Current Affairs – October 12-13-14, 2024

{GS1 – A&C – Sites} Brahmi inscription found in Dharanikota *

Context (TH): An inscription was found while ploughing in Dharanikota village at Amaravathi in Andhra Pradesh. It is written in the Prakrit language and Brahmi characters of the 2nd century C.E.

About Dharnikota

In 500 BCE, Dharanikota was known as Dhanyakatakam, the capital of the Satavahana dynasty, which ruled in the Deccan from the 1st to 3rd centuries CE.
Xuanzang visited the great Amaravati stupa at Dharanikota and wrote an enthusiastic account of the place and the viharas. Jainism flourished here during the reign of Sada kings.
Dalai Lama conducted a very large Kalachakra ceremony there in January 2006.

About Brahmi Script

It is the earliest writing system developed in India after the Indus script. All modern Indian and several hundred Southeast and East Asian scripts are believed to be derived from Brahmi. Some descendant scripts of Brahmi are Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Tibetan, etc.
The earliest (indisputably dated) and best-known Brahmi inscriptions are the rock-cut edicts of Ashoka in north-central India, dating to 250–232 BCE.
In most cases, Brahmi and its derivatives are written from left to right, but an early coin discovered in Madhya Pradesh is inscribed with Brahmi characters running from right to left.
It is used in ancient texts of the three major Dharmic religions, Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, as well as their Chinese translations. For example, the Lalitavistara Sūtra (Mahayana Buddhist Sutra).
Brahmi was deciphered by James Prinsep, the secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.

{GS2 – Governance – Laws} Right to Information Act 2005 **

Context (TH|SNS|TH): Satark Nagrik Sangathan’s report (2023-24) has highlighted the issues of the RTI act, drawing attention to the urgent need for reforms.

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 empowers citizens to seek information from public authorities, promoting transparency, accountability, participatory governance, and curbing corruption.

Significance of the RTI Act 2005

Expose corruption, nepotism, and favouritism: Information obtained through RTI revealed major scams, such as the Commonwealth Games (CWG) scam and the Coal Allocation scam.

Enhancing executive transparency in government operations, such as the PDS in Uttar Pradesh, helped expose inefficiencies and leakages in the distribution of essential goods.
Democratic participation grants citizens the right to question public authorities and demand accountability. Over 6 million RTI applications are filed annually.
Shifting Governance from Secrecy to Openness mandates proper record maintenance & information sharing. Many departments now regularly publish records to pre-empt RTI queries.
Strengthening Judicial Oversight The judiciary has used RTI to strike down laws violating citizens’ information rights, such as the challenge to the electoral bonds scheme.

Challenges to RTI Act

Delayed Disposal of Appeals like that in 14 commissions, resolving an appeal or complaint would take over a year, with fresh appeals in Chhattisgarh or Bihar only being addressed by 2029.
Lack of Penalty Imposition: Information commissioners impose penalties in only 5% of eligible cases, undermining accountability and discouraging compliance with the RTI Act.
Retired Bureaucrats and Political Patronage: Many information commissioners are retired officials or politically connected individuals, leading to a reluctance to enforce transparency.
Vacancies in the Information Commission hinder the functioning of RTI. According to the report, seven out of 29 commissions were defunct last year.
Exploitation of RTI for personal gain, harassment, or to pressure public authorities rather than serving the public interest. Individuals may file frivolous RTI requests to gain publicity or harass officials.
RTI vs. Official Secrets: Certain government functions require confidentiality for national security and public order. For example, the demand for details about the Rafale aircraft procurement could have exposed sensitive military information, which hostile nations might exploit.
Conflicts between RTI and the right to privacy have arisen, leading to contentious policies. The government defended withholding information on electoral bonds by claiming it protects donors’ privacy.
Low Public Awareness among marginalised groups such as rural women and SC/ST/OBC populations. A 2019 study found that only 15% of rural women knew their RTI rights.
Executive Apathy: The RTI Amendment Act of 2019 reduced the autonomy of Information Commissions, reflecting the executive’s indifference toward RTI.
Exclusion of Political Parties from RTI undermines transparency by blocking access to crucial information on their finances and operations.

Way Forward

Reaffirmation of RTI as a Democratic Virtue: The Supreme Court must consistently uphold the RTI as a fundamental aspect of democracy, as seen in its verdict on electoral bonds.
Local Language Accessibility: All RTI-related information should be available in local languages to enhance comprehension and engagement among India’s diverse population.
Mandatory Education on RTI: Incorporating RTI education into school curricula will promote responsibility and active citizenship, fostering a culture of accountability among future generations.
Inclusion of Political Parties under RTI to enhance transparency in their operations and finances, which are crucial for democratic integrity.
Establishment of a Code of Conduct for Information Commissioners to guide Information Commissioners, ensuring accountability and ethical standards in their decision-making processes.
Maintaining the Autonomy of Information Commissions is essential for upholding democratic values and effectively implementing the RTI Act.
Proactive Public Disclosures: Government departments should embrace transparency by proactively disclosing information through official websites and other public platforms, making it readily accessible.
Strengthening the Election Commission’s Role: Enhancing the powers and responsibilities of the Election Commission can lead to greater accountability in political funding and processes.
Filling Vacancies in information commissions at both central and state levels, following the Supreme Court’s directive to ensure functional transparency bodies.

Read more > Impact of the DPDP Act on the RTI Act.

{GS2 – IR – UN} UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon)

Context (IE): The request from Israel to the UN force, UNIFIL, to move away from Hezbollah rocket positions in Lebanon was turned down.

About UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon)

It was established in 1978 by the UN Security Council after Israel invaded Lebanon.
Mission: Oversee Israeli withdrawal and restore peace and security in Lebanon.
Major Contributors: Indonesia(Major Contributor), Italy, India, Nepal, and China.

Read More > UN Peacekeeping

{GS2 – Policy – IC – Judiciary} Gruelling Course of Litigation in India

Context: (TH|TOI): The Indian judiciary’s challenges of court delays, adjournments, and high legal costs deter individuals from seeking justice. Indian President recently called for reforms in the judiciary.

Current Scenario of Litigation Delays

Delays in the judicial process make litigants hesitant to approach courts, fearing prolonged legal battles. It is referred to as the “black coat syndrome”. India has over 4.5 crore pending cases.
Ineffective Case Management, including scheduling issues, adjournments, and the inconsistent implementation of the Case Flow Management Rules, has compounded delays.
Judicial Prioritization and Pressure: District judges face pressures from higher courts to dispose of certain cases, often distorting court schedules and leading to an imbalance in the overall case flow.
Shortage of Judges with a vacancy rate of 30% in high courts and 25% in district courts. India has only 21 judges per million people, far below the Law Commission’s recommendation of 50 judges per million.

Challenges Faced in the Judicial System

Judicial Performance Evaluation: The “units system” encourages judges to prioritise simple cases for quick disposal, delaying complex ones. E.g. Judges may dispose of minor cases to boost their unit count.
Lawyers’ Strategic Delays: Lawyers often seek adjournments to align with favourable judges or delay proceedings for clients.
Overuse of Stays and Interim Orders: Litigants treat stays as victories, reducing the urgency to resolve the case. E.g. Stay orders in civil cases halt adverse actions, reducing motivation for case resolution.
Witness Participation Issues: Witnesses face unpredictable schedules and repeated summons, discouraging their appearance. E.g. Frequent adjournments force witnesses to miss work multiple times.
High Case Load Per Judge: As of 2023, the average judge in India handles over 1,350 cases annually, far exceeding global averages.

Way Forward: Reforming the Judicial Process

Holistic Judicial Reforms: Judges should be evaluated on their ability to manage complex cases, not just the number disposed of, by reforming the unit system. The U.K. reform of judicial performance focuses on case complexity alongside disposal rates.
Predictable Scheduling Systems: Establish clear case scheduling with real-time updates to reduce uncertainty and limit adjournments. E.g. The U.S. federal court system uses a strict scheduling framework.
Technological Integration: Use AI and data-driven tools for efficient case management and real-time tracking of hearings and filings. E.g. Estonia’s digital judiciary system and e-Courts Mission in India.
Discouraging Delay Tactics: Make stay orders temporary and subject to regular review to prevent litigants from stalling cases. E.g. Germany imposes strict periodic reviews to ensure timely case progression.
Incentives for Timely Disposal: Reward lawyers who adhere to schedules and penalize unnecessary adjournments. E.g. In India, courts have suggested penalties for habitual adjournments in cases like Salem Advocate Bar Association v. Union of India.
Witness Management: Improve witness scheduling with advance notice and compensation to encourage participation. E.g. The U.S. offers financial and scheduling assistance to witnesses.

{GS3 – Agri – Food Security} Right to Free Food and NFSA **

Context (IE|IE|FE): The “Right to Food” approach underlines the commitment to ensuring food security. The FAO reports that 2.33 billion people globally face moderate to severe food insecurity.

India’s National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 was a step toward this goal, but its implementation and wide coverage have raised concerns about its long-term sustainability.

Challenges and Criticisms

Overestimation of Coverage: Critics argue that 67% coverage is excessive and economically unsustainable, especially when poverty has decreased.
Leakages in Distribution: Significant leakages and inefficiencies in the PDS, with studies indicating 25-30% of food grains not reaching beneficiaries.
Fiscal Burden: The food subsidy is a major financial burden on the government, impacting funds available for agricultural investment and R&D.
Targeting Inefficiencies: Poor targeting and inclusion-exclusion errors often result in non-poor individuals benefiting from the scheme.
Political Motivations: The continuation of free food distribution to over 800 million people is seen as a vote-catching tactic rather than a necessary measure for food security.

Government Initiatives To Improve Food Security In India

National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) ensures access to subsidised food grains for about two-thirds of India’s population, aiming to guarantee food security as a legal right and eradicate hunger.
Public Distribution System (PDS) provides essential food items like rice, wheat, and sugar at subsidised prices to the poor through a vast network of fair-price shops to ensure food security.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme offers free meals to school children, improving nutritional levels among underprivileged children and promoting school enrollment and attendance.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) provides food, preschool education, and healthcare to children under 6 years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
National Nutrition Strategy (NNS) aims to tackle malnutrition by promoting nutrition-sensitive interventions and strengthening existing schemes like ICDS to improve outcomes for women and children.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) aims to enhance water-use efficiency by promoting irrigation and watershed development, ensuring “Per Drop More Crop”.
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) encourages states to develop agriculture sector strategies based on local needs, boosting farmers’ incomes by enhancing productivity and ensuring farm management.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) promotes sustainable agricultural practices by conserving natural resources, improving soil health, and promoting climate-resilient farming techniques.

Way Forward

Targeted Food Assistance: Limit free food distribution to 15% of the most vulnerable population. E.g. The Shanta Kumar Committee suggested reducing NFSA coverage to 40% for better targeting.
Subsidy Rationalisation: Focus on reducing food, fertiliser, and power subsidies in favour of long-term, productive investments. E.g. NITI Aayog’s 3-Year Action Plan called for rationalising subsidies.
Investing in modern farming techniques like precision agriculture can enhance yields by 20-25%. Cooperative farming can also address fragmented land holdings and improving farmers’ incomes.
Strengthening Irrigation Infrastructure: Currently covering only 48% of agricultural land, it is essential to boost food production and reduce reliance on increasingly erratic monsoon rains.
Promoting sustainable practices such as organic farming potentially increases yields by 20-30%. The Pradhan Mantri Soil Health Card Scheme should be scaled to support better soil management.
Improving Storage and Distribution Systems: Investments in cold chain logistics and technology can enhance food distribution efficiency. E.g. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)
Unified food security policy integrating agriculture, nutrition, health, and sustainability is needed, supported by robust monitoring mechanisms from the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Adapting to Climate Change: Research on climate-resilient crops, such as drought-resistant varieties from ICAR, is crucial. Initiatives like the Kisan Call Centre can educate farmers on climate-smart practices.
Empowering Marginalized Community with gender-sensitive approaches enhancing nutritional outcomes by empowering women in agriculture.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)

Context (MINT): Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has become 14th Maharatna company in India.

Updated List of Maharatna companies in India

1. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd

2. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd

3. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)

4. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

5. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)

6. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)

7. Coal India Limited (CIL)

8. GAIL India Limited

9. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)

10. Power Grid Corporation of India Limited

11. Power Finance Corporation (PFC)

12. Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) Limited

13. Oil India Ltd (OIL)

14. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)

Benefits of Maharatna Companies

Strategic Agility: These can undertake mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments domestically and internationally.
Investment Authority: They can allocate up to ₹5,000 crore or 15% of their net worth in a single project without government consent.
Enhanced Autonomy: These companies enjoy increased operational and financial independence, enabling quicker and more efficient decision-making.
Human Resource Governance: The Board of Directors can create positions below their level and make HR management and training decisions.
Financial Excellence: To qualify, companies must show exceptional financial performance, including high turnover, net worth, and profitability over the past three years.

{Prelims – Awards} Nobel Peace Prize 2024

Context (IE): Recently, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the organisation Nihon Hidankyo.

The members of Nihon Hidankyo are survivors of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, and many of these individuals, known as “Hibakusha” or “bomb-affected people,” have led the global movement to eliminate nuclear weapons.
The winners this year join a long line of Nobel laureates who have pushed for arms control and nuclear disarmament. The cause has won at least ten Nobel Peace Prizes since 1901.
In 2017, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was awarded the Peace Prize for its efforts in promoting treaty-based prohibition of nuclear weapons, highlighting their catastrophic humanitarian consequences.

About the Nobel Peace Prize

Peace was the fifth and final prize area that Alfred Nobel mentioned in his will.
It is awarded by a committee elected by the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget).
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, not in Stockholm, Sweden.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize three times (in 1917, 1944 and 1963), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize two times (in 1954 and 1981).
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated five times for it but was never awarded the prize.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

Context (IE): The Red Panda Conservation Breeding and Augmentation Programme of the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park is shortlisted for the 2024 Conservation & Environmental Sustainability Awards by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

Also known as the “firefox“, “lesser panda”, and “red-cat-bear”, is a small arboreal mammal found in the forests of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and the northern mountains of Myanmar and southern China.
In India, they are found in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal. It is the state animal of Sikkim.
Two subspecies: Himalayan red panda (A. f. fulgens) and Chinese red panda (A. f. styani). Yarlung Zangbo River is the actual geographical barrier between the distributions of these two species.
- Himalayan Red Pandas are present in Sikkim, Darjeeling-Kalimpong districts of West Bengal, Nepal, Bhutan and Southern Tibet. Chinese Red Pandas are distributed in southeastern Tibet, Northern Myanmar and the Sichuan and Yunan provinces of China.
Habitat: Inhabit mountainous mixed deciduous and conifer forests, especially with old trees and dense understories of bamboo.

Credits: IUCN

They are nocturnal and usually solitary.
Diet: Though they belong to a carnivorous group of mammals, they mostly eat bamboo shoots and occasionally fruit, insects, bird eggs and small lizards.
Conservation Status: IUCN: Endangered | CITES: Appendix I | WPA, 1972: Schedule I.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Water Chestnut in Kashmir

Context (TH): In autumn, the water chestnut, a grass-like plant that grows in Wular Lake, is in high demand across Kashmir. It is also known as water caltrops or “goer ” or Singhara ka atta in India.

The plant has sharp barbed spines that can cause painful injuries when stepped upon. The sturdy, dried outer shells are repurposed as fuel in traditional kangri fire pots used during the winter in Kashmir.
It is nutrient-rich, providing potassium, fibre, and carbohydrates with little sodium or fat.
The edible kernel is extracted, dried, and pounded into flour, commonly used in various dishes.
They are consumed during Navaratri as they are easily digestible and provide energy while fasting.
Declining water chestnut production due to dry weather and increased marshy land has negatively impacted livelihoods in the region.

Wular Lake

It is located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipore district, the largest freshwater lake in India and the second largest in Asia.
It was formed due to tectonic movements and is considered a remnant of the ancient Satisar Lake.
At the lake’s centre lies a small island called ‘Zaina Lank’, built by King Zainul-Abi-Din.
In 1990, Wular Lake was recognised as a Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
It is a key habitat for birds like the black-eared kite, Himalayan monal, and short-toed eagle. It also plays a significant role in fish production, contributing 60% of the state’s total.

{Prelims – In News} Living Planet Report 2024

Context (DTE | IE): The Living Planet Report 2024 was released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It is published every two years by WWF since 1998.

Findings

Monitored global wildlife populations have declined by 73% in the last 50 years:
- 85% decline in the average size of monitored freshwater species.
- 69% decline in the average size of monitored terrestrial species.
- 56% decline in the average size of monitored marine species.
The fastest declines have been seen in Latin America and the Caribbean (95%), followed by Africa (76%) and Asia and the Pacific (60%).
In India, the decline of three vulture species – white-rumped vulture, Indian vulture, and slender-billed vulture, has been alarming. Widespread use of drugs such as diclofenac, aceclofenac, ketoprofen and nimesulide are the main causes behind the decline in the vulture population.

{Prelims – In News} Monte Carlo Method

Context (TH): The Monte Carlo Method has recently been in the news.

It is an algorithm that reveals a distribution by randomly sampling its elements repeatedly.
The method is named for a casino in Monaco, inspired by physicist Stanislaw Ulam’s uncle’s gambling.
It is used to predict the probability of various outcomes when the potential for random variables is present. It also helps to explain the impact of risk & uncertainty in prediction & forecasting models.
Applications: Aerodynamics, Power plant design, Quantum mechanics, Several areas of engineering, Computer graphics, Artificial intelligence models, and Risk-estimating in finance.

{Prelims – PIN World – Africa} Sahara desert witnesses first flood in 50 years

Context (TH): Recently, A rare deluge of rainfall has left lagoons of water amid the palm trees and sand dunes of the Sahara desert. NASA satellites showed water rushing in to fill Lake Iriqui, a famous lake bed between Zagora and Tata that had been dry for 50 years.

Sahara Desert

Size: It is the world’s largest hot desert and the third-largest desert overall, smaller only than the deserts of Antarctica and the northern Arctic.
Location: It is located in North Africa and touches 11 countries: Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara.
Hottest landscape: In 1922, Al Azizia (Libya) in the Sahara recorded the highest temperature, 57.7 °C.
Drainage: Several rivers discharge into Lake Chad in the southern Sahara; the Niger rises in Fouta Djallon region of Guinea and flows through southwestern Sahara before turning southward to the sea.
Tribes: Various nomadic groups, Bedouins and Tuaregs are prominent. The oasis in the Sahara and the Nile Valley in Egypt support settled populations.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} Dragon Drones

Context (IE): Dragon Drones were used in the Russia-Ukraine War.

Dragon drones release a substance called thermite, a mixture of aluminium and iron oxide.
When ignited, thermite triggers a self-sustaining reaction that is difficult to extinguish. Thermite is not explosive but generates heat at such extreme temperatures – more than 2,200 degrees Celsius – that it burns through and damages nearly any material. It can also burn underwater.
- Thermite was used in both world wars. In modern conflict, espionage agents or special operations teams often use thermite because it can burn intensely without a bang.
Dragon drones are usually low-flying as thermite is more effective when closely touching the target.

Is it legal to use thermite in weapons?

The use of thermite in war is not prohibited under international law. However, the use of such incendiary weapons against civilian targets is barred under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.
Thermite is just one type of ‘incendiary weapon,’ with others including napalm and white phosphorous.

{Prelims – S&T – Space} Comet Tsuchinshan – Atlas (C/2023 A3)

Context (TH): Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas was visible to the naked eye when it passed near the Earth.

It is a long-period comet from the Oort Cloud, discovered independently by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China and the ATLAS project (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System).

ATLAS Project

It is a robotic astronomical survey, and early warning system optimised for detecting smaller near-Earth objects a few weeks to days before they impact Earth.
Funded by NASA and developed and operated by the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio – Diseases} Murine typhus

Context (IE): Murine typhus was diagnosed in Kerala. It is an infectious disease caused by the flea-borne bacteria Rickettsia typhi. Also known as endemic typhus, flea-borne typhus or fever.

Reservoirs: Rodents like rats. The disease is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas. Disease-carrying fleas can also live on other small mammals, including pets such as cats and dogs. Once a flea is infected, it can spread the disease for the rest of its life. It does not spread from one person to another or from person to flea.
Symptoms: Fever, headaches, body aches, joint pains, nausea, vomiting, stomach aches and rashes.
No vaccine is currently available against the disease. Antibiotic doxycycline is considered effective.