UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 22 February 2024

GS Paper 2

 Syllabus: Geography

Source: IE

 Context: Research has identified climate change as a primary cause of poor air quality in Mumbai during the winter of 2022. The study, titled “Triple dip La-Nina, unorthodox circulation and unusual spin in air quality of India,” links the city’s high pollution levels to delayed wind reversals and less frequent calm winds triggered by La Nina and Climate Change.

What is Triple Dip La Nina?

It refers to an unusual and prolonged La Nina phenomenon lasting three consecutive years, which significantly impacts global weather patterns. La Nina typically involves cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, leading to various climatic effects worldwide, such as altered rainfall patterns, increased tropical cyclone activity, and shifts in temperature gradients.

• WMO had stated in August 2022 that for the first time this century, La Nina would span three consecutive northern hemisphere winters to become a ‘triple dip’ La Nina.

What does the study indicate?

During the winter of 2022–23, an unusual trend reversal in pollution levels, particularly PM2.5, was observed in India. South-Western regions experienced unusually poor air quality, while North India showed relatively cleaner air, contrary to typical patterns.

Factors responsible for this included:

1. Triple-dip La Niña event: The winter coincided with the last phase of an unusual triple-dip La Niña event, affecting atmospheric conditions.
2. Change in wind direction: Normally, winds blow from Punjab towards the Gangetic plains, carrying pollutants from stubble burning towards Delhi. However, during the winter of 2022, wind circulation changed to a north-south direction.
   1. This led to air pollutants from Punjab and Haryana bypassing Delhi, resulting in lesser pollution in the capital and surrounding areas.
3. Instead, pollutants flew over western and southern regions, contributing to the poor air quality observed in South-Western India.

Mumbai’s Air Pollution:

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

Reasons:

Mumbai benefits from its coastal location, which aids in naturally cleansing its air. Strong surface winds and sea breezes help rapidly disperse pollutants, maintaining better air quality.

However, last winter, Mumbai experienced a rare “triple dip” in La Niña, associated with climate change. This prolonged La Niña phase led to infrequent wind reversals from the sea, trapping pollutants in the lower atmosphere for longer durations and deteriorating air quality despite Mumbai’s usual cleansing mechanisms.

Increasing variability of the El Nino-La Nina system:

• Variability: as seen from the chart below, the ENSO system has been becoming more unpredictable as sudden changes to strong El Nino or La Nina are seen.
• Climate change: Warmer ocean temperatures, driven by climate change, can intensify El Niño events, leading to more frequent and intense occurrences. Similarly, La Niña events can also be influenced by climate change, affecting their frequency and severity.
• Tropical weather: Extremities in the impact of this variability are also strong. Tropical cyclones and precipitation have been observed to increase with this ENSO variability.
• Regional variation: On the other hand, the ENSO variability has also induced chaos in regional weather systems as impacts of rainfall and droughts have finer variability within African or Asian climates.

Its impact on India:

• Triple dip: The continuance of La Niña into 2023 is not bad news from the Indian standpoint, but it is not the same for all its constituent regions.
  • El Niño tends to weaken the Indian monsoon, leading to droughts, while La Niña strengthens it, causing floods. Climate change-induced extremes in ENSO events could result in more erratic and intense monsoon seasons, impacting agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods.
  • Observationally, the extremities of monsoon in intensity and regional spread have increased. Parts of the same state like in Maharashtra have seen floods and droughts.
• Variation: The variability makes the Indian monsoon model used by IMD less relevant as there is mathematical chaos in input variables.
• Cyclones: The variability has also drastically affected Indian Ocean cyclogenesis. Empirically, the Arabian Sea branch has observed increased cyclogenesis compared to historical averages.
• Science: The robustness of Indian weather science is impacted which makes early warning systems (EWS) on floods, droughts, cyclones etc less reliable.

Conclusion:

Thus, there is a great need to conduct scientific research and study on the variability of ENSO as even highlighted by the 2021 Nobel Prize in physics in this field of study. Indian Earth Science ministry and other bodies must also work for the protection of its citizens from these extremities.

Insta Links:

• El Nino

Prelims Links:

GS Paper 4

 Syllabus: Application  of Ethics

Example 1: Nainital District Magistrate Vandana Singh

Source: LM

She is in the news for her role in diffusing communal violence in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following the demolition of an illegally constructed madrasa. Despite criticism, Singh has been praised for her efforts in restoring peace. She is a 2012-batch IAS officer known for her notable career in Uttarakhand.

Nainital District Magistrate Vandana Singh demonstrated ethical values such as:

1. Integrity: Upholding the law by taking action against illegal structures despite facing criticism.
2. Courage: Displaying bravery in diffusing communal tensions and maintaining peace.
3. Accountability: Accepting responsibility for her decisions and actions in the face of public scrutiny.
4. Empathy: Considering the impact of her decisions on the community and striving for a peaceful resolution.
5. Fairness: Ensuring that the law is applied equitably, regardless of public opinion or pressure.

Example 2: District Magistrate Divya Mittal

Last year, District Magistrate Divya Mittal of Mirzapur district in Uttar Pradesh garnered attention for her efforts in bringing piped water to Lahuria Dah village, where residents previously relied on tankers and wells. Despite achieving this milestone, she was transferred to Basti district shortly after the water supply inauguration, since the local MLA, MP, and others were not invited for the event.

Mittal, who has an MBA from IIM Bangalore and did her B.Tech from IIT Delhi, had quit her job as an exotic derivatives trader in London to join the civil services.

Mittal’s proactive approach and dedication to improving living conditions in rural areas reflected ethical values such as empathy, responsibility, and commitment to public service. Despite the setback of her transfer, Mittal’s work left a lasting impact on the community, showcasing her leadership and determination.

What does Divya Mittal’s transfer mean?

Her transfer suggests a potential clash between bureaucratic protocol and political expectations. The incident highlights the complexities of governance, where adherence to administrative procedures may conflict with political sensitivities.

The potential solution involves:

1. Improved communication and collaboration between officials and politicians.
2. Transparency through clear channels of communication.
3. Engagement of local politicians in project planning.
4. Consultation with politicians and community leaders.
5. Conflict resolution through constructive dialogue.
6. Accountability for all parties involved.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TOI

Context: Residents of Lodrani, unearthed a Harappan-era fortified settlement.

• The site, named Morodharo, yielded a large quantity of Harappan pottery similar to that found in Dholavira.
• The settlement, dating back 4,500 years, shows architectural similarities to Dholavira and depended on the sea, suggesting that the desert was once navigable water.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Free Press Journal

 Context: Pune city commemorated the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

• Maharashtra Chief Minister paid tribute to Shivaji Maharaj at Shivneri Fort.

About Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj:

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, born in 1630 in Shivneri in what is now Maharashtra, India, was a revered warrior king and the founder of the Maratha Empire.
• His leadership was marked by his dedication to the welfare of his subjects, regardless of their caste or religion, earning him the title “Rayatecha Raja” (King of the People).

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE 

Context: Commemorating the 200th anniversary of Rani Chennamma’s  rebellion, social groups across India are organizing a national campaign called “Naanoo Rani Chennamma” (I am Rani Chennamma too).

• This campaign aims to empower women to fight against patriarchal, anti-democratic, and casteist forces in the country, drawing inspiration from Rani Chennamma’s legacy of courage and resistance.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE 

Context: The Supreme Court utilized its authority under Article 142 of the Constitution to nullify the outcome of the January 30 Chandigarh mayoral election due to deliberate invalidation of eight ballots by the presiding officer.

• It emphasized the need to uphold the sanctity of electoral democracy and cited potential harm to democratic principles if irregularities were allowed.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

 Context: The Bombay High Court delivered a split verdict on petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023 (IT Rules) that permit a “Fact Check Unit” (FCU) of the Union Government to identify “fake or false or misleading” online content “related to the business of the Central Government” and demand its removal.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: DD News

 Context: India has contributed $1 million to the Poverty and Hunger Alleviation Fund, which is part of the India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) initiative.

• This contribution reflects India’s commitment to promoting cooperation and development among nations of the Global South.

The IBSA Fund, established in 2004 and operational since 2006, aims to implement projects in developing countries to alleviate poverty and hunger, aligning with internationally agreed development goals.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE, WHO

 Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) virtually, in line with one of the priority areas agreed upon during India’s G20 presidency in 2023.

• The initiative aims to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and digital health products among countries.
• GIDH will prioritize assessing Member States’ needs, evaluating digital health resources, supporting the achievement of strategic objectives, and building capacity for digital health technologies.
• It will address variability in digital solutions by promoting best practices and standards.

It will function as a “Network of Networks,” focusing on four foundational pillars:

• Country Needs Tracker – facilitating digital health investments to be informed by country priorities;
• Country Resource Portal– identifying traditional as well as innovative resource opportunities, and promoting transparency, while reducing the risk of duplication for enabling a standards-based prospective and retrospective analysis of resourcing gaps in digital health.
• Transformation Toolbox– advocating for quality-assured tools and resources that strengthen the country’s capacity and autonomy to manage the national digital health transformation.
• Convening and Knowledge Exchange– promoting strengthened collaboration and knowledge exchange across global, regional, and national networks in digital health.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: CNN

 Context: Astronomers have discovered the brightest object in the universe, a quasar powered by the fastest-growing black hole on record.

• Initially mistaken for a star, the quasar, named J0529-4351, was found using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope.
• It is located over 12 billion light-years away and its black hole devours the equivalent of one sun per day, with a mass 17 billion times that of our sun.

Difference between Blazars and Quasars:

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

 Context: The Government of Goa and the Power Finance Corporation (PFC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support climate ambitions through a Blended Finance Facility, in partnership with the World Bank.

• This initiative aims to promote low-carbon, climate-resilient development.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: DTE

Context: Soils worldwide are experiencing a depletion of potassium, a crucial nutrient essential for plant growth, jeopardizing global food security.

• A recent study proposes six actions to safeguard potassium supplies and food production.

These include reviewing current potassium stocks, improving forecasting of price fluctuations, defining optimal potassium levels for different regions, evaluating environmental impacts, promoting a circular potassium economy, and enhancing international cooperation.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

 Context: Researchers have discovered that the green anaconda, previously thought to be a single species, actually consists of two genetically distinct species: the “southern green anaconda” (Eunectes murinus) and the newly identified “northern green anaconda” (Eunectes akayima).

The northern green anaconda is found in countries such as Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana, while the southern green anaconda inhabits regions like Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil.

Mapping

Source: HT

Context: A rare sighting of a bull shark attacking a fisherman in Maharashtra’s Vaitarna River marked the first occurrence of such an event 40km upstream near Manor. Sharks typically swim only 7-8km into creeks and rivers.  Experts attribute the shark’s unusual presence to factors like sand excavation creating breeding grounds for fishes and favorable conditions during high tides.

Key facts about Bull Shark:

1. Known for their aggressiveness towards humans, considered one of the most dangerous shark species.
2. Habitat: Frequently found in tropical coastal areas worldwide, including shallow waters along coastlines.
3. Unique ability to tolerate freshwater and saltwater habitats, allowing them to venture into rivers and travel great distances upstream.
4. Reproduces through viviparity, with embryos developing within the mother’s body and leading to live birth.
5. Conservation status: IUCN lists them as Vulnerable.

About Vaitarna River:

1. West-flowing river situated between Mumbai and the Tapi River.
2. Originates in the Trimbakeshwar Hills of Nasik district, Maharashtra.
3. Receives most rainfall from the South West monsoon, with 98% of annual rainfall occurring from June to October.
4. The main tributaries include Pinjal, Ganjai, Surya, Daharji, and Tansa.
5. The entire catchment area lies within the Thane and Nasik districts of Maharashtra.
6. Drains an area of 2019 sq. km before flowing into the Gulf of Khambhat.