Current Affairs – September 06, 2024

{GS1 – A&C – Architecture} Sindhudurg Fort

Context (IE): The collapse of the 35-foot Shivaji Maharaj statue sharply contrasts with the resilience of the 357-year-old Sindhudurg Fort.

Background for building Sindhudurg Fort

Construction: Hiroji Indulkar, an architect expert, oversaw the fort’s construction. The construction of the fort began in 1664 and took three years to complete.
Location: Shivaji Maharaj chose Kurte Island for its strategic position and natural defences. The rugged coastline made it difficult for enemy ships to approach, allowing for better control over maritime routes.
Architectural Features: Thick walls, a serpentine design, hidden entrances and watchtowers.
The fort served as a naval base to protect Maratha interests and enhance maritime trade. It was built to counter the dominance of Siddis, Portuguese, English, Dutch & French in the Konkan region.

Read more > Maratha Military Landscapes.

{GS2 – Governance – Welfare} Right to disconnect

Context (IE): The idea of a “Right to Disconnect” law is gaining traction globally but faces challenges in India’s competitive economy. The Right to disconnect law allows employees to ignore communications after hours if they choose to without fear of punishment from their bosses.

Challenges

Cultural Resistance: In a competitive economy like India’s, where work is often tied to identity and pride, there may be resistance to disconnecting from work.
Implementation Difficulties: Ensuring compliance with the Right to disconnect could be challenging, especially in sectors where constant connectivity is expected.
Potential Impact on Performance: Critics argue that disconnecting could hinder productivity and innovation, especially in high-performance environments where constant engagement is valued.
Lack of Legislative Framework: Currently, India lacks specific legislation recognising the Right to disconnect, making it difficult to enforce such a policy effectively.
Sector-Specific Variations: The effectiveness of the Right to disconnect may vary across different sectors, with some industries more reliant on after-hours communication than others.
Need for Tailored Solutions: A one-size-fits-all approach may not work; solutions need to be tailored to India’s unique economic and cultural context, considering the diverse nature of its workforce.

Benefits

Improved Work-Life Balance: Empowers employees to set boundaries between work and personal life, allowing them to prioritise well-being and family time.
Increased Productivity: Adequate rest and downtime can lead to higher productivity during working hours, as they return refreshed and focused.
Better Focus and Creativity: Time away from work allows individuals to engage in activities that foster creativity and personal growth, enhancing overall performance.
Employee Retention and Satisfaction: Organizations prioritising work-life balance through the Right to disconnect are more likely to attract and retain talented employees, resulting in higher job satisfaction.

{GS2 – IR – Africa} $51 billion for Africa over the next three years

Context (IE): China has pledged $51 billion in new funding at the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, supporting 30 infrastructure projects across Africa.

FOCAC

Establishment: Founded in 2000 to formalise China-Africa strategic partnership.
Summit Frequency: Held every three years; Last summit held virtually in 2021 due to COVID-19.
The FOCAC includes 53 African nations — every country on the continent except Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan in defiance of Beijing’s “One China” Policy.

Kingdom of Eswatini is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Mozambique borders it to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, south, and southeast.

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM)

Context (PIB): The 20^th HACGAM was held in Incheon, South Korea, with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) participating alongside coast guard agencies from 23 Asian countries.

About HACGAM

Initiated by Japan in 2004, it is an annual event hosted on a rotational basis by its 23 member nations to promote cooperation among regional coastguards.
Associate Members: Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
As chair of its Search and Rescue working group, India plays a leadership role in the forum.

18th Edition was hosted by the Indian Coast Guard in New Delhi in 2022.

{GS2 – IR – Issues} Regulating the use of ‘deceased personalities’ likeness

Context (IE): The California State Senate passed Assembly Bill (AB) 1836 to regulate the use of deceased personalities’ likenesses without the consent of their families.

Rights of “deceased personality”

According to AB 1836, a “deceased personality means any natural person whose name, voice, signature, photo, or likeness has commercial value at the time of death, or because of person’s death.”
It states that a deceased personality will include all persons to have died since January 1, 1915, 70 years before California first introduced legislation providing a post-humous “right to publicity” in 1985.
These are “property rights” which can be freely transferred through a contract.
Upon a personality’s demise, these rights vest with their legal heir. If none exist, the rights are vested with their parents, or, in their absence and the absence of a contract transferring the rights to someone else, the rights are terminated.
This right prevents anyone from using a deceased person’s “name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness” without their family’s consent for 70 years from their death.

{GS2 – MEITY – Initiative} India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre

Context (PIB): The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has launched the India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre (IGEIC), a key initiative under Viksit Bharat@2047.

IGEIC, a not-for-profit section 8 company, is exclusively incorporated to create a hub of excellence in graphene technology commercialisation.
For details on Graphene > Graphene.

Under the Companies Act, a company is referred to as a “Section 8” company when it is registered as a non-profit organisation (NPO), i.e., when its motive is to promote arts, commerce, education, charity, protection of the environment, sports, science, research, social welfare, and religion.

{GS2 – MEITY – Initiatives} Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack *

Context (PIB): Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched a series of blockchain-based solutions aimed at enhancing transparency, security & efficiency in digital service delivery.

About Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack

It is designed to offer Blockchain-as-a-Service to support various Blockchain-based applications.
It provides security assurance of various blockchain components, reduces the need for human intervention and enables “technological support” to various stakeholders.

Key features

Rapid end-to-end “permissioned” blockchain app development and deployment
Ready to use security-audited blockchain containers for production setup
Blockchain-specific security audit guidelines in place

Other Initiatives

NBFLite: It was developed especially for startups and academia for rapid application prototyping, research, and capacity building. It is developed as part of a joint collaboration between C-DAC, NIC, IDRBT Hyderabad, IIT Hyderabad, IIIT Hyderabad and SETS Chennai, with support from MeitY.
Praamaanik: It aims to address issues related to app authenticity, helping users and developers ensure that the apps they use or distribute are genuine and have not been tampered with.

National Blockchain Framework

It was developed to promote research and application development and facilitate state-of-the-art, transparent, secure, and trusted digital service delivery to citizens.
NBF currently supports two permissioned Blockchain platforms and is extensible.

{GS2 – MoNRE – Initiative} Exemption for Export-Oriented Green Hydrogen Projects

Context (IE): The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MoNRE) has exempted green hydrogen projects in special economic zones (SEZs) or export-oriented units (EOUs) from using domestic solar modules to reduce production costs.

An export-oriented unit (EOU) is meant to export its entire production of goods and services. However, such units have also been allowed clearances in the Domestic Tariff Area.

Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electrolysis process powered by renewable energy. Solar energy used to power electrolysers is a vital cost factor.
This exemption allows these projects to use cheaper imported modules.

Objectives/Benefits of this Exemption

Increase adoption of green hydrogen: A key challenge for green hydrogen adoption is its cost competitiveness against grey hydrogen, which is cheaper.
Increase in export: Lowering production costs can make India a leading exporter of green hydrogen.
Increase domestic demand: The low cost of green hydrogen is expected to increase domestic demand.
Low emission: Green hydrogen releases no carbon by-products because it is produced using renewable energy (water and water vapour are the only by-products it releases). Meanwhile, its competitor, grey hydrogen, is produced from natural gas through carbon-intensive processes.

Context (TH): Students and teachers observe Student-Teacher Solidarity Day (traditionally Teachers’ Day in India) by wearing black badges to protest the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and its perceived threat to equitable education.

Impact of NEP 2020 on State Education Systems

Increasing Centralisation and Control

There has been a trend of increased centralisation by the Union government, utilising central funding to push for commercialisation and stratification of the public education system.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 exemplifies this shift, imposing uniform standards and central directives on educational institutions, regardless of state-specific needs and conditions.
For instance, Delhi University’s cut-off system, criticised for disadvantaging Kerala students despite high educational indicators, was addressed by switching to a central entrance test favouring CBSE students. This shift raised concerns about fairness and inclusivity.

The First Education Commission (1948-49), led by Dr. Radhakrishnan emphasised education’s role in democracy and warned against state control over academic policies, advocating for academic freedom and resistance to governmental dominance.

Funding Discrepancies and Regional Impact

States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have experienced delays in receiving funds for centrally sponsored schemes like the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SMSA), which aims to provide equitable education access.
The current budget shows a significant increase in funding for PM-SHRI schools—less than 1% of all schools—while funding for SMSA has decreased, creating a more inequitable public education system.
The share of funding for ‘exemplar’ schools increased from 19% to 29%, while SMSA’s share dropped from 62% to 51% in the Department of School Education budget.

Tamil Nadu’s Stance

Tamil Nadu has filed a counter affidavit in the Madras High Court, arguing that implementing NEP 2020 would be “cruel and disadvantageous” to its people. The state’s criticisms include:
- The policy’s approach to vocational education from Class 6 could alienate vulnerable sections.
- The shift from continuous internal assessment to external tests, potentially increasing dropout rates.

Context (DTE): WHO released first-ever global guidance on antibiotic pollution from manufacturing processes, providing a framework for regulators, industry, and stakeholders to implement effective controls against antibiotic pollution.

Objectives: Curb environmental impacts of pharmaceutical waste, Mitigate antimicrobial resistance and Safeguard public health.

Antibiotic Pollution

It occurs when antibiotics contaminate the environment due to improper disposal or overuse.
The primary source of antibiotics released into the environment is wastewater discharge from hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, and livestock farms.

Ways Through Which Manufacturing Process Cause Antibiotic Pollution

Wastewater discharge: Factories producing antibiotics may discharge wastewater containing antibiotic residues directly into rivers, lakes, or sewage systems without proper treatment.
Improper waste management: Solid waste, including raw materials and by-products containing antibiotics, can be disposed of improperly, leading to soil contamination and leaching into water sources.
Air emissions: Particulate matter or fumes released during antibiotic production may carry antibiotic compounds, contaminating the surrounding air and eventually depositing on soil or water.
Accidental spills or leaks: Accidental releases of antibiotics during handling, storage, or transport within manufacturing facilities can contribute to local environmental contamination.

{GS3 – Agri – Misc} Agriculture for Growth and Job Creation

Context (IE): Agriculture’s potential as a growth driver and job creator should be analysed.

Current Status of the Indian Agriculture Sector

Indian agriculture has averaged a growth rate of 4% over five years, contributing 18% to the GDP.
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) by MoSPI indicates that 45.76% of India’s workforce was employed in agriculture and associated sectors in 2022-2023.
Agricultural and processed food exports reached US$ 35.18 billion in 2023-24 (April-December). Key export commodities include marine products, rice, spices, buffalo meat, sugar, and processed items.
India is the world’s largest producer of milk, pulses, and jute. It ranks second in producing rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnut, vegetables, fruit, and cotton.

Government initiatives

Challenges

Low Productivity: Limited access to modern machinery and equipment hinders productivity.
Irrigation Challenges: Water scarcity and dependence on unpredictable monsoon rains. Only 52% of cultivated land has access to irrigation (as of 2022-23, NITI Ayog).
Market Inefficiencies: The APMC system, meant to protect farmers, can lead to exploitation by middlemen. Farmers often receive only 15-20% of the retail price.
Diversification Dilemma: Indian agriculture remains heavily focused on staple crops like rice and wheat. Only 17% of arable land is utilised to cultivate horticultural crops (ICAR).
Post-Harvest Losses: Inadequate storage and transportation infrastructure lead to significant losses.

Ways to further transform agriculture into an engine of growth

Ecological Sustainability: Regenerating water and soil health is crucial. Half of India’s cropped area is irrigated, largely relying on over-extracted groundwater. Implementing rainwater harvesting and micro-irrigation can help. For example, agriculture grew 9.6% annually, and productivity increased due to Gujarat’s rainwater harvesting and micro-irrigation efforts.
Technological Advancements: Cell phones and drones have improved crop yields and efficiency. For example, cell phone-based agricultural information increased yields by 4% and input adoption by 22%.
Institutional Innovations: Encouraging cooperative group farming, e.g., Kerala’s Kudumbashree initiative has increased production and revenue for women’s groups.
Diversification: Expanding into livestock, fisheries, and agro-processing sectors can provide additional growth and employment opportunities. The fisheries sector grew by 10% in 2022-23, creating 28 Mn jobs.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Improved Water Quality Treats Tumours in Turtles

Context (TH): Sea turtles in the Guanabara Bay of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) are getting healthier after struggling for years with fibropapillomatosis.

Fibropapillomatosis

Fibropapillomatosis is the most significant infectious disease affecting sea turtle populations worldwide.
It causes the growth of benign tumours on various parts of the turtle’s body. The tumours hamper the turtle’s movement, sight and feeding, ultimately leading to their death.
The disease is caused by herpes virus. The prevalence of the disease is associated with heavily polluted coastal areas, areas of high human density, agricultural runoff, and biotoxin-producing algae.

