Daily News Simplified - DNS

28 09 19

Notes

SL.

NO. TOPICS

THE HINDU

PAGE NO.

1 Panchsheel must for peace 13

2 10-year sanitation plan to focus on waste management 09

3 India, Nepal, Bhutan to count tigers in high altitudes 09

4 Centre looking to ease foreign investment limits in Govt bonds 15

5 Crude oil imports from US jump 72%, Iraq is top supplier 15

6 Treat us for silicosis, not TB: miners in MP 05

Dated: 28.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

Title 1. Panchsheel must for peace (The Hindu, Page 13)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II – International Relations

Theme Panchsheel Agreement

Highlight

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Panchsheel was born fifty years ago in response to a world asking for a new set of principles for the conduct

of international relations that would reflect the aspirations of all nations to co-exist and prosper together in

peace and harmony.

Panchsheel, or the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, were first formally enunciated in the Agreement

on Trade and Intercourse between the Tibet region of China and India signed on April 29, 1954, which stated,

in its preamble, that the two Governments “have resolved to enter into the present Agreement based on the

following principles: -

i. Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,

ii. Mutual non-aggression,

iii. Mutual non-interference,

iv. Equality and mutual benefit, and

v. Peaceful co-existence.”

Relevance of a Panchsheel in globalizing world:

- The timeless relevance of Panchsheel is based on its firm roots in the cultural traditions of its

originators, two of the world’s most ancient civilisations. The linkage that was established by the

spread of Buddhism in China laid the historical basis for the formulation of the principles of

Panchsheel by India and China.

- Panchsheel gave substance to the voice of the newly established countries who were seeking

space to consolidate their hard-won independence as it provided an alternative ideology

dedicated to peace and development of all as the basis for international interaction.

- Panchsheel was developed in the context of a post-colonial world where many were seeking an

alternative ideology dedicated to peace and development of all. Fifty years later, the world is now

searching for an alternative to the adversarial constructs that dominated the Cold War era. Countries

all over the world are focusing on creating extended and mutually supportive arrangements, and

attempting to define a new economic, social and political world order in the context of globalisation,

non-traditional security threats and the quest for multi-polarisation.

- Panchsheel can provide the ideological foundation for this developing paradigm of international

interaction, allowing all nations to work towards peace and prosperity in cooperation, while

maintaining their national identity, spirit and character.

- However, in today’s world, it is not enough that Panchsheel be promoted as an alternative ideology

that empowers the less-developed. It should be made clear that Panchsheel is an ideology for the

entire world, and is as relevant to the developed countries of the globe as it is to the less-developed.

What should be stressed today is that the principles of Panchsheel are not just empowering

principles, they are also guiding principles that enshrine a certain code of behaviour. Their essence

is the non-use of power, the approach of tolerance, “of living one’s life, learning from others but

neither interfering nor being interfered with”, and the obligation to do unto others as you would have

them do unto you. It may not be out of place in a world searching for moral certainties to emphasise

this message of Panchsheel.

- The five principles of Panchsheel provide a basis for not only interstate relations but also the

construction of a new international order.

- Principles of panchsheel constitute fundamentals of international law, which had contributed to

peace, stability and development in Asia.

- It has a state-centric view of global politics. Though globalisation has led to strengthening of global

governance and mechanisms, states continue to be the principle actors around which world politics

rotates.

Thus, the principles enunciated in Panchsheel continue to be relevant. However, certain revisions and dilution

in the concept of sovereignty have caused countries to interfere in the domestic aspects.

- For ex. If a country promotes terrorism from its soil, or causes widespread human rights violation it

cannot expect other countries to sit silent and not interfere. However, such intervention should be

after taking the confidence of world bodies such as United Nations and not unilaterally.

- Also, India should engage closely with important world powers in shaping a world order which is

conducive to its development.

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Title 2. 10-year sanitation plan to focus on waste management (The Hindu, Page 09)

Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II – Social Issues

Theme Rural Sanitation Strategy (2019-2029)

Highlight

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Context:

The Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has released the Rural Sanitation Strategy (2019-2029),

which lays the roadmap for ODF Plus (ODF Plus envisages that everyone uses a toilet and every village has

access to solid and liquid waste management). The framework for the rural sanitation programme has been

sent to the Union Cabinet for approval.

