UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26 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 1:

• Deadly Dubai floods made worse by climate change

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

• Material Resource of the Community (Article 39 (b))

• Article 244(A) of Indian Constitution

• Nomination in Election

• Payments Aggregator

• Asset reconstruction companies (ARCs)

• Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing, Spectrum Sharing, and Spectrum Leasing

• Sympathetic solar flares

• The permissible level of pesticides

• Voyager 1

• Paro Statement

• ROCKS or Crystal Maze 2

Mapping

• Haryana’s Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary

Deadly Dubai floods made worse by climate change

#### GS Paper 1

Syllabus: Geography

Source: BBC

Context: Recent deadly storms that submerged Dubai and caused fatalities in Oman were likely exacerbated by climate change, with human-induced heat making the record rainfall 10-40% heavier, according to scientists.

• Meanwhile, across the Arabian Sea in Mumbai, a humid heatwave has persisted in recent days, with relative humidity reaching as high as 55%.

Climate of UAE:

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) typically experiences arid conditions, with heavy rainfall events being rare. However, a recent historic event saw Dubai receiving over 142 mm of rainfall within 24 hours, far surpassing its annual average of 94.7 mm.

Possible Reasons for Dubai Floods:

Reasons | Description

1.Anticyclone Interaction | The presence of an anticyclone prevented a weather system, known as a western disturbance, from moving over West Asia. This interaction may have contributed to the storm system that caused the heavy rainfall and lightning in Dubai.
2.Cloud Seeding Operations | Reports indicate that the UAE National Centre of Meteorology’s cloud seeding operations might have intensified the rainfall from the storm system. Cloud seeding involves the introduction of substances into clouds to enhance precipitation, which could have amplified the rainfall in Dubai.
3.Dust as Natural Cloud Seeders | Excessive dust in the region could have acted as natural cloud seeders, contributing to the heavy rainfall.

Dust particles act as condensation nuclei, facilitating cloud formation similar to the process of man-made cloud seeding.

1.Record Heat and Global Warming | Record heat in recent years, coupled with warming trends in West Asia and the Arabian Sea, created unusual heat conditions. The UAE’s climate has warmed by 0.4°C from the long-term average, as noted in the National Centre of Meteorology’s Annual Climate Assessment 2022.

A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall worldwide, including in Dubai.

1.Warm Sea Temperatures and Evaporation | Global warming has resulted in exceptionally warm water in the seas near Dubai, accompanied by warm air above.

This combination enhances evaporation and increases the atmosphere’s capacity to hold moisture. Consequently, larger amounts of rainfall occur, as observed in recent heavy downpours in Dubai.

1.Atmospheric Pressure Dynamics | According to a senior forecaster at the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology, a low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere, combined with low pressure at the surface, resulted in air compression.

The pressure squeeze was intensified by temperature differences between the ground level and higher altitudes, creating favourable conditions for powerful thunderstorms.

1.Influence of El Niño and La Niña | Other factors, such as the transition from El Niño to La Niña, could have influenced the weather patterns, potentially contributing to the extreme rainfall in Dubai.

El Niño and La Niña events are natural climate phenomena characterized by variations in sea surface temperatures and atmospheric pressure, which can impact global weather patterns.

Reason for possible hot weather in Mumbai:

Mumbai’s hot weather is attributed to a significant Anticyclonic Effect in the region. Anticyclones, characterized by high atmospheric pressure, induce downward-moving winds that compress and heat up, often leading to heat waves. They can also block other weather systems, exacerbating extreme conditions.

In Mumbai, this anticyclone created a “heat dome” effect, further warming the air. Warm air from West Asia and the Arabian Sea was drawn in and heated by sinking motion, increasing humidity, particularly before the monsoon season. Additionally, the anticyclone may have inhibited the cooling effect of sea breezes at night, resulting in higher-than-usual nighttime temperatures.

Other extreme events in India:

In 2023, India experienced a series of unprecedented climatic events, signalling a concerning new normal attributed to climate change. February (last year and this year) saw record-breaking temperatures, shattering a 123-year-old record. Cyclone Biparjoy formed in the Arabian Sea, lasting 13 days, the longest in over four decades. The India Meteorological Department reported extreme weather events on 314 of 365 days in 2022. These events claimed 3,026 lives and damaged about 2 million hectares of crop area.

Monsoon patterns are shifting, with prolonged deficit rainfall followed by intense downpours, a trend strengthening over decades. The interaction between the southwest monsoon and a low-pressure system called the western disturbance is responsible for recent heavy rainfall in northern India.

difference between Cyclone and Anticyclone:

Feature | Cyclones | Anticyclones

Atmospheric Pressure | Low | High

Wind Direction | Inward, counterclockwise rotation (Northern Hemisphere) | Outward, clockwise rotation (Northern Hemisphere)

Weather Conditions | Stormy, with heavy rainfall and strong winds | Clear skies, calm conditions

Wind Speed | High | Moderate

Air Movement | Upward, converging towards the centre | Downward, diverging from the centre

Impact on Weather Patterns | Disruptive, causing heavy rain, flooding, and storm surges | Generally stable, may block weather systems and lead to heatwaves

Formation Factors | Form over warm ocean waters with low-pressure systems | Form over cool ocean waters with high-pressure systems

What is Cloud Seeding?

Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique aimed at enhancing precipitation in clouds to increase rainfall or snowfall. It involves the introduction of substances, known as cloud seeding agents, into clouds to induce or enhance the formation of ice crystals or raindrops, depending on the type of cloud and desired outcome. Common cloud-seeding agents include silver iodide, potassium iodide, and sodium chloride. These agents serve as nuclei around which water vapour can condense and form ice crystals, which then grow and fall as precipitation. Cloud seeding is often used in regions experiencing water scarcity or drought conditions to augment water resources, but its effectiveness and environmental impact remain subjects of debate and ongoing research.

Insta Links

• El Nino and Monsoon

Mains Link

‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How will India be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India are affected by climate change? (UPSC 2017)

Prelims Link

La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino? (UPSC 2011)

• La Nina is characterised by an usually cold ocean temperature in equatorial Indian Ocean whereas El Nino is characterised by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

• El Nino has adverse effect on south-west monsoon of India but La Nina has no effect on monsoon climate.

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

Ans: D

The scientific view is that the increase in global temperature should not exceed 2°C above pre industrial level. If the global temperature increases beyond 3°C above the pre-industrial level, what can be its possible impact/impacts on the world? (UPSC 2014)

• Terrestrial biosphere tends toward a net carbon source.

• Widespread coral mortality will occur.

• All the global wetlands will permanently disappear.

• Cultivation of cereals will not be possible anywhere in the world.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: B

Material Resource of the Community(Article 39 (b))

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

Context: The Maharashtra government informed the Supreme Court that the phrase “material resources of the community” encompasses both public and private resources, subject to judicial review for redistribution.

The case concerns Article 39(b) of the Constitution, directing the state to distribute material resources for the common good. The SC bench, comprising nine judges, seeks clarity on whether privately owned resources fall under this provision.

Judicial views on “material resources of the community” under Article 39(b) vary:

• In State of Karnataka v Shri Ranganatha Reddy (1977), the majority opinion of SC excluded private properties from this category

• SC: Mafatlal Industries Ltd v Union of India (1996) supported a broad interpretation of “material resources” to include both natural and man-made, private and public properties.

Private Property owners contest the state’s authority to acquire properties for redistribution, citing violations of the Right to Equality under Article 14.

Nomination in Election

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: In the Surat Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP candidate won uncontested due to the rejection of the Congress candidate’s nomination papers (due to alleged discrepancies in the signatures of his proposers) and the withdrawal of other candidates. The Congress alleged coercion of their proposers and appealed to the Election Commission (EC).

Nominations in elections follow specific criteria outlined in the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RoPA). Section 33 of the RoPA specifies the requirements for valid nominations, including the need for proposers from the respective constituency. The Returning Officer (RO) can reject nominations if signatures are found to be not genuine, as per Section 36 of the RoPA.

Section 33 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 also outlines eligibility criteria for contesting Lok Sabha elections:

• Individuals aged 25 or above can run from any constituency

• Proposers, those supporting the candidacy, must be from the same area.

• Candidates from recognized parties require one proposer, while independents or smaller parties need ten.

• Up to four sets of nomination papers with different proposer groups can be submitted to ensure acceptance despite issues with one set.

To date, Over 35 candidates have been elected unopposed to the Lok Sabha, mostly in the first two decades after independence, with the last instance in 2012.

Legal Recourse: The Election Commission (EC) is unlikely to address the request directly due to constitutional and legal provisions (Article 329(b) of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act). Election petitions challenging the decision must be filed before the respective High Court. While the RP Act recommends concluding trials within six months, this timeline is often not met

Payments Aggregator

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: TH

Context: PayU, a digital financial services provider, has received in-principle authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payments Aggregator (PA) under the Payment Settlements Act, 2007.

• With this approval, PayU can onboard new merchants on its platform.

A payment aggregator is a third-party service that allows customers to make payments and businesses to accept payments online.

Payment aggregators allow businesses to accept a variety of payment methods, including:

Debit cards, Credit cards, Cardless EMIs, UPI, Bank transfers, E-wallets, and E-mandates.

Asset reconstruction companies (ARCs)

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Business Standard

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a master direction for asset reconstruction companies (ARCs), effective from April 24, 2024.

• These have been issued in the exercise of the powers conferred by the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002.

• The guidelines stipulate that ARCs must maintain a minimum capital requirement of Rs 300 crore, with existing ARCs given until March 31, 2026, to meet this threshold.

• Non-compliant ARCs will face supervisory action, including the prohibition on incremental business until compliance is achieved.

• ARCs with a minimum Net Owned Fund (NOF) of Rs 1000 crore can act as resolution applicants and are permitted to invest in specified instruments, subject to certain conditions and caps on investment.

An Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) is a financial institution that buys Non-Performing Assets (NPA) or bad assets from banks and financial institutions so that the latter can clean up their balance sheets.

Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing, Spectrum Sharing, and Spectrum Leasing

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: Business Standard

Context: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released recommendations on Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing, Spectrum Sharing, and Spectrum Leasing.

Key recommendations include:

• allowing the sharing of passive and active infrastructure elements among telecommunication service licensees,

• mandating universal service providers to share passive infrastructure with other telecom service providers,

• and permitting inter-band access spectrum sharing.

• Additionally, TRAI suggests exploring the implementation of authorized shared access (ASA) technique-based spectrum sharing and conducting field trials for the same.

• Leasing of access spectrum among access service providers is also recommended.

Spectrum refers to the radio frequencies allocated to the mobile industry and other sectors for communication over the airwaves.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is a government agency that regulates India’s telecommunications sector.

It was established on February 20, 1997, under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.

Permissible level of pesticides

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: DTE

Context: The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has faced criticism for increasing the maximum residue limit (MRL) of pesticides in Indian herbs and spices by tenfold.

• The FSSAI’s decision lacks transparency regarding the data used to make the change, raising concerns about the safety of consuming these products.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

It was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, to ensure food safety and hygiene in India.

FSSAI is responsible for laying down science-based standards for food products, and regulating their manufacturing, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

It also promotes public awareness and provides guidance on food safety and nutrition.

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: The Guardian

Context: Voyager 1, Earth’s farthest spacecraft, is back online after engineers remotely fixed its 46-year-old systems.

The Voyager mission, conducted by NASA, launched Voyager 1 on September 5, 1977, followed by Voyager 2 on August 20, 1977. Its objective was to explore the outer planets of the solar system: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Key features include flybys of Jupiter and Saturn, with Voyager 2 continuing to Uranus and Neptune, becoming the only craft to visit these planets. Both Voyagers entered interstellar space after their primary missions. Their discoveries include detailed images of planets, moons, and atmospheric data. Voyager 1 made groundbreaking discoveries such as active volcanoes on Io and Saturn’s ring structure.

Paro Statement

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IUCN

Context: The Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference, held in Paro, Bhutan, concluded with the Paro Statement, committing to mobilize an additional $1 billion over the next decade to conserve tigers and their landscapes.

• Tiger Range Countries present included Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

About the Tiger Conservation Coalition

The Tiger Conservation Coalition brings together leading biologists and experts in wildlife crime, human-wildlife coexistence, policy, finance, development and communications, with unprecedented alignment on achieving tiger conservation at scale.

Its member organisations include the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Environmental Investigation Agency; Fauna & Flora; Natural State; Panthera; TRAFFIC; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the Wildlife Conservation Society; Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

ROCKS or Crystal Maze 2

#### Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: ET

Context: The Indian Air Force (IAF) achieved a milestone with the successful test firing of an air-launched ballistic missile, known as ROCKS or Crystal Maze 2, capable of hitting targets over 250 kilometres away.

About Crystal Maze 2 (also known as ROCKS)

It is a medium-range ballistic missile developed by Israel. It has a strike range of over 250 km and is classified as an air-to-surface missile. Designed to operate in GPS-denied environments, it aims to strike high-value stationary and relocatable targets, including long-range radar and air defence systems.

Haryana’s Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary

#### Mapping

Source: The Print

Context: The Supreme Court has halted the construction of four dams inside Haryana’s Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, citing concerns about the negative impact on wildlife and the ecosystem.

About Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary (Yamunanagar, Haryana):

It lies within the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas. Its name derives from the Kalesar forest and Kalesar Mahadev temple situated within its bounds. Established as a national park on December 8, 2003, it holds historical significance, having served as hunting grounds for Mughal and British rulers. The sanctuary boasts the historic Kalesar Fort, possibly constructed during Aurangzeb’s reign. Once a prime tiger habitat, the population dwindled in the late 19th century, leading to a hunting ban. Bounded by the Yamuna River to the east, it shares borders with Rajaji National Park to the northeast