GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

The Indian government is preparing for the second phase of its ambitious semiconductor manufacturing incentive policy, aiming to bolster the country's position in the global chip industry. The proposed plan could see an increase in funding from $10 billion to $15 billion, with adjustments to the subsidy structure to attract more semiconductor manufacturing plants.

Current Status of the Scheme

• In the initial phase of the semiconductor policy, India committed nearly all of the $10 billion allocated. This included substantial subsidies to attract both chip fabrication and assembly plants. Notable developments include:
  • Tata Electronics: Secured approval for an $11 billion fabrication plant in partnership with Taiwan’s Powerchip.
  • Micron Technology: Received approval for a chip assembly plant in Gujarat.
  • Murugappa Group’s CG Power: Partnered with Japan’s Renesas for another assembly plant.

Proposed Changes in Phase 2

• Increased Outlay: To remain competitive amidst global efforts to attract semiconductor investments, the government plans to raise the incentive fund to $15 billion.
• Focus Shift: The new scheme will likely emphasize support for chip fabrication and advanced technologies rather than assembly and testing plants. The government plans to reduce subsidies for assembly and testing plants (ATMP/OSAT) from the current 50% to:
  • 30% for conventional packaging technologies.
  • 40% for advanced packaging technologies.
• Support for Raw Materials and Ecosystem: The government is considering offering capital support for essential raw materials, chemicals, gases, and other ecosystem components needed for chip manufacturing.
• Exclusion of Technology Transfer Costs: The new policy may not cover technology transfer costs. Companies seeking to use partner technologies might need to cover these expenses independently.
• Advanced Display Technologies: The policy may also include incentives for the fabrication of micro-LED displays and other advanced display technologies.

Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) aims to protect 30% of the Earth's lands and waters by 2030. With only six years left to meet the target, the focus is on evaluating current progress, addressing challenges, and preparing for upcoming discussions at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

What is Target 3 “beyond 30x30”?

• Target 3 is a global commitment under the Kunming-Montreal GBF, aiming to protect 30% of the Earth's terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments by 2030.
• Components: Beyond the 30% coverage, Target 3 includes ensuring that protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are:
  • Geographically Well-Connected: Ensuring ecological networks and connectivity.
  • Representative of Biodiversity: Covering all types of ecosystems and species.
  • Effectively Managed: Ensuring proper governance and management.
  • Equitably Governed: Respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
• Inclusion of Indigenous Territories: Recognizing Indigenous and traditional territories as part of the target and ensuring actions are taken with respect for Indigenous rights.
• In total, 118 countries have joined a High Ambition Coalitionto deliver on 30×30’s ambitious targets.

What is the Current Status?

• As of August 2024, 17.5% of terrestrial and inland waters and 8.5% of marine areas are protected or conserved. This shows an improvement from the earlier figures of 16% and 8% respectively.
• India’s progress:India has designated 22% of its terrestrial area and 5% of its marine and coastal areas as protected.Protected areas are those that are designated and managed in order to achieve conservation goals
• Types of Protected Areas:
  • National Parks
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries
  • Conservation Reserves
  • Community Reserves (under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972)
  • Reserve Forests, Protected Forests, and Village Forests (under the Indian Forest Act, 1927)
  • Lakes and Water Bodies (under the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017)
  • Biodiversity Heritage Sites (under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 

Issues

• Coverage vs. Effectiveness: Protecting 30% of the Earth's surface is not sufficient on its own. There is a need to ensure that these areas are effectively managed, equitable, and truly representative of global biodiversity.
• Indigenous Rights and Inclusion: There is a gap in data regarding protected and conserved areas managed by Indigenous Peoples, which skews the overall picture. Ensuring equitable governance and recognizing Indigenous contributions is critical.
• Global Reporting and Standards: Currently, there is no standardized global system for assessing the effectiveness of protected areas. UNEP-WCMC and partners are working to address this gap, but significant challenges remain.

A deep depression currently situated over Saurashtra and Kachchh regions of Gujarat is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm (Cyclone Asna). Cyclone Asna would be the first cyclone to form in August in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) region since 1981 and the first in the Arabian Sea since 1976.

What are Cyclones?

• A cyclone is a large-scale system of air that rotates around the centre of a low-pressure area. 
• The cyclone forms around the low-pressure area, called a depression, along a zone of cold and warm air exchange called the ‘eye wall’. The eye is the central and calmest part of the cyclone. 
  • From this eye wall, long, arching cloud and rain systems called rainbands spiral outwards, which bring alternating periods of intense rain and calm spells during a cyclone.
• The air circulates inward in an:
  • anticlockwise direction in the Northern hemisphere
  • clockwise in the Southern hemisphere

• Cyclones are classified as:
  • Extra tropical cyclones (also called temperate cyclones): They occur outside of the tropic. They have “cold air at their core, and derive their energy from the release of potential energy when cold and warm air masses interact”
  • Tropical cyclones: Tropical cyclones are those which develop in the regions between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer
• India is exposed to nearly 10 per cent of the world’s tropical cyclones.  More cyclones occur in the Bay of Bengal than the Arabian Sea and the ratio is approximately 4:1. 

Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands as a testament to the grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire. Despite its historical significance and designation as a World Heritage Site in 1986, Hampi faces ongoing challenges in conservation, management, and community integration.

About Hampi

• Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra river in the Vijayanagara district of Karnataka. 
• It was a fortified city and the capital of the Vijayanagaraempire in the 14th century. 
• It is totally bounded by mountains (Anjaneya, Malyavanta and Matanga Hills) by the three sites and rest one site is bordered by Tungabhadra River.
• Architecture: The structures boast of Dravidian architecture. It is characterized by their massive structures, cloistered enclosures, and enormous towers over the entrances encased by pillars engraved with folklore and mythologies.
• Important complex: Krishna temple complex, Narasimha, Ganesa, Hemakuta group of temples, Achyutaraya temple complex, Vitthala temple complex, Pattabhirama temple complex, and the Lotus Mahal complex
• Today, the site is a sprawling expanse of around 250 square kilometers, housing approximately 1,600 monuments that range from majestic temples to crumbling ruins

About Vijayanagara Empire

• The Vijayanagaraempire was based in the Deccan, in peninsular and southern India, from 1336 onwards. At its zenith, the empire controlled much of southern India and was renowned for its opulence.
• Founded by:Harihara I (Hakka), and his brother Bukka Raya.
• Duration: It lasted from about 1336 to perhaps about 1660
• Dominance and Regional Power: During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Vijayanagara Empire established itself as a dominant force in southern India. The empire effectively served as a bulwark against invasions from the Turkic Sultanates of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and remained a formidable competitor to the five Deccan Sultanates that emerged in the northern Deccan region.
• Relations with the Portuguese: Around 1510, the Portuguese captured Goa, which had been under the control of the Sultan of Bijapur. The subsequent establishment of trade relations between the Portuguese and Vijayanagara became crucial for both parties.
• Cultural and Architectural Zenith: The Vijayanagara Empire is often regarded as having reached its zenith during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya, who ruled from 1509 to 1529.
  • Key architectural achievements from Krishna Deva Raya's reign include the Hazara Rama Temple, the Krishna Temple, and the UgraNarasimha Idol, all located in Vijayanagara.
• Decline and Fall: Following Krishna Deva Raya's death in 1529, his successors were Achyuta Raya (1530-1542) and Sada Siva Raya (1542-1565). However, the effective power during this period was wielded by Rama Raya of the third dynasty. Rama Raya's aggressive policies and provocations eventually led to the formation of a coalition of the Deccan Sultanates against Vijayanagara.
  • The turning point came in 1565 with the Battle of Talikota, where the Vijayanagara forces were decisively defeated by the alliance of the Deccan Sultanates. Rama Raya was killed in the battle. The fall of Vijayanagara marked the end of the last significant Hindu kingdom in the Deccan.
• Foreign travelers, including the Portuguese Domingo Paes, who visited in 1520, noted Hampi's magnificence, comparing it to Rome in grandeur.
• Despite this, Hampi remained largely forgotten until the late 18th century, when British explorers like Colin Mackenzie and Alexander Greenlaw began documenting its ruins.
  • Mackenzie created the first map of Hampi in 1799, while Greenlaw’s photographs from the 1860s captured the site before significant restoration efforts began.

The government launched a centralised platform ‘SHe-Box portal’, designed to make workplaces safer for women by addressing and managing complaints of sexual harassment.

About SHe-Box Portal

• The SHe-Box portal is an online platform to file complaints related to sexual harassment at the workplace. 
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD)
• The portal would function as a centralised repository for information related to internal committees and local committees across the country, covering both the government and private sectors.
• The portal will allow women to file complaints, track their status, and ensure that the grievances are processed in a timely manner.
• It also features a designated nodal officer to enable real-time monitoring of complaints, thereby providing a streamlined and assured redressal process.
• It also aligns with the government's broader vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, with a strong emphasis on women-led development

The Indian Navy welcomed its second Arihant-Class submarine, INS Arighat, at the Shipbuilding Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam.

About INS Arighat

• The name "Arighat" is derived from the Sanskrit term meaning "Destroyer of the Enemy."
• INS Arighat can reach a speed of 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) on the surface and up to 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged. It features four missile launch tubes and can carry up to four K-4 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) with a range exceeding 3,500 kilometers or twelve K-15 SLBMs with a range of about 750 kilometers.
• The K-15 missile can be fitted with a strategic nuclear warhead, and in addition to these missile systems, INS Arighat will also be armed with torpedoes.

India’s submarine fleet

• India’s submarine fleet includes six new Kalvari-class boats already delivered, with 15 more scheduled as part of Projects 75 AS, 76, and 75 India.
• India will now have two SSBNs – INS Arihant (S-2) and INS Arighat -- patrolling the high seas as a crucial part of the country’s nuclear triad and second-strike capability (due to its no-first-use policy). 
• India's first SSBN, INS Arihant, was commissioned in 2016. Both submarines are part of a four-SSBN project, with two more, currently known as S4 and S4*, still under construction.
• The Navy has sought approval for two more nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines (SSNs) from the government.
• With this, India continues to strengthen its nuclear triad, enhancing its ability to maintain a credible second-strike capability. The addition of INS Arighat, the second SSBN (Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear), marks an important milestone in India's nuclear submarine program.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Ukraine, alongside his diplomatic engagements in Moscow, highlights India's nuanced stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. Modi's trip reflects India's balancing act between advocating for peace and maintaining its strategic interests with Russia. The Supreme Court's rulings and India's evolving foreign policy have brought this issue into sharper focus.

Modi’s Diplomatic Engagement

• Visit to Moscow and Kyiv: Modi's visits to both Moscow and Kyiv underscore India's effort to balance its relations between Russia and Ukraine while advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
• Statement to Putin: In September 2022, Modi’s assertion to Putin that "this is not an era of war" demonstrated India's indirect disapproval of Russian actions, reflecting a diplomatic stance that seeks to respect international norms without alienating Russia.
• India-Ukraine Joint Statement: The joint statement from Modi and President Zelenskyy emphasizes a commitment to international law, including respect for territorial integrity, while acknowledging the need for practical solutions for peace.

India’s Foreign Policy Constraints

• Balancing Peace and Practicality: Modi's approach, as outlined in the joint statement, shows a shift from principled positions to a focus on practical solutions for peace, indicating India's willingness to engage but within the limits of its strategic constraints.
• Historical Parallel: India's reluctance to publicly criticize Russia mirrors its past stance during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, where India also avoided direct criticism despite its disapproval.
• Economic Considerations: Ukraine and Western allies expect India to exert economic pressure on Russia, such as ceasing oil purchases. However, India’s continued energy imports from Russia highlight the complexities of balancing diplomatic and economic interests.

Implications and Challenges

• Limited Indian Influence: Despite Modi’s diplomatic efforts, there is skepticism about India's ability to effect substantial change in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as major powers like the US and China dominate the geopolitical landscape.
• Impact on Bilateral Relations: Historical grievances, such as Ukraine’s arms supplies to Pakistan and its condemnation of India’s nuclear tests, have impacted the India-Ukraine relationship, complicating efforts for stronger ties.
• Current Role of India: The effectiveness of India’s involvement in peace efforts is questioned, with suggestions that major powers may prefer India to focus on condemnation and economic pressure rather than leading a diplomatic initiative.

Practice Question

What are the challenges and limitations faced by India in influencing the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and how historical precedents inform India’s current stance?

The systemic disempowerment of State Election Commissions (SECs) in India is currently a significant issue, with several instances of delays and litigation affecting the conduct of local elections. This problem has been highlighted by recent cases such as the Karnataka SEC’s contempt petition and the Andhra Pradesh SEC’s legal battles. The performance audits by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and surveys like Janaagraha’s Annual Survey of India’s City Systems (ASICS) underscore the pressing need for electoral reforms to strengthen SECs.

Systemic Disempowerment of SECs

• Karnataka SEC's Contempt Petition: The Karnataka SEC filed a contempt petition against the state government for not adhering to a court commitment on the delimitation of panchayat raj institutions, causing delays exceeding three and a half years.
• Supreme Court Ruling on Andhra Pradesh Ordinance: The Supreme Court struck down an ordinance from Andhra Pradesh that obstructed elections to panchayat raj institutions, reflecting judicial oversight over SEC operations.
• CAG Audit Findings: Performance audits revealed that 70% of urban local governments lacked elected councils, highlighting systemic delays caused by disempowered SECs.

Inadequate Empowerment and Governance

• Limited Ward Delimitation Powers: Only 11 out of 34 States and Union Territories have granted SECs the authority to conduct ward delimitation, affecting electoral efficiency and fairness.
• Constitutional and Legal Constraints: SECs are often hindered by state governments' lack of cooperation and arbitrary actions, which undermine their ability to conduct timely and effective elections.
• Lack of Fixed Delimitation Intervals: The absence of fixed intervals for delimitation and seat reservations allows state governments to delay and manipulate local elections.

Proposed Electoral Reforms

• Enhanced Independence and Transparency: SECs should be made independent like the Election Commission of India, with a three-member body appointed by a high-level committee involving the Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition, and Chief Justice.
• Regular Delimitation and Reservation: Implement fixed intervals, such as every ten years, for delimitation of wards and seat reservations to prevent arbitrary delays and ensure consistency.
• Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities: SECs should manage delimitation, seat reservations, and elections to key positions like mayors and chairpersons, reducing malpractices and delays.

Practice Question

Discuss the current challenges faced by State Election Commissions (SECs) in India and propose specific reforms to enhance their effectiveness and independence. How do these reforms contribute to strengthening grassroots democracy and ensuring timely local elections?

The Supreme Court's recent decision to grant bail to first-time offenders and others based on the new Section 479 of the BharatiyaNagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has garnered significant attention. This measure aims to address the overcrowding in Indian prisons, where over 75% of inmates were undertrial prisoners as of 2022. The ruling marks a crucial step in implementing the reformed BNSS and alleviates the burden on the prison system.

Implementation of Section 479 BNSS

• Bail for First-Time Offenders: Section 479 of the BNSS allows bail for first-time offenders if they have served one-third of the maximum potential imprisonment. This applies to all first-time offenders, including those arrested before BNSS was implemented.
• Eligibility for Other Prisoners: Not only first-time offenders but also those who have served half of their maximum sentence are eligible for bail, except those accused of serious crimes punishable by life imprisonment or death.
• Administrative Directives: The Centre has instructed prison superintendents to process bail proceedings for eligible prisoners within two months and report to the court. States and Union Territories are similarly required to report the outcomes of these actions within the same timeframe.

Impact and Implications

• Relief for Underprivileged Prisoners: The ruling is expected to significantly benefit underprivileged undertrial prisoners who often lack legal representation and awareness of their rights, aiding in their social rehabilitation.
• Accountability and Compliance: The two-month deadline for processing bail applications and reporting ensures accountability among prison authorities and state governments, facilitating the effective implementation of the law.
• Symbolic and Practical Benefits: The Supreme Court's decision symbolizes a positive application of legal reforms, providing hope and the prospect of reuniting undertrial prisoners with their families, particularly during significant festivals like Diwali.

Practice Question

It is often said that the true character of a nation is revealed not by the way it treats its most privileged citizens, but by how it treats those at the bottom of its social ladder. Comment