Current Affairs – October 23, 2024

{GS2 – IR – India-Pakistan} Kartarpur Corridor Agreement

• Context (TH): India and Pakistan renew the Kartarpur Corridor agreement until 2029. The agreement is valid initially for five years.

About Kartarpur Corridor Agreement

• The first agreement was signed in October 2019 to allows visa-free travel through corridor.
• Open for Indian pilgrims of all faiths (with valid passport) & persons of Indian origin (with OCI card).
• It is open from dawn to dusk. Pilgrims travelling in the morning will have to return on the same day.

Read More < Para diplomacy and Karatarpur Sahib

{GS2 – IR – Issues} Shadow Fleet

• Context (TH): India has been painted as a host of a shadow fleet that is ‘laundering’ Russian crude.

What is Shadow Fleet?

• ‘Shadow fleet’, also known as dark fleet, comprises ships engaged in illegal operations to avoid detection and circumvent sanctions.

Tactics used by Shadow Fleets

{GS3 – Envi – CC} Diamond dust to cool Earth

• Context (IE): Spraying diamond dust in the Earth’s upper atmosphere could help cool down the Earth by a significant 1.6°C within 50 years.

• Diamond dust reflects light and heat. The dust could remain aloft for suitable lengths of time and is less likely to clump together to retain heat. It would not create acid rain because it is chemically inert.
• However, cost and logistical challenges limit its potential use.

Read in detail about Geoengineering.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Clean energy accelerates for BRICS grouping

• Context (DTE): BRICS nations are poised to see fossil fuel capacity drop below half of their installed power capacity by the end of 2024, as per Global Energy Monitor report.

Key Findings

• Share of power capacity in the BRICS group fueled by coal, oil, and gas could fall below 50% by year end. However, despite fossil-fueled power capacity losing ground in the BRICS’ power mix, virtually all members are building additional coal, oil, or gas plants.
• Wind and utility-scale solar capacity in development outnumber power projects fueled by coal, oil, and gas by two to one in the BRICS.
• BRICS nations will nearly triple their renewable energy capacity by 2030, aligning with the global goal set at 28th Conference of Parties or COP28
• The total renewable energy capacity could increase by more than 2.5 times by the decade’s end.

Relevance of BRICS in clean energy transition

• BRICS countries make up half of the world’s power capacity. Amongst the top ten coal producers globally, China, India, South Africa and Russia account for 99% of operating coal capacity.
• Coal has the largest share of total power capacity in China (41%), India (51%) & South Africa (70%).
• Russia, Egypt, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates are among the top ten oil and gas producers globally.

{GS3 – IS – Laws} Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958

• Context (BS): AFSPA extended in 4 districts of Assam amid recent turmoil in Bangladesh.

History of AFSPA

• British Ordinance 1942: It was enacted during WW II to control the Indian independence movement.
• Initial Imposition in Naga Hills in 1958 was primarily to address rising insurgencies and to restore order amid violent separatist movements led by the Naga National Council (NNC).
• Expansion to Other Northeastern States (1960s-1980s) AFSPA was extended to other northeastern states, including Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.
• Extension to Jammu and Kashmir in 1990 amid an increase in militancy and separatist movements, particularly with the rise of armed insurgent groups like Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
• Amendments to the AFSPA in 1972, allowed the central government to declare any area as “disturbed” and to apply AFSPA without consent from the respective state governments.

Recent impositions and withdrawals

• Withdrawal in Tripura (2015) due to significant improvements in law and order and a decline in insurgency-related violence, indicating a shift towards normalcy in the region.
• Withdrawal in Meghalaya (2018) as the state reported a peaceful environment with reduced violence from insurgent groups, reflecting progress in reconciliation and strengthening civil governance.
• Extended the AFSPA by The Union Home Ministry in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for an additional 6 months, effective from October 1, 2024.

