The Hindu

WTO’s Existential Crisis

Context: The 13th biennial ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ended without any significant accomplishments, as the member countries could not agree on how to solve several issues staring at the international community.

What is a World Trade Organisation (WTO)?

It is an international organisation established in 1995 through the Marrakesh Treaty to promote free and fair international trade.
It is successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), a multilateral agreement which came into being in 1947 to promote trade in Goods.
Under GATT, 8 rounds of negotiations took place. The 8th Round of Negotiations are referred to as the Uruguay Round (1986-94), which ultimately led to the establishment of WTO in 1995.
The WTO is based at Geneva, Switzerland. Presently, it has 164 member countries.

Structure of WTO

Ministerial Conference:
- The Topmost decision-making body of WTO is the Ministerial Conference.
- Usually meets every two years.
- Brings together all members of the WTO, all of which are countries or customs unions.
- The Ministerial Conference can take decisions on all matters under any of multilateral trade agreements.
The General Council oversees the operation of the agreements and ministerial decisions on a regular basis. It also acts as a Dispute Settlement Body and a Trade Policy Review Body, each with its own chairman.
Director General (DG), appointed for a period of four years by the Ministerial Conference, heads the Secretariat of the WTO.

What are the Principles of International Trade Subscribed by the WTO?

Most Favoured Nation: Each of the WTO member countries should “treat all the other members equally as ‘most-favoured’ trading partners.”. "Grant someone a special favour (such as a lower customs duty rate) and you have to do the same for all other WTO members". However, some exceptions such as FTAs are allowed.
National Treatment: Imported and locally produced goods should be treated equally. The same should apply to foreign and domestic services, and to foreign and local trademarks, copyrights, and patents. National treatment only applies once a product, service or item of intellectual property has entered the market. Therefore, charging customs duty on an import is not a violation of national treatment even if locally produced products are not charged an equivalent tax.
Special and Differential Treatment: Give developing countries special rights such as longer time periods for implementing agreements and commitments, support to help developing countries to build the infrastructure to undertake WTO work etc.

What are the Issues that the WTO is Plagued With?

Stalemate in Negotiations: The WTO follows the process of consensus-based decision-making. However, it has frequently led to deadlocks in negotiations, thereby hindering the ability to reach meaningful agreements on crucial matters like agricultural subsidies, intellectual property rights, and market access.
Concerns of Developing Nations: Developing countries contend that negotiations are often dominated by developed nations, giving them an edge in shaping rules that favour their interests. These countries encounter difficulties in fully engaging in negotiations and struggle with the complexities of adhering to and implementing trade regulations and standards.
Self-Classification of Members: There are instances when relatively well-off members self-identify themselves as developing countries to take advantage of special treatment provisions. This has raised concerns about fairness and equity.
Dysfunctional Dispute Settlement Mechanism: The WTO's dispute settlement mechanism faces a crisis due to the United States' blocking of appointments to the Appellate Body. This situation presents challenges for members in enforcing WTO obligations without a functional appeals process.
Limited Capacity to Detect & Address Violations: There are concerns about the WTO's limited capacity to detect and address violations of its multilateral agreements in a prompt and efficient manner.
Rise in Protectionism and Bilateralism: Recently there has been a surge in protectionist policies and a shift toward bilateral or regional trade pacts, circumventing the broader multilateral framework of the WTO.
Emerging Challenges: Various new concerns have arisen since 1995, including the intersection of trade with issues like climate change, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), gender equality, and human rights. However, the WTO has lagged behind in incorporating these demands into its original framework.

How to Reform the WTO?

Breaking the Deadlock in Dispute Settlement System: Functioning of the Dispute Settlement System is crucial in ensuring the rules-based trading order. Efforts should be made to appoint the members of the Appellate Body at the earliest.
Enhancing Transparency to Boost Legitimacy: Enhanced transparency on both national and international levels is necessary to improve the quality and legitimacy of WTO regulations. This involves avoiding closed-door meetings or exclusive discussions (like mini-ministerials or green rooms) that exclude certain members from important decision-making processes.
Institutional Reforms:
- Establishing an Executive Committee: To enhance the WTO's decision-making processes, there’s an inherent need to establish an executive committee to address the lack of leadership within the WTO and offer guidance for future negotiations.
- Strengthening the Secretariat's Role: The WTO should bolster the Secretariat's role as a pivotal agenda setter within the organisation and improve its ability to conduct research and gather data.
Giving a Voice to Smaller Nations: As per the foundational principle of consensus, all members' viewpoints, including those of smaller nations, must be respected. This includes refraining from using political or economic pressure to coerce a country into agreeing to decisions that contradict its fundamental interests.
Enhanced Technical Assistance for Developing Nations: This includes providing improved technical assistance to developing nations and granting them access to independent advice, such as from UNCTAD, to enable their full participation in WTO activities.

Conclusion

Reforming the World Trade Organisation is of critical importance, without which the trade multilateralism will be beset with problems, thereby pushing the world to higher levels of uncertainty and volatility.

World Meteorological Organisation

Context: In line with observations by climate agencies, World Meteorological Organisation has officially confirmed 2023 to be the hottest year on record.

State of Global Climate Report

“The State of Global Climate Report” (released by WMO) stated that the global average near-surface temperature was 1.45 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial baseline.
It was the warmest 10-year period on record.
The previous, joint warmest years were 2016 at 1.29 Celsius above the 1850–1900 average and 2020 at 1.27 degree Celsius.

About World Meteorological Organisation

As a specialized agency of the United Nations, WMO is dedicated to international cooperation and coordination on the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it produces, and the resulting distribution of water resources.
WMO facilitates and promotes:
- Establishment of an integrated Earth System observation network to provide weather, climate, and water-related data.
- Establishment and maintenance of data management centers and telecommunication systems for the provision and rapid exchange of weather, climate, and water-related data.
- Creation of standards for observation and monitoring to ensure adequate uniformity in the practices and procedures employed worldwide and, thereby, ascertain the homogeneity of data and statistics.
- Provision of weather, climate, and water-related services - through the application of science and technology in operational meteorology and hydrology - to reduce disaster risks and contribute to climate change adaptation, as well as for sectors such as transport (aviation, maritime and land-based), water resource management, agriculture, health, energy, and other areas.
- Activities in operational hydrology as well as closer cooperation between National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in states and territories where they are separate.
- Coordination of research and training in meteorology and related fields.
WMO Strategic Plan
- Disaster risk reduction
- The Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS)
- The WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS)
- Aviation meteorological services
- Polar and high mountain regions
- Capacity development
- Governance
Publications/Reports by WMO
- Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate and Water-related Hazards
- Global Status of Multi- Hazard Early Warning Systems
- Greenhouse Gas Bulletin
- Provisional State of the Global Climate
- State of Climate Services
- State of Global Water Resources
- State of the Climate in Africa
- State of the Climate in Asia
- State of the Climate in Europe
- State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean
- State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific
- State of the Global Climate
- The State of the Global Climate Decadal Reports
- United in Science
- WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin
- WMO Airborne Dust Bulletin
- WMO Co-led Reports

National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

Context: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has made Aadhaar mandatory for oil palm farmers to claim government subsidy, which will be directly transferred into their bank accounts under the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).

National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP): Overview

Launched in: 2021
Type of scheme: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Financial outlay: Rs. 11,040 crores
Aim: For substantial increase in oil palm cultivation and crude palm oil production.
Targets: To increase the area of oil palm to 10 lakh hectares from 3.5 lakh by 2025-26 .
To increase the Crude Palm Oil production from 0.27 lakh tonnes to 11.20 lakh tonnes by 2025-26.
Key features: There are two major focus areas of the Scheme.
- Price assurance: The assurance to the farmers will be in the form of the viability gap funding and the industry will be mandated to pay 14.3% of the Crude Palm Oil (CPO) price.
- Assistance for inputs/interventions: A substantial increase has been made for planting material for oil palm and this has increased from Rs 12,000 per ha to Rs. 29000 per ha. Further substantial increase has been made for maintenance and inter-cropping interventions, establishment of seed gardens, nurseries, micro irrigation, bore well/pumpset/water harvesting structure, vermicompost units, solar pumps, harvesting tools, custom hiring centre cum harvester Groups, farmers and officers training, and for replanting of old oil palm gardens etc.
- Special focus on the North east region and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with a focus on increasing the area and productivity of oilseeds and Oil Palm.

About Oil Palm:

It is an edible vegetable oil derived from the fruit of the oil palms.
It is used in food manufacturing, beauty products, biofuel, and cookies.
It is of two types:
- Crude palm oil, used for cooking.
- Palm kernel oil, used for industrial purposes.
India is the fifth largest oilseed crop producing country in the world, India is also one of the largest importers of vegetable oils.
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala are major oil palm-growing States and contributing to 98% of the total production.
Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil.
Indonesia and Malaysia together account for almost 90% of the global palm oil production.

Profits and Poverty: The economics of forced labour

Context: Profits and Poverty: The economics of forced labour study by the International Labour Organization (ILO), released, has found that forced labour generates illegal profits worth $36 billion per year.

Key findings of the report:

The total amount of illegal profits from forced labour has risen by US$64 billion (37 per cent) since 2014.
Increase that has been fuelled by both a growth in the number of people forced into labour, as well as higher profits generated from the exploitation of victims.
It estimates that traffickers and criminals are generating close to $10,000 per victim, up from $8,269(adjusted for inflation) a decade ago.

Total annual illegal profits from forced labour are highest in Europe and Central Asia ($84 billion), followed by Asia and the Pacific ($62 billion), the Americas ($52 billion), Africa ($20 billion), and the Arab States (US$18 billion).

Forced commercial sexual exploitation accounts for more than two-thirds (73%) of the total illegal profits, despite accounting for only 27% of the total number of victims in privately imposed labour.
After forced commercial sexual exploitation, followed by services (US$20.8 billion), agriculture (US$5.0 billion), and domestic work (US$2.6 billion).
There were 27.6 million people engaged in forced labour on any given day in 2021, meaning 3.5 people for every 1,000 people in the world.

Recommendations given by this report:

Urgent need for investment in enforcement measures to stem illegal profit flows and hold perpetrators accountable.
It has recommended for strengthening legal frameworks, providing training for enforcement officials extending labour inspection into high-risk sectors, and better coordination between labour and criminal law enforcement.
Enforcement actions must be part of a comprehensive approach that prioritises addressing root causes and safeguarding victims

Indian Astronomical Observatory

About Indian Astronomical Observatory/ Hanle Dark Sky Reserve:

The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) or Hanle Observatory is a high-altitude astronomical observatory located in Hanle valley, UT Ladakh, India.
It is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
Located atop Mt. Saraswati in the Nilamkhul Plain, at an altitude of 4500 metres, it is one of the highest and best sites in the world for optical, infrared and gamma-ray telescopes.
The observatory holds the title of India's first dark-sky reserve, due to the minimal light pollution, reduced atmospheric interference, low atmospheric water vapour and exceptionally clear (cloudless) skies in the region. This makes it a prime location for astronomers to study the universe (galaxies, nebulae, stars gazing etc.)

Dark Sky Reserves:

A Dark Sky Reserve is a designated area that aims to preserve and protect the quality of its night skies by minimising light pollution or restricting artificial light pollution. These reserves are recognised for their exceptional natural darkness and starry skies, and are specifically protected for scientific, natural, educational, and cultural purposes, primarily to advance astronomy.
International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a U.S.-based non-profit organisation that designates places as International Dark Sky Places, Parks, Sanctuaries and Reserves, depending on the criteria they meet.

Why does Dark Sky preservation matter?

Light pollution not only obscures our view of the stars but also disrupts ecosystems and affects human health. With over 80% of the world's population living under light-polluted skies, the need to preserve our night sky heritage has never been more urgent. Initiatives like the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh, India, underscore the importance of combating light pollution and promoting awareness about the significance of dark skies.

Key Fact:

In January 2024, The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra was certified as India’s first-ever Dark Sky Park (DSP) for protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution, making the facility ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.

SAKHI Application to assist Gaganyaan crew

Context: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facility at Thumba in Thiruvananthapuram, has developed the multi-purpose app SAKHI that will help astronauts on Gaganyaan space flight mission carry out a range of tasks.

About SAKHI App:

The Space-borne Assistant and Knowledge Hub for Crew Interaction (SAKHI) is a digital platform integrated to the space suits of astronauts that will assist the astronauts as follows:
- Looking up vital technical information: Give assistance to the astronauts regarding technical documents and training manuals digitally at short notice, thereby, preventing the need to carry manual documents.
- Monitor the health of the astronauts: SAKHI will also keep a close watch on their physical condition/ vitals by providing information on key parameters like blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation and alert them about their dietary schedules, hydration level, sleep patterns throughout their mission.
- Maintain mission log: Astronauts can use the app to maintain a log on the mission in multiple formats including voice records, texts and images.
- Help them stay connected with Earth: SAKHI will keep the crew connected with the onboard computer and ground-based stations, guaranteeing a seamless communication link.

Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission:

Gaganyaan mission envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 3 members to a Low earth Orbit of 400 km for a 3 days mission and bring them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters. ISRO is hoping to launch the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission in 2025.
The crewed flight is planned on the Human Rated Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) as the launch vehicle. It comprises solid, liquid and cryogenic stages.
Human Space Flight Centre will coordinate the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. The agency will be responsible for implementation of the Gaganyaan project.
ISRO has already performed a Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment and a Pad Abort Test for the mission. The project will cost less than Rs. 10,000 crore.
India has revealed the identities of the four astronaut-designates, all IAF test pilots at the VSSC in February 2024. The final crew for the mission will be picked from among the four.
If completed on schedule, India will become the world's fourth nation to conduct independent human spaceflight after the Soviet Union/Russia, United States and People's Republic of China.

Mehrauli

Context: Mehrauli city in Delhi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was recently revamped for the G-20 summit.

About Mehrauli City:

Introduction:

Mehrauli is one of the seven medieval cities that make up the present union territory of Delhi apart from Siri, Tughlaqabad, Jahanpanah, Ferozabad, Deenpanah and Shahjahanabad.
The Lal Kot fort was constructed by the Tomar chief Anangpal I around 731 AD and expanded by AnangPal II in the 11th century,who shifted his capital to Lal Kot from Kannauj.
The Tomars were defeated by the Chauhans in the 12th century.
Prithviraj Chauhan further expanded the fort, which is now Qila Rai Pithora. He was defeated and killed in 1192 by Mohammed Ghori, who put his general Qutb-ud-din Aybak in charge and returned to Afghanistan.
In 1206, after the death of Mohammed Ghori, Qutubuddin enthroned himself as the first Sultan of Delhi.
Thus, Delhi became the capital of the Mamluk dynasty of Delhi (Slave dynasty), the first dynasty of Muslim sultans to rule over northern India.
Mehrauli remained the capital of the Mamluk dynasty which ruled until 1290.
During the Khilji dynasty, the capital shifted to Siri.
In 12th-century Jain scriptures, the location is also mentioned as Yogninipura, now noticeable by the presence of the ‘Yogmaya Temple’, near the Qutub Minar complex.
It was also the execution place of Banda Singh Bahadur after he sacked the regional Mughal capital of Samana.

Various historical structure in Mehrauli:

There are a number of tombs of prominent people from the Sultanate (1206 to 1506) and Mughal (1506 to 1857) era. These tombs are usually placed near the dargahs of saints.
- Tombs of the later Mughals are near the dargah of Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki in Mehrauli or Humayun’s tomb near Nizamuddin Auliya’s dargah.
16th Century tomb of Adham Khan and his mother, Maham Anga:
- Reminder of Akbar’s wrath on Adham for murdering his general and prime minister Atgah Khan.
- Built in an octagonal shape with low towers at corners.
- Consists of Lodhi-style domed octagonal chambers with ‘Verandahs’ on each side.
Zafar Mahal or Lal Mahal built in red sandstone:
- Zafar Mahal was the summer palace of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II.
- The building has two components namely, the Mahal, which was built first by Akbar Shah II in the 18th century, and the entrance gate that was reconstructed in the 19th century by last Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar II.
- Bahadur Shah Zafar II, wished to be buried in the precincts of the Zafar Mahal. However, after the first war of Independence (1857), he was deported by Major William Hudson in 1858 to Rangoon (Burma/Myanmar), where he died of old age.
- This palace is also known for the Phoolwalon Ki Sair pass. This festival was started in 1812 by Akbar Shah II’s wife Mumtaz Mahal, after her son Mirza Jahangir was exiled to Allahabad by the British Resident Sir Archibald Seton.

Jamali Kamali tomb and mosque contain the tombs of Sufi saint Jamali or Shaikh Fazlu’llah and his disciple. Jamali was a well-known court poet who enjoyed the patronage of the Lodhi dynasty and that of Babur and Humayun as well.
Tombs of Ghiyasuddin Balban (1266-87) and his son, Shahid Khan:
- Shahid had died fighting against the Mongols near Multan during Balban’s reign.
- Balban of Mamluk dynasty is remembered for taking strong steps to control dacoity and robbery on Delhi roads in the 13th Century.
- Balban’s tomb is housed in the building Dar-ul Amaan (Haven of Safety) and as the name suggests, it served as a haven from debt collectors.
- It is the first site where the true arch and dome, a prominent feature of Indo-Islamic architecture, introduced by the Turks, made its appearance.
A baoli or stepwell known as Rajon Ki Baoli:
- It was constructed in 1506 during Sikandar Lodhi's reign.
- It was used to store water.
- It was commissioned by Daulat Khan in 1506 CE, an administrator of the Lodi dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.
- The enclosure of Rajon Ki Baoli includes a mosque and a tomb.
- The name Rajon Ki Baoli is derived from the 'Rajbirs' or 'Mistris', the term used for masons.
- A courtyard surrounded by a verandah with many beautiful pillars and the arches in the verandah are made in the typical north Indian fashion of that time.
Qutb Complex, close to the North-West of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque:
- Tomb of Shamsuddin Iltutmish (1211-1236 CE):
  - Built by Iltutmish himself in 1235, a year before his death.
  - Made in white marble, surrounded by carved arched entrances on the three sides.

Lakhpati Didi Scheme

Context: The interim budget for 2024-25 has introduced an expansion of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme, increasing the target from 2 crore Lakhpati Didi’s to 3 crore. Additionally, the Prime Minister refers to 'Lakhpati Didi’s in Mann Ki Baat to catalyse women empowerment.

Lakhpati Didi Scheme

Launched in: 2023
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
Aim: To catalyze economic empowerment and financial independence among women in rural areas.
Criteria for identifying potential lakhpati Didi:
- A Self Help Group member who has completed a minimum of two years and has availed of the Community Investment Fund (CIF).
- A beneficiary of livelihood intervention through DAY-NRLM and practising at least two livelihood activities.
Key features: A Lakhpati Didi is a Self-Help Group Member.
- The government aims to train 3 crore women to become influencers both at home and in their communities. The objective is to shift the focus from social and financial inclusion to entrepreneurial success.
- The programme is aimed at training women in self-help groups (SHGs) to earn a sustainable income of at least Rs 1 lakh per annum per household.
- Women will be trained in various skills and after completing the training, women will be provided with opportunities to earn income using their skills.
- It facilitates diversified livelihood activities, by ensuring convergence across all Government departments/ Ministries, Private sector and Market players.
Subset of the programme:
- Drone Didi: Under this scheme, drones will be provided to approximately 15,000 women SHGs for agricultural activities. Drones have the potential to revolutionize agriculture by enabling precision farming, crop monitoring, and pest control.
- Skill training: Women under this scheme receive training in diverse skills such as LED bulb making, plumbing, and more.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Reports: HDI & GII

Context: India has moved up a rank on the global Human Development Index (HDI) and Gender Inequality Index (GII) of 2023-24, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report.

Key finding of the reports:

Human Development Index (HDI) 2023-24
- India’s ranking on the HDI improved by one position in 2022 to 134 out of 193 countries ranked compared to 135 out of 191 countries in 2021.
- In 2022, India saw improvements across all HDI indicators: life expectancy, education, and gross national income (GNI) per capita.
- Life expectancy rose from 67.2 to 67.7 years, expected years of schooling reached 12.6, mean years of schooling increased to 6.57 and GNI per capita saw an increase from USD 6,542 to USD 6,951.
- With an HDI value of 0.644, the latest HDR places India in the medium human development category.
- Performance of other countries: Switzerland (1), Sri Lanka (78), China (75), Bhutan (125),Bangladesh, (129), Nepal (146) and Pakistan (164) have been ranked lower than India.
Gender Inequality Index (GII) 2023-24
- India has been ranked at 108 out of 193 countries with a score of 0.437.
- Its rank was 122 out of 191 countries with a score of 0.490 in the GII-2021.
- India has one of the largest gender gaps in its labour force participation rate a 47.8 per cent difference between women (28.3 per cent) and men (76.1 per cent).
- The GII measures gender inequalities in three key dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and labour market.
- India’s adolescent birth rate in 2022 was 16.3 (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19), an improvement from 17.1 in 2021.
- India’s rank in the GII has become consistently better, indicating progressive improvement in achieving gender equality in the country.

About United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):

It is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.
UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality.
It helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNDP has its headquarters in New York City.
It is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from member nations.
Their work is concentrated on three main focus areas:
- Sustainable development
- Democratic governance and peacebuilding
- Climate and disaster resilience
Reports published by UNDP:
- Global Multi-dimensional Poverty Index
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- Human Development Index (HDI)

Why is Coal Power still relevant for India’s energy security?

Context: The stand of India against phasing out of coal and coal based energy generation in UNFCCC COPs has been criticised by several environmentalists. But India has rightly highlighted its achievement of climate goal targets and also the need to tackle energy poverty in India in the light of SDG-7.

Present installed capacity of power generation is around 4,26,132 MW. India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity has increased 396% in the last 8.5 years and stands at more than 179.57 GW (including large Hydro and nuclear), about 42% of the country’s total capacity.
Coal based thermal power plants accounts for 50% of India’s installed power capacity. However, considering the intermediacy of renewable energy generation, the share of coal based thermal power is much more in actual electricity generation.
According to the Central Electricity Authority, Coal based thermal power still accounts for more than 70% of total electricity generated in the country as of 2021-22.

Many critics of coal based power generation continue to argue for phasing out of coal based power plants as coal power is one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Also, due to technological advancement the prices of renewable energy such as solar and wind have declined to levels which are equal or less than thermal power generation.

But, still the coal power is here to stay for following reasons:

Benefits of Coal based power generation in India:
- Large indigenous availability of coal in India
- Coal based power generation is essential to provide base-load power to supplement renewable energy sources.
Energy poverty in India: India's energy consumption is just one-third of global average. Also, Economic Survey 2018-19 has highlighted that India's per-capita energy production needs to increase by four times to tackle energy poverty in India.
Issues with renewable energy in India:
- Renewable solar projects require at least 12-13 months to get on its feet.
- Location specificity of renewable energy
- Renewable power has the inherent challenges of intermittency, which poses risks to energy grid stability.
- High import dependency in Solar PVs required for solar energy generation.
Increasing production:
- Record coal production target of 1 billion tonne in financial year 2024. For last three years, production has been increasing at brisk pace.
- Total anticipated thermal capacity addition by 2031-32 of around 93,380 MW of which coal power capacity addition to be around 80 GW.
Achievement of NDC targets:
- India has achieved its Paris NDCs targets of 40% non-fossil capacity and set new target of 50% to be achieved by 2030
- This achievement reinforces India's stand that utilisation of coal power in India has not impacted its gradual transition towards green energy.
Lack of alternatives: India does not have adequate natural gas resources and imported LNG from nations like Qatar are not cost competitive. So, coal remains the major source of energy production in India.
Longer transition time: India has set 2070 as the target year for becoming a net zero emitter, which is 20 years more than the 2050-year target of several nations. So, this gives India more time to phase down the coal power in India.
Less emission: In the last six decades, India has contributed to only around 4% of global cumulative CO2 emissions vis-a-vis 17% emission by China, 20% by Europe and 25% by North America. So, anyhow the coal energy production in India has not contributed much to global emissions.
Just Transition: India’s coal sector employs millions of people in the poorest parts of the country. Any decision to phase out of coal should take into account the human cost involved:

Way Forward

Promotion of Clean coal technologies: Government should promote cleaner alternatives of using its vast coal reserves such as Coal Gasification, Coal Bed Methane extraction and usage of such gas and Incentivisation of Coal Washing.
Making thermal power plants environmentally friendly by mandating installation of CCUS units, Flue Gas Desulphurisation of units etc.
Building railway lines and other policy reforms such as captive mining, FDI and better technology in the coal sector.

Conclusion:

In this regard, for India, even as it goes on adding renewable capacity, coal will continue to be a dominant fuel in India’s energy mix in the foreseeable future till other viable alternatives emerge. Besides, coal is not just used in the power sector. The way out is to invest more in technology for improving efficiency while reducing dependence on thermal power. There is no either or, India needs both for now.

Lisu and Singpho tribal communities

Context: Children of the Lisu and Singpho communities are named according to the order they are born in the family, incorporating numbers into their names.

About Lisu and Singpho tribal communities:

Lisu

Lisu tribe, also called 'Yobin' in India, live in the most eastern corner of the country in Shidi Valley and Nibodi village of Arunachal Pradesh, surrounded by Namdapha National Park.
It is one of the minority tribes of Arunachal Pradesh of India.
The tribe is speculated to have originated from the Yunnan region in North-Western Tibet in the 18th century and were traditionally slash and burn farmer communities.
It belong to the Tibeto-Burman family and inhabit the contiguous hilly regions of Arunachal Pradesh, China, Myanmar, and Thailand. They number about 5,000 in India.
Lisu boys and girls have separate sets of numbered names to indicate the order of their birth. The eldest girl in a family has Ana in her name and Apshi for a tenth daughter.

Singphos

Singphos an ethnic group inhabiting 27 countries, including China’s Yunnan province.
The Singpho tribe is one of the important frontier tribes of North-East India. The tribe is known in China as Jingpo and in Burma as Kachin.
In India, the Singphos are found in the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh adjoining the Patkai Mountain range.
The Singphos of Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are divided into four groups, locally known as Numphuk Hkawng, Diyun Hkawng, Tieng Hkawng and Turung Hawng.
They speak Singpho language.
Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi is an annual festival of Singpho tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. It is also the most important dance festival of Singpho (Jinghpaw) community. Also known as Manau Poi, it is the national festival of the Kachins (Singphos) residing in Myanmar.
The festival is primarily organised to show the varied and rich culture, customs and exotic flora and fauna of vast Arunachal Pradesh.
The tradition of numbered names is also prevalent among the Singphos.
The Lisus and Singphos have similar usage of numbers in their names, probably because they belong to the Wunpong group, which has four more communities in the Kachin State of Myanmar.

What is a World Trade Organisation (WTO)?

What are the Principles of International Trade Subscribed by the WTO?

What are the Issues that the WTO is Plagued With?

How to Reform the WTO?

Conclusion

About World Meteorological Organisation

National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP): Overview

Key findings of the report:

Recommendations given by this report:

About Indian Astronomical Observatory/ Hanle Dark Sky Reserve:

Dark Sky Reserves:

About SAKHI App:

About Mehrauli City:

Lakhpati Didi Scheme

Key finding of the reports:

Way Forward

Conclusion:

About Lisu and Singpho tribal communities:

Lisu

Singphos

About Phani Yerava: