Current Affairs – December 29-30, 2024

{GS1 – Geo – HG} Slowing Domestic Migration in India **

• Context (IE | IE): The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) released a report titled “400 Million Dreams!” revealing a significant reduction in domestic migration in India.

Key Findings

• Decline in Domestic Migration: Decreased by 11.78%, from 45.57 crore in 2011 to 40.20 crore in 2023.
• Migration Rate: Reduced from 37.64% in 2011 to 28.88% in 2023, indicating a slowdown.
• Rising States: West Bengal, Rajasthan and Karnataka have seen an increase in migrant arrivals.
• Declining States: Maharashtra & AP have experienced a reduction in their share of migrants.
• Top Districts: Mumbai, Bengaluru, Howrah, Central Delhi, and Hyderabad attract migrants most.
• Peak Periods: Migration peaks from April to June, with secondary peaks in November and December, likely due to festivals and family events.
• Pandemic Impact: Post-pandemic migration during peak months (e.g., May 2023) was 6.67% lower than in 2012, indicating a permanent shift in migration trends.

Reasons for Slowdown in Migration

• Economic Growth in Smaller Cities: Improved infrastructure, healthcare, education and job opportunities in smaller cities have reduced the need for migration to major urban centres.
• Better Local Services: Enhanced local economies and services like connectivity and education in traditional migration source areas have decreased the dependence on larger cities.
• Government Schemes: Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Ayushman Bharat and Digital India are driving local economic growth.

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Implications of Reduced Migration

• Labour Shortages: Key industries relying on migrant workers may face workforce shortages.
• Higher Costs: Labour shortages could drive up wages and production costs.
• Boost to Local Economies: Local economies may grow as workers stay in their home regions, aiding rural and semi-urban development.
• Demand for Local Services: Greater need for education, healthcare & infrastructure in rural areas.
• Urbanisation Slowdown: Reduced migration may slow urbanisation, affecting city economies.
• Pressure on Rural Resources: Overburdening may lead to unsustainable agricultural practices.

Government Initiatives Supporting Migration and Economic Growth

• PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi): Providing financial support to street vendors.
• PM Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana (PMSYM): Offering pension schemes for informal sector workers.
• One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC): Ensuring food security for migrants nationwide.
• Mera Ration App: Facilitating access to public distribution systems for migrants.

Way Forward

• Focus on Infrastructure Development: Continued rural and semi-urban infrastructure improvements will further reduce migration and enhance local economies.
• Policy Reforms: Policies addressing labour shortages in key industries & support local economic growth.
• Tracking Migration Trends: Greater emphasis on regular tracking and analysis of migration data to develop accurate migration-related policies.

{GS2 – IR – Issues} Panama Canal

• Context (TH): Donald Trump has sparked tensions by suggesting US control over Panama Canal, citing rising shipping charges and Chinese influence.

Historical Overview

• French Initiative (1880): Ferdinand de Lesseps, Suez Canal builder, began the project but failed due to financial and logistical issues.
• US Involvement: Completed under Theodore Roosevelt, securing Panama’s independence from Colombia in 1903.
• Lock Technology: Revolutionized shipping with a locks system, operational since 1914, enabling efficient cargo movement.
• US-Panama Treaty (1977): Two treaties by Jimmy Carter and Omar Torrijos enabled the Panama Canal’s transfer by 1999, ensuring neutrality, sovereignty, and U.S. oversight for open access.

Current Challenges

• Shipping Charges: Panama increased charges in 2025, citing reduced water levels in Gatun Lake.
• Climate Impact: Rainfall deficits in 2022, in one of the wettest regions, caused operational challenges for the water-reliant lock system.
• Chinese Presence: Hong Kong-based C.K. Hutchison Holdings manages two key ports in the region; Panama’s 2017 diplomatic shift from Taiwan to China fuels US concerns about growing Chinese influence.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Diplomacy: Constructive US-Panama dialogue to address disputes over cost & governance.
• Sustainability Measures: Enhance water conservation strategies to mitigate Gatun Lake’s water scarcity; Explore alternative technologies to support lock systems.
• Transparent Administration: Reinforce operational transparency to counter allegations of undue foreign influence.

{GS2 – MoA – Initiatives} National Ayurveda Day

• Context (IE): The PM launched health-linked projects on National Ayurveda Day. It is celebrated on Dhanvantri Jayanti (29 October), which is believed to be the birth anniversary of the god Dhanvantri.
• Dhanvantri is considered the physician of Gods and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
• Ministry of AYUSH initiated National Ayurveda Day in 2016 to create more awareness about Ayurveda.
• 2024 Theme: ‘Ayurveda Innovation for Global Health’.
• Focus: women’s health, workplace wellness, school wellness programmes, and food innovation.

{GS3 – IE – Development} Manmohanomics **

• Context (IE): Former PM Manmohan Singh’s key economic ideas & legacy revisited following his passing.

Economic Planning vs Market Forces

• Balanced View on Planning: Advocated planning with caution; emphasised institutional efficiency and honest public administration.
• Advocated Public Ownership: Highlighted the need for public ownership in early development due to inadequate infrastructure and skewed wealth distribution.
• Concerns About Corruption: Warned against inefficiency & corruption undermining planned allocation.

Critique of Licence-Permit Raj

• Advocated Industrial Licensing: Called for reducing industrial licensing to critical sectors and empowering entrepreneurs with investment decisions.
• Positive Incentives: Suggested promotional schemes over licensing to attract investments in industries.

Inequality and Elite-Mass Contradictions

• Against Inequality: Warned that excessive inequality could destabilise society and distort resource allocation toward luxury goods over basic necessities.
• Avoiding “Soak the Rich” Policies: Opposed populist measures targeting the wealthy; emphasised fostering trust between government and private industry to ensure productive entrepreneurship.

Openness in Trade

• Expanded Export Potential: Criticized export pessimism; advocated policies like inflation control and realistic exchange rates to boost exports.
• International Specialization: Recognized the efficiency gains from engaging in global trade.

Public Sector Enterprises (PSUs)

• Autonomy and Accountability: Stressed granting PSUs functional autonomy and protecting executives’ tenure to ensure long-term planning.
• Challenges with Trade Unions: Urged unions to support technological upgrades instead of resisting change for job security.
• Depoliticised Pricing: No political interference in adjusting PSU prices to prevent financial losses.

Education, Health and Women’s Empowerment

• Mass Education: Linked education to improved productivity, aspirations and adaptability to new skills.
• Health and Sanitation: Highlighted their role in enhancing economic productivity & national well-being.

Legacy of Reforms

• Economic Liberalization: Transformed India into an open, market-driven economy as FM in 1991.
• PM Tenure (2004–2014): Oversaw rapid economic growth and poverty reduction but faced policy paralysis and corruption allegations in later years.

Also read Contribution of Manmohan Singh.

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{GS3 – Infra – Issues} Bird Strike

• Context (IE | HT): Bird strikes may have caused the recent aeroplane accident in South Korea.

• A bird strike is a collision between a bird and an aircraft in flight, takeoff, or landing roll.
• In most cases, birds hit an aircraft’s windscreen or fly into engines. This can reduce engine power and sometimes result in an emergency landing or, in rare cases, a crash.
• Most bird strikes occur when aircraft fly at lower altitudes where birds are more commonly found.
• Smaller planes would generally be more susceptible to the dangers of bird strikes than larger ones.
• Modern jetliners are built with several redundancies and common passenger aircraft like Boeing or Airbus are designed to land safely with even a single engine.

Causes of Bird Strikes

• Presence of Birds Around Airfields: Birds are naturally attracted to open grounds, especially during monsoon seasons when water puddles emerge, attracting insects.
• High-Altitude Bird Hits: Bird strikes can also happen at higher altitudes during cruising, which are more dangerous as they can cause rapid depressurisation of cabins.
• Landfills and Waste Disposal Sites: Landfills or waste disposal sites near airfields attract many birds.

Solutions to Bird Strikes

• Habitat Management: Reducing bird populations around airports by managing habitats to make them less attractive to birds.
• Bird Deterrents: Using visual and auditory deterrents like lasers, distress calls, and pyrotechnics to scare birds away from airfields.
• Radar Technology: Implementing radar systems to detect bird flocks & alert pilots to potential hazards.
• Airfield Maintenance: Keeping airfields clean and free of food waste to discourage birds from gathering.
• Lighting Adjustments: Adjusting lighting at airports makes them less attractive to birds, who are often drawn to bright lights.

{GS3 – S&T – Cybersecurity} GPS Spoofing and Aviation Risks

• Context (TH): Global GPS spoofing incidents, including on India’s borders, affect aviation safety.

Specific Cases

• Azerbaijan Airlines Crash: December 2024 incident linked to GPS interference; 38 casualties.
• India: Reports Frequent disruptions near Amritsar and border regions with Pakistan and Myanmar.
• Pilot Accounts: Reports of losing GPS systems mid-flight and experiencing incoherent instrument data.

Impact on Aviation Safety

• Navigation Interference: Leads to false speed displays, terrain warnings, and disrupted location data.
• Operational Challenges: Causes flight diversions, inaccurate flight tracking, and potential proximity risks.
• System Redundancies: IRS can operate safely for ~5 hours during GPS failures.

Challenges in Addressing Spoofing

• Lack of Public Data: Absence of transparency in reporting interference cases.
• High Military Interference: GNSS disruptions are justified for defence but risky for civil aviation.
• Limited Detection: Cockpit systems don’t directly alert pilots during spoofing events.

Way Forward

• DGCA Advisory: Airlines should develop SOPs and submit bi-monthly reports on GPS interference.
• International ICAO Guidelines: States should notify authorities about military GNSS interference.
• Technological Updates: Enhance navigation system redundancies and GNSS protection mechanisms.
• Improved Coordination: Strengthen collaboration between military, aviation authorities, and regulators.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} Types of Generation Spacecrafts

• Context (IE): Images of the Chinese sixth-generation fighter aircraft have gone viral on social media.

• The notion of aircraft generation came up in the 1990s. It has thus been applied to fighter aircraft that came before this period. Notably, these generations only refer to jets, not propeller-driven fighters.
• Yet, no standard definition of a “generation” exists. Not all aircraft in the same generation are equal, and the measure of a country’s air capabilities does not rest solely on the generation of fighter jets.
• There are currently five generations of fighter jets that are (or were in the past) in active service, with sixth-generation jets currently in development.

{Prelims – In News} Book in news: Freedom At Midnight

• Context (IE): Recently, a web series was made in India based on the book Freedom at Midnight.

• Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre co-authored the book, which explores the events surrounding India’s independence movement and partition.
• It details the last year of the British Raj, from 1947 to 1948, beginning with the appointment of Lord Mountbatten of Burma as the last viceroy of British India to Mahatma Gandhi’s death and funeral.
• It also includes the reactions of princely states towards independence, including descriptions of the lifestyles of the Indian princes, the partition of British India (into India and Pakistan) on religious grounds, and the bloodshed that followed.

{Prelims – In News} Greece’s Vasilopita Cake

• Context (IE): On the occasion of the New Year, consuming Greece’s Vasilopita Cake is considered lucky.

• The cake is named after Saint Basil, whose feast day is celebrated on January 1st. A coin is usually hidden inside the cake and the person who finds it is said to have good luck in the coming year.
• The cake is cut at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The first slice is dedicated to Christ, the second to the Virgin Mary, the third to St Basil, and subsequent slices to family members, in descending order of age.

{Prelims – In News} State Funeral and National Mourning *

• Context (IE): Former PM Manmohan Singh was cremated with a full state funeral.

• A ‘state funeral’ is when a person of importance is laid to rest in an elaborate ceremony following laid-down rules, involving members of the public in mourning.
• According to government guidelines, a state funeral will be accorded in the event of the death of the President, Prime Minister, former President, or Governor (only in the concerned state).
• No State funeral will be accorded in the event of the death of any other dignitary, but the Central Government may order one in individual cases.
• The Ministry of Defence will make arrangements for the state funeral upon receipt of information from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

About National Mourning

• The Centre government can declare national mourning for political leaders and others who have contributed exceptionally to the country. In such cases, the national flag is flown at half-mast.
• No National mourning shall be observed on Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth Day as these are days of National rejoicing.
• There shall be no half-masting of the National Flag on any of the days aforesaid. Still, if a National Flag is flown on the building where the body of the deceased dignitary is lying, that Flag shall be half-masted until such time as the body is removed.
• Even though State mourning is interrupted on any such day, official entertainment scheduled on that day shall be cancelled, but other official programmes may proceed.

Half-Masting of National Flag