Global Investors to Develop Islands

India is set to invite global investors to develop strategically important islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep.

The Government will focus on wide ranging social and infrastructure development programmes including transshipment terminal at Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar, the largest of the Nicobar islands), air connectivity, sea- connectivity, boosting satellite bandwidth, etc. according to the Island Development Plan prepared by the NITI Aayog.

Island Development Plan by NITI Aayog

• The projects covered under it are in the areas of:
  • Road, sea and air connectivity,
  • Clean energy,
  • Development of resorts,
  • Digital connectivity,
  • Healthcare and education.
• The plan also proposes to extend benefits available to businesses in the north-eastern region, such as subsidy on capital investment and interest on working capital loans, reimbursement of the central government’s share of GST, etc

Significance

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands are of maritime importance to India with its potential for trade and surveillance.
• A large port facility at Campbell Bay could offer better opportunity for India to trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), given that it lies on an international trade route.
• Given the strategic location of Andaman & Nicobar (A&N Islands) and the Lakshadweep Islands and China’s belligerent expansionist policy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), there is a need to develop critical infrastructure and upgrade the military base in these regions. For instance,  China pushing for infrastructure projects, like the Kra Canal, will likely influence the new emerging security architecture in the Indo-Pacific.
• India’s only tri-service command is established at the A&N Islands at the entrance of the Malacca Strait, the 2.8 km long -world’s most congested choke point, and the primary route for Chinese oil supply.
• The region gains importance in the light of emerging Sino-Indian competition in the region which can be seen through the routine deployment of submarines by China, development of underwater surveillance networks, expansion of Chinese naval bases with the establishment of a military base in Djibouti and extending the reach of the One Belt One Road (OBOR).
• The Doklam standoff and the recent Chinese policy of forming strategic/ critical commercial alliances with India’s neighbouring countries as the United States displays a clear proclivity towards India, makes fast-paced Island development all the more imperative. This sentiment is mirrored in the recent formation of the ‘Quad’ coalition group by India,Japan, Australia and the US , apart from the Malabar Naval Exercises by the same nations.
• The A&N Islands alone account for 30% of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)-revenue - given their unrealized potential, bridging the infrastructure gap becomes crucial.
• Developing the islands as prime Tourist Hotspots can help create many forward and backward linkages and help boost the economy of the regions to a large extent.

Other Initiatives

• In 2016, the government identified 26 Islands for promoting and implementing development based on sustainable approach to building a thriving economy of the project islands.
• The government has also announced laying of submarine optical fiber cable between Chennai and A&N Islands so as to increase telephone and internet connectivity in the region by December 2018.
• In 2017, the Island Development Agency (IDA) was established for the holistic development of the islands, focusing on community-based tourism.

Island Development Agency (IDA)

• Island Development agency (IDA) was constituted  for the holistic development of islands. It will undertake holistic development in the project islands after giving due consideration to unique maritime and territorial biodiversity of the islands.
• IDA is chaired by Union Home Minister.
• Other members are the Cabinet secretary, home secretary, secretary (environment, forests and climate change), secretary (tourism) and secretary (tribal welfare).

• Key Infrastructure projects such as creation of jetties/berthing facilities, Roll-on/Roll-off ships; Bridges on Andaman Trunk Road; Upgradation of Diglipur Airport; Construction of Minicoy Airport; Augmentation of Satellite Bandwidth in Andaman & Nicobar; augmentation of helicopter services for Islanders and tourists etc. are being accorded priority accordingly.
• The 2016 Indo-Japan Joint Statement on Bilateral Cooperation envisioned to develop “Smart Islands” on the line of the ‘Smart Cities’ project.
• Development of water de-salination plants and waste management are also part of the development scheme.
• NITI Aayog is also working on a revenue model to build sea connectivity projects in the public-private partnership mode, especially for ships carrying automobiles.

Way Forward

• Although, the need for civil infrastructure development in Island regions is unquestionable, in the wake of existing geo-strategic position of these islands, upgradation of defense facilities is equally important. This will constructively channelize the positive externalities of such assets to enhance the living conditions of entire populace.
• However, due attention needs to be paid so as to not disturb the ecological balance, disrupt local livelihood-activities, and engage all stakeholders in the decision making process while ensuring that sufficient institutions and mechanisms exist for grievance redressal, compensation and rehabilitation.

