PIB Summary- 8th February, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Central Sector Scheme to address air pollution and manage crop residues

Context: The central sector scheme for the ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi’ has been implemented during 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Details of the scheme

• It was announced in Budget 2018.
• The objectives of the scheme are:
• Protecting environment from air pollution and preventing loss of nutrients and soil micro-organisms caused by burning of crop residue.
• Promoting in-situ management of crop residue by retention and incorporation into the soil through the use of appropriate mechanization inputs.
• Creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration, capacity building activities and differentiated Information, Education and Communication strategies for effective utilization and management of crop residue.
• This Scheme was further extended for the year 2020-21.
• The residue burning events in 2020 in Punjab, Haryana and UP together have reduced by -30% as compared to 2016. In Punjab the reduction is -22.7%, Haryana – 63.8% and UP – 52.01%.

What is Stubble Burning?

Stubble burning is the intentional burning or setting on fire of crop residue to remove them from the field in order to sow the next crop.

• Leaving stubble on the field will invite termites and other pests which can damage the subsequent crop.
• In Punjab and Haryana, farmers burn the stubble (rice chaff) left after the rice harvest so that the field may be readied for the next Rabi (winter) crop like wheat.
• In these areas, it begins around October, the same time at which the southwest monsoon withdraws.
• Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) makes stubble burning a crime. Additionally, it was notified as an offence under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• Despite being banned, the practice continues in India, where farmers cite a lack of viable alternatives to clear their fields of stubble.

Why do farmers burn stubble?
Stubble burning has been practiced by farmers from all over the world although many governments have prohibited the practice in various degrees. In this section, we will see why farmers in northern India burn stubble.

• In the 1960s, as part of the Green Revolution, farmers in Punjab and Haryana were encouraged to do wheat-paddy crop rotation to make India self-reliant in grains production.
• As a result and because of assured procurement of rice and subsidies, rice acreage increased. 
• The Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act (2009) made it mandatory for farmers to transplant paddy late during the Kharif season to prevent loss of water.
• This gives the farmers very little time between harvesting the rice crop and preparing the field for the next winter crop.
• Hence, stubble burning is a quick, cheap and easy way to clear the field of any rice chaff residue.
• One reason for the large quantity of rice stubble left behind after harvesting is the increased modernisation and mechanisation of agriculture. Mechanised harvesting extracts the rice grains only leaving behind huge residue. Manual harvesting is not an option for farmers because of the huge labour charges and the increased time taken.
• Earlier, the stubble used to be used by farmers as hay to keep animals or homes warm, and even for cooking. However, these uses of stubble have now become outdated.
• Also, rice straw is not considered suitable as fodder for animals because of its high silica content (this is true for the non-basmati variety of rice).
• Despite the Punjab government making available tractor-mounted ‘happy seeders’ to cut down the rice stubble and sow wheat seeds simultaneously, many farmers find the prices of these machines or their rents prohibitive. So, they continue to burn stubble.
  • To use a ‘happy seeder’ machine, farmers have to shell out Rs.1000 per acre of land as machine rent and a further Rs.2000 for diesel.
• A few other machines/devices have been introduced by the government. However, many farmers cite suitability as an issue.
• Also, stubble burning requires only a matchbox whereas the adoption of these machines incurs additional costs for the farmers.

Advantages of Stubble Burning

• It is the cheapest and quickest way to deal with crop waste.
• It destroys weeds including those that are resistant to herbicides.
• It kills other pests also, such as slugs.
• It can decrease nitrogen tie-up.

What are the effects of stubble burning?
Stubble burning has very adverse effects on the environment. 

• Pollution: According to a study, the burning of crop residue released about 149 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, more than 9 million tonnes of carbon monoxide, 0.25 million tonnes of oxides of sulphur (SOX), 1.28 million tonnes of particulate matter (PM) and 0.07 million tonnes of black carbon. As evident, it contributes to a lot of greenhouse gas emissions.
  • In particular, the stubble burning across Punjab and Haryana contributes to the winter haze in Delhi where about 40% of the near-surface PM can be attributed to the stubble burning.
  • It also contributes to the winter smog seen in these parts of the country.
• Soil fertility: Burning stubble also adversely affects soil fertility. It destroys the soil’s nutrients making it less fertile. This is because the heat generated during the burning kills the bacterial and fungal populations which are crucial for fertile soil.
• Stubble burning can also cause an increase in ‘enemy’ pests because, during the burning, many microorganisms in the air are killed. The loss of these organisms leads to an increase in the pests, in turn, causing increased diseases in crops.

Loss of wealth from stubble

Another ill-effect of stubble burning is the loss of ‘wealth’ from the stubble.

• High-grade organic fertilizers can be prepared by mixing the stubble with cow dung and some natural enzymes. 
  • This has been initiated by the Chhattisgarh government which has set up gauthans in many villages. In these, gauthans, farmers bring their stubble to a ‘gauthan’ where it is mixed with cow dung and enzymes to obtain organic fertilizer. This initiative also provides employment to the rural youth.
• A lot of nitrogen, potassium, sulphur, phosphorous as well as organic carbon are destroyed every year on account of stubble burning. They should ideally be used to make organic manure. This will also reduce the dependency and use of chemical fertilizers.
• Straw can also be used in electricity generation.

Measures to curb stubble burning
The administration has taken several measures to curb the practice of stubble burning by farmers.

• In 2019, the Supreme Court directed the governments of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to pay farmers a financial incentive to curb the practice.
• In 2020, the Government of Punjab appointed 8000 nodal officers in villages that grow paddy in order to put a check on stubble burning.
• Already, penalties for stubble burning are imposed on farmers who break the law and resort to burning crop residue.
• More than 23,000 crop residue management machines are being given to farmers for on-site management of straw.
• The state had been demanding the Centre to give ₹100 per quintal to farmers for managing the paddy straw without burning. However, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority or EPCA had said that this was not viable.
• Under a 100% centrally-funded scheme, in-situ residue management machines are given to individual farmers at 50% subsidy and to CHCs (custom hiring centres) at 80% subsidy.
• The states of Punjab and Haryana are also providing such machines and setting up more CHCs.
• In October 2020, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that it would bring in a law to curb stubble burning.
• The SC had also decided to form a one-man committee chaired by Justice Madan Lokur to monitor/prevent stubble burning in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. This order has been kept in abeyance as of 28 October 2020.

Solutions to stubble burning problem
A few solutions to the problem of stubble burning are discussed below.

• Incentivise farmers for not burning the stubble and provide economic value for the crop residue. The stubble can be converted into fodder or organic fertilizer or fuel. The government should also subsidise or incentivise the industries that are engaged in converting stubble into economically viable products.
• Efforts should be made to improve the combine harvester that farmers use to harvest the crop. The current machine used leaves behind a huge residue. Improvement should be made in the technology used in such machines so that minimal residue is left behind.
• Encourage and incentivise the farmers to go for early paddy, so as to give them enough time to harvest and thereafter prepare their fields for the next Rabi crop.
• Encourage farmers to sow alternate crops and shift them away in the long run from paddy to maize, fruits, vegetables and cotton.
• Use machinery like the Happy Seeder to remove the stubble. The government should make these machines available and economically viable for farmers.
• Penalise farmers that indulge in stubble burning. Despite penalties, many farmers engage in this practice because they find it cheaper to pay the fines rather than incurring the expenses for the alternatives for stubble burning. The government can also consider reinterpreting the MSP scheme to disallow the benefits of the scheme to farmers who practice crop residue burning.
• The government has to increase monetary incentives for avoiding stubble burning and also make machines that counter stubble burning an affordable, viable and accessible option for farmers.
• Farmers have a difficult time unlearning the practice of stubble burning and they should be educated about its ill-effects and also offered attractive alternatives.
• Eminent agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan has suggested that the Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments could set up ‘Rice Bio Parks’, where farmers could convert stubble into products including paper, cardboard and animal feed.

National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)

Context: 328 appeals have been filed before NCLAT from decisions of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

About the NCLAT

• The NCLAT was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 for hearing appeals against the orders of National Company Law Tribunal.
• The NCLAT is also the appellate tribunal for hearing appeals against:
  • Orders passed by NCLT(s) under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
  • Orders passed by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC.
  • Any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
• Benches of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) are set up in various States depending on the case load and other relevant factors.
• Considering the heavy case load at some existing benches, additional members have been appointed and additional courts have been operationalised from time to time.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

Context: As reported by Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and 14 major Private Sector Banks, as on January 2021, a total number of 41.75 crore accounts have been opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). This information was given by the Union MoS for Finance and Corporate Affairs.

Details

• Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched by Narendra Modi on 28th August 2014. It is a national mission with an aim to provide access to various financial services including Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension, Banking Savings & Deposit Accounts in an affordable manner. Prime Minister Narendra Modi first announced this scheme during his Independence Day speech on 15th August 2014.

Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) – National Mission for Financial Inclusion, completed its six years of successful implementation in August 2020. 

• Financial Inclusion is the delivery of financial services at an affordable cost to the vast sections of the disadvantaged and low-income groups, providing them with timely and adequate access to financial products and services.
• With the outbreak of Covid-19 in India, the Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman made an announcement to provide Rs. 500 per month to every Women Jan-Dhan Account Holders for the next three months.This announcement was made on 26th March 2020 as an initiative towards the loss caused by the outbreak.
• A relief package worth Rs 1.70 lakh crore will also be provided by the government to tackle the financial difficulties arising from Covid-19 outbreak under the PM Garib Kalyan Scheme. The 21 days lockdown is expected to cost the Indian Economy a cost of around 9 lakh crores.
• As of 3rd August 2020, it was reported that more than 40 crore bank accounts have been opened under the government’s flagship financial inclusion drive
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana is a financial inclusion campaign which provides universal access to banking facilities. It also ensures to provide financial literacy with at least one basic banking account for every household in India.

What are the benefits of the PMJDY scheme?

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was introduced with a target of opening bank accounts for around 7.5 crores uncovered households in India by 26th of January, 2015. This scheme was successful in opening around 12.54 crore accounts by 31st January 2015 with deposits exceeding Rs. 10,000 crores. PMJDY scheme is also certified by the Guinness World Records for its achievements which states that most bank accounts opened in one week as part of the Financial Inclusion Campaign is 18,096,130 and was achieved by the Department of Financial Services, Government of India.
Some of the benefits provided under this scheme are mentioned below:

• The scheme covers both the urban as well as rural areas and provides an indigenous Debit Card (RuPay card) to each of its account holders.
• No minimum balance is required for opening an account under this scheme. The beneficiary can open his/her account in any bank branch or Business Correspondent outlet at zero balance.
• It ensures to provide on Core Banking System (CBS) along with mobile banking using USSD facilities. A facility of call center and a toll-free number is available nationwide.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana provides each beneficiary with basic banking accounts with a debit card with inbuilt accident insurance.
• Rs. 5,000 overdraft facility for Aadhar-linked accounts as well as a RuPay debit card with inbuilt Rs. 1 lakh accident insurance cover is one of the main features provided by this scheme.
• For accounts that are opened between 15th August 2014 and 26th January 2015, a Life Insurance cover of Rupees 30,000 is provided to the eligible beneficiaries. Also after remaining active for 6 months, the beneficiary will be eligible for an overdraft of up to Rs 5,000.

Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
The implementation of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) occurred in three phases:

Phase I: 15 August 2014 – 14 August 2015

• PMJDY scheme was implemented during this period with an aim to provide universal access to banking facilities for all the household families across the country with at least one basic banking account with RuPay Debit Card which had an inbuilt accident insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh.
• It provided a financial literacy program to the villages.
• Issuing of the Kisan Credit Card was also proposed during this period.

Phase II – 15 August 2015 – 14 August 2018

• It aimed at providing microinsurance to the people and pension schemes like Swavalamban to the unorganized sector through the Business Correspondents.

Phase III – after 14 August 2018

• PMJDY focused on opening accounts for every household with an existing Overdraft (OD) limit of Rs 5,000 to be raised to Rs 10,000. No conditions were attached for OD up to Rs 2,000.
• The age limit for availing the OD facility was revised from 18-60 years to 18-65 years.
• Under this expanded coverage, an accidental insurance cover for new RuPay card holders has raised from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh if the accounts were opened after 28.8.18.

Achievements under PMJDY –

• Total Number of PMJDY Accounts (as of 19th August 2020) is 40.35 Crore; Rural PMJDY accounts 63.6%, Women PMJDY accounts 55.2%. Out of the total of 40.35 crore PMJDY accounts, 34.81 crores (86.3%) are operative.
• Total deposit balances under PMJDY Accounts stand at Rs. 1.31 lakh crore.
• During the first year of the scheme 17.90 crore PMJDY accounts were opened.
• Deposits have increased about 5.7 times with an increase in accounts 2.3 times between 2015 to 2020.
• A mobile application named Jan Dhan Darshak App was launched to provide a citizen-centric platform for locating banking touchpoints such as bank branches, ATMs, Bank Mitras, Post Offices, etc.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan

Context: Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan was launched in June 2020 to boost employment and livelihood opportunities for returnee migrant workers and similarly affected citizens in rural area, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan

• This massive rural public works scheme has been launched to boost opportunities for livelihood in rural India.
• The districts will join this programme through the Common Service Centres and Krishi Vikas Kendras (KVKs).
• The campaign will be spread across 125 days and aims to work in mission mode to help migrant workers.
• It will involve intensified and focused implementation of 25 different types of work to provide jobs and create infrastructure in rural regions.
• Combined outlay of the programme would be Rs. 50,000 crore.
• Workers will be employed in rural housing, rural connectivity including the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, national highways, railway works, community sanitation complex, gram panchayats, anganwadis, water conservation, digging of wells, plantation and horticulture.
• The scheme will see coordination between 12 different Ministries/Departments.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana

Context: Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) has been launched to incentivize employers for the creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY)

• Government of India will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new employees engaged on or after 1st October, 2020 and up to 30th June, 2021.
• Government of India will pay both 12% employees’ contribution and 12% employers’ contribution i.e. 24% of wages towards EPF in respect of new employees in establishments employing upto 1000 employees for two years
• Government of India will pay only employees’ share of EPF contribution i.e. 12% of wages in respect of new employees in establishments employing more than 1000 employee for two years.
• An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) before 1st October, 2020 and did not have a Universal Account Number or EPF Member account number prior to 1st October 2020 will be eligible for the benefit.
• Any EPF member possessing Universal Account Number (UAN) drawing monthly wage of less than Rs 15000 who made exit from employment during Covid pandemic from March 1, 2020, to September 30, 2020, and did not join employment in any EPF covered establishment up to September 30 will also be eligible to avail benefit.

Setting up of Migration Commission

Context: NITI Aayog has constituted a sub-group to prepare a National Action Plan for Migrant Workers.

Details

• The sub-group comprises members from various ministries of the Govt. of India, subject experts, NGOs and civil society organisations, to prepare a tangible action plan to address issues related to migrant workers.

Background

• In order to safeguard the interest of the migrant workers, the Central Government had enacted the Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979.
• This Act has now been subsumed in the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 and the Code has been notified on 29.09.2020.
• The above mentioned code, commonly known as OSH Code, provides for decent working conditions, minimum wages, grievances redressal mechanisms, protection from abuse and exploitation, enhancement of the skills and social security to all category of organised and unorganised workers including Migrant workers.
• The Code is applicable to every establishment in which 10 or more inter-state migrant workers are employed or were employed on any day of the preceding 12 months.

Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)

What is the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board?

• PNGRB was constituted under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006.
• The Act provides for the establishment of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board to protect the interests of consumers and entities engaged in specified activities relating to petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas and to promote competitive markets and for related matters.
• The Board’s mandate also includes regulating the refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas (excluding production of crude oil and natural gas) so as to ensure uninterrupted and adequate supply of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas in all parts of the country.
• The Statutory Board engages in the registration of entities that market notified petroleum and petroleum products, establish and operate liquefied natural gas terminals, etc.

Sadiya Earthquake

Context: Scientists have found the first geological evidence of an earthquake at Himebasti Village on the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, documented by historians as Sadiya earthquake.

Details

• Sadiya earthquake is recorded to have caused massive destruction in the region and almost destroyed the town in 1697 CE.
• This finding could contribute to a seismic hazard map of the eastern Himalaya, which can facilitate construction and planning in the region.
• Historical archives refer to often recurring earthquakes along the Eastern Himalaya for which geological evidence is lacking, raising the question of whether these events ruptured the surface or remained blind and how they contribute to the seismic budget of the region, which is home to millions of inhabitants.

What is the present study?

• Scientists carried out a mega trench excavation at Himebasti village, Arunachal Pradesh where the most recent event records the imprints of the 1697 Sadiya earthquake and analysed it with modern geological techniques.
• They found the first geological surface rupture signatures in the form of exposed deposits associated with rivers and streams deformed by a thrust fault along a Northeast dipping fault zone.
• In order to constrain the causative faulting event at this site, the team dated twenty-one radiocarbon samples from the trench exposure.
• They also found large tree trunks embedded in the youngest flood deposits at the exit of the Subansiri River (Sadiya town is located roughly 145 km southeast of Subansiri river), suggesting the post-seismic aggradation of the river following an array of aftershocks till six months in an abortive fashion.

Significance

• The study of the earthquake at Sadiya standing on a grassy plain, almost surrounded by forested Eastern Himalayas on the right bank of the Lohit River, adds an important site to the seismic hazard assessment of the eastern Himalaya.
• This which will benefit the inhabitants and help in providing better infrastructure across the Eastern Himalayan foothills which is one of the most densely populated regions in the world.

Who conducted the Study?

• Scientists from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), a research institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.