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Here are the topics covered for 30 & 31 August 2023: Cauvery Water Management Authority, Adjournment sine die, Indus water treaty, Rice Export ban, Rural demand, Red sand boa, Gruha Lakshmi scheme, Sanchar Saathi.

 

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 2:

1. Cauvery Water Management Authority
2. Adjournment sine die
3. Indus water treaty

 

GS Paper 3:

1. Rice Export ban
2. Rural demand

 

Facts for Prelims:

1. Red sand boa
2. Gruha Lakshmi scheme
3. Sanchar Saathi

 

GS Paper 2:

Cauvery Water Management Authority(CWMA)

Context:

In compliance with the directives of the Cauvery Water Management Authority(CWMA), Karnataka has begun releasing water from its reservoirs to Tamil Nadu

 

About Cauver River:

1. The Cauvery River is a major water resource in Southern India, and its water-sharing disputes between the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry
2. Left Bank: the Harangi, the Hemavati, the Shimsha, and the Arkavati.
3. Right Bank: Lakshmantirtha, the Kabbani, the Suvarnavati, the Bhavani, the Noyil, and the Amaravati join from the right

 

About Cauvery Water Management Authority(CWMA)

1. The establishment of the CWMA resulted from a Supreme Court judgment in February 2018 that directed the central government to formulate a scheme for implementing the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award. The CWMA was subsequently formed in June 2018 as per the provisions of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, of 1956
2. The Authority, through the Regulation Committee and with the help of the Central Water Commission, and other Central or State organizations as necessary will identify situations of distress in the river basin. The following important reservoirs in the river basin, namely, Banasurasagar in Kerala; Hemavathy, Harangi, Kabini, and Krishnarajasagara in Karnataka; and Lower Bhavani, Amaravathy, and Mettur in Tamil Nadu shall be operated in an integrated manner by the concerned State under the overall guidance of the Authority for each ten days period throughout the year to meet the seasonal water requirements of the party States for irrigation, hydro-power generation, domestic and industrial uses, etc.

https://mowr.nic.in/core/WebsiteUpload/2023/2023012773.pdf

 

Adjourned sine die

Context:

The Manipur Assembly disregards duty by adjourning sine die at a time of crisis

 

About adjourned sine die

1. Adjournment sine die refers to the conclusion of a session of Parliament without setting a definite date for its resumption. In other words, when a session ends without specifying when the next session will commence, it is termed adjournment sine die.
2. The authority to adjourn a session sine die rests with the presiding officer of the respective House. This presiding officer, such as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, holds the power to make this decision. It marks the formal conclusion of the ongoing session\’s proceedings.
3. The presiding officer possesses the prerogative to convene a session of the House prior to the scheduled date or even after the House has been adjourned sine die. This flexibility allows for adjustments in the parliamentary schedule based on the need to address important matters or emerging issues.

 

Indus Water Treaty

 

Context:

The Indus Water Treaty(IWT) brokered by the World Bank, has again become a source of contention between India and Pakistan.

1. The core of the issue now between India and Pakistan involves the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric power plants in India’s Jammu and Kashmir
2. In 2016, Pakistan asked the World Bank to facilitate the setting up of an ad hoc Court of Arbitration to look into its concerns about the designs of the two hydroelectric power projects. India asked for the appointment of a Neutral Expert for the same purpose.

 

About Indus water treaty

1. Under the IWT, India has unrestricted use of the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej), while Pakistan enjoys similar rights over the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab).
2. Permanent Indus Commission: It also required both countries to establish a Permanent Indus Commission constituted by permanent commissioners on both sides. According to the provisions of the IWT, the Permanent Indus Commission is required to meet at least once a year.

Conclusion: As the IWT was signed more than 60 years ago, an amendment or two or may be needed due to changes in the situation in the Indus River Basin region. However, the provisions of the IWT cannot be modified unilaterally. Hence, any modification requires trust between the two riparian countries

 

GS Paper 3:

Rural demand

Context:

The country’s rural demand is vulnerable and could be further impacted by the “dual blows” of lower income and high food inflation due to an erratic monsoon

 

About rural demand and its impacts
Rural demand holds significant sway over the overall GDP growth of the nation, carrying with it a multitude of impacts. The significance of rural demand is underscored by a variety of factors.

1. Foremost, the agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in India\’s GDP composition, and rural regions are largely reliant on agrarian pursuits. Elevated rural incomes translate into heightened expenditures on goods and services, thus propelling the trajectory of economic advancement.
2. The robustness of the rural sector assumes critical importance for investors. A substantial proportion of Indian consumers draw their livelihoods directly from rural economic activities, encompassing farming, horticulture, animal husbandry, cottage industries, and forestry. This interconnection means that the growth and prosperity of rural areas have a cascading effect on the nation\’s economic well-being.
3. Moreover, the rural economy serves as a lifeline for numerous industrial enterprises. Industries spanning crop protection, farm equipment, transportation, food processing, and more find their sustenance in rural activities. Additionally, the rural sector provides an indirect lifeline to industries like textiles, consumer staples, durables, and services including financial services, trade, and communication.

 

Rice exports ban

Context:

The Indian government has prohibited the export of white rice, levied a 20% export duty on par­boiled rice till October 15, and permitted the export of Basmati rice for contracts with a value of $1,200 a tonne or above

 

Why ban on export?

1. According to the third Advanced Estimate of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, during the Rabi season 2022­2023, rice production was 13.8% less, at 158.95 lakh tonnes against 184.71 lakh tonnes during Rabi 2021­2022.
2. Kharif sowing data show that rice is sown on 384.05 lakh hectares this year as of August 25 compared with 367.83 lakh hectares during the same period last year

 

About rice export

India is the largest rice exporter globally with a 45% share of the world rice market. Overall rice exports in April­May of 2023 were 21.1% higher compared with the same period last financial year.

 

FACTS FOR PRELIMS

 Red sand boa

Context:

A report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)­India has pointed out 172 incidents of seizures of red sand boa (Eryx johnii) between the years 2016­2021.

About red Sand Boa

1. The red sand boa is classified as ‘Near Threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with a ‘decreasing’ population trend in most of their habitat ranges.
2. Red Sand Boa commonly called the Indian Sand Boa, is a non-venomous species found throughout the dry parts of the Indian subcontinent
3. Interesting facts about the Red Sand Boa(Indian Sand Boa): Largest sand boa in the world, Non-venomous, Ovoviviparous, Nocturnal, and spends the majority of its time under the ground
4. The report, compiled by the Counter Wildlife Trafficking unit of WCS­ India, and titled \’Illegal Trade of Red Sand Boa in India 2016­-2021\’.The report points out that the illegal trade of sand boas is likely prevalent across India, with concentrations in key areas such as Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, where traders mainly deal in live species

 

Gruha Lakshmi scheme

Context:

Karnataka govt launches Gruha Lakshmi scheme

 

About the Gruha Lakshmi scheme

1. Gruha Lakshmi Yojana Karnataka is a monthly financial aid of Rs.2,000 for women who are the head of household. This scheme will provide financial assistance to approximately 1,20 crore women in the state.
2. The scheme is open to women who are the heads of their households in Karnataka
3. The women must be residents of Karnataka
4. The beneficiary family’s annual income must be less than Rs. 2 lakhs.
5. The scheme is a part of the Karnataka government’s larger goal of achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment

 

Sanchar Saathi

About Sanchar Sathi

1. Sanchar Saathi portal is a citizen-centric initiative of the Department of Telecommunications to empower mobile subscribers, strengthen their security, and increase awareness about citizen-centric initiatives of the Government.
2. Sanchar Saathi empowers citizens by allowing them to know the mobile connections issued in their name, disconnect the connections not required by them, block/trace lost mobile phones, and check the genuineness of devices while buying a new/old mobile phone.