2023 is on course to be the warmest year on record
Context:

• The year 2023 is on course to possibly become the warmest year in recorded history, with temperatures nearing 1.4°C above the pre-industrial era average.

Globally averaged surface air temperature anomalies

• Chart 1 shows the globally averaged surface air temperature anomalies relative to 1991–2020 for each September from 1940 to 2023. 
• From January to September 2023, the global surface air temperature was 0.52°C above the 1991- ­2020 average and 0.05°C higher than the same period in 2016, the warmest year. 
• During this time frame in 2023, the world’s average temperature was 1.40°C higher than the baseline period of 1850­-1900. 

• Chart 2 shows the average global surface air temperatures for the 30 warmest months between 1940 and 2023, arranged in ascending order.

• Chart 3 shows the global daily surface air temperature (°C) from January 1, 1940 to September 30, 2023, plotted as a time series for each year. 
• The thick black line represents the 1.5°C threshold above pre industrial levels. For more than 80 days in 2023, the global temperature was at least 1.5° higher than pre industrial levels.

• Chart 4 shows the daily Antarctic sea ice extent from 1979 to September 2023. 
• The year 2023 is highlighted; the median for 1991–2020 is shown as a dotted line.  
• Meanwhile, the monthly average Arctic sea ice extent in September 2023 reached its annual minimum of 4.8 million km2 , about 1.1 million km2 (or 18%) below the 1991­-2020 average for September. This value is the fifth lowest in the satellite data record.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

• The Baiga, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) became the second to get habitat rights in the state of Chattisgarh, after the Kamar PVTG.

Baiga and Kamar Tribes Secure Habitat Rights

• The Baiga community primarily resides in the Rajnandgaon, Kawardha, Mungeli, Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi (GPM), Manendra-Bharatpur-Chirmiri, and Bilaspur districts of the state.
• 19 Baiga villages with a population of 6,483 people (2,085 families) have been given the habitat rights.
• Kamar tribes have a population of 26, 622 in four districts. Till now, 22 Para/Tola (hamlets) with a population of around 2,500 people from Magarlod development block in Dhamtari district have got it.What are habitat rights?
• Habitat rights are given to PVTGs under section 3(1) (e) of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 also known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
• Habitat rights recognition provides the community with rights over their customary territory of habitation, socio-cultural practices, economic and livelihood means, intellectual knowledge of biodiversity and ecology, traditional knowledge of the use of natural resources, and protection and conservation of their natural and cultural heritage.

What is the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)?

• In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, who are less developed among the tribal groups.
• In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and follows the following criteria for identifiaction of PVTGs. 
  • Pre-agricultural level of technology
  • Low level of literacy
  • Economic backwardness
  • A declining or stagnant population.
• The ministry has identified 75 PVGTs in 18 states and one Union Territory.  Out of 75 PVTG in India, only three have habitat rights.
• The Bharia PVTG in Madhya Pradesh was the first, followed by the Kamar tribe and now the Baiga tribe in Chhattisgarh.
• In 2019, the MoTA started a scheme for their protection and improvement in terms of social indicators like livelihood, health, nutrition and education to decrease their vulnerability.
• PM PVTG Mission: In the budget of 2023, the Government announced a mission to develop Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. 22,544 villages with about 28 lakh PVTG population have been identified to saturate essential services under the scheme.

Source: Indian Express

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

• The Supreme Court outlined that it will hear petitions challenging the electoral bonds scheme on October 31,2023.

What are the electoral bonds?

• The electoral bonds were introduced with the Finance Bill (2017). 
• It can be bought digitally or through cheque by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India from select branches of State Bank of India. 
• The bonds are similar to bank notes that are payable to the bearer on demand and are free of interest. 
• There is no limit on the number of bonds an individual or company can purchase.
• Condition:
  • Any party that is registered under section 29A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 and has secured at least one percent of the votes polled in the most recent General elections or Assembly elections is eligible to receive electoral bonds. 
  • The party will be allotted a verified account by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the electoral bond transactions can be made only through this account.

What concerns are related to the electoral bonds?

• Anonymity:  The electoral bonds do not bear the name of the donor. Thus, the political party might not be aware of the donor’s identity.
• Scope of Funding enlarged: Before the electoral-bonds scheme, there was a 7.5% cap on corporate donations to political parties based on their average net profits in the preceding three years. 
  • The government removed this limit, allowing unlimited corporate funding for political parties.
• Government Oversight of Political Donations: Bonds are sold via a government-owned bank (SBI), it leaves the door open for the government to know exactly who is funding its opponents.

News Source: The Indian Express

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

• Indian Railways aims to achieve carbon neutrality by planting three billion trees before 2030.

What is Carbon neutrality?

• Carbon neutrality means having a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks. 

What steps are taken by railways towards carbon neutrality?

• Tree Plantation: Neem, pilkhan, jamun on both sides of the tracks,
• Hybrid electric Locomotives: To completely remove the diesel engines, it has initiated the development of battery-operated hybrid electric locomotives and ethanol-blended fuel.
  • These locomotives are equipped with regenerative braking features capable of generating electricity during braking action
• Harnessing solar power: Indian Railways has planned to utilize its unused vacant land parcels for setting up solar plants. 
  • There is about 51,000 hectares of railway land that have the potential of installing 20 gigawatt (GW) land-based solar plants.
• Automatic coach-washing plants: The railways are setting up automatic coach-washing plants at all rail depots to minimize the use of water for cleaning trains.
• Use of LED lights: A total of 1,327 railway stations have now been provided with LED illumination. Also, all newly manufactured coaches are fitted with LED lights. This is likely to have a saving of around INR6,000 per coach per annum.

News Source: Economic Times

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

• Reserve Bank of India  extends the PCA Framework to government Non-banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) (except those in base layer)  with effect from October 1, 2024. 

What is the PCA framework of RBI?

• It  is a system that the RBI imposes on banks showing signs of financial stress.
• As per the revised PCA framework issued in 2017, banks were to be evaluated on capital, asset quality, profitability and leverage.

What changes does the PCA Framework bring in for Banks?

• PCA framework allows the RBI to place certain restrictions such as halting branch expansion and stopping dividend payment. 

• It can cap a bank’s lending limit to one entity or sector. 
• Other corrective actions that can be imposed on banks include special audit, restructuring operations and activation of recovery plans.
• Banks’ promoters can be asked to bring in new management. 
• The RBI can also supersede the bank’s board, under PCA framework.

News Source: The Hindu   

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

• This article is based on the news ”What is the Ken Betwa Link Project; which regions will benefit from it?” which was published in the Indian Express. After six years of provisional approval, the Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP) finally obtained the necessary forest clearance.

Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP) Approved at Rs 44,605 Cr

• In December 2021, the Union Cabinet approved Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP) at a total cost of Rs 44,605 crore. 
• In this Ken Betwa Link Project, the national and the Madhya Pradesh governments will link the Ken river with the Betwa river so that the latter can water the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh.

Interlinking of Rivers

• It is the interbasin water transfer from the water surplus rivers to water deficit rivers or regions.

How many river interlinking projects are there in India?

• Revival of the River-Linking Idea: In the late 1970s, the idea of transferring water from water-rich areas to water-deficit regions was proposed by then Union Irrigation Minister.
• National Perspective Plan (NPP) in 1980: In August 1980, the Ministry of Irrigation formulated the NPP for water resources development, which included inter-basin water transfer in India. 
  • It comprised two components: Himalayan Rivers Development and Peninsular Rivers Development.
• National Water Development Agency (NWDA) and River Links
  • The NWDA identified 30 river-linking projects based on the NPP, categorized into 16 under the Peninsular component and 14 under the Himalayan Component.
• Revival under Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government: The river-linking idea was reinvigorated during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government. The Ken Betwa Link Project is one such initiative, falling under the Peninsular component.

What is the Ken Betwa Link Project?

• The Ken Betwa Link Project is located in Bundelkhand, a drought-prone region across 13 districts in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Ken Betw Link Project is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers.
• Ken Betwa Link Project Aims: To transfer water from Ken river to Betwa river, both tributaries of the Yamuna river.
• Ken Betwa Link Project Phases;
  • Phase I: Focus on completing the Daudhan dam complex, including related structures like tunnels, link canal, and power houses.
  • Phase II: Involves constructing Lower Orr dam, Bina complex project, and Kotha barrage.
• Expected Benefits of Ken Betwa Link Project are as follows;
  • Annual irrigation potential of 10.62 lakh hectares.
  • Drinking water supply to approximately 62 lakh people.
  • Hydropower generation capacity of 103 MW.

What are the challenges of Ken Betwa link project?

• Legal Approval Questions: The approval by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for the Ken Betwa Link Project is questioned, arguing that it hasn’t been proven necessary for wildlife improvement and management as required by Section 35(6) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Ultra Vires Approval: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court has deemed the wildlife approval granted by NBWL as ultra vires, suggesting that it exceeded legal authority.
• Ecological and Wildlife Impact: The proposed dam’s potential destructive impact on the ecology and habitats, particularly in the Panna Tiger Reserve and downstream Ken Gharial Sanctuary, is a significant concern related to the Ken Betwa Link Project.

What are the advantages of interlinking rivers in India?

• Hydrological Balance: Interlinking rivers can address India’s hydrological imbalance, efficiently transferring water from flood-prone to drought-prone regions, ensuring better water distribution. Eg’; through Ken Betwa Link Project transfer surplus water from the Ken river in MP to Betwa in UP to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
• Enhanced Inland Navigation: The interlinked river network would improve inland navigation, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly mode of transportation, easing pressure on roads and railways.
• Irrigation Benefits: By irrigating around 35 million hectares of water-scarce land in the western peninsula, river interlinking can boost crop outputs, farm incomes, create jobs, and enhance India’s food security.
• Power Generation: Interlinked rivers offer significant potential for power generation, with an estimated total power generation capacity of 34 GW. 
• Other Benefits: Interlinking rivers offers substantial benefits such as resolving drinking water scarcity with 90 billion cubic meters, providing 64.8 billion cubic meters for industrial use, supporting fisheries and wildlife survival during water scarcity, and reducing forest fires.

What are the problems with linking rivers in India?

• Impact on Monsoon Cycles: Interlinking river projects can disrupt monsoon cycles, leading to altered precipitation patterns. 
  • A new study in Nature Communications highlights a 12% decrease in mean rainfall in September across dry arid regions already experiencing water stress due to surplus irrigation from interlinked basins.
• Connected River Basins: The assumption that river basins act as independent entities is debunked. 
  • The study also emphasizes that river basins are interconnected through feedback loops between land and the atmosphere, and changes in one basin can affect neighboring basins, impacting climate patterns and water availability.
• Ecosystem and Soil Moisture Impact: Excess irrigation from transferred water can lead to drying of soil moisture, contributing to declining rainfall and increased temperatures across central Indian regions. 

• Human Impact: The project poses a significant challenge of displacing and disrupting the livelihoods of people, especially those from impoverished and tribal communities residing near forests, necessitating careful rehabilitation efforts.
• Financial Burden: The interlinking project is a high-cost endeavor, with estimates reaching Rs 5,60,000 crore in 2001 for connecting Himalayan and peninsular rivers. Current costs are likely much higher, affecting the overall cost-benefit ratio unfavorably.
• Ecological and Biodiversity Concerns: The merging of rivers could potentially impact biodiversity, as each river has a unique ecology.
  • Moreover, considering the pollution levels in many rivers, mixing less polluted rivers with more polluted ones could aggravate environmental concerns.

Also read: The Dynamics of the Kaveri River Water Dispute

Way Forward

• Virtual Water Trade (VWT):  Several countries have begun to act early, adopting the VWT route to address worldwide water distress.
  • Water-guzzling activities are getting outsourced for production to other countries. Thus, crops, meat, leather, chemicals and industrial goods are imported to ensure a positive water balance. 
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): To mitigate the Environmental, Ecological and Climate Change challenges, it is necessary that a broad study by way of environment impact assessment must be  conducted and through that study, the government could prepare a crystal-clear road map.
• Comprehensive Water Law:  The apprehensions about ill – effects of Inter-linking of Rivers from various sector experts like environment, geography, ecology, archeology and sociology etc. exist till date. 
  • These apprehensions could be counter by drafting a comprehensive water law covering with the solution and resolution mechanism of all the issues and problems arising out before installing the Interlinking.
• Groundwater Management: India’s water security hinges on nurturing groundwater system. There is a need to identify, protect and enhance recharge areas, use artificial methods, and regulate usage to ensure a sustainable future.

Conclusion

The Ken Betwa Link Project, while holding promises of addressing water scarcity and fostering development, faces challenges such as legal scrutiny, ecological concerns, and potential disruptions to local communities. Balancing its advantages and challenges is crucial for a sustainable and inclusive water management approach in India.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context:

• This article is based on the news ”State visit of H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania to India” which was published in the PIB. 

India Africa Partnership 2023

• India and Tanzania elevated their ties to the level of strategic partnership and both agreed on a five-year roadmap to significantly expand defence engagement.
• Both inked six pacts to boost cooperation in the digital domain, culture, sports, maritime industries and white shipping information sharing.
• Tanzania has decided to join the Global Biofuels Alliance launched by India at the G20 Summit.
• With the inclusion of the African Union(AU) into G2O, there is an increased demand for holding the fourth India-Africa Forum Summit.
  • By hosting the fourth India Africa Forum Summit, India can further enhance its leadership role within the Global South.
• The 20-member Africa Expert Group (AEG), recently presented the Report India Africa Partnership: Achievements, Challenges and Roadmap 2023’. 

India Africa Relations

• Historical relations: India’s fight against decolonisation and apartheid, and consistent efforts to serve as a voice of developing countries through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). 
  • Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was founded in 1961 with the view to advancing the interests of developing countries in the context of Cold War confrontation.
• Kampala Principles: Outlined in 2018, they serve as a guiding framework for India’s engagement with the continent.
• India Africa Forum Summit: First held in New Delhi in 2008, it marked India’s initial diplomatic efforts to seek a comprehensive partnership with the African bloc of nations as a whole.
• India Africa Trade: As per a paper by the International Monetary Fund, as of 2022, India was the third-largest trading partner for Africa, accounting for 7 per cent of exports ($32.3 billion) and 5 percent of imports ($28 billion).
  • Bilateral trade between India and Africa surged to US$ 98 billion in 2022-23, marking significant growth from the previous year’s US$ 89.6 billion.
  • Africa, through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), is putting in place the appropriate rules of origin to assure their optimization. 
  • This will provide a unified continental market that Indian firms can easily access and tap into—potentially increasing the scope and level of India’s engagement with Africa. 

• Infrastructure: The Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) was launched by India to enhance cooperation with African countries in partnership with Japan. 
  • With nearly $75 billion of investments by Indian companies, India is among the top five investors in Africa.

• Defense: India Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) has been institutionalised to be held once every two years to explore new areas of convergence for mutual engagement.
  • It includes capacity building, training, cyber security, maritime security and counter terrorism.
  • Indian army is working as a UN peacekeeper and plays a peace-building role in Africa (DRCongo, Ethiopia-Eritrea border, Sudan and other), building infrastructure and de-mining land.
• Concessional financing: India extended concessional loans exceeding USD 12.37 billion. 
  • This financial assistance has enabled the successful completion of 197 projects, with an additional number of 65 projects currently underway.
• Education: ‘Study in India’ was launched to attract students from neighboring and African countries. 
  • India has granted 42,000 scholarships since the 2015 India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS)-III. 
  • The first foreign campuses of National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Uganda and of IIT Mumbai were established in Tanzania.
• Health and medical Tourism between India Africa: India was the third-largest investor in Africa’s healthcare sector from 2010–2019, accounting for a 19 percent share. 
  • Made in India’ COVID-19 vaccines have been exported to 42 African countries from January 2021 to March 2023. 
  • The number of African tourists visiting the country for medical treatment has increased almost threefold in the last decade, from 5.4 percent of the total tourist visits in 2010 to 15.4 percent in 2019.

ALSO READ: INDIA-BRAZIL-SOUTH AFRICA (IBSA)

Why is India Africa Partnership important for India?

• Geographical proximity: Combined with an easily navigable Indian Ocean, it strengthened the ties.
• Geopolitics: It supports India’s bid of gaining a permanent seat in the UNSC.
• Strategic importance: Source of essential raw materials, including minerals, oil, and natural gas.
• Africa is home to 30 percent of the world’s mineral reserves, eight per cent of the world’s natural Gas and 12 per cent of the world’s oil reserves.  
• Agriculture: Africa’s agricultural potential is vast, making it a key player in ensuring food security for the world’s growing population.
• Sustainable development :It’s potential for renewable energy generation is vast, with solar and wind energy resources in abundance. 
• Demographic dividend: It’s large working-age population, its growing middle class, and the significant share of services can add value to trade and investment relationships.
• Economy: It’s a huge market encompassing a $3 trillion economy and 1.3 billion people may contribute to India’s economic growth and export diversification.
• Culture: It is a continent of rich cultural diversity, making it a global centre for intercultural dialogue and understanding.
• Diaspora: Approximately three million people of Indian origin live in Africa which are Africa’s largest non-native ethnicity.
• Global aspirations: Africa’s support at international forums, particularly on issues of mutual concern like climate change, terrorism, and United Nations reforms is pivotal.Ex- BRICS, International Solar Alliance, IBSA Groupings, etc.

What are the challenges facing India Africa relations?

• Untapped potential: Internal trade between India African economies remains much lower in comparison with external partners.
  • Beijing is Africa’s second-largest trading partner after the European Union.
• New frontier for geopolitical rivalries: Both the emerging US and China blocs have increased their engagement with African nations to secure access to resources, markets, and strategic influence. 
• Instability and Governance issues: Africa, in general, and the Sahel region in particular, are passing through several existential challenges such as misgovernance, unplanned development, the dominance of ruling tribes and corruption.
  • Recently, new disruptors such as the Islamic terror, inter-tribal scrimmage, changing climate, runaway food inflation, urbanisation and youth unemployment have further strained the traditional socio-political fabric.
• Role of developed nations:  Military interventions by France, the United States and Russia’s Wagner Group to curb the militancy were initiated to protect their economic interests.
  • Ex- Uranium in Niger, gold in the Central African Republic and oil in Libya. 
• Lack of specific development goals: India’s development cooperation instruments (concessional lines of credit (LoC), grants, and capacity building projects like Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC)) reflect the absence of a plan for Africa. 
  • LoCs, grants and capacity building initiatives operate as standalone instruments of development cooperation, with almost no links with each other. 
  • As a result, the overall development impact of India’s development cooperation is small and difficult to measure.
  • These individual projects barely impact any of the larger development challenges (for instance, food insecurity, health insecurity, poverty) in African countries.
• Poor quality education in India: There have been numerous cases of violence against African students in India and most African students complain of harassment and discrimination.
  • African students objected about the quality of education in India. For instance,  study in India initiative has not been successful in attracting African students to India. 
  • China is currently the second most popular destination for African students after France, which hosts about 95,000 African students. 

What are the way forward for India Africa relations?

• India Africa political and diplomatic cooperation: This should be strengthened by annual strategic dialogue between the chairperson of the AU and India’s External Affairs Minister.
  • There should be a Secretary exclusively in charge of African affairs to further enhance the implementation and impact of the Africa policy.
• India Africa defence and security cooperation: The government needs to expand dialogue on defence issues, widen the footprint of maritime collaboration, and expand lines of credit to facilitate defence exports. 
  • The defence training slots need to be increased and cooperation to be enhanced in counter-terrorism, cyber security and emerging technologies.
• India Africa economic cooperation:  Access to finance through the creation of an Africa Growth Fund (AGF) needs to be ensured. 
  • Special measures to improve project exports and building cooperation in the shipping domain are needed.
• India Africa development cooperation: A special focus on promoting trilateral cooperation and deepening science and technology cooperation could pay rich dividends.
  • For example: Triangular cooperation of India-UN Development Partnership Fund and the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Fund with India.
• Reaping low hanging benefits: Strengthening of the pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in Africa. 
  • India is an important source of Africa’s pharmaceutical imports, but the pandemic revealed the adverse effects of international supply chains disruptions.
• India Africa socio-cultural cooperation:  Greater interaction between universities, think tanks, civil society and media organisations in India and select African countries is needed.
  • Setting up a National Centre for African Studies will be the right step. 
  • ITEC and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships awarded to Africans should be named after famous African figures. 
  • Visa measures for African students who come to India for higher education should be liberalised. They should also be given work visas for short periods.
• Addressing malnutrition and Food security: With Africa’s inclusion in G20, the challenges posed by rapid population growth, persistent poverty, and widespread undernourishment become more serious. 
  • These regions together account for 67.0 per cent and 75.8 per cent of the world’s children under five afflicted with the malnutrition problems of stunting and wasting
  • Initiating a comparative analysis between India and Africa could foster South-South learning and collaboration in the pursuit of sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Conclusion

Strengthening India Africa relations through closer collaboration in politics, economics, and culture can help both regions overcome challenges and achieve shared development, security, and prosperity.

DOWNLOAD PDF