JUNE CURRENT AFFAIRS PART 2(2021)

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JUNE CURRENT AFFAIRS PART 2(2021)


Introduction

Hello Everyone,

Every year more than 50 percent of the Prelims Paper is based on Current Affairs. It become

important for us to have very good command on Current Affairs. Hundreds of publications are

available in market. Aspirants are always confused how to prepare Current Affairs and most of

the times they end up choosing wrong publications. We will not let you fall in this trouble. Three

important courses are running simultaneously on our website for Current Affairs from Monday

to Friday- Daily Quiz section, Daily Current Affairs section and Daily News Section.

Daily Quiz will help you do the best preparation to handle any question in UPSC Prelims

Exam, Daily News section contains best opinion based Articles important for your Mains

Exam and Daily Current Affairs section will give you best Current Affairs which is

relevant for you Exam from all important sources (PIB+ all government websites, The

Hindu+ 10 different newspaper, etc. ). Nothing will be missed. This document is related to

Current Affairs section.

You might find it bulky but don’t worry. It contains lot of images to simplify your

understanding.

Hope you enjoy reading.

Thanks,

Abhishek Agarwal

Founder, GoalTide IAS Prelims Academy


Contents CA1. Sustainable Development Report 2021 .......................................................................................... 4

CA2. The concept of Compulsory Licensing with respect to India. ......................................................... 7

CA3. Green Climate Fund (GCF) .............................................................................................................. 9

CA4. National Food Security Act, 2013 ................................................................................................. 10

CA5. Indo-Thai CORPAT ......................................................................................................................... 13

CA6. ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus ....................................................................................... 14

CA7. Deep Ocean Mission ..................................................................................................................... 15

CA8. Blue Dot Network ......................................................................................................................... 17

CA9. Boundary Between Our Solar System and Interstellar Space Mapped for the First Time ........... 18

CA10. Legislative History of National Awards in India .......................................................................... 20

CA11. Carbon sequestration ................................................................................................................. 21

CA12. Urgent Need to Fight Legal Illiteracy .......................................................................................... 23

CA13. China’s Shenzhou-12 Manned Mission ...................................................................................... 25

CA14. History and Constitutional Provisions of UPSC ........................................................................... 27

CA 15. Right to Be Forgotten ("RTBF") principles in respect to India. .................................................. 29

CA16. Climate change to increase sea level in Lakshadweep Islands ................................................... 31

CA17. Biotech KISAN Programme ......................................................................................................... 33

CA18. Unmukt project to eliminate Sickle Cell Disease launched ........................................................ 34

CA19. What is the summer solstice? .................................................................................................... 35

CA20. Centre Proposes to Amend E-Commerce Rules ......................................................................... 37

CA21. Delimitation Commission ........................................................................................................... 39

CA22. NISHTHA: National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement .............. 40

CA23. Virtual Water Analysis ................................................................................................................ 41

CA24. World Investment Report 2021 .................................................................................................. 42

CA25. WHO Report: Suicide worldwide in 2019 ................................................................................... 45

CA26. Thai sacbrood virus ..................................................................................................................... 47

CA27. Mandatory Display of Food License/Registration Number on Invoice....................................... 48

CA28. New report on single-use plastic products aims to advance sustainability in travel and tourism

.............................................................................................................................................................. 49

CA29. G7 leaders called for the world to become net zero and nature positive. ................................ 51

CA30. Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) ..................................................................................... 51

CA31. Agreement between India and Saint Vincent and The Grenadines for the Exchange of

Information and Assistance in Collection with respect to Taxes .......................................................... 52

CA32. Antarctic Treaty .......................................................................................................................... 53

CA33. Peter Pan Syndrome ................................................................................................................... 54


CA 34. UNESCO Science Report (USR) ................................................................................................... 54

CA35. Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2020’ report. ................................................................ 59

CA36. New type of ancient human discovered in Israel ....................................................................... 61

CA37. European Green Deal ................................................................................................................. 62

CA38. India's First Anti-Enforcement Injunction Order ........................................................................ 63

CA39. US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) .......................................................................... 63

CA40. International Solar Alliance ........................................................................................................ 65

CA41. What Is Debt-to-GDP Ratio? ....................................................................................................... 66

CA42. Recent judgement of Supreme Court regarding education, illegal adoption and welfare of

children who lost parents due to COVID-19 pandemic ........................................................................ 67

CA43. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund .................................................................................................. 68

CA44. What is molecular ecology and how does it help in conservation? ........................................... 71

CA45. Ladakh pitches for a new state bird and animal after getting union territory status ................ 72

CA46. What is Familial Forestry? .......................................................................................................... 73

CA47. Destruction in Thar Desert ......................................................................................................... 74

CA48. Four important Principles announced by CJI Ramana ................................................................ 75

CA49. Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.......... 76

CA50. Energy Compact Goals ................................................................................................................ 78

CA51. NATRAX- the High-Speed Track (HST) ........................................................................................ 80

CA52. Biomedical Waste Rules, 2016 ................................................................................................... 81


CA1. Sustainable Development Report 2021 The Sustainable Development Report 2021 presents the SDG Index and Dashboards for all

UN member states, outlines the short-term impacts of COVID-19 on the SDGs, and describes

how the SDGs can frame the recovery.

It was prepared by teams of independent experts at the Sustainable Development

Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Bertelsmann Stiftung.

The report is not an official monitoring tool. It uses publicly available data published by

official data providers (World Bank, WHO, ILO, others) and other organizations including

research centers and non-governmental organizations.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a setback for sustainable development everywhere. For the first

time since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, the global average SDG Index score for 2020

has decreased from the previous year.


The SDG Index is an assessment of each country’s overall performance on the 17 SDGs,

giving equal weight to each Goal. The score signifies a country’s position between the

worst possible outcome (0) and the best, or target outcome (100).

This year’s SDG Index is topped by three Nordic countries – Finland, Sweden, and

Denmark – yet even these countries face major challenges in achieving several SDGs.


India’s status:

India’s performance on all goals:


You don’t need to know anything more about the Index.

Link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/sustainabledevelopment.report/2021/2021-sustainable-

development-report.pdf

CA2. The concept of Compulsory Licensing with respect to India. Few important things from WTO website:

What is compulsory licensing?

Compulsory licensing is when a government allows someone else to produce a patented

product or process without the consent of the patent owner or plans to use the patent-

protected invention itself. It is one of the flexibilities in the field of patent protection

included in the WTO’s agreement on intellectual property — the TRIPS (Trade-Related

Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement.

The concept is not new. They always existed in the TRIPS Agreement, ever since it took

effect in January 1995.

Does there have to be an emergency?

Not necessarily. This is a common misunderstanding. The TRIPS Agreement does not

specifically list the reasons that might be used to justify compulsory licensing. However, the

Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health confirms that countries are free to determine

the grounds for granting compulsory licenses, and to determine what constitutes a

national emergency.

The TRIPS Agreement does list a number of conditions for issuing compulsory licences, in

Article 31. In particular:

- normally the person or company applying for a licence has to have tried, within a

reasonable period of time, to negotiate a voluntary licence with the patent holder on

reasonable commercial terms. Only if that fails can a compulsory licence be issued, and -

even when a compulsory licence has been issued, the patent owner has to receive

payment; the TRIPS Agreement says “the right holder shall be paid adequate remuneration

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sustainabledevelopment.report/2021/2021-sustainable-development-report.pdf

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sustainabledevelopment.report/2021/2021-sustainable-development-report.pdf


in the circumstances of each case, taking into account the economic value of the

authorization”, but it does not define “adequate remuneration” or “economic value”.

Now, with respect to India:

What are Compulsory Licenses under the Patents Act?

The Office of the Controller General of Patents & Designs administers (Ministry of

Commerce) the Patent Act, 1970 and the Rules made there under.

Compulsory licenses are authorizations given to a third-party by the Controller General to

make, use or sell a particular product or use a particular process which has been patented,

without the need of the permission of the patent owner.

There are certain pre-requisite conditions, which need to be fulfilled if a compulsory license

is to be granted in favour of someone.

As per Section 84, any person, regardless of whether he is the holder of the license of that

Patent, can make a request to the Controller for grant of compulsory license on expiry of

three years, when any of the following conditions is fulfilled –

1. the reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention

have not been satisfied

2. the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price

3. the patented invention is not worked in the territory of India.

Further, compulsory licenses can also be issued Suo motu by the Controller under section

92, pursuant to a notification issued by the Central Government if there is either a

"national emergency" or "extreme urgency" or in cases of "public non-commercial use".


The Controller takes into account some more factors like the nature of the invention, the

capability of the applicant to use the product for public benefit and the reasonability, but

the ultimate discretion lies with him to grant the compulsory license. Even after a

compulsory license is granted to a third party, the patent owner still has rights over the

patent, including a right to be paid for copies of the products made under the compulsory

licence.

Cases pertaining to grant of compulsory license

India's first ever compulsory license was granted by the Patent Office on March 9, 2012, to

Natco Pharma for the generic production of Bayer Corporation's Nexavar, a life saving

medicine used for treating Liver and Kidney Cancer.

Bayers sold this drug at exorbitant rates, with one month's worth of dosage costing around

Rs 2.8 Lakh. Natco Pharma offered to sell it around for Rs 9000, making it affordable for

people belonging to every stratum. All the 3 conditions of section 84 were fulfilled and the

decision was taken for the benefit of general public.

To conclude:

Compulsory licensing has now become the hope for financially challenged patients in

underdeveloped countries. India needs this provision owing to the economic condition of

the majority population. But the challenge is that on one hand, it has to comply with the

international standards of patent protection and on the other, it has to safeguard public

health.

CA3. Green Climate Fund (GCF) GCF was established under the Cancún Agreements in 2010 as a dedicated financing

vehicle for developing countries within the global climate architecture, serving the Financial

Mechanism of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. Since the approval of the first project

funding in 2015, GCF has made rapid strides in building a portfolio of more than 100

projects.

The Green Climate Fund is headquartered in Songdo, Incheon City, Republic of Korea.


It is the world’s largest climate fund, mandated to support developing countries raise and

realize their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) ambitions towards low-

emissions, climate-resilient pathways.

In order to scale up GCF’s activities and de-risk the delivery of capital flows, GCF has set up

the Private Sector Facility (PSF), a dedicated division designed to fund and mobilize private

sector actors, including institutional investors, project sponsors and financial institutions.

Country driven

A core GCF principle is to follow a country-driven approach, which means that developing

countries lead GCF programming and implementation. Country ownership of GCF financing

decisions enables developing countries to turn NDC ambitions into climate action.

What are NDAs?

National Designated Authorities (NDAs) are government institutions that serve as the

interface between each country and the Fund. They provide broad strategic oversight of the

GCF’s activities in the country and communicate the country’s priorities for financing low-

emission and climate-resilient development.

In India, Ministry of environment, Forest and Climate Change is the National Designated

Authority for green climate fund.

Link: https://www.greenclimate.fund/

CA4. National Food Security Act, 2013 Don’t read just two three headings of any important Act. Questions are asked now from

deep inside topics. Go through all provisions.

The National Food Security Act, 2013 was notified on 10th September, 2013 with the

objective to provide for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach, by

ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a

life with dignity.

1. Priority households are entitled to 5 kgs of food grains per person per month, and

Antyodaya households to 35 kgs per household per month. The combined coverage

of Priority and Antyodaya households (called “eligible households”) shall extend “up

to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population”.

https://www.greenclimate.fund/


2. For children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years, the Bill guarantees an age-

appropriate meal, free of charge, through the local anganwadi. For children aged 6-

14 years, one free mid-day meal shall be provided every day (except on school

holidays) in all schools run by local bodies, government and government aided

schools, up to Class VIII. For children below six months, “exclusive breastfeeding

shall be promoted”.

3. Every pregnant and lactating mother is entitled to a free meal at the local anganwadi

(during pregnancy and six months after childbirth) as well as maternity benefits of Rs

6,000, in instalments.

4. The Central Government is to determine the state-wise coverage of the PDS, in

terms of proportion of the rural/urban population. Then numbers of eligible persons

will be calculated from Census population figures.


5. The identification of eligible households is left to state governments, subject to the

scheme’s guidelines for Antyodaya, and subject to guidelines to be “specified” by the

state government for Priority households.

6. The Act provides for the creation of State Food Commissions. Each Commission shall

consist of a chairperson, five other members and a member-secretary (including at

least two women and one member each from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled

Tribes).

The main function of the State Commission is to monitor and evaluate the

implementation of the act, give advice to the states governments and their agencies,

and inquire into violations of entitlements (either suo motu or on receipt of a

complaint, and with “all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code

of Civil Procedure 1908”). State Commissions also have to hear appeals against

orders of the District Grievance Redressal Officer and prepare annual reports to be

laid before the state legislature.

7. The Centre should provide all possible resource and funds to prevent scarcity.


8. Obligation of Local Authorities:

9. Food security to people living in hilly areas:

CA5. Indo-Thai CORPAT Recently, the 31st edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between

the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy was conducted in the Andaman Sea close to the

Strait of Malacca.

For us, more important is the map:


India and Thailand have been carrying out CORPAT along their International Maritime

Boundary Line twice a year since 2005.

In line with India’s SAGAR Vision:

As part of Indian Government’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR),

the Indian Navy has been involved in assisting countries in the Indian Ocean Region with

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Surveillance, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

(HADR), and other capacity building and capability-enhancement activities, on their request.

Other Military Exercises between India and Thailand:

1. Exercise MAITREE (Army).

2. Exercise SIAM BHARAT (Air Force).

Link: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1725559

CA6. ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1727467

8th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus was recently conducted on June 16,

2021. Remember this also.

The establishment of the ASEAN Defence Sectoral body:

The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in Kuala Lumpur on 9 May 2006 was a

historic and significant milestone in ASEAN’s evolution. For the first time since the formation

of ASEAN, the ASEAN Defence Ministers came together in a formal meeting. This inaugural

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1725559

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1727467


ADMM established the ASEAN Defence Sectoral body as an independent track reporting

directly to the ASEAN Heads of State/Government

Then later:

The 2nd ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in 2007 at Singapore adopted a

resolution to establish the ADMM-Plus.

The first ADMM-Plus was convened at Hanoi, Vietnam in 2010. Brunei is the Chair of the

ADMM Plus forum for the year 2021.

The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) is the highest defence consultative and

cooperative mechanism in ASEAN. The ADMM aims to promote mutual trust and

confidence through greater understanding of defence and security challenges as well as

enhancement of transparency and openness.

The ADMM Plus is an annual meeting of Defence Ministers of 10 ASEAN (Association of

Southeast Asian Nations) countries and eight dialogue partner countries - Australia, China,

India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.

CA7. Deep Ocean Mission Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727525

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,

has approved the proposal of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on "Deep Ocean Mission",

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727525


with a view to explore deep ocean for resources and develop deep sea technologies for

sustainable use of ocean resources.

Deep Ocean Mission with be a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy

Initiatives of the Government of India.

Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) will be the nodal Ministry implementing this multi-

institutional ambitious mission.

The Deep Ocean Mission consists of the following six major components:

Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining, and Manned Submersible: A manned

submersible will be developed to carry three people to a depth of 6000 metres in the ocean

with suite of scientific sensors and tools.

Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services: A suite of observations and

models will be developed to understand and provide future projections of important climate

variables on seasonal to decadal time scales under this proof-of-concept component. This

component will support the Blue Economy priority area of coastal tourism.

Technological innovations for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity: Bio-

prospecting of deep-sea flora and fauna including microbes and studies on sustainable

utilization of deep-sea bio-resources will be the main focus. This component will support the

Blue Economy priority area of Marine Fisheries and allied services.

Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration: The primary objective of this component is to explore

and identify potential sites of multi-metal Hydrothermal Sulphides mineralization along the

Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges. This component will additionally support the Blue

Economy priority area of deep-sea exploration of ocean resources.

Energy and freshwater from the Ocean: Studies and detailed engineering design for

offshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plant are

envisaged in this proof-of-concept proposal. This component will support the Blue Economy

priority area of off-shore energy development.

Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology. This component is aimed as development of

human capacity and enterprise in ocean biology and engineering. This component will

translate research into industrial application and product development through on-site

business incubator facilities. This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of

Marine Biology, Blue trade and blue manufacturing.

The technologies required for deep sea mining have strategic implications and are not

commercially available. Hence, attempts will be made to indigenise technologies by

collaborating with leading institutes and private industries.

For Mains: You can start your answer or conclude with these points.


Oceans, which cover 70 per cent of the globe, remain a key part of our life. About 95 percent of Deep Ocean remains unexplored. For India, with its three sides surrounded by the oceans and around 30 per cent of the country's population living in coastal areas, ocean is a major economic factor supporting fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, livelihoods and blue trade. Oceans are also storehouse of food, energy, minerals, medicines, modulator of weather and climate and underpin life on Earth. Considering importance of the oceans on sustainability, the United Nations (UN) has declared the decade, 2021-2030 as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. India has a unique maritime position. Its 7517 km long coastline is home to nine coastal states and 1382 islands. The Government of India's Vision of New India by 2030 enunciated in February 2019 highlighted the Blue Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth.

CA8. Blue Dot Network The Blue Dot Network first came to public light at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in

Bangkok during the 35th ASEAN summit in 2019 hosted by Thailand.

US’ International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) along with the Japanese Bank for

International Cooperation and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

launched an infrastructure initiative to “boost transparency and sustainability”.

Dubbed the “Michelin Star” for infrastructural projects, the Blue Dot Network aims to

promote “high quality, trusted standards for global infrastructure development” by

engaging governments, the private sector, and civil society.

The participating members will approve such projects that qualify standards of excellence

put up by the network keeping in mind global principles.

At the core of the project lies the development of a certification mechanism to identify and

distinguish “quality infrastructure projects that demonstrate and uphold robust standards

for development”.


This certificate will act as proof of “quality assurance” and further promote private

investments.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental

body with 38 member countries, is the technical partner of the BDN.

What are the principles underlying the Blue Dot Network?

The Blue Dot Network vision uses as its foundation established global infrastructure

principles set out in the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, the G7

Charlevoix Commitment on Innovative Financing for Development, and the Equator

Principles.

The Blue Dot Network builds on the success of Japan’s G20 leadership in building

consensus on the Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, which is the basis for

the visions of the Blue Dot Network.

Should India Be Part of Blue Dot Network?

According to analysts, the Blue Dot Network could offer a unique opportunity to India in the

post-Galwan Valley scenario. New Delhi, which had largely positioned itself as an anti-BRI

nation, could find the US-led initiative attractive and in sync with the QUAD concept.

India opposes BRI as it not only overlooks the “sovereignty and territorial integrity” of other

countries but also ignores universally guided norms that ensure “openness” and “equality”

in the region.

BDN’s main feature is that it follows a project-based investment approach rather than the

country-based engagement that the BRI conducts, which has promoted debt traps.

India has to look upon such things and take a positive step.

CA9. Boundary Between Our Solar System and Interstellar Space

Mapped for the First Time For the first time, the boundary of the heliosphere has been mapped, giving scientists a

better understanding of how solar and interstellar winds interact. It will provide for

scientists to understand how solar and interstellar winds interact. Earlier, this boundary was

mentioned in theories of Physics models.


What is Heliosphere?

Heliosphere, created by sun, is a vast bubble-like region of space surrounding the sun. It is a

cavity formed by Sun in surrounding interstellar medium. Bubble of heliosphere is

continuously inflated by solar winds. The solar plasma provides a way to interstellar plasma,

outside the heliosphere, permeating Milky Way galaxy. Radiation levels inside and outside

the heliosphere differs. Galactic cosmic rays are less abundant it. Thus, planets inside are

partly shielded from their impact. Heliosphere is the area under influence of Sun. Its edge is

decided by heliospheric magnetic field and solar wind from Sun.

Watch this small video. Click here.

https://youtu.be/w__vzNXSFoI


Link: https://scitechdaily.com/boundary-between-our-solar-system-and-interstellar-space-

mapped-for-the-first-time/

CA10. Legislative History of National Awards in India After independence from British Rule, titles were abolished by Article 18 of the

Constitution of India, thereby prohibiting any title conferred by the state with 2 exceptions-

'military or academic'.

Once red Article 18:

If we go bit in History:

National Awards and Honours had been adopted even before the Constitution of India was

formally drafted. On February 13, 1948, the Prime Minister's Committee on Honours and

Awards was set up under the Chairmanship of the Constitutional Adviser to the Government

of India, Sir B.N. Rau. Its purpose was to recommend the number and nature of civil and

military awards; the machinery for making recommendations for the granting of these

awards; the frequency with which they were to be awarded, etc.

Based on the report on March 9, the National Awards were formally instituted in January,

1954 by Presidential Notifications.

Constitutional Challenge in the Supreme Court of India

In 1995 the Challenge to the National Awards was heard by a constitution bench of 5 Judges

of the Supreme Court of India in the case of Balaji Raghavan vs Union of India reported in

1996 (1) SCC 361.

The question formulated by the Court was "Whether the Awards, Bharat Ratna, Padma

Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri (hereinafter called "The National Awards") are

"Titles" within the meaning of Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India?"

The challenge to the National Awards was on 2 grounds: One, that Article 18 prohibits any

title to be awarded by the State which bar would extend to National Awards and Two that

there is a hierarchy of awards namely Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padam Shri etc.

which creates inequality and hence violative of "Equality' guaranteed under Article 14 of the

Constitution of India

https://scitechdaily.com/boundary-between-our-solar-system-and-interstellar-space-mapped-for-the-first-time/

https://scitechdaily.com/boundary-between-our-solar-system-and-interstellar-space-mapped-for-the-first-time/


The Supreme Court of India upheld the constitutional validity of the National Awards, and

directed that a High-Level Committee be set up to fix guidelines for conferring the Awards. It

was also observed by the Supreme Court that the Committee can take into account the

experience over the years regarding National awards and how to prevent their misuse,

suggesting restricting of the number of awards that may be granted.

A national level committee be appointed by the Prime Minister in consultation with the

President of India and it may comprise other constitutional functionaries like Chief Justice of

India, leader of Opposition. Also, at State Level it may be appointed by the Chief Minister in

consultation with the Governor and such other persons deemed fit which shall recommend

the names to the Central government Committee. The State Government Committee

would only be a recommendatory body and the Central Government Committee would be

the final authority which will confer the awards.

Conclusion:

National Awards should be conferred on relevant considerations of Merit and Extraordinary

Contributions in the field of Arts, Culture and Science because they encourage the citizens of

India to excel in their respective fields. Persons involved in the conferring of awards should

not be influenced by extraneous considerations like favour to political party in power or

preference to a particular region, class or community. National Awards have the noble

object of promoting excellence necessary for the nation building.

CA11. Carbon sequestration Carbon dioxide is the most commonly produced greenhouse gas. Carbon sequestration is

the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of

reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global

climate change.

Types of Carbon Sequestration

Biological Carbon Sequestration

This roughly is the storage of carbon dioxide in vegetation like grasslands and forests, as

well as in soils and oceans.

In oceans: Naturally, oceans absorb about 25% of the carbon dioxide emitted through

human activities each year. Colder and nutrient-rich parts of the ocean absorb more

carbon dioxide than the warmer parts of the ocean. As such, the polar regions absorb

more carbon dioxide and by 2100, most of the global oceans are expected to be made up of

carbon dioxide, potentially altering the chemistry of the ocean, making it more acidic

In forests: plant-rich landscapes like forests, rangelands and grasslands absorb about 25%

of the global carbon emissions. When the trees, branches and leaves die and fall to the


ground, they release the carbon they had stored into the soil. Deforestation and wildfires

continue to diminish forests as a carbon sink

In soils: carbon can be sequestered in soil by plants through photosynthesis. As such,

agroecosystems degrade and deplete the soil organic carbon levels. Luckily, soil can also

store carbon as carbonates, created over thousands of years when carbon dioxide dissolves

in water and percolates the soil. The carbonates are inorganic and can store carbon for tens

of thousands of years while soil organic matter stores carbon for a few decades.

