Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 3- Climate change and climate politics
Context
Earlier this week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported on climate science, warning against the folly of a business-as-usual development model.
What does science say about future pathways
- Globally, average surface temperatures have already risen by 1.09°C between 1850-1900 and 2010-2019.
- What happens next depends on our development and technological choices.
- High fossil fuel use path: As per the the IPCC document, if we followed high fossil fuel development (doubling emissions by 2050), temperatures would rise by 4.4°C (range of 3.3-5.7°C) by 2100.
- Sustainable pathways: If a more sustainable pathway were pursued average global temperature rise would be 1.4°C (range of 1.0-1.8°C).
- Regardless, it is likely that the average rise in temperatures will breach the 1.5°C barrier within the next two decades.
- If emissions are not mitigated rapidly, we are staring at rising climate risks and catastrophic impacts.
- Human influence is very likely the main reason behind glacial retreat since the 1990s.
- Since observations began, glaciers have lost the maximum mass during 2010-19.
- Sea level rise: Even with warming restricted to 1.5°C, we are still on course for more than 2 metres of sea-level rise beyond this century.
India’s vulnerability to climate change
- If warming exceeds 4°C, India could see about 40% increase in precipitation annually, leading to extreme rainfall events.
- Three-quarters of India’s districts are now hotspots of extreme weather events.
- Since 1990, more than 300 such events have resulted in damages exceeding INR 5.6 lakh crore.
Changes needed to stabilise temperature rise
- The IPCC says that in order to stabilise rise in temperatures, two things have to happen:
- 1) Anthropogenic emissions must become net-zero.
- 2) In the interim cumulative emissions cannot exceed a global carbon budget.
- Carbon Budget: To stay within the 1.5°C limit, starting in 2020 the remaining global carbon budget is 300-500 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (GtCO2) (with a likelihood of 50%-83%).
Unjust climate politics and net-zero emission targets
- Of late, several large emitters have promised net-zero emission targets.
- CEEW analysts calculate that despite their self-laudatory targets, China would consume 87% of the global carbon space (if it reached net-zero in 2060) and the US would eat up 26% (if it reached net-zero in 2050).
- Mere announcements of net-zero targets do little to retard the “carbon grab” of the largest emitters.
- Rich countries, as a whole, emitted ~25 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2eq) more than their estimated emission allowance during 2008-20, thanks to non-participation in pre-2020 climate agreements and misuse of accounting loopholes.
- Climate justice demands that developed countries now take steps to free up carbon space for others.
Way forward for India
- India must adopt a more climate-friendly development pathway for its own sake.
- Its per capita incomes, energy consumption and carbon footprint are well below the global average but it must deliver high rates of economic growth within a shrinking carbon budget.
- Shift discourse to economy: The discourse must shift from energy to the economy.
- There are very few sunrise sectors that are not low-carbon.
- India must tap new technology frontiers (green hydrogen), new business models (distributed and digitalised services, for distributed energy, EV charging, cold chains), new construction materials (low-carbon cement, recycled plastic), new opportunities in the circular economy of minerals, municipal waste and agricultural residue, and new practices for sustainable agriculture and food systems.
- Policy and regulatory support: Many of above technologies and business models are proven but need policy and regulatory support.
Conclusion
The climate crisis is a strategic threat to our development prospects. It deserves sober, continuing analysis, deliberation and action. The headlines look bad; reality will get worse.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Article 124(2) and Article 217
Mains level: Issues with collegium system
Context
Recommendations of some judges for appointment by the collegium raises the issue of changes in the collegium system.
Background of the collegium system
- During the 1970s, the political leaning of a candidate had become a major consideration in the matter of appointment of judges.
- Therefore, it was felt that the role of the state in the appointment of judges in terms of Article 124 (2) and 217 needed to be reconsidered.
- But then, in 1982 in S P Gupta’s case, the Supreme Court bench of five judges gave its approval to the primacy of the state in the matter of appointment of judges.
- However, that judgment was overturned subsequently by a bench of nine judges.
- Primacy of CJI: It held that the provisions for consultation with the Chief Justice of India, and the Chief Justices of the high courts in Articles 124 (2) and 217 of the Constitution were introduced because of the realisation that the Chief Justice is best equipped to know and assess the worth of a candidate, and his/her suitability for appointment as a superior judge.
- Initiation of proposal by CJI: It also held that the initiation of the proposal for appointment of a judge to the SC must be made by the CJI after wider consultation with senior judges, and likewise in the case of high courts.
- Confirmation of CJI: It was also held that no appointment of any judge to the SC or any high court can be made unless it conforms with the opinion of the CJI.
- Thus, what is known as the “collegium system” was born.
- Striking down of NJAC: In 2014, the government tried to make changes to the collegium system by introducing Article 124 (A) by a constitutional amendment, and by enacting National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014.
- The SC has struck down both the amendment and the Act.
Has the collegium system succeeded?
- Nepotism: There have been cases where the nearest relative of Supreme Court judges has been appointed as a high court judge, ignoring merit.
- Ignoring the merit: Judges far lower in the combined All India Seniority of High Court judges were appointed to SC, and the reason assigned was that those selected were found more meritorious.
Conclusion
The collegium system is still the best, but it needs to weed out what is wrong in its actual working. It is hoped that the system will make course corrections in deserving cases.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 3- Global trade in the post-COVID-19 world
Context
Past experiences suggest there is hope for global trade recovery in the post-COVID-19 world.
Impact of pandemic on the global and Indian economy
- In the last year, the devastating impact of COVID-19 pandemic has shrunk the world economy by 4.4% and global trade by 5.3%.
- Job losses in the world have been estimated to be to the tune of 75 million.
- India’s GDP contracted by 7.3% according to the National Statistical Office.
- About 10 million jobs were lost in India according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt. Ltd.
- Around the world, countries have responded to pandemic-induced shortages with protectionist reactions and nationalist aspirations.
- Such a response has the potential to disrupt complex cross-border supply chains.
How economic shocks in the past laid foundation for institutional changes
- The Second World War was responsible for the creation of the Bretton Woods Institutions such as World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) and International Trade Organisation (ITO) were created to help rebuild the shattered post-war economy.
- The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was negotiated in 1947 as a means to reducing barriers to international trade.
- The oil shocks of the 1970s led to the establishment of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 1974 and went on to create awareness on the need for global energy security.
- The financial crisis of 2008 led to the G20 Leaders Summit, an elevation from the G20 Finance Ministers forum in 1999.
- Increase in global trade: As a result of these developments global trade increased from a mere $60.80 billion in 1950 to $2,049 billion in 1980; $6,452 billion in 2000; $19,014 billion in 2019.
Changes in the global trade in post-Covid world
- Financial buffers due to stimulus package: Stimulus packages and forced savings in several countries in the last year have created financial buffers.
- Resilient supply chain: Global supply chains are expected to be resilient to help revive manufacturing with lower production costs, induce investments and promote technology transfers.
- Anti-dumping measures at WTO: In a post COVID-19 world, members of the World Trade Organization are expected to make rules to discipline errant nations that are known to dumping goods and erecting trade barriers through multilateral rules.
- Deeper economic integration through trade arrangements: Mutually beneficial trade arrangements that seek deeper economic integration will be entered into at the bilateral and regional levels.
- Dominance of technology: Countries that harness technology are expected to dominate international trade in future with a transformational impact on the global economy.
- Businesses will aim to harness data for innovation to remain ahead of the curve in a post-COVID-19 world.
Way forward for India
- The projections of the International Monetary Fund for India’s economic growth ahead are positive and in line with the general trends world-wide.
- Focus on value-added manufacturing: Building an ecosystem that incentivises value-added manufacturing and technology-induced finished products should form a part of our long-term strategy.
- Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) schemes, if carefully nurtured, could lead the industry on that path.
- Support MSMEs: Supporting MSMEs with cheaper input costs, including raw material and intermediate goods would help sustain them with job creation at the local level.
- Developing a synergistic relationship between the big industry and MSMEs is at the core of a successful Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Skill upgradation: Skills upgradation to global standards should form a part of India’s strategy in a post-COVID-19 world.
Conclusion
The patterns in the past leave much hope for optimism for global trade in the post-COVID-19 crisis in the collective belief that international trade is vital for development and prosperity.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Plastics Pact
Mains level: Elimination of single use plastics
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has long been at the forefront of having an India Plastic Pact.
What are Plastics Pacts?
- The Plastics Pacts are business-led initiatives and transform the plastics packaging value chain for all formats and products.
- The Pacts bring together everyone from across the plastics value chain to implement practical solutions.
- All Pacts unite behind four targets:
- to eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging through redesign and innovation;
- to ensure all plastic packaging is reusable or recyclable;
- to increase the reuse, collection, and
- recycling of plastic packaging; and to increase recycled content in plastic packaging
India Plastics Pact
- The India Plastics Pact, the first in Asia, will be launched in September at the CII Annual Sustainability Summit.
- It can be expected to boost demand for recycled content, investments in recycling infrastructure, jobs in the waste sector, and beyond.
- The first Plastics Pact was launched in the U.K. in 2018.
- The India Plastics Pact is supported by WRAP (UK based NGO), which supports many Pacts globally.
- This association will ensure access to expertise and knowledge from different Pacts worldwide.
Key provisions of the pact
- Pact will support the Extended Producer Responsibility framework of the government and improve solid waste management as envisioned in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
- Integral to the Pact’s framework is the involvement of the informal waste sector crucial to post-consumer segregation, collection and processing of plastic waste.
- While the India Plastics Pact will be active in India, it will link globally with other Plastics Pacts.
How would this work?
- The Plastics Pact is a network of initiatives that bring together all key stakeholders at the national or regional level to implement solutions towards a circular economy for plastics.
- Each initiative is led by a local organization and unites governments, businesses, and citizens behind the common vision with a concrete set of ambitious local targets, for example in the following areas:
- Eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging through redesign and innovation
- Move from single-use to reuse where relevant
- Ensure all plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable, or compostable
- Increase the reuse, collection, and recycling or composting of plastic packaging
- Increase recycled content in plastic packaging
Benefits offered
- Many Indian businesses and organizations have expressed an interest in signing up to the Pact.
- Deeper and long-lasting benefits will be felt across the supply chains of these businesses, most of which comprise MSMEs.
- The Pact will encourage the development and maturing of the entire plastics production and management ecosystem.
- Apart from benefits to society and the economy, delivering the targets will drive the circularity of plastics and help tackle pollution. They will lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Why need such pact?
- Of the many sustainability challenges that impact societies, climate change and plastic waste have a special significance.
- A 2019 report by the Center for International Environmental Law suggests that by 2050, greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach over 56 gigatonnes, 10-13% of the remaining carbon budget.
- However, viewed from the angle of livelihoods, post-consumer segregation, collection and disposal of plastics make up about half of the income of 1.5- 4 million waste-pickers in India.
Way forward
- For India, the solution must be multi-pronged, systemic, and large scale, to create a visible impact.
- The India Plastics Pact focuses on solutions and innovation.
- Members’ accountability is ensured through ambitious targets and annual data reporting.
- The Pact will develop a road map for guidance, form action groups composed of members, and initiate innovation projects.
Try answering this PYQ:
Q. In India, ‘extended producer responsibility’ was introduced as an important feature in which of the following? (CSP 2019)
(a) The Bio-medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998
(b) The Recycled plastic (Manufacturing and Usage) Rules, 1999
(c) The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011
(d) The Food Safety and Standard Regulations, 2011
Post your answers here:
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: De-criminalization of Politics
The Supreme Court has directed the political parties to publish the criminal history if any, of their election candidates on the homepage of their party websites under the caption ‘candidates with criminal antecedents’ within 48 hours of their selection.
Try this PYQ:
Q.Consider the following statements:
- According to the Constitution of India, a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a State for six months even if he/she is not a member of the Legislature of that State.
- According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after his release from prison.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (CSP 2020)
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Post your answers here:
Criminalization of politics: Indian Case
- The criminalization of politics has become a headache for the Indian democracy and it is a harsh reality now.
- Criminalization of politics in India includes political control of the police, state money, corruption, weak laws, lack of ethics, values, vote bank politics and loopholes in the function of the election commission.
- Deep down, it’s a large nexus of police, money, corrupt bureaucracy, casteism, religion and the drawbacks of functioning in the election commission.
On a serious note
- The Supreme Court has warned Parliament that the nation is losing patience with the advent of criminals in politics even as it imposed fines on major political parties for covering up from voters the criminal past of the candidates.
- Cleansing the polluted stream of politics is obviously not one of the immediate pressing concerns of the legislative branch of government.
- The court said it did not take political parties much time to flout its February 2020 judgment, which had directed them to prominently publish the criminal antecedents.
What was the Feb 2020 Judgment?
The Supreme Court earlier in Feb 2020 had ordered political parties to publish the entire criminal history of their candidates for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
- Reasons for nomination: It has also asked for the reasons that goaded them to field suspected criminals over decent people.
- Publication of records: The information should be published in a local as well as a national newspaper as well as the parties’ social media handles.
- 48hr time frame: It should mandatorily be published either within 48 hours of the selection of candidates or less than two weeks before the first date for filing of nominations, whichever is earlier.
- Contempt for non-compliance: It also ordered political parties to submit compliance reports with the Election Commission of India within 72 hours or risk contempt of court action.
- No escape: The judgment is applicable to parties both at Central and State levels.
Immediate Reason
- The immediate provocation is the finding that 46% of MPs have criminal records.
- The number might be inflated as many politicians tend to be charged with relatively minor offences —“unlawful assembly” and “defamation”.
- The real worry is that the current cohort of Lok Sabha MPs has the highest (29%) proportion of those with serious declared criminal cases compared to its recent predecessors.
Why are such tainted candidates inducted by political parties?
- Popularity: Such candidates with serious records seem to do well despite their public image, largely due to their ability to finance their own elections and bring substantive resources to their respective parties.
- Vested interests: Some voters tend to view such candidates through a narrow prism: of being able to represent their interests by hook or by crook.
- Destabilizing other electors: Others do not seek to punish these candidates in instances where they are in contest with other candidates with similar records.
A harsh reality
- The NN Vohra committee’s report on the criminalization of politics discussed how criminal gangs flourish under the care and protection of politicians.
- Many times the candidates themselves are the gang leaders.
- This protection is paid back to them during elections through capital investment in election spending and voter support.
Need for clean politics
- Upholding morality: It is extremely important that the people who enter the field of politics have a clear image and high moral character.
- Ensuring rule of law: A leader with criminal character undoubtedly tends to undermine the rule of law.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ujjwala Scheme
Mains level: Not Much
Prime Minister has launched the second phase of the Ujjwala gas connection scheme for the poor and said it would provide the biggest relief to lakhs of migrant worker families in the country.
Ujjwala 2.0
- Under Ujjwala 2.0 migrant workers would no longer have to struggle to get address proof documents to get the gas connections, Mr. Modi said.
- Now migrant workers would only be required to submit a self-declaration of their residential address to get the gas connection.
- Along with a deposit-free LPG connection, Ujjwala 2.0 will provide the first refill and a hotplate free of cost to the beneficiaries.
About the PM Ujjwala Yojana
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in 2016, with the aim to provide Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections to five crore women members of below poverty line (BPL) households in the first phase.
- he scheme was expanded in April 2018 to include women beneficiaries from seven more categories (SC/ST, PMAY, AAY, Most backward classes, tea garden, forest dwellers, Islands).
- In the second phase the target was expanded to eight crore LPG connections.
Significance of Ujjwala 2.0
- LPG infrastructure has expanded manifold in the country due to the Ujjwala scheme.
- In the last six years, more than 11,000 new LPG distribution centres have opened across the country.
- The LPG coverage in India is now very close to becoming 100 per cent.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NMEO-OP
Mains level: Oilseeds and India
The Centre has increased the financial outlay for the National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).
About NMEO-OP
- National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) was implemented during the 12th Five Year Plan, to expand the oil palm areas and increase the production of edible oils.
- It was later merged with the National Food Security Mission.
- NMEO-OP aims to resolve to allow India to be independent or self-reliant in edible oil production.
- Through this mission, more than ₹11,000 crores will be invested in the edible oil ecosystem.
- The government will ensure that farmers get all the needed facilities, from quality seeds to technology.
- Along with promoting the cultivation of oil palm, this mission will also expand the cultivation of our other traditional oilseed crops.
Why such a mission?
- India is one of the major oilseeds growers and importers of edible oils.
- India’s vegetable oil economy is the world’s fourth-largest after the USA, China & Brazil.
- The oilseed accounts for 13% of the Gross Cropped Area, 3% of the Gross National Product, and 10% value of all agricultural commodities.
- During the last few years, the domestic consumption of edible oils has increased substantially and has touched the level of 18.90 million tonnes in 2011-12 and is likely to increase further.
- A substantial portion of our requirement of edible oil is met through the import of palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia.
- It is, therefore, necessary to exploit domestic resources to maximize production to ensure edible oil security for the country.
Alternative sources
- Oil Palm is comparatively a new crop in India and is the highest vegetable oil yielding perennial crop.
- With quality planting materials, irrigation, and proper management, there is a potential of achieving 20-30 MT Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFBs) per ha after attaining the age of 5 years.
- Therefore, there is an urgent need to intensify efforts for area expansion under oil palm to enhance palm oil production in the country.
- Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs), like Sal, Mahua, Simarouba, kokum, Olive, Karanja, Jatropha, Neem, Jojoba, Wild Apricot, Walnut, tung etc. are cultivated/grown in the country under different agro-climatic conditions.
- These TBOs are also good sources of vegetable oil and therefore need to be supported for cultivation.
Try answering this PYQ:
Q.An objective of the National Food Security Mission is to increase the production of certain crops through area expansion and productivity enhancement in a sustainable manner in the identified districts of the country. What are those crops?
(a) Rice and wheat only
(b) Rice, wheat, and pulses only
(c) Rice, wheat, pulses, and oilseeds only
(d) Rice, wheat, pulses, oilseeds, and vegetables
Post your answers here:
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Operation Greens Scheme
Mains level: Not Much
The Union Minister of Food Processing Industries has provided useful information regarding the Op Greens Scheme.
Operation Greens Scheme
- Ministry of Food Processing Industries launched the Operation Greens scheme in November, 2018.
- The scheme aims for integrated development of the Tomato, Onion, and Potato (TOP) value chain.
- It aims to promote Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), agri-logistics, processing facilities and value addition etc. in identified production clusters.
- Under the scheme, state-wise funds are not allocated as the scheme is demand-driven and projects are approved as per scheme guidelines on the basis of applications received for setting up of projects in eligible production clusters.
Objectives:
- To enhance value realization of TOP farmers
- Reduction in post-harvest losses
- Price stabilization for producers and consumers and
- Increase in food processing capacities and value addition etc.
Key provisions
- Short term intervention by way of providing transportation and storage subsidy @ 50% and
- long term intervention through value addition projects in identified production clusters with Grant-in-aid @ 35% to 70% of eligible project cost subject to maximum of Rs. 50 crore per project
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