Context: 

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released Annual Survey of Industries 2020-2022

Annual Survey of Industries 2020-22

• Annual Survey of Industries: It is the principal source of industrial statistics and data for the organised manufacturing sector.
  • It relates to factories employing 10 or more workers using power and those employing 20 or more workers without using power.
  •  The survey also covers registered bidi and cigar manufacturing establishments.
  • The investment figures in the ASI surveys are in current prices terms.
• Summary: As per the Ministry the 2020-2022 survey exhibits the resilience of the Indian manufacturing sector after the adverse effect of pandemic witnessed in 2020-21 in terms of output and input contraction and also a marginal fall in employment.

Key Highlights of Annual Survey of Industries 2020-22

• Employment and Jobs: In the lockdown-affected year of 2020-21, jobs declined but then recovered in 2021-22 to levels higher than  before the pandemic.
  • Employees: In over 2.50 lakh factories,
    • 2020-21: It decreased to 1.60 crore from 1.66 crore in 2019-20,
    • 2021-22: It rose to  1.72 crore, with a CAGR of 1.7 per cent from the pre-pandemic year of 2019-20.
  • Workers:  
    • 2020-2021: It decreased  to 1.26 crore from 1.31 core in 2019-2020 period.
    • 2021-22: It rose to  1.36 crore, with a CAGR growth of 2.1 per cent over these two years
  • Corporate sector: It  includes public and private government and non-government companies. The employment here  rose by 1.6 per cent (CAGR) to over 1 crore in 2021-22. In the pre-pandemic year of 2019-20, it stood slightly over 97 lakh.
• Gross Fixed Capital Formation:
• • It declined 11% from the pre pandemic levels.
  • 2020-21: It fell to  Rs 3.14 lakh crore from Rs 4.17 lakh crore  in the pre-pandemic year of 2019-20.
  • 2021-22:  The GFCF picked up marginally rising about 5 per cent from in 2020-21 to 3.30 lakh crores.
• Net  fixed capital formation: It declined by 54 per cent in 2021-22 as against the pre-pandemic year of 2019-20.

• Gross capital formation: It includes outlays in addition to fixed assets and net change in inventories grew 29.5 per cent to 7.02 lakh crore in 2021-22.
• Profits: Profits grew sharply for the pandemic-affected years, rising by 42.3 per cent (CAGR) to Rs 9.51 lakh crore in 2021-22 as against Rs 4.70 lakh crore in 2019-20.
• Gross Value Added GVA: 
  • 2020-21 : It grew by 8.8% in current prices  over 2019-20,  mainly on account of sharp fall in input (4.1%) that more than offset an output contraction (1.9%) in the sector
  • 2021-22: It grew significantly by 26.6% over 2020-21 riding on a high growth in the industrial output which grew by more than 35% in value terms.

News Source: The Indian Express

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directs the government to regulate RO-based water Purification Systems.

NGT Ban On RO Water 

• NGT directs MoEF&CC to establish regulations for RO based water purification systems, resulting in Water Purification System (Regulation of Use) Rules, 2023.
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has also notified the “IS 16240: 2023 Reverse Osmosis based point of Use Water Treatment System for Drinking Purposes”

What is Reverse Osmosis (RO)? 

• Reverse osmosis is a multi-stage water treatment process that removes contaminants from unfiltered water, or feeds water when pressure forces it through a semipermeable membrane. 
  •  In the final stage, the RO membrane, water flows from the more concentrated side (more contaminants) to the less concentrated side (fewer contaminants) to provide clean drinking water. 
  • The fresh water produced is called the permeate. 
  • The concentrated water left over is called the waste or brine.

What Issues with RO Water? 

• Wastage Of water: NGT reports that RO purifiers result in the loss of approximately 70-80 percent of water during purification. 
• Effects On Health:
  • Healthy Minerals Discarded:  After RO filtration water becomes short of vital minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, sodium, potassium and carbonates.
  • Dilution of body Electrolytes: Inadequate body water redistribution between compartments may compromise the function of vital organs.
  • Losses of essential elements from food 
  • Increases the risk of various health issues like hypertension, coronary heart disease, ulcers, gastritis, etc.

What Are Issues with RO Water Purifiers Plants?

• Impact on land & Water Bodies: The RO reject can upset the land, surface water or sewerage system by deposition of Brine. 
• Impacts on Flora & Fauna: Salinity will affect the food chain & Biogeochemical Cycle. 
• Higher Economic Cost 
• Higher Energy Consumption

Alternatives To RO Water

• UV or UF Filters: These filters utilise ultraviolet light or a membrane to eliminate bacteria and viruses, ensuring safe drinking water without excessive water wastage. 
• Activated Carbon Filters: These filters effectively remove impurities and contaminants from water, ensuring clean and safe drinking water. 
• Boiling Water: Boiling water for a minimum of 10 minutes can effectively kill bacteria and viruses, rendering the water safe for drinking. 

News Source: PIB

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

Recently on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of India highlighted four issues within the legal profession.

Four Issue Within Judiciary Raised By CJI 

1st: Adjournment Culture & Its Effect on Justice Delivery 

• What is  Adjournment ?
  • An adjournment means when court hearings are postponed to a later date. 
• Legal Framework: Order XVII of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908, courts are limited to granting adjournments to a party no more than three times during a suit, requiring a valid reason beyond the party’s control.
• Its Effect : Prolonged adjournments lead to case delays and contribute to the growing backlog of pending cases. which may lead to Vicious Cycle of such practices.
  • 239th Law Commission Report (2012)  also highlighted the same.

2nd: Keeping Length of Oral Arguments in Check 

• On Constitutional Bench Matters: The court will instruct parties to collaborate and establish a time schedule for oral arguments to promote efficiency and prevent repetitive arguments by attorneys. 
• Moderate Success: Prior cases, such as the Ayodhya title dispute, experienced prolonged hearings despite scheduling efforts. 
  • Time Schedule & Management : 
    • The then CJI Ranjan Gogoi directed parties to devise a time schedule for hearings due to the large number of involved parties and attorneys. 
    • Under the leadership of CJI UU Lalit, a Constitution Bench case concerning EWS reservations demonstrated efficiency through scheduled time management. 
• US Model: The US Supreme Court limits oral arguments to 30 minutes per side.
  • The 230th Law Commission Report, 2009: It recommended limiting oral arguments to one-and-a-half hours, except in cases involving constitutional interpretation or complex legal issues.

3rd: Alternatives to Long Court Vacations

• Flexi-time for Lawyers and Judges: A practice allowing employees to choose their working hours, 
  • It was introduced in 2022 in the Philippines at the Metropolitan & Regional courts. 
• Malimath Committee Report, 2003: Recommended increasing Supreme Court working days by three weeks. 
  • In 2014, SC reduced summer vacation to seven weeks based on this recommendation.

4th: Level Playing Field For First Generations Lawyers

• Efforts towards inclusivity for first generation lawyers and marginalised individuals with the potential to succeed. 
• Recent Progress: 
  • Significant representation of women in the legal profession, including 
    • 36.3% of district court judges, 
    • over 50% of junior civil judge recruits, and
    • 41% of law clerk candidates at the Supreme Court.
  •  Initiatives by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) 
    • To promote diversity, such as improved facilities for women lawyers, 
    • Prioritising first-generation lawyers for Senior Advocate designation, and
    • Allowing video conference appearances on all working days.

What Are Impacts of These Pertaining Issues On Judiciary?

• Credibility of the Judicial Administration : Backlogs of cases awaiting trial can lead to lengthy delays in resolving legal matters, stretching over years or even decades.
• Economic Cost : Prolonged court proceedings impose financial burdens on litigants, adding to the costs of legal battles. 
• Burden on Business Activities :The justice system’s inefficiencies can hinder business operations, delaying or obstructing economic activities.
• Reduce Public Trust : Lengthy delays and limited legal assistance may erode public trust in the legal system.

Way Forward

• Transparency in Appointment Process: Transforming appointment systems to ensure fairness and accountability.
• Fastrack judgments to Under Trials: Reforms are needed in investigations to prevent wrongful charges and punishments against innocent individuals
• Optimum Time Utilisation: There should be time limits for delivering judgments in legal proceedings.
• Creation of National Judicial Infrastructure Authority of India: To enhance court system infrastructure
• Introduction of Innovative approaches: To address the massive backlog in the justice system
• Focus on Lower Judiciary: Improvements are necessary for better functioning of district courts, which are a primary area of concern.
  News Source : IE

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

Recently, experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) called for ‘bold action’ and ‘urgent finance’ to prevent the collapse of nature in High Mountain Asia.

Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment

• 130 global experts from ICIMOD arrived in Nepal for the Third Lead Authors meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) nexus assessment.
• This is the first time an IPBES assessment meeting is being held in South Asia.
• Mountains cover 22% of Earth’s land surface but hold 50% of the world’s global biodiversity hotspots. Given mountains’ acute vulnerability to climate change, ICIMOD researchers have called for IPBES to consider a dedicated Global Mountains assessment.

Concerns Raised By Experts On Hindu Kush Himalaya

• Interconnected Catastrophic Losses in the Hindu Kush Region: The summit examines the linkages between food and water security, health, biodiversity, and climate change and the researchers described the speed and scale of losses in nature and habitat in the HKH region as ‘catastrophic’.  
  • It is estimated to be warming at nearly two times the average rate of warming in the Northern Hemisphere.
• High Biodiversity Loss: 70% of the original biodiversity has been lost over the last century. 
• High Impact on Humans: The declines in nature are so advanced and accelerating so fast that they now pose a threat to human societies too. 
  • 241 million people live in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, of whom 31% are “food-insecure” and “half of whom face some form of malnutrition”.

