UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 22 July 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 22 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 3: (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 22 July 2024)

1. Issues with India’s Forest Conservation

2. Government inaugurates National Landslide Forecasting Centre

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

3. How Chess is helping fight alcoholism

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

1. Immunity to governors

2. The Voice box

3. Carbon crediting mechanism

4. Elephant 

5. Phlogacanthus Sudhansusekharii

6. Uranium

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 22 July 2024

GS Paper 3:

Issues with India’s Forest Conservation

Syllabus: Environment Conservation

Source: TH

Context: The article discusses that the exploitation of forest resources due to uncontrolled and unsustainable practices has degraded forest landscapes.

The UN’s Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) has spurred global tree-planting initiatives. Despite media attention and public participation, these efforts face criticism in India and world for limited community involvement, poor post-planting care, forest encroachment, reliance on forests for livelihoods, significant forest land loss

and promoting monocultures. Experts argue these methods are less effective for carbon sequestration and biodiversity.

Status of Forests in India: 

Definition of Forest: 1996 Godavarman Judgement defines “forest” as any land recorded as such in government records or meeting the dictionary definition, which describes a forest as “a large area covered with trees and undergrowth” according to the Oxford Dictionary.

As per, the India State of Forest Report 2021:

1. India’s forest and tree cover constitutes 24.62% of its geographical area, with forests covering 21.71% and tree cover 2.91%.
2. Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover by area, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
3. Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Nagaland have the highest forest cover as a percentage of the total geographical area.
4. States like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Karnataka, and Jharkhand have shown a positive change in forest cover, while others like Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya have experienced a decline.
5. India ranks third globally for net gain in average annual forest area between 2010 and 2020, with more than half of the world’s forests located in Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and China.

Significance of Trees:

Major Challenges Faced by Forests in India:

What is the Initiative Taken for the Ecosystem Restoration?

1. Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030): The UN aims to restore 350 million hectares of degraded land to enhance ecosystem services and sequester 13-26 gigatons of greenhouse gases.
2. Van Mahotsava in India: Launched in 1950 by K.M. Munshi, this annual tree-planting festival occurs in the first week of July, promoting forest growth and engaging public participation.
3. Global Tree Planting Initiatives: The “One Trillion Trees Initiative” by the World Economic Forum aims to massively increase global tree cover.
4. The “Great Green Wall”of China, aimed at reducing desertification.
5. The “Bonn Challenge”, which has a target of restoring 150 million hectares by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.

Way Forward for Forest Conservation in India

1. Diverse Plantations: Limit monoculture; diversify native species.
2. Urban Greening: Improve air quality, reduce heat islands in cities.
3. Long-Term Commitment: Ensure long-term nurturing and care of saplings.
4. Integrated Landscape Management: Holistic conservation beyond protected areas.
5. Technological Integration: Use advanced tech for forest monitoring.
6. Community-Centric Models: Scale up successful community forest management.
7. Green Finance: Innovative financing for conservation.
8. Urban Forestry: Comprehensive urban biodiversity and green infrastructure.
9. Strengthening Governance: Modernize forest departments and build capacity.
10. Sustainable Livelihoods: Promote eco-friendly forest-based livelihoods.
11. Restoration of Degraded Forests: Nationwide ecological restoration program.
12. Indigenous Seed Banks: Preserve local biodiversity for restoration.
13. Drone-Seeding: Use drones for reforestation in difficult terrains.
14. Combating Forest Fires: Preventative measures, early detection, and rapid response

Insta Links:

• Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023: Impact on Indigenous Communities

Mains Links:

Q. “The most significant achievement of modern law in India is the constitutionalization of environmental problems by the Supreme Court.” Discuss this statement with the help of relevant case laws. (UPSC 2022)

Q. “Policy contradictions among various competing sectors and stakeholders have resulted in inadequate ‘protection and prevention of degradation’ to the environment.” Comment with relevant illustrations. (UPSC 2018)

Prelims Links:

Government inaugurates National Landslide Forecasting Centre

Syllabus: Disaster Management

Source: PIB

Context: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy Inaugurates National Landslide Forecasting Centre and Launches Bhusanket Web Portal & Bhooskhalan Mobile App

What is National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC)?

The National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC) aims to mitigate landslide hazards in India. It provides early warning bulletins for landslide-prone states and plans to operationalize a nationwide Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) by 2030

Other Initiatives:

1. Bhusanket Web Portal: Facilitates dissemination of information on landslide hazards and initiates short- and medium-range forecasting.
2. Bhooskhalan Mobile App: Provides quick daily landslide forecasts.
3. Previously, IIT Delhi’s HydroSense Lab has created India’s first high-resolution landslide susceptibility map

About Landslide:

A landslide is “a movement of a mass of rock, earth or debris down a slope”.

Types of flows

1. Debris flows: It is a form of rapid mass movement in which a combination of loose soil, rock, organic matter, and slurry that flows downslope. They are commonly caused by intense precipitation or rapid snowmelt.
2. Earth flow: It is a down-slope viscous flow of fine-grained material saturated with water.
3. Mudflow:A mudflow is a wet or viscous fluid mass of fine and coarse-grained material that flows rapidly along drainage channels.
4. Creep:Creep is the slow, steady, downward movement of material under gravity that occurs in a large area

India’s Vulnerability to Landslides (as per ISRO’s Landslide Atlas of India)

1. Global Ranking: India ranks among the top five countries globally prone to landslides, witnessing at least one death per 100 sq km annually due to such events.
2. Primary Cause: Rainfall variability, particularly in the Himalayas and Western Ghats, stands as the predominant cause of landslides in India.
3. Geographical Vulnerability: Excluding snow-covered areas, over 12% of the country’s geographical land area is susceptible to landslides.
4. Regional Breakdown:
   1. Over 66% of landslides occur in the North-western Himalayas.
      1. Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal districts of Uttarakhand have the highest landslide density and landslide risk exposure in the country.
   2. About 19% are reported in the North-eastern Himalayas.
   3. The Western Ghats contribute to over 14% of landslide events.
5. Impact in the Western Ghats: Despite fewer occurrences, landslides in the Western Ghats pose significant risks, especially in Kerala, making inhabitants vulnerable to fatalities.

Causes of Landslides:

Effects of landslides:

• Loss of Life: According to the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT), landslides have caused over 50,000 fatalities worldwide between 2000 and 2020.
  • In the state of Uttarakhand, India, the 2013 Kedarnath disaster resulted in approximately 6000 deaths.
• Environmental Impact: Soil erosion caused by landslides can lead to sedimentation in rivers and streams, affecting water quality and aquatic life.
  • The 2014 landslide in Oso, Washington, resulted in significant damage to the Stillaguamish River ecosystem.
• Infrastructure Disruption: Landslides can block critical transportation routes.
  • In February 2021, the Chamoli disaster led to the blockage of the Rishi Ganga River and the destruction of various infrastructure in the region.
• Property Damage: The cost of repairing or rebuilding homes, infrastructure, and farmlands can be substantial.
• Displacement: The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) reports that landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in Nepal in 2020 displaced more than 9,000 households, leaving many families without shelter.

Recent examples of landslide disasters in the past year:

• Joshimath Sinking in Uttarakhand
• June 2023: A landslide in the Noney district of Manipur, India, killed at least 58 people.
• May 2023: A landslide in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, killed at least 232 people.
• March 2023: A landslide in Putumayo, Colombia, killed at least 323 people.

Government Measures for Landslide Impact Mitigation:

• The National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM) Programme (initiated by the Geological Survey of India in 2014) aims to
  1. Map the 0.42 million sq. km landslide-prone areas across India at a Macro Scale (1:50,000)
  2. Create a dynamic National Landslide Susceptibility Geodatabase for India

• Establish a nationwide repository on GIS-based Landslide Inventory

1. The goal is to enhance understanding, assessment, and management of landslide-prone regions in the country through comprehensive mapping and geospatial analysis.

• National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released the Landslide Atlas of India, a detailed guide identifying Landslide Hotspots in the country.

NDMA Guidelines:

National Disaster Management Guideline on Management of Landslides and Snow Avalanches

1. Hazard, Vulnerability & Risk Assessment: Identify areas prone to landslide hazards and assess resources at risk
2. Early Warning Systems: Continuous monitoring of movements, stress development, and timely data transmission
3. Investigations for Risk Assessment: Multi-disciplinary investigations for comprehensive risk assessment leading to the formulation of standards to effectively mitigate the impact of landslides

Way Forward for Landslide Management in India:

Conclusion:

Understanding the causes and effects of landslides is essential for disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts. Implementing early warning systems, land-use planning, and sustainable land management practices can help reduce the vulnerability of communities to landslide hazards. Moreover, international cooperation and sharing of knowledge and best practices are crucial in addressing the challenges posed.

About GSI:

The Geological Survey of India (GSI), established in 1851 under the Ministry of Mines, is a key scientific agency conducting geological surveys and studies. Headquartered in Kolkata, GSI has six regional offices and state units nationwide. Originally focused on coal deposits for railways, it now provides comprehensive geoscientific information, maps rock types, geological structures, and explores critical minerals, utilizing advanced techniques and collaborating with various stakeholders.

