UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 August 2024
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 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 – 30 August 2024)
• Voluntary Vehicle Modernization Program
Voluntary Vehicle Modernization Program
• Ground Water Contamination: Highest Fluorine Contamination in Groundwater in Rajasthan
Ground Water Contamination: Highest Fluorine Contamination in Groundwater in Rajasthan
• Cheetah Dies in Kuno National Park from Suspected Drowning
Cheetah Dies in Kuno National Park from Suspected Drowning
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
• Central financial assistance (CFA)
Central financial assistance (CFA)
• Pacific Policing Initiative
Pacific Policing Initiative
• Agricultural Infrastructure Fund
Agricultural Infrastructure Fund
• Quasars
Quasars
• Chandipura virus
Chandipura virus
• Northern bald ibis
Northern bald ibis
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 August 2024
#### GS Paper 3:
Voluntary Vehicle Modernization Program
Syllabus: Environment Conservation/ Economy
Source: PIB
Context: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has launched the Voluntary Vehicle Modernization Program, also known as the Vehicle Scrapping Policy.
Aim: The policy aims to voluntarily scrap unfit commercial and passenger vehicles based on fitness, not age. It phases out polluting vehicles through Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) and Automated Testing Stations (ATSs). Manufacturers will offer discounts for up to two years against a Scrappage Certificate.
Other major points:
• Incentives for Scrapping: Discounts will be offered to encourage the scrapping of End-of-Life Vehicles, promoting safer, cleaner, and more efficient vehicles on the roads.
• Commercial Vehicles: Discounts of up to 3% of the ex-showroom price for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes GVW, and 1.5% for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes GVW.
• Passenger Vehicles: Discounts of 1.5% of the ex-showroom price or Rs 20,000, whichever is less, for vehicles scrapped in the last six months.
• Additional Government Incentives: These discounts are in addition to scrap value, Motor Vehicle tax concessions, fee waivers for registration certificates, and other incentives linked to the Scrappage Certificate.
What is the vehicle scrapping policy?
The Vehicle Scrappage Policy is a government-funded programme to scrap old and unfit vehicles and replace them with modern and new vehicles on Indian roads. The primary goal of the policy is to create an ecosystem for phasing out unfit and polluting vehicles to achieve a lower carbon footprint in the country.
Significance of Vehicle Scrappage:
• Eco-friendly Development: Promotes the phasing out of unfit vehicles, supporting a sustainable circular economy.
• Economic Impact: Expected to attract Rs 10,000 crore in investments and create 35,000 jobs.
• Pollution Reduction: Can lower vehicular emissions by 15-20%; old vehicles emit significantly more pollutants.
• Improved Fuel Efficiency: Reduces maintenance costs.
• Industry Benefits: Provides low-cost raw materials and formalizes the scrappage ecosystem.
Challenges:
• Inadequate Scrapping Facilities: Only 60+ RVSFs and 75+ ATSs are operational across the country.
• Hazardous Waste Disposal: Informal sector involvement without modern equipment poses environmental and health risks.
Other initiatives to curb vehicular pollution:
Initiative | Description
Go Electric Campaign | Promotes the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and encourages the use of electric cooking and other appliances.
FAME India Scheme Phase II | Provides financial incentives for the adoption of electric vehicles, focusing on public transportation and charging infrastructure.
Electric Vehicles (EV) Policy 2020 | Delhi’s policy aims to accelerate the adoption of EVs by providing subsidies, creating charging infrastructure, and promoting battery recycling.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Based Bus and Car Project | Develops and deploys hydrogen-powered vehicles to reduce emissions and promote clean energy in transportation.
National Electric Mobility Mission 2020 | Aims to achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles and establishing manufacturing hubs.
Insta Links:
• Vehicle scrappage policy
Ground Water Contamination: Highest Fluorine Contamination in Groundwater in Rajasthan
Syllabus: Environment Conservation
Source: IE
Context: A study by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) has found that fluoride contamination in groundwater is highest during dry, pre-monsoon months, particularly in Rajasthan, with Jaisalmer being the most affected area in India.
Excess fluoride can lead to skeletal fluorosis, dental decay, and other health issues, especially in children. The permissible fluoride limit is 1.50 mg/litre; however, contamination in Rajasthan reached 1.41 mg/litre pre-monsoon and 1.44 mg/litre post-monsoon. are notably high in dry, western Indian regions, with significant risks of health hazards.
Other heavy metals leading to groundwater contamination and their impact:
Heavy Metal | Impacts
Arsenic | Skin lesions, cancer, developmental effects, cardiovascular disease, diabetes.
Lead | Brain development issues in children, learning disabilities, behavioural problems, anaemia, kidney damage, hypertension.
Cadmium | Kidney damage, bone disease, respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, carcinogenic.
Mercury | Nervous system damage, tremors, memory loss, cognitive impairments, kidney damage, developmental issues in children.
Chromium (Hexavalent) | Respiratory problems, skin irritation, lung cancer, kidney damage, carcinogenic.
Nickel | Allergic reactions, lung and nasal cancers, dermatitis, respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
Copper | Gastrointestinal issues, liver damage, kidney problems, anaemia, neurological damage.
Zinc | Gastrointestinal disturbances, anemia, impaired immune function, lower cholesterol levels, pancreatic impact.
Key Status about Groundwater (GW):
• India is the largest user of Groundwater (GW) ( accounting for 1/4th of total withdrawal)
• 87% of GW is used for Irrigation
• Currently, 67% of GW units are safe (extraction< 70% of recharge), 14% Overexploited and 4% at the Critical
• Extraction is very high in Haryana, Punjab (78% of wells are overexploited), Rajasthan
• Climate Concerns: In southwest India, increasing temperatures might hinder groundwater replenishment.
Groundwater Contamination Causes:
• Natural Sources: Substances like arsenic in rocks and soils can contaminate groundwater (e.g., Ganges Plain arsenic contamination).
• Septic Systems: Poorly managed septic tanks release harmful bacteria, nitrates, and chemicals.
• Pesticides and Fertilizers: Runoff from agricultural chemicals pollutes groundwater (e.g., Yamuna’s floodplains contamination).
• Landfills: Leachate from landfills pollutes groundwater (e.g., Delhi’s landfill site contamination).
• Sewage: Leaking sewers and sewage sludge can cross-contaminate water supplies (e.g., high pharmaceutical residues in Germany).
• Other Sources: Over-pumping, chemical spills, illegal dumping, and atmospheric contaminants.
Improving Groundwater Quality:
• Community Measures: Promote tree planting, rainwater harvesting, and community-based watershed management.
• Policy Measures: Regulate bore wells, construct water tanks, raise awareness, and enforce pollution control.
• Legal Measures: Clean and maintain urban water bodies, install decentralized treatment plants, and prevent pollution.
• Technological Measures: Implement artificial groundwater recharge, use stormwater for new water bodies, and build water harvesting structures.
Legal and regulatory frameworks for groundwater:
Framework | Description
Article 21 | Recognizes the fundamental right to clean water under the right to life.
Central Ground Water Authority | Established by the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, responsible for framing groundwater policies and programs.
Supreme Court | Upholds the ‘public trust doctrine,’ (2004) treating groundwater as a public resource, not private ownership.
Government Schemes | Initiatives like Atal Bhujal Yojana, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, and Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme for groundwater management.
Indian Easement Act, 1882 | Historically determined groundwater rights are often linked to land ownership.
Central Ground Water Board | Established in 1970, it develops groundwater policies and programs.
Model Groundwater Bills | Revised multiple times, empowers state boards to create laws and manage water resources.
National Green Tribunal | Directs the Central Ground Water Authority to regulate extraction and mandates permission for extraction.
Polluter Pays Principle | Addresses groundwater contamination case-by-case, with polluters bearing
Conclusion: Groundwater demand will rise despite its shrinking availability, necessitating increased attention and compensatory recharge efforts.
Insta Links
Growing water crisis and One water Approach (OWA)
Mains Links
Bring out the problems associated with groundwater irrigation in India. Critically analyse the role of Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) in improving agricultural production on a sustainable basis. (15M)
Cheetah Dies in Kuno National Park from Suspected Drowning
Syllabus: Environment Conservation
Source: Th
Context: Pavan, a cheetah from South Africa and Namibia, has died, marking the eighth fatality among the 20 cheetahs brought to India.
About Cheetah:
• ‘Cheetah’ (*Acinonyx Jubatus Venaticus*) originates from Sanskrit and means ‘the spotted one’.
• The Cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world.
• Its historical range includes the majority of Sub-Saharan Africa and extends eastward to India.
• It is the only large carnivore that went ‘Extinct’ in India due to overhunting and habitat loss.
• The last cheetah died in the Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was declared extinct in 1952
• According to the Wildlife Institute of India’s (WII) “Action Plan for Reintroduction of Cheetah in India,” 50 wild cheetahs that are ideal for starting a new cheetah population would be imported as a founder stock over five years initially.
Evaluation of the Cheetah Reintroduction Program in India
Successes:
• Reintroduction Milestone:
• The program marked the historic reintroduction of cheetahs into India after they were declared extinct in the country in 1952. The initial release and adaptation of cheetahs in Kuno National Park signified a significant step in wildlife conservation.
• The program marked the historic reintroduction of cheetahs into India after they were declared extinct in the country in 1952.
• The initial release and adaptation of cheetahs in Kuno National Park signified a significant step in wildlife conservation.
• Local Economic Impact:
• The project contributed positively to local communities by generating jobs and boosting land values around Kuno. No incidents of human-cheetah conflict were reported, suggesting successful coexistence.
• The project contributed positively to local communities by generating jobs and boosting land values around Kuno.
• No incidents of human-cheetah conflict were reported, suggesting successful coexistence.
• Initial Breeding Success:
• The birth of four cheetah cubs in India, despite challenges, highlighted the potential for future breeding success.
• The birth of four cheetah cubs in India, despite challenges, highlighted the potential for future breeding success.
Challenges:
• High Mortality Rate:
• This was the only free-ranging cheetah to have survived in Kuno. With this death, KNP is left with 24 cheetahs, including 12 adults and as many cubs, indicating serious setbacks. The low survival rates of cubs further emphasize the challenges of adapting to the new environment.
• This was the only free-ranging cheetah to have survived in Kuno. With this death, KNP is left with 24 cheetahs, including 12 adults and as many cubs, indicating serious setbacks.
• The low survival rates of cubs further emphasize the challenges of adapting to the new environment.
• Inadequate Home Range Establishment:
• The inability of cheetahs to establish permanent home ranges in Kuno, with most confined to enclosures, raises concerns about their long-term adaptation and survival in the wild.
• The inability of cheetahs to establish permanent home ranges in Kuno, with most confined to enclosures, raises concerns about their long-term adaptation and survival in the wild.
• Integrity and Ethical Issues:
• The use of captive-raised cheetahs and ethical concerns about India’s international wildlife commitments (e.g., the CITES vote) have affected the program’s credibility.
• The use of captive-raised cheetahs and ethical concerns about India’s international wildlife commitments (e.g., the CITES vote) have affected the program’s credibility.
• Ecological and Environmental Challenges:
• Kuno’s lower-than-expected prey density and carrying capacity pose significant challenges to sustaining a large, genetically viable cheetah population. The impact of circadian rhythm differences, leading to issues like thick coats during Indian summers, highlights the challenges of translocating cheetahs from different hemispheres.
• Kuno’s lower-than-expected prey density and carrying capacity pose significant challenges to sustaining a large, genetically viable cheetah population.
• The impact of circadian rhythm differences, leading to issues like thick coats during Indian summers, highlights the challenges of translocating cheetahs from different hemispheres.
• Need for a Meta-Population Approach:
• The realization that Kuno alone cannot support a self-sustaining cheetah population necessitates a shift towards managing a meta-population across central and western India, which is complex and resource-intensive.
• The realization that Kuno alone cannot support a self-sustaining cheetah population necessitates a shift towards managing a meta-population across central and western India, which is complex and resource-intensive.
Conclusion:
The Cheetah Reintroduction Program in India has achieved some notable successes, such as initial reintroduction efforts and positive economic impacts. However, significant challenges remain, including high mortality rates, environmental and ethical concerns, and the need for a broader, more sustainable approach to cheetah conservation. The program’s future success will depend on addressing these challenges and adapting strategies to ensure the long-term viability of cheetahs in India.
Prelims Link:
Consider the following: (UPSC 2012)
• Black-necked crane
• Flying squirrel
• Snow leopard
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (b)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 August 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Central financial assistance (CFA)
Source: The Statesman
Context: The Indian Union Cabinet has approved central financial assistance (CFA) for north-eastern state governments to support their equity participation in Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs).
• This initiative, managed through joint ventures between state entities and central public sector undertakings (CPSUs), aims to boost hydroelectric capacity in the North Eastern Region (NER) by approximately 15,000 MW.
• The CFA will cover up to 24% of the state government’s equity, capped at ₹750 crore per project, and applies only to viable hydro projects.
Pacific Policing Initiative
- •Source: The Diplomat*
Context: The establishment of a $270 million Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) agreed upon at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) took place recently.
• The initiative has three main components: a central police development hub in Brisbane, Australia; four regional police training centres; and a multinational Pacific Police Support Group to respond to emergencies like natural disasters and transnational crime.
• The initiative, driven by Pacific Island countries with significant funding from Australia, reflects the strength of Pacific regionalism.
• It emphasizes the importance of balancing Australia’s resources with the local knowledge and priorities of Pacific Island nations.
• The PPI represents a shift towards a Pacific-led approach to security, contrasting with past initiatives that did not fully align with regional priorities.
The agreement underscores the commitment of PIF members to collaborate while respecting national sovereignty, highlighting the practical success of regionalism in enhancing collective security capabilities.
Agricultural Infrastructure Fund
Source: TH
Context: The Union Cabinet has expanded the scope of the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF), a ₹1 lakh crore scheme, to include financial support for Farmers’ Producers Organisations (FPOs).
• This redesign aims to enhance the financial security and creditworthiness of FPOs, making the scheme more attractive, impactful, and inclusive.
• The expansion is expected to foster a stronger agricultural infrastructure ecosystem.
• The expanded scheme is anticipated to further drive agricultural growth, improve productivity, and boost farm incomes.
The Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a financial initiative launched by the Government of India in July 2020 as part of the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) campaign.
The fund aims to provide financial support for the creation and enhancement of agricultural infrastructure, which is crucial for improving farm productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and increasing farmers’ income.
Quasars
Source: NDTV
Context: Astronomers have discovered the brightest object ever observed in the universe, a quasar named J0529-4351, using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT).
• This quasar, which has been visible since 1980 but only recently identified as such, is over 500 trillion times brighter than the Sun and grows by consuming the equivalent of one sun per day.
• The quasar, located over 12 billion light-years from Earth, is powered by a supermassive black hole with a mass of 17 billion suns.
• Its massive accretion disc, measuring seven light-years in diameter, is the largest known in the universe.
Quasars (short for “quasi-stellar objects”) are among the brightest and most energetic objects in the universe. They are the extremely luminous cores of distant galaxies, powered by supermassive black holes at their centres.
Chandipura virus
Source: TH
Context: The current Chandipura virus (CHPV) outbreak in India is the largest in 20 years, with 245 cases of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES).
• Most cases have occurred in Gujarat, with a few in Rajasthan. WHO advises enhancing surveillance in high-risk areas but has not recommended travel or trade restrictions.
• There is no specific treatment or vaccine for CHPV, but early and intensive care can improve survival.
The Chandipura virus (CHPV) is a member of the Rhabdoviridae family and is known to cause outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), particularly in India.
Northern bald ibis
- •Source: TH*
Context: The northern bald ibis, once extinct in Europe due to hunting, has been revived through breeding and rewilding efforts.
Geographical Range: Historically found in the European Alps, Northern Africa, and the Middle East.
Conservation Status: Endangered according to the IUCN.
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