Questions

1) Consider the following statements with respective to IPCC Assessment Reports

1. The First Assessment Report led to the setting up of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

2. The Second Assessment Report was the basis for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

3. Fifth Assessment Report which came out in 2014, guided the Paris Agreement.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a.  1 only

b.  1 & 2 only

c.  2 & 3 only

d.  All of the above

2)Most of the desert plants bloom during night time because

 a) the desert insects eat away flower during day time.

 b) their blooming is controlled by low temperature.

 c) the desert insects are active during night time.

 d) they are sensitive to the phase of moon.

3)Consider the following statements.

1. The Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners draw salaries and allowances at par with those of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India.

2. The Chief Election Commissioner or an Election Commissioner holds office for a term of four years from the date on which he assumes his office.

3. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs allocates the business amongst the Chief Election Commissioner and their Election Commissioners.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1 only

 b) 2, 3

 c) 1, 2

 d) 1, 3

Prelims Specific News Items

Honour of the National Flag :-

Ahead of Independence Day, the Centre has urged all citizens not to use a national flag made up of plastic and asked states and Union Territories to ensure strict compliance with the flag code.

Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act

• The law, enacted on December 23, 1971, penalizes the desecration of or insult to Indian national symbols, such as the National Flag, the Constitution, the National Anthem, and the Indian map, as well as contempt of the Constitution of India.
• Section 2 of the Act deals with insults to the Indian National Flag and the Constitution of India.

Do you know?

Article 51 ‘A’ contained in Part IV A i.e. Fundamental Duties asks:

To abide by the constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem in clause (a).

Other provisions

• Section 3.22 of The Flag Code of India, 2002 deals with laws, practices and conventions that apply to the display of the national flag.
• Section 3.58 says: On occasions of State/Military/Central Paramilitary Forces funerals, the flag shall be draped over the bier or coffin with the saffron towards the head of the bier or coffin.
• The Flag shall not be lowered into the grave or burnt in the pyre.

Try this

Q.The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from:

(a) Katha Upanishad

(b) Chandogya Upanishad

(c) Aitareya Upanishad

(d) Mundaka UpanishadAnswer this PYQ here:

Use of flag in funerals

• The flag can only be used during a funeral if it is accorded the status of a state funeral.
• Apart from police and armed forces, state funerals are held when people who are holding or have held the office of President, Vice-President, PM, Cabinet Minister, or state CM pass away.
• The status of a state funeral can be accorded in case of death of people not belonging to the armed forces, police or the above-mentioned categories by the state government.
• Then too, the national flag can be used.

Disposing of the national flag

• A/c to the Flag Code, such paper flags are not to be discarded or thrown on the ground after the event.
• Such flags are to be disposed of, in private, consistent with the dignity of the flag.

2) IPCC report forecasts a future of severe weather :-

The Geneva-based Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will release the first part of its Sixth Assessment Report, the periodic status check that has now become the most widely accepted scientific view of the state of the Earth’s climate.

What is IPCC?

• The IPCC, an intergovernmental body was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• It was later endorsed by the UN General Assembly. Membership is open to all members of the WMO and UN.
• The IPCC produces reports that contribute to the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the main international treaty on climate change.
• The objective of the UNFCCC is to “stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system.”
• The IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report was a critical scientific input into the UNFCCC’s Paris Agreement in 2015.

What are IPCC reports?

• IPCC reports cover the scientific, technical and socioeconomic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.
• The IPCC does not carry out original research, nor does it monitor climate or related phenomena itself.
• Rather, it assesses published literature, including peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed sources.
• However, the IPCC can be said to stimulate research in climate science.

The Assessment Reports

• The five previous assessment reports that have come out since the IPCC was established in 1988 have formed the basis of international climate change negotiations, and the actions of the governments.
• Their value has been globally acknowledged, and the fourth assessment report, which came out in 2007, won the IPCC the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Each of these voluminous reports, the last couple of them running into thousands of pages, have built upon the previous ones with updated knowledge and understanding of the climate system.
• The reports have presented projections for temperature rise till 2100 under different scenarios and the kind of impacts that can be expected under each of these pathways.

Key projections of the 6^th Report

Apart from incorporating the latest available scientific evidence, the Sixth Assessment Report is also attempting to provide more actionable information to help governments take policy decisions.

• REGIONAL FOCUS: It is expected that this report would likely state what the scenarios for sea-level rise in the Bay of Bengal region is, not just what the average sea-level rise across the world is likely to be.
• EXTREME EVENTS: There is expected to be bigger focus on extreme weather events, like the ones we have seen in the last few weeks.
• CITIES: Densely populated mega-cities are supposed to be among the most vulnerable to impacts of climate change. The report is expected to present specific scenarios the climate change impacts on cities and large urban populations, and also implications for key infrastructure.
• SYNERGIES: IPCC is expected to present a more integrated understanding of the situation, cross-link evidence and discuss trade-offs between different options or pathways, and also likely to cover social implications of climate change action by countries.

Why it matters?

• The IPCC assessment reports have been extremely influential in directing the dialogue and action on climate change.
• The First Assessment Report led to the setting up of the UNFCCC, the umbrella agreement under which international negotiations on climate change take place every year.
• The Second Assessment Report was the basis for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol that ran till last year, and the Fifth Assessment Report, which came out in 2014, guided the Paris Agreement.
• The global climate architecture is now governed by the Paris Agreement, which replaced the Kyoto Protocol from this year.
• There have been enough indications to suggest that global action was far below what was needed to keep the temperatures below 2°C, as mandated under the Paris Agreement.
• In the immediate future, the IPCC report could serve as the most important warning towards the rapidly closing window of opportunity.

3) ‘Nation First, Always First’ theme for Independence Day celebrations

‘Nation First, Always First’ will be the theme of India’s 75th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Sunday.

All the Olympians who won medals at the 2020 Tokyo Games have been sent
special invites for the event.

4)Quit India Movement :-

The Prime Minister has greeted the nation on the eve of the anniversary of Quit India Movement Day.

Before proceeding, answer this PYQ:

Q. Quit India Movement was launched in response to:

(a) Cabinet Mission Plan

(b) Cripps Proposals

(c) Simon Commission Report

(d) Wavell PlanPost your answers here:

About the day

• The Quit India Movement is also known as the Bharat Chhodo Andolan was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942, at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
• The movement demanded an end to British rule in India.
• Since the protest was held in August, it also went on to be known as August Kranti or August Movement.
• The ‘Do or Die’ speech was etched in the hearts of Indians, and many faced the consequences of the movement.
• Every year, the day is celebrated by paying tribute to freedom fighters who laid their lives for the country.

Quit India Movement

• The movement began on August 8, 1942, with its foundations being laid back in 1939 when the Governor-general of India was Lord Lilingthow.
• In 1942, Staford Cripps was sent to India by the British Establishment to negotiate with the leaders of the All India Congress Committee for gaining their support in exchange for their freedom.
• July 1942- The Quit India Movement Resolution was passed at the Wardha Conference of All India Congress Committee.

Series of events

• Mahatma Gandhi delivered his speech at Mumbai’s Gowalia Tank Maidan, also called August Kranti Maidan, on 08th August 1942.
• Gandhi Ji was arrested and jailed at Pune’s Aga Khan Palace and his wife Kasturba Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu and secretary Mahadev Desai.
• Many other senior members of the Indian National Congress were also arrested, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Abul Kalam Azad, and were kept in the Yerwada Jail.
• The British Government banned the Congress Committee declaring it an unlawful association.
• Aruna Asaf Ali, popularly known as the ‘Grand Old Lady’ of the Independence Movement, hoisted the National Flag at Mumbai’s Gowalia Tank Maidan.
• This event was followed by an uproar among the people and the emergence of several young leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia, JP Narayan, SM Joshi, and others who continued to fuel the fire of the movement throughout India during the period of World War II.

Causes of the Movement

• Involvement of India in World War II without prior consultation with the leaders: The Indian Nationalists were disgruntled with the Governor-General of India, Lord Linlithgow, as he brought India to the verge of World War II without consulting them.
• Failure of Cripps Mission: The British sent Stafford Cripps to India to gain the cooperation of India, which failed because the Cripps Mission offered India not complete freedom but the Dominion Status to India, along with the partition. After the failure of Cripps Mission, the Indian Nationalist Leaders knew that the Britishers were in no mood to amend the Constitution before the end of World War II.
• Shortage of essential commodities: There was widespread discontent due to the shortage of essential commodities and rising prices of salt, rice, etc., and commandeering of boats in Bengal and Orissa. There were fears that the Britishers would follow a scorched earth policy in Assam, Bengal, and Orissa in reaction to the advancement of the Japanese. The Economy also shattered as a result of World War II.
• Prevalence of anti-British sentiment: The sentiments were widely anti-British, and the masses were demanding complete independence from the British Government.
• Centralization of many small movements: The Ground for the movement was already prepared by various associated and affiliated bodies of the Congress, like Forward Bloc, All India Kisan Sabha, and others. They were leading the mass movements on a much more radical level for more than two decades. The also channelized many militant outbursts, which were happening at several places in the country.

