Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for October 21, 2024. If you missed the October 20, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here

FRONT PAGE

NAFED post goes to Agriculture official, week later to Cooperation

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story-A week after Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s decision to assign additional charge of Managing Director, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), to an Agriculture Ministry official, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) entrusted charge of the post to an official of the Ministry of Cooperation.

Key Points to Ponder-

• What is Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)?

• Who chairs Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)?

• First of all, what is National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.(NAFED) ?

• What is the role of NAFED?

• What decisions did the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet take with NAFED?

• “The ACC’s move to assign additional charge of MD, NAFED, to an official other than the one decided by the Agriculture Ministry is unusual”- what is the conflict of interest here?

• What are Cabinet Committees?

For Your Information-

• Once the Union Cabinet is sworn in and ministerial portfolios are allocated, the next step would be the formation of the high-profile Cabinet committees. The Prime Minister sets up these committees with selected members of the Cabinet and assigns specific functions to these committees. The Prime Minister may change the numbers of committees, and modify the functions assigned to them.

• The membership of each committee varies from three to eight. Usually, only Cabinet ministers are members of these committees. However, it is not unheard of for non-Cabinet ministers to be members or special invitees to committees. If the Prime Minister himself is a member of any such committee, he acts as the head of that committee.

• The committees resolve issues and formulate proposals for the consideration of the Cabinet and take decisions on matters assigned to them. The Cabinet is empowered to review such decisions.

• There are eight Cabinet committees at present — the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth, Cabinet Committee on Security, Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Employment & Skill Development, and Cabinet Committee on Accommodation.

• With the Prime Minister helming it, the CCS has the ministers for Finance, Defence, Home Affairs and External Affairs as its members. It is responsible for debates, discussions and appointments of/ in the national security bodies. Major decisions with respect to the significant appointments, issues of national security, defence expenditure of India are taken by CCS.

• Besides dealing with defence related issues, the CCS also brainstorms on issues relating to law and order and internal security, and policy matters concerning foreign affairs on security-related issues. It also considers matters relating to atomic energy.

Do You Know-

• Established on October 2, 1958, the NAFED is registered under the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act. It comes under the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agriculture Minister answers NAFED-related queries in Parliament.

• The Board of NAFED is responsible for appointing its MD, it approves the official appointed by the government to the post.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????What are Cabinet committees, and why is the CCS the most important of them all?

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

????Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE, 2022) 1. The Constitution of India classifies the ministers into four ranks viz. Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State and Deputy Minister. 2. The total number of ministers in the Union Government, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 ????Who among the following constitute the National Development Council? (UPSC CSE, 2013) 1. The Prime Minister 2. The Chairman, Finance Commission 3. Ministers of the Union Cabinet 4. Chief Ministers of the States Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

 

As trade gap with UAE, ASEAN widens, India pauses talks with others

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: 

• General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

• General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story- After a series of free trade agreements (FTAs) that have proved more beneficial to partner countries, India is adopting a more cautious negotiating strategy, temporarily pausing talks for trade pacts with smaller countries such as Oman and Peru.

Key Points to Ponder-

• What is Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?

• Know about other types of trade agreements like Bilateral investment treaty (BIT), Preferential Trade Area, Single market, Customs Union etc.

• What is preferential treatment in Free Trade Agreement?

• Why are free trade agreements (FTAs) proving more beneficial to partner countries than to India?

• The Commerce Ministry is working on developing a fresh Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in this regard?

• “Higher imports of goods compared to exports”-What you understand by the same?

• What happens when imports are more than exports to an economy?

• What is Rules of origin?

For Your Information-

• India is adopting a more cautious negotiating strategy, temporarily pausing talks for trade pacts with smaller countries such as Oman and Peru. The Commerce Ministry is working on developing a fresh Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at addressing the “lack of consistent and streamlined” procedures for negotiating future trade agreements. This comes after several trade agreements, including the pact with the UAE that came into effect in February 2022 and the one with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed way back in 2010, have resulted in significantly higher imports of goods compared to exports, and concerns over potential breaching of rules of origin by the other side.

• The new SOP, designed to serve as a template for negotiation of multilateral and bilateral trade agreements, covers modern chapters in trade deals such as labour and environment, and emphasises the need for a clear understanding of “trade-offs” and “each party’s bottom line”.

• The ASEAN trade deal, signed during the UPA era, has faced significant criticism due to the widening trade deficit, particularly after Covid-19. The trade deficit with the region increased by a sharp 70 per cent in FY23 compared to FY22. The goods trade deficit reached $44 billion in FY23. Officials have stated that India faces tariff asymmetry in the ASEAN agreement and aims to complete the review by next year. Concerns over a fresh surge in imports have also arisen as ASEAN has joined the China-led RCEP trade deal. Trade between China and ASEAN grew by 15 per cent in 2022 after the deal came into effect. India exited the RCEP negotiations in 2019 due to concerns about rising imports from China.

• It aims to “streamline” the process of launching, conducting and concluding trade negotiations, and addresses issues such as human resource mobilisation, negotiation team formation, and the composition and “hierarchy of negotiating teams”.

• The review of the negotiating strategy comes amid concerns over possible investment outflows, rapidly surging imports from FTA nations, and recognition of errors made when dealing with specific chapters in FTAs. These errors have led to a surge in the inflow of goods that are not even produced in the partner country.

• “The pause in negotiations comes not only due to the widening trade gap but also concerns over the outflow of investment from the country. The focus is shifting to larger markets such as the European Union and the UK, where significant benefits could be gained, and to countries of geopolitical importance, such as the Maldives. However, the problem is the lack of subject matter expertise and loss of institutional memory. Foreign negotiators are battle-hardened with years of expertise in negotiations, unlike in India where officials are rotated periodically,” an official said.

• Before the Lok Sabha elections, the government had signed a trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and was close to signing an agreement with Oman to expand its footprint in the West Asia region. The deal with the UK was also near completion but could not be finalised due to several leadership changes in the UK. The government had also indicated plans to begin talks with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). But the Ministry could now narrow its efforts to maximise export gains.

• Notably, while India has been able to manage early harvest deals and negotiate with countries that have accommodated India’s style of functioning, trade deals with more competitive countries, such as the UK and the EU, have been stalled for years. India had earlier decided to exit from the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) after years of negotiations.

Do You Know-

• Rules of origin — the criteria that determine the national source of a product — have been among the most contentious issues for the FTA talks with the UK. These are important in trade negotiations since countries levy duties or impose restrictions on products based on the source of imports. In addition, India’s commerce and tax officials are negotiating on the crucial aspects of duty cuts for alcohol/whisky from the UK that could have an impact on the local bottling industry, the official said, adding that the pace of negotiations has been decidedly kept slow for this reason.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????Free Trade Agreement (FTA): Definition, How It Works, and Example

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

????Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE, 2020) 1. The value of Indo-Sri Lanka trade has consistently increased in the last decade. 2. “Textile and textile articles” constitute an important item of trade between India and Bangladesh. 3. In the last five years, Nepal has been the largest trading partner of India in South Asia. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 ????The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as (UPSC CSE, 2016) (a) G20 (b) ASEAN (c) SCO (d) SAARC

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: ????”Compared to the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Free Trade Area (BIMSTEC FTA) seems to be more promising ” Critically evaluate (UPSC CSE GS2, 2011)

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

A new accord for Assam

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

What’s the ongoing story– Alok Prasanna Kumar Writes: Even while upholding Section 6A of the Citizenship Act 1955, the Court seems to want to get itself involved in the minutiae of identifying illegal immigrants and border fencing. We have been down this path before. The Court involved itself deeply in the NRC exercise in Assam, only to create a new set of problems

Key Points to Ponder-

• “The Supreme Court did the right thing in holding Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, constitutionally valid”-What is your take in this regard?

• Before diving in to more, what is Section 6A of the Citizenship Act?

• What did the Supreme Court say regarding Section 6A of the Citizenship Act?

• ‘Concern over demographic change in Assam has a long history’-Explain

• What is the Assam Accord?

• ‘Among the challenges to the provisions of Section 6A, two novel arguments were made’-What was that?

• “The court involved itself deeply in the National Register of Citizens exercise in Assam, only to create a new set of problems”-elaborate

• What does the National Register of Citizens (NRC)mean?

• What is National Population Register (NPR) ?

• the National Register of Citizens (NRC), National Population Register (NPR) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)-know the difference

• Is National Population Register (NPR) connected to the National Register of Citizens (NRC)?

• What is the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019?

• What is the current status of Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019?

• What are the concerns associated with Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019?

• What were the Indian ideas and rules of citizenship in the Constitution before the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019?

For Your Information-

• As part of the Assam Accord and in an effort to bring peace to the state, Section 6A was introduced to create an exclusive citizenship regime for Assam. It granted citizenship to everyone who became a resident of Assam between 1950 and 1966. It allowed a pathway to citizenship for those who had come into the country illegally between 1966 and 1971.

• Decades after Section 6A was introduced into law, organisations from Assam wanted to have it struck down, arguing that it treated Assam differently from the rest of India by legalising illegal immigrants between 1950 to 1971 and that the cut-off date for getting citizenship should be the same across the country. Among the challenges to the provisions of Section 6A, two novel arguments were made — one that Section 6A violated the cultural and linguistic rights of the people of Assam (guaranteed under Article 29) by allowing non-Assamese to settle and gain citizenship and two, that Section 6A had become unconstitutional due to non-implementation over a period of time.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????Four issues in Assam verdict

????SC upholds Parliament primacy, but also flags fraternity as key factor

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

???? With reference to India, consider the following statements: (2019) 1. There is only one citizenship and one domicile. 2. A citizen by birth only can become the Head of State. 3. A foreigner once granted citizenship cannot be deprived of it under any circumstances. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 2 and 3 ????Which one of the following statements is correct? (2015) a) Rights are claims of the State against the citizens. b) Rights are privileges which are incorporated in the Constitution of a State. c) Rights are claims of the citizens against the State. d) Rights are privileges of a few citizens against the many.

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: ????Two parallel run schemes of the Government, viz the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On merits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the schemes to achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth. (UPSC CSE 2014)

THE DIGITAL WAY FORWARD

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

What’s the ongoing story–Mansi Kedia , Sruthi Vanguri Writes: The adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) at the UN Summit on September 22, 2024, officially marks the beginning of a period of global multi-stakeholder cooperation in digital governance. It is a commitment by the 193-member UN General Assembly to ensure that the design, use, and governance of technology benefits all. It follows the multi-phase Universal Safeguards for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative, launched in 2023 by the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology (OSET) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Key Points to Ponder-

• What is the Global Digital Compact?

• What is the UN policy brief Global Digital Compact?

• Why is digital public infrastructure (DPI) important for countries facing crises like climate disasters, pandemics, and other emergencies?

• Can digital public infrastructure (DPI) help us reach the Sustainable Development Goals?

• “The DPI euphoria is now expanding longitudinally”-Analyse

• How DPIs affect citizens’ livelihoods, income, physical well-being, and social agency?

• What constitutes the foundations of India’s DPI Ecosystem?

• What are the problems associated with DPIs in India?

For Your Information-

• Though the term DPI is relatively new, the concept is not. The internet, powered by common protocols like HTTP, HTML, and SMTP, is a prime example of DPI. It ensures global information exchange and interoperability. Telecom, with standards like GSM, SMS, CDMA, and IEEE 802.11, is another example. Loosely defined, DPI is a set of technology building blocks that drive innovation, inclusion, and competition at scale, operating under open, transparent and participatory governance.

• In 2009, the project of creating unique identities for residents of India, later christened Aadhaar, was started. Aadhaar was developed as a next-generation digital ID, offering authentication as a service. Being a bonafide proof of identity residing on the cloud, it could be plugged into any service delivery transaction to verify an individual’s identity. It soon began to be used for multiple service deliveries, like opening bank accounts, obtaining mobile SIMs, or receiving ration. Products like the Digital Locker, electronic KYC (eKYC) and digital signature on demand (e-Sign) were developed in addition to Aadhaar. A massive programme of Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) also began, resulting in huge savings for the government. Payment of subsidies directly into bank accounts eliminated the black marketing of commodities, with LPG cylinders being the most visible examples.

• A comprehensive understanding of DPI requires recognition of its three integral layers: Market, governance, and technology standards. The market layer consists of innovative and competitive players designing inclusive products. The governance layer requires legal and institutional frameworks, along with public programmes to drive adoption, and specific overarching principles and policies. Technology standards, including those for identity, payments, and data sharing, must be built or adapted to enable interoperability and the adoption of shared standards. These layers collectively define the structure and functionality of DPI, reflecting the complexity and potential of this transformative concept.

• Two paths to the development of digital systems are common: All government or all private. The former may lead to quality and maintenance issues, while the latter may result in monopolies. DPI creates a balance, identifying frameworks consisting of frequently required services and components efficiently managed by the public authority. It develops open protocols, shared platforms, and enabling policies to create an interoperable ecosystem.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

???? India pitches for global adoption of DPI for sustainable growth: G20 Task Force Report

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

????Consider the following statements: (2018) 1. Aadhaar card can be used as a proof of citizenship or domicile. 2. Once issued, Aadhaar number cannot be deactivated or omitted by the Issuing Authority. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

WATER IN COMMON

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies I: Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

What’s the ongoing story– A major assessment of hydrological systems has concluded that the global water crisis could spiral out of control if urgent remedial measures are not undertaken. Set up by the Netherlands in 2022, the Global Commission on the Economics of Water draws on the findings of leading scientists and other experts to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of the management of aquifers worldwide.

Key Points to Ponder-

• The Global Commission on the Economics of Water report-Know key highlights

• ‘The links between perverse subsidies and imprudent water use in agriculture, for instance, have been well-established in India’-Comment

• ‘Despite the interconnectedness of water systems, there is no global governance system for water’-Elaborate

• How free electricity to the farmers is the main culprit for the misuse of groundwater?

• Why groundwater is one of our most precious resources?

• What are the other reasons for groundwater depletion given in the report?

• What are the Issues with Groundwater Management in India?

• What policy challenges does groundwater depletion impose on policymakers?

• What is the Current Situation of Groundwater in India?

• Water production and distribution system for domestic consumers in India-How water supply is done in metro Cities, Cities and in urban areas?

• India is greatly dependent on which external water resources?

• What the 2030 Water Resources Group’s report “Charting Our Water Future” predicted about India way back in 2009?

• What is the ‘per capita water availability’?

• Map work-Mark India’s Drainage Basins

• What is the National Water Policy, 2002?

• What do you understand by the term ‘water table’?

• Depleting water levels-Reason out

• How water table vary in a region-Know the Long-term reasons

• Groundwater Decline and Depletion-Know the reasons

• What initiatives has the Government of India taken?

For Your Information-

• The Commission’s report, released last week, warns that more than half of the world’s food production could be imperilled if countries do not find better ways to manage water resources. The crisis could shave off 8 per cent of the global GDP by 2050, with poor countries facing a 15 per cent loss. The panel reckons that the “demand for freshwater will outstrip supply by 40 per cent by the end of the decade.”

• The report underlines that a large part of the Third World is already water-stressed. Every day, more than 1,000 children die, most of them in economically poor countries, from the lack of access to safe water. The panel urges countries to rethink how water is regarded: As a global common good, not as an endlessly renewable resource.

• In Nov 2022, the report “National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources Of India, 2022” was released which said: “The total annual groundwater recharge for the entire country as of 2022 has increased by 1.29 bcm as compared to the last assessment (2020). The total annual extractable GW resources has also increased by 0.56 bcm. The annual groundwater extraction for irrigation, domestic and Industrial uses has also decreased by 5.76 bcm during this period.”

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????EVERY DROP COUNTS

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

????On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater, the largest proportion (UPSC CSE GS1, 2013) A. is found in atmosphere as moisture and clouds B. is found in freshwater lakes and rivers C. exists as groundwater D. exists as soil moisture

????Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE GS1, 2020) 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). 2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act. 3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world. Which of the statements given abov e is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 2 only D. 1 and 3 only

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: ????Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious use under the depleting scenario. (UPSC CSE GS1, 2020)

THE IDEAS PAGE

A nascent but welcome thaw

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s Interests.

What’s the ongoing story– C. Uday Bhaskar Writes: At the official level, both sides are proceeding with considerable caution to avoid any hype about a breakthrough. The reason for this caution is valid, for there have been many false dawns in the complex and vitiated India-Pakistan bilateral relationship

Key Points to Ponder-

• “The visit of Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar to Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting of the Heads of Government on October 16 has led to a nascent but welcome thaw in the troubled India-Pakistan bilateral relationship”-Analyse

• “The fact that the Jaishankar visit did not lead to any acrimonious India-Pakistan exchanges, as was the case in the SCO meeting in Goa in May 2023, is symbolic of the positive ambience of the EAM’s visit”-Compare and Contrast SCO 2023 and SCO 2024

• What aroused immense interest in both countries during SCO meet?

• “Cricket introduces an amazing degree of malleability in India-Pakistan ties”-Comment

• “There have been many false dawns in the vitiated India-Pakistan bilateral relationship”-Elaborate

For Your Information-

• After the May 1998 nuclear weapon tests by India and Pakistan, both nations agreed to a Lahore Accord in early 1999. Vajpayee made a historic bus journey across the border to further peace and amity with a neighbour who had become an adversary. However, even before the ink could dry on this extraordinary and ambitious agreement, the Pakistan army, led by its then chief, General Pervez Musharraf, was embarking on covert plans to wrest Indian territory in the high Himalayas. The Kargil war of 1999 followed, and ever since, there has been no meaningful progress towards restoring trust and amity.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????EAM Jaishankar attends Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit: What the grouping is, why it matters

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

????Terrorist activities and mutual distrust have clouded India-Pakistan relations. To what extent the use of soft power like sports and cultural exchanges could help generate goodwill between the two countries? Discuss with suitable examples.(UPSC CSE GS2, 2015) ????“Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in India and growing interference in the internal affairs of several member-states by Pakistan are not conducive for the future of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).” Explain with suitable examples. (UPSC CSE GS2, 2016)

EXPLAINED

$1 tn over 30 years: the huge cost of pivoting away from coal

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.

What’s the ongoing story-For a just transition away from coal, India will require over $1 trillion or Rs 84 lakh crore over the next 30 years, according to a study by environment and climate change research think-tank iForest (International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology). The first-of-its-kind study, published last week, attempted to estimate the cost of phasing down coal mines and coal plants, along with the costs of ensuring socio-economic stability in coal-dependent regions.

Key Points to Ponder-

• What will a ‘just’ energy transition look like?

• What are the costs associated with a just transition?

• Where will the funds for a just transition come from?

• How have other countries approached a just transition?

• What did the study of four coal-dependent districts in India find?

• What exactly environmental think-tank iForest said?

• The coal mining sector in India-Know in detail

• What is the current coal mining sector situation in India?

• “India is a major producer of numerous metals and minerals”-Know in detail

For Your Information-

• In the next 30 years, India will require more than a trillion dollars, or `84 lakh crore at current rates, to transition away from coal mining and thermal power plants, estimates a first-of-its-kind study by environmental think-tank iForest.

• These costs will largely be required to close mines which produce 1,315 million tonnes per annum of coal cumulatively and to phase out coal-based thermal power plants which have a capacity of 237.2 gigawatts, said the new study.

• The energy transition estimate did not include the investment cost of setting up new green energy plants and infrastructure, which alone is estimated to be in trillions of dollars. It also excluded costs of transitioning for industries such as steel and cement that use coal directly.

• The other associated costs required to move away from the coal-dependent economy will include rehabilitation and repurposing of closed coal lines, using the closed mines for clean energy and crucially, supporting nearly 60 lakh workers who are dependent on the coal economy.

• The study divided the costs of transition into green energy costs and non-energy costs. Green energy costs, accounted for neatly 52 per cent of the total costs, and comprised the cost of building green energy plants, repowering existing thermal power plants through other sources of power and upgradation of the electricity grid.

• About 48 per cent of the transition costs are non-energy costs such as “just transition costs”, which refers to supporting workers and communities dependent on coal to get livelihood alternatives and costs of economic diversification which can create green jobs.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

????Transition away from coal power poses grave challenges to marginalised groups: report

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

????Consider the following statements: (2023) Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most its electricity production. Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent at of least 60%, is required for the production of electricity. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-1 (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct” Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: ????In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development.” Discuss (2017)

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