Current Affairs 25 June 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 25 June 2021 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

The World Drug Report 2021: UNODC

Source : United Nations
GS III : Internal Security

Content for The World Drug Report 2021: UNODC Article

1. AboutThe World Drug Report 2021: UNODC
2. What are the socio economic impact over drug use ?
3. Indian and drug use and Regulations

Why in News ?

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently released its annual report provides an overview of global drug markets, as well as their impact on people’s health and livelihoods.

• The report named as World Drug Report 2021.
• The launch of the 2021 World Drug Report comes ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed on 26 June.
• The 2021 theme of the UNODC-led campaign is “Share facts on drugs, save lives” to achieve a world free of drug abuse.

Key Facts

• 275 million people used drugs worldwide in the last year of unprecedented upheaval caused by the COVID-19.
  • It is up by 22 per cent from 2010.

    

• Roughly 200 million people used cannabis in 2019 representing 4 per cent of the global population.
• The number of cannabis users has increased by nearly 18 per cent over the past decade.
• An estimated 20 million people used cocaine in 2019, corresponding to 0.4 per cent of the global population.
• Roughly 50,000 people died from opioid overdoses in the United States in 2019, more than double the 2010 figure.
• Fentanyl and its analogues now are involved in most of the deaths.
• Psychoactive substances (NPS)
  • The number in global level has been stabilizing in recent years at slightly more than 500 substances (541 in 2019)
  • Actual number of NPS identified for the first time at global level declined from 213 to 71 between 2013 and 2019.
  • These findings suggest national and international control systems have succeeded in limiting the spread of NPS in high income countries, where the trend first emerged a decade ago.
• A rise in the use of technology during the pandemic has also triggered innovation in drug prevention and treatment services.
• Two pharmaceutical opioids used to treat people with opioid use disorders methadone and buprenorphine have become increasingly accessible, as science-based treatment has become more broadly available.

What are the socio economic impact over drug use ?

• The COVID-19 crisis has pushed more than 100 million people into extreme poverty
  • Has greatly exacerbated unemployment and inequalities, as the world lost 255 million jobs in 2020.
• Mental health conditions are also on the rise worldwide and these factors have the potential to spur a rise in drug use disorders.
• Underlying socioeconomic stressors have also likely accelerated demand for these drugs.

Indian and drug use and Regulations

• India has always taken a firm stand against drug trafficking and drug use.
• Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act), illegal for any person to produce/ manufacture/cultivate, possess, sell, purchase, transport, store, and/or consume any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
• The Act extends
  • To the whole of India
  • Applies to all Indian citizens outside India
  • All persons on ships and aircraft registered in India.
• Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was created for the implementation of the Act.
  • Also have the mandate of controlling drug trafficking.

Gujarat International Maritime Arbitration Centre (GIMAC)

Source : Indian Express
GS II : Governance

Content for GIMAC Article

1. Why it is needed?
2. About GIMAC

Why in News ?

The Gujarat Maritime University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Financial Services Centres Authority in GIFT City

• To promote the Gujarat International Maritime Arbitration Centre (GIMAC).

Key Facts

• This will be the first centre of its kind in the country.
• It will manage arbitration and mediation proceedings with disputes related to the maritime and shipping sector.
• The GIMAC will be part of a maritime cluster that the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) is setting up in GIFT City at Gandhinagar. 
• Why it is needed ?
  • At global level London is the preferred centre for arbitration for the maritime and shipping sector.
  • As of now there are 35 maritime arbitration centre and none of these arbitration centre exclusively for maritime sector. 
  • So creating an arbitration centre helps in resolve maritime and shipping dispute.
  • Thus the dispute of financial and commercial dispute between entities having operations in India.

Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2020

Source : Down To Earth
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Content for Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2020 Article

1. What is in the Report ?
2. About Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2020 Report
3. Various Initiatives by India
4. What are the challenges for India ?

Why in News ?

Recently, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2020 report was released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a powerhouse of renewable energy data and policy discourse.

Key Facts

• The decade 2010 to 2020 saw renewable power generation becoming the default economic choice for new capacity.
• Between 2000 and 2020, renewable power generation capacity worldwide increased 3.7‑fold from 754 gigawatts (GW) to 2 799 GW.

  

• Nearly 810 gigawatts (GW) capacity of the world’s existing coal fired plants 38 % of the total global energy capacity are now have higher operating costs than new utility scale photovoltaics and onshore wind energy.
• As a result of fall in cost due to advanced technology the power generation will reach to new heights.
• For utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV)  fall by 85 % of the said period. 
• Also cost of electricity from solar and wind power has fallen, to very low levels.
• Nearly 162 GW or 62 per cent of total renewable power capacity added last year had lower costs than the cheapest new fossil fuel option.
• The cost of onshore wind generation fell by 13 per cent.
• OECD countries these projects will reduce costs in the electricity sector by at least $6 billion.
• Reduce annual CO2 emissions
  • Coal-fired plants would cut annual system costs by USD 32 billion per year.
  • Reduce annual CO2 emissions by around 3 Gigatonnes of CO2.
• Expected cost of Fossil Fuel powered power generation of G20 Nations will be between $0.055 – $0.148 per kilowatt-hour.

About Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2020 Report

• IRENA’s cost analysis programme has been collecting and reporting the cost and performance data of renewable power generation technologies since 2012.
• The two core sources of data for the cost and performance metrics contained in this report are the
  • IRENA Renewable Cost Database
  • IRENA Auctions and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) databases.
• This year for the first time the report also includes a snapshot of IRENA’s cost data for behind the meter battery storage and solar thermal technologies for industrial heat.
• Also the report analyses cost components in detail.
• For this  report
  • 20 000 renewable power generation projects analysed.
  • data from 13 000 auctions and power purchase agreements for renewables checked.

Various Initiatives by India

• India was expected to achieve a total installed capacity of about 122 GW by the end of 2022 including biomass and small hydro.
• International Solar Alliance is also aimed Indian ambition for Renewable Energy.
• Green Tariff Policy Of India aims at supply electricity generated from clean energy projects at a cheaper rate as compared to power from conventional fuel sources such as coal.
• Decarbonisation And Promotion of RE is the extension of the waiver of Inter-State Transmission system (ISTS) charges on transmission of electricity generated from solar and wind sources for projects to be commissioned up to 30th June 2025.

What are the challenges for India ?

• Don’t have the execution capacity required to scale up annual capacity addition to 25-30 GW.
• Lot of factors involved like land, transmission, grid robustness etc. are involved.
• Comparatively the demand is less.
• Recent pandemic impact the economy and its implementation. 
• Interest rate for loans is high as compared with developed countries. 
• Low Tariff set for distribution companies.
• India depends on import of equipment like solar modules, batteries used for installation of plants. 
• Policy push in not enough for achievements committed.

Way Forward : At the starting phase government’s support is needed. As moving forward instead of support specific policies to ensure that the sector grows.

Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) : India-Bhutan

Source : PIB
GS II : International Relation

Content for Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) : India-Bhutan) Article

1. About the Agreement
2. Tax Inspectors Without Borders
3. Indian And Bhutan

Why in News ?

Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) is a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) launched its programme in Bhutan.

• India was chosen as the Partner Jurisdiction and has provided the Tax Expert for this programme.

Key Facts

• Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) is a 24 months duration.
• India in collaboration with the UNDP and the TIWB Secretariat aims to aid Bhutan in strengthening its tax administration.
• It an be achieved by transferring technical know how and skills to its tax auditors.
• Also through sharing of best audit practices.
• The focus of the programme will be in the area of International Taxation and Transfer Pricing.
• This program can be considered as another important milestone to strengthen India-Bhutan cooperation.

Tax Inspectors Without Borders

• TIWB is a joint OECD/UNDP initiative that deploys qualified experts in developing countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
• TIWB was launched in July 2015 to strengthen developing countries’ auditing capacity and multinationals’ compliance worldwide.
• Aims to help build tax capacity in the areas of audit, criminal tax investigations and the effective use of automatically exchanged information.
• TIWB assistance has led to increased domestic resource mobilisation in some of the least developed countries in the world.
• It encourage businesses to uphold higher standards of responsible tax behaviour and avoid the reputational risks associated with aggressive tax planning.

India and Bhutan

• The border is 699 km long.
• Bhutan shares border with the Indian states of Assam (267 km), Arunachal Pradesh (217 km), West Bengal (183 km) and Sikkim (32 km; 20 m).
• India and Bhutan share uniquely warm and special relations founded on mutual trust and understanding.
• The India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty signed and ratified by the two countries in 2007 forms the basic framework of our relations.
• India and Bhutan share a common perception of their strategic interests and cooperate closely on security issues and border management.
• India is Bhutan’s largest trade and development partner and source of supplies of most of the essential commodities imported by Bhutan.
• Development of hydropower in Bhutan has been the centre-piece of the bilateral cooperation.
• India supporting Bhutan to prepares its people for the information technology age, it is reaching out beyond its traditional sectors of agriculture and hydropower.

Green Tariff Policy Of India

Source : Live Mint
GS III : Infrastructure

Content for Green Tariff Policy Of India Article

1. Green Tariff Policy importance
2. What is the aim ?
3. Indian Ambition for Clean Energy

Why in News ?

Union government is working on a green tariff policy that will help electricity distribution companies (discoms) supply electricity generated from clean energy projects at a cheaper rate as compared to power from conventional fuel sources such as coal.

Key Facts

• It was announced by power and new and renewable energy minister.
• The government was in the process of formulating a set of rules and guidelines to enable such a mechanism.
• Presently, discoms purchase renewable energy as part the renewable purchase obligations (RPO).
• Once the mechanism is in place, discoms can exclusively buy green electricity and supply it at ‘green tariff’, which will be the weighted average tariff of green energy that the consumer will pay.

Green Tariff Policy importance

• Green tariff’ will be slightly lower than the tariff from conventional fuel sources.
• The new regulations will help ensure that if an industry wants only green power from a developer the open access applications will have to be approved within a fortnight.
• Open access allows large users of energy, typically those who consume over 1 megawatt of power, to buy it from the open market, instead of depending on a more expensive grid.
• Open access will also attract large green electricity consumers setting up their own captive green energy plants.

What is the aim ?

India’s solar and wind power tariffs hitting an all-time low. India is running the world’s largest clean energy programme to achieve 175 gigawatt (GW) of renewable capacity, including 100GW of solar power by 2022.

• This helps India’s role as global champion for the Energy Transition theme of the UN High Level Dialogue on Energy 2021.
• As part of its energy transition efforts, India is working towards electrification of economy by developing action plans for greening of electricity.

Indian Ambition for Clean Energy

• India working on various measures including ethanol blending with fossil fuels, green mobility, battery storage and green hydrogen to full fill commitments made at COP-21.

  

• India is the only major economy with actions in line to keep global warming below 2°C of pre-industrial levels.
• Carbon space for India only have merely 67-75% by developing country. 
• Also India aims to depend  on half of the countries power requirement on green electricity by 2030.
• Hydro Power Storage Scheme is also under consideration of India. 
• Challenges for Green Electricity
  • SC mandate overhead that overhead lines to b brought underground to protect heavy birds which not financially viable.
  • Also fund for implementing green energy.
  • Infrastructure challenges with environmental concerns the one like to bypass the habitat of the endangered Great Indian Bustard. 

Project Seabird Karwar

Source : PIB
GS III : Internal Security

Content for Project Seabird Karwar Article

1. About the News
2. What is Project Seabird ?
3. Indian Naval Command

Why in News ?

Recently Rajnath Singh visited the Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka to review the progress of ongoing infrastructure development under ‘Project Seabird’.

Key Facts

• Ongoing works at the Naval Base and received on-site briefings including capability demonstration at the Shiplift Tower.
• The marine works/infrastructure being developed as part of Project Seabird Phase II A.
• After the completion of the project the Kawar Naval Base would become Asia’s largest Naval base
• This would further bolster the operational readiness of the Armed Forces and help in augmenting trade, economy & humanitarian aid operations.

What is Project Seabird ?

• It is the largest naval infrastructure project for India.
• Th project aims at creation of a naval base at Karwar on the west coast of India.

  

• It is a $3 billion decade-long project.
• Upon completion provide the Indian Navy with its largest naval base on the west coast.
• Also the largest naval base east of the Suez Canal.
• AECOM will manage and oversee the planning, design, contracting, construction and acceptance of the entire works, including construction of a new Naval Air Station.
• Construction of naval air station is one of the major highlights of the second phase.
• What is its importance ?
  • New and expanded naval complex will be able to support several major warships and submarines and yard crafts.
  • Also Karwar is a coastal city that attract tourist, Navy air station along with civil terminal project under Project Seabird helps the growth of the destination. 
• What are the major Facilities ?
  • A specialised dockyard repair and maintenance facilities
  • Covered dry berths for ships and submarines
  • New technologically advanced security and communication systems
  • Naval Air Station
  • Various utilities systems as well as housing and residential complexes at multiple locations

Indian Naval Command

• The Indian Navy currently operates three commands
  • Western Naval Command located at Mumbai
  • Southern Naval Command located at Kochi
  • Eastern Naval Command located at Visakhapatnam.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Command, a unified Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard Command was set up in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2001.
• The major bases of the Indian Navy are located at Mumbai, Goa, Karwar, Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Port Blair.

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