24 May 2023

• International Relations: G7 summit in Hiroshima committed to "de-risking" from China while avoiding decoupling. Leaders demanded major economies peak emissions by 2025.
• Polity: Delhi services ordinance established the National Capital Civil Service Authority as a counter to the Supreme Court ruling.
• Health: India's tribal communities face mortality rates 44 per cent higher than the national average.
• Governance: National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) made Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh paperless assemblies.
• Environment: Leatherback turtles, IUCN Vulnerable, nest only in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

GS area: International Relations

The G7 summit in Hiroshima concluded with leaders committing to "de-risking" their economic relationships with China rather than full decoupling.

• De-risking vs decoupling: De-risking means reducing specific vulnerabilities in critical supply chains (semiconductors, rare earths, pharmaceuticals) while maintaining broader trade and economic ties. Decoupling means severing economic relationships more comprehensively.
• Climate commitments: G7 demanded all major economies peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and reach net zero by 2050.
• India's tension: India projects continued emission growth through the decade. India's NDC targets net zero by 2070, not 2050.
• PM Modi's attendance: India was invited as a guest. The PM used the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings on the margins.

Static linkage: G7, climate diplomacy, India-China-US triangle (International Relations).

GS area: Polity (Centre-state relations)

The Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 created the National Capital Civil Service Authority.

• NCCSA composition: The Chief Minister of Delhi, the Chief Secretary and the Principal Home Secretary.
• Voting: Majority vote governs NCCSA decisions. The two IAS officers outvote the CM when they agree with each other.
• Articles involved:
  • Article 123: Presidential ordinance power when Parliament is not in session.
  • Article 239AA: The special constitutional provision for Delhi as an NCT with a legislature.
• Political context: The Supreme Court had ruled on 11 May that the elected government controls services. The ordinance was issued on 19 May, within eight days.

Static linkage: Article 123, Article 239AA, ordinance power (Polity).

GS area: Governance (Health, Tribal welfare)

A review found that India's tribal communities (9 per cent of the population) face a mortality rate 44 per cent higher than the national average and an infant mortality rate 63 per cent higher.

• Government response under NHM:
  • Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres in tribal areas.
  • Free drugs and diagnostics.
  • ASHA worker programme (Accredited Social Health Activists).
  • National ambulance services.
• High Priority Districts (HPDs): Districts with below-average health indices receive targeted investments and monitoring.
• Root causes: Geographical remoteness, poverty, cultural barriers to healthcare, limited health infrastructure in forest and hill areas.

Static linkage: Tribal welfare, National Health Mission, social determinants of health (Governance/Society).

GS area: Governance (e-Governance)

The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is a cloud-based workflow system developed by the National Informatics Centre.

• What it does: Enables paperless conduct of legislative business. Bills, questions, notices and committee reports are handled digitally.
• Paperless assemblies: Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh have become fully paperless assemblies using NeVA.
• Policy basis: Part of the Government's Digital India initiative and the broader Mission Mode Project for legislative bodies.
• Significance for UPSC: NeVA is an example of digitising constitutional institutions. Questions about whether digitisation of legislative proceedings is a state or central subject may arise.

Static linkage: e-Governance, Digital India, state legislatures (Governance).

GS area: Environment (Biodiversity)

A review of the proposed Great Nicobar port project raised concerns about its impact on Leatherback turtle nesting sites.

• Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea): The world's largest sea turtle. Can weigh up to 900 kg. Named for its leathery skin instead of a hard shell.
• IUCN status: Vulnerable globally.
• Nesting geography: Nest exclusively in three locations: Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Great Nicobar concern: The proposed transshipment port on Great Nicobar Island is situated near nesting beaches. The project plan lacks biodiversity compensation provisions for the nesting impact.

Static linkage: CITES, sea turtles, biodiversity, Great Nicobar project (Environment).

• ADB-India Andhra Pradesh industrial corridor loan: A 141 million US dollar ADB loan for industrial cluster development in Visakhapatnam and Srikalahasthi-Chittoor areas. Part of a 500 million US dollar multi-tranche facility approved in 2016. Targets roads, water supply and electricity for industrial zones.
• Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE): India has 12 mature DRE technologies with 5.5 lakh installations. Market potential reaches 4 lakh crore rupees in rural areas, potentially benefiting 37 million people. Solar pumps have the highest maturity due to government subsidies.
• World Food India 2023: Scheduled for 3-5 November in New Delhi. India leads global production in milk, bananas, mangoes, papayas, ginger, okra and buffalo meat.