UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 23rd August 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Urban Vegetated canopies 

Subject: Geography

Why in News?

Recently installed vegetated awnings or canopies in Spain is a mitigation initiative to bring greenery back to urban spaces. 

What are vegetated canopies?

• The awnings are tensioned sail-like structures that have been anchored to the facades of surrounding buildings. 
• They mimic natural canopies found in forests and various plant species.
• The lightness and ease of installation of the ‘Greenshades’ allow for shade and the presence of greenery in commercial streets and public spaces, where trees or other vegetation are often absent.
• The awnings can be placed in streets, where planting trees may not be feasible owing to the lack of space. 
• The plants grow hydroponically, with a water supply point and water outlet for draining purposes.

How do they work?

• The sails with anchors and supports are prepared by laying down the specific geotextile substrate or material.
• An irrigation system is installed at the highest side, from where the waterfalls by gravity, soaking the entire substrate.
• In addition to water, fertilizer keeps the vegetation in perfect condition.
• The excess water is collected at the lowest point and into a connected drainage system.
• The seed mixture is then projected onto the geotextile.
• After four months, the shade is expected to be completely covered with vegetation.

Advantages

• Evapotranspiration: The tensile spaces are designed to reduce the temperature both in their surroundings and under the cover. Behind this is the phenomenon of evapotranspiration, which is the transfer of water to the atmosphere by plants.
• Reducing Pollution: The plants chosen for these awnings belong to species that are optimised for the absorption of gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. The substrate also absorbs sound waves, reducing noise pollution.
• Generating oxygen: A square metre of a vegetated canopy generates the oxygen required by a person for the whole year,
• Street illumination: The hanging planter also allows for the centralisation of water and light installations. This is meant to induce savings as the lights are equipped with movement sensors that illuminate the street according to its need.
• Generating Ecosystem: The adoption of such canopies could eventually contribute to urban biodiversity, creating a healthier ecosystem that supports a variety of wildlife.
• Sustainability: With half of the world’s human population living in cities and a continuous decline of forest and biodiversity around the world, urban nature plays an increasingly important role in creating cities that are both ecologically and socially sustainable.
• Health benefits: Presence of built up nature and green neighbourhoods have been associated with reductions in stress and increased levels of physical and mental health.

Way ahead

• Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities have heated the planet by about 1.2 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. 
• Temperatures will only stop rising if humans stop adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, and until then heat waves will continue to worsen.
• These grim predictions make mitigation measures like the vegetated awnings or canopies in Spain more significant.

Source: The Hindu

Yasuni National Park

Subject: Geography

Why in News?

Ecuadorians made a historic decision by voting against oil drilling in Yasuni National Park, a biodiverse Amazonian zone.

• Exploration for the region's oil deposits has endangered numerous local species and habitats, as well as the indigenous Waorani people's way of life.

About Yasuni National Park

• Yasuni National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1989 and is home to extraordinary biodiversity.
• The dominant ecosystem is the Humid Tropical Rainforest which forms part of the upper Amazon basin. 
• It is located in the provinces of Napo and Pastaza in northeastern Ecuador.
• Yasuni is home to around 670 species of birds, over 150 species of amphibians, and several large mammals such as jaguars, pumas, and tapirs.
• It is also home to the Waorani and Kichwa peoples, who have lived in the area for generations and have a strong connection to the land.
• The Ishpingo-Tiputini-Tambococha (ITT) oil fields in Yasuni National Park contain 40% of Ecuador's crude oil reserves.

Source: The Hindu

GS-II

The BRICS test for India’s multipolarity rhetoric

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

India’s pivotal role in the upcoming BRICS summit in South Africa from August 22 to 24 underscores its evolving diplomatic challenges and potential impact on global geopolitics.

Central idea

• The global geopolitical stage is once again witnessing the active participation of India. With the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit around the corner, India finds itself at a crucial juncture of international diplomacy. This summit not only tests the waters of Indian diplomacy but also holds clues to the trajectory of global geopolitics.

