UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 July 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 July 2024 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks :  Insta Links help you think beyond the  current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents 

GS Paper 2: (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 July 2024)

1. Rajasthan becomes the first state to adopt a 10-year Road Safety Action Plan

GS Paper 3: 

2. UNESCO Adds 11 New Biosphere Reserves Globally

3. Increasing Wildfires in the World

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

1. Project PARI

2. Denisovans

3. Expunction Powers

4. Digital Bharat Nidhi

5. ‘Responsible quantum technologies’ movement

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 09 July 2024

GS Paper 2:

Rajasthan becomes the first state to adopt a 10-year Road Safety Action Plan

Syllabus: Governance

 Source: TH

 Context: Rajasthan will become the first state in India to adopt a 10-year road safety action plan aimed at reducing road accidents by 50% by 2030.

Measures included in the Rajasthan government’s 10-Year Road Safety Action Plan:

1. Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD): Technology Use: Implementation of the iRAD application for online data entry of road accidents.
2. Public Awareness and Behavioral Changes: Campaigns to raise awareness and bring about behavioural changes regarding road safety rules and provisions.
3. Specific Safety Measures:

1. • Speed Limits: Implementation and enforcement.
   • Safe Distance: Promoting safe driving distances.
   • Traffic Signals: Improving adherence to traffic signal regulations.
   • Road Barriers: Installing and maintaining barriers for enhanced safety.
   • Pedestrian Safety: Ensuring safety measures for pedestrians.
   • Seatbelt and Helmet Use: Enforcing the use of seatbelts and helmets.
   • Vehicle Insurance: Ensuring all vehicles have valid insurance.

4. World Bank Assistance: Utilizing the World Bank’s assistance to incorporate international best practices in the preparation of the action plan and road safety policy.
5. Coordination Among Stakeholders: Enhanced collaboration among various departments like Transport, Public Works, Police, Medical & Health, and Forest departments for accurate data reporting and successful implementation.
6. Workshops and Training: Workshop organized by the State Road Safety Institute aimed at training police personnel on the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) application for effective data entry and analysis of road accidents.

Status of Road Accidents in India:

1. According to WHO estimates, an estimated 300,000 road-related deaths occur in India annually, contributing to economic costs between 5% and 7% of the national GDP.

1. A maximum number of cases were reported in Tamil Nadu.
2. Reasons: Speeding accounted for over half of all deaths, while dangerous and careless driving caused over 42000 deaths.
3. India has the highest number of total persons killed due to road accidents, followed by China and the United States.

Primary Reasons Behind Road Accidents in India:

Sundar Committee Recommendations on Road Safety:

1. Creation of the National Road Safety & Traffic Management Board, an apex body at the national level, with members from various fields, to promote road safety and traffic management.
2. Establishment of State Road Safety & Traffic Management Boards in each state and union territory with similar functions.
3. Development of a National Road Safety Plan with specific targets and action plans.
4. Improvement of post-accident care, trauma management, and establishment of a national road accident database.
5. Earmarking 1% of total proceeds of diesel and petrol cess for the Road Safety Fund.
6. Addressing issues like decriminalization of road accidents, insurance, and dedicated highway police.
7. Approval of the National Road Safety Policy in 2010 based on these recommendations.

Global Initiatives:

• Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015): Signed at the second Global High-Level Conference on Road Safety, it aims to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.6, halving global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030.
• Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030: A UN initiative adopting a resolution to prevent at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, aligned with the holistic approach outlined in the Stockholm Declaration.
• International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP): A charity dedicated to saving lives through safer roads.

International Best Practices: 

Netherlands’ Sustainable Safety vision: It focuses on preventing crashes and reducing crash severity by creating a safe road system. It is based on five principles: functionality, homogeneity, predictability, forgivingness, and state awareness.

Japan: Japan has achieved a remarkable reduction in road traffic deaths, from 16,765 in 1990 to 3,215 in 2019. It has implemented various measures, such as strict enforcement of traffic laws, improvement of road infrastructure, promotion of seat belt and helmet use, road safety education and introduction of advanced safety technologies in vehicles.

India-Specific Initiatives:

1. Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019: Increases penalties for traffic violations, addresses defective vehicles, and juvenile driving, and establishes a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. It also proposes the creation of a National Road Safety Board.
2. Carriage by Road Act, 2007: Regulates common carriers, limiting their liability and determining liability for loss or damage to goods.
3. Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2000: Provides control over land within National Highways, right of way, and traffic movement. Addresses removal of unauthorized occupation.
4. National Highways Authority of India Act, 1998: Establishes an authority for the development, maintenance, and management of National Highways.
5. Private sector initiatives like Maruti Suzuki’s Drive Safe India campaign and Mahindra & Mahindra’s Drive Safe, Drive Smart campaign.

Other Measures to address Road accidents:

India’s road network status:

• Road density:1,926 per 1,000 sq km in 2018-19, higher than many developed countries.
• Surfaced/paved roads:over 64% of the total road length, comparatively lower than in developed countries.
• National Highways:About 2% of total road length in 2019.
• Other networks:State Highways (about 3%), District Roads (about 10%), Rural Roads (about 7%)

Insta Links 

Editorial: Road Accidents

Mains Links

Road traffic accidents are a leading cause of death in India, and a major contributor to socio-economic losses, disability burden, and hospitalization. Discuss (15M)

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 July 2024 GS Paper 3:

UNESCO Adds 11 New Biosphere Reserves Globally

Syllabus: Environment Conservation

Source: UN

Context: UNESCO recently added 11 new biosphere reserves worldwide, spanning countries like Colombia, Italy, Mongolia, and the Republic of Korea.

• These reserves, including two transboundary sites, aim to conserve biodiversity and cultural heritage amid global biodiversity and climate challenges.

What are Biosphere reserves? 

Biosphere reserves are areas designated by UNESCO to promote the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable development, and scientific research. It is managed by Managed under UNESCO’s Man and Biodiversity Programme. They consist of three zones:

• a core zone for the strict protection of ecosystems
• a buffer zone where people live and work in harmony with nature
• a transition zone for sustainable activities.

Aim: Biosphere Reserves try to balance economic and social development and maintenance of associated cultural values along with the preservation of nature.

Status of Biosphere Reserves in India:

There are now 759 reserves in 136 countries, including 24 transboundary sites. India has 18 internationally recognized Biosphere reserves, with the Nilgiri reserve being the first. The latest addition is Panna in Madhya Pradesh.

Twelve of the eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list. November 3 is celebrated as World Biosphere Reserve Day (to raise awareness of the importance of biosphere reserves)

Difference between National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary and Biosphere Reserve

Functions of Biosphere Reserves:

The threats to Biosphere Reserves (BRs) include: Deforestation, Invasive species,

Land use changes like mining, Urbanization and population growth causing exploitation.

Initiatives aimed at conserving Biosphere Reserves (at the Indian level):

Global initiatives:

• World Network of Biosphere Reserves: UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves connects and supports designated sites globally, fostering collaboration in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
• International Cooperation: Biosphere Reserves often involve collaboration between neighbouring countries, enhancing international cooperation for conservation efforts. E.g., Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The United Nations’ SDGs, particularly Goal 15 (Life on Land) and Goal 14 (Life Below Water), emphasize the importance of conserving biodiversity and sustainable management of ecosystems, aligning with biosphere reserve objectives.

Insta Links:

• Panna Tiger Reserve gets UNESCO’s ‘Biosphere Reserve’ Status.

Prelims Links:

Increasing Wildfires in the World

Syllabus: Disaster Management

Source: IE

Context: Arctic wildfires have become more frequent and intense due to global warming, causing significant environmental concerns. In 2024, over 160 wildfires in Sakha, Russia, burned nearly 460,000 hectares.

Why Arctic is prone to wildfires?

The Arctic is experiencing rapid warming, approximately four times faster than the global average. This significant increase in temperature, about 3°C since 1980, has led to more frequent lightning strikes, which have more than doubled in regions like Alaska and the Northwest Territories since 1975, further aggravating wildfires. Additionally, the polar jet stream has slowed due to reduced temperature differences between the Arctic and lower latitudes. This results in prolonged warm weather and intense heatwaves, further increasing the risk of wildfires in the Arctic region.

How Climate change is driving heatwaves and wildfires in the Arctic and other regions?

1. Geographical reason: Climate change affects jet streams, causing them to split and create areas of weak winds and high pressure conducive to heat waves.
2. Global warming: Human activities have increased global temperatures by about 1.2°C since pre-industrial times, raising the baseline temperature during extreme heat events (e.g., Australia’s 2019-20 ‘Black Summer’ fires).
3. Creating ground: Climate change creates hot, dry conditions that help fires spread faster and burn longer. It dries out vegetation, turning it into fuel, and pushes wildfires into new regions.
4. Other factors: Forest management and ignition sources, like human activities, also contribute to wildfires. Controlled burns and forest gaps can help limit severe fires.

Impact of increased heatwaves and wildfires

1. Threat to life and property: it poses a direct threat to people’s lives and property as it forces people to leave their homes.
   1. For instance, heat waves in France have brought severe droughts there resulting in the water crisis.
2. Pollution: Various polluting gasses are released whenever there is a wildfire, like Nitrous oxide, Co2, PM 2.5 and particulate matter lesser than 2.5 microns which could severe health issues such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
3. Health-related issues: The health impacts of Heat Waves typically involve dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke.
4. Vicious cycle: Wildfires also burn up the carbon stored in trees and soil, releasing large amounts of smoke, methane, and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which increase overall temperatures.
5. Threat to biodiversity: increased heat waves and Wildfires destroy the habitats and the intricate relationships of diverse flora and fauna leading to loss of ecosystems and biodiversity.
   1. For instance, Florida’s sea turtles are grappling with a gender imbalance made worse by climate change which has resulted in sand beaches getting hotter leading to every turtle being born as female.

Various steps taken by countries to mitigate its impact:

Measures needed

• Awareness: Improving community information and preparedness reduces vulnerability.
• Improved development planning, building standards and management of the forest-urban boundary reduces exposure.
• Early warning: Information about forest dryness is useful for early warning and preparedness for extreme fires. Similarly, mapping climate variability across many years can help predict extreme years.
• National and local measures: Pursuing ambitious global greenhouse gas mitigation alongside national and local measures to adapt to a climate-changed world, is a necessary strategy if we are to limit further increases in fire risk
• GHG mitigation: While efforts can be made to limit vulnerability, exposure and fire itself, it is clear that the contribution of climate change to fire risk would be lower if greenhouse gas emissions were curtailed.

Conclusion 

Climate change is happening. This should be accepted and not politicised. International cooperation to address climate change is vital to mitigate the adverse impact. Additionally, mitigation must be complemented with climate change-related adaption since mitigation alone cannot address the adverse effects we are facing right now.

Insta Links

• Forest Fires

Practice Questions

Enumerate the causes for the rising instances of forest fires in India. What measures are needed to mitigate the adverse impacts of forest fires? (250 Words)

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 July 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Project PARI

 Source: PIB

Context: The Ministry of Culture has initiated Project PARI (Public Art of India) to coincide with the 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting in New Delhi from 21-31 July 2024.

About Project PARI (Public Art of India):

It is an initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, executed by Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Gallery of Modern Art. It aims to stimulate dialogue, reflection, and inspiration, enriching India’s cultural landscape.

Featuring a diverse range of artwork inspired by traditional Indian art forms, Project

PARI includes

1. Sculptures that explore themes such as tributes to nature
2. Ideas from Natyashastra
3. Gandhi ji
4. Traditional Indian toys
5. Hospitality
6. Ancient knowledge
7. Naad (Primeval Sound)
8. Harmony of Life
9. Kalpataru (the divine tree).

Women artists play a significant role, showcasing Bharat’s NARI SHAKTI through their substantial participation in the project.

Denisovans

Source: TH

Context: A study reveals that Denisovans, an extinct human species, occupied the Tibetan Plateau 160,000 years ago.

• Bone remains found in Baishiya Karst Cave indicate Denisovans survived there for millennia, enduring both cold and warm periods between the Middle and Late Pleistocene eras.
• The research team analysed over 2,500 bones from the cave, identifying one rib bone as belonging to a new Denisovan individual from 48,000 to 32,000 years ago.
• The study also showed that Denisovans hunted, butchered, consumed various animals, and used bones to make tools, highlighting their adaptability to fluctuating climatic conditions.

Expunction Powers

 Source: TH

Context: The first special session of the 18th Lok Sabha saw heated debates and clashes between the government and opposition over remarks that led to expunction from records.

What are Expunction Powers? 

Expunction powers refer to the authority vested in parliamentary presiding officers, such as the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Speaker, to delete remarks from official records that are deemed defamatory, indecent, unparliamentary, or undignified. This process helps maintain decorum and uphold parliamentary standards during debates and proceedings.

Aim: This standard procedure is intended to maintain decorum and uphold parliamentary etiquette.

The presiding officers, under Rules 261 (Rajya Sabha) and 380 (Lok Sabha), can order the deletion of objectionable remarks during debates. Expunged portions are marked and excluded from official records to prevent their circulation, although challenges persist in the digital age with live telecasts and social media dissemination.

Digital Bharat Nidhi

 Source: PIB

Context: The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has introduced the draft Telecommunications (Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024 under Sections 26 and 56 of the Telecommunication Act, 2023.

About Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN):

It replaces the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) funded by a 5% levy on telecom operators’ Adjusted Gross Revenue.

Aim: It aims to expand telecom networks in underserved areas where private companies hesitate due to low profitability. Funds will support universal service, R&D in telecom, pilot projects, and connectivity improvements. The DBN will be managed by an administrator selecting implementers through bidding, ensuring non-discriminatory network sharing.

About Telecommunication Act, 2023: Click Here

‘Responsible quantum technologies’ movement

 Source: TH

Context: The “responsible quantum technologies” movement emphasizes the need for ethical development and public trust in quantum science and technology (S&T).

• The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology to raise awareness of quantum S&T’s benefits.
• Responsible quantum S&T calls for ethical practices to prevent misuse, especially given the dual-use nature of the technology.
• Companies like IBM are committed to positive social impact and preventing harmful applications of quantum technology.

Challenges include disparities in quantum S&T capacities between countries and ethical issues. National policies often prioritize intellectual property protections over openness.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 July 2024 [PDF]

Follow us on our Official TELEGRAM Channel HERE

Subscribe to Our Official YouTube Channel HERE

Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE

Official Facebook Page HERE

Twitter Account HERE

Instagram Account HERE

LinkedIn: HERE