23 December Current Affairs

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

About:

• The IMF was set up along with the World Bank after the Second World War to assist in the reconstruction of war-ravaged countries.

• The two organizations agreed to be set up at a conference in Bretton Woods in the US. Hence, they are known as the Bretton Woods twins.

• The IMF is governed by and accountable to the 190 countries that make up its near-global membership.

• India joined on 27th December 1945.

Purpose:

• The IMF's primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system - the system of exchange rates and international payments that enables countries (and their citizens) to transact with each other.

Reports by IMF:

• Global Financial Stability Report.

• World Economic Outlook.

Oil Spills

About: -

An oil spill refers to any uncontrolled release of crude oil, gasoline, fuels, or other oil by-products into the environment.

• Oil spills can pollute land, air, or water, though it is mostly used for oceanic oil spills.

Major Causes:

• Oil spills have become a major environmental problem, chiefly as a result of intensified petroleum exploration and production on continental shelves and the transport of large amounts of oils in vessels.

Oil spills that happen in rivers, bays, and the ocean most often are caused by accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, drilling rigs and storage facilities, but also occur from recreational boats and natural disasters.

Environmental Impacts:

Threat to Indigenous people:

• Oil pollution poses health hazards for the indigenous population who depend on seafood.

Harmful to aquatic life: 

• Oil on ocean surfaces is harmful to many forms of aquatic life because it prevents sufficient amounts of sunlight from penetrating the surface, and it also reduces the level of dissolved oxygen.

Hypothermia:

• Crude oil ruins the insulating and waterproofing properties of feathers and fur of birds, and thus oil-coated birds and marine mammals may die from hypothermia (decrease in body temperature to below-normal levels).

Toxic:

• Moreover, ingested oil can be toxic to affected animals, and damage their habitat and reproductive rate. Deepak Yadav

Threat to Mangroves:

• Saltwater marshes and Mangroves frequently suffer from oil spills.

Economic Impacts:

Tourism:

• If beaches and populated shorelines are fouled, tourism and commerce may be severely affected.

Power Plants:

• The power plants and other utilities that depend on drawing or discharging sea water are severely affected by oil spills.

Fishing:

• Major oil spills are frequently followed by the immediate suspension of commercial fishing.

Post Office Bill 2023

Recently the Post Office Bill, 2023 has been introduced into the parliament seeking to repeal the Indian Post Office Act of 1898.

Key Provisions of the Bill

1. Aim- The Bill aims to "consolidate and amend the law relating to Post Office in India," which today provides many services beyond simply mail delivery.

2. Interception of Shipments- Section 9 grants the Centre the authority, via notification, to empower officers for the interception, opening, or detention of items in the interest of state security, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, emergencies, public safety, or compliance of other laws.
3. It also permits post officers to transfer postal items to customs authorities in cases where they are suspected of containing prohibited items or if such items are subject to duty.
4. Exemptions from Liability- Section 10 exempts the Post Office and its officers from "any liability for loss, miss-delivery, delay, or damage during services, except as prescribed.
5. Offenses and Penalties- The majority of offenses and penalties stipulated in the Post Office Act of 1898 have been eliminated, with the exception of non-payment cases, which are recoverable as arrears of land revenue.

About:

• Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite.

• This parasite is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.

• Malaria is most common in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including sub- Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America.

• While Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for more deaths, Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread of all of the malaria species.

Symptoms:

• Once inside the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver and then infect red blood cells, causing symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue.

In severe cases, malaria can lead to organ failure, coma, and death.

Vaccine:

• Till now, no malaria vaccine has shown the benchmark efficacy of 75% set by WHO. Still, WHO gave the go-ahead for the first malaria vaccine called RTS, S to be rolled out in high-transmission African countries understanding the urgency of malaria control and prevention.

National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016-2030:

• Based on the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 (GTS), the goals of the NFME are:

• Eliminate malaria (zero indigenous cases) throughout the entire country by 2030

• Maintain malaria-free status in areas where malaria transmission has been interrupted and prevent re-introduction of malaria.

High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) Initiative: It was started in four states (West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh) in July 2019.

• Distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) to high-burden areas has led to a reduction in endemicity in these 4 very high endemic states.

Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India): It was established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with a conglomeration of partners working on malaria control.

Context: 

• As more than 100 countries at COP28 in Dubai pledged the triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, India faces a tightrope walk with regard to its ethanol blending target.

While Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) increased from 1.6% in 2013-14 to 11.8% in 2022-23, the 20% target by 2025 has run into trouble with low sugar stocks in 2022- 23 and the impending shortfall in sugarcane production this year. As evident from the Minister of Consumer Affairs, the government is looking at a major transition towards grain-based ethanol to meet the target.

• The recent authorization of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) to procure maize (corn) for supplying ethanol distilleries indicates an emphasis on this transition and will boost an organized maize-feed supply chain for ethanol. This, however, risks creating more challenges for the economy.

Ethanol

Ethanol: Ethanol is an organic compound that is a clear, colorless liquid that is flammable and has a characteristic odor.

Production: It can be produced through the

fermentation of sugars by yeast, a process that is used in the production of alcoholic beverages. It can also be synthesized through chemical processes, such as the hydration of ethylene.

Uses:

Beverages: Ethanol is the type of alcohol

found in alcoholic beverages. It is consumed socially in various forms, such as beer, wine, and spirits.

Fuel: It is used as a biofuel and is often mixed with gasoline to produce ethanol-blended fuels.

• Industrial Solvent: Due to its ability to dissolve

a wide range of substances, ethanol is used as a solvent in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, perfumes, and other products.

• Medical and Laboratory Uses: Ethanol is used as an antiseptic, disinfectant, and preservative in medical and laboratory settings. 

• Chemical Feedstock: It serves as a feedstock for the production of various chemicals.

Ethanol Blending Program (EBP)

• The EBP is an initiative by the Government of India to promote the use of ethanol, a renewable and environment-friendly fuel, in petrol.

• The program aims to reduce the import of fuels from other countries, conserve foreign exchange, and increase value addition in the sugar industry.

• The target of 10% ethanol blending set in the 'Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25' for Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2021-22 has already been achieved and Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have started selling E20 (20% ethanol blended) petrol across the country. 

• Further, the National Policy on Biofuels - 2018 targets 20% blending of ethanol in petrol by ESY 2025-26.

Significance of Ethanol Blending in Fuels

Reducing Fossil Fuel Dependence:

• India imports most of its oil, which makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in global markets and geopolitical risks. By using ethanol, India can reduce its oil imports and increase its energy self-reliance.

Protecting the Environment:

• Ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, which means it produces less harmful emissions that cause air pollution and climate change. By using ethanol, India can improve its air quality and meet its climate goals.
• According to a study by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, blending ethanol with petrol can reduce the carbon monoxide emissions by 30- 50% and hydrocarbon emissions by 20%.

Supporting Farmers:

• Ethanol production requires agricultural inputs, such as sugarcane or corn. By using ethanol, India can create a new demand for these crops, which can boost the income and livelihood of farmers and rural communities.

Enhancing Energy Security:

• Ethanol is a domestic and diverse source of energy, which can reduce India's dependence on a single and foreign source of energy. By using ethanol, India can increase its energy security and resilience.

Generating Economic Benefits:

• Ethanol blending can stimulate the growth of the ethanol industry, which can create new jobs, investments, and innovations. It can also help India develop a more sustainable and modern energy system.

• Ethanol blending can save the country USD 4 billion per annum, i.e., Rs. 30,000 cr.

Limitations of Ethanol Blending

Feedstock Availability and Cost:

• Ethanol production requires a large amount of biomass, such as sugarcane, corn, or lignocellulose materials, which may compete with food, feed, or other uses. The availability and cost of these feedstock may vary depending on the season, weather, market, and policy conditions.

Conflict with Food Security:

• The use of corn for ethanol production comes directly in conflict with food security.

• In the case of sugarcane, ethanol is produced by processing the molasses (C-heavy) and constitutes a minimal trade-off with the sugar output. The B-heavy molasses path produces less sugar compared to the C-heavy one, but both produce sugar and ethanol simultaneously from sugarcane.
• However, using corn for producing ethanol directly reduces its use as food or livestock feed.
• It not only diverts grain to fuel use but also links food prices directly with crude oil prices through the demand side.

Conversion Efficiency and Yield:

• Ethanol production involves several steps, such as pretreatment, hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation, which may have different efficiencies and yields depending on the type and quality of the feedstock, the process technology, and the operating conditions.
• For example, lignocellulose biomass, which is more abundant and diverse than sugarcane or corn, requires more intensive and complex pretreatment and hydrolysis to break down the cellulose and hemicellulose into fermentable sugars. The conversion efficiency and yield of ethanol also affect the economic viability and environmental impact of the production process.

Infrastructure and Distribution:

• Ethanol production requires adequate infrastructure and distribution systems to transport, store, and deliver the feedstock and the fuel to the end-users. This may involve high capital and operating costs, as well as logistical and regulatory challenges.
• For example, ethanol is corrosive and hygroscopic, which means that it can damage or contaminate the existing pipelines, tanks, and pumps that are designed for gasoline or diesel.

Steps can be Taken Further to Boost the Ethanol Program

Technological Advancement:

• Upgrade Infrastructure: Invest in storage and transportation
• infrastructure for ethanol to ensure efficient supply chain management.
• Vehicle Compatibility: Work with automobile manufacturers to develop engines and vehicles compatible with higher ethanol blends.
• Quality Control: Implement stringent quality standards for ethanol production and blending to ensure fuel performance and vehicle safety.