2023 06 29

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 1:

Climate change and mountains of the northern hemisphere

GS Paper 2:

National Research Foundation (NRF)

GS Paper 3:

Global Forest Watch
India’s Green Credit Programme

GS Paper 4:

Examples of Ethics

Content for Mains Enrichment

Meira Paibis
Socialism

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

UNODC World Drug Report 2023
2023 Global Competitiveness Index
Critical Minerals List
Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Mapping

Nepal

Climate change and mountains of the northern hemisphere

GS Paper 1/3

Syllabus: Geomorphology/Climate/ Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Source: DTE

Context: According to a new study, a rise in temperature due to climate change could cause a shift in snowfall to rainfall in mountain regions across the Northern Hemisphere.

Findings of the study:

The mountains across the Northern Hemisphere are likely to see 15% more rain for every 1-degree Celsius rise in temperature due to climate change.
For 2 degrees and 3 degrees rise, the world would see a 30 and 45% increase in rain, respectively.

Most vulnerable:

The Himalayas and the North American Pacific Mountain ranges, including the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and coastal ranges from Canada to Southern California are more threatened than the Rockies or the Alps.
The Himalayas is one of those hotspot regions where an increased risk (due to changes in atmospheric dynamics) of rainfall extremes is witnessed.

Impact:

A change in air temperature will shift snowfall in these regions to rainfall and could increase the risk of disasters such as floods, landslides, and soil erosion.
26% of the global population living in or directly downstream of these mountainous regions is going to be directly affected by this risk.

Concerns raised in the Water, Ice, Society, and Ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HI-WISE) report:

The ICIMOD report found that the Hindu Kush Himalayas have seen a 65% faster loss of glacier mass.
Water availability in the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra is set to increase (through 2050) in the short term and decrease in the long term (~80% by 2100).
Climate change is severely affecting biodiversity in HKH. For example, the habitat of Himalayan ibex is likely to reduce by 33 to 64%.

Way ahead: Developing mountain-specific climate adaptation plans to protect the natural and built environments.

Insta Links:

ICIMOD Report: Water, ice, society, and Ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

June 29, 2023 /29 June 2023, Today's Article

National Research Foundation (NRF)

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Statutory Bodies/Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services Relating to Education

Source: PIB

Context: The Union Cabinet, chaired by the PM of India, approved the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill 2023, to give the nation’s scientific research a strategic direction.

Highlights of the Bill: It will establish NRF and repeal the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) – subsuming it into the NRF.

SERB is a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) established in 2009 (by the SERB Act, 2008).
It was set up for promoting basic research in science and engineering and to provide financial assistance to scientists, academic institutions, R&D laboratories, S&T start-ups, etc.


National Research Foundation (NRF)
About	NRF will be established as an apex body at a total estimated cost of ₹50,000 crores from 2023-28 (the government will contribute ₹10,000 crores and ~₹36,000 crores are expected to come from the private sector as investments).
Recommendation	National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
Administrative department	DST, Ministry of S&T
Governed by	A Governing Board: The PM will be the ex-officio President of the Board and the Union Minister of S&T and Union Minister of Education will be the ex-officio Vice-Presidents. It will also consist of eminent researchers and professionals across disciplines.
An Executive Council: Chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
Purpose	NRF will seed, grow and promote R&D and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions and R&D laboratories.
How?	By prioritising research funding and ensuring that scientific research was conducted and funded equitably with greater participation from the private sector. Currently, the IITs and IISc receive the majority of research funds, whereas State universities receive a very little portion (~10%).
By forging collaborations among the industry, academia, and government departments and research institutions and creating an interface mechanism for their participation and contribution.
By creating a policy framework and putting in place regulatory processes that can encourage collaboration and increased spending by the industry on R&D.
Significance/need of NRF/Bill	India barely spends 0.7% of its GDP on R&D, which is extremely low compared to the US (2.83%), China (2.14%), Israel (4.9%), Brazil, Malaysia and Egypt.
NRF will promote the democratisation of science funding, finding solutions to the big problems facing Indian society, etc.
The Bill was necessary because current laws made it hard for private research organisations to contribute to a funding body such as the NRF.

Insta Links:

R&D ecosystem in India

Mains Links:

Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as our business operations, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer-oriented. Critically comment. (UPSC 2014)

June 29, 2023 /29 June 2023, 29 June CA, GS 2, National Research Foundation (NRF), The National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill 2023, Today's Article, Today’s article

Global Forest Watch

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Environment Conservation

Source: TH

Context: A study quoted by the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch reveals that tropical areas experienced a significant decline in forest cover in 2022.

