6G VISION
1. Context
On March 22 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Bharat 6G Vision Document, a starting point for policymakers and the industry to gear up for the next generation of telecommunication. This is happening even as over 45,000 villages lack 4G connectivity, and 5G networks are still being built out
2. 6G Vision Document
- The government has indicated that it wants to accelerate India’s wireless data consumption and assume leadership in setting the standards for 6G in the coming years
- This may involve everything from encouraging local manufacturing of telecom gear to supporting Indian companies and engineers in international discussions around standardisation
- Another key motivation is the delay in previous generations of telecommunication technology rolling out in India 5G started rolling out in India years after countries like South Korea and the U.S. had already blanketed their major urban areas with high-speed wireless connectivity
- Frequencies generally increase in newer generations of networks, but the lower the frequency, the longer a cell signal can travel
- With increasing data usage, lower frequencies in 4G networks may not physically be able to keep up with the demand for traffic
- Right now, the spectrum is congested, particularly in the low and mid-bands where the propagation characteristics are favourable
- More data can travel in higher frequencies, which is the basis for 5G architectures where base stations with low coverage took the place of a single larger cell tower
- Beyond encouraging greater participation in standardisation discussions, the vision document says the government will financially support “research pathways” where breakthroughs are most likely to advance connectivity goals, leveraging talent in academia and companies
- Some indicative goals are to guarantee every citizen a minimum bandwidth of 100Mbps; ensure every gram panchayat has half a terabit per second of connectivity and blanket the country with over 50 million internet hotspots, with thirteen per square kilometre
3. How 6G is different from 5G
- For consumers, websites will load faster, videos will look better, and files will download faster, as has been the case with every new generation of technology
- But we may be hitting the ceiling on how noticeable these improvements can get
- Latency, which is the time taken for a data packet to move from one place to another (as opposed to speed, which is the number of such packets that can travel on a connection each second)
- is not far off from the speed of light itself on existing networks
- Businesses and governments are still on the verge of how best to leverage 5G to reap the benefits of high-precision low-latency applications with these new connections
- According to the vision document, satellite constellations will join telecom towers and base stations, integrating networks and extending them to rural areas
- Some of the innovations that the government envisions as 6G-powered connectivity boosters are solutions that already exist in other forms
- Satellite internet in remote areas is a solution that the government can instantly approve by granting firms like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Bharti Airtel-backed OneWeb the administrative clearance to begin offering their services
- Like DTH satellite dishes, setup is minimal as the satellites are already in the sky. However, administrative clearances lag behind
- At least two parts of India have already relied on satellite internet for decades. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands relied on a 1Gbps link to connect to the outside world, which is comparable to a single expensive home connection in many Indian cities today
- The situation improved vastly after the islands were connected to Chennai by an undersea cable in 2020
- While satellite internet speeds have improved, thanks to innovations like constellations, connectivity goals have as much to do with satellites hundreds of kilometres overhead as they do with the cables beneath the ground and on the seabed
4. Other Nations on 6G
- As early as July 2021, South Korea planned 220 billion KRW (almost Rs 1,400 crore) in investments into “super performance, hyperspace, and super precision standards,” according to the country’s Ministry of Science and Information Technology
- Countries have already started working together, with Japan and Germany planning a workshop in April to work on everything from “fundamental technologies to demonstrations”
- The Indian 6G Vision paper cites Europe’s equivalent of the document, saying that “The overarching Vision is to ensure leadership in strategic areas and establish secure and trusted access to key technologies making Europe a sovereign, independent, and reliable source for 6G public and private network solutions and services.”
Source: The Hindu
NATURAL GAS
1. Context
The government announced that domestically produced natural gas would be priced at $3.82 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) on a gross calorific value (GCV) basis for the second half of the fiscal year 2015-16 that is from October 2015 to March 2016 end.
This is a reduction of 18 per cent of prevailing prices, which came into effect on April 1, 2023.
2. Key Points
- Prices of locally produced natural gas are revised every six months as part of a new system of gas pricing initiated in October 2014.
- As such, this is a scheduled price revision and is in line with the fall in market prices of natural gas across the world.
- According to the new formula, domestic prices are a function of the prices of locally produced gas in four key markets of the world: National Balancing Point (UK), Henry Hub (US), Alberta Hub (US), Alberta Hub (Canada) and Federal Tariff of the Russian government.
3. Prices in India
- Indian prices are a weighted average of the four main markets.
- The volume of gas consumed in the corresponding markets weighs the prices.
- As such, Indian prices are not the same as those in any one market.
- However, the bi-annual revision ensures that Indian prices move in sync with global benchmarks.
4. Lowest prices
- Consumers of natural gas, including common people, will gain from the cheaper availability of compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG).
- According to India Ratings and Research, the benefit from reduced prices will be partly offset by the nearly 6 per cent depreciation of the rupee over April-September 2015.
- Even so, the net impact of reduced domestic gas prices, in rupee terms, would range between 11 per cent and 16 per cent.
- The move is likely to result in a cut of Rs 2.1-2.3/scm (Standard cubic metre) in PNG prices and a Rs 2.8-3.0/kg reduction in CNG prices. Retail prices of both CNG and PNG were cut.
- Companies in the business of gas distribution will benefit too.
- Shares of these companies rose on Wednesday Indraprastha Gas was up 3.7 per cent, Gujarat Gas gained 2.76 per cent, Gujarat State Petronet 1.42 per cent and Petronet LNG 1.16 per cent on the BSE.
5. Impact of lower prices
- The impact on government finances is likely to be mixed. The government will gain due to a reduction in the subsidy burden on account of urea but will lose out on income from state-owned producers of gas.
- Producers of domestic gas like ONGC Ltd, Oil India Ltd and Reliance Industries Ltd will be impacted adversely.
- India Ratings and Research estimate that ONGC will see its revenues decline by Rs 10.8 billion-11.5 billion and Oil by Rs 1.2 billion-1.3 billion.
For Prelims
| For Prelims: Natural Gas, CNG, PNG, ONGC |
Previous Year Questions
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1. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2013)
1. Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana beds.
2. Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma.
3. Dharwars are famous for petroleum.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 B. 2 only C. 2 and 3 D. None
Answer: B
2. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2019)
1. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the first regulatory body set up by the Government of India.
2. One of the tasks of PNGRB is to ensure competitive markets for gas.
3. Appeals against the decisions of PNGRB go before the Appellate Tribunals for Electricity. Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
3. In the context of proposals to the use of hydrogen-enriched CNG (H-CNG) as fuel for buses in public transport, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2019)
1. The main advantage of the use of H-CNG is the elimination of carbon monoxide emissions. 2. H-CNG as a fuel reduces carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon emissions.
3. Hydrogen up to one-fifth by volume can be blended with CNG as fuel for buses.
4. H-CNG makes the fuel less expensive than CNG.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 4 only D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: B
4. Full form of CNG is _______. (HP JBT TET 2017)
A. Combined Natural Gas
B. Compressed Natural Gas
C. Clean Natural Gas
D. Carbon Natural Gas
Answer: B
5. ONGC ______ is a subsidiary of the Indian public sector enterprise, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation. (SSC CPO 2020)
A. Videsh
B. Vinesh
C. Vighnesh
D. Vishesh
Answer: A
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Source: The Indian Express
LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS IN STATES
1. Context
SP has won 31 of 36 UP Vidhan Parishad seats that went to polls, giving itself a boost and a majority in the House.
2. What are the Legislative Councils, and why are they important?
- India has a bicameral system i.e., two Houses of Parliament. At the state level, the equivalent of the Lok Sabha is the Vidhan Sabha or Legislative Assembly; that of the Rajya Sabha is the Vidhan Parishad or Legislative Council.
- A second house of the legislature is considered important for two reasons: one, to act as a check on hasty actions by the popularly elected House and, two, to ensure that individuals who might not be cut out for the rough-and-tumble of direct elections too are able to contribute to the legislative process.
- Opposition to the idea of Legislative Councils is centered on three broad arguments.
- One, they can be used to park leaders who have not been able to win an election.
- Two, they can be used to delay progressive legislation.
- Three, they would strain state finances.
- Opinion in the Constituent Assembly was divided on the question of having a Legislative Council.
- The idea was backed on the above grounds: it was also suggested that having a second chamber would allow for more debate and sharing or work between the Houses.
3. Do all states have Legislative Councils?
- No. Our constitution does not force a bicameral legislature on states.
- It gives states the option of having a second House.
- As of today, seven states have Legislative Councils. These are Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
4. Importance of state legislative councils
Check against Hasty Legislation: A second House of the legislature is considered important to act as a check on hasty actions by the popularly elected House. If there are two chambers, the measures passed by one would be scrutinized by the other minutely. Hence the laws enacted finally would be carefully analyzed and thoroughly discussed.
Prevent autocracy: It is argued that the second house checks the lower chambers' autocratic tendencies. To vest the legislative powers with a popularly elected House alone may prove harmful to the people of the state as legislation may be arbitrary.
Accommodation of Talent: Elderly, experienced, and sober individuals, cannot-bear the ordeal of electioneering neither campaign nor are they keen to indulge in vicious party politics. The legislative councils accommodate such personalities not only through the nominated quota but also through the quota reserved for teachers and graduates.
Reduce the workload of legislative assembly: Since the legislative assemblies are generally flooded with work, due to the rapid growth in the functions of a modern welfare state, a unicameral legislature cannot cope with the work and devote fully to the bills brought before it for enactment. The legislative council lessens the burden of the lower House and enables an assembly to fully concentrate on measures of greater importance.
5. How much money is needed to set up a Legislative Council?
- Requirements would differ from state to state.
- Rajasthan told the standing Committee that approximately Rs. 100 crores would be required.
- Assam quoted a one-time expenditure of Rs. 68.33 crore, and a recurring annual expenditure of Rs 19.28 crore.
6. How many members of the council were elected?
- Membership may vary, but the Legislative Council must not have more than a third of the total membership of the Assembly of that state and in no case fewer than 40 members. (The exception is J&K, where the Legislative Council has 36 members vide Section 50 of the constitution of the state.)
- About 1/3rd of the members are elected by members of the Assembly, another 1/3rd by electorates consisting of members of municipalities, district boards, and other local authorities in the state, 1/12th by an election consisting of teachers, and 1/12th by registered graduates.
- The remaining members are nominated by the Governor from among those who have distinguished themselves in literature, science, art, the Cooperative movement, and social service.
- Legislative Councils are permanent houses, and like Rajya Sabha, one-third of their members retire every two years.
7. Difference between the state legislative councils and Rajya Sabha
- The council's position compared to the legislative assembly is much weaker than the position of the Rajya Sabha as compared to the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has equal powers with the Lok Sabha in all spheres except financial matters and with regard to the control over the Government.
- The councils consist of people from diverse backgrounds like graduates, teachers, and outstanding persons in the fields of art, literature, science, and social service and thus do not reflect the federal element of the polity. The Rajya Sabha consists of the representatives of the states and thus reflects the federal element of the polity.
- The council is heterogeneously constituted. It represents different interests and consists of differently elected members and also includes some nominated members. The Rajya Sabha is homogenously constituted. It represented only the states and consists of mainly elected members (only 12 out of 250 are nominated).
- Further councils are not permanent and their constitution depends upon the states. Many states don’t have legislative councils. Rajya Sabha is a permanent and continuous chamber where representatives are elected for the house.
For Prelims & Mains
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For Prelims: Legislative Councils, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assembly.
For Mains:
1. Discuss the role played by State Legislative Councils. How are they different from the Rajya Sabha? Also, examine their usefulness for Indian states.
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Previous year Question
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1. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2015)
1. The Legislative Council of a State in India can be larger in size than half of the Legislative Assembly of that particular State.
2. The Governor of a State nominates the Chairman of the Legislative Council of that particular State.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: D
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Source: The Indian Express
WHO
1.Context
In April 1945, politicians from around the world gathered in San Francisco to establish the United Nations
At the meeting, leaders from Brazil and China suggested the creation of another global organization: one specifically devoted to global health rather than global politics
2. About WHO
- The World Health Organization (WHO) was born three years later, when its constitution came into effect on April 7, 1948
- It states that health is a human right that every human being is entitled to, “without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition” and that “the health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security.”
- The organization’s headquarters are based in Geneva, Switzerland, with six regional and 150 country offices across the world
- WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage
- They direct and coordinate the world’s response to health emergencies and promote healthier lives from pregnancy care through old age
- WHO’s work remains firmly rooted in the basic human right to health and well-being principles, as outlined in their 1948 Constitution.
- The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO and is attended by delegations from all Member States
- The Global Health Histories project was established within the WHO headquarters in late 2004 and expanded into the regional offices from 2009 onwards
- An official WHO activity, its mission is based on the principle that understanding the history of health, especially during the last 60 years, helps the global public health community to respond to the challenges of today and help shape a healthier future for everyone, especially those most in need
3. Challenges faced by WHO
3.1. Small Pox
- One of the biggest successes in the WHO’s quest to ensure the global population’s well-being came in 1980, when the organization officially announced it had wiped out a common but deadly centuries-old infectious disease
- Smallpox eradication was a perfect example of when the WHO works best
- During the Cold War, there was wide-reaching agreement across the two blocs that the eradication of smallpox was a goal to be tackled. That’s when the WHO has seen its biggest successes: When members agree on which projects are worthy to be undertaken and how
3.2. Ebola Outbreak
- 2014 Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leoneoffers an example of a WHO job less well done
- The organization was criticized, among other things, for not reacting swiftly enough to address the epidemic
- There were unrealistic expectations for WHO, with many expecting, to go in force to the affected countries to confront the outbreak
- This is not within the WHO’s mandate. Its role is to guide the response, develop guidance, but not to go into a country to help address a specific health threat
- In fact, the WHO has no authority to take action in a member state unless that member state asks for help
- After the Ebola epidemic from 2014 to 2016, the organization made significant changes to its structure
- Example: It now relies to a lesser degree on national governments for crucial health information, thus lowering the chances of missing the start of another serious disease outbreak
3.3. Malaria Eradication attempt
- The organization’s agreement to give up on trying to eradicate malaria in the 1960s represents another example of what some consider a botched job
- The WHO launched the Global Malaria Eradication Programme (GMEP) in 1955.
- It looked promising, with 15 countries and one territory managing to eradicate the disease
- But there was little to no progress in sub-Saharan Africa under the program, and in many places, failure to sustain GMEP actually led to a resurgence of malaria. In 1969, the program was discontinued
- One reason that the eradication didn’t work, is that malaria isn’t solely a human disease, but has reservoirs in nature. This differentiates it from smallpox
3.4. Covid-19
- Some critics, then-US-President Donald Trump among them, complained at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that the WHO was not doing enough to support member states in their fight against the disease
- But experts like El-Sadr and Gradmann say that it wasn’t the WHO’s job to take action and introduce initiatives at the height of the coronavirus pandemic
- During COVID, the WHO provided data and did administrative work, But initiatives to fight The disease had to come from the individual member states. I don’t think the WHO played a large role in the COVID pandemic
- Members’ national governments were in charge of making decisions on how to best contain the pandemic in their country
Source: WHO, indianexpress
NATIONAL CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
1. Context
Recently the Ministry of Education released the pre-draft of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for school education for public feedback on the recommendations will be finalised after further rounds of discussions involving the national steering committee led by former ISRO chairperson K Kasturirangan developed it.
The school system in India may undergo a major restructuring with an expert committee appointed by the Union government recommending board examinations twice a year, a semester system for class 12 and freedom for students to pursue a mix of science, humanities and commerce subjects among others.
2. About NCF
- The NCF, which was last revised in 2005 is a key document based on which textbooks are prepared.
- So the current set of NCERT textbooks, barring the deletions are all based on the NCF 2005.
- Before 2005, the NCF was revised thrice, including once under the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
3. Draft Framework
- Under the latest round of revision, a draft framework on early childhood care and education and school education has already been prepared, while work on teacher and adult education is underway.
- Apart from textbooks, the NCF, after its adoption by the CBSE and other state boards will also restructure various other aspects of the classroom, including the choice of subjects, the pattern of teaching and assessment.
4. Proposed Changes
- Among the most significant recommendations in the draft NCF on school education are about the choice of subjects and exams in classes IX-XII.
- Over two years, in classes IX and X, the students will have to study 16 courses categorised under eight curricular areas.
- The suggested curricular areas are Humanities (that includes languages), Mathematics & Computing, Vocational Education, Physical Education, Arts, Social Science, Science and Inter-disciplinary Areas.
- Students will have to clear eight board exams, each of which will assess their hold on courses they learnt in class IX and X, to obtain the final certification which will factor into their performances in exams held over two years.
- Under the current system, there are no such links between class IX and X and students across most boards have to pass at least five subjects to clear class X.
- The committee has recommended more changes at the level of Class XI and XII, including the introduction of a semester system in Class XII.
- In terms of subjects, students will be given a choice to pick 16 courses from eight curricular areas.
- Currently, in Class 12, CBSE Students appear for the board exam in at least five subjects and a maximum of six and there is little scope for them to pursue multidisciplinary education.
- In other words, a student who has picked a combination of Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry cannot simultaneously study History or Political Science.
- But under the proposed system, that will be possible as the NEP envisages "no hard separation" among arts, humanities and sciences.
| "Modular Board Examinations will be offered as opposed to a single examination at the end of the year. The final certification will be based on the cumulative result of each of the examinations", states the pre-draft NCF. |
5. Changes in the teaching-learning for younger students
- At the foundation level, for children aged 3-8 enrolled in grades between preschool and class II, the Pedagogical approach suggested is play based.
- It adds that textbooks are to be used from Grade 1 and most of the content should be concrete materials toys, puzzles and manipulatives.
- Along with these materials, learning experiences organized through physical exploration of the classroom space become the most appropriate content.
- For Grades III, IV and V or the preparatory stage, children are to be introduced to textbooks on languages and mathematics, while also retaining the activity and discovery-based approach.
- And in the middle stage (class VI, VII, VIII), natural as well as social sciences will be introduced.
- The textbooks need to play a central role in mediating the content in the Middle stage.
- Both the expansion of curricular areas and the engagement with abstract ideas and unfamiliar contexts could be challenging and bewildering for students.
- Well-designed textbooks with clear expectations and specific learning goals would support students in entering these forms of understanding in a structured and systematic manner.
6. Proposed changes in specific subjects
- The NCF pre-draft on school education is not so much about specific changes in textbooks as those details will be put out in the position papers being developed by the 12-member steering committee and sub-committees of experts under it known as focus groups.
- However, it carries certain observations and suggestions. For instance, it says that stressing a lone piece of evidence, instead of exposing children to multiple contrasting pieces of evidence, throws up a "lopsided or inadequate picture" of a topic in social science textbooks.
- In Maths, it says that many students have developed a "real fear" of the subject in the current system.
- Methods of assessment in maths have also encouraged rote learning and promoted the perception of maths as "mechanical computation" it says.
- The solution, the committee says, is a shift towards play, activity, discovery and discussion-based learning.
7. Changes come into effect
- The government recently announced that textbooks based on the revised NCF will be taught in schools starting from the 2024-25 academic session.
- But a specific timeline for the implementation of the changes on exams, assessments and subject design has not been made available yet.
- In a statement, the Education Ministry said that the pre-draft of the NCF "still requires several rounds of discussion within the National Steering Committee".
For Prelims & Mains
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For Prelims: Ministry of Education, National Curriculum Framework, ISRO, NCERT,
For Mains:
1. What is National Curriculum Framework? Discuss the proposed changes for the Indian school system. (250 Words)
2. Discuss the need for changes in the Education System in India and Suggest measures for strengthening the education system in India? (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
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For Prelims:
1. Consider the following statements: ( UPSC 2018)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 B. 2 only C.1 and 3 D. 3 only Answer: B 2. Consider the following: (UPSC 2011)
1. Right to education.
2. Right to equal access to public service.
3. Right to food.
Which of the above is/are Human Right/Human Rights under "Universal Declaration of Human Rights"?
A. 1 only B. 1 and 2 only C. 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
For Mains:
1. National Education Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (2020) (250 Words)
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Source: The Indian Express
COASTAL AQUACULTURE BILL 2023
1. Context
The Government recently introduced the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023, through its Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala.
2. Key Provisions of the Bill
- The Bill seeks to amend certain provisions of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005, and decriminalize offenses under it for promoting ease of doing business and fine-tuning the operational procedures of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority.
- Besides amending the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005, the Bill seeks to clarify that coastal aquaculture and activities connected therewith shall continue to be regulated by the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act and no other Acts.
- It aims to promote newer forms of environment-friendly coastal aquaculture such as cage culture, seaweed culture, bi-valve culture, marine ornamental fish culture, and pearl oyster culture, which, it adds, has the potential for creating employment opportunities on a large scale for coastal fisher communities and especially fisherwomen.
- It also aims to encourage the establishment of facilities in areas having direct access to seawater to produce genetically improved and disease-free broodstocks and seeds for use in coastal aquaculture.
- Moreover, the Bill seeks to prevent the use of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances, which are harmful to human health in coastal aquaculture.
3. What is Coastal Aquaculture?
- Under Section 2 (1)(c) of the 2005 Act, “coastal aquaculture” means culturing or cultivating, under controlled conditions in ponds, pens, enclosures, or otherwise, in coastal areas, of shrimp, prawn, fish, or any other aquatic life in saline or brackish water; but does not include freshwater aquaculture.
- The 2023 Bill seeks to broaden the definition of coastal aquaculture or coastal aquaculture activity to mean rearing and cultivation of any life stages of fish, including crustacean, mollusc, finfish, seaweed, or any other aquatic life under controlled conditions, either indoor, outdoor, in cement cisterns, ponds, pens, cages, rafts, enclosures or otherwise in saline or brackish water in coastal areas, including activities such as the production of broodstock, seed, grow out but does not include freshwater aquaculture.
4. Provisions for Biosecurity
- The bill also includes new provisions for biosecurity, which refers to measures and strategies for analyzing, managing, and preventing the risk of introducing or spreading harmful organisms like viruses and bacteria within the coastal aquaculture unit, which could lead to infectious diseases.
- It provides for the introduction of a “Brood Stock Multiplication Centre” which receives “post-larvae or juveniles which are specifically pathogen-free” or tolerant or resistant to such pathogens or other post-larvae or juveniles from a “Nucleus Breeding Centre”, to be reared under strict biosecurity and disease surveillance.
- Many of these biosecurity measures also find a mention in the 2015 Guidelines for Regulating Establishment and Operation of SPF Shrimp Broodstock Multiplication Centers, published by the National Fisheries Development Board, which is part of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries, which used to be a part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare.
- Formed in 1991, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries (DAHDF) was earlier responsible for overseeing matters related to animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries. It advised states and UTs on the formulation of policies and programs.
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying was subsumed under the newly created Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
5. What is the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, of 2005?
The act provides for the establishment of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority for regulating the activities connected with coastal aquaculture in coastal areas and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
The Act mandates Central Government
- To take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the regulation of coastal aquaculture by prescribing guidelines.
- To ensure that coastal aquaculture does not cause any detriment to the coastal environment and
- The concept of responsible coastal aquaculture shall be followed in the regulation of coastal aquaculture activities to protect the livelihood of various sections of people living in the coastal areas.
6. Coastal Aquaculture Authority
Section 4 of the 2005 Act allowed the Centre to establish an authority called the Coastal Aquaculture Authority to regulate coastal aquaculture activities in the coastal areas, which would consist of a chairperson who is a current or former HC judge, a coastal aquaculture expert and members nominated by the Central Department of Ocean Development, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce along with four members representing Coastal states on a rotational basis and one member secretary.
7. What did the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act Bill 2022 propose?
- The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which the government proposed to bring last year, sought to revise the provisions of the principal 2005 Act to reduce the regulatory compliance burden on stakeholders without diluting the core principles of environmental protection in coastal areas.
- It also proposed to decriminalize offenses und
