Context:

The Indian Navy will commission the newly inducted MH 60R Seahawk (a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter) multi-role helicopter on March 6 at INS Garuda, Kochi, Kerala.

New Heights in Naval Aviation: INAS 334 Seahawks Squadron Set to Soar with India-US Deal

• The Seahawks squadron will be commissioned in the Indian Navy as INAS 334.
• India-US Deal: India and the US inked the deal for acquisition of 24 Seahawks in 2020 through the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) route.  
  • It means the US government stands guarantee for all the terms and conditions of the contract. All the 24 helicopters will  be inducted by next year.

About MH 60R Seahawk:

• The Helicopter: It is designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and vertical replenishment (VERTREP).
• For India: The helicopter has been rigorously tested in Indian Reference Atmosphere (IRA) conditions and is fully integrated into the Fleet. 

Characteristic Features of MH 60R Seahawk: 

• Integration: These have been integrated with almost all the ships under the Indian Navy and ready for operational deployments.
• Attacking Capabilities: They are also capable of firing torpedoes, missiles and advanced precision kill weapon system rockets.
• Defensive Capabilities: The self-protection suite comprises Chaff and Infrared Flares, which can be deployed automatically upon detection of a threat.
• • This is the only chopper in the Indian Navy with a self-defence capability from incoming gunfire or missiles.

Significance of MH 60R Seahawk for India:

• India’s Defence Modernisation: It is marking a pivotal moment in India’s defence modernisation journey. 
• Enhance the Operational Reach: The MH 60R helicopter will enhance India’s blue-water capabilities, extending the operational reach of the Navy and supporting sustained naval operations across spectrums and over vast maritime domains.
• Strengthen India’s Presence: The Seahawk’s deployment in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) would strengthen the Indian Navy’s maritime presence, dissuading potential threats and ensuring a secure and safe environment in this strategically crucial region.
• For Security: The advanced weapons, sensors and avionics suite make the Seahawks ideal for the Indian Navy’s maritime security needs, offering enhanced capabilities for both conventional as well as asymmetric threats.
  • It is in line with India’s dedication to fortifying maritime security, aligning seamlessly with the government of India’s visionary goal of ensuring Security And Growth for All in the Region.

News Source: All India Radio

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Indian Navy will commission Naval Detachment Minicoy as INS Jatayu on 06 Mar 2024. 

Expanding Maritime Presence: INS Jatayu and Naval Developments in Lakshadweep

• INS Jatayu is the second Naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti. 
• In 1980s: Naval Detachment Minicoy was set up in early 1980s under the operational command of Naval Officer-in-Charge (Lakshadweep). 

INS Jatayu: Bolstering Security and Connectivity in Lakshadweep

• Strengthening the Foothold: With the commissioning of INS Jatayu, the Indian Navy will strengthen its foothold in the Lakshadweep islands.
• Monitor & Surveillance: It will help in extending operational surveillance, reach and sustenance.
  • India is suspicious of China’s growing presence in the archipelago nation and the new base will extend India’s “operational surveillance” of the area.
• Comprehensive Development: It will begin a new era of capacity building and comprehensive development of the Lakshadweep islands.
• To Quick Respond: The new base will enhance the Navy’s overall operational capability and reach in the region, facilitating efforts towards anti-piracy and anti-narcotics operations in the western Arabian Sea. 
  • It will also serve as a first responder in the region and improve connectivity with the mainland.
• For Security: It is an important milestone in the security infrastructure at the strategically important Lakshadweep Islands.

Minicoy Island: Safeguarding Vital Sea Lines of Communication in Lakshadweep

• It is the southernmost island of Lakshadweep which straddles the vital Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs).
  • About Sea lines of Communication: It is a term describing the primary maritime routes between ports, used for trade, logistics and naval forces. 
    • It is generally used in reference to naval operations to ensure that SLOCs are open, or in times of war, to close them.

Map of Lakshadweep

Conclusion:

The establishment of INS Jatayu demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to tapping India’s geographical advantage to further maritime interests.

