Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Exam – September 15-16-17, 2024

{GS2 – Governance – Welfare} Development via District Mineral Foundation

Context (TH): India’s mineral ecosystem is transforming, balancing economic growth with local welfare by establishing District Mineral Foundations (DMFs).

Genesis of DMF

In 2014, India’s mineral allocation process came under scrutiny following a report by the CAG. This led to a significant policy shift in 2015 when the government amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and introduced the DMF.
DMF is funded by contributions from mining licensees and leaseholders and was designed to address the vision of including local communities as stakeholders in natural resource-led development.

Progress of DMFs

The primary goal of PM Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) is to implement development and welfare projects in mining-affected areas. It aims to minimise the negative impacts of mining activities and ensure sustainable livelihoods for affected communities. The DMF has amassed a corpus of nearly ₹1 lakh crore, funding approximately three lakh projects across 645 districts in 23 states.
DMFs also foster skill development and entrepreneurship. E.g. In Odisha, women from SHGs are emerging as skilled artisans and budding entrepreneurs. In Katni, Madhya Pradesh, young individuals are mastering drone technology, which is opening up new employment opportunities.

Innovation and Cooperation

As part of India’s ‘whole of government’ approach, DMFs are powerful tools for inclusive governance, transforming historically underserved regions by leveraging the country’s mineral wealth.
DMFs exemplify cooperative federalism, with District Collectors playing a pivotal role in fund allocation based on local needs. The introduction of the National DMF Portal has digitised administration and oversight, enhancing transparency and operational efficiency.
The government is aligning DMF operations with central and state schemes, especially in aspirational districts, to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

{GS3 – Agri – Food Security} ‘Food vs Cars’ Dilemma **

Context (IE): The “food versus cars” dilemma is linked to phosphoric acid, the key ingredient in di-ammonium phosphate (DAP).

Phosphoric Acid

Phosphoric acid is a colourless, odourless crystal. It is not directly found in nature. It can be obtained from phosphate rock deposits. It readily reacts with metals to form flammable hydrogen gas.
It forms toxic phosphorous oxide fumes on combustion.
It occurs naturally in many foods. It plays a role in forming strong bones and teeth and supports kidney function and food energy storage.

Application of Phosphoric Acid

Source of ‘P’ in lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries. These supplied more than 40% of the global EV capacity demand in 2023 — up from a modest 6% in 2020.
Used as an electrolyte in oxyhydrogen generators and fuel cells.
Preparation of synthetic detergents and treatment of metals and water.

Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)

DAP is India’s second most consumed fertiliser after urea. It contains 18% nitrogen (N), 46% phosphorus (P), and low sulphur. It is produced when ammonia reacts with phosphoric acid (manufactured from rock phosphate ore after grounding and reacting with sulphuric acid).
China was the world’s third largest shipper of DAP and other phosphatic fertilisers, after Morocco and Russia (2023).

Phosphoric Acid in India: Consumption and Imports

India consumes 10.5-11 million tonnes (mt) of DAP annually, more than half of which is supplied through imports from China, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Russia, and other countries.
India imports phosphoric acid (mainly from Jordan, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia) and rock phosphate (from Morocco, Togo, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE) for the domestic production of DAP as well as other P-containing fertilisers.
In 2022-23, India imported DAP, phosphoric acid and rock phosphate worth more than $10 billion.

Use of Phosphoric Acid in EVs: Global Scenario

Phosphoric acid is used as cathode raw material in EV batteries after further purification.
Significance of LFP batteries: They score in longevity and safety (less overheating/ fire risk), offsetting their disadvantage of lower energy density (larger size required to store the same amount of energy).
In China, two-thirds of EVs sold in 2023 had LFP batteries. As China is the leading DAP supplier to India, the divergence of phosphoric acid towards LFP batteries leaves little for the manufacture of fertilisers.
In the US and Europe, though the current share of LFP batteries in EV sales is below 10%, they are likely to switch to batteries less dependent on critical minerals such as cobalt.
- Rock phosphate and iron ore reserves are more abundant, at 74,000 mt and 190,000 mt, respectively.
In Africa, Morocco has attracted significant investor interest in establishing LFP cathode materials and EV battery manufacturing facilities.
- Morocco is the second biggest rock phosphate miner after China, holding an estimated 50,000 mt or nearly 68% of global reserves.

