UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 November 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 November 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 – 14 November 2024)

1. Bulldozer Justice

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Report on Municipal Finances

2. Solar Fence Project

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. Satyendra Nath Bose

2. Fingerling

3. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund

4. African Elephant

5. Operation Kawach

6. South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council

7. Domestic Systemically Important Banks

Mapping:

1. South China Sea

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 November 2024

GS Paper 2:

Bulldozer Justice

Syllabus: Polity & Governance

Source:  IE

 Context: The Supreme Court in Demolition of Structures v. and Ors case judgement laid down a series of guidelines to ensure that due process is followed for demolishing the properties of citizens.

What is Bulldozer Justice?

“Bulldozer justice” refers to the practice of using bulldozers and heavy machinery to demolish properties of individuals accused of crimes, often without due legal process. The term symbolizes instant punitive action by the state, bypassing judicial adjudication and procedural safeguards.

Concerns Regarding Bulldozer Justice:

• Violation of Rule of Law: Actions bypass legal procedures like prior notice and hearings.
• Breach of Fundamental Rights: Violates the right to shelter under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
• Presumption of Innocence: Penalizes individuals before being proven guilty in court.
• Targeting minorities: Reports of disproportionate action against Muslims, raising questions of communal bias.
• Authoritarian Practices: Undermines democratic governance, consolidating power with the executive.
• Ethical Concerns: Punishes entire families, conflates roles of judge, jury, and executioner.

Supreme Court’s Summary Guidelines:

• Notice Period: Minimum 15 days’ notice before demolition.
• Transparency: Notices and orders to be uploaded in real-time on digital portals.
• Hearing and Final Order: Must include reasons why demolition is the only option.
• Post-Order Period: 15-day window to allow appeals or voluntary evacuation.
• Videography and Accountability: Demolition must be recorded, and officials involved listed.
• Punitive Measures for Violations: Personal accountability for restoring properties and paying damages.

Way Ahead:

• Strengthening Rule of Law: Ensure strict adherence to due process in demolitions.
• Judicial Oversight: Establish specialized tribunals for cases of illegal demolitions.
• Community Engagement: Foster dialogue with affected communities to address grievances.
• Accountability: Implement robust mechanisms to hold officials accountable for misuse of power.
• Training and Awareness: Sensitize authorities about constitutional safeguards and legal procedures.

Insta Links:

PYQ:

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 November 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Report on Municipal Finances

Context: The Report on Municipal Finances shows significant improvement since the first edition released two years ago. The latest report examines the fiscal position of 232 municipal corporations from 2019-20 to 2023-24.

About Financial Status of Municipal Corporations: (Source: RBI Report on Municipal Finances)

• Revenue Composition (FY24 Estimates):
  • Own sources (taxes, fees, user charges): 50%.
  • Revenue grants (Central/State governments): 25%.
  • Other sources (rental, compensations, investments):Remaining 25%.
• Short-term Trends (FY20 vs. FY24):
  • Share of own taxes rose from 27.3% to 30%.
  • Share of fees and user charges increased from 18.7% to 20.2%.
  • Revenue grants share dropped from 27.9% to 24.9%.
• State Performance (FY24):
  • Highest own tax revenue:
    • Karnataka (53.8%), Telangana (50.3%), Tamil Nadu (44.3%), Jharkhand (44.0%).
  • Lowest own tax revenue: Rajasthan, Odisha, and Uttarakhand.
• Expenditure Trends:
  • Capital expenditure increased from 56.1% (2019-20) to 61.5% (FY24).
  • Revenue expenditure decreased from 43.9% (2019-20) to 38.5% (FY24).

Solar Fence Project

Context: In Odisha, frequent crop losses from elephants intruding into paddy fields prompted the Forest Department to launch the Solar Fence Project—a sustainable, humane solution aimed at protecting crops and fostering peaceful coexistence with wildlife.

About Solar Fence Project:

• Objective:
  • To resolve human-elephant conflicts and safeguard crops through sustainable and humane methods.
• Technology:
  • Solar-powered fence emits a mild electric pulse to deter animals without causing harm.
  • Powered by solar panels, charging a battery that supplies a low-voltage shock.
• Implementation:
  • Farmers contribute 10% of project cost; orchard owners share 50%.
  • Proposals submitted through gram sabhas or panchayats.
• Impact:
  • Reduced elephant incursions into farmlands.
  • Improved farmer incomes and minimized human-wildlife conflicts.

Relevance in UPSC syllabus:

• General Studies Paper II:

• • Governance: Role of gram sabhas and panchayats in local initiatives.
  • Policies and Interventions: Wildlife and agricultural policy implementation.

• General Studies Paper III:

• • Environment and Ecology: Sustainable solutions to human-wildlife conflicts.
  • Science and Technology: Renewable energy applications in conservation.
  • Disaster Management: Mitigating risks from wildlife intrusions.

