Daily Current Affairs UPSC 24 April 2024

Schengen Area

New Visa Rules for Indian Travellers by EU

• The European Union has implemented new visa rules for Indian travellers, allowing them to obtain a multiple-entry Schengen Visa with a longer validity period.
• The Schengen area is the largest free travel area in the world, consisting of 27 countries. This includes 23 of the 27 EU member states and all members of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland).

Origins of the Schengen Area

• The Schengen area was established in 1985 as an intergovernmental project between five EU countries: France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Pulicat Lake

• Tamil Nadu government's plan to denotify Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary
• The government of Tamil Nadu is considering removing a significant portion of Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary from its protected status.
• Pulicat Lake is situated along the coast of the Bay of Bengal, serving as the border between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• It is the second largest brackish water lake in India, following Lake Chilika in Odisha.
• Sriharikota Island acts as a barrier between the lagoon and the Bay of Bengal, with the lake being primarily fed by the Kalangi and Arani rivers.
• The sanctuary is home to the largest gathering of Flamingos, making it an important habitat for these birds.

ASEAN Future Forum

Participation of Indian External Affairs Minister in ASEAN Future Forum.

• The Indian External Affairs Minister took part in the first 'ASEAN Future Forum' virtually, which was held in Hanoi, Vietnam.
• The forum was proposed by Vietnam during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in 2023.
• It serves as a platform for ASEAN member states and partner countries to exchange new ideas and policy recommendations.
• The main goal of the forum is to help in promoting and shaping the development path of ASEAN.

Purpose of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

• ASEAN is an intergovernmental organization with 10 member countries that focuses on promoting economic growth and regional stability.
• The organization aims to enhance cooperation among its members and work towards common goals for the benefit of the region.

Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF)

C-DOT and IIT Jodhpur Collaboration for Automated Service Management in 5G Networks Using AI.

• The collaboration between C-DOT and IIT Jodhpur is focused on developing automated service management in 5G networks using artificial intelligence (AI). This agreement falls under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF).
• The TTDF was launched by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), which is a body under the Department of Telecommunications. The aim of the TTDF is to provide funding for research and development in rural-specific communication technology applications. It also seeks to create synergies among academia, start-ups, industry, and other stakeholders to build and develop the telecom ecosystem.
• The scheme provides grants to Indian entities to encourage the development and adoption of indigenous technologies that are tailored to meet domestic needs. This initiative is designed to support the growth of the telecommunications sector in India.

Compulsory Convertible Debentures (CCD)

Approval of Subscription to Napino Auto and Electronics Limited by IFC

• The Competition Commission of India has given the green light for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to subscribe to CCD of Napino Auto and Electronics Limited.

Understanding CCDs

• CCDs, or Compulsorily Convertible Debentures, are financial instruments that start off as debt but can be converted into equity at a specified time or under certain conditions. They are considered hybrid securities as they combine characteristics of both debt and equity instruments.

Purpose of CCDs

• Companies often use CCDs to raise long-term funds without immediately diluting the equity shareholding of their existing investors. This allows them to secure financing while maintaining control over their ownership structure.

WHO Sodium Benchmarks

WHO Releases Updated Global Sodium Benchmarks

• The World Health Organization has recently published the second edition of its global sodium benchmarks for various food categories.
• These benchmarks are part of a larger WHO effort to decrease sodium intake and combat chronic conditions like high blood pressure and obesity.
• The benchmarks serve as reference points for sodium levels in food to track advancements in reducing sodium consumption.
• WHO advises adults to consume less than 2000 mg/day of sodium, which is equivalent to less than 5 g/day of salt.

WTO Agreement on Safeguards

Criticism of EU's Extension of Safeguard Measure on Steel Products

• India and other WTO members criticized the European Union's decision to extend its safeguard measure on steel products.
• The WTO Agreement on Safeguards allows members to temporarily restrict imports of a product if it poses a serious threat to their domestic industry.

Explanation of WTO Agreement on Safeguards

• The agreement prohibits grey-area measures, such as using bilateral negotiations to pressure exporting countries to voluntarily restrict exports.
• It also sets time limits on safeguard actions, stating that they should not exceed four years, with the possibility of extension up to eight years.

Miyawaki Method

Embassy of Israel in India Joins 'Million Miyawaki' Project

• The Embassy of Israel in India has partnered with the 'Million Miyawaki' project, which is a community-led initiative focused on increasing green cover in urban areas to improve air quality.

The Miyawaki Method Explained

• The Miyawaki Method is based on the work of Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki and involves creating multi-layered forests in a limited space to promote rapid growth and replicate the biodiversity of natural forests.
• While these forests may lack some qualities of natural forests, such as medicinal properties and the ability to bring rain, they offer benefits such as mitigating the ecological impact of mining activities and creating carbon sinks.

Narasimha Gopalaswami Ayyangar (1882-1953)

N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar's Role in Madras City Cooperative Building Society Ltd.

• He was the first president of the society, which recently completed 100 years.
• He was an efficient administrator, freedom fighter, and politician.
• Joined Madras Civil Service in 1905 and became the 'Diwan' of J&K in 1937.

Key Contributions of N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar

• Elected to Council of States from 1943-47.
• Member of the Drafting Committee of Indian Constitution.
• Played a significant role in shaping Article 370.
• Presented a report on the Reorganisation of the Machinery of Government in 1949.
• Served as Minister for Defence, Railways, and Transport.

Values of N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar

• Upheld values such as secularism, patriotism, objectivity, etc.

"Mapping the Regenerative Blue Economy"

• The report outlines a clear definition and foundational principles for a Regenerative Blue Economy (RBE), which focuses on effective regeneration and protection of the Ocean and marine ecosystems while promoting sustainable economic activities and fair prosperity.
• Founding principles for RBE include prioritizing protection, restoration, and resilience of marine ecosystems, promoting inclusion and fairness for impacted populations, implementing inclusive governance systems, and considering the needs of coastal populations and indigenous peoples.

Excluded Activities and Recommendations for RBE:

• Certain activities, such as oil extraction and deep-sea mining, are excluded from the scope of RBE due to their incompatibility with carbon reduction goals or threats to marine ecosystems.
• Recommendations for RBE include redirecting finance to regenerative activities, expanding science and innovation in the global south, and empowering local stakeholders to take action for the ocean.

Initiatives Promoting RBE:

• Global initiatives such as IUCN's Nature 2030, Great Blue Wall Initiative, Clean Seas Campaign, Moroni Declaration, and Cape Town Manifesto are working towards promoting a Regenerative Blue Economy.
• In India, initiatives like Maritime India Vision 2030, Deep Ocean Mission, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, and Integrated Coastal Zone Management are contributing to the advancement of RBE principles in the country.

 Supreme Court Disappointed with RPwD Act Implementation

Challenges in Implementing RPwD Act Across States:

Non-appointment of State Commissioner for PwDs.

• State Commissioner plays a crucial role in monitoring fund disbursal and implementation of the act.

Lack of State Fund for PwDs: State Fund is essential for providing financial support to persons with disabilities.

Absence of Special Courts and Prosecutors: Special Courts and Prosecutors are needed for speedy trials of cases related to disabilities.

Inadequate support for disability certificates: Assessment boards are necessary for providing proper support to individuals with benchmark disabilities.

Missing Authority for limited guardianship: An Authority is required for implementing a system of joint decision-making between guardians and PwDs.

Overview of RPwD Act 2016:

Purpose and Administration

• The Act was created to align with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and is overseen by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Key Features

• The Act covers 21 disabilities and includes provisions for free education, reservations in education and employment, and penalties for offenses against PwDs.

Recommendations for Progress:

Fulfilling Obligations

• States should prioritize appointing State Commissioners and creating State Funds for PwDs.

Establishing Rules

• State governments need to develop appropriate rules for the functioning of authorities under the RPwD Act.

Enhancing Monitoring

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment should implement robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure better compliance with the Act.

 "SWAB: Realigning Agri-food Policies"

ICRIER published a report on Agri-Food Trends and Analytics that examines how agri-food policies impact India's agricultural output and highlights the importance of integrating SWAB for creating sustainable food systems.

Impact of agri-food policies on SWAB

Soil

• 36% of soil samples in India show organic carbon deficiency.
• Only 34% of nitrogenous urea is absorbed by crops.
• Recommendations: Switch to direct cash transfer instead of fertilizer subsidies. Brick making should switch from using top soils to fly-ash of thermal plants.

Water

• Share of groundwater irrigation increased from 29% to 60%, while canal irrigation decreased from 40% to 25% between 1950-51 and 2021-22.
• Availability of free and unmetered electricity led to disproportionate extraction of groundwater and decline in water levels.
• Recommendations: Promote micro-irrigation such as drip and sprinkler systems. Diversify crop procurement aligned to local agro-ecologies. Alter rice cultivation and irrigation practices.

Climate Change

• India’s agriculture sector, excluding land use change and forestry emissions, contributed 13.44% of overall GHG emissions in 2023.
• Emission Intensity of crops is increasing while declining for the livestock sector.
• Recommendations: Offer premium MSP for low-carbon crops to encourage farmers to shift to low-carbon cultivation practices. Explore carbon market for carbon farming credits in the agriculture sector.

"UK Parliament approves plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda"

UK Parliament's Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

• The UK Parliament recently passed a bill that allows immigration authorities to send asylum seekers entering the UK "illegally" after January 2022 to Rwanda.
• This bill applies to anyone arriving in the UK without prior permission, even if they are seeking asylum for legitimate reasons.

Ethical Concerns with the Bill

• Violation of Rule of Law: The bill overrides any laws preventing the deportation of migrants identified for removal and forces courts to treat Rwanda as a "safe country."
• Inhumane Treatment: Organizations like Amnesty International have criticized Rwanda's human rights record, citing instances of ill-treatment of dissidents, journalists, and refugees.
• Violation of Non-Refoulment Principle: This principle, a core part of international refugee law, prohibits the transfer of refugees to countries where they may face persecution or danger.

The 1951 Refugee Convention

• The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 protocol are key legal instruments governing refugee protection, with non-refoulment as a central principle.
• With 149 State parties to either the Convention or Protocol, or both, these documents outline the rights of refugees and the legal obligations of States to protect them.

India's Position on Refugee Convention

• India is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol and lacks a national refugee protection framework.
• Despite this, India grants asylum to many refugees from neighboring countries and respects the UNHCR's mandate for other nationals, particularly from Afghanistan and Myanmar.
• India conducts refugee status determination for asylum-seekers from non-neighboring countries before granting asylum.

SC: Denying Women CCL Violates Constitution

SC Directive on Child Care Leave for Working Mothers in Himachal Pradesh.

Key Highlights of the SC Directive:

• The Supreme Court directed the government of Himachal Pradesh to review its policies on Child Care Leave (CCL) for working mothers, especially those with children with special needs.
• The Court emphasized that the state, as an employer of working mothers, should consider their responsibilities at home while they serve the state.
• The participation of women in the workforce is a constitutional entitlement protected by Article 15 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on various grounds including sex.
• Maternity benefits provided for childbirth were deemed insufficient and different from the concept of CCL.

Child Care Leave (CCL) in Himachal Pradesh:

• Rule 43-C of the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 allows female employees with children under 18 years of age to take up to 2 years (730 days) of CCL to care for their children, including for needs like exams or illness.
• The state of Himachal Pradesh has not adopted these provisions of CCL, and there is no age limit in case of a disabled child.

Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017:

• The Act provides for 26 weeks of paid maternity leave for women workers, with not more than 8 weeks preceding the expected date of delivery.

Supreme Court Urges Action on Misleading FMCG Ads

Actions Taken to Combat Misleading Advertisements

• Court Request for Details: The court has asked Union Ministries to provide information on the actions taken to address deceptive advertising practices that negatively impact the public.

Definition of Misleading Advertisements

• Consumer Protection Act 2019: According to this act, an advertisement is considered misleading if it falsely describes a product or service, gives false guarantees about nature, quantity, or quality, represents unfair trade practices, or deliberately conceals important information.

Impact of Misleading Advertisements

• Violation of Consumer Rights: Misleading advertisements violate consumers' right to information and choice.
• Financial and Mental Agony: They have the potential to cause financial loss and mental distress to consumers.
• Health and Safety Concerns: Misleading advertisements, especially those related to drugs or medical devices, can have severe repercussions on consumer health and safety.

Initiatives to Combat Misleading Advertisements

• Guidelines by CCPA: The Central Consumer Protection Authority has issued guidelines for the prevention of misleading advertisements and endorsements.
• Drugs and Magic Remedies Act: This act from 1954 prohibits advertisements for remedies claiming to possess magic qualities.
• Consumer Protection Act 2019: This act establishes the CCPA to regulate matters related to misleading advertisements.
• Food Safety and Standards Act 2006: This act imposes penalties for misleading advertisements related to food products.