[Mission 2024] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 12 September 2023

GS Paper  1

 Syllabus: Ancient History

Source: IE

 Context: The article is related to the recently launched India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC), from a historical point of view. Check the next article for IMEE-EC

What is the Red Sea Route?

The Red Sea route refers to an ancient maritime trade route that connected India with the Roman Empire through the Red Sea.

• This route facilitated the exchange of various goods, including luxuries like spices, ivory, pearls, gemstones, and pepper from India to the Roman Empire.

About the Red Sea Route:

About Red Sea:

 The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean located between Africa and Asia. It is one of the most saline bodies of water globally. Bordering countries include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti. It connects to the Indian Ocean in the south through the Bab el Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, it is bordered by the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez, leading to the Suez Canal. The Red Sea occupies a part of the Great Rift Valley, known as the Afro-Arabian Rift Valley.

Why is it called “Red Sea”? 

The Red Sea is not red in appearance; it typically has blue-green water. One theory suggests that a cyanobacteria called Trichodesmium erythraeum, a red-colored algae, may occasionally turn the water reddish-brown during seasonal algal blooms. Another theory links the name to Asiatic languages that use colours to denote cardinal directions, with “red” possibly representing “south.”

GS2/ GS3 Paper 

 Syllabus: Multilateral Initiatives/ Impact of LPG

Source: TOI, IE,

 Context: On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, an MoU was signed between India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the UAE, France, Germany, and Italy to establish the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC).

What is IMEC?

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC) is an infrastructure development project that aims to create connectivity through rail and shipping networks, energy cables, and data links.

More about IMEC EC:

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC)
Participating Countries	India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Germany, Italy, USA, EU
Objectives	IMEC seeks to boost trade, clean energy, and economic growth while providing an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
Part of	It is part of the Partnership for Rail and Shipping Corridors Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII) and focuses on enhancing global trade and cooperation through critical infrastructure development.
Corridor Components	Railway lines (make trade between India and Europe 40% faster).
	Electricity cable and a clean hydrogen pipeline to foster clean energy trade.
	High-speed data cable to link innovative digital ecosystems in the world and create business opportunities
Corridor Segments	Eastern Corridor connecting India to the Arabian Gulf, Northern Corridor connecting Arabian Gulf to Europe
Benefits for India	Enhancing food security, regional supply chains, trade accessibility, environmental considerations, economic cohesion, job creation, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
	Reliable cross-border ship-to-rail transit network connecting India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe.
	It offers India a crucial role in global commerce, digital communication, and energy networks vis-à-vis China’s BRI
	Geographical Advantage: It firmly positions India along the trade route spanning South East Asia to the Gulf, West Asia, and Europe.

What is the PGII initiative?

The PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment) initiative (announced in 2021 during the G7 summit in the UK) is a collaborative effort by G7 countries to fund infrastructure projects in developing nations.

• It serves as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and aims to mobilize funds for critical infrastructure development, focusing on transparency, sustainability, and gender equality.
• PGII emphasizes loans over charity, benefiting both lending and receiving countries.

Other initiatives under PGII announced previously are:

About the BRI project:

China began the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 under its President Xi Jinping. It aims to revive the ancient trade routes crossing to and from China–from Rome in Europe to East Asia. Under this, the Chinese government helped in providing loans for infrastructure projects to various countries, and in many cases, Chinese companies were awarded contracts for carrying out the work.

Mains Links:

The newly tri-nation partnership AUKUS is aimed at countering China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. Is it going to supersede the existing partnerships in the region? Discuss the strength and impact of AUKUS in the present scenario. (UPSC 2021)

China is using its economic relation and positive trade surplus as tools to develop potential military power status in Asia” In the light of this statement. Discuss its impact on India as her neighbour. (UPSC 2017)

GS Paper 3

 Syllabus: Cropping Pattern/ Agriculture

Source: IE

 Context: The article highlights the current issues with India’s cotton production.

About Cotton:

Cotton is a versatile crop known for its white fluffy fibre, oil-rich seeds, and protein-rich seed cake. It has various uses, including textiles, cooking oil, and livestock feed.

Significance of Cotton in India:

• Triple Role: Cotton in India provides food, feed, and fibre, making it a crucial crop for agriculture and the textile sector.
• Cotton Components: After harvesting cotton (Kapas), the breakdown is approximately 36% fibre, 62% seeds, and 2% waste.
  • Cottonseed is essential for vegetable oil and feed cake production.
• Market Contribution: Cottonseed oil is the third-largest domestically produced vegetable oil in India, following mustard and soyabean. It also ranks second in feed cake production, with soybeans leading.
• Textile Dominance: Cotton is the dominant fibre in India’s textile industry, accounting for about two-thirds of the total consumption.

The impact of Bt technology on cotton production in India:

• Introduction to Bt Technology (2002): India adopted genetically modified (GM) cotton hybrids embedded with genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium, which were toxic to certain pests.
• Significant Boost in Production and Yield: Between 2000-01 and 2013-14, Bt cotton led to a remarkable increase in cotton production, from 140 lakh to 398 lakh bales, and a doubling of lint yields per hectare from 278 kg to 566 kg.
  • Lint is the fluffy, white fibre of cotton that is used for textiles and fabric production.
• Subsequent Yield Decline: However, post-2013-14, cotton production and yields started declining, reaching about 343 lakh bales and 447 kg/hectare by 2022-23.

Reasons for the decline of cotton Production in India:

Solutions to control the Pink Bollworm (PBW):

• Mating Disruption as a Solution: “Mating disruption” uses synthetic versions of pheromones to confuse male PBW moths, preventing them from mating with females.
  • Products like PBKnot and SPLAT were approved for this purpose.

Government initiatives for the Cotton sector in India:

• Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS)
• Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme
• SAMARTH (Scheme for Capacity Building in the Textile Sector)
• Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA)
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemeto promote the production of MMF Apparel, MMF Fabrics and Products of Technical Textiles

The textile sector in India: 

India is one of the largest consumers and producers of cotton and jute in the world. 95% of the world’s hand-woven fabric comes from India.

It is the 2nd largest employment provider after agriculture. India is 2nd largest manufacturer of PPE and producer of polyester, silk and fibre in the world.

Insta Links: 

• Textile industry seeks govt support to stay competitive
• Sustainable Cotton Textiles

Mains Links:

Analyse the factors for the highly decentralised cotton textile industry in India. (UPSC 2013)

Content for Mains Enrichment

Source: PIB

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in India has introduced five transformative initiatives aimed at reshaping the disability rights landscape and promoting inclusivity.

Initiatives:

Usage: These examples can be used in Questions related to disability, inclusivity, disability rights, and leveraging technology to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities in India.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: DTE

Context: Twelve male scientists were awarded India’s top Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (SSB) for Science and Technology in 2022. The awards were announced at the inaugural session of the CSIR-NIScPR’s One Week One Lab Programme.

• However, no female scientists have been chosen for this year
• The awards were last announced in 2021

About the award and CSIR:

 Source: TH

Context: The Ministry of Education is urging states to establish Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs), which are data repositories under the National Digital Education Architecture.

• These centres will collect data from various educational schemes run by the Ministry of Education, including mid-day meal programs, teacher training, textbook content, school attendance, students’ learning outcomes, and performance grading.

Currently, a central VSK centre is managed by Ernst and Young, and it operates on open-source C-Qube software. Data is manually input and accessible in downloadable Excel format, but the plan is to shift to automatic data integration using Application Programming Interface (API) integration. This aligns with the National Education Policy of 2020, aiming to make data open source.

Significance:

• The goal is to analyse data from various sources for correlations and insights. For example, attendance patterns can be correlated with student drop-out rates or linked to the effectiveness of mid-day meal programs.
• VSKs are also intended to map school locations and population data to assess the Gross Access Ratio, aiding in the planning of new schools, industry clusters, skilling requirements, and higher education institutions based on demand and future scenarios.

This initiative aims to improve educational data analytics and enhance decision-making in the education sector.

Source: PIB

 Context: During the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Delhi, the leaders endorsed the “Goa Roadmap” and the “Travel for Life” program, both aimed at boosting the tourism sector.

Source: IE

 Context: The article highlights the differences in cryptocurrency regulations worldwide.

What is cryptocurrency and how it is different from Central bank currencies?

Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual form of currency that uses cryptography for security. It operates on decentralized technology called blockchain, which records all transactions transparently.

Unlike central bank currencies (fiat currencies), cryptocurrencies are not issued or regulated by a central authority like a government or central bank. They are decentralized, borderless, and typically have limited supply, making them immune to government manipulation and often subject to price volatility.

The current regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies in India:

• In 2018, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) banned Indian banks from engaging in cryptocurrency transactions.
• In 2020, the Supreme Court of India overturned the RBI’s ban on cryptocurrency transactions.
• In the 2022-23 Union budget, India proposed a 30% tax on income generated from digital asset transfers and a 1% Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on cryptocurrency

The major view of the IMF and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) paper on cryptocurrencies:

• Difficulty in Banning Cryptocurrencies: Banning cryptocurrencies may not be an effective option as it could lead to activities shifting to more crypto-friendly jurisdictions and push transactions outside a country’s oversight, raising financial risks.
• Regulation Over Ban: The paper suggests that supervising licensed crypto-asset issuers and service providers can help fill information gaps and facilitate the monitoring of cross-border crypto activities.
• Anti-money Laundering Standards: It recommends implementing the Financial Action Task Force’s standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing related to cryptocurrencies.

The G20 Leaders Declaration endorsed the FSB’s recommendations and welcomed the paper’s roadmap for a coordinated and comprehensive policy and regulatory framework.

About FSB:

The Financial Stability Board (founded in 2009; HQ: Basel, Switzerland) is an international body that monitors and makes recommendations about the global financial system. It was established after the G20 London summit (2009) as a successor to the Financial Stability Forum.

Source: TOI

 Context: Indian scientists are gearing up for an ambitious project called Samudrayaan, which involves sending three people 6,000 meters underwater in a domestically developed submersible named Matsya 6000.

• This mission aims to explore the ocean depths of precious metals and minerals such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese.

About Matsya 6000:

Matsya 6000 has been in development for nearly two years and will undergo its first sea trials in the Bay of Bengal off the Chennai coast in early 2024. The submersible’s design has been reviewed carefully, taking into account materials, testing, certification, redundancy, and standard operating procedures.

The submersible’s design includes a 2.1-meter diameter sphere made of 80mm-thick titanium alloy, capable of withstanding the immense pressure at 6,000 meters depth, which is 600 times greater than sea level pressure. The vehicle is designed to operate continuously for 12 to 16 hours, with a 96-hour oxygen supply.

About Mission Samudrayaan:

• The Samudrayaan mission is part of the Deep Ocean Mission, and sea trials at a depth of 500 meters are planned for the first quarter of 2024. The mission’s full realization is expected by 2026.
• It’s worth noting that only a few countries, including the US, Russia, Japan, France, and China, have developed manned submersibles.
• In addition to searching for valuable minerals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese, Matsya 6000 will investigate the chemosynthetic biodiversity in hydrothermal vents and low-temperature methane seeps in the ocean.

Source: TH

Context: Genetic engineering is being used to upgrade mosquito control efforts due to the ongoing threat of mosquito-borne diseases.

• Recent advancements in genome sequencing technology have provided researchers with access to mosquito genomes, particularly Anopheles stephensi, a major malaria vector mosquito.
• Genetic manipulation, including gene-drive technology, is employed to control mosquito populations by interfering with their reproduction.

Gene-drive technology, originally conceived by Austin Burt in 2003, alters mosquito DNA to reduce their reproductive capabilities or make them sterile, preventing the transmission of diseases like malaria. Some approaches involve enhancing genes in mosquitoes to produce antimicrobial substances, disrupting disease transmission.

Genetically modified mosquitoes, such as OX5034, have been released in certain areas to reduce mosquito populations, showing promising results in decreasing disease incidence. However, these technologies come with potential risks, such as ecological disruptions and unintended consequences in the ecosystem.

Source: The New Indian Express

Context: The Union Environment Ministry has established a new Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to replace an ad hoc expert panel with the same name that has been assisting the Supreme Court on forest and environmental issues since 2002.

• This move has raised concerns about the committee’s independence under government control.

Under the new structure, the CEC will consist of a chairperson, a member secretary, and three expert members, all appointed by the Union government. The chairperson must have at least 25 years of experience in environmental, forestry, or wildlife fields or substantial administrative expertise in government, serving a maximum term of three years.

Need for restructuring:

• The restructuring of the CEC comes following the passage of the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which some critics believe weakens existing safeguards in Indian forest law, potentially facilitating construction projects in ecologically sensitive regions.
• This change in the committee’s composition has raised questions about its ability to function independently and issue impartial judgments, given that its members will now all be civil servants appointed by the government.

Source: TH

Context: The United Nations’ Global Stocktake report was released just ahead of the G-20 meeting.

About the report:

The United Nations’ Global Stocktake report serves as a blueprint for discussions during the Conference of Parties and aims to assess countries’ progress in curbing greenhouse gas emissions since 2015.

Key takeaways from the report:

About the Paris Agreement:

It is a legally binding international treaty on climate change that was adopted by 196 countries. Its primary goal is to limit the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. It includes a mechanism known as the Global Stocktake (GST), which aims to assess the global response to the climate crisis every five years.

Mapping

Source: Th

In recent archaeological explorations near Moodbidri, Dakshina Kannada, unique terracotta figurines were discovered (related to the Megalithic Dolmen site). These figurines provide valuable insights into the study of the Bhoota cult or Daiva Aradhane. They are datable to the period of 800-700 B.C. The discovery includes various figurines, such as cow bovines, a mother goddess, peacocks, a horse, and more.

Mudbidri is a town and taluk in Dakshina Kannada district. It lies 34 km northeast of the district headquarters, Mangalore, in Karnataka. Because of the widely grown bamboo in ancient days, this place was named Moodabidri.

What is a megalithic dolmen?

It is a type of ancient burial structure consisting of large stone slabs. These stones are arranged to create a chamber or tomb, often with a capstone on top.