DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 18th April 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – Agriculture

Context: Uptake of agroforestry remains restricted to farmers with medium or large landholdings.Small scale farmers are yet to adapt agroforestry.The adoption of agroforestry at scale in India must include smallholders, who hold most of India’s agricultural land.

Background:-

• Agriculture in India has historically been a diversified land-use practice, integrating crops, trees, and livestock. This technique, broadly called agroforestry, can enhance farmer livelihoods and the environment and is slowly gaining in popularity after decades of the modus operandus of monocropping inspired by the Green Revolution.

Small scale farmers and Agroforestry

• India’s efforts to promote agroforestry received an impetus nearly 10 years ago with the establishment of the National Agroforestry Policy (2014).Yet the uptake of agroforestry remains restricted to farmers with medium or large landholdings.
• This pattern is unsurprising since smallholder farmers seldom grow trees because of their long gestation, a lack of incentive or investment-based capital, and weak market linkages.

Challenges:

• The Ministry of Agriculture recognised water availability as a challenge when it drafted the National Agroforestry Policy in 2014.
• Yet the problem remains relevant and is especially acute for smallholders, who need additional funding to secure water and/or who incur additional debt in doing so. Moreover, water availability is critical during the sapling stage but remains a constant concern if the trees compete with crops for water in water-constrained environments.
• Choosing the right species for the right place and the right reason is elemental for agroforestry to enhance the sustainability of livelihoods.
• Farmers, however, are drawn to tree species that are fast-growing and repel herbivores, but such species are also generally non-native and threaten soil health and human well-being.
• New and existing government policies and schemes that can facilitate transition to agroforestry are standardised, accounting neither for land-holding size nor, importantly, regional biophysical variabilities. As a result, these schemes inherently exclude smallholders.
• For example, the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme 2023, which certifies agroforestry and wood-based products as sustainable, has an exhaustive list of eligibility criteria for farmers and industries.But it remains to be seen if its array of socio-economic and environmental parameters will place certification costs beyond the reach of smallholders.

Source: Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – Geography

Context: Following the floods, questions were raised whether cloud seeding, a process that the UAE frequently conducts, could have caused the heavy rains.

Background:

• A storm hit the United Arab Emirates and Oman this week bringing record rainfall that flooded highways, inundated houses, grid-locked traffic and trapped people in their homes.

Did cloud seeding cause the storm?

• Rainfall is rare in the UAE and elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula, that is typically known for its dry desert climate. Summer air temperatures can soar above 50 degrees Celsius.
• Following Tuesday’s events, questions were raised whether cloud seeding, a process that the UAE frequently conducts, could have caused the heavy rains.
• Cloud seeding is a process in which chemicals are implanted into clouds to increase rainfall in an environment where water scarcity is a concern.
• The UAE, located in one of the hottest and driest regions on earth, has been leading the effort to seed clouds and increase precipitation.
• But the UAE’s meteorology agency said thatthere were no such operations before the storm.
• The huge rainfall was instead likely due to a normal weather system that was exacerbated by climate change, experts say.
• Climate scientists say that rising global temperatures, caused by human-led climate change, is leading to more extreme weather events around the world, including intense rainfall.
• Rainfall from thunderstorms, like the ones seen in UAE in recent days, sees a particular strong increase with warming. This is because convection, which is the strong updraft in thunderstorms, strengthens in a warmer world.
• Rainfall was becoming much heavier around the world as the climate warms because a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture. It was misleading to talk about cloud seeding as the cause of the heavy rainfall, experts say.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – Economy

Context: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recently issued a cautionary note regarding India’s vulnerability to imported inflation.

Background:

• The ADB’s warning underscores the need for vigilance in managing currency fluctuations and interest rate dynamics to mitigate the potential impact of imported inflation on India’s economy.

About IMPORTED INFLATION

• Imported inflation refers to a situation where the general price level in a country rises due to an increase in the costs of imported products.

The factors behind the Imported Inflation:

• Exchange Rates: Fluctuations in exchange rates play a significant role. When a country’s currency depreciates against foreign currencies, the cost of imports rises. Essentially, more money is needed to purchase goods and services from abroad.
• Commodity Prices: Many countries heavily rely on imported commodities such as oil, metals, and agricultural products. When global commodity prices increase, it directly impacts the cost of imports, potentially leading to higher inflation within the importing nation.
• Trade Policies and Global Supply Chains: Changes in trade policies (such as tariffs and quotas) can influence the cost of imported goods. Additionally, disruptions in global supply chains affect transportation costs, which, in turn, impact the final cost of imported products.
• Impact on Production Costs: Imported inflation affects companies’ production costs. These companies often pass on the increased costs to consumers by raising prices, leading to general inflation across the economy.

Recent Scenario in India:

• The weakening of the Indian rupee in recent months has raised concerns about imported inflation.
• Factors such as growing risk aversion among investors, geopolitical tensions, and changes in monetary policy have contributed to the rupee’s depreciation.
• India’s reliance on imports of crude oil and gold makes it susceptible to price fluctuations in these commodities. Rising prices of these products can directly impact the country’s import bill and overall inflation.

Source: Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: The Tiger Triumph-24 exercise has concluded recently.

Background:

• This exercise reinforces the robust strategic partnership between India and the United States in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

About TIGER TRIUMPH-24 EXERCISE:

• The TIGER TRIUMPH-24 is a bilateral tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise conducted between India and the United States.
• The exercise aimed to develop interoperability for conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations and refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for rapid and smooth coordination between the forces of both countries.
• The exercise included activities such as amphibious landings, setting up field hospitals, and establishing camps for displaced persons.
• It represents the strategic partnership between both nations and their commitment to sharing best practices in multinational HADR operations.
• Participating units included the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force, as well as the US Navy and Marine Corps.

