InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically
Table of Contents:
GS Paper 3:
1. Health as the focus of air pollution policy
2. Is climate change affecting global health?
Content for Mains Enrichment
1. Data Points: Teenage pregnancies
Facts for Prelims:
1. Birsa Munda
2. The World Bank report on India’s cities
3. Gram Nyayalayas (GN)
4. UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) Resolution
5. National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAPA)
6. VOSTRO Accounts
7. Online Bond Platforms (OBPs)
8. Why has LNG become so important?
9. Water Adaptation and Resilience Action Plan
10. No Money for Terror Conference (NMFT)
11. YUDH ABHYAS 2022
12. Mapping
Health as the focus of air pollution policy
GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Governance/ Environment Conservation
Source: The Hindu
Direction: This is from an editorial article. A few unique points can be noted down.
Context: The deterioration of winter air quality in north India has once again brought to light the negative impacts of air pollution on health, particularly among the most vulnerable in society.
Negative impacts of air pollution on health: According to the Lancet, excessive levels of pollution are responsible for 17.8% of all deaths and 11.5% of respiratory, cardiovascular and other related diseases in India in 2019.
Gaps in India’s environmental policies:
- Isolated nature of policy-making: Whether it is stubble burning or thermal power plant emissions, decisions are made without any consideration of their potential effects on health.
- A lack of understanding of health among policymakers: As a result, policies are created and implemented with little cognisance of the effect it has on society’s health.
- Underrepresentation of health sector representatives in policymaking: As per the Commission for Air Quality Management, they comprise less than 5% of the members of State Pollution Control Boards.
Recommendations/initiatives:
- An exposure-centred view to policy: This means, prioritising initiatives that contribute the most to reducing exposure and hence generating health benefits.
- Revising National ambient air quality standards (NAAQS): To include not only local conditions but also the impact of exposure on vulnerable groups.
Way ahead:
- This public health emergency has prompted calls for health to be prioritised in the development of air pollution policies.
- For this, health should be at the core of air pollution policy, rather than one of the several equally relevant facets.
- Front-line air pollution regulators to be more sensitive to the health needs of society.
Conclusion:
- To primarily focus on health benefits, policymakers must include experts from epidemiology, environment, energy, transportation, public policy and economics.
- This approach will accelerate climate and air quality measures to limit emissions from the industries that cause the most health damage.
Insta Links:
Mains Links:
Q. The worsening winter air quality in north India has yet again brought into public focus the harmful effects of air pollution on our health. This public health emergency has resulted in calls for health to be made central to air pollution policymaking. Critically analyse.
Prelims Links:
Consider the following statements:
-
- The National Clean Air Programme aims for a reduction in particulate matter concentrations in cities that don’t meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
- India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) meet the WHO’s existing standards.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution: a)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) in its first-ever update since 2005 has tightened global air pollution standards in a recognition of the emerging science in the last decade that the impact of air pollution on health is much more serious than earlier envisaged.
The move doesn’t immediately impact India as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) don’t meet the WHO’s existing standards. The government has a dedicated National Clean Air Programme that aims for a 20% to 30% reduction in particulate matter concentrations by 2024 in 122 cities, keeping 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration. These are cities that don’t meet the NAAQS when calculated from 2011-2015.
Is climate change affecting global health?
GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Environment Conservation/ Social Justice/ Health
Source: The Hindu
Direction: This is taken from the explained section of the Hindu. Previously we covered it as FFP, but here we are providing analysis.
Context: As countries gather in Egypt for the ongoing COP27, a recent Lancet report traces in detail the intimate link between climate change and its influence on people’s health.
Highlights of the 2022 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change:
- Overview:
- Climate change is not an isolated incident, but a global phenomenon, leaving its impact on almost every aspect of life.
- While countries are still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and continued reliance on fossil fuels has driven the world into global energy and cost-of-living issues.
- The world’s reliance on fossil fuels increases the risk of disease, food insecurity and other illnesses related to heat.
- As these crises develop, climate change accelerates, altering the foundations of human health and welfare.
- Health and climate change:
- The rapidly increasing temperatures exposed people, especially vulnerable populations to more heatwaves in 2021 than annually between 1986–2005.
- The changing climate is affecting the spread of infectious diseases. For example, coastal waters are becoming more suited for the transmission of Vibrio pathogens.
- Food security and climate change:
- Higher temperatures threaten crop yields directly, with the growing season shortening for many cereal crops.
- Extreme weather events disrupt supply chains, thereby undermining food availability, access, stability and utilisation.
Way ahead:
- The pace and scale of climate change adaptation, planning and resilience need to be increased.
- An accelerated transition to clean energy forms, balanced and more plant-based diets.
- Spreading awareness through media campaigns.
- The government’s commitment to assess and address the threats from climate change.
Conclusion: A health-centred response through global coordination, funding, transparency and cooperation to reduce the vulnerabilities that the world is otherwise exposed to is the need of the hour.
Insta Links:
Climate change amplifying health impacts
Mains Links:
Q. Analyse the growing impacts of climate change on India. Are the steps taken so far adequate enough to tackle climate change?
Content for Mains Enrichment
Data Points: Teenage pregnancies
Source: DTE
Context: A new study by an India-based non-profit Child Rights and You (CRY) has found the practice of child marriage is regarded as an important custom for over half the parents and parents-in-law in India. As a result, three out of five child brides report teenage pregnancies.
- At least 5 million girls under 18 get married in India, according to the United Nations child rights body (UNICEF).
The prevalence of child marriage among girls is likely to be six times higher than the prevalence of child marriage among boys, according to a 2019 UNICEF press note.
Facts for Prelims
Birsa Munda
Source: IE
Direction: Ulgulan movement is important for prelims.
Context: On the occasion of tribal leader Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary, the Centre held the second Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on November 15 to celebrate the contributions of tribal communities to Indian culture.
Background: The government has also paid tributes to other pre-independence era tribal leaders recently, with the statue of Alluri Sitharama Raju inaugurated and new ‘tribal museums’ announced.
Role Birsa Munda played: From 1886 to 1890, Birsa Munda was majorly in Chaibasa (Jharkhand), which was close to the centre of the Sardari agitation, influencing his anti-missionary and anti-government programmes.
The Ulgulan movement (1899):
- Munda encouraged the tribals to refuse following colonial laws and drive out foreigners using weapons and guerrilla warfare.
He also aided societal reform by confronting religious superstition, earning him the titles ‘Bhagwan’ (God) and ‘Dharati Aba’ (Father of the Earth) from his followers.
The World Bank report on India’s cities
Source: TH
Direction: This can also be used in Mains answer writing for Geography/Governance Qn.
Context: A report titled “Financing India’s Infrastructure Needs: Commercial Financing Constraints and Policy Action Prospects,” has been recently released by WB.
Highlights of the report:
- By 2036, 600 million peopleor 40% of India’s population, would be living in cities, putting further strain on the country’s already overburdened urban infrastructure.
- To adequately address the needs of its rapidly growing urban population, India would need to invest $840 billion in urban infrastructure over the next 15 years – an average of $55 billion per year.
- It emphasizes the urgent need to leverage additional private investments to cover rising financial gaps.
Issues with private financing in Cities: Low funding base, weaker governance in ULBs, low financial capacity and poor quality of data available.
Recommendations: Continuous, formula-based and unconditional funding to ULBs; increasing property tax, and user fees; establishing Cities investment Support Unit; developing the capacity of ULBs.
Gram Nyayalayas (GN)
Source: TOI
Context: The Supreme Court is hearing a case seeking direction to the centre and states for taking steps to set up ‘Gram Nyayalayas’.
Despite a direction by the top court in 2020, as of Dec 2021, only 476 GNs have been notified by 15 states and 256 functional.
About GNs:
GN came by Gram Nyayalayas Act 2008 on the recommendation of the 114th Report of the Law Commission.
The act provides for:
- Establishment of GNs at the Panchayat level to try criminal, and civil claims and disputes.
- GNs will be headed by ‘Nyayadhikari’ ( will be appointed by the state government in consultation with the high court).
- It shall be guided by the principle of natural justice ( and not bound by rules of evidence provided in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872)
UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) Resolution
Source: Economic Times
Context: India abstained from the UNGA resolution calling for reparation to be paid to Ukraine by Russia.
Reparations are the act or process of making amends for a wrong through compensatory funding or other means.
Government explanation:
India has doubted whether a reparation process through a vote in the General Assembly would contribute to efforts at a resolution of the conflict and cautioned against precedents being set through such resolutions. Moreover, the legal validity of such a process by a General Assembly resolution remains unclear.
About UN Resolution
United Nations resolutions are formal expressions of the opinion or will of United Nations organs. UNGA resolutions are non-binding and generally recommendatory. In contrast, resolutions by the UN security council are considered binding.
About UNGA
UNGA is one of the 6 principal organs of the UN and represents all the members of the UN. It meets annually (in September) under a President (elected every year). Each member holds one vote and most decisions are taken by a simple majority (except for a few important decisions being taken by a 2/3rd majority.
Only one Indian (Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit in 1953) has been elected as the president of the General Assembly.
National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAPA)
Source: Economic Times
Context: All GST anti-profiteering complaints would be dealt with by the Directorate General of Anti-profiteering (DGAP) which will then submit a report to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) from December 1 as the extended tenure of the National Anti-profiteering Authority ends on November this year.
Initially, it was set up for two years till 2019 but was later extended till November 2021
The National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) is a statutory body set up in November 2017 under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law to check unfair profiteering activities by registered suppliers.
The Authority’s core function is to ensure that the benefits of a reduction in GST rates on goods and services and of the input tax credit are passed on to consumers by way of a reduction in prices. It can take suo moto action even without a complaint from a citizen.
About CCI
CCI was established to enforce the law under the Competition Act, of 2002. It consists of a chairperson and six members appointed by the central government.
The Commission is tasked with the job of eliminating anti-competitive practices, protecting the interest of consumers and ensuring free trade.
VOSTRO Accounts
Source: Business-Standards
Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed the opening of nine special Vostro accounts (under Foreign Exchange Management (Deposit) Regulation, 2016) with two Indian lenders — UCO and IndusInd Bank — to facilitate overseas trade in rupee
A Vostro account is an account a correspondent bank holds on behalf of another bank.
Background:
In July, the RBI unveiled a mechanism to settle international transactions in rupee to promote the growth of global trade, with emphasis on exports from India, as well as pushing the rupee as an international currency. It is also expected to enable trade with a sanction-hit nation such as Russia.
Online Bond Platforms (OBPs)
Source: Economic Times
Context: SEBI has released the regulatory framework for OBP providers to regulate its activities and ensure transparency.
OBPs are electronic systems (similar to stock exchanges) on which debt securities can be transacted. It provides an avenue for investors, particularly non-institutional investors to access the bond market, however, their operations were outside Sebi’s regulatory purview.
Therefore as per the new regulation, Online Bond Platform Providers (OBPPs) should be the companies incorporated in India and registered as stock brokers in the debt segment of the stock exchange
E.g. GoldenPi is India’s first online platform to buy Bonds and Debentures online for the retail population in India
Bonds are debt instruments used by companies, and governments to raise long-term loans as against money market instruments where short-term loans (less than a year) can be raised and transacted.
Why has LNG become so important?
Source: BBC
Context: Amid war and criticism, Russia reduced the supply of natural gas to Europe forcing countries to find alternative sources of energy mainly LNG.
About LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas)
LNG is methane, or methane mixed with ethane, cleansed of impurities and cooled to approximately -160C. This turns the gas into a liquid, which takes up 600 times less space. It is turned back into a gas and used, like any other natural gas, for heating, cooking and power.
The world’s largest exporters of LNG are Australia, Qatar and the US.
Outcome:
- LNG accounts for 40% of all the gas EU countries use, according to the European Commission.
- LNG also makes up half of all the gas which the UK imports– mostly from the US.
- The extra supplies of LNG have helped to stop gas prices from climbing even higher.
Water Adaptation and Resilience Action Plan
Source: DTE
Direction: There will be several initiatives launched in COP27. However, keep a watch on initiatives where India is involved directly. Other less important ones you may ignore.
Context: 27th COP has launched Water Adaptation and Resilience Action Plan, formerly known as Action on Water Adaptation or Resilience (AWARe), with an Africa-first focus, giving hope to drought-ravaged populations, especially in the Horn of Africa
It is the result of collaboration between the African Union (AU), Water and Climate Coalition Leaders, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), among others.
AWARe will address water security as part of climate change adaptation and will focus on three priorities:
- Decrease water losses worldwide and improve water supply;
- Implementing policies for cooperative water-related adaptation action and cooperation
- Interlinkages between water and climate action
- Ensure there is 50 per cent less damage from floodsand droughts by 2030
It has global water information services like accurate hydrological data to help understand the scarcity and availability of water per region; water and climate stock take and a cryosphere information mechanism
Related News:
Other important initiatives launched in COP27:
In our LiFEtime Campaign (by the National Museum of Natural History, MoEFCC): To encourage youth between 18-23 years to become message bearers of sustainable lifestyles.
Global Shield against Climate Risks (by G7 and Vulnearbly Twenties (V20 group): To financially support the needs of poor and vulnerable countries facing increasing risks of losses and damages from climate change.
No Money for Terror Conference (NMFT)
Source: The Hindu
Context: India is hosting the 3rd edition of the NMFT conference. The conference was first held in Paris in 2018, followed by Melbourne in 2019
- Hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs with over 75 countries participating
Major agenda for the conference:
- Regulate the use of crowdfunding platforms to finance terrorist activities
- Enhance the control mechanisms of social media platforms
- Monitor global trends in terrorism and terrorist financing
- Regulate the use of formal and informal channels for terrorism
- Control the use of emerging technologies and terrorist financing e.g. cryptocurrency and Dark Web
- Ensure international cooperation to address challenges in combating terrorist financing
- Strengthening the role of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) (an inter-governmental policymaking body) in setting global standards for combatting terror funding
YUDH ABHYAS 2022
Source: PIB
Context: 18th Indo-US joint training Army exercise will commence in Uttarakhand. The previous exercise was in the USA in 2021. The joint exercise will focus on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations and peacekeeping operations.
Yudh Abhyas’s yearly exercise started in 2004 and has been the longest-running bilateral military training project between the two countries.
Other Indo-US exercises: Tiger Triumph (between armed forces); Vajra Prahar ( between special forces); Cope India( between Air force); Malabar Exercise ( between navies of India, US, Japan and Australia)
Mapping:
