CA: 13 August 2023

 

Daily Current Affairs 13 August 2023

Amazon Summit and Belem declaration by Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) :

Why in News : Recently, The members of ACTO assembled in the Brazilian city of Belem to discuss conservation of Amazon Rain forests and its vital resources including biodiversity.

ACTO, the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, is an international entity established to safeguard the Amazon basin and promote its sustainable development through collaborative efforts among its member countries.

Member Countries:

The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization consists of the following eight member countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

Belem Declaration Highlights:

• On August 9, leaders and Ministers from Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, all members of Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), convened in Belem do Para, Brazil.

• The result was the "Belem Declaration," aiming to ensure the survival of the vast Amazon rainforest across these countries by conserving biodiversity and natural resources.

• The declaration emphasised cooperation and urged developed nations to finance debt-for-climate action.

• Deforestation due to illegal mining, logging, and fires was a priority; integrated fire management and law enforcement for Indigenous rights were highlighted.

• Development banks were encouraged to form a green coalition, pooling funds to support conservation and generate employment for the Amazon's economy.

• However, specific targets were lacking. Notably, Colombia's proposal of protecting 80% of the forest and achieving zero deforestation by 2030 was not collectively embraced.

• The declaration revealed a reluctance to fully transition from extractive industries, as seen in Brazil's existing zero deforestation commitment.

• Despite not adopting ambitious goals, the declaration signified a joint acknowledgment of the need for Amazon preservation.

• The meeting recognized the complex challenge of balancing economic interests with environmental protection.

• The outcome reflected a collaborative effort but underscored the countries' limited readiness for a complete shift from extractive economies.

In essence, the Belem Declaration highlighted cooperative actions to conserve the Amazon rainforest while not fully committing to aggressive deforestation reduction goals due to the economic complexities inherent in the region's extractive industries.

Key Facts :

• Amazonia and its massive river basin straddles several countries — close to 60% of it is in Brazil, 13% is in Peru, 8% in Bolivia, 7% and 6% respectively in Colombia and Venezuela, and nearly 3% each in Guyana and Suriname and around 1% in French Guiana and Ecuador

• The Amazon rainforest or Amazonia constitutes close to 1.3% of the planet’s surface and 4.1% of the earth’s land surface

• Rapid deforestation in recent years has contributed to the ecosystem teetering on the brink of disaster by affecting the resilience of the Amazon rainforest

For More Information Read: "Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization"

Central Armed Forces

Why in News: Manipur Violence and Internal Security of the Country or any Part of it.

The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) collectively refer to the central police organisations operating under India's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). These entities, once designated as Central Para-Military Forces (CPMF), are now recognised as central armed police forces since 2011. This change in nomenclature reflects the transition from the term "paramilitary" to "central armed police," emphasising their role. CAPF holds the responsibility of maintaining internal security and securing the national borders.

Central Armed Police Forces further Classified as: 

1. Border Guarding Forces:

• Assam Rifles (AR)
• Border Security Force (BSF)
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
• Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

2. Forces for Internal Security:

• Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

3. Special Task Force: 

• National Security Guard (NSG)

Assam Rifles :

• The Assam Rifles is a central police and paramilitary organisation responsible for border security, counter-insurgency, and law and order in Northeast India. 

• Its primary role is to guard the 1,643 kilometre long Indo-Myanmar border. 

• The AR comes under the administration of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), 

• Its operational control is maintained by the Indian Army. 

• It is the oldest paramilitary force in India.  

Border Security Force:

• BSF is a Border Guarding Force of India. 

• Established on December 1, 1965, it is a paramilitary force charged with guarding India's land borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

• The BSF has air wing, marine wing, an artillery regiment, and commando units. 

• BSF has been termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories. 

Indo-Tibetan Border Police:

• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police is deployed for guarding duties on the Indo-China border from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Diphu Pass in Arunachal Pradesh covering a total distance of 3,488 km.

Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

• Sashastra Seema Bal is deployed to guard Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) :

• Renowned as one of the most expansive industrial security forces worldwide, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is entrusted with safeguarding diverse Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and essential infrastructure installations. 

• It assumes responsibility for securing key airports throughout the nation and plays a vital role in ensuring security during elections and other internal security assignments. 

• Additionally, the CISF is tasked with providing protection to Very Very Important Persons (VVIPs).

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF):

• The core mission of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is to facilitate the government in effectively upholding the Rule of Law, maintaining Public Order and Internal Security, and safeguarding National Integrity. 

• The CRPF also plays a vital role in fostering Social Harmony and Development while upholding the principles outlined in the Constitution.

The CRPF fulfils its diverse responsibilities through various key duties, which include:

• Managing Crowds
• Control of Riots
• Countering Militancy and Insurgency
• Addressing Left Wing Extremism
• Coordinating Security for Elections
• Combat during Warfare
• UN Peacekeeping Missions
• Natural Calamity and Disaster Relief

The Central Reserve Police includes:

• The Rapid Action Force (RAF), a 15 battalion anti-riot force trained to respond to sectarian violence.

• The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), a 10 battalion strong anti-Naxalite/COIN force.

National Security Guard:

• The National Security Guard (NSG), popularly referred to as the Black Cats, stands as a counter-terrorism force operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs in India. 

• Established on October 16, 1984, through the National Security Guard Act of 1986, 

• the NSG enlists its personnel from both the Indian Army and other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). 

• Structured as a task-centric unit, it encompasses two interconnected components: 

• the Special Action Group (SAG), staffed by Army personnel, and 
• the Special Ranger Groups (SRG), comprised of individuals selected from Central Armed Police Forces as well as State Police Forces.

Harmonised System Nomenclature:

Why in News: India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has made an announcement stating that effective from November 1, 2023, there will be limitations on the import of laptops, computers, and their associated components, particularly targeting items categorized under Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) Code 8471. However, these import restrictions will not be applicable to items brought in under baggage rules.

About HSN :

• The Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) is an internationally recognized classification system for goods, used in trade, customs, and statistical purposes. 

• It was developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO) to facilitate the efficient and consistent categorisation of products across countries. 

• The HSN assigns a unique code to each product, enabling seamless identification and classification during cross-border trade. 

• This system is crucial for tariff determination, customs procedures, and trade data analysis. 

• Recently, the Indian government has also adopted the HSN to streamline its tax structure under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. 

• This move has enhanced transparency, simplified compliance, and reduced tax evasion. 

• The HSN's universal application reflects its significance in promoting international trade, simplifying customs processes, and ensuring accurate data compilation for economic analysis.

Terms in News:

1. Marine Heat Waves (MHW):

• A marine heat wave is an extreme weather event characterized by a period of unusually warm sea surface temperatures.

• It occurs when the surface temperature of a particular region of the sea rises to 3 or 4 degree Celsius above the average temperature for at least five days. 

• MHWs can last for weeks, months or even years, according to the US government’s agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

2. Marginal Cost of Funds-Based Lending Rate (MCLR):

Why in News: Recently, the State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Indian Overseas Bank have raised their marginal cost of fund-based lending rates (MCLR) by up to 15 basis points.

About MCLR:

This is the lowermost interest rate that no bank can go under when lending funds. The bank establishes this rate internally, factoring in the duration within which the loan will be repaid.

On the 1st of April, 2016, the Reserve Bank of India introduced the Marginal Cost of Funds-Based Lending Rate (MCLR) approach to set interest rates. This replaced the earlier base rate system, which had been in effect since July 2010.

The rate is determined by the bank's internal calculations, which consider the remaining repayment period for a loan. This calculation comprises four key components:

• Marginal Cost of Funds: This represents the cost of acquiring additional funds for lending.

• Negative Carry due to Cash Reserve Ratio: This considers the cost incurred due to the reserve funds held by the bank.

• Operating Costs: These are the operational expenses borne by the bank.

• Tenor Premium: This accounts for the specific time frame of the loan repayment.

Together, these elements are used to calculate the MCLR, which forms the basis for determining interest rates on loans.