In grasslands: grasslands and rangelands are more reliable areas of storing carbon than

forests due to the rapid wildfires and deforestation affecting forests. Grasslands can

sequester more carbon underground and when they burn, the carbon stays fixed in the

roots and soil instead of in leaves and woody biomass.

Geological Carbon Sequestration

This is where carbon dioxide is stored in underground geologic formations, such as in rocks.

Industrial sources of carbon dioxide such as steel or cement production companies or

energy-related sources like power plants or natural gas processing facilities will release their

carbon dioxide, which is then injected into porous rocks for long-term storage. Such carbon

capture and storage allow the use of fossil fuels until a substitute energy source is

introduced on a large scale

Technological Carbon Sequestration

This is a relatively new way of capturing and storing carbon dioxide and continues to be

explored by scientists. The method uses innovative technologies, which means scientists are

also looking into more ways of using carbon dioxide as a resource rather than removing it

from the atmosphere and directing it elsewhere.

Graphene production: technology is being used to produce graphene from carbon dioxide as

its raw material. Its production is limited to specific industries but if carbon can be used to

make more of the product, it might be a viable resource and an effective solution in

reducing carbon’s emissions from the atmosphere.

Engineered molecules: scientists are engineering molecules that can take new shapes by

creating new compounds capable of singling out and capturing carbon dioxide from the air.

These engineered molecules act as filters and only attract the element they are engineered

to seek

The following can be the potential sites for carbon sequestration

1. Abandoned and uneconomic coal seams

2. Depleted oil and gas reservoirs

3. Subterranean deep saline formations


CA12. Urgent Need to Fight Legal Illiteracy The notion of Legal literacy is based on the principle that every individual must be aware of

their rights and obligations. The maxim 'ignorantia juris non-excusat,' or 'ignorance of the

law is no excuse,' implies that the Court presumes that every party is aware of the law and

hence cannot claim ignorance of the law as a defence to escape liability.

The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled the ugly repercussions of legal illiteracy in India. Grave

human rights violations that transpired during the pandemic could have been averted had

India been more legally aware.

For instance, domestic violence complaints filed during the lockdown were at a 10 year high

during 2020.


Legal Literacy in India

People living in a society are to a certain extent part of a social contract wherein they have

surrendered some rights and agreed to certain obligations. In India, people simply don't

know their rights and obligations ensuing from the social contract.

Around 35% of India's population has no formal education. Being unaware of the

enforceability of human rights, people, especially women and children, do not report such

crimes and the perpetrators go unpunished.

Reasons behind legal illiteracy

a. preconceived notion that the law is innately complex and can only be understood by

people belonging to the legal fraternity only, is a major impediment to legal literacy.

b. Another reason is the legislature's lack of effort to make the language of laws more

accessible to people.

Work done by the Government and NGOs

a. Article 39A of the Constitution imposes upon the government the duty to ensure

free legal aid to the poor as a part of the Directive Principles of State Policy.

b. Articles 14 and 22(1) essentially promote social justice through the 'rule of law'.

c. In 1980 under the guidance of Justice PN Bhagwati, the Committee for

Implementing Legal Aid Schemes was constituted. Consequently, in 1995 the

National Legal Services Authority was established.

d. The authority has a hierarchical structure constituted at the national, state, and

district levels. One of the major functions of these legal services authorities is

organizing legal literacy and legal awareness programs in collaboration with NGOs.

e. In 2005, National Legal Literacy Mission was launched with the motto 'from

ignorance to legal empowerment,' to educate minority communities, especially

women and children.


f. The target group under the mission included all eligible individuals mentioned in

Section 12 of the Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 which includes the most

indigent, distraught, vulnerable, and victimized persons such as women and children

belonging to SC, ST, OBC, minority communities or belonging to tribal areas, etc. The

mission also aims at simplifying the language of the law.

g. State Legal Services Authority across India have come up with various initiatives for

the cause. The Himanchal Pradesh LSA has successfully included chapters in school

books on rights and duties, the Chandigarh LSA regularly organizes street plays and

workshops, the Delhi LSA has taken various initiatives such as radio programs,

movie documentary and publishing advertisements in books and magazines, etc.

What more needs to be done:

a. Initiatives by the government and workshops by NGOs have tried to orient citizens

towards increased legal literacy but the data on their effectiveness is not optimistic.

A policy initiative based on the principle of cooperative federalism should be taken

to ensure that legal literacy campaigns are customized according the needs of each

community.

b. Legal literacy should start at the Zila panchayat level by inculcating simplified legal

knowledge in adult literacy classes. Further, law as a subject should be introduced in

elementary school education to educate young children on basic laws, rights, and

duties with the medium of instruction being a vernacular language.

c. It is also imperative to change things at a legislative level by doing away with

unnecessary legalese and redundancy in acts and ordinances. Understanding laws

must not be a difficult task to the very people who are governed by them.

d. Lastly, the judiciary must also recognize its responsibility to make justice more

accessible to everyone irrespective of their economic and social situation. Courts

must avoid using complicated language in judicial pronouncements for the sake of

clarity to the layperson.

CA13. China’s Shenzhou-12 Manned Mission Shenzhou-12 manned spaceship has successfully docked with China’s space station core

module Tianhe and entered the orbital capsule.


Purpose of the Mission:

It will help test technologies related to long-term astronaut-stays and health care, the

recycling and life support system, the supply of space materials, extravehicular activities and

operations, and in-orbit maintenance.

Significance of the space station:

The low orbit space station would be the country’s eye from the sky, providing round the

clock bird’s-eye view for its astronauts on the rest of the world.

It shall aid China’s aim to become a major space power by 2030.

Other space stations:

The only space station currently in orbit is the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS is

backed by the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada.


So far, China has sent two previous space stations into orbit- the Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2

were trial stations. India is planning to launch its own space station by 2030.

CA14. History and Constitutional Provisions of UPSC First of all, we will see History of Commission. You will enjoy reading and very important for

your Prelims Exam and Mains Exam.

a. Civil Servants for the East India Company used to be nominated by the Directors of the

Company and thereafter trained at Haileybury College in London and then sent to

India. Following Lord Macaulay’s Report of the Select Committee of British Parliament,

the concept of a merit based modern Civil Service in India was introduced in 1854.

b. The Report recommended that patronage-based system of East India Company should

be replaced by a permanent Civil Service based on a merit-based system with entry

through competitive examinations.

c. For this purpose, a Civil Service Commission was setup in 1854 in London and

competitive examinations were started in 1855.

d. Initially, the examinations for Indian Civil Service were conducted only in London.

Maximum age was 23 years and minimum age was 18 years. The syllabus was

designed such that European Classics had a predominant share of marks.

e. All this made it difficult for Indian candidates. Nevertheless, in 1864, the first Indian,

Shri Satyendra Nath Tagore brother of Shri Rabindranath Tagore succeeded. Three

years later 4 other Indians succeeded.

f. Throughout the next 50 years, Indians petitioned for simultaneous examinations to be

held in India without success because the British Government did not want many

Indians to succeed and enter the ICS.

g. It was only after the First World War and the Montagu Chelmsford reforms that this

was agreed to. From 1922 onwards the Indian Civil Service Examination began to be

held in India also, first in Allahabad and later in Delhi with the setting up of the Federal

Public Service Commission. The Examination in London continued to be conducted by

the Civil Service Commission.

h. Regarding Central Civil Services, the Civil Services in British India were classified as

covenanted and uncovenanted services on the basis of the nature of work, pay-scales

and appointing authority. In 1887, the Aitchinson Commission recommended the

reorganization of the services on a new pattern and divided the services into three

groups-Imperial, Provincial and Subordinate. The recruiting and controlling authority

of Imperial services was the ‘Secretary of State’.

i. With the passing of the Indian Act 1919, the Imperial Services headed by the

Secretary of State for India, were split into two-All India Services and Central

Services. The central services were concerned with matters under the direct control of

the Central Government.

j. The origin of the Public Service Commission in India is found in the First Dispatch of

the Government of India on the Indian Constitutional Reforms on the 5th March,


1919 which referred to the need for setting up some permanent office charged with

the regulation of service matters.

k. Section 96(C) of the Act provided for the establishment in India of a Public Service

Commission which should “discharge, in regard to recruitment and control of the Public

Services in India, such functions as may be assigned thereto by rules made by the

Secretary of State in Council”. No decision was taken on setting up of the body after

passing of 1919 Act.

l. The subject was then referred to the Royal Commission on the Superior Civil Services

in India (also known as Lee Commission) which recommended that the statutory

Public Service Commission contemplated by the Government of India Act, 1919 should

be established without delay.

m. Subsequent to the provisions of Section 96(C) of the Government of India Act, 1919

and the strong recommendations made by the Lee Commission in 1924 for the early

establishment of a Public Service Commission, it was on October 1, 1926 that the

Public Service Commission was set up in India for the first time.

n. Further, the Government of India Act, 1935 envisaged a Public Service Commission for

the Federation and a Provincial Public Service Commission for each Province or group

of Provinces. Therefore, in terms of the provisions of the Government of India Act,

1935 and with its coming into effect on 1st April 1937, the Public Service Commission

became the Federal Public Service Commission.

o. With the inauguration of the Constitution of India in January 26, 1950, the Federal

Public Service Commission came to be known as the Union Public Service

Commission, and the Chairman and Members of the Federal Public Service

Commission became Chairman and Members of the Union Public Service Commission

by virtue of Clause (1) of Article 378 of the Constitution.

Constitutional Provisions: Don’t think, you are running out of time. The same thing you

have to remember till end of your paper, so better you read in such a way, you never forget.


CA 15. Right to Be Forgotten ("RTBF") principles in respect to India. Recently, by applying Right to Be Forgotten ("RTBF") principles, Delhi High Court directed

Google to remove access to a judgment from their portals.


Though RTBF is well established across the world, Indian courts have not had much occasion

to deal with the same. We will see here few aspects of it.

Do We Have a Right to Be Forgotten?

At present, the data protection regime in India does not contain the RTBF principles but

there is a compelling argument that this right must be read as part of Article 21 of the

Constitution of India.

Such an interpretation is a result of the law laid down by K.S. Puttaswamy and Anr. vs

Union of India and Ors (2017) case which confirmed the right to privacy to be part and

parcel of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty enshrined in the Constitution.

Other judgements too record:

that "the existence of such a right does not imply that a criminal can obliterate his past, but

that there are variant degrees of mistakes, small and big, and it cannot be said that a person

should be profiled to the nth extent for all and sundry to know."

Do we have any International Jurisprudence of RTBF?

Yes, we have General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2016 of UK which came into

force on the 25th May 2018. GDPR has been implemented under the Data Protection Act

1998, which governs transfer of all personal data including the ability to appeal to the

Information Commissioners Office, in the event, search engines refuse to remove personal

data.

Indian Personal Data Protection Bill

India has been a late entrant to internet privacy and it was only in 2019, the Personal Data

Protection (PDP) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha. T

The PDP Bill differs from GDPR with regard to RTBF. While GDPR allows permanent erasure

of personal data immediately:

a. where it is no longer needed for its original processing purpose

b. when consent is withdrawn or

c. when there are no overriding legitimate grounds for processing;

the PDP Bill allows total erasure only on the first ground.

Under the PDP Bill, the data principal would be required to directly apply to the

Adjudicating Officer, not the data fiduciary and even third parties can seek review of the

order against disclosure.


With countries like the United Kingdom, Australia and other member states of the European

Union leaning strongly in favour of RTBF, it is time for India to re-calibrate our legal and

statutory framework in this regard. If the PDP Bill is passed in its current form, the

discretion of the Adjudicating Officer has to be carefully exercised on a case-to-case basis,

as to whether the RTBF of a particular offender outweighs the interests of prevention and

detection of offences; or if the personal data is used for domestic or commercial purposes

and so on, instead of a blanket response for all cases.

The Bill currently has been referred to Standing Committee.

CA16. Climate change to increase sea level in Lakshadweep Islands Rising global sea levels have been touted as the major threat that is going to affect small

archipelago of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea.

A team of scientists with support from the Department of Science & Technology,

Government of India under the Climate Change Programme (CCP), studied the Climate

projections of sea level rise and associated coastal inundation in atoll islands, a ring-shaped

coral reef or island.

As per the study, Sea-level will rise around the Lakshadweep Islands in the range between

0.4 mm/year to 0.9 mm/year.


The study estimated that smaller islands Chetlat and Amini are expected to have major

land-loss. Projection mapping indicated that about 60%-70% of existing shoreline would

experience land-loss in Amini and about 70%-80% in Chetlat. The present work highlights

that, larger islands Minicoy and the capital Kavaratti are also vulnerable to sea-level rise,

and expected to experience land-loss along 60% of the existing shoreline. Sea-level rise

effects are seen to have the least impact on Androth Island under all emission scenarios.

Adverse effect:

The study shows that coastal inundation could have wide socio-economic impact. According

to the team, projected inundation due to sea-level rise can impact the islanders as

residential areas are quite close to the present coastline. Also, the only airport in the

archipelago is located at the southern tip of Agatti Island, and has a high likelihood of

damage due to inundation from sea-level rise.

How study will be useful?

This study opens up a new outlook and dimension on future research to assess the

directional nature of wave energy, impact of storminess in the Arabian Sea region, islands

that are exposed and sheltered and amenities such as potable water, sanitation and so on.


This noteworthy study has practical value and can be immensely useful to policy makers

and decision-making authorities for both short and long-term planning that benefit the

population in Lakshadweep Islands.

SLR is Linked to Three Primary Factors:

Thermal Expansion: When water heats up, it expands. About half of the sea-level rise over

the past 25 years is attributable to warmer oceans simply occupying more space.

Melting Glaciers: Higher temperatures caused by global warming have led to greater-than-

average summer melting of large ice formations like mountain glaciers as well as diminished

snowfall due to later winters and earlier springs. That creates an imbalance between runoff

and ocean evaporation, causing sea levels to rise.

Loss of Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets: As with mountain glaciers, increased heat is

causing the massive ice sheets that cover Greenland and Antarctica to melt more quickly,

and also move more quickly into the sea.

Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1728293

CA17. Biotech KISAN Programme Biotech-Krishi Innovation Science Application Network (Biotech-KISAN) is a Department of

Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology initiative that empowers farmers,

especially women farmers. It aims to understand the problems of water, soil, seed and

market faced by the farmers and provide simple solutions to them.

Objectives and Scope of coverage

Biotech-Krishi Innovation Science Application Network (Biotech-KISAN) is being

implemented in 15 Agro-climatic zones of India in phased manner with the following

objectives:

• Linking available science and technology to the farm by first understanding the

problem of the local farmer and provide solutions to those problems.

• The working together, in close conjunction, of scientists and farmers is the only way to

improve the working conditions of small and marginal farmers.

• This programme aims to work with small and marginal farmers especially the woman

farmer for better agriculture productivity through scientific intervention and evolving

best farming practices in the Indian context

The Programme will provide support for following three components:

The Hub: Establishment of Biotech - KISAN Hub in each of 15 Agro-climatic zones of the

country under the leadership of a champion, who will act as a Facilitator. Each Hub will

create a network by developing strong linkages with top quality scientific institutions / State

Agri cultural Universities (SAUs) / Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) / existing state agriculture

extension services / system and other Farmers’ organizations in the region as well as



linkages with leading international institutions / organizations. Biotech-KISAN Hub will have

a tinkering laboratory. The Hub will get financial assistance for initially 2 years of Rs 60 lakhs

per year and on the basis of a review for additional 3 years

Partnering Institutes: The activities of the partnering institute will include: Conduct training

programmes for farmers in laboratories of scientific research institutions, Training

programmes for scientists in agricultural farms

Research projects: If scientists during the course of these programmes identify a problem,

which would require larger funding; it would be possible for them to submit the research

project proposal to the Programme for additional funding.

International Training: Short - term Training (STT) Programmes will be developed by DBT in

partnership with international organisations / universities, where Farmers will be exposed to

best global farm management and practices.

Depending on the activities carried out by scientists/farmers in India; selected groups will be

sponsored by DBT for international STT. The current collaborating universities are

Cambridge University, UK; Wageningen University, Netherlands and others are likely to be

added.

CA18. Unmukt project to eliminate Sickle Cell Disease launched To commemorate the World Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Day on 19th June, the Ministry of

Tribal Affairs (MOTA) flagged off mobile vans under the Unmukt project for strengthening

screening and timely management of SCD in tribal districts of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

Sickle Cell Disease:

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most prevalent inherited blood disorders in the

world. The defect arises from a single mutation in the gene, encoding beta-globin chain of

haemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells (RCB) that helps in carrying oxygen throughout

the body).


It is a group of disorders that affects haemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that

delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body.

People with this disease have a typical haemoglobin molecule called haemoglobin S, which

can distort red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent shape. This blocks blood flow and oxygen

from reaching all parts of the body.

India alone is home to about 150,000 patients with sickle cell disease and about 88% of

SCA cases in Asia. Cases are predominantly found in central India, and northern Kerala and

Tamil Nadu, which is also known as the sickle belt of India.

Prevention

Genetic counselling is of paramount importance as the disease has no permanent cure

except bone marrow transplant. In areas with high prevalence of SCA, awareness programs

should be implemented and routine screening should be done to detect carrier status.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution recognising SCD as a

public health problem on 22th December, 2008.

CA19. What is the summer solstice? The summer solstice marks the official start of summer. It brings the longest day and

shortest night of the year for the 88 percent of Earth’s people who live in the Northern

Hemisphere.


Astronomers can calculate an exact moment for the solstice, when Earth reaches the point

in its orbit where the North Pole is angled closest to the sun. That moment will be at 09:01

a.m. on June 21 this year. From Earth, the sun will appear farthest north relative to the

stars. People living on the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees north of the Equator, will see the

sun pass straight overhead at noon.

Six months from now the sun will reach its southern extreme and pass overhead for

people on the Tropic of Capricorn, and northerners will experience their shortest days of the

year, at the winter solstice.

The sun’s angle relative to Earth’s equator changes so gradually close to the solstices that,

without instruments, the shift is difficult to perceive for about 10 days. This is the origin of

the word solstice, which means “solar standstill.”

Other planets:

Earth is not the only planet with solstices and equinoxes; any planet with a tilted rotational

axis would see them, too. In fact, planetary scientists use solstices and equinoxes to define

"seasons" for other planets in our solar system.

It's worth noting, though, that other planets' seasons don't climatically equal those on Earth

for a few reasons. First, planets vary in their axial tilts: Venus's axis of rotation is tilted by

just three degrees, so there's much less seasonal difference between the Venusian summer

and winter solstices than those on Earth. In addition, planets such as Mars have less circular

orbits than Earth's, which means that their distances from the sun vary more dramatically

than ours do, with correspondingly bigger effects on seasonal temperature.


CA20. Centre Proposes to Amend E-Commerce Rules The Central Government on Monday proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection (E-

Commerce) Rules, 2020.

The proposed changes aim to tighten the existing regulatory regime and make e-commerce

companies more accountable. The new draft proposes a host of changes:

a. mandatory registration requirements for online retailers

b. greater scrutiny of flash sales

c. enhanced liability of e-commerce entities, and

d. a stronger grievance redressal mechanism.

The Rules were first notified in July 2020 in exercise of powers conferred by Section 101(1)

(zg) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Revised definition of e-commerce entity:

The new draft proposes an updated definition of what constitutes an e-commerce entity—

any person who "owns, operates or manages digital or electronic facility or platform for

electronic commerce" as well as "any entity engaged by such person for the purpose of

fulfilment of orders placed by a user on its platform". This enhances the liability of e-

commerce companies for delivery of goods and services ordered through their platforms.

Mandatory registration of e-commerce entities:

The new draft rules also make registration with the Department for Promotion of Industry

and Internal Trade (DPIIT) mandatory for all e-commerce entities within such period as may

be prescribed by DPIIT for allotment of a registration number.

Disclosure regarding cross-selling of goods:

"Cross-selling" refers to the sale of goods or services which are related, adjacent or

complimentary to a purchase made by a consumer at a time from any e-commerce entity in

a bid to maximise the revenue of such an e-commerce entity. In the spirit of complete

transparency, the proposed rules authorise such e-commerce entities to make "adequate

disclosures" regarding such cross-selling techniques by displaying on their platform:

(a) Name of the entity providing data for cross-selling

(b) Data of such entity used for cross-selling.

Prohibition of mis-selling of goods:


The new rules also propose a ban on the "mis-selling" of goods and services offered on e-

commerce platforms. Mis-selling" by an e-commerce entity refers to the sale of goods or

services through deliberate misrepresentation of information regarding such goods or

services so as to entice the consumer to make a purchase.

Ban on fraudulent "flash sales":

The proposed rules also seek to ban "flash sales" on e-commerce platforms.

A "flash sale" has been defined as "a sale organized by an e-commerce entity at significantly

reduced prices, high discounts or any other such promotion or attractive offers for a

predetermined period of time on selective goods and services or otherwise with an intent to

draw large number of consumers.

However, the Ministry has clarified that "conventional e-commerce flash sales are not

banned. Only specific flash sales or back-to-back sales which limit customer choice, increase

prices and prevent a level playing field are not allowed." This ensures the maintenance of a

level playing field for all e-commerce entities and prevents the curtailment of consumer

choices.

Grievance redressal mechanism:

The proposed amendments also outline a stringent grievance redressal mechanism to

secure the interests of consumers.

E-commerce companies are mandated to appoint (i) a Chief Compliance Officer, (ii) a Nodal

contact person; and (ii) a Resident Grievance Officer, to secure timely adjudication of

consumer grievances. These persons have to be Indian citizens and residents of India.

Prevention of preferential treatment:

In order to curb the growing concerns of preferential treatment, the new rules propose to

ensure that none of the related parties to a marketplace are listed as sellers or are allowed

to use any consumer information (from the online platform) for 'unfair advantage'. Even

logistics service providers to these marketplaces will be prohibited from providing any

preferential treatment to any sellers.

Non-discrimination between imported and domestic goods:

As a part of the new proposed rules, e-commerce platforms will also have to identify goods

based on their country of origin and provide a filter mechanism at a pre-purchase stage for

customers, in order to ensure a ensure a " fair opportunity" for domestic sellers.

Prevention of "abuse of dominant position":

Under the proposed rules, e-commerce entities are prohibited from abusing their dominant

positions in the market, so as to ensure a "free market".

Final liability to rest on the e-commerce platform:


It has also been made clear in these new rules that in the event a seller fails to deliver a

goods or service, the final liability will fall on the e-commerce marketplace. Such a "fall-back

liability" will be imposed on e-commerce entities in case "a seller registered on its platform

fails to deliver the goods or services ordered by a consumer due to negligent conduct,

omission or commission of any act by such seller in fulfilling the duties and liabilities in the

manner as prescribed by the marketplace e-commerce entity which causes loss to the

consumer."

The new draft rules come at a time when leading e-commerce giants such as Flipkart and

Amazon India are being investigated by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for

alleged abuse of market dominance and giving preferential treatment to sellers in which

they hold indirect Stakes.

CA21. Delimitation Commission Firstly, let’s understand what delimitation means. The Election Commission of India

describes it as the “act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies

in a country or a province (state or Union Territory) having a legislative body.” The process

may also entail a change in the number of Lok Sabha seats allotted to different states, as

well as in the number of Legislative Assembly seats for each state.

What is mention in Constitution about Delimitation?

Article 82 of Indian Constitution provides for delimitation and it says: Upon the completion

of each census, the allocation of seats in the House of the people to the States and the

division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by such authority

and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine.

Delimitation Commission:

As per Article 82, Parliament by law enacted a Delimitation Act after every census. Once

the Act comes into force, the Central Government constitutes a Delimitation Commission.

Therefore, Delimitation Commission have been constituted four times since independence:

a. In 1952 under Delimitation Commission Act, 1952

b. In 1963 under Delimitation Commission Act, 1962

c. In 1973 under Delimitation Commission Act, 1972

d. In 2002 under Delimitation Commission Act, 2002

What is the composition of the Delimitation Commission?


