UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 November 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 November 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 – 28 November 2024)

• 75 Years of Indian Constitution

75 Years of Indian Constitution

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

• E-Daakhil Portal

E-Daakhil Portal

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

• Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

• Network Readiness Index, 2024

Network Readiness Index, 2024

• Sabal-20 Logistics Drone

Sabal-20 Logistics Drone

• New Moiré Superconductor

New Moiré Superconductor

• International Pathogen Surveillance Network

International Pathogen Surveillance Network

• Antibiotic Contamination in Milk

Antibiotic Contamination in Milk

• Nafithromycin

Nafithromycin

• Dark Tourism

Dark Tourism

Mapping:

• Pennaiyar River

Pennaiyar River

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 November 2024

#### GS Paper 2:

75 Years of Indian Constitution

Syllabus: Polity

• •Source: IE*

Context: On November 26, 2024, India celebrates the 75th anniversary of the adoption of its Constitution. This moment serves as a reminder of the historic contributions made by the Constituent Assembly and the enduring framework that has guided the world’s largest democracy toward justice, equality, and progress.

Background of the Indian Constitution:

• Government of India Act, 1935: Laid a basic constitutional framework but was rejected by the Indian National Congress for perpetuating British control.

• Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946: Proposed a Constituent Assembly with representatives from Congress, the Muslim League, and princely states.

• Constituent Assembly:

• First session: December 9, 1946.

• Chaired by Rajendra Prasad, with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar heading the Drafting Committee.

• Draft completed in 1949 with 243 articles and 13 schedules.

• Experts like N. Rau (constitutional advisor) and S. N. Mukherjee (chief draftsman) provided critical assistance.

Framework of the Indian Constitution:

• Parliamentary System: Aligns with India’s traditions and ensures collective responsibility.

• Federal Structure: Balances central and state powers, granting greater authority to the Union.

• Comprehensive Design: Details roles for the legislature, executive, and judiciary.

• Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles:

• Fundamental Rights safeguard individual freedoms.

• Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSPs) aim for socio-economic justice.

Key Achievements of India’s Constitution in 75 Years:

• Democratic Foundation:

• Established a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic.

• Ensures checks and balances among the executive, legislature, and judiciary.

• Protection of Rights:

• Guarantees Fundamental Rights, promoting equality and social justice.

• Enabled landmark judgments like Kesavananda Bharati (1973) upholding the Basic Structure Doctrine.

• Social Transformation:

• Facilitated affirmative action, including reservation policies for marginalized communities.

• Empowered women with 33% reservation in local bodies and recent legislation for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas.

• Economic Reforms:

• Enabled LPG (Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization) reforms under a constitutional framework.

• Encouraged policies balancing development with constitutional principles.

• Civic Responsibility:

• Strengthened civic literacy and responsibilities through movements like Digital India and environmental safeguards.

• Independent Institutions:

• Maintained the autonomy of bodies like the Supreme Court, Election Commission, and CAG.

Threats to Constitutional Values:

• Decline in Press Freedom:

• Ranked 159th in World Press Freedom Index 2024.

• Increasing censorship and intimidation of dissent.

• Erosion of Individual Rights:

• Alleged misuse of laws like UAPA and sedition laws.

• Cases such as Stan Swamy and Umar Khalid highlight rights violations.

• Weakened Parliamentary Debates:

• Decline in debates and discussions; 2023 Budget passed without discussion.

• Criminalization and Corruption in Politics:

• Over 46% of MPs in 2024 Lok Sabha have criminal cases.

• Corporate-Driven Policies:

• Allegations of policies prioritizing corporate interests over citizens’ rights, e.g., labor reforms and environmental clearances.

Way Forward:

• Limit State Power: Strengthen institutional checks to prevent overreach.

• Enhance Democratic Values: Democracy must emphasize accountability and free speech beyond elections.

• Uphold Directive Principles: Policies must align with socio-economic goals outlined in DPSPs.

• Judicial Independence: Safeguard judiciary’s autonomy for upholding constitutional morality.

• Parliamentary Reforms: Revive debates, discussions, and oversight mechanisms in Parliament.

• Civic Engagement: Promote constitutional literacy and citizen participation in governance.

Conclusion:

India’s Constitution remains a beacon of democratic values and social justice. By addressing emerging challenges, safeguarding institutions, and fostering inclusivity, the nation can ensure that the Constitution continues to guide its progress for generations to come.

NOTE: 75 years of constituent assembly is significant, so try to cover info on constituent assembly and constitution as much as possible.

Insta Links:

• Indian-Constitution

• What can France learn from the Indian Constitution’s approach to secularism? (UPSC-2019)

• Examine the scope of Fundamental Rights in the light of the latest judgement of the Supreme Court on Right to Privacy. (UPSC-2017)

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 November 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

E-Daakhil Portal

Context: India has fully implemented the E-Daakhil portal for consumer grievance redressal, operational nationwide, including remote areas like Ladakh.

About E-Daakhil Portal:

• Introduced Under: Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

• Purpose: Paperless and hassle-free mechanism for filing and resolving consumer complaints online.

• Key Features: File complaints, pay fees, and track case statuses online. Accessible via mobile number or email registration. Reduces the need for physical visits to consumer forums.

• File complaints, pay fees, and track case statuses online.

• Accessible via mobile number or email registration.

• Reduces the need for physical visits to consumer forums.

• Impact: Successful case rulings include compensation for faulty products and refund disputes, e.g., Sambalpur District Commission and Andaman District Commission.

Relevance in UPSC Exam:

• Consumer Rights and Governance:

• Highlights digital transformation in grievance redressal

• E-Governance:

• A case study example for GS-II (Governance) and Ethics (Transparency and Accountability).

• Digital India Initiative:

• Reflects the success of Digital India in ensuring inclusivity and efficiency.

• Inclusive Development:

• Coverage in remote areas like Ladakh shows commitment to equity and accessibility.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 November 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Source: PIB

Context: The Indian Chemical Council (ICC) was awarded the 2024 OPCW-The Hague Award during the 29th Session of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) at The Hague.

About Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons:

• Established: 1997; implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

• Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands.

• Membership: 193 States Parties.

• Mission: Achieve a world free of chemical weapons and promote international chemical safety.

• Recognition: Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 for efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.

• The Hague Award: Established in 2014 to honor individuals and organizations advancing the goals of the CWC.

About Indian Chemical Council (ICC):

• Establishment: Founded in 1938, ICC is the apex national body representing India’s chemical industry.

• Industries Represented: Organic & Inorganic Chemicals, Plastics, Petrochemicals, Petroleum Refineries, Dyestuffs, Fertilizers, Pesticides, Specialty Chemicals, Paints, and more.

• Mission: Dedicated to the growth and sustainable development of India’s $220 billion chemical industry.

• Key Initiatives: Chemical Weapons Convention Helpdesks: Enhancing compliance and facilitating e-filing for chemical declarations. Nicer Globe: Ensuring chemical transportation safety with real-time monitoring and emergency response. Responsible Care (RC) Program: Promoting sustainable practices with a focus on chemical safety and industry security.

• Chemical Weapons Convention Helpdesks: Enhancing compliance and facilitating e-filing for chemical declarations.

• Nicer Globe: Ensuring chemical transportation safety with real-time monitoring and emergency response.

• Responsible Care (RC) Program: Promoting sustainable practices with a focus on chemical safety and industry security.

Insta links:

• Indian Chemical Council

Network Readiness Index, 2024

Source: DD News

Context: India has climbed 11 ranks to secure the 49th position in the Network Readiness Index 2024 (NRI 2024), showcasing significant advancements in digital transformation and telecommunications.

About Network Readiness Index 2024:

• Published by: Portulans Institute, a non-profit research institute based in Washington, DC.

• Scope: Evaluates 133 economies on four pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact, across 54 variables.

• India’s Rank: Improved from 60th (2023) to 49th (2024), with a score increase from 49.93 to 53.63.

• India’s Leadership: 1st rank in AI scientific publications, AI talent concentration, and ICT services exports. 2nd rank in FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions and Mobile broadband internet traffic. 4th rank in investment in telecommunication services.

• 1st rank in AI scientific publications, AI talent concentration, and ICT services exports.

• 2nd rank in FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions and Mobile broadband internet traffic.

• 4th rank in investment in telecommunication services.

• Global Grouping: Ranked 2nd among lower-middle-income countries, after Vietnam

Insta links:

• Human-development-index-HDI-2023-24

Sabal-20 Logistics Drone

Source: FE

Context: The Indian Army has inducted the Sabal-20 logistics drone, developed by IIT-Kanpur-incubated EndureAir Systems, to enhance its operational capabilities in rugged terrains, especially in the eastern sector.

About Sabal-20 Drone:

• Design: Electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with variable pitch technology and large rotors, inspired by Chinook helicopters.

• Payload: Capable of carrying up to 20 kg, about half its own weight.

• Technology: Features tandem rotor configuration for improved lift and stability in high-altitude and rugged terrains.

Features of Sabal-20 Drone:

• VTOL (Vertical take-off and landing) Technology: Enables vertical take-off and landing, suitable for confined and challenging environments.

• Stealth Operations: Low RPM design minimizes noise, ideal for sensitive missions.

• Long-Range and High-Altitude Capability: Supports delivery of critical supplies like ammunition, food, and medical equipment in inaccessible areas.

• Durability: Designed for tough terrains and extreme operational demands.

Significance:

• Enhances the Indian Army’s logistical efficiency in remote and high-altitude regions.

• Promotes indigenous defense manufacturing under “Make in India“ and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.

Similar Drones:

• Global Counterparts: Comparable to heavy-lift drones like the K-Max (USA) but tailored for Indian defense needs.

New Moiré Superconductor

Source: TH

Context: Scientists have discovered superconductivity in twisted bilayer tungsten diselenide (tWSe₂), a new moiré material made from semiconductors, marking a significant advancement in quantum materials research.

About New Moiré Superconductor:

• What it is: A moiré material formed by twisting two layers of tungsten diselenide (tWSe₂) by a small angle, creating a unique electronic structure with flat energy bands.

• Material Used: Twisted bilayer tungsten diselenide (tWSe₂), a semiconductor.

• Properties and Features:

• Exhibits superconductivity at –272.93º C with zero resistance. Driven by strong electron-electron interactions and half-band filling. Robust superconducting state with a coherence length 10 times longer than other moiré materials. In typical materials, electrons gain or lose kinetic energy when they move across different energy levels, which affects their speed and momentum. But in moiré materials the electrons experience very little variation in energy

• Exhibits superconductivity at –272.93º C with zero resistance.

• Driven by strong electron-electron interactions and half-band filling.

• Robust superconducting state with a coherence length 10 times longer than other moiré materials.

• In typical materials, electrons gain or lose kinetic energy when they move across different energy levels, which affects their speed and momentum. But in moiré materials the electrons experience very little variation in energy

• Significance:

• Demonstrates stable superconductivity in semiconductors, paving the way for future quantum materials. Offers insights into unique electron interactions and electronic structure changes in twisted 2D layers. Opens avenues for semiconductor-based quantum applications.

• Demonstrates stable superconductivity in semiconductors, paving the way for future quantum materials.

• Offers insights into unique electron interactions and electronic structure changes in twisted 2D layers.

• Opens avenues for semiconductor-based quantum applications.

Insta Links:

• Nobel-prize-in-physics, 2023

International Pathogen Surveillance Network

Source: WHO

Context: The International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN), led by the WHO, has awarded catalytic grants totaling nearly $2 million to 10 global projects aimed at improving pathogen genomic surveillance.

About International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN):

• Established by: WHO through the Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence.

• Origin: Launched to advance pathogen genomic surveillance globally, especially in LMICs.

• Aim: To improve public health decision-making by tracking pathogen evolution, spread, and impact, ensuring equitable access to genomic tools.

• Functions: Strengthens genomic surveillance systems globally. Facilitates international cooperation and capacity-building in LMICs. Funds projects addressing local pathogen priorities, such as avian flu and wastewater surveillance. Supports the development of open-source bioinformatics tools.

• Strengthens genomic surveillance systems globally.

• Facilitates international cooperation and capacity-building in LMICs.

• Funds projects addressing local pathogen priorities, such as avian flu and wastewater surveillance.

• Supports the development of open-source bioinformatics tools.

• Funding: Hosted by the UN Foundation, supported by the Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Wellcome.

Antibiotic Contamination in Milk

Source: DTE

Context: Antibiotic contamination in milk affects 180 million Indians daily, despite regulations. Unregulated antibiotic use, low awareness, and fragmented milk collection systems drive this issue, posing health risks and impacting dairy processing.

About Contamination Found in Milk:

• Source of Contamination: Antibiotic residues from treatments like mastitis control. Contaminated feed and improper veterinary drug use. Mixing contaminated milk during collection.

• Antibiotic residues from treatments like mastitis control.

• Contaminated feed and improper veterinary drug use.

• Mixing contaminated milk during collection.

• Health Impacts: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and allergic reactions. Disorders in intestinal flora. Economic loss due to compromised dairy product quality.

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and allergic reactions.

• Disorders in intestinal flora.

• Economic loss due to compromised dairy product quality.

• Antibiotics Detected: Beta-lactams (e.g., penicillin), aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamycin), tetracyclines, macrolides (e.g., erythromycin), quinolones, sulphonamides.

Insta Links:

• Milk Contamination

Nafithromycin

• •Source: PIB*

Context: In a ground breaking step for India’s biotechnology sector, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh formally launched the first indigenous antibiotic “Nafithromycin” for resistant infections.

About Nafithromycin:

• Purpose: Targets Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) caused by drug-resistant bacteria, addressing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

• Developed By: Wockhardt with support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the Department of Biotechnology.

• Efficacy:

• 10x more effective than azithromycin. Requires only a 3-day regimen. Effective against both typical and atypical pathogens.

• 10x more effective than azithromycin.

• Requires only a 3-day regimen.

• Effective against both typical and atypical pathogens.

• Features:

• Minimal gastrointestinal side effects. No significant drug interactions. Unaffected by food intake. First new antibiotic in its class globally in over 30 years.

• Minimal gastrointestinal side effects.

• No significant drug interactions.

• Unaffected by food intake.

• First new antibiotic in its class globally in over 30 years.

• Significance:

• A milestone in combating AMR, with potential to save lives worldwide. Demonstrates India’s scientific advancement and innovation.

• A milestone in combating AMR, with potential to save lives worldwide.

• Demonstrates India’s scientific advancement and innovation.

• Awaiting Approval: Currently pending final clearance from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for manufacturing and public use.

Insta Links:

• Antimicrobial-resistance

Dark Tourism

Source: TH

Context: Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, the concept of dark tourism has gained traction, with visitors exploring war-torn locations like the destroyed Irpin bridge and tank graveyards.

About Dark Tourism:

• Definition: Visiting locations associated with death, tragedy, or suffering, such as battlefields, disaster zones, or memorials.

• Origins: Defined by John Lennon and Malcolm Foley as the interpretation of inhuman acts for visitors.

• Popular Sites: Auschwitz (Poland), Chernobyl (Ukraine), Ground Zero (USA), Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (Japan).

• Types: Disaster Tourism: Focused on areas affected by major disasters. War Tourism: Visits to conflict zones or post-war regions.

• Disaster Tourism: Focused on areas affected by major disasters.

• War Tourism: Visits to conflict zones or post-war regions.

• Controversy:

• Positive View: Acts as a form of memorialization, education, and awareness. Criticism: Seen by some as unethical or profiting from human suffering.

• Positive View: Acts as a form of memorialization, education, and awareness.

• Criticism: Seen by some as unethical or profiting from human suffering.

• Emerging Market: Increasing popularity in countries like Ukraine due to global attention and curiosity.

Insta Links:

• Dark-Tourism

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 28 November 2024 Mapping:

Pennaiyar River

Source: TH

Context: The Supreme Court has asked the Union government to produce a report from the Negotiation Committee addressing the Pennaiyar river water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

About Periyar River:

• Origin: Sivagiri Hills, Western Ghats.

• Flow: Passes through the Periyar National Park, flows into Vembanad Lake, and empties into the Arabian Sea.

• Tributaries: Muthirapuzha, Mullayar, Cheruthoni, Perinjankutti.

• Significance: Provides drinking water for major towns and Kochi city (via Aluva). Powers Kerala’s Idukki Dam, generating significant electricity. Supports 25% of Kerala’s industries along its banks.

• Provides drinking water for major towns and Kochi city (via Aluva).

• Powers Kerala’s Idukki Dam, generating significant electricity.

• Supports 25% of Kerala’s industries along its banks.

• Unique Feature: One of Kerala’s few perennial rivers, sustaining agriculture, industry, and biodiversity.

Insta Links:

• Mullaperiyar-Dam-Issue

Daily Current Affairs + PIB Summary 28 Nov 2024

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