UPSC Daily Current Affairs- September 08, 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Context

In the year of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the nation pays tribute to Subhas Bose on September 8 as his statue rises tall next to India Gate.

Brief of historical account of his career

• Bose was the ninth child in 14 and the sixth son to Janakinath Bose, a lawyer from the Kayasth caste.
• He passed matriculation in 1913 from Cuttack and joined the Presidency College in Kolkata (then Calcutta).
• The teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramhansa led to a spiritual awakening in Bose at the young age of 15.
• Subhash Chandra Bose reached Singapore on July 2, 1943, at the invitation of Rash Behari Bose. He took charge as the President of the Indian Independence League and took over as the leader for East Asia.
• On October 23 1943, with the help of the Japanese Army, Netaji declared war on the United States and Britain.
• He was fondly called Netaji and was arrested 11 times in his freedom struggle and died under mysterious circumstances in an air crash over Taipei.

His vision for INA march in India

• Creating revolutionary conditions: Bose had hoped to capture Imphal. That would give the INA a large number of Indian soldiers. Once this was achieved, fighting in India would create revolutionary conditions.
• Organization of INA divisions at border: When the fighting commenced, the INA had only one division stationed on India’s borders. Another was on the move towards Burma. And the third was in the process of formation. All three divisions were expected to be in Burma by the time Imphal fell.
• Rapid invasion from north east: Bose was confident of raising three more divisions from among the Indian troops that would fall to him after the capture of Imphal. With six divisions, the INA would be the single largest force in the region. The rapid advance into India would create the right conditions for the Indian army to switch sides along with the people of the Northeast.

Azad Hind Radio

• This radio station was created to encourage countrymen to fight for freedom under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose.
• The radio station used to broadcast news at weekly intervals in various languages like English, Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, Urdu, etc.
• The main aim for the formation of the Azad Hind Radio was to counter the broadcast of allied radio stations and to fill Indian nationals with pride and motivation to fight for freedom.

The Rani Jhansi Regiment

• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a firm believer of women’s power and women were also greatly inspired by his words.
• He had always wanted to form an only women’s regiment and his dream came to fruition with the formation of the Rani Jhansi Regiment on 12th July 1943.
• About 170 women cadets joined the force and their training camp was set in Singapore.
• They were given ranks according to their educational background.
• By November of 1943, this unit had more than 300 cadets as camps were also established in Rangoon and Bangkok.
• The women cadets were given military and combat training, weapons training, and route marches. Some of them were also chosen for advanced training and some were also chosen for training as a nurse.
• The Rani Jhansi Regiment mainly worked as care and relief givers.
• The unit later disbanded after the fall of Rangoon and the withdrawal of the Azad Hind Government.

Conclusion

• Bose maintained that the Congress leaders wanted freedom in their lifetime. He believed that no revolutionary leader had the right to expect that. 
• A movement, a fight, had to be passed on. Expecting freedom in one’s lifetime was bound to lead to compromises.

Context

Recently, the Union Health Minister virtually laid the foundation stone for National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) branches in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh.

What is National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)?

• About
  • The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), formerly National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), had its origin as the Central Malaria Bureau, established at Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh) in 1909.
  • NICD was transformed into the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with a larger mandate of controlling emerging and re-emerging diseases in 2009.
  • It is under the administrative control of the Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India.
• Function: It functions as the nodal agency in the country for disease surveillance facilitating the prevention and control of communicable diseases.
  • In coordination with the State Governments, NCDC has the capacity and capability for disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and rapid response to contain and combat outbreaks.
• Services: The Institute provides referral diagnostic services to individuals, communities, medical colleges, research institutions and state health directorates.
• Headquarters: The Institute has its headquarters in Delhi.
• Branches: It has eight branches located at Alwar (Rajasthan), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Kozikode (Kerela), Coonoor (Tamil Nadu), Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh), Patna (Bihar), Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh) and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).

What are the Benefits of having multiple branches of NCDC?

• The regional branches of NCDC will play a pivotal part and will provide a boost to public health infrastructure with prompt surveillance, rapid detection and monitoring of diseases thereby enabling early interventions.
• The State branches will coordinate with NCDC (Delhi) with real-time sharing of data and information aided by cutting-edge technology.
  • Further, the NCDC branches would also be crucial in ensuring the timely availability of updated guidelines.
• New branches are being added with the mandate for integrated disease surveillance activities, dealing with Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), multi-sectoral and entomological investigations etc.

GS-II

Context

The Centre of Excellence on Satellite and Unmanned Remote Vehicle Initiative (CoE-SURVEI) has developed an Artificial Intelligence-based software which can automatically detect change on the ground, including unauthorised constructions and encroachments in a time series using satellite imagery.

About CoE-SURVEI

• The CoE-SURVEI, established by Directorate General Defence Estates at National Institute of Defence Estates Management, leverages the latest technologies in survey viz. satellite imagery, drone imagery and geo-spatial tools for effective land management and urban planning.
• This change detection software has been developed by CoE-SURVEI in collaboration with knowledge partner Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Visakhapatnam.
• Presently, the tool uses National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) Cartosat-3 imagery with trained software.
• The changes are detected by analysing satellite imagery of different time periods.

Where is it used?

• The application has been used by CoE in 62 Cantonments and a comparison has been done with the ground position in a recent period.
• The software facilitates better control of unauthorised activities, ensures accountability of field staff and helps in reducing corrupt practices.
• The CoE-SURVEI has also developed tools for vacant land analysis and 3D image analysis of hill cantonments.

Review of Gas Pricing Formula

Context

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has set up a committee under noted energy expert Kirit Parikh to review the current pricing formula for domestically-produced gas.

What is the Need to revisit the Gas-Pricing Formula?

• High Prices
  • Local gas prices are at a record high due to the surge in global prices because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and are expected to rise further.
  • Skyrocketing global natural gas prices lifting energy and industrial costs and derailing the efforts to contain inflation are raising concerns.
    • The country has been battling inflation above the Reserve Bank of India's tolerance band of 2%-6% for seven consecutive months.
• Current Formula is Myopic
  • The current formula is “myopic” and does not incentivise gas producers.
  • In India, gas penetration in its energy mix is 6% as against a global average of 23%.
  • The objective is to improve this number to 15% over the next few years.
• Underpricing Penalizes the Producers
  • India’s gas price is determined at an average price of LNG imports into India and benchmark global gas rates.
  • India is simply underpricing a scarce resource.
  • At current prices, the producer is penalised and somehow the consumer trumps the producer.

What is the Scenario of Gas Market in India?

• Total consumption in India is 175 million standard cubic meters a day (MMSCMD).
  • Of this 93 MMCMD is met through domestic production and 82 MMSCMD through LNG imports. Gas consumption is directly linked to supply availability.
• Of natural gas consumed in the country, almost 50% is imported LNG.
• Fertiliser sector is the largest consumer of gas, accounting for a third of the consumption, followed by city gas distribution or CGD (23%), power (13%), refineries (8%) and petrochemicals (2%).
• The industry fears that the world’s third largest energy consumer could see its natural gas consumption decline from the current levels if LNG (imported gas) prices in the international market continue to rule in the range of USD 45 an mmBtu (Metric Million British Thermal Unit).

What is the Current Gas Pricing in India?

