Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

• Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) achieved No.1 rank in Ease-of-Doing Business (EoDB) for 2020-21 with a score of 97.89%
• Second: Gujarat (97.77%)
• Third: Tamil Nadu (96.97%)
• Fourth: Telangana (94.86%)
• Haryana, Karnataka and Punjab have been adjudged ‘top achievers’ in the implementation of the 2020-21 Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) jointly formulated by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the World Bank.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

The asset quality of the banking system has improved with gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio declining from 7.4 per cent in March 2021 to a six-year low of 5.9 per cent in March 2022.

• The provisioning coverage ratio (PCR) improved to 70.9 per cent in March 2022 from 67.6 per cent a year ago.
• The slippage ratio, measuring new accretions to NPAs as a share of standard advances at the beginning of the period, declined across bank groups during FY22.
• Write-off ratio fell for the second year running to 20.0 per cent in 2021-22.
• India has the highest fintech adoption rate globally (87 per cent), receiving funding of $8.53 billion (in 278 deals) during 2021-22.

Notwithstanding the challenges from global spillovers, the Indian economy remains on the path of recovery, though inflationary pressures, external spillovers and geopolitical risks warrant careful handling and close monitoring.

What Is a Non-Performing Asset (NPA)?

• A nonperforming asset (NPA) refers to a classification for loans or advances that are in default or in arrears.
• A loan is in arrears when principal or interest payments are late or missed.
• A loan is in default when the lender considers the loan agreement to be broken and the debtor is unable to meet his obligations.
• In India, a non-performing asset (NPA) is defined as a loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

At the first meeting of the Multi-Agency Maritime Security Group (MAMSG), National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, while calling for seamless coordination among all stakeholders involved in the maritime domain, stated that the maritime domain was a multilateral construct and a nation “cannot unilaterally decide” in the maritime domain.

• The MAMSG is envisaged to provide a standing and effective mechanism to ensure coordination of all aspects of maritime security, including coastal and offshore security, as well as fill the institutional, policy, technological and operational gaps in meeting present and future security challenges.
• Importantly, the group will also address maritime contingencies requiring an urgent and coordinated response
• Chaired by: India’s first National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) Vice-Admiral Ashok Kumar (Retd.)

Key Discussions:

• Land border and maritime border are very different. Maritime borders cannot be fenced. We cannot have the concept of zero per cent tolerance for intrusion. So, we need technology and other ways of countering it.
• While India being a peninsular position was a great advantage, the cardinal principle was the country’s vulnerabilities were directly proportional to assets. The more India developed, the more assets it created, the more trade and commerce increased, greater would be the threat and vulnerability in the maritime domain.
• Economic interests and coastal infrastructure are critical to exploit our maritime resources.
• A number of crucial policy issues on maritime security were taken up, including “mapping of existing orders and policies on maritime security to identify gaps, review of standard operating procedures for maritime contingencies, security of ports and coastal infrastructure, creation of a national maritime database, capacity building of coastal States and UTs and promotion of blue economy.”

India

• 95% of Indian trade by volume is maritime and routed via 12 major and over 200 non-major ports.
• Over 90% of the hydrocarbon requirements are met through seaborne imports and offshore production.
• With over three lakh fishing vessels, the marine fisheries sector is also a major contributor to the economy and livelihood of the fishing community.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

ISRO places 3 Singapore satellites, 6 experiments in orbit in second launch this year. The first one having placed an Indian Earth Observation Satellite in orbit.

POEM

• The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module is a platform that will help perform in-orbit experiments using the final, and otherwise discarded, stage of ISRO’s workhorse rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
• The PSLV is a four-stage rocket where the first three spent stages fall back into the ocean, and the final stage (PS4) — after launching the satellite into orbit — ends up as space junk.
• But, with the addition of a little power to keep the stage in orbit, they can be utilised for experiments.
• POEM has a dedicated Navigation Guidance and Control (NGC) system for attitude stabilisation, which stands for controlling the orientation of any aerospace vehicle within permitted limits. The NGC will act as the platform’s brain to stabilize it with specified accuracy.
• POEM will derive its power from solar panels mounted around the PS4 tank, and a Li-Ion battery. It will navigate using “four sun sensors, a magnetometer, gyros & NavIC”.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 4

As Kerala debates the Supreme Court order for maintaining at least a kilometre of Eco-Sensitive Zone for protected areas, the WGEEP report, popularly known as the Gadgil report, once again springs back to public discourse.