Recommendations By Experts

• Urgent Prioritization of Investment: HKH must be urgently prioritized for investment to fund the fight to reverse nature loss and species extinction. 
  • It must be ensured that funding rises at an exponential rate before these fragile and crucial ecosystems collapse, by building nature into all investment and action.
• Increase in Integrated Global Finance: There is a need to push for a much more rapid increase in integrated global finance, especially for high value and vulnerable regions like the HKH.
• Reforms: There is a need to accelerate policy, institutional and market reforms to make the positive changes happen.

About the Hindu Kush Himalaya Region

• A Large Extent: Hindu Kush Himalaya Region stretches 3,500 kilometers and spans eight countries- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. 
  • 85% of mountain communities remain dependent on this biodiversity for food, water, flood control and cultural identity.
• A Biodiverse Region: It is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. Four of the world’s 36 global biodiversity hotspots are in this region. Two of the global 200 ecoregions, 575 Protected Areas, 335 important bird areas.
• Third Pole: It is known as the Third Pole, as it contains the largest volume of ice on earth outside of the Arctic and Antarctica.
• Water Tower of Asia: Hindu Kush Himalaya Region is the source of 12 Asian river systems and is called the ‘Water tower of Asia’. It provides essential ecosystem services such as clean water for a third of the world’s population.
  • Syr Darya and Amu Darya towards the now-dead Aral Sea
  • The Tarim toward the Taklamakan
  • The Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra towards the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
  • The Yellow river towards the Gulf of Bohai
  • The Yangtze towards the East China Sea
  • The Mekong towards the South China Sea
  • The Chindwin, Salween and Irrawaddy towards the Andaman Sea
• Hindu Kush Mountains in India: The entire territory of 11 mountain states (Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh)  and Darjeeling district of West Bengal state are included in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region.

News Source: Down to Earth

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

In a reply in Lok Sabha, the Government outlined that  555 Asiatic lions died in 5 years.

Govt Says 555 Asiatic Lions Died In Five Years

• However, there is no increase in mortality rate observed.
• Overall Rise: The number of Lions in Gir rose from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020.

Asiatic Lions

• They are a member of the panthera leo leo sub-species that is restricted to India presently.
• Distribution: Their range is limited to Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Saurashtra Region of Gujarat  at present.
• Protection Status:  
  • IUCN: Endangered
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife( Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I

• Causes of Deaths Asiatic lions 

• • Natural:  Old age, cannibalism, hunger deaths and victims of infighting, human-wildlife conflict
  • Unnatural: 
    • Limited capacity of Gir National park: The Protected area is already operating at double their capacity, pushing Lions out of its boundary as 45-55 percent of Gir’s lion population lives outside the protected areas.

• • • Diseases and Epidemics: Like rabies, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, anaemia, hepatitis and multiple organ failure and the outbreak of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in 2018
    • Competition: The lions are sharing their habitat with Leopard leading to more competition for prey and shelter
    • Drowning in open wells with no concrete parapets
    • Accidents: Roads and Railway tracks passing through the protected areas and forests 
    • Electrocution:  by electric fences securing agricultural land. 

• Conservation Measures For Asiatic lions 

• • Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH): Lions included in the Centrally Sponsored Scheme whereby funding assistance is provided  to the state for protection and conservation of wildlife and its habitats in Protected Areas (PAs) as well as outside PAs.
  • Project Lion was started in 2020
  • Translocation of lions from Gir: As per a  report by the Wildlife Institute of India there is a plan to translocate 40 lions to the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary,(100 kilometers from the Gir National Park)
    • Objective: To ensure  geographic separation and establish a second free-ranging population of lions to mitigate conservation risks
    • In 2013, the Supreme Court ordered the translocation of lions from Gir to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

The Wildlife Institute of India and the Zoological Survey of India have been carrying out assessments of the black necked cranes. 

Black Necked Crane (Grus nigricollis): Habitat & Distribution

• Range Countries: India, China and Bhutan. 
  • In winter, they are found at lower altitudes. A small wintering population is also found in the Sangti and Zimithang valleys of Arunachal Pradesh.

• Breeding Ground: High altitude marshes and lakes of Tibetan Plateau (Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu), Sichuan (China), and eastern Ladakh (India).
  • The high altitude wetlands in the Tibetan plateau are the main breeding ground. 

Protection Status Black Necked Crane

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• CITES and the Convention on conservation of Migratory Species: Appendix I
• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (NT).
• Significance: These are revered by the Monpas Community, a major Buddhist ethnic group of Arunachal Pradesh as an embodiment of the sixth Dalai Lama.

Black Necked Crane: Conservation Issues

• Damage to the eggs and chicks, caused by feral dogs, owned both by armed forces as well as by the local nomads.
• The Loss of habitat and Increased human pressure on the wetlands leads to decline in species. 

World Wide Fund for Nature-India’s (WWF-India’s) Initiatives:

• WWF-India in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu & Kashmir, has been working towards conservation of high altitude wetlands, with black-necked cranes as a priority species in Ladakh region and  Arunachal Pradesh.

Steps taken for Black Necked Crane Protection 

• Designation as Protected Area: The important habitats of Black-necked Crane have been notified as Protected Areas. Example: Changthang Sanctuary, Ladakh.
  • In accordance with provisions contained under Section 33 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the guidelines have been issued for the process of management planning for Protected Areas.

News Source: Global Green News

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

Recently, a parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Suriname called the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

About Suriname

• Location: Suriname is one of the smallest countries located on the northern coast of South America.
• Capital: Paramaribo, located on the Suriname River.
• • It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2002.
• Border: Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, by French Guiana to the east, by Brazil to the south, and by Guyana to the west. 
• Colonial Past: Formerly known as Dutch Guiana, Suriname was a plantation colony of the Netherlands that gained its independence in 1975.
• Drainage: Suriname’s major rivers flow northward into the Atlantic and include the Corantyne, Coppename, Suriname, and Marowijne etc. 
• Ethnic Groups: South Asians, descendants of contract laborers from India, are the largest ethnic group in Suriname, making up more than one-fourth of the population. 

News Source: PIB

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

DRDO carries out successful flight trials of High-speed Expendable Aerial Target ‘ABHYAS’ from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha.

About DRDO Abhyas

• DRDO Abhyas is a High – speed expendable aerial target. 
• It uses a small gas turbine engine.
• Advantage of Gas Turbine Engine: It helps to maintain long flights at a high speed. 
• Designed by: DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).

Features Of DRDO Abhyas

• This system comprises a visual and infrared augmentation system. 
• It has an Inertial Navigation System (INS) along with a Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control. 
  • It helps to carry out flight and post-flight analysis.
• This system has a measurable radar cross-section. 
  • The size of its radar signature determines how easily it can be detected by radar.

Significance Of DRDO Abhyas

• The vehicle can be used as a target for the evaluation of various missile systems,
• DRDO ABHYAS offers a realistic threat scenario for the practice of weapon systems.
• Designed for autonomous flying, ABHYAS utilizes an indigenous autopilot system, providing flexibility for independent flight operations.
• The development of this system will meet the requirements of aerial targets for the Armed Forces.

News Source: PIB

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

Debt recovery tribunals are overloaded with cases, around 2.15 lakh pending before the tribunal.

• Out of 2.15 lakh cases, 
  • Recovery of Debt and Bankruptcy Act: Around 1.6 lakh cases are pending.
  • SARFASI Act: Almost 53,000 cases are registered

Background of Debt Recovery Tribunals

• Challenges of Bad Loans: Non-performing assets and bad loans cause a lot of trouble for banks in India. This became so severe before 1993, that civil courts used to take more than a year to solve these cases.
• RDDBFI Act 1993: In response to the crisis, Recovery of Debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions (RDDBFI) Act was enacted in 1993 , leading to the establishment of the Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs).
• SARFASI Act 2002: To smoothen the function of DRTs, an act known as the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFASI) Act was passed in 2002.

What Are Debt Recovery Tribunals?

• Intro: Debt Recovery Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies set up under section 3 of the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993 to adjudicate and recover debts due to banks and financial institutions.
• Composition: It consists of the Presiding Officer qualified to work as a District Judge. 
• Tenure: He is appointed for a tenure of 5 years by the central government and can hold office till the age of 65 years. Recovery officers may be appointed to assist him.
• Jurisdiction: Section 18 of the RDDBFI act bars all other courts apart from the Supreme and High courts from adjudicating matters relating to debt recovery. 
  • In other words, the High Court or Supreme Court can only pursue relief against the order passed by the DRAT.

• Objective of Debt Recovery Tribunals

  • To provide a speedy and expensive forum for banks and Financial Institutions to recover their dues from borrowers who have defaulted on their loans. 
• Appeals: Appeals against the orders passed by DRTs lie before the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRAT).
• Total DRT and DRATs: 39 Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) and 5 Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs) are functioning nationwide. A presiding officer and a chairperson respectively head each DRT and DRAT.
• Operational Limit: In 2017, DRTs were empowered to handle cases with claims of Rs 10 lakh or more. In 2018, this limit was raised to Rs 20 lakh, aiming to reduce the pendency of cases and enhance efficiency.

Functions of Debt Recovery Tribunals

• To adjudicate and recover debts due to banks and Financial institutions.
  • Within 6 months, it has to resolve the claim.
  • Within 45 days of the judgement, an appeal against the order of the DRT can be made in the DRAT.
• To enforce security interests created in favour of banks and financial institutions.
• To pass orders for the sale of secured assets of borrowers.
• To pass orders for the arrest and detention of borrowers in certain cases.
• DRTs are empowered to examine their own decisions. 

Benefits of Debt Recovery Tribunals

• Speedy disposal of cases: DRTs are mandated to dispose of cases within six months from the application filing date.
  • Normal Applications: 180 days is the standard timeframe for DRTs to resolve cases filed through the “normal application” route.
  • Securitisation Applications: DRT aims to resolve the cases from 60 days to 4 months if the cases are registered under the SARFASI act.
• Inexpensive forum: The fees charged by DRTs are significantly lower than those charged by regular courts.
• Specialised forum: DRTs have expertise in dealing with cases involving the recovery of debts from borrowers.

Issues with Debt Recovery Tribunals

• Limited Jurisdiction: Debt Recovery Tribunals only have jurisdiction to deal with cases involving the recovery of debts from borrowers who have taken loans of more than Rs 20 lakh.
• No Power to Grant Injunctions: DRTs cannot grant injunctions to restrain borrowers from disposing of their assets.
• Limited Scope of Appeals: Appeals from orders of DRTs can only be made to the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs).

Corrective Measures With Debt Recovery Tribunals

• To improve the issues persisting with Debt recovery tribunals, amendments were made to the RDDBFI Act in 2016. They are as follows:
  • Increased retirement age: The act raised the retirement age of presiding officers from 62 to 65 years. Additionally, it allowed for reappointment, promoting continuity and experience within the DRT system.
  • Mandatory asset disclosure: The act required borrowers to disclose details of their collateralized assets, facilitating faster and more efficient recovery proceedings.
  • Depositing 75% of outstanding debt: Defaulting borrowers must deposit 75% of outstanding debt while appealing to DRAT. It addresses concerns about delaying tactics some borrowers who file protracted appeals employ.

Conclusion

Debt recovery tribunals (DRTs) are crucial in India’s financial landscape and their continued improvement is crucial for maintaining a healthy financial ecosystem.

News Source: NDTV

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

This article is focused on Mangrove forests and the government action regarding their restoration. 

Restoration of Mangrove Forest in India

• The government has initiated several actions to safeguard and improve mangrove forests in coastal States and Union Territories.
• These actions include both promotional and regulatory measures.
• The promotional measures are put into action through a program called the ‘Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs‘.
• This program operates under the National Coastal Mission Programme, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.

About Mangrove Forests

• Mangrove forests are also known as mangrove swamps, mangrove thickets or mangals.
• These forests grow at tropical and subtropical latitudes. 
• Freezing temperatures are not ideal temperatures for mangroves. 
• It covers around 0.1 % of the planet’s surface. 
• According to the 2021 forest survey report, the total mangrove cover was 4,992 square kilometres in India. 
•  Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world. 
  • This forest is situated in the vast delta of the Bay of Bengal.

Unique Characteristics of Mangrove Forest

• This forest is found near the coastlines at the intersection of land and sea.
• The mangrove plants grow in waterlogged soil.
  • These soil absorb gases directly from the atmosphere through pneumatophores.
• These trees can bear saline water. 
• It has aerial roots that help these trees to adapt in harsh environments too. 

Threats Faced by Mangrove Forest in India

• Rapid urbanisation and developmental activities have caused destruction of mangrove habitat.
• Overexploitation of the mangrove resources can deplete this ecosystem.
• Illegal activities of mangrove forests have also negatively impacted its biodiversity.
• Climate change such as rise in sea level is also a major hurdle as it can submerge the mangrove area. 
• Release of toxic substances in mangrove areas from industrial units is very harmful for plants as well as its water quality. 

Significance Mangrove Forest In India

• This forest is significant as it has more capacity to store carbon.
• It can provide breeding grounds for marine biodiversity and support global fish populations.

Distribution of Mangrove Forest In India

• In India, Odisha, Maharashtra and Karnataka are ranked high in mangrove coverage. 
  • West Bengal,  Gujarat, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands have also covered significant mangrove cover. 

Source: IFSR Report 2021 

Reasons For Restoration of Mangroves

• The restoration of mangrove forests can protect communities residing in coastal areas. 
• Every year, mangroves prevent $65 billion in property damage. 
  • It also reduces flood risks for 15 million people. 
• In addition to the above, mangroves are very helpful in addressing global warming and other climatic events. 

MISHTI Scheme

• MISHTI refers to the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes.
• This scheme was launched in 2023. 
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change launched this scheme. 
• Under the MISHTI scheme, the government is focused on coastline and salt-pan lands for plantation.
• It aims to restore or replant mangroves, covering about 540 square kilometres.
• This project will span over five years starting from 2023-24 onwards and will be carried out across 9 States and 3 Union Territories.

Challenges in Restoration of Mangrove Forest In India

• Due to climate change, sea level increase, and land use variations,  the risk of India’s mangrove forests vulnerability has increased. 
  • Kerala lost around 95% of its mangrove forests in the last 3 decades. 
• The conversion of habitat to agriculture, tourism, aquaculture, and urban development has also contributed significantly to the loss of mangrove forests. 
• Inadequate funding is also a major hurdle as restoration projects need large funding and long-term commitment. 

News Source: PIB

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

This article is based on the news “How to restore WTO’s authority” which was published in the Indian Express. The 13th Ministerial Ministerial Conference (MC13) of WTO is scheduled to be organised in Abu Dhabi from 26 February to 29th February 2024.

• India has called for finding a permanent solution to the issue of public stockholding for food security in the ministerial-level meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in February 2024

About World Trade Organisation (WTO)

• WTO is the only global international trade organisation which deals with rules of trade between nations. 
• It is governed by different agreements negotiated and signed by participating nations and ratified in their parliament. 

Historical Background Of WTO

• The WTO commenced operation on 1st January 1995, under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed on 15 April 1994 by 124 nations.
• It has replaced the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which commenced in 1948.
• Most of the issues focused by WTO are derived from previous trade negotiations, especially from the Uruguay Round (1986-1994).

Functions Of WTO

• Promoting Free Trade: Establishes and uphold trade rules like non-discrimination and transparency. Also, it reduces barriers like tariffs and quotas.
• Resolving Trade Disputes: Offers a legal framework and process for settling trade disputes peacefully. It also provides a platform for negotiations and mediations between trading partners.
• Supporting Economic Development: Integrates developing countries into a global trading system. Offers special provisions and flexibilities for developing countries, famously known as special and differential treatment provisions.
• Engaging in Global cooperation: WTO collaborates with other international organisations like IMF and world bank to address broader economic challenges like poverty reduction etc

Organisational Structure Of WTO

• Ministerial Conference: It is the highest decision making body of the WTO, meeting at least every two years.
• General Council: It oversees the WTO’s day to day operation, and meets regularly at the Headquarters Geneva. 
  • It also acts as Trade Negotiations committee, the Dispute Settlement body, and the Trade policy review body.
• Dispute Settlement Panels: Established to examine specific trade disputes between WTO members and issue reports with findings and recommendations.
• Appellate Body: Reviews appeals from decisions by WTO dispute settlement panels. Its rulings play a vital role in interpreting and upholding WTO rules.

Ministerial Conference 0f WTO:

• The Ministerial conference of WTO is the heart of its operation. By now the WTO has held 12 ministerial conferences. The competition was held between 12-17 June 2022. It took place at WTO headquarters in Geneva. 
  • The conference was chaired by Timur Suleimenov, Deputy chief of staff of the Kazakhstan president.
• The 13th Ministerial conference is scheduled to take place at Abu Dhabi from 26 to 29 Feb 2024.
  • It will be chaired by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, minister of state for foreign trade of the United Arab Emirates.

Major Agreements Of WTO

• General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

  • Signed in 1947 by 23 nations after the 2nd world war.
  • Aimed to reduce tariffs and other barriers to promote trade among nations.
  • Its limitations led to the Uruguay round negotiations, culminating in WTO in 1995.

• Agreement on Agriculture (AoA)

  • The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) is an international treaty of the WTO.
  • Objective: To reduce govt support and subsidies given to domestic agricultural producers.
    • The agreement on agriculture consists of three pillars:
      • Domestic Support: It calls for reduction in domestic subsidies that distorts free trade and fair price.
        • The forms of subsidies are basically given under Agreement on Agriculture. They are Green Box, Amber Box and Blue Box subsidies.

• • • • Market Access: Market access for goods in the WTO means the conditions, tariff and non-tariff measures, agreed by members for the entry of specific goods into their markets.
      • Export Subsidies: Government support that lowers export costs, including input subsidies, remission of import duties, and other export incentives, falls under export subsidies.

• General Agreement On Trade in Services (GATS)

  • It is a treaty of the WTO that came into force in January 1995 as a result of the Uruguay round negotiations.
  • It was created to extend the multilateral trading system to the service sector, in the same way GATT provides for merchandise trade.
  • It covers most service sectors, requiring member countries to open their market and treat foreign providers fairly.

• The Agreement on Trade Related Investment Measures (TRIMS)

• • The agreement was negotiated during the Uruguay round, and applies only to measures that affect trade in goods.
  • Recognising that certain investment measures can have trade-restrictive and distorting effects, it states that no members shall apply a measure that is prohibited by the provisions of GATT in Article 3 (national treatment) or Article 9 (quantitative restrictions). 

Principles Governing WTO Agreements

• No discrimination between foreign and domestic firms. It has two major components:
  • Most Favoured Nation Rule (MFN): It prohibits discrimination between trading partners by requiring that any advantage, favour, privileges, or immunity granted by a member country to any other country regarding trade in goods or services must be immediately and unconditionally applied to all other WTO members.
  • The National Treatment Policy: It is mentioned in Article 3 of the GATT. It prohibits WTO members from discriminating against imported products once they have entered their market, in favour of domestically produced goods.
• Predictability and transparency between trading firms
• Special and differential treatment with nations.
• Promoting open economy by reducing tariffs and non tariffs barriers.
• Free and fair trade.

Significance Of WTO

• The WTO has 164 countries, accounting for over 98% of the world’s trade. A total of 22 countries are seeking to join the WTO.
• Promoting Free Trade: The WTO has helped reduce tariffs and other trade barriers significantly since its inception, contributing to increased trade flows and economic growth.
• Dispute Settlement: The WTO provides a platform for settling trade disputes between member countries through a legal framework and process. This helps maintain stability and avoid trade wars.
• Integration of Developing Countries: The WTO provides special provision and technical assistance for developing countries to help them integrate into the global trading system.

Issues at WTO

• Issues with Public stockholding:

• • Distort Trade: The WTO maintains that PSH programmes distort trade, especially when implemented without limitations.

• • Current WTO rules: The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) limits PSH programs to 10% of a country’s production for domestic consumption. 

• • Objection by G33 countries: The G33 countries object to the outdated method used by the WTO to calculate subsidy levels, which does not account for inflation.
    • Outdated methodology: This methodology of subsidy calculation is  based on the price index of 1986-88, which does not take into account inflation.

• Peace Clause

• • It was the 9th ministerial conference held in Bali, Indonesia in 2013.

• • It resulted in the adoption of a series of agreements on several trade issues, including the Peace Clause. 
  • Issues with the peace clause
    • Controversial: Some developed countries argue that it gives developing countries an unfair advantage, and it could lead to trade distortions. Others say it is crucial for developing countries to meet their food security.
    • Flexibility in rules-based order: WTO is a rules based organisation, and the peace clause is seen as a departure from those rules. The flexibility provided by WTO in the peace clause is leading to conflict of interest between developed and developing nations.

• Issues with Agricultural Subsidies Framework 

  • Subjectivity in Green Box Subsidies: The categorization of subsidies into Green Box, deemed to cause minimal trade distortion, introduces subjectivity. Disputes often arise due to varying interpretations of the “minimal” level, causing tensions between nations.
  • Lack of Transparency in Calculations: The criteria and calculations defining Green Box eligibility lack transparency. 
  • Developing Country Exemptions: While developing countries benefit from higher Amber Box limits, this creates an uneven playing field for developed nations. Concerns about fairness emerge as exemptions can potentially distort competition and trade dynamics.

• Appellate Body

• • US Obstructionism: The US has single-handedly blocked the appointment of new members to the Appellate Body (AB) since 2019, rendering the Dispute Settlement mechanism (DSM) ineffective.
  • WTO Toothlessness: Without a functioning AB, countries can easily avoid complying with panel rulings, undermining the WTO’s dispute resolution process.
  • De-judicialization: The US’s desire to de-judicialize its international trade relations raises doubts about the full restoration of the AB.
• Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM): It is a tool to counter import surges that may put agricultural production in developing nations at risk. 
  • As per the current Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) design, only 39 members, predominantly developed countries, can use Special Safeguards (SSGs). 
  • The SSM aims to extend similar measures to developing countries.

Criticism of WTO

• Bias towards developed nations and corporations: High agricultural subsidies in developed countries, intellectual property rules hindering access to essential medicines, and limited flexibility for developing nations to pursue development policies, makes it biassed towards developed nations and cooperation.
• Lack of Transparency and Accountability:  The dispute settlement system’s complexity and cost are seen as barriers to holding powerful members accountable. All this creates a severe question on the credibility of transparency and accountability used in WTO.
• Undermining National Sovereignty: Some of the rules made by WTO infringe sovereignty by imposing rules that limit governments’ ability to regulate their economies and protect their markets. For eg, conflicts are seen in agriculture subsidies by developing nations and the 10% cap given by WTO.

Way Forward

• Modification of formula to calculate food subsidy cap:  India suggested measures like amendments to calculate the food subsidy cap and inclusion of programmes implemented after 2013 under the ambit of the ‘Peace Clause.’
• Updation of the external reference price (ERP): India emphasises on the need to update the external reference price (ERP) from 1986-88 levels to current market rates. 
  • It should account for inflation when determining the MSP ceiling.
• Three-year average price of a crop:  Using the three-year average price of a crop based on the preceding five-year period excluding the highest and lowest entries for that product. 
  • Subsidy calculations need to be based on actual procurement rather than encompassing all eligible production.
• Allowing PSH Programs: Public stockholding programs designed for food security objectives should be permitted and deemed compliant with World Trade Organization rules under certain conditions. These conditions include:
  • Ensuring that stocks acquired through PSH do not distort trade or harm the food security interests of other World Trade Organization members. 
  • Members should refrain from exporting stocks acquired, except for international food aid and non-commercial humanitarian purposes.
• Special Safeguard Mechanism: Countries should have the right to protect their domestic markets from dumping by other countries through the Special Safeguard Mechanism.
• Joining MPIA: Developing countries could join the European Union-led multi-party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA) to formalise an ad hoc appellate review. However, this lacks the binding nature and predictability of the original Appellate Body (AB).

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context: 

This article is based on the news “Government introduced Public Examinations Bill 2024 in Lok Sabha” which was published in the All India Radio. The Government has recently introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha. 

Background Of Public Examinations Bill 2024

• The Public Examinations Bill 2024 comes against the backdrop of the cancellation of a series of competitive tests such as: 
  • Teacher recruitment exam in Rajasthan. 
  • Common Eligibility Test (CET) for Group-D posts in Haryana. 
  • Recruitment exam for junior clerks in Gujarat. 
  • Constable recruitment examination in Bihar following question paper leaks.
• According to estimates, there have been more than 70 cases of question paper leaks in the country between 2016 and 2023 and more than 1.5 crore students have been affected by paper leaks.
  • According to data, at least 12 recruitment drives have been cancelled between 2018 and February 2023 in Rajasthan owing to paper leaks.

Need of Law to Prevent Unfair Means in Public Examinations

• Lack of Substantive Law: At present, there is no specific substantive law to deal with unfair means adopted or offences committed by various entities involved in the conduct of public examinations by the central government and its agencies.
• Existence of Unfair Practices in Public Examinations: Malpractices in public examinations lead to delays and cancellation of examinations, adversely impacting the prospects of millions of youth. 
• Ensure Transparency, Fairness and Credibility: The objective of the Public Examinations Bill is to bring greater transparency, fairness and credibility to the public examination systems and to reassure the students that their genuine efforts will be fairly rewarded. 
• Act as Deterrence: The Public Examinations Bill is aimed at effectively and legally deterring persons, organised groups or institutions, including government officials that indulge in various unfair means, and adversely impact the public examination systems for monetary and wrongful gains. 

Major Highlights of Public Examinations Bill 2024 

• Objective of Public Examinations Bill 2024: To bring greater transparency, fairness and credibility to the public examination systems and to prevent unfair means in the public examinations. 
• Serve as Model Draft: The Public Examinations Bill 2024 will serve as a model draft for States to adopt at their discretion which will aid States in preventing criminal elements from disrupting conduct of their State level public examinations.
• Defines Public Examinations: It is defined as any examination conducted by a public examination authority listed in the Schedule of the Public Examinations Bill, or any such other authority as may be notified by the Central Government. 
  • Schedule Lists Five Public Examination Authorities: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), and National Testing Agency (NTA).
• Unfair Means in Examination: Public Examinations Bill 2024 lists at least 15 actions that amount to using unfair means in public examinations for monetary or wrongful gain, including: 
  • Leakage of question paper or answer key, tampering with answer sheets, directly or indirectly assisting the candidate, conduct of fake examination, etc. 
• Punishment for Violations: 
  • Person Resorting to Unfair Means: Three to five years in prison, and a fine up to Rs 10 lakh. 
    • If the convict fails to pay the fine, additional punishment of imprisonment shall be imposed, as per the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. 
  • Service Providers: Those engaged to provide for the conduct of the examination can be fined up to Rs 1 crore, along with other penalties. 
  • Organised Paper Leaks: Imprisonment for a term not less than five years, may extend to ten years and a fine which shall not be less than one crore rupees”. 
  • Does Not Target Candidates: Candidates appearing for the exams have been left out of its purview.
• National Technical Committee on Public Examinations: The bill proposes a high-level committee that will make recommendations to make the computerised examination process more secure. 
  • The committee shall look into developing protocols for insulating digital platforms, devising ways and means for developing foolproof IT security systems, ensuring electronic surveillance of examination centres and formulating national standards and services for both IT and physical infrastructure to be deployed for conduct of such examinations.

Ethical Perspective of Using Unfair Means in Public Examinations

• Violation of Trust: Students, teachers, and society as a whole place trust in the examination system to accurately assess academic abilities and achievements and using unfair means violates this trust and undermines the integrity of the entire education system.
• Unfair Advantage: Individuals who resort to cheating or malpractices gain an unfair advantage over their peers who abide by the rules which creates an unequal playing field and compromises the principle of fair competition.
• Deception and Dishonesty: Individuals misrepresent their knowledge and abilities, undermine the value of genuine academic achievements and foster a culture of deceit.
• Erosion of Personal Integrity: Engaging in cheating or using unfair means erodes one’s personal integrity and moral character and teaches individuals that dishonesty is acceptable in pursuit of personal gain, leading to ethical dilemmas and compromised values in other aspects of life.
• Consequences for Society: The prevalence of cheating and malpractices in examinations has broader implications, including eroding trust in educational institutions, devaluing qualifications and certifications, and perpetuating a culture of moral decay.

Way Forward

• Legal Framework for Deterrence: The Public Examinations Bill 2024 can serve as an important deterrence, but its effectiveness will depend on the timely investigation and prosecution of offenders. 
• Switch to Computer-Based Exams: Printing and transporting steps are reduced significantly or eliminated, leaks become more difficult, and further modern statistical techniques allow comparative performance to be measured accurately and virtually immediately even across different papers.
• Enhanced Security Measures: There is a need to enhance security measures at examination centres by utilising technology such as advanced surveillance systems and biometric authentication can help deter malpractices.
  • The bill recommends a high-level National Technical Committee on Public Examinations for this purpose.
• Effective Implementation: The bill’s success depends on its effective implementation at both the central and state levels which need clear guidelines and mechanisms for monitoring and enforcing the provisions of the bill will be crucial.
• Public Awareness: Creating awareness among the public, particularly students, about the consequences of engaging in malpractices by engaging with educational institutions, civil society organisations, and the media and fostering a culture of integrity.
• Strengthening Examination Administration: Addressing corruption within examination administration requires stringent measures to detect and punish offenders, ensuring accountability and transparency in the conduct of examinations is imperative.

News Source: NOA

DOWNLOAD PDF