DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th September 2024

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – ENVIRONMENT

Context: Nearly half the sanctioned posts in the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees in Union Territories (PCCs) across the country are lying vacant. While 11 states have over 60% vacancies, Sikkim tops the list with all posts yet to be filled.

Background: –

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) submitted these details in an affidavit to the NGT recently.

Key takeaways

• According to the affidavit, of the total 11,562 sanctioned posts in all SPCBs and PCCs, 5,671 (49.04%) posts have been left unfilled.
• Only two states — Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh — have no vacancies, with all 17 and 27 sanctioned posts respectively being filled.
• The states with the most vacancies are Sikkim (100%), Jharkhand (73.06%), Andhra Pradesh (70.10%), Madhya Pradesh (63.76%) and Manipur (63.02%).
• Setting a deadline, the NGT, on September 11, directed all states and UTs to fill the vacancies by April 30 next year. This, however, does not include Punjab, Delhi and the states with areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) — Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.Vacancies in SPCBs in these states and PCC in Delhi are already the subject of an ongoing case in the Supreme Court.
• Over the past year, both the Supreme Court and the NGT have been monitoring states’ efforts to fill these vacancies. The NGT began monitoring SPCB vacancies in November last year, after taking suo motu cognizance of a media report.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):

• Constitution: Established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Further, CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• Role: CPCB is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Functions:
  • Regulatory Functions: Implement national standards for air and water quality, noise levels, and waste management.
  • Monitoring: Collect and disseminate information related to pollution, oversee environmental quality, and monitor pollution levels.
  • Advisory Role: Advise the Central Government on prevention and control of pollution.
  • Coordination: Coordinate activities with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and promote clean technology and environmental protection measures.
• State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs):
  • Constitution: Established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 in each state.
  • Role: SPCBs function at the state level under the guidance of the CPCB.
• Functions:
  • Enforcement of Environmental Laws: Implement pollution control laws at the state level, including the Water Act, Air Act, and Environment Protection Act, 1986.
  • Granting Consent: Issue “Consent to Establish” (CTE) and “Consent to Operate” (CTO) for industries based on their compliance with environmental standards.
  • Monitoring and Reporting: Monitor pollution sources and report to CPCB.
  • Local-level Environmental Management: Work with municipal bodies, industries, and other stakeholders for pollution control.
  • Public Awareness: Conduct campaigns and provide public awareness programs on pollution control and waste management.

Source: Scroll

 Syllabus

• Prelims – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: As cities across India report a surge in dengue cases, a record number of cases have been reported around the world this year with Brazil and other South American countries worst affected

Background: –

• Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that the number of dengue cases have been increasing year-on-year.

Key takeaways

• The dengue virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Other species within the Aedes genus can also act as vectors, but their contribution is normally secondary to Aedes aegypti. However, in 2023, a surge in local transmission of dengue by Aedes albopictus (tiger mosquito) has been seen in Europe.
• Dengue isn’t contagious from person to person except when passed from a pregnant person to their child.
• Most people with the infection report mild symptoms, but the disease is known to cause fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pains, nausea and vomiting, pain behind the eyes, and rashes. The severe form of dengue fever, also called dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause serious bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock) and death.
• More than 12 million cases and 6,991 deaths have been recorded globally till August this year, according to data from the WHO’s global dengue surveillance. This is more than double the 5.27 million cases recorded in all of last year, which itself was a record.
• India is witnessing an increase in the geography of the infection. The disease spread from only eight states and Union Territories in 2001 to every single state and UT in 2022, with Ladakh reporting the first two cases that year.
• The Lancet identifies “the triad of urbanisation, climate change, and the movement of people and goods” as facilitating the spread of dengue, and its mosquito vector.
  • URBANISATION: The disease can spread more quickly in urban areas with a dense population. This is because urban spaces provide ample breeding grounds to the Aedes aegypti mosquito which breeds in clean, stagnant water.
  • CLIMATE CHANGE: An increase in temperatures allows mosquitoes to breed in places where they previously could not — in higher altitudes for instance.
  • MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE: The global movement of people and goods has, in general, led to a greater spread of infections that these people carry with them.
• Vaccination against dengue: The WHO recommends two vaccines – Sanofi’s Dengvaxia and Takeda’s QDenga. However, these have not received approval in India.
• Apart from dengue, other infections such as chikungunya and zika, which are also transmitted by the same vector, have also been on the rise. Zika was first reported in India in 2016 but there have been several outbreaks since then.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – ENVIRONMENT

Context: South America is witnessing its worst forest fire season in nearly two decades, breaking a previous record for the number of blazes seen in a year.

