Abhimanu

Weekly current affairs Series

Week: II, Oct 2016

Abhimanu’s IAS Study Group Chandigarh

NATIONAL ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

Public Debt Management Cell

The Centre has decided to set up an independent agency to mange its debt. As a precursor, the Finance Ministry will soon set up the Public Debt Management Cell (PDMC) in the Budget Division.

About PDMC:

The PDMC, which will have only advisory functions to avoid conflict with statutory functions of the RBI, will plan government borrowings, including market borrowings and domestic borrowing activities like issuance of Sovereign Gold Bond.

The PDMC will also manage government’s liabilities, monitor cash balances, improve cash forecasting, foster a liquid and efficient market for government securities along with advising government on matters related to investment, capital market operations, administration of interest rates on small savings, among others.

PDMC will develop an Integrated Debt Database System (IDMS) as a centralised database for all liabilities of government, on a near real-time basis and undertake requisite preparatory work for PDMA. PDMC will have 15 experienced debt managers from Budget Division, RBI, Middle Office and other government units

Functions of PDMC:

The PDMC will at present only have advisory functions to avoid “any conflict” with the statutory powers of the RBI.

To start with, it would plan the borrowings of the Centre, manage the Central government liabilities and monitor the cash balances.

It would also develop an integrated debt database system as a centralised data base for all liabilities of the government on a near real time basis.

It will also advise government on matters related to investment, capital market operations and interest rates on small savings as well as undertake requisite preparatory work for PDMA.

Composition of PDMC:

The PDMC would be staffed with 15 “experienced” debt managers from the Budget Division, RBI, middle office and other units and would be under the overall supervision of the Joint Secretary (Budget), Department of Economic Affairs.

Analysis:

PDMC will allow separation of debt management functions from RBI to the Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) in a gradual and seamless manner, without causing market disruptions. The cell will be converted to a statutory authority in about two years’ time. This move would help divest the RBI of its dual and often conflicting roles as the banker and manager of the Centre’s borrowing.

PDMA will will bring both India's external borrowings and domestic debt under one roof.

The RBI walks a tight rope while balancing management of public debt and controlling inflation. So, creating the PDMC is a welcome move, which will help the RBI focus on controlling inflation

The idea of separating public debt management from the Reserve Bank was initiated in 1991. Since then, a plethora of reports culminating in the comprehensive Aziz committee report in September 2008 have vouched for it. Most OECD countries have established dedicated debt management units. Several emerging economies like Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and South Africa, have also restructured and consolidated debt

management. It said there are tangible benefits of PDMA, the most important being divorcing borrowing costs from the repo rate.

The need to set up a separate debt management agency was also driven by the fact that RBI sets monetary policy as well as sells bonds on behalf of the government. It was felt that the central bank may be tempted to try and sell bonds at high prices, while keeping interest rates low, leading to a conflict of interest.

Regional air link scheme may use e-auction path

The civil aviation ministry is all set to start the bidding process of routes under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS) and it has sought the coal ministry’s suggestions on e-auctioning in this regard.

The government will unveil the final RCS policy soon after which it will invite bids from the airlines wanting to fly on regional routes.

About Regional Connectivity Scheme

This scheme will come into effect in the second quarter of 2016-17

Airfare of about Rs 2500 per passenger for a one-hour flight

This will be implemented by way of: a) Revival of airstrips/airports as No-Frills Airports at an indicative cost of Rs. 50 crore to Rs 100 crore; b) Demand driven selection of Airports/airstrips for revival in consultation with State Govts and airlines

Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to airline operators: RCS only in those states which reduce VAT on ATF to 1% or less, provide other support services and 20% of VGF

Concessions by Stakeholders: a) There will be no airport charges; b) Reduced Service tax on tickets (on 10% of the taxable value) for 1 year initially ; c) Reduced Excise duty at 2% on ATF picked at RCS airports

State government will provide police and fire services free of cost. Power, water and other utilities at concessional rates

Creation of Regional Connectivity fund for VGF through a small levy per departure on all domestic flights other than Cat II/ Cat IIA routes, RCS routes and small aircraft below 80 seats at a rate as decided bythe Ministry from time to time

VGF to be shared between MoCA and State Governments in the ratio of 80:20. For the North Eastern States, the ratio is 90:10

Analysis(On booming Indian aviation industry in last decade)

In order to tap the potential of the aviation sector, the government has now made an effort to eliminate some of the impediments obstructing the growth of this sector. One such step is the National Civil Aviation Policy 2015. On perusal of the policy, it appears the government has been able to identify and isolate the significant aspects, which are relevant for turnaround of the present situation of the aviation sector.

For instance, the government starting to implement Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) effective April 1, 2016 in order to achieve the target of nationwide airline connectivity. The tax incentives under RCS include, substantial reduction of tax on sale of ATF, exemption from the levy of service tax on sale of air tickets for airlines flying on designated routes.

Also, in order to boost the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry in India, the government proposes to offer various tax and non-tax incentives to the industry, such as zero-rating the services by such MRO unit, relaxation in availing customs exemption on import of tools and aircraft parts and extension of tax-free storage of imported equipment for up to three years.

The success aviation sector is largely dependent on the ability of the central government to reconcile its differences with the state governments and implement all the indirect tax incentives envisaged both under the central and state laws. With the introduction of the GST regime, the government is hopeful to resolve majority of the indirect tax issues so as to boost the growth of the Indian aviation industry.

However, it is equally imperative that until the introduction of the GST regime, the government work towards easing out the issues faced under the present tax regime by the aviation industry. One can only hope that Indian aviation industry would soon get its wings and prove to be one of the key growth sectors for the

country in the years to come.

Noble Prize in Economics

Harvard University’s Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmström of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Economics for laying the groundwork for contract theory and its role in shaping everything from executive pay to privatizations.

Research on Contract theories:

Modern economies are held together by innumerable contracts. The new theoretical tools created by Hart and Holmström are valuable to the understanding of real-life contracts and institutions, as well as potential pitfalls in contract design.

Society’s many contractual relationships include those between shareholders and top executive management, an insurance company and car owners, or a public authority and its suppliers. As such relationships typically entail conflicts of interest, contracts must be properly designed to ensure that the parties take mutually beneficial decisions.

This year’s noble laureates have developed contract theory, a comprehensive framework for analysing many diverse issues in contractual design, like performance-based pay for top executives, deductibles and co-pays in insurance, and the privatisation of public-sector activities.

In the late 1970s, Bengt Holmström demonstrated how a principal (e.g., a company’s shareholders) should design an optimal contract for an agent (the company’s CEO), whose action is partly unobserved by the principal.

Holmström’s informativeness principle stated precisely how this contract should link the agent’s pay to performance-relevant information. Using the basic principal-agent model, he showed how the optimal contract carefully weighs risks against incentives. In later work, Holmström generalised these results to more realistic settings, namely: when employees are not only rewarded with pay, but also with potential promotion; when agents expend effort on many tasks, while principals observe only some dimensions of performance; and when individual members of a team can free-ride on the efforts of others.

In the mid-1980s, Oliver Hart made fundamental contributions to a new branch of contract theory that deals with the important case of incomplete contracts. Because it is impossible for a contract to specify every eventuality, this branch of the theory spells out optimal allocations of control rights: which party to the contract should be entitled to make decisions in which circumstances? Hart’s findings on incomplete contracts have shed new light on the ownership and control of businesses and have had a vast impact on several fields of economics, as well as political science and law. His research provides the new theoretical tools for studying questions such as which kinds of companies should merge, the proper mix of debt and equity financing, and when institutions such as schools or prisons ought to be privately or publicly owned.

