[Mission 2023] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 10 February 2023

GS Paper 1

Syllabus: Disaster Management/Geography

Source: DTE

 Context: The article highlights GLOF, associated risks and risk mitigation.

What is a GLOF?

• A GLOF is a sudden release of water from a lake fed by glacier melt
• Threatens people’s lives, livelihoods and regional infrastructure.
• In the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), GLOF events can be traced back to the failure of moraine-dammed glacial lakes
• The pressure on the dam, water seeping through the structure, fragmentation of the source glacier, landslides, etc., can trigger a GLOF.
• The frequency of GLOFs is expected to increase due to climate change.

Recent findings:

• The majority of the globally exposed population is located in the region of high mountain Asia and more than 50% in India, Pakistan, Peru and China.
• The population exposed to GLOFs increases with distance from a glacial lake.
• Rapid deglaciation over the last 20 years has led to the growth of many large glacial lakes.
• Increase in the population living in close proximity to glacial lakes between 2002 to 2022.

Situation in India:

• According to the ICIMOD, Himalayan glacial lakes increased by about 9% in number, and 14% in the area.
• The best-studied glacier is north India’s Chhota Shigri, which has lost three times its mass.
• The rapid onset of GLOFs means there is insufficient time to effectively warn downstream populations.

Way ahead:

• Studying glaciers through satellite observations.
• Learning past events and their dynamics will help in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the region.

Conclusion: Improvements are urgently needed in designing early warning systems alongside evacuation drills and other forms of community outreach.

Insta Links:

Tackling glacial burst

Mains Links:

 Q. What is Glacial Lake Outburst Flooding? Examine the vulnerabilities of hydropower projects in the Himalayan eco-sensitive region and suggest measures to overcome the same.

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Polity

Source: Indian Express, First Post

Context: Recently Prime Minister mentioned the misuse of Article 356 in the parliament.

• Commonly known as President’s Rule, Article 356 allows the president to assume any and all functions of the state.

About Article 356:

• Section 93 of the Government of India Act, 1935
• Also called a ‘State Emergency’ or ‘Constitutional Emergency’.
• It deals with the ‘failure of constitutional machinery in the state’ and allows the president to assume any and all functions of the state.
• It can be imposed for six months at a time for a maximum duration of three years.
• After six months, Parliament’s approval is needed to reimpose President’s Rule.
• In 1978, the 44th Amendment to the Constitution (1978) was made.
• This stated that President’s Rule cannot be extended beyond one year unless:
  • In case of a national emergency
  • The Election Commission of India certifies that it is necessary due to difficulties in conducting Assembly polls.

After President’s Rule is imposed, the governor of the state continues administering the state on behalf of the president. The governor can also take aid from the chief secretary and any other officials.

Issues with the use of Article 356:

• Overuse and abuse in a politically motivated manner, especially by the central government to dismiss state governments run by opposition parties.
• Subversion of democracy: It suspends the democratic process in a state
• Lack of accountability: The frequent use of Article 356 has been seen as an infringement on the federal principles of the Indian Constitution and a diminution of the powers of the states.
• Negative impact on governance: It can lead to administrative and governance breakdowns in a state

Recommendations to avoid misuse:

• The Sarkaria Commission in 1983 recommended it only be used in extreme cases.
• The Supreme Court in the landmark 1994 Bommai vs Union of India case, dealing with Article 356 outlined strict guidelines on dealing with the dismissal of a state government.
• For one, it made it mandatory for a no-confidence motion to be passed in the House.
• It also made President’s Rule subject to judicial review.
• The court held that Article 356 can be invoked in situations of the physical breakdown of the government or when there is a ‘hung assembly’, but that it cannot be used without giving the state government a chance to either prove its majority in the House or without instances of a violent breakdown of the constitutional machinery.

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Biotechnology-related issues.

Source: DTE, UNEP

 Context: UNEP released a new report – Bracing for Superbugs: Strengthening environmental action in the One Health response to antimicrobial resistance.

• It provides evidence that the environment plays a key role in the development, transmission, and spread of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR). 

About AMR:

• Antimicrobials are agents intended to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms. They include antibiotics, fungicides, antiviral agents, and parasiticides.
• AMR occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi become resistant to antimicrobial treatments to which they were previously susceptible.

Key findings of the report:

• Up to 10 million deaths could occur annually by 2050 due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), on par with the 2020 rate of global deaths from cancer.
• Pollution in key sectors of the economy contributes to the development, transmission, and spread of AMR.
• AMR’s economic toll could result in a GDP drop of at least USD 3.4 trillion annually by 2030, pushing 24 million more people into extreme poverty
• Microorganisms (particularly bacteria) can acquire resistance following contact with resistant microorganisms.
• AMR challenges are linked to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
• Three key sectors of AMR development and spread in the environment: Pharmaceuticals and other chemical manufacturing, agriculture and food production, and Healthcare.

