Daily Current Affairs: 12 Aug 2021

Sultanpur and Bhindawas get Ramsar tag

(Topic- GS Paper III–Environment, Source- The Hindu)

Why in the news?

Recently, two wetlands of Haryana — Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary in Jhajjar — have been included in the Ramsar list.
The number of protected Ramsar sites in India has now gone up to 46.

Related Information

About Ramsar Site

The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty adopted on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.
Those wetlands which are of international importance are declared as Ramsar sites.
The 2nd of February is celebrated as "World Wetlands Day" every year.
The Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”.

Secretariat

The secretariat of the Ramsar convention is located in Gland, Switzerland

Bodies of the Convention

Government agencies of the contracting parties i.e. nations are known as the country’s ‘Administrative authority’.
They appoint a National Focal Point to coordinate the national implementation of Ramsar projects and act as the daily focal point.
Every three years, Parties meet at the Conference of Parties (CoP), to administer convention.
There are five International Organisational Partners (IOPs) to provide the necessary support to parties.

Birdlife International
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Wetlands International
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

Benefits of Joining Ramasar Convention

Facilitates development at the national level of policies and actions for the wise use of wetlands.
Presents an opportunity for a country to be heard in the principal forum on conservation and wise use of wetlands.
Brings increased publicity and prestige for wetlands.
Encourages international cooperation on wetlands and brings access to expert advice on national and site-related problems of wetland, conservation and management.
Provides access to financial aid through the Convention’s Small Grant Fund.
Brings access to information and advice on the application of the Conventions' internationally accepted standards, such as guidelines on the application of the wise use concept and management planning in wetlands.

Obligations Under the Convention

To recommend sites for inclusion in the “List of Wetlands of International Importance”.
To ensure wise use of wetlands.
To establish reserves and promote training in wetland research, management and wardening.

About Montreux Record

The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.
It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
At present, two wetlands of India are in Montreux Record: Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur).
Chilika Lake (Odisha) was placed in the record but later removed from it.

Note:

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) serves as Depositary1 for the Convention, but the Ramsar Convention is not part of the United Nations and UNESCO system of environmental conventions and agreements.

Parliament passes bill to give states power to make their own OBC lists

(Topic- GS Paper II– Government Policies & Interventions, Source- The Hindu)

Why in the news?

Recently, the Constitution 127th Amendment Bill, 2021 has been passed by Parliament.
The Bill amends the Constitution to allow states and union territories to prepare their list of socially and educationally backward classes.

Key Highlights of the Bill

The 2021 Bill amends this to provide that the President may notify the list of socially and educationally backward classes only for purposes of the central government.
This central list will be prepared and maintained by the central government.
Further, the Bill enables states and union territories to prepare their own list of socially and educationally backward classes.

This list must be made by law and may differ from the central list.

Consultation with the NCBC

Article 338B of the Constitution mandates the central and state governments to consult the NCBC on all major policy matters affecting the socially and educationally backward classes.
The Bill exempts states and union territories from this requirement for matters related to the preparation of their list of socially and educationally backward classes.

Background

The Parliament had in August 2018 passed a constitution amendment bill to give constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes.
The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act of 2018 inserted articles 338B, which deals with the structure, duties and powers of the National Commission for Backward Classes, and 342A that deals with the powers of the president to notify a particular caste as an SEBC and the power of Parliament to change the list.
Article 366 (26C) defines Socially and Economically Backward classes.

Recent Issue

The Supreme Court has dismissed the Centre's plea seeking a review of its 5 May majority verdict that held that the 102nd Constitution amendment took away the states' power to notify SEBCs for the grant of quota in jobs and admissions.

Indra Sawhney V/s Union of India (1992)

In this case, the Supreme Court examined the scope and extent of Article 16(4).
The court sustained the constitutional validity of 27% reservation for the OBCs with certain conditions (like total reservation should not exceed 50%, exclusion of creamy layer, no reservation in promotion).
In this case, the 'Rule of Law' was added to the basic features of the constitution.
The Indira Sawhney judgment had categorically said "50% shall be the rule, and only in certain exceptional and extraordinary situations for bringing far-flung and remote areas population into the mainstream the said 50% rule can be relaxed".

Related Information

National Commission for Backward Classes

Recently, the bench also asked states to respond to a 2018 Constitution (102nd Amendment) Act brought about by Parliament, which gave constitutional recognition to National Commission for Backward Classes.

About National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)

National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was established on August 14, 1993, as a statutory body.
But now, the 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 provides constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
This Commission was formed as an initiative to investigate the conditions and difficulties of the socially and educationally backward classes and thus make appropriate recommendations.

Background

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was an outcome of the Indra Sawhney case (Mandal Commission) of 1992.
In the Indra Sawhney case of 1992, the Supreme Court had directed the government to create a permanent body to entertain, examine and recommend the inclusion and exclusion of various Backward Classes for benefits and protection.
Previously the two Backward Class Commissions were appointed in the 1950s and 1970s under Kaka Kalelkar and B.P. Mandal respectively.

Constitutional Provision

102nd Constitution Amendment Act inserted new Articles 338 B and 342 A.
The amendment also brings about changes in Article 366.
Article 338B provides authority to NCBC to examine complaints and welfare measures regarding socially and educationally backward classes.
Article 342(A) introduces greater transparency as it is made mandatory to take the concurrence of Parliament for adding or deleting any community in the backward list.

Composition

The National Commission for Backward Classes consists of five regulatory members: the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other members with a tenure period of three years.
The conditions of service and tenure of office of the Chairperson, vice-chairperson and other Members are determined by the President.

Earth observation satellite -3

(Topic- GS Paper II–Science and Technology, Source- Indian Express)

Why in the news?

Recently, ISRO’s highly-anticipated launch of Earth observation satellite -3 (EOS-03) or GISAT-1 failed after the rocket entered the lower reaches of space (an altitude of 139kms).
It was launched through the GSLV Mk2 rocket.

Previous failure

This is the third failure of the GSLV Mk2 variant of ISRO (which can lift about 2.5 tons to space).
The earlier failures were in April 2010and December 2010.

About Earth observation satellite -3

It is a part of the new generation of earth-observation satellites.
It will be capable of obtaining vital information for application in different sectors including agriculture, forestry, water bodies as well as for disaster warning, cyclone monitoring, cloudburst or thunderstorm monitoring.

Related Information

About EOS-4

It will be launched in September 2021.
It is a radar imaging satellite with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) that can capture during day and night while looking through cloud cover.
The satellite will be launched onboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Survey for Minority Schools

(Topic- GS Paper II–Government Policies & Interventions, Source- The Hindu)

Why in the news?

Recently, the National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) conducted a nationwide assessment of minority schools.
The report titled “Impact of Exemption under Article 15 (5) with regards to Article 21A of the Constitution of India on Education of Minority Communities’’.

Aims

The study aimed to assess how the 93rd Amendment, which exempts minority institutions from the otherwise mandatory provisions of Right to Education, has affected children belonging to minority communities and whether there has been a gap,"

Key Highlights of the Report

It was found that the largest number of out-of-school children – at 1.1 crore – belonged to the Muslim community.
Total 74 per cent of students in Christian missionary schools belonged to non-minority communities.
Overall, 62.50 per cent of students in such schools belonged to non-minority communities.
According to the NCPCR report, only 8.76 per cent of the students in minority schools belong to socially and economically disadvantaged background
Since minority schools are outside the purview of the RTE Act, there is no compulsion to admit students from disadvantaged backgrounds

The religion-wise breakup of the schools

Giving a religion-wise breakup of the schools, Christians comprise 11.54 per cent of India’s minority population, they run 71.96 per cent of schools, and Muslims with 69.18 per cent minority population run 22.75 per cent of the schools.
Sikhs comprise 9.78 per cent of the minority population and run 1.54 per cent of schools, Buddhists with 3.83 per cent minority population run 0.48 per cent of schools, and Jains with 1.9 per cent minority population run 1.56 per cent of schools.

According to the report, there are three kinds of madrasas in the country

Recognised madrasas which are registered and impart both religious as well as secular education;
Unrecognised madrasas which have been found deficient for registration by state governments as secular education is not imparted or other factors like lack of infrastructure;
C. Unmapped madrasas which have never applied for registration.

Sachar Committee report

According to the NCPCR, the Sachar Committee report, which says 4 per cent of Muslim children (15.3 lakh) attend madrasas, has only taken into account the registered madrasas.

Syllabus

The NCPCR report says that the syllabi of madrasas, that has evolved over centuries, are not uniform, and that "being left ignorant of the world around them, many students develop an inferiority complex, being alienated from the rest of society and unable to adjust with the environment".
It also says that madrasas do not have any teachers training programmes.

Disproportionate numbers

The report also gives examples of disproportionate numbers.
“For instance, in West Bengal, 92.47% of the minority population is of Muslims and 2.47% are Christians.
On the contrary, there are 114 Christian minority schools and only two schools with Muslim minority status.
“Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh, though the Christian population is less than 1% there are 197 Christian minority schools in the state.
This disproportionate number takes away the core objective of establishing minority educational institutions.”

