The Prayas ePathshala

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24 January 2023

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

No. Topic Name Prelims/Mains
1.     POCSO Act Prelims & Mains
2.     Sovereign Green Bonds Prelims & Mains
3.     NATO  
4.                                          Param Vir Chakra Prelims Specific Topic
5.     Norovirus Prelims Specific Topic

1 – POCSO Act: GS II – Topic Government Policies and Interventions

 Context:

  • The Assam Cabinet decided on June 23 to charge men who marry girls under the age of 14 in the State under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
  • In Assam, child marriage is mostly to blame for the high rates of maternal and neonatal death.

About the POCSO Act:

  • The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development oversaw the initial introduction of the POCSO Act in 2012.
  • The Act was created to protect children from sexual assault, sexual harassment, and pornographic offences in addition to allowing for the establishment of Special Courts for the trial of such offences.
  • The Act was updated in 2019 to increase the penalty for several offences in order to deter abusers and support a respectable upbringing.

Important components:

  • A gender-neutral law: The POCSO Act establishes a gender-neutral tone for the legal framework available to victims of child sexual abuse by defining a child as “any individual” under the age of 18.
  • A person in charge of an institution who neglects to disclose the sexual offence committed against a subordinate is punishable. excludes children.
  • The reporting of abuse has no time limit: A victim may at any time report an offence, even several years after the abuse took place.
  • Confidentiality regarding the victim’s identity: The Act outlaws revealing the victim’s identity in any form of media unless expressly permitted by the special courts established by the statute.
  • In accordance with the 2020 POCSO Rules, new obligations:
  • Every employee of a facility that keeps children or regularly interacts with them must submit to periodic background checks and police verification.
  • Staff employees at such a facility need to receive frequent training on kid safety and protection.
  • A child protection plan based on the principle of zero tolerance for child abuse must be implemented by the organisation.

Contrasting the POCSO Act’s implementation with global standards:

  • A 2019 Economist Intelligence Unit investigation found that among the countries surveyed, India has the best legislative system for safeguarding children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
  • In terms of this statistic, India performed better than the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Australia.

Concerns:

  • Despite the existence of such comprehensive regulations prohibiting it, the scale of such abuse is staggering.
  • According to a recent survey, one in every two children in India experiences sexual assault.
  • In the vast majority of cases, the victim also knows the perpetrators, which discourages them from using the judicial system to seek redress.
  • Since the Covid-19 epidemic, there have been many more instances of child abuse due to the development of new forms of cybercrime.
  • The general level of awareness or knowledge of the POCSO Act among young boys and girls in the country is still appallingly low.
  • Certain ethnic groups in the country commonly engage in child marriage due to a lack of understanding of the POCSO Act, which has resulted in the prosecution of 17 to 18-year-old children.

 Way Forward:

  • The Karnataka High Court recently gave the State Education Department instructions to set up a system for educating students about the act and its provisions, at least starting in Class IX.

 Prelims Hot Link:

  • Features of POCSO Act
  • Why was it introduced
  • When was it introduced
  • Important judgements related to women safety like Vishakha Singh Case

 Mains Question:

  • To end child sexual abuse, the POCSO act’s scope needs to be increased, not widened. Comment on POCSO critically in light of recent court rulings. (250 Words)

Source  The Hindu

 2 – Sovereign Green Bonds:  GS III – Topic Indian Economy

 Context:

  • According to recent information from the RBI, Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) would be issued for the first time in two tranches of 8,000 crore each on January 25 and February 9.
  • The money will be used, according to a statement from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), for public sector initiatives that reduce the economy’s carbon intensity.

What legal foundation exists for sovereign green bonds?

  • The Framework largely complies with the Prime Minister’s justification of India’s “Panchamrit” commitments made at the Conference of Parties (COP) 26 in Glasgow in November 2021.
  • India would be even more committed to meeting the goals outlined in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), as required by the Paris Agreement.
  • The Green Finance Working Committee (GFWC) was created to ratify crucial decisions for the issuance of Sovereign Green Bonds.
  • The independent second opinion source CICERO in Norway gave the framework a “Good” governance score and a “Medium Green” grade.
  • If a project or solution “represents considerable progress toward the long-term target, but is not quite there yet,” it is granted the “Medium Green” designation.
  • All activities connected to fossil fuels as well as biomass-based renewable energy projects that rely on feedstock from “protected areas” have been left out of the framework.

What Are Sovereign Green Bonds?

 About:

  • Offering green bonds, which guarantee fixed income payments to investors while solely backing programmes that improve the environment or the climate, are corporations, states, and international organisations.
  • Green construction, environmentally friendly transportation, and renewable energy are just a few of the activities that might be included.
  • The proceeds from these bonds will fund environmental initiatives. This is distinct from normal bonds, which provide the issuer broad discretion over how to spend the money raised.
  • By the end of 2020, 24 national governments would have issued sovereign green, social, and sustainability bonds totaling USD 111 billion, predicts the London-based Climate Bonds Initiative.

 Benefits of sovereign green bonds:

  • Sovereign green issuance sends a clear message to governments and authorities about their intentions towards climate change and sustainable development.
  • As the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that 70% of the additional USD 4 trillion investment needed to reach net-zero is needed in emerging/developing countries, sovereign issuance can help jump-start these sizeable capital inflows.
  • A robust market for the issuing of green bonds by foreign investors could eventually arise as a result of the creation of a sovereign green benchmark.

Status:

  • Global Status: It is believed that there are 40 trillion dollars worth of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds, with Europe accounting for more than half of this sum.
  • Approximately one-third of all assets managed globally are expected to be ESG assets by 2025.
  • Over 80% of “environmental” or “green” bonds make up the majority of the approximately USD 2 trillion invested in ESG debt funds, with the remainder money going toward social and sustainability bonds.
  • National Status: According to the Climate Bonds Initiative, a global organisation working to raise money for climate change, Indian organisations have issued green bonds totaling more than USD 18 billion.
  • What other actions to combat climate change were highlighted in the budget?
  • A battery swapping programme was among the climate change efforts included in the budget.
  • High-efficiency solar module production will receive additional money through the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) programme.
  • The government is creating a new bill that intends to provide a legal framework for carbon trading in India in order to encourage the inclusion of renewable energy sources in the energy mix.

Mains Question:

  • What Are Sovereign Green Bonds? How could they open the door for investments in the country’s environmental sustainability? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.

Prelims Hot Link:

  • What are Sovereign Bonds
  • What are Green Bonds
  • When was it first introduced in India
  • Various types of Green Bonds
  • Various types of Sovereign Bonds

Source The Economic Times

 3 – NATO:  GS II – Topic International Organizations

 Context:

  • According to President Tayyip Erdogan, up to 130 “terrorists” must be deported or extradited to Turkey before the Turkish Parliament will support Sweden’s and Finland’s applications to join NATO.
  • The two Nordic nations submitted applications to join NATO last year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, all 30 NATO members must approve of their applications. The applications have not yet received approval from Hungary or Turkey.

Background:

  • The North Atlantic Treaty, sometimes known as the Washington Treaty, was the first military alliance between the United States and non-western countries.
  • After the Second World War, the European nations battled to reconstruct their economies and security. For the economy to advance, the war-torn landscapes need a significant amount of aid. Even though Germany and the Soviet Union continued to pose a danger, assistance was needed to set up an industry and supply food.
  • According to the Marshall plan, the US believed that the new Europe was economically strong, equipped, and linked, all of which were essential for preventing the communist takeover of the continent (1948).
  • The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, was put out by Secretary of State George Marshall to promote European economic integration and further the idea of shared interests and cooperation between the United States and Europe.
  • But the Soviet Union declined to participate and even prevented its satellite countries in Eastern Europe from taking the financial aid. These exacerbated the division between the east and west.

Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):

  • The initial members were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
  • Later, the following countries joined the original signatories: West Germany (1955; Germany from 1990), Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia (2004), Albania and Croatia (2009), Montenegro (2017), and North Macedonia (2020).
  • France continued to be a member of NATO after leaving its integrated military leadership in 1966; in 2009, it rejoined.
  • In accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the North Atlantic Treaty, if one or more of them are subject to an armed attack in Europe or North America, they are all at risk. As a result, they agree that, in the event of an armed attack, each of them will support the party or parties that are being attacked by acting immediately, both individually and collectively, in accordance with their right to individual or collective self-defense recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.
  • The geographic scope of the pact is defined in Article 6 as “an armed attack on the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America.” Other articles require the allies to strengthen their democratic institutions, boost their combined military strength, consult one another, and keep extending an invitation to further European countries to join.

 About NATO’s Organization:

  • The North Atlantic Council was immediately established after the North Atlantic Treaty. This group meets at least twice a year and is made up of ministerial representatives from the member countries. At all other times, the council, which is presided over by the NATO secretary general, is still in session.
  • The Supreme Allied Commander Europe was established by the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s executive body, following World War II (SACEUR).
  • The position of SACEUR has always been held by an American, whereas the secretary-general ship has always been held by a European.
  • The Military Committee, which is made up of members of the military chiefs of staff of the member nations, includes two strategic commands, Allied Command Operations (ACO) and Allied Command Transformation (ACT) (ACT). ACO is under the direction of the SACEUR and is housed in the Casteau, Belgium-based Supreme Headquarters of SHAPE.

The Warsaw Pact:

  • The Paris Agreement, which permitted West Germany to join NATO, led to the creation of the Warsaw Pact alliance in central and eastern Europe in 1950.
  • The Warsaw Treaty Organization, which was initially composed of the Soviet Union and Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania, was founded by the Warsaw Pact, officially known as the Warsaw Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance. On May 14, 1955, it was ratified, and it was in effect until July 1, 1991. East Germany and Albania both withdrew in 1990.
  • The agreement (which was renewed on April 26, 1985) stipulated that Soviet military units must be kept on the territory of the other participating countries and that there must be a single military command.
  • After the democratic revolutions in eastern Europe in 1989, the Warsaw Pact was formally proclaimed “nonexistent” at a last summit gathering of Warsaw Pact leaders in Prague, Czechoslovakia, on July 1, 1991. The deployed Soviet military gradually left the formerly dependent states that have gained political independence.
  • All Warsaw Pact members save for Russia, the Soviet successor state, joined NATO after officially rejecting the ongoing conflict between eastern and western Europe.

 Russia and NATO relations:

  • The question of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s eastward expansion has been brought up regularly by Russia (NATO). Over the years, there have been many ups and downs in relations between NATO and Russia.
  • Russia joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme in 1994.
  • The Russia-NATO Council was established in 2002 to coordinate security-related projects and other duties.
  • In response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) unanimously decided to end any cooperation with Russia in 2014. However, the NATO-Russia council was not suspended.
  • 2021: Eight Russian diplomats were expelled from Brussels while the Russian mission to NATO was present. The NATO expansion into Ukraine, which ultimately led to the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, was something that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed worry about.

Prelims Hot Link:

  • About NATO
  • Members of NATO
  • Various treaties associated with NATO

 Mains Question:

  • Investigate the history of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and how it relates to current geopolitics.

Source  The Hindu

 4 – Param Vir Chakra: Prelims Specific Topic

 Context:

  • The 21 largest unidentified islands in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands received new names on Monday in honour of people who had been awarded the Param Vir Chakra by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • Through a video conference, Mr. Modi took part in the event and revealed a model of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose national memorial that will be erected on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep.

About:

  • India’s highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra, or PVC, is given to people who have displayed the greatest valour when facing an enemy on land, at sea, or in the air. On January 26, 1950, the first Republic Day, it was first celebrated. This honour could be presented posthumously.
  • The “Param Vir Chakra” is the highest gallantry award given by India during times of conflict. The Sanskrit words for wheel, bold, and ultimate are Param and Vir, respectively (pronounced “veer”). The phrase “Param Vir Chakra” means “Wheel or Cross of the Ultimate Brave” in its direct translation.

Who was behind the creation of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest bravery honour?

  • Savitri Khanolkar, often known as Savitri Bai, was the wife of Indian Army commander Vikram Khanolkar and the creator of the Param Vir Chakra. She was persuaded to launch it by Hira Lal Atal, the first Indian Major General and Adjutant General. The award has not changed since 1950. It hasn’t changed in any way.

Medal of the Param Vir Chakra:

  • A bronze medal with a one and three eighths inch diameter, the Param Vir Chakra is round in shape. Four images of “Indra’s Vajra” are depicted on the obverse, while the state emblem and motto are written in the middle. The Param Vir Chakra will be engraved on the reverse in both Hindi and English, with two lotus blossoms separating the two languages. The fitting will be swivel-fastened. The entire disc is held in place by a suspension bar that has a purple ribbon running through it.

 Bar of the Param Vir Chakra:

  • Anyone who displays such bravery once more will be honoured by having a bar added to the ribbon on which the Param Vir Chakra is suspended. A Bar will be added for each such act of courage, and any such Bar or Bars may even be given posthumously. Please note that each Bar has a tiny “Indra Vajra” that must be paired with the ribband when worn by itself.

Awards comparable to the Param Vir Chakra

  • The Param Vir Chakra is the Indian counterpart of the Victoria Cross and the Medal of Honor.

Who was the first person to get the Param Vir Chakra?

  • Somnath Sharma received the first Param Vir Chakra after his death for his extraordinary bravery.

Source  The Press Information Bureau

 5 – Norovirus: Prelims Specific Topic

 Context:

  • Despite enhanced efforts by the health officials to stem the spread of the sickness, two students in Ernakulam have been diagnosed with norovirus infection.
  • The virus has been confirmed in two students from Classes I and II at Bhavan’s Adarsha Vidyalaya in Kakkanad. About 62 children and a few parents showed early symptoms of the virus. The medical needs of three college students are being met. Their condition is said to be stable. The illness was present in the stool samples from the two children that were delivered to the State Public Health Laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram.

 About:

  • It is a group of viruses that causes gastrointestinal problems.
  • It causes inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines in addition to severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
  • The norovirus is resistant to a number of disinfectants and can withstand temperatures of 60°C. As a result, just heating food or chlorinating water won’t get rid of the virus. The virus is resistant to several commonly used hand sanitizers.

Transmission:

  • Despite the fact that a person can contract various norovirus strains numerous times over the course of a lifetime, immunity to one strain does not transfer immunity to others.
  • By consuming contaminated food or coming into contact with contaminated surfaces, a healthy individual can contract the virus from an infected person.
  • The virus is primarily transmitted through oral faeces.
  • In closed facilities like nursing homes, dormitories, and cruise ships, disease outbreaks typically occur.
  • Although the virus can infect people of any age, it is known to cause particularly severe symptoms in small children, the elderly, and people who have have coexisting medical issues.
  • Among the symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, stomachaches, and digestive problems.
  • Treatment options include over-the-counter medications for vomiting and diarrhoea, even though there isn’t a specific therapy to treat the virus.
  • There are 685 million occurrences each year, of which 200 million include children under the age of five.
  • Up to 50,000 children die from the virus’ diarrhoea each year.

Source  The Livemint

 

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