Weekly Current Affairs (22nd to 31st January 2024) | Current Affairs: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - CLAT PDF Download

Status Report of Snow Leopards in India

The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, released India’s first nationwide snow leopard population assessment report titled “Status Report of Snow Leopards in India”. The assessment estimates 718 snow leopards in India based on systematic surveys covering over 70% of their potential habitat from 2019-2023. The Wildlife Institute of India coordinated the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) program across snow leopard range states.

Survey Methodology

• The SPAI used a two-step approach aligned with Ministry guidelines. The first step mapped snow leopard spatial distribution and habitat analysis across ~120,000 sq km using an occupancy survey. The second step estimated abundance through camera traps in identified areas.
• Efforts included surveying 13,450 km for signs and deploying cameras at 1,971 locations for 180,000 trap nights. 241 individual snow leopards were photographed. Snow leopard occupancy was recorded across 93,392 sq km, with estimated presence in 100,841 sq km.

State-wise Estimates

• Estimated state-wise population is: Ladakh – 477; Uttarakhand – 124; Himachal Pradesh – 51; Arunachal Pradesh – 36; Sikkim – 21; Jammu and Kashmir – 9.

Need for Regular Monitoring

• The report highlights the need for a dedicated snow leopard cell at the Wildlife Institute of India under the Ministry to ensure regular monitoring and long-term conservation.
• It suggests states adopt assessments every 4 years. Regular range-wide surveys will help address threats and devise effective protection strategies tailored to regional priorities.

Conservation Significance

• Until recently, snow leopard ranges in India were poorly defined and studied only across 5% of their habitat. The SPAI has significantly expanded habitat surveys to 80% versus just 56% in 2016.
• Robust baseline population data will assist conservation efforts for this vulnerable species facing climate change and human activity pressures.

Broader Context

• The survey outcomes can facilitate regional cooperation on snow leopard conservation under initiatives like thevvand Ecosystem Protection Program.
• As snow leopards traverse international boundaries, collaboration on combating wildlife trafficking and maintaining habitat connectivity is vital. The report provides a blueprint for conducting scientifically rigorous assessments across the species’ range.

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IEA’s Electricity 2024 Report

According to the latest International Energy Agency (IEA) projections in Electricity 2024 Report, India’s electricity demand will outpace China’s and have the world’s fastest growth rate by 2026. India’s annual average electricity demand growth is pegged at 6.5% over 2024-2026. The robust expansion will make India’s additional electricity demand over the next three years almost equivalent to the UK’s total demand.

Coal Dominance to Continue

• Coal will meet 68% of India’s electricity needs in 2026, as per IEA forecasts. While lower than coal’s 74% share in 2023, this highlights its continued dominance despite renewable growth.
• India added 21 GW of renewable energy capacity in 2023. But renewables stagnated at a 21% generation share as reduced hydropower output offset solar and wind growth.

Key Growth Drivers

• Rapid economic expansion and increased cooling needs are major electricity demand growth drivers. Weather fluctuations also periodically spike demand – a hot and dry August 2022 led to record power consumption exceeding 240 GW.
• To guarantee supply amidst peaks, the government mandated blending at least 6% imported coal until March 2024. Domestic coal remains the mainstay for baseline generation.

Nuclear and Hydro Push

• Alongside further wind and solar additions, India is also expanding hydro and nuclear generation to diversify its energy mix.
• Over 11.5 GW of stalled private hydro projects were transferred to public sector firms under the Power Ministry in 2023 for revival. Nuclear capacity is planned to triple by 2032, with 4 GW likely coming online over 2024-2026.

Asia Nuclear Growth Leader

• With China and India leading new reactor construction, Asia’s nuclear generation will exceed North America’s by 2026.
• China started the world’s first fourth-generation reactor in 2023, highlighting its advances. India powered up its largest 700 MW domestic reactor last June and expects rapid nuclear growth.

Net Zero Balancing Act

• Even as India pushes clean energy to achieve its 2070 net zero target, rising electricity needs means coal will remain indispensable in the medium term.
• Managing the transition without sacrificing growth and development requires a balancing act. Boosting domestic manufacturing and maintaining supply security is vital alongside green investments.

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Maratha Military Landscapes of India

India has nominated the “Maratha Military Landscapes of India” for the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024-25. The sites showcase the strategic military capabilities of the Maratha empire between the 17th and 19th centuries.

About Maratha Military Landscapes of India

• Out of over 390 forts in Maharashtra, only 12 representative forts have been chosen as part of the nomination for Maratha Military Landscapes of India World Heritage site. They were developed under Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj from 1670 CE, continuing through subsequent rulers until 1818.
• Eight of these 12 forts – including major ones like Shivneri, Raigad, Panhala and Sindhudurg – are protected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. The other four forts of Salher, Rajgad, Khanderi and Pratapgarh are conserved by the Maharashtra government’s directorate of archaeology and museums.
• The selected 12 forts showcase the diverse nature of Maratha military architecture across landscapes – with hill forts, coastal forts, plateau forts, hill-forest forts and island forts represented. Specifically, Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad and Gingee are hill forts; Pratapgad is a hill-forest fort; Panhala is a fort on a hill plateau; Vijaydurg is a coastal fort; and Khanderi, Suvarnadurg and Sindhudurg are island forts.

Significance and Uniqueness

• The sites display exceptional testimony to the Maratha defense tradition and empire. They illustrate a significant stage of military fortress building in Indian history.
• The sites also directly represent the military ideas, beliefs and traditions of the Maratha empire. Their natural integration with the landscape was a key strategic advantage.

Criteria for Inscription

• The nomination cites three criteria – exhibiting unique cultural tradition, outstanding military architectural ensembles, and direct Maratha military heritage. India currently has 42 World Heritage sites.

Broader Context

• The Maratha empire was influential in shaping the history, culture and identity of western India. Inscribing these sites can stimulate preservation efforts and cultural tourism.
• Maharashtra already has six World Heritage sites like the Ajanta and Ellora caves. The Maratha military landscapes were added to India’s tentative list in 2021. Their inscription as the state’s sixth cultural site reinforces Maharashtra’s identity.

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Finance Ministry Highlights Key Economic Challenges

Ahead of the Interim Budget, the Finance Ministry laid out four key challenges facing India’s economy in the “The Indian Economy: A Review” Report. This comes as India aims to become a $7 trillion economy by 2030 over the next 6-7 years. The report notes that while domestic performance drives growth, global spillovers are also crucial given increasing globalization. Slowing hyper-globalization and friend-shoring trends will impact trade and growth.

AI and Services Sector

• The advent of artificial intelligence poses a major threat to services sector jobs. This is critical for India as the services sector accounts for over 50% of GDP currently.
• With AI adoption growing globally, automation could displace various service jobs. Retraining and skilling the workforce is essential to transition towards new AI-enabled roles.

Energy Security vs Sustainability

• Balancing energy security and economic growth versus transitioning to renewables is another multifaceted challenge highlighted.
• Under climate commitments, India aims to fully shift to renewables by 2070. However, energy needs of a growing economy also need addressing. This trade-off involves geopolitical, fiscal, technological and social dimensions.

Availability of Skilled Workforce

• Having a healthy, talented and appropriately skilled workforce available to industry is also key for economic growth.
• Ensuring age-appropriate learning outcomes at all levels and a fit population who can undertake productive economic roles are policy priorities. Healthcare and education reforms are thus interlinked with growth.

Positive Growth Trajectory

• Despite the challenges, the ministry forecasts 7% or higher GDP growth in 2023-24 and potentially 2024-25 too. This would mark four straight years of over 7% post-pandemic growth.
• Sustaining high growth rates over the next decade is crucial for $7 trillion economy vision. But it requires systematically addressing these structural economic challenges highlighted.

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Focus Sectors for $1 Trillion Exports Target

India has identified 6 key sectors – electronics, engineering goods, textiles, marine & agriculture, toys and pharmaceuticals – that could help the country achieve almost 70% of its $1 trillion goods export target by fiscal year 2030. As per a study by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, these sectors have the potential to reach $670 billion in exports by FY2030, compared to India’s total goods exports of $451 billion in FY2023.

Engineering Goods

• Expected to grow from $107 billion in FY2023 to $300 billion in exports by FY2030, led by categories like drones, solar modules, turbo jets, automotives and electric vehicles.
• Growth will be propelled by India’s strengths in auto components, rising global demand for EVs and India’s push towards self-reliance in defence and space technologies.

Pharmaceuticals

• Pharma exports focused on biosimilars and innovation drugs could rise from $25 billion presently to $57 billion by FY2030.
• Growth drivers include India’s expertise in generic drugs, focus on biologics and increasing R&D for novel drugs.

Electronics

• Exports estimated to reach $100 billion by FY2030, driven by categories like mobile phones, laptops, wearables and electronic accessories.
• India is strengthening its position in EMS, component manufacturing and design capabilities while ‘Make in India’ focuses on domestic demand and exports.

Textiles

• Total textile exports, including readymade garments and technical/man-made fiber textiles, expected to touch $97.7 billion by FY2030.
• India holds strong capabilities across entire value chain from raw materials to finished products with competitive labour costs.

Marine & Agriculture

• Marine and agri product exports estimated to reach $118 billion by FY2030.
• Focus on expanding aquaculture production in states like Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
• Also boosting value-added exports like canned/dried products and promoting food processing sector.

Toys

• Niche sector but seen remarkable growth, with focus on promoting toy clusters for exports.
• Clusters such as Channapatna, Varanasi, Kondapalli and Jaipur are tapping more into international toy markets.

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Sahel States Quit ECOWAS Bloc

The military regimes ruling Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have announced their immediate withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The surprise exit is being called a “sovereign decision” taken without delay.

About ECOWAS

• The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional political and economic union established on 28 May 1975 through the Treaty of Lagos. Currently comprising 15 countries across West Africa, ECOWAS covers a massive area of over 5 million square kilometers inhabited by an estimated 424 million people.
• ECOWAS is considered a pillar regional bloc of the Africa-wide African Economic Community that aims to promote continental integration. The core goal of ECOWAS is to achieve collective self-sufficiency for its member states by creating a single integrated trading area through progressively eliminating trade barriers. Additionally, it works to raise living standards and catalyze economic development across West Africa.

Struggling With Insurgencies

• All three Sahelian nations – Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – are battling mounting jihadist insurgencies and deep poverty. Their tense relations with ECOWAS worsened after military coups toppled democratic governments in Niger (2021), Burkina Faso (2022) and Mali (2020). They remain suspended from the bloc despite sanctions.

Formation of Sahel Alliance

• In recent months, the junta leaders have hardened stances against ECOWAS penalties. They have forged a new “Alliance of Sahel States” for collective bargaining power against criticism of their takeovers. Regional security imperatives are also driving their joint withdrawal.

Reversals of Democratic Gains

• The military takeovers have reversed democratic consolidation gains made over decades in West Africa. But the regimes remain defiant amidst ECOWAS criticism and pressure to swiftly restore civilian rule and constitutional order.

Weighing Trade-offs Between Security and Democracy

• The withdrawal highlights tensions between stabilizing coup-hit countries battling insurgencies and upholding democratic values by ECOWAS. The complex trade-offs involve easing sanctions to support counter-insurgency capacity of military rulers versus standing firm on unconstitutional governance changes.

Future Uncertain for Citizens

• The exit leaves citizens of the three nations facing deeply uncertain political and economic futures. The regimes show no signs of planning polls or reversing power grabs, risking further isolation. On the other hand, mounting sanctions are hurting common people by shriveling jobs and trade.
• Prolonged uncertainty may spur refugee outflows and radicalization in these impoverished countries. Younger citizens denied economic and political opportunities could also grow more vulnerable to militant recruitment campaigns.

What Next for Alliance States and Region?

• It remains to be seen how Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger progress with their proclaimed Sahel Alliance outside ECOWAS. Much depends on evolving security situations, economic conditions and pressures to restore civilian administration. 
• But their withdrawal risks destabilizing threats for regional peace.

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India-France Defence Industrial Roadmap and Comprehensive Dialogue on Global Issues

India and France have formulated a defence industrial roadmap to boost collaboration in defence production and design of military platforms. This comes amid progress on other strategic agreements during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit.

Joint Development and Production Plans

• The roadmap outlines cooperation on co-designing, co-developing and co-producing defence equipment to meet requirements of both countries.
• It covers areas like aircraft, land and naval systems, underwater technologies, space, AI, robotics and cyber security. The plan mirrors India’s efforts with the US.

Big Ticket Defence Deals in Pipeline

• India and France are negotiating major deals for fighter aircraft, submarine and naval jet engines worth billions of dollars. These include the procurement of Rafale jets and Scorpene submarines.
• The deals are currently in the advanced cost negotiation stage and expected to conclude by end of 2023 as per reports.

Partnership in Space Domain

• Besides the defence roadmap, India and France also inked a new agreement to collaborate in the space domain related to space situational awareness.
• An MoU was also signed for cooperation on satellite launches, demonstrating the strategic depth of the bilateral relationship.

Comprehensive Dialogue on Global Issues

• Aside from the defence industrial roadmap, India and France have established a high-level Comprehensive Dialogue on Global Issues for regular consultations on political matters and global challenges. 
• The key areas of focus reflect both countries’ commitment to address climate change, environmental degradation and sustainable development.

Tackling Plastic Pollution

• India and France aim to build consensus this year for a legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution in a significant step.
• The leaders reaffirmed their determination during President Macron’s recent India visit to take measures domestically while pushing multilaterally.

Cooperation on Climate and Biodiversity

• India and France will boost coordination across major conferences dealing with climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation.
• This joint approach demonstrates an understanding of the interlinkages between the environmental crises facing the planet.

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Aadhaar Cards Now Clearly State Document’s Limits

New Aadhaar cards and digital copies now prominently state they are “proof of identity, not of citizenship or date of birth.” The explicit disclaimers signal to government agencies not to use Aadhaar for confirming citizenship or age. Though foreign residents can obtain Aadhaar after 6 months in India, departments currently accept it for services reserved for citizens and adults.

Election Commission Policy Impacts

• For example, the Election Commission allows using Aadhaar as proof of date of birth for voter enrollment. The visible warning on Aadhaar cards challenges this and other allowances. 
• The new cards also advise verifying Aadhaar offline only through the QR code or XML file from the Unique ID Authority.

Aadhaar Removed as DOB Proof

• At least one major organization, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation, has stopped accepting Aadhaar as date of birth proof, per a January 2023 circular. 
• The retirement fund administrator deleted Aadhaar from acceptable documents.

Longstanding Rules Now Visible

• In fact, rules against using Aadhaar to prove age or citizenship date back years. A 2018 government memo first clarified it was not valid as DOB proof. 
• Last year’s court ruling cited in a UIDAI circular reminded agencies, with the disclaimer now hard to miss on all cards as visual reinforcement.

Proof of Uniqueness and Residency Only

• While Aadhaar serves as proof of unique identity and residence for Indian inhabitants, the 12-digit number cannot reliably confirm citizenship or date of birth on its own. 
• Yet various government bodies currently accept stand-alone Aadhaar as sufficient identity documentation from citizens.

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Over 1100 Personnel Receive Gallantry, Service Medals

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced Gallantry and Service medals for 1132 personnel across police, fire, civil defense and correctional services ahead of India’s 75th Republic Day celebrations. The awards recognize brave and distinguished service to the nation.

Categories of Awards

• The awards are classified into 4 categories – President’s Medal for Gallantry, Medal for Gallantry, President’s Medal for Distinguished Service and Medal for Meritorious Service. 
• Together they honor acts of bravery in the line of duty as well as valuable service upholding security and public safety. The categorization aims to streamline the recognition process focused on core areas.

Number of Gallantry Medals Awarded

• 277 personnel have been honored with Gallantry Medals, consisting of 2 President’s Medal for Gallantry and 275 Medal for Gallantry awards. 
• They mark rare or conspicuous acts of courage undertaken during duties, often risking one’s own life.

Regional Distribution of Awards

• The Gallantry Medals recipients largely hail from left-wing extremism hit states (119 awardees) and Jammu and Kashmir (133 awardees) alongside some awardees from other parts of India, recognizing personnel tackling security challenges across regions.

Range of Services Represented

• The 277 Gallantry medals represent services ranging from state police forces and Central Armed Police Forces to border guarding forces like the SSB and BSF, including some posthumous awards to personnel martyred in the line of duty.

Number of Distinguished Service Medals

• 102 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service have been announced to recognize remarkable service records of police and fire service officials going beyond the call of duty to uphold law and public order.

Number of Meritorious Service Medals

• 753 personnel from police, fire, civil defense/home guards and prisons have been awarded Medal for Meritorious Service for committed service to society, showing grit, initiative and selflessness.

Significance of the Awards

• The 2024 Republic Day Gallantry and Service medals highlight personnel tackling tough law and order environments, risky operations and challenging duties with courage and dedication, upholding security, safety and stability across India.

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European Ports Alliance Launched

The EU launched a “European Ports Alliance” on to harmonize methods to combat drug smuggling and infiltration by criminal groups at ports. The initiative was inaugurated at Belgium’s Antwerp port, the main gateway for cocaine into Europe. It brought together EU interior ministers and representatives from 16 EU ports and sea transport organizations.

Need for coordinated effort

• A coordinated effort is needed because if efforts are only made at one port, criminals immediately move to another. Europe’s major ports currently face violence from local mafias seeking to maintain the lucrative illegal drug trade. 
• These groups include criminal gangs in the Netherlands with Moroccan roots and in Belgium with links to Albanian and Italian mafia rings. They attempt to bribe or coerce port workers, officials, truck drivers, customs and police to enable drug smuggling.

Booming cocaine market

• Cocaine smuggled from Latin America is flooding the European market. In Antwerp, annual seizures continue to increase, reaching 116 tonnes in 2023. 
• Antwerp also experiences frequent gang violence as groups compete for control of the trade. Seizures are skyrocketing, yet street prices are falling, indicating ample supply.

Criminals move to smaller ports

• As security has increased at ports like Rotterdam and now Antwerp, smugglers have moved to smaller ports like Helsingborg, Sweden. Similarly, reinforced security at Colombian ports led gangs to shift exports from Guayaquil, Ecuador which has become the main gateway to Europe for Colombian and Peruvian cocaine. In the EU, nearly 70% of customs drug seizures occur at ports, showing the need for cooperation between police, customs and private port operators to combat corruption enabling the trade.

Concern over synthetic drugs

• Alongside cocaine, authorities increasingly worry about synthetic drugs. French Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin attended the alliance launch and called for a joint strategy against fentanyl before it takes hold in Europe as it has in the U.S.
• Currently, fentanyl use remains “very low” in Europe, but the EU dismantles 400 drug laboratories yearly, mostly exporting synthetic drugs globally.

Key focus areas

• The ports alliance aims to increase information sharing and adopt effective models while mapping drug flows and dismantling the criminal groups behind them. 
• Because criminal groups quickly adapt, the focus cannot remain solely on shipments from Latin America. Smugglers also route drugs through West and North Africa to small boats bound for Europe.

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Union Cabinet Approves ₹8,500 Crore VGF for Coal Gasification

The Union Cabinet has approved a viability gap funding (VGF) scheme worth ₹8,500 crore to promote coal gasification projects in India. This move aims to encourage adoption of cleaner coal technologies for power generation and production of chemicals.

Three Categories of VGF Support

The VGF scheme has been divided into three segments. ₹4,050 crore grant will be provided for projects by 3 central PSUs. ₹3,850 crore has been allotted for inviting bids from public and private players. ₹600 crore is earmarked for small gasification plants and demonstration projects.

Incentivizing New Projects

Under this scheme, projects will receive Viability Gap Funding up to 15% of the total capital cost. This support will incentivize companies to set up coal gasification plants, which require large investments initially.

Coal Gasification Process

• In coal gasification, coal is chemically transformed into syngas using steam and controlled oxygen. The syngas can then be converted into chemicals like ammonia, fertilizers, methanol, DME, and synthetic natural gas.
• Coal gasification process is considered cleaner than directly burning coal in thermal power plants. Usage of syngas can reduce India’s imports of petroleum products and is aligned to the country’s net-zero emission goals.

Potential Applications

The chemicals produced via gasification have wide industrial applications. For instance, ammonia is used in fertilizers, methanol in fuels, and synthetic natural gas can substitute LPG.

Previous National Missions

The government has been actively promoting coal gasification under National Coal Gasification Mission. The national mission focuses on creating awareness, developing an implementation roadmap and achieving the target to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030

New JV Projects Approved

The Cabinet approved equity participation by Coal India in two joint ventures for setting up coal-to-chemical projects:

• The joint venture is between Coal India and GAIL India Ltd aims to establish a coal-to-synthetic natural gas plant with an estimated project cost of ₹13,052 crore.
• The joint venture is between Coal India and BHEL Ltd will implement a coal-to-ammonium nitrate project with an anticipated expenditure of ₹11,782 crore.

The final project costs for both these ventures can vary by plus or minus 25% as per the sanctioned scope. Through equity investment in these projects, Coal India aims to foster adoption of coal gasification technologies and contribute towards building domestic capacity for manufacturing value-added coal derivatives.

Assured Offtake for Viability

The synthetic natural gas produced by the Coal India-GAIL JV will be offloaded by fertilizer plants ensuring consistent demand. Ammonium nitrate from the Coal India-BHEL project will be used for mining explosives.

Strategy to Reduce Coal Imports

Increased adoption of coal gasification will enable reduction of India’s dependence on energy imports and transition towards self-reliance, in line with government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

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14 High Risk Zones Identified in Joshimath

The Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) has identified 14 high risk zones in Joshimath after a detailed survey. These zones with severe land subsidence include houses in the Marwari, Sunil, Upper Bazar, Lower Bazar, Singhdhar and Manohar Bagh areas. Residing in these high risk houses poses major safety risks. Around 1,000 residential and commercial structures fall in these high risk zones.

Cracks Not Widened

• Positively, the survey found that the cracks and subsidence reported last year have not widened or deepened over the past six months. 
• However, the identified areas remain highly dangerous for habitation.

Relocation Options

• CBRI has proposed two options for residents of the 14 high risk zones. They can either take compensation or relocate to a newly developed smart village with modern amenities and facilities. 
• CBRI will provide full support to the state government in building an ideal new village.

Resident Concerns

• When state disaster management authorities explained the situation and options to affected Joshimath residents, they protested the proposal. 
• Residents said their livelihoods depend on Joshimath’s location and they prefer relocation to additional land within town rather than a new village far away.

Joshimath’s Importance

• Located in Chamoli district, Joshimath, also referred to as Jyotirmath, is an important Himalayan tourist and pilgrimage gateway town. Perched at an altitude of 6,150 feet (1,875 meters) above sea level, Joshimath serves as a crucial launching point for many Himalayan mountain climbing ventures, trekking routes, and important Hindu pilgrimage sites like Badrinath. 
• Additionally, Joshimath houses one of the four sacred cardinal mathas founded by the Hindu spiritual leader Adi Shankaracharya. Its strategic location in the Himalayas has thus established Joshimath as a vital hub for adventure tourism and religious travel.

Zoning of Risk

• Authorities have demarcated Joshimath into severe, medium and low land subsidence risk zones. One third area lies under serious threat. 
• All options will be discussed with the central government before finalizing relocation plans.

Rejection of New Site

• The proposed relocation site in Gauchar, over 90 kms from Joshimath, has been rejected by the Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, alleging inadequate public consultation. 
• Residents want alternate land within Joshimath for relocation.

Cracks and Fissures

• Large dangerous cracks and fissures had appeared across buildings and ground in January 2023 due to subsidence. 
• This led to evacuation of many families to temporary relief camps and shelters.

Ongoing Discussions

• While the identified high risk zones remain dangerously uninhabitable, discussions around relocation options, resident concerns, livelihood impacts, and rehabilitation packages are still underway between authorities and affected Joshimath residents.

Safety First

• Nevertheless, the safety of Joshimath residents remains the foremost priority. 
• Difficult decisions may need to be taken even if it means residents moving away from Joshimath to protect their lives from future subsidence disasters.

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Overhauling of the Semiconductor Scheme

India’s $10 billion Semicon India program, including the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme for chip design startups, has seen lackluster outcomes versus targets. With the DLI’s mid-term review upcoming, policymakers have an opportunity to assess shortfalls and refocus efforts.

Strategic priorities

• India’s semiconductor strategy has three main aims – curbing electronics imports from China, integrating into the global chip value chain, and leveraging existing chip design talent for self-reliance. 
• Stimulating design ecosystem links to the fabrication and assembly industry goals too.

Supporting just 7 startups

• Against a 5-year target of backing 100 design startups, the DLI scheme has approved only 7 since 2021. While providing access to design software and financial incentives, strict norms have deterred applicants. 
• Boosting design capabilities is vital for cementing India’s semiconductor aspirations amid resource constraints.

Barriers for startups

• The DLI scheme prohibits raising over 50% funds through foreign direct investment to retain domestic status for 3 years post-incentives. 
• But capital costs in chip design are high, and Indian hardware investors risk-averse. Capping foreign equity starve startups of funds to offset modest incentives worth ₹15-30 crore.

Broadening objectives

• Rather than limiting DLI to startups ready for mass production, the scheme should look to foster a wider array of chip design firms to nurture India’s semiconductor talent base. 
• Though relaxed norms, larger incentives and removing ownership curbs. Financial failures should be tolerated to establish India’s footing.

Implementation challenges

• The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing currently oversees DLI as both market player and regulator, raising conflict of interest issues. 
• Karnataka’s Semiconductor Fabless Accelerator Lab offers a blueprint for a dedicated DLI agency providing startups access to mentors, industry and investors.

Wider recommendations

• A targeted DLI policy steered by a capable institution can seed India’s chip design ecosystem. Rather than limiting startups, it should spur innovation around chip IP. 
• Still, fabrication incentives need timely appraisal too, given utilization issues. Holistic handholding with coordinated policy and execution is key.

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Canada Caps Student Visas, Tweaks Work Permits

In a major policy shift, Canada will cap the number of study permits for new international students to 360,000 for the 2024-25 academic year beginning September 1st. This 35% reduction from 2023 student visa levels intends to ensure sustainable intake volumes going forward. Permits will be rationed among provinces to allocate to educational institutions under their jurisdiction based on regional absorption capacities.

Assessing annually

• The student visa numbers for 2025 will be set next year depending on 2024’s experience. So the cap isn’t permanent, but aims to enable evidence-based yearly calibrating of student inflows. 
• Applicable only for fresh applicants, existing international students can continue unimpacted.

Post-study work permits tightened

• From September, Canada will stop issuing post-graduation work permits to students enrolled under public-private programs lacking stringent quality oversight. 
• Moreover, student spouses will get open work rights only if the principal applicant pursues masters or doctoral programs. This intends filtering disreputable institutions and guarding labor markets.

Addressing system stresses

• Canada’s Immigration Minister has explained these moves as necessary for keeping international student growth manageable for communities facing resource constraints and safeguarding their well-being. 
• Reports of some students enduring poor living conditions and predatory environments have amplified concerns.

Indians set to be hit

• As India sends the highest number of students to Canada annually, the visa quota will significantly impact Indian applicants. 
• Canada is already a top destination for Indian students owing to attractive post-study work opportunities, which now stand partially curtailed.

Surge in student populace

• Favorable policies had led to Canada’s international student numbers rising steeply from just 326,000 in 2014 to over 1 million by end-2023. 
• Such a rapid increase within a decade has possibly outstripped the country’s absorptive capacities. The latest changes intend to press pause and enable course correction.

Beyond students

• Apart from student permits, Canada has been tightening rules for temporary foreign workers too. Last month it doubled the mandatory funds requirement for new study permit applicants to demonstrate financial security. 
• The measures aim to enhance integrity of Canada’s temporary migration policies to align with domestic labor market realities.

Managing priorities

• While seeking to uphold humanitarian commitments, Canada feels the need for evidencing controlled immigration flows. 
• Curbing expedited pathways for student settlement while still attracting top global talent reflects the tricky balancing act its policymakers are attempting.

Consultations forthcoming

• The newly elected government in Canada has emphasized it will seek inputs from immigrant advocacy groups, educational bodies and provincial administrations before finalizing its 2025 student visa approach. 
• Stakeholder consultations can help improve the visa allocation criteria and availability projections.

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Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2024

The Indian Government has amended the mineral auction rules through a notification of the Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2024. The changes aim to improve transparency, promote competition and boost state revenue from mineral auctions.

Capping upfront fees

• The amendments introduce an upper limit of Rs 500 crore on the one-time upfront payment made by the successful bidder for a mineral block. 
• Earlier, there was no cap which led to aggressive upfront commitments. The cap provides flexibility to bidders.

Restricting affiliate bidding

• To minimize anti-competitive practices, the new norms bar corporate affiliates from bidding for the same mineral block. 
• The rules define an affiliate as an entity controlled by another bidder for that specific auction. Any affiliate bids made will also be publicly disclosed to ensure level playing field.

Facilitating exploration licensing

• The amended rules enable state governments to directly grant exploration licenses (EL) via auctions. 
• The license holder can explore mineral reserves before potential mining leases. This boosts upfront investment in comprehensive mineral exploration.

Standardizing EL safeguards

• The revisions set a uniform performance security deposit of ₹2 crore for exploration permits spanning 500-1000 square kilometers. 
• This standardization provides clarity to potential EL bidders regarding financial commitments beforehand.

Empowering states on revenue sharing

• State governments will now define the maximum percentage share of auction premiums payable to them once commercial mining begins under the exploration license. 
• This enhances states’ rights over revenue sharing from eventual mineral production after preliminary exploration.

Attracting investment interest

• By reducing upfront payment burdens and enhancing exploration policy certainty, the auction rule changes aim to attract greater private participation. 
• Competitive efficiency through restrictions on affiliate bidding should also enable level playing field for investors.

Bolstering transparency

• The latest amendments are in line with India’s mineral sector policy orientation towards transparent and competitive mechanisms for subsoil resource allocation. 
• Publicly disclosing affiliate bids reinforces transparency objectives.

Implementation key

• The policy provisions updating India’s mineral auction framework incorporate long-standing regulatory reform demands. 
• Their on-ground implementation will now need monitored, especially decentralization of exploration permitting and states’ revenue share decisions.

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11th Edition of India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Military Exercise ‘Khanjar’

The 11th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan joint military exercise, ‘Khanjar’, commenced on January 22 in Himachal Pradesh. The two-week long exercise aims to boost defence cooperation and exchange expertise on counterterrorism operations.

What is the Khanjar exercise?

• Khanjar is an annual joint military exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan, conducted alternately in the two countries. 
• The current edition is being organised at the Special Forces Training School in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh. The 11-day exercise involves drills and simulations for counterterrorism operations in mountainous areas.

Key objectives

• The Khanjar exercise focuses on honing special forces skills, including insertion, extraction and ambush techniques. 
• It aims to address shared security threats like terrorism and extremism. The exercise also offers an opportunity to display indigenous military equipment capabilities. Overall, it intends to fortify India-Kyrgyzstan defence collaboration.

Participants

• The Indian contingent comprises 20 personnel from the elite Parachute Regiment’s Special Forces. 
• The Kyrgyzstan contingent also has 20 personnel, from the Scorpion Brigade. Senior military officials from both sides will be closely observing the exercise.

Focus areas

• As part of the United Nations Charter, the drill concentrates on counterterrorism scenarios in built-up areas as well as mountainous terrain. 
• This involves planning and executing special operations while neutralising simulated terrorist threats. Use of high-tech equipment for surveillance and combat operations is also being demonstrated.

Wider cooperation

• Beyond joint exercises, India and Kyrgyzstan have an extensive defence partnership spanning capacity building, training military personnel, servicing equipment and cooperation in border security. 
• As part of this, India gifted vehicles and bulletproof jackets to Kyrgyzstan’s forces last December.

Importance of mountain warfare capacity

• Enhancing mountain warfare abilities is a priority for both India and Kyrgyzstan due to the terrain and persistent terrorism concerns. 
• Control over mountain passes is also strategically vital. The Khanjar exercise develops specialised skills like scaling cliffs and surviving in tough conditions – crucial to secure borders.

Equipment display

• The exercise envisions exhibiting cutting-edge military gear produced indigenously, aligning with India’s self-reliance push. 
• This serves to showcase domestic defence industry capabilities. For instance, Indian Army contingents have deployed newly-introduced assault rifles during the Khanjar exercise.

Diplomatic signal

• The Khanjar drill comes just months after clashes erupted between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan troops over a disputed segment of their mountainous border. 
• The exercise indicates India’s support for Kyrgyzstan amidst regional tensions. It also signals New Delhi’s widening Central Asia engagement.

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Ayodhya Ram Temple’s Solar-Powered “Surya Tilak” for Ram Lalla

As per plans, every year on Ram Navami marking Lord Ram’s birth, the Ram Lalla deity in Ayodhya’s new Ram Mandir will receive a “Surya Tilak” – sunlight focused onto Ram Lalla’s forehead for 6 minutes at noon through an arrangement of lenses and mirrors designed by Indian scientists.

Honoring the Solar Lineage of Lord Ram

• The sun holds special significance in the Hindu epics as the progenitor of Lord Ram’s solar dynasty descent. 
• Ayodhya was the capital of this “Suryavansh” lineage of the sun god. The “Surya Tilak” ritual honors Rama’s divine solar origins while looking forward.

Ayodhya’s Wider Solar-Powered Transition

• The solar tilak complements large-scale sustainable energy infrastructure projects to position Ayodhya as Uttar Pradesh’s first solar-powered city over 2023-2028. 
• This supports India’s renewable energy and net zero emissions targets.

Solar Components of Ayodhya’s New Identity

• Plans entail solar-energy street lighting, electric transport infrastructure, government building solarisation, solar parks, etc alongside the history-linking ritual. 
• Ayodhya aims to showcase prototypes for solar transition in other India cities.

Leveraging India’s Solar Resources

• As a tropical country with abundant sunlight, India holds advantages for solar power generation. 
• Uttar Pradesh’s Solar Energy Policy 2022 also focuses on increasing penetration of solar energy for domestic and commercial uses statewide beyond Ayodhya.

Weaving Spirituality with Sustainability

Blending religious lore about Lord Ram’s lineage with eco-friendly architecture like the solar tilak denotes Indian civilizational ethos’ interconnections between faith, ethics and environmental consciousness – sustaining the planet’s resources for future generations.

India’s Innovative and Inclusive Growth

Analysts observe that Ayodhya’s fusion of smart technologies like the tilak system with heritage conservation demonstrates how India marries traditional knowledge systems and contemporary R&D capabilities to uplift people’s prosperity ethically including rural communities formerly deprived of development gains. The solar initiatives carry forth this philosophy.

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Modi Reenacting Somnath History at Ayodhya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Ram Mandir temple in Ayodhya on January 22nd, 2024. This echoes a similar grand inauguration ceremony 73 years ago in 1950 when President Rajendra Prasad inaugurated the Somnath temple. However, India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had opposed the government and President directly participating in the Somnath ceremony. Nehru expressed reservations about the secular government associating with a religious event.

Centuries of Attacks and Rebuilding

• The Somnath temple in Gujarat is an important Hindu pilgrimage site as the home of the first Jyotirlinga shrine to Shiva and Krishna’s last steps. Its history carries much symbolic weight for Hinduism.
• Over the centuries, Somnath was damaged or destroyed several times by Muslim invaders, most notably by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026. Some Muslim rulers later restored Hindu access like Akbar in the 1500s, but Aurangzeb ordered its demolition in 1706 shortly before his death.

British Claims as Hindu Insult

• The British under Governor General Ellenborough dramatically claimed returning Somnath’s gates from Afghanistan avenged an 800-year Islamic insult against Hindus in 1842, stirring Hindu nationalist passions, though the gates had no connection to Somnath.

Independence Movement and Reconstruction

• After independence, Sardar Patel prioritized Somnath’s reconstruction as important for Hindu sentiment and pride, backed by Hindu nationalists like K.M. Munshi.
• This mirrored colonial era claims of Muslim excess and Hindu victimhood. Based on Gandhi’s guidance, a trust collected funds for the rebuilding from the Hindu public.

Nehru’s Concerns over Secularism

• Prime Minister Nehru strongly opposed President Prasad associating with Somnath’s inauguration in 1951, arguing the secular government should avoid direct participation in religious activities, amidst criticism this supported Hindu revivalism.

Echoes in Ayodhya 2023

• The parallels to Modi preparing to inaugurate a newly rebuilt Ram Mandir at Ayodhya in 2023 based on overwhelming Hindu support and donations are clear. 
• While not legally government-backed, Modi’s high visibility signals a shift from Nehru’s secular stance.

Similar Claims of Rectifying Injustice

• Proponents similarly frame both Ayodhya and Somnath as rectifying historical Muslim crimes against Hindus through rebuilding campaigns. 
• However, critics allege exploiting religious grievances for political ends threatens India’s secular foundations and risks further dividing communities.

Lasting Questions over Religion and State

• Even after over 70 years, the opposing Nehru vs Patel views on state association with symbolic Hindu sites continue to define debates on secularism in modern India. 
• As with Somnath earlier, important questions around these themes have resurfaced with renewed intensity in the context of Ayodhya.

Broader Hindu Nationalist Agenda

• While Ayodhya holds deep religious importance for many Hindus on its own merits, political analysts also situate the Ram temple as part of a wider Hindu nationalist effort for India to publicly reclaim an identity rooted in only Hindu historical narratives, often at the cost of pluralism and minority inclusion.

Unresolved Legal Disputes

• As in Somnath’s aftermath earlier, the Ayodhya site’s redevelopment remains legally disputed. Lower court battles related to the 1992 mosque demolition spearheaded by BJP and Hindu right wing leaders accused of inciting religious hatred continue. 
• Though the Supreme Court has ruled on the property, this violent history and contributing forces remain controversial.

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