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The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) said it has committed $553 million (around Rs 4,600 crore) to support the development of the Adani Group’s deepwater shipping container terminal in the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The port’s West Container Terminal is being developed by a consortium involving Adani Ports and SEZ, Sri Lankan group John Keells Holdings and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
Adani Ports holds a 51 per cent stake in the container terminal of the port, which also has a terminal run by China Merchants Port Holdings Co Ltd.
The funding by DFC — a development finance institution and agency of the United States federal government that invests in development projects in lower- and middle-income countries — is being seen as a concerted push by Washington for the India-linked project at a time when New Delhi is competing with Beijing for influence in the island nation that is one of the world’s key transit hubs, given its location near trunk shipping routes, and is currently in the midst of a financial crisis.
Possible answer to farm fires: New rice variety can replace Pusa 14 (Page no. 1)
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
In its order on Tuesday (November 7) directing the Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan governments to ensure that the burning of crop stubble be “stopped forthwith”, the Supreme Court mentioned a “particular kind of paddy grown mostly in Punjab”.
This variety and “the time period in which it is grown” were seen as major causes of stubble burning and the resultant pollution problems in the National Capital Region.
Though the order didn’t name the variety, the reference was likely to Pusa-44. It’s this variety that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had said would be “banned” from next year.
Bred by the New Delhi-based Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa-44 is a long-duration variety that takes 155-160 days to mature, from the time of nursery sowing of seeds to harvesting of grain.
Thus, the crop that is transplanted in mid-June after nursery sowing a month earlier is ready for harvesting only towards late-October.
And since that leaves very little time for field preparation to sow the next wheat crop, ideally before mid-November, farmers resort to burning the standing stubble and loose straw that remains after harvesting using combine machines.
Govt & Politics
Maiden INDUS – X investors meeting held ahead of 2+2 India – US ministerial dialogue (Page no. 11)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Ahead of the 2+2 Indo-US ministerial dialogue Friday, the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) under India’s Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence, organised the first ever INDUS-X investors’ meet, where the INDUS-X Educational Series (Gurukul) was also launched.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar will meet their US counterparts Antony J Blinken and Lloyd J Austin III for the fifth India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue.
A statement by MEA stated that the meeting will enable a high-level review of progress being made in “cross-cutting aspects of defence and security cooperation, technology value chain collaborations and people-to-people ties.”
At the event, the officials said that the two defence innovation challenges which were launched under INDUS-X on underwater communications and oil spill detection are in advanced stages at present the review of the applications from start-ups of both sides are currently underway.
Officials said 297 start-ups have registered through iDEX. Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) has been granted in around 30 cases of which 10 contracts have been signed.
Editorial
Odd and even of Delhi’s Air (Page no. 12)
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
In 1996, the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment published a report on air pollution in the city. It discussed in detail the main culprit (vehicles), outlined policy measures, and described a series of quite creative awareness-building actions that they had undertaken primarily through the print media.
According to CSE, almost two-thirds of the city’s pollution load was accounted for by vehicular pollution, and so, it made an argument to impose stringent emission standards, improve fuel quality, invest in public transport, and more generally, monitor air better.
Almost 30 years later, air quality continues to be poor for most of the year, and severe for several weeks. As a massive urban agglomeration and the node of political power and media attention, Delhi’s air attracts special attention.
Worsening air quality here is accompanied by a public frenzy, and growing frustration that nothing seems to change compels everyone from the state government to the courts to act. Or, at the very least, be seen to act. Hence, odd/even.
Ideas Page
A matter of integrity (Page no. 13)
(GS Paper 2, Polity and Constitution)
Shedding the shackles of foreign domination, India awoke to “life and freedom” on August 15, 1947. On January 26, 1950, the Constitution of India came into effect.
Thus ensued our democratic journey, emphasising the principles of individual rights, equality, accessibility, rule of law, separation of powers, universal suffrage and public participation.
Today, India stands as the world’s largest democracy, with a vibrant political landscape, a diverse society, and ongoing efforts to overcome various socio-economic challenges.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) plays a crucial role in this democratic framework by ensuring transparency, accountability, and financial integrity in government’s functioning.
CAG helps maintain the separation of powers between legislature and executive by ensuring that the government’s financial activities align with legislative intentions.
Through its audit findings and recommendations, the CAG promotes good governance practices and helps governments streamline their operations, reduce inefficiencies and adhere to financial discipline. As India’s democracy matures, the CAG’s role becomes even more vital in promoting good governance and safeguarding the people’s interests.
Explained
Electoral bonds and Electoral trusts: How they are different (Page no. 16)
(GS Paper 2, Polity and Constitution)
After a three-day hearing, the Supreme Court on November 3 reserved its judgment on the challenge to the central government’s Electoral Bonds Scheme.
Before the controversial Electoral Bonds (EB) Scheme was introduced in 2018, there was something called an Electoral Trusts (ET) Scheme, which was introduced by the UPA government in 2013.
Both schemes were meant to facilitate donations to political parties by corporates and individuals. But while the EB scheme seeks to ensure anonymity for the donor, the electoral trusts under the previous scheme were required to submit to the Election Commission of India a report on contributions from individuals and companies, and their donations to parties every year.
Why Bhutan’s first military op in 140 yrs came against Indian insurgents (Page no. 16)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (November 7) after a historic three-day visit to Assam. Despite the 265.8 km border shared by Assam and Bhutan, this marked the first visit of a Bhutanese monarch to the state.
The visit was also significant as it came after a tense period, in which the peaceful relationship between the neighbours became complicated in the 1990s when insurgent groups from Assam began setting up camps and operating out of forests in southeast Bhutan.
This was also noted by Dawa Penjor, General Secretary of the Bhutan India Friendship Association, in his note on the King’s visit stating that “the strong bond between Bhutan and Assam faced a challenging test from various insurgent groups along their shared border for nearly two decades.”
Economy
Notable exception: What is India’s energy conservation building code 2017 (Page no. 17)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
India was cited as a “notable exception” for being among the few emerging market and developing economies to have energy efficiency building codes. Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), in its World Energy Outlook 2023, report has highlighted that India’s Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), 2017 for commercial buildings sets it apart from other developing economies where “energy efficiency in buildings stands out as a laggard”.
The ECBC was first released by the Ministry of Power’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in 2007, followed by an update in 2017. Currently, 23 states have notified rules to enforce ECBC compliance, while large states like Maharashtra and Gujarat are still in the process of drafting rules.
Implementation of energy efficiency building codes like ECBC is important as buildings in India account for 30 per cent of total electricity consumption, a figure that is expected to touch 50 per cent by 2042.
Furthermore, BEE notes that 40 per cent of buildings that will exist in the next twenty years are yet to be built, which gives policymakers and builders a unique opportuny.
World
G7 urges humanitarian pause, fails short of calling for ceasefire (Page no. 21)
(GS Paper 2, International Organisation)
Foreign ministers from G7 countries have issued a ‘unified’ call for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas war. Officials also sought a return to a broader peace process and underscored the need to protect civilians and comply with international laws.
Following a two-day meeting in Tokyo, G7 members also said they were committed to preparing long-term solutions for Gaza.
A humanitarian pause will however not end the Israel-Hamas war. The term refers to a short break in fighting that will allow aid supplies to enter Gaza.
This year likely to be warmest in 125,000 years: EU scientist (Page no. 21)
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
This year is set to be the world’s warmest in 125,000 years, European Union scientists said, after data showed last month was the hottest October on record by a massive margin.
Last month exceeded the previous highest October average temperature, from 2019, by 0.4 degrees Celsius, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) Deputy Director Samantha Burgess said, describing the temperature anomaly as “very extreme.
That has made 2023 as a whole “virtually certain” to be the warmest year recorded.The heat is a result of continued greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, combined with the emergence this year of the naturally occurring El Nino climate pattern, which warms the surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.