2023 06 08

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 1:

Demographic Dividend and unemployment problems in India, China

GS Paper 2:

Role of Citizens in a representative democracy
Government Initiatives in Education Sector

GS Paper 3:

Climate-resilient agriculture

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Deconstruction theory
“Addiction Free Amrit Kaal”
Amrit Generation Campaign: Naye Bharat Ke Sapne

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme
Commission of Railway Safety (CRS)
India-US defence Agreement
Why is the U.S. SEC cracking down on crypto exchanges?
Steel Production in India
Ground-level ozone
Varunastra

Mapping

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve
Nigeria

Demographic Dividend and unemployment problems in India, China

GS Paper 1

Syllabus: Population and Associated Issues

Source: IE

Context: The current median Indian age of 28, as compared to China’s 39, suggests that India will continue to enjoy its demographic advantage up to the end of this century.

Case of China:

China’s youth population was declining and the ageing population was rising.
In 2023, ~12 million students in China are expected to graduate.

Challenges faced by China:

China is facing a new kind of epidemic: joblessness.
The job market was hit hard by the Covid-19 lockdowns and massive layoffs in key sectors such as real estate, tech, and education.
Growing demand for job security and lack of employment opportunities.

What went wrong with China’s job market? The country’s growth was hit hard during the Zero-Covid three years.

Scenario in India: Poor education, joblessness and a shortage of skilled personnel.

Impact:

Undocumented migration.
The increasing rate of crimes: India has become a hub for internet-based scams.

What went wrong in India?

2,500+ Industrial Training Institutes: Established in the 1960s and run by state governments, have failed to update their skilling courses.
The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC): Created in 2003, NSDC’s short-duration courses (<1 year) are insufficient for real skill acquisition.
Sub-standard engineering colleges: Mostly function as money-making enterprises, giving inadequate training.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and jobs:

The NEP 2020 introduced vocational training for 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students to improve their skills in a particular field.
This has to continue at the secondary level, with vocation-focused schools.

What are the solutions?

Job creation is the topmost priority.
Skilling, to effective outcome levels, should be the constant goal.
The NEP vision should lead to a different kind of high school that continue with skilling training.
MSMEs should be further incentivised as the major employment creators.
India must add to its inherent IT capabilities without neglecting the manufacturing sector.

Best practice – The German model of skill development: It comprised two strictly separate sectors: the higher education system and the system of dual (at the company level and classes at a vocational school) vocational education and training.

Conclusion: Currently, India is taking minimal benefits of demographic dividends. In order to take full benefits of demographic dividends, high-quality jobs need to be created and highly skilled youths need to fill these jobs.

Insta Links:

Decoding India’s population conundrum.)

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, 8 June CA, demographic dividend, GS 1, Population Growth in India, Today's Article, Today’s article

Role of Citizens in a representative democracy

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, institutions

Source: IE

Context: In a representative democracy, the role of citizens is very critical.

Representative vs direct democracy:

In a representative democracy, people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives.
In a direct democracy, people vote on policy initiatives directly.

Basic principles of representative democracy:

Equality of all citizens before the law.
Free and fair elections.
Principle of popular sovereignty: Popular sovereignty is the principle of majority rule being used to carry out the political will of the people.
Political liberty: This idea holds that people are free to enjoy fundamental liberties such as freedom of expression, assembly, movement, and thought.

India’s representative democracy: It is one of the largest and most complex in the world, where elected representatives constitute its federal democratic ethos – representing the aspirations of their electorate.

Challenges faced by Indian representative democracy:

Increasing ideological divisions among political parties and their supporters.
The spirit of consensus building is undermined, hampering constructive debates and resulting in policy paralysis.
Corruption in governance and personal values erodes individual trust in institutions.
The role of money power in elections, identity politics, and inequitable opportunities is hindering citizens’ right to ethical representation.

Reforming representative democracy:

Increasing people’s participation: To transform representative democracy to participatory democracy to foster greater “democratisation” of political life.
- For example, Gram Sabha [Article 243 (b)].
Strengthening federal democracy: Decentralising power and empowering local governments can enhance accountability and promote citizen participation in matters of national importance.
- For example, the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Indian Constitution.
The National Legislators Conference (NLC):
- It is a pioneering initiative bringing together 4,000 MLAs and MLCs from all political parties under one roof.
- The 3-day boot camp is an opportunity to exchange notes across ideological lines, presenting case studies of best practices and governance.

Best practice – Switzerland:

Direct democracy is one of the special features of the Swiss political system.
It is underpinned by two instruments: initiatives (to propose constitutional amendments or legislative enactment) and referendums (to express their opinion on decisions taken by the Swiss Parliament).

Way ahead:

Explore the possibility of the right to recall inefficient and corrupt politicians.
Strengthen RTI and protect whistleblowers.
Leveraging technology to improve governance. With nearly 60% internet penetration in India and 600 million smartphone users, the legislators have an opportunity to reach out to the electorates.

Conclusion: Citizens have a very important role in a representative democracy as they exercise their rights and freedoms and benefit from the democratic setup of the country.

Insta Links:

Democracy and its structural slippages

Mains Links:

To enhance the quality of democracy in India the Election Commission of India has proposed electoral reforms in 2016. What are the suggested reforms and how far are they significant to make democracy successful? (UPSC 2017)

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, 8 June CA, Direct democracy, GS 2, Participatory democracy, Representative democracy, Today's Article, Today’s article

Government Initiatives in Education Sector

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Social Justice – Education

Source: IE

Context: From a new policy that outlines the education roadmap for the next 20 years to sweeping changes in school textbooks and the opening up of the Indian higher education space to foreign players the education sector has made some positive changes in the past few years –


Accomplishments
New Education Policy (NEP) and Reforms	The NEP 2020 is a policy document outlining a series of reforms to be pursued in education till 2040. India has had three policies to date. The NEP 2020 proposes vital shifts — from creating a system in which “children not only learn but more importantly learn how to learn” to one in which “pedagogy must evolve to make education more experiential, inquiry-driven, flexible” and in which there is “no hard separation between arts and sciences”.
National Curriculum Framework	The National Curriculum Framework (NCF), is a crucial policy document for revising textbooks and classroom pedagogy. Among its key recommendations are conducting board examinations twice a year, creating a semester system for Class 12 students, and providing students with the freedom to pursue a combination of science and humanities, aiming to reduce the rigid boundaries between arts, commerce, and science in classes 11 and 12 across all school boards.
School Textbooks	The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the apex body advising the Centre on school education, has three rounds of revisions in school textbooks.
Foreign Universities	The UGC is giving the final touches to a regulation that would allow foreign universities to establish campuses in India that have their own admission process, the freedom to determine fee structures and recruit faculty and staff from here and abroad.
New Institutions, Enhanced Capacity	In addition to the new centrally-run educational institutions (including 7 IITs, 7 IIMs, 16 IIITs, and 15 AIIMS of which 12 are partially or fully functional) set up in the last nine years, there was a significant capacity enhancement of existing institutions by way of the EWS quota.
Female representation	The supernumerary seats were introduced for women at IITs and NITs in 2018, resulting in a rise in female representation from 9% in 2017 to 20% in 2022 at IITs over five years. According to AISHE data, there has been a reduction in gender disparity in higher education enrolment since 2014.
Other significant changes and initiatives in education	The no-detention policy under the Right to Education Act 2009, which guaranteed promotion through Class 1 to 8, was scrapped in 2019. A single agency to conduct all entrance tests to higher education, the National Testing Agency, was set up in 2017. In a bid to end “inspector raj” and dismantle lobbies, the country’s apex medical education body, the Medical Commission of India, was dissolved in September 2020 and replaced with a new body – National Medical Commission. The Higher Education Financing Agency or HEFA was set up in 2017 to leverage funds from the market to finance infrastructure development in educational institutions through long-term loans.


Pending Initiatives
Autonomy	A recent investigation revealed that despite the promises of increased autonomy under the IOE scheme, much of it only exists in theory.
Vacant Faculty and Leadership Positions	According to parliamentary records, only 1,471 teachers have been hired across all central universities since the start of this recruitment drive, and approximately 6,000 positions (almost 30% of the sanctioned posts) remain unfilled.
National Research Foundation (NRF)	intended to incentivise interdisciplinary research, has not materialised despite being announced in consecutive union budget speeches from 2019 to 2021.
Higher Education Commission of India	intended to replace UGC and AICTE as overarching regulator, has yet to be established even five years after its initial announcement.
Digital University	It was announced in last year’s union Budget speech but has also failed to fructify thus far.

Insta Links:

New Education Policy

Prelims Link: UPSC 2018

Consider the following statements:

1.As per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a State, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the concerned State Council of Teacher Education.

2.As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in a accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines.

3.In India, more than 90% of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 3 only

Solution: B

Mains Link:

The quality of higher education in India requires major improvements to make it internationally competitive. Do you think that the entry of foreign educational institutions would help improve the quality of technical and higher education in the country? Discuss. (UPSC 2015)

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, EDUCATION, governance, GS2, National Education Policy, Today's Article

Climate-resilient agriculture

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

Source: DTE

Context: As climate change can reduce agricultural income by 15-25%, it is high time that climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) is valued and implemented more rigorously.

CRA:

Resilience is the capacity of a system to dynamically respond to, recover from and even thrive in changing climate conditions while maintaining essential functions, identities and structures.
Hence, CRA is an approach of sustainably using existing natural resources to achieve long-term higher productivity and farm incomes under climate variabilities.

Need:

Extreme weather events → reducing farm produce, food price fluctuations → endangering food security and farm incomes.
Hence, to address climate change and achieve SDGs, adaptation of appropriate mitigation technologies is required.

Outcomes of CRA:

Improved access and utilisation of technology,
Increased use of resources conservation technologies,
An increased adaptation of crops and livestock to climatic stress,
Reduces hunger and poverty (by sustaining agricultural production).

Strategies and technologies for climate change adaptation:

Tolerant crops: For example, early maturing and drought-tolerant green gram (BM 2002-1) was introduced by farmers in Aurangabad (MH).
Tolerant breeds in livestock and poultry: Indigenous breeds are resistant to droughts, ability to ingest and digest low-quality feed, and resistance to diseases.
Feed management: An adaptation measure, which can indirectly improve the efficiency of livestock production.
Water management/Water-smart technologies: Like micro-irrigation, cover-crop method, deficit irrigation, precision estimation of crop water needs, etc.
Agro-advisory: Response farming (farming with advisories) is an integrative approach already been taken in states like Tamil Nadu.
Soil organic carbon: Different farm management practices –
- Conservation agriculture technologies (reduced tillage, crop rotations, and cover crops),
- Soil conservation practices (contour farming) and
- Nutrient recharge strategies – can increase soil carbon stocks and stimulate soil functional stability.

Govt efforts:


Government Efforts	Description
National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture	Implemented in 2010 to promote the judicious management of available resources.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)	Launched in 2015 to promote micro/drip irrigation for water conservation.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana	Executed to leverage climate-smart practices and technologies.
Green India Mission	Launched in 2014 to protect and restore forest covers, mitigating the effects of climate change.
Soil Health Card scheme	Launched to analyze soil samples and provide guidance to farmers regarding land fertility status.
Neem-Coated Urea	Introduced to minimize excess use of urea fertilizers and protect soil health.
National Project on Organic Farming and National Agroforestry Policy	Introduced to promote organic farming practices and agroforestry for income and ecosystem benefits.
Organic farming initiatives in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim	States adopting and promoting organic farming practices.
ICAR climate-resilient villages	Establishment of climate-resilient villages in 151 districts, aiming to build carbon-positive villages.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)	Initiated in 2005 to provide employment opportunities, economic security, and environmental protection.

Way ahead:

Interventions focusing on improving crop productivity (watershed development, enhancing irrigation) + water management, soil health and livelihood diversification.
There is a need to prioritise adaptive capacities alongside agricultural productivity.
Reduction of GHG emissions from all agriculture and non-agricultural sources has to be prioritised.
Structured training is essential to build confidence in stakeholders and sensitise them to understand climate change events.
Fine-tuning the gap between current management practices and essential agro-advisories.
Collaboration between farmers, research institutions, funding agencies, governments, NGOs and private sectors to promote CRA.

Insta Links:

Climate-smart agriculture

Mains Links:

Elaborate on the impact of the National Watershed Project in increasing agricultural production from water-stressed areas. (UPSC 2019)

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, 8 June CA, Climate-resilient agriculture, GS 3, Today's Article, Today’s article

Deconstruction theory

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: TH

What is deconstruction theory?

Deconstruction theory is a way of looking at language and meaning that challenges the idea that words have fixed clear meanings. It suggests that meaning is not stable and can change depending on the context.

Explanation using an example:

Imagine you have a word like “cat.” In the traditional understanding, “cat” refers to a specific animal with fur, whiskers, and a tail. But deconstruction theory questions this idea. It asks, what if the word “cat” doesn’t have a fixed meaning? What if its meaning is influenced by other words and concepts?

For example, think about the word “dog.” The meaning of “cat” is not just about what a cat is, but also how it’s different from a dog. The meaning of “cat” depends on the differences between cats and dogs. This shows that meaning is not inherent in the word itself, but is created through relationships with other words and concepts.

Deconstruction theory, introduced by Jacques Derrida, has had a significant impact beyond literary criticism, influencing disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, psychoanalysis, feminism, queer theory, art, and architecture.

Usage: It can be used in Essay/Sociology/Anthropology Answer writings.

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, Deconstruction theory, Today's Article

“Addiction Free Amrit Kaal”

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: PIB

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has launched a campaign called “Addiction Free Amrit Kaal” to make India a tobacco and drug-free nation among children. The campaign aims to create awareness and promote a healthier lifestyle by addressing the issue of tobacco and drug addiction among children.

It was officially launched on World Tobacco Day, May 31, 2023. The campaign supports robust Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) to curb tobacco use. The campaign involves the formation of “Prahari Clubs” in schools, for children to act as informants and report any tobacco-selling shops near their schools.

Usage: The example can be used in Essay/ Ethics case studies as a way forward for de-addiction.

About NCPCR:

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (est. 2007; HQ: New Delhi) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament, the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005. It works under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, GoI.

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, Addiction Free Amrit Kaal, Today's Article

Amrit Generation Campaign: Naye Bharat Ke Sapne

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: PIB

Context: Meta, the company behind Facebook, and the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) have launched the Amrit Generation campaign. This campaign aims to empower and engage the youth of India by inviting young people aged 16-18 to express their aspirations and dreams for the future through creating Reels on Instagram and Facebook.

The campaign encourages participants to showcase their creativity and share their ambitions. By exploring their dreams and what they aspire to become, the campaign aims to foster a sense of community and inspire others.

Usage: The example can be used in Indian society/ Essay/ Ethics questions to show the use of social media for motivation and inspiring others.

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, Amrit Generation Campaign, Meta., Naye Bharat Ke Sapne, Today's Article

Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: Ministry of Coal has approved a plan called the “Exploration of Coal and Lignite Scheme” with an estimated expenditure of ₹2,980 crore.

Aim: The scheme aims to explore and estimate coal resources in the country, facilitating the preparation of detailed project reports for coal mining. This initiative plays a crucial role in assessing coal reserves, auctioning new coal blocks, and recovering costs from successful bidders.

Time period: 2021-22 to 2025-26

Stages: It consists of two stages: (i) Promotional (Regional) Exploration and (ii) Detailed Exploration in Non-Coal India Limited blocks

Classification of coal in India based on carbon content:


Coal Type	Description	Carbon Content (%)	Calorific Value (kcal/kg)	Found in
Anthracite	Best quality coal with the highest calorific value	80-95	High	Jammu and Kashmir
Bituminous	A common type of coal with moderate carbon content and high calorific value	60-80	High	Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh
Lignite	The lowest rank of coal with lower carbon content and high moisture content	40-55	Low to Medium	Rajasthan, Lakhimpur (Assam), Tamil Nadu
Peat	The initial stage of a coal formation with low calorific value and low carbon content	<40	Low	Throughout India

About Coal Sector in India:

India has the fifth largest coal reserves, is second in coal production (after China) and is among the largest importer of coal (mainly from Indonesia, South Africa and Australia).
Coal accounts for almost 50% share in the total installed electricity generation capacity in India.
The top 5 States in terms of total coal reserves in India are Jharkhand > Odisha > Chhattisgarh > West Bengal > Madhya Pradesh.

Other Government Initiatives for the Coal sector: UTTAM (Unlocking Transparency by Third Party Assessment of Mined Coal) Application for coal quality monitoring; New coal linkage policy to ensure adequate supply of fuel to power plants through reverse auction; Online Coal Clearances System; Coal Allocation Monitoring System (CAMS); Opening up of commercial coal mining

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme; Coal sector, Today's Article

Commission of Railway Safety (CRS)

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

Context: Investigation into the recent tragic train accident in Odisha is being conducted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety a government body that acts as the railway safety authority in the country.

About Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS)

Role of CRS: CRS is a government body responsible for railway safety oversight and carries out inspectorial, investigatory, and advisory functions as mandated by the Railways Act, 1989.
The CRS is headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).

Why does it function under MCA?

Insulation from Railway Establishment: CRS operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation to maintain independence and prevent conflicts of interest.
Enhanced Credibility:The separation of CRS from the Railway Board enhances the credibility of safety oversight and investigations.

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, Commission of Railway Safety, GS2, Odisha Railway Accident, Organisations, Today's Article

India-US defence Agreement

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: ET

Context: An agreement over joint manufacturing of GE F414 jet engines for Navy fighter aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and General Electric (GE) is among the early harvest of closer India-US defence ties that may remove restrictions on armaments sales and technology transfer.

This agreement involves a 100% transfer of technology

Other agreements:

Initiate negotiations for a ‘Security of Supply’ (SoS) arrangement and a ‘Reciprocal Defence Procurement’ (RDP)
- SoS allows for priority delivery for contracts from companies in either country
India-U.S. agreed to establish Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), a new initiative to advance cutting-edge technology cooperation.
The US acknowledged India’s leadership role in Quad Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative (IPMDA) (A US-led initiative to promote a free and open Pacific)

Significance:

For India: India’s previous attempt to develop an indigenous engine, the Kaveri project, failed to meet technical requirements. The new deal with the US is a crucial step towards building India’s own military-industrial complex in line with the goal of Atmanirbhar’s defence.
For the USA: The US regards India as a strategic counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific. Also, it is seeking resilience in defence production through collaboration with its partner countries, like India.

India-US four foundational defence agreements:

GSOMIA, 2002 on military information exchange
LEMOA, 2016 to use each other’s military base
COMCASA, 2018 for interoperability between two militaries and the sale of high-end technology to India
BECA, 2020 to share high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, India-US defence Agreement, Today's Article

Why is the U.S. SEC cracking down on crypto exchanges?

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is cracking down on cryptocurrency exchanges. The SEC filed over a dozen charges against Binance, alleging the exchange commingled billions of dollars of investors’ funds and routed them to a company in Europe.

The regulator claimed that Binance allowed high-value U.S. customers to access its international platform, misled investors about trading controls, and commingled customer funds.

The SEC has been pushing for crypto businesses and trading platforms to register with the regulator for investor protection and transparency. However, industry leaders have been cautious about negotiating with the SEC due to its history of legal action against cryptocurrency companies. The SEC’s aim seems to be bringing crypto exchanges under U.S. securities law.

Its Impact:

The SEC’s actions against Binance may unsettle U.S.-based crypto traders who use its services and want to invest legally.
These events could have an impact on the cryptocurrency market, which is highly sensitive to regulatory news. Following the SEC’s lawsuit against Binance, the prices of Bitcoin and Ether, two major cryptocurrencies, experienced declines.

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, Binance, Crypto, economy, GS3, Today's Article, US SEC

Steel Production in India

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: India has emerged as the second-largest producer of crude steel globally, surpassing Japan and 2nd largest consumer of finished steel.

Status of steel production in India:

In 2021, India produced 118 million tonnes (MT) of crude steel. By 2050, India will be producing 435 million tonnes (mt)
Steel is a key sector for the Indian economy(responsible for 2% of the country’s GDP in FY 21-22).
In the year 2022-23, India witnessed the export of 72 million tonnes (MT) of finished steel, while importing around 6 MT.

Government initiatives for the steel sector:


Initiative	Description
Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019	Promotes scientific processing and recycling of ferrous scrap. Six Vehicle Scrapping Centres established, with three more planned to commence operations soon.
National Steel Policy 2017	Aims to achieve a total crude steel capacity of 300 MTPA and a total crude steel demand/production of 255 MTPA by 2030-31.
Preference to Domestically Manufactured Iron and Steel Products (DMI & SP Policy)	This resulted in the import substitution of steel products in India
Productivity Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI)	Attracted investment of around ₹30,000 crores and has the potential to generate employment for 55,000 individuals.
Branding steel produced in India as “Made in India”	Aims to differentiate Indian steel in the market by emphasizing its origin.
Green Steel	13 task forces were constituted to promote decarbonization in the steel sector.
Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative	India joined the UK to co-lead this initiative under the banner of the Clean Energy Ministerial.
Purvodaya initiative	Facilitates the establishment of greenfield steel clusters in the Eastern states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, Green Steel, Steel sector in India, Today's Article

Ground-level ozone

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: DTE

Context: The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has issued an alert on rising ozone pollution and multi-pollutant crisis in the national capital on World Environment Day 2023 (June 5).

World Environment Day (WED):

It is celebrated annually on 5 June and encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
It was established in 1972 by the UN at the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. In 1973, the first WED was held with the theme “Only One Earth”.
WED 2023 is hosted by Côte d’Ivoire in partnership with the Netherlands with the theme #BeatPlasticPollution.


Ground-level ozone
Meaning	Also known as tropospheric ozone, it is a colourless and highly irritating gas that forms just above (up to 2 miles) the Earth’s surface.
Classification	It is a “secondary” pollutant (not directly emitted into the air). It is produced when two primary pollutants [nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)] react in sunlight and stagnant air.
How are NOx and VOCs formed?	NOx and VOCs come from natural sources as well as human activities. About 95% of NOx comes from the burning of coal, gasoline and oil in motor vehicles, etc. VOCs come mainly from gasoline production and combustion, residential wood combustion, etc.
Harmful effects	On human health: As ground-level ozone is a highly reactive gas, it has serious health consequences. This can inflame and damage airways, make lungs susceptible to infection, and aggravate asthma, and chronic bronchitis leading to increased hospitalisation.
On ecosystems: It can harm sensitive vegetation and forests, parks and wildlife refuges.
The situation in India (2020 State of Global Air Report)	Ozone is emerging as a serious public health issue in India (17%↑ between 2010 and 2017). Age-standardised rates of death attributable to ground-level ozone are among the highest in India.

Highlights of the CSE analysis:

Ground-level ozone usually exceeds the safety standard (50 ppb over an 8-hour average) on all summer days in some locations in Delhi-NCR every year.
Ground-level ozone, which should ideally become negligible in the night air, remains a problem at night too in the Delhi-NCR region.
Even winter months (winter can inhibit the formation of ground-level ozone) in Delhi-NCR face excess ozone levels, making it an all-year problem.

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, 8 June CA, Ground level ozone, Ozone Pollution, Today's Article, Today’s article

Varunastra

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: The Indian Navy and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a significant milestone as an indigenous heavy-weight torpedo, Varunastra, successfully engaged an underwater target in a live test on June 6, 2023.

What is a Torpedo?

A torpedo is a self-propelled underwater weapon designed to target and destroy enemy vessels or submarines. It is typically cylindrical in shape and equipped with explosives, propulsion systems, and guidance mechanisms.

About Varunastra:

It is an indigenously designed and developed ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo. It was designed and developed by the Vizag-based Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) under the DRDO and is manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL).

It has a maximum speed of 40 knots and a maximum operating depth of 600 m, has a long range with multi-manoeuvring capabilities
It features advanced capabilities such as low drift navigational systems, acoustic homing, and autonomous guidance algorithms.

Other types of Torpedos with the Indian navy: Advanced Light Torpedo Shyena (ALT-S); Whitehead A244/S; APR-3E; SET-65E

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, Today's Article, Torpedo, Varunastra

Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve

Mapping

Source: TH

Three persons in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve have been arrested for capturing and consuming a rare species of freshwater turtle inside the one-horned rhino habitat.

About Kaziranga National Park:

Located in the State of Assam and is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.

International Status:

It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.

Important Species Found:

Home of the world’s most one-horned rhinos. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest density of one-horned rhinos in the worldand the second-highest number of Rhinos in Assam after Kaziranga National Park.
Much of the focus of conservation efforts in Kaziranga is focused on the ‘big four’ species— Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo.

Rivers and Highways:

The park has the Diphlu River running through it.

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, Today's Article

Nigeria

Mapping

Nigeria’s new President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, faces old problems (e.g., insecurity, high unemployment, and corruption persist) as the country grapples with the inability to realize its socio-economic potential despite being rich in oil and resources.

About Nigeria:

Nigeria (capital: Abuja) an African country on the Gulf of Guinea, has many natural landmarks and wildlife reserves. Protected areas such as Cross River National Park and Yankari National Park have waterfalls, dense rainforests, savanna and rare primate habitats. It is Africa’s top oil producer.

June 8, 2023 /08 June 2023, Nigeria, Today's Article