Daily Current Affairs UPSC 21 March 2024

Nomination Process for Lok Sabha Polls 2024

• Nominations filed under section 33 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
• Date for filing of nomination fixed by Election Commission of India
• Candidate or proposer must deliver nomination paper to Returning Officer or Assistant R
• Only elector in the constituency can propose a candidate
• One proposer needed for candidate from recognized political party
• 10 proposers needed for independent or candidates from registered unrecognized political party
• Candidate can file maximum 4 nominations for a constituency
• Nomination paper cannot be filed on a holiday.

Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

• Transmission line restrictions through GIB habitats are being reconsidered by SC.
• Protection status
  • IUCN status: Critically Endangered
  • Listed in Schedule 1 and 4 of wildlife protection act
  • Included in Appendix 1 of CITES
  • Covered under species recovery program
• Characteristics
  • Endemic to Indian subcontinent
  • Omnivorous bird
  • Other bustard species in India: lesser florican and Bengal florican
  • Habitat mainly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh
  • Rajasthan has the highest population

Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF)

• The Model Code of Conduct does not apply to some emergency works that are under the purview of the Election Commission's exemptions.
• Relief for those in need impacted by significant natural disasters, accidents, etc., is the fund's primary goal.
• These funds, like the PM Relief Fund, are mostly funded by donations from governmental and corporate entities, nonprofit organizations, etc.
• Under section 80G of the Income-Tax Act of 1961, donations to the CMRF are completely free from income tax.

Project Gaia

• Central banks launched Project Gaia to assess financial risks related to climate change.
• Project Gaia Overview
  • Project Gaia is a collaboration between central banks to evaluate climate financial risks
  • It leverages generative artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze climate-related risks in the financial system.
• Benefits of Project Gaia
• • Can examine firm carbon emissions, green bonds, and net-zero commitment disclosures.
  • Enhanced accessibility to climate-related disclosures.
  • Efficient data extraction.
  • Harmonized climate metrics.
  • Scalability and reliability.

Summit for Democracy

• Prime Minister spoke at the third edition of Summit for Democracy
• Launched by the US in 2021 as a platform for democracies to share experiences and learn from each other
• Aim is to strengthen democratic institutions, protect human rights, and fight against corruption globally
• Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal supports initiatives for advancing technology for democracy, defending free and fair elections, independent media, etc.
• US provides financial aid to this initiative

Grid Controller of India Limited (GRID-INDIA)

• GRID-INDIA received Miniratna Category-I status for CPSEs
• Established in 2009 to oversee the operation of the Indian Power System
• Miniratna Category I CPSEs have continuous profit in the last three years with pretax profit >30cr in at least one year and a positive net worth
• Miniratna Category II CPSEs have made profit for the last three years and have a positive net worth.

Sound Laser (Phonon Laser)

• A potent sound laser has been developed by Chinese scientists.
• Similar to how light is composed of numerous particles called photons, sound is composed of fragments that resemble particles called phonons.
• Another name for them is Stimulated Emission of Radiation Sound Amplification (SASER).
• created for the first time in 2009.
• A micrometer-long silica bead inside a reflective chamber is levitated by two laser beams in this novel gadget.
• The laser beam is created by amplified phonons that are produced through levitation.

PIB Fact Check Unit

• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology establishes Fact Check Unit under PIB
• PIB disseminates information on government policies, programmes, initiatives, and achievements
• Fact Check Unit notified under IT Rules 2021 to address digital media ethics and guidelines.

Phanindra Nath Ghosh (1918-1992)

• The celebration of Phanindra Nath Ghosh's birth anniversary
•  Shri Ghosh was the son of Charuchandra Ghosh and was born in Serampore, in the Hooghly district of West Bengal.
• Contributions:
  • The revolutionary movement was guided by his leadership throughout the Hooghly area.
  • Alongside J.N. Lahiri, he joined the Yugantar revolutionary party.
  • Became a contributing member of Serampore's "Gupt Samity".
  • Played a crucial part in the 1942 Quit.
  • Possessed a strong devotion to Gandhiji's teachings.
  • Awards: In 1972, the Indian government bestowed upon him a Copper Plate.
  • Ideals: conviction-driven courage, patriotism, leadership, etc.

Reports on Ganges Basin Management Released by AWP and ICIMOD

An analysis of the opportunities and difficulties for basin-wide management spanning the Indus, Brahmaputra, and Ganges is required by a 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AWP and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). 

Key findings on Ganges Basin management

Challenges in Basin Governance:

• Myriad complexities: The sheer size of the basin and various factors like gender, poverty, and social inequity make governance difficult.
• Fragmented governance: Lack of multilateral agreements hinders basin-wide collaboration.
• Substantial data gaps: Lack of data on experiences of different groups like genders and indigenous communities.

Opportunities for Collaboration:

• Climate change as a catalyst for collaboration.
• Existing bilateral agreements contain references to basin-scale issues.
• Examples like the Framework Agreement on Cooperation for Development between India and Bangladesh.

Recommendations for Improvement:

• Delink key issues from the basin-wide political system.
• Expand bilateral agreements for multilateral cooperation.
• Support research, data collection, and sharing.
• Strengthen community groups for local collaboration.

State of the Global Climate 2023 report released by the World Metrological Organization (WMO)

• WMO is the United Nations' specialized organization for operational hydrology, associated geophysical sciences, and meteorology (weather and climate).
• In addition to highlighting the global status of climate finance, the paper noted that 2023 shattered every climate indicator, including temperature and greenhouse gas concentrations.

Current State of Climate Finance:

• Climate flows nearly doubled in 2021-22 compared to 2019-20 levels and reached $1.3 trillion.
• China, the USA, Europe, Brazil, Japan, and India together received 90% of the increase in funds.
• Climate finance investments need to grow more than six times, by 2030 for a 1.5°C pathway.

Challenges in Climate Finance:

• The cost of inaction is to rise with insufficient mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Climate-vulnerable countries and important sectors like agriculture and industry are receiving little finance despite their mitigation potential.
• Adaptation actions of private sectors are yet to be tracked better.

Recommendations in the report:

• Transform the financial system with an emphasis on concessional financing and de-risking, bridging climate and development needs, etc.
• Mobilize domestic capital, with an emphasis on enabling policies and regulatory frameworks.
• Improve the availability and accessibility of quality, granular data to measure and manage progress.

Initiative to enhance climate finance:

• At COP28 in Dubai, the Global Climate Finance Framework was adopted.
• About thirty developing nations get assistance from France's AFD 2050 Facility in putting the Paris Agreement into practice.
• Developing nations may expedite their shift to a just energy system by utilizing Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs).

Gibraltar Subduction Zone Extending Further Into the Atlantic Ocean: Study

• Subduction Zones (SZs) are areas where tectonic plates converge and one plate is pushed beneath the other, sinking into the mantle.
• Subduction initiation is a key part of the Wilson cycle, which involves the opening and closing of ocean basins through seafloor spreading and subduction.
• The process of subduction creates deep trenches, earthquakes, and volcanoes, often leading to the formation of island arcs along the convergent boundary.

SZs in Atlantic:

• SZ initiation in mature Atlantic-type oceans from supercontinent breakup is challenging due to thick, strong lithosphere.
• This is because, in an ocean surrounded by passive margins, the beginning of subduction requires that the ancient oceanic lithosphere be thick and strong, resistant to breaking and bending.
• Lesser Antilles and the Scotia arcs are the two completely evolved SZs in the Atlantic, however.
• Gibraltar Arc, its third such zone, has slowed considerably over the years, sparking discussion about whether it is still active.
• The most recent research indicates that the Gibraltar subduction is still occurring and that, following a phase of quiescence, it will continue to spread farther into the Atlantic.
• The study also shows that a subduction zone may move across a short oceanic corridor from a closed ocean (the Ligurian) to a new opening ocean (the Atlantic).

Illegal Cultivation of Pusa Basmati Varieties in Pakistan Detected by IARI Scientists

• IARI scientists have raised objections against Pakistan for registering and illegally cultivating India's high-yielding Pusa Basmati varieties.
• These varieties were originally developed by IARI and include:
  • Pusa Basmati-1121 (PB-1121) known for its extra kernel length.
  • PB-1509, which matures faster than other basmati varieties.
  • PB-1847, PB-1885, and PB-1886, improved versions of PB-1509 with resistance to diseases.

Legal protection for Basmati rice:

• Basmati rice varieties are protected under the Seeds Act of 1966.
• Export and import of these varieties for sowing or planting is prohibited.
• They are also registered under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001.
• Indian farmers have rights to sow, save, re-sow, exchange, or share the seeds of protected/registered varieties.
• The Act also outlines breeder's rights.

Basmati rice export from India:

• India is the top exporter of Basmati Rice globally.
• Major export destinations include Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, U.A.E, and Yemen.
• Consumers in these countries prefer parboiled rice due to its harder grains and less susceptibility to breakage when cooked for long.

About Basmati Rice:

• Basmati rice, also known as 'scented Pearl', is a long-grain aromatic variety grown in the Himalayan foothills for centuries.
• Cultivated in states like J & K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and western Uttar Pradesh.
• Requires prolonged sunshine, high humidity, and assured water supply.
• 34 varieties of Basmati rice have been notified under the Seeds Act, 1966.

Ministry Of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) Notifies Amendment to Battery Waste Management Rules

• MoEFCC has changed the rules under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 are being amended

Amendments:

• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will set the highest and lowest prices for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates.
• The prices will be equal to 100% and 30% of the environmental compensation for non-fulfilment of EPR.
• EPR holds producers accountable for the end-of-life impact of their products.
• The exchange price of EPR certificates between registered entities will be within the highest and lowest prices set by CPCB.
• CPCB will create guidelines for imposing and collecting environmental compensation for non-compliance with the rules.

Objectives of Battery Waste Management:

• Promote circular economy and environmentally sound management of waste batteries.
• Encourage new industries and entrepreneurship in battery collection and recycling.
• Implement polluter pays principle through EPR.
• Reduce dependency on new raw materials and save natural resources.

Income and Wealth Inequality in India, 1922 – 2023: World Inequality Lab (WIL) study

• The WIL is a research center that focuses on studying inequality and public policies for social, economic, and environmental justice.
• Inequality in India declined after independence until the early 1980s but has been rising since then and has increased significantly since the early 2000s.
• By the end of 2023, the wealthiest individuals in India owned 40.1 percent of the country's wealth.
• India's top 1 percent income share is one of the highest in the world, surpassing countries like South Africa, Brazil, and the US.

Issues with extreme inequality:

• Wealthy individuals have too much power in society and government, leading to a plutocracy.
• Poor individuals struggle to escape poverty due to lack of opportunities.
• Overall economic growth is hindered by extreme inequality.

Recommendations for removing income inequality:

• Improve economic data quality.
• Make broad-based public investments in health, education, and nutrition.
• Restructure the tax code to consider both income and wealth.
• Implement a "super tax" of 2% on the net wealth of the wealthiest families.