UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 27th October 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Context

A new study revealed that, in 2022 Switzerland’s glaciers have lost an average of 6.2% of their ice.

What are the Findings?

• Saharan Sand and a Huge Heatwave:
  • Across the Alps, the preceding winter had very limited snowfall and therefore glaciers were not well insulated against the forthcoming summer melt season.
  • Spring was particularly harsh as natural atmospheric weather patterns carried Saharan dust to Europe and blanketed the Alpine landscape.
  • Since dust absorbs more solar energy than snow the now orange-tinted snow melted faster.
  • A major heat wave saw temperature records breaking across Europe, with parts of the UK reaching 40° Celsius for the first time.
  • The last time glaciers had an extreme melt season was in 2003, when 3.8 % of glacier ice melted across Switzerland.
• Unprecedented Alps Glacier Melt:
  • The extent of glacier melting depends on the altitude at which it is located, the steeper the glacier tongue is the heavier it is covered with debris.
  • In Switzerland, these glacial meltwaters are used for hydropower.
  • Austrian glaciers have also lost more glacial ice in 2022 than they have in 70 years of observations and therefore it is quite clear that severe melt has been the norm in 2022.
  • So, one consequence is that melting glaciers help to compensate for low rainfall in times of drought, filling reservoirs to supply the nation’s energy supply.
  • Melting glaciers have created more than 1,000 new lakes across the mountains.
  • This year, for the first time ever, the frozen ground (Permafrost) that binds rocks together — was thawing and causing almost constant rockfalls.

What are Alps?

• About:
  • The Alps emerged during the Alpine orogeny (mountain-building event), an event that began about 65 million years ago as the Mesozoic Era was drawing to a close.
  • Alps are young fold mountains with rugged relief and high conical peaks.
  • They are the most prominent of western Europe’s physiographic regions. Some 750 miles long and more than 125 miles wide at their broadest point between Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and Verona, Italy, the Alps cover more than 80,000 square miles.
  • The Alps extend north from the subtropical Mediterranean coast near Nice, France, to Lake Geneva before trending east-northeast to Vienna, Austria. There they touch the Danube River and meld with the adjacent plain.
  • Because of their arclike shape, the Alps separate the marine west-coast climates of Europe from the Mediterranean areas of France, Italy, and the Balkan region.
• Countries Covered:
  • The Alps form part of France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Albania.
  • Only Switzerland and Austria can be considered true Alpine countries.
  • Important Peaks:
  • Mont Blanc is the highest peak in the Alps and in Europe, reaching a lofty 4,804 meters above sea level. It is located in the Graian Alps and lies within France, Switzerland, and Italy.
  • Monte Rosa is a massif (a compact group of mountains) consisting of several peaks. The highest peak in this range (Dufourspitze) has an elevation of 4,634 meters, claiming the title of Switzerland’s highest peak.
  • Dom, which is located near Monte Rosa, Dom stands at 4,545 meters and is known as one of the “easier” tall peaks in the Alps to summit because of it’s straightforward routes.
  • Other major peaks are Liskamm, Weisshorn, Matterhorn, Dent Blanche, Grand Combin etc.

Context

Ahead of PM Modi’s visit to Mangarh Dham in Banswara district, Rajasthan CM has sought the declaration of the memorial for tribals as a monument of national importance.

About Mangarh Massacre

• Mangarh Dham is known for the massacre of tribals by the British Indian Army in 1913.
• This place is widely referred to as Adivasi Jallianwala.
• About 1,500 Bhil tribals and forest dwellers were killed at Mangarh on November 17, 1913, when the British Indian Army opened fire on the protesters.
• The people were gathered to demand abolition of bonded labour system and relaxation in heavy agricultural taxes imposed by the rulers of princely states.
• The tribals in the southern Rajasthan region were led by social reformer Govind Guru.

Course of events

• Govind Guru started his movement among Bhils in the early 1890s.
• The movement had, as its religious centrepiece, the concept of a fire god, which required his followers to raise sacred hearths in front of which Bhils pray while performing the purifying havan called dhuni.
• In 1903, the guru set up his main dhuni on Mangadh Hill.
• Mobilised by him, the Bhils placed a charter of 33 demands before the British by 1910 primarily relating to forced labour, high tax imposed on Bhils and harassment of the guru’s followers by the princely states.
• The Bhil struggle for justice under Govind Guru took a serious turn after the British and local rulers refused to accept the demands and tried to break the Bhagat movement in 1913.

GS-II

Context

Recently, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of Rs. 936.44 crores on Alphabet-owned Google for “abusing its dominant position” in markets related to the Android mobile device ecosystem.

What is the Issue?

• The CCI ordered an investigation into Google Unfair Business Practices in 2019 after consumers complained about Android-based smartphones.
• The allegations against Google were based on two agreements between Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of Android OS and Google — the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA) and the Anti-Fragmentation Agreement (AFA).
• The CCI stated that Google contravened competition law due to mandatory pre-installation of the entire Google Mobile Suite (GMS) under MADA and there was no option to uninstall the same.
• GMS is a collection of Google applications and Application Programming Interface (APIs) that help support functionality across devices. GMS includes Google’s key offerings such as Google Search, Google Chrome, YouTube, Play Store, and Google Maps.
• This action of Google amounted to imposition of unfair conditions on the device manufacturers and thereby violated Section 4 of the competition Act.
• Section 4 of the Competition Act is related to abuse of dominant position.

What is the Competition Commission of India (CCI)?

• About:
  • Competition Commission of India (CCI) is a statutory body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002, it was duly constituted in March 2009.
  • The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) was repealed and replaced by the Competition Act, 2002, on the recommendations of the Raghavan committee.

• Composition:
  • The Commission consists of one Chairperson and six Members who shall be appointed by the Central Government.
  • The commission is a quasi-judicial body which gives opinions to statutory authorities and also deals with other cases. The Chairperson and other Members shall be whole-time Members.
• Eligibility Criteria of Members of CCI:
  • The Chairperson and every other Member shall be a person of ability, integrity and standing and who, has been, or is qualified to be a judge of a High Court, or, has special knowledge of, and professional experience of not less than fifteen years in international trade, economics, business, commerce, law, finance, accountancy, management, industry, public affairs, administration or in any other matter which, in the opinion of the Central Government, may be useful to the Commission.

What is the Competition Act, 2002?

• The Competition Act was passed in 2002 and has been amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007. It follows the philosophy of modern competition laws.
• The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.
• In accordance with the provisions of the Amendment Act, the Competition Commission of India and the Competition Appellate Tribunal have been established.
• Government replaced Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in 2017.

Context

Delhi Lieutenant-Governor recently announced a one-time property tax amnesty scheme for residents of the national capital’s authorised and regularised colonies.

About SAMRIDDHI scheme:

• Under ‘SAMRIDDHI 2022-23 (Strengthening & Augmentation of Municipal Revenue for Infrastructure Development in Delhi)’, people will be able to pay only the principal amount of the current and pending tax of past five years for residential properties.
• They can get a waiver on all pending dues, including penalty and interest.
• The duration will be six years in case of commercial properties.
• The Municipal Corporation of Delhi will have no right to reopen any property tax case after one year.
• Residential property taxpayers are required to pay the principal amount of property tax for the current year and the previous five years on which a 100% exemption from interest and penalties on the outstanding tax amount will be received and a waiver of all prior dues prior to the previous five years.
• Non-residential taxpayers are required to pay the principal amount of property tax for the current year and the previous six years on which a 100% exemption from interest and penalties on the outstanding tax amount will be received and a waiver of all prior dues prior to the previous six years.
• If a taxpayer doesn’t pay his tax debt by the deadline, he will be responsible for paying all back taxes, interest, and penalties dating back to 2004 or the prior year they were unpaid, and shall not be entitled to any waiver.
• The tax amnesty scheme, according to the announcement, includes a “One Plus Five” option.

Context

 Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has cancelled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licence of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT).

About Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA)

• Aim: To regulate the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by certain individuals or associations or companies and to prohibit such acceptance and utilisation for any activities detrimental to the national interest.
• Origin: The law was enacted during the Emergency in 1976 amid apprehension that foreign powers were interfering in India’s affairs by pumping in funds through independent organisations. These concerns had been expressed in Parliament as early as in 1969.
• Function: The law sought to regulate foreign donations to individuals and associations so that they functioned in a manner consistent with the values of a sovereign democratic republic.
• Amendment: An amended FCRA was enacted under the UPA government in 2010.
  • The law was amended again by the current government in 2020, giving the government tighter control and scrutiny over the receipt and utilisation of foreign funds by NGOs.
  • A legal challenge to the 2020 amendments was rejected by the Supreme Court in April this year.
• Provisions of the Act:
  • Every person or NGO wishing to receive foreign donations to be registered under the Act,
  • To open a bank account for the receipt of the foreign funds in State Bank of India, Delhi.
  • To utilise those funds only for the purpose for which they have been received, and as stipulated in the Act.
  • They are also required to file annual returns, and they must not transfer the funds to another NGO.
  • The Act prohibits receipt of foreign funds by candidates for elections, journalists or newspaper and media broadcast companies, judges and government servants, members of legislature and political parties or their office-bearers, and organisations of a political nature.
• Registration under FCRA:
  • NGOs that want to receive foreign funds must apply online in a prescribed format with the required documentation.
  • The registrations are granted to individuals or associations that have definite cultural, economic, educational, religious, and social programmes.
  • Post application, the MHA makes inquiries through the Intelligence Bureau into the antecedents of the applicant, and accordingly processes the application.
  • The MHA is required to approve or reject the application within 90 days — failing which it is expected to inform the NGO of the reasons for the same.
• Validity and Renewal:
  • Once granted, FCRA registration is valid for five years.
  • NGOs are expected to apply for renewal within six months of the date of expiry of registration. In case of failure to apply for renewal, the registration is deemed to have expired.
• Cancellation of approval:
  • The government reserves the right to cancel the FCRA registration of any NGO if it finds it to be in violation of the Act.
  • Registration can be cancelled for a range of reasons:
  • If in the opinion of the Central Government, it is necessary in the public interest to cancel the certificate.
  • Once the registration of an NGO is cancelled, it is not eligible for re-registration for three years.
  • All orders of the government can be challenged in the High Court.
• New guidelines to banks on Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act rules:
  • State Bank of India’s New Delhi branch: A new provision that makes it mandatory for all NGOs to receive foreign funds in a designated bank account at the State Bank of India’s New Delhi branch was inserted.
  • Designated FCRA account: All NGOs seeking foreign donations have to open a designated FCRA account at the SBI branch.
  • The NGOs can retain their existing FCRA account in any other bank but it will have to be mandatorily linked to the SBI branch in New Delhi.
  • Only banking channels allowed: Foreign contribution has to be received only through banking channels and it has to be accounted for in the manner prescribed.
  • OCI or PIO: Donations are given in Indian rupees by any foreign source including foreigners of Indian origin like OCI or PIO cardholders” should also be treated as foreign contributions.
  • Sovereignty and Integrity: It requires NGOs to give an undertaking that the acceptance of foreign funds is not likely to prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India or impact friendly relations with any foreign state and does not disrupt communal harmony.
• Criticisms about Amendment:
  • Unnecessary International Criticism:
    • Significantly all the NGOs on the latest list work on climate change and environmental projects and/or child rights and slavery projects.
    • These are the subjects where the government has been sensitive to international criticism.
    • International Pressure regarding Law Making and over-compliance:
    • Despite India’s record in complying with the Paris agreement, global pressures are intensifying on India to raise the Nationally Determined Contributions.
    • It is detrimental to the Indian image and poverty reduction plans.
  • NGOs involved in violation of FCRA:
    • Several pro­climate NGOs are focusing on advocacy against coal in the media.
    • It is considered a violation of FCRA provisions.
  • Biased data and poor ranking on several Indices:
    • In 2017, the International Labour Organisation’s Global Slavery Index ranked India 53rd of 167 countries where
    • “Modern slavery” was prevalent, and
    • as the country with the highest number of people in forced labour.
    • MHA questioned the credibility of the data.
  • Internal Security:
    • 3 US non-governmental organisations were found to be fuelling protests at the Kudankulam Nuclear Project Site after strained Indo-US relations.
  • Fraught issue for several years:
    • FCRA clearances have been a fraught issue for several years, and the government has often been accused of targeting NGOs for political or ideological reasons by cancelling or not renewing their clearances.

How else can one receive foreign funding:

• Prior permission: The other way to receive foreign contributions is by applying for prior permission.
• A letter of commitment from the foreign donor specifying the amount and purpose is also required.
• Specific activities or projects: It is granted for receipt of a specific amount from a specific donor for carrying out specific activities or projects.
• Registration: The association should be registered under statutes such as the Societies Registration Act, 1860, the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, or Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956.

GS-III

Context

The beginnings of a renewable energy revolution rooted in agriculture are taking shape in India with the first bio-energy plant of a private company in Sangrur district of Punjab having commenced commercial operations recently. It will produce Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) from paddy straw, thus converting agricultural waste into wealth.

About Bioenergy:

• Bioenergy is renewable energy made available from organic materials derived from biological sources. It is the energy derived from biomass such as bagasse, cotton stalk, coconut shell and wood, plants, etc.

Compressed Bio Gas (CBG):

• Bio-gas is produced naturally through process of anaerobic decomposition from waste and bio-mass sources like agriculture residue, cattle dung, municipal solid waste, sugarcane press mud, sewage treatment plant (STP) waste, etc.
• It is called CBG after biogas is purified and compressed, which has pure methane content of over 95%. CBG is exactly similar to commercially available natural gas in its composition and energy potential. Its calorific value and other properties are similar to CNG.

The need for CBG:

• It has become common practice among farmers in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh to dispose of paddy stubble and the biomass by setting it on fire to prepare fields for the next crop, which has to be sown in a window of three to four weeks. The resultant clouds of smoke engulf the entire National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi and neighbouring States for several weeks between October to December. This plays havoc with the environment and affects human and livestock health.
• The Capital’s air quality index (AQI) deteriorated slightly and continued to be in the “poor” category on Tuesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data of October 2022.
• Meanwhile, recently the Delhi government started spraying Pusa bio-decomposer solution in paddy fields in the city to reduce stubble burning. Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) recently announced an immediate ban on all construction and demolition activity unregistered with the authority.

Some measures:

• The Government of India has put in place several measures and spent a lot of money in tackling the problem. The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) had developed a framework and action plan for the effective prevention and control of stubble burning. The framework/action plan includes:
• in-situ management: incorporation of paddy straw and stubble in the soil using heavily subsidised machinery (supported by crop residue management (CRM) Scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare).
• Ex-situ management, i.e., CRM efforts include the use of paddy straw for biomass power projects and co-firing in thermal power plants, and as feedstock for 2G ethanol plants, feed stock in CBG plants, fuel in industrial boilers, waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, and in packaging materials, etc.
• Additionally, measures are in place to ban stubble burning, to monitor and enforce this, and initiating awareness generation. Despite these efforts, farm fires continued unabated.

A project in place

• Ex-situ uses of rice straw:
  • In its search for a workable solution, NITI Aayog approached FAO India in 2019 to explore converting paddy straw and stubble into energy and identify possible ex-situ uses of rice straw to complement the in-situ programme.
  • The results suggest that to mobilise 30% of the rice straw produced in Punjab, an investment of around ₹2,201 crore would be needed to collect, transport and store it within a 20-day period. This would reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 9.7 million tonnes of CO 2 equivalent and around 66,000 tonnes of PM 2.5.
• Pellets:
  • A techno-economic assessment of energy technologies suggested that rice straw can be cost-effective for producing CBG and pellets. Pellets can be used in thermal power plants as a substitute of coal and CBG as a transport fuel.
  • Union Environment Ministry recently announced a ₹50 crore scheme to incentivise industrialists and entrepreneurs to set up paddy straw palletisation and torrefaction plants.
  • Paddy straw made into pellets or torrefied can be mixed along with coal in thermal power plants.
  • This saves coal as well as reduces carbon emissions that would otherwise have been emitted were the straw burnt in the fields, as is the regular practice of most farmers in Punjab and Haryana.
• SATAT Scheme:
  • With 30% of the rice straw produced in Punjab, a 5% CBG production target set by the Government of India scheme, “Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT)” can be met.
  • SATAT has following four objectives:
    • Utilising more than 62 million metric tonnes of waste generated every year in India,
    • Cutting down import dependence,
    • Supplementing job creation in the country
    • Reducing vehicular emissions and pollution from burning of agricultural / organic waste.
  • From paddy stubble, CBG valued at ₹46 per kg as per the SATAT scheme will be produced. Paddy straw from one acre of crop can yield energy output (CBG) worth more than ₹17,000 — an addition of more than 30% to the main output of grain. This initiative is an ideal example of a ‘wealth from waste’ approach and circular economy.

Way forward:

• There are several other benefits of adopting CBG for a renewable energy revolution:
• the slurry or fermented organic manure from the plant (CBG) will be useful as compost to replenish soils heavily depleted of organic matter, and reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers.
• The plant will also provide employment opportunities to rural youth in the large value chain, from paddy harvest, collection, baling, transport and handling of biomass and in the CBG plant.
• Every year, about 27 million tonne of paddy straw is generated in Punjab and Haryana. About a third of this straw is from non-basmati rice, which cannot be fed to cattle as fodder because of its high silica content. This is usually burnt which adds to the air pollution crisis in Delhi NCR and adjoining areas. So, converting it into CBG is the last resort.
• From the point of view of environmental benefits, renewable energy, value addition to the economy, farmers’ income and sustainability, this initiative is a win-win situation. It is replicable and scalable across the country and can boost the rural economy.

Context 

Recently, the head of a political party asked the central government to put pictures of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on currency notes in order to bring “prosperity” to the country.

Who is involved in the Design and Issuance of Indian Bank Notes and Coins?

• About:
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Government decide the changes in the design and form of bank notes and coins.
  • Any change in design of a currency note has to be approved by the RBI’s Central Board and the central government.
  • Changes in the design of coins are the prerogative of the central government.
• Role of RBI in Issuing Notes:
  • Section 22 of The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, gives RBI the “sole right” to issue banknotes in India.
  • The central bank internally works out a design, which is put before the RBI’s Central Board.
  • Section 25 states that “the design, form, and material of bank notes shall be such as may be approved by the Central Government after consideration of the recommendations made by the RBI’s Central Board”.
  • The RBI’s Department of Currency Management, currently headed by Deputy Governor, has the responsibility of administering the core function of currency management.
  • If the design of a currency note has to change, the Department works on the design and submits it to RBI, which recommends it to the central government. The government gives the final approval.
• Role of Central Government in minting of coins:
  • The Coinage Act, 2011 gives the central government the power to design and mint coins in various denominations.
  • The role of the RBI is limited to the distribution of coins that are supplied by the central government.
  • The government decides on the quantity of coins to be minted on the basis of indents received from the RBI on a yearly basis.
  • Coins are minted in four mints owned by the Government of India in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Noida.

What is RBI’s Currency Management System?

• RBI, in consultation with the central Government and other stakeholders, estimates the quantity of banknotes that are likely to be needed denomination-wise in a year, and places indents with the various currency printing presses for their supply.
• Two of India’s currency note printing presses (Nasik and Dewas) are owned by the Government of India; two others (Mysore and Salboni) are owned by the RBI through its wholly owned subsidiary, Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Ltd (BRBNML).
• Notes that are received back from circulation are examined, after which those fit for circulation are reissued, while the soiled and mutilated notes are destroyed.

What are the Types of Notes Issued so far?

• Ashoka Pillar Banknotes: The first banknote issued in independent India was the Re 1 note issued in 1949. While retaining the existing design, the new banknotes replaced the portrait of King George with the symbol of the Lion Capital of the Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath in the watermark window.
• Mahatma Gandhi (MG) Series, 1996: All the banknotes of this series bear the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi on the obverse (front) side, in place of the symbol of Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar, which was moved to the left, next to the watermark window. These banknotes contain both the Mahatma Gandhi watermark as well as Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait.
• Mahatma Gandhi Series, 2005: The “MG series 2005” notes were issued in denominations of Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 500, and Rs 1,000. They contain some additional/ new security features as compared to the 1996 MG series. The Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes of this series were withdrawn w.e.f. the midnight of November 8, 2016.
• Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, 2016: The “MGNS” notes highlight the cultural heritage and scientific achievements of the country. Being of reduced dimensions, these notes are more wallet friendly, and are expected to incur less wear and tear. The colour scheme is sharp and vivid.

Context

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu called up Defence Ministers of India and China to convey Moscow’s concern about a purported Ukrainian plan to use a “dirty bomb” designed to spread radioactive material.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told Shoigu that the Ukraine conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and the nuclear option should not be resorted to by any side.

Nuclear Bombs:

• A nuclear bomb is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear bomb), producing a nuclear explosion.
• Both bomb types release large quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter.
• They are weapons of mass destruction as they can devastate an entire city by blast, fire, and radiation.
• In 1942, under the Manhattan Project, the first nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan in Hiroshima and Nagasaki by U.S. during the Second World War.
• The Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to foster the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of disarmament.
• The Treaty establishes a safeguards system under the responsibility of the IAEA, which also plays a central role under the Treaty in areas of technology transfer for peaceful purposes.
• The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW)
• prohibits activities like not to develop, test, produce, acquire, possess, stockpile, use or threaten to use nuclear weapons.
• Not to deploy nuclear weapons on national territory