[Mission 2022] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 20 APRIL 2022

GS Paper 1:

Topics Covered: Modern History and historical events.

Context:

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu recently visited the birthplace of noted freedom fighter and revolutionary, Shri Alluri Sitarama Raju in Pandrangi village near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

About Alluri Sitaram Raju:

In 1922, Indian revolutionary Alluri Sitaram Raju led the Rampa Rebellion against the British raj for their imposition of the 1882 Madras Forest Act, which severely restricted the free movement of the tribal community within their own forests.

• Under the implications of this Act, the community was unable to fully carry out the traditional Podu agricultural system, which involved shifting cultivation.
• The armed struggle came to a violent end in 1924, when Raju was captured by police forces, tied to a tree, and shot by a firing squad. His heroics resulted in him being titled manyam veerudu, or ‘the hero of the jungle’.

Rampa Rebellion:

The Rampa Rebellion of 1922, also known as the Manyam Rebellion, was a tribal uprising, led by Alluri Sitarama Raju in Godavari Agency of Madras Presidency, British India. It began in August 1922 and lasted until the capture and killing of Raju in May 1924.

Insta Curious:

Did you know that under the British Rajthere were close to 40 major tribal rebellions across the country with the first one being in 1774-79, when the Halba tribe rebelled against the Company rule in Dongar in Bastar, Chhattisgarh?

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. About Rampa Rebellion.
2. Alluri Sitarama Raju.
3. Komaram Bheem.
4. Manyam Rebellion.

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of Tampa Rebellion.

Sources: Indian Express.

GS Paper 1:

Topics Covered: Important Geographical phenomenon.

Context:

Stunning aurora glow was recently observed above Iceland after a ‘dead’ sunspot erupted.

What is Aurora?

An Aurora is a display of light in the sky predominantly seen in the high latitude regions (Arctic and Antarctic). It is also known as a Polar light.

Types:

There are two types- the aurora borealis and aurora australis – often called the northern lights and southern lights.

Where do they occur?

They commonly occur at high northern and southern latitudes, less frequent at mid-latitudes, and seldom seen near the equator.

Colors:

While usually a milky greenish color, auroras can also show red, blue, violet, pink, and white. These colors appear in a variety of continuously changing shapes.

Science behind their occurrence:

• Auroras are a spectacular sign that our planet is electrically connected to the Sun. These light shows are provoked by energy from the Sun and fueled by electrically charged particles trapped in Earth’s magnetic field.
• The typical aurora is caused by collisions between fast-moving electrons from space with the oxygen and nitrogen in Earth’s upper atmosphere.
• The electrons—which come from the Earth’s magnetosphere, the region of space controlled by Earth’s magnetic field —transfer their energy to the oxygen and nitrogen atoms and molecules, making them “excited”.
• As the gases return to their normal state, they emit photons, small bursts of energy in the form of light.
• When a large number of electrons come from the magnetosphere to bombard the atmosphere, the oxygen and nitrogen can emit enough light for the eye to detect, giving us beautiful auroral displays.

Where do they originate?

They origin at altitudes of 100 to more than 400 km.

Why do auroras come in different colors and shapes?

• The color of the aurora depends on which gas — oxygen or nitrogen — is being excited by the electrons, and on how excited it becomes. The color also depends upon how fast the electrons are moving, or how much energy they have at the time of their collisions.
• High energy electrons cause oxygen to emit green light (the most familiar color of the aurora), while low energy electrons cause a red light. Nitrogen generally gives off a blue light.
• The blending of these colors can also lead to purples, pinks, and whites. The oxygen and nitrogen also emit ultraviolet light, which can be detected by special cameras on satellites.

Effects:

• Auroras affect communication lines, radio lines and power lines.
• It should also be noted here that the Sun’s energy, in the form of solar wind, is behind the whole process.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. What are auroras?
2. Types?
3. How are they formed?
4. Effects.
5. What are Solar flares?
6. What is Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)?
7. Influence of solar flares on aurora formation.

Mains Link:

Discuss the mechanism behind the formation of Auroras.

Sources: the Hindu.

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Important International institutions.

Context:

It was recently unveiled in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

• It will be the first and only global outpost centre for traditional medicine across the world.

Significance:

For many regions of the world, traditional medicine is the first line of treatment. This centre will help in providing better medical solutions to the world with the support of traditional medicines.

• At the centre, the main areas will be research and leadership, evidence and learning, data and analytics, sustainability and equity and innovation and technology.

Need for:

According to WHO estimates, 80% of the world’s population uses traditional medicine.

• 170 of its 194 WHO Member States have reported the use of traditional medicine.
• These member states have asked for its support in creating a body of “reliable evidence and data on traditional medicine practices and products”.

What is traditional medicine?

The WHO describes traditional medicine as the total sum of the “knowledge, skills and practices indigenous and different cultures have used over time to maintain health and prevent, diagnose and treat physical and mental illness”.

• Its reach encompasses ancient practices such as acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine and herbal mixtures as well as modern medicines.

Traditional medicine in India:

1. Ayurveda and yoga are practised widely across the country.
2. The Siddha system is followed predominantly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
3. The Sowa-Rigpa system is practised mainly in Leh-Ladakh and Himalayan regions such as Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, Lahaul & Spiti.

Challenges faced by traditional medicine:

• National health systems and strategies do not yet fully integrate traditional medicine workers, accredited courses and health facilities.
• About 40% of approved pharmaceutical products today derive from natural substances. This raises issues surrounding environmental conservation.

Insta Curious:

Did you know that the contraceptive pill was developed from the roots of wild yam plants and child cancer treatments have been based on the rosy periwinkle?

Sources: the Hindu.

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Important International institutions.

Context:

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave a “positive assessment” to their cooperation on the OPEC+ producers group to stabilize the world oil market.

What’s the issue?

Saudi Arabia and other major Persian Gulf oil producers have so far resisted U.S. calls to increase output as prices have surged amid the crisis in Ukraine and concerns about possible sanctions on Russian exports. So, measures such as these are necessary to set things right.

What is the Opec+?

• Opec+ refers to the alliance of crude producers, who have been undertaking corrections in supply in the oil markets since 2017.
• OPEC plus countries include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan and Sudan.

What is OPEC?

1. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded in Baghdad, Iraq, with the signing of an agreement in September 1960 by five countries namely Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. They were to become the Founder Members of the Organization.
2. OPEC is a permanent, intergovernmental organization.
3. OPEC’s objective is to co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member Countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry.
4. It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
5. OPEC membership is open to any country that is a substantial exporter of oil and which shares the ideals of the organization.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. Founder members of OPEC.
2. Top oil producers?
3. India’s crude oil imports?
4. Components and refining of crude oil.
5. Crude oil storage facilities in India?
6. Geographical location of OPEC members.
7. Type of Crude oil produced by OPEC and non-OPEC members.
8. What is OPEC+?

Mains Link:

How groups, such as OPEC, influence oil prices across the world? Discuss.

Sources: the Hindu.

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Important International Institutions.

Context:

Liechtenstein is convening the UN General Assembly to debate a draft resolution — backed by the US — requiring the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, China, US, UK and France) to justify their use of the veto.

Background:

• The demand for a mechanism to ensure that UNSC permanent members cut back use of their veto powers is an old one.
• It has recently gained strength and support from major players after Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine.
• Moscow’s veto power has allowed it to paralyse action in the UNSC, which is supposed to intervene in such conflicts as guarantor of global peace, as defined by the Charter of the United Nations.

Need for:

• Various countries have called for reforms in the UNSC, claiming that the body had not been able to fulfill responsibilities in maintaining global peace and security due to “limited representation”.
• Reform of the veto power is often included in proposals for reforming the Security Council. India has repeatedly said that the issue of expanding the UNSC should not be held hostage by the debate over veto power.

What is veto power?

The UNSC veto power is the power of the five permanent members of the UNSC to veto (strike down) any “substantive” resolution.

• The veto power originates in Article 27 of the United Nations Charter.

How and when is the veto power used?

• Each member of the UNSC shall have a vote.
• Decisions of the UNSC on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members.
• Decisions of the UNSC on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members, including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
• This means that a negative vote from any of the permanent members will block the adoption of a draft resolution.
• A permanent member that abstains or is absent from the vote will not block a resolution from being passed.

Arguments for and against the veto:

Supporters of veto power regard it as a promoter of international stability, and a check against “snap” military interventions.

Critics, however, say that the veto is the most undemocratic element of the UN, as well as the main cause of inaction on war crimes and crimes against humanity, as it effectively prevents UN action against the permanent members and their allies.

• Amnesty International claimed that the five permanent members had used their veto to “promote their political self interest or geopolitical interest above the interest of protecting civilians”.

Case for Permanent Membership of India in UNSC:

• India is the founding member of the UN.
• Most significantly, India has almost twice the number of peacekeepers deployed on the ground than by P5 countries.
• India is also the largest democracy and second-most populous country.
• India’s acquired status of a Nuclear Weapons State (NWS) in May 1998 also makes India a natural claimant as a permanent member similar to the existing permanent members who are all Nuclear Weapon States.
• India is the undisputed leader of the Third world countries, as reflected by its leadership role in Non-Aligned Movement and G-77 grouping.

Insta Curious:

Have you heard about the “coffee club”, which is an informal grouping comprising 40-odd members? What are its objectives? Reference.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. About UNSC.
2. Members.
3. Election.
4. Functions.
5. About the UNSC Presidency.
6. About the UN Charter.

Mains Link:

Discuss the need for reforms in UNSC.

Sources: times of India

GS Paper 2:

Topics Covered: Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.

Context:

Every year, the United Nations marks April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites.

In many countries the day is also celebrated as World Heritage Day.

• Globally, the day is promoted by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

The theme for World Heritage Day 2022 is “Heritage and Climate”.

What is a World Heritage site?

• These sites are officially recognised by the UN and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, also known as UNESCO. UNESCO believes that the sites classified as World Heritage are important for humanity, and they hold cultural and physical significance.
• The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the General Assembly.
• Each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state wherein the site is located and UNESCO considers it in the interest of the international community to preserve each site.

Eligibility:

To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be an already classified landmark, unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance.

Heritage sites in India:

• India is home to 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Harappan city of Dholavira in Gujarat as India’s 40th world heritage site.
• Ramappa Temple (Telangana) was India’s 39th World Heritage Site.
• Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim has been inscribed as India’s first and the only “Mixed World Heritage Site”.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

1. Who declares a site as world heritage site?
2. What is endangered list?
3. What is tentative list?
4. WHS in India and their locations?

Sources: Indian Express.