In News:

According to the latest report under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, the majority of atrocities against Scheduled Tribes (STs) were also concentrated in 13 states, which reported 98.91% of all cases in 2022.

• Case Statistics:
  • Total cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs): 51,656
  • Total cases against Scheduled Tribes (STs): 9,735
  • 97.7% of SC cases and 98.91% of ST cases reported from 13 states.
• States with Highest Incidents:
  • SCs:
    • Uttar Pradesh: 12,287 cases (23.78%)
    • Rajasthan: 8,651 cases (16.75%)
    • Madhya Pradesh: 7,732 cases (14.97%)
    • Other significant states: Bihar (6,799), Odisha (3,576), Maharashtra (2,706)
  • STs:
    • Madhya Pradesh: 2,979 cases (30.61%)
    • Rajasthan: 2,498 cases (25.66%)
    • Odisha: 773 cases (7.94%)
    • Other significant states: Maharashtra (691), Andhra Pradesh (499)
• Charge Sheets and Investigations:
  • SC-related cases: 60.38% resulted in charge sheets; 14.78% ended with final reports (false claims/lack of evidence).
  • ST-related cases: 63.32% led to charge sheets; 14.71% concluded similarly.
  • Pending investigations by end of 2022: 17,166 SC cases, 2,702 ST cases.
• Conviction Rates:
  • Decline from 39.2% in 2020 to 32.4% in 2022.
• Infrastructure Deficiencies:
  • Only 194 out of 498 districts in 14 states have established special courts for these cases.
  • Lack of identified atrocity-prone areas in states like Uttar Pradesh despite high case numbers.
• Protection Cells:
  • SC/ST protection cells established in multiple states and union territories.

Reasons for Atrocities Against SCs and STs

• Caste Prejudice: Deep-rooted hierarchies and social exclusion lead to violence.
• Land Disputes: Conflicts over land access among historically deprived SC/ST communities.
• Economic Marginalization: Limited access to education and resources heightens vulnerability.
• Power Imbalance: Dominant castes wield political and social influence, perpetuating discrimination.
• Inadequate Law Enforcement: Weak implementation of protective laws and bureaucratic bias hinder justice.
• Political Exploitation: Caste tensions are sometimes used for electoral gains.

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

• Objective: Protect SCs and STs from caste-based violence and discrimination.
• Key Provisions:
  • Defines various offences against SC/ST members, prescribing stricter punishments.
  • Excludes anticipatory bail provisions for accused under the Act.
  • Mandates establishment of special courts for speedy trials.
  • Investigations must be conducted by senior police officers and completed within stipulated time frames.
• Recent Amendments:
  • 2015: Enhanced protections for SC/ST women.
  • 2019: Restored original provisions for arrest procedures following a Supreme Court ruling.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Strengthen Legal Framework: Establish more special courts and train personnel in sensitive handling of SC/ST cases.
• Improve Reporting Mechanisms: Enhance systems for victims to report atrocities without fear.
• Awareness Campaigns: Educate communities on SC/ST rights and legal protections.
• Targeted Interventions: Identify and address issues in atrocity-prone districts.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement frameworks for accountability and continuous improvement in addressing these issues.
• Collaborate with NGOs: Work with civil society to support victims and advocate for their rights.

Overview:

The ICAR-National Institute of Secondary Agriculture (NISA), originally established in 1924 as the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums in Ranchi, Jharkhand, marks its centenary this year. Renamed in 2022, it operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, focusing on enhancing the value of agricultural products.

Understanding Secondary Agriculture:

Secondary agriculture encompasses the transformation of primary agricultural products into higher-value commodities and includes activities such as:

• Beekeeping
• Poultry farming
• Agricultural tourism

This sector plays a crucial role in converting agricultural produce, residues, and by-products into valuable goods for various uses, including pharmaceuticals, food, and industrial applications. Examples of secondary agriculture practices include:

• Extracting vitamins from grains
• Producing oil from rice bran
• Making jaggery from sugarcane
• Cottage industries for jams and pickles

Growth Potential: The sector is poised for growth due to:

• Increasing consumer demand for value-added products like ready-to-eat meals.
• The need for innovative uses of renewable agro-bio resources.
• The significant availability of agricultural byproducts.

Significance of Secondary Agriculture:

1. Environmental Sustainability: Proper utilization of crop residues can reduce waste and pollution.
2. Enhanced Farmer Income: Activities like beekeeping and lac culture provide additional revenue streams for farmers.
3. Value Addition: Processing agricultural products increases their shelf life and overall productivity.
4. Promotion of Cottage Industries: Supports rural economies and fosters technology adoption.

Challenges Ahead: Despite its potential, secondary agriculture faces several hurdles:

• The industry for high-value products from agricultural byproducts, such as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, is still emerging.
• Small landholdings complicate the collection of crop residues.
• Limited research on suitable technologies hampers development.
• There is a lack of awareness among farmers regarding the processing of agricultural waste.

Conclusion

As ICAR-NISA celebrates its 100th anniversary, it remains crucial in shaping the future of secondary agriculture in India, addressing both challenges and opportunities to enhance sustainability and farmer livelihoods.

In News:

India signed agreements within the US-led 14-member IPEF focused on a clean and fair economy.

• Objectives:
  • Facilitate development, access, and deployment of clean energy and climate-friendly technologies.
  • Strengthen anti-corruption measures and promote tax transparency among member countries.
• Clean Economy Agreement:
  • Aims to accelerate energy security and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
  • Focuses on innovative methods to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote technical cooperation.
• Fair Economy Agreement:
  • Seeks to create a transparent and predictable business environment to enhance trade and investment.
  • Emphasizes information sharing, asset recovery facilitation, and strengthening cross-border investigations.
• Funding Mechanisms:
  • IPEF offers platforms for technical assistance and concessional funding.
  • IPEF Catalytic Capital Fund: Initial grant of $33 million aimed to catalyze $3.3 billion in private investments.
  • PGI Investment Accelerator: Received $300 million from the US International Development Finance Corporation.
• Concerns Raised:
  • Experts highlighted concerns over the secrecy of IPEF negotiations with limited public input.
  • Expressed hope that India has not agreed to a non-derogation clause that could limit domestic regulatory flexibility for national projects.
• Potential Risks:
  • Most standards discussed in IPEF are aligned with those in the US and OECD countries.
  • India risks compliance pressures in future trade deals if it adopts these standards without adequate preparation.
• Strategic Importance of IPEF:
  • Involves 14 member countries, focusing on economic cooperation through four key pillars: trade, supply chain resilience, clean economy, and fair economy.
  • Represents 40% of the global economy and 28% of world trade, highlighting India's commitment to regional partnerships alongside the US, Japan, Australia, and other Indo-Pacific nations.

In News:

Azerbaijan is making a significant move in the global climate finance landscape by proposing the Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF) at the upcoming COP29 conference. This fund aims to gather voluntary contributions from fossil-fuel-producing nations and companies, with Azerbaijan itself making the initial investment. The fund’s goal is to support climate action in developing countries, which often struggle to finance their environmental initiatives.

Key Aspects of the CFAF:

• Voluntary Contributions: The fund seeks donations from fossil fuel entities, allowing them to contribute based on a fixed amount or production volumes.
• Bipartite Allocation: Proposed funds will be split equally—half for climate projects in developing nations and half for supporting those countries in executing their national climate action plans.
• Operational Threshold: The CFAF will only commence operations once it secures a minimum of $1 billion and commitments from at least ten countries to participate.

Context of COP29:

COP29, hosted in Baku from November 11 to 22, centers on finalizing a climate finance agreement, particularly the obligations of developed nations post-2025. This follows the ongoing struggle to meet the $100 billion annual financing target established in the Paris Agreement.

Additional Proposals:

Azerbaijan has also introduced several other initiatives as part of its agenda, including:

• Expanding Global Energy Storage: Aiming to increase capacity sixfold by 2030.
• Green Hydrogen Market: Fostering a global marketplace for green hydrogen.
• Minimizing Emissions from Digital Growth: Ensuring that the environmental impact of increasing digitalization and data centers is mitigated.

Challenges Ahead:

Despite the ambitious plans, there are significant hurdles to overcome, including establishing a robust framework for the CFAF, garnering international support, and ensuring compliance from contributors. As the conference approaches, ongoing negotiations will be crucial to achieving substantial agreements on climate finance that can lead to meaningful progress in combating climate change.

In News:

The Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative is a significant collaborative effort among the Quad countries—India, the United States, Australia, and Japan—aimed at combating cancer through innovative strategies. The initiative focuses on key areas such as preventing and detecting cancer, improving treatment, and alleviating the disease's impact on patients and families.

Key Highlights of the Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative:

• Focus Areas:
  • Cervical Cancer Screening: Enhancing access to screening programs.
  • HPV Vaccination: Increasing vaccination rates against HPV, which is the leading cause of cervical cancer.
  • Patient Treatment: Improving treatment protocols and accessibility for cancer patients.
• India’s Contributions:
  • Financial Commitment: India has pledged $10 million to support the WHO’s Global Initiative on Digital Health, aimed at enhancing digital health technologies for cancer care in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Material Support: India will provide cervical cancer screening kits, detection tools, and HPV vaccines valued at $7.5 million to bolster healthcare initiatives in the region.
  • AI-based Protocols: Development of AI-driven treatment protocols to improve care delivery for cancer patients.
  • Capacity Building: India aims to enhance radiotherapy services and overall cancer prevention strategies in the Indo-Pacific.

This initiative represents a strong commitment to fostering international collaboration in healthcare, particularly in the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer. By empowering communities with accessible tools and resources, the Quad countries aim to significantly reduce the burden of cancer in the region.