article: 29th jan 2021 current affairs analysis - 29 jan, 2021

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29th Jan 2021 Current Affairs AnalysisBy IASToppers' Editorial Team | 2021-01-29 17:00:00

Polity and Governance

President’s address in Parliament

The first Parliament session of 2021 will begin with President addressing members of both Houses ofParliament.

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In his speech, there will be an indication of the government’s plans and focus areas for the yearahead.

History & precedent of President’s address:

India:

In India, the practice of the President addressing Parliament can be traced back to the Government of India Act of 1919. This law gave the Governor-General the right to address the Legislative Assembly and the Council of State. The law did not have a provision for a joint address but the Governor-General did address theAssembly and the Council together on multiple occasions. There was no address by him to the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) from 1947 to 1950. After the Constitution came into force, President Rajendra Prasad addressed members of LokSabha and Rajya Sabha for the first time on January 31, 1950.

The President was required to address each session of Parliament. So, during the provisional Parliament in 1950, President gave an address before every session.

Other countries:

In the United Kingdom, the Monarch addressed the Parliament in 16th century. In the United States, President addressed Congress for the first time in 1790.

Constitutional Provisions:


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Article 87 of the Indian Constitution provides two special occasions on which the Presidentaddresses a joint sitting.

The first is to address the opening session of a new legislature after a general election. The second is to address the first sitting of Parliament each year.

A session of a new or continuing legislature cannot begin without fulfilling this requirement. The Constitution gives the President the power to address either House or a joint sitting of thetwo Houses of Parliament. The First Amendment to the Constitution in 1951 changed this position and made the President’s address once a year.

President’s address:

There is no set format for the President’s speech. The Constitution states that the President shall “inform Parliament of the cause of thesummons”. The address of the President follows a general structure in which it highlights the government’saccomplishments from the previous year and sets the broad governance agenda for the comingyear.The President’s speech is the viewpoint of the government and is written by it. All the ministries send information about any legislative proposals that need to be included inthe President’s address.

Procedure & tradition:

In the days following the President’s address, a motion is moved in the two Houses thanking thePresident for his address. MPs in the two Houses have a broad debate on governance in the country. The Prime Minister replies to the motion of thanks in both Houses, and responds to the issuesraised by MPs. The motion is then put to vote and MPs can express their disagreement by moving amendments tothe motion.

In 2018, Lok Sabha MPs tabled 845 amendments of which 375 were moved andnegatived.

It is the only occasion in the year when the entire Parliament, i.e., the President, Lok Sabha, andRajya Sabha come together.

[Ref: The Indian Express]

Government Schemes & Policies

National Marine Turtle Action Plan

Recently, the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has released ‘MarineMega Fauna Stranding Guidelines’ and ‘National Marine Turtle Action Plan’.


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About the National Marine Turtle Action Plan:

It seeks to promote inter sectoral action for conservation.It will promote coordination amongst the government, civil society and all relevant stakeholderson the response to cases of stranding, entanglement, injury or mortality of marine mammals.It highlights actions to be taken for:

Handling stranded animals on shore, stranded or entangled animals in the sea or on aboat.Management actions for improved coordination.Reducing threats to marine species and their habitats.Rehabilitation of degraded habitats.Enhancing people’s participation.Advance scientific research.Exchange of information on marine mammals and marine turtles and their habitats.

About the Sea Turtles in India:

Five species of turtles are found in India:

Olive Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea):It has an olive-green color shell.Most abundant of all species.IUCN: VulnerableCITES: Appendix- IWildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule- I


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Green (Chelonia mydas) turtles:It is the only herbivore species of all five sea turtles.In the Eastern Pacific, a group of green turtles that have darker shells are called blackturtles by the local community.Found mainly in tropical and subtropical waters.IUCN: EndangeredCITES: Appendix- IWildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule- I

Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles:Hawksbills are named for their narrow, pointed beak. They have a distinctive pattern of overlapping scales on their shells that form a serrated-look on the edges.They feed mainly on sponges.IUCN: Critically EndangeredCITES: Appendix- IWildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule- I


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Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtles:Loggerhead turtles are named for their large heads that support powerful jaw muscles,allowing them to crush hard-shelled prey like clams and sea urchins.Loggerheads are the most common turtle in the Mediterranean, nesting on beachesfrom Greece and Turkey to Israel and Libya.IUCN: VulnerableCITES: Appendix- IWildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule- I

Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) turtlesLeatherback turtles are named for their shell, which is leather-like rather than hard, likeother turtles. They are the largest sea turtle species.


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IUCN: VulnerableCITES: Appendix- IWildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule- I

[Ref: PIB]

Swachh Bharat scheme on path to sustainability

More budgetary support for civic bodies may be key to achive sustainable targets


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Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban (SBM - U):

SBM-U was launched in 2014 by Prime Minister.It seeks to make India 100 per cent ODF, along with complete solid waste management (SWM)in all statutory towns in the country.

Features of SBM-U:

The programme includes elimination of open defecation, conversion of unsanitary toilets topour flush toilets, eradication of manual scavenging, municipal solid waste management andbringing about a behavioral change in people regarding healthy sanitation practices.Aim:

to cover 1.04 crore households, provide 2.5 lakh community toilets, 2.6 lakh publictoilets, and a solid waste management facility in each town.

Community toilets will be built in residential areas where it is difficult to construct individualhousehold toilets.

Financial assistance:

The total assistance available for construction of an individual toilet is Rs 4000/- from the CentralGovernment and an amount of Rs 1333/- at least from the State Government. In the case of the North East States, the states are required to contribute only Rs 400/- perindividual toilet.

Sustainability targets:

It has launched the ODF+ and ODF++ protocols, with a focus on sustaining mission outcomesand achieving holistic sanitation.The ODF+ protocol focusses on operation and maintenance of community/public toilets byensuring functionality and maintenance for continued usage. ODF++ focusses on addressing safe management of faecal sludge from toilets and ensuring that no untreated sludge is discharged into open drains, water bodies or in the open.

ODF:


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ODF protocol, issued in March 2016, said, “A city/ward is notified as ODF city/wardif, at any point of the day, not a single person is found defecating in the open.

ODF+:ODF+ protocol says that a city, ward or work circle could be declared ODF+ if, “atany point of the day, not a single person is found defecating and/or urinating in theopen, and all community and public toilets are functional and well-maintained.

ODF++:ODF++ protocol adds the condition that “fecal sludge/septage and sewage is safelymanaged and treated, with no discharging and/or dumping of untreated fecalsludge/septage and sewage in drains, water bodies or open areas.”

Achievements under SBM-U


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India has made remarkable leaps in the Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban (SBM - U). About 99 per cent of Indian cities today are Open Defecation Free (ODF). From a meagre 18 per cent in 2014, Indian cities are processing 68 per cent of the solid wastegenerated.Since the beginning of the mission, it has achieved 105 per cent of the total target inconstructing individual household toilets, 118 per cent in constructing community and public toilet.

[Ref: The Hindu]

Issues related to Health & Education

India Joins the World to Light Up Qutub Minar

India is all set to join more than 50 landmarks representing 25 nations across the world to symboliseUnity to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) by illuminating Qutub Minar.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs):

They are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropicalconditions in 149 countries.NTDs are parasitic and bacterial infections transmitted through mosquitoes or flies andcontaminated water or soil.They are found in several countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. NTDs are especially common in tropical areas where people do not have access to clean wateror safe ways to dispose of human waste.It includes:

Buruli Ulcer, Chagas Disease, Cysticercosis, Dengue Fever, Dracunculiasis (Guinea WormDisease), Echinococcosis, Fascioliasis, Human African Trypanosomiasis (African SleepingSickness), Leishmaniasis, Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease), Lymphatic Filariasis, Mycetoma,


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Onchocerciasis, Rabies, Schistosomiasis, Soil-transmitted Helminths (STH) (Ascaris,Hookworm, and Whipworm), and Trachoma.

Treatment:

The following six NTDs can be controlled or even eliminated through mass administration of safeand effective medicines:

Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease)Lymphatic FilariasisOnchocerciasisSchistosomiasisSoil-transmitted Helminths (STH) (i.e., Ascaris, Hookworm, and Whipworm)Trachoma

Initiatives:

World Health organisation’s (WHO) Five public health approaches to tackling NTDs:Innovative and intensified disease management Preventive chemotherapy Vector ecology and management Veterinary public-health services Water, sanitation and hygiene

London Declaration:WHO in 2011 targeted for the eradication of two diseases (dracunculiasis and yaws)and the elimination of 10 others by 2020.Following it, in 2012, pharmaceutical companies, donors, endemic countries and non-government organisations came together to sign the London Declaration on NTDs.

Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) was launched in 2000:The goal set by the most recent WHO road map is to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem in at least 58 countries by 2030.

SAFE strategy:It is a major comprehensive public health strategy for the treatment for trachoma.It includes the combination of surgery (S), antibiotics (A), facial cleanliness (F) and environmental educational efforts (E) as a multi-pronged approach to the disease.

END7 campaign:Awareness campaign seeking to eliminate the seven most common NTDs by 2020. The seven most common NTDs: lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), river blindness(onchocerciasis), snail fever (schistosomiasis), trachoma, hookworm, whipworm(trichuriasis) and roundworm (ascaraisis) END7, which is run by the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (GlobalNetwork), an initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute.


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India’s status:

India experiences the world’s largest absolute burden of at least 11 major NTDs.India leads the world in terms of the total number of cases for each of the major NTDs, asdefined by the World Health Organization (WHO).As per the WHO data, around 58% of the newly diagnosed leprosy cases in the world in 2018were in India.

Key facts:

The World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day is an international awareness day for NTDsobserved on 30 January. It was originally announced by the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi at the 2019 Reaching theLast Mile Forum.The first-ever World NTD Day was celebrated on 30 January 2020.

[Ref: PIB]

Economy

MP’s push for inclusion into the GI list of Basmati

Madhya Pradesh (MP) government’s pressure on the central government for seeking GeographicalIndication (GI) tag for Basmati produced in 13 districts of MP


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The All-India Rice Exporters’ Association (AIREA) has appealed to the government to preserveand protect the integrity of one of the most cherished national produce of India, Basmati rice.

About Basmati:

India is the only producer of Basmati rice in the world.Basmati is a variety of long, slender-grained aromatic rice which is traditionally grown in India. As of 2018–19, India accounted for 95% of the international trade in basmati rice, while Pakistan accounted for the remaining 5%. Many countries use domestically grown basmati rice crops.Basmati is geographically exclusive to certain districts of India and Pakistan.According to the Indian Government agency APEDA, a rice variety is eligible to be calledBasmati if it has a minimum average precooked milled rice length of 6.61 mm and averageprecooked milled rice breadth of up to 2 mm, among other parameters.

When was Basmati brought under GI tag?

In May 2010, APEDA, got GI certification for the region located in Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP)below the foothills of the Himalayas.According to APEDA, the origin and reputation of Basmati rice is found in tradition, folklore,scientific and culinary literature and political and historical records. The Dehraduni Basmati, Amritsar Basmati and Tarawari basmati all have not become famousin one day as they are producing Basmati for hundreds of years.

Why MP want its rice to be included under the GI list?

MP falls in the Madhya Bharat Pathar and started cultivation of varieties of Basmati rice aroundthe middle of the first decade of this century. The state claims that this rice possesses the same characteristics and qualities as that of the ricegrown in the IGP. It also claims that nearly 80,000 farmers of the state are growing Basmati in 13 districts andexporting worth Rs 3,000 crore annually.


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GI tag requirements:

Under WTO’s TRIPs (trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights) agreement,physical attributes are not enough for a product to earn GI tag and that reputation linked to thegeographical region is essential and imperative. As per GI of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act in 2003, ‘reputation’ to a geographicalarea is central to the recognition of a GI product and only seven states have that reputation.

Why MP cannot be included in GI Tag?

Even if the rice grown in MP has all the required characteristics, the same would not still entitlesuch rice to qualify as Basmati.

Kancheepuram Silk Sari is a GI product, but a Banarsi sari cannot claim a share of thestatus though it might be as beautiful as the Kancheepuram Sari.

Same goes with Basmati and any rice which is grown outside the designated area cannot becalled Basmati.

What is a Geographical Indication?

According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority(APEDA), GI tag is an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product, originating from aspecific geographical area due to which it possesses unique characteristics and qualities.

It’s kind of trademark in the international market.Just as the reputation of a patented product is associated with its inventor, the reputation of a GIproduct is associated with its place of origin.India, as member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), enacted the GeographicalIndications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 that came into force from September 15, 2003.

Significance of GI registration:

Give legal protection to the products.Prevents unauthorised use of a GI by others.Helps consumers get quality products of desired traits.Promotes economic prosperity of producers of goods by enhancing demand in national andinternational markets.

GI tag and International conventions:

Under Articles 1 (2) and 10 of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property,geographical indications are covered as an element of Intellectual property rights (IPRs).They are also covered under Articles 22 to 24 of the Trade Related Aspects of IntellectualProperty Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, which was part of the agreements concluded at the Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations.


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Impact of inclusion of MP in the GI list?

Exporters view the inclusion of MP will be disastrous. It was only the GI tag that has protected our Basmati, because it has been grown from timeimmemorial in the IGP area of India and 18 districts of Pakistan’s Punjab.If MP is allowed to be included, it will nullify APEDA’s efforts made earlier to secure and protectIndian Basmati since 1995 by taking up over 1,000 legal actions in nearly 50 countries, spreadacross all the continents. At the moment MP gets the tag, Pakistan will grab the opportunity to start sowing Basmati allacross the country. China will be equally benefitted.

If Basmati loses its premium tag it will deprive over 20 lakh farmers of seven states fromthe economic premium of growing this unique product.

So, the commercial considerations cannot be allowed to be sacrificed at the altar of expandingthe area of GI.

[Ref: The Indian Express]

Environment, Ecology & Disaster Management

RTI reveals MoEF&CC cleared 3 highway proposals disregarding WII’s views

The Union government recently approved forest land diversion for three highway proposals in Rajasthan’s Ranthambhore and Mukundara Tiger Reserves.

Key highlights:


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The proposals are part of the eight-lane Delhi-Mumbai Greenfield Highway project underBharatmala.

Bharatmala is an umbrella programme for the highways sector that focuses onoptimising efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridgingcritical infrastructure gaps.

The proposed highways will also cut across the Gandhi Sagar, Bhainsrorgarh and NationalChambal Sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Ranthambore Tiger Reserves:

Location:

It is a protected area in city of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. It is located at the junction of the Aravali and Vindhya hill range.It is bounded to the North by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. It is named after the historic Ranthambore Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which lies


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within the park. It is believed to have been constructed by the Chauhan’s in the 10th century owing tosafety measures.

It includes the adjacent forests of Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary in South and KeladeviSanctuary in North.

Features:

It was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973 and became a national park on 1980. It harbours dry deciduous forests and open grassy meadow.It includes Digamber Jain temple of Lord Sumatinath and Lord Sambhavanath.Padam Talao is the largest of the many lakes in the park.

A red sandstone Jogi Mahal is at the edge of the lake. India's second largest gigantic Banyan tree in present near the lake.

Fauna: Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar, striped hyena, sloth bear, southernplains gray langur, rhesus macaque, mugger crocodile and chital.

Mukundara Tiger Reserves:


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It is located in Hadoti region of Rajasthan. It is located in the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests.It is a combination of three wildlife sanctuaries namely Darrah (means ‘pass’ in local language)wildlife sanctuary, Chambal wildlife sanctuary and Jaswant Sagar wildlife sanctuary. It is surrounded by 4 rivers: Ramzan, Ahu, Kali, and Chambal.(The Darrah wildlife sanctuary was declared as Mukundra Hills National Park in 2004. In 2013 itbegged the status of a tiger reserve.

Features:

It has grasslands in between and also many dry deciduous trees.Fauna: Bengal tiger, Indian wolf, Indian leopard, chital, sambar deer, wild boar, nilgai, sloth bear,chinkara, mugger crocodile, and gharial.

[Ref: Down to Earth]

Indian History

Patharughat uprising

Every year on January 28, the government and local people pay respects to the martyrs of thePatharughat uprising (Krishak Swahid Diwas) in an official function.


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About the uprising:

Uprising occurred in the Darrang district of Assam.

In 1893, the British government decided to increase agricultural land tax by 70- 80 per cent.The uprising was against this increased land tax by the colonial administration.

Peasants were protesting through organising Raij Mels, or peaceful peoples' conventions.

Significance of the incident:

For the Assamese community it was extremely inspirational event which promotes patriotism.It was a peaceful protest and precursor of the Civil Disobedience Movement.It was one of the pan India anti-imperialist movements which resisted the autocratic Britishgovernment.The uprising gave a new direction to the freedom movement.

[Ref: Indian Express]

Science & Technology

Scientists calculate the mass range of dark matter


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A combination of Einstein’s concepts of Quantum Physics and General Relativity called quantumgravity was used in the research.

About the research:

Research shows that unless and until there is a force acting on the dark matter, it can neitherbe super light nor super heavy.

About the Dark Energy:

Einstein was the first person to predict about the dark energy.Einstein’s gravity theory contains a cosmological constant and makes the predictionthat space will expand over the period of time and it may have its own energy.

Roughly 68% of the universe is dark energy.


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About Dark Matter:

Dark matter made up 27% of the universe.Dark matter is not in the form of stars and planets rather it is made up of particles calledbaryons.It is not an anti-matter because they don’t produce gamma rays which are produced by the anti-matter.It doesn’t interact with the electromagnetic force.

[Ref: Down to Earth]

Key Facts for Prelims

United Nations (UN) Peacebuilding Fund

Recently, India announced pledge of $150,000 to U.N. peacebuilding fund.


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About United Nations Peace Building Fund:

Launched in: 2006UN Peacebuilding Fund is the financial instrument to sustain the peace in countries at risk oraffected by violent conflict.The Peace Building Fund may invest with UN entities, governments, regional organizations,multilateral banks, national multi-donor trust funds or civil society organizations.It supports peacebuilding activities that strengthen the capacity of governments, national/localinstitutions and transitional or other relevant authorities.

[Ref: The Hindu]

Indo-French Year of the Environment

Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the French Minister for EcologicalTransition recently launched the Indo-French Year of the Environment.

Background:

India has achieved 26% of reduction of emission intensity. As of 2020 the renewable capacity in India stands at 90 GW which includes 36 GW of solar


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energy & 38 GW of wind energy.

Indo-French Year of the Environment:

It would be based on five main themes over the period 2021-2022:Environmental protectionClimate changeBiodiversity conservationSustainable urban developmentDevelopment of renewable energies and energy efficiency


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[Ref: PIB]

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article: 29th jan 2021 current affairs analysis - 29 jan, 2021

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