22 March 2023

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

1 – Hindu Kush Region: GS I-Topic: Geography-related issues:

Context:

• A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region at 10:17 PM on March 21. The earthquakes reportedly took place at a depth of 156 kilometres, according to the National Center for Seismology. Among the countries affected are India, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
• There were large earthquakes in North India, which includes Delhi-NCR, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The shocks caused many to be afraid when they came out of their homes. In India, there have been no reported losses of life or property up to this point.

Hindu-Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region:

• The HKH region includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Burma, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• It covers an area of roughly 5 million square kilometres and is home to a vast and culturally diverse population.
• It is recognised as the Third Pole, after the North and South Poles, and has a significant impact on the climate.
• It has extensive cryospheric zones and is the largest reservoir of snow and ice outside of the polar region.
• According to a recent assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the HKH region is at risk from global warming.
• Floods in the mountainous and downstream areas of the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra river basins would become more frequent and severe as a result of an increase in high precipitation events.
• Furthermore, by the end of the century, flood severity is expected to more than double.

About IMD:

• Seismology, meteorological measurements, and weather forecasting are mostly handled by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) of the Indian government.
• It has its headquarters in Delhi and operates numerous observation stations throughout India and Antarctica.
• It is one of the six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers recognised by the International Meteorological Organization.
• The Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea are included in the northern Indian Ocean region, which is also responsible for forecasting, identifying, and disseminating alerts for tropical cyclones.

About WMO:

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), an intergovernmental organisation, has 193 Member States and Territories.
• On March 23, 1950, the WMO Convention was approved, making the WMO the United Nations’ specialised organisation for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.
• The corporate headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.

 Source  The Hindu

2 – Waste to Energy Plants in India: GS II –Topic Health-related issues:

Context:

• According to the Kerala government, Kozhikode will soon be home to the first waste-to-energy facility in the state. The planned facility will generate about 6 Megawatts of electricity and is expected to be built in two years.
• In the country, there are about 100 waste-to-energy projects, but only a few of them are now in operation due to severe production and management challenges.
• In a recent study, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) discovered that over half of India’s waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, which are intended to turn non-biodegradable waste into energy, are inoperative.
• A low capacity is also being used by the present plants.
• Since 1987, 15 WTE plants have been constructed all around the country. However, seven of these factories have since been shut down.
• The main reasons for closing are the plants’ inability to manage mixed solid waste and the expensive electricity they produce, which makes them unattractive to power companies.
• In India, municipal solid waste (MSW) has a low calorific value despite having a high moisture content.
• The majority of wastes transported to WTE plants are rarely sorted and also contain a significant amount of inert material (inert materials like soil, sand, grit, etc).
• These wastes can’t be burned, so burning them increases the cost of operating these units by requiring more fuel.
• Yet, as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, the NITI Aayog expects to employ 800 Mega Watt from WTE plants by 2018–19, which is ten times the aggregate capacity of all WTE plants that are now in operation.
• It is even suggested to establish a Waste-to-Energy Company of India, which would construct incineration plants based on PPP principles.

Waste-to-Energy Facilities:

• In a waste-to-energy or energy-from-waste plant, solid municipal and industrial waste is transformed into energy and/or heat for industrial processing.
• In the energy plant, the waste is burned at a high degree, producing steam as a result of the heat. The steam then propels a turbine to generate energy.
• Burning trash reduces the amount of waste that would otherwise be buried in landfills while simultaneously producing electricity. Burning MSW results in an 80% volume reduction, which has a number of difficult to measure social and economic benefits.

Advantages:

• Without proper treatment, the bulk of generated wastes find their way into land and water areas, seriously polluting both the water and the air.
• Using waste as fuel results in clean, dependable electricity from a sustainable fuel source, reducing dependency on fossil fuels, whose burning is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Some significant benefits provided by waste-to-energy include:

• Success in managing municipal solid waste may lead to opportunities in managing hazardous, industrial, and sewage waste, among other sorts of rubbish.
• There are opportunities for trash to energy everywhere, not only in India. So, there may be a lot of potential for Indian enterprises to grow abroad, especially into nearby Asian countries.

Challenges:

• Waste-to-energy is still a relatively new concept in India.
• For processing urban waste, the majority of the tried-and-true, widely-used technologies must be imported.
• The cost of projects is high since necessary equipment must be imported.
• Due to the Municipal Corporations’/Urban Local Bodies’ low level of compliance with the Solid Waste Management Regulations, 2016, which restricts the availability of waste-to-energy plants, segregated municipal solid trash is often not available at the plant site.
• Municipal corporations and urban local bodies lack funding.
• Lack of supportive policy regulations from state governments for facilities for garbage supply, power purchase/evacuation, and land allocation.
• In addition, the public has voiced its strong objection to the WTEs. For instance, there has been persistent criticism to the environmental pollution caused by the Okhla WTE plant in Delhi.

How to Proceed:

• With the effects of climate change, the emphasis on renewable energy sources, and the expanding population, the WTEs technique is necessary to manage the rising energy demand in a sustainable manner. Yet, it’s also essential to ensure sure they function.
• Urban local bodies (ULBs) should make an investment in creating a waste management action plan in accordance with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules, 2016, within a time-bound framework, and promote and adopt the crucial elements of the waste hierarchy, including refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover.
• Decentralized technology must be used to focus on source segregation, promote awareness, and develop an action plan for the city’s waste management. This will ensure that our environment is safeguarded and developed, in accordance with Article 51 A(g) of our Constitution, in addition to improving WTE efficacy.

 Source  The Hindu

3 – Indian Diaspora: GS II –Topic International Relations:

Context:

• As Khalistani activists took the Indian flag from the building on Sunday, members of the Indian diaspora in the U.K. gathered in front of the Indian High Commission in London to show their solidarity.
• On Wednesday, the Federation of Sikh Organizations and other organisations declared that they would demonstrate outside the Indian High Commission against “discriminatory practises by the Indian Police in Panjab.” Internet access has lately been limited in Punjab as security forces hunted for Amritpal Singh, the founder of the Waris Punjab De organisation and a pro-Khalistan speaker, and his supporters.

What Is Diaspora?

Origin:

• The word “diaspora” is derived from the Greek word diaspeiro, which signifies dispersion. Since the first group of Indians were sent as indentured labourers under the “Girmitiya” system to nations in the eastern pacific and the Caribbean islands, the Indian diaspora has increased tremendously.

Classifications:

• Non Resident Indians (NRIs) are Indians who live outside of India. A person is regarded as an NRI if they do not spend 182 or more days in India during the fiscal year, or if they spend less than 365 days in India over the preceding four years and less than 60 days in that year.
• Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs): A PIO is a foreign national who meets one of the following criteria: Was born and has maintained a permanent residence in India as defined by the Government of India Act, 1935; or Is the spouse of an Indian citizen or PIO.
• In 2015, the PIO category was eliminated and combined with the OCI category.
• Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs): In 2005, a distinct category of OCIs was established. A foreign national received an OCI card:
• who on January 26, 1950, fulfilled the qualifications to become a citizen of India.
• Belonged to a territory that joined India after August 15, 1947, or acquired Indian citizenship on or before January 26, 1950.
• Little offspring of such individuals were also eligible for OCI cards, with the exception of those who were citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh.

Geographical Distribution:

• In 2020, India will have the largest emigrant population in the world, making it the top origin country globally, according to the Global Migration Report, 2022.
• According to government information given to Parliament in 2022, the Indian diaspora is geographically dispersed. In nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Kuwait, and Canada, there are about 10 lakh Indians who reside abroad.

Remittances:

• India is anticipated to receive more than USD 100 billion in remittances for the first time in 2022, according to the World Bank Migration and Development Brief, which was published in 2022.
• According to the Global Migration Report, the top five nations that get remittances are India, China, Mexico, the Philippines, and Egypt (in descending order).

Significance of Indian Diaspora:

• Enhancing India’s Soft Power: The Indian diaspora is one of the richest minority in many developed nations. Their role to “diaspora diplomacy,” in which they serve as “bridge-builders” between their adopted and home nations, is clear.
• The Indian diaspora is a totally portable political vote bank in addition to being a component of India’s soft power.
• Also, there are many persons of Indian descent who hold powerful political posts in many other nations, which strengthens India’s political influence at multilateral organisations like the United Nations.
• Economic Contribution: Remittances from the Indian diaspora have favourable systemic impacts on the Balance of Payments (BOP), which help to close a larger trade deficit.
• Lower-skilled workers’ migration, particularly to West Asia, has reduced disguised unemployment in India.
• The migratory workforce also made it easier for innovations, business and commercial concepts, and secret knowledge to enter India.

 Source The Hindu

4 – CBI: GS II –Topic  Statutory and Non-Statutory Bodies:

Context:

• On March 21, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stated that it had spoken with the Commission for Control of Interpol’s Files about the serious mistakes and omissions that were made in making the “unfounded and perfunctory” decision to remove the Red Notice against fugitive Mehul Choksi from Interpol’s files (CCF). The agency has taken efforts to restore the notice.

About CBI:

• The Central Bureau of Investigation is India’s main police investigation agency (CBI).
• It supports the Central Vigilance Commission and Lokpal.
• Its functions are supervised by the Department of Personnel, Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances, Government of India, a section of the prime minister’s office.
• Yet, it is the Central Vigilance Commission’s responsibility to direct the inquiries into crimes covered by the Prevention of Corruption Act.
• Also, on behalf of Interpol Member countries, it is the nodal police organisation in India that organises enquiries.
• In terms of conviction rates, which can reach 65 to 70%, it is comparable to the best investigation organisations in the world.

What is the history of CBI?

• The British Indian Department of War established the Special Police Establishment (SPE) in 1941 to look into allegations of bribery and corruption in Second World War procurements.
• It was then formally constituted as a government of India organisation to look into charges of corruption in a number of government sectors by passing the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.
• Although not being a legislative body, the CBI is given investigative authority by the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
• The Santhanam Committee on Corruption Prevention pushed for the establishment of the CBI (1962–1964).
• In order to investigate serious crimes involving the defence of India, high-level corruption, serious fraud, cheating, and embezzlement, as well as social crime, in particular hoarding, black-marketing, and profiteering in essential commodities with national and interstate implications, the Indian government established the CBI in 1963.
• The CBI eventually started investigating more frequent crimes like murders, kidnappings, hijackings, and crimes committed by radicals.

What Sorts of Cases are handled by the CBI?

• Anti-Corruption Crimes – for the investigation of cases involving public employees and employees of the central government, public sector undertakings, corporations, or bodies that are owned or controlled by the Indian government in accordance with the Prevention of Corruption Act.
• fake Indian currency notes, bank frauds, cybercrime, violations of import, export, and foreign exchange laws, large-scale drug trafficking, the smuggling of antiquities, cultural property, and other contraband items, etc. Economic Crimes – for the investigation of Severe Economic Frauds and Massive Financial Scams.
• Special Crimes include cases of terrorism, bomb blasts, kidnapping for ransom, and crimes committed by the mafia/underworld. These cases are investigated in accordance with the Indian Criminal Code and other legislation at the request of State Governments or on orders from the Supreme Court and High Courts.
• Suo Moto Cases – Only in Union Territories can the CBI conduct a suo moto investigation.
• Before the Central Government can authorise the CBI to investigate a crime in a State, the relevant State Government must provide its consent.
• The Supreme Court and High Courts, however, have the authority to order the CBI to investigate a crime anywhere in the country without the consent of the State.

Which cases have ties to the CBI investigation?

• A Supreme Court panel forwarded a matter in which the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) has provided an affidavit on the withdrawal of “general consent” to the CBI by a number of States to the Chief Justice of India for hearing in December 2021.
• The CBI’s authorization to conduct investigations on the territory of eight States has been removed.
• According to Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act of 1946, which created the CBI, the CBI cannot conduct investigations outside of Union Territories without the State’s permission.
• The CBI asserts that it is no longer essential for it to investigate allegations of corruption against Central employees and enterprises operating within the borders of various States because of the widespread withdrawal of permission.

What challenges does the CBI encounter?

• Political interference: The Indian Supreme Court criticised the CBI harshly, comparing it to a “caged parrot speaking in its master’s voice,” for allowing too much politics to affect how it conducts business.
• It was routinely utilised by the present administration to cover up wrongdoings, manage coalition partners, and threaten political opponents.
• Investigations are reportedly taking a very long time to complete, which has drawn criticism. One instance is the slowness with which the high dignitaries were investigated in the Jain hawala diary case [in the 1990s].
• Loss of credibility: The agency has come under fire for how it handled a number of delicate cases, including the Bofors scandal, the Hawala scandal, the Sant Singh Chatwal case, the Bhopal gas tragedy, and the 2008 Noida double murder case. It has also received criticism for how it handled several cases involving prominent politicians (Aarushi Talwar).
• Lack of Public Accountability: Because CBI is exempt from the provisions of the Right to Information Act, it lacks public accountability.
• A significant factor in the severe personnel shortage is the government’s flagrant mishandling of the CBI’s employees through a system of inadequate and perplexingly biassed recruitment practises, which were utilised to bring in favoured officers, potentially to the organization’s damage.
• The State Government must first give its permission for CBI agents to conduct investigations, which limits their jurisdiction.
• Access Restrictions: Obtaining prior approval from the Central Government to start an investigation or probe into Central Government employees at the level of Joint Secretary and above is a significant obstacle to combating corruption at higher levels of bureaucracy.

What steps may be taken to make the CBI run more efficiently?

• Remove the CBI from administrative control of the government – As long as the current administration has the power to transfer and post officials to the CBI, the investigative agency won’t have autonomy and won’t be able to freely investigate cases.
• Giving the institution statutory standing through legislation, comparable to that afforded to the Comptroller & Auditor General and the Election Commission, will make maintaining its independence easier.

In its twenty-fourth report, the parliamentary standing committee on personnel, public grievances, law, and justice made the following recommendations about CBI operations:

• strengthening CBI’s ability to boost administrative accountability via administrative empowerment, more financial resources, improved infrastructure investments,
• Give the CBI more power over the Union, State, and Concurrent List of the Indian Constitution’s Seventh Schedule. A new law known as the “Central Bureau of Intelligence and Investigation Act” should take the place of the DSPE Act.
• The L P Singh group recommended a comprehensive central statute in 1978 to overcome the drawback of not having a central investigative agency with a self-sufficient legal charter of duties and actions.
• The Second Administrative Reforms Commission’s (2007) suggestion is that a new law be enacted to govern the CBI’s operations.

 Source  The Hindu