No restriction on Laptop Imports: Centre

• The center declared in August that, as of November 1, laptops, tablets, PCs, and associated items will be subject to a licensing system.
• It has already been made clear, nevertheless, that India will monitor incoming computer and laptop shipments rather than requiring licenses for these imports.

Limitations on Importing Laptops: An Overview

• Import limitations: To encourage indigenous manufacture and lower imports, especially from nations like China, India placed import limitations on a range of IT hardware products in August.
• Industry Concerns: After the initial licensing announcement, the IT hardware industry voiced concerns.
• Security and local production: The government justified the licensing requirements by pointing to security concerns and the intention to promote local production.

Statistics of Imports

• Import Values: Each year, India imports IT hardware items valued at about $7-8 billion.
• Current Trends: The value of imports for laptops and other personal computers fell from $7.37 billion in 2021–2022 to $5.33 billion in 2022–2023. There was a decrease in the importation of specific data processing equipment.
• Production-Linked Incentive Scheme: In May, the government authorized the ₹17,000 crore Production Linked Incentive Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware. In February 2021, a comparable program for IT hardware was approved.

China’s Dependence:

• Critical Dependency: India is heavily dependent on China for a number of products, such as mobile phones and computers, according to a report published by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).
• Government Initiatives: The government has imposed policies like the production-linked incentive program and higher customs taxes on electronic components in an effort to lessen this reliance.

India decided to balance its objectives of lowering import dependency and fostering domestic production by switching from a licensing scheme to monitoring for laptop and computer imports. Nonetheless, there is a need to make sure that trade and business transfer more smoothly.

Disruption in Earth’s Water Cycle

• In a report, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) emphasized the substantial effects of both human activity and climate change on Earth’s water circulation networks.
• Droughts, intense rainfall events, and disturbances in water cycles are the direct results of this.

The Water Cycle: What Is It?

The constant movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth is referred to as the hydrologic cycle, or the water cycle.

Why is there stress on it?

• Impacts: The unpredictable hydrological cycle brought forth by climate change and human activity has resulted in both extreme rainfall events and droughts, which have severely disrupted lifestyles and businesses.
• Melting Snow and Ice: As snow, ice, and glaciers continue to melt, the likelihood of extreme weather events like floods increases. This poses long-term risks to the security of water supplies, especially for the millions of people who already experience acute water scarcity.

Worldwide Effect

• Global Deviations: Heatwaves, droughts, La Nina, and El Nino occurrences are among the primary causes of the over 50% of global catchment regions that saw deviations from typical river discharge conditions in 2022.
• Horn of Africa Drought: While some areas, including the Niger Basin, experienced above-average discharge and significant floods, the Horn of Africa’s severe drought resulted in decreased river discharge, which negatively impacted food security for 21 million people.
• Water Reservoirs Affected: Inflow into almost 60% of significant water reservoirs was below average, which presents problems for water supply in a changing climate.

Asian Water Tower Effect

• The extensive network of high mountain regions that spans Asia, especially in nations like India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of Central Asia, is commonly referred to as the “Asian Water Tower (AWT).”
• Numerous significant Asian rivers, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Yangtze, Mekong, Indus, and Amu Darya, originate from these high mountain ranges.
• The glaciers and snowmelt in these mountains feed downstream communities with freshwater on a constant basis.
• In 2022, there was significant glacier melting in this AWT.
• The water balance is greatly impacted by increased precipitation, flooding, and severe droughts brought on by rising temperatures, which also speed up disruptions to the water cycle.

India seeks inclusion of Traditional Medicine on WHO’s ICD List              

• The World Health Organization’s 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) aims to incorporate traditional Indian remedies.
• The classification of the traditional Indian medical system includes Naturopathy, Homoeopathy, Siddha, Unani, and Yoga.

India’s quest to update ICD-11

• Global Language: By offering a global language, the ICD makes it possible for medical practitioners to exchange standardized data across international borders.
• Traditional Medicine Module: Dedicated to traditional medicine conditions, the 11th iteration offers a standardized method for gathering and reporting data on these disorders globally.
• Formal Recognition: There is a compelling argument for the inclusion of Ayurveda and similar Indian traditional healthcare systems because they are extensively practised and have formal recognition in India.
• Chinese Medicine Inclusion: Following ten years of consultations, Module-1 of ICD-11 was included. It covers ailments treated by traditional medicine that have their roots in ancient China.

Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry or ‘APAAR’ card

• In accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Union Education Ministry has presented the idea of “One Nation, One Student ID,” or APAAR ID.
• The “Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry,” or APAAR ID, is a digital identity system for students in India.

  Highlights:

• For students in all Indian states, the APAAR ID is a method of education ecosystem registration, also referred to as “EduLocker.”
• Academic credentials, test results, diplomas, and other academic information for students from pre-kindergarten through higher education will be digitally stored.
• Students must get their parents’ permission before enrolling in the APAAR ID system, and the states are required to start this procedure.
• Students will find it helpful that the distinct 12-digit APAAR ID is utilized for admissions and other academic activities.
• Users can register or log in with their ID and password, Aadhar card, or mobile number, whether they are new or returning.
• The objectives of this program are to improve security, unify the educational system, and give students easy access to academic material.

Indian rupee’s valuation

• Thanks to growing domestic inflation and central bank assistance, the value of the Indian rupee relative to major trading partners’ currencies has reached a two-year high.
• By the end of September, the rupee’s 40-currency real effective exchange rate (REER) had increased by 5.7%, the most since November 2021.
• Despite the fact that inflation and the RBI’s focus on keeping the rupee from weakening have contributed to the high REER, observers think the RBI does not view the currency as absurdly overvalued.

IOC amends the Olympic Charter to strengthen its human rights commitments

• During its 141st Session, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) strengthened its human rights responsibilities by amending the Olympic Charter. The Fundamental Principles of Olympism now contain new language as part of these modifications.
• In its three capacities as an organization, the proprietors of the Olympic Games, and the head of the Olympic Movement, they seek to uphold and advance human rights.
• Furthermore, while maintaining fair competition, the IOC’s Framework on Fairness, Inclusion, and Non-Discrimination seeks to guarantee inclusion in elite sports devoid of discrimination based on gender identity or sex differences.

About IOC:

• The International Olympic Committee (IOC), a non-governmental sports organization with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, was established in 1894 and is in charge of overseeing National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

 The IOC was given permanent observer status by the UN General Assembly in 2009. Every member of the IOC has one vote during the annual session, and decisions made there are final.