Downloaded from: http://www.upscportal.

com

The Hyde Act 2006, a domestic Act of the United

States, was accordingly brought in to amend this
Section and provide a legal framework for a 123
Agreement with India. With this agreement India
becomes the only non-NPT/CTBT signatory to have
signed the 123 Agreement with the United States.

THE INDO-US NUCLEAR DEAL : BASIC

FACTS

India and the United States signed a landmark deal in

October 2008, which allows India access to US civil
nuclear fuel and technology. What is it that makes
this deal so significant? How does India stand to Who are the Nuclear Suppliers Group?
gain from it? Here are some answers to these
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a 45 nation body
questions:
concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by
What is the Indo-U.S. Civilian Nuclear Deal?
controlling trade in nuclear fuel and technology. Their
policies had so far kept India out of bounds of
This is a deal between India and the United States for
international nuclear trade as it has not signed the
civil nuclear cooperation. Under this agreement, the
NPT and CTBT. Some countries in the NSG had
United States can sell civilian nuclear fuel and
misgivings about giving India the unprecedented
technology to India. India in turn, has to separate its
waiver of carrying on international civil nuclear trade
civil and military nuclear facilities and place all its
even without signing the NPT, but the approval finally
civil nuclear facilities under International Atomic
came through keeping in view Indias strong nonEnergy Association (IAEA) inspection. The accord
proliferation records, and its voluntary declaration of
took three years to be finalized, during which it went
no first use of nuclear weapons.
through a series of complex stages that included
amendment of U.S. domestic law, formulation of a What does India get from the Agreement?
civil-military nuclear separation plan in India, an IndiaIAEA safeguards (inspections) agreement and the Indo-US Civil nuclear deal has paved the way for the
growth of the nuclear power sector in India, which
grant of an exemption for India by the Nuclear
has
so far been plagued by shortages of nuclear fuel.
Suppliers Group (NSG).
India has limited reserves of Uranium, which is the
What are the Hyde Act and the 123 Agreement?
crucial fuel needed at the present stage of our nuclear
power program.
Under Section 123 of its Atomic Energy Act, the United
States can enter into civilian nuclear trade only with
those countries that have signed the NPT and CTBT.
India has signed neither treaty. Further, after its first
nuclear test in 1974, the United States had placed a
ban on the supply of nuclear fuel and technology to
India. In order to sign the present deal, the section
123 of the Atomic Energy Act needed to be amended.
WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM

Indias nuclear power generation is only about 1800

Mw against an installed capacity of 4120 Mw. With
the present agreement, which is valid for 40 years and
extend able by another 10 years, India hopes to
address this fuel shortage. Under this agreement the
US is committed to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply
to safeguard Indian reactors and create strategic fuel

Downloaded from: http://www.upscportal.com

CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR I.A.S. (PRE.) 2011

reserves for them, and also work with other NSG
countries to ensure supply of nuclear fuel to India.
The ambit of the deal includes research, development,
design, construction, operation, maintenance and use
of nuclear reactors, reactor experiments and
decommissioning. To ensure smoothness, the
agreement provides for elaborate consultations
between the two parties in the event of either side
wanting to terminate the deal before its normal time.

much needed push without any threat to its

strategic program.

And what does India give?

Further, the agreement also lays down the clause of

non-interference in Indias strategic program. Thus,
the Indian nuclear power program stands to get a

As part of the bargain India has agreed for

separation of its nuclear facilities, placing the
civilian facilities under IAEA safeguards in
perpetuity. The safeguard is aimed at ensuring
that the nuclear material or technology brought
in for civilian purposes is not diverted for military
use. Out of its 22 operating/under construction
nuclear facilities, India will place 14 under IAEA
safeguard.

REDUCING GHG EMISSIONS:THE KYOTO MECHANISMS

The Kyoto Protocol has put in place three flexibility

mechanisms to reduce emission of Green House
Gases. Although the Protocol places maximum
responsibility of reducing emissions on the
developed countries by committing them to specific
emission targets, the three mechanisms are based on
the premise that reduction of emissions in any part
of the globe will have the same desired effect on the
atmosphere, and also that some developed countries
might find it easier and more cost effective to support
emissions reductions in other developed or
developing countries rather than at home. These
mechanisms thus provide flexibility to the Annexure
I countries, helping them to meet their emission
reduction obligations. Let us take a look at what
these mechanisms are.

