Articles Covered

1. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tables confidence motion in Assembly, discussion tomorrow
2. Recce aircraft to anti-tank mines: Green light to big-ticket purchases
3. At Bishkek meet, India highlights ‘legitimate security and economic interests’ in Afghanistan
4. OpenAI launches Sora: How AI can create videos from a text prompt
5. Cartosat-2, which aided urban planning for over a decade, brought down
6. What Swaminathan panel said
7. ‘Copper is critical for the clean energy transition… In India, strong demand from this sector may emerge by 2030’

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tables confidence motion in Assembly, discussion tomorrow

This comes a day before the CM is supposed to appear in a Delhi court in connection with the skipping of ED summons in the excise policy case.

No-Confidence Motion In a parliamentary democracy, a government can be in power only if it commands a majority in the directly elected House. Article 75(3) of the Constitution embodies this rule by specifying that the Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. For testing this collective responsibility, the rules of Lok Sabha provide a particular mechanism – a motion of no-confidence. The procedure is specified under Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha. The Constitution does not mention either a Confidence or a No Confidence Motion.

No-Confidence Motion in State Legislative Assembly A Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly and serves until it loses the confidence of the majority. As a result, a motion of no-confidence is introduced to remove the council of ministers and the government from office. Provisions of State legislative assembly As per Article 164(2), the Council of Ministers shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the State. Therefore,when a no-confidence motion is passed,the council of ministers have to resign and the government collapses. A State Legislative Assembly may be dissolved in an emergency, by the Governor on the Chief Minister’s request, or if a motion of no confidence is passed against the ruling majority party or coalition. According to procedures, a no-confidence motion can be moved only in Lok Sabha (or state assembly as the case may be). It is not allowed in Rajya Sabha (or state legislative council). It is moved against the entire Council of Ministers and not individual ministers or private members. If the motion carries, the house debates and votes on the motion. If a majority of the members of the house vote in favour of the motion, the motion is passed and the Government is bound to vacate the office.

Who can move a No-Confidence Motion?

1. Any Lok Sabha MP, who can garner the support of 50 colleagues, can, at any point of time, introduce a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers.
2. A no-confidence motion can be moved only in the Lok Sabha. It cannot be moved in the Rajya Sabha.

A No-Confidence Motion Debated and Voted-

1. The motion is moved by the member who submitted it, and the government will then respond to the motion.
2. The opposition parties will then have the opportunity to speak on the motion.
3. After the debate, the Lok Sabha will vote on the no-confidence motion.
4. The motion will be passed if it is supported by a majority of the members of the House.
5. If a no-confidence motion is passed, the government must resign.

 If the government wins the vote on the no-confidence motion, the motion is defeated and the government remains in power.

No-Confidence -since Independence

1. There have been 27 no-confidence motions introduced in the Lok Sabha since independence.
2. The first no-confidence motion against the administration of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was presented in the Lok Sabha in August 1963.
3. The motion obtained only 62 votes in favor and 347 votes against it.
4. The last no-confidence motion was moved in 2018 against the then NDA government.

OpenAI launches Sora: How AI can create videos from a text prompt

OpenAI Sora: Imagine being able to create a short or long video just by typing out a description of what you want to see. The makers of ChatGPT have given a first glimpse of how it can be possible.

OpenAI recently unveiled Sora, an AI model that can produce realistic videos based on text instructions, with a duration of up to one minute. It is a generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) model.

new OpenAI model Sora

1. Text to Video– The Sora model is capable of producing videos up to one minute in length, ensuring high visual quality and adherence as per the user’s instructions.
2. Generate complex scenes– Sora can generate intricate scenes featuring multiple characters, various types of motion, and precise details of both the subject and the background.
3. Dynamic Impressions- It can understand how objects function in reality, interpret prompts accurately. It can generate engaging characters that convey lively emotions.
4. Multishot Avatar-Sora can also produce multiple shots within a single generated video that accurately persist characters and visual style.
5. Note– Currently, the Sora model is not available in OpenAI’s products. It will be accessible after all safety checks are completed.

other companies have also entered this field

1. Google’s Lumiere, launched recently, can generate five-second videos based on provided prompts, whether text- or image-based.
2. Additionally, companies like Runway and Pika also have showcased their own noteworthy text-to-video models.

generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)

1. Generative AI uses Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms to enable machines to generate new content (machine generated).
2. Systems use previously created content, such as text, audio, video, images, and code.
3. The term ‘Generative’ refers to the ability of the models to learn how to create new data rather than simply recognising it. For example, a generative model may learn how to generate images that resemble faces given a set of parameters (such as the eyes, hair, or skin colour etc.).

At Bishkek meet, India highlights ‘legitimate security and economic interests’ in Afghanistan

India’s Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri called for an “inclusive and representative” government in Afghanistan and said the approach towards the Taliban-ruled country should be based on consensus 

India has urged countries of the Central Asian regions to use the port of Chabahar located on the southeast coast of Iran to enhance connectivity and trade with India and other countries in the world. Participating in the 6th Regional Dialogue of Secretaries of Security Councils/National Security Advisers on Afghanistan in Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, India’s Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri called for an “inclusive and representative” government in Afghanistan and said the approach towards the Taliban-ruled country should be based on consensus.

Significance of Chabahar Port for India

• It is a seaport in the Sistan-Balochistan province of Iran, on the Gulf of Oman, at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. 
• Chabahar is a deep-water port with direct access to the Indian Ocean that is outside the Hormuz Strait.
• It is Iran’s only seaport and consists of two separate ports called Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari.
• It’s geographic proximity to countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, as well as its status as a key transit center on the burgeoning International North-South Transport Corridor, gives it the potential to develop into one of the most important commercial hubs in the region.

1. Chabahar is Iran’s only oceanic port.It is situated in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, on the Makran coast.
2. There are two main ports in Chabahar – theShahid Kalantari port and the Shahid Beheshti port.
3. The Shahid Kalantari port was developed in the 1980s.
4. Iran had offered India the project of developing the Shahid Beheshti port which was well received by India.

Progress and Updates Regarding the Chabahar Port Deal:

• The two countries signed an initial agreement in 2016for India to develop and operate the port’s Shahid Beheshti terminal for 10 years.
• However, thefinalization of the long-term agreement has been delayed by several factors including differences on some clauses in the pact.
• One of the main sticking points was the clause related to jurisdiction for arbitration in case of disputes.
• India wanted the arbitration to be held in a neutral country, while Iran preferred its own courts or a friendly country.
• According to some recent reports, India and Iran have narrowed the gap on the arbitration issue and are looking at the option of taking up these matters at arbitration courts in a location such as Dubai.
• They have also made progress on other issues, such as tariffs, customs clearance, and security arrangements.

Significance of Chabahar Port:

Alternative Trade Route: Historically, India’s access to Afghanistan and CENTRAL ASIA has been largely dependent on transit routes through Pakistan.

1. Chabahar Port offers an alternative route that bypasses Pakistan, reducing India’s reliance on its neighbor for trade with Afghanistan and beyond.
2. This is particularly important given the often-tense relations between India and Pakistan.
3. Also, Chabahar port will boostIndia’s access to Iran, the key gateway to the  INSTC that has sea, rail and road routes between India, Iran, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.

Economic Benefits: Chabahar Port offers India a gateway to the resource-rich and economically vibrant region of Central Asia.

• It can significantly enhance India’s trade and investment opportunities in these markets, potentially leading to economic growth and job creation in India.

Humanitarian Assistance: Chabahar Port can serve as a crucial entry point for HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.

• India can use the port to provide aid, infrastructure development support, and other assistance to Afghanistan, contributing to regional stability.
• Strategic Influence: By developing and operating Chabahar Port,India can enhance its strategic influence in the IOR thus strengthening India’s geopolitical position.

Economic Ties Between India and Iran

Status:

1. Over the years, India’s trade with Iran has seen significant fluctuations. In 2019-20, India’s imports from Iran, primarily crude oil, fell by about 90% to USD 1.4 billion compared to USD 13.53 billion in 2018-19.
2. Also, Iran has seen a depletion of its rupee reserves in the vostro account affecting its ability to import key Indian commodities like basmati rice and tea.

Revival:

1. To revivetrade between India and Iran, which has been impacted by US and Western sanctions, both nations are considering the option of rupee-rial trade.
2. This move aligns with the Reserve Bank of India’sdecision to allow invoicing and payments for international trade in indian rupees  in July 2022.
3. Rupee-Rial trade refers to trade between India and Iran using theirrespective currencies, the Indian Rupee (INR) and the Iranian Rial (IRR), instead of using widely accepted international currencies like the US Dollar (USD).
4. This type of trade is often used when international sanctions or restrictions make it difficult forcountries to use global currencies for trade with a particular nation, as was the case with Iran due to US sanctions.

Recce aircraft to anti-tank mines: Green light to big-ticket purchases

Sources said these 15 maritime reconnaissance aircraft will be the marine versions of the C-295 medium lift tactical aircraft inducted by the IAF last year. Of the 15, nine will be for the Navy and six for the Coast Guard.

• Senior Airbus officials recently said that a fully operational factory will be in place in Vadodara in Gujarat by November 2024, from where the first Indian-made C295 military transport aircraft will start rolling out 2026 onward.

C295 Transport Aircraft:

It is a new-generation tactical airlifter in the light and medium segment that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

1. It was designed and built by Airbus, a European multinational aerospace corporation.
2. It is robust and reliable but also highly versatile in terms of the number of different missions it can perform.
3. The aircraft, with a flight endurance of up to 11 hours, can carry out multi-role operations under all weather conditions.
4. It has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo.
5. Short take-off/land from semi-prepared surfaces is another of its features.

 Types of Missions:

1. It is known to be a superior aircraft used for tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers.
2. Air-to-Air refuelling: It can be converted into an air tanker that can deliver up to 6,000 kg of gasoline to fixed and rotary wing receivers by adding a detachable refuelling kit.
3. Airborne Early Warning (AEW): It has a cutting-edge radar with 360-degree coverage to give a complete picture of the airspace in its Airborne Early Warning variant.
4. Water-Bomber: It can be transformed into a powerful water bomber that can put out forest fires with up to 7,000 litres of water due to a flexible roll-on/roll-off system.
5. Armed/Ground ISR (Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance): A close-air-support operation that uses an ISR with a multi-mission radar that can also be weaponized.
6. The aircraft can be utilised for casualty or medical evacuation as well as airdropping loads and paratroopers.

It is equipped to handle special missions, disaster relief operations, and maritime patrol responsibilities.

Cartosat-2, which aided urban planning for over a decade, brought down

• “Cartosat-2… bid adieu with a descent into Earth’s atmosphere on February 14, 2024, as predicted,” an ISRO statement said, adding that analysis indicated all of its components would have disintegrated.

Seventeen years after its launch, Cartosat-2, the first of ISRO’s second generation of high-resolution imaging satellites primarily used in urban planning has been deorbited, the agency announced Friday.

ISRO successfully de-orbits remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2

The latest Cartosat-2 (generation II) satellite to de-orbit was launched in January 2007

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday announced the completion of de-orbiting of Cartosat-2, the first of the high-resolution imaging satellites (generation II).

Cartosat 2 Satellite – 7 Features

1. This is a global mission, implying the usage of the satellite is not confined to the boundaries of India.
2. It has one panchromatic camera.
3. The satellite is placed in polar orbit.
4. It is placed at an altitude of approximately 630 Km.
5. The orbital period i.e. time taken by Cartosat 2 to orbit earth is approximately 97 minutes.
6. Cartosat 2 orbits earth approximately 14 times per day.
7. The satellite operates with a phased array antenna.

Cartosat 2 Satellite – 7 New Technologies

7 new groundbreaking technologies were used in the Cartosat 2 Satellite.

1. Two mirror on-axis single camera.
2. Carbon fabric reinforced plastic based electro-optic structure
3. Lightweight, large-size mirrors
4. Advanced solid-state recorder
5. High torque reaction wheels
6. High-performance star sensors
7. Imaging along the corridor or any direction

Cartosat 2A Satellite – Applications

• This is a satellite developed exclusively for Indian Armed Forces.

Cartosat 2C Satellite – Applications

1. Weather mapping
2. Cartography
3. Strategic applications

CARTOSAT – 2B is the seventeenth satellite in the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite series (IRS). CARTOSAT-2B carries a Panchromatic camera (PAN) similar to those of its predecessors – CARTOSAT-2 and 2A. It is capable of imaging a swath (geographical strip) of 9.6 km with a resolution of better than 1 metre. The scene specific spot imagery sent by CARTOSAT-2B’s PAN is useful for cartographic and a host of other applications. The highly agile CARTOSAT-2B is steerable up to ± 26o along as well as across track to obtain stereoscopic imagery and achieve a four-to-five-day revisit capability.

‘Copper is critical for the clean energy transition… In India, strong demand from this sector may emerge by 2030’

Mayur Karmarkar, India team leader at the International Copper Association, speaks to Aggam Walia about India’s copper import dependency and domestic copper demand.

Copper- Significance: Because of its properties, copper is used in a variety of applications. Copper is a naturally corrosion-resistant metal, whereas galvanized steel will corrode over time and leak or break. Although copper is a strong metal (it can withstand 1,000 pounds of pressure), it is also light, making it easier to work with (lowering labor costs) and to extend over long distances without the use of supports. It’s also less expensive than steel and doesn’t contain any lead. Copper pipes are better for the environment than plastic pipes because they are made of naturally occurring metal, whereas synthetic plastic produces a lot of emissions during production.

