DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 17th August 2024

 Syllabus

• Mains – GS 1 & GS 2

Context: A number of recent incidents, including the rape and murder of a young woman at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital last week, brought renewed attention to women’s rights issues in India.

Background:-

• The question of women’s rights, including their right to equality, liberty and security, has been a longstanding issue.

British Interest in the ‘Woman’s Question’ in India

• The British were driven by a mix of Western morality, political strategy, and reformist zeal in addressing the ‘woman’s question’ in India.
• The 1881 Indian census, under Lord Ripon, highlighted a skewed sex ratio due to female foeticide and infanticide.
• The exploitation and sexualisation of Indian women by the ruling classes of the British through a series of Cantonment Acts for regulating prostitution in the British military bases, exploitation of domestic servants through long hours of work with no/low wages and with no kind of legal protection needs to be taken into account.
• They perpetrated forced imprisonment and stigmatisation of women in prostitution through the Contagious Diseases Acts (1864-1869), to fight venereal disease in soldiers stationed in territories under British occupation.
• These laws developed a legacy that had a psychosocial impact on women’s rights, social justice, and the objectification of women’s bodies even today.

Social Reforms in India

• The Bengal Renaissance (late 18th to early 20th century) emerged with the decline of Mughal rule and the East India Company’s rise. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, known as the father of the ‘Indian Renaissance,’ was pivotal in abolishing the practice of Sati in 1829.
• Swami Dayananda Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875, advocating for a revival of Vedic values. Activists like Begum Roquiah Sakhawat Hossain and Rukhmabai Raut campaigned against sati and child marriage.
• Women reformers depended upon their male allies; a fact that has to be closely examined.One can consider in this context the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act of 1856, which was carried through by Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, with the help of many women reformers who had no chance of influencing the formative process of legislation.
• Child Marriage Restraint Act (1929) also known as the Sarda Act, the legislation raised the marriage age to 18 for boys and 14 for girls.

Political Representation

• While several global movements were raising demand for universal adult franchise in the Western countries, Nehru proposed to engage women in the political process, including in franchisee, at the Indian National Congress (INC) meeting in Lucknow in 1937.
• Of the 299 members of the Constituent Assembly, there were only 15 women, including Sarojini Naidu, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Hansa Jivraj Mehta, Durgabai Deshmukh, Renuka Ray, Leela Roy. Dakshayani Velayudhan was the first and only Dalit woman and Begum Aizaz Rasul was the only Muslim representative.
• Later, in the first Lok Sabha, during 1952-1957, only 4.4 percent of the members were women. As of today, only 14% of Lok Sabha seats and about 11% of Rajya Sabha seats are held by women.
• 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (1993): Provided for 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions, increasing grassroots representation.
• Women’s Reservation Bill: This bill proposes reserving 33% of seats for women in state legislatures and Parliament but faces criticism as mere ‘tokenism.’

Economic Challenges

• Labour Participation: Women’s Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is about 25% (2022), with a significant gap compared to men.
• Income Disparity: Women earn about 25-30% less than men, with underrepresentation in high-paid jobs and overrepresentation in low-paid work.
• Farmer Identity: The definition of a ‘farmer’ often excludes women, and male land ownership dominates.
• Mental Health: 30% of suicides in India are of women, highlighting the need for better mental health support and data representation.

Trends in Education and Skill Gaps

• Higher Education: Women constitute about 50% of higher education students, but regional disparities exist.
• Tribal Women Literacy: Literacy among tribal women (59.6% as of 2011) lags behind the general female population (75.6%).
• Challenges in Schooling: High dropout rates among girls at primary and secondary levels persist, despite schemes like the Mid-Day Meal and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.

Socio-Cultural Issues

• Caste and Class Discrimination: Even with Untouchability Offences Act, 1955, and the provisions of Articles 15 and 17, besides the SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, the subtle power of caste and class discrimination that works against women has not ended. An example is that of the Devadasi system, where women were institutionalised as a religious and social entity to worship deities in temples. In this regard, the marginalisation and sexual exploitation of devadasis by priests, patrons, and others led to the passing of Devadasi Abolition Act in 1988. Nevertheless, according to data from the National Commission for Women, there were 48,358 devadasis in India in the year 2011.
• Disability and Marginalisation: About 11.8 million women with disabilities face severe discrimination and marginalization.
• Sexual Violence: Rape remains a significant issue, with a case reported every 16 minutes (NCRB). Legal frameworks like the Nirbhaya Act (2013) and POCSO Act (2012) exist but stigma and underreporting persist.
• Workplace Harassment: The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act (2013) mandates Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs), but issues around implementation and ethics persist.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims – ENVIRONMENT

Context: In a major breakthrough aimed at managing the long-term environmental impact of anthropogenic activity, American researchers have found a method to be able to trace the origin and the destination of forever chemicals.

Background:

• The researchers opted for a technology known as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

About Forever Chemicals

• Forever chemicals, also known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are a group of over 9,000 synthetic (man made) chemicals that have been used in various industries since the 1940s.
• They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment or in the human body, leading to their persistence over time.
• They include a wide range of chemicals, but the most well-known and studied are: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).

Properties and Uses

• PFAS are known for their strong carbon-fluorine bonds, which give them unique properties such as resistance to heat, water, oil, and stains. These properties make them useful in a wide range of products, including:
  • Nonstick cookware : Teflon and other non-stick coatings often contain PFAS.
  • Water-repellent clothing
  • Stain-resistant fabrics and carpets
  • Food packaging: Some food packaging, like microwave popcorn bags and fast-food wrappers, are coated with PFAS to resist grease.
  • Firefighting foams
  • Cosmetics : PFAS can be found in various cosmetics, including foundations, mascaras, and eye shadows, to make them long-lasting and waterproof.

Health Effects

• Exposure to PFAS can occur through contaminated water, food, air, and consumer products. Over time, these chemicals can accumulate in the body and have been linked to various health issues, including:
  • Increased cholesterol levels
  • Changes in liver enzymes
  • Decreased vaccine response in children
  • Increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer
  • Pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia
  • Thyroid disease

Environmental Impact

• PFAS contamination is widespread, affecting water sources, soil, and even wildlife. Because they do not degrade easily, they can remain in the environment for thousands of years, posing long-term ecological risks.

Source: Down To Earth

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – ECONOMY & ENVIRONMENT

Context: Uttarakhand has become the first Indian state to launch a Gross Environment Product Index.

Background:

• It has not just become the first state to launch a GEP Index, but also the first in the world to go beyond ecosystem services to ecosystem growth. Simply put, it does not only calculate what services we get from the environment but also what we put back into the environment.

About Gross Environmental Product (GEP) Index

• The Gross Environmental Product (GEP) Index is an innovative metric designed to measure the environmental health and quality of a region. It goes beyond traditional economic indicators by incorporating ecological factors into its calculations.

Purpose and Significance

• Holistic Measurement: The GEP Index evaluates both the benefits we receive from the environment and the contributions we make to it. This dual approach helps in understanding the overall ecological impact of human activities.
• Sustainability Focus: By quantifying environmental contributions, the GEP Index aims to promote sustainable practices and policies that enhance ecological health.

Components of the GEP Index

• The GEP Index is based on four main pillars:
  • Air Quality: Measures the quality and cleanliness of the air.
  • Water Resources: Assesses the availability and purity of water bodies.
  • Soil Health: Evaluates soil quality and its ability to support plant life.
  • Forest Cover: Considers the extent and health of forested areas.
• The formula for the GEP Index is: GEP Index = Air-GEP Index + Water-GEP Index + Soil-GEP Index + Forest-GEP Index

To simplify, consider this. When a forest is taken into account, it is not just about counting trees. The (new) trees planted are categorised into three categories with the best (broad-leafed) getting greater weightage than say a (least-preferred) pine. The average survival of trees is considered. The number of trees felled for any reason is deducted and then the GEP is calculated. Such a counting also means that the current methods of calculating forest cover- where anything green counted by a satellite goes- will have to be refined. Similarly, for water, a calculation will have to be made of man-made water conservation, storage methods- for example, how many amrit sarovars were made. This is different from nature’s own methods, eg rain that recharges water bodies. Thus, it measures the contribution of human activities to ecological development.

Source: The Week

 Syllabus

• Prelims – ENVIRONMENT

Context: The Panama Canal, a crucial shipping route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, faces an existential threat from climate change.

Background:

• The canal’s operation depends on large amounts of freshwater. Climate change has led to more frequent droughts, reducing the water levels in these lakes. While droughts are a major concern, excessive rainfall can also cause problems by overflowing the lakes. These challenges highlight the broader impacts of climate change on global infrastructure and the need for adaptive strategies to ensure the continued functionality of such critical routes.

About Panama Canal

• The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway located in Panama, Central America.
• It connects the Atlantic Ocean (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean, significantly reducing the travel distance for ships, which would otherwise have to navigate around the southern tip of South America via the Drake Passage or the Strait of Magellan.
• It cuts across the Isthmus of Panama, a narrow strip of land that separates the two oceans.

Importance

• Global Trade: The canal is a critical conduit for international maritime trade, handling a significant portion of the world’s shipping traffic.
• Economic Impact: It greatly reduces travel time and fuel costs for ships, enhancing the efficiency of global trade routes.
• Strategic Value: The canal holds strategic military importance, allowing for rapid naval deployment between the oceans.

Features

• Locks System: The canal’s locks are a system of compartments with gates that function as water elevators, raising ships from sea level to the level of Gatun Lake, which is 26 meters above sea level.
• Gatun Lake: An artificial lake that forms a major part of the canal, providing the necessary water for the lock operations.
• Dimensions: The canal is approximately 82 kilometers (51 miles) long, with locks that can accommodate ships up to 366 meters (1,200 feet) in length and 49 meters (160 feet) in width.
• Expansion: The canal was expanded in 2016 with the addition of a new set of locks, known as the Panama Canal Expansion or the Third Set of Locks, allowing for the passage of larger vessels, known as New Panamax or Neo-Panamax ships.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: Scientists, analyzing seismic data from NASA’s InSight lander, suggest that a vast reservoir of liquid water may exist deep beneath Mars’ surface within fractured igneous rocks, potentially holding enough to cover the planet in a global ocean.

Background:

• The lander measured seismic data over four years, examining how quakes shook the ground and determining what materials or substances were beneath the surface.

Key takeaways

• New seismic data from NASA’s Insights Lander has discovered that a huge reservoir of liquid water may reside deep under the surface of Mars.
• Previous studies have established the presence of frozen water at Martian poles and the evidence that water vapour existed in its atmosphere. But this is the first time that liquid water has been found on the planet.
• Studies have found evidence of water channels and ripples which prove that rivers and lakes did exist on Mars in ancient times. But the planet has been a desert for three billion years as it lost all its water to sun after losing its atmosphere, a protective blanket to life or molecules on surface.
• As life cannot exist without water, the finding indicates the possibility of discovering habitable environments deep underground.
• Studying water’s cycle on Mars is critical for the understanding the evolution of its climate, the outer surface and its interiors.

About InSight Lander

• The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) was a NASA Discovery Program mission that placed a single geophysical lander on Mars to study its deep interior.
• Launched on May 5, 2018, and landing on Mars on November 26, 2018, InSight was more than a Mars mission. It addressed one of the most fundamental issues of planetary science: understanding the processes that shaped the rocky planets of the inner solar system (including Earth) more than four billion years ago.
• Mission ended in December 2022 , but the lander will continue to record seismic waves on the Mars surface for four years.
• The lander has recorded almost 1,319 quakes and by measuring the speed of seismic waves, the scientists have figured out the kind of material likely to exist underground.

Source: Hindustan Times

Q1.) Consider the following statements

1. Uttarakhand has become the first Indian state to launch a Gross Environment Product Index.
2. The Gross Environment Product Index evaluates both the benefits we receive from the environment and the contributions we make to it.

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

Q2.) Panama Canal connects

1. Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea
2. Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean
3. White Sea to the Baltic Sea
4. Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean

Q3.) Consider the following statements about forever chemicals

1. They are known for their strong carbon-fluorine bonds.
2. They do not break down easily in the environment or in the human body.

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 ’  16th August 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  c

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – c