CURRENT AFFAIRS 4 NOVEMBER 2019

CURRENT AFFAIRS

4 NOVEMBER 2019

1.ASEAN(gs-2,3)

Context:India, ASEAN vow to combat terrorism together in Indo- Pacific region
India and ASEAN have decided to jointly combat terrorism in Indo- Pacific region.
Talking to newspersons in Bangkok, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs Vijay Singh Thakur said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the terrorism issue in the India- ASEAN summit today and said that it is threat to peace and security.
The leaders of the ASEAN nations also expressed the same views and agreed for strategic cooperation.
Ms. Thakur said that Mr. Modi met Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut- Chan- O- Cha and President of Indonesia Joko Widodo.
Prime Minister also met State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi. He emphasized the priority India attaches to Myanmar as a partner at the crossroads of India's Look East Policy and the Neighbourhood First policies
With regard to the situation in Rakhine, following the completion of the first Indian project to build 250 prefabricated houses--which were handed over to the Myanmar government this July, Mr. Modi expressed India's readiness to carry out more socio-economic projects in this State.
Prime Minister emphasized that the speedy, safe and sustainable return from Bangladesh of displaced people to their homes in Rakhine state was in the interest of the region, the displaced persons, and all three neighbouring States- India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

ABOUT ASEAN:

ASEAN History

ASEAN was established on 8th August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration (a.k.a ASEAN Declaration) by the founding fathers of the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines. The preceding organisation was the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) comprising of Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Five other nations joined the ASEAN in subsequent years making the current membership to ten countries.

ASEAN Members

Thailand (founding member)
The Philippines (founding member)
Malaysia (founding member)
Singapore (founding member)
Indonesia (founding member)
Brunei (joined in 1984)
Viet Nam (joined in 1995)
Lao PDR (joined in 1997)
Myanmar (joined in 1997)
Cambodia (joined in 1999)

There are two observer States namely, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste (East Timor).

ASEAN Purpose

Accelerating economic growth, cultural development and social progress in the region by joint initiatives in the spirit of partnership and equality to cement the foundation for a peaceful and strong community of SE Asian countries.
Promoting peace and stability in the region by incorporating respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationships between nations and adherence to the United Nations principles.
Promoting active collaboration and mutual assistance in subjects of common interest in social, economic, cultural, administrative, scientific and technical domains.
Providing assistance to member countries via training and research facilities in the educational, administrative, technical and professional domains.
Cooperating for a better usage of agriculture and industries, trade expansion (including studying the problem of international commodity trade), improving communication and transportation facilities, and improving living standards among the people.
Promoting SE Asian studies.
Exploring more avenues for further cooperation among themselves, and maintaining close and advantageous cooperation with other international groupings of similar objectives.

ASEAN Fundamental Principles

Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations;
The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;
Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner;
Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and
Effective cooperation among themselves.

ASEAN Headquarters

The body is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Secretary General: Lim Jock Hoi

2.IMF(GS-2,3)

CONTEXT:Led by India, South Asia moving towards becoming center of global growth: IMF
A latest research by the International Monetary Fund has said that South Asia, led by India, is moving towards becoming center of global growth and could contribute about one-third of the world's growth by 2040.
Notably, under the IMF's geographical division of the world, South Asia does not include Afghanistan and Pakistan. For IMF, South Asia includes India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives.
The report said that under a substantial liberalisation scenario, supported by stepped-up efforts to improve infrastructure and successfully harness South Asia's young and large workforce, the region could contribute about one-third of global growth by 2040.
Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf, Deputy Director, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF, noted that based on demographic trends, more than 150 million people in the region are expected to enter the labour market by 2030.

IMF:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 189 member countries, each of which has representation on the IMF's executive board in proportion to its financial importance, so that the most powerful countries in the global economy have the most voting power.

Objective

Foster global monetary cooperation
Secure financial stability
Facilitate international trade
Promote high employment and sustainable economic growth
And reduce poverty around the world

History

The IMF, also known as the Fund, was conceived at a UN conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States, in July 1944.
The 44 countries at that conference sought to build a framework for economic cooperation to avoid a repetition of the competitive devaluations that had contributed to the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Countries were not eligible for membership in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) unless they were members of the IMF.
IMF, as per Bretton Woods agreement to encourage international financial cooperation, introduced a system of convertible currencies at fixed exchange rates, and replaced gold with the U.S. dollar (gold at $35 per ounce) for official reserve.
After the Bretton Woods system (system of fixed exchange rates) collapsed in the 1971, the IMF has promoted the system of floating exchange rates. Countries are free to choose their exchange arrangement, meaning that market forces determine the value of currencies relative to one another. This system continues to be in place today.
During 1973 oil crisis, IMF estimated that the foreign debts of 100 oil-importing developing countries increased by 150% between 1973 and 1977, complicated further by a worldwide shift to floating exchange rates. IMF administered a new lending program during 1974–1976 called the Oil Facility. Funded by oil-exporting nations and other lenders, it was available to nations suffering from acute problems with their balance of trade due to the rise in oil prices.
IMF was one of the key organisations of the international economic system; its design allowed the system to balance the rebuilding of international capitalism with the maximisation of national economic sovereignty and human welfare, also known as embedded liberalism.
The IMF played a central role in helping the countries of the former Soviet bloc transition from central planning to market-driven economies.
In 1997, a wave of financial crises swept over East Asia, from Thailand to Indonesia to Korea and beyond. The International Monetary Fund created a series of bailouts (rescue packages) for the most-affected economies to enable them to avoid default, tying the packages to currency, banking and financial system reforms.
Global Economic Crisis (2008): IMF undertook major initiatives to strengthen surveillance to respond to a more globalized and interconnected world. These initiatives included revamping the legal framework for surveillance to cover spill-overs (when economic policies in one country can affect others), deepening analysis of risks and financial systems, stepping up assessments of members’ external positions, and responding more promptly to concerns of the members.

Functions

Provides Financial Assistance: To provide financial assistance to member countries with balance of payments problems, the IMF lends money to replenish international reserves, stabilize currencies and strengthen conditions for economic growth. Countries must embark on structural adjustment policies monitored by the IMF.
IMF Surveillance: It oversees the international monetary system and monitors the economic and financial policies of its 189 member countries. As part of this process, which takes place both at the global level and in individual countries, the IMF highlights possible risks to stability and advises on needed policy adjustments.
Capacity Development: It provides technical assistance and training to central banks, finance ministries, tax authorities, and other economic institutions. This helps countries raise public revenues, modernize banking systems, develop strong legal frameworks, improve governance, and enhance the reporting of macroeconomic and financial data. It also helps countries to make progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

3.Dustlik-2019(GS-3)

CONTEXT:India-Uzbekistan Joint military Exercise - Dustlik-2019 to begin at Chirchiq near Tashkent
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Uzbekistan counterpart Major General Bakhodir Nizamovich Kurbanov on Sunday presided over the Curtain Raiser of the first-ever India-Uzbekistan Joint Exercise - Dustlik-2019.
The joint military exercise focused on counter-terrorism starts on Monday and will continue till November 13, at Chirchiq Training Area near Tashkent. In the exercise, an Indian Army contingent will train along with Uzbekistan Army.
The exercise will enable sharing of best practices and experiences between the Armed Forces of the two countries and would lead to greater operational effectiveness.
Following the meeting of two leaders, India and Uzbekistan concluded an MoU on cooperation in the field of Military Medicine between the Armed Forces of the two countries.

DUSTLIK-2019
What’s in news?

India and Uzbekistan will carry out a joint military exercise ‘Dustlik-2019’ between November 4 to 13.

Key data’s:

This is the first-ever exercise between the armies of the two nations (India and Uzbekistan).
Focus: Counter-Insurgency and Counter-Terrorist Operations in mountainous, rural and urban areas.
Location: Chirchiq training area, Uzbekistan.
The exercise being conducted as part of military diplomacy between the two nations.
A 45-member from Indian Army contingent will participate during the historic exercise.

Focus areas of both countries:

India: On Cordon and Search Operations, Room Intervention and Mobile Vehicle Check Post.
Uzbekistan: On Tactical drills and Survival techniques in mountains and deserts.

SCO Meeting:

Defence minister Shri Rajnath Singh, visiting Uzbekistan on November 1 to attend the SCO meeting.
He will also have a meeting with Uzbekistan’s defence minister.
Both leaders will discuss on the following matters;
Military education and Cooperation
Military medicine.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):

It is also known as “Shanghai Pact”.
It is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation.
Aim: To strengthen the exchange and cooperation in the field of mass media amongst SCO countries.
Headquarters: Beijing, China.
Established year: 2001 – Came into effect since 2003.
Founding members: Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Full time members: Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan have got the membership in 2017.
Observer status: Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia.
Dialogue partners: Sri Lanka, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal.
Last SCO Meeting: The member states has met in June at a conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan where they called for greater cooperation to tackle the threat of terrorism.

Importance of SCO’s membership for India:

It will strengthen India’s position in Central Asia
Greater access to major gas and oil exploration projects in Central Asia
Greater cooperation in dealing with terrorism as well as on issues relating to security and defence in the region.
A platform for India to engage Pakistan in a wider regional setting & help boost anti-terrorism cooperation.

4.Anti-migration deal(GS-2)

CONTEXT:Anti-migration deal between Italy and Libya renewed
A deal to restrict the arrival of migrants and refugees into Italy from Libya has renewed automatically today.
The MoU, signed in February 2017 by Italy and the UN-recognised Libyan Government of National Accord led by Fayez al-Sarraj, set out a framework for the two countries to work together in development cooperation, countering illegal migration, human trafficking and smuggling and reinforcing security at the Libya-Italy border.
Despite calls from human rights groups to revoke it, the newly installed Italian government signalled it has no intention of changing course in the way it deals with its Libyan partners.
The deal committed Italy to provide training and resources to the Libyan coastguard as well as finance migrant centres, alongside the European Union, where an estimated 4,500 people are currently in detention.

5.The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),RCEP(GS-3)

CONTEXT:CII backs signing of RCEP, farmers up against it
Even as farmers across the country are all set to hold protests on Monday against India joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), one of India’s largest industry bodies, has said there are a number of benefits the country will get from the RCEP, including being part of a much larger supply chain and being able to increase its exports.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is now in Bangkok, will make clear India’s stance on Monday on whether it will join the RCEP or not.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII):
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India, partnering industry, Government, and civil society, through advisory and consultative processes.
CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization, playing a proactive role in India's development process. Founded in 1895, India's premier business association has more than 9100 members, from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 300,000 enterprises from 291 national and regional sectoral industry bodies.
CII charts change by working closely with Government on policy issues, interfacing with thought leaders, and enhancing efficiency, competitiveness and business opportunities for industry through a range of specialized services and strategic global linkages. It also provides a platform for consensus-building and networking on key issues.
Extending its agenda beyond business, CII assists industry to identify and execute corporate citizenship programmes. Partnerships with civil society organizations carry forward corporate initiatives for integrated and inclusive development across diverse domains including affirmative action, healthcare, education, livelihood, diversity management, skill development, empowerment of women, and water, to name a few.
India is now set to become a US$ 5 trillion economy in the next five years and Indian industry will remain the principal growth engine for achieving this target. With the theme for 2019-20 as 'Competitiveness of India Inc - India@75: Forging Ahead', CII will focus on five priority areas which would enable the country to stay on a solid growth track. These are - employment generation, rural-urban connect, energy security, environmental sustainability and governance.
With 68 offices, including 9 Centres of Excellence, in India, and 11 overseas offices in Australia, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, South Africa, UAE, UK, and USA, as well as institutional partnerships with 394 counterpart organizations in 133 countries, CII serves as a reference point for Indian industry and the international business community.

RCEP:

Advantages of RCEP for India

RCEP is a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between ten ASEAN member states and their six FTA partners namely India, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
It can boost India’s inward and outward foreign direct investment, particularly export-oriented FDI.
It would also facilitate India’s MSMEs to effectively integrate into the regional value and supply chains.
It presents a decisive platform for India which could enhance strategic and economic status in the Asia-Pacific region and can complement its Act East Policy.
It can augment India’s existing free trade agreements with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
It can address challenges emanating from implementation concerns vis-à-vis overlapping agreements of ASEAN(Noodle Bowl).
The RCEP would help India streamline the rules and regulations of doing trade, which will reduce trade costs.
India enjoys a comparative advantage in the services sector such as information and communication technology, healthcare, and education services etc. Thus, RCEP will create opportunities for Indian companies to access new markets.
However, these are just stated benefits, the Indian domestic industry is lobbying against RCEP, due to disadvantages emanating from RCEP.

Disadvantages

Widening Trade Deficit: NITI Aayog held that India’s trade deficit with the ASEAN, Korea and Japan has widened post-FTAs.
Tariff elimination due to RCEP could worsen the trade deficit, at $105.2 billion in 2018-19.
Since import duties are also a source of revenue for India, it could experience a disproportionate loss of customs revenue.
Sensitive List: Most of the RCEP countries have very high tariffs on certain products sensitive to them, such as rice, footwear, dairy products and honey, which they can continue to shield through the sensitive lists.
Services Sector: India has demanded that the ASEAN countries should open up their services sector so that Indian professionals and workers can have easier entry into their market.
However, ASEAN countries are very sensitive about protecting this sector and have not offered much liberalisation even within the bloc to each-other.
Almost every sector registered its apprehension that once the RCEP agreement was in place, China would harm the domestic market with its cheap exports and would also dump its products.
China already has a $70 billion (approx.) trade surplus with India.
Agriculture: It threatens farm livelihoods, autonomy over seeds and also endangers the country’s self-sufficient dairy sector.
So, in terms of enhanced market access, India would benefit relatively less from its RCEP partners than the benefits given to them by it.

Should India Quit RCEP?

India's entry into RCEP will strengthen its strategic weight but it may act as a double-edged sword for India:
India can be diplomatically pressurised from trade partners like ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, with whom India already has FTAs.
Given RCEP has the year-end deadline for implementing the pact, it poses a challenge for Indian economic policymakers.
In the event of declining economic growth, India should not stay out of the largest free-trade bloc in the world.
Apart from this, RCEP provides a chance for India to bring in historic trade reforms, which in itself will cement India's position as a major global economy and make Indian industry competitive.

Way Forward

India will need second-generation reforms of its domestic economic policies, including those that reform its factor markets, to make its trade more competitive and export-oriented.
These reforms will help India better access other markets and will mitigate some of the repercussions arising from the RCEP.
So, it is important to ensure that the recent stance of the Indian government regarding the RCEP must not dissipate after the Beijing meeting.
The RCEP can be a stepping stone to India’s Act East Policy, but at a time of growing protectionism and the US-China trade war, opening our market to China (through RCEP) can prove to be disastrous, given the structural issues in the Indian market.
Hence, it is important that India focuses on resolving the structural issues in the domestic market, before concluding the RCEP negotiations.

6.Dhanush regiment(GS-3)

CONTEXT:Indian Army to have first Dhanush regiment by March 2020
The Indian Army, which began inducting the indigenously upgraded Dhanush artillery guns, will have the first regiment in place by March 2020 and will get all 114 guns by 2022, Army sources said. Dhanush is the indigenously upgraded variant of the Swedish Bofors gun imported in the 1980s.
“The first regiment of 18 guns will be in place by March 2020. We will get another 36 guns by March 2021 and another 40 by March 2022. The entire order for 114 guns will be completed by 2022,” an Army source said.

Regiment of Artillery:

The Regiment of Artillery is an operational arm (a regiment/corps) of the Indian Army. Formerly part of Royal Indian Artillery (RIA) of British Indian Army which itself traces its origins to the formation of Bombay Artillery in 1827. It was later involved in extensive service in the First World War, in East Africa, Gallipoli, Mesopotamia and Palestine .
Today it is the second-largest arm of the Indian Army, and with its guns, mortars, rocket launchers, unmanned aerial vehicles, surveillance systems, missiles and artillery firepower it constitutes almost one-sixth of its total strength.
Its motto is Sarvatra Izzat-o-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory), the Hindu-Urdu equivalent of the Royal Artillery motto Ubique Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt (Everywhere That Right And Glory Lead), and it shares the same symbol but with the Star of India in place of the Royal Crown, the Hindu-Urdu motto honors the memory of the Hindu and Muslim gunners who fought during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

7.NavIC (Navigation in Indian Constellation)(GS-3)

CONTEXT:ISRO’s NavIC set to be commercialised by Antrix
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and its older commercial arm Antrix Corporation Ltd. are poised to commercialise India’s regional navigation satellite system, NavIC, with Antrix recently floating two separate tenders to identify industries that can develop dedicated NavIC-based hardware and systems.
NavIC (Navigation in Indian Constellation) is the Indian system of eight satellites that is aimed at telling business and individual users where they are, or how their products and services are moving. The indigenous positioning or location based service (LBS) works just like the established and popular U.S. Global Positioning System or GPS, but within a 1,500-km radius over the sub-continent.

NavIC (Navigation in Indian Constellation) :

The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), with an operational name of NAVIC (acronym for NAVigation with Indian Constellation; also, nāvik 'sailor' or 'navigator' in Sanskrit, Hindi, and many other Indian languages),is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system that provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services.It covers India and a region extending 1,500 km (930 mi) around it, with plans for further extension. An extended service area lies between the primary service area and a rectangle area enclosed by the 30th parallel south to the 50th parallel north and the 30th meridian east to the 130th meridian east, 1,500–6,000 km (930–3,730 mi) beyond borders. The system currently consists of a constellation of seven satellites,with two additional satellites on ground as stand-by.
The constellation is in orbit as of 2018, and the system was expected to be operational from early 2018 after a system check.NAVIC will provide two levels of service, the "standard positioning service", which will be open for civilian use, and a "restricted service" (an encrypted one) for authorised users (including the military).
NAVIC is planned to become available for civilian use in the first half of 2020.
There are plans to expand the NAVIC system by increasing its constellation size from 7 to 11.

8. National Curriculum Framework (NCF) (GS-2)

CONTEXT:Assessment in school education to be transformed by 2022, NCERT to develop guidelines soon: HRD

Noting that the current assessment system in school education has “harmful effects”, the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will prepare guidelines for transformation in assessment by 2022, according to the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry.
The HRD Ministry, which is in the process of giving final shape to the new National Education Policy (NEP), has proposed in the final draft that to eliminate the “high stakes” aspect of board exams, all students will be allowed to take board exams on up to two occasions during any given school year and the examination be made “easier”.
The NCERT, which is set to review the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) after over 14 years, will also develop assessment guidelines in sync with the new framework.

National Curriculum Framework (NCF) :

The National Curriculum Framework 2005 is one of the four National Curriculum Frameworks published in 1975, 1988, 2000 and 2005 by the National Council of Educational Research and Training NCERT in India.
The Framework provides the framework for making syllabi, textbooks and teaching practices within the school education programmes in India. The NCF 2005 document draws its policy basis from earlier government reports on education as Learning Without Burden and National Policy of Education 1986-1992 and focus group discussion. After wide ranging deliberations 21 National Focus Group Position Papers have been developed under the aegis of NCF-2005. The state of art position papers provided inputs for formulation of NCF-2005. The document and its offshoot textbooks have come under different forms of reviews in the press.
Its draft document came under the criticism from the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE). In February 2008 the director Krishna Kumar in an interview also discussed the challenges[8] that are faced by the document. The approach and recommendations of NCF-2005 are for the entire educational system. A number of its recommendations, for example, focus on rural schools. The syllabus and textbooks based on it are being used by all the CBSE schools, but NCF-based material is also being used in many State schools.
NCF 2005 has been translated into 22 languages and has influenced the syllabii in 17 States. The NCERT gave a grant of Rs.10 lakh to each State to promote NCF in the language of the State and to compare its current syllabus with the syllabus proposed, so that a plan for future reforms could be made. Several States have taken up this challenge. This exercise is being carried out with the involvement of State Councils for Educational Research and Training [SCERT] and District Institutes of Education and Training [DIET]

9.China’s second International Import Expo (CIIE)

(GS-3)

CONTEXT:India to be ‘Guest of Honour’ country at China’s import expo
India will be one of the Guest of Honour Country at China’s second International Import Expo (CIIE) to be opened at Shanghai on November 5 where it plans to make a strong pitch for exports of its Pharma, IT and agricultural products among others.
An Indian business delegation headed by Commerce Secretary, Anup Wadhawan, would take part in the import expo which is aimed at enabling countries from the world over to showcase products to enhance their export to China.
In this year’s expo to be inaugurated by Chinese President Xi Jinping, India is among the 15 Guest Countries of Honour.

China International Import Expo Bureau

National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
In May 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will hold China International Import Expo (CIIE) starting from 2018.
It is a significant move for the Chinese government to hold CIIE to give firm support to trade liberalization and economic globalization and actively open the Chinese market to the world. It facilitates countries and regions all over the world to strengthen economic cooperation and trade, and to promote global trade and world economic growth in order to make the world economy more open.
The Chinese government sincerely welcomes government officials, business communities, exhibitors and professional purchasers across the world to participate in CIIE and to explore the Chinese market. We would like to work with all countries, regions and international organizations to make CIIE a world-class Expo, providing new channels for countries and regions to do business, strengthen cooperation and promote common prosperity of the world economy and trade.

10.Air Pollution in Delhi(GS-3)

Delhi chokes as air pollution levels hit a threeyear high
Pollution levels in Delhi peaked to a threeyear high on Sunday, prompting hundreds of distraught people to take to social media to say they wanted to leave the city because of poor air quality. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national capital’s 24hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 494 at 4 p.m. on Sunday, the highest since November 6, 2016, when it was 497. The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality monitor, SAFAR, said the city’s
overall AQI reached as high as 708 around 5 p.m., which is 14 times the safe level of 0-50.

Air Pollution in Delhi

Every year during the onset of winter Delhi's air quality begins to fall.
Air pollution in India is estimated to kill 1.5 million people every year. It is the fifth largest killer in India.
According to air quality data compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Delhi is the world’s most polluted city.
According to the WHO, India has the world's highest death rate from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma. Air pollution also impacts the environment through reduced visibility, acid rain, and formation of ozone at tropospheric level.

Reasons for Deteriorating Air Quality of Delhi

Stubble Burning: National capital shares its border with the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. One of the main reasons for increasing air pollution during the month of October-November is crop burning by the farmers in these states.
Farmers burn rice stubbles in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. It is estimated that approximately 35 million tonnes of crop are set afire by these states. The wind carries all the pollutants and dust particles, which have got locked in the air.
Vehicular Emission: Delhi has more than 9 million registered vehicles. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) have declared vehicular emission as a major contributor to Delhi’s increasing air pollution.
Weather: During the winter season, dust particles and pollutants in the air become unable to move. Due to stagnant winds, these pollutants get locked in the air, resulting in smog.
High Density: With more than 11000 people per square kilometer, Delhi is among the most densely populated cities in the world. Over-population adds up to the various types of pollution.
Lack of Infrastructure: In India, investment in public transport and infrastructure is low which leads to congested roads, and hence air pollution.
Construction Activities and Open waste burning: Large-scale construction in Delhi-NCR is another culprit that is increasing dust and pollution in the air. Delhi also has landfill sites for dumping of waste, burning of waste in these sites also contributes to air pollution.
Thermal Power Plant and Industries: Industrial pollution and garbage dumps are also increasing air pollution and building-up smog in the air.
Firecrackers: Despite the ban on cracker sales in 2017, firecrackers were a common sight in Diwali. It is the major reason for smog in Delhi after Diwali.
Diesel generators: A large number of housing societies and businesses resort to using diesel generators as alternate for power supply during cuts. Diesel generators contribute approximately 15 percent to the city’s air pollution.
Dust Storm from Gulf countries: During the smog in the year 2017, the dust storm from Gulf countries was also the reason which enhanced already worse condition.

Steps were taken by the government to tackle pollution

To tackle Stubble burning
The government is giving subsidy to farmers for buying Turbo Happy Seeder(THS) which is a machine mounted on a tractor that cuts and uproots the stubble and also drill wheat seeds.
Punjab and Haryana procure stubble and straw for biofuel plants and in the waste-to-energy power generation plants.
Graded Response Action Plan(GRAP):
The government has implemented GRAP to tackle with the rising pollution in Capital. It includes the measures like shutting down Badarpur Thermal Power Plant and a ban on construction activities.
Recently, the government has also launched a pollution forecast system for New Delhi.
The central government released the National Air Quality Index (AQI) for public information under the aegis of the Central Pollution Control Board.
AQI has been developed for eight pollutants— PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia, Lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.
The April 2020 deadline for the country to implement BS-VI (Bharat Stage-VI is the Indian equivalent to Euro VI) grade fuels was advanced for Delhi to April 1, 2018, because of the extremely high levels of air pollution in the city.
Construction of Eastern and Western Expressways for by-passing non-destined traffic to Delhi.
A ban on burning of leaves/ biomass in Delhi.
Prohibition on the entry of overloaded and non-destined trucks in Delhi and imposition of ‘Green Tax’.
Out of 2800 major industries, 920 industries have installed on-line continuous (24x7) air pollution monitoring devices; others are in process of installation.