Background:

• Satellite data analysed by Brazil’s space research agency INPE has spotted 346,112 fire hotspots so far this year in all 13 countries of South America, surpassing the previous record of 345,322 hotspots in 2007.

Key takeaways

• Since the beginning of this year, fires have ravaged the Amazon rainforest, engulfing parts of Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and others. Millions of acres of forest are currently burning across South America.
• The worst hit is Brazil, the largest country in the continent and home to 60% of all the currently burning fires in the region.
• Three of the six vast ecosystems — the Amazon, the Cerrado (the world’s most biodiverse savanna), and the Pantanal wetlands — have been severely affected.
• After Brazil, Bolivia witnessed the highest number of fires this month, according to INPE data.Bolivia is followed by Peru, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Why is this happening?

• Every year, South America witnesses a high number of blazes between August and October, which is the continent’s wildfire season. During this time, farmers intentionally burn their lands to cultivate them and most often, fires escape into the forests.
• This year’s season has been particularly bad due to several reasons: The continent is currently experiencing one of its worst droughts. These extreme dry conditions fueled by the El Niño event (it ended earlier this year) have propelled fires to spread across the region.
• High levels of deforestation, especially in the Amazon, have also played a role in exacerbating wildfires — clearing the land creates more opportunities for blazes to spread. The crisis has been made worse by global warming.

For Your Information:

• The forest fire season in India lasts between November to June. Factors like temperatures, precipitation, vegetation, and moisture contribute to the scale and frequency of these fires.
• According to experts, three factors cause the spread of forest fires — fuel load, oxygen and temperature. Dry leaves are fuel for forest fires. The Forest Survey of India (FSI) website states that nearly 36 per cent of India’s forests are prone to frequent fires.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: During a news conference, Samoan Natural Resources and Environment Minister Cedric Schuster, who chairs the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), called out the world’s biggest economies in the Group of 20, which together account for more than 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Background: –

• The island nations of AOSIS have gained a powerful voice in global climate talks.

About Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) 

• Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) is an intergovernmental organization of low-lying coastal and small island countries.
• AOSIS was established in 1990, ahead of the Second World Climate Conference. The main purpose of the alliance is to consolidate the voices of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to address global warming.
• These island countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change and its related effects on the ocean, including sea level rise, coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion. The members are among the nations least responsible for climate change, having contributed less than 1% to the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
• AOSIS functions primarily as an ad hoc lobby and negotiating voice for SIDS through the United Nations (UN) system. It has no regular budget, permanent secretariat or formal charter.
• AOSIS aims to:
  • Amplify the voices of vulnerable states: It advocates for the specific challenges faced by SIDS, particularly those related to climate change and sustainable development.
  • Promote sustainable development: AOSIS has been instrumental in the implementation of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway, which addresses the unique development needs of SIDS.
  • Conserve and sustainably use oceans: Recognizing the importance of oceans, AOSIS has been a strong proponent of international ocean conservation efforts.

Membership:

• AOSIS has a heterogeneous membership. While AOSIS’ focus is on SIDS, its membership also includes several low-lying coastal countries, for example Belize and Guyana, and larger islands, for example Papua New Guinea. Member nations also vary economically, with AOSIS including both wealthy developed nations, such as Singapore, as well as least developed countries (LDCs), such as Haiti.
• AOSIS includes member states from the Caribbean, Pacific, and African, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea regions. Some of its members are:
  • Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Pacific: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
  • African, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea: Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Singapore.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2

Context: The year 2024 has witnessed several setbacks to India’s Neighbourhood First Policy. The recent election results in Sri Lanka may be the latest among them.

Background: –

• India cannot afford prolonged political turmoil and economic disruption in its southern periphery.

Setbacks to India’s Neighbourhood First Policy (2024):

• Pakistan: Reversion to escalating cross-border terrorism against India.
• Nepal: Another change in government, with K.P. Oli returning as Prime Minister. He had presided over an unprecedented worsening of bilateral relations.
• Bangladesh: Anti-government revolt against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led to her fleeing to India. Growing resentment against India for supporting her regime, along with a resurgence of radical Islamic elements and Pakistani influence.
• Maldives: A hostile attitude was visible from Maldives government which included prioritising China.

Srilankan situation

• Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been elected President at the head of the National People’s Power (NPP), of which the chief constituent is his left-wing radical Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). This is the first time that none of Sri Lanka’s mainstream political parties will be ruling the country.
• The JVP has reinvented itself, shedding its baggage as a violent left-wing and ultra-nationalist movement, which was involved in two insurrections, one in 1971 and the other in 1987.  Its ultranationalism was directed against India, as is the case with most of our neighbours. While in its present incarnation, the JVP may have foresworn its violent tactics, it continues to harbour a radical wing.
• JVP is likely to serve up populist policies, which will derail the fragile economic recovery of the past two years.
• Dissanayake has declared his intention to renegotiate the terms on which Sri Lanka has received IMF support, which the latter is unlikely to accept. There is likely to be greater state intervention in the economy and a review of several major private sector projects.
• Dissanayake has threatened to cancel the solar power project being undertaken by India’s Adani group in northern Sri Lanka. The group is also undertaking a very large container port project in Colombo.

India’s Diplomatic Moves:

• India invited Dissanayake for talks in February 2024 with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval, foreseeing his potential electoral win. This engagement helped maintain diplomatic ties.
• India’s economic aid to Sri Lanka during its 2022 crisis (around $4 billion) and the critical importance of Indian transhipment traffic to the Colombo port may help maintain strong economic ties despite political uncertainties.
• The “Maldives template” of handling hostile regimes through economic interdependence could guide India’s approach with Sri Lanka.
• India has been criticized for over-relying on Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, neglecting broader political engagement, including opposition parties like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and radical groups like Jamaat.
• In conclusion, despite challenges, economic interdependence and diplomatic engagement with new political actors offer opportunities to manage instability in the region.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The leaders of the Quad group of countries met at their sixth summit-level meeting at Archmere Academy, Delaware, to announce a broad range of outcomes which includes the launch of a new coast guard exercise, a logistics network, expansion of maritime surveillance, and a project to combat cervical cancer.

Background: –

• QUAD is progressively strengthening its engagements and outcomes.

QUAD:

• It is a strategic forum comprising four countries – the United States, Japan, India, and Australia.
• It is also known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.
• It is aimed at promoting regional security and economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Importance/Significance of QUAD for India:

• It is strategically important as it gives a platform to discuss and address the common challenges faced by the Indo-Pacific region, such as China’s increasing assertiveness in the region through the string of pearls theory.
• It promotes economic development in the region as it serves as a platform to launch initiatives such as the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor, the Blue Dot Network, and the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative.
• It plays an important role in ensuring maritime security by conducting joint naval exercises and coordinating on issues like freedom of navigation, piracy, and illegal fishing.
• It enhances regional stability in the Indo-Pacific region based on the principles of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
• It aligns with India’s ‘Act East Policy’, emphasizing deeper engagement with East Asian nations and strengthening maritime security cooperation.

Issues/Challenges associated with the QUAD:

• It faces challenges as it does not have a definitive formal structure with a secretariat or any permanent decision-making body.
• China views QUAD with suspicion which makes it difficult to engage China constructively.
• The members of QUAD do not have the same levels of financial resources, strategic awareness, and military capabilities in the Indian Ocean which makes it seem like an imbalanced cooperation.
• It lacks coherent actions in dealing with the issues in the Indo-Pacific region which can undermine the group’s credibility in addressing regional challenges.

Source: The Hindu

Q1.) With reference to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), consider the following statements:

1. AOSIS was established to represent the interests of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in addressing global warming and climate change.
2. AOSIS has a permanent secretariat and a formal charter under the United Nations system.

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

Q2.) Dengue is primarily transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

1. Dengue is highly contagious and can be spread from person to person through close contact.
2. Urbanization, climate change, and global movement of people are key factors contributing to the spread of dengue.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q3.) With reference to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), consider the following statements:

1. QUAD includes India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
2. QUAD has a permanent secretariat headquartered in New Delhi.
3. The primary focus of QUAD is military cooperation in the middle east region.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  25th September 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  b

Q.2) – a

Q.3) – c