UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 15 August 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 15 August 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 – 15 August 2024)

1. Bail is the Rule, and Jail is the Exception
2. G4 nations: UNSC ‘ill-equipped’ to address global challenges

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

1. Forever chemicals

2. Ballast water

3. ‘FloodWatch India’ app

4. Long-range glide bomb (LRGB) 

5. Tarang Shakti

6. Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 15 August 2024

GS Paper 2:

Bail is the Rule, and Jail is the Exception

Syllabus: Polity: Indian Judiciary

Source: HT

Context: The Supreme Court of India reaffirmed that the legal principle “bail is the rule, and jail is the exception” applies even to cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Background of the Case:

Jalaluddin Khan, a retired police constable, was accused of harbouring suspected terrorists by renting out the upper floor of his house to alleged members of the banned organization, Popular Front of India (PFI). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) claimed that Khan was part of a criminal conspiracy to carry out acts of terror and violence. However, the Supreme Court found that there was no evidence linking him to these unlawful activities and no indication that he had any involvement in terrorist acts or preparations. Despite the serious allegations, the court ruled that he deserved bail, emphasizing that the principle of “bail is the rule, jail is the exception” must apply.

About Bail:

Legal Provisions of Bail:

1. Bail in Bailable Offences (Section 479 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023):

1. • In bailable offences, the accused has a right to be granted bail.
   • The maximum period for which an undertrial prisoner can be detained is limited to one-half of the maximum period of imprisonment for the offence.
   • First-time offenders must be granted bail if they have been detained for over one-third of the maximum period of imprisonment for the offence.

2. Special Laws Related to Bail:

1. • Specific laws like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, also include provisions for the grant of bail.
   • These provisions ensure that the rights of the accused are protected while considering the seriousness of the offences and the need for justice.

Concerns with Denial of Bail:

1. Bail laws disproportionately affect marginalized groups.
2. High Number of Undertrials: 75.8% of all prisoners are undertrials.
3. Overcrowded Jails: Indian prisons have an occupancy rate of 131.4%.
4. Impact on Vulnerable Sections: Over 60% of inmates are illiterate or have education below Class X.
5. Human Rights Violations: Poor living conditions and unequal treatment in prisons.

Measures Taken:

• Plea Bargaining: Allows pre-trial negotiation between defendant and prosecution.
• E-prisons Software: Enables efficient access to inmate data by state authorities.
• Model Prison Manual 2016: Provides guidelines for undertrial inmate facilities, including legal defence and aid.
• Model Prisons Act, 2023: Focuses on the rehabilitation and transformation of inmates into law-abiding citizens.

Conclusion:

To address large-scale undertrial incarceration, it is crucial to understand its root causes, which include socio-economic and structural barriers. Developing effective bail laws requires considering undertrial demographics, offence categories, and appropriate timelines for granting bail. Additionally, there is an urgent need for bail reform, supported by empirical research, to diagnose and effectively address these issues, ensuring a more just and equitable legal system.

Insta Links: 

• Bail

G4 nations: UNSC ‘ill-equipped’ to address global challenges

Syllabus: International Relations

Source: TH

Context: The G4 nations, represented by India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan, have called for urgent reforms to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), emphasizing that without addressing the current lack of representation, particularly in the permanent membership category, the UNSC is “ill-equipped” to handle modern global challenges.

Major Arguments of G4 Nation:

1. The G4 nations propose expanding the UNSC membership from 15 to 25-26 members, including six new permanent members, with two from Africa, two from Asia-Pacific, one from Latin America and the Caribbean, and one from Western Europe and other states.
2. The G4 stresses the importance of Africa’s representation, noting that Africa’s agenda constitutes over 70% of UNSC discussions, yet the continent lacks a permanent voice in decision-making.
3. The G4 also urge for the inclusion of the Common African Position in the “Pact for the Future,” to be discussed at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

What is the United Nations (UN)?

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization established in 1945 (with the UN Charter) after World War II. United Nations Day, observed on October 24th annually since 1947, commemorates the organization’s establishment in 1945. UN’s founding principles are:

1. Collective security
2. Disarmament
3. Peacekeeping

The UN’s structure comprises:

1. General Assembly as the primary policymaking body
2. The UN Security Council (UNSC) responsible for peace and security
3. Specialized agencies like UNICEF and WHO focus on specific global issues such as health and Education

Issues in the Functioning of the UNSC:

1. Overrepresentation: There is a huge European bias in P-5 due to the presence of the United Kingdom and France, including Russia in the UNSC
2. Under-representation: While regions like Latin America, the Caribbean Group, the Arab World, and Africa do not have a single permanent member,
3. Question of Veto: All five permanent members of the UNSC enjoy veto power. However, the veto has been misused to put national interests ahead of global interests.
4. Non-transparent: The UNSC has been functioning in the most non-transparent and non-consultative way.
5. North-South Inequality: Only China is representative of the global south region, whereas the global north has four nations to present themselves at the UNSC.

1. Reflecting Colonial Mindset: Permanent veto power granted to major Allied powers, ignoring newly independent states’ voices.
2. Disbursal of Funds: Decision-making skewed towards powerful nations, impacting global financial stability and aid distribution.
3. Contemporary Faultlines: COVID-19, conflicts like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and divisions over issues like the Gaza conflict strain UN principles and cooperation.
4. Clash of Chinese and US Values: US-China rivalry marks a shift, challenging traditional multilateralism.
5. Multiple Crisis Confronting Multilateralism: Trust deficits, utility crises, and global emergencies strain multilateral cooperation.
6. Challenges in Concepts, Methods, and Institutions: Volatile concepts, outdated negotiation methods, and inadequate institutions hamper effectiveness.

Suggestions for Reforming UN:

Key Highlights of the India’s Proposed Model:

Benefits of the proposed Model:

1. Enlarged Membership: Increasing the Security Council’s membership from 15 to 25-26 allows for greater representation of diverse perspectives and regions, enhancing the Council’s legitimacy.
2. Equitable Regional Representation: The proposed model ensures representation from underrepresented regions such as Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean, addressing the current imbalance in the Council’s composition.
3. Democratic Election of New Members: New permanent members will be elected democratically by the General Assembly, promoting fairness and inclusivity in the selection process.
4. Flexibility on Veto: By delaying the exercise of veto rights for new permanent members until a review is conducted, the model displays a willingness to compromise and facilitate constructive negotiations.
5. Enhanced Working Methods: Requiring an affirmative vote of 14/15 members for decisions encourages consensus-building and cooperation among Council members.
6. Improved Relationship with UNGA: Regular consultations with the President of the UN General Assembly and submission of reports enhance transparency and accountability, fostering a stronger relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly.
7. Greater Acceptability:g., France has expressed support for India, Japan, Brazil, and Germany’s candidacy for permanent membership and endorsed the G4 model. The U.S. acknowledged the support for expanding both permanent and non-permanent seats on the Security Council.

Limitations:

1. Uncertainty in the Selection Process: The model does not specify which member states will occupy the new permanent seats, potentially leading to ambiguity and disputes during the democratic election process.
2. Delayed Exercise of Veto: While the model offers flexibility on the veto issue, delaying its exercise until a review introduces uncertainty and may hinder immediate decision-making on critical matters.
3. Potential Resistance from Current Permanent Members: The proposed reforms may face opposition from existing permanent members who wield veto powers, as it could dilute their influence and control within the Security Council.
4. Complex Decision-Making Process: Requiring an affirmative vote of 14/15 members for decisions could lead to gridlock and inefficiency in decision-making, particularly on contentious issues where consensus is challenging to achieve.

The article should be read in continuation of the previous article: Future of United Nations: UN Reforms

Conclusion: 

Looking towards the future, the 21st century presents a myriad of complex challenges, ranging from climate change to cybersecurity threats and economic inequality. Despite its imperfections, the United Nations (UN) stands uniquely positioned to address these multifaceted issues, given its convening power, diplomatic role, and extensive network of agencies.

However, realizing its full potential requires implementing reforms to enhance its effectiveness. Streamlining bureaucracy, reducing inefficiencies, and ensuring more equitable representation within the organization are crucial steps towards achieving this goal. Despite these challenges, the UN remains indispensable in global governance, humanitarian assistance, and crisis management. While the need for reform is evident, the UN’s continued role in fostering cooperation, dialogue, and collective action underscores its enduring importance in tackling the world’s most pressing problems.

Insta Links:

• If not reformed, the UN will be overtaken by other organisations

Mains Links:

What are the main functions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)? Explain different functional commissions attached to it. (10 M) (UPSC 2017)

Prelims Links:

Long-range glide bomb (LRGB)

Source: TH

Context: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the long-range glide bomb (LRGB) named Gaurav.

• The test was carried out using a Su-30MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force off the coast of Odisha.

Tarang Shakti

Source: The Statesman

Context: India hosted its first-ever multinational air exercise, "Tarang Shakti," showcasing the capabilities of indigenously manufactured aircraft, including the Sarang helicopters and LCA Tejas.

• The exercise is being conducted in two phases.
• The exercise was a significant achievement, emphasizing India's focus on "Aatmanirbharta" (self-reliance) and showcasing indigenous military capabilities.
• India's Rafale, Sukhoi, and LCA Tejas aircraft were part of the first phase.

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack

Source: IE

 Context: Elon Musk's live audio interview with former US President Donald Trump on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) faced technical glitches, reportedly due to a "massive DDoS attack."

• A DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) attack occurs when multiple sources overwhelm a server with excessive traffic, making it difficult for legitimate users to access the service.
• This can result in slow loading times or complete inaccessibility.
• Such attacks are harder to counter because they originate from multiple sources, often using botnets or spoofed IP addresses.

DoS (Denial of Service) and DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks disrupt online services by overwhelming them with traffic.

Attackers use various methods, including botnets—networks of compromised devices.

One common method, the "Smurf Attack," involves sending malicious ICMP broadcast packets with a spoofed IP address to flood the target's own servers. Another method, "SYN flood," involves sending incomplete connection requests, and overloading the server.

Signs of a DoS attack include slow internet speed and inability to access services, but these can also be caused by other factors.

Firewalls and security systems can verify attacks, while anti-virus software can detect and prevent them.

DoS attacks can cause significant disruption, as seen in the 2016 attack that affected major websites like Spotify, Twitter, and Amazon.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 15 August 2024 [PDF] 

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