01 January 2025 : Daily Current Affairs

1. The nature of dissent in the Indian judiciary

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 10)

Dissent in Democracies: A Comparative Overview:

Role of Dissent in Democracy

• Dissent is an essential component of a vibrant democracy, including in the judiciary.
• While both the Indian and U.S. Supreme Courts feature powerful judicial dissents, the underlying reasons differ between the two countries.

Dissents in the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS)

• SCOTUS dissents are often influenced by the political leanings of the appointed judges.
• Example: Justice Stephen Breyer (appointed by Democrats) supported pro-affirmative action, anti-capital punishment views, as seen in his dissent in Glossip v. Gross (2015).
• Example: Justice Samuel Alito (appointed by Republicans) opposed same-sex marriage and abortion rights, as demonstrated in his dissent in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015).

Political Dissent in the Indian Supreme Court

• Unlike the U.S., Indian judges are selected by a collegium of senior judges, reducing political influence in decisions.
• Example: ADM Jabalpur (1976) – Justice H.R. Khanna dissented against suspending fundamental rights during the Emergency, a stance that later became law through a constitutional amendment.
• Example: P.V. Narasimha Rao (1998) – Justices Agarwal and Anand dissented on parliamentary immunity regarding accepting bribes, a stance later overruled in Sita Soren (2023).

Social Dissent in the Indian Supreme Court

• Dissent can reflect different social views on legal issues, particularly when they touch on personal or religious matters.
• Example: Shayara Bano (2017) – Justices Khehar and Nazeer dissented from the majority opinion that struck down triple talaq, arguing it was an integral part of Sunni personal law.
• Example: Aishat Shifa (2022) – Justices Gupta and Dhulia had different views on whether the hijab ban in schools infringed upon secularism.

Intellectual Dissent in the Indian Supreme Court

• Some dissents are rooted in intellectual debates over constitutional interpretation.
• Example: Lalta Prasad Vaish (2024) – Justice Nagarathna dissented on the interpretation of “intoxicating liquor” in the Constitution, focusing on textual clarity.

Conclusion

• Dissent serves as a critical tool for maintaining judicial independence and shaping legal precedents in democracies.
• It fosters deeper engagement with legal principles and societal values.

2. Geopolitical Shifts in 2025: Opportunities and Challenges for India

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained- Page No. – 09)

Analysis of the news:

A Dynamic Geopolitical Landscape in 2025

• The year 2025 begins with notable geopolitical shifts, including Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency, regime changes in India’s neighborhood, ongoing conflicts, and evolving global alliances.
• These developments present both opportunities and challenges for India’s foreign policy and global engagement.

India’s Regional Neighborhood: Political Upheavals

• Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year rule ended amid protests, leading to her exile in India. The interim government under Muhammad Yunus faces domestic unrest and strained ties with New Delhi over her extradition.
• Sri Lanka: Leftist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s rise to power brings a fresh dynamic, with his approach to Tamil minority aspirations being closely watched.
• Maldives: Relations improved slightly under Mohamed Muizzu despite his initial anti-India stance.
• Nepal: K P Sharma Oli’s pro-China policies remain a concern, although his alliance with the Nepali Congress offers a degree of stability.

Global Conflicts and India’s Role

• Ukraine War: Peace talks are in motion, with China and possibly India playing critical roles in negotiations. India must weigh its contributions and potential risks of mediation.
• China Relations: Border de-escalation talks show promise, with troop drawdowns likely in 2025. Trust issues persist, but diplomatic engagements like PM Modi’s potential visit to China could help rebuild ties.
• Pakistan: Relations remain stagnant, with New Delhi maintaining its firm stance against engagement due to terrorism concerns and SAARC’s limited revival prospects.

Western Alliances: Opportunities and Challenges

• United States: Donald Trump’s return introduces unpredictability, but a Modi-Trump meeting could bolster ties.
• Canada: Relations are strained due to accusations of India’s involvement in a Khalistani separatist’s killing, complicating broader diplomatic engagements.
• Europe: Rising far-right movements and immigration debates pose challenges for Indian students and professionals. Negotiations on free trade pacts with the EU and UK continue amidst political uncertainty.

Engagement Beyond the West

• Africa: Renewed efforts for engagement could culminate in a summit, possibly hosted in Ethiopia, building on the success of the 2015 India-Africa Summit.
• Russia: President Putin’s visit to India and ongoing bilateral cooperation will be significant amid global scrutiny over the Ukraine war.

Conclusion: Balancing Promise and Peril

• India’s geopolitical strategy in 2025 will involve navigating regional instability, fostering alliances, and leveraging opportunities in Africa and the West.
• As global dynamics evolve, India’s diplomatic agility will be critical in shaping its role as a leading global player.

Prelims Facts

1. Quad members vow to work vigorously towards a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 4)

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad):

• The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) consists of India, the U.S., Australia, and Japan.
• It was formed in 2007 and initially aimed to provide humanitarian assistance in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
• The Quad’s main objective is to promote a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
• Key areas of cooperation include maritime security, infrastructure development, connectivity, and countering China’s growing influence.
• The Quad emphasizes the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in regional security and the Pacific Islands Forum in the Pacific region.
• The next Quad Summit is scheduled to be hosted by India in the second half of 2025.
• The Quad supports regional institutions like the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

2. India-Nepal joint military exercise begins

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 5)

Exercise Surya Kiran:

• The exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability and fostering collaboration between the two countries’ armies.
• It is an annual training event conducted alternately in India and Nepal.
• The exercise is being held at the Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi, in the Shivalik ranges of Western Nepal.
• The main focus is on counter-terrorism (CT) operations, jungle warfare, and mountain warfare.
• It also includes humanitarian assistance activities.
• Exercise Surya Kiran strengthens the bond of friendship and military cooperation between India and Nepal.

3. 10 payloads of ISRO’s POEM-4 module deployed successfully

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)

POEM-4 module:

• POEM-4 stands for PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-4.
• It is a module used to carry out scientific experiments in space.
• POEM-4 is part of the PSLV-C60/SpaDeX mission, launched by ISRO.
• The module is a repurposed PS4 stage (a part of the PSLV rocket), which is used to deploy payloads in space.
• It operates at an altitude of 350 km with a 55-degree inclination.
• POEM-4 allows non-government entities (NGEs) like start-ups, academic institutions, and research organizations to test space technologies without needing to launch entire satellites.
• It helps reduce entry barriers for these entities to engage in space activities.
• A total of 10 hosted payloads were successfully established and operationalised by IN-SPACe on the POEM-4 module.

4. Willow is a small chip for Google but a quantum leap for computing

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)

What is Willow?

• Willow is a quantum processor developed by Google.
• It has 105 physical qubits, which are used to store and process information.
• Willow operates at extremely low temperatures, close to absolute zero (-273°C).
• The processor uses both data qubits and measurement qubits to handle errors.
• Quantum computers like Willow work differently from classical computers by using qubits, which can represent both 0 and 1 at the same time (superposition).
• Willow uses error-correction methods, making it faster and more reliable than other quantum computers.
• It completed a difficult task, random circuit sampling, in minutes, which would take classical computers millions of years.
• Willow shows promise for solving complex problems in areas like drug design, climate science, and optimization.

5. Social Inequality Linked to Accelerated Brain Aging and Dementia: Study

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained – Page No. – 09)

Analysis of the news:

Link Between Social Inequality and Brain Health

• A study has established a direct connection between social inequality and changes in brain structure associated with aging and dementia.
• With dementia cases expected to rise, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, the research underscores the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities as a fundamental aspect of brain health interventions.

Study Scope and Methods

• The research, conducted by teams from South America and Trinity College Dublin, analyzed over 2,100 individuals from Latin America and the US, including those with neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
• The study examined national structural inequality indices and their impact on brain volume and connectivity, focusing on regions critical for memory and cognitive function.

Key Findings: Impact of Inequality

• The findings revealed that greater socioeconomic disparities were associated with reduced brain volume and connectivity, with the most pronounced effects observed in Latin America.
• Latinos with Alzheimer’s experienced the most severe impacts, highlighting the exacerbation of neurodegeneration in environments with high inequality.
• Notably, these links persisted even after adjusting for individual factors like education, age, and cognitive ability.

Macro-Level Determinants of Brain Health

• The study highlights the role of macro-level social determinants, such as structural inequality and physical environment, in shaping brain health independently of individual factors.
• Researchers emphasize the need to incorporate these broader determinants into global brain health strategies.

Implications for Future Research

• The findings pave the way for exploring the biological mechanisms linking social inequality to neurodegeneration.
• They stress the urgency of integrating macro-level social factors into interventions to address disparities in brain health and aging outcomes globally.

6. Pangong Lake

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Govt & Politics- Page No. – 06)

Analysis of the news:

About Pangong Tso lake:

• It is one of the most famous lake in Leh Ladakh, derives its name from the Tibetan word, “Pangong Tso”, which means “high grassland lake”.
• It is also known as Pangong Lake which is a long narrow, endorheic (landlocked) lake situated at a height of more than 14,000 ft (4,350 meters) in the Ladakh Himalayas.
• It is the world’s highest saltwater lake.
• India holds one-third of the 135 km-long boomerang-shaped Pangong lake.
• One-third of the Pangong Lake lies in India and the other two-thirds in China.
• It is also known to change colors, appearing blue, green, and red at different times.

7. INDEX OF EIGHT CORE INDUSTRIES (BASE: 2011-12=100) FOR NOVEMBER, 2024

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2089066&reg=3&lang=1 )

Index of Eight Core Industries:

Overview

• The ICI measures the combined and individual performance of eight core industries that form the backbone of India’s industrial economy.
• These industries are Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity.
• The eight core industries collectively hold a 40.27% weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Components and Their Weights

Monitoring:

• The Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA) under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry compiles and releases the ICI monthly.

Base Year:

• The base year for the ICI is 2011-12.

Data Sources:

• Production data for each industry is sourced from respective government agencies.

Purpose

• Tracks industrial performance for economic planning and policy formulation.
• Provides insights into trends and growth patterns of key sectors.
• The ICI provides valuable insights into the performance of key sectors, aiding policymakers in economic decision-making.

For more such UPSC-related Current Affairs, Check Out- 31 December 2024: Daily Current Affairs