Looming Dilemma of ‘Cars vs Food’ in India

With the transition to LFP batteries, the supply of phosphoric acid for fertilisers remains a concern.
India’s DAP imports during April-August 2024 were 51% lower, largely due to export restrictions imposed by China. With phosphate reserves of hardly 31 mt and an annual production of 1.5 mt, India has to meet the bulk of its nutrient requirement from suppliers such as Morocco, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.
This further makes India vulnerable to changing global market dynamics, whether due to war-induced supply shocks or the diversification of phosphoric acid use beyond fertilisers.
The impact is further compounded by the government’s fixing of its MRP at Rs 27,000 per tonne.

Way forward for India

Moving towards fertiliser products incorporating less Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potash (K), and Sulphur (S) but having higher nutrient use efficiency.
Securing supplies of raw materials, especially phosphates, through overseas joint ventures.
More Indian companies need to build plants to manufacture phosphoric acid (Currently, Indian companies have four plants to manufacture phosphoric acid in Senegal, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia).

Also, read about Ethanol blending.

{GS3 – DM – Issues} Rising Waters in Sardar Sarovar Dam

Context (DTE): Rising water levels in the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat are raising concerns.

Current Water Management Crisis

The heavy rainfall in the Narmada River’s upstream areas has led to large volumes of water being released from dams such as Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar.
Despite the increased water flow, the Sardar Sarovar Project dam has only opened a limited number of gates, which are insufficient to release the excess water.

Sardar Sarovar Dam

It is the concrete gravity dam built across the Narmada River. It will be the third tallest concrete dam in India, after Bhakra and Lakhwar. It is located at Kevadia in the Narmada district of Gujarat.
It is the second largest gravity dam by volume globally, behind the Grand Coulee Dam in the U.S.
It is part of the Narmada Valley Project — a major hydraulic engineering initiative involving the construction of multiple dams for irrigation and hydroelectric power on the Narmada River.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} BHASKAR Platform for Startups

Context (PIB): The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is set to launch a groundbreaking digital platform called the Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR).

About BHASKAR

It is part of the Startup India program and aims to centralise, streamline, and enhance collaboration among key stakeholders in India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through a one-stop digital platform.
Powerful search features and unique BHASKAR IDs for each stakeholder will facilitate easier interactions, enhance searchability, and enable efficient discovery of relevant opportunities and partnerships.
BHASKAR will serve as a vehicle for promoting India’s global reputation as an innovation hub, making cross-border collaborations more accessible to startups and investors.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} India’s Power Sector **

Context (IE): India’s power sector has grown significantly through competitive bidding. However, recent developments in composite bidding for coal and solar capacity have raised concerns.

Competitive bidding is a transparent process where multiple bidders compete to offer the best price for goods or services, ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Composite bidding combines the procurement of multiple energy sources, such as coal and solar, in a single tender, creating a more complex bidding environment.

Challenges of Composite Bidding

Mismatch in Delivery Timelines: Coal plants take 6-7 years to become operational, whereas solar projects are ready in 1.5-2 years, causing delays in power supply.
Exclusion of Smaller Players due to large-scale investment.
Unequal Expertise: Developers specialising in solar may lack the experience or capacity to handle coal-based projects, limiting competition and efficiency.

Important Facts About India’s Power Sector

Global Rank: India is the third-largest producer and consumer of electricity globally.
Installed Capacity: As of March 31, 2024, India’s installed power capacity was 442.0 GW.
Renewable Energy capacity reached 168.4 GW (40.9% of total capacity).

Systemic Issues in India’s Power Sector

High Cost of Fuel due to delays in environmental clearances, land acquisition, and lack of investment in coal extraction technology.
Reliance on Imported Coal despite abundant reserves. E.g. In 2023, India imported around 60 million tonnes of coal, leading to additional costs of about $2 billion
Non-Renewable Dependency: Around 80% of power generation is based on thermal power plants.
Aged Power Plants: Many plants are outdated and inefficient, increasing operational costs.
Aggregate technical and commercial losses average 27%, with some states as high as 40%.
Financial Health of DISCOMS Poor financial conditions discourage private sector investment. E.g. DISCOMS in Andhra Pradesh reported accumulated losses exceeding Rs 20,000 crore in 2022
Lack of Competitiveness: High industrial tariffs and cross-subsidy regimes affect competitiveness.
Multiple agencies handling energy create challenges in resource utilisation. E.g. The overlapping responsibilities of the Ministry of Power, Central Electricity Authority, and state utilities.

Government Policies & Initiatives

Green Energy Corridor: Projects to enhance renewable power evacuation with over 8,651 km of transmission lines and 19,558 MVA substations constructed.
Rooftop Solar National Portal: Streamlined process for residential consumers to apply for solar.
Smart Meters: Over 51.62 lakh meters were deployed under the National Smart Grid Mission.
PLI Scheme: Rs. 19,500 crores allocated for high-efficiency solar PV modules.
Introduction of Competitive Bidding: Competitive bidding in power generation, especially renewable energy, aims to bring transparency and lower costs.
Saubhagya Scheme: 2.82 crore households have been electrified under this scheme as of March 2021.
KUSUM Scheme: Promoting solar pumps and selling surplus power to local DISCOMS.
LED Distribution: More than 36.86 crore LED bulbs and other energy-efficient devices have been distributed, saving 48,411 million kWh annually.

Way Forward

Separate Bidding: Conduct separate tenders for solar and coal power to avoid complexity and ensure that developers specialise in either renewable or conventional energy.
Encourage Smaller Developers: Create tenders with lower entry barriers to include smaller players, ensuring a broader range of bidders and more competition, which leads to better price discovery.
Annual Procurement Calendar: It can give developers time to plan their investments and bids.
Cross-Subsidy Rationalization: Gradual reduction of cross-subsidies to ensure more equitable tariff structures, reducing the financial burden on industries while still protecting vulnerable sections.
Improved Metering: Implement 100% net metering, smart meters, and agricultural power metering to improve revenue collection, reduce losses, and ensure accurate billing. E.g. smart meters In Delhi.
Cross-border trade with neighbouring countries to better utilise surplus generation capacity. E.g. India exports electricity to Bangladesh and Nepal through regional grid integration during non-peak times.
Promote Hybrid Power Solutions: Encourage tenders that combine renewable sources like solar and wind with battery storage, enabling a more stable and reliable power supply.
Enhance Grid Infrastructure to facilitate smoother power flow from remote locations and enhance energy security. E.g. Upgrading transmission networks in solar-rich regions like Gujarat.
Develop Capacity for Energy Storage that complements renewable energy, ensuring steady power supply. For example, energy storage systems were developed alongside solar power projects in Tamil Nadu.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} Stagnation in Manufacturing Sector **

Context (IE): The stagnation in manufacturing (contributing 14% to GDP) has exacerbated the divide between high-skilled and low-skilled jobs.
Despite India emerging as a critical market for MNCs to establish data analytics and software development centres (Global Capability Centres), the IT services sector has recently seen a slump in hiring.

Factors responsible

Decline in traditional industries such as apparel and footwear, which provide livelihoods for millions of low-skilled workers.
Decline in export-linked jobs: Direct employment linked to exports fell to 6.5% in 2020 (from 9.5% in 2012), leading to the dominance of service sector and high-skill manufacturing in India’s export basket.

