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DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

Monthly DNA

19 Nov, 2023

10 Min Read

Halal

GS-I : Art and Culture Art and Culture

Recently, Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a state-wide ban on products being sold with halal certificates.

  • An Arabic word meaning ‘permissible’ in English.
  • In India, it mostly refers to the slaughtering technique of Muslims.
  • As per Islamic dietary laws, it refers to food that is procured, processed, and traded in compliance with Islamic belief.

Kashrut dietary rules are followed by orthodox Jews.

  • Coverage – Consumables (meat, fish, shellfish and vegetarian food) including medicines, personal care products, packaging materials, animal feed, etc

In the Quran, ‘halal’ refers to lawful (and allowed) and the term ‘haram refers to unlawful (and forbidden). Anything that are associated with pig and intoxicants (alcohol) are considered as non-halal (haram).

  • Criteria – In case of meats, it must satisfy requirements relating to their source, the way of animal killing and processing.
    • For example, animals must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter and it must be done through a single cut to the jugular vein, carotid artery and the windpipe.

Carotid artery carries blood from the brain to the heart and vice versa.

  • Halal certificates – It assures the legitimacy of product and doesn’t have anything to do with meat.
  • India does not have an official regulator for the certification but various halal certifying agencies provides companies, products, or food establishment’s halal certifications.
  • Their legitimacy lies in their name-recognition among Muslim consumers and from regulators in Islamic countries.

Halal India’s certification is recognised by Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health, the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development, among others.

  • Significance – International accreditations are particularly important for products meant for export to Islamic countries.

Source:

US-China Summit

GS-II : International Relations China-USA

Recently, the US President Joe Biden and the Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco in 2023.

What are the key highlights of US-China Summit?

  • High level diplomacy- Apparent realisation that high-level engagement and open channels are key in preventing competition from sliding into conflict.
  • Military cooperation- It focussed on the restoration of military-to-military communications which is crucial for managing tensions between the two nations.
  • Counter narcotics- China pledged to curb the outbound shipments of substances used to make fentanyl, a powerful opioid that has contributed to many fatal overdoses in the US.
  • Technology- Both agreed to discuss risk and safety issues involved with artificial intelligence.
  • Human rights- US has called China to end human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet and other regions, all of which China has dismissed as interference.
  • Climate change- Both countries agreed to sharply increase clean energy, displace fossil fuels and reduce emissions that are warming the planet.
  • Middle East conflict- The complex role of both countries in the Middle East were highlighted, acknowledging the challenges and responsibilities each nation holds.
  • US sought China’s help to de-escalate tensions with Iran and to urge Iran not to launch proxy attacks on US targets in the Middle East as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues in Gaza.
  • Taiwan- China urged the US to uphold commitments regarding Taiwan's independence as US maintains One China Policy on Taiwan.
  • Stabilise US-China ties- Both agreed to set a minimum level of cooperation and communication to prevent their rivalry from escalating into conflict.
  • This was their goal when two countries last met in Bali in 2022, but it was disrupted by a spy balloon incident.

How does the US China Summit affect India’s interests?

  • India-US relationship- India is a strategic partner of US and it benefits from reduction in US-China relationship as it reduces the risk of conflict and instability in the region.
  • G-2 - A cause of concern for India is Sino-American collaboration in Asia.
  • But the summit was about organising a truce rather strategic partnership that seemed possible at the turn of the century.
  • China’s diplomatic push- China’s relationship with global powers and within South Asia with countries like Bhutan is a cause of concern for India, considering the unresolved India-China border standoff at the Line of Actual Control.
  • Economic impact- Many US companies like Apple and Microsoft are encouraged to diversify and move manufacturing plants to India due to strained relationship between US and China in the past.
  • Climate change- US and China have made pacts in the past that doesn’t take India’s concerns into account.
  • Geopolitical strategy- India should closely watch the potential US-China understandings on regional security issues in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe

What lies ahead for India?

  • Strengthen ties- India should take advantage of the new possibilities to strengthen its ties with the US, maintain its long-standing ties with Russia, and manage the difficult ties with China.
  • Productive engagement-India should utilise the QUAD forum with US, Australia and Japan.
  • Structural shift- The recent shift in US-China summit is a little cause of worry for India as its own rise in the international system allows it to effectively handle any sudden shifts in great power relations.
  • Focus on AI- India should pay attention to new areas of US-China engagement, such as regulating artificial intelligence.
  • Lesson for India-China- The Summit showed the importance of diplomatic engagement for preventing conflict, which can be adopted to resolve the border crisis.

Source:

Plastic Credits

GS-III : Biodiversity & Environment Plastic Pollution

To cut down on plastic pollution, plastic credits are one of the tools being considered in UN-led talks in Nairobi.

What are plastic credits?

  • Plastic credits - It is a market based mechanism that allows companies or individuals to pay for plastic waste collection and recycling in exchange for a credit that offsets their own plastic production or use.
  • It is similar to carbon credits that many fossil fuel companies have purchased to try to offset their greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Facilitation- The exchange is facilitated by accreditors like Verra, marketplaces like the Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX), or private companies that trade in credits or organize credit-generating activities.
  • When companies buy enough plastic credits to offset their plastic footprint over a set period of time, they may claim net-zero plastic.

What are the advantages of plastic credits?

  • Combat plastic pollution- It can reduce the amount of plastic that enters our oceans, rivers, and landfills.
  • Financial incentive- It finances waste management infrastructure which helps in plastic waste collection and recycling and fosters sustainable solutions.
  • Circular economy- The plastic materials are reused and recycled instead of being discarded or leaked into environment.
  • Eco friendly- They reduce the environmental impacts of plastic pollution, such as greenhouse gas emission, water consumption, land use and biodiversity loss.
  • Income support- Money raised from waste collection and recycling credits can generate income for the informal waste sector people who pick through waste.
  • Awareness generation- It will help in engagement among consumers, businesses and government on the issue of plastic pollution and the need for more sustainable solutions.
  • Proper accreditation- These credits are measurable, traceable, and verifiable, ensuring that they represent actual reductions in plastic waste.
  • Corporate social responsibility (CSR) - By purchasing plastic credits, companies can demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices and social responsibility.

What are the disadvantages of plastic credits?

  • Inefficient- They are not a substitute for reducing plastic use and waste at the source, which is the most effective way to prevent plastic pollution and its environmental consequences.
  • Lack of clarity- They are not standardized or regulated, which can confuse and mislead consumers and corporates.
  • Limited scope- They may not address the social and economic aspects of plastic waste management, such as the rights and livelihoods of informal waste collectors.
  • Poor quality- They may not account for the quality and durability of the recycled plastic, which may affect its environmental performance and value.
  • Unsustainability- They promote a linear model of plastic production and disposal which would not foster circular economy and result in wasteful production.
  • Oversight- Plastic credits may not address the root cause of plastic pollution, which is the overproduction and consumption of single-use plastics.
  • They may create a false sense of sustainability and divert attention from the need to reduce and redesign plastic products.
  • Inaccurate data - They may rely on self-reported data or inaccurate measurements, which could lead to fraud and double counting.
  • Fundamental flaw- Certain environmental groups have criticised plastic credits as a greenwashing tool, stating that it encourages burning plastics and creates more emissions and health problems.

Source:

U.S. and Philippines Nuclear deal

GS-II : International Relations Bilateral groupings and agreements

  • The United States and the Philippines have recently signed a nuclear deal that would allow Washington to export nuclear technology and material to Manila, Philippines.

The pact is in adherence with non-proliferation requirements.

Source:

Kavro Doma 360

GS-III : S&T Defense system

  • It is the world-1st rifle protection ballistic helmet, indigenously developed by Kanpur-based MKU Limited.
  • It offers uniform protection in all 5 zones of the head against threats like the AK-47 MSC, M80 NATO BALL, and M193 rifle bullets.

‘Back Face Signature’ is a way to measure how much a protective helmet deforms or indents on the inside due to the impact of a high energy bullet.

Source:

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