Context: 

Recently Niti Aayog released a report titled “Towards Decarbonising Transport – Taking Stock of G20 Sectoral Ambition”.

Highlight of the Report:

• Responsibility of G20: The G20 countries are responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), making decarbonization of the transport sector crucial for achieving global climate goals.
  • India’s Emissions from the transport sector could increase by 65 per cent by 2030 and a staggering 197 per cent by 2050 relative to 2020 levels.
• Lack of Commitment: Despite commitments to the Paris Agreement, the G20 has not given enough attention to decarbonizing and reshaping the transport sector.
• Snail Pace Policy Impact: Notable reductions in transport emissions have not been achieved since 1990, and emissions have been increasing due to motorization around the globe.
  • Overall G20 transport emissions have grown by almost 6% in 2015–2019.
• Geopolitical Pressure: Due to the pandemic and growing geopolitical tensions, the international commitment to climate action is currently facing challenges.
  • Tectonic shifts in geopolitics mean greater economic competition between China, India, and Indonesia, on the one hand, and the US, Western Europe, and Japan, on the other.
• Fuel Subsidy: Overall subsidy levels are still distorting the market, giving carbon-intensive modes of transport an undue advantage.

India’s Transport Sector and Carbon Emissions:

• Scope and Coverage: India’s road network is the second largest in the world after the US and it has the fourth-largest rail network globally. 

• • The total number of road vehicles grew at an average of 10% per year between 2005 and 2012 and continues to grow strongly, which, together with increasing urbanisation, has led to high levels of traffic congestion and air pollution. 
  • India’s total CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion grew by 330% between 1990 and 2019. 
• Emission from Transport Sector: Road transport emerges as the major contributor to sector emissions, closely followed by rail transport. 
  • Transport-sector emissions grew 375% over the same period and represent an uncharacteristically low share – 14% due to high carbon intensity of India’s power generation.
  • With 1.6 t CO₂ for total emissions and 0.2 t CO₂ for the transport sector, India’s per capita emissions are the lowest in the G20. 
  • India’s rail transport’s share of sector emissions (nearly 7%) is one of the highest among the G20 countries.
• Slow Progress on EVs: Despite the global push to transition to electric vehicles (EVs), India has only set a target for a 30% electric vehicle share in passenger light-duty vehicle sales by 2030.
  • It falls short of an overall emissions or energy target for the entire transport sector.
• Lack of Specific Target under INDC: India’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) includes targets to reduce emissions intensity and increase non-fossil fuel-based energy resources, but it does not specifically address the transport sector.

Steps Taken to Control Transport Emissions in India:

• Ambitious Target: India aims to increase the share of rail in freight transport to 45% by 2030 and intends to achieve a 30% share of electric light-duty vehicle sales by the same year. 
  • India signed the COP26 declaration, setting a target to transition to 100% zero-emission cars and vans by 2040.Adopting greener policies in passenger and freight transport sectors to avoid up to 1.7 Gt CO₂e by 2030.
• EVs Push: Among G20 nations, India stands out for its rapid and impressive evolution in the EV market. 
  • Programmes: National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020 in 2013, followed by the Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of EVs (FAME) Phase I and Phase II. 
  • These programs have allocated $1.25 billion to incentivize EV adoption through upfront subsidies and the development of robust charging infrastructure. 
  • India has over 2.4 million registered EVs as of June 2023.
• Fossil fuel subsidy reform: India which phased out price controls for transport fuels in late 2014.
  • From 2014 to 2017, India incrementally reduced oil and gas subsidies by 75%, while increasing funding for renewable energy six-fold.
• Hydrogen Push: India launched a National Hydrogen Mission in August 2021. 
  • Its target is to have 30 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030 with related renewable power generation capacity, producing 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year.

Report Recommendation:

• Prioritizing Transport in Energy Transition: G20 states should lead in decarbonizing transport by eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and increasing green fuel funding.

• • Fostering Just Energy Transition Partnerships and supporting power-to-X technologies for enhanced cooperation among member states.Adopting Power-to-X fuels: They refer to carbon-neutral alternatives to conventional fossil energy carriers. 
  • These fuels are produced by using renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power, to convert water and carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels like hydrogen or synthetic methane. 
  • They can play a crucial role in decarbonizing sectors like long-haul aviation and maritime shipping, where direct electrification may not be feasible.
• Greener Funding: Increasing investments to more energy-efficient means of passenger and freight transport can help shift consumer demand toward lower-carbon transport.
  • India has set a target to move at least 50% of goods via rail by 2030 and fully electrify its rail system by 2024.
• Adopting “Avoid, Shift and Improve” strategy: This strategy emphasizes the need to avoid unnecessary vehicle trips, shift towards low-carbon modes of transport, and improve the efficiency of existing transport systems. 
• Sustainable Mobility: The transition to sustainable mobility will reduce energy consumption without limiting mobility. 
  • Enhance the availability and cost-competitiveness of public transport and to support both the electrification of vehicles.
  • Electric vehicles (EVs) can improve energy efficiency by producing about 20% less CO₂ emissions than internal combustion engines.
• Integrated system approach: Combining IT, transportation, and power grid expertise can enhance integration between power and transportation sectors, promoting decarbonization in transportation and the energy economy as a whole.
• Role of Legislation: Countries must pass laws promoting new ideas, accelerating low-carbon system expansion, and holistic policies, addressing energy and land use linkages.. 
  • Ex: Public transport infrastructure is crucial for reducing GHG emissions, improving urban quality, and reducing congestion and fatalities.
• Behavioral Change: G20’s 2019 Energy Efficiency Leading Programme (EELP) recognised the importance of “behavioral change”
• • • Policies should promote eco-friendly, efficient transportation options like walking, cycling, and public transport, while promoting electric vehicles.

News Source: NITI Aayog

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Recently, the Standing Committee on Finance submitted its report on ‘Cyber Security and Rising Incidence of Cyber/White Collar Crimes’. 

Key Observation and Recommendation of the  Standing Committee on Finance:

About Cyber Security:

• Cybersecurity refers to the practice of protecting computer systems, networks, devices, and digital information from unauthorized access, data breaches, cyber attacks, and other forms of unauthorized exploitation. 
• It encompasses a range of strategies, technologies, and practices designed to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of digital assets.

Some of the major areas covered in cybersecurity include:

• Network Security: Ensuring the security of networks by implementing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, intrusion prevention systems, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to prevent unauthorized access and attacks.
• Endpoint Security: Protecting individual devices, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets, by using antivirus software, anti-malware programs, and encryption to secure data and prevent infections.
• Application Security: Securing software applications by identifying and patching vulnerabilities, conducting code reviews, and implementing secure development practices to prevent exploitation and unauthorized access.
• Cloud Security: Protecting data and applications stored in cloud environments by using encryption, access controls, and multi-factor authentication to ensure data privacy and prevent data breaches.
• Data Security: Implementing measures such as encryption, access controls, and data loss prevention (DLP) tools to safeguard sensitive data from unauthorized access, theft, or leaks.

Need to secure Cyberspace in India:

• Increasing Cybercrimes: 
  • According to the NCRB’s “Crime in India, 2020” report, cybercrimes have increased by 306 percent in the past four years. 
  • Ransomware Incidents: The “India Ransomware Report 2022” published by CERT-In highlights a 53 percent increase in ransomware incidents in 2022 compared to the previous year.
  • Financial Crime Volume: In the financial year 2020-21, there were 2.62 lakh reported financial crimes. This number increased significantly to 6.94 lakhs in the year 2022.
  • Domestic Payments Fraud: In FY 2021, regulated entities in India reported domestic payments fraud amounting to Rs 542.7 crore. This figure escalated to Rs 2537.35 crore in FY 2023.
  • Digital Loan Apps Frauds: In the year 2022, there were 26,844 fraud cases related to digital loan apps. This number decreased to 9,926 in the year 2023.
• Digital Transformation (Digital India): A report projects that the value of digital payments in India is expected to grow from 300 billion dollars in FY21 to close to 1 trillion dollars in FY26. 

• Critical Infrastructure Protection: India’s critical infrastructure, including power plants, healthcare facilities, railways, and banking systems, has been under increasing cyber threats. 
• Terrorism and Hacktivism: The International Institute for Counter Terrorism’s report highlights the rise in hacktivism activities in Southeast Asia, including distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and information leaks. 
  • Hacktivism is the act of hacking, or breaking into a computer system.