Source: Wikipedia

{GS3 – Envi – Plastic Pollution} India the largest plastic polluter globally

Context (DTE): A study revealed that India is the biggest contributor to plastic pollution.

Key Findings

India releases 9.3 Mn tonnes of such waste into the environment annually, a fifth of global plastic waste.
The amount of plastic waste generated in India is three times more than the next four biggest polluters – Nigeria, Indonesia, China and Pakistan.
Littering is the largest source of plastic pollution in the Global North, whereas uncollected waste is the dominant source in the Global South. Almost two-thirds of this pollution originates from uncollected and ill-disposed waste.
Globally, roughly 69% of the world’s plastic waste emissions come from 20 countries, of which 4 are low-income countries, 9 are lower-middle-income countries and 7 are upper-middle-income.
Almost 57% of the pollutants are burnt. Uncontrolled burning of plastic poses fatal threats to humans, like neurodevelopmental, reproductive, and birth issues.
Without adept solid waste management, people are left without any choice but to ‘self-manage’ plastic waste by burning or littering water bodies.

Plastic Emission

The study defined plastic emissions as materials that have moved from the managed or mismanaged system (controlled or contained state) to the unmanaged system (uncontrolled or uncontained state).

Microplastic emission

Credits: Phys

{GS3 – IE – Banking} Slowdown in Bank Deposit Growth

Context (IE): Despite efforts to encourage deposit mobilisation, credit has consistently outpaced deposits, leading to concerns about asset-liability mismatches and potential liquidity issues.

RBI warned that slower deposit growth could lead to liquidity issues and urged banks to use their branch networks and offer innovative products to attract more deposits.

In April- June 2024, deposits in the banking sector grew at 11.7%, while credit growth surged to 15%, indicating a higher credit-deposit gap.

Factors Contributing to Weak Deposit Growth

Capital Market Activity

A major factor behind the slower deposit growth is the outflow of household savings from banks to capital markets. This shift has been driven by higher returns in capital markets, the robust digital infrastructure that eases the investment process, and rapid smartphone penetration.

Rise in Retail Participation

The Indian capital markets have seen a surge in retail activity (especially post-pandemic) through both direct trading and mutual fund routes.
Demat accounts increased from 11.45 crore in FY23 to 15.14 crore in FY24 (Economic Survey 2023-24).
The mutual fund industry’s net Assets Under Management (AuM) grew by 6.23% to Rs 64.97 lakh crore as of July 2024. Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) accounts now number about 9.33 crore.

The Economic Survey 2023-24 revealed that retail investors in the Indian stock market have exceeded 9.5 crore, holding nearly 10% of the market across 2,500 listed companies.

In response to the slowdown, banks are taking various measures, such as launching special retail deposit schemes and offering higher interest rates on fixed-term deposits.

{GS3 – IE – Trade} WTO Goods Trade Barometer

Context (IE): The World Trade Organization (WTO) Goods Trade Barometer indicated an upturn in global trade volume.

About Goods Trade Barometer

Goods Trade Barometer, formerly World Trade Outlook Indicator, is a composite indicator for world trade, providing real–time information on the trajectory of merchandise trade relative to recent trends.
A reading of 100 indicates trade expansion in line with recent trends. Readings greater than 100 suggest above-trend growth while readings below 100 indicate below-trend growth.
The Goods Trade Barometer is updated quarterly.

Key Findings

The current value of the WTO Goods Trade Barometer stands at 103.
Following a flat period since the final quarter of 2022, world merchandise trade volume began to rise in the fourth quarter of 2023 and gained momentum in the first quarter of 2024.

Credits: IE

All barometer’s component indices are currently on or above trend, except electronic components index.
Container shipping and air freight have witnessed a sharp surge in demand due to the Red Sea crisis, forcing ships to take longer sea routes, and traders shifting to air routes for the delivery of critical items.
Recent data in value terms show weaker-than-expected trade growth in Europe and stronger-than-expected growth in other regions.

Services Trade Barometer

It was launched in 2019 as a companion to the Goods Trade Barometer.
Like its counterpart for goods, it highlights turning points and illustrates changing patterns in world services trade. It is issued twice a year.

{GS3 – S&T – AI} First International AI Treaty

Context (IE | TH): The US, EU, and the UK are set to sign the first legally binding international treaty on AI. The treaty is officially known as the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law.

Drafted by more than 50 countries, it prioritises human rights in regulating AI systems.
It adopts a risk-based approach to designing, developing, using, and decommissioning AI systems.
It covers AI use in the public and private sectors and will be applicable across geographies.
The treaty arrives amid new AI regulations and agreements, such as the G7 AI pact, Europe’s AI Act, and the Bletchley Declaration.

Obligations and Applicability

Upon ratification, member states will have to ensure that:
- Their AI systems Must align with human rights obligations.
- These systems are not used to undermine democratic institutions, separation of powers, judicial independence, or access to justice.
- Measures must ensure democratic processes, including fair access to public debate and the freedom to form opinions, are protected throughout the AI systems lifecycle.
Obligation: Signatories will be accountable for harmful AI outcomes, ensure AI respects equality and privacy, and provide legal recourse for victims of AI-related rights violations.
Exemptions: The treaty has a few exemptions, including national security and R&D.

Issues with the Treaty

Despite being labelled “legally binding,” the treaty lacks provisions for penalties or fines.
Compliance is mainly ensured through monitoring, which is not a strong deterrent for enforcement.
For details on Issues with AI, read > Concerns With AI-Language Models Without Safety Guardrails

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Madras Hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris)

Context (TH): The Madras Hedgehog population is declining.

Also known as the bare-bellied hedgehog, it is a species of hedgehog endemic to southeastern India.
Their spines roll back into a tight ball in self-defence with spines pointing outwards. Hedgehogs are nocturnal and hibernate depending on temperature, species and abundance of food.

Credits: IUCN

Distribution: It occurs only in the southern and central parts of Tamil Nadu.
Habitat: Thorny areas, semi-dryland, bushy deserts, grasslands, and dried ponds.
Diet: Primarily insects but also small vertebrates, eggs of ground-nesting birds, and scorpions.
Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern
Threats: Use in traditional medicine, habitat alteration, road accidents, and anthropogenic activities.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} New Spider Species Discovered in Tamil Nadu

Context (TH): A new species of jumping spider, Carrhotus piperus (10th Carrhotus species in India and 37th globally), has been discovered in the lower Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu.

It was found on pepper (Piper nigrum) plants, about two meters above the ground. This unique habitat led to the choice of the specific epithet “piperus,” derived from the plant’s generic name.

{Prelims – In News} President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Context (IE): India celebrates Teachers’ Day annually on September 5, the birth anniversary of former President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888-1975).

As Philosopher

Radhakrishnan is credited for shaping Western understanding of Indian philosophy.
He was a leading proponent of non-dualist Advaita Vedanta tradition in the 20^th century.

As Educator

Radhakrishnan, a respected academic, valued teaching highly and often said, “Teachers should be the best minds in the country“. He developed deep personal bonds with students.
He served as vice-chancellor of Andhra University and Banaras Hindu University. Held prestigious King George V Chair at Calcutta University. He also held the Spalding Chair of Eastern Religion and Ethics at the University of Oxford.

As Statesman

He was nominated to the League of Nations Committee on Intellectual Cooperation in 1931. Also represented India at UNESCO. He served as India’s ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952.
He was elected as the first Vice-President of India (1952) and the second President of India (1962).

Important Awards

He was awarded Knighthood in 1931 by King George V.
He got the Membership of the Order of Merit in 1963 from the UK.
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna (the highest civilian award) in 1954.

{Prelims – In News} VisioNxt

Context (PIB): Union Minister of Textiles launched India’s first fashion forecasting initiative, ‘VisioNxt,’. The launch event also unveiled the India-specific Fashion Trend Book ‘Paridhi 24×25’.

It is developed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)’s Creative Lab in Delhi and Insights Lab in Chennai and supported by the Ministry of Textiles.

About VisioNxt

VisioNxt is India’s first initiative to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Emotional Intelligence (EI) to provide trend insights for the fashion industry. It is a bilingual portal (Hindi and English).
The platform aims to revolutionise India’s fashion and retail sector, positioning the country as a global leader in fashion forecasting. It will reduce India’s dependence on global forecasting agencies.
It will provide India-specific trend insights to help designers and brands create targeted collections.