Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 26-06-2021

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 26-06-2021

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Healthcare and Medicine - WHO warning on Delta variant - The WHO's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the Delta variant of COVID-19, identified in at least 85 countries, is the "most transmissible" of the variants identified so far. He stated that it's spreading rapidly among unvaccinated populations, and it was imperative for nations to vaccinate at faster rates. The lack of enough vaccines is making new waves emerge all over the world, making it difficult for many nations to resume normal social functioning. The US President Biden recently tweeted a video of Dr Fauci, explaining the threat of the Delta variant, and urged Americans to help crush it.
2. Governance and Institutions - Special Purpose Vehicle for Mission Karmayogi - A three-member task force was formed to help the government in bringing major bureaucratic reforms through its ambitious “Mission Karmayogi”. The Centre approved the ‘National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building – Mission Karmayogi’ to effect a transformational shift from rule based training to role-based capacity development of all civil services in the country. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), namely ‘Karmayogi Bharat’, would be set up as a not-for-profit company, under section 8 of Companies Act, 2013 as a 100% government-owned entity. The SPV will be responsible: to deliver and manage design, implement, enhance and manage a digital platform / manage and deliver competency assessment services / manage governance of telemetry data and ensure provision of monitoring and evaluation.
3. Energy - "Renewable power generation costs in 2020" report - The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released the ‘Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2020’ report. 38% of the total global energy capacity now has higher operating costs than new utility-scale photovoltaics and onshore wind energy. Replacing this expensive coal power with renewables will save operators USD 32 billion a year and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by around three billion tonnes. The year 2020 was a record year for renewables deployment despite the Covid-19- pandemic, with 261 GW installed. Around 162 GW or 62% of total renewable power capacity added in 2020 had lower costs than the cheapest new fossil fuel option. The growth was due to (a) advancements in technologies, (b) consistent fall in component costs, (c) cost-competitive supply distribution channels, and (d) learning by using commercial-scale availability.
4. Science and Technology - World’s first genetically modified rubber - The world’s first Genetically Modified (GM) rubber plant developed by Rubber Research Institute was planted in Assam. Genetic modification (GM) technology allows the transfer of genes for specific traits between species using laboratory techniques. The GM rubber has additional copies of the gene MnSOD, or manganese-containing superoxide dismutase, inserted in the plant, which is expected to tide over the severe cold conditions during winter in the northeast. Natural rubber is a native of warm humid Amazon forests and is not naturally suited for the colder conditions in the Northeast, which is one of the largest producers of rubber in India. Growth of young rubber plants remains suspended during the winter months. This is the reason for the long immaturity period of this crop in the region. Rubber is made from the latex of a tree called Hevea Brasiliensis. It is an equatorial crop, but under special conditions, and is also grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas. (Temperature: Above 25°C with moist and humid climate. Rainfall: More than 200 cm. Soil Type: Rich well drained alluvial soil.) Cheap and adequate supply of skilled labour is needed for this plantation crop. India is currently the sixth largest producer of NR in the world. Top rubber producing states are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
5. Science and Technology - New electrocatalyst for Metal-Air batteries - The International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) has developed a non-precious metal-based bi-functional electro-catalyst (that can catalyze two types of reactions). It developed the cost-effective electrocatalyst by anchoring transition metal ions into the sulphur-doped carbon framework via carbonization of a polymer called sPEEK (sulphonated polyether ether ketone). This catalyst synthesis method can also be used to recycle used ionomers (polymer composed of both neutral repeating units and ionized units). An ion-exchange strategy is used to position the metal ions in the carbon framework homogeneously. This will limit the particle size and offers control on composition and size at a very low loading of transition metal. A bi-functional catalyst works for oxygen reduction while discharging the battery and the same catalyst helps in oxygen evolution reaction during the charging cycle. [ARCI is an autonomous R&D Centre of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India]
6. Indian Economy - Draft Code on social security (Employee's compensation) (Central) Rules, 2021 - Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified the draft rules relating to Employee’s Compensation under the Code on Social Security, 2020 for suggestions. The Code on Social Security, 2020 amends and consolidates the laws relating to social security to extend social security to employees and workers in the organised as well as unorganised sectors. Chapter VII (Employee’s Compensation) of the Social Security Code, 2020 envisages, inter-alia, provisions relating to employer’s liability for compensation in case of fatal accidents, serious bodily injuries or occupational diseases. The draft Employee’s Compensation rules notified by the Central Government provide for the provisions relating to manner of application for claim or settlement, rate of interest for delayed payment of compensation, venue of proceedings and transfer of matters, notice and manner of transmitting money from one competent authority to another and arrangements with other countries for the transfer of money paid as compensation.
7. Defence and Military - Pinaka rocket tested - The DRDO successfully test fired extended range version of indigenously developed Pinaka rocket from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) on 24th and 25th June 2021 at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. The enhanced range version of Pinaka Rocket System can destroy targets at distances up to 45 kms. The rocket system has been developed jointly by Pune based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) with manufacturing support from M/s Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur. The Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launch system that can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds. The weapon system, mounted on a Tatra truck, is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance kit comprising an advanced navigation and control system. The Navigation system of the missile is also aided by the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
8. Defence and Military - Project Seabird - Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh visited the Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka on June 24, 2021 to review the progress of ongoing infrastructure development under ‘Project Seabird’. RM says it will be Asia’s largest Naval Base and further strengthen the operational readiness of the Armed Forces. INS Kadamba is an Indian Navy base located near Karwar in Karnataka. The first phase of construction of the base, code-named Project Seabird, was completed in 2005 and the base was commissioned on 31 May 2005. Development of Phase II commenced in 2011. INS Kadamba is currently the third largest Indian naval base, and is expected to become the largest naval base in the eastern hemisphere after completion of expansion Phase IIB.
9. Constitution and Law - Twitter versus Law Minister on a point of Law - After India's IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Twitter barred him from accessing his account for nearly an hour, the American company confirmed it had temporarily restricted him. It was due to a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice (DMCA) and the referenced tweet has been withheld. The IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had earlier said Twitter denied him access to his account for almost an hour on the alleged ground that there was violation of Digital Millennium Copyright Act of USA. "Subsequently they allowed me to access the account," he added. "No matter what any platform does they'll have to abide by...new IT rules fully," wrote Prasad.
10. Indian Politics - Covid Update - (a) India reported 48,698 new COVID-19 cases and 1,183 deaths in the last 24 hours; the total number of active cases in the country was 5.95 lakh, while 64,818 people recovered from the virus. (b) Experts from the ICMR have said that "Third wave of Covid won't be as severe as second wave. More vaccination and Covid appropriate behaviour could play an important role in mitigating these waves. Study on vaccine effect on Delta plus variant of Covid is underway". (c) Vaccine major Serum Institute of India (SII) is all set to start phase 2 and 3 paediatric trials of Covovax on 920 children — 460 each in the 12-17 and 2-11 age groups — from next month. The recombinant nanoparticle protein-based vaccine —NVX-CoV2373 — developed by American biotechnology firm Novavax has been branded as Covovax in India. It will be the fourth Covid-19 vaccine to undergo clinical trials for children in India.

