UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 August 2024
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 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 1: (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 August 2024)
• Himachal Pradesh: Minimum Marriage Age Raised to 21
Himachal Pradesh: Minimum Marriage Age Raised to 21
GS Paper 4:
• Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrest and ethical issues concerned
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrest and ethical issues concerned
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
• National Medical Register Portal
National Medical Register Portal
• Perpetual bond
Perpetual bond
• Unified Lending Interface
Unified Lending Interface
• Solar paraboloid technology
Solar paraboloid technology
• Combination drugs
Combination drugs
• Oral cholera vaccine
Oral cholera vaccine
• Codon deoptimization technology
Codon deoptimization technology
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 August 2024
#### GS Paper 1:
Himachal Pradesh: Minimum Marriage Age Raised to 21
Source: IE
Context: Himachal Pradesh has passed a Bill to raise the minimum marriage age for women from 18 to 21 years, amending the Prohibition of Child Marriage (PCM) Act.
The Bill redefines a “child” as anyone under 21, eliminating the age difference between genders. It also overrides any conflicting laws or customs. To annul a marriage, the time limit has been extended to five years after reaching the age of 21. Since the Bill amends a central law, it must receive the President’s assent to become enforceable, following approval from the state’s Governor.
Earlier, in June 2024, a Central bill ‘Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ lapsed in Lok Sabha which aimed to bring uniformity in the age of marriage for men and women. 2021 Bill was based on recommendations of Jaya Jaitley Committee
Background:
• According to the NFHS-5, 23% (47% in NFHS-3 and 27% in NFHS-4 ) of women between the age of 20 and 24 were married before 18 years of age.
• In India, the practice of child marriage was first legally prohibited through the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 (also called Sarda Act) (legal age G = 14 years and B = 18 years)
• This Act was amended in 1978 to increase the minimum age to 18 years for females, and 21 years for men.
• The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 replaced the 1929 Act, with the same minimum age limits.
• In 2020, the central government set up a task force (Chairperson: Ms Jaya Jaitly) to examine the correlation between the age of marriage and the mother, and the child’s health. The Committee suggested increasing the age of marriage for females to 21.
What the law says?
Currently, the law prescribes that the minimum age of marriage is 21 and 18 years for men and women, respectively.
The minimum age of marriage is distinct from the age of majority, which is gender-neutral.
• An individual attains the age of majority at 18 as per the Indian Majority Act, 1875.
• For Hindus, Section 5(iii) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 sets 18 years as the minimum age for the bride and 21 years as the minimum age for the groom. Child marriages are not illegal but can be declared void at the request of the minor in the marriage.
• In Islam, the marriage of a minor who has attained puberty is considered valid under personal law.
• The Special Marriage Act, 1954 and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 also prescribe 18 and 21 years as the minimum age of consent for marriage for women and men respectively.
Reasons for Prevalence of Child Marriages in India
• Poverty: Families often marry off daughters early to reduce economic burdens.
• Cultural Norms: Deep-rooted traditions prioritize early marriage.
• Lack of Education: Limited access to education perpetuates the cycle of early marriage.
• Safety Concerns: Families marry off girls early to protect them from perceived dangers.
Raising the Legal Age of Marriage to Curb Child Marriages
The government’s recent approval to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 aims to align the age for both genders and address several issues:
• Health and Wellbeing: Early marriage and pregnancies negatively impact the nutritional levels, health, and mental wellbeing of mothers and their children.
• Delayed Responsibilities: Raising the marriage age delays women’s transition into family roles, providing more time for education and self-development.
• Gender Equality: Equalizing the legal marriage age for both men and women promotes gender neutrality, challenging stereotypes that wives must be younger than their husbands.
• Social and Economic Benefits: According to research, this change could lead to a reduction in maternal mortality, improved nutrition levels, and more opportunities for women to pursue higher education and careers.
Limitations of Raising the Legal Age
• Limited Success of Legal Measures: Despite existing laws, child marriages remain prevalent. For example, NFHS-5 data shows that 23% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18. Legal measures alone have limited effectiveness without societal support.
• Need for Social Reforms: Laws alone cannot drive change. Improving health, education, and awareness, along with incentivizing later marriages, are crucial. The decline in child marriages has been more linked to better education and employment for women than to legal penalties.
• Risk of Negative Consequences: Raising the marriage age without addressing underlying patriarchal norms may lead to an increase in sex-selective abortions and illegal marriages.
Way Forward
• Invest in Girls’ Education: Education is key to delaying marriage. According to NFHS-4, the median age of marriage rises with higher levels of education.
• Economic Empowerment: Financial independence gives girls more control over their marriage decisions, reducing the likelihood of early marriage.
• Social and Behavioral Change Campaigns: Changing societal norms around marriage decision-making is essential.
• Marriage Registration: A system to ensure all marriages are registered can help track and enforce legal marriage ages.
Conclusion
Legislation alone cannot solve the problem of child marriage. A holistic approach that includes education, economic empowerment, and societal change is needed to create lasting impact. Learning from countries like South Korea and Japan, where greater female workforce participation has helped address gender imbalances, can provide useful insights for India.
Insta Links:
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Amendment Bill 2021
Mains Links:
• “Empowering women is the key to controlling population growth”. Discuss. (UPSC 2019)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 August 2024 – GS Paper 4:
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov arrest and ethical issues concerned
Syllabus: Applications of Ethics
- •Source: HT*
Context: The article highlights the tension between free speech and responsibility on platforms like Telegram, focusing on the recent arrest of its CEO, Pavel Durov, in France.
Durov’s strong stance on absolute free speech has attracted both dissidents and harmful content like extremism and child pornography, sparking debates on whether his approach threatens public safety. Telegram’s moderation practices are criticized for not using full end-to-end encryption and failing to curb illegal activities. The arrest has ignited global discussions on free speech, with figures like Elon Musk and Edward Snowden defending Durov.
Ethical issues concerned in the case:
• Balancing Free Speech and Harm: The tension between upholding free speech and preventing the spread of harmful content like extremism and child pornography.
• Platform Responsibility: The ethical responsibility of Telegram to moderate and prevent illegal activities on its platform.
• Privacy vs. Law Enforcement: The dilemma between protecting user privacy and complying with law enforcement requests to access content for public safety.
• Impact of Absolute Free Speech: The potential consequences of prioritizing absolute free speech, which can enable criminal activities.
• Government Oversight: The ethical implications of government intervention and the potential for censorship in regulating online content.
• Accountability of Tech Leaders: The responsibility of tech leaders like Durov in managing the misuse of their platforms.
Other such examples:
India:
• WhatsApp: Misinformation leading to mob violence; introduced message limits.
• TikTok Ban: Concerns over data privacy and harmful content; banned by the government.
• Twitter: Clashes with the government over content removal during farmers’ protests.
World:
• Facebook (Cambridge Analytica): Data privacy breach influencing elections.
• Twitter (Trump Suspension): Account banned after Capitol riot; raised censorship concerns.
• China: Government controls internet access, blocking major platforms.
• Myanmar: Facebook criticized for spreading hate speech leading to violence against Rohingya.
Solutions:
• Stronger Regulation: Implement clear guidelines for content moderation while respecting free speech.
• Transparent Policies: Platforms should adopt transparent content policies and communicate them clearly to users.
• Improved Moderation: Use advanced AI and human moderators to detect and remove harmful content promptly.
• Collaboration with Authorities: Cooperate with law enforcement to prevent illegal activities while protecting user privacy.
• Public Awareness: Educate users on the responsible use of social media and the dangers of misinformation.
• International Standards: Develop global standards for content moderation to ensure consistency across platforms.
Insta Links:
• Article 19: Right to freedom
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 August 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
National Medical Register Portal
- •Source: PIB*
Context: The Union Minister for Health, launched the National Medical Register (NMR) Portal, a comprehensive digital database for all registered allopathic (MBBS) doctors in India.
• The National Medical Register (NMR) is mandated under Section 31 of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019.
• It requires the Ethics & Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC to maintain an electronic registry of licensed medical practitioners, including their names, addresses, and qualifications.
• The NMR will be linked with doctors’ Aadhaar IDs to verify authenticity and facilitate the verification process among State Medical Councils (SMCs).
• Its significance includes strengthening the digital healthcare ecosystem, ensuring transparent access to quality medical professionals, and consolidating public trust in healthcare.
Perpetual bond
Source: Reuters
Context: Canara Bank issued India’s first Additional Tier I perpetual bonds since recent rule changes, attracting strong investor interest with a lower-than-expected coupon of 8.27%.
• This marks a revival in demand for these bonds, which had declined due to regulatory challenges.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) recent valuation tweak, allowing mutual funds to value these bonds based on the call option, has made them more attractive.
A perpetual bond is a type of debt security that does not have a fixed maturity date. Unlike traditional bonds that have a set date when the principal amount is repaid, perpetual bonds continue to pay interest indefinitely.
Unified Lending Interface
Source: Economic Times
Context: RBI Governor announced that the Unified Lending Interface (ULI), designed for seamless and quick credit access, particularly for MSMEs and farmers, is currently in the pilot stage.
• The platform integrates diverse data sources to reduce loan appraisal times and simplify processes.
• It is expected to be launched nationwide soon, with the potential to transform the lending space, similar to how UPI revolutionized payments.
The Unified Lending Interface (ULI) is a proposed system aimed at standardizing and simplifying the lending process for both lenders and borrowers.
Technology: The implementation of ULI involves advanced technologies such as APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), data integration tools, and secure digital platforms.
Solar paraboloid technology
Source: Economic Times
Context: Solar paraboloid technology, a form of concentrating solar power (CSP), is emerging as a promising renewable energy solution.
• It uses parabolic mirrors to focus sunlight onto a receiver, generating high temperatures (up to 300°C) for electricity or industrial heat.
• This technology offers higher efficiency than traditional photovoltaic systems, potentially lowering electricity costs.
However, challenges such as high upfront costs and technical complexity remain.
Combination drugs
Source: IE
Context: The Indian government has banned 156 fixed-dose combination (FDC) drugs, citing them as “irrational” with no therapeutic benefit.
• FDCs are combinations of two or more drugs in a single dose, often used to simplify treatment regimens.
• However, these combinations can lead to unnecessary drug use, contributing to issues like antibiotic resistance.
Oral cholera vaccine
Source: TH
Context: Bharat Biotech launched Hillchol (BBV131), an oral cholera vaccine developed in partnership with Hilleman Labs.
• This vaccine addresses the global shortage of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCVs), with demand exceeding 100 million doses annually.
• The vaccine is a two-dose oral treatment, aiming to combat cholera globally. Phase I and II trials were conducted in Bangladesh, and Phase III in India.
Cholera is an acute, diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is characterized by severe diarrhea and dehydration, which can lead to rapid and life-threatening fluid loss if not treated promptly.
Codon deoptimization technology
Source: TH
Context: Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), in collaboration with Griffith University, Australia, has developed a needle-free intranasal COVID-19 booster vaccine using codon deoptimization technology.
• This live-attenuated vaccine, which modulates viral attenuation by adjusting genetic codons, is designed to be safe and quick to produce.
Codon-pair deoptimization involves increasing the frequency of underrepresented codon pairs without changing codon usage or amino acid sequences. It is a highly efficient virus attenuation strategy that utilizes suboptimal codon pairs to achieve attenuation of recoded viruses.
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 29 August 2024 [PDF]
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