Minority educational institutions

The report traces the establishment of minority educational institutions to the colonial policy of divide and rule.
Minority schools established before 1947 can be traced to the Divide and Rule policy adopted by the Britishers under which they tried to divide people based on economic, religious, social and political differences.

Morley Minto Reforms

It was introduced then Viceroy when he gave provision of separate electorates to create a rift between Hindus and Muslims, thus promoting communal disharmony, as part of the Indian Councils Act 1909 (commonly called the Morley Minto Reforms).”

Recommendations

It has been recommended to the government to bring all minority schools, including Madrasas under the purview of the Right to Education and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan campaign.
The NCPCR also backed reservations for students from minority communities in such schools.
There is a need to lay down specific guidelines regarding the minimum percentage of students from the minority community to be admitted to the institution.
The report also recommended the need to link the need of the number of minority institutions in a state for a particular minority to the process of granting minority institution status for better utilisation of resources.
Many schools have registered as minority institutions, simply because they don’t have to implement RTE but they can implement Article 30, which ensures the right of minorities to open their own institutions for cultural-linguistic and religious protection.

MNRE launches interest subvention scheme for energy biomethanation projects

(Topic- GS Paper II–Science and Technology, Source- The Hindu)

Why in the news?

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched a loan interest subvention scheme in association with United Nations Industrial Development Organization and Global Environment Facility to provide financial assistance for innovative waste to energy biomethanation projects.
A GIS-based inventory tool of organic waste streams developed under the GEF-MNRE-UNIDO project was also launched during a webinar.

About Biomethanation

It is a process by which organic material is microbiologically converted under anaerobic conditions to biogas.
Three main physiological groups of microorganisms are involved: fermenting bacteria, organic acid oxidizing bacteria, and methanogenic archaea.
Biomethanation has strong potential for the production of energy from organic residues and wastes. It will help to reduce the use of fossil fuels and thus reduce CO (2) emissions.

How does it work?

Significance

The industrial organic waste-to-energy bio-methanation projects are generally capital intensive and financially sensitive to both operating costs, including waste availability, and revenue, particularly biogas yield and its utilisation scenario.
The loan scheme provides financial assistance to beneficiaries to reduce the financial burden on account of interest on the loan component faced by such demonstration projects.

About Geographic Information System (GIS)

The tool provides district-level estimates of available urban and industrial organic wastes and their energy generation potential across India.
The tool will enable SMEs and project developers to set up new waste to energy projects and may facilitate the rapid growth of biomethanation in the waste-to-energy sector in the country.

About United Nations Industrial Development Organization

It is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.
It is also a member of the United Nations Development Programme.
The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in the Member States.

SDG-9

UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”.

UNIDO’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities:

Creating shared prosperity.
Advancing economic competitiveness.
Safeguarding the environment.
Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

India, U.S. ink deal to improve weather and monsoon forecasts

(Topic- GS Paper I+ II–Geography + IR, Source- The Hindu)

Why in the news?

Indian and American bodies have recently signed an agreement on monsoon data analysis and cooperation to improve weather forecasts in the region.
The agreement is a follow up to the memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Earth Sciences and NOAA last October for Technical Cooperation in Earth Observations and Earth Sciences.

Significance

The agreement would enhance technical cooperation in the development of the Research Moored Array for African-Asian-Australian Monsoon Analysis and Prediction (RAMA) and the Ocean Moored buoy Network in the northern Indian Ocean (OMNI) for improving weather and monsoon forecasts between NOAA and India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Related Information

About Research Moored Array for African-Asian-Australian Monsoon Analysis and Prediction

The Research Moored Array for African-Asian-Australian Monsoon Analysis and Prediction (RAMA) is a system of moored observation buoys in the Indian Ocean that collects meteorological and oceanographic data.
The data collected by RAMA will greatly enhance the ability of scientists to understand climatic events and predict monsoon events.
Climatic and oceanic events in the Indian Ocean affect weather and climate throughout the rest of the world (such as El Niño, hurricanes, and United States weather), so RAMA will support weather forecasting and climate research worldwide.

About OMNI

Ocean Moored Buoy Network for the northern Indian Ocean is a Buoy System which is a critical component of the ocean observational programme of ESSO (Earth System Science Organization), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.

About National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

It is an American scientific and regulatory agency under the United States Department of Commerce.
It forecasts weather, monitors oceanic and atmospheric conditions.
It charts the seas, manages fishing & protection of marine mammals, conducts deep-sea exploration in the U.S. exclusive economic zone.