DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam –4th May 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – Geography

Context: April has been abnormally hot. In the first 26 days of the month, either a small pocket or a considerably large geographical area in India experienced heatwave conditions, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Background:-

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports and analysis of weather models clearly indicate that heatwaves in India shall no longer remain contained over only those regions traditionally believed to be prone. Newer areas, especially from the southern peninsular India,  are already experiencing heatwaves.

Which areas in India are prone to heatwaves?

• The Core Heatwave Zone (CHZ) spanning central, north, and peninsular India between Gujarat and West Bengal is prone to heatwave conditions every year, during the summer season March to June and occasionally in July.
• Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, West Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, parts of Gangetic West Bengal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are the most heatwave-prone states or regions.

When does IMD declare a heatwave?

• IMD declares a heatwave when the normal maximum temperature recorded over at least two localities in plains touches 40 degree Celsius or exceeds 4.5 degree Celsius from normal.  Heatwave is declared in hilly and coastal regions when temperatures cross 30 degree Celsius and 37 degree Celsius respectively.
• A severe heatwave is declared if the temperature departure exceeds 6 degree Celsius from normal.

Why has April been so hot?

• One, 2024 is a year that began in an El Niño state.
• El Niño, is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which leads to extreme heat in many parts of the world and the ocean. It developed in June 2023 and generally, the years which begin in an El Niño state, experience extreme temperatures, harsh, multiple and extended heatwave spells, and lack of pre-monsoon rainfall.
• Two, the persistent presence of anticyclone systems over southern peninsular and southeastern coastal areas is also partly responsible for such a hot April. These high-pressure systems, which exist at about the altitude of 3 km and extend between 1,000 and 2,000 km in length,  push the air underneath them towards the Earth, in a process called air subsidence. As a result, the forcefully sunk air generates more heat on the surface closer to the Earth.
• The presence of anticyclone systems also leads to wind flow from land towards the sea and prevents the incoming cooler sea breeze, which is otherwise responsible for cooling land from time to time.
• El Niño and anticyclone systems collectively created sweltering hot conditions and heatwaves during April, especially over Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.

What has been the extent of heatwaves this April?

• Except for four days (April 1, 10, 11 and 12), a small pocket or a considerably large geographical area of the country experienced either heatwave or severe heatwave conditions, according to the IMD.
• The worst affected were southern peninsular India and the southeastern coast areas, including Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu along with large areas of Karnataka, Kerala, Sikkim, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal.
• The inclusion of Kerala and Sikkim to the list of heatwave-affected areas indicates that the temperatures are rapidly rising during summers over regions outside that of the CHZ.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims – Art & Culture

Context: The first generation women patachitra artists of West Bengal sell their work online & are recognised world over, encouraging future generations to stay in the profession

Background:

• Patachitra or Pattachitra is a general term for traditional, cloth-based scroll painting, based in the eastern Indian states of Odisha, West Bengal and parts of Bangladesh. Patachitra artform is known for its intricate details as well as mythological narratives and folktales inscribed in it.

About Patachitra Painting :

• Patachitra painting dates back to the 12th century and its origins can be traced to the modern-day state of Odisha.
• Pattachitra is one of the ancient artworks of Odisha, originally created for ritual use and as souvenirs for pilgrims to Puri, as well as other temples in Odisha
• The word ‘patachitra’ is a combination of two words in the Sanskrit language, where ‘pata’ means ‘cloth’ and ‘chitra’ means ‘picture’.
• It is a narrative scroll art and a form of storytelling, focusing on themes of mythology and culture.
• It is difficult to determine the exact year when Patachitra as an art form reached Bengal but art historians believe that it occurred approximately three centuries ago. When people migrated from Odisha to Bengal back then, they brought the tradition of Patachitra with them. In their native homeland, they would worship Durga on Patachitra and carried this form of worship when they travelled to Bengal.

Source: Down To Earth

Syllabus

• Prelims – Polity

Context: The Allahabad High Court recently observed that orders issued by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, are subject to appeal solely to the Supreme Court and not the High Court.

Background:

• While the High Courts retain jurisdiction under Article 226/227 for orders issued under Section 14(1) of the Administrative Tribunals Act, orders falling under Section 17 of the Act are appealable solely to the Supreme Court.

About CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT I971

• The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, is an important statute in India that defines and limits the powers of courts in punishing contempts of courts.
• It also regulates their procedure in relation to contempt proceedings.
• The act defines contempt of court as any act that scandalizes or tends to scandalize, prejudices, or interferes with the administration of justice.
• The Act distinguishes between civil and criminal contempt.
• Civil contempt refers to willful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ, or other process of a court, or willful breach of an undertaking given to a court.
• Criminal contempt includes any act that scandalizes or tends to scandalize, or lowers the authority of the court, prejudices, or interferes with judicial proceedings, or obstructs the administration of justice.
• The Act provides protection for the innocent publication and distribution of matter not considered contempt, ensuring freedom of expression while respecting the course of justice.
• It allows for fair and accurate reporting of judicial proceedings and fair criticism of judicial acts without constituting contempt of court.
• High Courts have the power to punish contempts of subordinate courts and to try offences committed outside their jurisdiction.
• The Act outlines the punishment for contempt of court, which can include imprisonment or fine.

Source: Livelaw

Syllabus

• Prelims – Geography

Context: North Korea recently fired a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.

Background:

• These missile tests are closely monitored by neighboring countries and the international community due to their potential implications for regional security.

About SEA OF JAPAN:

• The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea located between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East.
• The Japanese archipelago separates the Sea of Japan from the Pacific Ocean.

The Sea of Japan is bordered by the following countries:

• Japan: To the east and south, with major islands like Hokkaidō, Honshū, and Kyūshū.
• Russia: To the north, including the mainland and Sakhalin Island.
• North Korea: To the west, across the sea from Japan.
• South Korea: Also, to the west, separated from Japan by the Korea Strait.

Source: NDTV

Syllabus

• Prelims – Geography

Context: Recently, a deadly tornado struck in West Bengal and killed five people and injured over a 100.

Background:

• In recent years, an increasing number of tornadoes have formed across India and caused destruction. A warming Bay of Bengal and land, along with anomalous wind patterns could be a reason behind this.

About TORNADO

• A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a cumulonimbus cloud to the Earth’s surface.
• It forms during severe thunderstorms.
• Unlike cyclones (which are large-scale weather systems), tornadoes are local and short-lived.
• The formation of a tornado involves a complex interaction between a supercell (a long-lived thunderstorm with a deep, persistently rotating updraft) and the environment.
• Wind shear (changes in wind speed and direction with height) plays a crucial role in creating the necessary conditions for tornado development.
• Tornadoes are more likely to occur in regions where warm, moist air near the surface interacts with cooler, drier air aloft.

Composition and Impact:

• Tornadoes consist of air, water droplets, dust, and debris.
• The visible funnel is primarily made of water droplets formed from condensation, along with dust and debris picked up from the ground.
• The core of the storm contains the lowest pressure and highest wind speeds, causing the most significant damage.
• Tornadoes can destroy buildings, homes, bridges, vehicles, uproot trees, and alter landscapes.
• The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) rates tornado intensity based on the damage they cause, ranging from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest).

Source: Down To Earth

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2

Context: During extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis held recently, the leaders aimed to inject “new energy” into their bilateral ties.

Background:

• India’s contacts with Greece began over 2500 years ago. Trading between the Mauryan Kings and Greece is evidenced by coinage and writings. In 326 BC, Alexander the Great invaded the North-Western part of the Indian subcontinent as far as the Hyphasis (Beas River), and fought with Raja Puru, King of Pauravaa – between the Jhelum and Chenab), and Ambhi who ruled at Taxila.He did not cross the Indus into India; and turned South and apparently went back to Babylon.

India and Greece Relations:

• Greece has historical linkages with India as Chanakya, in Chandragupta’s Court records in Arthashastra mentioned the Yavan Ambassador in the Kings’ court, named Megasthenes. Trading between Mauryan Kings and Greece is evidenced by coinage and writings. Gandhara art is believed to be a fusion of Indian and Greek influences.
• Diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1950. Greece opened its Embassy in Delhi in 1950 and India in Athens in 1978.
• Agreement on Science and Technology was ratified by both sides to encourage and support cooperation in the science and technology field based on equality and mutual benefit.
• Greece supported India’s membership at NSG (National Supplier Group) and bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
• India’s relations with Greece and Armenia are crucial in the context of an emerging Turkey-Pakistan-Azerbaijan military axis (often referred to as the Three Brothers) and can counter increased Chinese presence in the region.
• Greece borders the Mediterranean Sea, which covers three continents, i.e., Asia, Africa, and Europe, and thus can help enhance India’s outreach to the Mediterranean region. The Mediterranean region is vital for India’s Indo-Pacific policy.
• India is exploring a multi-modal link between Mumbai and the European mainland via the Greek transhipment port of Piraeus. This will allow much faster shipment of Indian goods to markets in the entire Eurasian region.
• The Mediterranean region can be a potential source to meet India’s increasing energy demand and enhance energy security given its vast resources of oil (1.7 billion barrels) and gas (112 trillion cubic feet). Greece’s abundant sunshine and its robust wind energy capacity present substantial untapped opportunities for electricity generation.
• With Greece expanding its defence expenditure from US$5 billion to 8.4 billion (2019- 2022), it can act as a potential market for India’s defence exports. India and Greece have engaged in joint naval exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and multinational air force exercise INIOCHOS-23.

Issues/Concerns associated with India- Greece Relations:

• The absence of high-level interaction in four decades has resulted in a lack of strong strategic connections.
• Chinese state-owned shipping company COSCO has approx. 60% stake in the Piraeus port and thus can hamper India’s connectivity plans and trade opportunities through the port.
• India’s trade relations with Greece face challenges characterised by limited business opportunities, insufficient investment and capital inflow, a shortage of enterprises capable of bolstering exports, etc.

Way Forward:

• Greece and Cyprus are two EU member states that can act as a bridge between the European Union and India, and thus, urgent steps are required to strengthen bilateral ties.
• India can extend its Line of Credit, utilise its soft power and diaspora to counter China’s presence and provide an alternative to China’s Debt Trap Policy.
• Collaborate on tourism promotion efforts, including joint marketing campaigns and improved air connectivity. Greece is emerging as a popular tourist destination among Indians.
• Enhance cooperation on maritime security, including information sharing and joint naval exercises.

Source: MEA

Q1.) Consider the following countries:

1. Japan
2. Russia
3. North Korea
4. South Korea
5. China
6. Philippines

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only two
2. Only three
3. Only four
4. Only five   

Q2.) With reference to Tornados, consider the following statements:

1. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a cumulonimbus cloud to the Earth’s surface.
2. Tornadoes are more likely to occur in regions where warm, moist air near the surface interacts with cooler, drier air aloft.

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

Q3.) With reference to the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, consider the following statements:

1. The Act distinguishes between civil and criminal contempt.
2. The Act provides protection for the innocent publication and distribution of matter not considered contempt.
3. High Courts have the power to punish contempts of subordinate courts.

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 ’  4th May 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – c

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – b