UPSC Current Affairs January 2025 - Part 02

Bureau of Indian Standards Releases Draft Guidelines for E-Commerce Self-Governance

A new draft proposes a comprehensive set of principles and guidelines to promote ethical and responsible e-commerce.

Key Principles:

• Pre-Transaction: Ensure authenticity of sellers, providing detailed information like their location, key personnel, and financial status.
• Contract Formation: Require express, informed consent from consumers and transparent cancellation, return, and refund policies.
• Post-Transaction: Simplify processes for returns, exchanges, and dispute resolution, with clear timelines and contact points.

General Principles:

• Prohibit the sale of banned products and implement background checks on sellers.
• Ensure fair business practices and tackle counterfeit goods.

E-commerce Growth in India:

• Expected to reach US$325 billion by 2030.
• India is the world’s largest exporter of polished diamonds and processes 90% of the world’s rough diamonds by volume.

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Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme:

Introduced under the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, this scheme supports MSME diamond exporters, aiming to enhance competitiveness and employment in the sector.

Key Features:

• Duty-free import of natural cut and polished diamonds under ¼ carat.
• Export obligations with a 10% value addition.
• Exemptions from several duties for eligible exporters.

Challenges Facing the Diamond Industry:

• Global demand for polished diamonds is declining, especially in the US, China, and Europe.
• There is a shift in consumer preferences towards lab-grown diamonds.

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Sustainable Nitrogen Management (SNM) in Agrifood Systems

A report underscores the challenges posed by excessive nitrogen use in agriculture and its impact on ecosystems.

Key Highlights:

• Humans add about 150 teragrams of reactive nitrogen to the Earth's surface annually, a figure that could rise to 600 teragrams by 2100.
• Nitrogen loss results in air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and eutrophication of water bodies.
• The livestock sector contributes significantly to nitrogen emissions.

Recommendations for Sustainable Nitrogen Use:

• Improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) with better fertilization strategies.
• Promote biological nitrogen fixation using leguminous crops.
• Establish national commitments to reduce nitrogen pollution.

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