NATIONAL POLITY

SC widens ambit of Domestic Violence Act

The Supreme Court has widened the scope of the Domestic Violence Act by ordering deletion of the words “adult male” from it, paving the way for prosecution of women and even non-adults for subjecting a woman relative to violence and harassment.

The apex court has ordered striking down of the two words from Section 2(q) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, which deals with respondents who can be sued and prosecuted under the Act for harassing a married woman in her matrimonial home.

Referring to earlier verdicts, the apex court said “the microscopic difference between male and female, adult and non-adult, regard being had to the object sought to be achieved by the 2005 Act, is neither real or substantial, nor does it have any rational relation to the object of the legislation”.

The order allows a woman to seek legal action against her daughter-in-law and even her minor grandchildren for domestic violence. Earlier, only daughter-in-law could sue her husband and his women relatives. But a domestic violence complaint couldn’t be filed against the daughter-in-law as the accused under the law could only be adult males.

According to the court, these words violated right to equality under the Constitution and are discriminatory.

About Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA)

The Act seeks to cover those women who are or have been in a relationship with the abuser where both parties have lived together in a shared household and are related by consanguinity, marriage or a relationship in the nature of marriage, or adoption; in addition relationship with family members living together as a joint family are also included. Even those women who are sisters, widows, mothers, single women, or living with the abuser are entitled to get legal protection under the proposed Act.

‘Domestic violence’ includes actual abuse or the threat of abuse that is physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and economic. Harassment by way of unlawful dowry demands to the woman or her relatives would also be covered under this definition.

One of the most important features of the Act is the woman’s right to secure housing. The Act provides for the woman’s right to reside in the matrimonial or shared household, whether or not she has any title or rights in the household. This right is secured by a residence order, which is passed by a court. These residence orders cannot be passed against anyone who is a woman.

The other relief envisaged under the Act is that of the power of the court to pass protection orders that prevent the abuser from aiding or committing an act of domestic violence or any other specified act, entering a workplace or any other place frequented by the abused, attempting to communicate with the abused, isolating any assets used by both the parties and causing violence to the abused, her relatives and others who provide her assistance from the domestic violence.

The act provide appointment of Protection Officers and NGOs to provide assistance to the woman w.r.t medical examination, legal aid, safe shelter, etc.

The Act provides for breach of protection order or interim protection order by the respondent as a cognizable and non-bailable offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees or with both. Similarly, non-compliance or discharge of duties by the Protection Officer is also sought to be made an offence under the Act with similar punishment.

Janani Suraksha Yojana

A new study conducted by India Human Development Survey (IHDS) brings in first conclusive evidence of the role played by Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) in reducing ‘socioeconomic disparities’ existing in maternal care.

Main highlights of the study:

According to the study, JSY has led to an enhancement in the utilisation of health services among all groups especially among the poorer and underserved sections in the rural areas, thereby reducing the prevalent disparities in maternal care.

Three key services of maternal care were used for the analysis: full antenatal care (full ANC), safe delivery, and postnatal care.

The increase in utilisation of all three maternal healthcare services between the two rounds was remarkably higher among illiterate or less educated and poor women.

The usage of all three maternal healthcare services by the OBC, Dalit, Adivasis and Muslim women increased between the surveys.

After the implementation of the JSY, there was generally a narrowing of the gap between the less educated and more educated women and between the poorer and richer women.

It was found that women in their early twenties were more likely to avail of each of the three maternal health care services as compared to their older women. Also, the incidence of women availing maternal healthcare services decreases with the increase in the number of children they have delivered.

The study notes that the gap in access to healthcare between the marginalised group of women and those who are financially better-off has declined since the advent of the JSY program. But, inequality in access to maternal care persists

About Janani Suraksha Yojana:

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission (NHM). It is being implemented with the objective of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by promoting institutional delivery among poor pregnant women. The scheme is under implementation in all states and Union Territories (UTs), with a special focus on Low Performing States (LPS).

Janani Suraksha Yojana was launched in April 2005 by modifying the National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS).

The NMBS came into effect in August 1995 as one of the components of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).

The scheme was transferred from the Ministry of Rural Development to the Department of Health & Family Welfare during the year 2001-02.

The NMBS provides for financial assistance of Rs. 500/- per birth up to two live births to the pregnant women who have attained 19 years of age and belong to the below poverty line (BPL) households.

When JSY was launched the financial assistance of Rs. 500/- , which was available uniformly throughout the country to BPL pregnant women under NMBS, was replaced by graded scale of assistance based on the categorization of States as well as whether beneficiary was from rural/urban area.

States were classified into Low Performing States and High Performing States on the basis of institutional delivery rate i.e. states having institutional delivery 25% or less were termed as Low Performing States (LPS) and those which have institutional delivery rate more than 25% were classified as High Performing States (HPS).

Accordingly, eight erstwhile EAG states namely Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Odisha and the states of Assam & Jammu & Kashmir were classified as Low Performing States. The remaining States were grouped into High Performing States.

SC says jails are overcrowded by 150 %, laments plight of inmates

The Supreme Court asked the Centre to ensure compliance of its order regarding reducing the prison population and improving the living conditions of prisoners saying it is "distressed" to note that no attention is being paid to fundamental and human rights of undertrial and convicted prisoners.

According to supreme court, Unless due importance is given to the fundamental rights and human rights of the people, the right to life and the right to live with dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution will have no meaning.

It also directed Union Ministry of Women and Child Development to expedite preparation of manual for juveniles in custody and is ready on or before November 30.

The apex court also noted that not a single state or Union Territory has bothered to prepare a Plan of Action for reducing the prison population as directed on May 6 and directed the states and Inspectors General of Police to prepare a viable Plan of Action in six months by March 31, 2017.

According to official data, two of every three persons incarcerated in India have not yet been convicted of any crime.

The number of convicts in jails grew by 1.4% from 2012 to 2013, but the number of undertrials shot up by 9.3% during the period.

Men make up more than 90% of all prison inmates. Nearly 2,000 children of women inmates live behind bars, 80% of those women being undertrials.

Undertrials are younger than convicts — nearly half are under the age of 30 and over 70% have not completed school.

The court, in a judgment on a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL), observed that prisons are crammed with inmates by over one and a half times the permissible limit.

The judgment also observed that “Fundamental rights and human rights of people, however they may be placed, cannot be ignored only because of their adverse circumstances.”

The court also said that that it was “unfortunate that in spite of directions by the Court, the prison authorities have not been able to take any effective steps for reducing overcrowding in jails”.

Analysis(Issues of Concern):

80% prisoners are under trials

Even though bail is granted, prisoners are not released.

Lack or insufficient provision of medical aid to prisoners

Callous and insensitive attitude of jail authorities

Punishment carried out by jail authorities not coherent with punishment given by court.

Harsh mental and physical torture

Lack of proper legal aid

High amount of surety ordered by courts which indigent prisoners can’t pay

Rejection of surety bonds due to lack of money or verification of addresses, as indigent prisoners don’t have houses.

Corruption and other malpractices.

Mining Surveillance System

Union Government has launched the Mining Surveillance System (MSS) in New Delhi .

MSS is a satellite-based monitoring system which aims to establish a regime of responsive mineral administration, through public participation, by curbing instances of illegal mining activity through automatic remote sensing detection technology.

It is developed by Ministry of Mines, through Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), has developed the MSS, in coordination with Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG), Gandhinagar and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY).

How it operates?

In the MSS the maps of the mining leases have been geo-referenced. The geo-referenced mining leases are superimposed on the latest satellite remote sensing scenes obtained from CARTOSAT & USGS.

The system checks a region of 500 meters around the existing mining lease boundary to search for any unusual activity which is likely to be illegal mining. Any discrepancy if found is flagged-off as a trigger.

Automatic software leveraging image processing technology will generate automatic triggers of unauthorized activities. These triggers will be studied at a Remote Sensing Control Centre of IBM and then transmitted to the district level mining officials for field verification. A check for illegality in operation in conducted and reported back using a mobile app.

A user-friendly mobile app has been created which can be used by these officials to submit compliance reports of their inspections. The mobile app also aims to establish a participative monitoring system where the citizens also can use this app and report unusual mining activity.

Analysis:

Developed under the Digital India Programme, MSS is one of the first such surveillance systems developed in

the world using space technology. The current system of monitoring of illegal mining activity is based on local complaints and unconfirmed information. There is no robust mechanism to monitor the action taken on such complaints.

The advantages of remote sensing technology based monitoring system are that it is Transparent (Public will be provided an access to the system); Bias-free and Independent (The system has no human interference); Deterrence Effect (‘Eyes watching from the sky’); Quicker Response and Action (The mining areas will be monitored regularly. Sensitive areas will be monitored more frequently); Effective Follow-up (action taken on triggers will be followed-up at various levels like DMG, State Mining Secretary, State Office and Headquarters Office of IBM and Ministry of Mines, GoI).

There are in total 3843 mining leases of major minerals in India. Out of which, there are 1710 working mines and 2133 non-working mines. Most of the working mines have been digitized.

National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC)

The Centre is planning to revive the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

After the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack that the then Home Minister suggested setting up of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), on the lines of the one in the United States and the British Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, for coordinated counter-terror operations.

About NCTC:

Its aim will be to collect, analyze and disseminate intelligence data, coordinate between various national and state counter terrorism bodies, to plan and carry out counter terrorist operations. It can search, seize property, arrest, demand information from any other agency while carrying out its tasks. The legal basis for its powers is UAPA provision where the central government can permit an officer to make arrest etc. if he has got a "reason to believe" that a person committed an unlawful activity.

Analysis:

Currently India has RAW, IB, NTRO, Defence Research Agency and Aviation Research Centre etc. working on terrorism. There is no coordination between them.

NCTC is unavoidable because, at present, the Union Government cannot deploy its military and para-military forces suomotu to deal with internal security problems in the States and often the States are unwilling to accept these Central forces due to dubious political compulsions.

State police forces are not professional and lack capabilities to deal with terror. State forces are also used to serve political ends. Unfortunately, the record of the Union Government is equally questionable.

But unlike the American NCTC which deals only with planning and integration of intelligence without any operational involvement, the Indian agency will have not only intelligence functions but also powers to conduct operations. It is this concentration of powers that has had the states objecting to the NCTC .

Current agencies are not willing to submit their autonomy. Different agencies also report to different ministries which are not willing to part with them.

NCTC is also an arm of IB which doesn't have arrest / search powers right now. But NCTC has been given such powers.

Being an IB wing, there is a likelihood of these powers being misused for political gains. Also with such powers, IB would be busy defending its arrests in courts and this would compromise its efficacy.

NCTC would also get embroiled in IB’s running battle with the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), which is responsible for external intelligence. Terrorism has both international and national aspects; hence, the NCTC must be separated from the IB to maintain equidistance from the IB and the R&AW.

Instead of NCTC, the law and order machinery in the States should be fully assisted by the Centre with equipment, technology and training. This would be more relevant to meeting the threat since they have local knowledge of the terrain, language and culture.

Inadequate consultations with the states and a top-heavy attitude of the central government is what brought

about its downfall. It tried to put it under IB, outside parliamentary oversight. It also was trying to create NCTC via an executive order and not a legislation.

IEA Partnered with India on LED Programme

International Energy Agency is partnering with India to promote its LED programme on global level.

India, through its company Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), has performed exceedingly well in terms of vastly improving access to LED lighting while reducing their cost drastically.

The price at which EESL has been purchasing LED lights to distribute under the government’s Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (Ujala) scheme has been consistently falling over the last couple of years. The company purchased LEDs at Rs.310 per piece in 2014, and the price fell to Rs.55 as of March 2016.

Along with this, production has also been ramped up to about four crore per month from the 10 lakh a month that were produced two years ago. LED lights consumes 80 per cent less electricity than incandescent bulbs.

About UJALA scheme:

Objectives

The main objective is to promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness on using efficient equipment which reduce electricity bills and help preserve environment.

Overall targets

Overall target of number of incandescent bulbs to be replaced : 200 million

Expected overall annual energy savings : 10.5 billion KWh

Expected reduction of load : 5000 MW

Expected annual cost reduction of consumer bills : Rs. 40,000 crore

Annual estimated greenhouse gas emission reductions : 79 million tonnes of CO2

Implementation agencies

The Electricity Distribution Company and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) a public sector body of Government of India are implementing the programme.

Eligibility of acquiring LED bulbs

Every grid-connected consumer having a metered connection from their respective Electricity Distribution Company can get the LED bulbs at about 40% of the market price under the UJALA Scheme. Consumers also have the option of paying for the LEDs in equated monthly instalments.

Registering complaints

Complaints during distribution can be addressed at the distribution agency’s customer care center number which is publicized in the advertisements and awareness drives. EESL has ensured that a toll-free helpline number, corresponding to the manufacturer, is printed on the UJALA LED bulb box as well as the consent deed (payment receipt). Once the duration of the distribution is over the consumers can contact the respective manufacturer via these helpline numbers and seek replacement of the bulb. The respective manufacturer will guide the consumer to the nearest retail outlet, at which the bulbs with technical flaws can be replaced.

Through the UJALA scheme consumers can avail from a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 10 LED bulbs, depending on the region. Studies indicate that a domestic household on an average has 5-6 lighting points.

Analysis:

An ordinary bulb is an extremely energy inefficient form of lighting with just 5% of the electricity input converted to light. Efficient light bulbs like Light-emitting Diode (LEDs) consumes only one-tenth of energy used by ordinary bulb to provide the same or better light output. However, high cost of LEDs has been a barrier in adoption of such efficient lighting systems.

As of now, EESL has distributed over 10 crore LED bulbs under UJALA programme and this has led to significant savings to the country and consumers who are using these bulbs.

Under India’s commitment to achieving 30-35% reduced carbon emissions, the country has recognized energy efficiency as a key mitigation strategy. Therefore, the government is committed to executing schemes like

UJALA.

The UJALA scheme has played a significant role in creating awareness about energy efficient lighting. In 2014-15, the total number of LED bulbs that were distributed was mere 30 lakhs. The number of LED bulbs distributed in 2015-16 has crossed 15 crore, where 9 crore LED bulbs were distributed under UJALA and the remaining were contributed by the industry. For this year, the Government of India is confident of distributing an additional 20 crore LED bulbs. Sustained efforts under UJALA, coupled with industry support, will help the government achieve its objective of replacing 77 crore inefficient bulbs by March 2019.

Efficient domestic lighting is one of the largest contributors to energy savings globally and the distribution of 10 crore LED bulbs in India has led to savings of over 1,298 crore kWh annually. This number has also helped the country avoid capacity of about 2,600 MW. Most importantly, the country has benefitted from reduction of CO2 emission by over 1 crore tonnes annually.

LED bulbs consume half the energy as that of CFLs and one tenth as that of incandescent bulbs. UJALA is the largest non-subsidised LED programme in the world. The programme has led to significant savings to the consumers who are using these bulbs.

Gender disparity

The World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2015 ranked India at 139 out of 145 countries on the economic participation and opportunity gap.

India’s overall female labour force participation (FLFP) rate remains low and has, in fact, dropped from 35% in 1991 to 27% in 2014.

As per World Bank data, the world average is around 50% and South Asia is at 31%.

According to a 2015 International Monetary Fund (IMF) working paper, in urban India, the recent FLFP rate is even lower at less than 20%; within this, segments such as graduates are around 30%, which although higher than the national average, have seen a decline since the 1990s.

Another study notes that women account for only 24% of senior management roles globally. In India, women held 19% of senior manager roles, but only 14% did so at the executive level. India is ranked among the worst of 48 countries in terms of female leadership.

About Gender disparity Index:

The index of gender disparity in terms of legal rights has been developed by the Fraser Institute and its research partners—including the Centre for Civil Society in New Delhi.

The index measures the legal barriers women face when it comes to exercising the same economic freedom available to men in their countries.

There are five components to the index of gender disparity. These include: a) Freedom of movement; b) Property rights ; c) Financial rights; d) Freedom to work ; e) Legal status.

Analysis:

When it comes to the issue of female participation in the labour force, India is an outlier in Asia. Too few women go out of their homes to work for a wage on a regular basis.

Data show that women enter the labour force in large numbers when there is economic distress, such as a drought. They come out to support the dwindling family income. They then withdraw from the labour force once economic circumstances improve.

Statistics reveal that improvement in education hasn’t completely chipped away at the gender disparity in employment.

The right to safety and to choose the life they want is the biggest challenge even today.

Women who get paid for their work earn less than their male colleagues, even when doing the same work, which economists call the gender wage gap.

Female unemployment has been on the rise in some states of India. And few states have not taken this

seriously.

Lack of infrastructure, transportation, and child care facilities have also held women back.

The more daunting problem is that of social norms that deny the possibilities of economic freedom to women.

Diversity targets have to be set. They help elevate the issue, thereby pushing organizations to identify women with high potential and ensure that they are provided opportunities to accelerate.

Another positive move is the increasing openness of organizations to extend paid maternity leave beyond the grossly insufficient three months mandated by law.

In advanced economies, more women will work if they have access to parental leave and affordable child care.

Flexible work arrangements help women to juggle their many responsibilities and to achieve a better work-life balance.

It’s also important to allay negative perceptions associated with utilizing flex options, by making them more broad-based and encouraging their use for both men and women.

Organizations need to proactively coach employees on biases that unconsciously play out through body language, day-to-day behaviour and word choices. These often go undetected and stand in the way of hiring and retaining the best talent in the organization.

Affinity groups and their mission continue to be as relevant as ever. At the same time, the methods must evolve. They need to be a platform for proactive solutions, be more inclusive, and must bring male colleagues to the table, as peers, thought leaders and co-beneficiaries of the mission.

Heritage Infrastructure Development and Augmentation Yojana

Ministry of Urban Development has approved projects worth Rs.114 cr under Heritage Infrastructure Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) for improving infrastructure facilities around core heritage sites in five cities of Varnasi, Amritsar, Dwaraka, Puri and Warangal.

The approval in this regard was given by an inter-Ministerial HRIDAY National Empowered Committee.

About HRIDAY:

The Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, launched the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme on 21st January, 2015, with a focus on holistic development of heritage cities.

The scheme aims to preserve and revitalise soul of the heritage city to reflect the city’s unique character by encouraging aesthetically appealing, accessible, informative & secured environment.

With a duration of 27 months (completing in March 2017) and a total outlay of INR 500 Crores, the Scheme is being implemented in 12 identified Cities namely, Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni and Warangal. The scheme is implemented in a mission mode.

The Scheme supports development of core heritage infrastructure projects which shall include revitalization of urban infrastructure for areas around heritage assets identified / approved by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and State Governments. These initiatives shall include development of water supply, sanitation, drainage, waste management, approach roads, footpaths, street lights, tourist conveniences, electricity wiring, landscaping and such citizen services.

Central government will meet the entire expenditure under the scheme. But, the states and local urban bodies are requested to supplement their resources for rapid development of heritage cities.

The project will work through a partnership of Government, Academic Institutions and local community combining affordable technologies.

The 12 cities selected for the scheme are Ajmer, Amritsar, Amravati, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Warangal, Puri, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Varanasi and Velankanni.

Analysis:

This mission seeks to preserve and rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country.

With 32 UNESCO recognized natural and cultural heritage sites, ranking second in Asia and fifth in the world,

the tourism potential of the country is still to be fully harnessed and this scheme will help in this regard.

HRIDAY seeks to promote an integrated, inclusive and sustainable development of heritage sites, focusing not just on maintenance of monuments but on advancement of the entire ecosystem including its citizens, tourists and local businesses

No nation can move forward ignoring its cultural heritage and legacy. India is a diverse land of languages and religions and we need to preserve the legacy of all kinds. HRIDAY is a step towards reviving the soul of cities hosting such rich heritage’

Maharashtra becomes 17th State to join UDAY

Government of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Government of Maharashtra and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL) under the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY).

Under UDAY, sixteen states/UT have already signed the MoU till date, Maharashtra become the seventeenth state to join this.

Salient Features of UDAY:-

UDAY will rearrange Rs 4.3 lakh crore debt of the utilities besides introduce measures to cut power thefts and align consumer tariff with cost of generating electricity.

States shall take over 75% of DISCOM debt as on 30 September 2015 over two years – 50% of DISCOM debt shall be taken over in 2015-16 and 25% in 2016-17.

This will be implemented through 4 initiatives – improving operational efficiencies of discoms, reduction of cost of power, reduction in interest cost of discoms and enforcing financial discipline on discoms through alignment with state finances.

Government of India will not include the debt taken over by the States as per the above scheme in the calculation of fiscal deficit of respective States in the financial years 2015-16 and 2016-17.

States will issue non-SLR including SDL bonds in the market or directly to the respective banks / Financial Institutions (FIs) holding the DISCOM debt to the appropriate extent.

DISCOM debt not taken over by the State shall be converted by the Banks / FIs into loans or bonds with interest rate not more than the bank’s base rate plus 0.1%. Alternately, this debt may be fully or partly issued by the DISCOM as State guaranteed DISCOM bonds at the prevailing market rates which shall be equal to or less than bank base rate plus 0.1%.

States shall take over the future losses of DISCOMs in a graded manner and shall fund them.

State DISCOMs will comply with the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) outstanding since 1st April, 2012, within a period to be decided in consultation with Ministry of Power.

Operational efficiency improvements is proposed to be brought in by compulsory smart metering, upgradation of transformers and meters to reduce electricity lost during transmission and distribution (or theft) from around 22 per cent to 15 per cent by 2018-19.

States accepting UDAY and performing as per operational milestones will be given additional / priority funding through Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY),Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Power Sector Development Fund (PSDF) or other such schemes of Ministry of Power and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Such States shall also be supported with additional coal at notified prices and, in case of availability through higher capacity utilization, low cost power from NTPC and other Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs).

States not meeting operational milestones will be liable to forfeit their claim on IPDS and DDUGJY grants.

People will not bear the cost of inefficiency of discom. It is states’ responsibility to ensure that discoms become financially viable.

