6 September 2024 Daily

Current Affairs
In English
INDEX
❖ Bandipur Tiger Reserve:
❖ Public Distribution System
❖ India Nepal Relations
❖ Critical Minerals Explainer
❖ Breastfeeding globally

Bandipur Tiger Reserve:

Location:
It is situated in two contiguous districts (Mysore and Chamarajanagar)
of Karnataka and located in the tri-junction area of the States of Karnataka,
Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Geographically, it is an “ecological confluence” of the Western and Eastern
Ghats.
History:
It was once a hunting ground for the rulers of the neighbouring kingdom
of Mysore.
It was established in the year 1931 as Venugopala Wildlife Park by the Maharaja
of Mysore.
It was then expanded with the name Bandipur Tiger Reserve under Project
Tiger in 1973.
It is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is recognized as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.

BTR is surrounded by:

Nagarahole Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu) in the North West (Kabini Reservoir
separates the two).
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu) in the South.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the South West.

Rivers: It is surrounded by River Kabini in its north and River Moyar in its south.

UPSC PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Law Commission of India:
1. It is a statutory body, established by an Act of Parliament.
2. It serves as an advisory body to Ministry of Law and Justice.
3. It is reconstituted every five years.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All three
D) None
Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation – Statements 1 and 3 are incorrect The Law Commission is not a statutory
or constitutional body. It is an ad hoc executive body constituted by the Government
of India.
The Law Commission is reconstituted every three years. The first Law Commission in
India was established in 1834 during British rule under the Charter Act of 1833,
chaired by Lord Macaulay. The first Law Commission of independent India was
established in 1955, chaired by M.C. Setalvad, the then Attorney-General of India.
Statement 2 is correct. The Law Commission serves as an advisory body to the
Ministry of Law and Justice, providing recommendations for legal reforms and
improvements in the legal system.

Public Distribution System

About the System
The Public distribution system (PDS) is an Indian food Security
System established under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public
Distribution.
PDS evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of food
grains at affordable prices
PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State
Governments.
The Central Government, through Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed
the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation
of food grains to the State Governments.
The operational responsibilities including allocation within the State,
identification of eligible families, issue of Ration Cards and supervision of the
functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc., rest with the State Governments.
Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat, rice, sugar and
kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution. Some States/UTs
also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets
such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.
Evolution of PDS in India
PDS was introduced around World War II as a war-time rationing measure.
Before the 1960s, distribution through PDS was generally dependant on imports
of food grains.
It was expanded in the 1960s as a response to the food shortages of the time;
subsequently, the government set up the Agriculture Prices Commission and
the FCI to improve domestic procurement and storage of food grains for PDS.
By the 1970s, PDS had evolved into a universal scheme for the distribution of
subsidised food
Till 1992, PDS was a general entitlement scheme for all consumers without any
specific target.
The Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) was launched in June, 1992
with a view to strengthen and streamline the PDS as well as to improve its reach
in the far-flung, hilly, remote and inaccessible areas where a substantial section
of the underprivileged classes lives.
In June, 1997, the Government of India launched the Targeted Public
Distribution System (TPDS) with a focus on the poor.
Under TPDS, beneficiaries were divided into two categories: Households below
the poverty line or BPL; and Households above the poverty line or APL.

Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY):

AAY was a step in the direction of making TPDS aim at reducing hunger among
the poorest segments of the BPL population.
A National Sample Survey exercise pointed towards the fact that about 5% of
the total population in the country sleeps without two square meals a day. In
order to make TPDS more focused and targeted towards this category of
population, the "Antyodaya Anna Yojana” (AAY) was launched in December,
2000 for one crore poorest of the poor families.
In September 2013, Parliament enacted the National Food Security Act,
2013. The Act relies largely on the existing TPDS to deliver food grains as legal
entitlements to poor households. This marks a shift by making the right to food
a justiciable right.

How PDS system functions?

 The Central and State Governments share responsibilities in order to provide
food grains to the identified beneficiaries.
The centre procures food grains from farmers at a minimum support price
(MSP) and sells it to states at central issue prices. It is responsible for
transporting the grains to godowns in each state.
States bear the responsibility of transporting food grains from these godowns to
each fair price shop (ration shop), where the beneficiary buys the food grains at
the lower central issue price. Many states further subsidise the price of food
grains before selling it to beneficiaries.

