Nov 6th 2024 Current Affairs

Index:

1. Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) and Their Impact

CONTEXT:

Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) are specialized railway lines for freight transport in India.
Aim: Enhance GDP growth and increase Indian Railways’ revenue.
Study by University of New South Wales highlights DFCs’ contributions:
- Reduction in freight costs and travel time.
- Railways’ revenue increased by 2.94% between FY 2022-23 and FY 2018-19 due to DFCs.

Background of DFCs

Western DFC: 1,506 km from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Mumbai) to Dadri (UP).
Eastern DFC: 1,337 km from Sonnagar (Bihar) to Sahnewal (Punjab).
Purpose: Efficient movement of freight and reduction of congestion on existing rail lines.
Project Start: Announced in 2005-06 Union Budget.
- Foundation laid in 2006 by Dr. Manmohan Singh.
- Construction, operation, and maintenance overseen by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL).

Current Status

Western DFC: 93% complete, serving coal mines, thermal plants, and major ports.
New additions in 2024 by PM Narendra Modi:
- Western DFC Extension: Makarpura-Sachin (135 km).
- Eastern DFC Extension: Sahnewal-Pilkhan- Khurja section (179 km).
Expected Completion: December 2025.
325 trains run daily on average.

Why DFCs Were Needed

Overutilization of existing lines:
- 16% of network, primarily the Golden Quadrilateral and its diagonals, handles over 58% of traffic and 52% of passenger load.
Boosting Freight Capacity:
- Separate lines for freight to reduce congestion, improve speed, and allow heavier loads.
- DFC trains are faster, safer, and heavier, contributing to the shift of freight load from road to rail.

Benefits of DFCs

Economic Impact:
- Reduction in cost of commodities by up to 0.5%.
- Railways’ revenue growth from increased freight efficiency.
Operational Efficiency:
- DFCs have transported 232 billion Gross Tonne Kilometers (GTKM) and 122 billion Net Tonne Kilometers (NTKM).
Environmental Impact:
- Shift from road to rail reduces carbon emissions, supporting sustainability goals.

Australian University Study on DFC Impact

Analyzed data on freight costs, industry sectors, consumption patterns, and travel improvement.
Used a computable equilibrium model to assess the effects on India’s economy.
Study confirmed:
- DFCs are effective in reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
- Potential to accelerate India’s GDP growth, especially in regions with lower freight costs due to DFCs.

Future Expansion

Proposed DFC Corridors:
1. East-West: Palghar to Dankuni (2,073 km).
2. East Coast: Kharagpur to Vijayawada (1,115 km).
3. North-South: Vijayawada to Itarsi (975 km).
4. South-West: Chennai to Goa (899 km).

These expansions will further alleviate congestion and increase India’s freight capacity.

2. Asian Buddhist Summit

Event Overview:

The first Asian Buddhist Summit was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu.
Organized by the Union Culture Ministry in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation.

Theme and Purpose:

Focus on Buddhism’s teachings as a means to counter sectarianism, promote peace, and address contemporary challenges.
Emphasis on the central message of non-violence and peace in Buddhism.

Key Statements and Messages

President Droupadi Murmu:
- Buddhism can combat “narrow sectarianism” and promote harmony amid global crises like climate change and conflict.
- The core Buddhist value of Karuna (compassion) is essential for addressing today’s challenges.
- Lauded the collective effort in preserving Buddha’s teachings and expressed happiness over the recognition of Pali and Prakrit as classical languages.
- Announced financial support for the preservation and revitalization of Buddhist literary treasures.
Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy:
- Highlighted India’s role as the birthplace of Buddhism and commitment to strengthen the “Dhamma Setu” (Buddhist bridge) across Asian nations.
- Stressed the importance of preserving Buddhist heritage sites and manuscripts, and promoting pilgrimage and international exchanges.

Importance of Buddhism in Addressing Contemporary Issues

Buddha Dharma’s Relevance:
- Buddhism’s teachings on compassion, tolerance, and peace offer timeless solutions to current global challenges.
- The principles of the Four Noble Truths can guide humanity in confronting issues of strife and social discord.
Role of Buddhism in Diplomacy and Inter-Cultural Relations:
- The summit serves as a platform for enhancing diplomatic relations and discussing contemporary social issues through Buddhist philosophies.
- Encourages collaboration among Buddhist nations to promote peace and mutual understanding.

Government Initiatives and Support

Financial aid for the preservation and promotion of Buddhist scriptures, manuscripts, and heritage sites.

Initiatives to support research and studies in Pali and Prakrit to enrich Buddhist scholarship and understanding.

3. Key Points on India-U.S. Relations

Statement by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar:

Emphasized that regardless of the U.S. presidential election outcome, India-U.S. bilateral ties will continue to strengthen.
Pointed out that India’s relationship with the U.S. has grown consistently over the last five presidencies, indicating resilience beyond individual administrations.
Expressed confidence that the partnership with the U.S. will “only grow” in the future.

Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) Relations:

The Quad, comprising India, U.S., Australia, and Japan, is described as a strategic framework that is valuable to all member countries.
Originally formed post-2004 tsunami for cooperative security and economic initiatives, the Quad gained renewed importance during the Trump administration.
Jaishankar affirmed that the Quad’s significance will continue regardless of the U.S. election result, underscoring its role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

India-Australia Bilateral Talks

Meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong:

Jaishankar and Wong met in Canberra as part of the 15th India-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue.
The discussions aimed at further strengthening the India-Australia strategic partnership, with both countries aligned on Indo-Pacific stability and security.

India-Canada Tensions

Recent Escalation Due to Pro-Khalistan Activities:

An incident involving pro-Khalistan activists attacking an Indian consular camp at a temple in Brampton, Canada, created diplomatic concerns.
The Indian High Commission had requested extra security, but clashes still occurred, resulting in property damage.

Jaishankar criticized Canada’s failure to control extremist activities and for allowing a space for “extremist voices,” reflecting long-standing issues over pro-Khalistan movements in Canada.

4. High Court Quashes Case Against Malayalam Director Sreekumar Menon

Case Overview: The Kerala High Court quashed a case filed against Malayalam film director Sreekumar Menon by a prominent woman actor. The charges included stalking (IPC Section 354D), obscene acts (IPC Section 294B), and insulting a woman’s modesty (IPC Section 509), along with Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act.

Court’s Ruling:
- The court ruled that mere utterance of abusive or unpleasant words, without intent to insult a woman’s modesty or intrude upon her privacy, does not constitute an offence under Section 509 IPC.
- The allegations, even if assumed correct, were not sufficient to prove offences under Sections 354D and 294B either.

Background:
- The case stemmed from the actor’s complaint that Menon behaved improperly, affected her career, and insulted her modesty via messages on social media and a verbal exchange at the Dubai airport.
- The actor had earlier engaged Menon’s firm for coordinating activities of her foundation but later terminated the contract, allegedly leading to a grudge.

Key Points:
- Section 509 IPC: Insulting a woman’s modesty must be intentional, which the court found lacking in this case.
- Section 354D (Stalking): The court found no sufficient evidence to prove Menon’s actions amounted to stalking.

Section 294B (Obscene Acts): While the word used may have been hurtful or defamatory, it was not obscene enough to invoke this charge.

5. Indonesia's Cia-Cia Tribe Adopts Korean Script for Language Preservation

Background: Indonesia, home to over 700 languages, is one of the most linguistically diverse nations in the world. Many Indigenous languages, including Cia-Cia, are at risk of disappearing as they lack a formal script.

Cia-Cia Language: Spoken by around 93,000 people in the Cia-Cia tribe on Buton Island (off Sulawesi), the language has survived orally for centuries without a written form.

Script Adoption:
- Attempts were made to transcribe Cia-Cia using Arabic script, which is used for the Wolio dialect on Buton Island. However, Arabic proved unsuitable due to phonetic differences.
- In 2009, South Korean academics introduced Hangul, the Korean alphabet, to provide Cia-Cia with a formal script. The phonetic similarities between Cia-Cia and Korean made Hangul an effective solution.
- Two Cia-Cia instructors were trained in South Korea to develop teaching methods, including Abidin, a key figure in the initiative.

Hangul’s Role:
- Hangul characters closely represent Cia-Cia tones and pronunciations. While not a perfect match, it allows for effective written communication and language preservation.
- Some rarely used Hangul characters are being repurposed, creating a unique blend of traditional Cia-Cia and modern script.

Cultural Implications:
- Critics express concerns over potential cultural domination or distortion of Cia-Cia’s identity through the adoption of Hangul.

Others argue that this international collaboration could be beneficial, as it allows Cia-Cia to survive and evolve, rather than disappear.

5. Indonesia's Cia-Cia Tribe Adopts Korean Script for Language Preservation

Background: Indonesia, home to over 700 languages, is one of the most linguistically diverse nations in the world. Many Indigenous languages, including Cia-Cia, are at risk of disappearing as they lack a formal script.

Cia-Cia Language: Spoken by around 93,000 people in the Cia-Cia tribe on Buton Island (off Sulawesi), the language has survived orally for centuries without a written form.

Script Adoption:
- Attempts were made to transcribe Cia-Cia using Arabic script, which is used for the Wolio dialect on Buton Island. However, Arabic proved unsuitable due to phonetic differences.
- In 2009, South Korean academics introduced Hangul, the Korean alphabet, to provide Cia-Cia with a formal script. The phonetic similarities between Cia-Cia and Korean made Hangul an effective solution.
- Two Cia-Cia instructors were trained in South Korea to develop teaching methods, including Abidin, a key figure in the initiative.

Hangul’s Role:
- Hangul characters closely represent Cia-Cia tones and pronunciations. While not a perfect match, it allows for effective written communication and language preservation.
- Some rarely used Hangul characters are being repurposed, creating a unique blend of traditional Cia-Cia and modern script.

Cultural Implications:
- Critics express concerns over potential cultural domination or distortion of Cia-Cia’s identity through the adoption of Hangul.

Others argue that this international collaboration could be beneficial, as it allows Cia-Cia to survive and evolve, rather than disappear.

6. Supreme Court Upholds Constitutional Validity of UP Madarsa Act, 2004

Background: The Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004 (Madarsa Act) provides a framework for regulating madarsa education in UP.
It establishes a Board to oversee courses and examinations. The Act was challenged, and in March 2023, the Allahabad High Court struck it down for violating the principle of secularism, citing concerns about religious education and higher education degrees conflicting with central laws.

Allahabad High Court’s Ruling:
- The HC held that the Madarsa Act violated secularism, a key component of the Constitution’s basic structure.
- It stated that the Act discriminated by mandating Islamic studies while making secular subjects optional.
- The court ruled that the Act violated the right to education (Article 21A) by not providing quality education in modern subjects.
- Additionally, the provision for granting higher education degrees (Fazil and Kamil) under the Act conflicted with the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, which governs higher education nationwide.

Supreme Court’s Decision:
- Basic Structure Doctrine: The SC overturned the HC’s verdict, stating that ordinary laws, like the Madarsa Act, are not subject to the basic structure doctrine. This doctrine is reserved for constitutional amendments, not regular legislation.
- State’s Power to Regulate Madarsas: The SC held that the state can regulate minority institutions like madarsas as long as the regulations are “reasonable and rational” without infringing on their rights under Article 30 of the Constitution (which grants minorities the right to establish and administer their own educational institutions). The Act does not deprive madarsas of their minority character.
- Right to Education: The SC noted that Article 21A (Right to Education) does not apply to minority institutions, which are allowed to provide religious education. It cited an earlier ruling from 2014 where it exempted minority institutions from the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE Act).

Striking Down Higher Education Provisions:

The SC struck down parts of Section 9 of the Madarsa Act, which allowed the Board to grant higher education degrees (Fazil and Kamil), ruling that this provision conflicted with the UGC Act. Under Section 22 of the UGC Act, only universities established by the state or central government, or deemed by the UGC, can grant degrees.