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

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: After devastating floods and landslides killed more than 200 people in Kerala’s Wayanad district in July 2024, the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences approved an X-band radar to be installed in the district.

Background: –

• A torrential downpour triggered the landslide in the valley instantly wiping out habitations.

Key takeaways

• Radar is short for ‘radio detection and ranging’. The device uses radio waves to determine the distance, velocity, and physical characteristics of objects. A transmitter emits a signal aimed at an object whose characteristics are to be ascertained (in meteorology, this could be a cloud). A part of the emitted signal is echoed by the object back to the device, where a receiver tracks and analyses it.
• Weather radar, also known as a Doppler radar, is a common application of this device. The Doppler effect is the change in frequency of sound waves as their source moves towards and away from a listener.
• In meteorology, Doppler radars can reveal how fast a cloud is moving and in which direction based on how the cloud’s relative motion changes the frequency of the radiation striking it. Doppler radars can monitor weather conditions and anticipate new wind patterns, the formation of storms, etc.

What is an X-band radar?

• Doppler radar relies on Rayleigh scattering, when the scatterer is much smaller than the wavelength of the radiation. A radar trying to ‘see’ smaller particles like rain droplets or fog will need to use radiation of lower wavelengths, like in the X-band.
• An X-band radar is radar that emits radiation in the X-band of the electromagnetic spectrum: 8-12 GHz, corresponding to wavelengths of around 2-4 cm (this is in the microwave part of the spectrum.)
• The smaller wavelengths allow the radar to produce images of higher resolution. However, the greater the frequency of some radiation, the faster it will be attenuated. So X-band radars have a relatively shorter range.
• In Wayanad, the new radar is expected to be able to monitor the movements of particles, such as soil, to inform landslide warnings. The device will also perform high temporal sampling, that is, rapidly sample its environs, allowing it to spot particle movements happening in shorter spans of time.

How many radars does India have?

• In its X-band radar network, India has both wind-finding and storm-detecting radars, and some with dual capabilities. The country also uses S-band radars (2-4 GHz) for long-range detection.
• In September, the Union Cabinet cleared the ₹2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’ to upgrade meteorological infrastructure in the country. This includes installing up to 60 meteorological radars until 2026 under the Mission’s first phase.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – POLITY

Context: There is a severe backlash against the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which has just entered its 20th year, and those who use it.

Background: –

• From exposing corruption in the delivery of basic rights to bringing to light the truth behind the opaque electoral bonds scheme, the RTI Act has been used by citizens to hold power to account.

Key takeaways

Vacant Posts & Dysfunctional Commissions:

• Governments are scuttling the RTI Act by not appointing information commissioners.
• A 2023-24 report of the Satark Nagrik Sangathan,a citizens group that campaigns for transparency in government functioning, shows that:
  • Seven out of 29 information commissions across the country were defunct in 2023-24.
  • Jharkhand’s commission has been non-functional for over four years, Tripura’s for three years, and Telangana’s for 1.5 years.
  • Maharashtra’s commission has over 1 lakh pending cases, and six out of 11 commissioner posts are vacant.
  • Central Information Commission (CIC) has eight out of 11 posts vacant.
  • More than 4 lakh appeals and complaints are pending in information commissions across India.

Ineffective Appointments:

• Most commissioners appointed are retired officials or those with political ties, often reluctant to act against violations of transparency.
• The report by Satark Nagrik Sangathan shows that commissions did not impose penalties in 95% of the cases where penalties could be imposed. This failure sends a signal that violating the law will not invite consequences. This destroys the framework of incentives and disincentives built into the RTI Act, promotes a culture of impunity, and exasperates applicants who seek information.

Regressive Amendments:

• 2019 Amendments: Empowered the central government to control tenure, salaries, and post-retirement benefits of commissioners, reducing the autonomy of information commissions.
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: It included a provision to amend the RTI law to exempt all personal information from disclosure. The RTI Act of 2005 provided for protection of the privacy through section 8(1)(j). In order to invoke this section to deny personal information, at least one of the following grounds had to be proven: information sought had no relationship to any public activity or public interest; or information sought was such that it would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy, and the information officer was satisfied that there is no larger public interest that justified disclosure. The DPDP Act amended section 8(1)(j) to expand its purview and exempt all personal information from the ambit of the RTI Act. It also deleted a key provision in the law, which gave citizens a right to information at par with MPs and MLAs.

