9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – December 29th, 2023

Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 1

On Women’s Suffrage – Women’s vote achieved

Source: This post on Women’s Suffrage has been created based on the article “Women’s vote achieved: We need faster progress” published in “Live Mint” on 29^th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 1 Society – Role of women and women’s organization.

News: The article discusses history of the women’s suffrage movement and the need to move beyond just granting the right to vote to women.

Recently, 5 religious sisters were allowed to vote at the Papal advisory body in the Roman Catholic Church, which has been male-dominated for centuries. With this historic move, Vatican City became the last country in the world to give its women the right to vote.

What has been the history of the women’s suffrage movement?

The initial women’s suffrage movement emerged during the 19th and early 20th centuries, predominantly led by protest voices in the Anglosphere (English-speaking world).

129 countries granted women the right to vote between 1893 and 1960. Some nations tried to place riders on it by using race, age, education level or marital status as a disqualifier, but these were largely discarded.

1) Role of Social Activism: At first, it was other forms of social activism that gave rise to the vote demand.
For instance:
a. New Zealand in 1893 became the first nation to let women vote in national elections. It was a fight against alcohol that moved women to seek a role in policymaking.
b. In USA, which did it in 1920, suffrage activism can be traced back to protests led by women against slavery.

2) Role of World Wars: The suffrage movement gained pace after World War I, at least in the West. The two World Wars hurried the enfranchisement of women.

What more needs to be done in the field of women’s political empowerment?

This right has not yet shaken patriarchal social structures that dominate power politics. Hence, the focus must now shift to achieving proper representation in rule-making and governance, which goes beyond the basic right to vote.

Despite progress in women’s participation in politices, their impact in shaping political decisions and policies worldwide are yet to enhance and transform the state of affairs globally..

Question for practice:

Women’s suffrage movement played an important role in emancipation of women in the political sphere. Discuss its features.

GS PAPER - 2

On MEA’s Russia Visit – Express View on Jaishankar in Moscow

Source: This post on MEA’s Russia Visit has been created based on the article “Express View on Jaishankar in Moscow: Not zero-sum” published in “Indian Express” on 29^th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 International Relations – Bilateral groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

News: The article discusses Dr. S Jaishankar’s recent trip to Moscow. It highlights the significance of the visit and the changing dynamics of India-Russia bilateral relations.

The camaraderie between India and Russia was evident during Dr. S Jaishankar’s recent trip to Moscow.

Dr. Jaishankar rightly highlighted that amidst fluctuations in ties with other key nations, the Indo-Russian bond has remained remarkably steady and haven’t encountered significant disagreements. India and Russia have often found convergence in their geopolitical goals, particularly in maintaining a stable balance of power in Asia.

What is the status of India-Russia bilateral relations?

1) Trade & Energy Relations: Bilateral economic engagement hasrisen rapidly in the last two years. Bilateral trade has grown from about $12 billion to $50 billion last year, thanks to the massive oil imports from Russia.

2) India’s stand on Russian Aggression against Ukraine: India came under widespread criticism in the West for not condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and for expanding its energy and economic cooperation with Moscow.

What is the significance of the visit?

1) Aims to uphold a strong level of political involvement with the Russian leadership: This is important given the inability to hold the annual summits between PM Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin over the past two years due to the conflict in Ukraine.

2) Does not mark a break in the thriving strategic partnership between India and the US: It is wrong to interpret the visit as a major Indian decision to embrace Russia amid presumed setbacks to India’s relationship with the US (regarding the Gurpatwant Singh Pannun episode and the rejection of Republic Day Invitation by US President).

What are the new announcements during the recent visit?

First, talks for the Eurasian Economic Union-India free trade agreement have been resumed.

Second, agreement over furthering collaboration in future Kudankulam nuclear power projects.

Third, imports of Russian hydrocarbons will continue to rise despite the West’s Russian sanctions.

Fourth, as Russia will host the expanded BRICS summit next year, India will be beneficiary of coordination with Russia like at UN and SCO.

What are the changes in the bilateral relations between India and Russia?

The context of bilateral relations with Russia has fundamentally changed due to the following factors:

1) Economic Gap Reversed: India is no longer a junior partner to Russia. India’s GDP in 1991 was half that of Russia’s; today it is bigger than Russia’s by a large margin — $3.6 trillion to $2.2 trillion.

2) Dependence on Russian Military Imports Decreasing: India is diversifying away from its traditional military dependence on Russia — France and the US have emerged as major arms suppliers.

3) Increased Partnerships with the West: India’s commercial and technological relationships are deeply tied to the US, Europe and the UK. A large section of the Indian diaspora resides in the English-speaking world.

India is reconstituting its Russia relationship as an equal. There are concerns over defence supplies from Russia and the method of payment for imports from Russia. Yet both countries value sustaining a sensible bilateral relationship that will help them deal with an increasingly bipolar world.

Question for practice:

What is the significance of India’s bilateral ties with Russia? How are the dynamics of these relations changing in recent times?

GS PAPER - 3

Challenges of India’s Shipbuilding Industry – India’s stationary course in the shipping value chain

Source: This post on Challenges of India’s Shipbuilding Industry has been created based on the article “India’s stationary course in the shipping value chain” published in The Hindu on 29th December, 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Indian Economy – Infrastructure

News: Despite having a strong maritime foundation, India has lagged behind China in shipbuilding.

China’s Yangtze River, intertwined with Chinese tradition, culture, and commerce, stands today as a proof of China’s modern achievements, especially with projects like the Three Gorges. The river is a hub of shipping activity, with massive merchant ships and smaller barges navigating its waters.

Why has India’s shipping Industry lagged behind China?

Historically, India had a tradition of modern ship-owning and was closely associated with the International Maritime Organization. Despite having a head start over China until the late 1980s, India has not capitalized on its early advantages.

Increasing labour supply instead of industry: It has been the major focus of successive governments to increase the foreign exchange earnings by the supply of labour. Similarly, in shipping as well, India’s focus has largely been on expanding the seafarer population rather than moving up the shipping value chain. In the past, Mumbai and Kolkata were the major centres of seafarer training and employment.

Resultantly, Indians have a good command over seafaring and their management companies. However, they are behind in ship owning, chartering, financing and building.

Government policies: India’s Maritime Agenda 2020 and the government’s Maritime India Vision 2030 have not adequately addressed the need for growth in shipbuilding and owning.

Despite having a strategic geographic location and a long coastline, India has not capitalized on these advantages to strengthen its position in the global maritime industry.

China’s policies: In stark contrast, China, with a dedicated government plan, has become a dominant player in shipbuilding, making half of the world’s ships by 2020. Chinese shipowners primarily build their ships at state-owned yards, showcasing a strong government-industry partnership.

What should be done?

For India to gain a significant position in the global maritime scene, it should focus on boosting ship owning, chartering, financing, and building.

This approach would not only enhance India’s role in international trade but also strengthen its strategic and military capabilities.

Question for practice:

Why has India’s shipping Industry lagged behind those of other countries such as China? What steps can be taken to revive it?

On Civilian deaths in Kashmir

Source: This post on Civilian deaths in Kashmir has been created based on the article “Army cannot afford to lose civilian trust in Jammu region” published in “Indian Express” on 29^th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Internal Security – Security challenges and their management in border areas.

News: The article discusses the history of the Rajouri and Poonch districts in the context of cross-border terrorism. It also highlights why the recent death of 3 civilians allegedly in the military’s custody is a setback to the military’s efforts to curb terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir.

The recent death of 3 civilians allegedly in the military’s custody in the aftermath of the Poonch ambush (by the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF) is a setback to the military’s efforts to curb terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. It can decrease the population’s support for the security forces.

The security situation in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region has a social and political dynamic, due to a mixture of religious, ethnic and linguistic communities.

Source: Anzar Ahmad Khuroo (Research Gate).

What has been the history of the two districts in the context of cross-border terrorism?

1) Early Years of militancy in the 1990s: The districts were used to access the Valley by exploiting the terrain for concealed movement.

2) Post 1996-97: This region has served as a fallback option for terror groups whenever they were driven away from the Kashmir Valley.

3) Late ’90s and early 2000s: This period witnessed rising terror activities in the area. The Indian Army conducted Operation Sarp Vinash in 2003, dealing a deadly blow to the base of militancy in the region.
In this operation, support from the majority community of Gujjars and Bakarwals was not just passive but also active, wherein Village Defence Committees fought along with the Indian Army.

4) Present: In 2023 alone, Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi districts in the Jammu region reportedly witnessed the deaths of 55 individuals (including security personnel and terrorists). The two districts continue to provide a fertile ground for terrorist operations and enable them to assert control.

Why is the region being used as a base for terrorist operations?

1) Sending a Message of Mass Support: By striking outside the Valley, terrorists try to depict the mass appeal of their resistance.

2) Difficult Terrain: The treacherous terrain gives the terrorists an advantage — they need not seek a mass support base for their survival. They can sustain themselves among the higher ridges of the thickly wooded semi-mountainous terrain merely by support of a few Overground Workers.

3) Lack of Attention: The general focus on the Kashmir Valley has led to the Rajouri-Poonch region being at a disadvantage in terms of development funds, implementation of government programmes, infrastructure development, etc.

The once well-consolidated support of locals has been decreasing.

What should be done by the Indian military?

1) Moving beyond mere military operations, bold and imaginative initiatives and countermeasures should be undertaken.

2) Including non-kinetic means, as part of a whole-of-government approach. This includes preventing terrorist activities through diplomatic, economic, political, informational, or cyber means
Note- Non-kinetic warfare generally refers to action against an adversary without a direct conventional military action.

Question for practice:

What are the various reasons for the recent rise of terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir in areas outside the Valley (such as Rajouri and Poonch)?

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Following articles have already been covered in the 7 PM Articles of the day: 

Topic – Illegal Migration from India 
Despair in distress - The farming crisis is forcing youths to take to illegal migration 
7 PM Article - Illegal Migration from India- Explained Pointwise

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

eSoil

Source- This post is based on the article “What is eSoil and how does it work? Here’s everything you need to know about this electrically conductive substrate” published in “Hindustan Times” on 26th December 2023.

Why in the News?

A recent study by Linköping University’s on ‘electronic soil’ (eSoil) and hydroponics (soil-less cultivation) presents hope for sustainable urban agriculture and food security.

What is eSoil?

1) eSoil serves as a low-power bioelectronic growth substrate capable of electrically stimulating both the root system and the growth environment of plants.

2) This innovative substrate has been derived from cellulose and the conductive polymer PEDOT.

3) Its active material is an organic mixed-ionic electronic conductor.

4) Advantages:
a. It is environmentally friendly.
b. It provides a safe alternative to previous methods that relied on high voltage and non-biodegradable materials.
c. eSoil employs minimal energy and reduces resource consumption.

What is the Significance of eSoil?

1) The finding holds significance for hydroponics cultivation and will promote its associated benefits such as vertical farming.

2) It will ensure the viability of urban agriculture and ensure food security.

3) It’s low energy consumption offers a sustainable solution for growing food needs.

What is Hydroponics?

Click Here to read

UPSC Syllabus- Agriculture/ Science & Technology

Pegasus spyware

Source– This post is based on the article “Is Pegasus spyware targeting journalists in India” published in “The Hindu” on 29th December 2023.

Why in the News?

The Washington Post and Amnesty International report alleges Pegasus spyware targeted journalists in India. The intrusion was discovered in October 2023 following Apple’s warning to users, including MPs, about potential ‘state-sponsored attacks’ on their iPhones.

What is the Pegasus Spyware?

1) Pegasus is a type of malicious software or malware designed to secretly collect information.

2) Developed by – Israeli security firm NSO Group.

3) Purpose: Pegasus is designed for three main activities:
a. Collection of historic data on  a device without user knowledge
b. Continuous  monitoring of activity and gathering of personal information and
c. Transmission of this data to third parties.

How does Pegasus infiltrate devices?

1) Pegasus is part of a tier called “zero click exploits” whereby it takes advantage of bugs in popular apps such as iMessage and WhatsApp to infiltrate the system.

Note– A zero-click exploit, unlike most cyberattacks, doesn’t require any interaction from the users they target, such as clicking on a link. It relies on vulnerabilities in devices and software to gain access.

2) Pegasus can also use unsecured websites to infiltrate a device. These are called network injection attacks. The device is infiltrated within milliseconds of visiting such a website.

For more information on Pegasus spyware Click here to read

UPSC Syllabus- Science & Technology

Angola quits OPEC amid dispute over oil production quotas

Source- This post is based on the article “Angola quits OPEC amid dispute over oil production quotas ” published in “Live mint” on 21st December 2023.

Why in the News?

Angola has opted to withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) due to a disagreement concerning oil production quotas.

Note- Several other members have quit the group in recent years, for different reasons: Qatar, Indonesia and most recently, Ecuador.

What will be the impact of this decision?

1) It will shrink membership of OPEC to 12 nations.

2) Angola’s departure raised concerns regarding the unity of the organization and resulted in a drop in international oil prices.

What is Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)?

Specifications	Details
What is it?	It is an intergovernmental organisation of oil producing nations. They together account for an estimated 44 percent of global oil production and 81.5 percent of the world’s “proven” oil reserves.
Objective	To coordinate and unify petroleum policies among its member countries to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers.
Founded in	14 September 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq.
Headquarter	Vienna, Austria.
Members	Total members countries– 13 (Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela) Founding members– Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela
Functions	1) It plays a significant role in influencing global oil production levels to meet market demand and maintain the economic interests of its member nations. 2) Decisions about matching oil production to expected demand are taken at the meeting of the OPEC conference.

What is OPEC+?

Click Here to read

About Angola

1) Angola is a country located on the west coast of Southern Africa.

2) It is bordered by Namibia to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west

UPSC Syllabus-International Relations/ Geography and Places in News

‘UPI Tap and Pay’ Facility by NPCI

Source- This post is based on the article “NPCI kickstarts deployment of ‘UPI Tap and Pay’ facility for payment apps” published in “Business Standard” on 26th December 2023.

Why in the News?

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has initiated the deployment of ‘UPI Tap and Pay’ across various digital payment providers.

What are the Features of UPI Tap and Pay?

1) Instead of a camera, it employs near-field communication (NFC) technology (short-range wireless connectivity technology) to capture the payee’s UPI ID or Virtual Payment Address (VPA).

2) This functionality is only available on phones or devices equipped with NFC capability.

3) Users are required to find the ‘Tap & Pay’ button within their UPI app, and the transaction is finalized by tapping the device on the UPI Smart Tag/ Smart QR.

4) If a user activates the tap feature for the UPI LITE account, transactions below Rs. 500 will be processed through UPI LITE. For transactions exceeding Rs. 500, a UPI PIN will be necessary.

5) The feature is available for both Android and iOS, and is currently live on two apps: BHIM and Paytm (only for limited users).

UPSC Syllabus- Science & Technology/ Indian Economy

SHRESHTA Scheme

Source- This post is based on the article “SHRESHTA Scheme: 2,564 Scheduled Castes students admitted in CBSE/State Boards affiliated 142 Private Residential Schools for academic session 2023-24 ” published in “PIB” on 28th December 2023.

Why in the News?

Under the SHRESHTA Scheme, a total of 2,564 students from Scheduled Castes have enrolled in 142 private residential schools affiliated with CBSE/State Boards for the academic session 2023-24.

What is SHRESTHA Scheme?

Specifications	Details
Full form	The Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA)
Objective	To provide high-quality education for meritorious but poor Scheduled Castes (SC) students in CBSE-affiliated reputed residential schools across the country.
Nodal Ministry	Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
Eligibility	SC students studying in class 8th and 10th in the current academic year.

For more information on SHRESTHA Scheme Click Here to read

How is the Scheme being Implemented?

The scheme is being implemented in two Modes:

1) Mode 1: SHRESHTA schools
a. Under this, around 3000 SC students are admitted in the best private residential schools affiliated by CBSE/State Boards in classes 9^th and 11^th for completion of education till 12^th standard.

b. SC students, with parents’ annual income up to 2.5 lakh, are selected through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS) to be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

c. Total fee for the student would be borne by the Department, including the school fee (including tuition fees) and hostel fee (including mess charges).

2) Mode 2: NGO operated Schools/ Hostels
a. Schools/ Hostels operated by NGOs and other voluntary organizations with classes up to 12, receiving Grant-in-aid from government, will persist based on satisfactory performance.

b. Grants under the scheme will be provided for School fee and residential charges for the SC admitted in the schools with a condition that if other than those are admitted, the school shall be allowed to collect the fee from such students.

UPSC Syllabus- Schemes and Programmes

Offshore Mineral Blocks Auction Rules

Source- This post is based on the article “Mines Ministry Publishes Draft Rules for Offshore Mineral Blocks Auction for Public Consultation” published in “PIB” on 28th December 2023.

Why in the News?

Recently Ministry of Mines has published two draft rules for offshore mineral blocks auction under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (OAMDR Act).

What are the Key Provisions of Draft Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules?

1) Based on the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 framed under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act).

2) Bidding- The combined license and production lease will be awarded through an ascending forward online electronic bidding system.

3) Requirement for Auction of Production Lease: Net worth requirements for auction of production lease will be based on the block’s estimated resource value, capped at a maximum of INR 200 crore.

4) Requirement for Auction of Composite License: The auction’s net worth criteria for a composite license will also be determined by the block’s estimated resource value, with a maximum requirement of INR 100 crore.
– For blocks with unassessable resource quantities, the net worth requirement is set at INR 25 crore.

What are the Key Provisions of draft Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules?

1) Derived from the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015, established under the MMDR Act.

2) These regulations outline exploration standards for diverse mineral types and deposits.

3) The proposed regulations suggest a minimum G2 level of exploration (General Exploration) for considering a block for production lease auction.

4) To qualify for the grant of a composite license, exploration must extend to at least G4 level or the mineral potentiality of the block must be identified.

Note- There are the four stages of geological assessment i.e. G1 (detailed exploration), G2 (general exploration), G3 (prospecting) and G4 (reconnaissance)

What is Offshore Areas Mineral (Development & Regulation) Act, 2002 [OAMDR Act]?

1) The Act governs the development and regulation of mineral resources in India’s territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone, and other maritime zones, along with related matters.

2) The OAMDR Act was recently amended via Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023.

For information on Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill,2023 Click Here to read

UPSC Syllabus- Polity and Nation(Bills and Acts)