Current Affairs for UPSC Civil Services Exam – September 21, 2024

{GS1 – A&C – Architecture} Gingee Fort *

• Context (TH): Gingee Fort, Tamil Nadu is a potential World Heritage Site in 2024-25.

About Gingee Fort (Senji Fort / Troy of the East)

• Originally constructed by Anandakonar around 1190 AD. Gingee Fort is historically significant in battles involving the Marathas, Mughals, Vijayanagar Nayaks, and the British.

Features

• Three Hillocks: Spans across three hills—Rajagiri, Krishnagiri & Chandrayandurg—each with its citadel.
• Architectural Marvels: Seven-storeyed Kalyana Mahal (marriage hall), granaries, temples (like the Kamalakanni Amman Temple).
• Defensive Structures: Strategic location atop hills provided natural defences against invasions.

Read more > Maratha Military Landscapes.

{GS1 – MIH – Personalities} Ambedkar and Gandhi on Caste electorate **

• Context (IE): Gandhi & Ambedkar’s ideological clash over separate electorates for SC highlights their conflicting visions for caste reform and political representation in pre-independence India.

Gandhi’s perspective

• Initial Orthodoxy: Early in his life, Gandhi adhered to traditional Hindu views on caste, supporting practices like social segregation and promoting the idea of caste duties. He was against concepts like interdining and intecaste marriage.
• Rejection of Untouchability: Over time, he evolved to reject untouchability, advocating for the dignity and rights of untouchables, whom he began to refer to as “Harijans” (children of God).

Integrating Caste for National Strength

• Hindu Unity: Gandhi believed a united Hindu community was vital for India’s independence, seeing divisions as harmful.
• Opposition to Separate Electorates: He argued that separate electorates for Scheduled Castes would fragment Hindu society and weaken anti-colonial efforts. He feared this would facilitate British “divide and rule,” undermining the independence movement.
• Emphasis on Integration: Gandhi advocated for integrating lower castes into mainstream Hindu society and promoted the abolition of untouchability.
• Moral Leadership: He positioned himself as a moral leader, using self-sacrifice and non-violence to inspire unity across castes.
• Universal Rights: He stressed that the rights of lower castes should align with the broader goal of national unity and progress.
• Hunger Strike in Yerawada Jail: In September 1932, Gandhi undertook a hunger strike to protest the proposal for separate electorates.

Ambedkar’s Perspective

• Political Representation: Ambedkar argued that separate electorates were essential for meaningful political representation, allowing Scheduled Castes to elect their leaders.
• Addressing Historical Marginalization: He saw separate electorates as necessary to rectify historical injustices and empower marginalised communities.
• Protection Against Majority Tyranny: Ambedkar asserted that separate electorates would safeguard Scheduled Castes’ interests against the “tyranny of the majority.”
• Affirmative Action: He viewed them as affirmative action to help lower castes gain political power and influence.
• Foundation for Social Change: Ambedkar believed political empowerment would catalyse broader social change, aiding the fight against caste discrimination and promoting equality.

Poona Pact

• Background and Negotiation: Poona Pact emerged from the conflict between Gandhi and Ambedkar over separate electorates following Gandhi’s hunger strike 1932.
• Elimination of Separate Electorates: It replaced the demand for separate electorates with reserved seats for Scheduled Castes in legislative bodies, facilitating participation in joint electorates.
• Reservation of Seats: The pact ensured a specific number of reserved seats for Scheduled Castes in provincial legislatures, enhancing their political representation.
• Gandhi’s Influence: Gandhi’s fast and moral authority pressured Ambedkar to compromise.
• Ambedkar’s Reluctance: Although Ambedkar agreed to the pact, he saw it as a concession that did not fully address caste oppression and was sceptical of its effectiveness.
• Long-term Impact: The Poona Pact laid the groundwork for India’s reservation system, influencing policies to uplift Scheduled Castes and sparking ongoing debates about representation and equality.

Read more > PMF IAS Modern Indian History Book.

{GS2 – Governance – Issues} FCU held unconstitutional

• Context (IE): Bombay HC strikes down amended Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2021, which empowered the govt to identify “fake news” on social media platforms through a “Fact Check Unit” (FCU).

Amended IT Rules, 2021

• The IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023, amended the Information Technology Rules, 2021.
• Under the Rules, if the FCU encounters or is informed about any posts that are “fake,” “false,” or contain “misleading” facts about government business, it will flag them to the social media intermediaries.
• The online intermediaries would then have to take down such content if they wanted to retain their “safe harbour” (legal immunity with regard to third-party content published by them).

Why was it struck down?

• FCU was violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(a), and 19(1)(g) of the IC.
• Press Information Bureau, which is fully government-controlled, “already has a significant social media presence” and is “already active on it”, and there was “no need” for an FCU.
• The amended Rule with FCU as the “sole authority” to decide what content is false, fake, and misleading has a “chilling effect on the right to free speech and freedom of press”.
• The lack of definitions for words like fake, false, misleading, and government business made the amendment “vague and overbroad.”

{GS2 – IR – Diplomacy} India’s Legacy in International Mediation

• Context (IE): India favours peace amid the ongoing global tensions.

International Day of Peace It is observed annually on September 21 and was established by the UN General Assembly in 1981 to promote ideals of peace worldwide. This year’s theme, “Cultivating a Culture of Peace,” emphasises the importance of nurturing peace across communities and generations.

India’s Historical Legacy in Peacemaking

• Korean War Mediation (1950-53): India facilitated the armistice agreement and chaired the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission, mediating without geopolitical motives.
• Non-Aligned Movement Leadership: Post-World War II, India championed dialogue and neutrality, promoting self-determination and peaceful resolutions.
• Vietnam War Involvement: India co-chaired the International Commission for Supervision and Control, advocating peace and negotiations.
• Response to Invasions: India protested against invasions (e.g., by China and the Soviet Union), consistently urging restraint and diplomatic solutions.
• Contemporary Peace Initiatives: In the Russia-Ukraine War, India has emphasised dialogue, earning trust from both parties and reinforcing its peacemaking commitment.

India in Russia-Ukraine Crisis Mediation India emphasises dialogue and diplomacy, with the Prime Minister engaging directly with leaders of both countries. Through these efforts, India has sought to build trust between the parties and promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Challenges Ahead

• Geopolitical Complexities: Navigating the competing interests of major powers, such as the US, Russia, and China, can complicate India’s role as a neutral mediator.
• Resource Limitations: Financial and logistical limitations can constrain India’s capacity to deploy peacekeeping forces and provide humanitarian assistance.
• Expectations & Accountability: Balancing the expectations of various international stakeholders while maintaining accountability in peacekeeping missions poses a significant challenge.
• Regional Tensions: Ongoing conflicts in South Asia, such as those with Pakistan and China, can limit India’s ability to advocate for peace effectively globally.

Way Forward

• Enhance Peacekeeping Capacity: Invest in resources to improve effectiveness in conflict zones.
• Multilateral Engagement: Participate in the UN and other organisations to support peace initiatives.
• Soft Power: Use cultural diplomacy and humanitarian aid to enhance India’s image as a neutral actor.
• Commit to Non-Alignment: Maintain neutrality while advocating for dialogue and negotiation to be seen as a credible mediator.

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} Mutual Evaluation Report by FATF

• Context (IE): The Financial Action Task Force released the Mutual Evaluation Report for India.

What are Mutual evaluation reports?

• FATF mutual evaluations are in-depth country reports that analyse the implementation and effectiveness of measures taken against money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing.
• The reports are peer reviews, where members from different countries assess another country.
• After analysing a country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing system, mutual evaluations recommend strengthening it further.

India’s rating based on MER

• India has been provided with a “regular follow-up” rating. The rating is currently shared by only four other G20 countries — the UK, France, Italy and Russia (suspended from FATF in February 2023)
• Most developing countries are in the “enhanced follow-up” category, which requires submission of reports annually, as against once in three years in the “regular follow-up” category.

Key Findings

• Security threats: India faces a “disparate range” of terrorism threats from regional insurgencies in the Northeast and North and Left-Wing Extremist groups.
  • “Most significant” terror threats are related to the Islamic State or al-Qaeda-linked groups active in and around Jammu and Kashmir.
• Issues in implementing PMLA: Despite an increase in money laundering investigations, there has been no increase in complaints prosecuted and trials concluded.

Recommendations

• Preventing non-profit sector from being abused for terrorism financing through risk-based approach.
• Addressing delays in the prosecution of terror financing cases.
• Risk-profiling of customers of financial institutions, monitoring of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs registry for the availability of accurate owner information.

{GS2 – MoHFW – Initiatives} U-WIN Portal

• Context (TH): The U-WIN Portal, developed by the Union Health Ministry for digitising vaccination services, is operational on a pilot basis.

Features of the U-WIN Portal

• Citizen-Centric Services: Offers ‘anytime access’ and ‘anywhere’ vaccination services.
• Self-Registration: Citizens can self-register using the U-WIN web portal or mobile application.
• Automated Alerts: Provides automated SMS alerts regarding vaccinations.
• QR-Based Certificates: Issues universal QR-based e-vaccination certificates.
• Multilingual Support: Available in 11 regional languages, including Hindi.
• Facilitates creation of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs.

{GS2 – Polity – IC – FRs} Personal Liberty

• Context (IE): The recent judicial trends reflect a commitment to safeguarding personal liberty.

The Vision of the Constituent Assembly

• Article 21: The framers enshrined the right to life and personal liberty as fundamental in Article 21.
• Advocacy for Due Process: K M Munshi, in the constituent assembly, emphasised that laws must not undermine fundamental rights, promoting due process protections.
• Balancing Rights and Authority: The Assembly aimed to ensure that state powers did not unjustly infringe on individual freedoms.
• Enduring Constitutional Legacy: Their vision established a foundation for future judicial interpretations prioritising personal liberty and due process.

Recent Judicial Rulings Safeguarding Individual Rights Bail and Prolonged Detention: The SC ruled that individuals cannot be held indefinitely, even under strict laws like the UAPA, emphasising that prolonged detention violates Article 21 rights. Judicial Discretion Affirmed: Recent decisions assert that constitutional courts can grant bail, regardless of restrictive statutory provisions, when due process rights are at risk. Alignment with Fundamental Rights: The Court highlighted that statutory provisions must align with constitutional rights, reinforcing that the right to personal liberty supersedes bail conditions. Revival of Pro-Bail Approach: The rulings signal a shift back toward the principle that bail is the norm, reflecting a renewed commitment to protecting personal liberty within India’s legal framework. Due Process Emphasis: SC emphasises that Statutes should not presume against bail, making deprivation of liberty exceptional.

Significance of Article 21

• Fundamental Right to Life: Article 21 guarantees the right to life and a dignified existence, emphasising that quality of life is integral to personal liberty.
• Protection Against Arbitrary State Action: It safeguards against unlawful detention and state overreach, ensuring that individuals cannot be deprived of liberty without due process.
• Judicial Activism: Courts have expanded the scope of Article 21 to include various rights, such as the right to privacy, health, and education, reflecting its dynamic application in contemporary issues.
• Balancing Individual Rights and National Security: In the face of laws like UAPA and PMLA, Article 21 is a critical tool for protecting personal liberties while navigating national security.
• Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups: It has become a cornerstone for advocating the rights of marginalised communities, reinforcing their claims to protection and justice within the legal framework.

  Read more > Personality Rights and their Protection.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Education} National Achievement Survey (NAS)

• Context (TH): NAS 2024 is scheduled for December 2024.

About

• Aim to evaluate students’ learning achievements and identify gaps in educational outcomes. It will assess nearly five million students in India, focusing on students from Classes 3, 6, and 9.
• Conducted by the Ministry of Education. NCERT creates the assessment framework, while CBSE administers the evaluation. It is an MCQ based assessment.
• Expansion: This year’s survey expands from the previous NAS conducted in 2021, which covered 3.7 million students and included Classes 3, 5, 8, and 10.
• Languages: It will be conducted in 26 languages, adding six new languages to the existing list.

Objectives of the National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2024

• Evaluate Learning Outcomes: Assess students’ learning achievements in key subjects such as language, mathematics, science, and social studies.
• Provide Feedback: To give insights to teachers, parents, schools, and policymakers regarding student performance and areas needing improvement.
• Compare Performance: To facilitate comparisons of student performance across different states, districts, and social groups to identify disparities.
• Identify Best Practices: To recognise effective teaching methods and innovations that can be replicated to enhance educational quality.
• Inform Policy Development: To generate evidence-based data to guide educational policies and interventions aimed at improving the education system.

Key Findings of National Achievement Survey (NAS) 2021 Decline in Scores: Mean scores in all subjects for Classes 3, 5, and 8 declined compared to NAS 2017. Class 10 Performance: Scores declined in Science and Mathematics compared to 2017, while English and Modern Indian Languages improved. Digital Access Issues: 24% of students lacked a digital device at home, and 38% faced difficulties in online learning during school closures. Learning Preferences: 80% of students preferred learning in schools with peer support, while 78% found online learning burdensome due to increased assignments. Workload: 65% of teachers felt overloaded with work; 44% lacked adequate school workspace. Urban vs. Rural Performance: Performance was lower in rural areas than in urban areas and for SC/ST students than in the general category. Gender Performance: Girls outperformed boys in most subjects across classes.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health – Issues} Beef Tallow: Tirupati Ladoo Controversy *

• Context (IE): Alleged use of the Beef tallow instead of ghee in the famous Tirupati laddoo.

About Tirupati Laddu

• Origins: The tradition of offering laddus at Tirupati began in 1715. The recipe has been altered only six times to enhance its flavour and shelf life. It is prepared in the temple’s kitchen, the Potu.
• GI Status: In 2014, the Tirupati Laddu received GI status.

What is Beef Tallow?

• It is rendered fat from cattle, primarily from suet, the hard fat found around cows’ kidneys and loins.
• It transforms into a smooth, shelf-stable substance through rendering.
• Composition: Primarily composed of saturated and monounsaturated fats, with a small percentage of polyunsaturated fats.
• Rich in Nutrients: Beef tallow is a potent source of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K.
• Sustainable: It aligns with reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices.

Uses of Beef Tallow

• High-Heat Cooking: It has a high smoke point of 420°F, making it excellent for frying, sau-téing, and baking.
• Flavour Enhancer: It adds a rich, meaty flavour to dishes and can substitute for other cooking fats.
• Skincare: It is used in making body lotions, soaps, and salves due to its nourishing properties.
• Candles and Lubricants: It is also used in candle making and as an industrial lubricant.
• Biofuel and Medicine: It has been converted into biofuel and incorporated into medicinal salves.

Aspect	Beef Tallow	Ghee	Vegetable Oils
Source	Rendered fat from cattle	Clarified butter (boiled and milk solids removed)	Extracted from seeds or fruits (e.g., sunflower, canola, olive)
Composition	High in saturated fats, some monounsaturated fats	High in saturated fats, contains short-chain fatty acids and butyrate	High in polyunsaturated fats, lower in saturated fats
Nutritions	Rich in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)	Contains butyrate, beneficial for gut health, rich in vitamins A, D, E, K	High in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, considered heart-healthy
Culinary Uses	Frying,sautéing, baking	Traditional Indian cooking, Ayurvedic practices	Salad dressings, frying, baking, sautéing
Uses	Traditional fat used in various cuisines	Widely used in Indian cuisine and Ayurveda	Commonly used in Western and Mediterranean diets

{GS3 – Agri – Dairy} White Revolution 2.0

• Context (IE): Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for ‘White Revolution 2.0’ were announced.

• The idea of White Revolution 2.0 focuses on four key areas: Empowering women farmers, enhancing local milk production, strengthening dairy infrastructure and boosting dairy exports.
• Objective: Increase milk procurement of dairy cooperatives by 50% (from the present 660 lakh litres per day to 1,000 lakh litres) over the next five years by providing market access to dairy farmers in uncovered areas and increasing the share of dairy cooperatives in the organised sector.
• Funding: National Programme for Dairy Development (NDDB) 2.0, a new central sector scheme under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying will assist 1,000 Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies (MPACSs) at the rate of Rs 40,000 per MPACS.

Milk Scenario in India

• India is the largest milk-producing country in the world, with production reaching 230.58 million tonnes during 2022-23. In 1951-52, the country produced just 17 million tonnes of milk.
• Low average yield: Only 8.55 kg per animal per day for exotic/crossbred animals and 3.44 kg/ animal/ day for indigenous/ nondescript animals.
• Regional disparities: Yield in Punjab is 13.49 kg/ animal/day, but only 6.30 kg/animal/day in West Bengal.
• Per capita availability of milk: 459 grams/ day (higher than the global average of 323 g/ day).
• Top 5 milk-producing states: Uttar Pradesh (15.7%)>Rajasthan (14.4%)>Madhya Pradesh (8.7%)>Gujarat (7.5%)>Andhra Pradesh (6.7%). Together, they contribute 53% of country’s total milk production.
• Decline in the annual growth rate of production from 6.47% (2018-19) to 3.83% (2022-23).
• Dominance of unorganised sector: About 63% of total milk production goes to the market, and about two-thirds of the marketable milk is in the unorganised sector. In the organised sector, cooperatives account for the major share.
• Employment by the Dairy Industry: Directly or indirectly provides livelihoods to more than 8.5 crore people, mostly women.

Dairy Cooperatives

• Dairy cooperatives operate in around 70% of the country’s districts. About 1.7 lakh dairy cooperative societies cover around 2 lakh villages (30% of total number of villages) and 22% of producer households.
• In Gujarat, Kerala, Sikkim, and Puducherry, more than 70% of villages are covered by dairy cooperatives.
• Dairy cooperatives procured 660 lakh kg of milk per day in 2023-24; the government wants to increase this to 1,007 lakh kg/ day by 2028-29.
• Cooperatives procure about 10% of the country’s milk production and 16% of the marketable surplus.

Also, read > Ways to Reduce the Production Cost of Milk.

{GS3 – S&T – Space} Starlink Satellites block view of sky

• Context (IE): Starlink’s constellation of satellites impeding the work of astronomers.

• Starlink “constellation” comprises approx. 6,400 working satellites orbiting Earth at an altitude of around 550 km. These satellites deliver high-speed internet to remote places.

How do Starlink satellites block the view of the skies?

• Deep space objects (DSOs) such as galaxies and distant stars emit light in the electromagnetic spectrum. This light travels to Earth in waves and is picked up by radio telescopes to provide a discernible picture of these celestial objects.
• Starlink’s new 2^nd generation satellites create “radio noise” or unintended electromagnetic radiation (UEMR), 32 times stronger than the interference produced by earlier models, which interferes with celestial observations.

{Prelims – In News} Global Cybersecurity Index 2024

• Context (PIB): The 5^th edition of the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024 was published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

• The GCI, launched in 2015, seeks to help countries identify areas of improvement and encourage countries to act in building capacity and capabilities.
• 194 countries were assessed in GCI 2024. It assessed national efforts based on five pillars: legal, technical, organisational, capacity development, and cooperation.
• Each country’s performance is measured across five tiers: Tier 1 being the highest and Tier 5 the lowest.

Key Findings

• Global average country score has risen to 65.7/100. 46 countries were Tier 1.
• Most countries are either “establishing” (Tier 3) or “evolving” (Tier 4) in terms of cybersecurity.
• Across the five GCI pillars, most countries are strongest in the legal pillar. 177 countries have ​at least one regulation on either personal data protection, privacy protection, or breach notification in force or progress. By contrast, the average country is weakest in capacity development and technical pillars.

Issues highlighted

• Worrisome threats included ransomware attacks targeting government services, cyber breaches affecting core industries, costly system outages, and privacy breaches for individuals and organisations.
• A “cyber capacity gap” – characterised by skills, staffing, equipment and funding limitations – was evident in many countries and across all regional groups.

India specific findings

• India was given Tier 1 status. ​India topped the chart for adopting measures like legal, technical, capacity development and cooperation as areas of relative strength.
• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) was the nodal agency representing India in GCI 2024.

{Prelims – In News} Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP)

• Context (TH): Unit 7 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) at Rawatbhata in Chittorgarh district achieved criticality, or the start of a controlled fission chain reaction.

• RAPP-7 is the third reactor to go critical in a series of 16 indigenous pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) of 700 MW each. The first two were Units 3 and 4 of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station in Gujarat, in 2020 and 2023 respectively.

About

• Operator: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is the owner and operator.
• Current Capacity: The existing units (1 to 6) have a total installed capacity of 1,180 MW.

Also refer to Nuclear Energy.

{Prelims – S&T – Space} Palomar 5 cluster

• Context (IE): Researchers have detected over 100 black holes in the Milky Way’s Palomar 5-star cluster.

• It was discovered by Walter Baade in 1950. These clusters are regarded as ‘fossils’ of the early Universe.
• Tidal stream: The cluster has a large star stream extending over 30,000 light-years.

Tidal streams These are long, thin distributions of stars pulled away from their parent clusters or dwarf galaxies. The Gaia mission has mapped nearly two billion stars, allowing astronomers to identify and analyse these tidal streams with unprecedented accuracy.