ENVIRONMENT

Explained: What do Amazon fires mean for the world’s climate?

Fires across the Brazilian Amazon have sparked an international outcry for preservation of the world’s largest rainforest.

Role of The Amazon Forest:

-        The Amazon rainforest is frequently referred to as the "lungs of the planet”.

-        The Amazon is a critical absorber of carbon of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels, like oil and coal.

-        Currently, the world is emitting around 40 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. The Amazon absorbs 2 billion tons of CO2 per year (or 5% of annual emissions), making it a vital part of preventing climate change.

-        Flames of the Amazon forests are also releasing carbon in the atmosphere.

-        The rainforest has its own microclimate, which produces rainfall. Deforestation makes rains less frequent, extending the dry season.

-        Destruction of 20-25% of forest will convert it into a Savannah from forest.

-        Destruction of Amazon forest is paving way for Cattle rearing, whose metabolic activity further release CO2.

-        Water released by plants into the atmosphere through evapo-transpiration (evaporation and plant transpiration) and to the ocean by the rivers, influences world climate and the circulation of ocean currents.

-        It also controls the biochemical cycles of Water and Carbon.

Reasons behind Forest Fire:

-        Land grabbers have set the fires for clearing the lands for cattle rearing and ranching.

-        They clear the forest by using tractors connected with strong chains to uproot the trees.

-        Brazil has reduced the authority of Forest agency encouraging these land grabber to fell the trees.

-        Fear of law has declined in Brazil.

-        Politically, Brazil president is a climate change sceptic. He disdains the rights of aboriginal tribes and encourages expansion of business by diluting the environment laws.

-        Brazil has diluted the earlier laws to protect the Amazon forest.

Solution:

-        Recently, leaders at G7 summit agreed to provide $200 million to Brazil to combat fires but Brazil has declined to accept it.

-        Brazil advocates greater role of developed countries in generation of forests.

Reference: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-amazon-fires-world-climate-5943331/

 

 

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) rapped the ministry of road transport and highways saying that the present road contracts “have become financially unviable".

-        The PMO said the hybrid annuity model (HAM) and EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) mode of contracts entail heavy investment from the government, which is unsustainable.

-        It suggests the traditional build-operate-transfer (BOT) model to be adopted for future road contracts.

Why developers don’t prefer BOT projects:

-        Their balance sheets can’t support huge investments needed for such projects.

-        With the transportation sector undergoing change with alternative modes of transport (freight corridor, inland waterways), forecasting traffic is extremely challenging.

-        The share of BOT Projects is less than 10%.

-        Land acquisition delays, increased litigation and cost overruns are not healthy for private companies.

-        Cost of land acquisition has increased manifold.

More on Hybrid Annuity Model:

-        Government pays the 40% of the developing cost in first 5 years on annuity basis.

-        Developers fund the remaining for the construction of roads.

-        Remaining 60% is paid by government to developer based on the values of asset created.

-        Toll revenue is collected by NHAI and kept with government. Developer has not right to collect toll revenue.

-        It is merger of BOT Annuity and EPC model.

Advantages of HAM:

-        Risk sharing between government and developers.

-        Government and developers share the financial risks.

-        Developers keep the maintenance and construction risk.

-        This model is generally used in the stalled projects.

Reference: https://www.livemint.com/market/mark-to-market/centre-s-directive-on-bot-model-for-roads-likely-to-see-few-takers-1566930279742.html

INTERNATIONAL

Indo-Pacific one of new concepts in changing world: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the changing world had thrown up new concepts and approaches and the Indo-Pacific was one of them.

Definition:

It is a biogeographic region, comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea.

The geography of the Indo-Pacific stretches from the eastern coast of Africa to Oceania.

Role or Importance of Indo-Pacific region:

-        Highway for trade and prosperity.

-        India is working to create openness, integration and balance” in the Indo-Pacific region.

-        India has accepted the centrality of ASEAN in the Indo-pacific region.

-        India wants to create a rule based navigation system and counter the rising hegemony of China in the Indo-Pacific region.

-        Act East policy success lies in the Integration and openness in Indo-Pacific region.

-        Security in the region must be maintained through dialogue, a common rules-based order, freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and settlement of disputes in accordance with international law.

Indian Steps:

-        India has also been convening the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, in which the navies of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) participate.

-        India is stepping up its interactions with the Pacific Island countries through the Forum India-Pacific Islands Cooperation

-        Created a wing of Indo-Pacific region in External affair ministry with merging of IORA, the ASEAN region and the Quad.

-        India must provide funding for developing the Quality infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region countries.

-        Indian government had released a vision document for the Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), but little movement has taken place on it.

-        India holds Milan defence exercise with countries of Indo-Pacific region. It must include developed countries in it to highlight the importance of region.

-        India must hold the joint summit of IORA (Indian Ocean rim association) and FIPIC (Forum for Indo-Pacific Islands cooperation) for strengthening the coordination and cooperation.

Reference: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indo-pacific-one-of-new-concepts-in-changing-world-jaishankar/article29273829.ece

 

TECHNOLOGY

What is Fedor the robot?

The humanoid robot Fedor, the first from Russia sent into orbit, reached the International Space Station.

-        ISS astronauts wearing robotic exoskeleton suits can operate Fedor manually.

-        The robot mirrors their movements.

-        It performs tasks that are risky for astronauts strapped onto an exoskeleton.

-        Fedor could help in tests on Russia’s new manned transport ship under development.

-        Other countries have already launched their Robots in the Space. Japan had sent Kirobo in 2013, and NASA had sent RoboNaut2.

-        These robots work in high risk environment.

 

SECURITY

SPG, NSG and other security forces — How India protects its VIPs

The Central government has withdrawn Special Protection Group (SPG) security cover for Manmohan Singh. The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will now give the former Prime Minister Z-plus cover.

SPG and SPG Act:

-        SPG (Special Protection group ) was set up in 1985.

-        It was accorded legality through  Special Protection Group (SPG) Act in 1988.

-        It provide proximate security to the Prime Minister of India , former Prime Ministers of India and members of their immediate families .

-        Supreme court had defined the scope of ‘proximate security’.

-        They wear safari suits in the summer and dark formal jackets in the winter along with reflective sunglasses and have a communication earpiece plugged in.

Categories of security:

-        The highest level of security cover is the Z-plus category, followed by Z, Y, and X categories.

-        The higher the level of cover, the larger the number of personnel protecting the individual.

-        The elite ‘Black Cat’ commandos of the NSG are deployed to protect VIPs for whom the threat perception is the highest.

Security provided:

-        Successive governments have upgraded or downgraded the security cover of VIPs, including politicians, from time to time, depending on the latest assessment of the threat to them.

-        The decision to withdraw the security cover of these protectees is taken at a meeting of the Security Categorisation Committee.

Reference: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/spg-nsg-central-armed-police-forces-security-cover-vips-prime-minister-5942038/