Current Affairs November 03, 2023: Kra Isthmus, Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, KAVACH System, UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network

{GS2 – IR – India-Bangladesh} Indo-Bangla Railway Project

Context (TH): The Agartala-Akhaura rail link project has been inaugurated.

Trains run between West Bengal and Bangladesh

Three trains run between West Bengal and Bangladesh:
1. Bandhan Express:
  - The Bandhan Express has revived an old railway link between Kolkata and Khulna.
  - Prior to the 1965 war between India and Pakistan, this route was served by the Barisal Express.
  - In 2017, the government restarted the service.
2. Maitree Express between Kolkata and Dhaka Cantonment started in April 2008.
3. Mitali Express connects Siliguri in North Bengal with Dhaka, started in 2022.

{GS2 – IR – India-China} Thailand’s Kra Isthmus

Context (IE): Thailand will build a land bridge across Kra Isthmus financed by China.

Isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses. It is often bordered by bodies of water on two sides. E.g. Isthmus of Panama.

This land bridge will give a direct access between the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand.
lt will have two large-capacity ports or shipping terminals on either side, joined by an east-west economic corridor including an oil pipeline.

Benefit of the Kra Isthmus Land Bridge

It will reduce the sailing distance between the Indian Ocean Region and the waters of East Asia.
It will be an alternative to the longer and congested shipping route through the Strait of Malacca.

Strait of Malacca carries 25% of the world’s traded goods.

Concern of the Kra Isthmus Land Bridge

China increased surveillance in Indian Ocean region: A major concern for India.
Viability: China-backed infrastructure projects such as the Pokhara airport in Nepal and Hambantota port in Sri Lanka have struggled with issues of viability.
China’s debt trap: China’s alleged practice of providing loans to developing countries on unfavorable terms so that the countries are unable to repay and become dependent on China.
Strain Thailand’s relations with the US, Japan, and India: Due to closeness with China.

Thailand

Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia, located on the Indochinese Peninsula.
It is bordered to the:
- North by Myanmar and Laos
- East by Laos and Cambodia
- South by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia
- West by the Andaman Sea
It shares maritime borders with Vietnam, Indonesia, and India.
Bangkok is the nation’s capital and largest city.
Thailand is the only country in SE Asia that has never been colonised by a European power.
It is home to the world’s largest golden Buddha statue.
It is the world’s second largest exporter of rice after India.
It is called the “Land of Smiles” because of the friendly and welcoming nature of its people.

{GS2 – IR – India-Maldives} Strained Relations

Context (TH): President-elect Mohamed Muizzu plans to remove Indian troops from the Maldives to ensure the country’s independence and sovereignty in his foreign policy.

Currently, there are 75 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. They operate Dornier aircraft and two helicopters provided by India.

Reasons for Opposition

Pro-China Tilt:
- Mr Muizzu and his political camp have been historically sensitive in their relations with India, which dates back to the administration of President Yameen.
- During his term, Yameen’s administration had a pro-China stance, which caused a strain in the relations with India.
No Military Presence:
- Muizzu has pledged to keep the Maldives free from any foreign military presence, whether Indian, Chinese or from any other country.

India-Maldives Bilateral Relations

Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations

India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, enabling the export of essential commodities.
India emerged as Maldives’s 2^nd largest trade partner in 2022.
India-Maldives bilateral trade crossed USD 500 million for the first time in 2022.
Maldives Implemented visa-free entry for Indians for business purposes in Feb 2022.

Tourism

The Maldivian economy heavily depends on its tourism sector, the primary source of foreign exchange earnings and government revenue.
Tourism directly accounts for about a quarter of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Maldives.
In 2023, India, with 147,527 tourist arrivals, is the 2^nd leading source market for Maldives.

Security Concerns

Maldives is strategically crucial to India due to its proximity to India’s west coast (70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles away from India’s West coast).
India needs to maintain close ties with Maldives, considering the increasing influence of China in the Indian Ocean region.
The Maldives is part of the ‘Colombo Security Conclave’ with India and other nations, emphasising collective security and regional cooperation.

The Maritime Boundary Treaty of 1976 resolved Maldives’s claim to Minicoy Island, recognising it as part of India.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Elections} Electoral Literacy

Context (TH | PIB): The MoU was signed between the ECI and the Ministry of Education (MoE) to introduce content on electoral literacy in the NCERT textbooks.
Electoral Literacy is a process of transforming citizens into empowered voters by helping them understand the electoral process and the need to enrol as electors and participate in the elections in an ethical and informed manner.

Key Initiatives in the MoU

Providing voter ID cards to students upon turning eighteen.
Inclusion of electoral literacy in adult literacy and basic education curriculum.
Establishment of Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs) in schools and colleges.
Designating “democracy rooms” in senior secondary schools for voter education and activities.

Long-term Vision

It aims to extend the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation to schools/colleges.
It also aims to instil electoral literacy in young people and addresses issues like voter apathy.

Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)

SVEEP is the program of the ECI for voter education and awareness, started in 2009.
It aims to strengthen democracy by collaborating with Civil Society, Media, and Corporations.

Objectives

Increase voter turnout to 75% in LS elections 2024 by:
- Cleaning up voter lists at every polling station.
- Reducing the gender gap in registration and voting.
- Encouraging marginalized groups and non-voters to participate through targeted efforts.
- Improving turnout in constituencies and polling stations with low participation rates.
Enhance the quality of electoral participation by providing continuous education on elections and democracy to promote informed and ethical voting.

{GS3 – Envi – Laws} India’s Opposition to EU’s CBAM

Context (TH | ET | IE | TH | TH): India has opposed Europeans Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) citing that carbon cannot be priced the same in India and Europe.

GoI has declared that it is working on tax akin to CBAM to aid the local industries.

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

CBAM is a proposed EU carbon border tax on imports from countries with carbon-intensive production methods.
CBAM, which will start in 2026, is a part of the “Fit for 55 in 2030 package”.
Imports covered by CBAM: Initially, it will be imposed on the most carbon-intensive imports, i.e., iron and steel, cement, fertilisers, aluminium, hydrogen, and electricity.

Carbon tax is levied on firms that produce carbon dioxide (CO₂) through their operations.
A carbon border tax is imposed on imports based on the amount of carbon emissions resulting from their production.
Fit for 55 in 2030 package: It’s a package of proposals to enhance EU climate and energy laws.
- Goal: to reduce EU’s GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

Objectives of CBAM / Arguments in Favour of CBAM

Preventing Carbon leakage

Carbon leakage refers to a situation where a company relocates production from strict carbon regulations to more lenient ones.
CBAM as a carbon border tax will end this loophole of the carbon tax mechanism.
It preserves the competitiveness of domestic industries subject to carbon pricing.

Level Playing Field

CBAM ensures that domestic and imported goods are subject to similar carbon pricing.
By doing so it protects the domestic industries from unfair competition.

Encouraging Global Emission Reductions

CBAM raises costs for importing for companies from lax climate policy countries.
This will pressurise these countries to bolster climate policies to remain competitive.

Penalise Free Riders in Fight against Climate Change

A free-rider is one who is riding on the contribution of others, despite having means to do so. E.g., the US with its “sometimes in, sometimes out” response to climate action.

Criticism of CBAM

Unilateral Measure

EU has decided on CBAM without agreement with other countries.
This undermines the spirit of multilateralism and so, it can lead to trade disputes and hinder international climate cooperation.

Discriminatory Trade Barrier for Developing Countries

Historically, developed economies have the primary responsibility for climate change.
The contribution of the developing countries (the Global South) was negligible.
That’s why, the Kyoto Protocol acknowledged “common but differentiated responsibilities” in the climate change fight.
Although, the Paris Agreement asked countries to set voluntary emission targets but it mandated wealthier nations to make financial transfers to developing economies to combat climate change.
Now, when the developing nations are earning from manufacturing industries, EU by imposing CBAM which considers only present emissions is restricting their development.

Beneficiary of CBAM

The burning of carbon anywhere in the world affects climate change everywhere.
CBAM like tax regime can only be meaningful if they are utilised for the whole world.
Otherwise it will simply become a revenue earning mechanism of the EU.

Other Criticisms of CBAM

Double taxation: Products being subject to carbon pricing of the exporting country and CBAM.
Market distortions: CBAM can inflate the cost of products from specific countries or industries.
Complexity and administrative burden
Higher consumer prices

Countries that will be Most Affected by CBAM

According to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), countries most affected by CBAM are Russia, China, Turkey, India, Brazil, South Africa, and Mozambique.

India’s Trade with the European Union

The EU is India’s third largest trading partner, accounting for 10.8% of total Indian trade.
India is the EU’s 10^th largest trading partner, accounting for 2.1% of EU total trade in goods.
Trade in services between the EU and India reached €30.4 billion in 2020.

{GS3 – IE – NITI Aayog} Vision India@ 2047

Context (TH | IE): The Vision India@2047 document by Niti Aayog will provide the roadmap for India to become a developed economy with an estimated $30 trillion GDP by 2047.

It will provide a roadmap for India’s progress in 2030 and the ultimate vision for 2047.

Progress Towards 2047

The Union FM outlined key objectives for India’s development in the FY23 budget:
1. Focus on macro-economic growth and micro-economic welfare.
2. Promotion of digital economy, fintech, technology, energy transition, and climate action.
3. Encourage private investment with public capital investment.
The FY24 budget reiterated Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation) through Sabka Saath, Sabka Prayas (Collective Efforts for Everyone’s Success) & introduced the Saptarishi principles:
1. Inclusive Development
2. Reaching the Last Mile
3. Infrastructure and Investment
4. Unleashing the Potential
5. Green Growth
6. Youth Power
7. Financial Sector

Current State of the Indian Economy

In 2022, India’s GDP surpassed that of the UK & France, making it the world’s fifth-largest economy.
India’s GDP is estimated at $3.7 trillion, and it is expected to overtake Japan and Germany by 2030, with a projected nominal GDP of $7.3 trillion by that year.

Vision India@2047 Contents

The document will outline structural changes and reforms necessary to:
- Transform India into a $30 trillion developed economy by 2047.
- Achieve per-capita income of $18,000-20,000.
The vision document will emphasise the development of:
- Human capital
- Leveraging India’s market size
- Addressing regional disparities

It will include government process re-engineering and reducing duplication in ministries and departments.

Preliminary Results

To achieve the Vision India@2047 goals, India needs annual economic growth rates of:
- 9.2% (2030-2040)
- 8.8% (2040-2047)
- 9% (2030-2047)
Exports are projected to reach $8.67 trillion by 2047, while imports are estimated at $12.12 trillion.
India’s average life expectancy is expected to increase to 71.8 years, up from 67.2 in 2021, and the literacy rate is predicted to rise to 89.8%, compared to 77.8% in 2021.

Challenges

Aligning state vision documents
Avoiding middle-income trap
- Strategy to prevent the economy from getting stuck in the middle-income trap.
- Ensures competitiveness amid rising costs to reach high-income status.

Indian Economy by Nominal Exchange Rate

In 2022, India became the world’s fifth-largest economy by overtaking the United Kingdom.
Now, the US, China, Japan, and Germany are the only nations with economies larger than India’s.
India overtook the UK in 2019 to become the fifth-largest economy globally but shrunk to sixth position in 2020.

Indian Economy by PPP Exchange Rate

In 2008, India’s GDP in PPP terms surpassed Japan’s to become the third-largest economy.
Currently, India is behind the United States and China.

{GS3 – Infra – Railways} Overshoot and Importance of KAVACH System

Context (TH | TH | IE): The Vizianagaram train accident may have occurred due to overshot.
The anti-collision KAVACH system is not available on either of these trains.

Overshot

Overshot is technically called Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD).
It occurs when a train doesn’t stop at a red signal and keeps moving forward.
It is a serious safety hazard that can lead to train collisions and other accidents.

Reasons of Overshot

Human error: Due to fatigue, distraction, or signal misinterpretation.
Technical failure: It includes problems with the train’s brakes, signalling system, or track.
External factors: Such as bad weather or obstructions on the track.

KAVACH System: Solution to Overshot

The KAVACH is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
It was developed by the Research Design & Standards Organisation (RDSO) of the Indian Railways.
It has been adopted as the National ATP System for Indian Railways.
It is a state-of-the-art electronic system developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
It is one of the cheapest systems with Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) certification.

Under SIL-4, the probability of error is 1 in 10,000 years.

Key Features/Advantages of the KAVACH System

Avoid SPAD: When a red signal is ignored, and two trains approach each other on the same track, the system applies sudden brakes.
Overspeed protection: It will automatically apply the brakes if the train exceeds the speed limit.
Collision avoidance: Through direct loco-to-loco communication.
Signal information: The system offers the driver real-time signal information. It provides a line-side signal display in the cabin for better visibility in fog and at high speeds.
Automatic whistling at level crossings: A big boon during fog conditions.
SOS feature: To control trains in emergency situations.

Where has KAVACH been Implemented?

The South Central Railway (SCR) Zone pioneered implementing the KAVACH.
Trials of Kavach were conducted on the Lingampally–Vikarabad–Wadi and Vikarabad–Bidar sections of the South Central Railway, covering a distance of 250 km.

{GS3 – Infra – Tourism} Domestic Sailing of the First International Cruise Liner

Context (PIB): Domestic sailing of the first International Cruise Liner ‘COSTA SERENA’ in India is set to be launched at Mumbai.

Costa Cruises, a prominent European cruise company, operates under an Italian flag.
This cruise initiative is part of ‘Dekho Apna Desh’, launched to appeal the middle class to prefer domestic tourism over international.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is focused to bring India on the cruising map of the world.
At Global Maritime India Summit 2023 organised by the Ministry, target of 50 million cruise passengers in India by 2047 was set.

{GS3 – S&T – Discovery} Haemoglobin in Cartiledge

Context (TH): Haemologlobin is found in chondrocytes, cells that make cartilage.

Cartilage is the connecting tissue between bones.
Significance: Earlier, it was believed that haemoglogin is found only in red blood cells (RBCs).

Haemoglobin

Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein in that carries oxygen in our body.
Without it, oxygen could not be transported to the body’s tissues, and the cells would die.

Haemoglobin in Blood

The fluid part of blood is called plasma.
Cells in blood are:
- Red blood cells (RBC) carries oxygen with the help of haemoglobin. Haemoglobin binds with oxygen and transports it to all the parts of the body and, ultimately, to all the cells.
- White blood cells (WBC), which fight against germs that may enter our body.
- Platelets help in the clotting of blood.

{Prelims – In News} UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network

Context (TH | HT): UNESCO added 55 cities to its Creative Cities Network for their commitment to culture and creativity in urban planning.
Now, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) has 350 cities in seven creative fields.

Kozhikode is designated as a “City of Literature,” known for hosting literary festivals.
Gwalior is recognized as a “City of Music” for its rich musical heritage and prestigious music institutes.
Other cities added to the list are:
- Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
- Casablanca (Morocco)
- Kathmandu (Nepal)
- Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was established in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities valuing creativity for sustainable urban development.
Cities in the network aim to prioritize creativity and cultural industries in their local development plans and collaborate internationally.
The Network spans seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.

UCCN partners with UNESCO, serving as a platform for sustainable development discussions and implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Indian Cities on UCCN

Kozhikode: City of Literature (2023)
Gwalior: City of Music (2023)
Srinagar: Crafts and Folk Arts (2021)
Mumbai: Film (2019)
Hyderabad: Gastronomy (2019)
Chennai: City of Music (2017)
Jaipur: Crafts and Folk Arts (2015)
Varanasi: City of Music (2015)

Kozhikode’s Literary Tradition

Kozhikode (in Kerala) is known for its rich literary and cultural heritage.
The city is a hub for various media houses & boasts numerous publishing companies and libraries.
The first Malayalam novel, “Kundalatha,” was authored by Appu Nedungadi in Kozhikode in 1887.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

It is a specialized agency of the UN founded in 1945.
It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, Science and Culture.
It is headquartered in Paris, France.