Current Affairs – January 31, 2025

{GS2 – IR – India-UK} UK-India Collaboration for a Viksit Bharat

• Context (IE): UK and India share a growing and dynamic economic partnership, focusing on technology, innovation, and mutual growth for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Historical Perspective of India-UK Relations

• Colonial Era (1858-1947): India came under direct British rule after the 1857 rebellion. The British monarch held the title of Empress/Emperor of India.
• Post-Independence: India chose to remain in the Commonwealth after becoming a Republic in 1950.
• Cold War Strain: Diverging foreign policies during the Cold War strained relations, with India pursuing non-alignment and the UK aligning with NATO.
• Economic Reforms (1990s): Post-Cold War, economic liberalisation improved ties, focusing on trade and investment.
• Strategic Partnership (2004): Upgraded relations with regular high-level visits, enhancing cooperation in trade, defence, and cultural exchanges.

Key Areas of Collaboration

• Global Capability Centres (GCCs): UK firms rely on Indian GCCs for technology development, though the impact on daily life is often unrecognized by UK consumers.
• Emerging Technologies: The UK-India Technology Security Initiative fosters the potential for AI and virtual reality partnerships to transform education, training, and healthcare.
• Financial Sector Collaboration: UK banks invest heavily in India, utilizing technology solutions in the financial sector; India’s regulatory best practices can attract more UK fintech firms.
• Green Energy: The UK’s green innovation expertise offers sustainable energy solutions for India, with opportunities for expanding electric vehicle lending and renewable energy financing.
• Climate: The India-UK Green Growth Equity Fund and OSOWOG initiative target renewable energy and sustainable development.
• Defence: The Defence and International Security Partnership (DISP) 2015 enhances cooperation, with UK firms supplying critical components for Indian aircraft.
• Education: UK remains a top destination for Indian students. Programmes like UKEIRI Mobility support UK-India student exchanges.
• Health: Partnerships like the AstraZeneca-SII vaccine collaboration address global healthcare challenges, including AMR and pandemic preparedness.

Challenges in India-UK Relations

• Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Diverging stances, with UK’s criticism and India’s neutral position.
• Ties with Pakistan and China: UK’s engagements complicate defence and security partnerships.
• Khalistan Issue: Allegations of UK’s support for Sikh separatism hinder relations.
• Defence Procurement: UK’s slow adaptation to India’s G2G acquisition model.
• Extradition: Delays in extraditing fugitives like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi.
• Illegal Migrants: Over 1 lakh illegal Indian immigrants remain unresolved due to the absence of a migration agreement.
• Colonial Legacy: Lingering anti-colonial sentiments and unresolved issues like Partition’s impact.

Opportunities for Collaboration

• The joint effort in projects like the Sunrise Project demonstrates the power of UK-India academic collaborations for global good, particularly in climate change solutions and disaster management.
• A concerted push can see India and the UK co-develop climate-modelling tools and work on renewable energy infrastructure.
• A telemedicine partnership can reduce healthcare costs in the UK while extending quality healthcare to rural parts of India, making healthcare more affordable and accessible.

Challenges in Strengthening Collaboration

• Venture Capital Competition: The UK lags behind the USA and China in attracting venture capital, limiting its potential for tech growth.
• Manufacturing Integration: UK firms benefit from cost-effective manufacturing in India, but more integration into UK supply chains is necessary.
• Defence Collaboration: India’s defence acquisition procedures need refinement, and FDI thresholds should be reconsidered to enhance collaboration.
• Defence Technology Start-Ups: UK firms can further integrate into India’s defence tech start-up ecosystem through accelerator programs.
• Start-Up Connectivity: Greater efforts are required to connect UK and Indian start-ups, especially in emerging tech sectors like AI and defence.

{GS2 – MoLE – Initiatives} e-Shram Microsites and Occupational Shortage Index

• Context (PIB): State-specific e-Shram Microsites & Occupational Shortage Index introduced to enhance unorganised workers’ access to welfare programs & align workforce skills with industry demands.
• Both the initiatives fall under the ambit of Ministry of Labour & Employment.

Who is an Unorganised Worker?

• Any worker who is a home based-worker, self-employed worker or a wage worker in the unorganised sector.
• A worker in the organised sector who is not a member of ESIC or EPFO or not a Govt. employee is called an unorganised worker.

e-Shram Microsites

• Purpose: State-specific digital platforms integrated with the national e-Shram database to provide unorganised workers with seamless access to both Central and State welfare programs.

Features

• Simplified registration process for unorganised workers.
• Multilingual accessibility to cater to workers from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
• Real-time updates on welfare schemes, employment opportunities, and skilling programs.

Benefits

For Workers

• Centralized access to social security benefits and employment opportunities.
• Enhanced transparency and efficiency in welfare service delivery.

For States/UTs

• Ready-to-use digital infrastructure, reducing development costs and time.
• Real-time analytics for informed policy decision-making.

Occupational Shortage Index (OSI)

• A data-driven tool designed to identify occupations facing labor shortages, facilitating better alignment between workforce skills and industry demands.

Features

• Based on International Labour Organization (ILO) guidelines and quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data.
• Measures the gap between demand and supply of workers in specific occupations.
• Sub-Indicators: Hourly Wage Growth; Employment Growth; Growth in Hours Worked; Share of Under-qualified Workers

Benefits

• Assists policymakers, training institutions, and businesses in identifying and addressing skill gaps.
• Enhances employment outcomes by aligning skill development initiatives with actual industry needs.

Significance of the Initiatives

• Step towards formalizing the unorganised sector and optimizing India’s labor market efficiency.
• Empowerment of Unorganised Workers: By providing streamlined access to welfare programs and employment opportunities, these initiatives aim to uplift the unorganised workforce.
• Data-Driven Workforce Planning: The OSI enables targeted skill development programs, ensuring the workforce is equipped to meet current and future industry demands.
• Policy Formulation: Real-time data and analytics support evidence-based policy decisions, promoting efficient labor market interventions.

Other Initiatives Taken to Support Unorganised Sector

• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM)
• Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)
• PM SVANidhi: Micro Credit Scheme for Street Vendors
• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Urban Livelihoods Mission
• One Nation One Ration Card
• Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health} Guinea Eliminates Sleeping Sickness (HAT)

• Context (DTE| WHO): Guinea has successfully eliminated gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) as a public health issue, marking a milestone in global fight against NTDs.
• Guinea is the latest among several countries, including Togo (2020), Benin (2021), and Ghana (2023), to be validated by WHO for eliminating the gambiense form of HAT.

About Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT)

• Also known as sleeping sickness, is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma.
• It is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Transmission: By the bite of infected tsetse flies, which carry parasites from humans/animals to humans.
• Symptoms: Fever, headache, joint pain, progressing to neurological issues like confusion and disrupted sleep patterns in advanced stages. Untreated, it can be fatal.

Types of HAT

• Trypanosoma brucei gambiense: Causes chronic illness, responsible for 92% of cases, found in 24 West and Central African countries.
• Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense: Causes acute illness, responsible for 8% of cases, found in 13 East and Southern African countries.

Credits: cdc.gov

Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) As per WHO, NTDs are a diverse group of communicable diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical conditions and affect more than one billion people worldwide. Why are they called ‘Neglected’? These remain underreported because the victims are the poorest and the most marginalized, with no access to treatment and reporting. Further, these diseases are often overlooked by drug developers, government officials, public health programs and the news media. Affected population: Populations living in poverty, with poor sanitation & unsafe drinking water, substandard housing, close contact with infectious vectors, and little or no access to health care. NTDs kill approx. >5 lakh people annually. India is home to the world’s largest absolute burden of at least 11 major neglected tropical diseases. GoI Initiatives to curb NTDs National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) for control of Dengue and elimination of Kala-azar and Lymphatic Filariasis. National Leprosy Eradication Programme National Programme for Control of Blindness wherein services are provided for control of Trachoma.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health} WHO’s Guidelines on Low-Sodium Salt Substitutes

• Context (TH): WHO has recommended replacing regular salt with low-sodium salt substitutes (LSSS) to reduce cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and hypertension globally, including India.

Health Impacts of Sodium

• Blood Pressure: Excess sodium increases blood volume, leading to higher blood pressure, a major cause of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Hypertension causes 32.1% of all deaths in India.
• CVD Risks: Reducing sodium intake significantly lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), strokes, and atherosclerosis.

WHO Guidelines on Low-Sodium Salt Substitutes (LSSS)

• Recommendation: Replace regular table salt (sodium chloride) with lower-sodium salt (NaCl) substitutes containing potassium chloride (KCl).
• Target Audience: Adults (excluding pregnant women, children, and those with kidney impairments or conditions affecting potassium excretion).
• Focus: Household table salt (not applicable to packaged foods or restaurant meals).
• Daily Limit: The WHO recommends reducing sodium intake to less than 2 grams per day, equivalent to about 5 grams of salt to lower hypertension risk and prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
• Policy Action: Governments and health professionals should promote sodium reduction strategies and enhance public awareness.

Benefits of Potassium Chloride (KCl) in Low-Sodium Salt Substitutes

• Potassium Chloride (KCl)’s Role: Substituting sodium with Potassium helps balance sodium levels, counteracting sodium’s negative effects and improving blood pressure regulation.
• Vascular Function: Potassium enhances blood vessel flexibility, reducing risks of cardiovascular diseases.
• Effectiveness: Potassium-enriched salt substitutes are a cost-effective way to enhance public health by reducing sodium intake while maintaining taste.

India’s Salt Consumption & Initiatives Taken

• Current Intake: India’s average salt intake is 10.4g/day, well above the WHO’s recommended limit.
• Government Actions: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated policies like sodium reduction and mandatory labeling of low-sodium products.
• Awareness Campaigns: ‘Eat Right India’ and ‘Aaj Se Thoda Kam’ aim to reduce sodium consumption and promote healthier food choices.

Reasons for High Sodium Usage Over Potassium in Food Industry

• Cost-Effectiveness: Sodium is cheaper and more readily available compared to potassium.
• Preservation Properties: Sodium, especially in the form of salt (sodium chloride), acts as an effective preservative by inhibiting microbial growth.
• Taste Enhancement: Sodium enhances flavor more effectively than potassium, making food more palatable.
• Technological Familiarity: The food industry is more accustomed to using sodium, with established methods and technologies for its incorporation.
• Stability: Sodium salts are more stable during food processing and storage, ensuring longer shelf life.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Greater Hessarghatta Grasslands Conservation Reserve

• Context (TH): Karnataka approved the declaration of Greater Hessarghatta Grasslands as a conservation reserve.

Geographical Details

• Near Yelahanka, Bengaluru Urban district, it spans 5,678 acres, including 350 acres of remaining grassland and three large lakes.

Ecological Significance

• Biodiversity: Home to 133 bird species, leopards, wolves, foxes, and slender loris.
• Water Resources: Contains three significant waterbodies essential for local wildlife.

Importance of Being Declared a Conservation Reserve

• A conservation reserve is an area owned by the state government and is generally found adjacent to National parks and sanctuaries and those areas that link one protected area with another.
• The state government may after consulting local communities, declare any area as “Conservation Reserve ” under section 36A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972.
• Declaration as a conservation reserve ensures legal protection for the flora, fauna, and water bodies within the area.
• The area will be managed by the Karnataka Forest Department, with conservation programs focusing on maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem integrity.

Mugali-Apsarkonda Marine Sanctuary

• Proposed marine sanctuary near Honnavar, Uttara Kannada district, covering approximately 14,000 acres, including mangrove forests.
• Home to several endangered species found in coastal regions, it is crucial for marine life conservation in Karnataka’s coastal ecosystems.

{GS3 – Envi – Degradation} Ammonia Pollution in Yamuna

• Context (IE): A row has erupted between Delhi’s AAP government and Haryana over the alleged release of excessive ammonia into the Yamuna, affecting Delhi’s water supply.

What is Ammonia?

• Chemical Nature: Ammonia is a colourless, gaseous pollutant with sharp odour, highly soluble in water.
• Common Uses: It is widely used in industrial processes such as fertiliser production, as a coolant, cleaning agent, and in manufacturing plastics and paper.
• Sources of Pollution: Major sources include runoff from farmlands, industrial effluents, untreated sewage, and natural release due to organic matter degradation like algae.
• Health Impact: Long-term exposure can cause internal organ damage due to its corrosive properties.

General Impact of Ammonia Pollution

• Environmental Impact: Excessive ammonia in water bodies leads to eutrophication, where nutrient overloading causes excessive growth of algae, depleting oxygen levels and harming aquatic life.
• Human Health Risks: Ammonia is toxic to both humans and animals, causing irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory system. Long-term exposure can lead to organ damage and respiratory disorders.
• Ecosystem Disruption: High ammonia levels disrupt the natural balance of aquatic ecosystems, affecting biodiversity and water quality.

Ammonia Pollution in the Yamuna

• Pollution Sources: Industries in Panipat and Sonipat, along with sewage discharge from colonies, contribute to ammonia pollution in the Yamuna before it enters Delhi at Wazirabad.
• Seasonal Increase: Ammonia levels spike during the dry, winter months due to low freshwater flow downstream.
• Water Treatment Impact: High ammonia levels disrupt water treatment plants as they cannot process water with more than 1 ppm of ammonia.

Impact of Yamuna’s Ammonia Pollution

• Disruption of Water Supply: High ammonia levels hinder the Delhi Jal Board’s ability to treat water effectively, causing disruptions in the water supply when ammonia levels exceed treatable limits.
• Decline in Water Quality: The elevated ammonia levels affect the river’s dissolved oxygen levels, leading to poor water quality, which in turn affects public health and safety.
• Health Hazards: Contaminated water increases the risk of waterborne diseases, particularly in the capital’s densely populated areas.

Ammonia Treatment in Delhi

• Treatment Process: Delhi Jal Board uses chlorine to neutralise ammonia, requiring 11.5 kg of chlorine per litre of water per hour to treat 1 ppm of ammonia.
• Chlorine Residue: A certain amount of chlorine remains in water after treatment to neutralise pathogens.
• Treatment Challenges: In winter, increased ammonia levels reduce the efficiency of treatment plants, making it harder to maintain safe drinking water standards.

Government Actions

• Proposed Solutions: Delhi government proposed an in-situ ammonia treatment plant at Wazirabad pond in March 2023, which is still under development.
• Pipeline Project: Haryana government has yet to complete laying down a pipeline to prevent pollutants from mixing in the Yamuna.

{GS3 – Infra – Initiatives} Teesta Bridge Project

• Context (IE): West Bengal has approved the construction of a new bridge over the Teesta River, enhancing connectivity between West Bengal and Sikkim.

Existing Coronation Bridge

• Location: Spans the Teesta River, connecting Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in West Bengal.
• Built between 1937 and 1941 to commemorate coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
• Design: Arch-type bridge with Roman architectural elements.

Strategic Significance

• Sole bridge linking West Bengal and Sikkim; sustained damage during the 2011 earthquake, leading to restrictions on heavy vehicle movement.
• Military Logistics: Serves as a critical route for transporting military equipment to India’s borders with China and Bhutan.
• Doklam Standoff (2017): Highlighted the need for alternative routes to ensure uninterrupted military logistics.

Additional Bridges Over the Teesta River

Project Swastik: An initiative by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) focusing on infrastructure development in Sikkim, including the construction of bridges over the Teesta River.

• Singtam Bridge: A 300-foot Bailey Suspension Bridge inaugurated in August 2024, enhancing connectivity in Sikkim.
• Munshithang Bridge: A 360-foot Bailey Suspension Bridge opened in March 2020 near Chungthang, North Sikkim, facilitating movement in the region.

Bailey Suspension Bridges: Temporary modular bridges used by the BRO to restore connectivity in disaster-affected areas of Sikkim.

{GS3 – S&T – Nuclear Power} China’s Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough

• Context (IE): China’s EAST reactor achieved a major milestone in January 2025 by maintaining plasma state for over 1,000 seconds, a significant advancement towards viable nuclear fusion energy.

Plasma State: At extremely high temperatures, matter exists as plasma, composed of positively and negatively charged particles.

Nuclear Fusion

• Nuclear fusion is the process of combining two light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a tremendous amount of energy. This process is what powers the sun and other stars.
• Nuclear bomb using fusion are referred to as thermonuclear bombs or hydrogen bombs.
• For fusion bombs, two extremely rare isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium, are used.
• The hydrogen isotopes are fused together under extremely high temperatures (millions of degrees Celsius) and pressure for the nuclear explosion to occur. (A fission trigger might be required)

Importance of Fusion Energy

• Abundant Fuel: Fusion uses isotopes of hydrogen (deuterium and tritium), available in large quantities from water and lithium.
• Clean Energy: Unlike fission, fusion produces no harmful nuclear waste and has no carbon emissions.
• High Energy Output: Fusion releases far more energy per unit of fuel than fission or any other known energy source.
• No Risk of Meltdown: Fusion reactions are inherently safe compared to the risks of nuclear fission reactors.

Challenges in Fusion Energy

• Extreme Temperatures: Fusion requires temperatures of hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius, much higher than the Sun’s core.
• Plasma Confinement: Maintaining plasma in a steady state is essential for efficient fusion, requiring precise magnetic field control.
• Energy Input vs. Output: Achieving a net positive energy gain is critical, as fusion reactions need more energy input than produced for them to be viable.

China’s Artificial Sun: EAST

• EAST is a prominent tokamak that plays a critical role in advancing fusion energy technology.
• Located at Institute of Plasma Physics in Hefei, China, EAST aims to replicate Sun’s nuclear fusion process to generate clean energy.
• The EAST reactor became operational in 2006 as part of China’s nuclear fusion research efforts.
• It is part of the ITER initiative, which involves collaboration with multiple countries including China, the EU, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the U.S.

Fusion Process

• The reactor uses deuterium and tritium (hydrogen isotopes) to fuse and form helium nuclei, releasing massive energy in the process.
• The hydrogen plasma is heated to over 150 million degrees Celsius, creating conditions necessary for nuclear fusion.
• A powerful magnetic field is used to keep the hot plasma away from reactor walls, preventing it from cooling down and losing energy potential.
• The primary aim is to create sustainable fusion energy by maintaining the plasma’s stability for prolonged periods.

Technological Breakthroughs in Fusion Reactors

• The EAST Reactor achieved a breakthrough by maintaining plasma for 1,000 seconds, surpassing the previous 400-second record.
• The JET reactor in the UK produced 12 MW of energy in 2021.
• The US achieved a net energy gain for the first time in 2022, indicating significant progress.

Other Fusion Projects

China’s Other Fusion Projects

• HL-2M Tokamak: Largest and most advanced fusion device in China, operational since 2020.
• J-TEXT Tokamak: Another key fusion project in China contributing to its fusion research.

International Collaboration

• ITER Project: International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France is a collaborative effort involving over 30 countries.
• It is expected to begin deuterium-tritium fusion reactions by 2039, providing a pathway for future electricity generation through fusion.

Private Sector Involvement

• Companies like Helion and Commonwealth Fusion Systems are pursuing commercial fusion energy, with ambitious timelines to generate electricity by the late 2020s to early 2030s.