Daily News Simplified -

DNS
24 0 07 21
Notes
SL. THE HINDU
TOPICS
NO. PAGE NO.

1. Ganga’s Message- Performance Analysis of Namami Gange 06

2 Agricultural Mechanization: Need, Benefits, Challenges and Way 04

ahead
3 Empowering nature with biocentric jurisprudence 06

4 SC dismisses plea challenging NGT ban on sale and use of 01/02

firecrackers
5 Return to Troubles- Good Friday Agreement 06
1. UPSC Current Affairs: Ganga’s Message- Performance Analysis of Namami Gange | Page 6
UPSC Syllabus: Mains: GS Paper III – Environment & Biodiversity
Sub Theme: Namami Gange Programme | UPSC

Course of river Ganga –

Bhagirathi is the source stream of Ganga. It emanates from Gangotri Glacier at Gaumukh. Many small streams comprise
the headwaters of Ganga. The important among these are Alaknanda, Dhauliganga, Pindar, Mandakini and Bhilangana.
At Devprayag, where Alaknanda joins Bhagirathi, the river acquires the name Ganga.

River Ramganga joins Ganga near Kannauj, adding additional water to the river. Yamuna confluences Ganga at the
Sangam in Allahabad, making a major contribution to the river flow. Beyond Allahabad, Ganga is joined by several
tributaries, most of which are from the north and a few from the south.
Date: 24-July-21 DNS Notes - Revision

The Farakka barrage in West Bengal regulates the flow of the river, diverting some of the water into a feeder canal linking
Hooghly to keep it relatively silt-free. Downstream of this barrage, River Ganga splits,into two, Bhagirathi (Hooghly) on
the right and Padma on the left. Bhagirathi (Hooghly) meets the Bay of Bengal about 150 km downstream of Kolkata.
Padma enters Bangladesh and meets river Brahmputra and Meghna before finally joining the Bay of Bengal.

Causes of degradation of river Ganga –

In the Ganga basin approximately 12,000 million litres per day (mld) sewage is generated, for which presently there is a
treatment capacity of only around 4,000 mld.

Approximately 3000 mld of sewage is discharged into the main stem of the river Ganga from the Class I & II towns located
along the banks, against which treatment capacity of about 1000 mld has been created till date.

The contribution of industrial pollution, volume-wise, is about 20 per cent but due to its toxic and non- biodegradable
nature, this has much greater significance. The industrial pockets in the catchments of Ramganga and Kali rivers and in
Kanpur city are significant sources of industrial pollution. The major contributors are tanneries in Kanpur, distilleries,
paper mills and sugar mills in the Kosi, Ramganga and Kali river catchments.
Date: 24-July-21 DNS Notes - Revision

The reasons for the degradation can be broadly classified in five main groups, viz.: (i) over-use of natural resources of the
basin; (ii) discharge of pollutants; (iii) reduction in water-holding capacities and replenishment of water bodies; (iv)
mutilation of rivers by piecemeal engineering operations; and (v) threats to geological processes in the basin.

Namami Gange program –

In order to arrest the degradation of River Ganga the Namami Gange program was announced in the Budget of 2014-15.
It is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government with budget outlay
of Rs.20,000 Crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation
of National River Ganga.

Recognizing the multi-sectoral, multi-dimensional and multi-stakeholder nature of the Ganga Rejuvenation challenge,
efforts have been made to improve the inter-ministerial, and centre-state coordination with increased involvement in
preparation of action plan and increased monitoring at central and state levels.

With this in mind National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (referred as National
Ganga Council) has been constituted which replaces National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) under the
Environmental protection act 1986.

NGC would have on board the chief ministers of five Ganga basin states—Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar,
Jharkhand and West Bengal—besides several Union ministers and it was supposed to meet once every year.

The Act envisages five tier structure at national, state and district level to take measures for prevention, control and
abatement of environmental pollution in river Ganga and to ensure continuous adequate flow of water so as to
rejuvenate the river Ganga as below; 

1. National Ganga Council under chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.  

2. Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga under chairmanship of Union Minister of Water Resources, River
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. 
3. National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG). 
Date: 24-July-21 DNS Notes - Revision

4. State Ganga Committees and 

5. District Ganga Committees in every specified district abutting river Ganga and its tributaries in the states. 

    NMCG has a two tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and Executive Committee. Both of
them are headed by Director General, NMCG.

Executive Committee has been authorized to accord approval for all projects up to Rs.1000 crore. Similar to structure at
national level, State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs) acts as implementing arm of State Ganga Committees.
Thus the newly created structure attempts to bring all stakeholders on one platform to take a holistic approach towards
the task of Ganga cleaning and rejuvenation. 

Challenges in the implementation of Namami Gange program –

Sewage Treatment –

 Sewage treatment plants (STPs) have been at the centre of Ganga pollution abatement. As per Namami Gange
targets, STPs with over 2,000 million litres a day (MLD) capacity had to be rehabilitated of which only 328 MLD
have been done.
 Till August 31, 2018 a total of 236 projects, including STPS, had been sanctioned out of which only 63 had been
completed.

 New projects are delayed because land acquisition and other related activities were taking a lot of time.

 Another problem with STPs is that they are not able to get the total amount of influents, primarily due to lack of
sewerage network in the city.
 It is mandatory that tanneries treat chromium either through their own small plant or a made in cluster and
then transfer the waste to a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) run by the government
 There is no enforcement of consent conditions by Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board which requires all
industries to send their chrome liquor to the Chrome Recovery Plant and pay for the treatment.
Date: 24-July-21 DNS Notes - Revision

 Besides cleaning the Ganga, the Namami Gange also talks about afforestation as an important activity as it helps
groundwater recharge. Even for this only 48% of the funds have been utilised.

Minimum flow of River –

 Rivers self-purify themselves only they have a minimum flow of water. However even on this front the Ganga
river does not any positive signs. It has sufficient flow of water only during monsoons.
 According to a Paper published by IIT Kharagpur the baseflow amount of the river has decreased by 56 per cent
in 2016 as compared to the 1970s. The decrease in flow has led to an increase in groundwater extraction for
various uses. 
 According to a report published by Wildlife Institute of India in May 2018, 16 existing, 14 ongoing and 14
proposed hydroelectric projects on the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda river basins have turned the upper stretch of
the Ganga “ecological deserts”.
Sludge control

 99.93 per cent villages lying on the banks of Ganga, also known as Ganga Grams, have been declared open
defecation free (ODF) by the government under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).
 As per SBM data, more than 2.7 million toilets have been constructed in over 4,000 villages till September 17,
2018.
 However according to a CAG report the state government was to verify the ODF status through its own teams or
through a third party but 1,144 villages of UP and Bihar didn’t get it done. 
 The whole objective of making villages lying in the Ganga basin to be ODF was to reduce the faecal coliform
levels in the Ganga.
 Against the standard of 2,500 per 100 ml, the faecal coliform ranged from 2,500 to 2,40,000 per 100 ml in the
Ganga basin cities in May 2018, as per data provided by pollution control boards of five states along the Ganga
basin. 
 According to a study conducted by CSE, most of the cities surveyed had twin-pit technology which is not
recommended in low-lying areas
 According to a study Most households rely on septic tanks, but these are not properly maintained. Septage is
collected every 10-15 years, even though collection every three years is the recommended practice for optimal
septic tank performance. 
 Consequently, septic tanks that could potentially remove 60 per cent of suspended solids and 40 per cent of the
organic matter from domestic wastewater have almost no treatment capacity.

Cost Overruns –

 The UP state annual action plan 2016 says that the Ganga basin towns would require Rs 5,794 crore just for the
creation of sewerage networks in the state—more than one-fourth of the entire outlay of Namami Gange.
 A CAG report pointing towards poor financial management said in a report that o nly eight to 63 per cent of the
funds were utilised during 2014-15 to 2016-17 for the river clean-up programme.
 Clean Ganga Fund a fund in which entities or a commoner can contribute for the Ganga clean up has received
around Rs 200 crore till March 2017. However entire amount is lying with banks because the action plan has not
been prepared for its utilisation.

Government Glitches –

 The cleaning of the Ganga requires seamless coordination between the agencies 
 The water resources ministry signed MOUS with 10 ministries for better implementation of Namami Gange.
However, till date no detail is available as to how these ministries are functioning for better convergence
 Till now not a single meeting of the National Ganga Council has taken place despite a mandatory provision of at
least one meeting per year.
 The Empowered Task Force led by Union minister of water resources has met only thrice after the gazette
notification while it was supposed to meet once every three months
 The mandatory exercise of conducting an annual Ganga safety audit has not been done even once. 
Date: 24-July-21 DNS Notes - Revision

 Ganga Rejuvenation Basin Management Programme (GRBMP), submitted in March 2015, says that instead of
establishing a few projects on the stretch of the Ganga, the whole river basin—that is all the states coming
under the main stem of Ganga and its tributaries—must come under the ambit of the programme.
 However the towns under consideration for pollution abatement belong to five states on the main Ganga stem
—Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal—and not the ones which lie on the tributaries
of the Ganga.

Thus despite efforts the dream of a “Aviral” and “Nirmal” Ganga remains unfulfilled. Cleaning of the Ganga needs a
strategy where the National Ganga Council has to find effective solutions to the challenges that the previous programmes
have failed to address. This would entail addressing untreated waste that flows into the river, restoring the flow of the
river, sludge management in Ganga basin towns, cost overruns in execution of projects and governance glitches. 
Date: 24-July-21 DNS Notes - Revision

2. UPSC Current Affairs: Agricultural Mechanisation: Need, Benefits, Challenges and Way ahead | Page 4
UPSC Syllabus: Mains: GS Paper III – Indian Economy
Sub Theme: Agricultural Mechanization| UPSC

Even though agriculture sector contributes only 16% of GVA, it accounts for almost 45.7% of India's workforce. This
shows high level of disguised unemployment and inefficient utilisation of Indian workforce. This needs to be countered
through skilling of rural youths and promotion of agricultural mechanisation.
Present Status of Mechanisation:
 Farm Mechanization in India: 40-25%; Even though India is the largest producer of tractors, a significant
share of production is exported.
 Farm Mechanization in other countries: USA (95%); Brazil (75%); China ( 57%).
 Regional Disparities: Northern India has higher levels of mechanization compared to other regions. (Rice
and Wheat crops having the largest extent of mechanization)
 
Government Initiatives
Date: 24-July-21 DNS Notes - Revision

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (2014): Assistance to the Farmers for procurement of agricultural
machineries; Custom Hiring Centres; Demonstration of Newly Developed Agricultural/ Horticultural Equipment
Promotion of Agricultural Mechanisation for in-situ Management of Crop residue: Implemented in Punjab, Haryana, UP
and NCT of Delhi; Setting of Custom hiring centres; Financial Assistance to the farmers for buying environment friendly
agricultural machinery
 
 

3. UPSC Current Affairs: Empowering nature with biocentric jurisprudence | Page 6

UPSC Syllabus: Mains: GS Paper II | GS Paper III | GS Paper IV
Sub Theme: Environmental laws | Role of Judiciary in Environmental Protection | Environmental Ethics| UPSC

Context: Supreme Court in M.K. Ranjithsinh & Others vs Union of India & Others by upholding the biocentric principles of
coexistence has given new life to biocentrism over anthropocentrism.
What was the need for the Judgment?
This case was filed for the protection of Great Indian Bustard in the state of Gujarat and Rajasthan which is “Critically
Endangered” as per IUCN Red List. In the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan overhead power lines have become a threat to
the life of these species as these birds frequently tend to collide with these power lines and get killed. Even the Ministry
of Power in an Affidavit had stated that the Great Indian Bustard (“GIB”) lacks frontal vision. Due to this, they cannot
detect powerlines ahead of them from far. As they are heavy birds, they are unable to manoeuvre across power lines
within close distances. Thus, they are vulnerable to collision with power lines.

What did Supreme Court decide?

The Court held that in all cases where the overhead lines in power projects exist, the governments of Rajasthan and
Gujarat shall take steps to install bird diverters pending consideration of the conversion of overhead cables into
underground power lines. In protecting the birds, the Court has affirmed and emphasised the biocentric values of eco-
preservation.
Understanding Biocentrism
The philosophy of biocentrism holds that all life deserves equal moral consideration and has equal moral standing and
extends inherent value to all living things. It is an understanding of how the earth works, particularly as it relates to its
biosphere or biodiversity. Thus, biocentric ethics calls for a rethinking of the relationship between humans and nature.
This perspective is very much contrary to Anthropocentricism which is a human-centred system.
Biocentrism consists of at least two qualitatively distinct attitudes: First, biocentrism can stem from a desire to avoid
hurting sentient beings (e.g., harboring concerns about killing animals). Second, biocentrism can stem from a desire
to uphold purity in nature (e.g., harboring concerns about violating the sanctity of nature). Avoiding harm and preserving
Date: 24-July-21 DNS Notes - Revision

purity have been identified as two separate forms of moral concern that rely on functionally distinct systems of cognitive
and emotional processing. Therefore, the concept of biocentrism potentially obscures a psychologically important
distinction in environmentalist attitudes.
Anthropocentrism versus Biocentrism
Anthropocentric concerns for the environment are narrowly aimed at preserving the welfare of humans, while biocentric
concerns are oriented toward protecting non-human organisms and nature as a whole. While anthropocentrism can
sometimes lead to pro-environmental attitudes and actions, biocentrism is more reliably and robustly related to
environmentalism, both for abstract values and for concrete behaviors. So, we can say that anthropocentrism promotes
the preservation of the environment as a means to an end rather than an end in itself. However, biocentrism treats
environmentalism as a moral imperative independently of its impact on human flourishing.
Supreme Court’s Biocentric Interpretation of Article 21 in the Past
Supreme Court in the case of T.N. Godavarman Thirumalpad v Union of India (2002) has pointed out two salutary
principles governing environment. They are:
1. Principle of Sustainable Development
2. Precautionary Principle –governments and concerned authorities must anticipate, prevent and attack causes for
environmental degradation.

The Court held that Convention on Biological Diversity having been acceded to by India, the government should in the
absence of compelling reasons keep in view the international obligations while exercising its discretionary powers under
The Forest (Conservation) Act.
Supreme Court has also taken cognizance in number of cases of various environmental problems and has given necessary
direction to state for preservation of environment. In giving such directions, the Court has relied on Directive Principles as
those contained in Article 47 and Article 48A along with Fundamental Duties under Article 51A(g).
Article 47 - Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public
health - The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the
improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring
about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are
injurious to health.

Article 48A - Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life — The State
shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country.

Article 51A(g) - It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment
including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures.

Why there is a need for Biocentric Approach?

This is necessary because of ever decreasing population of endangered and critically endangered species across the
world. About 50 years ago, there were 4,50,000 lions in Africa. Today, there are hardly 20,000. Indiscriminate
monoculture farming in the forests of Borneo and Sumatra is leading to the extinction of Orangutans. Rhinos are hunted
for the so-called medicinal value of their horns and are slowly becoming extinct. From the time humans populated
Madagascar about 2,000 years ago, about 15 to 20 species of Lemurs, which are primates, have become extinct. The
compilation prepared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists about 37,400 species that are gravely
endangered; and the list is ever growing.
Specie IUCN Status
Orangutan Critically Endangered
Black Rhino Critically Endangered
Golden Bamboo Lemur Critically Endangered
Great Indian Bustard Critically Endangered
White Rhino Near Threatened

Time to move to Biocentric Approach by giving Constitutional Right to NATURE

 It is to the credit of the judiciary that it has fished out enduring principles of sustainable development and read
them into the precepts of Article 21 of the Constitution which ensures right to life and personal liberty.
Date: 24-July-21 DNS Notes - Revision

 However, Indian Constitution is silent on binding legal obligation of humans against Nature. Here we can learn
from countries like Ecuador and Bolivia as they seek to travel away from an anthropocentric basis of law to a
biocentric one. 
 In September 2008, Ecuador became the first country in the world to recognise “Rights of Nature” in its
Constitution.
 Bolivia has also joined the movement by establishing Rights of Nature laws too.
 In November 2010, the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania became the first major municipality in the United States
to recognise the Rights of Nature.
 As a first step, these laws empower people in a community to “step into the shoes” of a mountain, stream or
forest ecosystem and advocate for the right of those local communities”. 

Way Forward
Supreme Court’s judgment in M.K. Ranjithsinh upholding the biocentric principles of coexistence is a shot in the arm for
nature conservation. One does hope that the respective governments implement the judgment of the Court for better
protection of Great Indian Bustard. Further, government must also ponder to bestow NATURE their due “constitutional
rights” which cannot be taken away without reasonable purpose.

4. UPSC Current Affairs: SC dismisses plea challenging NGT ban on sale and use of firecrackers | Page 01/02
UPSC Syllabus: Mains: GS Paper II- Polity & Governance
Sub Theme: SC Judgement on Ban on Crackers| UPSC
Date: 24-July-21 DNS Notes - Revision

5. UPSC Current Affairs: Return to Troubles- Good Friday Agreement | Page 06

UPSC Syllabus: Mains: GS Paper II- International Relations
Sub Theme: Good Friday Agreement | Northern Ireland Protocol Agreement| UPSC

Context: Brexit refers to Britain’s formal exist from the single market and customs union of the EU. The British
government is demanding to renegotiate parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol of the Brexit agreement with the EU.
This has set the stage for another round of clashes between London and Brussels
Before learning what, Northern Ireland protocol is and its purpose it is necessary to understand Good Friday agreement.
Good Friday agreement (Belfast agreement)
On 10 April 1998, something called the Good Friday Agreement (or Belfast Agreement) was signed. This agreement
helped to bring to an end a period of conflict in Northern Ireland

Great Britain had ruled Ireland for hundreds of years, but it split off from British rule - leaving Northern Ireland as part of
the UK, and the Republic of Ireland as a separate country.
When this happened, the population of Northern Ireland was divided in two
Unionists (who were happy to remain part of the UK)
&
Nationalists (who wanted Northern Ireland to be independent from the UK and join the Republic of Ireland)

Both unionists and Nationalists engaged in violent clashes regularly till the end of 1990s. In 1998 - after nearly after 30
years of conflict - the Good Friday agreement was signed. As a compromise between both the parties- Though Northern
Ireland was retained with in the UK (with a greater autonomy) the agreement ensured soft borders between northern
Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Before BREXIT there was free flow of goods across the borders since both Northern Ireland and
Republic of Ireland were part of EU single market.
What happened after BREXIT?
BREXIT involves exit of UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) from EU. This would create hard borders
between Northern Ireland(part of UK) and Republic of Ireland(part of EU). This would be against the spirit of Good
Friday agreement and may revive violent tendencies in the region again. To avoid that, a compromise was made between
UK and EU in the form of “Northern Ireland protocol”

Northern Ireland protocol:

 Though Northern Ireland is no longer legally in the EU Customs Union, there will be no customs check points
along the border between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
Date: 24-July-21 DNS Notes - Revision

 Instead, there will be a customs border between Northern Ireland and Britain (along the Irish sea).

(This meant, in order to avoid an economic barrier between the two Irelands, Britain effectively set up one between the
British mainland and the Island of Ireland)

What happened now?

 Though the above plan avoided a situation of hard border between the two Irelands. It resulted in more checks
on goods entering Northern Ireland from mainland Britain, effectively creating a border down the Irish Sea and
dividing the UK. Faced with all the new bureaucracy, some British companies have stopped supplying stores in
Northern Ireland, saying they simply can’t handle the added paperwork now needed.
So, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is arguing to renegotiate the protocol. His government wants all
customs checks on goods
entering Northern Ireland to be removed
If Britain withdraws from the protocol, it will delay the BREXIT further.
Possible Impact on India:
 It might delay FTA negotiations of India with both UK and EU
 These events might even delay the relaxation of VISA norms for skilled professionals from India
 Any protectionist policies, either by UK or EU, as a result of failure of agreement over BREXIT will have impact
over Indian exports to the Europe.
 If this snow balls into a bigger economic crisis, that might spill into other economies creating another Global
financial crisis