UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 23 April 2024

GS Paper 1

 Syllabus: Women/Environment Movement in Indian Society

Source: DTE

 Context: The Chipko movement, which originated in the 1970s in the Himalayan villages of Reni and Mandal, marked its 50th anniversary recently.

What was the Chipko movement?

The Chipko movement was a non-violent protest that began in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand (then Uttar Pradesh), India, in 1973. Led by environmental activists such as Sundarlal Bahuguna and Gaura Devi, among others, the movement aimed to prevent the felling of trees in the Himalayan region. The name “Chipko” comes from the Hindi word meaning “embrace,” as villagers hugged the trees to prevent their cutting.

The original Chipko movement dates back to 1730 when Amrita Devi Bishnoi and over 300 others from the Bishnoi sect sacrificed their lives protesting the felling of Khejarli trees in Rajasthan.)

Impact of Chipko Movement:

Other such movements include:

 Need of ‘New Chipko Movement’ at the time of environmental crisis.

• “We will endure sticks and bullets but save our trees” – these were the kind of slogans and spirit with which we had conducted the chipko movement in the 1970s and 1980s. A similar spirit needs to be displayed and all sections of society have to unite to prevent further degradation of the environment.
• People should rise and demand from the government their right to live. Apart from saving trees, this time there is a need to fight for clean air, and pure water too.
• There is a need to have a separate environmental vision document by the government, especially for Urban India. Given the recent events, political parties should expect the environment to become a focal campaign point, at least in cities.
• There is also a need for an environmental roadmap from the administration and the executive.
• It is important to study the steps taken by other countries. For instance, SO2 pollution declined by 75% in China over the last decade while in India it increased by 50%. In China, the SO2 controls were imposed on coal power plants while in the case of India, the measures are delayed until 2022 in some cases.

Conclusion

The Chipko Movement in the 1970s proved as a tipping point for environmental causes not just in India but the rest of the world as well. There is a need for a “Chipko 2.0”, this time led by the coordination of society and political class.

 Mains Links:

‘Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.’ Substantiate your view. (UPSC 2018)

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: NDTV

Context: Researchers have discovered that the massive Ross Ice Shelf makes sudden jumps twice a day.

• These sudden shifts, akin to tremors along earthquake faults, could weaken the Ross Ice Shelf over time, potentially accelerating ice melt rates and contributing to sea level rise.
• A sudden jump occurs when two sections of ice press against each other (rubbing creates tension), just as tectonic plates on Earth cause earthquakes.
• The research team emphasises that icequakes and fractures are natural occurrences on ice shelves.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: NHRC

Context: During the recent Statutory Full Commission meeting organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India, chaired by Justice Shri Arun Mishra, the emphasis was placed on the need for collaborative strategies among all seven National Commissions to ensure the protection of human rights, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized sections of society.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: HT

 Context: UN Secretary-General Guterres highlights Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) reform as a key theme at the upcoming Summit of the Future during UNGA, praising the Indian G20 presidency’s efforts.

About the Summit:The Summit of the Future 2024 is a flagship event organized during the annual high-level UN General Assembly meeting in September. It focuses on key global issues, with a particular emphasis on reforming multilateral development banks (MDBs) to address contemporary challenges like poverty and climate crisis.

Originating from the Our Common Agenda report, it emphasizes renewing trust and solidarity across nations and generations. Member States aim to create a Pact for the Future, reaffirming the UN Charter, reinvigorating multilateralism, and agreeing on solutions to current and future challenges.

What are MDBs?

MDBs are international financial institutions (e.g., World Bank Group and the Asian Development Bank) aiding developing countries with financial and technical assistance to foster economic development and reduce poverty.

Recommendations by the independent expert group on MDB’s Reform (during India’s G20 presidency) include tripling annual lending levels by 2030, adopting a triple mandate for MDBs to eliminate extreme poverty, and modernizing funding models.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: Australia’s new National Defence Strategy (NDS) highlights India as a top-tier security partner, emphasizing the importance of its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in contributing to stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

• The strategy aims to deepen defence cooperation with India through practical initiatives and information sharing.
• Australia plans to allocate $330 billion to its Integrated Investment Programme (IIP) over the next decade, indicating a commitment to enhancing defence capabilities.
• This investment is expected to raise defence spending to around 2.4% of Gross Domestic Product by 2033-34.

India and Australia are also finalizing agreements for cooperation in hydrography and air-to-air refuelling, further enhancing their strategic partnership.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: The Union Health Ministry has mandated that all cases of organ transplants, whether from living or deceased donors, must be assigned a unique National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)-ID for both the donor and the recipient.

• This directive aims to curb commercial dealings in organs, particularly those involving foreign citizens.
• Hospitals are required to generate the NOTTO-ID from the NOTTO website.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: Mpox, a DNA virus, exhibits a unique evolutionary strategy known as the genomic accordion, involving expansions and contractions of its genome.

• Researchers identified 4-kilobase sections of the genome, previously deemed unimportant, as critical for human-to-human transmissibility and evolutionary adaptability.
• Variations in certain genes influence the virus’s evolution, with different clades exhibiting varying levels of virulence.
• Genomic surveillance plays a crucial role in understanding and combating viral outbreaks, allowing for targeted interventions to mitigate health risks and prevent global spread.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: NDTV

Context: Following red flags raised by food regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore regarding the presence of a cancer-causing ingredient in certain Indian spice products from some brands, the Indian government has ordered food commissioners to collect samples of spices from all manufacturing units in the country.

• The harmful substance, ethylene oxide, has been classified as a ‘Group 1 carcinogen’ by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
• Ethylene oxide is banned for use in food items in India.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Business Line

Context: India is considering amending the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, to allow private investments in the nuclear sector, aiming to boost nuclear capacity and promote clean energy initiatives, particularly hydrogen.

• Currently, the Act restricts private ownership of nuclear plants, but proposed amendments would enable private companies to participate in certain activities, such as financing, project development, and equipment supply.
• The production of ‘pink’ hydrogen, which is generated through electrolysis powered by nuclear energy.

Types of Hydrogen based on colour codes:

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

 Context: Meta has unveiled its most advanced Large Language Model (LLM) yet, the Meta Llama 3, which boasts significant improvements in performance and capabilities over its predecessors.

• Available in two sizes, 8B and 70B parameters, Llama 3 is integrated into Meta’s proprietary virtual assistant, Meta AI.
• The model surpasses previous benchmarks, outperforming competitors like Google’s Gemma 7B and Mistral’s Mistral 7B in various evaluations, including language understanding and question-answering tasks.
• Meta emphasizes the responsible development of Llama 3, providing trust and safety tools like Llama Guard 2 and Code Shield.
• Llama 3 is integrated into Meta AI and accessible for developers through platforms like Hugging Face and cloud providers such as Azure ML and Vertex AI.

Mapping

Source: IE

 Context: Scientists recently discovered 160 species, with at least 50 potentially new to science, during an expedition across the Salas y Gómez Ridge to Easter Island. The findings include various marine life like squid, fish, corals, molluscs, and sea stars.

The ridge, home to over 110 seamounts, supports diverse ecosystems and is crucial for marine animal migration.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: The Andaman and Nicobar administration’s plan to establish wildlife sanctuaries on islands traditionally managed and inhabited by the indigenous southern Nicobarese people ignores their rights and disregards the ecological and social impacts.

The Andaman Islands consist of 572 islands, with key ones including North Andaman, South Andaman, Little Andaman, and Middle Andaman. It boasts the highest number of wildlife sanctuaries in India, totalling 96, along with 9 national parks.