Current Affairs – 28th May 2024

India’s Foreign Trade:

General Overview:

  1. Significance:Foreign trade in India includes all (merchandise + services) imports and exports to and from India, accounting for 48.8% of India’s GDP in 2018.
  2. Administration: At the Central Government level, trade is administered by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  3. Global Ranking (2022):India was number 15 in total exports and number 8 in total imports.

Trading Partners:

Historical Trends:

  1. China was India’s top trading partner from 2013-14 till 2017-18 and again in 2020-21.
  2. UAE was the largest trading partner before China.
  3. The US was the largest partner in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Exports (Merchandise):

Top Exports:

  1. Refined Petroleum: $86.2B
  2. Diamonds: $25.9B
  3. Packaged Medicaments: $19.5B
  4. Jewellery: $12.6B
  5. Price: $11.1B

 

Top Destinations:

  1. United States: $82.9B
  2. United Arab Emirates: $31.6B
  3. Netherlands: $17.6B
  4. China: $15.3B
  5. Bangladesh: $13.8B
  6. Global Standing (2022): India was the world’s biggest exporter of Diamonds and Rice.

Imports (Merchandise):

Top Imports:

  1. Crude Petroleum: $170B
  2. Coal Briquettes: $58.7B
  3. Gold: $35.8B
  4. Petroleum Gas: $32B
  5. Diamonds: $26.1B

Top Sources:

  1. China: $110B
  2. UAE: $51B
  3. United States: $48.5B
  4. Saudi Arabia: $46.2B
  5. Russia: $40.4B

Global Standing (2022): India was the world’s biggest importer of Coal Briquettes, Diamonds, Palm Oil, Mixed Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers, and Nitrogenous Fertilizers.

Latest Trends:

FY 2023-24 Data:

  1. China overtook the US as India’s largest trading partner with a total two-way commerce of $118.4 billion.
  2. India’s exports to China rose by 8.7% to $16.67 billion, while imports increased by 3.24% to $101.7 billion.
  3. Exports to the US dipped slightly to $77.5 billion, and imports decreased by about 20% to $40.8 billion (total two-way commerce stood at $118.3 billion).
  4. The UAE was the third-largest trading partner of India with $83.6 billion, followed by Russia ($65.7 billion), Saudi Arabia ($43.4 billion), and Singapore ($35.6 billion).

 

India’s Trade Deficit with its Major Trading Partners:

  1. China: Trade deficit rose to $85 billion in 2023-24 from $83.2 billion in 2022-23.
  2. Russia: Trade deficit increased to $57.2 billion in 2023-24 from $43 billion in 2022-23.
  3. Korea: Trade deficit rose to $14.71 billion in 2023-24 from $14.57 billion in 2022-23.
  4. Hong Kong: Trade deficit increased to $12.2 billion in 2023-24 from $8.38 billion in 2022-23.
  5. United States: India has a trade surplus of $36.74 billion with the U.S. in 2023-24. The U.S. is one of the few countries with which India has a trade surplus, along with the U.K., Belgium, Italy, France, and Bangladesh.
  6. Total Trade Deficit: India’s total trade deficit in the last fiscal narrowed to $238.3 billion from $264.9 billion in the previous fiscal.

Analysis of Trends:

  1. Positive Aspect of Imports:Imports can be beneficial if a country is importing raw materials or intermediary products to boost manufacturing and exports.
  2. Currency Depreciation:Increased imports can cause the country’s currency to depreciate due to higher demand for foreign currency.
  3. Economic Impact:Depreciation makes imports more expensive, worsening the trade deficit and increasing external debt.
  4. Foreign Exchange Reserves:Depletion of foreign exchange reserves can signal economic instability to investors, leading to reduced foreign investment.

Strategies to Reduce Trade Deficit:

  1. Boosting Exports: Focus on enhancing the export capacity of domestic industries.
  2. Reducing Unnecessary Imports: Implement measures to limit the import of non-essential goods.
  3. Developing Domestic Industries:Strengthen local industries to reduce dependence on imported goods.
  4. Managing Currency and Debt:Implement policies to stabilize the currency and effectively manage external debt levels.

Menstrual hygiene in Indian prisons

What are the various policies and schemes introduced by the Indian government with respect to menstrual hygiene management? What did a study in a Maharashtra prison reveal about women prisoners and their access to water and sanitation facilities?

On World Menstrual Hygiene Day which is celebrated annually on 28 May, a recent report highlights menstrual hygiene in Indian Prisons.

Background of Menstrual Hygiene in India

  1. Progress in Menstrual Hygiene:India has seen notable advancements in menstrual hygiene management.  According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2019-2020), approximately 80% of adolescent girls aged 15-24 now utilize safe menstrual products.
  2. Disparity in Menstrual Hygiene in Indian Prisons: Despite progress in urban regions and specific demographics, women in Indian prisons continue to face neglect.
  3. In a societal context where basic rights for prisoners are often denied, female inmates experience additional challenges due to entrenched biases that question women’s capacity to commit crimes.

Relation of Human Rights and Menstruation: 

  1. Right to health:  Women and girls may experience negative health consequences when they lack the supplies and facilities to manage their menstrual health.
  2. Right to education:  Lack of a safe place or ability to manage menstrual hygiene as well as lack of medication to treat menstruation-related pain can all contribute to higher rates of school absenteeism and poor educational outcome
  3. Right to work:  Poor access to safe means of managing menstrual hygiene and lack of medication to treat menstruation-related disorders or pain also limit job opportunities for women and girls.
  4. Right to non-discrimination and gender equality: Stigmas and norms related to menstruation can reinforce discriminatory practices.
  5. Right to water and sanitation: Water and sanitation facilities, such as bathing facilities, that are private, safe and culturally acceptable, along with a sufficient, safe and affordable water supply are basic prerequisites for managing menstrual health management.

Status of Menstrual Hygiene in Indian Prisons

  1. Menstrual Hygiene in Indian Prisons:In Indian prisons, there are 23,772 women, with 77% falling within the reproductive age group and likely to menstruate regularly.
  2. Challenges in Providing Adequate Facilities: Despite the recommendations outlined in the 2016 Model Prison Manual, numerous states have failed to furnish adequate water and restroom facilities for female inmates.
  3. Overcrowding and substandard conditions further exacerbate the difficulty for women in accessing essential items such as water, sanitary napkins, detergent, and soap during menstruation.
  4. Conditions of Prisons: In a Maharashtra prison, a study conducted in 2023 uncovered inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, compelling women to store water and utilize limited toilets collectively.
  5. Consequently, this scenario resulted in increased occurrences of urinary infections and challenges in upholding menstrual hygiene.
  6. Inadequate Sanitary Napkins:Prisons often depend on NGOs for donations of sanitary napkins, which can sometimes lead to the distribution of inferior products.
  7. In one instance, each woman received only one set of reusable napkins, which proved impractical due to limited access to water and detergent.

Steps Taken by the Government to promote Menstrual Hygiene

  1. SABLA Scheme: The SABLA program, initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, addresses nutrition, health, hygiene, and reproductive and sexual health, connecting them with rural mother and child care centers.
  2. National Rural Livelihood Mission: The National Rural Livelihood Mission, under the Ministry of Rural Development, aids self-help groups and small-scale manufacturers in producing sanitary pads.
  3. National Guidelines for Menstrual Hygiene Management:Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan released the National Guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management in 2015.
  4. They encompass various aspects such as awareness-raising, behavior change, demand generation for hygiene products, capacity building for frontline workers, stakeholder sensitization, convergence efforts for effective interventions, and the establishment of WASH facilities with safe disposal options.
  5. Suvidha Sanitary Napkins: Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Sanitary Napkins are accessible at Jan Aushadhi Kendras across India at a subsidized rate of Rs. 1/- per pad.It is an  initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).

Way Forward

  1. Ensuring Menstrual Hygiene Standards in Prisons: The Indian government must enforce basic menstrual hygiene standards for women in prisons.
  2. Immediate action is needed to address the inconsistent implementation of the Model Prison Manual 2016, ensuring all states adhere to its recommendations.
  3. Public Health Priority:Addressing menstrual hygiene in prisons should be viewed as a public health priority and a crucial step in combating ‘period poverty.’
  4. Collaborative Strategy:Prison administrators and public health authorities must work together to create a comprehensive plan to ensure incarcerated women have access to adequate menstrual hygiene products and facilities, prioritizing their health and dignity.
  5. Further research is necessary to understand the current state of menstrual hygiene in prisons.

The controversy over eucalyptus planting in Kerala

Why did the Kerala government allow the Kerala Forest Development Corporation to plant eucalyptus trees? Why were environmentalists and social activists against the order?

Recently, the Kerala government amended its earlier order of allowing the Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) to plant eucalyptus trees for its financial sustenance in 2024-2025 to limit permission to only cut exotic tree species from lands in the KFDC’s control.

Kerala Revises KFDC Order to Combat Invasive Species and Human-Wildlife Conflict

  1. Issue with the Earlier Order: In 2021, the Kerala government had published an eco-restoration policy that sought to address the “proliferation of invasive species that are not suitable for our environment” and the resulting “depletion of natural forests”.
  2. Harmful Impacts: According to the policy, such depletion was in turn forcing wild animals to move to human-occupied land in search of food and thus increasing the prevalence of human-wildlife conflict.

Eco-Restoration

  1. Refers:It is the process of reclaiming habitat and ecosystem functions by restoring the lands and waters on which plants and animals depend.
  2. Aim:It aims to initiate or accelerate ecosystem recovery by creating conditions for plants, animals and microorganisms to carry out the recovery process themselves.
  3. It is not a one-time activity and continues as the ecosystem recovers and matures.
  4. Involves:Restoration is a corrective step that involves eliminating or modifying causes of ecological degradation and re-establishing the natural processes like natural fires, floods, or predator-prey relationships that sustain and renew ecosystems over time.
  5. Actions: It may involve actions like removing invasive species, reintroducing lost species or functions, altering landforms, planting vegetation, changing hydrology and reintroducing wildlife.
  6. Practices: Reforestation and afforestation, wetlands restoration, river and stream restoration, peatland restoration, replanting mangroves and transplanting corals, etc.

India’s Initiatives:

  1. Sundarbans Mangrove Restoration
  2. National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)
  3. National Mission for a Green India (GIM)
  4. Western Ghats Forest Landscape Restoration
  5. Green Wall
  6. National Afforestation Programme (NAP)
  7. National Biodiversity Action Plan

Significance:

  • Biodiversity Conservation: It helps to conserve biodiversity by providing species with the conditions they need to thrive.
  • Climate Change Mitigation: It can sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (such as forests, peatlands and mangroves), thereby helping to mitigate climate change.
  • Ecosystem Services: Healthier ecosystems, with richer biodiversity, yield greater benefits such as more fertile soils, bigger yields of timber and fish, and larger stores of greenhouse gases.
  • It can help us to achieve all of the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Economic Benefits: The economic benefits of such interventions exceed nine times the cost of investment, whereas inaction is at least three times more costly than eco restoration.
  • It can help in creating jobs like planting trees, managing protected areas and eco-tourism. Also, it can support local economies through improved agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.

Challenges:

  1. Technical Challenges:Selection of appropriate native species, determining the best methods for re-establishing those species and managing invasive species.
  2. Funding:These actions can be expensive and require sustained funding for over long periods as ecosystems can take years or even decades to recover fully.

Need To Do:

  1. Social Considerations: Any restoration action must consider the needs and rights of local communities, ensuring that restoration efforts also support local livelihoods.
  2. There is a need to ensure the involvement of local communities in planning and implementation.
  3. Adequate Funding:To attain success, there is a need to secure ongoing funding and gain political support.
  4. Monitoring:Careful monitoring, and evaluation to assess progress is the need of the hour.
  5. Time has come to ensure that restoration goals are met and that the ecosystem can sustain itself in the long term.
  6. Restoration vs Conservation: Restoration is not a substitute for conservation. While it can restore biodiversity, structure, and function to ecosystems, it should not be used to justify destruction or unsustainable use.
  7. It may not succeed in re-establishing the full assemblage of native species or the full extent of the original ecosystem’s structure and function.

Eucalyptus: 

  • It is a fast-growing evergreen tree native to Australia. 
  • Use: The eucalyptus tree oil is used as an antiseptic, a perfume, as a flavouring, in dental preparations and in industrial solvents.
  • Distinctive Trait: It is adapted to grow in a wide range of climatic regimes or soil types and grows rapidly and establishes itself easily; etc. 

UN Decade on Eco-Restoration:

  1. Declaration: The UN General Assembly has declared 2021–2030 a UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
  2. A global call to action, the UN Decade draws together political support, scientific research, and financial muscle to massively scale up restoration.
  3. Led by:The UNEP and the FAO, together with the support of partners to prevent, halt, and reverse the loss and degradation of ecosystems worldwide.
  4. Aim:Reviving billions of hectares, covering terrestrial as well as aquatic ecosystems.

The UN World Restoration Flagships:

  • Appreciation: With the World Restoration Flagships, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is honouring the best examples of large-scale and long-term ecosystem restoration in any country or region, embodying the 10 Restoration Principles of the UN Decade.
  • Monitoring: Progress of all World Restoration Flagships will be transparently monitored through the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring, the UN Decade’s platform for keeping track of global restoration efforts.

MeitY organises Workshop on ‘Powering Transformation through UI/UX for Digital Governance’
It would set-up guidelines for enhancing user experience of using websites/apps

  • Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has organised a National Workshop on ‘Powering Transformation through UI/UX for Digital Governance’ on 28thMay 2024 for setting up the guidelines for enhancing user experience of using websites/portals/applications.
  • Digital landscape is rapidly evolving   and user expects seamless and intuitive interaction with the application. This workshop on “Powering Transformation through UI/UX for Digital Governance” aims to make the way towards this. The workshop bring together the stakeholders from Government, Industry, Designers, Developers and other related Practitioners to discuss the practices and challenges in establishing effective UX/UI for public-facing digital services.
  • Workshop also witness the signing of MoU between Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Common Service Centres.
  • To Recognize the best practices and exceptional leadership and dedication in crafting intuitive and visually stunning user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) in product design, appreciation Certificate were awarded to Shri Brahma Kumar, Joint Secretary, MEA; Ms Vallari Gaikwad, Under Secretary, MEA for E-migrate;   Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Spl chief  Secretary, IT, Telangana for T-app Folio; Shri Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, CGM, SBI for YONO and Ms Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary, MRD for lakhpathi didi.
  • The workshop was chaired by Shri Amit Agarwal, CEO, UIDAI and DG, NIC. During the Workshop, various panel discussion was done between leaders from the industry as well as from Government. Panel discussion on following topics were done by reputed speakers:
  • Best UX Practices
  • Role of UX/UI in Citizen Engagement with the Government.
  • Tools & Techniques for UX/UI practices
  • Aspirations and Experiences of the Citizens in the Social Domain
  1. These sessions were done In recognition of their exceptional leadership.
  2. The workshop also included stall presented by Industries such as Google, Microsoft, Map My India, SBI, ZOHO, Samsung, etc.
  3. The workshop was praised by all industry leaders, Government officers and concluded with commitment to work towards enhancing the UI/UX on websites/applications along with the Government of India.

The Department of Science and Technology organised a two-day Climate Change Conclave at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

  1. The Department of Science and Technology organized a Climate Change Conclave spanning over two days from 27th–28thMay 2024 at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
  2. The conclave brought together experts from all over India to dwell on the need for developing foundational models in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for climate modelling in the Indian context, quality control of data and improving climate predictions as well as strengthening interactions with people for better climate adaptation solutions.
  • “The two missions of DST—the National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) and the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC) have led to significant progress in terms of supporting 19 CoEs and 37 major R&D programs over the years.” Speaking further he highlighted the need to focus more on developing foundational models in AI in the Indian context.”
  • Secretary, DST while releasing the draft executive summary of ‘District Level Climate Risk Assessment for India’ added that indigenous climate models based on data will provide better understanding for addressing climate change. He said, “Collective efforts towards a holistic approach involving researchers from multiple disciplines and a range of stakeholders can help address the ongoing challenges of climate change and its effect on agriculture, water and the environment.”
  1. DST brought about in the National Actions Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC), and the process of developing and mentoring climate change science and adaptation R&D programmes all over the country.
  2. Stressing that climate solutions were about securing the future for generations to come, Dr. Gupta urged communities to come together and not just analyze the problems but work collaboratively towards solutions.
  3. Anita Gupta, Head of Climate, Energy, and Sustainable Technology (CEST), DST, emphasized the urgency for solutions to the climate change problem given that 40% of the world’s population was already vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. She outlined how DST’s two missions under NAPCC were working towards such solutions by supporting R&D programmes throughout the country. She also spoke about Mission Innovation, a global initiative launched in 2015 for clean energy solutions in which DST was participating.
  4. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, highlighted the efforts of the Centre of Excellence on climate change modeling at IIT Delhi in innovative mitigation technologies like coal-to-methanol conversion, blue hydrogen production, and carbon capture and storage.
  5. Several other climate change experts from IIT Delhi, IIT Bhubaneshwar, Banaras Hindu University, University of Delhi, Kashmir University, IISc, University of Allahabad, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, India Meteorological Department, ICRISAT, the DST Centres of Excellence as well as DST officials participated in the meeting.

Department of BioTechnology-Institute of Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (DBT-iBRIC)-THSTI Organizes 2nd Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) Advanced Course in Vaccinology (TiVaC)

  • The Institute of Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (iBRIC, an organization of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India)—Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI)—has organized the 2ndTHSTI Advanced Course in Vaccinology (TiVaC) along with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) from May 27–June 1, 2024, at the iBRIC-THSTI, Faridabad campus.
  • The 6-day course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the concepts and steps involved in the design, development, and commercialization of vaccines and is open to both Indian and international participants.
  • With the support from Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), 10 young researchers and professionals from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Egypt and Rwanda are attending the 2nd The 1stTiVaC was held in May 2023, at the iBRIC-THSTI campus.
  • The iBRIC-THSTI was at the center of the research and development response to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially significant were the safety and efficacy studies conducted by the iBRIC-THSTI, for the vaccines under development during the pandemic, , Corbevax, ZyCoVD, and Covishield.
  • The iBRIC-THSTI has established world class infrastructure for research and has the capability and capacity to develop vaccines among other products. A Vaccine Design and Development Centre (VDDC), an ~1800 sq ft facility with state-of-the-art infrastructure, has also been established at the iBRIC-THSTI for rapid expansion of mid-level production of promising vaccine candidates.
  • Scientists at the iBRIC-THSTI are working on promising vaccine platforms such as the Multivalent Self-Assembled Nanocage Platform (MSN platform) and the Structure-AI-Driven Native Antigen Platform.
  • The vaccine candidate portfolio consists of MERS spike trimers, SARS-CoV-2 spike trimers, Influenza HA trimers, Influenza NA tetramers, Nipah G tetramers, Nipah F trimers, Dengue envelope dimers, Chikungunya envelope trimers using transient expression systems in HEK293 and CHO cell lines.
  • The development of a CHO cell line for stable production of antigens is under development.
  • Leveraging these capabilities, the iBRIC-THSTI is organizing the 2ndAdvanced Course in Vaccinology (TIVaC). This course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the concepts and steps involved in the design, development and commercialization of vaccines, with resource persons from Indian academia and industry.
  • The focus of the training would be on: basic biology and immunology of vaccine development; pre-clinical research; clinical trial design, including statistical processes; regulatory clearances and procedures; manufacturing; and quality compliance.
  • Training in the principles of vaccinology and immunology is a crucial aspect of appropriating global leadership in vaccine development. Keeping in view the same, the iBRIC-THSTI has opened the vaccinology course to young researchers and professionals from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
  • During the inauguration of the course, Dr. G. Karthikeyan, Executive Director of the iBRIC-THSTI, stressed the need for training in advanced fields of research and the need for training programs to enhance both institutional and national capacity in this area. He stated that“The iBRIC-THSTI would consider the possibility of setting up more short-term intense training programmes for national and international researchers.”.

Oedocladium sahyadricum:

A group of phycologists from the Department of Botany at Catholicate College in Pathanamthitta has discovered a new algal species in the Western Ghats.

Oedocladium sahyadricum:

It is a new algal species and it is named as Oedocladium sahyadricum.

The name ‘sahyadricum’ refers to the Western Ghats, also known as Sahyadri, which is rich in plant diversity and provides ideal conditions for the growth of terrestrial microalgae.

Features

  1. It is dioecious and terrestrial, having a superior operculum, and possessing ellipsoid oogonium and oospore.
  2. The alga was found as a thin mat of elongated strands on damp soil.
  3. The species, which looks like moss protonema, is velvety green but turns yellowish-green as it matures. Rainy weather is likely needed for its abundant growth.
  4. This is the first time a species in the Oedocladium category has been recorded in Kerala.
  5. Species of Oedocladium have potential practical applications
  6. In medicine, agriculture, and in the production of a natural pigment, astaxanthin which is well-documented for its unique biological activities and health benefits.
  7. Algae play a significant role in ecosystems and have enormous economic importance in the world market, from high-value products to wastewater treatment.

Article 329(b)

The Election Commission (EC) recently invoked Article 329(b) of the Constitution, which prohibits judicial intervention in the working of the commission in the middle of the election process.

Article 329(b):

  1. Enshrined in Part XV of the Constitution, articles 324-329 specifically discuss elections.
  2. While Article 324 gives the poll panel powers to direct and control elections, Article 329, which has two clauses, concerns itself with the role of the judiciary in electoral matters.
  3. Article 329(a) says the “judiciary is not allowed to challenge the constitutionality of laws relating to the boundaries of electoral districts or the allocation of seats.
  4. Article 329(b)as amended by the Constitution (19th Amendment) Act1966, provides that notwithstanding anything in the Constitution, no election to either House of Parliament or the Legislature of a State shall be called into question except by an election petition presented to such authority and in such manner as may be provided for by or under any law made by the appropriate Legislature.
  5. It stipulates that election-related inquiriesare exclusively addressed through election petitions presented to the authority designated by that law.
  6. The Representation of the People Act, 1951, furthers this clause as it empowers the high courtsto hear and decide election petitions.

SC Rulings:

  • In the 1952 Ponnuswamy judgment (Ponnuswami v. Returning Officer Namakkal), the SC held that the word “election” in Article 329(b) connotes the entire electoral process commencing with the issue of the notification calling the election and culminating in the declaration of result, and that the electoral process once started could not be interfered with at any intermediary stage by courts.
  • The SC in K. Venkatachalam vs. A. Swamickan (1999) determined that Article 329(b) is inapplicable if the matter pertains to Articles 191 and 193, which deal with disqualifications and penalties related to parliamentary and legislative assembly membership, respectively.

The Changing Dynamics of Heatwaves: Slower, Longer, and More Frequent

  • In the current century, heatwaves are moving slower and lasting longer than ever before. This phenomenon has been linked to changes in the upper atmosphere’s air circulation patterns, specifically the weakening of the jet stream—a fast, narrow current of air flowing from west to east high up in the troposphere.

  • As a result, the impact of heatwaves has become more severe, affecting regions like India with greater frequency and intensity.
  • This trend is not confined to India but is a global issue, as highlighted by a recent study published in *Science Advances*. The study shows that the dynamics of heatwaves are changing, leading to more prolonged and stagnant periods of extreme heat.

The Effects of Heatwaves

  1. Heatwaves have a profound impact on both human and animal life. They increase the risk of wildfires, damage crops, and pose significant health risks.
  2. To understand how these heatwaves have evolved, climate scientist Wei Zhang from Utah State University and his colleagues analyzed global temperatures from 1979 to 2020.
  3. Their findings indicate that, on average, heatwaves have slowed down by nearly 8 km/day each decade and have extended in duration by about four days.
  4. These changes have been especially pronounced in North America and Eurasia. Additionally, the frequency of heatwaves has risen, from about 75 events between 1979 and 1983 to approximately 98 between 2016 and 2020.

Temperature and Circulation Patterns

  • Understanding heatwaves involves two key components: thermodynamics and atmospheric dynamics. Rachel White, an atmospheric scientist at the University of British Columbia, explains that thermodynamics pertains to temperature changes—warmer temperatures lead to hotter heatwaves.
  • Dynamics, on the other hand, involve the atmospheric circulation patterns that cause heatwaves.
  • While it is clear that temperatures are rising, there are still questions about how these circulation patterns will change in a warming world.

The Movement of Heatwaves

  1. Previous research has predominantly focused on the frequency and intensity of heatwaves. However, the study by Zhang and his team took a different approach by examining how heatwaves move over space and time.
  2. They classified contiguous heatwaves as events with extremely high temperatures, covering more than a million square kilometers, and lasting longer than three days.
  3. By tracking these massive blobs of hot air, they aimed to understand their movement—a relatively novel area of study.
  4. White appreciates this approach, noting that it bridges the gap between the thermodynamic and dynamic aspects of heatwaves.
  5. She emphasizes that looking at heatwaves as objects that move and propagate offers a more comprehensive understanding than simply observing temperature changes at a single point.

The Jet Stream’s Role

  1. The study also delved into what causes heatwaves to move so sluggishly. The researchers analyzed upper atmospheric air circulation patterns and found that the jet stream has weakened over the years.
  2. The jet stream influences atmospheric waves, which in turn affect the Earth’s surface temperature. A weaker jet stream leads to slower-moving atmospheric waves, resulting in more persistent weather events, including prolonged heatwaves.
  3. To determine the role of human activity in this phenomenon, the researchers conducted simulations using temperature data from 1979 to 2020.
  4. They compared scenarios with and without human greenhouse gas emissions and concluded that while natural climate variability and events do influence heatwaves, human activity and greenhouse gas emissions have played a dominant role in making heatwaves slower and longer-lasting.

Further Research and Regional Differences

  • White suggests that future research should focus on understanding the role of atmospheric air circulation patterns in heatwave dynamics.
  • Investigating country-specific changes in heatwaves over time could provide more insights. Dr. Zhang and his team plan to explore regional differences in heatwave behavior as part of their next steps, aiming to develop better climate adaptation strategies.

Mitigation Strategies

In urban areas, increasing green infrastructure and planting more trees can help mitigate the effects of heatwaves. Dr. Zhang has been actively involved in such efforts, collaborating with Tree Utah, an NGO, to engage communities in planting and caring for trees. He also teaches a class on Climate Adaptation Science at Utah State University, where students learn and apply climate adaptation strategies, including working with farmers on alternative crops.

The study conducted by Dr. Zhang and his colleagues adds to the growing body of evidence that climate change is altering extreme weather events. It highlights how the behavior of heatwaves is changing, with significant implications for daily life, health, and the environment. As heatwaves become more frequent, slower-moving, and longer-lasting, understanding and adapting to these changes is crucial for mitigating their impact. This research underscores the importance of addressing both the thermodynamic and dynamic aspects of climate change to develop effective adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Current State of Indian Agricultural Exports and Imports

Agricultural Exports:

  1. Decline in Exports: India’s agricultural exports fell by 8.2% in the fiscal year 2023-24, totaling USD 48.82 billion, down from USD 53.15 billion in 2022-23.
  2. Sugar Exports:Banned from October 2023, reducing exports to USD 2.82 billion from USD 5.77 billion the previous year.
  3. Rice Exports:Ban on all white non-basmati rice exports from July 2023 due to domestic availability and food inflation concerns. Only parboiled grain shipments are allowed with a 20% duty, leading to a decline in non-basmati exports from USD 6.36 billion to USD 4.57 billion.
  4. Wheat Exports: Stopped in May 2022, falling to USD 56.74 million in 2023-24 from USD 2.12 billion in 2021-22.
  5. Onion Exports:Ban lifted in May 2024, with a floor price of USD 550 per tonne and a 40% duty. Exports fell to 17.08 lakh tonnes (USD 467.83 million) from 25.25 lakh tonnes (USD 561.38 million).
  6. Growth in Other Commodities:Basmati rice exports reached USD 5.84 billion. Spices exports crossed the USD 4 billion mark. Marine products, castor oil, and other cereals (mainly maize) also saw growth.

Agricultural Imports:

  1. Decline in Imports:India’s agricultural imports dropped by 7.9% in 2023-24, due to global market conditions and domestic demand.
  2. Edible Oils:Major factor in the decline. Imports of vegetable fats were USD 20 billion in 2022-23, influenced by the Russia-Ukraine war. In 2023-24, the FAO vegetable oil sub-index eased to 123.4 points, reducing the import bill below USD 15 billion.
  3. Pulses:Imports nearly doubled to USD 3.75 billion, the highest since 2015-16 and 2016-17 levels, showing continued dependence on foreign sources to meet domestic demand.

Analysis:

  1. Export Restrictions:Measures like bans on sugar and rice exports were taken to ensure domestic availability and control food inflation, but they significantly impacted overall export figures.
  2. Import Dependence:The reliance on imports for essential commodities like edible oils and pulses indicates a need to boost domestic production to reduce vulnerability to global market fluctuations.
  3. Policy Implications:Effective management of trade policies, enhancing domestic production capabilities, and strategic export-import regulations are crucial to balancing domestic needs and international trade dynamics

Key Factors Influencing India’s Agricultural Exports and Imports:

Export Restrictions:

  • Government-imposed curbs on rice, wheat, sugar, and onion exports due to concerns over domestic availability and food inflation.
  • These restrictions significantly declined the exports of these commodities.

Global Price Movements:

  1. The UN FAO food price index (base: 2014-16=100) tracks global agri-commodity prices.
  2. FAO food price index dropped from an average of 119.1 points in 2013-14 to 96.5 points between 2013-14 and 2019-20, reflecting a global price crash.
  3. Post-COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, the index soared to 140.8 points in 2022-23.
  4. In 2023-24, the average FAO index eased to 121.6 points, leading to a decline in India’s edible oil import bill.

Government Policies:

  • Low or zero import duties on pulses and edible oils contradict the goal of boosting domestic production.
  • This policy favors imports over domestic cultivation, potentially discouraging crop diversification and undermining long-term agricultural development.

Agricultural Export Policy:

  1. An agricultural export policy comprises government rules, actions, and encouragements aimed at regulating and boosting agricultural goods exports.
  2. The policy includes export subsidies, tariff reductions, quality standards, market access agreements, financial incentives, and trade promotion initiatives.

India’s Agriculture Export Policy, 2018:

  1. Implemented to leverage India’s agricultural export potential, establish India as a leading force in global agriculture, and increase farmers’ incomes.
  2. Objective: Doubling agricultural exports from USD 30+ billion to over USD 60 billion by 2022.
  3. Focus on promoting ethnic, organic, traditional, and non-traditional agri-products exports.
  4. Establish a monitoring framework for implementation.

Elements:

  1. Strategic:Policy measures, infrastructure, logistics, and supporting a holistic approach to boost exports with greater state government involvement.
  2. Operational:Focus on clusters, promoting value-added exports, marketing and promoting “Brand India,” attracting private investments, and establishing a strong quality regime and research & development.

Challenges to the Agri-Export Policy:

  1. Frequent changes in export policies disrupt market stability and long-term trade relationships.
  2. Reduced import duties on pulses and low tariffs on edible oils aim to ensure consumer affordability but conflict with promoting domestic crop diversification.
  3. Populist measures during election seasons undermine fiscal discipline and agricultural sector financial health.
  4. Insufficient investment in agricultural R&D, currently around 0.5% of agricultural GDP, needs to be increased for substantial growth.
  5. Ensuring consistent quality and compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary standards is challenging due to pests and diseases.
  6. Competition in pricing and quality and exchange rate fluctuations influence the competitiveness of Indian agricultural exports.

Stellaria mcclintockiae: A New Species

Classification

  • Genus:Stellaria
  • Family:Caryophyllaceae

Features

  • Growth Habit:Annual herb reaching up to 15 cm in height.
  • Habitat:Found exclusively in the Nelliyampathy hills, at elevations between 1,250 and 1,400 meters.

Unique Characteristics:

  1. Differentiated by its petals, pollen morphology, bracts, sepals, and seed architecture.
  2. First reported species of the genus Stellaria from South India.

Conservation Status

  • Recommendation: Researchers suggest that Stellaria mcclintockiae should be classified as critically endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria.
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