UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 15th November 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

MARS A new alert system to detect Methane emissions

Context

A new satellite-based system will now help governments detect methane emissions and tackle them. The Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) was launched at the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

What is Methane Alert and Response System (MARS)?

• MARS is a part of global efforts to slow climate change by tracking the global warming gas.
• The system will be the first publicly available global system to connect methane detection to notification processes transparently.
• The data-to-action platform was set up as part of the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) strategy to get policy-relevant data into the right hands for emissions mitigation.

How the “MARS” will work?

• The Methane Alert and Response System, or MARS, will integrate data from a large number of existing and future satellites to identify significant methane emission events anywhere in the world.
• It will send out notifications to the relevant stakeholders and support and track mitigation progress.
• According to the UN statement MARS will track the large point emission sources, mainly in the fossil fuel industry, but with time, would be able to detect emissions from coal, waste, livestock and rice fields as well.
• UNEP will continue to monitor the event location and make the data and analysis available to the public between 45 and 75 days after detection.

• Methane a dangerous greenhouse gas

  • A major greenhouse gas: Methane is the second-most common of the six major greenhouse gases, but is far more dangerous than carbon dioxide in its potential to cause global warming.
  • One of major contributor of GHG emissions: Contribution Accounting for about 17 per cent of the current global greenhouse gas emissions.
  • One of the key reasons behind Temperature rise: Methane is blamed for having caused at least 25 to 30 per cent of temperature rise since the pre-industrial times.
  • Methane largely a Sectoral gas: Unlike carbon dioxide, methane is largely a sectoral gas, and there are only a few sources of emission.
  • Few sources large emissions of methane: The global warming potential of methane is about 80 times that of carbon dioxide. It accounts for a small portion of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions compared to carbon dioxide.

Why such alert system is necessary?

• To achieve the target set by Global methane pledge: At the Glasgow climate conference last year, nearly 100 countries had come together in a voluntary pledge the Global Methane Pledge to cut methane emissions by at least 30 per cent by 2030 from the 2020 levels. More countries have joined in this initiative since then, bringing the total to nearly 130.
• To keep the temperature, rise below 5-degree Celsius: A 30 per cent reduction in methane emissions by 2030 is expected to result in avoiding 0.2 degree rise in temperature by the year 2050, and is considered absolutely essential in the global efforts to keep the temperature increase below the 1.5-degree Celsius target. This is a global, not a national reduction target.
• Reducing methane emissions from the atmosphere provides multiple benefits: Methane being a sectoral gas with few sources of emission, it is possible to cut down on methane emissions without having widespread impact on the economy, a reduction in methane emissions brings big benefits in a short time.
• MARS Provides technical and advisory to the partners: If requested, MARS partners will also provide technical or advisory services, such as help in assessing mitigation opportunities. 

All you need to know about Conference of Parties (COP).

• Unless the parties decide otherwise, every year The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) convenes what is called a Conference of Parties (COP), a meeting that brings together leaders and delegates from around the world to strengthen their commitments and actions against specific climate change goals.
• The parties are the 198 countries that ratified the UNFCCC.
• The UNFCCC is an international treaty focused on preventing dangerous human interference with the climate system, primarily by stabilizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Conclusion

• Cutting methane is the fastest opportunity to reduce warming and keep 1.5°C within reach, and this MARS a new alert and response system is going to be a critical tool for helping all of us deliver on the Global Methane Pledge.

Source: The Hindu 

GS-II

Context

• Recently, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) highlighted the importance of Data Localisation for economies to protect data during cross-border transfers.

The UNCTAD in its report found that businesses using the internet for global trade have a higher survival rate than those who do not.

What is Data Localisation?

• Data Localisation is storing critical as well as non-critical data within the territorial boundaries of the country.
• The most important aspect of data localisation is having control over our own data which makes the country more resistant to issues around privacy, information leaks, identity thefts, security etc.
• It has also helped the countries develop their own startups, evolve locally and also thrive in their own language.

What are the Advantages of Data Localisation?

• Protects Privacy and Sovereignty:
  • Secures citizens' data and provides data privacy and data sovereignty from foreign surveillance.
  • The main intent behind data localisation is to protect the personal and financial information of the country’s citizens and residents from foreign surveillance
• Monitoring of Laws & Accountability:
  • Unfettered supervisory access to data will help Indian law enforcement ensure better monitoring.
  • Data localisation will result in greater accountability from firms like Google, Facebook etc. about the end use of data.
• Ease of Investigation:
  • Ensures national security by providing ease of investigation to Indian law enforcement agencies as they currently need to rely on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) to obtain access to data.
  • MLATs are agreements between governments that facilitate the exchange of information relevant to an investigation happening in at least one of those countries.
  • India has signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with 45 countries.
• Jurisdiction & Reduction in Conflicts:
  • It will give local governments and regulators the jurisdiction to call for the data when required.
  • Minimises conflict of jurisdiction due to cross-border data sharing and delay in justice delivery in case of data breach.
• Increase in Employment:
  • Data center industries are expected to benefit due to localisation which will further create employment in India.

What are the Disadvantages of Data Localisation?

• Investments:
  • Maintaining multiple local data centers may lead to significant investments in infrastructure and higher costs for global companies.
• Fractured Internet:
  • Splinternet, where the domino effect of protectionist policy can lead to other countries following suit.
• Lack of Security:
  • Even if the data is stored in the country, the encryption keys may still remain out of the reach of national agencies.
• Impact on Economic Growth:
  • Forced data localisation can create inefficiencies for both businesses and consumers.
  • It can also increase the cost and reduce the availability of data-dependent services.

What are the Data Localisation Norms?

• In India:
  • Srikrishna Committee Report:
  • At Least one copy of personal data will need to be stored on servers located within India.
  • Transfers outside the country will need to be subject to safeguards.
  • Critical personal data will only be stored and processed in India.
  • Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019:
    • The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, on December 11, 2019.
    • It intended to protect individual rights by regulating the collection, movement, and processing of data that is personal, or which can identify the individual.
    • This bill was though withdrawn from Parliament in 2022 as government considers a “comprehensive legal framework” to regulate the online space to boost innovation in the country through a new bill.
  • Draft National E-Commerce Policy Framework:
    • Recommended data localisation and suggested a two-year sunset period for the industry to adjust before localization rules became mandatory.
    • Proposes incentives to encourage data localization and grant infrastructure status to data centers.
  • Boycott of Osaka Track:
    • At the G20 summit 2019, India boycotted the Osaka Track on the digital economy. The Osaka Track pushed hard for the creation of laws that would allow data flows between countries and the removal of data localisation.
  • Banning of Chinese Mobile Apps:
    • In 2020, the Indian government announced to ban 59 widely used apps (such as Tik Tok, ShareIt, Cam scanner etc), most linked to Chinese companies.
    • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), invoked Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 to cite the concerns regarding both data security and national sovereignty associated with these apps.
  • Global:
    • Canada and Australia protect their health data very carefully.
    • China mandates strict data localisation in servers within its borders.
    • The European Union (EU) had enacted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which establishes the right to privacy as one of the fundamental rights.
    • The United States has no single data protection law at the Federal level. It does, however, have individual laws such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) for health care, another for payments, and the like.
    • Many bilateral and multilateral agreements exist as well. These include countries committing to identical data protection norms and commitments towards cross-border data transfer and data localisation, examples being, the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act (2018), Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (2018), Digital Economy Agreement (DEA), (2020), among others.

Way Forward

• There is a need to have an integrated long-term strategy for policy creation for data localisation.
• Adequate attention needs to be given to the interests of India’s Information Technology enabled Services (ITeS) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industries, which are thriving on cross-border data flow.
• Access to data by Indian law agencies, in case of a breach or threat, cannot be dependent on the whims and fancies, nor on lengthy legal processes of another nation that hosts data generated in India.
• According to the sources, lack of law enforcement is causing issues in the recent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and UK.
• All the players involved, including banks, telecom companies, financial service providers, technology platforms, social media platforms, e-commerce companies and the government, need to play a responsible role in ensuring innocent citizens do not undergo the trauma of suffering losses.

Source: The Hindu

Context

The Jharkhand Assembly has cleared two Bills, but these changes will come into force only after the Centre carries out amendments to include these in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

What are these Bills?

• Jharkhand Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (Amendment) Bill, 2022:
  • It raises reservations to 77%.
  • Within the reserved category, the Scheduled Castes will get a quota of 12 %, up from 10%; 27% for OBCs, up from 14%; 28% for Scheduled Tribes, a 2 % increase; and 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
• Jharkhand Local Persons Bill, 2022:
  • It aims at granting local residents “certain rights, benefits, and preferential treatment” over their land; in their stake in local development of rivers, lakes, fisheries; in local traditional and cultural and commercial enterprises; in rights over agricultural indebtedness or availing agricultural loans; in maintenance and protection of land records; for their social security; in employment in private and public sector; and, for trade and commerce in the state.

Why is there need to Include in Ninth Schedule

• The 77 % reservation breaches the 50 % ceiling set by the Supreme Court in the 1992 Indra Sawhney v Union of India verdict.
• However, placing a legislation in the Ninth Schedule shields it from judicial scrutiny.
• Previously, the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Act, 1993, reserved 69 % of the seats in colleges and jobs in the state government.

What is the Ninth Schedule?

• The Schedule contains a list of central and state laws which cannot be challenged in courts and was added by the Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951.
• The first Amendment added 13 laws to the Schedule. Subsequent amendments in various years have taken the number of protected laws to 284 currently.
• It was created by the new Article 31B, which along with Article 31A was brought in by the government to protect laws related to agrarian reform and for abolishing the Zamindari system.
• While Article 31A extends protection to ‘classes’ of laws, Article 31B shields specific laws or enactments.
• While most of the laws protected under the Schedule concern agriculture/land issues, the list includes other subjects.
• Article 31B also has a retrospective operation which means that if laws are inserted in the Ninth Schedule after they are declared unconstitutional, they are considered to have been in the Schedule since their commencement, and thus valid.
• Although Article 31B excludes judicial review, the apex court has said in the past that even laws under the Ninth Schedule would be open to scrutiny if they violated Fundamental Rights or the basic structure of the Constitution.

Are Laws in the Ninth Schedule completely Exempt from Judicial Scrutiny?

• Keshavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973): The court upheld the judgement in Golaknath and introduced a new concept of “Basic structure of the Indian Constitution” and stated that, “all provisions of the constitution can be amended but those amendments which will abrogate or take away the essence or basic structure of constitution which included Fundamental Rights are fit to be struck down by the court”.
• Waman Rao v. Union of India (1981): In this important judgement, the SC ruled that, “those amendments which were made in the constitution before 24th April 1973 (date on which judgement in Keshavananda Bharati was delivered) are valid and constitutional but those which were made after the stated date are open to being challenged on the ground of constitutionality.
• I R Coelho v. State of Tamil Nadu (2007): It was held that every law must be tested under Article 14, 19 and 21 if it came into force after 24th April 1973.
• In addition, the court upheld its previous rulings and declared that any act can be challenged and is open to scrutiny by the judiciary if it is not in consonance with the basic structure of the constitution.
• In addition, it was held that if the constitutional validity of any law under the ninth schedule has been upheld before, in future it cannot be challenged again.

Way Forward

• Although reservation is necessary, it should also be open to judicial scrutiny in order to ensure any abrupt or irrational policy initiative by the Executive or the Legislature.
• Any loophole or shortcomings in reservation policy must be addressed by involving various stakeholders. The need of the hour is not to go to extremes of either scrapping or shielding reservation policy, rather a rational framework on this contentious policy must be developed.

Source: Indian Express

Corporates, industrial bodies and chambers of commerce are pitching in to play a crucial role in the Tamil Nadu government’s ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ scheme aimed at equipping college students with industry-relevant skills.

About the scheme:

• The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu recently launched the ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ scheme.
• The scheme aims to provide skills to the 10-lakh youth across the state.
• The youths will be able to recognize their talents and interests through this scheme.
• A portal to register for the scheme and get related information about the scheme was also launched.
• The career and academic guidance to the students will be granted under the scheme. They will be given proper learnings and training sessions.
• The spoken English lessons will also be granted in order to improve vocab skills among students. The sessions on software coding, robotics will also be taken.
• Naan Mudhalvan provides free employment linked skill development trainings to the Youth in the age group of 18-35 years across the state under the various state and centrally sponsored schemes.
• These nationally certified trainings are provided through empanelled training partners at centres in urban and rural areas across the state in over 20 different sectors like Healthcare, Media & Entertainment, Green jobs, Retail, Beauty, Construction, Electronics and Hardware, Food Processing, Health Care, IT ITES, Leather, Logistics etc.

About the Platform:

• Naan Mudhalvan platform aims to provide dynamic information for college students on courses and relevant information about industry specific skill offerings.
• This will enable the students of Tamil Nādu to get training in their chosen field of interest that will help them in achieving their career goals.
• The objective of this scheme is to identify potential training providers, to impart various skill trainings based on current industry gaps.
• Through this flagship program the students will be able to get trained and ensure they get jobs according to their skill sets.
• Naan Mudhalvan showcases 2000+ institutes and consequent 300+ career pathways.

Source: The Hindu

GS-III

Context

All nations that signed the pact under UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, at the COP27.

About current situation:

• As per the Paris Agreement on Climate Change of 2015, the focus is to drive down greenhouse gas emissions and keep the rise in average global temperature to well below 2°C and as close to 1.5°C as possible by the end of the century.
• Current temperature rise stands at 1.2°C to 1.3°C over the pre-industrial average, the highest in about 12,000 years since the last Ice Age.
• UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2022 says global warming is projected to rise to 1.8°C with a 66% probability, even if all the Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs (voluntary pledges submitted under the Paris pact) are implemented.
• At 2°C, up to 20% decline in snowmelt water for irrigation, diminished water for farming and human settlements due to glacier mass loss, and a two-fold increase in flood damage could happen, while up to 18% of species on land could go extinct.
• Global annual emissions during 2021 at 52.8 Gigatonnes (GtCO2e), represents a slight increase compared to 2019, the pre-COVID year, and that the outlook for 2030 is not bright.
• The latest Sixth Assessment Report (SAR) of the IPCC says that biodiversity loss, Arctic ice loss, threat to coastal settlements and infrastructure, conflicts & migration of affected people and urban challenges to energy and water access could also arise.
• Tipping points means moments that cascade into irreversible changes, with a domino effect on other elements such as heat waves, Greenland ice sheet collapse, West Antarctic ice sheet collapse, thawing of the boreal permafrost, and tropical coral reef die offs, all of which are expected to happen at 1.5°C.
• G20 members account for 75% of emissions, although it is the richer countries that are responsible for accumulated emissions since the industrial revolution.

Objectives of COP27:

• The COP27 is described as the conference of implementation.
• Aim: to review progress, raise ambition on emissions cuts and draw up funding plans to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate change.
• Countries most affected by the effects of a changing climate have been seeking loss and damage payments from the richer industrialised nations in the form of a separate loss and damage fund.
• To move away from fossil fuels and to peak emissions by 2025.
•  “10 New Insights on Climate Science” released at COP27 – shows continuing high emissions from fossil fuels.

Source: The Hindu

Context

A recent 4-day birding drive called Tokhü Emong Bird Count (TEBC), was organised in Nagaland during Tokhü Emong post-harvest festival of the Lotha Nagas.

• Birding is a unique enterprise in which birdwatchers contribute crucial information on the behaviour, distribution, and occurrence of bird species to ornithological knowledge.

About the event:

• Organised in collaboration with the Wokha Forest Division, Nagaland Forest Management Project, Wokha, Nagaland and Bird Count India.
• Aim: To get people interested in birds, create awareness, celebrate the rich bird diversity of the state and set a benchmark against which future studies of avian populations can be compared.
• This initiative involves local communities to identify different species that are found in the state.
• It has documented a total of 178 bird species in the state.
• eBird is an online platform to record their observations.
• Nagaland is known as the “Falcon Capital of the World”.
• Species reported included:
• Brown Shrike
• Warblers — Ashy-throated, Buff-barred, Yellow-browed, Dusky, Grey-cheeked, Greenish, and Yellow-bellied Warblers, Whistler’s, Blyth’s Leaf, Grey-hooded, Brown Bush, and Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler.
• Spot-breasted Parrotbill
• Partridge — Hill, Rufous-throated, and Mountain Bamboo-Partridge.
• Raptors included Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Himalayan Buzzard, Oriental Scops-Owl and Amur Falcon.
• Asian Barred and Collared Owlet
• Scops-Owl — Mountain Scops-Owl, Collared Scops-Owl and Oriental Scops-Owl
• Black-tailed Crake.
• Bulbul — Black-crested, Crested Finchbill, Striated, Red-vented, Red-whiskered, Flavescent, Himalayan Black, Mountain Bulbul;
• Thrush — Long-billed, Black-breasted, Eyebrowed, Blue Whistling-Thrush
• Wagtail — Grey, Eastern Yellow, and White Wagtail.

About Bird Count India:

• Bird Count India is an informal partnership of organizations and groups working together to increase our collective knowledge about bird distributions and populations.
• The eBird India portal is managed by Bird Count India.

Source: DownToEarth

Context

More than 200 Chinese fishing vessels have been monitored in the Indian Ocean, according to the Indian Navy, even as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing continues to rise beyond India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZs).

What is IUU fishing:

• IUU fishing is a broad term that captures illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, both on the high seas and in areas within national jurisdiction.
• It concerns all aspects and stages of the capture and utilisation of fish, and it may sometimes be associated with organized crime.
• IUU fishing takes advantage of corruption and exploits weak management regimes in countries lacking effective monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) mechanisms.
• It threatens marine biodiversity, livelihoods, exacerbates poverty, and augments food insecurity.

Concerns about India’s maritime security:

• IUU fishing depletes fish stocks, destroys marine habitats, puts fishermen at disadvantage and impacts coastal communities, especially in developing countries.
• Chinese deep-sea trawlers operate far from the Chinese coast and impact local marine ecology. For instance, between 2015 and 2019, on an average at least 500 Chinese deep-sea trawlers were present in the IOR.
• There is a huge surge in unregistered Chinese fishing vessels such that close to 140 Chinese fishing vessels have been monitored carrying out fishing beyond India’s EEZ, in the North Western IOR.
• India is not a signatory to the two main regulations globally on IUU fishing: the Cape Town Agreement and the Agreement on Ports State Measures; which undermines its global position.

Suggestions and current Mechanisms:

• As per United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), coastal nations are responsible for addressing IUU fishing issues within their respective EEZ.
• Regulatory bodies to monitor IUU fishing on the high seas: The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement operating under the mandate of UNCLOS.
• Joint Quad monitoring: the Quad, comprising India, Australia, Japan and U.S., in 2022 announced a major regional effort under the ambit of Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA).
• It aims to provide an accurate maritime picture of “near-real-time” activities in the region.
• IPMDA is expected to catalyse joint efforts of India and other Quad partners towards addressing IUU in Indo-Pacific region.
• Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) in Gurugram monitors all vessel movements on the high seas under the ambit of the Indian Navy.
• The Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), co-located with IMAC, has been collaborating with other regional monitoring centres across the globe to enhance maritime safety and security, including efforts to monitor IUU.
• IFC-IOR undertakes satellite monitoring of vessels operating in the IOR to track such vessels.
• Fishing Vehicle management systems identifies their position, and also requires them to record the volume and location of their catch, helping to tackle the issue of IUU fishing.
• Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels is an international tool, developed by FAO, to fight IUU fishing.

Way forward:

• SDG target 14.4 aims to end overfishing, illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing and destructive fishing practices.
• Further, the ‘IUU Fishing Index,’ which uses a suite of 40 indicators to benchmark vulnerability, prevalence and response to IUU fishing among all of the world’s 152 coastal countries, is aimed to help policymakers identify where interventions to stop IUU are most needed.
• Sustainable fisheries accounted for approximately 0.1 per cent of global GDP in 2017. An effort can be made to enhance this figure through a multi-stakeholder and participative approach.

Source: The Hindu