Current Affairs 8th Aug 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Rashtriya Vigyan Puruskar

Context: The Union government has announced the first set of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar /national awards for scientists.

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• Noted biochemist and former Director of the Indian Institute of Science, G Padmanabhan, was announced as the winner of the Vigyan Ratna.
• The Vigyan team award went to the ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 team
• The Award Ceremony for all categories is held every year on the National Space Day on 23rd August.

About Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar

• The Government of India has introduced the “Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar” awards to recognize outstanding contributions in science, technology, and innovation.
• Scientists and innovators in government, private organisations, or individuals working independently are eligible for the awards.
• People of Indian origin staying abroad with exceptional contributions benefiting Indian communities or society shall also be eligible for the awards.
• Awards are given in 4 categories:
  • Vigyan Ratna (VR): Awarded to recognize lifetime achievements & contributions made in any field of science and technology. (Max. 3)
  • Vigyan Shri(VS): Awarded to recognize distinguished contributions in any field of science and technology. (Max. 25)
  • Vigyan Yuva- Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB): Awarded to recognize & encourage young scientists who made an exceptional contribution in any field of science and technology. (Max. 25)
  • VigyanTeam (VT): Awarded to a team comprising three or more scientists or researchers who have made an exceptional contribution working in a team in any field of science and technology. (Max. 3)

Pyrocumulonimbus Clouds

Context: Intense wildfires in the United States and Canada have created ‘pyrocumulonimbus’ clouds, which have the potential to spit out thunder and spark more fires.

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• The development of these clouds has become more frequent in recent years. Before 2023, 102 pyrocumulonimbus were recorded globally in a single year on average — 50 of them were seen in Canada,
• According to a report published in the journal Nature. However, during last year’s extreme wildfire season, 140 pyrocumulonimbus clouds were recorded in Canada alone.

About Pyrocumulonimbus Clouds

• Pyrocumulonimbus clouds are thunder clouds created by intense heat from the Earth’s surface.
• Not every wildfire leads to the creation of pyrocumulonimbus clouds.
• Pyrocumulonimbus clouds can produce lightning, they do not generate much rain.
• They occur only when there is an extremely hot wildfire — volcanic eruptions can also lead to the formation of pyrocumulonimbus clouds.
• Pyrocumulonimbus clouds look much darker than typical clouds because of their large amounts of smoke and ash.
• Higher global temperatures lead to more frequent and intense wildfires, thereby increasing the likelihood of these cloud formations.
• Pyrocumulonimbus clouds are also responsible for several aerosol pollutants (such as smoke and ash) trapped in the stratosphere and upper atmosphere.

Portal To Ease Entry Of Chinese Technicians Into India

Context: A new portal designed to expedite the approval of short-term business visas for Chinese technicians has begun functioning.

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• This initiative aims to enhance output in various sectors covered by the PLI scheme.
• The portal aims to streamline the visa approval process for Chinese technicians in the PLI sector.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has conducted sessions with various departments to educate and train them on using the portal effectively.

Background

• Following the Galwan clash (2020), the Indian government implemented measures to limit Chinese influence on the economy, including amending the FDI policy under Press Note 3 (PN3) in 2020.
  • This amendment brought investments from land-bordering countries under the government route.

Reasons for Issuing Visas to Chinese Technicians

• Skill Gap: Significant skill gap between Chinese and Indian factory supervisors and workers.
• Productivity: Chinese professionals are highly productive, and able to produce more items with the same resources compared to Indian workers.
• Technical Assistance: Indian businesses have purchased machines from China but cannot use them productively without Chinese technicians.
  • Without Chinese technicians, machines bought from China remain idle, leading to unfulfilled export orders and economic losses.
  • Various industries, including footwear, textiles, engineering, and electronics, require Chinese expertise to operate machinery and fulfil export orders.
• Cost-Effective: Chinese experts are less expensive than those from other countries, providing a cost-effective solution for Indian businesses.
• Economic Growth: Chinese expertise can help India secure a foothold on the global skills ladder, which is crucial for economic growth.

Comparison

China

• China excels in global education and technology, with high-performing students in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
• Chinese universities are among the world’s best, especially in computer science and mathematics.
• Chinese scientists lead in various applied sciences and technology, including electric vehicles and solar technology.

India

• India struggles with education quality, affecting its economic prospects.
• Indian Institutes of Technology graduates face job scarcity, and many IT workers seek gig economy opportunities.
• IT jobs peaked at just above 5 million in 2023, insufficient for the working-age population of a billion.
• Predictions of India becoming a global economic superpower ignore its educational deficiencies and job market challenges.

Missed Opportunities and Future Prospects

• India missed the China-plus-one opportunity, with Mexico and Vietnam seizing the moment.
• Foreign investors are shying away from India, and labour-intensive manufactured exports are stagnant.
• National security and self-reliance rhetoric may block essential foreign expertise, hindering development.
• Addressing human capital deficiencies is crucial for India’s economic future.
• The global Red Queen race is intensifying, and India risks falling further behind.

Factor Market Reforms

Context: Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, emphasised the need for India to open up its economy further.

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Reforms Suggested

• Factor Market Reforms: Panagariya called for reforms in land, labour, and capital markets to boost economic growth.
• Free Trade: Known for his strong support of free trade and opposition to protectionism, Panagariya reiterated the need for liberalised world trade.
• Multilateral Route: He noted the challenges of pursuing the multilateral route in the current global trade environment but emphasised its importance.

Definition of Factor Market

• The term “factor market” refers to all the resources that businesses use to purchase, rent, or hire what they need to produce goods or services.
• These resources are the factors of production, which include raw materials, land, labour, and capital.
• Alternative Term: The factor market is also known as the input market.

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