What is Clean Development Mechanism?

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows developed country with an emission reduction or
emission-limitation commitment under the Kyoto
Protocol to implement an emission reduction project
in developing countries as an alternative to more
expensive emission reductions in their own
countries. In exchange for the amount of reduction
In emission thus achieved, the investing gets carbon
credits which it can offset against its Kyoto targets.
The developing country gains a Step towards
sustainable development.

To get a CDM project registered and implemented,

the investing country has to first take approval from
the designated national authority in the host country,
establish Additionally, define baselines and get
the project validated by a third party agency, called
a Designated Operational Entity (DOE). The Executive
Body of CDM registers the project and issues credits,
called Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), or
carbon credits, where each unit is equivalent to the
reduction of one metric tonne of C02 or its equivalent.
There are more than 4200 CDM projects in the pipeline
as on 14.3.2010. The expected CERs till the end of2012
is 2,900,000,000

What are the three flexibility mechanisms put

in place of the Kyoto Protocol for reducing
GHG emission?

The three mechanisms are joint implementation.

Emissions Trading and Clean Development

What is Joint Implementation?

Through the Joint Implementation, any Annex I

country can invest in emission reduction projects
(referred to as joint Implementation Project) in any
other Annex I country as an alternative to reducing
emissions domestically.
Two early examples are change from a wet to a dry
process at a Ukraine cement works, reducing energy
consumption by 53 percent by 2008-2012; and
rehabilitation of a Bulgarian hydropower project, with
a 267,000 ton reduction of C02 equivalent during 20082012.

WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM

What is Additionality in a CDM project ?

The feature of additionality is a crucial element of

a CDM project it means that the industrialized
country that is seeking to establish the CDM project
in the developing country and earns carbon credits
from it has to establish that the planned carbon
reductions would not have occurred on its own, in
the absence of the CDM project. They have to
establish a baseline of the project. Which is the
emission level that would have been there in the
absence of the project. The difference between this

Downloaded from: http://www.upscportal.com

Yojana
government as the 81 st Constitutional Amendment
Bill. In 1998 it was re-introduced in the 12th Lok
Sabha as the 84th Constitutional Amendment Bill
by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)
government. It was reintroduced again in 1999, 2002,
2003. In 2004 it was included in the Common
Minimum Program of the UPA government. All these
years the Bill could not be passed because of lack of
political consensus. It was again tabled in the Rajya
Sabha in 2008, and has now been passed by the
Rajya Sabha in 2010.

baseline level and the (lower) emission level achieved

as a result of the project is the carbon credit due to
the investing country

What are some of the concerns regarding

CDM?

The risk of false Credits is a cause for concern

with regard to CDM projects. If a project does not
actually offer an additionally and the reduction in
emission would have happened anyway Even
without the project.

THE WOMENS RESERVATION BILL

It was a momentous development when the Womens

Reservation Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on
the 9th of March, 2010. For more than ten years now,
the Bill has led to heated debates in the Parliament,
with supporters saying that it will pave the way for
an active participation of women in politics, and
detractors saying that it will benefit only a narrow
spectrum of privileged women. Let us take a look at
what the Bill has to offer, and what the controversy
is all about.

What does the Womens Reservation Bill

provide?

The Womens Reservation Bill is a proposed

legislation to reserve 33.3 per cent of seats in
Parliament and State legislatures for women. This
would mean reserving 181 of the 543 seats in the Lok
Sabha and 1,370 out of a total of 4,109 seats in the 28
State Assemblies for women. In case of seats reserved
for SC-ST candidates, 33.3 percent would have to be
reserved for women. The reservation of seats is
proposed to be on rotation basis, which means that
the 33.3 % seats reserved in one election would cease
to be reserved in the next election. In its place, another
set of seats totaling 33.3 % would get reserved. The
provision for reservation is proposed to be in place
for 15 years.

The Bill is an extension of the 33.3 % reservation of

seats for women in the Panchayats to the State
Legislatures and the Parliament. Reservation for
women in Panchayats has resulted in probably one
of the largest mobilization of women in public life in
the world.

How did the Bill originate?

The proposed legislation was first introduced in the

Lok Sabha on September 12, 1996 by the United Front

WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM

What is the objective of the Bill?

The Bill is aimed at fostering gender equality in

Parliament, which in turn would lead to the women
as a whole. It is expected that increased political
participation will help Indian women fight against
the age old discrimination and deprivation they have
been subjected to, and the inequality they suffer
from. The Bill, it is felt, would create a level playing
field for the women to enhance their presence and
status in politics initially and in society eventually.

What are the apprehensions regarding the

Bill?

Some political parties are apprehensive that the

reservation for women would rob the chances of
many of their male leaders to fight elections. Coupled
with the reservation that already exists for the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, a further
reservation for women would be discriminatory for
other sections of people. Others say that the
reservation would benefit only elite women, causing
further discrimination and under representation to
the poor and backward classes. They are opposed
to the bill in its present form and want a quota within
quota for women from backward classes. It is also
felt that rotation of seats being reserved may reduce
the commitment of the elected MPs to their
constituencies as their chances of getting reelected
would be very little.

What is the status of the Bill now?

The Bill, which is also the Constitution

(108thAmendment) Bill, was passed by the Rajya
Sabha on 9th March 2010. It will now be tabled in
Lok Sabha. Once approved by both houses, it will
be sent for Presidential consent and then become a
law, giving 33% reservation to women in Parliament
and State Assemblies. The reservation will remain in
place for 15 years and then be extended, if necessary.

Downloaded from: http://www.upscportal.com

CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR I.A.S. (PRE.) 2011

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX

What is the Human Development index (HDl)?

HDI is a composite statistic used as an index to rank

countries level of human development The statistic
is composed from statistics for life expectancy
education, and standard of living, collected at the
national level using a predetermined formula. The HDI
looks beyond GDP for a better definition of well
being. It provides a composite measure of three
dimension of human development:

What is Human Poverty Index?

Human Poverty Index or HPI-l focuses on the

proportion of people below certain threshold levels
in each of the dimensions of the Human Development
Index - living a long and healthy life, having access
to education, and a decent standard of living. By
looking beyond income deprivation, the HPI -1
represents a multi-dimensional alternative to the $1.25
a day (PPP US$) poverty measure.

The HPI-1 measures severe deprivation in health by

the proportion of people who are not expected to
survive to age 40. Education is measured by the adult
illiteracy rate. And a decent standard of living is
measured by the un weighted average of people not
using an improved water source and the proportion
of children under age 5 who are underweight for their
age .

With an HPI-l value of 28.0% India, ranks 88th among

135 countries for which the index has been calculated.

With 15.5% people not having the probability to live

beyond 40, India ranks 105th among 153 countries,
with 11% people not using improved water source
India ranked 76th among 150 counties, with Adult
Literacy rate of 34% India was at rank 120 among 151
countries and with 46% children underweight for their
age we ranked 138 counties.

(i) Living a long and healthy life (measured by life

expectancy),
(ii) Being educated (measured by literacy and gross
enrolment in education)
(iii) Having a decent standard, of living (measured by
purchasing power parity, PPP, income).

The index is not a comprehensive measure of human

development. It does not include important indicators
such as gender or income inequality nor concepts
like respect for human rights and political freedoms.
But it provides a broadened prism for viewing human
progress and the I complex relationship between
income and well-being.

How was HDI Formulated?

The origins of the HDI are to be round in the United

Nations Development Programs(UNDP) Human
Development Reports (HDRs).These were devised
and launched by Pakistani Economist Mahbubul in
1990lwith the purpose of shifting the focus of
development economics from national income
accounting to people centered policies.

What is Gender Related Development Index?

How does India fare in the Human

Development Report of 2009,?

Between 1980 to 2007, Indias HDI rose by 1.33%

annually from 0.427 to 0.612. HDI scores in all regions
have increased progressively over the years although
there have been periods of slower growth or even
reversals.
The Human Development Report of 2009 pertains to
figures for 2007. As per this Report, India ranks 134th
out of 182 nations, With an HDI of 0.612. With Life
expectancy of 63.4 years we ranked 128th among 176
nations, with adult Literacy Rate of 66 % we linked
120 among 150s. Our Combined Gross Enrolment ratio
of 61 % placed us at rank 134 among 177 nations and
our per capita income of 2753 placed us at rank 128
among 181 nations.

WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM

Introduced in Human Development Report 1995,

Gender related Development Index or GDI measures
achievements in the same dimensions using the same
indicators as the HDI but captures inequalities in
achievement between women and men. It is simply
the HDI adjusted downward for gender inequality.
The greater the gender disparity in basic human
development, the lower is a countrys GDI relative to
its HDI. Indias GDI value, 0.594 should be compared
to its HDI value of 0.612. Its GDI value is 97.1 % of its
HDI value. Out of the 155 countries with both HDI
and GDI values, 138 countries have a better ratio than
Indias.

What are Millennium Development Goals ?

The Millennium Development Goals or MDGs are

eight turnaround goals that provide concrete,
numerical benchmarks for tackling extreme poverty in
its many dimensions. Adopted by world leaders in
the year 2000 and set to be achieved by 2015, the
MDGs are both global and local, tailored by each
country to suit specific development needs. They
provide a framework for the entire international
Community to work together towards a common end
- making sure that human development reaches
everyone, everywhere. The eight goals include -

Downloaded from: http://www.upscportal.com

Yojana
(1) Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger;
(2) Achieving universal primary education;
(3) Promoting gender equality & empowering women;

How can rainwater be harvested?

A major point in favor of rainwater harvesting is that

the structure for this can be made from inexpensive,
locally available material. It works both in individual
households and for small communities. Rainwater
harvesting structures can be made anywhere individual homes, apartments, offices, institutions,
slums, cities, villages - and anyone - individuals or
small communities.

Rainwater harvesting structures can be simple or

complex. The main components in a rainwater
harvesting system consist of a catchment area from
where water is collected - this could be either from
the ground like parks, playgrounds, roads,
pavements, agricultural field etc, or from the rooftops
- the channel or conduit through which water passes
from the catchment structure into the storage area these could be drains, pipes, rectangular or semi
circular gutters or channels made of PVC material,
galvanized iron sheets or even bamboo trunks cut
vertically into two and the storage tank or other
structures where the water gets collected. The size
of tanks would depend on the amount of water
available and the amount needed for use. The tanks
can be made from RCC, plastic, galvanized iron etc.
Even dried bore wells, tube wells etc can be used for
collecting water. If rainwater is being harvested for
recharge purposes, there need to be appropriate
structures for this, for example subsurface dykes built
into an aquifer, recharge of abandoned wells, service
tube wells, recharge pits etc. Besides these the
rainwater harvesting structures also requires
arrangements to maintain the quality of water. Thus
there have to be arrangements to ensure that the first
flush of rainwater which would contain contaminants,
is allowed to flow out. Filters made of cloth, charcoal,
sand etc are put in place to filter out pollutants.

(4) Reducing child mortality;

(5) Improving maternal health;
(6) Combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
(7) Ensuring environmental sustainability;
(8) Developing global partnership for development.
These goals further break down into 21 quantifiable
targets that are measured by 60indicator.

RAIN WATER HARVESTING

What is rainwater harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting is the storing and collection of

rain water that runs off from tops of roofs, open spaces
like parks and roads or especially prepared ground.
This water can be used variously for purposes like
drinking (after treatment), household use, livestock
or even irrigation. It is also used for recharging
groundwater, that is replenishing the water that has
been extracted from the aquifers.

Why should rainwater be harvested?

Much of the water that we receive as rain simply

runs off and gets wasted. In a country like ours where
there is so much of pressure on water resources due
to growing population pressures, it makes immense
sense for us to store up this water and put it to good
use. This water can be a useful supplement to the
water available from other sources, thereby
augmenting the total water availability. In fact, in
some regions, rain is the only source of water
available, and that too, in highly erratic spurts. In
such regions harvesting of rainwater is the best
option available to people, and has been known to
bring about marked betterment in their living
conditions, for example in many parts of Gujarat and
Rajasthan.

Rainwater harvesting is also very important for

recharge of groundwater as there has been massive
over extraction of ground water in many parts of the
country. Rainwater harvesting not only replenishes
the store of underground water, it also improves its
quality by effecting dilution of pollutants and other
harmful substances.

Besides these, rainwater harvesting also prevents

local flooding in many areas, caused by the run off
water.

WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM

Downloaded from: http://www.upscportal.com

IAS PRE 2011 - Current Affairs

Medium: English
Price: Rs. 190/Pages: 446
Author: S.A. Majid

ORDER ONLINE

http://upscportal.com/civilservices/order-form/Current-Affairs-Book-For-IAS-Pre-2011
Search More Books@: http://upscportal.com/civilservices/order-books