Current Affairs – August 06, 2024

Table of contents

{GS1 – IS – Population} Census in India

Context (TH): Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Census has been delayed, and the government has yet to announce a new schedule.

The Budget 2024-25 allocated ₹1,309.46 crore for the Census, down from ₹3,768 crore in 2021-22, raising doubts about its completion.

Legislation and Constitutional Provisions

The Census Act of 1948 governs the conduct of the census.
Article 246 of the Constitution designates the census as a Union subject (entry 69, 7^th schedule).

Preparations and Execution

States must report changes in administrative units to the Registrar General of India (RGI).
The Office of the Registrar General manages the census process under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Administrative unit boundaries are frozen three months before the census.
House-listing census is conducted before the actual population census.
Information collected is confidential, and protected by law (Census Act), with penalties for violations.

Significance

It provides essential data for planning and policy-making.
It is used by the Finance Commission to allocate grants to states.
It offers comprehensive demographic information, including on SCs, STs, languages, and religions.
It is used for delimiting constituencies and allocating representation.
It helps track national progress and assess government schemes.
It ensures a thorough count of every individual and confirms beneficiaries for welfare schemes.

Census: An Absolute Necessity

Currently conducting the Census on a priority basis is crucial as the absence of a Census since 2011 has restricted access to various schemes, benefits, and services.
The current 2011 Census data is outdated for assessing migration trends, as the migration tables were released only in 2019.
The Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 also awaits the Census.
The first phase will include house listing, housing census, and updating the National Population Register (NPR) (The NPR, prepared in 2010 and updated in 2015, includes data on usual residents, updated with details due to birth, death, and migration).
The Constitution (84^th Amendment) Act, 2001, mandates that delimitation should not occur until after the first Census conducted post-2026.
Also there is a demand for a caste-based census (Union Government previously stated that a broader caste census is administratively challenging).

{GS2 – IR – Europe} U.K.-India: Economic Partnership

Context (TH): The potential for a deeper economic partnership between the U.K. and India is vast, promising significant mutual benefits.

Positive Engagement

Strategic Partnership: Enhanced cooperation in security, technology, climate change, and education. The U.K. India Business Council emphasizes in R&D, technology, talent, and supply chains.
Economic relations: Bilateral trade reached $21.34 billion in 2023-24, with significant investments and employment across both nations. A new Roadmap to 2047 is proposed to unlock further benefits.
Free Trade Agreement (FTA): A swift FTA is seen as a foundational element for deeper economic ties, particularly in technology and R&D collaboration.
Healthcare Partnership: Existing collaborations in developing malaria vaccines highlight potential areas for expanded cooperation in clinical trials, research, and knowledge transfer.
Security partnership: Air exercise, Cobra Warrior were participated together along with other nations.
Defence Cooperation: Established Defence Industry Joint Working Group in 2022 to strengthen defense collaboration between the two nations and regular military exercises.

Challenges

Delay in India-UK FTA: The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), has been delayed and has missed multiple deadlines.
UK’s relations with Pakistan and China: The UK’s ties with Pakistan complicate efforts to build closer defense and security relations with India. The UK has engaged more substantially with China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific through the Belt and Road Initiative.
Khalistan Issue: The UK allowed a referendum on the creation of Khalistan, a separate Sikh state, to be held in London, which India saw as an interference in its internal affairs.
Illegal Migrants: Over 100,000 illegal Indian immigrants reside in the UK, both countries have yet to sign the migration and mobility agreement.
Data Protection and Privacy: Differences in data protection laws have hindered cooperation in areas like technology and innovation.
Anti-Colonial Sentiment: Due to the legacy of colonialism and conflicting views on historical events such as Partition and ongoing issues with Pakistan and Kashmir.

Way forward

Business Environment Reforms: Facilitating British companies’ integration into Indian supply chains through supportive tariffs and standards, while streamlining approvals and ensuring transparency.
Taxation and Regulation: Policies ensuring parity and protection for intellectual property (IP) are crucial for attracting British investors.
Climate and Clean Energy: To accelerate the clean energy transition and strengthen collaboration in areas like vaccines, anti-microbial resistance, and health worker mobility. E.g., The India-UK Green Growth Equity Fund has been established.
Enhance Data Sharing: The Data Protection Bill in the UK can facilitate secure data sharing, between Indian and UK businesses.
Defence partnership: The UK’s mature and sophisticated defence industry can support India’s goal of indigenization and technology access.
People to people ties: through education, arts, and culture, and streamline visa processes.\

Context (TH): World Lung Cancer Day was observed on August 1, highlighting that most cases in India are diagnosed at Stage 3 or 4, reducing curability and survival rates.

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
Lung cancer contributes to 10% of cancer deaths, with 81,000 cases and 75,000 deaths (2022).
India ranks 4^th globally for the number of lung cancer cases, which is expected to double by 2025.
In north India, about 40% of lung cancer patients are non-smokers.

Challenges

Resource constraints and a high TB burden lead to late-stage detection.
Over half of patients are diagnosed with distant metastasis (cancer that has spread from the original tumor to distant organs or distant lymph nodes).
Smoking (cigarettes, beedis, cigars, pipes) is the primary risk factor.
Second-hand smoke, air pollution, occupational hazards (asbestos, radon), hereditary cancer syndromes, and chronic lung diseases also poses risks, particularly to non-smokers.

Recent Developments

The ICMR is evaluating population health to set guidelines for lung cancer screening.
Advances in imaging technologies, like Low-Dose Computed Tomography(LDCT), which uses less radiation and is recommended for early screening in the US and Europe).

Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) is a medical imaging technique that uses lower amounts of radiation compared to standard CT scans to produce detailed images of the body’s internal structures, often used for early detection of diseases such as lung cancer.

LDCT can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20% compared to Chest X-rays and by 24% compared to no screening.

Way Forward

Implement a national lung cancer screening program like National Lung Screening Trial in the USA.
Early detection will boost survival rates, with LDCT leading the way and research into blood and breath tests promising even better results as seen in UK Lung Cancer Screening Trial.
Increase awareness and preventive measures, including smoking cessation and addressing occupational exposures like the Canadian Lung Cancer Screening Study.
Invest in research for better diagnostic technologies and treatments tailored to the Indian population.

Interim Budget 2024-25 promotes HPV vaccination for girls aged 9-14 to prevent cervical cancer.
National Cancer Grid connects cancer centers to improve care and advance research.
National Cancer Awareness Day on November 7 highlights cancer prevention and treatment.

{GS3 – DM – Issues} National Disaster

Context (TH): The Centre is examining the legality of Kerala’s demand to declare the Wayanad landslide a national disaster.

There is no fixed criterion to define any disaster as a national disaster.
If the calamity is of ‘severe nature’ with significant loss of life and property, and it overwhelms the State’s capabilities to respond effectively, additional Central assistance can be provided.
However, there are no defined criteria to declare a calamity to be of a ‘severe nature’.
Uttarakhand Floods (2013) and Cyclone Hudhud were classified as calamities of ‘severe nature’.

Benefits of a ‘National Disaster’ Declaration

A Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) (corpus shared 3:1 between Centre and state) will be set up.
If CRF is inadequate, additional assistance will be provided from the National Disaster Response Fund.
Concessional loans or relief in repayment of loans will be provided to the affected people and businesses.
Deployment of national-level experts and specialized teams to aid disaster relief efforts.
The declaration can attract international aid and support for relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Procedure of funding

The National Crisis Management Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary deals with major crises.
An Inter-ministerial Central Team will make assessment of damage and relief assistance required.
The Sub-Committee of the National Executive Committee (SC-NEC), headed by the Union Home Secretary, will study the assessment and recommend the assistance from the NDRF.
A High-Level Committee comprising of Finance Minister as chairman, and Home Minister, Agriculture Minister, and others as members will approve the central assistance recommended by SC-NEC.

Also read: Landslides in India I Disaster Management

{GS3 – Envi – Degradation} Soil Piping (Pipe Erosion)

Context (MB): A new study claims that Kerala’s Kasaragod, Kannur, and Malappuram districts are most prone to soil piping, leading to disasters like landslides.

Soil piping is a hydraulic process in loose, uncemented soils where water flow erodes particles, creating and connecting macropores (large air-filled voids).
This subsoil flows through pipe-like channels, leading to rapid settlement, landslides, and collapse subsidence.

Contributing Factors

Topography and Slope: Steep slopes facilitate water flow, increasing erosion potential.
Soil Texture: Fine-textured soils are more susceptible to particle mobilization.
Water Flow: Heavy rainfall and significant groundwater movement enhance saturation and erosion.
Agricultural Practices: Activities like plowing can disturb soil structure.
Logging and Mining: These activities can remove vegetation, destabilizing the soil.
Animal Activity: Roots from fallen trees and burrows made by animals become pathways for soil pipes.

Mitigation Strategies

Grade the land and install drainage ditches to direct surface water away from vulnerable areas.
Minimize water infiltration and reinforce soil with compounds like gypsum and lime.
Maintain dense vegetation cover to stabilize the soil and identify and fix sources of groundwater flow.
Add organic matter or clay to the soil to enhance its structure.

{GS3 – IE – Employment} MGNREGA Unemployment Allowance

Context (TH): In FY 2024, only ₹90,000 was released as ‘unemployment allowance‘ under MGNREGS.

According to Section 7(1) of MGNREGA, 2005, if a person is not employed within 15 days of applying, they are entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.
It is one-fourth of the wage rate for the first 30 days of the year and half of the wage rate thereafter.
It was introduced to hold states accountable and ensure they provide work as mandated by law. However, it is one of most underutilized clauses due to administrative deficiencies.
In 2022-23 and 2023-24, only six states disbursed the allowance, compared to three states in 2021-22 and four in 2020-21. No states provided the allowance in 2019-20.
The low disbursal is due to block-level inefficiencies, reporting flaws, lack of demand receipts, and state challenges from underfunding.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development has called for higher-level intervention by the Centre to address the issue and ensure compliance with the unemployment allowance provision.

{GS3 – IE – Issues} Indian Economy Slows Down After Election

Context (TH): The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) hit 20-month low due to post-election spending cuts and heatwaves.

Coal showed strong growth, while electricity, natural gas, steel, cement, and fertilizers grew more slowly, and the production of refinery products and crude oil declined.
Purchasing Managers’ Index dropped to 58.1, with input costs rising sharply and selling prices increasing at the fastest rate in nearly 11 years.
The Inflation concerns are being driven by rising costs for coal, paper, and steel.
The RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee also faces the challenge to address the broadening inflation beyond food.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} Agnipath scheme

Context (TP): The Modi government’s Agnipath scheme continues to spark massive debate.

Benefits

Armies of the US and Israel use short-term enlistments to remain flexible and youthful.
Reducing average age from 32 to 27, make the force more dynamic and reduce pension costs.
Integrating only a portion of Agniveers into regular service will help in managing costs and pensions and helps in greater investment in training and technology.
Ensures civilian integration by aiding ex-personnel with education, training, and job preferences, and offers Rs 11.7 lakh to help them start businesses or find civilian jobs.
Former Agniveers can serve as a skilled reserve, ready to be called upon in times of need. For example, the recent amendments reserve 10% of vacancies in CISF and CAPFs for former Agniveers.
Provides rigorous training to Agniveers with top performers continuing in the Army. Thus, the Indian Army could prioritize national defense with skilled personnel.

Concerns

Undermines military professionalism and job security.
Short-Term Commitment may impact long-term military planning and effectiveness.
Quality of training might be affected by frequent turnover.
Potential financial burden of managing pensions and benefits for short-service personnel.
Differences in service terms might affect the morale and cohesion of Agniveers and regular personnel.

{Prelims – In News} Bailey Bridge

Context (IE): The Indian Army built a 190-foot Bailey bridge in Wayanad, Kerala, to help move heavy machinery and ambulances after the landslides.

It is a type of modular bridge with pre-built components and can be quickly assembled and moved.
It was designed by an English engineer Donald Coleman Bailey during World War II.
It has a weight-carrying capacity of 24 tonnes and will remain in use until a permanent bridge is built.
The lightweight parts require no heavy equipment for installation and can be transported in small trucks, making the bridge ideal for disaster management and wartime use.
These bridges were built in India during the 1971 war with Pakistan, after flash floods in Uttarakhand in 2021, and in a strategic village along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh.