UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 20 April 2024

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. 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. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically.

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. 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. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically.

Table of Contents:

GS Paper 4:

• Examples of Ethics

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

• 4Ps (Political Leadership, Public Financing, Partnerships, and Participation)

• Innovation Trap

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

• Srinagar (considered for World Craft City)

• Artemis Accords

• Reports in News

• Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF)

• Tachyons

• Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM)

• Exoskeleton

Mapping

• Aral Sea

Examples of Ethics

#### GS4 Paper

Syllabus: Applications of Ethics

Source: IE, IE

Example 1: Longevity India Initiative

Context: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has launched the ‘Longevity India Initiative’ to promote healthy ageing by researching overcoming challenges associated with growing older.

The initiative focuses on identifying early disease indicators, researching ageing biomarkers, and developing new therapeutics and technologies.

Ethical Values exhibited by the Initiative are:

• Respect for Human Dignity: By challenging the idea that ageing is inevitable and aiming to increase human healthspan

• Collaboration and Partnership: The involvement of multiple stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians, industry partners, philanthropists, and civil society

• Equity and Inclusivity: By considering factors like lifestyle and culture, especially in a diverse country like India

• Responsibility and Accountability: The initiative recognizes the urgency of addressing the growing burden of ageing in the country and emphasizes the need for diverse stakeholders to come together and take responsibility for developing solutions.

Example 2: Misuse of Public Money by three IAS officers

Context: Three senior IAS officers from the Chandigarh Administration made unauthorized expenditures of over Rs 6 lakh during a trip to Paris in 2015. The recent audit report highlighted that they changed hotels and overstayed for a meeting meant for a lower-ranking official.

The ethical issues highlighted in this case:

• Misuse of Authority: The senior IAS officers misused their authority by making unauthorized expenditures and changing the purpose of the trip to Paris.

• Financial Impropriety: The officers incurred unauthorized expenses amounting to over Rs 6 lakh, which were not justified and did not follow proper procedures.

• Lack of Transparency: The officers did not obtain proper approvals or certificates regarding the visit, and the purpose of the trip was misrepresented.

• Breach of Trust: By overstaying and switching hotels without proper authorization, the officers breached the trust placed in them by the government and taxpayers.

• Violation of Norms: The officers exceeded the allowed duration for foreign travel, did not obtain necessary approvals, and disregarded established norms and procedures.

Example 3: Nestle infant milk in poorer countries has a higher sugar content compared to developed countries.

Context: Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organization, along with the International Baby Food Action Network, uncovered this issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that early exposure to sugar can lead to a lifelong preference for it, heightening the risk of obesity and other chronic diseases.

Ethical Issues in this case:

• Health Impact: Higher sugar content in infant milk can lead to health issues such as obesity and chronic illnesses, especially considering the vulnerability of infants.

• Transparency: There’s a lack of transparency regarding the nutritional content of Nestle infant milk, particularly in poorer countries

• Targeting Vulnerable Populations: Marketing products with higher sugar content to poorer countries, where health resources and education might be limited, can be seen as exploitative and unethical.

• Equity: Discrepancies in sugar content between products sold in different countries can raise questions about equity and fairness in access to healthier nutritional options.

• Breach of trust: Selling an inferior product breaches consumer trust.

Regulations: The Codex Alimentarius sets global standards for food safety and quality, established by the joint effort of the Food and Agriculture Organization and WHO. In India, the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 defines regulations and establishes the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India as the apex regulatory body for ensuring food safety and quality.

4Ps (Political Leadership, Public Financing, Partnerships, and Participation)

#### Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: IE**

Context: India’s development strategy, characterized by the 4Ps (Political Leadership, Public Financing, Partnerships, and Participation), has led to significant success in national programs.

Explanation of each of the 4Ps using Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Example:

P | Explanation | Examples

Political Leadership | Setting the vision, direction, and institutional framework for development initiatives. | Government’s initiative to tackle open defecation through the Swachh Bharat Mission. Creation of institutional mechanisms to implement large-scale programs.

Public Financing | Allocation of financial resources by the government towards development projects and initiatives. | Allocation of approximately $20 billion towards sanitation initiatives under the SBM. Investment in infrastructure development for poverty reduction.

Partnerships | Collaborative efforts involving multiple stakeholders to achieve development goals. | Collaboration with international organizations like the World Bank, NGOs, and local administrations for implementing the SBM. Partnership with communities and media.

People’s Participation | Engagement and involvement of communities in development activities, fostering ownership and sustainability. | Empowering communities to build toilets and end open defecation under the SBM. Women and girls leading efforts to declare villages open defecation-free.

Usage: The 4Ps framework can be used to explain the success of schemes in India e.g. Swachh Bharat Mission, Mission Lifestyle etc.

Innovation Trap

#### Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: LM

What is the Innovation trap?

It refers to a situation where organizations strive to innovate but inadvertently fall into patterns of thinking and behaviour that stifle genuine creativity and progress. This trap often arises when organizations prioritize conformity, rely too heavily on past successes, or resist challenging the status quo.

Explanation using example:

Kodak’s downfall can be attributed to its reluctance to embrace digital photography despite inventing the first digital camera in 1975. Instead of capitalizing on this innovation, Kodak continued to focus on its traditional film business, believing that digital photography was just a passing fad. This lack of foresight and innovation allowed competitors like Canon and Nikon to gain a foothold in the digital camera market.

How does the “Elephants in Denmark” trick demonstrate ‘Herd Mentality’?

It is a mental exercise that demonstrates herd behaviour and conformity in decision-making. Participants are asked to follow a series of steps involving multiplication, addition, subtraction, and association with letters and words, ultimately leading them to think of a grey elephant in Denmark. The trick reveals how individuals, despite believing they are making unique choices, often end up following a predetermined pattern or suggestion, akin to herd mentality.

How to Overcome Innovation Trap and Herd Mentality?

• Encourage alternative thinking: Foster a culture that values diverse perspectives and encourages employees to challenge conventional wisdom.

• Empower outliers: Identify individuals who challenge the status quo and support them in developing and implementing innovative ideas.

• Create a culture of experimentation: Promote a mindset where failure is seen as a learning opportunity, and provide resources for experimentation and exploration.

• Measure outcomes, not just outputs: Shift focus from simply generating ideas to evaluating the impact and effectiveness of those ideas in achieving organizational goals.

• Establish structured recognition programs: Reward and recognize individuals and teams that demonstrate innovative thinking and drive meaningful change.

• Foster collaboration and open communication: Encourage cross-functional collaboration and create channels for sharing ideas and feedback across the organization.

Srinagar (considered for World Craft City)

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: Srinagar is being considered for the prestigious World Craft City (WCC) title by the World Crafts Council International (WCCI).

Arts and Crafts of Srinagar City:

Craft | Description

Pashmina shawls | Luxurious woollen shawls made from the wool of Pashmina goats are known for their softness and warmth.

Carpets | Hand-woven carpets featuring intricate designs and vibrant colours, often showcasing traditional motifs.

Papier mâché | Decorative objects crafted using molded and painted paper pulp.

Walnut wood carving | Beautiful furniture pieces, decorative panels, and small items such as boxes and bowls.

Hand-knotted carpets | Meticulously handcrafted carpets with elaborate patterns and designs, made using traditional techniques passed down through generations.

Kani shawls | Shawls are woven using the Kani technique, where each thread is individually looped and woven into the fabric, creating intricate patterns and designs.

Khatamband (wooden ceiling) | Traditional woodwork features intricate geometric patterns and designs, commonly seen in ceilings and architectural features.

Sozni embroidery | Delicate embroidery is done with fine needlework, embellishing fabrics with intricate patterns and motifs.

Crewel embroidery | Embroidery style using wool threads to create elaborate designs on fabrics like cotton or silk (typically features floral motifs)

About WCC:

The World Craft City (WCC) initiative was launched in 2014 by the World Crafts Council International (WCCI), a Kuwait-based organization. It acknowledges the contributions of local authorities, craftspeople, and communities to cultural, economic, and social development worldwide. WCC aims to establish a network of craft cities globally, promoting the principles of the creative economy and preserving traditional crafts.

Reports in News

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Report | Description

Survival International Report | Survival International accuses UNESCO of complicity in illegal eviction and abuse of Indigenous people in a report on World Heritage Day 2024 (18th April). The six sites are:

Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania): A UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning landscape and wildlife, including the Ngorongoro Crater, where diverse species thrive within an ancient volcanic caldera.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo): Home to the endangered eastern lowland gorillas, this park faces conservation challenges amid conflict and human encroachment.

Odzala-Kokoua National Park (Republic of Congo): A biodiverse wilderness area with dense forests, savannas, and rivers, providing habitat for numerous species, including forest elephants and gorillas.

Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (Thailand): One of the largest protected areas in Thailand, known for its rich biodiversity, including rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

Kaziranga National Park (India): Famous for its population of Indian one-horned rhinoceroses, this park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a significant conservation area for various wildlife species.

Chitwan National Park (Nepal): A renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nepal, recognized for its diverse ecosystems and conservation efforts, including the protection of Bengal tigers and one-horned rhinoceroses

Survival International is a human rights organisation formed in 1969, a London-based charity that campaigns for the rights of Indigenous and/or tribal peoples and uncontacted peoples.

State of World Population 2024 report | Released by the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA)

The report, titled “Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope: Ending Inequalities in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Rights,” highlights women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), encompassing freedom from torture, right to health, privacy, education, life, and discrimination prohibition.

Key findings include: India’s leading global population of 1.44 billion, is projected to double in 77 years, with 68% aged 15-64 and 26% aged 10-24. India’s Total Fertility Rate is 2.0, with life expectancy at birth estimated at 71 and 74 years for men and women, respectively. Child marriage rates averaged 23% from 2006-2023. Women with disabilities face up to 10 times more gender-based violence.

UNFPA, headquartered in New York, USA, was established in 1969 as the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Its mandate, established by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), includes supporting access to various sexual and reproductive health services, such as voluntary family planning, maternal health care, and comprehensive sexuality education.

Arctic’s Plastic Crisis Report | Released by Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) and the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) (a global network aiming to build a global movement for a toxics-free future)

Key findings: Petrochemical industries are polluting the Arctic with environmental violations like oil spills and hazardous substance releases. Plastic and toxic chemicals from around the world are also accumulating in the Arctic. These substances, transported by atmospheric and oceanic currents, endanger indigenous communities like Aleut, Yupik, and Inuit, affecting their food security due to rapid Arctic warming.

Global Forest Watch (GFW) Report | Key Findings: India has lost 2.33 million hectares (Mha) of tree cover since 2000, marking a 6% decrease during 2001-2023. Notably, five states—Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur—contributed to 60% of all tree cover loss between 2001-2023. Deforestation and climate change, leading to extreme heat and wildfires, are major drivers of tree cover loss, with Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh experiencing the highest tree cover loss due to fires according to GFW.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) established Global Forest Watch (GFW) in 1997 as an online platform offering data and tools to monitor forests. GFW provides access to near real-time information on global forest changes, enabling users to track and analyze forest dynamics worldwide.

India’s leading global population of 1.44 billion, is projected to double in 77 years, with 68% aged 15-64 and 26% aged 10-24.

India’s Total Fertility Rate is 2.0, with life expectancy at birth estimated at 71 and 74 years for men and women, respectively.

Child marriage rates averaged 23% from 2006-2023.

Women with disabilities face up to 10 times more gender-based violence.

India has lost 2.33 million hectares (Mha) of tree cover since 2000, marking a 6% decrease during 2001-2023.

Notably, five states—Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur—contributed to 60% of all tree cover loss between 2001-2023.

Deforestation and climate change, leading to extreme heat and wildfires, are major drivers of tree cover loss, with Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh experiencing the highest tree cover loss due to fires according to GFW.

Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF)

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: Private investment in India, measured by Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) as a percentage of GDP, has seen a decline since 2011-12. Despite government efforts like corporate tax cuts, private investment hasn’t picked up.

What is GFCF?

Gross Fixed Capital Formation, measures the growth in fixed capital in an economy, including assets like buildings and machinery. It serves as an indicator of private sector investment willingness and includes government investment. GFCF is important because fixed capital boosts economic growth by increasing productivity and living standards. Developed economies tend to have more fixed capital per capita compared to developing ones.

Historically, private investment surged after the 1990s economic reforms but dropped post-2008 financial crisis. It peaked at 27% of the economy in 2007-08 but declined after 2011-12, reaching a low of 19.6% in 2020-21.

Reasons for Decline:

Private investment decline is attributed to low consumer spending, poor government policies and uncertainty.

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Live Science

Context: A new paper suggests that the universe may be dominated by particles called tachyons, which move faster than light.

About Tachyons:

They are hypothetical subatomic particles that move faster than the speed of light. Coined by physicist Gerald Feinberg in 1967, they’re distinct from bradyons, which travel slower than light. While bradyons include familiar particles like protons and electrons, tachyons have never been observed. Tachyons violate known principles like causality and are proposed as a potential explanation for dark matter.

According to special relativity, particles with mass can’t exceed light speed in a vacuum due to infinite energy. Tachyons, however, are believed to have imaginary mass, allowing faster-than-light travel without violating known physics laws. They would slow down with energy gain and accelerate with energy loss.

Experiments using cerenkov detectors have attempted to detect tachyons by measuring particles’ speeds in mediums, where they could exceed light speed, causing cerenkov radiation, akin to a sonic boom or ship bow shock wave.

Artemis Accords

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

Context: Sweden joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 38th country to do so. These non-binding arrangements aim to establish norms for outer space activities.

About the Artemis Accords:

The Artemis Accords are non-binding principles based on the Outer Space Treaty (OST) of 1967, aiming to guide civil space exploration in the 21st century.

• They are a US-led international partnership(introduced in 2020 by NASA) – signed by 38 countries till now, including India (signed in 2023), Japan, Australia, the UK, France, and Canada – on planetary exploration and research.

• They are a set of 13 principles, closely linked to the 2018 US Artemis Program, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface, build a space camp there, and carry out deep space exploration.

Other Such treaties on Outer Space:

• Outer Space Treaty (1967): Provides the basic framework for international space law. India has signed and ratified it

• Rescue Agreement (1968): Aimed at rescuing and assisting astronauts in distress. India has signed and ratified it

• Liability Convention (1972): States that the launching State is absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused by its space objects. India has signed and ratified it

• Registration Convention (1976): Requires registration of objects launched into outer space. India has signed and ratified it

• Moon Agreement (1979): Establishes the Moon and its resources as the common heritage of humankind. India has signed but NOT ratified it

Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM)

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: DRDO conducts a successful test of an indigenous long-range subsonic cruise missile (Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM)) from Chandipur, Odisha. The missile, similar to Nirbhay, showcased low-altitude sea-skimming flight with all subsystems performing as expected.

About ITCM:

It has been developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and is a long-range subsonic cruise missile featuring an indigenous propulsion system from the Gas Turbine Research Establishment. Cruise missiles are unmanned and fly within the atmosphere, capable of flying just meters above ground.

Exoskeleton

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: PIB

Context: DRDO organized the first international workshop on ‘Emerging Technologies & Challenges for Exoskeleton’ in Bengaluru.

What is Exoskeleton?

An exoskeleton is a mobile machine resembling an insect’s exoskeleton, worn by a person. It’s powered by motors, hydraulics, or pneumatics to aid limb movement. Applications include aiding people with disabilities, assisting soldiers in carrying heavy loads, and use in factories and assembly lines.

#### Mapping

Source: DTE

Context: The drying of the Aral Sea in Central Asia has led to the emergence of the Aralkum Desert, making the region much dustier.

Dust emissions from the desert have almost doubled over the past 30 years, impacting air quality and climate. The dust contains residues of fertilizers and pesticides from former agriculture, making it more hazardous.

About Aral Sea

It was once a large saltwater lake (an endorheic lake: a closed basin lake that retains water and does not have an outflow) in Central Asia, and now lies on the boundary between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It has drastically shrunk due to human activities like excessive irrigation. It was once the world’s fourth-largest lake. UNESCO has recognized the environmental tragedy of the Aral Sea by adding historical documents to its Memory of the World Register.

Other important lakes that have also shrunk in the last few decades include Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran, situated in a large central depression, and Lake Hamoun, a freshwater lake on the Iran-Afghanistan border.