Daily News Analysis 9th October 2018

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Daily News Analysis (Prelims + Mains) – 9th October 2018

General Study – I

Topic:

The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country.

Sir Chhotu Ram

  • Prime Minister unveiled a statue of Deenbandhu Sir Chhotu Ram in Sampla, Rohtak Haryana.
  • Sir Chhotu Ram, born as Ram Richpal (1881–1945) was a prominent leader in British India‘s Punjab Province, an ideologue of the peasants of pre-Independence India,
  • Transformed peasantry in an unprecedented fashion in Indian sub-continent he could champion the interest of much oppressed peasants and remembered for his work in the education sector, and other social causes.
  • For this feat, he was given knighthood in 1937.
  • On political front, he was a co-founder of the National Unionist Party which ruled all the time Panjab Province in pre-Independent India and kept Congress and Muslim League at bay.

General Study – II

Topic:

Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

India-Tajikistan relations

  • President visits Tajikistan, addressed the “Friends of India in Tajikistan”, the assured them that India will continue to give its cooperation to Tajikistan in capacity building and development.
  • India has historical ties with Tajikistan. Civilizational bonds go back to ancient times. Cultural and linguistic connections have always been robust.
  • Poets and philosophers like Rudaki, Amir Khusro and Bedil are household names both in India and Tajikistan. Their works bear testimony to shared values of humanism and tolerance.
  • Both has 27 years of diplomatic relations, India and Tajikistan together have built a strong foundation for bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
  • In 2012, elevated relationship to the level of Strategic Partnership.

Private Investments and Projects

  • Tajikistan has good potential in hydroelectricity generation, power transport, full chain of cotton processing, tourism etc.

Bilateral Trade

  • The usual route for transportation of goods from India is by sea to Bandar Abbas and from there via Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan by land.  
  • This is a time-consuming route and costs are high. Besides, there are difficulties at border
  • crossings like instability in Afghanistan and non-cordial relationship with Pakistan ( POK)
  • India mainly exports pharmaceuticals, meat and meat products, apparel and clothing accessories and iron and steel.
  • Different types of Ores, slag and ash, aluminum, organic chemicals, herbal oils, dried fruits and cotton are exported to India from Tajikistan.

Connectivity:

  • It is vital for realizing the full potential of our Strategic Partnership and economic relations.
  • Together, India and Tajikistan can promote the International North-South Transport Corridor and other connectivity initiatives such as the development of Chabahar Port and the Ashgabat Agreement for smooth transport of goods.

Air links with Tajikistan:

  • Tajik Air restarted its weekly direct flight to Delhi in May 2013 and it has been continuously operating since then.
  • In November 2016 second weekly flight was also started but it could not continue due to lack of
  • passengers. Medical tourism is on the rise.

Humanitarian Assistance

  • India delivered major food assistance

Scholarships

  • Tajikistan is one of the largest beneficiaries of the ITEC and ICCR scholarship programmes outside SAARC (150 ITEC slots and 25 ICCR scholarships are allotted annually to Tajikistan).

Cultural and Sports Exchange

  • There is deep-rooted liking in Tajikistan for Indian culture and films. Indian films are routinely shown on local TV channels.
  • Embassy has a Cultural Centre, where a Tabla Teacher and a Kathak Dance Teacher have been deputed by the ICCR.
  • Hindi and yoga classes are held regularly at ICC. ICCR funded cultural events “Namaste Tajikistan” took place in April 2016.

International Forums

  • In general Tajikistan supports India in most elections in UN bodies and other international organizations.
  • Tajikistan has publicly supported India’s bid for UNSC permanent membership. Tajikistan supported SCO Member status for India.
  • India supported Tajikistan’s accession to WTO in March 2013 and on 03 August 2012 a Protocol to this effect was signed in Dushanbe.
  • India has consistently supported Tajikistan’s proposals at UN on water related issues.
  • India supported Tajikistan’s candidature to ECOSOC.

 

Indian Community in Tajikistan

  • The total number of NRIs is estimated at about 900, out of which 700 are students pursuing MBBS course at the Dushanbe Medical College.
  • The members of the Indian business community in Tajikistan are mostly in pharmaceutical business.
  • A few Indians are working in international organizations/banks/hotel and restaurants.

On Afghanistan

  • India is committed to peace and development in neighboring Afghanistan through an Afghan-led Afghan-owned and Afghan controlled peace process.
  • Like Tajikistan, India too look forward to a peaceful Afghanistan which is able to achieve national reconciliation.

Recent developments

  • Padma Shri had been conferred on the famous Tajikistan’s Indologist, Prof. Habibullo Rajabov this year for his contribution in education and literature.
  • India remains committed to provide capacity building and   development assistance support to Tajikistan.
  • India offer a grant of US$ 20 million for financing development projects as identified by the Government of Tajikistan.
  • Decided to undertake Feasibility study of solar projects in seven villages in Tajakistan.
  • India will provide two English Language Laboratories for Tajik Military.

General Study – III

Topic:

Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

India faces threat of deadly heat waves, says UN climate report

  • If the average global temperature rises by more than one degree Celsius from the present, India could “annually” expect conditions like the 2015 heat wave that killed at least 2,000, according to the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C,’ commissioned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
  • The 2015 agreement in Paris, considered a landmark achievement, had the world agree to keep rise in temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius and “pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.”

Rapid Transitions

  • The report stated that capping the rise in temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius would require “rapid and far reaching” transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport and cities.
  • The global net human caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net zero’ around 2050. This means any remaining emissions would need to be balanced by removing CO2 from the air.
  • However, allowing the global temperature to temporarily exceed the 1.5°C target would mean a greater reliance on techniques that remove CO2 from the air, if the aim is to return the rise in global temperature to below 1.5°C by 2100.
  • Many of these techniques, such as carbon capture and storage, were unproven on a global scale and some carried significant risks for sustainable development.

General Study – III

Topic:

Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads,Airports, Railways etc.

National Waterway (NW)-40

  • The waterway from Manjhighat at Ganga-Gaghra river confluence to Faizabad/Ayodhya along Gaghra River for a length of 354 km was declared as NW-40 during the year 2016, as part of Government’s renewed push to develop inland waterways sector in the country.
  • Together with NW-1 (on river Ganga), NW-40 will be providing to be a major transport modal choice for cargo and passenger movement.
  • The Detailed Project Report on the development of NW-40 envisages terminal at five locations – Ayodhya, Mahirpur (Tanda/Kalwari), Dohrighat, Tortipar and Manjhighat.
  • Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), under Ministry of Shipping has already initiated work.

 

Topics for Prelims

IPCC-Intergovernmental panel on Climate

THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC)

IPCC is the international body for assessing the science related to climate change.

It was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.

As an intergovernmental body, membership of the IPCC is open to all member countries of the United Nations (UN) and WMO. Currently 195 countries are Members of the IPCC.

It produces reports that support the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is the main international treaty on climate change.

IPCC reports cover “the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.

It receives funding through the IPCC Trust Fund, established in 1989 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization

Functions of IPCC

  • One of the main IPCC activities is the preparation of comprehensive Assessment Reports about the state of scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change, its causes, potential impacts and response strategies.
  • The IPCC also produces Special Reports, which are an assessment on a specific issue and Methodology Reports, which provide practical guidelines for the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Functions of UNEP

  • developing international environmental conventions,
  • promoting environmental science and information
  • working on the development and implementation of policy with national governments, regional institutions in conjunction with environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
  • funding and implementing environment related development projects
  • Formulation of guidelines and treaties on issues such as the international trade in potentially harmful chemicals,trans boundary air pollution, and contamination of international waterways.

UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

  • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992.
  • The objective of the treaty is to “stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”
  • The UNFCCC was opened for signature on 9 May 1992. It entered into force on 21 March 1994. As of March 2014, UNFCCC has 196 parties. The parties to the convention have met annually from 1995 in Conferences of the Parties (COP) to assess progress in dealing with climate change.
  • International environmental treaty that came into existence under the aegis of UN.
  • Signed: May 1992.
  • UNFCCC is negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). UNCED is informally known as the Earth Summit 1992, held in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil.
  • Legal Effect: Treaty is considered legally non-binding: The treaty itself set no1/3 binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual countries.

Rail Coach Refurbishing Karkhana in Sonepat.

  • Prime Minister will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of Foundation Stone of the Rail Coach Refurbishing Karkhana, Sonepat.
  • Once complete, this will be a major repair and maintenance facility for rail coaches in the northern region.
  • It is being set up using modular and prefabricated construction techniques, modern machinery, and environment-friendly features.

 

Indusfood-II 

The export focused annual F&B trade fair organized by Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) jointly with Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Indusfood

It is a tradeshow, the second edition of which will be held in Greater Noida (NCR Delhi) on January 14-15, 2019.

It is to showcase India’s best line-up of food, beverages and agri products to global buyers who are gearing up for B2B meetings and business tie-ups with Indian food suppliers.

It will also generate interest in the large basket of brands, private labels and bulk purchase opportunity of raw items that India could offer to the world.

Indusfood-2019 will see the participation of many foreign government delegations and representatives of large foreign companies involved in

  • strategic purchase of food commodities through investments or
  • long-term purchase agreements to achieve the food security of their country or to supply their large food processing industries.

About Trade Promotion Council of India

TPCI is committed to promote value added packed Indian consumer products in the F&B segment by establishing direct contacts with the major retailer chains of the world.

This leads to popularization of Indian taste and culinary traditions with Indian ready-to-eat products.

TPCI’s efforts are to put India on the global F&B map and establish it as a global market in the food trade giving India the much needed recognition as a major player in the global food value chain.

Wildlife week celebrations conclude at Delhi Zoo

Wildlife Week is celebrated every year from October 2.  The celebration of Wildlife Week started in the year 1952.

Zika Virus Disease cases in Rajasthan

Present outbreak in Jaipur, Rajasthan was detected through the ICMR surveillance system.

About Zika virus disease

  • It is an emerging disease currently being reported by 86 countries worldwide.
  • Symptoms of Zika virus disease are similar to other viral infections such as dengue, and include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache.
  • In India, the first outbreak was reported in Ahmedabad in January/February 2017 and second outbreak in July,2017 from Krishnagiri District in Tamilnadu.
  • Both these outbreaks were successfully contained through intensive surveillance and vector management.
  • The disease continues to be on disease surveillance radars of Union Health Ministry although it is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern vide WHO notification since 18th November 2016.

ESIC wins ‘ISSA GOOD Practice Award, Asia & the Pacific 2018’

  • The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has won the ‘ISSA Good Practice Award’ for Administrative Solution for Coverage Extension at the “Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific” held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • The award recognizes the measures taken by ESIC for extension of coverage-SPREE (Scheme for Promoting Registration of Employers and Employees), reduced rate of contribution rates for 24 months in newly implemented areas and raising the wage limit for coverage under the ESI Act, etc.