INSIGHTS

DAILY
CURRENT
AFFAIRS + PIB
SUMMARY

12 SEP 2023

www.insightsonindia.com
 GS1
Table of Contents
GS1
MARITIME TRADE ROUTE BE-
• Maritime trade route between India and Europe 2 TWEEN INDIA AND EUROPE
GS2/ GS3
• India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC) Syllabus: Ancient History
 3
Source: IE
GS3
• India’s falling cotton production 5 Context: The article is related to the recently launched In-
dia-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC), from
a historical point of view. Check the next article for IMEE-EC
Content for Mains Enrichment
• Initiatives for promoting disability Rights and Promoting
inclusivity 6
What is the Red Sea Route?
The Red Sea route refers to an ancient maritime trade route
Facts for Prelims (FFP) that connected India with the Roman Empire through the
• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (SSB) 2022 6 Red Sea.
• Vidya Samiksha Kendras 7 • This route facilitated the exchange of various goods,
• Goa Roadmap and ‘Travel for LiFE’ program 7 including luxuries like spices, ivory, pearls, gem-
• Global regulation of cryptocurrencies 8 stones, and pepper from India to the Roman Empire.
• Project Samudrayaan 8
• Genetic engineering to control Mosquitoes 9
• New Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for Environ-
mental Issues 9
• United Nations’ Global Stocktake Report 9

Mapping
• Moodbidri (Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka) 10

About the Red Sea Route:

About Details
Indian Trade Con- Custom taxes from Red Sea trade may
tribution to the have covered one-third of Roman in-
Roman Empire’s come
Income
Trade Goods Ex- Luxuries, spices, ivory, pearls, pre-
changed cious gemstones, pepper, wild ani-
mals, and more
Importance of In- Pepper was India’s major export and
dian Pepper was highly sought after in Rome

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 Importance of the GS2/ GS3
route Chinese silk reached Rome through
India’s ports, emphasizing India’s his- INDIA-MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE
torical importance
Recent excavations in places like Muz-
ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (IMEE-EC)
iris and Berenike have contributed to
understanding the trade
Syllabus: Multilateral Initiatives/ Impact of LPG
India’s centrality in trade and the
spread of ideas during the 1st and Source: TOI, IE,
2nd centuries CE is recognized
Context: On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Del-
About Red Sea: hi, an MoU was signed between India, the US, Saudi Arabia,
The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean located between the European Union, the UAE, France, Germany, and Italy to
Africa and Asia. It is one of the most saline bodies of water establish the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
globally. Bordering countries include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, (IMEE-EC).
Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, and Djibouti. It connects to the In-
dian Ocean in the south through the Bab el Mandeb Strait
and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, it is bordered by the Sinai What is IMEC?
Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez, leading to The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC)
the Suez Canal. The Red Sea occupies a part of the Great Rift is an infrastructure development project that aims to create
Valley, known as the Afro-Arabian Rift Valley. connectivity through rail and shipping networks, energy ca-
bles, and data links.

Why is it called “Red Sea”?

The Red Sea is not red in appearance; it typically has blue- More about IMEC EC:
green water. One theory suggests that a cyanobacteria
India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE-EC)
called Trichodesmium erythraeum, a red-colored algae,
may occasionally turn the water reddish-brown during sea- Participating India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Germany,
sonal algal blooms. Another theory links the name to Asiatic Countries Italy, USA, EU
languages that use colours to denote cardinal directions, Objectives IMEC seeks to boost trade, clean energy,
with “red” possibly representing “south.” and economic growth while providing an
alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initia-
tive (BRI)
Part of It is part of the Partnership for Rail and
Shipping Corridors Global Infrastructure
Investment (PGII) and focuses on enhanc-
ing global trade and cooperation through
critical infrastructure development.
C o r r i d o r Railway lines (make trade between India
Components and Europe 40% faster).

Electricity cable and a clean hydrogen

pipeline to foster clean energy trade.
High-speed data cable to link innovative
digital ecosystems in the world and create
business opportunities
Corridor Seg- Eastern Corri-
ments dor connecting
India to the
Arabian Gulf,
Northern Corri-
dor connecting
Arabian Gulf to
Europe

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 Benefits for Enhancing food security, regional supply East Asia. Under this, the Chinese government helped in
India chains, trade accessibility, environmen- providing loans for infrastructure projects to various coun-
tal considerations, economic cohesion, tries, and in many cases, Chinese companies were awarded
job creation, and reduces greenhouse gas contracts for carrying out the work.
emissions.
Reliable cross-border ship-to-rail transit Issues with Description
network connecting India, the UAE, Saudi BRI
Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe. Unsustain- According to a 2019 World Bank report,
It offers India a crucial role in global com- able Debts among the 43 corridors, 12 could face a sit-
merce, digital communication, and energy uation where debts were not sustainable
networks vis-à-vis China’s BRI E n v i r o n - BRI projects have raised concerns about en-
Geographical Advantage: It firmly posi- mental Con- vironmental degradation and their impact
tions India along the trade route spanning cerns on ecosystems.
South East Asia to the Gulf, West Asia, and Corruption There have been allegations of corruption
Europe. in some BRI projects, affecting their cred-
ibility.
Critics argue that the BRI lacks transpar-
What is the PGII initiative? ency in agreements and financing, making
The PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment) costs unclear.
initiative (announced in 2021 during the G7 summit in the Te r r i t o r i a l E.g., BRI included the China-Pakistan Eco-
UK) is a collaborative effort by G7 countries to fund infra- Disputes nomic Corridor, which connected Kashgar
structure projects in developing nations. in China with the Gwadar port in Pakistan
• It serves as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road via Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
Initiative (BRI) and aims to mobilize funds for critical
Varying Ben- Different countries have varying opinions
infrastructure development, focusing on transpar-
efits on the benefits of enhanced trade connec-
ency, sustainability, and gender equality.
tivity through BRI.
• PGII emphasizes loans over charity, benefiting both
lending and receiving countries. G7 Alterna- The G7’s PGII initiative aims to provide a
tive more transparent and sustainable alterna-
tive to the BRI.
Other initiatives under PGII announced previously are:
PGII Initiatives Description
Trans-African It will connect the port of Lobito in An-
Corridor gola with Katanga province in Congo
and the copper belt in Zambia
Clean Energy The PGII announced clean energy proj-
Projects in In- ects in Indonesia to support sustainable
donesia energy sources and infrastructure devel-
opment.
Investments in The US government’s International De-
India’s Health velopment Finance Corporation (DFC)
Infrastructure pledged over $15 million to invest in In-
dia’s health infrastructure, including eye
clinics and women’s hygiene products.
Mains Links:
EU’s Global The European Union (EU) committed Q. The newly tri-nation partnership AUKUS is aimed at coun-
Gateway Pro- to activating 300 billion USD in invest- tering China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. Is it going
gram ments for critical connectivity projects, to supersede the existing partnerships in the region? Discuss
with a focus on Africa and various re- the strength and impact of AUKUS in the present scenario.
gions around the world. (UPSC 2021)

About the BRI project: Q. China is using its economic relation and positive trade
China began the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 under surplus as tools to develop potential military power status
its President Xi Jinping. It aims to revive the ancient trade in Asia” In the light of this statement. Discuss its impact on
routes crossing to and from China–from Rome in Europe to India as her neighbour. (UPSC 2017)

4 www.insightsonindia.com
GS3 thirds of the total consumption.

The impact of Bt technology on cotton production in India:

INDIA’S FALLING COTTON PRO- • Introduction to Bt Technology (2002): India adopted
DUCTION genetically modified (GM) cotton hybrids embedded
with genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteri-
um, which were toxic to certain pests.
Syllabus: Cropping Pattern/ Agriculture • Significant Boost in Production and Yield: Between
2000-01 and 2013-14, Bt cotton led to a remarkable
Context: The article highlights the current issues with India’s increase in cotton production, from 140 lakh to 398
cotton production. lakh bales, and a doubling of lint yields per hectare
from 278 kg to 566 kg.
o Lint is the fluffy, white fibre of cotton that is
About Cotton: used for textiles and fabric production.
Cotton is a versatile crop known for its white fluffy fibre, oil- • Subsequent Yield Decline: However, post-2013-
rich seeds, and protein-rich seed cake. It has various uses, 14, cotton production and yields started declining,
including textiles, cooking oil, and livestock feed. reaching about 343 lakh bales and 447 kg/hectare
by 2022-23.

Reasons for the decline of cotton Production in India:

Reason Impact on Cotton Production in
India
Development of Initially, Bt cotton protected against
Pink Bollworm pests like the American bollworm
(PBW) Resistance and pink bollworm. But by 2014,
to Bt Cotton pink bollworms developed resistance
to Bt proteins, causing widespread in-
festations and yield reductions.
Shift from Non-Bt Decreased diversity in cotton variet-
Cotton Cultivation ies increased the scale of infestation.
Pest Infestation Farmers in some states, like Punjab,
Discouraging avoid cotton cultivation.
Farmers
Ineffectiveness of Conventional insecticides had limited
Traditional Insec- efficacy against PBW larvae, affecting
ticides lint quality and yields.

Solutions to control the Pink Bollworm (PBW):

Significance of Cotton in India: • Mating Disruption as a Solution: “Mating disrup-
• Triple Role: Cotton in India provides food, feed, and tion” uses synthetic versions of pheromones to con-
fibre, making it a crucial crop for agriculture and the fuse male PBW moths, preventing them from mat-
textile sector. ing with females.
• Cotton Components: After harvesting cotton o Products like PBKnot and SPLAT were ap-
(Kapas), the breakdown is approximately 36% fibre, proved for this purpose.
62% seeds, and 2% waste.
o Cottonseed is essential for vegetable oil and Government initiatives for the Cotton sector in India:
feed cake production. • Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme
• Market Contribution: Cottonseed oil is the (ATUFS)
third-largest domestically produced vegetable oil in • Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme
India, following mustard and soyabean. It also ranks • SAMARTH (Scheme for Capacity Building in the Tex-
second in feed cake production, with soybeans lead- tile Sector)
ing. • Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA)
• Textile Dominance: Cotton is the dominant fibre in • Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme to
India’s textile industry, accounting for about two- promote the production of MMF Apparel, MMF

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 Fabrics and Products of Technical Textiles Initiatives:
Initiative Description
MOU with the For inclusion of universal accessibility
The textile sector in India:
Council of Archi- courses in Bachelor of Architecture
India is one of the largest consumers and producers of cot-
tecture programs and develop certified cours-
ton and jute in the world. 95% of the world’s hand-woven
es for accessibility audits.
fabric comes from India.
Releasing of Release of anonymous data via the
It is the 2nd largest employment provider after agriculture. A n o n y m o u s UDID portal for research, enabling da-
India is 2nd largest manufacturer of PPE and producer of Data of UDID ta-driven decision-making in the dis-
polyester, silk and fibre in the world. ability sector.
PM Daksh Portal Introduction of the PM Daksh Portal,
a digital platform offering registration,
skill training options, job listings, and
streamlined administrative processes
for persons with disabilities.
Courts on Dis- Compilation of significant disabili-
ability Rights ty rights judgments from India’s Su-
preme Court and High Courts into a
booklet for reference.
Online Case Adoption of a paperless and efficient
Monitoring Por- online case monitoring portal by the
tal by CCPD Chief Commissioner for Persons with
Disabilities for handling grievances.

Usage: These examples can be used in Questions related to

disability, inclusivity, disability rights, and leveraging technol-
ogy to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities in India.

Insta Links: Facts for Prelims (FFP)

• Textile industry seeks govt support to stay compet-
itive
• Sustainable Cotton Textiles SHANTI SWARUP BHATNAGAR
PRIZE (SSB) 2022
Mains Links:
Q. Analyse the factors for the highly decentralised cotton
Context: Twelve male scientists were awarded India’s top
textile industry in India. (UPSC 2013)
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize (SSB) for Science and Tech-
nology in 2022. The awards were announced at the inau-
gural session of the CSIR-NIScPR’s One Week One Lab Pro-
Content for Mains Enrichment gramme.
• However, no female scientists have been chosen for
this year
INITIATIVES FOR PROMOTING • The awards were last announced in 2021

DISABILITY RIGHTS AND PRO- About the award and CSIR:

MOTING INCLUSIVITY Shanti Swarup Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) annu-
Bhatnagar (SSB) al Prize for Science and Technology,
Prize established in 1957. Named after Dr.
The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabili- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the found-
ties (DEPwD) in India has introduced five transformative ini- er-director of CSIR. Since its inception,
tiatives aimed at reshaping the disability rights landscape only 19 women scientists have been
and promoting inclusivity. the recipients of the SSB award

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 About CSIR Council of Scientific and Industrial Currently, a central VSK centre is managed by Ernst and
Research was established by the Gov- Young, and it operates on open-source C-Qube software.
ernment of India in 1942 (HQ: New Data is manually input and accessible in downloadable Excel
Delhi) as an autonomous body that format, but the plan is to shift to automatic data integration
has emerged as the largest research using Application Programming Interface (API) integration.
and development organisation in In- This aligns with the National Education Policy of 2020, aim-
dia and also among the world’s largest ing to make data open source.
publicly funded R&D organisations
Significance:
Comprises 37 national laboratories, • The goal is to analyse data from various sources for
39 outreach centers, 3 Innovation correlations and insights. For example, attendance
Complexes, and 5 units. patterns can be correlated with student drop-out
The Ministry of Science and Technol- rates or linked to the effectiveness of mid-day meal
ogy operates autonomously under the programs.
Societies Registration Act, 1860. • VSKs are also intended to map school locations and
population data to assess the Gross Access Ratio,
Scope Encompasses various fields including aiding in the planning of new schools, industry clus-
physics, genomics, nanotechnology, ters, skilling requirements, and higher education
mining, aeronautics, and more; Con- institutions based on demand and future scenarios.
duct scientific and industrial/applied
research of national importance This initiative aims to improve educational data analytics
Structure President: Prime Minister of India and enhance decision-making in the education sector.
(Ex-officio); Vice President: Union
Minister of Science and Technology
(Ex-officio) GOA ROADMAP AND ‘TRAVEL
Initiatives Addressing COVID-19 through tech-
nology verticals including diagnostics, FOR LIFE’ PROGRAM
drug repurposing, and more.
Developing indigenous technologies
Context: During the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Delhi, the lead-
like Head-Up-Display for aircraft, solar
ers endorsed the “Goa Roadmap” and the “Travel for Life”
trees for clean power, and lithium-ion
program, both aimed at boosting the tourism sector.
battery fabrication.
Agriculture initiatives such as Bacteri-
Initiative Description
al Blight blight-resistant rice, white-
fly resistant cotton variety, and more. Goa Roadmap Aligned with India’s G20 Presidency
theme - Emphasizes the pivotal role
Healthcare projects like Genomics and
of tourism in sustainable socio-eco-
other omics technologies for medical
nomic development and environ-
decision support and Ksheer-scanner
mental stewardship - Focuses on five
for milk adulteration detection.
priorities: Green Tourism, Digitaliza-
Food and nutrition efforts including tion, Skills, Tourism MSMEs (Micro,
Double-Fortified Salt to address ane- Small, and Medium-sized Enterpris-
mia. es), and Destination Management
G20 Tourism and Launched by the Ministry of Tourism
SDG Dashboard in collaboration with the UNWTO
VIDYA SAMIKSHA KENDRAS (United Nations World Tourism Orga-
nization) - Serves as a global reposito-
Context: The Ministry of Education is urging states to estab- ry showcasing best practices and case
lish Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs), which are data reposi- studies on sustainable tourism from
tories under the National Digital Education Architecture. G20 nations
• These centres will collect data from various educa- Tourism for To- To be launched by the Ministry of
tional schemes run by the Ministry of Education, morrow Competi- Tourism - A national competition
including mid-day meal programs, teacher training,
tion aimed at identifying and recognizing
textbook content, school attendance, students’
learning outcomes, and performance grading. best practices aligned with the prior-
ities of the Goa Roadmap

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 Travel for LiFE Pro- Inspired by the concept of “Lifestyle providers can help fill information gaps and facilitate
gram for Environment” (LiFE) promoted the monitoring of cross-border crypto activities.
by India’s Prime Minister - Encour- • Anti-money Laundering Standards: It recommends
ages tourists and tourist businesses implementing the Financial Action Task Force’s
to take simple actions benefiting the standards to combat money laundering and terror-
environment and climate - Promotes ist financing related to cryptocurrencies.
responsible and sustainable tourism -
Recognizes both tourists and tourism The G20 Leaders Declaration endorsed the FSB’s recommen-
businesses for their sustainable prac- dations and welcomed the paper’s roadmap for a coordinat-
tices ed and comprehensive policy and regulatory framework.

About FSB:
The Financial Stability Board (founded in 2009; HQ: Basel,
GLOBAL REGULATION OF CRYP- Switzerland) is an international body that monitors and
makes recommendations about the global financial system.
TOCURRENCIES It was established after the G20 London summit (2009) as a
successor to the Financial Stability Forum.
Context: The article highlights the differences in cryptocur-
rency regulations worldwide.

What is cryptocurrency and how it is different from Central PROJECT SAMUDRAYAAN

bank currencies?
Context: Indian scientists are gearing up for an ambitious
Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual form of currency that project called Samudrayaan, which involves sending three
uses cryptography for security. It operates on decentralized people 6,000 meters underwater in a domestically devel-
technology called blockchain, which records all transactions oped submersible named Matsya 6000.
transparently. • This mission aims to explore the ocean depths of
precious metals and minerals such as cobalt, nickel,
Unlike central bank currencies (fiat currencies), cryptocur- and manganese.
rencies are not issued or regulated by a central authority
About Matsya 6000:
like a government or central bank. They are decentralized,
Matsya 6000 has been in development for nearly two years
borderless, and typically have limited supply, making them
and will undergo its first sea trials in the Bay of Bengal off
immune to government manipulation and often subject to
the Chennai coast in early 2024. The submersible’s design
price volatility.
has been reviewed carefully, taking into account materials,
testing, certification, redundancy, and standard operating
The current regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies in
procedures.
India:
• In 2018, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) banned In-
The submersible’s design includes a 2.1-meter diameter
dian banks from engaging in cryptocurrency trans-
sphere made of 80mm-thick titanium alloy, capable of
actions.
withstanding the immense pressure at 6,000 meters depth,
• In 2020, the Supreme Court of India overturned the
which is 600 times greater than sea level pressure. The vehi-
RBI’s ban on cryptocurrency transactions.
cle is designed to operate continuously for 12 to 16 hours,
• In the 2022-23 Union budget, India proposed a 30%
with a 96-hour oxygen supply.
tax on income generated from digital asset transfers
and a 1% Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on crypto-
About Mission Samudrayaan:
currency transactions.
• The Samudrayaan mission is part of the Deep Ocean
Mission, and sea trials at a depth of 500 meters are
planned for the first quarter of 2024. The mission’s
The major view of the IMF and the Financial Stability Board full realization is expected by 2026.
(FSB) paper on cryptocurrencies: • It’s worth noting that only a few countries, includ-
• Difficulty in Banning Cryptocurrencies: Banning ing the US, Russia, Japan, France, and China, have
cryptocurrencies may not be an effective option developed manned submersibles.
as it could lead to activities shifting to more cryp- • In addition to searching for valuable minerals like
to-friendly jurisdictions and push transactions out- nickel, cobalt, and manganese, Matsya 6000 will
investigate the chemosynthetic biodiversity in hy-
side a country’s oversight, raising financial risks.
drothermal vents and low-temperature methane
• Regulation Over Ban: The paper suggests that su- seeps in the ocean.
pervising licensed crypto-asset issuers and service

8 www.insightsonindia.com
 NEW CENTRAL EMPOWERED
COMMITTEE (CEC) FOR ENVIRON-
MENTAL ISSUES

Context: The Union Environment Ministry has established a

new Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to replace an ad
hoc expert panel with the same name that has been assist-
ing the Supreme Court on forest and environmental issues
since 2002.
• This move has raised concerns about the commit-
tee’s independence under government control.

Under the new structure, the CEC will consist of a chairper-

son, a member secretary, and three expert members, all
appointed by the Union government. The chairperson must
have at least 25 years of experience in environmental, for-
estry, or wildlife fields or substantial administrative exper-
tise in government, serving a maximum term of three years.

Need for restructuring:

GENETIC ENGINEERING TO CON- • The restructuring of the CEC comes following the
passage of the Forest Conservation (Amendment)
TROL MOSQUITOES Bill, 2023, which some critics believe weakens ex-
isting safeguards in Indian forest law, potentially
facilitating construction projects in ecologically
Context: Genetic engineering is being used to upgrade mos- sensitive regions.
• This change in the committee’s composition has
quito control efforts due to the ongoing threat of mosqui-
raised questions about its ability to function inde-
to-borne diseases. pendently and issue impartial judgments, given
• Recent advancements in genome sequencing tech- that its members will now all be civil servants ap-
nology have provided researchers with access to pointed by the government.
mosquito genomes, particularly Anopheles ste-
phensi, a major malaria vector mosquito.
• Genetic manipulation, including gene-drive technol-
ogy, is employed to control mosquito populations
by interfering with their reproduction.
UNITED NATIONS’ GLOBAL
STOCKTAKE REPORT
Gene-drive technology, originally conceived by Austin Burt
in 2003, alters mosquito DNA to reduce their reproductive Context: The United Nations’ Global Stocktake report was
capabilities or make them sterile, preventing the transmis- released just ahead of the G-20 meeting.
sion of diseases like malaria. Some approaches involve en-
hancing genes in mosquitoes to produce antimicrobial sub- About the report:
stances, disrupting disease transmission. The United Nations’ Global Stocktake report serves as a blue-
print for discussions during the Conference of Parties and
Genetically modified mosquitoes, such as OX5034, have aims to assess countries’ progress in curbing greenhouse gas
been released in certain areas to reduce mosquito popu- emissions since 2015.
lations, showing promising results in decreasing disease in-
cidence. However, these technologies come with potential Key takeaways from the report:
risks, such as ecological disruptions and unintended conse-
Takeaways Details
quences in the ecosystem.
Positive takeaways
Paris Agreement’s The Paris Agreement has encour-
Impact: aged widespread climate action
worldwide.

9 www.insightsonindia.com
 Temperature Pro- Global temperature rise is now ex- B.C. The discovery includes various figurines, such as cow
jection Improve- pected to be between 2.4-2.6°C, a bovines, a mother goddess, peacocks, a horse, and more.
ment significant improvement from the
earlier projection of 3.7-4.8°C in Mudbidri is a town and taluk in Dakshina Kannada district.
2010. It lies 34 km northeast of the district headquarters, Manga-
lore, in Karnataka. Because of the widely grown bamboo in
Negative Takeaways
ancient days, this place was named Moodabidri.
Emission Rate Ex- Despite some progress, global emis-
ceeds Limits sions are to exceed the limits set in
the Paris Agreement
Ambitious Action Achieving net-zero CO2 emissions
Needed requires an 84% reduction in global
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions be-
low 2019 levels by 2050
Deficits in Climate There are shortfalls in various as-
Action pects of climate action, including
mitigation, adaptation, and finance,
indicating the need for more com-
prehensive efforts.
Key recommendations of the Report
On Mitigation Inclusive and equitable system
transformation for transitioning
from fossil fuel-based energy sys-
tems to renewable energy sources
like solar and wind
Adaptation Integrate climate change risks into
all aspects of planning and imple-
mentation. Ensure transparent re-
porting on adaptation efforts.

Finance Flows Enhance access to climate finance in

developing countries.

What is a megalithic dolmen?

It is a type of ancient burial structure consisting of large
About the Paris Agreement: stone slabs. These stones are arranged to create a chamber
It is a legally binding international treaty on climate change or tomb, often with a capstone on top.
that was adopted by 196 countries. Its primary goal is to lim-
it the increase in the global average temperature to well be-
low 2°C above pre-industrial levels. It includes a mechanism
known as the Global Stocktake (GST), which aims to assess
the global response to the climate crisis every five years.

Mapping

MOODBIDRI (DAKSHINA KANNA-

DA, KARNATAKA)
In recent archaeological explorations near Moodbidri, Dak-
shina Kannada, unique terracotta figurines were discovered
(related to the Megalithic Dolmen site). These figurines pro-
vide valuable insights into the study of the Bhoota cult or
Daiva Aradhane. They are datable to the period of 800-700

10 www.insightsonindia.com