DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd November 2024

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: On October 29 (Ayurveda Day), Prime Minister Modi launched Ayushman Vaya Vandana health cards under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to provide health coverage to people aged 70 years and above, regardless of their income and economic status.

Background: –

• Everyone age 70 or more will be entitled to a cover of Rs 5 lakh annually, shared within the family. This means if there are two elderly beneficiaries in the household, the cover will be split among them.

Ayushman Bharat Yojana

• The Ayushman Bharat Yojana, also known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), is a health insurance scheme launched by the Government of India in 2018. Its primary aim is to provide comprehensive health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year. It connects the public and private health sectors into a one-nation, one-system.
• PMJAY is for inpatient secondary and tertiary care. The program goes even further by covering pre and post-hospitalization expenses, ensuring a more comprehensive healthcare experience. Outpatient services are not a part of the scheme.
• The scheme targets families identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and states will have to contribute 40% to the cost of the scheme.

Extension of AB-PMJAY to elderly

• Elderly members (age 70 and more) of families that are already covered by their economic status will get a top-up cover of Rs 5 lakh — to be used only for the elderly.
• Those who are already covered under other government health schemes like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme, etc will have the option of choosing either Ayushman Bharat or continuing with their existing coverage.
• People who are covered under the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), however, will be eligible to have both their existing cover and Ayushman Bharat. This is because premiums for ESIC are paid by the insured and their employer, not the government.

Significance of extending AB-PMJAY to senior citizens:

• With increasing lifespans and an increasing number of people ageing in the next three decades, a fifth of India is likely to be over the age of 70 by 2050. There is a need for far-reaching changes in welfare policies to tackle this demographic transition.
• Older Indians are much more likely to be hospitalised and to stay in hospitals for longer.
• According to the India Ageing Report 2023, the elderly remain largely uncovered by any health scheme. Just over 20% of India’s population above the age of 60 is currently covered by any government schemes.
• Women make up the larger share of the elderly population — a survey by NITI Aayog found that 58% of the elderly are women, and 54% among them are widows.
• It is significant for a country where out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on health is often a reason for crushing poverty.
• A Niti Aayog position paper, released in January, recognised that with families becoming increasingly nuclear, ease of access and quality of care will be crucial determinants in the health-seeking behaviour of senior citizens.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Millions have been affected in Spain due to torrential rain. Flash floods caused by the immense deluge have led to the death of at least 64 people in the eastern Spanish region of Valencia.

Background: –

• The primary cause of the intense rain is likely an annual weather phenomenon known as a “gota fría,” or cold drop. It is also sometimes called a “DANA,” the acronym for “depresión aislada en niveles altos,” or isolated depression at high altitudes.

Key takeaways

• DANA or cold drop takes place when cold air descends over the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This results in atmospheric instability, causing hotter, moist air on the surface of the sea to rise quickly, leading to the formation of dense, towering cumulonimbus clouds in a matter of hours. These clouds then dump heavy rain in parts of Spain.
• The weather pattern’s occurrence is related to the polar jet stream — a fast-moving wind current at high levels of the troposphere (the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere) which circulates from west to east and separates the cold polar air from the warm tropical air.
• Often, a pocket of cold air gets separated from the polar jet stream and collides with the warmer air over the Mediterranean Sea, which results in DANA.
• The phenomenon is a common occurrence in Spain and usually coincides with the onset of autumn and spring in the western Mediterranean.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: Scientists have detected a lost Mayan city, hidden for centuries by the dense Mexican jungle, using LiDAR.

Background: –

• In recent years, LiDAR has also shown potential as a tool of archaeological discovery. LiDAR allows researchers to study much larger swathes of land quickly in the comfort of a home or lab.

What is LiDAR?

• LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging, is a  remote sensing technology that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (or variable distances) to Earth. These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne system — generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.
• Two types of lidar are topographic and bathymetric. Topographic lidar typically uses a near-infrared laser to map the land, while bathymetric lidar uses water-penetrating green light to also measure seafloor and riverbed elevations.

How does LiDAR work?

• LiDAR instrumentation comprises a laser, a scanner, and a GPS receiver. Airplanes and helicopters are the most commonly used platforms for acquiring lidar data over broad areas.
• The rapidly firing laser travels to the ground where it hits vegetation, building, and various topographic features. This light is reflected or scattered, and recorded by the LiDAR sensor.
• The system calculates the light pulses’ two-way travel time to arrive at the distance between the terrain and the sensor. It processes this information with Global Positioning System (GPS) and Inertial Measurement System (IMS) data, to create an elevation map of Earth.
• LiDAR data is initially collected as a “point cloud” of all individual points reflected from everything on the surface, including structures and vegetation. But the specifics of how much light energy was returned to the sensor allows further identification of different features, such as vegetation, buildings, etc. For example, tree canopies, however dense they may be, allow some light to pass through and hit the ground.
• The LiDAR data can be further refined to produce what scientists call a “bare earth” Digital Elevation Model, in which structures and vegetation are stripped away.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: From November 11 to 22, leaders will gather in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The host, Azerbaijan, has put forward an action agenda, which includes pledges to increase battery storage capacity six-fold, dramatically expand electricity networks, and cut methane emissions from organic waste.

Background:

• The Baku meet is an opportunity for India to fast-track its efforts in reducing methane emissions.

Key takeaways

• Methane’s Climate Impact: Methane accounts for approximately 30% of global warming since the pre-industrial era.
• Global Warming Potential: Methane is 28 times more potent than CO₂ on a 100-year timescale and 84 times more potent on a 20-year timescale, making methane reduction critical for immediate climate impact.
• Methane’s detrimental effects go beyond its impact on climate change. Fires at waste dumpsites, for example, can cause significant spikes in air pollution. In 2022, a two-week fire at Delhi’s Bhalswa dumpsite led to particulate matter concentrations reaching 30% to 70% above baseline levels.
• International Cooperation: The U.S. and China, despite geopolitical tensions, have prioritized methane mitigation as a shared concern.
• At COP28, held in Dubai (November-December 2023), the U.S., China, and UAE sponsored a summit focusing on methane and non-CO₂ emissions.
• China released its first national plan on methane emissions, focusing on capacity building without setting specific reduction targets.

India’s Methane Emissions:

• India ranks as the third-largest emitter of anthropogenic methane globally, following China and the U.S.
• The 2016 Biennial Update Report to the UNFCCC estimates India’s methane emissions at 409 million tons of CO₂-equivalent, with contributions from: Agriculture (74%), Waste (14%), Energy (11%), Industrial processes (1%).

Challenges for India:

• India’s agriculture sector, specifically rice cultivation and livestock, is the dominant source of methane emissions, making sector-wide reductions challenging.
• Hesitation in signing the Global Methane Pledge (targeting a 30% reduction in emissions from 2020 levels by 2030) due to agriculture’s central role in India’s economy.
• Technical Challenges in Data Collection:
  • Emissions data in India, especially for methane from waste, face challenges in quality and accuracy.
  • Satellite monitoring in cities like Delhi and Mumbai has shown that actual emissions could be 50-100% higher than estimates.

Opportunities for India:

• India can leverage international efforts to secure sector-specific financing and capacity-building support, especially in waste management.
• Domestic Initiatives in Waste Management:
  • Indore Model: Implements citywide organic waste sorting and a biomethane plant that fuels city buses.
  • GOBARdhan Scheme: Incentivizes the use of cattle waste to produce clean energy, especially in rural areas.
• Agricultural Sector Initiatives:
  • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Promotes climate-resilient practices, including methane reduction techniques in rice cultivation.
  • National Livestock Mission: Implements methane-mitigation practices, such as green fodder production and chaff cutting, to reduce emissions from livestock.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2

Context: In what has been proclaimed as a “super election year”, with 72 countries going to polls worldwide, the potential impact of AI (artificial intelligence) on democracy is a major concern.

Background: –

• Given the rapid rise of deepfakes and AI-driven misinformation, robust and enforceable regulations are needed to ensure the safe integration of AI in electoral processes and protect democratic integrity.

Key takeaways

Benefits of AI in Electoral Processes:

• Efficiency in Administrative Processes: AI can streamline tasks like voter registration, ballot processing, and logistics, reducing errors and saving time.
• Fraud Detection: AI algorithms can identify patterns and anomalies, detecting potential electoral fraud, which can reinforce electoral integrity.
• Combating Disinformation: AI can identify and flag misleading content on social media, helping reduce the spread of false information.
• Enhanced Voter Engagement: Chatbots and AI tools can provide real-time information on registration, polling locations, and voting procedures, making elections more accessible and inclusive.

Challenges Posed by AI in Elections:

• Algorithmic Bias: AI systems trained on biased data can replicate and worsen existing biases, risking disenfranchisement of vulnerable communities.
• Privacy Risks: AI requires access to vast personal data, creating risks around data misuse, political manipulation, and identity theft.
• Lack of Transparency: Complex AI algorithms often function as “black boxes,” making it difficult to understand decision-making processes, impacting accountability and trust.
• AI-Driven Disinformation: AI can generate sophisticated fake news and deepfakes, which can manipulate public opinion and spread misinformation.

Global and Regional Efforts for AI Regulation:

• United Nations: The UN adopted a resolution in March 2024, backed by over 120 nations, calling for “safe, secure, and trustworthy” AI systems.
• European Union: The EU’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, set for implementation in 2026, focuses on balancing innovation with accountability. Act complements the EU’s broader regulatory agenda, including the Code of Practice on Disinformation, which mandates political ad monitoring, and the Digital Services Act.

AI Regulation in India:

• While the Information Technology Act, 2000, governs online platforms, the Election Commission of India (ECI) oversees communications during elections.
• Since India currently lacks AI-specific legislation, the rise of deepfakes has heightened demands for regulation.
• Reports from July 2024 suggest the Ministry of Electronics and IT is drafting AI-specific legislation, which may include requirements for labeling AI-generated content to enhance transparency.

Source: Indian Express

Q1.) Which of the following statements about Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is/are correct?

1. AB-PMJAY provides comprehensive health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year, covering both inpatient and outpatient services.
2. The scheme covers families identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.
3. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q2.) The weather pattern known as DANA, which causes flash floods in Spain, occurs due to which of the following atmospheric conditions?

(a) Interaction between polar air descending and warm, moist air over the Mediterranean Sea, causing rapid cloud formation

(b) Sudden drop in ocean temperatures near the equator, leading to cyclonic activity in the Mediterranean region

(c) High atmospheric pressure over the Atlantic Ocean, causing cold air to condense over the Iberian Peninsula

(d) Presence of the Indian Ocean Dipole, resulting in abnormal rainfall across Europe

Q3.) Which of the following best describes the principle on which LiDAR technology operates?

(a) Emission of radio waves to measure distance and density of various surface objects

(b) Use of X-rays to map sub-surface geological features

(c) Transmission of pulsed laser light to measure distances and map the Earth’s surface in high detail

(d) Detection of ultraviolet light to study atmospheric composition

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  2nd November 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  a

Q.2) – a

Q.3) – a