Sunday Manthan NammaKPSC Current Affairs...

Sunday Manthan NammaKPSC Current Affairs Class

In Association with Bangalore School of Civil Services

Karnataka Lokayukta

It is the anti-corruption ombudsman body in Karnataka

The Administrative Reforms Commission had recommended the setting up of the institution of Lokayukta to improve the standards of public administration, by looking into complaints against the administrative actions, including cases of corruption, favouritism and official indiscipline in administrative machinery.

Appointment: The Lokayukta is appointed by the Governor of Karnataka on advice of Chief Minister of Karnataka in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, the Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council, the Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council and the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

Powers: The Lokayukta has the power to investigate Chief Minister, all other Ministers and Members of the State Legislature and all state government employees.

Lokayukta amendment Act 2015:

Lokayukta Act 1984 Lokayukta amendment Act 2015 The consent of the governor is mandatory to lodge a complaint against the chief minister under the Lokayukta Act 1984

Makes the consent of the Assembly mandatory to lodge a complaint against the chief minister as it identifies the Assembly as the competent authority, instead of the governor

Eligibility for lokayukta- The Lokayukta Act, 1984, makes the judge of the Supreme Court or Chief Justice of High Court eligible to be appointed as the Lokayukta. Eligibility for upalokayukta- The Lokayukta Act, 1984, had made it mandatory to consider High Court judges for the posts

A judge who has served not less than 10 years is eligible to be the Loakyukta, and a judge who has put in not less than five years as high court judge, can become the UpaLokayukta

The removal of Lokayukta: The Lokayukta Act, 1984, is vague on this. The Act does not specifically mention the number of MLAs who have to put their signatures for the removal of the Lokayukta

For the removal of the Lokayukta or the Upalokayukta, one-third of the total members of either House or both Houses of the legislature should sign a notice. After verification of charges by the presiding officer, it would be referred to the Chief Justice of the High Court for investigation. If the investigation report found truth in the allegations, then it can be adopted by a two third majority by whichever House in which the motion is pending and following that it would be sent to the Governor for his assent. Once a motion is moved against the Lokayuka or the Upalokayutka, they would

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ombudsman



be precluded from discharging duties during the pendency of the motion. The government can appoint an advocate to conduct the case.

Other provisions

The amendment identifies the Speaker of the Assembly and the Chairman of the Council as competent authorities to accord sanction to lodge complaints against MLAs and MLCs, respectively.

The amendment prohibits the Lokayukta and Upalokayukta from conducting an inquiry into any case, if allegations of corruption are levelled against them.

The amendment seeks to remove a norm that prior permission of Lokayukta and Upalokayukta should be sought before handing over the cases to other agencies.

According to the amendment, once the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court or the judge nominated finds the Lokayukta guilty of misconduct or incapacity, then both the Houses of the legislature can pass a motion with two-third majority stating that the Lokayukta should be removed.

In news:

Karnataka High Court adjourned further the hearing of a petition filed by Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao’s son Ashwin, questioning the investigation ordered by the Upalokayukta into the alleged corruption in Lokayukta.

The Special Investigation Team set up to probe the allegations of corruption in the Lokayukta office grilled the complainant, M.N. Krishnamurthy, for several hours. He had identified Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao’s son, Ashwin Rao, as the person misusing Lokayukta’s office for taking bribe.

All Legislative Assembly members, Congress and Opposition members alike demanded that Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao quit office for the alleged bribery scandal rocking the institution. The first step has been taken towards removal of Karnataka Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao by the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular).

They submitted separate petitions to Legislative Assembly Speaker to initiate the process of conducting an inquiry into the allegations of corruption.

The Opposition submitted a similar petition to Council Chairman as well The petition was signed by 83 MLAs, more than the number mandated by the Karnataka

Lokayukta Act. By then Bhaskar Rao resigned

The Mahadayi River Controversy

The Mahadayi originates in the Western Ghats and flows 35 km in Karnataka and 52 km in Goa.

The downstream state constitutes a large part of the river’s catchment (78 per cent), which also includes runoff from Maharashtra, although the main stem of the river does not flow through that state.

Maharashtra, as a result, is also party to the water-sharing dispute



The dispute

Karnataka side

Mahadayi or Mandovi river is said to be the life line of Goa, about two-third of it flows in Goa.

Two of its tributaries are Kalasa & Banduari nalas. Karnataka wants to construct dams across the Kalasa and banduri and divert water to

Malprabhariver which flows in the Belgaum District. This diversion of water will cater to the drinking water needs of villages and towns of

Belgaum, Dharwad, Bagalkot and Gadag districts.

Goa

This diversion has been opposed by Goa. Goa claims the transfer of water violates the National Water Policy, which does not allow transfer of water from a deficient basin. In their correspondence with the Union water resources ministry, Goa said its annual demand for water in 2050 would be 2,674 mcm, which is much more than the river’s usable yield.

Goa depends upon the flow of River Mahadoyi for keeping its Zuari River navigable till the Mormugaoharbor in Panaji.

Background

The farmers in Navalgund and Naragund taluk, which lie in the Malaprabha command area, launched an agitation in 1980 against the government for forcibly collecting betterment levy without providing water. Shortage of water in Malaprabha was the reason for non-supply of water for irrigation.

The then chief minister R Gundu Rao appointed a committee headed by S R Bommai, to study the problem and suggest remedies. The Bommai Committee recommended linking of Mahadayi to Malaprabha. However, nothing moved in this connection till Bommai became the chief minister in 1989.

Bommai entered into a pact with the then Goa CM Pratap Singh Rane and Karnataka signed an MoU with Goa providing for construction of a dam near Kalasa in Karnataka. According to the MoU, Karnataka would get 45 tmc of water from Kalasa stream and set up a power generation unit. Goa also used power as per the pact. But because of the sudden fall of Bommai government and the dissolution of the assembly, the MoU remained stalled.

Subsequent governments in Goa have objected to the implementation of the project citing damage to ecology.

The matter was referred to National Environment Engineering Institute (NEEI) which gave a green signal to the project.

Karnataka again started pursuing the project while the Goa government kept on opposing it.

S M Krishna government took up the issue and renamed the project as Kalasa-Bandurinala;



Project envisaging diversion of nine tmc of water from Mahadayi to Malaprabha to solve the drinking water problem in Hubli-Dharwad. The Central Water Commission cleared the project in April 2000 and the central government accorded an in-principle clearance to the project.

Karnataka began the work on diversion in 2002. It planned two dams, one each on the Kalasa and the Banduri tributaries of the Mahadayi, to store water to be diverted via canals to the Malaprabha. Work came to a halt the same year.

Goa had approached Supreme Court seeking order, staying the implementation of the project. The Supreme Court, while refusing to accede to Goa's request, has allowed Karnataka to go ahead with the project and asked it to obtain Centre's clearance before utilizing the water.

Setting of river water tribunal- timeline

In July, 2002, the State of Goa made a request under Section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (as amended) for constitution of the Tribunal under the said Act and refer the matter for adjudication and decision of dispute relating to Mandovi River.

The issues mentioned in the request included the assessment of available utilisable water resources in the basin at various points and allocation of this water to the 3 basin States keeping in view priority of the use of water within basin to decide the machinery to implement the decision of the tribunal etc.

Meanwhile the Govt. of Goa filed a suit in the Hon’ble Supreme court in Sept, 06 for setting up of a water dispute tribunal

Central government has constituted Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) in 2010. headed by a Retired Supreme Court judge J.M. Panchal.

In this dispute along with Goa and Karnataka, Maharashtra is also a party.

In News:

With their hopes of an early solution to the Mahadayi river water dispute getting dashed following the reported lukewarm response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the all-party delegation from Karnataka, farmers from Navalgund and Nargund taluks are up in arms against the State and Union governments.

While the farmers have decided to intensify their agitation by continuing road blockade indefinitely and launching a relay hunger strike, a call for ‘Dharwad bandh’ has been given by a non-political forum of various organisations

SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

Need for skilling

1. Demographic dividend 2. Requirement of employers(industries) 3. Ageing developed world – 57 million shortage by 2020 4. Large section of educated workforce is unemployable 5. Large section of workforce is unskilled – only 2.3% is skilled



Challenges

1. DD only till 2040 2. Training efforts cut across multiple sectors and multiple stakeholders 3. Huge number to be skilled 4. Higher order skill set 5. Diverse nature of skills required 6. Perception issus 7. Lack of integrated labour management information system

Steps taken by the government

1. Ministry of kill development and entrepreneurship 2. National mission on skill development 3. National policy on skill development and entrepreneurship 2015 4. Skill india 5. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal VikasYojana (PMKVY) 6. The skill loan scheme 7. Skill cards and skill certificates 8. DeenDayalUpadhyayaGrameenKaushalyaYojana

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal VikasYojana (PMKVY):

• This is the flagship scheme for skill training of youth to be implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

• Skill training would be done based on the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and industry led standards.

• Under the scheme, a monetary reward is given to trainees on assessment and certification by third party assessment bodies. The average monetary reward would be around Rs.8000 per trainee.

• The scheme would be implemented through NSDC training partners. Currently NSDC has 187 training partners that have over 2300 centres. In addition, Central / State Government affiliated training providers would also be used for training under the scheme.

• Focus under the PMKVY would be on improved curricula, better pedagogy and better trained instructors.

• Training would include soft skills, personal grooming, behavioral change for cleanliness, good work ethics.

• Sector Skill Councils and the State Governments would closely monitor skill training that will happen under PMKVY.

• Skill Development Management System (SDMS) would be put in place to verify and record details of all training centres a certain quality of training locations and courses.

• Biometric system and video recording of the training process would be put in place where feasible.

• A robust grievance redressal system would be put in place to address grievances relating to implementation of the scheme. An online citizen portal would be put in place to disseminate information about the scheme.



Deendayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)

Features of DeenDayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana

Enable Poor and Marginalized to Access Benefits- Demand led skill training at no cost to the rural poor

Inclusive Program Design- Mandatory coverage of socially disadvantaged groups (SC/ST 50%; Minority 15%; Women 33%)

Shifting Emphasis from Training to Career Progression- Pioneers in providing incentives for job retention, career progression and foreign placements

Greater Support for Placed Candidates- Post-placement support, migration support and alumni network

Proactive Approach to Build Placement Partnerships- Guaranteed Placement for at least 75% trained candidates

Enhancing the Capacity of Implementation Partners- Nurturing new training service providers and developing their skills

Regional Focus- Greater emphasis on projects for poor rural youth in Jammu and Kashmir (HIMAYAT),the North-East region and 27 Left-Wing Extremist (LWE) districts (ROSHINI)

Standards-led Delivery- All program activities are subject to Standard Operating Procedures that are not open to interpretation by local inspectors. All inspections are supported by geo-tagged, time stamped videos/photographs

DeenDayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana

DAY for uplift of urban and rural poor

The urban component of DAY focuses on:

1. Imparting skills with an expenditure of Rs.15,000 – Rs.18,000 on each urban poor; 2. Promotion of self-employment through setting up individual micro-enterprises and

group enterprises with interest subsidy for individual projects costing Rs.2.00 lakhs and Rs.10.00 lakhs for group enterprises. Subsidized interest rate will be 7%;

3. Training urban poor to meet the huge demand from urban citizens by imparting market oriented skills through City Livelihood Centres. Each Centre would be given a capital grant of Rs.10.00 lakhs.

4. Enabling urban poor form Self-Help Groups for meeting financial and social needs with a support of Rs.10,000/- per each group who would in turn would be helped with bank linkages;

5. Development of vendor markets besides promotion of skills of vendors



CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS

Earth Summit 1992

Earth Summit 1992 was the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), commonly known as the Rio Summit or Rio Conference

Outcomes

Rio Declaration on Environment and Development Agenda 21 Convention on Biological Diversity Forest Principles Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems.

Since then, the GEF has provided $14.5 billion in grants and mobilized $75.4 billion in additional financing for almost 4,000 projects. The GEF has become an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations, and private sector to address global environmental issues.

UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Objective - stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system

Is not legally binding UNFCCC opened for signature on May 9, 1992 and entered into force on March 21,

1994. 154 nations signed the UNFCCC. The instrument of ratification by a minimum of 50

parties Meet annually from 1995 in Conferences of the Parties (COP) to assess progress

in dealing with climate change. 195 Parties to the Convention and 192 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.

Classification of the Parties

The ratification of the UNFCCC means ratification of the voluntary "non-binding aim" to reduce atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases with the goal of "preventing dangerous anthropogenic interference with Earth's climate system."

The above action was primarily targeted at the industrialized countries, so that they stabilize the emissions of greenhouse gases at 1990 levels by the year 2000.

Accordingly the Industrialized countries were places in a separate category. The parties of the UNFCC are grouped into three categories:

Annex-I Countries Annex-II Countries



Developing Countries

Annex-I Countries:

The industrialized countries and the countries whose economies were in transition in 1992 were kept in Annex-I countries. This group comprises the 40 nations & one organization (European Union)

Annex II Countries:

The Developed countries which play a financial role in the development of the developing countries and pay the cost for the development in the developing countries were placed in Annex II countries.

There are 23 Annex II countries a subgroup of the Annex I countries

Developing Countries:

The Developing countries, as per the UNFCCC, are not required to reduce emission levels unless developed countries supply enough funding and technology for their development.

This would avoid the restrictions on their development, because emissions are strongly linked to industrial capacity.

The idea behind imposing emission cut requirements for the Industrialized nations is that the developing countries can sell emissions credits to nations whose operators have difficulty meeting their emissions targets. They get money and technologies for low-carbon investments from Annex II countries.

Timeline – important COPs

1997 - COP3 - Kyoto Protocol

2005 — COP11- Montreal- Montreal Action Plan

The MAP called for anextension to the life of the Kyoto Protocol beyond its 2012 expiration date and negotiate deeper cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions.

2007 —COP13- Bali Road Map According to the Bali Road Map, a framework for climate change mitigation beyond 2012 was to be agreed.

2009 — Copenhagen Accord - COP15 Extension of Kyoto Protocol Beyond 2012 "Non binding Copenhagen Accord" was put forth..

2011 — COP17- The Durban Platform for Enhanced Action-.

Kyoto Protocol second commitment period: The Kyoto Protocol, due to expire on 31 December 2012, will continue into a second commitment period until 31 December 2017 or 2020, depending on the progress of the negotiation of its



successor. Signatories did not commit to further targets under Kyoto at Durban, but this year some have submitted their national voluntary pledges for the second commitment period.

2013–cop19- Warsaw Countries permitted till the first quarter of 2015 to announce their plans (“intended nationally determined contributions”) about how they’ll curb greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2020.

2014 – Lima, Peru Lima, Peru

Kyoto Protocol

It commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets. Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the current high

levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity, the Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities."

Its first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. Out of the 40 Annex-I countries, 37 countries and EU have committed themselves to a

reduction of 6 gases produced by them which include: Four greenhouse gases (GHG) viz. carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur

hexafluoride. Two groups of gases viz. hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons

The Annex I countries agreed to reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% from the 1990 level.

The Benchmark 1990 emission levels were accepted by the COP 3 on the basis of the values of "Global Warming Potential" calculated for the IPCC Second Assessment Report.

Kyoto mechanisms:

Under the Protocol, countries must meet their targets primarily through national measures. However, the Protocol also offers them an additional means to meet their targets by way of three market-based mechanisms.

Emission Trading: Emissions Trading-mechanism allows parties to the Kyoto Protocol to buy 'Kyoto units'(emission permits for greenhouse gas) from other countries to help meet their domestic emission reduction targets.

Joint Implementation: Any Annex I country can invest in emission reduction projects (referred to as "Joint Implementation Projects") in any other Annex I country as an alternative to reducing emissions domestically.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Countries can meet their domestic emission reduction targets by buying greenhouse gas reduction units from (projects in) non Annex I countries to the Kyoto protocol.

India and Kyoto Protocol



Being in Developing & Non-annex countries, India ratified the convention to seek benefit from transfer of technology and additional foreign investments when the Kyoto Protocol comes into force. This was expected to be followed by new investments in renewable energy, energy generation and efficiency promotion and afforestation projects.

India has been one of the major beneficiaries of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), a flexible mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol and would like that this mechanism to continue and be further strengthened.

Warsaw agreement

19th Conference of the Parties (COP19) to UNFCCC met at Warsaw Climate Change Conference to set out their targets on curbing greenhouse gas emissions from 2020.

Under the agreement, countries permitted till the first quarter of 2015 to announce their plans (“intended nationally determined contributions”) about how they’ll curb greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2020.

As per “Warsaw international mechanism for loss and damage (IMLD)”, victims of climate change in developing country will receive aid and expertise from developed countries. The Warsaw Mechanism will facilitate developed nations in providing expertise, and potentially aid, to developing countries hit by slow onset climate-related impacts, such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, desertification and rising sea levels. Parties did not provide commitment on funding for these initiatives.The Warsaw Mechanism is established under the UNFCCC, rather than as an independent body in its own right, like the GCF.

The Green Climate Fund of $100 billion A new mechanism REDD+ to save the world from deforestation.

LIMA outcomes

The 20th cop of UNFCCC in Lima focused on the finalization of elements for the 2015 Paris agreement. There were some important outcomes like

1. It called from all parties to an ambitious commitment in 2015 based on the principle of CBDR.

2. Countries should not backslide from current pledges made under the INDCs and their contribution has to be more than their current commitments.

3. Countries now have to submit quantifiable information on the reference point, time frames, scope and planning process related to INDCs.

4. Countries were asked to accelerate action on enhancing the pre 2020 actions like early ratification of Kyoto protocol second commitment period and provision of finance, technology and capacity building support by developed countries to the developing countries.



5. It ensured that countries can include adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building and transparency of action also in their INDCs in addition to mitigation.

COP 21 PARIS SUMMIT

What were the main issues before COP21?

Providing $100 billion yearly from 2020 onwards to poor nations by the rich. Providing clean technology at low cost to poor nations by the rich. Differentiating between poor countries and rich countries for reduction in emissions

after taking into account the latter’s historical emissions. Compensating small island nations and Africa for the loss and damage they suffered due

to climate change. Devising a transparent monitoring mechanism for climate pledges submitted by nations

to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Has the COP21 addressed these issues?

1. Funding and transfer of tech: With regard to $100 billion funding and providing clean technology, there is no clarity in the agreement and these issues have been left to future negotiations during the next five years.

2. Historical emissions of rich countries: With the omission of the words ‘historical agreements’ of rich nations in the agreement it appears that the principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibility of rich and poor nations has been diluted.This absolves rich countries of their responsibility for reducing their emissions drastically, which is required to save the planet from disastrous consequences of climate change.

3. Monitoring mechanism: The methodology of monitoring of implementation of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) remains unresolved in Paris and is still to be negotiated in the coming years.

4. The Paris Agreement has incorporated a new threshold limit of average global temperature rise of 1.5-degree Celsius by 2100 instead of the current limit of 2-

degree Celsius. This requires all countries (rich nations in particular) to embark upon huge enhancement of emission cuts urgently.

Issues

Dilutes the principles of equity adopted by the Kyoto protocol in 1997 Does away with the legally binding emission targets for the developed

countries that was agreed upon in Kyoto No accountability for the past Does not enforce any legally binding commitments from developed countries in

the future as countries will set their own targets and no penalties will be imposed for failing to meet those

Developed nations cannot be filed for liability or compensation for loss and damage incurred by poorer nations as a result of historical emissions



Promises as a whole

To keep the rise of global temperature far below two degrees Celsius by the turn of the century

To ensure global emissions peak as soon as possible, with developed countries doing so before others

To ensure net greenhouse gas emissions become zero in the second half this century

The wins

Differentiation between developed and developing world while reducing emissions

No forcible ratcheting up of emission targets periodically India does not have to compulsorily provide climate finance No peaking of emissions before other countries Removing reference to decarbonisation of economies against fixed deadlines The Paris pact not entirely centred on mitigation, but it lays substantial stress on

other elements such as finance, adaptation, loss & damage

The losses

Transparency mechanism brings equivalence between developed and developing countries through the ‘back door’. Global financial flows for thermal power in India will shrink with time

Climate justice has been used just as a word. Carbon budget concept fails to find place No reference to reducing cost of IPRs

India’s Initiatives:

Important Areas to be focussed upon:

Cleaner thermal power generation, Promoting renewable energy, Reducing emissions from transport and waste, and Creating climate resilient infrastructure Building low-carbon cities, Using smarter electric and mass public transit, Investing in buildings efficiency and a digital, decentralised electric grid



TRANS PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP

It is poised to be the world's biggest ever free trade deal and possibly its most ambitious. A dozen countries are negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which if successful, will account for two-fifths of world trade.

There are 12 countries involved: the US, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru.

The pact is aimed at deepening economic ties between these nations, slashing tariffs and fostering trade to boost growth.

Member countries are also hoping to foster a closer relationship on economic policies and regulation.

The agreement could create a new single market like that in Europe

Significance:

The 11 countries that are currently part of the negotiations are all members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC).

They have a combined population of more than 650 million people. A free trade agreement could turn this into a potential single market for many businesses.

The average per capita income in the participating countries was $31,491 in 2011 and their combined gross domestic product (GDP) stood at more than $20 trillion.

One cannot ignore the fact that the initiative is being led by the US, the world's biggest economy and biggest trading nation, and one that sees Asia-Pacific as key to its future growth.

Some analysts have even suggested that the US may be trying to use the TPP as a means to undermine China's growing economic might in the region.



Many believe that other members of the APEC bloc may also join the agreement in the coming years, making it an even more important pact.

Benefits of India Joining TPP:

Benefits

Greater market access for goods and services. Branded medicines industry will be a major beneficiary of the trade pact (while the

generic drugs industry in India will suffer. If TPP excludes INDIA , India’s annual export losses will approach $50 billion

Disadvantage

They may endanger food safety, they may curb access to medicines by putting constraints on the pharmaceuticals sector and eventually may have an impact on sovereign issues(IPRs)

TPP is expected to allow foreign investors to have their grievances against governments arbitrated by dispute-specific panels under the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism clause.

TPP will adversely impact the textiles industry because of the yarn forward provision. The yarn forward rule requires clothing to be made from yarn and fabric manufactured in one of the free trade partners to qualify for duty-free treatment under the trade pact.

India’s three stage nuclear power programme:

The Indian nuclear power programme, launched in 1954, envisaged a three-stage

development of nuclear power generation from the country’s uranium and thorium

resources.

1. In the first stage, heavy water reactors fuelled by natural uranium would produce

plutonium.

2. The second stage would initially be fuelled by a mix of the plutonium from the first

stage and natural uranium. This uranium would transmute (Transmutation is the

conversion of an atom of one element to an atom of another through nuclear reactions.

Induced nuclear transmutation is transmutation which is induced by scientists by

striking the nuclei with high volume particles) into more plutonium and once sufficient

stocks have been built up, thorium would be introduced into the fuel cycle to convert it

into uranium 233 for the third stage.

3. In the final stage, a mix of thorium and uranium fuels the reactors. The thorium

transmutes to U-233 as in the second stage, which powers the reactor. Fresh thorium

can replace the depleted thorium in the reactor core, making it essentially a thorium-

fuelled reactor even though it is the U-233 that is undergoing fission to produce

electricity.

In News:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_transmutation



With 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, India is finally ready to

start the second stage. However, experts estimate that it would take India many more Fast

Breeder Reactors and at least another four decades before it has built up a sufficient fissile

material inventory to launch the third stage.

About the Prototype Fast

Breeder Reactor (PFBR):

It is a 500MWe fast

breeder nuclear reactor

at the Madras Atomic

Power Station in

Kalpakkam, India.

It will use plutonium-

uranium oxide as fuel

and 1,750 tonnes of

liquid sodium as coolant.

The Indira Gandhi

Centre for Atomic

Research (IGCAR) is

responsible for the

design of this reactor.

The PFBR is part of the

three-stage nuclear

power program.

A breeder reactor is one

that breeds more material for a nuclear fission reaction than it consumes.

Advantages of Thorium Technology

Thorium reactors produce far less waste than present-day reactors.

They have the ability to burn up most of the highly radioactive and long-lasting

minor actinides that makes nuclear waste from Light Water Reactors a nuisance to

deal with.

The minuscule waste that is generated from these reactors is toxic for only three or

four hundred years rather than thousands of years.

Thorium reactors are cheaper because they have higher burnup.

Thorium reactors are significantly more proliferation-resistant than present

reactors. This is because the U-233 produced by transmuting thorium also contains U-

232, a strong source of gamma radiation that makes it difficult to work with. Its

daughter product, thallium-208, is equally difficult to handle and easy to detect.

http://i0.wp.com/www.insightsonindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/india-three-stage-nuclear-programme.png



Answer the following Questions:

1. Which of the following is true with respect to Lokayukta?

i. Any former Supreme Court and High Court Judge is eligible to be appointed as Lokayukta

ii. Lokayukta has the power to investigate corruption charges only against the executive wing of the government

Select the correct statement using the code below.

a. i only b. ii only c. i and ii only d. none of the above

2. Which of the following is not a mechanism used by India to achieve its emission reduction targets?

a. Cleaner thermal power generation b. Promoting renewable energy c. Reducing emissions from transport

and waste d. Creating climate resilient crops

3. What is the new threshold limit of

average global temperature rise by 2100

incorporated in the Paris Agreement?

a. 1.5-degree Celsius

b. 2-degree Celsius

c. 1.75-degree Celsius

d. 2.5-degree Celsius

4. Which country is not a member of Trans

Pacific Partnership (TPP)

a. China

b. Australia

c. Singapore

d. Vietnam

5. Which of the following is true with respect to Mahadayi river?

i. It is known as the life line of Goa ii. The Mahadayi river dispute is

between Goa and Karnataka only


e. i only f. ii only g. i and ii only h. none of the above

6. Which of the following is true with respect to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)?

i. A monetary reward is given to

trainees on assessment and

certification

ii. Skills are directly provided by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).


a. i only b. ii only c. i and ii only d. none of the above

7. Which of the following statement with respect to DeenDayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana is incorrect?

a. It is the scheme for the upliftment of urban poor only

b. It provides skills to the poor c. It is aimed at promoting self-

employment through setting up individual micro-enterprises and group enterprises



d. It also aims at development of vendor markets besides promotion of skills of vendors

8. Which stage of India’s Nuclear

programme is the prototype fast breeder

reactor at Kalpakam part of?

a. Stage 1

b. Stage 2

c. Stage 3

d. Being built with external assistance

9. What is the fuel used in Fast breeder

reactor?

a. Thorium

b. Natural uranium and plutonium

mixture

c. Natural Uranium

d. Plutonium

Answer the following question in not more than 150 words each

1. Examine the recent changes to Karnataka Lokayukta Act. How will it strengthen the

Lokayukta Institute?

2. Discuss the various river water disputes in Karnataka and suggest comprehensive

measures to address them.

3. What is the importance of Skilling the workforce in India? Analyse the steps taken by

the govt to make the skill ecosystem on the country better integrated and goal

oriented

4. Critical evaluate the outcomes of the Paris climate summit.

5. Analyse the impact of Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement on India.

6. Critically evaluate the benefits of using thorium in India’s nuclear programme.

7. Write a note on India’s 3 stage nuclear programme. What are its challenges?

8. Do you think India is well equipped to avert a demographic disaster? What situations

might lead to such a disaster?

Date post:	30-Mar-2018
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