24th October 2024

Article: 24^th October, 2024

Topic: Kazan Declaration at 16^th BRICS Summit

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – International Relations

Source: mea.gov.in

Context

• Russia held the Kazan Summit, which had as its main goal bolstering multilateralism for equitable global development and security.
  
  

Important Aspects of the Summit

• The Kazan Declaration, which was released during the summit, is a thorough document that highlights the necessity of increased collaboration between the participating nations and outlines the bloc’s common position on important international problems.
• In order to promote sustainable development, ensure a more equitable international order, and encourage peace, the Kazan Declaration placed a strong emphasis on “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security.”
• Russia highlighted the worsening situation in West Asia and a BRICS-led payment system in opposition to SWIFT, an international financial network from which Russian banks were cut off in 2022.
• The BRICS countries decided to investigate projects like the BRICS (Re)Insurance Company and the BRICS Grain Exchange.
• The establishment of a BRICS Partner Country category, which would enable other countries to work with BRICS on a range of projects, was also approved at the summit.
• The BRICS R&D Vaccine Center was established to support vaccine development research.
• During the meeting, India’s desire to establish an International Big Cats Alliance was acknowledged.
  
  

What is BRICS?

• The five main emerging national economies—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—are referred to by this term.

• Origin: In 2001, British economist Jim O’Neill came up with the phrase “BRI” to refer to developing economies.
• Beginning in 2006, the group met annually on the fringes of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), and its success led to formal summits.
• In 2010, South Africa was admitted.
• BRICS expansion: The six new members of the BRICS are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, Argentina, and Ethiopia.
• It unites five of the world’s greatest developing nations, which together account for about 41% of the world’s population, 24% of its GDP, and 16% of its commerce.
  
  

BRICS’s importance to India

• Enhancing South-South Cooperation: India sees BRICS as a way to help developing nations work together and raise their voices in international organizations like the World Bank and UN.
• Global Power Balance: BRICS acts as a counterweight to groups like the G7 that are dominated by the West. This aids India in lessening its reliance on Western countries and broadening its international ties.
• Trade Diversification: BRICS encourages member nations to engage in economic cooperation, investment, and trade.
• In line with India’s economic goals, the New Development Bank (NDB) gives the BRICS countries access to capital for sustainable development and infrastructure projects.
  
  

Challenges

• Divergent Agendas: Other members, like as China and Russia, may put their regional and geopolitical interests ahead of India’s worries about border security and terrorism.
• Geopolitical Rivalry: There are worries that BRICS may turn into a pro-China bloc as a result of China’s increasing influence inside the group, particularly with the addition of nations with close links to China, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran.
• Balancing Middle Eastern Alliances: India’s Middle Eastern connections become more complicated with the addition of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Way Ahead

• India’s involvement in BRICS is essential for furthering its domestic objectives as well as for influencing global governance in a geopolitical landscape that is becoming more and more dynamic.
• Being one of the original members, India has continuously contributed significantly to making sure that BRICS continues to be a cooperative forum for developing nations to demonstrate their power on the international scene.
• India has a rare chance to expand its trade networks, draw in international capital, and take part in cooperative infrastructure and development projects thanks to BRICS.
• In this regard, India ought to make strategic use of the New Development Bank’s (NDB) resources to fund important initiatives that complement its long-term development objectives.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding BRICS grouping

1. A significant amount of the global GDP and trade volume is accounted for by the BRICS nations.
2. BRICS is viewed as a geopolitical force that seeks to challenge current power structures, change international institutions, and represent developing countries’ interests on a global scale.
3. The BRICS member nations founded the New Development Bank (NDB) with the goal of financing space exploration initiatives.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 and 3
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 2
4. 1, 2, 3

Ans: c

Explanation

A significant amount of the global GDP and trade volume is accounted for by the BRICS nations.
BRICS is viewed as a geopolitical force that seeks to challenge current power structures, change international institutions, and represent developing countries’ interests on a global scale.

The BRICS Bank is another name for the New Development Bank (NDB). It was founded by the BRICS nations and serves as a substitute for more established lending organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund by concentrating on funding sustainable development and infrastructure projects in emerging economies.

Mains Model Questions Q. Although the BRICS alliance had some success, the shifting geopolitical landscape has presented it with a number of difficulties. Comment.

Introduction:

BRICS accounts for 16% of global trade, 24% of global GDP, 30% of land area, and 42% of the world’s population. It serves as a link between the North and South of the world.

The BRICs demanded that international institutions be reformed to take into account the fundamental shifts in the global economy and the growing significance of developing markets.

Body:

Difficulties With the BRICS

• Marred by a number of problems: India-China ties have reached their lowest ebb in many years as a result of confrontations like China’s assault in eastern Ladakh.
• In addition, there is the fact that China and Russia have tense relations with the West, and that Brazil and South Africa are both dealing with significant internal issues.
• Heterogeneity: According to opponents, the BRICS countries’ varied and varied national characteristics pose a threat to the group’s sustainability due to their disparate objectives.
• China Centric: The BRICS organization is criticized for serving as a platform to advance China’s interests because all of its members trade with China more than they do with one another. For other partner countries, balancing the trade imbalance with China is a major concern.
• Global Governance Model: The main task facing the BRICS is creating a new global governance model in the face of protectionism, trade wars, and global slowdowns.

Way Ahead

• Group Cooperation: In order to improve internal balance and overcome China’s dominance, BRICS must diversify and fortify its regional value networks, which were all made clear during the pandemic.
• Commitment to the Multilateral World: The BRICS countries must reaffirm their commitment to their basic principles and reorient their strategy. The commitment of BRICS to a multipolar world that permits sovereign equality and democratic decision-making needs to be reaffirmed.
• They need to invest in other BRICS organizations and expand on the NDB’s achievements. In order to provide answers that are more appropriate for the developing world, BRICS should establish an institutional research wing modeled after the OECD.
• The goal of the BRICS countries should be to resolve crises and conflicts in different parts of the world in a political-diplomatic and peaceful manner.

Conclusion: Therefore, BRICS’s future rests on how well China, Russia, and India resolve their internal and external problems. To move forward, India, China, and Russia must communicate with each other.

Article: 24^th October, 2024

Topic: State’s power to make laws on Industrial alcohol

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Governance

Source: Indian Express

Context

• The Supreme Court (SC) affirmed that states had the authority to impose taxes on “industrial” alcohol in addition to alcoholic beverages.

About

• Industrial alcohol is not intended for ingestion by humans. Whether “intoxicating liquor” can be construed to include “industrial alcohol” was the court’s main interpretive question.
• And whether the Center has sole authority over the matter or if states can regulate it.
  
  

Conflict

• The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, which establishes the separation of legislative authority between the federal government and the states, contains two “overlapping” entries that give rise to the controversy.
• States have the authority to control “the production, manufacture, possession, transportation, purchase, and sale of intoxicating liquors,” according to Entry 8 of List II (State List).
• The Center has the authority to regulate industries as a whole to the extent permitted by Entry 52 of List I (Union List).
• The Center maintained that states could not regulate industrial alcohol since it “occupied the field” in this area.
• States, however, had to pass laws because they claimed that industrial alcohol could be abused to make unlawfully consumed alcohol.
  
  

Industrial Alcohol

• Impure alcohol used as an industrial solvent is known as industrial alcohol.
• Ethanol is made by fermenting grains, fruit, molasses, etc., a process known as “denaturation,” which transforms it into industrial alcohol when chemicals like benzene, pyridine, gasoline, etc. are mixed with it.
• This drastically reduces the price of the alcohol and renders it unfit for human consumption.
• A variety of goods are produced there, such as cleaning solutions, cosmetics, fragrances, and medications.
• It is occasionally used to create illegal liquor, which is a cheap and harmful drug that can cause blindness and even death if consumed.

Supreme Court’s ruling

• SC According to the Supreme Court’s ruling, a state’s revenue is largely derived from the tax on alcohol, and in order to increase revenue even more, state governments frequently impose an additional excise tax on alcohol consumption.
• Regarding industry control, the ruling further clarifies the relationship between the center and the state.
  – It upholds states’ authority to enact laws on topics on the State List, notwithstanding the Center’s extensive authority to regulate “Industries” in general.
• Additionally, the decision overturned the Supreme Court’s 1990 rule in Synthetics & Chemicals Ltd. v. State of Uttar Pradesh, which maintained that states could not impose taxes on industrial alcohol because “intoxicating liquor” exclusively referred to drinkable alcohol.
• Additionally, the SC ruled that “the Court must choose the one that maintains the federal balance when there are two possible interpretations of the entries.”
  
  
• Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements

1. Alcohol that is not intended for human consumption is known as industrial alcohol.
2. At the moment, only alcohol and petroleum are subject to excise taxes.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: c

Explanation

Industrial alcohol, sometimes referred to as methylated spirits or denatured alcohol, is ethanol that has been treated with chemicals to render it unfit for human use. Its main industrial uses are as fuel, solvents, and as a component in the manufacturing of different chemicals and goods. At the moment, only alcohol and petroleum are subject to excise taxes. Although many forms of excise duty were absorbed with the Goods and Services Tax (GST), excise duty still applies to petroleum and alcoholic drinks that are not subject to the GST.

Mains Model Questions Q. Reforms in the 7th schedule of the Indian constitution were being discussed more and more. Discuss about the importance of the Indian Constitution’s seventh schedule in this context.

Introduction:

The Constitution’s Article 246 refers to the union, state, and concurrent lists in the Seventh Schedule. State governments have control over issues on the state list, while the Center can enact legislation on topics listed in the Union list.
For topics on the concurrent list, both the federal government and the states may enact laws; however, in the event of a disagreement, the Union’s law will take precedence.

Body:

Importance of the Indian Constitution’s Seventh Schedule:

• Explicit Duties The federation’s constituent units are made conscious by the separation of subjects into the state list, central list, and concurrent list.
• Harmony: The 7th schedule’s explicit division of powers between the federal government and the states keeps the union from altering the core principles of the constitution, which contributes to the preservation of peace and harmony between the two.
• Distribution of Powers: To avoid disagreement between the states and the center, the 7th schedule clearly delineates the distribution of powers between the two.
• India’s unity and integrity were crucial after the country was divided, and only a powerful central authority could defend the country from outside threats.
• State autonomy: States become autonomous of a union in their particular fields when legislative authority is delegated to them.

The 7th Schedule Needs Reforms:

• Old and redundant: It is said to have grown obsolete over time. The 1935 legislation is what gave rise to the current Seventh Schedule, the state (then provincial), union (then federal), and concurrent lists.
• Public goods delivery: The majority of public goods that people consider are effectively provided at the local government level, not at the federal or state levels. Thus, the inclusion of a local body list is associated with a Seventh Schedule concern. The efficient distribution of such public goods is increasingly demanded by countervailing citizen pressure. However, local governments cannot react if funding, powers, and officials are not delegated; these are currently at the mercy of state governments.
• Growing Centralization: Items have been transferred from the concurrent list to the union list and from the state list to the concurrent list. Up until now, these small fluctuations have been a reflection of increased centralization, such in 1976.
• Empowering Local Bodies: In addition to the central, state, and concurrent lists, there ought to be a fourth list for local bodies. It will result in the transfer of authority to local authorities and assist them in addressing a variety of issues of regional significance.

Conclusion: Since the Indian Federation is based on the 7th Schedule, any changes or reforms should be implemented with the support of the states and after a suitable agreement has been reached between the states and the center.

Article: 24^th October, 2024

Topic: Stubble burning violates Fundamental Rights

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Polity

Source: Live Law

Context

• According to the Supreme Court, stubble burning is against Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees residents the fundamental right to live in a pollution-free environment.
  
  

About

• The Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) acts were criticized by the court.
• Additionally, it noted that no appropriate mechanism had been developed for the collection of fines under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  
  

What is Stubble burning?

• It is the deliberate burning of agricultural residue (stubble) that is left in the fields following the harvest of cereals such as wheat, rice, and others.
• In North India, the technique is widely employed, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, to swiftly clear their fields and get them ready for the upcoming planting season.
• Particulate particles (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, and greenhouse gasses are among the dangerous pollutants found in stubble burning smoke, which greatly increases air pollution.
  
  

Causes of Stubble Burning

• Cost-effectiveness: Large fields can be cleared quickly and affordably with this technology.
• Time-saving: Particularly in regions with brief intervals between the planting and harvesting seasons.
• Restricted Options: Farmers might not have access to reasonably priced equipment that can efficiently trim stubble.
  
  

What causes Delhi’s higher pollution levels compared to other metropolitan areas?

• First, Delhi’s geography—the Indo-Gangetic plain—traps pollutants, and the mountains around it stop them from spreading.
• Second, enormous volumes of smoke are released by the burning of stubble in the neighbouring states. This smoke drifts towards Delhi and deteriorates the quality of the air in late autumn and early winter.
• Third, the environment is made worse by pollutants from vehicles and industry.
• Fourth, during the winter months, Delhi undergoes temperature inversion, which traps pollutants near the ground due to cooler air.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Stubble Burning

1. Stubble burning is a technique used to remove agricultural waste from the field by burning the straw stubble (parali) that remains on the ground after harvesting crops like wheat, paddy, etc.
2. Since paddy crops are harvested in October and November and the leftover residue must be removed in order to plant wheat, stubble burning always peaks at the start of winter.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: c

Explanation

In order to prepare the field for the following round of seeding, stubble burning is a technique used to remove agricultural waste from the field by burning the straw stubble (parali) that remains on the ground after harvesting crops like wheat, paddy, etc.
Since paddy crops are harvested in October and November and the leftover residue must be removed in order to plant wheat, stubble burning always peaks at the start of winter.
In India, crops like wheat and rice produce a significant amount of crop leftovers. In addition to paddy and wheat, sugarcane leaves are typically burned in fields.

Mains Model Questions Q. Discuss about the problems with stubble burning in India. Additionally, make creative suggestions for recycling crop leftovers.

Introduction:

Due to its harmful effects on air quality, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR), stubble burning—a common agricultural practice in regions like Punjab—has drawn a lot of attention. Farmers use this technique to quickly clear fields as the harvest season approaches, which causes a number of health and environmental problems.

Body:

Problems Associated with Burning Stubble:

• Deterioration: Punjab has seen an increase in stubble-burning incidents, according to recent data. The air quality in Delhi has deteriorated from “poor” to “very poor.” Following the fire, particle matter PM2.5 levels skyrocket to 60 times the WHO’s acceptable limit.
• Health Risks: Residents of impacted areas are more susceptible to respiratory ailments, cardiac problems, and other health issues as a result of the skyrocketing PM2.5 levels.
• Socio-political Conflicts: The persistent problem has sparked a blame game between states, particularly between Punjab and Delhi, who both accuse the other of causing the pollution problems to worsen.
• Economic Implications: Businesses and daily wage earners have been impacted by the graded action response plan (GARP), which has resulted in limitations such as a ban on truck traffic, coal, and firewood in Delhi.
• Inadequate Infrastructure: Farmers have noted that they do not have access to essential equipment such as seeders and bailers, which could offer alternatives to burning stubble.
• Agricultural Issues: Burning stubble also depletes the soil of vital nutrients, making it less fertile for the following crop.
  
  

Creative Ways to Recycle Crop Waste:

• Crop Residue Management Equipment: Encourage and fund equipment such as the Super Straw Management System (Super SMS), which spreads and chops crop residue to facilitate its breakdown.
• Bioenergy Production: Give farmers an extra revenue stream by turning crop waste into bioenergy sources like biogas or ethanol.
• Paper Industry Incorporation: Crop leftovers can be used as raw materials in the paper industry.
• Composting: To improve soil health, promote the large-scale composting of crop debris, which can then be turned into organic manure.
• Education and Training: Farmers should get regular instruction on the negative consequences of burning stubble and the advantages of reusing crop residue.

Conclusion: Although farmers view stubble burning as a quick fix, it comes with a number of drawbacks, especially in terms of the environment and public health. A combination of administrative initiatives, technology advancements, and farmer involvement is needed to address the problem. In addition to addressing pollution, creative residue management techniques can open the door for sustainable farming methods.

Article: 24^th October, 2024

Topic: Use of AI to improve Road Safety

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Governance

Source: PIB

Context

• At the 12th Traffic InfraTech Expo, the Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways gave a speech.
  – He underlined how urgent it is to increase traffic safety and the transportation industry’s embrace of cutting-edge technologies.

About

• Approximately 5 lakh accidents occur in India annually, leading to many fatalities.
  – Over half of these victims are between the ages of 18 and 36.
  – An estimated 3% of the nation’s GDP is lost economically as a result of traffic accidents.
• The government has made the decision to assign private sector professionals to work together on creating technical solutions.
  – It will assess startup and industry leader submissions to make sure the finest ideas are put into practice.
  – The committee has been given three months to complete its assessments.
  
  

Technology Use in the Transportation Sector:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems evaluate real-time traffic data to optimize signal timings, ease congestion, and enhance traffic flow in general.

• Predictive analytics: AI can pinpoint high-risk locations and periods by examining past accident data, enabling authorities to put specific safety measures in place.
• Driver Assistance Systems: AI is incorporated into car systems to offer functions like adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, and lane departure warnings.
• Emergency Response: AI systems can help emergency vehicles choose the best routes, which can result in faster reaction times during collisions and perhaps save lives.
• AI-powered traffic infringement detection can help authorities apply fines precisely.
• Enhancing toll collection techniques, such as investigating satellite toll systems, would increase productivity and guarantee transparency.

Difficulties

• Infrastructure Restrictions: In many places, there is insufficient infrastructure to enable AI technology, such as dependable internet access and sufficient sensor networks.
• Data Privacy Issues: Data security and privacy issues are brought up by the gathering and analysis of vast amounts of traffic and personal information.
• Data quality: It is challenging to create trustworthy AI systems in India due to the wide variations in traffic and accident data quality.
• Connecting to Current Systems: It might be difficult and expensive to integrate AI solutions with current regulatory frameworks and traffic management systems.
• Skill Gaps: India lacks enough qualified experts in data analytics and artificial intelligence.
• Ethical Issues: Using AI in crucial domains like traffic control brings up ethical issues including algorithmic prejudice and responsibility for mistakes or mishaps.

Way Ahead

• Data Standardization: Create uniform procedures for gathering and exchanging data among different stakeholders.
• Public-Private Partnerships: To maximize resources, knowledge, and technology for creating AI solutions, promote cooperation between public and private organizations as well as academic institutions.
• Training programs should be put in place to develop a workforce that is knowledgeable about artificial intelligence, data analytics, and machine learning.
• Pilot Projects: To evaluate AI applications in practical settings, start pilot projects in a few cities.
• Ethical rules: To guarantee equitable treatment and public confidence, establish ethical rules for AI development and application that emphasize responsibility, openness, and bias mitigation.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding iRASTE Project

1. It is a novel AI strategy that enhances road safety by utilizing collision alarm systems and the predictive power of AI to identify hazards on the road.

2. Nagpur is where the project is being carried out.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: c

Explanation

It is a novel AI strategy that enhances road safety by utilizing collision alarm systems and the predictive power of AI to identify hazards on the road.
Nagpur is where the project is being carried out. The ultimate objective is to replicate the solution in other cities, even though the initial rollout of iRASTE is in Nagpur. The Telangana government is currently in discussions to use the technology in a fleet of buses that travel the roadways.

Mains Model Questions Q. Despite artificial intelligence’s (AI) enormous scientific promise, the field is facing a number of difficulties. Discuss.

Introduction:

The ability of machines to perform tasks that have traditionally needed human intelligence is known as artificial intelligence.
Machine learning, pattern recognition, big data, neural networks, self-algorithms, and other technologies are included.

Body:

Advantages of AI in Policing:

• India’s police force still uses traditional methods. Predictive policing in India is now possible thanks to AI-based technology. AI can be used to forecast crime trends and identify suspects by analyzing vast amounts of CCTV footage that are available nationwide.
• Among its many applications in agriculture, it can be used to determine how much water a crop requires.
  – For resolving complicated problems, such as making effective use of the resources at hand.
• Analyzing the Data: Artificial intelligence (AI) technology aids in data analysis, which can enhance the effectiveness of systems such as mobile devices, weather forecasting, video and image analysis, and power management in automobiles.
  
  

Challenges:

• The Bias Problem: An AI system’s quality is largely determined by how much data it is trained on. Therefore, obtaining high-quality data is the key to developing future AI systems. In actuality, however, the organizations’ routine data collection is subpar and has no inherent value.
• Access to Data, Knowledge, and Technology: In today’s interconnected world, a few companies are gathering enormous amounts of data. Having access to this consolidated data would enable an accurate reenactment of an individual’s daily activities, interactions, and interests, whether stated or implied. Someone (or something) could be aware of our mobility history and patterns, or any other aspect of an individual’s routine life.
• Privacy: Given the potential for illegal access to one’s internet activity data, it is clear that the right to privacy is in jeopardy. However, the right to privacy is still in jeopardy even in the case of an offline user—someone who has made the conscious decision to remain “disconnected”—much like a disconnected user traversing a “smart city.”
• Unemployment that can be “explained” by the advent of new technologies, such as the replacement of jobs by intelligent robots or systems, is known as technological unemployment.
• Security is a crucial component; with the growing threat of cyberattacks, the repercussions of compromising a smart system, such as an autonomous vehicle, might be catastrophic.

Conclusion: The AI technological revolution offers enormous potential for growth and prosperity, but it must be made sure that the technology is implemented and utilized appropriately.
It can also be argued that AI might be affected by the “odd paradox” or “AI effect,” which occurs when a new technology enters the mainstream, people grow acclimated to it, it ceases to be seen as AI, and newer technology appears.