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InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically
Table of Contents:
GS Paper 2:
1. Could India be a mediator between Russia and Ukraine?
GS Paper 3:
1. What the Vande Bharat train says about the lopsided priorities of Indian modernity
2. Government notified E-waste (management) rules 2022
Content for Mains Enrichment
1. Women friendly workspaces
2. The University of Life or Syamantak
Facts for Prelims:
1. Sri Kanaka Dasa, Maharshi Valmiki, Maulana Azad, Acharya Kripalani
2. Citizen Perception Survey
3. DigiLocker
4. Extradition
5. Amendment to Foreign Trade Policy
6. Self-Reliant India Fund
7. Action plan to promote Exports of Millet
8. National Fisheries Development Board
9. Atal New India Challenge
10. Indian Biological Data Center (IBDC)
11. India’s updated NDCs insufficient
12. Mapping
Syllabus: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests
Source: The Indian Express
Context: During his first visit to Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, India’s External Affairs Minister expressed strong support for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace.
India’s reaction to the conflict:
Why is India regarded as the best mediator?
Challenges ahead for India to be a mediator:
Conclusion: The Russia-Ukraine crisis has entered a new phase, in which Indian diplomacy could aid in a range of realistic ways to address the stated challenges.
Insta Links:
Globe-changing reverberations of the Ukraine war
Mains Link:
Q. The Ukraine conflict seems to have reached a deadlock. How can Indian diplomacy participate and contribute to the peace efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war? Examine. (15M)
Syllabus: Infrastructure
Source: The Indian Express
Context: With the latest edition of the Vande Bharat train, India made a huge leap into the future of mass transportation. However, it has also raised questions, as the poor may not be able to afford these trains.
Examples of skewed priorities of new India:
Reasons behind these mismatches: Tension between two competing ideas – achieving Modernisation vs universal access to basic things.
Way ahead – Realising the journey to development:
About Vande Bharat Express:
● The Vande Bharat Express/Train 18 is a semi-high-speed, electric multiple units (no separate locomotive) trains launched in 2019 and is operated by the Indian Railways on 5 routes (as of November 2022).
● It was designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai under the Make in India initiative.
● Superior features of this new-age train: Reclining seats, automatic fire sensors, CCTV cameras, Wi-fi with on-demand content, etc.
Insta Links:
Infrastructure
Mains Links:
Q. “Investment in infrastructure is essential for more rapid and inclusive economic growth.” Discuss in light of India’s experience. (UPSC Mains 2021)
Source: Live Mint
Context: The government has notified E-waste (management) rules 2022, which will come into force from 1 April next year and apply to every manufacturer, producer refurbisher, dismantler and recycler of e-waste
Key provisions of the Rules:
Impact of E-Wastes:
Toxins’ harmful health impact on humans includes damage to the brain, heart, liver, kidneys and skeletal system. They can also have a significant effect on neurological and reproductive systems, resulting in sickness and birth abnormalities.
E-Waste refers to all items of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) and its parts that have been discarded by their owner as waste without the intent of re-use. India is the third-largest e-waste generator in the world after China and the USA (Global E-waste Monitor 2020).
Status of E-waste in India
Background of the Issue:
Under E-Waste Management Rules 2016, it is mandatory for the organization to comply with the Extended producer responsibility of recycling e-waste. Complying with that, most firms outsourced recycling to organizations called Producer Responsibility Organizations (PRO). CPCB has registered 74 PROs.
In May 2022, Environment Ministry issued a draft notification that does away with PRO and dismantlers and vests all responsibility of recycling with authorized recyclers, only a handful of whom exist in India.
Now, Authorized Recyclers will source a quantity of waste, recycle them and generate electronic certificates. Companies can buy these certificates equivalent to their annual committed target and thus do not have to be involved with engaging PROs and dismantlers.
Conclusion:
What is needed is a sound market-based incentive that encourages both demand and supply-side factors to voluntarily adopt e-waste recycling. In this respect, the e-waste clinic at Bhopal is a pilot project wherein e-waste will be collected door-to-door or could be deposited directly at the clinic in exchange for a fee, which needs to be studied for its success.
Insta Links
E-Waste management
Mains Links
Q. The Electronic waste, or e-waste, is one of the fastest-growing waste streams worldwide. Discuss the measures that are needed for the safe disposal of e-waste in the country. (250 Words)
Prelims Link
Due to improper/indiscriminate disposal of old and used computers or their parts, which of the following are released into the environment as e-waste? (UPSC 2013)
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
(b) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only
(c) 2, 4, 5 and 7 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
Answer: B
Heptachlor is an organochlorine compound that was used as an insecticide. Plutonium is a radioactive metallic element with the atomic number 94. It is not e-waste.
Source: Indian Express
Context: A video of a civil servant ( Divya S Iyer, District Collector, Pathanamthitta) in the southern Indian state of Kerala holding her three-year-old son in her arms while delivering a speech at an event went viral, starting a lively debate on social media.
Concerns that working women face in our society:
Instances from around the globe:
Four major stakeholders in the case of working women:
Steps Needed:
Government steps:
Working women do not require sympathy or a paternalistic mindset. But we need to provide them with a positive space, both physically and mentally, to perform well. There is a need for greater sensitisation.
Direction: This can be used as an example for bringing practical changes in the education system/improving the quality of education etc.
Context: “The University of Life” is a residential community centre. Processes of self-designed organic learning run by the residents of the Syamantak community.
Located in the lush green forests of Dhampur in Maharashtra, The University of Life, or Syamantak, is the brainchild of Sachin Desai and his wife. The unconventional school has no fixed curriculum and exams; just as there is no set pattern to life, the school aims to make its students ready for any challenge life throws their way.
The school also has an entrepreneurial venture called Swayam, where students make natural and preservative-free products like wood apple syrup, raw jackfruit pickle, turmeric powder, and soap made out of natural ingredients.
Some students carry out research in the food labs, while others experiment with cow-related products in a gaushala (cow shelter).
Source: PIB
Context: The Prime Minister of India paid tributes to saint poet Sri Kanaka Dasa, Maharshi Valmiki, Maulana Azad and Acharya Kripalani (for multiple reasons).
About these personalities:
Source:
Context: As a part of the Ease of Living Index, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched CPS to directly capture the perception of citizens with respect to the quality of life.
The Ease of living index and Municipal Performance Index are the assessment tools used by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs to evaluate the quality of life and the impact of various initiatives for urban development in the city.
CPS (1st conducted in 2020) carries 30% weightage in the Ease of Living Index and is undertaken by the National Institute of Urban Affairs ( a think tank) and Quality Council of India ( a Non-Profit organization).
Related News: MoHUA has initiated the “Transport4All Challenge”, to enhance the mobility experience of all citizens and focus on digital innovations.
Source: PIB
Context: DigiLocker has successfully completed its second level of integration with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
About DigiLocker:
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM):
Source: The Hindu
Context: Extradition of Nirav Modi to India has been approved by the UK high court.
Nirav Deepak Modi is an Indian businessman and fugitive who was charged by Interpol and the government of India for criminal conspiracy, corruption, money laundering, fraud, and embezzlement in August 2018.
India-UK has an extradition treaty signed in 1992. In India, Extradition Act 1962 governs extradition laws and the Ministry of External Affairs is the central authority to handle all extradition cases. The request for extradition can be initiated even in cases of under-investigation, or under-trial, apart from a convicted criminal.
Source: Business-Standard
Context: The government has allowed invoicing and settlement of exporters/importers in the Indian Rupee.
This will help in the Internationalization of the Indian Rupee ( increasing the use of the local currency in cross-border transactions). Currently, while the dollar accounts for 88% of international trade, Rupee accounts for less than 1.7% of global trade.
Other measures for the Internationalization of the Rupee are the Currency Swaps Agreement, Cross-border borrowings in the Indian Rupee, and RBI’s framework of trade settlement in the Rupee.
Source: Economic Times
Context: SEBI’s SRIF will provide Rs 5000cr to MSMEs to give impetus to the industry.
Source: PIB
Context: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has prepared an action plan to promote Indian millet exports commencing December 2022.
Action plan:
UN declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYoM) (India-led proposal)
Source: PIB
Context: National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), was one of the organizations to be awarded the “India Agribusiness Awards 2022” for the best Agribusiness Award under the Fisheries Sector.
About National Fisheries Development Board(NFDB)
The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) was established in 2006 as an autonomous organization under the administrative control of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India to enhance fish production and productivity in the country and to coordinate fishery development in an integrated and holistic manner.
Source: PIB
Context: Women Centric Challenge under ANIC has been launched to address the issues faced by women in different spheres of life using technology-based innovations.
ANIC is part of the Atal Innovation Mission (by Niti Aayog). AIM provides funds (up to 1 Cr) through grants to any Indian company which comes up with innovations to solve sector-based challenges of national importance and social relevance.
Source: PIB
Context: The Union Ministry of Science and Technology has dedicated to the nation India’s first national repository for life science data – the Indian Biological Data Center (IBDC).
About IBDC:
Source: DTE
Context: As per the report of Climate Action Tracker (CAT), India will meet their NDC and overachieve it. Still, the targets need to get more ambitious to reach the 1.5°C target.
Targets announced by India in COP26:
A committee on Just Transition setup under sustainable growth pillar of India-US Strategic Clean Energy Partnership has suggested setting up Green Energy Transition India Fund to shift away from non-renewables such as coal.
Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis produced by two research organisations tracking climate action since 2009
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