Current Affairs – December 17, 2024

{GS2 – Governance – Welfare} PM’s 11 Resolutions

Context (IE): PM presented 11 resolutions in the Lok Sabha, inspired by the Constitution, emphasising national integrity and governance reforms.

Resolutions

Citizen Duties: Urged all individuals & government entities to adhere to their respective responsibilities.
Inclusive Development: Focused on the ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ principle for regional and communal harmony.
Zero Tolerance to Corruption: Called for a societal rejection of corrupt individuals, ensuring transparency in governance.
Instilling Pride in Laws and Traditions: Emphasised respecting national laws and heritage.
Shedding Colonial Mindsets: Break free from the colonial mindset and foster national pride.
Protect Existing Reservation Benefits: Emphasize safeguarding the benefits of current reservations for eligible groups.
Oppose Religion-Based Quotas: Reject any attempts to introduce reservations based on religion to maintain fairness and inclusivity.
Women-Led Development: Envisioned India as a global leader in women-centric growth initiatives.
National Development via Regional Growth: Adopted a ‘development of the nation through the development of states’ approach, aligning with the ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ vision.
Dynastic Politics: Criticised political nepotism, stressing the need for meritocracy in governance.
Respect for Constitution: Highlighted importance of not misusing the Constitution for political gains.

Suggestions to Realise the Resolutions

Strengthen Democratic Values: Promote merit, transparency & citizen engagement in governance.
Preserve Constitutional Integrity: Avoid misuse of constitutional provisions for political narratives and ensure their alignment with the public welfare.
Inclusive and Transparent Governance: Focus on actionable policies that address social and economic inequalities while upholding constitutional mandates.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate citizens on their duties, rights and the importance of national development through inclusive participation.

{GS2 – IR – India-Sri Lanka} India-Sri Lanka Partnership

Context (TH): India and Sri Lanka outlined a futuristic vision for deeper cooperation during talks between Indian PM and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in New Delhi.

Key Agreements

Defence Pact Finalisation: Agreement to finalise a defence pact to strengthen security collaboration.
Hydrography Cooperation: Collaboration on hydrography for safer navigation and maritime security.
Energy Connectivity: Establishment of cross-border electricity grids and multi-product petroleum pipelines for stable energy supplies.
LNG Supply: India to supply liquefied natural gas to Sri Lankan power plants to promote clean energy.
Investment-led Growth: Emphasis on investments in infrastructure, tech & industry as growth drivers.
Ferry Service Launched: Between Rameshwaram & Talaimannar to enhance trade & cultural ties.
Connectivity: Physical, digital & energy connectivity are identified as pillars of economic cooperation.
Cultural Cooperation: Development of Jaffna Cultural Center under Indian assistance.

Key Issues in Bilateral Relations

Fishermen’s Disputes: Repeated arrests and conflicts over marine boundaries disrupt relations, with no comprehensive solutions to balance livelihood and marine sustainability.
Tamil Ethnic Issue: Ongoing political and social challenges in fulfilling the aspirations of the Tamil minority, along with delayed constitutional reforms.
Implementation Delays: The timely execution of energy and infrastructure projects is hindered by bureaucratic hurdles and geopolitical pressures.

Way Forward

Strengthen Institutional Mechanisms: Expedite the defence pact finalisation and establish joint task forces to oversee energy and connectivity projects for timely execution.
Promoting Inclusive Growth: Focus on equitable development across all 25 Sri Lankan districts and advocate for inclusive governance to address Tamil aspirations and ensure ethnic harmony.
Enhancing Regional Connectivity: Leverage the ferry service to boost tourism, trade, and people-to-people ties, and develop regional economic corridors for seamless goods and services movement.

Also, refer to Indo-Lankan Relations.

{GS2 – IR – Indo-Pacific} Navigating Indo-Pacific Alliances and Strategies

Context (IE): The Indo-Pacific is a critical geopolitical and economic region, shaped by its strategic location, rapid growth, and security challenges, notably from China’s expanding influence.

Strategic Importance and Potential of the Indo-Pacific Region

The Indo-Pacific accounts for 62% of global GDP and is a key driver of global trade, with over half of global trade passing through the region.
Rising security threats, particularly from China’s military assertiveness in the South China Sea, demand strategic alliances and frameworks.
Vital sea routes like the Strait of Malacca facilitate 40% of global maritime trade, emphasising the need for secure, open sea lanes.
The region contributes over 40% of global GDP, with China and India as key economic powerhouses driving regional growth.
Ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific is essential for sustaining global economic growth and security.
Rapid advancements in AI, clean energy & cybersecurity offer growth & collaboration opportunities.
The region controls key maritime chokepoints vital for global trade and energy, necessitating collaborative efforts to tackle challenges like climate change and transnational threats.

Key Frameworks and Alliances

Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP): Promotes regional peace, stability, and prosperity through rule-based governance, supporting maritime security, capacity building, and disaster relief.
ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP): This report focuses on ASEAN-led mechanisms for peace and sustainable development, fostering balanced relations among major powers.
US Indo-Pacific Strategy: Aims to counter China’s dominance, ensure free navigation and strengthen alliances like Quad and AUKUS.
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF): Launched in 2022 with 13 nations, focusing on trade, supply chains, clean energy and a fair economy, offering flexible, non-binding participation.

Impact of Strategic Alliances

Regional Security: Alliances like the Quad and AUKUS are critical in deterring military escalation and promoting stability in contested areas like the South China Sea.
Economic Growth: Initiatives such as IPEF foster deeper economic ties and provide new avenues for growth, particularly in clean energy and technology sectors.
Global Power Dynamics: The region’s evolving alliances influence broader global trade, security, and governance policies.
Geostrategic Balance: The focus on multilateral frameworks ensures no single nation dominates the region, maintaining a balance of power, particularly between the US and China.

Challenges

Multiple strategies may lead to conflicting policies, complicating regional coordination.
China’s military assertiveness, particularly in South China Sea, heightens risk of security confrontations.
Despite rapid economic growth, inequality among regional nations remains a significant barrier to fully integrated economic cooperation.
Intensified US-China competition could destabilise regional unity and hinder cooperative efforts.

Way Forward

Empowering Regional Institutions: Strengthening regional organisations like ASEAN will enable more effective responses to shared challenges, from environmental issues to security threats.
Enhanced Multilateral Cooperation: Strengthening the integration of frameworks like FOIP, AOIP, and IPEF will streamline efforts and maximise regional impact.
Inclusive Regional Architecture: ASEAN’s central role in maintaining a balanced approach will be vital in fostering inclusivity and preventing domination by any single power.
Synergy Between Security and Economic Goals: Aligning security and economic strategies will ensure comprehensive, sustainable growth and regional stability.

{GS2 – MoES – Initiatives} Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT)

Context (TH): The INCOIS, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has developed a newer version of its own Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT).

It was launched in 2016 under the Make in India program. It facilitates search and rescue operations at sea by quickly locating individuals or vessels in distress.
The tool is based on model currents derived from the high-resolution Regional Ocean Modelling System, operated on High-Performance Computers at INCOIS.

User Options and Functionality

Object Selection: Users can select up to 60 missing objects based on shape and buoyancy.
Interactive Mapping: Users can select a specific point where the object was last seen using an interactive map, or they can choose a coastal location, distance travelled, and bearing angle to estimate the last known location of the missing object.
Results and Notifications: The generated results are displayed on an interactive map showing the probable search area. Results are also sent as text messages to emails and mobile phones.
Language Support: All requests and responses are provided in the languages of the coastal states, enabling local fishermen to search for their fellow fishermen in distress immediately.

Enhancements in SARAT Version 2

Corrected Search Position: The position from which the search area expands has been corrected to the last known position of the object.
Improved Visualisations: Enhanced visualisations help users better judge the probable search area. They include colour-coded search regions and markers to help users identify the object’s last position.

{GS2 – MoPSW – Initiatives} Jalvahak Scheme *

Context (BS): The Union government has launched the “Jalvahak Scheme” to promote long-haul cargo transportation via inland waterways.

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW).
Implementing Agency: It is jointly implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Inland & Coastal Shipping Ltd (ICSL).
Aim: To incentivise cargo movement via inland waterways, promoting sustainable and cost-effective transportation across NW-1 (Ganga), NW-2 (Brahmaputra), and NW-16 (Barak River).
Criteria: Cargo owners transporting goods over distances exceeding 300 km via waterways will receive up to 35 per cent reimbursement on operating costs.
Duration: Valid for an initial period of 3 years.

Inland & Coastal Shipping Ltd (ICSL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. It was incorporated in 2016 after the Maritime India summit to undertake/provide transport services through Inland waterways, coastal shipping, and end-to-end logistics.

Government Initiatives to Promote Inland Waterways

Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP): This project aims to develop National Waterway-1 (NW-1) on the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system from Haldia to Varanasi.
Sagarmala Project: Integration of inland waterways with coastal shipping and ports.
National Waterways Act, 2016: This act declared 111 inland waterways as National Waterways, covering 20,236 kilometres across 24 states.
Maritime India Vision 2030: This vision aims to increase the share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) to 5% by 2030.
Central Sector Scheme for North Eastern States: This scheme provides 100% financial assistance to North Eastern States for developing inland waterways.

{GS3 – Infra – Railways} Hidden Cost of Greenwashing Indian Railways

Context (TH): Indian Railways has exported unused diesel locomotives to African countries as part of its electrification push.

Background of Railway Electrification in India

First Electric Train: Operated between Mumbai and Thane in 1925.
Five-Year Plans: Targeted 141 RKM electrification in the 1st Plan and 6,500 RKM in the 12th Plan.
Mission 100% Electrification: Aims to electrify the entire broad-gauge network by March 2024.
Electrification Progress: As of October 2024, 96.99% of the broad-gauge network is electrified.
Technical Standards: Uses 25 kV AC for mainline railways, while metros and trams use DC.

Benefits of Electrification

Energy Efficiency: Provides an eco-friendly and modernised railway system.
Seamless Operations: Enables end-to-end train operations on electric traction.
Enhanced Connectivity: Improves high-density, high-utilization and last-mile connectivity routes.
Increased Speed: Supports “Mission Raftaar” by doubling freight train speeds and increasing superfast train speeds by 25 km/h.
Greater Freight Movement: Enables heavier freight and longer passenger trains at higher speeds.
Financial Savings: Expected annual fuel cost savings of ₹26,400 crore.
Employment Creation: 5.5 lakh man-years of employment during execution.
Reduced Forex Bill: Lowers crude oil imports.
Pollution Reduction: Promotes renewable energy use like solar and wind.

Issues with Railway Electrification

Economic and Technical Challenges

High Costs: Project costs ₹1,300 billion.
Redundant Diesel Locomotives: Nearly 4,000 serviceable diesel locomotives, many with a 15+ year lifespan, will become obsolete.
Economic Viability: Increased average transportation costs on some routes.
Technical Transition: Requires major infrastructure changes.

Environmental Concerns

Insignificant Pollution Reduction: Railways consume only 3.24% of diesel used by the transport sector, compared to trucks (28%) and agriculture (13.2%).
Coal Dependency: About 50% of electricity is coal-based, nullifying environmental gains.
Pollution Shift: Electrification shifts pollution from diesel locomotives to coal-based power plants.

Operational Drawbacks

Policy issue: Retaining 2,500 diesel locomotives raises questions about policy coherence.
Redundancy Waste: Idling of locomotives with high residual value inefficient resource utilisation.

Way Forward

Renewable Energy Expansion: Increase the share of renewable energy in the national grid to support true green initiatives.
Innovative Technology: Invest in high-speed magnetic levitation systems & explore hyperloop tech.
Phased Implementation: Cost-effective, route-specific electrification rather than a blanket approach.
Asset Utilisation: Optimise existing diesel locomotive use for strategic and economic benefits.

{Prelims – Awards} National Energy Conservation Awards 2024

Context (PIB): On National Energy Conservation Day, the Vice President of India presented the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2024.

Organisers: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power.
It has been presented annually since 1991, encouraging participation from various sectors, including industries, transport, buildings, institutions, appliances, and Innovation.
The Award Committee, chaired by the Secretary (Power), reviews and approves eligible sectors for NECA.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Little Bunting Bird

Context (TOI): A little bunting bird was spotted for the first time in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

Source: birdsoftheworld

Habitat: The Little Bunting breeds in northern Europe and Asia’s taiga and tundra regions. It migrates to spend winters in South Asia, including parts of India.
Migration: Little Buntings are long-distance migrants. They travel thousands of kilometres between their breeding and wintering grounds. Their migration paths are still being studied, but it’s known they can cover extensive distances.
IUCN Status: Least Concern.

{Prelims – In News} Santa Ana Winds

Context (IE): According to experts, the wildfires in Malibu, California, are being exacerbated by a combination of Santa Ana winds and climate change.

Santa Ana winds are strong, dry winds that blow from inland deserts toward the coast, affecting Southern California’s weather. It occurs when high pressure builds over the Great Basin, creating a difference in pressure with the low pressure over California’s coast.
As these winds descend the mountains, they compress, heat up, & their humidity drops. These winds have been known to exacerbate wildfires by drying out & heating vegetation, making it highly flammable.
Santa Ana winds typically blow from October to January, coinciding with winter weather patterns that create high pressure over the Great Basin.

Source: latimes

Consequences of Santa Ana Winds

Fire Hazard: The hot, arid winds quickly dehydrate vegetation, making it susceptible to catching fire and spreading rapidly.
Health Impacts: Dust and allergens from the winds can exacerbate respiratory issues.
Infrastructure Damage: Strong wind gusts can cause harm to structures, power lines, and trees.
Electrical Interruptions: To prevent wildfires caused by downed power lines, utility companies may initiate precautionary power shutdowns.

{Prelims – PIN – Middle East} Golan Heights *

Context (TOI): Due to threats from Syria, Israel plans to double the population in the Golan Heights.

It is bounded by the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee on the west, Mount Hermon on the north, the seasonal Wadi Al-Ruqqād River on the east, and the Yarmūk River on the south.

Historical Background

Golan Heights was captured from Syria by Israel during the Six-Day Middle-East War of 1967.
Syria tried to retake golan heights during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, after which both countries signed an armistice in 1974. A UN observer force has been on the ceasefire line since 1974.
Israel unilaterally annexed the golan heights in 1981, which was not recognised internationally.
Since 1967, the UN has recognised Golan Heights as Syrian territory under an Israeli military occupation.
The U.S. was the first country to recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan, which the rest of the international community regards as Israeli-occupied.

Strategic Importance

The area is a key source of water for an arid region. Its land is also very fertile, which is good for farming.
The Syrian capital, Damascus, can be clearly seen from the top of the Golan Hills.
It overlooks northern Israel’s Galilee region and the Sea of Galilee and dominates the route to Damascus on the Syrian-controlled side.

Source: The Economist

{Prelims – PIN World – Europe} Kerch Strait

Context (NDTV): A Russian oil tanker split during a storm in the Kerch Strait, causing an oil spill.

It connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It separates the Kerch Peninsula of Crimea in the west from the Taman Peninsula of Russia’s Krasnodar Krai in the east.
It is the only direct link between Russia and Crimea. It is important to supply Crimea with fuel, food, and other essential goods.