UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 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 1: (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2024)

1. Climate change is exacerbating Global Flooding

2. Addressing Gender Discrimination

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

3. Periyar EV Ramasamy

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

1. Karam Festival

2. Quantum computing

3. Pager

4. Seaweed 

5. Battery Waste Management (BWM) Rules, 2022

Mapping:

6. Gopalpur port

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2024

GS Paper 1:

Climate change is exacerbating Global Flooding

Syllabus: Geography: Disaster Management

Source: IE

Context: Climate change is exacerbating global flooding by increasing the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall.

How does Climate change affect Global flooding?

Rising temperatures enhance the atmosphere’s capacity to hold moisture, leading to more intense downpours. For instance, a 1.5°C increase in global temperatures could make heavy rainfall events 1.5 times more frequent and 10% wetter. Recent floods in Europe, the UAE, and Brazil highlight this trend. If global temperatures rise by 2°C, such floods could occur 1.7 times per decade, with 14% more rainfall.

Implications:

1. Increased Rainfall Intensity: Example: Heavy rainfall in Germany in 2021 was intensified by climate change, leading to severe floods in western regions.
2. Higher Atmospheric Moisture: Example: The UAE and Oman experienced record-breaking rainfall in 2023 due to warmer air holding more moisture.
3. More Frequent Extreme Rainfall Events: Example: In Europe, floods this summer were more intense due to the increased frequency of extreme rainfall events linked to climate change.
4. Transition from Snow to Rain: Example: Increased rainfall in high-altitude regions, such as the Alps, has led to more frequent flooding and landslides as snow transitions to rain.
5. Increased Flood Risk in Urban Areas: Example: Rapid urbanization in cities like Dhaka, Bangladesh, has led to higher flood risk as cities expand into flood-prone areas.
6. Greater Impact on Low-Income Countries: Example: Floods in India and China have displaced millions due to increased flooding risk from climate change, affecting mostly low-income populations.
7. Rising Sea Levels: Example: Coastal flooding in cities like Miami, USA, has been exacerbated by rising sea levels linked to global warming.

Other factors leading to flooding:

1. Deforestation and Land Use Changes: Unsustainable deforestation in the upper catchments increases soil erosion and sediment load in rivers, reducing their carrying capacity and causing overflows.
   1. Eg: Sundarbans flooding attributed to these.
2. Encroachment on Floodplains: Building settlements and infrastructure on floodplains obstructs natural drainage and reduces buffer zones, amplifying flood impacts.
   1. Eg: Bihar floods are particularly severe due to the encroachment of floodplains.
3. Inadequate Drainage and Infrastructure: Insufficient drainage systems, choked rivers, and dilapidated embankments cannot handle excessive water, leading to widespread inundation.
   1. Eg: Inadequate and weak embankments are annually breached in Bihar-West Bengal floods.
4. Poor Urban Planning: Urbanization without proper water management and flood zoning increases runoff and exposes more people to risks.

Strategies can be implemented to mitigate the risks associated with these floods:

1. Early Warning Systems: Implement advanced early warning systems to provide timely alerts to communities, enabling them to evacuate and take preventive measures.
   • E.g.: Flood Early Warning System (FLEWS) in Assam by its state disaster management authority.
2. Eco-Restoration: Undertake comprehensive eco-restoration initiatives, including reforestation and wetland conservation, to enhance natural drainage systems and reduce vulnerability.
   • Eg: the Red River Delta Rehabilitation Project restored over 100,000 hectares of mangroves and wetlands which can be replicated here.
3. Infrastructure Development: Invest in resilient infrastructure, such as embankments, flood shelters, and drainage systems, to protect communities and vital assets.
   • Eg: Coastal Embankment Improvement Project (CEIP) in Bangladesh part of the delta.
4. Community Engagement: Foster community-based initiatives for flood preparedness, including training in disaster response, and involve local communities in planning and decision-making processes.
   • E.g.: Community Preparedness and Adaptation of “Living with Floods” under Flood Risk Mitigation and Management.
5. Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Promote climate-resilient agricultural practices and crop varieties to minimize the impact of floods on the agrarian economy.
   • E.g.: Integrated Rice-Fish Farming System (IRFFS) promoted by the World Food Programme.

NDMA Guidelines for Floods:

Conclusion:

As seen above, many factors are natural and inevitable to a certain extent, thus, mitigating the risks associated with annual floods in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta requires a holistic and integrated approach that combines physical infrastructure, sustainable land-use practices, community engagement, and international cooperation.

Insta Links: 

1. Assam Floods

Prelims Link:

Addressing Gender Discrimination

Syllabus: Indian Society: Issues related to women

Source: PIB

Context: Vice-President highlighted the need to change the male mindset and address subtle gender discrimination.

Key points highlighted by VC:

1. Need for male mindset change for gender justice.
2. Subtle gender discrimination is dangerous.
3. Women’s reservation in Parliament is historic.
4. Shift from “women-development” to “women-led development”.
5. Highlighted initiatives like Beti Padhao and Mudra for empowerment.
6. Encouraged women to break the “glass ceiling.”
7. Education is key to achieving gender equalit

What is Subtle gender discrimination?

Subtle gender discrimination refers to indirect, often unnoticed, and less obvious forms of bias against gender, typically women. Unlike overt discrimination, it is harder to detect and may appear as normal behaviour or attitudes but reinforces inequality.

Example: A workplace may have equal hiring policies for men and women, but women are often overlooked for leadership roles because they are perceived as “less assertive” or “too emotional,” even though no explicit statements are made against them. This type of discrimination isn’t openly hostile but still undermines equality.

Other examples of “Subtle Gender Discrimination”:

1. Compliments that Reinforce Stereotyping: Positive remarks that reinforce traditional gender roles, like praising a woman for being nurturing, can undermine her professional abilities.
2. Microaggressions: Small comments that reinforce gender stereotypes, such as suggesting women are less dedicated to their careers due to family obligations.
3. Work-Life Balance Assumptions: Societal expectations around caregiving can lead to assumptions that women need more flexibility or aren’t as career-focused as men.
4. Interrupting Women More Often: Women are more likely to be interrupted or talked over in meetings compared to their male counterparts.
5. Tokenism: Including a woman in a team or project just to check a diversity box without valuing her input or expertise.
6. Dress Code Expectations: Imposing stricter or different dress codes on women that focus on appearance rather than professionalism.
7. Attributing Success to Luck: When a woman achieves something significant, her success may be attributed to luck rather than skill or effort.

India’s Rank on Gender Development:

In the UNDP Human Development Report 2023-24, India ranks 108th out of 193 countries on the Gender Inequality Index (GII) 2022 with a score of 0.437. The GII measures gender inequality in reproductive health, empowerment, and labor market participation, with values ranging from 0 (equality) to 1 (extreme inequality). India’s improved rank from 122nd in 2021 reflects ongoing progress in gender equality over the past decade.

Steps Taken to Curb Gender Discrimination:

1. Equal Remuneration Act (1976): Aims to reduce wage gaps.
2. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Educates against gender bias and improves welfare services.
3. PMEGP: Supports women in starting their own businesses.
4. Mission Shakti: Provides safety, security, and empowerment for women.

Addressing Subtle Gender Discrimination:

1. Blind Evaluation: Conceal physical attributes in job applications.
2. Inclusive Culture: Foster a workplace that values all input, regardless of gender.
3. Unconscious Bias Assessment: Use surveys, language analysis, and pay gap evaluations.
4. Male Mindset Change: Implement wider gender sensitization efforts.

About the National Commission for Women (NCW):

It is a statutory body established under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 in India. Its mandate is to safeguard and promote the rights and interests of women, address gender-based discrimination, and ensure their empowerment.

Role and challenges faced by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in India:

Conclusion

To enhance the effectiveness of the National Commission for Women (NCW), it is recommended to grant the chairperson the status of Union Cabinet Minister and members the status of Minister of State. The commission should have the power to select its own members, and funds should be allocated in both the Union and State Budgets to support its functioning. Implementing these recommendations would empower the NCW and strengthen its ability to protect and promote women’s rights.

Insta Links:

• SC Decision on Gender Discrimination

Mains Links:

“Empowering women is the key to control population growth”. Discuss. ( UPSC 2019) 

Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India. (UPSC 2015)

 Male membership needs to be encouraged in order to make women’s organization free from gender bias. Comment. (UPSC 2013)

 Distinguish between ‘care economy’ and ‘monetized economy’. How can the care economy be brought into a monetized economy through women empowerment? (UPSC 2023)

Prelims Link:

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Periyar EV Ramasamy

Source: IE

Context: Periyar EV Ramasamy, remembered on his 146th birth anniversary, was a rationalist and social reformer who led the Self Respect Movement to uplift Tamils and oppose caste dominance, especially by Brahmins.

Contributions:

1. Congress Party: Joined in 1919, disagreed with Gandhi on caste issues, resigned in 1925, and joined the Justice Party and Self Respect Movement.
2. Vaikom Satyagraha (1924-25): Protested untouchability in Kerala, supported by Periyar, leading to the opening of temple roads.
3. Self Respect Movement (1925): Focused on uplifting non-Brahmins, promoting equality and self-respect among backward castes.
4. Justice Party: Periyar became its leader in 1938, opposing Brahmin dominance and advocating social justice for non-Brahmins.

Ethical values derived from Periyar’s life:

1. Equality – Advocated for social, caste, and gender equality.
2. Rationalism – Promoted critical thinking and questioning of tradition.
3. Self-Respect – Emphasized dignity and identity for marginalized groups.
4. Justice – Opposed caste-based discrimination and inequality.
5. Gender Equality – Fought for women’s rights, independence, and equal opportunities.
6. Secularism – Challenged religious orthodoxy and caste-based practices.
7. Empowerment – Encouraged marginalized communities to assert their rights.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2024 GS Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Karam Festival

 Source: IE

Context: The Karma or Karam festival is a significant tribal harvest celebration, centered around the worship of the Karam tree, symbolizing Karam Devta, the god of strength, youth, and vitality.

• Celebrated by tribes such as the Munda, Oraon, Ho, and Santhal across states like Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, the festival marks the agricultural season.
• Rituals include planting a Karam tree branch in the courtyard, dancing, singing, and offerings to ensure a good harvest.
• Myths around the festival often feature stories of seven brothers who suffer hardships after neglecting the Karam tree, underscoring the deep connection between the festival, mythology, and agricultural practices.

Quantum computing

Source: TH

Context: Quantum computing has the potential to significantly enhance large language models (LLMs) by addressing their key limitations, such as high energy consumption, hallucinations (factually incorrect outputs), and struggles with syntax.

• LLMs, though powerful, are energy-intensive and can produce erroneous results due to limitations in pre-training.
• Quantum Natural Language Processing (QNLP) offers a solution, as it requires fewer parameters and consumes less energy while improving understanding of both syntax and semantics.
• Additionally, Quantum Generative AI (QGen-AI) models can enhance time-series forecasting, allowing for more accurate predictions with fewer computational resources.

Pager

Source: NDTV

Context: Recently, Israel’s Mossad reportedly planted explosives in thousands of Pagers ordered by Hezbollah, leading to a deadly explosion in Lebanon.

What is a Pager?

A pager, or “beeper,” is a portable communication device used to receive short messages via radio frequency. While largely replaced by mobile phones in the 1990s, Hezbollah still uses pagers for low-tech communication to evade Israeli tracking.

How does it work?

Pagers work by receiving short messages sent via radio waves. When a message is transmitted, the pager alerts the user, who can then respond using a nearby phone. Since pagers don’t actively transmit signals like mobile phones, they are harder to track.

Seaweed

Source: TH

Context: The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has been designated as a Centre of Excellence for seaweed cultivation by the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.

• The centre will focus on improving cultivation techniques, creating a seed bank to preserve indigenous species, and conducting environmental impact assessments.

Battery Waste Management (BWM) Rules, 2022

Source: BS

Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has introduced strict environmental compensation (EC) guidelines to enforce compliance with the Battery Waste Management (BWM) Rules, 2022.

• Issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the guidelines penalize battery producers for failing to meet recycling targets under extended producer responsibility (EPR) rules, with differentiated costs based on battery types (e.g., Rs 2,400 per kg for lithium batteries).

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2024 Mapping:

Gopalpur port

 Source: Telegraph

Context: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) has received approval from the Odisha government to acquire a 95% stake in Gopalpur Port.

Tags: Mapping, Gopalpur port

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 September 2024

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