Contents:
- India and US sign agreement to strengthen supply chain for critical minerals
- Pradhan Mantri-Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme
- External Affairs Minister to attend Heads of Government (HoG) meeting of SCO
- Maldives to hold delegation-level talks with India
- WHO approves Mpox diagnostic test for emergency use
- S-400 surface-to-air missile system
India and US sign agreement to strengthen supply chain for critical minerals
Context:
India and the US signed an agreement to strengthen the critical mineral supply chain.
Relevance:
GS III- Indian Economy
Dimensions of the Article:
- Details
- What are Critical Minerals?
- Why is this resource critical?
- What is China ‘threat’?
- What are countries around the world doing about it?
Details:
- Amid the growing concern over China’s control of critical minerals, India and the US signed an agreement to strengthen the critical mineral supply chain.
- It aims to leverage the two countries’ complementary strengths to enhance resilience in the critical minerals sector.
- China dominates the clean tech supply chain, particularly in solar equipment and electric vehicle manufacturing.
- It has imposed a series of curbs like restrictions on exports of gallium and germanium—products widely used in the semiconductor industry, ban on exporting technology for manufacturing rare earth magnets, as well as technology to extract and separate critical materials.
What are Critical Minerals?
- Critical minerals are elements that are the building blocks of essential modern-day technologies, and are at risk of supply chain disruptions.
- These minerals are now used everywhere from making mobile phones, computers to batteries, electric vehicles and green technologies like solar panels and wind turbines.
- Based on their individual needs and strategic considerations, different countries create their own lists.
- However, such lists mostly include graphite, lithium and cobalt, which are used for making EV batteries; rare earths that are used for making magnets and silicon which is a key mineral for making computer chips and solar panels.
- Aerospace, communications and defence industries also rely on several such minerals as they are used in manufacturing fighter jets, drones, radio sets and other critical equipment.
Why is this resource critical?
- As countries around the world scale up their transition towards clean energy and digital economy, these critical resources are key to the ecosystem that fuels this change.
- Any supply shock can severely imperil the economy and strategic autonomy of a country over-dependent on others to procure critical minerals.
- But these supply risks exist due to rare availability, growing demand and complex processing value chain.
- Many times the complex supply chain can be disrupted by hostile regimes, or due to politically unstable regions.
- They are critical as the world is fast shifting from a fossil fuel-intensive to a mineral-intensive energy system.
What is China ‘threat’?
- China is the world’s largest producer of 16 critical minerals.
- China alone is responsible for some 70% and 60% of global production of cobalt and rare earth elements, respectively, in 2019.
- The level of concentration is even higher for processing operations, where China has a strong presence across the board.
- China’s share of refining is around 35% for nickel, 50-70% for lithium and cobalt, and nearly 90% for rare earth elements.
- It also controls cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, from where 70% of this mineral is sourced.
- In 2010, China suspended rare earth exports to Japan for two months over a territorial dispute.
What are countries around the world doing about it?
- US has shifted its focus on expanding domestic mining, production, processing, and recycling of critical minerals and materials.
- India has set up KABIL or the Khanij Bidesh India Limited, a joint venture of three public sector companies, to “ensure a consistent supply of critical and strategic minerals to the Indian domestic market”.
- Australia’s Critical Minerals Facilitation Office (CMFO) and KABIL had recently signed an MoU aimed at ensuring reliable supply of critical minerals to India.
- The UK has unveiled its new Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre to study the future demand for and supply of these minerals.
-Source: Indian Express
Pradhan Mantri-Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme
Context:
The prime Minister of India to release the 18th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri-Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme in Washim, Maharashtra.
- Over 9.4 crore farmers across the country will receive the instalment of ₹2,000 in their accounts and the Centre will spend more than ₹20,000 crore for this.
Relevance:
GS II- Welfare Schemes
Dimensions of the Article:
- About PM KISAN
- Some of the categories of beneficiaries who are NOT eligible for benefit under this scheme are:
About PM KISAN
Nodal: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme is a Central Sector Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme.
- Under the scheme an income support of 6,000/- per year in three equal installments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares.
- The Scheme initially provided income support to all Small and Marginal Farmers’ families across the country, holding cultivable land upto 2 hectares.
- Its ambit was later expanded to cover all farmer families in the country irrespective of the size of their land holdings.
- Definition of family for the scheme is husband, wife and minor children.
- State Government and UT administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines.
- The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
- There are various Exclusion Categories for the scheme.
Some of the categories of beneficiaries who are NOT eligible for benefit under this scheme are:
- Any institutional land-holders.
- The farmer as well as any member of the family belonging to the following categories:
- Former and present holders of constitutional posts
- Former and present Ministers/ State Ministers
- Former or present members of LokSabha/ RajyaSabha/ State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councils
- Former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations
- Former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats.
- Any serving or retired officers as well as employees under the Central/ State Government Ministries /Offices/Departments.
- All retired pensioners who get a monthly pension of Rs.10,000/-or more and belonging to the above category.
- Any individual who paid their income tax in the last assessment year is not eligible under this scheme.
- Professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects registered with Professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practices.
-Source: The Hindu
External Affairs Minister to attend Heads of Government (HoG) meeting of SCO
Context:
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to Islamabad to attend the Heads of Government (HoG) meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on October 15 and 16.
Relevance:
GS II- International Relations
What is the SCO?
- Founded in June 2001, it was built on the ‘Shanghai Five’, the grouping which consisted of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
- They came together in the post-Soviet era in 1996, in order to work on regional security, reduction of border troops and terrorism.
- They endowed particular focus on ‘conflict resolution’, given its early success between China and Russia, and then within the Central Asian Republics.
- Some of their prominent outcomes in this arena entail an ‘Agreement on Confidence-Building in the Military Field Along the Border Areas’ (in 1996) between China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which led to an agreement on the mutual reduction of military forces on their common borders in 1997.
- It would also pitch in to help the Central Asian countries resolve some of their boundary disputes.
- In 2001, the ‘Shanghai Five’ inducted Uzbekistan into its fold and named it the SCO, outlining its principles in a charter that promoted what was called the “Shanghai spirit” of cooperation.
- The precise assertion, combined with some of the member states’ profiles, of building a “new international political and economic order” has often led to it being placed as a counter to treaties and groupings of the West, particularly North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Member states
- India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
- The SCO also has four observer states — Afghanistan, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia — of which Iran and Belarus are now moving towards full membership.
Main goals
- Strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states;
- Promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, economy, research and technology, and culture.
Focus areas:
- Education, energy, transport, tourism and environmental protection.
- It also calls for joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.
Organizational structure of SCO
The SCO secretariat has two permanent bodies —
- SCO Secretariat based in Beijing
- Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent.
Other than this, the grouping consists of
Heads of State Council (HSC):
- It is the supreme decision-making body of the organisation.
- It meets annually to adopt decisions and guidelines on all important matters relevant to the organisation.
Heads of Government Council (HGC):
- The HGC (mainly including Prime Ministers) also meets annually to zero in on the organisation’s priority areas and multilateral cooperation strategy.
- It also endeavours to resolve present economic and cooperation issues alongside approving the organisation’s annual budget.
Foreign Ministers Council:
- The Foreign Ministers Council considers issues pertaining to the day-to-day activities of the organisation, charting HSC meetings and consultations on international problems within the organisation and if required, makes statements on behalf of the SCO.
-Source: The Hindu, The Indian Express
Maldives to hold delegation-level talks with India
Context:
The President of the Maldives, Dr. Mohammed Muizzu, will visit India for five-days from October 6 to 10.
- President Muizzu will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.”
- Both sides are expected to sign a number of agreements during the visit.
Relevance:
GS-2-
- Bilateral Groupings and Agreements
- Regional Groupings
- Effect of Policies and Politics of Countries on India’s Interests
- Indian Diaspora
Dimensions of the Article:
- An Overview of the Relation Between India and Maldives
- Greater Male Connectivity Project
- The Strained Relationship Between India and Maldives
- Way Forward
- Conclusion:
An Overview of the Relation Between India and Maldives:
Security Partnership:
- Collaboration in defense encompasses Joint Exercises such as “Ekuverin,” “Dosti,” “Ekatha,” and “Operation Shield” (commenced in 2021).
- India plays a crucial role in meeting approximately 70% of the Maldivian National Defence Force’s (MNDF) defense training needs.
- Additionally, India and the Maldives have signed a contract for the Addu reclamation and shore protection project, including the construction of a drug detoxification and rehabilitation center in Addu, supported by India.
- This center is part of India’s 20 high-impact community development projects covering healthcare, education, fisheries, tourism, sports, and culture.
Economic Cooperation:
- India supports the Maldivian economy, primarily driven by tourism. Afcons, an Indian company, signed a contract for the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) in August 2021, the largest infrastructure project in the Maldives. In 2021, India became the third-largest trade partner for the Maldives.
- The RBI and Maldives Monetary Authority signed a Bilateral USD Currency Swap Agreement in July 2019. However, the India-Maldives relationship faced challenges with the Maldives’ Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) with China in 2017.
Infrastructure Projects:
- Under an Indian credit line, the Hanimaadhoo International Airport Development project is adding a new terminal to accommodate 1.3 million passengers annually.
- The National College for Policing and Law Enforcement (NCPLE), inaugurated in 2022, is India’s largest grant project in the Maldives.
Greater Male Connectivity Project:
This project involves a 6.74 km-long bridge and causeway link between Male and nearby islands, funded by a USD 100 million grant and a USD 400 million Line of Credit (LOC) from India. It represents the most significant infrastructure undertaking in the Maldives.
Different Operations in Maldives:
Historically, India has engaged in operations to assist Maldives, including Operation Cactus in 1988, Operation Neer in 2014 addressing a drinking water crisis, and Operation Sanjeevani in response to COVID-19.
The Strained Relationship Between India and Maldives:
Current Government’s Relation with India:
- Despite the immediate fallout, the underlying reasons for the strained relationship go beyond the tweets and could have a broader impact on India-Maldives relations and the regional dynamics, stemming from the change in government in Male.
- President Muizzu ascended to power through the PPM’s “India Out” campaign. Despite India’s disappointment with the victory of ‘anti-Indian forces,’ the Indian government sent a Minister to Muizzu’s swearing-in, and there was a Modi-Muizzu meeting at the COP28.
- However, Muizzu’s choice of Turkey as his first bilateral destination and his current visit to China mark a departure from the tradition of making India the first priority. Even President Yameen, who initiated the “India Out” movement and strengthened ties with Beijing, visited Delhi first in 2014.
- Muizzu continues to press India on the withdrawal of its military personnel, despite India’s clarifications regarding their role.
Chinese Infrastructure Investments:
Maldives has received substantial Chinese infrastructure investments as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including ports, airports, bridges, and critical infrastructure under the “String of Pearls” initiative.
Shift in Alliances:
China’s influence in Maldives, marked by significant investments, has led to a departure from its traditional alignment with India, raising concerns in India about China’s expanding presence in the region.
India’s Concerns:
India is apprehensive about China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean, considering the development of Chinese-controlled ports and military facilities in countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Maldives as potential challenges to regional security.
Way Forward:
- Amidst the calls for boycotts and the surge in hypernationalistic rhetoric, both Delhi and Male should step back and reevaluate their responses.
- Mr. Muizzu cannot afford to alienate India, given its geographical proximity, economic strength, and historical role as a significant security provider in the Indian Ocean—a role the Maldives has traditionally depended on.
- Similarly, India should recognize the futility of exerting pressure on a much smaller neighbor, regardless of the provocation’s severity.
Conclusion:
The positive developments in the relationship between the two governments over the past few years underscore the benefits of a stronger partnership: India’s investments in infrastructure and development projects in the islands, a robust strategic alliance, support during the COVID-19 pandemic, and collaboration on the international stage. It is crucial for India to ensure that domestic political changes in neighboring countries do not alter the fundamental structure of bilateral ties or disrupt regional stability.
-Source: The Hindu, The Indian Express
WHO approves Mpox diagnostic test for emergency use
Context:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the first Mpox in vitro diagnostic under its Emergency Use Listing procedure.
- This step will be pivotal in expanding diagnostic capacity in countries facing Mpox outbreaks, where the need for quick and accurate testing has risen sharply.
