Current Affairs 09 August 2022 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 09 August 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Indian Tourism Sector

Source : Indian Express
GS III : Indian Economy

What is discussed under Indian Tourism Sector?

1. Indian Tourism Sector overview
2. Government initiatives to boost tourism sector in India
3. Draft National Tourism Policy

Why in News ?

Recently a report was released titled ‘Outbound Travel and Tourism – An Opportunity Untapped‘, which shows India’s outbound tourism will surpass USD 42 billion by 2024.

Key Facts

• • The report highlights the up-and-coming Indian travel market.
  • It outlines a framework for creating a more value for money experience for Indian tourists and travellers.
  • The Indian outbound travel market is among the fastest growing markets globally with approximately 80 million passport levels of purchasing power, especially among the middle class.
  • Europe sees 20 percent of the travellers from India’s outbound traffic.
  • 10 percent travel to Australia and New Zealand, while the rest of the traffic is towards Southeast Asia.
  • Indians spent approximately USD 12.6 billion in outbound trips, compared to USD 22.9 billion in 2019.
    • Reason for decrease in spending could be due to the pandemic.

Indian Tourism Sector overview

• • Indian Tourism is ranked at 10th position in terms of its contribution to World GDP in the World Travel and Tourism Council’s report in 2019.
  • Tourism is an integral pillar of the Make in India programme.

    

  • Travel and tourism sector is one of the largest employers, employing nearly 12.75% (including both direct and indirect employment) of employment share in 2018-19.
    • Tourism sector in India accounted for 39 million jobs, which was 8.0 % of the total employment in the country.
    • By 2029, it is expected to account for about 53 million jobs.
  • World Economic Forum (WEF) Travel and Tourism Competitive Index (TTCI) India is at 54.
  • India is a region having 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites and 668 protected areas that can attract significant tourism activity.

Importance of promotion of Tourism in India

• • Services and Economy
    • It gives a push to the service sector.
    • A large number of businesses engaged in the service sector such as airlines, hotel, surface transportation, etc. grows with the growth of the tourism industry.
  • Regional Development
    • Local communities get a livelihood by selling localised products.
    • Also will get recognition to their art and craft. 
  • Development and Infrastructure Projects
    • Need for development, gives a boost to the existing and planned infrastructure.
    • Preservation of National Heritage and Environment by bringing in focus the importance of sites and the need to preserve them.
  • Foreign Exchange
    • Travellers from out side India help in getting Foreign Exchange.
  • Cultural Recognition
    • India will get recognition and initiates cultural exchange.
    • Promoting cultural friendship and cooperation between India and other countries.

Major Areas of Focus

1. 1. World Heritage Sites
   2. Eco Tourism
   3. Medical Tourism: India is emerging as the most preferred destination for Medical Tourism.

What are the challenges in Tourism in India?

1. 1. Underutilization Potential
      • Tourism competitiveness ranking at 34 reveals that India has not monetized or marketed the precious assets embedded in its heritage to their full potential.
   2. Infrastructure and Connectivity
      • This negatively impact tourist visits to some heritage sites.
   3. Safety and Security
      • Safety and security of tourists, especially of the foreign tourists, is a major hurdle to tourism development.
      • Recent attacks on foreign nationals raise questions about India’s ability to welcome tourists from far away countries.
   4. Lack of Effective Policies
      • India lack in effective policies as compared other countries those who depend on tourism.
   5. Promotion
      • Marketing strategy is not proper Tourism like Medical Tourism, Adventure Tourism etc. to solve the problem of seasonality.

Government initiatives to boost tourism sector in India

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

• • Launched by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT)
  • Central Sector scheme launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India for the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.
  • Scheme is envisioned to synergise with other schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Make in India etc. with the idea of positioning the tourism sector as a major engine for job creation.

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

• • Announced in 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.
  • Aim: To enhance the bonding between the states and strengthen the unity and integrity of India.
  • The states carry out activities to promote a sustained and structured cultural connect in the areas of language learning, culture, traditions & music, tourism & cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices, etc.
  • It showcases the rich heritage, culture, customs and traditions of the paired states.
  • Through student exchange programs, it enables people to have a better understanding and appreciate the diversity of the nation.

Destination North East-2020

• • It is an annual event of the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region.
  •  Event gives you the chance to explore exuberant performances, speeches and exhibitions from all the states of North East.
  • Festival is being held Virtually, making it accessible to everyone who’s interested in being a part of the merriment.

Iconic Tourist Sites

• • The Tourism Ministry is the nodal ministry for the implementation of the initiative.
  • The government will develop 17 “Iconic Tourist Sites” in the country as a world class tourist destinations which in turn would serve as a model for other tourism sites.

PRASHAD Scheme

• • National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme Launched in 2015.
  • Focus on identifying and developing pilgrim sites across the country to promote religious tourism.

Adopt Heritage Project

• • Launched in 2017 as a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), State/UTs Governments.
  • It envisages the development and maintenance of tourist amenities at heritage sites and making them tourist-friendly.

Draft National Tourism Policy

A National Tourism Policy (NTP) was formulated in 2002. However, taking into account the widespread, interrelated global developments and advancements, which have had a strong bearing on the Tourism sector new draft National Tourism Policy has been formulated and the same is yet to be approved.

Salient features

• • Policy on employment generation and community participation in tourism development.
  • Development of tourism in a sustainable and responsible manner.
  • Development and promotion of varied tourism products including the rich Culture and Heritage of the country
    • Also niche products such as Medical &Wellness, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), Adventure, Wildlife, etc. 
  • Emphasis on technology enabled development in tourism.
  • Development of core infrastructure (airways, railways, roadways, waterways, etc.) as well as Tourism Infrastructure.
  • Focus on domestic tourism as a major driver of tourism growth.

Quit India movement

GS I : Modern History – India

What is discussed under Quit India movement?

1. About the Order
2. How it helps

Why in News ?

On 8th Aug 2022, India completed 80 years of Quit India Movement also known as August Kranti. India launched the decisive final phase of the struggle for independence.

Quit India movement

• • It was officially launched by the Indian National Congress (INC) led by Mahatma Gandhi on 9 August 1942.
  • The slogan ‘Quit India’ was coined by Yusuf Meherally, a socialist and trade unionist who also served as Mayor of Mumbai.
  • The AICC conference in Mumbai on August 8, 1942, approved the resolution of the Quit India movement.

    

  • Following the defeat of the Cripps Mission, the resolution of the Quit India movement was adopted at the Mumbai session.
  • Gandhiji gave the call Do or Die in his speech delivered at the Gowalia Tank Maidan, now popularly known as August Kranti Maidan.
  • Aruna Asaf Ali popularly known as the Grand Old Lady of the Independence Movement is known for hoisting the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai during the Quit India Movement.
    • After the arrest of major leaders, young Aruna Asaf Ali presided over the AICC session.
  • Demands of the Movement
    • End the British rule in India with immediate effect
    • Form a provisional government after the withdrawal of the Britishers.

What are the causes of Movement ?

• • Failure of Cripps Mission: The immediate cause for the movement was the collapse of Cripps Mission.
  • Indian Involvement in World War II without prior consultation.
  • Shortage of Essential Commodities during World War II.
  • Anti-British Sentiment.

Various Phases of Movement

• • First Phase
    • Movement was peaceful with demonstrations and processions.
    • The peaceful protest was carried till Mahatma Gandhi’s release.
  • Second Phase
    • The movement was violent with raids and setting fire at post offices, government buildings and railway stations.
    • attacks on government buildings or any other visible symbol of colo­nial authority.
    • Lord Linlithgow adopted the policy of violence.
  • Final Phase
    • Movement was marked on September 1942 where mobs getting together and bombings in government places of Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh.
    • Formation of national governments or parallel governments in isolated pockets (Ballia, Tamluk, Satara etc.)

Causes of failure/Success

Failure 

• • Detention of leaders
  • Congress was declared an unlawful association
  • Lack of leadership
  • External support: The Viceroy’s Council of Muslims, Communist Party and Americans supported Britishers.

Success

• • Rise of Future Young Leaders
  • Women Participation
  • The movement placed the demand for complete independence
  • Rise of Nationalism a greater sense of unity and brotherhood emerged
  • Anti-British sentiment were enhanced.

Minorities At District Level : SC View

Source : The Hindu
GS II : Governance, Indian Polity & Constitution

What is discussed under Minorities At District Level : SC View?

1. About the Order
2. How it helps

Why in News ?

The Supreme Court ruled that to recognise minorities at district level is contrary to law.

Key Facts

• The Court was hearing a petition, claiming that Hindus do not get minority status in States where they are “socially-, economically-, politically non-dominant and numerically inferior”.
• The petition had also sought a declaration from the Court to identify minorities district wise.
• The Supreme Court referred to 11-judge Bench judgment which holds that recognization of minorities should be done at the State level.
• The judge was referring to the majority verdict given by the 11-judge Bench in the T. M. A Pai versus State of Karnataka case in 2002.
• The minority status is to be decided on state basis and the issue could be looked into if it was not being implemented or being violated.

Provision provided for minorities in the constitution

Article 15 (1) & (2)

• • Prohibition of discrimination against citizens on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.

Article 28

• People’s freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in educational institutions wholly maintained, recognized, or aided by the State

Article 29

• • No discrimination would be done on the ground of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.
  • Any citizen / section of citizens having a distinct language, script or culture have the right to conserve the same.
  • It provides that any section of the citizens residing in any part of India having a distinct language, script or culture of its own, shall have the right to conserve the same.
  • It grants protection to both religious minorities as well as linguistic minorities.

Article 30

• • All minorities shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
  • The protection under Article 30 is confined only to minorities (religious or linguistic) and does not extend to any section of citizens (as under Article 29).

Articles 331, 333, 334, 336 and 337

• • Have the special provisions of guaranteeing representation of Anglo Indians in Union and State legislatures.

Article 350-B

• • The 7th Constitutional (Amendment) Act 1956 inserted this article which provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed by the President of India.
  • It would be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution.

Important cases related to minority

State of Madras v. Champakam, the question of Article 29(2)

• • • It was challenged for the first time.
    • The SC held that the classification to the Govt. the order was based on race, religion and caste which were inconsistent to Article 29(2).

DAV College, Bathinda v. State of Punjab

• • The rights of minority groups to the use of their own languages in schools.
  • The university ordered that Punjabi would be the one and only medium of instruction in affiliated colleges.
  • The court held that the right provided to minorities under Article 30 guarantees them to establish and administer educational institutions of their own choice.

TMA Pai Foundation case

• • The SC had said that for the purposes of Article 30 that deals with the rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions, religious and linguistic minorities have to be considered state-wise.
  • This case drew distinction between aided and unaided governmental regulation on private institutions.

How a community notified as minority?

Under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act of 1992 central government has the power to notify a community as a minority.

Notified Minorities in India

• In 1993, the first Statutory National Commission was set up and five religious communities viz. The Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) were notified as minority communities.
• In 2014, Jains were also notified as a minority community.

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR)

Source : The Hindu
GS III : Environment and Conservation

What is discussed under The Great Barrier Reef (GBR)?

1. What are Coral Reefs?
2. Great Barrier Reef of Australia
3. Key highlights of Report

Why in News ?

The northern and central regions of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have seen the highest levels of coral cover in the last 36 years (GBR) according to Long-Term Monitoring Program Annual Summary Report of Coral Reef Condition 2021/22. 

What are Coral Reefs?

• • A coral reef is an aquatic habitat characterised by corals that construct reefs.
  • Reefs are made up of coral polyp colonies bound together by calcium carbonate.

    

  • These aquatic habitat don’t not have any spines. 

Two types of Corals

1. 1. Hard corals
      • They extract calcium carbonate from seawater to build hard, white coral exoskeletons.
      • Hard corals are in a way the engineers of reef ecosystems.
      • Measuring the extent of hard corals is a widely-accepted metric for measuring the condition of coral reefs.
   2. Soft corals
      • They attach themselves to such skeletons and older skeletons built by their ancestors.
      • Soft corals also add their own skeletons to the hard structure over the years.
      • These growing multiplying structures gradually form coral reefs.

Great Barrier Reef of Australia

• • It is the world’s biggest reef system.
  • It is spanning around 2,300 kilometres and containing approximately 3,000 distinct reefs.
  • It also supports 400 distinct varieties of coral, 1,500 different fish species, and 4,000 different mollusc. 
  • It also comprises endemic species and threatened species as listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
  • It is also one of the major tourist attractions in the country and contributes to the economic development of the country.
  • Reef generated  tourism and employed over 60,000 people including divers and guides.

Key highlights of Report

• • This study summarises the status of Great Barrier Reef (GBR) coral reefs based on Long-Term Monitoring Program (LTMP) surveys of 87 reefs carried out between August 2021 and May 2022. 
  • Reefs of fast-growing Acropora corals in the Northern and Central GBR have showed an ability to initiate recovery following disturbances throughout the past 36 years of monitoring by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS).
  • Survey reefs experienced low levels of other acute stress over the past 12 months, with no severe cyclones impacting the Marine Park.
  • Above-average water temperatures led to a mass coral bleaching event over the austral summer of 2021/22.
  • Nearly half of the surveyed reefs (39 out of 87) had hard coral cover levels between 10% and 30%, while almost a third of the surveyed reefs (28 out of 87) had hard coral cover levels between 30% and 50%.
  • Central and Northern GBR, region-wide hard coral cover reached 33% and 36%, respectively.

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