UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 June 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 June 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 – 14 June 2024)

• 25 years of Kargil War

• 40 Years of Operation Bluestar

GS Paper 2:

• PM Awas Yojana Expansion: Centre to Spend Rs 4 trillion

Reports In News

• Global Economic Prospects Report

• Global Gender Gap Report 2024

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

• Mercy petition

• Enterobacter bugandensis

• Nitrous oxide

• Fatty liver disease

• Donanemab

• Snow Leopards Eat Plants: Study

Mapping:

• Crete Island (Greece)

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 June 2024

#### GS Paper 2:

25 years of Kargil War

Syllabus: Post-Independent India

•Source: PIB*

Context: To honour the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War victory, the Indian Army has launched a Pan-India Motorcycle Expedition.

What was the Kargil War?

After the Indo-Pak War of 1971, several military conflicts occurred between India and Pakistan. Both countries conducted nuclear tests in 1998, escalating tensions that led to the Kargil War in 1999. The Kargil War fought between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir (now part of Ladakh), resulted in an Indian victory.

Factors Leading to the Kargil War:

• Strategic Objectives: Pakistan aimed to internationalize the Kashmir issue and cut off Ladakh from India by capturing strategic points in Kargil.

• Vacated Border Posts: Pakistan exploited India’s strategy of vacating border posts during winter, infiltrating troops and militants.

• India-Pakistan Rivalry: Long-standing animosity over Jammu and Kashmir fueled the conflict.

• Ignoring Past Treaties: Pakistan’s actions defied the Simla Agreement of 1972, which prohibited unilateral changes to the Line of Control (LoC).

• Hope for International Mediation: Pakistan hoped the conflict would prompt international mediation, especially by the U.S., favouring their stance on Kashmir.

Operation Vijay:

In 1999 Pakistani troops infiltrated the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) under Operation Badr, aiming to cut off Indian troops in Siachen. In response, the Indian Army launched Operation Vijay.

Implications of the Kargil War on Indian Security Strategy:

• Border Vigilance and Infrastructure: India enhanced border surveillance and infrastructure, such as constructing all-weather roads.

• Military Modernization: The war highlighted the need for advanced military equipment, leading to defence modernization like the induction of Bofors guns.

• Emphasis on Diplomacy: India’s diplomatic efforts isolated Pakistan internationally, highlighting the importance of global diplomacy.

• Recognizing Nuclear Deterrence: The war underscored the danger of conventional conflicts escalating into nuclear ones.

• Reinforced Intelligence Mechanisms: The surprise attack led to enhanced intelligence-gathering and coordination, resulting in the establishment of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in 2002.

Lessons Learned

General VP Malik, the Army Chief during the Kargil War, highlighted key lessons for India in the Bharat Rakshak Monitor. He emphasized the potential for a proxy war to escalate into a conventional conflict between India and Pakistan, noting that state-sponsored terrorism is a double-edged weapon due to socio-political divides. Malik dispelled the notion that nuclear weapons decrease the likelihood of war, stressing that conventional warfare remains possible, with Kargil serving as a warning.

The Kargil Review Committee (KRC) was set up by the Government of India in July 1999, three days after the end of the Kargil War. The committee was set up “to examine the sequence of events and make recommendations for the future“.

The Committee recommended a comprehensive review of India’s national security system by expert bodies. Specific areas for review include the National Security Council, intelligence, counter-terrorism operations, border management, etc.

Conclusion:

We celebrate ‘Kargil Diwas’ on 26th July 2023. It is a stark reminder of the valour of the armed forces and the evolving dynamics of India’s security concerns. The Kargil War is a testament to the nation’s resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to protecting its sovereignty against all odds.

Insta Links:

• Indo-Pakistan relations

Mains Links:

Analyze the circumstances that led to the Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the Agreement. (UPSC 2013)

40 Years of Operation Bluestar

Syllabus: Post-Independent India

•Source: HT*

Context: Slogans advocating Khalistan were recently raised at the Golden Temple complex in Punjab’s Amritsar during the 40th anniversary of ‘Operation Bluestar’.

What is the Khalistan Movement?

The Khalistan movement seeks to establish a sovereign Sikh state called Khalistan in the Punjab region. It traces its origins to India’s independence and Partition, with communal violence leading to the displacement of Sikhs. The movement gained momentum with the Punjabi Suba Movement for a Punjabi-speaking state, leading to the Anandpur Sahib Resolution in 1973. By the 1980s, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s influence (a radical leader of Sikhism) and violent tactics escalated tensions, culminating in the 1984 Operation Bluestar to remove him from the Golden Temple complex.

Factors responsible for the movement:

• Pre-partition origin: Stemming from India’s independence and Partition, the division of Punjab witnessed communal violence, leading to a desire for autonomy.

• Linguistic Reorganization of States (1966): The creation of a Sikh-majority Punjab, albeit smaller, fueled calls for greater autonomy and cultural rights.

• Anandpur Sahib Resolution (1973): The demand for autonomy heightened tensions between Punjab and the central government.

• Religious Identity: The distinct Sikh identity fueled the movement, aiming to protect Sikh religious and cultural rights.

• Socio-economic Factors: Grievances over socio-economic disparities and unemployment in Punjab provided fertile ground for the movement.

• External Influences: Support from Sikh diaspora communities abroad, both ideological and financial, sustained the movement’s momentum.

What was Operation Bluestar?

Operation Blue Star, conducted by the Indian Army between 1st June and 6th June 1984, aimed to flush out militants from the Golden Temple and neutralize Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a key figure in the Khalistan movement. It was followed by Operation Black Thunder (1986 and 1988)

Aftermaths of Operation Blue Star:

• Following Operation Blue Star, PM Indira Gandhi’s assassination sparked widespread communal violence.

• Anti-Sikh Riots of 1984: Following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, large-scale anti-Sikh riots erupted in Delhi and other parts of India. The government was accused of not taking adequate measures to prevent the violence and failing to protect the lives and properties of Sikhs.

• The bombing of Air India: A year later, Sikh nationalists from Canada bombed an Air India flight, killing 329 people, claiming it was in retaliation for Bhindranwale’s death.

• Human Rights Violations: During and after the period of the Khalistan movement, there were reports of human rights abuses by security forces and terrorists, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and disappearances

• Lack of Political Dialogue: The government failed to engage in meaningful political dialogue with Sikh leaders and address their concerns regarding political representation, economic disparities, and cultural preservation

• Punjab endured a prolonged insurgency until 1995, allegedly supported by Pakistan.

Although the movement was crushed following Operation Blue Star (1984) and Operation Black Thunder (1986 and 1988), it continues to evoke sympathy and support among sections of the Sikh population, especially in the Sikh diaspora in countries such as Canada, the UK, and Australia.

What should be done:

• Recognising new challenges: Recognizing the challenge posed by traditional stakeholders and new social media recruits is necessary.

• Collaborate with foreign governments: The Indian security and intelligence forces need to collaborate with foreign governments to monitor anti-India activities carried out by the Khalistani forces and restrict their funding sources.

• Enhance security efforts: The Indian government must heighten security efforts to counteract the increase in Khalistani social media activity since the opening up of the Kartarpur Corridor.

• Promote economic and social development: At the domestic level, the Punjab and Union governments and security forces must collaborate to improve the economic condition of the state to again put the state on the path of development.

• Engage with the Sikh diaspora: Indian agencies, such as the missions established in those countries, must diplomatically engage with the Sikh diaspora to tackle the misinformation campaign being peddled by Khalistani organizations. Such engagements will facilitate a positive relationship between the Indian state and the Sikh diaspora.

• Beef up security: Indian security forces need to step up their preparedness to tackle the increase in drones used to deliver weapons and drugs to Punjab.

• Engage Pakistan: In addition to Western countries, India should not back away from exercising diplomacy with Pakistan and should work to extradite terrorists hiding in Pakistan.

Conclusion:

The Khalistan movement still resonates, fueled by factors like vote bank politics, social issues such as unemployment and drug abuse, and backing from non-state actors.

Insta Links:

• A brief history of the Khalistan movement

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 June 2024 GS Paper 3:

PM Awas Yojana Expansion: Centre to Spend Rs 4 trillion

Syllabus: Government Schemes

•Source: FE*

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of 20 million more houses under PMAY-Gramin and 10 million under PMAY-Urban.

What is PM Awas Yojana?

It is a housing scheme launched by the government of India to provide affordable housing for all by 2024. The scheme has two variants, PMAY –Rural and PMAY – Urban

About PMAY:

| PMAY-Urban | PMAY-Rural

Nodal Ministry | Launched in 2015 by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs | Launched in 2016 by Ministry of Rural Development

Type | Both Centrally Sponsored and Central Sector Scheme | Centrally Sponsored

Beneficiaries | EWS (economically weaker section): up to 3 lakh incomes; LIG (Lower income group): 3-6 lakh income MIG (Middle income group): 6-12 lakh income EWS is eligible for Assistance in all four verticals of Mission; LIG/MIG is eligible under only the CLSS component (Central Sector Scheme) | Identified through Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), 2011

Four Verticals | 1. In-situ Slum Redevelopment 2. Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) 3. Affordable Housing in Partnership 4. Beneficiary-led Construction/Enhancement | N/A

Current Status | Over 83 lakh houses completed as of 3rd June 2024 (of 2.95 crore houses sanctioned) | About 2.62 crore houses completed as of 11 June 2024

LIG (Lower income group): 3-6 lakh income

MIG (Middle income group): 6-12 lakh income

EWS is eligible for Assistance in all four verticals of Mission; LIG/MIG is eligible under only the CLSS component (Central Sector Scheme)

1.Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS)

1.Affordable Housing in Partnership

1.Beneficiary-led Construction/Enhancement

Significance of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana:

• Targets poor: Targets urban poor including EWS, LIGs, and MIGs in Urban areas. PMAY-Gramin improves housing for rural poor.

• Wide Coverage: PMAY-Urban covers all 4041 statutory towns from the Census 2011, focusing on 500 Class I cities.

• Financing through Subsidy: 6.5% interest subsidy on housing loans for 15 years; Rs 1.5 lakh for eligible urban poor for construction or renovation.

• Affordable Housing Partnership: Rs 1.5 lakh Central Assistance per EWS house; projects must have at least 35% EWS houses to qualify.

• Women Empowerment: Promotes female ownership or joint ownership of houses.

Performance of PMAY-G:

• Completion Rate: Only 55% of the target met.

• Construction: Over 83 lakh houses completed as of 3rd June 2024 (of 2.95 crore houses sanctioned)

• Funding: 85% of beneficiaries received sanctioned funds.

• Employment: Generated employment, especially for migrant labourers during the lockdown.

Limitations of the scheme:

• COVID pandemic: the pandemic has slowed down the timely construction of houses and therefore government was forced to extend the deadline from 2022 to March 2024. In rural areas, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has a completion rate of 67.72%.

• In rural areas, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has a completion rate of 67.72%.

• Poor implementation by state: Six States account for 70% of the target units — West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Bihar has one of the lowest completion rates at 59%.

• Bihar has one of the lowest completion rates at 59%.

• Lack of clear land titles and documents: In both rural and urban areas, issues such as a lack of clear titles and other land documents tend to crop up. This further slowed down the pace of construction of houses.

• Withholding of funds by the Centre: Recently, the Centre withheld funds for the scheme in two Opposition-ruled States — West Bengal and Many times states like Chhattisgarh have defaulted on the payment because of lack of funds.

• Many times states like Chhattisgarh have defaulted on the payment because of lack of funds.

• Credit linked limit: According to the PMAY Credit Linked guidelines the interest subsidy of 6.5% will be given to the people who fall under backward classes or economically weaker groups. However, the subsidy is not for all the people living in these groups.

• However, the subsidy is not for all the people living in these groups.

• Tenure limit: As the yojana says the applicant will get a tenure of 15 years to repay the loan. But the time will be granted only if the loan amount is 6 lakhs or less. If the loan amount is more than 6 lakhs then the tenure will be less than 15 years.

• If the loan amount is more than 6 lakhs then the tenure will be less than 15 years.

For Sustainability Concerns with the housing (under PMAY): Click Here

Government Initiatives under PMAY-U:

• Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs): Provide affordable rental housing for urban migrants/poor near their workplaces.

• Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC): Mainstreams innovative, sustainable, eco-friendly, and disaster-resilient construction technologies. Light House Projects (LHPs): Part of GHTC, aimed at reducing construction time and building resilient, affordable houses.

• Light House Projects (LHPs): Part of GHTC, aimed at reducing construction time and building resilient, affordable houses.

• CLSS Awas Portal (CLAP): Integrates all stakeholders in real-time to process applications and track subsidy status.

• Mivan Construction Technology: Uses advanced aluminium formwork for faster and environmentally friendly construction.

• Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF) Technique: Utilizes polystyrene panels filled with concrete for strong, durable, and well-insulated structures.

• Hybrid Concrete Construction: Combines cast-in-place concrete with precast materials, accelerating construction and reducing costs.

Conclusion

The government has done a commendable job by converging the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana with other schemes that provide electricity, toilets and LPG gas connections. The implementation of PMAY has remained largely transparent and the progress has been satisfactory. However, the government should address the major issues with the PM Awas Yojana.

Insta Links:

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G)

Reports In News

Reports | Description

Global Economic Prospects Report | By World Bank

The report emphasizes boosting public investments in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs) to achieve development goals. Increasing public investment by 1% of GDP can spur GDP growth by over 1.5% and private investment by 2.2%. However, it may crowd out private investment in limited fiscal space scenarios.

Recommendations include expanding fiscal space, improving efficiency, and enhancing global support for structural reforms.

About World Bank (est 1944; HQ: Washington DC): It is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects

Global Gender Gap Report 2024 | By the World Economic Forum (WEF)

India ranks 129th in the report. Produced annually since 2006, the index tracks progress toward closing these gaps over time.

Parameters: It tracks gender disparities across four key parameters: (1) Economic participation and opportunity, (2) educational attainment, (3) Health and survival, and (4) Political empowerment. Countries are ranked on a scale from 0 to 1, with 1 representing complete gender equality and 0 indicating complete inequality.

India’s gender gap closure rate in 2024 stands at 64.1%, with a two-place decline in the global ranking to 129th. Among South Asian economies, it ranks third lowest. Economic parity indicates that women earn Rs 39.8 for every Rs 100 earned by men.

Global level: As of 2024, the global gender gap is 68.5%, with full parity projected to take 134 years. While no country has achieved full parity, 97% of indexed economies have closed over 60% of their gap. Europe dominates the top 10 gender-equal nations, led by Iceland. Sudan ranks last.

Global Gender Gap Report 2024

It is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 June 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Mercy petition

Source; TH

Context: The President of India has rejected the mercy plea of a member of the banned group Lashkar-e-Taiba convicted for the 2000 Red Fort attack.

About Mercy Petition:

• A mercy petition is a formal request made by a person sentenced to death or imprisonment seeking leniency from the President or Governor.

• This process is available in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and India.

• In India, it is tied to the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Constitutional Framework:

Article 72: Grants the President the power to pardon, reprieve, respite, or remit punishments or to suspend, remit, or commute sentences, including:

• Sentences by Court Martial

• Sentences for offences under Union laws

• Death sentences

Article 161: Grants similar powers to State Governors for offences under State laws.

Enterobacter bugandensis

•Source: DTE*

Context: A collaborative study by IIT-Madras and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has examined the behaviour of multi-drug resistant Enterobacter bugandensis aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

• This bacterium, known for causing difficult-to-treat hospital infections, displayed significant genomic and functional adaptations due to the unique ISS environment, including microgravity, elevated CO2, and increased radiation.

About Multidrug-resistant organisms:

• Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are bacteria that have become resistant to multiple antibiotics and can no longer be treated with them.

• MDROs are also sometimes called “superbugs” because they can cause infections and are often easy to spread.

Nitrous oxide

Source: Business Standard

Context: A study by the Global Carbon Project found that nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions increased by 40% from 1980 to 2020, with China being the largest emitter, followed by India and the US.

• Nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, is primarily released from agricultural activities, specifically from nitrogen fertilizers and animal manure, which accounted for 74% of emissions in the last decade.

• In 2022, N2O levels in the atmosphere were 25% higher than in the pre-industrial era.

• To limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, nitrous oxide emissions from human activities must be reduced by at least 20% from 2019 levels by 2050.

The top 10 emitters also include Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, Australia, Indonesia, Turkey, and Canada.

Fatty liver disease

•Source: TH*

Context: The rise in fatty liver disease, now termed Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is closely linked to metabolic syndrome, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and abnormal cholesterol levels.

• MASLD, particularly its progressive form known as Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which causes liver inflammation and scarring, is expected to become the leading cause of chronic liver disease and liver transplants.

• Global MASLD prevalence is around 25-30%, with India’s adult prevalence at 38.6% and 36% among obese children.

Donanemab

•Source: IE*

Context: A new Alzheimer’s drug, donanemab, has received support from an FDA advisory committee, moving closer to approval.

• Intended for early-stage Alzheimer’s, it shows significant slowing of cognitive decline.

• The drug works by targeting amyloid beta protein deposits in the brain.

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and is the most common type of dementia.

It’s characterized by changes in the brain that lead to protein deposits, brain shrinkage, and eventually cell death.

Snow Leopards Eat Plants: Study

•Source: DTE*

Context: Snow leopards, carnivores of High Mountain Asia, also consume plants, particularly those of the Myricaria genus. This was discovered by Japanese scientists through analysis of faecal samples collected in Kyrgyzstan’s Tien-Shan Mountains.

More about the Snow leopards:

It inhabits the mountains of Central and South Asia, including 12 range countries like India, where there are around 718 snow leopards. They are mainly found where their principal prey, ibex and blue sheep, live. Snow leopards are the state animals of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. Hemis National Park (Ladakh) is known as the Snow Leopard Capital of the world

Conservation Efforts Worldwide | Snow Leopard Trust: Focus on community-based conservation programs

Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP): Aims to secure 20 landscapes across the Snow Leopard range by 2020

Conservation Efforts in India | Project Snow Leopard (Government of India, 2009): Focus on conservation in high-altitude ecosystems

Community Involvement: Initiatives like Himal Sanrakshak recognize local communities’ role in protection and conflict reduction

Snow Leopard Population Count: Introduced First National Protocol for population monitoring in 2019

Ministry’s Recovery Programme: Snow Leopard is on the list of 21 critically endangered species for recovery

Snow Leopard Conservation Breeding Programme: Conducted at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, West Bengal

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 June 2024 Mapping:

Crete Island (Greece)

Context: A 4,000-year-old stone structure from the Minoan civilization discovered on a Cretan hilltop is puzzling archaeologists and threatening the construction of a new airport near Kastelli, Crete Island (Greece)

Described by Greece’s Culture Ministry as a “unique and extremely interesting find,” this labyrinthine, 1,800-square-meter building resembles a huge car wheel from above and features eight-stepped stone walls.

About Crete Island

Crete is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea, situated in the southern part of the Aegean Sea. It is bordered by the Sea of Crete to the north, the Libyan Sea to the south, the Myrtoan Sea to the west, and the Carpathian Sea to the east. The island features rugged mountains, with Mt. Ida (Psiloritis) being the highest point.

Historical Context

Crete has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Age, with the Minoan Civilization emerging around 2700-1420 BCE. After a major earthquake, the Mycenaeans took over, followed by various rulers including the Romans, Byzantines, Andalusians, Venetians, and Ottomans. Crete joined Greece after gaining independence from Ottoman rule.