Current Affairs – December 20, 2024

{GS1 – Geo – EG} Hydrothermal Vents

Context (IE): Indian oceanographers have captured the image of an active hydrothermal vent located 4,500 metres below the surface of the Indian Ocean.

This site holds potential for mineral exploration as part of the Deep Ocean Mission.
Hydrothermal vents are underwater springs located primarily near tectonic plates. These vents occur where cold water, about 2 degrees Celsius, meets magma in a tectonically active region.
The cold water trickles through cracks and fissures in the ocean crust and mixes with magma, getting heated up. This heated water can reach temperatures up to 370 degrees Celsius.
The super hot water emerges as plumes, rich in minerals and gases, through chimneys and vents.

Significance

Rich Mineral Deposit: Deposits from hydrothermal venting are rich in copper, zinc, gold, silver, platinum, iron, cobalt, nickel, and other economically beneficial minerals and metals.
Ecosystem Insights: The unique chemosynthetic organisms (produce their own food through chemosynthesis, i.e., using chemical energy) in these areas help us better understand life in harsh environments.
Economic Potential: The long-lasting activity spans, spanning hundreds to thousands of years, make them highly valuable for ongoing exploration.

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)

It plays a leading role in deep ocean surveys and exploration, including hydrothermal minerals and geoscientific surveys, especially in polar and Southern Ocean regions.
Ice core samples: It stores the samples from Antarctica and the Himalayas.
Research stations: It operates the Indian Antarctic Research Bases “Maitri” and “Bharati” and the Indian Arctic base “Himadri“.
Oceanic research vessel: It manages the ORV Sagar Kanya, India’s flagship oceanographic study vessel.

{GS2 – IR – India-China} India-China Special Representatives Dialogue

Context (IE | TH): Indian NSA Ajit Doval & Chinese Foreign Minister met for the 23rd Special Representative (SR) dialogue in Beijing.

Background

SR Mechanism: Established in 2003 to address 3,488 km India-China border dispute comprehensively.
Previous Dialogue: The last SR-level meeting occurred in December 2019 in New Delhi.
Disengagement Agreement: Post-October 2024, both sides disengaged from friction points in Demchok and Depsang in Eastern Ladakh.

Significance for Indo-China SR Dialogue

Restoration of Relations: To rebuild ties affected by the 2020 military standoff in Ladakh and the subsequent Galwan Valley clash.
Boundary Management: A fair, reasonable & mutually acceptable solution to the border question.
Leadership Consensus: The parties are committed to implementing the agreements reached during the October 2024 meeting in Russia between the Indian PM and President Xi.

Long-standing Issues in Bilateral Relations

LAC Standoff: Ongoing disputes over the Line of Actual Control since May 2020.
Military Tensions: Strain caused by deadly Galwan clash & prolonged military presence in sensitive areas.
Distrust: Erosion of trust due to incidents of incursions and lack of transparency.

Also, refer to Indo-Chinese Issues.

Challenges in Restoring Peace

Boundary Complexity: The undefined and contested LAC poses challenges for consensus.
Historical Disputes: Differing interpretations of border agreements and past incidents.
Public Sentiment: Domestic pressures in both nations against perceived concessions.
Geopolitical Context: China’s actions in the Indo-Pacific and India’s strengthening of Quad alliances complicate negotiations.

Significance of the Meeting

First High-Level Engagement: Marks the revival of structured dialogue after five years.
Peace in Border Areas: Aims at maintaining tranquillity and preventing escalation.
Symbolic Value: Demonstrates willingness to engage diplomatically despite challenges.

Way Forward

Enhanced Communication: Strengthen dialogue mechanisms like the SR and Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC).
Commitment to Agreements: Both sides must honour disengagement agreements and confidence-building measures.
Effective Border Management: Institutionalise clear protocols to avoid future confrontations.
Building Trust: Transparent discussions on contentious issues to foster mutual confidence.
Inclusive Diplomatic Engagements: Regular high-level meetings to maintain momentum and address emerging concerns.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Policy for Managing Sacred Groves in India **

Context (TH | IE): SC has directed the Centre to draft a national policy for managing sacred groves, emphasising their ecological, cultural and social significance.

Sacred Groves

These are forested patches preserved by local communities due to cultural and religious beliefs.
Ecological Role: They serve as biodiversity hotspots, regulate local climates & prevent soil erosion.
Cultural Importance: These are integral to community rituals, symbolising respect for nature.

Sacred Groves Across India

State	Sacred Groves	Key Features
Tamil Nadu	Puthupet Sacred Grove	Revered for its native flora and rituals for local deities.
Kerala	Kavus (e.g., Iringole Kavu)	Home to native biodiversity; linked with Theyyam rituals.
Karnataka	Devara Kadu	Maintained by communities for forest deities and habitats for rare wildlife.
Maharashtra	Devrais (e.g., Amboli Devrai)	Biodiversity hubs with medicinal plants are linked to the worship of local gods.
Rajasthan	Orans (e.g., Khejarli)	Serve as grazing grounds and water sources, associated with Bishnoi community conservation ethos.
Himachal Pradesh	Dev Van	Associated with the worship of local deities, it protects unique Himalayan flora.
Meghalaya	Law Kyntang	Sacred spaces preserved by Khasi tribes are central to local animistic traditions.
Odisha	Jahera	Worshipped as abodes of village deities, ensuring community-based protection.

Issues with Sacred Grove Management

Lack of Legal Recognition: Most groves are not formally identified or classified as protected areas.
Cultural decline: Modernisation & urbanisation threaten communities’ traditional stewardship.
Encroachment: Expansion of agriculture, urbanisation & infrastructure reduces grove areas.
Climate Change: Rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns impact biodiversity within groves.

Need for a Policy

Biodiversity Conservation: Sacred groves protect endemic flora & fauna, including endangered species.
Cultural Preservation: Safeguards traditional knowledge and practices passed through generations.
Ecological Services: Natural climate regulators, groundwater recharge zones, and erosion barriers.
Community Livelihoods: Provide non-timber resources like medicinal plants and sustainable employment opportunities.
Govt Emphasis: National Forest Policy, 1988 advocates for participatory conservation of forests.
SC Rulings: Emphasize the dual cultural & ecological value of sacred groves for sustainable management.

Supreme Court Directives

National Policy: Formulate a framework under MoEF&CC.
Mapping: Conduct surveys to identify, demarcate, and classify sacred groves for protection.
Legal Protection: Designate sacred groves as community reserves under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Best Practices for Policy Reference

Region	Model	Impact
Rajasthan	Piplantri Model	Combines tree plantation with community empowerment, improving biodiversity and social metrics.
Himachal Pradesh	Dev Van Policy	Enhances sacred grove protection through participatory conservation.
Meghalaya	Community Forests	Khasi and Garo tribes sustainably manage sacred forests, maintaining biodiversity.

Way Forward for Grove Conservation

Survey and Legal Recognition: Map groves using satellite and ground surveys and legally designate them as protected areas or community reserves.
Empowering Communities: Ensure community rights under the Forest Rights Act 2006 and provide incentives for sustainable grove management.
Conservation Initiatives: Implement plantation drives with indigenous species and create buffer zones to protect groves from external threats.
Cultural Revival: Promote festivals, rituals, and traditions linked to groves and integrate awareness programs into school and community education.
Policy Integration: Align grove conservation with existing schemes like CAMPA & Green India Mission.
Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborate with NGOs and private entities for grove restoration and sustainable tourism.

{GS3 – Envi – Degradation} Biodiversity, Climate and Human Health

Context (IE | IPBES): A recent report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) highlights the interconnected risks of biodiversity loss, climate change, food insecurity, water scarcity and health.

Just-Released Books!

Key Points highlighted by the Report

Direct Drivers of Biodiversity Loss: Land & sea-use changes, pollution & climate change.
Indirect Drivers of Biodiversity Loss: Economic, demographic, cultural & technological shifts.
Deforestation: Disrupts ecosystems and contributes to carbon emissions.
Water Scarcity: Threatened by pollution and over-extraction of freshwater ecosystems.
Ecosystem Services: Decline in essential services such as clean air, water, and food.
Biodiversity and Health: Importance of the One Health approach linking human, animal, and environmental health.
Fragmented Siloed Governance: Resulting in unintended consequences and trade-offs.
Disproportionate Impact: Developing countries and Indigenous communities face more severe impacts.
Global Cooperation: Urgent need for collective action on climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development.

Key Highlights on the Asian Region

Biodiversity: Asia contains half of world’s biodiversity but is threatened by habitat loss & climate change.
Pollution and Urbanisation: Rapid urbanisation is increasing pollution, negatively impacting health and the environment.
Climate Change: Vulnerable to natural disasters like floods, droughts, and rising sea levels affecting agriculture and settlements.
Forest Loss: Deforestation in Indonesia, India and Malaysia threatens ecosystems.
Marine Biodiversity: Marine life is pressured by overfishing and pollution.
Sustainable Agriculture: Need to promote sustainable farming practices to minimise the impact.
Protected Areas: Conservation remains challenging despite progress in establishing protected areas.

Challenges

Biodiversity Loss: Affects food systems, water availability, human health and climate stability.
Funding Deficit: Funding for biodiversity is much lower than the estimated $300 billion to $1 trillion required annually.
Economic Systems: Existing economic models prioritise short-term financial gains, worsening environmental damage.
Unsustainable Practices: Intensive agricultural practices increase biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change impacts.

Five Key Strategies for Global Sustainability

Conserve and Restore Biocultural Diversity: Focus on places with biocultural diversity, integrating restoration efforts with cultural values & sustainable practices, like Nepal’s Community Forestry Programme.
Mainstream Biodiversity in Key Sectors: Drive systematic change in agriculture, fisheries, mining, and infrastructure to incorporate biodiversity and sustainable practices.
Transform Economic Systems for Nature and Equity: Reallocate subsidies, adopt true cost accounting, and engage the private sector to close the biodiversity funding gap and promote sustainability.
Transform Governance Systems for Inclusivity and Accountability: Integrate biodiversity into policy, engage diverse actors, and ensure accountability, as seen in the Galapagos Marine Reserve’s governance.
Human-Nature Interconnectedness should be recognised to change social norms and behaviours through education, nature-based activities, and combining Indigenous and local knowledge systems.

Advantages of Sustainable Practices

Sustainable Healthy Diets: Improve food security and health and reduce emissions.
Ecological Intensification: Leveraging ecosystem functions to sustainably increase food production without harming biodiversity.
Restoration: Restoring ecosystems provides co-benefits for climate change mitigation & adaptation.

Way Forward

Financial Systems: Align global financial flows with biodiversity conservation; reduce harmful subsidies.
Investment in Nature: Increase investments in biodiversity-positive activities and facilitate innovative financial instruments.

{GS3 – Envi – Species} Tagging of Ganges River Dolphin

Context (TH): The Ganges river dolphin was tagged for the first time in India.

The tagging under Project Dolphin is expected to help understand the dolphin’s seasonal and migratory patterns, range, distribution, and habitat utilisation, particularly in fragmented or disturbed river systems.
These lightweight tags emit signals compatible with Argos satellite systems even with limited surfacing time and are designed to minimise interference with dolphin movement.

Project Dolphin

It is a wildlife conservation movement initiated in India to protect the riverine and oceanic dolphins.
Initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
This project includes strengthening patrolling and surveillance, improving habitat through restoration of coastal ecosystems, removing ghost nets, and encouraging local involvement with incentives.
It also involves aquatic habitats through modern technology, especially in anti-poaching activities and enumeration. It will engage fishermen and other river—and ocean-dependent populations to improve the livelihoods of the local communities.
Funding: Union government will contribute 60% of the amount, & State will bear the remaining cost.

Challenges of Project Dolphin

Lack of Awareness: Many local communities are unaware of the importance of dolphin conservation, leading to unintentional harm.
Habitat Degradation: Pollution, habitat fragmentation, and changes in water quality due to industrial activities and agricultural runoff threaten dolphin habitats.
Regulatory Challenges: Enforcing strict measures to protect dolphins from various threats necessitates strong implementation frameworks.
Data Gap: Insufficient information on dolphin populations and their habitats hinders conservation.

{GS3 – S&T – BioTech} Xenotransplantation *

Context (TOI): Women receive gene-edited pig kidney through Xenotransplantation in the US.

Xenotransplantation, also known as heterologous transplant, is the process of transplanting living cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another.

Source: FDA

Pigs are often the preferred donor species because of their anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. However, humans naturally produce antibodies against pig cells due to a carbohydrate moiety (carbohydrate chain covalently linked to a protein, forming a glycoprotein) in pig cells.
Xenotransplantation shows promise for treating conditions like neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes, where human cells and tissues are often unavailable.

Other types of transplantation

Autotransplantation is a surgical procedure that involves transplanting a tissue or organ from one part of the body to another in the same person. The term “auto” means “self”, like Skin graft.
Allotransplantation involves transplantation between two people who are not genetically identical.
Isograft is a transplant between identical twins.

Challenges

Zoonotic Diseases: The risk of transmitting diseases from animals to humans is another concern.
Ethical Concerns: Raises ethical questions about animal rights and welfare. Additionally, there are concerns regarding the genetic modification of animals for this purpose.
Psychological Impact: Recipients of animal organs might face psychological challenges and social stigma, which can negatively affect their mental health and overall quality of life.
Long-Term Viability: The long-term function and survival of xenotransplanted organs are uncertain. These organs may not perform as efficiently or last as long as human organs, presenting a challenge for patients and medical practitioners.

{GS3 – S&T – NanoTech} Scotch Tape Technique for Ultra-Thin Diamond Films

Context (IE): Scientists have developed a Scotch tape method to create ultra-thin diamond films, advancing diamond-based electronics for semiconductors and quantum technology.

Key Details of the Technique

Discovery by Accident: Electrical engineer Jing Jixiang discovered the method accidentally while peeling a diamond with Scotch tape.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): Nano-sized diamonds implanted in silicon wafers; Methane gas is blown at high temperatures to form a continuous thin diamond sheet.
Extraction Process: Wafer edges were cut to expose the diamond. Scotch tape was used to peel a thin diamond layer. The tape was dissolved chemically to isolate a freestanding diamond film.
Similarity to Graphene Production: Similar methods have been applied to produce graphene.

Advantages of Diamond Films

Thickness: Less than 1 micrometre thick and smooth, suitable for semiconductor applications.
Flexibility: Films are ultra-flexible, enabling deformation sensing and strain engineering.
Workable Surface: Supports micromanufacturing techniques, unlike bulky diamonds.

Significance

The technique resolves challenges in producing high-quality freestanding diamond films.
Enables scalable and cost-effective manufacturing of diamond-based devices.
Greater control in quantum sensors utilising diamonds.
Diamond Electronics are more efficient, low-resistance diamond chips with enhanced electronic properties but are costlier than conventional silicon chips.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Jungli Murga (Grey Junglefowl)

Context (TH): A controversy has emerged surrounding the alleged consumption of the Jungli Murga by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

Source: ebird

The grey junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii) is one of the wild ancestors of the domestic chicken, along with the red junglefowl and other junglefowl.
Grey junglefowl are native to India. They occur mainly in the Deccan Peninsula but extend into Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and southern Rajasthan.
Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern | WPA,1972: Schedule l.

About Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)

It is a tropical pheasant species native to India, Indo-China, Malaysia, and neighbouring areas.
Habitat: Primaeval forests, dry scrublands, and secondary-growth woodlands.
Threats: The interbreeding between wild Red Junglefowl and feral domestic chickens threatens the genetic purity of the species.

IUCN Status: Least Concern | WPA,1972: Schedule II.

{Prelims – In News} Kisan Kavach

Context (TH): Scientists affiliated with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) have developed an ‘anti-pesticide’ suit called Kisan Kavach.

It is made of oxime fabric, which can chemically break down common pesticides sprayed onto cloth or body during spraying operations. This prevents chemicals from leaching into the skin.
Effective in a wide temperature range under UV light exposure and even after 150 washes.
Developed by Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC-inStem), Bangalore, with Sepio Health Pvt. Ltd.

Source: AgroSpectrum

National Institute of Nutrition

It is a premier nutrition research institute in India, established in 1918 by Sir Robert McCarrison as the “Beri-Beri Enquiry Unit.” Over the years, it has evolved into a comprehensive centre for nutrition research under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
It conducts multidisciplinary research on various aspects of nutrition, including protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), nutrient metabolism, and the impact of diet on health.
It plays a crucial role in establishing dietary reference intake values, recommended dietary allowances, and dietary guidelines for Indians.

Overview of Pesticides in India

Pesticides are known neurotoxins. A recent study by the National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR) has shown that chronic exposure to pesticides is linked to an increased risk of cancer.
According to the FAO 2022, India used over 61,000 tonnes of pesticides in 2020.
India produces about four times more pesticides than it uses. According to data, total pesticide production in India between 2022 and 2023 was 2,58,130 tonnes.
Currently, 104 pesticides are manufactured in India among 293 registered pesticides.

Read More > Pesticide Poisoning.

{Prelims – In News} Milkweed Fibre *

Context (PIB): The Ministry of Textiles is encouraging by extending its R&D efforts into new natural fibres, including milkweed fibre. It is a natural, renewable, and biodegradable material, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic fibres.

It is found as a wild plant in India’s states of Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
The milkweed seed pods produce a silky, lightweight fuzz called silk or floss. The soft, lustrous fibres are yellowish-white in colour. Milkweed fluff has been used to make life jackets since World War II.
It is the primary food source for Monarch butterfly larvae, making it a critical plant for their survival.
Milkweed fibres are brittle and difficult to spin, which has limited their use in textiles.

Application of Milkweed Fibre

Water-Safety Equipment: It can float in water 30 times more than its own weight.
Medicinal Uses: Milkweed plant is potentially poisonous. But it is also used for medicinal purposes.
Mosquito Repellent Fabric: Experimental fabrics made from milkweed fibre have been developed for their potential to repel mosquitoes.
Sportswear Insulation: It is utilised in sportswear for its superior insulation, six times warmer than wool.
Oil Absorption: The fibre’s absorbent properties are useful for oil spill clean-ups.

Read More > Textile Industry.

{Prelims – PIN World – Europe} Country Moldova

Context (ANI): European country Moldova joins the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Location: It is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Romania and Ukraine.
Historical Background: It was part of the USSR until 1991 when it gained independence.
Economy: Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Eastern Europe, and its economy largely depends on agriculture and wine production.
Geography: Moldova is mostly hilly plains with fertile lands. It has a well-developed network of rivers and streams, all draining to the Black Sea.