Threats to RTI Activists:

• Nearly 100 people have been killed for using the RTI Act, and many more have been assaulted or threatened, according to Transparency International India data.
• The Whistleblowers Protection Act, passed in 2014, remains non-operational due to a lack of implementation rules.

Erosion of Democracy:

• The RTI Act has played a crucial role in redistributing power and reshaping the government-citizen relationship.
• Any erosion of the RTI Act, through inaction or regressive amendments, is a direct threat to the democratic framework.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: NASA is set to launch Europa Clipper mission today.

Background: –

• The spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket.

About Europa Clipper Mission

• Europa Clipper Mission is a NASA mission aimed at exploring Jupiter’s moon Europa, which is considered one of the top candidates in the search for extraterrestrial life.
• The mission is expected to last several years, with the spacecraft making multiple  flybys of Europa.
• The main objective of the Europa Clipper mission is to determine whether Europa’s subsurface ocean could support life. The mission will investigate the moon’s ice shell, ocean, composition, and geology.
• Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft NASA has ever developed for a planetary  mission. Its solar arrays span over 100 feet (30 meters) when deployed.
• The spacecraft is expected to reach Jupiter and begin its scientific investigations by April 2030
• The mission ends in 2034 with a planned crash into Ganymede — Jupiter’s biggest moon and the solar system’s too.

What will Nasa’s Europa Clipper do?

• Nasa’s spacecraft is equipped with nine state-of-the-art instruments.
• It includes high-resolution cameras, magnetometers, and an ice-penetrating radar, all designed to study the composition, geology, and nature of Europa’s ice shell and underlying ocean.
• Once reaching Jupiter, Europa Clipper will perform 49 close flybys of Europa, swooping as low as 16 miles about the moon’s surface. Then while orbiting, the spacecraft will scan nearly the entire moon while minimising its exposure to Jupiter’s intense radiation belts.
• The Europa mission represents a major step in our quest to understand the potential for life beyond Earth. It paves the way for future exploration of ocean worlds in our solar system.

Europa, the superstar among Jupiter’s many moons

• One of Jupiter’s 95 known moons, Europa is almost the size of our own moon. It’s encased in an ice sheet estimated to be 10 miles to 15 miles or more thick. Scientists believe this frozen crust hides an ocean that could be 80 miles or more deep.
• The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted what appear to be geysers erupting from the surface. Discovered by Galileo in 1610, Europa is one of the four so-called Galilean moons of Jupiter, along with Ganymede, Io and Callisto.
• Like Europa, Jupiter’s jumbo moon Ganymede is thought to host an underground ocean. But its frozen shell is much thicker — possibly 100 miles thick — making it tougher to probe the environment below. Callisto’s ice sheet may be even thicker, possibly hiding an ocean.

Source: Business Standard

 Syllabus

• Prelims – ECONOMY

Context: The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) recorded the statement of daughter of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and owner of a now-dormant information technology firm, raising a political storm.

Background:

• The Union Corporate Affairs Ministry had ordered an SFIO inquiry based on the finding of the Interim Settlement Board (ISB) under the Central Board of Direct Taxes.

About Serious Fraud Investigation Office

• The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is a specialized agency established under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), tasked with investigating serious financial frauds in India. It plays a critical role in ensuring corporate governance and financial integrity, especially concerning complex and large-scale frauds.
• The SFIO was set up in 2003 based on the recommendations of the Naresh Chandra Committee on Corporate Governance.
• It gained statutory status under the Companies Act, 2013 (Section 211), empowering it to investigate frauds relating to companies.
• It is a multi-disciplinary organization, consisting of experts in the field of accountancy, forensic auditing, banking, law, information technology, investigation, company law, capital market and taxation, etc. for detecting and prosecuting or recommending for prosecution white-collar crimes/frauds.
• SFIO is headed by a Director as Head of Department in the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India.
• SFIO take up for investigation cases characterized by –
  • complexity and having inter-departmental and multi- disciplinary ramifications.
  • substantial involvement of public interest to be judged by size, either in terms of monetary
  • the possibility of investigation leading to or contributing towards a clear improvement in systems, laws or procedures
• SFIO Investigate into the affairs of a company on: –
  • on receipt of a report of the Registrar or inspector under section 208 of the Companies Act, 2013.
  • on intimation of a special resolution passed by a company that its affairs are required to be investigated
  • in the public interest
  • on request from any department of the Central Government or a State Government.

Key Features:

• Autonomy: SFIO functions autonomously but operates within the framework provided by the MCA.
• Coordination with Other Agencies: It coordinates with other regulatory bodies like SEBI, CBI, RBI, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) during investigations.
• Investigation Process: Investigations are initiated upon referral by the Central Government, based on material suggesting fraud. The SFIO submits its report to the government, which may lead to prosecution.
• High-profile cases such as the Satyam scam, IL&FS crisis, and Kingfisher Airlines case have been investigated by the SFIO.

Recent Amendments and Reforms:

• To strengthen SFIO, amendments to the Companies Act, 2013 have expanded its powers, including the authority to summon individuals and seize company records during investigations.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, has further enhanced the agency’s role in investigating corporate insolvency cases with fraudulent activities.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: A study, released by the science & technology ministry recently, indicates significant shale gas generation potential in eastern South Karanpura coalfield in Jharkhand.

Background: –

• The South Karanpura coalfield in the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand, consisting of 28 major coal blocks, is well-established for its substantial deposits of workable coal.

About Shale Gas

• Shale gas is a type of natural gas trapped within shale formations, which are fine-grained sedimentary rocks with low permeability. It is considered an unconventional source of natural gas and is extracted through a process called hydraulic  fracturing, or “fracking.”

Key Features:

• Composition: Shale gas primarily consists of methane (CH4), along with small amounts of other gases like ethane, propane, and butane.
• Extraction Process: The extraction involves injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into the shale formation to create  fractures, allowing the trapped gas to escape and be collected.
• India has significant potential for shale gas exploration and production. The  Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has identified several basins with potential  shale  gas reserves, including:
  • Cambay Basin in Gujarat
  • Assam-Arakan Basin in the Northeast
  • Gondwana Basin in central India
  • Krishna-Godavari Basin in Andhra Pradesh
  • Cauvery Basin in southern India
  • Indo-Gangetic Plains

Government Initiatives:

• In 2013, the Government of India introduced a policy allowing exploration and exploitation of shale gas by national oil companies like ONGC and Oil India Ltd..
• The Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), launched in 2016, simplified regulations, providing a uniform licensing system and encouraging investment in shale gas exploration.
• In 2018, the government further relaxed rules to allow existing contractors under Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) to explore shale oil and gas resources.

Challenges for Shale Gas Development in India:

• Water Scarcity: Hydraulic fracturing requires large amounts of water, which is a scarce resource in many shale-rich regions of India.
• Environmental Concerns: Potential environmental risks include groundwater contamination, seismic activity, and surface water pollution, raising opposition from environmental groups.
• Technological Limitations: India lacks domestic expertise in advanced shale gas extraction technologies, which are critical for commercial-scale production.

Source: Times of India

Q1.) With reference to Shale Gas in India, consider the following statements:

1. Shale gas extraction primarily involves hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling techniques.
2. India has large-scale commercial production of shale gas, making it a significant part of its energy mix.
3. The Cambay and Krishna-Godavari basins are identified as potential shale gas reserves in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q2.) With reference to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), consider the following statements:

1. The SFIO was given statutory status under the Companies Act, 2013.
2. SFIO can investigate a company’s affairs only on the recommendation of the Registrar of Companies.
3. SFIO is a multi-disciplinary agency consisting of experts in various fields like accountancy, law, forensic auditing, and information technology.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q3.) With reference to NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission, consider the following statements:

1. The primary objective of the mission is to investigate whether Europa’s subsurface ocean could support life.
2. Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft NASA has developed for a planetary mission.
3. The Europa Clipper mission will end with a planned crash into Jupiter’s moon Europa in 2044.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

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

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

Q.1) –  c

Q.2) – a

Q.3) – b