Weekly Current Affairs (22nd to 31st July 2022) - 2 - UPSC PDF Download

Ramsar Sites

Context: Five new Indian sites have been recognised as wetlands of international importance, as part of the Ramsar Convention.

Key highlights

• Three wetlands from Tamil Nadu and One each from Mizoram & Madhya Pradesh have been identified under the Ramsar Convention. 
• After this, total number of Ramsar Sites in India has reached to 54, as opposed to 49 earlier.
• The Ramsar convention was established by UNESCO on February 2, 1971. It is named after Ramsar city in Iran where the convention was signed. It is an intergovernmental environmental treaty which encourages the international cooperation and national action to conserve the wetlands and sustainably use their resources. 

The sites that are designated as wetlands of international importance are:

• Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest, Tamil Nadu: It is a freshwater marsh in Chennai.
• Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu: It is a 61.21-hectare protected area located in Kancheepuram District of Tamil Nadu. 
• Pichavaram Mangrove, Tamil Nadu: It is located near Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu and is one of the largest mangrove forests in the country.
• Pala wetland, Mizoram: It is the largest natural wetland in Mizoram.
• Sakhya Sagar, Madhya Pradesh: This lake is an integral part of Madhav National Park in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh. 

Indermit Gill

Context: World Bank has appointed Indian national Indermit Gill as its Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics. 

Key Facts

• Indermit Gill will succeed American economist Carmen Reinhart in the role and his appointment will be effective 1 September 2022.
• Gill is currently Vice President for Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions, where he led work on macroeconomics, debt, trade, poverty, and governance.
• Between 2016 and 2021, he was a professor of public policy at Duke University and non-resident senior fellow in the Global Economy and Development program at the Brookings Institution.
• Gill will be only the second Indian to serve as chief economist at the international financial institution after Kaushik Basu, who was Chief Economist of the World Bank from 2012 to 2016.
• Raghuram Rajan and Gita Gopinath, two other notable Indian economists, have served as chief economists of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a body closely affiliated with the World Bank.

Winston Churchill Leadership Award

Context: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson presented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the Sir Winston Churchill Leadership Award, drawing comparisons between the two leaders in times of crises. 

Key Highlights

• Zelenskyy accepted the award by video link during a ceremony at Johnson's London office that was attended by members of the Churchill family, Ukrainian Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko and Ukrainians who have received training from British soldiers.
• The Ukrainian leader received a standing ovation in the British Parliament in March, when he invoked one of Churchill's most famous speeches and vowed to fight Russian troops in the air, sea and on the streets.
• The Churchill leadership award was first presented in 2006.
• Past recipients include Prince Charles, former British Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major, and former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. 

Revival package for BSNL

Context: The Union Cabinet has cleared a Rs 1.64- lakh crore package for revival of state-owned telecom service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

Key Highlights

• The revival package has been released with the focus on fresh capital for upgrading the loss-making company’s network and allocating spectrum for it to offer 4G services, de-stressing its balance sheet and augmenting its fiber network.
• The four-year revival strategy follows a 2019 booster, when the government announced a Rs 70,000-crore package mainly to cover a voluntary retirement scheme for BSNL employees.
• Of the total revival package announced recently, Rs 43,964 crore will be a cash component, while the remaining Rs 1.2 lakh crore of non-cash component will be spread over four years.
• The Center will make administrative allocation of spectrum BSNL needs to offer 4G services.
• The allocation of spectrum in 900/1,800 MHz band at the cost of Rs 44,993 crore would be through equity infusion.
• Further, to enhance the operator’s wireline offering, the Telecom Department has proposed the merger of Bharat Broadband Nigam Ltd (BBNL) with BSNL. BBNL is the nodal agency for executing the BharatNet project.
• The infrastructure created under BharatNet will continue to be a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to all the telecom service providers.
• To de-stress the balance sheet, Rs 33,404 crore statutory dues will be converted into equity. The Center will also provide sovereign guarantee for raising money to repay current loans.

Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme

Context: The Tamil Nadu government issued an Order to implement the first phase of the ‘Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme’.

Key highlights

• It will be implemented at 1,545 government primary schools to benefit more than 1.14 lakh children in Classes I-V across the State during 2022-23.
• As much as possible, breakfast prepared with millets available in the region could be provided to students at least two days every week.
• Every student is to be provided with a cooked meal of 150–500-gram breakfast with sambar with vegetables. 

Power Generation Capacity

Context: Ministry of Power and New & Renewable Energy has estimated India’s electricity generation capacity to reach 820GW by 2030 (out of this 500 GW will be from renewable resources)

Key facts

• TERI released a “roadmap for feasible pathways to achieve decarbonisation targets” (we will cover the report in detail in tomorrow’s CA)
• At COP26, India announced the highly ambitious goal of decarbonizing energy to 50% and achieving 500 GW of fossil fuel-free generating capacity by 2030

Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART)

Context: India is a facing shortage of dolutegravir (given to adults and children) and nevirapine drugs (only for infants) used in ART for HIV-positive patients.

Key facts

• These drugs help in protecting CD4 cells thus keeping the immune system strong enough to fight off the disease.
• HIV attacks CD4 (a type of White Blood Cell (T cells)- which detects anomalies and infections in cells). Patient with HIV can have CD4 count as low as 200 (a normal person has a 500-1600 count).
• As per the India HIV Estimation 2019 report, incidences of HIV had been reducing in India since 2000.
• Recently, a US patient with leukaemia has become the first woman and the third person to date to be cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant from a donor who was naturally resistant to the virus that causes AIDS

India Family Planning 2030 Vision Document

Context: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare has stated that India has achieved RLF (Replacement Fertility rate) reaching a total fertility rate of 2.1 or less.

Key issues:

• Teenage Childbearing and early/child marriage declined to 6. 8% (2019-21) from 7.9% (2015-16).
• Married adolescent girls and young women reported a high unmet need for contraception. Although modern contraceptive use among married adolescents and young women has increased, it remains low.
• From NFHS-4 to NFHS-5, India witnessed an impressive improvement in contraceptive use and unmet need 
• Lack of access to contraceptives, non-awareness, non-participation of males and inaccessibility to health facilities is a major concern of family planning
• Male contraceptive methods were largely limited to condoms. Male sterilisation was at 0.3%.
• Need to involve the private sector to provide modern contraceptives: Private sector contributes 45% share of pills and 40% share of condoms.
• India was first country in the world to launch a National Programme for Family Planning (1952).

Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

Context: The Supreme Court recently upheld the 2019 amendments to Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). 

Key highlights

• Supreme Court accepted that the definition of Money Laundering includes every aspect of the proceeds of crime and not just the final act of money laundering.
• Statement recorded before ED will be accepted as ED is not a police official (and therefore can’t be challenged on the ground of being self-incriminatory)
• Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) cannot be equated with an FIR (as ECIR is an internal document of ED) and therefore directive to share ECIR with the accused can’t be issued. 

About PMLA Amendments

• The key amendments provided extensive power to Enforcement Directorate (ED) for summons, arrests and raids, and makes bail provisions difficult while shifting the burden of proof of innocence onto the accused rather than prosecution.
• PMLA act was enacted in 2002 to fight the menace of money laundering (under the commitment of the Vienna Convention). It is being implemented by ED (under Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance)

INS Vikrant

Context: The Indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant has been delivered to Indian Navy.

Key facts about INS Vikrant

• It is India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier that has been built by Cochin Shipyard.
• INS Vikrant is a 45,000-tonne warship, constructed at a cost of around Rs 20,000-crore.
• It is 262-meter long and 62-meter wide. It has an operational endurance of 7500 nautical miles, with cruising speed of 18 knots.
• The aircraft carrier is capable of carrying 30 fighters and helicopters.
• The carrier will be christened INS Vikrant, in the honour of India’s first aircraft carrier that was acquired in 1961 from United Kingdom. India’s first aircraft carrier had played a significant role in 1971 war and was decommissioned in 1997.
• INS Vikrant is powered thorough four gas turbines, with total power of 88 MW.
• It has an overall indigenous content of 76%.
• It will have a crew of 1,700, including women.

Gujarat Semiconductor Policy, 2022-27

Context: Gujarat Government recently unveiled a dedicated ‘Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022- 27’. The policy aims created at least 2,00,000 new employment opportunities over the five years.

Key highlights

• Gujarat is the first state in India to release a dedicated semiconductor policy.
• Under the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022-27, Gujarat Government will provide heavy subsidies on power, water and land tariffs for entrepreneurs who are interested in investing in semiconductors or display fabrication manufacturing in Gujarat.
• The policy is aimed at making the state first in developing Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) ecosystem.
• It will provide for effective and timely execution of eligible projects, in a bid to set up a robust semiconductor and display fabrication ecosystem.
• It focuses on providing guidance to a significant portion of investments under the India Semiconductor Mission policies towards Gujarat.

About India Semiconductor Mission

• Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) launched ‘India Semiconductor Mission’ in 2021, with total financial outlay of Rs 76,000 crore.
• The mission is aimed at providing financial support to companies that invest in semiconductors, design ecosystem and display manufacturing.

India at Commonwealth Games 2022

So far, India has won 6 medals at the Commonwealth Games 2022, including 3 Golds, 2 Silvers and 1 Bronze.

Key highlights

• Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won India’s first gold medal, while Jeremy Lalrinnunga won second gold. Achinta Sheuli won the third gold for India.
• Jeremy Lalrinnunga lifted a 300kg (140kg in Snatch + 160kg in Clean & Jerk), making a record at the commonwealth games. He won the medal in 67 kg category of weightlifting.
• Mirabai Chanu had won the first gold medal for India. She lifted a total of 201 KG in women’s 49 KG weightlifting event.
• Achinta Sheuli won the gold, by lifting 313 kg in Men’s 73 kg Weightlifting event.
• In men’s 55 kg weightlifting event, Sanket Sargar won silver medal.
• In women’s 55 kg weightlifting event, Bindyarani Devi bagged a Silver Medal.
• India’s only bronze medal was bagged by Gururaja Poojary, in Men’s 61kg weightlifting category. 

Mosi-oa-Tunya

Context: Recently, Zimbabwe launched gold coins named “Mosi-oa-Tunya” in a bid to control the inflation in country.

Key highlights

• The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announced the launch and distributed 2,000 coins to commercial banks.
• Zimbabwe has been experiencing high inflation for a decade now. It has been trying to control it in many other ways.
• In 2022, the value of Zimbabwe’s dollar decreased against major currencies. As a result, black marketing of US dollars started by citizens in Zimbabwe. Thus, Zimbabwe launched new gold coins to control the black marketing of dollar
• These gold coins can be used by international investors, to do insurance against inflation and conflict. 

Features of the Gold coin

• The gold coin is called as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” which means “The Smoke Which Thunders”. It also refers to Victoria Falls in native Tonga language.
• Coins have been given the status of liquid asset. Thus, they can be easily converted into cash. They are also easily tradable, locally and internationally tradable.
• Coins can be used by Individuals or companies. They can purchase coins from banks and other authorised outlets. The coin holders can trade coins for cash, after 180 days from the date of purchase.
• Foreigners can also purchase the coins, however, only in foreign currency.
• Price for the gold coins will be decided on the basis of international market rate for an ounce of gold. Additional 5% will be added for cost of production of the coin.