DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 22nd March 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims – Science

Context: By the end of 2022, India will establish the country’s first Dark Sky Reserve in the cold desert regions of Ladakh, Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Science and Technology, announced.

Background:-

• India is still in the process of filing its nomination to IDSA.The Ladakh Union Territory administration is leading the efforts in establishing the country’s first Dark Sky Reserve.

About Dark Sky Reserve

• A Dark Sky Reserve is public or private land with a distinguished nocturnal environment and starry nights that has been developed responsibly to prevent light pollution.
• According to the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA), these reserves “consist of a core area meeting minimum criteria for sky quality and natural darkness, and a peripheral area that supports dark sky preservation in the core.”

How does a site become a ‘Dark Sky Reserve’?

• Individuals or groups can nominate a site for certification to the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA). There are five designated categories, namely International Dark Sky parks, communities, reserves, sanctuaries and Urban Night Sky Places.
• Between 2001 and January 2022, there have been 195 sites recognised as International Dark Sky Places globally, the IDSA said.
• The IDSA considers a piece of land suitable for dark sky place only if it is either publicly or privately owned; is accessible to the public partially or entirely during the year; the land is legally protected for scientific, natural, educational, cultural, heritage and/or public enjoyment purposes; the core area of the land provides an exceptional dark sky resource relative to the communities and cities that surround it and the land offers prescribed night sky brightness either for a reserve, park or sanctuary.

Why was Ladakh chosen for the project?

• To be situated at a height of 4,500 metres above sea level, the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) will come up within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Ladakh is a unique cold desert located about 3,000 metres above sea level with high mountainous terrains. Long and harsh winters with minimum temperatures dropping to minus 40 degrees Celcius make large parts of the UT highly inhabitable.
• This aridity, limited vegetation, high elevation and large areas with sparse populations – all make it the perfect setting for long-term astronomical observatories and dark sky places.
• But the primary objective of the proposed Dark Sky Reserve is to promote astronomy tourism in a sustainable and environment-friendly manner. Scientific methods will be used here to preserve the night sky from ever-increasing light pollution.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Mains- GS 3

Context: An acute drinking water crisis in Bengaluru has been creating international headlines for the past few days.

Background:

• Karnataka Chief Minister said Bengaluru was facing a shortage of 500 million litres of water every day, which is about a fifth of the city’s daily total demand.

Reasons behind water crisis:

• Monsoon : During last year’s monsoon, Karnataka received rainfall that was 18 per cent below normal.Even the post-monsoon period did not bring much rain to the state. Like most other parts of the country, Karnataka receives a bulk of its annual rainfall during the monsoon. A rainfall deficit in the monsoon months almost inevitably results in water stress.
• Another direct consequence of low rainfall has been the relatively low level of water in reservoirs. Latest data from the Central Water Commission shows that Karnataka reservoirs are currently holding water at only 26 per cent of their full capacity.
• Aquifers : South India has a very different kind of aquifer system. It is very rocky. The aquifers don’t hold a lot of water. They empty out quickly, and they also get recharged pretty quickly. What this means is that groundwater resources are not able to sustain for very long in the event of a prolonged dry spell.
• This is very different from the aquifers in north India, which have a much better capacity to hold water. This is why Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which got even less rainfall last year than Karnataka, have not seen similar water scarcity.Aquifers in north India, once full, can hold enough water to sustain the demand for a couple of years.

Dealing with Shortage

• Unregulated construction, systematic destruction of lakes, hindrances to the natural underground flow of water, and climate change, all affect the availability of water in Bengaluru.But these do not seem to be the immediate triggers for this particular ongoing shortage. This one has to do largely with the seasonal fluctuation in rainfall and the state’s inability to create capacities to deal with these kinds of variabilities.
• States need to develop capacities to deal with the disruptions through planning.
• The key is to put value on water. It is not a free resource. Low or optimum consumption needs to be incentivised while wastage must be discouraged.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims- Current Event

Context: The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has successfully launched the BhashaNet portal during the Universal Acceptance (UA) Day event.

Background:

• The BhashaNet portal endeavours to establish a multilingual internet, where website names and email addresses in local languages function seamlessly worldwide.

About NATIONAL INTERNET EXCHANGE OF INDIA (NIXI)

• The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), established in 2003 as a not-for-profit organization.
• National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is a statutory body established under the Companies Act 2013.

Purpose and Function:

• NIXI was created to enhance the use of Internet Service Protocols (ISPs) within India.
• Instead of routing domestic internet traffic abroad, NIXI facilitates routing it within the country. This results in better service quality (reduced latency) and lower bandwidth charges for ISPs by saving on international bandwidth.
• It aims to increase internet penetration and adoption in India by managing and enabling the internet ecosystem for the masses.

