CURRENT AFFAIRS - 26/12/2023

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CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26/12/2023

CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26/12/2023

Government Initiates PMAY-G for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups

(General Studies- Paper II)

Source : The Indian Express

The Indian government has commenced a survey and registration process to identify eligible beneficiaries of the Pradhan MantriAwasYojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) among 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across 18 states and Union Territories.

The Ministry of Rural Development, responsible for implementing PMAY-G, initiated the survey on December 15 using the Aawas+app, the ministry’s online application for identifying beneficiaries under the rural housing scheme.

Key Highlights

The survey is underway in 15 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
Currently, around 28,000 households have been covered under the survey.
Objective and Additional Targets:
- The government aims to build 4.9 lakh houses for PVTGs under the Pradhan MantriJanjati Adivasi Nyaya MahaAbhiyan (PM JANMAN), approved by the Union Cabinet on November 29.
- These houses are in addition to the existing target of constructing 2.95 crore houses under the PMAY-G scheme.
The unit cost of a PMAY-G house for PVTGs has been increased to Rs 2 lakh, compared to Rs 1.2 lakh in plain areas and Rs 1.30 lakh in hilly areas.
PMAY-G beneficiaries can also receive financial assistance of Rs 12,500 for toilet construction and 90 days of work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), bringing the total benefit to Rs 2.39 lakh.
In addition to housing, the government plans to provide clean drinking water, sanitation, improved education, health and nutrition, as well as road and telecom connectivity facilities to these PVTGs under various Central schemes.
Among the 75 PVTGs, Odisha has the highest number with 13, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 12.

About Pradhan MantriAwaasYojana – Gramin

Pradhan MantriAwaasYojanaGramin (PMAY-G), launched on April 1, 2016, is a flagship initiative of the GoI and is being implemented by Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
The mission primarily focuses on addressing the housing shortage in rural India by providing pucca houses with basic amenities to houseless and those living in kutcha or dilapidated houses.
Objectives:
- PMAY-G aims to offer a pucca house to all houseless households and those residing in substandard dwellings in rural areas by 2024.
- The overall target is to construct 2.95 crore pucca houses with basic amenities by March, 2024.
Other Key Features:
- The initiative encourages beneficiaries to construct quality houses using local materials, designs, and trained masons, promoting sustainable and community-centric development.
- The houses constructed under PMAY-G must have a minimum size of 25 sq m, including a dedicated area for hygienic cooking, ensuring improved living conditions.
- Beneficiary identification relies on parameters from the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), with verification conducted by Gram Sabhas, ensuring targeted assistance to those in need.
- Financial Assistance:
  - The unit assistance given to beneficiaries under the programme is Rs 1, 20,000 in plain areas and to Rs 1, 30,000 in hilly states/difficult areas.
  - Additional assistance of Rs.12, 000/- is extended for construction of toilets through convergence with Swacch Bharat Mission – Gramin (SBM-G).
  - The allocated funds are directly transferred to the Aadhaar-Linked Bank Account or Post-Office Account of the beneficiary, ensuring transparency and minimizing bureaucratic hurdles.
  - The beneficiary is also entitled to 90/95 days of unskilled labour from MGNREGA.
  - The beneficiary would be facilitated to avail loan of up to Rs.70, 000/- for construction of the house which is optional.

India’s Fiscal Position amidst IMF Concerns

(General Studies- Paper III)

Source : TH

The Finance Ministry recently released a statement titled ‘Factual position vis-à-vis IMF’s Article IV consultations with India,’ responding to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recent consultation details on India’s economic scenario.

The statement aims to provide clarity on perceived misconceptions and offers insights into India’s fiscal standing.

Key Highlights

IMF Article IV Consultations:
- IMF conducts bilateral discussions with its member countries annually, collecting economic and financial data and discussing policies with top officials.
- The Finance Ministry’s response comes four days after the release of the latest IMF consultation details on India.
Debt Concerns:
- The Ministry challenges the IMF’s view that adverse shocks could push India’s general government debt to or beyond 100% of GDP by 2027-28, asserting it as a worst-case scenario, not a definite outcome.
- Compares India’s situation to other countries, highlighting extreme ‘worst-case’ scenarios for the U.S., the U.K., and China at 160%, 140%, and 200% of GDP, respectively.
Current Debt Scenario:
- As of 2022-23, the combined debt of central and state governments in India stands at 81% of GDP, down from 88% in 2020-21.
- Under favourable circumstances, the IMF suggests this could further decrease to 70% by 2027-28.
Global Shocks and Fiscal Resilience:
- The Finance Ministry attributes India’s fiscal challenges to global shocks, such as the 2008 financial crisis and the recent pandemic, affecting the entire world economy.
- Emphasizes the government’s ability to meet fiscal deficit targets, with the Centre’s debt at 57% of GDP last year.
- Over the past year, IMF staff’s perceptions of India’s fiscal position have improved.
- Initially expressing concerns in 2022 about India’s fiscal space, they now believe sovereign stress risks are moderate.
The Finance Ministry has set a target to reduce debt and control the spending to achieve a fiscal deficit of 4.5% of GDP by 2025-26.

What is Government debt?

Government debt, also known as sovereign debt, refers to the total amount of money that a government owes to external creditors and domestic lenders.
It represents the accumulated financial obligations of a government resulting from borrowing to cover budget deficits or finance various public projects and initiatives.
Government debt can take various forms, including:
- Bonds and Securities:
  - Governments issue bonds and other debt securities to raise capital. Investors purchase these instruments, effectively lending money to the government.
  - The government agrees to pay periodic interest and return the principal amount upon maturity.
- Loans:
  - Governments may borrow directly from international organizations, foreign governments, or domestic financial institutions.
- Central Bank Borrowing:
  - Some governments borrow from their central banks, although this can have implications for inflation and monetary policy.
- The level of government debt is often expressed as a percentage of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- This ratio, known as the debt-to-GDP ratio, provides a measure of the government’s ability to repay its debt relative to the size of the overall economy.
- A higher debt-to-GDP ratio indicates a greater debt burden.

Global Goal on Adaptation and the road from Dubai

(General Studies- Paper III)

Source : TH

The 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai marked a significant shift in the international community’s approach to adaptation concerns.

Guided by the Paris Agreement on Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), the conference efforts at COP26 and COP27 led to the adoption of the GGA framework at COP28.
Despite this progress, challenges and the need for urgency in treating adaptation on par with mitigation were underscored, especially given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events globally.

Key Highlights

Paris Agreement and GGA Framework:
- The adoption of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) framework at COP28 was a culmination of efforts guided by the Paris Agreement.
- The GGA aims to address the urgent need for adaptation measures in the face of extreme weather events.
- There needs to be an emphasis on the necessity of treating adaptation with the same urgency as mitigation, given the devastating consequences of climate change events already occurring at just 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels.
Mitigation Challenges:
- Despite nations’ best mitigation efforts outlined in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, these may not be sufficient to restrict global average temperature rise below 1.5°C.
- Instead, there is a risk of reaching 2.8°C by the end of the century.
GGA Implementation Challenges:
- The GGA framework sets ambitious targets for Parties to the Paris Agreement, including conducting assessments of climate hazards, impacts, risks, and vulnerabilities by 2030.
- Challenges in implementing the GGA include the need for up-to-date assessments, multi-hazard early warning systems, climate information services, and systematic observation to support climate-related data and information.
- Global goals, as seen from experiences with the Millennium Development Goals, face challenges in translating into effective national-level implementation.
- Factors such as administrative capacity, economic development, and the provision of adequate support were identified as critical for successful implementation at the national level.
- There is a need for future climate change negotiations to prioritize adaptation, especially considering the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events globally.
Measuring GGA Progress:
- Unlike mitigation efforts with a universal metric of CO2 equivalents, measuring progress in climate adaptation lacks a universal metric.
- The GGA framework initiated a two-year work program on indicators to measure progress, but details regarding who will develop them or the methodology remain unspecified.
- In a global context of limited public funds and competing priorities, the development of standardized metrics is seen as essential.
- A universal indicator could facilitate fair measurement and comparison of adaptation projects, enabling international donors and national budget managers to allocate resources effectively.
Adaptation Finance Gap:
- The COP28 Draft Decision expresses concern about the widening adaptation finance gap, signifying the disparity between estimated costs to achieve adaptation targets and the available financial resources.
- COP26’s call for developed countries to double overall adaptation finance by 2025 from 2019 levels is reiterated in the Draft Decision.
- Estimates based on updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national adaptation plans project a requirement of $71 billion annually from now until 2030.
- OECD countries acknowledge falling short of the annual $100 billion target, with finance flows reported at $83.3 billion in 2020, exacerbating concerns about meeting adaptation funding requirements.
- The Draft Decision emphasizes the widening gap between the financial resources available and the escalating costs of achieving adaptation targets.
- Financial concerns are underscored by the urgent need to bridge the gap and fulfill commitments to double adaptation finance by 2025.
Climate Financing Disparities: Mitigation Bias
- The predominant focus of the climate change regime has historically been on mitigation efforts rather than adaptation.
- The imbalance stems from a global emphasis on addressing the root causes of climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Rich countries may perceive a limited direct benefit from adaptation projects as these benefits are often localized.
- Mitigation projects, on the other hand, generate global benefits by contributing to the reduction of global emissions, making them more appealing to affluent nations.
- Low-cost mitigation options in developing countries make them attractive for investment, further contributing to the bias in climate financing.
- Buchner’s study indicates a substantial disparity in the split between mitigation and adaptation finance, with a ratio of 95:5.
- Despite some recent increases in international adaptation finance, the Adaptation Gap Report (2022) reveals that adaptation’s share in total climate finance to developing countries was 34% in 2020, lagging behind mitigation finance.
Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA):
- The GGA represents a positive development by incorporating provisions beneficial for adaptation.
- However, it falls short of addressing the mitigation bias, as it emphasizes temperature targets and places greater importance on mitigation efforts, potentially reducing the perceived need for additional adaptation initiatives.

Understanding: Adaptation vs Mitigation

Adaptation:
- Adaptation refers to the adjustments or changes made in response to actual or expected climate change.
- It involves measures that help societies, ecosystems, and individuals cope with the adverse effects of climate change, minimize vulnerability, and seize opportunities.
- Examples:
  - Building resilient infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events (e.g., stronger buildings to resist hurricanes).
  - Developing drought-resistant crops to ensure food security in regions prone to water scarcity.
  - Implementing early warning systems for communities to prepare for and respond to climate-related disasters.
- Key Aspects:
  - Adaptation measures are often location-specific, addressing the particular challenges faced by a community, region, or ecosystem.
  - Adaptation recognizes that climate impacts vary widely, and responses must be flexible, context-specific, and able to evolve over time.
- Mitigation:
  - Mitigation involves actions and policies to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and thereby mitigate the extent of climate change.
  - It aims to address the root causes of climate change by reducing the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere.
  - Examples:
    - Transitioning to renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind, and hydropower) to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
    - Enhancing energy efficiency in industries, buildings, and transportation.
    - Afforestation and reforestation projects to absorb and store carbon dioxide.
  - Key Aspects:
    - Mitigation efforts contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions globally, benefiting the entire planet.
    - Mitigation is often focused on long-term solutions, aiming to prevent future climate impacts by addressing the underlying causes of climate change.
  - Interconnectedness:
    - While adaptation and mitigation are distinct strategies, they are interconnected and should be pursued simultaneously for effective climate action.
    - Adaptation alone may not be sufficient to address the escalating impacts of climate change if the root causes (GHG emissions) are not tackled through mitigation.
    - Combining adaptation and mitigation efforts represents a comprehensive approach to building climate resilience, reducing vulnerability, and creating a sustainable and low-carbon future.

A dive into sanitation solutions

(General Studies- Paper II)

Source : TH

The usage of water in our daily lives extends beyond drinking and eating; it includes activities like cooking, cleaning, and washing. The question arises: where does the used water from our homes go?

The ideal destination for used water is sanitation systems explicitly designed to contain, convey, treat, and either dispose of or reuse the water.
The term “used water” is preferred over “wastewater” to emphasize its potential as a resource. Proper sanitation systems contribute to public health and minimize environmental pollution.

Key Highlights

Types of Sanitation Systems: Sanitation systems vary based on location and space availability, with rural and urban areas adopting different approaches.
On-Site Sanitation Systems (OSS) for Rural Areas:
- Twin Pits and Septic Tanks:
  - Common in rural and spacious urban settings, these systems involve two pits separated by at least one meter.
  - Pits, with porous walls, allow liquid to percolate into the ground while solids collect at the bottom.
  - When one pit is full, it is sealed and left unused for two years, allowing safe decomposition.
  - The second pit is then utilized, and the cycle repeats.
- Other OSS Types:
  - Bio-digester toilets, bio-tanks, and urine diversion dry toilets are alternative OSS types.
  - They act as collection and storage structures, treating used water and disposing of liquid into the soil.
  - Faecal sludge, the residue, accumulates in pits or tanks and primarily consists of solids from human excreta.
- Septic Tanks:
  - Watertight tanks used in areas with rocky soil or unsuitable for twin pits.
  - As water flows through, solids settle at the bottom, and scum (oil and grease) floats to the top.
  - The clear liquid is disposed of in the surrounding soil through pits or trenches.
  - Regular removal of accumulated faecal sludge and scum is essential, typically done by vacuum trucks that transport it to faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs).
- Urban Sanitation Systems:
  - In densely populated urban areas lacking space, underground networks of pipes (sewers) transport used water to treatment facilities.
  - These pipes convey sewage from toilets, bathrooms, and kitchens to sewage treatment plants (STPs).
  - The network may include machine-holes for maintenance, and gravity or pumps aid the flow of sewage.
  - The term “machine-holes” is preferred over “manholes” due to legal restrictions on manual cleaning.
  - Sewage is treated at STPs, addressing biological and chemical contaminants before safe discharge into the environment.
- Treatment Facilities: Managing Faecal Sludge and Used Water
  - Treatment facilities play a crucial role in managing faecal sludge and used water, employing different methods based on the nature and scale of the sanitation system.
  - Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs):
    - FSTPs can employ mechanical systems using equipment like screw presses or centrifuges for dewatering, or gravity-based systems using sand drying beds and sunlight.
    - Treated solids, resulting from faecal sludge, can be composted with organic municipal solid waste and reused in agriculture.
    - Treated water is often repurposed for landscaping within FSTP facilities.
    - The overall process of containing, conveying, and treating faecal sludge is known as faecal sludge management (FSM).
    - In many smaller towns or villages, OSS-FSM is the prevailing form of the sanitation system.
  - Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs):
    - STPs use a combination of physical, biological, and chemical processes to eliminate pollutants and contaminants from used water.
    - Similar to FSTPs, STPs have a primary stage that separates solids from the liquid part.
    - The subsequent purification phase involves settling and digestion of solids by microorganisms, followed by disinfection.
    - To facilitate water reuse, advanced STP systems may include additional treatment steps such as membrane filtration.
    - STP technology can vary, with mechanized and non-mechanized systems chosen based on the technological and financial capacities of a city’s government.
  - Facility Size and Location:
    - FSTPs: Typically smaller and can be colocated with municipal solid waste management sites. They may also be decentralized and situated closer to sources of faecal sludge.
    - STPs: Larger and centralized installations designed to serve entire communities or large urban areas. Located near water bodies, they discharge treated water following the purification process.
  - Necessity of Complex Sanitation Systems
    - The complexity of sanitation systems arises from the need to address diverse impurities accumulated in water, both natural and human-introduced, throughout its domestic and non-domestic usage.
    - Accumulation of Impurities:
      - Water accumulates organic matter, nutrients from detergents, pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites), and heavy metals from solvents and pesticides during its various uses.
      - Additionally, solids such as soil, debris, minerals, and salts contribute to impurities.
    - Preventing Environmental Pollution and Public Health Risks:
      - The primary objective of sanitation systems is to ensure that used water, laden with impurities, is treated before disposal or reuse.
      - This prevents environmental pollution and mitigates public health risks associated with contaminants.
    - Traditionally, sanitation systems were driven by concerns related to odour and aesthetics.
    - However, as the connections between sanitation, public health, and the environment became evident, it became clear that merely adopting an “out of sight” approach was insufficient.
    - Sanitation systems have significantly contributed to improvements in public health by preventing the spread of waterborne diseases.
    - However, achieving universal access to safely managed sanitation services remains a challenge.
  - Challenges such as poorly designed and constructed systems, as well as unsafe operation and maintenance practices, hinder the universal and effective management of used water.
  - Addressing these issues is crucial to safeguard water bodies and groundwater aquifers.

India-ASEAN to rejig 15 year trade pact in early 2024

(General Studies- Paper II and III)

Source : TH

India and the ten-member ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) are set to commence negotiations in February to revamp their 15-year-old free trade agreement (FTA).

The focus is on modernizing the agreement to address imbalances, with specific attention to reducing India’s trade deficit with ASEAN nations.

Key Highlights

The negotiations will involve a comprehensive review of the ASEAN India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITGA), aiming to bring in new elements such as product-specific rules and trade remedies to enhance the efficiency of the FTA.
The objective is to update the FTA, considering the significant changes that have occurred since its signing in 2009.
Trade Deficit Concerns:
- India has long sought a review of the AITGA, as the existing pact has led to disproportionate benefits for ASEAN.
- India’s trade deficit with the region has increased from $7.5 billion per annum to $43.57 billion since the implementation of the FTA in 2010.
The first round of negotiations is scheduled for February 18-19 in New Delhi, and subsequent rounds will follow a quarterly schedule with the aim of concluding the review by 2025.
Industry Inputs and Challenges:
- The Indian Commerce Department has gathered inputs from various industry sectors regarding tariff and non-tariff barriers faced in trade with ASEAN nations.
- Sectors requiring support include chemicals and alloys, plastics and rubber, minerals, leather, textiles, gems, and jewelry.
- Both India and ASEAN may need to make concessions to achieve a balanced review that benefits both parties.
Key Focus Areas for Modernization:
- Rules of Origin (ROO) Revisions:
  - Modernizing the AITGA involves changes in the Rules of Origin (ROO) to benefit India.
  - Potential increase in market access for specific items to boost Indian exports.
  - Aims to prevent the re-routing of goods by China through ASEAN countries, adding strategic value for India.
- Product-Specific Rules (PSRs) in ROO Chapter:
  - Introduction of Product-Specific Rules (PSRs) in the ROO chapter.
  - PSRs can lead to relaxed rules for certain items, facilitating increased exports for India.
  - Addresses loopholes to prevent circumvention by China in trade activities.
- Chapter on Trade Remedies:
  - The modernized AITGA will include a dedicated chapter on trade remedies.
  - Aims to establish a safety net for domestic industries against unfair trading practices or unexpected surges in imports of goods.
- Exclusion of New Areas:
  - The renegotiation will not incorporate new areas such as environment, labour, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), or gender.
  - Emphasis on streamlining and enhancing the efficiency of the existing free trade pact without introducing additional complexities.
- The ten-member ASEAN, comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, accounted for 11.3% of India’s global trade in the fiscal year 2022-23.

About ASEAN

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic union comprising 10 states in Southeast Asia.
With a collective population exceeding 600 million and covering a land area of 4.5 million km2, ASEAN represents a significant geopolitical entity.
In 2022, the bloc generated a purchasing power parity (PPP) gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately US$10.2 trillion, contributing around 6.5% to global GDP (PPP).
Member states of ASEAN include some of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
The roots of ASEAN trace back to the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), established on July 31, 1961, with Thailand, the Philippines, and the Federation of Malaya as founding members.
ASEAN officially emerged on August 8, 1967, when foreign ministers from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand signed the ASEAN Declaration.
- On January 7, 1984, Brunei became the sixth member of ASEAN.
- On July 28, 1995, Vietnam joined ASEAN as the seventh member, marking its entry following the conclusion of the Cold War.
- Two years later, on July 23, 1997, Laos and Myanmar became ASEAN members.
- Initially slated to join alongside Laos and Myanmar, Cambodia’s entry was postponed due to a coup in 1997 and internal instability.
- Cambodia eventually joined ASEAN on April 30, 1999, following the stabilization of its government.
- This finally made the bloc a 10 member body.
In 2006, ASEAN was granted observer status at the United Nations General Assembly.

About India- ASEAN

India formally engaged with ASEAN in 1992 as a “Sectoral Dialogue Partner” at the Secretary level.
Subsequently, in 1995, India’s status was upgraded to a “Dialogue Partner.”
- The initial years as a Dialogue Partner involved interactions at the Foreign Minister level, progressing to the Summit level in 2002.
- The first Summit level meeting was held during this period.
At the 20-year Commemorative Summit Meeting in New Delhi in December 2012, India and ASEAN elevated their relationship from a Dialogue Partnership to a Strategic Partnership.
During the 25-year Commemorative Summit in New Delhi in January 2018, both parties agreed to focus on building cooperation in the maritime domain within the framework of their Strategic Partnership.
The year 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations, designated as the ASEAN-India Friendship Year by leaders in October 2021.
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2022):
- At the 19th ASEAN-India Summit in November 2022, commemorating the 30th anniversary, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- A “Joint Statement on ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” was released on this occasion.
India-ASEAN Commodity Trade and Investments:
- The aggregate commodity trade between India and the ASEAN region reached USD 110.39 billion in the financial year spanning April 2021 to March 2022.
- This marked the first instance where bilateral trade with ASEAN surpassed USD 100 billion.
- Exports from India to ASEAN amounted to USD 42.327 billion, while imports from ASEAN to India totaled USD 68.07 billion during the mentioned financial year.
- This makes ASEAN bloc as India’s top 5 trading partner.
- FDI:
  - Cumulative Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) from ASEAN to India over the period 2000-2019 were recorded at $117.88 billion.
  - The majority of these investments, amounting to $115 billion, were contributed by Singaporean investments in India.