India, Russia agree to deepen trade and economic relations

• India and Russia discussed “trade deficit” during the India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).
• The FTA talks mark a step-up in economic relations between the two countries despite calls from Western countries for India to gradually distance itself from its dominant weapons supplier, Russia, over its invasion of Ukraine.
• India’s imports from Russia more than quadrupled to $46.33 billion over the last fiscal year, mainly through oil.
• Together with the Eurasian Economic Commission, Russia is looking forward to intensifying negotiations on a free trade agreement with India.
• Manturov said road construction material and equipment and chemicals and pharmaceutical products were in demand in Russia this will create opportunities for Indian companies to increase their supplies to Russia.
• Russia was potentially seeking to import more than 500 products from India for key sectors including cars, aircraft and trains, given that Western sanctions imposed over Russia’s military action in Ukraine have undermined its ability to keep core industries operating.
• Russia would consider widening the use of “national currencies and currencies of friendly countries”. India has been keen on increasing the use of its rupee currency for trade with Russia.

India’s Stand on Russia

• Russia describes its campaign in Ukraine as a “special military operation” against security threats, while pro-Western Ukraine calls it an unprovoked war of conquest.
• New Delhi has not explicitly criticised the Russian invasion and has called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue. Russian-Indian bilateral trade has jumped as the war has progressed.

Russia’s Route

• Russia’s efforts to improve trade with India form part of its strategy to help evade the impact of Western sanctions by boosting commerce with Asian giants including China.
• Moscow is also trying to increase or maintain cooperation with other South Asian countries, most recently agreeing to settle payments in yuan for building a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh and discussing discounted oil exports to Pakistan.

Seek CSR funds to clear forests of invasive species, says High Court

The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to notify a scheme inviting corporates to contribute funds to eradicate the exotic and invasive species from forests and hill stations. It also ordered that the scheme be publicised among the chambers of commerce.

Corporate Social Responsibility

• The term "Corporate Social Responsibility" in general can be referred to as a corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility for the company''s effects on the environment and impact on social welfare.
• In India, the concept of CSR is governed by clause 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.
• India is the first country in the world to mandate CSR spending along with a framework to identify potential CSR activities.
• The CSR provisions within the Act is applicable to companies with an annual turnover of 1,000 crore and more, or a net worth of Rs. 500 crore and more, or a net profit of Rs. 5 crore and more.
• The Act requires companies to set up a CSR committee which shall recommend a Corporate Social Responsibility Policy to the Board of Directors and also monitor the same from time to time.
• The Act encourages companies to spend 2% of their average net profit in the previous three years on CSR activities.
• The indicative activities, which can be undertaken by a company under CSR, have been specified under Schedule VII of the Act. The activities include:
  • Eradicating extreme hunger and poverty,
  • Promotion of education, gender equality and empowering women,
  • Combating Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and other diseases,
  • Ensuring environmental sustainability;
  • Contribution to the Prime Minister''s National Relief Fund or any other fund set up by the Central Government for socio-economic development and relief and funds for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes, minorities and women etc.

Invasive species:

• Invasive alien species are plants, animals, pathogens and other organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem, and which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health.
• They regenerate at an alarming speed and threaten to edge out the indigenous flora
• Concerns:
• The thick foliage arrests the growth of other indigenous species of trees and grass, and causes food shortage for the wildlife population, especially herbivores, during summer.
• Moreover, wildlife would not feed on the leaves of the tree as it was not palatable for them
• Some of the invasive plants have a toxic impact on the landscape after remaining underwater.
• Some weeds have herbal properties, but their toxicity outweighs their utility. For instance, wild boars love to gorge on the succulent rootlets of the Leea macrophylla or ‘kukura thengia’ that is fast clogging the patrolling paths and grasslands.

Senna spectabilis

• Introduced as an ornamental species and for use as firewood from South and Central America or for paper-making, the species has become highly invasive in the Sigur plateau in both the core and buffer zones of the MTR.
• It has bright yellow flowers and has a negative effect on local biodiversity, crowding out native species and limiting food availability for wildlife.
• Forest Department is formulating a 10-year-plan to systematically remove Lantana camara, the other major weed that poses a threat to biodiversity in both the core and buffer zones of the Tiger Reserve.
• 5 major invasive species of Nilgiris are:
• Senna spectabilis
• Lantana camara
• wattle
• Eucalyptus
• Pine
• Eucalyptus and Pine, though exotic, do not spread as quickly as the other species and are considered easier to manage

Synchronous lighting by fireflies recorded in another range of Anamalai Tiger Reserve

• The Pitch-black nights in the Manambolly forests in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) along the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu are witnessing a mega light show of bioluminescence. Several lakhs of fireflies, perched on trees and shrubs, are emitting lights synchronously, turning the forests into a magical world of yellowish-green glow.
• A team and members of the Wild and Dark Earth (WiDE), an NGO engaged in the study and conservation of nocturnal habitats, recorded the rare phenomenon in the Manambolly range mid-April, after studying fireflies and their life cycle in the tiger reserve for a year.
• The firefly larvae start emerging in the wet, evergreen forests after the first summer rain. Fireflies live as larvae for a year before they pupate and become the adult. Firefly larvae glow to warn predators and use bioluminescence as a defence mechanism & to mate. After mating, female fireflies lay eggs and the whole cycle continues again. Even the eggs display bioluminescence.
• Researchers, to identify the species diversity of fireflies through DNA extraction and sequencing to understand the impact of light pollution on fireflies.
• The study presumes that a reduction in the firefly population may lead to an exponential increase in leech populations, affecting the entire ecosystem.
• Studies shows that fireflies detest white light and go for shade when exposed to it. It found that artificial lighting hampered the ability of fireflies to communicate and mate, thus causing a decrease in their populations.

Bioluminicence of Fireflies

• When oxygen combines with calcium, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and the chemical luciferin in the presence of luciferase, a bioluminescent enzyme, light is produced.

Ganga mission clears projects for ₹638 crore

• The Jal Shakti Ministry’s National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) cleared eight projects worth ₹638 crore on Tuesday.
• The projects include the clean-up of the Hindon, a tributary of the Yamuna, stretches of which rank as among the most polluted in the country. This clean-up comprises four projects, worth ₹407.39 crore, approved for pollution abatement in Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh.
• Once commissioned, the projects will stem the flow of polluted water into the Krishna river, which, as of now, discharges pollution from Shamli district into the Hindon.
• A project for the development of seven ghats in Prayagraj was also approved.

The National Mission for Clean Ganga

• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is implemented by the **National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga also known as the National Ganga Council.**This mission was established on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act,1860 as a registered society.
• Objectives:
  • The mission incorporates rehabilitating and boosting the existing STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants) and instant short-term steps to curb pollution at exit points on the riverfront in order to check the inflow of sewage.
  • To maintain the continuity of the water flow without changing the natural season variations.
  • To restore and maintain the surface flow and groundwater.
  • To regenerate and maintain the natural vegetation of the area.
  • To conserve and regenerate the aquatic biodiversity as well as the riparian biodiversity of the river Ganga basin.
  • To allow participation of the public in the process of protection, rejuvenation and management of the river.

India plans to appeal against WTO ruling on IT tariffs

India is planning to appeal against a ruling by a panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it violated global trading rules by imposing tariffs on some IT products.

On Monday, the WTO panel gave its ruling related to a 2019 dispute with the European Union, Japan and Taiwan over import duties on IT products.

Dispute Redressal at WTO

• According to WTO rules, a WTO member or members can file a case in the Geneva-based multilateral body if they feel that a particular trade measure is against the norms of the WTO.
• Bilateral consultation is the first step to resolve a dispute. If both the sides are not able to resolve the matter through consultation, either can approach for the establishment of a dispute settlement panel.
• The panel''s ruling or report can be challenged at the WTO’s Appellate Body.
  • Interestingly, the appellate body of the WTO is not functioning because of differences among member countries to appoint members in this body. Over 20 disputes are already pending with the appellate body. The US has been blocking the appointment of the members.