UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 August 2024
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 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 2: (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 August 2024)
• Supreme Court as custodian of liberties
Supreme Court as custodian of liberties
GS Paper 3:
• Livestock Sector in India
Livestock Sector in India
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
• Lunisolar calendar
Lunisolar calendar
• Stonehenge’s centre stone
Stonehenge’s centre stone
• Senior advocates
Senior advocates
• India Rankings 2024
India Rankings 2024
Mapping
• Galathea Bay – Great Nicobar Island
Galathea Bay – Great Nicobar Island
• Panama Canal
Panama Canal
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 August 2024
#### GS Paper 2:
Supreme Court as Custodian of Liberties
Syllabus: Indian Judiciary
Source: TH
Context: The article discusses the Supreme Court’s role as a protector of individual liberties
Background of the case Involved:
The case involves former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was arrested and detained for an extended period in connection with corruption allegations. His incarceration raised concerns about the prolonged pre-trial detention and the denial of bail. The Supreme Court of India eventually granted him bail, emphasizing the principles of justice, individual liberty, and the right to a fair and speedy trial.
What do Liberties mean?
Liberties refer to the basic rights and freedoms that individuals are entitled to, usually protected by law or the Constitution. These include:
• Freedom of Speech: The right to express one’s opinions without censorship (e.g., a journalist freely writing about government policies).
• Right to Privacy: The protection against unwarranted government intrusion into personal life (e.g., safeguarding personal data from unauthorized access).
• Freedom of Movement: The ability to travel or reside in different places without restrictions (e.g., moving to another state for work).
• Right to Fair Trial: The guarantee that one will be treated justly in legal proceedings (e.g., being provided with legal representation and a chance to defend oneself in court).
These liberties are essential to ensuring that individuals can live without undue interference or oppression.
Provisions that make the Supreme Court The Guardian of Civil Liberties:
Provision/Tool | Explanation
Article 13 | Declares any law void if it contravenes Fundamental Rights. Supreme Court can invalidate such laws.
Article 32 | Grants individuals the right to approach the Supreme Court directly for enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
Article 136 | Allows the Supreme Court to grant special leave to appeal on matters, including civil liberties.
SLP (Special Leave Petition) | A petition to the Supreme Court seeking permission to appeal against lower court decisions.
Article 142 | Empowers the Supreme Court to pass orders necessary for complete justice, including protecting civil liberties.
Writs | Legal orders like Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, etc., to enforce Fundamental Rights.
PIL (Public Interest Litigation) | Petitions addressing broader social concerns to ensure justice on matters affecting the public.
Judicial Review | Power to assess the constitutionality of laws and government actions.
Basic Structure Doctrine | Ensures certain fundamental features of the Constitution cannot be altered by amendments.
Doctrine of Severability | Allows invalidation of unconstitutional parts of a law while preserving the rest.
Doctrine of Eclipse | Temporarily suspends laws infringing on Fundamental Rights until they are aligned with the Constitution.
Doctrine of Substantive Due Process | Ensures laws affecting fundamental rights are just, fair, and reasonable.
Doctrine of Colorable Legislation | Prevents indirect legislation that violates constitutional limits.
Instances where the Supreme Court has acted as the guardian of civil liberties:
Case | Instance of Supreme Court as Guardian of Civil Liberties
Maneka Gandhi vs. Union of India (1978) | Expanded the scope of Article 21 to include the right to live with dignity, ensuring fair, just, and reasonable laws.
Kesavananda Bharati vs. State of Kerala (1973) | Established the Basic Structure Doctrine, safeguarding essential constitutional features including civil liberties.
Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union of India (2018) | Decriminalized consensual homosexual acts, protecting the rights and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community.
Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India (2017) | Recognized the right to privacy as a fundamental right, protecting individuals from arbitrary state actions.
Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India (2015) | Struck down Section 66A of the IT Act, upholding the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
Arnab Goswami vs. State of Maharashtra (2020) | Emphasized the right to personal liberty and the principle of bail over-incarceration, reinforcing the right to a fair and speedy trial.
Delhi Excise Policy Case (2024) | Reaffirmed the right to a speedy trial as a fundamental right under Article 21
Challenges Associated With the Functioning of the Supreme Court:
• Prolonged Incarceration: The Supreme Court faces criticism for lengthy pre-trial detentions, raising concerns about the balance between individual liberty and judicial processes.
• Weaponization of Penal Laws: There are apprehensions about the misuse of stringent laws like the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), leading to prolonged detention without swift justice.
• Case Delays and Pendency: Huge backlog of cases leads to significant delays in justice delivery, affecting public confidence and litigants’ lives.
• Implementation of Judgments: Slow or inadequate enforcement of Court orders, reducing the impact of decisions and causing legal unpredictability.
• Independence of Judiciary: Threats to judicial independence from procedural delays, appointments, and potential corruption, challenging the integrity of the judiciary.
• Judicial Overreach and Activism: Criticism of the Court’s encroachment on legislative and executive domains, potentially undermining the separation of powers.
• Appointments and Transparency Issues: Lack of transparency and clear standards in the judicial appointment process, leading to erosion of trust in the judiciary.
Way Forward:
• Strengthening Implementation Frameworks: Create clear guidelines for executing Supreme Court judgments and establish monitoring systems to track compliance.
• Reducing Case Backlog*: Increase judges and staff, and implement tech solutions like e-filing. Example: The e-Courts project for better court management.*
• Ensuring Doctrinal Consistency: Apply uniform legal principles and promote consistency in rulings. Example: Apply fair trial principles from recent rulings across similar cases.
• Addressing Judicial Overreach: Clarify judicial boundaries and promote restraint to maintain balance among government branches.
• Improving Appointments and Transparency: Revise the Collegium system for better transparency in judicial appointments.
• Protecting Judicial Independence: Address threats to independence and promote dialogue among branches to uphold judicial integrity.
Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct:
• Independence: Judges should decide cases free from external pressures.
• Impartiality: Judges must be unbiased and fair.
• Integrity: Judges should act honestly and ethically.
• Propriety: Judges must uphold the dignity of their office.
• Equality: Judges should treat everyone equally.
• Competence and Diligence: Judges must have legal expertise and handle cases thoroughly.
Insta Links:
• Supreme Court
Mains Link:
Q1. Discuss the desirability of greater representation to women in the higher judiciary to ensure diversity, equity and inclusiveness. (UPSC 2021)
Q2. Critically examine the Supreme Court’s judgement on ‘The National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014’ with reference to appointment of judges of higher judiciary in India. (UPSC 2017)
Prelims Link:
Q. With reference to the Indian judiciary, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2021)
• Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit and act as a Supreme Court judge by the Chief Justice of India with the prior permission of the President of India.
• A High Court in India has the power to review its own judgement as the Supreme Court does.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither I nor 2
Ans: (c)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 August 2024 – GS Paper 3:
Livestock Sector in India
Syllabus: Agriculture
Source: IE
Context: The broiler chicken industry in India has become highly organized and vertically integrated through several key developments
Developments Include:
• Vertical Integration: The industry has established a streamlined supply chain where major players control production from breeding and hatching to processing and distribution. This integration reduces costs and improves efficiency.
• Backward Integration: A company acquires or merges with suppliers or producers of raw materials. Example: A chicken producer buys a feed mill.
• Forward Integration: A company acquires or merges with distributors or retailers. Example: A chicken producer opens its own retail outlets or distribution centres.
• Modern Infrastructure: Investments in advanced infrastructure, such as large-scale farms, processing units, and cold storage facilities, have enhanced production capacity and product quality.
• Professional Management: The industry has adopted professional management practices, including stringent quality control and modern marketing strategies, to boost productivity and ensure consistent supply.
• Economic Scale: Large companies benefit from economies of scale, allowing them to lower costs and offer competitive prices, making chicken more accessible to consumers.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adherence to regulatory standards and improved animal welfare practices have increased consumer confidence and industry credibility.
About Livestock:
The livestock sector involves the breeding and raising of animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry for meat, dairy, wool, and other products. It is a major part of agriculture, providing food, employment, and income.
Contribution of Livestock to the Indian Economy:
From 2014-15 to 2020-21, the livestock sector grew at a 7.9% CAGR and increased its share of total agricultural GVA from 24.3% to 30.1%. Livestock supports rural employment, provides food, serves as insurance during crop failures, and reflects social status. Dairy, the largest agri commodity, contributes 5% to the national economy and directly employs 80 million farmers.
Livestock contributed 16% to the income of small farm households as against an average of 14% for all rural households. Livestock provides livelihood to two-thirds of the rural community. It also employs about 8.8 % of the population in India. India has vast livestock resources.
Role of livestock in the Social transformation of households in India
Role of Livestock in Social Transformation | Economic Transformation
Food Security: Provides meat, milk, and eggs; | Income: Contributes to small farm household income.
Additional Income: Produces wool, and hides; leather has high export potential. | Source of Income/Employment: Key for landless and small farmers; support during lean seasons.
Women Empowerment: Improves nutrition and income; empowers women. | Bridging Gender Gap: 75% of livestock farmers are women, 90% in Punjab and Haryana.
Children’s Health: Enhances cognitive development and school performance. | Boosting Agricultural Yield: Manure used as natural fertilizer, helps in weed control.
Clean Energy: Biogas and biomass from waste replace fossil fuels. | Resilience to Climate Shocks: Provides buffer income during crop failures.
Social Security: Animals enhance social status; better for landless families. | Stimulate Entrepreneurship: Government support promotes rural entrepreneurship and value addition.
Draft Power: Bullocks are crucial for ploughing, carting, and transport. |
Challenges existed in the livestock sector:
• Productivity: Low milk yield; half of the global average.
• Diseases: Frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases.
• Greenhouse Gases: Livestock accounts for 63.4% of agricultural sector emissions.
• Inadequate Credit Facilities: Limited financial support compared to its GDP contribution.
• Inadequate Infrastructure: Poor slaughtering facilities; many unregistered.