Importance of PDS
It helps in ensuring Food and Nutritional Security of the nation.
It has helped in stabilising food prices and making food available to the poor at
affordable prices.
It maintains the buffer stock of food grains in the warehouse so that the flow of
food remain active even during the period of less agricultural food production.
It has helped in redistribution of grains by supplying food from surplus regions
of the country to deficient regions.
The system of minimum support price and procurement has contributed to the
increase in food grain production.

Issues Associated with PDS System in India

Identification of beneficiaries:
Studies have shown that targeting mechanisms such as TPDS are prone to large
inclusion and exclusion errors. This implies that entitled beneficiaries are not
getting food grains while those that are ineligible are getting undue benefits.
According to the estimation of an expert group set up in 2009, PDS suffers from
nearly 61% error of exclusion and 25% inclusion of beneficiaries, i.e. the
misclassification of the poor as non-poor and vice versa.

Leakage of food grains:

(Transportation leakages + Black Marketing by FPS owners) TPDS suffers from
large leakages of food grains during transportation to and from ration shops
 into the open market. In an evaluation of TPDS, the erstwhile Planning
Commission found 36% leakage of PDS rice and wheat at the all-India level.

Issue with procurement:

Open-ended Procurement i.e., all incoming grains accepted even if buffer stock
is filled, creates a shortage in the open market.

Issues with storage:

A performance audit by the CAG has revealed a serious shortfall in the
government’s storage capacity.
Given the increasing procurement and incidents of rotting food grains, the lack
of adequate covered storage is bound to be a cause for concern.
The provision of minimum support price (MSP) has encouraged farmers to
divert land from production of coarse grains that are consumed by the poor, to
rice and wheat and thus, discourages crop diversification.

Environmental issues:
The over-emphasis on attaining self-sufficiency and a surplus in food grains,
which are water-intensive, has been found to be environmentally unsustainable.
Procuring states such as Punjab and Haryana are under environmental stress,
including rapid groundwater depletion, deteriorating soil and water conditions
from overuse of fertilisers.
It was found that due to cultivation of rice in north-west India, the water table
went down by 33 cm per year during 2002-08.

PDS Reforms
Role of Aadhar:
Integrating Aadhar with TPDS will help in better identification of beneficiaries
and address the problem of inclusion and exclusion errors. According to a study
by the Unique Identification Authority of India, using Aadhaar with TPDS would
help eliminate duplicate and ghost (fake) beneficiaries, and make identification
of beneficiaries more accurate.
Technology-based reforms of TPDS implemented by states:
Wadhwa Committee, appointed by the Supreme court, found that certain
states had implemented computerisation and other technology-based reforms
to TPDS. Technology-based reforms helped plug leakages of food grains during
TPDS.
India-Nepal Relations
About:
 India and Nepal, being immediate neighbors, enjoy special bonds of friendship
and collaboration marked by an open border and strong people-to-people
connections rooted in kinship and culture.
 Nepal shares a border of over 1850 km with five Indian states – Sikkim, West
Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
 The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of
the special relations that exist between India and Nepal.
Economic Cooperation:
 India is Nepal's largest trade partner and the largest source of foreign
investments, besides providing transit for almost the entire third country trade
of Nepal.
 India accounts for about two-third of Nepal’s merchandise trade and about one-
third of trade in services.
 Recently, India and Nepal agreed to review the Treaty of Transit and the Treaty
of Trade, proposed amendments to existing agreements, strategies for
enhancing investment, the harmonization of standards and the synchronized
development of trade infrastructure.
Defense Cooperation:
 India has been aiding the modernization efforts of the Nepal Army through
equipment supply and training provisions.
 The joint military exercise, 'Surya Kiran,' at the battalion level, is conducted in
both India and Nepal on a rotational basis.In 2023, it was held in Pithoragarh,
Uttarakhand.
Cultural Cooperation:
 The Embassy of India in Nepal, in collaboration with Lumbini Development Trust
and Lumbini Buddhist University organized the inaugural India-Nepal Cultural
Festival in Lumbini in December 2023.
 The festival showcased the rich cultural heritage and traditions of India and
Nepal, with a focus on Buddhism.
Water Sharing:
 The Koshi Agreement (1954, revised in 1966) and Gandak Agreement (1959,
revised in 1964) were the initial significant agreements fostering India-Nepal
cooperation in the water resources sector.
 Another pivotal pact, the Mahakali Treaty (1996), ensures the fair utilization of
Mahakali river, waters for both countries.
Connectivity:
 India is assisting Nepal by upgrading 10 roads in the Terai area, establishing
cross-border rail links at Jogbani-Biratnagar and Jaynagar-Bardibas, and setting
up Integrated Check Posts at key locations such as Birgunj, Biratnagar,
Bhairahawa, and Nepalgunj.
 Also, India exported about 2200 MUs of electricity to Nepal in 2021.
Major Challenges to India Nepal Relations
Boundary Dispute
 The boundary dispute has become a significant source of tension in recent
India-Nepal relations, particularly concerning the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-
Lipulekh trijunction area in western Nepal and the Susta area in southern Nepal.
China’s Rising Footprint:
 China has provided financial and technical assistance to Nepal in areas such as
infrastructure, industrialization, human resources, health, education, and water
resources. Rising Nepal and China cooperation can undermine Nepal’s
distinction of a buffer state between India and China.
 Gorkhas, traditionally in the Indian Army, might join China's People's Liberation
Army (PLA) due to concerns over India's new Agniveer scheme.
Way Forward
 Addressing Immediate Concerns: Prioritize addressing immediate concerns
related to the Agniveer Scheme, to build trust and goodwill.
  Develop joint projects for the benefit of border regions, fostering a sense of
shared development.
Diplomatic Dialogue:
 Engage in sustained and open diplomatic discussions to address the boundary
dispute and other contentious issues..
Track-II Diplomacy:
 Encourage Track-II diplomacy involving non-governmental entities, academics,
and civil society to provide a new shape to India Nepal Cooperation.

Critical Minerals Explainer

What are Critical Minerals?
About:
 Critical minerals are those minerals that are essential for economic
development and national security, the lack of availability of these minerals or
concentration of extraction or processing in a few geographical locations may
lead to supply chain vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies.
 Critical minerals have no particular definition and countries identify the
minerals critical to them using their own criteria.
Declaration of Critical Minerals:
 It is a dynamic process, and it can evolve over time as new technologies, market
dynamics, and geopolitical considerations emerge.
 Different countries may have their own unique lists of critical minerals based on
their specific circumstances and priorities.
 The US has declared 50 minerals critical in light of their role in national security
or economic development.
 Japan has identified a set of 31 minerals as critical for their economy.
 The UK considers 18 minerals critical, EU (34) and Canada (31).
Critical Minerals for India:
 India has identified critical minerals depending upon their disruption potential,
substitutability, cross-cutting usage across different sectors, import reliance,
recycling rates etc.
 Expert Committee under Ministry of Mines has identified a set of 30 critical
minerals for India:
 These are Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium,
Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE,
Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium,
Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium.
 The states/UTs which house these 30 identified critical minerals are Bihar,
Gujarat, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and
Jammu and Kashmir.
 Creation of Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals (CECM) under the Ministry
of Mines is also recommended by the Committee. CECM will periodically update
the list of critical minerals for India and notify the critical mineral strategy from
time to time.
Current Scenario for Critical Minerals Around the Globe
Rapid Surge in Demand and Market Growth for Critical Minerals:
 From 2017 to 2022, the demand for lithium tripled, cobalt increased by 70%,
and nickel rose by 40%, primarily driven by the energy sector.
 The International Energy Agency (IEA) has estimated that in order to meet
the Paris Agreement targets, the share of clean energy technologies in the total
demand for critical minerals over the next two decades would be over 40% for
copper and rare earths, 60-70% for nickel and cobalt and 90% for lithium.
 In general, mineral demand for clean energy technologies would rise by at least
four times by 2040 to meet the climate goals.
Global Efforts through Policy Measures:
 The availability of critical mineral supplies will greatly impact the affordability
and speed of energy transitions. To mitigate uncertain global supply chains,
countries are implementing new policies to diversify their mineral supplies.
 The US, Canada, the EU and Australia have enacted regulatory legislation, while
resource-rich nations like Indonesia, Namibia, and Zimbabwe have imposed
restrictions on the export of unprocessed mineral ores.
Concentration of Critical Minerals in Select Countries:
 These resources are concentrated in a few countries and, in the case of lithium,
cobalt and rare earths, the world’s top three producing nations control well
over three-fourths of global output.
 Specifically, Australia has 55% of lithium reserves, China has 60% of the rare
earths, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has 75% of cobalt, Indonesia has
35% of nickel, Chile has 30% of copper reserves.
Geopolitical Tensions and Resource Nationalism:
 It is important to address these challenges because global relations between
nations have become more polarised, especially due to events like the US-China
trade war and the Russia-Ukraine war. These conflicts have led to sanctions and
disruptions in established trade patterns.
Supply-Demand Dynamics:
 As the prices of critical industrial metals, such as copper, are expected to
increase in the coming years due to growing demand surpassing supply. This
rise in material prices will likely disrupt the production costs of devices like solar
panels and electric vehicles.
Significance of Critical Minerals
As Underlined by Erstwhile Planning Commission:
 In India, some efforts were made in the past to identify the minerals that are
critical for the country, including an initiative in 2011 by the Planning
Commission of India that highlighted the need for the critical minerals.
 That report analysed 11 groups of minerals under categories such as metallic,
nonmetallic, precious stones and metals, and strategic minerals. From 2017 to
2020, a big thrust was accorded to the study of exploration and development of
rare earth elements in the country.
Economic Development:
 Industries such as high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transport, and
defence heavily rely on these minerals. Additionally, critical minerals are
essential for green technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and
electric vehicles.
 Critical minerals play a significant role in decarbonisation, it is not limited to just
that. They are also required for fertilisers, construction, magnets for industries,
transport, consumer electronics, defence, etc.
 Given India's significant domestic demand and potential in these sectors, their
growth can lead to job creation, income generation, and innovation.
National Security:
 These minerals are vital for defence, aerospace, nuclear, and space applications,
necessitating the use of high-quality and reliable materials capable of
withstanding extreme conditions and performing complex functions.
 To ensure defence preparedness and self-reliance, India must secure a steady
supply of critical minerals.
Environmental Sustainability:
 As far as India is concerned, the availability of critical minerals (and rare earths)
is crucial as it has massive plans to become net-zero by 2070. By 2030, India
wants to set up 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power generating capacity.
 It also wants 30% of private cars, 70% of commercial vehicles and 80% of
two/three wheelers to go electric. All this will not be possible without a steady
source of lithium and other minerals required to manufacture batteries.
Promoting Industrial Activities through Vertical Integration:
 The identification of these minerals — which form part of multiple strategic
value chains, including clean technologies initiatives such as zero-emission
vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels; information and communication
technologies, including semiconductors; and advanced manufacturing inputs
and materials such as defence applications, permanent magnets, ceramics etc.
— contribute significantly to industrial production and robust supply-chain
networks.
International Cooperation:
 These collaborations enable India to diversify its import sources, reduce
dependency on China, and enhance mineral security and resilience. It has led to
the formation of the US-led Minerals Security Partnership (MSP).
 India, too, has joined the MSP. The aim of the MSP is to bolster the critical
minerals supply chain. The MSP includes countries like Australia, Canada,
Sweden and Norway, which have deposits of critical minerals, and also
countries like Japan and South Korea which have access to processing
technology.
Concerns Related to Critical Minerals in India
Limited Domestic Reserves:
 India has limited reserves of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and other
rare earth elements. Most of these minerals are imported, making India heavily
dependent on other countries for its supply.
 This reliance on imports can create vulnerability in terms of price fluctuations,
geopolitical factors, and supply disruptions. India heavily relies on imports for
critical minerals; 100% import reliance for lithium and nickel, and 93% for
copper.
Increasing Demand for Minerals:
 The manufacturing of renewable energy technologies and the transition to
electric vehicles necessitate larger quantities of minerals such as copper,
manganese, zinc, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements.
 It is worth noting that when it comes to building a solar PV plant or a wind farm
or electric vehicles, they require more minerals than their fossil fuel
counterparts.
 An electric car needs six times the mineral input when compared to a
conventional car and an on-shore wind plant requires nine times more mineral
resources than a gas-fired plant.
Limited Membership of the US led MSP:
 It is worth taking into account that the MSP does not include countries like
Chile, DRC, Indonesia etc. (which are rich in certain critical minerals), raising
concerns about its effectiveness. The basic premise of MSP is “friend shoring”,
meaning moving manufacturing away from authoritarian and unfriendly states
to allies.
Challenges Posed by China:
Major Share of Rare Earth Reserves:
 Not only does China have a major share of rare earth reserves, it has also
completely monopolised the processing capacity of these minerals. China
processes 35% of the world’s nickel, 50-70% of lithium and cobalt and nearly
90% of rare earths.
 Chinese companies have made investments in Australia, Chile, Indonesia and
the DRC to source those minerals which it is not endowed with sufficiently.
Monopolising Manufacturing of Finished products:
 China has also monopolised the manufacture of finished products as it supplies
78% of cathodes, 85% of anodes, 70% of battery cells and 95% of permanent
magnets made from rare earths.
Settling Political Scores Against Countries:
 China, incidentally, has been using its monopoly position on rare earths to settle
political scores with countries like the US and Japan by restricting their exports
and also the related technology.
 China’s dominant position in the business of critical minerals and its willingness
to arm-twist other countries has clearly rattled the world community.
Lack of Processing and Manufacturing the Final Products:
 India has signed an agreement with Australia to jointly explore for lithium and
cobalt assets in Australia. The problem is that the availability of the minerals is
not enough. One needs to process it and manufacture the final product which
also means access to technology.
 There is considered to be a gestation period of about 15 years or more. There is
a big fear that lack of access to critical minerals may be the biggest roadblock to
India’s march towards decarbonisation.
Steps Required to Boost Critical Minerals Availability
Ensuring Resource Availability:
 Addressing the resource aspect is crucial. It is necessary to assess the
availability and accessibility of critical materials required for clean energy
technologies. This includes evaluating the domestic reserves of critical minerals
and exploring opportunities for their sustainable extraction or sourcing from
diverse international markets.
 Additionally, there should be strategies to ensure a steady supply of these
materials, mitigating risks associated with potential disruptions in global supply
chains.
Financial Considerations:
 The transition to clean energy often necessitates significant investments in
infrastructure development, research and development, and policy support.
There is a need for financing mechanisms, incentives, and funding models that
can attract both public and private investments
 Identifying avenues for international collaborations and exploring innovative
financing options will also be vital in mobilising the required capital for a
successful energy transition.
Technology as the Key Driver:
  Technology plays a critical role in achieving our energy goals. It is required for
the world to focus on fostering domestic technological capabilities, promoting
r&d, and fostering innovation in clean energy technologies.
 There is a need for technology transfer, collaborations with academia and
industry, and the creation of an ecosystem that supports the development,
adoption, and scaling up of innovative clean energy solutions.
Setting Up a Specialised Body:
 The Expert committee, under the Ministry of Mines, called for a need for
establishing a National Institute or Centre of Excellence on critical minerals on
the lines of Australia’s CSIRO, which is the largest minerals research and
development organisation in Australia and one of the largest in the world.
 A wing in the Ministry of Mines can be established as a Centre of Excellence for
Critical Minerals adding that this proposed Centre will periodically update the
list of critical minerals for India and notify the critical mineral strategy from time
to time.

Breastfeeding globally
During the Renaissance period, breastfeeding came to be seen
as unfashionable. Feeding bottles and formula milk were aggressively
advertised leading to a reduction in breastfeeding between the 17th and 19th
centuries.
However, during the late 19th century, an increase in infant mortality rate and
a rise in non-communicable diseases during adulthood were attributed to bottle
feeding.
This prompted experts and leaders everywhere to push for breastfeeding across
the world.
The advantages of breast milk are evidence-based, yet globally only 25%-40% of
babies are breastfed.
The National Family Health Survey-5 data show that there has been a decline in
early breastfeeding in as many as 12 of the 22 surveyed States and Union
Territories while the share of institutional births has increased.

Breastfeeding timeline:
Infants should be breastfed within one hour of birth, breastfed exclusively for
the first six months of their lives, and be breastfed after six months in
 combination with solid, semi-solid and soft food until they are about two years
old.

Advantages of breastfeeding:
Breastfeeding provides greater immunity for children against infection, allergies,
cancers and obesity; and improves brain maturation.

It is also beneficial for the mother:

it promotes faster weight loss after birth, reduces postpartum bleeding, and
protects her against breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis.
Data from The Lancet show that more investment in breastfeeding could add
$300 billion to the global economy and prevent about 8,20,000 child deaths
every year.

Initiatives to promote breastfeeding

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was established in 1991 to
create awareness about the importance of breastfeeding.
In 1992, WABA in coordination with UNICEF introduced World Breastfeeding
Week during the first week of August every year.
India enacted the Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods Act
in 1992 with stringent regulations.

Steps to improve breastfeeding in India:

Governments must allocate specific funds, rigorously implement the law, invest
in educating parents and health workers and involve civil society organisations
and the media in spreading awareness.
The government can establish breast milk banks in various parts of the country.
The government can provide lactating mothers with subsidised breast milk
pump equipment, and setting up exclusive facilities to breastfeed will prove to
be beneficial for breastfeeding.
Both the mother and newborn are vulnerable for the first 12 weeks. Therefore,
assistance from the partner is indispensable during this time. However, Indian
law only allows for 15 days of paternity leave. It is imperative to extend this to
12-16 weeks.