All you need to know about BRICS

• BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• Jim O’Neill, a British economist, coined the term ‘BRIC’ to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. He made a case for BRIC on the basis of econometric analyses projecting that the four economies would individually and collectively occupy far greater economic space and become among the world’s largest economies.
• The importance of BRICS is self-evident: it represents 42% of the world’s population, 30% of the land area, 24% of global GDP, and 16% of international trade.
• The five BRICS countries are also members of the G-20.

Global governance challenges and the BRICS’ role

• Failures of Global Governance: Global governance’s flaws and undemocratic practices are well known. Lack of representation has contributed to institutional failures.
• BRICS as a Solution: BRICS could potentially address the institutional void left by current global governance shortcomings. Despite imperfections, BRICS could enhance global governance.
• Global South’s Discontent: Interest from 40 countries in joining an expanded BRICS reflects the discontent of global South countries regarding their global standing.

Utilizing BRICS in an uncertain global order

• BRICS in Geopolitical Uncertainty: Amid geopolitical uncertainty, BRICS can help countries navigate complex global shifts. This is evident in the context of the Ukraine war and China’s rise.
• Relevance of BRICS: Recent events, including the Ukraine conflict and China’s emergence, have renewed BRICS’ importance.
• BRICS and Competing Interests: While BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) may not ensure democratic global governance, they could stimulate discussions on inclusivity.
• Value of Imperfect Institutions: Imperfect forums are better than a single, outdated structure; current global governance should reflect today’s realities.

India’s geopolitical choices and challenges

• India’s Geopolitical Position: India’s geopolitical choices are complex, with uncertainty about its role in global geopolitics.
• Non-Western Participation Rationale: India’s participation in non-western forums like the BRICS and the SCO stems from the inequities of post-World War II institutions.
• Balancing Multiple Affiliations: India belongs to BRICS, SCO, and the global South due to historical, developmental, and geographical factors.
• Balancing China’s Presence: China’s dominance in BRICS and other forums poses challenges for India, as it also aspires to engage in the G-20, G-7, and Quad.
• India’s Geopolitical Dilemma: India stands at an emerging geopolitical faultline, balancing interests and affiliations.

Competing blocs and India’s strategy

• Rise of Competing Blocs: China and Russia aligning against the U.S. risks creating competing blocs that challenge the status quo.
• India’s Opposition to Blocs: India historically opposes bloc politics in favor of equitable global governance and multipolarity.
• Inevitable Involvement in Bloc Dynamics: Despite opposition, India might be drawn into bloc dynamics due to complex geopolitical factors.

China’s Global Rise and India’s Choices

• India’s China Dilemma: India must consider whether its pursuit of a multipolar world aids China’s global rise.
• Impact of Global Forums: Strong global forums can inadvertently strengthen China’s global influence, impacting India’s choices.
• Balancing Geopolitical Forces: India faces the challenge of balancing its commitment to equitable global governance with safeguarding its national interests.

Way Forward

• BRICS’ Role: BRICS can serve as an alternative platform to address global governance deficiencies, despite its imperfections. It could initiate discussions on more inclusive global governance.
• Navigating Complexity: India’s geopolitical choices are complex due to its affiliations in various forums. India’s participation in non-Western platforms reflects a response to historical inequities.
• Balancing Geopolitical Shifts: As competing blocs emerge, India must balance affiliations between a China-centric and a West-centric world order. Striking this balance is crucial to India’s global positioning.
• Managing China’s Rise: India needs to consider whether its actions inadvertently support China’s ascent. While India must moderate China’s influence, it should avoid alienating other global South nations.
• Safeguarding National Interests: India’s active participation in global forums must align with promoting equitable global governance while ensuring its national interests are safeguarded.

Conclusion

• Amid global uncertainties, India’s role in the BRICS summit gains prominence. Balancing between non-Western forums and Western ties, India aims for equitable global governance while managing China’s ascendancy. These decisions could mold India’s path and impact the evolving international landscape.

Source: Indian Express

Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme)

Subject: Government Sxchemes

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways launched the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) in New Delhi.

