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Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨 Govt & Politics Won’t allow our territory to be used against India: Lankan President to Jaishnakar UPSC Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations What’s the ongoing story- Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Friday told External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Colombo that “Sri Lankan territory would never (be) allowed to be used in a manner inimical to India’s security interests”, an oblique reference to China’s presence in the island nation. Prerequisites: — What is the status of the India-Sri Lanka relationship? — Why is Sri Lanka important for India? — Read about - the historical evolution of the India-Sri Lanka relationship, trade cooperation, challenges, and new areas of cooperation. Key takeaways: — Jaishankar, the first foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka since the NPP government led by Dissanayake came to power on September 23, arrived in Colombo Friday and called on the newly-elected President Dissanayake, met Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and held discussions with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. — Jaishankar assured that India’s ongoing development assistance to Sri Lanka through projects of Sri Lankan priority will be continued, the statement said. — During his meeting with the President, Jaishankar spoke about ongoing initiatives in the field of energy production and transmission, fuel and LNG supply, solar electrification of religious places, connectivity, digital public infrastructure, health and dairy development, it said. — On Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring efforts, the MEA said Jaishankar recalled that India had been supportive of Sri Lanka’s economic stability and recovery from the very start. — With regard to the ethnic issue and the reconciliation process, the statement said that Jaishankar reiterated India’s support for the aspirations of all communities, including Tamils, for equality, justice, dignity, peace while maintaining the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. — Dissanayake has not supported the implementation of the 13th Amendment, which gives powers to Tamil minorities, a long-standing demand of the Indian government. For Your Information: — In July 2023, India and Sri Lanka adopted a ‘vision document’ for a deeper economic partnership after talks between Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. — The ‘vision document’ is based on five pillars: maritime connectivity; air connectivity; energy and power connectivity; trade, economic and financial connectivity, and people-to-people connectivity. Points to Ponder: — What is the 13th amendment in respect of Sri Lanka? — What is the significance of the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and SAGAR outlook in respect of Sri Lanka? — How will the recent regime change in Sri Lanka impact the India-Sri Lanka relationship? Post Read Question: Prelims (1) Elephant Pass, sometimes seen in the news, is mentioned in the context of the affairs of which one of the following? (UPSC CSE 2009) (a) Bangladesh (b) India (c) Nepal (d) Sri Lanka Mains ‘India is an age-old friend of Sri Lanka.’ Discuss India's role in the recent crisis in Sri Lanka in the light of the preceding statement. (UPSC CSE 2022) Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: Sri Lanka presidential elections: What victory of Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake tells about the popular mood Ports to UPI to green energy, India and Sri Lanka deepen economic ties Explained How elephants are counted UPSC Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: GS-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What’s the ongoing story- The Environment Ministry has shelved its elephant census report, ‘Status of Elephant in India 2022-23’, citing a delay in the census in the Northeast, The Indian Express reported this week. The report on the current status of the national heritage animal in the rest of India has been printed but its release is now on hold until at least June 2025. Prerequisites: — What is the IUCN status of elephants? — What is the purpose of the elephant census? Key takeaways: — Data from the unreleased report show a sharp decline in elephant populations in the east-central and southern landscapes. The slide in numbers is especially dramatic in Southern West Bengal (84%), Jharkhand (64%), Odisha (54%), and Kerala (51%). — The report identifies “mushrooming developmental projects” such as “unmitigated mining and linear infrastructure construction” as a significant threat to the species. — Until 2002, elephants were counted in India by the “total direct count” method, which means a simple head count of elephants that were sighted. — In 2002, the “indirect dung count method” was introduced in the southern states. Enumerators walked in pre-designated straight lines through the forest and recorded elephant droppings and the “dung decay rate”. — Around the same time, the “total direct count” method was modified to “sample block counts” — or a survey of limited areas of 5 sq km each to maximise the probability of detection and enumeration of all elephants in that block. — On the occasion of World Elephant Day (August 12) in 2021, Environment Minister announced that the government would “harmonise population estimation methods along more scientific lines” by “converging elephant and tiger population estimation” for the first time. — Irrespective of the refinement in census methodology and the delay caused by logistical limitations, the results that are already available should not be held back, experts said. — A retired forest officer from Odisha said the delay could prove costly for elephant populations in distress. — The 2017 elephant census report had underlined why it was “desirable to maintain some level of continuity with the previous population estimations to make a meaningful comparison with past figures to infer broad trends”. For Your Information: — A reliable population estimate is a basic prerequisite for conserving endangered animals. However, most wildlife, especially large mammals, is not easy to survey — the animals are often camouflaged or on the move. That’s why enumeration methods, across the world, have to be refined frequently. — The elephant’s habitat has undergone changes in recent years due to the conversion of forest areas to agriculture and development projects. As the WII report points out, fragmentation of habitats “has prompted long-ranging elephants to venture into unoccupied areas.” — Unable to find food or dispersal areas, the large animals become crop raiders. Population estimates that map the animal’s distribution and herd structure — not just in reserve forests, but also in human-dominated landscapes — could be the first step to reduce such conflicts. Points to Ponder: — What are the threats to elephants' habitation in India? — How does the delay in the release of data impact governance? — What are the various initiatives taken by the government for the conservation of elephants? Post Read Question: (2) With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2020) 1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months. 3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only. 4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 3 and 4 only Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: Express View on shelving an elephant census: Elephant in the room Govt printed, then shelved its report on elephant census: Count fell by 20% in 5 years Which are India’s 5 new ‘classical languages’, what does the tag mean? UPSC Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: GS-I, II: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation What’s the ongoing story- The Union Cabinet on Thursday extended the “classical language” tag to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia already enjoy this status. Prerequisites: — What is the purpose of giving the status of “classical language”? — What are the criteria to grant “classical language” status? Key takeaways: — Following demands from various states, the UPA-1 government decided to create a category of Indian languages known as “classical languages”, and lay down various criteria for this status. — On October 12, 2004, Tamil became the first Indian language to receive “classical” status due to its high antiquity and rich literary tradition. — In the following month, the Ministry of Culture set up a Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) under the Sahitya Akademi to examine proposals for “classical language” status from various states and bodies. — On November 25, Sanskrit was declared a classical language. Subsequently, this status was conferred upon Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). — On July 25 this year, the LEC unanimously revised the criteria for classical status. The criteria now includes: (a) High antiquity of early texts, and recorded history over a period of 1500- 2000 years; (b) A body of ancient literature/ texts, which is considered a heritage by generations of speakers; (c) Epigraphic and inscriptional evidence; (d) Knowledge texts, especially prose texts in addition to poetry; and (e) That classical languages and literature could be distinct from its current form or could be discontinuous with later forms of its offshoots. (f) Following this, the committee recommended the addition of the five new classical languages, the proposals for which had been with the Centre for some years. This was approved by the Union Cabinet on Thursday. — The Ministry of Education takes steps to promote classical languages. — The National Education Policy also calls for the inclusion of classical languages in school education. The Ministry of Culture (through the various academies), the Ministry of Education, and respective state governments, will come together for greater knowledge-sharing and research in these languages. For Your Information: Know about the languages: — Marathi: Modern Marathi descends from Maharashtri Prakrit, a Prakrit dialect used in western India which was the official language of the Satvahanas… The oldest evidence of Maharashtri Prakrit can be found in a stone inscription in Pune district, dated to the 1st century BCE. — Bengali & Assamese: Both these languages can find their origin in Magadhi Prakrit, a form of Prakrit popular in East India, and the official language of the Magadha court… They took on a form which may be recognisable today well into the second millennium CE. — Prakrit: There is no single Prakrit language. Rather, the term refers to a group of closely-related Indo-Aryan languages, whose defining feature was that they were the language of the masses as opposed to Sanskrit, which was restricted to the elites and high literature. — Jain agamas and the Gatha Saptashati are in Ardhamagadhi, a Prakrit dialect which some scholars consider to be its definitive form. This Prakrit thus continues to have resonance among the Jain community, and still sees use in the religion’s ritual practices. — Pali: Pali, likely a form of somewhat Sanskritised Magadhi Prakrit, was the language of the Theravada Buddhist Canon — the Tipitakas. Considered to be the language of the Buddha himself, Pali survived in places like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, where the Theravada school prospered. Points to Ponder: — How classical languages are promoted by the government? — What is the provision for classical language in the National Education Policy? Post Read Question: (3) Consider the following statements: 1. Jain agamas and the Gatha Saptashati are written in Ardhamagadhi. 2. Pali was the language of the Theravada Buddhist Canon — the Tipitakas. 3. The Parkrit language was the official language of Satvahanas. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 3 only Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: Marathi among 5 languages accorded ‘classical language’ status Economy India and US sign agreement to strengthen supply chain for critical minerals UPSC Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: GS-II, III: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests; and Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment. What’s the ongoing story- Amid rising concern over China’s control of critical minerals, which allows it to dominate the clean tech supply chain, particularly in solar equipment and electric vehicle manufacturing, India and the US signed an agreement to strengthen the critical mineral supply chain. Prerequisites: — What are critical minerals? — What are the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes? — Know about these minerals and their usage: cobalt, nickel, lithium, gallium and germanium Key takeaways: — This follows a series of unexpected curbs imposed by China, including restrictions on exports of gallium and germanium—products widely used in the semiconductor industry—and a ban on exporting technology for manufacturing rare earth magnets, as well as technology to extract and separate critical materials. — India’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have invested over $4.5 billion to catalyse nascent clean energy manufacturing; however, “additional policies are essential” to safeguard these investments against “global market dynamics” and “thin profit margins,” according to a joint India-US statement. — The Economic Survey 2023-24 also noted that China’s manufacturing trade surplus has been expanding since 2019 due to weak domestic demand and increasing industrial capacity. The mismatch between domestic supply and demand in China has widened in recent years, prompting Chinese companies to seek additional markets overseas. — Earlier last month, the ministry announced plans to extend the ALMM order to solar cells from April 2026. The PLI scheme for high-efficiency PV modules, with a total budgetary outlay of Rs 24,000 crore across two tranches, also incentivises solar cell production. For Your Information: — India is now formally a part of the Minerals Security Finance Network, a US-led initiative aiming to strengthen cooperation among members to secure supply chains for critical minerals. — The Minerals Security Finance Network (MSFN) is a new initiative that stems from the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), a framework established by the US in 2022. India was inducted to the MSP in June 2023. — The MSP grouping, industry insiders said, is focused on the supply chains of minerals such as cobalt, nickel, lithium and also the 17 “rare earth” minerals Points to Ponder: — What are the rare earth elements? — What is the significance of critical minerals for the Indian Renewable industry? — What are the initiatives taken by the government to ensure the critical minerals supply chain? Post Read Question: (4) With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2019) 1. Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing law in the country. 2. State governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government. 3. State Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: India joins US-led Mineral Security Network to secure critical minerals, fend off Chinese challenge Centre identifies 30 critical minerals: Why, how, and importance of the exercise The Ideas Page Plugging the global skill gap UPSC Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development - Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc Mains Examination: GS-II, III: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; and Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth, development and employment. What’s the ongoing story- Praveen Pardeshi writes: There won’t be any “brain drain” when 997 youth from across Maharashtra, with only high school certificates, begin their jobs in Israel at a monthly salary of Rs 1.37 lakh. It will be circular migration, resulting in skill gain for both Israel and India. Prerequisites: — What is brain drain? — What are remittances? — What is circular economy? Key takeaways: — Permanent migration from India of highly qualified doctors and engineers is, indeed, brain drain. Until 2000, most doctors and engineers who eventually settled abroad had studied in highly subsidised institutions funded by Indian taxpayers. — Moreover, the total remittances originating from high-income individuals from the US, the UK, Canada and Australia amount to only 32 per cent of the inward remittances to India. On the other hand, manual workers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman contribute 40 per cent of the total remittances to India. — The Economist magazine, quoting Charles Goodhart, Manoj Pradhan and Pratyancha Pardeshi, has surmised that the ageing population in Western Europe and Japan can incentivise the flow of skilled workers and caregivers from the developing world. — The ageing demography of the developed world has created the greatest opportunity for India to enhance the quality of life of many Indians in a single generation. — Circular migration is a win-win solution, with government-to-government agreements to safeguard the wages and social security of migrant workers in destination countries and their guaranteed return. — Prime Minister Narendra Modi has followed up his global outreach with bilateral agreements with non-Anglophone countries like Germany, Israel and Japan to meet skill deficits. Israel has a demand for over 100,000 skilled masons, carpenters and home based-carers, who will be given an assured monthly salary of Rs 1.3 lakh and accommodation and social security by the employers. — The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has aggregated the skill gap demand for many of India’s partner countries. The Maharashtra Institution for Transformation ( MITRA ) worked closely with the NSDC over the last three months to evolve SOPs and policy norms so that skilled youth could access higher wage markets. For Your Information: — Early this year, the first batch of workers from India left for Israel to plug the labour shortage in its construction sector that arose after a ban on Palestinian workers. — Now, an investigation in this paper has revealed that this labour arrangement is under strain due to a glaring skill mismatch between the workers’ abilities and the expectations of them. — Some of these workers have now returned home, while others have been redeployed to other sectors considering the strengthening ties between the two countries. — Indian labour, both unskilled and skilled, will be increasingly in demand across the world, especially in regions characterised by an aging workforce and labour shortages. — In 2020, the Global Skill Gap report prepared by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) had estimated the demand for labour in sectors across key regions such as the GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council) and the EU Points to Ponder: — What are the challenges in skill development in India? — What is the significance of skill development? — What are the initiatives taken by India for skill development? Post Read Question: “Demographic Dividend in India will remain only theoretical unless our manpower becomes more educated, aware, skilled and creative.” What measures have been taken by the government to enhance the capacity of our population to be more productive and employable? (UPSC CSE 2016) Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: Express View on Indian workers: Fill the skill gap Israel jobs scheme needs reboot, with inputs on skills, better monitoring A license to borrow unwisely UPSC Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues Mains Examination: GS-II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein. What’s the ongoing story- Ishan Bakshi writes: The issue of a federal bailout or backstop for sub-national debt, or the extension of a guarantee, either implicit or explicit, or the lack thereof, is worth revisiting in light of the fiscal stress facing many states in India. Prerequisites: — What are bond yields? — What are the sources of finance for the state government? — What is the purpose of the Finance Commission? Key takeaways: — State government borrowings in India are perceived to be backed by an implicit guarantee of the Union government. In practice, the implicit guarantee seems to be exercised through an auto debit mechanism on the states’ bank accounts (CAS Nagpur). This guarantee, which essentially implies that the probability of a default is near zero, eliminates the credit risk of states. — Thus, unlike in the private market where interest rates differ depending on the financial position of the borrower, yields on state bonds hardly vary despite a difference in their fiscal position. Higher interest rates are not charged to compensate for the credit risk. — For instance, take Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Not only is Gujarat an economic powerhouse, but it also has a lower debt-to-GSDP ratio, a lower fiscal deficit and a revenue surplus. Both Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are under severe fiscal strain. Yet, this difference in the fiscal position of these states does not reflect to a similar degree in their bond yields. — It has often been argued that India needs to move towards pricing of state debt that is market-determined. In Himachal Pradesh’s case, for example, it would force the state government to tighten its belt, and take the necessary measures to improve its fiscal position. — State government finances are plagued by the problem of TIPS: Tariffs on electricity and water that do not reflect the true cost of provision, and are minimal in large parts of the country… — As the taxation power of states is limited, and considering their reluctance to increase collections through the non-tax route, the route to adjust their debt deficits will be through expenditure control. For Your Information: — Loans from the Centre used to be the chief source of state government debt until the 12th Finance Commission recommended that the Centre disintermediate from state borrowings. — Since 2006-07, market borrowings have emerged as the main source of funding the gap between the state governments