DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th January 2025

Syllabus:

• Mains – GS 2

Context: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have accused each other of manipulating electoral rolls before the Delhi elections. This has reignited the debate about linking voter IDs/Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) with respective Aadhaar numbers.

Background: –

• EPIC linkage with the respective Aadhaar number would definitely help in weeding out duplicate entries; but there are concerns.

Key takeaways

• The Election Commission (EC) launched the National Electoral Rolls Purification and Authentication Program (NERPAP) to address the issue of duplicate entries in the electoral roll. 
• In order to achieve this, the EC began authenticating EPIC data by linking it with the Aadhaar. However, the Supreme Court in an interim order, in August 2015, held that the mandatory use of Aadhaar should only be for welfare schemes and PAN linking. Following this, the NERPAP was discontinued.
• After the Supreme Court’s final order in Puttaswamy in September 2018, that upheld the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act, the EC sought amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (RP Act, 1950). 
• The Parliament amended the RP Act, 1950 and The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 in December 2021 to enable the linking of EPIC with Aadhaar. However, in order to keep these amendments voluntary in nature, the word ‘may’ have been used in the amendments. 
• Further, the amendment also specifies that no application for inclusion in the electoral roll shall be denied and no entries shall be deleted due to the inability to furnish or intimate the Aadhaar number due to ‘sufficient cause.’ Such individuals may furnish alternate documents like PAN card, Driving Licence, Passport, Bank passbook etc.

Pros and cons of linking Aadhar

• Firstly, the errors in the Aadhaar database, may result in wrongful rejection or deletion of entries from the electoral roll. 
• Secondly, Aadhaar is only a proof of residence and not a proof of citizenship. Thus, it may not help in removing voters who are not citizens from the electoral roll.
• Finally, while the linkage is to happen at the back end and a mere mention of the Aadhaar number on the EPIC/electoral roll may not by itself be a violation of right to privacy, it may still result in misuse as the electoral rolls are widely circulated.

Way forward

• There must be wide publicity about the benefits of linking EPIC and Aadhaar to clean up the electoral roll of duplicate entries, which in turn strengthens the electoral process. 
• Any misplaced concern amongst voters about the secrecy of their vote being compromised because of this linking should be assuaged.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: After completing India’s baseline map by sequencing 10,000 genomes, the Genome India project is set to move into its second phase during which samples of individuals with specific diseases would also be sequenced.

Background: –

• Launched in 2020, 10,000 sequences from healthy individuals were collected in the first phase of the project.

Key takeaways

• Genome India is a visionary national project funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. It is aimed at decoding the genetic blueprint of the diverse Indian population.
• More than 20 prominent research institutions across India are involved, including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), CSIR-Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology, and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.

Goals and impact of genome India

• Develop a reference set of genetic variations for Indians by carrying out whole genome sequencing of 10000 samples from 99 communities.
• Develop a biobank of 20000 blood samples for future genome analyses.
• Make available genomic data for public access (digital public goods) for research purposes through IBDC (Indian Biological Data Center).
• Design genome-wide and disease-specific genetic chips for low-cost diagnostics and research.
• First big step towards developing genome-based precision medicine in India.
• An inspiration for India’s young minds and young researchers to explore the exciting area of genomics research and innovation for the health of Indian population.

2nd Phase of Genome India

• The second phase seeks to expand the database to one million sequences, including genetic information of people with specific diseases.
• A comparison of the healthy and diseased genome can help researchers identify targets for developing treatments and diagnostic tests. It is a step towards personalised treatment and medicine.
• The diseases that would most likely be included in the list would be different types of cancers, chronic conditions such as diabetes, and various neurological or neurodegenerative diseases. 
• Rare diseases that are found in Indian populations are also likely to be included in the list of diseases to be studied for the next phase of Genome India project.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The year 2025 marks a generational shift: children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2039, will comprise Generation Beta. 

Background:

• This generation succeeds Generation Alpha, also dubbed the iPad Generation, with its members born between 2010 and 2024.

Key takeaways

How are different generations named?

• Before embracing the Greek alphabet, generations were grouped in periods of 15-20 years and named after defining societal events. 
• Baby boomers were named after the baby boom post-World War II, Generation X which succeeded them were named for their anti-establishmentarian mindset, and millennials for those who became adults at the turn of the millennium.

Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964)

• This generation is usually associated with idealism and a mistrust of authority.
• In India, this is a generation that largely grew up in independent India and saw the country embrace a socialist economic model. The country fought wars and witnessed the nationalisation. This generation grew up watching the impact of the Green Revolution and a decade later, the Emergency.

Gen X (1964 – 1979)

• This generation in the US internalised the idea that many of the long-standing institutions could be challenged, with the X representing a mistrust of the establishment, be it marriage or corporate employment.
• Known as the “sandwich generation,” balancing care for both parents and children.
• Xers in India grew up to witness the overhauling economic reforms that Rajiv Gandhi would introduce, as well as the expansion of the telecommunications industry, the burgeoning space programme, and developments in the IT industry. 
• This generation is understood to be diverse and patterned on a rich, vibrant democracy – comfortable with many views, perspectives, and voices.

Gen Y or the Millennials (1980 – 1995)

• This generation is understood to have experienced similar developments globally, largely on account of the extent of their adoption of technology around the same time.
• Acts of terrorism – like 9/11 – and school violence are among this generation’s formative events in U.S. The randomness of such violence has encouraged this generation to prioritise living in the now, and has sought to delay or avoid traditional life milestones like marriage.

Gen Z (1996 – 2010)

• Gen Z today constitute the younger adults. This generation is the first to be truly plugged in and grow up as digital natives and grew up during the 2007 recession, a period of widespread financial instability.
• This is the generation that has normalised talk of mental health concerns. What distinguishes Gen Z is its political advocacy of social and environmental causes.

Gen Alpha (2011 – 2024)

• As the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century, this is the most tech-savvy generation so far. This is a generation that has always known a world with the existence of social media and experienced the Covid pandemic in their formative years. 
• This generation has a heightened awareness of its environment and of mental health challenges, and is poised to drive policy and technological developments towards increased sustainability and inclusion.

What Gen Beta might look like

• Generation Beta will be the most tech-savvy, experiencing a seamless blend of the digital and physical worlds.
• This generation will grow with sustainability as an expectation and not just a preference amidst the social challenges they stand to inherit, such as climate change, global population shifts and rapid urbanisation.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – HISTORY

Context: January 11 marked the 59th death anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India.

Background: –

• Lal Bahadur Shastri breathed his last in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, a day after signing the Tashkent Declaration reportedly due to cardiac arrest. 

Key takeaways

• Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, in Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar (formerly known as Mughalsarai), Uttar Pradesh.
• His childhood name was Lal Bahadur Shrivastava. However, being against the prevailing caste system, he decided to drop his surname. The title ‘Shastri’ was given after his graduation at Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi in 1925. The title ‘Shastri’ refers to a ‘scholar’ or a person, adept in the holy scriptures.
• Shastri’s youth was dedicated to independence struggle. Post-independence, he served in the UP state government and the central government, before becoming Prime Minister after the death of Nehru.
• On August 15, 1947, he became the Minister of Police and Transport. It was during his tenure that the first women bus conductors were appointed. He was the one who suggested the use of jets of water instead of lathis to disperse unruly crowds.
• In 1952, Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Union Minister for Railways and Transport. A serious accident occurred in August 1956 at Mehboobnagar of present-day Telangana. Distressed at the tragedy, Shastri owned responsibility for the accident and submitted his resignation to the prime minister. However, PM Nehru did not accept it.
• But another accident soon took place in November 1956, in Tamil Nadu’s Ariyalur that saw the death of 144 passengers. Shastri resigned again, accepting moral responsibility.
• Within a year of his resignation, Lal Bahadur Shastri was back in the Union Cabinet and would go on to take the roles of the Home Minister and the Commerce and Industry Minister. In the former, he helped solve rows over the government’s official language policy. When southern states were apprehensive of Hindi domination, he assured that English would continue as an official language alongside Hindi.
• When the country faced major food shortages in mid-1960s, Shastri led from the front and introduced new ideas including fixing foodgrain price for producers – known as the minimum support price (MSP) – and setting up a Prices Commission, the body known as the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) now that recommends the MSP.
• Shastri coined the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”. It was in the background of acute food shortage in the country due to the ongoing war with Pakistan and the impact of the Indo-China war.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The National Youth Day is celebrated every year on January 12 to mark the birth anniversery of Swami Vivekananda. It is also called Vivekananda Jayanti or Rashtriya Yuva Diwas.

Background: –

• Swami Vivekananda’s teachings emphasized the potential of youth in nation-building. His philosophy and ideals continue to inspire young individuals to contribute positively to society.

Key takeaways 

• In 1984, the Government of India declared Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary as National Youth Day to honor his contributions to Indian society. 
• The first official celebration took place on January 12, 1985, and has continued annually since.
• The youth, defined as those within the age group of 15-29 years, make up nearly 40% of India’s total population.
• National Youth Day serves as a moment to acknowledge, celebrate, and harness Youth’s potential, inspiring young minds to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development.

Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue

• The National Youth Day 2025 has introduced the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.
• The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue aims to break the 25 year old tradition of holding the National Youth Festival in a conventional manner. 
• This reimagined festival focuses on identifying and nurturing young talent and providing a platform for innovative ideas and perspectives. It features a merit-based competition called the Viksit Bharat Challenge, which involves quizzes, essay writing, and vision presentations, with finalists presenting their ideas.

Source: PIB

Q1.) Which of the following statements about Lal Bahadur Shastri is correct?

(a) He coined the slogan “Jai Vigyan, Jai Jawan.”
(b) He resigned as the Union Railway Minister, accepting moral responsibility for train accident.
(c) He was India’s third Prime Minister.
(d) He introduced the concept of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for industries.

Q2.) What is the primary focus of the second phase of the Genome India Project?

(a) Sequencing genomes of healthy individuals across India.
(b) Mapping disease-specific genomes and expanding the database to one million sequences.
(c) Establishing a biobank of 10,000 blood samples for future research.
(d) Promoting genomics research exclusively in IISc and NIMHANS.

Q3.) Why is January 12 celebrated as National Youth Day in India?

(a) To honor the contributions of young leaders in nation-building.
(b) To commemorate Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary and his philosophy.
(c) To celebrate India’s youth population, which makes up 60% of the total population.
(d) To promote competitions like the Viksit Bharat Challenge.

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  Today’s – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) – c

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – d