3 May 2024 : Daily Current Affairs

Topic: GS3 – Environment – Environmental pollution and degradation

●  The region’s landscape is dominated by West Indian Lantana (kongini), hindering the growth of other species and limiting animal access.

●  With 19 wild elephants, the area faces significant human-elephant conflict.

● Exotic Plant Species: Exotic plant species, also known as non-native or alien species, are plants that have been introduced to a region or ecosystem where they are not native, often due to human activities such as trade, agriculture, or landscaping.

●  Invasive Plant Species in India: Some invasive plant species in India include Lantana camara, Prosopis juliflora, Parthenium hysterophorus, Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), and Chromolaena odorata (commonly known as Siam weed).

●  Competition with Native Species: Exotic plant species often outcompete native flora for resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients, leading to the decline or displacement of indigenous plants.

●  Alteration of Ecosystem Dynamics: Invasion by exotic plants can alter ecosystem dynamics, disrupt food webs, and reduce habitat suitability for native fauna, affecting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

●  Loss of Genetic Diversity: Exotic species introductions may lead to genetic homogenization and loss of unique genetic traits within native plant populations, reducing their resilience to environmental stressors.

●  Increased Fire Risk: Some exotic plant species are highly flammable, increasing the risk and intensity of wildfires in affected areas, further threatening native vegetation and wildlife.

●  Spread of Invasive Traits: Exotic plants with invasive traits can rapidly spread and colonise new habitats, forming monocultures and outcompeting diverse native ecosystems.

Way Forward:

●  Preventative Measures: Implement strict regulations on the import and trade of exotic plant species to prevent their introduction and spread into new environments.

●    Early Detection and Rapid Response: Establish monitoring programs for early detection of invasive species and implement rapid response measures to control their spread.

●  Restoration and Rehabilitation: Prioritize restoration efforts in areas affected by exotic plant invasions to restore native habitats and promote biodiversity conservation.

●  Public Awareness and Education: Raise public awareness about the ecological impacts of exotic plant species and encourage responsible landscaping practices to avoid their introduction and spread.

●  Research and Monitoring: Invest in research to better understand the ecology and behaviour of exotic plant species and their interactions with native flora and fauna, informing management strategies and policy decisions.

Q. With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct? (2015)

1.     IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement between governments.

2.     IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.

3.     CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does not take the place of national laws.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Ans: (b)

Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy – Effects of liberalisation on the economy

●  Concerns over health risks, previous recalls, and India’s response highlight the need for stringent safety measures to protect consumers and uphold the integrity of the spice trade.

●  Health impacts include irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory system upon short-term exposure.

●  Long-term exposure may lead to respiratory issues, neurological effects, and an increased risk of cancer, particularly leukaemia and lymphoma.

●  EtO contamination in food can occur through fumigation or sterilisation processes.

● Commonly contaminated foods include spices, herbs, grains, nuts, and seeds.

● Regulatory bodies set permissible limits for EtO residues in food items to mitigate health risks.

● Chronic exposure to low levels of EtO in food has raised concerns about cumulative health effects.

● Proper handling, storage, and testing methods are essential to monitor EtO levels in food products.

● Consumers can reduce exposure by washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly and choosing certified organic or EtO-free products when possible.

● Headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, India.

● Functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

● Responsible for the development and promotion of Indian spices globally.

●  Regulates the export of spices from India.

●  Provides certification, quality control, and research services.

● Offers technical assistance to spice growers and exporters.

● Facilitates market intelligence and trade data.

●  Conducts training programs and workshops for stakeholders.

●  Aims to enhance the competitiveness of Indian spices in the international market.

●  The export value is projected to reach $10 billion by 2030.

●  India is a leading player in the global spice industry.

●  More than 75 spices are grown in India, contributing to its status as the “spice bowl of the world.”

●  The World Spice Congress serves as a platform for stakeholders to discuss trade, sustainability, quality, and future prospects in the spice industry.

●  The Spices Board of India plays a crucial role in the development and promotion of Indian spices worldwide.

(Source – PIB, September 15, 2023)

1.     The Tea Board is a statutory body.

2.     It is a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

3.     The Tea Board’s Head Office is situated in Bengaluru.

4.     The Board has overseas offices at Dubai and Moscow.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a)     1 and 3

b)     2 and 4

c)      3 and 4

d)     1 and 4

Answer: (d)

Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy – Effects of liberalisation on the economy

●  However, exports to the UAE hit a five-year low, and South East Asian exports declined due to competition from Chinese exports.

● Implementation of the National Steel Policy in 2017, providing policy support and guidance to steel producers to enhance production and export competitiveness.

● Enactment of the Domestically Manufactured Iron & Steel Products (DMI&SP) Policy to encourage procurement of domestically made steel by government and public sector projects, promoting indigenous production.

● Establishment of the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy to increase the availability of domestically generated scrap, thereby supporting the circular economy and reducing dependence on imported raw materials.

● Collaborative efforts between the government and steel industry stakeholders to enhance infrastructure, streamline regulatory processes, and facilitate trade agreements to boost steel exports and strengthen India’s position in the global market.

Q.1 Account for the present location of iron and steel industries away from the source of raw material, by giving examples. (150 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-1 2020)

Q.2 Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world. (150 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-1 2014)

Topic: GS3 – Science & Technology

GS2– Social Justice – Health

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing its largest outbreak of Monkeypox, with cases surging since January.
• The outbreak, which has affected over 4,500 suspected cases and nearly 300 deaths, has been declared a health emergency by the country.
• Notably, cases have also been reported in the neighboring Republic of Congo, indicating the potential for regional spread.

• India is among the top geographical hotspots where zoonotics diseases are a major public health issue causing high burden of morbidity and mortality.
• High priority zoonotic diseases like Brucellosis have emerged from Haryana to Goa, incidence and prevalence of occupational zoonotic disease like Anthrax have affected human health throughout.
• Similarly, Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic disease of cattle that impacts productivity and represents a major public health threat and is considered endemic in India.
• Further, being among the highest bacterial disease burden in the world, antibiotics, therefore, have a critical role in limiting morbidity and morality and consequently Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has huge implications for India.
• Major public health zoonotic diseases in India include Rabies, Brucellosis, Toxoplasmosis, Cysticercosis, Echinococcosis, Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Plague, Leptospirosis, Scrub typus, Nipah, Trypanosomiasis, Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF).
•  According to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), about 75% of emerging and re-emerging infections are zoonotic, and new pathogens (viruses) continue to emerge and spread across countries.

Challenges to Controlling Zoonotic Diseases in India

• Large human population and its frequent interactions with animals.
• Poverty: Leads to increased dependence on animal rearing as a means of livelihood. The intimate human-animal contact puts them at risk for this category of diseases. Poverty-struck communities are primarily dependent on rearing animals as a means of livelihood and, therefore, the intimate human-animal contact puts them at risk for this category of diseases.
• Unawareness: Large part of population remains unaware of the basic hygiene routine to be followed.
• Lack of proper vaccination programmes, poor sero-surveillance and lack of diagnostic facilities make the preventive and precautionary approach more difficult.

Topic: GS2 – Polity – Indian constitution – Significant provisions

• The article discusses the legal implications of a sexual harassment complaint filed against the Governor of West Bengal, C.V. Ananda Bose, highlighting the constitutional immunity that protects Governors from prosecution during their term in office.

• Article 153 says that there shall be a Governor for each state. One person can be appointed as Governor for two or more states.
• The Governor is appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal and holds office under the pleasure of the President (Article 155 and 156).
• Article 161 states that the governor has the power to grant pardons, reprieves, etc.
• The Supreme Court stated that the sovereign power of a Governor to pardon a prisoner is actually exercised in consensus with the State government and not by the Governor on his own.
• S/he is bound by the advice of the state government.
• Article 163 states that there is a council of ministers headed by the Chief Minister to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except some conditions for discretion.
• Discretionary powers include:
• Appointment of a chief minister when no party has a clear majority in the state legislative assembly
• In times of no-confidence motions
• In case of failure of constitutional machinery in the State (Article 356)
• The governor’s powers with respect to the passage of bills are defined by Article 200 and Article 201 of the Constitution. According to these articles, the governor has the following options when a bill is presented to him/her by the state legislature:
• He/she may give assent to the bill, which means the bill becomes an act.
• He/she may withhold assent to the bill, which means the bill is rejected.
• He/she may return the bill (if it is not a money bill) to the state legislature with a message requesting reconsideration of the bill or some of its provisions.
• If the bill is passed again by the state legislature with or without amendments, the governor cannot withhold assent to it.
• He/she may reserve the bill for the consideration of the president, who may either assent to or withhold assent from the bill, or direct the governor to return the bill to the state legislature for reconsideration.
• Article 361 states that the Governor of a State, shall not be answerable to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and duties.

