2023 05 05
Table of Contents:
GS Paper 1:
- El Niño likely to bring extreme weather across the world
GS Paper 3:
- RBIs report on currency and finance
- SAI20: Blueprint for a blue economy
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
- ENVIRONMENT: NITI Aayog’s Compendium on Best Practices in Social Sector 2023
- Regulation of AI
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
- Rang Ghar
- Issues in Manipur
- Digital twins
- Business Ready Project
- International Climate Action in Civil Aviation
- Coal production in India
- Global Report on Food Crises 2023
- Krishi Mapper
El Niño likely to bring extreme weather across the world
GS Paper 1
Syllabus: Important Geophysical Phenomena
Source: HT
Context: According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the world should prepare for the development of El Niño, which is often associated with increased heat, drought or rainfall in different parts of the world.
Background:
- La Niña has now ended after persisting for three years and the tropical Pacific is currently in an ENSO-neutral state (neither El Niño nor La Niña).
- There is a 60% chance for a transition from ENSO-neutral to El Niño during May-July 2023.
- 2016 was the warmest year on record because of the confluence of a very powerful El Niño event and global warming.
The typical impacts of El Niño include:
- Increased rainfall in parts of southern South America, the southern US, the Horn of Africa and central Asia.
- Severe droughts over Australia, Indonesia, and parts of southern Asia.
- Warm water during summer in the northern hemisphere can fuel hurricanes in the central/eastern Pacific Ocean and can hinder hurricane formation in the Atlantic Basin.
Potential threats due to an El Niño event:
- A new spike in global heating will increase the chance of breaking temperature records (in 2024).
- 50:50 chance of the global temperature temporarily reaching 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era.
Likely impact on India:
- Normally, El Nino is good for the northeast monsoon [Oct-Dec in the peninsular region] but bad for the southwest monsoon (dry periods during June-Sept).
- The monsoon season (~70% of India’s annual rainfall) is crucial to India’s agriculture – a lifeline for about 60% of the country’s net cultivated area.
- Monsoon drives farm produce, rural spending, inflation, jobs, and industrial demand.
- Good farm output checks food inflation, raises rural incomes and helps inject demand into the economy.
Challenge ahead for India:
- IMD forecasted a “normal” monsoon at 96% (+/-5%) of the long-period average (LPA is 87 cm for the period of 1971 to 2020).
- An unusually cold start to summer could delay the start of the monsoon season.
Way ahead – EW4All:
- The Early Warnings For All Initiative (EW4All) was formally launched by the UN Secretary-General in November 2022 at the COP27 meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh.
- The Initiative calls for the whole world to be covered by an early warning system by the end of 2027.
Insta Links:
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, 5 May CA, El Nino and Indian monsoon, ENSO, GS 1, La-Nina, Southwest and Northeast Monsoon, Today's Article, Today’s article
RBIs report on currency and finance
GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Resource Mobilization, Environment Conservation
Source: RBI, MoneyControl
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a report on currency and finance for the financial year (FY) 2022-23. The theme of the report is ‘Towards a Greener Cleaner India’.
Major points in the Report are:
| Topic | Summary |
| CBDC and Environment | CBDC can be more environment-friendly compared to alternative cashless methods. Payments effected through CBDC would be instantaneous and final, and reduced reliance on clearing corporations and other settlement infrastructure could cut down energy consumption. |
| Climate stress test | Public sector banks (PSBs) may be more vulnerable than private sector banks (PVBs) in India on the basis of Climate stress tests (loss to the financial system due to climate-related risks) |
| Financing requirements by India | An additional annual investment of about 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 would be required to fill the infrastructure gap due to Climate change. |
| Macroeconomic Impact of Climate Change in India | India could lose anywhere around 3 to 10% of its GDP annually by 2100 due to climate change. Job loss: 34 million job losses from heat stress associated with productivity decline by 2030. |
| RBI and Climate Change | RBI joined Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) which aims to strengthen the global response to meeting Paris Agreement goals. It issued sovereign green bonds (SGBs) for green infrastructural investments and released a framework for mobilizing green deposits by regulated entities. |
| Policy Options to Mitigate Climate Risks | Fiscal Policy Initiatives: Carbon pricing using carbon taxes, Emission Trading System; green taxonomy to identify sustainable green assets and activities, etc. Technology adoption: targeted R&D investments by Governments; addressing variability in wind and solar power supply, developing an indigenous renewables supply chain, etc. Monetary Policy: Higher use of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDCs) can help lower carbon footprint, Lower margin requirements for SGBs when used as collateral, etc. |
Related news:
Previously, RBI released a report on currency and Finance with the theme “Revive and Reconstruct” in the context of nurturing a durable recovery post-Covid-19.
Major concerns highlighted in the report are:
- The Covid-19 pandemic is one of the worst health crises in history, with India suffering significant losses in output, lives, and livelihoods.
- The Russia-Ukraine conflict has also negatively impacted the recovery momentum.
- India is expected to recover from Covid-19 losses by 2034-35, assuming a growth rate of 7.2% for 2022-23 and 7.5% beyond that.
Reforms suggested:
- Achieve medium-term steady-state GDP growth of 6.5-8.5%. (RBI has suggested seven wheels of economic progress)
- Rebalancing of monetary and fiscal policies, achieving price stability
- Promote IR 4.0
- Transition to new zero-emission
- Reducing government debt
- Implementing structural reforms such as improving access to low-cost land, raising the quality of labour, promoting innovation and technology, and rationalizing subsidies
Insta Links:
Report on Trends and Progress of Banking in India 2021-22
Prelims Links:
- Consider the following statements:
- The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is appointed by the Central Government.
- Certain provisions in the Constitution of India give the Central Government the right to issue directions to the RBI in the public interest.
- The Governor of the RBI draws his power from the RBI Act.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: C
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, RBI’s report on currency and finance, Today's Article
SAI20: Blueprint for a blue economy
GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Indian Economy and related issues/Environment, Conservation
Source: IE
Context: The Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) will chair SAI20 – the Engagement Group for Supreme Audit Institutions (SAls) of G20 countries in Goa.
What is SAI20?
- The SAI20 Engagement Group of G20 was established in 2022 during Indonesia’s Presidency of the G20.
- The constitution of SAI20 stems from a recognition of the role of SAIs in –
- Promoting the efficiency, accountability, and transparency of public administration, and supporting SDG implementation.
- Promoting intergenerational equity and addressing climate change concerns.
Meaning of blue economy and its significance:
- The global annual value of the blue/ocean economy is ~$2.5 trillion.
- About 90% of global trade by volume [75% by value] is carried out through sea routes.
Efforts to promote blue economy:
| Global | India |
| Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles (2018): Laid out by the UNEP, the framework can be used by Investors to fund ocean-based industries and Financiers to see how marine investment can impact livelihood and poverty eradication. | The blue economy is one of the 10 core sectors for national growth in India. |
| COP15 (CBD): It laid out the global biodiversity framework to conserve and sustainably use the planet’s biodiversity. | A National Blue Economy Policy that aims to harness maritime resources while preserving the country’s rich marine biodiversity has been prepared by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. |
| Compendium of Asset Accounts of Natural Resources: This first-ever country-wide handbook (by CAG) sets a national accounting framework for the blue economy. | |
| Conservation of Coastal Ecosystem report by CAG: The audit resulted in focused recommendations to help improve the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) ecosystem. |
Challenges:
- The measurement of the blue economy is challenging due to conflicting definitions and issues while classifying different sectors and sub-sectors.
- Climate change: Sea-level rise, water temperature, storm surges, cyclones and wave conditions are some of the signs.
- Land use changes, sand mining and deforestation impinge on the coastal ecosystem.
In the context of India,
- ~15% of India’s coastal areas have witnessed changes between 1992 and 2018 due to agriculture, depleting forest cover and urbanisation.
- The population living in the country’s coastal areas is expected to rise from 64 million in 2000 to 216 million by 2060.
Two priorities for SAI20 deliberations: Blue economy and responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI).
What is expected in the blue economy deliberations?
- Preparation of technology-driven tools to assess authorised development in coastal stretches and track marine water quality.
- Evolution of globally relevant audit toolkits for coastal spaces, which include –
- Legal and institutional frameworks,
- Compliance with coastal regulations,
- Biodiversity conservation,
- Capacity building and compliance to SDGs.
Way ahead:
- Disaster-resilient infrastructure along coasts
- ICT hubs for early warning systems
- The SAI20 audit toolkits being prepared under the leadership of the CAG of India will provide a unique opportunity for constructive dialogue to improve the auditing of ocean-based activities.
Conclusion: The audit toolkits will help in the assessment of policy goals, and resource efficiency while leveraging economic opportunities towards a truly sustainable blue economy-based global development model.
Insta Links:
Building a blue economy: What India can learn from China
Mains Links:
Defining the blue revolution, explain the problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India. (UPSC 2018)
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, 5 May CA, Blue economy., G20, GS3, SAI20, Today's Article, Today’s article
ENVIRONMENT: NITI Aayog’s Compendium on Best Practices in Social Sector 2023
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Source: Niti Aayog
Every day in this section we are bringing best practices from each category. Today’s best practices will cover the ‘ENVIRONMENT’
Initiatives:
| Initiative | Region | Goal |
| Electric vehicle policy and Induction of Electric Buses | Government of NCT of Delhi | Reduce emissions from the transport sector to improve Delhi’s air quality |
| A life, less ordinary: Ganga Prahari – Guardians of the Ganga | Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India | Establish a trained cadre of local communities to institutionalize conservation efforts for the river Ganga at the grassroots level |
| Bio Decomposer Solution and Spray Programme – Fighting stubble burning | Government of NCT of Delhi | Fight pollution caused by stubble burning by providing Bio-decompose spray to farmers |
| Solving dry waste handling – Materials Recovery Facility | Udupi District, Karnataka | Provide good waste management service and use non-recyclable waste as a raw material in cement factories |
| Palle Prakruthi Vanam / Village Nature Park | Government of Telangana | Create dense mini forests in rural areas using the Yadadri Miyawaki forestation technique to increase green cover and biodiversity |
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, ENVIRONMENT, NITI Aayog’s Compendium on Best Practices in Social Sector 2023, Today's Article
Regulation of AI
Source: TH
The regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) is a challenging issue because it is rooted in two problems: the pacing problem and the Collingridge dilemma.
Explanations:
| Pacing Problem | Collingridge Dilemma | |
| Definition | The difficulty of predicting the long-term impacts of a technology when it is introduced quickly and widely. | The difficulty of controlling the development and use of a technology once it has been widely adopted. |
| Example | The widespread adoption of social media without considering the long-term effects on mental health and society. | The development and use of fossil fuels, which have had a significant impact on the environment and climate change. |
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, Collingridge dilemma, Pacing problem, Regulation of AI, Today's Article
Rang Ghar
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: HT
Context: The Rang Ghar amphitheatre (large open area surrounded by rows of seats sloping upwards) in Assam’s Sivasagar district has drawn criticism after a laser show projecting “religious symbols” as part of PM’s 100th Man Ki Baat episode celebration.
About Rang Ghar:
Rang Ghar is a historical two-story amphitheatre, built during the reign of Swargadeo Pramatta Singha in the mid-18th century and served as a royal pavilion and amphitheatre during the Ahom dynasty. It is considered Asia’s first amphitheatre and is known for its unique octagonal shape and architectural features, including an inverted boat-shaped roof topped with stone crocodiles.
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, assam, Rang Ghar, Today's Article
Issues in Manipur
Source: IE
Context: The recent violent clashes in Manipur are due to longstanding tensions between hill and valley people, the Meitei demand for ST (Scheduled Tribe) status, and a recent order by the Manipur High Court.
Summary of the issues:
| Issue | Explanation |
| Hill-Valley Tensions | The central valley of Manipur (10% of the geographical area) is home to the Meitei and Meitei Pangals who constitute roughly 64% of the state’s population. The remaining 90% of the state’s geographical area comprises hills surrounding the valley, which are home to the recognized tribes, making up about 35% of the state’s population.  |
| Meitei Demand for ST Status | The Meitei community (living in the valley) wants to be included in the state’s Scheduled Tribes list. The demand has been led by the Scheduled Tribes Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) since 2012. They argue that being left out of the ST list has caused the community to be victimized without any constitutional safeguards. |
| Manipur High Court Order | A single judge of the Manipur High Court passed an order asking the government to consider the demand of the Meitei community for ST status. The order has been opposed by tribal groups in the state. |
| The opposition | Both the demand and the order, passed by a single judge of the High Court, have been strongly opposed by groups representing the state’s tribal communities such as Kukis and Naga (living in Hills) |
| Reason behind opposition | Opposition to the inclusion of the Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category by hill tribe in Manipur is due to their dominant population and political representation of Meitei (40 out of 60 Assembly constituencies of the state are in the valley), and fear of job loss. Additionally, the Meitei language is already included in the Constitution, and sections of the Meitei community are already classified as Scheduled Castes or Other Backward Classes with access to opportunities associated with that status. |
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, Manipur, Meitei, Today's Article, Valley and hill people
Digital twins
Source: LM
Context: India may soon join the ranks of cities and countries such as Singapore, Yingtan in China, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, etc. that have built digital twins to enhance their efficiency, coordination and governance.
About digital twins:
| It is a three-dimensional (3D) virtual representation of a city or system that provides real-time insights into the performance, operation, or profitability of a city. For example, let’s say a city government wants to develop a new transport system. By creating a digital twin of the city, they can simulate the transport system and see how it will function in real-world conditions. | |
| Purpose | To improve efficiency, coordination, and governance of cities. E.g., digital twins can be used to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion, improve the efficiency of public transportation systems, manage energy consumption, monitor air and water quality, and identify areas that are vulnerable to natural disasters. |
| Benefits | Enables better planning of infrastructure at lower costs. Can support climate-smart cities or green infrastructure. Can improve healthcare, education, agriculture, and other areas |
| Challenges | Requires large amounts of data collection and processing. Can be costly and time-consuming to develop. Requires expertise in data analysis and 3D modelling |
| Future potential | Could revolutionize the way we plan and manage cities. Could improve the quality of life for urban residents. This could lead to more sustainable and efficient use of resources |
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, Cities, Digital twins, Today's Article
Business Ready Project
Source: World Bank
Context: The World Bank Group has launched its Business Ready project, which will assess the business and investment climate in up to 180 economies annually.
- It replaces the World Bank Group’s earlier Doing Business project, reflecting a more balanced and transparent approach to evaluating a country’s business and investment climate
Comparison between the Business Ready project and the previous Doing Business project:
| Business Ready Project | Doing Business Project | |
| Objective | To assess the business and investment climate in up to 180 economies in a transparent and fair way | To evaluate the standpoint of private sector development as a whole |
| Criteria | Business Entry, Business Location, Utility Services, Labor, Financial Services, International Trade, Taxation, Dispute Resolution, Market Competition, and Business Insolvency | Starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency |
| Scope | Covers 54 economies in the first year, expected to scale up to 180 economies by 2025-26 | — |
| Approach | Reflects a more balanced and transparent approach towards evaluating a country’s business and investment climate. | Overall approach and methodology were not as transparent or well-documented as in the Business Ready project |
| Publication | The first report is to be published in Spring 2024, with subsequent reports expected annually | Reports were published annually, with the last report released in 2020. It was scrapped in 2021 after a probe revealed that rankings for China, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Azerbaijan had been altered |
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, Business Ready Project, Doing Business project, Today's Article, World Bank
International Climate Action in Civil Aviation
Source: ET
Context: India will start participating in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and the Long-Term Aspirational Goals (LTAG) in 2027.
About ICAO
The International Civil Aviation Organization (est. 1944; HQ: Montreal, Canada) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.
It has adopted ambitious goals of: 2% annual fuel efficiency improvement through 2050; carbon neutral growth and net zero by 2050. The ICAO has clubbed them under CORSIA and LTAG.
About CORSIA:
| CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) is a global scheme established by the ICAO to address the growth in CO2 emissions from international aviation. | |
| Purpose | To mitigate the growth of carbon emissions from international aviation by offsetting and reducing emissions |
| Scope | Applies to international flights only |
| Timeline | Phase 1 (2021-2023) – voluntary participation by states; Phase 2 (2024-2026) – mandatory participation for certain states based on size of their aviation industry; Phase 3 (2027-2035) – mandatory participation for all states |
| Offsetting | Airlines will offset their emissions by purchasing credits from approved carbon offset projects |
| Criteria for offset projects | Must meet certain criteria, such as being added to any other efforts to reduce emissions, being verifiable, and not causing harm to local communities or ecosystems |
| Review process | The scheme will be reviewed every three years to ensure effectiveness and make necessary adjustments |
| Goals | CORSIA aims to achieve carbon-neutral growth for international aviation from 2020 onward and reduce CO2 emissions from international aviation by 50% by 2050 compared to 2005 levels. |
What are Long-Term Aspirational Goals (LTAG)?
