Current Affairs 04 September 2024

CONTENTS

1. Global Migration and Religious Influence
2. Advancement in India’s Semiconductor Sector
3. De-hyphenating the production of Rice and Wheat
4. New Regulation in India’s Gold Market
5. Digital Bus initiative
6. Thanjavur Veena

Global Migration and Religious Influence

Context:

A recent report by the Pew Research Center, titled “The Religious Composition of the World’s Migrants,” draws from United Nations data and 270 censuses and surveys to analyze migration trends. The findings reveal that in 2020, over 280 million people, accounting for 3.6% of the global population, were classified as international migrants. The study emphasizes the significant impact of religion on migration dynamics, affecting reasons for emigration and the experiences within host countries.

Relevance:

GS III: Population and Associated Issues

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Key findings from the Report
2. Hindu Migration Patterns and Trends
3. Contributions of Diaspora Communities

Key findings from the Report

The key findings from the report regarding global migration patterns, particularly focusing on Indian demographics, are as follows:

• India’s Prominence in Global Migration: In 2020, India was recognized as the leading country for both Hindu emigrants and immigrants.
• Distribution of Hindu Population: There are 7.6 million Hindus from India living abroad, whereas about 3 million Hindus born in other countries are residing in India.
• Dominance of Christians in Global Migration: Christians form the largest group in the global migrant population, accounting for 47%.
• Religious Minorities and Migration from India:
  • Indian emigrants mainly come from religious minorities.
  • Christians, making up only 2% of India’s population, constitute 16% of its emigrants.
  • Muslims, who are 15% of India’s population, represent 33% of its emigrants.
• India as a Source for Muslim Migrants: India is the second-largest source of Muslim migrants globally, with significant numbers residing in the UAE (1.8 million), Saudi Arabia (1.3 million), and Oman (720,000).
• Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Migration Dynamics:
  • The population of Indian migrants in the GCC has surged by 277% since 1990.
  • In these regions, 75% of migrants are Muslims, while Hindus and Christians make up 11% and 14%, respectively.
  • The GCC hosts 9.9 million Indian migrants.
• Global Migration Growth: Between 1990 and 2020, the number of international migrants rose by 83%, which significantly surpasses the global population growth rate of 47%.
• Migration Distance: On average, migrants travel about 2,200 miles.
• Religious Alignment and Migration: There is a trend of migrants relocating to countries where the predominant religion matches that of the source country’s population. This pattern suggests that cultural and religious familiarity plays a crucial role in determining the choice of destination and integration.

Hindu Migration Patterns and Trends:

• Proportion of Hindu Migrants: Hindus represent 5% of all international migrants with 13 million living abroad as of 2020, lower than their global population share of 15%.
• Migration Distance: Hindu migrants travel longer than the average international migrant, covering distances averaging 3,100 miles.
• Regional Distribution:
  • 44% of Hindu migrants are in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • 24% are in the Middle East-North Africa.
  • 22% in North America, with smaller numbers in Europe and negligible presence in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Primary Sources: The majority (95%) come from the Asia-Pacific region, particularly from India which is the leading source and home to 94% of the global Hindu population.
• Other Sources: Bangladesh and Nepal also have significant Hindu migrant populations.

Key Migration Routes:

• India to the US: The most prominent route with 1.8 million Hindus, driven by opportunities for employment and higher education.
• Bangladesh to India: Involving 1.6 million Hindus, this route is influenced by historical, social, and economic factors.

Contributions of Diaspora Communities:

• Economic Contributions: In 2022, diaspora communities from developing countries sent USD 430 billion in remittances.
• Impact on GDP: Remittances form a major part of the GDP in countries like Tajikistan (37%), Nepal (30%), and others.
• Investments: Diaspora invests in home-country businesses and government bonds, enhancing financial capital.
• Knowledge and Skills Transfer: Diaspora members bring back skills, knowledge, and expertise which can improve education, business practices, and governance in their home countries.
• Business Support: They use their global contacts and understanding of local customs to aid home-country businesses, improving efficiency and expanding into new markets.
• Specific Example: Indian executives in US tech companies have been pivotal in promoting outsourcing to India, illustrating the practical impact of diaspora connections on home-country economic development.

-Source: The Hindu

Advancement in India’s Semiconductor Sector

Context:

The Indian union cabinet, led by Prime Minister Modi, recently sanctioned Kaynes Semicon’s initiative to establish a semiconductor facility in Gujarat, involving an investment of INR 3,300 crore. This project marks the fifth semiconductor unit and the fourth assembly unit to obtain Cabinet consent. It was authorized as part of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), aiming to boost India’s capabilities in semiconductor manufacturing.

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Intervention

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Overview of the Chip Assembly Plant in Gujarat:
2. What are Semiconductors?
3. About India Semiconductor Mission

Overview of the Chip Assembly Plant in Gujarat:

The establishment of a new semiconductor manufacturing unit in Sanand, Gujarat by Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd represents a significant advancement in India’s push to strengthen its semiconductor production capabilities. Here are the key details:

 Key Details

• The plant is located in Sanand, Gujarat, with an investment of ₹3,300 crore.
• The facility is set to produce 60 lakh chips per day.
• These chips will support a range of sectors including industrial, automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, and mobile phones.

India’s Semiconductor Ambitions:

• India aims to position itself alongside major semiconductor producing regions like the United States, Taiwan, and South Korea.
• Strategic Developments:
  • Tata Electronics Partnership: An $11 billion fabrication plant is being established in partnership with Taiwan’s Powerchip.
  • Other Notable Investments: Additional investments include three chip assembly plants in collaboration with Tatas, US-based Micron Technology, and Murugappa Group’s CG Power with Japan’s Renesas.
  • Further Proposals: A ₹78,000-crore fabrication plant by Israel’s Tower Semiconductor and a ₹4,000-crore assembly plant by Zoho are also in the pipeline.

What are Semiconductors?

• Any of a class of crystalline solids intermediate in electrical conductivity between a conductor and an insulator.
• Semiconductors are employed in the manufacture of various kinds of electronic devices, including diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits. Such devices have found wide application because of their compactness, reliability, power efficiency, and low cost.
• As discrete components, they have found use in power devices, optical sensors, and light emitters, including solid-state lasers.

About India Semiconductor Mission

• Under the administration of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, the ISM was launched in 2021 with a total budgetary commitment of Rs76,000 crore.
• It’s part of the country’s overall strategy for developing a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem.
• The program’s goal is to help companies invest in semiconductors, display production, and the design ecosystem.
• ISM will serve as the nodal agency for effective, coherent, and easy implementation of the schemes, and will be led by worldwide professionals in the Semiconductor and Display industry.

Vision:

• To build a vibrant semiconductor and display design and innovation ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.

Significance:

• ISM is critical for organising efforts to promote the semiconductor and display industries in a more systematic, focused, and comprehensive way.
• It will develop a long-term strategy for developing the country’s semiconductor and display production capabilities, as well as the semiconductor design ecosystem.
• Secure semiconductors and display supply chains, including raw materials, speciality chemicals, gases, and manufacturing equipment, will help to accelerate the adoption of trusted electronics.
• It will help the Indian semiconductor design sector flourish in multiple ways by providing necessary support in the form of EDA tools, foundry services, and other appropriate methods for early-stage businesses.
• It will also promote and facilitate indigenous Intellectual Property (IP) generation and encourage, enable and incentivize Transfer of Technologies (ToT).
• ISM will enable collaborations and partnership programs with national and international agencies, industries and institutions for catalyzing collaborative research, commercialization and skill development

-Source: Indian Express

De-hyphenating the production of Rice and Wheat

Context:

Recently, the policymakers called for de-hyphenating the production of rice and wheat due to changes in their production and consumption. While rice production has experienced a surplus, wheat production has not kept pace with rising demand, leading to a significant shortfall. This shift in agricultural focus aims to address the imbalance and optimize resource allocation between these two staple crops.

Relevance:

GS III: Agriculture

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Differences in Rice and Wheat Production in India
2. Recommendations for Addressing Rice and Wheat Production Discrepancies

Differences in Rice and Wheat Production in India

Rice Surplus and Wheat Deficit:

• In recent years, India has seen varying levels of surplus and deficit in rice and wheat respectively. While rice exports were 21.21 million tonnes in 2021-22 and slightly higher in 2022-23, they dropped to 16.36 million tonnes in 2023-24. Concurrently, rice stockpiles reached a record 45.48 million tonnes by August 2024. Conversely, wheat exports sharply decreased from 7.24 million tonnes in 2021-22 to just 0.19 million tonnes in 2023-24, with stock levels being notably low at 26.81 million tonnes in August 2024.

Geographical Production Variations:

• Rice: Grown in both the kharif and rabi seasons with some regions like West Bengal cultivating three annual cycles: aus, aman, and boro. Rice production is widespread across 16 Indian states each contributing over 2 million tonnes.
• Wheat: Primarily cultivated during the rabi season with significant production concentrated in just eight states, with the major four (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana) providing 76% of the output.

Production Challenges:

• Rice: The main constraint is water availability, yet improvements in irrigation and supportive policies like minimum support prices have boosted production in states like Telangana.
• Wheat: Increasingly impacted by climate change, wheat production faces challenges such as shorter and warmer winters and varying sowing period temperatures, which have led to reduced yields and lower stock levels.

Consumption Patterns:

• Wheat: Data from the 2022-23 household expenditure survey reveals that the average monthly wheat consumption per capita stands at 3.9 kg in rural areas and 3.6 kg in urban settings, correlating to about 65 million tonnes annually for India’s population. Wheat’s use in processed forms like flour and semolina is expected to grow with urbanization and rising incomes.
• Rice: There has not been a significant change in rice consumption trends across India, indicating stable dietary preferences without substantial shifts towards rice-based convenience foods.

Recommendations for Addressing Rice and Wheat Production Discrepancies

• Wheat Strategy Adjustments:
  • Short-Term Concerns: With increasing consumption and climatic and geographical challenges, there’s a potential for India to become a wheat importer.
  • Long-Term Focus: Emphasis should be placed on improving per-acre wheat yields and developing climate-resilient wheat varieties.
• Rice Production Policy:
  • Balancing Production and Consumption: Current domestic consumption of rice is lagging behind production levels.
  • Export Policies: Recommend the removal of the export ban on white non-basmati rice and abolishing the 20% duty on parboiled non-basmati and the USD 950 per tonne minimum price for basmati rice to adjust market flows.
• Encouraging Rice Consumption:
  • Innovative Food Processing: There is a need to expand rice consumption through innovative food products like breakfast cereals, soups, baby foods, and packaged mixes, enhancing its appeal and utility in the domestic market.
• Policy De-hyphenation:
  • Separate Strategies for Rice and Wheat: Advocate for distinct and separate policies for rice and wheat due to their unique challenges and market dynamics, ensuring tailored approaches for each cereal type.

-Source: The Hindu

New Regulation in India’s Gold Market

Context:

India is poised to introduce mandatory hallmarking for 9-karat gold jewelry. This regulatory change is driven by the increasing consumer demand for more affordable gold options. The hallmarking requirement is intended to guarantee the quality of the jewelry and safeguard consumers within the rapidly expanding gold market.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Necessity for Mandatory Hallmarking of 9KT Gold
2. Hallmarking Explained

Necessity for Mandatory Hallmarking of 9KT Gold

• Increasing Demand: The rising popularity of more affordable gold options, such as 9KT gold, has significantly boosted its demand due to its lower cost compared to higher-purity gold.
• Purity Verification: Gold purity is gauged in karats. Pure gold is 24 karats, indicating no alloy mixture. As karat levels drop, the alloy content, like copper and silver, increases. For example, 18 karat gold comprises 75% gold.
• Crime Prevention: There’s been a noticeable uptick in chain-snatching incidents, with a reported 32.54% rise in 2022 by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), underscoring the need for secure and identifiable gold products.
• Traceability: Hallmarks serve as unique identifiers for each jewelry piece, simplifying the tracing of stolen items, which deters theft due to the ease of tracking marked items.

Hallmarking Explained

• Hallmarking records the metal content of jewelry, ensuring its purity.
• It compels manufacturers to adhere to established legal standards for gold and silver, safeguarded under the Indian Hallmarking Scheme.
• A hallmark on jewelry remains valid throughout the lifetime of the item.
• All hallmarked items must carry a 6-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number, as mandated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
• The HUID number boosts buyer assurance by enhancing the traceability of gold products.
• Consumers can verify the authenticity of their gold items using the HUID number through the BIS CARE app, which provides detailed information on the jeweler, purity, and hallmarking center.
• If a hallmarked item is proven to be of lesser purity than advertised, the buyer is entitled to compensation according to the BIS Rules of 2018.
• Hallmarking not only aids in preventing fraud but also ensures that consumers are protected from counterfeit products.

-Source: The Hindu

Digital Bus initiative

Context:

The Digital Bus initiative has so far impacted over three lakh beneficiaries, spread across several states across India.

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Digital Bus Initiative

• This initiative is a collaborative effort between the National Digital India Mission and the NIIT Foundation, launched in 2017. Its primary goal is to extend technological access to remote regions, stimulate innovation, and open new opportunities for every community to prosper in the digital era.

Objectives of the Digital Bus

• Bridging the Digital Gap: Aims to lessen the digital divide in remote locations.
• Linkages to Government Initiatives: Connects residents with various government programs and initiatives.
• Enhancing Learning Engagement: Focuses on boosting interest in learning.
• Multidisciplinary Educational Approach: Introduces a comprehensive educational strategy.
• Fostering Collaborative Learning: Promotes learning in collaboration.
• Skill Development: Focuses on the development of interpersonal skills.
• Technological Awareness: Raises awareness about technology among rural populations.
• Equality in Opportunities: Ensures equal opportunities for rural youth.

Features of the Digital Bus

• The buses are solar-powered, equipped with 5G technology, and serve as fully equipped classrooms featuring computers, internet access, and video capabilities.
• Cost-Free Educational Resources: Offers pre-installed e-courses at no charge.

Educational Focus

• The courses primarily cover basic digital skills such as email usage, internet navigation, and other digital applications.
• Provides a career-oriented program to assist participants in finding employment opportunities in nearby cities or towns.

-Source: The Hindu

Thanjavur Veena

Context:

Thanjavur Veena is the first musical instrument in the country to get the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Relevance:

GS I: Art and Culture

Thanjavur Veena

• The Thanjavur veena is a traditional Indian string instrument renowned for its distinctive design and craftsmanship.
• It comes in two primary forms: the “Ekantha Veena” and the “Sada Veena.” The Ekantha Veena is carved from a single wood block, whereas the Sada Veena is assembled from three separate pieces—resonator, neck, and head.

Construction Details

• This instrument is typically crafted from the wood of the Jack Fruit Tree. The wood undergoes extensive testing to ensure its quality before it is used in the making of a veena.
• The veena is adorned with 24 fixed frets, enabling musicians to play a wide range of ragas.
• Creating a veena involves meticulous processes including cutting, carving, and assembling the wood, which can take between 15 to 20 days to complete.

Types of Veena

• Varieties: The veena family includes several types, notably the Rudra veena and Vichitra veena, popular in Hindustani classical music, and the Saraswati veena and Chitra veena, which are staples in Carnatic music.
• Unique Craftsmanship: Thanjavur is the exclusive manufacturing hub for the Saraswati veena, an instrument often depicted with Saraswathi, the goddess of learning and arts.

-Source: The Hindu