Current Affair

Back
[DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS, 15, MARCH 2023]

RIGHT TO HEALTH BILL

 
 
1. Context
The recently concluded Budget session of the Rajasthan Assembly revived the debate around the Right to Health Bill. The legislation, if passed, will provide mandatory free and affordable medical services in hospitals, clinics and laboratories both public and privately owned. Private hospital doctors object to the Bill citing it is hastily drafted, ignores ground realities and may tighten norms in an already over-regulated field
2. Key takeaways of the bill
  • The Bill provides rights to patients and healthcare providers, places the obligation on the government to protect these legal rights and mandates the setting up of grievance redressal mechanisms
  • Rajasthan residents will be entitled to free check-ups, drugs, diagnostics, emergency transport and care at all public health institutes, along with affordable surgeries
  • Clause 3 of the Bill lays down 20 rights a State resident will be entitled to including the right to informed consent, to seek information (in the form of medical records and documents) regarding diagnosis and treatment, and to receive treatment without discrimination based on caste, class, age, gender, etc
  • Clause 4 of the Bill shifts the burden of responsibility in providing adequate medical services to the government. The government is “obligated” to provide funds, set up institutions and constitute grievance redressal systems
  • Clause 4 mandates that the government develop a Human Resource Policy for health ensuring equitable distribution of doctors, nurses and healthcare workers at all levels of the system across regions
3.Constitutional Guarantee
  • The Indian Constitution does not explicitly talk about a right to health. A “right to health”, in theory, is derived from the right to life and liberty as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution
  • Previously, courts have highlighted the State’s obligation to protect and promote the health of citizens, 
 Constitutional provisions such as:
 
Article 38: Promoting the welfare of people
Article 47: Which directs the government to meet the nutrition and health requirements of the population
4.Other Fundamental Rights
Right to Equality  Article 14 - 18
Right to Freedom Article 19 - 22
Right against exploitation Article 23-24
Cultural and Educational rights Article 29 - 30
Rights to Constitutional remedy Article 32
Source: Hindu

CONSUMER RIGHTS

 
 
1.Context
The Department of Consumer Affairs will be celebrating World Consumer Rights Day, 2023 on Wednesday, 15th March 2023. In this regard, the Additional Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Mrs. Nidhi Khare interacted with media persons today and shared that the theme of orld Consumer Rights Day, 2023 is “Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions”.
2.Significance of the Day
World consumer day is to raise the awareness about consumer rights and needs. It is a day to celebrate Consumers' power and demand that their rights be respected and protected.
The Inspiration behind World consumer Day was John F Kennedy, the former US President . He was the first world leader to address the issue of consumer rights in a special message to the US Congress on March 1961
These four important consumer rights are:
  • Right to safety

  • Right to be informed

  • Right to choose

  • Right to be heard.

3. Consumer rights
The Consumer Protection ACt, 1986 outlines some basic consumer rights in India 
The basic consumer rights is the right to be informed, the right to choose, the right to safety, the right to be heard, the right to redress, and the right to consumer education
The first ever World Consumer Rights Day was started by the Consumer International, a membership organisation for consumer groups around the world
It is a global organisation that ensures the protection and right use of consumer rights all around the world.
Consumer International  was founded in the year 1960 as an independent and influential voice for consumers
 
Source:pib, Times of India

ALLURI SITARAMA RAJU AND KOMARAM BHEEM

1. Context 

With a win for Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu" at the 2023 Oscars, the Telugu Movie "RRR" is garnering attention on the global stage.

2. Key Points

  • Its story and characters have roots in real historical figures, inspired by the lives of Indian Freedom fighters Alluri Sitharama Raju and Komaram Bheem.
  • Both men were 20th Century revolutionaries who led tribal people in present-day Andhra Pradesh against the British and the Nizams.
  • Bheem was a tribal man but Raju was not. Both leaders died young while resisting colonial rule.
  • Raju and Bheem, along with Ramji Gaur, as prominent leaders who stood against the Nizams.
  • RRR shows the two freedom fighters' lives and friendships in a fictionalised manner, as there is no record of them ever having met in real life.
  • The film spans the period before they joined the freedom struggle.

3. About Alluri Sitharama Raju

  • Raju is believed to have been born in Andhra Pradesh in 1897 or 1898.
  • He is said to have become a sanyasi at the age of 18 and gained a mystical aura among the hill and tribal peoples with his austerity, knowledge of astrology and medicine and his ability to tame wild animals.
  • At a very young age, Raju channelled the discontent of the hill people in Ganjam, Visakhapatnam and Godavari into an effective guerrilla resistance against the British.
  • Colonial rule threatened the tribal's traditional podu (shifting) cultivation, as the government sought to secure forest lands.
  • The Forest Act of 1882 banned the collection of minor forest produce such as roots and leaves and tribal people were forced into labour by the colonial government.
  • While the tribals were subjected to exploitation by muttadars, and village headmen commissioned by the colonial government to extract rent, the new laws and systems threatened their way of life itself.
  • Strong anti-government sentiment, shared by the muttadars who were aggrieved by the curtailment of their powers by the British, exploded into armed resistance in August 1922.
  • Several hundred tribals led by Raju attacked the Chintapalle, Krishnadevipeta and Rajavommangi police stations in the Godavari agency.
  • The Rampa or Manyam Rebellion continued in the form of a guerrilla war until May 1924, when Raju, the Charismatic "Manyam Veerudu" or Hero of the Jungle, was finally captured and executed.
  • The Rampa Rebellion coincided with Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement.
The NCERT history textbook notes that "Raju talked of the greatness of Mahatma Gandhi and said he was inspired by the Non-Cooperation Movement and persuaded people to wear khadi and give up drinking. But at the same time, he asserted that India could be liberated only by the use of force, not non-violence".

4. About Komaram Bheem

  • Komram Bheem was born in the Gond Tribal community at Sankepally village in Komarambheem District, renamed after him in 2016.
  • It is said a jagirdar, who was an informer of the Nizam, occupied his family's land and Bheem killed him in a fit of rage.
  • To escape authorities, he went to Assam and worked as a labourer in coffee and tea plantations for five years.
  • Though he was illiterate, he learned to read and write and later became aware of movements by the likes of Birsa Munda.
  • Around that time, the Nizam government used to collect tax in the name of "Bambram" and "Dupapetti" from people grazing cattle and collecting firewood for cooking.
  • In opposition, Bheem spread the message of "Jal, Jangal, Zameen" (Water, forest, land) among tribal people.
  • This has become a clarion call for indigenous people's rights to natural resources, used in many parts of India to date.
  • Villages in Adilabad were ready with the help of a guerrilla army composed of Gond and Koya Communities men. Bheem trained tribal people to fight with weapons. 
  • However, Nizam's army overwhelmed them and Bheem died at their hands in the Jodeghat forest.

5. Presence in culture

  • In 1986, the Indian Postal Department issued a stamp in honour of Raju and his contribution to India's struggle for Independence.
  • Raju and Bheem both have long been folk heroes in the region and the 1974 Telugu film Alluri Seetarama Raju became very popular.
  • The 1990 Telugu film "Komaram Bheem" was also well-received.

6. Political Claims

  • In May 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 30-feet-tall bronze statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju at Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh in the year-long celebration of the freedom fighter's 125th Birth anniversary began.
  • On the occasion of Raju's 122nd birth Anniversary in 2019, the government of Y S Jagan Mohan Reedy announced the naming of a district after him, acceding to a longstanding demand of the tribal population of Andhra Pradesh.
  • The district of Alluri Sitarama Raju came into being on April 4 last year, made up of Paderu and Rampachodavaram of the existing districts of Visakhapatnam and East Godavari respectively.

For Prelims & Mains

For Prelims: Alluri Sitharama Raju, Komaram Bheem, Gond tribe, Koya tribe, shifting cultivation, Rampa rebellion, The Forest Act of 1882, Non-Cooperation Movement, Bambram, Dupapetti, 
For Mains:
1. Does renaming the district names or Constructing larger statues after freedom fighters inspire the nation instead of taking their ideology? Comment.  (250 Words)
2. Why Indian cinema is far behind to compete with International cinema. Critically Analyze. (250 Words)
3. What is Rampa Rebellion? Discuss the Tribal's contribution to the Indian freedom struggle during the early 20th Century. (250 Words)

Previous year questions

1. In Rampa Rebellion who helped Alluri Sita Rama Raju in his fight against the British? (AP Police constable 2016)
A. Bobbili Dora
B. Jampanna Doraa
C. Mannu Dora
D. Gantam Dora
1. Answer: A

2. With reference to the history of India, Ulgulan or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events? (UPSC CSE 2020)

(a) The Revolt of 1857

(b) The Mappila Rebellion of 1921

(c) The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60

(d) Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899-1900

2. Answer: D
 
Source: The Indian Express

LANDFILLS

 

1. Context

The Kochi landfill site around Brahmapuram that caught fire earlier this month is a stark reminder that Indian cities need to be prepared for more such incidents as summer approaches. Preventing such fires require long-term measures, including thorough and sustained interventions from municipalities.

2. What is a Landfill?

  • A landfill site, also known as a rubbish dump, garbage dump, or dumping ground, is a site for the disposal of waste material. It is the oldest and most common form of waste disposal.
  • US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has established specific guidelines regarding the creation and management of Landfills.
  • In India, landfills are managed under the new solid waste management rules (SWM), 2016.
  • However, many of the guidelines have not been adhered to e.g., the Bhalswa landfill is right next to the Bhalswa lake. However, the SWM Rules 2016 mandate that the landfill site shall be 100 metres away from a river, 200 metres from a pond, 500 metres away from highways, habitations, public parks and water supply wells and 20 km away from airports/airbases.
Image Source: Blackstone Environment

3. How do landfills catch fire?

  • India's municipalities have been collecting more than 95% of the waste generated in cities but the efficiency of waste processing is 30-40% at best.
  • The municipal solid waste consists of about 60% biodegradable material, 25% non-biodegradable material and 15% inert materials, like slit and stone.
  • Municipalities are expected to process the wet and dry waste separately and to have the recovered byproducts recycled.
  • Unfortunately, the rate of processing in India's cities is far lower than the rate of waste generation, so unprocessed waste remains in open landfills for long periods of time.
  • This openly disposed of waste includes flammable material like low-quality plastics, which have a relatively higher calorific value of about 2,500-3,000 kcal/kg, and rags and clothes.
  • In summer, the biodegradable fraction composts much faster, increasing the temperature of the heap beyond 70-80 degrees celsius.
  • A higher temperature coupled with flammable materials is the perfect situation for a landfill to catch fire. Some fires go on for months.

4. Reasons behind frequent landfill fires

  • Landfills are the largest source of methane emissions which are highly flammable in nature and play a large role in the ignition of landfill fires. 
  • The decomposition of waste is largely anaerobic in a landfill, which results in the production of large quantities of methane and carbon dioxide.
  • The surface fires at dumpsites are also caused by equipment-related factors. This includes debris trapped under machines, heat from equipment (exhaust pipes) and welding.
  • These fires are also a result of human factors. Waste pickers who scavenge the waste may inadvertently start a fire by smoking in the landfill.
  • The temperature of a region also aids in fire generation. For instance, the ongoing heat wave in Delhi enhanced the probability of fire in a landfill.

5. Impacts of Landfill fires

  • Fore at the Bhalswa landfill site churned out dense plumes of smoke and turned the sky hazy grey leading to air pollution. Further, there is a release of a large amount of GHG gases.
  • It causes health ailments in residents living nearby the landfill like sore throat, itchy eyes and breathing problems.
  • A thick layer of smoke caused by fire impairs the visibility of commuters. For instance, vehicles travelling on the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam 200 feet radial road (near the perungudi dump yard) have been experiencing poor visibility since the onset of the fire.
  • It also impacts the nearby schools in the vicinity which are forced to shut down temporarily in wake of children's health.

6. Solutions to manage landfill fires

  • There are two possible permanent solutions to manage landfill fires.
  • The first solution is to completely cap the material using soil, and close landfills in a scientific manner. This solution is unsuitable in the Indian context, as the land can't be used again for other purposes. Closed landfills have specific standard operating procedures, including managing methane emissions.
  • The second solution is to clear the piles of waste through bioremediation excavate old waste and use automated sieving machines to segregate the flammable refuse-derived fuel (RDF) (plastics, rags, clothes, etc.) from biodegradable material.
  • The recovered RDF can be sent to cement kilns as fuel, while the soil can be distributed to farmers to enrich the soil. The inert fraction will have to be landfilled. However, implementing a bioremediation project usually takes up to two or three years, necessitating a short-term solution for summertime landfill fires.

7. Government initiatives to control landfill fires

  • The government of India has undertaken multiple large-scale national initiatives such as ‘The Swachh Bharat Mission’, ‘The National Water Mission’ and the Waste to wealth mission as a part of its commitment to effective waste & pollution management in India.
  • Emphasis has also been laid on the approach of setting up Decentralised Waste processing sites within Cities to cater problem of fresh MSW and legacy waste management (Solid waste in landfills).

Previous year Question

1. As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in India, which one of the following statements is correct? (UPSC 2019)
A. Waste generator has to segregate waste into five categories.
B. The Rules are applicable to notifies urban local bodies, notified towns and all industrial townships only.
C. The Rules provide for exact and elaborate criteria for the identification of sites for landfills and waste processing facilities.
D. It is mandatory on the part of the waste generator that the waste generated in one district cannot be moved to another district.
Answer: C

For Prelims & Mains

For Prelims: landfills, US Environment Protection Agency (EPA), solid waste management rules (SWM), Bhalswa lake, Green House Gases (GHG), Refuse-derived fuel (RDF), The Swachh Bharat Mission, The National Water Mission, and Waste to wealth mission.
For Mains: 1. Explain how landfills catch fire and discuss the impacts of landfill fires and suggest some measures or solutions to control them.
Source: The Hindu

INDIAN ARMS ACT

1. Context 

The Punjab government has cancelled the 813 gun licenses across the state in a bid to clamp down on the "Gun Culture" in the state.

2. Key Points

  • Rules have to be followed for keeping a gun. Now there is a ban on carrying and displaying weapons in public functions, religious places, marriage ceremonies, or any other events in Punjab, Random checking will be done in different areas in the coming days.
  • The hinting at a "complete ban on that glorifying violence and weapons".
  • As of date, there are a total of 3, 73, 053 arms licenses in Punjab but the government is continuously taking action to end gun culture.

3. Reasons for Punjab clamping down on gun culture

  • The Punjab government has been under pressure from the opposition over "worsening" law and order after the murders of Kabaddi Player Sandeep Nangal Ambian in March 2022, singer Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022 and November 2022 Killings of Shiv Sena leader Sudhir Suri and Dera Sacha follower Pardeep Singh.
  • The state's recent move to suspend licenses is one in a series of similar measures undertaken by the state previously.
  • On November 13, 2022, the Punjab government ordered a complete ban on the public display of weapons and songs glorifying violence.

4. About the 2022 order

  • On November 13, 2022, the state's Department of Home Affairs and Justice headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann issued a letter to the State DGP, all-district magistrates, commissioners and SSPs forbidding the public display of firearms and songs glorifying weapons.
  • The order also called for a review of all licenses issued within three months and barred the issuance of new licenses for the next three months, except when authorities are personally convinced of its necessity in extraordinary circumstances.
  • It required the officers to "immediately cancel the arms license" if found to be issued to any miscreant in their review.
  • However, in a significant dilution of the order, the Punjab Police said on November 29 that there is no restriction on the issuance of new arms licenses and carrying them for self-defence.
  • Before this, the Punjab government 2020 wrote to the Union Information Technology (IT) and Information and Broadcasting (I & B) ministries, requesting the removal of content glorifying violence, drugs and liquor from Youtube and other social media platforms.
  • This came after the Punjab & Haryana High Court's July 2019 order in 'Reet Mohinder Singh vs the State of Punjab and others' that directed the DGP of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to ensure that no songs glorifying liquor, wine, drugs and violence are played, even in live shows.
  • "The District magistrates/ SSPs/ SPs of each district shall be personally responsible to ensure due compliance of the directions issued", the Division Bench said while observing that the glorification of violence has given rise to the culture of gangsters in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.
The 2019 order served as a basis for initiating action under the Indian Arms Act, 1959 and the Indian Penal Code against singers like Elly Mangat, who allegedly participated in a celebratory firing and Sippy Gill for allegedly promoting violence and weapons in his song "Gundagardi".

5. Possessing firearms under the Indian Arms Act
  • The Indian Arms Act of 1959 was passed after India attained Independence.
  • It scrapped the erstwhile Act of 1878, passed by the British in the aftermath of the 1857 mutiny, restricting Indians from Possessing firearms.
  • According to the 1959 Act, no one can acquire possess or carry any firearms in India without a license.
  • The Act bars one person from carrying more than three firearms after its amendment in 1983, except if the person is a licensed dealer belonging to the armed forces of the Union or a member of a rifle club or association licensed or recognised by the Centre.
  • The Arms Act allows Indian citizens aged 21 years and above to get Non-Prohibited Bore (NPB) guns.
  • Bore refers to the diameter of a gun's bullets. NPB guns adhering to .35, .33, .22 and .380 are permissible for a license.
  • Meanwhile, Prohibited Bore guns of bores.38. .455 and .303 can only be issued to defence personnel or persons facing imminent threats to life.
  • A license can only be granted for purposes of self-defence, crop protection or sports.
  • Section 9 of the Act prevents persons of unsound mind or those out on bond from getting a such license.
  • Applications for the grant of arms license for NPB weapons are dealt with by the State Government/DM concerned, based on the report of the police authorities, prepared after a thorough background check of the applicant's antecedents and family details.
  • However, the Centre is also empowered to prohibit the possession and distribution of arms in certain "disturbed areas".

6. An amendment to the Act in 2019

  • An amendment to the Act in December 2019 reduced the number of permitted firearms from three to one and provided one year to deposit the excess firearms with the officer-in-charge of the nearest police station or with a licensed firearm dealer or unit armoury.
  • The amendment also increased the duration of validity of a firearm license, from three to five years.

7. About the Arms Rules, 2016

  • In 2016, the Centre issued new Arms Rules, 2016, superseding the Arms Rules, 1962, whereby applying for an arms license, rifle club, association or firing range required one to complete a safety training course involving safe handling and carrying procedures.
  • Provisions for granting restricted categories of arms to those living in militancy-hit areas and a decision on applications for arms licenses within two months were part of the rules issued by the Centre.

For Prelims & Mains

For Prelims: Arms Act, Union Information Technology (IT) Ministry, Information and Broadcasting (I & B) Ministry, Reet Mohinder Singh vs the State of Punjab and others, Indian Arms Act, 1959, 
For Mains: 
1. What is Indian Arms Act? Discuss the challenges of banning the Gun culture in Punjab. (250 Words)

Previous year questions

1. Match List - I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: (UPSC 2020)
List – I                                 List – II
A. Indian Arms Act             1. 1876
B. Royal Title Act               2. 1878
C. Indian High Court Act    3. 1869
D. Indian Divorce Act         4. 1861
 
A. (A) 2, (B) 3, (C) 1, (D) 4                B. (A) 3, (B) 1, (C) 2, (D) 4
C. (A) 1, (B) 2, (C) 3, (D) 4                D.  (A) 2, (B) 1, (C) 4, (D) 3
 
1. Answer: D
 
Source: The Indian Express

IPCC

 

1. Context

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is meeting in Switzerland this week to finalize the last report of its sixth assessment cycle, which is expected to set up the tempo for a string of climate change-focused discussions over the next fortnight. 

2. Synthesis Report

  • The IPCC, an UN-backed scientific body whose periodic assessments of climate science form the basis of global climate action, is set to finalize what is known as the Synthesis Report, incorporating the findings of the five reports that it has released in the sixth assessment cycle since 2018.
  • The Synthesis Report is supposed to be a relatively non-technical summary of the previous reports, aimed largely at policymakers around the world.
  • It is meant to address a wide range of policy-relevant scientific questions related to climate change, but, like all IPCC reports, in a non-prescriptive manner. 
  • This will bring an end to the Sixth Assessment Report, a collective work of thousands of scientists over a period of eight years, starting in February 2015.

3. Significance of the report

  • The Synthesis Report is unlikely to reveal anything new. Climate science is fairly well established, and its impacts are already visible.
  • As part of the sixth assessment cycle, the IPCC published three comprehensive reports- one on scientific evidence for climate change, the other on impacts and vulnerabilities, and the third exploring mitigation options available.
  • Besides these, special reports on the feasibility of keeping global temperature rise within the 1.5-degree celsius limit, and the connections between land, ocean, and cryosphere, were also released.
  • Together, these form the most comprehensive understanding of the earth's climate system, the changes it is undergoing, the repercussions of these changes, and the actions that should be taken to avoid the worst impacts.

