DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 14th September 2024

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context:  The chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has announced plans to seek the extradition of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina from neighbouring India.

Background: –

• Hasina sought refuge in India in August after a mass uprising compelled her to step down. Since her departure, numerous criminal cases have been lodged against her and her aides, encompassing charges of murder, torture, abduction, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Key takeaways

• India and Bangladesh have a bilateral extradition treaty in place that could allow for sheikh Hasina’s return to face trial.

2013 Extradition Treaty (Amended in 2016):

• Originally aimed to address insurgency and terrorism along shared borders.
• Facilitated extradition of fugitives like two convicts in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s assassination and ULFA leader Anup Chetia.

Conditions for Extradition:

• Crimes must carry a minimum sentence of one year.
• Dual criminality required, meaning the offence must be punishable in both countries.
• Since the charges against Ms. Hasina are prosecutable in India, and the penalties for her alleged crimes are also substantial, she qualifies for extradition on these grounds.
• 2016 amendment eased extradition by only requiring an arrest warrant issued by a competent court in the requesting country for initiation of extradition process.

Grounds for Refusal:

• Political Nature: Extradition can be refused for politically motivated offences, but crimes like murder and terrorism are excluded from this exemption.
• Good Faith Clause (Article 8): Extradition can be denied if the accusation is not in good faith or involves military offences not considered general crimes.
• India could potentially refuse extradition on the ground that the charges against Ms. Hasina have not been levelled in good faith and there is a possibility of her being subjected to political persecution or an unfair trial upon her return to Bangladesh.

Implications:

• Extradition is not guaranteed and will depend on diplomatic negotiations.
• Denial of the request may only cause minor political tension without significantly impacting bilateral relations as per experts.
• Bangladesh is India’s largest trade partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade valued at $15.9 billion in FY 2022-23.
• India has pledged continued support to Bangladesh under the new interim government, despite the regime change.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2

Context: The “India Status Report on Road Safety 2024,” prepared by the TRIP Centre at IIT Delhi, highlights India’s slow progress in meeting goal of reducing road accident fatalities.

Background: –

• The report analyses road safety in India, using data from First Information Reports (FIRs) from six States and audits of State compliance with Supreme Court directives on road safety governance.

Key takeaways from the report

• India is lagging in reducing road accident fatalities and is unlikely to meet the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety goal of halving traffic deaths by 2030.
• Public Health Challenge:
  • Road traffic injuries were the 13th leading cause of death and the 12th leading cause of health loss in India in 2021.
  • In some States (Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh), road injuries rank among the top 10 causes of health loss.
• Need for Crash Surveillance:
  • India’s national road safety data systems are insufficient for guiding public policy.
  • Currently, there is no national crash-level database. Road safety statistics at both State and national levels are compiled from individual police station records, which are aggregated at district, State, and national levels before being published. These tables allow only the most basic analyses, preventing effective intervention or program evaluation.
• Significant variance in road safety across States:
  • Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh recorded the highest death rates, at 21.9, 19.2, and 17.6 per 1,00,000 people, respectively.
  • In contrast, West Bengal and Bihar had the lowest rates, at 5.9 per 1,00,000 in 2021
  • Six States – Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu – account for nearly half of all traffic fatalities.
  • Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists are the most affected; trucks are the leading impacting vehicles.
• Traffic Safety Gaps:
  • Helmet usage is low in rural areas, especially among motorcyclists.
  • Only eight States have audited more than half of their National Highway lengths, and very few States have done the same for their State Highways.
  • Basic traffic safety measures, including traffic calming, markings, and signage, are still lacking in most States.
• Global Comparison: India fares poorly in comparison to developed nations, with road fatalities much higher in 2021 compared to 1990, indicating worsening road safety conditions.
• The report questions whether better-equipped vehicles with more advanced safety features are the solution, given that two-wheeler riders, cyclists, and motorcyclists represent the majority of road fatalities.

