April Month Current Affairs Bulletin

Bhu – Aadhar

India aims to achieve 100% land record digitization through Bhu-Aadhar, a unique 14-digit alphanumeric code assigned to every land parcel in the country.
As per the rural development ministry, 26 states and union territories have adopted the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) or Bhu-Aadhar, with some using it in the SVAMITVA portal.
By April 18, 2023, computerization of Records of Rights (RoRs) had been completed in 94.62% of the 6,57,403 villages, totaling 6,22,030 villages.
ULPIN or Bhu-Aadhar aims to create a comprehensive digital database of land records and ownership details accessible online, similar to the Aadhaar number system for citizens.
The initiative will reduce land disputes, improve transparency and accountability, enable faster transactions and access to credit, promote economic development, and empower landowners.
ULPIN or Bhu-Aadhar is a significant step towards modernizing India’s land administration, fostering efficient service delivery, and ensuring the responsible utilization of land resources for the nation’s progress.
Conclusion: The implementation of ULPIN/Bhu-Aadhar marks a significant milestone in India’s land administration, fostering a modern and progressive approach towards land ownership and utilization while ensuring the efficient delivery of land-related services and schemes

Competition Amendment Bill 2023

The Rajya Sabha recently passed the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which aims to amend the Competition Act, 2002.
The bill seeks to define ‘turnover’ for penalty purposes as the global turnover derived from all products and services of a person or enterprise.
Certain offenses under the Act will be decriminalized, replacing fines with civil penalties, including non-compliance with CCI orders and abuse of dominant position.
The scope of CCI’s merger regulation will be expanded to include deals worth over 2,000 crore, requiring regulator clearance.
The amendment introduces a settlement mechanism for anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominance, promoting ease of doing business and transparency in the Indian market.

Anganwadi Scheme

The Women and Child Development Ministry plans to build 75% of new anganwadi centers in convergence with the MGNREGA scheme, which is aimed at providing rural employment.
The construction cost of each anganwadi center will be split, with 8 lakh rupees provided under MGNREGA and the remaining 4 lakh rupees shared equally by the Central and State governments.
Anganwadi centers are an integral part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, which serves as the primary point of contact for nutrition, health, and early learning in Indian villages.
The ICDS scheme covers approximately 88 million children aged 0-6 years, making it the largest program of its kind in the world.
To address the lack of infrastructure, the government is undertaking the construction of 4 lakh AWC (Anganwadi Center) buildings across the country in convergence with the MGNREGA scheme and the ICDS scheme.

Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC) 2023

The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC) account was opened by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs.
The scheme was introduced in the 2023-24 Union Budget to empower women through increased participation in investments.
The MSSC is a one-time savings scheme with a two-year tenure and an attractive interest rate of 7.5% compounded quarterly.
It offers flexible investment and partial withdrawal options, allowing a maximum investment of Rs two lakh.
The scheme is available exclusively to women and can be opened by any woman above 18 years of age, or by a guardian for minors.

Kesavananda Bharati case

Kesavananda Bharati case completes it’s 50 years. In the Kesavananda Bharati case, the Supreme Court introduced the “basic structure” doctrine, which restricts Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution and protects essential elements such as democracy and judicial independence.
The case established the supremacy of the Constitution, limiting the authority of Parliament and the executive to amend it without affecting its core features.
It safeguarded fundamental rights and maintained the democratic and federal nature of the Constitution, preventing arbitrary or authoritarian changes.
The judgment affirmed the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review, allowing it to assess the validity of constitutional amendments and strike them down if they violate the basic structure doctrine.
The case resolved the conflict between fundamental rights and directive principles, prioritizing the former and ensuring a balance between the two. It also empowered the judiciary to define and expand the scope of the basic structure doctrine in subsequent judgments.

Way Forward: The Kesavananda Bharati case and the basic structure doctrine play a vital role in preserving the principles of democracy and protecting citizens’ rights. This landmark judgment highlights the strength of India’s democratic institutions and the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the Constitution.

National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) has been launched by the Government of Indiaas a separate and independent scheme from 2023-24 by up scaling the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddati (BPKP) , to promote chemical-free and climate-smart agriculture. It aims to cover 7.5 lakh hectares with 15,000 clusters of farmers practicing natural farming, providing financial assistance of ₹15,000 per hectare per year for three years.
Natural farming is based on desi cow and local resources, excluding chemical inputs. It emphasizes on-farm biomass recycling, cow dung-urine formulations, diverse pest management, and the exclusion of synthetic chemicals. It improves soil health, increases productivity, and benefits farmers’ health and income.
The government has allocated a budget of Rs 459.00 crores for NMNF in 2023-24. Additionally, the fertilizer subsidy budget for the same period is Rs 1,75,099 crore.

Alongside NMNF, the government promotes organic farming through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), defining it as a sustainable system without artificial off-farm inputs. Climate smart agriculture is a broader concept addressing food security, climate change adaptation, resilience building, and greenhouse gas reduction.
The government prioritizes climate smart agriculture over natural and organic farming in the G20 agriculture working group, aiming to achieve global consensus and promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

Environment & Ecology

Project Tiger and Tiger Census 2022

Project Tiger, launched in 1973, aimed to protect the endangered tiger species in India and resulted in the Wildlife Protection Act that banned hunting and protected individual species.
Bandipur Tiger Reserve, established in 1973, is located in Karnataka and forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is surrounded by other protected areas such as Mudumalai Tiger Reserve and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
Bandipur National Park, previously known as Venugopala Wildlife Park, was enlarged in 1985 and is situated in the tri-junction area of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. It is known for its rich biodiversity.
The fifth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation (2022) revealed that India’s tiger population increased from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,167 in 2022, with significant growth in the Shivalik hills, Gangetic floodplains, central India, Northeastern hills, Brahmaputra floodplains, and Sundarbans.
India is home to approximately 75% of the global tiger population, making it a crucial country for tiger conservation efforts. The national tiger census is conducted every four years by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in collaboration with state forest departments, conservation NGOs, and the Wildlife Institute of India.

World Energy Transitions Outlook report

The World Energy Transitions Outlook report by IRENA highlights that the global energy transition is falling short of the 1.5 degrees Celsius pathway and needs significant improvement.
To achieve the 1.5°C target, deployment levels of renewable energy must increase from 3,000 GW to over 10,000 GW by 2030, requiring an average annual growth of 1,000 GW.
Public sector intervention is necessary to ensure equitable investment distribution among countries to support the energy transition.
Global investment in energy transition technologies reached a record of $1.3 trillion in 2022, but annual investments must surpass $5 trillion to stay on track for the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal.
By 2030, cumulative investments of $44 trillion are needed, with transition technologies accounting for 80% ($35 trillion) of the total, focusing on efficiency, electrification, grid expansion, and flexibility.
Bonus fact: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organization founded in 2009, based in Abu Dhabi, with 167 member countries and the European Union. It supports countries in their transition to sustainable energy and holds the status of an official United Nations observer.

Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) plans to designate the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh, India, as a tiger reserve, triggering concerns from the Idu Mishmi tribe who fear restricted access to the forest.
The Idu Mishmis are a sub-tribe of the Mishmi group residing in the Mishmi Hills on the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet. They have a population of around 12,000 people and are known for their weaving skills. Their language is endangered.
The Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in Arunachal Pradesh, is named after the Dibang River. It is a biodiversity hotspot and encompasses various ecosystems, including tropical evergreen forests, alpine meadows, and coniferous forests.
The sanctuary harbors a diverse range of fauna, including endangered species like the Mishmi takin, musk deer, clouded leopard, snow leopard, and tigers. It is also home to several bird species, including the Satyr tragopan and Blyth’s tragopan.
The proposed tiger reserve status aims to enhance conservation efforts and protect the sanctuary’s wildlife and habitat. The area faces threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict, which the tiger reserve designation aims to mitigate.

Eravikulam National Park

Eravikulam National Park (ENP) in the Kannan Devan Hills of the Western Ghats has established a Fernarium, the first of its kind in the hill station, showcasing a collection of ferns.
The park is renowned for its “Neelakurinji” flower that blooms every twelve years and is home to the Anamudi peak on its southern side.
The park predominantly features rolling grasslands but also contains patches of shola forests in the upper valley.
A diverse range of wildlife can be found in the park, including the Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, Leopard, Giant Squirrel, and wild dog.
Ferns, which belong to the epiphytic family, are plants that grow without soil and acquire water and nutrients through leaching from trees. Epiphytes are plants that grow on the surface of other plants, without placing roots in the ground.

Amolops siju

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new frog species, named Amolops siju, inside Siju Cave in Meghalaya’s South Garo Hills district.
This is the second time a frog has been found in an Indian cave, with the first discovery in 2014 in Tamil Nadu’s cave of Micrixalus spelunca.
Frog populations have been reported in Siju Cave since 1922, up to 400 meters from the cave entrance, based on ZSI’s earlier explorations.
The ZSI team also discovered three other new species of cascade frog (Amolops) in Arunachal Pradesh: Amolops chanakya, Amolops terraorchis, and Amolops tawang.
Siju Cave, also known as Bat Cave, is a 4 km long natural limestone cave located in Meghalaya, known for its stalagmites and stalactites. The ZSI is an Indian organization dedicated to zoological research, with headquarters in Kolkata.

Kudremukh Range

The Kudremukh Iron Ore Company seeks post-facto approval to submerge 700 acres of forest in the Kudremukh Range, Western Ghats, for a tailing dam to store iron ore processing waste.
Kudremukh, literally meaning horse-faced in Kannada, is located in Chikamangaluru district and is known for its mountain peak resembling a horse face , which is about 1892 metres and its rich biodiversity in the National Park, home to the endangered lion-tailed macaque.
The Kudremukh National Park, covering three districts in Karnataka , namely Chikkamangaluru, Dakshin Kannada and Udupi , preserves dense jungles and shola vegetation. It is the second largest protected region near the Western Ghats and offers sightings of leopards, tigers, and other wildlife.
Kudremukh is a popular pilgrimage center with sacred ponds like Naga theertha and Varaha theertha. Major rivers like Netravati and TungaBhadra originate from this mountainous region.
Kudremukh is also home to the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, which has contributed to the development of the town and township amidst the hills.

Barnawapara wildlife sanctuary

Chhattisgarh forest department successfully relocated four sub-adult wild buffaloes from Assam to Barnawapara wildlife sanctuary.
Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Mahasamund district, about 100 km from Raipur and 45 km from Mahasamund city.
The sanctuary is named after the forest villages of Bar and Nawapara and was established in 1976 under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Lifeline rivers Balmedhi, Jonk, and Mahanadi run along the sanctuary, with Balmedhi forming the western boundary and Jonk forming the northeastern boundary.
The sanctuary features undulating terrain with various low and high hillocks, and its vegetation includes Teak, Sal, and Mixed forest, supporting diverse wildlife such as Cheetal, Sambhar, Nilgai, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, and Wild Dogs.

Science and Technology

Calcium carbide

FSSAI urges action: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has called upon food commissioners to address the unauthorized use of artificial fruit ripening agents.
Calcium carbide overview: Calcium carbide is a reactive compound that releases acetylene gas and is commonly used in mining, metal industries, and acetylene gas production.
Artificial fruit ripening: Calcium carbide is employed to artificially ripen fruits by releasing acetylene gas, despite being prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011.
Health risks: The use of calcium carbide can have severe health consequences such as skin irritation, respiratory problems, and even cancer due to its highly toxic nature.
Warning from FSSAI: FSSAI has cautioned that the use of calcium carbide can lead to the formation of poisonous substances like arsenic and phosphorus.
Reasons for continued use: Despite its prohibition, calcium carbide remains popular for fruit ripening due to its low cost and convenience as a method.

PSLV C-55 mission

ISRO’s PSLV-C55 mission, scheduled for April 22, will launch Singapore’s TeLEOS-2 satellite for hotspot monitoring and air crash search, along with Lumelite-4 for technology demonstration.
PSLV is India’s third-generation launch vehicle equipped with liquid stages, allowing it to launch Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites into sun-synchronous orbits.
PSLV is an expendable medium-lift launch vehicle and has the capability to launch small satellites into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).
Notable payloads launched by PSLV include Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), and Astrosat.
PSLV-C55 will be the 57th flight and the 16th mission using the PSLV Core Alone configuration, featuring four stages with independent propulsion systems.
TeLEOS-2 is a Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite providing all-weather day and night coverage, while Lumelite-4 demonstrates the High-Performance Space-borne VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) for maritime safety.

Defense & Security

SLINEX-23

The 10th edition of IN-SLN bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-23 will be held in Colombo from 03-08 April 2023.
The exercise includes a Harbour Phase from 03-05 April 2023 and a Sea Phase from 06-08 April 2023.
Indian Navy’s INS Kiltan and INS Savitri will participate, while Sri Lanka Navy will be represented by SLNS Gajabahu and SLNS Sagara.
Maritime Patrol Aircraft, helicopters, and Special Forces from both sides will also take part in the exercise.
SLINEX aims to enhance interoperability, mutual understanding, and friendship between the navies through various events and exchanges.

Global Events & Summits

UN Democracy Fund

India placed George Soros’s NGO on a watchlist in 2016, indicating scrutiny of the organization’s activities.
The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) financially supports numerous projects worldwide connected to George Soros’s Open Society Foundation.
India ranks as the fourth-largest contributor to the UN Democracy Fund, highlighting its commitment to supporting democratic initiatives globally.
UNDEF, established in 2005, serves as a United Nations General Trust Fund, working to strengthen democratic governance in collaboration with governments.
UNDEF primarily funds civil society organizations, promoting human rights and inclusive participation in democratic processes, having supported over 880 projects in 130 countries. India has been a consistent supporter of UNDEF’s mission.

Chicago Convention

India retains FAA International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 1 status, meeting international standards for aviation safety oversight of the Chicago Convention, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Chicago Convention, drafted in 1944, established core principles for international air transport and led to the creation of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency overseeing the convention.
The ICAO, a United Nations agency established in 1944, sets standards and procedures for global air navigation. India is one of its 193 member countries, with headquarters in Montreal, Canada.
The Chicago Convention provides Nine freedoms of air, with the first five officially recognized by the ICAO. It promotes safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation worldwide.
One of the ICAO’s objectives is to foster planning and development of international air transport, ensuring safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation throughout the world.

Foreign Trade Policy 2023

The Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 was recently launched by the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, and it came into effect from April 1, 2023.
The FTP 2023 focuses on trust and partnership with exporters, aiming to facilitate ease of doing business through process re-engineering and automation.
The key approach of the policy is based on four pillars: Incentive to Remission, Export promotion through collaboration, Ease of doing business, and Emerging Areas.
The government aims to increase India’s overall exports to USD 2 trillion by 2030, with equal contributions from merchandise and services sectors.
The policy emphasizes process re-engineering, automation, and reduction in fee structures to make it easier for MSMEs and others to access export benefits.
Four new towns have been designated as Towns of Export Excellence (TEE), which will have priority access to export promotion funds and other benefits.
Exporter firms recognized with ‘status’ based on performance will be partners in capacity-building initiatives and encouraged to provide trade-related training.
The FTP aims to promote exports at the district level by building partnerships with state governments and developing grassroots trade ecosystems.
The policy also focuses on streamlining the SCOMET policy, facilitating e-commerce exports, and making changes to the EPCG and Advance Authorization schemes.

International Organizations & Reports

Global Food Policy report 2023

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has recently published a report called “Global Food Policy Report: Climate Change & Food Systems,” which highlights the potential impact of climate change on India’s hunger risk. According to the report, India’s vulnerability to hunger could rise by 23% by the year 2030 as a result of climate change.

India: India’s food production is projected to decrease by 16% by 2030 due to climate change, and the number of people at risk of hunger could increase by 23%. The number of Indians at risk of hunger is expected to rise from 73.9 million to 90.6 million by 2030, if climate change effects are considered.

Global:
- Global food production is projected to grow by about 60% by 2050 in the context of climate change, with faster growth in developing countries, especially in Africa.
- Meat production is expected to double in South Asia and West and Central Africa by 2030 and triple by 2050, while per capita consumption in developing countries remains lower than in developed countries.

Report and Findings:
- 1. The Global Food Policy Report highlights the impact of climate change on food systems, particularly in India, where hunger risk and food production could be significantly affected.
- 2. The report emphasizes the need for urgent reductions in meat and dairy consumption, alongside other GHG emission sources, to mitigate climate change. It also calls for investments in research, improved resource management, healthy diets, efficient value chains, and social protection programs.

Recommendations
- Increase investment in research and development for disruptive technologies related to irrigation systems and the cold chain, with at least $15 billion allocated to food systems in low- and middle-income countries.
- Improve management of land and water resources, finding a balance between increased productivity and reduced fossil fuel emissions.
- Prioritize healthy diets and sustainable food production by reducing consumption of processed foods and red meats.
- Enhance efficiency in value chains and promote free and open trade as part of climate-smart agricultural and food policies.
- Implement social protection programs to support poor rural populations dependent on agriculture and to mitigate the effects of climate change. Adequate financing is crucial for the transition to sustainable production and consumption, while improving livelihoods.

Global Issues & Developments

CARICOM India meet

The 4th India-CARICOM ministerial meeting was co-chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister and his Jamaican counterpart, discussing trade, climate change, and counterterrorism.
In 2019, Prime Minister Modi met with 14 leaders of CARICOM countries, announcing a USD 14 million grant for Community Development Projects (CDP) in CARICOM.
India has extended capacity building, developmental assistance, and medical aid worth INR 16 Crores to CARICOM countries, including assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
India provides higher education facilities for Caribbean students through the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation Programme (ITEC) and offers special courses for CARICOM diplomats.
India and CARICOM coordinate closely in multilateral fora, driven by shared positions on global issues and the presence of a large Indian diaspora in the region.
India’s political engagement with CARICOM began in 2003, culminating in the establishment of a Standing Joint Commission on Consultation, Cooperation

Miscellaneous

Twitter hateful conduct and deadnaming policy

Twitter has changed its hateful conduct policy, removing the prohibition on misgendering and deadnaming transgender individuals, which has sparked controversy.
The removal of protection for transgender individuals raises concerns about the safety of marginalized groups on the platform.
Twitter now only places warning labels on tweets that may violate rules against hateful conduct, instead of removing them entirely.
Critics argue that under Elon Musk’s leadership, Twitter has become less safe, with concerns about trolling, disinformation, and child sexual exploitation.
Deadnaming is the act of using a trans person’s birth name or previous name , which was used by the person prior to using the current name . This act invalidates their identity . It also discloses the person’s gender assigned at birth. and can lead to harassment, discrimination, and mental health issues.

Appendix: Important Dates & Events

1st April- April Fool’s Day , Odisha Foundation Day
2nd April- World Autism Awareness Day, International Fact-Checking Day
4 April- International Day of Mine Awareness, International Carrot Day, Mahavir Jayanti
5 April- National Maritime Day, International Day of Conscience
6 April- International Day of Sports For Development And Peace
7 April- World Health Day
10 April – World Homoeopathy Day (WHD), Siblings Day
11 April – National Safe Motherhood Day (NSMD), World Parkinson’s Day
13 April – Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
14 April- B.R. Ambedkar Remembrance Day
17 April – World Haemophilia Day
18 April- World Heritage Day
19 April – World Liver Day
21 April – National Civil Service Day
22 April- World Earth Day
23 April – World Book and Copyright Day, English Language Day
24 April – National Panchayati Raj Day, World Day For Animals in Laboratories
25 April – World Malaria Day
26 April – World Intellectual Property Day
27 April- World Tapir Day, World Design Day
28 April – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
29 April – International Dance Day, International Astronomy Day, International Sculpture Day
30 April – World Veterinary Day, Ayushman Bharat Diwas