[Mission 2024] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 27 October 2023

GS Paper 1

 Syllabus: Geography

Source: IE

 Context: Mumbai has been grappling with air quality issues, marked by prolonged periods of “moderate” or “poor” ratings on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Mumbai’s Air Pollution:

• Air quality in Mumbai deteriorated significantly, with 66 out of 92 days between November 2022 and January 2023 categorized as “poor” or “very poor.”
• In comparison, Delhi experienced 79 days of “Poor” and “Very Poor” AQI during the same period. (Data from SAFAR – Ministry of Earth Sciences).

How Geography of Mumbai keeps it free from pollution?

Mumbai benefits from a natural cleansing mechanism due to its coastal setting. Strong surface winds prevalent in the area facilitate the rapid dispersal of pollutants. Additionally, the powerful sea breeze that sweeps across Mumbai’s landscape contributes to the removal of these airborne particles, carrying them away from the land. This coastal geography helps maintain relatively better air quality in the city, especially during most of the year when these natural processes are at work.

Reasons Behind Rising Air Pollution in Mumbai Recently:

To tackle air pollution in Mumbai, the following measures should be taken:

• Prioritize long-term mitigation planning by mapping airsheds.
• Focus on reducing anthropogenic emissions, the root cause of air pollution.
• Adopt a data- and science-driven approach, relying on reliable scientific sources.
• Use green curtains at construction sites to reduce dust.
• Implement regular water spraying to dampen dust particles and prevent them from becoming airborne.
• Transition to fossil fuel-less transportation, including electric vehicles.
• Improve waste management, clean up dumping grounds, and manage industrial toxins to enhance air quality in the medium term.

Insta Links:

Indoor air pollution

Issues with the Air Pollution Control Measures in India

Prelims Links: (UPSC 2016)

GS3/GS1 Paper 

 Syllabus: Environment/Geography/ Disaster Management

Source: TH

 Context: The Dam Safety Act in India, passed in late 2021, aims to address issues related to the safety of dams, given that many of them are old and pose safety risks. However, a recent disaster in Sikkim highlights gaps in implementation.

Also read an article on a similar theme published a few days ago: Dangers of Large Dams in India

Status of India’s Dams:

 India is the 3rd largest dam-owning nation in the world. There are around 5,700 large dams in the country, of which about 80% are over 25 years old.

Threats faced by Dams in India:

Issues with the implementation of the Dam Safety Act (DSA), 2021:

Way forward:

• Risk Assessment: Comprehensive risk assessments, including climate change and geological stability, are essential. Regular reviews update safety measures.
• Hazard Profiling: Hazard risks are influenced by climate change and urbanization, but reviews are often overlooked or not shared publicly.
• Transparency: Transparency in dam safety, with rigorous implementation and transparent reporting, is paramount.
• Community Involvement: Engaging local communities for insights into environmental and social impacts.
• Early Warnings: Advanced early warning systems are crucial for detecting hazards and minimizing damage.
• Maintenance: Regular maintenance and upgrades for ageing infrastructure are necessary.
• International Collaboration: Cooperation with neighbouring countries in the Himalayan region is vital for addressing shared risks in dam safety and disaster management.

Insta Links:

• Dam Safety Act
• Dam Safety

Mains Links:

Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyze the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures. (UPSC 2023)

 Suppose the Government of India is thinking of constructing a dam in a mountain valley bound by forests and inhabited by ethnic communities. What rational policy should it resort to in dealing with unforeseen contingencies? (UPSC 2018)

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: TH

These keywords can be used in Indian Society/ Social Justice/ Women Related Questions.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Financial Times

Context: China has implemented export restrictions on certain graphite products, citing national security concerns, as part of its broader efforts to control critical mineral exports.

• China is the world’s largest producer of natural graphite, accounting for two-thirds of global supply.
• While Mozambique, Madagascar, and Brazil are significant non-Chinese producers, China also refines over 90% of the world’s graphite for use in EV battery anodes

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Deccan Herald

 Context: The Supreme Court of India has expressed distress over deaths occurring during sewer cleaning due to the practice of manual scavenging and issued a directive to government authorities.

• Over the past five years, 347 people have lost their lives while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in India.

Directives:

• Required to provide compensation of Rs 30 lakh to the families of individuals who lose their lives while cleaning sewers.
  • The court also stated that those who suffer permanent disabilities during such work should receive a minimum compensation of Rs 20 lakh, while those with other disabilities caused by sewer cleaning should receive Rs 10 lakh.
• The court emphasized the need to completely eradicate manual scavenging and noted that the Union and state governments have a duty to ensure this practice is eliminated.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

Context: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India has responded to Canada’s claims regarding India’s call for diplomatic parity, urging that its actions are in accordance with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and do not violate international norms.

About Vienna Convention:

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is a United Nations treaty that defines the rules and regulations of diplomatic relations between countries. The treaty was adopted in 1961 by the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities in Vienna, Austria. 

• The treaty sets common principles and terms on how countries must treat each other’s diplomatic representatives.It also defines the privileges that diplomats enjoy in other countries. 

The treaty provides a framework for:

• Establishing, maintaining, and terminating diplomatic relations
• Ensuring friendly relations
• Maintaining proper communication channels between countries

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

Context: The practice of ‘visa shopping’ has been gaining popularity in several Indian states.

• “Visa shopping” is a practice where individuals obtain visas for countries, they may not visit during the visa’s validity period.

Reasons for Visa Shopping:

• The objective is to use these visas as a means to enter their preferred countries, particularly in Europe, even if they already have a visa for another European nation.
• People also buy visas for countries they don’t intend to visit immediately to increase their chances of getting visas for their preferred destinations in the future. This practice is prevalent in India, particularly in Punjab, and it has raised legal implications.

Example:

• One of the examples of visa shopping is the “Schengen Visa,” which allows travellers to explore multiple European countries without requiring separate visas.
• Under the Schengen system, an agreement among European countries, travellers can move freely within the Schengen Area without border controls. This allows entry into 27 countries, including 23 EU members and some others.

Legal issues can arise if a traveller obtains a visa for one country but stays in another or uses it as an entry point rather than their actual destination.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: The growing use of mobile phones have highlighted the importance of SIM cards, or Subscriber Identification Module cards, which are essential components for connecting mobile phones to cellular networks following the GSM standard.

• The SIM card contains information, such as the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), the subscriber’s location, a list of preferred networks for roaming, emergency numbers, and, space permitting, the subscriber’s contacts and SMS messages.
• SIM cards adhere to international standards (ISO/IEC 7816) maintained by organizations like the International Organization for Standardization.

Functioning:

The SIM card hardware features an integrated circuit connected to metal contacts on the card’s surface. These contacts serve specific purposes, like power supply, clock access, data transmission, and grounding, as defined by ISO/IEC 7816-2. The SIM card plays a crucial role in authenticating a phone’s place within a cellular network.

Evolution of SIM cards:

SIM cards have evolved in size, from full-size SIMs to nano SIMs. The latest development is the eSIM (eUICC), where the SIM software is preloaded onto the mobile equipment, eliminating the need for a physical card.

This reprogrammable eSIM is environmentally friendly and enhances security, as it is not physically removable, making it harder for malicious individuals to access the SIM application. However, it can potentially allow network operators to track users’ data more comprehensively, even within apps on the device.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Frontline

 Context: China is constructing the world’s largest “ghost particle” detector, a massive underwater telescope in the South China Sea, designed to detect neutrinos, which are often referred to as “ghost particles.”

• The telescope, named “Trident,” is expected to span 7.5 cubic kilometers and be 10,000 times more sensitive than existing underwater telescopes.
• It is being built in the South China Sea to detect neutrinos, which can interact with water molecules.

The significance of detecting neutrinos lies in their mysterious behaviour and their potential role in solving scientific mysteries.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

 Context: The Indian government has introduced a Star Labelling Programme for solar panels to enhance consumer awareness and promote the use of high-quality and energy-efficient solar photovoltaic modules.

• The Star Labelling Programme for solar panels is designed to help consumers make informed choices when purchasing and installing solar panels.

 Significance:

• Consumer Empowerment: The program aims to empower consumers by providing information about the quality and energy efficiency of solar panels.
• Emissions Reduction: It is estimated that by 2030, the star-enabled solar panels will contribute to a reduction of approximately 30 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
• Voluntary Initially: The program will be voluntary for the first two years.
• “Made in India” Initiative
• Solar Energy Expansion
• Expected Growth: India anticipates adding an additional 200 GW of solar panels by 2030, contributing to a substantial increase in solar energy capacity.

Mapping

Source: PIB

 Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the inclusion of the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project of Uttarakhand under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP).

The project involves dam construction (on Gola River, a tributary of Ram Ganga River in the Nainital district), irrigation, hydropower generation (14 MW), and providing drinking water to Haldwani and nearby areas.

The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) is focused on improving irrigation and water efficiency, and this project is part of the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP). The Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project is the seventh project to be included in this initiative.

Mapping

 Source: PIB

 Context: The Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairsis is on a visit to the Republic of Congo to represent India at the Second Summit of three basins for Biodiversity Ecosystem and Tropical Forests, taking place in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo.

Three basins are

• Congo basin: Spans across Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.
• Amazon Basin – It extends over 9 countries in South America.
• Borneo-Mekong-Southeast Asia Basin.

These 3 global ecosystems account for 80% of the world’s tropical forests and 2/3 of the earth’s biodiversity

The Republic of the Congo (a different country from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)), also called Congo-Brazzaville, is a central African nation with rainforest reserves that are habitats for gorillas. Its capital city, Brazzaville, lies across the Congo River from Kinshasa, the capital of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.