Centre to Form Group of Ministers (GoM) to Decide India’s Fate Regarding Joining RCEP

The Central government will set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to decide the course of action regarding India joining the 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

• The GoM comprises Commerce and Industry Minister, Finance Minister, Defence Minister and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister.
• Most ministries and departments have expressed reservations about India joining the proposed RCEP.
• The move comes amid pressure from other potential RCEP members to show substantial progress in negotiations by the end of this year.

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Programme (RCEP)

• RCEP is a proposed FTA between 10 ASEAN countries (Brunei, Myanmar,Cambodia,Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and their six FTA partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.
• The proposed RCEP aspires to cover almost every aspect of economy such as goods, services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, intellectual property rights (IPR), rules of origin and competition and dispute settlement.
• It accounts for 25% of global GDP, 30% of global trade, 26% of FDI flows and 45% of the total population.
• From India’s point of view, RCEP is critical:
  • RCEP countries account for almost 27% of India’s total trade.
  • Exports to RCEP countries account for about 15% of India’s total exports and imports from RCEP comprise 35% of India’s total imports.
  • India runs a trade deficit with ASEAN as well as partner countries of RCEP.

Concerns

• Since RCEP proposes to eliminate import tariffs on 90% of goods, many across the Government felt that joining the pact could severely dent local manufacturing and jobs in India.
• India runs a trade deficit with ASEAN as well as partner countries of RCEP. India’s trade deficit with the bloc has risen from $9 billion in 2005 to $83 billion in 2017, of which China alone accounts for over 60% of the deficit. There are concerns that China’s $60-billion trade surplus with India will swell even further as it floods the market with cheap goods at zero tariff.
• Moreover, India's experience with trade pacts hasn't been very good. India already has trade pacts with Asean, Japan and South Korea.
• The view is that it got a raw deal on services, its core strength, under the Asean trade agreement while losing out on market access in goods that is hurting domestic manufacturing.
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce in December 2017 strongly recommended that India seek better market access for its products and services where India has an edge over ASEAN nations, like leather goods and pharmaceuticals, to improve the trade balance with ASEAN.
• The committee also found that while exports of agricultural products from India faced high import tariffs and barriers, leading to a sharp drop in trade, there was ‘near absence of quality norms’ for import of cheap processed food products from ASEAN countries.
• Consequently, India has so far maintained that a speedy and successful conclusion of the agreement would be possible only with the inclusion of a higher level of services and investment in the India-Asean trade basket since India’s strength lies in services trade, and negotiation on this is critical.

Way Forward

• It is vital for India to ensure that the RCEP is truly comprehensive and does not just focus on market access for goods while ignoring services where it has comparative advantages.
• India should actively pursue second generation reforms of its domestic economic policies, including those that reform its factor markets, to make its trade more competitive.

World’s First Thermal Battery Plant Unveiled in Andhra Pradesh

The world’s first-ever thermal battery plant has been inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh.

• The plant will be operated by the Bharat Energy Storage Technologies Pvt Ltd (BEST) and is seen as a potential alternative to the energy produced using fossil fuels.
• It aims to create a new energy storage form that is expected to have commercial applications, while also maintaining a low carbon footprint.

Significance

• The solar energy is dependent on external factors like weather and it also requires a robust energy storage infrastructure.
• Even the existing energy storage technologies depend on Lithium-based batteries, which are expensive since their replacement is needed every six to seven years. They are also low on energy density and need a high footprint.
• Furthermore, Lithium's sensitivity to extreme temperatures requires the energy storage systems to be placed in conditioned temperatures, requiring about eight to ten per cent energy storage for the cause.
• Thus, the coming of thermal battery is a landmark development in the field of technology and environmental protection.

Thermal Battery

• Thermal Battery was invented and patented by Dr Patrick Glynn in India 2016.
• It uses thermal energy to operate, i.e., the energy created by temperature differences. Therefore, the energy transfer in thermal batteries helps store heat when heat travels from one part of the battery setup to the other.
• A thermal battery consists of two parts: a cool zone known as sink, and a hot source called source.
• Both these sides consist of compounds known as phase-changing materials (PCMs), which can change their state of matter on the basis of a physical/chemical reaction.
• When the sink of a thermal battery receives heat, it transforms physically or chemically, thereby storing energy, while the source cools down.
• During operation, the sink is cooled down, so it releases the stored energy, while the source heats up.
• Depending on the nature of the battery, the system can derive heat from any source, which makes a thermal battery very versatile.

Applications

• The energy storage device will help store renewable energy for various purposes and thereby help in mitigating carbon emissions, grid balancing and stabilisations.
• It will be used to store energy for telecommunication, commercial establishments, electric vehicles and highway charging stations.
• Since thermal batteries function as long as there is a heat source to drive their operation, they could help solve power issues in remote areas, and also address rising energy requirements from regional or national grids.
• The batteries are expected to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources of energy.
• The facility will also manufacture storage devices that are environment-friendly with no use of hard metal or inflammable substances.
• It also aims at thriving in the global market by helping curtail global warming and carbon emissions and looks forward to helping achieve the Government of India's vision of electrified mobility by 2030.

HIV Prevalence Rising among North Eastern States

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura have emerged as the new hotspots for HIV.

• According to MOHFW, HIV cases are rising in the north eastern states due to the high-risk behavior of Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), and unsafe sexual practices.
• The single most critical factor in spread of drug abuse in the Northeast Region, is its long boundary with Myanmar, part of the Golden Triangle, the world’s major sources of IV drugs of abuse, specifically heroin.
• There is a need for prevention and intervention strategies for the most-at-risk population in these pockets, with good coverage.
• According to the National AIDS Research Institute (NARI), the target is to bring 90% of the 21 lakh people living with the HIV infection in India under Anti-Retroviral Treatment ( ART). The challenge is to encourage more people to take the test and then provide them with ART.

Key facts

• According to a study by the The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in 2017, HIV prevalence is highest in Mizoram (1.19 percent), Nagaland (0.82 percent), Meghalaya (0.73 percent), Tripura (0.56 percent) and Manipur (0.47 percent).
• HIV prevalence in the case of pregnant women visiting ante-natal clinics (ANC) in the northeastern States of Mizoram (1.19%), Nagaland (0.82%), Meghalaya (0.73%), Tripura (0.56%) and Manipur (0.47%) were among the highest.
• In case of sex workers, prevalence of HIV was as high as 24.68 percent in Aizwal district compared with 1.6 percent for other sites in the country.

Anti-Retroviral Treatment ( ART)

• Standard antiretroviral therapy (ART) consists of the combination of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to maximally suppress the HIV virus and stop the progression of HIV disease.
• ART are medications that treat HIV. The drugs do not kill or cure the virus. However, when taken in combination they can prevent the growth of the virus.

China Successfully Tests its First Hypersonic Aircraft

China has successfully tested its first waverider hypersonic flight vehicle, a weapon that can carry nuclear warheads and break through any current generation anti-missile defense system due to its high speed and unpredictable trajectory.

• The Xingkong-2, or Starry Sky-2, was launched in a rocket and  released in the air after about 10 minutes.
• The current generation of anti-missile defense systems are mainly designed to intercept cruise and ballistic missiles, which are either slower or easier to predict, making them possible to intercept.
• In addition to its military use, the hypersonic flight vehicle may also see civil use and industrial transport.

Hypersonic Aircraft

• These are the aircrafts which travels at least four times faster than the speed of sound.
• It flies through the atmosphere at speeds above Mach 5, a speed where dissociation of air begins to become significant and high heat loads exists.
• This type of aircraft, also known as the Waverider uses the shock waves generated by its own flight as a lifting surface to glide at high speed .
• A traditional engine’s fan blades cannot be used for these jets, as they would melt if used at hypersonic speeds.
• The aircraft instead uses the shockwaves created by travelling at such high speeds to squeeze incoming air.

Important Facts for Prelims (7th August, 2018)

Internet Based Science Channel

• Under the guidance of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Vigyan Prasar has launched an Internet-based science channel (Indiascience.in) to showcase the developments in science and technology in India.

Key Facts

• The channel will have a library of theme-based programmes and a live content everyday related to science and technology.
• It envisions to make science done in India accessible to a larger audience.
• It will have a bilingual channel (Hindi and English) which will offer scheduled programming as well as video-on-demand facility.
• It will cover the “entire landscape” of science and technology including engineering, health and medicine, natural science, environment and wildlife, agriculture among others.
• It will mainly focus on India's contribution in science and Technology and will also cover the latest S&T developments from all around the world.

MAITREE 2018

• Forces of Indian Army and Royal Thai Army will conduct a joint military exercise code- named “MAITREE-2018”in August.
• This 14 days exercise aims to build and promote closer relations between both nations and to enhance the ability of Royal Thai Army and Indian Army to undertake joint tactical level operations on the handling of insurgency and related issues in the urban/rural scenario.
• India has participated in the Cobra Gold 2016 multilateral amphibious exercise hosted by Thailand.
• The Royal Thailand Navy and the Indian Navy have been participating in Coordinated Patrols (CORPATs) in the Indian Ocean region since 2005.

Joint Military Exercises of India with Other Countries
Name of Exercise	Country
Garuda Shakti	Indonesia
Ekuverin	Maldives
Hand-in-Hand	China
Kurukshetra	Singapore
Mitra Shakti	Sri Lanka
Nomadic Elephant	Mongolia
Shakti	France
Surya Kiran	Nepal
Yudh Abhyas	USA
Shatrujeet	USA

Project Mausam

• Project ‘Mausam’ is a Ministry of Culture project to be implemented by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi as the nodal coordinating agency with support of Archeological Survey of India and National Museum as associate bodies.
• Project ‘Mausam’ aims to understand how the knowledge and manipulation of the monsoon winds has shaped interactions across the Indian Ocean and led to the spread of shared knowledge systems, traditions, technologies and ideas along maritime routes. These exchanges were facilitated by different coastal centres and their surrounding environs.
• Project Mausam functions at two levels:
  • At the macro level, it aims to re-connect and re-establish communications between countries of the Indian Ocean world, which would lead to an enhanced understanding of cultural values and concerns.
  • At the micro level, the focus is on understanding national cultures in their regional maritime milieu.

Aspirational Districts for RUSA Scheme

• NITI Aayog has identified 117 districts as ‘Aspirational Districts’. These districts have been selected on the basis of composite index which includes published data of deprivation listed under socio-economic caste census, health & nutrition, education and basic infrastructure.
• During the second phase of the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) Scheme, central assistance is provided for opening of new Model Degree Colleges(MDCs) in ‘Aspirational Districts’ identified by NITI Aayog and in unserved & underserved districts in North Eastern and Himalayan States.
• RUSA Scheme is the centrally sponsored scheme that aims at providing strategic funding to higher educational institutions throughout the country. Funding is provided by the central ministry through the state governments and union territories (UT), which in coordination with the central Project Appraisal Board will monitor the academic, administrative and financial advancements taken under the scheme.
• The objectives of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan are:
  • Improve the overall quality of state institutions by conforming to the prescribed norms and standards.
  • Adoption of accreditation (certification of competency) as a mandatory quality assurance framework.
  • Creation of a facilitating institutional structure for planning and monitoring at the same level.
  • Promoting autonomy in state universities and improving governance in institutions.
  • Ensure reforms in the affiliation, academic and examination system.
  • Ensure adequate availability of quality faculty in all higher educational institutions and ensure capacity building at all levels of employment.
  • Create an enabling atmosphere for research in higher education system.
  • Expand the institutional base by creating additional capacity in existing institutions and establishing new institutions, in order to reach enrolment targets.
  • Correct regional imbalances in access to higher education by setting up institutions in unserved and underserved area.
  • Improve equity in higher education by providing adequate opportunities to the disadvantaged.

Ishan Vikas and Ishan Uday

• Ishan Vikas and Ishan Uday scholarship schemes are being implemented for the students of North Eastern region.
• Ishan Vikas is a comprehensive plan launched by the MHRD to bring selected schoolchildren from the North-Eastern states into close contact with the IITs, IISERs and NIAS during their vacation periods to motivate them to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It aims to encourage internship for the engineering college students of North-Eastern states in various institutes of national importance.
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched “Ishan Uday” a Special Scholarship Scheme for North East Region (NER) from academic session 2014-15. Under the scheme ten thousand fresh scholarships are to be provided for general degree course, technical and professional courses including medical and para-medical courses.
• The objectives of the Special Scholarship Scheme for North Eastern Region are:
  • To provide equal opportunities for higher studies in NE Region.
  • To increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in NE Region.
  • To focus more on professional education in NE Region.
  • Optimum utilization of NER Budgetary Allocation.