Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Exam – September 03, 2024

{GS2 – Governance – Initiatives} Telecommunications Rules, 2024

• Context (PIB): The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has recently notified the ‘Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024’, which aim to enhance the management and implementation of the Digital Bharat Nidhi initiative.

The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), created under the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, has been rebranded as the Digital Bharat Nidhi under Sec 24(1) of the Telecommunications Act of 2024.

Key Provisions of the New Rules

• The newly notified rules outline the administrator’s powers and the criteria for implementing and managing funds for the schemes and projects under the Digital Bharat Nidhi.
• Funds will prioritise improving telecom services in underserved and remote areas, supporting women, persons with disabilities, and economically weaker sections.
• The rules encourage innovation, indigenous technology development, and sustainable practices, fostering collaboration between academia, research institutes, start-ups, and industry.
• Implementers receiving funds for establishing, operating, maintaining, or expanding a telecommunication network must provide telecommunication services on an open and non-discriminatory basis.

{GS2 – Governance – Welfare} Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945

• Context (IE | TH): The Supreme Court stayed an AYUSH Ministry notification that “omitted” Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

• The SC stated that the notification directly contradicted an SC order in a case that originated from misleading ads by Patanjali Ayurved, which directed advertisers to submit self-declarations ensuring no false claims before media promotion.

What is Rule 170?

• Rule 170 was introduced by GoI in 2018 to regulate the manufacture, storage, and sale of Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani medicines and control inappropriate advertisements.
• The rule requires AYUSH drug manufacturers to obtain approval and a unique ID from the state licensing authority before advertising. The manufacturers must provide details, including textual references, rationale, evidence of safety, effectiveness, and drug quality.
• The rule states that applications will be rejected if:
  • the manufacturer does not provide their contact details
  • if the contents of the advertisement are obscene or vulgar, promote sexual organ enhancement products, depict photographs or testimonials from celebrities or government officials, refer to any government organisation, give false impression or make misleading or exaggerated claims.

Challenges to Regulate AYUSH Drugs

• While allopathic drugs require extensive trials for approval (phases I-III) as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, such trials are not necessary for AYUSH drugs for approval.
• Most AYUSH drugs can be approved based on authoritative texts, except for those with about 60 specific ingredients (like snake venom, snakehead, and heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury and compounds such as copper sulphate), which require safety and effectiveness-proof.

{GS2 – IR – Africa} A crisis in West Asia-North Africa (WANA)

• Context (TH): The conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to widespread destruction, displacement, and severe humanitarian crises.

Background

• Persistent Legacy of War: Since its 1956 independence, Sudan has faced 15 military coups, two civil wars, and the Darfur conflict driven by the Janjaweed militia, a precursor to the RSF, causing 1.5 million deaths and massive displacement.
• Fall of al-Bashir and Rising Conflict
• Ethnic Violence: Renewed attacks on the Masalit people in Darfur, reviving old grievances from the Darfur ethnic cleansing of 2003.
• Displacement Crisis: Over 9 million internally displaced and 1.8 million fled to neighbouring countries.
• Foreign involvement in Sudan’s conflict complicates resolution efforts, with Egypt and Iran supporting the SAF, the UAE and Russia backing the RSF, and Russia seeking a naval base in Port Sudan.

Key Challenges

• Humanitarian Crisis: Estimates of deaths range from 15,000 to as high as 150,000, highlighting the extreme violence of the conflict.
• Food Insecurity: Approximately 18 million people (37% of the population) are experiencing severe food insecurity, with extreme shortages affecting households in areas like the Zamzam camp, where many families go days without food.
• Infrastructure Destruction: Reports indicate that over 10,400 schools are closed, leaving millions of children without education.
• Geopolitical Risks: The conflict may spill into neighbouring fragile states, including Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Libya.
• Mass Migration: The war could increase migration to Europe, where countries like Germany and France are already seeing a significant influx of Sudanese refugees.
• Suez Canal Disruption: The war might further disrupt Suez Canal operations, which attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen have already disrupted.

India’s stakes

• The Indian government has substantial interests in Sudan, which include $2,034 million in direct trade and $2.3 billion in investments, specifically in the oil industry.
• India has a history of humanitarian aid to Sudan, including delivering 100 metric tons of food aid, such as wheat flour and sugar, in 2020 to alleviate suffering from floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Increased Islamic extremism poses a threat to India’s security interests in the surrounding region.
• India’s evacuation effort to bring back citizens stranded in Sudan – Operation Kaveri.
• India’s Election Commission facilitated the management of Sudan’s inaugural general elections in 1950s.

{GS2 – IR – Issues} Indian Asylum Seekers in the US and UK

• Context (IE | IE): Indians stand little chance of asylum in the US and UK but still manage to stay on

An asylum seeker is someone who has left their country and is asking for protection from persecution or serious human rights violations in another country but has not yet been officially recognised as a refugee and is waiting for a decision on their claim.

Indian Asylum Seekers Scenario in the UK

• In the UK, Indians have the lowest chance (6-9%) of receiving asylum relief among the top 15 nationalities, behind China (18-24%), Pakistan (53-55%), and Iran (77-86%).
• During 2019-2023, less than 300 Indians were granted asylum or “leave to remain” (those who do not qualify for refugee status but are permitted to stay for various reasons) in the UK.

Indian Asylum Seekers Scenario in the US

• In the US, asylum can be sought either affirmatively by applying to US Citizenship and Immigration Services or defensively (if facing removal proceedings) before a judge of the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
• Since 2018, the number of Indians granted defensive asylum in the US has increased annually, but the success rate remains below 15%.

Canadian Visa Issue

• The number of undocumented Indians crossing from Canada to the US has reached a record high. Many Canada-bound Indians transiting through the UK are also seeking asylum there.
• This has put Canada’s visa screening process under scrutiny.

The US-Canada border is the longest open border in the world.

Why Canada

• Easy conditions offered by Canada: Canada offers the ideal combination of an accessible visa and a soft border. It’s much safer than taking one of those ‘dunki’ (illegal) routes.
• Relative ease at the northern US border: There are restrictions and heavy security on the southern US border. So, the north border is preferred because it is safer and easier to access with a Canadian visa
• UK transit loopholes: The UK attracts Canada-bound Indians because they don’t need transit visas for stopovers in London.

Why Indian Asylum Seekers in the US and UK Manage to Stay On

• Lengthy removal process: Even though few are granted asylum or other stay permits, removal proceedings can drag on indefinitely, allowing migrants to stay put.
• Cheap labour: The US occasionally offers amnesty for illegal migrants, and the business lobby supports this by pressuring immigration authorities to avoid deportations as they love paperless workers.
• Diplomatic tightrope: Sending asylum-seekers back is challenging, especially when there’s no agreement between the countries involved. It’s even more complicated if the asylum-seekers enter from a third country that won’t accept them.

{GS2 – MEITY – Schemes} Cabinet Approves New Semiconductor Unit

• Context (PIB): The Union Cabinet has given its nod to a semiconductor unit (5th unit) under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) by Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd, to be established in Sanand, Gujarat.

• The proposed Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility will require an investment of Rs 3,300 crore and will have a daily capacity of 60 lakh chips.
• The approval results from the India Semiconductor Mission’s revised scheme for establishing semiconductor fabs, which offers 50% fiscal support for capital investments.
• For this unit, 20% more investment will be made by the Gujarat government, and Kaynes will make the remaining 30% of the investment.

The Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem (ISM) in India was launched in 2021, with a total budget of ₹76,000 crore. Earlier Semiconductor Units Approval The first proposal for a semiconductor unit in Sanand, Gujarat approved in 2023. In early 2024, three more semiconductor units were approved – Two units by Tata Electronics (Dholera, Gujarat and Morigaon, Assam) and one by CG Power in Sanand, Gujarat.

Read more > India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) | Semiconductors.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Comparison} Germany’s electoral architecture

• Context (IE): Germany’s federal constitutional court upheld the government’s move to downsize the lower house of parliament (Bundestag), with effect from the 2025 federal elections.

Current status

• The present 20^th Bundestag is its largest ever since the first post-war legislature (1949).
• Bundestag is the largest Parliament among democratically elected assemblies, even bigger than the 720-strong parliament of the European Union.
• A high number of representatives has raised financial and efficiency concerns.

Why the huge size?

Germany’s complex electoral architecture

• In Germany’s Personalised proportional or mixed-member proportional representation system, each voter exercises two votes.
• The first vote is cast to directly choose a candidate from a local constituency via conventional first-past-the-post method to obtain a simple majority for 299 seats.
• Voters simultaneously cast a second ballot to choose a political party for another 299 parliamentary seats distributed across Germany’s 16 regions. A party must have secured either 5% of the second vote share or a minimum of three individual constituencies to qualify for entry into parliament.
• The seat allocation is proportional to the number of second votes each party has received, hence the Bundestag’s larger size.

Process of seat determination

• Each region receives seats in proportion to the population resident therein. These are then distributed among the parties based on their share of second votes.
• The seats for each party at the federal level are subsequently fixed according to the number of candidate seats it won in the state and the number of seats it was entitled to, based on the second votes.
• The higher of the above two figures is the final tally of the party’s seats in a region. The cumulative addition of seats across the regions makes up the party’s strength in the Bundestag.

How did this process lead to an increase?

• Germany’s two largest parties over the decades garnered the maximum number of directly elected seats.
• These first-vote seats are invariably greater than entitled seats. These extra seats are known as overhang seats. However, given Germany’s personalised proportional system, parties have been allowed to retain these overhang seats, leading to increased size.
• Further, in 2008, the constitutional court declared overhang seats unconstitutional because they violated the equality of elections.
• In 2012, the constitutional court addressed this imbalance by creating “balance seats” for smaller parties. This further increased the size.

Government Proposal

• It is proposed to cap the size of the Bundestag at 630 representatives from the 2025 federal elections.
• Candidate seats will remain at 299; the party list will increase to 331 seats.
• The new limit was decided in 2022 under the guidance of an Electoral Rights Commission and would be achieved by scrapping both the “overhang seats” and “balance seats.”
• Obtaining a simple majority in an individual constituency will not henceforth automatically translate into a parliamentary seat.

{GS3 – Agri – Dairy} Mobile app for livestock census

• Context (IE): A mobile app called “21st Livestock Census” was developed by the Animal Husbandry Department to conduct a comprehensive survey of livestock across India.

• It aims to prepare the next government action plan based on the latest livestock figures and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals’ National Indicator Framework Progress Report.
• Data will be obtained on cattle, ox, buffalo, cow, goat, sheep, chicken, dog, horse, pig, duck and emu birds reared by livestock farmers.
• Also, it will cover details on farmers, livestock age, vaccines, and women’s involvement in cattle rearing.

Livestock Census

• Began in 1919, the Livestock Census is conducted every five years.
• It is conducted by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying in participation with State Governments and UT Administrations.

20^th census observations

• Total Livestock Population: 536 million, an increase of 4.6% from the 2012 census.
• State with Highest Livestock Population: Uttar Pradesh.

{GS3 – Agri – Scheme} Revamped Crop Diversification Programme

• Context (IE | ET): The Crop Diversification Programme in Punjab has been revamped to encourage farmers to move away from paddy to less water-intensive crops.

Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)

• The CDP, a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), has been implemented in the Original Green Revolution States, viz: Punjab, Haryana, and Western UP, since 2013-14 to divert the area of water-guzzling paddy to alternate crops.
• Objective: To tackle the problem of declining soil fertility and depleting water tables in these states.
• Under CDP for replacing paddy crops, assistance is provided for four major interventions, viz.,
  1. Alternate crop demonstrations
  2. Farm mechanisation and value addition
  3. Site-specific activities (according to their local needs)
  4. Contingency for awareness, training, monitoring, etc.
• CDP has been extended to tobacco-growing states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, TN, Telangana, UP and WB to encourage tobacco-growing farmers to shift to alternate crops/cropping system w.e.f. 2015-16.
• Under CDP for replacing tobacco crops, tobacco-growing states have been given the flexibility to adopt suitable activities/interventions for growing alternative agricultural/horticultural crops.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) RKVY, launched in 2007 under the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), is an umbrella scheme for the holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors. The scheme incentivises states to increase public investment in agriculture & allied sectors.

Details of the Revamped CDP in Punjab

• The new scheme offers the farmers a Rs.17,500 per hectare incentive to switch to less water-intensive crops during the kharif season. The scheme covers up to five hectares per beneficiary.
• The Centre and Punjab government funds the scheme in a 60:40 ratio.

Benefits of the Revamped CDP in Punjab

• Save the soil from degrading
• Save groundwater depletion
• Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• Promote crop biodiversity
• Earn farmers up to 4 carbon credits per hectare
• Reduction of rice stubble burning

Issues with the Revamped CDP in Punjab

• Profitability gap: The profit gap between paddy and its major substitute crops (pulses, oilseeds, millets, and even maize) is much more than Rs 17,500/ha being offered.
• Skewed subsidy towards paddy: Paddy farmers in Punjab receive higher subsidies for power, canal water, and fertiliser consumption, making paddy much more profitable than competing crops.
• Operational time of the scheme: It’s unclear if the Rs 17,500/ha incentive is for one year or longer; if it’s just for a year, the policy may fail.
• Market risk: Punjab and Haryana have a special privilege of assured paddy procurement at Minimum Support Prices (MSP). However, alternate crops like pulses or oilseeds do not have such a guarantee.

Way Forward

• Re-orienting the subsidy policy towards a more crop-neutral incentive structure.
• Purchasing alternative crops at MSP to provide a reliable market to farmers.
• Farmer Producer Organisations can be engaged for aggregating, assaying, grading, packaging, and branding for export markets.
• A market-oriented cluster-based approach for high-value horticulture crops can be prioritised.
• Logistics facilities must be created with a value chain approach to high-income export markets.

{GS3 – Agri – Tech} Digital Agriculture Mission

• Context (PIB|IE): The Union Cabinet of India has approved a Rs 2,817-crore Digital Agriculture Mission.

• The mission aims to create a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the farm sector, similar to the government’s flagship e-governance initiatives (Aadhaar, UPI, etc.) in other sectors.
• It is set to be implemented nationwide by 2025-26, targeting the digital identification of 11 crore farmers.
• The Agriculture Ministry is signing MoUs with state governments to implement the DPI for agriculture. So far, nineteen states have agreed to participate.

Key Components of the Digital Agriculture Mission

AgriStack

• Farmer’s Registry: This is a digital identity for farmers (like Aadhaar) that links them to their land, livestock, crop data, demographic details, benefits received, etc.
• Geo-Referenced Village Maps: These maps connect geographic data with physical land locations, aiding land management.
• Crop Sown Registry: This registry details the crops planted by farmers, collected through mobile-based Digital Crop Surveys conducted each season.

Krishi Decision Support System (DSS)

• The system integrates data on crops, soil, weather, and water resources using geospatial technology.
• It supports crop pattern identification through maps, drought and flood monitoring, and yield assessments for crop insurance claim settlements.

Soil Profile Maps

• The detailed soil maps at a 1:10,000 scale will be developed for 142 million hectares of agricultural land. These maps will assist in optimising fertiliser use and improving soil health.

Key Benefits for Farmers and the Agricultural Ecosystem

• The Digital Agriculture Mission aims to transform service delivery in agriculture by leveraging modern digital technologies like data analytics, artificial intelligence, and remote sensing.
• Farmers can now access government schemes, crop loans, and agricultural inputs without extensive paperwork or physical visits to government offices.
• Real-time advisories on crop planning, health, and pest management guidance to farmers.
• Government agencies can use digital data to streamline processes and reduce corruption.
• Efficient value chains for agricultural inputs and post-harvest processes can be established.
• Stakeholders can make informed decisions based on accurate data and analytics.

{GS3 – Disaster Management} Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024

• Context (TH): The recent amendments proposed to the Disaster Management Act of 2005 aim to enhance India’s capacity to respond effectively to natural disasters.

Disaster Management Act, 2005

• The Disaster Management Act was enacted following the 2004 tsunami, with its origins dating back to the 1998 Odisha supercyclone.
• The Act established key institutions, such as the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM). These institutions have been instrumental in saving lives and providing relief during disasters.
• The Act created the National Disaster Management Policy (2009) and Plan (2016), providing a comprehensive framework aligned with international best practices.
• It encouraged the use of technology, improving disaster response through early warning systems, data collection, and analysis.
• It encourages local community participation in disaster preparedness and response, fostering ownership and resilience.
• Given the increasing frequency of natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, the role of the NDMA has become more crucial, necessitating greater responsibilities and resources.

Key Proposed Amendments

Enhanced Role of NDMA

• The Bill seeks to significantly expand the responsibilities of the NDMA, including the creation and maintenance of a national disaster database, recommending guidelines for minimum standards of relief and compensation for disaster-affected individuals, and periodic assessments of disaster risks.
• The amendment legitimises the absence of a vice-chairperson by allowing the day-to-day functioning of the NDMA to be carried out by any member designated by the chairperson or vice-chairperson.

Urban Disaster Management Authorities

• It introduces the establishment of Urban Disaster Management Authorities in state capitals and cities with municipal corporations to address the unique challenges posed by urban disasters (E.g. Urban Flooding), ensuring a coordinated and unified approach.

Mandatory State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF)

• The Bill makes it mandatory for every state to establish and maintain a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), addressing the current variability in the size and capacity of these forces across states.

Legal Status for National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)

• The Bill provides legal status to the NCMC, which is already functional for handling national emergencies, making it the nodal body for dealing with disasters that have serious or national ramifications.

Clarification on Disaster Definition

• The Bill clarifies the definition of disasters, specifically stating that “man-made causes” do not include law-and-order situations, which means incidents like riots would not invoke the provisions of this law.

Unaddressed Issues in the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill

• The Bill expands the NDMA’s role but fails to elevate its status to a government department or ministry, keeping it under the Home Ministry’s control. This limits the NDMA’s autonomy and hinders its efficiency.
• The NDMA has lacked a vice-chairperson for nearly a decade, weakening its leadership. While the Bill legitimises the role, it fails to address the urgent need to fill this critical position.
• The NDMA lacks administrative and financial autonomy, and the Bill does not provide the NDMA with the necessary financial independence for timely and efficient action.
• With only three functioning members, the NDMA is severely understaffed, reducing its capacity to manage disasters effectively. The Bill does not address this staffing issue or allocate sufficient resources.
• The Bill risks further centralising disaster management, potentially causing delays in response and could complicate the chain of command and hinder timely action during emergencies.
• The Bill retains an outdated disaster definition, failing to adequately cover emerging threats, particularly climate-induced disasters like heatwaves.
• It does not enhance financial preparedness at the state level, leaving states reliant on central funding, which could delay disaster response. No new mechanisms for improving financial readiness are proposed.
• The Bill’s state-level changes might face opposition, and it lacks clear strategies for ensuring cooperation between central and state governments in disaster management.

{GS3 – Environment – SDGs} SDG India Index 2023-23

• Context (DTE): A recent report by NITI Aayog has revealed that India has made strides in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the past two years. However, the report also highlights challenges in addressing inequality and certain specific goals.

Key Highlights

Overall Score Improvement

• India’s composite score improved from 66 in 2020-21 (57 in 2018) to 71 in 2023-24.
• India excelled in areas like affordable and clean energy, clean water and sanitation, and sustainable cities.
• The most rapid progress was observed in ‘climate action’ and ‘no poverty’.
• The performance stagnated in reducing inequality and faced challenges in achieving gender equality.
• The score for ‘peace, justice and strong institutions’ remained unchanged at 74.

Performance Across States

• All states and Union Territories (UTs) showed an improvement in their overall scores.
• Scores for states ranged from 57 to 79 in 2023-24, compared to 42 to 69 in 2018.
• Kerala and Uttarakhand shared the top spot with a score of 79. Tamil Nadu ranked second, followed by Goa and Himachal Pradesh in third place. Bihar ranked at the bottom, followed by Jharkhand.
• Many northeastern states struggled to achieve SDG targets, but Tripura showed notable progress.

Front-Runner States

• 32 states and UTs are front-runners, with 10 new entrants.
• Leading states in score improvement include Assam, Manipur, Punjab, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir, each improving by 8 points.

West Bengal

• The state performed better than the national average in eight parameters, including zero hunger, good health and well-being, and affordable and clean energy.
• West Bengal faced challenges like poverty, quality education, and climate action.

Fastest Moving States

• Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest increase (fastest moving state) in score by 25 points.
• Other notable improvements were seen in Jammu & Kashmir (21), Uttarakhand (19), and Sikkim (18).

Notable Progress in Specific Goals

• Goal 1 (No Poverty): Score increased from 60 to 72.
• Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Notable improvements recorded.
• Goal 13 (Climate Action): Highest increase in score from 54 to 67.
• Goal 15 (Life on Land): Also showed substantial progress.
• These are now in the ‘Front Runner’ category (a score between 65–99).

About SDG India Index

• The SDG India Index is a tool developed by NITI Aayog to measure the progress of India and its states/UTs towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The Index is based on 113 indicators aligned with the National Indicator Framework.
• It involves data normalisation, establishing target values for 2030, and calculating scores ranging from 0 to 100 for each goal. The composite score is derived as an average of all goal scores.
• It employs a comprehensive methodology involving data normalisation and target setting for 2030.

Goal 14 has not been included in the calculation of the Composite Score for the Index as it solely pertains to the nine coastal States.

• The SDG India Index emphasises the importance of localising the SDGs and engaging states and UTs as key stakeholders. It fosters collaborative competition among states to close outcome-based gaps.
• NITI Aayog is dedicated to supporting states and UTs in accelerating SDG progress, aiming for a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.

Read more > SDG Goals.

{GS3 – IE – Banking} India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

• Context (PIB): India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) celebrates its 7^th Foundation Day.

• IPPB was established in 2018 under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication, with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.
• Before that, it was launched as a pilot project in 2017 in Ranchi (Jharkhand) & Raipur (Chhattisgarh).
• Its mandate was to remove barriers for the unbanked and underbanked and reach the last mile by leveraging the postal network.

Key Features

• Extensive Network: IPPB capitalises on India Post’s vast network of over 155,000 post offices, 135,000 of which are located in rural areas.
• Doorstep Banking: Over 300,000 postmen and Gramin Dak Sewaks provide banking services at customers’ doorsteps using smartphones and biometric devices.
• Digital Focus: IPPB offers a seamless, paperless, cashless, and presence-less banking experience through digital platforms, integrating core banking systems with smartphones and biometric devices.
• Accessibility: Banking services are available in 13 regional languages, ensuring inclusivity for India’s diverse population.
• Low-Cost Model: IPPB focuses on frugal innovation to keep its services affordable, especially for economically weaker sections of society.

Services Offered

• Savings and Current Accounts: IPPB provides zero balance savings accounts and current accounts tailored to individual and business needs.
• Money Transfer and Remittances: Safe and secure domestic money transfer services.
• Direct Benefit Transfers: Facilitates the direct transfer of government benefits to beneficiaries’ accounts.
• Bill Payments: This feature enables the payment of utility bills, such as electricity, water, and gas.
• Enterprise and Merchant Payments: Solutions for businesses to manage payments efficiently.
• Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS): This system allows customers to make payments and access banking services using Aadhaar authentication.
• Virtual Debit Cards: Provides secure, digital payment solutions.
• Insurance Services: Offers various insurance products in collaboration with partner companies.
• Digital Life Certificate for Pensioners: Facilitates pensioners in submitting life certificates digitally.
• Cash Management Services: Tailored solutions for corporates and government bodies.

Niveshak Didi Implementing Agency: IPPB and Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs). It was India’s First Floating Financial Literacy Camp to promote Financial Literacy ‘by the women, for the women’ in Srinagar, J&K.

Also refer to Payments Bank to know more.

{GS3 – S&T – BioTech} Dedicated Enzyme Manufacturing Facility

• Context (IE): The Department of Biotechnology plans to establish enzyme-manufacturing facilities to boost ethanol production, following the Center’s BioE3 policy.

Enzyme-Manufacturing Facilities

• The enzymes, derived from genetically engineered Penicillium funiculosum fungi found in rice stubble and soil, efficiently hydrolyse organic refuse like rice stubble.
• The proposed unit in Manesar, Haryana, will supply enzymes for 2G bioethanol plants in Mathura, Bhatinda, and Panipat.

Significance

• Enhance Ethanol Production: Enzymes and proper treatment are crucial for efficiently converting stubble into ethanol.
• Lower Import Costs: Imported enzymes represent a huge expense in the 2G-ethanol production process.
• Lower Ethanol Costs: Producing enzymes domestically could potentially decrease the cost of ethanol production by nearly two-thirds.

Challenges

• Scaling up local enzyme production to meet national demand, i.e., the projected demand of 13.5 billion litres of ethanol by 2025-26, remains challenging.
• Delivering a consistent amount of biomass year-round is challenging due to its dependence on seasonal agricultural methods.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Spider Mimicking Bird Excreta

• Context (TH): A spider mimicking bird excreta, Phrynarachne decipiens, has been found in Assam, marking its first recorded presence in India.
• Phrynarachne decipiens better known as the bird dung or bird-dropping crab spider, was previously found in Malaysia and Indonesia’s Java and Sumatra.
• This eight-eyed spider usually lies motionless on broad leaves 1-2 ft above the ground. Its chalky white colour and whitish deposition (its web) on the leaves, resembling bird excreta, make it hard to spot.
• The species resembles Phrynarachne peelina but can be distinguished by its stout spermathecae (a sac-like organ in the female reproductive tract that stores sperm received during copulation), with posterior heads almost touching each other.

{Prelims – In News} Hvaldimir

• Context (IE): Hvaldimir, a beluga whale suspected of being a Russian ‘spy’, was found dead in Norway. Hvaldimir was first spotted off Norway’s southern coast in 2019.

Source: The Guardian

Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas)

• Distribution: Colder Arctic waters around Greenland, Canada, Alaska, northern Norway, and Russia.
• Lifespan: Up to 60 years of age.
• Behaviour: Slow swimmers but can dive to 700 m below the surface. Beluga whales tend to move in groups. They display friendly behaviour around humans.

Why is it called Russian Spy?

• Hvaldimir wore a harness, which said “Equipment St Petersburg” in Russia with a camera mount.
• This led to speculation that Hvaldimir was a Russian spy on a reconnaissance mission to the Nordic coast.
• This earned the name — ‘hval’ is the Norwegian word for whale, ‘dimir’ is a play on Vladimir (Putin).

Animals in espionage

• World War I: Pigeons were used to ferry messages and as spies with little cameras fitted to their legs.
• The West and the Soviet Union tried to induct various animals into their espionage programmes. In the 1960s, the US Navy, for instance, trained dolphins to detect submarines and underwater mines.
• In the 1970s, the CIA’s Office of Research and Development created “Insectothopter,” the first insect-sized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of its kind.
• Project Acoustic Kitty: The CIA implanted a microphone in cats’ ear canals, a small radio transmitter at the base of their skulls, and a thin wire into their fur to spy.
• In 2007, Iran reportedly captured 14 squirrels near a nuclear enrichment plant as they were equipped with “espionage gear”.