Phases of Quit India Movement

The Quit India Movement can be viewed in three phases from its inception to end. The phases are as follows:

1. First phase: The first phase or the inception of the movement had no violence. It began with civil disobedience, boycotts, strikes that the British Government quickly suppressed. Almost all members of the Congress Committee, including Gandhiji, were arrested and kept in Jail till 1945 without any trial.
2. Second phase: In its second phase, the movement shifted to the countryside. The second phase of the movement took a violent and aggressive turn. Any building or offices which were the symbol of the colonial authority was attacked and distracted. Communication systems, railway stations & tracks, telegraph poles and wires were also targeted.
3. Third and last phase: In the last phase of the movement, there was the formation of many independent national or parallel governments in the isolated pockets of the country, such as Ballia, Satara, Tamluk, etc.

Successes

• Women empowerment: Aruna Asif Ali hoisted the national flag on the Gowalia tank maidan; Usha Mehta, on the other hand, helped set up the underground radio station to spread awareness about the movement.
• Rise of future leaders : This movement also gave some future prominent leaders such as Biku Patnaik, Aruna Asif Ali, Ram Manohar Lohia, Sucheta Kriplani, J.P. Narayan, etc. These leaders were helping the movement through underground activities.
• Rise of nationalism: A greater sense of unity and brotherhood emerged due to the Quit India Movement. Many students dropped out of schools and colleges, people gave up their jobs and withdrew money from the banks.

Failure of the movement

The movement did not have the support of many organizations of the country itself.

• The Britishers were supported by the Princely States, British Indian Army, Indian Civil Services, Viceroy’s Council (which had Indians in the majority), All India Muslim League, Indian Imperial Police.
• The Hindu Mahasabha, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) & Muslim League also opposed the Quit India Movement.
• Many Congress members like C Rajagopalachari resigned from the provincial legislature as they did not favor Mahatma Gandhi’s idea.

5) Dropout of SC/St Candidates :-

6) All about NSD :-

The National School of Drama (NSD) is foremost theatre training institutions in the world. 

Established in 1959, the National School of Drama is the only one of its kind in India and is an autonomous organization, fully financed by the Ministry of Culture.

One of the foremost theatre training institution in the world, NSD was incepted under the aegis of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and became an independent entity in 1975. 

National School of Drama had been declared as deemed university by University Grant Commission in 2005.

7) CHAPEA Mission by NASA :-

NASA is seeking applications for its new mission called the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA), which is related to Mars.

CHAPEA

• The mission is set to begin in 2022 and will give four successful applicants the chance to live and work in a 1,700 square-foot module that is created by a 3D printer and is called the Mars Dune Alpha.
• The simulated quarters include a kitchen, areas for medical, recreation, fitness, work, crop growth, a technical work area and two bathrooms.
• This habitat will simulate what it feels like to carry out missions on Mars including resource limitations, equipment failure, communication delays and any other environmental stressors.
• The crew will be expected to perform simulated spacewalks, scientific research and use virtual reality and robotic controls and exchange communications.

What is the purpose of this mission?

• The habitat in which the crew members will stay will be as Mars-realistic as possible.
• The results from this analog mission will provide scientific data that will help in validating the systems that will be used for actual missions to Mars and also help in solving problems for spaceflight research.
• CHAPEA is not the only analog mission, there are others including Aquarius/NEEMO, Concordia, Desert RATS and HESTIA.
• Analog missions are required because not all experiments can be carried out in space because resources and money are limited.

Editorial of the Day

The shaky foundation of the labour law reforms

Context

The central government has deferred the possible date of implementation of labour codes to October 1, 2021, prolonging the wait before employers and workers could enjoy the benefits extended by the labour codes.

Labour law reforms: Key provisions

• The government enacted the Code on Wages in August 2019 and the other three Codes, viz., the Industrial Relations Code, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code and Code on Social Security (CSS) in September 2020.
• Universal minimum wage: The codes would extend universal minimum wages and social security, enable enhanced industrial safety and the provision of social security to gig workers, among other things.
• Recognition of trade unions: The Industrial Relations Code provides for recognition of trade union(s) by employers, a labour right that eluded workers for seven decades.
• Flexibility to employers: Employers celebrated the extension of tremendous flexibility to them, even those unasked, such as relief from framing standing orders for most firms.
• The central government has deferred the possible date of implementation to October 1, 2021.

Issues in implementation

• State’s have not issued draft rules: Major States such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi have not issued the draft rules under any codes.
• Even though the Code on Wages was enacted in August 2019, it was only in March 2021 that the central government notified the constitution of an advisory committee.
• Safety concerns persist:  Industrial safety continues to be a grave concern even after the enactment of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code.
• Lack of clarity on the determination of minimum wage: On June 3, 2021, the government announced an expert committee with a tenure of three years to advise on minimum wages.
• Then, on July 12, 2021, the government announced that the wage index’s base year would be shifted from 1965 to 2019 to use the revised wage index to determine minimum wages.
• The Government seems to be facing difficulty regarding the implementation of minimum wages.

Conclusion

Despite the gazetting of four Codes, age-old laws are in force. That reflects poorly on the governance abilities of the governments.