Source: Hindustan Times

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) recently took an unprecedented step by disaffiliating 16 district associations across the country.

Background:

• These districts failed to send teams for the National inter-district junior athletics meet held in Ahmedabad in February.

About ATHLETICS FEDERATION OF INDIA (AFI):

• The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is the apex body responsible for overseeing athletics in India.
• The AFI was formed in 1946 and has since played a crucial role in promoting and managing athletics across the country.
• It is affiliated with World Athletics, the Asian Athletics Association (AAA), and the Indian Olympic Association.
• The AFI has 32 affiliated state units and institutional units.
• The AFI’s efforts contribute significantly to the development and success of Indian athletes on both national and international stages

Responsibilities:

• National Championships: The AFI organizes the National Championships.
• Training and Selection: It trains Indian Athletics National Campers and selects Indian Athletics Teams for various international competitions, including the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and other international meets.
• Promotion and Development: The AFI conducts international and national championships, as well as various meets, to promote the sport and make athletics commercially attractive for further growth.
• Grassroots Promotion: It supervises and assists state units, plans coaching camps, and initiates development programs for grassroots promotion of athletics in India.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 1

Context: The Gujarat Crime Investigation Department (CID) is probing the case of possible illegal immigration related to the Nicaragua-bound plane carrying Indians, which was grounded in France.

Background:

• Days after the statements of passengers in the infamous Nicaragua-bound flight were recorded, theGujarat Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 14 immigration agents for reportedly being involved in human trafficking. The Police have discovered an international network of agents engaged in this operation, offering illegal immigration through the U.S.-Mexico border and the help of attorneys in the U.S. thereon.

Illegal Migration:

• It refers to the transboundary migration of people from one country to another without valid documents, using illegal means.
• In the Indian context, as per the Citizenship Act, of 1955, an illegal migrant is defined as, a foreigner who enters India,
• without a valid passport or other prescribed travel documents, or
• with a valid passport or other prescribed travel documents but remains in India beyond the permitted time period.

Reasons for Illegal Migration:

• Economic factors include poverty, lack of economic opportunities, stagnation of income, etc., that may force an individual or a group to look beyond their home country for better economic opportunities.
• Real or Perceived promise of better opportunities in destination countries. For, the promise of ‘The American Dream’ still attracts a lot of migrants both legal and illegal to the U.S.A.
• Smuggling of migrants is a highly profitable illicit activity with a relatively low risk of detection. As of October 2023, 2925 illegal agents have been notified in India through the e-Migrate portal.
• Political and religious persecution has led to refugees and illegal immigrants from Tibet, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Bangladesh finding shelter in India.
• Overpopulation may lead to a crisis of living space. E.g. In countries like Bangladesh where high population density has led to illegal migration in Northeastern States of India.
• Natural disasters may force people to migrate for survival and better living conditions. E.g., Illegal migration from the Sahel region of Africa due to frequent droughts.
• Social networks established by previous migrants attract more migrants from similar communities, often resulting in migration through illegal routes in the absence of other options.

Impacts of Illegal Migration:

• Illegal and undocumented migrants lack legal safeguards and thus are prone to informal, temporary, or unprotected jobs and even forced labour.
• Illegal migrants are vulnerable to multiple inhumane conditions and criminal offences like assault, rape, or extortion during their arduous journeys or at the destination region.
• Illegal migrants face constant fear of being deported by the authorities and may also be mistreated during detention. E.g., Detention centers in the US for illegal migrants, are often alleged to have poor living conditions impacting the physical, mental, and social health of detainees including children.
• Large-scale illegal migration may distort existing demography and pose a threat to existing socio-cultural identity. The threat to Assamese identity due to illegal migration from Bangladesh has given rise to various socio-political tensions in Assam.
• Often organized criminal groups are involved in smuggling migrants across borders. E.g., US-Mexico Border.

Issues/Challenges in Tackling Illegal Migration:

• Centre in an affidavit filed in SC held that the ‘clandestine and surreptitious’ manner of entry of illegal migrants makes it difficult to have an accurate data collection.
• Porous borders facilitate the flow of illegal migrants across multiple countries using Donkey routes/flights.
• Poor regulation of travel agencies has led to the cropping up of unscrupulous travel and placement agents running illegal operations, particularly in regions where demand for moving abroad is high.
• Lack of coordination due to cross country dimension of international human trafficking networks requires extensive international cooperation of law enforcement agencies.
• Organized criminals have established professional networks that transcend borders and encompass all regions.
• Absence or inadequacy of national legislation to address the smuggling of migrants in many parts of the world.

Source: The Hindu

Q1.) With reference to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), consider the following statements:

1. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is the apex body responsible for overseeing athletics in India.
2. It is affiliated with the Indian Olympic Association.
3. It selects Indian Athletics Teams for various international competitions, including the Olympics.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Q2.) With reference to the Tiger Triumph-24 exercise, consider the following statements:

1. It is a bilateral exercise conducted between India and the United States.
2. The exercise aimed to develop interoperability for conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations and refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for rapid and smooth coordination between the forces of both countries.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

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

Q3.) With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following:

1. Depreciation of Indian rupee
2. Increase in global commodity prices
3. Changes in trade policies

How many of the above causes the imported inflation in India?

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 ’  18th April  2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – d

Q.2) – a

Q.3) – c