DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th February 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims – Environment

Context: Recently, the Odisha government has declared the Gupteswar forest in Koraput district as its fourth Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).

Background:-

• The Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) are declared by the state governments in consultation with local bodies under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

About Biological Diversity Act:-  

• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 is a law that protects the different kinds of living things in India and ensures fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.
• The law was enacted to meet the requirements of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, to which India is a party.
• Biological Diversity Act 2002 (BD Act), is in close synergy with the Nagoya Protocol and aims to implement provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• The Nagoya Protocol sought to ensure commercial and research utilisation of genetic resources led to sharing its benefits with the government and the community that conserved such resources.

Features of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002

• It establishes a three-tier structure to regulate the access and use of biological resources, consisting of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the central level, the State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) at the state level, and the Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level.
• It prohibits any person or organisation, whether Indian or foreign, from obtaining any biological resource occurring in India or knowledge associated with it for research or commercial purposes without the prior approval of the NBA or the SBBs.
• It also prohibits the transfer of the results of any research relating to any biological resource or knowledge obtained from India to any person or entity outside India without the approval of the NBA.
• It also prohibits the claim of any intellectual property rights on any invention based on the research made on the biological resources or knowledge obtained from India without the approval of the NBA.
• It provides for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources and associated knowledge, as well as the protection and rehabilitation of threatened species and ecosystems.
• It provides for the declaration of certain areas as Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS), which are unique, ecologically fragile, and rich in biodiversity. The state governments can notify such areas in consultation with the local bodies and the central government.
• It provides for the involvement of the local communities in the conservation and management of the biological resources and associated knowledge, and ensures that they get a fair share of the benefits arising from their use.
• It provides for the establishment of institutions such as repositories, gene banks, and museums for the preservation and documentation of the biological resources and associated knowledge.
• It provides for the penalties and offences for the violation of the provisions of the Act, and empowers the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to hear any grievances or disputes arising from the implementation of the Act.
• Biological Diversity Act 2002 (BD Act), is in close synergy with the Nagoya Protocol and aims to implement provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• The Nagoya Protocol sought to ensure that commercial and research utilisation of genetic resources lead to sharing its benefits with the government and the community that conserved such resources.

Source: The Indian Express

Previous Year Questions

Consider the following statements: (2011)

1. Biodiversity is normally greater in the lower latitudes as compared to the higher latitudes.
2. Along the mountain gradients, biodiversity is normally greater in the lower altitudes as compared to the higher altitudes.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1.  1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4.  Neither 1 nor 2

Syllabus

• Prelims- Current Event

Context: The Indian Navy is all set to host the 12th edition of the Multilateral Naval Exercise – 2024 (MILAN), from Feb 19 to 27.

Background:

• Navies from across the globe, including the US, Japan, Australia, France, Bangladesh, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, are lining up for participation in this significant event off Visakhapatnam.

About MILAN:

• The Multilateral Naval Exercise (MILAN) is a biennial naval war game hosted by the Indian Navy.
• The first Milan exercise was conducted in 1995 at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It was a multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy, involving the navies of Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
• The 12th edition of MILAN is scheduled to be held in Visakhapatnam, India.
• The aim of MILAN is to foster international maritime cooperation and showcase India’s naval prowess.
• Milan 2024 reflects India’s ‘Look East policy’ and emphasizes regional security cooperation.
• The theme of MILAN 2024 is “Cohesion, Camaraderie and Collaboration”.
• MILAN 2024 also expects to realise the G20 theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means “the world is one family”.

Syllabus

• Prelims : Economy

Context: To ensure fairness in bankruptcy cases, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has issued a circular instructing resolution professional (RPs) to share copies of their reports with both creditors and debtors involved in insolvency cases.

Background:

• The circular highlights instances where resolution professional (RPs) failed to provide equal access to information to both parties, leading to a disparity in understanding.