Initiatives regarding Cyber Security:

• Global Initiatives:
  • Budapest Convention on Cybercrime (2001): An international treaty that harmonizes national laws, improves investigative techniques, and enhances cooperation among nations to address cybercrime. 
    • It deals with issues such as infringements of copyright, computer-related fraud, child pornography and violations of network security.
    • India is not a signatory to this convention, it has relevance on the global stage.
  • Global Centre for Cyber Security: It is an initiative of the World Economic Forum with its headquarters in Geneva.
    • Aims: To establish the first global platform for governments, businesses, experts and law enforcement agencies to collaborate on cyber security challenges.
  • Paris call: At the UNESCO Internet Governance Forum (IGF) meeting convened in Paris, “The Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace” was commenced, aimed at developing common principles for securing cyberspace.
• India’s Initiatives:
• Institutional Measures:
  • National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC): Operates as the nodal agency for protecting and ensuring the resilience of critical information infrastructure.
  • Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): Established in 2020 to handle various types of cybercrimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.
  • Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative: Launched in 2018 to spread awareness about cybercrime and enhance capacity-building for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and IT staff in government departments.
  • Cyber Swachhta Kendra: Introduced in 2017, this platform helps users clean their devices by removing viruses and malware.
  • National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: A citizen-centric platform enabling online reporting of cybercrimes, with complaints accessed by relevant law enforcement agencies.
  • National Cyber Security Policy 2013: The government released the National Cyber Security Policy 2013 to safeguard both physical and business assets of the country.
  • National Cyber Security Strategy 2020:It was formulated by the Office of National Cyber Security Coordinator at the National Security Council Secretariat. It aims to improve cyber awareness and cybersecurity through more stringent audits. 
  • Computer Emergency Response Team – India (CERT-In): Under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, CERT-In collects, analyzes, and disseminates information on cyber incidents and issues cybersecurity alerts.
• Legislative Measures: 
  • Information Technology Act, 2000: Regulates the use of computers, computer systems, networks, data, and information in electronic format.
  • India’s draft Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023: The Union Cabinet cleared the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP). 

Challenges in Securing India’s Cyber Space:

• No procedural code: There is no separate procedural code for the investigation of cyber or computer-related offences.
• Admissibility of Electronic Evidence: The complexities around the admissibility of electronic evidence have created uncertainty in legal proceedings, requiring clear guidelines for the admissibility of electronic records.
• Jurisdiction and Enforcement: Most cybercrimes have a trans-national nature, leading to challenges in collecting evidence from foreign territories and dealing with cross-border legal complexities.
• Technical Staff Shortage: There’s a shortage of technically qualified staff within law enforcement agencies to effectively investigate cybercrimes, as electronic evidence requires specialized knowledge.
  • Ex., In the Aarushi murder case of Noida, reported as Dr. (Smt.) Nupur Talwar vs State of U.P. and Anr., the Allahabad High Court observed that the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) expert was not provided with the details of the Internet logs, router logs and laptop logs to prove whether the Internet was physically operated on the fateful night.

Way Forward for Securing India’s Cyber Space:

• Capacity Building: Invest in training and recruiting technically qualified personnel within law enforcement agencies to handle cybercrimes effectively.
• Clear Admissibility Rules: Develop and implement clear guidelines for the admissibility of electronic evidence in court, based on recent legal judgments and international standards.
• Inadequate Cyber Infrastructure: The need for upgraded and modernized cyber forensic laboratories, equipped to handle emerging technologies and digital evidence, is essential but currently inadequate.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Promote collaboration between the central and state governments to create uniform statutory procedures for enforcement agencies and provide sufficient funds for developing cyber infrastructure.
• Data Localisation: Enact legislation that includes ‘data localization’ provisions to enable enforcement agencies to access the data of suspected Indian citizens promptly.

News Source: PRS

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Context:

The Government has hiked the windfall profit tax on crude oil produced in the country and on export of diesel.

More on News:

• The tax, levied in the form of special additional excise duty, on domestically produced crude oil has been raised to ₹7,100 per tonne from ₹4,250 per tonne.
• Besides, the special additional excise duty (SAED) on the export of diesel has been increased to ₹5.50 per litre from ₹1 per litre. A duty of ₹2 per litre will be imposed on the export of jet fuel.

About Windfall Tax:

• A windfall tax is a higher tax levied by the government on specific industries when they experience unexpected and above-average profits.
  • For Example: Windfall tax was levied on the oil companies of the United States in the 1980s. There was a sudden rise in oil prices due to the crisis of oil in 1979, leading to windfall gain for the companies in the sector later on.
• Purpose: To redistribute excess profits in one area to raise funds for the greater social good.
• Introduction  of Windfall Tax in India: To address the shortage of energy products on the domestic market, the Indian government added a special additional excise duty on the export of gasoline and diesel, known as the Windfall Tax, on July 1st, 2022.

News Source: The Hindu

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The National Medical Commission (NMC) released its new guidelines- ‘Regulations relating to Professional Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners”.

About ‘Regulations relating to Professional Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners”:

• Right to refuse Treatment: 
  • The doctors have also been given the right to refuse treatment if the patient cannot pay them.
  • Doctors may refuse treatment to abusive, unruly, or violent patients and relatives. However, they have been asked not to discriminate based on gender, race, religion, caste, social, economic or cultural grounds.
• Prescribing Generic Medicines: Doctors must prescribe generic medicine. 
• Social Media Guidelines:
  • They may use social media only to educate and not solicit patients through testimonials by patients or images and videos of cured patients. 
  • The guideline also forbids doctors from “purchasing” likes, followers, or any fees to boost their social media profile on search algorithms.
  • Doctors should not participate in telemedicine platforms that provide ratings, reviews, and promotions of certain doctors by any means.
• Enforcing Discipline: In case of violations, a doctor may be given a warning to be more careful about the regulations or instructed to attend a workshop or academic programme on ethics, personal and social relations and/or professional training.
  • On repeated violations, the doctor’s license to practice may be suspended for a particular period.
• Forbidding Commission: The guidelines warn against receiving commissions from pharmacies or diagnostic laboratories or attending conferences sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry.
• Religious Beliefs and Medical Care:The comprehensive guidelines specifically mention that no doctor can deny birth control measures or abortions, based on religious beliefs.
• Privacy and Confidentiality: The doctors have been asked not to discuss the specifics of the treatment of their patients or post their scans online.
• Active Learning: The guidelines say that doctors should have studied 30 credit points in their relevant fields at the time of renewal of their license every five years. 
• Ethical Practices and Financial Relationships: The guidelines say doctors or their families should not receive any gifts, travel facilities, hospitality, cash or monetary grants under any pretext.

News Source: The Indian Express

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The Tamil Nadu government sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to make Karnataka immediately release 24,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) from its reservoirs.

About Cauvery Water Dispute:

• Parties to Dispute: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Puducherry
• Supreme court  ruling on Cauvery water dispute:
  • Allocating more water to Karnataka: Karnataka will supply 177.25 tmc instead of 192 tmc – a reduction of 14.75 tmc, from its Billigundlu site to Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu 
  • Directed the formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB)
  • Allocation to Kerala and Puducherry was not changed.

Article 262:

• It deals with the adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-state rivers or river valleys, says:
• Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-state river or river valley.

Inter-State River Water Disputes Resolution Mechanism:

• The resolution of water disputes is governed by the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
  
  • According to its provisions, if a State Government makes a request regarding any water dispute and the Central Government is of opinion that the water dispute cannot be settled by negotiations, then a Water Disputes Tribunal is constituted for the adjudication of the water dispute.
  • For Example:  Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal 
• Key Challenges:
  • The dispute is complicated by factors such as changing rainfall patterns, population growth, agricultural demands, and urbanization. 
  • Balancing the water needs of multiple states and regions while considering ecological concerns adds to the complexity.
• Dispute Resolution Mechanism:
  • The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was constituted by the Government of India in 1990 to adjudicate the water dispute regarding inter-state river Cauvery and the river valley thereof.

News Source: The Hindu

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At the start of 2023, experts at the World Economic Forum warned that the global rise in public debt was a ‘fiscal ticking bomb’. 

About Public Debt:

• It  refers to the total amount of money that a government owes to external creditors and domestic lenders. 
• It is the accumulation of borrowing by a government over time to cover budget deficits or finance various projects and programs. 

General government debt-to-GDP ratio

• It  measures the gross debt of the general government as a percentage of GDP. 
• It is a key indicator for the sustainability of government finance.

Reasons for rise in Indebtedness:

• First, governments around the world unleashed fiscal stimuli to support their economies during the pandemic. 
• Second, as the pandemic receded, a steep rise in interest rates increased the costs of servicing debt. 

Forecast About India’s Public Debt:

• India’s public debt is not expected to fall in the medium term, because budgetary revenues are unlikely to meet its growing funding needs, thus ensuring that the government will remain a large and consistent borrower. 
• Yet India’s debt is considered to be sustainable, meaning that it is expected to meet its current and future debt obligations without default. 

Tenor Matters:

• India’s public debt is dominated by loans with long tenor and fixed-rate coupons. 

Sustainability Strategy:

• Public Debt is said to be sustainable if it increases at a stable or declining rate. 
• India’s GDP growth has usually been higher than the government borrowing rate. The growth-interest differential remained positive even when rates went up in 2022. However, keeping a lid on primary deficit is much harder. The International Monetary Fund estimates India’s debt-stabilizing primary deficit at 2.3% of GDP, but the deficit was a whopping 4.6% in 2021-22. 

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