9 PM Daily UPSC Current Affairs Brief – January 13th, 2024
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Mains Oriented Articles
GS PAPER - 2
On the Cervical Cancer Vaccine Drive
Source: This post on the Cervical Cancer Vaccine Drive has been created based on the article “Express View on cervical cancer vaccine drive: A healthy new year” published in “Indian Express” on 13th January 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 Social Justice – Issues relating to Health.
News: The article discusses the proposed cervical cancer vaccination drive in India.
Background:
Around 75,000 women in India die each year of cervical cancer. India accounts for 1/5th of the world’s cervical vaccine burden. It is also the 2nd-most common cancer among Indian women, after breast cancer.
The Government is planning to roll out vaccines for cervical cancer later this year. Cervavac is the indigenous vaccine, developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII), that will be used in the government campaign.
What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?
HPV is a common virus and 90% of sexually active women already have it.
At least 14 HPV types have been identified to have the potential to cause cancer. Among these, HPV types 16 and 18 are the most lethal.
How does the HPV vaccine prevent cancers?
It prevents the entry of four common types of HPV (Type 16, 18, 6 and 11) thereby preventing infections and genital warts.
More than 95% of all cervical cancer cases are linked to persistent infection with high-risk strains of HPV. Thus, vaccination can be effectively used to thereby prevent cervical cancer cases.
HPV infection is also linked to cancers of anus, vagina and oropharynx, which can also be reduced through it.
Who should get the HPV vaccine?
1) The vaccine must be administered in adolescent girls before they are sexually active. This is because the vaccine can only prevent the entry of the virus. The response to the vaccine is also better in adolescence.
2) Although not covered by the planned government campaign, the vaccine can also be administered to adolescent boys and is recommended for men who have sex with men.
3) While the vaccine is not as effective among older women, it can still be administered up to the age of 45 years.
What are the challenges in preventing cervical cancer through vaccination?
- Expensive: It costs about Rs 2,000 a shot, hence expensive for a large section of the country’s population.
- Lack of Awareness: There is a huge lack of awareness about the disease.
For instance, a minimum of two screenings of women by age 35 and again by age 45 is recommended but doesn’t usually happen in India.
Question for practice:
What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)? What are the challenges in administering a mass vaccination drive against HPV in India?
On the India-Oman Free Trade Agreement – Bridging The Gulf
Source: This post on the India-Oman Free Trade Agreement has been created based on the article “Bridging The Gulf” published in “Business Standard” on 13th January 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 International Relations – Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
News: The article discusses the status of trade between India and Oman and the Gulf. It also highlights the possible benefits and challenges arising due to the proposed India-Oman Free Trade Agreement.
The text of the proposed trade agreement between India and Oman has been substantially concluded, indicating that a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) (a free trade agreement, or FTA) may be signed over the next few weeks.
What is the current status of trade between India and Oman and the Gulf?
Oman is India’s 29th largest trading partner, but the 3rd largest export destination among the 6 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
India exports gasoline, iron and steel, electronics, and machinery to Oman, and imports petroleum products, urea, propylene, and ethylene polymers.
Bilateral trade has been growing, increasing from $3.15 billion in 2021-22 (FY22) to $4.48 billion during FY23 (42% growth).
The GCC countries contribute about 1/6th of India’s total trade. The trade balance, however, is in favour of the GCC (due to India’s petroleum imports).
What could be the potential benefits of the India-Oman CEPA?
Facilitate Trade: It could substantially reduce the customs duties, and even bring them down to zero in some instances.
Provide a Market for Indian Exports: Oman has a high per capita income of $25,060 (India’s being $2,370). Thus, it could emerge as a market for more expensive exports from India.
Strategic Outreach in the Gulf: India is looking to improve its relations with the Persian Gulf nations as a balancing act in the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Balance Tilted in India’s Favour: There is hardly any item sold by Oman that can threaten Indian industry. On the other hand, India might get important market access for its exports to Oman in the form of finished products.
For instance, raw material from Oman such as petrochemicals, chemicals, and crude oil will enter India at a lower/zero duty. In return, India will get market access for finished products such as engineering, chemicals, plastics, textiles.
What are the challenges?
Limited Opportunities: Oman is a much smaller country than India, growth in trade between the two is expected to be limited. With a population of 1.4 billion, compared to Oman’s 5 million, India represents a much larger consumer market for Oman.
Question for practice:
The India-Oman Free Trade Agreement can act as a positive step not just for bilateral trade and the Indian export economy, but also India’s strategic interests. Analyse.
Issues related to policing in India- A case diary for the Indian police
Source: The post issues related to policing in India has been created, based on the article “A case diary for the Indian police” published in “The Hindu” on 13th January 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper2- Governance- Important aspects of governance
News: The article talks about a three-day conference in Jaipur for top-level police officers from across India, focusing on various issues related to policing in India.
What are the issues related to policing in India?
Low Public Trust: The Indian police are perceived negatively by the public, leading to a lack of trust and confidence in their capabilities.
Centre-State Conflict: There is tension between the central government and some state governments regarding the Indian Police Service (IPS). States view IPS officers as outsiders and prefer recruiting their own personnel.
Structural Imbalances: The police hierarchy is skewed, with IPS officers receiving most attention and opportunities, while lower ranks lack chances to demonstrate their capabilities. This structure contrasts with many countries where officers rise through the ranks based on merit and performance.
Political Influence: Policing in India is heavily influenced by politics, with officers often struggling to resist illegal demands from politicians, affecting their autonomy and operational independence.
Inadequate Training and Development: Lower-ranking officers lack sufficient training and development opportunities, hindering their ability to effectively serve and protect the community.
Way forward
To improve policing in India, a major restructuring is necessary, focusing on bridging the gap between higher and lower ranks and fostering empathy towards the common man. Educating lower ranks and shielding the police from political interference are crucial. This approach, mirroring global practices, can enhance the force’s reputation and efficiency.
Question for practice:
Discuss the key issues faced by the Indian police force and suggest ways forward for improvement.
GS PAPER - 3
Challenges to India’s Climate Goals
Source: This post on the Challenges to India’s Climate Goals has been created based on the article “India’s climate goals: Navigating a complex dilemma” published in “Business Standard” on 13th January 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 Environment – Conservation.
News: The article discusses the challenges in front of India, especially its electricity policies, in transitioning to non-fossil energy. It also highlights other negative outcomes of India’s electricity policies.
A detailed article on UNFCCC COP28 can be read here.
The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) concluded with a statement calling for the phase-out of fossil fuels.
However, achieving these climate targets will be difficult without immediate and decisive action by India, the world’s third-largest greenhouse-gas (GHG) emitter. India accounted for 7.6% of global GHG emissions in 2022.
What are the challenges in front of India in transitioning to non-fossil energy?
- Taxation Policy on Petroleum Products: India reduces taxes on petroleum products when global prices increase and raises them when prices drop (countercyclical taxation). This resulted in a low effective carbon price in India. Lower prices prevent shift to costlier renewable sources.
- Electricity Pricing and Subsidies: Electricity, which accounts for 34% of India’s emissions, is heavily subsidised in India (Subsidies mean fossil energy appears artificially cheaper than it actually is).
- Difficulties in Reforming Electricity Pricing: Reforming electricity pricing is difficult as electricity prices are not set by one central authority, but by the states and UTs. Additionally, the expectation of subsidised power has become part of the country’s politics.
- Lack of Clean-Energy Investments: Heavy subsidisation strains state governments’ finances – which prevents clean-energy investments.
What are the negative outcomes of India’s electricity policies?
- Depletion of Water: In agricultural regions, it has contributed to the rapid degradation and depletion of water resources.
- Health Issues due to Emissions: Reliance on fossils (such as coal) for power generation causes severe pollution-related health problems.
- Populism leading to even more Subsidies: In Indian politics, the popularity of electricity subsidies as a tool for winning elections may lead to competitive populism between state governments, leading to even more subsidies.
What should be done?
1) For the transition to renewables to be economically feasible, renewable energy and storage must be cheaper.
2) International financial support will be required for renewable energy and storage projects in developing countries.
Question for practice:
Transitioning to non-fossil energy for India would be an uphill task. Comment.
Issue with Swachh Survekshan Awards
Source: The post Issue with Swachh Survekshan Awards has been created, based on the article “Numbers game: Factors affecting general improvement in sanitation must be overcome” published in “The Hindu” on 13th January 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper3- Economy- infrastructure
News: The article discusses the Swachh Survekshan Awards in India, where cities are ranked for cleanliness. Indore and Surat top the list, but the article criticizes the ranking system for focusing too much on the same cities every year and ignoring others’ challenges.
What are the Swachh Survekshan Awards?
The Swachh Survekshan Awards are an annual event in India that ranks cities, towns, and states based on their cleanliness and sanitation efforts.
For more information read here
What are the Issue with Swachh Survekshan Awards?
Stagnation of Top Cities: Indore and Surat have consistently been named India’s cleanest cities for several years, indicating a lack of change and improvement.
Volatile Rankings Beyond Top 10: Cities like Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Gwalior show inconsistency in their rankings, while top cities remain constant.
Overemphasis on Top Cities: The focus on perennial top performers like Bhopal, Indore, Surat, and Visakhapatnam overshadows the challenges faced by other cities, hindering a comprehensive improvement in public sanitation across the country.
Criticism of Sub-Categories: The awards’ numerous sub-categories can appear arbitrary and limited, potentially undermining their credibility and fairness.
Ineffective Motivation: The current ranking system may not effectively motivate overall sanitation improvement, as factors beyond a city’s control significantly influence cleanliness.
What should be done?
Retire Top Cities: Top performers like Indore and Surat should be retired from future rankings for a few years to focus on other cities’ challenges.
More Inclusive Categories: Instead of only Ganga towns, include towns along other rivers like Cauvery or Narmada for more inclusive recognition.
Address Underlying Issues: Focus on factors like economic conditions and history, which significantly impact a city’s sanitation, rather than just rankings.
Question for practice:
Discuss how the Swachh Survekshan Awards’ ranking system could be improved to better address the sanitation challenges of different cities across India.
Finance Commission support forest conservation in India
Source: The post Finance Commission support forest conservation in India has been created, based on the article “To combat climate challenges, the Finance Commission needs to step up” published in “Indian Express” on 13th January 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper 3- environment – conservation and GS paper 2- polity- devolution of powers and finances up to local levels.
News: This article discusses how India’s Finance Commission (FC) helps states improve and maintain their forests to fight climate change.
How does the Finance Commission support forest conservation in India?
Progressive Increase in Financial Allocations: The Finance Commission has significantly increased funding for forest conservation over time. Starting with Rs 1,000 crore in the 12th FC, it was raised to Rs 5,000 crore by the 13th FC. The 14th FC further enhanced the focus by dedicating 7.5% of the central tax pool to forests and ecology. The 15th FC then increased this share to 10%, demonstrating a clear upward trend in financial commitment.
Largest Payment for Ecosystem Services: By the time of the 15th FC, the amount mobilized and distributed to states exceeded Rs 4.5 lakh crore, making it the world’s largest Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) system.
Alignment with National Climate Goals: The increasing financial allocations by the Finance Commission support India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. India aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 33-35% and develop an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030. This strategic funding helps achieve these targets by incentivizing states to improve and maintain their forest cover.
What are the challenges in forest conservation?
High Opportunity Costs: Forest conservation often comes with significant opportunity costs, which can be large or even prohibitive for some states, impacting their revenue and expenditure.
Balancing Economic and Environmental Needs: There is a challenge in balancing the necessity of economic growth with the imperatives of environmental conservation.
Dealing with Specific Environmental Issues: Addressing specific problems like crop burning and increasing forest fires, which are not part of the natural regenerative cycle but a result of climate change, requires dedicated funds and innovative solutions.
Variability in Climate Vulnerability: Different regions in India face varying levels of climate vulnerability, necessitating tailored approaches to forest conservation and management.
What opportunities can the 16th Finance Commission explore?
Incorporating Climate Parameters in Tax Distribution: The 16th Finance Commission can make climate vulnerability and emission intensity a key part of the tax devolution formula, nudging states towards achieving India’s National Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Performance-Based Grants for Specific Sectors: It can provide performance-based grants for sectors crucial to emissions reduction, such as clean energy, sustainable land, and forest management, aligning with India’s NDCs and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Innovations for Environmental Challenges: The Commission can fund innovations to address specific problems like crop burning and mangrove restoration, vital in the face of increasing forest fires and weather-induced floods.
Scientific Data-Driven Fund Allocation: Utilizing remote sensing data and pollution inventories to assess ecosystem degradation can help in designing a performance-based system for efficient and targeted fund allocation.
For more information on 16th FC read here
Question for practice:
Evaluate the impact of the Finance Commission’s financial allocations on forest conservation in India, considering the challenges and opportunities mentioned in the article.
Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)
DRDO successfully tests Next-Gen Akash Missile
Source: The post is based on the article “DRDO successfully tests next-gen Akash missile“ published in “Business Standard” on 13th January 2024.
Why in news?
DRDO has successfully tested the next-gen Akash missile.
What is the next-gen Akash missile?
| Aspect | Details |
| Missile | New Generation Akash (Akash-NG) missile |
| Developed by | Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) |
| About test | It was tested at Integrated test range (ITR), Chandipur, off the Odisha coast.
The flight test was conducted against a high-speed, unmanned aerial target at a very low altitude. |
| Features | The Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) is one of the early successes of the DRDO’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
It has been developed with indigenisation levels above 96 per cent. The Akash-NG is a major improvement over the older Akash. The lighter Akash-NG flies up to an altitude of 25 km and has a range of 30 km. The Akash NG is a state-of-the-art missile system capable of intercepting high speed, agile aerial threats. The surveillance radar detects enemy fighters at ranges upto 80 km and initiates the launch sequence. The Akash-NG detects, tracks and shoots down enemy aircraft in seconds. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has bought five units of the Akash for defending its airfields in the Northeast from enemy fighter aircraft. |
| How is it different from Akash | It surpasses Akash by achieving a higher altitude ceiling of over 20 km, a notable improvement from Akash’s limit, along with an extended range beyond 25 km.
It has two-pulse, solid rocket motor that replaces the old ramjet on the legacy Akash missile. Its weight has been halved to 350 kilogram (kg) from the Akash’s 700 kg. |
UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology
Current status of TB 2023
Source: The post is based on the article “At 25.37 lakh, India achieved record TB notifications in 2023″ published in “The Hindu” on 13th January 2024.
Why in news?
Recent reports have shown that there have been 25,37,235 TB cases of TB in 2023.
What is the current status of TB in India?
1) Public Sector TB cases notified are 1,699,119, reaching 93% of the target.
2) Private Sector TB Cases notified are 838,116, reaching 89% of the target.
3) TB cases have been decreased since 2022.
4) TB case notification in 2022 was 13% more than what was achieved in 2021. Due to the pandemic, TB notifications fell sharply in 2020 and 2021.
5) Over the years, there has been a steady rise in the private sector’s contribution to TB notifications: 21% in 2017, 25% in 2018, 28% in 2019, and 31% in 2020.
6) Despites cases is declining the private sector’s TB case notifications have consistently fallen short of the targets outlined in the National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2022-2025.
7) According to the National Strategic Plan (NSP), approximately 0.54 million TB patients are not captured by surveillance and services, potentially in the private sector or the community.
What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
1) Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. It spreads through the air when infected people cough, sneeze or spit.
2) Tuberculosis is preventable and curable.
3) About a quarter of the global population is estimated to have been infected with TB bacteria.
4) Those who are infected but not (yet) ill with the disease cannot transmit it.
What is National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis (2017-2025)?
1) National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis (2017-2025) was launched by Ministery for Health and Family Welfare.
2) It has been launched with the goal of achieving the SDG targets related to TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global target.
3) The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include ending the TB epidemic by 2030 under Goal 3.
4) National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis adopts strategies under four pillars- Detect, treat, prevent, build.
UPSC syllabus: Science and technology
Cold Dark Matter of the Universe
Source: This post is based on the article “Relaxed assumptions can throw better light on Cold Dark Matter of the Universe” published in “PIB” on 12th January 2024.
Why in news?
Scientists have found a new approach to exploring cold dark matter (CDM), a hypothetical dark matter that constitutes 25 per cent of the current Universe.
What is Dark matter?
1) The universe is made up of at least two kinds of matter: Baryonic matter and Dark matter.
2) Baryonic matter made of protons and neutrons, which can be measured.
3) Baryonic matter includes stars and galaxies and all the objects they contain.
What is Cold Dark Matter?
1) Dark matter can actually be slotted into three general groups: hot dark matter (HDM), warm dark matter (WDM), and cold dark matter (CDM).
2) Of the three, CDM has long been the leading candidate for what this missing mass in the universe is.
3) CDM is a kind of dark matter that, if it exists, moves slowly compared to the speed of light.
4) CDM is believed to have been existed since the universe began influencing the growth of galaxies and the formation of the first stars.
5) Scientists think it’s likely an exotic particle that hasn’t been detected yet.
6)The widely used Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMP) model proposes that cold dark matter comprises heavy particles with very weak interactions with normal matter.
UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology
Drishti 10 Starliner UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle): First Indigenous medium-altitude long-endurance drone of
Source: This post is based on the article“What is indigenously manufactured UAV ‘Drishti 10 Starliner’?” published in “The Indian Express” on 10 January 2024.
Why in news?
The Indian Navy got its first indigenous medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone, the Drishti 10 Starliner unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
What is the Drishti 10 Starliner UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)?
| Specifications | Details |
| What is it? | It is an advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform. |
| Developed by | Adani Defence and Aerospace with technology transfer from Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems. |
| Features | 1) It is India’s first indigenous medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone. 70% of the drone is made using indigenous components.
2) It is a variant of Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 Starliner drones. 3) The UAV will be officially inducted into naval maritime operations at Porbandar. 4) The Drishti 10 Starliner boasts an impressive 36 hours of endurance and a substantial 450 kg payload capacity. 5) It stands out as the only all-weather military platform certified with NATO’s STANAG 4671 (standardized agreement 4671) for airworthiness. |
| Strategic importance | 1) Drishti 10 Starliner is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, enhanced endurance, advanced communication capabilities, and cutting-edge technologies.
2) The UAV would play a pivotal role in shaping future naval operations and safeguarding India’s national maritime interests in the Indian Ocean region. |
UPSC Syllabus: Science and technology
Thylakoids
Source: This post is based on the article “What are thylakoid membranes?” published in “The Hindu” on 11 January 2024.
Why in news?
Researchers at the University of Liège, Belgium have identified microstructures in fossil cells that are 1.75 billion years old.
What are the recent findings related to Thylakoids?
1) The oldest known fossil thylakoids date back approximately 550 million years.
2) However, researchers have identified thylakoid membranes in fossil cells that are 1.75 billion years old.
3) These findings suggest a minimum age for the divergence between cyanobacteria with and without thylakoids.
3) It presents a possibility that that the development of thylakoids might have significantly contributed to the phenomenon known as the ‘Great Oxygenation’.
What is ‘Great Oxygenation’ event?
1) Around 2.4 billion years ago on earth the oxygen released by cyanobacteria filled the ocean and made its waters oxygen rich.
2) Over time, this oxygen started escaping into the atmosphere, where it reacted with methane.
3) As more oxygen escaped, methane was eventually displaced, and oxygen became a major component of the atmosphere.
4) This event is known as the Great Oxidation Event.
What are thylakoid?
1) Thylakoids are little pouches located in the chloroplasts of plants.
2) They are found in ancient, light-sensitive bacteria called cyanobacteria.
Note: Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic bacteria that obtain energy through photosynthesis. They are often referred to as blue-green algae, although they are not classified as true algae.
3) They store chlorophyll, the substance in plants that reacts to sunlight and triggers photosynthesis.
4) The thylakoid’s function is to perform light-dependent reactions in photosynthesis.
UPSC Syllabus: Science and Technology
