Current Affairs – June 13, 2024

{GS1 – WH – Decolonialism} Current developments in New Caledonia

Context (TH): Socialist Kanak National Liberation Front (FLNKS) of the South Pacific French territory of New Caledonia called to abandon the plan to modify the electoral reform.
Protests and riots erupted in response to the French parliament’s decision to amend the voters’ list.

History of the archipelago

New Caledonia had Kanaks as the original inhabitants. France gained control of the territory in 1853.
After World War II, colonial laws were abolished, and the Kanaks were granted French citizenship.
In the 1960s, increased migration from France turned the Kanaks into a minority in New Caledonia.
Angered by their deteriorating socio-economic status and lack of economic and political involvement, an independence movement grew under FLNKS in 1984.
Thus, tensions soared between the Kanaks and loyalists between 1984 and 1988.
It ended with the signing of the Matignon agreements in 1988 and the Nouméa Accord in 1998 between the Kanaks and the French government.
This allowed the transfer of powers from Paris to local authorities along with three referendums to decide the territory’s independence. The independence referendums held in 2018 and 2020 were in favour of France and against an independent New Caledonia.
Kanaks requested to postpone the third and final referendum due to COVID-19 in 2021, but the French disregarded the request.

Social Inequalities in New Caledonia

Kanaks allege “settler colonialism” by France French population replacing the indigenous population.
Steel and nickel mining sectors have indigenous people as labour while the non-indigenous people reaped economic and political benefits.
2019 census showcased the poverty rate among Kanaks to be 32.5%, while only nine per cent of non-Kanaks experienced poverty.

New Caledonia in French Indo-Pacific strategy

France considers itself an Indo-Pacific power through its overseas territories which combined makes it the second largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Additionally, the large number of French citizens authenticates French governance.
The Islands represent a strategic position for France in the Indo-Pacific, especially against China.
Therefore, to assert its presence in these territories, integration becomes necessary.

{GS2 – Polity – IC} Constitutional Morality

Context (IE): The recent arrest of a serving Chief Minister has brought the question of constitutional morality, highlighting the importance of moral behaviour that political institutions should uphold.

What is Constitutional Morality?

Constitutional morality is a concept that emphasises adherence to the principles and values enshrined in a constitution within a democratic system.
It goes beyond strict legal interpretation, encompassing values like social justice and equality.
Constitutional morality balances freedom and restraint, requiring citizens to submit to constitutional authorities while retaining the freedom to criticise those in power.
It encourages the evolution of law in response to changing societal norms and values.
Courts use it to adapt legal principles to reflect contemporary understandings of justice, equality, etc.

Ambedkar’s perspective defines constitutional morality as the norms and procedures guiding decision-making in cases where the Constitution is silent or grants discretionary power.

Constitutional Morality in the Indian Constitution

The term “constitutional morality” is not explicitly mentioned in the Indian Constitution, but it is implicitly observed in several sections and various Supreme Court judgements.

In Constitution

Preamble: It outlines democratic principles like justice, liberty, and equality.
Fundamental Rights: It safeguards individual rights against arbitrary state power (Article 32).
Directive Principles: Provides guidelines for the state to pursue social and economic goals.
Fundamental Duties: These are the responsibilities of citizens towards the nation.
Checks and Balances: To prevent concentration of power.

Concepts of Discretionary Power and Non-discrimination are closely linked to constitutional morality.

Supreme Court’s Interpretation

Naz Foundation v Government of NCT, 2009: This case distinguished public morality from constitutional morality, asserting that constitutional values should take precedence over popular morality.
Krishnamoorthy case, 2015: It is essential for Good Governance
Union of India vs. Government of NCT of Delhi: High-ranking officials must adhere to constitutional values to prevent misuse of authority.
Government of NCT of Delhi case, 2018: The Court likened constitutional morality to a “second basic structure doctrine,” emphasising its role in curbing arbitrary authority.

Navtej Singh Johar case (2018): Right to privacy and dignity for LGBTQI+ community. Highlighted its role in fostering a pluralistic and inclusive society while upholding constitutional values.
Justice K S Puttaswamy case (2018): Aadhaar’s validity was upheld with restrictions, highlighting the court’s role in checking executive overreach.
Joseph Shine v. Union of India, 2018: The judgment emphasised that constitutional morality should guide the law, prioritising equality, non-discrimination, and dignity.

Context (IE | TH): The University Grants Commission (UGC) has allowed universities to admit students twice a year — in July/ August and January/ February.

It is not mandatory for universities to adopt the new system.

Existing process and the change

Students are now admitted once a year, in a single academic session that begins in July/ August.
Now, the universities can admit students in two cycles, in July/ August and in January/February.
It could allow universities to reflect the admission cycles in some countries that admit students twice a year. In the USA, admissions are done in the fall (August/ September) and in spring (January) session.

Benefits

Enhance international collaborations and student exchanges as it will be in alignment with the global educational standards.
Help increase the ‘gross enrollment ratio’ (GER).
Improve employment opportunities for the graduates as industries can also do their campus recruitment twice a year.
Enable the higher education institutes (HEIs) to plan their resource distribution, such as faculty, labs, classrooms and support services, more efficiently.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Women} Global Gender Gap Index

Context (TH | DTE): India ranks 129 in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index.

The Global Gender Gap Index is an annual report produced by the World Economic Forum (WEF) that measures gender-based gaps in access to resources and opportunities in countries around the world.
It is the longest-standing index, tracking progress towards closing these gaps over time since its inception in 2006.
It tracks the gender gap across four key parameters:
1. Economic participation and opportunity,
2. Educational attainment,
3. Health and survival, and
4. Political empowerment.
It ranks countries on a scale from 0 to 1, with a score of 1 indicating that a country has achieved complete gender equality, while a score of 0 indicates a complete lack of equality.

Key findings

As of 2024, the global gender gap stands at 68.5% across all 146 countries indexed this year.
It will take 134 years, i.e., by 2158, to achieve full parity if the current rate of progress is maintained.
No country has achieved full gender parity, 97% of the economies included in this edition have closed more than 60% of their gap, compared to 85% in 2006.

Credit: DTE

The top 10 most gender-equal nations are found to be in Europe, with Iceland retaining its top position with a score of 0.935. Sudan was ranked last on the index of 146 countries.
Of the four gender gap areas measured, the Health and Survival gender gap has closed by 96%, the Educational Attainment gap by 94.9%, the Economic Participation and Opportunity gap by 60.5%, and the Political Empowerment gap by 22.5%.
The most significant shift occurs in Political Empowerment, where parity has jumped a total of 8.3 percentage points.
Among the eight regions studied, Southern Asia ranked 7^th with a gender parity score of 63.7 per cent.

How has India fared?

India has closed 64.1% of its gender gap in 2024 and has declined two places from 127^th last year to 129^th. It ranked the third lowest among the South Asian economies.
- Bangladesh stands at the 99^th position, Nepal at 117^th, Sri Lanka at 122^nd, Bhutan (0.651) at 124^th, and Pakistan (0.570) at the 145^th position among the immediate neighbours.
India’s rank in all the four parameters:
- Economic Participation and Opportunity – 142
- Health and Survival – 142
- Educational Attainment – 112
- Political empowerment – 65
In the political empowerment sub-index, it scored within the top 10 on the head-of-state indicator with a 40.7% score; representation at the federal level remains low. Women hold only 6.9% of ministerial positions and 17.2% of parliamentary seats.
India’s economic parity stood at 39.8 per cent. This means that women in India, on average, earn Rs 39.8 for every Rs 100 that men earn.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

Context (IE): MP completes preparations for second cheetah home – Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. Prey animals have been relocated from Kanha, Satpura and Sanjay tiger reserves.

Location: 270 km from the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh bordering Rajasthan.
It was notified in the year 1974 and added to the list of sanctuaries in 1984.
It is spread over the area surrounding the Gandhi Sagar Dam backwater, and Chambal flows through it.
The forest of this sanctuary is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forest, which includes trees like Salai, Kardhai, Dhawda, Tendu, Palash, etc.
Notable Fauna: Wild Dogs (Dholes), Chinkara, Leopard, Otter, Mugger crocodile.
Chaturbhuj Nala rock shelters are also part of the same Gandhi Sagar wildlife sanctuary.

Chaturbhuj Nala rock shelters

The Chaturbhuj Nala rock shelters date from the pre-pastoral (over 6,000-12,000 years old) to the early medieval age (10th century) and are often compared to the UNESCO-approved Bhimbetka rock shelters.
These paintings use shades of red, ochre, white and black.
These paintings depict ancient lifestyles, such as men riding cattle, women dancing, warriors marching, and hunting scenes portraying rhinos, hump-less cattle, and deer being chased and hunted with arrows.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Soil Organic Carbon Prediction

Context (HT): A new model has been created to predict soil organic carbon (SOC) levels, a vital determinant of soil health and agricultural productivity.

The researchers developed a cutting-edge machine learning model called the Perimeter-Area Soil Carbon Index (PASCI) to predict soil organic carbon (SOC) levels with unprecedented accuracy.
By utilising hyperspectral data and identifying key spectral bands, PASCI offers a more precise and efficient method for assessing soil quality and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
Accurately measuring SOC levels is crucial for optimising crop yield and promoting sustainability, but traditional methods often lack precision and detail for comprehensive soil assessments.
The PASCI approach enables the detection of finer details in soil composition and variations across different landscapes, leading to more precise farming practices.

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

SOC refers to the carbon content in soil that is derived from organic matter, such as decomposed plant and animal residues, microorganisms, and other organic compounds.
Organic matter makes up just 2–10% of most soil’s mass and has an important role in the physical, chemical and biological function of agricultural soils.
It aids in nutrient and moisture retention, soil structure, pollutant degradation, and carbon sequestration.
SOC is affected by climate, vegetation, land use, mineralogy, and management practices.

Soil Organic Matter

Soil organic matter (SOM) primarily consists of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, calcium, and magnesium from organic residues.
It includes ‘living‘ components, like roots, fauna, and microorganisms, and ‘dead‘ components.

Traditional Methods for Measuring SOC

Dry Combustion: Burns soil samples at high temperatures to measure carbon dioxide released.
Wet Oxidation: This method uses an oxidising agent to convert organic carbon to carbon dioxide for measurement. It is less accurate but more accessible and cost-effective.
Spectroscopic Methods: Uses NIR and MIR spectroscopy to estimate SOC content through light reflectance or absorbance; rapid and non-destructive but requires calibration with reference methods.

{GS3 – Envi – Degradation} Coral reef decline and Sea cucumber

Context (DTE): Sea cucumbers can be functional in slowing coral reef decline.

Coral reefs are suffering from diseases, some of which are associated with sediment on the seafloor.
In several field experiments involving corals in Moorea, French Polynesia, and around Palmyra Atoll, researchers found that sea cucumbers grazed and consumed bacteria in the sediment.
Sea cucumber presence prevented pathogens from sickening co-occurring corals.
Sea cucumbers, scavengers of the seafloor that resemble cylindrical vegetables, have been consumed as a delicacy in Asia for centuries.
But in recent decades, they’ve been severely overharvested to the point that they are now quite rare.
Conserving sea cucumbers could help slow reef losses, giving nations more time to reduce ocean warming, overfishing, and pollution.

Sea cucumber

Credits: NWF

Sea cucumbers are part of a larger animal group called echinoderms, like starfish and sea urchins.
Appears similar to cucumber, with small tentacle-like tube feet for locomotion and feeding.
Sea cucumbers can confuse or harm predators by propelling their own toxic internal organs from their bodies in the direction of an attacker.
Size: Less than an inch (2.5 centimetres) to over six feet (1.8 meters). Life span: 5 to 10 years.
Range: Benthic (live on the ocean floor). Larvae are planktonic (float in the ocean currents). Found in virtually all marine environments.
Diet: Scavengers. Feeds on small food items in the benthic zone (seafloor) and plankton floating in the water column. They also eat algae, aquatic invertebrates, and waste particles.
When disturbed, sea cucumbers can expose skeletal hooklike structures that make them harder for predators to eat.
Behaviour: Both Sexual and asexual reproduction. Eggs undergo external fertilisation. Females release eggs into the water that are fertilised by coming into contact with sperm that males have released.

{GS3 – Envi – Pollution} Rapid Rise of Atmospheric Nitrous Oxide

Context (TH): India is the world’s second-largest emitter of nitrous oxide (N₂O) after China.

Though N₂O concentration in the atmosphere (336 parts per billion in 2022 – which is about 25% higher than pre-industrial levels) is lower than CO₂, N₂O stays longer and rises rapidly.
It has a high Global Warming Potential as N₂O remains in the atmosphere for an average of 117 years.
N₂O emissions account for 6.4% of GHG radiative forcing, contributing about 0.1°C to global warming.

GHG radiative forcing is a measure of the difference between the amount of energy (in the form of radiation) that enters the Earth’s atmosphere and the amount that is radiated back into space.

Agriculture and N₂O Emissions

Human activities have increased N₂O emissions by 40% in the past four decades.
Agricultural production, particularly the use of nitrogen fertilisers and animal manure, contributed 74% of the total anthropogenic N₂O emissions in the last decade.
The growing demand for meat and dairy products has also led to increased emissions through manure production and the use of nitrogen fertilisers in animal feed production.
Emissions from aquaculture are growing rapidly, especially in China.
The inefficient use of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers and animal manure also contributes to the pollution of groundwater, drinking water, and inland and coastal waters.

Way Forward

To meet the Paris Agreement’s goals (to stabilise global temperatures below 2°C from pre-industrial levels), anthropogenic N₂O emissions must decrease by at least 20% from 2019 levels by 2050.
Experts call for a reduction in fertiliser subsidies and a shift towards sustainable agricultural practices.
Also, India should seriously consider changing cropping systems and production practices. They also recommend repurposing fertiliser subsidies to support alternative production systems.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Global Warming Potential (GHP) measures the relative impact of a greenhouse gas on the Earth’s warming compared to carbon dioxide (CO₂) over a specified period.
By definition, the GWP of CO₂ is set to 1 for all time periods. The GWP values for other GHGs are expressed relative to CO₂. For example, if a gas has a GWP of 25, it means that one ton of this gas will absorb 25 times more energy than one ton of CO₂ over the specified time period.

{GS3 – IE – Development} Global Economic Prospects Report

Context (IE): India will remain the fastest-growing major economy, with a steady growth of 6.7% over the next three years, according to the Global Economic Prospects report published by the World Bank.

Key Takeaways

The global growth will remain at 2.6% in 2024 (projected – 2.7% in 2025-26), marking steady growth in three years despite heightened geopolitical tensions and elevated interest rates.
Inflation remains a concern, with global inflation expected to moderate at a slower pace.
In 2024-25, nearly 60% of economies, representing more than 80% of the global population and world output, are projected to experience growth below their 2010s average.
The growth in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDE) is forecast to moderate from 4.2% in 2023 to 4% in 2024 and 2025, so it will likely remain cautious in easing monetary policy.
Growth in the South Asia Region is projected to slow to 6.2 per cent in 2024 from 6.6 per cent in 2023, which was primarily driven by faster growth in India.

India

India’s growth is expected to slow down mainly due to a slowdown in investment activity.
India’s economy grew by an estimated 8.2% in FY24, exceeding previous forecasts by nearly 2% points.
In India, stronger-than-expected manufacturing, construction, and resilient services offset a slowdown in agriculture due to monsoons.
India’s economy has been driven by strong domestic demand and robust service activity.

Other important reports by the World Bank: World Development Report, the Remittance Report, the Ease of Living Index, the Logistics Performance Index, the Universal Health Coverage Index, The Service Trade Restriction Index, and the India Development Update.

{GS3 – IE – Taxes} Additional Tax Devolution to States

Context (HT): The Centre authorised the release of funds in tax devolution to states for June, including both regular and additional instalments.

Finance ministry said that this release will boost state governments’ development and capital spending.
The opposition criticised that tax devolutions to states are constitutional entitlements, not favours from the central government, and mentioned that the additional instalments are not offerings.
The interim budget for 2024-25 includes a provision of ₹12,19,783 crore for the devolution of taxes to states in 14 instalments throughout the fiscal year.

Tax Devolution to States

Article 270(1) of the Constitution provides for the distribution of tax revenue collected by the Central Government between the Union and the States to aid in fulfilling their welfare obligations effectively.
As per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, 41% of taxes are to be devolved to states for the period 2021-2026 (42% share recommended by the 14th FC).

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Three craters on Mars

Context (IE | TH): Three recently discovered craters on Mars have been named for renowned cosmic ray physicist late Devendra Lal and the towns of Mursan and Hilsa in Uttar Pradesh.

On the recommendation of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature approved naming the craters as “Lal” crater, “Mursan” crater and “Hilsa” crater.
These are situated in the Tharsis volcanic region of the Red Planet. Tharsis is a vast volcanic plateau centred near the equator in the western hemisphere of Mars. The region is home to the largest volcanoes in the Solar System.
The discovery of the craters provided compelling evidence that water moved large volumes of sediment into the newly discovered Lal crater. It also confirmed that Mars was once wet with flowing water.
Discovery was made within Mangala crater of Mars using SHARAD (Mars SHAllow RADar sounder).

SHARAD is a subsurface sounding radar mounted on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter probe designed to search for the existence of water on Mars as part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program.

The Lal crater is 65 km wide and the biggest among the three. Professor Devendra Lal was the director of PRL from 1972 to 1983.
Mursan and Hilsa craters are around 10 km wide and superimposed on the eastern and western sides of the rim of the Lal crater.
The entire area of Lal crater, in the Tharsis volcanic region on Mars, is covered with lava.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio – Diseases} Fatty Liver Disease

Context (TH): June 13 is celebrated as Global Fatty Liver Day.
Theme, 2024: ‘Act Now, Screen Today’.

Fatty liver disease is a condition in which fat builds up in the liver. There are two main types:
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Alcoholic fatty liver disease, also called alcoholic steatohepatitis
In 2022, a meta-analysis revealed that in India, among adults, the pooled prevalence of fatty liver was 38.6%, while among obese children, it was around 36%.

Credit: Clevelandclinic

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a type of steatosis that’s caused by factors other than excessive alcohol use.
Causes: It is part of the metabolic syndrome characterised by diabetes or pre-diabetes (insulin resistance), overweight or obesity, elevated blood lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides, and high blood pressure.
People with MASH may have scar tissue, which causes liver tissue to stiffen up. If the liver inflammation continues for years, an extensive amount of scar tissue can form, eventually leading to liver cirrhosis.
The global prevalence of MASLD is estimated at 25-30%.

Alcoholic fatty liver disease

Alcoholic fatty liver disease is due to heavy alcohol use.
The liver breaks down most of the alcohol generating harmful substances. These substances can damage liver cells, promote inflammation, and weaken the body’s natural defenses.
It further leads to alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio} Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx)

Context (DNA): The Arabian Oryx can survive without water for several months.

The Arabian Oryx, also referred to as the white oryx or the sabre antelope, is a desert antelope that is highly adapted to its harsh desert environment.
It is the world’s smallest oryx species and the only one found outside Africa.
It has the ability to go for long periods without water, obtaining moisture from plants and dew.
Distribution: It is native to the arid regions of Arabian Peninsula, including Saudi Arabia, Oman and UAE
Habitat: Desert habitat including stony plains, wadis and sand dunes.
Physical description: It is characterised by its striking white coat, which reflects sunlight, helping it stay cool. It also has a long, straight and distinct facial mask with dark markings.
Diet: They are herbivores and feed mainly on grasses, leaves, and herbs.
Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable | CITES: Appendix I
Threats: Hunted for their meat and hides, habitat loss, etc.