DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th September 2024

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – POLITY

Context: A plea before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by an advocate has raised questions of propriety and potential conflict of interest against Justice Sudhir Agarwal, one of the tribunal’s six judicial members.

Background: –

• In his plea admitted on May 22, advocate Gaurav Bansal alleged that Justice Agarwal had heard a case in which his son, Gaurav Agarwal, was appointed as an amicus by the Tribunal.

About National Green Tribunal (NGT)

• Establishment: The National Green Tribunal was established in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
• Objective: To provide effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection, conservation of forests, and other natural resources. It aims to enforce any legal right related to the environment and provide relief and compensation for damages caused to persons and property.
• The Tribunal has a presence in five zones- North, Central, East, South and West. The Principal Bench is situated in the North Zone, headquartered in Delhi.
• The Central zone bench is situated in Bhopal, East zone in Kolkata, South zone in Chennai and West zone in Pune.
• The Tribunal is headed by the Chairperson who sits in the Principal Bench and has at least ten but not more than twenty judicial members and at least ten but not more than twenty expert members.

Key Features:

• Composition – The tribunal consists of:
  • Chairperson & Judicial Members: A person shall not be qualified for appointment as the Chairperson or Judicial Member of the Tribunal unless he is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India or Chief Justice of a High Court: Provided that a person who is or has been a Judge of the High Court shall also be qualified to be appointed as a Judicial Member.
  • Expert Members: Environmental experts with professional qualifications and experience.
• Jurisdiction – Any person seeking relief and compensation for environmental damage involving subjects in the legislations mentioned in Schedule I of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 may approach the Tribunal. The statutes in Schedule I are:
  • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;
  • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977;
  • The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980;
  • The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
  • The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;
  • The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991;
  • The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Principles Applied:

• The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
• Polluter Pays Principle: The party responsible for pollution should bear the costs of managing and rectifying it.
• Precautionary Principle: Preventive action should be taken to avoid environmental harm.
• Sustainable Development: Balancing environmental conservation with developmental needs.

Powers: The NGT has the power to order:

• Compensation for environmental damage.
• Restoration of damaged ecosystems.
• Imposition of fines on entities violating environmental laws.
• Appeals:
  • The Tribunal has powers to review its own decisions. If this fails, the decision can be challenged before the Supreme Court within ninety days.
  • The Supreme Court has ruled that the NGT Act, 2010 doesn’t take away the jurisdiction of the High Court.So a decision of NGT can be appealed in high court also.

Additional Information : Conflict of Interest

• Conflict of Interest means “any interest which could significantly prejudice an individual’s objectivity in the decision-making process, thereby creating an unfair competitive advantage for the individual or the organisation he/she represents”.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – ECONOMY

Context: With soyabean prices in the market falling below the minimum support price (MSP), the Centre is set to procure 13 lakh metric tonnes of the oilseed from Maharashtra, which is a major producer of the crop and is scheduled to go to Assembly polls soon.

Background: –

• A kharif season crop, soyabean is used as feed and for oil extraction. It is sown in June-July and harvested in September-October.

About Minimum Support Price (MSP)

• Definition: The Minimum Support Price is a form of market intervention by the Government of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. It is the price at which the government purchases crops from the farmers, regardless of the market price.
• Objective:
  • To protect farmers from distress sales and ensure them remunerative prices for their produce.
  • To encourage higher investment in agriculture and ensure food security by guaranteeing price stability.
• Announcement and Implementation:
  • The MSP is announced at the beginning of the sowing season by the Government of India, based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
  • MSP is not legally enforceable; it acts as a floor price, but the government procures only a few crops under it.
• Crops Covered: MSP is announced for 23 crops, including:
  • 7 cereals (such as rice, wheat, maize)
  • 5 pulses (like gram, arhar)
  • 7 oilseeds (including groundnut, mustard)
  • 4 commercial crops (cotton, sugarcane, jute, copra)
• Factors Considered for MSP Calculation:
  • Cost of production (both paid-out costs and imputed costs like family labor).
  • Supply-demand situation in the market.
  • Price trends in domestic and international markets.
  • Inter-crop price parity (balancing the price of crops).
  • Farmers’ input-output price parity.
  • Terms of trade between agriculture and non-agriculture sectors.
• Types of Costs Considered:
  • A2 Costs:  It covers all paid-out costs directly incurred by the farmer — in cash and kind — on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, hired labour, leased-in land, fuel, irrigation, etc.
  • A2+FL Costs: A2 costs + the value of unpaid family labor.
  • C2 Costs: It is a more comprehensive cost that factors in rentals and interest forgone on owned land and fixed capital assets, on top of A2+FL.
• CACP Recommendation:
  • The CACP suggests MSP based on the A2+FL formula. However, farmers’ organizations often demand the MSP to be fixed at 1.5 times the C2 cost, in line with the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission.

Significance of MSP:

• Price Assurance: Ensures farmers receive a fair price, reducing the risk of exploitation by middlemen.
• Food Security: Helps maintain buffer stocks of key food grains like rice and wheat, critical for the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• Economic Stability: Stabilizes agricultural income, contributing to rural development and poverty alleviation.
• Incentive for Diversification: MSP on diverse crops encourages farmers to grow different varieties of crops, promoting crop diversification and reducing over-reliance on water-intensive crops like rice and wheat.

Challenges:

• Limited Reach: Only about 6% of farmers benefit from MSP, mostly in states like Punjab and Haryana, where government procurement is high.
• Procurement Issues: The procurement system is heavily focused on wheat and rice, neglecting other crops like pulses and oilseeds.
• Market Distortions: Distorts market signals, leading to overproduction of certain crops (e.g., wheat, rice) and underproduction of others, resulting in unsustainable agricultural practices.
• Cost for Government: Procuring at MSP leads to increased subsidies and fiscal burden on the government.
• Environmental Impact: Overemphasis on wheat and rice has led to depletion of water resources and soil degradation, especially in water-scarce states like Punjab.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context:  Haryana has seen an overall fall in acreage under cotton cultivation to 4.76 lakh hectares (lh) this kharif season from 6.65 lh in 2023.  The reduction in the cotton area — also reported in neighbouring Rajasthan and Punjab — has been attributed mainly to PBW infestation.

Background:

• The pink bollworm first appeared in north India during the 2017-18 season in a few districts in Haryana and Punjab, primarily cultivating Bt cotton, and spread to Rajasthan by 2021.
• The pest’s infestation has not been the only factor. In May-June this year, at the time of sowing, the price of kapas (raw unginned cotton) averaged Rs 6,700-6,800 per quintal in Haryana mandis. This was against the average Rs 11,100-11,200 per quintal two years ago.

Key takeaways

• Pink Bollworm (PBW) is a destructive pest affecting cotton crops worldwide, including India.
• PBW, known among farmers as gulabi sundhi, damages the cotton crop by burrowing its larvae into the cotton bolls. This results in the lint being cut and stained, making it unfit for use.

Impact on Cotton:

• The pest reduces cotton yield and affects fibre quality, leading to economic losses for farmers.
• Infestation leads to premature boll opening, lint damage, and poor seed development, which diminishes the commercial value of cotton.

Geographical Spread:

• The pest was first detected in North India during the 2017-18 season and has since caused considerable damage in the region. The infestation has also been reported in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.
• The pest has historically been a threat in both irrigated and rain-fed cotton areas.
• PBW primarily spreads through the air. Residue of infected crops, often left by farmers on the field to be used as fuel, can also harbour PBW larvae which can then infect future crops. Infected cotton seeds are another reason behind the pest’s spread.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme, fiscal incentives have been extended to electric two- and three-wheelers, buses, trucks, and even ambulances. However, unlike its predecessor, the FAME-2 scheme, the latest subsidy makes a significant omission–electric cars.

Background: –

• Electric cars have been excluded from the new scheme after Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, stated that the EV sector no longer needs subsidies. He cited falling lithium-ion battery costs and economies of scale, predicting that EV prices will match petrol and diesel vehicles within two years.

About PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE)

• The PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme is a significant initiative by the Indian government to promote electric mobility across the country.
• The PM E-DRIVE scheme replaces the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) scheme, which was in operation from April 1, 2015, till March 31, 2024, in two phases.
• Launch Date: September 2024
• Duration: Two years
• Budget: ₹10,900 crore
• The scheme aims to:
  • Promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce pollution and dependence on fossil fuels.
  • Enhance the infrastructure for EVs, including charging stations.
  • Support the development and deployment of various types of EVs, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, trucks, and ambulances.

Key Components

• Subsidies and Incentives:
  • Subsidies/Demand incentives worth Rs.3,679 crore have been provided to incentivize e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-ambulances, e-trucks and other emerging EVs. The scheme will support 24.79 lakh e-2Ws, 3.16 lakh e-3Ws, and 14,028 e-buses.
• E-Vouchers:
  • Process: At the time of purchase, an Aadhaar-authenticated e-voucher is generated for the buyer. This voucher is used to avail demand incentives and is essential for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to claim reimbursement.
• Infrastructure Development:
  • Charging Stations: Installation of 88,500 electric vehicle charging stations across major cities and highways.
  • Testing Facilities: ₹780 crore allocated for enhancing vehicle testing infrastructure.
• Special Initiatives:
  • E-Ambulances: ₹500 crore allocated for the deployment of electric ambulances to promote greener healthcare solutions.
  • E-Buses: ₹4,391 crore for the procurement of electric buses by state transport undertakings and public transport agencies.

Source: PIB

 Syllabus

• Prelims – GEOGRAPHY

Context: About 42% of crude oil production and 53% of natural gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico were shut last week in the wake of Hurricane Francine.

Background: –

• Francine tore through the U.S. Gulf of Mexico’s prime oil and gas producing areas and slammed into the Louisiana coast as a Category 2 hurricane.

About Gulf of Mexico

• The Gulf of Mexico is a large ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, bordered by the United States, Mexico, and Cuba.

Geography and Size

• Area & Depth: Approximately 1.55 million square kilometers in area. The average depth is about 1,615 meters, with the deepest point, the Sigsbee Deep, reaching around 4,384 meters.
• Shape: Roughly oval, the Gulf is about 1,500 kilometers wide.

Boundaries

• North and Northeast: Bordered by the U.S. states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
• South and Southwest: Bordered by the Mexican states.
• Southeast: Bordered by Cuba

Hydrology

• Major Rivers: The Mississippi River and the Rio Grande are the primary rivers draining into the Gulf.
• Connections: Linked to the Atlantic Ocean through the Straits of Florida and to the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatán Channel.

Climate and Currents

• Climate: Ranges from tropical to subtropical. The Gulf Stream, a warm and swift Atlantic ocean current, originates here.
• Water Temperature: Surface temperatures vary from 18°C in the northern parts during winter to about 32°C in the summer.
• Hurricanes: The warm waters of the Gulf are a breeding ground for powerful hurricanes, particularly during the hurricane season from June to November.

Ecological and Economic Importance

• Biodiversity: Home to diverse marine life, including fish, crustaceans, and coral reefs.
• Oil and Gas: One of the world’s most important offshore petroleum production regions, contributing significantly to the U.S. oil supply.
• Fisheries: Supports a robust fishing industry, providing shrimp, oysters, and various fish species.

Environmental Concerns

• Pollution: Oil spills, such as the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, have had significant environmental impacts.
• Dead Zones: Areas with low oxygen levels, primarily due to agricultural runoff, affecting marine life.

Source: Reuters

Q1.) Consider the following statements regarding the Gulf of Mexico:

1. The Gulf of Mexico is connected to the Caribbean Sea via the Straits of Florida and to the Atlantic Ocean through the Yucatán Channel.
2. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most significant regions for offshore petroleum production, contributing heavily to the U.S. oil supply.

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

Q2.) Consider the following statements regarding the Pink Bollworm (PBW):

1. The Pink Bollworm affects cotton crops by burrowing its larvae into cotton bolls, leading to lint damage and reducing the commercial value of the cotton.
2. The pest was first detected in India during the 2017-18 season in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

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 statements regarding the National Green Tribunal (NGT):

1. The decisions of the National Green Tribunal can be appealed before the Supreme Court of India only.
2. The Polluter Pays Principle and the Precautionary Principle are key guiding principles followed by the NGT in its judgments.

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

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  16th September 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  a

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – a