DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 1st March 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current event

Context: Nepal-India official dialogue silent on landmark Pancheshwar project.

Background:-

• India and Nepal had signed a Treaty known as Mahakali Treaty in February, 1996. Implementation of Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project is the centerpiece of the Mahakali Treaty.

About Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project :-

• Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP) is a bi-national hydropower project to be developed in Mahakali River bordering Nepal and India.
• The multipurpose project is aimed at generating around 6480 MW of energy to be divided equally between the two sides along with water for irrigation of 1,30,000 ha of land in Nepal and 2,40,000 ha of Indian territory respectively.
• The two sides has not been able to come to a consensus on sharing of benefits so far, stalling the project.
• While electricity is divided equally, India gets the lions share of irrigation and flood control benefits. On the other hand Nepal feels water is “white gold” and India should pay Nepal for it. India cannot accept this claim as it challenges India’s understanding of other water basin treaties, including the Indus water Treaty with Pakistan.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: On February 17, fishermen associations in Ramanathapuram district (Tamil Nadu) announced that they were boycotting the annual two-day festival, scheduled for February 23 and 24, at the St. Anthony’s Church in the uninhabited islet. Every year, this event brings together the people from both sides of the Palk Bay separating India and Sri Lanka.

Background:

• The decision is a mark of protest against the Sri Lankan government’s continuing arrests of Indian fishermen on charges of poaching.

About  Katchatheevu

• Katchatheevu  (meaning ‘barren island’ in Tamil),is a 285-acre uninhabited isle that was caused by a 14th-century volcanic eruption.
• The island was ceded by the Indian administration under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Sri Lanka in 197
• Initially the 1974 border agreement did not affect fishing on either side of the border.
• In 1976, through an exchange of letters, both India and Sri Lanka agreed to stop fishing in each other’s waters.
• In 1974 and 1976 treaties were signed between the two countries to demarcate the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
• The small islet of Katchatheevu, hitherto used by the fishermen for sorting their catch and drying their nets, fell on the other side of the IMBL
• However, the agreement could not stop the fishermen from fishing in these waters, as fishermen know no boundary.
• Despite the signing of maritime boundary agreements, fishermen communities of both the countries continued their fishing in the Palk Bay area peacefully until the Eelam war broke out in 1983.
• Nonetheless, after the end of War in 2009, the Sri Lankan fishermen have been raising their objection to Indian fishermen fishing in their waters.
• Fishermen often risk their lives and cross the IMBL rather than return empty-handed, but the Sri Lankan Navy is on alert, and have either arrested or destroyed fishing nets and vessels of those who have crossed the line.
• St Antony’s shrine is the only structure on the island. It is a shrine-church named after Antony of Padua, considered a patron saint of seafarers by Christians. It was built by a prosperous Indian Catholic (Tamilian) fisherman Srinivasa Padaiyachi in the early 20th century. The annual church festival runs for three days. Christian priests from both India and Sri Lanka conduct the worship services (mass) and procession.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) removed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from its grey list.

Background:

• The UAE had been on the Grey List since March 4, 2022, due to “strategic deficiencies” identified in its efforts to counter money laundering and terrorist financing.

About FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE (FATF)

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit held in Paris, France
• FATF is an inter-governmental body that sets global standards for anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT).
• As of February 2024, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) consists of 39 full members, including 37 countries and two regional organizations.
• India joined the FATF as an observer in 2006 and later became a full member in 2010.
• As a member, India actively participates in shaping anti-money laundering (AML) and terrorist financing (TF) policies and practices at the international level.
• India is also a member of two regional groups associated with the FATF. They are Asia Pacific Group (APG) and Eurasian Group (EAG).

Lists maintain by FATF

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) maintains two significant lists to assess countries’ efforts in combating money laundering and terrorist financing:

1. High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action (Black List)

• This list identifies countries or jurisdictions with serious strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering (AML), terrorist financing (TF), and financing of proliferation measures.
• For these high-risk jurisdictions, the FATF calls on all members to apply enhanced due diligence.
• In severe cases, countries are urged to apply counter-measures to protect the international financial system from risks originating in these jurisdictions.
• As of February 2024, the following countries are on the Black List:Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea),Iran,Myanmar.

2. Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (Grey List):

• As of February 2024, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has placed 19 countries on its Grey List.
• These countries are actively working to address strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) measures.
• The Grey List serves as a mechanism to encourage jurisdictions to enhance their AML/CFT frameworks and align with international standards.
• Syria, Türkiye (Turkey), Vietnam, Yemen, South Sudan and South Africa are some the countries in the Grey List.

Source: Reuters

Syllabus

• Prelims and Mains – Polity

Context: Recently, Himachal Pradesh speaker disqualified 6 Congress MLAs under Anti defection law.

Background:

• These MLAs defied a party whip to vote in favour of the government on the Finance Bill, leading to their disqualification under provisions of the anti-defection law.

Key highlights of the Review:

• The Anti-Defection Law in India is governed by the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

Purpose and Historical Context:

• The Anti-Defection Law was introduced to prevent Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) from switching political parties for personal motives.
• It aims to bring stability to governments by discouraging legislators from changing parties after being elected.

Enactment and Provisions:

• The Tenth Schedule was inserted into the Constitution in 1985 through the 52nd Amendment Act.
• It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.
• The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.

Grounds for Disqualification:

• A member can be disqualified if they:

1. Voluntarily give up the membership of their political party.
2. Vote, or do not vote, in the legislature contrary to the directions of their political party.

• However, if a member has taken prior permission or is condoned by the party within 15 days from such voting or abstention, they will not be disqualified.
• An independent candidate joining a political party after the election can also face disqualification.
• A nominated member joining a party six months after becoming a member of the legislature can also be disqualified.

Exceptions:

• Legislators may change their party without the risk of disqualification in certain circumstances:
• The law allows a party to merge with or into another party, provided that at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favour of the merger.
• In such a scenario, neither the members who decide to merge nor the ones who stay with the original party will face disqualification.

Judicial Review:

• The decision of the Presiding Officer (Speaker or Chairman) is subject to judicial review.
• While the law initially stated that the Presiding Officer’s decision is not subject to judicial review, the Supreme Court struck down this condition in 1992.
• Appeals against the Presiding Officer’s decision can now be made in the High Court and Supreme Court.
• In summary, the Anti-Defection Law plays a crucial role in maintaining party discipline and stability in the Indian political system. It ensures that legislators adhere to party lines and discourages defection for personal gain.

Source: Times of India

Syllabus

• Prelims and Mains – Science

Context: The international consortium, BioRescue, announced the first-ever rhino pregnancy through a lab-made embryo transferred to a southern white rhino.

Background:

• In 2009, four northern white rhinos (nwr) were brought from a zoo in the Czech Republic to a conservancy in Kenya in the hope that they might breed in their natural environment. The two males — Suni and Sudan — have died since, and the two females — Najin and her daughter Fatu — turned out to be incapable of reproduction for pathological reasons. This meant surrogacy was the only option to produce a northern white calf through IVF.

Northern White Rhino:

• It is a subspecies of the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum), which is native to central and eastern Africa.
• Northern White Rhino is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.
• The NWR population has declined dramatically due to poaching, habitat loss, civil war, and disease.

How are scientists creating Test Tube Rhinos?

• BioRescue, an international consortium of scientists, achieved a historic milestone with thefirst-ever rhino pregnancy through IVF. The process involved transferring a lab-made rhino embryo into a surrogate southern white rhino.
• Thedeath of the last male northern white rhino (NWR) in 2018 made surrogacy the only viable option for species regeneration. The remaining two females, Najin and Fatu, were found incapable of reproduction for pathological reasons.
• The only hope for the NWR is to use frozen sperm from deceased males and eggs from the females to create embryos in the laboratory, and then implant them intosurrogate mothers from the southern white rhino (SWR) subspecies, which is more abundant and genetically similar.

Concerns regarding the Test Tube Rhinos:

• Embryos used in the process arederived from eggs of two females and sperm from deceased males, limiting the gene pool for a viable northern white population.
• Crossbreeding with southern white rhinos is not a solution, as it would result in the loss of unique attributes of the northern white rhino, adapted for swampy habitats. Genetic diversity remains a concern even with successful IVF and surrogacy attempts.
• Babies born through IVF are not genetically hardwired to exhibittypical northern white rhino behaviours. Early interaction and learning from northern white adults are crucial for maintaining species-specific traits.
• The urgency lies in theage of the remaining northern white females, Najin (35) and Fatu (24). To ensure behavioural and social skills are passed on, the first IVF calves must be born in time to learn from the surviving females.
• Critics argue that the focus should not only be on species regeneration but also on addressing the root causes of extinction,such as habitat threats and poaching.

Source: The Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims -Current Event

Context: World Trade Organisation members have agreed to take on additional obligations in the services sector under an agreement of the WTO.

Background:

• These obligations under their schedules in General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) seek to mitigate unintended trade restrictive effects or measures relating to licensing requirements and procedures, qualification requirements and procedures, and technical standards among themselves. It will also benefit Indian professional companies which will now have equal opportunity to access markets in these 70 countries, if they meet the standards.

About The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS

• The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is a significant treaty within the World Trade Organization (WTO).
• It came into force in 1995.
• It serves as the first and only set of multilateral rules governing international trade in services.
• The creation of the GATS was one of the landmark achievements of the Uruguay Round of negotiations that aimed to extend the scope of trade agreements beyond traditional goods (covered by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, GATT) to include services, intellectual property, and investment.

Objectives

• Creating a credible and reliable system of international trade rules.
• Ensuring fair and equitable treatment of all participants (principle of non-discrimination).
• Stimulating economic activity through guaranteed policy bindings.
• Promoting trade and development through progressive liberalization.
• Participation:
• All WTO members are simultaneously members of the GATS and have assumed commitments in individual service sectors.

Coverage:

• The GATS applies in principle to all service sectors, with two exceptions:

1. Services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority: These are services provided neither on a commercial basis nor in competition with other suppliers. Examples include social security schemes and public services like health or education.
2. Annex on Air Transport Services: This exempts measures affecting air traffic rights and services directly related to the exercise of such rights.

Modes of Supply:

• The GATS distinguishes between four modes of supplying services:
• Cross-border trade: Services flow from the territory of one member into the territory of another member (e.g., banking or architectural services transmitted via telecommunications or mail).
• Consumption abroad: Service consumers (e.g., tourists or patients) move into another member’s territory to obtain a service.
• Commercial presence: Services are supplied through a commercial presence in another country (mode 3).
• Presence of natural persons: Involves the movement of individuals to provide services in another member’s territory.

Sources : The Hindu

Q1.) With reference to Anti defection law, consider the following statements:

1. The Anti-Defection Law in India is governed by the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
2. The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.
3. An independent candidate joining a political party after the election face disqualification under Anti defection law.
4. The decision of the Presiding Officer is not subject to judicial review.

How many of the above statements are correct?

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

Q2.) The Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project (PMP), recently seen in news is planned to be developed on which one of the following rivers?

1. Kaladan River
2. Teesta River
3. Mahakali River
4. Manas River

Q3.)Consider the following statements about Financial Action Task Force (FATF):

1. FATF is an inter-governmental body that sets global standards for anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism.
2. It was established in 2011 during the G20 Summit held in Paris.
3. India is not a member of FATF.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  1st March  2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – c

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – b