UPSC Daily Current Affairs- September 03, 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-II

Context

Russian has said that it can‘t resume the supply of natural gas through a key pipeline to Germany for now because of what it said was a need for urgent maintenance work. 

• There are growing concerns in European countries that Russia would shut down its gas supplies in retaliation against the current sanctions against Moscow.

About Nord Stream 1

• It is a system of offshore natural gas pipelines running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany.
• Nord Stream 1 is a 1,224 km underwater gas pipeline that runs from Vyborg in northwest Russia to Lubmin in northeastern Germany via the Baltic Sea.
• Two further pipelines under construction running from Ust-Luga to Lubmin termed Nord Stream 2.
• Majority owned by the Russian energy giant Gazprom, the pipeline is the primary route through which its gas enters Germany.

Worry for Europe

• There have been growing concerns that there could be further restrictions to European gas supplies.
• European countries rely on Russian energy for their cold winters.
• But now they believe that Russia could weaponized their dependency as a response to their sanction due to the conflict in Ukraine.

What are Europe’s alternative sources of energy?

• As an alternative source for energy, European countries have increasingly turned towards the US, from whom they purchase liquified natural gas (LNG) that comes via ships.
• Since ship-delivered gas ends up being far more expensive, there are also attempts to get non-Russian pipeline gas from Norway and Azerbaijan.
• While EU countries were earlier seeking to phase out fossil fuels and emphasize renewable forms of energy, many are now returning to coal to deal with the energy crisis.

Context

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas YojanaRecently, the Ministry of Education informed Lok Sabha that, during 2021-22, more than 3 Lakh women were trained under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) scheme.

What is PMKVY?

• PMKVY 1.0
  • Launch: India’s largest Skill Certification Scheme - Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) - was launched on 15th July, 2015 (World Youth Skills Day).
  • Aim: To encourage and promote skill development in the country by providing free short duration skill training and incentivizing this by providing monetary rewards to youth for skill certification.
  • Key Components: Short Term Training, Special Projects, Recognition of Prior Learning, Kaushal & Rozgar Mela, etc.
  • Outcome: In 2015-16, 19.85 lakh candidates were trained.
• PMKVY 2.0
  • Coverage: PMKVY 2016-20 (PMKVY 2.0) was launched by scaling up both in terms of Sector and Geography and by greater alignment with other missions of the Government of India like Make in India, Digital India, Swachh Bharat, etc.
  • Budget: Rs. 12,000 Crore.
  • Implementation Through Two Components:
    • Centrally Sponsored Centrally Managed (CSCM): This component was implemented by National Skill Development Corporation. 75% of the PMKVY 2016-20 funds and corresponding physical targets have been allocated under CSCM.
    • Centrally Sponsored State Managed (CSSM): This component was implemented by State Governments through State Skill Development Missions (SSDMs). 25% of the PMKVY 2016-20 funds and corresponding physical targets have been allocated under CSSM.
  • Outcome: More than 1.2 Crore youth have been trained/oriented through an improved standardized skilling ecosystem in the country under PMKVY 1.0 and PMKVY 2.0.
• PMKVY 3.0
  • Coverage: Launched in 717 districts, 28 States/eight UTs, PMKVY 3.0 is a step towards ‘Atmnanirbhar Bharat’.
  • Implementation: It will be implemented in a more decentralized structure with greater responsibilities and support from States/UTs and Districts.
    • District Skill Committees (DSCs), under the guidance of State Skill Development Missions (SSDM), shall play a key role in addressing the skill gap and assessing demand at the district level.
• Features
  • It envisages training of eight lakh candidates over a scheme period of 2020-2021 with an outlay of Rs. 948.90 crore.
  • It will be more trainee- and learner-centric. The focus is on bridging the demand-supply gap by promoting skill development in areas of new-age and Industry 4.0 job roles.
  • It will be a propagator of vocational education at an early level for youth to capitalize on industry-linked opportunities.
    • The National Educational Policy 2020 also puts focus on vocational training for holistic growth and increased employability.
  • By taking the bottom-up approach to training, it will identify job roles that have demand at the local level and skill the youth, linking them to these opportunities (Vocal for Local).
  • It will encourage healthy competition between states by making available increased allocation to those states that perform better.

Context

Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs flagged the need for single and comprehensive legislation for all the Metro rail networks in the country and opposed the existing three central acts.

• All metro rail projects are covered under the legal framework of the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978; the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002; and the Railways Act, 1989.

What are the Issues Highlighted by the Panel?

• Low ridership in all Metros apart from Delhi and Mumbai.
• Leading to a delay in the projects attaining breaking even point.
• Even after six to seven years of continuous operations the issues still exist like:
  • faulty Detailed Project Report (DPRs),
  • lack of proper planning to provide first and last mile connectivity,
  • provision of parking at metro rail stations,
  • need for increasing catchment area, etc

What are the Recommendations of the Panel?

• There is a need for the use of the less capital-intensive MetroNeo and MetroLite networks in small cities with low ridership instead of the conventional Metro systems.
  • MetroNeo is a mass rapid transit system providing low-cost, energy-efficient and eco-friendly urban transport solutions for tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
  • Metrolite system will have a dedicated path separating the road traffic with it.
    • For segregation with road traffic, fencing can be provided on either side of the network.
• Further, the Kochi Water Metro project should be included under the Ministry of Heavy Industries’ FAME II scheme as it would be a pollution-free mode of transport using battery-operated boats.

Context

Recently, The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a preliminary agreement with Sri Lanka on a four-year, USD 2.9 billion bailout package which is aimed at restoring economic stability and debt sustainability for the crisis-ridden south Asian nation.

What is the Bailout Package Offered to Sri Lanka?

• Need: The Economic Crisis of Sri Lanka with USD 51 billion debt which was caused due to various reasons:
  • The Easter bomb blasts of April 2019 in churches in Colombo
  • The government policy of lower tax rates and wide-ranging subsidies for farmers during their campaign.
  • The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 which impacted exports of tea, rubber, spices, garments and the tourism sector.
• About
  • The IMF package is to be paid in tranches over the next four years, which is less than what India provided to Sri Lanka over four months.
  • The package must be approved by the IMF’s board of directors.
    • The approval is contingent on Sri Lanka’s international creditors - commercial lenders such as banks and asset managers, multilateral agencies, as well as bilateral creditors including China, Japan, and India agreeing to restructure its debt.
• Benefits
  • Improve credit rating: It can boost the receiving country’s credit ratings, and the confidence of international creditors and investors who may then chip in to provide bridge financing to close the gaps between the tranches.
• Aim
  • Its program will aim to boost government revenue, encourage fiscal consolidation, introduce new pricing for fuel and electricity, hike social spending, bolster central bank autonomy, and rebuild depleted foreign reserves.
  • The programme aims to reach a primary surplus of 2.3% of GDP by 2024.

What Measures are Taken by Sri Lanka’s Economy to Improve its Economy?

• Increase in Revenue: The country’s budget aimed at increasing revenue to 15% of GDP by 2025 from 8.2% at the end of 2021 by reducing public debt.
  • An increase in VAT from 12 to 15%, and compulsory tax registration for everyone aged 18 years and older in order to widen personal income tax collections are among the measures.
  • Some 50 state-owned enterprises are up for privatisation.
• Reduce the age of retirement: The age of retirement in government and semi-government organisations has been brought down to 60 from 65 and 62 respectively.
• Banking sector: Staff and depositors are to be offered a 20% shareholding in state banks to address recapitalization requirements arising out of non-repayment of loans due to the economic meltdown.

Context

Recently, the Minister of Education addressed the G-20 Education Ministers’ Meeting in Bali, Indonesia.

• Theme: Recovery, Re-imagine and Rebuild Stronger.

What are the Key Highlights?

• Emphasized on the importance of sharing mutual experiences & working together to create a new world in which education remains the nodal point for addressing common challenges.
• The National Education Policy 2020, based on the foundational principles of access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability is India’s guiding light for promoting lifelong learning opportunities and achieving the shared vision of G20.
• Highlighted India’s rapid strides towards building a more resilient and inclusive education and skilling ecosystem and realising the creative potential of each learner through the implementation of NEP 2020.
• India is giving special emphasis on formalizing early childhood care & education, supporting differently-abled children, boosting digital and multi-modal learning, flexible entry-exit pathways, integrating education with skills, which are keys to improve learning outcomes.

What is G20?

• About
  • It is a group of 19 countries and the European Union (EU), founded in 1999, with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
    • Its members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the EU.
    • Nigeria was meant to be the “20th” member and was dropped at the last minute due to political troubles at the time.
  • The membership comprises a mix of the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world’s population.
  • The G20 holds a strategic role in securing future global economic growth and prosperity.
  • Together, the G20 members represent more than 80% of world GDP, 75% of international trade and 60% of the world population.
• Functioning of G20
  • The G-20 has no fixed headquarters, and the secretariat moves by rotation between the countries hosting or assuming Presidency of the grouping each year.
  • The members are divided into five groups (India is in Group 2, along with Russia, South Africa and Turkey).
  • The G-20 agenda that still depends heavily on the guidance of Finance Ministers and central Governors is finalised by a unique system of ‘Sherpas’, who are special envoys of G-20 leaders.
  • Another feature of the G-20 is ‘Troika’ meetings, comprising the countries presiding over the G-20 in the past year, present year, and next year. At present, the Troika is made up of Italy, Indonesia and India.

How has the G20 Evolved over the years?

• The Global Financial Crisis (2007-08) cemented G20’s reputation as the premier crisis management and coordination body.
• The US, which held the G20 Presidency in 2008, elevated the meeting of the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to Heads of State, resulting in the first G20 Summit.
• The Summits in Washington DC, London, and Pittsburgh set the scene for some of the most durable global reforms:
  • Blacklisting states in an effort to tackle tax evasion and avoidance, provisioning stricter controls on hedge funds and rating agencies, making the Financial Stability Board an effective supervisory and watchdog body for the global financial system, proposing stricter regulations for too-big-to fail banks, refraining members from imposing new barriers to trade etc.
• By the time Covid-19 struck, the G20 had wandered off from its original mission and G20 lost its focus.
  • G20 reinvented itself by widening its agenda to include issues such as climate change, jobs and social security issues, inequality, agriculture, migration, corruption, terror financing, drug trafficking, food security and nutrition, disruptive technologies, and meeting the sustainable development goals.
• In recent times, G20 members have made all the right commitments after the pandemic, but there is little to show in action.
  • At the Riyadh Summit in October 2020, they prioritised four things: fighting the pandemic, safeguarding the global economy, addressing international trade disruptions, and enhancing global cooperation.
  • The Italian Presidency in 2021 had focused on three broad, interconnected pillars of action — People, Planet, Prosperity — vowing to take the lead in ensuring a swift international response to the pandemic.

GS-III

Context

There has been a steady spike in cases of cybercrime in the last five years.

Who is responsible for cyber security centre or state?

• With ‘police’ and ‘public order’ being in the State List, the primary obligation to check crime and create the necessary cyberinfrastructure lies with States.
• At the same time, with the IT Act and major laws being central legislations, the central government is no less responsible to evolve uniform statutory procedures for the enforcement agencies.

Status of cyber investigation

• There is no separate procedural code for the investigation of cyber or computer-related offences.
• As electronic evidence is entirely different in nature when compared with evidence of traditional crime, laying down standard and uniform procedures to deal with electronic evidence is essential.

What are general guidelines for cyber investigation?

• The broad ‘guidelines for the identification, collection, acquisition and preservation of digital evidence’ are given in the Indian Standard IS/ISO/ IEC 27037: 2012, issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
• This document is fairly comprehensive and easy to comprehend for both the first responder (who could be an authorised and trained police officer of a police station) as well as the specialist (who has specialised knowledge, skills and the abilities to handle a wide range of technical issues).
• The guidelines, if followed meticulously, may ensure that electronic evidence is neither tampered with nor subject to spoliation during investigation.

Judicial activism for cyber security

• A significant attempt has been made by the higher judiciary in this field also. As resolved in the Conference of the Chief Justices of the High Court in April 2016, a five judge committee was constituted in July 2018 to frame the draft rules which could serve as a model for the reception of digital evidence by courts.
• The committee, after extensive deliberations with experts, the police and investigation agencies, finalised its report in November 2018, but the suggested Draft Rules for the Reception, Retrieval, Authentication and Preservation of Electronic Records are yet to be given a statutory force.

What needs to be done?

• Upgrade cyber labs: The cyber forensic laboratories of States must be upgraded with the advent of new technologies.
• Digital rupee: Offences related to cryptocurrency remain under-reported as the capacity to solve such crimes remains limited. The central government has proposed launching a digital rupee using block-chain technology soon.
• Empowering states: State enforcement agencies need to be ready for new technologies. The Centre helps in upgrading the State laboratories by providing modernisation funds, though the corpus has gradually shrunk over the years.
• Need for localisation of data: Most cybercrimes are trans-national in nature with extra-territorial jurisdiction. The collection of evidence from foreign territories is not only a difficult but also a tardy process.

Conclusion
Centre and States must not only work in tandem and frame statutory guidelines to facilitate investigation of cybercrime but also need to commit sufficient funds to develop much-awaited and required cyber infrastructure.

Context

Government push to coarse cereals as climate change affects wheat, paddy cultivation

Features Millet crops in India

• Big three: The three major millet crops currently growing in India are jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet) and ragi (finger millet).
• Examples: India also grows a rich array of bio-genetically diverse and indigenous varieties of “small millets” like kodo, kutki, chenna and sanwa.
• Area of production: Major producers include Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.

What are Advantages of millet cultivation?

• Low input cost: cereals are good for the soil, have shorter cultivation cycles and require less cost-intensive cultivation.
• Climate resilience: These unique features make millets suited for and resilient to India’s varied agro-climatic conditions.
• Drought tolerance: cereals are not water or input-intensive, making them a sustainable strategy for addressing climate change and building resilient agri-food systems.

Reduction in millet production

• Effects of Green Revolution: The Green Revolution succeeded in making India food sufficient, however, it also led to water-logging, soil erosion, groundwater depletion and the unsustainability of agriculture.
• Deficit mind-set: Current policies are still based on the “deficit” mind-set of the 1960s.
• Biased policies: The procurement, subsidies and water policies are biased towards rice and wheat.
• Skewed cropping pattern: Three crops (rice, wheat and sugarcane) corner 75 to 80 per cent of irrigated water.
• Lack of diversification: Diversification of cropping patterns towards cereals, pulses, oilseeds, horticulture is needed for more equal distribution of water, sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.

What can be done to promote millets as nutri-cereals?

• Rebranding the cereals as nutri-cereals
  • The first strategy from a consumption and trade point of view was to re-brand coarse cereals/millets as nutri-cereals.
  • As of 2018-19, millet production had been extended to over 112 districts across 14 states.
• Incentive through hiking MSP
  • Second, the government hiked the MSP of nutri-cereals, which came as a big price incentive for farmers.
  • From 2014-15 to 2020 MSPs for ragi has jumped by 113 per cent, by 72 per cent for bajra and by 71 per cent for jowar.
  • MSPs have been calculated so that the farmer is ensured at least a 50 per cent return on their cost of production.
• Providing steady markets through inclusion in PDS: To provide a steady market for the produce, the Modi government included millets in the public distribution system.
• Increasing area, production and yield
  • The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare is running a Rs 600-crore scheme to increase the area, production and yield of nutri-cereals.
  • With a goal to match the cultivation of nutri-cereals with local topography and natural resources, the government is encouraging farmers to align their local cropping patterns to India’s diverse 127 agro-climatic zones.
  • Provision of seed kits and inputs to farmers, building value chains through Farmer Producer Organisations and supporting the marketability of nutri-cereals are some of the key interventions that have been put in place.
• Intersection of agriculture and nutrition: The Ministry of Women and Child Development has been working at the intersection of agriculture and nutrition by -1) setting up nutri-gardens, 2) promoting research on the interlinkages between crop diversity and dietary diversity 3) running a behaviour change campaign to generate consumer demand for nutri-cereals.

Conclusion

• India should aim for a food systems transformation, which can be inclusive and sustainable, ensure growing farm incomes and nutrition security. 
• As the government sets to achieve its agenda of a malnutrition-free India and doubling of farmers’ incomes, the promotion of the production and consumption of nutri-cereals seems to be a policy shift in the right direction.

Context

Last week, pictures of an unusually-shaped rainbow cloud that appeared over China were widely shared on social media. 

• The cloud in question resembles a pileus cloud.
• Such phenomenon of bright colours appearing on a cloud is called cloud iridescence.

What is a Pileus Cloud?

• A pileus cloud is usually formed over a cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud.
• It is formed when the base cloud pushes a moist current of air upwards and the water vapour from the current condenses to somewhat resemble wave-like crests, or umbrellas.
• In popular western culture, it is called as an “accessory cloud” that is “rather like a cloud haircut”.
• A pileus cloud is transient in nature and lasts barely for a few minutes, making it difficult, and at the same time, exciting, to spot.

What is cloud iridescence?

• Cloud iridescence or Irisation is an optical phenomenon that mostly occurs in wave-like clouds, including pileus and Altocumulus lenticularis.
• Iridescence in clouds means the appearance of colours on clouds, which can either be in the form of parallel bands like in a rainbow, or mingled in patches.
• In ancient Greek mythology, Iris is the goddess of rainbow. “Irisation”, the phenomenon of rainbow-like colours in clouds, is derived from her name.

What is a photometeor?

• Iridescence of clouds is a photometeor.
• It is an optical phenomenon produced by the reflection, refraction, diffraction or interference of sunlight.

What causes cloud iridescence?

• In pileus clouds, small water droplets or ice crystals, usually of a similar size, diffract the sunlight falling on them.
• The thinness of the cloud ensures more exposure to sunlight for each water droplet or ice crystal.
• To ensure its wave crest-like appearance, water droplets or ice crystals in these clouds are always moving – droplets form at one side of the cloud and evaporate from the other end – and hence these clouds remain small and thin since the droplets have no way of combining and growing in size.
• In its International Cloud Atlas, the World Meteorological Organisation says that iridescence or Irisation is caused by diffraction within 10 degrees from the sun.
• Beyond ten degrees and up till about 40 degrees, interference of light is the main cause of iridescence.