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A major dam project of the Madhya Pradesh government, which is part of the Centre’s marquee Ken-Betwa river interlinking project, was found to be in violation of environment clearance laws by an expert committee of the Union Environment Ministry has learnt from a perusal of publicly available documents.
The Centre has invoked a set of controversial orders whose legality is being examined by the Supreme Court. The sequence of events demonstrates the confusion among the States in interpreting the Centre’s environment clearance processes and how this results in ad-hoc fixes being applied as amends.
In 2019, the Madhya Pradesh government began constructing the Lower Orr dam – part of the second phase of the Centre’s ambitious Ken-Betwa river interlinking project – only to be told by an expert appraisal committee (EAC), tasked with assessing the environmental impact of projects, in 2022 that the State had not taken a formal clearance from the Environment Ministry for the project.
The expert committee, in December 2022, recommended that the Environment Ministry “consider taking necessary action on the violation against the project proponent as per law”.
Centre yet to take a call on beginning HPV vaccination campaign for girls (Page no. 9)
(GS Paper 2, Health)
The Union Health Ministry said on Saturday that it was yet to take a decision on starting a vaccination campaign against human papillomavirus (HPV), despite reports that it is set to offer the vaccine from the second quarter of this year.
The National Technical Advisory Group for Immunisation (NTAGI) has recommended vaccination for adolescent girls between the ages of nine and 14.
The Ministry earlier said in June 2022 that after evaluating the fresh evidence on the cervical cancer burden and the effectiveness of a single dose of HPV vaccine, including clinical trial data and Sikkim’s experience with the vaccine, the NTAGI recommended the vaccine’s inclusion in the government’s universal immunisation programme.
This would involve a one-time catch-up shot for girls in the nine-to-14 age group, followed by a routine introduction for others at the age of nine.
India’s oldest living city found in Vadnagar: multi institution study (Page no. 9)
(GS Paper 1, Culture)
A joint study by five prominent institutions has found evidence of a cultural continuity in Vadnagar in present-day Gujarat even after the collapse of the Harappan civilisation, thus making it likely that the “Dark Age” was a myth.
From deep archaeological excavation at Vadnagar, a consortium of scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Physical Research Laboratory, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Deccan College has now found evidence of a human settlement that is as old as 800 BCE contemporary to late-Vedic/pre-Buddhist Mahajanapadas or oligarchic republics.
“The study also indicates that the rise and fall of different kingdoms during the 3,000-year period and recurrent invasions of India by central Asian warriors were driven by severe changes in climate like rainfall or droughts.
The findings [have been] just published in a paper titled ‘Climate, human settlement, and migration in South Asia from early historic to medieval period: evidence from new archaeological excavation at Vadnagar, Western.
Centre planning to promote less-known tourist attractions (Page no. 9)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
The Union Tourism Ministry is creating awareness of less-known tourist attractions in the country by holding special festivals and conventions at these places every three or four months. Sources in the Ministry say the events will be held in collaboration with the State governments at places that are not so popular with tourists as yet but have the potential to emerge as major centres of tourism.
They include wetlands such as those in Sultanpur in Haryana, places of mythological significance such as Kurukshetra in Haryana, and cultural heritage sites such as Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
On January 9 and 10, a conference in Kurukshetra hosted tour operators, opinion makers and social media influencers across India, along with officials of the Tourism Ministry, the Haryana Tourism Department, and the local administration.
The endeavour was to create awareness of the tourism potential and religious significance of the area. The stakeholders discussed various aspects, including infrastructure, accommodation, tourist amenities, inflow of tourists to this area, travel and tourism sustainability, responsible tourism, the involvement of the local community, sensitisation, and training of the service providers for promotion and marketing of the region,” R.K. Suman, Regional Director-North, Ministry of Tourism.
Science
Changing environment caused the demise of largest primate (Page no. 11)
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
The extinction of the largest known primate, a giant ape from China, resulted from its struggle to adapt to environmental changes, as per a paper published in Nature.
These findings fill a key gap in our understanding of why this species failed to survive where other, similar primates persisted.
Gigantopithecus blackiwas a species of great ape found in China between 2 million and 330 thousand years ago, after which the species became extinct.
With an estimated height of 3 m and weight of 200–300 kg, it is thought to be the largest primate to ever exist on Earth. The distribution of the most recent fossils suggests that the geographical range of G. Blacki markedly reduced before their extinction. An exact timeline and reason for this decline has yet to be established.
Determining changes
The researchers collected and dated fossil samples from 22 caves in southern China. Analyses of the teeth of G. blacki and Pongo weidenreichi (their closest primate relative) were used to determine changes in diet or behaviour of the species within the extinction window, in conjunction with pollen and stable isotope analysis to reconstruct the environment.
82% cost reduction in cancer drugs via procurement (Page no. 11)
(GS Paper 2, Health)
In 1995, Tamil Nadu pioneered the centralised procurement and distribution of drugs and medicines to government hospitals across the State.
This helped in buying drugs at a far cheaper rate due to the sheer volume of drugs procured. Other States have replicated the model with varying levels of success.
Like all vaccines supplied to the national immunisation programme at a very low cost, during the pandemic, the Central government was able to procure COVID-19 vaccines at about ₹150 per dose from Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute due to centralised procurement.
The COVID-19 vaccines were priced many times more when State governments and private hospitals were asked to procure them directly from the companies.
For the first time, a private entity — the National Cancer Grid — has been able to replicate the model and hammer down the cost of high-value, high-volume cancer and supportive care medicines through a pilot pooled procurement programme.
The pooled procurement of 40 drugs by 23 cancer centres resulted in savings of ₹13.2 billion (₹1,320 crores), according to apaper publishedin 2023 in theBulletin of the World Health Organization.
Savings on individual drugs ranged from 23% to 99% (median savings of 82%) from the maximum retail price. Besides anticancer drugs, the list of medicines included antibiotics, antifungals, antiemetics and growth factors.
FAQ
Why is aviation safety under scrutiny? (Page no. 12)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
The issue of air safety has played out under intense media scrutiny following two aviation incidents. In the first instance, on January 2, a Japan Airlines (JAL) Airbus A350-900 collided with a Japan Coast Guard De Havilland Canada Dash 8 after its landing, with both aircraft catching fire.
While all 367 passengers and 12 crew on the JAL aircraft escaped, there were five fatalities (of a total of six passengers) on the Coast Guard plane. In the second instance, on January 5, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 with 171 passengers and six crew, was departing from Portland, U.S., when a window panel ‘door plug’ blew out mid-air causing depressurisation. No major passenger injuries were reported.
The incident has renewed attention on the Boeing 737 MAX’s troubled flight safety record. On January 12, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S. announced more “oversight on Boeing” which will be in addition to its probe into the incident.
In its investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), U.S., is also focusing on the cabin pressure control system. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun had told Boeing employees earlier in a meeting at the company’s factory in Renton, Washington, where the 737s are assembled, “We’re going to approach this — number one — acknowledging our mistake.”
Why has South Africa dragged Israel to the ICJ? (Page no. 12)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
The two-day proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague between South Africa and Israel attracted global attention. South Africa had in late December moved the ICJ, invoking the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948, against Israel, accusing it of committing genocide during its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
South Africa has sought the indication of provisional measures to stop the genocide while Israel has rebutted the allegation that it had any genocidal intent in its response to the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.
The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The statute that created it makes it clear that only states may be parties in cases before the Court.
Both South Africa and Israel are signatories to the Genocide Convention of 1948, which has now been invoked by South Africa.
Provisional measures are interim rulings of the ICJ aimed at preventing either party from doing irreparable harm to the main case. Proceedings instituted before the ICJ usually take years for disposal.
In this instance, in its 84-page filing, South Africa has sought a series of measures including the immediate suspension of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and to desist from the commission of any act within the scope of the Convention against the Palestinian people.
A request for provisional measures in this case will not involve a determination on whether a genocide has taken place, but it is enough for South Africa to demonstrate an intent to commit genocide.
Profiles
Justice without power (Page no. 13)
(GS Paper 2, International Organisation)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s highest judicial body, is once again in news after it held hearings over the last two days in a case instituted by South Africa, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Over 23,000 Palestinians have been killed and 90% of Gaza’s population displaced in Israel’s offensive that started after the October 7 attack by Hamas in which at least 1,200 Israelis were killed.
Israel has rejected the genocide allegations as proceedings at the World Court is set to continue in the coming months.
Seated at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands, the ICJ was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the UN, following decades of international conflicts in the form of two World Wars.
The multilateral forum has dual jurisdictional powers — advisory jurisdiction and jurisdiction in contentious cases. While the former relates to the jurisdiction of the court in providing legal opinions on matters referred to it by the organs and specialised agencies of the UN, the latter involves settling disputes between countries and determining “state responsibility” for crimes committed in violation of international law.
The ICJ was established after its predecessor — the Permanent Court of International Justice — fell into desuetude following its inability to enforce its mandate during the intervening years between the two World Wars.
Business
Red Sea trade crisis: Commerce Ministry calls meet on January 17 (Page no. 14)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
The Commerce Ministry has called a high-level inter-ministerial meeting on January 17 to discuss the way forward on the trade front in the wake of ongoing problems in the Red Sea.
Senior officials from five ministries — External Affairs, Defence, Shipping, Finance and Commerce — are set to participate in the deliberations.
The commerce ministry has also set up an internal strategic group, comprising additional secretaries of the ministry, to discuss global issues impacting the country’s trade on a daily basis and prepare a strategy so that India’s response can be quick and decisive.
The situation around the crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, has escalated due to recent attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants.
Due to the attacks, shippers are taking consignments through the Cape of Good Hope, resulting in delays of almost 14 days and also higher freight and insurance costs.