May 1

April 28 – May 4, 2022

COVERAGE
Hattis of Himachal Pradesh
State of (un)employment in India
MoSPI’s Women and Men in India (2021) report
Asurgarh : Odisha’s Oldest Fortified Settlement
Practice Questions (Prelims based MCQs)

+91-9873643487
 INDEX
POLITY 2–3
 Hattis of Himachal Pradesh

ECONOMY 4 – 13
 State of (un)employment in India
 Indonesia‘s ban on Palm Oil
 Power crisis in India

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS 14 – 16
 ‗Carbon-neutral panchayat‘
 Invasive plant causing loss of habitat for the desert fox

TECHNOLOGICAL AFFAIRS 17 – 19
 World Malaria Day 2022
 SIPRI report on Defense Expenditure
 GAGAN based Flight Navigation

ART AND CULTURE 20

 Asurgarh : Odisha‘s Oldest Fortified Settlement

SOCIAL ISSUES 21 – 25
 MoSPI‘s Women and Men in India (2021) report

TitBits 26 – 29
 Mission SAGAR IX: (INS Gharial)
 Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) scheme
 Azadi Se Antyodaya Tak
 United Nation World Tourism Organization
 Alpha-gal
 Places in News

ANSWERS TO MCQs 30
 Hattis of Himachal Pradesh Tons River
 Its source lies in Bandarpunch mountain
The Centre is considering in Uttarakhand.
the Himachal Pradesh  It is a perennial Himalayan river.
government‘s request to  The Tons river is a tributary of the
declare trans-Giri area as Yamuna.
tribal area and the Hatti  It flows through the Garhwal region
community as Scheduled Tribe. in Uttarakhand, touching Himachal
Pradesh.

Who are the Hattis?

Giri River
 The Hattis are a community who
 It originates from the Kotkhai hills of
traditionally sell homegrown vegetables,
Himachal Pradesh.
crops, wool and meat etc. in a small market
 It is tributary of Yamuna River.
called ‘haat‘.
 The upper course of this river has a deep
 Hattis live in the Kamrau, Sangrah, and
gorge in a V-shape which is across a place
Shilliai areas of Himachal Pradesh. called Nag Tibba.
 There is a rigid caste system among
the Hattis.
What is a Scheduled Tribe (ST)?
 The locals still follow age-old traditions like
 Article 366 of the Constitution refers to ST
animal sacrifice.
as those communities which are scheduled
 The Hattis are governed by a traditional
in accordance with Article 342 of the
council called Khumbli (like the khaps of Constitution.
Haryana).  Article 342 says that only those
 They practice agriculture and prominently communities who have been declared as
grow ginger. such by the President will be Scheduled
Tribes.
 The Constitution does not specify any
criteria for specification of a community as a
Scheduled Tribe.
 Granting the ST status would help bring the
people into the mainstream and ensure a
special budget for the area.
 Traits used to identify Scheduled Tribe
communities:
 indications of primitive traits
 distinctive culture
 geographical isolation
 shyness of contact with the community at
large, and
 social, educational & economic
backwardness.
 Scheduled Tribes (ST) constitute
The Hatti community is cut off from approximately 8.6% of population of India
Sirmaur district by two rivers called Giri and  There are over 705 Scheduled tribes
Tons. notified under article 342 of the
Constitution of India.

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  Article 342 also provides for listing of
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups scheduled tribes State/Union Territory
(PVTGs) wise and not on an all India basis.
They are special category of Scheduled  Thus, the list of Scheduled Tribes is
Tribes, 75 in number. State/UT specific and a community
declared as a Scheduled Tribe in a State
Characteristics of PVTG : need not be so in another State.
 Pre-agriculture level of technology.
 Stagnant or declining population. Q1. Consider the following pairs: (UPSC 2013)
 Extremely low literacy. Tribe State
 Subsistence level of economy. 1. Limboo (Limbu) : Sikkim
2. Karbi : Himachal Pradesh
Procedure for adding and deleting the 3. Dongaria : Odisha
STs from the list 4. Bonda : Tamil Nadu
 According to Article 342 the President may, Which of the above pairs are correctly
with respect to any State or Union territory, matched?
after consultation with the Governor by (a) Only 1 and 3 (b) Only 2 and 4
public notification, specify the tribes or tribal (c) Only 1, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
communities or parts of or groups within
tribes. Q1. Recently the Hatti community from
 Parliament may by law include in or Himachal Pradesh is demanding the
exclude from the list of Scheduled tribes Schedule tribes status. In this context,
specified in a notification. what do you understand by scheduled
 Thus, the Presidential order can be tribes? Examine the dilemma related to
modified subsequently only through an backwardness of the tribes in India.
Act of Parliament. (250 Words / 15 Marks)

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 report the stress of unemployment in
State of (un)employment in India
India.

Data from the Centre for

Monitoring Indian Economy How does it lead to under-reporting of
(CMIE) shows that
unemployment?
India’s Labour force
 For instance, imagine in the country,
participation rate (LFPR) has fallen to just
there are just 100 people in the working-age
40% from an already low 47% in 2016.
group but only 50 ask for jobs — that is,
the LFPR is 50% — and of these 50 people,
What is LFPR?
5 did not get a job. This would
Persons aged 15 years or above, who are either
imply a Unemployment Rate (UER) of
employed or are actively seeking work (i.e.
10%.
currently unemployed) are considered to be
UER = 5/50 × 100 =10%
part of the labour force. The percentage of this
population is termed as the Labour force  Now imagine another scenario in the same

participation rate (LFPR). country where, the LFPR has fallen to 20%

Thus, it is the demand for jobs that characterizes and, only 20 people are demanding work.

LFPR. And of these 20, only 1 person failed to get a

 People who are still undergoing studies, job.

housewives and persons below 15 and above Now, UER would have fallen to 5%

the age of 59 are not reckoned in the labour (Which was in the above situation 10%)

force. UER = 1/20 × 100=5%

 Although it may appear that the economy
Why is LFPR important? is doing better with respect to employment

 LFPR represents the demand for jobs in the as the UER has fallen, the truth is

economy. that the LFPR itself has fallen even

more. Thus, every time the LFPR falls,
 It helps analyze the unemployment rate in
the economy. the UER also falls — because fewer people
are now demanding jobs — giving the
incorrect impression to policymakers that
Employment Rate = Employed person / LFPR
the situation has improved.
Unemployment Rate = Unemployed person /
 The world over, LFPR is around 60%.
LFPR
In India, it has been sliding over the last
10 years and has shrunk to just 40% as of
 In India, the LFPR is not only lower (~40% in
2021.
2022) than in the rest of the world but also
 This shrinkage implies that merely
falling.
looking at UER will under-report the
 This fall implies that merely looking at
stress of unemployment in India.
Unemployment Rate (UER) will under-

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  As per CMIE, the female LFPR in India is
as low as 9.4% i.e. less than 1 in 10
women in the working age are demanding
work.
 According to the World Bank, India's
female Labor participation is ~25% while
the global average is 47%.

Some of the reasons for the low female

LFPR in India?
1. Lack of employment opportunities:
How can India’s Unemployment Stress  Due to mechanization/automation of
be better assessed? farm along with lack of non-farm
 The Employment Rate (ER) acts as a better opportunities has reduced opportunities
indicator. for work.
 By using the working-age population as  Technological unemployment : Due to
change in technology there is loss of job
the base and looking at the number of
people with jobs, the ER provides the fall in opportunity. According to IMF female
LFPR to better understand the stress in the workers being at a high risk of
labour market. unemployment compare to male
workforce.
2. The time spent on unpaid work, especially
 In December 2021, India had 107.9 crore on unpaid care and domestic chores has
people in the working age group and hindered women‘s participation in the labor
only 40.4 crore of them had a job force.
(ER = 37.4%). 3. Fourth Industrial revolution: Nearly twelve
 In December 2016, India had 95.9 crore in million Indian women could lose their jobs
the working-age group and 41.2 crore with by 2030 owing to automation, according to a
jobs (ER = 43%). McKinsey Global Institute report.
 So, in the last 5 years, while the total 4. Rising educational enrolment of young
working-age population has gone up by 12 women: According to the World Bank,
crore, the number of people with jobs has the female enrolment in tertiary-level
gone down by 80 lakh. education rose from 2% in 1971 to 30% in
2019.
Why is India’s LFPR Low? 5. Effect of household income on
 The main reason for India‘s LFPR being low participation: With increasing household
is the extremely low level of female labour incomes, the need for a ―second income‖ has
force participation. reduced.

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 the foaming agent in almost every soap,
Q2. Consider the following statements
regarding India‘s labour force shampoo, or detergent.
participation rate (LFPR) :  Around 70% of personal care products
including soap, shampoo, makeup, and
1. India's LFPR is lower than rest of the
lotion, contain ingredients derived from
world but also falling.
palm oil.
2. The main reason for lower LFPR is
mechanization and technological
 Biomass and biofuels
 Palm oil is used to produce both methyl
advancement.
ester and hydrodeoxygenated biodiesel.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are
 Significant amounts of palm oil exports to
correct?
Europe are converted to biodiesel ( Use of
(a) Only 1 (b) Only 2
palm oil as biodiesel generates three times
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
the carbon emissions as using fossil fuel)
 Additionally, palm oil that has been used
Q2. What do you understand by Labour Force to fry foods can be converted into methyl
Participation Rate (LFPR) and esters for biodiesel and petroleum diesel.
Unemployment Rate (UR). Why there is
need to calculate Employment Rate in
India. Also analyse why India‘s LFPR is
low? (150 Words / 10 Marks)

Indonesia’s ban on Palm Oil

Recently Indonesia, the

world's top palm oil exporter,
announced plans to ban palm
oil exports to increase
domestic availability and check the rising prices
of the commodity in that country.

How will this move impact India?

 There will be a crunch of oil availability in
India.
 As at least 70 per cent of India’s edible oil
demand is met through imports and Palm oil
makes up nearly 60 per cent of total edible
imports (India is the world's biggest palm oil
importer).
 Rise in palm oil prices will push up
the input costs across industries like
detergents, food products, biofuels and
cosmetics, which will lead to inflation in
retail and consumer prices.

Uses of Palm oil

 In food
Constraints in Oil Palm cultivation
 It is highly saturated oil which renders  Oil palm has a long gestation period of 5 to
7 years before it starts giving returns to
solid at room temperature in temperate
farmers.
regions, making it a cheap substitute for
 Fluctuation in prices of the fresh fruit
butter or hydrogenated vegetable oils.
bunches from which oil is extracted in the
 Non-food consumer products international market.
 Palm oil is highly used in personal care
 Small holdings of farmers with limited
and cleaning products, and it provides resources.

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 Erratic monsoon leading to shortage of water.
 Competition from other economically viable crops such as rubber, arecanut, sugarcane, banana,
coconut etc.
 Variation in import duty on edible oils. High seed cost (Groundnut and Soybean).

What is the controversy around the palm oil plantation?

 Major driver of deforestation and a trigger for the conversion of forests into oil palm plantations.
 Oil Palm is an invasive species: As per a report by the Indian Council for Forestry Research and
Education, introduction of palm oil should be avoided in biodiversity-rich areas.
 Oil palm cultivation has a long gestation period: This can impact the economic security of
farmers.
 Oil palm is a water-guzzling, monoculture crop: It requires 300 litres of water per tree per day. This
would disturb the hydrological balance of the region.
 It would disturb the community ownership of land of tribal people where its plantation is
prominent.
 Impact on soil & human health: As it requires heavy usage of pesticide in areas where it is not a
native crop.

Case study : Sri Lanka, having similar climatic conditions, has recently decided to raze existing
plantations and ban palm oil imports as the crop has replaced more environmentally friendly and
employment generating plantation crops, dried up local streams, and shows signs of becoming an
invasive species threatening native plants and animals.

National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

 It is a Centrally-sponsored scheme to increase area and productivity of oilseeds and Oil Palm.
 It will help in increasing crude palm oil production with the aim to reduce the import burden.

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Conclusion : India is going through high oil The crisis
inflation due to international conflict like  108 of 173 thermal power plants have
Ukraine and Indonesia conflicts where India is critically low levels (below 25% of required
dependent on Sunflower and Palm oil levels) of stocks.
respectively. So there is a need to focus on  135 coal-based thermal power plants
satisfy ~70% of India‘s base load power
indigeneous production of oil seeds. The
generation capacity.
government initiatives like National Mission on
Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) will help to
What are the causes for this crisis?
increase area and productivity of oilseeds and
 Domestic Demand Jump: The crisis on one
Oil Palm in coming years. hand is due to an increase in power demand
due to:
Q3. With reference to the Palm tree, consider  Rise in economic activity as it gets on the
path of recovery
the following statements:
 Major heat wave across India raising the
1. It can be found 8-10 degrees north
demand for electricity
and south of the equator.
 High international coal prices due to
2. Oil palm is a water-guzzling, geopolitical tensions like the Russia-Ukraine
monoculture crop. crisis disrupting supply.
3. It is native to South American  The imported coal-based plants are
countries and presently extensively operating at a Plant Load Factor (PLF) of
grown in Indonesia and Malaysia. ~26% compared with 56% around this
Which of the above statement(s) is/are time last year.
(PLF is a power plant‘s output during a
correct?
period compared to its maximum output.)
(a) Only 1 and 3 (b) Only 1 and 2
 The newer thermal plants running on
(c) Only 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3 blended coal started using more
domestic coal in the mix. This increased
Q4. With reference to ‘palm oil‘, consider the the pressure on the already tenuous
following statements: (UPSC 2021) domestic coal supply infrastructure
1. The palm oil tree is native to Southeast  The poor financial status of DISCOMs has
Asia. left some of them unable to resume supply
2. The palm oil is a raw material for some at higher prices.
industries producing lipstick and  The States already have large dues to be
paid to coal companies.
perfumes.
 The Railways has been unable to meet the
3. The palm oil can be used to produce
current demand for transportation of coal.
biodiesel.
 Lesser coal supplies from state-owned
Which of the statements given above are Coal India Ltd (CIL) or its subsidiaries is
correct? also one of the reasons for the crisis.
(a) Only 1 and 2 (b) Only 2 and 3  The crisis is feared to worsen when
(c) Only 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3 monsoon hits as it would make
production and transportation of coal
more difficult.
Q3. Critically analyse the significance of palm  Renewables Rollout Slowed: Renewable
oil cultivation in India and its possible energy installation slowed down due to the
environmental consequences? pandemic. While India had an installation
(150 Words / 10 Marks) target of 175 gigawatts (GW) of green energy
by 2022, only 7GW was added in FY
2020/21.
Power crisis in India  Change in Inventory Model: Majority power
plants used to keep coal stocked to fulfill at
least 15-30 days' needs. But to minimize the
Due to several factors, India is
stocking costs & take advantage of the price
staring at a coal crisis, with
fluctuations, power plants shifted to Just-In
stock critically low at 108 of Time Management whereby only the coal
its 173 thermal power plants. needed for generating power for the next 2-3
The Indian Railways has days would be sourced rather than stocking
cancelled trains to prioritize delivery of coal for weeks. This made CIL reduce its output
rakes across the country. even before the pandemic.

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Linkage between coal & power generation

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Coal in India Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited
 India is the 2nd largest producer, (NLCIL) is here.
consumer & importer of coal globally.  Major lignite fields- Neyveli (TN), Makum
 India has the 5th largest proven coal (Assam), Palana (Rajasthan), Umarsar
reserves in the world. (Gujarat), Kalakot (J&K for Anthracite)
 ~344 billion tonnes up to a depth of 1200
metres as per GSI. Coal and lignite fired thermal power plants
 The leading coal producers of the world account for about 54% of India‘s installed power
include China, India, US, Australia & generation capacity but currently account for
Indonesia. about 70% of power generated in the country.
 Top 5 States in terms of total coal reserves in
India are: Jharkhand > Odisha >
Chhattisgarh > West Bengal > Madhya
Pradesh.
 2 types of Coal- Gondwana Coal & Tertiary
Coal

 Gondwana coal- 98% of the total reserves

Utilities account for about 75% of India's
and 99% of the production of coal in India.
coal consumption.
 Gondwana coal [250 million years old] is
Pithead is a place where mined coal is stored.
younger compared to Carboniferous coal
Pithead power plants are those that are located
[350 million years old]. Thus, carbon
in the vicinity of coal mines.
content in Gondwana rocks is less.
A plant is said to be non-pithead when the coal
Carboniferous coal is almost absent in
mine is more than 1500 km. away. Nearly 90%
India.
of the country‘s 165 major thermal plants are
 Confined to the peninsular plateau of
non-pithead.
India.
 Gondwana coal forms India‘s
metallurgical grade as well as superior
Issues in Indian coal mining
quality coal. Anthracite is generally not  The distribution of coal is uneven.
found in the Gondwana coal fields.  Low Quality: High ash content and low
 Gondwana coal is free from moisture, but caloric value. Also, High ash & moisture in
it contains Sulphur and Phosphorus. coal means more smoke, reduced energy
 Tertiary coal- output & increased problem of ash disposal.
 15 to 60 million years old.  Coal Bed Methane (CBM) is found in India.
 Coal generally has low carbon and high As we do not have tech to effectively capture
percentage of moisture and Sulphur. CBM, it leads to wastage of CBM resources &
 Mainly confined to the extra-Peninsula [J also instances of Coal mine fires.
& K, Himachal Pradesh, Assam,  Unscientific method: Large percentage of
Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, coal is taken out by shaft mining like rat-
etc.]. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry also hole mines, where productivity is very low,
bear tertiary coal reserves. rather than open cast box mining. Selective
 Tamil Nadu has the largest reserves mining also leads to large scale wastage of
(~90%) and highest production of lignite. raw coal.

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 Mining in India is still labour intensive Laws dealing with Coal in India
while neglecting safety concerns: Lack of  Mineral Laws (Amendment) Act, 2020-
safety gears; no protection against coal mine  Companies will be allowed to carry on
fires & floods; etc., are concerns coal mining operation for own
 Inefficiencies: Allocated blocks not used; consumption, sale or for any other
Pilferage at several stages; bad purposes
transportation infrastructure; A  Companies need not possess any prior
disproportionate share of generation comes coal mining experience in India in order
from older inefficient plants, while the to participate in the auction of coal and
newer and efficient ones remain idle due lignite blocks
to absence of favorable coal supply  composite license providing for both
contracts or power purchase agreements. prospecting and mining activities.
 Monopoly of Coal India Ltd (CIL) has led to  the various approvals, licenses, and
stagnation of production & productivity as clearances given to the previous lessee
private sector investment in technology will be extended to the successful bidder
remains very low. for a period of two years.
 Misuse of good quality coal for burning  Mines and Minerals (Development and
into transport and industries. Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) -
MMDR Act regulates the overall mining
 Coal crisis is seen as an excuse to be used
sector in India.
to liberalize capture of land: As per CSE
 The Centre can declare any mineral as
studies, 67% of coal mines auctioned
―minor mineral‖ & States will have full
since 2015 were not even operational
jurisdiction on all aspects of that mineral.
while the government was seeking to issue
new coal blocks to private players to increase  Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015
(CMSP Act) - The CMSP Act provides for the
production. As per Coal India itself, coal
auction and allocation of mines whose
blocks with an annual capacity of about 510
allocation was cancelled by the Supreme
million tonnes were allocated between
Court in 2014
2015 and 2020. But of these, only 110
million tonnes per annum have been used
 The Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and
Development) Act, 1957 (CBA Act)
so far. It also stated that India did not
 The law is primarily meant to facilitate the
require allocation of new coal blocks or
acquisition of coal reserves for Coal India
mines for the next 10 years.
Limited.
 Environmental & tribal displacement
 It overrules PESA Act (1996), Forest
concerns due to Coal mining are not given
Rights Act (2006), Land Acquisition,
due considerations.
Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR)
Act (2013)
Schemes and Administration
Administration of Power Sector in Some major Power sector
India schemes/reforms
 Central Electricity Authority under  PM Sahaj Bijili Har Ghar Yojana
Ministry of Power (Saubhagya) is an initiative that aims to
 Central Electricity Regulatory Commission provide electricity to households.
(CERC) & State Electricity Regulatory  Deen Dayal Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)-
Commissions (SERCs) under Electricity Act, aims to provide continuous power supply to
2003 rural India.
 Retrofitting Old Power Plants to improve
Administration of Coal in India efficiency & reduce pollution.
 Minerals fall under the Concurrent List  Ujjwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY)
under the 7th Schedule. for State-owned DISCOMs: UDAY gave 3
 The Ministry of Coal has two large PSUs – targets-
Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and NLC India Ltd.  State govt takeover of 75% of DISCOM
(NLCIL). CIL operates in 7 states and NLCIL debt &, for the rest, UDAY bonds were to
in 5 states. be issued.

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  DISCOMs would meet efficiency targets Schemes dealing with Coal in India
like reducing AT&C losses to below 15%.  SHAKTI (Scheme for Harnessing &
 Eliminate ACS-ARR mismatch. Allocating Koyala Transparently in India)
 UDAY covers the DISCOMs' debt to banks  Streamlines coal linkages to thermal
but not to power plants. power plants
 UDAY 2.0:  UTTAM App- by CIL & Min of Coal
 installation of smart prepaid meters,  To monitor coal quality across CIL
 prompt payment by DISCOMs to GENCOs subsidiaries by Customers
 States were advised to clear their
 Ultra-Mega Power plants (UMPP)
government department dues and ensure
 PRAKASH (Power Rail Koyla Availability
timely payment of subsidy every month;
through Supply Harmony) portal
 making coal available for short term and
 Monitoring coal supply from mines to
 reviving gas-based plants
power plants through coordination
 Atal Distribution System Improvement
between the different ministries
Yojana (ADITYA) scheme- to make discoms
 Coal gasification/liquefaction to be
viable by switching to prepaid smart meters
incentivised through rebates in revenue
and also clearing their dues.
share.
 Payment Ratification And Analysis in
 Coal bed methane (CBM) extraction rights
power Procurement for bringing
to be auctioned from Coal India‘s coal mines.
Transparency in Invoicing of generators
(PRAAPTI) portal- To request payment from
DISCOMs for the GENCOs
Immediate Steps taken by government
 Integrated Power Development Scheme to handle the crisis
(IPDS)  The Ministry of Power has taken the
following steps:
 Power Asset Revival through Warehousing
 ensure maximum production of coal at
and Rehabilitation (PARIWARTAN)
captive mines
Scheme: It is an Asset Management &
 rationing of coal to non-power sectors,
Rehabilitation Company (ARC) which will
and
prevent liquidation of stressed power sector
 a price cap of Rs 12 per unit on
assets by taking over their management &
electricity traded on exchanges.
debts.
 Prioritising coal supplies for thermal power
 Proposals to amend Electricity Act, 2003:
plants with low levels of stock.
The Electricity Act, 2003 was enacted to
 Increase the supply of coal by expediting
cover major issues involving generation,
the start of production from a number of
distribution, transmission and trading in the
mines that already have all requisite
power sector. clearances in place.
 Several changes have been proposed to make  The government has increased the number
the power sector more market-friendly. They of rakes of coal being transported to
are as follows: thermal power plants daily.
 A single public utility should control the  10% blending of imported coal with
transmission lines. domestic coal to augment stocks.
 Public and private producers and discoms
should compete for consumers. What can be done to avert such a crisis
 Power distribution to be delicensed: In
in the future?
the first phase, privatization of Discoms in
 Closer coordination between CIL and other
Union Territories on the line of cities like
stakeholders in the power sector.
Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad
Mechanism to ascertain maintenance of
 Changes in tariff structures and subsidies
necessary stock of coal by power plants
so that they are market-friendly. must be in place.
 Higher penalties for failure to meet
 Effective coal supply management
Renewable energy Purchase Obligations agreements with private sector entities
(RPOs) that have captive mines.

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 Revisiting fuel allocation and supporting  Help GENCOs run at full capacity &
the priority dispatch of efficient plants become profitable:
could help India reduce coal demand by up  Promote Cross-border electricity trade
to 6% of our annual requirement.  Real-time wholesale markets for energy
 With more than 90% of power being sector
procured through long-term contracts,
 Encouraging discoms to buy bulk of the
discoms have little incentive to dynamically
power through trading platforms: This will
assess and manage demand. Introducing
reduce the cost of power purchase for
time-of-day pricing and promoting efficient
consumption behaviour would help shave discoms & also address the issue of delayed
peak demand and avoid panic buying in the payments to generators by discoms,
market. improving viability in the sector.
 Expansion plans of CIL should be facilitated
by the government.
India Energy Exchange (IEX) & Power Exchange
 Surplus sale of electricity: New guidelines
of India Corporation (PXIC) are the two power
are being drafted to allow generation
exchanges in India.
companies to sell surplus electricity on the
exchanges, in part to spur idled plants back
into action. Given the country‘s development aspirations,
 The Centre is planning to maintain strategic India‘s power demand is set to rise substantially
reserves of natural gas and imported coal to and become more variable. Increasing climatic
prevent future supply crises. and geopolitical uncertainties underscore the
 Turn to Gas: There could be a larger role for need to become more efficient in the way we
natural gas to play, even with global prices generate, distribute and consume energy. We
currently surging. India has almost 25
need to act now for the long-term resilience of
gigawatts of gas-based generation capacity,
India‘s power sector.
though nearly 80% of that capacity remains
unused because of high prices of the gas
fuel. Q4. There have been various issues plaguing
 Besides the ongoing initiatives like the Coal sector in India. Enumerate some
introducing smart meters and network of them & show how recent policy reforms
strengthening, empowering regulators in the coal sector seek to address these.
would be critical to infuse payment (250 Words / 15 Marks)
discipline across the supply chain of the
electricity sector and to keep cost recovery as
Q5. ―In Spite of adverse environmental
a key metric.
impact, coal mining is still inevitable for
 Bundling of power: This would balance the
development‖. Discuss (UPSC 2017)
needs of customers & improve viability for
(150 Words / 10 Marks)
DISCOMs.

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 removing carbon dioxide from the
‘Carbon-neutral panchayat’ atmosphere or an increase in carbon storage
(e.g., through land restoration or the
Palli in Jammu becomes planting of trees) – that is used to
India‘s first carbon-neutral compensate for emissions that occur
panchayat. elsewhere. If the total greenhouse gasses
emitted is equal to the total amount of
greenhouse gasses removed, the net
Key points emission is neutral as both the effects cancel
 Palli is a small hamlet located in Samba each other.
district of Jammu and Kashmir.  Reducing emissions-Moving towards energy
 It became the country's first 'carbon neutral sources and industry processes that produce
panchayat'. less greenhouse gasses are the ways of
 A 500 KV solar plant has been installed in Reducing carbon emissions. Reducing
the village in a record time of nearly three greenhouse gas emission constitute
weeks. strategies such as use of renewable energy
 The electricity generated from the solar plant (wind, geothermal, and solar power, as well
will be distributed to the village through the as nuclear power etc).
local power grid station.
 Completion of the project at Palli is a major Difference between carbon reduction
step towards the Glasgow goal of making
and offset
India carbon-neutral.
 Carbon reduction is the process where an
organization directly reduces greenhouse gas
What does carbon neutrality mean?
emissions through efficiencies while carbon
 It is a state of net-zero carbon dioxide
offset is a trade-off, where companies get
emissions.
credit for funding external projects that
 This can be achieved by having a balance reduce emissions.
between emitting carbon and absorbing
carbon from the atmosphere in carbon
sinks. Goals pledged by India at the Glasgow
 So, achieving carbon neutrality means summit (COP26) for making India
carbon dioxide output has a net neutral carbon-neutral.
impact on the environment, and it can help  India will reach its non-fossil energy capacity
stem the effects of climate change. to 500 GW by 2030.
 "Carbon neutral" implies that human  India will meet 50 percent of its energy
society, or the operations of industry or a requirements from renewable energy by
national economy, emit the same amount of 2030.
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that is  India will reduce the total projected carbon
offset by some other means. emissions by one billion tonnes from now
 Installing solar plants, or switching to an onwards till 2030.
electric vehicle are examples of things one  By 2030, India will reduce the carbon
can do to reduce your carbon dioxide output. intensity of its economy by less than 45
percent.
Carbon-neutral status can be achieved  By the year 2070, India will achieve the
in two ways target of Net Zero. These panchamrits will be
an unprecedented contribution of India to
 Carbon offsetting-It is the process of
climate action.
reducing greenhouse gas emissions or

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Q5. Consider the following statements with fox, thereby affecting its population
negatively.
reference to ―carbon neutrality‖:
1. It is a state of net-zero carbon dioxide
 The desert fox avoids the habitat
emissions. encroached by Prosopis juliflora and
2. It implies that carbon dioxide output instead uses native saline brushlands
has a net neutral impact on the more often.
environment.  Prosopis encroachment tends to provide a
3. Installing solar power plants and favorable habitat to other species such as
switching to an electric vehicle are the jackals that also increases the risk of
ways to achieve this. intra-guild competition and predation for
Which of the statements given above are the desert fox, further affecting its
correct?
population and distribution.
(a) Only 1 and 2 (b) Only 2 and 3
(c) Only 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
Backdrop of the problem
 In the 1950s, the damming of rivers that
Invasive plant causing loss of drained into Banni grassland caused a
habitat for the desert fox sudden rise in salinity problems. It created a
cause for concern for authority.
Prosopis juliflora, a salt-  To solve this problem of salinity, the state
tolerant and fruit-bearing authority introduced a tree from South
tree, has flourished in the America, known as Prosopis juliflora, to the
Banni grasslands of Gujarat, area in the 1960s.
resulting in a loss of habitat  The reason for its introduction in the
and resources for the desert fox.
grassland was its salt-tolerant
characteristics. It is also a fruit-bearing tree
Key points
that has flourished in the region ever since.
 The woody invasive plant Prosopis juliflora is
 Locals call it ‗mad babul’ now, since it now
encroaching Gujarat‘s Banni grasslands.
grows everywhere.

What are Invasive species?

 The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Prosopis juliflora
defines it as ―an alien species whose  It is an invasive species native to Mexico,
introduction and spread threatens South America and the Caribbean
ecosystems, habitats, or species with socio- countries.
cultural, economic and environmental harm  Ecologically, it is a resilient species and
and harm to human health‖. can withstand extremely harsh weather and
soil conditions.
 Invasive species are one of the four identified
 It has an extensive root system that
factors called ―Evil Quartet‖ that cause loss
enables it to tap groundwater easily, so it
of biodiversity.
remains green even in peak summer.
 It was systematically planted across different
'Evil Quartet' by Jared Diamond
dry landscapes of India to ‗green-ify‘
1. Habitat degradation and Fragmentation
desserts, and provide livelihood and fuelwood
2. Introduction of exotic (invasive) species and
to locals in these areas.
3. Over-exploitation
4. Co-extinctions.  Interestingly, it is one of the contributing
factors to continuing transmission of malaria
How does Prosopis juliflora affect the during dry periods, It is a sugar source
desert fox? for mosquitoes (during such dry periods,
 The encroachment results in the loss of native plants are largely unavailable to
habitat and resources for the Indian desert mosquitoes).

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 Banni grasslands
 It is an arid grassland ecosystem on the outer southern edge of the desert of the marshy salt flats of
Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
 It falls within the hot semi-arid region of India, with around 300 mm average annual rainfall.
 The vegetation here is typically grass-dominated along with halophilic vegetation in high saline areas.
 It is home to more than 40 species of grasses and several mammals.
 The tribes of the Maldhari community live here.

The Indian desert fox

 The Indian desert fox is one among three subspecies of red fox found in India.
 The other two subspecies are Himalayan species- the Kashmir fox and the Tibetan red fox.
 It is placed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
 Its habitat includes dunes, saline scrub grasslands and semi-arid scrub savannah.
 It shelters in burrows dug in the ground near the vegetation cover of reeds and bushes.
 It is poached for its fur and meat.

Q6. Once one of Asia‘s largest tropical grasslands, is situated at the northern border of Kutch district
in Gujarat. It falls within the hot semi-arid region of India, with around 300 mm average annual
rainfall. The vegetation here is typically grass-dominated along with halophilic vegetation in high
saline areas. Which of the following suits the above description?
(a) Banni grasslands (b) Saramati grasslands
(c) Ukhrul grasslands (d) Khajjiar grasslands

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 World Malaria Day 2022  Malaria is a curable and preventable disease
with the correct treatment, many people still
die from the lack of access to adequate
World Malaria Day was healthcare.
celebrated and observed on 25  States of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand,
April to raise awareness about Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh accounted
this life-threatening disease for nearly 45% cases.
that continues to pose a threat to mankind.
Vaccine
Key Points  A vaccine against malaria called
 About malaria RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) has been
 It is a mosquito-borne infectious recommended by WHO among children in
parasitic disease that affects humans sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions with
and other animals. moderate to high P. falciparum malaria
 It is caused due to the bite of the female transmission.
Anopheles mosquito which is infected
with the malaria-causing plasmodium
The World Malaria Report (WMR) 2021
parasite.
 Plasmodium parasite is a single-celled  In 2020, India contributed 1.7% of malaria
microorganism of the Plasmodium group. cases and 1.2% deaths globally.
 Five species of Plasmodium can infect and  India accounted for 83% of cases and about
be spread by humans. Most of the malaria 82% of all malaria deaths in the WHO South-
deaths are caused by P. falciparum while East Asia Region.
other species such as P. vivax, P. ovale,
etc. generally cause a milder form of
Q7. Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium
malaria.
parasite. It is an example of:
 These parasites live in the liver of
(a) Bacteria (b) Virus
people where they mature and reproduce.
(c) Fungus (d) Protozoa
 History of World Malaria Day
 In Africa, governments have been
observing Malaria Day since 2001. SIPRI report on Defense
 During the 60th session of the World
Health Organization in 2007, it was Expenditure
proposed to recognise Africa Malaria Day
as World Malaria Day and to recognise According to the Stockholm
the impact of the disease worldwide.
International Peace
 The first World Malaria Day was held in
Research Institute (SIPRI),
2008.
India’s military expenditure
increased by 0.9% in 2021.
Fact Sheet
 Malaria poses a risk for almost half of the
population
Notable points
 People residing in poor countries have high  Indian scenario
chances of contracting the disease  India's military expenditure totalled $76.6
 India has a National strategic plan to billion in 2021.
eliminate Malaria by 2030.  It was the third highest in the world.
 According to the World Health Organization's  64% of capital outlays in the 2021
data, as many as 241 million people were Indian military budget was earmarked for
infected with this deadly disease in 2020, acquisitions of domestically-produced
with most of these cases reported in Africa. arms.

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 Global scenario
GAGAN based Flight Navigation
 World military expenditure passes $2
trillion for the first time.
 The five largest military spenders in AAI successfully conducts
2021 were the United States, China, flight trials using GAGAN
India, the United Kingdom and Russia, based LPV approach
which together accounted for 62% of Procedure at Kishangarh
world military spending. Airport using an Indigo aircraft.
 The USA and China alone accounted for
52% of world military spending.
About the flight trial
China  The flight trial was done using GAGAN (GPS
 China allocated an estimated $293 billion Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) based
to its military in 2021. (Almost 4 times that LPV Approach Procedures.
of India)  This successful trial is a major milestone in
 China‘s military spending has grown for 27 the field of Air Navigation Services (ANS) in
consecutive years. the history of the Indian Civil Aviation
Sector. With this trial, India became the first
USA country in the Asia Pacific Region to
 The United States military spending achieve such a landmark.
amounted to $801 billion in 2021 (a drop  Now India joined a small group comprising
of 1.4% from 2020) the US, Japan and Europe with its own
 The US focuses on military research and satellite-based augmentation system.
development as funding for military research
and development (R&D) rose by 24% between
Satellite-based augmentation system
2012 and 2021.
 The SBAS is a navigation system based on
the Global Navigation Satellite Systems. It
Asia and Oceania
adds to the accuracy and integrity of
 Military spending in the region of Asia and
navigation tools.
Oceania is $586 billion in 2021.
 Using it, pilots can land aircraft at smaller
 India and China accounted for 63% of
airports and airstrips without expensive
total military expenditure in the region in
instrument-based landing systems being
2021.
installed on the ground.
 In the present case, the Navigation Satellite
Stockholm International Peace System- GAGAN was used.
Research Institute (SIPRI)
 It is an international think-tank based in
Instrument landing System
Stockholm.
 Instrument landing is a ground-based
 It provides data, analysis and
instrument approach system that provides
recommendations for armed conflict, military
guidance to an aircraft approaching the
expenditure and arms trade as well as
runway by using a combination of radio
disarmament and arms control.
signals and high-intensity lighting.
 The research is based on open sources.
 It is only available at the busiest airports
and is very expensive.
Q8. Arrange the following countries in terms
of decreasing order of their Military
GAGAN-GPS Aided GEO Augmented
expenditure:
1. U.S.A Navigation
2. India  It is a Space Based Augmentation System
3. Russia (SBAS) jointly developed by ISRO and
4. United Kingdom Airport Authority of India (AAI) to provide
Select the correct answer by using the the best possible navigational services over
codes given below : the Indian FIR (Flight Information Region)
(a) 1-2-3-4 (b) 1-2-4-3 with the capability of expanding to
(c) 3-1-2-4 (d) 1-3-2-4 neighboring FIRs.

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 GAGAN is a system of satellites and ground  It will also help ease landing in airports that
stations. are poorly lit and do not have instrument
landing systems. It will make several smaller
airports such as those in the North-East
capable of having compliant aircraft land in
low-visibility scenarios.
 Sometimes instrument landing systems face
temporary outages at big airports. GAGAN
can provide a suitable alternative during
outages.
 Gagan will be much more precise in
informing about the location of the plane
than the radar-based system which we still
use.
 GAGAN will use communication satellites
in Geostationary orbits-GSAT-8, GSAT-10,
GSAT-15 to augment the navigation
system.
 The Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) is making it mandatory for all India-
registered aircraft to be equipped with
GAGAN-compliant instruments.

 GAGAN provides GPS signal corrections:

 GPS alone can not meet the navigational Q9. Consider the following statements with
requirements for accuracy, integrity and respect to the GAGAN based Air
availability. So, GAGAN corrects errors of Navigation Service:
GPS signals caused by Ionospheric 1. GAGAN corrects errors of GPS
disturbances, timing etc. signals caused by Ionospheric
 In addition to the aviation use-case,it can be disturbances.
deployed in several other areas- such as
2. It is mandatory for all India-registered
intelligent transportation, maritime,
aircraft to be equipped with GAGAN-
highways, railways, security agencies,
compliant instruments.
telecom, etc.
3. India is the only country in the Asia
 Coverage Area: It can provide services from
Pacific Region to have an indigenously
Africa to Australia.
developed satellite-based
augmentation system for air
Need of the New navigation system
navigation.
 The GAGAN system can allow as many as 50
Which of the statements given above are
aircraft to safely operate in airspace that two
correct?
planes take at present. This will support the
(a) Only 1 and 2 (b) Only 2 and 3
government‘s plan to increase regional air
connectivity. (c) Only 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3

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  circular discs made out of potsherds and
Asurgarh : Odisha’s Oldest
stone.
Fortified Settlement  glass bangle pieces of different designs
and colours,
Carbon dating finds Asurgarh  sling balls
is Odisha‘s oldest fortified  iron equipment` like a small wheel, ring,
settlement dating back to the and arrow head.
9th century BC. Earlier it was
 Asurgarh is the only site in Odisha
believed to be from the
showing highly skilled engineering of
Mauryan period but has now been established
water management: The fortified settlement
as an Iron Age civilization.
was built in such a way that water came
from a distance of more than five kilometres
About Asurgarh
to enter the reservoir (Udaya Sagar) located
 The Asurgarh Fort is in Odisha‘s Kalahandi
in the eastern side of the fort. The strategic
district.
layout of the outer fortification wall shows
 It belongs to the Iron Age.
the efficiency of the water management
 As per the recent findings, the Asurgarh
system during the early historic period.
era spans over three cultural phases:
 The fort is surrounded by a moat on the
1. The Iron Age (9th century BC to 4th
east, north and south. The Sandul river
century BC);
flows from the western side of the fort,
2. Early Historic or Rampart phase (2nd
forming a natural moat.
century BC to 1st century AD);
 Other sites in Odisha:
3. The Late Period/Decline of the
1. Sisupalgarh, near Bhubaneswar
settlement (2nd century AD to 3rd-4th
2. Jaugarh, a fortified settlement on the
century AD).
Rushikulya valley (Ganjam);
 It is said to be an urban civilization. It
3. The port site of Manikpatna (Puri); etc.
reveals a number of brick structures.
 It might have declined due to the territorial
 Most of the structures have terracotta tiles
expansion of a neighboring state like the
with grooves and holes for socketing.
Satavahana and early Gupta dynasties, or
 Silver punch mark coins indicate long
due to ecological changes.
distance trade and association of hinterland
people with seafaring people.
 Artefacts found: Q10. Asurgarh, an ancient site in Odisha
 Beads of coral, lapis lazuli, carnelian, recently seen in the news, is said to
glass, jasper, garnet, shell, agate, milky belong to which period?
quartz, terracotta, kaolin, soft stone; (a) Chalcolithic (b) Bronze Age

 silver and copper toe rings and earrings (c) Iron Age (d) Mesolithic Age

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 MoSPI’s Women and Men in India (2021) report

The Women and Men in India, 2021 report, released by the Ministry of Statistics and
Programme Implementation (MOSPI) is the collection of a variety of gender-related
statistics that are released by different agencies of the government.

WOMEN AND MEN IN INDIA REPORT

 The report serves as a single go-to platform to find information pertaining to gender statistics.
 It is divided into six chapters based on diverse aspects of gender – Population and related
statistics, Health, Education, Participation in economy, Women in decision making, and
Impediments in empowerment.

1. Population and Related Statistics (Demographic indicators)

 Demographic indicators for a country inform population size, composition, geographic
distribution and growth which also exhibits their relationship with social, economic and
behavioral factors.
 Sex ratio :
 It is the number of females per 1000 males in the population .
 It is an important social indicator to measure the extent of prevailing equity between males and
females in a society at a given point of time.
 Though this ratio has increased from 933 in 2001 to 943 in 2011 and is expected to further
increase to 945 in 2021, sex ratio (0-6 years) at 918 is still a matter of concern.
 Only in four states viz., Kerala, Manipur, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu the sex ratio is more
than 1000.
 Improvement over last 10 years (from 2001 to 2011) in the sex ratio has been recorded in
Delhi, Chandigarh and Arunachal Pradesh ,
 Contrary to this, Daman & Diu , Dadra & Nagar Haveli has recorded decline in sex ratio.
 In 2011, highest sex ratio in the age group 0-6 years has been observed in Arunachal Pradesh
(972) and lowest in Haryana (834).

2. Health Statistics
Parameters related to Recent findings Analysis
Health

Life Expectancy  For male : 68.2 years This is one parameter where women have
 For females 70.7 (for the always been faring better than men.
period 2014-18)

Crude Birth Rate It is decreasing : The maximum CBR has been reported in
It is the number of live  In Rural India: 22.1 to Bihar (27.6) and the minimum in Kerala
births in a year per 21.4 (14.7).
thousand of the  Urban India : 17.0 to 16.
population. (2016-2019 )

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Maternal Mortality MMR has decreased from 113 Assam (205) has the highest MMR followed by
ratio (MMR) in 2016-18 to 103 in 2017- Uttar Pradesh(167)
It is the ratio of the 19.
number of women who
died due to pregnancy
complications to one
lakh live births.

Mean Age of Marriage The mean age at marriage at  It showed a decrease of 0.2 years from
all India levels in 2019 was 2018.
22.1 years.  In both rural and urban areas, women‘s
mean age at marriage at all India level
decreased by 0.1

Institutional Birth rate It is 78.9% in 2015-16 to  The institutional birth at all India levels
88.6% in 2019-21. has increased.
 100% institutional deliveries in : A&N
Islands, Goa, Kerala, Lakshadweep,
Puducherry and Tamil Nadu
 Poor performance in states like Nagaland
and Meghalaya.

Anaemia In the Women age-group (15- We have 7 states with more than 10%
49 years) anemia has increase in Anemia (in women of 15-59 age
increased- 53.1% in 2015- 16 group)- Assam observed the largest increase
to 57.0% in 2019-21. i.e. 19%.

Family Planning  In 2015-16, 12.9%  Andhra Pradesh is the best performer.

Statistics married women of age 15-  Whereas Meghalaya, Mizoram, Bihar are
49 years were lagging the worst performers.
behind in Family
Planning.
 Now the percentage has
decreased to 9.4% in
2019-21.

Non Communicable Obesity has increased from  Obesity, hypertension, and diabetes are
Disease & Obesity 18.9% to 22.9%. the major reasons behind the growing
number of non-communicable diseases
(NCDs) across the world.
 Obesity in India has increased in both
genders.
 India is the first country to adopt a
strategy to minimize deaths due to NCDs
by 25% by 2025.

3. Education
 Literacy Rate in India

Who is literate in India?

 Any person of 7 years and above age, who can read as well as write, with an understanding in
any language is considered literate.

 There has been an improvement in the literacy rates of both men and women, but it is not
uniform across the genders.

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  The literacy rate has shown an increasing trend at all India levels since independence. It has
steadily increased from 18.3 in 1951 to 73 in 2011 as per population census 2011.
 In continuation of the trend, literacy rate has further increased to 77.7 in 2017
 Gender Gap in literacy is highest in Rajasthan (23.2), followed by Bihar (19.2) and Uttar
Pradesh (18.4).
 Only three states have this gender gap below 10% – Kerala (2.2%), West Bengal (8.7%), and
Assam (8.9%).
 Though, the index for literacy in adults aged 15 years and above has been increasing over
years yet it was much below the desired level.

 Gender Parity Index

 It is defined as the quotient of the number of females by the number of males enrolled in a
given stage of education.
 The index ideally should be between 97% and 103 %.
 There is high enrolment of children in the elementary level of education (ANER of 94.4% in
2019-20) with more girls enrolled than boys. However, as one goes up the level, the rate falls
drastically.

4. Participation in Economy
 Economic empowerment of women is an important driver to achieving gender equality. This
includes the ability of women to control and access resources, decision making and participation
in existing market conditions.
 As per this survey, 57.3% of males participated in employment and related activities against
18.4% only for females.
 Worker Population Ratio (WPR)
 There is an increase in WPR for both male and females in both rural and urban areas.
 The WPR for males is more than 50% in both rural and urban areas.
 The maximum increase in the ratio is observed among rural females, a rise of 5%.

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  The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for females in Rural areas is evidently higher than that
in Urban Areas.
 Unemployment rates for both Male and females declined in both Rural and Urban sectors.

According to IMF Chief Christine Lagarde raising women‘s participation in the labor force to the same
level as men can boost India’s GDP by 27 percent.

5. Participation in the decision making

 For progress on gender equality, representation of women across the key branches of the
government is considered vital.
 The proportion of women in the central council of Ministers has increased from 9.26% in
2020 to 14.10% in 2021.
 Percentage of female electors has been lower than the male electors in all the elections except
in the 17th election when the female percentage was slightly more than the percentage of
male electors.
 At the all India level, the women representation in the State Assemblies was 9%.
 Maximum participation of women observed in the State/UT of Mizoram (26%) followed by
West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.
 The highest women participation in Panchayati Raj Institutions was observed in the States of
Rajasthan followed by Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh.
 In the judiciary, the highest number of women judges is 13 in Madras High Court followed by
Punjab & Haryana and Bombay High Court.

Impediments in Empowerment
 During 2020, the highest share of women crime against the total women crime was observed in
the states of Uttar Pradesh (13.29%) followed by West Bengal (9.81%).
 The percentage of married women(18-49 years)who have ever experienced physical or sexual
violence committed by their husband has decreased from 31.2% in 2015-16 to 29.3% in 2019-21.
 The percentage of women aged 20-24 years married before age 18 years has decreased from 26.8
in 2015-16 to 23.3% in 2019-21.
 Adolescent fertility rate for women of age group 15-19 years has decreased from 51 in 2015-16 to
43 in 2019-21.

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Above report indicates that gender statistics and indicators have the potential to the narrowing of gender
inequalities by providing an evidence base that makes inequalities visible. Such indicators ensure that
women and men‘s situation and their contribution to society are measured correctly.

Q11. As per the Women and Men in India, 2021 report, consider the following statements:
1. Rajasthan has the highest Gender Gaps in literacy following the state of Bihar.
2. Kerala, West Bengal and Assam are only three states that have a gender gap below 10%.
3. Bihar has the highest Infant mortality rate followed by Uttar Pradesh.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
(a) Only 1 and 2 (b) Only 2
(c) Only 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Analyze the ‗Gender Inequality‘ in India in the background of recent ‗Women and Men in India,
2021 report‖, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI).
(150 Words / 10 Marks)

25 CA 0522_001 Byju’s Classes: 9873643487

 Mission SAGAR IX
 It aims to provide critical medical aid to Sri Lanka during the ongoing
Mission SAGAR IX: crisis.
(INS Gharial)  It is a mission under the Government's vision of SAGAR – Security And
Growth for All in the Region.
 The Indian Navy undertakes several deployments titled Mission SAGAR
to assist friendly countries in Indian Ocean Littoral States.
 INS Gharial is part of Mission SAGAR IX which has reached Colombo to
provide medical aid.

INS Gharial : It is a Magar-class amphibious warfare vessel of the Indian

Navy.

 The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises revamped the

Zero Defect, Zero Effect scheme for MSMEs by reducing the number
of parameters for certification.
 The ZED scheme was launched in 2016.
 The number of parameters for the certification is categarised into 3
stages (earlier 5)— bronze, silver, and gold.
 Bronze certification
 Silver certification
Zero Defect, Zero Effect  Gold certification
 MSME will get subsidy as per following structure, on the cost of ZED
(ZED) scheme
certification
 Micro enterprises : 80%
 Small enterprises : 60%
 Medium enterprises : 50%
 For women or SC/ST entrepreneurs-owned units : additional 10%.
 All MSMEs registered with the UDYAM registration portal (of the
MoMSME) are eligible.
 It is applicable to both the manufacturing (In first phase) and Service
sector (in second phase).

Azadi Se Antyodaya Tak

 The Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj launched
Azadi Se Antyodaya Azadi Se Antyodaya Tak.
Tak  It is a 90-day campaign with a mission to cover 75 Districts across 28
States/UTs with beneficiary schemes of nine central ministries.
 The 75 districts, marginally lagging behind in the development
parameters, have been shortlisted through Monthly per Capita Indicators
and Socio-Economic Caste Census data, 2011.
 The identified districts are aligned with the birthplace of 99 Freedom
Fighters, who made sacrifices for the nation during its struggle for
independence.
 It will reach out to the person at the bottom of the pyramid in rural
areas.

26 CA 0522_001 Byju’s Classes: 9873643487

 United Nation World Tourism Organization
 Recently, Russia has withdrawn from the UNWTO in the Ukraine-Russia
conflict.

About UNWTO

United Nation World

Tourism Organization

A company that genetically modifies pigs to create organs for humans has
been sending free packages of ground pork, steaks and chops to people
allergic to meat by removing the sugar molecule alpha-gal, which causes the
human immune system to reject pig organs and causes a red-meat allergy
in people.

Alpha-gal About Alpha-gal

 It is a sugar molecule found in most mammals.
 It is not found in fish, reptiles, birds, or people.
 It can be found in meat (pork, beef, rabbit, lamb, venison, etc) and
products made from mammals (including gelatin, cow's milk, and milk
products).
 It causes a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

Places in News

 The National Board of Wildlife has cleared

construction of a road on the Chinese border from
Ladakh's Saser la to Saser Brangsa.
 It will be crucial for building an alternate
alignment to the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) Road.
 The strategically important road will pass through
the Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary.
Saser la pass
About Saser Pass/Saser La
 It is a high mountain pass in the region of Ladakh.
 It leads from the head of the Nubra Valley into the
Shyok valley.

About Daulat Beg Oldi-DBO

 DBO is the highest landing ground in the world.

27 CA 0522_001 Byju’s Classes: 9873643487

  In the cold desert, DBO is located on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Aksai Chin
as well as the historic Karakoram Pass.
 There are plans for Ladakh‘s other advance landing grounds like Thoise, Chushul
and Fukche.

 The Cabinet Committee on

Economic Affairs approved the
investment for the Kwar Hydro
Electric Project located on river
Chenab, in the Union Territory of
Jammu and Kashmir.
 Chenab is formed by the Chandra
and Bhaga rivers which originate
Kwar Hydro
at Baralachala in Himachal
Electric Pradesh.
Project  It flows through the Pangi valley
which is parallel to the PirPanjal
Range.
 Under the Indus Water Treaty,
water of the Chenab, Indus and Jehlum was allocated to Pakistan.
 According to the World Bank, India is allowed to build run-of-river hydroelectric
power plants on above rivers.
 The Chenab River is extensively used in Pakistan for irrigation.
 Few Hydroelectric projects on Chenab River : Baglihar, Dulhasti, Salal, Pakul Dul,
Ratle, Kwar etc.

 National monument tag for 1,000-year-old lake in Delhi’s Mehrauli.

 It is situated to the northwest of Qutub Complex.
 It is also said Alauddin Khalji, in 1296-1316 AD, utilised the water of this tank
Anang Tal when he built (Qutub) minar and extended the Qutub-ul-Islam mosque, according
to the NMMA website.
 Old inscriptions and coins suggest Anangpal Tomar ruled present-day Delhi and
Haryana in between the 8th-12th centuries.
 Under his supervision, Anang Tal Baoli and Lal Kot were constructed.

The war in Ukraine is driving hunger in

Lebanon.
 Location : Bordered by the Mediterranean
sea to the west, Syria to the north and east
and Israel to the south.
 It has rich history and religious diversity as
Lebanon its location is at the crossroads of the
Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian
hinterland.
 It is located outside the oil-rich economies
of the Persian Gulf.
 Its land is part of the Arabian plate and
Great Rift Valley system.

28 CA 0522_001 Byju’s Classes: 9873643487

Q12. ‗Mission SAGAR IX‘ launched by the Q18. Consider the following pairs:
Government of India pertains to Sea Bordering
(a) provide critical medical aid to Sri country
Lanka during the ongoing crisis. 1. Adriatic Sea Albania
(b) to assist Myanmar in its recent 2. Black Sea Croatia
military activity. 3. Caspian Sea Kazakhstan
(c) Cleaning up of Indian ocean which 4. Mediterranean Sea Lebanon
happen due to oil spill Which of the pair given above are
(d) To encourage Indian littoral states for correctly matched?
Mangrove plantation. (a) Only 1, 2 and 4 (b) Only 1, 3 and 4
(c) Only 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q13. With reference to the Azadi Se Antyodaya
Tak campaign, consider the following Q19. Daulat Beg Oldi is situated to the
statements: (a) East of Aksai Chin
1. It is the flagship program of the (b) East of Leh
Ministry of Social Justice and (c) South of Karakoram Pass
Empowerment. (d) West of Kargil
2. Mission will cover 75 Districts across
28 States and UT. Q20. Consider the following statement
3. It aims for the uplift of urban and rural regarding ‗United Nation World Tourism
poor through enhancement of Organization‘
livelihood opportunities. 1. Promote sustainable, responsible and
Which of the above statement(s) is/are universally accessible tourism to
correct? eradicate poverty.
(a) Only 1 and 3 (b) Only 2 2. The World Tourism Organization
(c) Only 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3 headquarters in New York (USA).
3. India became a member of the UNWTO
in 1975.
Q14. Which of the following is/are man made
Which of the above statement(s) is/are
lake?
incorrect?
1. Anang Tal 2. Bhojtal Lake
(a) Only 1 and 2 (b) Only 2
3. Bhimtal Lake 4. Vembnad lake
(c) Only 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
Select the correct answer using the code
given below:
Q21. The terms ‗Alpha-gal‘ sometimes
(a) Only 1 and 2 (b) Only 3 and 4
mentioned in the news recently, are
(c) Only 2 and 4 (d) Only 1, 2 and 3
related to
(a) Exo-planets
Q15. Kwar Hydro Electric Project was recently
(b) Crypto-currency
in the news is located on which of the
(c) Sugar molecule
following river
(d) Genetically modified organisms
(a) Chenab River (b) Jhelam River
(c) Indus River (d) Satluj River Q22. With reference to "Zero Defect, Zero Effect
(ZED) scheme", consider the following
Q16. With reference to the Indus river system, statements:
of the following four rivers, three of them 1. The scheme is implemented under The
pour into one of them which joins the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
Indus directly. Among the following, Enterprises.
which one is such a river that joins the 2 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Indus direct? may register free of cost using their
(a) Chenab (b) Jhelum Udyog Aadhaar Number.
(c) Ravi (d) Sutlej 3. All MSME will avail a subsidy of 80%
on the cost of ZED certification, where
Q17. Rivers that pass through Himachal women or SC/ST entrepreneurs-owned
Pradesh are (UPSC 2010) units will get an additional 10%
(a) Beas and Chenab subsidy.
(b) Beas and Ravi Which of the statements given above is/
(c) Chenab, Ravi and Satluj are incorrect?
(d) Beas, Chenab, Ravi, Satluj and (a) Only 1 and 2 (b) Only 2
Yamuna (c) Only 1 and 3 (d) only 3

29 CA 0522_001 Byju’s Classes: 9873643487

1. Ans. : (a) 12. Ans. : (a)

2. Ans. : (a) 13. Ans. : (b)

3. Ans. : (b) 14. Ans. : (d)

4. Ans. : (b) 15. Ans. : (a)

5. Ans. : (d) 16. Ans. : (d)

6. Ans. : (a) 17. Ans. : (d)

7. Ans. : (d) 18. Ans. : (b)

8. Ans. : (b) 19. Ans. : (c)

9. Ans. : (d) 20. Ans. : (b)

10. Ans. : (c) 21. Ans. : (c)

11. Ans. : (a) 22. Ans. : (d)

30 CA 0522_001 Byju’s Classes: 9873643487