• About
  • Gas priced under APM (Administered Price Mechanism), which is set by the Government.
    • Under this system, the oil and gas sector are controlled at four stages viz. production, refining, distribution and marketing.
  • Non-APM or Free Market Gas, which is further divided into two categories, namely, domestically produced gas from Joint Venture fields and imported LNG.
    • The pricing of JV gas is governed in terms of the PSC (Production Sharing Contract) provisions.
    • While the price of LNG under term contracts is governed by the SPA (Sale and Purchase Agreement) between the LNG seller and the buyer, the spot cargoes are purchased on mutually agreeable commercial terms.
  • Further, there is differential pricing existing for different sectors. Subsidized sectors such as power and fertilizer get relatively less prices as compared to other sectors.
  • Also, region specific pricing exists in the country with North Eastern states getting gas at relatively cheaper prices as compared to other parts of the country.
    • Pricing of a major share of gas supplies in the Indian market is controlled and is not market driven as government approval is required before changing the price.
• Issues
  • Controlled pricing may result in disincentivizing investments in the sector in terms of limited participation from foreign players, who have access to technology, much required in deep-water E&P activities.
  • Also, controlled pricing hampers the competitiveness of consumer sectors (power/ fertilizer/ domestic) to compete with global energy markets as it leads to low investments in energy efficiency on the demand side.

Context

Recently, a mysterious pneumonia outbreak in Argentina has been identified as Legionellosis.

What is Legionellosis?

• About
  • Legionellosis is a pneumonia-like illness that varies in severity from mild febrile illness to a serious and sometimes fatal form of pneumonia.
  • The causative agents are Legionella bacteria from water or potting mix.
• Symptoms: It included fever, muscle and abdominal pain and shortness of breath. 
• Spread: The disease typically spreads via inhalation of contaminated aerosols from contaminated water, which could come from — air conditioning cooling towers, evaporative condensers associated with air conditioning and industrial cooling, hot and cold-water systems, humidifiers and whirlpool spas.
• Risk Population: The people who have comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, respiratory problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or those who follow poor habits like smoking are more prone to the condition.
• Treatment
  • Treatments exist, but there is no vaccine currently available for Legionnaires’ disease.
  • Patients with Legionnaires’ disease always require antibiotic treatment following diagnosis.
  • The public health threat posed by legionellosis can be addressed by implementing water safety plans by authorities responsible for building safety or water system safety.

Context

Rajpath and Central Vista Lawns in the national capital will now be known as “Kartavya Path”, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) announces.

Updating to Kartavya Path

• The entire stretch and the area from the Netaji statue under the Grand Canopy to the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be known as Kartavya Path.
• Kartavya Path, which will be opened to the public at the end of the official function, will exhibit landscapes, lawns with walkways, added green spaces, refurbished canals, amenity blocks, improved signages and vending kiosks.
• New pedestrian underpasses, improved parking spaces, new exhibition panels, and upgraded night lighting are some other features that will enhance the public experience.
• It also includes a number of sustainability features like solid waste management, storm-water management, recycling of used water, rainwater harvesting, water conservation and energy-efficient lighting systems, among others.

Kingsway to Rajpath

• Called Kingsway during British rule, the three-km stretch was built as a ceremonial boulevard by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, the architects of New Delhi, more than a hundred years ago.
• The capital of the Raj moved to New Delhi from Calcutta in 1911, and construction continued for several years thereafter.
• Lutyens conceptualised the modern imperial city centred on a “ceremonial axis”, which was named Kingsway in honour of the then Emperor of India, George V.
• He visited Delhi during the Durbar of 1911, where he formally proclaimed the decision to move the capital.
• The nomenclature followed that of the Kingsway in London, an arterial road built in 1905, which was named in honour of King Edward VII, the father of George V.
• Following Independence, the road was given its Hindi name, Rajpath, on which the Republic Day parades took place over the decades that followed.

Why sudden renaming?

• During his address from the Red Fort on August 15, Modi had stressed on the abolition of symbols of colonialism.
• The new name and look of Rajpath, as well as the installation of the 28-foot statue of Netaji under the Grand Canopy under which a statue of George V once stood, are meant to represent that spirit of the proud new India.

Significance of all recent event

• The construction of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project began in February 2021, with the new Parliament building and redevelopment of the Central Vista Avenue in the first phase.
• The aim is to build an iconic avenue that truly befits the New India, the government has said about the Rs 608 crore Central Vista Avenue project.
• It symbolizes a shift from erstwhile Rajpath being an icon of power to Kartavya Path being an example of public ownership and empowerment.

