9 PM UPSC Current Affairs Articles 14th January, 2025

Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 1

Engaging Men to End Violence Against Women 

Source: The post Engaging Men to End Violence Against Women has been created, based on the article “Transforming ‘men’-talities, redefining masculinity” published in “The Hindu” on 14th January 2025 

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper1-Society-Social empowerment 

Context: The article highlights the need to engage men in ending violence against women by challenging harmful masculinity norms. It discusses UNESCO’s Transforming MENtalities initiative and a report documenting Indian programmes promoting equality, empathy, and non-violence through education and dialogues. 

For detailed information on Women Safety in India read this article here 

Why is violence against women a “men’s issue”? 

1. Men as Perpetrators and Agents of Change: Nearly one in three women globally face violence from men, highlighting men’s role in both perpetuating and addressing the issue.
2. Harmful Masculinity Norms: Boys are conditioned to equate strength with dominance and see emotions as weakness. This leads to aggressive behaviors and limits healthy relationships.
3. Impact on Men’s Lives: Toxic masculinity traps men in cycles of suppressed emotions and aggressive behaviors, affecting their relationships and personal growth.

For detailed information on Fighting Femicide read this article here 

What does UNESCO’s report on India highlight? 

1. UNESCO’s Transforming MENtalities initiative emphasizes engaging men as active participants in promoting gender equality.
2. The report, Engaging Men and Boys: Pathways to Gender Equality in India, documents 10 pioneering programmes addressing gender inequality. These programmes encourage dialogues to challenge traditional gender norms and promote positive masculinities.
3. Some of the interventions are:

• Mardon Wali Baat uses storytelling and social media to help young men critically examine limiting narratives, promoting values like respect and equality.
• Gender Equity Movement in Schools (GEMS) engages boys in Rajasthan through interactive activities. One boy stated, “Boys should also work at home.”
• Initiatives like Dekh Rekh and Hamari Shaadi tackle everyday gender bias by encouraging men to participate in family nutrition and planning.

What role do role models play? 

1. Positive male role models who share caregiving duties, reject violence, and show empathy inspire change. 
2. Public figures like a famous Indian cricketer, who took paternity leave, promote shared responsibilities and equitable relationships.

What is the way forward? 

Men must reject harmful stereotypes and actively contribute to gender equality. By questioning patriarchal privileges and embracing equality, men can help build a world free from violence where everyone thrives. Let us celebrate men transforming mentalities and championing equality. 

Question for practice: 

Examine how engaging men and boys in challenging harmful masculinity norms can contribute to ending violence against women. 

GS PAPER - 3

Genome India Project 

Source: This post on Genome India Project has been created based on “What is the Genome India project, why it matters” article published in The Indian Express on 14th January 2025.  

UPSC Syllabus topic: GS Paper 3- Science and technology  

Context: The article highlights the significance and scope of the Genome India Project, an ambitious national initiative aimed at creating a comprehensive genetic map of India’s diverse population. Launched in 2020 by the Department of Biotechnology, this project involves sequencing the genomes of 10,000 individuals from 99 distinct ethnic groups in its initial phase. The effort is driven by India’s rich genetic diversity, comprising over 4,600 distinct populations, which is both a scientific asset and a challenge. 

What is the Genome India Project? 

1. The Genome India Project is an initiative launched by the Department of Biotechnology in 2020 to map India’s genetic diversity.  
2. It involves sequencing the genomes of 10,000 healthy individuals from 99 ethnic populations, creating a baseline map of India’s genetic variations.  
3. The project aims to expand and sequence up to 1 million genomes in the future. 

What is genome sequencing? 

1. Genome sequencing deciphers the complete set of genetic instructions (DNA) in an organism.  
2. The human genome comprises 3 billion base pairs represented by A, C, G, and T. Researchers extract genetic material from samples like blood, break it into smaller pieces, and sequence them. 
3. These pieces are then reassembled to create the complete genome, much like assembling numbered parts of furniture. 

Why does the Genome India Project matter? 

1. Disease research and therapies: It helps identify genetic risk factors for diseases and enables the development of therapies targeting specific genes. 
2. Discovery of new genetic variants: Identified 135 million genetic variations, including 7 million unique to India.These variants are not present in global databases, highlighting India’s genetic uniqueness. 
3. Population-level insights: It determines the frequency of disease-causing mutations. Example: The MYBPC3 mutation, leading to early cardiac arrest, is found in 4.5% of Indians but is globally rare. 
4. Rare disease identification and gene therapy development: Unveils mutations like LAMB3, found in 4% of a population near Madurai, causing lethal skin conditions. 
5. Drug resistance and precision medicine: Identifies genetic resistance to medicines or anaesthetics, like in South India’s Vaishya community, where certain anaesthetics can cause severe complications. 

What will the second phase of the Genome India Project involve? 

The second phase will focus on sequencing genomes of individuals with specific diseases to compare with healthy genomes. This will help: 

1. Identify genetic causes or predispositions for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders. 
2. Study genetic changes associated with diseases. 
3. Develop targeted therapies and diagnostic tools for rare diseases found in Indian populations. 

How will the data be shared? 

The genomic data will be available to Indian researchers through managed access: 

1. Only research institutions collaborating with the Department of Biotechnology will have access. 
2. Scientists must submit proposals and receive government funding. 
3. The data will be double-blinded to ensure anonymity: Samples are encoded at collection and further encoded when shared. 

How does the Genome India Project compare to global efforts? 

1. The Human Genome Project (2003) was the first global initiative to sequence the entire human genome. 
2. Other projects include: 
3. 1,000 Genomes Project (2012): Sequenced 1,092 genomes. 
4. UK’s 100,000 Genomes Project (2018): Focused on health-related genome research. 
5. European 1+ Million Genomes Initiative: Aimed at sequencing genomes across 24 countries. 
6. The Genome India Project is a critical step toward addressing India’s unique genetic diversity and public health challenges. 

Legal Guarantee for MSP 

Source: This post on the Legal Guarantee for MSP has been created based on the article “Yogendra Yadav writes: No, legal guarantee for MSP is not a “folly”published in The Indian Express on 14th January 2025.  

UPSC Syllabus topic: GS Paper 3- Indian Economy 

Context: The article addresses the contentious debate surrounding the demand for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers. The article is a direct rebuttal to economist Ashok Gulati’s critique of the demand, presenting a detailed defense of the need for an assured MSP mechanism to support Indian farmers. The context is deeply rooted in the ongoing farmers’ movement and broader debates on agricultural reforms, market liberalization, and state intervention. 

What is the debate around MSP? 

1. The debate revolves around whether a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) is feasible and necessary.  
2. While critics argue it may distort markets and is incompatible with economic liberalization, proponents believe it is crucial to ensure fair prices for farmers and counterbalance systemic biases in agricultural policies. 

Why is MSP important for farmers? 

1. MSP ensures a minimum price for crops, offering financial security to farmers. 
2. Farmers often do not realize the announced MSP due to market dynamics and lack of effective implementation. 
3. Proponents argue it addresses an unwritten social contract between the state and farmers, especially in a poor, democracy-driven country where food prices cannot rise unchecked. 

What are the key criticisms against a legal guarantee for MSP? 

Economist Ashok Gulati and others argue: 

1. Legal MSP would distort agricultural markets and hinder price discovery. 
2. It could promote collusion between farmers and traders. 
3. Freer, less interventionist markets are viewed as a better alternative for sustainable growth. 

How have proponents addressed these criticisms? 

Supporters of legal MSP, including farmer activists, propose nuanced mechanisms: 

1. Expanding Procurement: Widen the food basket in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and increase procurement levels at MSP. 
2. Market Intervention: Create targeted schemes to prevent prices from falling below MSP. 
3. Balanced Trade Policies: Adjust import-export policies to prevent price suppression in domestic markets. 
4. Price Deficit Payments (PDP): Compensate farmers for the difference between the market price and MSP, without relying on traders’ receipts to prevent collusion. 

What examples support or refute MSP’s effectiveness? 

1. Critics’ View: Sectors like fishery, meat, poultry, and horticulture, which lack MSP, have grown rapidly due to changing consumer preferences and export opportunities. 
2. Critics suggests: 

• Establishing a price stabilization fund for pulses and oilseeds. 
• Allowing freer market mechanisms to address price discovery and growth. 

3. Proponents’ View: MSP-supported crops like mustard (82% growth) and green gram (113% growth) have outperformed horticulture (51% growth) and milk (78% growth) in the same period (2011-12 to 2022-23). Growth in non-MSP sectors like milk often doesn’t translate to higher incomes for farmers, showing a need for state intervention. 

What would be the cost of implementing a legal MSP? 

Based on 2022-23 calculations: 

1. Current MSP levels: Rs. 26,565 crore (0.6% of the budget and 0.1% of GDP). 
2. Revised MSP (C2+50%): Rs. 1,68,227 crore (4.26% of the budget and 0.62% of GDP). 
3. These costs are modest compared to Rs. 2.08 lakh crore written off by public sector banks and Rs. 1.09 lakh crore corporate tax waivers in the same year. 

What is the way forward for MSP implementation? 

1. Critics need to offer concrete solutions for making MSP “effective” beyond opposing legal guarantees. 
2. A balanced approach combining market mechanisms and state intervention could address systemic biases against farmers. 

India’s Rising Inequality 

Source: This post on India’s Rising Inequality has been created based on the article “Claims about India’s rising inequality don’t tell the full story” published in The Indian Express on 14th January 2025.  

UPSC Syllabus topic: GS Paper 3- Indian Economy 

Context: The article critically examines the claims of rising income inequality in India, offering a nuanced perspective on the state of economic distribution and inclusivity. It challenges popular narratives about inequality, asserting that Indian growth has been largely inclusive and has contributed to improved living standards across socio-economic strata. 

Why is inclusive growth essential for India? 

1. Inclusive growth is crucial for India to achieve the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.  
2. Key indicators include: 

• Improving living standards for those at the bottom of the economic pyramid. 
• Reducing income inequality, as it impacts aggregate demand and resource allocation, which affects economic growth. 

Is income inequality increasing in India? 

1. No. Survey-based PRICE ICE360 data suggests income inequality has decreased, and the middle class has expanded in recent years. 
2. Claims about rising inequality often rely on data from the World Inequality Lab (WIL), which has limitations. 

What are the limitations of WIL’s inequality estimates? 

1. WIL data assumes that 80% of Indian households spend more than they earn, which is implausible. This results in: 
2. Underestimating incomes of low- and middle-income groups. 
3. Overestimating the national income shares of the top 1% and 10%. 
4. Despite its flaws, WIL shows: 

• The bottom 50% share of national income rose from 13.9% (2017) to 15% (2022). 
• The top 10% share fell from 58.8% to 57.7% in the same period. 
• The top 1% share has risen slightly since 2014, by about one percentage point. 

How do tax policies and administration affect inequality estimates? 

1. Reductions in marginal tax rates and better tax administration have led to: 
2. Increased reported incomes among top earners. 
3. Marginal tax rates dropped from 93.5% (1970s) to 39% (now). 
4. The top 1%: 

• Accounts for 17.5% of reported income but pays 42% of total taxes. 
• This contribution reduces their post-tax disposable income to 65-75% of headline estimates. 
• Low-income groups benefit from welfare transfers, which increase their actual income. 

How does GDP growth compare to returns on capital? 

1. Higher GDP growth relative to returns on capital benefits labour over capital, reducing inequality: 
2. Real rate of return on capital: <2% (average CPI inflation: 5.5%). 
3. Average GDP growth rate: >6%. 
4. Weighted real lending rates: <4%. 
5. Even though some small- and mid-cap companies outperform, mutual fund investments benefit 14% of Indian families. 

Is inherited wealth the primary determinant of top incomes? 

No. The majority of top earners (60%) are self-made and not from the wealthiest families. India leads in producing first-generation billionaires, fueled by the booming start-up ecosystem. 

What are the trends in poverty and consumption inequality? 

1. Extreme poverty has nearly been eradicated since 2011-12. 
2. NSSO data (2023-24) highlights: 
3. Consumption inequality has declined. 
4. Improvements in diet quality (increased consumption of milk, meat, fish, fruits). 
5. Vehicle ownership among the poorest 20% households rose from 6% (2011-12) to 40% (2023). 

Is Indian growth inclusive? 

Yes, on most counts: 

1. Rising living standards for low-income groups. 
2. Expansion of the middle class. 
3. Declining inequality in consumption and income. While challenges remain, India’s economic and social policies have contributed significantly to inclusive growth. 

Status of economic growth in India

Source: This post on the status of economic growth in India has been created based on the article “ Pratap Bhanu Mehta writes: India’s growth slowdown is a signal of declining confidence in government” published in The Indian Express on 14th January 2025.  

UPSC Syllabus topic: GS Paper 3- Indian Economy 

Context: The article critically examines the underlying causes and implications of India’s growth slowdown, framing it as a broader issue of declining confidence in the government. The article presents a detailed analysis of economic policies, governance shortcomings, and systemic inefficiencies, emphasizing how these factors are contributing to a weakening of India’s economic prospects and investor confidence. 

Why is India’s growth slowdown significant? 

1. India’s growth forecast for FY25 has been revised downward to 6.4%, from 8.2%, marking the lowest growth projection since the pandemic. 
2. Despite being one of the faster-growing economies, this revision signals a deeper concern about the state of economic confidence. 

Is the slowdown genuinely cyclical? 

1. Official statements attribute the slowdown to cyclical factors, but this term often lacks analytical rigor in Indian economic discourse. 
2. A genuine cyclical slowdown would have been anticipated. The drastic revision suggests that India has a weak analytical framework for understanding and predicting economic cycles. 

How does the lack of data and planning impact confidence? 

1. Official bodies, including the finance ministry and the RBI, appear uncertain about the growth-inflation dynamics. 
2. This lack of clarity and foresight may contribute to a crisis of confidence in India’s economic framework, both domestically and internationally. 

What role does government capital expenditure play in growth? 

1. Growth in recent years has been heavily dependent on government capital expenditure, which raises concerns about the sustainability of growth if private investment remains subdued. 
2. This strategy, while useful in the short term, fails to address systemic weaknesses in the economy. 

What are the systemic weaknesses in the Indian economy? 

1. India suffers from a lack of real reforms and policy measures to strengthen the economic base. 
2. Mindless capital expenditure and schemes that do not tackle core issues only provide temporary relief rather than fostering long-term growth. 

What is the broader implication of the slowdown? 

1. The crisis of confidence among investors in the Indian state is growing. 
2. While investors may not express these concerns openly due to fear or politeness, privately, they see this slowdown as indicative of systemic policy and governance failures. 

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Z-Morh Tunnel

News: Recently, Prime Minister has inaugurated the Z-Morh tunnel. 

About Z-Morh Tunnel 

• It is a 6.5 kms two-lane road tunnel that connects Gagangir and Sonamarg along the NH-1 Srinagar Leh Highway. 
• The name Z-Moreh is derived from the Z-shaped highway that existed prior to the construction of the tunnel. 
• The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has overseen the construction of the Z-Morh Tunnel. 
• The tunnel is strategically situated at an altitude exceeding 8,650 feet and provides safe access to Ladakh region. 
• Advanced construction techniques have been employed to ensure stability and durability. Its design facilitates efficient traffic flows, minimising environmental impacts.
• It is equipped with advanced safety features, including emergency exits, ventilation systems and fire safety measures. 
• Its construction will strengthen defence logistics and promote economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. 

Rat-Hole Mining

News: Workers stand trapped in a flooded coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district. Out of the nine workers, the bodies of four workers have been recovered while the rescue operation is still in progress. 

About Rat-Hole Mining 

• Rat hole mining is a method of extracting coal from narrow, horizontal seams. It involves digging tunnels 3-4 feet deep, hardly allowing workers to crawl in and out. 
• This type of mining is prevalent in Meghalaya. 
• The tunnels are so narrow that workers must squat while extracting coal with pickaxes. 
• It is of two types:  
  • Side cutting Mining: This type of mining is usually done on hill slopes by following a coal seam. Here, narrow tunnels are dug on hill slopes and workers go inside until they find the coal seam. 
  • Box cutting Mining: It involves digging a circular or squarish pit at least 5 sq. metre in width up to a depth of 400 feet. Once the coal seam is found, narrow tunnels are dug horizontally through which workers can extract coal. 
• Rat hole mining raises serious concerns over workers health and safety as it may lead to asphyxiation because of poor ventilation, collapse of mines due to lack of structural support and flooding. 
• It also has several negative implications for the environment like land degradation, deforestation and water pollution. 

Nag Mark 2: India’s anti-tank missile

News: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted trials of India’s indigenous Anti-Tank Missile- Nag Mark 2 at the Pokhran Field Range in Rajasthan. 

About Nag Mark 2 

• It is an indigenously developed third-generation fire and forget anti-tank guided missile. 
• It portrays India’s growing self-reliance in defence technology. 
• It has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). 
• The missile system has demonstrated its firing range by destroying the targets, both within the maximum and minimum range. 
  • It is expected to have a range of 7 to 10 kilometers. 
• The fire and forget technology enables the operators to narrow down on targets before launch and strike with pinpoint accuracy. 
• Nag Mark 2 is a versatile weapon system that is capable of neutralising modern armored threats, including those with explosive reactive armor (ERA). 
• It is equipped with a High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead that adds to its capability of striking the vulnerable part of enemy’s armored targets.