9 January 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Notes PDF

The Hindu Editorial

9-January-2024

1. An ambitious push for values, ethics in higher education.

Topic: GS2 – Social Justice – Education Crucial for UPSC as it addresses ethics in higher education, aligning with governance and values, reflecting contemporary societal concerns.

Context:

The article discusses the University Grants Commission’s Mulya Pravah 2.0 guideline, aiming to instill ethical values in higher education. It addresses issues like transparency, stakeholder roles, and potential challenges in implementation.

 Introduction and Background:

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued Mulya Pravah 2.0, a modified version of the 2019 Mulya Pravah guideline.
• Aim: Inculcating human values and professional ethics in higher education institutions to build value-based institutions and promote constitutional values.

Guideline Objectives:

• Instill deep respect for fundamental duties and constitutional values.
• Develop a culture of integrity, accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness in higher education institutions.

Emphasis on Transparency:

• Decision-making should be guided solely by institutional and public interest, devoid of biases.
• Abolishment of discriminatory privileges; emphasis on punishing the corrupt.

Core Values and Expectations:

• Institutions urged to ensure integrity, trusteeship, harmony, accountability, inclusiveness, commitment, respectfulness, belongingness, sustainability, constitutional values, and global citizenship.

Administrative Accountability and Ethical Conduct:

• Administration should prioritize transparency, fairness, honesty, and the highest ethical standards.
• Refrain from misappropriation and reject gifts that may compromise impartial duties.

Confidentiality and Right to Information:

• Guideline emphasizes maintaining confidentiality, conflicting with the right to information.
• Suggestion: Mandate institutions to voluntarily disclose critical information for public scrutiny.

Teacher’s Role and Conduct:

• Teaching as a noble profession; teachers expected to act as role models.
• Silence on teachers’ associations, adherence to university rules; not addressing collegiality.

Stakeholder Unions and Associations:

• Expectation for staff and student unions to support administration in development activities.
• Concern: Lack of explicit support for unions raising issues, potential misuse of the term ‘dignified manner.’

Potential Issues with Guidelines:

• Lack of definition for ‘dignified manner’ may lead to suppressing dissent.
• Associations and unions have faced bans, suspensions, and legal battles.

Conclusion:

• While the guideline’s objectives are commendable, potential shortcomings in implementation and impact on stakeholder engagement need careful consideration.

Practice Question: Discuss the significance of Mulya Pravah 2.0 in fostering ethical values in higher education institutions, and its relevance for governance and societal values. (150 words). (150 words/10 m)

2. Understanding the EU’s carbon border tax.

Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy – Effects of liberalization on the economy Critical for UPSC as it involves international trade, environmental governance, and India’s response to EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

Context:

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) poses a threat to India’s exports, especially in sectors like steel. India’s response involves challenging CBAM, negotiating funds for green tech, and urgently formulating Paris Agreement-aligned carbon taxation measures.

Objective of CBAM:

• A policy by the EU to tax carbon-intensive products entering the EU from 2026.
• Aims to achieve a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 under the European Green Deal.

Reasoning Behind CBAM:

• Addresses the threat of EU products being replaced by carbon-intensive imports.
• EU’s concern about the competitiveness of its domestic industries due to higher environmental compliance standards.

Comparison with EU’s Emission Trading System (ETS):

• CBAM modeled after EU-ETS, intended to replace the allocation of EU-ETS allowances.
• Transitional phase (until 2025) requires reporting GHG emissions without financial obligations; definitive phase (from 2026) imposes annual surrender of CBAM certificates based on declared emissions.

Calculation of Carbon Content:

• CBAM applies to actual declared carbon content in imported goods.
• Formulae based on EU-ETS mechanism, with flexibility in the first reporting year.

India’s Response and Options:
Impact on India:

• India among the top eight countries adversely affected by CBAM.
• Key sectors like steel predicted to be significantly affected.

India’s Carbon Trading Mechanism:

• Introduction of Carbon Credit Trading System (CCTS) in December 2022.
• Ongoing work to operationalize CCTS, coupled with voluntary Green Credit Programme Rules.

Challenges and Negotiations:

• Limited options for India, considering the potential impact on exports.
• Possible challenges under the Paris Agreement’s common but differentiated responsibilities principle.
• Suggestion: EU could collect the tax and return funds to affected countries for green technology investments.

Need for Swift Action:

• Urgent need for India to formulate carbon taxation measures aligning with the Paris Agreement.
• The UK’s announcement of its CBAM by 2027 adds urgency to India’s response.

Conclusion:

• India must navigate CBAM’s impact on its exports by considering legal challenges, negotiations, and swift implementation of its own carbon taxation measures.

What is Carbon Tax?

Definition: A levy on greenhouse gas emissions, typically aimed at CO2, applied at the point of production or consumption of fossil fuels. Aims to internalize the “negative externality” of carbon emissions by making polluters pay the cost of environmental damage. Prospects for Implementation: Effective incentive: Encourages shift to cleaner energy sources and reduction in emissions. Revenue generation: Funds can be used for green initiatives or offsetting regressive impacts. Global momentum: Growing adoption among countries, potentially leading to harmonization and increased effectiveness. Challenges: Setting the right price: Finding a balance between effectiveness and economic acceptability. Competitiveness concerns: Fear of carbon leakage, where industries relocate to avoid the tax. Equity issues: Can disproportionately impact low-income households and energy-intensive industries. Administrative complexity: Designing and implementing a fair and efficient system.

PYQ: Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean development mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even through there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth. (200 words/12.5m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2014)

Practice Question: Evaluate the viability of carbon tax as a policy tool for curbing emissions in India, considering its economic efficacy and potential distributional impacts. (150 words/10 m)

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