• Lack of Knowledge: Insufficient knowledge of rearing practices.
• Marketing Issues: Unorganised market and poor input-output market function.
• Insurance: Only 6% of livestock are insured; limited extension services.
Government Schemes Related to the Livestock Sector:
• Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF): Offers 3% interest subvention and 25% credit guarantee for borrowers.
• National Livestock Mission (NLM): Focuses on improving breeds, entrepreneurship, and feed/fodder development.
• Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH&DC) Scheme: Supports state efforts in controlling animal diseases through vaccination.
• National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP): Aims to control Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis with comprehensive vaccination.
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Promotes breed improvement and conservation of indigenous cattle.
Conclusion:
The government should integrate existing schemes like the National Livestock Mission with others to support smallholders. Emphasis on R&D will boost productivity. Bringing medical services to farmers and ensuring financial sustainability will reduce livestock mortality. Financial support for purchasing animals, building community institutions, and enhancing skills and knowledge about animal rearing is crucial. Promoting livestock insurance in rural areas is also needed.
Mains Link:
Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sector in India. (UPSC 2015)
Prelims Link:
Which of the following is the chief characteristic of ‘mixed farming’? (UPSC 2012)
(a) Cultivation of both cash crops and food crops (b) Cultivation of two or more crops in the same field (c) Rearing of animals and cultivation of crops together (d) None of the above
Ans: (c)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 August 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Lunisolar calendar
Source: TOI
Context: At the ancient site of Gobekli Tepe in southern Turkey, a researcher has identified what might be the world’s oldest lunisolar calendar, believed to track the movements of the moon and sun.
• The V-shaped markings on a stone pillar are thought to document a significant comet strike around 10,850 B.C., which had catastrophic effects on Earth, including triggering a 1,200-year ice age.0
• The carvings suggest that ancient people were sophisticated enough to record astronomical events, indicating the event’s profound importance to them.
Stonehenge’s centre stone
- •Source: IE*
Context: Recent geochemical analysis reveals that Stonehenge’s central Altar Stone, a six-tonne sandstone slab, originated from the Orcadian Basin in northern Scotland, over 800 km from its current location in southern England.
• This discovery challenges previous beliefs that the stone came from southwest Wales, suggesting that the construction of Stonehenge involved a much broader geographical collaboration than previously thought.
• The journey of the Altar Stone, whether by land or sea, underscores the significant effort and purpose behind its transport, indicating a highly integrated Neolithic Britain.
The exact reasons for and methods of this transportation remain unclear, but the findings suggest that Stonehenge was known and valued across a much wider area than previously understood, highlighting the complexity and ingenuity of prehistoric societies.
Senior advocates
Source: IE
Context: The process for designating senior advocates in India has evolved to promote transparency and merit.
• Senior advocates, as defined by the Advocates Act, 1961, are distinguished lawyers recognized for their excellence and contributions to the legal profession.
• The Supreme Court recently designated 39 lawyers, including 10 women, as senior advocates based on revised guidelines from May 2023.
• The 2018 guidelines introduced a point-based system for evaluation, focusing on an advocate’s legal practice, judgments, and publications.
• The new guidelines in 2023, however, reduced the weightage for publications and emphasized judgments and legal achievements, while maintaining that secret ballot voting should only be used in exceptional cases.
• The changes were in response to the Centre’s concerns about subjectivity and the proliferation of low-quality publications affecting the designation process.
India Rankings 2024
- •Source: PIB*
Context: Union Minister for Education, released the India Rankings 2024, which are based on the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
• The rankings, reflecting the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, assess higher education institutions (HEIs) in India across five broad parameters: Teaching, Research, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach & Inclusivity, and Perception.
• This edition saw the inclusion of new categories such as State Public Universities, Open Universities, and Skill Universities, expanding the total ranking categories to 16.
Key highlights of India Rankings 2024 include:
• IIT Madras retained its top position in the Overall and Engineering categories.
• IISc Bengaluru topped the Universities and Research Institutions categories.
• IIM Ahmedabad led in Management, while AIIMS New Delhi topped the medical category.
• Hindu College in Delhi secured the 1st position among colleges for the first time, replacing Miranda House.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 August 2024 Mapping:
Galathea Bay – Great Nicobar Island
- •Source: IE*
Context: A wildlife sanctuary in Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar Island, was denotified to clear the way for a transhipment port project.
• The area, a significant nesting site for endangered species like the giant leatherback turtle, was originally classified as a CRZ-1A zone, where large construction projects are prohibited.
Panama Canal
- •Source: IE*
Context: The Panama Canal, a crucial shipping route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, faces an existential threat from climate change.
• The canal relies on a system of locks and artificial lakes, particularly Lake Gatun, which provides the freshwater needed to operate the locks.
• However, persistent droughts, exacerbated by climate change, have significantly lowered water levels in Lake Gatun, reducing the canal’s capacity to handle ships.
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 16 August 2024 [PDF]
Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE
Official Facebook Page HERE
Twitter Account HERE
Instagram Account HERE
LinkedIn: HERE