DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th September 2024

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – INTERNATIONAL

Context: Recently, Prime Minister Modi participated in the sixth Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware during his three day visit to US.

Background: –

• Emphasizing that the Quad leaders were convening amidst global tensions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed that the alliance is not directed against any nation. He highlighted that the Quad stands in support of a rules-based international order, upholds respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and advocates for the peaceful resolution of disputes.

Key takeaways

• Modi’s remarks during the Quad summit at President Joe Biden’s hometown of Delaware were a thinly veiled reference to China and its aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.

Wilmington Declaration

• The Quad declaration, adopted after the summit, focused on “militarisation” and “intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea”. It also addressed other key global issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. The declaration highlighted the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security.
• The declaration also condemned the ongoing attacks perpetrated by the Houthis and their supporters against international and commercial vessels transiting through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which are destabilising the region and impeding navigational rights and freedoms and trade, and jeopardise the safety of vessels and people.
• The Quad leaders also announced the Quad Cancer Moonshot — a groundbreaking partnership that will focus initially on combating cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region while laying the groundwork to address other forms of cancer as well.
• The Quad is more strategically aligned than ever before and is a force for good that delivers real, positive, and enduring impact for the Indo-Pacific, said the Wilmington Declaration issued after the summit.
• The next Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting will be hosted by the US in 2025, and the Quad Leaders’ Summit will be hosted by India in 2025. In 2025, the Quad Regional Ports and Transportation Conference is also likely to be held in Mumbai.
• The US Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force, and Indian Coast Guard plan to launch a first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025, to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety.
• A new regional Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) was announced to enable partners in the region to “maximize tools provided through IPMDA (Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness ) and other Quad partner initiatives, to monitor and secure their waters, enforce their laws, and deter unlawful behaviour.” India will host the inaugural MAITRI workshop in 2025.
• The launch of a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project was also announced.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Azerbaijan, the host of this year’s climate conference, COP29, has proposed to launch a new climate fund for developing countries.

Background: –

• Climate finance refers to the investments that are needed to tackle climate change by way of either preventive steps to reduce emissions, known as mitigation or preparatory steps to tackle its impacts, known as adaptation.

Key takeaways

• Azerbaijan’s proposal comes at a time when negotiation on climate finance agreement is struggling to make progress. Finalising this finance agreement is the main agenda before COP29, which is scheduled to run from November 11 to 22 in Baku.
• The rich and industrialised countries are currently under an obligation to mobilise at least $100 billion annually for developing countries. The Paris Agreement, however, mandates that this amount must be increased after 2025 and every five years thereafter.
• The new fund proposed by Azerbaijan is unlikely to make a substantial difference to the availability of climate finance for developing countries.
• Currently, there are strong differences over even definitions of climate finance.
• Developing countries complain of double-counting and innovative accounting, and say that the actual amount of money flowing in for climate action is significantly lower than the claims made by developed countries.
• The other complaint relates to the neglect of adaptation activities. Most of the climate finance flows are directed at mitigation projects, the ones that lead to emissions reductions. This is because mitigation brings global dividends. Any emission reduction anywhere in the world benefits the entire planet.
• On the other hand, adaptation has local benefits. Donor countries are less inclined to invest in projects that only benefit the recipients. Developing countries have been demanding that adaptation should receive at least 50% of climate finance, much more than the less than 20% that has gone into it so far
• Developed countries are demanding the expansion of donor base.For instance, China, today the world’s second-largest economy, South Korea, and the oil-rich Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar do not have any financing obligations under the UNFCCC.
• Azerbaijan’s proposed fund is supposed to be financed by oil and gas producing countries, and corporations, but in a voluntary manner. This has raised questions over the amount of money it can attract as even funds to which countries are obligated to contribute have remained undercapitalised. For instance, the Loss and Damage Fund — created at COP27 in Egypt, in 2022, after years of negotiation — has so far received pledges of just $600-700 million.
• Azerbaijan’s fund, even if created, would not have the same status. It has not come through negotiations but at the initiative of a host country. Primarily, it is an effort towards leaving a legacy, much like similar initiatives by previous COP presidencies in the past.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims – INTERNATIONAL

Context: India signed the US-led 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) bloc’s agreements on a clean and fair economy.

Background:

• Agreement on clean economy intends to accelerate efforts of IPEF partners towards energy security, GHG emissions mitigation, developing innovative ways of reducing dependence on fossil fuel and promoting technical cooperation. Agreement on fair economy intends to create transparent and predictable business environment, which can spur greater trade and investment in member countries.

About Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)

• The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is a strategic initiative led by the United States, launched in May 2022, to enhance economic cooperation and strengthen economic ties in the Indo-Pacific region.
• It is seen as a response to growing geopolitical competition in the region, especially concerning China’s influence, and aims to foster a rules-based economic order.

IPEF is based on four key pillars, each addressing critical aspects of economic growth and sustainability:

• Trade (connected economy):
  • Focus on creating high-standard trade agreements, particularly in the areas of digital economy, labor standards, and trade facilitation.
  • Prioritizes inclusive trade that benefits all member countries, with an emphasis on labor rights, transparency, and environmental sustainability.
• Supply Chain Resilience (Resilient Economy):
  • Enhances the resilience and reliability of supply chains in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Seeks to address supply chain vulnerabilities, ensuring critical goods flow smoothly across borders, even during crises.
• Clean Economy:
  • Promotes cooperation on green energy, clean technology, and sustainable infrastructure development.
  • Supports initiatives to address climate change by driving the adoption of renewable energy sources and building eco-friendly infrastructure.
• Fair Economy:
  • Aims to foster fair and transparent tax systems.
  • Seeks to combat corruption by enhancing anti-money laundering measures and promoting financial transparency across member nations.
• Member Countries:
  • IPEF includes 14 member countries, representing a diverse group from across the Indo-Pacific region.They are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.

Source: Business Standard

 Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2

Context: The Supreme Court on Monday (September 23, 2024) held that viewing in private, downloading, storing, possessing, distributing or displaying pornographic acts involving children attract criminal liability under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the Information Technology Act.

Background: –

• The verdict was based on an appeal filed by NGO, Just Right for Children Alliance, against a Madras High Court decision that mere possession or storage of any pornographic material was not an offence under the POCSO Act. The High Court had concluded that watching or downloading pornographic acts involving children in private domains was not a crime.

About Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act

• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, is a comprehensive legal framework aimed at safeguarding children from sexual abuse, exploitation, and harassment.

Key Features of the POCSO Act:

• Child-Centric Definition:
  • A child under the POCSO Act is defined as any individual below 18 years of age.
  • The Act is gender-neutral, providing protection to both male and female children.
• Types of Sexual Offences Covered:
  • Penetrative Sexual Assault: Involves penetration of the child’s body or any act that manipulates sexual organs for sexual purposes.
  • Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault: When the perpetrator is in a position of trust (like a family member, police officer, or teacher) or when the child suffers severe injury.
  • Sexual Assault: Involves non-penetrative sexual contact.
  • Sexual Harassment: Includes any sexual advances or behavior that offends the dignity of the child.
  • Use of a Child for Pornographic Purposes: Any form of media where a child is used for explicit sexual content.
• Mandatory Reporting:
  • Individuals are mandated to report offences under POCSO. Failure to report can lead to legal consequences.
  • The Act also ensures protection of identity of the child during investigation and trial.
• Child-Friendly Procedures:
  • The law ensures a child-friendly atmosphere during legal proceedings.
  • Statements of the child are recorded at home or a safe environment.
  • The presence of the child’s parents or trusted persons is allowed during interrogation and trial.
  • The Act mandates in-camera trials to ensure the privacy of the child.
• Special Courts:
  • The Act provides for the establishment of Special Courts for the speedy trial of cases under POCSO. These courts are required to complete the trial within one year from the date of taking cognizance.
• Presumption of Guilt:
  • The POCSO Act operates on a reverse burden of proof, where the accused is presumed guilty unless proven innocent, ensuring the protection of the child’s interests.
• Child Welfare Committees (CWCs):
  • Child welfare committees play a role in the rehabilitation of the child victim and ensure the child is given medical, psychological, and legal aid during and after the trial.
• POCSO Amendment Act, 2019:
  • Introduced more stringent punishments for sexual offences against children, including the death penalty for the rape of minors below 12 years.
  • Increased the minimum punishment for various offences to deter such crimes.

Additional information from the SC judgement

• The Supreme Court urged the Parliament to seriously consider amending the POCSO Act to substitute the term “child pornography” with “Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material” or CSEAM.
• It directed courts across the country to replace ‘child pornography’ with the term ‘Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material’ or CSEAM in their judgments and judicial orders.
• Court said the description of the act as CSEAM would more accurately reflect the reality that these images and videos were not merely pornographic but were records of incidents during which children were sexually exploited and abused.
• The court found the term ‘child pornography’ a misnomer which failed to capture the full extent and horror of the crime. “Each case of what is traditionally termed ‘child pornography’ involves the actual abuse of a child. The use of the term ‘child pornography’” can lead to a trivialisation of the crime, as pornography is often seen as a consensual act between adults. It undermines the victimisation,” the verdict pointed out.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – ENVIRONMENT

Context: The legacy waste management initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 has seen sluggish progress, with only 470 out of 2,424 dumpsites fully remediated and just 16% of the area reclaimed, despite being three years into the mission’s implementation.

Background: –

• According to estimates of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, approximately 15,000 acres of prime real estate is buried under nearly 16 crore tonnes of legacy waste across the country.

About Legacy waste

• Legacy waste refers to solid waste that has been accumulated in landfills or dump sites over many years, often spanning decades.

Types of Legacy Waste:

• Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): Includes decomposed organic matter, plastics, metals, paper, and other residual waste that has been dumped over time.
• Hazardous Waste: Industrial or medical waste mixed with municipal waste, leading to toxic chemicals in the landfill.
• Construction and Demolition Waste: Debris from construction activities such as bricks, concrete, and steel.
• E-waste: Electronic products, containing harmful substances like lead and mercury, disposed of in landfills.

Legacy Waste in India:

• Legacy waste dumpsites are places that contain solid waste that has been collected and stored for years in an unscientific and uncontrolled manner. With almost no installed facility in India for handling solid waste, the municipal corporations, councils and nagar panchayats have traditionally opted for creating man-made garbage hills.
• While the Swachh Bharat Mission had been launched on October 2, 2014, its second phase (2.0) was launched on October 1, 2021 for a period of five years, up to October 1, 2026, with a vision of achieving “Garbage-Free Status” for all cities through 100% source segregation, door-to-door collection, and scientific management of all fractions of waste, including safe disposal in scientific landfills.
• It aimed at remediation of all legacy dumpsites and converting them into green zones. The mission has also made provisions for scientific landfills to dispose of untreated inert waste and process rejects, to prevent fresh dumpsites being created.
• Action plans amounting to ₹3,226 crore of Central Share (CS) assistance on remediation of legacy waste dumpsites have been approved so far. As per financial norms of Centrally sponsored Schemes, State and U.T. governments are required to put in matching share from their own side, while disbursing the funds to respective urban local bodies.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3

Context: The think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) noted India’s diamond sector is facing a severe crisis as both imports and exports have sharply declined in the past three years, which has triggered defaults, factory closures, and widespread job losses.

Background: –

• The Indian diamond industry consists of over 7,000 companies involved in various activities such as cutting, polishing, and exporting diamonds.
• Most of these companies are concentrated in Surat, Gujarat, and Mumbai, Maharashtra. The majority of these firms are SMEs, with many family-owned businesses dominating the sector. The diamond industry in India provides direct employment to about 1.3 million workers.

Diamond

• Diamonds are valuable gems, shaped deep inside the Earth’s crust over tens of millions of years, maintaining both cultural and economic importance.
• It is the hardest known natural substance. It is also chemically resistant and has the highest thermal conductivity of any natural material.
• The top natural diamond producers are Russia, Botswana, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Congo (Zaire).
• In India, the South Indian Tract region comprises parts of Anantapur, Kadapa, Guntur, Krishna, Mahabubnagar, and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh, the Central Indian Tract of Madhya Pradesh – Panna Belt, and the Surat, also known as the ‘Diamond City’ of Gujarat hosts significant diamond reserves and extraction activities.

Current Status of Crisis in India’s Diamond Industry:

• The diamond imports and exports fell sharply as rough diamond imports fell by 24.5%, from USD 18.5 billion in FY 2021-22 to USD 14 billion in FY 2023-24. The exports of cut and polished diamonds dropped by 34.6%, from USD 24.4 billion in FY 2022 to USD 13.1 billion in FY 2024.
• There is a wide gap between net imports of rough diamonds and net exports of cut and polished diamonds, from USD 1.6 billion in FY 2022 to USD 4.4 billion in FY 2024.
• The percentage of unsold diamonds returned to India rose from 35% to 45.6% during the period from FY 2022 to FY 2024.
• India techniques over 90% of the diamonds utilized in jewellery globally. Indian artisans skilfully transform tough stones into fantastic gems that beautify hands, necks, and ears throughout the world.

Reasons for the Crisis in India’s Diamond Industry:

• There is a sharp drop in demand for polished diamonds in key markets like the US, China, and Europe due to economic uncertainty, inflation, and geopolitical tensions, leading to reduced consumer spending on luxury goods, including diamonds.
• The global diamond supply chain has been disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict with sanctions on Russia, a major rough diamond producer.
• The fluctuations in global diamond prices have caused uncertainty, with buyers hesitant to purchase rough diamonds in anticipation of further price drops.
• There is a shift in consumer preferences toward lab-grown diamonds, which are more affordable, ethical, and sustainable which is also impacting the demand for natural diamonds.
• The increasing rising operational costs such as high labour, energy, and materials cost and reduced profit margins in the global diamond trade, have made it difficult for many polishing units to remain viable.
• The tighter credit conditions like higher interest rates and reduced lending from banks to the diamonds have made it difficult for companies to purchase rough diamonds and are stalling diamond production further.
• The high corporate tax regime in India imposed on foreign suppliers of rough diamonds has led to more rough diamonds being re-exported from UAE, rather than India thus weakening India’s Special Notified Zones (SNZs) in Mumbai and Surat.
• There is a significant portion of cut and polished diamonds exported from India are being returned due to quality issues, overstocking by buyers, etc which is costly and time-consuming due to complex customs procedures, putting further strain on exporters.

Source: Business Standard

Q1.) With reference to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, consider the following statements:

1. The POCSO Act defines a child as any individual below 18 years of age and is gender-neutral.
2. The Act mandates the presumption of innocence for the accused unless proven guilty.
3. The Supreme Court has recommended substituting the term “child pornography” with “Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material” (CSEAM).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q2.) With reference to the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), consider the following statements:

1. The IPEF was launched in 2022 as a US-led initiative to strengthen economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
2. The IPEF focuses on four key pillars, which include trade, supply chain resilience, clean economy, and fair economy.
3. India has signed agreements only on fair economy under IPEF.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q3.) With reference to the Quad Leaders’ Summit and the Wilmington Declaration, consider the following statements:

1. The Wilmington Declaration condemned the militarization and aggressive maneuvers in the South China Sea and addressed global issues like the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
2. The Quad Cancer Moonshot initiative, announced during the summit, aims to initially combat cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region.

Which of the statements given above 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 ’  24th September 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  a

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – a