2023 09 09
Table of Contents:
GS Paper 2:
- India-South Korea partnership in Indo- Pacific
GS Paper 3:
- DPI achieves an 80% financial inclusion rate in India
- Climate change has transformed pearl millet cultivation zones
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
- Phanigiri artefacts
- Banglar mati, Banglar jol
- Draft Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns
- Incremental cash reserve ratio
- Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara
- XRISM Space Telescope and SLIM Lunar Lander
- Bubble of galaxies
- Global Biofuels Alliance
- MQ-9B predator drones
Mapping
- Morocco
India-South Korea partnership in Indo- Pacific
GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Bilateral Relationship
Source: TH
Context: The Camp David summit between the United States, Japan, and South Korea offers a unique opportunity for India to enhance its strategic partnership with South Korea, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
What is Camp David Summit?
Camp David summit is a series of meetings held at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, USA. It’s where world leaders, meet and negotiate agreements with the USA. E.g., The USA, Israel and Egypt negotiated and eventually reached the Camp David Accords in 1978, leading to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979.
What is the Indo-Pacific?
The Indo-Pacific is a term used to describe the region encompassing the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean. It’s significant for its geopolitical and economic importance, with several countries, including India, China, and the United States, having strategic interests in the region.
Key points of the United States, Japan, and South Korea summit:
- Repair in Seoul-Tokyo Relations: The trilateral meeting indicates improved relations between South Korea and Japan, recognizing the changing regional security environment.
- Strategic Shift: South Korea’s new strategic thinking suggests a willingness to address the China challenge and engage more actively in the Indo-Pacific.
- Quad Membership: South Korea’s desire to join the Quad grouping may become more feasible, with potential Quad Plus membership in the future.
- Foreign Policy Enthusiasm: President Yoon Suk Yeol aims to make South Korea a “global pivotal state” with increased engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
- For India and South Korea, potential areas of collaboration include political dialogues, defence cooperation, and nuclear energy, leveraging South Korea’s expertise in these fields.
- This partnership aligns with India’s interests in the Indo-Pacific amid growing concerns about China’s intentions and power.
Indo- South Korea Relationship:
| Area of Cooperation | India-South Korea Status | Examples |
| Political Relations | Strong and friendly | Regular high-level visits: E.g. 2+2 dialogue Joint Commission Meetings: Coordinating India’s ‘Act East Policy’ with South Korea’s ‘New Southern Policy’ Strategic Partnership (Upgraded to ‘special strategic partnership’ in 2015 with defence cooperation |
| Economic & Commercial | Growing trade ties | 2022 bilateral trade: Over USD 27 bn (Target: USD 50 bn by 2030) India-South Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) (2010) ‘Korea Plus’ initiative to promote Korean Investments in India (joint ventures in electronics, automobiles, and shipbuilding) |
| Energy | Growing energy cooperation | Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation (2011) |
| Defence & Security | Defence cooperation | Joint military exercises – Defence equipment procurement South Korea’s evolving strategic outlook and alignment with the U.S., Japan, and Australia make it a valuable partner for India in advancing its interests in the Indo-Pacific. |
| Cultural Exchanges | Vibrant cultural exchanges | Buddhist Connectio “SamgukYusa” text (13th CE) mentions a Princess from Ayodhya marrying a Korean Prince in 48 AD Cultural festivals showcasing Indian and Korean arts and heritage |
| People-to-People Ties | Growing | Significant Korean ex-pat community in India Growing Indian community in South Korea |
Conclusion:
South Korea’s evolving strategic outlook and alignment with the U.S., Japan, and Australia make it a valuable partner for India in advancing its interests in the Indo-Pacific.
Insta Links
More about India-South Korea ties
India a stakeholder in Korean peace: Modi
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, India-South Korea relationship, Today's Article
DPI achieves an 80% financial inclusion rate in India
GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Financial Inclusion
Source: PIB
Context: India’s use of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has achieved an 80% financial inclusion rate in just six years, according to a World Bank report.
- A feat that would have taken nearly five decades without a DPI approach
The article should be read in continuation of the y’day article on Financial Inclusion.
What is DPI?
Achievements of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in India:
| Achievement | Details |
| Financial Inclusion Rate | Increased from 25% in 2008 to over 80% of adults in 6 years thanks to DPIs. |
| PMJDY Accounts | The number of PMJDY accounts tripled from 147 million (Mar 2015) to 462 million (Jun 2022), with 56% owned by women. |
| Jan Dhan Plus Program | Encouraged low-income women to save, resulting in over 12 million women customers (Apr 2023) and a 50% increase in average balances in 5 months. |
| G2P Payments | Supported transfers of $361 billion directly to beneficiaries through 312 schemes, resulting in $33 billion in savings (Mar 2022). |
| UPI Transactions | More than 9 billion transactions were valued at about Rs 15 trillion in May 2023, accounting for nearly 50% of India’s nominal GDP in FY 2022-23. |
| Efficiency for Private Organizations | Enhanced efficiency for private organizations, enabling higher conversion rates, cost savings, and reduced fraud detection costs. |
| Lower Cost of Compliance for Banks for KYC | Reduced KYC compliance costs from $0.12 to $0.06, making lower-income clients more attractive for services and generating profits. |
| Cross-Border Payments | UPI-PayNow interlinking between India and Singapore facilitates faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border payments. |
| Account Aggregator (AA) Framework | AA Framework aims to strengthen India’s data infrastructure, enabling consumers and enterprises to share their data only with their consent through an electronic consent framework. The framework is regulated by RBI. Enabled over 1 billion cumulative accounts for data sharing with over 13 million cumulative consents raised in June 2023. |
| Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture (DEPA) | Grants individuals control over their data, enabling tailored product and service access, and fostering innovation and competition. |
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, digital public infrastructure (DPI), financial inclusion, Today's Article
Climate change has transformed pearl millet cultivation zones
GS3/GS1 Paper
Syllabus: Agriculture/ Geography/ Cropping pattern
Source: DTE
Context: A study ( by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and ICAR-AICRP) reveals that climate change has shifted India’s core pearl millet (bajra) production zone from arid regions in Rajasthan to eastern Rajasthan and Haryana due to increased rainfall caused by human-induced climate change.
What is Pearl millet?
It is commonly known as bajra, a drought-tolerant cereal grain widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions of India and Africa. It is known for its resilience to adverse growing conditions, including low rainfall.
More about Pearl millet:
Its grains are small, round, and typically light yellow to whitish in colour. This grain is a good source of nutrition, containing essential nutrients like protein, fibre, and micronutrients.
Importance:
It plays a crucial role in food security and livelihoods in regions prone to water scarcity and challenging agricultural conditions.
Major findings of the study:
| Key Points | Details |
| Shifted Production Zone | The core production zone shifted from arid regions in Rajasthan to eastern Rajasthan and Haryana. Increased rainfall in Gujarat is prompting farmers to shift from pearl millet to cash crops like cotton and castor beans. |
| Triggering Factor | Increased rainfall due to human-induced climate change. |
| Zone Classification | India classifies pearl millet cultivation zones based on rainfall patterns and soil types. Zone ‘A1’: The arid regions of Rajasthan, which receive less than 400 millimetres (mm) of rainfall, are categorised as Zone ‘A1’. Zone ‘A’: Semi-arid regions in north and central India, including southern Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, which receive more than 400 mm of rainfall per year, form Zone ‘A’. Zone ‘B’: Semi-arid regions with heavy soils in southern India and central western India with over 400 mm of rainfall from Zone B. |
Initiatives in India:
- The government declared (in 2018) millets as “Nutri-Cereals”,considering their “high nutritive value” and also “anti-diabetic properties”.
- The 2018 year: ‘National Year of Millets”.
- Increase in MSP for millets
- The government has included millets in the public distribution system (PDS) and POSHAN Abhiyan.
- Millet Mission (under the National Food Security Mission): It will help develop farm-gate processing and empower farmers using FPOs.
- Kerala State Agriculture Department: Millet Village scheme
- Millet Startup Innovation Challenge
- A contest for designing a comic story, with the theme ‘India’s Wealth, Millets for Health’
Other Initiatives for millets:
- SCO: India proposed to organize the “Millet Food Festival’
- Millet promotion in the current G20 summit at New Delhi (2023)
Conclusion:
In view of the impact of climate change and the government’s aim for climate-smart agriculture, Millets deserves encouragement. It can also help in providing nourishment to people across all income categories and supporting climate adaptation of rainfed sustainable farming systems.
Mains Links
Millets have enormous potential to form a core component in climate-smart agriculture whilst offering nutritional and food security benefits. Elaborate. (15M)
Prelims Link
Consider the following crops of India: (UPSC 2012)
- Groundnut
- Sesamum
- Pearl millet
Which of the above is/are predominantly rainfed crops/crops?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
© 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Over 60% of the total cropped area in India is Rainfed. Millets (89% of area is rainfed); Pulses (88%); Cotton (73%), etc.
Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop? (UPSC 2021)
(a) Sugarcane
(b) Sunflower
© Pearl Millet
(d) Red gram
Answer: A
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, pearl millet, Today's Article
Phanigiri artefacts
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The Phanigiri Buddhist artefacts, discovered in 1942 and dating from 200 BCE to 400 CE, are currently showcased at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art in an exhibition called “The Tree and Serpent.”
- Phanigiri, often referred to as the “hillock of snake hood,” is a small village approximately 150 km from Hyderabad, with significant historical and spiritual significance in Buddhism.
Findings at Phanigiri:
- Remarkable findings at Phanigiri are a set of thoranas, which are stone gateways, and one of these thoranas displays both Mahayana and Hinayana schools of Buddhist thought, suggesting coexistence despite philosophical differences.
- Phanigiri provides evidence of the deification of Buddha and a transition towards canonization and ritual in Buddhist practices.
- The artefacts from this site, including a limestone carving of Buddha wearing what appears to be a Roman toga, are considered highly important and are now part of the exhibition in New York.
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, Arts and Culture, GS1, Phanigiri artefacts, Today's Article
Banglar mati, Banglar jol
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: The West Bengal Assembly has declared Poila Baishakh (April 15), the first day of the Bengali calendar, as the statehood day and designated Rabindranath Tagore’s “Banglar mati, Banglar jol” as the state anthem.
Significance of the song:
- The song was written by Tagore in 1905 in response to Lord Curzon’s partition of Bengal, which was a divisive colonial strategy to weaken the nationalist movement.
- Curzon’s decision to partition Bengal in 1905 aimed to create division and strife among the diverse Bengali-speaking population. However, it had the opposite effect, as it united Bengalis against British rule and ignited the Swadeshi Movement, which marked the beginning of the Indian struggle for independence.
- Tagore was a vocal critic of the partition and expressed his support for the Swadeshi Movement through his songs and poems. “Banglar mati, Banglar jol” called for unity among Bengalis by celebrating the beauty of Bengal, its natural surroundings, language, people, and soul.
- This song became an anthem for the movement against the partition and was sung during passionate processions and demonstrations that emphasized Bengali unity.
- Tagore even tied rakhis to Muslims as a symbol of brotherhood and unity. Ultimately, Bengal was reunited in 1911 but would later be partitioned again in 1947.
The declaration of “Banglar mati, Banglar jol” as the state anthem is a testament to its enduring significance in invoking feelings of brotherhood and patriotism among Bengalis.
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, Banglar jol, Banglar mati, GS1, Modern India, Today's Article
Draft Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Context: The Union government has released draft guidelines aimed at curbing “dark patterns” employed by online platforms.
- These dark patterns are deceptive strategies used to mislead users into taking actions they did not intend, such as making unwanted purchases or subscriptions.
- The guidelines define dark patterns as deceptive design patterns in user interface/experience (UI/UX) interactions that impair consumer autonomy and violate consumer rights.
Types of Dark Patterns:
- The draft guidelines identify ten types of dark patterns, including false urgency, basket sneaking (adding extra items without user consent during checkout), confirm shaming (using fear or shame to nudge user actions), forced action (compelling additional purchases), and subscription traps (making cancellation difficult).
The guidelines will apply to all platforms systematically offering goods or services in India, including advertisers and sellers.
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, Draft Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, governance, GS2, Today's Article
Incremental cash reserve ratio
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the discontinuation of the incremental cash reserve ratio (I-CRR) in a phased manner.
- The I-CRR was aimed at absorbing surplus liquidity in the banking system, primarily due to various factors like the return of Rs 2,000 banknotes, government spending, and capital inflows.
About I-CRR:
Banks are typically required to maintain 4.5 per cent of their Net Demand and Time Liabilities as CRR with the RBI.
However, in periods of excess liquidity, the RBI can impose incremental CRR, which means that banks will have to park even more liquid cash with the RBI. This measure helps the central bank manage liquidity and acts as a buffer during times of stress in the banking system.
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, cash reserve ratio, economy, GS3, Incremental cash reserve ratio, Today's Article
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: PIB
Context: Indian Railways’ Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to strengthen the Indian aviation sector.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics, and IT, who is also the First Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya.
About Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV)
It is a Central University established through an Act of Parliament in 2022. It replaces the National Rail and Transportation Institute (NRTI) and is sponsored by the Ministry of Railways. The Chancellor of GSV is the Union Minister of Railways. GSV is the first-of-its-kind university with a mandate to create high-quality talent for the transportation and logistics sectors. Its significance lies in fulfilling the objectives of the National Developmental Plans, including the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 2021%2C%20etc.) and National Logistics Policy 2022, covering railways, shipping, ports, highways, roads, waterways, and aviation.
About Airbus:
It is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial aircraft and a leading producer of helicopters, defence, and space equipment. Airbus has recently partnered with Tata to establish a C295 aircraft facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, focusing on design, innovation, manufacturing, and development in India.
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, Airbus, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Today's Article
XRISM Space Telescope and SLIM Lunar Lander
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: Business Standard
Context: Japan’s X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) and Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) were successfully launched by Japan.
- XRISM is focused on studying X-ray emissions from celestial objects to better understand the universe’s structure and evolution. It will observe phenomena like black holes, neutron stars, and galaxy clusters.
- SLIM aims to demonstrate precision landing capabilities on the Moon, allowing for targeted scientific investigations and safe placements of future landers.
Both missions represent significant advancements in space exploration technology and research.
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, GS3, SCIENCE, space, Today's Article, XRISM Space Telescope and SLIM Lunar Lander
Bubble of galaxies
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: Astronomers have discovered a massive “bubble of galaxies” in the nearby universe, approximately 820 million light years away from our Milky Way galaxy.
- This cosmic structure spans a billion light years in diameter, making it about 10,000 times wider than our galaxy.
- Inside the bubble, there is the Bootes supercluster of galaxies, surrounded by a vast void referred to as “the Great Nothing.”
- The discovery confirms a phenomenon first theorized by cosmologist Jim Peebles in 1970, where sound waves created bubbles in the early universe, and these structures have been preserved over time.
This bubble, named Ho’oleilana, represents the first known single baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) and was discovered by chance during a search through new galaxy catalogues. The finding opens the possibility of discovering more such bubbles across the universe using advanced telescopes.
Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) are regular, periodic fluctuations or ripples in the distribution of matter (primarily baryonic matter, which includes protons and neutrons) in the universe.
These oscillations are a fundamental feature of the large-scale structure of the cosmos and provide important clues about its geometry, expansion rate, and the distribution of dark matter and dark energy.
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, Bubble of galaxies, GS3, SCIENCE, space, Today's Article
Global Biofuels Alliance
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: Business Standard
Context: India is proposing the creation of a Global Biofuels Alliance, which is likely to be launched during the G20 summit.
- This initiative aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable biofuels and reduce the world’s dependency on traditional fossil fuels.
- India sees this alliance as a means to advance energy transitions in developing countries and promote a circular economy.
About Biofuels:
Biofuels are renewable energy sources derived from biomass, such as crop stubble, plant waste, and municipal solid waste.
India, a major oil importer, is working on building its capacity to produce biofuels, particularly from sugarcane and agricultural waste. The country aims to increase the blending of ethanol in petrol to 20% by 2025 and is establishing compressed biogas (CBG) plants.
Significance of Global Biofuels Alliance:
- The Global Biofuels Alliance focuses on promoting sustainable biofuels, especially in the transportation sector, and aims to enhance markets, support global biofuel trade, share policy insights, and provide technical assistance to national biofuel programs worldwide.
- The initiative aligns with India’s goal of transitioning to alternative fuels and reducing its carbon emissions, with a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, ENVIRONMENT, Global Biofuels Alliance, GS3, Today's Article
MQ-9B predator drones
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: The Economic Times
Context: India has formally requested the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B Reaper or Predator-B drones from the United States.
- These drones, including their weapons packages, ground control systems, and equipment, are part of a significant arms deal.
- These high-altitude, long-endurance drones, to be assembled in India by General Atomics, will be inducted into the armed forces over the next six to seven years.
- They are designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions and come equipped with air-to-ground missiles and smart bombs.
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, GS3, INTERNAL SECURITY, MQ-9B predator drones, Today's Article
Morocco
Mapping
Source: TH
A powerful earthquake struck Morocco, affecting areas including the Atlas Mountains and the historic city of Marrakech. Earthquakes are relatively rare in North Africa, and this was described as the strongest ever recorded in the mountain region.
Morocco lies along the boundary of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. Here the two massive plates interact, and their movements can result in seismic activity.
Morocco, a North African country bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences.
September 9, 2023 /09 September 2023, Morocco, Today's Article