1 May 2024 : Daily Current Affairs

Topic: GS3 – Environment – Environmental pollution and degradation

GS3 – Science and Technology

Understanding methane emissions’ sources and impacts is vital for environmental policy formulation and addressing climate change in UPSC exams.

● The study highlights the importance of localised data to accurately assess and mitigate methane emissions, crucial for combating climate change.

●  Sources: Methane is emitted from both natural and anthropogenic sources, including:

• Natural sources such as wetlands, oceans, and termites.
•  Anthropogenic sources including livestock digestion, rice cultivation, landfills, and fossil fuel extraction and combustion.
• Methane is more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) in terms of its heat-trapping ability, although it has a shorter atmospheric lifetime.

●  Impact on Climate Change: Methane contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect, leading to increased global temperatures, changes in weather patterns, and sea level rise.

●  Feedback Loops: Methane release from melting permafrost and methane hydrates in Arctic regions can lead to positive feedback loops, exacerbating climate change.

●      Reduction Strategies:

• Implementing methane capture and utilization technologies in agriculture, landfills, and energy production.
• Improving livestock management practices to reduce methane emissions from enteric fermentation.
• Regulations and policies targeting methane emissions from fossil fuel extraction and distribution.

●      International Efforts: The reduction of methane emissions is a priority under international climate agreements such as the Paris Agreement, Global Methane Pledge, with initiatives aimed at curbing methane

Topic: GS2 – Social Justice – Development and management of social sector/services

Understanding wealth redistribution in India is crucial for UPSC aspirants to grasp socio-economic policies and constitutional principles.

● Wealth Inequality: Top 10% own 77% of national wealth; poorest half have only 4.1%.

● Income Inequality: Top 10% and 1% hold 57% and 22% of total income respectively; bottom 50% share reduced to 13%.

● Tax Burden: 64% of GST from bottom 50%; only 4% from top 10%.

● Global Hunger Index: India’s score at 28.7, considered serious; highest child-wasting rate.

● Healthcare Accessibility: 63 million pushed into poverty annually due to healthcare costs; majority unable to access needed care.

(Source – The Economic Times, December 7, 2022)

Causes of Increasing Inequality in India:

●  Unequal Access to Education: Disparities in educational opportunities perpetuate socio-economic inequalities, limiting upward mobility for marginalised communities.

●  Informal Sector Dominance: The dominance of the informal sector in India’s economy leads to low wages, insecure employment, and lack of social protection, exacerbating income disparities.

●  Unequal Distribution of Wealth: Concentration of wealth among a small elite contributes to widening income gaps and socio-economic inequalities.

● Caste and Gender Discrimination: Persistent caste-based and gender-based discrimination marginalise certain groups, limiting their access to opportunities and resources.

● Urban-Rural Divide: Disparities between urban and rural areas in terms of infrastructure, employment opportunities, and access to basic services widen income and wealth gaps.

Way Forward:

●  Investment in Education: Enhance access to quality education and skill development programs to promote equal opportunities for all.

●  Job Creation: Implement policies to stimulate job creation, particularly in sectors with high labour-absorptive capacity, to reduce unemployment and underemployment.

● Social Protection: Strengthen social safety nets and welfare programs to provide financial support and assistance to vulnerable populations.

●  Progressive Taxation: Introduce progressive tax policies to redistribute wealth and reduce income inequalities.

●  Gender and Caste Equality: Promote gender equality and social inclusion through affirmative action policies and measures to address caste-based discrimination.

● Rural Development: Focus on rural development initiatives to bridge the urban-rural divide and promote inclusive growth.

Topic: GS3 – Agriculture – Issues related to Direct & indirect farm subsidies

The topic is significant for UPSC as it pertains to fiscal management, subsidy policies, and agricultural sustainability in India.

●  Cost Inefficiency: High fertiliser subsidies strain government finances and distort market prices, leading to inefficient allocation of resources.

● Subsidy Leakages: Inadequate targeting mechanisms result in subsidy leakages, with fertilisers being diverted to non-agricultural uses or smuggled to neighbouring countries.

● Environmental Degradation: Excessive fertiliser use encouraged by subsidies contributes to soil degradation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, harming the environment and public health.

● Market Distortions: Subsidies create market distortions by incentivizing the use of certain fertilisers over others, affecting crop choices, soil health, and agricultural productivity.

● Dependency on Imports: Reliance on imported fertilisers increases India’s vulnerability to international price fluctuations and supply disruptions.

Way Forward for Fertiliser Subsidy Reform:

● Targeted Subsidies: Implement targeted subsidy schemes using technology and Aadhaar-linked databases to ensure subsidies reach genuine beneficiaries.

● Promotion of Balanced Fertilisation: Encourage the use of balanced fertilisation practices through awareness campaigns, extension services, and incentives for soil health management.

●  Market-Based Pricing: Gradually reduce fertiliser subsidies and move towards market-based pricing to promote efficiency and rationalise fertiliser use.

●   Investment in Research and Development: Invest in research and development to develop and promote eco-friendly and efficient fertilisers that enhance crop yields while minimising environmental impact.

●  Promotion of Organic Farming: Encourage the adoption of organic farming practices through incentives and support schemes to reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers and promote sustainable agriculture.

Government initiative for rationalising subsidies:

● Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) ensures timely subsidy payments to farmers through point-of-sale devices, preventing diversion and promoting balanced fertiliser use.

●  Neem Coated Urea (NCU) initiative mandates neem coating on urea to promote slow release, discourage non-agricultural use, and enhance nitrogen availability while reducing pollution.

● One Nation One Fertilizer (ONOF) scheme, this scheme, also known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana (PMBJP) aims to standardise fertiliser brands under the name “Bharat” to increase availability, reduce confusion, and save on freight subsidy.

● Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) fixes subsidy rates on nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur to encourage balanced fertiliser consumption and reduce government subsidy burden.

Q.1 With reference to chemical fertilisers in India, consider the following statements:

1.    At present, the retail price of chemical fertilisers is market-driven and not administered by the Government.

2.    Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas.

3.    Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertiliser, is a by-product of oil refineries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: Option B

Q.2 Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture? (UPSC civil services prelims 2016)

(a) Release of Neem oil in the soil increases nitrogen fixation by the soil microorganisms.

(b) Neem coating slows down the rate of dissolution of urea in the soil.

(c) Nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas, is not at all released into atmosphere by crop fields.

(d) It is a combination of a weedicide and a fertiliser for particular crops.

Ans: Option B

Topic: GS2 – Social Justice – Health

GS3 – Science & Technology –

This topic is relevant for both Prelims and Mains as the analysis delves into the scientific understanding of Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) and the implications for vaccination strategies.

• Global pharmaceutical manufacturer AstraZeneca has acknowledged in British courts that its Covid-19 vaccine, developed in collaboration with researchers from Oxford University, can lead to a rare side effect of blood clotting and low platelet count.
• This admission, reported by The Telegraph, is anticipated to open avenues for significant settlements for the petitioners affected by these side effects.

• COVISHIELD: It is the name given to an Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine candidate which is technically referred to as AZD1222 or ChAdOx 1 nCoV19.

Produced By:

• It is a version of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with Swedish-British drugmaker AstraZeneca.
• Serum Institute of India (SII) is the manufacturing partner in India.
• Constituents and Action:
• It is based on a weakened version of a common cold virus or the adenovirus that is found in chimpanzees.
• This viral vector contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (protrusions) present on the outer surface of the virus that help it bind with the human cell.
• The body’s immune system is supposed to recognise this protein as a threat, and work on building antibodies against it.

Significance:

• It had triggered an immune response in humans against the novel coronavirus in early trials and is considered to be one of the global frontrunners for the Covid-19 vaccine.

Topic: GS1- Geography – Climate Change

GS3 – Disaster Management

This topic is relevant for both Prelims and Mains in the context of understanding weather patterns and forecasts, as provided by SASCOF which is crucial for disaster management planning.

• The 28th South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF) predicts above-normal rainfall across most South Asian countries during the upcoming monsoon season.
• This consensus, jointly prepared by weather scientists from nine national meteorological and hydrological services, anticipates normal or above rainfall for Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and central Bhutan.
• Despite some exceptions in northern and northeastern regions, the forecast suggests a favorable monsoon season for much of South Asia.

• South Asian nations, supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), have been conducting the SASCOF since 2010.
• SASCOF is a consortium of meteorologists and hydrological experts from South Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Myanmar.
• They work collectively to issue regional forecasts and the team releases forecasts for the Southwest and Northeast monsoon seasons, every year.
• World Meteorological Organization
• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 193 Member States and Territories. India is a member.
• Established by the ratification of the WMO Convention on 23 March 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
• It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Topic: GS1 – Geography – Climate change

This topic is relevant for both Prelims and Mains as this analysis provides insights into the prevalence of heatwaves in India, the regions most affected, and the factors contributing to their occurrence.

• According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), India experienced heatwave conditions for 26 days in April.
• The severity varied across regions, with the southern peninsular and southeastern coastal areas being particularly affected.
• However, the northern plains are yet to experience heatwave conditions this season, indicating regional disparities in temperature patterns.

• Heatwaves are prolonged periods of excessively hot weather that can cause adverse impacts on human health, the environment, and the economy.
• India, being a tropical country, is particularly vulnerable to heatwaves, which have become more frequent and intense in recent years.

Criteria for Declaring Heat Wave in India:

Plains and Hilly Regions:

• Heat wave is considered if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C or more for Plains and at least 30°C or more for Hilly regions.
• Based on Departure from Normal Heat Wave: Departure from normal is 4.50°C to 6.40°C.
• Severe Heat Wave: Departure from normal is >6.40°C.
• Based on Actual Maximum Temperature Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥45°C.

Severe Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥47°C.

• If the above criteria are met in at least 2 stations in a Meteorological subdivision for at least two consecutive days, it is declared so on the second day.

Coastal Areas:

• When maximum temperature departure is 4.50°C or more from normal, a heat wave may be described provided the actual maximum temperature is 37°C or more.

Fatality:

• High temperature in itself is not fatal but the combination of high temperature and high humidity, referred to as the wet bulb temperature, is what makes heatwaves deadly.
• High moisture content in the atmosphere makes it difficult for the sweat to evaporate and bodies to cool down, as a result of which the internal body temperature increases sharply and is often fatal.

Causes:

• Global Warming: One of the primary causes of heatwaves in India is global warming, which refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average temperature due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities.
• Global warming can result in higher temperatures and changes in weather patterns, leading to heatwaves.

Urbanisation:

• Rapid urbanisation and the growth of concrete jungles in cities can lead to the phenomenon known as the “urban heat island effect.”
• Urban areas with high population density, buildings, and concrete surfaces absorb and retain more heat, leading to higher temperatures, particularly during heatwaves.

El Nino Effect:

• During an El Nino event, the warming of the Pacific Ocean can affect global weather patterns, causing changes in temperature, rainfall, and wind patterns around the world.

Impacts:

Impact on Health:

• Rapid rises in heat gain can compromise the body’s ability to regulate temperature and can result in a cascade of illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and hyperthermia.
• Deaths and hospitalizations from heat can occur extremely rapidly or have a lagged effect.

Impact on Water Resources:

• Heatwaves can exacerbate water scarcity issues in India; drying up of water bodies, reduced water availability for agriculture and domestic use, and increased competition for water resources
• This can lead to conflicts over water, affect irrigation practices, and impact water-dependent industries.

Impact on Energy:

• Heatwaves can increase electricity demand for cooling purposes, leading to strain on power grids and potential blackouts.
• This can disrupt economic activities, affect productivity, and impact vulnerable populations who may not have access to reliable electricity for cooling during heatwaves.

1) Appropriate alternate technologies are not sufficiently available.

2) India cannot invest huge funds in research and development.

3) Many developed countries have already set up their polluting industries in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (a)