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15th March 2023 Current Affairs

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS BITS

TOPIC – 1 – Prussian blue insoluble formulations

A critical drug, ‘prussian blue’ insoluble formulations developed on a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) technology recently received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

About Prussian blue insoluble formulations:

  • It is one of the critical medicines listed by the World Health Organisation for radiological and nuclear emergencies. 
  • It was developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF).
    The drug has been developed based on the technology of the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi, a laboratory of the DRDO.
  • The formulations are used for the decontamination of Cesium and Thallium.
  • The manufacturing and marketing licenses for the commercial use of the drug have been granted to Scott-Edil Pharmacia Limited, Himachal Pradesh, and Skanttr Lifescience, Gujarat, by DCGI.
  • The drug will be available under the trade name of Pru-DecorpTM and PruDecorp-MG.

What is the Technology Development Fund (TDF)?

  • It has been established to promote self-reliance in defense technology as a part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
  • It is a program of the Ministry of Defence executed by DRDO meeting the requirements of Tri-Services, Defence Production, and DRDO. 
  • It supports the indigenous development of components, products, systems, and technologies by MSMEs and start-ups.
  • Funding:
    • The project cost of up to INR 10 Cr will be considered for funding, subject to a maximum of 90% of the total project cost.
    • The funding will be through the provision of grants to the industry.

TOPIC – 2 – LCA Tejas

Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted a maiden flight test of the Power Take off (PTO) Shaft on Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Tejas) Limited Series Production (LSP) -3 aircraft in Bengaluru.

About LCA Tejas:

  • It is the lightest, smallest and tailless multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft in its class.
  • This aircraft is designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided, weapons.
  • It has the air-to-air refuelling capability.
  • The maximum payload capacity of Tejas is 4000 kg.
  • Speed: Mach 1.8.

Key facts about the Power Take off (PTO) shaft

  • It is indigenously designed and developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Chennai of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
  • It was designed with a unique innovative patented ‘Frequency Spanning Technique’ which enables it to negotiate different operating engine speeds.
  • The lightweight high-speed, lubrication-free PTO shaft transmits higher power between the aircraft engine gearbox and Aircraft Mounted Accessory Gear Box while accommodating misalignments that arise in the drive line.
TOPIC – 3 – India-Bhutan Satellite
 
The ground station of the India-Bhutan Satellite, which has been built in Thimpu, was recently inaugurated.
 
About India-Bhutan Satellite:
  • It is also known as the ISRO Nano Satellite 2 for Bhutan (INS-2B).
  • It was launched as a payload on ISRO’s PSLV C54 rocket on November 26, 2022.
  • It has been jointly developed by scientists from both countries.
  • The satellite contains two payloads:
    • NanoMx multispectral optical imager: It is developed by India’s Space Applications Centre (SAC). It will provide high-resolution images to Bhutan for its natural resources management.
    • Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) repeater: It is jointly developed by Department of Information Technology and Telecom (DITT) Bhutan and ISRO’s UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) to serve the amateur radio community, relaying realtime information about the region.

TOPIC – 4 – Bold Kurukshetra

 

Recently, the Singapore Army and Indian Army participated in Exercise Bold Kurukshetra which was held at Jodhpur Military Station, India.

About Bold Kurukshetra:

  • It was the 13th edition of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra, a bilateral military exercise between India and the Singapore army.
  • For the first time in the exercise series, both armies participated in a command post Exercise, which involved Battalion and Brigade level planning elements and computer wargaming.
  • Hosted by the Indian Army, the exercise involved soldiers from the 42nd Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment and an Armoured Brigade of the Indian Army.
  • It involved an understanding of mechanised warfare in emerging threats and evolving technologies, developing inter-operability through a computer simulation-based Wargame using joint operational and tactical procedures controlled through a joint command post.
  • First conducted in 2005, this exercise underscores the strong and long-standing bilateral defence relationship between both countries and enhances cooperation between the two armies.
  • Both defence establishments also interact regularly through high-level visits, policy dialogues, courses and other professional exchanges.

TOPIC – 5 – Indian Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

 

MD and CEO of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) recently said that IPPB wants to convert itself to a universal bank.

About Indian Post Payments Bank (IPPB):

  • IPPB has been established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication, with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.
  • IPPB was launched on September 1, 2018.
  • Vision: To build the most accessible, affordable, and trusted bank for the common man in India. 
  • Mandate: To remove barriers for the unbanked and under-banked and reach the last mile leveraging a network comprising 160,000 post offices (145,000 in rural areas) and 400,000 postal employees.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Functions:
    • It will accept deposits upto Rs 2 lakh, beyond which the account will be automatically converted into a post office savings account.
    • The products and services of the bank will be made available through various mediums such as counter services, micro ATMs, mobile banking apps, messages, and interactive voice response.
    • The IPPB will use Aadhaar to open accounts, and a QR card and biometrics will be used for authentication, transactions, and payments.

What are“Payments Banks’?

  • A payments bank is like any other bank but operates on a smaller scale without involving any credit risk. 
  • It was set up on the recommendations of the Nachiket Mor Committee.
  • Objective: Widen the spread of payment and financial services to small businesses, low-income households, and migrant labor workforce in a secured technology-driven environment.
  • They are registered under the Companies Act 2013 but are governed by a host of legislations such as the Banking Regulation Act, 1949; RBI Act, 1934; Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, etc.
  • It needs to have a minimum paid-up capital of Rs. 100,00,00,000.
  • Activities that can be performed:
    • It can take deposits up to Rs. 2,00,000. It can accept demand deposits in the form of savings and current accounts.
    • The money received as deposits can be invested in secure government securities only in the form of Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR). This must amount to 75% of the demand deposit balance.
    • The remaining 25% is to be placed as time deposits with other scheduled commercial banks.
    • It can offer remittance services, mobile payments/transfers/purchases, and other banking services like ATM/debit cards, net banking, and third party fund transfers.
  • Activities that can be performed:
    • It cannot issue loans and credit cards.
    • It cannot accept time deposits or NRI deposits.
    • It cannot set up subsidiaries to undertake non-banking financial activities. 

TOPIC – 6 – Pench Tiger Reserve

As many as 129 species of butterflies were recorded during a citizen science-based survey at Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district.

About Pench Tiger Reserve:

  • It is located in the Nagpur district of Maharashtra which derives its name from its lifeline – the River Pench.
  • Pench River divides the reserve into almost two halves.
  • The Reserve is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh and continues in Nagpur district in Maharashtra as a separate Sanctuary. 
  • Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Sloth bear, Indian gaur, Wild dog, wolf etc.
  • Flora: It has a mixture of Southern dry broadleaf teak forestsand tropical mixed deciduous forests are present.

What are Deciduous forests?

  • A deciduous forest is a biome dominated by deciduous trees which lose their leaves seasonally.
  • The Earth has temperate deciduous forests, and tropical and subtropical deciduous forests, also known as dry forests.
  • Another name for these forests is broad-leaf forests because of the wide, flat leaves on the trees.
  • Trees in tropical deciduous forests lose their leaves in the dry season and regrow them in the rainy season. In temperate deciduous forests, trees lose their leaves in the fall and regrow them in the spring.
  • Deciduous forests are home to trees such as oak, birch, beech, aspen, elm and maple. Tropical and subtropical forests also have teak trees, palm trees and bamboo.
TOPIC – 7 – Pi Day
 
Pi Day was recently celebrated worldwide to recognize the mathematical constant, Pi.
 
About Pi Day:
  • International Day of Mathematics, or Pi Day, is celebrated on March 14 every year to recognize the mathematical constant, Pi.
  • The day is celebrated by mathematics enthusiasts and educators worldwide to recognize and appreciate the significance of mathematics in our lives.
  • Why March 14?
    • The approximate value of Pi is 3.14.
    • The date, when written in the format of month/day (3/14), matches the first three digits of the mathematical constant. 
  • History:
    • The first Pi Day was celebrated in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium.
    • In 2009, the United States House of Representatives designated March 14 as Pi Day.
    • UNESCO marked Pi Day as the ‘International Day of Mathematics’ during its general conference in 2019.
    • Mathematician and physicist Albert Einstein, known for the “General Theory Of Relativity,” was born on Pi Day in 1879.

What is Pi (π)?

  • Pi is a mathematical constant that represents the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. 
  • It is an infinitely long, irrational number, and its exact value cannot be known.
  • Pi is roughly equal to 3.14 or 22/7.
  • History:
    • Pi has been known for nearly 4,000 years and was discovered by the ancient Babylonians.
    • One of the first calculations of pi was carried out by Greek mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse(287 B.C. to 212 B.C.)
    • It also has a symbol, ‘π.’ The symbol π was devised by British mathematician William Jones in 1706.
  • Applications: It is used in a wide variety of mathematical and scientific calculations, including geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and more.

TOPIC – 8 – ATL Sarthi

NITI Aayog recently launched ATL Sarthi, a comprehensive self-monitoring framework to strengthen the ever-growing ecosystem of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL).

About ATL Sarthi:

  • ATL Sarthi will enable the Atal Tinkering Labs to be efficient and effective.
  • The initiative has four pillars ensuring the performance enhancement of ATLs through regular process improvements like
    • MyATL Dashboard: It is a self-reporting dashboard.
    • Compliance SOPs: For schools to ensure financial and non-financial compliance
    • Cluster-based Approach: On-ground enablement of ATLs in collaboration with relevant local authorities.
    • Performance-Enablement (PE) Matrix: It provides ownership to schools to analyze their performance

What is Atal Innovation Mission?

  • It was set up by the Central Government in 2016.
  • Objectives:
    • To promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
    • To provide a platform for and establish collaboration opportunities for various stakeholders.
    • To act as an umbrella structure, encompassing and overseeing the entire innovation ecosystem of the country.
  • Implementing Agency: NITI Aayog

What are Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL)?

  • It is an initiative to promote creativity and innovation in the minds of school children.
  • Under this initiative Children as young as 12 years of age gain access to technological innovation.
  • The concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths are taught through various tools and equipment of the like.
  • Financial aid of Rs. 20 lakh is given to each school.
  • This includes a one-time establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh and the operation cost of Rs. 10 lakh over a period of five years.

TOPIC – 9 – Barda Wildlife Sanctuary

The Gujarat government has proposed a second home for Asiatic lions in Gujarat at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, about 100km away from their present home at Gir National Park.

Why in news?

  • The Central government of India has given in-principle approval to the project.
  • A report on “Lion@2047: A vision for Amrutkal”, prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for the Gujarat government, has identified Barda as a potential site where a population of 40 adult and sub-adult lions can be accommodated in the larger landscape of Barda-Alech hills and coastal forests.

Key facts about Barda Wildlife Sanctuary:

  • Barda Wildlife Sanctuary area falls into two districts, Porbandar and Jamnagar in the state of
  • It is characteristically abundant in floral diversity, which consists of a good number of medicinal plants.
  • Flora:The area has the maximum floral diversity in the state (650 plant species), Gorad, Babul, Dhav, Rayan, Ber, Jamun, Amli, Dhudhlo, Bamboo 
  • Fauna: Leopard, Hyena, Wild boar, wolf, Jackal, blue bull, Rare and endangered spotted eagle and crested hawk eagle etc.

What is Project Lion?

  • It envisages landscape ecology-based conservation of the Asiatic Lion in Gujarat by integrating conservation and eco-development. 
  • The Project is being implemented in the Gir landscape in Gujarat which is the last home of the Asiatic lion.
  • Conservation status of Asiatic Lion
    • IUCN: Endangered

TOPIC – 10 – India’s first indigenous quadruped robot and exoskeleton

Hyderabad-based Svaya Robotics has developed India’s first indigenous quadruped (four-legged) robot and exoskeleton for the defense sector as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

About India’s first indigenous quadruped robot and exoskeleton:

  • The indigenous robots and wearable exoskeletons were developed by Hyderabad-based Svaya Robotics in collaboration with the DRDO Labs,  Research and Development Establishment (R&DE), Pune, and the Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru, as technology demonstrators with their design inputs.
  • Both are dual-use robots and have multiple use cases in both Industry and healthcare.
  • Quadruped robots:
    • They are four-legged robots that can walk or run on uneven and rough terrains.
    • The robots can carry 25 kg in payload and walk along with the soldier.
    • It is made for navigating in unstructured terrains to provide remote reconnaissance and inspection, which otherwise are not safe for humans to operate in.
  • Exoskeleton:
    • It is developed to suit Indian soldiers’ anthropometry and augment soldier strength for walking long distances.
    • These active exoskeletons, when worn by soldiers, can carry heavy loads without expending much effort.

TOPIC – 11 – World Consumer Rights Day 2023

 

Why in News?

The Department of Consumer Affairs is celebrating World Consumer Rights Day on March 15, 2023. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions”.

  • It is a step towards creating a more sustainable and consumer-friendly ecosystem. India celebrates 24th December as National Consumer Day every year.

What are the Recent Initiatives Related to Consumer Rights?

  • Reducing Dependence on Traditional Sources:
    • The primary focus is to deploy technology to reduce dependence on traditional energy sources like fossil fuels and enable a rapid transition to clean energy solutions that promote sustainability, security, affordability, and access to consumers in the long term.
  • National Consumer Helpline:
    • E-commerce has become one of the most preferred mediums of shopping for consumers. However, there has been a rise in the number of e-commerce grievances registered by consumers on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH).
    • Therefore, NCH is being strengthened technologically to receive more complaints and redress common consumer grievances of refund, replacement, and deficiency in service speedily.
    • NCH works as an alternate dispute redressal mechanism at the pre-litigation level. NCH is accessible in over 17 languages, including recently added Maithili, Kashmiri, and Santhali languages.
  • E-Daakhil Portal:
    • The E-Daakhil Portal has been set up to facilitate online filing of consumer complaints.
    • It provides a hassle-free, speedy, and inexpensive facility to conveniently approach the relevant consumer forum, dispensing the need to travel and be physically present to file their grievance.
    • The objective is to digitise and make it easy for consumers to access justice with the help of technology.
  • Right to Repair Portal:
    • In line with the LiFE (Lifestyle for environment) movement, the Department has initiated the creation of a “Right to Repair portal” to protect consumers against planned obsolescence, resulting in increasing e-waste.
    • The portal is expected to address concerns regarding the price, originality, and warranty of spare parts.
  • Reducing E-Waste:
    • The Department is planning to organise a hackathon for designing charging solutions that work with wearable devices, with an emphasis on reducing electronic and electrical waste (e-waste) and promoting a more sustainable consumer ecosystem.
    • Wireless charging methods are also being explored, which will help significantly in e-waste proliferation.
 TOPIC – 12 – Capillary Action
 
NASA has come up with a space cup that will help astronauts drink liquids just like we do here on Earth.
 
About 
  • Liquid under zero gravity – In a near zero-gravity environment, like on the International Space Station, liquids behave very differently.
  • The lack of gravity causes them to float around in blobs that are difficult to handle.
  • They do not really settle down into cups and makes it very difficult to drink.
  • NASA’s Capillary Cup – NASA has designed a super cup to drink liquids in space for astronauts.
  • The cup functions based on combination of surface tension, wetting and cup geometry to keep the liquids in place.
  • The porcelain ceramic version of the cup was designed on the International Space Station.
  • It is the first patented product invented in orbit.

nasacup

  • Capillary action – It is the movement or flow of liquid through a narrow tube using surface tension.
  • It occurs when the adhesion between liquid and solid is greater than the cohesion of the fluid.
  • The narrower the tube, the capillary action is also more.

Capillaryaction

TOPIC – 13 – Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitharama Raju

The Telugu movie ‘RRR’ was inspired by the lives of Indian freedom fighters Alluri Sitharama Raju and Komaram Bheem.

  • Both Alluri Sitharama Raju and Komaram Bheem were 20th-century revolutionaries who led tribal people in present-day Andhra Pradesh against the British and the Nizams. 

Alluri Sitharama Raju

  • Raju is believed to have been born on 04 July 1897, in a village called Mogallu near Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh.
  • By the age of 18, he became a sanyasi renouncing all worldly pleasures and mingled with the local tribal community.
  • These tribes followed the ‘Podu’ system of cultivation, whereby every year some amounts of forest tracts were cleared for cultivation.
  • The Madras Forest Act of 1882 banned the collection of minor forest produce and tribal people were forced into labour by the colonial government.
  • It restricted the free movement of the tribal communities and prohibiting them from engaging in Podu agricultural system.
  • This oppressive order was the beginning of the tribal revolt, also known as the Manyam Rebellion.
  • In August 1922, he launched the Rampa Rebellion against the British.
  • He used guerrilla warfare along with his army of tribal people to fight against the British.
  • However, on 07 May 1924, he was treacherously trapped, tied to a tree, and shot dead.
  • He was honoured for his valour and fiery spirit with the title, “Manyam Veerudu” (Hero of the Jungle).
  • On his 125th birth anniversary our Prime Minister unveiled a 30-ft bronze statue of him at Bhimavaram, in the West Godavari district.

Komaram Bheem

  • Komram Bheem was born on October 22, 1901, at Sankepally village in Asifabad.
  • He hailed from the Gond tribal community.
  • Bheem’s family migrated to Sardapur village in Kerimeri mandal after his father’s death.
  • Nizam’s government used to collect tax in the name of ‘Bambram’ and Dupapetti for grazing cattleand collecting firewood for cooking.
  • He led a rebellion against the Nizams of Hyderabad opposing the taxes.
  • The slogan ‘Jal, Jangal, Jameen’ (water, forest, land) was given by Bheem to fight fortribal freedom and rights and oppose the taxes.
  • Komaram Bheem died in the battle against the Nizam’s army in Jodeghat forest.
  • Asifabad district has been renamed as ‘Komaram bheem District’ since 2016.

DAILY EDITORIAL BITS

EDITORIAL – 1 – Wagner Group of mercenaries

Why in news?

  • Tensions are escalating between the US President Joe Biden’s administration and the US Congress as they debate over designating the Wagner Group as a terrorist organisation.
  • Wagner Group is a shadowy private militia, believed to be fighting for Russia against Ukraine in the ongoing battle between the two countries.

What’s in today’s article?

  • News Summary

News Summary: Wagner Group of mercenaries

  • A fight is brewing between US Congress and President Biden over whether to designate the private Russian military company Wagner as a terrorist organization.
    • Wagner is on the front lines of aggression against Ukraine and accused of heinous atrocities there and across the world.
  • The Biden administration has sanctioned the Wagner group as a global criminal organization.
  • However, lawmakers are pushing the State Department to go further by imposing the foreign terrorist designation.
    • A group of lawmakers are trying to pass legislation known as the Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries (HARM) Act.
    • This act would require the US State Department to label the Wagner Group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

What would the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation mean for the Wagner Group?

  • FTO is a designation for non-US organisations that are deemed to be involved in terrorist activities.
  • Under the US Immigration and Nationality Act, the Secretary of State can designate an organisation as a foreign terrorist organisation.
  • Once an organisation is labelled as an FTO, it is unlawful for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide material support or resources to it.
  • The funds of an FTO gets frozen and reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury.

What is the Wagner Group?

  • The Wagner Group first surfaced during Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
  • Essentially a network of contractors that supply soldiers for hire, the group isn’t registered anywhere and its source of funding remains unknown.
  • Apart from Ukraine, Wagner Group is reportedly also active in West Asia and several countries in Africa.
  • Most recently, the organisation was accused of being involved in the massacres, rape, and torture of civilians in Ukraine’s Bucha that took place in March 2022.

Why is the Biden administration not designating the Wagner Group as FTO?

  • The Biden administration believes that the move could impede US efforts to convince and work with African nations to end their associations with or dependency on Wagner.
    • The organisation is operating in several countries, such as Sudan, Libya, the Central African Republic, etc. and provides assistance to those nations that have weak militaries.
  • The sudden imposition of the designation would mean that the government officials of those African countries, which deal with the group, would be immediately banned from travelling to the US.
  • Moreover, their assets would also be seized, according to the law. Hence, it is reluctant to label Wagner Group as FTO.

EDITORIAL – 2 – In Saudi-Iranian ‘normalisation’, new challenges emerge in West Asia

Context

  • Saudi Arabia and Iran, two of West Asia’s major powers that have been at odds with each other for decades, agreed to restore diplomatic relations recently in an agreement brokered by China.

More about the Saudi-Iran Deal

  • Saudi Arabia and Iran, represented by their national security advisers, signed agreement in Beijing, China, to re-establish diplomatic ties, respect each other’s sovereignty and maintain non-interference in the other’s domestic affairs.
  • This agreement ends seven years of diplomatic estrangement between the two Gulf neighbours.
  • The deal has been necessitated by mutual interests of both nations.
    • For instance, Saudi Arabia, which is undergoing rapid changes, wants peace in its neighbourhood.
    • Also, Iran, which is under the U.S.-imposed sanctions, wants more diplomatic and economic openings.

Significance of the Deal

  • The agreement addresses the most serious regional confrontation.
  • It will pave way to reduce regional tensions and establish the foundation for further dialogue on improving relations and engaging on contentious issues.
  • The deal could also have far-reaching implications on regional geopolitics, from peace in Yemen to stability in Lebanon.

Earlier Efforts Towards Brokering Saudi-Iran Peace

  • Saudi Arabia and Iran started directly talking to each other in 2021 and had held multiple rounds of negotiations thereafter, first in Iraq and then Oman.
  • However, no breakthrough was achieved as issues that divide the two countries like the wars in Syria and Yemen, and Saudi concerns relating to Iran’s mobilization of Shia communities in the region against the Arab states were left unaddressed.

 

Why Saudi-Iran Relations were Estranged in the Past?

  • The rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran dates back to pre-revolution Iran (1979) when they competed with each other for regional dominance.
  • After the 1979 revolution, which brought down the Iranian monarchy and turned the country into a Shia theocratic republic, sectarian and ideological flavours were added to the mix.
  • Formal ties between the two collapsed in 2016 after the Saudi embassy in Tehran was overrun by protesters following Riyadh’s execution of a revered Shia cleric.
  • In recent times, it had turned into a cold war with both sides confronting each other in proxy wars in Syria and Yemen, carried out media campaigns of extraordinary mutual hostility, often on sectarian basis.
  • The two have on occasion come close to direct conflict, particularly in 2019 when suspected Iranian agents attacked Saudi oil facilities.

Deal without USA’s Connection

  • All the major peace initiatives in the region in the post-War world like the Camp David agreement (1978), Oslo Accords (1993), the Israel-Jordan Treaty (1994), Middle East Quartet (2002) or the Abraham Accords (2020) had a constant U.S. presence.
  • However, the recent interactions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have confirmed that the Arab states were prepared to pursue their interests without United States involvement.
  • This was largely the result of increasing regional disenchantment with the U.S. as a security-provider.
    • This has been coupled alongside strong messages from Washington that it was less enthusiastic about being the regional security-guarantor.
  • The U.S.’s military failures in Iraq and Afghanistan also contributed to its loss of credibility among its regional allies.
  • The regional states thus are seeking to broaden their options and build alternative relationships with other nations to suit their interests, apart from USA.

China as a Power Broker in West Asia

  • China has been involved in multilateral peace talks such as the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (from which the U.S. unilaterally withdrew in 2018).
  • But this is the first time Beijing is using its leverage directly to bring conflicting parties to reconciliation.
  • Also, unlike the U.S., which has hostile ties with Iran, Beijing enjoys good ties with Tehran and Riyadh, as a leading oil buyer and trading partner, respectively.
    • This has hence put China in a unique position to bring two of the region’s most significant powers closer.
  • This new approach of China was signaled by its academics two years ago.
    • They indicated that China was looking at greater political involvement in the region on the basis of “quasi-mediation diplomacy”.
    • It was to promote China’s broad commercial, diplomatic and political interests rather than its hard security concerns.
  • Chinese President Xi Jinping during his three summits (bilateral, Gulf and Arab League) in Riyadh in 2022, conveyed to his Arab interlocutors that China will be content with managing differences through diplomacy so that they did not escalate into conflict.
  • The Chinese Foreign Office also described Xi’s visit as “consolidating consensus on global governance, development, security and other crucial issues”.
    • The Saudi-Iran accord is hence the first manifestation of this new approach.

China as an Attractive Partner for West Asia

  • China has substantial energy, trade, investment and technology-related ties with West Asia.
  • It is the region’s largest buyer of crude oil, a major trade and investment partner.
  • It is also rapidly expanding its role as a technology-provider in most countries.

China’s Interests in West Asia

  • Stability in West Asia, a major energy source, is essential for China, which is the world’s largest oil importer.
  • West Asia is also crucial for the realisation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
  • The Gulf states are important for China’s logistical connectivity, investment, consultancy and contracting partnerships.

Addressing Apprehensions

  • Saudi-Iran differences will be difficult to resolve as they result from its deep sense of strategic vulnerability vis-à-vis its northern neighbour and concerns that Iran might use Shia proxies to destabilise regional states.
  • Iran thus will need to play a more pro-active role to assure its neighbour of its benign intentions.
  • This effort could gain credibility with China’s active engagement with the two regional powers.

Other Diplomatic Challenges in West Asia

  • The regional security also needs the revival of the nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and linked with it, the management of Israel’s
  • However, doubts remain on whether the U.S.’s sharply polarised domestic scene will allow renewal of the agreement.
  • The Israel’s domestic politics, dominated by the extreme right wing is also expected to obstruct the renewal of the JCPOA and maintain a hostile posture towards Iran.

West Asia’s Strategic Realignments in Recent Years

  • In 2020, the UAE became the first Arab country to normalise relations with Israel in a quarter century.
  • In the following years, Israel and Arab countries deepened their partnerships.
  • In 2021, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and their allies decided to end their failed blockade of Qatar.

What should be India’s Posture?

  • China affirmation that its role in West Asian affairs is likely to get more active and substantial may pose challenges for Indian diplomacy.
  • However, India should keep the management of its ties with China as its diplomatic priority.
  • India will also need to engage with China in West Asia, as both nations have a broad gamut of shared interests in energy security, free and open sea lanes, logistical connectivity, and above all regional stability.
  • Hence both can work together to further mutual and regional interests.

Conclusion

  • China’s Foreign Affairs head, Wang Yi, who brokered the agreement, described it as a “victory for dialogue, a victory for peace”.
    • However, it is too early to say whether peace would hold between the two, given their multilayered enmity.
  • Thus, Saudi Arabia, Iran and China should be mindful of the pitfalls ahead and continue to build on the momentum created now to achieve a cold peace between the two regional powers.

EDITORIAL – 3 – IPCC meet in Switzerland

 

Why in news?

  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is meeting in Switzerland this week to finalise the last report, known as Synthesis Report, of its sixth assessment cycle.
  • The sixth assessment cycle is expected to set up the tempo for a string of climate change-focused discussions over the next fortnight.

What’s in today’s article:

  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

What is Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?

  • The IPCC is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.
  • The IPCC was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
  • Its main activity is to prepare Assessment Reports, special reports, and methodology reports assessing the state of knowledge of climate change.
    • The IPCC does not itself engage in scientific research.
    • Instead, it asks scientists from around the world to go through all the relevant scientific literature related to climate change and draw up the logical conclusions.

What is the importance of Assessment reports prepared by IPCC?

  • The IPCC’s Assessment Reports (ARs), produced every few years, are the most comprehensive and widely accepted scientific evaluations of the state of the Earth’s climate.
  • They form the basis for government policies to tackle climate change, and provide the scientific foundation for the international climate change negotiations.
  • Six Assessment Reports have been published so far. The sixth report (AR6) came in three parts.

News Summary: IPCC meet in Switzerland

  • The IPCC is about to meet in Switzerland to finalise the last report of its sixth assessment cycle.
  • The Synthesis Report is supposed to be a relatively non-technical summary of the previous reports, aimed largely at policymakers around the world.
  • This report is meant to address a wide range of policy-relevant scientific questions related to climate change, but, like all IPCC reports, in a non-prescriptive manner.

What has been published so far as part of the Sixth Assessment Reports?

  • As part of the sixth assessment cycle, the IPCC published 3 comprehensive reports:
    • One on scientific evidence for climate change, the other on impacts and vulnerabilities, and the third exploring mitigation options available.
    • Besides these, special reports on the feasibility of keeping global temperature rise within the 1.5degree Celsius limit, and the connections between land, ocean and cryosphere, were also released.
  • Together, these form the most comprehensive understanding of the earth’s climate system, the changes it is undergoing, the repercussions of these changes.
  • It also gives the idea about the actions that should to be taken to avoid the worst impacts.

Why sustained focus on climate change is necessary?

  • Climate impacts have already begun to hurt population groups.
    • This year’s February in India was the hottest ever, and unusually hot weather continues to prevail in many parts of the country.
    • The situation is similar in several other parts of the world, with extreme weather events becoming the norm.
    • The year 2023 is predicted to be among the warmest ever.
  • However, it is in terms of climate action that countries have been found wanting despite repeated predictions of an impending catastrophe.
    • The current level of actions is not even commensurate to the effort required to meet the 2 degree Celsius target.
    • There is disagreement even on something as basic as a commitment to phase out fossil fuels, one of the main contributors to global warming.

EDITORIAL – 4 – Why Do Landfills Catch Fire During Summers?

Why in News?

  • The Kochi landfill site around Brahmapuram that caught fire earlier this month is a stark reminder that Indian cities need to be prepared for more such incidents as summer approaches.

What’s in today’s article?

  • About Landfills (Components, Reasons for catching fire, Solution, Way ahead, etc.)

How do Landfills catch fire?

  • India’s Municipalities have been collecting more than 95% of the waste generated in cities but the efficiency of waste-processing is hardly 30-40%.
  • Municipal solid waste consists of about 60% biodegradable material, 25% non-biodegradable material and 15% inert materials, like silt and stone.
  • Municipalities are expected to process the wet and dry waste separately and to have the recovered by-products recycled.
  • Unfortunately, the rate of processing in India’s cities is far lower than the rate of waste generation. Hence, unprocessed waste remains in open landfills for long periods of time.
  • This openly disposed waste includes flammable material like low-quality plastics, which have a relatively higher calorific value of about 2,500­3,000 kcal/kg, and rags and clothes.
  • In summer, the biodegradable fraction composts much faster, increasing the temperature of the heap to beyond 70­80°C.
  • A higher temperature coupled with flammable materials is the perfect situation for a landfill to catch fire. Some fires go on for months.

What is the Solution?

  • There are two possible permanent solutions to manage landfill fires.
    • The first solution is to completely cap the material using soil, and close landfills in a scientific manner.
    • This solution is unsuitable in the Indian context, as the land can’t be used again for other purposes.
    • Closed landfills have specific standard operating procedures, including managing the methane emissions.
    • The second solution is to clear the piles of waste through bioremediation.
      • Bioremediation is the use of either naturally occurring or deliberately introduced microorganisms to consume and break down environmental pollutants, in order to clean a polluted site.
    • However, implementing a bioremediation project usually takes up to two or three years, necessitating a short-term solution for summertime landfill fires.

What are some immediate Measures?

  • Landfill sites span 20­30 acres and have different kinds of waste.
  • The first immediate action is to divide a site into blocks depending on the nature of the waste.
  • At each site, blocks with fresh waste should be separated from blocks with flammable material.
    • Blocks that have been capped using soil are less likely to catch fire, so portions like these should also be separated out.
    • The different blocks should ideally be separated using a drain or soil bund and a layer of soil should cap each block.
    • This reduces the chance of fires spreading across blocks within the same landfill.
  • Next, the most vulnerable part of the landfill — the portion with lots of plastics and cloth — should be capped with soil.
    • The fresh waste block shouldn’t be capped but enough moisture should be provided by sprinkling water which will help cool the waste heap.
  • Once a site has been divided into blocks, the landfill operator should classify incoming waste on arrival to the site, and dispose them in designated blocks rather than dumping mixed fractions.
  • Already segregated non­recyclable and non­biodegradable waste should be sent to cement kilns instead of being allowed to accumulate.
    • Dry grass material and dry trees from the site should also be cleared immediately.

Way Ahead:

  • While the above-mentioned measures can help reduce the fires’ damage, they’re far from ideal and not long-term solutions.
  • The permanent and essential solution is to ensure cities have a systematic waste processing system where wet and dry waste are processed separately and their by-products treated accordingly.

EDITORIAL – 5 – AUKUS Partnership

 

Why in news?

  • The United States, Australia and Britain unveiled details of a plan to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines from the early 2030s to counter China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.
  • This agreement was finalised under the 2021 AUKUS partnership.

What’s in today’s article?

  • AUKUS partnership
  • News Summary

What is AUKUS partnership?

  • Signed in September 2021, the new enhanced trilateral security partnership between Australia, United Kingdom, and United States is named as “AUKUS”.
    • This is a trilateral defence deal for Indo-Pacific.
  • The first major initiative of AUKUS would be to deliver a “nuclear-powered” submarine fleet for Australia.
  • These countries, however, made it clear that their aim is not to arm the new submarines with nuclear weapons.
    • This is because Australia is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) which bans it from acquiring or deploying nuclear weapons.

What is the significance of this deal?

  • US has only shared nuclear submarine technology once before in 1958 with Great Britain.
  • For Indo-Pacific Region
    • Under this partnership, technology, scientists, industries and defence forces of these three countries will work together to deliver a safer and more secure region.
    • Some analysts feel that this partnership will lead to intensified arms race in the region.
  • For Australia
    • Australia never had nuclear-powered submarines.
    • Hence, this step will give Australia naval heft in the Pacific, where China has been particularly aggressive.
    • Critics, on the other hand, claim that this deal would antagonise Beijing which will not be good for Australia.
    • Australia is now set to join an elite group of only six countries – India, US, UK, France, Russia and China – that operate nuclear-powered submarines.
      • It will also be the only country to have such submarines without having a civilian nuclear power industry.
  • For India
    • The new pact will add to the global efforts to balance China in the region.
    • It should be noted that Australia and India are close strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
    • Australia is also a member of QUAD group. A stronger Australia would lead to further strengthening of QUAD.
  • For France
    • France is not happy with the deal and has termed this deal a “stab in the back”.
    • Australia had signed a contract to buy 12 Attack-class submarines from France in 2016. The first submarine was expected to be operational around 2034.
    • As a result of the current deal, Australia ditched the contract.

How China views this agreement?

  • China denounced a new Indo-Pacific security alliance saying such partnerships should not target third countries.
  • It claims that the current cooperation would gravely undermine regional peace and stability, aggravate arms race and hurt the international non-proliferation efforts.
  • China claimed that western powers are using nuclear exports for geopolitical gaming tools.

News Summary: AUKUS Partnership

  • The United States, Australia and Britain unveiled details of a plan to provide Australia with “nuclear-powered” attack submarines from the early 2030s.
  • Under the deal, the United States intends to sell Australia three US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines, in the early 2030s, with an option for Australia to buy two more if needed.
  • The multi-stage project would culminate with British and Australian production and operation of a new submarine class – SSN-AUKUS.
    • SSN-AUKUS will be a trilaterally developed vessel based on Britain’s next-generation design.
    • It would be built in Britain and Australia and include cutting edge U.S. technologies.
  • Britain would take delivery of its first SSN-AUKUS submarine in the late 2030s, and Australia would receive its first in the early 2040s.

EDITORIAL – 6 – What is SoO agreement?

Why in news?

  • The Manipur government withdrew from the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with two hill-based tribal insurgent groups.
  • The state government claimed that a protest rally organised recently, defying Section 144, was influenced by the two groups, Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA).

What’s in Today’s Article?

  • Insurgency in Manipur (about, historical background, Rise of insurgency, reasons, steps taken)
  • News Summary

In Focus: Insurgency in Manipur

  • There is an ongoing armed conflict between India and a number of separatist rebel groups in Manipur.
    • This insurgency in Manipur is part of the wider Insurgency in Northeast India which combines
      • elements of a national liberation war as well as an ethnic conflict.

Historical background

  • Following the brief Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, the Kingdom of Manipur was conquered by Britain.
    • After this war, Manipur kingdom became a British protectorate.
  • Manipur became a part of India in October 1949 and became a separate state in 1972.

Rise of insurgency

  • Manipur’s incorporation into the Indian state led to the formation of a number of insurgent organisations.
    • These groups demanded the creation of an independent state within the borders of Manipur, and dismissed the merger with India as involuntary.
  • The insurgency problem in Manipur came into existence in the late 1960s and 1970s.
    • There was no problem of insurgency when Manipur merged into India.
  • The first separatist faction, United National Liberation Front (UNLF), was founded in November 1964.
    • Now, the region is infested with many insurgent groups.

Reasons for insurgency in Manipur

  • Merger with India
    • Meiteis are the majority community of Manipur. Their influence declined after Indian Independence.
    • This led to resentment in a section of Meities about the merger of the State with the Indian Union, which led to the Meitei insurgency from the 1960s.
  • Ethnic conflict
    • Manipur has a diverse ethnic population with Meitis controlling the Valley, Nagas on the surrounding hills and Kukis interspersed in between.
    • This leads to clashes between these communities.
      • Kukis and Nagas of Manipur have overlapping and conflicting territorial interests over almost all the hill districts of Manipur.
      • Similarly, there are competing interests between the Nagas and Meitis.
      • The demand for Nagalim or Greater Nagaland includes the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur. On the other hand, the Meitis want to preserve what has been a single geographic entity for centuries.
  • Lack of socio-economic development
    • Owing to its topographical structure, the state has problems of economic development and socio-economic transformation for a long period.
    • Over the years, endless corruption, mismanagement of funds and the failure to devolve power to common people have led to the rise of dissatisfaction.

Steps taken to address the issue

  • The govt has negotiations with the Hill-based groups in the region.
    • NLFT Tripura Agreement, Bru Accord, Naga peace accord etc. are few examples.
    • Govt signed the Bodo agreement in January 2020 and the Karbi Anglong agreement in September 2021.
  • The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has been created to provide an impetus to the socio-economic development of the region.
    • Also, the North Eastern Council was created as the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the North Eastern Region.

News Summary: Manipur govt ends its peace pact with 2 insurgent groups

What is the Suspension of Operations pact?

  • There are nearly 30 Kuki insurgent groups in Manipur, of which 25 are under tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) with the Government of India and the state.
    • As many as 17 are under the umbrella group Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and eight are under the United People’s Front (UPF).
  • The SoO pact was signed in August, 2008, with the primary objective of initiating political dialogue.
    • Talks are ongoing under AB Mathur, former special secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), as the interlocutor.
    • As a result of these talks, the Kuki outfits who were initially demanding a separate Kuki state have come down to a ‘Kukiland territorial council’.
    • This council would have financial and administrative powers independent of the Manipur Assembly and government.

What are the terms of the SoO pact?

  • The important terms under the SoO are that security forces, including state and central forces, are not to launch any operations, nor can the underground groups(UG).
  • On the other hand, signatories groups shall abide by the Constitution of India, the laws of the land and the territorial integrity of Manipur.
    • They are prohibited from committing all kinds of atrocities, extortion, among others.
    • Arms are deposited in a safe room under a double-locking system. The groups are given arms only to guard their camps and protect their leaders.
  • As a rehabilitation package, the UG cadres living in the designated camps are given a monthly stipend of Rs 5000.
    • Financial assistance is also being provided to maintain the designated camps.