“I would rather die of passion than of boredom.” – Vincent van Gogh
ORANGE COLOUR: Important for Prelims.
RED COLOUR: Important for Mains.
BLACK COLOUR: Must Read !
BLUE COLOUR : Important Links/Survey.
PINK COLOUR: Reports/Themes/Summits.
Page Contents:
30th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2021
Today's Must Read Articles :Environment ministry relaxed NOx norms
HEADLINES:
Environment ministry relaxed NOx norms; but did it need to?
WHY IN NEWS:
Hindalco has demonstrated that it is feasible to achieve the limits that were watered down
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Air Pollution
ISSUE:
CONTROLLED EMISSIONS
- The NOx emissions of this coal-fired boiler are for the first time cut down by 60 per cent without use of any reagents like ammonia / urea etc.
- The relaxations were brought about as the power sector strongly lobbied watering down the norms, alleging it was not possible to meet the 300 mg / Nm3 standard at all loads.
- The power plants have consistently lobbied for relaxation of NOx emission norms.
NOx – A NEW GENERATION CHALLENGE
- Oxides of nitrogen are a criteria pollutant emitted on burning coal.
- It is harmful. In addition, it also triggers the formation of ground level ozone .
- It leads to secondary particulate matter worsening health risks and needs to be controlled.
- Coal-based power plants, besides the transport sector, are a major source of this pollutant.
- There were no limits placed to control emissions of NOx from power plants before 2015.
- Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) provided assurance to the committee that “A NOx emission level of 450 mg / Nm3 can be achieved by combustion modification.
- To meet emissions below it would mean installation of slightly expensive pollution control equipment like selective non-catalytic reactors (SNCR) will be required.
ALTERNATIVES
- Hindalco have met the norms just through primary control methods, with least investments.
- Alternative methods to controlling NOx like SNCR, on the other hand, require pipes, tanks and reagents, making the process more expensive.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- Experts have questioned the failure of large companies like GE and BHEL to assure such low emissions by primary control methods.
- No decision has been taken over this yet.
SOURCES:DOWNTOEARTH | 30th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis
0.85 million viruses in birds and mammals
HEADLINES:
0.85 million viruses in birds and mammals can infect people: IPBES paper
WHY IN NEWS:
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), in an extraordinary research paper.
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Diseases
ISSUE:
Exotic reptiles being sold in Myanmar.IPBES REPORT
KEYPOINTS
- The IPBES report has been authored by 22 experts from across the world.
- The researchers have warned that pandemics like novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) would hit us more frequently and also kill more than the current one.
- The report has analysed the contribution of human-induced environmental damages in the emergence of new diseases.
- Although COVID-19 has its origins in microbes carried by animals, like all pandemics, its emergence has been entirely driven by human activities.
- We are yet to identify some 1.7 million viruses that exist in mammals and birds.
- Out of these, 50 per cent have the potential or ability to infect humans.
PATH TO PANDEMICS
- The same human activities that drive climate change and biodiversity loss also drive pandemic risk through their impacts on our environment.
- Changes in the way we use land; the expansion and intensification of agriculture are early signs.
- The current pandemic would have cost around $16 trillion globally by July 2020.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- We have the increasing ability to prevent pandemics — but the way we are tackling them right now largely ignores that ability.
- We can escape the era of pandemics, but this requires a much greater focus on prevention in addition to reaction.
- The international community knows how costly infectious disease outbreaks are.
SOURCES:DOWNTOEARTH | 30th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis
Fit India Walkathon
HEADLINES:
Union Sports Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju and actor Vidyut Jammwal to flag off 200-km long ‘Fit India Walkathon’ with ITBP
WHY IN NEWS:
Union Sports Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju, along with actor Vidyut Jammwal will flag off a 200-km long ‘Fit India Walkathon’ on October 31 .
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Sports : Health
CONTEXT:
FIT INDIA WALKATHON
AIM
- ‘Fit India Walkathon’ aims to create awareness about fit and healthy lifestyle in India.
- It comes on the heels of recently concluded ‘Fit India Freedom Run’ that saw the participation of over 6.5 crore people across India.
ORGANISERS
- The event is being organised by Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) .
TIMELINE
- The event will go on for 3 days (31st October – 2nd November) .
THE MAIN EVENT
- The walkathon march will continue day and night and will also pass through the dunes of the Thar desert in the area located along the India-Pakistan border.
- To take the Fit India Movement to every corner of the country is a key initiative of the Sports Ministry.
IASbhai WINDUP:
It was the clarion call of our PM to make the Fit India Movement a People’s Movement.
SOURCES: PIB | 30th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis
Lowest core sector shrinking since March
HEADLINES:
Lowest core sector shrinking since March
WHY IN NEWS:
India’s eight core industry sectors shrank just 0.8% in September on a year-on-year basis, recording their lowest contraction since March 2020
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: IIP
ISSUE:
COMPILED BY
- The Office of the Economic Adviser in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, which compiles the Index of Eight Core Industries.
OBSERVATIONS
- Electricity and steel output clocking positive growth for the first time since March, and coal production rising for the second month in a row.
- Cement output improved in September, recording a 3.5% year-on-year drop — the lowest since March when production had collapsed 25.1%.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- “The final growth rate of Index of Eight Core Industries for June 2020 is revised to (-) 12.4%.
- Earlier, output was estimated to have declined by 15% in June.
- Similarly, August had recorded a 8.5% dip in the index as per earlier estimates, which has been moderated to a 7.3% decline.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 30th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR Ordinance 2020
HEADLINES:
Centre sets up commission to tackle NCR pollution
WHY IN NEWS:
22-year-old EPCA dissolved
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Pollution
ISSUE:
COMMISSION FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION (PREVENTION AND CONTROL) AUTHORITY (EPCA)
- It was not a statutory body but drew legitimacy from the Supreme Court.
- It has been looking at cases of air pollution as part of the judgment in M C Mehta vs Union of India (1988).
- The EPCA was not, however, supported by a legal framework in the form of a law.
- It had no state representatives, just two permanent members.
- The Commission, on the other hand, will have representation from the state.
ROLE OF THE COMMISSION
- The ordinance makes it clear that state as well as central bodies will not have jurisdiction over matters related to air pollution.
- It will be headed by a former or incumbent Secretary to the Central government, or a Chief Secretary to a State government.
FOCUS
- Coordination between states
- Planning and execution of policy and interventions
- Operations of industry and inspections
- Research into the causes of pollution etc.
- Experts say the ordinance means that the power to issue fines may also lie with the new Commission.
HOW DOES IT HELP?
- Experts say the move doesn’t automatically guarantee action on the ground.
- “The central government has got itself out of the clutch of Supreme Court and closed down SC-appointed EPCA.
- New law is needed when the old one fails.
- They have not even tried implementing old laws.
- As per the Ordinance, only NGT, and not civil courts, is authorised to hear cases where the commission is involved.
CHALLENGES
- According to the Ordinance, the committee has been formed to do away with “ad-hoc measures” and to replace them to “streamline participation” from states and experts.
- The Commission has a large number of members from the central government, which has not gone down well with the states.
- Taking away any say from the state government is not the way to go further.
- Also, political differences will also now play a part in the functioning of the Commission because states are not happy with the overarching powers being vested in it.
IASbhai WINDUP:
In case the directions issued by a state and the Commission clash, the decision of the Commission will be implemented.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 30th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis
‘Green Delhi’ application
HEADLINES:
CM launches app for registration of pollution-related complaints
WHY IN NEWS:
Rai says they have already received 228 complaints on the ‘Green Delhi’ application
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Pollution
ISSUE:
INITIATIVE
- It will involve citizen participation and ensure timely action in the government’s fight against pollution.
- The app enables citizens to register complaints, report pollution sources and violations of anti-pollution norms.
RESOLVING ISSUES
- Around 12 coordinators have been assigned to the green war room .
- Coordinators will check every complaint and overlook the resolution of all the complaints as per the timeline, especially a specified timeline of 48 hours.
- If the complaints are not resolved within 48 hours, they will coordinate with the senior officials of the departments and work to resolve the complaints
IASbhai WINDUP:
“For the monitoring of the complaints, government has deploying 70 Green Marshals.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 30th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis
Typhoon ‘Molave’
HEADLINES:
Strong typhoon ‘Molave’ slams Vietnam, at least 2 dead, 26 missing
WHY IN NEWS:
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered provincial authorities to prepare to move up to 1.3 million people in regions lying on the typhoon’s path.
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 1 :Geography
ISSUE:
TYPHOON MOLAVE
- Winds of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles) per hour killed a man by knocking him off his roof as he was trying to reinforce it in south-central Quang Ngai province.
- At least 40,000 people have been evacuated to emergency shelters farther inland from coastal villages.
- Provincial authorities shut down offices, factories and schools and asked people to remain indoors to prevent casualties.
TYPHOONS
- TYPHOONS : In the China Sea and Pacific Ocean.
- HURRICANES : In the West Indian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
- TORNADOS : In the Guinea lands of West Africa and southern USA.
- WILLY-WILLIES : In north-western Australia and
- TROPICAL CYCLONES : In the Indian Ocean Region.
- Tropical cyclones are intense circular storms that originate over the warm tropical oceans with speed more than 119 kilometres per hour and heavy rains.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- Vietnam is still recovering from severe flooding and landslides that killed 136 people and left dozens missing in three provinces.
- The typhoon left at least nine people dead in the Philippines before blowing toward Vietnam.
- Most of the thousands who took shelter during the storm have returned home, leaving those whose homes were destroyed remaining in evacuation camps.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 30th Oct Current Affairs News Analysis
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