Current Affairs – September 05, 2024

{GS1 – Geo – PG – Climatology} Role of Arctic Sea Ice in Indian Monsoon

Context (TH): A Ministry of Earth Sciences study found that seasonal changes in the Arctic sea ice affect the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR).

Less sea ice in the central Arctic leads to lower rain in western and peninsular India but more rain in central and northern India.
Less sea ice in the Barents-Kara Sea region delays and makes the monsoon more unpredictable. It also leads to heavy rain in northeastern India, leaving central and northwest regions drier.
Role of climate change: Global warming, which accelerates the reduction of Arctic sea ice, is exacerbating the ISMR’s variability and unpredictability.

Source: Wikipedia

{GS1 – IS – Issues} Addressing Rising Income Inequality **

Context (TH): Income inequality is a major global issue demanding a multifaceted approach. To achieve equity, we must transition from “economies of scope and scale” to an “economy of purpose.”

Key Strategies to Combat Income Inequality

Implementing Progressive Taxation

Progressive tax policies are essential for redistributing wealth from the affluent to the marginalised.
Rather than penalising the rich, these taxes fund essential services like health, education, skill development, environmental protection, and job creation.

Enhancing Education and Skill Development

Access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities is critical. They significantly enhance employability and increase earning potential for individuals across all socioeconomic levels.

Enforcing Fair Labour Laws

Strong labour laws are essential for protecting workers. This includes enforcing minimum wages, ensuring safety, eliminating child labour, protecting against exploitation, and supporting collective bargaining to ensure equitable benefits from economic growth.

Investing in Infrastructure

Investing in infrastructure reduces regional disparities and supports sustainable development. Environmental protection, water and sanitation, energy, housing, and transportation are key areas.

Encouraging Contributions from the Super-Rich

Initiatives like the ‘Giving Pledge,’ started by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, encourage the super-rich to donate more than half of their wealth for public benefit. As of 2023, over 235 wealthy individuals from 28 countries have committed $600 billion to this cause.
Many advanced countries have implemented special inheritance taxes for large asset transfers among the super-rich. E.g., Japan (55%), South Korea(50%), France (45%), and the United States (40%).

Addressing Inequality and Promoting Inclusion in India

The World Inequality Lab reports that India’s top 1% holds a disproportionately large share of national income, surpassing even the inequality seen during British colonial rule.

Shifting Focus to Purposeful Economics

The discussion surrounding income inequality is not about increasing taxes for the middle class or the wealthy. Instead, it focuses on finding resources to:
- Lift millions out of poverty and unemployment
- Encourage value addition through production and efficiency
- Promote quality and sustainable consumption
- Foster inclusion, sustainability, dignity, and justice

Strategies for Resilience in Uncertain Times

To create resilience in the face of economic uncertainty, India should consider:
- Reflecting on and developing a policy framework that ensures growth with justice and hope.
- Learning from global experiences and leveraging India’s innovative capabilities.
- Recognising that globalisation and market liberalisation are not panaceas but strategies requiring constant vigilance and adjustment.

Embracing a Gandhian Model of Development

In our hyper-connected world, the Gandhian model of development emphasises decentralisation, local needs and resources, promoting local production, and adhering to the “small is beautiful” philosophy. It offers valuable insights for ensuring local employment and prosperity.

Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Investing in SMEs and local innovations is crucial for scaling up to global markets. This requires:
- Changing banking preferences to support small loans for SMEs.
- Leveraging digital technology for financial services.
- Developing unique production centres across India’s 800 districts, each with its digital platform for networking and supply chain management.

Way Forward

Future job opportunities will emerge in sectors like food, education, health services, tourism, etc.
The future lies in adopting a tech-driven economic model prioritising inclusion, basic human needs, decentralisation, conservation, and non-violence.
A lifestyle change is needed, focusing on finding happiness through “sharing and caring” rather than engaging in conspicuous consumption.

{GS2 – Governance – Laws} State Amendments to Rape Laws

Context (IE): The West Bengal Assembly has passed the Aparajita Bill, mandating the death penalty for rape cases, aligning with recent in Andhra Pradesh (Disha Bill) & Maharashtra (Shakti Bill).

Key Provisions of the Bills

All three bills—Aparajita, Disha, and Shakti—introduce the death penalty as a potential punishment for rape, particularly in cases involving severe injuries or death to the victim.
Each bill establishes special courts and task forces to handle these matters. The bills also impose strict timelines for completing investigations and trials.
Beyond the death penalty, the bills also introduce various measures like increased penalties for repeat offenders, stricter regulations for social media platforms, and measures to protect the identity of victims to enhance the protection of women and children.

Need for Presidential Assent

Criminal law and criminal procedure are included in the Concurrent List (outlines subjects on which both the union and state governments can legislate) on the 7^th schedule of the constitution.
When a state law amends a central law in a manner that conflicts or is inconsistent with the original legislation, it is considered “repugnant“. It requires the President’s assent to come into force.
Article 254 of IC stipulates that if a state law is inconsistent with a central law, the central law shall prevail. However, if the President gives his assent to the state law, it will take precedence over the central law to the extent of the inconsistency else it will be invalidated.

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} Annual meeting of Pacific Islands Forum *

Context (IE): Pacific Summit erases mention of Taiwan after China’s anger. The annual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting took place in Nuku’alofa, the capital of Tonga.

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

Source: Pacific Islands Forum

Formed in 1971, PIF is an intergovernmental organisation with 18 members located in Pacific region.
Member states: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Associated members: Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna.

{GS2 – IR – Middle East} Brief history of Iran-US ties **

Context (IE): Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei signalled re-opening negotiations with the United States.

Deterioration of ties

Pre-1953 coup: The UK had exercised control of Iran’s oil resources. Democratically elected leader Mohammad Mosaddegh sought to nationalise oil profits and severed diplomatic ties with the UK.
1953 coup: The UK and the US staged a coup which led to Mossadegh’s arrest. Iran’s monarch, the Shah Pahlavi, assumed power with US backing and restored diplomatic ties with the UK.
Iranian Revolution in 1979: Following violence and public protests, the Shah left for US. Khomeini then established an Islamic republic.
Iran Hostage Crisis 1979: For 444 days, 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage by pro-revolution Iranians in the US embassy in Tehran on condition that the Shah go back to Iran, leading to the US formally ending ties with Iran.
Iran-Iraq war (1980-88): The US later backed Iraq in its war with Iran (1980-88).

US sanctions against Iran

Executive Order 12170: In 1979, a trade embargo and $12 billion were frozen in Iranian assets.
Iraq-Iran war: Arms embargo on Iran, with the US naming it a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1984.
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (CISADA): In the 2010s, CISADA by the US imposed sanctions on foreign banks doing business with Iran.
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA): In 2015, Iran, the US, China, France, Russia, the UK, Germany, and the EU signed the JCPOA placing restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program for sanctions relief.
Fallout of JCPOA: The US left the deal in 2018, claiming it did not do enough to prohibit Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Israel Gaza conflict

The US, being Israel’s ally, defends Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.
Iran has also deemed the US and Israel as “Great Satan and Little Satan”.

Context (TH): The effectiveness of health sector allocations in the Union Budget largely depends on the fiscal capacity and operational frameworks at the State level.

Many of these allocations are for Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), which require substantial cost-sharing and implementation responsibilities from the states.

Key Centrally Sponsored Health Initiatives and Issues

Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)

It aims to strengthen physical health infrastructure by building health and wellness centres, developing block-level public health units, establishing integrated district public health laboratories, and creating critical care hospital blocks in each district.
The primary goal is to enhance India’s preparedness for future health emergencies, including pandemics.

Challenges and Factors Contributing to Low Fund Utilisation

In 2022-23, only 29% of the budgeted CSS component was spent under PM-ABHIM. The 2023-24 revised estimate was about 50% of the budget estimate, with actual expenditure expected to be lower.
For the AB-HWC component, 60% of funds were sourced from 15^th Finance Commission health grants, but only 45% were utilised between 2021-24 due to complex execution structures.
Delays in construction projects due to rigid procedures.
Complexity arising from overlapping funding sources for similar scheme components.

Human Resources for Health and Medical Education (HRHME)

The scheme focuses on scaling medical personnel by establishing new medical, nursing, and paramedical colleges, increasing seats in existing colleges, and strengthening and upgrading district hospitals.
Fund utilisation was only around 25% of budget estimates for both 2022-23 and 2023-24.

HRHME Challenges

Shortage of teaching faculty: Over 40% of faculty positions are vacant at 11 newly established AIIMS, and there are even greater shortages in State medical colleges. In 2022, 30% of teaching positions were vacant in 17 new Uttar Pradesh medical colleges.

States’ Fiscal Responsibility and Future Planning

Recurring maintenance costs: While the Union government supports human resources for infrastructure created under PM-ABHIM and HRHME until 2025-26, States must plan beyond that period.

Health Budget – 1.9% of GDP.
Out-of-pocket expenditure has decreased from 62% to 47.1% due to initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, which provides free drugs, diagnostics, and screenings.
55% of the total health budget is spent through the National Health Mission (NHM).
The budget allocation for the health sector has increased substantially from ₹33,278 crore in 2013-14 to ₹90,958 crore in 2024-25, registering a growth of 164%.

Way Forward

States need the financial ability to meet additional recurring infrastructure and human resources expenditures beyond the central support period.
Filling vacancies in medical institutions and ensuring adequate healthcare staff is essential.
Streamlining processes for fund utilisation and managing overlapping funding sources will be essential for efficient implementation.

{GS3 – Agri – Crops} Shifting Cropping Patterns in India **

Context (IE): Indian agriculture needs transformational changes to adapt, optimise resources, and drive future growth.

Traditional Cropping Patterns in India

Cropping pattern refers to the distribution of different crops within specific areas at times. These patterns have traditionally been shaped by the monsoons, which determine the country’s agricultural calendar – Kharif (monsoon), Rabi (winter), and Zaid (summer).

Kharif Season (July – Sept/Oct)

Relies on monsoon rains.
Major crops: Rice, maize, sorghum, millet, pulses (arhar, moong), and oilseeds (groundnut, soybean).

Rabi Season (Oct-Mar/Apr)

Crucial for food security.
Major crops: Wheat, barley, mustard, gram, lentils.

Zaid Season (Mar – June)

The short season between Kharif and Rabi.
Major Crops: Watermelon, cucumber, fodder crops, pumpkin, etc.
Thrive in warm, dry weather; grown using residual moisture or irrigation.

Shifts in Cropping Pattern

Increased Cropping Intensity

Cropping intensity has risen from 111% in 1950-51 to 151% in 2019-20, driven by population growth and the need to enhance productivity per unit area and time.

Reduction in Food Crop Dominance

The area under foodgrains in the gross cropped area has declined by 11.62% between 1970-71 and 2020-21. This reduction is mainly due to a decrease in the area under coarse cereals.
The land has been increasingly used for cultivating oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, and non-food crops.

Changes in Cropping Area

Traditional rice and wheat cultivation areas are seeing a gradual reduction.
High-value commercial crops (cotton and sugarcane) have increased significantly in terms of area share.
There’s been a notable decline in the area under coarse cereals (jowar, bajra, maize, millets, barley) and certain oilseeds like groundnut.

Challenges

The rise in high-value crops disrupts the balance with essential food grains, posing risks to staple food availability. Diversification must be balanced with sustainable resource management.
Ensuring a balance between commercial farming and food security for a growing population is a key challenge. Developing climate-resilient crops and practices is vital for future food security.

Factors Influencing Cropping Patterns in India

Environmental Factors

The diverse agro-climatic zones and variable soil types in India dictate the suitability of different crops.
The prevalence of pests and diseases also influences crop choices.
Climate change impacts, such as irregular rainfall patterns and extreme weather events, significantly affect Kharif and Rabi cropping yields. E.g. projections indicate that maize yields may decrease by 18% by 2050 due to climate change, while wheat yields could drop by 19.3% in the same timeframe.

Economic Factors

Market demand and prices for various crops play a crucial role in determining what farmers choose to cultivate. Economic incentives and profitability considerations drive the shift towards high-value commercial crops.

Cultural and Social Factors

Long-standing traditions, local customs, and cultural practices influence crop choices.
Certain crops may be cultivated for specific religious festivals or community needs, affecting the overall cropping pattern in different regions.
Influence of Landholding size: small-scale farmers typically grow subsistence crops, while larger landowners often prioritise cash crops for the market.

Technological Adoption

The use of modern farming techniques, high-yield variety (HYV) seeds, and mechanisation has enabled farmers to grow crops that may not have been traditionally viable in certain areas. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has contributed significantly through varietal improvement programs. Between 2014 and 2022, ICAR released 1,956 high-yielding crop varieties (1,622 climate-resilient).

Policy-Related Factors

Government policies regarding subsidies, credit facilities, crop insurance, and agricultural extension services can either encourage or discourage the cultivation of certain crops. For example, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops has been increased to ensure fair compensation for farmers.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} Food Irradiation

Context (IE): As India progresses towards Viksit Bharat in its 78^th year of Independence, improving food safety and minimising waste is crucial to ensuring a secure and nutritious food supply.

Food Irradiation Technology

Irradiation technology has emerged as a key method for extending the shelf life of food products.
The process involves exposing food to ionising radiation in a controlled environment to eliminate harmful microorganisms, prevent spoilage, and delay premature ripening or sprouting. This method reduces the need for chemical preservatives, contributing to a more sustainable food supply chain.
It also simplifies food safety practices and offers cost savings. The Indian food processing sector is expected to reach $535 billion by 2025-26.

Global Adoption and Standards

While food preservation through radiation is not new, modern interest has surged following global standards established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Countries like the US, Japan, Australia, Canada, and those in the EU extensively use irradiation for both domestic and export markets. For example, the 2012 agreement allowed Indian mangoes to be exported to the US after a 20-year ban, thus facilitating international trade.

Initiatives for food irradiation in India

The Union Budget 2024-25 has allocated funds to establish 50 multi-product food irradiation units in the MSME sector.
India has established 34 irradiation processing facilities nationwide, of which 16 are supported by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
To encourage growth, MoFPI offers financial assistance of up to Rs 10 crore per project for setting up food irradiation units that aim to boost the treatment of perishable produce like fruits and vegetables.
MoFPI has also invited “Expressions of Interest” from entrepreneurs under the Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure scheme.

Challenges

One major challenge is the high capital cost of establishing a facility. Single 1 MCi Cobalt 60 irradiation unit requires an investment of Rs 25-30 crores, excluding land and infrastructure costs.
The commissioning process involves multiple stages – site approval, safety assessments, and ongoing maintenance, overseen by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre & Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.

Read more > India’s Food Processing Industry.

{GS3 – IS – Insurgency} Tripura Peace Pact

Context (TH): The Union Government, Tripura state government, National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) signed a peace pact ending a 35-year-long conflict.

NLFT and ATTF have renounced violence and pledged to disband the militant organisation.
Union government has approved a special development package of ₹250 crore to improve the overall socio-economic conditions of the tribal population in the state, ensuring long-term peace & stability.

Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was completely withdrawn from Tripura in 2015 and Meghalaya in 2018. Contiunes in parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur.
It has never been put in force in Mizoram.

History of NLFT and ATTF Insurgency

The NLFT, active since 1989, was formed under the leadership of Biswamohan Debbarma to liberate Tripura from the Union of India and restore land rights to the indigenous tribal population.
The ATTF, established in 1990, shared similar objectives, including removing illegal migrants who entered Tripura after 1956.

{GS3 – S&T – AI} Project Strawberry

Context (IE): OpenAI is set to release its most powerful AI model, possibly integrated into ChatGPT-5.

Known as Project Strawberry, this model is expected to improve significantly AI’s reasoning, math, and programming abilities, bringing OpenAI closer to creating Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
It can generate high-quality synthetic data to fill gaps in real-world data & improve training accuracy.

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is AI with capabilities similar to those of the human brain.

Synthetic Data

Synthetic data is artificial data generated using algorithms to mimic real-world data. It’s created based on patterns and characteristics observed in existing real-world datasets.

Synthetic Data

Privacy and security: It can protect sensitive information by replacing real data with artificial equivalents.
Data scarcity: It can supplement or replace real data when it’s limited or difficult to obtain.
Bias and error mitigation: It can help reduce biases and errors in real-world datasets.
Safe experimentation: It provides a safe environment for testing and experimenting with data-driven models without risking real-world consequences.

{GS3 – S&T – BioTech} Genome Mapping of Chandipura Virus

Context (IE): Recently, the genome mapping of Chandipura Virus ( which causes encephalitis or brain swelling) has been carried out.

Genome Mapping

Genome mapping refers to determining the location of genes on an organism’s chromosomes.

Significance of Genome Mapping

Understanding Genetics: It helps us understand the genetic basis of traits, diseases, and evolution.
Medical research: Genome mapping is crucial for identifying disease-associated genes, leading to potential treatments and cures.
Personalised medicine: It can help tailor medical treatments to an individual’s genetic makeup.
Agriculture: It can develop crops with improved yields, resistance to pests, and high nutritional value.
Forensic science: DNA profiling, a technique based on genome mapping, is used in forensic investigations to identify individuals.

