Weekly Current Affairs (8th to 14th April 2023) Part - 2 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Western Disturbance Threatens India's Wheat Crop

Context: Recent inclement weather conditions, including an unusual rise in mercury in February and untimely spells of widespread rain, gusty winds, and hails during March under the influence of western disturbances in key wheat-producing states have left farmers worried about a potential drop in yield, output, and quality of wheat.

What is the Impact of Untimely Rains and Winds on Wheat Crops in India?

Impact of Untimely Rains and Winds:

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the rains, along with stormy winds between 40-50 kilometers per hour, could be detrimental to the crop's health, especially if they occur close to the ripening and harvesting stage. Unfortunately, there have been instances of crop flattening and waterlogging in fields, which could further damage the ready-to-harvest wheat crop.

Impact on Production:

• According to the researchers, with the recent untimely rains, India's wheat production in the agriculture year 2022-23 is likely to be 102.9 MT, which is less than the Union government's estimate of 112 MT. However, the Centre remains optimistic that wheat production will be close to 112 MT due to increased acreage and better yield this season, despite a slight production loss due to recent adverse weather conditions.

Impact on Price and Foodgrain Security:

• If India's wheat production drops below the government's estimate, it could lead to a hike in the prices of wheat and wheat-based products in the domestic market.
• Additionally, any decline in wheat production could lead to a potential foodgrain security issue.

What are the Key Points related to Wheat?

About:

• This is the second most important cereal crop in India after rice.
• It is the main food crop, in the north and north-western part of the country.
• Wheat is a rabi crop that requires a cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
• Success of the Green Revolution contributed to the growth of Rabi crops, especially wheat.

Temperature:

• Between 10-15°C (Sowing time) and 21-26°C (Ripening & Harvesting) with bright sunlight.

Rainfall:

• Around 75-100 cm.

Soil Type:

• Well-drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy (Ganga-Satluj plains and black soil region of the Deccan).

Top Wheat Producing States:

• Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat.

Status of Indian Wheat Production and Export:

• India is the world's second-biggest wheat producer after China. But it accounts for less than 1% of the global wheat trade. It keeps a lot of it to provide subsidised food for the poor.
• Its top export markets are Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka - as well as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Government Initiatives:

• Macro Management Mode of Agriculture, National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana are few government initiatives to support wheat cultivation.

What are Western Disturbances?

• Western disturbances are storms that originate in the Caspian or Mediterranean Sea, and bring non-monsoonal rainfall to northwest India, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• They are labelled as an extra-tropical storm originating in the Mediterranean, is an area of low pressure that brings sudden showers, snow and fog in northwest India.
• It arrives with rain and snow in Pakistan and northern India. The moisture which WDs carry with them comes from the Mediterranean Sea and/or from the Atlantic Ocean.
• WD brings winter and pre-monsoon rain and is important for the development of the Rabi crop in the Northern subcontinent.
• The WDs are not always the harbingers of good weather. Sometimes WDs can cause extreme weather events like floods, flash floods, landslides, dust storms, hailstorms and cold waves killing people, destroying infrastructure and impacting livelihoods.

China Taiwan Conflict

Context: China has announced that it is prepared to fight against any attempt to achieve Taiwan's independence or any foreign interference.

• China conducted military exercises simulating a "seal off" of Taiwan, in response to the visit of Taiwan's President to the United States.
• Largely unrecognized by other nations, Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign country. However, China considers it to be a breakaway state and is determined to bring the island under its control.

What is the Point of Contention?

Background:

• Taiwan came under Chinese control during the Qing dynasty but was given to Japan after China lost the first Sino-Japanese war in 1895.
• China regained control of Taiwan in 1945 after Japan lost World War II, but the civil war between the nationalists and communists led to the nationalists fleeing to Taiwan in 1949.
• The Kuomintang party, led by Chiang Kai-shek, ruled Taiwan for many years and is still a prominent political party. China claims Taiwan as a Chinese province, but Taiwan argues that it was never part of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
• Currently, only 13 countries recognize Taiwan as a sovereign country due to China's diplomatic pressure.
• The US backs Taiwan’s independence, maintains ties with Taipei, and sells weapons to it — but officially subscribes to PRC’s “One China Policy”, which means there is only one legitimate Chinese government

Escalation:

• In the 1950s, the PRC bombed islands under Taiwan's control, drawing in the US, which passed the Formosa (Old Name of Taiwan) Resolution to defend Taiwan's territory.
• In 1995-96, China's testing of missiles in the seas around Taiwan led to the biggest US mobilization in the region since the Vietnam War.

Recent Developments:

• The 2016 election of President Tsai marked the beginning of a sharp pro-independence phase in Taiwan, which has been intensified by her re-election in 2020.
• The island now has significant economic interests, including investments in China.
• Pro-independence groups worry that this economic dependence may hinder their goals, while pro-reunification groups in Taiwan, as well as China, hope that increasing people-to-people contacts will eventually wear down the pro-independence lobbies.
• Taiwan has been able to maintain its independence, but the situation remains volatile. As Taiwan continues to develop economically, it is likely that tensions will continue to rise between China and Taiwan, making it crucial to monitor the situation in the region closely.

What is the Strategic Significance of Taiwan?

• Taiwan is situated in a strategically important location in the western Pacific Ocean, adjacent to China, Japan, and the Philippines. Its location provides a natural gateway to Southeast Asia and the South China Sea, which are critical for global trade and security.
• It is a major producer of high-tech electronics, including semiconductors, and is home to some of the world's largest technology companies.
• Taiwan produces over 60% of the world's semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced ones.
• Taiwan has a modern and capable military that is focused on defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Taiwan is a major focus of regional and global geopolitics, with the potential to influence the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

What is the US’ Interest in Taiwan?

• Taiwan anchors a chain of islands which includes a list of US-friendly territories that the US is planning to use as a place of leverage for countering China’s expansionist plans.
• The US does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by US law (Taiwan Relations Act, 1979) to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
• It is by far the largest arms dealer for Taiwan and follows a ‘strategic ambiguity’ policy.

What has been the Stand of India on the Taiwan Issue?

India-Taiwan Ties:

• India-Taiwan Ties have been gradually improving over the years, as a part of India's Act East Foreign Policy. India has sought to cultivate extensive ties with Taiwan in trade and investment, as well as developing cooperation in science & technology, environment issues, and people-to-people exchange.
• Despite not having formal diplomatic relations, India and Taiwan have maintained representative offices in each other's capitals since 1995 that function as de facto embassies. These offices have facilitated high-level visits and helped deepen the economic and cultural ties between the two countries.

One China Policy:

• India follows the One China policy which recognizes Taiwan as part of China.
• However, India also expects China to recognize India's sovereignty over territories like Jammu and Kashmir.
• India has recently stopped mentioning its adherence to the One China policy. Although India's engagement with Taiwan is restricted due to its ties with China, it sees Taiwan as an important economic partner and strategic ally.
• India's increasing ties with Taiwan are viewed as a move to counter China's growing influence in the region.

Way Forward

• The Chinese economy is far more interconnected with the global economy than Russia's Economy. Thus, China will look to mind the gap very carefully if they want to launch an invasion of Taiwan, especially so close to the Ukraine crisis.
• After all, the Taiwan issue is not just about a moral question of allowing the destruction of a successful democracy, or about international ethics, the day after China's invasion of Taiwan will mark a very different Asia, regardless of what happens.
• In addition, India can rethink the One China Policy and separate its relationship with mainland China from that with Taiwan just as China is expanding its involvement in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) through its ambitious project China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Large Hadron Collider

Context: The LHC (Large Hadron Collider) has recently undergone upgrades to make it more accurate and sensitive and will start collecting data in May 2023.

• The LHC has undergone upgrades to increase its sensitivity and accuracy, allowing scientists to study particles with even higher energy.

What is Hadron?

• Hadron is any member of a class of subatomic particles that are built from quarks and thus react through the agency of the strong force. The hadrons embrace mesons, baryons (e.g., protons, neutrons, and sigma particles), and their many resonances.

What is LHC?

About:

• The LHC is a huge experiment that collides two beams of particles to study physics at very high energies. It's the largest science experiment in the world and is operated by CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research)
• The LHC is a circular pipe that is 27 km long and is located on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, Switzerland.
• It consists of two D-shaped magnetic fields created by almost 9,600 magnets.

Working Mechanism:

• Protons, which are subatomic particles made up of quarks and gluons, are accelerated inside the LHC using these magnets.
• Quarks and gluons are subatomic particles that make up protons and neutrons. Quarks come in six different "flavors": up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom. Gluons are particles that "glue" quarks together inside protons and neutrons through the strong nuclear force.
• Protons are not the only particles accelerated in the LHC.
• By switching the direction of the magnetic field rapidly, protons can be accelerated through the beam pipe.
• Other components help to focus the particles and keep them from hitting the pipe's walls.
• The protons eventually move at 99.999999% of the speed of light. 

Significance:

• At such high energies, the LHC can create conditions that existed only fractions of a second after the Big Bang.
• Scientists use detectors placed along the beam pipe to observe the interactions of the accelerated particles, which can reveal new insights into the nature of matter and the universe.
• The LHC has already discovered the Higgs boson in 2012 and confirmed their findings in 2013, which is a particle that gives other particles mass.
• The LHC also helps to test theories in particle physics, such as supersymmetry and extra dimensions.

What are Supersymmetry and Extra Dimensions?

Supersymmetry:

• It proposes that every known particle in the universe has a yet-to-be-discovered "superpartner" particle, which would have opposite spin and different quantum numbers.
• This would mean that every particle in the universe would have a partner that has not yet been observed, and it could help to solve some of the problems with the current standard model of particle physics, such as the hierarchy problem.

Extra Dimensions:

• Extra dimensions propose that the universe has more than the three dimensions of space and one dimension of time that we are familiar with.
• The idea is that there may be additional dimensions that are "curled up" or compactified and are too small to be detected by our current experiments.
• The concept of extra dimensions arises in certain theories of gravity, such as string theory, which suggest that gravity is stronger than expected at small distances because it "feels" extra dimensions.

What are the Related Challenges?

• The LHC faces many technical challenges, such as maintaining the stability of the magnets and avoiding collisions between particles and the pipe's walls.
• The LHC generates enormous amounts of data. Handling and processing this data is a challenge that requires advanced computing and storage systems.
• The LHC is an international collaboration that involves thousands of scientists from different countries and institutions. Coordinating this collaboration and ensuring that all participants have access to the data and facilities they need is a challenge.

Way Forward

• The LHC is a remarkable scientific achievement, but operating it requires a coordinated effort from many people and institutions. Addressing the challenges associated with the LHC is crucial to advancing our understanding of the universe.
• The LHC has tested and disproved some theories that aim to explain the limitations of the Standard Model, causing uncertainty in the physics community. To move forward, two ideas have emerged: upgrading the LHC to increase its luminosity and building a bigger and more expensive version in the hopes of finding new physics.
• While CERN and China have proposed such a machine, some physicists question whether the money would be better spent on less-expensive experiments with guaranteed results.

Role of Parliamentary Committees in Indian Democracy

Context: Parliamentary committees are constituted to delve deeper into matters of public concern and develop expert opinions.

What are Parliamentary Committees?

Evolution of Committees:

• The structured committee system was established in 1993, but individual committees have been formed since independence.
• For instance, five of the many crucial committees of the Constituent Assembly are
• The Ad Hoc Committee on the Citizenship Clause was formed to discuss the nature and scope of Indian citizenship.
• The Northeast Frontier (Assam) Tribal and Excluded Areas Sub-Committee and the Excluded and Partially Excluded Areas (Other than Assam) Sub-Committee were significant committees during independence.
• The Expert Committee on Financial Provisions of the Union Constitution and the Advisory Committee on the Subject of Political Safeguards for Minorities were formed to give recommendations on taxation and abolition of reservations for religious minorities, respectively.

About:

• A parliamentary committee means a committee that:
  • Is appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker / Chairman.
  • Works under the direction of the Speaker / Chairman.
  • Presents its report to the House or to the Speaker /Chairman.
  • Has a secretariat provided by the Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha.
• The consultative committees, which also consist of members of Parliament, are not parliamentary committees as they do not fulfill the above four conditions.

