In News:

India with an abysmal score of 45.5 (out of 100) has been ranked 176th in the Global Nature Conservation Index, 2024.

Key Highlights:

• India's Ranking:
  • Ranked 176th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Global Nature Conservation Index (NCI).
  • India is listed among the five worst performers, along with Kiribati (180), Turkey (179), Iraq (178), and Micronesia (177).
  • Score: 45.5 out of 100, indicating significant conservation challenges.
• Key Factors Contributing to Low Rank:
  • Inefficient land management practices.
  • Rising threats to biodiversity, exacerbated by unsustainable development and climate change.
• Four Key Markers Assessed by the NCI:
  • Land Management: Ineffective management leading to significant land conversion.
  • Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat loss, fragmentation, and deforestation.
  • Capacity and Governance: Need for stronger political will and better enforcement of conservation laws.
  • Future Trends: Growing pressure from population density, climate change, and illegal wildlife trade.
• Sustainable Land Use Concerns:
  • 53% of land has been converted for urban, industrial, and agricultural purposes.
  • High use of pesticides and concerns over soil pollution.
  • Sustainable nitrogen index of 0.77 indicates significant risks to soil health.
• Marine Conservation Issues:
  • Only 0.2% of India’s national waterways are under protected areas, with no protected areas within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
  • Significant improvements needed in marine conservation despite 7.5% of terrestrial areas being protected.
• Deforestation and Habitat Loss:
  • 23,300 sq. km of tree cover lost between 2001-2019 due to deforestation.
  • Habitat fragmentation from agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development.
  • Impact of climate change on sensitive ecosystems like alpine regions and coral reefs.
• Biodiversity Decline:
  • Despite 40% of marine species and 65% of terrestrial species being within Protected Areas (PAs), many species continue to face population decline.
  • 67.5% of marine species and 46.9% of terrestrial species are still experiencing population declines.
• Illegal Wildlife Trade:
  • India is the fourth-largest illegal wildlife trading nation globally, with an estimated annual trade value of £15 billion.
  • The NCI emphasizes the need for stronger enforcement and international cooperation to combat wildlife trafficking.
• Ecological Wealth Under Threat:
  • India’s high population density (with a population that has doubled since the late 1970s) continues to put pressure on its ecological wealth.
  • The country faces significant biodiversity challenges due to overpopulation and unsustainable development.
• Recommendations and Optimism:
  • The NCI stresses the need for strong political will and commitment to sustainable development.
  • India can improve its rank by strengthening conservation laws, improving governance, and securing funding for environmental initiatives.
  • The NCI remains optimistic about India’s potential to address its conservation challenges and achieve more sustainable outcomes in the future.
• About the Nature Conservation Index (NCI):
• Developed by: Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change (Ben-Gurion University) and BioDB.com (a biodiversity database).
• Purpose: Evaluates the conservation efforts of countries, using a data-driven approach to balance conservation and development.
• Key Focus Areas: Land management, biodiversity threats, governance, and future sustainability trends.

In News:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directed foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to obtain necessary approvals from the government and concurrence from the investee companies when their equity holdings go beyond the prescribed limits and they reclassify the holdings as foreign direct investment (FDI).

• Approval Requirement:
  • FPIs (Foreign Portfolio Investors) must obtain necessary government approvals when reclassifying their foreign portfolio investments (FPIs) into Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
  • Approvals are mandatory, including those related to investments from countries sharing a land border with India.
• Investment Limits:
  • According to FEMA (NDI) Rules, 2019, an FPI’s investment in an Indian company should not exceed 10% of the total paid-up equity capital (on a fully diluted basis).
  • If the FPI exceeds this limit, it has 5 trading days from the settlement of trades to either divest or reclassify the excess holdings as FDI.
• Restrictions on Reclassification:
  • Reclassification to FDI is not allowed in sectors where FDI is prohibited.
  • FPIs must ensure compliance with FDI norms, such as entry routes, sectoral caps, investment limits, pricing guidelines, and other related conditions.
• Concurrence from Investee Companies:
  • The FPI must obtain the concurrence of the investee company for reclassifying the investment into FDI.
  • This ensures that the company adheres to conditions related to prohibited sectors, sectoral caps, and government approvals.
• Reclassification Procedure:
  • The FPI must clearly state its intent to reclassify the investment to FDI and provide the necessary approvals and concurrence to its custodian.
  • The custodian is responsible for freezing the FPI's purchase transactions in the investee company’s equity instruments until the reclassification is complete.
• Regulatory Adherence:
  • The reclassification must follow the relevant provisions for FDI, including compliance with the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and FDI guidelines.

In News:

• Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh introduced the concept of ‘Adaptive Defence’ at the inaugural Delhi Defence Dialogue (DDD).
• Adaptive Defence aims to prepare India's military for the rapidly changing landscape of modern warfare, with evolving threats and technologies shaping global security.

Key Aspects of Adaptive Defence:

• Strategic Approach:
  • Adaptive Defence is an evolving strategy where military and defence systems continuously adjust to emerging threats, focusing on proactive preparedness rather than reactive responses.
  • It is based on anticipating future threats, fostering flexibility, resilience, and agility in both strategic and tactical responses.
• Core Elements:
  • Situational Awareness: The ability to understand and respond to dynamic, often unpredictable environments.
  • Flexibility & Agility: At both the strategic and tactical levels to ensure swift and effective responses.
  • Resilience: The capacity to recover and adapt quickly to unforeseen circumstances.
  • Integration with Emerging Technologies: Emphasis on adopting cutting-edge technologies like AI, drones, and cybersecurity to stay ahead of adversaries.

The Changing Nature of Warfare:

• Grey Zone & Hybrid Warfare:
  • Modern conflicts now often occur in the grey zone and involve hybrid warfare, blending traditional and non-traditional threats like cyber-attacks, terrorism, and psychological warfare.
  • These new threats demand continuous adaptation in strategies, doctrines, and military operations.
• Technological Transformation:
  • Drones and swarm technologies are reshaping warfare. India aspires to become a global hub for drones, leveraging these technologies for both economic and military growth.
  • The increasing significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cyber capabilities, and quantum technologies in defence highlights the need for international collaboration in research and innovation.
• Psychological Warfare:
  • The rise of information overload and psychological warfare challenges traditional defence paradigms. Manipulation of information to influence public opinion and disrupt decision-making processes is now a key threat.

Government Initiatives for Adaptive Defence:

• Institutional Strengthening:
  • Establishment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and initiatives to enhance jointness among the three armed services (Army, Navy, Air Force) to create a unified strategic force.
  • Reform of training curricula and emphasis on integrated operations to ensure readiness for new-age warfare.
• Focus on Self-Reliance:
  • Strengthening the indigenous defence sector through initiatives like Make in India and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign.
  • Increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in defence and promoting defence exports, with India currently exporting to over 100 nations.
• Drone Hub Vision:
  • India aims to become the world’s drone hub, supporting R&D and fostering innovation to develop reliable certification mechanisms and enhance Indian intellectual property in the drone sector.
  • Programs like iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) and ADITI are rewarding innovation and driving India's defence sector towards greater self-sufficiency.
• Technology and Innovation:
  • Focus on cybersecurity, AI, and quantum technologies to develop solutions that address both national and global security challenges.
  • India is also working on Theaterisation, integrating the three services into a unified force structure for enhanced coordination and joint operations.
• Defence Acquisition and Export:
  • Introduction of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, establishment of Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and a Positive Indigenisation List to boost self-reliance.
  • India is actively increasing defence exports, aiming for Rs 50,000 crore worth of exports by 2029, with key export destinations including the USA, France, and Armenia.

Strategic Vision for the Future:

• Collaborative Approach:
  • Given the interconnectedness of global security, the defence minister emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach in dealing with transnational threats.
  • Cross-border issues, cyberspace threats, and the potential of quantum and nanotechnologies demand the sharing of knowledge and strategies across borders.
• Joint Military Vision:
  • Jointness in defence strategy should go beyond national borders and should involve international cooperation in response to global security challenges.
  • The need for interconnected solutions in the face of transnational threats underscores the importance of multilateral cooperation.

In News:

• Cambodia saw a resurgence of H5N1 avian influenza cases after over 10 years of no human infections.
• From February 2023 to August 2024, 16 human cases were reported, with 3 deaths caused by the A/H5 clade 2.3.2.1c virus.
• Notably, 14 of these cases were caused by a novel reassortant virus, involving a mixture of clade 2.3.2.1c and clade 2.3.4.4b gene segments.

Key Points:

• Reassortment of the Virus:
  • The reassortment between clades 2.3.2.1c (Southeast Asia) and 2.3.4.4b (global spread) has created a new strain.
  • This reassortant virus is responsible for the second wave of infections in humans, starting in October 2023.
• Zoonotic Transmission:
  • Investigations confirmed that direct contact with sick poultry or bird droppings was the primary source of human infections.
  • There have been no reported cases of human-to-human transmission.
  • The novel reassortant virus appears to have replaced the 2.3.2.1c strain in Cambodian poultry.
• Geographic Spread and Spillovers:
  • Clade 2.3.2.1c was first reported in Cambodian poultry in March 2014. It continued to circulate in both poultry and wild birds.
  • Clade 2.3.4.4b viruses began circulating in Cambodian live bird markets by 2021, co-existing with clade 2.3.2.1c.
  • There were two key spillovers to humans:
    • The first spillover in February 2023, associated with clade 2.3.2.1c, involved two related individuals, with one death.
    • The second spillover, beginning in October 2023, involved the novel reassortant virus.
• Genetic Analysis and Mutation Concerns:
  • Genetic sequencing showed significant changes in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of viruses from human cases, indicating a shift from older local strains to newer sublineages.
  • The PB2 627K mutation in the novel reassortant is concerning, as it is linked to increased mammalian adaptation and the potential for airborne transmission, particularly in mammals like ferrets.
  • This mutation raises concerns about the virus’s ability to adapt to humans or other mammals.
• Environmental and Epidemiological Factors:
  • The reassortment is believed to have been facilitated by:
    • High-density poultry farming.
    • Wild bird migration.
    • Cross-border poultry trade in Southeast Asia.
  • These factors heighten the risk of zoonotic transmission, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance in the region.
• Surveillance and Response:
  • One Health investigations linked human cases to infected poultry, highlighting the importance of rapid response through whole genome sequencing.
  • The ongoing surveillance is critical, as the novel reassortant strain has already replaced clade 2.3.2.1c in Cambodian poultry.
• Public Health Recommendations:
  • There is an urgent need to strengthen sustained surveillance of avian influenza in both poultry and wild birds, particularly in Southeast Asia.
  • Public health strategies should focus on:
    • Reducing human exposure to infected poultry.
    • Promoting safe poultry handling practices.
    • Encouraging early healthcare-seeking behavior in individuals with potential symptoms.

In News:

Recently, the Supreme Court of India delivered a significant ruling affirming that the right of persons with disabilities (PwDs) to access environments, services, and opportunities is a fundamental human right. The judgment was made in the case of RajiveRaturi vs. Union of India &Ors. and is based on a report submitted by the Centre for Disability Studies (CDS) at NALSAR University of Law.

Key Points of the Judgment:

• Social Model of Disability:
  • The Court upheld the social model of disability, which focuses on societal changes to ensure the full inclusion and participation of PwDs.
  • The model emphasizes removing social barriers and creating an inclusive environment that accommodates all disabilities.
• Challenges Faced by PwDs: The ruling highlighted various challenges faced by PwDs, as identified in the CDS NALSAR report:
  • Accessibility Barriers: Significant gaps exist in accessibility measures across public spaces such as courts, prisons, schools, and public transport.
  • Intersectionality & Compounded Discrimination: PwDs often face multiple layers of discrimination, such as caste, gender, and socio-economic status, which compound their marginalization.
  • Inconsistent Legal Framework: The RPwD Act (2016) mandates mandatory compliance for accessibility standards, but Rule 15 under RPwD Rules (2017) only offers self-regulatory guidelines, which the Court found insufficient.
• Court's Analysis of Rule 15:
  • The Court declared Rule 15(1) of the RPwD Rules, 2017, as ultra vires, meaning it is inconsistent with the mandatory compliance intended by the RPwD Act.
  • The Court stressed the need for stronger legal and regulatory enforcement to ensure access for PwDs.
• Principles of Accessibility: The Court outlined several essential principles for achieving accessibility:
  • Universal Design: Environments and services should be universally accessible to all, including PwDs.
  • Comprehensive Inclusion: All types of disabilities, both visible and invisible, should be addressed.
  • Assistive Technology Integration: Using technology to support PwDs in daily activities.
  • Stakeholder Consultation: PwDs and disability advocacy groups must be consulted in planning and designing accessible spaces.
• Two-Pronged Approach:
  • The Court recommended a two-pronged approach:
    • Ensure accessibility in existing infrastructure: Modify and update current institutions and services to become accessible.
    • Design future infrastructure with accessibility in mind: Plan and build new spaces and services that are inclusive from the start.

Legal and Policy Framework:

• Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016:
  • The RPwD Act mandates various accessibility standards and provisions to protect and promote the rights of PwDs, in alignment with India’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which India ratified in 2007.
  • The Act defines a person with a benchmark disability as someone with at least 40% of a specified disability.
• International Obligations:
  • The ruling reaffirmed the importance of Article 9 of the UNCRPD, which emphasizes the right of PwDs to access the physical environment, transport, and information and communication technologies.
• Government Initiatives: The judgment highlights several initiatives aimed at improving accessibility:
  • Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan): A nationwide effort to make public spaces and services accessible to PwDs.
  • Assistance for Aids and Appliances: Government schemes to provide PwDs with necessary aids and appliances.
  • Unique Disability Identification Portal: A platform for PwDs to register and obtain a disability certificate.

Notable Judicial Precedents:

The Court referred to several previous rulings that recognized the right to accessibility:

• State of Himachal Pradesh v. Umed Ram Sharma (1986): The Court included the right to accessibility under the Right to Life (Article 21) of the Constitution.
• Disabled Rights Group v. Union of India (2017): The Court directed that educational institutions ensure reserved seats for PwDs.