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• SECTION 2 - DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

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• 1. ECONOMY (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper)

Income tax concessions for Covid 19 hit Indians

• Some relief for Covid-hit Indians: The government announced that it would offer a variety of tax concessions to Covid-affected Indians. This would give the much needed tax concession to people that may have received financial help from their employers and well-wishers for meeting expenses incurred for treatment of Covid-19.
• Details: Amounts paid by an employer to an employee, or to a person by another, for Covid 19 treatment will be exempt from income-tax in FY20 and subsequent years. This includes ex-gratia payment by the employer to an employee's family or by any person to any other person's family on the death of employee or any other person on account of COVID-19 for 2019-20 or subsequent year.

1. Ex-gratia payments received by family members of a person who has died due to Covid 19 from an employer will also be tax exempt without any limit. Such a payment from other persons aggregating to Rs 10 lakh will be tax exempt, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) announced. COVID treatment has also turned out to be costly for quite a lot of people.
2. Free vaccination drive for everyone above 18 years has already been announced, as a relief measure.
3. Industry captains appreciated the government’s decision, saying that the exemptions will provide some respite to many affected taxpayers.
4. The government may have to revive the time limit for filing income tax returns for FY19-20 since the relief has been granted retrospectively and the due date for filing ITR for FY19-20 has already expired.

• Deadline extension: The government extended certain compliance deadlines including payments for Vivaad Se Vishwas settlement cases and equalization levy. Last date for payment of tax without additional amount under Vivad se Vishwas has been further extended August 31, from June 30. With the additional amount the last date has been notified as October 31. Time limit for processing equalisation levy returns has been extended to September 30, from earlier deadline of June 30. Equalisation levy statement for FY21 can be filed by July 31 instead of June 30. Deadline for PAN-Aadhaar linking has been extended to September 30 from earlier date of June 30.

1. Deadline for completion of assessment proceedings, completion of penalty proceedings, registration of charitable trusts and institutions for income tax exemption, have also been extended, which will provide additional time to taxpayers as well as tax authorities for meeting the timeline.
2. Objections to dispute resolution panel (DRP) and assessing officer for which the last date was June 1, or later can be filed by August 31 or later date provided in in Section 144C of the income tax Act.
3. Statement of deduction of tax for the last quarter of the FY21 required to be furnished on or before May 31, can be filed by July 15 instead of the extended deadline of June 30.
4. Certificate of tax deducted at source (TDS) in Form 16, required to be furnished to the employee by June 15 can now be filed by July 31, instead of the extended date of July 15.
5. Time limit for passing assessment order which was earlier extended to June 30 now is further extended to September 30. In case of passing penalty order deadline is further extended September 30.

• Summary: The government has realised the gravity of the situation, and the immense financial pain many Indians are in, today. Hence, several relief measures are being brought.

India's taxation system and federalism

• India a union of states: India’s choice of a Union, instead of a federal set up, after 1947 has had the ultimate effect of making states more dependent on the Centre, though that wasn't the intention to being with. As times have changed, a fundamental rethink of the taxation system may be done.
• Basic truth: The income taxes in India are collected at the central level (by union government), and then shared with the states as per the formula given by the Finance Commission. This makes the states 'dependent' on the central government to some extent. After the arrival of GST regime in 2017, this dependence has become more acute.

1. Direct taxes include income tax and corporate tax. In the U.S., both the federal and State governments collect such taxes from individuals and corporations. Then the federal government distributes about 15% of its revenues.
2. But in India, direct taxes go entirely to the Central government. The Central government then distributes 41% of its gross tax revenues to the State governments.

• The concern: When India was a young republic, things didn't become too stark or obvious, in terms of regional disparities. But as years have passed, the difference in revenue generating ability of states has become extremely stark.

1. Now, state governments get funds from the Central government according to the Finance Commission’s recommendations. But truth is that often politics intervenes and some States get less and some more. The Central government does not meet the 41% target, and keeps adding cess on various items. These are not shared with the centre.
2. The cess collections now add up to over Rs.3.5 lakh crore!
3. At an all-India level, the States get 26% of their total revenue from the Central government. Some of the so-called poorer States get up to 50% of their total revenue from the Central government. This makes them even more dependent and gives more economic power to the Central government.

• Not one India, but many: States differ hugely in their tax generation strength, with Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka contributing a major share of taxes to the government. These three along with Tamil Nadu and Gujarat contribute 72% of the tax revenue. Uttar Pradesh, which has the largest population in India, contributes only 3.12%, but gets over 17% of the revenue distributed by the Central government.

1. Revenue distribution is based on complex considerations including population and poverty levels. For every Rs.100 contributed, southern States get about 51% from the Central government, whereas Bihar gets about 200%.
2. The population growth rates in the south have come down to near zero, but population continues to grow in central and north India. So, the effective cross-subsidy from the south to the north will continue to grow.

• Summary: In a complex democracy like India's, to have a totally fair distribution of tax funds is a tough call. It is only with a fundamental reworking of tax system that something new can be achieved. A step could be to provide greater economic power to the States, so they can directly collect more taxes and be less dependent on the Central government. For poorer States, a period of transition is required. A transition to a more federal structure would improve Centre-State relations.

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• 2. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper)

Desert plants are struggling in unexpected heat

• Testing the limits: Even desert plants have their limits. As dryland ecosystems experience stronger heat waves and droughts, scientists have wondered how climate change might affect the hardy plants that thrive in harsh deserts or dry mountains. Scientists now say even the toughest vegetation cannot tolerate today’s heat waves!
• With about 40% of the world covered in dry land, the question carries enormous weight for conservation policy: Will the natural toughness of those plants prepare them for even more extreme conditions? Or have they already reached the limits of what they can endure? The dry lands are at a breaking point — and it's more closely tied to temperature than previously thought.

1. Dryland ecosystems "may be more susceptible to climate change than expected", said a new study
2. Analysis suggested these ecosystems may have crossed an ecological threshold, indicating a breakdown in the relationship between precipitation and vegetation cover beginning around 1999

• Sonoran desert: In the Sonoran Desert and nearby landscapes, vegetation cover declined much more sharply than drought or wildfires alone could explain. Satellite observations between 1984 and 2017 showed "widespread" declines in perennial vegetation cover, the researchers wrote, especially in lowland deserts. In the lowlands, modeling revealed that temperature explained much of the desert's vegetation change, according to the study. Rising heat was also the best explanation for vegetation declines over the long term, as precipitation and wildfires have swung wildly from year to year. The importance of heat was surprising even for the researchers.

1. Many plant species in desert ecosystems have adaptations that allow them to withstand high temperatures, making this observation somewhat unexpected.
2. A reason is that hotter weather makes water evaporate more quickly, creating even worse water stress on plants during the hot summer months.

• A sign of the future: Drought conditions have caused mass plant death in Southern California. That has changed the way the ecosystem responds to climate shifts. It seems to have broken down the once-predictable relationship between rain and vegetation cover.
• Summary: A potential implication is that it will be very difficult to predict future responses to changing environmental conditions, especially for drylands.

Whale vomit is precious - Story of Ambergris

• The story: News emerged that the Mumbai Police had arrested some people and seized nearly 9 kg of Ambergris. This is "whale vomit", a precious commodity in world markets!
• Details: Ambergris (French for grey amber) is generally referred to as whale vomit, and is a solid waxy substance originating in the intestine of the sperm whale. It is produced only by an estimated 1% of sperm whales, and chemically it contains alkaloids, acids, and a specific compound called ambreine, which is similar to cholesterol.

1. It floats around the surface of the water body and at times settles on the coast. Because of its high value it is referred to as floating gold. 1 kg of ambergris is worth Rs 1 crore in the international market.
2. It is used in the perfume market, especially to create fragrances like musk. It is believed to be in high demand in countries like Dubai that have a large perfume market.
3. Ancient Egyptians used it as incense. It is also believed to be used in some traditional medicines and as a spice.

• Illegal trade: Due to its high value it has been a target for smugglers especially in coastal areas. There have been several cases where the coastline of Gujarat has been used for such smuggling. Since the sperm whale is a protected species, hunting of the whale is not allowed. However, smugglers are known to have illegally targeted the fish in order to obtain the valuable Ambergris from its stomach.
• Sperm whale: This is the largest of the toothed whales, ad easily recognized by its enormous square head and narrow lower jaw. It is the 'Physeter catodon', or cachalot. It is usually dark blue-gray or brownish, with white patches on the belly. It is thickset and has small paddle-like flippers and a series of rounded humps on its back. These are found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world.
• Threats: The biggest threats emerge from habitat impacts including noise pollution and climate change. Other threats include entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and proposals to allow for a commercial hunt once again.
• Knowledge centre:

1. Whales versus Sharks - Whales are mammals but sharks are fish. Whales give birth to young ones, but some sharks are oviparous (i.e. lay eggs) although many give birth to live young too. Whales have bones whereas the sharks have no bones but only cartilage, making them much lighter for their size. Whales are much larger than sharks. The largest shark is the "whale shark", while the Antarctic blue whale is the biggest whale, and biggest animal on earth (approximately 33 elephants).
2. Evolution of whales - Both hippos and whales evolved from four-legged, even-toed, hoofed (ungulate) ancestors that lived on land about 50 million years ago. Unlike the hippo's ancestor, whale ancestors moved to the sea and evolved into swimming creatures over a period of about 8 million years. To swim, they move their tails up and down, rather than back and forth as fishes do. This is because whales evolved from walking land mammals whose backbones did not naturally bend side to side, but up and down.

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• 3. FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper)

US President Biden and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani

• The first visit: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani visited U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House for the first, and perhaps the last, face-to-face interaction ahead of the remaining U.S. and NATO forces’ withdrawal from the war-torn country by Sept. 11, 2021. For Ghani, it's imperative to stop the Taliban’s advance.
• Failed states: Interestingly, Ghani wrote a book on how to fix failed states, but is himself a test case for a potentially failed state. U.S. intelligence assessment is now indicating that the Afghan government may collapse as soon as six months after U.S. forces leave.

1. President Ghani is on a last-ditch mission to (i) stave off gains by Taliban militants, (ii) secure continued U.S. financial support after the withdrawal of NATO troops from the country, and, (iii) seek tangible assurances from Biden that the United States will not allow his government to fall.
2. More than 80 Afghan districts have fallen to the Taliban since April, when Biden announced his plan to withdraw all U.S. troops. Many Afghan forces are fighting valiantly, but countless others are surrendering to the Taliban or simply abandoning their positions, leaving behind weapons for the Taliban to stockpile.

• Ghani's failures: Ghani has tried to micromanage the war and undermine commanders, with disastrous results. Amid military setbacks, he revamped leadership in the security sector, changing interior ministers twice and replacing the minister of defense, army chief of staff, and half a dozen core commanders. Hamdullah Mohib is the national security advisor with no military experience of his own. Coalition military officials worry he is out of his depth and is weakening the resolve of the military. The Taliban have taken advantage of the vacuum. They have avoided provincial capitals, strategically advancing on surrounding districts where they either have a decisive advantage or can easily pick off targets.
• Dangerous future: The abandoned arsenal the Taliban are acquiring will make them formidable when they do move onto bigger cities like Kabul, when foreign forces are fully withdrawn. The Taliban don’t even bother to hold the districts and simply move on after the army surrenders. That makes it harder for the army to target them.
• Others rising up: As the official military continues to suffer losses, militia leaders and warlords in Afghanistan’s north, including several prominent mujahideen commanders who fought the Taliban before 9/11, are once again taking up arms and calling on supporters to mobilize against the Taliban.

1. Ghani earlier resisted pressure to devolve responsibility for security and governance to the district level.
2. Now that local forces are seemingly the only thing preventing the Taliban from taking over, they will demand more power in their regions.
3. After Kabul spent years building up a professional army, at great expense to the United States, the proliferation of freelance fighters risks a return of old rivalries and warlordism that could plunge Afghanistan back into civil war.

• Alternative: Ever since the United States announced its intention this spring to leave, a group of prominent Afghans have been working to assemble a national leadership council, supporting a modern vision for the country to present a united front against the Taliban. Ghani's personal ambitions may come in the way. The Taliban have dismissed Ghani’s visit to Washington as “useless” and of no benefit to Afghanistan.
• Today's situation: Afghanistan is a far different place than it was when the Taliban ruled in the 1990s. The group promised to continue fighting to establish an Islamic government, where the sexes will be strictly segregated, women will be forced to wear hijabs, and freedom of speech and expression are all but gone. The boring realities of governing may be an incentive for the Taliban to work with other Afghans who can do the job they can’t.
• 8. Summary: The Taliban may face a tough time if local uprisings spread rapidly. Finally, no one may prevail!

China's encroachments in Bhutan

• The story: China’s increasingly assertive approach to international diplomacy is seen not just in South China Sea or Taiwan Strait but also in settlements on the Bhutanese territory, close to India's international borders. These encroachments involve construction of three villages, 66 miles of linking roads, and military or police outposts on land understood to be within Bhutan!
• Very provocative: This move in the Himalayas is very provocative: a full-scale settlement in another country’s territory. That country is Bhutan, which lies directly between China and India. China's encroachments are an area representing 1.5% of Bhutan’s territory, an unprecedented figure.
• Not just land grab: China’s is not doing a simple land-grab, but a form of muscular diplomacy (reminiscent of the British use of gunboats in the 19th century). China is targeting its move at India as much as at Bhutan, with the goal being to trade the land it has occupied in northern Bhutan for a smaller patch of disputed territory on Bhutan’s western borders that would give China military advantage over India at a strategic flashpoint.
• Facts: Bhutan shares an over 400-km-long border with China and the two countries have held 24 rounds of boundary talks in a bid to resolve the dispute. The 10th Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on Bhutan-China Boundary was held in China's southwest Kunming city from April 6-9. In July 2020, China made a surprising claim on Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council by opposing funding to the project.
• Indian position: India has always been apprehensive about China’s moves in Bhutan as it brings Chinese military force People’s Liberation Army (PLA) closer to the Siliguri Corridor, or ‘Chicken’s Neck’ – a 60-km long 22-km wide corridor in West Bengal connecting the mainland with the North East – and, therefore, has military deployments in the region.
• Dokalam: India and Bhutan consider Doklam plateau as an integral part of Bhutan. China views it as an extension of its Chumbi Valley, the land that lies between Sikkim and Bhutan. The plateau is about 89 sq km in area, with a width of less than 10 km. China’s resort to hardball diplomacy with Bhutan is thus not primarily about territorial acquisition, nor an attempt to pressure a neighbouring state to accept a major Chinese role in their politics. But it is an attempt to force Bhutan to choose sides and to push India to display its hand in Bhutan’s affairs.
• Summary: These actions show the use by China of tactical provocation, an approach to statecraft that sees conflictual acts as productive ways to push opponents to overreact or to reveal their hands. If India doesn't react, it loses; if it does, it doesn't gain.

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• 4. GOVERNMENT SCHEMES (Prelims, GS Paper 2, Essay paper)

SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) for Mission Karmayogi

• The story: The union government wants to reform Indian bureaucracy. To that end, a task force has been formed to run the ambitious “Mission Karmayogi”.
• Points to note: The Centre approved the ‘National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building – Mission Karmayogi’ to bring about a transformational shift from rule based training to role-based capacity development of all civil services. The Programme aims to enhance citizen experience for government services and improve availability of competent workforce.

1. To properly roll out this competency-driven mission, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) ‘Karmayogi Bharat’, is being set up as a not-for-profit company.
2. It will be set up under section 8 of Companies Act, 2013 as a 100% government-owned entity. The SPV will be responsible to deliver and manage design, implement, enhance and manage a digital platform and infrastructure, manage and deliver competency assessment services, and manage governance of telemetry data and ensure provision of monitoring and evaluation.
3. The task force shall submit its recommendations on organisational structure for the SPV aligning its vision, mission and functions.

• Mission Karmayogi: It is aimed at building a future-ready civil service with the right attitude, skills and knowledge, aligned to the vision of New India. It aims to prepare Indian civil servants for the future by making them more creative, constructive, imaginative, proactive, innovative, progressive, professional, energetic, transparent, and technology-enabled.
• Logic: The bureaucracy of India is facing challenges like political interference, inefficiency with promotions, and generalist and specialist conflict. To change the status quo needs civil services reforms.
• Features: It will be technology-aided. The capacity building will be delivered through iGOT Karmayogi digital platform, with content drawn from global best practices. The scheme will cover 46 lakh central government employees, at all levels, and involve an outlay of Rs. 510 crores over a five-year period.
• From Rules to Roles: The programme will support a transition from “rules-based to roles-based” Human Resource Management (HRM) so that work allocations can be done by matching an official’s competencies to the requirements of the post. Service matters such as confirmation after probation period, deployment, work assignments and notification of vacancies will all be integrated into the proposed framework.
• Summary: The Government has ended the hegemony of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), with respect to appointments at the level of joint secretary (JS). Appointments have been drawn from other cadres also like the Indian Revenue Service, Indian Accounts and Audit Service and the Indian Economic Service. The Union government has also encouraged lateral induction of personnel from the private sector, though it is meeting stiff opposition as reservation rules have been bypassed for the same.

Unhappy CBSE students may write August exam

• The story: CBSE's Class 10 and 12 students, not satisfied with their marks assigned under the Central Board of Education’s formula, will be given a chance to write their board examinations in August 2021.
• Minister in hospital: Minister Mr. Nishank cancelled his planned interaction with students, failing to answer their queries on private CBSE candidates, entrance examinations and the current CBSE syllabus, as he was still in hospital due to post-COVID complications. In a short audio message on Twitter, he  detailed the Centre’s decision to cancel the Class 10 and 12 board examinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the tabulation policy which the CBSE is using to calculate the results based on internal marks and scores from previous exams. The Board will declare results by July 31, 2021.
• Health is wealth: He explained that students’ health was the government’s top priority. CBSE has already said that those who choose to write the exams will have to abide by the marks they score, and cannot revert to the assigned marks under its tabulation policy.
• Professional examinations: Aspirants of professional entrance examinations such as JEE and NEET wanted to know if and when their examinations would be held. The engineering entrance test JEE-Main is held four times a year, but two sessions scheduled for April and May were suspended because of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The undergraduate medical entrance test NEET is scheduled to be held on August 1 as of now.
• CUCT: There was uncertainty regarding the Central Universities Common Entrance Test, with questions being raised whether it will apply to all central institutions in 2021, including those like the University of Delhi and the Jawaharlal Nehru University which have previously used Class 12 marks or their own entrance tests for admissions. Current students of Class 10 and 12 have raised queries regarding the syllabus for 2021-22, seeking clarity on whether the 30% reduction announced last year would continue, given that teaching and learning is still being disrupted by school closures due to the pandemic.
• Summary: It is a tough situation for parents and students alike, where most are in a state of confusion and doubt about the immediate future.

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• 5. POLITY AND CONSTITUTION (Prelims, GS Paper 2, GS Paper 3)

Monetary award for maximum no. of children

• The story: When it comes to population, the normal reaction of Indians is one of worry, stress and anxiety. That is so because of the standard belief that "overpopulation has hurt India's chances". But there's a different side to this also.
• Mizoram bonanza: A Mizoram minister announced a cash incentive of Rs.1 lakh to a living parent with the highest number of children in his constituency, to encourage population growth among the demographically small Mizo communities. Sports Minister Robert Romawia Royte did not mention the minimum number of children. As said, this declaration came at a time when several large Indian states are advocating a population control policy!
• Father's Day: On the occasion of Father's Day 2021, Royte announced that he would reward a living man or woman having the largest number of offspring within his Aizawl East-2 assembly constituency with a cash incentive of Rs.1 lakh. The person will also get a certificate and a trophy. The cost of the incentive will be borne by a construction consultancy firm owned by Royte's son.
• Worried about Mizos: The minister said that the infertility rate and the decreasing growth rate of the Mizo population has become a serious concern. Mizoram is far below the optimum number of people to attain development in various fields because of the gradual decline in its population. Low population is a serious issue and hurdle for small communities or tribes like Mizos to survive and progress. Mizoram is home to various Mizo tribes.

1. He informed that some churches and influential civil society organisations like the Young Mizo Association were advocating a baby boom policy to encourage population growth for ensuring optimum size vis-a-vis the area of the state.
2. Mizoram's population was 10,91,014 as per the 2011 census. The state covers an area of approximately 21,087 square kilometres.
3. With only 52 persons per square kilometre, Mizoram has the second lowest population density in the country next to Arunachal Pradesh, which has a population density of 17 persons per sq km. The national average is 382 per sq km.

• Assam's story: Mizoram's neighbour Assam, however, is treading a different path. Its new Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that his government will gradually implement a two-child policy for availing benefits under certain schemes funded by the state. That statement was widely criticised in national media, which cited fertility rates for various communities, showing the sharp reduction over past ten years.

1. In 2019, the Assam administration decided that those with more than two children would not be eligible for government jobs from January 2021. Assam currently has a two-child norm along with other requirements for contesting in panchayat polls.
2. Then came news from Uttar Pradesh where the Law Commission Chairman Aditya Nath Mittal said that there should be a check on the increasing population as it is creating problems in the state.

• Reverse problem: The Population Foundation of India (PFI), an NGO, has said that India should learn from China's revision of its two-child policy claiming the move shows that empowering women and enhancing their capabilities work better than coercive population policies. The union government's stand in the Supreme Court has been one of promoting only voluntary population policies.

Repromulgation of Ordinances - Modus operandi

• The story: In June, the central government repromulgated the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020. The ordinance establishes a commission for air quality management in the National Capital Region. This brings to light, once more, questions about the practice of issuing ordinances to make law, and that of re-issuing ordinances without getting them ratified by Parliament.
• Historical facts: In the 1950s, central ordinances were issued at an average of 7.1 per year. The number peaked in the 1990s at 19.6 per year. A high spike in ordinance promulgation was seen in 2019 (16) and in 2020 (15).
• What is an ordinance: It was originally conceived as an emergency provision, but its frequent use has led to undermining of the role of the legislature and the doctrine of Separation of powers.
• Constitutional provisions: The Constitution permits the central and state governments to make laws when Parliament (or the State Legislature) is not in session. The Indian Constitution, in Article 123, authorizes the executive to promulgate ordinances if certain conditions are satisfied. Ordinances may be promulgated only if at least one House of Parliament is not in session. President is satisfied that “immediate action” is necessary. The Constitution states that the ordinance will lapse at the end of six weeks from the time Parliament (or the State Legislature) next meets. Similar provisions also exist for state governments under article 213.
• Supreme Court’s on ordinances:

1. The RC Cooper Case 1970: Supreme Court in the "RC Cooper vs. Union of India (1970)" held that the President’s decision to promulgate ordinance could be challenged on the grounds that ‘immediate action’ was not required, and the ordinance had been issued primarily to bypass debate and discussion in the legislature.
2. The DC Wadhwa Case 1987: The issue of frequent promulgation of ordinances was again brought up in the Supreme Court through a writ petition, regarding the promulgation of 256 ordinances between 1967 and 1981 in Bihar. This included 11 ordinances that were kept alive for more than 10 years and famously dubbed as ordinance raj. The Supreme court held that the legislative power of the executive to promulgate ordinances is to be used in exceptional circumstances and not as a substitute for the law-making power of the legislature.
3. The Krishna Kumar Singh Case 2017: Supreme Court in "Krishna Kumar Singh v. the State of Bihar" held that the authority to issue ordinances is not an absolute entrustment, but is “conditional upon satisfaction that circumstances exist rendering it necessary to take immediate action”. It further stated that the re-promulgation of ordinances is a fraud on the Constitution and a subversion of democratic legislative processes.

• More issues: As lawmaking is a legislative function, this power is provided for urgent requirements, and the law thus made has an automatic expiry date. An ordinance “ceases to operate” six weeks after the two Houses reassemble, except if it is converted into an Act by then. Repromulgation sidesteps this limitation. To repromulgate is to effectively extend the life of an ordinance and lead to the usurpation of legislative power by the executive.

1. In the "Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala case 1973", the Supreme Court listed the separation of powers as a “basic feature” of the Constitution. The ordinance mechanism, in effect, is designed to remedy situations of legislative urgency when Parliament is not in session; it is not an alternative to parliamentary legislation. But Article 123 places no numeric limits on ordinances. So the repromulgation undermines the separation of powers, as it effectively allows the executive to make permanent legislation without legislative input or approval.
2. Ignoring Supreme Court’s judgements - Even after tough judgments on the use of ordinances, both the Centre and state governments have ignored the Supreme Court’s observations. For example, in 2013 and 2014, the Securities Laws (Amendment) Ordinance was promulgated three times. An ordinance to amend the Land Acquisition Act was issued in December 2014, and repromulgated twice – in April and May 2015.

• Summary: The separation of powers given in the Indian constitution will be preserved only if the executive shows self-restraint and does not use the ordinance route except in urgent matters, and definitely not to evade legislative scrutiny and debates.

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• 6. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (Prelims, GS Paper 3)

Modern humanity's close ancestor "Dragon Man" found

• Dragon man: A skull preserved well for more than 1,40,000 years in northeastern China represents a new species of ancient people more closely related to us than even Neanderthals. This can fundamentally alter our understanding of human evolution. It belonged to a large-brained male in his 50s with deep set eyes and thick brow ridges. Though his face was wide, it had flat, low cheekbones that made him resemble modern people more closely than other extinct members of the human family tree.
• Nomenclature: The research team linked the specimen to other Chinese fossil findings and is calling the species Homo longi or "Dragon Man," a reference to the region where it was discovered. The Harbin cranium was first found in 1933 in the city of the same name but was reportedly hidden in a well for 85 years to protect it from the Japanese army. It was later dug up and handed to Ji Qiang, a professor at Hebei GEO University, in 2018. The skull dates back at least 1,46,000 years, placing it in the Middle Pleistocene.

1. Scientists said that the Harbin group was more closely linked to H. sapiens than the Neanderthals were. The Harbin shared a more recent common ancestor with homo sapiens than the Neanderthals did.
2. So Dragon Man was a "sister species" and a closer ancestor of modern man than the Neanderthals.

• Technical information: It shows typical archaic human features, but the Harbin cranium presents a mosaic combination of primitive and derived characters setting itself apart from all the other previously named Homo species. The name is derived from Long Jiang, which literally means "Dragon River." The Dragon Man probably lived in a forested floodplain environment as part of a small community. This population would have been hunter-gatherers, living off the land. From the winter temperatures in Harbin today, it looks like they were coping with even harsher cold than the Neanderthals.

1. Given the location where the skull was found as well as the large-sized man it implies, the team believe H. longi may have been well adapted for harsh environments and would have been able to disperse throughout Asia.
2. Researchers studied the cranium, identifying over 600 traits they fed into a computer model that ran millions of simulations to determine the evolutionary history and relationships between different species. These suggested that Harbin and some other fossils from China form a third lineage of later humans alongside the Neanderthals and H. sapiens.

• Many human species: More than 1,00,000 years ago, several human species coexisted across Eurasia and Africa, including homo sapiens, Neanderthals and Denisovans, a recently discovered sister species to Neanderthals. "Dragon man" might now be added to that list. An alternative explanation is that H. longi and Denisovans are in fact one and the same. Fossils so far attributed to Denisovans include teeth and bones but not a full skull, so scientists are unsure what they looked like. But Neanderthals and Denisovans were genetically closer to each other than to Sapiens, while the new study suggests H. longi were more anatomically similar to us than Neanderthals.

ITER project France - Man's fusion energy dream

• Fusion decoded: In 1938 Hans Bethe, a German physicist, worked out that stars shine because they fuse the nuclei of hydrogen into helium at their cores, a process that releases energy. Physicists have dreamed ever since that they might one day be able to build power stations that could recreate and harness that stellar process on Earth. It could end the energy problems for earthlings once and for all.
• The fusion promise: Nuclear fusion could provide clean and carbon-free power, has an unlimited supply of fuel available in ordinary sea water, and would create only small amounts of (relatively safe) waste. Such a power source could tackle two of the 21st century’s most pressing issues in one fell swoop, by satisfying the world’s increasing thirst for electricity without contributing any further to its environmental woes. If only scientists could make the technology work.
• A star on Earth: The problem of recreating a star on Earth is hard. Fusing hydrogen nuclei, which are bare protons, is extremely difficult because these positively-charged particles repel each other with great force. Fusion is possible within stars only because the immense gravity there forces the nuclei to stay together for long periods of time and overcome their mutual electrostatic repulsion.

1. Instead of trying to fuse hydrogen nuclei, therefore, physicists have focused their efforts instead on the (relatively) easier task of fusing the nuclei of deuterium and tritium.
2. These are isotopes of hydrogen that respectively contain one and two neutrons (nuclear particles that have no electrical charge) in addition to the single proton of standard hydrogen. Deuterium is abundant in sea water—around one in 6,000 molecules contains it—and tritium can be made by bombarding lithium with neutrons.

• A long journey: After seven decades of effort by many scientists, funded by billions from governments all over the world, viable nuclear fusion remains a distant dream. Most of the current work in this area (and virtually all the public money) is now focused on the $20 bn Iter experiment in France, a joint undertaking by 35 countries to see, once and for all, if fusion can be made to work at scale.

1. ITER is years behind schedule and was plagued by cost overruns during its early years. It is unlikely to succeed for at least another 15 years, if it ever does. Commercial power plants based on its technology would take another 30 years, perhaps more, to develop.
2. Many startups in America, Britain and Canada want to speed things up. Funded largely by venture capital, they want to leapfrog the slow, lumbering Iter project to bring fusion electricity onto power grids within 15 years.
3. After many decades of disappointment, there really is good reason to be optimistic about fusion. Some say that Elon Musk did not invent rocket science but that he and others took half a century’s worth of government-led research — everything from the Mercury and Apollo missions all the way to Shuttle and Soyuz beyond — and combined it with the entrepreneurial appetite for risk. The results are demonstrably better, faster and cheaper ways of getting into space.
4. Like space travel, fusion has benefited from all those years of government investment. To that can be added radical new reactor designs that utilise advanced materials, new manufacturing methods and faster computing—plus a powerful new factor: climate change. The geopolitical pressure to shift energy production away from carbon is increasing all the time and private investors can see that market signal.
5. The fusion startups’ failure rate will no doubt be high and any pay-off could be decades away. But for investors who yearn to find ideas that might one day transform the world, nuclear fusion is about the boldest bet there is.

• Knowledge centre: ITER ("The Way" in Latin) is one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world today. In southern France, 35 nations are collaborating to build the world's largest tokamak, a magnetic fusion device that has been designed to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy based on the same principle that powers our Sun and stars. The experimental campaign that will be carried out at ITER is crucial to advancing fusion science and preparing the way for the fusion power plants of tomorrow. ITER will be the first fusion device to produce net energy. ITER will be the first fusion device to maintain fusion for long periods of time. And ITER will be the first fusion device to test the integrated technologies, materials, and physics regimes necessary for the commercial production of fusion-based electricity.

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• 7. SOCIAL ISSUES (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

UN's "Immunisation Agenda 2030"

• The story: The United Nations and other agencies have launched the Immunisation Agenda 2030 (IA2030). It will contribute to achieving the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals specifically SDG 3 i.e. Good Health and Well being. Covid-19 pandemic has affected routine immunization globally.
• Points to note: The Immunisation Agenda 2030 (IA2030) sets an ambitious, overarching global vision and strategy for vaccines and immunization for the decade 2021–2030.

1. It is based on learnings from Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP). It aims to address the unmet targets of the GVAP that were initially to be fulfilled as part of the global immunisation strategy of the ‘Decade of vaccines’ (2011–2020).
2. The GVAP was developed to help realize the vision of the Decade of Vaccines, that all individuals and communities enjoy lives free from vaccine preventable diseases.
3. It is based on a conceptual framework of seven strategic priorities, to ensure that immunization fully contributes to stronger primary health care and attainment of universal health coverage.

• Four principles: It is underpinned by four core principles: it puts people in the centre, is led by countries, implemented through broad partnerships, and driven by data.
• Targets of IA2030: As part of this new immunisation programme, global agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and others have set a target of avoiding 50 million vaccine-preventable infections in this decade. It also intends to reduce the number of zero-dose children by 50%. Zero-dose children are those who have received no vaccines through immunisation programmes.

1. To achieve 90% coverage for essential vaccines given in childhood and adolescence
2. To complete 500 national or subnational introductions of new or under-utilized vaccines - such as those for Covid-19, rotavirus, or human papillomavirus (HPV)
3. The UN agencies aim to ensure through IA2030 that the benefits of immunisation are shared equitably among and within countries

• Priority section of population: The new programme will focus on a ‘bottoms-up’ approach, in contrast to the GVAP that followed a ‘top-down’ one. It will give priority to populations that are not currently being reached, particularly the most marginalised communities, those living in fragile and conflict-affected settings and mobile populations, such as those moving across borders.
• India’s onitiatives on immunization: The Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 3.0 scheme has been rolled out to cover children and pregnant women who missed routine immunisation during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Immunization Programme in India was introduced in 1978 as ‘Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In 1985, the Programme was modified as ‘Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)’.

1. India is also the major supplier to COVAX, a global initiative aimed at equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines led by UNICEF, Gavi (The Vaccine Alliance), the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and others.
2. India also began its ‘Vaccine Maitri’ to supply Covid vaccine to different nations.

• World Immunisation Week: It is celebrated every year in the last week of April, and aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. Immunisation describes the process whereby people are protected against illness caused by infection with microorganisms (formally called pathogens). The term vaccine refers to the material used for immunisation. Immunization is a success story for global health and development, saving millions of lives every year. The theme for 2021 is “Vaccines bring us closer”.

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• 8. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, GS Paper 1, GS Paper 2)

e-filing portal of IT Appellate Tribunal (ITAT eDwar)

• The story: The Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched an e-filing portal of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) called ‘itat e-dwar’ on June 25, 2021.
• Key points: This portal is part of the Digital India initiative, meaning empowering ordinary Indian with power of technology in order to bridge the digital divide between digital haves and digital have nots. Data of more than 18 crore cases are available in National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG). He suggested to integrate cases of ITAT with NJDG.
• ITAT e-dwar: It will enable innovation & empowerment and open new avenues for growth. This e-filing portal will enhance accessibility, accountability and transparency in working of ITAT, and will result into economization of use of paper, savings in costs and rationalization of fixation of cases which in turn help in quicker disposal of cases. It would help parties to file their Appeals, Miscellaneous Applications, documents, etc electronically.

DRDO test fires enhanced Pinaka Rockets

• The story: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired an extended range version of “Pinaka” rocket. It was carried at Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha on June 25.
• Key points: The DRDO test-fired 25 Enhanced Pinaka Rockets in quick succession against targets at different ranges. This 122 mm Caliber rockets were launched with the help of Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL). To check accuracy of rockets hitting the target, all flight articles were tracked by various Range instruments.
• Enhanced Pinaka Rocket System: The enhanced version was developed by Pune based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL). They got manufacturing support from Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur. Enhanced Systems can destroy targets kept at distances up to 45 kilometres. These systems were developed to achieve longer range performance.
• Pinaka: It is an indigenous multi-barrel rocket launch system. It was developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for Indian Army. Its weapon system comprises of state-of-the-art guidance kit which is bolstered by advanced navigation and control system. Navigation system of this missile is aided by Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). Initial version of weapon system was called Mark I, which had the range of 40 km. This range was increased up to 70 to 80 kms in upgraded missile called Pinaka Mark II.

Smart City awards 2020

• The story: The government launched the ambitious Smart City mission a few years ago. The Smart City Awards 2020 was announced under the ‘Smart Cities Mission’ on June 25.
• The winners: Uttar Pradesh was ranked as top performing state under India Smart Cities Award Contest 2020. Madhya Pradesh came second while Tamil Nadu at third position. Surat and Indore won best award for their overall performance in 2020. Best union territory award was conferred to Chandigarh.
• The scheme: These awards were announced to mark six years of three urban transformative missions by Central government namely, Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Urban Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban.

1. Awards were given under the themes of Social Aspects, Governance, Urban Environment, Sanitation, Culture, Economy, Water, Built Environment and Urban Mobility. Some other interesting themes were added this year namely, Sustainable Business model of ICCC and Innovation award specially in COVID Management.

• Category-wise winners: Under this theme, Tirupati won award for Health Benchmark for Municipal Schools while Bhubaneswar won for Socially Smart Bhubaneswar. Tumakuru won award for Digital Library Solution. In governance category, Vadodara received the first rank. In urban environment category, joint winners are Bhopal and Chennai. Smart Cities Leadership Award was conferred on Ahmedabad, Varanasi and Ranchi.

International Day of the Seafarer 2021

• The story: The International Day of Seafarer is observed every year on June 25. This day is marked to appreciate the efforts of seafarer in boosting global economics and commerce.
• Seafarers: They play an important role in boosting global economics and commerce. Several industries rely on sea routes and ships to transport their good to get the business. Therefore, seafarers are extremely imperative in facilitating these things.
• History: This day was first celebrated in 2011 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The day was designated by organization which is a United Nations agency focussed on shipping. It was designated by a resolution adopted by “Conference of Parties to International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)”. This conference was held in 1978 in Philippines.
• Importance: This day is significant for economy and commerce. On this day, governments of different countries and shipping corporations etc are invited to celebrate and promote awareness regarding the day. On the occasion, awareness is raised about the role that sailors play in facilitating business and boosting commerce worldwide. IMO also discusses rights of the sailor at foreign posts. Private shipping companies are also asked to provide sailor adequate facilities. For 2021, international day of seafarers was observed under the theme- “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future”.

9.1 Today's best editorials to read

• We offer you 7 excellent editorials from across 10 newspapers we have scanned. 

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• SECTION 3 - MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

Solve the online quiz given, right now. Check scores, and relative performance!

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