Nov 20th 2024 Current Affairs

Index:

1. Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2023

Awardees

  1. Daniel Barenboim
    • Profession: Classical pianist and conductor.
    • Contribution: Recognized for fostering peace through musical and cultural dialogue initiatives.
  2. Ali Abu Awwad
    • Profession: Palestinian peace activist.
    • Contribution: Advocacy for dialogue and non-violence through his organization Roots, which promotes Israeli-Palestinian understanding.

 

Significant Contributions

  • Daniel Barenboim:
    • Used music as a tool to bridge cultural and political divides.
  • Ali Abu Awwad:
    • Advocates for non-violence despite personal tragedy (brother’s death by Israeli soldiers).
    • Highlights the importance of humanity and dignity in conflict resolution.
    • Founded “Roots” after his imprisonment, promoting peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis.

 

Key Statements by Ali Abu Awwad

  • “What makes us human is our ability to recognize each other and protect dignity.”
  • Emphasized finding humanity in adversaries, stating, “Our non-violence struggle for Palestinian rights has to pass through Jewish hearts, not Jewish bodies.”

 

Context of the Award

  • Presented by: Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
  • Purpose: Honors efforts for peace, disarmament, and development.

Reflects commitment to addressing global conflicts through peaceful means.

2. Air Pollution in Delhi: A Consistent Response Needed

Key Issues

  1. Severity of Air Quality:
    • AQI recently soared to hazardous levels in Delhi, with official stations averaging 488 and private stations exceeding 1,000.
    • Indicates the persistence of severe air quality issues.
  2. Trends in Air Quality:
    • Since 2016, only two years saw the number of ‘severe’ AQI days in single digits.
    • ‘Poor’ AQI days (over 200) have increased from 200 in 2016 to 121 in 2024.
  3. Meteorological Factors:
    • Meteorological conditions exacerbate air pollution, transforming it from concerning to catastrophic levels.

 

Sources of Pollution

  1. Key Contributors:
    • Stubble burning (notably in Punjab).
    • Household sources and road dust as significant factors.
  2. New Analytical Tools:
    • Improved tracking of pollution sources via public and private tools.

 

Policy and Governance Challenges

  1. Role of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):
    • Created for coordinated responses in Delhi and neighboring states.
    • Criticized for lack of proactive action and independence.
    • Acts only under Supreme Court pressure.
  2. Government Response:
    • Ministers absent during critical periods.
    • Focus on election campaigns and international conferences over addressing local air quality concerns.
  3. Short-term Measures:
    • Reliance on temporary fixes like ‘cloud seeding’ over sustainable solutions.

 

Structural Issues

  1. Inadequate Long-term Strategies:
    • Insufficient focus on perennial problems like road dust.
    • Dependency on mid-November actions to address stubble burning.
  2. Need for Political Will:
    • Requires consistent communication of intent and actions beyond political gains.

 

Way Forward

  1. Strengthen CAQM:
    • Empower the body for independent and proactive policymaking.
  2. Sustainable Practices:
    • Address perennial issues (e.g., road dust).
    • Transition from immediate solutions to sustainable reforms.
  3. Accountability & Awareness:

Involve public and experts in monitoring air quality and policy effectiveness.

3. Prison Tag: Electronic Tracking Devices

Context

  • Rising prison overcrowding in India (prison occupancy at 131.4% as of December 31, 2022).
  • Discussion on electronic tracking devices for prisoners to manage parole, furlough, and bail efficiently.

 

Key Provisions and Recommendations

  1. Proposal for Electronic Tags:
    • Suggested for undertrials (non-heinous offences) to track and restrict movements.
    • Part of the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023, which includes:
      • Granting leave on the condition of wearing electronic trackers.
      • Cancelation of leave in case of violations.

 

  1. Odisha’s Initiative: First state to propose tamper-proof trackers for undertrials to address congestion.

 

Benefits

  1. Decongesting Prisons: Alleviates overburdened prisons by monitoring parolees and bailed individuals.
  2. Ensuring Public Safety: Prevents released offenders from revisiting victims or crime-related locations.
  3. Administrative and Cost Efficiency: Reduces expenses associated with physical monitoring and jail overcrowding.
  4. Global Examples: Other countries successfully use similar technologies for offender tracking.

 

Concerns

  1. Legal and Ethical Issues:
    • Right to Privacy: Supreme Court disapproved of measures infringing on prisoners’ rights (e.g., mandatory GPS location sharing).
    • Lack of guidelines and uniform standards.
  2. Stigma: Wearing tracking devices may deter individuals from availing parole or bail due to social stigma.
  3. Tampering Risks: Ensuring the technology is tamper-proof is critical to its effectiveness.
  4. Judicial Oversight: Ensuring that tracking is only imposed with the prisoner’s consent and judicial approval.

 

Recommendations

  1. Clear Guidelines:
    • Develop national standards for implementing electronic tracking.
    • Ensure compliance with privacy rights and legal frameworks.
  2. Awareness and Acceptance:
    • Educate stakeholders about the benefits to reduce resistance and stigma.
  3. Pilot Programs:
    • Initiate pilot projects to evaluate feasibility and address technical challenges.
  4. Incorporate Technology with Oversight:

Use trackers only for non-heinous offenders with clear conditions and periodic reviews.

4. Russia's Revised Nuclear Doctrine Amid Ukraine War

Key Highlights

  1. New Doctrine Announcement:
    • Signed by President Vladimir Putin.
      • Declares that: Any conventional attack on Russia by a nuclear-backed nation will be treated as a joint attack. Russia reserves the right to respond with nuclear weapons.
  1. Context:
    • Released on the 1,000th day of the Ukraine war (since February 24, 2022).
    • Response to: U.S. President Joe Biden permitting Ukraine to target deeper inside Russia using U.S.-supplied long-range missiles. Part of efforts to counter Western escalation in the Ukraine conflict.

 

Key Provisions of the Doctrine

  1. “Critical Threat” Clause:
    • Russia and Belarus (its ally) would retaliate to:
      • A conventional strike posing a critical threat to sovereignty or territorial integrity.
  1. Joint Attack Interpretation:
    • Any nation attacking Russia with the support of a nuclear power would be deemed an aggressor.
  2. Conditions for Nuclear Response:
    • Massive aerial attacks (e.g., ballistic or cruise missiles, drones, or hypersonic weapons).
    • Aimed at ensuring territorial and sovereign security.

 

Strategic Implications

  1. Escalation Risks:
    • Broad interpretation allows flexibility but raises global concerns over miscalculation or preemptive actions.
  2. Message to NATO & Allies:
    • Explicitly refers to NATO and U.S.-supplied weaponry to Ukraine.
    • Positions Russia’s response as a deterrent to further NATO involvement.
  3. Uncertainties:
    • Doctrine specifies ambiguity in timing, scale, and nature of possible responses, leaving room for interpretation.

 

Global Reactions

  1. Western Powers:
    • Likely to view this as heightened rhetoric to deter military aid to Ukraine.
  2. Ukraine Conflict:
    • Doctrine underscores Russia’s commitment to escalate if territorial integrity is threatened.

 

Analysis

  1. Shift in Nuclear Policy:
    • Emphasizes integrated deterrence with conventional and nuclear capabilities.
    • Strengthens Russia’s narrative of external threats from NATO and the West.
  2. Regional Security Concerns:
    • May prompt other nations to revisit their own nuclear doctrines.
    • Increases volatility in the region.
  3. International Law Implications:

Raises questions about adherence to the principles of nuclear deterrence under international frameworks.

5. China Emissions Paradox

Overview

  • China is the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, accounting for over 30% of global emissions.
  • Despite this, it is classified as a developing country under the UN climate framework and is not obligated to make immediate deep emission cuts.
  • This dual role creates a paradox: while China’s emission cuts are critical for global climate goals, aggressive cuts could disrupt the global renewable energy transition.

 

Why China is Crucial

  1. Emission Contribution:
    • China’s emissions have risen almost fourfold between 1993 and 2023.
    • By 2030, the world needs to cut emissions by 43% from 2019 levels, but current estimates predict a reduction of only 2%.
  2. Emission Targets: A new analysis by Climate Action Tracker (CAT) suggests China must cut emissions by 66% by 2030 and 78% by 2035 to align with the 5°C target of the Paris Agreement.

Global Impact: Without significant reductions by China, achieving global climate goals is unlikely.

The Double-Edged Sword

  1. Dependence on Fossil Fuels:
    • Despite rapid renewable energy growth (e.g., 300 GW added in 2022), China’s energy system remains heavily reliant on coal and fossil fuels.
    • Renewables currently add capacity but do not replace fossil fuels.
  2. Impact on Renewable Energy:
    • China’s dominance in the manufacturing of solar panels (80%) and wind turbines (60%) means deep emission cuts could slow global renewable energy deployment.
    • Production of these technologies is fossil fuel-intensive, and short-term emission reductions may constrain supply chains.

 

Global Implications of China’s Emissions

  • Catch-22 Situation:
    • If China does not cut emissions, global targets are missed.
    • If China cuts emissions too quickly, renewable energy supply chains might suffer, hindering global transitions away from fossil fuels.
  • Supply Chain Vulnerabilities:
    • COVID-19 exposed over-reliance on China’s centralized production.
    • Efforts to diversify supply chains (e.g., solar PV, batteries, hydrogen) are underway, but China’s cost competitiveness remains unmatched:
      • 10% cheaper than India
      • 20% cheaper than the US
      • 35% cheaper than Europe

 

Beijing’s Unique Position

  1. Historical Emissions Advantage:
    • China’s share of historical emissions was low when the UNFCCC was adopted in the 1990s, sparing it from stringent early targets.
    • Its emissions are now three times that of the US, yet it remains largely unconstrained.
  2. Renewable Energy Leadership:
    • Achieved 1,200 GW of renewable energy capacity six years ahead of its target.
    • Its competitive manufacturing has made solar and wind energy affordable worldwide.

 

Challenges and Opportunities

  1. Challenges:
    • Unrealistic short-term emission reduction targets for China (2030 or 2035).
    • Risks to global renewable energy deployment if China’s energy transition slows.
  2. Opportunities:
    • Potential for global supply chain diversification to reduce over-dependence on China.

China’s renewable energy investments could shape the future of affordable clean energy.

6. Mechanization of Sugarcane Harvesting in Maharashtra

Background

  • Labor shortages due to alternative employment opportunities (construction, manufacturing, informal sectors), government welfare schemes (e.g., MGNREGA, free food distribution), and demographic shifts have driven farm mechanization in Maharashtra.
  • Sugar mills, not farmers, manage the cane-harvesting process through contracts with muqaddams (middlemen) who organize labor tolis (groups).

 

Manual Harvesting: Current System

  1. Structure:
    • Laborers are organized in tolis of 10 pairs (male and female), each harvesting 20-25 tonnes of cane per day.
    • Muqaddams coordinate laborers, ensure timely harvesting, and receive a 20% commission.
  2. Challenges:
    • Aging workforce and lack of interest from younger generations.
    • Instances of laborers failing to report even after advances are paid.
    • Labor shortages during peak seasons and increased demands for wages.

 

Introduction of Mechanical Harvesters

  1. Initiative:
    • In 2020-21, the Manjara Farmers Cooperative Sugar Factory in Latur piloted 10 cane-harvesting machines.
    • By 2023-24, 93% of the mill’s sugarcane was harvested mechanically using 55 machines (7 owned by the mill, 48 privately owned).
  2. Support System:
    • Latur District Central Cooperative Bank (LDCCB) provides loans to private entrepreneurs for purchasing harvesters, with factory guarantees for cane procurement.

 

Advantages of Mechanical Harvesting

  1. Operational Efficiency:
    • A single machine can harvest 10-12 acres daily, cutting costs on labor and time.
    • Machines cut cane from the base, improving sugar recovery during crushing.
  2. Labor Optimization:
    • Reduces dependency on manual labor.
    • Factory staff requirements have significantly decreased (e.g., from 80-100 to 24-25 for Manjara mills).
  3. Soil Benefits:
    • Chopped cane tops enhance soil organic matter, act as mulch, and protect against water loss and extreme temperatures.
  4. Economic Returns:
    • Entrepreneurs (e.g., Sachin Shinde) report decent margins despite high capital investment and operational costs.

 

Challenges of Mechanical Harvesting

  1. Capital-Intensive:
    • Machines are expensive (e.g., ₹1.3 crore investment for a single setup).
    • High costs for fuel, labor, maintenance, and blade replacement.
  2. Impact on Animal Feed:
    • Machines cut green top leaves, traditionally used as cattle feed.
    • Farmers must adapt to alternative feeding methods or forgo this resource.
  3. Field Limitations:
    • Best suited for large, uniform fields; unsuitable for fragmented or uneven plots.

 

Case Study: Economic Analysis

  • Sachin Shinde’s Investment:
    • Harvested: 19,500 tonnes.
    • Revenue: ₹92.62 lakh (at ₹475/tonne).
    • Expenses:
      • Labor: ₹15 lakh.
      • Diesel: ₹40.4 lakh (at ₹92/litre, consuming 2.25 litres/tonne).

Outcome: Achieved gross margins, showcasing profitability despite high initial investment.

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