Current Affairs 14 September 2020 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 14 September 2020 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

1. Mobile app of iRAD Developed
2. The Pesticide Management Bill, 2020
3. Krishna-Godavari Basin Methane
4. Living Planet Report 2020 WWF
5. India Stand On Taliban
6. Singapore Convention on Mediation

Mobile app of iRAD Developed

Why in News?

Two days Orientation and Training programme on iRAD App was conducted by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.

Accident database management system that will help in analysing causes of road crashes and in devising safety interventions to reduce such accidents in the country.

iRAD App

• IT based system for capturing the spot accident data using mobile app configured for this purpose.
• This data can then be utilized for various purposes like finding the causes of the accidents and remedial measures to improve the road infrastructure, to record the accidents data for the use of police, health services and other concerned departments.
• Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is in the process of implementing ‘Integrated Road Accident Database Project (iRAD)’ which will be applicable across the country.
• In the first instance, it has been decided to implement the proposal in six States, viz. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• The development and implementation of iRAD has been entrusted to lIT Madras and National Informatics Centre Services Inc.
• It will enable the stakeholders such as the Police, Transport, Health, etc to use their mobile phones to collect accident data on the spot.
• How it Work ?
  • Application will enable police personnel to enter details about a road accident, along with photos and videos, following which a unique ID will be created for the incident.
  • An engineer from the Public Works Department or the local body will receive an alert on his mobile device.
    • He or she will then visit the accident site, examine it, and feed the required details, such as the road design.
    • Data thus collected will be analysed by a team at IIT-M, which will then suggest if corrective measures in road design need to be taken.

Need for such initiatives

• India accounts for about 5 lakh road accidents per annum in which about 1.5 lakh people die and another 3 lakh become injured.
• Government is in the process of implementing Integrated Road Accident Database Project (iRAD) across the country, and the related app will enable collection of accident data on the spot.
• The project costs Rs. 258 crore and is being supported by the World Bank.

Source : PIB

Topic

Prelims : About iRAD App

GS II : Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential.

The Pesticide Management Bill, 2020

Why in News?

The Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 was introduced in Rajya Sabha by the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on March 23, 2020. There are some expert opinion that it will hurt farmers.

Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) and Bharat Krishak Samaj (BKS) have called for a review of the Pesticides Management Bill 2020 (PMB) stating it would hurt farmers’ interests.

What is the Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 (PMB 2020)

• The Bill seeks to replace the Insecticides Act, 1968.
• What it Says ?
  • It seeks to regulate the manufacture, import, sale, storage, distribution, use, and disposal of pesticides.
  • Aims to ensure the availability of safe pesticides and minimise the risk to humans, animals, and environment.
• The Bill clearly defines the pest and pesticides as
  • Pest : Species of animal, plant, or pathogenic agent injurious to plants, humans, animals, and the environment.
  • Pesticide : Any substance of chemical or biological origin intended to preventing or destroying any pest.
    • Used in agriculture, industry, public health, pest control operations, or for ordinary use.
• Central Pesticides Board 
  • Advise the central and state governments on scientific and technical matters arising under the Act.
  • Frame model protocols to deal with poisoning cases due to pesticides.
• Registration of pesticides
  • Persons seeking to import or manufacture are required to obtain a certificate of registration for the pesticide from the Registration Committee.
  • It includes pesticide for ordinary use, agriculture, industry, pest control, or public health.
  • Criteria : Factors such as safety, efficacy, necessity, end-use, risks, and availability of safer alternatives.
  • False or misleading information, or if the maximum limits for the residue of the pesticide on crops and commodities are not specified under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 will not register.
• A person’s licence will be revoked if he is convicted of an offence under the Act.
• Prohibition on certain pesticides 
  • They pose a risk to, or can adversely impact human health, other living organisms, or the environment
  • They pose a barrier in international trade of agriculture commodities.
• What happen if violates?
  • Punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine of up to Rs 40 lakh, or both.
  • Violations : Manufacturing, importing, distributing, selling, exhibiting for sale, transporting, storing, or undertaking pest control operations, without a licence or certificate
  • Exemptions : Persons using pesticides in their own household, kitchen-garden, or land under their own cultivation are not liable

What are the concerns over the Bill ?

• PMB can directly impact the Centre’s goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022
  • How PMB affect the goal?
    • Farmers not used pesticides in time, their crops could have been devastated, jeopardising their income.
    • Some pest attacks occur on a mass scale, such as the recent locust swarm invasion.
    • This kind of invasive pest need immediate attention and with the bill it may delayed the application of pesticide.
• PMB, 2020 would not allow the manufacture and export of pesticides not registered for use in India even if these are approved in other countries.
  • Under the Prohibition on certain pesticides clause if Indian authority found that the pesticide pose risk it will not approve license.
  • Even the same will be allowed in other countries.
  • How it affect export?
    • PMB should allow Indian entities to manufacture and export these pesticides, which would help generate employment opportunities and earn foreign exchange.
    • Special provision for export should be added.
  • Ashok Dalwai Committee, constituted in 2018 recommended to promote domestic and indigenous industries and agricultural exports from India.
• Powers to Registration Committee (RC)
  • This would be done without any scientific evaluation.
  • An independent regulator to oversee the RC’s decisions should be included in the clause.
• Impact over Food Security
  • The unavailability of pesticide directly affect the Indian farmers’ functioning and productivity.
  • Food security goal is linked with the timely use of crop protection products.

Source : PRS, The Hindu

Topic 

GS II : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Krishna-Godavari Basin Methane

Why in News ?

Fossil fuels and looks out for alternate sources of clean energy, there is good news from the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin. Krishna-Godavari Basin Methane will be a good source of natural gas.

Research for Methane in the Basin

• Study conducted by researchers at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) found that the methane hydrate deposits are located in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin are of biogenic origin.
• The study was conducted as a part of the DST-SERB young scientist project titled Elucidating the community structure of methanogenic archaea in methane hydrate.

What is Methane ?

• Methane, colorless, odorless gas that occurs abundantly in nature and as a product of certain human activities.
• It is highly flammable gas composed of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms.
• It can be produced naturally and synthetically, and when burned in the presence of oxygen, it produces carbon dioxide and water vapor.
• Uses
  • Methane is the primary component to produce heat and electricity around the world.
  • Also used in chemical reactions to produce other important gases like hydrogen and carbon monoxide and carbon black.
  • Methane is a clean and economical fuel.
• Methane Formation
  • Methane emissions are generated through a process called enteric fermentation cows.
  • Global methane emissions are generated by organic waste decomposing in landfills.
  • Coal mining

Methane Hydrate

• Methane Hydrate is the World’s Largest Natural Gas Resource
• How it formed ?
  • Methane hydrate is formed when hydrogen-bonded water and methane gas come into contact at high pressures and low temperatures in oceans.
  • It is estimated that one cubic meter of methane hydrate contains 160-180 cubic meters of methane.
  • The lowest estimate of methane present in the methane hydrates in KG Basin is twice that of all fossil fuel reserves available worldwide.
• Methane hydrate is an ice that only occurs naturally in subsurface deposits.
• In fact no large-scale commercial methane production from gas hydrate deposits, the production has either been small scale or experimental.

Methane Deposit in the World

• Found beneath Arctic permafrost, beneath Antarctic ice, and in sedimentary deposits along continental margins worldwide.
• They are also found in deep-water sediments of inland lakes and seas and under Antarctic ice.
• In most situations the methane hydrate is within a few hundred meters of the sediment surface.

Source : PIB

Topic

GS I : Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent)

GS II : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Living Planet Report 2020 WWF

Why in News?

Living Planet Report 2020 WWF, published Friday, analyzed nearly 21,000 populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles and found a 68 per cent drop in monitored animal species from 1970 to 2016.

Details of Living Planet Report 2020 WWF

• The new report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) shows the global wildlife population has fallen by two-thirds in less than 50 years.
• The 2020 global Living Planet Index shows an average 68% fall in monitored vertebrate species populations between 1970 and 2016.
  • The 94% decline in the LPI for the tropical sub regions of the Americas is the largest fall observed in any region.
• There are a number of general factors leading to the decline of wildlife :
  • Human activities and the loss of habitat are some of the report’s main concerns
  • Particularly the conversion of native habitats such as forests, grasslands, and mangroves into agricultural systems.
  • Humans are now overusing the Earth’s bio-capacity by at least 56%.
• Five major reasons behind the biodiversity loss
  • Changes in land and sea use (habitat loss and degradation)
  • Over exploitation of species
  • Invasive species and disease
  • Pollution
  • Climate change
• Where India losing?
  • India has lost 12 per cent of its wild mammals, 19 per cent amphibians and 3 per cent birds over last five decades.
  • The declining vertebrate population trend in India. 
    • Out of about 1.02 lakh animal species, as found in India till December 2019, about 6,800 are vertebrates.
    • Among these, nearly 550 fall in critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable categories.
    • Vertebrate population has been declining at a rate of about 60 per cent in India
  • Living Planet Index indicated India’s ecological footprint per person to be less than 1.6 global hectares (gha) / person.
    • Read this inline with the report of National Footprints Accounts India has a bio-capacity of approximately 0.45 gha per person
  • Asia Pacific region including India, habitat loss was the biggest trigger followed by species over exploitation and invasive species and disease.
    • Indian belladonna, possessing medicinal properties to the related deadly nightshade, is threatened by deforestation and over harvesting of its leaves and roots for use by the pharmaceutical industry and in traditional medicine systems
  • The role of pollution and climate change was proportionately higher at 16 per cent.
  • Almost a third of Indian wetlands have been affected under combined pressure of urbanisation, agricultural activities and pollution.
  • What may be the reason?
    • Around 16 per cent global population.
    • The need for food and other infrastructure for such a large populous country which in turn is affecting the biodiversity.
    • Habitat fragmentation and pollution, especially from pesticides and insecticides, are playing havoc with the biodiversity status of the country.
    • About 43 per cent of forest land recommended for diversion in 2019 falls in ecologically sensitive wildlife habitats.

Way Forward

The biggest challenge and biggest opportunity lies in changing our approach to development

• Conserving the world’s biological diversity
• Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
• Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption

Source : LPR 2020

Topic

Prelims : About Living Planet Report

GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

India Stand On Taliban

Why in News ?

Signalling a carefully calibrated shift in its position on engaging with the Taliban, India participated in the commencement ceremony of intra-Afghan talks between the Afghanistan government and the Taliban in Qatar’s capital Doha.

Recent US Shift

• agreement signed between the United States and the Taliban on February 29, 2020, marks a milestone in America’s longest ever war.
• Accordingly, the majority of U.S. troops are expected to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2021.
• How it Impact ?
  • Sections of the Taliban could be expected to play a larger role in Afghan politics.

India’s Stand On Taliban

• India has nuanced its position given the ground reality in Afghanistan and the changing power structure in Kabul.
• A definite step-up in its engagement with the Taliban which is negotiating a new power-sharing arrangement in Afghanistan.
• India reiterate three major facts
  • Be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled
  • Respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan
  • Promote human rights and democracy
• Any peace process must be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled
• Concerns Raised
  • The interests of minorities, women and vulnerable sections of society must be preserved.
    • Attacks on the Sikh minorities there must be stopped.
  • Issue of violence across the country and its neighbourhood has to be effectively addressed.
    • Indian interest include the Indian Embassy and Indian companies and workers in Afghanistan, should also be protected.

India and Afghan Relation

• Afghan-Pak difference in the issue of Durand line and arising from Pak’s desire to dominate Afghanistan make it a natural Ally of India.
• Growing tension between India and China, India cannot afford a mistake of giving a wrong signal to Afghanistan. 
• Indian Assistance to Afghanistan
  • India’s role as a major development partner of Afghanistan with over 400 projects completed in all the 34 provinces of Afghanistan
  • Undertaking projects worth over $3 billion including Afghanistan’s parliament.
  • Reconstruction of Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Kabul.
  • Zaranj to Delarm highway to facilitate movement of goods and services from Afghanistan to Iranian border and onward to the Chahbhahar Port. Transmission line from Pul-e-Khurmi to Kabul.
  • Salma Dam Power Project
  • Restoration of telecommunication infrastructure in 11 provinces
  • Support in Expansion of national TV networks.
  • India Afghan Vocation training centre for training Afghan Youth and Women. 

Source : Indian Express

Topic

GS II : India and its neighbourhood- relations

Singapore Convention on Mediation

Why in News ?

Singapore Convention on Mediation came into force on Saturday and will provide a more effective way for enforcing mediated settlements of corporate disputes involving businesses in India and other countries that are signatories to the Convention.

Singapore Convention on Mediation

• Also known as the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, this is also the first UN treaty to be named after Singapore.
• Thus marking a significant development in international commercial dispute resolution.
• The Convention has 53 signatories, including India, China and the U.S.
• Need for the Mediation?
  • There was the lack of an efficient and harmonised framework for cross-border enforcement of settlement agreements
• Businesses seeking enforcement of a mediated settlement agreement across borders can do so by applying directly to the courts of countries.
  • Instead of having to enforce the settlement agreement as a contract in accordance with each country’s domestic process.
• This helps the businesses to reduce the cost and time which is important for business.
• It ensures that a settlement reached by parties becomes binding and enforceable in accordance with a simplified and streamlined procedure.
  • Contributes to strengthening access to justice and the rule of law.
• Primary goals of the Convention are
  • To facilitate international trade.
  • To promote the use of mediation for the resolution of cross-border commercial disputes.
  • To enforce a settlement agreement in accordance with its rules of procedure and under the conditions laid down in the Convention.

How it help India ?

• • Would boost India’s ‘ease of doing business’ credentials by enabling swift mediated settlements of corporate disputes.
  • Businesses in India and around the world will now have greater certainty in resolving cross-border disputes through mediation.

Source : The Hindu

Topic 

Prelims : About Singapore Convention on Mediation

GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Current Affairs 14 September 2020 : Our major Sources for the Current Affairs are The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB. For more queries and mentor-ship please contact us.