Suggestions in the report:

• Create robust and coherent national-level governance, planning, regulatory and legal frameworks.
• Increase global efforts to improve integrated water management and promote water, sanitation, and hygiene to limit the development and spread of AMR.
• Increase integration of environmental considerations into AMR National Action Plans.
• Establish international standards for what constitutes a good microbiological indicator of AMR
• Environmental monitoring and surveillance
• AMR requires a One Health response that recognizes that the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment are closely linked and interdependent.

Insta Links:

Tackling antimicrobial resistance

Mains Link:

What is anti-microbial resistance (AMR)? What are the factors that lead to AMR? Evaluate India’s preparedness in dealing with it. Do you think one health approach is a better way forward to deal with it?

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Environment, Conservation

Source: DTE 

Context: According to the Climate Inequality Report 2023, low and middle-income countries are disproportionately impacted by climate change even though they emit less GHGs than their richer counterparts.

Findings of the report:

• 48% of emissions are from the top 10% of emitters, having 76% capacity to finance and their relative loss is a mere 3% from climate change.
• The global bottom (50%) has only a 2% capacity to invest, with an emission of 12% and a massive relative loss of 75%.
• Climate change contributes to economic destitution in subtropical and tropical countries. For instance, it reduces agricultural productivity in poorer nations while increasing it in some temperate nations.
• Climate change also has adverse effects on mental health. For example, a 1 degree Celsius increase in monthly average temperatures increases suicide rates by 2.1% in Mexico.

Suggestions in the report:

• The wealthiest individuals (0.001% of the world’s adult population) with over $100 million should pay a ‘progressive tax’ ranging from 1.5-3% of their fortune to help less fortunate people adapt to global warming and crisis.
• Combating global poverty need not overshoot global carbon budgets to meet the Paris Agreement
• Redistribution measures to combine poverty alleviation and climate change mitigation efforts.
• Emerging economies like China carry increased responsibility to produce transparent strategies for reaching Net Zero emissions.

Conclusion:

• The need for a just transition to a low-carbon economy reflects unequal responsibility for causing the climate crisis and uneven capacity to help address it.
• Not only countries but also individuals have different responsibilities (common but differentiated responsibilities) toward combating climate change and ensuring climate justice.

Insta Links:

Working towards climate justice in a non-ideal world

Mains Links:

Q. ‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How will India be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India are affected by climate change? (UPSC 2017)

GS Paper 4

Source: BS

 Context: The recent Hindenburg report on the Adani group and instances of business-political nexus have highlighted the term ‘crony capitalists’

What is Crony capitalism? 

A political-economic system in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials, rather than on merit and competition

Examples of Crony capitalism:

• India: Adani Group (CAG report highlighted “undue benefits” that the Gujarat government gave to Adani Ports by waiving waterfront and other charges); The 2G spectrum scam; Coalgate Scandal etc.
• Russia: Privatization of state-owned assets in the 1990s resulted in a small group of oligarchs acquiring significant wealth and political power
• USA: The 2008 financial crisis: Several large banks received government bailouts
• China: State-owned enterprises (SOEs) receive preferential treatment

Reason for high crony capitalism in India:

• Weak governance and lack of transparency in the political and bureaucratic systems
• Corruption
• Lack of competition in the business sector dominated by a few large conglomerates
• Influence of money and power where financial resources shape government policies
• Weak legal and regulatory frameworks with slow and inefficient courts
• Weak enforcement of laws and regulations.
• Complex rules and regulations

Ethical issues with Crony Capitalism:

• Corruption: It undermines the integrity of public institutions and erodes trust in the democratic process.
• Inequality: It creates a two-tiered system and exacerbates income and wealth inequality, contributing to social injustice.
• Reduced Competition: It stifles innovation, reduces economic growth, and limits opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
• Lack of Social Responsibility: Crony capitalists often prioritize their own self-interest over the well-being of society.
• Not good for democracy: Crony capitalists influence the political results and undermine the democratic process and erode the separation of powers.

Safeguards:

Uday Kotak Committee recommendations against Crony Capitalism:

• Transparency in related-party transactions through complete disclosure
• Independent directors: Companies should have a minimum of 50% independent directors
• Enhanced role of audit committees
• Strengthening the corporate governance framework

Other measures needed:

• Transparency and disclosure of political contributions
• Regulation of lobbying activities
• Election Campaign finance reform
• Reform of government procurement practices e.g., the GeMS portal

Mains Links:

Q. Corporate governance in India is in need of structural reforms which will promote transparency, fix accountability and reward efficiency. Analyse. (15M)