About Bharat NCAP(New Car Assessment Programme):

• It is a significant step forward in the government’s commitment to improving road safety by raising the safety standards of motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in India.
• The programme aims to provide a tool for car customers to make a comparative assessment of the crash safety of motor vehicles available in the market.
• Under this programme, car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their cars tested as per Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197.
• Based on the performance of the car in the tests, the car will be awarded star ratings for Adult Occupants (AOP) and Child Occupants (COP).
• To receive a 5-star rating, a vehicle needs at least 27 points in adult occupant protection and requires 41 points in child occupant protection.
• These protocols are in line with Global NCAP norms when it comes to crash testing.
• Three tests, including offset deformable barrier frontal impact test, side impact test, and pole side impact test -- would determine the crashworthiness of the vehicles.
• It would also mandate the installation of six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), three-point seatbelts for every passenger, improved emergency braking systems, etc.
• For Bharat NCAP, the frontal crash test will be conducted at a speed of 64km/h. On the other hand, the side and pole-side impact tests will be done at 50km/h and 29km/h
• These norms will also be applicable for testing and rating CNG and EVs based on their performance.
• Unlike Global NCAP, Bharat NCAP will give a unified rating for the vehicles, combining crash test results for adults and children alike.

Source: PIB

GS-III

Methanotrophs

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

The recent study revealed that the Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C a Methanotroph could potentially remove methane from major emission sites.

About Methanotrophs:

• Methane-utilizing bacteria (methanotrophs) are a diverse group of gram-negative bacteria that are related to other members of the Proteobacteria.
• Methanotrophic microorganisms oxidise methane to harness energy under oxic and anoxic conditions.
• They grow best when the methane concentration is around 5,000-10,000 parts per million (ppm).

Key facts about Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C

• This bacterial strain consumes methane, which is over 85 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2).
• This bacteria performed the best at 500 ppm. Further tests also showed that this strain grew well even at 200 ppm.
• It can grow at low methane concentrations ranging from 200-1,000 ppm. These features make this strain a promising candidate for methane removal technology.
• Bacteria produce biomass after consuming methane. This biomass can be used as feed in aquaculture.
• For every tonne of methane consumed, the bacteria can generate 0.78 tonne biomass dry-weight methane.

Source: Down To Earth

Gene-Edited Mustard: Less pungent, more useful

Subject: Economics

Why in News?

Among India’s domestically grown oilseeds, rapeseed-mustard stands out.

• However, its pungent oil and unpalatable meal have posed challenges for both consumers and livestock.
• Scientists have undertaken breeding efforts to create Canola-quality (white) mustard with reduced pungency and improved meal quality.

About Rapeseed-Mustard

• Rapeseed-Mustard: India’s significant oilseed is rapeseed-mustard, contributing significantly to vegetable oil production and meal availability.
• Pungency: Mustard seeds contain glucosinolates, compounds that give the oil and meal their pungent flavor and odor.

Quest for Canola-Quality Mustard

• Canola-Quality Pursuit: Scientists aimed to breed mustard lines with low glucosinolate content similar to Canola.
• Reducing Pungency: Efforts to create low-pungency oil and meal have faced challenges due to the necessity of glucosinolates in plant defense.
• Vulnerability to Pests and Diseases: Canola-quality mustard lines have not been cultivated extensively due to their susceptibility to pests and diseases.

Role of Gene Editing

• Innovative Research: Gene editing emerges as a solution to balance glucosinolate levels for improved quality and plant defence.
• CRISPR/Cas9 Approach: Researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tool to target and modify 10 out of 12 GTR genes in Indian mustard.
• Achieving Desired Changes: Editing GTR genes led to lower glucosinolate content in seeds while preserving higher levels in leaves and pod walls.

Benefits of GE Mustard

• Easy Synthesis: Glucosinolates are synthesized in mustard leaves and pod walls before translocation to seeds.
• Dual Benefit of Glucosinolates: The study revealed that edited mustard lines with low-seed glucosinolates exhibited improved defence against pests and diseases.

Distinction between GE and GM

• GE Mustard: The new mustard lines are genome-edited (GE), not genetically modified (GM).
• Transgene-Free Solution: Unlike GM crops with foreign genes, GE lines have no foreign DNA and no residual gene-editing tools.

Regulatory Considerations and Future Prospects

• Regulation Changes: India’s regulatory environment is shifting, exempting GE plants free of exogenous introduced DNA from stringent approval requirements.
• Potential Field Trials: Scientists are preparing for open field trials of GE mustard, with expectations to conduct them in the upcoming planting season.
• Importance of Self-Reliance: With massive edible oil imports, domestic oilseed production through breeding advancements like GE mustard becomes vital for self-reliance.

Economic Implications and Self-Sufficiency

• Importance of Oilseeds: India’s substantial edible oil imports highlight the need for boosting domestic oilseed production.
• Mustard’s Role: Mustard’s high oil content and protein-rich meal position it as a significant oilseed crop.
• Potential Benefits: Both GE mustard and GM hybrid mustard have the potential to reduce dependence on imported vegetable oils.

Conclusion

• The journey of rapeseed mustard from its pungent state to a potentially improved, self-sufficient crop demonstrates the power of innovative breeding techniques.
• The breakthrough in gene editing opens doors to balancing quality and plant defence.

Source: Indian Express

Debate over India’s Smartphone Manufacturing Dreams

Subject: Economics

Why in News?

A recent dispute between former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and Minister of State for Electronics Rajeev Chandrasekhar has brought to light differing opinions on the effectiveness of a Central government initiative aimed at bolstering electronics manufacturing in India.

• The disagreement centers around whether the scheme truly promotes self-sufficiency and robust manufacturing or merely generates low-level assembly jobs dependent on imports.

Critical Overview of the PLI Scheme

• Government Intentions: Around five years ago, India embarked on a mission to invigorate domestic manufacturing as a cornerstone of economic growth.
• Dual Strategy: The government employed a dual strategy of raising import duties (the ‘stick’) and providing incentives (the ‘carrot’) to stimulate manufacturing. The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme emerged as a key component, offering financial support to companies engaged in production within India.

Triumphs and Concerns

• Focus on Smartphone Manufacturing: Among various sectors, smartphone manufacturing stood out as the frontrunner in embracing the PLI scheme.
• Impact of PLI on Smartphone Exports and Imports: The program yielded impressive results, witnessed by a surge in mobile phone exports from $300 million in FY2018 to a remarkable $11 billion in FY23. Furthermore, imports of mobile phones saw a decrease from $3.6 billion in FY2018 to $1.6 billion in FY23.

Delving into Critiques

• Rising Component Imports: A central point of contention involves the surge in imports of mobile phone components like display screens, batteries, cameras, and printed circuit boards between FY21 and FY23.
• Redefining Manufacturing: The critique challenges the conventional notion of localized manufacturing, asserting that manufacturers primarily assemble imported components.

Counterarguments

• Diverse Component Uses: The response counters the claim by asserting that imported components, such as screens and batteries, could serve multiple industries beyond mobile phones.
• Partial PLI Implementation: The response clarifies that only approximately 22% of mobile production in India is supported by the PLI scheme.
• Import Dependency Clarification: It is emphasized that not all imports are utilized for mobile phone production.

Central Disagreement

• Critical Viewpoint: One perspective underscores that even if a percentage of imports are used for production, India’s net exports remain in the red.
• Crux of Disagreement: The heart of the disagreement centres on whether the PLI program can generate sustainable job growth and elevate India’s manufacturing prowess to encompass value-added production.

Conclusion

• The spirited exchange encapsulates the intricacies of India’s electronics manufacturing scheme.
• While both sides present compelling viewpoints, a fundamental question persists: Can the PLI program truly foster enduring job opportunities and propel India towards becoming a hub of value-enriched manufacturing?
• As India charts its economic course, striking the right balance between incentivizing domestic production and investing in comprehensive socio-economic advancement remains a formidable challenge.

Source: The Hindu