Features of the AFSPA

• Declaration of Disturbed Areas under Section 3 of AFSPA by the Governor, UT Administrator, or the Central Government can through a notification in the Official Gazette.
• Special Powers for Armed Forces: Section 4 grants armed forces personnel special powers to use force, including lethal measures, against individuals violating laws or engaging in unlawful activities.
• Powers of Arrest without Warrant: Empowers armed forces to arrest individuals without a warrant if there is reasonable suspicion of their involvement in unlawful activities.
• Search and Seizure: Permits armed forces to enter and search premises without a warrant, facilitating swift action against insurgents or lawbreakers.
• Prohibition of Assembly: Prohibits gatherings of five or more individuals in disturbed areas, aiming to prevent potential unrest or violence.
• Immunity from Prosecution: Section 6 Provides legal protection to armed forces personnel from prosecution for actions taken under AFSPA unless the Central Government allows it.
• Periodic Review: The status of disturbed areas and the necessity of AFSPA are subject to periodic review by the government, allowing for adjustments based on the prevailing law-and-order situation.

Positive implications of AFSPA

• Operational Flexibility: The powers under AFSPA allow for fast action without legal delays. In 2017, an operation in Nagaland under AFSPA led to the elimination of several key insurgents from NSCN-K.
• Legal Protection: AFSPA provides immunity to armed forces personnel from prosecution, allowing them to perform their duties without fear of legal reprisals.
• Ensuring National Security by securing areas vulnerable to insurgency and foreign threats. Operations in Manipur under AFSPA have been instrumental in curbing drug trafficking from the Golden Triangle.
• Deterring Insurgency: The presence of AFSPA creates a deterrence against anti-national activities and strengthens security in border areas.
• Restoring Political Stability where civilian administration is weak due to insurgency. AFSPA in Assam helped stabilize the state and allowed for the conduct of elections.

Challenges of AFSPA

• Human Rights Violations: As of 2020, there were more than 1,500 extrajudicial killings attributed to AFSPA in Manipur (as per the Supreme Court’s data).
• Alienation of Local Populations: The continued presence of armed forces under AFSPA often leads to alienation and mistrust among civilians.
• Prolonged Enforcement: AFSPA has been in force for decades in certain areas without showing substantial improvement in peace. Nagaland has been under AFSPA since 1958, yet insurgency persists.
• Psychological Impact on Civilians: Continuous military presence affects the mental health of local populations, instilling fear and trauma.
• Judicial Criticism: SC 2016 ruling questioned justification behind excessive use of force under AFSPA.

Way Forward

• Phased Withdrawal as law-and-order situations improve. AFSPA was lifted from Tripura, Meghalaya and some parts of north eastern states after a significant reduction in insurgent activities.
• Strengthening Accountability for independent investigations. The 2005 Jeevan Reddy Committee recommended the repeal of AFSPA and replacing it with a more humane legal framework.
• Balancing Security and Rights for not infringing on fundamental rights. The Supreme Court’s ruling on “encounter killings” (2016) emphasized human rights in AFSPA regions.
• Political Dialogue with insurgent groups can help in reducing dependence on military measures. E.g. Naga peace accord 2015 Indian government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland.
• Increased Focus on Development: Address the root causes of insurgency by promoting economic development and improving infrastructure in disturbed areas.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Anguiculus dicaprioi

• Context (DTE): New snake species in the Western Himalayas named after Leonardo Di Caprio.

Credits: DH

• Anguiculus dicaprioi is a member of the Colubridae, the largest family of snakes.
• Distribution: Found in Chamba, Kullu and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, Nainital in Uttarakhand and Chitwan National Park in Nepal.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans)

• Context (IE): This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is the fourth Nobel Prize resulting from Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) research.

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans)

• C. elegans, commonly known as “the worm,” is widely used to study brain and cell functions.
• It is a small, transparent nematode that thrives in temperate soil environments. Its name is derived from a combination of Greek and Latin words, meaning “rod-like” and “elegant.”

Why is it important in research?

• Simpler anatomy: C. elegans lacks both respiratory and circulatory systems.
• Self-fertilisation: Being hermaphrodites, they are capable of producing both eggs and sperm.
• Manageability: With only 959 cells, it is an ideal model for studying fundamental biological processes.
• Transparency: The worm’s transparency allows scientists to track cell development under a microscope.
• Rapid Life Cycle: The worms grow quickly, reaching adulthood in 3-5 days after hatching from eggs.
• Genome Sequencing: It was the first animal to have a fully sequenced genome.

Four Nobel Prizes based on C. elegans

• 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Awarded for research on how healthy cells are programmed to self-destruct, a process that malfunctions in diseases like AIDS.
• 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Recognised the discovery of gene silencing, which led to the development of a new class of drugs.
• 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Honored the invention of Cellular “lanterns” using C. elegans, which allowed scientists to visualise cellular processes.
• 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Gary Ruvkun and Victor Ambros for their work on microRNA regulating gene expression, aided by C. elegans.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Gondwanax paraisensis 

• Context (IE): Fossil of a reptile called Gondwanax paraisensis was discovered in southern Brazil.

• Gondwanax means “lord of Gondwana,” referring to the southern part of the supercontinent Pangaea, paraisensis honors the town of Paraiso do Sul where the fossil was found.

• Belongs to a group of extinct reptiles, silesaurids. Lived in southern Brazil during the Triassic period.
• It is small, four-legged reptile, roughly the size of a small dog.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Jumping spiders ‘Tenkana’

• Context (TH): A new genus of jumping spiders, Tenkana, was discovered in southern India.

• It includes two previously known species and a new species, Tenkana jayamangali are moved from Colopsus genus to newly introduced genus Tenkana.
• The name Tenkana is derived from the Kannada word for “south,” indicating the geographical distribution of these spiders in southern India and northern Sri Lanka.
• Tenkana jayamangali: Named after the Jayamangali River in Karnataka, where it was first discovered.
• Tenkana manu: Found in south India and Sri Lanka, named after Dr. Manu Thomas.
• Tenkana arkavathi: Found in Karnataka, named after Arkavathi river.

{Prelims – In News} Cloud Chamber (CC)

• Context (IE): India is Building a Cloud Chamber (CC) at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, as Part of Mission Mausam.

• CC is a closed cylindrical or tubular structure where water vapour, aerosols, and seed particles (for cloud formation) are injected under controlled humidity and temperature conditions.
• It is designed to study cloud droplet formation and the behaviour of ice particles and monsoon clouds.
• It will allow detailed studies of cloud physics, including cloud behaviour under both normal and extreme weather conditions. These studies will contribute to the strategic planning of weather modification, including cloud seeding.

{Prelims – PIN World – Africa} Barberton Greenstone Belt

• Context (TH): Researchers have assessed the effects of an ancient meteorite impact in Barberton Greenstone Belt that acted as a giant fertiliser bomb for life on Earth.

• The meteorite delivered a large amount of phosphorous, a nutrient for microbes crucial for the molecules central to storing and conveying genetic information.
• It also mixed iron-rich deep waters into shallower waters, creating an environment ideal for microbes.

Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB)

• It is located in the Kapvaal craton of southeastern Africa.

Credits: Researchgate

• It is a rugged mountain terrain of substantially untransformed Archaean rocks.
• It contains the best-preserved, oldest (the lowermost volcanic rocks are almost 3.5 billion years old), and most diverse sequence of volcanic and sedimentary rocks on Earth unaffected by subduction (and metamorphism) and erosion.
• Makhonjwa Mountains make up 40% of the Barberton belt. Komati River flows through the belt.
• BGB’s outcrops were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} Nuclear powered ballistic Submarine (S4*)

• Context (TH): India’s fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), S4*, was launched.

• S4* is bigger than INS Arihant (S2) which was developed under the Advanced Technology Vessel programme. S4* carries the advanced 3,500 km range submarine-launched ballistic missile K-4.
• First Three Submarines: INS Arihant (S2), INS Arighaat (S3), Aridhman (S4, currently undergoing sea trials and is expected to be commissioned next year).
• With successful return of INS Arihant’s first deterrence patrol India completed its nuclear triad in 2018.

Basic principles of India’s nuclear doctrine

• It is based on Credible Minimum Deterrence (CMD) and a No-First-Use (NFU) policy.
• Credible Minimum Deterrence (CMD): It emphasises maintaining a nuclear arsenal sufficient to deter adversaries but not excessively large.
• No First Use (NFU): India commits to not using nuclear weapons unless first attacked by an adversary using nuclear weapons.

{Prelims – S&T – Space} Intelsat 33e Communications Satellite

• Context (TH|DTE): Intelsat 33e, a Boeing-made communications satellite, disintegrated in orbit.

• It was launched in 2016 as part of the Intelsat EpicNG series, which provides advanced broadband and data services across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Read More > Space Debris, Global efforts to deal with space debris.