Credits: IE

Dominance of services exports: India’s services exports constitute 4.3% of the world’s commercial services exports, and goods exports account for only 1.8% of the global goods market, resulting in low job generation in the manufacturing sector.
Low participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs): Around 70% of international trade involves GVCs; however, India’s participation in GVCs has declined over the past five years due to difficulties in procuring raw materials and high transport costs.
High tariffs: India’s average tariffs rose to 18.1% in 2022 (from 13% in 2014), raising production costs and making Indian producers less competitive compared to countries like Vietnam, Thailand & Mexico.

Impact

Surpaased by Bangladesh in textiles, Thailand in machinery, and Vietnam in electronics.
Surge in national unemployment rate from 7% to 9% (June 2024).
India has been unable to capitalise on the opportunity presented by China’s exit from low-skill manufacturing (apparel, leather, textiles, and footwear) between 2015 and 22.

Steps taken by India

Setting up seven PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks to develop world-class infrastructure and boost scale in the Indian textile sector.
12 industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP).
Tariff reductions on various items, including medical equipment, critical minerals, solar energy products, marine products, leather, textiles, precious metals, electronics, petrochemicals, telecom equipment, etc.

{GS3 – S&T – BioTech} Link Between Dyslexia and the Thalamus *

Context (IE): Researchers have discovered a link between dyslexia and changes in the function and structure of the visual thalamus, a specific part of the brain.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is the most common learning disorder, affecting approximately 5%-10% of people worldwide. It manifests as difficulties in reading, writing, and processing language despite normal intelligence.
People with dyslexia may experience difficulty placing sounds and signs, halting and monotonous reading, omission or swapping of letters, syllables, or words, trouble reproducing or describing text content and challenges across various school subjects requiring reading and writing.
It does not reflect a person’s intellect or creative abilities. Many accomplished individuals, including Albert Einstein, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Charles Darwin, have had dyslexia.
Boys are two to three times more likely to have dyslexia than girls.

Visual Thalamus

The visual thalamus connects the eyes with the cerebral cortex, is crucial for processing visual information, and is essential for language and cognitive functions. It consists of two parts:
- A larger part that primarily processes colours
- A smaller part that recognises movements and rapidly changing images
The thalamus’ deep location and small size make it difficult to study using traditional imaging techniques.
Researchers were able to study the visual thalamus in unprecedented detail in living humans using a special MRI system in Leipzig.

{GS3 – S&T – IPR} Open Science

Context (TH): India is now the third-largest global research contributor, ranking eleventh in quality, according to the Nature Index. However, despite the rise in universities from 760 to 1,113 between 2014 and 2021, many still lack access to advanced labs, instruments, and scientific literature.

Open science refers to an inclusive construct combining various movements and practices to make multilingual scientific knowledge available, accessible and reusable for everyone.

Key Principles of Open Science

Free Access to Publications: Ensures that research papers and findings are available without subscription barriers. For example, open-access journals like PLOS ONE allow free access to scientific articles.
Free Availability of Data Sets: Data from research is shared publicly, enabling further analysis and replication. E.g. Platforms like Zenodo and Open Science.
Use of Open-Source Software: Open-source tools facilitate collaboration, reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness. Example: Python and R are widely used open-source programming languages in research.
Citizen Science Involvement: Engages the general public in scientific research and data collection. For example, projects like Zooniverse allow volunteers to participate in research activities.

Ethical Considerations of Open Science

Author Responsibility: To ensure data integrity, avoid plagiarism, and give proper credit to contributors.
Publisher’s Role: Publishers should maintain rigorous peer-review processes to ensure the reliability and reproducibility of research.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure to prevent bias in research outcomes.

Benefits of Open Science

Enhanced Knowledge Exchange among students, researchers, and the public. For example, Open educational resources (OER) like MIT OpenCourseWare provide free access to educational materials.
Increased Research Visibility: Open-access publishing increases the visibility and impact of researchers’ work. E.g. Researchers who publish in open-access journals receive more citations due to broader access.
Global Collaboration: Open science facilitates cross-institutional and cross-national research collaboration. E.g. Global research networks like CERN collaborate on large-scale open science projects.