revenues and expenditures. More recently, states’ market borrowings surged to Rs 10.1 trillion in 2023-24 from Rs 4.8 trillion in 2018-19. — At end-March 2024, the stock of state government securities (SGS) outstanding is estimated to have risen to Rs 56.5 trillion. To provide some context, this was equivalent to around 55 per cent of the estimated outstanding stock of Government of India securities (G-secs) on that date. Points to Ponder: — What are the provisions related to borrowing by the state? (Thought process: Read about Articles 291 and 293) — What is the FRBM Act? — What are the concerns related to the state borrowings? Post Read Question: (5) Who is the head of the 16th Finance Commission? (a) N K Singh (b) BVR Subrahmanyam (c) V. Anantha Nageswaran (d) Arvind Panagariya Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: State governments have been borrowing more — what does this mean? Editorial Feeling the heat UPSC Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: GS-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment What’s the ongoing story- Pranjul Bhandari writes: A couple of years ago, we pointed out that reservoir levels matter more than rains when it comes to forecasting India’s food production and inflation. Now, we take it a step further by focusing on temperatures. We find that they do a much better job in explaining and predicting food output and price rises. Prerequisites: — What is the Consumer Price Index? — What is food inflation? — What is the Wholesale Price Index? Key takeaways: — Using records that stretch back to the 1950s, we can see that average temperatures have been rising along with temperature volatility. Sure, that’s not a surprise. But what we find next is that with an appropriate lag, the correlation between average temperatures and India’s food inflation has been rising consistently over time. As Earth heats up, crop yields fall. — Indeed, scientists and researchers project that a 2.5-4.9 degrees Celsius increase in temperatures across the country could lead to a decrease in wheat yields of 41-52 per cent, and a fall in rice yields of 32-40 per cent. — And, this is not just limited to crops. High temperatures can raise animal mortality. Even the prices of dairy, poultry and fishery products are becoming increasingly sensitive to rising temperatures. — Most perishable crops are short-cycle crops (for example, vegetables which can be harvested every two to three months). These crops have traditionally been more sensitive to heat waves than others, and this sensitivity is rising. — We find that the average correlation between temperatures and the price of perishables has risen from 20 per cent to 60 per cent over a decade, marking a three-fold increase. — Temperatures are far superior than rainfall in explaining and forecasting food inflation. In fact, once temperatures are included, there is no value in analysing rains and reservoir levels. There could be a couple of reasons for this. — One, with irrigation facilities improving, the low rains have been less of a problem, especially in areas like north-western India, known as the food bowl of the country. — Two, with reservoirs and temperatures having a 50 per cent correlation, our sense is that a lot of the meaningful information contained in the reservoir variable gets picked up by temperatures. — The El Niño weather phenomenon from last year, typically associated with low rains and high temperatures, has made way for La Niña, associated with cooler temperatures and stronger precipitation. For Your Information: — CPI inflation has been hovering around 5 per cent for the last six months, higher than RBI’s target of 4 per cent. This is mainly because of spikes in prices of food items, which has a high weight of 46 per cent in the CPI basket. — High inflation in cereals (8.8 per cent), pulses (16 per cent), and vegetables (29 per cent) have been keeping food inflation elevated at around 8 per cent. The RBI is concerned about the strong bearing of food inflation on household inflationary expectations, which is currently at a high of 8 per cent (as per the RBI Household Survey). — So far, the high food inflation has not become broad-based and core inflation has been below RBI’s target of 4 per cent for the last six months. Points to Ponder: — What is the impact of climate change on food inflation? — How is food inflation managed in India? — What steps need to be taken by the government to tackle the challenges of food inflation? Post Read Question: (6) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2020) 1. The weightage of food in Consumer Price Index (CPI) is higher than that in Wholesale Price Index (WPI). 2. The WPI does not capture changes in the prices of services, which CPI does. 3. Reserve Bank of India has now adopted WPI as its key measure of inflation and to decide on changing the key policy rates. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: The stubborn food inflation problem How uncertainty of food inflation affects RBI’s policy going forward ALSO IN NEWS With Western Ghats’ fragility in mind, environment ministry’s expert panel to review pumped hydro projects With the fragile ecology of the Western Ghats in mind, a Union Environment Ministry expert panel has decided that it will not grant final clearances to pumped hydropower projects proposed in the region without site visits to ascertain their impact on the environment. UPSC Key PRELIMS ANSWER KEY 1. (d) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (a) 5. (d) 6. 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