Daily Current Affairs UPSC 10 April 2024

Doctrine of Harmonious Construction

• The Supreme Court, while not approving of delays, established principles to interpret Sections 3 and 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 in a harmonious manner.
• Condonation of delay involves the court's discretionary power to extend time limits for filing appeals or applications.
• When there is a conflict between two laws, they should be interpreted in a way that maintains the essence of both laws, known as harmonizing laws.
• The concept of harmonizing laws can be traced back to the first amendment in the Shankari Prasad v. Union of India case.

C-Dome

• Israel has deployed the C-Dome defense system for the first time, which is a naval version of the Iron Dome air defense system.
• The C-Dome system is designed to protect against advanced ballistic, aerial, and surface-to-surface threats.
• Similar to the Iron Dome, the C-Dome system can defend against a wide range of indirect and aerial threats.
• The C-Dome system can handle saturation attacks by engaging multiple targets simultaneously with a short reaction time.
• Unlike the Iron Dome, which has its own radar, the C-Dome system is integrated into the ship's radar to detect incoming targets.

START Programme

• GUJCOST has been chosen as the main center for ISRO's START Programme, which aims to raise awareness about space science and technology.
• The program provides online training for postgraduate and final-year undergraduate students in physical sciences and technology.
• Topics covered include Astronomy & Astrophysics, Heliophysics & Sun-Earth interaction, Instrumentation, and Aeronomy.
• The training is conducted by experts from Indian academia and ISRO centers.

Karen Ethnic Community

• Guerrilla fighters from the Karen ethnic minority in Myanmar are reportedly on the verge of taking over a significant trading town near the Thai border.
• The Karen people are native to the Thailand-Burma border area in Southeast Asia, particularly in Myanmar's Karen State.
• They believe their ancestry can be traced back to the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, or Tibet.

TSAT-1A

• Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and Satellogic have successfully launched TSAT-1A, India's first satellite developed and built domestically.
• TSAT-1A has sub-meter resolution optical imaging capabilities and is equipped with multispectral and hyperspectral imaging technology.
• The satellite can collect data across a wide range of wavelengths, providing detailed insights into land, water, and natural resources.
• The data collected by TSAT-1A has the potential to benefit sectors such as Agriculture, Disaster Management, Urban Planning, and Environmental Monitoring.

Disclosure of assets by Election Candidates

The Supreme Court ruled that election candidates have the right to privacy regarding personal matters that are not relevant to their candidacy or public life, during an appeal on an election petition.

Legal Requirements for Election Candidate Declarations

• Nominations for election of candidates and submission of accurate information are covered in Section 33 of the Representation of People’s Act (RPA), 1951.
• Section 36 of RPA, 1951 allows for the examination of nominations and gives the returning officer the authority to dismiss nominations if they have a significant flaw.

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

• FICCI marks its 97th Foundation Day.
• Founded in 1927, FICCI is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization.
• It is the largest and oldest apex business organization in India.
• FICCI represents members from Indian private and public corporate sectors as well as multinational companies.
• Headquartered in New Delhi
• FICCI plays a key role in articulating industry views and concerns, influencing policy, and engaging with policymakers and civil society.
• In 2011, FICCI established the Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) Forum.

Telemedicine

• A recent study highlights the importance of the health sector acknowledging the environmental advantages of telemedicine.
• Telemedicine utilizes technology to provide healthcare services, especially useful in situations where distance is a barrier.
• The study emphasizes the need for the health sector to consider the environmental benefits of telemedicine.

Advantages:

• In India, telemedicine reduces the need for travel and decreases vehicle emissions for both rural and urban patients due to limited healthcare access.
• It enhances healthcare access for individuals with disabilities.
• It reduces the risk of contracting infections at a doctor's office.

Government initiatives: eSanjeevani- National Telemedicine Service of India and Tele-MANAS (Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) are being implemented to provide telemedicine services and mental health support across the country.

Mangal Pandey (1827 - 1857)

• Sepoy Mangal Pandey, a legendary figure, was commemorated on the anniversary of his death.
• He hailed from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.
• He enlisted in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry under the British East India Company.

Key Contributions Overview:

• Refusing to use greased cartridges like his compatriots in Behrampur, he was influenced by their example.
• He sparked the Revolt of 1857 by leading a mutiny at Barrackpore near Calcutta on March 29, 1857.
• As a result of his actions, he was court-martialed and executed by hanging at Barrackpore on April 8, 1857.
• Some of the values demonstrated by him include courage, determination, patriotism, and leadership.

"GLG Report Calls for Action on Antimicrobial Resistance".

• Exercise is important because only 7 countries have agreed to the current model text for BITs.
• Many developed nations have concerns about provisions in the text, such as dispute resolution.
• BITs are agreements that provide protection for investments made by one country's nationals and companies in another country.
• The Union Cabinet approved a new Model BIT text in 2015, replacing the previous Indian Model BIT from 1993.
• The Model text 2015 is now utilized for renegotiating BITs and investment chapters in FTAs and Economic Partnership Agreements.

Highlights of Model BIT 2015

• Investment Definition: Businesses investing in foreign countries should receive the same treatment as domestic investors.
• Protection from Expropriation: Foreign investments should be safeguarded from being taken over by the host country.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Companies operating in foreign territories should voluntarily adhere to internationally recognized CSR standards.
• Dispute Settlement: Any disputes should first be addressed through local remedies before resorting to international arbitration.

Model BIT 2015 has been criticized for being biased towards the government's regulatory authority, lacking clarity on certain aspects such as the duration of the enterprise, and imposing an arbitrary 5-year time limit to exhaust local remedies in resolving disputes.

Evolution of India's BITs

• India signed Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with 83 countries between 1991 and 2015 based on the Indian Model BIT of 1993.
• After adopting the Model text of BIT in 2015, India issued Notices of Termination for BITs based on the 1993 Model to 77 countries by September 2021.
• In February 2024, India signed a new BIT with the UAE.

EU and India Collaborate on EV Battery Recycling Startup Initiative

• The initiative occurred within the framework of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), which was established in 2023 to strengthen the partnership on trade and technology.
• The collaboration between India and the EU in the electric vehicle (EV) start-up sector is intended to boost cooperation among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in clean and sustainable technologies.
• The initiative aims to enhance partnerships between European and Indian companies in the clean and green technology sector.

The Importance of EV Battery Recycling

• Non-renewable materials like lithium, nickel, and zinc are being recovered.
• Waste is minimized to protect the environment.
• The cost of new batteries is reduced by promoting a circular economy.
• The goal is to achieve a 90% recovery rate by 2026-27 under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022.
• Battery recycling in India is projected to reach $300 billion between 2017 and 2030.

Challenges in EV Battery Recycling

• There is a lack of a proper battery disposal and recycling program managed by authorized organizations in India.
• Approximately 90% of used batteries in India are either handled by the unorganized sector or disposed of in landfills.
• The absence of standardized procedures and infrastructure is a challenge in the recycling process.
• Safety concerns arise due to the complexity of battery chemistry and their flammability.
• The high cost of recycling impacts the economic feasibility of recycling facilities.

India's Progress in Development

• The Battery Waste Management (Amendment) Rules of 2023 include mandatory targets for incorporating recycled material in new battery products, aiming for 20% by 2030-31 for both Portable and EV batteries.
• The rules also introduce Extended Producer Responsibility certificates that can be traded by producers for managing waste batteries in an environmentally friendly manner, based on the weight of batteries processed.

Traders Smuggle Potent GHG to Europe: EIA Investigation

• The EIA report 'More Chilling Than Ever' revealed that illegal trade of HFCs in Europe is driven by high demand and profits.
• HFCs are man-made compounds made of carbon, fluorine, and hydrogen, and are colorless and odorless gases.
• HFCs contribute to 2.3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and have an average lifespan of 15 years in the atmosphere.
• HFCs are used in refrigeration, air conditioning, insulating foams, aerosol propellants, solvents, and fire protection, as alternatives to ozone-depleting CFCs and HCFCs.

Effects of HFCs Trade

• Contributes to the worsening of climate change: In 2021, the EIA projected that the illegal trade of HFCs in the European Union could result in approximately 30 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions.
• Deters private sector investment in developing new technologies with lower Global Warming Potential.

Efforts to Address Issues in India:

• India has pledged to gradually reduce the use of HFCs in four stages beginning in 2032, in accordance with the Kigali Amendment.

Reducing HFCs on a Global Scale

• The Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol is focused on reducing the production and use of HFCs.
• The EU implemented the F-gas Regulation in 2014 to decrease the use of HFCs.
• The Global Cooling Pledge pledges to support strong measures through the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund to reduce HFC consumption early on.

India's Annual LULC Atlas

The Atlas, developed by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), is designed to analyze land use patterns in a structured manner in order to provide valuable information on the changing dynamics of our surroundings.

Atlas: Key Highlights

1. Agriculture: 

• In the past 17 years, there has been a 46.06% increase in Kharif cropland and a 35.23% increase in Rabi cropland, while fallow land has decreased by 45.19%.
• Double/triple/annual cropping areas have also grown by 82.22%.
• Shifting cultivation increased until 2016-17, after which it declined.

2. Water resources:

• Minimum water body surface area has increased by 146% since 2005.

3. Built-up land:

• There has been a 30.77% increase in built-up land since 2005.
• Wastelands have contributed significantly to the expansion of built-up areas by 12.3%.

Reasons for changes in land use and land cover: It include increased access to agricultural resources like better irrigation systems, urbanization, and the development of infrastructure.

2024 Global Unicorn Index Released by Hurun Research Institute

The Global Unicorn Index 2024 ranks start-ups worldwide that were established in the 2000s.

Key Findings Summary

• In 2023, India had 67 unicorn startups, which was one less than the previous year's total of 68.
• India ranked third globally in terms of the number of unicorn startups.
• The USA had the highest number of unicorns with 703, while China followed with 340.
• India did not have any unicorns in the Aerospace or SpaceTech sector.
• Unicorns are startups that are not publicly traded and have received funding from venture capitalists, reaching a valuation of $1 billion.
• Examples of unicorns include Swiggy and Dream11, which have achieved this status.
• The term "unicorn" was first used by venture capitalist Aileen Lee in 2013.

Factors contributing to the decline of Unicorns in India:

• Slowdown in the startup ecosystem in India due to insufficient investment in startups.
• Indian founders have co-founded 109 unicorns outside of India, indicating a lack of support for startups within the country.
• Failure to take necessary measures for business sustainability has resulted in unchecked growth and rapid depletion of cash reserves.

India's Start-up Promotion Initiatives

• Fund of Funds for Startups Scheme introduced by India to provide funding support for startups.
• Startups established on or after April 1, 2016 are eligible to apply for income tax exemption.
• National Start-up Award created to acknowledge, encourage, and provide specialized support to a variety of startups.

Thriving Start-up Scene in India

• India is ranked third in the world for its startup ecosystem.
• In 2021, 44 Indian startups became unicorns.
• Between 2015 and 2022, the total funding for startups increased by 15 times.
• The number of investors in startups also increased by 9 times during the same period.

Soil Erosion Mapping in India by IIT-Delhi

• The study aims to assess soil erosion and sediment yield mapping on a national scale in India to aid in the planning and implementation of soil conservation strategies.
• Soil erosion is the rapid removal of topsoil from the land surface due to water, wind, and tillage.
• While soil erosion occurs naturally in all climates, human activities such as intensive agriculture, deforestation, and improper land use changes can greatly accelerate and worsen the process.

Study highlights: 

• The study reveals that India faces a yearly potential soil loss of 21 tonnes per hectare.
• Over 78 million hectares of agricultural land in India suffer an average productivity loss of 8%.
• Vulnerability hotspots: The Brahmaputra basin experiences the highest potential soil erosion, followed by the Mahanadi and Ganga basins.
• Approximately 5% of the geographical area, including parts of Assam, Meghalaya, and Himachal Pradesh, are classified under catastrophic erosion category.
• Factors contributing to erosion: The study identifies rainfall intensity and topographic factors as the primary influencers of soil erosion.
• Soil erosion can lead to decreased productivity from the loss of nutrient-rich topsoil, sediment buildup in water sources, heightened risk of flooding and landslides, desertification, and other related issues.

Combatting Soil Erosion in India

• Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) aims to restore ecological balance by conserving and developing degraded natural resources like soil, vegetation, and water.
• Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) focuses on improving the productivity of waste and degraded lands.
• The Bonn Challenge, under UNCCD, sets a goal for India to restore 26 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030.