14 October 2023

• IOC 141st Session: the International Olympic Committee's 141st Session in Mumbai approved an amendment to the Olympic Charter strengthening human rights commitments.
• Coastal security exercise: the Indian Coast Guard led a national coastal security exercise on October 14.
• Israel-Gaza war: Israel announced it had ordered civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate, escalating tensions. India continued Operation Ajay evacuations.
• ICC World Cup: India defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets at Ahmedabad. The match at the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium was one of the most watched cricket matches in history.

GS area: Sports, Governance, Society

The International Olympic Committee's 141st Session was held in Mumbai in October 2023. It was one of the few IOC Sessions held in India.

• Olympic Charter amendment: strengthened human rights commitments in the Fundamental Principles of Olympism. The amended text makes explicit commitments on:
  • Fairness, inclusion, and non-discrimination.
  • Gender identity and sex variation (expanding on earlier guidance about transgender and intersex athlete eligibility).
• Context: the amendment responds to controversy over eligibility criteria for women's categories in international sports. The IOC has moved away from testosterone thresholds as a universal standard.
• IOC: founded 1896 in Athens; headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. Organises the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
• Next Summer Olympics: Paris 2024. Los Angeles 2028. India's bid: for the 2036 Games.
• India's 2036 Olympic bid: India has formally bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. India is also bidding for the 2029 Youth Olympic Games.
• No previous hosts from India's region: no city from Central America, Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, or Southeast Asia has hosted the Summer Olympics. India's success would break this pattern.

Static linkage: Sports, governance.

GS area: Internal Security, Defence

The Indian Coast Guard coordinated a national coastal security exercise on October 14.

• Purpose: test the readiness of coastal surveillance infrastructure; validate the response of the Coast Guard, Navy, State Marine Police, Customs, and Intelligence agencies.
• India's coastline: 7,516 km. Nine coastal states (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal) and four Union Territories (Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands).
• Coastal Security Scheme: revised after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Includes coastal police stations, jetties, boats, and the National Automatic Identification System (NAIS) for vessel tracking.
• Post-26/11 infrastructure: Joint Operation Centres (JOCs); the National Maritime Domain Awareness (NDMA) project; 73 Coastal Police Stations; integration with NTRO's vessel tracking system.
• Coast Guard: established 1977 under the Coast Guard Act, 1978. Distinct from the Navy; its mandate is maritime law enforcement, safety, and search and rescue.

Static linkage: Internal security, defence.

GS area: International Relations

Israel formally ordered civilians to evacuate northern Gaza by October 14, citing plans for military operations.

• Scale: about 1.1 million people in northern Gaza were told to move south within 24 hours. The UN and humanitarian agencies described the order as impractical and dangerous.
• Blockade context: Israel had already declared a total siege of Gaza (food, water, fuel, electricity) on October 9. Hospitals warned of equipment shutdowns.
• India's response: the Ministry of External Affairs called for protection of civilians and de-escalation while also reaffirming India's position against terrorism.
• UNRWA: the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees is the primary provider of food, education, and healthcare in Gaza. It operates schools and clinics throughout the territory.
• India-Palestine relations: India has historically supported Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution. India voted for UN General Assembly resolutions on Palestinian rights. India also has diplomatic relations with Israel (since 1992) and buys significant defence equipment from Israel.

Static linkage: International relations, India's foreign policy.

GS area: Sports, Governance

India formally expressed its interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics. This provides a useful static anchor for the IOC session.

• Host selection process: the International Olympic Committee selects hosts 7-11 years before the Games. Selection involves a "Future Host Commission" that dialogues with candidate cities rather than a formal vote (changed after 2015 reforms).
• Past IOC milestones: 51 cities have hosted the modern Olympics (since 1896). No Asian city outside East and Southeast Asia has hosted Summer Olympics. Tokyo hosted in 1964 and 2020 (held 2021); Seoul in 1988; Beijing in 2008.
• India's sports infrastructure development: the Olympic bid has accelerated investment in multi-sport complexes, athletics tracks, aquatic centres, and sports hostels under Khelo India and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
• Khelo India: a national sports development programme launched 2018 to revive grassroots sports. Establishes Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India University Games, and sports academies.

Static linkage: Sports and governance.

GS area: Agriculture, Economy

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) held a conference in Guwahati in the context of India's INROAD project.

• ANRPC: 13 member countries including India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. Coordinates natural rubber production and trade statistics.
• India's rubber sector: India is the 4th largest natural rubber producer globally. Kerala accounts for about 88 per cent of production; Tamil Nadu and northeast India produce the rest.
• INROAD project: India Natural Rubber for Alternative Development. Expands rubber cultivation in northeast states including Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Manipur, which have suitable climate.
• Rubber Board: established 1947 under the Rubber Act, 1947. Headquartered in Kottayam, Kerala. Regulates the rubber industry and promotes research.
• Uses: natural rubber is preferred over synthetic rubber in tyres, surgical gloves, and industrial applications where heat resistance and durability matter.

Static linkage: Agriculture, economy.

GS area: Economy, Governance

The Finance Act 2023 amended Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income Tax Act to address the "angel tax" on startups.

• Angel tax: a 30.6 per cent income tax levied on unlisted companies that issue shares to investors above the "fair market value" as determined by tax authorities. The excess is treated as income.
• Problem: valuations of early-stage startups often reflect future growth potential rather than current book value. Tax authorities' fair market value calculations were conservative, creating large notional income for startups.
• Exemption: DPIIT-recognised startups are exempt from angel tax. The Finance Act 2023 extended the exemption to foreign investments in DPIIT-recognised startups.
• DPIIT: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. Under the Ministry of Commerce.
• India's startup ecosystem: over 100 unicorns (startups valued above USD 1 billion). 3rd largest startup ecosystem globally.

Static linkage: Economy, governance.

• Olive Ridley turtle tracking: satellite-tagged olive ridley turtles from Sindhudurg, Maharashtra completed 5,000 km journeys from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal. The Olive Ridley is the smallest sea turtle; listed Vulnerable on IUCN; Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• World Egg Day (second Friday of October): India is among the world's top three egg producers alongside China and the United States.