Insta Links:

• Landslide Atlas of India

Mains Link: 

Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help disaster mitigation in the case of landslides UPSC 2019

 Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats (UPSC 2021)

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 22 July 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME) :

How Chess is helping fight alcoholism

Source: IE
Context: In Marottichal, a village in Kerala, chess has become a powerful tool against alcoholism and gambling.

• Inspired by chess legend Bobby Fischer, local tea shop owner Unnikrishnan began teaching the game in the 1970s, successfully diverting attention from alcohol to chess.
• Over 80% of the village’s 4,000 residents now play chess, making it a generational hobby.
• The village aims to become India’s first 100% chess-literate community, with plans to integrate chess into school curricula and support budding professional players.

Ethical Values which can be learnt:

• Community Building: The collective effort to combat alcoholism and gambling through a shared interest in chess strengthened community bonds.
• Social Responsibility: Unnikrishnan’s initiative reflects a strong sense of social responsibility. By introducing chess as an alternative to destructive habits, he addressed a pressing social issue and contributed positively to the welfare of his community.
• Education and Learning: The emphasis on learning and intellectual growth through chess promotes the value of education.
• Inclusivity: The chess initiative is inclusive, involving people of all ages and backgrounds. This inclusivity promotes equality and ensures that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the game.
• Healthy Lifestyle: By diverting attention from alcohol to a mentally stimulating game, the initiative encourages a healthier lifestyle, reducing the negative impacts of substance abuse.
• Innovation: Using chess as a tool to combat addiction is an innovative approach to solving social problems, highlighting the value of creative solutions in addressing community issues.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 22 July 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP):

Immunity to governors

 Source: TH 

Context: The Supreme Court agreed to examine Article 361 of the Constitution, which grants immunity to governors from criminal prosecution.

• The plea calls for judicial scrutiny of the immunity provided under Article 361.
• Article 361 exempts the president and governors from court accountability for their official actions, making it an exception to Article 14 (right to equality).

The Voice box

 Source: PIB

Context: The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and Netflix India have partnered to launch “The Voicebox,” an upskilling program for voice-over artists in India.

• This initiative, aims to promote Indian cinema and nurture talent in the media and entertainment industry.
• The Voicebox program will provide Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) training in eight languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Gujarati.
• Each batch will include up to 30 participants, with a total of 210 selected through preliminary screening, and at least 50% will be women.

Carbon crediting mechanism

 Source: TH

Context: India and Japan are planning to establish a Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) for carbon trading and credit adjustment, formalized through a Memorandum of Cooperation.

• Under this mechanism, carbon credits will be allocated through a structured process and tracked via a registry.
• These credits will contribute to each country’s Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.
• The proposal aims to attract investments in low-carbon technologies, fostering job creation and technological diffusion.
• The JCM will be governed by relevant domestic laws and regulations, with a joint committee developing the necessary rules and guidelines.
• The mechanism ensures that credits can be shared between both countries while avoiding double counting.

Elephant

 Source: TH 

Context: The elephant population in Kerala has declined from 1,920 in 2023 to 1,793, as revealed by a recent synchronized population estimation across southern Indian states.

• This reduction, is attributed to climatic variations that prompted elephant migration to neighbouring states.
• The report emphasizes the need for conservation and management of elephant populations, noting that habitat fragmentation and developmental pressures increase human-elephant conflicts.

Phlogacanthus Sudhansusekharii

 Source: NDTV

Context: Researchers from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have discovered a new plant species, ‘Phlogacanthus Sudhansusekharii,’ in Arunachal Pradesh.

• This species, belonging to the Acanthaceae family and Phlogacanthus genus, has been named in honor of Dr. Sudhansu Sekhar Dash for his significant contributions to plant and ecological research in the Indian Himalayan region.

Uranium

 Source: IE

Context: A new study by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) concludes that up to 60 µg/l of uranium in drinking water is safe, challenging the Bureau of Indian Standards’ (BIS) 2021 limit of 30 µg/l.

• The BIS standard aligns with WHO recommendations but the BARC study argues it may be counterproductive, adding unnecessary purification costs without health benefits.
• BARC researchers cite medical research indicating that small uranium concentrations do not pose health risks, including cancer.
• The study compares India’s standards to those of other countries, noting higher acceptable limits in nations with significant uranium consumption like Finland and Slovakia.
• The BARC study criticizes BIS for not conducting health impact studies before setting the 30 µg/l limit, unlike agencies such as the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The study suggests retaining the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board’s limit of 60 µg/l, emphasizing the need for country-specific standards based on local conditions and economic factors.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 22 July 2024 [PDF]

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