3 March 2024

• Economy: India-EFTA trade agreement discussions gained momentum ahead of the formal signing, spotlighting Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein as a combined market of over 14 million with close to USD 1 trillion in annual trade.
• Security: The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 and the two accompanying criminal law reforms continued to draw legal scrutiny ahead of their 1 July 2024 implementation.
• Environment: India's Swachh Bharat Mission targets and the forthcoming international Plastics Treaty kept waste management in policy focus over the weekend.
• Space: Discussion of the newly confirmed Gaganyaan astronaut crew continued across national platforms.

GS area: Economy (International trade), International Relations

The European Free Trade Association is an intergovernmental organisation separate from the European Union. It was established in 1960 and comprises four members:

• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Norway
• Switzerland

Combined population: approximately 14 million. Combined annual trade in goods and services: close to USD 1 trillion (2021 data). EFTA is known for pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, precision machinery and financial services. India and EFTA were finalising the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) ahead of its formal signing. The projected benefits for India:

• USD 100 billion in foreign direct investment over 15 years.
• 1 million direct employment opportunities.
• Market access for Indian IT services, education services and business services.

The agreement was expected to be the first Indian FTA with a dedicated chapter on human rights and sustainable development.

Static linkage: International relations (trade agreements), Indian economy.

GS area: Polity, Governance

India replaced three colonial-era criminal statutes effective 1 July 2024. The triad to remember for prelims:

• Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023: replaces the Indian Penal Code 1860. Covers offences and punishments.
• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023: replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973. Governs investigation and trial procedure.
• Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023: replaces the Indian Evidence Act 1872. Governs admissibility of evidence.

The key addition in the evidence law is the explicit treatment of electronic records as documentary evidence, synchronised with the Information Technology Act 2000. Critics note that the evidence law does not resolve ambiguities around electronic record tampering or the chain-of-custody requirements for digital exhibits.

Static linkage: Polity (Parliament and legislation, criminal justice).

GS area: Environment, Government schemes

The Plastic Waste Management Rules 2022 introduced Extended Producer Responsibility as the central enforcement mechanism for plastic waste. The scheme card:

• Who it covers: producers, importers and brand owners of plastic packaging.
• Collection targets: 35 per cent by 2024, escalating to 70 per cent by 2025.
• Recycled content mandate: a minimum of 10 per cent recycled plastic content by 2023, rising to 20 per cent by 2026.
• Registration: all covered entities must register on the Central Pollution Control Board's EPR portal.

The rules sit under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986. The Plastic Waste Management Rules were first enacted in 2016 and amended significantly in 2021 and 2022.

Static linkage: Environment (plastic waste, pollution control).

GS area: Economy (energy), Government schemes

The Cabinet approved the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana in February 2024. The scheme:

• Target: install rooftop solar panels in 1 crore (10 million) households by March 2027.
• Free electricity: beneficiary households are eligible for up to 300 units of free electricity per month.
• Subsidy: up to 40 per cent subsidy on installation cost.
• Budget: Rs 75,021 crore of total government outlay.
• Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The scheme is part of India's commitment to raise the share of non-fossil capacity to 50 per cent by 2030 under its updated Nationally Determined Contribution. Rooftop solar is distinct from utility-scale solar: it sits on residential and commercial buildings rather than dedicated ground-mounted farms.

Static linkage: Economy (renewable energy), government schemes.

GS area: Environment (biodiversity)

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu at the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Key facts for prelims:

• Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: India's first biosphere reserve, established 1986.
• Herpetofaunal survey: the first-ever systematic survey of reptiles and amphibians in the reserve recorded 82 species including the Indian rock python and the mugger crocodile.
• Vegetation: characterised by elephant grass, dry deciduous and moist deciduous forests.
• Connectivity: forms part of the largest contiguous protected area complex in peninsular India, linking Nagarhole, Bandipur and Wayanad.

Static linkage: Environment (protected areas, biodiversity).

• CERF replenishment: the Central Emergency Response Fund, established in 2005 by the UN General Assembly, received a USD 100 million allocation for underfunded humanitarian crises. The fund is managed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator on behalf of the UN Secretary-General and releases funds twice a year.
• Harit Nauka and V.O. Chidambaranar Port: the port in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu was designated India's first Green Hydrogen Hub Port under the Harit Nauka initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis using renewable energy, producing zero carbon emissions.