National Current Affairs – UPSC/IAS Exams- 8th August 2019

Plan for coastal zone management

Topic: Environment and Ecology

In News: The Environment Ministry has unveiled “The draft Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF).

More on the Topic: 

• The Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is a process of governance that consists of the legal and institutional framework necessary to ensure that development and management plans for coastal zones are integrated with environmental and social goals, and are developed with the participation of those affected.
• It is part of a World Bank-funded project. The project seeks to assist the Government of India in enhancing coastal resource efficiency and resilience, by building collective capacity (including communities and decentralised governance) for adopting and implementing integrated coastal management approache.
• The document lays out guidelines out for coastal States to adopt when they approve and regulate projects in coastal zones.
• So far three coastal States, namely Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal, have prepared Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans with support from the World Bank.
• Such plans would be prepared for the selected coastal stretches in other States/UT, the project notes.

Guidelines:

• Projects should strive to avoid or minimise impacts on cultural properties and natural habitats, compensate any loss of livelihood or assets, adopt higher work safety standards, occupational and community health and safety.

Proposed Activities:

• The key activities proposed for coastal zone development that consist of investments by States include: mangrove afforestation/shelter beds, habitat conservation activities such as restoration of sea-grass meadows, eco-restoration of sacred groves, development of hatcheries, rearing/rescue centres for turtles and other marine animals, creation of infrastructure for tourism, restoration and recharge of water bodies, beach cleaning and development, and other small infrastructure facilities.
• Livelihood improvement projects include: demonstration of climate resilient or salinity resistant agriculture, water harvesting and recharge/storage, creation of infrastructure and facilities to support eco-tourism, community-based small-scale mariculture, seaweed cultivation, aquaponics, and value addition to other livelihood activities.

Source: The Hindu

Cactus Based Alternative to Plastic

Topic: Environment and Ecology

In News: A packaging material that is made from Mexico’s prickly pear cactus has been developed by a Mexican researcher and is offering a promising solution to one of the world’s biggest pollution conundrums.

More on the Topic:

• The innovation could soon play a new and innovative role in the production of biodegradable plastics.
• In March, UN member states committed to “significantly reduce” single-use plastics over the next decade, although green groups warned that goal fell short of tackling the Earth’s pollution crisis.

Source: The Hindu

India: Second-largest Scrap Importer

Topic: Economy

In News:  India has emerged the world’s second-largest scrap importer of steel toppling South Korea.Scrap imports In India increased by 35% in the first half of this year to 3.87 million tonnes.

More on the Topic:

• This signifies that the Indian system is not consuming internal scrap of steel, that is generated from old vehicles and machinery components, due to lack of efficient metal recycling facilities and technology.
• However, India’s Internal scrap market holds huge potential, for instance, India will have 22 million obsolete vehicles by 2025 from 8.7 million at present.
• But as of now, India lacks regulations in scrapping and recycling is mostly done by the unorganised sector.
• Thus, there is a need for a comprehensive metal recycling policy so that India can mobilise Internal scrap market.

Benefits of using internal scrap:

• It will improve India’s balance of trade.
• Mobilising internal scrap will create millions of jobs in recycling dominated industries like plastic, rubber, glass, fabric, metal industries and technology and the auto sector.
• The government can incentivise internal scrap mobilisation in the automobile industry, by steps like waiver in the registration fee for a new car can be provided if the buyer produces a certificate for scrapping an old car.

Source: The Hindu

Tardigrades

Topic: Environment and Ecology

In News: Microscopic Earthlings known as Tardigrades have survived a crash landing on the Moon surface by Israel’s Beresheet probe in April, 2019.

More on the Topic:

• Tardigrades are found in terrestrial, marine, and freshwater environments from the Arctic to the Antarctic, including great depths and altitudes.
• They can withstand extreme radiation, sizzling heat, the coldest temperatures of the universe, and decades without food.
• Also known as water bears or moss piglets, they are capable of surviving temperatures as high as 150° Celsius and as low as minus 272° Celsius albeit for a few minutes.
• The grub-like, eight-legged animals can come back from being dried out to a lifeless husk for decades, withstand near zero pressure in outer space and the crushing depths of the Mariana Trench.
• They are microscopic, multicellular, and one of the most durable forms of life on planet Earth.

Source: BBC

Hong Kong Crisis

Topic: International Affairs

In News: China said that Hong Kong is facing the most severe crisis since the city was handed over to Beijing by Britain in 1997.

More on the Topic:

• China’s semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong has been rocked since April by increasingly violent protests that were sparked by a proposed extradition law.
• Tens of thousands of people march peacefully against a local government Bill that would allow, for the first time, extraditions to mainland China. There are fears the law will tighten Beijing’s grip on civil society and allow it to pursue its political enemies in Hong Kong.
• Extradited suspects are likely to face torture. Also, they say, the change in the law will deal another blow to Hong Kong’s already crumbling autonomy.
• Human Rights Watch and the International Chamber of Commerce have warned against changing the law. A body of the US Congress has said it would make Hong Kong vulnerable to Chinese “political coercion”, and the UK and Canada have expressed concern over the potential impact on their citizens in Hong Kong. The EU has sent a diplomatic note.

Hong Kong and China:

• The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997, and is semi-autonomous under the “one country, two systems” principle. It has its own laws and courts, and allows its residents a range of civil liberties. Hong Kong does not have an extradition agreement with Beijing.

Source: Indian Express

Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award

Topic: Awards and Honors

In News: ISRO has announced its “Vikram Sarabhai Journalism Award in Space Science, Technology and Research” to recognize and reward journalists who have actively contributed towards the field of space science, applications, and research.

More on the Topic:

• This award is a part of centenary year celebrations of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, father of Indian space programme.
• The names of the selected candidates will be announced on August 1st, 2020.

Legacy of Dr. Sarabhai:

• Sarabhai was considered as the Father of the Indian space program; He was instrumental in establishing the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad.
• He was also Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. He along with other Ahmedabad-based industrialists played a major role in the creation of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
• The establishment of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was one of his greatest achievements. He successfully convinced the government of the importance of a space programme for a developing country like India
• Homi Jehangir Bhabha, widely regarded as the father of India’s nuclear science program, supported Dr. Sarabhai in setting up the first rocket launching station in India. This center was established at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram on the coast of the Arabian Sea, primarily because of its proximity to the equator.

Source: PIB

Model Mains Question: Discuss the significant role played by Vikram Sarabhai and others in building India’s space program. 

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban

Topic: Government Policies

In News: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has instituted PMAY(U) Awards for Beneficiaries for the first time to recognise the contribution of States/UTs, Urban Local Bodies and Beneficiaries.

More on the Topic:

• The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Programme launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA), in Mission mode envisions provision of Housing for All by 2022, when the Nation completes 75 years of its Independence.
• The Mission seeks to address the housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers through following programme verticals:
• Slum rehabilitation of Slum Dwellers with participation of private developers using land as a resource.
• Promotion of Affordable Housing for weaker section through credit linked subsidy.
• Affordable Housing in Partnership with Public & Private sectors.
• Subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction /enhancement.

Key facts:

• The beneficiaries are poor and people living under EWS and LIG categories in the country.
• The scheme is divided into three phases. The current phase is the third phase, the leftover cities from phase 1 and 2 will be covered from April 2019 to March 2022.
• The government is providing an interest subsidy of 6.5% on housing loans which can be availed by beneficiaries for 15 years from start of loan date.
• The government will grant Rs 1 lakh to all the beneficiaries of the scheme. In addition, Rs 1.5 lakh will be given to all eligible urban poor who want to construct their houses in urban areas or plan to go for renovation in their existing houses. One can also avail loans under this scheme to build toilets in existing houses.

Challenges ahead:

• According to the findings by ratings agency Crisil, the central government has to mobilise Rs 1 lakh crore in the next three years for achieving its target of building 1 crore houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U).
• This is going to be a tall task given the current fiscal arithmetic. The scheme also faces headwinds such as unavailability of land in prime areas, low participation of private developers on account of brand dilution, bidding mechanism, stringent cost and time schedules resulting in low yields, increasing construction costs due to absence of bulk sourcing of materials, and lack of new technology that impacts productivity, cost efficiency and quality etc.

Source: PIB