DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 26th July 2024

 Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2 & GS 3

Context: Recently, three workers died of asphyxiation inside an illegal coal mine in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district.

Background:

• The Surendranagar incident is not an isolated case. In June 2023, an illegal mine collapse in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand tragically claimed the lives of three people, including a ten-year-old child. Similarly, in October 2023, at least three individuals perished in Paschim Bardhaman district, West Bengal, due to a coal mine collapse during illegal extraction.

About Coal mining in India

• Coal in India was nationalised in two phases: first with the coking coal (used for the production of coke in the steel industry) in 1971-72; and then with the non-coking coal mines in 1973.
• The Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 is the central legislation that determines eligibility for coal mining in India.
• Illegal mining constitutes a law and order problem, which is a State list subject. Hence, the onus of dealing with it falls on State governments.

Why is illegal coal mining rampant in India?

• According to the Ministry of Coal, illegal mining in India is mostly carried out in abandoned mines or shallow coal seams in remote or isolated places.

Several factors contribute to illegal coal mining in India:

• Coal, the most abundant fossil fuel in India, meets 55% of the country’s energy needs. The high demand for power often exceeds the legal supply of coal, leading to illegal mining.
• Coal-rich areas are often near impoverished communities, leading to illegal mining due to poverty and unemployment.
• In remote areas, inadequate monitoring and lack of resources lead to weak enforcement of regulations. This fosters the rise of “coal mafias,” as seen in multiple illegal coal mining cases in India. For instance, in 2018, activist Marshall Biam of the North East Indigenous People’s Federation accused a “police-backed” coal gang of threatening him. Mining tragedies are common in coal-rich Meghalaya.
• Illegal coal mining often receives tacit support from political leaders, making it difficult to curb. Despite a 2014 NGT ban, illegal rat-hole mining persists in Assam, Meghalaya, and other northeastern states, allegedly with political and official collusion.
• Illegal mining often employs rudimentary techniques like surface mining and rat-hole mining instead of the scientific methods used in legal operations. In areas with shallow coal seams, illegal miners use limited safety equipment. The low operational costs and high profits make illegal mining lucrative.
• Illegal coal mining is not new; it predates coal nationalization. In many areas, local economies depend on mining, and when official mining operations end, illegal mining supports the community.

Source: Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – SECURITY ISSUES

Context: Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on 26th July, commemorates India’s victory over Pakistan and honors the sacrifices of soldiers who overcame immense challenges to achieve victory in Kargil.

Background:-

• India’s hard-fought victory in the Kargil War illustrated the timeless challenges posed by combat at high altitude – challenges which are as deadly, if not more, than the enemy itself.

The Kargil War

• The conflict began when Pakistani infiltrators crossed the LoC and occupied high positions in Kargil, Ladakh. Initially reported to the Indian Army on May 3, these infiltrators were thought to be jihadists. However, over the following weeks, the scale of the invasion revealed undeniable involvement by the Pakistani state.
• Between mid-May and July, the Indian forces slowly recaptured critical positions from the Pakistanis, in the face of heavy casualties. The Army announcing the complete withdrawal of all Pakistani regular and irregular troops from Kargil on July 26.
• Beyond the enemy infiltrators, who were well-armed and supported by non-stop shelling from the Pakistani side, the conditions of Kargil were a challenge in and of themselves.

Trial by altitude

• Kargil is located at the northern edge of the LoC, some 200 km northeast of Srinagar and 230 km west of Leh. Kargil town lies at an altitude of 2,676 m (8,780 ft), Dras lies at a height of 3,300 m (10,800 ft), and the surrounding peaks rise to altitudes of 4,800 m (16,000 ft) to 5,500 m (18,000 ft).
• These extreme heights cause severe physiological effects on the one’s body — and equipment.
• The first challenge was the crippling cold. The battlefield in Kargil lay in a cold desert where winter temperatures dropped to as low as -30 degrees Celsius. Even in summer, frigid winds and a barren landscape made it inhospitable. The cold affected both men and machines, with guns jamming and soldiers expending great energy to stay warm.
• The second challenge was the thin air and reduced oxygen levels, causing acute mountain sickness (AMS) among soldiers, with symptoms like headaches, nausea, and fatigue. This low air pressure weakened soldiers and impacted weapon and aircraft performance. While it increased projectile range, accuracy suffered, and aircraft engines produced less power, with helicopters experiencing reduced rotor efficiency.
• Lastly, the terrain  imposed significant restrictions on soldiers. It reduced mobility, provided cover to the enemy, and limited the scope of operations. During the Kargil War, the Indian Army was at a particular disadvantage with the enemy occupying high positions overlooking the positions held by Indians.

Victory against all odds

• Against relentless enemy fire and unforgiving conditions, the Indian Army freed Kargil’s peaks of Pakistani intruders.
• The early stages of the war revealed crucial lessons, as both the Army and Air Force found themselves unprepared for large-scale high-altitude combat. Many soldiers suffered from AMS, leading to some casualties, and inadequate cold-weather gear posed additional challenges. Meanwhile, the difficult terrain and Pakistan’s persistent shelling of NH 1A created significant logistical issues.
• The Army adapted its methods to address these challenges by implementing acclimatization and training programs for soldiers. Improved cold-weather equipment was procured, though shortages persisted. High-altitude assault techniques were refined, shifting from daytime frontal attacks to small groups scaling near-vertical terrain.
• The Army’s key strategy involved combining overwhelming firepower with daring maneuvers. Massive artillery barrages preceded all attacks. Given limitations of providing air cover to the ground forces due to the altitude and the terrain, the Army relied heavily on artillery, particularly the Bofors gun, whose range nearly doubled in Kargil’s thin air.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Researchers have discovered “dark oxygen” being produced in the deep ocean.

Background:

• The recent study published in Nature Geoscience, a journal dedicated to Earth sciences research, shows oxygen emitted from mineral deposits 4,000 meters (about 13,000 feet) below the ocean’s surface on the seafloor of the Pacific Ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ).

Key takeaways

• Oxygen is essential for life on Earth, and we’ve long associated it with photosynthesis—the process by which plants and algae produce oxygen using sunlight.
• However, recent discovery challenge this understanding. Scientists have found evidence of an additional source of oxygen called dark oxygen.

What Is Dark Oxygen?:

• Dark oxygen is produced deep under the sea without sunlight.
• Polymetallic nodules, which are naturally occurring mineral masses found on the ocean floor, play a crucial role in this newly discovered process. These nodules, made up of metals like manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium, can generate oxygen through electrochemical activity even in the absence of light.

Implications and Significance:

• Until now, we believed that all oxygen came from photosynthetic organisms (plants and algae).
• Dark oxygen challenges this notion, suggesting that there might be alternative oxygen sources.
• It raises intriguing questions about the origins of life on Earth.

Where Did Dark Oxygen Come From?:

• Scientists discovered dark oxygen at a depth of 4,000 meters (about 13,000 feet) below the ocean’s surface , specifically from the pacific ocean’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ).
• The fact that it’s produced without sunlight implies that life might have existed before photosynthesis emerged.

Source: Hindustantimes

Syllabus

• Prelims – ECONOMY

Context: Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran recently said that private investors need to “walk the talk” on prioritising sustainable investments citing the low “greenium” from them on India’s sovereign green bond offerings.

Background:

• Chief Economic Advisor’s statement highlights an important challenge faced by India and other countries: encouraging private investors to actively support sustainable projects.

About GREENIUM :

• The term greenium, also known as the green premium, refers to a pricing benefit associated with green bonds.
• The greenium represents the difference in yield between a green bond and a conventional bond issued by the same entity.
• Green bonds typically offer lower interest rates (yields) compared to traditional government securities (like regular government bonds).
• Investors are willing to accept these lower yields because of the appeal of sustainability. They prioritize supporting environmentally friendly projects.
• Long-term green projects are associated with reduced physical and financial risk. Investors are willing to settle for lower returns due to this reduced risk.
• As a result, issuers benefit from the cost savings (the greenium) on coupon payments for green bonds.

Green Bonds:

• Green bonds are debt instruments issued by governments, corporations, or other entities to fund specific projects or activities that have positive environmental impacts.
• These projects are categorized as “green” based on national or international green taxonomies.
• Examples include renewable energy projects, electric buses, and energy-efficient initiatives.

Source: Money Control

Syllabus

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The Department of Posts releases a beta version of DIGIPIN (Digital Postal Index Number) for public comments and expert opinion.

Background:

• The concept of a standardized, geo-coded system like DIGIPIN can greatly enhance efficiency and accuracy in delivering services.

About DIGIPIN :

• Digital Postal Index Number (DIGIPIN) is an initiative by the Department of Posts in India.

Purpose and Objective:

• DIGIPIN aims to establish a geo-coded addressing system across India.
• It is designed to create a National Addressing Grid and simplify addressing solutions for citizen-centric delivery of public and private services.

Development and Collaboration:

• The Department of Posts developed DIGIPIN in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad.
• It serves as a strong and robust pillar for Geospatial Governance and acts as a base layer for other ecosystems.

Features:

• DIGIPIN allows for logical location of addresses with directional properties built into it.
• It provides a unique code for each location, facilitating precise identification.

Significance:

• As India continues to digitize and improve its postal services, DIGIPIN plays a crucial role in enhancing address accuracy and accessibility.

Source: PTI

Q1.) With reference to the Digital Postal Index Number (DIGIPIN), consider the following statements:

1. Digital Postal Index Number is an initiative by the Department of Posts in India.
2. DIGIPIN aims to establish a geo-coded addressing system across India.
3. It is designed to create a National Addressing Grid and simplify addressing solutions for citizen-centric delivery of public and private services.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1,2 and 3

Q2.)Polymetallic nodules, recently seen in news, are found in

1. Ocean floor
2. Shallow coal mines
3. High altitude regions
4. None of the above

Q3.) With reference to the greenium, consider the following statements:

1. The greenium represents the difference in yield between a green bond and a conventional bond issued by the same entity.
2. Green bonds typically offer higher interest rates compared to traditional government securities.

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 ’  26th July 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  d

Q.2) – a

Q.3) – a