UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 August 2024
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 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 – 3 August 2024)
• Supreme Court Ruling on Sub-Classification of SCs and STs
Supreme Court Ruling on Sub-Classification of SCs and STs
• Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024
Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024
GS Paper 4:
• The Ethics of Hunger Strikes as a Mode of Protest
The Ethics of Hunger Strikes as a Mode of Protest
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
• Open Market Sale Scheme
Open Market Sale Scheme
• Genetic screening
Genetic screening
• Kindlins
Kindlins
• WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC)
WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC)
• Woody encroachment
Woody encroachment
• Ransomware attack
Ransomware attack
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 August 2024
#### GS Paper 2:
Supreme Court Ruling on Sub-Classification of SCs and STs
Syllabus: Social Justice, Governance
Source: Indian Express
Context: On August 1, 2024, the Supreme Court of India ruled in the case of State of Punjab and Ors Vs Davinder Singh and Ors that states can sub-classify Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to grant additional quotas for the more disadvantaged within these categories.
Timeline of the case:
Timeline | Description
Supreme Court in EV Chinnaiah case (2005) | The court held that Scheduled Castes (SCs) under Article 341(1) formed a homogeneous group and could not be subdivided
Under Article 341(1), the President designates SCs in states and union territories.
Punjab Scheduled Caste and Backward Classes Act, 2006 | It mandated that 50% of vacancies reserved for SCs in direct recruitment be offered to Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs, contingent on their availability.
Punjab High Court Ruling (2010) | The Punjab and Haryana High Court (2010) struck down the provision of the Punjab act based on the EV Chinniah ruling, which relied on Article 341, stating that only the President can classify SCs.
SC in State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh (2020) | The sub-classification issue of Scheduled Castes (SCs) was referred to a seven-judge bench from a five-judge bench
Historical Context:
• Indra Sawhney Case (1992): Established the ‘creamy layer’ concept for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to ensure benefits reach the most disadvantaged.
• Differences from SC/ST: The creamy layer concept has traditionally been applied to OBCs, and its adaptation to SC/ST groups is complex due to historical caste injustices.
What did the 7 judge bench of SC order now?
• Judgment Overview:
• Sub-Classification Allowed: States can now create sub-categories within SCs and STs for more targeted reservations. Creamy Layer Inclusion: The Court emphasized the need to exclude the ‘creamy layer’—more advantaged members—within SC and ST groups from affirmative action benefits. Empirical Study Requirement: States must conduct studies before implementing sub-classification, and their decisions are subject to judicial review.
• Sub-Classification Allowed: States can now create sub-categories within SCs and STs for more targeted reservations.
• Creamy Layer Inclusion: The Court emphasized the need to exclude the ‘creamy layer’—more advantaged members—within SC and ST groups from affirmative action benefits.
• Empirical Study Requirement: States must conduct studies before implementing sub-classification, and their decisions are subject to judicial review.
• Potential Criteria for SC/ST Creamy Layer: Educational and Socio-Economic Factors: The criteria may include educational background, similar to the OBC model but adjusted for SC/ST contexts
• Educational and Socio-Economic Factors: The criteria may include educational background, similar to the OBC model but adjusted for SC/ST contexts
• The state cannot earmark 100% reservation for a sub-class while allowing sub-classification
• The State’s power to sub-classify is subject to judicial review.
• Sub-classification does not violate the principle of equality enshrined under Article 14 and the President’s exclusive authority under Article 341 to identify SCs.
Constitutional Provision: Competence of States for Creating Sub-Classification
States have the authority to provide reservation benefits to SCs and STs under Articles 15(4) and 16(4), and Articles 341(1) and 342(1).
• Article 15(4) empowers states to create special arrangements for socially and educationally backward classes like SCs and STs.
• Article 16(4) allows States to make provisions for reservation in promotion if SCs and STs are underrepresented in state services.
• Articles 341(1) and 342(1) permit the President, with consultation, to specify SCs and STs, including parts of these groups.
Sub-categorize Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are needed:
• Addressing Intra-Group Inequalities: E.g., In Telangana, the Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) is advocating for the internal reclassification of Scheduled Caste reservations. Despite constituting around 50% of the SC population in the state, Madigas feel their representation is being overshadowed by the dominance of another SC community, the Malas.
• Equitable Distribution of Benefits: It prevents the concentration of benefits in the hands of a few dominant groups and promotes broader social inclusion.
• Constitutional Mandate: Articles 15(4), 16(4), 341(1), and 342(1) of the Constitution empower states to create special arrangements and provisions for the welfare of socially and educationally backward classes, including SCs and STs
• Empowerment of State Governments: Sub-categorization grants autonomy to state governments to tailor reservation policies according to the specific socio-economic conditions and needs of different sub-groups within SCs and STs, promoting localized and targeted affirmative action measures.
• Enhancing Social Mobility: Sub-categorization enables targeted measures to empower disadvantaged groups, fostering social mobility through education, employment, and political representation.
Challenges with Sub-Categorization of Caste:
• Inequality within Scheduled Castes: Sub-categorization may not effectively address disparities, as the most backward communities may still remain marginalized despite a separate quota.
• Federalism Issue: There’s a constitutional dilemma regarding the authority of states to sub-categorize SCs and STs, with conflicting judgments from the Supreme Court on whether states have this power.
• Identification and Criteria: Determining criteria for sub-categorization, such as socio-economic status or educational attainment, poses challenges due to the lack of consensus.
• Data Accuracy: Obtaining accurate socio-economic data for different communities is difficult, hindering the decision-making process.
• Intra-group Disputes: Sub-categorization may lead to internal conflicts and tensions among SC communities, potentially marginalizing certain groups from benefits.
• Possibility of Fragmentation: There’s a risk that sub-categorization could weaken the collective identity and strength of the community, leading to political and social fragmentation.
Suggestions for Sub-Classifying Caste Groups:
• Need for Wider Reading of Article 341: Article 341 does not prohibit sub-classification, allowing states to provide special measures within the SC list.
• Following Reasonable Classification: Reasonable classifications, such as sub-categorization for inter-se backwardness, are permissible under the Constitution.
• Judging Sub-Classification on Its Own Merits: Sub-classification should be judged based on its merits, ensuring fair treatment for different caste groups.
• Exploring Alternatives: Legal options, such as constitutional amendments, can facilitate sub-categorization, as suggested by the Attorney General of India and expert committees.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Comprehensive data collection on the socio-economic conditions of caste communities is crucial for formulating effective policies.
• Concept of Creamy-Layer: The concept of creamy layer, applied to SC and ST promotions since 2018, ensures reservation benefits reach those most in need.
• Criteria Development: Transparent criteria considering socio-economic status, education, and regional disparities are essential for sub-categorization.
• Following the Middle Path: Balancing recognition of diversity within SCs and STs with maintaining community unity is crucial for effective policies without causing fragmentation.
Committee Recommendations:
• Justice P. Ramachandra Raju Commission (1996): Recommended sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes in Andhra Pradesh
• National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC): Advocated for measures to address intra-group disparities and
• National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST): Highlighted the need to prioritize existing schemes and government benefits to reach the most backward sections of Scheduled Tribes before considering sub-categorization.
• Usha Mehra Committee (2008): Proposed the inclusion of Clause (3) in Article 341 through a constitutional amendment, empowering state legislatures to enact reclassification of the Scheduled Caste category, subject to Presidential confirmation.
• Justice G. Rohini headed the Commission for the Sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBC): Report submitted in August 2023
Conclusion:
Sub-categorizing Scheduled Castes is crucial for addressing internal disparities and ensuring targeted social justice. However, it requires careful consideration of constitutional provisions, data accuracy, and potential challenges to uplift marginalized communities effectively
Insta Links
• Sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes
Mains Links
What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)? (UPSC 2017)
Prelims Links:
Consider the following organizations/bodies in India: (UPSC 2023)
• The National Commission for Backward Classes
• The National Human Rights Commission
• The National Law Commission
• The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
How many of the above constitutional bodies?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four
Ans: A
With reference to the ‘Changpa’ community of India, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2014)
• They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand.
• They rear the Pashmina goats that yield a fine wool.
• They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: B
Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024
Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions/ Disaster Management/ Geography
Source: Th
Context: The Minister of State for Home Affairs introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha, to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005
Aim of the Bill: The Bill aims to introduce changes for effective pre-planning of disaster events, integration of disaster preparedness in developmental plans, and give clarity of roles and responsibilities to the authorities handling disasters (aligning with recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission)
Key Features of the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024:
Feature | Description
Creation of Disaster Database | Establishes a disaster database at national and state levels, including disaster assessments, fund allocation, expenditure, preparedness and mitigation plans, and risk registers.
Prepare Disaster Plan | Empowers NDMA and SDMA to prepare disaster plans, replacing the National Executive Committee and State Executive Committees. Plans must be reviewed every three years and updated every five years.
Creation of Urban Disaster Management Authority | Proposes the creation of Urban Disaster Management Authorities for state capitals and large cities with municipal corporations (excluding Delhi and Chandigarh).
Statutory Recognition | Grants statutory status to the National Crisis Management Committee and the High-Level Committee.
State Disaster Response Force | Allows state governments to form State Disaster Response Forces to enhance state-level disaster response.
New Section 60A | Empowers Central and State governments to direct individuals on disaster management actions and impose penalties up to ₹10,000 for non-compliance.
How Measures in the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 Will Help in Disaster Management?
• Enhanced Disaster Database: Provides detailed data on disaster assessments and risk, such as tracking the impact of floods in Bihar or cyclones in Odisha, aiding better planning and response.
• Urban Disaster Authorities: Creates dedicated authorities in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, improving response to urban crises such as building collapses or air pollution emergencies.
• Revised Disaster Planning: NDMA and SDMAs can develop more integrated plans, as seen in coordinated responses to the 2023 Gujarat earthquake, enhancing efficiency and coverage.
• Statutory Recognition: Strengthens bodies like the National Crisis Management Committee, leading to improved coordination in large-scale disasters such as the 2019 Kerala floods.
• State Disaster Response Force: Empowers states to form specialized forces, like the proposed response team in West Bengal for riverbank erosion, improving local readiness and response.
• Penalties for Non-Compliance: Ensures adherence to disaster management protocols, for instance, enforcing building safety standards to prevent disasters similar to the 2013 Uttarakhand floods.
Disaster Management Act, 2005: Key Features
Feature | Description
3-Tier Institutional Structure | National Level: NDMA, led by the Prime Minister. State Level: SDMAs, headed by Chief Ministers. District Level: DDMAs, led by District Collectors, Magistrates, or Deputy Commissioners.
National Disaster Response Force | Established for specialist response to disaster situations.
National Disaster Response Fund | Created to fund and manage response efforts during threatening disaster situations.
Insta Links:
National Disaster Management Act, 2005
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 August 2024 GS Paper 4:
The Ethics of Hunger Strikes as a Mode of Protest
Syllabus: Ethics/ Governance
Source: The Hindu
Context: Hunger strikes as a form of protest have been a contentious method, raising numerous ethical questions about the treatment of strikers and the state’s response.
Explanation:
Definition: Hunger strikes are deliberate refusals to eat, often employed to achieve political or social goals.
Historically, hunger strikes have been used in various cultures, such as pre-Christian Ireland’s troscad and in ancient Indian texts like Kalhana’s Rajatarangini. The practice became prominent in the late 19th century, with significant examples from Russian political prisoners, the suffragette movement, and Gandhiji’s hunger strike against injustices.
Key Features:
• Physiological Defiance: Hunger strikes use the body’s natural processes as a direct challenge to authority.
• Alternative Protest Method: In situations where other forms of protest are unavailable, hunger strikes become a potent tool.
• Emotional Appeal: The self-imposed suffering of hunger strikers is designed to evoke a response from the public and authorities.
Examples:
• Global: Irish republican Thomas Ashe, suffragette Marion Wallace Dunlop, and Japanese anarchist Akaba Hajime.
• India: Freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Jatin Das (Died after a 63-day hunger strike), Bhagat Singh, and modern activists like Irom Sharmila (Manipur), Potti Sriramulu (hunger strike led to the formation of the state of Andhra Pradesh) and Anna Hazare (hunger strike against corruption in 2011)
Recent Examples:
• Manoj Jarange-Patil: Fasts demanding Maratha community reservations.
• Sonam Wangchuk: 21-day hunger strike for Ladakh’s constitutional safeguards.
• Khader Adnan: Palestinian prisoner who died after an 87-day hunger strike in 2023.
Ethical Considerations:
• State Response: The use of force-feeding by authorities, which can lead to severe health complications or death, raises significant ethical issues.
• Health and Safety: Providing medical care against the striker’s will or allowing a striker to die poses moral dilemmas for both medical professionals and the state.
• Autonomy vs. State Control: Balancing the striker’s autonomy with the state’s responsibility to preserve life.
Benefits:
• Highlighting Injustices: Hunger strikes can draw significant attention to causes and injustices.
• Non-violent Resistance: It is seen as a powerful form of non-violent protest.
• Historical Significance: They have a proven track record in various movements and resonate culturally as a form of sacrifice and protest
• Moral High Ground: By enduring personal suffering, hunger strikers highlight the injustice they protest against
Challenges:
• Moral Dilemmas: Ethical questions about the appropriateness of force-feeding and providing medical care against the will of the striker.
• Health Risks: Prolonged starvation leads to severe health risks, including death.
• Preservation of Life: Ethical principles emphasize the importance of preserving life, which can be compromised by hunger strikes.
• State’s Role: The state’s approach to handling hunger strikes can lead to human rights abuses.
• Coercion: Hunger strikes can pressure authorities and manipulate public sentiment, raising concerns about fairness and legitimacy.
• Impact on Others: The emotional burden on family and friends and the potential need for others to intervene raise ethical issues.
• Legal and Medical Ethics: Authorities and healthcare professionals face dilemmas balancing respect for autonomy with the duty to preserve life, such as issues around forced feeding versus neglect.
Steps Taken:
• Legal and Medical Guidelines: Various guidelines exist, such as the World Medical Association’s 1975 Tokyo Declaration, which condemns force-feeding.
• Geneva Convention: Sets standards for wounded combatants, but its application to hunger strikers is unclear, complicating health professionals’ roles.
• Indian Context: Madras High Court ruled that hunger strikes are not an offence under Section 309 (attempt to suicide).
Views of various Ethical Thinkers:
Thinker | Views on Hunger Strikes
John Stuart Mill | Advocated for individual freedom and the right to protest, including through hunger strikes, as long as it doesn’t harm others.
Gandhi | Preferred “fasting” over “hunger strikes” and viewed it as a means of self-reform rather than a tool for political demands. He believed fasting should be used to appeal to personal or moral reform rather than to coerce political change.
Swami Vivekananda | Emphasized practical spirituality and the need for effective means of social reform. He might see hunger strikes as a legitimate form of protest if it aligns with moral and spiritual principles but would also consider its broader social impact.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar | Criticized hunger strikes as “unconstitutional” and favoured legal methods for social and economic goals.
Insta Links:
• Ahmadabad Mill Strike, 1918
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 August 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Open Market Sale Scheme
- •Source: ET*
Context: The government recently announced that grain-deficient states can directly purchase rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) (OMSS [D]) for ₹2,800 per quintal without participating in e-auctions, effective August 1.
• This move aims to reduce surplus stocks before the new procurement season.
• The government has achieved 100% coverage of fortified rice distribution to combat anaemia and nutrition deficiency.
About the Open Market Sale Scheme:
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) sells surplus stocks of wheat and rice through e-auctions in the open market to enhance food grain supply and regulate wheat prices.
These auctions are part of the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS), conducted weekly on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) platform, which facilitates trading in various agricultural and other commodities in India.
Genetic screening
- •Source: DTE*
Context: Athletes worldwide are increasingly turning to genetic screening to enhance their performance.
• This emerging science offers valuable insights into personal traits like food allergies, vitamin and mineral needs, and other physiological factors.
• The Board of Control for Cricket in India has been using genetic tests since 2017 to improve players’ physical capabilities, including speed, endurance, recovery time, and muscle-building.
Genetic screening is a tool used to identify individuals at higher risk for developing certain disorders or carrying specific genes for these disorders.
It involves testing genetic material—chromosomes, genes, or proteins—to detect changes that might increase disease risk.
By identifying altered genes, genetic screening helps determine risk and offers preventive measures and early treatment options.
Kindlins
- •Source: PIB*
Context: A study explored the role of Kindlins—adapter proteins involved in cell signalling—in various cancers.
• These proteins are critical for transferring extracellular cues to biochemical signals within cells, influencing multiple signalling pathways essential for cellular homeostasis.
• Mutations in Kindlins, caused by carcinogens like nicotine and UV rays, can disrupt this balance and contribute to cancer progression.
How the study was conducted?
• The researchers analysed data from 10,000 patients with 33 cancer types, revealing that Kindlin 1 regulates the immune microenvironment in breast cancer, while Kindlin 2 governs cancer-specific metabolic processes and HIPPO signalling, which promotes cell migration and invasion.
• The study emphasized the importance of Kindlins in tumour progression, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
• Their findings suggest that Kindlins are involved in essential mechano-sensitive pathways and their dysfunction is linked to adverse survival outcomes.
• The research provides evidence for Kindlins as potential targets for innovative cancer treatments, offering new strategies to address chemoresistance and tumour relapse.
WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC)
- •Source: ET*
Context: India will donate USD 85 million over ten years (2022-2032) to support the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• The centre aims to serve as a key hub for evidence-based Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) to improve global health and well-being.
• The interim office is already operational, focusing on capacity-building and training.
• This collaboration aligns with India’s efforts to position traditional medicine globally, contributing to sustainable development goals through various joint initiatives with WHO.
Woody encroachment
- •Source: TH*
Context: India’s open ecosystems, such as savannahs and grasslands, face an unusual threat from increased tree cover, a phenomenon known as woody encroachment.
• This encroachment, driven by human activities that disrupt the natural disturbance regimes (like grazing and fire), is changing these ecosystems and threatening their biodiversity.
• A study highlighted that increased tree cover in areas like the African savannah has significantly reduced native grassland bird populations by more than 20%.
• Grasslands and savannahs, covering nearly 40% of the Earth’s landmass, are home to many endemic and at-risk species.
• However, threats like conversion to agriculture, large-scale development projects, and overgrazing are contributing to their decline, with trees now emerging as a significant threat.
• Higher atmospheric CO2 levels due to climate change promote the growth of deep-rooted woody plants, exacerbating the problem.
To combat woody encroachment, long-term ecological monitoring and more scientific evidence are needed.
Ransomware attack
- •Source: TH*
Context: C-Edge Technologies Ltd., a technology service provider for cooperative and regional rural banks in India, was likely hit by a ransomware attack.
• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced this and temporarily suspended all retail payments in the affected banks.
• The attack primarily impacts UPI operations and Aadhaar-enabled payment systems (AePS), affecting around 200 cooperative banks and regional rural banks (RRBs).
About Ransomware:
Ransomware is a type of malware that locks users or organizations out of their files by encrypting them and demanding a ransom for the decryption key.
This forces victims to pay the ransom to regain access, with some variants also stealing data to increase pressure.
Ransomware has become a major threat, significantly disrupting hospitals, public services, and various organizations.
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 3 August 2024 [PDF]
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