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

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – GEOGRAPHY

Context: Millions of people in Southeast Asia continue to struggle with torrential rains, floods, and landslides triggered by Typhoon Yagi — the strongest tropical cyclone Asia has seen this year and the second most powerful storm in the world so far this year after Hurricane Beryl.

Background: –

• While Typhoon Yagi has severely impacted multiple countries, including the Philippines, China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, it has hit Vietnam the hardest, where the death toll stands at around 233.

Key takeaways

• Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters near the equator. When the warm, moist air from the ocean surface rises upward, a lower air pressure area is formed below. Air from surrounding areas with higher air pressure rushes into this low pressure area, eventually rising, after it also becomes warm and moist.
• As warm, moist air rises, it cools down, and the water in the air forms clouds and thunderstorms. This whole system of clouds and winds gains strength and momentum using the ocean’s heat, and the water that evaporates from its surface.
• Typhoon Yagi started as a tropical storm in the western Philippine Sea on September 1. It made landfall in the Philippines the next day and started to weaken.
• However, due to unusually warm waters in the South China Sea, the storm intensified again. By September 4, it strengthened into a strong typhoon with Category 3 winds.
• The next day, it became a Category 5 typhoon with peak maximum sustained winds of 260 kmph.
• The category of a tropical cyclone is determined by its sustained wind speed, as measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It is classified into five categories — Category 1 to Category 5. While Category 1 tropical cyclones bring winds of 119 to 153 kmph, Category 5 tropical cyclones, which are the strongest, have winds of 252 kmph or higher. Storms that reach Category 3 and higher are considered major tropical cyclones due to their potential to inflict significant damage.

Additional information: What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?

• Hurricanes and typhoons are the same weather phenomenon: tropical cyclones.
• A tropical cyclone is a generic term used by meteorologists to describe a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, low-level circulation.
• The weakest tropical cyclones are called tropical depressions. If a depression intensifies such that its maximum sustained winds reach 63 kmph, the tropical cyclone becomes a tropical storm.  Once a tropical cyclone reaches maximum sustained winds of 119 kmph or higher, it is then classified as a hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone, depending upon where the storm originates in the world.
• In the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific, the term hurricane is used. The same type of disturbance in the Northwest Pacific is called a typhoon.
• Meanwhile, in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the generic term tropical cyclone is used, regardless of the strength of the wind associated with the weather system.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Mains – ENVIRONMENT

Context: Delhi recently hosted a first-of-its-kind dialogue on the conservation, restoration and governance of common resources such as forests, community lands, and water bodies like lakes or rivers, all usually referred to just as Commons.

Background: –

• Nearly one-fourth of India’s landmass, about 205 million acres, is estimated to be Commons.

Key takeaways

• Commons is a term used to refer to resources that are not owned by any individual or group or the government, but belong to, and are shared by, the community as a whole. Forests, local ponds, grazing lands, rivers, sacred sites, parks and lakes are all Commons.
• Commons could be intangible too. Language, folk art or dance, local customs, and traditional knowledge are all shared resources, and thus are Commons.
• In the digital age, most Internet and open-source software are Commons. Digital resources with creative commons licences are meant to be used freely by everyone.
• At the international level, the polar regions, the Arctic and Antarctica, are considered global Commons. No country is allowed to take ownership of these areas, even though everyone can use them for certain activities. Outer space, the Moon, and other planetary bodies are also global Commons.
• Commons are critical for several reasons. They provide a variety of ecological and other services that are beneficial for the entire community.
• As these resources are accessible to all, they face a greater threat of over-exploitation and damage. Since no one owns Commons, the responsibility of maintenance and upkeep often becomes a problem. Commons have also come under increased stress due to climate change.
• Different kinds of governance mechanisms have evolved to manage Commons depending on the context. There are international agreements, for instance, for the use and management of polar regions, outer space, and high seas.
• In India, the 2006 Forest Rights Act (FRA) is considered a good template for managing common forest resources.

Additional mInformation: what is the tragedy of the commons?

• The tragedy of the commons refers to a situation in which individuals with access to a public resource—also called a common—act in their own interest and, in doing so, ultimately deplete the resource.
• This economic theory was conceptualized in 1833 by British writer William Forster Lloyd. In 1968, the term “tragedy of the commons” was used for the first time by Garret Hardin in Science Magazine.
• This theory explains individuals’ tendency to make decisions based on their personal needs, regardless of the negative impact it may have on others. In some cases, an individual’s belief that others won’t act in the best interest of the group can lead them to justify selfish behavior.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – POLITY

Context:  The recent spate of renewed violence in Manipur has once again triggered the discussion around Centre-State relations and the use of emergency provisions by the Centre.

Background:

• Large-scale violence against innocent civilians, women and children; looting of ammunition from police armoury; drone and missile attacks targeting civilians cannot be viewed as just an ordinary breakdown of law and order.

Key takeaways

• India operates as a federation with governments at both the Centre and State levels. The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution distributes powers between them. Maintaining law and order is primarily the responsibility of State governments.

Emergency Provisions:

• The emergency provisions are found in Part XVIII of the Constitution.
• Articles 355 and 356 deal primarily with the affairs of government in a State under this part.
• Article 355 obliges the Centre to protect States from external aggression and internal disturbance and ensure State governments function according to the Constitution.
• Article 356 allows for President’s rule if a State government fails to operate in line with constitutional provisions. While similar federal roles exist in countries like the U.S., they lack provisions to remove State governments.
• R. Ambedkar emphasized that Article 355 ensures the Centre only intervenes under constitutional duty, preventing misuse of Article 356.

Judicial Interpretations:

• Ambedkar had hoped that Articles 355 and 356 would remain inactive, but Article 356 has been misused in the past to remove State governments. This changed after the S.R. Bommai case (1994). The court held that Article 356 should be imposed only in the event of a breakdown of constitutional machinery, as distinguished from an ordinary breakdown of law and order. It also held that the imposition of the President’s rule is subject to judicial review and should not be misused for political reasons.
• On the other hand, the scope of Article 355 has broadened in cases like Naga People’s Movement of Human Rights (1998) and Sarbananda Sonowal (2005), allowing the Centre more leeway in fulfilling its duty to protect States and ensure constitutional governance.

Commission Recommendations:

• Several commissions, including the Sarkaria Commission (1987), National Commission (2002), and Punchhi Commission (2010), recommended that Article 356 be used only as a last resort in serious crises. They emphasized that Article 355 grants the Centre both the duty and power to act as needed to ensure constitutional governance.

Current Relevance (Example of Manipur):

• In situations like the Manipur violence, the breakdown of law and order, including civilian attacks and looting of police arms, should not be seen as ordinary unrest. While Article 356 hasn’t been invoked due to political expediency, all actions under Article 355 should be pursued to restore order.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Prelims – ENVIRONMENT

Context: Forest officials from the Palamau Tiger Reserve have informed the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) that Naxal insurgency is negatively impacting the reserve.

Background: –

• Left-wing extremism and security personnel movements inside Palamau Tiger Reserve have reduced prey availability, causing tigers to move to neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The reserve has faced extremism issues since the 1990s. Recruitment of staff has been pending since then, with over 60% of positions, including forest guards, vacant.

About Palamau Tiger Reserve

• Location: Situated in the Latehar district of Jharkhand.It is the only Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand state.
• The reserve covers an area of approximately 1,129.93 square kilometers, including the core area of Betla National Park and the Palamau Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Established: It was one of the first nine tiger reserves established in India under Project Tiger in 1973.
• Geography: The reserve lies within the Chota Nagpur Plateau and is known for its rich biodiversity, including dry deciduous and tropical forests.
• Palamau Tiger Reserve is drought-prone area due to rain-shadow effect. Most of the rainfall is received from the southwest monsoon.
• Fauna: The keystone species are Tigers, Elephants, Leopards, Grey Wolf, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Four- horned Antelope, Indian Ratel, Indian Otter and Indian Pangolin.

Source: The Tribune

 Syllabus

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Karnataka on Sunday marked the ‘International Day of Democracy’ by forming a ‘historic’ 2,500-km-long human chain as a symbol of equality, unity, fraternity, and participative governance

Background: –

• The state government has taken the lead in organising the large-scale event to mark the day in association with civil society.

About International Day of Democracy

• The International Day of Democracy is celebrated annually on September 15th.
• It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 to promote and uphold the principles of democracy worldwide.
• The idea for this observance originated from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which adopted a Universal Declaration on Democracy in 1997. This declaration outlines the principles of democracy and the elements of democratic governance. The first International Day of Democracy was celebrated in 2008.
• The day aims to:
  • Raise public awareness about the importance of democracy.
  • Encourage governments to strengthen and consolidate democratic institutions.
  • Promote the values of freedom, respect for human rights, and the rule of law.
• This year’s theme for the International Day of Democracy is ‘Artificial Intelligence as a tool for good governance’, with a focus on ensuring effective governance of AI at all levels, including internationally, to harness its benefits while mitigating its risks.
• The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, underlines the potential of AI to enhance public participation, equality, security and human development but warns of its dangers if left unchecked.

Source: Hindustan Times

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – POLITY

Context: The Opposition has been intensifying its call for a caste census, while the RSS recently expressed its support for the initiative. However, the organization emphasized that the census should not be used for political or electoral gains.

Background: –

• The nearly century-old exercise to last count castes in a Census (1931) in India gives a good idea of the challenges the enumerators can face in any fresh effort, plus the complexities of the exercise.

Caste Census:

• It includes caste-wise tabulation of India’s population in the Census exercise.
• In India, caste data has been published from 1951 to 2011. But it includes the data of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes only.
• It also includes data related to religions, languages, and socio-economic status.
• The last caste census was conducted in 1931. The caste section put the numbers of Other Backward Classes (OBC) at 52% of the total 271 million population. This figure became the basis of the Mandal Commission’s recommendation in 1980 to grant 27% reservations to OBCs in education and government jobs, which was implemented only in 1990.
• In the 2011 Census, the caste data was collected but the data were never made public.

Significance of Caste Census:

• In India still, caste continues to be a foundational social construct so the caste census becomes a social imperative. Only about 5% of Indian marriages were inter-caste as of 2011-12, the use of caste surnames and caste marks, residential segregation by caste persists and even choices of candidates for elections and ministers for Cabinets continue to be dictated by caste considerations.
• It is a legal imperative as the constitutionally-mandated policies of social justice which include reservations in electoral constituencies, education, and public employment cannot be pursued effectively without detailed caste-wise data.
• It is an administrative imperative as detailed caste-wise data is necessary to avoid/correct wrongful inclusions of undeserving castes and exclusions of deserving castes, and to guard against a few dominant castes in a reserved category crowding out others.
• It helps in sub-categorizing castes within a reserved category and determining the income/wealth criterion for the creamy layer.
• It is a moral imperative as the absence of detailed caste-wise data has helped a coterie of elites, among upper castes and dominant Other Backward Classes (OBCs), to corner a disproportionate share of the nation’s assets, incomes, and positions of power.

Concerns/Issues with Caste Census:

• It is socially divisive as India’s social divisions predate Census efforts by nearly 3,000 years. The Census counts of the SCs and STs since 1951 have not led to any conflicts among these castes or tribes. Further, India’s Census enumerates religion, language, and region which are as divisive as caste, if not more.
• It is an administrative nightmare, unlike race which is a fuzzy concept, but is still enumerated in many countries such as the U.S., where there is little or no ambiguity about anyone’s caste. The GOI has been able to smoothly enumerate 1,234 castes in the SC category and 698 tribes in the ST category. Therefore, it is difficult to understand why the enumeration of the 4,000-odd other castes, most of which are State-specific, should pose an intractable problem.
• Defining castes is a complex issue, as there are thousands of castes and sub-castes in India which could lead to confusion, disputes, and further divisions within society.
• It would fuel demands for increased reservations. On the contrary, the availability of caste-wise Census data would help curb arbitrary demands from caste groups and capricious decision-making by governments. Policymakers would be able to objectively debate and address the claims of, say, the Marathas, Patidars, Jats, or any other groups for reservations. However, governments prefer fuzzy data because it gives them the latitude to implement reservations arbitrarily for electoral considerations.

Source: Indian Express

Q1.) Consider the following statements regarding the International Day of Democracy:

1. The International Day of Democracy was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 based on the Universal Declaration on Democracy adopted by the United Nations.
2. The International Day of Democracy is celebrated annually on September 15th.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q2.) Consider the following statements regarding Palamau Tiger Reserve:

1. Palamau Tiger Reserve was one of the first nine tiger reserves established in India under Project Tiger in 1973.
2. The reserve is situated in the rain-shadow region of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, making it drought-prone.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q3.) Consider the following statements regarding the emergency provisions in the Indian Constitution:

1. Article 355 imposes a duty on the Union to protect States from external aggression and internal disturbance and ensure that the State government functions according to the Constitution.
2. Article 356 allows the imposition of the President’s Rule in a State if the President is satisfied that the State government is not functioning according to the constitutional provisions.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  17th September 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  b

Q.2) -a

Q.3) – b