4. The upcoming meetings

  • The release of the synthesis report on March 20 would be immediately followed by a ministerial-level meeting in Copenhagen.
  • This will discuss ways to implement the decisions taken at last year's climate meeting in Sharm el-sheikh, especially the one related to the creation of a new fund to help countries hit by climate-related disasters.
  • This meeting is aimed at building the atmosphere for more ambitious agreements at this year's climate conference, scheduled in Dubai towards the end of the year.
  • Later next week, the UN 2023 Water Conference will take place, with climate change as one of the most important agendas.
  • Two G-20 meetings around the climate change theme are also scheduled towards the end of this month, one in Udaipur, Rajasthan, and the other in Gandhinagar, Gujrat.

5. About IPCC

  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.
  • IPCC was created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the objective of the IPCC is to provide governments at all levels with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies.
  • IPCC reports are also a key input into international climate change negotiations. The IPCC is an organisation of governments that are members of the United Nations or WMO.
  • The IPCC has currently 195 members. Thousands of people from all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC.
  • For the assessment reports, experts volunteer their time as IPCC authors to assess the thousands of scientific papers published each year to provide a comprehensive summary of what is known about the drivers of climate change, its impacts, and future risks, and how adaptation and mitigation can reduce those risks.
  • An open and transparent review by experts and governments around the world is an essential part of the IPCC process, to ensure an objective and complete assessment and to reflect a diverse range of views and expertise.
  • Through its assessments, the IPCC identifies the strength of scientific agreement in different areas and indicates where further research is needed. The IPCC does not conduct its own research.

6. Working Groups and Task Force of IPCC

  • The IPCC is divided into three working Groups and a task force.
  • Working group I deals with the physical science basis of climate change, working group II with Climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability, and Working group III with the Mitigation of Climate Change.
  • The main objective of the Taskforce on National greenhouse gas inventories is to develop and refine a methodology for the calculation and reporting of national greenhouse gas emissions and removals.
  • Alongside the working Groups and the Taskforce, other Task Groups may be established by the panel for a set time period to consider a specific topic or question.
  • One example is the decision at the 47th Session of the IPCC in Paris in March 2018 to establish a Task Group to improve gender balance and address gender-related issues within the IPCC.
  • That Task Group completed its work and their work was fundamental to the Panel Adoption and Gender Policy and Implementation Plan.

7. Structure of IPCC

Image Source: IPCC

8. The Reports by IPCC

Since the creation of the IPCC, each Assessment Report has fed directly into international climate policymaking.
  • In 1990, the First IPCC Assessment Report (FAR) underlined the importance of climate change as a challenge with global consequences and requiring international cooperation. It played a decisive role in the creation of the UNFCCC, the key international treaty to reduce global warming and cope with the consequences of climate change.
  • The Second Assessment Report (SAR) 1995 provided important material for governments to draw from in the run-up to the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.
  • The Third Assessment Report (TAR) 2001 focused attention on the impacts of climate change and the need for adaptation.
  • The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) 2007 laid the groundwork for a post-Kyoto agreement, focusing on limiting warming to 2 degrees Celsius.
  • The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) was finalized between 2013 and 2014. It provided scientific input into the Paris Agreement. 
  • The IPCC is currently in its sixth Assessment cycle where it will prepare three special reports, a Methodology Report, and the Sixth Assessment Report.
  • The First of these Special Reports, Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15), was requested by world governments under the Paris Agreement.
  • In May 2019, the IPCC finalised the 2019 Refinement an update to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.
  • The Special Report on Climate Change and Land (SRCCL) will be finalized in August 2019 and the Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC) will be finalized in September 2019.
  • The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) is expected to be finalized in 2022 in time for the first global stocktake the following year.

9. Nobel Prize for IPCC

In 2007, the IPCC and U.S. Vice-President Al Gore were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measure that are needed to counteract such things. The Prize was awarded at the end of the year which saw the IPCC bring out its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4).

Previous year Question

1. With reference to the 'Global Climate Change Alliance', which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC 2017)
1. It is an initiative of the European Union.
2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.
3. It is coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 2 only            B. 3 only           C. 2 and 3 only              D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
 
2. The IPCC is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. IPCC stands for: (RRB NTPC CBT 2 2022)
A. Intergovernmental Provision on Climate Change
B. International Panel on Climate Change
C. International Provision on Climate Change
D. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Answer: D

For Prelims & Mains

For Prelims: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Synthesis Report, United Nations (UN), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), G-20 meeting, UN 2023 Water Confere

Share to Social