AMIGOS IAS Daily Current Affairs (29^th July 2024)

On Reservations and the OBC creamy layer

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Reservation Benefits

Why is it in the news?

• The recent allotment of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) to Puja Khedkar as an Other Backward Class (OBC) Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) candidate with multiple disabilities has brought to light issues surrounding the creamy layer in OBC reservations.

An Analysis

History of reservation:

• Articles 15 and 16 of the Indian Constitution guarantee equality to all citizens in government policies and public employment while enabling special provisions for socially and educationally backward classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
• Reservations for SC and ST are fixed at 15% and 7.5% respectively, in jobs, educational institutions, and public sector undertakings (PSU) at the central level.
• In 1951, the First Constitutional Amendment legalized caste-based reservation in India, marking a significant milestone in addressing historical inequities through affirmative action measures.
• In 1990, Prime Minister V. P. Singh implemented 27% reservation for OBC based on the Mandal Commission (1980) recommendations. Subsequently, in 2005, reservation was extended to OBC, SC, and ST in educational institutions, including private ones.
• The Supreme Court upheld the 27% reservation for OBC in the Indra Sawhney case (1992), acknowledging caste as a determinant of class in India but capping reservations at 50% unless in exceptional circumstances. The court also mandated the exclusion of the creamy layer from OBC reservations.
• The concept of ‘creamy layer’ gained prominence through this judgment, limiting reservations for backward classes to initial appointments rather than extending them to promotions.
• The Justice Ram Nandan Prasad Committee (1993) defined the creamy layer based on parental income and position.
• An individual is considered part of the creamy layer if parental income, excluding salary and agricultural income, exceeds ₹8 lakh annually for the past three years.
• Additionally, applicants are part of the creamy layer if their parents hold certain government or managerial positions.
• The Parliament responded by enacting 77th Constitutional Amendment Act 1995 which introduced Article 16(4A), allowing states to reserve promotion seats for SCs and STs in public services based on underrepresentation criteria.
• In the 2006 Nagaraj Case, the Supreme Court affirmed the constitutional validity of Article 16(4A) while establishing three essential criteria for the implementation of reservation policies in promotions for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs):
• Social and Educational Backwardness: Collect quantifiable data on the backwardness of the class
• Inadequate Representation: Prove its inadequate representation in public employment
• Efficiency of Administration: Reservation policies must maintain administrative efficiency, balancing merit-based principles with affirmative action objectives.
• In Jarnail Singh vs Lachhmi Narain Gupta Case 2018 Judgement, Supreme Court held that reservation in promotions does not require the state to collect quantifiable data on the backwardness of the SCs and the STs.
• The Court also held that creamy layer exclusion extends to SC/STs and, hence the State cannot grant reservations in promoting SC/ST individuals who belong to the creamy layer of their community.
• In Constitutional (103rd Amendment) Act of 2019, 10% reservation was introduced for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among the unreserved category.
• This marks the first instance of reservation being extended based on economic criteria.
• Since 1960, reservations for SCs and STs in Lok Sabha and state legislatures have been periodically extended every decade, with the latest extension in 2019 extending validity until 2030.
• In 2021, the 102nd Amendment empowered states and Union Territories to formulate their own lists of Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBCs), enhancing local autonomy in addressing social and economic disparities.
• In 2022, in the Janhit Abhiyan v Union of India case, the Supreme Court affirmed the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment, validating reservations for economically weaker sections (EWS) based on economic criteria, thereby endorsing measures to address socio-economic inequalities.

Issues:

• However, there are concerns about the adequacies in the process, with allegations that some applicants obtain NCL or EWS certificates through dubious means, including disability certificates to benefit from the 4% reservation for persons with disabilities in central government jobs.
• Strategies to bypass the creamy layer exclusion, such as gifting assets and premature retirement, are also reported.
• Another issue is the concentration of reservation benefits, as the Rohini Commission found that 97% of reserved jobs and educational seats have been taken by just 25% of OBC castes/sub-castes at the central level, with around 1,000 OBC communities having no representation.
• Similar issues exist in SC and ST categories, with no creamy layer exclusion for these groups.

Addressing the issues:

• To address these issues, there should be rigorous scrutiny to ensure only eligible applicants obtain NCL, EWS, and disability certificates.
• Reserved community vacancies should be filled without backlogs. Further, Sub-categorisation of reservation may help address the under-representation of various communities.
• Considering creamy layer exclusion for SC and ST children of Group I/Class A government officials could also be explored.

Conclusion:

• These sensitive matters require thorough discussion among stakeholders to ensure reservation benefits reach the most marginalized among the underprivileged in successive generations.

Additional Information:

Mandal Commission:

• Under Article 340 of the Constitution, the President appointed the Mandal Commission in December 1978, chaired by B. P. Mandal, to define and recommend measures for India’s socially and educationally backward classes.
• The Commission recommended that 27% of government jobs be reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), estimating them to comprise 52% of the population
• It identified all-India other backward classes (OBC) list across various religions and listed 3,743 OBC castes and a more disadvantaged category called “depressed backward classes” consisting of 2,108 castes.

Historical Background of Reservation Policies in India: Pre-Independence Era

• In 1882, William Hunter and Jyotirao Phule first proposed the idea of caste-based reservation.
• In 1909, the British Raj incorporated reservation elements into the Government of India Act by granting separate electorates to specific communities.
• In 1902, Maharaja Rajarshi Shahu of Kolhapur introduced reservations favouring non-Brahmin and backward classes.
• In 1921, Mysore implemented reservations for backward castes following a decade-long social justice movement aimed at addressing the marginalization of non-Brahmin communities.
• In 1927, the Madras Presidency allocated 44% reservation to non-Brahmin Hindus, 16% to Brahmins, Muslims, Christians, and Anglo-Indians, and 8% to Scheduled Castes, aiming to address social inequalities through structured allocation of opportunities.
• In 1932, the MacDonald/Communal Award initially proposed separate electorates for depressed classes, including Dalits. Subsequently, the Poona Pact replaced separate electorates with an increase in reserved seats for depressed classes, aiming for greater representation and social integration.
• In 1935, the Government of India Act extended communal representation by granting separate electorates to depressed classes, women, and labor, aiming to diversify political participation and representation in colonial India.

Constitutional Provisions Governing Reservation in India:

• Part XVI addresses reservation for SCs and STs in Central and State legislatures.
• Article 15(4) and 16(4) empower the State and Central Governments to reserve government service seats for SCs and STs.
• The Constitution was amended by the 77th Amendment Act in 1995, introducing Article 16(4A) allowing reservation in promotions.
• The 85th Amendment Act in 2001 modified Article 16(4A), granting consequential seniority to promoted SC and ST candidates.
• The 81st Amendment Act in 2000 inserted Article 16(4B), enabling states to fill unfilled SC/ST reserved vacancies of one year in the following year, surpassing the 50% reservation cap for that year’s total vacancies.
• Article 243D mandates SC/ST reservation in every Panchayat.
• Article 243T mandates SC/ST reservation in every Municipality.
• Article 330 and Article 332 provides reservation of seats for the SCs and the STs in the Parliament and in the State Legislative Assemblies respectively
• Article 335 ensures SC/ST claims are considered while maintaining administrative efficiency.

Mains Practice Question:

Q. “The reservation of seats for women in the institutions of local self- government has had a limited impact on the patriarchal character of the Indian Political Process.” Comment. (UPSC 2019)

Q. Whether National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) can enforce the implementation of constitutional reservation for the Scheduled Castes in the religious minority institutions? Examine. (UPSC 2018)

SC to examine acquitted man’s ‘right to be forgotten’

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Right to be forgotten

Why is it in the news?

• The Supreme Court of India recently agreed to examine the “right to be forgotten,” a concept related to data privacy and the erasure of personal information from public records.

More about the news

• The case concerns an acquitted man who sought to remove a judgment from an online legal portal after a Madras High Court ruling, as it affected his chance of securing Australian citizenship.
• The Supreme Court will determine whether this right is a fundamental right and how it aligns with other constitutional rights.
• The right to be forgotten, or right to erasure, allows individuals to request the removal of outdated or irrelevant personal information from public view.
• Origins of this Right:
• Established by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the 2014 Google Spain case, this right enables individuals to have search engines remove links to outdated information.
• The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) codifies this right, ensuring individuals can control their personal data and mitigate the impact of outdated or irrelevant information.
• Status in India: In India, there is no specific legislation on the right to be forgotten. However, the concept has been addressed in various rulings.
• Judicial Precedent to the issue:
• The Supreme Court recognized the right to privacy as a fundamental right in the 2017 Puttaswamy case, with Justice S.K. Kaul acknowledging the right to be forgotten as part of informational self-determination. Indian courts have produced mixed rulings on this issue.
• The Gujarat High Court, for instance, denied a request to remove details of an acquittal, while the Delhi High Court allowed the removal of case details to protect an individual’s reputation.
• However, the Orissa High Court has emphasized the need for a comprehensive debate on implementing this right, citing practical and technological challenges that require clear guidelines and institutional frameworks.
• In 2021, the Delhi High Court instructed online platforms to remove publicly accessible records related to a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, involving an American citizen, citing concerns over its adverse impact on his employment opportunities.
• Challenges Associated with Right to Be Forgotten (RTBF):
• Balancing Privacy and Information: The application of RTBF hinges on balancing individual privacy rights, derived from Article 21, with competing rights such as freedom of expression under Article 19.
• For instance, individuals may seek to remove links to their criminal records or journalistic reports, raising conflicts with media rights to report on public issues.
• Enforceability Against Private Entities: RTBF claims typically target private parties like media or news websites, prompting questions about the enforceability of fundamental rights against private individuals, a realm primarily governed by constitutional provisions like Article 15(2), Article 17, and Article 23.
• Ambiguity in Judicial Interpretations: In the absence of a comprehensive data protection law to codify RTBF, Indian courts have delivered inconsistent judgments, sometimes overlooking broader constitutional implications associated with the right.

Should India focus on Natural Farming?

GS 3: Economy – Agriculture

Why is it in the news?

• In her Budget proposals for 2024-25, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced plans to initiate one crore farmers into natural farming over the next two years, supported by certification and branding.
• The implementation will involve scientific institutions and gram panchayats, and 10,000 bio-input resource centres to be established.

National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

• Under the NMNF, the government aims to motivate farmers to adopt chemical-free farming, transitioning them to natural farming based on its merits.
• The NMNF seeks a behavioural change in farmers, moving from chemical inputs to cow-based, locally-produced inputs.
• The Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati scheme, part of the NMNF, has a total outlay of ₹4,645.69 crore for six years (2019-20 to 2024-25).

Natural Farming

About:

• Natural farming eliminates the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, promoting traditional practices based on on-farm biomass recycling, biomass mulching, on-farm cow dung-urine formulations, and managing pests through botanical concoctions.
• This method excludes all synthetic chemical inputs, focusing on improving natural nutrient cycling and increasing soil organic matter.
• Advocates believe that natural farming can enhance farmers’ income, restore soil fertility, improve

environmental health, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

Concerns:

• However, experts are concerned about the feasibility of large-scale transition to natural farming in India, a country with a large population and significant food needs.
• A recent academic paper, ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF): Implications for Sustainability, Profitability, and Food Security’, highlights disparities in outcomes from different experiments on ZBNF.
• While Andhra Pradesh showed encouraging results with improved yields and incomes, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (IIFSR) reported declines in wheat and basmati rice yields under ZBNF compared to integrated crop management.

Lessons from Sri Lanka:

• Sri Lanka’s experience with banning chemical fertilizers in favour of natural ones serves as a cautionary tale.
• The policy shift led to severe economic and political turmoil, with farmers struggling to obtain natural fertilizers and a reduction in key crop yields, jeopardizing food security. This resulted in sharp price increases and significant unrest.

Way Forward

• While natural farming may be beneficial locally, large-scale adoption in India could jeopardize food security.
• Rigorous scientific tests on crop yields under natural farming are necessary before nationwide implementation to avoid potential risks to national food security.
• Natural farming might be suitable for supplementary foodstuffs but not for staple cereals like wheat and rice.

Additional Information:

Overview on National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF):

• About: The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) by the Government of India promotes chemical-free farming to bolster soil health, reduce reliance on chemicals, and foster sustainable agriculture.
• Objectives: It aligns with broader objectives of boosting farmer income, ensuring food security, and addressing environmental challenges.
• Significance of Natural Farming:
• Economic Viability:
• Cost-Effective: Reduces dependence on expensive chemical inputs, lowering production costs in the long run.
• Market Demand: Growing consumer demand for organic products can open new markets and improve farmers’ income with scope for raising employment and rural development.
• Health Benefits:
• Safe Food: Organic produce ensures safe food by eliminating harmful chemical residues, promoting consumer health.
• Reduced Health Risks for Farmers: By reducing exposure to toxic chemicals, organic farming lowers health risks for farmers and agricultural workers.
• Environmental Sustainability:
• Reduced Chemical Use: Organic farming reduces chemical use, minimizing soil and water pollution.
• Soil Health: Practices like crop rotation and organic compost enhance soil health, ensuring long-term agricultural productivity.
• Biodiversity: Promotes biodiversity by using native seeds and supporting ecosystem diversity.
• Livestock Sustainability:
• Integrating livestock supports natural farming and ecosystem restoration.
• Eco-friendly bio-inputs like Jivamrit and Beejamrit, derived from cow dung, urine, and natural products, play a crucial role.
• Resilience to Climate Change:
• Climate-Resilient Crops:  Intercropping and agroforestry practices bolster resilience to climate change effects such as droughts and floods.
• Carbon Sequestration:  Organic farming enhances carbon sequestration in soils, contributing significantly to climate change mitigation.
• Issues/Concerns Related to Natural Farming:
• Yield Decline: Transitioning to natural farming initially may lead to temporary yield reductions, as observed in Sikkim.
• Knowledge and Training: Farmers require training and support to effectively adopt new practices and manage transitions.
• Certification Hurdles: Obtaining organic certification can be costly and challenging for small-scale farmers.
• Supply Chain Development: Establishing robust supply chains and ensuring market access for organic produce is critical.
• Policy and Incentives: Shifting government policies and subsidies from conventional to natural farming is crucial.
• Research and Development Needs: Investment in R&D for organic farming methods and local crop varieties is essential.
• Nutrient Deficiencies: Natural inputs may lack nutrient levels compared to chemicals used in high-input farming, impacting long-term yield potential and food security.
• Productivity and Income Concerns: While preserving soil fertility, the role of natural farming in enhancing productivity and farmer income remains inconclusive.
• Availability of Natural Inputs: Limited availability of natural inputs poses a significant barrier for farmers transitioning to chemical-free agriculture.
• Other Government Initiatives:
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Promotes cluster-based organic farming with financial aid and training for farmers.
• Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER): Develops organic farming clusters and value chains in North Eastern states.
• Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF): Advocates chemical-free farming using local resources, ensuring sustainable agriculture practices.
• Conclusion:
• Focusing on natural farming in India can bring significant environmental, health, and economic benefits, contingent upon addressing challenges through robust policy support, market development, and farmer education to enhance food security, promote rural development, and contribute to global climate change mitigation efforts.

Why Economic Survey argues for climate adaptation, not mitigation

GS 3: Environment and Biodiversity: Climate Change

About the news

• The Economic Survey for 2024 challenges the prevailing international climate change framework by arguing for a shift from mitigation to adaptation.
• It critiques the global approach, noting that targets like the 1.5- or 2-degree Celsius limits have been unmet and are increasingly seen as impractical for developing countries.

An Analysis

• According to the Survey, focusing excessively on these temperature goals diverts resources from pressing developmental needs and may even exacerbate inequities.
• It proposes that a warmer but more equitable and resilient world could be preferable to achieving the temperature targets at all costs.
• The Survey argues that adaptation should be prioritized alongside mitigation due to the ongoing impacts of climate change and the likelihood of breaching the 1.5-degree target.
• It emphasizes that climate thresholds like 1.5 or 2 degrees are arbitrary and that improving resilience and development is crucial for mitigating climate effects, especially in vulnerable communities.
• While some advocate for developed countries to handle mitigation and developing countries to focus on adaptation, this approach faces practical challenges.
• Additionally, the Economic Survey highlights the inequities and hypocrisy in the international climate system. It points out that developed countries, particularly the United States, have not met their emissions reduction targets or provided adequate support to developing nations.
• The Survey critiques the international climate framework for perpetuating the dominance of rich countries and notes that the dismantling of the Kyoto Protocol in favour of the Paris Agreement was driven by a desire to maintain existing global power structures.
• It also criticizes scientific assessments that present unrealistic scenarios for meeting temperature targets while continuing to pressure developing countries.
• To address these issues, the Economic Survey calls for India to focus on making its infrastructure more climate-resilient and to enhance its climate strategies. Despite efforts like the Central Vista project and the Smart City plans, there is a need for more comprehensive climate-proofing measures.
• Climate-proofing involves minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience to climate change impacts in investment projects, such as elements within the Smart City mission.
• The Mission Life initiative, promoting lifestyle and behavioural changes, has potential but lacks widespread adoption.
• Effective action on these fronts could better align India’s climate strategy with its developmental needs and resilience goals.

Additional Information:

Mission LiFE:

• About:
• Mission LiFE, also known as Lifestyle for Environment, is a worldwide initiative launched by India during the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021, inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi.
• The movement seeks to inspire individuals and communities globally to take proactive steps in environmental protection and preservation, with a goal to engage one billion Indians and people worldwide in embracing sustainable lifestyles.
• NITI Aayog is piloting Mission LiFE, with implementation overseen by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
• Salient Features:
• It functions as a global platform to highlight sustainable goals and climate actions pursued by nations and individuals globally.
• It operates under the principles of ‘Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet, and by the planet’, aligned with the P3 model—Promoting Pro Planet People—encouraging collective responsibility in the fight against climate change, thereby ensuring democratic participation where everyone can contribute based on their capabilities.
• Strategy: It aims at following a three-pronged strategy for changing people’s collective approach towards sustainability:
• Nudging individuals to practice simple yet effective environment-friendly actions in their daily lives (demand)
• Enabling industries and markets to respond swiftly to the changing demand (supply)
• To influence government and industrial policy to support both sustainable consumption and production (policy).

Budget Push for Infrastructure

GS 3: Economy: Infrastructure

Why is it in the news?

• In the Budget proposals for 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated ₹11 lakh crore for capital expenditure, amounting to 3.4% of the GDP.
• To encourage state spending on infrastructure, ₹1.5 lakh crore will be provided as long-term interest-free loans.

More about the news

Target Sectors in focus

• The government’s infrastructure expenditure as a percentage of the total budget has slightly decreased from 14.3% to 13.9% in FY25BE.
• The transport sector received the largest share at 11.29%, although this is down by 0.4 percentage points from the previous year.
• The Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways was allocated ₹2.78 lakh crore, while the Railways received a record ₹2.55 lakh crore.
• However, allocations for civil aviation and shipping saw reductions, with civil aviation’s allocation declining by 20% to ₹2,357 crore, and shipping’s allocation stagnating at ₹2,377 crore.

Progress and challenges in Roads

• The Economic Survey 2024 highlights significant growth in national highways (expanded by 1.6 times from 2014 to 2024), with the Bharatmala Pariyojana expanding high-speed corridors and 4-lane roads by 2.6 times during the same period.
• Despite these advances, industry experts stress the need for improved asset management, maintenance, and safety, especially following incidents like the Silkyara tunnel collapse.
• Changes to the Build-Operate-Transfer model aim to attract private investment, but profitability and timely project completion remain concerns.
• Experts advise implementing standardized operating procedures for bridge and tunnel construction to mitigate safety incidents similar to the Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand in 2023.

Issues in Railways

• Capital expenditure for Indian Railways has increased by 77% over the past five years, focusing on new lines, gauge conversion, and doubling.
• However, challenges such as skewed freight movement favouring roads, uncertain rake supply, and delays in infrastructure need addressing.
• Efficient smooth entry and exit of freight vehicle operations and improved infrastructure are critical for overcoming these issues.

Shipping and Airports

• The Sagarmala program has undertaken 839 projects worth ₹5.8 lakh crore, with 262 projects completed till date.
• Despite having over 230 maritime ports, cargo is concentrated at two major ports – JNPT and Mundra, necessitating development plans for others.
• The airport privatization plan includes 25 more airports, following the privatization of six in 2019.

Attracting Private Sector Investment

• From FY2019 to 2023, the Central Government spearheaded 49% of infrastructure investments, with state governments contributing 29%, leaving the balance anticipated from the private sector.
• According to CRISIL’s Infrastructure Yearbook 2023, the private sector has been hesitant to invest due to market risks and delays impacting returns.
• The government must address policy and regulatory challenges and implement the Kelkar Committee’s recommendations to attract more private investment.
• Identifying and monetizing additional assets could also help increase private sector participation in infrastructure development.

Mains Practice Question:

Q. “Investment in infrastructure is essential for more rapid and inclusive economic growth.” Discuss in the light of India’s experience. (UPSC 2021)

South Africa’s new law on climate change

GS 2&3: International Relations ; Environment: South Africa’s law on Climate change

Why is it in the news?

• South Africa’s recent Climate Change Bill, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, introduces mandatory measures to reduce emissions from large fossil-fuel heavy industries and requires climate adaptation plans for municipalities.

More about the news

• The legislation aims to help South Africa meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement. The country, heavily reliant on coal and one of the top 15 greenhouse gas emitters globally, has faced international pressure to accelerate its transition away from fossil fuels.
• South Africa has made several commitments to lower its greenhouse gas emissions through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The updated NDCs target a 31% reduction in emissions and set specific GHG levels for 2025 and 2030.
• The law establishes a carbon budget framework for major greenhouse gas-emitting companies, imposing time-limited pollution limits with increased carbon taxes for exceeding them, even though it’s not illegal to do so.
• The country has also outlined a ‘just transition’ approach to shift away from fossil fuels, focusing on sectors like agriculture, energy, and waste.
• Additionally, South Africa aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050, supported by various frameworks and strategies, including the Just Transition Framework and the Low-Emission Development Strategy.

India’s Climate Change Act

• In contrast, India lacks a comprehensive climate change legislation.
• Although a Private Member’s Bill proposed in 2022 aimed to establish a Council on Climate Change chaired by the Prime Minister, there has been little progress on this front.
• Climate change issues are addressed through various existing Acts, such as the Environmental Protection Act and the Energy Conservation Act.
• Recently, the Supreme Court has emphasized the need for an omnibus climate change law, linking it to citizens’ fundamental rights.
• Though, India has made significant strides in reducing emission intensity and has committed to sourcing 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuels by 2030, a unified legislative approach is very much essential.

Additional Information:

About Paris Agreement on Climate change:

• The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC in Paris in 2015.
• The agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C and preferably to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels.
• It succeeded the Kyoto Protocol as the subsequent international agreement addressing climate change.
• The Paris Agreement establishes a collaborative framework for nations to jointly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change impacts, and assist developing countries in their climate efforts.
• Under this agreement, each country must periodically submit and update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years, outlining their strategies for emission reduction and climate adaptation.
• India is a party to the UNFCCC and a signatory to the Paris Agreement.

About Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):

• Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are central to the Paris Agreement and the achievement of its long-term goals.
• NDCs are non-binding climate action plans that represent each nation’s efforts to lower national emissions and prepare for the effects of climate change (applying equally to developed and develop-ing nations).
• Each Party shall prepare, communicate, and maintain consecutive nationally determined contribu-tions (NDCs) that it expects to achieve by Article 4, Paragraph 2, of the Paris Agreement.
• NDCs are updated by each nation and submitted to the UNFCCC secretariat every five years.

Prelims Practice Questions:

Q. The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of (UPSC 2016)

(a) pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East

(b) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change

(c) capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

(d) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals

Answer: B

Q. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2016)

1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.

2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

Mains Practice Questions:

Q. ‘Climate change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (UPSC 2017)

Q. Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (UPSC 2021)

Manu’s historic bronze opens India’s medal hunt

Miscellaneous

About the news

• At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Manu Bhaker made history by winning a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event, becoming the first Indian woman shooter to stand on the Olympic podium.
• The 22-year-old achieved this milestone at Chateauroux, just three years after a disappointing Tokyo 2020 campaign where she failed to secure a medal across three events.
• Despite being in silver medal contention until her final shot, she narrowly lost to South Korea’s Kim Yeji by just 0.1 points, while Ye Jin Oh from Korea clinched the gold.
• Manu is set to compete in additional events, including the women’s 10m pistol mixed team and the 25m pistol events, continuing her pursuit for further success at these Games.

Army contingent in Mongolia for 21st Khaan Quest exercise

GS 3: Defence: Peacekeeping Missions

About the news

• The 21st Khaan Quest exercise, a multinational peacekeeping drill, began in Mongolia with around 430 participants from 23 countries, including India.
• In addition to KHAAN QUEST, India and Mongolia conduct a bilateral military exercise named “Nomadic Elephant,” with the most recent edition held in July 2024 in Meghalaya.
• The Indian Army has sent 40 personnel from the Madras Regiment, including one woman officer and two women soldiers. The exercise, which runs from July 27 to August 9 at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, aims to enhance readiness for peacekeeping missions in a multinational context.
• Indian Ambassador Atul Malhari Gotsurve attended the inaugural ceremony, extending best wishes to the participating troops.

Additional Information:

EXERCISE KHAAN QUEST:

• Background:
• The exercise first started as a bilateral event between USA and Mongolian Armed Forces in the year 2003.
• Subsequently, from the year 2006 onwards the exercise graduated to a Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise with current year being the 21st iteration.
• Last edition of Exercise KHAAN QUEST was conducted in Mongolia from 19th June to 2nd July 2023.
• The purpose is to:
• Foster international collaboration among military forces to strengthen peacekeeping capabilities and readiness in peace support operations.
• Enhance interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of the participating countries.
• Emphasize rigorous physical fitness, joint planning, and tactical drills to ensure effective deployment.
• Tactical drills to be practiced during the exercise will include establishment of Static and Mobile Check Points, Cordon and Search Operations etc.
• Aim:        
• To prepare Indian Armed Forces for peacekeeping missions in a multinational environment.
• To increase interoperability and military readiness in peace support operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.