2023 03 30

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 2:

Institute of Eminence (IOE) status
Karnataka: Reservation for Muslims under the OBC category
India needs public policy education

GS Paper 3:

Experts urging a halt to Artificial Intelligence training
Draft Carbon Credit Trading Scheme

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Bitumen from Husk
Blended finance
GDPs Without Borders
“SECURE” SCO

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

New India Literacy Programme
Multilateral Development Banks
Framework to prevent fraud by stock brokers
$750 Billion of India’s exports
Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB)
Upward lightning
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Vembanad and Ashtamudi Lake
AFINDEX 2023

Institute of Eminence (IOE) status

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Issues Relating to the Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources

Source: IE

Context: The Rajya Sabha Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, has recommended

To accelerate the process for granting the Institute of Eminence (IOE) status.
To realign the IoE scheme with the National Education Policy, 2020.

The IoE Scheme:

About

The UB 2016-17 announced 10 public and 10 private HEIs are to be recognised to emerge as world-class institutions.
As a result, UGC launched the IoE scheme in 2017 to –
- Provide for high-quality teaching and research → excellence, and innovations.
- Engage in areas of specialisation.
- Enable HEIs to emerge as top 100 institutions in the world over time (top 500 by 2027).

Benefits

Greater autonomy:
- Administrative and academic: Free to decide fee, flexible course duration and structure, exemption from approvals for collaborations with foreign institutions.
- Financial: The selected public institutions will get Rs 1,000 crore each from the Ministry of Education.
However, no financial assistance to the private institutions.

Criteria for the selection/revocation of status

The institutions should be among the top 50 in the NIRF in their category, and top 500 in internationally recognised rankings.
Public institutes eligible to apply are central universities, govt-owned and controlled deemed to be universities, institutions of national importance (IITs, NITs), and state univs.

Procedure: Institutes need to submit a proposal → with milestones to be achieved over the next 5 to 15 years → To the Empowered Expert Committee (EEC constituted by UGC).

Revocation of the status: In case the institute fails to achieve scheme objectives at the end of the 5th and subsequent years, the EEC could penalise them.

Final action on revocation is to be taken by the Ministry of Education.

Analysis of the IoE scheme:

So far 12 – 8 public + 4 private institutes have been granted the IoE status.
So far 8 public institutes have been sanctioned Rs 3,428 crore, with IISc Bangalore accounting for the highest share (Rs 620.59 crore).
It has helped 8 public universities step up ambitious reforms and growth – riding on the financial boost each has got as part of the scheme.
However, many of the selected private campuses are yet to realise the promised benefits of the scheme.
The Government is dragging its feet on awarding the IoE status to 2 public and 5 private HEIs. The absence of an EEC is holding up the process.

Insta Links:

Institutions of Eminence (IoEs) to set up campuses abroad

Mains Links:

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 higher and technical education in the country? Discuss. (UPSC 2015)

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, 30 March CA, IoE Scheme, NEP 2020 GS2, Today's Article, Today’s article

Karnataka: Reservation for Muslims under the OBC category

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Mechanisms, Laws, Institutions and Bodies constituted for the Protection and Betterment of these Vulnerable Sections

Source: TH

Context: The Karnataka government’s recent decisions on the reservation have come under intense political debate.


Decisions	Need	Criticism
● Did away with the 4% reservation for Muslims in the OBC category. ● This 4% is to be distributed equally among the Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas – the 2 dominant land-owning communities in the State. ● Accorded internal reservation for 101 Scheduled Castes (SC).	● The OBC reservation quota cannot be extended based on religion ● The community no longer remains socially and educationally backward	● Vote-bank politics ● The Muslims were included based on the recommendations by the Sachar Committee, L.G. Havanur and Chinnappa Reddy Commissions. ● Any addition or deletion of a community from the reservation matrix should be based on an empirical study by the Karnataka BC Commission.

