Context: Indian Toy industry witnesses 52% decline in imports and 239% rise in exports in FY 2022-23 in comparison to FY 2014-15.

News:

A case study on the "Success Story of Made in India Toys" conducted by IIM Lucknow for DPIIT highlights positive trends in the Indian toy industry:

• Dependence on imported inputs decreased significantly from 33% to 12%, showcasing increased self-sufficiency in the toy manufacturing sector.
• Gross sales value witnessed a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10%, indicating substantial economic growth in the industry.
• Labor productivity has shown an overall increase, demonstrating the positive impact of government initiatives on efficiency.
• India is emerging as a top toy-exporting nation, benefitting from integration into the global toy value chain and enjoying zero-duty market access in countries like UAE and Australia.

The government has implemented several interventions and initiatives, including:

• Formulation of a comprehensive National Action Plan for Toys (NAPT) having 21 specific action points, and implemented by 14 Central Ministries/Departments, with DPIIT as the coordinating body.
• Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on toys (HS code 9503) was increased from 20% to 60% in February 2020, and subsequently to 70% in March 2023.
• Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has mandated sample testing of each import consignment to curb the import of sub-standards toys
• A Quality Control Order (QCO) for Toys was issued in 2020, with effect from 01.01.2021.
• Special provisions were notified by BIS on 17.12.2020 to grant licences to micro sale units manufacturing toys without testing facility for one year and without establishing in-house testing facility, which was further extended by three years.
• BIS has granted more than 1200 licences to domestic manufacturers and more than 30 licences to foreign manufacturers for manufacture of toys with BIS standard Marks
• Cluster-based approach adopted to support domestic Toy industry. The Ministry of MSME is supporting 19 Toy clusters under the Scheme of Funds for the Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), and the Ministry of Textiles is providing designing and tooling support to 13 Toy clusters.
• Several promotional initiatives have also been undertaken to promote indigenous toys and encourage innovation, including The Indian Toy Fair 2021, Toycathon, etc.

To position India as a competitive alternative to major toy hubs like China and Vietnam, collaborative efforts between the government and the toy industry are crucial.Key recommendations include advancements in technology, embracing e-commerce, encouraging partnerships and exports, investing in brand-building, engaging with educators and parents, valuing cultural diversity, and collaborating with regional artisans.

Context: Indigenous equipment called single screw extruder developed for mechanical recycling through melt-mixing of waste thermoplastic polymers and inorganic particulate fillers can help manufacture and characterize polymer composites that can be molded to the required shape for making paver blocks, tiles, and bricks.

Present status of recycling:  At present, commercially available melt-mixing equipment are not designed for handling waste thermoplastic polymers that are often adhered by contaminants, as the barrel and screw system are not robust enough.

About the equipment:

• IIT Bombay has developed an instrument named GolDN (pronounced as Golden) for melt-mixing of waste thermoplastic polymers and inorganic particulate fillers to manufacture polymer composites.
• It can carry out melt mixing as a continuous process, particularly in laboratory conditions, to replicate the real-life conditions as compared to other conventionally available instruments.
• The researchers at the institute considered some key parameters such as compression ratio and clearance depth to facilitate efficient mixing of waste polymers and fillers.
• The above technology, developed with the support of Department of Science and Technology (DST) through Waste Management Technologies, is now ready for commercialization for carrying out melt- mixing operations in a laboratory environment. It can bring down the cost of this instrument to INR 5 lakhs (by 6-8 times at least) by avoiding the complex design and operating tools and including the indigenous fabrication that are required.
• The researchers have also developed a TGeosA for obtaining thermogravimetric analyses of the polymer composites obtained from the melt mixing instrument. The setup facilitates a sample size as high as 200 g that can incorporate the heterogeneity aspect of the materials being tested.

Thermoplastic Polymers

They are types of polymers that can be melted by heating and recasted by cooling almost infinitely. Thermoplastic polymers are a type of plastic that can be repeatedly melted and reshaped without losing their original properties.

• They are commonly used in a wide range of applications, including packaging, automotive parts, and household items.
• Examples of thermoplastic polymers include Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).
• These can be classified as polymers with a high molecular weight.
• They can also attain a high strength supported by the structure of the intermolecular chains. 
• When the temperature near thermoplastic polymers is increased, the intermolecular force starts to weaken which then yields a liquid with high viscosity. 

Context: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said caste-based discrimination of prisoners, segregation of manual work among them according to caste-hierarchy and treatment of inmates from the denotified tribes as “habitual offenders” within the four walls of jails across India is a “very important issue” and needs to be addressed.

The current status of Indian prisons is marked by several challenges :

• Overcrowding: Indian prisons are severely overcrowded, with an occupancy rate of 114% and, in some areas, as high as 277% .This overcrowding leads to poor living conditions and increased health risks for prisoners.
• Prolonged detention of under-trial prisoners: A significant portion of the prison population consists of under-trial detainees, who often wait for extended periods before their trials.This prolonged detention can lead to violations of their rights and negatively impact their mental well-being.
• Unsatisfactory living conditions: Indian prisons often face issues with sanitation, medical staff, and overall living conditions, which can be life-threatening. For example, a special commission of inquiry in 1995 reported that 10,000 inmates in Tihar Central held in appalling conditions, facing overcrowding, poor sanitary facilities, and a shortage of medical staff
• Lack of treatment programs and rehabilitation services: Indian prisons lack adequate treatment programs and rehabilitation services for prisoners, which can help reduce recidivism and improve public safety.These programs are essential for addressing the root causes of crime and preparing prisoners for successful reintegration into society.
• Staff shortage and inadequate training: Indian prisons face staff shortages and insufficient training for prison staff. This can lead to poor management, inadequate supervision, and increased risks for prisoners and staff within the prison facilities.
• Corruption: Corruption is a significant issue within the Indian prison system, which can impact the treatment of prisoners, the administration of justice, and the overall functioning of prisons. Efforts to address corruption are essential for ensuring the rights and well-being of prisoners and the proper functioning of the prison system.

Steps taken:

The Indian government has taken several steps to address the issues of Indian prisons, including overcrowding, prolonged detention of under-trial prisoners, unsatisfactory living conditions, staff shortage, and corruption. Some of these steps are:

• Establishment of the Indian Jail Committee in 1919: This committee aimed to review prison problems in India and made several recommendations for improving the prison system
• Setting up of the Mulla Committee in 1980: The government of India established a committee on jail reform under the chairmanship of Justice A. N. Mulla to review laws, rules, and regulations related to prison management and rehabilitation of offenders
• Transfer of the subject of jails from the center to the control of state governments in 1951: This change allowed state governments to have their own rules for the day-to-day administration of prisons, upkeep, and maintenance of prisoners
• Invitation of UN expert Dr. W.C. Reckless in 1951: The government of India invited Dr. Reckless to undertake a study on prison administration and suggest policy reforms
• Implementation of the Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003: This act aims to ensure that prisoners serving their sentences are released and rehabilitated properly after completing their terms
• Release of Model Prison Manual (2016): The government released the Model Prison Manual to provide guidelines for the management and administration of prisons, emphasizing the importance of human rights and rehabilitation programs
• Despite these efforts, it is essential to continue working on improving prison conditions, reducing overcrowding, and providing adequate rehabilitation programs for prisoners in India.

Context: According to a report from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) around 50% of cybercrime complaints received on the national cybercrime helpline every day have their origin in China and pockets of Cambodia and Myanmar.

Cybercrime

• It is characterized as a criminal activity in which a computer serves as either the target or the instrument for committing an offense.
• In accordance with the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, cybercrimes are categorized as State subjects.
• This category encompasses illicit or unauthorized actions that leverage technology to perpetrate diverse forms of criminal acts.
• Cybercrime spans a broad spectrum of offenses, impacting individuals, entities, and governmental bodies alike.

Types of cybercrime

• Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks: These aim to render an online service inaccessible by inundating the network with traffic from diverse sources, causing a system shutdown.
• Botnets: Networks of compromised computers are manipulated externally by remote hackers. These botnets are utilized to send spam or launch attacks on other computers.
• Identity Theft: This cybercrime involves unauthorized access to a user's personal or confidential information, with the intent to damage reputation or extort a ransom.
• Cyberstalking: Online harassment is perpetrated through a barrage of messages and emails, typically using social media, websites, and search engines to intimidate and instill fear in the targeted user.
• Phishing: A form of social engineering attack employed to illicitly obtain user data, including login credentials and credit card details. It occurs when an attacker, posing as a trusted entity, deceives the victim into opening an email, instant message, or text message.

Steps taken by Indian government:

• Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): Coordinating nationwide efforts to combat various types of cyber crimes.
• National Cyber Forensic Laboratory: Offering early-stage cyber forensic assistance to Investigating Officers from all State/UT Police through both online and offline channels.
• CyTrain Portal: A Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) platform designed for the capacity building of police officers, judicial officers, and prosecutors. It provides online courses on crucial aspects of cyber crime investigation, forensics, and prosecution.
• National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: A platform for the public to report cyber crimes, with a special emphasis on incidents involving women and children.
• Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System: Facilitating immediate reporting of financial frauds and aiding in lodging online cyber complaints through a toll-free helpline.
• Cybercrime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) Scheme: Providing financial support to States/UTs to enhance the capabilities of Law Enforcement Agencies in investigating cyber crimes against women and children.
• Joint Cyber Coordination Teams: Formed to improve coordination among Law Enforcement Agencies of States/UTs, especially in areas with multi-jurisdictional issues related to cyber crimes.
• Central Assistance for Modernization of Police: Offering financial support to States/UTs for acquiring modern weaponry, advanced communication/forensic equipment, and cyber policing tools.

Context: For the seventh year in a row, Indore has been ranked as the cleanest city in India under the Central government’s annual Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023, announced on Thursday (January 11).

Background: When the Awards first began in 2016, Indore ranked at number 25.

Swachh Survekshan:

• It was initiated in 2016 and constitutes the world's largest urban sanitation and cleanliness survey.
• Operated within the framework of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), it aims to instill a sense of healthy competition among towns and cities.
• The survey encourages widespread citizen participation, fostering awareness across society about the collective effort needed to enhance service delivery and create cleaner and more livable urban spaces.

What the number 1 ranking means

• The cleanliness measurement methodology relies on citizen feedback and field assessment.
• State governments, responsible for sanitation, enter updated data on the Swachh Bharat Mission Management Information System (MIS).
• The assessment involves validating criteria like segregated garbage collection through Citizen Validation in Residential and Commercial Areas on a sampling basis.
• On-field assessors randomly visit households/shops to record responses regarding waste collection and its frequency.
• Questions related to waste collection include assessing technical support for sanitation workers, such as the issuance of Identity cards (IDs) and provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits.

Why does Indore keep ranking as the cleanest city?

• Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) achieved consecutive success in the National Cleanliness Survey based on a sustainable garbage collection, processing, and disposal system.
• The city targeted various indicators early on and implemented measures to improve sanitation and waste collection.
• IMC terminated private contracts for solid waste collection, and the municipality took on the responsibility with new strategies.
• Routes of garbage disposal vehicles were changed to collect dry and wet waste directly from households, promoting segregation.
• NGOs were involved in raising awareness among citizens to hand over garbage to municipal vehicles for a monthly charge.
• Initially, there was resistance from local garbage collectors and ragpickers, but many were absorbed into the workforce.
• Nearly 692 tonnes of wet waste, 683 tonnes of dry waste, and 179 tonnes of plastic waste are collected daily under different categories.
• Legacy waste, accumulated over the years, was cleared and treated at the Devguradiya ground to meet Swachh Bharat criteria.
• Funds from Smart Cities Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, and property tax were used to construct transfer stations and treatment plants.
• NGOs identified areas in need of urinals and toilets to tackle open defecation, and around 1,000 free dustbins were distributed to vehicle owners.
• The success is attributed to people's participation in the campaign, holding meetings and administering cleanliness oaths.
• IMC issued spot fines against littering, spitting, and open defecation, using public shaming as a deterrent to habitual offenders.

The waste management sector in India has witnessed significant growth in recent years due to the government’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, resulting in a surge in demand for waste management solutions. This will help to achieve the goal of “Clean India”.