The scheme, which is optional, is operationalised through signing of MoU

Analysis:

It attempts to enforce discipline on States as it requires them to absorb a part of future losses of the discoms because states will now have to directly bear on their budgets the entire cost of the subsidies.

It accelerates the process of reform across the entire power sector and will ensure that power is accessible, affordable and available for all.

This scheme will ease the financial crunch facing power distribution companies, or discoms, that has impaired their ability to buy electricity

Financially stressed DISCOMs are not able to supply adequate power at affordable rates, which hampers quality of life and overall economic growth and development.

Efforts towards 100% village electrification, 24X7 power supply and clean energy cannot be achieved without performing DISCOMs.

Power outages also adversely affect national priorities like “Make in India” and “Digital India”.

In addition, default on bank loans by financially stressed DISCOMs has the potential to seriously impact the banking sector and the economy at large.

INTETRNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Nobel Peace Prize

The 2016 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for his efforts to end his country's long-running civil war with FARC rebels.

About Columbian Conflict:

Colombia is in the midst of a half-century long conflict between the government and several guerrilla groups. The human impact of the conflict has been enormous, with at least 50,000 lives lost to date and one of the world’s largest populations of internally displaced people, many of whom have disappeared.

Despite being the oldest democracy in Latin America, Colombia has lacked national cohesion since its independence in 1810. As a result of the country’s three Andean mountain ranges - which act as natural barriers to integration - and the division of society by class interests, Colombia has historically suffered from a weak state with large areas of territory in which the government is unable to exercise effective control.

Current conflict with armed guerrilla groups dates from the mid-1960s, its origins go back to the period of ‘La Violencia’ (1948-1958). Following the assassination of the popular charismatic leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Ayala in 1948, an internecine conflict between the Liberals and the Conservatives took place. During this period, some peasants organised themselves into communities with the support of the Communist Party.

‘La Violencia’ came to an end through a constitutionally sanctioned power-sharing agreement between the Liberal and Conservative parties, known as the ‘National Front’. The accord, however, eliminated political competition. Any political activity outside these two options was often repressed, and attacks on Communist enclaves led to the transformation of the peasant communities into mobile guerrilla groups, especially following the Cuban Revolution of 1959.

By the late 1970s there were about a dozen guerrilla groups. The most significant leftist guerrilla groups are the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias Colombianas, FARC) and the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional, ELN).

The activities of the guerrillas prompted the formation of right-wing paramilitary organisations, primarily the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC), as a means of protecting

landowners, drug lords and local businessmen from attacks and kidnappings by guerrilla forces. Whilst denied by the government, there are accusations of linkages between the paramilitaries and the state in waging war against the guerrillas. Since their inception, both guerrilla and paramilitary forces have become increasingly involved in criminal activity, including as kidnapping, extortion, bombings, murder, and hijacking, and have given a new dimension to the problem of narco-trafficking.

The penetration of drug-trafficking in Colombian society has contributed to widespread corruption and the de-legitimisation of the political class.

The first decade of the 21st century saw the power of the paramilitaries diminish following generous and controversial amnesty legislation which offered significantly reduced jail terms. By 2006, 31,671 professed AUC fighters had disbanded. However, reports of people being paid to falsely present themselves as AUC members suggests that this figure is likely to be unreliable. Importantly, most paramilitary blocs also held on to the majority of their weapons and their command structures remained largely intact. In recent years, some demobilised fighters have reconstituted themselves into smaller and more autonomous units, collectively known as the Black Eagles (Águilas Negras).

During his eight years in power (2002-08), President Alvaro Uribe oversaw a massive military assault on the guerrillas that was supported with US funding. This took place through the continuation of the Plan Colombia, that was initiated by Uribe's predecessor, Andrés Pastrana Arango, and the implementation of the Plan Patriota. This tough strategy inflicted significant damage on the rebels, allowing the government to reassert control over large areas of the country, and resulted in a huge increase in Uribe's domestic approval rating.

After President Uribe’s bid to run for a third term was ruled unconstitutional, Colombia elected Juan Manuel Santos, a former Defence Minister under Uribe, as President in 2010. Santos' time in power has been marked by a long running peace process with the FARC, which looks to have had notable success so far.

However, this peace process suffered a setback in October 2016, however, when Colombian voters narrowly rejected a landmark peace deal, which had been reached after four years of negotiations.

Global Hunger Index

India ranked 97th out of 118 countries on the International Food Policy Research Institute’s (IFPRI) Global Hunger Index (GHI) in 2016, behind Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, among others, but ahead of Pakistan and three other Asian countries. It was positioned at 80 out of 104 countries the previous year.

India is faring worse than all its neighbours China (29), Nepal (72), Myanmar (75), Sri Lanka (84) and Bangladesh (90), except for Pakistan (107) in measures of hunger.

According to the latest Global Hunger Index data, hunger levels in developing countries may have fallen 29% since 2000, but India is still rated as a country with ‘serious’ hunger levels in the 2016.

India was ranked 83 in 2000 and 102 in 2008 with GHI scores of 38.2 and 36 respectively. This implies that, while hunger levels in India have diminished somewhat, the improvement has been outstripped by several other countries. Hence India's ranking is worse today than it was 15 years ago. In fact, Bangladesh was ranked 84 with a score of 38.5 in 2000, just below India. But in 2016, it has improved beyond India with a GHI score of 27.1 and a rank of 90 to India's 97.

Overall, global hunger levels are down by about 29% compared to 2000. Twenty countries, including Rwanda, Cambodia, and Myanmar, have reduced their GHI scores by over 50% each since 2000. And, for the second year in a row, no developing country for which data was available featured in the "extremely alarming" category .

While India has improved its score on various parameters over the past few years, two out of five children below five years of age are stunted in India. Stunting measures chronic malnutrition and affected children’s height would be considerably below the average for their age.

The GHI is calculated by taking into account four key parameters: shares of undernourished population, wasted and stunted children aged under 5, and infant mortality rate of the same age group.

About Global hunger index:

The report is released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

The hunger index ranks countries based on undernourishment, child mortality, child wasting (low weight for height) and child stunting (low height for age).

The GHI ranks countries on a 100-point scale. Zero is the best score (no hunger), and 100 is the worst, although neither of these extremes is reached in practice.

Analysis:

Although India runs two of the world's biggest children's nutrition programmes, the ICDS for children under 6 years and the mid-day meal programme for school going kids up to the age of 14, malnutrition continues to haunt India.

Endemic poverty, unemployment, lack of sanitation and safe drinking water, and lack of effective healthcare are main factors for the sorry state.

Compared with previous years, marked improvement has taken place in child stunting and under-5 mortality rates but the proportion of undernourished people has declined only marginally from 17% in 2000 to the current 15%. The share of wasted children has inched down similarly.

If hunger continues to decline at the same rate it has been falling since 1992, around 45 countries, including India, Pakistan, Haiti, Yemen, and Afghanistan will still have ‘moderate’ to ‘alarming’ hunger scores in year 2030, far short of the United Nations’ goal to end hunger by that year.

India is slated to become the world’s most populous nation in just six years, and it’s crucial that we meet this milestone with a record of ensuring that the expected 1.4 billion Indians have enough nutritious food to lead healthy and successful lives.

Countries must accelerate the pace at which they are reducing hunger or we will fail to achieve the second Sustainable Development Goal.

Ending global hunger is certainly possible, but it is up to all of us that we set the priorities right to ensure that the government, the private sector and civil society devote the time and resources necessary to meet this important goal.

The hunger index numbers indeed throw some serious questions on the course of ongoing government programmes to alleviate poverty and malnutrition in the country, and whether we have prioritised this problem the way it should be.

China President visited Bangladesh

During visit of Xi Jinping to Bangladesh, both countries has signed 40 agreements, including loan and investment deals in the infrastructure sector worth over USD 20 billion, as they upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership.

This is the first official state visit by Chinese head of state to Bangladesh in three decades since President Li Xiannian’s visit in March 1986.

The two countries also have agreed to jointly advance China’s One belt and road (OBOR) initiative.

They also agreed to establish institutional cooperation in areas of maritime issues and counter-terrorism.

What is One Belt, One Road (OBOR) Initiative?

At the heart of One Belt, One Road (OBOR) lies the creation of an economic land belt that includes countries on the original Silk Road through Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East and Europe, as well as a maritime road that links China’s port facilities with the African coast, pushing up through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean.

Analysis:

Geo-politically, Bangladesh is witnessing growing rivalry between China and India, particularly in the era of weakening US role in the region.

In this scenario, it signifies growing importance of the Bangladesh in South Asia’s economics and geo-politics. Bangladesh maintains very strong military ties with China. Even Bangladesh’s economic relations with China have traditionally been dominated by trade.

The bilateral trade between China and Bangladesh was about $12.5 billion in 2014 and Bangladesh’s export to China has not exceeded even $1 billion.

However, in this new type of emerging big power relationship in the South Asia region relatively smaller countries like Bangladesh are adjusting and maintaining balanced economic and geo-political relations, particularly with China and India.

However, strategic and economic footprint of China is increasing in South Asia, it must also be remembered that China is still a relatively new player in the region.

India has multi-pronged ties, rooted in culture and history, with most countries in South Asia, especially with Bangladesh. India should build on this historical foundation to capitalize on its own strategic and economic ventures in Bangladesh.

This must be put into context given the volatile nature of Bangladeshi politics, and the fact that prickly issues like the stalled Teesta water pact plays an important factor in the run-up to elections in Bangladesh.

India and Bangladesh successfully implemented the Land boundary agreement which has positive implications on both country's relations. A fruitful resolution of Teesta water has been delayed due to the vagaries of domestic politics in India. It’s time for all political actors in India to rise above parochial agendas to salvage the transformation of India-Bangladesh relations that will have beneficent impact on the entire region.

India to host first AMCDRR after Sendai Framework

The Government of India is hosting the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) next month in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). The hosting of the Conference re-affirms India’s commitment to the cause of Disaster Risk Reduction.

This is the first AMCDRR after the advent of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRRR), adopted at the third UN World Conference in Sendai, Japan in March, 2015. It will set the direction of Sendai Framework implementation in the region.

AMCDRR 2016 will focus on collaboration, consultation and partnership with governments and stakeholders to mainstream DRR in the region’s development narrative.

The Conference will adopt the ‘Asian Regional Plan for Implementation of the Sendai Framework’ endorsed by the Asian countries.

It will also consolidate the political commitment of governments towards preventing and reducing risk as well as strengthening resilience in the form of a political declaration.

Voluntary statements of action of stakeholder groups towards a ‘shared responsibility’ approach in implementation of the SFDRR would also be adopted.

Established in 2005, AMCDRR is a biennial conference jointly organized by different Asian countries and the UNISDR. So far, six AMCDRR conferences have been organised. India had also hosted the second AMCDRR in New Delhi in 2007.

About Sendai Framework:

The “Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030” was adopted during the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan in March, 2015.

It is the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, with seven targets and four priorities for action.

It was endorsed by the UN General Assembly following the 2015 Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR).

The Framework is for 15-year. It is a voluntary and non-binding agreement which recognizes that the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders including local government, the private sector and other stakeholders.

The new Framework is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters.

The implementation of the Sendai Framework involves adopting integrated and inclusive institutional measures so as to work towards preventing vulnerability to disaster, increase preparedness for response and recovery and strengthen resilience.

The Seven Global Targets:

Substantially reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, aiming to lower average per 100,000 global mortality rate in the decade 2020-2030 compared to the period 2005-2015.

Substantially reduce the number of affected people globally by 2030, aiming to lower average global figure per 100,000 in the decade 2020 -2030 compared to the period 2005-2015.

Reduce direct disaster economic loss in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.

Substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services, among them health and educational facilities, including through developing their resilience by 2030.

Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020.

Substantially enhance international cooperation to developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of this Framework by 2030.

Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to the people by 2030.

The Four Priorities for Action

Priority 1. Understanding disaster risk: Disaster risk management should be based on an understanding of disaster risk in all its dimensions of vulnerability, capacity, exposure of persons and assets, hazard characteristics and the environment. Such knowledge can be used for risk assessment, prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response.

Priority 2. Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk: Disaster risk governance at the national, regional and global levels is very important for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation. It fosters collaboration and partnership.

Priority 3. Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience: Public and private investment in disaster risk prevention and reduction through structural and non-structural measures are essential to enhance the economic, social, health and cultural resilience of persons, communities, countries and their assets, as well as the environment.

Priority 4. Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction: The growth of disaster risk means there is a need to strengthen disaster preparedness for response, take action in anticipation of events, and ensure capacities are in place for effective response and recovery at all levels. The recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction phase is a critical opportunity to build back better, including through integrating disaster risk reduction into development measures.

UN court rejects disarmament case against India

The United Nations’ highest court has rejected nuclear disarmament cases filed by the Pacific nation of the Marshall Islands against Britain, India and Pakistan, saying it did not have jurisdiction.

The International Court of Justice ruled that the Marshall Islands had failed to prove that a legal dispute over disarmament existed between it and the three nuclear powers before the case was filed in 2014, and that “consequently the court lacks jurisdiction.”

Background:

Marshall Islands seek to persuade the UN’s highest court to take up a lawsuit against India, Pakistan and Britain which they accuse of failing to halt the nuclear arms race.

In 2014, the Marshall Islands, a Pacific Ocean territory with 55,000 people, accused nine countries of “not fulfilling their obligations with respect to the cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament”.

They included China, Britain, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, and the U.S.

The government of Marshall Islands said by not stopping the nuclear arms race, the countries continued to breach their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) — even if the treaty has not been by signed by countries such as India and Pakistan.

In March 2014, the Marshall Islands marked 60 years since the devastating hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll, that vapourised an island and exposed thousands in the surrounding area to radioactive fallout.The 15-megaton test on March 1, 1954, was part of the intense Cold War nuclear arms race and 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Bikini Islanders have lived in exile since they were moved for the first weapons tests in 1946.

Marshall Island ,US and Nuclear bomb:

In March 1944, about a month after defeating the Japanese occupiers during World War II, the US government obtained the exclusive right from a local leader to indefinitely control the Marshall Islands for “the sum of ten dollars.” In January 1946, theBikini Atoll became the site for the first nuclear weapons tests following the war. After nuclear testing ended in 1958, the Marshalls group, then a trust territory of the United States, was left with obliterated islands, huge craters, and widespread radiological contamination.

The damage did not end with nuclear testing. In the 1960s, islands of the Enewetak Atoll were stripped of topsoil and used for explosive crater experiments, to see how US missile silos would hold up to enemy missiles. In October 1968, the US Navy conducted a biological warfare experiment in which Staphylococcal enterotoxin B, a virulent bacterium, was released over the Enewetak Atoll from fighter aircraft. The pathogen proved to be harmful to experimental animals over a 1,500 square mile area. Since the late 1950s, the Kwajalein Atoll and lagoon have served as an anti-ballistic missile launch site for testing against possible missile attacks. Nearly every US intercontinental ballistic missile was test fired at Kwajalein. Now home to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, the $4 billion US Air Force complex on Kwajalein is considered a key strategic asset for anti-ballistic missile testing, military space projects, and intelligence gathering.

Even though the last nuclear test was 57 years ago, radioactive contamination continues to have dominant impacts on this little nation. For citizen of Marshall Island nuclear testing is not a historical event, as they continue to deal with the huge environmental and human health costs." Areas on which countless generations depended for their food remain off limits because of radioactive fallout and will be so for many years to come. The United States considers it too expensive to remediate these areas for human habitation. As a result, many Marshallese nuclear exiles live on the island of Ebye, one of the most crowded, unsanitary areas in the world, where declarations of disease emergencies are common.

The most significant health and environmental impacts of US nuclear activities in the Marshalls were caused by six thermonuclear weapon tests conducted between March 1 and May 14, 1954 and known as the Castle series. Totaling some 48 megatons of explosive force, they had enormous negative impacts around the world. The first explosion, known as Bravo, produced an explosive yield of approximately 15 megatons—or 1,000 times the destructive power of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Because of its size and other factors, Bravo also spawned what the US Radiochemical Society describes as “the worst radiological disaster in US history.”

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

GSAT-18

Marking another success for the space agency, ISRO’s latest communication satellite GSAT-18 has successfully been launched from Arianespace’s European launcher Ariane-5 VA-231 in French Guiana.

About GSAT 18

GSAT-18 aims to provide telecommunications services for the country by strengthening ISRO’s current fleet of 14 operational telecom satellites .

It was launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

GSAT-18 successfully launched by Ariane-5 VA-231 from Kourou, French Guiana.

GSAT-18 is the 20th satellite from ISRO to be launched by the European space agency and the mission is the 280th for Arianespace launcher family.

ISRO, which has been dependent on Ariane-5 rocket for carrying its heavier satellites, is developing GSLV Mk III for this purpose.

Weighing 3,404 kg at lift-off, GSAT-18 carries 48 communication transponders to provide services in Normal C-band, Upper Extended C-band and Ku-bands of the frequency spectrum.

Designed to provide continuity of services on operational satellites in these bands, GSAT-18 with a mission life of about 15 years, carries Ku-band beacon as well to help in accurately pointing ground antennas towards the satellite.

With GSAT-18’s injection into GTO, ISRO’s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka takes control of the satellite and will perform the initial orbit raising manoeuvres using the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) of the satellite, placing it in a circular Geostationary Orbit.

Following this, the deployment of appendages such as the solar panels and antennas as well as three axis stabilisation of the satellite will be performed, and GSAT-18 will be positioned at 74 deg East longitude and co-located with other operational satellites.

GSAT-18s co-passenger Sky Muster II, built by SSL (Space Systems Loral) in Palo Alto, California, is aimed at bridging the digital divide, especially in the rural and isolated regions of Australia.

Television, telecommunication, VSAT and digital satellite news gathering were a few of the services that GSAT 18 will support in coming days.

Human hair used to produce cheaper cathodes for solar cells

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kolkata have used human hair to produce cost-effective, metal-free cathodes for use in solar cells.

While metal-free cathodes produced in the past have not performed as well as the traditional metal-based ones, but the performance of graphitic porous carbon cathode produced by IISER, has been at par with metal-based cathodes.

This is the first instance where a bio-waste-derived electrode has been used as cathode in a quantum dot sensitised solar cell device.

Producing graphitic porous carbon cathode using human hair is simple, quick and inexpensive. Unlike in the case of other synthetic porous carbons, no physical or chemical activation process or templates are required to produce the pores of 2-50 nm diameter.

The porosity, along with high surface area to volume ratio, plays an important role in adsorption-desorption of electrolyte.

The cleaned and dry human hair is first treated with sulphuric acid at 165 degrees C for 25 minutes to achieve precarbonisation. It is then heated to different temperatures in the presence of an inert gas for six hours to carbonise and bring better electrical conductivity for efficient charge transfer.

Benefits:

The cathode shows an impressive performance in converting visible sunlight to electricity much higher than commercially available activated carbon cathodes and is comparable with commonly used cathodes made of platinum metal and metal sulfides.

Besides its higher efficiency to convert visible sunlight to electricity, the cathode was found to generate high open-circuit voltage, which is at par with conventional platinum and activated carbon cathodes. Thereby, the power conversion efficiencies can also be enhanced.

They also have the potential to bring down the cost of solar cells.

Electric bandage

US space agency NASA has developed a high-tech electroactive bandage that creates an electric charge to help promote the healing process of wounds.

The bandage is made of an electroactive material that is stimulated by pressure of cell growth and body heat.

An electroactive device is applied to an external wound site, which utilises low level electrical stimulation to promote wound healing.

Electroactive material is so sensitive that a push or even blow on it can create an electric charge.

The fibres of the guaze are made of electroactive material Polyvinylidene Flouride (PVDF) which are stimulated by the heat of the body and the pressure of cell growth, thus no external power source is required.

It is proven that wounds tend to heal much more quickly if small amounts of electricity are applied to the surrounding tissue. However, the gauze pattern is also essential to the healing process.If the PVDF fibres are aligned correctly, cells on a wound use it as a scaffold, helping the wound to heal faster.

Use:

This bandage could be used by military personnel wounded in the field, patients who have undergone surgery or who have suffered a serious wound and astronauts in space.

NASA’s high-tech bandage might one day help heal wounds in areas that do not have easy accessibility to any kind of healthcare.

In conditions of non-Earth gravity, human blood displays behaviour quite different from that on Earth. Wounds are likely to heal much more slowly and considering the survival risks and the cost of space missions, healing wounds as fast as possible is crucial. So, this can also be use by NASA for its manned missions to Mars, and other planets – allowing an astronaut to just stick a bandage to his/her injury to heal.

The bandage also minimises infection and related complications such as illness or amputation. It speeds the wound’s healing process.

SC stays commercial release of GM mustard

The Supreme Court stayed the commercial release of the genetically modified (GM) variety of mustard till October 17, on a petition that this could have severe consequences on the environment and human health.

In an application filed in an ongoing case relating to GM seeds in the country, Rodrigues has sought prohibition of open field trials and commercial release of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) crops including HT Mustard Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH) 11 and its parent lines/variants.

Mustard is one of India’s most important winter crops which is sown between mid-October and late November.

Analysis:

Advantages of GM crops

Better For The Environment: Since GMOs require much less chemicals to thrive, the impact on the environment is lessened. The pesticides and other chemicals commonly used on non GMO crops emit green house gases and pollute the ground soil.

Resistance To Disease: One of the modifications made to the crops is an added resistance to disease that would normally kill off the crops. This keeps the yields high and the prices for the consumers low.

Sustainability: GMOs provide a stable and efficient way to sustain enough crops to feed the ever growing population of people in the world. This was the main goal of GMO crops in the first place.

Increased Flavor and Nutrition: Along with resistances to insects and disease, the genes of the crops can also

be altered to have a better flavor and increased nutritional value. This is good all around.

Longer Shelf Life : Genetically modified foods have a longer shelf life. This improves how long they last and stay fresh during transportation and storage.

Keeps It Affordable : One of the biggest effects that the use of GMOs has had on our every day life is the prices of produce and other foods. Since more crops can be yielded, the prices can be much lower.

Disadvantages of GM crops

Cross Contamination : The pollen from the genetically modified plants is also contaminated. When this pollen is around other plants, even things like grass or weeds, they cross pollinate. This could develop “superweeds” that have the same resistance properties as the crops.

Allergies On The Rise: Ever since the introduction of GMO foods, the amount of childhood food allergies has risen significantly. The exact link to GMO has not yet been found, but many believe this is due to insufficient research in the area.

Less Effective Antibiotics : The crops that have been genetically modified have antibiotic properties put into them in order to make them immune to certain diseases. When you eat these foods these properties are left in your body and can make many antibiotics less effective.

Not Enough Testing :There has been very little testing and research done on genetically modified foods and the long term effects have not been discovered yet. This makes many people feel uneasy at the high use of these foods.

India to eliminate use of HFC-23 by 2030

India announced that it will eliminate the HFC-23 gas, a potent greenhouse gas with high global warming potential, as part of its commitment to combat the threat emanating from climate-damaging HFCs.

The announcement came at a meeting of parties to the Montreal Protocol at Kigali in Rwanda where final negotiations are taking place to substantially reduce the use of HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) by 2030.

The Montreal Protocol, which came into force in 1989, is aimed at reducing the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances in order to protect the earth’s fragile ozone layer.

HFC elimination before the year 2050 is estimated to prevent about 0.5 degree Celsius rise in average global temperatures by 2100, something that will help in meeting the target of keeping temperatures under 2 degrees celsius compared to pre-industrial times.

India is the most important country still arguing for at least 10 more years of unhindered growth of its industry before beginning to make HFC-reductions. At the risk of isolating itself, even from traditional climate allies like China, Brazil or South Africa, India has been proposing a different phase-out schedule for itself, thereby effecting a divide within the developing countries bloc.

About HFC-23

HFC-23, also known as trifluoromethane, is produced during the manufacture of a common refrigerant gas called HCFC-22, belonging to the hydrochlorofluorocarbon family. HFC-23 has 14,800 times more potential to cause global warming as compared to carbon dioxide.

About Montreal Protocol:

Adopted in 1987, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer legally enforces the phase-out of the production and use of ozone depleting substances - chemicals often used in refrigeration, air-conditioning, foam manufacturing, aerosol production, and fire extinguishing.

The treaty's financial mechanism, the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, has funded the incremental costs of compliance in developing countries since 1991, a task complemented by the Global Environment Facility in countries with economies in transition.

The Montreal Protocol has, contributed to a significant drop in total global production and consumption of ozone depleting substances used in agricultural, consumer and industrial sectors around the world. It has also generated climate benefits as some of these substances are greenhouse gases, too.

Since 2010, the agenda of the Protocol has focused on the phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), an ozone-depleting susbtance mainly used in cooling and refrigeration applications, and in the manufacture of foam products.

In addition to the ozone benefit, the HCFC phase-out agenda strongly emphasizes climate mitigation and energy efficiency. Climate gains are achieved by using substances with lower or no global warming potential and, large energy efficiency improvements can be achieved through certain technology upgrades.

Cabinet approves revision of ethanol price

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the mechanism for revision of ethanol price for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to carry out the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme.

For the next sugar season 2016-17 during ethanol supply period from 1st December, 2016 to 30th November, 2017, the administered price of ethanol for the EBP Programme will be Rs.39/- per litre.

Additionally, charges will be paid to the ethanol suppliers as per actuals in case of Excise Duty and VAT/GST and transportation charges as decided by OMCs.

The prices of ethanol will be reviewed and suitably revised by Government at any time during the ethanol supply period that is from 1st December, 2016 to 30th November, 2017 depending upon the prevailing economic situation and other relevant factors.

About Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme:

Ethanol blending is the practice of blending petrol with ethanol. Many countries, including India, have adopted ethanol blending in petrol in order to reduce vehicle exhaust emissions and also to reduce the import burden on account of crude petroleum from which petrol is produced. It is estimated that a 5% blending (105 crore litres) can result in replacement of around 1.8 million Barrels of crude oil .

The renewable ethanol content, which is a by product of the sugar industry, is expected to result in a net reduction in the emission of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC). Ethanol itself burns cleaner and burns more completely than petrol it is blended into. In India, ethanol is mainly derived by sugarcane molasses, which is a by-product in the conversion of sugar cane juice to sugar.

The practice of blending ethanol started in India in 2001. Government of India mandated blending of 5% ethanol with petrol in 9 States and 4 Union Territories in the year 2003 and subsequently mandated 5% blending of ethanol with petrol on an all-India basis in November 2006 (in 20 States and 8 Union Territories except a few North East states and Jammu & Kashmir).

This was also an attempt to reduce the Under-recovery of Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, on 1 September, 2015, inter-alia has asked OMCs to target ten percent blending of ethanol in Petrol in as many States as possible. In countries like US, blending is allowed upto 10%. Subsequent to Brazil's bio-fuel programme, which began in 1976, close to 94% of cars sold in Brazil are flexible fuel cars that can handle ethanol blends from 18 per cent upward .

Ethanol blending first found mention in the Auto fuel policy of 2003. It suggested developing technologies for producing ethanol/ bio fuels from renewable energy sources and introducing vehicles to utilise these bio fuels. Later, as per National Policy on Bio-fuels, announced in December 2009, oil companies were required to sell petrol blended with at least 5% of ethanol. It proposed that the blending level be increased to 20% by 2017.

Self-powered UV photo detector charges energy storage devices

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, have developed a cost-effective, high-performance, self-powered UV photodetector that can use the harvested optical energy for direct self-charging of energy storage devices such as supercapacitor.

About Process

Zinc oxide (ZnO), the base material for UV detection, can be doped with vanadium to produce photodetectors that are self-powered. When doped with vanadium, the microstructure of ZnO changes from nanorods to closely-packed nanoflakes, causing an increase in the surface area to the volume of the material.

Doping ZnO with vanadium also creates surface defects within the band gap (between the conduction and valence bands) of ZnO, which helps in trapping the UV radiation that falls on the nanoflakes.

The nanoflakes are 80 per cent more porous than nanorods.

The nanorods are one-dimensional and so the possibility of light reflection from the top surface is more. But nanoflakes are two-dimensional and the light penetration is more

The UV light that gets into the pores undergoes multiple reflections and finally gets absorbed.

The vanadium-doped zinc oxide nanoflake structure has 98 per cent light-harvesting efficiency, which is much higher than the 84 per cent seen in zinc oxide nanorods

The VZnO nanoflakes were annealed (heated and allowed to cool slowly) in the presence of hydrogen gas at 350 degree C (hydrogenated) to increase the conductivity and reduce the recombination of photo-generated charge carriers.

Why it will be used

It can be used for operating electronic devices in the absence of external power source.

This photo detector can use the harvested optical energy for direct self-charging of energy storage devices such as super capacitor. It can also be used for operating electronic devices in the absence of external power source..

Compared with ZnO, which generates only 40 nA photocurrent, the nanoflakes (VZnO) produced five times more photocurrent. Once the nanoflakes were hydrogenated, the current generation capacity further increased to 1,000 nA, said Boruah.

If the increased optically active surface area of the nanoflakes enhanced the generation of electron-hole pairs (photo response), resulting in increased current generation, hydrogenation brought about a further enhancement in the electron-hole pair generation as well as increased free electron density, leading to more current generation.

When exposed to UV light, the device, after hydrogenation, was able to detect photo signal within milliseconds, which is nearly 100 times faster than conventional UV photodetectors.

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