Daily Current Affairs 13 May 2020 | UPSC Current Affairs 2020

Current Affairs Of Today Are

1) Ministry of MSME Launches CHAMPIONS Portal

• In a major initiative Union Ministry of MSME has launched the CHAMPIONS portal www.Champions.gov.in, a Technology-driven Control Room-Cum-Management Information System.  The system utilizing modern ICT tools is aimed at assisting Indian MSMEs march into the big league as National and Global CHAMPIONS.
• The CHAMPIONS stands here for the Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Output and National Strength. Accordingly, the name of the system is CHAMPIONS.
• As the name suggests, the portal is basically for making the smaller units big by solving their grievances, encouraging, supporting, helping, and handholding. It is a real one-stop-shop solution of MSME Ministry.
• While taking over as Secretary MSME on 30th April evening, Mr. AK Sharma had indicated that an ICT based system would be set up to help the MSMEs in present difficult situations and also to handhold them to become national and international champions. Accordingly, a comprehensive system known as CHAMPIONS was trial launched on 9th May 2020.
• It is a technology-packed control room-cum-management information system. In addition to ICT tools including telephone, internet, and video conference, the system is enabled by Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, and Machine Learning. It is also fully integrated on a real-time basis with GOI’s main grievances portal CPGRAMS and MSME Ministry’s own other web-based mechanisms. The entire ICT architecture is created in house with the help of NIC at no cost. Similarly, the physical infrastructure is created in one of the ministry’s dumping rooms in record time.
• As part of the system, a network of control rooms is created in a Hub & Spoke Model. The Hub is situated in New Delhi in the Secretary of MSME’s office. The spokes will be in the States in various offices and institutions of Ministry.  As of now, 66 state-level control rooms are created as part of the system.
• A detailed operating procedure has been issued, officers have been deployed and training has been conducted.

Source: PIB

2) Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan

• Prime Minister announced a special economic package and gave a clarion call for Atmanirbhar Bharat. He noted that this package, taken together with earlier announcements by the government during COVID crisis and decisions taken by RBI, is to the tune of Rs 20 lakh crore, which is equivalent to almost 10% of India’s GDP. He said that the package will provide a much-needed boost towards achieving ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
• Prime Minister observed that the package will also focus on land, labor, liquidity, and laws. It will cater to various sections including the cottage industry, MSMEs, laborers, middle class, industries, among others. He informed that the details of the contours of the package will be provided by the Finance Minister from tomorrow, in the coming few days.
• Talking about the positive impact of reforms like JAM trinity and others, brought about in the last six years, Prime Minister said that several bold reforms are needed to make the country self-reliant, so that the impact of crisis such as COVID, can be negated in future. These reforms include supply chain reforms for agriculture, rational tax system, simple and clear laws, capable human resources, and a strong financial system. These reforms will promote business, attract investment, and further strengthen Make in India.
• Prime Minister remarked that self-reliance will prepare the country for tough competition in the global supply chain, and the country must win this competition. The same has been kept in mind while preparing the package. It will not only increase efficiency in various sectors but also ensure quality.
• Highlighting their contribution to the country, Prime Minister said that the package will also focus on empowering the poor, laborers, migrants, etc., both from organized and unorganized sectors.
• He observed that the crisis has taught us the importance of local manufacturing, the local market, and local supply chains. All our demands during the crisis were met ‘locally’. Now, its time to be vocal about the local products and help these local products become global, he said.

Five pillars of a self-reliant India

• A self-reliant India will stand on five pillars viz. Economy, which brings in quantum jump and not incremental change; Infrastructure, which should become the identity of India; System, based on 21st-century technology-driven arrangements; Vibrant Demography, which is our source of energy for a self-reliant India; and Demand, whereby the strength of our demand and supply chain should be utilized to full capacity. He underlined the importance of strengthening all stakeholders in the supply chain to increase, as well as fulfill, the demand.

Source: PIB

3) NIT­-K develops low­cost, reusable face shield 

• The National Institute of Technology­Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, has developed an economical, reusable and transparent face shield using locally available low­cost material to fight against COVID-­19.
• The production cost of each face shield will be a maximum of ₹12.
• A yoga mat, a polyester transparent sheet, a synthetic adhesive, and welcrove tape have been used for making the shields. “Each shield can be used for at least 90­100 days by washing it in soap water or by using some four droplets of hand sanitizer

Source: The Hindu

4) Dealing with energy needs in the Context of Climate Crisis.

• On the occasion of National Technology Day, a day which marks the anniversary of Pokhran Nuclear Tests of 1998, Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Chairman, Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Anil Kakodkar, has conveyed a message to the people of India, about Dealing with energy needs in the Context of Climate Crisis.
• In his presentation, he explained the correlation between the Human Development Index (HDI) and Per Capita Energy Consumption all over the world. As per the statistics, countries with higher HDI where citizens enjoy a high quality of life have higher per capita consumption of energy.

• However, with the rising climate issues, a developing country like India faces the challenge where we are caught between energy security on one side and climate security on the other. “The need of the hour is to strike a balance between enhancing the quality of human life as well as keeping control over the climate crisis.”

• Researchers across the globe are studying climate change on how to control CO2 emissions, which is a serious threat to the environment. As per the report of Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, “staying below 1.5-degree increase in 2,100 will require cuts in Green House Gas (GHG) emissions of 45% below 2010 levels by 2030 and to net-zero by 2050”; which means we have only 10 years left to realize deep CO2 emission cuts while ensuring development aspirations of many countries across the world.
• To achieve this, the world has to act now by leveraging available/rapidly deployable technologies. This is where the requirement of nuclear energy, which can easily meet the ‘zero-emission’ target, arises. With the contribution of nuclear energy, the cost of deep decarbonization can be reduced. Decarbonising means reducing carbon intensity, i.e. reducing the emissions per unit of electricity generated (often given in grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour).
• Decarbonization of energy production in the country is essential since the demand for electric power from industries/commercial sector is high. Decarbonization is possible by increasing the share of low-carbon energy sources, particularly renewables like solar, hydro, and biomass together with nuclear which can greatly contribute to achieving zero emissions to a great extent.

Action Required:

• Even when many countries are making active efforts in the field of energy efficiency the CO2 emission is still high when compared to preceding years. This shows we need better plans to control the same.

• To control CO2 emission, different levels of consumption strategy need to be observed by different countries based on their HDI. For example, those countries with a high Human Development Index should reduce their energy consumption since it may not affect their HDI, much. In addition to this, they should also decarbonize their electricity generation. And the countries with moderate HDI should focus on non-fossil electricity consumption while countries with low HDI should be able to provide a subsidized source of cleaner energy to their citizens. This way every country can actively contribute towards low / zero-emission.

• Japan is a country that has seen the brunt of the negatives of nuclear energy – the cruelest nuclear bombing at Hiroshima and Nagasaki that raised the global sensitivity of nuclear energy. But still, the country has drafted an energy plan, to generate 20% to 22% of its total energy consumption as nuclear energy, to reduce CO2 emissions by 2030. Countries like Germany and Japan are already planning to cut GHG emissions by 2020 and 2030 respectively which has allotted a huge amount on the production of renewable energy.
• For a country like India, to decarbonize energy consumption, we need a 30-fold increase in renewable energy, a 30-fold increase in nuclear energy, and doubling of thermal energy which would make 70% of energy carbon-free.

Indian nuclear power at a glance:

• To meet the energy requirements of the country, currently, there are 66 units with the capacity of 49180 MWe (including projects that are operating, under planning, under construction, and those that are approved).

Nuclear Waste:

• The major concern that pops up now is how to manage the nuclear wastes, that is produced during energy generation. Dr. Kakodkar said India adopts the policy of ‘Nuclear Recycle Technology’ - where the nuclear fuel - Uranium, Plutonium, etc, once used for generation of energy, is reused as resource material by the commercial industries to be recycled. More than 99% of Nuclear waste is reused as the waste management program in India prioritizes recycling.

Source: PIB

5) Global Nutrition Report 2020 

• India is among 88 countries that are likely to miss global nutrition targets by 2025, according to the Global Nutrition Report 2020 released. It also identified the country as one with the highest rates of domestic inequalities in malnutrition. 
• In 2012, the World Health Assembly identified six nutrition targets for maternal, infant, and young child nutrition to be met by 2025. These require governments to reduce stunting by 40% in children under five and prevalence of anemia by 50% among women in the age group of 19-­49, ensure 30% reduction in low­birth weight and no increase in childhood overweight, increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months up to at least 50% and reduce and maintain childhood wasting to less than 5%. 
• According to the Global Nutrition Report 2020, India will miss targets for all four nutritional indicators for which there is data available — stunting among under­five children, anemia among women of reproductive age, childhood overweight and exclusive breastfeeding

Underweight children

• Between 2000 and 2016, underweight rates have decreased from 66.0% to 58.1% for boys and 54.2% to 50.1% in girls. However, this is still high compared with the average of 35.6% for boys and 31.8% for girls in Asia. 
• Also, 37.9% of children under five are stunted and 20.8% are wasted, compared with the Asia average of 22.7% and 9.4% respectively
• One in two women of reproductive age is anemic, while at the same time the rate of overweight and obesity continues to rise, affecting almost a fifth of the adults, at 21.6% of women and 17.8% of men.
• India is identified as among the three worst countries, along with Nigeria and Indonesia, for steep within-country disparities on stunting, where the levels varied four­fold across communities. 

Stunting level

• The stunting level in Uttar Pradesh is over 40% and the rate among individuals in the lowest income group is more than double those in the highest income group at 22.0% and 50.7%, respectively. Also, stunting prevalence is 10.1% higher in rural areas compared with urban areas. 
• The same applies to overweight and obesity, where there are nearly double as many obese adult females than there are males (5.1% compared to 2.7%).
• Coming at a time the world is battling COVID­-19, which has exposed different forms of socio­economic inequities, the authors have called for promoting equity to address malnutrition.

Source: The Hindu

6) GI tag for Sohrai Khovar painting, Telia Rumal

• Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting and Telangana’s Telia Rumal were given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry headquartered in Chennai.
• The Sohrai Khovar painting is a traditional and ritualistic mural art being practiced by local tribal women during local harvest and marriage seasons using local, naturally available soils of different colors in the area of Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand.
• Telia Rumal cloth involves intricate handmade work with cotton loom displaying a variety of designs and motifs in three particular colors — red, black and white
• The Sohrai Khovar painting is primarily being practiced only in the district of Hazaribagh. However, in recent years, for promotional purposes, it has been seen in other parts of Jharkhand.  Traditionally painted on the walls of mud houses, they are now seen on other surfaces, too. The style features a profusion of lines, dots, animal figures, and plants, often representing religious iconography. In recent years, the walls of important public places in Jharkhand, such as the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi, and the Hazaribagh and Tatanagar Railway Stations, among others, have been decorated with Sohrai­Khovar paintings. 
• Telia Rumal can only be created using the traditional handloom process and not by any other mechanical means as otherwise, the very quality of the Rumal would be lost.  During the Nizam’s dynasty, Puttapaka, a small, backward village of the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh had about 20 families engaged in handloom weaving, who were patronized by rich Muslim families and the Nizam rulers.  The officers working in the court of the Nizam would wear the Chituki Telia Rumal as a symbolic representation of status. Telia Rumals are offered at the dargah of Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan, with some devotees offering 50 or even 100 cloths. Telia Rumals were worn as a veil by princesses at the erstwhile court of the Nizam of Hyderabad, and as a turban cloth by Arabs in the Middle East.

Sohrai Khovar painting

 

Telia Rumal

About GI tag:

• A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural, or a manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory.

Significance of a GI tag:

• Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin.

Security:

• Once the GI protection is granted, no other producer can misuse the name to market similar products. It also provides comfort to customers about the authenticity of that product.

Who is a registered proprietor of a geographical indication?

• Any association of persons, producers, organizations, or authority established by or under the law can be a registered proprietor.
• Their name should be entered in the Register of Geographical Indication as a registered proprietor for the Geographical Indication applied for.

How long the registration of Geographical Indication is valid?

• The registration of a geographical indication is valid for 10 years.
• It can be renewed from time to time for a further period of 10 years each.

What is the difference between a geographical indication and a trademark?

• A trademark is a sign used by an enterprise to distinguish its goods and services from those of other enterprises. It gives its owner the right to exclude others from using the trademark.
• A geographical indication tells consumers that a product is produced in a certain place and has certain characteristics that are due to that place of production. It may be used by all producers who make their products in the place designated by a geographical indication and whose products share typical qualities.

Who accords and regulates Geographical Indications?

• At the International level: Geographical Indications are covered as a component of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. GI is also governed by the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
• In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 which came into force with effect from September 2003. The first product in India to be accorded with GI tag was Darjeeling tea in the year 2004-05.

Source: The Hindu

7) SC Refuses to Restore 4G Services in J&K

• Recently, the Supreme Court refused to restore 4G services in Jammu & Kashmir and ordered setting up of a high-powered committee to look into the contentions raised by petitioners against limited 2G services in the Union Territory.
• In August 2019, the Central government had suspended all modes of communications in the wake of revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, granted under Article 370. Eventually, services were partially restored, with internet speed restricted to 2G.
• A plea was filed by ‘Foundation for Media Professionals’ for the restoration of high-speed internet in Jammu and Kashmir given the Covid-19 situation.

Key Points

• Balance of Human Rights and National Security: The Court ruled that the special circumstances occur in the Union Territory which requires a delicate balancing of national security concerns and human rights.
• Reference to the Previous Judgement: The bench also referred to its earlier decision in the Anuradha Bhasin case (2020) wherein it ordered a review of restrictions placed in J&K in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.
• Constitution of Special Committee:
• The bench ordered the constitution of a Special Committee, headed by the Union Home Secretary, to determine the necessity of the continuation of limiting mobile Internet to 2G speed in the region.
• The committee is expected to suggest the alternatives regarding limiting the restrictions to those areas where it is necessary and the possible ways of allowing faster Internet (3G or 4G) on a trial basis over certain geographical areas.

The need for 4G and National Security

Need for 4G in the wake of Covid-19 Pandemic:

• Health: 4G services are necessary to provide access to the medical fraternity including patients to access the latest information, advisories, and guidelines.
• Education: The petition also argued that the schools across the country have shifted to online classes given the lockdown but lack of the 4G internet puts J&K students at a disadvantage.
• Trade and Business: The lower internet service speed has also affected businesses dependent on the online mode.

National Security Concerns:

• An issue of infiltration of outside sources through the borders and destabilizing the integrity of the nation was raised during the hearing.
• Even the J&K administration stated that high-speed internet will enable the spread of fake news/rumors and the transfer of heavy data files (audio/video files) will become prevalent and may be utilized by terror outfits for incitement as also in planning attacks.

Anuradha Bhasin vs Union of India (2020)

Fundamental Rights Under Article 19 :

• The judgment declared that the freedom of speech and expression and the freedom to practice any profession or carry on any trade, business, or occupation over the medium of the Internet enjoys constitutional protection under Article 19(1)(a) and Article 19(1)(g) respectively.
• It also ruled that such freedom is not absolute, the restrictions imposed on it should align with the mandate under Article 19(2) and Article 19(6) of the Constitution.

Territorial Extent of Internet Suspensions:

• It had also directed authorities to pass internet suspension orders concerning only those areas, where there is the absolute necessity of such restrictions to be imposed.

Constitution of Review Committee:

• The Court also directed the government to constitute a review committee to review orders leading to suspension and shutting down of Internet, mobile and fixed-line telecommunication services.
• All orders leading to suspension and shutting down of Internet, mobile and fixed-line telecommunication services are issued under Rule 2 (2) of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services [Public Emergency or Public Service] Rules, 2017.
• These are the rules to be followed if the government intends to temporarily suspend telecom services in any part of the country.
• These rules have been framed by the government based on the powers conferred by section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
• The Review Committee shall consist of State as well as Central level officials as the issue involved affects not only the UT of Jammu and Kashmir but also the whole country.

Source: Indian Express

8) International Nurses Day

• International Nurses Day is annually observed on May 12.
• May 12 was chosen for celebrating the day as it is the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the foundational philosopher of modern nursing.

Key Points

• 2020 Theme: Nursing the World to Health
• Importance: The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated 2020 as The Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
• Need: Nurses account for more than half of all the world’s health workers. It will encourage the entire nurse community and the public to celebrate the day as well as would provide necessary information and resources to raise the profile of the nursing profession.
• Significance:
• Nurses are at the forefront of fighting epidemics and pandemics providing high quality and respectful treatment and care.
• The Covid-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of the vital role nurses play. Without nurses and other health workers, it is not possible to win the battle against outbreaks and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals or Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• Suggestions provided by the WHO and Others:
• To provide occupational safety and health of nurses and all health workers, including access to personal protective equipment so that they can safely provide care and reduce infections in health care settings.
• Nurses and all health care workers should have access to mental health support, timely pay, sick leave, and insurance.
• They should be provided with access to the knowledge and guidance required to respond to all health needs, including outbreaks.
• Nurses should be given financial support and other resources required to respond to future outbreaks.
• Step Taken by the Indian Government:
• The Indian Nursing Council is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that establishes uniform standards of training for nurses, midwives, and health visitors.
• The Government has announced Rs. 50 lakh insurance cover per person (part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana) for frontline health workers involved in managing the Covid-19 outbreak.
• The Government has also passed an ordinance for the protection of healthcare workers battling Covid-19 on the frontline.
• Recently, the Supreme Court directed the government to ensure the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to all health workers, including doctors, nurses, ward boys, other medical and paramedical professionals.

Source: PIB

9) Helpline “Bharosa”

To relieve the distress of the student community during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has launched the Central University of Odisha Helpline “Bharosa’’.

Key Points

• Aim: To provide Cognitive Emotional Rehabilitation Services to all University Students of Odisha.
• Need Social distancing and self-isolation because of Covid-19, has led to a decline in social interactions which further impact mental and physical health. It is being called the ‘social recession’ i.e. a collapse in our social contacts.
• Benefit: This app would provide mental and psychological assistance to the students.

Mental Health

• Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to her or his community.
• Other Related Initiatives:
• The Government of India has launched the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in 1982, keeping in view the heavy burden of mental illness in the community, and the absolute inadequacy of mental health care infrastructure in the country to deal with it.
• The Supreme Court has held healthcare to be a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Constitution incorporates provisions guaranteeing everyone's right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees protection of life and personal liberty to every citizen.
• In July 2018, Delhi Government launched a happiness curriculum for schools.
• Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

Mental Health Care Act, 2017

• The right to make an Advance Directive, wherein patients can state on how to be treated or not be treated for the illness during a mental health situation.
• Right to appoint a Nominated Representative: A person shall have the right to appoint a nominated representative to take on his/her behalf, all health-related decisions like:
• Right to access mental health care,
• Right to free & quality services,
• Right to get free medicines,
• Right to community living,
• Right to protection from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,
• Right to live in an environment, safe and hygienic, having basic amenities,
• Right to legal, aid
• No Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) without anesthesia
• This act brought changes in Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code (which criminalized attempted suicide). Attempt to commit suicide not an offense.
• Now, a person who attempts to commit suicide will be presumed to be “suffering from severe stress’’ and shall not be subjected to any investigation or prosecution.

Source: PIB

10) Mandis Under e-NAM Increased

• According to the recent data, the number of connected mandis, or wholesale markets under e-NAM has increased upto 65%.
• This increase is because of transport disruptions and social distancing requirements which have made physical mandi trade more difficult in recent times.

Key Points

• After the launch of e-NAM in 2016, its progress was slow because,
• Many States did not amend their Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Acts.
• Most farmers were not part of the cooperatives that would help aggregate the bulk quantity of products needed to attract online buyers.
• Most mandis did not possess the infrastructure to make the most of the platform.
• The Central Government recognized the potential of e-NAM in overcoming some of the hurdles of the lockdown, and introduced some important new features in April 2020:
• A trading module allowing Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to trade produce directly from their collection centers without bringing it to mandis.
• A warehouse-based trading module.
• A logistics module offering users trackable transport facilities through aggregators with access to 11 lakh trucks.
• On 1st May 2020, Agriculture Ministry had launched the integration of 200 e-NAM mandis from 7 States including 1 new state of Karnataka being added on e-NAM.
• Now the total mandis under e-NAM have reached a total of around 950 across India from about 550 before lockdown.

e-NAM

• The National Agricultural Market (e-NAM) is a pan-India electronic trading portal.
• It was launched in April 2016 to integrate the existing Mandis to “One Nation One Market” for agricultural commodities in India.
• It networks the existing APMC mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities and has a vision:
• To promote uniformity in agriculture marketing by streamlining procedures across the integrated markets.
• Removing information asymmetry between buyers and sellers and promoting real-time price discovery based on actual demand and supply.
• It provides for contactless remote bidding and mobile-based anytime payment for which traders do not need to either visit mandis or banks for the same.
• Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) is the lead agency for implementing e-NAM.
• It functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare

Source: The Hindu