DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 23rd March 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – Current Event

Context: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri this month dedicated to the nation India’s first small-scale liquefied natural gas (SSLNG) unit at GAIL (India) Ltd’s Vijaipur complex in Madhya Pradesh.

Background:-

• The government has been pushing for the adoption and use of natural gas across sectors, and aims to increase the share of natural gas in its primary energy mix to 15% by 2030 from a little more than 6% at present. Natural gas is far less polluting than conventional hydrocarbons like coal and oil; it is also cheaper than oil, more than 85% of India’s requirement for which is met through costly imports.
• Natural gas is seen as a key transition fuel in India’s journey towards green energy and future fuels.

About Small Scale LNG (SSLNG)

• SSLNG refers to the liquefaction of natural gas and its transportation using unconventional means in a significantly smaller-scale operation than the usual large-scale liquefaction, regasification, and transportation infrastructure and processes.
• Simply put, LNG — gas in its liquid or super-chilled form — is supplied in specialised trucks and small vessels to industrial and commercial consumers in regions that are not connected by pipelines.
• In relatively traditional use cases such as supplying compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles and piped gas for households and manufacturing units, the buyer would regasify the LNG using small vapourisers, and then supply it to end-users. Where the fuel is to be used directly in its liquid form, it would be supplied to end-users without regasification.
• The SSLNG chain can start from a large-scale LNG import terminal from where the LNG, instead of being regasified and supplied through pipelines, can be transported to consumers by cryogenic road tankers or small vessels.
• The chain can also start at locations with ample natural gas supply or production, where small liquefaction plants can be set up. The SSLNG unit at Vijaipur, which is GAIL’s largest gas processing facility, is an example of the latter kind of location

Why SSLNG?

• A major challenge in scaling up gas consumption lies in the transportation of gas to places that are not connected by the country’s natural gas pipeline grid — a problem that also hinders the use of LNG directly as fuel for long-haul trucks and inter-city buses.
• Large-scale pipeline projects that are in the works will take years to be completed; even so, last-mile delivery challenges may persist in many parts of the country.
• In this scenario, new-age solutions with fast turnaround times can help expand the reach, access, and consumption of natural gas.SSLNG is one such promising solution.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Mains- GS 3

Context: The Global Gender Gap Index for 2022 was released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and it ranks India at 135 out of 146 countries. In 2021, India was ranked 140 out of 156 countries.

Background:

• In 2021, India was ranked 140 out of 156 countries.

About Global Gender Gap Index:

• The Global Gender Gap index “benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.
• On each of the four sub-indices as well as on the overall index the GGG index provides scores between 0 and 1, where 1 shows full gender parity and 0 is complete imparity.
• In 2022, India’s overall score has improved from 0.625 (in 2021) to 0.629.
• “India’s (135th) global gender gap score has oscillated between 0.593 and 0.683 since the index was first compiled. In 2022, India scored 0.629, which is its seventh-highest score in the last 16 years,” states the report.

Indias status with respect to four dimensions

Political Empowerment

• This includes metrics such as the percentage of women in Parliament, the percentage of women in ministerial positions etc. Of all the sub-indices, this is where India ranks the highest (48th out of 146).
• However, notwithstanding its rank, its score is quite low at 0.267. Some of the best ranking countries in this category score much better. For instance, Iceland is ranked 1 with a score of 0.874 and Bangladesh is ranked 9 with a score of 0.546.
• Moreover, India’s score on this metric has worsened since last year – from 0.276 to 0.267. The silver lining is that despite reduction, India’s score is above the global average in this category.

Economic Participation and Opportunity

• This includes metrics such as the percentage of women who are part of the labour force, wage equality for similar work, earned income etc.
• Here, too, India ranks a lowly 143 out of the 146 countries in contention even though its score has improved over 2021 from 0.326 to 0.350. Last year, India was pegged at 151 out of the 156 countries ranked.
• India’s score is much lower than the global average, and only Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan are behind India on this metric.

Educational Attainment

• This sub-index includes metrics such as literacy rate and the enrolment rates in primary, secondary and tertiary education.
• Here India ranks 107th out of 146, and its score has marginally worsened since last year. In 2021, India was ranked 114 out of 156.

Health and Survival

• This includes two metrics: the sex ratio at birth (in %) and healthy life expectancy (in years).
• In this metric, India is ranked the last (146) among all the countries. Its score hasn’t changed from 2021 when it was ranked 155th out of 156 countries.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims- Current Event

Context: Recently, the fourth edition of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Startup Forum was organized in New Delhi.

Background:

• This initiative aimed to broaden startup interactions among the SCO Member States, foster an environment conducive to innovation, promote job creation, and inspire young talent to develop innovative solutions.

About SHANGHAI CORPORATION ORGANISATION (SCO)

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent international intergovernmental organization that was announced in June 2001 in Shanghai, China.
• It was founded by the following countries: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
• The SCO aims to promote cooperation and mutual support in various areas, including trade, investment, energy, transportation, and security.

Key facts about the SCO:

• Headquarters: The SCO’s headquarters is located in Beijing, China.
• Creation: It was announced on June 15, 2001, and came into force on September 19, 2003.
• Official Languages: The official languages of the SCO are Chinese and Russian.
• India’s Membership: India joined the SCO on June 8-9, 2017, during the SCO Astana Summit.
• Supreme Decision-Making Body: The Heads of State Council (HSC) serves as the supreme decision-making body within the SCO.

Permanent Bodies: The SCO has two permanent bodies:

• SCO Secretariat in Beijing
• Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent.
• Member Countries: China, India, Iran (joined in July 2023), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.

Source: PIB

Syllabus

• Prelims : Current Event

Context: The Supreme Court of India has directed all states and Union territories to issue ration cards to migrant labourers registered on the e-shram portal within two months.

Background:

• This, in turn, will allow these workers to get the benefit of schemes by the Union of India and state governments, as well as the benefit of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (Act).

About e-SHRAM PORTAL:

• The e-Shram Portal is a government initiative launched by the Ministry of Labour & Employment in India.
• Its primary objective is to provide social security and welfare schemes to unorganized workers across the country.
• The e-Shram Portal was developed in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

Purpose:

• The e-Shram Portal is designed to register and support unorganized workers by providing them with a Universal Account Number (UAN).
• This UAN serves as a unique identifier for accessing various benefits and services.

Registration:

• Unorganized workers, including migrant labourers, construction workers, gig economy workers, and platform workers, can register on the e-Shram Portal.
• Occupation Sectors:
• The portal allows registration under 30 broad occupation sectors and approximately 400 specific occupations.
• This comprehensive coverage ensures that workers from diverse backgrounds can benefit from the available schemes.

Benefits:

• Social Security: Registered workers gain access to various social security schemes.
• Job Opportunities: The portal helps workers find job opportunities.
• Training: It also provides information on training programs.
• Updates: Workers can stay informed about new features and events through the portal.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: World Air Quality Report, 2023 was released recently.

Background:

• The World Air Quality Report 2023 sheds light on the critical issue of air pollution across the globe. Air quality data is crucial for decisive action and improving air quality. Where data is reported, action is taken, and air quality improves.

About WORLD AIR QUALITY REPORT, 2023:

• The annual World Air Quality Report by IQAir reviews the status of air quality around the world.
• The report presents PM2.5 air quality data from thousands of cities across numerous countries, regions, and territories.
• The data used in this report is aggregated from over 30,000 regulatory air quality monitoring stations and low-cost air quality sensors.

Key findings from the 2023 World Air Quality Report include:

• Seven countries met the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline (annual average of 5 µg/m³ or less): Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand.
• The top five most polluted countries in 2023 were: Bangladesh (79.9 µg/m³), Pakistan (73.7 µg/m³), India (54.4 µg/m³), Tajikistan (49.0 µg/m³), and Burkina Faso (46.6 µg/m³).
• A total of 124 (92.5%) out of 134 countries and regions exceeded the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline value of 5 µg/m³.
• The region of Central & South Asia was home to the top ten most polluted cities globally.
• India had the four most polluted cities in the world, with Begusarai being the most polluted metropolitan area of 2023.
• The report emphasizes that air pollution continues to be the world’s largest environmental health threat, accounting for over six million deaths each year.
• Exposure to air pollution causes and aggravates several health conditions, including asthma, cancer, lung illnesses, heart disease, and premature mortality.

Source: Hindustan Times

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2

Context: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs submitted an Action Taken report on observations/recommendations contained in its 22nd report (submitted in July 2023) on India’s NFP.

Background:

• Neighbourhood First construct as a policy came around in 2008.

About Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP)

• It aims to forge strong neighbourhood relations based on a consultative, non-reciprocal, and outcome-oriented approach.
• It focuses on delivering benefits like greater connectivity, improved infrastructure, stronger development cooperation in various sectors, security, and broader people-to-people contacts.

Significance of NFP:

• It is strategically imperative as it enhances regional integration in South Asia and is important to counter external influences such as China and promote India’s vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Cooperation within the neighbourhood is also critical for India to voice for reforms of the Global Governance system and institutions such as UNSC, IMF, etc.
• It will help strengthen multilateralism through regional/ sub-regional organizations such as SAARC, BIMSTEC, etc.
• India’s rich cultural and historical ties with its neighbours help to promote its diverse cultural values and soft power influence in the region. Successful management of regional relationships marked by peace and cooperation positions India as a responsible and constructive actor, which is crucial for India’s aspirations of global leadership.
• Improved trust and cooperation build capacity to address traditional and non-traditional (resource scarcity, illegal migration, climate change, etc.) security threats. Collaboration vis-à-vis anti-terrorism efforts, counter-insurgency operations, transnational organized crimes, etc., is important to ensure the security sovereignty, and territorial integrity of India. India pursues the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) Vision for it.
• It facilitates increased regional trade, investment, and cross-border infrastructure leading to economic growth, employment generation, and improved standards of living. It is also important to ensure India’s energy security, particularly in the context of northern neighbours – Nepal and Bhutan – with significant hydropower potential.

Issues/Challenges in India’s Neighbourhood First Policy:

• Unresolved border disputes with countries like Pakistan result in frequent tensions and mistrust. It also, sometimes, results in anti-India sentiments in the neighbourhood and strained bilateral relations due to the perceived ‘Big-Brother’ attitude due to India’s size and strategic position.
• India’s domestic politics and federal dynamics also act as determinants of its neighbourhood. e.g., Tamil sentiments determining India’s Sri Lanka policy.
• Political instability, weak governance, and internal conflicts hinder sustained cooperation and implementation of long-term projects. e.g., Political instabilities in Afghanistan and Myanmar. Regime change in neighbouring countries also affects India’s bilateral relations with them. e.g., Recent tensions in India-Maldives relations after regime change in Maldives.
• Delayed implementation of development projects can lead to frustration, and mistrust and reduce India’s influence in the region.
• Dysfunctional regional multilateral institutions like SAARC are affected by India-Pakistan tensions, limiting their capacity to promote regional cooperation.

Key Recommendations by the Parliamentary Committee:

• MEA should establish a Cell to identify specific initiatives, projects, and programmes to be taken up by various Ministries and Departments in our neighbouring countries. Strengthen Joint Project Monitoring Committees and Oversight Mechanisms for monitoring the progress of various development assistance projects for their timely execution.
• Increased investment, pooling of resources, and above all, convergence of everybody’s interest and focus by various central agencies for regional infrastructure development of the border areas. MEA should work in close coordination with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and state governments to address illegal migration and monitor demographic changes in border areas.
• Explore the feasibility of setting up a regional development fund for connectivity infrastructure under regional frameworks like BIMSTEC. Also, explore the feasibility of creating a Disaster Relief Fund on the lines of the COVID-19 Emergency Fund under the aegis of NFP.
• Scale-up academic cooperation, special scholarship schemes, and exchanges in the fields of performing/fine arts undertaken by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). Promote investment in tourism, including medical tourism under the NFP.
• Periodic review based on contemporary realities and upgrade, strengthen, and energize these mechanisms continuously.
• MEA to maintain a synergy between NFP and Act East Policy as it holds significant potential to bring about connectivity, economic development, and security in the North-Eastern Region.

Source: PRS India

Q1.) With reference to World Air Quality Report, 2023, consider the following statements:

1. The annual World Air Quality Report reviews the status of air quality around the world.
2. China is the most polluted country in the world.
3. India had the four most polluted cities in the world.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q2.) Consider the following statements about the e-Shram Portal:

1. The e-Shram Portal is a government initiative launched by the Ministry of Labour & Employment in India.
2. Its primary objective is to provide social security and welfare schemes to unorganized workers across the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q3.)Consider the following countries:

1. India
2. China
3. Pakistan
4. Iran
5. Afghanistan
6. Tajikistan

How many of the above-mentioned countries are the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)?

1. Only two
2. Only three
3. Only four
4. Only five