Key findings:

The loss amounted to 4.1 million hectares, equivalent to an area the size of 11 football fields disappearing every minute.
The primary forest cover loss in tropical regions was 10% higher in 2022 compared to the previous year.
The study highlights that the world is not on track to meet its forest-related commitments:
Two key goals set by the World Resources Institute include ending deforestation by 2030
- However, the global deforestation rate needs to decrease by at least 10% annually to meet the 2030 target.
- While deforestation rates reduced by 3.1% in 2022 compared to the 2018-2020 baseline, they still exceeded the necessary levels by over one million hectares, indicating a deviation from the 2030 goal.
Restoring 350 million hectares of lost and degraded forests by 2030.
- The overall change in tree cover over the past two decades has been a net loss of 100 million hectares. This indicates that forests are still being lost instead of being restored at the required rate.
Countries like Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with substantial tropical forest cover, experienced significant losses in 2022.
India: The study also highlights India’s loss of 44 thousand hectares of humid primary forest between 2021 and 2022, accounting for 17% of the country’s total tree cover loss during that period.

What are Primary forests?

Primary forests, also known as old-growth forests or virgin forests, are mature and undisturbed natural forests that have not experienced significant human intervention or alteration in recent history. These forests have reached a stage of ecological maturity and exhibit a complex and diverse ecosystem with fully developed tree canopy layers, understory vegetation, and rich biodiversity.

Significance: They play a crucial role in storing carbon and supporting biodiversity. Once lost, the regrowth of secondary forests cannot match the ecological and carbon sequestration capabilities of primary forests.

Global Forest Watch (launched 2014) is an open-source web application to monitor global forests in near real-time. GFW is an initiative of the World Resources Institute, with partners including Google, USAID, the University of Maryland, Esri, Vizzuality and many other academic, non-profit, public, and private organizations.

Developer: World Resources Institute (WRI)

Insta Links:

State of Forest Report 2021

Prelims Links: (UPSC 2021)

Consider the following statements

Statement 1: The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the Arbor Day Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as the 2020 Tree City of the World.

Statement 2: Hyderabad was selected for recognition for a year following its commitment to growing and maintaining urban forests.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. 1. Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for statement 1 2. Both statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct but Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1 3. Statement 1 is correct But Statement 2 is not correct 4. Statement 1 is not correct but Statement 2 is correct

Ans: 4

June 29, 2023 /29 June 2023, Global Forest Watch, Today's Article, World Resources Institute

India’s Green Credit Programme

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Source: TP

Context: Following the Union Budget 2023-24 announcement, the MoEFCC notified the draft ‘Green Credit Programme (GCP)’ implementation rules 2023.

About the Green Credit Programme (GCP):

Under this, individuals, industries, FPOs, ULBs, gram panchayats and private sectors, etc., will be able to earn “green credit” for undertaking environment-friendly actions.
The green credits will be tradable on a proposed domestic market platform.
It follows the principle of LiFE – Lifestyle for Environment – to encourage sustainable lifestyles by driving consumers/communities towards behavioural changes to incentivise environment-friendly practices.

The overall administration of the scheme: It will be under the Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education – an autonomous organisation/ governmental agency under the MoEFCC.

8 sectors/activities that can qualify for generating credits:


Sectors	Purpose
Tree plantation-based Green Credit	To promote activities for increasing green cover across the country through tree plantation and related activities
Water-based Green Credit	To promote water conservation, water harvesting and water use efficiency/savings, including treatment and reuse of wastewater
Sustainable agriculture-based Green Credit	To promote natural and regenerative agricultural practices and land restoration to improve productivity, soil health and nutritional value of food produced
Waste management-based Green Credit	To promote sustainable and improved practices for waste management, including collection, segregation and treatment
Air pollution reduction-based Green Credit	To promote measures for reducing air pollution and other pollution-abatement activities
Mangrove conservation and restoration-based Green Credit	To promote measures for the conservation and restoration of mangroves
Ecomark-based Green Credit	To encourage manufacturers to obtain an eco-mark label for their goods and services
Sustainable building and infrastructure-based Green Credit	To encourage the construction of buildings and other infrastructure using sustainable technologies and materials

Objectives of GCP:

To create a market-based (supply and demand) mechanism for incentivising voluntary environmental actions/ individual or community behaviour.
To encourage the private sector as well as other entities to meet their existing obligations, stemming from other legal frameworks.

GCP vs carbon markets: Unlike carbon markets, where only greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were traded, the GCP accounts for a wide range of actions and nowhere in the world such a wide range of actions are considered.

Significance of the GCP:

It’s a first-of-its-kind instrument that seeks to value and reward multiple ecosystem services to allow green projects to achieve optimal returns beyond just carbon.
The scheme will allow project proponents to also access carbon markets additionally.

Similar mechanisms elsewhere: In some countries (France, Germany and Sweden), social services generate credits – taking care of the elderly for a certain number of hours, for instance, gets one some credit that you can exchange in a salon.

Concerns:

The draft was a good statement of intent but its implementation would be extremely challenging.
- This is due to the difficulty in establishing the equivalence between various actions.
- For example, how much water one saved is equivalent to a tonne of CO2 prevented from emissions is difficult to establish.
Monitoring, reporting and verification challenges.
A strong risk of greenwashing – the appearance of doing a lot without actually achieving much beneficial impact.

Way ahead:

Capacity needs to be built to monitor these systems and prevent fraud.
It will save resources that could be diverted to more transformational pollution control and biodiversity protection efforts.

Insta Links:

Farming: Carbon credit market

Mains Links:

The Government of India has proposed draft rules for the Green Credit Programme. Discuss the implications of these draft rules and their potential impact on promoting green initiatives and sustainability in the country.

June 29, 2023 /29 June 2023, 29 June CA, Green Credit Programme (GCP), Greenwashing, GS 3, life, The draft ‘Green Credit Programme (GCP)’ implementation rules 2023, Today's Article, Today’s article

Examples of Ethics

GS Paper 4

Syllabus: Application of ethics

Source: TH, TH

Example 1:

V.K. Pandian, an influential bureaucrat and the private secretary to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has become a target of criticism from the opposition and certain factions within the BJD party.

The complaint raised concerns about his use of state transportation, public receptions, and announcements of new projects, suggesting a violation of All India Services (Conduct) Rules.

The elaborate security measures and protocols accompanying Mr Pandian’s visits resemble those of chief ministers and union ministers, blurring the line between a politician and a bureaucrat.

Ethical Issues concerned:


Ethical Issues	Description
Violation of All India Services (Conduct) Rules	Concerns about adherence to ethical standards are expected from government officials such as Anonymity.
Blurring of Lines between Politicians and Bureaucrats	The elaborate security measures and protocols accompanying Mr Pandian’s visits, similar to those of chief ministers and union ministers, raise ethical questions regarding the distinction between political and bureaucratic roles.
Concentration of Power	Ethical considerations related to accountability, transparency, and democratic principles.
Favoritism and Nepotism	The close association between Mr Pandian and the Chief Minister, as well as the allegations of him being a “gateway” to the Chief Minister, may raise ethical concerns related to favouritism, preferential treatment, and equitable distribution of opportunities and resources.

Example 2: Discrimination in Cricket

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has issued an apology following a report that revealed systemic discrimination within English cricket. The report, conducted by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC), highlighted instances of racism, sexism, and class-based discrimination within the sport.

The ECB expressed remorse for failing to prevent these forms of discrimination and acknowledged the need for significant changes. The report made 44 recommendations for reform, including equal pay for male and female international players by 2030.

Ethical values highlighted: Inclusivity, Equality, Anti-discrimination, Accountability, and Reform and improvement

Example 3: ‘Selflessness’ in Public Life

Cricketer Tendulkar reported on national duty after his father’s death
Virat Kohli played a match-saving knock for his team after his father’s death
Anil Kumble bowled with a broken Jaw (2002) against West Indies. He said, “At least I can now go home with the thought that I tried my best.

All these examples highlight the importance of ” selflessness ” when it comes to ethics in public life/service.

Example 4: Lessons on Emotional Intelligence in Cricket

Test cricket, unlike most other sports, requires long-term, targeted behaviour and provides insights into how the mind experiences time, reward, threat, and anxiety.

Understanding our ABCs (alarm-beliefs-coping) and managing our mind’s reaction to time is crucial in cricket and life alike. Being emotionally intelligent helps players better their performance and reduce anxiety.

Values extracted:

Self-awareness (recognizing and understanding one’s own emotions)
Self-regulation
Building resilience to anxiety through cognitive reattribution training (CRT);
Being flexible and adaptable in response to changing circumstances, and developing strategies to cope with anxiety and negative emotions
Recognizing how anxiety can elongate the perception of time and impact sleep, diet, and emotional stability, and managing it effectively.

June 29, 2023 /29 June 2023, emotional intelligence, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Today's Article, V.K. Pandian

Content for Mains Enrichment

Meira Paibis

Source: IE

The Meira Paibis, also known as Imas or Mothers of Manipur, are Meitei women who represent a powerful moral force in Manipur.

They come from all sections of society in the Imphal Valley and are widely respected. The Meira Paibis are known for their activism and have led various social and political movements in the state. They have been involved in protests against human rights violations, demanded the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), and supported causes such as the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system. These women have a significant presence in Manipuri civil society and are recognized as society’s conscience keepers.

Usage: The example can be used in Indian Society, Women related questions, Sociology and Governance questions.

June 29, 2023 /29 June 2023, Meira Paibis, Today's Article

Socialism

Source: TOI

Context: The article discusses how socialist tendencies can have unintended consequences, concentrating wealth rather than spreading it and favouring inheritors over entrepreneurs.

What is Socialism?

Socialism is an economic and political ideology that advocates for the collective ownership and control of resources, means of production, and wealth distribution. It aims to create a more equitable society by reducing inequality, promoting social welfare, and ensuring that resources are allocated based on societal needs rather than individual profit.

Issues:

Countries with deep socialist roots, including France, Sweden, Russia, and India, are among those where the risk of protests against billionaires is high. This highlights the paradox that socialist-leaning countries can still experience a concentration of wealth and dissatisfaction with perceived inequality.

Example:

France is a country vulnerable to anti-rich populist revolts due to the rapid rise of billionaire wealth, particularly in family firms like LVMH. Recent protests in France targeted billionaires, including LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault, who has become a symbol of the perceived wealth disparity.

Usage: The example can be used in Social Justice, Indian Society, PSIR and Sociology Paper

June 29, 2023 /29 June 2023, socialism, Today's Article

UNODC World Drug Report 2023

Facts for PCrelims (FFP)

Source: UNODC

Context: The UNODC World Drug Report 2023 (a yearly report) highlights the expanding illicit drug markets and the challenges they pose to health services and law enforcement.

Key findings:

Over 296 million people worldwide used drugs in 2021, a 23% increase over the past decade.
The increasing dominance of synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine, and fentanyl which have transformed illicit drug markets due to their low cost and ease of production.
Drug use disorder cases have surged by 45% in the last ten years
Accelerated environmental devastation and crime caused by drug trafficking in the Amazon Basin.
Only one in five individuals with drug use disorders received treatment in 2021, with significant regional disparities in access to treatment
Illicit drug economies exacerbate conflicts, human rights abuses, and environmental devastation.
Illicit drug economies accelerate conflicts, human rights abuses, and environmental devastation
Illicit drug trade finances non-state armed and insurgency groups in the Sahel region. Prioritizing public health in regulating med

On South Asia:

The opium ban in Afghanistan had a positive result, but concerns remain about the production of synthetic drugs. Also, farmers’ income has suffered in Afghanistan due to the Opium ban by the Taliban.

Recommendations:

The report calls for increased monitoring of public health impacts as regulatory changes and clinical trials involving psychedelics progress.
Prioritizing public health, prevention, and access to treatment services worldwide to ensure that drug challenges do not leave more people behind.

About UNODC:

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (est. 1997; HQ: Vienna) focuses on the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs, crime prevention and criminal justice, international terrorism, and political corruption. It is a member of the United Nations Development Group.

June 29, 2023 /29 June 2023, Today's Article, UNODC, World Drug Report 2023

2023 Global Competitiveness Index

Source: Moneycontrol

Context: India has been ranked 40th on the latest world competitiveness ranking released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).

Although India has slipped three spots from the previous year, it has improved from its 43rd rank in 2019-2021.

The highlight of the Report:

There is progress in government efficiency but points out weaknesses in business efficiency, infrastructure, and economic performance.
The top three spots in the ranking were claimed by Denmark, Ireland, and Switzerland.

Measures helping India:

The three main measures that helped India in its score are exchange rate stability, compensation levels, and improvements in pollution control.

Challenges for India:

Sustaining high GDP growth, managing financial market volatility, controlling inflation and fiscal deficit, accelerating digital transformation, and mobilizing resources for infrastructure development.

Note: Global Competitiveness Index is different from The Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) (a yearly report published by the World Economic Forum)

International Institute for Management Development (IIMD) is an independent university institute with campuses in Lausanne, Switzerland and Singapore.

June 29, 2023 /2023 Global Competitiveness Index, 29 June 2023, Today's Article

Critical Minerals List

Source: PIB

Context: Union Minister of Coal, Mines & Parliamentary Affairs has unveiled the first-ever report on “Critical Minerals for India.”

What are Critical Minerals?

Critical minerals are a group of minerals that are essential for various industrial sectors and have strategic importance for a country’s economy and security. These minerals are characterized by their scarcity, high economic value, and criticality in the production of advanced technologies and defence systems.

The report, prepared by an expert team constituted by the Ministry of Mines, identifies 30 strategically important critical minerals for the country.

List of minerals and India’s import dependency:


Critical Mineral	Percentage import dependency of India	Major Import Sources (2020)
Lithium	100%	Chile, Russia, China, Ireland, Belgium
Cobalt	100%	China, Belgium, Netherlands, US, Japan
Nickel	100%	Sweden, China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines
Vanadium	100%	Kuwait, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, Thailand
Niobium	100%	Brazil, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia
Germanium	100%	China, South Africa, Australia, France, US
Rhenium	100%	Russia, UK, Netherlands, South Africa, China
Beryllium	100%	Russia, UK, Netherlands, South Africa, China
Tantalum	100%	Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, Malaysia, US
Strontium	100%	China, the US, Russia, Estonia, Slovenia
Zirconium(zircon)	80%	Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, Malaysia, US
Graphite(natural)	60%	China, Madagascar, Mozambique, Vietnam, Tanzania
Manganese	50%	South Africa, Gabon, Australia, Brazil, China
Chromium	2.5%	South Africa, Mozambique, Oman, Switzerland, Turkey
Silicon	<1%	China, Malaysia, Norway, Bhutan, Netherlands

Significance:

Critical Minerals List prioritizes minerals essential for industrial sectors like high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transport, and defence.
It will serve as a guiding framework for policy formulation, strategic planning, and investment decisions in the mining sector.
This initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to achieving a ‘Net Zero’ target, attaining self-reliance and creating a robust and resilient mineral sector in India.

Other initiatives taken by India for Critical Minerals:

India just joined Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) as the newest partner, which aims to strengthen critical mineral supply chains.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is currently focused on exploring critical and deep-seated minerals to boost the growth of the mining sector.
KABIL: A Joint Venture Company among NALCO, HCL and MECL named Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) has been formed in August 2019 to ensure the supply of Critical Minerals.

June 29, 2023 /29 June 2023, Critical Minerals List, Today's Article

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Source: DTE

Context: During the 64th Global Environment Facility (GEF) council meeting in Brazil, $1.4 billion was approved for disbursement to address climate, biodiversity, and pollution issues.

Other decisions:

Of the total 4 billion, $653 million has been allocated specifically for biodiversity, aiming to support countries in updating their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans and meeting the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by 2030.
Latin America and the Caribbean region receive the most funding, followed by Africa.
The United Nations Development Programme, UN Environment Programme, and Food and Agriculture Organization are the top recipients among the 18 implementing agencies for GEF.
A new trust fund called the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund will be established to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity framework.

About GEF

GEF (est. during 1992 Rio Conference; HQ: Washington, D.C) is a multi-stakeholder partnership to tackle various environmental issues. Its funding is provided by participating donor countries and is mobilized through a replenishment process every four years.

It funds:

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Minamata Convention on Mercury

About Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework:

It is a global agreement adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties (2022) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It sets forth four goals and 23 targets to be achieved by 2030 to address the biodiversity crisis. The framework aims to restore and conserve ecosystems, reduce species extinction risk, mitigate pollution, promote sustainable practices, and allocate financial resources for biodiversity conservation. It also emphasizes the need for international cooperation and monitoring to track progress.

June 29, 2023 /29 June 2023, GEF, Global Environment Facility, Today's Article

Nepal

Mapping

Source: TH

The Supreme Court of Nepal has issued an interim order directing the government to establish a mechanism for registering marriages of same-sex couples.

Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Nepal is landlocked by China’s Tibet Autonomous Region to the north and India on the other three sides. West Bengal’s narrow Siliguri Corridor separates Nepal and Bangladesh.

June 29, 2023 /29 June 2023, Today's Article