30th September 2024

Article: 30^th September, 2024

Topic: Global Innovation Index 2024

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Science & Technology

Source: Swarajya

Context

• India is now ranked 39th out of 133 economies worldwide in the Global Innovation Index 2024.
  
  

About

• The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, publishes the Global Innovation Index (GII).
• Institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, credit, investment, connections, the generation, assimilation, and dissemination of knowledge, as well as creative outputs, are among the criteria used to measure innovation.

Global Innovation Index 2024

• Top performers include the United States, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
• China, Turkiye, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines are the fastest 10-year climbers.
  
  

The Performance of India

• India has risen over the last few years in the Global Innovation Index (GII), moving up from 81st place in 2015 to 40th place in 2023.

• Key performance indicators like venture capital received, intangible asset intensity, and information and communications technology (ICT) services exports (which rank first in the world) highlight India’s advantages.
• India’s unicorn businesses also guarantee the nation’s eighth-place finish in the world.
  
  

Actions that India has taken

• The innovation ecosystem has grown significantly thanks in large part to the Atal Innovation Mission.
• In order to promote a culture of research and innovation across India’s universities, research centers, and R&D labs, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) was founded.
• The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) established the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) with the goal of enabling and bolstering nascent biotechnology enterprises to engage in strategic research and innovation.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH): Declared as a component of the 2020 National Education Policy, NRF seeks to encourage a culture of research and innovation in universities and higher education institutions by funding interdisciplinary research.

Challenges

• India’s innovation ecosystem is fragmented, with insufficient integration between government, business, and academia. There is little cooperation between these industries, which hinders the commercialization of research results.
• Brain Drain and Skill Mismatch: Although there is a sizable pool of STEM graduates, many of them lack the abilities necessary for cutting-edge innovation.
• Infrastructure Restrictions: Inadequate infrastructure impedes the expansion of creative businesses, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas.
• In India, the private sector’s involvement in R&D is still relatively small. However, in leading innovative economies where private enterprises play a significant role in R&D.

Way Forward

• The GII ranking has consistently improved, which can be attributed to the active start-up ecosystem and knowledge capital.
• Nonetheless, there is a need to promote increased private sector participation in R&D and innovation in developing industries like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, Quantum Computing etc.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Global Innovation Index (GII)

1. It is an annual ranking that evaluates how well nations around the world perform in terms of innovation.
2. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) publishes the index.
3. India’s GII 2024 ranking has improved.

Which of the above statements are correct?

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

Ans: a

Explanation

An annual ranking that assesses the performance of nations worldwide in terms of innovation is called the Global Innovation Index (GII). India moved up to 39th place in the GII 2024, which is an improvement over its previous ranking.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) publishes the GII.

Mains Model Questions Q. What do you mean by Innovation? What effect does it have on socioeconomic development?

Introduction:

The creation and implementation of concepts and technologies that enhance products and services or increase the productivity of their manufacturing can be characterized as innovation.

In order to significantly advance socioeconomic development, new and creative technologies that are accessible, affordable, and based on the needs of the community at large must be developed.

Body:

The following are some ways that innovation can support socioeconomic development:

• Innovation is the process of producing new goods and services that the public needs in order to meet unfulfilled demands and gaps in the market. Innovation makes it possible for people to obtain the goods and services they need to be productive.
• Economic growth is facilitated by innovation because new, creative businesses hire workers. Therefore, innovation generates employment, and these business opportunities improve and strengthen communities by raising the general standard of living and quality of life.
• Socio-economic empowerment: Innovative products can also contribute to the goal of empowering marginalized groups within society. For example, Smokeless Chulha can reduce indoor air pollution (IAP), which is good for women’s health.
• Policy Innovations: In the context of governance, policy innovation has the potential to improve the socioeconomic status of targeted beneficiaries, particularly in developing nations. For instance, cutting-edge goods like Kisan Credit Cards assist farmers in avoiding unofficial loans with exorbitant interest rates.
• Reduced time and expenses associated with conducting business, or any other non-commercial activity, are two ways that innovation fosters efficiency. Therefore, innovation can result in significant socioeconomic benefits by helping to cut back on government spending that could be better spent elsewhere.
  
  

Conclusion: India has been on the rise since 2015 and is currently ranked 39th in the world in terms of innovation (2024). However, India lags behind in a number of innovation-related metrics, including low R&D spending, low patent filing volume, and a dearth of published research papers.
India today requires a strong innovation ecosystem that includes not only research institutions but also technology parks, idea incubators, accelerators, and balanced regulatory frameworks along with well-thought-out standards.

Article: 30^th September, 2024

Topic: India’s agreement to protect marine life in the high seas

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Environment

Source: Down to Earth

Context

• The Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), also known as the Global Ocean Treaty, has been formally signed by India.
  
  

About

• The Ministry of Earth Sciences will spearhead the country’s implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.
• India is able to increase its strategic presence outside of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) thanks to the agreement.

• Additionally, it would help achieve a number of SDGs, most notably SDG14 (Life Below Water).
  
  

What is BBNJ Agreement?

• Within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the BBNJ Agreement, also known as the “High Seas Treaty,” is an international agreement.

• By means of international collaboration and coordination, it establishes precise protocols for the sustainable utilization of marine biological diversity.
• Parties are not permitted to assert or use sovereign rights over high seas marine resources and ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
• The world’s common oceans, known as the High Seas (areas beyond national jurisdiction), are accessible to everyone for internationally permitted uses like overflighting, navigation, the installation of pipelines and submarine cables, etc.
  
  

Application of the BBNJ Contract

• If and when the BBNJ Agreement comes into effect, it will join its sister implementation agreements as the third agreement under UNCLOS. These agreements are:
• The 1994 International Seabed Area Part XI Implementation Agreement, which deals with the exploration and extraction of mineral resources, and
• The UN Fish Stocks Agreement of 1995 (which deals with the management and conservation of highly migratory and straddling fish stocks).

• The Agreement was decided upon in March 2023 and will be available for signature in September 2023 for a period of two years.
• Once it comes into effect 120 days after the 60th ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession, it will be a legally binding international treaty.
  – Ten Parties have ratified the BBNJ Agreement, and as of right now, 101 countries have signed it.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding High Seas

1. 95% of the sea’s volume is comprised of the high seas.
2. The high seas are not under any country’s territorial jurisdiction.
3. The United Nations governs the high seas, granting fishing privileges and permits for the extraction of resources to nations according to their financial contributions to the organization.

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

95% of the sea’s volume is comprised of the high seas.
The high seas are not under any country’s territorial jurisdiction.

The high seas are regarded as international waters that are not possessed or governed by the United Nations or any other organization. The United Nations offers a framework for the management and conservation of marine resources through conventions like UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), but it does not assign fishing rights or resource extraction permits based on the economic contributions of individual nations.

Mains Model Questions Q. Draw attention to how crucial the High Seas Treaty is to the preservation and wise use of resources in the open ocean.

Introduction:

The “Paris Agreement for the Ocean” is the term used to describe the High Seas Treaty. It is being discussed in accordance with UNCLOS. It is anticipated that the treaty will also assist in lessening the effects of ocean warming. Just 1.2% of global waters are protected areas as of right now. The high seas are home to a vast majority of marine life, making up over 60% of all ocean area and roughly half of the planet’s surface.

Body:

Importance of High Seas Treaty

• The High Seas Treaty is important because there are approximately 2.7 lakh known species in the high seas, many of which have not yet been found.
• By absorbing carbon and thereby reducing the effects of climate change, as well as by storing solar radiation and dispersing heat globally, they play a crucial role in maintaining planetary stability.
• There will be strict regulations on activities, and conservation measures akin to those found in wildlife or forest zones will be implemented.
• Oceans are home to a wide variety of life forms, many of which have applications for humans, such as drug development. Genetic information from these organisms is already being extracted, and their benefits are being investigated.
• The goal of the treaty is to guarantee that any financial or other benefits that result from these kinds of efforts are distributed fairly among all parties and are not subject to stringent intellectual property rights regulations.
• According to the terms of the new treaty, any commercial or other activities that could seriously harm the marine ecosystem or pollute the ocean on a large scale would need to undergo an environmental impact assessment, the findings of which would need to be communicated to all countries in the world.

Conclusion: Similar to global warming, there will only be a brief window of opportunity to take action to save marine ecosystems before irreversible, catastrophic harm occurs. In order to come to a consensus and begin seriously protecting marine ecosystems, the nations must move quickly. In this sense, a legally binding High Seas Treaty is required.

Article: 30^th September, 2024

Topic: India and Uzbekistan signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – International Relations

Source: ibef.org

Context

• In Tashkent, the Republic of Uzbekistan and India inked a bilateral investment treaty.
  
  

About

• The two countries’ shared commitment to fostering economic cooperation and building a more stable and resilient investment environment is reflected in the signing of the BIT.
• More bilateral investments are anticipated as a result of the BIT, which will help both nations’ economies and businesses.
• By guaranteeing a minimum standard of treatment and non-discrimination and offering an independent forum for arbitration-based dispute resolution, it will raise investors’ comfort levels and confidence.
  
  

Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)

• A bilateral investment treaty (BIT) is a reciprocal agreement between two nations to safeguard investments made in the other country by citizens and businesses of one nation. Its goal is to establish a welcoming environment for investment and promote economic cooperation between the signatory nations.
• India’s BIT Framework: In 2015, the country replaced its 1993 Model BIT with a new one. The investment chapters of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Economic Partnership Agreements, as well as future BIT negotiations, will be conducted using the updated text as a model.
  
  

Important Aspects of the Indian Model BIT (2015)

• Nationwide Handling: Foreign investors must receive the same treatment as domestic investors in all respects, with the exception of a few specified sectors.
• Protection from Expropriation: Prevents the host nation from taking over foreign investments unless necessary for public needs, and only then, in a fair and impartial manner, and with sufficient compensation.
• Fair and Equitable Treatment: This ensures that foreign investors are treated fairly, but it does not inherently provide greater rights than those found in previous treaties.
• Complete Protection and Security: In accordance with the laws of the host nation, foreign investors’ investments will receive complete protection and security.
• Dispute Settlement: Investors may only start an international arbitration process after they have exhausted all local avenues of recourse within the host nation’s legal system.
• Non-Discriminatory Treatment: This ensures Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) treatment and protects against discrimination, especially with regard to domestic investors.
  
  

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Bilateral Investment Treaty Agreement

1. It creates minimal guarantees between the two nations about how foreign investments will be handled and shields them from capricious national government decisions.
2. There is a chance that BITs will draw FDI, or foreign direct investment.
3. The majority of BITs lack procedures for resolving international conflicts.

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

BITs shield foreign investments from capricious decisions made by national governments and set minimum guarantees between the two nations regarding how they will be treated. There is a chance that BITs will draw FDI, or foreign direct investment.
In general, BITs offer a way for investors and the nation where their money is invested to resolve disagreements. Arbitration is the most favored means of resolving these kinds of conflicts.

Mains Model Questions Q. “India’s approach to the Bilateral Investment Treaty is beset with contradictions and may not succeed in meeting the intended goals.” Clarify the statement clear and indicate what India can do to make it right.

Introduction:

An agreement between two nations that establishes “rules of the road” for foreign investment in each other’s nations is known as a bilateral investment treaty (BIT). By defining requirements for the host state’s regulatory oversight and preventing interference with the rights of foreign investors, bilateral investment treaties (BITs) usually protect investments made by investors on a reciprocal basis.

Body:

India’s BIT strategy and issues

• There were many similarities between the India-UK BIT and the Indian BIT model from 2003. India ratified and signed more than 70 BITs between 1994 and 2011.
• Nonetheless, there have been numerous instances where India has been hit with penalties imposed by an International Dispute Settlement (ISDS) tribunal.
• As a result, the BITs were reviewed, and India introduced the Model BIT in 2016. It seeks to serve as a foundation for both the initial and subsequent negotiations of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with other States.
• India unilaterally terminated roughly sixty-six bilateral investment treaties (BITs) between 2016 and 2019. Because it was perceived as protectionist, it had sent mixed messages to the international investor community.
• The definition of an investment required to be eligible for BIT protection was narrowed by Model BIT.
  Additionally, the Model BIT’s definition of investment includes a negative list that excludes portfolio investments, interest in debt securities, intangible rights, etc. from the definition of investment.

A fresh take on BIT

• Given the reluctance of foreign investors, the definition of investment needs to be revised to be a hybrid of an asset-based and enterprise-based definition.
• India might look into adding the traditional standard of protection for fair and equitable treatment to the standard of treatment clause in order to bring it into line with international norms.
• Regarding the open-ended terms in the Model BIT, India needs to provide more information. As a result, India might deal with fewer BIT claims and disputes.

The Way Forward

• Regulatory risks will worsen in the post-COVID-19 world, making foreign investment vulnerable to the capricious and irrational actions of nations.
• India might look into adding the traditional standard of protection for fair and equitable treatment and revising the standard of treatment clause to bring it in line with international norms.
• Additionally, the Model BIT’s open-ended terms need to be clarified.

India must take a fair stance toward BITs and implement a strong ISDS provision.

Article: 30^th September, 2024

Topic: Sponge-cities to mitigate urban flooding

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Urban Infrastructure

Source: Indian Express

Context

• The creative idea of sponge cities can be used to address the widespread flooding and landslides caused by heavy rainfall in northern India, which harms basic infrastructure and food supplies.
  
  

India’s Urban Flooding

• Urban flooding happens when precipitation from heavy rains, quick snowmelt, or other sources of water runoff floods built-up areas, like cities and towns.
• Urban flooding, as opposed to rural floods, which usually affect low-lying or level areas, is a man-made disaster made worse by things like unplanned urbanization and insufficient drainage systems.
• As our cities expand, they change the way that nature works. Permeable land surfaces are replaced with asphalt and concrete, which reduces the amount of rainwater that the earth can absorb.
• As a result, drainage systems are overloaded by surface runoff, causing interruptions, property damage, and even fatalities.

India’s Urban Flooding Causes

• Unplanned Urbanization: Because there is a shortage of available land in city centers and rising land prices, low-lying areas frequently experience rapid urban growth.
• Regrettably, these constructions frequently invade riverbeds, wetlands, and lakes, decreasing the ability of natural drains and causing flooding to worsen.
• Impermeable Surfaces: Rainwater cannot seep into the ground through roads, buildings, and other impermeable constructions.
  The natural capacity of soil to absorb water is reduced as cities grow, increasing surface runoff.
• Ground Subsidence: This phenomenon, which increases the vulnerability of urban areas to flooding, is brought on by the weight of large, heavy buildings and excessive groundwater extraction.
  
  

Sponge Cities: An Ecological Approach

• From its inception in China, the idea of “sponge cities” has attracted interest across the globe. These cities give flood control top priority by focusing on green infrastructure over traditional grey infrastructure (pipes and pumps).
• Green Infrastructure: Sponge cities integrate natural elements such as plants, trees, wetlands, and permeable pavements, rather than solely depending on concrete drainage systems. By absorbing rainwater, reducing its flow, and purifying it, these serve as “sponges.”

• Operational Permeability: Permeable surfaces are given priority in sponge cities. Large concrete jungles are replaced with parks, green areas, and porous pavement. Rainwater can seep through these surfaces and replenish aquifers while lowering surface runoff.
• Storage and Retention: These cities make strategic use of rainwater storage. When it rains a lot, they build wetlands, retention ponds, and underground storage tanks to collect extra water. They avoid unexpected floods downstream by doing this.
• Restore natural drainage systems in cities by using sponges. They restore wetlands, rivers, and streams, enabling water to flow naturally. This strategy emulates nature’s hydrological cycle, preventing urban floods.

Advantages

• Flood Reduction: Sponge cities stop flash floods by holding onto and releasing rainwater gradually.
• Ecological Biodiversity: By creating habitats for wildlife, urban parks, green areas, and wetlands enhance biodiversity.
• Vegetation mitigates the heat island effect by keeping urban areas cooler.
• Reducing Water Scarcity: Rainwater collection helps make water available during dry spells.

Conclusion 

• Using sponge city concepts could have a revolutionary impact on India, which is confronting the twin challenges of increasing urbanization and climate change.
• Sponge cities can build resilient, sustainable cities that efficiently manage water, lessen flooding, and improve overall livability by fusing nature with urban design.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Which of the above statements are correct about China’s Sponge cities initiative?

1. The program seeks to encourage water-intensive businesses in big cities.
2. “Sponge City” initiatives concentrate only on controlling rainfall with impermeable concrete.
3. Reducing traffic congestion in urban areas is the initiative’s main objective.
4. By using natural solutions, the initiative seeks to enhance water management and flood resilience.

Ans: d

Explanation
The Chinese government launched the “sponge city” initiative as a major urban development tactic to address urgent issues with flooding and water management in urban areas. The program improves overall water management and strengthens cities’ resistance to flooding by using a nature-based approach.

Mains Model Questions Q. Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures. (UPSC PYQ 2020)

Introduction:

In many Indian cities, including Hyderabad, urban flooding is becoming more frequent due to increased climatic variability and extreme weather events.

Urban flooding is primarily caused by unplanned urbanization, although climate variability can also be blamed for the unexpectedly heavy rains.

Body:

Causes of Often Occurring Urban Flooding

• Inadequate Drainage Infrastructure: The century-old drainage system in places like Hyderabad and Mumbai only covers a small portion of the central city.
• Indian cities have expanded significantly in the past 20 years compared to their initial built-up areas. On the other hand, little was done to address the lack of suitable drainage systems.
• Indian cities are becoming more and more impervious to water due to a combination of factors, including the amount of built-up area and the type of materials utilized (hard, a non-porous construction material that makes the soil impervious).
• Inadequate EIA Implementation: Despite the inclusion of rainwater harvesting and sustainable urban drainage systems in regulatory mechanisms such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), user adoption and enforcement agencies continue to lag behind.
  
  

Corrective Actions for Urban Flooding

• Holistic Engagement: Municipal authorities cannot control urban floods on their own. Without coordinated and targeted energy and resource investments, flooding cannot be controlled.
• Building Sponge Cities: The goal of creating a sponge city is to increase a city’s permeability so that it can retain and utilize the water that falls upon it.
  – To increase the city’s ability to absorb water, new porous materials and technologies need to be promoted or made mandatory at all scales.
• Water Sensitive Urban Design: These techniques have minimal environmental impact and take into account natural drainage, topography, and surface types (permeable or impervious).
• Convergent Approach: All of these can be efficiently provided by an urban mission that is modeled after the Smart Cities Mission, National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

Conclusion: Urban floods are a man-made disaster caused by overburdened drainage, uncontrolled construction, disregard for the natural topography, and hydro-geomorphology.