News Source: PIB

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Context:

The Pew Research Center’s Spring 2023 Global Attitudes Survey suggests a strong trend for authoritarianism in Indian political perspective.

Insights into Authoritarian Preferences: A Comprehensive Pew Survey of Indian Perspectives in 2024

• The Pew survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews method with the sample size representing  Indians across gender, age, education, region, and urbanity.
• Subject: The objective of the Pew survey is to gauge the preferences for two types of authoritarian governance,
  • By  a powerful leader who operates without the need for approval from legislative or judicial bodies (authoritarian leader) or 
  • Governed by the military (military governance).
• The last Pew survey was conducted in 2017.

Shifting Perspectives: A Deep Dive into India’s Evolving Views on Governance and Democracy

• Authoritarian Rule: 

  • India with 85% of respondents favoured either military rule or rule by an authoritarian leader for the country.
  • India’s share was the highest among the 24 countries surveyed  with 85% of  Indians in support in contrast to just 8% in Sweden.
  • Regional variations: The support for authoritarian regimes was more  prevalent in middle-income countries situated mainly in Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America than wealthy countries of  Europe and North America. 

• Freedom for Opposition Parties:

  • India had the third lowest share of people who considered the freedom of Opposition parties crucial for ensuring accountability among the countries surveyed.

• Representative Democracy on a decline:

  • India: Only 36% of Indians believed representative democracy to be a very good approach in 2023 as compared to 44% in 2017
  • This declining trend of viewing  representative democracy as a highly effective method of governance is being witnessed in 11 out of the 22 countries since the last Pew survey conducted in 2017

• Selected experts v/s Elected representatives:

  • India witnessed an increased share of 82% people believing in the rule of experts  in 2023 as compared to 65% in 2017. 
  • The share who felt that this was a bad way of governance stayed put at around 15% in both these years.

News source: The Hindu

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Context:

This article sheds light on the ‘conscience’,  voice of conscience, ‘crisis of conscience’ and its role in ethical decision making. 

What is the Voice of conscience?

• Inner value system: Conscience is an inherent, unchanging, and incorruptible aspect present in every human being.
  • It is like an inner voice that guides us to do what is right.
    • This inner voice is often called the ‘voice of conscience.’
  • It shows the moral goodness and badness of an individual’s own conduct. 
• Natural Phenomenon: It’s a natural part of every person and helps us make good ethical decisions.
  • If someone’s values are not well-developed, their conscience may be weak. But if someone has clear and informed values, their conscience is strong and helps them distinguish right from wrong.
• Helps in taking the right decision: A person’s conscience helps them look at situations from different viewpoints and make the right choices.
  • Therefore, individuals must learn to heed their conscience clearly to enhance ethical competence.

Confronting the Crisis of Conscience with Moral Resilience

• Inner Conflict: Crisis of conscience occurs when there’s an inner conflict between one’s moral compass and external pressures, leading to a difficult decision-making situation.
  • This creates inner turmoil and a sense of unease, making it hard to find a resolution.
• Causes of Inner Conflict: Factors like unchecked desires and lack of self-awareness contribute to this inner struggle.
  • Uncontrolled desires are more harmful than external pressures or hostile actions from others.
•  Way to overcome Conflict: Moral strength and clarity: Dealing with this crisis requires immense moral strength, calmness and clarity because 
  • One will have to fight with oneself.
  • tame one’s own noise and create a pause from within.
• Ancient Wisdom: In ancient teachings, individuals who master this inner conflict are described as ‘Arihant,’ meaning the ‘destroyers of real enemies.’
  • This highlights the importance of self-awareness and moral strength in navigating such challenges.

Need of conscience keeper

• A conscience keeper is someone who plays a crucial role in guiding and safeguarding an individual’s ethical decisions. A conscience keeper, such as C. Rajagopalachari to Mahatma Gandhi or the judiciary as guardians of the Constitution, offers moral guidance and clarity.
  • Their presence helps individuals uphold ethical principles and make principled decisions. 

Guardians of Governance: The Crucial Role of Conscience Keepers in Democracy

• Understanding the Importance of Role Clarity: In a democratic setup, where the executive branch holds significant influence over citizens’ lives, it’s essential for officials to fully comprehend their roles and duties.
  • This understanding helps prevent a crisis of conscience and ensures effective governance.
• Minimising Crisis of Governance: A crisis of governance arises when officials fail to adhere to their conscience, eroding public trust and causing a breakdown in decision-making processes.
  • This lack of moral integrity leads to a reluctance to accept responsibility for failures or impasses in governance. This is the point where the conscience keeper helps to guide officials to tackle situations effectively. 
• To resolve Challenges Faced by Bureaucrats: Citizens often turn to bureaucrats in times of trouble, expecting them to empathize and address their concerns.
  • This places bureaucrats in a dilemma, causing a crisis of conscience as they navigate personal and professional responsibilities.
• Navigating Crises with Inner Development: Conscience keeper helps in inner development of the individuals as successfully managing crises requires individuals to cultivate inner growth and emotional intelligence.
  • By minimising internal conflicts, officials can better handle external interpersonal challenges.

The Moral Compass: Conscience’s Vital Role in Ethical Decision-Making

• Facilitates Decision Making: Conscience helps in taking good decisions when an ethical dilemma arises in a given situation.
  For Example: A small boy stole bread (due to hunger) from a store and broke its glass while running but he was caught by its owner. Now, if the owner files a case against the boy for his loss (Glass),  the official may face an ethical dilemma. A dilemma between punishment for loss and stealing for hunger.  In such a situation, it is the conscience that guides officials in taking the right decision. 
• Develop analytic perspective: Conscience helps individuals in understanding a given situation from various perspectives. 
• Conflicts of interest: It helps in removing conflict of interest and shows a way for taking the right decision based on the given circumstances. 

News Source: Indianexpress

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Pakistan to hold its National Day celebrations in New Delhi after a four-year gap. 

Pakistan’s National Day: Diplomatic Outreach and New Beginnings with India

• Pakistan National Day is observed on March 23, the day the Lahore Resolution was adopted in 1940 by the Muslim League
• The celebration is an attempt  to restart its low-key and low-risk engagement with India by the new Pakistan government.

Significance of March 23:  

• Republic Day: On March 23 1956, Pakistan officially adopted its first Constitution transforming  the Dominion of Pakistan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Lahore Resolution 1940: Dividing Paths and Debates in India’s History

• Adoption: The Lahore Resolution was written and prepared by Muhammad Zafarullah Khan was a formal political statement adopted by the All-India Muslim League during its general session in Lahore from March 22 to March 24, 1940
• Objective: It formally called for an independent state for India’s Muslims with Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s famous speech asserting the demand for two separate countries, one for Hindus and one for Muslims going forward.
• Demands:
  • For Muslim Majority Areas: The areas where there is Muslims Majority (North-Western and Eastern Zones of India) should be grouped to constitute “Independent States” in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign.
  • For Muslim Minority regions of India: An adequate, effective and mandatory constitutional safeguards shall be provided for the protection of their religious, cultural, economic, political, administrative and other rights and interests in consultation with the Muslim League.
• Response: 
• • The Lahore Resolution was criticised by many Indian Muslims, like Abul Kalam Azad and the Deoband ulema led by Husain Ahmad Madani, who advocated for a united India.
  • The All India Azad Muslim Conference gathered in Delhi in April 1940 to voice its support for an independent and united India, in response to the Lahore Resolution.

News source: The Indian Express

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The Indian government has officially announced the implementation of the significant Press and Registration of Periodicals Act (PRP Act), 2023 and its Rules. 

More on News:

• The Press and Registration of Periodicals Act (PRP Act), 2023  has become effective from March 1st, 2024.

About Press and Registration of Periodicals Act (PRP Act)

• This act replaces the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 legislation from colonial – era. 
• Objective: To modernise the registration processes of periodicals.
• This act governs the registration of periodicals. 

Understanding the feature of PRP Act: Revolutionizing Periodical Registration

• Press Sewa Portal : The new Act has introduced an online registration system  called the Press Sewa Portal.
  • The new Act mandates that all applications for registering periodicals must be done exclusively online through the Press Sewa Portal. 
  • This system has replaced the old manual processes, which were complex and involved multiple steps and approvals. 
• The Press Registrar General of India (PRGI):  The Press Registrar General of India (PRGI), formerly known as the Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI), will be responsible for implementing the objectives of the new Act.
  • The PRGI would be responsible for maintaining a register of periodicals, setting standards for periodical titles, verifying circulation numbers, and handling registration changes, suspensions, or cancellations.
• Exclusion of scientific and technical books: The new law states that a periodical is any publication, like a newspaper, published regularly with public news or comments. 
  • However, it excludes scientific, technical, or academic books or journals from requiring registration with PRGI.

Digital Revolution in Publishing: The Impact of Online Registration on Periodicals and Business Ease

• Shift from Traditional approach: With the introduction of new act, the registration process for  periodicals will be done online through press sewa portal which is a significant step towards modern approach aligning the objective of Digital India. 
• Ease of doing Business: Online operation of registration helps to create a conducive environment for publishers which further helps in doing business related to publication work. 

Difference between PRP Act and PRB Act 

Significance

News Source: AIR

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Context: 

Recently, in a study published in the Journal Science,a team of biologists from the University of Michigan examined snakes’ genetic and dietary habits.

Understanding the Evolution: Snakes’ Swift Genetic Changes and Dietary Specialization

• Researchers decoded the genetic sequence of more than 1,018 snake and lizard species.
  • Revealed that snakes have undergone significantly faster evolution compared to their reptilian cousins (Lizards).
•  Dietary preferences by studying the stomach contents of more than 60,000 snakes and lizards,
  • Snakes (specialized their food selection) largely consume  small vertebrates while lizards( non-specific) prefer insects and invertebrates.
• The study also noted that the Snakes‘ moving methods, and perceptions underwent significant alterations.

Evolutionary Changes in Lizards-Snake: 

• Lizards split to legless Species : A group of lizards split apart around 100 million years ago, becoming a legless species. 
• Acquired flexible skulls to swallow their prey whole. 
• Sonic Hedgehog gene :  Due to disruption in this gene, limb growth variation in different varieties of snake can be seen.
• Along with snakes, many lizards also adapted to these rapid changes and developed snake-like traits, including losing their limbs and elongating their bodies. 
  • The Australian scincid lizard (Lerista), a member of the clade Squamata (which includes lizards and snakes), provides perhaps the best example of such evolution.
• The Singularity of Snakes : Similar to the Big Bang theory in cosmology, which suggests the universe originated from a singular event approximately 14 billion years ago, the singularity of snakes proposes a comparable concept. 
  • In a bid to adapt, lizards made fervent efforts to evolve, yet snakes surpassed them effortlessly. This led to a remarkable burst of diversification. Researchers have coined this phenomenon as the “singularity of snakes”.
  • This singular event marked a rapid succession of changes in form and function among snakes, appearing as a unified event on the evolutionary timeline.
• Snake Diversity : After that, snake diversity increased to the point that there are currently close to 4,000 different species of snakes on Earth.

Conclusion:

Scientists suspect such evolutionary bursts in some species may have happened multiple times, not just once, and are certain that understanding them is key to understanding the earth’s ecological future.

News Source : The Hindu

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Recently, A research officer at Loughborough University in the U.K. reported that universities’ quests for higher ranking mirrors the flawed pursuit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the sole measure of a country’s prosperity.

How does the Ranking system work?