About The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI):

• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) is the regulator for overseeing insolvency proceedings and entities like Insolvency Professional Agencies (IPA), Insolvency Professionals (IP) and Information Utilities (IU) in India.
• It was established on 1st October, 2016 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, which is a law that aims to resolve insolvency and bankruptcy cases in a time-bound and efficient manner.
• The IBBI also regulates the profession of valuers in India under the Companies (Registered Valuers and Valuation Rules), 2017.
• It has a three-tier structure, consisting of a chairperson, three ex-officio members from the central government, one ex-officio member from the RBI, and five other members nominated by the central government.

Some of the key functions and features of the IBBI are:

• It grants registration to IPs (insolvency professionals), IPAs(insolvency professional agency), IUs (Information Utilities ), and valuers and sets the curriculum for the qualifying examination of the IPs for their enrolment.
• It makes regulations and guidelines for the implementation of the Code and the Rules, and enforces them through inspections, investigations, and penalties.
• It collects and maintains records relating to insolvency and bankruptcy cases and disseminates information relating to such cases.
• It promotes awareness and research on insolvency and bankruptcy matters and engages with various stakeholders, such as the government, the judiciary, the industry, and the academia.

Source: Hindu Businessline

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: Former U.S President Donald Trump has criticised North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Background:

• As US president from 2017-21, Trump often lambasted NATO and members such as Germany, accusing them of not paying enough for their own defence and relying on Washington to protect them. Trump continues his criticism of NATO during campaign for upcoming presidential election.

About NATO:

• Founded in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union with Cold War tensions rising, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a political and military alliance of countries from North America and Europe.
• Enshrined in Article 5 of its founding treaty is the principle of collective defence – the idea that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all of them.
• However, Article 5 stops short of a commitment to an automatic military response to help an ally under attack. That means the strength of Article 5 depends on clear statements from political leaders that it will be backed up by action
• NATO takes decisions by consensus but the political and military strength of the United States means that it is by far the most powerful country in the alliance, with its nuclear arsenal seen as the ultimate security guarantee.

Which countries are in NATO?

• NATO currently has 31 members – most of them European nations, plus the United States and Canada.
• The newest member is Finland, which joined last April in reaction to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
• Sweden applied to join along with Finland but is waiting for Hungary to ratify its application as the final major step before membership.
• During the Cold War, NATO’s main focus was protecting Western Europe from the Soviet Union. After the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall,NATO expanded to take in former communist bloc countries from Central and Eastern Europe.
• NATO’s members range from large countries such as Britain, France, Germany and Turkey to small nations such as Iceland and Montenegro.

How is NATO funded

• Trump has often accused other NATO members of not paying their dues, giving the impression that the alliance is like a club with membership fees.
• But NATO operates differently. It has some common funds, to which all members contribute. But the vast bulk of its strength comes from members’ own national defence spending – to maintain forces and buy arms that can also be used by NATO.
• However, NATO members have committed to spending at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year on defence – and most of them did not meet that goal last year.

Source:The Indian Express

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3

Context: Wayanad is on the boil after a wild elephant chased a 47-year-old man and trampled him to death.

Background:

• Instances of human wildlife conflict has been increasing across India.People affected by the issue has often come into direct confrontation with state asking government to take stronger measures to protect their life and property.

What is human-wildlife conflict?

• Human-wildlife conflict refers to situations where human activities, such as agriculture, infrastructure development, or resource extraction, come into conflict with wild animals, leading to negative outcomes for both humans and animals.

Reasons/ factors causing human-wildlife conflict:

• Urbanization and Development
• Lack of Protected areas
• Population explosion
• Deforestation
• Agricultural expansion
• Climate change
• Invasive species
• Increase in eco-tourism
• Substantial increase in the population of prolific breeders like wild boars and peacocks.