This ODF Plus plan has been prepared by the DDWS in consultation with state governments and other

stakeholders, and it lays down a framework to guide local governments, policy makers, implementers and

other relevant stakeholders in their planning for ODF Plus

• The main thrust of the strategy is to sustain the gains which have been made in making India Open

Defecation free in order to prevent any slip backs and to continue to nudge people towards a

behavioural change.

• The strategy will continue with construction and maintenance of toilets for rural households will ,

however will now go a step further and focus on waste water and solid waste treatment at the village

and panchayat level.

Details

• Though the government has achieved a 100 per cent coverage of all rural households in construction

of toilets from 38 per cent when it began in 2014 , however the plan will retain the financial

provision for the construction of toilets in order to cover any households that might have been

missed and to accommodate new houses which will be constructed in future

• Safe management of solid and liquid waste will be the next target.

• In next 10 years , focus will be on four main areas - biodegradable and organic waste (kitchen and

green waste), plastics, greywater management and black water or faecal sludge management.

• The government’s plans also involve sanitation coverage of public spaces, which will involve

construction of community toilets as well as community sanitary complexes in gram panchayats to

cover the needs of the floating population and large congregations in gram panchayats such as

melas/tourist places/religious places.

• The strategy also speaks about potential collaborations with development partners, civil society and

inter-government partnerships, and also highlights innovative models for sanitation financing.

• Gram panchayats will be made the centre of activity and operations and will play a key role in

ensuring the operation and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure.

• Composting biowaste will be encouraged at the household level and the community level.

• At the district level, model bio-gas plants will be initiated with funding support from the

government.

• Segregation of waste at the source in villages will be a major push of the strategy, especially in

relation to handling plastic waste.

• Gram panchayats will be responsible for collection of plastic waste at household levels and will also

be responsible for its storage and transportation to a material recovery facility at the block level.

• Faecal sludge management is a key component of ODF sustainability activities, for which existing

rural and urban sewage treatment plants will be employed.

• Trenching will be promoted in remote villages and faecal sludge treatment plants will be set up for

clusters of villages.

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Dated: 28.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

Title 3. India, Nepal, Bhutan to count tigers in high altitudes – (The Hindu, Page 09)

Syllabus Prelims: Environment and Biodiversity

Theme Tigers in High Altitudes

Highlights Studies have reported the presence of tigers in high altitude regions in India, Nepal and Bhutan. As a result

the governments of these countries have decided to begin an assessment of the number of tigers in these

regions.

Previously tigers have been reported in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal at elevations of

1765m, 3274 m and 2400 m respectively. Bhutan had recorded the presence of a tiger at 4,210 m.

Potential high altitude tiger landscapes in India, Nepal and Bhutan include the

Valmiki-Chitwan-Annapurna (India-Nepal) (Valmiki - Bihar)

Manas-Royal Manas-Jigme Dorji (India-Bhutan) (Manas – Assam)

Neora Valley-Torsa-Buxa-Phibsu (India-Bhutan) (West Bengal)

Askot-Pithoragarh-Nandhaur-Suklaphanta (India-Nepal) (Pithoragarh , Nandhaur - Uttarakhand)

Arunachal-Sikkim-bordering Bhutan (India-Bhutan). Personal

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Dated: 28.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

Title 4. Centre looking to ease foreign investment limits in Govt bonds – (The Hindu, Page 15)

Syllabus Prelims: Indian Economy

Theme FPI Investment Limit in Govt. Bonds

Highlights Context: The Central Government has recently proposed to enhance the FPI Limits in the Government Bonds so as to

promote greater foreign inflows into India and strengthen the debt market.

About Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI)

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) are both forms of foreign

investment into India. FDI is form of foreign investment wherein the foreign companies set up their

business operations in India, while in case of FPI, a foreign entity either buys the shares, bonds and

other financial instruments issued in India.

Hence, while FDI is accompanied by both ownership and management while FPI is accompanied

only by ownership (if it buys the shares).

According to the existing regulation by the SEBI, investment of up to 10% or less in the shares of

the company would be considered as FPI while investment of more than 10% would be considered

as FDI.

What is a Government Security (G-Sec)?

A Government Security (G-Sec) is a tradeable instrument issued by the Central Government or the

State Governments. It acknowledges the Government’s debt obligation. Such securities are short term

(usually called treasury bills, with original maturities of less than one year) or long term (usually

called Government bonds or dated securities with original maturity of one year or more).

In India, the Central Government issues both, treasury bills and bonds or dated securities while the

State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans

(SDLs). G-Secs carry practically no risk of default and, hence, are called risk-free gilt-edged

instruments.

Current FPI Investment Limits Under the powers vested with the RBI under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, the RBI has

imposed the FPI investment limits on Government Securities, State Development Loans and Corporate

Bonds as shown below:

Type of Bonds Investment Limit

Central Government securities (G-secs) 6%

State Development Loans (SDLs) 2%

Corporate bonds 9%

Note: The Investment limit is defined in terms of % of the total outstanding stock of the different types of

Bonds.

Dated: 28.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

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Dated: 28.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

Title 5. Crude oil imports from US jump 72%, Iraq is top supplier (The Hindu, Page 09)

Syllabus Prelims: Indian Economy

Theme About Import of Crude Oil

Highlights Context: According to report published by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Iraq has

become India’s top crude oil supplier for the second year in a row.

Details

According to the recent report, the top crude oil suppliers to India are Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.

Saudi Arabia has traditionally been India’s top oil source, but it was for the first time dethroned by Iraq

in 2017-18 financial year. Presently, Iraq meets around 25% of our crude oil requirements.

Iran was India’s second biggest supplier of crude oil after Saudi Arabia till 2010-11, but sanctions by

USA has substantially reduced the oil imports from Iran

The report also highlights that USA, which began selling crude oil to India in 2017, is fast becoming a

major source. Supplies from the US jumped more than four-fold in the 2018-19 fiscal year.

About Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S) The Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S), Kolkata, under the Ministry of

Commerce, Government of India, is the official organization for collection, compilation and dissemination of

India’s Trade Statistics and Commercial Information.

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Dated: 28.Sep.2019 DNS Notes

Title 6. Treat us for silicosis, not TB: miners in MP (The Hindu, Page 5)

Syllabus Prelims: General Science

Theme About Silicosis

Highlights About Silicosis

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in tiny bits of silica, a mineral that is part of sand,

rock, and mineral ores such as quartz. It mostly affects workers exposed to silica dust in occupations

such mining, glass manufacturing, and foundry work.

Exposure to large amounts of free silica may not be noticed because silica is odourless, non-irritant and

does not cause any immediate health effects, but long-term exposure to crystalline silica-containing dust

is associated with pneumoconiosis, and progressive massive fibrosis of the lung (PMF), lung cancer,

pulmonary tuberculosis, and other lung diseases and airways diseases. In India, more than 10 million

workers are at risk of silicosis.

There are three types of silicosis:

Acute silicosis, which causes cough, weight loss, and fatigue within a few weeks or years of

exposure to inhaled silica.

Chronic silicosis, which appears 10 to 30 years after exposure and can affect upper lungs and

sometimes cause extensive scarring.

Accelerated silicosis, which occurs within 10 years of high-level exposure.

In India silicosis is prevalent in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Pondicherry, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,

Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal among the workers of construction and mining.

Silicosis is an incurable condition with its potential to cause permanent physical disability. As there is

no effective specific treatment of silicosis, the only way to protect workers’ health is control of

exposure to silica-containing dusts and to detect cases early through monitoring of currently and

formerly exposed workers along with proper management to reduce disability.

Factory Act of India (1948) mandates a well-ventilated working environment, provisions for

protection from dust, reduction of overcrowding and provision of basic occupational health care.

The main challenge of eliminating silicosis in India is in the informal, unregulated sectors of industry

which do not fall under the control of the Factory Act of India.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also emphasized for regulation of working

environment, protective equipment to workers with proper health education.

Personal Notes