• Purpose of Ranking :  They hold significant weight and influence in shaping educational policies and priorities in the higher education sector in many countries.
• Methodology: A ranking system orders the higher education institutes in a place (country, region, etc.) by their accomplishments on various fronts — including 
  • Teaching, research, reputation, industry-focused research, and collaborative efforts. 

Concerns related with the major Global ranking System

• Arbitrary measures of Research Excellence like Citation metric(It gauges how frequently a university’s published research is referenced by scholars worldwide.) 
  • But for the purposes of the ranking, an institute’s performance on each one is translated into a few composite indicators, which are then combined to create a consolidated score.
  • Involvement in such projects provides an unfair advantage as they tend to accrue high citation counts due to the presence of multiple authors.
• Favoritism:  Favor the universities that hosted an important summit of a major university ranking releasing Agency.
• Conflict of Interest: Most entities that compile and publish rankings are private enterprises & these entities consulting with universities to help the latter achieve better ranks in their own systems.
• Data Security: Additionally, by participating in ranking exercises, universities and institutes provide ranking agencies free reign over their data, compromising their data security.

What Changes can be done ?

• The weightage of the citation metric can be reduced , 
• New indicators can be added like
  • Typical research strength (assesses a university’s research prowess compared to others), 
  • Excellence in research (measures the presence of outstanding research areas), and
  • The Network effect of citations (considers the influence of citations from researchers of varying importance.). 
• Compilation & Publication of Ranking should be done by an Independent Agency 
• Ensure Data Security : By End to End Encryption & by Other Privacy measures.

News Source : The Hindu

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Recently, Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi, Banglar muslin, Narsapur crochet lace products and Kutch rogan craft are among those given the Geographical Indication tag.

About Geographical Indication (GI):

• Meaning: A Geographical Indications tag is a sign that identifies a product as originating from a specific geographical region and having a distinctive quality or reputation.
• Prohibition: It  prevents its use by a third party whose product does not conform to the applicable standards. 
  • However, it does not enable the holder to prevent someone from making a product using the same techniques as those set out in the standards for that indication. 
• Applicability: It is used for Agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.
• Nodal Agency:  Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Validity: 10 years
• Granted by: Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai.
• Legal Framework: 
  • Agreement on TRIPS at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) governs GI.
  • The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India

News Source: The Hindu

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This Article is based on the news “Strengthening of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act” which was published in the Down to Earth. Two-Day Regional Conference on the Strengthening of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act took Place in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj’s Continued Commitment to PESA 1996 Implementation

• The conference marks the second in the series, representing the ongoing efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to promote the effective adoption and implementation of PESA 1996.
• In addition to governmental bodies, several Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)/ Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working towards the empowerment of Scheduled Tribes have been invited to contribute to the discourse.

What is the background of PESA? – Empowering Tribal Governance through Local Self-Governance

• Need For Local Self-Governance: The 73rd constitutional amendment was made in 1992 to promote local self-governance in rural India.
  • Issue: Its application to scheduled and tribal areas under Article 243(M) was restricted.
• Bhuria Committee Recommendation: Government appointed a committee headed by Mr. Dileep Singh Bhuria to work on a similar structure of Panchayati Raj Institution to shape Tribal areas and Schedule areas. Therefore the Bhurai committee was established.
  • Bhuria committee recommendations in 1995 resulted in the PESA Act 1996. A three tier structure was recommended by the committee, those are
    • Gram Sabha
    • Gram Panchayat
    • Block or Taluk Level Body

What is PESA?

• Enacted On: PESA was enacted on 24 December 1996 to extend the provisions of Part 9 of the Constitution to Schedule Areas, with certain exceptions and modifications.
  • The Schedule Areas were not covered by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment or Panchayati Raj Act of the Indian Constitution as provided in Part 9 of the Constitution.
• Self-Governance Through Gram Sabha: The PESA Act was enacted to ensure self-governance through Gram Sabhas (village assemblies) for people living in the Scheduled Areas.
• Rights of Tribal Communities: The PESA Act recognizes the rights of tribal communities who are residents of tribal communities, and also acknowledges their traditional rights over natural resources.
• States Under the Act: Ten states have notified Fifth Schedule areas that cover (partially or fully) several districts in each of these states.
  • These states are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Telangana.

PESA 1996: Fostering Tribal Self-Governance, Preserving Traditions, and Empowering Gram Sabha

• Extending Panchayati Raj Provision to Scheduled Areas: To extend the provisions of Part 9 of the Constitution relating to the Panchayats to the scheduled areas with certain modifications.
• Self-Rule to Tribals: To provide self-rule for the bulk of the tribal population.
• Gram Sabha Accountability: To have village governance with participatory democracy and to make the gram sabha the nucleus of all activities.
• Promoting Traditional Practices: To evolve a suitable administrative framework consistent with traditional practices
• Preserving Customs of Tribals: To safeguard and preserve the traditions and customs of tribal communities.
• Empowering Panchayats: To empower panchayats at the appropriate levels with specific powers conducive to tribal requirements
• Empowering Gram Sabha: To prevent panchayats at the higher level from assuming the powers and authority of panchayats at the lower level of the gram sabha.

PESA 1996 Features: Aligning with Tradition, Gram Sabha Empowerment

• Align with Customary Law: A state legislature on the Panchayats in the Scheduled Areas shall align with the customary law, social and religious practices, and traditional management practices of community resources.
• Every Gram Sabha shall:
• • Approve the plans, programs, and projects for social and economic development before they are taken up for implementation by the Panchayat at the village level, and
  • Be responsible for the identification of beneficiaries under poverty alleviation and other programs.
• Part 9 of the Constitution – Articles 243 to 243O – mentions The Panchayati Raj System
• Reservation in Panchayats: The reservation of seats in the Schedule Areas in every panchayat shall be in proportion to the population of the communities for whom reservation is sought to be given under Part 9 of the Constitution.
  • However, the reservation for the Scheduled Tribes shall not be less than one-half of the total number of seats.
  • Further, all seats of Chairpersons of Panchayats at all levels shall be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.
• Inconsistent Law Ceases: Any provisions of any law (relating to the Panchayats in the Schedule Areas) that are inconsistent with the provision of this act shall cease to be in force  at the expiry of one year from the date on which this act receives the assent of the president. 

PESA 1996 Challenges: Limited Applicability, Administrative Constraints, and Implementation Gaps

• Applicability: PESA is only applicable to those areas which are legally regarded as Scheduled Areas. A significant number of tribals living outside the scheduled areas are not covered by this legislation.
• Superficial Administrative and Fiscal Empowerment: While political decentralization has been largely successful, there is only superficial administrative and fiscal empowerment that remains with the State Governments.
  • Panchayats have not been given adequate responsibilities to levy and collect taxes, fees, duties, or tolls. This severely limits their autonomy.
• States Not Even Framed the Rules: The law has been given a cold shoulder by those who were supposed to implement and execute it.
  • A total of four states – Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha have not even framed the rules yet.
  • Gujarat used the rules of the Panchayati Raj Act to manage the fifth schedule areas.
• Boundations with State Election Commissions: The State Election Commissions do not have the same freedom from State to State. 
  • It would be better to empower SECs so that they can freely deal with all matters relating to panchayat elections like delimitations of constituencies, rotation of reserved seats in Panchayats, finalization of electoral rolls, etc.
• Land Alienation: The government is acquiring land without the consent of gram sabhas (village councils).
  • Despite having a 26% Adivasi population, Jharkhand has failed to formulate rules for the implementation of PESA, a law meant for the welfare of the Adivasi community.
• Compromising Authority of Gram Sabhas: Gram Sabhas are the primary instrument of PESA effectively by giving control to the tribals to take care of their affairs almost autonomously.
• • However, in reality, other state legislatures and extraneous forces, such as the forest department, subordinate them.
  • It defeats the very purpose of PESA.

Way Ahead:

• Capacity Building: Equipping Gram Sabhas with training and resources to effectively manage their responsibilities and navigate complex issues.
  • Panchayats should be given adequate responsibilities to levy and collect taxes, fees, duties, or tolls.
• Addressing Implementation Gaps: Bridging the gap between the Act’s provisions and their implementation on the ground.
• Raising Awareness: Creating widespread awareness about the PESA act among tribal communities, government officials, and the general public.
• Land Alienation and Resource Management: Effectively addressing the issue of land alienation and ensuring equitable and sustainable management of natural resources in Scheduled Areas.

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This Article is based on the news “How bad is India’s single use plastic crisis?” which was published in the Down to Earth. According to a report launched during the Sixth United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA-6) at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the street food sector across India depends heavily on single use plastics.

Single Use Plastic (SUP) in India: Definition, Status, and Global Impact

• Definition: It refers to a plastic item intended to be used once for the same purpose before being disposed of or recycled.
• Status: The annual share of banned single use plastic items is roughly 0.6 million tonnes per year. 
  • As per report “Plastic Waste Makers Index 2019”, India was the 13th largest investor in single use plastic polymer production globally. 
  • India ranked 3rd globally, contributing 5.5 million tonnes of single use plastic waste and ranked 94th with per capita single use plastic waste of 4 kg per year, indicating that India addresses roughly 11% of the single use plastic waste.

Identification of single use Plastic Items:

• On the Basis of Experts’ Report: The identification of single use plastic items to be phased out was done on the basis of a report by an expert committee on single use plastics constituted by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) under the the direction of the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. 
• Parameters for Assessment: The assessment was conducted by comparing two pillars:
  • The Utility Index of a specific type of single use plastic
  • Its Environmental Impact

Challenges and Consequences of Single-Use Plastic in India:

• In Laws & Regulations: 

  • Oversimplified Definition: The definition does not distinguish between necessary and unnecessary plastics or between recyclable and non-recyclable plastics.
  • Ban on Limited Items: India had banned 19 selected single use plastic items while a lot more were in circulation and continue to be. 
    • A significant amount of non-recyclable plastics that are problematic have been allowed to still circulate on the basis that India does not have alternatives for those plastics.
  • Unclear Criteria for Identification: Some items that are low on Utility Index and high on Environmental Impact have not been considered for phasing out. This leaves big corporations least affected. 
    • It is unclear what yardstick was actually considered for the items listed for phasing out.
  • Loopholes in EPR Policy: It specifies target collection and recycling, ignoring the fact that some single-use plastics that are not banned (multilayered packaging) are non-recyclable.
    • EPR: It is a policy strategy that holds producers responsible for the end-of-life consequences of their goods and enables proper collection and disposal of items after use. 

• Severe Impacts on Biodiversity: The United Nations Environment Programme’s country-wise plastic data revealed that India mismanages 85% of its plastic waste. 

  • In Marine Life: This waste, predominantly single use in nature, is dumped or even burnt at roadsides, choking drains and flowing into the rivers from where it disperses into the ocean, harming marine life directly or indirectly.
    • As it degrades into micro- and nano-sized particles over months, years and decades. 
  • On Earth’s Surface: Emissions from the production, use and disposal of single use plastics are significant in their contributions in degrading the country’s environment.
    • It could account for 5-10% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
  • As per the World Wildlife Fund, plastic is harmful to the environment as it is non-biodegradable and takes years to disintegrate. But single use plastics are worse, never breaking down completely, become microplastics and continue to pollute the environment.

• Economic Impact: Cleaning up single use plastic pollution and dealing with its consequences pose significant costs to local communities, municipalities and governments.

• • As per a 2021 World Wildlife Fund report, Plastics: The Costs to Society, the Environment and the Economy, “The lifetime cost of the plastic produced in 2019 will be at least US $3.7 trillion, which is more than the GDP of India.” 
    • The Lifetime Cost: It includes the cost for management of waste, cost incurred due to loss of ecosystems, health costs and mitigation measures to fight plastic pollution and climate change.
  • Impact on Tourism Sector: Such a plastic waste damages the aesthetic value of tourist destinations and impacts on the tourism sector and economy.
• Lack of Alternatives: There is a lack of alternatives for SUPs in the market due to no supportive infrastructure or incentives provided for encouraging the production of alternatives in large volumes.

India’s Action on single use Plastic:

• Ban on Identified single use Plastic: 

• • 2018: On June 5, 2018, to mark the World Environment Day, the Indian Prime Minister announced that India would phase out single use plastics by 2022. 
  • 2021: On August 12, 2021, a ban on identified single use plastic items was notified (came into force on July 1, 2022) by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) via the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021.
    • For the first time India defined SUP. 
    • The remaining single-use plastic items, comprising mostly packaging products, are covered under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy introduced by the MOEFCC in 2022.
• The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: It stated that urban local bodies should ban less than 50 micron thick plastic bags and not allow the usage of recycled plastics for packing food, beverage or any other eatables.
  • It introduced the concept of EPR to manage plastics in India.
• Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022: The guidelines on EPR coupled with the prohibition of identified single use plastic items.
  • It banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than seventy-five micrometers. 
• Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0: Every Urban Local Bodies is required to adopt 100% source segregation of waste, and have access to a Material Recovery Facility for sorting the dry waste (including plastic waste) into further fractions for recycling and/ or processing into value-added products. 
  • This is aimed to reduce plastic and dry waste ending up in dumpsites or waterbodies.
  • It also focused on identification and creating awareness for plastic alternatives.
• Establishment of Special Task Forces: These were formed in all states and union territories to eliminate single use plastics and manage plastic waste.
  • A National Level Taskforce was established to coordinate efforts nationwide.
• Ban on Products: Various directions were issued to stop supplying plastic raw materials for banned items, revoke the licenses of banned plastic producers, and stop the import of banned items.
• Redressal Platforms: Online platforms were created for monitoring and grievance redressal.
• Awareness Campaigns: Assistance and awareness programs were provided to MSMEs for transitioning to eco-friendly alternatives. 
  • Enforcement campaigns were carried out across India.

• About Comprehensive Action Plan:

  • Issued by: In February 2022, it was issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to all the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and the Pollution Control Committees (PCCs).
  • Aim: To deal with the single use plastics issue and its phasing out. 
  • Components: The Action Plan comprises following four parts

Way Forward:

• Upgradation of Capacity Building: Capacity building of government officials needs to be upgraded with regard to structured field inspection. Inspection teams should also be equipped with required instruments. 
• Mandatory Public Disclosure: Local governments and states should be mandated by the CPCB and MOEFCC to put out quarterly updates on their websites in the format provided to the Chairmen of all the SPCB/PCCs. 
• Focus on Accountability: CPCB required that states submit a report on enforcement every fortnight. There should be provision to include the information sought in the Annual Report published by the CPCB as per the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. 
• Work on Transparency: CPCB will have to start sharing the data that it collects from private players through the EPR and the state authorities through the SUP monitoring module.
• Strict Ban on Plastic Bags: Carry bags irrespective of thickness should be banned similar to the successful bans in East African countries (Tanzania and Rwanda) and Himachal Pradesh.
  • Himachal Pradesh through its Non-biodegradable Garbage Control Act of 1998 has completely banned the production, distribution, storage and use of carry bags. 
• Invest in the SUP Alternatives: By providing cost-effective and convenient options. There is a need for supportive infrastructure and incentives should be provided to encourage the production of alternatives in large volumes. 
• Adopt a Reusable Packaging System: India should focus on reusable packaging systems which would help both in economical and environmental sustainability. 
  • The reuse systems reduced the quantity of materials required, and had a 21% return on investment with a 2 to 3-year payback period. 
• Phasing Out in Priority Manner: Unnecessary and non-recyclable plastics need to be phased out on priority.
• Strict Enforcement of Laws & Regulations: The enforcement of the ban on single use plastics has been poor and needs to be strengthened.

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