UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 September 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 – 2 September 2024)
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Role of Methane in Climate Change
GS Paper 4:
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Fragmented Identities: The Collapse of Gender Categories and the Crisis of Individualism
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
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Queers can open Joint Bank Accounts
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
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Cyclone Asna
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Dispute Resolution Scheme (e-DRS)
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Colombo Security Conclave Secretariat
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‘Navratna’ status to the state-owned companies
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‘Aravalli’ helicopter engines
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Project NAMAN
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 September 2024
GS Paper 3:
Role of Methane in Climate Change
Syllabus: Environmental Conservation
Source: IE
Context: Methane, though short-lived (12 years), traps 84 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years, making it a powerful greenhouse gas.
What is Methane?
It is an Odorless, colourless, and flammable gas; the second-largest contributor to global warming after Carbon Dioxide and the primary contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its annual Global Methane Tracker 2024 report
| Key Findings of the Report | In 2023, methane emissions from the energy sector remained close to a record high. |
| Fossil fuel production and usage, alongside bioenergy, contributed to nearly 120 million tonnes (Mt) of emissions, with approximately 70% originating from the top 10 emitting countries. | |
| Among these, the United States leads in methane emissions from oil and gas operations, followed by Russia, while China ranks highest in the coal sector. | |
| Recommendations of the Report | Achieving a 75% reduction in methane emissions by 2030 necessitates an estimated investment of around US $170 billion |
| Improved tools for emission tracking, like satellite imagery, have enhanced transparency, yet systematic and transparent data utilization is essential to reduce emission | |
| Global Initiatives to Control Methane | International Methane Emissions Observatory, Global Methane Pledge (India is not part of it), Global Methane Initiative,
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| Indian Initiatives | GobarDhan scheme, National Biogas and Organic Manure Programme. |
| About IEA | IEA (HQ: Paris; Founded in 1974) is an autonomous intergovernmental organisation to ensure the security of oil supplies. Membership: 31 countries. World Energy Outlook is Published every year and provides critical analysis and insights on trends in energy demand and supply. |
Role of methane in climate change:
| Aspect | Details | Example |
| Heat Trapping Ability | Methane traps about 84 times more heat than CO2 over a 20-year period. | Methane’s short-term heat-trapping effect significantly contributes to global warming. |
| Duration in Atmosphere | Methane stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years before dissipating. | Despite its short life, its intense heat-trapping impact is substantial during its presence. |
| Contribution to Global Warming | Methane is responsible for approximately one-third of global warming since the Industrial Revolution. | It has a major impact on rising global temperatures and changing climate patterns. |
| Sources | Human activities and natural sources. 60% of the methane that makes it into the atmosphere comes from human activities. | Human: Agriculture (e.g., cow burps), landfills, and fossil fuel extraction. Natural: Wetland permafrost thawing. |
| Energy Sector Emissions | Methane escapes during oil and gas production, transportation, and storage. | Methane leaks occur from rusty equipment or during gas flaring and venting processes. |
Way Forward
To address methane emissions, several strategies can be employed. Adopting sustainable agricultural practices, such as precision farming and conservation tillage, can reduce emissions from agriculture. Methane-capturing technologies in livestock operations and landfills can capture and convert methane into usable energy. Implementing rice cultivation techniques like System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) can cut methane from rice paddies. Additionally, promoting biogas production from organic waste offers a renewable energy source and helps mitigate methane emissions from waste decomposition.
Mains Link:
“Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (UPSC 2018)
Prelims Link:
Which of the following statements is/are correct about the deposits of ‘methane hydrate’? (USPC 2019)
- Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits.
- Large deposits of ‘methane hydrate’ are found in the Arctic Tundra and under the sea floor.
- Methane in the atmosphere oxidises to carbon dioxide after a decade or two.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (d)
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 September 2024 GS Paper 4:
Fragmented Identities: The Collapse of Gender Categories and the Crisis of Individualism
Syllabus: Applications of Ethics
Source: TH
Context: The collapse of rigid categories, particularly around gender, is deepening social fragmentation in the West. While gender and sex were once seen as fixed biological facts, newer ideas challenge this, suggesting they are fluid and subject to personal choice. This shift is creating confusion, as it clashes with traditional views of individualism and governance.
What is Individualism?
Individualism is the belief that the individual is the fundamental unit of society, emphasizing personal freedom, autonomy, and self-reliance. It holds that each person is unique, with their own rights and interests, and these should be protected and valued over collective or group norms.
What is the Issue here?
The issue centres around the growing tension between traditional categories of identity (like gender and sex) and evolving modern perspectives that view these categories as fluid and a matter of personal choice.
Historically, gender and sex were seen as fixed categories, essential for governance, social organization, and personal identity. However, modern ideas challenge these notions, suggesting that sex and gender are not permanent and can be altered to match one’s self-perception. This shift is causing a crisis in both societal norms and individual identity, as what once were universally accepted facts (such as being male or female) are now seen as open to personal interpretation and medical alteration.
The broader issue reflects a paradox between liberalism and individualism. While liberal values prioritize personal freedom and individual rights, they are now grappling with how to reconcile this freedom with long-standing social structures and norms.
Ethical issues concerned here are:
- Gender-Affirming Interventions:
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- Example: A biologically male person transitions to a female through surgery and hormone therapy.
- Ethical Issue: Should individuals, especially minors, be allowed to make potentially irreversible changes? The question of informed consent is critical, particularly for minors who may not fully grasp long-term consequences.
- Women’s Sports:
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- Example: The disqualification of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif from the 2024 Olympics over biological sex questions.
- Ethical Issue: Is it fair for biological males who identify as female to compete in women’s sports, potentially disadvantaging female athletes?
- Public Spaces:
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- Example: Conflicts over transgender rights in bathrooms or locker rooms.
- Ethical Issue: How to balance transgender rights with concerns from others, particularly women, who may feel uncomfortable sharing intimate spaces with biological males.
- Public Institutions:
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- Example: Schools and healthcare systems providing gender-affirming care to minors.
- Ethical Issue: Should public institutions support gender transitions for minors, balancing individual rights with protecting vulnerable populations?
- Science and Gender Fluidity:
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- Example: Medical technologies that alter sex characteristics based on the belief that gender is a spectrum.
- Ethical Issue: Should science be used to alter bodies to fit personal beliefs about gender, or should it uphold traditional biological norms?
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 September 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Queers can open Joint Bank Accounts
Source: TH
Context: The Union government has clarified that individuals in queer relationships can open joint bank accounts and nominate their partners as beneficiaries. This follows the Supreme Court’s October 2023 ruling urging the government to consider equal entitlements for queer partners, though it stopped short of recognizing same-sex marriage.
The ethical issues involve balancing individual autonomy with societal norms, ensuring informed consent (especially for minors), fairness in sports, and protecting both individual and group rights. Public institutions face ethical dilemmas over supporting gender-affirming care for minors, while science’s role in altering bodies challenges traditional biological norms.
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 2 September 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Cyclone Asna
Source: TH
Context: Cyclone Asna, which formed over the Kutch coast in Gujarat, moved towards Oman without causing a significant impact in the region.
- The cyclone, which originated from a deep depression, brought some rain and strong winds but caused no major damage or casualties.
About Cyclones:
Cyclones are intense systems of air circulation around a low-pressure center, characterized by violent storms and adverse weather conditions.
In the Northern Hemisphere, cyclones rotate counterclockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they rotate clockwise.
The term “cyclone” comes from the Greek word “Cyclos,” meaning the coils of a snake, a reference coined by Henry Peddington due to the appearance of tropical storms in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea resembling coiled serpents.
Cyclones are classified into two main types:
- Tropical Cyclones: These form in tropical regions and include hurricanes and typhoons.
- Extra-Tropical Cyclones: Also known as temperate, middle-latitude, or frontal cyclones, these occur in the mid-latitudes and are associated with weather fronts and low-pressure systems.
Dispute Resolution Scheme (e-DRS)
Source: PIB
Context: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has introduced the e-Dispute Resolution Scheme (e-DRS) 2022 to reduce litigation and provide relief to eligible taxpayers.
Under this scheme, taxpayers can file applications electronically for dispute resolution with Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs) across 18 regional jurisdictions.
- Eligibility: Taxpayers can use e-DRS for disputes involving specified orders where the aggregate variations are under ₹10 lakh and the returned income is under ₹50 lakh, excluding cases based on searches or certain agreements.
- DRC Procedures: The DRCs can modify orders, reduce or waive penalties, and must issue decisions within six months from the end of the month in which the application is admitted.
- Filing Process: Applications are to be submitted online through the Income Tax Department’s portal using Form No. 34BC.
Colombo Security Conclave Secretariat
Source: Business Standard
Context: India, along with Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a charter to establish the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) Secretariat.
- The CSC aims to address transnational threats and enhance cooperation in areas like maritime safety, counter-terrorism, cyber security, and disaster relief.
- This initiative reinforces the commitment to regional security among these nations.
‘Navratna’ status to the state-owned companies
Source: Business Standard
Context: SJVN, NHPC, and RailTel Corporation of India saw their shares rise by up to 5.2% following the Indian government’s decision to grant them ‘Navratna’ status.
- This designation, which enhances their financial and operational autonomy, was also awarded to Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), bringing the total number of Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to 25.
- The status allows these companies greater decision-making freedom, potentially boosting their market performance and enabling faster growth.
‘Aravalli’ helicopter engines
Source: Economic Times
Context: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has partnered with SAFHAL Helicopter Engines Pvt. Ltd. to jointly develop and manufacture a new high-power helicopter engine named ‘Aravalli’.
- This collaboration is focused on supporting the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH), both of which are being developed by HAL.
- Purpose: These engines are intended for the 13-ton Medium Lift class, IMRH, and DBMRH helicopters.
- Strategic Impact: The partnership aims to boost India’s self-reliance in aerospace and defence technology, aligning with the broader goal of enhancing indigenous development.
This project is a significant step in advancing India’s capabilities in helicopter engine technology and strengthening the strategic relationship between India and France.
Project NAMAN
Source: PIB
Context: The Indian Army launched Project NAMAN to support Defence Pensioners, Veterans, and their families, centred around the SPARSH digital pension system.
- The project aims to streamline pension processes and provide essential services through Common Service Centres (CSCs) across India.
- These centres, supported by HDFC Bank and managed by veterans or their families, offer SPARSH-enabled pension services, e-Governance, and banking solutions, reflecting the Army’s commitment to veteran welfare and community empowerment.
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