Gadgil Committee Recommendations:

• The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) designated the entire hill range as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
• The panel, in its report, has classified the 142 taluks in the Western Ghats boundary into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) 1, 2 and 3.
• ESZ-1 being of high priority, almost all developmental activities (mining, thermal power plants etc) were restricted in it.
• Gadgil report recommended that “no new dams based on large-scale storage be permitted in Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1
• It specifies that the present system of governance of the environment should be changed. It asked for bottom to top approach (right from Gram Sabhas) rather than a top to bottom approach. It also asked for decentralization and more powers to local authorities.
• The commission recommended constitution of a Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA), as a statutory authority under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, with the powers under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Examination of Madhav Gadgil Report

• The major criticism faced by Gagdil Committee report was that it was more environment-friendly and not in tune with the ground realities.
• Recommendations were cited as impractical to implement.
• Gadgil report has asked for complete eco-sensitive cover for Western Ghats which hamper different states on energy and development fronts.
• There was criticism against the constitution of a new body called WGEA. States insist that protection can be given under existing laws.
• Gadgil report doesn’t give solution for revenue losses due to implementation of its recommendations.
• Gadgil report is against dams in Western Ghats, which is a crucial blow on the ailing power sector. Considering the growing energy needs of India, critics argue that this recommendation cannot be taken.

Major Anthropogenic Threats to The Western Ghats

The Western Ghats of India is facing severe threats to its ecosystem. In the period between 1920 to 1990, 40 percent of its natural vegetation was depleted. This is coupled with dangers arising from encroachments. The major anthropogenic threats include:

• Large dam projects in Western Ghats have resulted in environmental and social disruption despite cost-benefit analyses and environmental impact assessments being done by the government and companies.
• The rise in human settlements has led to the over-exploitation of forest products through activities such as livestock grazing.
• Livestock grazing within and bordering protected areas by high densities of livestock (cattle and goats) is a serious problem causing habitat degradation across the Western Ghats.
• The mining establishments, especially iron-ore mining, have greatly contributed to damaging the ecological balance, by destroying farms, polluting rivers and damaging the top soil.
• Diversion of forests for agriculture, mining and industrial projects, road construction etc over the past few decades have resulted in the state of Kerala losing 9064 sq kms between 1973 and 2016 and Karnataka losing 200 sq km of forest land in the Western Ghats between 2001 and 2017.
• Given that the Western Ghats exists within an intensely human-dominated landscape, human-wildlife conflicts are a common phenomenon.
• Pollution is also playing its part, with high mercury levels in the water, and agrochemicals from tea and coffee plantations going unchecked.
• Plantations owned by private individuals and corporate sector continue to grow in the Western Ghats and constitute an important source of fragmentation of natural habitat.
• The other culprit for loss of native flora in the Western Ghats is the plantation of alien species such as Eucalyptus, Pinus by the British which can be seen across the upper slopes of the Nilgiris interspersed with Lantana Camara. They create a mat-like structure leading to degradation of the land and destruction of the native biodiversity.

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Anthrax, an infectious disease which affects domestic as well as wild animals, has been reported in wild boars.

• Anthrax is caused by a spore-forming bacterium/gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis which can be found naturally in soil. It mainly affects animals.
• Humans can be infected through contact with an animal or by inhaling spores.
• Symptoms depend on the route of infection. They can range from a skin ulcer to difficulty breathing.
• Antibiotics cure most infections. Inhaled anthrax is harder to treat and can be fatal.

Mortara

• Italy
• The worst drought Italy has faced in 70 years is thirsting paddy fields in the river Po valley and jeopardizing the harvest of the premium rice.
• Italy’s largest river is turning into a long stretch of sand due to the lack of rain, leaving the Lomellina rice flats — nestled between the river Po and the Alps — without the necessary water to flood the paddies.
• The lack of rainfall has brought governors of various Italian regions to declare a state of emergency in order to conserve water and coordinate the management of minimal resources.
• The region’s main water sources, the rivers Po and Dora Baltea, are eight times lower than the average seasonal levels.

Po River Basin

• The Po River is the longest river in Italy (661 km)
• It originates from Pian del Re of Monte Viso, and flows eastward till the Adriatic Sea near Venice
• The basin population is close to 17 million inhabitants, almost 1/3 of the population of Italy.
• The main land use of the Po plain is intensive agriculture.

GST Council hikes tax on over two dozen goods and services from July 18.

• Tax hikes will kick in for over two dozen goods and services, ranging from unbranded food items, curd and butter milk to low-cost hotels, cheques and maps.
• At the same time, tax rates will be lowered for about half a dozen goods and services, including ropeways and truck rentals where fuel costs are included, and scrapped for products imported by private vendors for use by defence forces.
• In its 47th meeting, the GST Council discussed recommendations of four ministerial panels — on rate rationalisation, on movement of gold and precious stones, system reforms, and casinos, horse racing and online gaming.
• The GoM headed by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has been given a three-month extension for rate rationalisation measures including tweaking the tax slabs.
• On the valuation mechanism for taxing casinos, a Group of Ministers headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has been asked to consider submissions of stakeholders again and submit its report by July 15.
• Modifications in GST’s IT systems to bolster compliance and crack down on tax evasion have been agreed, based on recommendations of a GoM led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
• Suggestions by another GoM led by Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal on the movement of gold and precious stones were also accepted by the Council, enabling States to decide on the best way to implement an e-way bill system for intra-State movement of gold worth over ₹2 lakh.
• To resolve the long-pending issue of constituting a GST Appellate Tribunal, the Council has decided to form a fresh Group of Ministers whose report will be taken up at its next meeting

On GST Compensation extension

• At the meeting, over a dozen States wanted the GST compensation to continue for some more time.
• About 16-17 State representatives in the Council spoke on the GST compensation issues, of which about 12-13 sought an extension of the assured compensation period, while three-four spoke about the need to wean themselves away from the dependence on assured revenues.
• Union Finance Minister assured that issue to be discussed.

GST Council

• The 101st Amendment Act of 2016 paved the way for the introduction of a new tax regime (GST) in the country
• The amendment provided for the establishment of a GST Council.
• The amendment inserted a new Article 279-A in the Constitution of India.
• This article empowered the President to constitute a GST Council by an order.

Composition of GST Council

• The Union Finance Minister of India will serve as the chairperson of this council.
• The respective states will nominate the State Finance Ministers/ or any other Minister as a member of the council.
• The Union Minister of State in charge of revenue or finance will also be a member of this council.
• The representatives of the states shall choose amongst themselves one “Vice-president”.

Working of the council

• The decisions of the Council are taken at its meetings.
• One-half of the total numbers of members of the Council is the quorum for conducting a meeting.
• Every decision of the Council is to be taken by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the weighted votes of the members present and voting at the meeting.
• The vote of the central government shall have a weightage of one-third of the total votes cast in the meeting.
• The votes of all the state governments combined shall have a weightage of two-thirds of the total votes cast in that meeting.

Functions of the Goods and Services Tax Council

The Council is required to make recommendations to the center and the states on the following matters:

• The taxes, cesses, and surcharges levied by the center, the states, and the local bodies would be merged in GST.
• The goods and services that may be subjected to GST or exempted from GST.
• Model GST Laws, principles of levy, apportionment of GST levied on supplies in the course of inter-state trade or commerce, and the principles that govern the place of supply.
• The threshold limit of turnover below which goods and services may be exempted from GST.
• The rates include floor rates with bands of GST.
• Any special rate or rates for a specified period to raise additional resources during any natural calamity or disaster.
• Special provision with respect to the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
• Any other matter relating to GST, as the Council may decide.
• In addition, the council shall also recommend the date on which the GST may be levied on petroleum crude, high-speed diesel, petrol, natural gas, and aviation turbine fuel.

NASA’s new satellite will test a unique lunar orbit that will be used by future missions.

• NASA launched CAPSTONE, a microwave oven-sized CubeSat weighing just 55 pounds (25 kg).
• CAPSTONE, short for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, is designed to test a unique, elliptical lunar orbit.
• The satellite, launched on Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from the Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, is heading toward an orbit intended in the future for Gateway, a Moon-orbiting outpost that is part of NASA’s Artemis program.
• CAPSTONE aims to help reduce risk for future spacecraft by validating innovative navigation technologies, and by verifying the dynamics of the halo-shaped orbit.
• The orbit is known as a near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO).
• It is significantly elongated, and is located at a precise balance point in the gravities of Earth and the Moon. This offers stability for long-term missions like Gateway.

Artemis mission

• NASA’s Artemis mission is the next generation of lunar exploration, and is named after the twin sister of Apollo from Greek mythology.
• With the Artemis programme, NASA aims to land humans on the moon by 2024, and it also plans to land the first woman and first person of colour on the moon.
• NASA will establish an Artemis Base Camp on the surface and a gateway (the lunar outpost around the Moon) in lunar orbit to aid exploration by robots and astronauts.
• The gateway is a critical component of NASA’s sustainable lunar operations and will serve as a multi-purpose outpost orbiting the moon.

Artemis I Mission

• It will be the first integrated flight test of NASA’s Deep Space Exploration Systems
• Orion spacecraft: Orion spacecraft is going to remain in space without docking to a space station, longer than any ship for astronauts has ever done before.
• Space Launch System (SLS) rocket: It is the most powerful rocket in the world — and travels 2,80,000 miles from the earth for over four to six weeks during the course of the mission.
• Newly upgraded Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• It is an uncrewed space mission where the spacecraft will launch on an SLS rocket.
• The primary operating goal of the mission is to assure a safe crew module entry, descent, splashdown, and recovery.
• Artemis II will be the first crewed flight test and is targeted for 2023.
• Artemis III will land astronauts on the Moon’s South Pole in 2024.

Attorney-General (A-G) K.K. Venugopal has been reappointed the country’s top law officer for a period of three months.

• Venugopal was appointed the 15th AG of India in 2017. He succeeded Mukul Rohatgi who was AG from 2014-2017.

Attorney General Of India

• Article 76 of the Constitution provides for the office of AG of India
• AG is the top legal officer in the country & part of Union Executive
• AG is assisted by 2 Solicitor Generals & 4 Additional Solicitor Generals.
• AG is not considered as a government servant

Eligibility

• S/He must be a person who is qualified to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court .i.e.
• he must be a citizen of India and
• he must have been a judge of some high court for five years or an advocate of some high court for ten years or an eminent jurist

Tenure:  not fixed by the Constitution

• The remuneration of the AG is not fixed by the Constitution. He receives such remuneration as the president may determine

Removal:

• The Constitution does not contain the procedure and grounds for his removal. He holds office during the pleasure of the president.
• He may also quit his office by submitting his resignation to the president.

Functions

• Advise Government on legal matters.
• Perform legal duties assigned by President.
• Appear on behalf of Government in all cases in SC or HC.
• Represent Government under Article 143.
• Discharge functions conferred by Constitution or law.

Rights

• Right to speak & take part in proceedings of both Houses of Parliament/joint sitting/any committee of Parliament of which he/she may be named a member.
• Enjoys privileges & immunities of a Member of Parliament.
• S/he is not debarred from private legal practice.

Limitations

• No Right to Vote in House proceedings/committees.
• Should not advise against or hold a brief against Government.
• Should not defend accused persons in criminal prosecutions without the permission of the Government of India.
• Should not accept appointment as a director in any company or corporation without the permission of the Government of India.