DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 18th September 2024

 Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3

Context: The Centre is contemplating to earmark Rs 6,000 crore to promote precision farming.

Background: –

• Apart from offering financial support, the Centre is also considering collaborating with the Netherlands and Israel, where tech-based modern farming solutions are being used, through Centres of Excellences (CoEs)

Key takeaways

• Precision Farming (also called Precision Agriculture) refers to the use of technology to manage farming inputs (like water, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides) more accurately and efficiently.
• It involves technologies like Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System (GIS), remote sensing, drones, soil sensors, and data analytics to monitor crops, manage variability in the field, and optimize resource use.

Benefits of Precision Farming:

• Increased Productivity: By applying inputs more accurately, farmers can improve crop yields and quality.
• Cost Reduction: It reduces the amount of fertilizers, water, and pesticides used, lowering costs for farmers.
• Environmental Sustainability: Reduces overuse of chemicals, promotes soil health, and limits environmental degradation.
• Efficient Resource Use: Optimizes the use of water, seeds, and other inputs, leading to better resource management.

Impact on Sustainable Agriculture:

• Precision farming supports the goals of sustainable agriculture by minimizing resource wastage, reducing chemical inputs, improving soil health, and mitigating environmental damage.
• It helps address key challenges like climate change, water scarcity, and soil degradation by enabling better resource management and adaptive farming techniques.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Mains – ECONOMY

Context: Recently, a restaurant owners complaint to Union Finance Minister regarding absurdity in get structure has gone viral.

Background: –

• During the meeting with Finance Minister, the chairperson of a popular restaurant chain in Tamil Nadu, flagged the challenges faced by restaurateurs due to the varying GST rates on food items.

Key takeaways

• Simplification of GST Structure: A less-complex GST structure essentially would imply a reduction in the number of tax slabs, minimal carve outs and exemptions, easier compliance mechanism and rates at a level at which both states and the Centre are able to safeguard their revenue streams.
• Multiplicities in Tax Rates:
  • Issues raised over different GST rates for similar items (e.g., buns vs. cream buns).
  • Classification (to different tax slabs) disputes often lead to legal challenges.
• Revenue Stability and Challenges:
  • GST collections have stabilized around Rs 1.8 lakh crore monthly.
  • Merging tax slabs (e.g., 12% and 18%) risks revenue loss. Around 70 per cent of the GST revenue is coming from 18 per cent tax slab. Even a 1% reduction in the 18% slab could reduce revenue by 3.5%.
• Concerns of States and Central Government:
  • Any indication of a deceleration in revenue growth due to any tinkering of the GST rates, at a time when many southern states are already asking for a greater share of revenues under the Finance Commission mechanism, is not going to be easily agreeable to states.
  • Revenue neutrality is crucial, preventing a slowdown in revenue growth.
• Potential Solutions for Rate Simplification:
  • Flat rates with no exemptions (similar to Singapore/New Zealand) were considered but rejected for India’s diverse market.
  • Standard Rate Proposal: In 2018, former F M Arun Jaitley suggested that as revenue grows, a standard GST rate between 12% and 18% should be fixed, with exemptions for luxury and sin goods. The country should eventually aim for GST slabs of zero, 5%, and a standard rate.
  • Simplifying B2C Items: Experts suggest revisiting GST rates for simple B2C items, especially those sold by smaller manufacturers. A rejig of rates could provide relief without significant revenue loss.
  • The equivalence principle need to be applied to similar B2C items.For eg: bakery items could be clubbed together with a valuation threshold for the premium segment products.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims – ART & CULTURE

Context: Tribal populations in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Odisha celebrated the harvest festival of Karma or Karam Parv last week.

Background:

• At the heart of the Karma festival is the Karam tree — traditionally seen as a symbol of Karam Devta or Karamsani, the god of strength, youth, and vitality, and the object from which the festival takes its name.

Key takeaways

• The Karam Parv, also known as the Karma Festival, is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the Indian states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Odisha, and even in Bangladesh. This festival is dedicated to the worship of Karam-Devta, the god of power, youth, and youthfulness.
• The festival is popular especially among the Munda, Ho, Oraon, Baiga, Kharia, and Santhal peoples.
• Timing: The festival is observed on the Ekadashi tithi (eleventh day) of the lunar fortnight in the month of Bhado (August-September).
• Rituals:
  • Planting Seeds: Unmarried girls plant and nurture nine types of seeds (like rice, wheat, and corn) for 7-9 days.
  • Karam Tree Worship: On the festival day, villagers go to the forest to collect branches of the Karam tree, which are then worshipped and planted in the village center.
  • Singing and Dancing: The festival is marked by traditional songs and dances, creating a lively atmosphere.
  • Cultural Significance: The festival symbolizes the community’s connection to nature and their prayers for a good harvest and overall well-being.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims – ENVIRONMENT

Context: September 16 is observed as the international day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

Background: –

• The theme for world ozone day 2024 is “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Actions,” which underscores the Montreal protoco’ls vital role in both ozone layer protection and broader climate action efforts.

Key takeaways

• World Ozone Day, officially known as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, is observed every year on September 16th.
• This day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987.

About ozone layer

• The ozone layer, also known as the ozone shield, is a region of Earth’s stratosphere that contains a relatively high concentration of ozone (O₃) molecules. This layer is crucial for life on Earth as it absorbs most of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly UV-B and UV-C rays.

Structure and Location

• The ozone layer is primarily found in the lower portion of the stratosphere, about 15 to 35 kilometers above Earth’s surface.
• The concentration of ozone in this layer is about 10 parts per million, which is significantly higher than the average ozone concentration in the Earth’s atmosphere as a whole.

Formation of the Ozone Layer

• Ozone is formed when oxygen molecules (O₂) are split by ultraviolet light into individual oxygen atoms. These atoms then combine with O₂ molecules to form ozone (O₃).

Importance of the Ozone Layer

• The ozone layer absorbs 97-99% of the Sun’s medium-frequency ultraviolet light (200-315 nm wavelength). Without this protective layer, humans would be at a higher risk of skin cancer, cataracts, and other health issues. Additionally, increased UV radiation can harm marine ecosystems, including phytoplankton, which form the base of the oceanic food chain.

Source: Times of India

 Syllabus

• Prelims – GEOGRAPHY

Context: The detonation of thousands of pagers targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon has left a mysterious trail from Taiwan to Hungary, while raising the prospect of another full-scale war in the Middle East between the Iran-backed group and arch-foe Israel.

Background: –

• Israel’s Mossad spy agency, which has a long history of pulling off sophisticated attacks on foreign soil, planted explosives inside pagers imported by Hezbollah months before Tuesday’s detonations that killed nine people.

About Lebanon

• Lebanon, officially known as the Republic of Lebanon, is a country located in the Levant region of West Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west.

• Capital and Largest City: Beirut
• Languages: Arabic (official), with French and English widely spoken
• Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Arab, with Armenian and other minorities.
• History- Lebanon has a rich history that dates back to ancient times:
• Phoenician Civilization: From around 3200 to 539 BC, Lebanon was part of Phoenicia, a maritime empire known for its trade and navigation.
• Roman and Byzantine Periods: In 64 BC, Lebanon became part of the Roman Empire and later a major center for Christianity under the Byzantine Empire.
• Islamic Caliphates: After the 7th century, the region came under the rule of various Islamic caliphates, including the Rashidun, Umayyad, and Abbasid caliphates.
• Ottoman Rule: Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century until the end of World War I.
• Independence: Lebanon gained independence from France on November 22, 1943.
• Civil War: The country experienced a devastating civil war from 1975 to 1990.
• Recent Conflicts: Lebanon has faced ongoing political instability and conflicts, including tensions with Israel and internal sectarian divisions.

Source: Reuters

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – ECONOMY

Context: India’s wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation cooled to a 4-month low of 1.31% in August, down from 2.04% in July.

Background: –

• The reduction in WPI could help maintain low retail inflation, albeit with a time lag (change in prices should be passed on from wholesale level to retail level).

About Wholesale Price Index (WPI)

• The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) tracks changes in the price of goods that are traded in bulk or wholesale. It is used as an inflationary trend indicator

WPI vs. CPI:

• While WPI measures inflation at the wholesale level, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures inflation at the retail level (prices paid by consumers).
• WPI excludes services, whereas CPI includes both goods and services.
• The base year for WPI is different from CPI, and the basket of goods considered also varies.
• In India, the WPI is published by the Office of the Economic Adviser, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is released on a monthly basis.
• The current base year for WPI is 2011-12.
• The WPI basket is classified into three major groups:
  • Primary Articles (e.g., food, non-food articles) – 22.62% weightage.
  • Fuel and Power (e.g., coal, electricity) – 13.15% weightage.
  • Manufactured Products (e.g., textiles, chemicals) – 64.23% weightage.
• Manufactured products hold the highest weightage, reflecting their significance in the economy.

Limitations of WPI:

• WPI excludes services, which form a significant part of the economy.
• It is less reflective of the cost of living for consumers compared to CPI, as it only measures goods prices at the wholesale level.
• WPI may not capture the final burden of inflation on consumers as it deals with prices at the producer or distributor level.

Source: IBEF

Q1.) Which of the following statements regarding the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in India is/are correct?

1. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) measures the changes in the prices of goods at the retail level.
2. The WPI in India is published by the Office of the Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
3. Manufactured products have the highest weightage in the WPI basket, followed by primary articles and fuel & power.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1.  1 only
2.  2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4.  1, 2, and 3

Q2.) Which of the following statements about the geography of Lebanon, Israel, and the Levant region is/are correct?

1. The Levant region includes countries such as Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and Syria.
2. Lebanon’s coastline runs along the Mediterranean Sea.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1.  1 only
2.  2 only
3.  Both 1 and 2
4.  Neither 1 nor 2

Q3.) Consider the following statements about the ozone layer:

1. The ozone layer is primarily located in the Earth’s troposphere, between 15 to 35 kilometers above the surface.
2. The ozone layer absorbs 97-99% of the Sun’s medium-frequency ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1.  1 only
2.  2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  18th September 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  b

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – c