Daily Currentaffairs: 06 Oct 2020

Tables of contents

1.Cannabidiol

2.Shaurya Missile

3. India's K Missile Family

4. Implications of China’s Climate Commitment

1.Cannabidiol

Recently, there have been instances that appealed for legalizing the Cannabidiol (CBD) Oil in India.

What is Cannabidiol (CBD) Oil?

• The CBD oil is an extract from the cannabis plant.

• The two main active substances in it are cannabidiol or CBD and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.

• CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant, then diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed oil.

• Cannabidiol has effects on the brain, preventing the breakdown of a chemical that aggravates pain and affects mood, and mental function.

• It can not only reduce pain and anxiety but also reduces psychotic symptoms associated with conditions such as schizophrenia as well as epilepsy.

Regulation of CBD Oil in India

• The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) outlaws the recreational use of cannabis.

• The NDPS Act does not apply to the leaves and seeds of cannabis plants.

• CBD oil manufactured under a license issued by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 can be legally used.

Source: The Indian Express

2.Shaurya Missile

Recently, India has successfully test-fired a new version of nuclear-capable Shaurya Missile off the coast of Odisha.

About Shaurya Missile

• It is a surface-to-surface nuclear-capable ballistic missile.

• It is an indigenously developed nuclear-capable hypersonic missile with a strike range of around 1,000 km.

• It has the capability to strike at targets that are in a range of about 800 km.

• It can carry a nuclear payload.

• It is easier to use as it is lighter.

• It is a two-stage rocket missile i.e. the missile operates from solid fuel but can guide itself towards the target towards the cruise missile.

• It is a ground version of a ballistic missile launched from a submarine.

• It is a land variant of short range SLBM K-15 Sagarika, which has a range of at least 750 kilometers.

Source: LiveMint

3. India's K Missile Family

Recently, India conducted a successful trial of the nuclear-capable Shaurya missile which belongs to the K missile family.

About India's K Missile Family

• It is codenamed after late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, which are launched from the Arihant class of nuclear submarines.

• The K family of missiles is primarily Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs).

• The K Missile Family has been indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

• The development of this naval platform launched missiles began in the late 1990s as a step towards completing India’s nuclear triad i.e. the capability of launching nuclear weapons from land, sea, and air-based assets.

• The K series missiles are lighter, smaller and stealthier than their land-based counterparts i.e. the Agni series of missiles which are medium and intercontinental range nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.

• The K family is primarily submarine-fired missiles which are to be fired from India’s Arihant class nuclear-powered platforms.

Strategic Importance of SLBMs

• The capability of being able to launch nuclear weapons submarine platforms has great strategic importance in the context of achieving a nuclear triad.

• The sea-based underwater nuclear-capable assets significantly increase the second strike capability of a country and thus boosts its nuclear deterrence.

• The submarines can not only survive a first strike by the adversary but also can launch a strike in retaliation and thus achieving Credible Nuclear Deterrence.

• The development of these capabilities is important in light of India’s relations with the two neighbors i.e. China and Pakistan.

Source: The Indian Express

4.Implications of China’s Climate Commitment

Recently, China has made an unexpected announcement on its climate change mitigation commitments.

Climate Commitments by China

• China would become carbon net-zero country by the year 2060.

  • Net-zero is a state in which a country’s emissions are compensated by absorptions and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

  • Absorption can be increased by creating more carbon sinks such as forests, while removal involves the application of technologies such as carbon capture and storage.

• The Chinese President announced a small but important change in China’s already committed target for letting its emissions “peak”, from “by 2030” to “before 2030”.

  • It implies that China would not allow its greenhouse gas emissions to grow beyond that point.

Why is net-zero an important target?

• The state of net-zero emissions would require countries to significantly reduce their emissions while increasing land or forest sinks that would absorb the emissions that do take place.

• The scientists and climate change campaign groups provide that the global carbon neutrality by 2050 is the only way to achieve the Paris Agreement target of keeping global temperatures from rising beyond 2°C compared to pre-industrial times.

Significance of China's Climate Commitments

• China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and it accounts for almost 30% of global emissions i.e. more than the combined emissions in the United States, the European Union and India.

• The commitment of China to a net-zero target by 2060, is a big breakthrough, especially since countries have been reluctant to pledge themselves to such long term commitments.

• The real heavyweights whose climate actions are crucial to achieving the Paris Agreement targets are the Big Four i.e. China, the US, the European Union and India, who together account for more than half the global emissions.

Implications of China’s commitment for India

• The Chinese announcement is naturally expected to increase pressure on India to follow suit, and agree to some long-term commitment even if it was not exactly 2050 net-zero goal.

• India has resisted pressure to make a long-term commitment, citing the fact that developed countries had utterly failed in keeping their past promises.

• India is the only G20 country whose actions are on track to meet the 2° goal and the other developed countries actually have to make efforts towards a 1.5° world.

• The side-effect of the Chinese decision could be an increased divergence in the positions of India and China at the climate negotiations.

Source: The Indian Express