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CURRENT AFFAIRS
NOVEMBER 2019
Assessment of Odd Even scheme: Delhi government has implemented the odd- even scheme to tackle the air pollution in
the city. However, recently the Supreme Court questioned the utility of this policy in controlling the pollution levels and
asked for relevant data on its impact on pollution control.
The odd-even policy seeks to reduce pollution levels by halving vehicle usage on Delhi’s roads. Even though it’s targeting the
biggest source of PM2.5- is it doing this effectively? Different studies delivered different verdicts on odd-even
implemented previously.
Journal/publication/study Results
by
Environmental Science & In three pockets of Delhi, PM2.5 levels fell by 8-10% but in other parts it decreased only by
Policy 2-3%. Restricting traffic volume alone cannot control the PM2.5 concentration over Delhi.
Central Pollution Control Odd-even scheme may have reduced pollution, but a single factor or action cannot
Board substantially reduce air pollution levels in Delhi.
Current Science Odd–even actually increased traffic emissions. This was because more commuters travelled
before odd-even kicked in or commuters shifted to other forms of transport (such as
motorbikes and three-wheelers)
NCAER India Policy Forum PM2.5 levels were lower by 14-16% on average during the day in the January 2016 odd-even
2017 scheme, but no impact was detected at night or when the scheme was repeated in April
2016.
Though studies differ in their verdicts of odd-even, they are unanimous in their overall conclusion: Delhi needs a longer-
term holistic approach to tackling air pollution. Delhi can learn from Beijing to tackle the air pollution menace.
• China’s Success Story: In order to address the pollution crisis in Beijing, the Chinese government has adopted the
approach of unified planning, unified monitoring and alerting, and unified standards in multiple contiguous regions.
o In 2017, a combined work plan was adopted for Beijing, Tianjin etc. that demanded “2 + 26” cities to decrease
average PM 2.5 concentrations and the number of heavy-pollution days by more than 15% from the previous year.
o For combined monitoring and inspection system, Beijing Environmental Protection Inspection team is responsible
for 15 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) contiguous to Beijing.
Conclusion
To improve air quality, we need to design effective emissions inventories and, in turn, harmonise the inventories.
To create better emissions inventories, we need to improve data transparency, quantify uncertainties, develop
multiple-year inventories, common guidelines, and reconcile various methodologies.
• Other strategies:
o Improve awareness of the health impacts of traditional biomass chulhas, by sub-centres and primary
health centres, ASHAs, anganwadi workers which are the closest access points and innovative practices
like LPG panchayats.
o Understanding the market and consumers by a context-based consumer segmentation with respect to
food habits, willingness to pay, fuel mix, frequency of cooking, current stoves, etc. will be necessary.
o Understanding the social and cultural factors, such as political will, local networks and influencers, and
consumers’ perceptions, household and community socio-economic structures necessitate the need to
refrain from a one solution-fits-all approach.
o Focus on aspects of kitchen design and ventilation: As of 2011, about 40 per cent of houses in India did
not have a separate kitchen. Designs for better ventilation could be promoted under Pradhan Mantri
Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G).
o Improving data availability for energy access, by going beyond just the instalment of a connection, and
documenting the lived experience of using cooking energy fuels and technologies.
o Leverage alternate financing solutions to compliment public funds by strategically unlocking private
investments in the clean cooking energy sector. E.g. Carbon finance.
• High economic cost: increased out-of-pocket expenditure for healthcare, reduced labour productivity and
reduction in tourist inflow.
• Reinforces Pollution positive feedback loop: Result of poor drinking water is the prime reason for the sale of
plastic bottled drinking water. However, this bottled water gives rise to plastic pollution that increases water
pollution.
• Wastage of resources: The RO (Reverse osmosis) purification systems waste more than double the amount
of water that they produce for drinking. Moreover, all the essential minerals and salts are removed during
RO process, which have to be artificially added later thereby increasing its cost.
Way Forward
Recent government initiatives in this regard
• Data based support system: Water quality should be
• Jal Jeevan Mission is the project launched by
tested frequently and the findings should be made union government to ensure HarGharJal
public. (piped water supply) to all rural households
o This will increase involvement, sensitization & by 2024 under the Department of Drinking
awareness of citizens and accountability of service Water and Sanitation, Jal Shakti Ministry.
providers and the government. • Mission Bhagiratha is a project for safe
• Mandatory compliance: Compliance to Bureau of Indian drinking water for every village and city
Standards for water quality should be made mandatory household in Telangana State. The project
for local bodies. will supply clean drinking water sourced from
River Godavari and River Krishna.
7.4. CARTOSAT-3
Why in news?
ISRO successfully launched Cartosat-3 and 13 commercial nanosatellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre
(SDSC), Sriharikota.
About Cartosat 3
• Cartosat-3 satellite is a third-generation agile advanced satellite having high resolution imaging capability.
8.2. THIRUVALLUVAR
Why in news?
Recently, a controversy kicked up in Tamil Nadu after the image of Thiruvalluvar in saffron-coloured attire was
tweeted.
About Thiruvalluvar
• Thiruvalluvar, commonly known as Valluvar, was a Tamil saint, poet, and a philosopher. He is usually shown
with a white shawl in the images.
• Details about Thiruvalluvar’s real name, date and place of birth, religious affiliation and family background
are not available. Many researchers put his birth date between 1st century BC and 2nd century AD.
• Recently, Haryana decided to bring more crops 10.8. KHADI GETS SEPARATE HS CODE
under Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojna (BBY) scheme to
ensure farmers of fair prices for their produce and • Recently, Khadi has been allocated a separate
emphasising on diversification of crops. Harmonized System (HS) code by the Ministry of
o It is Price Deficiency Payment scheme of Commerce and Industry.
Haryana which aims to reduce farmer’s risk of • The absence of a separate HS code hindered Khadi
getting the low prices of these vegetables in the from achieving its full potential, as its exports were
market by providing them a protected price. difficult to categorize and calculate.
o Scheme will now include carrots, peas, kinnow, • Harmonized System is a six-digit identification code
guava, capsicum and brinjal along with potato, developed by the WCO (World Customs
onion, tomato and cabbage which were covered Organization).
earlier. o It allows participating countries to classify
• Under Price Deficiency Payment, farmers are traded goods on a common basis for customs
proposed to be compensated for the difference purposes.
between the government-announced Minimum o Customs organizations use this code to clear
Support Price (MSP) for select crops and their actual every commodity that enters or crosses any
market prices. international border.
o This system aims to address the gaps in MSP • WCO is an independent intergovernmental body
based procurement of crops. whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and
• Central Scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay efficiency of Customs administrations.
SanraksHan Abhiyan’ (PM-AASHA) also has one of
the component as Price Deficiency Payment scheme 10.9. OECD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
while other components include Price Support 2019
Scheme (PSS) and Pilot of Private Procurement and
Stockiest Scheme (PPSS). • Economic Outlook is a twice-yearly analysis
published by the Organisation for Economic Co-
• Other states having similar schemes include the
operation and Development (OECD) with economic
Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (BBY) by Madhya
analysis and forecasts for future economic
Pradesh and the incentive given to milk farmers by
performance of OECD countries and selected non-
Karnataka.
member countries.
10.7. PATENT PROSECUTION Key Findings of 2019 Economic Outlook
HIGHWAY PROGRAMME
• It estimated global GDP growth for this year is 2.9%
• Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a proposal for and 3% for 2020-21. This is the lowest rate since the
Bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) 2008 global financial crisis.
Programme between the Indian Patent Office and • On India: It marginally cut India’s economic growth
patent offices of other interested countries. forecast for 2019 to 5.8%, but said it would pick up
• With this, the patent offices of India and Japan have to 6.2% in 2020 and further to 6.4% in 2021.
inked an agreement for expeditious grant of patents
to Indian entities and individuals by entering into the
pilot programme on PPH for a period of three years.