In News:

• India and the Maldives held their first defence talks since India withdrew its military personnel early this year.

Significance of Talks:

• The dialogue is notable given recent tensions in bilateral relations. Relations soured after President Mohamed Muizzu's election on an "India Out" platform, leading to the withdrawal of Indian troops. The last defence cooperation dialogue was held in March 2023 under President Ibrahim Solih.

Discussion Topics:

• • Expediting ongoing defence cooperation projects.
  • Planning forthcoming bilateral military exercises.
  • Enhancing high-level exchanges and capability development.

Context of Tensions:

• • Mohamed Muizzu, who took office in November 2023, had called for the removal of Indian military personnel, a significant shift from the previous administration’s stance.
  • India agreed to withdraw 80 military personnel between March and May 2024. Indian technical personnel now operate key equipment like helicopters and a Dornier aircraft in the Maldives.

Recent Developments:

• • Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer visited India in May.
  • President Muizzu attended PM Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in June.
  • In August, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited the Maldives to reaffirm bilateral ties.

Historical Defence Cooperation:

• • India gifted a Dornier aircraft to the Maldives in 2020 and a patrol vessel in 2019.
  • India provided a coastal radar system last year and laid the foundation for the 'Ekatha Harbour' project, enhancing Maldivian Coast Guard capabilities.

Ongoing Projects:

• • Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) - a $500 million initiative financed by India.
  • Building a new Coast Guard base at Uthuru Thilafalhu (UTF) atoll.
  • India’s grant for High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs).

Strategic Importance:

• • For Maldives: India is a key security partner and crisis responder, with historical assistance during emergencies (Operation Neer, Vaccine Maitri). Maldives seeks to restore Indian tourist numbers, vital for its economy.
  • For India: The Maldives is crucial to India's Neighbourhood First Policy and Vision SAGAR. Its strategic location between major Indian Ocean chokepoints makes it a vital partner for maritime security and countering China's influence.

Recent Changes:

• • The Muizzu government decided not to renew a 2019 MoU for hydrographic surveying with India, ending joint hydrographic surveys conducted under the pact.

Travel and Trade:

• • Both countries benefit from an open skies arrangement and visa-free access for tourism, medical, and business purposes

The Union Cabinet approved 'Mission Mausam,' a groundbreaking initiative with an investment of ?2,000 crore over the next two years. The mission, spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), aims to significantly advance India's capabilities in atmospheric sciences and climate resilience.

Objectives and Key Focus Areas

Mission Mausam is designed to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of weather forecasting and climate management through several critical components:

1. Advanced Technology Deployment: The mission will focus on deploying next-generation radars and satellite systems equipped with advanced sensors. These technologies are crucial for enhancing weather surveillance and prediction accuracy.
2. Research and Development: A key objective of Mission Mausam is to bolster research and development in atmospheric sciences. This will include the development of enhanced Earth system models and advanced weather forecasting techniques.
3. GIS-Based Decision Support System: An automated decision support system based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will be developed to facilitate real-time data sharing and improve decision-making processes.

Institutional Framework and Implementation

The Ministry of Earth Sciences will oversee the implementation of Mission Mausam. The following institutions will play central roles in the mission:

• India Meteorological Department (IMD)
• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
• National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting

Additional support will come from other MoES bodies:

• Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
• National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
• National Institute of Ocean Technology

Sectoral Benefits

Mission Mausam is expected to bring significant improvements across various sectors:

1. Agriculture: Enhanced agromet forecasts will aid farmers in optimizing crop management and increasing resilience to climatic variability.
2. Disaster Management: Improved monitoring and early warning systems will enhance disaster preparedness and response, potentially reducing loss of life and property damage.
3. Defence: Accurate weather forecasting will support strategic planning and operational efficiency within the defence sector.
4. Energy and Water Resources: Better weather predictions will lead to more efficient management of energy and water resources.
5. Aviation: Safer aviation will be supported by more reliable weather information, reducing risks and improving travel safety.
6. Tourism: Sustainable tourism will benefit from accurate weather forecasting, contributing to safer and more enjoyable travel experiences.

Mission Mausam represents a significant investment in India’s ability to manage and mitigate the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events, ultimately aiming to enhance the resilience of communities and support sustainable development.

In News:

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recently launched the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative via video conferencing from Surat, Gujarat.

Key Points:

• Campaign and Objectives:
  • Objective: The initiative seeks to bolster water conservation through extensive public and governmental collaboration.
  • Scope: About 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures will be constructed across Gujarat.
  • Approach: Emphasizes a Whole-of-Society and Whole-of-Government approach to water management.
• Significance:
  • Cultural Significance: PM Modi highlighted that water conservation is deeply embedded in Indian culture, with water revered as a divine entity and rivers considered Goddesses.
  • Policy and Virtue: He stated that water conservation transcends policy and is both an effort and a virtue, reflecting social commitment and cultural consciousness.
  • Future Challenges: The Prime Minister acknowledged the exacerbating impact of water scarcity due to climate change, urging a shift to the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recharge, and Recycle’ mantra for sustainable water management.
• Impact of Drought and Water Scarcity:
  • Recent Challenges: The drought affecting the Amazon region and other parts of India has highlighted the urgent need for effective water conservation strategies.
  • Water Table Decline: Significant declines in river levels, such as the Rio Negro reaching its lowest minimum (12.7 meters) on record, and the death of endangered species due to low water levels underscore the crisis.
• Government Initiatives:
  • Jal Jeevan Mission: Aims to provide piped water to every home, with significant progress noted from 3 crore households to over 15 crore.
  • Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Focuses on renovation and construction of water sources with widespread public participation.
  • Amrit Sarovar: Over 60,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed under this campaign, which began during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Innovative Solutions and Technological Integration:
  • Drip Irrigation: Promotion of water-efficient farming techniques like drip irrigation to ensure sustainable agriculture.
  • Support for Farmers: Encouragement for cultivating less water-intensive crops such as pulses and millets.
• Role of Industries:
  • CSR Contributions: Industries have played a significant role in water conservation through initiatives like Net Zero Liquid Discharge Standards and the completion of 10,000 borewell recharge structures in Gujarat.
  • Future Plans: The ‘Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan’ aims to create an additional 24,000 recharge structures.
• Conclusion and Vision:
  • Global Leadership: PM Modi expressed his belief that India can become a global leader in water conservation.
  • Public Movement: Stressed the importance of continuing public participation in water conservation to make India a model for global sustainability.

Background: The ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative builds on the success of the earlier Jal Sanchay program by involving citizens, local bodies, and industries in water conservation efforts. The initiative aligns with the vision of water security and aims to mobilize collective action for long-term sustainability.

Key Data:

• Construction of 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures.
• Significant increase in tap water connections from 3 crore to over 15 crore households.
• Creation of more than 60,000 Amrit Sarovars across the country.
• Completion of 10,000 borewell recharge structures in Gujarat.

In News:

The drought that hit all nine Amazon rainforest countries - including Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru - is expected to worsen in 2024

Role of Climate Change:

• Likelihood Increase: Climate change made the drought 30 times more likely.
• Temperature and Rainfall: It drove extreme high temperatures and contributed to lower rainfall.

Future Projections:

• Expected Worsening: The drought is predicted to worsen in 2024, with the rainy season expected to recede in May.

Impact on Ecosystems:

• River Levels: Rivers have reached their lowest levels on record, with the Rio Negro river falling to its lowest minimum (12.7 meters) since records began in 1902.
• Dolphin Deaths: At least 178 endangered pink and gray Amazon river dolphins died due to low water levels and high temperatures.
• Fish Deaths: Thousands of fish died from low oxygen levels in Amazon tributaries.

Impact on Human Life:

• Disruptions: Waterways dried up rapidly, forcing people to undertake long journeys across dried river sections to access essential goods like food and medicine.

Contributing Factors:

• El Niño Influence: Periodic warming in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (El Niño) contributed to decreased rainfall but not to higher temperatures.

Potential Consequences:

• Forest Fires and Biome Health: The drought could exacerbate forest fires, combined with climate change and deforestation, potentially pushing the Amazon toward a point of no return where it ceases to be a lush rainforest.
• Previous Droughts: While the region has experienced at least three intense droughts in the past 20 years, this one’s impact on the entire Amazon basin is unprecedented.

Why is it in the News

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched the National Cooperative Database and stressed that it would help in policy making.

About National Cooperative Database (NCD):

• The National Cooperative Database (NCD) is an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Cooperation, responding to the pressing need for a robust database to effectively capture essential information concerning India's extensive cooperative sector.
• Developed collaboratively with State Governments, National Federations, and stakeholders, the NCD is designed to promote a cooperative-centric economic model, offering a web-based digital dashboard for seamless data management.
• Acting as a centralized repository, the NCD aggregates data from cooperative societies, including National/State Federations, with information entered and authenticated by nodal officials at RCS/DRCS offices for cooperative societies and provided by various national/state federations for federations.
• The collected data encompasses diverse parameters, such as registered names, locations, membership numbers, sectoral details, operational areas, financial statements, audit statuses, and more, providing a comprehensive overview of the cooperative landscape.
• Serving as a vital communication tool, the NCD facilitates efficient interaction between the Central Ministry, States/UTs, and Cooperative Societies, fostering collaboration and synergy within the cooperative sector.
• Key features and benefits of the NCD include single-point access, comprehensive and updated data, user-friendly interface, vertical and horizontal linkages, query-based reports and graphs, Management Information System (MIS) reports, data analytics, and geographical mapping capabilities.

Why is it in the News?

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hosted the India-Nordic-Baltic meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing Raisina Dialogue 2024 recently.

What are the Nordic-Baltic Countries?

• The Nordic-Baltic countries, also known as the NB8, are a group of Northern European countries that share historical, cultural, and geopolitical ties.
• The group includes
  • Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, and
  • Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
• These countries collaborate on various regional issues, such as security, economy, environment, and culture, and often work together within international organisations and forums.
• The term "Nordic-Baltic" highlights the close relationship and cooperation between these neighbouring states in the Baltic Sea region.

India's Relations with NB8 Countries:

• India's collaboration with NB8 nations is broadening, exemplified by initiatives like the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership, the India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy, and cooperation on sustainability and ICT with Finland, including the 'LeadIT' (Leadership for Industry Transition) initiative with Sweden.
• Cooperation extends across various sectors, including innovation, green transition, maritime affairs, healthcare, intellectual property rights, emerging technologies, space exploration, and artificial intelligence.
• Trade and investment between the NB8 region and India are on a steady rise, reflecting deepening economic ties.
• Moreover, the security dynamics of the Nordic-Baltic region and the Indo-Pacific are intertwined, underlining the interconnectedness of regional security challenges.

Significance of NB8:

• The NB8 nations embody advanced economies characterised by their outward orientation, emphasis on innovation, complementarity, and seamless integration into the European Common Market, the world's largest single market area.
• The Baltic states, in particular, stand out as pioneers in IT, digitization, cyber technology, and green innovations, showcasing their leadership in these critical domains.
• Moreover, all NB8 members share a steadfast commitment to democracy and human rights, serving as advocates for an international order grounded in principles of multilateralism and adherence to international law.

NB8 Proposals for India:

• In light of the Ukraine conflict and its ripple effects on global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation, and growth, the NB8 seeks to collaborate with India in the following ways:
• Recognizing Shared Challenges: In an increasingly interconnected world, challenges such as the Ukraine conflict, global health crises, climate-related events, and geopolitical tensions affect us all.
  • Acknowledging these shared challenges underscores the necessity for collaborative efforts to address them effectively.
• Embracing a Positive Agenda: There is an urgent imperative to pivot towards a more positive agenda for global cooperation.
  • Leveraging our mutual commitment to the multilateral system, the NB8 proposes to enhance dialogue and cooperation on issues that are paramount to India's priorities and those of other global partners.

Why is it in the News?

India’s Mines Ministry has proposed a new set of rules for the auction of offshore mineral blocks. It is also in the process of identifying such mineral blocks, including those in exclusive economic zones beyond territorial waters.

Context:

• To implement the amended Offshore Areas Mineral (Development & Regulation) Act, 2002 (OAMDR Act), the ministry has unveiled two draft rules:
  • Offshore Areas Mineral Auction Rules: These rules delineate provisions governing the auctioning of production leases.
  • Offshore Areas Existence of Mineral Resources Rules: These rules set forth norms for the exploration of minerals and deposits in offshore areas.

Offshore Areas Mineral (Development & Regulation) Act, 2002 (OAMDR Act):

• The OAMDR Act governs the development and regulation of mineral resources in India's territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zones, and other maritime zones.

About Offshore Areas Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023:

• The Bill proposes amendments to the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, governing mining activities in India's maritime zones.

Key highlights include:

• Empowering the government to reserve offshore areas without operating rights.
• Granting the administering authority the discretion to issue composite licenses or production leases to the government or a government company.
• Eliminating the provision for renewing production leases and setting a fixed fifty-year period, aligning with the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
• Mandating the grant of production leases to the private sector through competitive bidding.
• Allowing non-competitive bidding for operating rights in mineral-bearing areas reserved by the central government for government entities or corporations.
• Restricting the grant of exploration licenses or production leases for atomic minerals to government or government corporations.
• Introducing a four-year timeline for the commencement of production and dispatch after executing a composite license or production lease, with a two-year timeline (extendable by one year) for re-commencement after discontinuation.
• Authorizing the central government to establish rules for mineral conservation, systematic development, and environmental protection in offshore areas, preventing or controlling pollution from exploration or production operations.

India's Maritime Zone Mineral Resources:

• India's maritime zone hosts diverse mineral resources, including lime mud off the Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• Additionally, the region boasts construction-grade sand along the Kerala coast and heavy mineral placers in the inner-shelf and mid-shelf regions off Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
• Phosphorite is found in the Eastern and Western continental margins, while the Andaman Sea and Lakshadweep Sea house Polymetallic Ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) nodules and crusts.

Why in the News?

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a Hyderabad-based international research institute with a focus on tropical dryland agrifood system innovation, has joined the One CGIAR integrated partnership.

What is One CGIAR Global Initiative?

• The One CGIAR global initiative is designed to establish a cohesive approach to transform food, land, and water systems in response to the challenges posed by the climate crisis.
• This collaborative effort involves the CGIAR System Organisation and 12 research centres operating under the umbrella of One CGIAR.
• CGIAR is a publicly-funded network of research centres focused on agrifood systems, operating in over 80 countries.

Key Facts about ICRISAT:

• ICRISAT, a non-profit, non-political international research organization, is dedicated to agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Its mission is to support farmers by providing improved crop varieties and hybrids, particularly aiding smallholder farmers in arid regions to combat climate change.
• The organization specializes in research on five highly nutritious, drought-tolerant crops: chickpea, pigeonpea, pearl millet, sorghum, and groundnut.
• Recognized for its impactful work, ICRISAT was awarded the 2021 Africa Food Prize for the Tropical Legumes Project, contributing to improved food security across 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
• ICRISAT is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana State, India, with two regional hubs in Nairobi, Kenya, and Bamako, Mali.
• Through its research and initiatives, ICRISAT plays a crucial role in addressing agricultural challenges and promoting sustainable development in diverse regions.

Why in the News?

The Elon Musk vs Mukesh Ambani battle on whether to auction or allocate satellite spectrum has attracted intervention from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

What is Satellite Spectrum?

• The satellite spectrum is like a special section of radio waves reserved for satellites when they're up in space.
• It's part of the larger family of radio waves that we use for things like Wi-Fi, TV, and radio.
• This spectrum serves as a vital resource for countries, facilitating satellite broadcasting, communication, and weather services.

Key Points:

• Limited Resource: The satellite spectrum is finite, allocated for activities like satellite broadcasting and communication.
• It plays a crucial role in facilitating services provided by communication satellites and weather satellites.
• Frequency Bands: The spectrum is categorized into different frequency bands, chosen based on diverse applications.
• The frequency assigned during a satellite's construction remains unchanged post-launch.
• Impact on Data Transfer: The frequency of a signal dictates the speed of data transfer.
• Higher frequencies enable faster data transmission, but they also entail shorter wavelengths, leading to signal attenuation over distances and increased interference risks.
• Frequency Range: Satellites typically transmit in the frequency range of 1.5 to 51.5 gigahertz.
• High-speed broadband operations often use the higher end of this spectrum.

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU):

• Founded in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, later becoming a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1947.
• Functions:
• Allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits.
• Coordinates and sets technical standards for telecommunication/ICT.
• Strives to enhance ICT access in underserved communities globally.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Membership: Comprises 193 countries and nearly 800 private sector entities and academic institutions.
• India's Association with ITU: India has actively participated in the ITU since 1869, maintaining a consistent presence on the ITU Council since 1952.

Why is it in the News?

The Supplementary Demands for Grants (SDG) are likely to see additional allocation for fertliser, food and fuel subsidy along with Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

About Supplementary Grants:

• According to Article 115 of the Indian Constitution, there's a provision for additional funds known as supplementary, additional, or excess grants.
• When the funds approved by the Parliament are not enough for the planned expenses, an estimate is submitted to the Parliament for extra grants.
• These additional grants are reviewed and approved by the Parliament before the conclusion of the financial year.
• If the actual spending surpasses the approved grants, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Railways make a request for an Excess Grant after the financial year ends.
• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India highlight these excesses to the Parliament.
• The Public Accounts Committee then examines these cases and provides recommendations to the Parliament.
• The Demand for Excess Grants is presented to the Parliament after the financial year, once the actual expenditures have been incurred.

Why in the News?

The central government recently signed a USD 400 million policy-based loan with the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support its urban reform agenda to create high-quality urban infrastructure, improve service delivery, and promote efficient governance systems.

About Asian Development Bank (ADB):

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank headquartered in Manila, Philippines.
• It was established in 1966 to promote economic development and cooperation in Asia and the Pacific.
• The ADB's primary goal is to reduce poverty in its member countries.
• The bank provides loans, grants, technical assistance, and policy advice to its member countries.
• It also mobilizes private sector investment through its private sector arm, the Asian Development Bank Private Sector Operations.
• It has 68 member countries, including 49 countries in Asia and the Pacific, and 19 non-regional developed countries.
• The ADB's annual lending volume is around $32 billion.
• As of 2022, ADB's five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People's Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).
• Source of Funding: It relies on member contributions, retained earnings from lending, and the repayment of loans for the funding of the organization.

The bank's strategy is focused on four key areas:

• Promoting sustainable growth: The ADB is committed to supporting its member countries in achieving their sustainable development goals by financing infrastructure, clean energy, and climate change mitigation and adaptation projects.
• Tackling poverty and inequality: The ADB is providing financing for education, health, social protection, and other programs that benefit the poor and vulnerable to reduce poverty and inequality in its member countries.
• Strengthening regional cooperation: The ADB is promoting regional cooperation and integration in Asia and the Pacific.
• The bank is supporting its member countries in developing regional infrastructure, trade, and investment projects.
• Responding to crises and disasters: The ADB is helping its member countries prepare for and respond to crises and disasters by providing finances for disaster risk reduction and resilience projects.

Why in the News?

Recently, the Union Agriculture Ministry partnered with the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Wadhwani AI) to create a solution known as Krishi 24/7.

About Krishi 24/7:

• Krishi 24/7 is a groundbreaking AI-powered solution developed with support from Google.org, designed for automated monitoring and analysis of agricultural news.
• Key Features:
• This tool scans news articles in various languages and translates them into English for easy access.
• It extracts crucial information from news articles, including headlines, crop details, event types, dates, locations, severity, summaries, and source links.
• This ensures that the ministry receives timely updates on relevant events found on the internet.
• Significance:
• Krishi 24/7 addresses the vital need for an efficient system to identify and manage agricultural news articles.
• This aids in making timely decisions.
• It serves the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) by identifying pertinent news, delivering timely alerts, and facilitating swift action to protect the interests of farmers and promote sustainable agricultural growth through informed decision-making.

What is the News ?

The government has recently issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to hire an asset appraiser for the Strategic Disinvestment of IDBI Bank.

Facts About:

Strategic disinvestment involves the sale of a significant portion of the government's ownership in a central public sector enterprise (CPSE), which can be up to 50% or a higher percentage as decided by the competent authority.

• This process also includes the transfer of management control.

It essentially means transferring both ownership and control of a public sector entity to another entity, which can be either private or public.

Distinguishing Strategic Disinvestment/Sale from Disinvestment:

• Disinvestment refers to the sale of minority shares of public enterprises to another entity, whether it's public or private.
• In this case, the government still maintains ownership of the enterprise.

In contrast, strategic disinvestment/sale occurs when the government sells a majority share in an enterprise, relinquishing not only ownership but also control of the entity.

What are the objectives of Strategic Disinvestment:

• Reduce Government Ownership
• Raise Capital
• Enhance Efficiency
• Foster Competition
• Attract Private Investment
• Focus on Core Functions
• Alleviate Fiscal Burden