TOPIC : GS 3 Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
Beyond zero sum
What is the news?
The visit of the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, ahead of a leaders’ summit convened by President Joe Biden of American government by this month on the climate challenge, has prompted a review of India’s long-term policy course.
India and Climate change
- To the developed world, India presents a study in contrasts, with carbon dioxide emissions that rank in the top five globally, while millions of its citizens remain mired in energy poverty and underdevelopment.
- Ironically, to many smaller countries, including island nations hit by intense storms, lost farm productivity, droughts and heat waves linked to a changing climate, India contributes to the problem with its total annual emissions.
- It is unsurprising that India to join many other big economies and commit itself to net zero emissions to balance carbon emissions with their removal from the atmosphere, by a specific date.
India and US in climate diplomacy
- American government to explore the possibility of raising national ambition, with the assurance that the S. pursuing major green technology initiatives in the postÂChange in the government Trump era, would support such a road map.
- The meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been positive. It would reassure not just India but other emerging nations as well
- The climate diplomacy of the North under the Paris Agreement is underpinned by funding and technology transfer guarantees to reduce emissions.
Biggest Carbon Emitters
Climate change is the biggest crisis , the solutions require the U.S, the U.K., Europe and others who occupied the bulk of the world’s carbon budget to give up further emissions in favour of the de veloping world and fund the transition.
Post pandemic development pathways
The Centre took decision with environmental clearances that would have a serious negative impact.
- It extended the deadline for coal plants to adopt strict pollution control, and proposed gross dilution of norms to assess environmental impact of projects.
- Fuel prices at highs due to taxation pay no specific environmental dividend and the poorest are worst hit by its inflationary effects.
Way forward
- To come up with a domestic climate plan that explains to the citizen how it will bring green development in specifying a target by sector for each year.
- This would align internal policies with the justifiable demand that rich countries uphold the principle enshrined in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, of common but differentiated responsibilities to build equity.
- Â Taxing luxury emissions, whether it is cars, air conditioners, big properties or aviation, for specified green development outcomes, will send out a convincing message.
Mains question
Rich countries must commit technology and funds to move to net zero carbon emissions. Discuss
TOPIC : GS 2 India and its Neighborhood- Relations.
Explaining Pakistan’s flipÂflop on trade with India
What is the news?
Pakistan’s double U-turn on highlights the internal differences within Ministries, between business and political communities, and the emphasis on politics over economy and trade.
Recent decisions over Diplomacy
Pakistan’s new Finance Minister Hammad Azhar announced Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC)’s decision to import cotton, yarn and 500,000 metric tons of sugar from India.
Three takeaways over the decision
- For the textile and sugar industries in Pakistan, importing from Indian is imperative, practical and is the most economical
- According to the latest Pakistan Economic Survey 2019Â20, the agriculture sector witnessed a growth of 2.67% (with an increase in rice and maize production), cotton and sugarcane production declined by 6.9% and 0.4%, respectively.
- Sugar export came down substantially last year by over 50% in 2019Â20 compared to 2018Â19.
- Yarn, cotton cloth, knitwear, bedwear and readymade garments form the core of Pakistan’s textile basket in the export sector.
- There was a steep decline in the textile sector due to disruptions in supply and domestic needs compared to the last fiscal year (2019Â20), there has been a 30% decline (2020Â21) in cotton production.
Drawing viable option
- As a result importing sugar from India would be cheaper for the consumer market in Pakistan.
- The crises in cotton and sugar industries played a role in the ECC’s decision to import cotton, yarn and sugar from India. It would not only be cheaper but also help Pakistan’s exports.
- It is also an important for Pakistan to earn foreign exchange
Way forward
The meagre percentage of intraÂSouth Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) trade and the success (or the failure) of SAARC engaging in bilateral or regional trade would underline the importance . Trade is unlikely to triumph over politics in South Asia especially in IndiaÂPakistan relations.
Mains question
The shadow of politics still looms over trade, which runs contrary to Islamabad’s statements on the need for better ties. Analyze
PRELIMS PUNCHERS
- National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) programme
NIDHI (National Initiative for Development and Harnessing Innovations), an umbrella program is pioneered by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, for nurturing ideas and innovations (knowledge-based and technology-driven) into successful startups. NIDHI, by design connects and strengthens all the links of the innovation chain from scouting to sustaining to securing to scaling to showcasing, because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The key stakeholders of NIDHI includes various departments and ministries of the central government, state governments, academic and R & D institutions, mentors, financial institutions, angel investors, venture capitalists, industry champions and private sectors.
- National company law appellate tribunal
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) is a tribunal which was formed by the Central Government of India under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013. The tribunal is responsible for hearing appeals from the orders of National Company Law Tribunal(s) (NCLT). The tribunal also hears appeals from orders issued by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC. It also hears appeals from any direction issued, decision made, or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
The NCLAT includes a Chairperson, a judicial member, and a technical member. It consists of a total of not more than eleven members. NCLAT decisions can be challenged in the Supreme Court on a point of law. In some cases, NCLAT decisions have been overturned by the Supreme Court, like in the case of Arcelor Mittal when the top court set aside the tribunal’s order to pave way for the global steel giant to acquire Essar Steel.
- The Global Biodiversity Outlook report
The second meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) called for the preparation of a periodic report on biological diversity: the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO).It suggested that the Global Biodiversity Outlook should provide a summary of the status of biological diversity and an analysis of the steps being taken by the global community to ensure that biodiversity is conserved and used sustainably, and that benefits arising from the use of genetic resources are shared equitably. Global Biodiversity Outlook report (GBO-5), which offers an authoritative overview of the state of nature, has been published by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The report comes as the COVID-19 pandemic challenges people to rethink their relationship with nature, and to consider the profound consequences to their own wellbeing and survival that can result from continued biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystems.
- Hypnea indica and Hypnea bullata
Two new species of seaweed (of genus Hypnea or red seaweeds) have been discovered by a group of marine biologists. They grow in the intertidal regions of the coast, the area that is submerged during the high tide and exposed during low tides. The genus . Hypnea indica was discovered Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and Somnath Pathan and Sivrajpur in Gujarat . Hypnea bullata was discovered from Kanyakumari and Diu island of Daman and Diu.
PRELIMS QUESTIONS
Qn 1.Consider the following statement regarding National company law appellate tribunal
- The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) is a tribunal which was formed by the Central Government of India under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 1956
2.It also hears appeals from any direction issued, decision made, or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only      (b) 2 only
(c).Both      (d). None of above
Answer: B
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) is a tribunal which was formed by the Central Government of India under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013. The tribunal is responsible for hearing appeals from the orders of National Company Law Tribunal(s) (NCLT). The tribunal also hears appeals from orders issued by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC. It also hears appeals from any direction issued, decision made, or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
The NCLAT includes a Chairperson, a judicial member, and a technical member. It consists of a total of not more than eleven members. NCLAT decisions can be challenged in the Supreme Court on a point of law. In some cases, NCLAT decisions have been overturned by the Supreme Court, like in the case of Arcelor Mittal when the top court set aside the tribunal’s order to pave way for the global steel giant to acquire Essar Steel.
Qn 2.Hypnea indica and Hypnea bullata are which among the following species
- Seaweed
- Butterfly
- Amphibians
- Tree species
Answer : A
Two new species of seaweed (of genus Hypnea or red seaweeds) have been discovered by a group of marine biologists. They grow in the intertidal regions of the coast, the area that is submerged during the high tide and exposed during low tides. The genus Hypnea consists of calcareous, erect, branched red seaweeds. It contains Carrageenan (a dietary fibre) used extensively in food industry Hypnea indica was discovered Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and Somnath Pathan and Sivrajpur in Gujarat . Hypnea bullata was discovered from Kanyakumari and Diu island of Daman and Diu.