UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 March 2024

InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions ina your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically

InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions ina your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 2:

• Human Development Index (HDI) 2023-24

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

• Nana Jagannath Shankarseth

• Bhutan’s Gelephu project

• Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims

• India’s E-Vehicle Policy: Key Highlights

• Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Fisheries scheme

• Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act, 2024)

• ‘ETHANOL 100’

• NIA’s CCMS platform launched

Mapping

• Gulf of Tonkin

Human Development Index (HDI) 2023-24

#### GS2/GS3 Paper

Syllabus: Social Justice/ Indian Economy

Source: UNDP

Context: The 2023/24 Human Development Report, titled “Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a polarized world,” was launched on March 13, 2024

Human Development Index (HDI) 2023-24 | Description

About | It is a statistical composite index that measures the average achievement of a country in three basic dimensions: health, education, and income.

Background | Developed by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq in 1990, it embodies Amartya Sen’s capabilities approach to understanding human well-being.

Alongside HDI, the Human Development Report (HDR) presents other indices such as the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI), Gender Inequality Index (GII), and Gender Development Index (GDI).

The Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI) measures human development by considering how evenly a country’s achievements are distributed among its citizens in health, education, and income.

Key Highlights of India’s Human Development Report 2023-24

India’s Ranking | India ranked 134 in 2022, showing a slight improvement from its previous rank of 135 in 2021. It falls under the medium human development category. Between 1990 and 2022, India saw over 48% increase in its HDI value, from 0.434 to 0.644

India’s Performance on Various Indicators | India’s life expectancy at birth increased slightly to 67.7 years.

There was a 5.88% increase in expected years of schooling (EYS) from 11.9 years to 12.6 years, leading to an improvement of 18 places.

Gross National Income (GNI) per capita also improved from $6,542 to $6,951.

Performance of India’s Neighbourhood | Sri Lanka and China rank higher than India at 78 and 75, respectively, in the High Human Development category. Bhutan and Bangladesh rank at 125 and 129, respectively. Nepal (146) and Pakistan (164) rank lower than India.

India’s Progress in Reducing Gender Inequality Index (GII) | India ranks 108 out of 166 countries in the Gender Inequality Index (GII) 2022, showing progress (in 2021, it ranked 122 out of 199 countries). India Jumps 14 ranks on Gender Inequality Index 2022

The GII measures gender inequalities on three parameters: Reproductive health (Use indicators namely the maternal mortality ratio and the adolescent fertility rate), Empowerment (Measured by the share of parliamentary seats held), and the Labor market (Measured by labour force participation rates by both gender)

India’s GII value of 0.437 is better than the global average (0.462) and the South Asian average.

GII score varies between 0 (when women and men fare equally) and 1 (when men or women fare poorly compared to the other in all dimensions).

Observations by the Human Development Index | The report highlights a reversal in the trend of reducing inequalities between wealthy and poor nations. It emphasizes the need for collective action to address climate change, digitalization, poverty, and inequality. Political polarization is identified as a hindrance to progress.

Four Areas for Immediate Action Proposed by the Human Development Report | Planetary public goods for climate stability as we confront the unprecedented challenges of the Anthropocene.

Digital global public goods for greater equity in harnessing new technologies for equitable human development.

New and expanded financial mechanisms, including a novel track in international cooperation that complements humanitarian assistance and traditional development aid to low-income countries.

Dialling down political polarization through new governance approaches focused on enhancing people’s voices in deliberation and tackling misinformation.

Insta Links:

Human Development Index (HDI).

Mains Link: UPSC 2019

Despite the consistent experience of High growth, India still goes with the lowest indicators of human development. Examine the issues that make balanced and inclusive development elusive.

Prelims Links

The Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index developed by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative with UNDP support covers which of the following?

• Deprivation of education, health, assets and services at the household level

• Purchasing power parity at the national level

• The extent of the budget deficit and GDP growth rate at the national level

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: A

Nana Jagannath Shankarseth

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

Context: The Maharashtra cabinet has decided to propose renaming Mumbai Central Station after Nana Jagannath Shankarseth, a renowned social reformer and philanthropist who played a crucial role in shaping Mumbai.

Nana Jagannath Shankarseth is often hailed as the architect of Mumbai (formerly Bombay). His notable contributions include being the first Indian nominated to the Legislative Council of Bombay and founding the Bombay Association in 1852. He championed education for girls and women and established the Native School of Bombay (1849), which later became the esteemed Elphinstone College. Shankarseth was instrumental in the committee that propelled India’s first train project, connecting Boribunder and Thane in 1853. Shankarsheth was instrumental in founding the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, alongside notable figures like Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy and David Sassoon.

Shankarsheth’s legacy lives on through the institutions he established and the development projects he spearheaded, leaving an indelible mark on Mumbai’s history.

Bhutan’s Gelephu project

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: Bhutan’s Gelephu project, a regional economic hub, aims to build a “Gelephu Mindfulness City” as a special administrative zone, focusing on non-polluting industries like IT and education.

This initiative, led by Bhutan’s Prime Minister, seeks support from India for financing and expertise.

The Gelephu Project is significant for Bhutan as it aims to promote tourism by upgrading the Gelephu airport, boosting employment, and addressing geopolitical concerns with China. For India, it strengthens ties with Bhutan, aligns with regional infrastructure plans, and facilitates demand for power supply through initiatives like the South Asian power grid.

Bhutan, nestled between India and Tibet, became a democracy in 2008 with the king as Head of State. Its main rivers, including the Torsa, Wong, Sankosh, and Manas, flow southward from the Great Himalayas, with the Manas River being the longest and transboundary.

Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: The Government of India is launching a pilot program for cashless treatment of road accident victims, in alignment with its commitment to reduce fatalities due to road accidents.

The pilot program, developed under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, aims to establish an ecosystem for providing timely medical care to road accident victims, including during the golden hour. The National Health Authority will oversee implementation in coordination with police, hospitals, and State Health Agencies. Victims are entitled to cashless treatment of up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs per person for a maximum of 7 days from the date of the accident, applicable to all road accidents. Hospital claims for treatment will be reimbursed from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.

The program will utilize the AB PM-JAY packages for trauma cases. Implementation will be facilitated through an IT platform combining functionalities of MoRTH’s eDAR application and NHA’s Transaction Management System (TMS).

India’s E-Vehicle Policy: Key Highlights

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: The Union Government has approved an E-Vehicle policy aimed at positioning India as a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles (EVs) with cutting-edge technology.

Aspect | Details

Policy Objective | Promote India as a manufacturing destination for electric vehicles (EVs) with advanced technology

Implementation | The Project Management Agency (PMA) will be responsible for providing secretarial, managerial and implementation support and carrying out other responsibilities as assigned by the Government of India (GoI)

Ministry | Ministry of Heavy Industries

Eligibility Criteria | Minimum Investment Requirement: Rs 4150 Cr (approximately USD 500 Mn)

Maximum Investment: No cap on maximum investment

Manufacturing Timeline: Set up manufacturing facilities within 3 years

Domestic Value Addition (DVA) criteria during manufacturing: 25% within a period of 3 years, and 50% within 5 years from the date of issuance of approval letter by the Ministry of Heavy Industries/ PMA

The Bank guarantee will be returned only when 50% DVA is attained an investment of at least Rs 4,150 crore has been made, or to the extent of duty foregone in 5 years, whichever is higher.

Performance Criteria: All electric passenger vehicles shall meet the performance criteria of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Auto scheme.

Tenure of the Policy | 5 years or as notified by GoI.

Key Benefits | Encourages technological advancements in EV manufacturing; Fosters Make in India initiative; Promotes healthy competition among EV players; Reduces crude oil imports and trade deficit; Mitigates air pollution, particularly in urban areas; Positive impact on health and environment

Other Initiatives to Promote EV | Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of EVs (FAME) India scheme: Phase I was launched in 2015 and Phase II was launched in 2019.

EV 30@30 initiative for the deployment of EVs and target at least 30 per cent of new EV sales by 2030

PLI Scheme for Automobile and Automotive Components (PLI-Auto) in 2021, as financial incentives to promote domestic manufacturing and draw investments into the value chain of the automotive manufacturing industry.

Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Fisheries scheme

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Krishi Jagran

Context: The Department of Fisheries has integrated the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Fisheries scheme onto the JanSamarth Portal, promising enhanced access to credit for fishers, fish farmers, and stakeholders nationwide.

JanSamarth is an innovative online platform facilitating direct connections between lenders and beneficiaries. Citizens can access loans under select Central government schemes through this platform. In 2018-19, the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility was extended to fishers and fish farmers to address their working capital needs. The scheme covers various categories of farmers, including individuals, joint borrowers, Joint Liability Groups, and Self Help Groups. It offers an annual interest subvention of 2%, with an additional subvention of 3% for prompt repayment.

Key Points about Kisan Credit Cards (KCC):

• Introduction: The KCC scheme was launched in 1998 to provide timely credit support to farmers for cultivation and other needs.

• Implementing Agencies: Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Small Finance Banks, and Cooperatives are involved in implementing the scheme.

• Features: KCC comes with an ATM-enabled RuPay debit card, simplified procedures, and built-in cost escalation. Aadhaar linkage is mandatory for interest subvention.

• Objectives: KCC aims to meet short-term credit requirements for cultivation, post-harvest expenses, marketing, consumption, maintenance of farm assets, and investment in agriculture and allied activities.

• Financial Provisions: The government provides interest subvention and prompt repayment incentives to farmers to ensure agricultural credit availability at a reasonable cost.

• Achievements: Around 25 lakh applications for Fishery KCC have been sanctioned. The government aims to cover 2.5 crore farmers under the KCC scheme through a special saturation drive.

Prelims Links:

Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes? (UPSC 2020)

• Working capital for maintenance of farm assets

• Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini trucks

• Consumption requirements of farm households

• Post-harvest expenses

• Construction of family house and setting up of village cold storage facility

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a. 1, 2 and 5 only

b. 1, 3 and 4 only

c. 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

d. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Ans: B

Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act, 2024)

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

Context: The European Parliament has passed a groundbreaking law, the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act, 2024), establishing comprehensive regulations for AI. It’s the first law of its kind globally, recognizing different levels of AI and their potential harms.

EU’s AI Act Key Highlights:

Highlights | Description

Aim | The EU’s AI Act represents a comprehensive effort to protect fundamental rights, democracy, and environmental sustainability while fostering innovation in high-risk AI applications.

It categorizes AI systems into four levels of risk | Unacceptable risk (Prohibition)

High-risk (Requires conformity assessment and monitoring)

Specific Transparency risk (Require information and transparency obligations)

Minimal risk (No specific regulations)

High-risk AI models are required to undergo conformity assessments, transparent reporting, and mitigation measures to address potential biases, such as racial and gender bias

Prohibition | The Act also prohibits the use of real-time remote biometric identification in publicly accessible spaces, except for limited exceptions

Steps by India to Promote AI | Advisory on labelling and approval for AI model deployment

India AI Mission

National AI Strategy, 2018

INDIAai

Global Initiatives to Promote AI | Bletchley Declaration for AI

Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) New Delhi Declaration

Hiroshima AI Process (HAP) by G7

‘ETHANOL 100’

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: The Petroleum Ministry has launched ‘ETHANOL 100’, a groundbreaking automotive fuel, at the IndianOil Retail Outlet.

Ethanol 100 offers a cleaner, greener fuel option with its blend of 92-94% ethanol, 4-5% motor spirit, and 1.5% Co-solvent higher saturated alcohol. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions by around 63% and is ideal for high-performance engines due to its high-octane rating. Additionally, its adoption leads to significant savings in foreign exchange.

India’s Ethanol Blending Program aims to promote the blending of ethanol with gasoline to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and mitigate environmental impact. The program incentivizes ethanol production and blending, with a target of achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025-26 (as per National Policy on Biofuel-2018)

Prelims Link:

According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? (UPSC 2020)

• Damaged wheat grains

• Groundnut seeds

• Horse gram

• Rotten potatoes

• Sugar beet

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only (b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Ans: A

NIA’s CCMS platform launched

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: Union Home Ministery launched a newly developed Digital Criminal Case Management System (CCMS) by the National Investigation Agency (NIA)

What is CCMS?

It is a browser-based software designed to assist State Police forces in investigations and prosecution. It aims to enhance coordination in terrorism and organized crime cases, improve justice delivery, standardize investigations, and streamline terror-related data compilation. The CCMS facilitates cooperation between central and state agencies, including Anti-Terror Squads, and supports the implementation of new criminal laws.

Additionally, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched the ‘Sankalan’ app by the National Crime Records Bureau, serving as a guide to navigate through new criminal laws.

About NIA:

The National Investigation Agency (founded 31st Dec 2008; HQ: New Delhi; Under Home Ministry) is the primary anti-terror investigation task force of India. The agency is empowered to deal with the investigation of terror-related crimes across states without special permission from the states under a written proclamation from the Ministry of Home Affairs. It has the authority to take over cases from state police forces and other agencies. It seeks the sanction of the Central government for prosecuting accused individuals under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other scheduled offences.

Gulf of Tonkin

#### Mapping

Source: IE

Context: Vietnam calls for respect of international law following China’s establishment of a baseline in the Gulf of Tonkin. The move raises concerns amid overlapping claims in the South China Sea, but both countries have historically maintained friendlier relations in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The Gulf of Tonkin, situated in the South China Sea, borders Tonkin in northern Vietnam and South China. It is bordered by Vietnam’s northern coastline to the west and northwest, China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to the north, and the Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island to the east. The Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964 heightened U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.