Daily Current Affairs UPSC 9 February 2024

Conservation Reserve in Telangana

• Telangana's State Board for Wildlife approved the corridor area between Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Kawal Tiger Reserve as a conservation reserve.
• Conservation reserves are protected areas under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and act as buffer zones or connectors between national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and protected areas.
• They are declared by the state government after consulting with the central government and local communities, and are administered by the Conservation Reserve Management Committee.

Natural gas flare and nitrogen oxides emission

• Natural gas flare is the burning of natural gas associated with oil extraction.
• The combustion of the flare converts hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water, reducing the climate impact and safety concerns of natural gas.
• However, it also produces nitrogen oxides (NOx), including highly reactive gases that directly and indirectly impact air quality.
• Recent samples collected in the USA revealed high variation in nitrogen oxides emission estimates from natural gas flares.
• The World Bank and the United Nations launched the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative in 2015 to reduce flaring.

Key Fact Statement (KFS)

• Mandated by Reserve Bank of India for regulated entities.
• Document that explains lending terms and key information in a simple format.
• Enhances transparency in lending and helps customers make informed decisions.

Kilkari programme

• Launched by Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare.
• Provides centralized interactive voice response (IVR) based mobile health service.
• Delivers free, weekly, time-appropriate audio messages about pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare to families' mobile phones.
• Hosted by Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Initiatives under PMFBY

• Three new initiatives launched under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
• Comprehensive crop insurance from pre-sowing to post-harvest period.
• Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline (KRPH) 14447 for multilingual support and grievance resolution.
• Learning Management System (LMS) to train stakeholders in efficient crop insurance and agricultural credit.
• SARTHI Portal to extend coverage to various insurance products in collaboration with UNDP India.

Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport (KMTT) Project

• The capture of Paletwa town by Myanmar rebels has negatively affected the KMTT project.
• Aims to establish connectivity between India and Myanmar through various stages.
• Significance: Improved access to South East Asia and enhanced connectivity to north eastern states.

Support to Students for Participating in Competitions Abroad (SSPCA)

• AICTE launched SSPCA to enhance the global competitiveness of Indian students in technical education.
• Objectives: Provide travel assistance and registration fee to a team of Bachelor students for attending international scientific events.
• Eligibility: Students in technical education enrolled in AICTE-approved institutions.
• Grant: Maximum of 1 lakh per student.

Aubrites Meteorite

• Study of meteorite fragments from Asteroid 2024 BX1 revealed that they are part of aubrites meteorite.
• Aubrites meteorites are rare and originate from a unique parent body in the solar system.
• Named after the meteorite that fell near Aubres, France in 1836.
• They are coarse-grained igneous rocks formed under reducing conditions and contain exotic minerals not found on Earth.

Iceland's volcano eruption

• Recently, a volcano erupted in Iceland.
• Iceland is an island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean and is part of the Nordic Countries.
• It is bounded by the Greenland Sea, Norwegian Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Denmark Strait.
• Iceland is underlain by basalt, a dark rock of igneous origin, and lies on the Mid Atlantic Ridge.
• Its highest peak is Hvannadals Peak, and the major river is Thjórs River.
• The capital of Iceland is Reykjavik.

Annual National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) Way Forward Report, 2023

• Report released by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
• Highlights initiatives taken towards enhancing e-Service delivery.
• e-Service Delivery involves delivery of public/ other services through electronic mode.

Key Highlights of the report:

• Jammu and Kashmir provides maximum (1117) number of e-Services.
• 76% Mandatory e-services are available, an increase from 48% under NeSDA 2019.
• Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Assam and Odisha provide 100% of their services through their identified Single Unified Service Delivery Portal.
• Tourism sector achieved highest saturation for provision of all mandatory e-services in 23 out of 36 States/UTs.

Significance of e-Service Delivery:

• For Citizens:

• • Empowerment and participation.
  • Improved access to services by removal of intermediaries.
• For Governments:

• • Informed data-driven decision making.
  • Resource optimization and cost efficiency by reducing inclusion and exclusion errors.

Challenges:

• Digital divide.
• Lack of standardization and interoperability.
• Issue of change management due to bureaucratic inertia.
• Concerns related to cyber-security.

Best Practices on e-Service Delivery:

• eUNNAT (Jammu & Kashmir): A Unified Service Delivery Portal aimed at providing various government services online.
• Nivesh Mitra (Uttar Pradesh): A platform designed to facilitate Ease of Doing Business by providing online services for businesses.
• Seva Sindhu (Karnataka): A portal created to deliver government services directly to the citizens' doorsteps.

Supreme Court (SC) Criticises National Green Tribunal (NGT's) Trend of Passing Ex-Parte Orders

• A Division Bench of SC was hearing an appeal against an ex-parte order in suo motu proceedings by NGT.
• Ex-Parte orders are those that can be granted without waiting for a response from the other side.

Key observations of SC regarding NGT:

• Recurrent engagement in unilateral decision making.
• Provisioning ex-post-facto review hearing and routinely dismissing it has become a norm.
• Imposition of huge sums for damages proved to be counterproductive in safeguarding the environment.
• Tribunal must ensure procedural integrity to ensure a harmonious balance between justice and due process.

About NGT:

• Statutory body established under National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
• Specialized body equipped with necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.
• Guided by principles of natural justice.
• Not bound by Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 or Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
• Composition: Headed by Chairperson, judicial members, and expert members.

Jurisdiction of NGT over civil cases under various Acts:

• Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974:  NGT has authority over civil cases related to water pollution prevention and control.
• Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977: NGT has jurisdiction over civil cases concerning the collection of water pollution cess.
• Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980: NGT has the power to handle civil cases related to the conservation of forests.
• Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: NGT has jurisdiction over civil cases concerning the prevention and control of air pollution.
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: NGT has authority over civil cases related to the protection and conservation of the environment.
• Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991: NGT has the power to handle civil cases concerning public liability insurance.
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002: NGT has jurisdiction over civil cases related to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

Union Cabinet approved the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) under PMMSY

• Approved by Union Cabinet under PMMSY.
• Aims to develop fisheries sector in India sustainably and responsibly.

Key Features of PM-MKSSY:

• Period: FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27.
• Total outlay of Rs. 6,000 crore.
• 50% funding from public finance and 50% from beneficiaries/private sector.

Intended Beneficiaries:

• Fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, fish vendors, LLPs, cooperatives, SHGs, FFPOs.

Components of Implementation Strategy:

• Formalization of fisheries sector through National Fisheries Digital Platform.
• Adoption of aquaculture insurance.
• Support for microenterprises in improving value chain efficiencies.
• Adoption and expansion of fish and fishery product safety and quality assurance systems.
• Project management, monitoring, and reporting through PMUs.

Related Development:

Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF):

• The FIDF, launched in 2018-19, has been extended for another 3 years until 2025-26.
• The objective of the fund is to create and modernize fisheries infrastructure.
• The National Fisheries Development Board in Hyderabad is responsible for implementing the fund.
• NABARD, NCDC, and all scheduled banks are the nodal lending institutions for the fund.

Detecting Methane Emissions from Space in India: A study by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

Study on Methane Emissions from Space in India:

• Conducted by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
• Used satellite data from NASA and European Space Agency.

Key Findings:

• Detected methane point sources in urban centers in India.
• 14.43% of total carbon emissions in India attributed to methane.
• Identified three worst methane hotspots in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Surat.

Information about Methane:

• Potent greenhouse gas with 28 times higher global warming potential than CO2.
• Second largest contributor to climate change after CO2.
• Short-Lived Climate Pollutant with immediate and intense warming effect.

Sources of Methane:

• Solid waste/landfills, fossil fuels, agriculture, wetlands, textile industries.

Initiatives taken to reduce methane emissions:

Global Initiatives:

• UNEP Global Methane Initiative: This initiative aims to advance cost-effective near-term methane abatement strategies globally.
• The Global Methane Pledge: This pledge commits countries to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels. However, India has not signed this pledge.

India's Initiatives:

• Gobar Dhan scheme: This scheme focuses on the conversion of waste into resources and aims to reduce methane emissions.
• National Biogas and Manure Management Program: This program helps capture and utilize methane emissions from organic waste sources.

‘Smart Cities Mission (SCM): An Evaluation’ Report presented to Lok Sabha

Key issues highlighted in the report:

• Project management and implementation:

• • Frequent changing and dropping of projects.
  • Lack of adequate financial progress.
  • Intercity disparity in physical progress of implementation.
• Lack of integrated monitoring mechanism and cross-city learning.
• Lesser emphasis on core infrastructure projects such as social infrastructure and smart energy.

Governance and capacity issues:

• Frequent transfer of Smart City CEOs.
• Lack of defined governance structure and monitoring capacity.
• Inadequate consultation with public representatives.
• Lack of execution capability in smart cities of Himalayan and North-East region and Small UTs.

Recommendations:

• Union ministry should spearhead the Master Plan for Greenfield development.
• CEOs of Smart Cities' Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) should have fixed tenures.
• Third-party assessment of SCM projects should be conducted.
• Launch of Phase II of the SCM covering a larger number of cities and areas, utilizing the experience and expertise of SPVs.
• Emphasize more on Pan City projects focusing on implementing technology-driven solutions for comprehensive and holistic development.

Smart Cities Mission:

• Launched in 2015, this mission is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• The objective of this mission is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure, a clean and sustainable environment, and a decent quality of life through the application of smart solutions.
• So far, 100 cities have been selected through the City Challenge Process in four rounds.

Parliamentary Standing Committee Report on “Review of the working of Legal aid under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987”

• The Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act 1987 aims to establish a nationwide network for providing free and competent legal services to society's weaker sections.
• It gives effect to Article 39A, which ensures free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of society.
• It establishes the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) as the apex organization, responsible for framing and monitoring legal aid policies and activities.
• It also provides for various committees at different levels, such as the Supreme Court Legal Service Committee (LSC), State LSAs, High Court LSCs, and District LSAs.
• Activities of LSAs include providing legal aid and advice, implementing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms (Lok Adalat and Mediation), and implementing victim compensation schemes.

Identified Issues with LSAA and Recommendations of the committee:

Identified Issues with LSAA:

• Lack of awareness and legal education.
• Static grants-in-aid to NALSA and decline in allocated funds.
• Reluctance of lawyers to provide pro bono services.
• Challenges in Lok Adalats due to limited powers, lack of proper procedure, and inadequate infrastructure.
• Underutilization of Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs assist LSAs and Lok Adalats).

Recommendations of the committee:

• Extensive mass media campaign for legal education to address lack of awareness and legal education.
• Substantial increase in grant-in-aid to NALSA to address decline in allocated funds.
• NALSA should compensate lawyers adequately and monitor efficacy and accountability of legal aid services to address reluctance of lawyers to provide pro bono services.
• Strengthen Lok Adalats with adequate powers, proper procedure, infrastructure, staff, and modern technology to address challenges faced.
• Capacity building of Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs) along with adequate compensation and support to address underutilization of PLVs.