CA22. NISHTHA: National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers'

Holistic Advancement

NISHTHA is a capacity building programme for "Improving Quality of School Education

through Integrated Teacher Training". It aims to build competencies among all the teachers

and school principals at the elementary stage. The functionaries (at the state, district, block,

cluster level) shall be trained in an integrated manner on learning outcomes, school-based

assessment, learner – centred pedagogy, new initiatives in education, addressing diverse

needs of children through multiple pedagogies, etc.

It has been launched under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha in 2109-

20.

This is being organized by constituting National Resource Groups (NRGs) and State

Resource Groups (SRGs) at the National and the State level who will be training 42 lakhs

teachers subsequently.

Who all will be National Resource Person (NRP)?

Educationists, Subject-Experts and Teacher Educators drawn from National level Institutions

such as NCERT, NIEPA, etc.

The main expected outcomes from NISHTHA are:

I. Improvement in learning outcomes of the students.

II. Creation of an enabling and enriching inclusive classroom environment

III. Teachers become alert and responsive to the social, emotional and psychological

needs of students as first level counsellors.

IV. Teachers are trained to use Art as pedagogy leading to increased creativity and

innovation among students.


V. Teachers are trained to develop and strengthen personal-social qualities of students

for their holistic development.

VI. Creation of healthy and safe school environment.

VII. Integration of ICT in teaching learning and assessment.

CA23. Virtual Water Analysis Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati researchers have come up with a way for

better water management policies in India. IIT Guwahati, in collaboration with scientists

from the University of Zaragoza, Spain, used ecological economics to study the socio-

political factors governing ‘Virtual Water Flow’, an emerging concept at the science-policy

interface, with particular reference to India.

What is the importance of Virtual Water?

Virtual Water:

The growing water concerns and issues have led to the development of new concepts. One

such idea is ‘virtual water’ concept. This is regarded as one of the waters saving

methodology in product production. It refers, in the context of trade, to the water used in

the production of a good or service. Virtual-water content of a product is defined as “The

volume of freshwater used to produce the product, measured at the place where the

product was actually produced.” It refers to the sum of the water use in the various steps of

the production chain.

Virtual water trade refers to the idea that when goods and services are exchanged, so is

virtual water. When a country imports one tonne of wheat instead of producing it

domestically, it saves about 1,300 cubic metre of real indigenous water. If this country is

water-scarce, this water ‘saved’ can be used towards other ends. If the exporting country is

water-scarce, however, it has exported 1,300 cubic metre of virtual water since the real

water used to grow wheat will no longer be available for other purposes.

“The water is said to be virtual because once the wheat is grown, the real water used to

grow it is no longer actually contained in the wheat. The concept of virtual water helps us

realize how much water is needed to produce different goods and services. In semi-arid and

arid areas, knowing the virtual water value of a good or service can be useful towards

determining how best to use the scarce water available.”

Aim of Virtual water flows assessment

Assessment is done with the aim of inducing sustainable use which can lead to water

security. It will also address the gap between science & policy on water scarcity by analysing

water flows hidden in agriculture products which are moving across states in India. It can

also help in framing evidence-based water policies and establishing link between

hydrological-economic-institutional aspect of water scarcity.


CA24. World Investment Report 2021 World Investment Report 2021” was released by UN Conference on Trade and

Development (UNCTAD).

You don’t need entire report. Just see few important graphs and report with respect to

India.

Global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows fell by 35 per cent in 2020, reaching $1 trillion,

from $1.5 trillion in 2019 (figure I.1). This is the lowest level since 2005 and almost 20 per

cent lower than the 2009 trough after the global financial crisis.

FDI flows to developed economies fell by 58 per cent to $312 billion.


Study on India

According to report, FDI has increased by 27 per cent to USD 64 billion in 2020. FDI was

increased up by acquisitions in information and communication technology (ICT) industry.

Pandemic has also increased demand of digital infrastructure and services globally. It has led

to higher values of greenfield FDI project in ICT industry and has increased by more than 22

per cent.



CA25. WHO Report: Suicide worldwide in 2019 Suicide is a serious global public health issue. Globally, 703 000 people die by suicide every

year. In 2019, an estimated 703 000 people died by suicide.

Few important graphs, just have a glance once. You don’t need theory for this.



CA26. Thai sacbrood virus Why in news:

The disease, which has been dormant in the southern states for some years, is back and

impacting the population of bees especially of the Apis cerana species. Apis cerana or the

Asian honey bee is one of the most domesticated species of honey bees in India.

What is Thai sacbrood virus and how does it work?

Thai sacbrood virus (TSBV) is a variant of sacbrood virus (SBV), a viral disease affecting

honey bee colonies. TSBV disease was first observed in Thailand in 1976. In 1991-92, there

was an outbreak of the virus in India which resulted in the destruction of more than 90

percent of the then-existing bee colonies in south India. The disease kills bees when they

are larvae, thereby reducing the population of bee colonies.

What is the significance of Apis cerana bees?

Apis cerana or the Asian honey bee is one of the most domesticated species of honey bees

in India and it is important to understand about the ways to protect their population.

a. Bees are very important for the ecosystem.

b. Humans depend on the bees directly (for honey that has antioxidants and anti-

inflammatory properties) and indirectly.

c. Bees play a crucial role in pollination. Crops produce good yields if animals and

insects help them pollinate.

d. And bees are the most dominant pollinators of fruit, vegetable and crop plants.

We need to study this virus to prevent further spread.


CA27. Mandatory Display of Food License/Registration Number on

Invoice The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has made it mandatory for the

FBO's to declare the 14-digit FSSAI License or Registration number on cash

receipts/purchase invoices/cash memo /bills etc.

As per the order dated 8th June 2021, FSSAI mentioned that declaration of the license or

registration number will facilitate the consumers to complain about any grievance with the

Food Business Operators (FBO)

This article is to analyse the practical approach of the above order with reference to

provisions FSS (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

Few important provisions which regulated Food safety.

a. Section 3 (j) of the Food Safety and Standards Act (Act) defines food as "food" means

any substance, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, which is

intended for human consumption and includes primary food. The mankind will not

exist without food and wholesome food is required for healthy society. In India, the

laws regulating the quality of food have been in force since 1899.

b. Article 47 of Indian Constitution, mandates the duty of the State to raise the level of

nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health.

c. The Food Safety and Standards Act 2006

Licence

As per the Act, section 3 (za) defines "licence" means as licence granted under section 31

and as per section 31, No person shall commence or carry on any food business except

under a licence. Pretty vendors, hawkers, cottage industries and itinerant vendors do not

require a license but they shall register themselves with the Designated Officer appointed

under the Act. If the annual turnover of the FBO is more than Rs. 12.00 lakhs then it

required to obtain a license. If the FBO operates more than 2 States then a central license is

prerequisite.

Punishment for carrying business without licence.

Section 63 of the Act prescribes that if any person or food business operator himself or by

any person on his behalf who is required to obtain licence, manufacturers, sells, stores or

distributes or imports any article of food without licence, shall be punishable with

imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and also with a fine which may

extend to five lakh rupees.

License Number:

The FBO shall submit a prescribed application in the Food Safety Compliance System

(FoSCos) which came into force from last year after replacement of Food Licensing and

Registration System (FLRS). After processing the application, the authority grants the license

or registration with 14-digit number will be generated through FoSCos system.


As per the FSS Packaging and Labelling 2011, every pre-packaged food shall contain certain

mandatory declaration on the package as prescribed under the rules, which is included of

License number and the logo of FSSAI. The FSSAI logo and license number shall be displayed

on the label of the food package in contrast colour to the background.

License Number on the Invoice

Vide order dated 8th June 2021, FSSAI has directed all FBO's to mention License or

Registration number with effective from 01/10/2021 on cash receipts/ invoices/

memo/bills, the order state that no new transaction document is required to be issued

and the existing tax and regulatory requirements are to be leveraged, it means that the

license number and registration number on the existing invoice issued by the seller / FBO

under GST is sufficient. FSSAI has stated that in the absence of License or registration

number it is difficult to trace the online complaints and many complaints are remain

unresolved to lack of coordinates of FBO and the if the number is mentioned then it will

help in identifying the FBO and this also increased the awareness of compliances under food

laws.

Effect of the latest Order

As per the report, India has more than 2 Crores food and grocery shops with a market size of

800 billion dollars. As per Fact sheet of FSSAI as on 31/05/2021, the active central licences

are 47468, and State licences are 8, 29,921 and Registration are 36, 81,762, thus total

45,59,151 licenses & registration are in force. In other words, only 1 out of 4 persons

dealing in the food is having the either license or registration.

Further, as per the GST Act 2017, if the aggregate turnover is less than Rs. 20 lakhs in a

financial year is not mandatory to register under the GST Act. An unregistered person is not

liable to issue any tax invoices. Yet further, if the value of goods supplied is less than Rs. 200

then no invoice is required even for the registered person. A tax invoice shall contain Invoice

number, customer name and address, description of goods and HSN code, price and rate of

GST etc.

Objective of FSSAI can be defeated.

CA28. New report on single-use plastic products aims to advance

sustainability in travel and tourism Link: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/new-report-single-use-

plastic-products-aims-advance-sustainability

The Travel & Tourism sector undoubtedly plays a key role in global prosperity: it supported 1

in 10 jobs and contributed US$8.8 trillion to global GDP in 2019. Its role in job creation and

lasting positive social impact is immense. However, without a healthy and thriving

environment the sector and our planet cannot survive.

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/new-report-single-use-plastic-products-aims-advance-sustainability

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/new-report-single-use-plastic-products-aims-advance-sustainability


In this context, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the United Nations

Environment Programme (UNEP), launch a major new report, addressing the complex issue

of single-use plastic products within Travel & Tourism.

The report is a first step to mapping single-use plastic products across the Travel & Tourism

value chain, identifying hotspots for environmental leakages, and providing practical and

strategic recommendations for businesses and policymakers.

The report’s recommendations include:

redefining unnecessary single-use plastic products in the context of one’s own business;

giving contractual preference to suppliers of reusable products; proactively planning

procedures that avoid a return to single-use plastic products in the event of disease

outbreaks; supporting research and innovation in product design and service models that

decrease the use of plastic items, and revising policies and quality standards with waste

reduction, and circularity in mind.


CA29. G7 leaders called for the world to become net zero and nature

positive. Link: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/06/what-is-nature-positive-and-why-is-it-

the-key-to-our-future/

G7 leaders recently announced that “our world must not only become net zero, but also

nature positive, for the benefit of both people and the planet.” This represents a real

paradigm shift in how nations, businesses, investors and consumers view nature.

But now there is a new worldview gathering pace: "nature positive." What is Nature

Positive?

A nature positive approach enriches biodiversity, stores carbon, purifies water and

reduces pandemic risk. In short, a nature positive approach enhances the resilience of our

planet and our societies.

Farming, overfishing, mining and deforestation have now reached such a scale that they are

reducing the resilience of the biosphere. About half of habitable land on Earth is used for

farming, resulting in the world's single largest source of greenhouse gases and ecosystem

destruction. We are also exceeding planetary boundaries, creating a dual nature and climate

emergency.

A nature positive approach contributes to solving both. At its heart, the goal is to halt and

reverse the destruction of nature by 2030 with a full recovery of a resilient biosphere by

2050.

CA30. Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1729822

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/06/what-is-nature-positive-and-why-is-it-the-key-to-our-future/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/06/what-is-nature-positive-and-why-is-it-the-key-to-our-future/

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1729822


Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB), a joint initiative of the United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and

Development (OECD), launched its programme in Bhutan today. India was chosen as the

Partner Jurisdiction and has provided the Tax Expert for this programme. The focus of the

programme will be in the area of International Taxation and Transfer Pricing.

The objective of the TIWB Initiative is to enable sharing of tax audit knowledge and skills

with tax administrations in developing countries through a targeted, real time “learning

by doing” approach.

CA31. Agreement between India and Saint Vincent and The

Grenadines for the Exchange of Information and Assistance in

Collection with respect to Taxes The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has approved an

Agreement between the Republic of India and Saint Vincent and The Grenadines for the

Exchange of Information and Assistance in Collection with respect to Taxes.


Details of the Agreement:

• This is a new Agreement between the Republic of India and Saint Vincent and The

Grenadines. There was no such agreement in past between the two countries.

• Agreement mainly proposes to facilitate exchange of information between the two

countries and to help each other in collection of tax claims.

• Agreement also contains tax examination abroad provisions which provide that a

country may allow the representatives of the other country to enter its territory (to the

extent permitted under its domestic laws) to interview individuals and examine records

for tax purposes.

Impact:

Agreement between the Republic of India and Saint Vincent and The Grenadines will help in

facilitating the exchange of information between the two countries including sharing of

information held by the banks and other financial institutions encompassing the information

regarding the legal and beneficial ownership. It will also facilitate the assistance in collection

of the tax claims between the two countries. Thus, it will strengthen India's commitment to

fight offshore tax evasion and tax avoidance practices leading to generation of

unaccounted black money.

Background:

There was no such agreement with Saint Vincent and The Grenadines in the past and India

was negotiating this agreement since a long time. Finally, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines

agreed to conclude this agreement with India which will promote tax cooperation between

the two countries through exchange of information and assistance in collection of

outstanding tax claims between the two countries.

CA32. Antarctic Treaty The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 by the twelve countries

whose scientists had been active in and around Antarctica during the International

Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957-58. It entered into force in 1961 and has since been acceded

to by many other nations. The total number of Parties to the Treaty is now 54.

Some important provisions of the Treaty:

1. Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only

2. Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and cooperation toward that end…

shall continue

3. Scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made

freely available

India became a member of this treaty in 1983.


The Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty is located in downtown Buenos Aires, Argentina.

CA33. Peter Pan Syndrome Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/peter-pan-syndrome-explained-

7371824/

The Bombay High Court on Monday granted bail to a 23-year-old rape accused. The man

allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl. The ground on which the Bombay High Court

granted bail was that the accused suffered from a psychological condition known as Peter

Pan Syndrome.

Peter Pan Syndrome is a psychological condition that is used to describe an adult — more

in men than women — who is socially immature. Peter Pan was a care-free young boy, who

never grew up.

What are the symptoms of Peter Pan Syndrome?

As Peter Pan Syndrome hasn’t officially been diagnosed as a health disorder, there aren’t

clearly-defined symptoms or characteristics or even reasons which cause it. However,

according to HealthLine, it could affect one’s daily routine, relationships, work ethic, and

result in attitudinal changes.

CA 34. UNESCO Science Report (USR) USR is one of the flagship publications of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific

and Cultural Organization) and is published every 5 years.

The USR-2021 is the seventh in the series of UNESCO Science Reports, which was first launched in 1993. The sub-theme for this edition of USR is ‘The race against time for


Smarter Development’ and it lays emphasis on the performance and efforts of the countries towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets set for 2030.

The latest USR observes that the governments need to increase their commitment towards

Research & Development (R&D) to aid this transition.

Look at few data:



East & Southeast Asia which includes major Research spending countries like China, Japan &

South Korea account for the highest spending with 714.52 PPP $ billion in 2018, an increase

of 28% from their spending in 2014.



Most patents in India concern pharmaceuticals and information technology. About 85% of

assignees of patents issued by the Indian Patent Office and US Patent and Trademark Office

are foreign inventors, commonly represented by multinational corporations specializing in

digital technologies.

CA35. Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2020’ report. Link:

file:///C:/Users/Abhishek%20Agarwal/Downloads/IRENA_Power_Generation_Costs_2020%

20(2).pdf

Recently, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released the ‘Renewable

Power Generation Costs in 2020’ report. In brief, we will cover few points in the report.

a. The trend in cost declines continued for solar and wind power in 2020, despite the

impact of the global pandemic and the disruptions caused by the spread of COVID-19

virus.

b. Renewable power generation costs have fallen sharply over the past decade, driven by

steadily improving technologies, economies of scale, competitive supply chains and

improving developer experience.

c. Costs for electricity from utility-scale solar PV fell 85% between 2010 and 2020


About International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

It is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a

sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international

cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and

financial knowledge on renewable energy.

IRENA was officially founded in Bonn, Germany, on 26 January 2009.


With a mandate from countries around the world, IRENA encourages governments to

adopt enabling policies for renewable energy investments, provides practical tools and

policy advice to accelerate renewable energy deployment, and facilitates knowledge sharing

and technology transfer to provide clean, sustainable energy for the world’s growing

population.

Currently it has 164 members, India is the 77th Founding Member of IRENA. It has its

headquarters in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

IRENA is an official United Nations observer.

Global scenario:

CA36. New type of ancient human discovered in Israel Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57586315

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57586315


Researchers working in Israel have identified a previously unknown type of ancient human

that lived alongside our species more than 100,000 years ago.

They believe the remains uncovered near the city of Ramla represent one of the "last

survivors" of a very ancient human group. The finds consist of a partial skull and jaw from

an individual who lived between 140,000 and 120,000 years ago.

The team members think the individual descended from an earlier species that may have

spread out of the region hundreds of thousands of years ago and given rise to Neanderthals

in Europe and their equivalents in Asia. The scientists have named the newly discovered

lineage the "Nesher Ramla Homo type".

CA37. European Green Deal "Fit for 55": under this heading, the EU Commission will specify the implementation of the

European Green Deal on 14 July. This refers to the more ambitious climate policy

announced, with 55 instead of 40 percent emission reduction by 2030 (relative to 1990),

and net-zero emissions in 2050.

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the

world. To overcome these challenges, the European Green Deal will transform the EU into

a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, ensuring:

a. no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050

b. economic growth decoupled from resource use

c. no person and no place left behind

The European Green Deal provides an action plan to:

a. boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy


b. restore biodiversity and cut pollution

The EU will also provide financial support and technical assistance to help those that are

most affected by the move towards the green economy. This is called the Just Transition

Mechanism. It will help mobilise at least €100 billion over the period 2021-2027 in the most

affected regions. The Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) is a key tool to ensure that the

transition towards a climate-neutral economy happens in a fair way, leaving no one behind.

CA38. India's First Anti-Enforcement Injunction Order The concept of anti-suit injunction and anti-enforcement injunction is gaining prominence

worldwide including in India. Recently, the Delhi High Court has ruled in the country’s first

anti-anti-suit-injunction (AASI). This is likely the first case globally where an AASI was

granted after an anti-suit-injunction (ASI) was already passed by a foreign court.

On May 3, 2021, the High Court pronounced a decision in favour of US-headquartered technology company, InterDigital in its battle against Chinese multinational, Xiaomi Corporation. This judgement confirmed its October 9, 2020 order where it granted an ad interim AASI against Xiaomi, directing it to not pursue or enforce the injunction it had secured from the Wuhan Court.

Anti-Suit Injunctions (“ASI”) are court orders restraining a defendant from commencing,

advancing, or pursuing its claim in another jurisdiction or forum; or a court order directing

the defendant to terminate or suspend proceedings initiated in an alternate forum,

especially where the alternate forum is a foreign jurisdiction.

It is important to note that ASI are orders made against the party-Defendant, in personam

i.e., it is directed towards an individual party and not the Court in the alternate jurisdiction.

Thus, ASI can be said to be a powerful and important tool to prevent a party involved in

the proceedings from initiating parallel proceedings in different foreign jurisdictions and

avoid possible conflicts in the judgments.

CA39. US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) USISPF was established in 2017 by a group of industry leaders in both countries who are

committed to creating a powerful strategic partnership between the U.S. and India. A non-

profit organization, USISPF is focused on driving economic growth, job creation, innovation,

inclusion, and entrepreneurship in the U.S. and India.


How can they further strengthen ties?

The collaboration between the United States and India lies at the heart of our strategic

interests in Asia. India is already an important market for US goods and services and has the

potential to become a crucial link in the global manufacturing supply chain.

While the fundamentals of this relationship are strong, below are some priorities to

strengthen this partnership further in the coming year:

Restart the “Pivot to Asia”

While India can play an important role in the region, it is being left behind economically and

strategically. The strength of the bilateral strategic relationship provides the United States

with a strong base of support to expand. U.S. leadership in the region can address China’s

growing influence and could help mitigate the growing animosity between China and India.

Leverage the Progress of the Quad and Similar Groupings

India has express willingness to find common ground with small groupings of countries on

like-minded issues. These vehicles can be harnessed where bilateral cooperation has stalled

or India’s recalcitrance in the international multilaterals is counterproductive. The Japan-

India-US-Australia group can be used to advance U.S. national security and commercial

interests. The U.S. might also consider joining in the supply chain group of India-Singapore-

Australia.

Focus on Issues of Common Ground

In addition to the national security strategic interests India has embraced the values of

climate change and joint programs in addressing air pollution, water and other

environmental issues can be accelerated, especially R&D programmatic elements.


Cyber security and Internet governance present another opportunity with India recently

expressing opposition to China’s New IP proposal, support for the multi stakeholder

approach to Internet governance and a desire to see the UN Group of Government Experts

make clear progress on cyber. India’s ambitions in 5G and their stated desire to secure

trusted vendors provide another opportunity that melds with U.S. national security and

commercial interests.

Re-Commit to the Bilateral Dialogues

The 2+2 Strategic Dialogue is productive and can be expanded to include commercial issues

of national security interest. The State-led ICT Working Group, an important engagement on

technology and digital policy issues, has floundered as the dialogue has been downgraded to

a deputy assistant secretary level. This group needs to be upgraded to a Dialogue held at

least at an Assistant Secretary level, or as a best case at an Under Secretary level.

CA40. International Solar Alliance The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich

countries (which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the

Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs. It was launched by the Prime

Minister of India and the President of France on 30 November 2015 at Paris, France on the

side-lines of the COP-21.

As guided by the Framework Agreement of the ISA, the interests and objectives of the ISA

are as follows:

a. To collectively address key common challenges to scale up solar energy applications in

line with their needs;

b. To mobilize investments of more than USD 1000 billion by 2030;

c. To take coordinated action through programmes and activities launched on a voluntary

basis, aimed at better harmonization, aggregation of demand, risk and resources, for

promoting solar finance, solar technologies, innovation, R&D, capacity building etc.

d. Reduce the cost of finance to increase investments in solar energy in member

countries by promoting innovative financial mechanisms and mobilizing finance from

Institutions

e. Scale up applications of solar technologies in member countries, and Facilitate

collaborative research and development (R&D) activities in solar energy technologies

among member countries.

f. Promote a common cyber platform for networking, cooperation and exchange of ideas

among member countries

Current status of the number of signatories and ratification.

As per the latest update from its website, 95 countries have signed the ISA Framework

Agreement and 77 countries have signed and ratified the ISA Framework Agreement.

Whether agreement has entered into force? Yes.


When the ISA Framework Agreement entered into force on December 6th, 2017, ISA

formally became a de-jure treaty based International Intergovernmental Organization,

headquartered at Gurugram, India.

Highest decision-making body in ISA.

The Assembly of the ISA is the apex decision-making body which comprises of

representatives from each Member Country. The Assembly deliberates matters of substance

such as the selection of the Director General, achievement of ISA objectives, its functioning,

approval of operating budget and more.

Who all can be the member of ISA?

In pursuance of the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India for achieving the

universalization of the membership of the International Solar Alliance beyond the Tropics,

the First General Assembly of the ISA, held on 3 October 2018, adopted the amendment of

the Framework Agreement on the establishment of the International Solar Alliance, to

expand the scope of Membership of the ISA to all Member States of the United Nations.

After the necessary ratifications/ approvals/ acceptances were obtained from the requisite

number of ISA Member countries as mandated by the Framework Agreement of the ISA, the

said amendment has entered into force on 8th January 2021.The coming into force of the

amendment of the ISA Framework Agreement allows all the Member States of the United

Nations to join the International Solar Alliance, including those lying beyond the Tropics.

CA41. What Is Debt-to-GDP Ratio? News is, India's bank credit-to-GDP ratio inches up to 56% in 2020: BIS data

We will understand the term.

