Current Affairs – November 15, 2024

{GS1 – IS – Issues} Caste as a ‘Way of Life’: Potential for Equality and Inclusion

• Context (IE): The evolving understanding of caste as a cultural and occupational identity, seen in schemes like PM Vishwakarma and the National Education Policy (NEP), highlights attempts to foster inclusion but raises questions about true equality.

Impact of Caste-Based Occupations

Socio-Political Dimensions

• Caste as Communitarian Identity: The right-wing promotion of “Hindu” unity redefines cultural identity, yet risks subsuming minorities’ identities.
• Civilisational Unity: Programs integrating local deities and tribal symbols into mainstream Hindu identity promote unity but can erode indigenous identity.
• RSS and Inclusion Narrative: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) frames inclusion through Hindu cultural symbols, complicating the narrative around caste unity and minority rights.

Economic Policy Impact

• Caste Occupation Financing: Special funding initiatives for caste-based professions (e.g., potters, barbers) encourage economic development within traditional roles.
• NEP’s Vocational Approach: Mandatory vocational courses up to Class 8 risk reinforcing caste lines in education by directing lower-caste children to skill-based jobs over academics.

Issues with Caste-Based Occupations

• Historical Debate: Gandhi emphasized cultural solidarity and community values, while Ambedkar critiqued caste for its inherent discrimination.
• Social Perceptions: Caste occupations often lack dignity in society, leading to marginalization rather than respect for tradition.
• Inclusion vs. Equality: Cultural inclusion under schemes may respect caste roles but doesn’t address caste hierarchies or offer equitable social status.
• Symbolic Inclusion: Honorific schemes for caste occupations may foster “symbolic empowerment” but not material equality.
• Economic Stagnation: Reinforcing caste-based occupations can trap communities in low-income trades without educational progression.
• Assimilation vs. Integration: Nationalist framings risk forceful assimilation rather than voluntary integration of caste-based practices into the social mainstream.

Advantages

• Cultural Identity: Recognizes traditional skills, crafts, and occupations within the modern economy.
• Empowerment Initiatives: Programs like the PM Vishwakarma Scheme provide financial support for caste-based artisans, allowing for economic upliftment.
• Skill Development: NEP encourages skill-based training, which could reduce skill gaps in crafts & trades.

Problems with Inclusion Without Equality

• Lack of Social Mobility: Vocational focus may lead to caste-based roles persisting across generations, maintaining the divide between mental and manual labor.
• Prejudice and Violence: Persistent caste discrimination, such as mob violence over food practices, indicates that cultural inclusion is not equivalent to social equality.
• Caste Census Debate: The discourse on caste can re-emerge through demands for a caste census, highlighting disparities rather than easing them.

Way Forward

• Focus on True Equality: Move beyond symbolic gestures by ensuring caste occupations have equal status with mainstream professions.
• Educational Reforms: Amend NEP to allow fluidity between vocational and academic paths, enabling upward mobility.
• Awareness Campaigns: Promote dignity of labor across all professions to diminish the stigma around traditional caste occupations.
• Voluntary Integration: Support the preservation of cultural identities while promoting intercaste solidarity without coercive assimilation.

{GS2 – IR – India-Australia} Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES)

• Context (IE): The Department of Home Affairs of Australia gives Indian university graduates and early career professionals a chance to work in Australia for two years through the MATES scheme.

• The Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA), signed in 2023 between Australia and India to foster two-way migration and mobility while addressing illegal and irregular migration.

Eligibility Criteria for MATES

• Age Limit: Indian nationals aged 30 or younger at the time of application.
• Language Proficiency: Proficient English, with an overall IELTS or equivalent score of at least six.
• Educational Qualifications:
  • Graduates within two years from an eligible educational institution at the time of application.
  • A Bachelor’s degree or higher in renewable energy, mining, engineering, Information Communications Technology (ICT), AI, financial technology (FinTech), or agricultural technology (AgriTech).
• Eligible Institutions: Graduates from the top 100 universities in India as per the NIRF 2024 ranking.
• Visa Process: The visa will be granted through a ballot system that randomly selects applicants.

