Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: As Prime Minister Modi and Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held talks in New Delhi, India and Qatar decided to elevate their ties to a “strategic partnership”.

Background: –

• Both countries signed two agreements and five MoUs, covering areas like economic cooperation, youth affairs and a double taxation avoidance agreement.
• Within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), India has signed strategic partnerships with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait; Qatar is the latest to join that club.

Key takeaways

• Trade between the two countries is $14 billion annually, and they set a target to double it to $28 billion by 2030.
• Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has $1.5 billion FDI in India, and the joint statement said that the Qatar side announced a commitment to invest USD 10 billion in India.

Bilateral relationship

• Qatar’s key exports to India include LNG, LPG, chemicals and petrochemicals, plastics and aluminium articles. India’s key exports to Qatar include cereals, copper articles, iron and steel articles, vegetables, fruits, spices, processed food products, electrical and other machinery, plastic products, construction material, textiles and garments, chemicals, precious stones and rubber.
• Qatar is the largest supplier of LNG to India (10.74 MMT for US$ 8.32 billion in FY 2022-23), accounting for over 48% of India’s global LNG imports. Qatar is also India’s largest supplier of LPG (5.33 MMT for US$ 4.04 billion in FY 2022-23) accounting for 29% of India’s total LPG imports.
• Defence cooperation forms an important pillar of the bilateral agenda. India offers training slots in its defence institutions to a number of partner countries, including Qatar. 
• As of 2024, Indian population in Qatar forms approximately 25% of Qatar’s populace, primarily as migrant workers.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Mains – GS2 & GS 3

Context: The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a multilateral organisation launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, put out a report earlier this month studying Indian telecom networks’ preparedness in the event of disasters. 

Background: –

• Telecom networks are crucial to handling disasters, because they allow the State and National Disaster Management Authorities to communicate quickly with local municipalities and the State and Union governments

Key takeaways

• Telecom networks are particularly vulnerable, as they comprise cabling that may not be fully underground, towers that may not be able to withstand high wind speeds, and because they rely on a steady flow of electricity, which is frequently disrupted by disasters.
• Coastal regions face elevated risks, as that is where undersea cables connect India with the global internet. If the landing stations of these cables are impacted, there can be massive network disruptions.

What can be done?

• Since much of the disruption is attributable to power failures, much can be accomplished during a disaster by maintaining or restoring power supply to telecom towers and the network operating centres to which they’re connected. 
• Telecom operators have typically never deployed towers assuming 24/7 power supply — and have battery as well as fuel backup.
• The CDRI report recommends a few measures to develop a resilient telecom network. These include greater data collection and more coordination among officials, a more robust power infrastructure, and requiring cell towers to withstand higher wind speeds, especially in districts where hurricanes make landfall. 
• The CDRI also advocates for a dig-once policy, which recommends building as much underground civil infrastructure, like water and gas supply lines, drainage and fibre optic cables simultaneously, reducing the risk of cables being damaged when other infrastructure is built.
• The short- to medium-term roadmap suggests the need to update disaster damage and loss data format, mainstream disaster risk modelling into telecommunications infrastructure planning, strengthen telecommunications asset design based on local and regional hazard vulnerability profiles, the report says. 
• There are also commercial interventions that the report touches on. A key one is parametric insurance, a system where telecom operators are not left to bear the commercial burden of a disaster all by themselves, and are thus financially incentivised to bring networks back online rapidly (and presumably to nudge them to disaster-proof their infrastructure well enough to keep premiums down).

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Water gaps amounting to nearly 458 billion cubic meters per year already exist. These are projected to increase by 6 per cent under 1.5 degrees Celsius warming and by 15 per cent under 3 degrees Celsius warming according to a new analysis published in Nature Communications. 

Background:

• The study emphasised on developing a more resilient and sustainable water management system to combat scarcity. This could include investing in resilient infrastructure, enhancing storage capabilities, desalination of seawater, reuse of treated wastewater and physical and virtual water transfers to distribute water from areas of abundance to areas of need.

Key takeaways

• Water gaps are defined as the difference between renewable water availability and water consumption while maintaining adequate flows in aquatic environments.
• Researchers used climate outputs from climate models to quantify water gaps under baseline, 1.5°C, and 3°C warming scenarios.
• Regions currently experiencing water gaps are expected to face more severe conditions under 1.5°C warming, with even worse outcomes at 3°C warming. This trend is particularly evident in the eastern US, Chile, the Mediterranean region, south and east India, and the North China Plain.
• Additionally, some regions that were relatively unaffected in the baseline climate, such as Italy, Madagascar, and some US states on the East Coast (North Carolina and Virginia) and in the Great Lakes region (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois), are projected to see worsening conditions.
• Saudi Arabia is projected to experience decreased water scarcity under the 1.5°C warming scenario, but substantial increases in water gaps under the 3°C warming scenario.

Largest water gaps in India

• The largest water gaps under the baseline climate are found in India, the United States, Pakistan, Iran and China.
• India is projected to experience the most important increase in water gaps under warming scenarios. In a 1.5°C warmer climate, India will have an additional 11.1 km3/yr water gap.

Ganges-Brahmaputra basin imperilled

• The analysis also looked at water gap trends in major hydrological basins. Under baseline climate conditions, the largest water gaps are found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra, Sabarmati, Tigris-Euphrates, Indus and Nile River basins.  
• Under 1.5°C warming conditions, water gaps are expected to increase the most in the Ganges-Brahmaputra, Godavari and Mississippi-Missouri river basins, while water gaps are expected to decrease in the Sabarmati, Columbia and northwestern United States and Nile basins.
• In a 3°C warmer climate, the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin still presents the largest water gap increase compared to baseline conditions, followed by the Indus, Mississippi-Missouri, China Coast, Godavari and Tigris-Euphrates basins.

Source: Down To Earth

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Soil Health Card Scheme completes 10 years. 

Background: –

• The Soil Health Card Scheme was introduced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 19th February, 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan.

Key takeaways

• The Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme is a flagship initiative aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing farm productivity. The scheme provides farmers with detailed assessments of their soil’s health, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding nutrient management and crop selection.

Key Objectives:

• Assess Soil Health: Provide farmers with comprehensive information on the nutrient status of their soil.
• Promote Balanced Fertilization: Encourage the judicious use of fertilizers based on specific soil requirements, thereby reducing input costs and preventing soil degradation.
• Enhance Crop Productivity: Improve crop yields by recommending appropriate soil amendments and cultivation practices.

Features of the Soil Health Card:

• Parameters Analyzed: Each SHC evaluates 12 soil parameters, including:
  • Macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulfur (S)
  • Micronutrients: Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (Bo)
  • Other Indicators: pH (acidity or alkalinity), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC)
• Recommendations Provided: Based on the analysis, the SHC offers tailored advice on:
  • Optimal fertilizer types and dosages
  • Necessary soil amendments
  • Suitable crop choices

Implementation and Technological Advancements:

• Sample Collection: Soil samples are typically collected twice a year, post-harvest of Rabi and Kharif crops, ensuring accurate assessments when fields are fallow.
• The Guideline of Village Level Soil Testing Labs (VLSTLs) was issued in June 2023. VLSTLs can be set up by individual entrepreneurs i.e. rural youth and community based entrepreneurs, including Self Help Groups (SHGs), Schools, Agriculture Universities etc. 
• Digital Integration: In 2023, the SHC portal was revamped and integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. This enhancement allows for:
  • Geo-referencing of soil samples
  • Real-time access to soil health data
  • Generation of QR codes linking samples to test results
• Mobile Application: A robust SHC mobile app has been developed, featuring:
  • Automated location tagging during sample collection
  • User-friendly interfaces for farmers to access their soil health information
  • Graphical representations of soil data

Source: PIB

Syllabus:

• Prelims  – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Oil flows through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) were reduced by 30-40% after a Ukrainian drone attack on a pumping station.

Background: –

• The attack, which caused no casualties, took place on the eve of talks between the U.S. and Russian officials on ending the war in Ukraine. Following the meeting, from which Kyiv was excluded, Donald Trump’s administration said it had agreed to hold more talks.

Key takeaways

• The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) is a significant international oil transportation project involving Russia, Kazakhstan, and leading global oil companies. 
• Established to construct and operate a 1,510-kilometer pipeline, the CPC facilitates the movement of crude oil from Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oil field to the Novorossiysk Marine Terminal on Russia’s Black Sea coast.

Key Features of the CPC:

• Route and Capacity: The pipeline transports oil from western Kazakhstan through Russian territory to the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. As of 2022, it handled approximately 1.2 million barrels per day, accounting for about 1.2% of global oil demand. 
• Shareholders: The consortium’s major stakeholders include Transneft (24%), KazMunayGas (19%), Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Co. (15%), and LUKARCO B.V. (12.5%), among others. 
• Strategic Importance: The CPC pipeline is crucial for exporting oil from Kazakhstan’s significant fields, such as Kashagan and Karachaganak, providing a reliable route to international markets.

Source: Reuters

Q1.) Which of the following statements regarding India-Qatar relations is correct?

(a) Qatar is India’s second-largest supplier of LNG after Saudi Arabia.
(b) India and Qatar have elevated their ties to a strategic partnership in 2024.
(c) The Indian population in Qatar constitutes less than 10% of its total population.
(d) India has no defence cooperation with Qatar.

Q2.) Which of the following are key objectives of the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme launched by the Government of India?

1. To provide farmers with soil test-based recommendations for nutrients and fertilizers.
2. To increase chemical fertilizer consumption for higher crop productivity.
3. To promote balanced use of fertilizers and reduce input costs.
4. To assess soil quality every 10 years.

Select the correct answer using the code below:

(a) 1, 2, and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 3, and 4 only

Q3.) Consider the following statements regarding the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC):

1. The CPC pipeline transports crude oil from Kazakhstan to the Baltic Sea for export.
2. Russia and Kazakhstan are the key stakeholders in the CPC.
3. The pipeline is strategically important for the transportation of oil from Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oil field.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 3 only

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  Today’s – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) – d

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – a