The Hindu PDF 20 May 2023 Analysis

The Hindu PDF Newspaper is considered an important source of news and information for UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) aspirants in India. This The Hindu PDF newspaper covers a wide range of topics that are relevant to the UPSC exam, including politics, economics, international relations, governance, and social issues.

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The Hindu PDF Analysis for UPSC

RBI to pull out R2,000 notes from active circulation: Page I

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to withdraw ₹2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation as part of its “Clean Note Policy.” However, these notes will continue to be legal tender.
• This is not the first time such a withdrawal has occurred. A similar action was taken in 2013-2014.
• The decision to withdraw ₹2,000 notes may strain the system, cause anxiety, and inconvenience the public, similar to the days after demonetization.
• The RBI has advised the public to deposit their ₹2,000 notes into their bank accounts or exchange them for banknotes of other denominations at any bank branch.
• Deposits into bank accounts can be made in the usual manner without restrictions, following existing instructions and statutory provisions.
• For convenience and to avoid disruption, the exchange of ₹2,000 notes for other denominations can be made up to a limit of ₹20,000 at a time at any bank, starting from May 23.
• All banks have been directed to provide deposit and exchange facilities for ₹2,000 notes until September 30 to ensure a time-bound completion of the process and give the public adequate time.
• The RBI has issued separate guidelines to banks, and the exchange facility will also be available at the 19 Regional Offices of the RBI from May 23.
• Banks have been instructed to stop issuing ₹2,000 notes immediately.
• The public is encouraged to utilize the time until September 30, 2023, to deposit and exchange their ₹2,000 notes.
• The printing of ₹2,000 notes was halted in 2018-19.

How Gujarat is working to become India’s green hydrogen hub: Page 6

• Gujarat aims to become India’s green hydrogen manufacturing hub and retain dominance over the industrial sector.
• Memoranda of understanding (MoUs) have been signed with big corporates like Reliance, Adani, ArcelorMittal, and Torrent, who have pledged significant investments in green energy projects.
• Gujarat plans to create a production capacity of 8 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of green hydrogen by 2035.
• The state is framing a new policy for green hydrogen manufacturing, which will be given the status of a “priority sector.” The government will provide incentives to industries investing in green hydrogen projects.
• The state cabinet has approved the allotment of 1.99 lakh hectares of land in the Kutch-Banaskantha border areas for setting up green energy projects.
• Companies must meet 50% of their green hydrogen production capacity within five years of commissioning their plants and 100% within eight years.
• India has set a target of becoming a net-zero emission country by 2070 and aims to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 by sourcing 50% of its energy from renewable sources.
• Gujarat expects around ₹10 lakh crore worth of investments in the green energy sector over the next 15 years.
• Companies like Reliance and Adani have committed significant investments in setting up renewable energy parks and green hydrogen parks in Gujarat.
• The National Green Hydrogen Mission, supported by a budget allocation of ₹19,744 crore, aims to promote the development of green hydrogen production capacity and renewable energy capacity addition in India by 2030.
• The mission aims to attract investment of over ₹8 lakh crore and create over 6 lakh jobs by 2030.

Among the elite: Page 10

• India’s attendance at the G-7 summit is seen as particularly meaningful this year due to its G-20 presidency.
• India’s presence is significant in discussions regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine, as it can help temper language and provide a balanced perspective.
• India’s role as the “Voice of the Global South” is crucial in conversations about the impact of G-7 sanctions on the developing world.
• The possibility of a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Modi and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is of interest, especially regarding the Ukraine conflict.
• India will play a prominent role in discussions on debt sustainability, supply chain reliability, alternative energy, and infrastructure development aid.
• India’s unique position as a non-NPT nuclear power with a record of nuclear restraint will be heard in discussions on non-proliferation.
• India’s heft as a developing power, combined with its G-20 presidency, adds inclusivity to the G-7 summit.

Tracking SDG progress the Bhopal way: Page 10

• Bhopal has become the first city in India to release its Voluntary Local Review (VLR) and join the global movement on localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The VLR allows cities to demonstrate their efforts and vision in achieving SDGs and engage local stakeholders in sustainable transformations.
• Cities play a crucial role in Agenda 2030, and their participation is necessary for the achievement of 65% of the SDG targets.
• The VLR process provides flexibility to cities to choose their priorities and align them with state-level action plans and the country’s Voluntary National Review (VNR).
• Bhopal’s VLR maps 56 developmental projects to SDGs, emphasizing basic infrastructure, resilience, solid waste management, public transportation, and open spaces.
• The VLR highlights areas where the city needs to work harder, such as adequate shelter, air pollution, city planning capacity, and accessibility of open spaces.
• VLRs can be initiated by any city-level stakeholder within the framework of Agenda 2030, as demonstrated by examples from the United Kingdom and other countries.
• Indian cities have an opportunity to showcase their urban innovations and collaborations on a global platform through VLRs.

SC back to its full strength of 34 as CJI administers oath to two new judges: Page 12

• Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, administered the oath of office to Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and K.V. Viswanathan, bringing the Supreme Court back to its full strength of 34 judges.
• Justices Mishra and Viswanathan replaced Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and M.R. Shah, who retired in May.
• Justices K.M. Joseph, Ajay Rastogi, and V. Ramasubramanian bid farewell to the court as they are retiring in June.
• The Supreme Court will go into recess until reopening on July 2.
• The government swiftly cleared the appointments of Justices Mishra and Viswanathan. The Collegium recommended their appointment on May 16, and the government’s notifications were published on May 18.
• Justice Viswanathan could potentially become the 58th Chief Justice of India in August 2030.
• Justice Mishra, from Chhattisgarh, previously served as the Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court.

Even limited arsenic exposure can mar cognitive ability: study: Page 14

• A recent study suggests that even low levels of arsenic consumption from contaminated groundwater in India can impact cognitive function in children, adolescents, and young adults.
• The study found that individuals exposed to arsenic had reduced grey matter and weaker connections within key brain regions responsible for cognitive functions.
• Arsenic exposure may lead to a “silent pandemic” affecting a significant portion of the global population.
• The study analyzed urine samples, cognitive function tests, and brain images of 1,014 participants from different regions in India.
• Arsenic contamination has been shown to have a particularly harmful impact on the poor.
• The study highlights the need for further investigation into the degree of arsenic’s impact on the brain and its association with other environmental factors, such as air pollution.
• Efforts have been made by the government to address arsenic contamination in Bihar and West Bengal, including promoting piped water access and installing arsenic removal plants.

EU’s top official wants more scrutiny on Indian products derived from Russian oil: Page 15

• Josep Borrell, the EU’s top foreign affairs and security official, suggested that EU entities buying refined petroleum products from India were primarily responsible for the leakage of Russian oil-based products into the EU.
• Borrell stated that the EU does not want to buy Russia’s energy exports to avoid financing its war against Ukraine and does not want to sell technological products and components that Russia needs for its military.
• He clarified that the EU’s trade rules with Russia apply to EU entities only and cannot be forced upon other nations as the sanctions are not extraterritorial.
• Borrell highlighted the increase in India’s oil purchases from Russia, which rose from 0.2% before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to 36.4% last month.
• He acknowledged that it is normal for India to take advantage of cheaper oil below the price cap imposed by the G-7, but raised concerns about Indian refined petroleum products made from Russian oil entering the European market.
• The export of refined products from India to the EU, such as jet fuel and diesel, has significantly increased.
• Borrell emphasized that EU companies themselves are circumventing the sanctions by buying refinery products made from Russian oil and selling them in Europe.
• He called for the EU to first examine its own economic operators and find solutions based on that before criticizing Indian exports of refined products based on Russian oil.

Tax waived on annual forex spends up to X7 lakh: FinMin: Page 16

• The Indian government has reversed its decision to impose a 20% tax on overseas credit card spending starting from July 1.
• The decision was changed due to widespread opposition from taxpayers and businesses.
• Instead, the government has decided to exempt individual payments made using international debit or credit cards up to ₹7 lakh per financial year from the tax.
• The Finance Ministry stated that the change was made to address concerns about the applicability of Tax Collection at Source (TCS) to small transactions under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS).
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had previously included overseas credit card spending under the LRS, which allows forex remittances of up to $2.5 lakh per year.
• The government had initially announced that such overseas spending would attract a 20% TCS, which could be adjusted against advance tax payments or claimed as a refund during annual tax return filings.
• The Finance Ministry confirmed that the existing beneficial TCS treatment for education and health would continue.

Source: The Hindu Epaper

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