CURRENT AFFAIRS - 13/11/2023

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CURRENT AFFAIRS – 13/11/2023

CURRENT AFFAIRS – 13/11/2023

Artificial rain to fix pollution remains a nebulous science

(General Studies- Paper III)

Source : TH

The Delhi government is embarking on an experimental initiative to mitigate the severe pollution in the region by exploring the concept of artificial rain or cloud seeding.

Despite the historical roots of cloud seeding dating back to the 1940s, its effectiveness during non-monsoon periods remains largely unproven and is seen as a challenging endeavor, largely due to the complexities involved in encouraging rain from clouds.

Key Highlights

Recent Efforts in Delhi
- The recent approach involves the Delhi government collaborating with experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kanpur.
- Their collective aim is to present a proposal to the Supreme Court, advocating for a plan involving aircraft intervention in rain clouds, anticipated to appear in the northern region around November 20.
- This proposed intervention entails dispersing a unique salt solution akin to sowing seeds into fertile soil, with the intention of augmenting existing water droplets in the clouds, thereby enlarging and intensifying them to eventually condense into rain.
Challenges and Experimental Evidence
- However, the success of such cloud seeding initiatives is contingent upon numerous factors aligning harmoniously, as elucidated by a comprehensive analysis.
- The most extensive study on cloud seeding conducted in India focused on Solapur, Maharashtra, during two monsoon seasons in 2018 and 2019.
- This investigation, published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society in October, unveiled that cloud seeding resulted in an 18% increase in rainfall, approximately 8.67 mm more precipitation, compared to scenarios without seeding.
Insights from the Solapur Experiment
- Solapur, selected for its status as a rain-shadow region that typically receives minimal monsoon rainfall, became the test site.
- The research team from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, identified 276 “convective clouds,” defined by a minimum of 0.5 gm of water per square centimeter of cloud.
- The meticulous scrutiny of the Solapur experiment emphasized the intricate and multifaceted nature of cloud dynamics and the critical role played by various conditions in determining the success of cloud seeding endeavors.
Lead Scientist’s Insights
- TharaPrabhakaran highlighted the impact of differences in cloud shapes and existing water content on inducing artificial rain.
- The CAIPEX experiment (CAIPEEX Phase-4) meticulously tracked individual clouds to assess their response to seeding.
- Not all clouds are suitable for seeding; the experiment, while controlled, showed a net 18% increase in rainfall within a 100 sq. km. area, selected based on rain potential.
Variability in Experiment Outcomes
- Pre-monsoon or post-monsoon periods, such as in Delhi, could yield different results due to fewer and lower convective clouds in the atmosphere.
- Seeded rain sometimes drifted beyond the intended area, indicating the complex nature of cloud behavior.
- Varied cloud temperatures (warm and cold) require different chemicals to stimulate water production.
- Solapur used calcium chloride for warmer clouds and silver iodide for colder clouds, as seen in China’s cloud-seeding efforts during the Beijing Olympics.
- Challenges exist with Western disturbances and their multi-layered clouds that might hinder rain reaching the ground due to evaporation in dryer layers.
IIT-Kanpur’s Preparation and Rationale for Cloud Seeding
- IIT-Kanpur researchers view the 18% increase in rainfall from the CAIPEX experiment as a positive reason to attempt cloud seeding to address Delhi’s pollution issues.
- IIT-Kanpur possesses its aircraft and has formulated a unique salt solution (not disclosed) for the seeding process, inspired by Beijing’s success in controlling pollution through cloud seeding.
- Sachchida Nand Tripathi from IIT-Kanpur finds it worthwhile to attempt cloud seeding in Delhi due to its severe pollution levels.
- Even a small amount of rain holds potential for significantly improving air quality by clearing pollutants.
Impact of Recent Rain on Delhi’s Air Quality
- A recent mild drizzle from a western disturbance in parts of Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) notably improved air quality by around 100 points on the air quality index.

Understanding: Cloud Seeding

Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique aimed at enhancing precipitation by dispersing substances into the air that act as cloud condensation or ice nuclei.
The process is typically employed in areas experiencing water scarcity or drought or, as in the case of Delhi’s severe pollution, to improve air quality by inducing rainfall.
How does it work?
- Identification of Clouds:
  - Cloud seeding begins with the identification of suitable clouds, often those that have the potential to produce rain but require a small nudge to do so.
  - These clouds usually contain supercooled water droplets—water that’s below freezing but has not yet frozen.
- Introduction of Seeding Agents:
  - Once the clouds are identified, seeding agents—such as silver iodide, potassium iodide, or salt particles—are dispersed into them.
  - These agents can be released into the clouds from the ground or via aircraft.
- Interaction with Cloud Particles:
  - These seeding agents act as nuclei around which the moisture in the cloud can condense, forming larger droplets.
  - In cold clouds, these agents may encourage the formation of ice crystals, which can grow and fall as snow or melt into rain as they descend.
- Rainfall Enhancement:
  - By increasing the size of the droplets or encouraging the formation of precipitation particles, the aim is to stimulate rainfall or snowfall from clouds that might otherwise not produce precipitation.
Cloud seeding is not a guaranteed process and success depends on various factors such as cloud type, existing atmospheric conditions, and the specific seeding agents used.

What are convective clouds?

Convective clouds are a type of cloud associated with vertical development and upward motion of air.
These clouds form due to convection, which is the process of warmer air rising and cooler air sinking.
As the warm air rises, it cools, and if it reaches its dew point (the temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor), clouds may form.
These clouds are often characterized by their vertical growth, with their tops often resembling towers.
They typically bring about localized and often intense weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and sometimes hail.
Cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds are common examples of convective clouds.

Centre to launch PM-Kisan Bhai scheme

(General Studies- Paper II)

Source : TH

The proposed PM-Kisan Bhai (Bhandaran Incentive) scheme aims to assist small and marginal farmers who lack capacity to store their produce, thereby waiting for better prices.

The Agriculture Ministry’s proposal received feedback over 10 days and is anticipated to be operational by December-end.

Key Highlights

Empowering Farmers and Breaking Monopoly
- This initiative aims to challenge the dominance of traders in determining crop prices and empower farmers by enabling them to retain their produce for a minimum of three months post-harvest.
- Farmers will gain the freedom to decide the timing of their sales, differing from the current practice where sales primarily occur during the harvest season, usually lasting 2-3 months, with traders and stockists controlling supplies during the off-season.
Addressing Existing Constraints
- The concept paper identifies existing financial limitations.
- While pledge finance facilities are accessible to farmers, their utilization is restricted due to high carryover costs for farmers and credit risks for banks.
Pilot Phase Implementation and Estimated Expenditure
- The initial phase may be launched on a pilot basis in several states including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
- The estimated expenditure for the scheme, spanning three years including the current fiscal, is approximately ₹170 crore.
Incentivizing Storage and Reducing Interest Rates
- The scheme focuses on incentivizing the storage of farmers’ produce in scientifically constructed warehouses.
- It aims to decrease the interest rates on pledge finance obtained against a secured instrument of e-Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (eNWRs).
- This will be done by offering a Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI) on trading these eNWRs via e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) or other authorized e-trading platforms interoperable with e-NAM.
- The PM-Kisan Bhai scheme seeks to address financial hurdles, empower farmers, and transform the dynamics of crop sales by offering incentives for storage and reducing financial constraints for farmers through innovative financial instruments and trading platforms.
- This approach aims to enhance farmers’ autonomy and market participation.

Components of the Proposal

Warehousing Rental Subsidy (WRS)
- Eligibility and Benefit:
  - Small farmers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) qualify for the Warehousing Rental Subsidy (WRS) at ₹4 per quintal per month, regardless of the rental charges imposed by the warehouse operator.
- Duration and Eligibility:
  - The subsidy applies for a maximum of three months of storage, excluding produce stored for 15 days or less.
  - Calculation of the subsidy is on a daily basis.
- Potential Impact:
  - Some experts express concerns that limiting the subsidy duration could impact farmers, potentially transferring power to stockists by the onset of the festival season in October.
- Prompt Repayment Incentive (PRI)
  - Interest Subvention under Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme:
    - The proposal extends a 3% additional interest subvention under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme.
    - This allows farmers to pledge their produce, obtaining loans at a subsidized interest rate.
  - Eligibility and Benefits:
    - All KCC holder farmers are eligible for a 3% lesser interest rate for three months when stocking produce in registered warehouses, accessing digital finance against eNWR, and trading via the e-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM).
  - Potential Implications and Perspectives
    - Empowering Farmers in Pricing Decisions:
      - With monetary support for storage during harvest, farmers gain the potential to reject buyer-dictated prices and have increased autonomy in sales decisions.
    - Digital Trading and Market Dynamics:
      - By promoting e-Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR) trade through the e-NAM online portal, farmers gain access to a wider market and can sell produce even while stored in warehouses.
    - Influences on Scheme Success:
      - Analysts highlight that the success of the scheme relies on buyer response as they remain key influencers in the agricultural value chain.
      - Lack of buyer interest in online trading might lead farmers back to traditional agri market yards (mandis).

What are e-Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (eNWRs)?

e-Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (eNWRs) are electronic documents that serve as proof of ownership or storage of agricultural produce in a warehouse.
They facilitate a digital and secure method for farmers or traders to manage and trade agricultural commodities stored in warehouses.

About the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme

The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was introduced in 1998 to offer farmers a single-window financial support system through credit cards specifically tailored for their agricultural needs.
Over the years, the scheme has evolved to encompass both production and investment credit requirements, aiming to facilitate various financial aspects related to farming and allied activities.
Key Features and Evolution:
- Initiated in 1998, the KCC scheme initially focused on providing credit cards to farmers for the purchase of agricultural inputs and to withdraw cash for production necessities.
- Extended in 2004 to encompass investment credit needs related to allied and non-farm activities of farmers.
- Under the chairmanship of Shri T.M. Bhasin, the scheme was revisited to streamline and simplify its operations, encouraging the issuance of Electronic Kisan Credit Cards.
- In the Budget of 2018-19, the government introduced an extension of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to encompass farmers in the fisheries and animal husbandry sectors.
Applicability:
- The Kisan Credit Card Scheme is intended to be implemented by various financial institutions including Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Small Finance Banks, and Cooperatives.
Objectives of the Scheme:
- The KCC scheme aims to provide farmers with comprehensive and timely credit support for a wide range of agricultural and related purposes, including:
- Meeting short-term credit needs for crop cultivation.
- Covering post-harvest expenses and marketing loans for produce.
- Addressing household consumption requirements of farmers.
- Offering working capital for farm asset maintenance and activities associated with agriculture.
- Catering to investment credit requirements for agricultural and allied activities.
Eligible Categories:
- Farmers – Individual/Joint Borrowers
- Tenant Farmers, Oral Lessees, and Share Croppers
- Self Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) of Farmers
Kisan Credit Card (KCC) interest rates:
- Interest rates are linked to the Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate (MCLR).
- Government provides interest subvention to lending institutions.
- Short-term KCC loans up to ₹3 Lakhs carry a 7% interest rate which includes a 1.5% interest subvention to lending institutions.
- Farmers repaying within a year can receive an extra 3% subsidy on the KCC interest rate.
Benefits offered by the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme:
- Easy Access to Credit: Provides timely and adequate credit for agricultural and allied activities.
- Flexible Credit Limit: Determined based on the farmer’s cropping pattern and operational scale.
- Multiple Withdrawals: Farmers can make multiple withdrawals up to the sanctioned credit limit.
- Interest Subsidy: Often includes government-provided interest subsidies to reduce borrowing costs.
- Convenient Repayment: Offers flexible repayment options, typically post-harvest.
- Insurance Coverage: Some schemes include insurance for crops, livestock, and assets.
- Digitization and Tech Integration: Integrates with digital platforms for accessible account management.
- Support for Allied Activities: Funds can be used for various allied activities apart from crop cultivation.
- Reduced Dependence on Informal Sources: Diminishes reliance on high-interest informal loans.
- Boosts Rural Economy: Stimulates rural economic activities, modernizes farming, and enhances income.

What is Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate (MCLR)?

The Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate (MCLR) is a benchmark interest rate used by banks in India for lending purposes.
It is the minimum interest rate that a bank can offer while lending.
The MCLR framework replaced the base rate system in 2016 as a method to determine lending rates for various loan products offered by banks.

Smart Cities ranking

(General Studies- Paper II)

Source : The Indian Express

The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry data indicates that a substantial portion of Smart City projects, about 22%, are still ongoing out of the total 7,947 projects.

The completed projects constitute the majority, totaling 6,202, while 1,745 projects are still in progress.
Out of the total cost (Rs 1.70 lakh crore), 33% (Rs 57,028 crore) is attributed to ongoing projects.

Key Highlights

Top Performers:
- Regions Leading Completion:
  - Cities in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan are leading in project completion and financial progress.
  - As of November 10, cities like Surat (Gujarat), Agra (UP), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Varanasi (UP), and Bhopal (MP) are among the top five cities showing significant progress.
- Notable Cities:
  - Other cities like Tumakuru (Karnataka), Udaipur (Rajasthan), Madurai (TN), Kota (Rajasthan), and Shivamogga (Karnataka) are also in the top 10 for their progress.
- Challenges in UTs and Northeastern Cities:
  - Low Ranking Cities:
    - UTs and cities in the Northeastern states are lagging behind in progress, representing the bottom 10 in the Smart Cities Mission.
  - Sources attribute the slower progress to capacity issues in smaller cities in these regions.
- Timeline Extension:
  - The Smart Cities Mission, launched in 2015, initially set a five-year deadline for cities to complete their proposed projects.
  - However, in May 2024, the deadline was extended to June 2024.

What is Smart Cities Mission?

The Smart Cities Mission was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 25, 2015.
The mission aims to overhaul urban centers, making them more sustainable, efficient, and people-centric.
The Union Ministry of Urban Development oversees the mission in collaboration with state governments.
The mission is projected to conclude between 2019 and 2023.
Rationale Behind the Mission:
- Urban Population Impact: Presently, cities house around 31% of India’s population, contributing significantly to the country’s GDP (63% as per Census 2011).
- Future Urban Growth: By 2030, it’s predicted that 40% of India’s population will reside in urban areas, contributing to approximately 75% of the GDP.
Vision and Mission Goals:
- Addressing Urban Challenges: The Smart Cities Mission responds to the infrastructure and service delivery challenges posed by the burgeoning urban population.
- Resource Optimization: The initiative seeks to integrate city infrastructure to better manage resources and elevate services, ensuring a higher quality of life for urban residents.
Objective:
- The objective of the smart city initiative is to create sustainable, inclusive cities by providing core infrastructure and employing smart solutions like data-driven traffic management and intelligent lighting systems.
- The core infrastructure elements in a Smart City are as follows:
  - Adequate water supply
  - Assured electricity supply
  - Sanitation including solid waste management
  - Efficient urban mobility and public transport
  - Affordable housing, especially for the poor
  - Robust IT connectivity and digitalization
  - Good governance, especially e-governance and citizen participation
  - Sustainable environment
  - Safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly
  - Health and education
- The initiative emphasizes compact areas and aims to develop a replicable model that can guide other cities aspiring for similar growth.

How Many Smart Cities in Each State/UT?
- The total number of 100 Smart Cities have been distributed among the States and UTs on the basis of an equitable criteria.
- The formula gives equal weightage (50:50) to urban population of the State/UT and the number of statutory towns in the State/UT.
- Based on this formula, each State/UT will, therefore, have a certain number of potential Smart Cities, with each State/UT having at least one.
Financing of the Smart Cities:
- The financing of the Smart City Mission involves a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with the Central Government set to provide significant financial backing.
- Over a period of five years, the government plans to offer Rs. 48,000 crores, averaging Rs. 100 crore per city per year.
- States/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are required to match this amount, resulting in a total of nearly Rs. one lakh crore from the government and ULB funds for the development of Smart Cities.

In Image: Smart Cities Project as on 09-11-2023.

Centre likely to give direct sops to EV manufacturing

(General Studies- Paper III)

Source : The Indian Express

The Indian government is contemplating a new policy for electric vehicles (EVs) to incentivize manufacturers, including foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) aiming to establish a presence in India.

Key Highlights

This policy, distinct from existing schemes like FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) and PLI (Production-Linked Incentive), is intended to offer direct incentives linked to the magnitude of investments, departing from traditional consumer subsidies.
The primary focus of the policy is to elevate the domestic value addition within the EV ecosystem to a minimum of 50%.
It also aims to accelerate the adoption of EVs across the nation.
Various government departments are engaging in preliminary discussions to evaluate the necessity of an all-encompassing EV policy.
They are deliberating on whether a new policy needs formulation or if adjustments to existing schemes would suffice.
The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is leading these discussions.
Key points under consideration include the eligibility criteria for incentives based on investment scale and the nature of these incentives.
The overarching goal is to stimulate investments across the entire EV supply chain, not limited to assembly operations.
Overview of India’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy Landscape:
- FAME Scheme and Future Considerations:
  - The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) Scheme offers financial incentives to EV manufacturers and buyers until 2024, with a total budget of $1.3 billion.
  - The extension or replacement of the FAME scheme is under consideration, with a focus on assessing past data, future projections, and impact on the existing auto manufacturing ecosystem.
- Policy Development and Industry Consultations:
  - The government intends to avoid disrupting the established automobile manufacturing sector while promoting EVs.
  - Consultations with auto and component manufacturers are planned before finalizing any EV-specific policy.
  - The goal is to maintain a balanced approach, avoiding favoritism towards any particular segment within the automotive industry.
  - The proposed successor to FAME aims to encourage research, development, new technologies, and economies of scale, building capabilities and capacities within the EV sector.
- The Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) targets localizing EV production in India by 2030, with varying timelines for different EV components.
Production Linked Incentive Schemes:
- The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automotive Sector, with a budget of $3.1 billion, incentivizes manufacturers of advanced automotive technology (AAT) products, including EVs.
- Another PLI focuses on advanced chemistry cell (ACC) battery storage, a vital component for EVs, with a budget of $2.1 billion.
Industry Growth and Projections:
- The Indian EV manufacturing sector shows rapid growth, with over 450,000 EVs produced in 2022-23, up from 230,000 the previous year.
- The Economic Survey 2023 forecasts a significant compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49% in India’s domestic EV market between 2022 and 2030, estimating annual sales of 10 million by 2030.