DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 19th October 2024

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: In a 4:1 majority ruling, a five-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (1955 Act).

Background: –

• Section 6A was added in 1985 following the signing of the Assam Accord between the Rajiv Gandhi government and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), after a six-year-long agitation against the entry of migrants from Bangladesh into Assam.

What does Section 6A of the Citizenship Act provide?

• A key element of the Assam Accord was determining who is a foreigner in the state. Clause 5 of the Assam Accord states that January 1, 1966 shall serve as the base cut-off date for the detection and deletion of “foreigners” but it also contains provisions for the regularisation of those who arrived in the state after that date and up till March 24, 1971.Section 6A was inserted into the Citizenship Act to facilitate this.
• All persons of “Indian origin” who entered the state before January 1, 1966 and have been “ordinarily resident” in Assam ever since “shall be deemed to be citizens of India”. Additionally, it provides that anyone who entered and resided in Assam after January 1, 1966 but before March 24, 1971 who has been “detected to be a foreigner” would have the opportunity to register themselves according to rules made by the Central Government.
• Following such registration, they would be granted the rights of citizens. Those entering after March 24, 1971, would be considered illegal immigrants.

Why was Section 6A challenged?

• The petitioner claim that the cut-off date provided in Section 6A is discriminatory and violates the right to equality (Article 14 of the Constitution) as it provides a different standard for citizenship for immigrants entering Assam than the rest of India — which is July 1948.

What did the court decide?

• The majority opinion held that Parliament has the power to grant citizenship under different conditions so long as the differentiation is reasonable.
• As the migrant situation in Assam was unique in comparison to the rest of India at the time, it was justified to create a law to specifically address it and doing so would not violate the right to equality under Article 14. CJI Chandrachud pointed out that the impact of immigration in Assam was higher in comparison to other states so “singling out” the state is based on “rational considerations”.
• Court also held that the petitioners did not provide any proof to show that the influx of migrants affected the cultural rights of citizens already residing in Assam. Article 29(1) gives citizens the right to ‘conserve’ their language and culture. CJI stated that “Mere presence of different ethnic groups in a state is not sufficient to infringe the right guaranteed by Article 29(1)”.
• The majority also held that the cut-off dates of January 1, 1966 and March 24, 1971 were constitutional as Section 6A and the Citizenship Rules provide ‘legible’ conditions for the grant of citizenship and a reasonable process.
• Justice Pardiwala in his dissenting opinion, held that the provision was unconstitutional and suffered from “temporal unreasonableness” as it does not prescribe a time limit for detecting foreigners and determining whether they were citizens.
• Further, he noted that there is no process for an immigrant to voluntarily be detected so if they fall in the timeframe provided under Section 6A. They must wait for the government to identify them as a “suspicious immigrant” before being referred to a foreigner tribunal for a decision, which Justice Pardiwala called “illogically unique”.

What were the arguments in defence of Section 6A?

• The Centre on the other hand has relied on Article 11 of the Constitution which gives Parliament the power “to make any provision with respect to the acquisition and termination of citizenship and all other matters relating to citizenship”. It argued that this gives Parliament the power to make laws on citizenship including for a “particular object” without violating the right to equality.
• Other respondents argued that if Section 6A is struck down a large swathe of residents will be rendered “stateless” and be considered foreigners. They also argued that the demographic pattern of the state changed in response to geo-political events even before Section 6A was introduced and that Assam has long since been a multi-lingual and diverse state.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3

Context: On October 14, Google announced the “first corporate agreement” to buy nuclear energy from multiple small modular reactors (SMR).

Background: –

• SMRs have compact designs and can function in areas unable to withstand larger or older nuclear power plants that require huge volumes of water.

Why does Google want to buy nuclear energy?

• Training AI models, ensuring that they remain always online, and maintaining growing data centres are energy-hungry tasks.
• In a 2024 Environmental Report, Google admitted that its total global greenhouse gas emissions rose by 13% in 2023 year-over-year, pointing to the challenge of reducing emissions while compute intensity increases and technical infrastructure increases to support AI transition.
• Google has held that nuclear energy was clean, available round-the-clock (unlike solar energy), and carbon-free. Smaller sizes and modular designs further help the tech giant in faster deployment cycles.

Which other companies are partnering with nuclear reactor makers?

• Microsoft and Constellation signed a 20-year power purchase agreement intended to launch the Crane Clean Energy Center (CCEC) and restart the Three Mile Island Unit 1 .
• Amazon also announced that it signed three new agreements to support nuclear energy projects, such as the construction of SMRs.
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman backed the nuclear startup Oklo, which aims to build a commercial microreactor in Idaho and have it operational in 2027.

Is nuclear energy truly clean?

• Nuclear energy has a serious reputation problem, due to public memory of past accidents and crises that span generations.
• For example, Ukraine’s Chernobyl explosion (1986) and Japan’s Fukushima accident (2011) resulted in extensive environmental destruction that lasted for years, even as the impact on human health is still being researched.
• While Chernobyl is a case study on multiple human errors and a communication breakdown, Fukushima demonstrates how natural disasters beyond human control – such as a tsunami – can lead to a devastating nuclear accident.
• Separately, in the U.S., the Three Mile Island accident of 1979 in Unit 2 of the facility’s nuclear generating station involved a combination of a malfunctioning valve and human errors, resulting in the core overheating and releasing radioactive gases. While not considered overly dangerous to the surrounding population, it is regarded as one of the worst industrial nuclear accidents in American history. Microsoft’s deal with Constellation aims to start Unit 1 again; Unit 2 was decommissioned after the accident.
• Many environmental groups are actively protesting against nuclear energy and the way it is being presented as “clean energy.”

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Standing Committee on Defence will deliberate on India’s readiness to deal with ‘non-kinetic warfare’.

Background: –

• Kinetic warfare typically means military employing a range of weapons. Non-kinetic warfare is an evolving concept, it goes beyond the usual military tactics and can involve electronic warfare, cyber, information, psychological and economic among others. Importantly, it can involve non-military stakeholders too.

Key takeaways

• Non-kinetic warfare refers to actions taken against an adversary without direct  conventional military action. It encompasses a range of strategies and tactics that  aim to  disrupt, deceive, or influence the adversary without physical confrontation.

Key Features:

• Information Warfare: This involves the use of information and communication  technologies to influence, disrupt, or manipulate the adversary’s decision-making processes. It includes propaganda, misinformation, and psychological  operations.
• Cyber Warfare: Cyber attacks target the adversary’s computer systems, networks, and data to disrupt operations, steal information, or cause damage. This can  include hacking, malware, and denial-of-service attacks.
• Psychological Operations: These are designed to influence the perceptions,  emotions, and behavior of the adversary. Techniques include spreading rumors,  creating fear, and manipulating public opinion.
• Electromagnetic Offensives: This involves the use of electromagnetic spectrum to  disrupt or disable the adversary’s electronic systems, such as radar, communicationnetworks, and navigation systems.
• Cryptographic Warfare: This includes the use of encryption and decryption  techniques to protect one’s own communications and to intercept or disrupt the  adversary’s communications.
• Diplomatic Warfare: Leverages diplomatic tools and international forums to isolate an adversary, build coalitions, or alter geopolitical alignments. This involves applying diplomatic pressure, negotiating deals that undercut the adversary’s influence, or using soft power strategies.
• Economic Warfare: Uses economic measures like sanctions, boycotts, or trade restrictions to weaken an adversary’s economy and force compliance or submission. Involves disrupting supply chains, imposing tariffs, or weaponizing global financial systems.
• Recent spate of pager blasts in Lebanon, which is an example of a “non-kinetic warfare”.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2

Context: The Supreme Court held that child betrothals, used as a clever ploy to duck punishment under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, violate basic rights of free choice, autonomy, and childhood.

Background:

• The judgment was based on petitions filed by NGOs, including Society for Enlightenment and Voluntary Action, which found the rate of child marriages alarming despite the enactment of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) nearly two decades ago.

Key takeaways

• Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006, girls below 18 and boys under 21 are deemed to be ‘children’. The law considers the practice of child marriage a criminal offence as well as a social evil.
• Child betrothal refers to the practice of engaging a child in a agreement to marry at  a future date, often before they reach the legal age of marriage.
• A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud said the anti-child marriage law was vague on child betrothals.
• The court urged Parliament to outlaw child betrothals and declare a child whose marriage was fixed as “a minor in need of care and protection” under the Juvenile Justice Act.

Guidelines to govt.

• The court issued various guidelines to the government, including age-appropriate and culturally sensitive sexuality education for children in schools.
• It suggested a ‘Child Marriage Free Village’ drive, similar to the ‘Open Defecation Free Village’ move, involving local and community leaders.
• The judgment recommended the Home Ministry to establish a designated portal for online reporting of child marriages; the Ministry of Women and Child Development to initiate a compensation scheme for girls opting out of child marriages; and an annual budget to prevent child marriages and support affected individuals.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – ENVIRONMENT

Context: As Pollution worsens in Delhi, the first set of emergency response measures under  GRADED RESPONSE ACTION PLAN Stage-1 was implemented.

Background: –

• The GRAP was first notified in January 2017 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

About Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

• Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold.
• Stage 1 of GRAP is activated when the AQI is in the ‘poor’ category (201 to 300). The second, third and fourth stages will be activated three days ahead of the AQI reaching the ‘very poor’ category (301 to 400), ‘severe’ category (401 to 450) and ‘severe +’ category (above 450) respectively.
• Measures being imposed under the previous categories will continue even when the subsequent category is activated, that is, if measures under Stage-2 are activated, measures under Stage-1 will continue to remain in place.
• The GRAP was first notified in 2017 based on a plan that was submitted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2016. According to the notification, the task of implementing the GRAP fell on the now-dissolved Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for the NCR.
• From 2021 onwards, the GRAP is being implemented by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
• The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) was constituted through the CAQM Act, 2021.
• The air quality monitoring body is tasked with better coordination, research, identification, and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index and related matters in NCR and adjoining areas. It has the power to take measures, issue directions and entertain complaints to protect and improve the air quality in the region.
• The Commission is required to have a full-time chairperson with experience of not less than 15 years in the field of environmental protection and pollution control, or administrative experience of not less than 25 years.

Source: Indian Express

Q1.) With reference to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), consider the following statements:

1. GRAP is activated when the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches the ‘severe’ category only.
2. The task of implementing GRAP currently lies with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
3. The measures imposed under one stage of GRAP continue to remain in place even when a subsequent stage is activated.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q2.) With reference to Non-Kinetic Warfare, consider the following statements:

1. Non-Kinetic Warfare involves the use of physical force and traditional weapons in conflict.
2. It encompasses cyber-attacks, information warfare, and economic coercion as tools to disrupt or manipulate an adversary without direct military engagement.
3. Psychological operations and disinformation campaigns are forms of Non-Kinetic Warfare.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q3.) With reference to Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, consider the following statements:

1. Section 6A was added to the Citizenship Act after the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985.
2. The cut-off dates mentioned in Section 6A for determining citizenship for migrants in Assam are January 1, 1966, and March 24, 1971.
3. According to Section 6A, anyone who entered Assam after March 24, 1971, would be granted citizenship if they had resided in the state for at least ten years.

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  19th October 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  b

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – a