Current Affairs – September 01-02, 2024

{GS1 – Geo – PG – Climatology} A Rare August Cyclone: ‘Asna’

• Context (TH): The North Indian Ocean, vital for summer monsoon moisture, is paradoxically the least active cyclone region despite warm tropical oceans.
• A unique cyclone season here is shaped by factors that both promote and suppress cyclogenesis, influenced by global warming.

Cyclone Asna

• The rare August cyclone, ‘Asna’, is noteworthy for its land-born origin, developing from a strong depression over land before transitioning onto the Arabian Sea.
• This is the first North Indian Ocean cyclone in August since 1981, highlighting its unusual nature.
• The low-pressure system that became ‘Asna’ grew rapidly over land, fed by excess soil moisture from heavy rainfall. The depression’s unusual size and strength allowed it to reach the warm northern Arabian Sea and it provided the energy for the depression to intensify into a cyclone.
• The Arabian Sea warming, linked to the northward shift of the low-level jet, has led to its formation.

Typically, low-pressure systems originate in the Bay of Bengal and traverse the monsoon zone.

Two Cyclone Seasons

• During the monsoon, strong southwesterly winds, or the low-level jets, cool the Arabian Sea by mixing cold subsurface waters with surface waters.
• In contrast, the Bay of Bengal’s strong convective activity generates many low-pressure systems, but these rarely develop into cyclones due to vertical wind shear, dissipating their energy.
• Thus, the North Indian Ocean experiences two distinct cyclone seasons – pre-monsoon and post-monsoon – due to the influence of monsoonal winds and sea surface temperatures.
• The Arabian Sea is less prone to cyclones due to cooler temperatures, stronger wind shear, and lower convective activity than the Bay of Bengal.
• Despite a slight increase in cyclone numbers since 2010, the Arabian Sea has been notably calm recently.
• Also, the northeast monsoon and dry continental air cool the Arabian Sea post-monsoon, further inhibiting cyclone development.

Unusual Indian Ocean

• The Indian Ocean is notable for its monsoonal circulation and seasonal wind reversals north of the equator. It’s also unique due to ‘oceanic tunnels’ connecting it to the Pacific and Southern Oceans.
• The Pacific tunnel brings warm water to the upper layers (top 500 metres), while the Southern Ocean tunnel brings cooler waters below 1 km.
• During pre-monsoon season, the Arabian Sea heats up quickly as the Sun shifts to the Northern Hemisphere. Bay of Bengal, already warmer than the Arabian Sea, heats up further, triggering atmospheric convection and rainfall. These conditions influence cyclogenesis.

Climate Change and the Indian Ocean

• Increased heat from the Pacific and Southern Oceans, combined with atmospheric changes, is rapidly warming the North Indian Ocean, affecting monsoons, cyclogenesis, and cyclone numbers.
• The rapid warming is impacting global ocean dynamics, influencing heat uptake by the Pacific and deep water circulation in the North Atlantic, making it a key player in global climate change and cyclone activity.

Read more > Tropical Cyclones.

{GS1 – WH – Events} Munich Agreement and World War II

• Context (IE): On September 1, 1939, German troops marched into Poland, triggering the beginning of World War II. War exposed the folly of the Munich Agreement signed in 1938.

About the Munich Agreement

• The agreement was signed among Germany, France, Italy, and Great Britain on September 29-30, 1938.
• Great Britain’s PM strongly supported Hitler’s appeasement in an attempt to keep the peace in Europe.
• In return for European peace, the Sudetenland region was permitted to be annexed by the Germans.
• Czechoslovakia, the country whose region was about to be annexed, was not officially party to the Agreement and was forced to sign the deal.
• Hitler went back on his commitment to invade whole of Czechoslovakia, creating a trigger for WW II.

{GS2 – Governance – Issues} Nationalisation of Karunanidhi’s Works

• Context (IE): The Tamil Nadu government announced the nationalisation of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s works, making them freely available for the public to publish, translate, and adapt.

Copyright Act, 1957

• Under the Copyright Act of 1957, authors hold legal rights to reproduce, adapt, or translate their work.
• Original literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works are protected for 60 years after the year following the author’s death.

Nationalisation Process of Copyright

• Section 18 of the Act permits the “assignment” of copyright to another party, such as a government entity, in return for compensation.
• The Tamil Nadu government has been nationalising works, placing them in the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 license, allowing free use by anyone without permission.

Past Examples

• The first Indian literary work to be nationalised- was Tamil poet Subramania Bharati’s in 1949.
• Dr. Ambedkar’s works were nationalised by Maharashtra, making them publicly available.

Tamil Virtual Academy (TVA) Founded by the Tamil Nadu govt in 2001. TVA works with heirs to transfer copyright to the state. The legacy of 179 Tamil scholars is honoured with ₹14.42 crore in royalties given to their families.

{GS2 – Governance – Laws} Rights of the Accused in Recent PMLA Cases

• Context (IE): In a series of decisions, the Supreme Court has emphasised the rights of individuals accused of money laundering despite the strict arrest and bail provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

• In Vijay Madanlal Choudhary vs. Union of India (2022), all challenged PMLA provisions were upheld, including restrictive bail conditions and the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED’s) broad powers. However, these powers have recently been limited through small interventions.

On the Grounds of Arrest

• Section 19 of the PMLA allows the ED to arrest someone if it has reason to believe they are guilty of money laundering. The accused must be promptly informed of the arrest grounds.
• In the Vijay Madanlal case, the court ruled that the ED is not required to give the accused a copy of the Enforcement Case Information Report, only to inform them of the arrest grounds.
• In Pankaj Bansal v. UoI (2023), the SC noted that arrest grounds were given orally or in writing. Under Article 22 of the Constitution, the court ruled that the accused has a fundamental right to be informed of the arrest grounds in writing; otherwise, the arrest is illegal.

On Bail for Undertrials

• Section 436A of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, mandates bail for anyone detained for half the maximum imprisonment time for their offence during trial or investigation.
• In the Vijay Madanlal Case, the bench ruled that this applies to PMLA cases, too. The court affirmed this in Ajay Ajit Peter Kerkar vs. Directorate of Enforcement.
• Section 436A has been replaced by Section 479 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which affects PMLA cases. E.g., a new section states that bail provisions do not apply if multiple offences or cases are pending, which is common in money laundering cases.

On ‘Need and Necessity to Arrest’

• The SC granted interim bail to Delhi CM, who argued that his arrest under Section 19 of the PMLA was illegal since the ED had the material in July 2023 but arrested him only in March 2024.
• As Section 19(1) provides that the ED must have “reason to believe” that the accused is “guilty”, the court stated that these reasons must be strong and in the form of “evidence admissible in court”.
• The court also referred to a five-judge bench on the issue of whether “need and necessity to arrest” is a valid ground for challenging an arrest under the PMLA.

On Relaxing ‘Twin Conditions’

• Section 45 of the PMLA sets stringent “twin conditions” for bail, requiring the accused to prove they haven’t committed an offence (reversing the standard burden of proof in criminal cases) and won’t commit any while on bail.
• However, while granting bail to Delhi Deputy CM in the Delhi excise policy case, the SC held that these conditions could be relaxed if the accused has undergone a long period of incarceration.
• The SC stated that the right to a speedy trial and personal liberty are sacrosanct.

On Bail Exception for Women

• The SC granted bail to K Kavitha in the excise policy case and applied Section 45 of PMLA. Section 45 states that a person under 16, a woman, and the sick or infirm may be released on bail if the Special Court so directs.

• The SC bench rejected the Delhi HC’s bail denial for Kavitha based on her being “well-educated” and not a “vulnerable woman”.

On Confession to ED Officer

• Section 50 of the PMLA allows the ED to summon anyone for statements during an investigation.
• In the Vijay Madanlal Case, the court ruled that this does not violate the right against self-incrimination under Article 20(3) of the Constitution.
• Under Section 25 of the Evidence Act, 1872 (now Section 23 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023), confessions made to police officers are not admissible as evidence during trial.
• In Prem Prakash vs. UoI (2024), the SC stated that a person in custody may not act with a free mind. It cited past SC judgments, which held that evidence obtained through coerced testimony violates the right against self-incrimination.

{GS2 – IR – Africa} Oil Prices Remain Subdued Despite Global Tensions

• Context (IE): Despite ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and political turmoil in Libya, oil prices have remained relatively stable. Investors are prioritising ample global supplies over geopolitical risks.

Libya’s Political Dispute Impacts on Oil Production

• Libya’s political dispute (a power struggle between competing governments) has led to the closure of many oil fields, reducing the country’s oil production by over 60%.
• The disruption has slightly raised oil prices but has had a limited impact on the global market.

Factors Contributing to Subdued Oil Prices

• Ample Global Supplies: Analysts suggest the world has ample oil supplies. Despite rising demand, production is anticipated to keep up.
• OPEC+ Cuts: The OPEC+ alliance has cut production by about 5% of global demand, offset by increased output from other countries – Brazil, Canada, Guyana, and the United States.
• Decrease in Demand: Global oil demand growth is projected to slow to 1 million barrels per day in 2024, less than half of 2023’s increase, driven by China’s decelerating consumption and the rise of EVs.
• Saudi Arabia and its allies plan to gradually increase oil production starting in October 2024.

Read more > OPEC and OPEC+.

{GS2 – MoAFW – Initiatives} Foot-and-Mouth Disease-Free Zones

• Context (TH): The Union government plans to create foot-and-mouth disease-free zones in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

• This initiative aims to boost India’s animal product exports and enhance its global market presence.
• Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious and can significantly impact livestock health and productivity.
• By establishing zones free from this disease, India can demonstrate to international markets its commitment to animal health and safety.
• The government will enhance regional animal disease prioritisation to address specific diseases, ensuring tailored and effective control and prevention strategies nationwide.
• The government is also implementing advanced vaccination programs in the eight selected states to prevent FMD and maintain disease-free zones.

About Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)

• Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, fast-spreading viral illness affecting cloven-hoofed animals (those with divided hooves) like cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and deer. It does not affect horses.
• FMD does not pose a human health or food safety risk and is unrelated to hand, foot, and mouth disease, a separate childhood illness. It is not transmitted to humans by eating affected meat.
• FMD in infected animals causes fever, drooling, reluctance to move, and fluid-filled blisters on lips, tongue, feet, and teats. These blisters burst, leaving painful ulcers lasting up to 10 days to heal.
• The disease spreads rapidly, especially in cool, damp conditions or when animals are closely housed. It is transmitted through breath, saliva, mucus, milk, and faeces and can spread before clinical signs appear.
• FMD spreads between farms mainly through the movement of infected animals.
• FMD is found in Asia (including Indonesia), the Middle East, Africa, and parts of South America, with different virus strains prevailing in various regions.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – FRs} Safe harbour protection

• Context (IE): The legal action initiated by the French authorities against Telegram head Durov impinges on the “safe harbour protection” of social media platforms.

• Since social media platforms cannot initially control users’ posts, they should not be held legally liable for any objectionable content they host. However, the social media platform must be willing to take down such content when flagged by the government or courts.
• Safe harbour is viewed as a basic tenet enabling freedom of expression.
• In the United States, social media platforms are protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
• Section 79 of India’s Information Technology Act, 2000 classifies social media platforms as intermediaries and broadly shields them from legal action over the content that users post.

Challenges to Safe Harbour Protection in India

• India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology instructed YouTube, Telegram, and X to remove all child sexual abuse-related content.
• Under the Information Technology Rules, 2021, social media companies with more than 5 million Indian users must appoint a chief compliance officer who can be criminally liable for such violations.
• Digital India Bill also considers rationalising safe harbour protection.

Also, refer to Judicial Clarity on Free Speech to know more.

{GS3 – Agri – Crops} Rice vs. Wheat: A Diverging Path

• Context (IE): Rice and wheat have long been considered as a pair, often grouped under the umbrella of “cereal surplus” and “mono-cropping.”

• However, the current realities of production and consumption have highlighted the distinct challenges and opportunities these two grains face.

Rice Surplus vs. Wheat Shortage

• India has produced surplus rice recently, leading to record exports and overflowing government stocks. Despite these exports, rice stocks remain at an all-time high.
• Wheat production in India has faced challenges, resulting in a significant export decline and depleted government stocks. To address the shortage, the government has restricted wheat exports.

Production Factors

• Geography and Seasonality: Rice is grown in the kharif and rabi seasons across a wider range of regions. However, wheat is primarily a rabi crop concentrated in a few northern and central states.
• Climate Change has affected wheat production, with shorter, warmer winters impacting yields.
• Water Availability: Rice production is limited by water availability, but irrigation advancements have helped increase yields in some regions. E.g. Telangana.

Top Rice Producing States: West Bengal, UP, Punjab, Telangana, and Odisha. Top Wheat Producing States: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

Consumption Patterns

• Wheat consumption is rising, particularly in processed forms like refined flour (maida) used in various bakery and convenience products. Despite its lower nutritional value, maida is popular for its versatility and longer shelf life.
• Rice consumption remains steady, with less processing and convenience product innovation than wheat. Thus, domestic consumption has not kept pace with the growing rice production.

Policy Implications

• Given the challenges, India may become a wheat importer in the short term. Improving yields and developing climate-resistant wheat varieties are essential for the long term.
• With surplus production, the government should consider lifting export bans and duties on Rice to manage excess stocks. This would help balance domestic production with global demand.

{GS3 – Envi – Issues} Namibia kills wild animals

• Context (IE): Amid severe drought, Namibia plans to cull wild animals for meat to provide food security.

• 723 animals, including hippos, buffaloes, impalas, wildebeest, zebras, elephants, and elands, are being culled in Namibia, with over 150 already killed and yielding 63 tonnes of meat.

Drought Severity

• Namibia declared a national emergency due to a severe drought that started in October 2023, affecting countries like Botswana, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
• The drought has led to crop failures and livestock deaths, impacting 1.2 million people. El Niño has also exacerbated the situation.

Namibia experienced previous droughts, with national emergencies declared in 2013, 2016, and 2019.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} SJVN Achieves Navratna Status

• Context (PIB): SJVN (Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam), a leading Indian power company, has been awarded the prestigious Navratna status (25th Navratna company) by the Government of India.

• SJVN was accorded the Miniratna status in 2008.

Implications of the Navratna Status

• The Navratna status grants greater financial and operational freedom, allowing the company to invest in its projects without any financial ceiling and invest up to 30% of its net worth annually.
• It also enables SJVN to form joint ventures, set up overseas subsidiaries, and undertake organisational restructuring to optimise its operations.

Read more > Navratna Status.

{GS3 – IE – Trade} Anti-Dumping Duty on Aluminium Foil Imports

• Context (IE | TH): The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recommended an anti-dumping duty on aluminium foil imports from China, noting that they have captured 30% of the Indian market despite adequate domestic capacity.
• The DGTR reported that imports of aluminium foil up to 80 microns, except those below 5.5 microns for non-capacitor uses, are lowering domestic prices, forcing the industry to sell below production costs.

Aluminium foil is mainly used as a packaging material to conserve and preserve edible products.

Challenges in the Imposition of Anti-Dumping Duty

• Creation of a monopoly: The big domestic producers held about 45% of capacity and 54% of production. Thus, the imposition of anti-dumping duty will monopolise the market in favour of these producers.
• Harming downstream producers: Anti-dumping duties would harm downstream producers by increasing costs and reducing product quality and lead times.
• Increase in imports of finished goods from other countries

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Cannibal Spiders in Western ghats

• Context (IE): New species of spiders were collected from the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka and Kerala’s Ernakulam district.

• The two new spider species, Mimetus spinatus and Mimetus parvulus, belong to the Mimetidae family, known as pirate or cannibal spiders for their unique predatory behaviour.
• Mimetus spinatus is medium-sized with a pale yellow head, dull gray-white abdomen, and long black spine-like hairs on its head.
• Mimetus parvulus has a pale creamy-rose head with grey-black mottling, a triangular gray-white abdomen with many tubercles, and short copulatory ducts in the female.
• These spiders use aggressive mimicry to deceive and kill host spiders by mimicking prey or mate vibrations. They also practice kleptoparasitism, stealing prey and feeding on other spiders’ eggs.
• This discovery increases the number of Mimetus spider species in India to three, all found in the southern part of the country. The first Mimetus spider was discovered 118 years ago.

{Prelims – In News} 3D Urban Growth

• Context (TH): Cities worldwide, especially in Asia, are expanding upwards faster than outwards.

• Scatterometers (satellite sensors that send and receive microwave pulses) are used to track changes in the volume of city structures. Microwave data suggested the volume of city structures was soaring.

Microwave pulses are brief bursts of microwave radiation emitted by sensors or transmitters. Microwave radiation is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths from 1 mm to 30 cm and frequencies between 1 and 300 GHz. It is used in communications, radar, and remote sensing because it can penetrate clouds and rain. Its wavelength is shorter than radio waves but longer than infrared waves.

Issues with 3D Urban Growth

• Sustainability: Such growth must be supported with more jobs, good public transport to reduce emissions, robust infrastructure with decent sewage and water systems, meeting greater energy demands, etc.
• Local environment and climate: Taller buildings without tree cover can also create an urban heat island effect, affecting temperatures and rainfall in cities.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio} New Target for Cancer Treatment

• Context (TH): Using human breast cancer cells, Indian scientists have discovered a new target for killing cancer cells, potentially leading to new therapies.

Current Target in Cancer Treatment

• Current anti-cancer drugs, camptothecin, topotecan, and irinotecan, target topoisomerase 1 (Top1).
• Top1, an enzyme found in all higher organisms, is crucial in maintaining the DNA structure during replication and transcription.
• Drugs targeting Top1 disrupt its activity, causing the death of many cells, including cancer cells.
• Issue: Cancer cells can develop resistance to treatment by using their intrinsic DNA repair toolbox.

New Targets to Overcome Resistance to Treatment

• Developing novel anti-cancer therapeutics may become possible through the combinatorial targeting of two key molecules: the CDK1 protein and the TDP1 enzyme.
• TDP1 plays a role in repairing the DNA damage in cancer cells.
• CDK1 can disrupt the Top1-mediated DNA damage repair process, potentially killing cancer cells.
• Combining CDK1 and Top1 inhibitors can be highly effective against cancer cells.
• While Top1 inhibitors cause DNA damage, CDK1 inhibitors prevent repair and stop the cell cycle, improving treatment effectiveness by targeting different aspects of the cell cycle and DNA replication.
• CDK1 inhibitors, avotaciclib, alvocidib, roniciclib, riviciclib, and dinaciclib, are currently in various stages of clinical trials.
• While the study focused on human breast cancer cells, the new techniques may also benefit patients with ovarian, colorectal, and small-cell lung cancers (strongly linked to tobacco smoking).

Reforming the Process of Judicial Appointments

• Context (TH): According to the Department of Justice report, as of April 2024, over 60 lakh cases were pending in various High Courts, with 30% of judicial seats vacant.

Collegium System vs. NJAC

• The Supreme Court struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014, and the 99th Constitution Amendment, arguing that they would undermine judicial independence.
• NJAC proposed replacing the collegium system. However, NJAC was struck down by the Supreme Court, raising concerns about judicial independence, compromising impartiality, and government control.

Article 50 of the Indian Constitution (under DPSP) requires the state to separate the judiciary from the executive in public services.

International Models of Judicial Appointments

• United Kingdom: The Judicial Appointments Commission, established by the Constitutional Reform Act (2005), includes 15 members from the judiciary, legal professions, etc., ensuring balanced nominations.
• South Africa: The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) advises the President on appointments and comprises the Chief Justice, the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the Minister of Justice, legal professionals, representatives from the National Assembly and the President.
• France: Judicial appointments are managed by the High Council of the Judiciary, with lower court appointments also involving consultation with the Minister of Justice, incorporating diverse stakeholders.

Reworking the NJAC

• The NJAC had the potential to streamline judicial appointments through its democratic structure. In contrast, the current collegium system lacks transparency and may allow favouritism. Reworking the NJAC could offer a more efficient method of appointing judges while maintaining judicial independence.
• It is essential to incorporate judiciary, executive, and civil society feedback to balance efficiency and integrity in judicial appointments.
• A reformed NJAC could foster better communication between the different branches of government and address the perceived drawbacks of the collegium system.

Read more > Recruitment of Judges in Lower Judiciary.