G20 MACS meeting in Varanasi to feature the MAHARISHI Initiative.

• The G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) is scheduled to take place in Varanasi from 17 to 19 April.
• The meeting’s theme is Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems for Healthy People and Planet, in line with India’s G20 presidency theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”
• Experts will discuss various topics such as food and nutrition security, resilience to climate change, One Health approaches, digital agriculture, and public-private partnerships for research, education, and extension.
• The meeting will feature the MAHARISHI Initiative, which aims to promote research and awareness about agro-biodiversity, food security, and nutrition.
• The MAHARISHI Initiative is in line with the International Year of Millets 2023.

Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train on Ambedkar Circuit Flagged Off

• Launch of Special Tourist Train: On the occasion of the 132nd birth anniversary of social reformer BR Ambedkar, a special tourist train named Bharat Gaurav has been launched from New Delhi.
• Purpose of the Tourist Train: The Bharat Gaurav train will take passengers to various cities associated with BR Ambedkar across the country.
• Flagging Off the Train: The train was flagged off from the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station by Union Minister of Tourism G Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar.
• Tourist Train Route: The tour will last for seven nights and eight days, covering important sites in Maharashtra and Bihar as part of the Ambedkar Circuit.
• Significance: The tour aims to promote tourism to important sites related to BR Ambedkar and educate people about his life and legacy.

As Earth warms, more ‘flash droughts’ will suck soil and plants dry

• According to a paper published recently in Nature Communications, India is a hotspot for flash droughts and this could have major implications for the country’s crop production.

Flash Drought

• Flash drought refers to relatively short periods of warm surface temperature and anomalously low and rapid decreasing soil moisture (SM).

Characteristics

• Flash droughts are characterized by rapid intensification of drought to severe levels over large areas, triggered by anomalously high temperatures (heatwave flash drought) or lack of precipitation (precipitation-deficit flash droughts), or both.

 How is it different from Conventional Drought?

• What makes flash drought unique from conventional drought development is a lack of rainfall coupled with increased evapotranspiration.
• Evapotranspiration is the combination of evaporation from the land surface and transpiration from vegetation. Both of these processes act to transfer water from the land surface to the atmosphere.
• These processes are critical in flash drought development, as enhanced evapotranspiration with a lack of rainfall can quickly deplete soil moisture and lead to devastating impacts on agriculture and ecosystems.

Drivers of Flash Drought

• Global warming
• Precipitation deficit
• Failed Monsoon
• Amplification of evaporative demand
• High precipitation variability
• Oscillation of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ):
• Anticyclones
• Over-exploitation of groundwater.
• Sub-optimum conservation of surface water.
• Abandoning of Traditional water harvesting systems.
• Unsustainable agricultural practices.
• Excessive use of High Yielding Seeds (HYV) that require water.
• Lack of water storage structures

Impact

• These fast-evolving droughts cause large-scale agricultural losses, expansive wildfires, and challenges for seasonal and sub-seasonal climate predictions.

• Increased farm distress.
• Increased budgetary pressures.
• ‘Multiplier effect’ on the economy: Droughts cost 2-5 percent of India’s GDP.
• Low domestic production (especially Agro-Based Industries).
• Unfair Business Practices
• Reduced availability of drinking water
• Deforestation, wildfires and increase desertification.
• Stress on endangered species and cause loss of biodiversity.
• Water conflicts.
• Social Tension.
• Intensification of household food insecurity.
• Loss of livelihood in the agricultural sector.

Flash Drought Stress Index, or, FDSI

• FDSI is an index for flash drought monitoring by leveraging the footprint-scale thresholds of soil hydrologic regimes (energy-limited wet phase, moisture-limited transitional, and dry phase) and land-atmospheric coupling strength derived from NASA’s SMAP satellite.
• There are two complementary indices based on SMAP soil moisture for measuring the severity and the rate of intensification of drought, namely, Soil Moisture Stress (SMS) and Relative Rate of Drydown (RRD), SMS and RRD are non-linearly combined to provide FDSI (Flash Drought Stress Index) ─ a composite indicator used for global flash drought monitoring.
• FDSI can be formulated with a relatively short observational record of soil moisture (as opposed to climatology length observations).
• It is sensitive to changing land-surface heterogeneity, land-atmospheric interactions, and evolving meteorological anomalies.
• FDSI is extensively validated globally across multiple timescales (daily, weekly, and monthly) using a suite of vegetation and meteorological drought indices.

Findings of the new study

• Flash drought hotspots exist over Brazil, the Sahel, the Great Rift Valley with local hotspots over the central United States, southwestern Russia, and northeastern China.

• By the end of the 21st century, the frequency of concurrent hot and dry extremes in India will rise by about five-fold. This can cause approximately a seven-fold increase in flash droughts

Monsoon season Flash Drought

• India could experience more flash droughts during the monsoon season than the non-monsoon season.
• Though soil moisture is replenished during the summer monsoon, a break in the monsoon along with high temperatures can quickly deplete the soil moisture. This rapid depletion of soil moisture results in flash droughts during the monsoon season.
• About 10 percent–15 percent of rice and maize grown area in each year is affected by flash droughts during the monsoon season in India. Flash droughts during the monsoon season in India can directly affect crop production and indirectly pose challenges to meeting increased irrigation water demands.

Impact

• If a multi-week period of rapid drought development occurs, the agricultural sector can experience substantial economic losses and environments become more favorable for wildfire and heatwave development.

NHAI Enables FASTag Payments at Forest Entry Points

• Agreement between Tiger Reserve Authorities and NHAI: The authorities of the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve and NHAI's subsidiary, Indian Highways Management Company, have signed an MoU to streamline the entry process for vehicles into the forest area.
• Implementation of FASTag-based Payment System: The MoU will enable the implementation of a FASTag-based payment system at forest entry points.
• Purpose of the Initiative: The initiative aims to facilitate the collection of the Ecosystem Management Coordination fee via FASTag at various entrance points of the Tiger reserve, providing a seamless and efficient entry process for vehicles.
• FASTag System: The FASTag system utilizes RFID technology to facilitate automatic toll payments at toll plazas and is mandatory for all four-wheelers and heavier vehicles across India.
• Benefits of FASTag-based Payments: Implementing FASTag-based payments at forest entry points will help visitors avoid queues and delays, promoting sustainable tourism and protecting natural resources by reducing vehicular emissions at forest entry points.
• Significance: This partnership between the Indian Highways Management Company Limited of NHAI and the forest department is an important step towards digitizing payment systems in India and promoting sustainable tourism practices.

12th Session of India-Spain Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation in New Delhi.

• The 12th Session of the India-Spain Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) was held on April 13.
• The two sides discussed various issues related to economic cooperation between India and Spain.
• The Indian and Spanish governments have agreed to strengthen their collaboration in sectors such as renewable energy, shipping, ports, tourism, infrastructure, food processing, pharmaceuticals, and defense.
• Market access was a key topic of discussion, and both sides agreed to hold bilateral discussions to find solutions to the challenges faced by their exporters.
• The joint commission also discussed the ongoing negotiations of the India-European Union (EU) free trade agreement.
• India and Spain expressed optimism about making substantial progress in the negotiations during the Spanish Presidency of the EU, which is set to take place from July to December 2023.

India-EU trade pact to promote economic ties: CII.

• The potential signing of a free trade agreement between India and the European Union (EU) is seen as positive for enhancing their economic ties.
• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has emphasized the benefits of such an agreement, including increased trade and investment opportunities.
• The CII's Vice President stated that this agreement could further strengthen the India-Italy relationship.
• Negotiations for the India-EU free trade agreement have been ongoing for several years, with both sides addressing issues related to market access and intellectual property Arights.
• The potential benefits of the agreement are significant, but it remains to be seen if negotiations will result in a mutually beneficial deal.

PM Modi launches railway projects, methanol plant in Assam.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Guwahati and unveiled various railway projects across the Northeast region.
• He also inaugurated a methanol plant and laid the foundation stone for a bridge over the Brahmaputra river.
• Five railway works were virtually inaugurated from the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium.
• The newly launched railway projects include Digaru-Lumding and Gauripur-Abhayapuri sections, as well as the doubling of tracks between New Bongaigaon and Dhup Dhara.
• Modi also launched the electrification of the Raninagar-Jalpaiguri-Guwahati, Senchoa-Silghat, and Senchoa-Mairabari sections.
• The estimated cost of these projects is Rs 7,300 crore.

Supreme Court Collegium sets precedent; recommends retired district judge for appointment as MP HC judge

The collegium of the Supreme Court has recommended that a former district judge be appointed as a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

• The collegium elaborates on its recommendation of the Judge "On the date of the vacancy against which his name was recommended, he was 58 and thus qualifies with reference to the prescribed age criterion."
• The collegium recommended his appointment as HC judge based on his "legitimate expectation" and flawless career track record.

Not the 1st Time

• In the past, only two people — Justices Fathima Beevi and Bahrul Islam — were appointed to the Supreme Court months after retiring from the High Court.

Adhoc Judges

• Adhoc judges are temporary judges who are appointed for a fixed term or a specific case.
• They are usually retired judges or senior lawyers with experience and expertise in the relevant field of law.
• The main objective of appointing ad-hoc judges is to reduce the pendency of cases and to ensure the speedy disposal of justice.

Need for ad-hoc Judges

• India is a country with a large population and a complex legal system. The demand for justice often exceeds the supply of judges, leading to a huge backlog of cases in the courts.
• According to the latest data from the National Judicial Data Grid, as of April 2021, there are over 4.5 crore pending cases in various courts across the country, out of which more than 57 lahks are in the High Courts.
• To address the problem of pendency and efficiency, the Constitution of India provides for a mechanism to appoint ad-hoc judges in the High Court under Article 224A.

Appointment

• Article 224A empowers the Chief Justice of a High Court, with the previous consent of the President, to request any person who has held the office of a judge of that court or any other High Court to sit and act as a judge of that court for a temporary period.
• Such ad-hoc judges enjoy all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges of a regular judge, but are not deemed to be a judge of that court for any other purpose.

Objectives

• The main objective of appointing ad-hoc judges is to clear the arrears of old and urgent cases in the High Courts, especially when there are vacancies in the regular judicial strength or when there is a surge in litigation due to unforeseen circumstances.
• Adhoc judges can also help in dealing with specialized or complex cases that require specific expertise or experience.

Supreme Court Guidelines

• The apex court has suggested that ad-hoc judges should be appointed only when the pendency of cases in a High Court exceeds a certain threshold, say 10 years, and when all efforts to fill up the regular vacancies have failed.
• The court has also laid down criteria for selecting suitable candidates for ad-hoc judgeships, such as their age, health, integrity, competence and availability.
• The court has further clarified that ad-hoc judges should not be appointed as a substitute for regular appointments, but as a supplementary measure to expedite justice delivery.

Concerns

The selection process may not be transparent

• The selection and appointment process of ad-hoc judges may not be transparent and accountable. There may be scope for political interference or favouritism in choosing the candidates. This may compromise the independence and integrity of the judiciary.

Unequal status

• The status and remuneration of ad-hoc judges may not be commensurate with their responsibilities and expectations. They may not enjoy the same privileges and protections as regular judges.
• They may also face difficulties in balancing their other professional or personal commitments with their judicial duties. This may affect their motivation and performance.

Not addressing the root cause

• The appointment of ad-hoc judges may not address the root causes of judicial delay and backlog.
• It may only provide temporary relief without solving the structural and systemic problems that plague the judiciary.
• It may also create a dependency on ad-hoc judges and undermine the efforts to strengthen the regular judiciary.

Looking Forward

• The appointment of ad-hoc judges is expected to bring some relief to the overburdened judiciary and the litigants who have been waiting for years for their cases to be heard and decided. However, it is not a permanent solution to the problem of judicial pendency and vacancy.
• It should be done with caution and care, keeping in mind the principles of judicial independence, accountability, quality and efficiency. It should also be accompanied by other reforms to improve the infrastructure, manpower, technology and judiciary processes. Only then can the judiciary fulfil its role as a dispenser of justice and a defender of democracy.
• The need of the hour is to ensure the timely and transparent appointment of regular judges, increase the judicial infrastructure and resources, streamline the judicial processes and procedures, and promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Only then can India achieve the goal of providing speedy and affordable justice to all its citizens. 

Save the Elephant Day 2023.

• Save the Elephant Day is observed on April 16th every year to raise awareness about the issues faced by elephants and promote their protection.
• It aims to highlight the significance of elephants, the challenges they encounter, and the actions that can be taken to safeguard their existence.
• The theme for Save the Elephant Day 2023 is “Safeguarding Elephant Habitats for a Sustainable Tomorrow”.
• The theme emphasizes the need to conserve the environments that elephants rely on and promote a sustainable future for them and their habitats.
• To achieve this, individuals can support environmentally-friendly agriculture and forestry practices, reduce carbon emissions, and advocate for policies and regulations that safeguard wildlife and their surroundings.

New Frog Species Found In Meghalaya Siju Cave

• Recently, a new species of frog has been discovered in the Siju caves of Meghalaya by researchers from the Zoological Society of India.
• The Siju cave is a natural limestone cave located in the South Garo Hills district.

• This discovery is the second time that a frog was discovered from inside a cave in the country, the first being the discovery of the Micrixalus spelunca in 2014 from a cave in Tamil Nadu.
• There have been reports of the presence of frog populations (up to 400 m from cave entrance) in Siju Cave since 1922 when the first bio speleological exploration of the cave was done by the ZSI.
• The team had also discovered three other new species of cascade frog (Amolops) in Arunachal Pradesh and those include the - Amolops chanakya, Amolops terraorchis and Amolops tawang.

The frog

• The team named the new species as Amolops siju after the cave from where this discovery was made.
• Family: Cascade Ranidae family
• Genus: Amolops (among the largest groups of ranid frogs).
• Distribution: India’s North East and north, Nepal, Bhutan, China, the Indochina region and the Malaya Peninsula.

Siju Cave

• Siju cave is a 4 km long natural limestone cave.
• Siju Cave, also known as Bat Cave in English, is located in the North East Indian state of Meghalaya near the Napak Lake and Simsang River game reserve.
• It is famous for its stalagmites and stalactites.

Zoological Survey of India

• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), founded on 1 July 1916 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Government of India as a premier Indian organisation in zoological research and studies to promote the survey, exploration and research of the fauna in the country.
• Headquarters: Kolkata

World’s 60 Largest Banks Pumped $5.5 Trillion Into Fossil Fuels After The Paris Agreement: Report

• According to the annual Banking on Climate Chaos report released by environmental organizations like Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack, Indigenous Environmental Network, Oil Change International, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club and Urgewald, the world’s 60 largest banks have spent $5.5 trillion or Rs 4,49,36,265 crore on financing fossil fuel projects since 2016, when the climate pact called Paris Agreement came into effect.

Report says

• The report highlights the challenges 190-odd signatories of the Paris Agreement face in phasing out fossil fuels, integral to the global economy.
• As the window to prevent the worst consequences of the climate issue rapidly closes, the financing violates these institutions' pledges to be on a path to Net Zero greenhouse emissions.
• The 10 banks that had the highest spending on fossil fuels from 2016-2022 include JPMorgan Chase & Co ($434.15 billion), Citibank NA ($332.9 billion), Wells Fargo & Company ($318.2 billion), Bank of America Corporation ($281.23 billion) and Royal Bank of Canada ($253.98 billion).
• These were followed by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group ($219.64 billion), Barclays ($190.58 billion), Mizuho Bank Ltd ($189.61 billion), the Bank of Nova Scotia or Scotiabank ($182.31 billion) and TD Bank NA ($173.20 billion).
• The dominance of developed countries: Additionally, banks from six nations—the United States, Canada, China, Japan, France, and Great Britain—control the majority of the world's financial investments in the fossil fuel industry. For instance, in 2022, banks from the US contributed 28% of the entire financing.
• According to data, the G7 public financing for fossil fuels was $73 billion from 2020 to 2022, which is 2.6 times the financing for clean energy, which was $28.6 billion. The top two financiers at the time were Canada and Japan.
• The world’s top 100 oil, gas, and coal energy companies received $150 billion in the previous year.
• Russia-Ukraine War: According to the report, the Russia-Ukraine war upended the world's energy markets and paved the way for a unique year in the finance of fossil fuels.
• Fears of energy shortages, particularly in Europe, increased the price of oil and gas globally, a windfall for businesses that would otherwise be experiencing long-term decline and stagnant revenues.
• Inadequate commitment to the Paris Agreement: The research stated that of the 60 banks examined, 13 do not have any coal exclusion policies, and 47 have inadequate commitments to their coal exclusion policies.
• Danske Bank, Denmark's largest bank, agreed to stop providing new long-term funding for fossil fuel projects in 2023, especially for businesses without a credible transition plan. This decision was made in response to the Paris Agreement.

How banks were able to pump money into fossil fuels despite commitments?

• Presence of loopholes: The report said that most bank commitments allow for loopholes that contain climate risk through underwriting bonds and equities which comprise 36 percent of all fossil fuel lending.
• A major shortcoming of nearly all targets is that they apply exclusively to lending and exclude bond and equity underwriting.

Impact of fossil fuels on climate change

• The IPCC has determined that the primary cause of global warming is the emissions generated by the use of fossil fuels. As of 2018, about 89% of the world's CO2 emissions were produced by the use of fossil fuels and industry.
• Among the fossil fuels, coal is the most polluting and has contributed over 0.3C to the 1C increase in global temperatures, making it the biggest contributor to global warming.
• Oil is a significant source of carbon emissions, accounting for about one-third of the world's total emissions.
• In addition, there have been several oil spills in recent years that have had devastating effects on the ecosystem of our oceans.
• Although natural gas is often presented as a cleaner alternative to coal and oil, it is still a fossil fuel and is responsible for one-fifth of the world's carbon emissions.

Problems with G7 funding

• According to the research the majority of the G7's funding for sustainable energy is allocated to wealthier nations rather than countries in the Global South.
• The G7 is an informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union.
• Only four lower-middle-income nations were among the top 15 recipients of clean finance.
• According to the report, "Clean energy finance has largely stagnated, rising only slightly from an annual average of $7.3 billion from 2017 to 2019 to $9.5 billion from 2020 to 2022."
• The nations agreed to "end new direct public support for the international unabated fossil fuel energy sector by the end of 2022" at the summit last year.