New Delhi imposes curfew in Kashmir ahead of one-year anniversary of Aug 5 move
New
Delhi in fear of protests has imposed a curfew across Indian administered
Kashmir just two days ahead of the first anniversary of India's move to abolish
the semi-autonomous status of earstwhile state officials said late Monday,
citing intelligence reports.
"These
restrictions shall come into force with immediate effect and shall remain in
force on 4th and 5th August," stated the government order issued for the
main city of Srinagar.
According
to sources "Full curfew will be enforced in all Kashmir districts,"
A
"full curfew" means people can only move around with an official
pass, usually reserved for essential services like police and medical
professionals.
The
Himalayan region is already subject to restrictions to reduce the spread of the
novel coronavirus amid a jump in infections, with most economic activities
limited and public movement curtailed.
The
order said the separate virus lockdown would be extended until August 8.
The
curfew came as Kashmiris called for August 5 to be observed as a "black
day".
Anger
across Muslim-majority Kashmir against India's Hindu-nationalist government has
been growing since last year, particularly over the granting of special rights
— once reserved for Kashmiris — to tens of thousands of people from outside of
the region to buy land.
Government
formulates draft defence production and export policy
Defence
Ministry has formulated a draft Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy
2020 (DPEPP-2020).The policy aims to provide impetus to self-reliance in
defence manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Scheme.
The DPEPP-2020 is envisaged as overarching guiding document of Defence Ministry to provide a focused, structured and significant thrust to defence production capabilities of the country for self-reliance and exports.
First
and foremost amongst all is to achieve a turnover of Rs. 1 lakh 75 thousand Crore
including an export of Rs. 35 thousand Crore in the Aerospace and Defence goods
and services by the year 2025.
Developing
a dynamic, robust and competitive Defence industry, including Aerospace and
Naval Shipbuilding industry to cater to the needs of Armed forces with quality
products has also been clearly laid out in the new draft policy.
The
ministry has also laid emphasis on reducing dependence on imports and taking
forward the Make in India initiatives through domestic designs.
Efforts
will be made to create an environment that encourages Research and Development,
rewards innovation, creates Indian IP ownership and promotes a robust and
self-reliant defence industry.
India
Report on Digital Education, 2020
A
report named Sustainable Ocean Economy for 2050: Approximating Its Benefits and
Costs by the World Resources Institute.
•
According to the report, Offshore wind energy generation can reduce greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions, as well as increase return on the investment made to scale
up these Technologies.
Ocean Economy:
•
The ocean and its resources provide key ecosystem services and benefits
(including food, energy, recreational/ cultural services and trading/transport
routes) that are crucial for human wellbeing and the prosperity of the global
economy.
•
However, climate change, overfishing, pollution and a loss of biodiversity and
coastal ecosystems are eroding the ability of the ocean to sustain livelihoods
and prosperity.
•
Focusing on four ocean-based policy interventions:
✓ Conserving and
restoring mangrove habitats
✓ Scaling up offshore
wind production.
✓ Decarbonizing the
international shipping sector
✓ Increasing the
production of sustainably sourced ocean-based proteins.
•
Sustainable ocean-based investments yield benefits at least five times greater
than the costs.
•
Investing $2.0–$3.7 trillion globally across the four areas from 2020 to 2050
would generate $8.2–$22.8 trillion in net benefits (average $15.5 trillion),
implying a Rate of Return on Investment of 400–615 Per cent.
ROI on Scaling
up Offshore Wind Energy:
•
An increase in offshore wind energy generation between 650 and 3,500
terawatt-hours (TWh) every year by 2050 was also estimated to take place.
•
Most offshore installations are currently in Europe, but a significant increase
was expected in Asia, especially in China.
•
Reduction of 0.3-1.61 giga tonnes of carbon dioxide every year by 2050.
•
The total discounted health benefits by transitioning to offshore renewable
energy were pegged between $0.15 trillion and $4.4 trillion by 2020–50.
•
The benefits of water savings can be between $1.3 billion and $1.4 trillion
over 2020-50.
Start
of Assembly of the ITER Tokamak
•
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization is
celebrating the Start of Assembly of the ITER Tokamak in France.
• On this occasion, the Prime Minister of India congratulated the ITER organization. India`s contributions to the project include the cryostat, in-vessel shields, contributions to the cooling water and Among Others.
ITER:
•
ITER is an experimental fusion reactor facility being constructed in France to
prove the feasibility of nuclear fusion for future source of energy.
•
ITER partners are the European Union, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia
and the United States of America. European Union being the host party
contributes 45% while the rest of the parties contribute 9% each. Most of these
contributions are through ‘in-kind’ procurement
of ITER components.
•
India formally joined the ITER Project in 2005 and the ITER Agreement between
the partners was signed in 2006.
•
ITER’s First Plasma is scheduled for December 2025.
Fusion:
•
Fusion is the energy source of the Sun and stars. In the tremendous heat and
gravity at the core of these stellar bodies, hydrogen nuclei collide, fuse into
heavier helium atoms and release tremendous amounts of energy in the process.
•
Three conditions must be fulfilled to achieve fusion in a laboratory: very high
temperature (on the order of 150,000,000° Celsius); sufficient plasma particle
density (to increase the likelihood that collisions do occur); and sufficient
confinement time (to hold the plasma, which has a propensity to expand, within
a defined volume).
Tokamak:
•
First developed by Soviet research in the late 1960s. The term tokamak stands
for the toroidal chamber with Magnetic Coils.
• A tokamak is an experimental machine designed to harness the energy of fusion. Inside atokamak, the energy produced through the fusion of atoms is absorbed as heat in the walls of the vessel.
Just
like a conventional power plant, a fusion power plant will use this heat to
produce steam and then electricity by way of turbines and generators.
•
The heart of a tokamak is its doughnut-shaped vacuum chamber. Inside, under the
influence of extreme heat and pressure, gaseous hydrogen fuel becomes a plasma.
Aerial
Seeding employed by Haryana.
The
Haryana government has recently employed aerial seeding techniques to improve
green cover in the Aravalli area of the state. It is to regenerate the low
vegetation density or denuded areas on inaccessible or difficult sites of
Aravalli and Shivalik hills.
Aerial Seeding:
•
It is a plantation technique wherein seed balls — seeds covered with a mixture
of clay, compost, char and other components — are sprayed using aerial devices,
including planes, helicopters or drones.
•
The Seeds balls/pellets are dispersed in a targeted area by low-flying drones,
with the coating providing the required weight for seeds to airdrop on a
predetermined location rather than getting deterred by the wind.
•
These pellets sprout when there is enough rain, with nutrients present within
them helping in Initial Growth.
Significance:
•
Areas that are inaccessible, having steep slopes or no forest routes, can be
targeted using this method.
• The process of the seed’s germination and growth is such that it requires no attention after it is dispersed and thus seed pellets are known as the “fire and forget” way of plantation.
•
They eliminate any need for ploughing and do not need to be planted since they
are already surrounded by soil, nutrients, and microorganisms. The clay shell
also protects them from birds, ants and rats.
•
The Species to be Used for Aerial Seeding are native to the area and hardy,
with seeds that are of an appropriate size for preparing seedballs are usually
used for aerial seeding, with a higher survival percentage.
Green-Ag
Project to reduce emission.
The
indian Government launched the Green-Ag Project in Mizoram, to reduce emissions
from agriculture and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
•
Other states include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttarakhand.
•
Madhya Pradesh (Chambal Landscape), Mizoram (Dampa Landscape), Odisha
(Similipal
Landscape),
Rajasthan (Desert National Park Landscape) and Uttarakhand (Corbett-Rajaji
Landscape) are the landscapes where the project will be implemented.
Green-Ag
Project:
•
The Green-Ag Project is funded by the Global Environment Facility.
•
The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers’ Welfare (DAC&FW)
is the national executing agency.
Other
key players involved in its implementation are the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change (MoEF&CC).
•
The project seeks to mainstream biodiversity, climate change, sustainable land
management objectives and practices into the agriculture sector.
• The project is designed to achieve multiple global environmental benefits in at least 1.8 million hectares (ha) of land in five landscapes, with mixed land-use systems.
•
It aims to bring at least 104,070 ha of farms under sustainable land and water management.
•
The pilot project is supposed to end on March 31, 2026, in all states.
Expected
Outcomes:
•
Ensure 49 Million Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) sequestered or reduced
through sustainable land use and agricultural practices.
•
Help local people take advantage of the rich agro-biodiversity.
•
Promotion of secondary agriculture
•
Establishment of green value chains.
Natesa,
Idol retrieved in Rajasthan.
Recently,
a rare sandstone idol ‘Natesa’ from the 9th century (Pratihara Style of Rajasthan) has been
retrieved after 22 years by Rajasthan police.
Highlights:
•
It is currently at the Indian High Commission, London, was originally from the
Ghateswar Temple, Baroli, Rajasthan.
•
It was smuggled out of the country in 1998. A few archaeologists behind the
‘India Pride Project’ have also taken consistent efforts for the restitution of
the Natesa icon.
•
It is a group of art enthusiasts who use social media to identify stolen
religious artefacts from Indian temples and secure their return.
•
The sandstone Natesa figure stands tall at almost 4 ft. in a rare and brilliant
depiction of Shiva.
A
beautiful depiction of Nandi is shown behind the right leg of the Natesa icon.
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Ministry of Culture should use this restitution as a much-needed impetus to go after thousands of artefacts stolen since the 1960s.
About Pratihara
Style:
•
It is a famous temple architecture belonging to the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty
of Rajasthan.
•
They ruled much of Northern India from the mid-8th to the 11th century. Its
significant rulers are Nagabhata Il, Mhir Bhoj, Mahenedra pal I.
•
The architecture is known for their sculptures, carved panels and open pavilion
style temples belonging to Nagara Style of temple Architecture.
•
They used most common sandstones for idols that have various shades of red,
caused by iron oxide (rust).
•
The greatest development of their style of building is at Khajuraho, Madhya
Pradesh, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mains
special
Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
Recently,
Jin Liqun has been re-elected as the President of the China-based Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for a second five-year term. The
President stated that the bank would remain an “apolitical institution” and
continue to back projects in India.
About India and
AIIB:
•
India was among the AIIB’s 57 founding members in 2016. It is also its
second-largest shareholder (with 7.62% voting shares) after China (26.06%).
•
It has received USD 4.35 billion from the Bank. This is the highest of any
country, with the bank so far approving loans of USD 19.6 billion to support 87
projects in 24 countries.
Turkey is second with USD 1.95 billion.
•
The AIIB has approved financing projects in India in a host of sectors like
energy, transport and water including the Bangalore metro rail project (USD 335
million), Gujarat rural roads project (USD 329 million) and Phase 3 of the
Mumbai urban transport project (USD 500 million).
•
India said that it expects AIIB to introduce new financing instruments, provide
financing for social infrastructure and to integrate development of climate
resilient and sustainable energy access infrastructure into AIIB’s recovery
response to the Covid-19 crisis.
•
It implies that India is unlikely to alter its engagement with the China-led
Asian
Infrastructure
Investment Bank (AIIB), despite a host of offensive measures announced recently
to reduce its trade and investment links with China.
About China and
AIIB:
•
It approved USD 500 million for Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund and Health
Systems Preparedness Project and another USD 750 million for Covid-19 Active
Response and Expenditure Support, in a co-financing arrangement with the Asian
Development Bank (ADB).
•
The USD 750 million loan was approved two days after the clash in Galwan Valley
in Ladakh along the India-China border.
It
has supported several projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
framework, but Is not formally linked to the plan. India has concerns over the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor – a part of the BRI.
About Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank
•
It is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and
economic outcomes in Asia.
• Its Headquartered in Beijing (China), it began operations in January 2016 and has now grown to 103 approved members worldwide.
Way Ahead:
•
It is also significant as the World Bank is continued to be dominated by the
USA while Japan has more influence over Asian Development Bank (ADB).
•
India should continue to engage with AIIB as it will be able to access
resources for the financing of national and cross-border infrastructure
projects from the Bank.
•
India needs to ensure that its own interests are served by its membership very
explicitly. It
Should
make sure that AIIB doesn’t end up becoming a tool of Chinese Geopolitical Agenda.
SC
Looks to Save both Wild Animals and Crops
An
“anxious” Supreme Court accentuated the urgent need to find an alternative to
killing Marauding wild animals as vermin even while protecting Crops from them.
About the News:
•
The court was hearing a petition seeking measures to prevent killing of wild animals
in India. The Petition highlighted the indiscriminate killing of blue bulls
(nilgai) as vermin.
•
Issuing a notice, the court tagged the petition with an earlier one on an
elephant who died after consuming pineapples laced with explosives in Kerala.
•
Chief Justice Bobde said man-animal conflict is leading to both killing of
wildlife and crop
Loss.
He also suggested to use “explosives that do not kill” but make a lot of noise and
“rubber bullets” to scare off the animals.
•
CJI has asked to study the problem and suggest measures so that the court could
pass the Necessary orders.
• The court also asked to enquire into whether human encroachments into forests are Driving wild animals away from their natural habitats, forcing them to foray into human Settlements for food.
What are the
Reasons for man-animal conflict?
•
Lost ranges and blocked corridors for elephants have made elephants look for
soft Landscapes adjoining forests such as coffee, tea and cardamom estates, and
in the absence Of these, wander into food-rich farms falling in their movement
pathways.
•
Expansion of human settlements into forests – expansion of cities, industrial
areas, Railway/road infrastructure, tourism etc. Commercial pressures eat into
already diminished habitat.
•
Allowing livestock to graze in forest areas.
•
Land use Transformations such as change from protected forest patches to
agricultural And horticultural lands and monoculture plantations are further
destroying the habitats of Wildlife.
•
Unscientific structures and practices of forest management in the country.
•
Infestation of wildlife habitat by invasive exotic weeds leads to decreased
availability of Edible grasses for wild herbivores.
•
Decreased prey base caused by poaching of herbivores has also resulted in
carnivores Moving out of forests in search of prey and to indulge in Cattle
Lifting.
Way Forward:
•
According to the Wildlife experts, if wildlife protection is confined to
reserves and parks Alone, several species will stand at the brink of extinction.
For example Great Indian Bustard, which is a Schedule-I animal. Despite having
sanctuaries to itself, the bird has Been driven to the brink of extinction.
•
Co-occurrence approach: Building community participation in conservation is a
better idea Than just having Protected Areas.
• Events of MAC can be reduced by integrating early warning systems with simpler damage- Prevention practices (such as improving fencing of crops or better livestock husbandry).
•
Hunting of prey animals, such as deer and pig, needs to stop as they form the
base for Growth of tiger and other carnivore populations.
•
Efforts can be taken to better wildlife management practices and understanding
of animal Behaviour. So that people don’t kill an animal out of panic.
•
Crop insurance should be provided in the event of destruction by wild animals.
•
Safeguarding Tiger corridors, building eco-bridges and such conservation
measures can be Part of Corporate Social Responsibility.
