23th February 2024
- Published
23 February 2024 -
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Guinea worm disease inched closer to eradication
Context
Global efforts have dramatically reduced Guinea worm disease from over 3.5 million cases in the 1980s to just six cases in 2023, marking a significant stride towards eradication.
The declining numbers (WHO data)
- There were more than 3.5 million cases of this disease in the 1980s.
- The cases dwindled to 14 cases in 2021, 13 in 2022, and just six in 2023.
Where does India stand?
- India eliminated Guinea worm disease in the late 1990s.
- Measure taken by India: rigorous campaign of surveillance, water safety interventions, and community education.
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What is guinea worm disease?
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India Achieves Kala Azar Elimination Target in 2023
Context
India achieves a major milestone in the battle against Kala Azar, with less than one reported case per 10,000 population across all blocks in 2023, showcasing a significant reduction from 891 cases and three deaths in 2022 to 595 cases and four deaths last year, according to data from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.
About
About the disease:
- Kala-azar or black fever is a chronic and potentially fatal parasitic disease of the internal organs, particularly the liver, spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes.
- Caused by: It is caused by bites from female phlebotomine sandflies – the vector (or transmitter) of the leishmania parasite.
- Transmission: Leishmania donovani is transmitted by sandfly bites in parts of Asia (primarily India), Africa (primarily Sudan), South America (primarily Brazil), Europe (primarily in the Mediterranean region) and in North America.
- According to WHO, if the disease is not treated, the fatality rate in developing countries can be as high as 100% within 2 years.
- Symptoms of Kala azar: Fever, loss of appetite (anorexia), fatigue, enlargement of the liver, spleen and nodes and suppression of the bone marrow.
- Diagnosing Kala azar: The first oral drug found to be effective for treating kala-azar is miltefosine.
Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs)
Context
Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) are likely to propel India towards a $1 trillion digital economy by 2030, helping it to become a $8 trillion economy, as per a recent report.
What is digital public infrastructure (DPI)??
- DPI is a digital network that enables countries to safely and efficiently deliver economic opportunities and social services to all residents.
- DPI can be compared to roads, which form a physical network that connects people and provides access to a huge range of goods and services.??
- A strong DPI has three foundational systems—
- Identity (like Aadhaar)
- Payments (like UPI)
- Data exchange (account aggregators and DigiLocker)
India's Unique Approach to DPIs
India's approach to DPIs is characterized by several key principles:
- Public Interest: DPIs are developed and implemented with the public interest at the core.
- Openness and Interoperability: DPIs are based on open standards and interoperability platforms, enabling seamless integration with various services.
- Data Privacy and Security: Data protection and privacy are paramount considerations in the design and implementation of DPIs.
- Innovation and Collaboration: India encourages innovation and collaboration between the public and private sectors to develop and enhance DPIs.
Bouquet of services
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
- JAM (Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar and Mobile number) trinity
- Covid-19 vaccination platform Co-WIN and the National Health Stack. Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA)
- National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR)
- Digital products: Digital Locker, electronic KYC (eKYC), and on-demand digital signature (e-Sign), FASTag
What are the global implications?
India's DPI journey has significant implications for the global development landscape:
- Alternative Model: India's DPIs offer an alternative model to the traditional "big tech" approach, emphasizing public ownership and control of critical infrastructure.
- Global Adoption: India's DPI frameworks and tools, such as MOSIP, can be adapted and implemented by other countries to suit their specific needs.
- Accelerated Development: DPIs can accelerate development by enabling efficient and inclusive delivery of public services.
Green bond issuances fall in FY24
Context
Fundraising through green corporate bonds by companies and banks fell to a two-year low so far in the current financial year due to low investor appetite and little incentive for the issuers.
What are Green Bonds?
- Category: Debt Instruments
- Green bonds are fixed-income securities that are dedicated only to projects with environmental advantages or climate and environment-related objectives.
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Green bonds differ from conventional fixed-income securities in one aspect that the issuer pledges to use the proceeds to finance projects meant for positive environmental or climate effects. |
The numbers
- Green bonds worth Rs 500 crore were issued so far in this financial year, as compared to Rs 739 crore in the previous financial year.
- In the financial year 2021-22, green bonds worth Rs 2,677 crore were issued.
Why the low appetite?
- In India, there is no obligation to invest in these green bonds and there are also no dedicated companies to invest in them. As a result, the appetite of the Indian investor for such bonds has been low.
- Also, green bonds are new in India and hence, pricing based on the international issue of bonds becomes difficult.
Milk production grew 60% in last decade
Context
In a divergence from global trends, India's dairy sector experiences a robust 6% growth, propelled by the substantial contribution of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul), as highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
More on the news
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated five projects worth Rs 1,200 crore at the Golden Jubilee celebration of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which runs the brand Amul.
- PM Modi highlighted Gujarat's contribution to India's dairy sector, highlighting the double-engine government and the double-engine milk production in the state.
The numbers
- India has the world's largest bovine population and is a leader in milk production.
- In the past 10 years, the milk production in India has gone up by around 60% and the per person availability of milk has grown by around 40%.
- At a time when the global dairy sector is growing merely at a rate of 2%, India’s dairy sector is growing at a rate of 6%.
- In the last 2 decades, the number of milk corporations in the state has doubled from 12 to 23.
- Women participation: More than 36 lakh people are connected with the dairy industry, including 11 lakh women. Out of the 16,384 milk houses, 3300 are completely run by women.
- State-wise production:
- Uttar Pradesh contributed the highest share of milk production at 15.7%, followed by Rajasthan (14.44%), Madhya Pradesh (8.73 %), Gujarat (7.49 %) and Andhra Pradesh (6.70 %).
- The highest annual growth rate was recorded by Karnataka (8.76%) followed by West Bengal (8.65%) and Uttar Pradesh (6.99%).
Challenges faced in dairy farming in India
- Low milk-yield per animal
- Insufficient quality of milk products
- Decentralized structure of dairy farming in India
- Limited awareness about scientific veterinary practices among rural farmers
Important Government Initiatives
- The government has built 60,000+ Amrit Sarovars across the country. This very initiative will not only benefit farmers but will also strengthen the rural economy.
- The government has provided Kisan Credit Card facility to cattle farmers and fish farmers.
- The National Programme for Dairy Development was launched in 2014. It aims at strengthening infrastructure for milk production and processing, encouraging value-addition in milk and milk products apart from increasing farmers’ access to organised markets.
- The Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund was initiated in 2017.
- The government has launched the Rashtriya Gokul Mission towards development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds.
- Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme focuses on vaccination of animals of economic and zoonotic importance.
SHORT NEWS
International Relations (GS-II)
India to open diplomatic mission in Albanian capital
Albania is planning to open an Embassy in New Delhi while India will soon have a diplomatic mission in Tirana.
India and Albania
- India and Albania established diplomatic relations in 1956.
- Albania is at the crossroads between the European Union and East. Albania is a part of many corridors that link India with the European Union.
- Albania's neighbour Greece is keen to join the India Middle-East Economic Corridor (IMEC) and become India's gateway to the European market.
- Indian companies are represented in the manufacturing sector in Albania, primarily in clothing.
- Tourism remains a major driver of the country's economy. It received over 10 million tourists in 2023, more than four times its national population. Of this, Indian tourists constituted 50,000 visitors.
Environment (GS-III)
Kaziranga National Park
The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved an elevated road over nine corridors used by the animals of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, usually during heavy floods.
Important facts about Kaziranga National Park
- Location: Spread over Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam Kaziranga National Park lies at the edge of eastern Himalayas.
- Origin: The park owes its existence to the conservation efforts of Mary Curzon and her husband Lord Curzon, then Viceroy of India.
- It became a reserve forest in 1904 primarily to protect the declining population of Rhinos.
- The Assam National Park Act was passed by the Assam Government in 1968, declaring Kaziranga a designated national park with an area of 430 sq km.
- An additional area of 429 sq km was added later to provide an extended habitat to the wild animals.
- The Central Government recognized it as a national park in 1974.
- Kaziranga National Park got the status of a tiger reserve in 2006
- Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The Kaziranga National Park in Assam is home to the threatened one-horned Rhino.
- Other important species: Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo and Eastern Swamp Deer, leopards, Royal Bengal Tigers, two of the largest snakes in the world (the Reticulated Python and Rock Python), King Cobra (the longest venomous snake in the world)
Environment (GS-III)
Solar installations fall 44% in 2023: Report
India installed 7.5 GW of solar capacity in 2023, a 44% decrease year-on-year from 13.4 GW in 2022, according to Mercom India Research.
The numbers
- India witnessed a 44% decline in solar installations in 2023, reaching 7.5 GW, largely attributed to land acquisition-related challenges.
- The cumulative installed solar capacity as of December 2023 stood at 72 GW, with utility-scale projects comprising 85.4% and rooftop solar 14.6%.
- Large-scale solar installations fell 51%, primarily due to land and transmission issues.
- Rajasthan followed by Karnataka, and Gujarat were the top three states for cumulative large-scale solar capacity, accounting for 54.8 per cent of installations in the country as of December 2023.
- India's large-scale solar project pipeline stood at 105.3 GW, with another 70.6 GW of projects tendered and pending auction, the report said.
- Country's installed renewable energy capacity, including large hydropower projects, stood at 179.5 GW, accounting for 42 per cent of the overall power mix at the end of December 2023.
- Solar energy projects accounted for 48.5 per cent of all new power capacity installed last year.
- As of December 2023, solar energy accounted for 16.9 per cent of India's total installed power capacity and almost 40.1 per cent of the total installed renewable energy capacity.
- What led to the decline? land acquisition-related issues
Science & Technology (GS-III)
Government approves mega Navy deal for BrahMos missiles
In a mega boost for the Indian Navy, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the acquisition of over 200 BrahMos extended-range supersonic cruise missiles for deployment on its warships.
What is BrahMos?
- The BrahMos is a ramjet supersonic cruise missile of a short-range developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroyeniya (NPOM).
- It is named after two major rivers of India and Russia: Brahmaputra and Moskva.
- The use of BrahMos missiles forland as well as anti-ship attacks.
- They can be launched from land, air and sea, and all three variants are in service in the Indian armed forces.
- It is a two-stage (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in second) missile.
- It operates on the "Fire and Forgets" principle i. it does not require further guidance after launch.
Editorial
In a tough world, the beacon of U.K.-India strategic ties
Context:
The interconnectedness of the United Kingdom and India, and their shared maritime interests and the need for strategic collaboration in the face of global challenges has turned India- UK partnership into a strategic partnership.
Strong Defense Ties:
- Increased Interaction: The partnership between the U.K. and India in defense has deepened rapidly, with record numbers of U.K. ship visits and high levels of interaction between their forces, facilitated by the leadership and support of key figures like Admiral R. Hari Kumar.
- Joint Operations: Both countries are engaged in joint training, exercises, and operations, with the U.K.'s Carrier Strike Group visiting the Indo-Asia Pacific region and plans for further collaboration during future deployments.
- Defense Industrial Partnership: Collaboration extends to defense industries, covering areas such as electric warship propulsion, weaponry, and jet engines, aiming to enhance mutual understanding, knowledge, and expertise.
Global Security Concerns:
- Operation Prosperity Guardian: The editorial highlights Operation Prosperity Guardian, a joint effort involving the U.K., the U.S., and other partners to defend commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden against threats like Houthi attacks, which not only endanger seafarers but also disrupt global trade routes.
- Concerns over Norms: Norms of behaviour at sea, crucial for global trade and the rules-based international order, are increasingly under threat from various actors, including those in the Black Sea, the Red Sea, and the South China Sea.
- Ukraine Conflict: The editorial references Russia's actions in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of upholding international law and supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, with the U.K. providing substantial military aid and assistance.
Strategic Importance and Future Prospects:
- Indo-Asia-Pacific Focus: Recognizing the shifting center of gravity in the global economy towards the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, both the U.K. and India are strengthening their ties and presence in the region, with the U.K.'s tilt towards the Indo-Asia-Pacific as a permanent policy pillar.
- Global Prosperity: The editorial underscores the significance of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region for global prosperity and the need for continued collaboration between the U.K. and India to harness its potential.
- Advocacy for International Order: Amidst growing instability, the editorial emphasizes the importance of maintaining a rules-based international order and the role of partnerships, alliances, and friendships in upholding shared values and addressing common challenges.
Editorial
It is the conditioning of the Agniveer that merits attention
Context:
The government's introduction of the Agnipath scheme, altering recruitment practices in the Indian armed forces, has sparked discussions. While initial feedback on Agniveers has been positive, concerns remain regarding their integration into military units and the preservation of unit cohesion.
Challenges in Integrating Agniveers:
- Initial Feedback and Retention: Initial feedback suggests positive attributes among Agniveers, yet concerns persist regarding potential retention rates and their impact on unit dynamics.
- Focus on Unit Cohesion: Leaders stress the necessity of fostering unit cohesion and ensuring Agniveers integrate seamlessly into existing military units to maintain effectiveness in combat scenarios.
- Human Element and Character Development: Emphasis is placed on addressing the human element in Agniveers, focusing on character development and values-based nurturing to uphold unit camaraderie and effectiveness.
Combat Preparedness and Human Element:
- Importance of Human Element: Despite advancements in technology, the enduring significance of the human element in combat situations is emphasized, highlighting the necessity of maintaining unit cohesion and camaraderie among Agniveers.
- Leadership Responsibility: Leaders are tasked with training and assessing Agniveers, with a focus on instilling unit ethos and values to ensure their effectiveness as team players in combat scenarios.
- Psychological Assessment: Suggestions are made for the inclusion of psychological testing in the recruitment process for Agniveers to aid in better grooming, assessment, and management of human resources within military units.
Policy Implications and Future Considerations:
- Policy Considerations: The government faces the challenge of balancing retention rates and unit cohesion within the Agnipath scheme, necessitating careful policy considerations to maintain military effectiveness.
- Long-Term Impact: The long-term implications of the Agnipath scheme on unit dynamics and combat readiness remain to be seen, highlighting the importance of ongoing evaluation and adjustment.
- Leadership Strategies: Effective leadership strategies, including values-based training and psychological assessment, are essential in ensuring the successful integration and performance of Agniveers within military units.
Editorial
The Next Frontier
Context:
India’s recent initiatives in opening up its space sector to private participation mark a significant departure from the traditional state-led model which prevailed for a very long time.
Implications of Private Sector Participation:
Economic Opportunities: The government's decision to allow up to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in various segments of the space sector creates opportunities for economic growth through increased investment, innovation, and technology development.
Geopolitical Advantage: By embracing private sector participation, India aims to enhance its position as a space power and catch up with competitors like China. The move also aligns with global trends where private investment in space ventures is on the rise.
Enhancement of Space Economy: Increased private sector involvement is expected to drive growth in India's space economy by fostering a more balanced ecosystem, boosting local manufacturing, and improving investor confidence.
Challenges and the Way Forward:
Regulatory Environment: To sustain the momentum and ensure the success of private sector initiatives in the space sector, the government needs to maintain a clear and conducive regulatory environment, minimizing bureaucratic hurdles and red tape.
Public Support: It's crucial for the government to garner public support for private sector participation in space activities by communicating the benefits and addressing any concerns regarding national security and sovereignty.
Access to Foreign Markets: Facilitating Indian companies' access to foreign markets is essential for them to compete globally and leverage international collaborations for mutual benefits.
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