Current Affairs – September 08-09, 2024

{GS2 – Governance – Initiatives} Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS)

Context (PIB): The Union Minister of Labour and Employment approved a Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS) for the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 to streamline pension disbursement, allowing pension payouts through any bank or branch in India.

Key Features: Nationwide Access, Immediate Credit, Integration with Aadhaar, Single Window Clearance and Support for Multiple Languages.

{GS2 – Governance – Welfare} Assistive technology and Para athletes

Context (TH): Assistive technology helped Indian para-athletes secure 27 medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, surpassing their previous best at the 2021 Games.

Background of Paralympics

The Paralympics, founded by Sir Ludwig Guttmann in 1948 and evolving from the Stoke Mandeville Games to a major international event since 1960, promote inclusivity by showcasing adaptive sports for athletes with disabilities. They are held every four years.
Athletes are classified based on their impairments to group them into sports classes.

Avani Lakhera (10m air rifle), Bhavina Patel (table tennis), and Harvinder Singh (archery) made history as the first Indians to win Paralympic medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology refers to products and systems that aid individuals with disabilities in functioning, including cognition, hearing, mobility, vision, and communication.
Assistive technology is used in all these sports, with the most being used in para-archery, para-athletics, para-badminton, shooting para-sport, para-swimming, and para-powerlifting.

Challenges

Cultural Stigmas: Many athletes encounter societal prejudices and misconceptions about disabilities, which can hinder access to coaching and participation in sports.
Resource Limitations: There is often a lack of funding, infrastructure, and specialised training facilities for para-athletes, making it difficult to prepare adequately for competitions.
Injury Risks: Competing at high levels increases the risk of injury, and there is limited research on injury patterns specific to disabled athletes. This can complicate injury prevention and management strategies.
Psychological Stress: Athletes and coaches experience significant stress leading up to major events, including pressures related to performance, qualification, and uncertainties like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adaptation Needs: Coaches must tailor training approaches to accommodate each athlete’s unique abilities and needs, which can require additional time and resources.
Social Barriers: Many para-athletes struggle with social integration and recognition, impacting their motivation and support systems.

Way forward

Increased Funding: Advocate for equal funding and sponsorship opportunities for Paralympic athletes to bridge the financial gap with their Olympic counterparts.
Enhanced Media Coverage: Promote greater media visibility and coverage of the Paralympic Games to raise awareness, attract sponsors, and celebrate the achievements of para-athletes.
Improved Accessibility: Focus on enhancing accessibility in sports facilities and events, ensuring that all athletes, regardless of their disabilities, have equal opportunities to participate and compete.
Community Engagement: Promote community programs supporting para-sports to foster inclusivity and break down societal barriers surrounding disabilities.
Technological Advancements: Invest in research and development of adaptive technologies and equipment that can enhance performance and safety for para-athletes.

Government Initiatives for Para-Athletes

Adoption of UNCRDP (2007): India adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRDP).
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): Identifying potential medalists, TOPS offers financial support, top-tier coaching, and international exposure to ensure their success on the world stage.
Khelo India Para Games: launched in 2017, aims to promote sports at the grassroots level and identify and support talented athletes, including para-athletes.
Scheme of Sports & Games for the Disabled: Aims to provide opportunities for athletes with disabilities to participate in sports, develop their skills, and represent India in international competitions.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) approves ACTC (Annual Calendar for Training and Competition) budgets for the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and other National Sports Federations administering para-sports.

{GS2 – IR – Middle East} Oil-rich UAE completes Arab world’s first nuclear plant

Context (IE): Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in UAE is Arab’s first nuclear power plant.

Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant

Located along the Arabian Gulf coastline in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi. Its capacity is 5,600 MW when all units are operational. It is expected to provide up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs.
The plant is part of the UAE’s plan to meet half of its electricity needs with renewable energy by 2050.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Federal Structure} Vertical Fiscal Imbalance (VFI)

Context (TH): In India, the states bear a significant portion of the expenditure burden while generating relatively less revenue, leading to a dependence on transfers from the union government.

Vertical Fiscal Imbalance

Vertical Fiscal Imbalance (VFI) refers to the mismatch between revenue-raising powers and expenditure responsibilities of different levels of government in a federal system. For example, states incur about 61% of the revenue expenditure but collect only 38% of the revenue receipts.
The Indian Constitution divides financial duties between the Union government and the States. While the Union government is better positioned to collect certain taxes efficiently, the States are often best suited to provide public goods and services due to their proximity to citizens.

Importance of Reducing VFI

It enhances the efficiency of public spending by allowing States more autonomy in resource allocation.
It addresses the magnification of imbalances during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
It promotes a more equitable and responsive federal structure.

Role of the Finance Commission in Addressing VFI

The Finance Commission plays a pivotal role in addressing VFI through two main mechanisms:
- Determining the distribution of taxes collected by the Union government to the States.
- Recommending the allocation of these taxes across individual States.
Additionally, the Commission recommends grants under Article 275 of the Constitution, though these are typically short-term and purpose-specific.
Unconditional transfers from the Union government are primarily tax devolution from net proceeds, excluding cesses and surcharges.

Measuring Vertical Fiscal Imbalance

To measure VFI, the sum of Own Revenue Receipts (ORR) and tax devolution to Own Revenue Expenditure (ORE) for all states are calculated.
A ratio less than 1 indicates that the combined revenue receipts and tax devolution are insufficient to meet expenditure needs. The deficit in this ratio serves as a proxy for VFI after devolution.
To eliminate VFI, the average share of net proceeds devolved to States between 2015-16 and 2022-23 should have been 48.94%.
The 14th and 15th Finance Commissions recommended only 42% and 41%, respectively.

Recommendations for the 16th Finance Commission

To address VFI effectively, the 16th Finance Commission should consider:
- Increasing the share of tax devolution from net proceeds to approximately 49%.
- Addressing the cesses and surcharges that currently reduce the divisible pool.
Raising the devolution to about 49% would:
- Provide States with more untied resources to meet their expenditure needs.
- Allow for more responsive and efficient spending at the State level.
- Promote a system of cooperative fiscal federalism.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Parliament} Performance review of regulatory bodies by PAC

Context (TH): The Public Accounts Committee will inspect regulatory bodies such as SEBI and audit public infrastructure charges, specifically focusing on the Adani Group’s management of airports.

Public Accounts Committee

Established in 1921 as part of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.
Composition: 22 members (15 elected from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha). Members are elected annually via proportional representation by a single transferable vote.
Chairperson: Appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and is typically a member of the opposition party since 1967. Currently, the PAC is chaired by K.C. Venugopal.
It examines the annual audit reports submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, which include: Audit reports on appropriation accounts, finance accounts, and public undertakings.
Its work helps in creating public awareness about government spending and financial discipline.

Limitations

The recommendations given by the PAC are advisory and not binding on the government.
Only scrutinise expenditures after they are incurred, limiting its ability to influence budgetary decisions.

Read more > SEBI.

Context (TH): The Union Health Ministry of India has approved a groundbreaking treatment regimen called the BPaLM regimen for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB).

The BPaLM regimen, consisting of four drugs — Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid, and Moxifloxacin—offers a more effective, faster, and safer alternative to traditional treatments.
The BPaLM regimen is being introduced as part of the National TB Elimination Programme.

Key Benefits of the BPaLM Regimen

It cures MDR-TB in six months, compared to the 20-month traditional treatment.
It improves recovery chances (higher treatment success rate) for drug-resistant TB.
It is associated with fewer and milder side effects.
Shorter duration and reduced side effects led to lower overall costs.

India and TB

India aims to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global target set under the Sustainable Development Goals. There are ~75,000 drug-resistant TB patients in India.
India boasts the world’s largest TB laboratory network, with over 7,700 rapid molecular testing facilities and 87 culture and drug susceptibility testing laboratories.

Read more > Tuberculosis (TB) | Antimicrobial Resistance

Context (TH): A uniform code for marketing practices for the medical device industry was notified.

Key Highlights of the Code

Prohibition of Gifts, Hospitality, and Monetary Grants: It prohibits offering gifts, hospitality, and monetary grants to healthcare professionals or their family members by medical device companies.
Prescribed Marketing Claims and Counter Claims: It mandates that all marketing claims related to medical devices must be accurate and substantiated by evidence.
Permitted Training, Research, and Continuing Medical Education (CME): It allows for the conduct of training, research, and CME under stringent conditions. Accredited institutions must conduct CME events, and any foreign training programs require prior approval from the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
Compliance: Medical device associations will oversee compliance with the code.
Ethics Committee: Each medical device association will establish an Ethics Committee for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices to handle complaints and ensure adherence to the code.
Oversight: The Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals will chair an Apex Committee for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices, which will review appeals and address cases of non-compliance.
Penalties for non-compliance: The code outlines several penalties, including suspension or expulsion from associations, corrective statements, and recommendations for actions to government authorities.

Also, read about the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices 2024.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Teal Carbon

Context (TH): India’s first study on ‘teal carbon’, undertaken at Keoladeo National Park, highlighted the significance of wetland conservation in climate adaptation and resilience.

What is Teal Carbon?

Teal carbon refers to the carbon stored in non-tidal freshwater wetlands, such as marshes and swamps.
These ecosystems are considered more effective at carbon capture and storage than terrestrial forest ecosystems and can store and sequester more carbon than any other type of terrestrial ecosystem.
Being a colour-based terminology, it reflects the classification of organic carbon based on its functions and location rather than its physical properties.

Other Types of Carbon

Scientists use colour to classify carbon at different points in the carbon cycle based on carbon function, characteristics, and location.
Colours of Carbon Rainbow:

Carbon Rainbow

Credits: USGS

{GS3 – IE – Industry} INDIAsize initiative

Context (ET): The government will soon launch the long-awaited ‘INDIAsize‘ initiative.

About ‘INDIAsize’ initiative

The aim is to establish standardised measurements tailored to Indian body types, addressing fitting issues caused by reliance on Western sizing standards used by brands in India.
Ministry: Ministry of Textiles.
The initiative gathers anthropometric data from over 25,000 individuals aged 15 to 65 across India, using human-safe 3D whole-body scanning technology to develop a comprehensive body size chart.
The standardised size chart will help retailers and manufacturers produce better-fitting garments for Indian consumers, reducing return rates and enhancing customer satisfaction in the apparel industry.

{GS3 – IE – RBI} Unified Lending Interface

Context (TH): RBI will soon launch a Unified Lending Interface (ULI) digital platform to streamline and digitise the lending process.

ULI centralises a borrower’s financial and non-financial information, such as land records, banking history, and credit data, into a single digital database.
This simplifies the traditionally cumbersome process of securing loans, especially for rural borrowers, MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), and agricultural sectors.
It will have an application programming interface (API) with a ‘plug and play’ method. The method will make data accessibility easy for lenders and decrease the complexity of technical integration.
It has a consent-based data-sharing model, ensuring that borrowers’ data privacy is protected.

How ULI will revolutionize credit access

Faster Loan Approvals: ULI eliminates the need for extensive documentation and physical verification by offering an end-to-end digital process where borrowers can get their loans approved within minutes.
Lowering the Cost of Credit: By streamlining the lending process and reducing overheads for lenders, ULI can potentially lower the overall cost of credit, making loans more affordable.
Enhanced Financial Inclusion: ULI will make it easier for rural and semi-urban populations to access formal credit, thus reducing their dependence on informal moneylenders.
Data-Driven Lending: Lenders can make more accurate credit decisions with access to comprehensive financial and non-financial data. This could potentially lead to more tailored credit offerings, where the terms and conditions of loans are customised based on individual borrower profiles.

{GS3 – IE – Securities} Financialization

Context (TH): The Chief Economic Adviser cautioned that financialization might distort macroeconomics.

What is Financialization?

Financialization is a process whereby financial markets, financial institutions, and financial elites gain greater influence over economic policy and economic outcomes.
It also describes moving investments away from traditional, ‘physical’ assets (like real estate and gold) towards ‘financial assets’ (like mutual funds).
It transforms the functioning of economic systems at both the macro and micro levels.

Factors driving Financialization

Growth of the middle class with higher disposable income.
Rise in inflation, causing households to seek higher returns beyond fixed deposits.
Increasing digitisation of the economy.
Government incentives on financial instruments.

Potential Impacts of Financialization

Elevates the significance of the financial sector relative to the real sector.
Transfer income from the real sector to the financial sector.
Contribute to increased income inequality and wage stagnation.
May put the economy at risk of debt deflation and prolonged recession.

{GS3 – Infra – Transportation} Galathea Bay

Context (ET): Galathea Bay in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is designated a “Major Port”.

About Galathea Bay

Situated on Great Nicobar Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
Lies approximately 40 nautical miles from the Malacca Strait, a crucial international shipping route.
It is being developed as an International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP), eligible for central funding under the public-private partnership model.
Deep Draft: It will have a natural water depth of over 20 meters to accommodate larger vessels. It will be India’s second deep-water container transhipment terminal, following Vizhinjam Seaport.
Four Phase Development: Phase 1 is expected to be operational by 2028 and full completion by 2058.
The Port is expected to have significant economic benefits, including increased foreign direct investment, improved logistics, job creation, and enhanced revenue for Indian ports.

Also, refer to Galathea National Park.

{GS3 – S&T – AI} Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Military

Context (IE): The second summit on Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM) begins in Seoul.

About REAIM Summit

It is being co-hosted by Kenya, the Netherlands, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
The 1^st summit took place in February 2023 in The Hague and was hosted by the Netherlands.
The REAIM process widened the debate beyond ‘killer robots’ (autonomous weapons) to broader issues by recognising that AI systems are finding ever greater applications in warfare.

Applications of AI in Warfare

Autonomous weapons: AI-powered crewless aerial vehicles (UAVs), ground vehicles and submarines are employed for reconnaissance, surveillance and combat operations.
Predictive maintenance: Machine learning algorithms analyse sensor data from vehicles and equipment to predict maintenance needs, reducing downtime and improving operational readiness.
Simulations and training: AI-powered training systems help to develop critical skills, decision-making abilities, and situational awareness, preparing personnel for complex-dynamic operational environments.
Tightening cybersecurity: Machine learning algorithms analyse network traffic, identify potential vulnerabilities, and respond to cyber-attacks in real time.
Intelligence and surveillance: Advanced computer vision techniques enable the analysis of vast amounts of imagery and video data, aiding in target identification, tracking, and object recognition.

Ethical ramifications of AI in Warfare

Objectification of human targets: The integration of AI-enabled weapon systems facilitates the objectification of human targets, leading to heightened tolerance for collateral damage.
Diminish ethical decision–making: Automation bias and technological mediation weaken moral agency among operators of AI-enabled targeting systems.
Misidentification: AI systems may be prone to bias or errors, leading to ethical concerns about the accuracy of threat identification and the discrimination of combatants from non-combatants.
Responsibility gap: When AI systems are entrusted with life-and-death decisions, the lines of responsibility become blurred.
Dehumanisation of Warfare: AI could erode empathy and moral reflection in conflict, leading to more indiscriminate use of force.

Global stand on AI use in Weapons

The US introduced a resolution on the responsible use of AI at the UNGA in early 2024, co-sponsored by 123 countries and adopted by consensus.
In 2021, China issued a White Paper outlining its approach to regulating military uses of AI. It also supported The Hague Summit’s “call to action” on the responsible military use of AI.
India had not endorsed the “call to action” issued by The Hague Summit.

{GS3 – S&T – Space} BepiColombo’s Mercury Exploration

Context (IE): BepiColombo, a joint mission by the European and Japanese space agencies, has provided the first clear images of Mercury’s south pole.

It has also provided unprecedented sharp, black-and-white images of the planet’s barren, crater-marked surface at sunrise. It captured images of two peak ring basins, Vivaldi and Stoddart.
The Sun’s gravitational pull causes spacecraft to accelerate as they approach Mercury, which poses significant challenges. To overcome this, BepiColombo executes a series of flybys involving Earth, Venus, and Mercury. These manoeuvres gradually slowed down the spacecraft, eventually allowing it to enter Mercury’s orbit.
Objectives: Study Mercury’s magnetic field, its composition, the geology of its surface, and its interaction with the solar wind.

BepiColombo will be the second mission ever to orbit Mercury. The first spacecraft to visit Mercury was NASA’s Mariner 10 (flyby mission, did not orbit), which imaged about 45% of the surface.
MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) of NASA was the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury.

Mercury’s puzzles: Unusually large core relative to its rocky exterior, the presence of water ice on its sun-scorched surface, its unexpected magnetic field and its high concentration of volatile elements such as chlorine, sulfur, and potassium (suggests a possible origin further from the sun).

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Disappearance of Saturn’s Rings

Context (IE): NASA confirmed that Saturn’s rings will ‘disappear’ in March 2025. However, the rings will not cease to exist. Their “disappearance” — when viewed from Earth — will be an optical illusion.

Cause of Disappearance: Optical Illusion

Saturn has an axis tilted similarly to Earth’s. During one half of its year (1 Saturn year equals 29.4 Earth years), the planet tilts in the Sun’s direction. That’s why the upper part of its rings shines.
In the other half, the Sun lights up the southern side of Saturn and its rings’ underside. Twice in Saturn’s orbit, the rings face directly towards the Sun, an event called the equinox.
Rings are tilted at the same angle and appear to change their orientation when viewed from Earth.

Credits: Mydarksky

Every 13 to 15 years, the edge of Saturn’s rings aligns directly with Earth when only the ring’s edges are visible from Earth. Since Saturn’s rings are very thin at this position, they will reflect very little light, making them invisible. But as Saturn continues to go around the Sun, its rings will gradually reappear.
The phenomenon last occurred in 2009.

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Planetary Protections

Context (TH): China will follow planetary protection guidelines for its Tianwen-3 mission.

Planetary protection promotes the sustainable and responsible exploration of space by tackling the potential transfer of biological matter to and from Earth and other objects in the Solar System.
The principle has a legal basis in Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty (1967), which provides for avoiding “harmful contamination and … adverse changes” in the Earth’s and the body’s environments due to “the introduction of extraterrestrial matter”.

Tianwen-3

It is China’s ambitious Mars sample-return mission, proposed to be launched in 2028.
It would send two spacecraft (an orbiter/Earth-returner and a lander/ascent vehicle) via two separate launches to Mars, which will collect and return samples of Martian rocks and soil to Earth.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Six New Dancing Gingers Discovered in India

Context (TH): Six new species of the genus Globba (Zingiberaceae family) in the Eastern Himalayas and two northeastern states, commonly known as dancing girl or dancing lady gingers.

The New Species

Species Name	Details
Globba corniculate	It is found in Darjeeling district, West Bengal. It is named for the horn-shaped structure at the base of the labellum (the central part of the flower that serves as a landing platform for pollinators).
Globba paschimbengalensis	It is found in Darjeeling district, West Bengal. Named after the state.
Globba polymorpha	It is also found in Darjeeling district, West Bengal. It is named for the variation in bracteole colours within the species population. A bracteole is a small, leaf-like structure between a bract and a flower bloom.
Globba tyrnaensis	It is found in Tyrna village, East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya. It is named after the village where it was discovered near a double-decker living root bridge.
Globba janakiae	It is found in Meghalaya. It is named in honour of E.K. Janaki Ammal, a pioneering botanist who opposed deforestation and challenged societal norms.
Globba yadaviana	It is found in Mamit district, Mizoram. It is named after Rajesh Yadav, the late father of lead author Ritu Yadav, who passed away during the fieldwork.

Zingiberaceae Family

Members of this family are perennial, rhizomatous herbs that thrive in moist, shady tropical regions.
Globba species are popular as ornamental plants due to their attractive and delicate flowers.
Other members: Weeping goldsmith, snowball, Singapore gold, white dragon, and Ruby Queen.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Water Spinach

Context (DTE): Water spinach is a key source of folic acid and other essential nutrients.

Scientific Name: Ipomoea aquatica.
Common Names: Water spinach, kangkong, river spinach, swamp cabbage, Chinese spinach.
Requirements: Tropical and subtropical climates, with temperatures of 20°C to 35°C. Require abundant water and grow in submerged and moist soil conditions.
Originally from Southeast Asia, water spinach is widely grown in Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, China, Taiwan, India, and Bangladesh and is also found in parts of Africa, Brazil, and the Caribbean.
Areas Grown in India: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra.
Health Benefits: rich in vitamins A, C, K, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre, aiding digestion, detoxification, and blood sugar management.

{Prelims – In News} NIDHI i-TBIs

Context (PIB): Eight new NIDHI Inclusive Technology Business Incubators (i-TBIs) across India and the new DST-NIDHI website celebrating eight years of the Department of Science and Technology‘s National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) program were inaugurated.

NIDHI Program

The NIDHI program, launched in 2016 as part of PM’s Startup India Stand Up India Initiative, aims to bridge the gap between academic institutions and industry.
Umbrella programme by the Technology Translation and Innovation (TTI) Division under the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) of the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
Funded by the NSTEDB and implemented through Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) nationwide.

The National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) under the Department of Science & Technology supports programs to promote science, technology, and innovation-based entrepreneurship, fostering knowledge-driven and tech-intensive startups.

{Prelims – In News} SAMRIDH Program

Context (PIB): Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched second cohort of its Startup Accelerators for Product Innovation, Development, and Growth (SAMRIDH) program.
The second SAMRIDH cohort will select 125 startups through various accelerators across India.

SAMRIDH Program

SAMRIDH is a flagship program under the National Policy on Software Products (NPSP) 2019.
It aims to support 300 software product startups with a ₹99 crore investment over four years.
It provides startups with funding up to ₹40 lakh, mentorship, and support for market readiness, business planning, investor connections, and international expansion.
Implemented by: MeitY Start-up Hub (MSH) and Digital India Corporation (DIC).

The National Policy on Software Products (NPSP) 2019 aims to transform India into a global software product hub. It aligns with the Digital India Programme to promote inclusive and sustainable growth.