Challenges in Open Science

Technological Challenges: Lack of infrastructure for data storage and sharing.
Resistance from institutions accustomed to traditional closed-access models.
Economic Concerns: Transitioning to open access may involve high costs.
Legal Issues: Intellectual property rights (IPR) and data privacy concerns will rise.

Way Forward

Incentivize Open-Access Publishing: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has supported initiatives like ‘IndiaRxiv,’ an open-access preprint repository for Indian researchers.
Improve Open Data Infrastructure: Develop robust data-sharing and collaboration platforms.
Promote Cross-Border Research Collaboration: Encourage international research networks to enhance knowledge exchange. The Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA).
Legal Framework for Open Science: Develop clear regulations on data sharing, IPR, and privacy issues in open science. E.g. European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for open science.
Public Engagement in Research: Enhance citizen science projects to involve the public in data collection and research activities. E.g. Projects like ‘eBird India’ involve citizens in collecting bird migration data.

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Earth’s Temporary Mini-Moon: Asteroid 2024 PT5

Context (IE): The asteroid 2024 PT5 is set to become a temporary mini-moon of Earth. While Earth’s gravity will temporarily capture 2024 PT5, it doesn’t qualify as a true mini-moon as it will make only half a revolution around Earth in a horseshoe-shaped orbit.

It is expected to remain in Earth’s orbit for approximately 56 days. Due to its small size, it will only be visible through specialised telescopes.
It is relatively rare, as most asteroids either bypass Earth or burn up upon entering the atmosphere.
Mini-moons often contain precious metals, which can help in future opportunities for space mining.
The Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System first detected 2024 PT5.

{Prelims – Awards} The Emmy Awards

Context (IE): The Emmy Awards stand as the most prestigious recognition in the realm of television and emerging media (digital) performances. Unlike their counterparts, the Oscars and Golden Globes, the Emmys are exclusively dedicated to honouring excellence in television rather than film.
Originally named “Immy,” a nickname for the image-orthicon camera tube. Changed to “Emmy” to match the award’s statuette, symbolising the “winged muse of art uplifting the electron of science.”
The 2024 Emmy Awards ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Administered by The Television Academy, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences manages various categories of awards.

Types of Emmy Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards: Honors American television shows aired during primetime.
International Emmy Awards: Recognises television programs produced and aired outside the U.S.
Daytime Emmy Awards: Given to American television shows aired during late morning and afternoon.
Sports Emmy Awards: Celebrate excellence in sports programming.
News and Documentary Emmy Awards: Achievements in journalism and documentary filmmaking.
Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards: Honors technical innovation in broadcasting.
Regional Emmy Awards: Focuses on regional programming, local news, and locally produced shows.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} The Dodo

Context (TH): The dodo bird is synonymous with extinction and perceived incompetence.

About Dodo

The dodo, a flightless bird endemic to Mauritius, is one of the most iconic extinction symbols.
Belongs to the family of doves and pigeons, with their closest living relative being the Nicobar pigeon.
These birds evolved to become larger and flightless, adapting to life on the forest floor of Mauritius.

Dodo (left) and Nicobar Pigeon (right)

Credits: Wikipedia and WWF

Nicobar Pigeon

The Nicobar Pigeon is the only living relative of extinct birds such as the dodo, Rodrigues solitaire of Madagascar, and the spotted green pigeon of the Pacific Islands.
It is found across a wide range, including the Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, the Solomons, and Palau.
Despite their swift and powerful flight, they prefer to forage on the ground, feeding mainly on fleshy fruits and seeds scattered on the forest floor.
Conservation status: IUCN: Near Threatened | CITES: Appendix 1.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Trilobites *

Context (TH): A study found that trilobite species have an additional set of legs underneath its head.

Credits: Sam Nobel Museum

Trilobites are a group of extinct arthropods whose living relatives include lobsters and spiders.
They first appeared during the Cambrian Period (about 520 million years ago) and disappeared at a major extinction event at the end of the Permian Period (about 250 million years ago).
They were the first group of animals in the animal kingdom to develop complex eyes.
They were also one of the first organisms to develop multiple appendages for moving around.
Their bodies comprise many segments, with the head region comprising several fused segments. They could roll up into a ball for protection by bending the thorax and bringing the tail underneath the head.
Like all arthropods, trilobites grew by molting. The old skeleton was shed and replaced by a new one.
All trilobites lived in ocean waters. Most lived on or burrowed into the sand and mud on the sea floor, but some swam above the bottom.

{Prelims – In News} 20^th Maritime State Development Council (MSDC)

Context (PIB): The 20^th Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) concluded in Goa.

Initiatives launched

National Safety in Ports Committee: It allows for real-time performance monitoring and enhances the operational efficiency of various departments through well-coordinated information sharing.
Indian International Maritime Dispute Resolution Centre: It will offer merit-based and industry-governed solutions to resolve maritime disputes efficiently, aligning with the “Resolve in India” initiative.
Indian Maritime Centre (IMC): It is a policy think tank designed to bring together maritime stakeholders to foster innovation, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning, driving growth and development.
Mega Shipbuilding Park, spanning multiple states, to consolidate shipbuilding capabilities across regions, fostering greater efficiency and innovation.
Construction of India’s largest dredger at Cochin Shipyard ltd, built in collaboration with IHC Holland.
State Ranking Framework and Port Ranking System were discussed, which aims to promote healthy competition, performance enhancement, and sustainable practices among coastal states.

Maritime State Development Council

MSDC is an apex advisory body constituted in 1997 for the development of the Maritime Sector to ensure integrated development of major and other than major ports.
Chaired by: Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

{Prelims – In News} Integrated Ocean Energy Atlas

Context (TH): The INCOIS unveiled the ‘Integrated Ocean Energy Atlas’. It encompasses marine meteorological energy sources like solar and wind and hydrological energy forms such as waves, tides, currents, and ocean thermal and salinity gradients.
It will serve as a reference for harnessing the rich energy resources available in the Indian EEZ.

{Prelims – In News} Operation Sadbhav

Context (IE): India launched Operation “Sadbhav“ to provide humanitarian aid to Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar (via INS Satpura) after the damage by Typhoon Yagi.

It aligns with India’s “Act East Policy“ and reflects its commitment to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) in the ASEAN region.

{Prelims – In News} Subhadra Yojana

Context (IE): The revised eligibility criteria for the Subhadra scheme have fixed the age bracket of beneficiaries between 21 and 60 and increased the period from two years to five.

It is a flagship DBT scheme under the Odisha government that benefits over one crore women. Under this scheme, women will be paid a total of Rs 10,000 per year in two instalments of Rs 5000 each.
Earlier in 2001, Mission Shakti was to empower women by providing them with credit & market linkages.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} Chamran-1 Satellite

Context (IE): Iran successfully launched its Chamran-1 research satellite into orbit.

The Chamran-1 satellite, weighing 60 kilograms, was placed into a 550-kilometer orbit and is designed to test “hardware and software systems for orbital manoeuvre technology”.
The Ghaem-100 rocket, which carried the latest satellite, is manufactured by the Aerospace Force of the Revolutionary Guard. It is the country’s first three-stage solid-fuel satellite launcher.
The Western nation views Iran’s space program as a potential cover for developing ICBM capabilities.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) have a range greater than 5,500 kilometers and are primarily designed to deliver nuclear warheads. They can carry conventional, chemical, and biological weapons, although the latter types have rarely been deployed on ICBMs.
US, Russia, China, France, India, the United Kingdom, Israel, and North Korea are known to possess operational ICBMs, with Pakistan being the only nuclear-armed state that does not have them.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} Kalvari Submarine Escape Training Facility (Vinetra) *

Context (PIB): Vinetra was commissioned at INS Satavahana, Visakhapatnam. It is designed to help train the crew of Kalvari-class submarines on emergency escapes.