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2. Padma award and the recipient’s consent:
Reference News:-
The Padma awards are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day.
 As many as 128 people ranging from veteran politicians, businessmen, scientists
and doctors to artists and ordinary people engaged in public service were
announced to have been selected for conferment of Padma awards this year.
 While most accepted the awards gracefully, former West Bengal CM Buddhadeb
Bhattacharjee refused to accept it.
What are Padma awards?
They are the highest civilian honour of India after the Bharat Ratna.
Instituted in 1954 along with Bharat Ratna.
 The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and
distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and
Padma Shri (distinguished service).
 The award seeks to recognise achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines
where an element of public service is involved.
Limitations and exceptions:
 The awardees do not get any cash reward but a certificate signed by the President
apart from a medallion which they can wear at public and government functions.
 The awards are, however, not a conferment of title and the awardees are expected
to not use them as prefix or suffix to their names.
 A Padma awardee can be given a higher award only after five years of the
conferment of the earlier award.
 Not more than 120 awards can be given in a year but this does not include
posthumous awards or awards given to NRIs and foreigners.
Eligibility:
All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these
awards. However, government servants including those working with PSUs, except
doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these awards.
 The award is given for “special services” and not just for “long service”. “It should
not be merely excellence in a particular field, but the criteria has to be ‘excellence
plus’.
Who nominates the awardees?
 Any citizen of India can nominate a potential recipient.
 One can even nominate one’s own self.

3.  All nominations are to be done online where a form is to be filled along with details
of the person or the organisation being nominated.
 An 800-word essay detailing the work done by the potential awardee is also to be
submitted for the nomination to be considered.
Who selects the awardees?
All nominations received for Padma awards are placed before the Padma Awards
Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
 The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes
Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as
members.
 The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and
the President of India for approval.
Is the recipient’s consent sought?
There is no provision for seeking a written or formal consent of the recipient before
announcement of the award. However, before the announcement, every recipient
receives a call from the Ministry of Home Affairs informing him or her about the
selection. In case the recipient expresses a desire to be excluded from the award list, the
name is removed.
Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 Registation for NGOs:
Reference News:-
The Supreme Court has asked 6,000-odd NGOs to go back to the government for redressal
of their grievances on non-renewal of their Foreign Contribution Regulation Act
(FCRA) registration.
 A petition was filed in the court asking the NGOs to be allowed to continue
receiving and utilising foreign funds until the pandemic is over.
Please note:
 The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act registration is mandatory for any NGO
or association to receive foreign funds or donations.
Background:
 The registration of thousands of NGOs was up for renewal in 2020-21. The Ministry
had declined to renew the FCRA registration of 179 NGOs, while 5,789 associations
did not apply for a renewal before the December 31 deadline.
 After the exercise, the number of active FCRA-registered NGOs is down from
22,762 to 16,907.

4. On what basis is approval cancelled?
The government reserves the right to cancel the FCRA registration of any NGO if it finds it
to be in violation of the Act.
 Registration can be cancelled if an inquiry finds a false statement in the
application; if the NGO is found to have violated any of the terms and conditions of
the certificate or renewal; if it has not been engaged in any reasonable activity in
its chosen field for the benefit of society for two consecutive years; or if it has
become defunct.
 It can also be cancelled if “in the opinion of the Central Government, it is necessary
in the public interest to cancel the certificate”, the FCRA says.
 Registrations are also cancelled when an audit finds irregularities in the finances of
an NGO in terms of misutilisation of foreign funds.
How FCRA regulates NGO funding?
FCRA regulates foreign donations and ensures that such contributions do not adversely
affect the internal security of the country.
The Act, first enacted in 1976 was amended in the year 2010 and then 2020.
Section 5 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 gives the Union government
“unchecked and unbridled powers” to declare an organisation as being one of political
nature and deny it access to funds from sources abroad.
 FCRA is implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Applicability:
 The provisions of the Act apply to the territory of India, to citizens of India who
may be outside India and to companies or their branches outside India that are
registered or incorporated in India.
 The entities covered by the Act include an individual, a Hindu undivided family, an
association, or a registered company.
For how long is approval granted?
Once granted, FCRA registration is valid for five years. NGOs are expected to apply for
renewal within six months of the date of expiry of registration. In case of failure to apply
for renewal, the registration is deemed to have expired, and the NGO is no longer entitled
to receive foreign funds or utilise its existing funds without permission from the ministry.
Prior Reference Category under the Act:
It implies that to donate to such an NGO, a foreign donor has to take prior clearance from
the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Latest 2020 amendments and criticisms associated:
 The amendments mandated that registered NGOs open a designated account in the
main branch of the State Bank of India in the Capital in which the foreign
contributions to their various causes would exclusively land.

5.  The petitioners have argued that this measure would be cumbersome for NGOs
operating in rural India and far away from the Capital.
What Is A Foreign Contribution Under FCRA?
 “Foreign contribution” under FCRA covers any “donation, delivery or transfer made
by any foreign source of any article” as long as it is not given as a gift for personal
use, or if its market value in India at the time it was made is “not more than such
sum as may be specified from time to time by the Central government”.
Exceptions:
 Any currency, or security can fall under the ambit of the Act though it excludes any
money received “by way of fee or towards cost in lieu of goods or services rendered
by such person in the ordinary course of his business, trade or commerce whether
within India or outside India”.
 Neither are donations made by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) considered to be
“foreign contribution” although a donation from a person of Indian origin who has
assumed foreign nationality is treated as as “foreign contribution”.
Who Cannot Receive Foreign Contribution?
A host of entities are barred from receiving foreign funds, including election candidates,
those connected with a registered newspaper, judges, government servants or employees
of any entity controlled or owned by the government and members of any legislature.
Political parties and their office bearers, too, are prohibited from receiving foreign funds.
The America COMPETS Act and its relevance for India:
Reference News:-
The U.S. House of Representatives has introduced the ambitious 2022 Act to create
opportunities for America’s manufacturing, preeminence in technology, and economic
strength, or America COMPETES Act of 2022.
 It proposes to open new perspectives for talented people from around the world
with a new home visa.
Rationale behind this legislation:
To strengthen supply chains and revitalize the engine of innovation in the country’s
economy to surpass China and the rest of the world for decades to come.
Key Provisions:
1. $ 52 billion to further encourage semiconductor production in the U.S.
2. $ 45 billion for grants and loans to improve supply chain resilience and
manufacturing, among other programs.

6. 3. Funding to address social and economic inequality, climate change and
immigration. For example, it offers an exemption for STEM PhDs from the green
card limit and creates a new green card for entrepreneurs.
4. The bill authorizes $ 600 million a year to build manufacturing facilities to make
the United States less dependent on solar components manufactured in Xinjiang,
China.
5. It creates a new “W” classification of nonimmigrants for employers with a stake in
a newly created entity, essential employees of a newly created entity, and their
spouses and children.
Significance for India and the Indians:
It would mean more opportunities in the US for Indian talent and skilled workers.
 Every year, Indians and Indian companies corner the lion’s share of H-1B work
permits issued that year. With this new category, Indian professionals will
probably have a better chance of opportunities than the law is likely to offer.
Work visas for India:
There are 2.7 million Indian immigrants residing in the United States as of 2019, and the
country is the second most popular destination for Indians living abroad, after the United
Arab Emirates (3.4 million).
The IT revolution, arrival of internet and low-cost computers in developing nations like
India has given rise to the number of people who are willing to work at relatively low
costs in the USA which is a win-win situation for both the employer and the employee.
 The USA administration issues a certain number of visas each year to fill a vacuum
of highly-skilled low-cost employees in IT and other related domains.
 These visas allow companies from outside the USA to send employees to work on
client sites.
What are H-1B, H-2B, L and other work visas?
In order to fill a vacuum of highly-skilled low-cost employees in IT and other related
domains, the US administration issues a certain number of visas each year which allows
companies from outside the US to send employees to work on client sites.
H-1B: Person is Specialty Occupation: To work in a specialty occupation. Requires a
higher education degree of its equivalent.
L1 visas allows companies to transfer highly skilled workers to US for a period of up to
seven years.
H-2B visas allow food and agricultural workers to seek employment in the US.
J-1 Visas: It is for students on work-study summer programmes.

7. ISRO’s new SSLV programme:
Reference News:-
ISRO’s indigenous new launch rockets, called the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), is
likely to have its much-delayed, maiden development flight this April.
 New ISRO Chairman Somanath himself is credited with the design and development
of the SSLV during his time as director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in
Thiruvananthapuram since 2018.
What is SSLV?
The SSLV is intended to cater to a market for the launch of small satellites into low earth
orbits.
 It can carry satellites weighing up to 500 kg to a low earth orbit.

8.  The SSLV is the smallest vehicle at 110-ton mass at ISRO.
 It will take only 72 hours to integrate. Only six people will be required to do the
job.
 The cost will be only around Rs 30 crore.
 It is best suited for launching multiple microsatellites at a time and supports
multiple orbital drop-offs.
Need for?
Launch of small satellites into low earth orbits has become significant in recent years on
account of the need for developing countries, private corporations, and universities for
small satellites.
 About 15 to 20 SSLVs would be required every year to meet the national demand
alone.
What is PSLV?
The launch of small satellites has until now been dependent on ‘piggy-back’ rides with big
satellite launches on ISRO’s work-horse – the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle which has
had over 50 successful launches so far.
 PSLV can launch satellites weighing in the range of 1000 kg. But, it takes 70 days to
integrate this launch vehicle.
 It is the third generation launch vehicle of India. It is the first Indian launch vehicle
to be equipped with liquid stages.
Difference between PSLV and GSLV:
 India has two operational launchers- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
 PSLV was developed to launch low-Earth Orbit satellites into polar and sun
synchronous orbits. It has since proved its versatility by launching
geosynchronous, lunar and interplanetary spacecraft successfully.
 On the other hand, GSLV was developed to launch the heavier INSAT class of
geosynchronous satellites into orbit. In its third and final stage, GSLV uses the
indigenously developed cryogenic upper stage.
Different orbits:
1. Geostationary orbit (GEO)
2. Low Earth orbit (LEO)
3. Medium Earth orbit (MEO)
4. Polar orbit and Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO)
5. Transfer orbits and geostationary transfer orbit (GTO)
6. Lagrange points (L-points)

9. Lithium mining:
Reference News:-
Serbians have been taking to the streets, blocking main roads and bridges and halting
traffic, to protest against Rio Tinto’s plans to mine lithium in the Jadar valley near
Lozinca town in the country.
Potential:
 As reported by Reuters, the mine would have produced enough lithium to operate
one million electric vehicles along with boric acid and sodium sulphate.
 When fully functional, the mine would have created “58,000 tonnes of refined
battery-grade lithium carbonate” every year, which would have made it Europe’s
most lithium-producing mine.
What’s the concern?
While the country has already been ridden with industrial pollution, a new mine would
only make it worse, polluting the land and water in the area.
 Serbia has ranked as Europe’s fifth and the world’s 32nd most polluted country in a
list of 98 countries.
 According to a 2019 report by Global Alliance on Health and Pollution, Serbia is one
of the top ten countries with the most deaths due to pollution — 175 deaths per
100,000.
About Lithium:
It is a soft, silvery-white metal. Under standard conditions, it is the lightest metal and the
lightest solid element.
It is highly reactive and flammable, and must be stored in mineral oil. It is an alkali metal
and a rare metal.
Key Characteristics and Properties:
 It has the highest specific heat capacity of any solid element.
 Lithium’s single balance electron allows it to be a good conductor of electricity.
 It is flammable and can even explode when exposed to air and water.
Uses:
1. Lithium is a key element for new technologies and finds its use in ceramics, glass,
telecommunication and aerospace industries.
2. The well-known uses of Lithium are in Lithium ion batteries, lubricating grease,
high energy additive to rocket propellants, optical modulators for mobile phones
and as convertor to tritium used as a raw material for thermonuclear reactions i.e.
fusion.

10. Prescribed substance:
The thermonuclear application makes Lithium as “Prescribed substance” under the
Atomic Energy Act, 1962 which permits AMD for exploration of Lithium in various
geological domains of the country.
 Under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, “Prescribed Substance” means any substance
including any mineral which the Central Government may, by notification,
prescribe, being a substance which in its opinion is or may be used for the
production or use of atomic energy or research into matters connected therewith
and includes uranium, plutonium, thorium, beryllium, deuterium or any of their
respective derivatives or compounds or any other materials containing any of the
aforesaid substances.
Keeping faith: On People-to-People
Initiatives and India-Pakistan Ties
Reference News:-
A proposal has been made by the Pakistan Hindu Council, forwarded by Pakistan to India, to
allow pilgrims of both countries to travel by air to avoid cumbersome journeys.
What is the current status of Islamabad-Delhi ties?
 Islamabad-Delhi ties now are possibly at their worst ever in peace times, with no
political dialogue at a bilateral or multilateral level for over 5 years.
 India has stopped normal communications and cultural exchanges after many terror
attacks
 Pakistan has stopped all trade ties after the Government’s moves on Article 370 in
Jammu and Kashmir.
 Both sides have downsized their diplomatic missions.
 The COVID-19 pandemic has ensured that the borders have been virtually sealed for 2
years, with few direct routes operating between them.
 An Indian request to send 500,000 MT of wheat as humanitarian aid to Afghanistan via
Wagah border has been awaiting Pakistani clearances for several months.
 The few India-Pakistan confidence-building measures (CBMs) that continue to exist are
o The opening of the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims in 2019
o Exchanging lists of prisoners held by both sides of each other’s citizens
The Kartarpur corridor is a visa-free corridor connecting Dera Baba Nanak village in Gurdaspur,
Punjab to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur.
How are religious exchanges governed?
 Religious exchanges, of mainly Muslim pilgrims from Pakistan, and Hindus and Sikhs
from India, are governed by a protocol signed in 1974.

11.  As per the agreement, hundreds of Indian and Pakistani pilgrims crossover at
the Wagah/Atari border to travel to the shrines facing more circuitous routes.
 It also causes extra time in travel.
 So, the Pakistan Hindu Council has now signed an MoU with Pakistan International
Airlines (PIA) to facilitate faith-based tour groups.
 The Council has asked that PIA charters from Karachi and Lahore be allowed to fly
direct to Indian cities with a view to allow reciprocal air charters from India.
What is the significance of this proposal?
 If clearances are received, this would be the first PIA flight to travel to India since
operations were suspended in 2019, and the first ever such flight carrying pilgrims
from either side since 1947.
 The erstwhile Indian Airlines last flew to Pakistan in March 2008.
 This would boost the pilgrimage tourism to travel to the Hinglaj Mata Mandir in
Balochistan, the Paramhans Mandir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Ajmer Sharif dargah in
Rajasthan, the Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi and other such shrines.
 A start with faith tourism can go on towards more tourism, and then trade and regular
travel.
 The people-to-people initiatives can help build a little bit of goodwill.
Unlock India’s food processing potential
Reference News:-
Growing populations and unrestricted use of natural resources must push nations to have an
efficient food value chain.
Why India has launched PLISFPI?
 The challenge to feed the 10 billion people by mid-century demands efficient ways of
production that are both economically viable and ecologically sustainable.
 Also the pandemic has accelerated the demand for ready-to-eat products.
 Fortunately, emerging technologies revamp the traditional approach of farm to fork
with a lower environmental footprint.
 Being one of the largest producers of fruits and vegetables in the world India has
formulated a unique Production-Linked Incentive Scheme (PLIS) to boost processed
food in large quantities.
 The scheme aims to incentivise incremental sales.
 By welcoming the new brands in the category, PLIS aims to create an enabling
ecosystem for innovation in both food products and processes.
What is the progress so far?
 A sum of Rs. 10,900 crore has been earmarked for the scheme.
 60 applicants have already been selected under Category 1.

12.  These firms are incentivised for incremental sales and branding/marketing initiatives
taken abroad.
 Beneficiaries have been obliged to commit a minimum investment while applying for
the scheme.
 With this the sector is likely to witness at least Rs. 6,500 crore worth of investment over
the next 2 years.
Why branding and marketing is important?
 For the exports market, sales promotion is positively related to increased sales volume,
but inversely related to profitability.
 To bridge this gap, of the 13 key sectors announced under the PLIS, the ‘Food
Processing PLIS’ earmarks a dedicated Category 3 for supporting branding and
marketing activities in foreign markets.
 This ensures that India’s share of value-added products in the exports basket is
improved.
 It may leverage its unique geographical proximity to the untapped markets of Europe,
the Middle East/West Asia, Africa, Oceania and Japan.
Why investment in public infrastructure is necessary?
 With higher public investments Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and
Uttar Pradesh have ranked among the highest in the ‘Public Infrastructure and Utilities’
parameter by the Good Governance Index 2020-21.
 With good connectivity to Rural Habitations these states show the highest
improvement.
 A 1% increase in public infrastructure is expected to increase the food manufacturing
output by 0.06% in the longer run.
How do we perform in case of credit availability?
 Measures taken - Access of MSMEs to finance is a perennial problem in the country,
due to a lack of proper credit history mechanism for MSMEs.
 Smart financing alternatives such as peer-to-peer (P2P) lending hold potential for
micro-food processors.
 MUDRA Bank has helped more than 1,18,000 small businesses get access to credit.
 Improvements required - Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) is a
platform for facilitating the financing/discounting of trade receivables of MSMEs
through multiple financiers.
 The platform requires considerable scaling-up and simultaneous enforcement of
stringent measures for corporate to comply with.
 Integrating it with the GST Network’s e-invoicing portal will make TReDS more
attractive and give relief to financiers.
What is the way forward?
 Functional Foods - The pandemic has bolstered the demand for functional foods.

13.  It is expected to provide a launchpad for health-orientated start-ups and micro-food
processing units.
 New alternatives replacing the staples of rice and wheat in the form of Nutri-cereals,
plant-based proteins, fermented foods, health bars and even fresh fortified foods for
pets must be explored.
 With growing populations, changing food habits and unrestricted use of natural
resources, nations must come together and lay out a road map for a common efficient
food value chain.
Is air pollution contributing to the ‘insect apocalypse’?
Reference News:-
There is an ‘insect apocalypse’ underway across the world. The threats to insects include
habitat loss, climate change, land-use change and insecticides. But there appears to be another
insidious contributor: polluted air.
Insects in the ecosystem
 Vital for India’s food security: Insects have an essential role to play in our ecosystem.
They pollinate many of our fruits, flowers and vegetables, contributing significantly to
the productivity of at least 75 per cent of global crop species. Their services are.
 Insects keep pests in check: For example, ladybird preys on aphids, that damage
crops. Insects are also food sources for amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
 If we were to lose all pollinating insects tomorrow, we would no longer be able to
produce cocoa beans, brazil nuts and some fruits (like melon and pumpkin)
Blame it on Air Pollution
Air pollution is likely an important, but currently overlooked, factor contributing to insect
pollinator declines. A study in Bengaluru found a drastic reduction in honeybee health at
levels which were target levels by the World Health Organization for cities
A. Impact of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) on health of Giant Asian
honey bees:
 Giant Asian honey bees produce more than 80 per cent of the honey in India and
pollinate more than 687 plant species.
 Over 80 per cent of bees survived for 24 hours at moderately polluted sites. Research in
this area is relevant for India as nine of its cities rank in the top 10 most polluted cities
globally. Most polluted Tier-2 cities are much more embedded in agricultural lands.
 RSPM is a complex mixture of particles measuring less than 10 or 2.5 micrometres in
diameter. They are commonly called Particulate Matter.
B. How could pollution hurt insects?
 In the study, the health impacts of pollutants on bees were quite severe, Honey bees’
heart rates, stress, blood cells counts were affected.

14.  Air pollutants can do a lot more. They can mess with the insects’ ability to sniff flowers,
lowering pollination services.
 Flowers release odour as chemicals called volatile organic compounds, which help
insects locate flowers. Pollutants could react with and change the scents of flowers,
making them harder to find.
 One study found that honey bees exposed to low medium and high air pollutant
concentrations had an impaired ability to recollect odour.
 Pollutants might also mess with social bonds. Insects use odours for a huge variety of
interactions with each other and their environment. For example, insects use airborne
odours to attract a mate. If pheromone communication is disrupted similarly, it could
result in insects struggling to find mates, which could have ramifications for insect
biodiversity.
 Some insects like Beetles and parasitic wasps appeared resilient to pollutants. The
researchers suspect that this could be because the above insects relied on visual cues
rather than odour to reach flowers. Future experiments will need to explain why some
species or groups of insects are more affected than others.
The Way Forward
 There is a need to relook and ascertain our regulations across the world
 Future studies should quantify the levels of pollutants safe for insects’ health