even rich and has stopped the payment of the extra $2bn that had been promised in to the developed countries. Thus, India will Green Climate Fund. reiterate its stand for ”Common but  No enforcement mechanism: Under Differentiated Responsibilities”. the Paris agreement, each country determines, plans, and reports its own o Developed countries are major efforts to mitigate global warming. The only penalty for non-compliance is a contributors to climate change and they are so-called “name and shame” — or “name and encourage” — system doing proportionately less, especially whereby countries that fall out of compliance are called out and when it comes to providing finance and encouraged to improve. technology to the less developed world. Achievements  Kyoto protocol only required wealthy Shortcomings nations to cut emissions, which was a  Non-inclusive: Most scientists agree bone of contention; however this anomaly was corrected with the the most dangerous environmental air signing of Paris agreement in 2015.  UNFCCC initiatives helped create pollutants today are microscopic Public awareness regarding climate change, which is much higher today particulates that come from car engines than in the late 90s.  Although climate science in the late and combustion-based power plants, 90s was certainly strong enough—to negotiate an international treaty, it is but these pollutants are largely ignored hard to deny that the scientific understanding of the climate crisis has by the Kyoto Protocol. improved considerably over the past two decades in which UNFCCC played  Slow progress: It took a long time for a significant role.  UNFCCC has enabled planning and COP to bring Russia to agree into implementation of concrete adaptation activities under the National participating in the Kyoto Protocol. Adaptations Programme of Action (NAPAs) and the Nairobi work (until 2005) programme.  UNFCCC failed to persuade USA to ratify the Kyoto protocol thereby keeping one of the largest emitter of greenhouse gases away from commitments.  Unsustainable targets: The world reached at almost 1degree Celsius warming post industrialization and the Paris contributions are not enough to maintain 2 degree Celsius levels.  Unsatisfactory Response: Many countries argued for a tougher target of 1.5C - including leaders of low-lying countries that face unsustainable sea levels rises in a warming world.  Financial Constraints: The agreement requires rich nations to maintain a $100bn a year funding pledge beyond 2020, which is not enough as

Easy to PICK249 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020  UNFCCC helped create innovative ideas in mitigating climate change like the Clean Development mechanism (CDM) under which developing country’s projects that reduce emissions earn credits that can be sold to countries or companies with a commitment to reduce emissions.  Since the establishment of UNFCCC national governments have encouraged and increased cooperation on the development and transfer of technology.  UNFCCC efforts support the developing countries in combating climate change by providing a platform for finance, technology transfers, discussions, global partnerships, etc. Key Points :

Easy to PICK250 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” - April 2020 Initiatives to Fight Coronavirus – Part-3 Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- geographical location, known as a Economy and Health geofence. I. Geo-fencing app will be used to locate How does the application work?  The system will collate phone data, quarantine violators including the device’s location, on a Context: common secured platform and alert the local agencies in case of a violation by The Centre is using powers under the COVID-19 patients under watch or in isolation. Indian Telegraph Act to fetch information  It is said that the location information is received periodically over a secure from telecom companies every 15 minutes network for the authorised cases with due protection of the data received. to track COVID-19cases across the Details: country.  The States have been asked to seek the COVID-19 Quarantine Alert System approval of their Home Secretaries under the provisions of Section 5(2) of (CQAS): the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, for the specified mobile phone numbers to  The Department of request the DoT to provide information by email or SMS in case of violation of Telecommunications (DoT) has shared “geo-fencing”.  The particular provision under the Act, a standard operating procedure (SOP) amended multiple times since 1885, authorises the State or the Centre to with all telecom service providers access information of a user’s phone data in case of “occurrence of any regarding the application called public emergency or in the interest of the public safety.” COVID-19 Quarantine Alert System  Kerala was one of the first States to use geo-fencing to track COVID-19 cases. (CQAS). Addressing the privacy concerns:  The government has tested this  It said that the phone number should be application which triggers e-mails and deleted from the system after the period for which location monitoring is SMS alerts to an authorised required is over.  The data would be deleted four weeks government agency if a person has from thereon.  The data collected shall be used only jumped quarantine or escaped from for the purpose of Health Management isolation, based on the person’s mobile in the context of COVID-19 and is phone’s cell tower location. strictly not for any other purposes. Any violation in this regard would attract  The CQAS will prepare a list of mobile numbers, segregating them on the basis of telecom service providers, and the location data provided by the companies will be run on the application to create geo-fencing.  The “geo-fencing” is accurate by up to 300 m. What is Geo-fencing? (PT SHOT) S&T  A geofence is a virtual perimeter for a real-world geographic area.  Geofencing is a location-based service in which an app or other software uses GPS, RFID, Wi-Fi or cellular data to trigger a pre-programmed action when a mobile device or RFID tag enters or exits a virtual boundary set up around a