[Mission 2023] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 12 June 2023

GS Paper 2

 Syllabus: Government Policies & Interventions

Source: PIB

 Context: The WHO report highlights the significant impact of the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ program on public health and economic savings.

 The focus of the report: The ‘Har Ghar Jal’ report focuses on diarrheal diseases as they contribute significantly to the overall disease burden related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) issues.

Performance of the Har Ghar Jal program (as per the report):

About the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ programme (also called Nal Se Jal Yojana):

Insta Links:

 ‘Nal Se Jal’ Yojana

Mains:

What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India? (UPSC 2019)

Prelims Links

GS Paper 3

 Syllabus: Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilisation of Resources

 Source: TH

 Context: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed additional disclosures from Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs).

FPI vs FDI (Foreign direct investment):

FPI regulation in India:

• FPIs are registered with SEBI and can invest in Indian securities as per the regulations prescribed by SEBI.
• The Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (FEMA) is the primary legislation governing FPI in India and has been amended several times to liberalise FPI regulations in India.

What are SEBI’s new proposals?

• The proposed legislation categorises FPIs into low risk, moderate risk and high risk.
• The low risk would cover government and government-related entities such as central banks or sovereign wealth funds.
• Moderate risk refers to pension funds or public retail funds with widespread and dispersed investors.
• All other FPIs are categorised as high-risk.

Proposals for high-risk FPIs:

• Additional disclosure requirements for high-risk FPIs holding more than 50% of their equity asset under management (AUM) in a single corporate group.
• The existing high-risk FPIs with an overall holding in the Indian equity market of over Rs 25,000 crore comply with the disclosure mandate within six months.
  • Failing this, they would have to bring down their holding within the threshold.

Exceptions:

• New FPIs that have just begun investments would be allowed to breach the threshold criteria for up to a period of six months.
• ‘Moderate risk’ FPIs, whose India-oriented holdings are relatively small in comparison to their global portfolio, are not subjected to additional disclosure requirements.

Need of the proposed regulations:

• Potential misuse of the FPI route for circumventing Press Note 3 stipulations (2020) that required an entity sharing a land border with India to involve in FPI only via the government route.
• Concentrated group investments by FPIs to bypass regulatory requirements (such as that for minimum public shareholding).

Significance of the proposed regulations:

• They would try to identify tangible ownership and curtail incidences of multiple routes.
• This would enhance transparency and help avert regulatory requirements, and keep up with the minimum (25%) public shareholding norms.

Concerns: A detract from ease-of-doing investments.

Insta Links:

What FPIs’ market exit means

Mains Links:

Justify the need for FDI for the development of the Indian economy. Why is there a gap between MOUs signed and actual FDIs? Suggest remedial steps to be taken for increasing actual FDIs in India. (UPSC 2016)

Prelims Links: (UPSC 2017)

GS Paper 3

 Syllabus: Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Conservation

Source: TH

 Context: According to a recent study published in the Nature Journal, the loss of Arctic Sea ice is expected to continue in the coming decades, even if carbon emissions are significantly reduced.

What is Arctic Sea ice?

Arctic sea ice refers to the frozen seawater that covers the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas during the colder months. It spreads over one-sixth of the earth’s landmass.

Status:

Data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicate that the annual mean of Arctic Sea ice levels has been the lowest since at least 1850, while late summer levels have hit the lowest point in at least 1,000 years. The IPCC predicts that the Arctic will likely experience a practically ice-free September at least once before 2050.

The new findings:

• The world will see its first ‘sea-ice-free summer’before 2050 (corroborating IPCC findings), possibly in the 2030s.
• The global emissions will drive temperatures to beyond 4.5°C making the Arctic ice-free by 2081-2100.
• There is no scenario under which the Arctic Sea ice can be saved in summer.

Factors Causing Rapid Melting of Ice:

Impact of Melting Arctic Ice:

What can India do?

India should aim to understand the dynamics of Arctic demography and governance, going beyond scientific exploration. With its growing stature in world affairs, India can become the voice of Arctic tribes and raise their issues in global forums. By actively engaging in Arctic affairs, India can leverage this opportunity to shape policies and contribute to discussions concerning the region’s future. Previously India unveiled India’s Arctic Policy document.

Conclusion:

The focus should be on establishing a global ocean treaty that addresses the governance of the oceans worldwide, and prioritize safe and sustainable exploration of resources. This treaty should aim to ensure collaboration and cooperation among nations.

Insta links

India and the Arctic

Mains Links:

Why is India taking a keen interest in the resources of the Arctic region? (UPSC 2018)

  The frigid Arctic, which keeps losing ice due to global warming, is one of the batteries feeding the variations in Indian monsoons. Discuss. (250 Words)

Prelims Links:

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

 Source: TH

A team of amateur Yakshagana artists based in Germany, known as ‘Yakshamitraru Germany,’ is organizing charity shows to support economically disadvantaged artists and provide scholarships for underprivileged students in India.

The team members emphasize the preservation of Yakshagana’s authenticity and refuse to compromise its integrity by blending it with other art forms. They have received acclaim for their performances, with the shows contributing to the revitalization of Yakshagana.

Usage: Such an example can be cited in the Essay/ Arts and Culture question, highlighting the revitalization of arts and supporting the artist community using innovative means.

About Yakshagana

Yakshagana is a traditional dance-drama form originating from the Indian state of Karnataka. It combines elements of dance, music, dialogue, elaborate costumes, and intricate makeup. The performances typically depict stories from Hindu epics and mythology, showcasing a blend of folklore, history, and religious themes.

 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is taking measures to restore and protect coral reefs that have been impacted by bleaching events and human activities. Efforts are being made to promote environmental projects, including the growth of artificial corals and the restoration of damaged corals by the diving community.

However, experts highlight that unless the underlying cause of coral reef degradation, such as overheating seas due to climate change, is addressed, restoration efforts may not be sustainable.

Other programmes in India: ReefWatch Marine Conservation (by NGO); Gulf of Kutch Coral Conservation and Restoration Project (by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and Gujarat Forest Department)

Usage: Such examples can use in Environment questions.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: A celt, belonging to the Neolithic period, was discovered in Poothinatham by Tamil Nadu’s Department of Archaeology.

• This celt was used as either a plough or an axe and was made of Doloraid stone.

What is a celt?

A celt is a prehistoric tool made of stone or metal, typically used as a cutting or shaping implement. It can serve as an axe, chisel, or adze, and was commonly used during the Neolithic period for various purposes such as woodworking, farming, and construction.

A shoe-last celt was a polished stone tool used during the early European Neolithic for felling trees and woodworking.

About the Neolithic period (also known as the New Stone Age) (10000 BC to 2200 BC)

It was a prehistoric era characterized by the development of agriculture, the domestication of animals, and the creation of settled communities. It marked a significant shift in human society from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to one based on farming and permanent settlements.

Source: TH

 Context: The TN Department of Archaeology has declared five ‘menhir’ (single stone) and megalithic burial sites at Kodumanal in Erode district as protected monuments.

Background:

• Kodumanal, located on the northern banks of the Noyyal, made it to the archaeology map in 1961 when the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) started the first dig.
• In the 2021 Budget, the State government announced that Kodumanal would be declared a protected archaeological site.

What are megaliths?

• A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct (burial sites/ commemorative memorials) a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones.
• The majority of the megaliths in India are dated by archaeologists to the Iron Age (1500 BC to 500 BC), while some sites date back as far as 2000 BC.
• Megaliths are spread across the Indian subcontinent. However, the majority of megalithic sites are found in Peninsular India.

Types of megalithic structures: Stone circles, Dolmen (placing a large capstone on two or more support stones), Cist (coffin-like box), Monolith (menhir), etc.

Source: TH

 Context: A MoU has been signed between the MeitY and Union Culture Ministry to complete 3D digitisation of all museums (under central control) by the year-end for better conservation of artefacts.

How? The 3D digitisation would be done using the JATAN virtual museum builder software through 3D scanning.

3D scanning:

• It means analysing a real-world object or environment to collect 3-dimensional data on its shape and possibly its appearance.
• The collected data is then used to construct digital 3D models.

About JATAN:

• JATAN is a digital collection management system for Indian museums designed and developed by Human Centres Design and Computing Group, Centre for Development of Smart Computing, Pune.
• It can create 3D virtual galleries and provide public access through web, mobile or touchscreen kiosks.

Museums included:

• Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad,
• The Allahabad Museum in Prayagraj,
• The Indian Museum and the Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata,
• The National Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

 Source: NDB

 Context: The New Development Bank (NDB) has launched its Indian Regional Office (IRO) in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).

Objective: The establishment of the IRO aims to address infrastructure and sustainable development needs in India and Bangladesh, contributing to economic growth and sustainable development in South Asia.

Other offices of NDB: The NDB already has regional offices in Africa, the Americas, and Eurasia.

About the New Development Bank (NDB):

Source: ET

 Context: The government has taken steps to strengthen 1,514 urban co-operative banks (UCBs) by implementing four key measures, as notified by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Measures notified by the RBI are:

Mapping

Source: IE

 The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has severely impacted Sudan’s economy and led to shortages of essential resources. The clashes have resulted in numerous casualties, and the conflict has now spread to the troubled region of Darfur.

Sudan is a country in Northeast Africa. It borders the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, Egypt to the north, Eritrea to the northeast, Ethiopia to the southeast, Libya to the northwest, South Sudan to the south, and the Red Sea. It was the largest country by area in Africa and the Arab League until the secession of South Sudan in 2011.

About the Darfur region:

It is a region in western Sudan that has been plagued by violent conflict and humanitarian crises. The area has experienced ethnic tensions between Arab and African communities, leading to widespread violence and human rights abuses.

Mapping

 Source: TH

Canada is currently facing 426 active fires, with a significant number reported in Quebec province. It has been caused by a combination of factors, including lightning strikes, Low snowfall and dry spring in Atlantic Canada, climate change and human activities.

About Canada:

It is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world’s second-largest country by total area, with the world’s longest coastline.