Genome Mapping of Viruses

Genome mapping helps track a virus’s origins, changes, and potentially harmful mutations that could affect its transmissibility or severity.
Sequencing viral genomes helps monitor viruses that could cause future outbreaks or pandemics.
It helps develop testing kits, vaccines, and therapeutics for treating or controlling viral infections.

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Third Energy field of Earth “Polar wind”

Context (IE): Endurance Mission data confirmed the existence of a weak electric field, ‘Polar wind’, which has existed alongside the other two energy fields—gravity and magnetic.
Bidirectional or ambipolar: It works in both directions. Ions pull the electrons down with them as they sink with gravity. At the same time, electrons lift ions against gravity, causing atmospheric escape.
The net effect is to extend the height of the atmosphere. According to NASA, this energy field has shaped the ionosphere – an upper atmosphere layer. This field increases the ionosphere’s density by 271 per cent, keeping it denser at greater heights.
Many of these ions remain bound inside Earth’s magnetic field, forming part of the radiation belts.
This field answers how Earth’s atmosphere evaporates rapidly above the north and south poles.
Any planet with an atmosphere is expected to have an ambipolar field.

NASA-funded Endurance was launched in 2022 from Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago and the only rocket range where one can fly through the polar wind to make the required measurements.

Atmospheric escape

It is the loss of planetary atmospheric gases to outer space. Mechanisms like thermal escape, non-thermal (or suprathermal) escape, and impact erosion can be responsible for it.

Case of Earth’s Atmospheric Escape

In the 1960s, several spacecraft that flew over the Earth’s poles witnessed a stream of particles from the atmosphere flowing into space at supersonic speeds.
Though sunlight caused particles to leak into space, the detected particles showed no signs of being heated. This intrigued them to the 60-year-long research behind the existence of the third field.

{Prelims – In News} Unveil Rare Meteorite Fragment Unveiled

Context (TH): A fragment of a rare meteorite was discovered in the Eastern Cape province.

The meteorite fragment — Nqweba Meteorite, is a small, black, shiny object with a light grey interior.
The meteorite’s entry into Earth’s atmosphere created intense friction, resulting in a fireball that caused the meteorite to break apart mid-flight.
A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from space that survives its passage through Earth’s atmosphere and lands on the planet’s surface.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} P8I aircraft

Context (TH): A P8I aircraft of the Indian Navy has reached France to participate in ‘Exercise Varuna’, marking its first-ever deployment in Europe.

P8I aircraft is a multimission patrol aircraft designed for long-range, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Manufactured by Boeing and inducted into the Indian Navy (first international customer) in 2013.
Speed: 490 knots (789 km/h), Range: 1,200+ nautical miles.

Exercise Varuna

It is a naval exercise between India and France initiated in 1993 and renamed in 2001.
The 22^nd edition of Exercise Varuna is being conducted in the Mediterranean Sea.
Areas of cooperation: Interoperability and operational capabilities.

{Prelims – S&T – In News} Madras Observatory

Context (TH): The Madras Observatory, established in 1792 by the East India Company, is a testament to India’s intertwined history of science, colonialism, and innovation.

Known as the Greenwich of the East, the Madras Observatory was India’s first modern public observatory with modern equipment. It was shut down in 1931.
John Goldingham, the observatory’s first official astronomer, established the “Madras Time Zone” in 1802, later becoming the official time for Indian Railways.

{Prelims – Sci – Bio – Diseases} Fibrin: Perpetrator of COVID Complications

Context (TH): A new study has found that fibrin is the perpetrator of long COVID symptoms.

Fibrinogen and Fibrin

Fibrinogen

Fibrinogen is a soluble glycoprotein produced by the liver and found in blood plasma.
It is the precursor of fibrin. It plays a crucial role in blood clotting (coagulation).

Fibrin

Fibrin is an insoluble protein. It’s formed when fibrinogen is converted by an enzyme called thrombin.
Fibrin forms a mesh-like structure that traps blood cells and platelets, creating a stable blood clot.

COVID-19 and Blood Clotting

The respiratory and neurological complications of COVID-19 are mainly due to thrombo-inflammation.
In thrombo-inflammation, thrombosis (blood clotting inside blood vessels) and inflammation occur simultaneously. This is why blood thinners are important for managing COVID-19 complications.
The new study found that fibrinogen and fibrin actively bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, driving inflammation and complications in the lungs and brain.

The fibrin-spike protein interaction isn’t responsible for the rare clotting issues from adenovirus-based vaccines. Instead, these complications are linked to the adenovirus component and are not seen in other spike protein-based vaccines.