Daily Current Affairs UPSC 3 February 2024

Mekong River

• Luang Prabang, a town in Laos, is at risk of losing its UNESCO World Heritage status.
• The threat is due to a dam project on the Mekong River.
• Luang Prabang is known for its fusion of traditional Lao urban architecture and colonial-era influences.
• The Mekong River is a trans-boundary river in Southeast Asia that originates in the glaciers of Tibet and flows into the South China Sea.
• The river passes through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Types of US Visas

• The US has announced a significant increase in fees for various categories of non-immigrant visas.
• This includes visas like the H-1B, L-1, and EB-5, which are popular among Indians.
• The H-1B visa allows US companies to hire foreign workers in specialized occupations requiring theoretical or technical expertise.
• The L-1 visa is designed for intracompany transferees, allowing multinational companies to temporarily transfer employees from their foreign offices to work in the US.
• The EB-5 visa, also known as the US golden visa, provides a pathway for overseas investors and their families to obtain permanent residency and Green Cards in the United States.

World Wetland Day 2024 (WWD)

• WWD 2024 celebrated at Sirpur Lake Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• Theme: Wetlands and Human Wellbeing.
• Observed on 2nd February every year to commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in 1971.
• India has been a party to the Convention since 1982.

About Sirpur Lake:

• Human-made wetland located in Indore, MP.
• Shallow, alkaline, nutrient-rich, and prone to floods.

Asteroid  Ryugu

• Study of asteroid Ryugu samples provides evidence that organic molecules for life on Earth were brought by ancient comets.
• Comets are frozen leftovers from the formation of the solar system composed of dust, rock, and ice.
• Samples brought by the Hayabusa2, asteroid-sampling spacecraft of Japan.

About Asteroid Ryugu:

• Diamond-shaped space rock that orbits the sun between Earth and Mars and occasionally crosses Earth's orbit (potentially hazardous).
• Carbonaceous or C-type asteroid containing a lot of carbon and water.

Surajkund International Crafts Mela

• The President inaugurated the 37th Surajkund International Crafts Mela at Surajkund, Haryana.

About Surajkund Mela:

• Showcases the richness and diversity of handicrafts, handlooms, and cultural fabric of India.
• Largest crafts fair in the world.
• Upgraded to an international level in 2013.
• Partner Nation: Tanzania.
• Theme State: Gujarat.
• Cultural Partner: North-Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation.

GHAR PORTAL

• NCPCR launched the GHAR Portal to monitor and track restoration and repatriation of children.
  The portal operates under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
• NCPCR is the apex body for safeguarding children's rights and reports to the central government annually.
• NCPCR also has responsibilities under the POCSO Act (2012) and RTE Act (2009).

Input Service Distribution (ISD)

• The interim budget proposes mandatory registration for ISD for companies with branches in multiple cities.
• ISD allows billing of common input services to one location and distribution to branches with separate GST registration.
• This move is expected to reduce disputes significantly.
• Input Tax Credit is the tax paid on purchases that can be used to reduce tax liability when making a sale.

Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002

• The Delhi High Court observed that property seized under PMLA must be returned if the probe goes without proceedings after 365 days.
• Such seizure violates Article 300 A of the Constitution, which protects against deprivation of property except by authority of law.
• PMLA provides for confiscation of property involved in money-laundering and is enforced by the Enforcement Directorate and FIU-IND.

Catalonia (Capital: Barcelona)

• Catalonia: State of Emergency due to Drought.
• Political Features:

• • Autonomous region of Spain.
  • Located in northeast of Iberian Peninsula.
  • Shares boundary with France and Andorra (North) and Mediterranean Sea (East).
• Geographical Features:

• • Separated from France by the Pyrenees mountain range.
  • Falls under Mediterranean climate.
• Major River: Ebro River.

In Union Interim Budget 2024-25, Gender Budget shows the largest-ever rise of 38.6%

• Union Interim Budget 2024-25 sees a significant increase of 38.6% in the Gender Budget component.
• The Gender Budget Component accounts for 6.5% of the total Budget.
• Allocation for women-specific schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, has increased considerably.

About Gender Budgeting:

• Gender Budgeting aims to ensure that public resources are collected and spent efficiently based on differing gender needs and priorities.
• Gender Budgeting was introduced in India in 2005-06.
• It does not create a separate Budget for women but addresses the specific needs of women.
• It consists of two parts: Part A includes programs exclusively for women, and Part B includes programs where at least 30% of provisions are women-centric.
• Gender Budgeting is also part of the Samarthya sub-scheme of Mission Shakti, an initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) to empower women.
• The MWCD is the nodal agency at the central level, while concerned departments act as nodal agencies at the state/UTs and district levels.
• The Ministry of Finance has directed all central Ministries/Departments to establish Gender Budget Cells for implementation.
• Challenges in Gender Budgeting include lack of coordination between stakeholders, expertise in gender analysis, and data availability.

Way to Make Gender Budgeting More Effective:

• Conduct gender analysis of national and subnational policies, legal frameworks, etc.: This involves examining existing policies and laws to identify any gender biases or gaps that need to be addressed.
• Assess the adequacy of budget allocations to implement gender-responsive policies and programs: This step involves evaluating the budget allocations to ensure that they are sufficient to effectively implement gender-responsive policies and programs.
• Conduct and promote gender-based impact assessments, beneficiary needs assessment, etc.: This involves conducting assessments to understand the impact of policies and programs on different genders and to identify the specific needs of beneficiaries.

Blue Economy 2.0 Scheme announced in Union Interim Budget 2024-25

• Blue Economy 2.0 is a plan to further explore the potential of India's maritime blue economy.
• It aims to promote climate resilient activities and restoration and adaptation measures.
• Emphasis will be placed on coastal aquaculture and mariculture in an integrated and multi-sectoral approach.
• Aquaculture involves cultivating aquatic animals and plants in natural or controlled marine or freshwater environments.
• Mariculture pertains to marine and estuarine (brackish) waters.
• Blue economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.
• It involves utilizing ocean resources for renewable energy, fisheries, ports, shipping, and tourism.
• India's blue economy is estimated to be around $1 trillion.
• Factors limiting the development of the blue economy include threats to maritime security, climate change, pollution from human activities, lack of infrastructure, high operating costs in the shipping industry, and high installation costs of tidal power plants.
• Other steps taken to promote the blue economy include the Deep Ocean Mission, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, SAGARMALA project, and the Draft Blue Economy Policy.

Driving Factors of Blue economy in India

• 7,516.6 km long coastline including Island territories: India's extensive coastline, including its island territories, provides a significant opportunity for the development of the blue economy.
• 12 major ports, along with many non-major ports: The presence of major and non-major ports in India facilitates trade and commerce related to the blue economy, such as shipping and fishing activities.
• Exclusive economic zones (EEZ) extend over 2.2 million square km: India's exclusive economic zones, which extend over a vast area, offer potential for various activities related to the blue economy, such as offshore oil and gas exploration, marine biodiversity conservation, and renewable energy generation.

PM GatiShakti to be utilized for three new major railway corridors announced under Interim Budget 2024-25

• Three new major railway corridors announced under Interim Budget 2024-25.
• Enable multi-modal connectivity, including energy, mineral, and cement corridors, port connectivity corridors, and high traffic density corridors.

Significance of the three corridors:

• Increase logistics efficiency and reduce the cost of logistics related to rail movement.
• Decongest high-density rail routes.
• Facilitate modal shift from road to rail and coastal shipping.
• Reduce carbon footprint in logistics.

PM GatiShakti National Master Plan

• Launched in 2021 for providing multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones.
• Provides a comprehensive database of trunk and utility infrastructure, ongoing and future projects of various infrastructure and economic ministries/departments.
• Integrated with the GIS-enabled PM Gati Shakti platform for monitoring next-generation infrastructure projects on a single portal.
• Goal of achieving self-reliance and a $5 trillion economy by 2025.
• Focuses on economic growth driven by railways, roads, ports, waterways, airports, mass transport, and logistics infrastructure.
• Incorporates various infrastructure schemes like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, UDAN, etc.

Pillars of Gati-Shakti

• Comprehensiveness: All activities of every department are visible to others. - This means that all departments can see and understand what other departments are doing, promoting transparency and collaboration.
• Prioritization: Cross sectoral interaction is enabled. - This means that different sectors and departments can interact and work together to prioritize and address important issues.
• Optimization: Activities of every department are visible to others. - This is similar to comprehensiveness, where all departments can see and understand each other's activities, allowing for better coordination and optimization of resources.
• Synchronization: Activities need to be synchronized holistically. - This means that all activities and efforts should be coordinated and aligned to achieve a common goal or objective.
• Analytical: Plan to provide all data in one place. - This means that there is a plan to gather and consolidate all relevant data in one centralized location, making it easier for analysis and decision-making.
• Dynamic: GIS platform for all government departments. - This means that there is a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform in place that is accessible to all government departments, allowing for better spatial analysis and planning.

Government issues Guidelines for Pilot Projects for utilizing Green Hydrogen in the Shipping and Steel Sector

• Guidelines issued by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
• Call for retrofitting existing ships to run on green hydrogen and developing bunkering and refueling facilities on ports.
• Provide for the use of hydrogen in blast furnaces and substitution of fossil fuels with hydrogen in the steel sector.
• Significance:

• • Potential for decarbonization of the economy in both sectors.
  • Reduced dependence on fuel imports through the use of green hydrogen or its derivatives as fuel.

National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM):

• Launched in 2023 to facilitate demand creation, production, utilization, and export of green hydrogen.
• Sub-schemes include:

• • Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT): Supports domestic manufacturing of electrolyzers and offers incentives for green hydrogen production.
  • Green Hydrogen Hubs: Identify regions capable of supporting large-scale production or utilization of green hydrogen.

NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION OUTCOMES

• 5 million metric tons (MMT) of green hydrogen to be produced by 2030: This goal aims to generate a significant amount of hydrogen using renewable energy sources, reducing carbon emissions.
• Creation of 6 lakh new green jobs: This initiative will lead to the generation of 600,000 new employment opportunities in the green energy sector, promoting sustainable economic growth.
• Cumulative carbon abatement of 50 MMT: This target focuses on reducing carbon emissions by 50 million metric tons over a specific period, contributing to the fight against climate change.
• Installation of 60-100 gigawatts (GW) of electrolyzers: This plan involves setting up electrolyzer facilities with a capacity ranging from 60 to 100 GW, which are essential for the production of green hydrogen.
• Production of 125 GW of renewable energy for green hydrogen: This objective aims to generate 125 GW of renewable energy specifically for the production of green hydrogen, ensuring a sustainable and clean energy source.
• Over 8 lakh crore investments: This indicates that investments exceeding 8 trillion rupees will be made to support the development and implementation of green hydrogen projects, fostering economic growth and technological advancements.

285th Report of Law Commission recommends Criminal defamation to be retained as part of new criminal laws

• Law Commission recommends retaining criminal defamation in new criminal laws.
• Reputation is a facet of the right to life and personal liberty and needs to be protected against defamatory speech.
• Defamation is a reasonable restriction on freedom of speech and expression.
• Defamation is a false statement made with the intention to damage someone's reputation.
• Defamation in India is categorized as criminal or civil.
• Criminal defamation can result in imprisonment or a fine.
• Civil defamation involves filing a lawsuit for compensation.
• The Indian Penal Code has provisions for criminal defamation.
• Section 499 defines defamation.
• Section 500 provides punishment of up to 2 years imprisonment or a fine.
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita adds community service as a punishment.
• Section 124A includes defamation against the state as an offense of sedition.

Supreme Court (SC) Judgements

• Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India (2016): The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of section 499.
• Chaman Lal v. State of Punjab (1970): The Supreme Court established criteria for proving good faith and bona fide in defamation cases.

22nd Law Commission (LC) submits 284th Report titled Prevention of Damage to Public Property

• 22nd Law Commission submits 284th Report on Prevention of Damage to Public Property.
• Commission took suo motu cognizance to prepare the report due to rising incidents of vandalism and loss to the state exchequer.
• Highlighted the issue of wilful obstruction of public places or ways.
• Only some states have provisions for dealing with obstructions on public pathways.
• Key Recommendations:

• • Amendment in the PDPP Act, 1984 to include a condition for bail to deposit an amount equivalent to the estimate value of the damaged property.
  • Enact a comprehensive law dealing with wilful obstruction, with related provisions in the BNS.

• Constitutional and Legal Provisions for Protection:

• • Fundamental Right under Article 19 implicitly contains the Right to protest, but demonstrations causing nuisance and disturbances are not covered.
  • Fundamental Duties under Article 51 A include the duty to safeguard public property and abjure violence.
  • PDPP Act, 1984 contains provisions for mischiefs resulting in damage to public property.
  • Sections 425 to 440 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deal with it, and several sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) also address it.

Related Supreme Court Judgements

• Bharat Kumar vs State of Kerala (1997): Public authorities have the authority to initiate action for the recovery of damages caused to state property.
• Destruction of Public and Private Properties vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (2009): The Supreme Court appointed two committees and provided guidelines based on their recommendations for the destruction of public and private properties.