GS-III

Context

The Department of Consumer Affairs, Legal Metrology Division has notified a draft amendment to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 making some compulsions.

Discrepancies over Packaged Commodities

• The Division has observed that many manufacturers/packagers/importers do not clearly label necessary declarations or prime constituents on the front of packaged commodities.
• It is common for consumers to assume that brands’ claims are accurate, but such claims are usually misleading.
• Such disclosure are deemed essential in order to protect consumer rights.

What are the mandatory provisions under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011?

• It is mandatory under the Rules, to ensure a number of declarations, such as the:
  • Name and address of the manufacturer/packer/importer,
  • Country of origin,
  • Common or generic name of the commodity,
  • Net quantity,
  • Month and year of manufacture
  • Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and
  • Consumer care information.
• As a consumer-oriented policy, all pre-packaged commodities should also be inspected.
• Rule 9(1)(a) provides that the declaration on the package must be legible and prominent.
• The consumers’ ‘right to be informed’ is violated when important declarations are not prominently displayed on the package.

What are the proposed amendments?

• As many blended food and cosmetic products are sold on the market, the key constituents need to be mentioned on the product packaging.
• Additionally, the front side of the package must contain the percentage of the composition of the unique selling proposition (USP).
• Also, packages displaying key constituents must display a percentage of the content used to make the product.
• The new amendments has suggested that at least two prime components should be declared on the package’s front side along with the brand name.
• Currently, manufacturers list the ingredients and nutritional information only on the back of the packaging.
• This declaration must also include the percentage/quantity of the USPs of the product in the same font size as the declaration of the USPs. However, mechanical or electrical commodities are excluded from this sub-rule.

Context

Recently, a study has ranked India’s updated climate pledge to the Paris Agreement fifth in compliance and fourth in ambition.

What are the Key Highlights of the Study?

• About
  • The study was published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change.
  • It included eight countries — India, the US, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Australia and Brazil — and the European Union.
  • Nearly all signatories to the Paris Agreement updated their climate commitments during the 26th session of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 26).
• Outcomes
  • European Union (EU) took the lead while the United States was ranked last in compliance and second to last in ambition.
    • Compliance: In the compliance category, the EU took the lead which was followed by China, Australia, South Africa, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and the US.
  • Ambition: In the Ambition category, the EU was followed by China, South Africa, India, Australia, Brazil, Russia, the United States and Saudi Arabia.
• Parameters: Nations likely to meet their climate pledges or the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) were ranked high in compliance.
  • The countries with bold commitments were ranked high in ambition.
• Statistical Analysis
  • Nations with more stable governments are more likely to have bold and highly credible pledges.
  • Besides, China and other non-democracies are also likely to honour their commitments.
    • Their administrative and political systems enable them to implement complex national policies.

What is the Paris Agreement?

• About
  • The Paris Agreement (also known as the Conference of Parties 21 or COP 21) was adopted in 2015.
  • It replaced the Kyoto Protocol which was an earlier agreement to deal with climate change.
  • It is a global treaty wherein some 200 countries agreed to cooperate to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions and rein in climate change.
    • It seeks to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industry levels.
• Working
  • The Paris Agreement works on a 5- year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out by countries. In 2020, countries had submitted their plans for climate action known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
  • Long-Term Strategies: Long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LT-LEDS) provide the long-term horizon for the NDCs. Unlike NDCs, they are not mandatory.
• Tracking Progress: With the Paris Agreement, countries established an enhanced transparency framework (ETF). Under ETF, starting in 2024, countries will report transparently on actions taken and progress in climate change mitigation, adaptation measures and support provided or received.
  • It also provides for international procedures for the review of the submitted reports.
  • The information gathered through the ETF will feed into the Global stocktake which will assess the collective progress towards the long-term climate goals.