Current Affairs Reverse Engineering
Care (25-04-2024)
| News at a Glance
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| Telangana: EAC takes up Yadadri Thermal Power Station clearance |
| International Relations: India, Japan discuss developments in areas of disarmament, non-proliferation |
| Defence and Security: India 4th largest military spender in 2023: SIPRI |
| National: Centre urges Supreme Court to modify its 2012 order in 2G case |
| Public Health: Centre asks states to monitor, inspect organ transplants involving foreigners |
EAC takes up Yadadri Thermal Power Station clearance
Source: Telangana Today
TSPSC Syllabus relevance: Energy resources
Context: Environmental Clearance (EC) is mandatory for large-scale projects.
Why in News
- The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) discussed the granting of environment clearance (EC) to the 4,000 MW Yadadri Supercritical Thermal Power Station (YTPS) in Nalgonda district
Key Highlights
- They recommended a joint exercise with Forest officials to demarcate forest land used for the power plant’s construction.
- The power plant was instructed to undertake three rows of indigenous species plantations along the compound wall by June 2024.
- Land compensation processes were urged to be expedited by March 2025, along with providing employment to displaced individuals.
- The plant was advised to adopt a Zero liquid discharge policy and not disturb water bodies in the area, including Thungapadu vagu.
- Approximately 35 recommendations were issued by the EAC for the Yadadri power plant management to obtain EC.
- Earlier, the National Green Tribunal halted the commissioning of the power plant following appeals from NGOs, but allowed civil works to continue. Confirmation on the meeting outcome and project clearance is awaited.
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About Environmental Clearance (EC):
- Environmental Clearance (EC) is mandatory for large-scale projects and involves assessing their environmental impact, often through public hearings.
- Required for 39 types of projects including mining, hydro power, and thermal power.
- Governed by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of 2006.
- Challenges include projects becoming financially unviable if unable to start construction within the granted timeframe.
- Proposed changes may allow more flexibility for project proponents, potentially undermining the clearance process’s integrity.
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About Expert Appraisal Committee:
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- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) operates seven Expert Appraisal Committees (EACs) for different sectors.
- EACs, including State Expert Appraisal Committees (SEACs), advise on environmental clearance for development projects.
- They play a crucial role in evaluating project proposals, recommending mitigation measures, and influencing the MoEF’s decision.
- EACs assess whether large projects should proceed and suggest ways to minimize environmental impact.
- Their input is pivotal in determining whether a project receives clearance or faces objections.
- Evaluation of proposals, outlined in the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of 2006, involves screening, scoping, public hearings, and appraisal.
- EACs/SEACs participate in all stages except public hearings.
| CARE MCQ |
| Q1. Consider the following Statements
1. Environmental Clearance is required for 39 types of projects including mining, hydro power, and thermal power. 2. The Expert Appraisal Committees (EACs) provide their assessment on whether a proposed project, exceeding a specific size threshold, should be approved for implementation. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A. Only 1 B. Only 2 C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
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| Answer 1– C
Explanation · Environmental Clearance (EC) is mandatory for large-scale projects and involves assessing their environmental impact, often through public hearings. · It is required for 39 types of projects including mining, hydro power, and thermal power. Hence statement 1 is correct. · The Expert Appraisal Committees (EACs) provide their assessment on whether a proposed project, exceeding a specific size threshold, should be approved for implementation. · Additionally, they suggest measures to alleviate any potential adverse environmental effects caused by the project. Hence statement 2 is correct. |
India, Japan discuss developments in areas of disarmament, non-proliferation
Source: The Indian Express
UPSC Relevance: GS 2 (Bilateral Relations)
Context: 10th Round of India-Japan Consultations on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Export Control was held in Tokyo.
Why in News
- Top officials of India and Japan exchanged views on developments in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains.
Key Highlights
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the 10th Round of India-Japan Consultations on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Export Control was held in Tokyo.
- The two sides exchanged views on developments in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains, outer space security, non-proliferation issues, conventional weapons and export control.
Nuclear weapons and Japan
- At present, the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea are known to possess nuclear weapons arsenals.
- In 2016, Japan voted against a UN resolution that would have compelled nations to negotiate the reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons stockpiles.
- It also chose not to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017 – which did eventually pass – and snubbed subsequent invitations to ratify the accord or even to send observers to related diplomatic events.
- Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was a long-time advocate for maintaining the US nuclear umbrella.
- In 2017, Abe issued a joint statement with then-US President Donald Trump in which both leaders explicitly reaffirmed commitments to the nuclear-backed alliance, explicitly endorsing the US doctrine of allowing nuclear weapons first strikes.
- In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine – after he was out of office – Abe even suggested that Japan might host US nuclear weapons on its own soil, as some NATO countries do, and which US-occupied Okinawa did for some decades.
Recent initiatives by Japan
- Tokyo would make a US$10 million contribution to the United Nations in order to set up a “Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons,”
- In late 2019, the Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament conducted a poll which found that about 75% of the Japanese public supported joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which the government has so far spurned.
- Prime Minister Kishida emphasised the importance of transparency between nuclear weapons powers, a greater commitment to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q2. At present, which of the following countries are known to possess nuclear weapons arsenals?
A. the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea B. the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Pakistan, and South Korea C. the United States, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, Pakistan, and North Korea D. South Korea, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea
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Q. Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news? (2022)
A It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea. B China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea. C A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities. D Though International Court of Justice declared them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries. Answer B |
| Answer 2 A
Explanation
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India 4th largest military spender in 2023: SIPRI
Source: Indian Express
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-4th-largest-military-spender-in-2023-sipri-9287292/
UPSC Relevance: GS 3 (Defence, Indigenisation of technology, International Trade)
Context: The latest data showed that the United States, China and Russia remained the top three military spenders globally followed by India and Saudi Arabia.
Why in News
- With military expenditure worth $83.6 billion in 2023, India was the fourth largest spender globally in 2023, the latest report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) states.
Key Highlights
- The latest data showed that the United States, China and Russia remained the top three military spenders globally followed by India and Saudi Arabia.
- As per the report the five biggest spenders in 2023 –the United States, China, Russia, India and Saudi Arabia—together accounted for 61 per cent of world military spending.
- The US spending was $916 billion and the Chinese spending was an estimated $296 billion. Russia’s military spending grew by 24 per cent in 2023 to an estimated $109 billion.
- As per the report, Ukraine became the eighth largest military spender in 2023, increasing its spending by 51%.
India’s position
- According to the report, Indian spending was up by 4.2 per cent from 2022 and by 44 per cent from 2014.
- It said the growth in spending is because of rising personnel and operations costs, and this aligns with the government’s priority to strengthen the operational readiness of the armed forces amid ongoing tensions with China and Pakistan.
- It said that capital outlays to fund military procurement remained relatively stable at around 22 per cent of the budget in 2023, of which 75 per cent went towards equipment produced domestically.
- With military expenditure worth $83.6 billion in 2023, India was the fourth largest spender globally in 2023, the latest report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) states.
- The continued shift towards domestic procurement reflects India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in arms development and production
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q3. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: With military expenditure worth $83.6 billion in 2023, India was the fourth largest spender globally in 2023, the latest report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) states. Statement II: The latest data showed that the Ukraine and Russia remained the top two military spenders globally due Ukraine -Russia crisis
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect D. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
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Q. With reference to the Trans-Pacific Partnership’, consider the following statements : (2016)
1. It is an agreement among all the Pacific Rim countries except China and Russia. 2. It is a strategic alliance for the purpose of maritime security only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2 Answer : D.
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| Answer 3– C
Explanation –
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Centre urges Supreme Court to modify its 2012 order in 2G case
Source: Indian Express
UPSC Relevance: GS 2 (Government Policy)
Context: The Centre’s plea sought allowing the allocation of spectrum through administrative process in accordance with law.
Why in News
- The Centre has moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of its February 2012 judgment in the 2G case, which directed that allocation of mobile 2G spectrum should be done through auction.
Key Highlights
- The Centre’s plea sought allowing the allocation of spectrum through administrative process in accordance with law.
- In its petition, the Centre said that pursuant to the judgment, assignment of Mobile Access spectrum to telecommunication service providers has been undertaken by the Department of Telecommunications on the basis of regular spectrum auctions.
- The SC in February 2012 had quashed the 2G licences granted to different companies by then UPA government.
- The Centre pointed out that the SC while answering a presidential reference in September 2012 had however said that the use of the term perhaps in the February judgement “suggests that the recommendation of auction for alienation of natural resources was never intended to be taken as an absolute or blanket statement applicable across all natural resources, but simply a conclusion made at first blush over the attractiveness of a method like auction and disposal of natural resources.
- The choice of the word ‘perhaps’ suggests that the learned Judges considered situations requiring a method other than auction as conceivable and desirable”.
Attorney General’s petition
- Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, mentioned an interim application before a bench of CJI D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala.
- The plea said, “however…the assignment of spectrum is required not only for commercial telecommunication services, but also for non-commercial use for the discharge of sovereign and public interest functions such as security, safety, disaster preparedness, etc.” which “would squarely fall within the scope of subserving the common good”.
- “There are also specific sui generis categories of usage, including commercial use of spectrum where, technical and economic conditions of the use affect the feasibility of auction as a means of assignment of spectrum and thus auction as the exclusive mode may present some issues in the relevant assignment,” it stated.
- The “assignment”, it pointed out “may require to be undertaken administratively due to economic conditions such as demand being lower than supply or due to technical conditions such as spectrum for space communication, where it would be more optimal and efficient for spectrum to be shared by multiple players, rather than being broken up into smaller blocks for sole purpose of exclusive assignment by auction”.
- The government said there is an urgent requirement for the SC “to clarify that in the situations specified… and other similar circumstances, the assignment of spectrum through administrative process may be undertaken if so determined through due process in accordance with law, if such assignment is in pursuit of governmental functions, or public interest so requires, or auction may not be preferred due to technical or economic reasons”.
- The plea said “that this will be crucial for achieving the objectives of national security, safety, and disaster preparedness, as well as enabling the Union of India to undertake dynamic decisions as may be required, to realise the full potential of telecommunications, to best subserve the common good”.
2G spectrum scam
- The 2G spectrum scam involved politicians and government officials in India illegally undercharging mobile telephony companies for frequency allocation licenses, which they would then use to create 2G subscriptions for cell phones.
- In 2008, 122 new second-generation (2G) Unified Access Service (UAS) licences were given to telecom companies at a price arrived at in 2001 and on a first-come-first-serve basis.
- Kapil Sibal, the then Minister of Communications and Information Technology in the Manmohan Singh government, claimed in 2011, that “zero loss” was caused by distributing 2G licences on first-come-first-served basis.
- The 122 licences were subsequently quashed by the Supreme Court in 2012.
Telecommunications Act, 2023
- The law passed by the Parliament last year empowers the government to assign spectrum for telecommunication through administrative processes other than auction for entities listed in the First Schedule.
- These include entities engaged in national security, defence, and law enforcement as well as Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellites such as Space X, and Bharti Airtel-backed OneWeb.
- The government can also assign part of a spectrum that has already been assigned to one or more additional entities, known as secondary assignees, and even terminate assignments where a spectrum or a part of it has remained underutilised for insufficient reasons.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q4. Consider the following statements:
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
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Q. In India, which of the following reviews the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity etc.? (2019)
1. Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament. 2. Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees 3. Finance Commission 4.Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission 5. NITI Aayog
Select the correct answer using the code given below. A. 1 and 2 B. 1 , 3 and 4 C. 3, 4 and 5 D. 2 and 5 Ans- A |
| Answer 4 C
Explanation
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Centre asks states to monitor, inspect organ transplants involving foreigners
Source: The Indian Express
UPSC Relevance: GS 2 (Government Policy) GS 3 (Public Health)
Context: Central government directs states to ensure a NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation) ID is generated for both donor, recipient
Why in News
- Pointing to reports of alleged commercial dealings in organ transplants involving foreign citizens, the Union Health ministry has directed state authorities to investigate such cases and take appropriate action for violations, if any.
Key Highlights
- The Centre has directed the states to ensure that a NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation) ID is generated for the donor and recipient for living-donor as well as deceased-donor transplants.
- “Besides NOTTO-ID being mandatory for considering allocation of organ in case of deceased-donor transplant, this ID in case of a living-donor transplant shall also be generated at the earliest, maximum within 48 hours after the transplant surgery is done,” the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) wrote to the states.
Background
- Direction from centre comes after two successive organ transplant cases involving foreign nationals came to the fore in which regulations were violated.
- In Rajasthan, fake NoCs were allegedly issued to Bangladeshi nationals, and in Delhi, poor Myanmar nationals were allegedly paid to donate kidneys.
- Earlier, after the case involving Myanmar nationals came to light, the Union health secretary had urged the foreign secretary to sensitise the embassies as they are required to issue a certificate to their respective citizens, stating that the donor and recipient are related to each other for undergoing transplant in India.
Organ donation in India
- An increasing number of foreign nationals are choosing India as their destination for getting a transplant.
- India offers worldclass transplantation at a fraction of the cost as compared to several Western countries.
- However, it is ensure that when they do come to India to get a transplant, they follow the laws of the land. Organs of the deceased donor are anonymously allocated to people waiting for a transplant, while an organ can be donated by a living person only if they (donor and recipient) are close relatives or share a close bond and want to donate altruistically.
- Commercial trading of organs is not allowed under Indian laws.
New system required
- The DGHS has asked the state governments to devise a system for regular inspection of all transplant and retrieval centres. “…so as to have an onsite monitoring of their activities, quality of transplantation, post-operative follow up of donors and recipients, and outcomes of transplantation,” DGHS Prof Atul Goel wrote to the states.
- NOTTO registry data shows that there has been an increase in the number of transplants in foreign nationals.
- There cannot be any commercial trading of organs if they are getting the transplant in India because the Indian law does not permit that.
National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO)
- The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) is a national organization that coordinates the procurement, distribution, and registry of organs and tissues in India.
- It’s located in, New Delhi.
- NOTTO has two divisions: the National Human Organ and Tissue Removal and Storage Network, and the National Biomaterial Centre.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ | ||||||||||||
Q5. Which of the following pairs is/are incorrect?
Code:
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Q. At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006? (2021)
A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climatic change. B. Ministry of Panchayat Raj C. Ministry of Rural Development D. Ministry of Tribal Affairs Answer- (D)
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| Answer 5 B
Explanation • The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) is a national organization that coordinates the procurement, distribution, and registry of organs and tissues in India. • National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) is set up under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. So, pair 1 is correct. • The National Commission on Population (NCP) is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of India. The NCP’s mandate is to Review, monitor, and provide directions for the implementation of the National Population Policy. So, pair 2 is incorrect. • The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), established in 1992 is a division of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that provides leadership to HIV/AIDS control programme in India through 35 HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Societies, and is “the nodal organisation for formulation of policy and implementation of programs for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in India.” So, pair 3 is incorrect. · Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
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