Time: 45 min Date: 04-09-2021

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Time: 45 min Date: 04-09-2021

Governance

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

Syllabus: GS2/ Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

In News

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, released recently, did not have a single Indian institution in the top 300.

Key Findings

Indian:

o Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is the country’s top performing institute, but is ranked in the 301-350 bracket. It is followed by IIT Ropar and JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research. Both are in the 351-400 bracket.

o Overall, India is home to 35 of the world’s top 1,000 universities, its second-highest total ever in the rankings. Last year, it was 36.

Global:

o A UK institution, the University of Oxford, has taken the top spot for the sixth year running.

o The California Institute of Technology and Harvard University are in joint second position.

o Mainland China has two institutions in the top 20 for the first time: Peking University and Tsinghua University share 16th place.

Mainland China now has the joint fifth highest number of institutions in the top 200 (up from joint seventh last year), overtaking Canada and on a par with the Netherlands.

o Institut Polytechnique de Paris is the highest new entry at 95th place, following a merger of five institutions.

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o The US is the most-represented country overall with 183 institutions, and also the most represented in the top 200 (57), although its share of universities in this elite group is falling.

o Six new countries feature in the table compared with last year: Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Palestine and Tanzania.

o Harvard University tops the teaching pillar, while the University of Oxford tops the research pillar and Macau University of Science and Technology leads the international pillar.

(Image Courtesy: Parameters )

Reason for boycott by IITs

Seven IITs continued boycotting THE World University Rankings.

This is the second consecutive year that the IITs in Mumbai, Delhi, Kanpur,

Guwahati, Madras, Roorkee and Kharagpur have not participated in the THE global rankings.

They had announced their boycott in April last year, citing concerns over

transparency after none of them found a place among the world’s best 300 universities.

Before the announcement, the IITs had held two meetings with THE officials to flag issues of “transparency” in the ranking parameters, especially the citation

metric.

They had objected to THE allowing participating institutions to use collaborative research projects to bump up their score on the citation metric.

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https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/times-higher-education-the-ranking-methodology-articlepage-2751


Such research papers have high citation by virtue of multiple authors associated with it.

Hence, an institution that is part of such a project ends up having a disproportionate advantage over others because of one paper that is cited multiple times globally.

Challenges for Higher Education in India

Gap between the Supply and demand: In higher education, India has a low rate of enrolment i.e. gross enrolment ratio (GER), at only 26.3%.

Inadequate Student-Faculty Ratio: In most of the state and central universities more than 30% of faculty positions are lying vacant. While the student enrolment in higher education is growing at a faster rate in the last few years.

Inadequate Infrastructure and Facilities: Apart from the highly recognized higher educational institutes (HEIs) in India, many institutes are running without proper infrastructure, high-end research facilities and basic facilities like library, hostels, transport, sports facility etc. which is desirable to rank the quality institution.

Outdated Curriculum: Indian higher education is facing the problem of poor quality of curriculum. In most of the higher educational institutes curriculum is out-dated and irrelevant.

Lack of Quality Research work: There is no shortage of funding for the top Indian Institutions such as IITs, IIMs and other institutes of national importance. Due to the limited focus on Research and Internationalization, very few Indian higher educational institutes are globally recognized.

Less Research Papers: Number of Research papers published in India has increased continuously for the past few decades but is reflected in low citation impact if compared with other countries like Germany, United States, France and China.

Low employability: Only a small proportion of Indian graduates are considered employable. Placement outcomes also drop significantly as we move away from the top institutes. Presently there is very little collaboration of higher educational institutes with industries.

Need For Change

Requires transformational approach: There is a need to implement an innovative and transformational approach from primary to higher education level to make the Indian educational system globally more relevant and competitive.

Greater industrial co-operation: In higher educational institutes (HEIs), Industrial co-operation must be there for the development of curriculum, organizing expert lectures, internships, live projects, career counseling and placements.