- Early diagnosis of Mpox enables timely treatment and care, and control of the virus.
Relevance:
GS II-Health
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Monkeypox virus
- Zoonotic disease
- Symptoms and treatment
About Monkeypox virus
- The monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus, which is a genus of viruses that also includes the variola virus, which causes smallpox, and vaccinia virus, which was used in the smallpox vaccine.
- Monkeypox causes symptoms similar to smallpox, although they are less severe.
- While vaccination eradicated smallpox worldwide in 1980, monkeypox continues to occur in a swathe of countries in Central and West Africa, and has on occasion showed up elsewhere.
- According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), two distinct clade are identified: the West African clade and the Congo Basin clade, also known as the Central African clade.
Zoonotic disease
- Monkeypox is a zoonosis, that is, a disease that is transmitted from infected animals to humans.
- According to the WHO, cases occur close to tropical rainforests inhabited by animals that carry the virus.
- Monkeypox virus infection has been detected in squirrels, Gambian poached rats, dormice, and some species of monkeys.
- Human-to-human transmission is, however, limited — the longest documented chain of transmission is six generations, meaning the last person to be infected in this chain was six links away from the original sick person, the WHO says.
Transmission:
- Transmission, when it occurs, can be through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.
Symptoms and treatment
- According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monkeypox begins with a fever, headache, muscle aches, back ache, and exhaustion.
- It also causes the lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy), which smallpox does not.
- The WHO underlines that it is important to not confuse monkeypox with chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, syphilis and medication-associated allergies.
- The incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkeypox is usually 7-14 days but can range from 5-21 days.
- Usually within a day to 3 days of the onset of fever, the patient develops a rash that begins on the face and spreads to other parts of the body.
- The skin eruption stage can last between 2 and 4 weeks, during which the lesions harden and become painful, fill up first with a clear fluid and then pus, and then develop scabs or crusts.
- According to the WHO, the proportion of patients who die has varied between 0 and 11% in documented cases, and has been higher among young children.
Treatment:
- There is no safe, proven treatment for monkeypox yet.
- The WHO recommends supportive treatment depending on the symptoms.
- Awareness is important for prevention and control of the infection.
-Source: The Hindu
S-400 surface-to-air missile system
Context:
The Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh recently said that there has been a delay in S-400 surface-to-air missile system units delivery due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Russia has promised to deliver the remaining two of the five S-400 units to India next year.
- India has already operationalised and deployed the three units of S-400 missile systems received by it.
Relevance:
GS III: Defence
Dimensions of the Article:
- About S-400 Air Defence Missile System
About S-400 Air Defence Missile System:
- The S-400 Air Defence Missile System is a highly advanced mobile surface-to-air missile system developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau of Russia.
- It is known as the S-400 Triumf in Russia and NATO refers to it as the SA-21 Growler.
Here are its key features:
- Functionality: The S-400 is designed to provide air defense against a wide range of threats, including aircraft, ballistic missiles, and airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft.
- Simultaneous Tracking: One of its remarkable features is its ability to simultaneously track and engage multiple incoming targets, thanks to its advanced radar and control systems.
- Development and Deployment: The system entered service in April 2007, with the first combat deployment in August 2007. It represents a significant advancement in air defense technology.
- India’s Acquisition: In October 2018, India signed a substantial deal worth $5.5 billion with Russia to acquire five S-400 systems, aiming to enhance its air defense capabilities.
- Missile Capabilities: The S-400 system is equipped with multiple missile types:
- Long-range: It can engage targets up to 400 km and 250 km away.
- Medium-range: It can target threats at distances of 120 km.
- Short-range: It can engage incoming objects within 40 km.
- Simultaneous Engagement: The system is capable of simultaneously engaging up to 36 different targets, making it highly effective in complex and dense threat environments.
- Radar and Control Systems: The S-400 is a complex of radars, control systems, and various types of missiles. Its radar can detect and track targets at long distances, providing early warnings and target identification.
- Automated System: The system is highly automated. Once a target is detected and identified, it is handed over to manned anti-aircraft missile systems within the complex for launching counterattacks.
-Source: The Indian Express, Times of India
