02 01 20 - tinglado-mediafiles.s3.amazonaws.com · • the gaganyaan programme will include two...

02 01 20

SL. NO.

TOPICS THE HINDU

PAGE NO.

1 Kerala for steps to curb alien plants’ growth in NBR 08

2 Infrastructure Push – Editorial 10

3 Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-3 in mission mode, says ISRO 01

4 The need for a single energy ministry – Article 10

5 The new worry of depleting diplomatic capital – Article 10

Dated: 02-Jan-2020 DNS Notes

Title 1. Kerala for steps to curb alien plants’ growth in NBR (The Hindu – Pg. 08)

Syllabus Prelims: Environment

GS III: Environment

Theme Steps to arrest rampant growth of invasive alien plants

Highlights Context: The Kerala Forest and Wildlife department is adopting steps to arrest rampant growth

of invasive alien plants especially tree species like Senna Spectabilis in the Nilgiri Biosphere

reserve.

What are Invasive Alien Species?

• Invasive alien species (IAS) are species whose introduction and/or spread outside their

natural past or present distribution threaten biological diversity.

Common characteristics of Invasive Alien Species include

(a) rapid reproduction and growth,

(b) high dispersal ability,

(c) phenotypic plasticity (ability to adapt physiologically to new conditions), and

(d) ability to survive on various food types and in a wide range of environmental conditions.

A good predictor of invasiveness is whether a species has successfully or unsuccessfully invaded

elsewhere.

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Title 2. Infrastructure Push – Editorial (The Hindu Pg. No. 10)

Syllabus Prelims: Economy

Mains: GS Paper III – Economy

Theme National Infrastructure Pipeline

Highlights

Context: The recent announcement made by Finance Minister about adding Rs. 102 lakh crore

in the Indian economy will definitely boost sentiments in the market. However, the challenge is

in making the plan to boost investment in infrastructure work to come out of slowdown

currently faced by Indian economy.

How will the projects work out?

• Projects in energy, roads, railways and urban infrastructure under the National

Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) have been identified by a task force.

• About 42% of such identified projects are already under implementation, 19% are under

development and 31% are at the conceptual stage.

• The NIP task force appears to have gone project-by-project, assessing each for viability

and relevance in consultation with the States.

• This editorial highlights that for this plan to work out, a constant review of the project

becomes important else the entire exercise will result in mere collation and listing of

projects.

How will it help?

• The government’s push on infrastructure development will not only enable ease of living

— such as metro trains in cities and towns — but also create jobs and increase demand

for primary commodities such as cement and steel.

• From this perspective, this push to invest in infrastructure is welcome.

Background

• In his Independence day Speech, the PM had highlighted that India would invest Rs 100

lakh crores on infrastructure over the next 5 years.

• To achieve the GDP of $5 trillion by 2024-25, India needs to spend about $1.4 trillion

(Rs. 100 lakh crore) on infrastructure. In the past decade (FY 2008-17), India invested

about $1.1 trillion on infrastructure.

• The challenge is to step-up annual infrastructure investment so that lack of

infrastructure does not become a binding constraint on the growth of the Indian

economy.

• To achieve this task, a Task Force under the chairmanship of Secretary (DEA) has been

constituted by Union Finance Minister to draw up a National Infrastructure Pipeline for

each of the years from FY 2019-20 to FY 2024-25 as below:

The Terms of Reference of the Task Force are as follows:

• To identify technically feasible and financially/ economically viable infrastructure

projects that can be initiated in FY 2019-20.

• To list the projects that can be included in the pipeline for each of the remaining 5 years

between FY 2021-25.

• To estimate annual infrastructure investment/capital costs.


• To guide the Ministries in identifying appropriate sources of financing.

• To suggest measures to monitor the projects so that cost and time overrun is

minimized.

What will National Infrastructure Pipeline include?

• The National Infrastructure Pipeline would include greenfield and brownfield projects

costing above Rs 100 crore each. Other qualifications for inclusion in the pipeline for the

current year will include availability of a DPR, feasibility of implementation, inclusion in

the financing plan and readiness/ availability of administrative sanction.

• Each Ministry/ Department would be responsible for monitoring of projects so as to

ensure their timely and within-cost implementation.

Hurdles & Challenges

• First, the financing plan assumes that the Centre and the States will fund 39% each while

the private sector will chip in with 22% of the outlay. Going by the present fiscal

situation, it will be a challenge for the Centre to raise Rs. 39 lakh crore, even if it is over

the next five years. The financial position of States is also not that good and this will also

act as a hurdle.

• Second, Rs. 22 lakh crore expected from private investment also looks steep considering

the lack of appetite for fresh investment by the private sector in the last few years.

• Given the scale of investment, recurring debt will play an important role and the role of

banks on infrastructural financing becomes the key subject to rising NPAs.

• Finally, cooperation from States becomes very important in implementing infrastructure

projects of such magnitude.


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Title 3. Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-3 in mission mode, says ISRO (Page number 01)

Syllabus Prelims: General Science

Mains: GS III – Science & Technology

Theme Projects of ISRO in mission mode

Highlights Abstract

• ISRO is working in mission mode for 2 important space missions including Gaganyaan

and Chandrayaan-3.

• Besides, ISRO has also finalized Thoothukudi district in TN for its second launch port

after Sriharikota.

About Gaganyaan

• Recently the Union Cabinet approved Rs 10,000 crore for India’s 1st Human spaceflight

programme, Gaganyaan to be launched by 2022.

• In August 2018 the Prime Minister announced that India will attempt a manned mission,

Gaganyaan into space by 2022.

• The Gaganyaan programme will include two unmanned flights to be launched in

December 2020 and July 2021 and one human space flight to be launched in December

2021.

• India’s first human spaceflight will carry 3 astronauts to a low earth orbit of 300 to 400

kilometres on board GSLV Mark III vehicle, for at least 7 days.

• In addition ISRO is also launching test flights with humanoids by end of this year to

conduct micro-gravity experiments.

• If successful, India would be the 4th country to send manned mission after the Russia,

USA and China.

Components of Gaganyaan

The most critical elements of the human mission are

Rocket: GSLV Mk-III

• GSLV Mk-III with an indigenous cryogenic engine is capable of delivering heavier

payloads deeper into space.

• In 2014, ISRO successfully tested an experimental flight of GSLX Mk-III

• In June 2017, ISRO successfully launched the first “developmental” flight of GSLV Mk-III

carrying GSAT-19 satellite into space.

• The rocket will take the crew to the low-earth orbit (300-400 km)

Crew Module

• A crew module carrying three Indians will be attached with a service module.

• These two modules will be integrated with an advanced GSLV Mk III rocket.

• The crew members will be selected by the IAF and ISR.

• The crew will perform micro-gravity and other scientific experiments for a week.

Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry technology - CARE

• Satellites that are launched for communication or remote sensing are meant to remain

in space.

• However, a manned spacecraft needs to come back.

• While reentering Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft needs to withstand very high

temperatures created due to friction.

• A prior critical experiment was carried out in 2014 along with GSLV MK-III when the

CARE (Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment) capsule successfully


demonstrated that it could survive atmospheric re-entry.

Crew Escape System - PAT

• The Crew Escape System is an emergency accident avoidance measure designed to

quickly get astronauts and their spacecraft away from the launch vehicle if a malfunction

occurs during the initial stage of the launch.

• In July 2018, ISRO completed the first successful flight ‘pad abort test’ or Crew Escape

System.

Environmental Control & Life Support System ECLSS

• The crew module carrying human beings must have conditions inside suitable for

humans to live comfortably.

• ECLSS will

▪ Maintain steady cabin pressure and air composition

▪ Remove carbon dioxide and other harmful gases

▪ Control temperature and humidity

▪ Manage parameters like fire detection and suppression

• The layout, design and configuration of ECLSS inside the crew module have been

finalised.

Chandrayaan-3

• ISRO has also announced Chandrayaan-3, a soft landing mission, after the failure of

Vikram Lander under Chandrayaan 2.

• While the Orbiter of Chandrayaan 2 is in the lunar orbit, the Lander and Rover failed

after the lander crash-landed on lunar surface.

• ISRO’s moon Lander will be the first to land in southern hemisphere of moon surface.

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Title 4. The need for a single energy ministry – Article (The Hindu Page 10)

Syllabus Prelims: Economy

GS III: Economy

Theme Energy Governance in India

Highlights 1) Five different Ministries along with a multitude of regulatory bodies govern India's

energy sector:

• Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (Regulators under the Ministry are - Directorate

General of Hydrocarbons and Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board)

• Ministry of Coal

• Ministry of Power (Central Electricity Regulatory Commissions, DISCOMs)

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

• Department of Atomic Energy

• In addition there are many agencies at the State level which

2) Fragmented data collection:

• No single agency collects energy data in a wholesome and integrated manner for the

energy sector in India.

• Data pertaining to consumption is barely available while supply side data is collected by

agencies of respective ministries are riddled with gaps.

• Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation collates data from various ministries

and conducts surveys at sporadic intervals.

3) Energy Efficiency:

• Bureau of Energy Efficiency is the sole authority with the mandate to regulate energy

efficiency on the consumption side. There is no agency for the same purpose on the

supply side.

• This leads to problems such as:-

1) Problem of coordination

2) Suboptimal utilisation of resources

3) Undermining of efforts of energy security

4) Each ministry inadvertently promotes its own fuels over other choices, which may

not always be the best option.

5) Turf wars between different ministries

6) Regulatory Cholesterol and Unease of doing business

Thus, there is a need for Unified Energy Ministry:

Suggestions of NITI Aayog in Draft Energy Policy:

• NITI Aayog has advocated for a Unified Ministry of Energy to be created by merging

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of New and Renewable

Energy and Ministry of Power.

• The Department of Atomic Energy has been left out as a independent agency because of

its strategic nature and involves issues of national security.

• The proposed ministry will have six agencies under it to handle various aspects of energy

security:


1) Energy Regulatory Agency

2) Energy Data Agency

3) Energy Efficiency Agency

4) Energy Planning and Technical Agency

5) Energy Schemes Implementation Agency

6) Energy R&D agency

This will lead to:

• Integrated approach to energy security

• Quicker policy response

• Focus on both the supply side and demand side of energy sector

• Holistic collection of data and its management

Case Study:

• Creation of Ministry of Jal Shakti by integrating Ministry of Water Resources, River

Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has

led to:

1) Unification of water management functions

2) Treatment of issues related to water more holistically

3) Better coordination of efforts

Global Experience:

• Developed and efficient countries such as USA, UK, France and Germany have their

vibrant, diverse and prolific energy sectors administered by single ministry or

department. There are also instances where the energy ministry is an conjunction with

other portfolios such as environment, climate change, mines and industry. For ex. The UK

has the 'Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy'.

• In any organization, functional division is inevitable but it should not be at the cost of an

integrated approach towards organizational goals. It is therefore necessary that while

structuring Government into Ministries and Departments, a golden mean between the

need for functional specialization and the adoption of an integrated approach is adopted.

This would involve an in-depth analysis of all the government functions followed by their

grouping into certain key categories to be linked to a Ministry.

• In India, the Departmentally Related Standing Committees of Parliament is a good

example of integration of inter-connected subject matters.

Why proliferation of Ministries takes place:

1) Compulsions of coalition politics

2) Large diversity in India

3) Functional specialisation

Recommendations of Second Administrative Reforms Commission on Reorganisation of

Ministries:

(a) The concept of a Ministry would have to be redefined. A Ministry would mean a group of

departments whose functions and subjects are closely related and is assigned to a First or

Coordinating Minister for the purpose of providing overall leadership and coordination.


This concept of a Ministry and the Coordinating (or First) Minister may be explicitly laid

down in the Allocation of Business Rules. Adequate delegation among the Ministers

would have to be laid down in the Transaction of Business Rules. As a consequence of

this, rationalization of Secretary level posts wherever required may also need to be

carried out.

(b) Individual departments or any combination of these could be headed by the

Coordinating (or First) Minister, other Cabinet Minister(s)/Minister(s) of State.

(c) The structure of the Government of India should be rationalised by grouping together

closely related subjects

• Ensuring energy security, sustainability, accessibility and energy transition towards

renewable energy demands quick and holistic decision making as well as providing a

level playing field for various fuels.

• All of this can happen only under a unified Energy Ministry. Such a regulatory reform will

lead India to keep up with global energy transition and also continue to be a leader in

adopting cleaner energy sources.

Basics of Ministry

• Article 74 of the Indian Constitution provides that there shall be a Council of Ministers

with the Prime

• Minister at the head to aid and advise the President who shall, in the exercise of his

functions, act in accordance with such advice. Article 75 further provides that the Prime

Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other Ministers shall be appointed

by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. It also provides that the total

number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister, in the Council of Ministers shall not

exceed 15% of the total number of Members of the Lok Sabha.

• In India, Rules of Business have been laid down providing for the subjects allotted to

different Ministries and how the business allotted to the Ministries should be transacted.

• Thus, the Government of India (Transaction of Business Rules) states that subject to the

provisions of these Rules in regard to consultation with other departments and

submission of cases to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and its Committees and the

President, all business allotted to a department under the Government of India

(Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, shall be disposed of by, or under the general or

special directions of the Minister-incharge of that Department.

• The distribution of subjects among the departments shall be as specified in the First

Schedule to the Allocation of Business Rules and shall include all attached and

subordinate offices or other organizations including Public Sector Undertakings

concerned with its subjects.


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Title 5. The new worry of depleting diplomatic capital – Article (The Hindu Page 10)

Syllabus Prelims: International Relations

GS II: International Relations

Theme India’s depleting diplomatic capital due to domestic actions

Highlights Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his second term has taken a hard line approach in

dealing with m=bilateral ties specially with its neighbours. Now, Ministry of External Affairs

devotes its foreign missions dealing with India’s domestic concerns and their fallout. Among

them, the decision to amend Article 370 of the Constitution on Jammu and Kashmir, the

Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, or the CAA, 2019, and the proposal for the National Register

of Citizens (NRC) have been called into question by several countries and international

organisations.

Hard Stance affecting ties with US & European countries

• At the Howdy Modi event in september 2019, there were only three Democrat leaders at

the event signaling depleting of support from the democrats. This is not a good sign as

Modi enjoyed special friendship with Barak Obama during his Presidentship.

• Another reason for concern is that even among the five Indian-American lawmakers, only

one was present.

• State Department and several bipartisan committees of US have issued statements of

concern over continued detentions in Kashmir and the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019.

• Lawmakers in US have inserted language on Kashmir into the annual Foreign

Appropriations Act for 2020.

• A resolution urging India to lift restrictions in Kashmir, sponsored by Indian-American

lawmaker Pramila Jayapal, now has 29 co-sponsors, including two Republicans, and a

lawmaker who had earlier attended “Howdy Modi”.

• India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently cancelled a meeting with US

lawmakers as Pramila Jayapal was also on the list and S. Jaishankar was not comfortable

to deal with hard questions on Kashmir and recently passed CAA.

• The same issues found voice in the U.K. Parliament. In the European Parliament, last

September, there were also discussions on Kashmir.

• It also led to heated battles within their polities, as Kashmir became a campaign talking

point between Labour and Conservative candidates in the U.K. elections.

• The Modi government’s invitation to far-right Members of the European Parliament

(MEPs) to visit Kashmir last October has riled European diplomats from various countries

as they were denied similar access to Kashmir amid lockdown.

Impacting Bangladesh Relations

• In the neighbourhood, the government has upset both friend and foe with its wording of

the CAA.

• In the past decade, and especially after completing the Land Boundary Agreement, Dhaka

and New Delhi had worked hard on building connectivity, opening energy routes, trade

and developing travel links.

• By clubbing Bangladesh with Pakistan and Afghanistan on treatment of minorities, India

has introduced a note of bitterness that is hard to mistake in the bilateral engagement.

• Some in Sheikh Hasina’s government have pointed out that the Modi government’s


desire to naturalise only one group of immigrants from Bangladesh but castigate the

others as “illegal immigrants” and “termites” will be seen in a communal light by

Bangladesh Government.

• This will also affect India’s relation with Islamic countries including Arab countries as such

step will be seen as discriminatory on grounds of religion.

• The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation plans for a special meet on Kashmir and the

CAA in April 2020, possibly in Islamabad.

Actions taken domestically will affect India internationally

• Questions will be asked by international community on crackdown in Uttar Pradesh and

protests across the country including Delhi on CAA.

• Thus, the government must weigh its diplomatic posture on these issues carefully, as all

of them are likely to dominate its time in 2020.

• The U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has already

recommended sanctions be considered for Home Minister Amit Shah and other officials.

• This seems far from reality, but it was USCIRF that first recommended a visa ban against

Mr. Modi, as Gujarat Chief Minister, in 2005. To date, Indian Prime Minister remains the

only individual worldwide sanctioned under the U.S.’s International Religious Freedom

Act of 1998.

• Even in U.S. Congress, lawmakers can effectively block defence sales to India, or pursue

sanctions on the S-400 missile system purchase from Russia, for example, regardless of

support in the Trump administration for India.

• On the international stage, the United Nations and its affiliated bodies, which often seem

toothless, could provide a platform for India to be targeted.

• In December 2019, a suit by a relatively remote player, the Gambia, ensured that

Myanmar’s top leadership was made to appear for a public hearing at the International

Court of Justice at The Hague in connection with the Rohingya issue.

• New Delhi’s break in ties with Turkey and Malaysia for their comments at the UN on

Kashmir could also lead to them vetoing India’s legitimate position at the Financial Action

Task Force (FATF), where it hopes to blacklist Pakistan for terror financing this year.

Way Ahead

• The government must also evaluate the toll on its diplomatic resources that have been

diverted for much of the year in firefighting negative international opinion. It is here

where skills of Jaishankar as former diplomat will prove handy.

• External Affairs Minister need to give number of interviews to the European and U.S.

media and the “think-tank blitz” in Washington and New York to deal with questions

about Kashmir and the NRC.

• The government must consider the impact of its domestic actions on India’s diplomatic

capital which must be preserved and defended.

• This capital is a complex combination of the goodwill the country has banked on over

decades as a democratic, secular, stable power, bilateral transactions it can conduct in the

present, and the potential it holds for future ties, particularly in terms of its economic and

geopolitical strengths.


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