• Essay and Ethics:

• • Essay: Sustainable development and human-animal coexistence.
  • Ethics: Humane methods in wildlife conflict resolution.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 November 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Satyendra Nath Bose

Source: PIB

 Context: India celebrates the centenary of Bose-Einstein Statistics, a groundbreaking contribution by physicist Satyendra Nath Bose, which revolutionized quantum mechanics and paved the way for significant advancements in physics and technology.

About Satyendra Nath Bose:

Background:

• Born: January 1, 1894, in Calcutta, India.
• Inspired by teachers like Jagadish Chandra Bose and Prafulla Chandra Roy.
• Career: Began as a physics lecturer at Calcutta University (1916), later joined Dhaka University (1921).
• Known for his groundbreaking work in quantum mechanics and statistical physics.

His Work:

• Planck’s Law and Photon Gas:
  • Derived Planck’s law using a novel statistical method treating light as a photon gas.
  • Developed new techniques for counting photon states, forming the basis of Bose-Einstein statistics.
• Collaboration with Einstein:
  • Sent his paper on radiation to Albert Einstein, who translated it into German and published it.
  • Einstein extended Bose’s work to atoms, leading to the theory of Bose-Einstein condensates and the ideal quantum gas.
• Bosons:
  • Bose-Einstein statistics apply to particles with integer spins, named bosons (by Paul Dirac) in his honor.
  • Bosons do not obey the Pauli Exclusion Principle.
• Bose-Einstein Condensates (BECs):
  • Predicted a new state of matter where bosons condense into the lowest quantum state at near absolute zero temperatures.
  • Experimentally confirmed in 1995 using rubidium and sodium atoms, earning a Nobel Prize for Eric Cornell, Carl Wieman, and Wolfgang Ketterle in 2001.

Awards and Recognition:

• Despite his pivotal contributions, Bose was never awarded a Nobel Prize.
• Worked with notable scientists, including Marie Curie and Albert Einstein, during his two-year tenure in European laboratories.

Significance:

• Foundational Work: Bose-Einstein statistics and condensates are foundational in modern quantum mechanics and statistical physics.
• Technological Impact: Integral to the understanding of lasers, superconductivity, and quantum mechanics.
• Future Implications: BECs hold potential for unraveling mysteries like dark energy and advancing research in quantum computing.

Insta links:

Fingerling

Source:  TH

Context: As part of the artificial reef project under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the State Fisheries Department in Kerala launched a sea ranching initiative by releasing 20,000 pompano fingerlings off the Vizhinjam coast.

About Fingerlings:

• Scientific name:
  • Pompano: Trachinotus blochii
  • Cobia: Rachycentron canadum
• Ministry involved:
  • Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying in collaboration with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).
• Scheme:
  • Implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• Budget:
  • ₹3 crore allocated for the current phase in Thiruvananthapuram.
  • Proposed extensions: ₹29.76 crore for Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, and Thrissur districts; ₹25.82 crore for northern districts.
• Aim:
  • Replenish marine fishery resources.
  • Promote sustainable fishing practices by enhancing biodiversity.
• Features of Fingerlings:
  • Pompano and cobia fingerlings stocked and reared at Ayiramthengu fish farm.
  • Fingerlings weigh between 8 to 10 grams.
  • 10 lakh fingerlings planned for release across 10 artificial reef locations off the Thiruvananthapuram coast.

About Mission Fingerling:

• Launch year: 2017
• Ministry: Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
• Aim:
  • Achieve the Blue Revolution by promoting the holistic development and management of fisheries.
  • Increase fisheries production from 10.79 MMT (2014-15) to 15 MMT by 2020-21.

Insta links:

Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund

Source:   TH

Context: The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund (JNMF) plans to launch the Nehru Archive on November 14, 2025, to digitally showcase the extensive works, speeches, and letters of India’s first Prime Minister.

About Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund:

• Establishment:
  • Founded in 1964 under a Deed of Declaration of Trust, following the convening of a National Committee chaired by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, then President of India.
• Purpose:
  • Preserve and promote the legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru, focusing on his role in the making of modern India.
• Governance:
  • Governed by 14 trustees, currently headed by Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party.
• Archive features:
  • Contains 100 volumes of Nehru’s selected works, letters to Chief Ministers (1947-1964), books authored by Nehru, and global archival materials.
  • Includes his iconic works like The Discovery of India, Letters from a Father to His Daughter, and Glimpses of World History.
• Significance:
  • Aims to be the primary source for Nehru-related research, continually updated with new archival material.

Insta links:

African Elephant

Source:  TH

Context: A comprehensive study covering 52 years has revealed a dramatic decline in African elephant populations, with savannah elephants experiencing a 70% decrease and forest elephants suffering a 90% decline.

About African Elephants:

• Classification:
  • Largest land animals, native to Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Two subspecies: African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana) and African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis).
• Habitat:
  • Found in savannas, forests, grasslands, arid regions, rainforests, and woodlands like mopane and miombo.
• Physical features:
  • Distinct two-finger-like processes at the trunk’s tip.
  • Both males and females have tusks, with the forest elephant’s tusks being smaller and darker.
• Behavior and Reproduction:
  • Live in family units led by adult females, with strong social bonds.
  • Have the lowest sleep time among animals (~2 hours per day).
  • Long gestation period of up to two years; calves are nurtured by mothers and allomothers.
• Conservation status:
  • African Bush Elephant: Endangered (IUCN).
  • African Forest Elephant: Critically Endangered (IUCN).
  • Listed under CITES Appendix I.

Insta Links:

Operation Kawach

Source:  IE

Context: Delhi Police initiated Operation Kawach, a targeted crackdown against gangs, drug traffickers, and organized crime in response to rising criminal activities, including shootings in the city.

About Operation Kawach:

• Aim: To combat gang-related violence, drug trafficking, and illegal activities such as possession of firearms, liquor, and banned substances.
• Agency involved: Delhi Police, including local units, Special Cell, and Crime Branch.
• Geographical area: Multiple districts across Delhi, including Outer North, Dwarka, Southeast, Southwest, and North districts.
• Significance:
  • Strengthens law enforcement against organized crime.
  • Enhances public safety by dismantling networks linked to prominent gangs like Lawrence Bishnoi, Neeraj Bawana, and others.
  • Prevents illegal trade of firearms, liquor, and narcotics.

Insta Links:

South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council

Source:  PIB

Context: The 25th South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-25) meeting was hosted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in New Delhi from November 11 to 13, 2024.

About South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council:

• Formation: Established in 1997 by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) in collaboration with the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
• Member Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
• Governance: Composed of Heads of regulatory bodies of member countries; affiliate members also actively participate.
• 2024 Theme: “Accelerating Telecommunication and ICT Development for Growth and Inclusiveness”
• Core Functions:

• • Discuss and coordinate telecommunication and ICT regulations of mutual interest.
  • Address issues like radio frequency coordination, standards, regulatory trends, and telecommunication strategies.
  • Promote potential areas of cooperation among member countries.
  • Facilitate knowledge exchange through seminars, training, and workshops.

Insta links:

Domestic Systemically Important Banks

Source:  IE

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday retained the State Bank of India, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs).

 About Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs):

• The RBI had first announced the framework dealing with D-SIBs in 2014.
• What is D-SIBs?
  • Banks classified as “Too Big To Fail (TBTF)” due to their size, interconnectedness, and critical role in the economy.
  • Their failure could disrupt the financial system and economic activity.
• Which Banks are D-SIBs?
  • State Bank of India (SBI) (2015)
  • ICICI Bank (2016)
  • HDFC Bank (2017)
• Need for D-SIBs
  • Prevent systemic risk and ensure the uninterrupted availability of essential banking services.
  • Reduce moral hazard by imposing additional capital requirements and regulatory oversight.
• Different Buckets under D-SIBs
  • Banks are placed in buckets based on systemic importance:
    1. SBI: Bucket 4
    2. HDFC Bank: Bucket 3
    3. ICICI Bank: Bucket 1
• Capital Requirements
  • Additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) requirements based on bucket:
    1. SBI: 0.80% of Risk Weighted Assets (RWAs).
    2. HDFC Bank: 0.40% of RWAs.
    3. ICICI Bank: 0.20% of RWAs.
  • Higher surcharges applicable from April 1, 2025.
• Selection Criteria
  • Banks with size >2% of GDP are assessed.
  • A composite score is calculated based on size, cross-jurisdictional activity, complexity, substitutability, and interconnectedness.
  • Banks above a threshold score are classified as D-SIBs.
• Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs)
  • Identified by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) in consultation with the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS).
  • 2023 G-SIB list includes JP Morgan Chase, HSBC, Bank of China, BNP Paribas, etc.

Insta Links:

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 November 2024 Mapping:

South China Sea

Source:  TH

Context: The Philippines’ Foreign Ministry said it summoned China’s Ambassador to protest Beijing’s drawing of baselines around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

Places in News: South China Sea Dispute

1. South China Sea:
   • Contains an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
   • Claimed by China, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
2. Spratly Islands:
   • Strategic location with rich natural resources and fishing zones.
   • Second Thomas Shoal: Philippines grounded BRP Sierra Madre to assert claims.
   • Frequent site of China-Philippines clashes, including laser usage and water cannon incidents by Chinese vessels.
3. Paracel Islands:
   • Militarized by China with fighter jets, missiles, and radar systems.
4. Woody Island:
   • Key base for China’s military installations in the region.

5. Scarborough Shoal:
   • Known as Scarborough Shoal, Panacot, Bajo de Masinloc (Spanish), Huangyan Island (Mandarin), and Panatag Shoal (Filipino).
   • Disputed between the Philippines, People’s Republic of China, and Taiwan.
     • Claimed by the Philippines via the Treaty of Washington (1900) and the 1734 Velarde map.
     • Claimed by China under its nine-dash line.

Insta Links:

Daily Current Affairs + PIB Summary 14 Nov 2024

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