Consequences/Implications of human-wildlife conflict:

• Wild animals can destroy crops, damage infrastructure, and kill livestock, leading to financial hardship.
• Wild animals can pose a threat to human safety, especially in areas where people and wildlife coexist. Attacks by large predators such as lions, tigers, and bears can result in serious injury or death.
• It can have a negative impact on the environment. For example, when humans kill predators, it can lead to an increase in prey populations, which can then cause ecological imbalances.
• It can also pose a challenge to conservation efforts, as it can lead to negative perceptions of wildlife and make it difficult to implement conservation measures.
• It can also have psychological impacts on people, especially those who have experienced attacks or property damage. It can lead to fear, anxiety, and trauma.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3

Context: The researchers from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) analyzed the radiological data from six nuclear power plants in India over a period of 20 years (2000-2020) has found that the radioactive discharges from Indian nuclear plants have been minimal.

Background:

• Public has often protested against nuclear power plants.The minimal public doses underscore the safe operation of Indian nuclear power plants.The study’s findings have the potential to dispel unfounded beliefs, serving as a catalyst to reinforce India’s commitment to advancing its nuclear power programme.

What is Radioactive Discharge?

• It refers to the release of radioactive substances into the environment as a result of human activities, typically from nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants, research reactors, or other industrial processes involving radioactive materials.

Key findings of the analysis:

• The radioactive discharges from the nuclear plants were found to have a minimal impact on the environment. The concentrations of fission products beyond a 5 km radius have been below the minimum detectable activity of the instruments used, implying that the monitored values are “insignificant”.
• Gaseous waste released into the atmosphere includes fission product noble gases, Argon 41, radioiodine, and particulate radionuclides (cobalt-60, strontium-90, caesium-137, and tritium) while liquid discharge consists of fission product radionuclides, radioiodine, tritium, strontium -90, caesium-137 — and activation products like cobalt-60. Radioactive discharges are carried out through dilution and dispersion, adhering to strict radiological and environmental regulatory regimes.
• The average gross alpha activity in air particulates at all seven nuclear plants was less than 0.1 mega becquerel (mBq) per cubic meter.
• Average concentrations of radionuclides (iodine-131, caesium-137, and strontium-90) in air particulates across all sites were below 1 mBq per cubic meter. Concentrations of caesium-137 and strontium-90 in rivers, lakes, and seawater near the nuclear plants were below specified levels.
• The concentrations of caesium-137 and strontium-90 in sediments were within the statistical variation of values observed in natural sediments, without showing any trend of deposition or accumulation.
• Tritium was detectable above the minimum detectable activity at all sites except the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Station.

Implications of radioactive discharge:

• Radioactive substances released into the environment can impact ecosystems, affecting plants, animals, and microorganisms. Radioactive particles can settle on soil and sediment, leading to contamination. In water bodies, radioactive substances may accumulate, potentially affecting aquatic life.
• Radioactive discharges can expose nearby populations to ionizing radiation. Prolonged or high-level exposure may increase the risk of radiation-related health issues, including cancer.
• If radioactive substances enter the food chain, agricultural products and livestock may become contaminated, posing risks to consumers. In the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Disaster, nuclear radiation contaminated agricultural products, such as rice and fish, raising concerns about food safety.
• Areas near nuclear facilities that experience radioactive discharges may see a decline in property values due to safety concerns.

Source: The Hindu

Q1.) With reference Biological Diversity Act, 2002, which of the following statements is not correct?

1. It establishes a three-tier structure to regulate the access and use of biological resources.
2. It prohibits any person or organisation from obtaining any biological resource occurring in India or knowledge associated with it for research or commercial purposes without the prior approval of the concerned authorities.
3. It provides for the involvement of the local communities in the conservation and management of the biological resources and associated knowledge.
4. It empowers the Supreme Court of India to hear any grievances or disputes arising from the implementation of the Act.

Q2.)  Consider the following pairs

Naval Exercise                                             Countries

1. Konkan                                         India and the UK
2. Naseem Al Bahr                          India and Oman
3. Zayed Talwar                               India and the UAE
4. Varuna                                          India and France

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Q.3) With reference to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), consider the following statements:

1. It was established on 1st October, 2016 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
2. It makes regulations and guidelines for the implementation of the Code and the Rules, and enforces them through inspections, investigations, and penalties.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  14th February  2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – c

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – d