July 29

TOPICS COVERED

1. Manu’s historic bronze opens India’s medal hunt    (PCS)
2. Not all require tax clearance certificate to go abroad: govt   
3. Centre scraps auction of three critical mineral blocks     (GS Paper III: Economic Resources)
4. Army contingent in Mongolia for 21st Khaan Quest exercise      (PCS)
5. HC summons Surat MP over pleas challenging his ‘unopposed win’ (GS Paper-II: Election)
6. SP appoints Mata Pandey as Leader of the Opposition (PCS)
7. CITES eases norms for agarwood export; move to benefit lakhs of farmers from the Northeast
8. Surprising ‘dark oxygen’ discovery could ensnarl deep-sea mining (GS Paper-III: Science & Tech)
9. Ariel: another watery moon? (GS Paper-III: Science & Tech)
10. Planning better (GS Paper-II)
11. Plastic mess (GS Paper-III: Environment)
12. On reservations and the OBC creamy layer (GS Paper-III: Reservation)
13. What is South Africa’s new law on climate change? (GS Paper-III: Climate Change)
14. What are the various efforts being taken to mitigate caller ID spoofing? (GS Paper-III: S&T, Cyber Security)

 

 

Manu’s historic bronze opens India’s medal hunt (29 July)

The 22-year-old is the first Indian woman shooter to be on the Olympic podium as she wins medal in the 10m air pistol event; she will now compete in10m pistol mixed team and 25m pistol events

• Manu Bhaker won a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
• This was her second Olympics, and it marked the start of India's medal count at the Games.
• It was also the first medal won by an Indian woman shooter in the current Olympics.
• Bhaker qualified for the final in third place and performed consistently, with only 7 of her 22 shots in the ‘9’ ring.
• She was in silver medal position until her final shot, where she was narrowly beaten by South Korea’s Kim Yeji by 0.1 points.
• South Korea’s Ye Jin Oh won the gold medal.
• Bhaker will also compete in the women’s 10m pistol mixed team event and the women’s 25m pistol events.

 

Centre scraps auction of three critical mineral blocks (29 July)

• The Centre cancelled the auction of three critical mineral blocks due to fewer bidders than expected.

• The cancelled blocks include:

• Salal-Haimna lithium, titanium, and bauxite block in Jammu and Kashmir
• Muskaniya-Gareriatola-Barwari potash block in Jharkhand
• Kurunjakulam graphite block in Tamil Nadu
• The cancellation is part of the Centre’s self-reliance push in critical mineral supplies.
• Previously, auctions for 14 blocks in the second tranche and 13 blocks in the first tranche were also cancelled due to low interest.

Army contingent in Mongolia for 21st Khaan Quest exercise (29 July)

• The 21st edition of the multinational peacekeeping exercise Khaan Quest started in Mongolia on July 27.
• The Indian contingent includes 40 personnel from the Madras Regiment.
• The exercise has around 430 participants from 23 countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Türkiye, the U.S., and the U.K.
• Indian Ambassador Atul Malhari Gotsurve attended the inaugural ceremony and welcomed the Indian troops.
• The exercise will run from July 27 to August 9.
• The Indian contingent includes one woman officer and two women soldiers.
• The aim of Khaan Quest is to prepare armed forces for peacekeeping missions in a multinational environment.

Khaan Quest   Khaan Quest is a multinational peacekeeping exercise hosted annually by Mongolia, aiming to enhance the peacekeeping capabilities of the armed forces from participating nations. It includes various training activities focused on humanitarian assistance, civil-military cooperation, and operational preparedness for United Nations (UN) missions. Overview of Khaan Quest: Origin and Objectives: Khaan Quest was initiated in 2003 and has since evolved into a significant event for multinational cooperation in peacekeeping. The exercise's primary objectives are to: Improve interoperability among different armed forces. Conduct training that improves the readiness of personnel for UN peacekeeping operations. Enhance understanding of international humanitarian assistance and disaster response. Participation: The exercise features participants from numerous countries, including Mongolia, the United States, and various nations across Asia and Europe. This multinational approach fosters collaboration and strengthens global peacekeeping efforts. Activities and Training: Khaan Quest typically involves a combination of: Classroom instruction covering peacekeeping protocols, rules of engagement, and civil-military cooperation. Field training exercises simulating real-life scenarios that participants might encounter in peacekeeping missions, such as humanitarian disasters, conflict resolution, and cooperation with local populations. Cultural Exchange: The exercise encourages interaction and sharing of military practices among participating nations, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration across different cultures and military traditions.

SP appoints Mata Pandey as Leader of the Opposition (29 July)

• The Samajwadi Party appointed Mata Prasad Pandey as the Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
• Pandey, an 81-year-old Brahmin leader, represents the Itwa constituency in Siddharthnagar.
• He has served as Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker twice and was first elected in 1980.
• Kamal Akhtar is appointed as the chief whip, and Rakesh Kumar Verma as deputy whip of the SP in the Assembly.
• The appointment of Pandey is significant for SP's strategy to strengthen its base among Backwards, Dalits, and Minorities.
• SP spokesperson Rajendra Choudhary praised Pandey's experience and loyalty to socialist ideology.

 

 

 

 

 

CITES eases norms for agarwood export; move to benefit lakhs of farmers from the Northeast (29 July)

• India has prevented agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) from being included in the CITES Review of Significant Trade (RST).
• A new export quota for agarwood and its oil from India will be set from April 2024.
• This will benefit farmers in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura where agarwood is cultivated.
• Agarwood was first listed in CITES Appendix II in 1995 due to India’s proposal in 1994.
• India’s removal from the RST was based on a non-detriment findings (NDFs) study by the Botanical Survey of India and the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.
• The NDF recommended agarwood harvest from home gardens, plantations, and private/community lands but prohibited harvesting from wild populations and protected areas.
• Recommended export quotas for 2024–2027: 151,080 kg per year of agarwood chips and powder/sawdust, and 7,050 kg per year of agarwood oil.
• Previous lack of export quotas led to increased informal trade and higher global prices for agarwood products.
• Despite the export ban, illegal trade continued in India, with over 1.25 tonnes of chips and six litres of oil/seeds seized between 2017 and 2021, according to TRAFFIC.

CITES, or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora It is an international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Key Features of CITES: Objective: The primary aim of CITES is to protect endangered wildlife and plants by regulating and monitoring their international trade. This helps to prevent the over-exploitation of species that are threatened or endangered. How it Works: CITES categorizes species into three different appendices based on their level of threat: Appendix I: Species threatened with extinction; international trade is prohibited except under exceptional circumstances. Appendix II: Species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but whose trade must be controlled to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. Appendix III: Species that are protected in at least one country and that country has requested the cooperation of other countries in controlling trade. Parties: CITES is a legally binding agreement for its member countries (called "Parties"). As of now, there are 183 Parties to CITES, making it one of the largest environmental agreements in effect. Implementation and Enforcement: Each Party is responsible for implementing CITES provisions domestically, which may include legislative and regulatory measures. They must also establish a Management Authority and a Scientific Authority to regulate the trade in wildlife and ensure compliance with CITES. Conferences of the Parties (CoP): These are regular meetings where representatives from member countries come together to discuss and make decisions regarding the implementation of CITES and address emerging issues.

 

 

Surprising ‘dark oxygen’ discovery could ensnarl deep-sea mining ( 29 July)

Deep-sea mining is expected to be a major marine resource extraction activity in the coming decades. The International Seabed Authority has established at least two 15-year contracts with the Government of India to look for polymetallic nodules and polymetallic sulphides in the deep seabed

• Scientists discovered an unknown process producing oxygen deep in the ocean where there is no light for photosynthesis.
• The oxygen may be generated by polymetallic nodules that transport electric charges and split water molecules.
• Polymetallic nodules are valuable for mining if their concentration exceeds 10 kg per square meter.
• India plans to apply for exploration licenses for deep-sea minerals in the Pacific Ocean and is building a submersible vehicle for its Deep Ocean Mission to explore and mine resources in the Indian Ocean.

Where was the study conducted?

• The discovery of increased oxygen levels in the deep sea raises concerns about the impact of deep-sea mining on marine ecosystems.
• Scientists from Germany, the U.K., and the U.S. were studying the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, which has a high concentration of polymetallic nodules.
• At a depth of 4 km in this zone, they observed unexpected increases in oxygen concentration, contrary to the expected decrease.
• Follow-up studies involved releasing a device to measure oxygen levels in isolated samples from the ocean floor.
• In the abyssal zone, where sunlight is insufficient for photosynthesis, oxygen is usually low and not locally produced. However, the device detected an increase in oxygen levels.
• Laboratory experiments confirmed that oxygen levels can increase before eventually dropping.

What is the source?

• Researchers found that the surfaces of polymetallic nodules have a voltage of up to 0.95 V.
• Water splitting requires 1.5 V, so the voltage might build up if many nodules are close together, similar to a battery.
• The study's coauthor, Andrew Sweetman, termed this phenomenon ‘dark oxygen,’ as it provides an alternative source of oxygen besides photosynthesis.
• While valuable for supporting life, the nodules' ability to produce oxygen depends on maintaining sufficient voltage, and the nodules' energy source remains unclear.

What is deep-sea mining?

• Polymetallic nodules have a surface voltage up to 0.95 V.
• Water splitting needs 1.5 V, so close-packed nodules might act like a battery.
• The term ‘dark oxygen’ was introduced for oxygen produced by this mechanism, aside from photosynthesis.
• The nodules' ability to produce oxygen depends on their voltage, and their energy source is still unknown.

The effect on deep-sea mining

• The study found lower biodiversity in disturbed areas and warned that polymetallic nodule mining could have severe and possibly irreversible impacts on ecosystems in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
• A November 2023 paper noted that deep-sea mining might harm deep-sea jellyfish and other water column animals.
• There is limited understanding of abyssal zone ecosystems, making predictions about their future and role in climate processes unreliable.
• On July 20, three major European insurance companies decided to exclude deep-sea mining from their portfolios.
• The discovery of ‘dark oxygen’ adds to concerns about deep-sea mining, which may face feasibility challenges if sustainable practices are not developed.

 

 

 

Ariel: another watery moon? (29 July)

• The Solar System has many unresolved mysteries, such as why the Sun's corona is so hot and why Saturn's moon Titan has a thick atmosphere.
• Triton, Neptune's moon, rotates opposite to Neptune, possibly due to a shared origin with Pluto.
• Another mystery involves Uranus’s moon Ariel, which has frozen CO2 on its surface despite being far from the Sun, where CO2 should typically vaporize.
• On July 24, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) found evidence of a buried liquid ocean on Ariel, which may be supplying CO2 to the surface.
• The presence of carbon monoxide on Ariel suggests it could have a subsurface ocean, with cracks and grooves potentially allowing icy slop and compounds to surface.
• JWST also detected carbonite minerals, which form when water interacts with rocks.
• Further studies and missions are needed to confirm these findings, potentially adding Ariel to the list of water-bearing moons.

Recasting care models for mental illness, homelessness (29 July)

• Homeless persons with mental illness are often seen as needing rescue.
• Rescue missions focus on moving them to mental hospitals, shelters, beggars' homes, or prisons.
• The assumption is that they must be taken off the streets due to risks, which can be contested.
• In the past, the focus was on shelter and treatment, not on the person's choice or agency.
• Social order can limit responses to safer, dominant narratives.
• Culture, freedoms, and safety can be experienced in non-typical ways.
• Engaging with lived experience experts can challenge traditional notions of care.
• Homeless persons often form local support circles, including fellow homeless individuals, local eateries, and pets.
• Homelessness involves issues like oppression, scarcity, abuse, bad weather, and worsening mental health symptoms.
• The problem should not be viewed in simple binaries; it requires a complex understanding.
• Efforts in India, such as collaborations between health missions, departments, institutes, and civil society organizations, help HPMIs reintegrate into communities.
• This collaboration has led to emergency care and recovery centers in district hospitals.
• Smaller, localized care units are better than large asylum-style spaces.
• These units provide immediate, last-mile care across different areas.
• Overcrowding and lack of personal attention in large facilities affect care quality globally.
• Smaller units should be well-staffed and offer personalized medical care, addressing common health issues among the homeless.
• Recent policy shifts are positive but require deeper engagement and long-term commitment.
• We need to examine when and why rights are removed and improve leadership and governance systems.
• For those who choose to stay on the streets despite available care, appearances (like matted hair or shaven heads) should be carefully considered.
• A shaven head can signify renunciation, not necessarily mental illness.
• Continuous engagement and respect for individual agency are crucial.
• Coercive care often leads to poor outcomes, despite the hardships of street life.

Problems with institutional spaces

• About 37% of people in state psychiatric facilities and care homes have long-term needs, with a median stay of six years.
• Many have histories of homelessness and enter the system through police and judicial intervention.
• In 2017, the Supreme Court of India mandated state governments to undertake rehabilitative measures.
• The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities created guidelines for rehabilitation homes.
• Current community re-entry pathways for long-term psychiatric patients are limited to semi-institutional or trans-institutional options.
• These pathways often transfer custodial care from one place to another without truly integrating individuals into the community.
• Concepts of who is "cured" and "ready for discharge" are too rigid, affecting eligibility to live in the community.
• Institutional spaces often result in a lower quality of life and rights violations.
• Large-scale housing initiatives like Housing First and Tarasha provide comprehensive social and clinical care for people with disabilities.
• Over 700 people in India have accessed housing support through the 'Home Again' collaborative across nine states.
• The 'Home Again' program was first piloted in 2018 with support from Grand Challenges Canada and scaled up with the Rural India Supporting Trust.
• The program has been adopted by the Government of Tamil Nadu and other stakeholders.
• For those transitioning from hospitals with mild to moderate disabilities, hostel-like co-living facilities are preferable to rehabilitation homes.

Reframe support measures

• Social protection for homeless people with mental illness needs a shift from paternalistic interventions to liberatory-focused strategies.
• A monthly disability or out-of-work allowance of ₹1,500 could be a critical support for marginalized individuals.
• Simplifying the process of obtaining Aadhar and banking access can help with financial inclusion and empowerment.
• These financial supports must be complemented by imaginative and holistic approaches.
• Structural issues like discrimination, violence, segregation, and deprivation need to be addressed.
• Social care and post-discharge support should be integrated within the District Mental Health Programme.
• Initiatives led by state and non-state actors have resulted in a 75% service engagement rate post-discharge for 800 mental health service users from ECRCs over three years, which is higher than the global average.
• Economic justice requires confronting systemic barriers, elevating insights from marginalized groups, and creating inclusive models.
• Workforce participation should be thoughtfully facilitated to reclaim economic space.
• Traditional employment and vocational training models often fail to account for individual agency, strengths, and aspirations.
• Social cooperatives, where individuals exchange their labor, offer meaningful engagement and foster a sense of community and purpose.
• Efforts should include cultivating social capital and implementing affirmative action policies for substantive socio-economic, cultural, and political inclusion of HPMI.
• Tamil Nadu will soon release a policy integrating these approaches.
• The goal is to challenge the view of HPMI as mere recipients of charity and instead honor their agency, respect their choices, and support their right to claim a place in society on their own terms.

The right way to counter a poor Covaxin safety study (29 July)

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) criticized the poor design of a long-term safety study of Covaxin by researchers from Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
• Bharat Biotech also pointed out major limitations in the study three days after its publication in the journal "Drug Safety" on May 16, 2024.
• The BHU study, based on a one-year follow-up, had significant limitations, including:

• Lack of a control arm.
• Absence of data on background rates of observed adverse events.
• Reliance on participants' recall of adverse events 12 months after vaccination, introducing recall bias.

• Including a control arm is crucial for meaningful and reliable information about vaccine adverse effects.
• Studying vaccine safety in thousands of participants for one to three years is essential.
• Clinical evaluation of each adverse event is necessary to rule out causality.
• Random assignment to intervention or control groups is important to eliminate bias.
• A phase-3 randomized, controlled trial with a large number of participants is ideal for studying vaccine safety.
• Bharat Biotech and the ICMR conducted such a trial, which was randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind, involving nearly 25,800 participants.
• The trial began in November 2020, and interim results were first posted as a preprint on July 2, 2021, based on data as of May 17, 2021, with 130 cases reported.
• The safety data was captured only up to 56 days following vaccination.

A publication failure that is glaring

• Three years after posting interim data, Bharat Biotech and ICMR have not published any long-term safety data from the Covaxin phase-3 trial.
• Bharat Biotech has a good track record of publishing clinical trial results, making this failure surprising.
• The phase-3 trial was supposed to last one year, meaning the safety data has been available for over two and a half years but remains unpublished.
• Despite publishing six papers on Covaxin after the phase-3 interim results, the long-term safety results have not been released.
• On January 3, 2021, the drug regulator granted emergency-use authorization for Covaxin under “clinical trial mode,” requiring follow-up for safety.
• In March 2021, the “clinical trial mode” tag was removed after the first interim analysis of 43 COVID-19 cases in trial participants.
• Dr. V.K. Paul, Head of India’s Vaccine Administration committee, reported that over 19 lakh people received Covaxin, with 311 cases of “side effects” noted by the time the “clinical trial mode” condition was lifted.
• Despite having these adverse effect instances, no detailed vaccine safety data has been published.

On the Covishield study

• It is surprising that ICMR did not criticize the BHU authors for a similar study on Covishield, published in May 2023.
• The Covishield study had similar limitations as the Covaxin study.
• The study found people vaccinated with Covishield after developing COVID-19 had twice the risk of persistent adverse events compared to those vaccinated before getting COVID-19.
• The authors of the Covishield study cautioned against mass vaccination with Covishield and suggested an individualized vaccination strategy for better public health safety.
• It raises the question if ICMR's criticism of the Covaxin study was due to its role as a co-developer of the vaccine and involvement in clinical trials, rather than the study's limitations.
• ICMR demanded the journal retract the Covaxin study paper but did not disclose its conflicts of interest, setting a bad example.
• ICMR and Bharat Biotech should publish the long-pending phase-3 vaccine safety data to counter the BHU study findings effectively.
• ICMR's actions of demanding retraction can be seen as academic censorship.

 

Planning better (29 July)

The NITI Aayog suffers from both structural and functional issues

• 10 State and Union Territory representatives skipped the ninth Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog chaired by PM Narendra Modi.
• Seven of these representatives boycotted the meeting due to concerns about the lack of allocations and projects to their States in the Union Budget.
• West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee boycotted and later walked out of the meeting.
• This situation suggests dissatisfaction with NITI Aayog's role as merely an advisory body to the Union Government.
• NITI Aayog was created by the NDA government to replace the Planning Commission and promote "cooperative federalism".
• Unlike the Planning Commission, NITI Aayog does not have powers for resource distribution or allocation to States and focuses on creating indices to evaluate States.
• This has led to "competitive federalism", where the Finance Ministry has full control over grants to States.
• The Planning Commission, despite its flaws, allowed for consultations with States on such matters.
• The BJP has sought votes in State elections by promoting "double engine" governments, leading to complaints from Opposition-ruled States that the Centre favors BJP-ruled States for investment projects.
• The NDA government relies on support from parties ruling Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, which face developmental deficits.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's intention to address these States' demands in the Budget has been noted by the government's critics.
• Consultations with States on grants and projects have reduced after the end of the Planning Commission.
• The 16th Finance Commission focuses on removing horizontal imbalances among States, and the Finance Ministry focuses on macro-economic stability and the financial system.
• There is a need for infrastructure and capital investments in States, requiring institutional support at the Centre.
• The NITI Aayog should be re-envisioned to take on some responsibilities of the former Planning Commission for true "cooperative federalism".

Plastic mess (29 July)

More efforts must be made to curb production and promote alternatives

• India generates about four million tonnes of plastic waste annually, but only 25% is recycled or treated. The rest ends up in landfills or is disposed of unsustainably.
• Since 2016, the Plastic Waste Management Rules have made plastic users responsible for collecting and recycling waste. This is enforced through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules and an online EPR trading platform.
• Under the EPR system, plastic packagers, importers, large users, and recyclers register with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Recyclers collect and recycle plastic waste, receiving certificates for each tonne recycled. These certificates can be purchased by companies that fall short of their recycling targets.
• In 2022-23, the CPCB estimated nearly 3.7 million tonnes of recycled plastic certificates were issued. However, about 600,000 certificates were found to be fraudulent, and some were stolen by hackers and sold.
• The CPCB is conducting an audit of about 800 firms and has improved the EPR platform’s security, causing delays in filing returns for 2023-24. The CPCB views these issues as initial problems with the new system.
• The CPCB has the power to impose fines, but this process is slow and legally complex.
• While market-driven approaches to recycling are helpful, they have limits. More effort is needed to reduce plastic production and promote sustainable alternatives. Addressing the root causes of plastic waste and improving recycling systems are key to solving the problem.

On reservations and the OBC creamy layer (29 July)

What were the recommendations of the Mandal Commission? What are the criteria for exclusion of the ‘creamy layer’ of the Other Backward Class? are the concentration of reservation benefits a concern? What can be done for a more equitable distribution?

• Puja Khedkar, an IAS officer with multiple disabilities and OBC Non-Creamy Layer status, has raised questions about the creamy layer in OBC reservations.
• Articles 15 and 16 of the Indian Constitution ensure equality and allow special provisions for SC, ST, and OBC for their advancement.
• Reservations are set at 15% for SC and 7.5% for ST in central jobs, educational institutions, and public sector undertakings.
• In 1990, 27% reservation for OBCs in central government jobs was implemented based on the Mandal Commission recommendations.
• In 2005, reservations were extended to OBC, SC, and ST in educational institutions, including private ones.
• In 2019, 10% reservation was introduced for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among the unreserved category.

What is the creamy layer?

• The Supreme Court upheld the 27% OBC reservation in the Indra Sawhney case (1992), stating caste is a key factor in class but set a 50% cap on total reservations, with exceptions allowed.
• The court also mandated the exclusion of the creamy layer from OBC benefits.
• The creamy layer criteria are based on the Justice Ram Nandan Prasad Committee (1993) recommendations.
• Criteria for creamy layer status:
  • Parental income (excluding salary and agricultural income) over ₹8 lakh per year for the last three years.
  • Parents in government service as Group A/Class I officers, or both as Group B/Class II officers (or one promoted from Group B to Group A before age 40).
  • Parents in managerial positions in public sector undertakings or holding constitutional posts.

What are the issues?

• There are allegations of fraudulent practices to obtain NCL or EWS certificates and disability certificates to access reserved seats in central government jobs.
• Applicants may use strategies to bypass creamy layer exclusions, such as asset gifting or premature retirement.
• The Rohini Commission found that 97% of reserved jobs and seats are occupied by about 25% of OBC castes/sub-castes, leaving many OBC communities underrepresented.
• Similar issues of reservation concentration are present in SC and ST categories, with no creamy layer exclusion.
• Current reservation stands at 60%, including EWS reservations.
• Government reports indicate 40-50% of reserved seats for OBC, SC, and ST in central government remain unfilled.

What can be the way forward?

• Address loopholes in NCL, EWS, and disability certificates to ensure only eligible applicants benefit.
• Fill vacancies for reserved communities without backlogs.
• Consider sub-categorization of reservations to address under-representation of various communities.
• Discuss the potential for creamy layer exclusion in SC and ST categories, especially for children of high-ranking government officials.
• Initiate discussions with all stakeholders to implement these changes and ensure reservation benefits reach the most marginalized groups.

What is South Africa’s new law on climate change? (29 July)

What are the features of the law? Does India have an omnibus legislation on climate change?

• South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a law to limit emissions from large industries and require climate-adaptation plans from towns and villages.
• The law aims to help South Africa meet its Paris Agreement emissions reduction commitments.
• South Africa, a major coal-dependent country and top 15 greenhouse gas emitter, had net emissions of 512 million tonnes of CO2e in 2017, which decreased to 405 million tonnes in 2022.
• The energy sector, including energy industries and transport, accounts for about 80% of South Africa's emissions.
• The country faces pressure to speed up its transition away from fossil fuels due to its reliance on agriculture and tourism.

What steps has South Africa taken?

• Countries submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to commit to lowering emissions.
• South Africa’s first NDC was submitted in 2016 and updated in 2021.
• The updated NDC targets a 31% reduction in emissions, with GHG levels of 398-510 MtCO2e by 2025 and 350-420 MtCO2e by 2030.
• It emphasizes a ‘just transition’ to sustainable jobs away from fossil fuels, focusing on agriculture, forestry, energy, industry, and waste.
• South Africa needs $8 billion annually by 2030 and aims for ‘net zero emissions’ by 2050.
• The Presidential Climate Commission’s Just Transition Framework, released in 2022, guides policy for climate and development transformations.
• These actions preceded the signing of the Climate Change Bill.
• What about India?
• India lacks comprehensive climate change legislation.
• Priyanka Chaturvedi proposed the Council on Climate Change Bill in 2022.
• The Bill suggested a Council chaired by the Prime Minister to advise on climate change, but no significant progress has been made.
• Climate change is addressed through various Acts such as the Environmental Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, Energy Conservation Act, and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
• Are these enough?
• In April, the Supreme Court ruled that citizens have a “right against the adverse effects of climate change.”
• The Court noted that India lacks comprehensive climate change legislation.
• The Court emphasized the need to explicitly address climate change's impact on fundamental rights.
• Before the UN Conference of Parties, India reported a 33% reduction in energy emissions intensity from 2005-2019, ahead of its target.
• India committed to a 45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 in its updated NDC.
• Emission intensity measures GHG emissions per unit of GDP, different from absolute emissions.
• India pledged to source 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel resources by 2030.
• Why job schemes should target women, agriculture, youth (29 July)
• India faces a jobs crisis with an estimated 500 million unemployed and an unemployment rate of 9.2%.
• 29% of graduates are unemployed.
• Creating 100 million new jobs quickly is a major challenge.
• The government employs about 14 million people and can add only around 1 million jobs per year.

• 40,000 MNCs in India could create 200,000 jobs, mostly through global capability centers (GCC).
• MNCs are downsizing due to AI and productivity measures.
• The question remains on how to generate 100 million new jobs.

Focus areas

• Prioritize job generation for women, agriculture, and youth (WAY).
• Women are under-represented, comprising only 38% of the employed workforce.
• Create low-skill, high-scale jobs in industries such as apparel manufacturing, footwear, light manufacturing, and value-added logistics.
• Agriculture employs 42% of the workforce, with challenges like fragmented holdings and rising farm loans.
• Rethink agricultural policies to attract private investment and incorporate technology for efficiency.
• Consider privatizing some agricultural activities and incentivizing companies to invest in value-added agriculture to create more jobs for women.

Hiring changes

• Youth seek steady jobs; shift focus from degree-based to skill-based hiring.
• Government should encourage companies to prioritize skills over degrees.
• Invest in skill-building at the educational level, using AI as an enabler.
• Essential skills include complex problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking.
• MSMEs account for 25% of jobs and a third of GDP, with 64 million MSMEs employing about 128 million people.
• Simplify rules and provide a safety net for MSMEs; support the 'India for India' agenda along with export focus.
• With proper incentives, MSMEs could create 50 million jobs quickly.
• Jobs are traditionally classified as blue-collar or white-collar.
• With evolving technology, 'grey-collar jobs' are emerging, where roles blend manual work with technology.
• Examples include railway engine drivers, mechanics, lab technicians, and nurses.
• Identifying blue-collar jobs with potential to become grey-collar through technology is crucial.
• GDP growth depends on investing in education and skills, including private sector involvement.

What are the various efforts being taken to mitigate caller ID spoofing? (29 July)

Caller ID spoofing is a technique with which the phone number that a call appears to originate from can be falsified. Spoofing techniques have been honed by enthusiasts, telemarketers, and fraudsters alike, over the years

• Friends and family received calls from a North American (+1) number with a pre-recorded message about a court summons.
• The calls are part of a known scam.
• The phone numbers were identical except for the country codes:

• Indian number: +91 98199 69857
• American number: +1 (981) 996-9857

• Caller ID spoofing is a technique to falsify the phone number that a call appears to come from.
• Technically easy to perform.
• Used by enthusiasts, telemarketers, and fraudsters.
• Helps shield identity during illicit activities.
• Used in social engineering attacks to exploit trust.
• Can bypass call blocking systems and exploit IVR system vulnerabilities.
• Caller ID spoofing is legal in many places.
• Companies offering caller ID spoofing services have emerged since the first one launched in 2004.

Tackling scam calls

• Caller ID spoofing is costly for telecom providers, defrauded users, and law enforcement.
• ITU is a UN agency that standardizes global communication technologies.
• ITU published a 2021 report suggesting PKI-based authentication to fix spoofing.
• TRAI recommended CNAP to show caller names based on KYC documents.
• A 2022 TRAI paper mentioned caller ID spoofing but did not offer a technical solution.
• DoT is piloting the CNAP project but without a technical fix for spoofing.
• In May 2024, DoT proposed a system to identify and block spoofed international calls.
• Effectiveness and implementation details of the DoT system are unclear.

Government inaction

• The Telecommunications Act, 2023, partially notified on June 26, allows the Union Government to control telecommunication services or networks during emergencies.
• Section 20 of the Act lets the Government temporarily take over telecommunication services or networks for public emergencies or safety.
• The Act is criticized for potentially increasing surveillance powers.
• Fixing caller ID spoofing is considered in the interest of public safety.
• Addressing caller ID spoofing will benefit consumers by reducing spam and fraud calls.
• Telecommunications providers will save revenue.
• The Government will gain revenue, contributing to the Indian economy.