{GS2 – Polity – Cooperatives} Revitalizing Cooperative Societies in India

• Context (PIB): Policy reforms emphasize role of cooperatives in India’s socio-economic growth.

Evolution of Cooperatives in India

Pre-Independence Developments

• Early Beginnings: Informal cooperative structures like ‘Nidhis’ (Madras) and similar rural associations existed before formal laws.
• Cooperative Credit Societies Act (1904): Passed based on the Indian Famine Commission’s recommendations to address rural debt.
• Cooperative Societies Act (1912): Expanded cooperative scope, included federal societies, provided tax exemptions.
• Maclagan Committee (1915): Suggested improvements in transparency and member participation.
• Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919): Allowed provinces to govern cooperatives, boosting growth.
• Great Depression Impact: Cooperatives weakened by high loan defaults.
• Gandhian Influence: Advocated for cooperative principles to empower rural India, modeled through the Phoenix Settlement and Tolstoy Farm.

Post-Independence Era

• Five-Year Plans: First Plan emphasized cooperative role in community development.
• Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act (2002) and 2022 Amendment improved election processes within cooperative boards.
• 97th Constitutional Amendment (2011): Granted right to form cooperatives, added Article 43-B and Part IX-B for cooperative governance.

Resurgence of Cooperatives and Policies Post-2021

• Ministry of Cooperation (2021): Established to focus on cooperative sector, policies, and governance.
• Key Policies: Digitalization initiatives for efficiency; Multi-State Cooperative Society promotion; ‘Sahakar se Samriddhi’ scheme to benefit rural communities.

Types of Cooperatives

• Consumers’ Cooperative Society: Offers goods at reasonable prices (e.g., Kendriya Bhandar).
• Producers’ Cooperative Society: Supports production (e.g., Haryana Handloom).
• Cooperative Marketing Society: Aids in marketing member products (e.g., AMUL).
• Credit Cooperative Society: Provides fair-interest loans (e.g., Urban Cooperative Banks).
• Farming Cooperative Society: Facilitates benefits of large-scale farming.
• Housing Cooperative Society: Ensures affordable housing (Metropolitan Housing Cooperative Society).

Challenges Facing Cooperatives

• Governance Issues: Inadequate transparency and democratic decision-making.
• Financial Constraints: Limited financing access, especially for low-value cooperatives.
• Socio-Economic Barriers: Caste-based divisions limit inclusivity.
• Infrastructural Gaps: Poor connectivity restricts rural outreach.
• Technical Skills Deficit: Outdated managerial skills hinder operational efficiency.

Cooperative Sector’s Contribution to India

Credits: PIB

• Over 800,000 cooperatives: Spanning agriculture, dairy, housing, fisheries, and credit sectors.
• Significant contributions: 20% of agricultural loans, 35% of fertilizer distribution, 31% of sugar production, and notable shares in wheat and paddy procurement.
• Rural Development: Fosters economic growth in underserved areas, reducing income inequality.
• Empowerment of Marginalized Groups: Enhances access to essential services and market opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
• Economic Inclusivity: Integrates marginalized sectors into the formal economy, fostering self-reliance.
• Economic Empowerment: Amul Dairy Cooperative empowers 3.6 million small and marginal milk producers, improving livelihoods.
• Agricultural Productivity: IFFCO supports farmers with affordable inputs, increasing crop yields and profitability.
• Essential Services: Kerala’s Milma cooperative ensures affordable dairy products, benefiting consumers and producers alike.
• Employment Generation: Sugar cooperatives in Maharashtra provide jobs to over 5 lakh individuals, bolstering rural employment.

Government Initiatives to Strengthen Cooperatives

• RBI Umbrella Support: An RBI-approved Umbrella Organization (Registrar of Co-operative Societies in each state) aids urban cooperative banks (UCBs), enhancing their financial resilience.
• Rural Storage Expansion: Under the Decentralized Grain Storage Plan, 2,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) now provide rural storage facilities.
• PACS Digitization: A ₹2,516 crore project digitized over 15,000 PACS, improving transparency and functionality, supported by a National Cooperative Database for record-keeping.
• PACS Retail Expansion: PACS are expanding into fuel and LPG distribution, further diversifying services available to rural areas.
• NCDC Bonds and E-Services: The National Cooperative Development Corporation issued ₹2,000 crore in bonds, while PACS as Common Service Centers now offer 300+ e-services for rural communities.
• Organic Agriculture Support: National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL) was set up to promote organic farming, reinforcing sustainable agriculture practices.
• Multi-State Cooperative Societies Amendment Bill 2023

Way Forward for Cooperative Development

• Policy Strengthening: Enhance governance policies for accountability.
• Digital Transformation: Prioritize tech adoption across cooperatives.
• Capacity Building: Improve training programs for cooperative members.
• Financial Flexibility: Establish cooperative development funds with flexible collateral and financing.
• Inclusion Programs: Design outreach initiatives to involve marginalized groups.
• Infrastructure Development: Collaborate with agencies to improve rural infrastructure.
• Awareness Campaigns: Educate potential members about cooperative benefits in local languages.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – FRs} Fundamental Rights Under the RPwD Act

• Context (IE): A SC judgment directed the Union government to enforce mandatory accessibility standards for public spaces and services, affirming accessibility as a fundamental right under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act.

Supreme Court’s Observations and Ruling

• Non-Compliance with RPwD Act Intent: The Supreme Court noted that the RPwD Act created a mandatory compliance mechanism, but the 2017 rules were implemented only as optional guidelines.
• Mandatory Standards Directive: The Court declared Rule 15(1) of the RPwD Rules ultra vires (beyond the powers of) the Act, citing the lack of “non-negotiable” standards. It instructed the Centre to issue compulsory, enforceable rules within three months from the judgment.
• Mandatory Rules: The SC directed the Union government to frame mandatory rules within three months and consult stakeholders and NALSAR’s Centre for Disability Studies.
• Implementation and Penalties: Once enforced, non-compliance could result in penalties, including withholding completion certificates and imposing fines for inaccessible infrastructure.

Fundamental Rights for Persons with Disabilities in India

• Equality and Non-Discrimination: Ensures that persons with disabilities have the right to equality, non-discrimination, and full and effective participation in society.
• Accessibility: Mandates accessibility in the physical environment, transportation, information and communications, and other facilities and services open to the public.
• Education: Requires educational institutions to provide inclusive education and specific measures to promote and facilitate it.
• Employment: Ensures non-discrimination in employment and mandates equal opportunity policies. Establishes special employment exchanges for persons with disabilities.
• Safety: Protects PwD from cruelty, inhuman treatment, abuse, violence, and exploitation.
• Home and Family: Ensures the right to live in a family and have access to home and family life.
• Reproductive Rights: Protects the reproductive rights of persons with disabilities.
• Special Schemes/Development Programs: Provides for special schemes and development programs.
• Special Court: Establishes special courts for cases related to persons with disabilities.
• National and State Funds: Establishes national and state funds for persons with disabilities.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health} Drug Compounding

• Context (IE): A Danish pharma company that manufactures weight-loss drugs containing semaglutide has asked US FDA authorities to stop drug compounding these products due to safety risks.

About Semaglutide

• It is used for weight loss in specific patients, and also to lower blood sugar levels, and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke in certain patients.
• Wegovy is the only semaglutide brand that is FDA brand approved for weight loss.
• Semaglutide is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes.
• It is not available as a generic medicine.

What is Drug Compounding?

• Drug compounding refers to preparing personalised medications by combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to meet a patient’s specific needs.
• Compounding is often done by a licensed pharmacist and physician. It can be used to create alternate dosage forms or strengths, omit ingredients that a patient is allergic to, and provide preservative-free versions of sterile products.

Generic vs Compounded Drugs

Source: IE

Concerns of Drug Compounding Over Semaglutide

• Complex Formulation: Semaglutide’s complex structure, produced using yeast & recombinant DNA tech, is difficult to replicate accurately. Synthetic versions may differ in purity, stability & effectiveness.
• Delivery Mechanism: The FDA-approved version uses sophisticated delivery methods, ensuring proper dosing. Compounded versions often lack these methods, increasing the risk of dosing errors.
• Bioavailability: Semaglutide has naturally low bioavailability. Compounded versions may not be absorbed properly, reducing effectiveness.
• Contamination and Stability: Compounding requires specialised facilities to avoid contamination. Semaglutide is temperature-sensitive, and improper storage can compromise its stability.

{GS3 – Envi – Air Pollution} Causes of Smog in North India

• Context (IE): The Northern Part of the country is experiencing early smog during winter.

Factors Leading to Early Smog in North India

• Weak western disturbances brought moisture into the plains, contributing to smog.
• Stubble burning: It significantly contributes to smog in northern India.
• Seasonal Occurrence: Smog typically appears in the Northern plains by the end of November.
• Atmospheric Inversion: Winter brings lower temperatures and weaker sunlight, leading to atmospheric inversion. In this phenomenon, a layer of warmer air traps cold air close to the ground, holding pollutants near the surface and preventing their dispersion.
• Slow Wind Speed: Prolonged slow wind speed, around one km per hour, at onset of winters after Diwali, led to accumulation of pollutants in air, resulting in poor air quality and early smog formation.
• Limited Rainfall: Reduced rainfall led to less natural cleansing of the atmosphere, allowing pollutants to remain suspended for longer durations.
• Changing Weather Patterns: Climate change alters weather patterns, leading to unseasonable smog and prolonged pollution episodes.
• Vehicular Emissions: Vehicle exhaust releases nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), significantly contributing to smog.
• Industrial Emissions: Thermal power plants and factories emit a steady stream of pollutants, compounding the problem.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} Navigating the Controversies of Article 6 of Paris Agreement

• Context (IE): In a significant development nearly a decade after the Paris Agreement was established, countries have reached a consensus to implement Article 6, which allows for carbon trading among nations and companies. However, this decision has sparked concerns and debates regarding its implications.

Concerns Over the Hasty Adoption of Article 6.4

• Inadequate Deliberation: Experts criticize the rushed decision-making process, claiming it lacked thorough discussion on key issues.
• Trust Issues: Quick decisions on contentious matters during the opening plenary raise concerns about trust in UNFCCC processes and future negotiations.
• Historical Failures: Past carbon markets, like the Clean Development Mechanism, suffered from a lack of trust, leading to skepticism about current efforts.
• Double Accounting Risks: The agreement does not adequately address “double accounting,” where emissions reductions may be counted by multiple parties, undermining credibility.
• Neglect of Carbon Reversal: It fails to consider risks such as carbon reversal in natural sinks (e.g., forests), where stored carbon could be re-released.
• Sidelined Debate: Early endorsement on the first day of COP29 limited meaningful discussion on recommendations from the UNFCCC supervisory body.

Potential Implications of This Adoption

• Transparency Standards: CoP29 adopted methodologies aimed at creating transparency in emissions trading, but critics worry these were finalized too hastily, risking weak measures.
• Credibility of Emission Reductions: The lack of guidelines to prevent double counting may result in overstated emissions reductions, compromising the integrity of carbon market initiatives.
• Ambiguity on Reversal Risks: There is unclear guidance on how to define and manage “negligible” reversal risks, potentially undermining future efforts.
• Socioeconomic Effects: The agreement overlooks protections for communities that could be displaced by green projects funded through carbon credits, raising equity concerns.
• Disproportionate Burden: Developed countries may use carbon credits to meet climate targets, shifting the burden of genuine decarbonization to developing nations, leading to global inequity.
• Long-term Monitoring Gaps: Current standards lack requirements for post-crediting monitoring, risking the long-term reliability and environmental integrity of carbon credits.
• Contention Over Solutions: Uncertainty exists regarding whether both nature-based (e.g., reforestation) and technological (e.g., carbon capture) solutions qualify for carbon credits, leading to potential inconsistencies.

