Current Affairs – December 24, 2024

{GS2 – IR – Diaspora} Addressing the Plight of Indian Workers Abroad

Context (TH): The recent case of 16 Indian workers deceived into working in inhumane conditions in Libya highlights the ongoing exploitation of Indian workers abroad.
Around 13 million Indian nationals work abroad, mainly in Gulf countries, with remittances reaching $111 billion in 2022 and $129 billion in 2024.

Ongoing Issues of Labour Exploitation

Fatalities in Kuwait: A fire at a labour camp in Kuwait in June 2024 killed at least 40 Indian workers, showcasing hazardous working and living conditions.
Kafala System: Indian workers in Gulf countries are often subjected to the oppressive kafala system, which binds them to a specific employer, stripping them of basic labor rights.
Economic Burdens: Workers face recruitment fees, travel loans and exploitative conditions, limiting personal gains despite significant contributions to India’s economy through remittances.
Limited Citizenship Rights: Most workers in the Gulf lack eligibility for host-country citizenship, making them vulnerable to exploitation and limiting their rights.

Government Efforts and Limitations

e-Migrate System: Introduced over a decade ago to regulate migration for workers in 18 countries, it helps monitor recruitment but is often circumvented by agents.
Regulatory Gaps: India’s Emigration Act is outdated and there is insufficient monitoring of recruitment agents, leaving workers exposed to exploitation.

Proposed Reforms

Reform Emigration Act: Update the Emigration Act to address modern challenges and regulate recruitment agents more strictly.
Higher Compensation: Negotiate for better compensation and worker protections with host countries.
Economic Growth: Promote equitable domestic economic growth to reduce dependence on overseas jobs and support worker reintegration.
Diplomatic Engagement: Use platforms like Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan to highlight workers’ struggles and balance diaspora success with the challenges faced by migrant laborers.

{GS2 – IR – Middle East} Strengthening India-Kuwait Ties

Context (TH): Indian PM’s visit to Kuwait marks the first visit by an Indian PM in 43 years, aiming to enhance cooperation and address gaps in India’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) engagement.

Strategic Significance of Kuwait

Geopolitical Importance: Shares borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia; hosts key American military bases; serves as a neutral mediator in Gulf disputes.
Economic Powerhouse: Sixth-largest global oil reserves; founding member of OPEC; sovereign wealth fund managed by Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) valued at $924 billion (March 2024).

India-Kuwait Relations

Historical Links: India established diplomatic ties post Kuwait’s independence in 1961; the Indian rupee was a legal tender in Kuwait until 1961.
Trade and Energy: $10.47 billion bilateral trade in FY 2023-24; Kuwait supplies 3% of India’s crude oil needs, ranking as the sixth-largest supplier.
People-to-People Ties: 1 million Indians form the largest expatriate group; initiatives like “Festival of India” (2023) and “Namaste Kuwait” radio program (2024) highlight cultural exchange.

Opportunities for Elevating Ties

Strategic Partnerships: Signing a comprehensive partnership agreement, including defense and infrastructure development under Kuwait’s ‘Vision 2035.’
Investment Collaborations: Agreement between KIA and India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) for mutual growth.
Infrastructure and Education: Proposals for IITs, hospitals & modern infrastructure projects in Kuwait.
Space and Climate Cooperation: Opportunities for satellite launches and collaborations under the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and disaster-resilient infrastructure initiatives.

Challenges in Bilateral Ties

Stagnation in Engagement: Lack of high-level visits for decades; limited cooperation in sectors beyond trade and energy.
Air Traffic Restrictions: Kuwait’s request for additional flight seats faces barriers due to unmet bilateral quotas.

Way Forward

Comprehensive Agreements: Strategic, defense and investment pacts to deepen cooperation.
Mutual Infrastructure Support: India aiding Kuwait’s Vision 2035 and Kuwait boosting India’s energy reserves and growth sectors.
Expanding Cultural and Educational Links: Strengthening Indian community ties and fostering goodwill through institutions and exchange programs.
Enhanced Sectoral Collaboration: Initiating partnerships in space technology, renewable energy and healthcare to diversify bilateral engagement.

{GS3 – Agri – Issues} Transforming Indian Agriculture

Context (IE): Union Budget 2025–26 offers an opportunity to address India’s agricultural challenges and enhance productivity, farmer incomes and sustainability.

Indian Agriculture: Current Situation and Challenges

Crop Yield Threat due to Climate Change: 0.7°C rise in temperature, 6% reduction in monsoon rainfall since 1951, increasing crop yield risks.
Soil Degradation: Overuse of urea & organic carbon depletion harm soil fertility, moisture retention & the environment.
R&D Investment: Less than 0.5% of agricultural GDP invested in R&D, lower than global standards.
Fertilizer Subsidy Issues: Current subsidies promote urea overuse, causing environmental harm.
Farmer Incomes: Farmers earn only one-third of the consumer price in fruits and vegetables.
Market Policies: Export bans and price controls depress farmer profits.

Way Forward

Agri-Value Chains: Dairy sector model, where farmers earn 75-80% of consumer price, can be replicated in fruits and vegetables; a dedicated board for fruits & vegetables for market stabilization.
Focus on Climate Resilience: Boost spending to 1% of agri-GDP to develop climate-resilient crops, advanced irrigation and precision farming practices.
Sustainable Farming: Organic amendments, crop rotation & bio-fertilizers for soil health & productivity.
Balanced Fertilizer Use Policy: Shift subsidies to direct income transfers, promote balanced nutrient use and reducing environmental damage.
Technology: Nano-urea and advanced phosphates can improve nutrient efficiency and sustainability.
Market Reforms: Remove export bans, rationalize pricing policies & improve farmers’ access to markets.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} India’s Challenges in the Global Fight Against Climate Change

Context (TH): COP29 conference in Azerbaijan highlighted critical challenges in combating global warming, emphasizing emissions reduction and equitable energy transitions.

Factors Accelerating India’s Transition

EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): Effective 2026; imposes penalties on exports with lower carbon taxes.
Pressure to Peak Emissions: G-7 calls for India and China to peak by 2025, pushing tighter timelines.
Future Demand Estimates: VIF (Vivekananda International Foundation): 21,000 TWh by 2070; IEA (International Energy Agency) 3,400 TWh by 2040; Current (2020) 6,200 TWh (NITI Aayog).
Enforcement Pressure: Voluntary targets will likely be enforced via tariffs and financing conditions.

Challenges for India

Electricity Consumption: India’s consumption is only one-third of the global average, requiring significant growth.
Higher Costs and Transition Timelines: Compared to developed nations, India faces steeper financial and technological barriers.
Peak Year Dilemma: India must determine a feasible timeline, ideally post-China’s 2030 target.

Financial and Policy Challenges

Finance Gap: COP29 pledge of $300 billion/year by 2035 falls short of the $1.3 trillion demanded.
Green Finance: Requires tariff hikes and DISCOM reforms for feasibility.
Public Sensitization: Essential to gain support for steep tariff increases.

Comparative Energy Solutions

Renewables vs. Nuclear

Renewables: ₹4.95–₹7.5 per unit (with storage); requires 4,12,033 sq.km land and $15.5 trillion investment by 2070.
Nuclear: ₹3.80 per unit; needs 1,83,565 sq.km land and $11.2 trillion investment by 2070.

Global Nuclear Commitments

Over 20 countries aim to triple nuclear power by 2050.
India’s nuclear power contribution is just 3% and needs substantial scaling.

Carbon Trading and Equitable Transition

Carbon Trading Rules: Allow wealthier nations to buy entitlements, potentially disadvantaging developing economies.
India’s Claim on Carbon Space: High-generation capacity is crucial to assert rights over the shrinking global carbon budget.

Way Forward

Nuclear Expansion: Invest in larger reactors and public-private partnerships to boost nuclear power.
Strengthen Green Finance: Encourage global equity in carbon entitlements and secure additional funding for energy transition.
Policy Focus: Reforms to restore DISCOM health and increase renewable investments.
Global Collaboration: Advocate for equitable carbon space allocation and technology sharing at future climate summits.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} India State of Forest Report 2023

Context (PIB): The Union minister released the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, which is published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) every two years.

Forest Survey of India is an organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It was established in 1981 and headquartered in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Findings of ISFR 2023

Total Forest and Tree cover: Increased to 25.17% (Forest Cover: 21.76% & Tree Cover: 3.41%).
- Total forest & tree cover in the Northeastern region is 67% of the geographical area of these states.
The total forest and tree cover increased by 1445 sq km compared to 2021.
- Maximum increase: Chhattisgarh (683.62 km²) > Uttar Pradesh (559.19 km²) > Odisha (558.57 km²) > Rajasthan (394.46 km²).
- Maximum decrease: Madhya Pradesh (612.41 km²), Karnataka (459.36 km²), Ladakh (159.26 km²), Nagaland (125.22 km²).
States having largest forest cover:
- In terms of area: Madhya Pradesh > Arunachal Pradesh > Chhattisgarh.
- In terms of percentage: Lakshadweep (91.33%) > Mizoram (85.34%) > A&N Island (81.62%).
Forest cover as geographical area: 19 states/UTs have forest cover above 33% of the geographical area. Eight states/UTs, namely Mizoram, Lakshadweep, A&N Island, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur have forest cover above 75%.
Total mangrove cover: 4,992 km² (0.15% of country’s total geographical area); decrease of 7.43 km² compared to 2021.
Extent of Trees Outside Forest (TOF): 37.11% of the country’s total forest and tree cover.
Total bamboo bearing area: Estimated to be 1,54,670 km² (increase of 5,227 compared to 2021).
- Maximum bamboo bearing area: Madhya Pradesh > Arunachal Pradesh > Maharashtra > Odisha.

Major Terms/Definitions in ISFR

Recorded Forest Area: Area recorded as forest in Government records.
Forest Cover: Includes land with a tree canopy density exceeding 10% and covering at least one hectare in area. It also includes plantations.
Tree Cover: Includes all patches of trees occurring outside Recorded Forest Area which are of size less than 1 hectare, irrespective of canopy density.
Dense Forest: Areas with a canopy density of 40% and above.
Very Dense Forests (VDF): Lands with forest cover having a canopy density of 70% and above.
Open forests (OF): Lands with forest cover having a canopy density between 10-40%.
Trees Outside Forest (TOF): All trees growing outside recorded forest areas irrespective of patch size.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Concept

Context (TH): Waste-to-energy plants were recently in the news.

Waste-to-energy (WtE) refers to generating energy from waste in forms such as electricity, heat, or fuels. Modern facilities differ from traditional trash incinerators as they remove hazardous or recyclable materials before burning.
Most WtE plants burn municipal solid waste, but some also handle industrial or hazardous waste.

Waste-to-energy (WTE) plant

A waste-to-energy facility burns waste to generate power. These plants are known as trash-to-energy, municipal waste incineration, energy recovery, or resource recovery.
In urban India, WTE facilities are being built using technologies like incineration, RDF-based combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification.

Source: renewableenergyworld

Types of WtE Processes

Biomethanation

It is the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes such as food waste, municipal solid waste and crop residue, converting them into biogas. Biogas mostly consists of methane (~60%), carbon dioxide (~40%), and other gases.
It also produces manure as one of the end products which can be used as soil conditioner.
It can be conveniently decentralised for biodegrading segregated organic wet wastes from kitchens, canteens, institutions, hotels, slaughterhouses, and vegetable markets.

Flue-gas Desulfurisation System for Coal-Based Power Plant

FGD systems are designed to remove up to 99% of SO₂ and particulate matter from the emissions of fossil fuel-burning plants.
It utilises various methods to filter emissions, including wet scrubbing and dry methods.
The MoFECC guidelines require coal-based power plants to install flue-gas desulfurisation systems.

{GS3 – Infra – Bodies} India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL)

Context (PIB): GoI & Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a loan agreement to support green and sustainable infrastructure projects. This loan, backed by a sovereign guarantee, will be provided to India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL).

IIFCL is a wholly-owned GoI company set up in 2006 to provide long-term financial assistance to viable infrastructure projects.
It operates under the Scheme for Financing Viable Infrastructure Projects through a Special Purpose Vehicle called India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL), broadly referred to as SIFTI.
IIFCL has been registered as a Non-Banking Financial Company—infrastructure Finance Company (NBFC-ND-IFC) with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) since 2013.
It has the mandate to finance both green-field and brown-field projects.
Its financial activities include Direct Lending, Takeout Finance, Refinance, and Credit Enhancement across all infrastructure sub-sectors (notified by Government in the Harmonised Master List of Infrastructure Subsectors).

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} India’s Advancing Undersea Warfare Capabilities

Context (TH): In 2024, Indian Navy made significant advancements in undersea warfare, bolstering its global maritime leadership & focus on security through modern technologies & strategic investments.

Operation Sankalp: India expanded its maritime presence from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea, securing shipping lanes and reinforcing its role as a first responder.

Key Developments

INS Arighaat Commissioning

Second (1^st – INS Arihant) indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN- Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear), enhancing India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities.
Features advanced sonar, propulsion systems and higher indigenous content compared to its predecessor, INS Arihant.

Testing of K-4 SLBM

Submarine-launched ballistic missile with a 3,500 km range tested successfully from INS Arighaat.
Strategic deterrent capability brings most of China within striking range.

Project-77 (P-77)

Approval for two nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs- Ship Submersible Nuclear) with 90% indigenous content, slated for 2036-37.
Marks India as the only non-P5 nation operating both SSBNs and SSNs.

Indigenous content reduces dependency on foreign technology, boosting self-reliance in defense manufacturing. E.g: INS Arighaat & upcoming Scorpene boats with substantial indigenous content.

Conventional Submarine Fleet

Project-75 (Scorpene-Class Submarines)

INS Vaghsheer, the sixth submarine, set for commissioning; plans for three additional boats with increased indigenous content (60%).
Features air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, enhancing operational endurance and stealth.

Project-75(I)

Focus on AIP-enabled submarines; collaboration with Spain and Germany.
First submarine to feature 45% indigenous content, scaling to 60% by the sixth vessel.

Niche Technologies

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs): Approval for 100-tonne UUVs at ₹2,500 crore which provides a low-cost, high-return solution to address complex maritime threats.
Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) Systems: Enables submarines to produce oxygen, staying submerged 3–4 times longer, enhancing stealth and reducing detection risks.

Challenges

Mismatch between planned acquisitions and funding allocations causing delays.
Lack of sustained funding and inefficiencies in procurement processes.
Short-term project timelines hinder long-term defense strategy execution.
Strategic vision supports regional security but faces implementation barriers.

{GS3 – S&T – Tech} Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)

Context (PIB): Union Minster inaugurated the Next Generation DNA Sequencing Facility at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun.

Source: biotechreality

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a technology that enables the rapid and high-throughput decoding of entire genomes. It allows for the analysis of millions of DNA sequences simultaneously.
It helps researchers gain deeper insights into genetic diversity, evolutionary relationships & population health. It provides information on genetic barriers and their effect on populations. It also helps in understanding unique adaptations and species with unique evolutionary histories.
It aids in understanding disease outbreaks in wildlife populations and is also used to detect illegal wildlife trade and study the effects of climate change on biodiversity.

{Prelims – In News} Pashmina Wool

Context (PIB): The Union Minster inaugurated the Advanced Facility for Pashmina Certification at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun.

Pashmina is an ultra-fine cashmere wool derived from Changthangi goats of Ladakh.
It received its GI tag in 2019.
The wool undergoes traditional hand-spinning and weaving processes.
The Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre in Srinagar ensures its authenticity.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio} Difference Between Sudden Cardiac Arrest & Heart Attack

Context (IE): A young Indian CEO dies of sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 42. His death sparked concerns about whether younger Indians are at risk.

Source: rapidresponserevival

Aspect	Sudden Cardiac Arrest	Heart Attack
Definition	A condition where the heart stops beating due to irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia).	A condition caused by blockages or clotting in arteries that restrict blood flow to the heart.
Cause	A malfunction of heart’s electrical system leads to ventricular fibrillation.	Plaque buildup or clot formation in coronary arteries.
Impact on the Heart	The heart cannot pump oxygenated blood; blood flow to brain is poor.	Damage to heart muscle due to restricted blood supply.
Time to React	Immediate action, such as CPR within 2 minutes is required to increase survival chances.	It can be identified with ECG changes and treated if admitted in time.
Symptoms	Sudden fainting, loss of consciousness, no warning.	Persistent discomfort in chest, jaw, neck; shortness of breath; weakness.
Fatal Timeframe	Fatal within 8 minutes without intervention; brain damage in 5 minutes.	Survival rate exceeds 90% if treated promptly.
Prevalence	Happens in asymptomatic individuals or those with a history of arrhythmias or structural heart issues.	Commonly linked to coronary artery disease with visible symptoms.