Types:

• Standing Committees: Permanent (constituted every year or periodically) and work on a continuous basis.
• Standing Committees can be classified into the following six categories:
  • Financial Committees
  • Departmental Standing Committees
  • Committees to Enquire
  • Committees to Scrutinise and Control
  • Committees Relating to the Day-to-Day Business of the House
  • House-Keeping Committees or Service Committees
• Ad Hoc Committees:
  • Temporary and cease to exist on completion of the task assigned to them. E.g. Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Constitutional Provisions:

• Parliamentary committees draw their authority from Article 105 (on privileges of Parliament members) and Article 118 (on Parliament’s authority to make rules for regulating its procedure and conduct of business).

What is the Role of Parliamentary Committees?

• Provides Legislative Expertise: Most MPs are not subject matter experts on the topics being discussed. Parliamentary committees are meant to help MPs seek expertise and give them time to think about issues in detail.
• Acting as a Mini-Parliament: These committees act as a mini parliament, as they have MPs representing different parties are elected into them through a system of the single transferable vote, in roughly the same proportion as their strength in Parliament.
• Instrument for Detailed Scrutiny: When bills are referred to these committees, they are examined closely and inputs are sought from various external stakeholders, including the public.
• Provides a Check on the Government: Although committee recommendations are not binding on the government, their reports create a public record of the consultations that took place and put pressure on the government to reconsider its stand on debatable provisions. By virtue of being closed-door and away from the public eye, discussions in committee meetings are also more collaborative, with MPs feeling less pressured to posture for media galleries.

How has the Role of Parliamentary Committees Declined Recently?

• During the course of the 17th Lok Sabha, only 14 Bills have been referred for further examination so far.
• As per data from PRS, as little as 25% of the Bills introduced were referred to committees in the 16th Lok Sabha, as compared to 71% and 60% in the 15th and 14th Lok Sabha, respectively.

Way Forward

• Strengthen the role of parliamentary committees by giving them more resources, powers, and authority to hold the executive accountable.
• Encourage greater participation from civil society, experts, and stakeholders in the committee proceedings to ensure diverse perspectives and informed decision-making.
• Ensure transparency and accountability in committee proceedings by live streaming and recording meetings and making reports and recommendations publicly available.
• Develop a culture of bipartisan consensus-building within committees to ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are represented and to promote a more productive and efficient legislative process.

RBI’s Green Deposits Framework

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a new framework to offer green deposits to the customers, aiming at developing a Green Finance Ecosystem (GFS) in India.

• The framework will come into effect from June 1, 2023.
• A green deposit refers to an interest-bearing deposit received by an RE (Regulated Entity) for a fixed period, with the proceeds earmarked for allocation towards green finance.

What are the Key Features of the Framework?

• Applicability: The framework is applicable to Scheduled Commercial Banks, including Small Finance Banks, excluding Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks and Payments Banks and all deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), including Housing Finance Companies.
• Allocation: REs will be required to allocate the proceeds raised through green deposits towards a list of green activities and projects that encourage energy efficiency in resource utilization, reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, promote climate resilience and/or adaptation, and improve natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Exclusion: Projects involving new or existing extraction, production and distribution of fossil fuels, including improvements and upgrades, nuclear power, direct waste incineration, alcohol, weapons, tobacco, gaming, or palm oil industries, renewable energy projects generating energy from biomass using feedstock originating from protected areas, landfill projects and hydropower plants larger than 25 MW have been excluded from green financing.
• Financing Framework: To ensure effective allocation of green deposits, REs must put in place a Board-approved Financing Framework (FF). The green deposits shall be denominated in Indian Rupees only. The allocation of funds raised through green deposits by REs during a financial year shall be subject to independent third-party verification/assurance, which shall be done on an annual basis.

What is Green Finance Ecosystem?

About:

• GFS refers to the financial system that supports and enables investments in environmentally sustainable projects and activities.
• It includes a range of financial products, such as green bonds, green loans, green insurance, and green funds, that are designed to promote environmentally friendly practices and projects.
• The green finance ecosystem aims to create a financial system that supports the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and sustainable economy, while also addressing the risks and opportunities associated with environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

Need:

• The financial sector can play a pivotal role in mobilising resources and their allocation thereof in green activities/projects. Green finance is also progressively gaining traction in India.
• The GFS can augment the flow of credit to green activities and projects while also protecting the interest of depositors and addressing greenwashing concerns.
• It can promote sustainable development and create a positive impact on the environment in India.

Indian Scenario:

• India has commenced its journey for carbon neutrality and put forward a 'Green Deal' to be achieved by 2070.
• The Green Deal has classified green finance as an enabler to accelerate decarbonisation. It emphasises on the need for an increased flow of capital from the national government and private entities to establish green infrastructure.
• In 2016, the RBI had released a report in collaboration with UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and India on the lines of sustainable financial systems.
• The report explores various facets of financial systems in India and its role in accelerating green finance.
• Carbon trading has been introduced in the policy framework of the country through the 'Perform Achieve and Trade' scheme.
• According to the World Economic Forum the market for green bonds could be worth more than two trillion dollars by 2023.

Way Forward

• India's green economy is showing promising signs of growth, and banks are playing an important role in promoting sustainable finance and supporting the country's transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and sustainable economy.
• Financing green projects is a critical step towards achieving a sustainable future.

Radioactive Materials in Recycling Chain

Context: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has released its annual data on illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material.

• The data shows that radioactive materials or contaminated devices are entering into the booming scraps recycling chain, posing a grave health hazard.

What does the IAEA Data Suggest?

• The IAEA’s Nuclear Security Plan was established to report incidents of illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material.
• The latest dataset shows that incidents of unauthorised disposal of radioactive sources slipping into scrap metal or waste recycling industries are increasing.
• The occurrence of such incidents indicates deficiencies in the systems to control, secure and properly dispose of radioactive material.
• The resulting contaminated metal, if used to manufacture household goods, could pose a potential health problem to unsuspecting consumers.
• IAEA reported 146 incidents in 2022, which is an increase of nearly 38% over the 2021 figure.

What Measures can be Taken to Prevent Radioactive Materials from Entering the Recycling Chain?

• Strengthen Regulatory Frameworks: Governments need to strengthen their regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to ensure proper handling, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials.
• This can include stricter licensing requirements for facilities that handle radioactive materials, and penalties for non-compliance.
• Improve Monitoring and Control Mechanisms: Governments should also invest in improving monitoring and control mechanisms to prevent the illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials.
• This can include the use of radiation detection equipment at borders and other points of entry, and more comprehensive tracking and reporting systems.
• Encourage the Use of Alternative Materials: Governments and other stakeholders should encourage the use of alternative materials that do not pose a risk of radioactive contamination and promote the development of technologies to extract valuable materials from radioactive waste in a safe and sustainable manner.

What is Radioactivity?

• Radioactivity is the phenomenon of spontaneous emission of particles or waves from the unstable nuclei of some elements. There are three types of radioactive emissions: Alpha, Beta and Gamma.
• Alpha particles are positively charged He (Helium) atoms, beta particles are negatively charged electrons and gamma rays are neutral electromagnetic radiations.
• Radioactive elements are naturally found in the earth’s crust. Uranium, thorium and actinium are three NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) series that contaminate water resources.
• Radioactivity is measured in Becquerel (SI unit) or in Curie. The unit Sievert measures the quantity of radiation absorbed by human tissues.

International Atomic Energy Agency

About:

• Widely known as the world’s “Atoms for Peace and Development” organisation within the United Nations family, the IAEA is the international centre for cooperation in the nuclear field.

Establishment:

• The IAEA was created in 1957 in response to the deep fears and expectations generated by the discoveries and diverse uses of nuclear technology.
• Headquarter: Vienna, Austria.

Objective:

• The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.
• In 2005, it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work for a safe and peaceful world.

Functions:

• It is an independent international organisation that reports annually to the United Nation General Assembly.
• When necessary, the IAEA also reports to the UN Security Council in regards to instances of members’ non-compliance with safeguards and security obligations.