Copper Distribution in India

1. In terms of copper reserves and production, India is not very fortunate.
2. The total in-situ reserves are estimated to be around 712.5 million tonnes or 9.4 million tonnes of metal.
3. Major copper ore deposits can be found in Jharkhand’s Singhbhum district, Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district, and Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu and Alwar districts (Rajasthan).

Madhya Pradesh	Madhya Pradesh has surpassed Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand to become India’s largest producer of copper. In the Taregaon area, the Malanjkhand belt of the Balaghat district, the state is blessed with a fairly large belt.
Rajasthan	Rajasthan has also made significant progress in copper production, and it is now India’s second-largest producer, accounting for more than 40% of the country’s total output. The most important copper-producing area is the Khetri-Singhana belt in the Jhunjhunu district. Other copper-producing areas include Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittaurgarh, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Pali, Sikar, Sirohi, and Udaipur.
Jharkhand	The main copper belt stretches for 130 kilometers. The most important copper-producing district is Singhbhum. Hasatu, Baraganda, Jaradih, Parasnath, Barkanath, and other areas in the Hazaribagh district; Bairakhi in the Santhal Parganas area; and some areas in the Palamu and Gaya districts are all said to have copper ore deposits.

Major Copper Industries

Hindustan Copper Ltd	Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) is a government-owned company that operates under the Ministry of Mines’ administrative control. It was founded on November 9th, 1967. It is the only vertically integrated copper producer in the country, as it produces copper from mines for beneficiation, smelting, refining, and casting of refined copper metal into downstream saleable products. HCL operates mines and plants in five operating units, one each in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Bhagyanagar India Ltd.(BIL)	Bhagyanagar India Ltd. (BIL) is one of India’s oldest and largest producers of copper products. Copper products such as Copper Rod, Strips, Pipes, Busbars, and Sheets are among the company’s offerings, and it has long been a partner to its clients, who are primarily Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). Its headquarters are located in Hyderabad, India.
Arcotech Limited	Arcotech Ltd is a manufacturer of copper and copper alloy products, as well as aluminum plates, bars, sheets, foils, and rods. It is located in Haryana.
Sterlite Copper Industries	Sterlite Copper has steadily grown to become one of India’s leading copper producers, accounting for up to 36% of the country’s refined copper demand. It is located in Tamil Nadu.
Hindalco	Hindalco Industries Limited is an Aditya Birla Group subsidiary that manufactures aluminum and copper in India. The company’s headquarters are located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Types of Indian Copper Industries

Primary

1. The producers who convert ore into refined copperform make up the primary sector.
2. Birla Copper, Sterlite Industries, and Hindustan Copper Ltd, the three companies that handle India’s copper sector, make up this sector.
3. Their job is to refine copper ore and convert it into refined copper.
4. According to the mining ministry, this sector has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, with annual compounded growth of 25% in imports.

Secondary

1. The secondary sector is made up of producers who process refined copper to make wires, foil, and other products for use by other industries.
2. According to the ministry of mines’ monthly summary of non-ferrous minerals and metals for December 2016, India’s copper industry has a domestic consumption demand of about 5 lakh tonnes, with MTNL and BSNL accounting for over 10%.
3. The construction and automobile industries meet the rest of the demand.

Government’s Initiative

1. India’s per capita copper consumption is 0.5 kg, whereas the global average is 3.2 kg, indicating that there is significant room for growth in copper consumption in the future.
2. In the Union Budget 2021, the government announced areduction in import duty on copper scrap from 5% to 2.5 percent to encourage copper recycling in India.
3. By 2030-31, the National Steel Policy aims to increase per capita steel consumption to 160 kg.

Import And Export

1. Copper is widely available and found all over the world, but the copper situation in India is particularly interesting.
2. Despite the fact that India has copper mines, the country imports nearly all of its copper ore from other countries due to its low production.
3. India has beenimporting more refined copper from countries such as Chile, Indonesia, Australia, and Canada, with total imports of 18,86,199 thousand tonnes in 2015-16. (Statistical Profiles of Minerals, Indian Bureau of Mines).
4. Despite the fact that India does not have a surplus of copper ore, with domestic production of copper totaling only 3,908 thousand tonnes in the same year, India has recently become a net exporter of a small amount of refined copper, totaling 11432 tonnes,thanks to Birla Copper, Sterlite Industries, and Hindustan Copper Ltd, three major players in the copper industry (Statistical Profiles of Minerals, Indian Bureau of Mines).

What Swaminathan panel said

• Farmers demanding legal guarantee for MSP have invoked recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers, which said MSP should be ‘at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production’
• A major demand of the farmers protesting in Delhi is for the enactment of a law to guarantee minimum support prices (MSP) for all crops, as per the formula recommended by the Dr M S Swaminathan Commission.
• This comes at a time when a committee appointed by the central government in July 2022 continues to deliberate on ways to make MSP more effective and transparent.

Minimum Support Price (MSP) Regime in India

Background:

• The Food-Grain Enquiry Committee, established by the Nehru administration in 1957, was the first attempt to address the agricultural earning issue.
• However, it turned out to be insignificant.
• Then, in 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri formed the Food Grain Price Committee (under LK Jha), to push for a MSP regime.
• Despite the fact that the report was quickly accepted by the Shastri government, the first MSP announcement was made in 1967.
• Thus, the MSP regime came into existence as a policy decision and the government set up the agricultural prices commission for fixing MSP for crops.
• The commission was renamed as the CACP in 1985.

About MSP:

1. MSP is a form of market intervention (a policy decision not enforceable by law) by the Government to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices during bumper production years.
2. These are announced by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (Chaired by the Prime Minister of India).
3. The recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops forms the basis of these announcements.

Crops covered:

• Government announces MSPs for 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane (total 23).
• Crops covered by MSPs include:
• 7 types of cereals (paddy, wheat, maize, bajra, jowar, ragi and barley),
• 5 types of pulses (chana, arhar/tur, urad, moong and masur),
• 7 oilseeds (rapeseed-mustard, groundnut, soyabean, sunflower, sesamum, safflower, nigerseed),
• 4 commercial crops (cotton, sugarcane, copra, raw jute).

first of the 12 demands made by protesting Punjab farmers in their email sent to the government on February 6 was for a law to guarantee the procurement of all crops for all farmers at MSP, and for the determination of crop prices as per the recommendations of the Dr Swaminathan Commission.

Swaminathan Commission

Establishment of the National Commission on Farmers (NCF):

On November 18, 2004, the Ministry of Agriculture formed the NCF under Prof Swaminathan, comprising various members.

Objectives: The commission was tasked with suggesting strategies for food and nutrition security, and enhancing the sustainability of farming systems.

• Submission Period: Between December 2004 and October 2006, the NCF presented five comprehensive reports, totaling 1,946 pages.
• Formula Omission: The commission did not provide the specific formula for MSP calculation, a demand currently advocated by farmers’ unions.
• National Policy for Farmers, 2007: Aimed to improve the economic viability of farming and increase farmers’ net income. It is approved by the government based on the draft NPF.

Key Recommendations of The Swaminathan Committee

MSP Recommendation:

• The NCF recommended that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production.
• (The Swaminathan Commission Report states that the government should raise the MSP to at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production. It is also known as the C2+ 50% formula. It includes the imputed cost of capital and the rent on the land (called ‘C2’ ) to give farmers 50% returns.)
• Addressing Agrarian Crisis and Farmer Suicides: The NCF identified incomplete land reforms, water quantity and quality issues, technological fatigue, adverse meteorological factors, and farmer suicides as key challenges.
• Agriculture to the Concurrent List: The NCF proposed adding ‘agriculture’ to the Concurrent List of the country’s Constitution to address agrarian crises effectively.
• Protection of Agricultural Land and Forests: The commission recommended preventing the diversion of ‘prime’ agricultural land and forest to the corporate sector for non-agricultural purposes.
• Regulation of Agricultural Land Sale: The NCF advised establishing a mechanism to regulate the sale of agricultural land based on specific conditions to safeguard farmers’ interests.
• Reforms in Irrigation Sector: The commission advocated for reforms to ensure sustained and equitable access to water for farmers.
• oIt also recommended increased investment in the irrigation sector, previously allocated under the now-defunct five-year plans.

Key Difference

• The government sets MSP at 1.5 times the Cost of Production (CoP), where Cop is A2+FL.
• The Swaminathan Commission, however, suggests that CoP should be based on C2, proposing the ‘C2+50 per cent’ formula for setting MSP.
• Cost A2 +FL – In agriculture, farmers also use a lot of family labour and if their cost is imputed and added to cost A2, that concept is called cost A2+FL.

2022 Committee

• This panel was constituted seven months after farmers who had gathered at Delhi’s border called off their year-long protest, after the Prime Minister announced the repeal of the farm laws.
• The committee’s subject matter has three points: MSP, natural farming, and crop diversification.
• However, the terms of reference do not include a legal guarantee for MSP
• The committee was notified by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in July 2022.
• The committee, which has 26 members, is headed by Sanjay Agrawal, a former agriculture secretary.