22nd Law Commission Submits Report
- Report No. 283 titled “Age of Consent under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012” was submitted to the Ministry of Law & Justice, Department of Legal Affairs, on 27.09.2023.
- After a careful review of existing child protection laws, various judgements and considering the maladies of child abuse, child trafficking and child prostitution that plague our society, the Commission is of the measured view that it is not advisable to tinker with the existing age of consent under the POCSO Act.
- However, having cautiously considered all the views and suggestions furnished in this regard, the Commission considers it necessary that certain amendments need to be brought in the POCSO Act to remedy the situation in cases wherein there is tacit approval in fact though not consent in law on part of the child aged between 16 to 18 years.
- This is so because in our considered opinion, such cases do not merit to be dealt with the same severity as the cases that were ideally imagined to fall under the POCSO Act.
- The Commission, therefore, deems it fit to introduce guided judicial discretion in the matter of sentencing in such cases. This will ensure that the law is balanced, thus safeguarding the best interests of the child.
Source: PIB
Ecological Armageddon
- A new damselfly species, the ‘Armageddon reedtail’, has been identified in southern Western Ghats in Kerala.
- Researchers from MIT-World Peace University in Pune named the damselfly to highlight the mass decline in global insect populations.
- This decline, caused by extensive habitat loss and climate change, is often referred to as ‘ecological armageddon’ or ‘insect apocalypse’.
- The new species symbolises an environmental wake-up call, urging world leaders to act against global warming and its dire effects on biodiversity.
- This severe decrease in insect populations harms ecosystems, as insects play crucial roles in pollination, nutrient cycling, and serving as food for other creatures.
- Details of the discovery were published in the International Journal of Odonatology, and the species is now officially registered with the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Pune.
- The ‘Armageddon reedtail’ was found northeast of Thiruvananthapuram and is distinguished by its dark brown or black body, striking greenish-blue eyes, and light blue markings on half of its abdomen.
- The species is found exclusively in primary montane streams, thriving under dense canopy coverage.
Source: Down To Earth
Rising Antimicrobial Resistance Poses Serious Threat: ICMR Report
- The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently published its annual report for 2022, focusing on the Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Surveillance Network. This comprehensive report, the sixth of its kind, provides valuable insights into the ever-changing landscape of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country.
- The study showed a decreasing trend in the effectiveness of Critically Important Antimicrobials (CIA) and Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials (HPCIA). These are specific types of antimicrobial agents recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for their crucial role in human medicine.
- The report is based on the study of over 107,053 culture-positive isolates. These samples were collected from 21 tertiary care hospitals from various specimens like blood, urine, and faeces.
- The most frequently found pathogen was Escherichia coli. It was closely followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus.
- The examination of these pathogens was conducted across various clinical settings such as outpatient departments (OPD), wards, and intensive care units (ICU).
- The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) found E. coli to be the most common pathogen in Outpatient Departments (OPDs) and wards, with A. baumannii prevalent in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
- There’s growing resistance against certain antibiotics – specifically, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems – among common infection-causing pathogens.
- If resistance continues to increase, it could seriously limit treatment options for numerous diseases.
- Earlier, a 2021 report by the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based think tank, had also underscored the misuse of antibiotics in India’s food-producing animals.
- This report revealed 27 types of Critical Important Antibiotics (CIAs) from seven classes, including macrolides and ketolides, third-generation cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones. These were used in dairy, poultry, and aquaculture for both therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes.
- This situation is exacerbated by the lack of new antibiotics in global development.
- It is crucial to promote the responsible use and conservation of these CIAs in both human and animal health settings.
Source: Down To Earth
Rising GHG Emissions From Global Shipping: UNCTAD Report
- UNCTAD’s 2023 Maritime Transport Review reports a 20% rise in global shipping’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the past decade.
- Shipping accounts for over 80% of worldwide trade volume and almost 3% of global GHG emissions.
- COVID-19-induced supply chain issues led to a 0.4% dip in worldwide maritime shipping volumes in 2022. However, a 2.4% growth is forecasted for 2023.
- Trade volumes of containerised goods fell by 3.7% in 2022 but are predicted to rise by 1.2% in 2023 and further increase by 3% from 2024-2028.
- Strong growth in oil and gas trade volumes was observed in 2022, with tanker freight rates showing a marked recovery chiefly due to geopolitical events.
- UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan emphasised the need for maritime transport decarbonisation alongside economic growth, highlighting the importance of balancing environmental sustainability, regulatory compliance, and economic requirements for a prosperous, equitable, and resilient maritime transport future.
- The world’s fleet is aging on average, which causes concern, as suggested by UNCTAD.
- Alternative fuels, which could replace traditional ships’ fuels, are not widely available and come at a higher cost.
- The shift to these alternative fuels is just beginning, with 98.8% of the global fleet still relying on conventional fuels like heavy fuel oil, light fuel oil, and diesel/gas oil.
- Merely 1.2% of vessels are utilising alternative fuels, predominantly liquefied natural gas (LNG).
- Other alternative fuels in use, though to a lesser extent, include battery/hybrid fuels, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and methanol.
- A significant shift is happening in the shipping industry, with 21% of ships currently being built to run on alternative fuels. These include LNG, LPG, hybrid/battery, and methanol.
- Despite its lower carbon footprint compared to heavy fuel oils, LNG is still a fossil fuel. It raises concerns regarding methane slip and ‘well-to-tank’ emissions.
- Batteries are more appropriate for vessels covering shorter distances.
- According to estimates, achieving a fully decarbonised fleet by 2050 could cost between $8 billion and $28 billion per year.
- The infrastructure needed for completely carbon-neutral fuels could demand an even larger investment – between $28 billion to $90 billion annually.
- If successful, complete decarbonisation could lead to doubling the yearly fuel costs. This is a point brought up in the UNCTAD report, which advocates for a bold and fair transition in the sector.
New Maritime Emission Standards
- The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 2050.
- A part of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy is the commitment to promote the adoption of alternative fuels with zero or near-zero GHG emissions by 2030.
- The Strategy indicates that by 2030, these alternative technologies, fuels, or energy sources should account for a minimum of 5%, aiming for 10%, of the energy consumed by international shipping.
Source: Down To Earth
Global Innnovation Index 2023
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has released the 2023 Global Innovation Index. India has retained its 40th spot in the index. The index evaluates the performance of the innovation ecosystems of 132 economies worldwide and reports the latest global trends in innovation.