What are the Issues Related to the Post of Governor in India?

• Affiliation Based Appointment: Politicians and former bureaucrats affiliated with the ruling party have been appointed in several instances as Governors.
• This has led to questions about the post’s impartiality and non-partisanship. Also, the convention of consulting the Chief Minister before appointing the Governor is often ignored.
• From Centre’s Representative to Centre’s Agent: Critics refer to governors as the ‘agents of the Centre’ today.
• In 2001, the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, held that the Governor owes his appointment and his continuation to the Union. Apprehensions exist that he will follow instructions given by the Union Council of Ministers.
• This goes against the constitutionally mandated neutral seat and has resulted in bias.
• Misuse of Discretionary Powers: The discretionary powers of governor have been misused in many instances.
• For instance, it has been argued by critics that the Governor’s recommendation for President’s Rule in a state has not always been based on ‘objective material’, but on political whim or fancy.
• Removal of Governors: Having no written grounds or procedures for removing governors, several times governors were removed arbitrarily.
• No Clear Distinction Between Constitutional and Statutory Role: The constitutional mandate to act on advice of the council of ministers is not clearly distinguished from the statutory authority as chancellor, resulting in many conflicts between the governor and the state government.
• For instance, there was a recent appointment of a Vice Chancellor in a university by the Kerala Governor, bypassing government nominations.
• Constitutional Loopholes: In the Constitution, there are no guidelines for exercise of the governor’s powers in-case of appointment of Chief Minister or dissolving the Assembly.
•  Also, there is no limit set for how long a Governor can withhold assent to a Bill.
• As a result, friction between the governor and concerned state governments is likely to arise.

1) Sending a report to the President of India for imposing the President’s rule

2)Appointing the Ministers

3) Reserving certain bills passed by the State Legislature for consideration of the President of India

4) Making the rules to conduct the business of the State Government

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (b)

GS3 – Indian Economy

• India’s Russian oil imports reached a nine-month high in April, defying expectations amidst sanctions and geopolitical tensions.
• The surge in imports was attributed to factors such as impaired Russian refining capacity due to Ukrainian drone attacks and attractive discounts offered by Russian oil producers.

• India currently is the 3rd largest consumer of oil behind the US and China. It imports 85% of its oil needs and this dependence is likely to rise as domestic production falls.
•  India will overtake China as the biggest driver of global oil demand in 2027. Diesel will be the single largest source of demand growth, accounting for almost half of the rise in the nation’s demand (International Energy Agency).
• Major Oil Suppliers:
• Russia:
• Russia is currently India’s largest supplier of oil. Russian oil imports to India surged to 1.96 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, 2024.
•  India capitalised on discounted Russian offers following Western sanctions on Russia (due to Russia-Ukraine Conflict), displacing traditional suppliers.
• The Urals crude oil grade of Russia has become a cornerstone of India’s energy diversification efforts.

Iraq:

• Iraq is the second-largest source of crude supplier to India, with imports reaching 1.19 million bpd in January 2024, the highest since April 2022.
• India’s efforts to diversify oil procurement channels aim to mitigate geopolitical risks and ensure a stable energy supply.
• Saudi Arabia:
• Saudi Arabia is India’s third-largest oil supplier and exported approximately 690,172 bpd of crude oil to India in January, 2024 maintaining its position as a key player in India’s energy security landscape.
• UAE:
• Oil imports from the UAE surged by 81% in January, 2024 reaching around 326,500 bpd.
• Abu Dhabi is India’s fourth-largest supplier of crude oil.

(a) Crude oil

(b) Bullion

(c) Rare earth elements

(d) Uranium

Ans: (a)