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Improve Quality & Credibility: Higher educational institutes (HEIs) need to improve quality, reputation and establish credibility through student exchange, faculty exchange programs, and other collaborations with high- quality national and international higher educational institutes.

Foreign Collaboration: Government must promote collaboration between Indian higher education institutes and top International institutes and also generate linkage between national research laboratories and research centers of top institutions for better quality and collaborative research.

Placement for under-Graduates: There is a need to focus on the graduate students by providing them such courses in which they can achieve excellence, gain deeper knowledge of the subject so that they will get jobs after recruitment in the companies which would reduce unnecessary rush to higher education.

Way Ahead

For India to emerge as a global innovation hub, the youth of our country, especially in higher education institutions (HEIs) need to play a crucial role to create a sustainable innovation ecosystem.

The Prime Minister of India has declared the decade 2010-20 as the ‘Decade of

Innovation’, to unleash the creative potential of every Indian.

Thus, ideally all HEIs should have a comprehensive and functional mechanism to convert research into innovations.

To improve the higher education system, there is a need to improve teaching

pedagogy, build synergies between research and teaching, facilitate alliance of higher institutions among themselves, research centers and industries.

World University Rankings 2022

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 include more than 1,600 universities across 99 countries and territories, making them the largest and most diverse university rankings to date.

The ranking is based on 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across four areas:

o Teaching:

Reputation survey

Staff-to-student ratio

Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio

Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio

Institutional income

o Research:

Reputation survey

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Research income

Research productivity

Research influence

o Knowledge transfer/Citations metric:

Industry Income

o International outlook:

Proportion of international students

Proportion of international staff

International collaboration

This year’s ranking analysed more than 108 million citations across over 14.4 million research publications and included survey responses from almost 22,000 scholars globally. Overall, we collected over 430,000 data points from more than 2,100 institutions that submitted data.

Sources: IE

International Relations

Far Eastern Economic Forum 2021

Syllabus: GS2/ Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving

India and/or affecting India’s interests

In News

Recently, the PM of India participated virtually in the Far Eastern Economic Forum 2021

Summit.

Key Pointers by the PM

The Prime Minister of India said that the friendship between India and Russia has

stood the test of time and it was seen during Covid pandemic.

COVID:

o Covid had highlighted the importance of health and pharma sectors in both

the countries' bilateral cooperation.

Act Far East Policy:

o Vladivostok is truly a ‘Sangam’ of Eurasia and the Pacific.

o President Putin’s vision for the development of the Russian Far-East is

worth the praise.

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o India will be a reliable partner for Russia in realizing this vision. In 2019

India announced commitment to an “Act Far-East” policy.

o This policy is an important part of a special and privileged strategic

partnership with Russia.

Energy Partnership:

o India-Russia energy partnership can help bring stability to the global

energy market.

o The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, is in Vladivostok to represent

India at this forum.

o Indian workers are participating in major gas projects in the Amur region,

from Yamal to Vladivostok and onward to Chennai.

Space Exploration

o India and Russia are partners in space exploration through the Gaganyaan

program.

International Trade and Commerce:

o India and Russia will also be partners in opening of the Northern Sea Route

for international trade and Commerce.

o Chennai – Vladivostok Maritime Corridor is making headway.

o This connectivity project along with the International North- South

Corridor will bring India and Russia physically closer to each other.

o One of India's biggest ship yards Mazagon Docks Limited will partner

with ‘Zvezda’ for construction of some of the most important commercial

ships in the world.

Eastern Economic Forum

EEF is an international forum organised each year in Vladivostok, Russia.

It was first held in September 2015, at Far Eastern Federal University in

Vladivostok, to support the economic development of Russia’s Far East and to

expand international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

This was the 6th session of the EEU.

This forum is sponsored by the organizing committee appointed by Roscongress.

Serves as a platform for the discussion of key issues in the world economy,

regional integration, and the development of new industrial and technological

sectors, as well as of the global challenges facing Russia and other nations.

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(Image Courtesy: Far East Federal District)

About the Far East:

o It is the easternmost part of Russia.

o It borders two oceans, the Pacific and the Arctic, and five countries (China, Japan, Mongolia, the United States and the DPRK).

o The Far Eastern Federal District covers more than a third of the country’s territory.

o It is rich in natural resources like diamonds, stannary, borax materials, 50 gold, tungsten, and fish and seafood.

o About 1/3 of all coal reserves and hydro-engineering resources of the country are here.

o Forests of the region comprise about 30% of the total forest area of Russia.

India-Russia Relations

Political Relations: The Annual Summit meeting between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the Russian Federation is the highest institutionalized dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between India and Russia. So far 20 Annual Summit meetings have taken place alternatively in India and Russia.

Intergovernmental Commissions: There is regular high-level interaction between the two countries. Two Inter-Governmental Commissions - one on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC), co-chaired by EAM and the Russian DPM, and another on Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC- MTC) co chaired by Russian and Indian Defence Ministers, meet annually.

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https://eurogeologists.eu/arkhipova-a-proposal-for-ecological-and-geological-monitoring-of-mining-enterprises-in-the-far-eastern-region-of-russia/


International/Multilateral Organizations and Connectivity Projects:

o BRICS

o SCO

o UN Security Council: India & Russia reaffirmed the need to reform the UNSC to better reflect the current world order.

o Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG): Russia has been a long standing supporter of India’s membership of the NSG.

Trade and Economic Relations: Both sides revised targets of increasing bilateral investment to US $ 50 billion and bilateral trade to US $ 30 billion by 2025.

Bilateral investment: Russian investment in India in 2017 has reached 18bn USD and India’s total investment in Russia so far is 13 bn USD. The investment target of 30 bn USD by 2025 has been achieved.

Nuclear Energy: Russia recognizes India as a country with advanced nuclear technology with an impeccable non-proliferation record. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is being built in India with Russian cooperation.

Space Cooperation: Both sides cooperate in the peaceful uses of outer space, including satellite launches, GLONASS navigation system, remote sensing and other societal applications of outer space.

Science & Technology: The Working Group on Science and Technology functioning under IRIGC-TEC, the Integrated Long Term Programme (ILTP) and the Basic Science Cooperation Programme are the three main institutional mechanisms for bilateral Science and Technology cooperation.

Cultural Cooperation: There is a strong tradition of Indian studies in Russia. JNCC maintains close cooperation with leading Russian institutions. There is strong interest among Russian people in Indian dance, music, yoga and Ayurveda.

Opportunities

Similar Approach: As the US-China rivalry threatens to disrupt the order of the day, India and Russia remain supporters of multipolar world order.

Strategic Space to Each Other: The most important, critical takeaway from the relationship for both countries is the strategic space they provide each other to deal with the US, China and other great powers.

Multilateral Cooperation: The willingness towards continued cooperation is visible in formats including BRICS, UNSC, NSG, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Inclusive Indo-Pacific: The proposed Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor could improve trade ties with the Russian Far East and the link will also act as a bridge between the Eurasian Union and open, free and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

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Challenges

External Factors: The world is grappling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While their bilateral relationship is free of active conflict, the repercussions of external factors can no longer be ignored or underestimated.

Proximity to China: Since 2014, China has emerged as Russia’s key external partner, brought even closer due to their continued tensions with the US-led West. On the other hand, India has witnessed a steady deterioration in relations with an increasingly aggressive China.

US Reservations: While India is keen on buying the S-400 air defence system from Russia, the USA has repeatedly expressed reservations – the Trump administration did not invoke sanctions on Indian entities and the Biden administration is yet to take a call.

Relations with Others: At a time of uncertainty in a changing world, it is difficult to ensure that India’s and Russia’s engagement with other powers does not come at the expense of their bilateral partnership.

Way Ahead

Revitalize the bilateral India-Russia agenda: In this regard, an action like the quiet diplomatic effort by Russia last year to get India and China to the table during their border clashes is critical for building confidence and much more effective than public airing of differences.

Revive the Economic Agenda: While cooperation in the defence and energy sector will continue to form the bedrock of the ties, a more broad-based economic engagement is urgently needed.

o A forward-looking economic agenda should include cooperation in the hi-tech sector, biotechnology, nanotechnology, AI, space, start-up and innovation, pharmaceuticals, healthcare etc. to harness the strengths of the two countries.

Free & Frank Discussions: Neither India-China ties nor US-Russia ties are expected to improve in the short term. Thus, it might be prudent to intensify “free and frank” discussions on all issues to maintain neutrality on issues of core concern for each other while taking steps to strengthen the bilateral relationship.

Cooperation in the Far East and the Arctic: Furthering cooperation in the Russian Far East and the Arctic, both in bilateral and multilateral formats, would be beneficial for India.

Talks on Afghanistan Peace: It may be useful to discuss reviving the cooperation between India, Iran and Russia on Afghanistan.

Source: LM

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International Relations

India and the US signed a Project Agreement (PA) Syllabus: GS2/ Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

In News

Recently, India and the US signed a co-development agreement for an Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV).

About Project Agreement(PA)

The PA was signed between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) by the co-chairs of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Air Systems, under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

The PA outlines the collaboration between:

o Air Force Research Laboratory,

o Indian Air Force, and

o Defence Research and Development Organisation towards design, development, demonstration, testing and evaluation of systems to co-develop an ALUAV prototype.

Brief history:

o The PA for the ALUAV fell under the Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation Memorandum of Agreement between MoD and U.S. DoD, which was first signed in January 2006 and renewed in January 2015.

o It was a significant step towards deepening defence technology collaboration between the two nations through the co-development of defence equipment.

Principal organisations for the execution of PA

o The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) at DRDO

o Aerospace Systems Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL),

o the Indian Air Force

o US Air Force

US | India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI)

Deepening bilateral defense cooperation is a strategic imperative for the United States and India, but for many years progress in this area was impeded by unique national bureaucratic structures, acquisition models, and budget processes.

In 2012, the Department of Defense created a mechanism for overcoming or reducing these impediments. This effort has evolved into the India-U.S. Defense Technology and Trade Initiative or DTTI.

DTTI is intended to focus senior U.S. and Indian leadership on real opportunities and challenges associated with strengthening our defence partnership.

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While DTTI is not a treaty or law, it elevates the shared commitment of both

countries to:

o defence trade,

o helps eliminate bureaucratic obstacles,

o accelerates timelines,

o promotes collaborative technology exchange,

o strengthens cooperative research, and

o enables co-production/co-development of defence systems for sustainment

and modernization of our military forces.

Under the DTTI Terms of Reference, the two leads will meet as the DTTI Group

every six months alternating locations between the U.S. and India.

The day-to-day DTTI effort is overseen by the DTTI Interagency Task Force

(DIATF).

Four Service-led Joint Working Groups (JWGs) execute projects and activities

under DTTI:

o Land Systems (LS),

o Naval Systems (NS),

o Air Systems (AS), and

o Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation (ACTC).

Objective:

o The main aim of DTTI is to bring sustained leadership focus to promote

collaborative technology exchange and create opportunities for co-

production and co-development of future technologies for Indian and US

military forces.

The PA for co-development of ALUAV has been overseen by the Joint Working

Group on Air Systems and is a major accomplishment for DTTI.

Other Agreements between India and the US

LEMOA:

o The two countries have also inked key defence and security pacts over the

past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of

Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each other’s

bases for repair and replenishment of supplies as well as provides for

deeper cooperation.

COMCASA:

o The two sides have also signed the COMCASA (Communications

Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 that provides for

interoperability between the two militaries and the sale of high-end

technology from the US to India.

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BECA:

o In October last year, India and the US sealed the BECA (Basic Exchange

and Cooperation Agreement) agreement to further boost bilateral defence

ties. The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics

and geospatial maps between the two countries.

The Indian defence establishment has already used at least five American

platforms at the LAC— C-17 Globemaster III for military transport, Boeing’s

Chinook CH-47 as heavy-lift helicopters, Boeing’s Apache as tank-killers, P-8I

Poseidon for overland reconnaissance, and Lockheed Martin’s C-130J for airlifting

troops.

Significance

Mutual trust:

o The enhancement of mutual trust and a commitment to the long-term

strategic relationship.

Structured and efficient:

o With these key defence pacts in place, cooperation between the US and

India can take place in a more structured and efficient way, rather than in

episodic bursts.

Sharing of valuable assets, encrypted systems and classified information:

o While LEMOA means one partner trusts the other enough to expose its

valuable assets, COMCASA means one is confident that it can rely on

encrypted systems to connect the two militaries. And the latest pact, BECA,

means the countries can share highly classified information in real-time

without fear of being compromised.

Challenges

The US wants India to move away from Russian equipment and platforms, as it

feels this may expose its technology and information to Moscow.

So far, India is going ahead with the purchase of the S-400 air defence missile

system from Russia, and this has been a sticking point for American interlocutors.

Conclusion

The United States and India have shared interests in promoting global security,

stability, and economic prosperity through trade, investment, and connectivity.

New Delhi’s strategic embrace of Washington is a desirable outcome due to clear

and present danger from China.

Source: TH

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Biodiversity and Environment

India Plastics Pact Syllabus: GS3/ Environment & Pollution

In News

India has become the first Asian country to launch the Plastics Pact.

What are Plastic Pacts?

About:

It is a network of initiatives that bring together all key stakeholders at the national or regional level to implement solutions for plastic eradication.

First Plastics Pact was launched in the U.K. in 2018.

Objectives:

To eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging through innovation

To increase the reuse, collection, and recycling of plastic packaging

India Plastics Pact:

A joint initiative between the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF India) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Aim & Objectives: Commitments for building a circular system for plastics by 2030:

o Complement India's other bold initiatives in the renewables sector and efforts to limit single-use plastics.

o 100 per cent of plastic packaging to be reusable or recyclable.

Plastic Waste in India

India generates 9.46 metric tonnes of plastic waste annually, of which 40 per cent is not collected.

India consumes about 13 million tonnes of plastic and recycles only about 4 million tonnes.

Major Concerns of Plastic Use

Plastic waste is blocking sewers, threatening marine life and generating health risks for residents in landfills or the natural environment.

Financial costs of marine plastic pollution: According to conservative forecasts made in March 2020, the direct harm to the blue economy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be $2.1 billion per year.

o Boats become entangled in abandoned or discarded fishing nets or their engines may become blocked with plastic debris.

Enormous social costs: Residents of coastal regions suffer from the harmful health impacts of plastic pollution and waste brought in by the tides and are inextricably linked to the fishing and tourism industry for their livelihoods.

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Food and Health: Invisible plastic has been identified in tap water, beer, salt and

are present in all samples collected in the world’s oceans, including the Arctic.

o The transfer of contaminants between marine species and humans through

the consumption of seafood has been identified as a health hazard.

Climate change: Plastic, which is a petroleum product, also contributes to global

warming. If plastic waste is incinerated, it releases carbon dioxide into the

atmosphere, thereby increasing carbon emissions.

Tourism: Plastic waste damages the aesthetic value of tourist destinations, leading

to decreased tourism-related incomes and major economic costs related to the

cleaning and maintenance of the sites.

Water Pollution: Causing Soil & Groundwater pollution.

Global Efforts To Tackle it

1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and

Other Matter (or the London Convention).

Protocol to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from

Ships (MARPOL).

Glo Litter Partnerships Project (Launched by the IMO)

Initiatives of India

The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 clearly stipulate that urban local

bodies (ULBs) should ban less than 50 micron thick plastic bags and not allow

usage of recycled plastics for packing food, beverage or any other eatables.

The Rules also require that local bodies should provide separate collection,

storage and processing of plastic waste in their areas.

The government has set an ambitious target of eliminating single-use plastics by

2022.

India is a signatory to MARPOL (International Convention on Prevention of

Marine Pollution).

In addition, the Prevention of Marine Pollution is also dealt with by Merchant

Shipping Rules, 2009 framed under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.

Ban on Single-Use Plastics in a bid to free India of single-use plastics by 2022.

Swachh Bharat Mission

Project REPLAN

Way Ahead

Designing a product: Identifying plastic items that can be replaced with non-

plastic, recyclable, or biodegradable materials is the first step.

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o Find alternatives to single-use plastics and reusable design goods by

working with product designers. Countries must embrace circular and

sustainable economic practices throughout the plastics value chain to

accomplish this.

Pricing: Plastics are inexpensive because they are made with substantially

subsidised oil and may be produced at a lower cost, with fewer economic

incentives to employ recycled plastics. Promoting alternative materials or reused

and recycled plastics are necessary.

Technologies and Innovation: Developing tools and technology to assist

governments and organisations in measuring and monitoring plastic garbage in

cities.

o ‘Closing the loop’ project of the United Nations Economic and Social

Commission for Asia and the Pacific assists cities in developing more

inventive policy solutions to tackle the problem. A similar approach can be

adopted in India.

Promoting a plastic-free workplace: All catering operations should be prohibited

from using single-use plastics. To encourage workers and clients to improve their

habits, all single-use goods can be replaced with reusable items or more

sustainable single-use alternatives.

Producer responsibility: Extended responsibility can be applied in the retail

(packaging) sector, where producers are responsible for collecting and recycling

products that they launch into the market.

Municipal and community actions: Beach and river clean-ups, public awareness

campaigns explaining how people’s actions contribute to marine plastic pollution

(or how they may solve it) and disposable plastic bag bans and levies.

Multi-stakeholder collaboration: Government ministries at the national and local

levels must collaborate in the development, implementation and oversight of

policies, which includes participation from industrial firms, non-governmental

organisations and volunteer organisations.

Other steps: Several steps to combat plastic pollution like identifying hotspots for

plastic leakage can assist governments in developing effective policies that address

the plastic problem directly.

Source: LM

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Facts In News

Indian Economy

Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)

Syllabus: GS3/ Indian Economy & related issues

In News

Recently, the Finance Minister chaired the 24th meeting of the Financial Stability

and Development Council (FSDC).

About

The meeting deliberated on the various mandates of the FSDC, Financial

Stability, Financial Sector Development, Inter-regulatory Coordination, Financial Literacy and Financial Inclusion.

The Council also discussed issues relating to the management of stressed assets, strengthening institutional mechanism for financial stability analysis, financial

inclusion, framework for resolution of financial institutions and internationalization of Indian Rupee and pension sector related issues.

Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC)

It is a non-statutory apex council under the Ministry of Finance constituted by the Executive Order in 2010.

The Raghuram Rajan Committee (2008) on financial sector reforms first proposed the creation of FSDC.

Composition of FSDC:

Chairperson: The Union Finance Minister of India.

Members: Governor Reserve Bank of India (RBl), Finance Secretary and/ or Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance.

Other members include the Chairman of SEBI, IRDA, PFRDA and IBBI

The FSDC Sub Committee is Chaired by the Governor of the RBI.

All the members of the FSDC are also members of the Sub-committee.

Aims and Objectives:

To strengthen and institutionalise the mechanism of maintaining financial and macroeconomic stability.

Financial literacy & literacy.

Coordinating India’s international interface with financial sector bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Financial Stability Board (FSB).

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Health

Mu variant of COVID-19

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

In News

The WHO has classified a new Mu variant of COVID-19 as a variant of interest (VOI).

About

Mu variant was first found in Colombia in January 2021 and has been found in about 39 countries so far.

There have been few reported cases of the Mu variant and some larger outbreaks have been reported from countries in South America and in Europe.

Other Variants

The four other variants of interest are Eta, Iota, Kappa and Lambda.

Variant of Interest

The designation as a “variant of interest” means that the genetic changes involved are predicted or known to affect transmissibility, disease severity, or immune escape.

It is also an acknowledgement of the fact that the variant has caused significant community transmission in multiple countries and population groups.

Other Variant categories include

The variant of Concern (VOC) is defined as “A variant for which there is evidence of an increase in transmissibility, more severe disease (e.g., increased hospitalizations or deaths), a significant reduction in neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures.

A variant of high consequence: It has clear evidence that prevention measures or medical countermeasures have significantly reduced effectiveness relative to previously circulating variants.

How do variants of a virus emerge?

Variants of a virus have one or more mutations that differentiate them from the other variants that are in circulation.

While most mutations are deleterious for the virus, some make it easier for the virus to survive.

Essentially, the goal of the virus is to reach a stage where it can cohabitate with humans because it needs a host to survive.

This means, any virus is likely to become less severe as it keeps evolving, but in this process, it can attain some mutations that may be able to escape the body’s immune response or become more transmissible.

Source: TH

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https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/who-warns-new-mu-variant-of-covid-19-could-be-more-vaccine-resistant/article36244952.ece


Agriculture & Economic Development

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Syllabus: GS2/ International Institutions/ GS3, Agriculture, Issues of Buffer Stocks & Food Security

In News

Recently, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has made the commitment to focus 30 per cent of its climate finance to support nature-

based solutions in rural small-scale agriculture by 2030.

About

Ahead of coming to IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille, IFAD calls for more investment to protect biodiversity.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress is organised every four years and is one of the biggest of its kind for biodiversity.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

About:

It is a specialized international financial institution of the United Nations working in the field of poverty eradication in the rural areas of developing countries.

It was established in 1977 and made engagement in providing grants and loans with low interest for allied projects.

HQ:

Rome, Italy

Objectives:

To increase the productive capacity of poor people.

To increase benefits for them from market participation.

To strengthen the environmental sustainability & climate resilience of their economic activities.

Member states:

IFAD has 177 member states and works in partnership with the Organization of

the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

India is also a member country.

Presence In India

IFAD has been working in India since 1979.

In India, IFAD is working at the grass-roots level, targeting its activities to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in rural society, such as small-scale and marginal farmers, women, tribal communities and scheduled castes.

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Flagship publications:

Rural Development Report

IFAD at a glance

Investing in rural people in India

Addressing Hunger and Poverty: 30 years of IFAD’s Development Partnership in India

Images of Tribal Development in India

Source: DTE

India and Foreign relations

Durand Line

Syllabus: GS2/ Foreign Affairs

In News

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told in media that Afghans oppose the fence erected by Pakistan along the Durand Line.

Durand Line

It is the 2,670-kilometre-long international land border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The agreement regarding this was signed on November 12, 1893, between the British civil servant Sir Henry Mortimer Durand and Amir Abdur Rahman, then the Afghan ruler.

The line cut through Pashtun tribal areas on both sides of the border.

The line stretches from Afghanistan’s border with China to Afghanistan’s border with Iran.

With independence in 1947, Pakistan inherited the Durand Line.

Image Courtesy: IE

Source: IE

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https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/ahead-of-iucn-event-ifad-calls-for-more-investment-to-protect-biodiversity-78824

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/durand-line-friction-point-between-afghanistan-pakistan-7485631/

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/durand-line-friction-point-between-afghanistan-pakistan-7485631/

Time: 45 min Date: 04-09-2021

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Transcript of Time: 45 min Date: 04-09-2021