It is an initiative of the ICAO to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050. It does not attribute specific obligations or commitments in the form of emissions reduction goals to individual States but each state will contribute within its own national timeframe
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, CORSIA, International Climate Action in Civil Aviation, Today's Article
Coal production in India
Source: PIB
Context: The Ministry of Coal in India has formulated an ambitious Action Plan for FY 2023-24, aimed at enhancing the production, efficiency, sustainability, and new technologies in the coal sector.
Major points of the Coal Ministry Action Plan 2023-24:
| Area of Focus | Key Objectives |
| Coal Analytics | Achieve the coal production target of 1012 MT for FY 2023-24. Increase coal production and efficiency. Formulate a coking coal strategy to enhance coking coal availability in the country. Improve the quality of coal |
| Private Investment | Achieve CAPEX target of Rs 21030 Crores for FY 2023-24. Monetize assets. Allocate 25 new coal mines for commercial mining in FY 2023-24 |
| Infrastructure Projects | Monitor new railway line projects critical for coal evacuation. Adopt a Coal Logistics Policy/Plan for effective and environmentally friendly transport of coal |
| Safety in Mines | Ensure the best safety standards in coal mines. Conduct safety management & response drills. Scientifically close mines to restore ecological balance |
| Technology Push to Coal | Implement technology roadmap in the coal sector. Promote clean coal technology such as Coal to Hydrogen, Coal & Lignite gasification, and CBM/CMM. |
| Sustainability in Coal Sector | Develop eco-parks/mine tourism. Utilize mine water/overburden and implement energy-efficient measures |
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.
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, coal production in India, Today's Article
Global Report on Food Crises 2023
Source: WEF
Context: The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) for 2023 reveals that the number of people suffering from acute food insecurity has increased, with over 258 million people across 58 countries and territories facing acute hunger.
About the Report:
| Global Report on Food Crisis is an annual report to achieve a consensus-based assessment of acute food insecurity in the world | |
| Released by | Food Security Information Network (FSIN) and Global Network against Food Crises (GNAFC) |
| Key Highlights | The number of people experiencing acute food insecurity increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2022 |
| Key drivers: Economic shocks (including due to COVID-19 and Ukraine War), Conflict/insecurity, Weather/Climate extremes, etc. | |
| What is Acute Food Insecurity? | It refers to a situation where a person’s or household’s access to adequate food and nutrition is severely limited, resulting in a high risk of starvation or death. |
| What is FSIN? | A global initiative co-sponsored by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to strengthen food and nutrition security information systems for producing reliable and accurate data to guide analysis and decision-making. |
| What is GNAFC? | An alliance of humanitarian and development actors founded by the European Union, FAO, and WFP in 2016 to prevent, prepare for and respond to food crises and support the Sustainable Development Goal to End Hunger (SDG 2) |
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, Global Report on Food Crises 2023, Today's Article
Krishi Mapper
Source: PIB
Context: At the National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign 2023-24, the Union Agriculture Minister of India launched Krishi MApper.
What is Krishi Mapper?
It is an integrated mobile application developed by the Indian government for the agriculture sector. It provides geospatial data and other relevant information to farmers, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
Features: The app allows users to access information on soil health, weather, crop health, crop suitability, land use, and other relevant data for informed decision-making.
Aim: It is aimed at enhancing the productivity and profitability of Indian agriculture, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and ensuring food security for the nation.
Other Related Information:
- Also, the ministry has set national targets for the production of food grains, pulses, and oilseeds at 3320, 292.5, and 440 lakh tonnes, respectively, for the year 2023-24.
- India had a record production of food grains, pulses, oilseeds, and sugarcane in 2022-23, estimated at 3235, 278, 400, and 4688 lakh tonnes, respectively.
- Mustard Mission for the last three years, has enhanced rapeseed and mustard production by 40% from 91.2 to 128.2 lakh tonnes.
May 5, 2023 /05 May 2023, Krishi MApper, Today's Article