Daily Current Affairs

30-November-2023

1. U.S. blames Indian official for ‘plot’ against Pannun

Topic: GS2- International relation

Context: U.S. Department of Justice indictment claims a senior Indian Intelligence official masterminded assassination plot against Khalistani activist; MEA says a high­level panel will look into the issue.

More information on news:

• India has set up a “high­ level” committee to inquire into the U.S. allegation about an Indian plot targeting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S.­ based Khalistani activist wanted on terror charges, the External Affairs Ministry announced here on Wednesday. 
• The explosive indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice, which was publicly released on Wednesday, accuses a senior Indian Intelligence official, as yet unnamed but referred to as CC­1, of masterminding the assass nation plot. 
• The indictment alleges that the official enlisted an individual named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman with an advance payment, and also suggests that the Gujarat Police dropped criminal charges against Mr. Gupta at the behest of the Indian Intelligence official to facilitate the contract killing. 
• It says there is a link between the plot against Mr. Pannun and the one that led to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which Canada has accused Indian government agents of masterminding. 
• “The defendant [Nikhil Gupta] conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethno­religious minority group in India,” U.S. Attorney Damien Williams said in a press release. 
• “We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad,” Mr. Williams said. 
• Nikhil Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30 and is being held pending extradition procedures to the U.S., the release said.

2. India backs UN resolution against Israel for not leaving Syrian Golan

Topic: GS2- International relation

Context: India has voted in favour of a draft resolution in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that expressed deep concern over Israel not withdrawing from the Syrian Golan. 

More information on the News:

• The Syrian Golan is a region in southwest Syria that was occupied by Israeli forces on June 5, 1967.
• The 193­ member UNGA voted on the draft resolution ‘ he Syrian Golan’ under agenda item ‘The situation in the Middle East’ on Tuesday. 
• The resolution, introduced by Egypt, was adopted by 91 votes in favour, eight against and 62 abstentions. Australia, Canada, Israel, the U.K. and the U.S. voted against it. 
• The resolution also stressed the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction in the Golan.

3. Centre and Manipur ink deal with banned Meitei insurgent body

Topic: GS2- Internal Security

Context: The Centre and the Manipur government have signed a peace agreement with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), a banned Meitei extremist organisation and also the oldest armed group based in the Manipur valley.

More information on the News:

• The UNLF has agreed to renounce violence and join the mainstream. 
• I welcome them to the democratic processes,” Mr. Shah said. 
• The UNLF was formed in 1964 and has been operating both within and outside Indian territory, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said. 
• It is one of the eight Meitei extremist organisations that the MHA has declared as unlawful associations under the anti­-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. 
• Last week, the ban against these groups, which seek Manipur’s secession from India, was extended for another five years. 

4. What is behind the Halal

Topic: GS2- Regulatory Bodies

Context: On November 18, the Uttar Pradesh Government’s Food Security and Drug Administration banned the “manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of halal­ certified products with immediate effect”. 

What is Halal?

• Halal, an Arabic term, means ‘permissible’, as opposed to notions of haram (prohibited) in Islam. 
• A halal certificate means the product is fit to be consumed by followers of the faith.
• It is particularly relevant for meat items and is considered essential while exporting meat to Muslim countries.
• Following the order, units of police raided various malls across U.P. to seize any halal products.

Why was it banned? 

• The quick action to raid malls  ollowed a complaint lodged in Lucknow by an office bearer of the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wherein the complainant accused several halal certifying outfits of issuing “forged” certificates to “increase their sale among a certain community”. 
• They, in the process, violated “public trust” and created “social animosity”, it was alleged. Though many read in the government’s step, yet another action aimed at marginalising the State’s Muslim community, the government insisted it had acted according to the law and fair trade practices. 

How are halal certificates issued?

• Halal certificates are given by the Jamiat Ulama­I  Hind’s Halal Unit and the Halal Shariat Islamic Law Board, both of whom have been cleared by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies. 
• While the Shariat Islamic Law Board enjoys permission for certifying food products, the Jamiat’s unit can certify only meat.
• These agencies have slammed the decision to ban Halal ­certified products. Leading the way, the Jamiat claimed the government had not sent “any notice or circular before the move” and dubbed it “ridiculous and unfortunate”. 
• Expressing a desire to explore legal options, including considering the government’s action as an infringement upon citizens’ fundamental right to eat what is permissible by faith, the Jamiat insisted it ticks all the boxes when it comes to fulfilling the norms set by the government for issuing halal certificates. 
• “We adhere to government regulations, as emphasised in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry notification, requiring all Halal certification bodies to be registered with NABCB (National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies under Quality Council of India), a milestone that Jamiat Ulama­i­Hind Halal Trust has achieved.
• Collaborating closely with APEDA (Agricultural Products Exports Development Authority of India) and Indian embassies worldwide, we promote Indian Halal certified products in global markets.
• It’s essential to note that all financial transactions are duly accounted for, with proper GST and income tax payments and thorough auditing, ensuring complete legality and transparency in our operations,” the Jamiat said in a written statement.

 

5. Centre to provide drones to 15,000 women’s groups for use in agriculture

Topic: GS3- Aid to Farmers

Context: The Centre will provide drones to 15,000 progressive women self-­help groups (SHG) to be rented out to farmers for agricultural purposes. 

Information of the News:

• The drone services are envisaged to be used by the farmers for nano fertilizer and pesticide applications.
• The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told presspersons on Wednesday. 
• The scheme will have a financial outlay of ₹1,261 crore for two years beginning 2024-­25.
• The groups would be identified from the total 89 lakh SHGs formed under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana Mr. Thakur said adding that appropriate clusters where usage of drones is economically feasible will be identified.
• The drone pilot will get an honorarium of ₹15,000 and a co­pilot about ₹10,000.
• A well ­qualified member of the SHG,  ged 18 and above, will be elected for a 15­day training, comprising five ­day mandatory drone pilot training and additional 10­day training for agriculture purpose of nutrient and pesticide application, while another member of the group will be selected for training as technician or assistant. 
• The approved initiatives under the scheme is expected to help these selfhelp groups earn an additional income of at least ₹1 lakh a year.

6. Sri Lanka reaches deal with India, Paris Club on debt plan

Topic: GS2- Agreement with other nation

Context: Sri Lanka has reached an “agreement in principle” with India and the Paris Club group of creditors, including Japan, on a debt treatment plan.

Information on the News:

• Debt plan will help the crisis ­hit island nation tap the next tranche of the International Monetary Fund’s nearly $3­billion recovery package.
• “The OCC [Official Creditor Committee] and Sri Lanka agreed on the main parameters of a debt treatment consistent with those of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement between Sri Lanka and the IMF,” the Paris Club said in a statement on Wednesday. 
• While the statement did not spell out the parametes, the OCC said it “stands ready and looks forward to formalising” the agreement in the coming weeks in a Memorandum of Understanding with Sri Lanka. 
• At the height of last year’s crippling economic crisis, Sri Lanka decided to default on its nearly $51 billion foreign debt.
• A comprehensive restructuring of loans became necessary to begin an economic recovery programme backed by the IMF. 
• Major lenders formed the OCC in May 2023 in response to Colombo’s request for debt treatment. 
• It is co­ chaired by India, Japan, and France, as chair of the Paris Club. The Committee has held several discussions with Sri Lankan authorities over the last few months, evaluating possible options in recasting Colombo’s outstanding debt, such as altering the interest payments or the terms of the loans. 
• China, Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral creditor, has opted to stay out of the platform, but has attended the meetings as an observer. 
• Japan and India, Sri Lanka’s other two major lenders, have repeatedly emphasised the need for creditor parity and transparency.  
• In an apparent reference to China, the OCC on Wednesday noted that it expects “other bilateral creditors” to consent to “sharing, in a transparent manner, the information necessary for the OCC to evaluate comparability of treatment regarding their own bilateral agreement.” 
• The OCC further asked Sri Lanka to continue to engage with its private creditors — who hold the largest chunk of the island’s foreign debt — and swiftly firm up “an agreement on terms at least as favourable as the terms offered by the OCC”. 
• China has assured Sri Lanka of cooperation in the debt restructuring process and Sri Lanka has, in turn, assured other creditors of China’s transparent participation, but the specifics of the possible debt treatment plan are awaited. 

7. Global marine life on the move due to oceans warming: study

Topic: GS3- Environment

Context:

• The effects of increasing sea temperatures brought on by climate change on the spread of marine species are highlighted in a recent study that was published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution.
• Tropical marine species are moving significantly toward the poles, according to studies, while temperate species are retreating as a result of rising temperatures, which is creating more competition and bringing in new predators.

Tropicalisation and Its Consequences:

• The process known as “tropicalization” is changing the ocean’s biological terrain.
• There are significant ramifications for ecosystems, biodiversity, and possibly even the world economy from this massive marine life migration.
• The scientists stress that as a result of tropicalization, many species, communities, and entire ecosystems face difficulties as a result of a cascade of consequences that upset long-established biological patterns.

Changing Oceanic Factors:

• The study emphasizes how important physical processes controlling species dispersal have changed as a result of climate change, especially the ocean currents that divide temperate and tropical/subtropical regions.
• Warm-water boundary currents are accelerating the poleward migration of species because they are warming more quickly than the average seawater temperature on Earth.
• As a result, temperate species have been extinct, with the Mediterranean Sea being recognized as a significant “hotspot for tropicalization.”

Implications for Global Policy:

• The release of this study is timed to open with the start of COP28 in Dubai, where world leaders convene to discuss the effects of climate change.
• The results highlight how urgent it is to address how climate change is affecting marine ecosystems.
• International cooperation is becoming more and more necessary to offset the ecological and evolutionary effects of tropicalization’s ecological modifications of the world and preserve patterns of global biodiversity.

Conclusion:

• In conclusion, the study highlights the significant consequences of warming seas brought on by climate change on marine species, resulting in tropicalization and changing ecosystem dynamics.
• The study underscores the interdependence of species distribution, climate change, and worldwide ecological patterns, and it is recommended that policymakers take these discoveries into account when attempting to tackle the wider issues brought about by climate change.

8. India at the climate summit

Topic: GS3- Environment

Context:

• India, the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, is essential to the global effort to combat climate change.
• India is a major emitter, although its per capita emissions are low because of its lower energy use and standard of living.
• The nation has taken a more active role in international climate conferences; it hosted COP8 in 2008 and has been involved in several high-profile COP meetings since then.

Historical Approach at COPs:

• India has always supported the idea of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), highlighting that wealthier countries have a higher duty for taking action on climate change, since the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.
• At the 1997 COP3, India took the lead in drafting the Kyoto Protocol, which gave developed nations emission reduction targets.
• But until the 2015 Paris Agreement, India concentrated on upholding the CBDR-RC principles in COP decisions due to their eventual degradation.

India’s Role in Recent COPs:

• India now takes a more forthright and assertive attitude at COPs than it did in the past.
• Notably, India was able to successfully change the final draft outcome’s phrasing on coal from “phase-out” to “phase-down” at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.
• India has also emphasized the necessity of changing lifestyles to lower energy use and emissions, as well as calling for the phase-down of all fossil fuels.

India’s Climate Commitments and Initiatives:

• Like other countries, India must develop Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), or plans for climate action.
• Targets to lower emissions intensity, boost power generated from non-fossil fuels, and expand the number of carbon sinks through afforestation are all included in India’s NDCs.
• In an effort to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable development, India increased these goals in its revised NDC.
• Furthermore, India has shown leadership in addressing climate-related challenges by launching international projects like the Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the International Solar Alliance.

India’s Negotiating Groups and Red Lines:

• India participates in COP negotiations alongside powerful coalitions like as the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC), BASIC, and G77.
• India has modified its red lines; instead of accepting ideas that ask for specific emission reductions, it now insists on defining climate action in terms of emissions intensity.
• Red lines also include opposition to any emission reductions in the agriculture sector because of worries about food security, as well as a refusal to immediately shut down coal-fired power facilities.

Conclusion

• India’s changing participation in climate talks demonstrates its dedication to sustainable development, national interest protection, and posture-assertion on the international climate scene.

9. History of UNLF, Meitei insurgent group that signed peace deal with Centre

Topic: GS3- Internal Security

Context:

• Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, declared that the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), a Meitei separatist organization in Manipur, and the government had signed a peace accord.
• Shah hopes that other valley-based insurgent groups (VBIGs) would follow suit and participate in the peace process, calling this a “historic milestone”.

Overview of UNLF:

• Unlike the insurgent groups in the hills, which are controlled by the Kuki-Zomi and Naga populations, the UNLF is the oldest valley-based group in Manipur, having been created in 1964.
• The group, which was first led by Arembam Samarendra Singh, called for independence from India.
• The Manipur People’s Army, an armed component of the UNLF with connections to the NSCN (IM), has been implicated in several attacks against Indian security forces.
• Even though it is weaker and primarily operates out of Myanmar, its increased activities during the present ethnic violence in Manipur has caused alarm.

Peace Agreement Precedent and UNLF Faction Split:

• Given that VBIGs have not traditionally entered into peace agreements of this nature, the UNLF’s pact represents a significant development.
• Midway through the 1990s, the UNLF formally separated, giving rise to the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), led by N Oken.
• In 2000, following Samarendra’s assassination, K. Meghen became the leader.
• In 2021, there was another split that produced two factions, one led by N.C. Koireng and the other by Khundongbam Pambei.
• With the start of the ceasefire negotiation process in 2020, Pambei has demonstrated an openness to communication.

Other Meitei Insurgent Groups and Recent Developments:

• Other Meitei rebel groups have surfaced over time, even though the UNLF is one of the seven “Meitei Extremist Organizations” that the Union government has prohibited.
• Koireng’s UNLF side is still against negotiations.
• In contrast, the Center, Manipur state, and the Kuki-Zomi insurgent groups came to a tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement in 2008.
• But in March of this year, the Manipur government pulled out of the SoO with the Kuki National Army and the Zomi Revolutionary Army, citing the latter’s impact on agitation among forest invaders.

10. Russia working on law requiring foreigners to sign ‘loyalty pact’

Topic: GS2- IR

Context:

• The Interior Ministry of Russia has prepared laws that would require visitors to sign a “loyalty agreement” before they can enter the nation.
• This agreement would prevent visitors from questioning government policies, debunking Soviet military history, or going against traditional family values.
• This action comes after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia to send soldiers into Ukraine in February 2022, during which time courts have sentenced opposition activists to hefty jail terms for undermining the military.

Context of Tough Laws and Opposition Crackdown:

• In the context of Russia’s escalating efforts to quell dissent, especially following the crisis in Ukraine, the proposed legislation imposes an additional degree of control.
• There have been laws passed that forbid defaming the armed forces, and opposition activists have been subject to harsh legal repercussions.
• In the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, President Putin has portrayed the struggle as an existential struggle with the West, casting himself as the protector of Russia’s “sacred” civilization against imagined Western decadence.

Restrictions Imposed on Foreigners:

• It has been reported that the proposed legislation would forbid foreigners from undermining public authorities and their officials, undermining the state policy of the Russian Federation, or interfering with the operations of public authorities in Russia.
• A forced “loyalty agreement” that foreigners entering Russia would have to sign is how the draft legislation seeks to implement these limits.

Uncertainties Regarding Application and Penalties:

• The draft legislation does not clarify which foreign nationals would be subject to it or what the consequences would be for breaking the loyalty pledge, according to Russian media reports.
• The ambiguity begs concerns about the possible extent of these prohibitions as well as the repercussions for individuals who enter Russia in violation of the agreement.
• In the face of internal discord and geopolitical concerns, Russia continues to strive to control narratives and present a united front, as evidenced by the proposed legislation.

11. Scheme to provide drones to 15,000 self-help groups cleared by Cabinet

Topic: Schemes

Context:

• A central sector program that allots Rs 1,261 crore to supply drones to women’s self-help groups (SHGs) has received sanction from the Union Cabinet.
• The plan’s goal is to provide drones to 15,000 pre-selected women’s self-help groups (SHGs) between 2023–2025 so they can rent out their drones to farmers.

Financial Assistance and Cost Coverage:

• Women’s self-help groups (SHGs) will be eligible for 80% Central Financial Assistance under the initiative, which will pay for the drone plus any accessories or ancillary costs up to a maximum of Rs 8 lakh.
• The goal of this financial assistance is to make it easier for the SHGs to buy drones.

Identification of Clusters and Selection Process:

• The declaration states that drone use will be possible in commercially viable clusters that are recognized.
• From these discovered clusters in different states, women’s self-help groups will be selected.
• Finding a highly competent member from each SHG who is at least 18 years old is the first step in the selection process.
• Livelihood Finance Companies (LFCs) and State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) will make the selection.

Training Program for SHG Members:

• A five-day drone pilot course and a ten-day course on applying fertilizers and pesticides are two of the 15-day training sessions that will be offered to selected SHG members.
• The goal of this extensive training is to provide SHG members with the skills they need to use drones for agricultural purposes.
• Another member will also be trained in mechanical and electrical repair in order to become a drone assistant or technician in the future.

Way Forward

• Through training and financial support, the program aims to enable women’s self-help groups (SHGs) to participate in agricultural activities by supplying drone-based services to farmers.
• This would promote economic sustainability and technical inclusion.

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