NHRC accreditation status faces review in Geneva this week
News Context:
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is gearing up to defend the human rights practices of the Union government at a Geneva meeting.
- A crucial decision on whether India’s human rights body will maintain its “A status” is anticipated.
- The NHRC’s ratings were halted in 2023 due to concerns regarding its composition process, the involvement of police personnel in human rights investigations, and the lack of gender and minority representation in the committee.
NHRC Accreditation Status Faces Review Test:
- The determination of whether the NHRC will receive an A or B rating will impact its voting rights at the UN Human Rights Council and certain UNGA bodies.
- Since its accreditation in 1999, India had upheld its A ranking in 2006 and 2011, while it was deferred in 2016 and later reinstated after a year.
- In its submission, the committee criticized India for having police officers involved in its investigative procedures, labeling it as a “conflict of interest.”
- It highlighted the absence of pluralism and gender representation, failing to adequately represent India’s diversity.
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has engaged with various countries participating in the review process to advocate its position through diplomatic channels.
Towards green growth
Rate of Interest in Report:
- The latest Monetary Policy Report by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) prioritizes extreme weather events and climate shocks.
- These phenomena are not only impacting food inflation but also likely influencing the broader natural rate of interest, thereby affecting the financial stability of the economy.
Green Economy:
- The RBI has taken gradual steps towards embracing the transition to a green economy, acknowledging that India requires over $17 trillion to achieve its net zero ambitions by 2070.
- A green taxonomy serves as a framework to evaluate the sustainability of economic activities and potentially rank them.
- For example, in the ASEAN region, a layered green taxonomy continually evolves with sector-specific perspectives on sustainable pathways.
Way Ahead:
- The RBI should conduct a comprehensive assessment of the quantitative and qualitative effects of climate change on economic and financial stability.
- It should promote collaborative efforts to develop a dynamic green taxonomy that reflects India’s diverse developmental paths.
- The focus should be on mitigating transitional risks to the financial system as the economy transitions towards a sustainable future.
The significance of carrier aviation
The Story So Far:
- On March 5, both of India’s aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, demonstrated “twin carrier operations” featuring MiG-29K fighter jets.
- INS Vikrant, one of the carriers, is domestically designed and built, commissioned in September 2022.
- As the two carriers sailed, they were accompanied by a flotilla of frontline warships from the Indian Navy and aircraft, totaling around 140,000 tonnes.
Significance of INS Vikrant:
- A carrier serves as a floating city. The development of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC)-I, later named Vikrant, commenced in 1999.
- A pivotal decision was made regarding the use of warship-grade steel, shifting from procurement in Russia to indigenous development, spearheaded by the Steel Authority of India, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Indian Navy.
- The development of DMR-249 steel was a strategic commercial decision, now utilized in the construction of all warships in India.
- Vikrant’s keel was laid in 2009, launched in 2013, underwent user acceptance trials from 2021 to 2022 before being commissioned.
History of Vikrant Carrier:
- While the current Vikrant is India’s first domestically built carrier, the country has a history of operating carriers.
- The former 19,500-tonne Vikrant, purchased from the UK in 1961, played a crucial role in the 1971 war.
- Subsequently, INS Viraat, formerly HMS Hermes, was commissioned in 1987, followed by INS Vikramaditya procured from Russia and commissioned in 2013.
Capabilities:
- Vikrant can accommodate an air wing of 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov-31 helicopters, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters, and Light Combat Aircraft (Navy).
- It utilizes the STOBAR method for launching and recovering aircraft and is equipped with a ski-jump for launching aircraft.
- The flight deck features an independent lighting system for operations during adverse weather conditions and at night.
- Vikrant boasts larger deck space and hallways compared to previous carriers like Vikramaditya.
Other Proposals:
- An aircraft carrier is essential for commanding, controlling, and coordinating operations at sea and projecting combat power.
- The Navy has proposed a second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-II), resembling Vikrant, to be manufactured by CSL.
- Any delay in replacement could jeopardize India’s expertise in carrier building and operation.
Global Interest:
- Several countries are investing in carriers of varying sizes, including the US, UK, France, Russia, Japan, and China.
- China, in particular, is progressing rapidly in carrier development, with plans for a nuclear-powered supercarrier.
- Despite advancements in carrier-targeting missiles and drones, carrier aviation remains promising globally.
India’s Chinese import bill up 2.3 times in 15 years
Import Status of India:
- India’s imports from China surged to over $101 billion in 2023-24 from around $70 billion in 2018-19.
- According to a report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), China’s share of India’s industrial goods imports has increased from 21% to 30% over a span of 15 years.
- Import of goods from China has outpaced India’s total imports by 2.3 times over the same 15-year period.
China Dominance in Industrial Sectors:
- China stands as the primary supplier in eight major industrial sectors for India, including machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and notably, electronics.
Trade Deficit Concern:
- The escalating trade deficit with China is worrisome, particularly as India’s exports to China have remained stagnant at around $16 billion annually, while imports have surged, resulting in a trade deficit of $387 billion.
- However, there has been an uptick in India’s exports to China in the past year across 90 principal commodities, accounting for 67.7% of India’s export basket to China, including items such as iron ore, telecom instruments, and electronic components.
Data Analysis:
- In 2023-24, India’s total merchandise imports amounted to $677.2 billion, with $101.8 billion worth of goods sourced from China, constituting approximately 15% of India’s total imports.
- Notably, China’s dominance is significant in sectors such as textiles and clothing (42%), machinery (40%), chemicals and pharmaceuticals (29.2%), plastics (25.8%), and automobiles (23.3%).
- Conversely, India exhibits lower dependence on China for imports of iron, steel, and base metals, with just a 17.6% share of inflows originating from China.
Anticyclones, hanging even now over India, link warming to heat
News Context:
- The diminishing El Niño of 2023 is resulting in expected warm temperatures globally, while cooler temperatures spread across Pakistan, India, and West Bengal during March.
- Despite record temperatures making headlines, this band remained cool throughout 2023.
Heat Waves and Global Warming:
- Heat waves over India are a particular concern, highlighting the need for improved predictions.
- Anticyclonic circulations over the North Indian Ocean were identified as the drivers of unusual rainfall over Odisha in March.
- Anticyclones, characterized by clockwise winds with sinking air, can lead to high-pressure heat domes, potentially explaining events like the historic Dubai floods of April 17.
Linking Anticyclones to Heat:
- During the pre-monsoon season, the upper-level Indian Easterly Jet (IEJ) and a strong westerly jet can generate an anticyclonic pattern over the Indian Ocean and the Indian subcontinent.
- The pre-monsoon season sees a strong anticyclone bringing dry and hot weather, while a weak anticyclone produces milder conditions.
Amplification of Heat Waves:
- India’s summer, particularly the pre-monsoon season, is susceptible to heat waves, emphasizing the importance of predicting and providing early warnings to mitigate risks.
- The record warming of 2023, surpassing expectations, is partially attributed to the impact of El Niño on the Indian Easterly Jet (IEJ), resulting in stronger and more persistent anticyclones and intense heat waves.
Stages of Early Warnings:
- Accurate early-warning systems follow a ‘ready-set-go’ approach under the ‘Sub seasonal-to-Seasonal Predictions’ project, a part of the World Climate Research Program.
- India’s participation in this project aids in providing seasonal outlooks and resource allocations for disaster preparedness.
- The ‘go’ step involves short- and medium-range forecasts, mobilizing resources for disaster management, including rescue efforts and hydration centers.
Preparedness and Recovery:
- India’s prediction and early warning systems are continuously improving, integrated into the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) ‘ready-set-go’ system.
- Remaining challenges include building resilience for the future by better predicting localized weather trajectories and engaging government departments and the public in sustained efforts.
