UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 25 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:

• UK: Deportation of Asylum seekers to Rwanda

• Misleading advertisements and Issues related to it

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

• ‘Million Miyawaki’ project

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

• Childcare leave

• ASEAN Future Forum

• Compulsory convertible debentures

• Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) methods

• Satellite Technology Day

• WHO global sodium benchmarks

• Pulicat bird sanctuary

Mapping

• Rwanda

UK: Deportation of Asylum seekers to Rwanda

#### GS Paper 4

Syllabus: Applications of Ethics

Source: The Guardian

Context: The UK Parliament passed a bill allowing asylum seekers arriving irregularly to be deported to Rwanda, a move spearheaded by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to curb Channel crossings. Despite opposition, the bill cleared both houses and is set to become law. It will apply to anyone who arrives in the UK without prior permission, even if their aim is to claim asylum on legitimate grounds

However, critics, argue that it’s cruel and ineffective.

Ethical issues include:

• Questions about the safety and well-being of individuals being sent to Rwanda

• The fairness of the deportation process

• The potential for exploitation or harm of vulnerable populations

• By overriding laws preventing deportation and compelling courts to treat Rwanda as a “safe country,” there’s a clear violation of the rule of law.

• Rwanda’s human rights record, marred by allegations of ill-treatment of dissidents, journalists, and refugees, raises serious doubts about the ethical implications of such a decision.

• Sending refugees to a country where they may face persecution violates the core principle of non-refoulment in international refugee law, as outlined in the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 protocol.

Thinkers’ Views:

Ethical Thinker | View on Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Mahatma Gandhi | Advocated for compassion and support towards asylum seekers and refugees, emphasizing the principles of nonviolence and empathy.

Rabindranath Tagore | Emphasized the importance of hospitality and universal brotherhood, promoting acceptance and integration of refugees into society.

Swami Vivekananda | Would likely advocate for providing refuge to those in need, viewing it as a moral duty and an expression of humanitarianism.

Nelson Mandela | Emphasized the importance of solidarity and support for refugees, drawing from his own experience of fighting against discrimination and injustice.

Aung San Suu Kyi | Advocated for the protection of refugees’ rights and the promotion of democracy and human rights as essential for ensuring their well-being and dignity.

India’s stance on refugees:

India is not a party to the Refugee Convention, as it hasn’t ratified either the 1951 Convention or its 1967 Protocol, and India lacks a national refugee protection framework. Nonetheless, India extends asylum to numerous refugees from neighbouring states and adheres to UNHCR’s guidelines for other nationals, particularly from Afghanistan and Myanmar. For asylum-seekers from non-neighbouring countries, India conducts Refugee Status Determination (RSD) before granting asylum

Misleading advertisements and Issues related to it

#### GS Paper 4

Syllabus: Application of Ethics

Context: The Supreme Court has urged the government to take action against Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies for using misleading advertisements, especially those targeting families with babies and schoolchildren.

In another case, the Supreme Court criticized the Union government for its inaction against Patanjali Ayurved over misleading advertisements and ordered the company’s MD Acharya Balakrishna and co-founder Yoga guru Ramdev to submit their public apology published in newspapers.

Concerns were raised amid reports of higher sugar content in Nestle’s baby food products.

What are Misleading Advertisements?

Misleading advertisements are promotional messages or claims that deceive or mislead consumers about the characteristics, benefits, or efficacy of a product or service. These ads may contain false or exaggerated information, leading consumers to make purchasing decisions based on inaccurate perceptions

Examples of misleading advertisements:

Company | Misleading Claim

Detox Tea Co. | “Lose 10 lbs in 7 days with our tea”

Beauty Products Inc. | “Eliminates wrinkles in one day”

Bourn Vita | “Our drink is low in sugar” (when it contains high sugar content)

Fresh Teeth Inc. | “Whitens teeth 10 shades in one use”

Hair Care Co. | “Regrows hair in 2 weeks”

Social Networking Inc. | “100% safe and secure”

Impact of misleading advertisement:

Impact | Examples

Loss of Customer Trust | Volkswagen used deceptive advertising to market their diesel cars as environmentally friendly, causing damage to the environment and a loss of trust in the company by customers.

Negative Brand Image | PepsiCo’s advertising campaign for Aquafina bottled water, which claimed the water was “pure, perfect and refreshing,” was misleading because the water was sourced from tap water.

Legal Consequences | L’Oreal was sued by the Federal Trade Commission (USA) for advertising that their anti-ageing creams could mimic the effects of a surgical facelift.

Health Impact | For example, sugary drinks such as soda are associated with many health problems.

Ethical impact | Unfair Competition, Breach of Trust, Deception and Manipulation

Legal provisions against misleading advertisements:

Legal Provisions | Description

CCPA’s Guidelines to Prevent False or Misleading Advertisements | Issued in 2022, these guidelines cover goods, products, and services, and aim to prevent false or misleading advertising.

Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2018 | Specifically deals with food (and related products), and regulates product claims, while the above guidelines deal with goods, products and services.

Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 | Advertisements must not draw inferences that it has “some special or miraculous or supernatural property or quality, which is difficult to prove.

FSS Act 2006 | Misleading ads are punishable under Section 53 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Consumer Welfare Fund | Set up under the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017, this fund promotes and protects the welfare of consumers.

Central Consumer Protection Council | Monitors and enforces consumer protection laws facilitates consumer education, and provides consumer redressal mechanisms.

Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 | These mandatory rules require sellers to take back defective or deficient goods, withdraw services, or provide refunds if goods or services do not meet the description on the platform.

Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) | A self-regulatory organization that monitors ads and deals with complaints against them in India.

| The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) had previously released guidelines on dark patterns in digital advertisements, urging companies not to mislead customers through omission, exaggeration, implication, or ambiguity.

Thinker’s view on Misleading Advertisements:

Ethical Thinker | Views

Mahatma Gandhi | Misleading people is a violation of truthfulness and honesty.

Chanakya | Emphasized the importance of ethical conduct in business and the detrimental effects of deceptive practices.

Swami Vivekananda | Advocated for truth and integrity, promoting the welfare of society.

Immanuel Kant | Misleading people violate the principle of treating individuals as ends in themselves, rather than means to an end.

Insta Links

• Regulating misleading advertisements

Mains Links

Do you think that the brand ambassadors of products should be held accountable for misleading advertisements and endorsements? Examine. (250 Words)

Prelims Links

Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2018)

• The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is under the charge of the Director General of Health Services in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

‘Million Miyawaki’ project

#### Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Source: The Print

Context: The Embassy of Israel in India has joined the ‘Million Miyawaki’ project, aimed at improving air quality in Indian cities through mass afforestation in urban spaces. In collaboration with the Million Miyawaki Foundation, the embassy will plant a million trees in Delhi-NCR, creating forest-like Miyawaki plantations with up to 30 locally sourced species (as part of Earth Day celebrations)

About Miyawaki Method:

It is inspired by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, and boosts greenery in compact spaces. It fosters multi-layered forests with quick growth, mimicking natural biodiversity. Though they lack some natural forest attributes like medicinal properties, they serve as effective carbon sinks and mitigate ecological damage from activities like mining.

What is Earth Day?

Earth Day, originating in 1970 after widespread protests against environmental degradation is now observed globally on April 22nd. Coordinated by EARTHDAY.ORG, formerly Earth Day Network, its aim is to mobilize a massive environmental movement for transformative change.

Notably, the Paris Agreement, a landmark climate accord, was signed on Earth Day in 2016. It underscores a collective responsibility, as outlined in the 1992 Rio Declaration, to achieve a balance between economic, social, and environmental needs for present and future generations. Other important environmental days include World Water Day on March 22nd, World Biodiversity Day on May 22nd, and World Environment Day on June 5th. Additionally, Earth Hour, an initiative by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), occurs annually on the last Saturday of March, urging individuals worldwide to switch off lights from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm to raise awareness about climate change and environmental conservation.

ASEAN Future Forum

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: MEA

Context: India’s External Affairs Minister, delivered remarks at the 1st ASEAN Future Forum.

• India supports ASEAN unity and centrality, emphasizing the importance of a strong and unified ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific region.

About ASEAN Future Forum:

• It was proposed by Vietnam at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in 2023.

• It is a common platform for ASEAN member states as well as partner countries to share new ideas and policy recommendations.

• It aims to contribute to promoting and shaping ASEAN’s development path.

Compulsory convertible debentures

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Economic Times

Context: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) subscription to Compulsory Convertible Debentures (CCDs) of Napino Auto and Electronics Limited (Napino).

• IFC, established in 1956, aims to promote economic growth in developing countries by fostering private sector development.

Compulsory convertible debentures (CCDs) are debt instruments that are automatically and mandatorily converted into equity after a specific time period or when certain events occur.

CCDs are hybrid instruments that are debt when issued but are guaranteed to be converted into equity at a later date.

CCDs help companies repay debt without spending cash and benefit investors by offering fixed interest and later ownership of company shares.

Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) methods

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: FP

Context: In Vietnam, where rice cultivation contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, some farmers are embracing innovative techniques to mitigate methane production.

Traditionally, rice paddies emit substantial amounts of methane due to the anaerobic conditions created by flooding. However, farmers are adopting alternate wetting and drying (AWD) methods, which reduce water usage and methane emissions.

What is AWD?

It stands for Alternate Wetting and Drying, a water-saving technique used in rice cultivation. Instead of continuously flooding rice fields, AWD involves alternating periods of flooding and drying, allowing the soil to partially dry out between irrigation cycles. This method helps to reduce water usage in rice paddies while also decreasing methane emissions, as the intermittent drying reduces the anaerobic conditions that promote methane production.

Satellite Technology Day

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: ISRO

Context: The U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) celebrated Satellite Technology Day (STD) – 2024, marking the 50th anniversary of the successful launch of India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, on April 19, 1975.

About Aryabhata:

• Aryabhata was India’s first satellite, launched on April 19, 1975 from Kapustin Yar, a Soviet rocket launch and development site.

• The satellite was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and launched by the Soviet Union as part of the Soviet Interkosmos program.

• It was named after the 5th-century Indian astronomer and mathematician Aryabhata.

• The satellite was instrumented to explore conditions in Earth’s ionosphere, measure neutrons and gamma rays from the Sun, and perform investigations in X-ray astronomy.

• It carried out three experiments, one each in X-ray astronomy, Solar Physics and Aeronomy.

WHO global sodium benchmarks

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: The Print

Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued the second edition of its global sodium benchmarks, providing updated reference values for sodium content to combat chronic conditions linked to high blood pressure and obesity.

• The first edition of the WHO global sodium benchmarks, published in May 2021, contained 10 pre-determined benchmarks for different food categories.

• Developed collaboratively with governments, organizations, and private sector partners, these benchmarks aim to inform policy-making and support efforts to reduce sodium consumption globally.

• Part of a broader initiative, they emphasize improving nutrition systems, enhancing food accessibility, and raising public awareness about the risks of chronic conditions and the importance of healthy lifestyles.

Pulicat bird sanctuary

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: The New Indian Express

Context: The Tamil Nadu government is considering denotifying a significant portion of the Pulicat bird sanctuary, potentially excluding Patta land in 13 revenue villages from the sanctuary area.

• This move follows a process under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, where people were invited to submit written claims for the land within a two-month period.

• The denotification process involves settling claims of affected individuals before issuing a final notification under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

About Pulicat Bird Sanctuary:

Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary is a wildlife refuge in the Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh and the Thiruvallur District of Tamil Nadu, India.

It’s a popular birding spot in South India and is known for its greater flamingos, White Ibis, Grey Pelicans, Grey Herons, Open Billed Storks, Egrets, Spot Billed Ducks, Reef Herons, Painted Storks, Spoon Bills, and Cormorants.

Schengen Areas

#### Mapping

Source: TH

Context: Indian nationals can now obtain long-term multi-entry Schengen visas with a validity of two years, provided they have lawfully used two visas within the previous three years.

This decision, announced by the European Union, aims to facilitate travel for individuals with an established travel history, subject to passport validity. The move comes as part of the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, aiming to enhance cooperation on migration policy. The Schengen visas allow short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period in the Schengen area, comprising 29 European countries, including 25 EU states and four non-EU states.

About the Schengen area:

It is the world’s largest free travel area, encompassing 27 countries. This includes 23 of the 27 EU members and all members of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). Originating in 1985 as an intergovernmental project among five EU countries – France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg – it facilitates seamless travel across participating nations.