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31 December 2024 : Daily Current Affairs

 1. Grave new world: human-induced loss of elders threatens various species

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

Topic: GS3 – Environment – Conservation – Important species
Context
  • The article discusses the vital role of elder animals in ecosystems, highlighting their contributions to species survival and conservation.

Importance of Elders in the Animal Kingdom

  • Elder animals, from elephant matriarchs to shark grandmothers, guide their families through life’s challenges, imparting crucial knowledge.
  • The roles of older animals are crucial across species, particularly in how they stabilize social hierarchies and pass on knowledge for survival.

Aging in the Wild

  • Aging varies across species, with older individuals often holding significant roles in social stability and knowledge transmission.
  • Researchers highlight that the loss of older individuals due to factors like habitat destruction, hunting, and climate change can significantly impact species, particularly long-lived animals.
  • These elders are vital for passing on cultural practices and knowledge of adaptation.
  • Elder individuals in long-lived species are essential for knowledge transmission, assisted parental care, and survival strategies in harsh environments.

Examples of Elder Roles in Animal Social Structures

  • Elephants: African elephants rely heavily on matriarchs, the oldest females, for survival. Studies show that elephant herds with older matriarchs respond more effectively to threats, such as lion roars. In their absence, younger elephants struggle to adapt and may even face increased risks of conflict with humans.
  • Orcas: Older female orcas undergo menopause, enabling them to assist in raising their daughters’ calves. This behavior, known as the grandmother hypothesis, is crucial for the survival of orca populations, as older females help guide the young to feeding grounds and protect them from predators.

Impact of Human Activities on Elders

  • Human activities like climate change and habitat destruction threaten the survival of elder animals, leading to cascading effects on the social structure and behavior of species.
  • In species like elephants and orcas, the loss of elders disrupts social stability and makes it more challenging for younger members to thrive, increasing stress and vulnerability.

Longevity Conservation Paradigm

  • The concept of longevity conservation is introduced, advocating for the protection of older individuals in species conservation efforts.
  • This includes preserving age structure, which is critical in long-lived species that rely on older individuals for reproduction, migration, and cultural transmission of knowledge.
  • This paradigm is particularly important for species in fluctuating environments, such as fish and reptiles, where older individuals contribute more to reproduction and survival.

Challenges in Implementing Conservation Strategies

  • Implementing longevity conservation strategies is challenging, particularly in multi-species fisheries like those in India, where different species grow at different rates and require different management approaches. Fishing gear cannot easily target specific species or ages.
  • Despite the benefits, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not yet recognized the loss of older individuals as a primary criterion for listing species as threatened.

Conclusion

  • Protecting elder animals is crucial for biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
  • Their knowledge, experience, and roles in social structures help ensure species’ survival, especially in the face of environmental changes and human disturbances.
  • Efforts to protect these individuals through strategies like age-based fisheries management can aid in conservation, though significant challenges remain in implementing these strategies.
Practice Question:  Examine the significance of older individuals in animal species’ survival and discuss the challenges in implementing longevity conservation strategies. (150 Words /10 marks)

2. Unconventional methods like AI-based warfare a big challenge, says Rajnath

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

Topic: GS3 – Internal Security
Context
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the growing challenge posed by unconventional warfare methods, including Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based warfare, cyber attacks, and other advanced forms of conflict.

Types of Emerging Threats

  • AI-Based Warfare: Leveraging AI for decision-making and automation in military operations could outpace traditional warfare tactics. AI can also be used in autonomous weapons, making the battlefield more complex and unpredictable.
  • Cyber Attacks: Increasing reliance on digital infrastructure makes military systems vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which could disrupt command and control, intelligence systems, and critical infrastructure.
  • Information Warfare: Manipulating public opinion and spreading misinformation can destabilize societies, making information control a critical element of modern conflicts.
  • Electromagnetic Warfare: The use of electromagnetic fields to disable enemy communication and radar systems is emerging as a new mode of attack.
  • Space Warfare: The militarization of space presents new vulnerabilities, with satellite systems becoming targets for cyber or physical attacks.
  • Proxy Warfare: Involves the use of indirect methods such as using non-state actors to advance national interests, complicating the attribution of attacks.

Challenges in Combating New Threats

  • The rapid evolution of these threats requires swift adaptation, with militaries needing to integrate new technologies, like AI, to counter them effectively.
  • Traditional defence systems and training may not be sufficient to address such advanced threats, demanding a rethinking of defence strategies and tactics.
  • Cybersecurity, in particular, requires ongoing innovation and vigilance to protect against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.

India’s Response to Emerging Threats

  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the importance of mastering frontier technologies to keep up with evolving challenges.
  • The government has focused on enhancing military training programs, particularly in areas like AI, communication technology, and leadership.
  • Training centres like those in Mhow Cantonment are evolving their curricula to address these new challenges, preparing soldiers for future warfare.
  • India’s defence exports have significantly increased, with a target of ₹50,000 crore by 2029, reflecting the country’s growing capabilities in advanced defence technology.

Way Forward: Strengthening Defence and Preparedness

  • Invest in AI Research: Continued investment in AI research is crucial to develop new technologies and techniques to combat AI-driven threats.
  • Develop AI-Powered Defenses: The development of AI-powered defenses, such as machine learning-based intrusion detection systems, is essential to detect and respond to advanced threats.
  • Promote International Cooperation: International cooperation is needed to share information and best practices in combating AI-driven threats.
  • Develop Ethical Guidelines: The development of ethical guidelines for the use of AI in cybersecurity is necessary to ensure that these technologies are used responsibly.

Conclusion

  • The emergence of unconventional warfare methods presents new challenges for national security.
  • India must prioritize advancements in frontier technologies like AI and cyber defense.
  • Comprehensive strategies are essential for future readiness.
PYQ: Considering the threats cyberspace poses for the country, India needs a “Digital Armed Force” to prevent crimes. Critically evaluate the National Cyber Security Policy, 2013 outlining the challenges perceived in its effective implementation. (200 words/12.5m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2015)
Practice Question:  Unconventional warfare methods such as AI-based warfare, cyber attacks, and space warfare are emerging as significant security threats. Discuss the challenges posed by these threats and suggest a way forward for India to strengthen its defence capabilities. (250 Words /15 marks)

3. H-1B Visa Debate: Divisions Emerge Among Trump Supporters Over Skilled Immigration

(Source – Indian Express, Section – Explained – Page No. – 18)

Topic: GS2 – International Relations
Context
  • The article explores the divisive debate among Trump supporters over the H-1B visa program.

Analysis of the news:

Controversy Over H-1B Visas in the US

  • The debate over skilled immigration, particularly the H-1B visa program, has resurfaced within the American political right, sparked by Chennai-born Sriram Krishnan’s appointment as Donald Trump’s AI advisor.
  • While some, like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, defend the program, others from Trump’s staunchly anti-immigration base criticize it for undermining American workers, exposing divisions among Trump’s supporters.

Immigration: A Polarizing Issue

  • Immigration remains a contentious topic in the US, intensifying during election cycles.
  • While anti-immigration rhetoric historically targets low-skilled migrants, claiming they depress wages and threaten jobs, similar arguments are now being applied to skilled workers in the tech sector.
  • This shift reflects broader anxieties about economic issues like unemployment, inflation, and housing crises.

Overview of the H-1B Visa Program

Everything You Need To Know About 31 December 2024 : Daily Current Affairs
  • Introduced in 1990, the H-1B visa allows US employers to hire foreign workers for specialized roles requiring advanced skills.
  • The program includes a cap of 65,000 visas annually, with an additional 20,000 for advanced-degree holders.
  • Exemptions exist for certain research institutions and continuing employment, leading to far higher approvals than the cap.
  • In 2023, over 385,000 petitions were approved, with Indian nationals dominating the program at over 70%.

Criticisms of the H-1B Program

Everything You Need To Know About 31 December 2024 : Daily Current Affairs
  • Critics, particularly nativist factions, argue that the H-1B program enables tech companies to exploit foreign workers for lower wages, undermining American talent.
  • Data reveals that nearly 70% of Indian H-1B holders earn below $100,000 annually, below the US IT sector’s median salary of $104,420.
  • Critics claim the program prioritizes cost-cutting over genuine skills gaps, though industry leaders dispute this, emphasizing market-driven wages and global STEM talent shortages.

Calls for Reform

  • Supporters like Musk acknowledge flaws in the H-1B system and suggest reforms, including raising the minimum salary and increasing costs for employers hiring overseas talent.
  • Proponents argue that the program remains vital for addressing the US skills gap, especially in STEM fields where China and India far outpace the US in producing graduates.

Conclusion

  • The H-1B visa debate underscores the complex interplay of economic concerns, political rhetoric, and global talent dynamics.
  • While reforms may address legitimate issues, the program remains essential for sustaining the US’s competitive edge in innovation and technology.
PYQ: ‘Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European Countries’. Comment with examples. (150 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-2 2020)
Practice Question:  Critically analyze the role of the H-1B visa program in addressing the United States’ skilled labor needs while balancing concerns about its economic and social impacts on domestic workers. (150 Words /10 marks)

4. Ministry of Home Affairs:Year End Review 2024

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2088945&reg=3&lang=1 )

Topic: GS2 – Governance – Government Initiatives
Context
  • The article highlights the initiatives taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2024 to address extremism, drug trafficking, and disaster management.

Initiatives by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2024

Three New Criminal Laws

  • Introduction of Laws: The Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam replaced colonial-era laws to ensure justice-oriented, victim-centric reforms emphasizing speedy trials and higher conviction rates.
  • Technological Integration: Tools like e-Sakshya, e-Summon, Nyaya Setu, and Nyaya Shruti ensure seamless evidence management, efficient summons delivery, and enhanced courtroom procedures.

e-Sakshya, e-Summon, Nyaya Setu, and Nyaya Shruti Apps

  • e-Sakshya: Stores videography, photography, and testimonies on an e-evidence server, accessible to courts instantly.
  • e-Summon: Facilitates electronic summons delivery to police and individuals, enhancing efficiency.
  • Nyaya Setu: Links police, forensic, medical, prosecution, and prison systems, streamlining investigations.
  • Nyaya Shruti: Enables video conferencing for witness testimonies, saving time and resources.

Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Implementation

  • Granting Citizenship: Provides citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian communities.
  • Rule Notification: CAA rules were notified on March 11, 2024, with the first set of citizenship certificates issued shortly after.

Social Equity for Jammu and Kashmir

  • Scheduled Tribes Inclusion: Constitution (J&K) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 empowers Pahari, Padari, Koli, and Gadda Brahmin communities without affecting existing ST reservations for Gujjars and Bakarwals.
  • Social Harmony: Promotes unity and inclusion, addressing the needs of marginalized groups in J&K.

Zero Terror and Inclusive Development in J&K

  • Voter Participation: J&K recorded historic voter turnouts—58.46% in the Lok Sabha elections and 63.88% in the assembly elections.
  • Zero Terror Plan: Focuses on area domination and innovative methods to dismantle terrorism ecosystems.
  • Employment and Infrastructure: Merit-based appointments and new infrastructure signal a shift from terrorism to progress.

Crushing Left-Wing Extremism: A Decisive Battle for Development

Achievements in 2024

  • Significant Reduction in LWE Violence:
    • Elimination of 287 Naxalites; 992 arrested.
    • Death toll in LWE-affected areas fell below 100 for the first time in 4 decades.
  • Development Initiatives:
    • Bastar Olympics as a symbol of hope and transformation.
    • Construction of 15,000+ houses
    • Initiation of dairy cooperatives in Naxal-affected areas.

Key Government Actions

  • Strategic Operations:
    • Security spending tripled to ₹3,006 crore.
    • Saturation coverage of central and state schemes in LWE-affected districts.
  • Victim Rehabilitation and Development:
    • Comprehensive schemes for development and rehabilitation in LWE areas.
    • Enhanced surrender policies for reintegrating youth into society.
  • Proactive Engagements:
    • Regular review meetings chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Chhattisgarh and Delhi.

Vision 2026

  • Resolve to eliminate LWE by March 31, 2026.
  • Transition of affected areas from “changing” to “completely changed.”

Zero Tolerance Against Drugs: Breaking the Narco-Terror Nexus

Achievements in 2024

  • Major Seizures:
    • 4,134 kg of narcotics seized, including 3132 kg offshore.
    • Massive drug consignment worth ₹900 crore intercepted.

