UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 August 2024
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 August 2024 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles
InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in 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.
Table of Contents
GS Paper 1: (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 August 2024)
• Review of Dam Design to handle Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
Review of Dam Design to handle Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
GS Paper 2:
• Draft Broadcast Services Bill 2024
Draft Broadcast Services Bill 2024
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• Arunachal Pradesh: Free School For Orphans
Arunachal Pradesh: Free School For Orphans
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
• Pyrocumulonimbus clouds
Pyrocumulonimbus clouds
• Vertical rise of stable landforms
Vertical rise of stable landforms
• Tantalum
Tantalum
• Namami Gange Mission 2.0
Namami Gange Mission 2.0
• Nandini Sahakar Yojana
Nandini Sahakar Yojana
• DNA profiling
DNA profiling
• Clinical trial
Clinical trial
• Digital watermarking
Digital watermarking
• Antarctica’s deep-winter heatwave
Antarctica’s deep-winter heatwave
Mapping:
• Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh
Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 August 2024
#### GS Paper 1:
Review of Dam Design to handle Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
Syllabus: Geography/ Disaster Management
Source: PIB
Context: Following the Teesta-III Hydroelectric dam collapse in October 2023, the Central Water Commission (CWC) is reviewing the design flood of vulnerable dams to ensure they can handle Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
What are Glaciers?
Glaciers are large masses of ice that form from the accumulation and compaction of snow over long periods. They flow slowly downhill under their weight and gravity, shaping the landscape and playing a crucial role in Earth’s climate and hydrology by storing and releasing freshwater.
Glaciers cover ∼10% of the Earth’s land surface, but they are shrinking rapidly across most parts of the world, leading to cascading impacts on downstream systems.
What is Glacial Lake Outbursts (GLO)?
A Glacial Lake Outburst (GLO) occurs when a glacial lake, formed by melting ice and snow, suddenly releases a large volume of water. This can happen due to the failure of natural ice or moraine dams holding the lake, often triggered by factors like heavy rainfall, earthquakes, or the melting of surrounding ice. The sudden release of water can lead to devastating floods downstream, causing significant damage to communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
Reasons for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs):
• Geological: Earthquakes, breaches of moraine dams.
• Morphological: Mass movements into glacial lakes, water seepage through glacial structures.
• Physical: Excessive precipitation, cryoseism (non-tectonic seismic events in the glacial cryosphere).
• Anthropogenic: Climate change and global warming.
Mounting GLOF Risks in the Himalayas:
• Glacial Retreat: Rising temperatures lead to accelerated glacial melt, creating glacial lakes. The increased volume of water in these lakes raises the risk of GLOFs, threatening downstream communities.
• Glacial Lake Dynamics: The formation of moraine-dammed lakes, often unstable, poses a significant risk. When the moraine dam weakens or breaches due to factors like earthquakes or increased meltwater pressure, it can trigger a GLOF.
India’s Vulnerability to GLOFs:
• ISRO’s Atlas: Identified over 28,000 glacial lakes in the Himalayan basins.
• Sikkim: 733 glacial lakes identified; 10 classified as vulnerable.
• Uttarakhand: 13 out of 486 glacial lakes are vulnerable.
• Jammu and Kashmir: Highest number of vulnerable lakes, with significant threats also in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
Urgent Call for heightened awareness and proactive measures:
• Preventing Catastrophic Floods: GLO events can unleash massive floods downstream, causing loss of life, extensive damage to infrastructure, and economic devastation. For instance, the 1994 GLO in the Bhutanese Himalayas resulted in a catastrophic flood disaster.
• For instance, the 1994 GLO in the Bhutanese Himalayas resulted in a catastrophic flood disaster.
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Communities: Many communities reside in downstream areas of glacial lakes, making them highly vulnerable to GLO events. Effective awareness measures are essential to protect these communities from harm.
• Effective awareness measures are essential to protect these communities from harm.
• Threat to Livelihoods: Many communities in the Himalayan region depend on agriculture and livestock farming. GLOFs can damage agricultural fields, threaten livestock, and disrupt livelihoods, leading to food insecurity.
• Preserving environmental integrity: GLO events disrupt ecosystems downstream, leading to long-term environmental damage. Mitigation efforts aim to minimize such ecological impacts and maintain environmental balance.
• Mitigation efforts aim to minimize such ecological impacts and maintain environmental balance.
• Infrastructure Resilience: Designing infrastructure with resilience against GLOFs, such as building protective barriers and establishing safe evacuation routes, is essential to minimize the impact on vulnerable communities.
• Community Engagement: Raising awareness and involving local communities in disaster preparedness and response strategies is pivotal. Communities need to be equipped with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves during GLOF events.
NDMA guidelines in mitigating the risks associated with GLOFs:
Guideline | Details
- 1.Identifying Potentially Dangerous Lakes | Use field observations, historical data, geomorphologic and geotechnical analysis.
- 2.Use of Technology | Promote synthetic-aperture radar imagery for detecting changes in water bodies and develop remote monitoring methods.
- 3.Channelling Potential Floods | Implement controlled breaching, pumping, siphoning, or creating tunnels through barriers.
- 4.Uniform Codes for Construction Activity | Develop frameworks for construction and land use planning in vulnerable zones.
- 5.Enhancing Early Warning Systems (EWS) | Increase the number of operational GLOF EWS; currently, only a few exist in the Himalayas.
- 6.Training Local Manpower | Train locals for search and rescue, shelter planning, and relief distribution.
- 7.Comprehensive Alarm Systems | Combine acoustic alarms with modern communication technologies like smartphones.
Measures to Mitigate GLOF Disasters:
• Monitoring: Intensify meteorological monitoring and real-time data collection at glacier lakes and downstream rivers.
• Technology: Use satellites and drones for regular monitoring of glacier lakes.
• Safety Standards: Revise and enforce strict safety standards for infrastructure in mountainous areas.
• Construction Regulation: Apply stringent quality control and regulations for construction near rivers.
• Scientific Research: Expand research on glacier behaviour and climate change impacts in the Himalayas.
Conclusion
By understanding these risks and implementing comprehensive mitigation strategies, we can reduce the potential devastation caused by GLO events, protect vulnerable communities, and preserve the environment, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and sustainable future.
Mains Links:
Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyze the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures. (UPSC 2023)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 August 2024 GS Paper 2:
Draft Broadcast Services Bill 2024
Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions
Source: IE
Context: The recently introduced draft Broadcast Services Bill 2024 has raised concerns about freedom of speech. The draft is the revision of the previously proposed Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, to replace the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995.
What are Broadcast Services?
Broadcast Services involve distributing audio, video, or multimedia content to a wide audience.
Examples:
• TV Channels (e.g., CNN, BBC)
• Radio Stations (e.g., NPR, BBC Radio)
• Online Streaming (e.g., Netflix, YouTube)
• Podcasts (e.g., “The Joe Rogan Experience”)
These services offer news, entertainment, and educational content through various media channels.
Key Features of the Draft Bill:
Aspect | Details
Background | Revision of the 2023 draft bill to consolidate broadcasting regulations, extending to OTT and digital news.
Key Features | Definition of Digital News Broadcasters: Includes anyone publishing news/content via online platforms, excluding replica e-papers.
Code of Ethics | Validates the IT Rules 2021 code of ethics, which is currently stayed by courts.
Content Evaluation Committee (CEC) | Creators must form CECs, register with a Self-Regulatory Organisation, and follow orders from the Broadcast Advisory Council.
Creators must ensure diversity, and provide member details to the government.
Non-compliance fines: Rs 50 lakh (first), Rs 2.5 crore (subsequent).
OTT Platforms | Referred to as ‘publishers of online curated content’; not included under ‘internet broadcasting services’ but aligned with IT Rules 2021.
Regulation of Social Media Creators | Extends to independent news creators on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and X, classifying them as digital news broadcasters.
Mandatory Registration | Digital news broadcasters must register with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and disclose details about their operations and CECs.
Intimation to Government | Creators must inform MIB about their operations and CECs within a month.
Social Media Intermediary Liability | Social media companies must exercise due diligence and can face criminal liability for failing to provide necessary information about digital news broadcasters.
Exemptions for Certain Players | Allows the government to exempt certain stakeholders to avoid genuine hardship.
Global Applicability | May include foreign creators, though enforcing these regulations on them could be challenging.
Why is the Scope of the Draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2024 Expanded?
The bill’s scope is expanded to address sensational content by independent creators during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and concerns about tech algorithms amplifying certain narratives, aiming to ensure accountability and a level playing field.
Concerns Regarding the Draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill 2024:
• Threat to Freedom of Speech: Broad definitions and regulatory scope may lead to government overreach and censorship.
• Vague Definitions: Terms like “systematic activity” and “digital news broadcaster” are poorly defined, risking arbitrary enforcement.
• Onerous Compliance Requirements: Independent creators face financial and administrative challenges in complying with the bill’s mandates.
• Chilling Effect on Independent Media: Registration and adherence to government standards could stifle critical journalism.
• High Penalties: Steep fines for non-compliance could disproportionately affect smaller creators.
• Selective Enforcement Potential: Exemptions for certain players may result in uneven application of the law.
• Impact on Social Media Platforms: Social media companies may face criminal liability, leading to increased content regulation.
• Global Reach: Regulating foreign creators could be difficult and strain international relations.
• Lack of Public Consultation: Limited stakeholder involvement raises concerns about transparency in the drafting process.
Case Study: Singapore’s Broadcasting Law:
• Scope: Covers both traditional broadcasters and OTT content providers.
• Regulation: OTT platforms need a license under copyright law, with less stringent obligations compared to traditional TV services.
Addressing Concerns in the Draft Broadcast Services Bill 2024:
• Refine Definitions: Clarify terms like “systematic activity” and “digital news broadcaster” to prevent broad interpretations.
• Stakeholder Consultation: Expand consultations to include independent creators, civil society, and legal experts for diverse input.
• Balance Regulation and Freedom: Safeguard freedom of speech while ensuring regulations are proportionate and transparent.
• Simplify Compliance: Reduce compliance burdens for creators, possibly offering support for setting up content evaluation committees.
• Review Penalties: Reassess penalties to ensure fairness, focusing on support and education rather than punishment.
Mains Link:
Data security has assumed significant importance in the digitized world due to rising cyber crimes. The Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee Report addresses issues related to data security. What, in your view, are the strengths and weaknesses of the Report relating to the protection of personal data in cyberspace? (UPSC 2018)
Prelims Link:
In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cyber security incidents? (UPSC 2017)
• Service providers
• Data centres
• Body corporate
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: D
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 August 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
Arunachal Pradesh: Free School For Orphans
Source: The Better India
Lama Thupten Phuntsok founded Manjushree Vidyapeeth in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, in 1998 to support orphaned and underprivileged children. What began with just 17 students in a small shed has grown into a thriving school housing over 300 children, providing them with free education, shelter, and food. The school has helped many students become professionals and has received several awards and government support.
Ethical aspects of Lama Thupten Phuntsok’s Manjushree Vidyapeeth:
• Child Welfare: Providing education, shelter, and food to orphaned and underprivileged children.
• Community Support: Addressing local challenges and contributing to the community’s well-being.
• Equity: Offering opportunities and vocational training regardless of a child’s background.
• Sustainability: Reliance on diverse funding sources, including donations and sponsorships, for long-term support.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 August 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Pyrocumulonimbus clouds
- •Source: IE*
Context: Pyrocumulonimbus clouds, formed during extremely hot wildfires or volcanic eruptions, are becoming more common due to rising global temperatures.
• These clouds develop when intense heat from a fire causes surrounding air, carrying water vapor, smoke, and ash, to rise rapidly into the atmosphere.
• As the air cools and condenses, a pyrocumulus cloud forms, which can evolve into a pyrocumulonimbus cloud if conditions are right.
• These towering clouds, which can reach heights of 50,000 feet, generate thunderstorms but little rain, potentially sparking new wildfires and spreading existing ones.
Vertical rise of stable landforms
- •Source: DTE*
Context: A recent study has uncovered the reasons behind the vertical rise of stable landforms like the Western Ghats, the Guiana Shield, and the Drakensberg Mountains.
• The study links these topological features to the breakup of continental plates.
The process of Vertical rise:
• When continents split, the Earth’s crust and upper mantle, known as the lithosphere, thins out, leading to the formation of steep coastal escarpments at rift margins.
• This process triggers “deep mantle waves,” which move along the continent’s base and remove layers of rock, causing the land to rise—a process called isostasy.
• The study explains that this mechanism not only forms escarpments but also causes stable, distant regions (cratons) to rise vertically.
• This process is also linked to the rapid rise of diamonds from deep within the Earth.
Additionally, the study highlights that such land uplift can influence climate by increasing erosion, which draws down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and can create physical barriers that drive the evolution of new species by forcing organisms to adapt to different environments.
Tantalum
Source: PIB
Context: The Central Government has notified 24 critical and strategic minerals, including Tantalum, under the MMDR Act, 1957.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is prioritizing the exploration of these minerals, with six projects initiated between 2021 and 2025 across various states. These projects focus on Tantalum and associated minerals like Tin, Niobium, and Lithium. Additionally, the government has eliminated customs duty on Tantalum ores and concentrates in the Union Budget 2024-25 to strengthen the supply chain.
About Tantalum:
What is Tantalum? | It is a grey, heavy, and highly corrosion-resistant element with the atomic number 73
Discovery | Tantalum is a rare metal which was first discovered in 1802 by Swedish chemist Anders Gustaf Ekenberg.
Properties | Grey, heavy, highly corrosion-resistant
Forms an oxide layer when exposed to air
Ductile, allowing stretching into thin wires
Extremely resistant to chemical attack at temperatures below 150°C
High melting point, exceeded only by tungsten and rhenium.
Uses of Tantalum | Capacitors in the electronic sector for compact energy storage.
Component in chemical plants, nuclear power plants, aircraft, and missiles.
Substitute for platinum due to its high melting point.
Used in medical applications for surgical equipment and implants.
Composite with tantalum carbide (TaC) used in high-speed machine tool cutting edges.
Significance of Discovery | The discovery in the Sutlej River sand suggests a potential domestic source, reducing import dependence and benefiting India’s electronics and semiconductor industry.
India imports almost all of its Tantalum, mainly from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Democratic Republic of the Congo is the largest producer in the world.
Reserve in India | Tantalum ore is available in India in the form of tantalite-columbite ore in mines in Bihar, Rajasthan, and Karnataka.
Namami Gange Mission 2.0
Source: The Print
Context: Four projects under the Namami Gange Mission 2.0 have been completed and are now operational. These projects aim to enhance the sewage treatment capacity of the Ganga River.
Key projects include:
• Munger Project: Rs 366 crore, 175 km sewerage network, and a 30 MLD capacity STP.
• Mirzapur Project: Rs 129 crore, 31 MLD STP to prevent untreated sewage from entering the river.
• Ghazipur Project: Rs 153 crore, 1.3 km I&D network, and 21 MLD STP.
• Bareilly Project: Rs 271 crore, targeting pollution abatement with drain interception and diversion work.
About Namami Gange Mission 2.0 (NGM 2.0):
It is an extension of the original Namami Gange Programme, an integrated conservation mission launched in 2014 and extended until March 2026. The mission aims to effectively abate pollution and rejuvenate the River Ganga. It focuses on various key areas, including:
• Sewage treatment
• Riverfront development
• River surface cleaning
• Afforestation
• Biodiversity conservation
• Public awareness
Managed by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, NGM 2.0 is fully funded by the central government. The mission has initiated 457 projects, with 280 completed as of February 2024, and has formed 139 District Ganga Committees to oversee local implementation. The initiative also includes the development of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) to manage industrial waste, reflecting its comprehensive approach to restoring and preserving the Ganga’s ecological and cultural significance.
Nandini Sahakar Yojana
- •Source: PIB*
Context: The Ministry of Cooperation recently informed about Nandini Sahakar Yojana in the Parliament.
About:
Aspect | Details
About Nandini Sahakar Yojana | Aims to assist women cooperatives in business model-based activities under the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). Focuses on financial assistance, project formulation, hand-holding, and capacity development.
Funding | No minimum or maximum limit on financial assistance. Offers 2% interest subvention on new and innovative activities, and 1% subvention on other activities to reduce borrowing costs.
Eligibility | Open to cooperative societies with at least three months of operation. Eligible women cooperatives must be registered under State/Central Acts or have a minimum of 50% women as primary members.
Significance | Improves the socio-economic status of women by supporting entrepreneurial dynamism through women’s cooperatives. Integrates business plan formulation, capacity development, credit, and subsidy, along with interest subvention from other schemes.
As of March 2024, the NCDC has disbursed over Rs. 6,426 crore for women-led cooperatives across India.
DNA profiling
Source: TH
Context: Recently the Madras High Court overturned a conviction based on DNA evidence, highlighting the need for corroborative evidence.
• DNA profiling, though increasingly accurate, is not infallible and should not be the sole basis for establishing guilt or innocence in the justice system.
• DNA profiling involves analyzing specific locations in the 0.1% of human DNA that varies between individuals.
• However, issues such as sample contamination and the probabilistic nature of DNA analysis can affect reliability.
Clinical trial
- •Source: TH*
Context: The Central Government of India has announced that it will waive the requirement for local clinical trials for certain new drugs if they have already been approved in select countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the European Union.
• This decision aims to make foreign-manufactured drugs more accessible and affordable in India.
The waiver applies to five categories of drugs: orphan drugs for rare diseases, gene and cellular therapy products, drugs used in pandemic situations, drugs for special defense purposes, and drugs that offer significant therapeutic advancements over existing treatments.
Digital watermarking
- •Source: Financial Express*
Context: OpenAI is reportedly developing a new method for detecting AI-generated content, including text and images, using a technique known as “AI watermarking.”
• This process involves embedding a unique, recognizable signal or watermark into the output of an AI model.
• The watermark is subtle and often invisible to the human eye but can be detected by specialized algorithms.
• OpenAI’s “anti-cheating” technology aims to modify the way AI models, like ChatGPT, generate content by embedding these watermarks.
• This will help identify AI-generated materials and prevent misuse, such as fraudulent activities.
Although the technology promises up to 99.9% effectiveness, OpenAI has not yet released it publicly due to its complexity and potential broader implications.
Antarctica’s deep-winter heatwave
- •Source: IE*
Context: Antarctica is experiencing a record-breaking deep-winter heatwave, with temperatures up to 28°C higher than normal.
• This unusual event is mainly due to the weakening of the polar vortex, which typically traps cold air over the continent.
• The weakened vortex has allowed warmer air to enter, raising temperatures.
• Reduced Antarctic Sea ice, which usually helps maintain lower temperatures, may also be contributing to this heatwave.
• The potential fallout includes further loss of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, which could significantly raise global sea levels, potentially submerging coastal cities.
• The heatwave might also disrupt the global ocean circulation system, which regulates climate by transporting heat and carbon.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 August 2024 Mapping:
Omkareshwar Floating Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh
- •Source: ET*
Context: SJVN Green Energy Limited (SGEL), a subsidiary of SJVN Limited, has commissioned the 90 MW Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.
The project, one of the largest floating solar initiatives in Central and North India, is expected to generate 196.5 million units of energy in its first year.
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 August 2024 [PDF]
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