.IN Domain Management:

• NIXI manages India’s Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), which is.IN.
• The Government of India delegated the operations of INRegistry to NIXI in 2004.
• The INRegistry oversees and manages India’s .IN ccTLD, ensuring its smooth functioning.

National Internet Registry (NIR):

• NIXI also operates the Indian Registry for Internet Names and Numbers (IRINN), which serves as the National Internet Registry.
• IRINN plays a crucial role in allocating and managing IP addresses and domain names within India.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs):

• NIXI actively promotes the establishment of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) across India.
• IXPs facilitate efficient exchange of internet traffic within the country, contributing to a robust and interconnected internet infrastructure.

Source: PIB

Syllabus

• Prelims : Current Event

Context: UN World Happiness Report 2024 has released recently.

Background:

• The World Happiness Report is an influential publication that ranks national happiness across countries. It is based on survey data collected from respondents who evaluate their own lives.

About UN WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT 2024:

• The report was initiated by the United Nations General Assembly, which adopted a resolution in 2011 inviting member countries to measure the happiness of their people and use the data for public policy guidance.
• The first World Happiness Report was released in 2012 as a foundational text for the UN High-Level Meeting on Well-being and Happiness.

Finland’s Consistent Happiness:

• Finland has consistently secured the top spot as the world’s happiest country for seven consecutive years.
• Nordic nations continue to dominate the top rankings, with Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden following closely behind Finland.
• Out of the 143 countries surveyed, Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the list, facing ongoing humanitarian crises since the Taliban regained power in 2020.
• India maintains its position at 126th in the global happiness index, which is the same as last year.

Recent Changes:

• As of March 2024, the report is now published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford.
• Previously, it was a publication of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, a global initiative of the United Nations.

Source: The Wire

Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – Environment

Context: Ministry of Environment Forest and climate change, Government of India has amended the PWM Rules 2016. Now these Rules will be called as Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2024.

Background:

• The Plastic Waste Management Rules were introduced as a crucial step to address the escalating plastic pollution crisis resulting from the widespread use of plastic packaging in the Indian consumer market.

About Plastic pollution:

• Plastic pollution refers to the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the Earth’s environment, adversely affecting both humans and wildlife.
• The initial attempt to tackle plastic pollution was marked by the introduction of the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 (PWMH Rules, 2011).
• These rules aimed to regulate the unbridled use of plastic packaging and its impact on the environment.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024 to amend the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Definitions Revised:

• The definitions of “importer”, “manufacturer”, and “producer” have been revised.
• The term “importer” now includes imports of any plastic packaging/commodity with plastic packaging/carry bags/plastic sheets/plastic raw material.
• The term “manufacturer” now includes a person engaged in the production of plastic raw material/compostable plastics/biodegradable plastics.
• The term “producer” now also includes persons engaged in manufacturing of intermediate material used for manufacturing plastic packaging.

New Definition:

• A new definition of “seller” has been inserted, which means any person who sells plastic raw material for producing plastic packaging is a seller.

Conditions Revised:

• The provision relating to selling of raw material has been revised.
• Now, only the producers registered under these rules can get raw materials from the manufacturer.

Certification Requirement:

• The manufacturers of compostable plastic/biodegradable plastic carry bags or commodities permitted under the rules, will have to obtain a certificate from the Central Pollution Control Board (‘CPCB’) before marketing or selling.

Reporting Requirement:

• The manufacturer of compostable plastic/biodegradable plastic will have to inform the CPCB, the quantity of such commodities introduced in the market and the pre-consumer waste generated by it.

Local Body Assessment:

• Provisions have been inserted which enables the local body to assess the plastic waste generated, plastic waste management infrastructure available for collection/segregation/processing and send a report to the State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee by 30th June of each year.

Source: SSC Online

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3

Context: A study was conducted by the People’s Association in Grassroots Action and Movements, and the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers, which highlights the challenges encountered by Gig Workers such as app-based cab and delivery drivers/persons in India.

Background:

• The long hours, coupled with the stress of navigating traffic and meeting tight deadlines, have a significant impact on physical health, said the report, titled ‘Prisoners On Wheels? Report on Working and Living Conditions of App-based Workers in India’.

About Gig Workers:

• They are individuals who work on a temporary, flexible basis, often for multiple clients or companies, performing tasks or providing services.
• They are typically independent contractors rather than traditional employees, which means they have more control over when, where, and how they work.

Key highlights of the study:

• Almost a third of app-based cab drivers work for over 14 hours a day, with more than 83% working more than 10 hours and 60% working over 12 hours. Social disparities exacerbate the situation, with over 60% of drivers from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) working for over 14 hours a day.
• Over 43% of gig workers earn less than Rs 500 a day or Rs 15,000 a month after deducting all costs. Additionally, 34% of app-based delivery persons earn less than Rs 10,000 a month. These income disparities contribute to existing social inequalities.
• 72% of cab drivers and 76% of delivery persons face difficulty managing expenses, with 68% of cab drivers’ overall expenses exceeding their earnings, potentially leading to debt-like situations.
• Over 80% of app-based cab drivers were unsatisfied with the fares offered by the companies, while over 73% of app-based delivery persons were dissatisfied with their rates. The survey claims that employers are deducting between 31-40% of the commission rate per ride of drivers, while the officially claimed figure by the companies themselves is 20%.
• Due to demanding work hours, drivers are physically exhausted and at increased risk of road traffic accidents especially due to the ‘10-minute delivery at the doorstep’ policy of certain e-commerce platforms. Many drivers and delivery persons struggle to take regular days off, with less than 37% of drivers belonging to a union.
• Workers face issues such as ID deactivation and customer misbehaviour, negatively impacting their ability to work effectively. A significant majority of drivers and delivery persons report negative effects from customer behaviour.
• The report recommended regulations to ensure that companies establish fair and transparent payment structures to protect gig workers from being underpaid or exploited by companies. Payment of a minimum wage to platform workers will help guarantee a fixed component in the income.
• The platforms need to address rising voices of income insufficiency and respond to worker demands such as reducing the amount of commission they charge per transaction or making separate payments for workers’ fuel bill, which keeps inflating as fuel prices rise. The study recommends stronger social security for app-based workers and government oversight on the fairness of algorithms and mechanisms used by platforms.

Challenges in providing social security benefits to gig workers:

• Blurred boundaries between self-employment and dependent employment, and freedom to work for multiple firms or quit at will, make it difficult to determine the extent of company obligations towards gig workers.
• The gig economy is characterised by its flexibility, allowing workers to choose when, where, and how much they work. Designing social security benefits that accommodate this flexibility and meet the diverse needs of gig workers is a complex task.
• Traditional social security systems rely on employer and employee contributions, with employers typically bearing a significant portion of the costs. In the gig economy, where workers are often self-employed, identifying appropriate funding mechanisms becomes complex.
• Efficient data sharing and coordination among gig platforms, government agencies, and financial institutions are necessary to accurately assess gig workers’ earnings, contributions, and eligibility for various social security programs. However, as gig workers often work for multiple platforms or clients, it becomes challenging to coordinate and ensure proper coverage.
• Many gig workers may not fully understand their rights and entitlements regarding social security benefits. Raising awareness is a challenging task.

Way Forward:

• Although the Code on Social Security, 2020, contains provisions for gig workers, the rules are yet to be framed by the States and not much has moved in terms of instituting the Board. These should thus be taken up expeditiously by the government.
• The UK has instituted a model by categorising gig workers as “workers,” which is a category between employees and the self-employed. This secures them a minimum wage, paid holidays, retirement benefit plans, and health insurance.
• Strong support for gig workers should come from the gig companies that themselves benefit from this agile and low-cost work arrangement. The practice of classifying gig workers as self-employed or independent contractors needs to be eliminated. Companies must be provided equal benefits as those of regular employees.
• The government should invest in systematically increasing exports in high-skill gig work such as in the education, financial advisory, legal, medicine, or customer management sectors; by making it easier for Indian gig workers to access global markets.

Source: Indian Express

Q1.) Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

As per the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024, the term “producer” also includes persons engaged in manufacturing of intermediate material used for manufacturing plastic packaging.

Statement-II:

The manufacturer of compostable plastic/biodegradable plastic will have to inform the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) the quantity of such commodities introduced in the market and the pre-consumer waste generated by it.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct   

Q2.) With reference to UN World Happiness Report 2024, consider the following statements:

1. Finland continues to hold the top spot as the world’s happiest country for the seventh consecutive year.
2. India maintains its position at 126th in the global happiness index, which is the same as last year.
3. Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the list.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Q3.)With reference to The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), consider the following statements:

1. National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is a statutory body
2. NIXI was created to enhance the use of Internet Service Protocols (ISPs) within India.
3. NIXI operates the Indian Registry for Internet Names and Numbers (IRINN), which serves as the National Internet Registry.

How many of the statements given above 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 ’  22nd March  2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – c

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – a