From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Nicobari Hodi, GI Tag
Mains level: Not Much
The Geographical Indications Registry at Chennai, has received an application from the Tribal Development Council, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, seeking the GI tag for the Nicobari hodi craft.
The hodi is the Nicobari tribe’s traditional craft.
It is an outrigger canoe, very commonly operated in the Nicobar group of islands.
The hodi is built using either locally available trees or from nearby islands, and its design varies slightly from island to island.
Hodis are used for transporting people and goods from one island to another, for sending coconuts, for fishing and racing purposes.
The tuhet, a group of families under a headman, consider the hodi an asset.
Hodi races are held between islands and villages.
The technical skills for building a hodi are based on indigenous knowledge inherited by the Nicobarese from their forefathers.
How many GI tags have been accorded so far?
The Geographical Indications Registry, established in Chennai in September 2003, has received over 1,000 applications.
An application seeking GI tag for the Banaras’ thandai (a beverage made with milk, dry fruits and spices) was the 1,000th application.
Data shows that, as on date, around 1,015 applications have been filed at the Chennai office and of them, GI tags have been given to 422 products.
Back2Basics: Geographical Indication
A GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
Nodal Agency: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 w.e.f. September 2003.
GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement.
Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Friendshoring
Mains level: Not Much
In her visit to India last week, US secretary of treasury Janet Yellen reiterated her country’s stance of pushing for “friendshoring” to diversify away from countries that present geopolitical risk.
What is Friendshoring?
Friendshoring is a strategy where a country sources the raw materials, components and even manufactured goods from countries that share its values.
The dependence on the countries considered a “threat” to the stability of the supply chains is slowly reduced.
It is also called “allyshoring”.
Apple’s announcement to shift its iPhone manufacturing facilities from China to India.
US push for friendshoring
In the current case, Yellen said that Russia has long presented itself as a reliable energy partner, but in the Ukraine war, Putin has weaponized the gas “against the people of Europe”.
Another country Yellen mentioned in her speech was China.
She said it currently controls over 80 per cent of global solar panel production.
However, there are reports that in parts of the country, like Xinjiang, the production of panels takes place through forced labour.
Issues with friendshoring
Friendshoring may push the world towards a more isolated place for trade and reverse the gains of globalisation.
It is a part of the “deglobalisation” process.
While moving supply chains away from East Asia could increase security in the long run, an ill-conceived implementation of this friendshoring strategy could result in price hikes and a stronger China over time.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Hwasong-17
Mains level: Nuclear Proliferation by N Korea
North Korea said it test-fired its massive new Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Hwasong-17
The Hwasong-17 is nuclear-armed North Korea’s biggest missile yet, and is the largest road-mobile, liquid-fuelled ICBM in the world.
Its diameter is estimated to be between 2.4 and 2.5 metres, and its total mass, when fully fuelled, is likely somewhere between 80,000 and 110,000 kg.
Unlike North Korea’s earlier ICBMs, the Hwasong-17 is launched directly from a transporter, erector, and launcher (TEL) vehicle with 11 axles, photos by state media showed.
How far can it fly?
The missile launched on Friday flew nearly 1,000 km (621 miles) for about 69 minutes and reached a maximum altitude of 6,041 km.
The weapon could travel as far as 15,000 km (9,320 miles), enough to reach the continental United States.
What is North Korea trying to demonstrate with the missile launches?
North Korea is wary of joint drills between the US and South Korea and believes them to be a rehearsal for invasion and proof of hostile policies.
Notably, Pyongyang’s record launches this year began even before military exercises between the allies, one also involving Japan.
While it says it is responding to the “provocative” drills, some analysts believe that Kim Jong-un must be setting the stage for something bigger— the resumption of nuclear testing after five years.
Pyongyang may also be showcasing its pre-emptive abilities in response to South Korea’s own pre-emptive “kill chain” strategy.
Failure of diplomacy
North Korea pulled out of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) in January 2003 and has conducted six nuclear tests so far since 2006.
Diplomatic talks have been starting and halting over the past two decades.
The Six-Party Talks involving South and North Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States, started in 2003, have since stalled with changing geopolitical dynamics.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump met with Kim Jong-un thrice between 2018 and 2019 but talks broke down and resulted in more sanctions from the West and increased testing by Pyongyang.
The Joe Biden administration did make attempts to restart talks, and North Korea has not seemed keen either.
Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: National Investment and Infrastructure Fund
Mains level: Not Much
Finance Minister has urged the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) to expand its operations and explore ways to crowd in private capital for projects under the National Infrastructure Pipeline, PM Gati Shakti and National Infrastructure Corridor.
What is NIIF?
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is India’s first infrastructure specific investment fund or a sovereign wealth fund that was set up in February 2015.
The objective behind creating this fund was to maximize economic impact mainly through infrastructure investment in commercially viable projects, both Greenfield and Brownfield.
It was proposed to be established as an Alternative Investment Fund to provide long tenor capital for infrastructure projects with an inflow of ₹20,000 crore from the GoI.
It was registered with SEBI as Category II Alternative Investment Fund.
Types of funds in NIIF
NIIF manages three funds: Master Fund, Fund of Funds and Strategic Fund.
The funds were set up to make investments in India by raising capital from domestic and international institutional investors.
Master Fund: It is an infrastructure fund with the objective of primarily investing in operating assets in the core infrastructure sectors such as roads, ports, airports, power etc.
Fund of Funds: The Fund of Funds anchor and/or invest in funds managed by fund managers who have good track records in infrastructure and associated sectors in India. Some of the sectors of focus include Green Infrastructure, Mid-Income & Affordable Housing, Infrastructure services and allied sectors.
Strategic Opportunities Fund: It is registered as an Alternative Investment Fund II under SEBI in India. Its objective is to invest largely in equity and equity-linked instruments. It has been established to provide long-term capital to strategic and growth oriented sectors in the country with the aim to build domestic leaders.
Functions of NIIF
The functions of NIIF are as follows:
Fund raising through suitable instruments including off-shore credit enhanced bonds, and attracting anchor investors to participate as partners in NIIF;
Servicing of the investors of NIIF.
Considering and approving candidate companies/institutions/ projects (including state entities) for investments and periodic monitoring of investments.
Investing in the corpus created by Asset Management Companies (AMCs) for investing in private equity.
Preparing a shelf of infrastructure projects and providing advisory service
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Uda Devi
Mains level: Not Much
On November 16, events to commemorate the martyrdom of Uda Devi, a freedom fighter from the Pasi community, were held at various places in Uttar Pradesh.
Who was Uda Devi?
Uda Devi is remembered not only for her stories of valour but also for her skill as a leader who managed to mobilise people — especially Dalit women — to take up arms against the British.
Born in Ujirao, Lucknow, she was part of the royal guard of Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh.
Her husband, Makka Pasi, worked as a foot soldier in the army of Awadh’s Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah.
Hazrat Mahal’s palace had several women belonging to marginalised communities, and their occupation was mostly to take care of the needs of the royalty.
Some of them, who showed promise, were also trained as warriors. Uda Devi was one of them.
Her legend
Amid the revolt of 1857, on June 10, at Chinhat near Ismailganj, a battle was fought between the army of Lucknow and the British troops led by Henry Lawrence, in which Makka Pasi lost his life.
The death of her husband spurred Uda Devi on to take up a more active role in the mutiny.
On November 16, 1857, Uda Devi was among the soldiers who clashed with the British regiment stationed near the Gomti River.
Although not much of the fight has been documented in history, it is said that Uda Devi killed at least three dozen British soldiers from atop a tree before she could be spotted.
Can you recall the Eka Movement of 1921 from your modern history references? If not, take your time to revise. Read about the contribution of Madari Pasi in this movement.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Bali Yatra
Mains level: Not Much
In his address to the Indian diaspora in Bali on the sidelines of the G20 summit, PM Modi mentioned the annual Baliyatra on the banks of the Mahanadi in Cuttack, which celebrates the ancient trade relations between India and Indonesia.
Baliyatra
Baliyatra/ Balijatra, literally ‘voyage to Bali’, is one of India’s largest open-air fairs.
It is organised every year to commemorate the 2,000-year-old maritime and cultural links between ancient Kalinga (today’s Odisha) and Bali and other South and Southeast Asian regions.
Origins of the festival
The origins of the festival, which begins on Kartik Purnima (full moon night in the month of Kartik) can be traced back more than 1,000 years.
The Bay of Bengal region had several ports, and sadhavas (traders) traditionally began their voyage across the sea on this auspicious day, when the winds were favourable for the boats, known as boita, to sail.
The traders would set sail to distant lands of Bali, as well as Java (at the time of the voyage known as “Yawadvipa”), Sumatra, Borneo (all in Indonesia), and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) for trade and cultural expansion.
According to historians, popular items of trade between Kalinga and Southeast Asia included pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, silk, camphor, gold, and jewellery.
Even today, thousands of people across Odisha sail decorative miniature boats made of banana stems, paper, or thermocol to celebrate boita bandana, or the worshipping of the boats.
Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Carbon Border Tax
Mains level: Not Much
BASIC countries that includes India has jointly stated that carbon border taxes, that could result in market distortion and aggravate the trust deficit amongst parties, must be avoided.
EU proposes, BASIC opposes
The European Union has proposed a policy — called the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism– to tax products such as cement and steel that are extremely carbon intensive, with effect from 2026.
BASIC, a group constituting Brazil, India, South Africa and China have opposed this move.
These are large economies that are significantly dependent on coal, has for several years voiced common concerns and reiterated their right to use fossil fuel.
What is Carbon Pricing?
Carbon pricing is an approach to reducing carbon emissions that uses market mechanisms to pass the cost of emitting to emitters.
Its goal is to discourage the use of fossil fuels, address the causes of the climate crisis and meet national and international agreements.
Well-designed carbon pricing can change the behavior of consumers, businesses and investors while encouraging technological innovation and generating revenue that can be used productively.
There are a few carbon pricing instruments, such as a carbon tax and cap-and-trade programmes.
What is Carbon Border Tax?
A carbon border tax (CBT) is a tax on carbon emissions attributed to imported goods that have not been carbon-taxed at source.
The carbon border tax proposal is part of the European Commission’s European Green Deal that endeavours to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
Objective:
To ‘incentivize’ greener manufacturing around the world and create parity with European manufacturers who are already subjected to substantial carbon levies.
A move to benefit local EU manufacturers
The carbon border tax has wide appeal in Europe. It is supported by the new president of the European Commission.
A carbon border tax is able to protect a country’s local manufacturers, motivating them to adhere to green regulations.
Many EU companies are at a cost disadvantage as they have been paying a carbon border tax and for carbon emissions since 2005 under the EU’s Emissions Trading System.
The new carbon border tax can therefore lead to a more level playing field against importers, especially those from nations with more lax environmental standards.
What could the new proposal mean politically?
Notably, China’s continuing reliance on non-renewable energy to power its economy leaves it particularly vulnerable in this matter.
For example, given that China produces steel with blast furnaces that release a large amount of carbon, it will have to pay an additional layer of carbon border tax, which will increase its costs and its market price.
This will consequently reduce the competitiveness of steel produced in China, compared to steel from other countries that is made in more carbon-efficient mills that do not have to pay this additional tax.
This suggests that the carbon border tax is also politically preferable to Europe as it slows down the gradually rising economy in China, and would therefore preserve the European countries’ competitiveness.
How does this impact India?
As India’s third largest trading partner, the EU accounted for €62.8 billion ($74.5 billion) worth of trade in goods in 2020, or 11.1% of India’s total global trade.
India’s exports to the EU were worth $41.36 billion in 2020-21, as per data from the commerce ministry.
The CBT would cover energy-intensive sectors such as cement, steel, aluminium, oil refinery, paper, glass, chemicals as well as the power sector.
By increasing the prices of Indian-made goods in the EU, this tax would make Indian goods less attractive for buyers and could shrink demand.
Sadly, India’s many ‘self-reliance’ tariffs are also a contributor to this.
Issues with CBT
Impact on trade: The degree of impact on industrial sectors would be largely influenced by two factors: carbon intensity and trade intensity.
Altering competitiveness: For companies, it will raise the administrative burden of crossing borders and increase trade frictions, especially for small businesses. That will inevitably reduce choice and raise costs for consumers.
Promoting protectionism: The carbon tax may end up being protectionist, and will hit emerging economies like India hard.
Unfair practices under WTO: Depending on their design they could fall foul of WTO measures designed to prevent importing countries from discriminating against particular exporting countries.
A violation of Paris Accord: CBT compels developing countries to pay the same price as the developed countries to climate change. The EU is essentially bypassing the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ that should guide international climate action.
Way forward
Carbon taxing is just one way of holding large emitters accountable for their role in harming the environment.
However, fundamental changes can’t be forced by tariffs.
If the planet is to have any hope of meeting the Paris Agreement goals, drastic measures that consider both the economic and social wellbeing of nations’ inhabitants must be taken.
This should take all nations into confidence than imposing such overnight tariffs.
It is no doubt that India must be in the forefront in climate politics. But it must also be cautious about the negotiations in global laws to protect domestic interests.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Patan Patola
Mains level: Not Much
At the G20 summit, Prime Minister gifted traditional artworks from Gujarat- the ‘Patan Patola’ scarf to his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni.
What is Patan Patola?
The ancient art of double ikat or Patola woven in pure silk dates back to the 11th century.
The Patola fabrics bear an equal intensity of colours and design on both sides.
This peculiar quality has its origins in an intricate and difficult technique of dyeing or knot dyeing, known as ‘bandhani’, on the warp and weft separately before weaving.
How is it woven?
Patola is woven on primitive hand-operated harness looms made out of rosewood and bamboo strips. The loom lies on a slant.
The other commonly worn Patola is the Rajkot Patola, woven on a flat loom.
The process involves warp and weft silk threads that are tied with cotton thread on portions marked with the proposed design.
This tied portion then remains unexposed to colours while dyeing, which is followed by tying, untying, redyeing and dyeing in different shades.
Single and primary colours are applied one after another as mixed shades develop by overlapping. This makes the design stand out.
Who weaves it?
The last surviving family into Patola weaving is the Salvi family in Patan.
From the oldest 70-year-old Rohit to the youngest 37-year-old Savan, the entire nine member-family of five men and four women is engaged with this art form.
The Salvi family shared that before World War II, Indonesia was the major buyer of Patolas.
Legend has it that King Kumarpal of the Solanki dynasty invited some 700 families of Patola weavers from Jalna (Maharashtra) to settle in Patan in North Gujarat, and the Salvis are among them.
The family has also been honoured with several national awards.
How costly it is?
While possessing and wearing a Patola is considered a matter of pride, the fabric has largely remained inaccessible to common people because of its high price.
The base price of a Patola saree in the Patan weave starts from Rs 1.5 lakh up and can go up to Rs 6 lakh.
A typical 46-inch dupatta or scarf sells in the range of Rs 80,000, depending on the intricacy of the design.
Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Vostro and Nostro Accounts, SWIFT
Mains level: Rupee-Ruble Trade
Russian banks have been permitted by the RBI to open special Vostro accounts to pave the way for rupee-based export-import transactions.
Why such move?
Logged out of SWIFT -the messaging service to facilitate and confirm cross-border payments – most Russian banks are looking for alternative ways.
India and several other countries too want a way out so that trade can continue.
India and Russia are now exploring to directly trade in rupee-ruble.
And this is where Nostro and Vostro may come into play.
What is a Vostro Account?
A Vostro account is defined as an account that a correspondent bank holds on behalf of another bank.
Vostro is a Latin word that means “your”, therefore, a vostro account implies that it is “your account”.
An example of such an account would be HSBC vostro account is held by SBI in India.
Understanding a Vostro Account
The banks are acting in a fiduciary relationship and they share a principal-agent relationship.
The correspondent foreign bank is a financial intermediary in the transactions that they are involved in.
The foreign bank acts as an agent that provides services such as executing wire transfers, performing foreign exchange, enabling deposits, enabling withdrawals, expediting international trade on behalf of the domestic bank.
It is most used in settlement of foreign exchanges or foreign trade.
No interest will be paid on the vostro account maintained, as per the directives that have been issued by the RBI in India.
An overdraft facility can only be availed if it is specifically sanctioned.
Other related terms: Nostro and Loro Accounts
Vostro and Nostro accounts are often confused to be the same.
While in essence, it is the same account that is being spoken about, the perspective from which it is being seen matters.
In a vostro account, it is the correspondent foreign bank point of view, whereas in a nostro account, it is the point of view of the domestic bank.
Vostro accounts are maintained in the domestic currency whereas, nostro accounts in foreign currency.
A Loro account is a current account that is maintained by one domestic bank for another domestic bank in the form of a third party account, unlike nostro and vostro which is bilateral correspondence.
Why is it used?
This account serves as an economic way for small domestic banks to access the financial resources and services of a larger foreign bank.
Enables one to offer international banking solutions to a customer without opening a bank branch in a foreign nation.
It minimizes the time for transfer of funds.
Closely monitored nostro accounts can be used for better reconciliation of statements.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Birsa Munda
Mains level: Not Much
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda, the Centre marked the second Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on November 15 to celebrate the contributions of tribal communities to Indian culture.
Who was Birsa Munda (1875-1900)?
Birsa Munda was a tribal freedom fighter, religious leader, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe.
He spearheaded a tribal religious millenarian movement that arose in the Bengal Presidency (now Jharkhand) in the late 19th century, during the British Raj.
His legacy
(A) Birth and early childhood
Born on November 15, 1875, Birsa spent much of his childhood moving from one village to another with his parents.
He belonged to the Munda tribe in the Chhotanagpur Plateau area.
He received his early education at Salga under the guidance of his teacher Jaipal Nag.
On the recommendation of Jaipal Nag, Birsa converted to Christianity in order to join the German Mission school.
He, however, opted out of the school after a few years.
(B) New faith ‘Birsait’ against religious conversion
The impact of Christianity was felt in the way he came to relate to religion later.
Having gained awareness of the British colonial ruler and the efforts of the missionaries to convert tribals to Christianity, Birsa started the faith of ‘Birsait’.
Soon members of the Munda and Oraon community started joining the Birsait sect and it turned into a challenge to British conversion activities.
The Mundas called him Dharati Aaba, the father of earth.
(C) The Ulgulan
The Great Tumult or Ulgulan was a movement started by Birsa Munda against the exploitation and discrimination against tribals by the local authorities.
Although the movement failed, it did result in the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act which forbade tribal lands passing to non-tribals, protecting their land rights for the foreseeable future.
(D) Death
On March 3, 1900, Birsa Munda was arrested by the British police while he was sleeping with his tribal guerilla army at Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur.
He died in Ranchi jail on June 9, 1900, at the young age of 25.
(E) Creation of Jharkhand
Birsa Munda’s achievements are known to be even more remarkable by virtue of the fact that he came to acquire them before he was 25.
In recognition of his impact on the national movement, the state of Jharkhand was created on his birth anniversary in 2000.
Try this PYQ from CSP 2020
With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following event?
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ex Sea Vigil
Mains level: Holistic security of India's maritime domain
In a related development, the third edition of the ‘pan-India’ coastal defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-22’ is scheduled to be held on November 15 and 16.
Ex- Sea Vigil-22
The Exercise was conceptualised in 2018 to validate various measures that have been instituted towards enhancing maritime security since ‘26/11’.
The exercise aims to test its preparedness along the entire 7,516.6 km-long-coastline and exclusive economic zone of the country.
It aims to comprehensively and holistically validate the efficacy of the measures taken since 26/11.
It aims to simultaneously activate the coastal security mechanism across all 13 coastal States and Union Territories.
This involves the evaluation of critical areas and processes, including inter-agency coordination, information sharing and technical surveillance.
Multi agency audit and identification of gaps, shortfalls and incorporation of lessons learnt into Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are also the desired outcomes.
Role of Indian Navy
Post 26/11, the Navy was designated as the agency responsible for overall maritime security, including offshore and coastal security.
The Coast Guard was designated as the agency responsible for coastal security in territorial waters.
A multi-tiered patrol and surveillance mechanism with focus on technical surveillance and augmenting Maritime Domain Awareness through the coastal radar chain was adopted.
Progress has been made in real-time information sharing through the National Command Control Communication and Intelligence (NC3I) Network and improving intelligence and operational coordination.
Significance of the exercise
The exercise is a build up towards the major Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX), which the Indian Navy conducts every two years.
Sea Vigil and TROPEX together will cover the entire spectrum maritime security challenges.
Progress till now
Verification and monitoring of a large number of fishing vessels in India has been greatly eased by the creation of the online ReALCraft (Registration and Licensing of Fishing Craft).
The process of installing transponders on sub-20 metre boats commenced with a pilot project in Tamil Nadu for 5,000 vessels is underway.
To allay the concerns of fishermen, the transponders with GPS have been modified into a two-way communication system.
An Automatic Identification System (AIS) was made compulsory for all vessels above 20 metres after the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Trials were conducted in association with the ISRO on one of their communication satellites last year along the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Eklavya Model School
Mains level: Not Much
A Parliamentary panel has refuted that 20,000 ST people, who make up at least 50% of the total population criteria is “impractical” to build new Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).
What are Eklavya Schools?
EMRS started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to Scheduled Tribes (ST) children in remote areas in order.
It aims to enable them to avail of opportunities in high and professional educational courses and get employment in various sectors.
The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students.
Each school has a capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII.
Hitherto, grants were given for construction of schools and recurring expenses to the State Governments under Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution.
Eklavya schools are on par with Navodaya Vidyalaya and have special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.
Features of Eklavya Schools
Admission to these schools will be through selection/competition with suitable provision for preference to children belonging to Primitive Tribal Groups, first-generation students, etc.
Sufficient land would be given by the State Government for the school, playgrounds, hostels, residential quarters, etc., free of cost.
The number of seats for boys and girls will be equal.
In these schools, education will be entirely free.
What is the population-based criteria?
The Tribal Affairs Ministry plans to build EMRS on 15 acres of land in all sub-districts which have ST communities of more than 20,000 people, who make up at least 50% of their total population.
Wherever density of ST population is higher in identified Sub-Districts (90% or more), it is proposed to set up Eklavya Model Day Boarding School (EMDBS) on an experimental basis.
Issues with this criteria
There are difficulties in identifying and acquiring lands in several tribal districts.
Especially in forested or hilly areas, a contiguous 15-acre plot is hard to find.
This criterion would also deprive scattered ST populations of the benefit of the Eklavya schools.
For most of the places for EMRSs, there is no land available inside the village or the block.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Currency Manipulation
Mains level: Read the attached story
The United States’ Department of Treasury has removed India from its Currency Monitoring List. India had been on the list for the last two years for alleged manipulation of Rupee.
What is Currency Manipulation?
Currency manipulation refers to actions taken by governments to change the value of their currencies relative to other currencies in order to bring about some desirable objective.
It is a designation applied by the US Department of the Treasury, to countries that engage in what is called “unfair currency practices” that give them a trade advantage.
The typical claim – often doubtful – is that countries manipulate their currencies in order to make their exports effectively cheaper on the world market and in turn make imports more expensive.
Why do countries manipulate their currencies?
In general, countries prefer their currency to be weak because it makes them more competitive on the international trade front.
A lower currency makes a country’s exports more attractive because they are cheaper on the international market.
For example, a weak Rupee makes Indian exports less expensive for offshore buyers.
Secondly, by boosting exports, a country can use a lower currency to shrink its trade deficit.
Finally, a weaker currency alleviates pressure on a country’s sovereign debt obligations.
After issuing offshore debt, a country will make payments, and as these payments are denominated in the offshore currency, a weak local currency effectively decreases these debt payments.
US treasury’s criteria for currency monitoring
To be labelled a manipulator by the U.S. Treasury:
Countries must at least have a $20 billion-plus bilateral trade surplus with the US
foreign currency intervention exceeding 2% of GDP and a global current account surplus exceeding 2% of GDP
Which are the countries under this list?
China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan are the seven economies that are a part of the current Currency Monitoring List.
China’s failure to publish foreign exchange intervention and broader lack of transparency around key features of its exchange rate mechanism.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Nadaprabhu Kempegowda
Mains level: Not Much
PM unveiled a 108-feet tall bronze statue of ‘Nadaprabhu’ Kempegowda in Bengaluru, credited to be the city’s founder.
Who was Nadaprabhu Kempegowda?
Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, a 16th century chieftain of the Vijayanagara empire, is credited as the founder of Bengaluru.
It is said that he conceived the idea of a new city while hunting with his minister, and later marked its territory by erecting towers in four corners of the proposed city.
Kempegowda is also known to have developed around 1,000 lakes in the city to cater to drinking and agricultural needs.
He was from the dominant agricultural Vokkaliga community in south Karnataka.
Political motives behind
Kempegowda is an iconic figure among Karnataka’s second most dominant Vokkaliga community after Lingayats.
Political parties plan to woo the Vokkaliga community by honoring Kempegowda.
The statue would be known as the ‘Statue of Prosperity’.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Chancellor
Mains level: States vs Governor at crossroads
In the latest escalation of its running battle with Governor, the Kerala government has decided to remove him as Chancellor of State universities, seeking to replace him with “renowned academic experts”.
Who is a Chancellor of a University?
In India, almost all universities have a chancellor as their titular head whose function is largely ceremonial.
The governor of the state, appointed as the union’s representative of state by the president, is the honorary chancellor of all State owned universities.
The de facto head of any government university is the vice-chancellor.
In private non-profit universities, normally the head of the foundation who has established the university is the chancellor of the university and is the head of the university.
Role of Governors in State Universities
In most cases, the Governor of the state is the ex-officio chancellor of the universities in that state.
Its powers and functions as the Chancellor are laid out in the statutes that govern the universities under a particular state government.
Their role in appointing the Vice-Chancellors has often triggered disputes with the political executive.
What about Central Universities?
Under the Central Universities Act, 2009, and other statutes, the President of India shall be the Visitor of a central university.
With their role limited to presiding over convocations, Chancellors in central universities are titular heads, who are appointed by the President in his capacity as Visitor.
The VCs too are appointed by the Visitor from panels of names picked by search and selection committees formed by the Union government.
The Act adds that the President, as Visitor, shall have the right to authorize inspections of academic and non-academic aspects of the universities and also to institute inquiries.
What is Kerala attempting to do?
Education comes under the Concurrent List.
In an official statement, the Kerala Cabinet noted the M.M. Punchhi Commission had vouched against granting Governors the power of Chancellors.
In many states, the elected governments have repeatedly accused the Governors of acting at the behest of the Centre on various subjects, including education.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Pashmina Wool
Mains level: Not Much
Traders of Pashmina shawls are complaining that “obsolete testing methods” have resulted in many of their export consignments being flagged for the presence of ‘Shahtoosh’ guard hair, which is obtained from endangered Tibetan antelopes.
Shahtoosh, on the other hand, is the fine undercoat fibre obtained from the Tibetan Antelope, known locally as ‘Chiru’, a species living mainly in the northern parts of the Changthang Plateau in Tibet.
What is Pashmina?
Pashmina is a fine type of cashmere wool. The textiles made from it were first woven in Kashmir.
The wool comes from a number of different breeds of the cashmere goat; such as the changthangi or Kashmir pashmina goat from the Changthang Plateau in Tibet and part of the Ladakh region and few parts of Himachal Pradesh.
Often shawls called shahmina are made from this material in Kashmir and Nepal; these shawls are hand spun and woven from the very fine cashmere fibre.
Traditional producers of pashmina wool are people known as the Changpa.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published an Indian Standard for identification, marking and labelling of the already GI tagged Pashmina products to certify its purity.
About Pashmina goat
The Changthangi or Pashmina goat is a special breed of goat indigenous to the high altitude regions of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.
They are raised for ultra-fine cashmere wool, known as Pashmina once woven. The Textiles are handspun and were first woven in Kashmir.
The Changthangi goat grows a thick warn undercoat which is the source of Kashmir Pashmina wool – the world’s finest cashmere measuring between 12-15 microns in fiber thickness.
These goats are generally domesticated and reared by nomadic communities called the Changpa in the Changthang region of Greater Ladakh.
The Changthangi goats have revitalized the economy of Changthang, Leh and Ladakh region.
Try this PYQ:
Q.With reference to ‘Changpa’ community of India, consider the following statement:
They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand.
They rear the Pashmina goats that yield fine wool.
They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Snow Leopard
Mains level: Not Much
The first-ever recording of the snow leopard from the Baltal-Zojila region has renewed the hope for the elusive predator in the higher altitudes of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Why in news?
Not much is known about the number of snow leopards in J&K and Ladakh.
The Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India (SPAI) has been concluded so far in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The estimated population of the great cat is 50 and 100 in these two States respectively.
Snow Leopard
Snow leopards live in the mountainous regions of Central and Southern Asia.
In India, their geographical range encompasses a large part of the western Himalayas, including the UTs of J&K and Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas.
Project Snow Leopard was launched in 2009 for strengthening wildlife conservation in the Himalayan high altitudes.
It aims at promoting a knowledge-based and adaptive conservation framework that fully involves the local communities, who share the snow leopard’s range, in conservation efforts.
Conservation status
In the IUCN- Red List, the snow leopard is listed as Vulnerable.
In addition, the snow leopard, like all big cats, is also listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
In India, the snow leopard is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, giving it the highest protection status under the country’s laws.
Conservation Efforts by India
The Government of India has identified the snow leopard as a flagship species for the high altitude Himalayas.
India is also party to the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme since 2013.
HimalSanrakshak: It is a community volunteer programme, to protect snow leopards, launched in October 2020.
In 2019, First National Protocol was also launched on Snow Leopard Population Assessment which has been very useful for monitoring populations.
SECURE Himalaya: Global Environment Facility (GEF)-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded the project on conservation of high altitude biodiversity and reducing the dependency of local communities on the natural ecosystem.
Project Snow Leopard (PSL): It was launched in 2009 to promote an inclusive and participatory approach to conserve snow leopards and their habitat.
Snow Leopard is on the list of 21 critically endangered species for the recovery programme of the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change.
Snow Leopard conservation breeding programme is undertaken at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling, West Bengal.
Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme
The GSLEP is a high-level inter-governmental alliance of all the 12 snow leopard range countries.
The snow leopard countries namely, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Mongolia, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
It majorly focuses on the need for awareness and understanding of the value of Snow Leopard for the ecosystem.
Living Himalaya Network Initiative
Living Himalayas Initiative (LHI) is established as one of WWF’s global initiatives to bring about transformational conservation impact across the three Eastern Himalayan countries of Bhutan, India (North-East) and Nepal.
Objectives of LHI include adapting to climate change, connecting to habitat and saving iconic species.
Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Effects Of Liberalization On The Economy, Changes In Industrial Policy and their effects on Industrial Growth
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Make-II Project
Mains level: Make in India in defense
The Army has approved sanction orders for the development of niche technology by the Indian industry under the Make-II route of defence procurement.
What are Make-Category Projects?
The provision of ‘Make’ category of capital acquisition in Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) is a vital pillar for realising the vision behind the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
It aims to foster indigenous capabilities through design & development of required defence equipment/product/systems or upgrades/ sub-systems/components /parts by both public and private sector in a faster time frame.
‘Make’ Procedure has following two sub-categories:
Make-I (Government Funded): Projects under ‘Make-I’ sub-category will involve Government funding of 90%, released in a phased manner and based on the progress of the scheme, as per terms agreed between MoD and the vendor.
Make-II (Industry Funded): Projects under ‘Make-II’ category will involve prototype development of equipment/ system/ platform or their upgrades or their sub-systems/ sub-assembly/assemblies/ components. They aim primarily for import substitution/innovative solutions, for which no Government funding will be provided for prototype development purposes.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Dadabhai Naoroji
Mains level: Not Much
This year, 2022, marks the 130th anniversary of the election, in 1892, of the first person of Indian origin, Dadabhai Naoroji to the House of Commons.
Why in news?
Election of Rishi Sunak as British PM with a narrow majority has brought to focus Naoroji.
He too had won Finsbury seat as a MP with a three vote’s majority.
Dadabhai Naoroji (1825-1917)
Dadabhai Naoroji is well known as the “Grand Old Man of India” and “Unofficial Ambassador of India”.
He was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons, represnting Finsbury Central between 1892 and 1895.
He was the second person of Asian descent to be a British MP, the first being Anglo-Indian MP David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre.
He was an Indian political leader, merchant, scholar and writer who was served as 2nd, 9th, and 22nd President of the Indian National Congress from 1886 to 1887, 1893 to 1894 & 1906 to 1907.
His book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India brought attention to his theory of the Indian “wealth drain” into Britain.
He was also a member of the Second Communist International (1889).
Other works
Started the Rast Goftar Anglo-Gujarati Newspaper in 1854.
The manners and customs of the Parsees (Bombay, 1864)
The European and Asiatic races (London, 1866)
Admission of educated natives into the Indian Civil Service (London, 1868)
The wants and means of India (London, 1876)
Condition of India (Madras, 1882)
Influence on Gandhi and Jinnah
Before his Finsbury win, Naoroji met a young student of law in Inner Temple, 23-year-old Mohandas K Gandhi, and left an everlasting impact on the future leader.
He also met another aspiring lawyer then enrolled at Lincoln’s Inn — 16-year-old Mohammed Ali Jinnah, who was to serve for a while as Naoroji’s secretary.
Jinnah had the distinction of hearing Naoroji’s maiden speech in the House of Commons from the Visitors’ Gallery.