Way Forward:

• Central and State governments need to scale up road safety interventions.
• Establish a national fatal crash database with public access to improve risk understanding and intervention effectiveness.
• Tailored strategies are essential to address the diverse road safety challenges across different States.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Mains – ENVIRONMENT

Context:  Carbon dioxide emissions from India’s transport sector could be reduced up to 71 per cent by 2050 if high-ambition strategies are adopted on few parameters, said a new study by World Resources Institute (WRI) India.

Background:

• The study noted that following a high emission reduction target in the transport sector would also be pivotal in achieving India’s net-zero target by 2070.

Key takeaways

• Emission Reduction Potential: India’s transport sector CO2 emissions could be reduced by up to 71% by 2050 with high-ambition strategies on:
  • Electrification of vehicles.
  • Improved fuel economy standards.
  • Shifting to cleaner modes of transport.
• Current Emissions: India’s transport sector accounted for 14% of total energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020. 90% of these emissions came from road transport, with major contributors being: Two-wheelers: 16%, Cars: 25%, Buses: 9%, Freight LDVs: 8%, Freight HDVs: 45%.
• The study, using the energy policy simulator, found that simultaneously implementing fuel economy, electrification, and modal shift strategies at their highest levels can lead to a 71% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 compared to the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario.
• Adding a carbon-free electricity standard (75% renewable energy) could result in a 75% reduction by 2050.
• Decarbonising India’s transport sector can be achieved by implementing least-cost policies.
• The simulation suggests that shifting to low-carbon transport for both freight and passenger segments is the most cost-effective policy in the long term, with estimated savings of Rs. 12,118 per tCO2 (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) abated.
• The mandate of expanding electric vehicle sales is most effective in terms of CO2 emissions reduction, with an annual abatement potential of 121 MtCO2e (Metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent).
• The study added that the decarbonisation of electricity generation could complement the electrification targets in the transport sector.

Business-as-Usual (BAU) Scenario:

• Without any changes, the consumption of fossil fuels is expected to quadruple over the next three decades. Such consumption will be driven by passenger travel demand, which is estimated to triple between 2020 and 2050, and freight travel demand, which is likely to increase seven times during the same period.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Detailed 3D images of the first tardigrade fossils ever discovered have helped scientists predict when tardigrades evolved their near-indestructibility (tun state)— a trait that might have helped them survive multiple mass extinctions.

Background: –

• Researchers have reexamined ancient fossils trapped in amber, uncovering when these tiny creatures first developed their ability to enter a “tun state.” This special state allows them to survive in harsh conditions by shutting down their bodies.

About Tardigrades

• Tardigrades, also called “water bears” or “moss piglets,” are tiny, water-dwelling micro-animals measuring just 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters in length.
• Body Structure: They have a cylindrical shape with four segments, each bearing a pair of legs. Each leg ends in tiny claws or suction disks.

• They are known for their toughness and ability to survive in extreme environments.

Unique Survival Abilities:

• Tun State: Tardigrades can enter a “tun state,” where they lose almost all water from their bodies and  and shrivels into a structure about one-third its original size, called a tun. In this state, their metabolism slows down drastically, helping them survive extreme conditions.
• A tun state is a type of cryptobiosis. Cryptobiosis is a reversible ametabolic state—the suspension of metabolism—that has inevitably been compared to death and resurrection. In the cryptobiotic state, all measurable metabolic processes stop, preventing reproduction, development, and repair.
• This death-like survival state could have helped tardigrades survive several major extinction events dating back to the Permian extinction, or Great Dying, around 252 million years ago, when massive volcanic explosions triggered uninhabitable changes in the Earth’s climate.
• Extreme Survivors: They can withstand:
  • Temperatures from -272°C to 150°C.
  • The vacuum of space and intense radiation (They possess a unique protein called Dsup (damage suppressor) that protects their DNA from radiation)
  • High pressures that are several times greater than those found in the deepest ocean trenches.
  • Desiccation (drying out) for decades and then revive when exposed to water.
• Where are they found?
  • Tardigrades live almost everywhere on Earth, from mountaintops to ocean floors and from tropical rainforests to Antarctica. They are often found in moss, lichen, soil, and leaf litter.
• Diet: Tardigrades feed on plant cells, algae, and small invertebrates. Some species are even known to eat other tardigrades.
• Reproduction: They reproduce both sexually and asexually (parthenogenesis). Female tardigrades lay eggs, which can hatch into new tardigrades.
• Scientific Importance: Tardigrades are studied for their ability to repair DNA, protect cells from radiation, and survive desiccation. Understanding these mechanisms might have implications for medical research and space exploration.

Source: Live Science

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRRENT EVENT

Context: Mexico reformed its judicial appointment process and became the first country to allow voters to elect judges at all levels. The reform also allows cases involving organised crime to be heard by judges who do not have to reveal their identity. The idea behind “faceless” judges is to protect them from threats.

Background: –

• Opponents — including court employees and law students — have held a series of protests against the plan, under which all judges including local, high-level and Supreme Court judges would be chosen by popular vote.

Arguments raised in support of the reforms

• Accountability to the Public: Electing judges through popular vote ensures that they are directly accountable to the citizens, promoting transparency and responsiveness.
• Reduction of Elite Influence: Supporters argue that the reform will reduce the judiciary’s dependence on the elite and powerful groups, as claimed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has accused the judiciary of serving white-collar crime.
• Strengthening Democracy: Proponents see this reform as a way to further democratize the judiciary, aligning it with the will of the people rather than allowing lifetime appointments where judges are insulated from public opinion.
• The introduction of anonymous judges in organized crime cases is intended to protect judges from threats, enhancing their personal security in dangerous trials.

Arguments against the reforms

• Threat to Judicial Independence: Critics argue that the reform threatens the independence of judges, as they may prioritize popular decisions over impartial and legally sound rulings to win votes.
• Undermining Checks and Balances: Electing judges could weaken Mexico’s system of checks and balances, potentially giving the executive branch more influence over the judiciary, compromising the separation of powers.
• Risk of Politicization: Elections could make judicial positions more political, with judges campaigning for votes, which could lead to biased rulings influenced by public opinion rather than law and justice.
• Potential for Unfair Trials: The reform’s provision for “faceless judges” in organized crime cases has raised concerns from human rights bodies which argues that it undermines the right to a fair trial by obscuring potential conflicts of interest.
• Economic Impact: Investors have expressed concern about the reforms, as demonstrated by the fall in the peso (Mexican Currency) ahead of the vote, fearing the destabilization of the judicial system and its potential impact on Mexico’s economy.
• International Concerns: US voiced concerns that electing judges directly may pose a significant risk to Mexico’s democracy, reflecting apprehension from international observers.

Additional information : About Mexico

• Location: Mexico is located in southern North America, bordered by the United States to the north, Guatemala and Belize to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to the east.
• About 80% of Mexicans live in urban areas, with Mexico City being the largest and most populous city.
• Government Type: Mexico is a federal republic with a president as the head of state and government.
• GDP: It is one of the largest economies in Latin America, with a GDP (PPP) estimated at $3.434 trillion in 2024.

Source: BBC

Q1.) Consider the following statements regarding the geographical location of Mexico:

1. Mexico is bordered by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
2. The Tropic of Cancer passes through Mexico.
3. Mexico shares its northern border with Guatemala and Belize.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q2.) Consider the following statements regarding the geographical relationship between India and Bangladesh:

1. The Brahmaputra River originates in Bangladesh and flows into India.
2. The Sundarbans mangrove forest is located in the delta region of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and is shared by both India and Bangladesh.
3. Bangladesh is bordered by the Bay of Bengal to the west and south.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q3.) Consider the following statements regarding Tardigrades:

1. Tardigrades can enter a “tun state,” a form of cryptobiosis, where their metabolic activity is completely suspended, allowing them to survive extreme conditions.
2. The protein Dsup found in tardigrades helps protect their DNA from radiation damage.
3. Tardigrades are exclusively found in cold, polar regions and cannot survive in warmer climates.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  14th September 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  a

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – a