UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 September 2024
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 September 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 3: (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 September 2024)
• India, Not China, Tops Global Plastic Emissions: Study
India, Not China, Tops Global Plastic Emissions: Study
• MHA New Fund Norms for Recovery & Reconstruction (R&R)
MHA New Fund Norms for Recovery & Reconstruction (R&R)
Report in News
• Air Quality and Climate Bulletin (4th Annual Report)
Air Quality and Climate Bulletin (4th Annual Report)
• FAO Food Price Index (FFPI)
FAO Food Price Index (FFPI)
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
• Over 100 malnourished children found among Sahariya Tribe
Over 100 malnourished children found among Sahariya Tribe
• Delay in Census: Govt Dissolves Standing Committee on Statistics
Delay in Census: Govt Dissolves Standing Committee on Statistics
• Silicon Carbide (SiC)
Silicon Carbide (SiC)
• BepiColombo
BepiColombo
Mapping
• Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 September 2024
#### GS Paper 3:
India, Not China, Tops Global Plastic Emissions: Study
Sylllabus: Environment Conservation
Source: TH
Context: A study published in Nature reveals that India is the world’s largest emitter of plastic waste, contributing about 20% of the global total, while China ranks fourth.
Here are the major findings from the study:
• India is the Top Plastic Emitter: Responsible for 20% of global plastic emissions, surpassing China.
• Regions with High Plastic Waste: Southern Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia are major contributors.
• China’s Improved Waste Management: Recent improvements have reduced China’s ranking in emissions.
• Inadequate Waste Management in India: Significant plastic waste is openly burned or dumped due to poor collection systems.
• Distribution of Plastic Waste: 69% of global plastic waste comes from the top 20 countries, mostly lower and middle-income.
• Uncollected Waste: Major source of pollution in lower-income countries.
• Per-Capita Emissions: India and China rank high in total emissions but lower per capita.
• Littering in High-Income Countries: Major source of plastic pollution.
• Health and Environmental Impact: Burning plastic has severe health and ecological effects.
• Global Policy Framework: Study aims to support global policies like the UN Plastics Treaty.
Issues with India’s Plastic waste management:
• Inadequate disposal and utilization of plastic waste lead to pollution of air, water, and soil, affecting human health.
• Surge in plastic waste generation from about 16 lakh to 41 lakh tonnes per annum in India (between 2015-2021)
• Governance issues include non-compliance with Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, especially regarding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and SPCBs/PCCs’ lax approach allowed plastic units to operate without valid registrations
• Lack of mechanism for assessing plastic waste generation.
• Other issues include improper collection and segregation, delay in eliminating single-use plastic, and poor monitoring by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
Impact of plastic pollution on our ecosystems and wildlife:
• Wildlife harm: Many animals, including marine life and birds, ingest plastic or become entangled in it. This can lead to injuries, suffocation, and death. Plastic particles, known as microplastics, can also enter the food chain, potentially harming human health.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The entire lifecycle of plastic, from production to disposal, generates greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions occur during raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and waste management processes.
• Habitat Destruction: The extraction of fossil fuels for plastic production often involves clearing natural habitats, leading to the loss of biodiversity and disrupting ecosystems.
• Marine Pollution: Plastic waste, especially single-use plastics, pollutes oceans, harming marine life like seabirds, fish, turtles, and marine mammals. Microplastics disrupt food chains and have lasting effects on aquatic ecosystems.
• Microplastics disrupt food chains and have lasting effects on aquatic ecosystems.
• Soil Contamination: Improper disposal of plastic waste contaminates soil and affects soil health and fertility, leading to a host of ecological and agricultural problems.
• Water Pollution: Plastic waste in water bodies pollutes freshwater sources and poses a threat to aquatic life. Plastic debris can also clog waterways and exacerbate flooding in some areas.
• Chemical Pollution: Plastics can contain harmful additives like phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which can leach into the environment, leading to chemical pollution.
Key recommendation of PAC to mitigate plastic Pollution:
• Mandatory reporting of data online on the national dashboard with proof of photo/video and GPS location.
• Development of a comprehensive policy to address pollution caused by plastics.
• Implementation of penal provisions for urban local bodies (ULBs) that fail to establish Plastic Waste Management (PWM) systems.
• Involvement of rag pickers and junk dealers to enhance the segregation and collection process.
• Global Collaboration: g., through legally binding plastic control treaty
Need to reach a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution:
• Global Coordination: Plastic pollution knows no borders, and it affects oceans, rivers, and land worldwide. A treaty can provide a platform for countries to come together, share responsibilities, and coordinate efforts to address plastic pollution collectively.
• Addressing the Source: A treaty can focus on addressing the root causes of plastic pollution, such as reducing plastic production, improving waste management, and promoting sustainable alternatives. It encourages a comprehensive approach to tackle the issue.
• Inclusivity: A treaty ensures that all countries, regardless of their level of development or resources, are engaged in the fight against plastic pollution.
• Accountability and Enforcement: A legally binding treaty ensures that countries are held accountable for their commitments to reduce plastic pollution. It establishes mechanisms for monitoring progress, reporting, and enforcement, which can lead to more effective implementation.
• It establishes mechanisms for monitoring progress, reporting, and enforcement, which can lead to more effective implementation.
• Coordinated Research and Innovation: A treaty can facilitate international collaboration on research and innovation to find new ways to reduce plastic pollution and develop sustainable materials and technologies.
• Protecting Marine Life and Ecosystems: Plastic pollution poses significant threats to marine life and ecosystems. A treaty can set clear goals and targets to protect oceans and reduce plastic waste reaching marine environments.
Steps taken to reach a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution:
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: Founded in 2009, the coalition aims to create a world free of plastic pollution and its harmful impacts on the environment, human health, and wildlife.
• The United Nations Clean Seas campaign: is a global initiative launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to combat marine plastic pollution. The campaign aims to raise awareness, mobilize action, and promote concrete solutions to reduce marine litter and plastic waste in the world’s oceans and seas.
• Global Tourism Plastics Initiative: The Initiative unites the tourism sector behind a common vision to address the root causes of plastic pollution. It enables businesses, governments, and other tourism stakeholders to take concerted action, leading by example in the shift towards circularity in the use of plastics.
• Proposal for Global treaty: *175 nations agree to develop a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution by 2024,* prompting a major step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production, use and disposal.
• MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative: Launched in 2016, the initiative aims to create a circular economy for plastics, where plastics are designed, used, and recycled in a way that eliminates waste and pollution.
For Single Use plastic: Click Here
Initiatives Taken to Tackle Plastic Pollution:
Global Initiatives:
• Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML)
• GloLitter Partnerships Project
• London Convention, 1972
India-Specific Initiatives:
• Elimination of single-use plastic
• Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016
• Un-Plastic Collective
• Kerala: Beat Plastic Pollution Initiative
• Other initiatives for plastic pollution mitigation: Project REPLAN (REducing PLAstic from Nature), Promotion of Circular Economy, EPR Portal for Plastic Packaging, Swachh Bharat Mission, Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement
Related Content
About Central Pollution Control Boards (CPCBs)/ State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in UTs:
Empowered under the Water Act, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, and the Environment (Protection) Act 1986, the Boards perform four broad functions.
• 1. Granting and managing consents (to establish and operate industry)
• 2. Setting standards for emissions and effluents
• 3. Monitoring compliance of the industry with these standards
• 4. Enforcing these standards through an escalating series of actions
But various institutional and other issues are plaguing CPCB/SPCB:
Issues | Details
Inadequate capacity and resources | Shortage of personnel, especially in technical positions. Lack of training and pollution monitoring equipment. Absence of competent leadership. Enforcement mechanisms are protracted. Insufficient funds
Skewed representation | Boards are largely represented by government departments and industry representatives. Limited representation from civil society, academia, public health, and the medical community.
Disproportionate representation, e.g., there is only one member from civil society in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh boards, while they have 5-7 members from govt. departments
Data Gap | Many state pollution boards fail to provide data to CPCB
Not following statutory requirements | CPCB/SPCBs lack the required expertise in air quality management. Statutory requirement for knowledgeable board members not met
Vacancies | Approximately 40% of positions are vacant across nine SPCBs/PCCs. Vacancy rates as high as 84% in Jharkhand
Conflict of interest | Board members may represent polluting entities regulated by the board, leading to potential conflicts of interest
Non-substantive board meetings | Discussions primarily focus on industrial pollution, lacking pollution control planning. Limited efforts for inter-departmental coordination
Lack of transparency in sharing information with the public
Little expertise in monitoring | Despite improvements in real-time monitoring, gaps in data collection and calibration errors persist
Related Content:
What is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)?
It is a policy approach and environmental strategy that places the responsibility for the entire lifecycle of a product, including its disposal, on the manufacturer or producer rather than on the end consumer or local government.
The fundamental idea behind EPR is to encourage producers to minimize the environmental impact of their products by considering their entire lifecycle, from the design and production phase to the end-of-life phase.
Key provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2022 to reduce plastic pollution
Key Provisions | Details
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) | Makes plastic packaging producers accountable for end-of-life collection and recycling
Shifts responsibility from municipal bodies to producers
Provides incentives for firms to adopt sustainable design and use recyclable materials
Collection Targets | Mandates producers to collect back 35% of plastic waste generated by 2024, increasing to 70% by 2025 in phases
Minimum Recycled Content | Requires firms to use 10% recycled plastic in packaging by 2023, escalating to 20% by 2026
Collection Mechanism | Producers must establish collection systems either individually or collectively
Cost Attribution | Producers are responsible for bearing the costs associated with collection and recycling of plastic packaging
Insta Links:
• Substitute for single-use plastics
• NATURE AND YOU- SINGLE-USE PLASTIC
Mains Link:
• What is single-use plastic and what are the concerns associated with it? How can it be successfully phased out in the country? (15M)
Prelims Link:
Bisphenol A (BPA), a cause of concern, is a structural/key component in the manufacture of which of the following kinds of plastics? (UPSC 2021)
(a) Low-density polyethylene
(b) Polycarbonate
(c) Polyethylene terephthalate
(d) Polyvinyl chloride
Answer: B
Triclosan considered harmful when exposed to high levels for a long time, is most likely present in which of the following? (UPSC 2021)
(a) Food preservatives
(b) Fruit-ripening substances
(c) Reused plastic containers
(d) Toiletries
Answer: D
MHA New Fund Norms for Recovery & Reconstruction (R&R)
Syllabus: Disaster management
Source: ET
Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has introduced new guidelines for the creation and management of recovery and reconstruction (R&R) funds, following recommendations from the 15th Finance Commission.
What is recovery and reconstruction (R&R)?
Recovery and Reconstruction (R&R) refer to the processes undertaken after a natural disaster to restore affected areas and rebuild infrastructure.
• Recovery involves actions to return affected communities to normalcy, including repairing homes, restoring services, and addressing immediate needs.
• Reconstruction focuses on rebuilding damaged or destroyed infrastructure, such as roads, schools, and hospitals, and improving resilience to future disasters.
New guidelines of R&R Funding:
• Aim: To bridge funding gaps for states hit by natural disasters by reallocating existing disaster relief resources to better support recovery and reconstruction efforts.
• Origin: Created based on recommendations from the 15th Finance Commission.
• Distribution: Funds are allocated under NDRF & SDRF for: Response and relief Recovery and reconstruction Preparedness and capacity building
• Response and relief
• Recovery and reconstruction
• Preparedness and capacity building
• Purpose: Provides additional funds when state resources are insufficient for recovery needs.
• Funding: The National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) will allocate 30% of its funds for recovery and reconstruction, with the rest for response, relief, preparedness, and capacity building. States can also use 10% of their annual State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) allocation for non-notified disasters.
• Nodal Agency: State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)
• Covered Calamities: Cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloud burst, pest attack, and frost & cold wave.
• Activities Supported: Housing, education, infrastructure, and more.
Recently, the central government introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha, to amend the existing Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Key features | How it enhance disaster preparedness
Preparation of Disaster Management Plans: The Bill reassigns the responsibility of preparing disaster management plans directly to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), bypassing the National Executive Committee (NEC) and State Executive Committees (SECs). The NDMA’s responsibilities will be expanded to conduct periodic assessments of disaster risks to enhance preparedness. | Example: This streamlined approach is intended to improve responsiveness in cyclone-prone regions like Odisha.
National and State-Level Data Repositories: The Bill mandates the creation of disaster databases at both national and state levels, which will include information on disaster assessments, fund allocation, expenditures, preparedness plans, and risk registers. | Example: Accurate data management will benefit states like Uttarakhand, where frequent floods and landslides require timely information for effective response.
Enhanced Autonomy in Staffing NDMA: NDMA will have the authority to specify its staffing requirements and appoint experts, subject to approval by the central government, thereby boosting its operational efficiency. | Example: In earthquake-prone areas like the Northeast, this flexibility will allow NDMA to quickly onboard specialists for targeted disaster management.
Creation of Urban Disaster Management Authorities (UDMA): New UDAs will be established for state capitals and major cities, except Delhi and Chandigarh, with municipal commissioners and district collectors leading disaster management efforts specific to urban challenges. | Example: Cities like Mumbai, which regularly face monsoon-related flooding, will benefit from a dedicated urban-focused disaster management body.
Formation of State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF): State governments will have the authority to establish State Disaster Response Forces with defined roles and responsibilities, enhancing the effectiveness of local disaster response efforts. The 2005 Act provides for a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for specialised disaster response. | Example: Kerala’s annual management of floods and landslides can be more effective with state-specific SDRFs tailored to local needs.
Legal Status for Key Disaster Management Committees The Bill grants statutory status to the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and the High-Level Committee (HLC), strengthening their roles in disaster response and financial management. | Example: This statutory recognition will formalize the role of these committees in handling large-scale disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Enforcement Provisions and Penalties Section 60A empowers Central and State governments to direct actions to reduce disaster impacts, imposing penalties up to Rs 10,000 for non-compliance. | Example: This provision can help enforce protective measures in vulnerable areas, such as regulating construction activities in landslide-prone regions.
The Bill reassigns the responsibility of preparing disaster management plans directly to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), bypassing the National Executive Committee (NEC) and State Executive Committees (SECs).
The NDMA’s responsibilities will be expanded to conduct periodic assessments of disaster risks to enhance preparedness.
The Bill mandates the creation of disaster databases at both national and state levels, which will include information on disaster assessments, fund allocation, expenditures, preparedness plans, and risk registers.
NDMA will have the authority to specify its staffing requirements and appoint experts, subject to approval by the central government, thereby boosting its operational efficiency.
New UDAs will be established for state capitals and major cities, except Delhi and Chandigarh, with municipal commissioners and district collectors leading disaster management efforts specific to urban challenges.
State governments will have the authority to establish State Disaster Response Forces with defined roles and responsibilities, enhancing the effectiveness of local disaster response efforts.
The 2005 Act provides for a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for specialised disaster response.
The Bill grants statutory status to the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and the High-Level Committee (HLC), strengthening their roles in disaster response and financial management.
Section 60A empowers Central and State governments to direct actions to reduce disaster impacts, imposing penalties up to Rs 10,000 for non-compliance.
Conclusion:
Further ahead, there is a need to encourage a collaborative approach between the central and State governments in disaster management. ensure adequate financial resources are allocated to State and local authorities and broaden the definition of disaster to include climate-induced disasters like heatwaves to address emerging challenges.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 September 2024 Report in News
Report in News
Report | Key Highlights
Air Quality and Climate Bulletin (4th Annual Report) | Issued by: United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Release Occasion: Clean Air for Blue Skies Day
PM2.5 Trends: Europe and China reduced pollution; North America and India saw increases.
Global Hotspots: High PM levels in Central Africa, South-East Asia, Pakistan, India, and China.
Crop Impact: PM2.5 reduces crop yields by 15% by limiting sunlight.
Aerobiology Advances: Real-time bioaerosol monitoring to track climate impacts.
New Techniques: Innovations in imaging, holography, and DNA sequencing to improve climate assessments.
FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) | Issued by: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Overall Decline: Marginal drop in global food prices.
Cereals: Wheat prices fell due to Black Sea supply, rice prices rose slightly, maize prices increased due to heatwaves.
Global Cereal Output: 2024 output forecasted at 2,851 million tonnes, nearly matching 2023.
About FFPI: | Established: 1996
Purpose: Tracks monthly changes in global food prices for five commodity groups: meat, dairy, cereals, vegetable oils, and sugar, based on export shares from 2014-2016.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 September 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Over 100 malnourished children found among Sahariya Tribe
Source: The Print
Context: In Rajasthan’s Baran district, over 100 malnourished Sahariya children were found in the Shahabad-Kishanganj area. A
A recent survey identified 172 cases of malnutrition, prompting the admission of affected children to government-run Malnourishment Treatment Centres (MTCs).
About Sahariya Tribe:
Aspect | Details
Tribe Name | Sahariya (also known as Seher, Sair, Sawar, Saor, Sahara, etc.)
Location | Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh
Historical Origin | Trace their origins to the days of the Ramayana and even earlier
Vulnerability | Among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable population groups in India
Settlement | Reside in separate areas called ‘Seharana’ within villages; typically clusters of houses made of stone boulders or mud
Caste System | Strong ties to the caste system, with members of the same caste living in close proximity
Religion | Practice Hinduism
Language | Speak a dialect influenced by Hindi and Brij Bhasha
Cultural Practice | Known for the Saharia Swang dance performed during Holi, featuring male performers in female attire, accompanied by dhol, nagari, and matki
Economic Activities | Dependent on forest products, agriculture, and daily wage labor; skilled in making catechu from khair trees
Delay in Census: Govt Dissolves Standing Committee on Statistics
Source: IE
Context: The government has dissolved the 14-member Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS), which was overseeing statistical surveys, amid concerns about the delay in conducting the national census. The committee, led by former Chief Statistician Pronab Sen, had previously raised issues over delays in both the economic and population censuses. The last census was conducted in 2011, with the next due in 2021.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) stated that the committee’s work overlapped with that of the newly formed Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys, leading to its dissolution.
Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES)
• Established: 2019 by MoSPI
• Nature: Temporary committee for addressing critical statistical issues
• Funding: Government of India (via MoSPI)
• Objectives: Advise on survey methodology (sampling, design, instruments) Finalize survey tabulation plans
• Advise on survey methodology (sampling, design, instruments)
• Finalize survey tabulation plans
Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys (NSS)
• Established: July 2023
• Objective: Oversee survey-related matters of NSSO, based on NSC recommendations
Silicon Carbide (SiC)
Source: BS
Context: India’s first silicon carbide manufacturing facility will be established in Odisha with an investment of Rs 620 crore by RIR Power Electronics Limited, a leader in semiconductor power electronics.
About Silicon Carbide (SiC) (also known as carborundum)
It is a hard, synthetic crystalline compound of silicon and carbon. It has excellent thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, and resistance to wear and oxidation. SiC is used in semiconductor devices, mechanical seals, structural ceramics, heat exchangers, optical mirrors, and ballistic armor.
BepiColombo
- •Source: The Newyork Times*
Context: BepiColombo made its closest flyby of Mercury, capturing detailed black-and-white images of the planet’s cratered surface.
This flyby provided the first clear view of Mercury’s south pole and its unique crater structures, like the peak ring basins. The spacecraft, launched in 2018, will begin orbiting Mercury in 2026, with the mission aimed at studying the planet’s composition, geology, and magnetic field. Despite delays, scientists are excited about the mission’s potential to uncover Mercury’s many mysteries.
About BepiColombo:
BepiColombo is a joint mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan’s JAXA to study Mercury. Launched on October 20, 2018, it’s named after Italian scientist Giuseppe “Bepi” Colombo. The spacecraft has two components: ESA’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) to study Mercury’s surface and composition, and JAXA’s Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) to investigate its magnetic field. The mission aims to explore Mercury’s geological history, magnetic field, exosphere, and test principles of general relativity.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 10 September 2024 Mapping
Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan)
Source: Th
Context: India’s first ‘teal carbon’ study, conducted at Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan, focuses on using freshwater wetlands to address climate adaptation and resilience challenges.
About Teal carbon:
It refers to carbon stored in non-tidal freshwater wetlands, including vegetation, microbial biomass, and organic matter. The study highlights the potential of wetlands in regulating greenhouse gases and mitigating climate change, while calling for urgent conservation efforts. Led by the Central University of Rajasthan, the study emphasizes reducing methane emissions and developing biochar for effective wetland conservation.
About Keoladeo National Park:
Key Points | Details
Location | Bharatpur, Rajasthan
Significance | UNESCO World Heritage Site; Important bird-watching area
Ramsar Recognition | First Ramsar Site of India (1981) alongside Chilika Lake
Montreux Record Status | Currently listed, along with Loktak Lake (Manipur)
Bird Diversity | Home to over 365 bird species, including rare and threatened species like the Siberian crane
Migratory Birds | Attracts species from the northern hemisphere for breeding
Fauna | Jackals, Sambar, Nilgai, wild cats, hyenas, wild boar, porcupine, mongoose
Flora | Tropical dry deciduous forest with Acacia nilotica and dry grassland
Rivers | Gambhir and Banganga rivers flow through the park
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