Reservation to religious minorities:

At present, there is no reservation in Civil Posts and Services under the GoI and admission to Central Educational Institutions for Minority Communities.
However, the Central Government carved out a sub-quota of 5% for minorities, as defined under the National Commission for Minorities Act 1992.
This will be within the 27% reservation for OBCs in Civil Posts and Services under the GoI and admission to Central Educational Institutions.
The constitutional validity of the matter is presently sub-judice in the SC.

Insta Links:

The key to revitalising India’s reservation system

Mains Links:

Whether the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) can enforce the implementation of constitutional reservation for the Scheduled Castes in the religious minority institutions? Examine. (UPSC 2018)

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, 30 March CA, GS 2, National Commission for Minorities Act 1992, Reservation to religious minorities, Sachar Committee, Today's Article, Today’s article

India needs public policy education

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability

Source: TH

Context: Even though good public policies spur economic growth, and public welfare and improve the ease of living for citizens, there is little interest in public policy education in India.

Background:

Most executive jobs in the organised sector are in government/govt-owned agencies and require an understanding of public policy and public administration/public management.
Though the Indian bureaucracy has many talented people, governance is still perceived to be lagging behind private sector management (efficient, effective).
This is largely due to a lack of training in public management → policymakers are under-equipped to develop effective policies.

Why does public management remain a neglected field in India?

Inadequate formal education in public management as compared to business management education (there are ~3,182 institutions).
- Only ~130 public, private and not-for-profit universities offer public administration programmes and only 29 institutes offer public policy programmes.
Few jobs available for people pursuing such courses are the reason why universities don’t have many programmes in public management.
- Therefore, neither educational institutes nor students find any incentive to prefer public management courses.
Very few civil servants have had exposure to public management before joining the service. Also, there are a few opportunities for in-service officers to study public management in India and abroad.

Suggestions:

Public management should be one of the compulsory subjects for the UPSC civil service examination. This will help –
- Civil servants have formal education in public management before they enter service.
- In creating an opportunity or incentive for universities and private institutions to offer the subject at the graduate or PG level.
- Students become better citizens as well as effective private sector managers.
The existing training institutions of the government should have a larger component of public policy as part of induction training.
The government can create certain specialised positions for public policy analysts to create new job avenues for the graduates of public policy programmes.

Insta Links:

Governance: Important aspects

Mains Links:

“Pressure groups play a vital role in influencing public policy making in India.” Explain how the business associations contribute to public policies. (UPSC 2021)

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, 30 March CA, public administration, Public management, Public policy, Public policy education GS 2, Today's Article, Today’s article

Experts urging a halt to Artificial Intelligence training

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Science and Technology

Source: BBC

Context: Key figures in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), including Twitter’s Elon Musk and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, have signed an open letter calling for a suspension of the training of powerful AI systems

What are the dangers of developing super-intelligent AI?


Dangers from AI	Examples
Risks to Human safety	AI-powered Autonomous weapons systems that can make decisions without human intervention may lead to accidents, harm or death to civilians and military personnel.
Job displacement and unemployment	AI automation in industries such as marketing, manufacturing, law, accounting and healthcare may lead to job losses. Vulnerable sections and minorities are especially vulnerable to it.
Social manipulation	E.g., Social media platforms like TikTok rely on AI to saturate a user’s feed with content related to previous media they’ve viewed, making it easier to create an echo-chamber of manipulation.
Social surveillance	Governments and police may use facial recognition technology to track a person’s movements and gather data on their activities, relationships, and political views.
Biases	AI may be developed by humans who are inherently biased, leading to data and algorithmic bias that can amplify each other
Existential risks	E.g., scenarios where AI surpasses human intelligence, gains autonomy, and seeks to protect itself, potentially leading to conflicts with humans.

However, AI is also needed for solving the biggest challenges we face


Problem	How AI can help	Example/Fact
Climate Change	AI can help reduce energy consumption, improve renewable energy, and monitor and predict climate patterns.	Google’s DeepMind AI has reduced energy consumption at their data centres by 15%.
Disease Detection and Treatment	AI can help identify diseases and develop treatments faster, improving patient outcomes.	AI algorithms have been developed to detect breast cancer with greater accuracy than human radiologists.
Hunger and Food Security	AI can help optimize farming practices, improve crop yields, and reduce food waste.	The use of AI in precision agriculture has been shown to increase crop yields by up to 30%.
Poverty	AI can help improve access to education and job opportunities for underserved communities.	AI-powered chatbots are being used to provide education and job training to refugees in Lebanon.
Natural Disasters	AI can help predict and respond to natural disasters, reducing their impact on human life and infrastructure.	IBM’s Watson is being used to analyze data to predict the path of hurricanes, helping communities to prepare and evacuate in advance.

What should be done?

Risk analysis: The open letter argues that AI labs should halt the training of AI systems that are more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months to ensure that these risks are appropriately addressed.
Development of new regulatory authorities dedicated to AI: It will ensure that the technology is developed in a way that benefits society and avoids catastrophic outcomes

Conclusion:

AI has the potential to help solve many of the world’s problems, but it’s not a silver bullet solution and must be implemented responsibly and ethically.

Insta Links

Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Prelims Link:

With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following?
Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units.
Create meaningful short stories and songs.
Disease diagnosis.
Text-to-Speech Conversion.
Wireless transmission of electrical energy.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Answer: d

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, Artificial Intelligence, dangers posed by AI, super-intelligent AI, Today's Article

Draft Carbon Credit Trading Scheme

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Environment Conservation

Source: ET

Context: The power ministry issued a draft ‘Carbon Credit Trading Scheme’ to set up a framework for the Indian carbon market and sought feedback from stakeholders.

What is Carbon Credit?

A carbon credit is a tradable permit representing the right to emit a set amount of carbon dioxide or the equivalent amount of a different greenhouse gas.

It equals one tonne of carbon dioxide removed, reduced, or sequestered from the atmosphere.

What is Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS)?

The ‘CCTS’ means the scheme for the reduction or removal of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions notified by the central government

Background of CCTS:

The parliament passed the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022. One of the provisions of this amendment included empowering the central government to “specify carbon trading scheme”, in consultation with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).

Features of CCTS:

‘Accredited carbon verifier’: It is an agency accredited by the BEE to carry out validation or verification activities in respect of the CCTS.
Setting up of the Indian Carbon Market Governing Board (ICMGB): for oversight, making rules for the Indian carbon market, guidelines regarding the sale of carbon credit certificates to outside India and other regulatory functions
- Environment secretaries would be the ex-officio co-chairmen of ICMGB.
- The ICMGB shall meet at least once in a quarter of every year
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency shall be the administrator for the Indian carbon market and shall also work as the secretariat for the ICMGB.
The Grid Controller of India Ltd shall be the registry for the Indian Carbon Market.
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) shall be the regulator for the trading activities under the Indian carbon market

Types of carbon markets:

Compliance markets: created to comply with a law
Voluntary markets: Issuance, buying and selling of carbon credits, on a voluntary basis.

Features of The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022:

Establishes provisions for the establishment of carbon markets to encourage carbon trading and reduce carbon emissions.
Mandates the use of non-fossil sources such as green hydrogen, green ammonia, biomass, and ethanol for energy and feedstock.
Establishes a domestic carbon market in India.
Brings large residential buildings under the Energy Conservation regime to ensure energy efficiency.
Enhances the scope of the Energy Conservation Building Code to promote energy conservation in buildings.
Amends penalty provisions to ensure stricter enforcement of energy conservation measures.
Increases the number of members in the governing council of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to strengthen the agency’s capabilities.
Empowers the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions to make regulations for the smooth discharge of its functions related to energy conservation.
Enables the use of clean energy, including green hydrogen, to be mandatory to promote sustainable energy practices.

Insta Links

The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Mains Links

The carbon emissions trading mechanism can function as a policy instrument for managing greenhouse gas emissions, aiming to lower emissions and keeping the costs of overall emissions reduction at a minimum through market transactions. Critically examine. (15M)

March 30, 2023 /2022, 30 Mar 2023, Carbon emissions trading mechanism, Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, Today's Article

Bitumen from Husk

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: HBL

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated that making bitumen (used for laying roads) from agricultural waste like rice husk can save up to ₹30,000 crores annually in import bills.

Bitumen is a thick low-grade crude oil that is generally composed of asphaltene resin and is the main fossil fuel component of oil sands. Bitumen is known for its waterproofing and adhesive properties.

Usage: The example shows the use of innovations, ways to reduce imports and less reliance on fossil fuel

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, Bitumen from Husk, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Today's Article

Blended finance

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: LM

Blended finance is a financing mechanism that combines public, private, and philanthropic funds to support social and environmental projects.

Significance: Blended finance can help attract private capital to projects that are otherwise difficult to finance (e.g., projects related to the fulfilment of SDGs), and help achieve social and environmental objectives while generating financial returns for investors.

Example: Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for Innovative Delivery of Healthcare (Samridh) is a blended financing entity, that mobilized a capital pool of $300 million to offer grant and debt financing provisions to healthcare enterprises and innovators during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The scheme was launched by the Indian government, USAID, The Rockefeller Foundation etc.

Usage: The example shows an innovative way to finance social and environmental projects.

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, Blended finance, Samridh, Today's Article

GDPs Without Borders

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: TOI

Japanese farmers are hiring labour from India to cut and carry down Koyamaki (umbrella pines) from mountains, due to its ageing populations.

Significance: This mutually beneficial agreement helps Japan with its worker shortages and India with its overabundance of young farmers.

Usage: The example can be used to justify that—Creating barriers to immigration hurts both richer and poorer countries. Facilitating a more immigrant workforce will benefit the global economy and create GDPs Without Borders.

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, AGRICULTURE, GDPs Without Borders, Japan, Today's Article

“Insights SECURE” SCO

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: PIB

‘S’ stands for Security for Citizens

‘E’ for Economic Development

‘C’ for Connectivity

‘U’ for Unity

‘R’ for Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Unity

‘E’ for Environment Protection.

Usage: the acronym can be used for deliberating on the dimensions of SCO in an International Relations paper.

March 30, 2023 /“SECURE” SCO, 30 Mar 2023, Today's Article

New India Literacy Programme

Facts for Prelims

Source: PIB

Context: The government has launched a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely, the “New India Literacy Programme” (NILP) for implementation during five years from the FYs 2022-23 to 2026-27


About the Scheme	Description
Implementation	5 years from FYs 2022-23 to 2026-27
Target	All Non-literates aged 15 years and above, with a target of 5.00 crore beneficiaries
Components	Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Vocational Skills Development, Basic Education, Continuing Education
Identification	Door-to-door survey on Mobile App, direct registration through the mobile app
Teaching Method	Volunteerism, technology-based and predominantly online
Teaching Material	Teaching resources available on the DIKSHA platform of NCERT, dissemination through TV, Radio, Samajik Chetna Kendra

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, Adult literacy, New India Literacy Programme, NILP, Today's Article

Multilateral Development Banks

Facts for Prelims

Source: PIB, IE

Context: Under the aegis of India’s G20 Presidency, an 11-member G20 Expert Group on “Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) has been constituted.

What is MDB?

MDB is a financial institution established by multiple member countries and falls under international law. E.g., International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development Bank etc.

Focus area: How can World Bank and other bodies contribute towards climate finance, critical for developing and LDCs to make a smooth transition to lower carbon emissions without compromising on growth.

Objectives of MDB: Stabilizing the global financial system during the time of crisis; Providing long-term financing; Providing lower-cost financing

Issues: Currently, MDBs are dominated by developed Countries (WB by USA, IMF by EU and ADB by Japan); they impose conditionality in loans; there is a lack of Transparency and Accountability.

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, MDBs, Multilateral Development Banks, Today's Article

Framework to prevent fraud by stock brokers

Facts for Prelims

Source: TH

Context: SEBI, the markets regulator in India, has approved several proposals for boosting the corporate governance ecosystem and preventing fraud and market abuse by stockbrokers


Measures Introduced	Description	Significance
Ending permanent directorship	SEBI has ended the practice of individuals holding permanent directorship on boards of listed companies.	This move aims to boost corporate governance and encourage the appointment of independent directors who can provide an objective view.
Framework to prevent fraud	SEBI has put in place a formal mechanism to prevent fraud and market abuse by stockbrokers.	This step is expected to safeguard investors’ money from misuse by stockbrokers.
Private equity funds as sponsors of mutual funds	SEBI has approved a regulatory framework to allow private equity funds to become sponsors of mutual funds.	This move is expected to deepen the mutual fund industry in India.
ESG disclosures	SEBI has given its nod to norms for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosures by listed companies.	This step is expected to enhance transparency and encourage responsible corporate behaviour.
Fund-blocking facility	SEBI will introduce a fund-blocking facility for secondary market transactions, similar to the one used for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs).	This measure is aimed at safeguarding investors’ money from misuse by stockbrokers.

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, corporate governance, Market frauds, sebi, Today's Article

$750 Billion of India’s exports

Facts for Prelims

Source: PIB

Context: Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has lauded the people of India for achieving over $750 Billion in exports in the 75th year of India’s independence

India’s goods and services exports touched an all-time high of $422 billion and $254 billion respectively in 2021-22.
India exports maximum to USA (18% share)> UAE (6%)> China (5%)> Bangladesh
India’s target: $ 2 trillion export by 2030

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, India’s exports, Today's Article

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB)

Facts for Prelims

Source: DTE

Context: Astronomers recorded the brightest gamma-ray radiation ever in October 2022, causing disruptions in radio signals on Earth and cutting across our solar system.

The radiation pulse, named GRB 221009A, was a birth cry of a black hole and lasted five minutes.

The observation challenges the theory of how GRB jets produce light. The observation has shown unexpected behaviour in the radio signals from the afterglow of the burst, which may indicate a completely new emission component.

What are GRBs?

GRBs are a very bright and powerful explosion of gamma rays, the most energetic form of light. Most GRBs are caused by massive stars collapsing into black holes or by the merging of two neutron stars.

Significance: They are important to study because they can give us insights into the early universe and the processes that drive the most powerful explosions in the cosmos.

Related News:

As per a recent observation, a supermassive black hole (hundreds of thousands to billions of times the Sun’s mass) has changed its direction and is directly facing toward the Earth. A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, Black holes., Gamma Ray Bursts, Today's Article

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Facts for Prelims

Source: TH

Context: The article explains why most deadly viruses contain RNA, unlike most organisms which use DNA to store genetic information

What is an RNA?


Property	RNA	DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)
Structure	Single-stranded	Double-stranded
Sugar component	Ribose	Deoxyribose
Bases	Adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil	Adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine
Function	· mRNA carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosomes for protein synthesis · Transfer RNA (tRNA) delivers amino acids to the ribosomes · Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) helps to catalyse protein synthesis	Genetic material carries genetic information
Stability	Less stable	More stable
Mutation rate	Higher mutation rate	Lower mutation rate
Replication	Not self-replicating, need a DNA template	Self-replicating
Genetic information	Can act as genetic material in some viruses	The primary genetic material in organisms

Why do most deadly viruses contain RNA?


Reasons	Explanation	Examples
High mutation rate	RNA viruses change quickly, allowing them to adapt to new environments and host species	Influenza virus, HIV, SARS-CoV-2
Recombination	RNA viruses can exchange genetic material, leading to the emergence of new strains	Norovirus, Hepatitis C virus, Rotavirus
Wide host range	RNA viruses can infect a variety of hosts, including animals and humans, leading to zoonotic diseases	Ebola virus, Zika virus, Nipah virus
High viral loads	RNA viruses can replicate quickly, producing large amounts of virus that can overwhelm the host’s immune system	Hepatitis A virus, Dengue virus, yellow fever virus

On the other hand, DNA is more stable, error-free and doesn’t mutate easily.

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, RNA, RNA vs DNA, Today's Article, why most viruses contain RNA

Upward lightning

Facts for Prelims

Source: IE

Context: Brazilian researchers recently captured high-speed video footage of positive upward discharges of electricity from lightning conductor rods in São José dos Campos

What is Upwards lightning?

Upward lightning is a phenomenon where lightning streaks develop from tall objects that travel upward toward electrified storm clouds (opposite to normal Lightening)

How does it happen?

Upward lightning occurs when there is a tall object, such as a building or a lightning rod, on the ground and there is an electrically charged storm cloud overhead. The tall object creates a strong electric field near the ground, and this can initiate a channel of ionized air, called an upward leader, which moves upward from the object towards the cloud. When this upward leader connects with a downward-moving stepped leader from the cloud, it completes the circuit, and a discharge of electricity flows from the cloud to the ground.

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, clouds, Today's Article, Upwards lightning

Vembanad and Ashtamudi Lake

Facts for Prelims

Source: [DTE](https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/pollution/vembanad-ashtamudi-ngt-slaps-rs-10-crore-on-kerala-for-its-failure-to-protect-ramsar-sites-88520#:~:text=The%20National%20Green%20Tribunal%20(NGT,the%20Ramsar%20list%20of%20wetlands.)

Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 crore on the Kerala government for failing to protect the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes (Ramsar list of wetlands)

Issues: The wetlands had become polluted drains due to the dumping of pharmaceutical waste, plastic waste, household waste, and slaughterhouse waste.

The penalty levied per the ‘polluter pays principle’ should be deposited in a ring-fenced account, which should be utilized under the chief secretary’s authority for conservation or restoration measures.


Feature	Vembanad Lake	Ashtamudi Lake
Size	The largest lake in Kerala, the longest in India	Second largest after the Vembanad estuary system
Names	Punnamada Lake (in Kuttanad), Kochi Lake	Ashtamudi Kayal, Ashtamudi means ‘eight braids’ (8 branches) in the local Malayalam language
Significance	Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Ramsar Site	Houseboat and backwater resorts, Ramsar Site
Ramsar Site	Yes, second-largest Ramsar site in India after Sundarbans	Yes
Bird Sanctuary	Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary on the east coast
Unique Feature	The lake is situated at sea level and is separated from the Laccadive Sea by a narrow barrier island	Unique wetland ecosystem, Gateway to Kerala Backwaters
Issues	Vembanad lake’s water retention capacity had decreased by 85% in the last 120 years due to huge encroachment and devastation of its ecology	It has significant amounts of waste accumulation

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, Today's Article, Vembanad and Ashtamudi Lake

AFINDEX 2023

Facts for Prelims

Source: IE

Context: The second edition of 10 days Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX 2023) started in Pune. The exercise is centred around Humanitarian Mine Assistance and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.

Objective:

Promoting the idea of Africa-India Militaries for Regional Unity (AMRUT)
Improving coordination in UN Peacekeeping Forces (UNPKF)

Other major aspects in India-Africa defence relations:

1st edition of the India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave was organized
Gandhinagar Declaration: To enhance cooperation in fields of training & military exercises
India is a leading defence exporter to African countries (Mauritius> Mozambique> Seychelles)
Guiding principles: ‘SAGAR or Security and Growth for All in the Region’, and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, i.e., the world is a family

Related News:

Search And Rescue (SAR) Exercise: Indian Coast Guard recently conducted Regional Search and Rescue exercise at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh

Exercise Vayu Prahar: It is a joint Multi Domain Air-Land Exercise of the Indian Army and Air force

Project Akashteer: Indigenously developed Automated Air Defence Control & Reporting System will enable monitoring of low-level airspace over the battle areas of the Indian Army and effectively control the Ground Based Air Defence Weapon Systems

Sarang systems: Indigenously developed, Sarang is an advanced Electronic Support Measure system for helicopters of the Indian Navy

Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2016)

The India-Africa Summit

held in 2015 was the third such Summit
was actually initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

March 30, 2023 /30 Mar 2023, AFINDEX 2023, Exercise Vayu Prahar, india-africa relations, Project Akashteer, Sarang systems, Today's Article

Optional:

Pub Ad/Governance

TH: India needs public policy education