Structural Reforms

  • Launch of the MANAS Helpline (1933) for anonymous reporting and de-addiction advice.
  • Establishment of NCB offices in every state to combat drug trade effectively.

Zero Casualties in Disasters: A Proactive Approach

Legislative Reforms

  • Passage of the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024:
    • Shift from reactive to proactive disaster management.
    • Empowered NDMA and SDMA for better preparedness and swift response.

Operational Support

  • Deployment of NDRF, Army, and Air Force for flood-affected states.
  • IMCTs conducted on-spot damage assessments in 9 flood-affected states.

Prelims Facts

1. NASA probe flies closer to the sun than any spacecraft

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

Context
  • On December 24, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made history by flying closer to the sun than any spacecraft before.
  • It reached a distance of 6.1 million kilometers from the sun’s surface, with its heat shield exposed to temperatures above 930°C.

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe:

Everything You Need To Know About 31 December 2024 : Daily Current Affairs

Overview

  • The Parker Solar Probe is a NASA spacecraft designed to study the Sun.
  • Launched on August 12, 2018, it is on a seven-year mission to get closer to the Sun than any spacecraft before.

Mission Objectives

  • The primary goal is to understand the Sun’s outer atmosphere, called the corona, and its behavior.
  • It aims to uncover the origins of solar wind and understand how solar storms (coronal mass ejections) affect Earth.
  • The probe seeks to answer why the Sun’s corona is hotter than its surface.
Everything You Need To Know About 31 December 2024 : Daily Current Affairs

Heat Shield Technology

  • The spacecraft is equipped with a heat shield to protect it from extreme temperatures, with the Sun’s heat reaching over 930°C.
  • Despite the intense heat, the probe’s instruments are kept near room temperature (around 29°C).

Future Milestones

  • The Parker Solar Probe will make multiple close passes to gather more data, with significant flybys scheduled in 2025.

2. Fishing Cat Collaring Project

Context
  • The Wildlife Institute of India-Dehradun is set to launch India’s first Fishing Cat Collaring Project at Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.

Analysis of the news:

Everything You Need To Know About 31 December 2024 : Daily Current Affairs

India’s First Fishing Cat Collaring Project:

  • The Wildlife Institute of India-Dehradun is executing India’s first Fishing Cat Collaring Project as part of the second fishing cat census.
  • This three-year project aims to study the species’ home range, behaviour, habitat ecology, feeding habits, and space use.
  • The project plans to collar 10 fishing cats with lightweight GIS-equipped devices.
  • The collaring is expected to be completed by March or April 2025.

Fishing Cats

Everything You Need To Know About 31 December 2024 : Daily Current Affairs
  • Scientific Name: Prionailurus viverrinus.
  • Description:
    • It is twice the size of a house cat.
    • The fishing cat is nocturnal (active at night) and apart from fish also preys on frogs, crustaceans, snakes, birds, and scavenges on carcasses of larger animals.
    • The species breed all year round.
    • They spend most of their lives in areas of dense vegetation close to water bodies and are excellent swimmers.
  • Habitat:
    • Fishing cats have a patchy distribution along the Eastern Ghats. They abound in estuarine floodplains, tidal mangrove forests and also inland freshwater habitats.
    • Apart from Sundarbans in West Bengal and Bangladesh, fishing cats inhabit the Chilika lagoon and surrounding wetlands in Odisha, Coringa and Krishna mangroves in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Threats:
    • A major threat for fishing cats is the destruction of wetlands, their preferred habitat.
    • Shrimp farming is another growing threat to the mangrove habitats of the Fishing Cat.
    • This unique cat also faces threats from hunting for meat and skin.
    • Tribal hunters indulge in ritual hunting practices throughout the year.
    • It is also occasionally poached for its skin.
  • Protection Status:
    • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
    • CITES: Appendix II
    • Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:

  • Spanning 235 square kilometers, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) is India’s second-largest mangrove habitat.
  • It is home to the endangered fishing cat.
  • Located in the Godavari estuary, the sanctuary lies at the confluence of the Coringa River and the Bay of Bengal in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
  • Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary in the Krishna estuarine forest area is another habitat for the fishing cat.

For more such UPSC-related Current Affairs, Check Out- 30 December 2024: Daily Current Affairs

 

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