[Mission 2023] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 28 January 2023

Sep 29, 2023

InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions ina your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically

Table of Contents:

GS Paper2:

GS Paper 3:

Content for Mains Enrichment (Ethics/Essay/ Governance)

Facts for Prelims

Syllabus: Governance, Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment

Source: IE

Direction: The article tries to give an overview of migration in India and the reasons for internal migration and the size of the migrant labour force, issues faced by them, etc.

Context: The first Jharkhand Migrant Survey (JMS) was recently conducted across 24 districts of the state.

Background:

Overview of Migration:

Reasons for internal migration and size of the migrant labour force:

Apart from this, one of the major reasons for inter-state or intra-state migration among women is Mairrage (Push factor).

Issues faced by migrant labour:

Steps taken by the government with regard to migrant labour:

Way ahead: Four labour codes – Code on Wages 2020, Industrial Relations Code 2020, Social Security Code 2020 and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020 – needs to be notified soon.

Conclusion:

Insta Links:

Remote voting for migrant workers

Syllabus: International Relations

Source: IE

Direction: The article covers the Indus Waters Treaty and why it is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. It also briefly covers the current state of India-Pak relations.

Context: New Delhi has issued a notice to Islamabad seeking modification of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

Background:

IWT and its dispute redressal mechanism:

The history of the dispute over the hydel projects:

What conclusions can be drawn from India's most recent decisions?

The treaty has remained "uninterrupted" because India respects its signatory and values transboundary rivers as an important connector in the region in terms of both diplomacy and economic prosperity.

The current state:

● Prior to 2016: Characterised by intense engagement, terror attacks, Indian responses, a breakdown of talks and eventual resumption of talks.

● Post-2016: The Pathankot airbase attack followed by a terror attack in Uri, prompted India to respond via ‘Surgical Strikes" and practical ‘Freezing of Relations’.

● Pulwama Terror Attack (2019): India retaliated through the Balakot airstrike.

● Abrogation of Article 370: further deepened the divide.

● Age of C old peace: on the Line of Control, inside Kashmir and in the verbal exchanges between the two sides.

○ A state of relative peace between two countries characterised by mistrust and hostile internal policies between the two governments and citizens is referred to as cold peace.

● Indications of improved relations: thanks to cricket diplomacy, India may visit Pakistan in 2023 following a 15-year gap.

● Pakistan's PM wish to offer a white flag to India in a recent interview for the betterment of the Pakistani economy and its people.

● India's invitation to Pak PM after 12 years to attend a high-level SCO meet being hosted by India at Goa.

Key challenges ahead for India-Pak relations:

● The China-Pakistan axis in Asian geopolitics: Pakistan and Chinese leaders describe their ties using metaphors such as "higher than the mountains" and "deeper than the oceans". Pakistan's economic dependence on Beijing has increased in recent years. Due to Pakistan's current economic crisis as a result of declining foreign exchange reserves and mounting debt, India may face growing Chinese influence in South Asia as a whole and Pakistan in particular (CPEC).

● Terror atmosphere: brooded by Pakistan is hampering India's efforts to peace.

Conclusion:

Multilateral settings are often viewed as opportunities for countries with problematic relations to find a way forward. India should utilise this opportunity to iron out differences with Pakistan.

Insta Links:

Indo-Pakistan relations

Mains Links:

Q. "Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in India and growing interference in the internal affairs of member-states by Pakistan are not conducive for the future of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)." Explain with suitable examples. (UPSC 2016)

Source: ET

Context: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a campaign to drive an inclusive circular economy as part of its initiative to promote sustainability.

Key features of the campaign:

7 Pillars of Circular Economy:

Initiatives towards Circular Economy:

Inst Curious:

The Kabadiwala (a startup) was founded in 2014 and offered free doorstep scrap collection services to households, retailers, and industries in Bhopal.

Want to know about "How can you do your bit to fight climate change?" read these three innovative stories in today's CME below.

Insta Links:

Clean energy should use the battery of a circular economy

Mains Links:

Q. Explain the concept of the circular economy. Giving examples, discuss its utility in India. (250 Words)

Syllabus: Indian Economy

Source: TOI

Context: Google this week began to change the business model used in India to push its Android operating system (OS) and the Google Play Store.

The Changes made by Google:

What is the ‘ walled garden approach ’ adopted by Google:

Android's dominance (under-walled garden approach) is based on a complex model of cross-subsidies. Google offers free services such as a search engine and email, thereby making a huge user base. This user base is then monetised for advertising revenue. Even third-party apps cannot all wish away Google. Google controls both sides of this advertising ecosystem- the users as well as third-party app developers, making it a walled garden.

Other initiatives taken to break Google's monopoly:

Previously, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had imposed a penalty ( and upheld by the supreme court) on Alphabet-owned Google for "abusing its dominant position" in markets related to the Android mobile device ecosystem.

What are anti-trust laws?

Antitrust laws are regulations that encourage competition by limiting the market power of any particular firm. Essentially, these laws prohibit business practices that unreasonably deprive consumers of the benefits of competition, resulting in higher prices for products and services. In India, The Competition Act, 2002 regulates such activities.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI, constituted in 2009) is a statutory body of the Government of India responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002. The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) was repealed and replaced by the Competition Act, 2002, on the recommendations of the Raghavan committee.

Insta Links

Apple faces antitrust case in India over apps issue

Prelims link

Mains link

Q. Ensuring fair competition in the Indian digital market is in the best interest of every stakeholder involved. Comment. (10M)

Syllabus: Environment, Conservation

Source: TH

Direction: The article highlights the significance of cheetah reintroduction in India.

Context: India has signed an agreement with South Africa to translocate 12 cheetahs (seven male and five female) to the Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.

Background:

Significance of reintroducing cheetahs:

Why is KNP given the highest priority for reintroduction?

Why are cheetahs coming from Africa?

InstaCurious:

The other sites recommended for holding and conservation breeding of cheetahs in India, in controlled wild conditions are:

Inta Links:

Cheetah reintroduction project

Prelims Links: (UPSC 2020)

Which one of the following protected areas is well-known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous?

Ans: 1

Quotes:

Source: Financial express

Source: BS

Context: The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) has suggested that the government should come up with a detailed procedure for declaring ‘Monuments of National Importance’ (MNI)

K ey points from the report titled ‘Monuments of National Importance – Urgent Need for Rationalisation’:

India currently has 3,695 MNI that are under the protection of ASI. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act), 1958, (amended in 2010) provides for the declaration and conservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance. The Central Government is authorised to maintain, protect and promote the monuments.

Criteria for declaration of the monument as national importance

Source: IE

Context: In news due to a recent controversial statement made by a state minister against Ramcharitmanas.

The Ramcharitmanas:

Goswami Tulsidas:

Source: TH

Context: It is a fabric that is adored and respected all around the world as pashmina or cashmere.

Background: The French empress Josephine, who was given a Kashmiri Kani shawl by her husband, Emperor Napoleon, in the 18th century, was instrumental in reviving a dying craft in Kashmir by popularizing it in Europe.

Pashmina:

Shahtoosh: It is the name given to the wool of the Tibetan chiru (Endangered in the IUCN Red List) antelopes.

Source: PIB

Context: The six-day mega event "Bharat Parv" is being organized by the Government of India, as part of the Republic Day Celebrations.

About Bharat Parv:

Significance Of Bharat Parv:

Source: ET

Context: UNDESA (in partnership with UNCTAD and five regional UN commission) have produced this report.

Key observations:

It recommends Reprioritization of public expenditures esp. in education, health and digital infrastructure; more social protection,

About UNDESA

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) (est. 1948; HQ: New York) is part of the UN Secretariat and assists countries around the world in agenda-setting and decision-making with the goal of meeting their economic, social and environmental challenges (including SDG Goals)

About UNCTAD

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (est. 1964; HQ: Geneva, Switzerland) is an intergovernmental organization within the United Nations Secretariat that promotes the interests of developing countries in world trade.

Source: DTE

Context: USA is debating whether to allow a genetically engineered (GE) version of the American chestnut tree (currently functionally extinct) to spread in the wild.

Initiatives by other countries for GE Trees:

What are GE Trees?

A genetically modified tree (GMt, GM tree, genetically engineered tree, GE tree or transgenic tree) is a tree whose DNA has been modified using genetic engineering techniques. It can help in fighting climate change by sequestering more carbon; boost biofuel production; help in growing more timber, pulp etc.

Concerns: GE Trees may contaminate other trees along with animals; also not many scientific studies done on the long-term impact of GE trees

Source: TH

Context: The Aditya-L1 mission will be launched by ISRO to the L1 orbit (which is the first Lagrangian point of the Sun-Earth system)

The objective of the mission:

To study solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics and understand the physics of the solar corona and its heating mechanism.

Payloads:

Aditya-L1 has seven payloads in total, of which the primary payload is the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph(VELC).

About Lagrange points:

The Lagrange points are points of equilibrium for small-mass objects under the influence of two massive orbiting bodies. At Lagrange points, the gravitational pull of two large masses precisely equals the centripetal force required for a small object to move with them. These points in space can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position.

Source: DTE

Context:

What is a Kelp Forest?

Findings of the study:

What is the thermal tolerance threshold?

The ability of an organism to withstand high temperatures after prior exposure to moderate temperatures. For example, Ecklonia radiata, the dominant and most widely distributed Laminarian kelp in the southern hemisphere, rapidly succumb to warmer temperatures in spring and summer when temperatures exceed 27 degrees Celsius.

Way ahead: Kelp forests are incredibly important ecosystems that are worth protecting and preserving for their ecological, economic, and social benefits. To ensure that genetic diversity is protected, it is essential to identify refuge areas, which are places that support a lone or extinct population of a once more common species.

InstaCurious:

Kelp forests are often referred to as "underwater rainforests" because of their high biodiversity and productivity.

Philosophy/Sociology: IE: In Good Faith: Pranam vs Pramana — why faith and science must co-exist

Agriculture/Geography: TH: India's groundwater governance is in better shape (also see today's editorial article)

Economy: TH: The Moral and intellectual crises in economic policies (also see today's editorial article)

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