15 APRIL 2024

India’s Stand on Iran- Israel Conflict

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations

Context

• Iran launched drones and cruise missiles against Israel under Operation True Promise (Also called “Operation Honest Promise”).

About 

• India issued a statement expressing India’s “serious concern” at the escalation of hostilities, and called for “immediate de-escalation”.
• The Iranian attack was in response to the suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian consular building in Syria’s Damascus that killed 12 people.

Significance of the Region for India

• Threat to Indian Community: There are about 18,000 Indians in Israel and about 5,000-10,000 Indians in Iran, about 90 lakh people are living and working in the Gulf and West Asia region.
  • Any conflict that expands will end up posing a risk to the Indian community that is based in the region.
• Energy Security: The West Asia region contributes to India’s 80 percent of oil supplies, which a potential conflict will impact.
  • India has been able to minimise the impact of oil prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war by buying Russian oil at discounted prices, but this conflict will have an adverse impact on energy prices.
• Investment and Strategic Importance: India has invested in a strategic relationship with major Arab countries, Iran, and Israel.
  • India sees the region as its extended neighbourhood, and it has been pushing for the India-Middle-East-Europe Economic corridor, which has strategic as well as economic benefits. 
  • Chabahar in Iran is another strategic economic project, which acts as a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia — since Pakistan denies land transit to Indian goods.
• Defence Relations with Israel: India has a very deep strategic relationship with Israel, especially in the context of defence and security partnership. 

India’s Neutral Stand

• Maintaining a Balanced Stand: India’s stakes in the bilateral relationships with both Israel and Iran are huge, India will hope that Israel will avoid new military actions that will trigger a dangerous and wider war in the region.
  • Earlier India was seen as taking “Israel’s side”, but today its position urging restraint will be viewed as “balanced” and in favour of regional peace.
• Based on the Complex Regional Politics: Inter-state and intra-state conflicts in the Middle East are deep and pervasive, and India will have to forever balance its engagement with key regional actors — Egypt, Iran, Israel, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — whose orientation and interests are different and often in conflict.
  • India’s call for de-escalation between Israel and Iran is about recognising the complexity of the region’s politics. 
• Non- Ideological Engagement: The non-ideological engagement with the region is a necessary complement to India’s expanding interests in the Middle East.
  • India’s interests in the region are no longer limited to oil imports and labour exports. 
  • The Gulf Arab states — especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — have emerged as major economic and political partners for India.

Way Ahead

• India has strategic ties with both Iran and Israel — and for decades, it has been able to balance between the two sides. But if the conflict widens, it would be difficult for it to maintain an ambivalent position.
  • In the context of such deep ties with both Israel and Iran, India has difficulty in choosing sides.
• India’s position that there should be “immediate de-escalation” and “step back from violence” and “return to the path of diplomacy” is, therefore, crucial to its national interest.

Source: IE

Journey of Baba Saheb Ambedkar

Syllabus :GS 1/History

In  News

The 133 rd Birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was celebrated .

About Bhim Rao Ambedkar

• He was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer.
  • He was first Minister of Law and Justice of  independent India and is considered as the chief architect of the Constitution of India.
• Early Life : He was born in a low-caste Mahar family on 14th April, 1891 to Subedar Ramji Maloji Sakpal.
• Education : He got his early education in Bombay and he completed his graduation at Elphinstone College, Bombay, for which he was getting a scholarship from His Highness Sayajirao Gaikwad of Baroda. 
  • In 1913 he was selected as a scholar to go to the U.S.A, for higher studies. 
  • He got his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University in 1915 and 1916 respectively. 
  • He acquired sound knowledge of Economics, Politics, Law, Philosophy and Sociology, in pursuing his studies; he had to face many social odds. 
• Works and Contributions  : He contributed to India’s Independence struggle and in its reforms post-independence.
  • He played a significant role in the formation of the Reserve Bank of India.
    • The Central bank was formed on the concept presented by Babasaheb to the Hilton Young Commission.
  • In 1924 he started an Association for the welfare of the depressed classes, with Sir Chimanlal Setalvad as the President and Dr. Ambedkar as the Chairman.
  • He  founded Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (Society for Welfare of the Ostracized) and led social movements such as Mahad Satyagraha in 1927 to demand justice and equal access to public resources for the historically oppressed castes of Indian society.
  • The Bahishkrit Bharat newspaper was started  in 1927 to address the cause of the depressed classes in view of the new reform.

• In 1936 he addressed the Bombay Presidency Mahar Conference and advocated the renunciation of Hinduism.
• In  1936, he formed the Independent Labour Party to safeguard the interest of the depressed classes, which mostly formed the labour population.
• In 1942, he was appointed to the Executive Council of the Governor General of India as a Labour member
• In 1946, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly of India. 
• On 15 August 1947, he took oath as the first Law Minister of independent India.
  •  Subsequently, he was elected Chairperson of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, and steered the process of drafting of India’s Constitution
• In 1951, he resigned his ministership, expressing his differences on the Kashmir issue, India’s Foreign Policy and Nehru’s Policy towards the Hindu Code Bill.
• He published his book, Who were Shudras?
• In 1955, he published his book titled Thoughts on Linguistic States.

Legacy and Importance in present scenario 

• He was perhaps India’s most radical thinker who transformed the social and political landscape in the struggle against British Colonialism, by making the downtrodden politically aware of their own situation.
  • Ambedkar famously said to Dalits something that bears immense importance even today – “Educate, Agitate, and Organise”.. 

• He dedicated the rest of his life for equality, brotherhood and humanity. 
• He has left behind thought provoking writings and speeches bearing interdisciplinary perspectives, with insightful analysis of socio political situations which evoke intellectual reasons and emotions.
  • His writings have a profound sense of justice manifested in emancipation of marginalised masses.
• Today ,the Indian Economy and Indian Society are facing many economic and social problems. Dr. Ambedkar’s thoughts and actions may guide us for the solution of these problems.

Efforts to Honour him 

•  In 1952, Columbia University conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. in recognition of the work done by him in connection with the drafting of India’s Constitution. 
• He was awarded a Doctorate in 1953, from Osmania University. 
• He was conferred with the title of “Bodhisattva” by the Buddhist monks at “Jagatik Buddhism Council” in 1954 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s death anniversary is observed as Mahaparinirvan Diwas across the country.
  • In 1956, he embraced Buddhism in a historic ceremony in Nagpur and died on 6th December 1956.
• In 1990, the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, was posthumously conferred upon him. 

Source:PIB

Quantum Mechanics 

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• India celebrated World Quantum Day 2024 on April 14.

About

• The World Quantum Day aims at engaging the general public in the understanding and discussion of Quantum Science and Technology.
• It is a decentralized and bottom-up initiative launched in 2021 and first celebrated in 2022.

What is Quantum Mechanics?

• Quantum mechanics is a subfield of physics that describes the behavior of particles- atoms, electrons, photons and almost everything in the molecular and submolecular realm.  
• It explains how extremely small objects simultaneously have the characteristics of both particles (tiny pieces of matter) and waves (a disturbance or variation that transfers energy).
  • This phenomenon is also known as the “wave-particle duality.”
• In classical mechanics, objects exist in a specific place at a specific time. In quantum mechanics, objects instead exist in a haze of probability; they have a certain chance of being at point A, another chance of being at point B and so on.
• Quantum Technology exploits the principles of superposition, entanglement, and measurement.

Applications

• Quantum computers use the quantized nature of particles to store and transfer information.
• Quantum Cryptography: Quantum mechanics enables secure communication through methods like quantum key distribution (QKD). 
• Quantum Sensors: Quantum mechanics can develop sensors, such as atomic clocks, magnetometers, and gyroscopes having applications in navigation, mineral exploration, and medical imaging.
• Quantum Mechanics principles are being utilized to develop technologies such as LEDs, lasers, and ultra-precise atomic clocks used in the Global Positioning System.

Challenges of Quantum Mechanics

• Decoherence: Quantum systems are susceptible to decoherence, which occurs when a system interacts with its environment, leading to the loss of quantum coherence. 
• Quantum Measurement and Control: Making precise measurements and controlling quantum systems at the individual quantum level is challenging due to noise, imperfections in experimental setups, and the delicate nature of quantum states.
• Practical Implementation: Building reliable quantum computers, quantum communication networks, and other quantum technologies requires overcoming issues related to scalability, error correction, and compatibility with existing infrastructure.
• Cost and Accessibility: Quantum technologies are expensive and resource-intensive.

Way Ahead

• The emergence of quantum computers poses a threat to conventional encryption algorithms, necessitating the development of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to ensure quantum-safe encryption. 
• Robust quantum error correction codes are essential to address errors caused by decoherence and imperfections in quantum hardware. 
• Investment in research and development of new technologies, including novel qubit architectures, quantum memory devices, and quantum communication protocols, is vital to accelerate the practical application of quantum technologies and overcome current limitations.

National Quantum Mission (NQM) – It was conceptualized by the Prime Minister Science Technology Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) with a total outlay of Rs 6003.65 Crore for a period of eight years.  – The Mission aims to seed, nurture, and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT).  – The Mission aims to establish four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in domains such as, 1. Quantum Computing,  2. Quantum Communication,  3. Quantum Sensing & Metrology, and  4. Quantum Materials & Devices.

Source: PIB

Global Greenhouse Gas (GHGs) Levels

Syllabus: GS3/Climate Change

Context:

• Recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed that global carbon dioxide levels reached a record high in 2023.

About the Carbon Dioxide (CO2):

• It is an important heat-trapping gas, also known as a greenhouse gas, that comes from the extraction and burning of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas), from wildfires, natural processes like volcanic eruptions, and land use changes like deforestation, peat emissions, and agricultural activities.
• Since the onset of industrial times in the 18th century, human activities have raised atmospheric CO2 by 50% – meaning the amount of CO2 is now 150% of its value in 1750.

• This human-induced rise is greater than the natural increase observed at the end of the last ice age 20,000 years ago.

Global Carbon Dioxide Levels (Current Status):

• The global average atmospheric carbon dioxide was 419.3 parts per million (ppm) in 2023, which is more than 50% higher than pre-industrial levels.
  • This increase was the third-largest in the last decade.
• The increase between 2022 and 2023 was 2.8 ppm — the 12th year in a row where the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased by more than 2 ppm.

• The 2023 increase was the third-largest in the last decade and is likely a result of an ongoing increase of fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions, coupled with increased fire emissions possibly as a result of the transition from La Nina to El Nino.
  • El Nino and La Nina are the warm and cool phases of a recurring climate pattern across the tropical Pacific called the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
• In March 2024, the CO2 levels at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, were recorded at 425.38 ppm, up from 420.99 ppm in March 2023.
  • It has the longest record of direct measurements of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Global Methane Levels (Current Status):

• Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil.
  • Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices, land use, and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.
• Despite being less abundant than CO2, Methane is more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
• Methane levels in the atmosphere are now more than 160% higher than their pre-industrial level.
  • It first rose in the 1980s, and nearly stabilised in the early 2000s before rapidly increasing again in 2007.
  • It went up to an average of 1922.6 parts per billion (ppb) in 2023 — a 10.9 ppb jump over 2022.
  • The year 2023 marked the fifth-highest since 2007. 
• More than 85% of the increase from 2006 to 2021 was due to increased microbial emissions generated by livestock, agriculture, human and agricultural waste, wetlands and other aquatic sources.
  • The rest could be coming from fossil fuel emissions. 

Global Nitrous Oxide Levels (Current Status):

• Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural, land use, and industrial activities; combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste; as well as during treatment of wastewater.
• It is the third-most significant human-caused greenhouse gas, and its concentrations are 25% higher than the pre-industrial level of 270 ppb.
  • The current levels climbed by 1 ppb to 336.7 ppb in 2023.
• This increase in recent decades is being traced back to the use of nitrogen fertiliser and manure from the expansion and intensification of agriculture. 

Impact of Rising Levels:

• Without carbon dioxide, Earth’s natural greenhouse effect would be too weak to keep the average global surface temperature above freezing.
  • By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect, causing global temperature to rise.
• The rising CO2 levels have put us in a precarious position, mirroring atmospheric conditions from the Pliocene epoch, a period roughly 4.3 million years ago.
• During that geological period, sea levels were approximately 23 metres higher than today, and the average temperature was higher than in pre-industrial times.
• If the current level of emissions persists, there is a 50% chance that global warming of 1.5°C will be exceeded in nine years.
  • This is the opposite trend needed to reverse climate change.

Conclusion:

• CO₂ is the single most important greenhouse gas leading to human-induced climate change. 
• Although other GHGs are more powerful per molecule in warming the planet than CO₂, the CO₂ emissions stay in the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands of years, making CO₂ the biggest challenge in combating climate change.
• The increasing levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere are a clear indication of the urgent need for action.
• The data from NOAA highlight the critical state of earth’s carbon cycle and underscore the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Do you know – India submitted its Third National Communication (TNC) and Initial Adaptation Communication to the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2023. – India’s net national emissions in 2019 stood at 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), marking a 4.56 per cent increase from 2016 levels and a 115 per cent increase since 1994, according to TNC.  – Carbon dioxide continues to remain the most emitted GHG, comprising 79 per cent of total emissions in 2019.  – India’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions are to be implemented over the period of 2021-2030, and they include: a. Reduction of emissions intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by 2030 compared to 2005 level  b. Achievement of 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030

Source: DTE

Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) – 2024

Syllabus: GS2/Government Policy and Interventions; GS3/Infrastructure

Context:

• Recently, the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS), 2024 came into effect to push for development of an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing ecosystem in the country.

Background: – The Ministry of Heavy Industries (erstwhile the Department of Heavy Industry) had launched a scheme, namely Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME-I), for promotion of electric and hybrid vehicles with an outlay of Rs.895 crore from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2019. – Subsequently, the Department of Heavy Industry formulated Phase II of the scheme with an outlay of Rs.10,000 crore which was subsequently enhanced to Rs.11,500 crore for the period from 1st April, 2019 to 31st March 2024. – Further, after review of phase II, the Ministry of Heavy Industries formulated the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme – 2024.

Overview of the Scheme:

• It aims to provide further impetus to green mobility and promote electric vehicle manufacturing in the country.
• Components of the scheme:
  • Subsidies: Demand incentives for electric two-wheelers & electric three-wheelers;
  • Administration of Scheme including IEC (Information, Education & Communication) activities and fee for project management agency.

Key Features:

• It is a fund-limited scheme with a total outlay of INR 500 crore, offering an incentive of INR 5,000 per kilowatt-hour of battery capacity. 
• It aims to support the adoption of 3,72,215 EVs, including 3,33,387 electric two-wheelers and 38,828 electric three-wheelers.
• It will be implemented for a period of four months, from April 1, 2024, to July 31, 2024.

Two and Three Wheelers at the Core:

• Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme – 2024 does well to maintain focus on the segments which have led the electric vehicle revolution in India.
• Since the FAME I, electric two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments have attracted the highest demand among consumers compared to cars and other commercial segments due to lower acquisition costs, lower running costs, ease of charging and parking, among other reasons.
• FAME II (2019-2024) refined its approach by emphasising on advanced battery technologies.
  • States came up with electric vehicle policies across the country during the same period, playing a vital role for high two-wheeler and three-wheeler demand, with additional incentives and manufacturing support.

Analysis of  EMPS 2024:

• Reduction in Financial Support: The total incentive allocation under EMPS has been reduced to INR 500 crore for a period of four months, from April 1-July 31, 2024.
  • It is a significant reduction compared to the INR 11,500 crore outlay of its predecessor, FAME II.
• Multiple Caps, Fewer Benefits: EMPS offers an incentive of INR 5,000 per kilo-watt hour of battery capacity. However, the amount cannot exceed 15% of the ex-factory cost or INR 10,000 for two-wheelers / INR 25,000 for e-rickshaws and e-carts / INR 50,000 for e-autos, whichever is lower for each segment.
  • It has led to a substantial reduction in monetary support, increasing the price of vehicles.
• Reduction in Incentives: It is expected to lead to an average incentive reduction by 63% for two-wheelers, 37% for e-autos, and 38% for e-rickshaws.
• Re-registration Roadblock: EMPS asks for re-registration of original equipment manufacturers (OEM), their dealers, and vehicles on an online portal to be eligible for subsidies.
  • It could potentially create a roadblock for manufacturers and consumers.

Conclusion:

• The Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024 is a significant step towards promoting electric mobility in India. Despite the reduction in financial incentives compared to its predecessor, FAME II, the scheme focuses on key aspects such as the development of an EV manufacturing ecosystem and the promotion of green mobility.
• As India continues to grapple with environmental challenges, initiatives like EMPS 2024 play a crucial role in steering the country towards a sustainable future.