The debt-to-GDP ratio is the metric comparing a country's public debt to its gross domestic

product (GDP). By comparing what a country owes with what it produces, the debt-to-GDP

ratio reliably indicates that particular country’s ability to pay back its debts.

Understanding in bit detail:

A country able to continue paying interest on its debt--without refinancing, and without

hampering economic growth, is generally considered to be stable. A country with a high

debt-to-GDP ratio typically has trouble paying off external debts (also called “public debts”),

which are any balances owed to outside lenders. In such scenarios, creditors are apt to seek

higher interest rates when lending. Extravagantly high debt-to-GDP ratios may deter

creditors from lending money altogether.

Debt-to-GDP Ratio is calculated by the following formula:


When a country defaults on its debt, it often triggers financial panic in domestic and

international markets alike. As a rule, the higher a country’s debt-to-GDP ratio climbs, the

higher its risk of default becomes. Although governments strive to lower their debt-to-GDP

ratios, this can be difficult to achieve during periods of unrest, such as wartime, or economic

recession. In such challenging climates, governments tend to increase borrowing in an effort

to stimulate growth and boost aggregate demand.

CA42. Recent judgement of Supreme Court regarding education,

illegal adoption and welfare of children who lost parents due to

COVID-19 pandemic In a suo moto proceeding regarding the problems of children during COVID-19, the supreme

court directed the State and UT governments to ensure that there is no break in the

education of children who have lost either one or both parents due to the pandemic.

The apex court noted that as per data collected by the National Commission for Protection

of Child Rights (NCPCR) till June 2021, a total of 30,071 children have become orphans or

have lost one parent or abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, 3,621

children have become orphans, 26,176 children have lost one parent and 274 children have

been abandoned. The court ordered that after the identification of the children who have

become orphans or lost one parent, prompt action has to be taken to provide for the basic

needs of the children.

In view of this, the court issued the following directions:

• The State Governments/Union Territories are directed to continue identifying the

children who have become orphans or lost a parent after March 2020, either due to

COVID-19 or otherwise and provide the data on the website of the NCPCR without any

delay. The identification of the affected children can be done through Childline (1098),

health officials, Panchayati Raj Institutions, police authorities, NGOs, etc.

• The District Child Protection Units (DCPU) is directed to contact the affected child and

his guardian immediately on receipt of information about the death of the

parent/parents. The assessment shall be made about the suitability and willingness of

the guardian to take care of the child.

• The District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) should furnish his phone number and the

name and phone number of the local official who can be contacted by the guardian

and the child. There should be a regular follow-up by the concerned authorities with

the child at least once a month.


• If the DCPO is of the prima facie opinion that the guardian is not suitable to take care

of the child, he should produce the child before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC)

immediately.

• CWC should provide for the essential needs of the child during the pendency of the

inquiry without fail. The inquiry should be completed expeditiously. CWC shall ensure

that all financial benefits to which the child is entitled are provided without any delay.

• The State Governments/Union Territories are directed to make provisions for

continuance of education of the children both in Government as well as in private

schools.

• The State Governments/Union Territories are directed to take action against those

NGOs/individuals who are indulging in illegal adoptions.

• Wide publicity should be given to the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015

and the prevailing schemes of the Union of India and the State Governments/Union

Territories which would benefit the affected children.

• DPCO shall take the assistance of government servants at the Gram Panchayat level to

monitor the welfare of the disconsolate children who are devastated by the

catastrophe of losing their parent/parents.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is a statutory body under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India. The Commission's Mandate is to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group.

CA43. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched the financing facility of Rs 1 lakh crore

under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund via video conferencing. The fund has been

launched as part of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) to make farmers self-reliant.

So, we will cover this topic in detail. Life and UPSC both will become easy. For any such

schemes, we should always cover introduction, why this was created. It becomes easy then

to understand scheme.


Objectives of Scheme

To mobilize a medium - long term debt finances facility for investment in viable projects for

post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through incentives

and financial support in order to improve agriculture infrastructure in the country. This

financing facility will have numerous objectives for all the stakeholders in the agriculture

eco-system.

a. Improved marketing infrastructure to allow farmers to sell directly to a larger base of

consumers and will improve the overall income of farmers.

b. With modern packaging and cold storage system access, farmers will be able to

further decide when to sell in the market and improve realization.

c. Due to improvements in post-harvest infrastructure, government will further

be able to reduce national food wastage percentage thereby enable agriculture

sector to become competitive with current global levels.

d. With a dedicated source of funding, entrepreneurs will push for innovation in

agriculture sector by leveraging new age technologies including IoT, AI, etc.

e. It will also connect the players in ecosystem and hence, improve avenues for

collaboration between entrepreneurs and farmers.

f. With Credit Guarantee, incentive and interest subvention lending institutions will be

able to lend with a lower risk. This scheme will help to enlarge their customer base

and diversification of portfolio.

g. Refinance facility will enable larger role for cooperative banks and RRBs.

h. With reduced inefficiencies in post-harvest ecosystem, key benefit for


consumers will be a larger share of produce reaching the market and hence, better

quality and prices.

Government Budgetary Support

All loans under this financing facility will have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a

limit of Rs. 2 crores. This subvention will be available for a maximum period of 7 years. In

case of loans beyond Rs.2 crore, then interest subvention will be limited up to 2 crores.


CA44. What is molecular ecology and how does it help in

conservation? Link: https://india.mongabay.com/2021/06/what-is-molecular-ecology-and-how-does-it-

help-in-conservation/

As urbanisation, deforestation, loss of wildlife, and human-wildlife conflicts continue to

spiral up, there is a need to use every available tool available, to help protect what is left of

the natural world. Molecular ecology is one such tool for conservation and can help in

wildlife disease management and forensics in illegal trade.

What is molecular ecology?

Molecular ecology is a hybrid field that combines molecular biology techniques with

ecological data to make sense of natural processes such as the growth or decline of

populations, formation of new species, extinctions and invasiveness.

Molecular ecology is used to estimate population genetic diversities to aid wildlife breeding

and conservation efforts, define species for conservation policy, track diseases, and combat

poaching.

What are genetic data and population genetic diversity?

Genetic data from organisms is collected in the form of ‘molecular markers,’ which are

biological molecules that may be used to distinguish between species, populations, or

individuals.

By studying and documenting the variations in the genes and molecular markers, one can

measure the genetic diversity of a population of animals with the help of statistics.

Why is genetic variation important for wildlife breeding and conservation efforts?

Genetic diversity is the fuel for natural selection. It is a source of inheritable variations in

characteristics that can allow populations to survive changing environments. Higher the

genetic diversity of a population, higher the chance that some individuals in that

population can adapt to new environmental conditions. Thus, the population will not go

extinct due to any changes.

Large populations typically have high genetic diversities, whereas small populations have

low genetic diversities. If the population size of a species drops sharply due to natural

disasters or human negligence and anthropogenic activities, its genetic diversity is

reduced, creating a genetic bottleneck. When this happens, not only is the population

robbed of its potential to survive, it also becomes vulnerable to inbreeding. Inbreeding

occurs in small populations, where genetically related individuals are more likely to mate

with each other.

Over time, such populations suffer from ‘inbreeding depression’, a condition where genetic

variants with harmful mutations begin to accumulate.

How is molecular ecology useful in detecting and managing diseases in wild animals?

https://india.mongabay.com/2021/06/what-is-molecular-ecology-and-how-does-it-help-in-conservation/

https://india.mongabay.com/2021/06/what-is-molecular-ecology-and-how-does-it-help-in-conservation/


Molecular ecology has now become an important part of wildlife disease management.

Rapid detection of even low intensities of viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections is now

possible using tests based on PCR (polymerase chain reaction — a technique that ‘amplifies’

or makes more copies of specific DNA regions). Currently, PCR-based diagnostic tests allow

for the swift detection of a number of diseases in wildlife such as the Kyasanur forest

disease (a tick-borne viral disease in South India), Ebola, Nipah, tuberculosis, rabies, and

malaria, all of which are directly responsible for endangering wildlife and spilling over into

domestic livestock and human populations.

CA45. Ladakh pitches for a new state bird and animal after getting

union territory status Link: https://india.mongabay.com/2021/06/ladakh-pitches-for-a-new-state-bird-and-

animal-after-getting-union-territory-status/

The former state of Jammu and Kashmir had the black-necked crane and Kashmir stag as its

State Bird and State Animal. But the black-necked crane is found only in Eastern Ladakh and

the Hangul is found only in Kashmir Valley. So, following the bifurcation, new options for the

bird and animal symbols were needed for the newly created state and union territory.

Local wildlife bodies in Ladakh are batting strongly for the black-necked crane and the snow

leopard to be named as the State Bird and State Animal.

So, we see two species.

a. Black-necked crane

b. Kashmir stag

Black-necked crane

The high-altitude wetlands of the Tibetan plateau, Sichuan (China), and eastern Ladakh

(India) are the main breeding ground of the species.

Protection Status:

IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

CITES: Appendix I

Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

Kashmir Stag (Hangul):

Habitat — dense riverine forests in the high valleys and mountains of the Kashmir Valley and

northern Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh. It is mostly restricted to the Dachigam

National Park.

https://india.mongabay.com/2021/06/ladakh-pitches-for-a-new-state-bird-and-animal-after-getting-union-territory-status/

https://india.mongabay.com/2021/06/ladakh-pitches-for-a-new-state-bird-and-animal-after-getting-union-territory-status/


CA46. What is Familial Forestry? Link: https://www.unccd.int/actionsland-life-programme/land-life-award-2021-healthy-

land-healthy-lives

This year’s Land for Life Award goes to Familial Forestry of Rajasthan, India, a unique

concept of Shyam Sunder Jyani, Associate Professor for Sociology at in Rajasthan that

relates a tree with a family, making it a green "family member."

Familial forestry starts with domestication of trees and goes beyond later. It directly

involves family in plantation and its care. When a house hold grows and nurture its own

forest in and around house then the children of that house get sensitized about the

surrounding during their primary stage of socialization. It shapes them as environmental

connected individual. Fruit’s plant at home not only provide nutrition but can become a

source of income also. Family gets fresh and organic vegetables, without extra land, water

and labour because these vegetables are grown with trees. Family trees provide nesting

place to birds, insects thus increase biodiversity. Familial Forestry associates ritual and

festivals with trees to make green foot- printing an integral part of social structure.

About Award:

https://www.unccd.int/actionsland-life-programme/land-life-award-2021-healthy-land-healthy-lives

https://www.unccd.int/actionsland-life-programme/land-life-award-2021-healthy-land-healthy-lives


Every two years, UNCCD organizes the Land for Life Award. The Award recognizes

excellence and innovation in efforts towards land in balance. The past editions shed light on

inspiring initiatives of recovery and restoration of degraded landscapes worldwide. They all

made a significant contribution towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15:

"Life on Land", in particular Target 15.3 land degradation neutrality (LDN).

CA47. Destruction in Thar Desert Link: https://india.mongabay.com/2021/06/desert-areas-of-rajasthan-bloom-under-

afforestation-efforts/

The Thar Desert is the driest place of the arid zone of the NW Indian subcontinent).

Past geomorphic processes and climate change acting on this territory generated a

diversity of landforms depending on the structural geology and bedrock intensity

weathering and the resulting depositional bodies. Natural landscapes have been changed

by modern human activities modifying the original relief and contributing to the present

environmental vulnerability and a loss of natural resilience.

Something important. Just read. How destruction has taken place in Thar desert?

a. In India, a study notes that the dry wastelands of Thar occupy most of Rajasthan

(60%); the remaining portions expand into the neighbouring Haryana and Gujarat

states in the north and south, respectively.

b. Desertification, groundwater salinity and soil nutrient loss are the common ecology

risks in the desert regions of western Rajasthan and this worsens as the desert grows

every year, threatening the ecology of the region.

https://india.mongabay.com/2021/06/desert-areas-of-rajasthan-bloom-under-afforestation-efforts/

https://india.mongabay.com/2021/06/desert-areas-of-rajasthan-bloom-under-afforestation-efforts/


c. This ongoing desert expansion represents an adverse factor with respect to the

economic development, ecological integrity, and environmental sustainability of

western Rajasthan.

d. The degradation of the environment in Rajasthan has resulted in destruction of the

ecological system and loss of biodiversity.

e. Human activities like applying new agriculture techniques, mining, overgrazing by

animals, introducing foreign flora and fauna, inserting tube wells, overexploitation of

the IGNP Canal and human settlements in the desert have become a hazard to the

Thar desert’s natural ecosystem. The Thar is the most densely populated desert on

earth. Of course, these developments have severe consequences.

f. The propagation of exotic, invasive plant species like Acacia tortilis and Prosopis

juliflora that were planted by the Britishers for sourcing wood and later by the forest

department of Rajasthan as forest cover, have had a detrimental effect on the

environment.

g. These species could survive on little water, were good for nitrogen fixation and

stabilised the sand dunes in the desert, so were easy to plant in a desert where

forestation usually is an arduous task.

CA48. Four important Principles announced by CJI Ramana Link: https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/rule-of-law-cji-ramana-social-media-trends-can-affect-the-

institutions-176597

While delivering the 17th Justice P D Desai memorial lecture on "Rule of Law", CJI Ramana on

Wednesday stated that it is imperative to start a discourse as to how social media trends can affect

the institutions.

With regards the concept of Rule of Law and the different principles that have been formulated, CJI

emphasized the following 4 principles, in consideration of the current events across the globe.

Laws must be clear and accessible

CJI stated that it is a fundamental point that when laws are expected to be obeyed, the people at

least ought to know what the laws are. There cannot therefore be secretive laws, as laws are for the

society. Further, the laws should be worded in simple, unambiguous language.

Idea of Equality before the law

Referring to the second principle, CJI stated that Laws are to be applied on an equal basis in a non-

arbitrary fashion.

"An important aspect of "equality before law" is having equal "access to justice". In a democratic

country like ours, access to justice forms the bedrock of the "Rule of Law". However, this guarantee

of equal justice will be rendered meaningless if the vulnerable sections are unable to enjoy their

rights because of their poverty or illiteracy or any other kind of weakness."

Right to participate in the creation and refinement of laws:

CJI stated that the members of society have the "right to participate in the creation and refinement

of laws" that regulate their behaviours. Very essence of a democracy is that its citizenry has a role to

play, whether directly or indirectly, in the laws that govern them. In India, it is done through

https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/rule-of-law-cji-ramana-social-media-trends-can-affect-the-institutions-176597

https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/rule-of-law-cji-ramana-social-media-trends-can-affect-the-institutions-176597


elections, where the people get to exercise their universal adult franchise to elect the people who

form part of the Parliament which enacts laws.

Presence of a strong Independent Judiciary

CJI stated that the Judiciary is the primary organ which is tasked with ensuring that the laws which

are enacted are in line with the Constitution.

"This is one of the main functions of the judiciary, that of judicial review of laws. The Supreme Court

has held this function to be a part of the basic structure of the Constitution, which means that the

Parliament cannot curtail the same."

However, CJI further opined that the importance of the Judiciary should not blind us to the fact that

the responsibility of safeguarding constitutionalism, lies not just on the Courts, and all the three

organs of the State, i.e., the executive, legislature and the Judiciary, are equal repositories of

Constitutional trust

CJI stated that for the Judiciary to apply checks on governmental power and action, it has to have

complete freedom. He added that the judges should not be swayed by the emotional pitch of

public opinion either, which is getting amplified through social media platforms, and have to be

mindful of the fact that the noise thus amplified is not necessarily reflective of what is right and

what majority believes in.

"The new media tools that have enormous amplifying ability are incapable of distinguishing

between right and wrong, good and bad and the real and fake. Therefore, media trials cannot be a

guiding factor in deciding cases" CJI said.

It will help you in Prelims too. For example, if it is asked:

Safeguarding constitutionalism lies with? You won’t simply think about Judiciary. These questions

need interpretations, so such topics are important.

CA49. Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro food processing

Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1731151

Introduction of any scheme is very important:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1731151


This scheme is designed to address the challenges faced by the micro enterprises and to tap the

potential of groups and cooperatives in supporting the upgradation and formalization of these

enterprises.

About the scheme:

Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MoFPI) has launched the Pradhan Mantri Formalization of

Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan with

the aim to enhance the competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the

unorganized segment of the food processing industry and promote formalization of the sector.

The scheme to be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with a total

outlay of Rupees 10,000 crore. The expenditure under the scheme would to be shared in 60:40 ratio

between Central and State Governments, in 90:10 ratio with North Eastern and Himalayan States,

60:40 ratio with UTs with legislature and 100% by the Center for other UTs.

Objectives

The objectives of scheme are to build capability of microenterprises to enable:

• Increased access to credit by existing micro food processing entrepreneurs, FPOs, Self Help

Groups and Co-operatives;

• Integration with organized supply chain by strengthening branding & marketing;

• Support for transition of existing 2,00,000 enterprises into formal framework;

• Increased access to common services like common processing facility, laboratories, storage,

packaging, marketing and incubation services;

• Strengthening of institutions, research and training in the food processing sector; and

• Increased access for the enterprises, to professional and technical support.

Coverage


Under the scheme, 2,00,000 micro food processing units will be directly assisted with credit linked

subsidy. Adequate supportive common infrastructure and institutional architecture will be

supported to accelerate growth of the sector.

The Scheme adopts One District One Product (ODOP) approach to reap the benefit of scale in terms

of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products. ODOP for the

scheme will provide the framework for value chain development and alignment of support

infrastructure.

CA50. Energy Compact Goals Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1730716

NTPC Limited, India’s largest power generating company under Ministry of Power has become first

energy company in energy domain in India to declare its Energy Compact goals as part of UN High-

level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE).

Energy Compacts:

Why do we need Energy Compacts?

Energy is key to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris

Agreement on Climate Change. However, we are falling behind and current actions on SDG7 are

insufficient, too fragmented, and lacking accountability. There is no platform to bring together

SDG7 related commitments and actions from all stakeholders. By bringing together all

commitments and actions, we can increase accountability and identify gaps where more

commitment is needed and help accelerate action by raising ambitions.

What’s the difference between Energy Compacts and NDCs?

NDCs address Member State’s national climate ambitions and targets that are legally required under

the Paris Agreement, focusing on a country’s emissions profile from the economy as a whole. On the

other hand, recognizing energy’s fundamental role in emissions, Energy Compacts are intended to

reinforce and complement the achievement of the Paris Agreement, and contribute to Member

State’s enhanced NDC and long-term goals.



So, there is Energy Compact.


CA51. NATRAX- the High-Speed Track (HST) Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1731122

India gets Asia’s longest and world’s fifth longest High-Speed Track for automobiles. NATRAX,

developed in an area of 1000 acres of land, is a one stop solution for all sorts of high-speed

performance tests for widest categories of vehicles from 2 wheelers to heavy tractor trailers.

Speaking at the e-inauguration of the world class 11.3 km High Speed Track, Shri Javadekar stated that India is destined to become a hub of automobiles, manufacturing, and spare parts. The Minister said, we are fast moving towards an ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’ and all round efforts are being made in this direction. He said, his ministry is committed to fulfil Prime Minister’s dream of ensuring that India becomes a hub of auto manufacturing. He said, expanding automobiles and manufacturing industries will help generate the employment. The Minister further said that projects in railways, highways and waterways which were languishing for years are today getting completed because of the strong political will.

The NATRAX centre has multiple test capabilities like measurements of maximum speed,

acceleration, constant speed fuel consumption, emission tests through real road driving

simulation, high speed handling and stability evaluation during manoeuvred such as lane change,

high speed durability testing, etc. and is a Centre of excellence for Vehicle Dynamics.

High Speed Track (HST) is used for measuring the maximum speed capability of high-end cars like

BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Tesla and so forth which cannot be measured on any of

the Indian test tracks.

It is one stop solution for all sorts of high-speed performance tests, being one of the largest in the

world. It can cater to widest category of vehicles; say from two wheelers to the heaviest tractor



trailers. Vehicle can achieve max speed of 375 Kmph on curves with steering control and it has less

banking on ovals making it also one of the safest test track globally.

CA52. Biomedical Waste Rules, 2016 Link: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-stares-at-biomedical-waste-

crisis/story-SpPZrA1tutAAuYhE57p7UI.html

Today, we will learn al important provisions of Biomedical Waste Management Rules 2016.

Before proceeding, just remember that these Rules are promulgated under Environment

Protection Act, 1986. It simply means, under this Act, central government has been

empowered to do anything for Bio-Medical Waste Management. So, centre formulates these

Rules. For example, see section 6 of EPA Act, 1986.

Now, we will proceed towards Rules.

First of all, you should be very clear that legislation for the first time on Biomedical Waste

Management Rules came in 1998, not in 2016, see below. Then we did several changes to it

gradually.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-stares-at-biomedical-waste-crisis/story-SpPZrA1tutAAuYhE57p7UI.html

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-stares-at-biomedical-waste-crisis/story-SpPZrA1tutAAuYhE57p7UI.html


After 1998, new rules were promulgated, called the Bio Medical Wastes (Management and

Handling) Rules 2011. It is not required to study 2011 Rules in detail. We will just see few

differences between both the above- mentioned Rules.

Once again, new rules were formulated after 2011, called Biomedical Waste Management

Rules 2016.

a. The first distinction between the new rules and those prescribed in 2011 is their range

of application. While in 2011, the 1998 rules were amended to include all persons who

generate, collect, receive, store and transport biomedical waste, the 2016 rules bring

more clarity by specifying that vaccination camps, blood donation camps, surgical


camps and all other HCFs have been included.

b. These Rules shall not apply to:

c. Pre-treatment of the laboratory waste, microbiological waste, blood samples and

blood bags through disinfection or sterilization on-site in the manner as prescribed by

WHO or NACO.


d. Establish a Bar-Code System for bags or containers containing bio-medical waste for

disposal.

e. The 2011 draft demarcated eight categories of biomedical waste (down from ten

categories in the 1998 notification). The 2016 notification further brings down the

number of categories to four. “Reduction in categories does not mean that a particular

kind of biomedical waste is not being adhered to. What it means is that all types of

wastes have been compiled in four categories for ease of segregation at a healthcare

facility

f. State Government to provide land for setting up common bio-medical waste treatment

and disposal facility

g. Inclusion of emissions limits for Dioxin and furans


h. No occupier shall establish on-site treatment and disposal facility, if a service of

`common bio-medical waste treatment facility is available at a distance of seventy-five

kilometer.

i. Use of chlorinated plastic bags, gloves and blood bags is to be phased out by the HCF

within two years to eliminate emission of dioxins and furans from burning of such

wastes.

j. Another improvement in the new rules is in the monitoring sector. While the 2011

rules have no provision for a monitoring authority, the 2016 rules state that the MoEF

will review Health care facilities (HCFs) once a year through state health secretaries,

the SPCB and the CPCB. The SPCB, in its turn, will oversee implementation through

district level monitoring committees that will report to the State advisory Committee

or the SPCB.

Moreover, according to the new rules, the advisory committee on biomedical waste

management is now mandated to meet every six months.

So, we are still left with some portion, Bio-Medical Waste Management (Amendment) Rules,

2018. Pib Link.

Salient features of Bio-Medical Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2018 are as

follows:

a. Bio-medical waste generators including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics,

dispensaries, veterinary institutions, animal houses, pathological laboratories, blood

https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1526326


banks, health care facilities, and clinical establishments will have to phase out

chlorinated plastic bags (excluding blood bags) and gloves by March 27, 2019.

b. All healthcare facilities shall make available the annual report on its website within a

period of two years from the date of publication of the Bio-Medical Waste

Management (Amendment) Rules, 2018.

c. Operators of common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facilities shall

establish bar coding and global positioning system for handling of bio-medical waste

in accordance with guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board by March

27, 2019.

Hope so, we don’t get more amendments and by reading all points above, you can solve any

question now.

Documents

JUNE CURRENT AFFAIRS PART 2(2021)