Weekly Current Affairs (15th to 21st June 2024) Part - 2 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Greening the Education Sector

Why in News?

• UNESCO introduced the Greening Curriculum Guidance (GCG) and the Green School Quality Standards (GSQS) through the Greening Education Partnership.

What is the Greening Education Partnership?

• The Greening Education Partnership involves 80 member states and aims to support countries in addressing the climate crisis through education.
• Goals include transforming 50% of educational institutions into Green Schools by 2030 and implementing green national curricula in 90% of countries by 2030.
• Structured around four pillars: greening schools, curriculum, teacher training, and communities.

Need for Greening Education:

• Research shows a lack of understanding about climate change among youth, with many national curricula not adequately addressing the issue.

Principles of a Green School:

• Focus on holistic education, sustainability practices, sense of responsibility, and alignment with safety frameworks.

Challenges in Greening Education in India:

• Issues include the absence of a comprehensive sustainability policy, infrastructure deficiencies, limited integration of sustainability in curricula, inadequate teacher training, and scarcity of green building materials.

Way Forward:

• Proposed solutions include eco-influencer campaigns, green pedagogy workshops, sustainability-linked procurement policies, and environmental entrepreneurship competitions.

Controversies Surrounding UAPA

Why in News? 

• Recently, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor approved the prosecution of novelist Arundhati Roy for allegedly making provocative statements at a 2010 event supporting Kashmiri separatism under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)

• Background

  On 17th June 1966, the President promulgated the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Ordinance to prevent unlawful activities. This led to the enactment of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

• About UAPA

  The UAPA, 1967 aims to prevent unlawful activities, deal with terrorist activities, and empower agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for nationwide investigations.

• Amendments

  The UAPA underwent several amendments expanding provisions related to terrorist financing, individual designation as terrorist, and property seizure.

• Major Provisions

  The Act empowers the government to declare activities as unlawful, allows for filing a charge sheet within 180 days, and applies to both Indian and foreign nationals.

Concerns Related to UAPA

• Low Conviction Rate

  NCRB data shows a low conviction rate in UAPA cases.

• Subjective Interpretation

  Vague definitions in the UAPA allow for subjective interpretations, risking misuse against specific groups.

• Limited Judicial Review

  The 2019 amendment allows the government to designate individuals as terrorists without judicial review.

• Detention Rules

  UAPA permits detention for up to 6 months without charges, impacting fundamental rights.

• Violation of Fundamental Rights

  The UAPA infringes upon rights of free speech, assembly, and association, potentially targeting dissenting voices.

Way Forward

• Use Law as Last Resort

  UAPA should be a last resort, not a tool to suppress dissent.

• Need for Amendment

  Refining UAPA definitions is crucial to exclude constitutionally protected activities.

• Non-Biased Review Mechanism

  Establish an impartial system to review government decisions regarding labeling individuals as terrorists.

• Presumption of Innocence

  Emphasize the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

• Clearer Grounds for Denial of Bail

  Define specific grounds for denying bail to prevent arbitrary denials.

Conclusion

• Expressing views on Kashmir, even controversial ones, may not necessarily violate UAPA unless directly inciting unlawful action.

Why in News?

• Madhya Pradesh Government has prepared to bring cheetahs from Africa to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
• This sanctuary will be the second home for cheetahs in India, after Kuno National Park.

Key Facts About Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary

Location:

• Established in 1974, covering Mandsaur and Neemuch districts in western Madhya Pradesh, near Rajasthan.
• The Chambal River divides the sanctuary, with the Gandhi Sagar Dam located within.

Ecosystem:

• Characterized by rocky terrain and shallow topsoil, supporting a savanna ecosystem.
• Includes open grasslands with dry deciduous trees and shrubs, along with evergreen riverine valleys.

Ideal Habitat for Cheetahs:

• Resembling Kenya's Maasai Mara, known for its savanna wilderness, making it suitable for cheetahs.

Project Cheetah

• Phase-1 began in 2022 to revive cheetahs in India, involving their transfer to Kuno National Park.
• Project managed by NTCA, Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, and Wildlife Institute of India.
• Phase-2 includes considering cheetahs from Kenya for translocation to Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Some Facts about Cheetahs

Breeding and Maturity:

• Cheetahs breed year-round, with females maturing at 20-24 months and males at 24-30 months.

Gestation and Litters:

• Gestation lasts 90-95 days, with litters usually containing 3-5 cubs.

Vocalizations:

• Cheetahs communicate through various sounds like high-pitched chirps and barks.

Territorial Behavior:

• They mark territories using scratch marks, scent marking, and vocalizations.

Speed and Hunting:

• Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, reaching speeds up to 120 km/h in short bursts.
• They employ a unique hunting technique called "tripping" with their claws.

Protection Status:

• Cheetahs are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and protected under various wildlife acts.

Challenges in Making Gandhi Sagar a Viable Cheetah Habitat

Insufficient Prey Base:

• Current prey numbers are inadequate for cheetahs, necessitating an increase for sustainable survival.

Change of Habitat:

• Cheetahs relocated from Kenya may face adaptation issues to India's climate.

Proximity to Human Habitation:

• Human settlements near the sanctuary boundary could pose challenges.

Vulnerability to Infection:

• Monsoon season decision due to potential infection risks for the cheetahs.

Holocaust and World War II

Why in News?

• UN report warns of AI spreading misinformation about World War II and the Holocaust.
• AI can unknowingly generate false content, risking the spread of anti-Semitism.

What was the Holocaust Incident?

• The term 'holocaust' originates from the Greek 'holokauston', meaning 'an offering consumed by fire'.
• It signifies the systematic persecution and murder of around 6 million European Jews by Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime between 1941 and 1945.
• Nazis targeted Jews due to antisemitism and racial purity beliefs, also persecuting other groups.

Historical Context

• Germany's defeat in World War I and the 1930s global economic depression led to the rise of the Nazi Party under Hitler.
• Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in 1933 marked the beginning of Nazi control and persecution of various groups.

Persecution of Jews

• Jews, a small percentage of Germany's population, were blamed for economic hardships and World War I defeat.
• Laws were enacted to strip Jews of rights, leading to events like Kristallnacht in 1938.

The Final Solution

• The Nazi plan for the genocide of millions of Jews through concentration camps and gas chambers.
• Jews were subjected to forced labor and atrocious living conditions in camps like Auschwitz.

Auschwitz and the Concentration Camps

• Auschwitz, the largest Nazi camp, symbolized the brutality of the Holocaust.
• Liberated in 1945, the camp now serves as a memorial to the victims.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

• Observed globally on 27th January to honor the memory of Holocaust victims.
• The Red Army's liberation of Auschwitz in 1945 marked the end of its operations.

What was World War II?

• A significant conflict fought between Axis and Allied powers from 1939 to 1945.
• Causes included the Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations' failure, Great Depression, and rise of totalitarian regimes.

The End of the War and its Aftermath

• The war concluded with Germany's surrender in Europe and atomic bombings in Japan.
• World War II led to changes in global power dynamics and the start of decolonization.

National Monetisation Pipeline

• Assets worth Rs 3.85 lakh crore have been monetized by the government under the National Monetisation Pipeline during the first three years of the financial period spanning from 2021-22 to 2024-25.
• NITI Aayog is responsible for developing the National Monetisation Pipeline.

What is the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP)?

• The NMP aims to generate Rs 6 lakh crore by leasing core assets of the Central government in sectors like roads, railways, power, oil and gas pipelines, telecom, and civil aviation over four years (FY 2021-22 to 2024-25).
• Monetization through NMP involves only core assets, not non-core assets.
• Only assets of central government line ministries and CPSEs in infrastructure sectors are included.
• Monetization of non-core assets is now under the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) within the Ministry of Finance.
• The NMP supports investments under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) worth Rs 111 lakh crore through FY25.

Status of NMP

• In the first two years (2021-22 and 2022-23), about Rs. 2.30 lakh crore was achieved against the target of Rs. 2.5 lakh crore.
• In 2023-24, about Rs. 1.56 lakh crore was achieved against the target of Rs. 1.8 lakh crore, the highest among the four years.
• All ministries reached 70% of their monetization targets with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Ministry of Coal leading with a total achievement of Rs. 97,000 crore in 2023-24.

Need for NMP

• Overcapitalization in government infrastructure projects.
• Resource optimization through market-driven methods.
• Promotion of teamwork across government departments and with private firms.
• Connection with PM Gati Shakti for comprehensive infrastructure development.
• Utilization of underutilized public assets to raise funds for new infrastructure.

UN Sustainable Development Report 2024

• Recently, the 9th edition of the Sustainable Development Report released by UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has highlighted that the world is significantly behind schedule in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations in 2015.

Key Findings of the Sustainable Development Report 2024

Global SDG Progress:

• Only 16% of SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030, with 84% showing limited or reversed progress.
• Progress towards SDG9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) is showing slightly positive trends.

Food and Land Systems:

• SDG targets related to food and land systems are off-track.

Regional and Country Group Variations:

• Nordic countries lead in SDG achievement.
• East and South Asia are the regions with the most SDG progress since 2015.

Investment Challenges:

• About 10% of the world's population lives in extreme poverty.

Global Cooperation:

• The report has introduced a new Index on countries' support to UN-based multilateralism (UN-Mi) ranks countries based on their engagement with the UN system.

Performance of India in SDG Index

• Ranking: India secured 109th rank with the overall score of 64.0.
• Status of SDG Targets: Only around 30% of SDG targets are on track or have been achieved.
• Average Performance of SDGs: Highest performance is observed in achieving SDG 1, SDG 4, SDG 12 and SDG 13.

SDG Dashboard and Trends

International Spillover Index:

• This index is a metric used to assess how a country's actions impact the ability of other countries to achieve the SDGs.

Statistical Performance Index:

• India scored 74.5 in this index.

Key Recommendations of the Report

• Strengthen Global Cooperation and Multilateralism: Nations should collaborate by sharing resources and developing fair solutions for global issues.
• Addressing Financing Gaps for Sustainable Development: Setting up new institutional frameworks and implementing innovative global taxation mechanisms.
• FABLE Pathways: Implementing innovative solutions to address challenges in food and land systems.

E-Commerce as Export Hub

Why in News?

• The commerce ministry's 100-day agenda roadmap for the new government emphasizes using E-Commerce for export.
• India aims to achieve USD 1 trillion in merchandise exports by 2030 with a focus on cross-border e-commerce.

100-day Agenda in E-Commerce

• Developing e-commerce hubs to support online exports is a key focus of the government's 100-day agenda.
• The Commerce Department collaborates with the Department of Revenue for duty-free returns and faster customs clearances.

Economic Potential

• In 2023, cross-border e-commerce trade was valued at about USD 800 billion and is anticipated to reach USD 2 trillion by 2030.
• China's e-commerce exports amount to about USD 350 billion, whereas India's online shipments are only USD 2 billion.

Return Logistics Challenge

• Approximately 25% of goods in e-commerce are re-imported, requiring duty-free imports for these items.
• Identifying items for duty-free status poses a challenge.

What is E-Commerce?

• E-commerce involves buying and selling goods and services over the Internet.
• India ranks as the eighth-largest e-commerce market globally as of 2023.

Classification

• The Market-based Model connects buyers and sellers through an IT platform (e.g., Amazon, Flipkart).
• The Inventory-based Model involves direct selling of goods and services by the e-commerce entity from its inventory (e.g., Myntra, Nykaa).

Current Status

• India's e-commerce platforms reached a Gross Merchandise Value of USD 60 billion in fiscal year 2023.
• India's toy export has grown at nearly 30% CAGR over the last seven years.

Future Potential

• The Indian e-commerce industry is projected to reach USD 300 billion by 2030.
• Third-party logistics providers are expected to handle around 17 billion shipments in the next seven years.

Significance of E-Commerce in the Indian Economy

• E-commerce sector provides significant employment opportunities across various sectors.
• E-commerce boosts Indian products' competitiveness in global markets.

Regulatory Frameworks for E-commerce in India

• E-commerce entities in India are subject to taxation under the Income Tax Act and Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• Regulations include the Foreign Direct Investment policy, FEMA, Companies Act 2013, and IT Act.

Challenges and Way Forward in E-Commerce Sector Export

• Challenges include logistics inefficiencies and cross-border trade complexities.
• Way forward involves continued investment in logistics infrastructure and enhancing cybersecurity measures.