Current Affairs – August 17, 2024

Table of contents

{GS1 – Geo – EG – Water Resources} Ancient Drainage Systems

Context (TP): Ancient cities have mastered drainage and water management by understanding local hydrology and monsoon patterns, a lesson modern cities like Delhi could benefit from.

How Harappan Cities Avoided Floods

Raised City Planning: Harappa was constructed with elevated areas to prevent flooding.
Efficient Water Management: Dholavira featured advanced water storage and management systems.
Strategic Urban Layout of Lothal to facilitate efficient water flow and drainage.
Use of Natural Terrain by Rakhigarhi to direct water flow away from settlement areas.
Advanced Drainage Systems of Mohenjo-Daro that effectively managed and channelled rainwater.

Key Takeaways Against Urban Flooding

Develop Comprehensive Drainage Systems to handle heavy rainfall and runoff.
Incorporate Elevated Design to minimize the impact of floodwaters.
Implement Efficient Water Management to manage excess rainwater and reduce flood risks.
Plan Strategic Urban Layout for natural water flow to avoid water accumulation and flooding.
Utilize Natural Topography for directing water away from critical areas and reducing flood vulnerability.

Major Harappan sites and Rivers on which they were located

Mohenjodaro – Indus River
Rakhigarhi – Saraswati/Ghaggar-Hakra River
Banawali – Saraswati/Ghaggar-Hakra River
Dholavira – Mansar and Manhar seasonal streams, near Rann of Kachchh
Lothal – Sabarmati River, near the Gulf of Khambhat
Harappa – Ravi River
Bhirrana – Ghaggar River
Lahuradewa – Sarayu River, Upper Gangetic Plain

Context (TH): The underrepresentation of SC/ST and OBC officers in top civil service roles highlights the ongoing dominance of upper castes in the bureaucracy.

Underrepresentation of SC/ST Officers: In senior government positions limits their influence on policy-making. Only 4% of Secretaries and 4.9% of Joint Secretaries belong to the SC/ST category.
Dominance of Upper Castes: It impedes social justice and inclusivity. For instance, 254 out of 322 top positions in the Central Staffing Scheme were occupied by General category officers (December 2022).
Age of Entry and Retirement: SC/ST candidates often enter civil services later, affecting their chances of reaching top positions due to mandatory retirement age.
Lack of Reservation in Promotions: There is no reservation for SC/ST officers in promotions within Class A services, limiting their rise to senior positions.
Political Tokenism: Political leaders highlight the issue but fail to address structural problems, reducing social justice efforts to mere rhetoric.
Inefficient Use of Talent: The focus on age over competence means that talented SC/ST officers who join later are sidelined from top roles.
Retirement Policy: Current retirement rules do not account for the late entry of SC/ST officers.

Negative Implications

Additional layers of bureaucracy can slow down decision-making and increase complexity.
Compromised Meritocracy leading to inefficiency.
Resentment among different groups leading to riots. For example, Bangladesh.
Unintended Consequences like reinforcing stereotypes or create new forms of inequality.

Way Forward

Implement Fixed Tenure for All Officers: A fixed tenure (e.g., 35 years) would allow all officers, regardless of age of entry, to have equal opportunities for advancement. For example, Singapore.
Lower Entry Age Limits: Reducing the upper age limit for entry could ensure that all officers retire by around 67 years, promoting a level playing field.
Introduce Reservation in Promotions: Providing quotas in promotions for SC/ST officers could ensure their representation in senior government positions.
Annual Medical Fitness Checks: Regular health assessments after a certain age would ensure that older officers remain fit for service. In United Kingdom mandatory regular health assessments is done.
Form an Independent Committee: Establishing a committee with SC/ST, OBC, and PwBD representation could provide unbiased recommendations for reform.
Merit-Based Progression: Focus on competence and performance, rather than age, to determine promotions and career advancement.
Policy Advocacy and Awareness: Raising awareness about the importance of inclusivity in the civil services can drive policy changes.
Monitoring and Accountability: Establish mechanisms to monitor the implementation of reforms and hold authorities accountable for ensuring social justice.

{GS2 – Governance – Initiatives} BHAVISHYA Software

Context (PIB): A centralised pension processing software, Bhavishya, was introduced to address delays, clerical errors, financial loss, and pensioner harassment.

Key Highlights of BHAVISHYA

Auto Registration: Integrates with payroll systems for automatic data entry and MIS reports on upcoming retirements.
Self-Registration and Self-Filling: Stakeholders and retirees can independently register and fill forms.
Strict Timelines: Online processing starts 15 months before retirement with deadline alerts.
Transparency and Accountability: Enhances clarity and responsibility in pension processing.
Automatic Calculation: Ensures accurate retirement benefits with minimal manual intervention.
Real-Time Updates: Provides email/SMS alerts for each action in the pension process.
e-PPO Integration: Issues electronic PPOs and integrates with PFMS for digital processing.
End-to-end Digitization: Makes the entire process paperless and secure.
Digilocker Integration: Stores e-PPOs in Digilocker for easy, anytime access.
Pensioners Identity Card: Issued through the system.
Bank Integration: Connects with bank portals for post-retirement services.

Read more > Bhavishya Portal

{GS2 – MoA – Initiatives} Krishi-Decision Support System (K-DSS)

Context (IE): Ministry of Agriculture launched geospatial platform called Krishi-Decision Support System as part of the Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture announced in 2024 Budget.

K-DSS is a satellite-based platform providing weather, groundwater, soil, and reservoir data etc along with satellite images and aims to support farmers with real-time information and early warning system.
It will act as a repository of geospatial data on weather, soil, crop, reservoir, and groundwater data.
It will also integrate data of agricultural government schemes and services.
ISRO has launched Microsat 2C satellite to provide information about soil moisture and wind speed.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Parliament} Appointments Committee of the Cabinet

Context (TH): ACC approved a series of postings and reshuffle at senior bureaucratic positions.

Appointments Committee of the Cabinet decides higher level appointments in the Central Secretariat, Public Enterprises, Banks and Financial Institutions.
Members: Prime Minister (Chairman), Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation.

Other Important Cabinet Committees

The Political Affairs Committee:
- It deals with all policy matters pertaining to domestic and foreign affairs.
- It consists of the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Cooperation, Minister of Defence and other ministers. It is often described as a ‘Super-Cabinet’.
The Economic Affairs Committee:
- It directs and coordinates governmental activities in the economic sphere.
- It consists of the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Cooperation, Minister of Defence and other ministers.
Parliamentary Affairs Committee:
- It looks after the progress of government business in the Parliament.
- It consists of the Minister of Home Affairs; and Minister of Cooperation, Minister of Defence and other ministers.

Read More > Cabinet committees

{GS2 – Polity – IC – Reservation} SC Verdict on Sub-Classification of SCs/STs

Context (TW): The Supreme Court, in a 6-1 majority ruling, declared that Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) do not form a socially homogeneous group.

The judgement reverses the E.V. Chinnaiah ruling, which held that SCs/STs were homogeneous and could not be subdivided for reservations.

Key Highlights of the Judgement

The Court affirmed that SCs/STs are not a homogeneous group, allowing states to sub-classify them.
The President specifies SCs under Article 341(1), while Parliament alone can amend this list under Article 341(2). The inclusion in the Presidential list does not create a uniform, unalterable class.
States can identify different levels of social backwardness within SCs under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) and provide special provisions like reservations.
Criteria for Sub-Classification:
- “Effective representation” in public services is emphasised over mere “numerical representation.”
- ‘Creamy Layer’ Principle: Justice Gavai advocated introducing the ‘creamy layer’ concept for SCs, similar to OBCs, to ensure that only the most disadvantaged benefit from reservations.

Possible Implications of the Judgement

Relief to States like Punjab, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu may now implement sub-classification policies.
Political Implications impacting electoral strategies, as seen in Telangana, where sub-classification promises were made to gain community support.
Demand for Caste Census is strengthened by judgement to accurately distribute reservation benefits.

Way Forward

Empirical Data Collection like socio-economic surveys and a caste census to gather accurate data ensuring targeted and effective reservation policies.
Inclusive Policy Formulation to ensure that sub-classification benefits are distributed equitably.
Transparent Implementation with periodic reviews and assessments to ensure that the intended beneficiaries are receiving the reservation benefits.
Judicial Oversight to ensure that sub-classification policies are implemented fairly, without discrimination or political manipulation.
Awareness and Education classes within SC/ST communities about their rights and the benefits.

Read more > Sub-Categorisation Within Castes

Context (IE): Nearly 6,000 out of 35,000 EWS seats in Delhi’s private schools remained unfilled, highlighting the lack of commitment from both private schools and the state government.
The Right To Education Act, 2010 aims to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 and 14 and is in line with global commitments like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Central Government’s Role: Policy formulation, financial support, and monitoring the implementation.
State Government’s Role: Actual implementation of the RTE Act, setting up schools and hiring teachers.

Key Bodies Involved

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR): Monitors the implementation of the RTE Act at the national level.
State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs): Monitor the implementation of the RTE Act at the state level.
National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE): Setting standards for teacher education in India.

Key Sections of the RTE Act

Section 12(1)(c) mandates private unaided schools to reserve 25% of their seats for children from EWS. (Society for Un-aided Private Schools of Rajasthan v. Union of India 2012).
Section 8 and Section 9 obligates state governments and local authorities to ensure that children are admitted to a school within their neighbourhood.
Section 29 prescribes the curriculum, focusing on the all-round development of children.

Implementation Challenges

Circumvention of EWS Quota by State Governments: The Maharashtra government attempted to bypass the RTE provision requiring private unaided schools to reserve 25% of their seats for EWS.
Interference by Other States: States like Karnataka and Punjab allow parents to apply for the EWS category only if no government school is available within a 1 km radius.
Socio-economic Segregation: Creation of separate sections or run afternoon classes for EWS students.
Deterioration of Teacher Training: The neglect of teacher training, and lack of interest in implementing the J S Verma Commission guidelines has further hindered the Act’s success.

Way Forward

Strengthening Legislative Framework: Amend state regulations to ensure strict adherence to the RTE Act, with particular emphasis on enforcing the EWS quota in private schools.
Regular Audits and Monitoring: The Delhi Government has established a monitoring system which conducts annual audits of private schools.
Revamping Teacher Education: The Jharkhand government has initiated a training program in collaboration with the NCTE to implement the J S Verma Commission guidelines.
Encouraging Inclusive Practices where children from diverse socio-economic backgrounds learn together, enhancing the RTE’s goal of social integration. “Unity in Diversity” initiative by Punjab.
Ensuring Legal Support: Encourage judicial oversight to uphold the RTE’s provisions and challenge practices that undermine its objectives. E.g., The Bombay High Court’s intervention in Maharashtra.

Constitutional Provisions Related to Education

Article 21A: Inserted by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, this article provides for free and compulsory education for all children aged 6 to 14 years.
Article 45: Originally mandated the state to provide free and compulsory education to children under the age of 14. This was revised to focus on early childhood care and education (86th Amendment).
Article 51A(k): It is a fundamental duty of every citizen to provide opportunities for education to their child or ward between the ages of 6 and 14.

The J S Verma Commission established by SC emphasizes the need for rigorous training, accreditation, and professional development to improve the quality of teaching and learning under the RTE Act.

{GS3 – Envi – CC} Climate Modeling

Context (IE): The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported the hottest July this year. Mitigation efforts and climate modeling are the need of the hour.

A climate model is a computer simulation of the Earth’s climate system, including the atmosphere, ocean, land and ice. They can be used to recreate the past climate or predict the future climate.

Challenges in Climate Modeling

Drawback of Traditional Model: It focus on global and national trends and underestimates regional variations, hindering region-specific adaptation planning.
Hyper-local Weather Conditions: Weather patterns and variations within a small geographic area necessitates microclimate forecasting. For instance, Delhi witnessed its hottest July in 10 years while parts of the city were flooded by torrential rain.
Incomplete Historical Data: Limited Accurate data for many climate variables (sea surface temperature, snow cover, GHG concentrations etc), especially for past centuries.
Massive Computing Power: Climate models require immense computational resources, which is difficult for poor countries to attain.

Way Forward

Mitigation: Accelerate mitigation measures like transition to renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and land use.
Address Gaps: Address infrastructure and knowledge gaps in weather reporting, climate resilient agriculture, healthcare, and urban planning.
Microclimate Forecasting: To address hyper-local weather conditions and efficient planning.
More Meteorological Stations: To monitor weather in different urban and rural zones. The Centre is planning to set up weather stations in each panchayats.
Develop information-sharing mechanisms within countries and across national borders. For instance, Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative is a move in weathering uncertainties.

Lima Adaptation Knowledge Initiative, 2014

It is a joint action pledge between the UNFCCC Secretariat and UNEP through its Global Adaptation Network to distribute and exchange climate change adaptation knowledge.
A total of 150 priority adaptation knowledge gaps have been identified to allow stakeholders to pinpoint synergies and design more efficient, cost-effective responses.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

It is a U.S. Government Agency that provides accurate forecasts and data for weather, climate, oceans, coasts and outer space.

{GS3 – S&T – IPR} Copyrights, Patents and Trademark

Context (IE): The Delhi HC partially favored Lacoste in the copyrights dispute with Crocodile International.

IPR	Description
Trademark	A sign (word, symbol, etc.) that distinguishes goods or services of one enterprise from another, helping identify brand.
Patent	An exclusive right granted for a new invention, allowing the inventor to prevent others from making, using, or selling it.
Copyright	Protection for creators of original works, giving them exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, or perform their creations.
Geographical Indication (GI)	A sign used on products from a specific place, indicating qualities or reputation linked to that location.

Also read > Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), National IPR Policy

{Prelims – In News} Cyanide Sensor

Context (TH): Central University of Kerala developed a highly sensitive and selective cyanide sensor that turns materials that appears yellow to colurless upon detecting cyanide.

The material is capable of detecting toxic cyanide at low concentrations, promising to enhance the safety of drinking water and food products.
Applications: Effective detection of cyanide in tapioca extracts(sensor’s colour turns from yellow to bluish-green), development of a strip for qualitative detection, relevant in cyanide poisoning incidents.

Cyanide (CN-)

Cyanide is a potent toxin present in various plants, fruits, and microorganisms.
It is found in vehicle exhaustion and foods like cassava (tapioca), apple and apricot seeds, sprouting potatoes, and almonds.
The WHO has set strict limits on cyanide levels in potable water (0.19 mg/L).

Read More > Potassium Cyanide

{Prelims – In News} National Coal Index

Context (PIB): The National Coal Index (Provisional) has shown a significant decline of 3.48 % in June 2024 indicating sufficient availability of coal in market to meet the growing demands.

The National Coal Index (NCI) is a price index introduced by Ministry of Coal to arrive at a revenue share based on market prices when commercial auction of coal mines began on a revenue share basis.
It considers prices of coking and non-coking coal of various grades transacted in a particular month relative to the fixed base year (2017-18) and combines prices of coal from all sales channels including import prices.
NCI serves as a reliable indicator of market dynamics, providing valuable insights of price fluctuations.
The downward trajectory of the NCI signifies a more equitable market which will harmonize supply and demand dynamics.