11 July 2023 : Daily Current Affairs
DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS
11-July-2023
Daily Current Affairs For UPSC ,Daily Current affairs of The hIndu and Indian Express.
1. Rain continues to pound North India, toll rises to 25.
Topic: GS1 – geography.
Context:
- Relentless rain has been hitting parts of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh for three consecutive days, causing disruption to daily life.
- Landslips and flash floods have occurred in the region due to the heavy rainfall.
- Seventeen people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh, while Haryana and Punjab have reported six and two deaths, respectively.
- Himachal Pradesh has suffered extensive damage to roads, transformers, electric sub-stations, and water supply schemes, with an estimated loss of ₹3,000 crore to ₹4,000 crore.
Reasons for excessive rain in north India:
- The recent excessive rain in north India is due to a rare phenomenon called the interaction of the monsoonal winds with the western disturbance.
- The monsoonal winds are the winds that bring rain to India during the summer months. They originate in the Indian Ocean and travel north, bringing moisture with them.
- The western disturbance is a weather system that originates in the Mediterranean Sea and travels east, bringing cold air with it.
- When the monsoonal winds and the western disturbance interact, it can create a situation where there is a lot of moisture in the air, but the cold air prevents it from rising and evaporating. This can lead to heavy rainfall.
- In addition to the interaction of the monsoonal winds and the western disturbance, there are other factors that may have contributed to the recent excessive rain in north India. These include:
- The La Nina climate pattern: La Nina is a climate pattern that occurs when the surface of the Pacific Ocean is cooler than average. This can lead to changes in the monsoonal winds, which can in turn lead to more rain in north India.
- The impact of climate change: Climate change is causing the Earth’s atmosphere to warm, which can lead to more extreme weather events, such as heavy rain.
Here are some of the impacts of the excessive rain in north India:
- Flooding: The heavy rain has caused widespread flooding in many parts of north India. This has led to the displacement of thousands of people and the destruction of homes and businesses.
- Landslides: The heavy rain has also caused landslides in many parts of north India. These landslides have killed at least 37 people and have blocked roads and railways.
- Damage to infrastructure: The heavy rain has also damaged infrastructure in many parts of north India. This includes roads, bridges, and power lines.
- Health concerns: The flooding and landslides have created health concerns in many parts of north India. This includes the spread of waterborne diseases and the risk of snakebites.
- The government of India is working to provide relief to the people affected by the excessive rain. This includes providing food, water, and shelter to those who have been displaced. The government is also working to clear roads and restore infrastructure.
- The excessive rain in north India is a reminder of the dangers of climate change. It is important to take steps to mitigate the effects of climate change and to prepare for the impacts of extreme weather events.
Source: The Hindu, 11 July 2023, page 1
2. Don’t waste the wastewater.
Topic: GS3.
Context:
- Wastewater surveillance has been proposed as a promising tool for public health surveillance, building on the historical example of John Snow’s investigation into the cholera outbreak.
Possible positive interventions of wastewater surveillance:
- It offers cost-effective monitoring of known or new health threats without relying on invasive samples from individuals.
- Wastewater surveillance can complement existing surveillance systems and provide real-time insights into community-level disease patterns, potentially detecting outbreaks earlier than clinical data.
- In India, wastewater surveillance could involve systematic sampling and analysis from various sources such as rural wastewater ponds and urban sewage systems.
- Integrating wastewater surveillance with existing surveillance mechanisms can enhance India’s epidemiological capabilities, especially in areas with limited healthcare access.
- The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission provides an opportunity for the integration of wastewater surveillance into a seamless online healthcare platform, facilitating real-time disease tracking and targeted public health responses.
Way forward:
- Successful integration requires trained public health professionals in both traditional epidemiological methods and data management and interpretation from wastewater surveillance.
- Data sharing is crucial, both domestically and internationally, to foster collaboration and build a robust global health infrastructure capable of responding to public health threats.
- India’s leadership at international platforms like the G20 can advocate for enhanced public health surveillance and elevate the significance of innovative approaches, including wastewater sampling.
- Through strategic collaborations and proactive leadership, India can position itself as a leader in integrated public health surveillance and contribute to global health security.
- Political backing, funding, and the dedication of a public health and management cadre are necessary for successful implementation.
Source: The Hindu, 11 July 2023, page 7
3. The Global South: origins and significance
Topic: GS2.
The Global South: The Global South refers to various countries around the world that are sometimes described as ‘developing’, ‘less developed’ or ‘underdeveloped’.
More about the article:
- The term “Global South” refers to various countries in the Southern Hemisphere, primarily in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, that are often described as developing, less developed, or underdeveloped.
- It gained prominence after the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union and the end of the “Second World,” replacing the term “Third World” that was associated with developing nations.
- The Global South represents countries that have historically faced imperialism and colonial rule, giving them a different perspective on the relationship between the center and periphery in the world political economy.
- The term is not purely geographical but denotes political, geopolitical, and economic commonalities between nations.
- The Global South has witnessed a shift in economic power, with a “shift in wealth” from the North Atlantic to the Asia Pacific region, leading to increased political visibility.
- By 2030, three of the four largest economies are projected to be from the Global South, and the GDP of the Global South-dominated BRICS nations already surpasses that of the Global North’s G-7 club.
- Countries in the Global South are asserting themselves on the global stage and challenging the traditional dominance of the Global North, leading to discussions about an “Asian Century” and a “post-Western world.”
- The Global South represents a new era of political and economic influence for previously labeled “developing countries” and the “Third World.”
Source: The Hindu, 11 July 2023, page 8
4. The need for strengthening palliative care in the face of increasing non-communicable diseases.
Topic: GS3.
Palliative care in India and issues associated:
- Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life and preventing suffering among those with life-limiting illnesses.
- India has a rising population and a steep rise in the burden of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory diseases.
- Palliative care in India is largely available in urban areas and accessible to only 1-2% of the estimated 7-10 million people who require it.
- The National Programme for Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) includes chronic diseases that require palliative care, but there are gaps in the guidelines.
- The revised NP-NCD guidelines mention palliative care only in relation to cancer, overlooking non-cancer illnesses that require palliative care.
- Home-based care is ideal for palliative care, but the guidelines focus on district hospitals, neglecting the importance of home-based services.
- The National Programme for Palliative Care (NPPC) has not been fully implemented due to a lack of dedicated budget and awareness among healthcare professionals.
- Access to palliative care remains abysmal, and NGOs are trying to fill the gap, but government intervention and funding are necessary for widespread access.
- The guidelines also overlook the need for pediatric palliative care and use a narrow indicator to assess the impact of palliative care services.
- It is crucial to integrate palliative care into health systems at all levels and strengthen palliative care services to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in India.
Source: The Hindu, 11 July 2023, page 9
5. SC seeks govt. response on plea to protect wetlands
Topic: GS2.
Context”
- The number of wetlands in India has increased from ₹2.01 lakh to ₹2.31 lakh since 2017.
- The Supreme Court has sought the Centre’s response on a plea to protect the expanded wetland areas, which serve as natural protection from floods.
- 27 wetlands in Delhi alone have not been notified, and waste and garbage are being dumped there.
- The issue of protecting wetlands is crucial as cities are experiencing heavy floods after rains.
Significance of wetlands to ecosystem:
Wetlands are highly significant to ecosystems due to their unique characteristics and functions. Here are some key points highlighting the significance of wetlands:
- Biodiversity: Wetlands support a diverse array of plant and animal species, serving as habitats for numerous wildlife. They provide breeding grounds, feeding areas, and shelter for various species, including migratory birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and insects.
- Water Filtration: Wetlands play a crucial role in water filtration and purification. They act as natural filters, removing pollutants, sediments, and excess nutrients from water. This helps in improving water quality and maintaining the health of aquatic ecosystems.
- Flood Control: Wetlands act as natural sponges that absorb and store excess water during heavy rains or floods, thereby reducing the risk of downstream flooding. They act as buffers, regulating water flow and preventing erosion and damage to surrounding areas.
- Climate Regulation: Wetlands contribute to climate regulation by sequestering carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. They help mitigate climate change by acting as carbon sinks and reducing the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
- Coastal Protection: Coastal wetlands, such as mangroves and salt marshes, provide essential protection against coastal erosion, storm surges, and tidal waves. They act as natural barriers, absorbing wave energy and reducing the impacts of coastal hazards.
- Nutrient Cycling: Wetlands play a vital role in nutrient cycling within ecosystems. They accumulate and store nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are essential for plant growth. Wetlands help in recycling and redistributing these nutrients, promoting the productivity of surrounding habitats.
- Recreation and Cultural Value: Wetlands offer recreational opportunities, including birdwatching, fishing, boating, and nature exploration. They hold cultural and aesthetic value, providing inspiration, spiritual significance, and traditional uses for indigenous communities.
- Economic Benefits: Wetlands contribute to the economy through various ecosystem services. They support fisheries, provide water for irrigation and agriculture, offer tourism and recreational opportunities, and contribute to the livelihoods of local communities.
Source: The Hindu, 11 July 2023, page 12
6. Challenge to J&K changes
Syllabus – GS II
Recent Context – A five-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court will begin hearing petitions challenging the changes to Article 370 and downgrading of Jammu& Kashmir state into two Union Territories. The petitions, involving important legal and constitutional questions, will be taken up by a Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud.
Constitutional changes
- In 2019, the Centre issued an order amending The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, and superseding it with The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019.
- The new order made “all the provisions of the Constitution” applicable to J&K state. The government also amended Article 367 to add a new Clause (4), making the Constitution of India directly applicable to J&K.
- The President issued a declaration under Article 370(3), making all its clauses inoperative except the provision that all articles of the Constitution shall apply to J&K.
Downgrading to UT
- The Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Act, 2019, bifurcated J&K into two Union Territories — J&K was a UT with a Legislative Assembly; Ladakh was without an Assembly.
- There is no other instance in India’s constitutional history of a state being demoted to a UT, even though Parliament can, under Article 3, create a new state by carving out territory from any state, uniting two or more states or portions of different states.
- Parliament is also empowered to add an area to an existing state or change the existing boundaries of a state.
- The Centre’s decision has been challenged on the ground that it violates Article 3.
- Also, the proviso to this article makes it incumbent on the President to refer any Bill proposing the reorganisation of a state to its legislature if the Bill “affects the area, boundaries or name of any of the states”.
- It is argued that the view of Parliament on such a Bill cannot replace the view of the state legislature.
- Under President’s Rule, only those powers of a state legislature can be exercised as are essential to run the day-to-day affairs of the state.
- Parliament cannot provide the view of a particular state legislature which, in essence, is the opinion of the people of that state.
Colourable legislation
- The challenge is also based on the argument that the constitutional changes are “colourable legislation” and thus legally untenable.
- The doctrine of colourable legislation is the legal principle that says what cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly.
- The Supreme Court and constitutional courts in other countries have reiterated this doctrine.
7. China’s view on SCO summit: Iran welcome, need to ‘save’ group from India
Syllabus – GS II
Recent Context – While the membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is growing — with Iran being the newest entrant at the just-concluded 23rd leaders’ summit in New Delhi—debate is also heating up over India’s role in the China-dominated grouping.
India and SCO
- India’s association with the SCO began in 2005 as an Observer country, and it became a full Member State at the Astana Summit in 2017.
- Interestingly, the strategic affairs community in China opposed the membership, comparing India’s role and presence within the grouping to that of Turkey in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
- Now, foreign policy analysts in China have welcomed Iran’s entry, saying it can “prevent India from completely destroying the SCO”.
- In a popular Left-leaning social media platform, a blog “accused” India of spreading disharmony within the SCO, as being the host and only member country to openly oppose the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and unwilling to support the initiative to set up an SCO Development Bank.
- Commenting on the “troublemaker” role of India at the SCO virtual summit in New Delhi, a Chinese scholar in Shanghai wrote in an article in a popular Chinese-language digital news platform: “Many scholars, including me, and former ambassadors and diplomats, opposed India’s entry into the SCO. But the government in Beijing made the decision.”
- Scholars in China maintain India has actually used its SCO member state position as a “platform” to challenge and, in fact, embarrass China.
- Some observers believe that India was accepted as a full member on Moscow’s insistence to counterbalance China, pushing Pakistan’s membership.
- They say that though China agreed to the Russian viewpoint that Moscow, Beijing, and New Delhi must be united in fighting the US-led Western dominance in Asia, or particularly in Central Asia and Eurasia, in reality, Moscow’s calculation was to woo India on the one hand, so it would keep purchasing Russian weapons, and on the other hand, put pressure on Beijing and keep it sandwiched between Moscow and New Delhi.
- Further, Beijing was in for a “surprise” when New Delhi, with the standoff in Doklam still continuing, formally joined US, Japan, and Australia at the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue gathering in Manila.
India-China Relations
- Scholars in India and abroad have pointed out that regardless of India joining the SCO and the informal yet “historic” Wuhan and Chennai friendship summits in 2018 and 2019, respectively, between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, the Doklam standoff served as the precursor of the deadly Galwan border clash in June 2020.
- At another level, with the entry of Iran into the organisation, many scholars have called for expelling India from the SCO, citing the success of Modi’s official state visit to the US and India living in an “ecstasy soup”.
- Some in China demand that the SCO urgently introduce an “exit mechanism” and impose appropriate “constraints” on member states.
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