{GS3 – IE – Banking} Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)

• Context (IE): RBI retained SBI, HDFC and ICICI as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs).

About D-SIBs

• D-SIBs are banks whose potential failure could severely disrupt the financial system due to their size, cross-jurisdictional activities, complexity, lack of substitutability, and interconnectedness.
• These banks are considered ‘Too Big to Fail (TBTF)’, highlighting the critical impact their failure could have on the overall economy.
• The framework for handling D-SIBs was established by the RBI in 2014 and implemented in 2015.
• RBI assesses these banks based on their Systemic Importance Scores (SISs) and assigns them to specific buckets. Based on that, a D-SIB must adhere to additional common equity requirements.
• If a foreign bank with branches in India is designated as a Global Systemically Important Bank (G-SIB), it must maintain an additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital surcharge in India. This surcharge is proportionate to India’s bank’s Risk-Weighted Assets (RWAs).

{Prelims – Envi – Species} “Kenyan Lesser Mealworm”: Plastic Eating Insect

• Context (DTE): Scientists have discovered that “Kenyan lesser mealworm” larvae can consume polystyrene, a type of plastic commonly known as styrofoam.

What is Polystyrene?

• Polystyrene is a widely used plastic in food, electronic, and industrial packaging due to its durability and difficulty breaking down.
• Traditional recycling methods are expensive and polluting, necessitating exploring biological solutions.

Kenyan Lesser Mealworm

• The lesser mealworm, the larval form of the Alphitobius darkling beetle, has a larval period of 8 to 10 weeks and thrives in warm environments such as poultry-rearing houses.
• Originating in Africa, these mealworms can be found globally, but the specific sub-species are identified in this region.
• Trials over a month showed that mealworms fed a combination of polystyrene and bran survived at higher rates and consumed polystyrene more efficiently than those on a polystyrene-only diet.
• A balanced diet is crucial for insects to efficiently degrade plastic, indicating that polystyrene provides an energy source due to its carbon and hydrogen composition.

Role of Gut Bacteria

• Analysis of the mealworm gut revealed higher levels of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes in polystyrene-fed larvae, bacteria capable of breaking down complex substances.
• These bacteria adapt to unusual diets, suggesting that their gut microbiota supports the insects’ ability to consume plastic.

{Prelims – In News} Operation Dronagiri

• Context (PIB): The Ministry of Science and Technology launched Operation Dronagiri and Integrated Geospatial Data Sharing Interface (GDI).

About Operation Dronagiri

• It was launched under the National Geospatial Policy 2022 and is a pilot project aimed at showcasing the potential of geospatial technologies to enhance quality of life and ease of doing business.
• Objective: Demonstrate geospatial innovations in agriculture, livelihoods, logistics, and transport.
• Phase 1: UP, Haryana, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra on pilot basis.
• Technological Backbone: Integrated GDI for seamless spatial data access.
• Managed by: IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF).
• Implementing Agency: Geospatial Innovation Cell, Department of Science and Technology.

Integrated Geospatial Data Sharing Interface (GDI)

• It is a cutting-edge platform designed to facilitate the seamless sharing and access of spatial data.

Applications

• Urban Planning: Helps city planners access spatial data to design & manage urban spaces effectively.
• Disaster Management: Provides accurate geospatial data for disaster preparedness, response & recovery efforts.
• Environmental Conservation: Provides detailed geospatial information supports initiatives to preserve natural resources.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher System

• Context (PIB): DRDO has successfully completed the Guided Pinaka Weapon System Flight Tests as part of Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) Validation Trials.

About Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher System

• Developed by: Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a laboratory of the DRDO.
• Maximum range of 45 km (Mark-I Enhanced) | 90 km (Mark-II ER version). It can fire 12 rockets per launcher in 44 seconds. Pinaka was also used during the Kargil War.