Oct 8th 2024 Current Affairs

Index:

1. Indian Wild Ass Population in Gujarat

Context: The population of the Indian wild ass, an endangered species found mainly in the Little Rann of Kutch and the Great Rann of Kutch, has increased by 26.14% over the past four years (as per 10th Wild Ass Population Estimation, 2024).

Population Data:

 

o    Current population: 7,672 (up from 6,082 in 2020).

o    Protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.

o    Listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2008.

Significance of the Study:

 

o    The increase comes as part of Wildlife Week (October 2–8) celebrations.

o    Apart from counting wild asses, enumerations were also made for species like:

§  Asian antelope

§  Indian gazelle

§  Blackbuck

§  Fox

§  Wolf

Geographical Spread:

 

o    Historically found in North-West India, Pakistan, and Central Asia, but now confined to Gujarat.

o    Major population growth seen in Patan, Kutch, and Surendranagar districts.

§  Patan: 1,615

§  Banaskantha: 1,097

§  Morbi: 642

§  Ahmedabad: 7 (declining).

Conservation Measures:

 

o    Efforts by the Gujarat government have led to population recovery.

o    Wild Ass Population Estimation is carried out every 5 years.

Direct Count Method used in the latest survey.

Challenges:

  • Some areas (Ahmedabad and Banaskantha) have seen a decline in wild ass numbers.
  • The latest estimation covered 15,510 square kilometers and also focused on:
    • Training forest officials on enumerating wild species using modern technology.

Implementing e-Guj forest module to track forest resources.

2. India-Maldives Currency Swap Agreement

Context:

  • India and Maldives have signed a $750 million currency swap agreement to help the Maldives overcome its current foreign currency crunch.
  • The agreement was signed during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in New Delhi.

Key Points:

  1. Currency Swap Agreement:
    • Total value: $750 million, consisting of:
      • $400 million under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework.
      • Additional ₹3,000 crore ($357 million) between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Maldives Monetary Authority.
    • Validity: Available until 2027.
    • Purpose: Helps both countries make payments in their respective currencies, easing foreign exchange pressure on the Maldives.

 

  1. Economic and Developmental Support:
    • Agreements signed for launching RuPay cards in the Maldives.
    • India handed over 700 houses built under its assistance program.
    • India expressed willingness to study other Maldivian requests, including:
      • Debt repayment waivers.
      • Further credit lines and economic assistance.
    • Two countries agreed to issue a vision statement for a future comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership.

 

  1. People-to-People Ties and Tourism:
    • The Maldivian President expressed hope that Indian tourists would return to the Maldives following a social media campaign in India calling for a boycott of the Maldives.
    • Importance of Indian tourism for the Maldivian economy was emphasized, as India is a significant tourism source for the Maldives.

 

  1. Security and Strategic Agreements:
    • Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between:
      • The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Anti-Corruption Commission of the Maldives.
      • Policing institutes and judicial training institutes for cooperation.
      • Cooperation in sports and youth affairs.
    • India-Maldives cooperation extended in areas such as:
      • Refitting of Maldivian Coast Guard ships.
      • Jointly constructed runway for an international airport at Hanimaadhoo

 

  1. Trade and Economic Agreements:
    • Discussions initiated for stepping up cooperation on trade in national currencies.

Work to begin on a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.

3. Ultra-Processed and Fast Food Leading to Diabetes in India

Context: A clinical trial published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition highlights the role of ultra-processed and fast food in making India the diabetic capital of the world.

Key Findings:

  1. Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs):
    • AGEs are harmful compounds formed when sugars react with fats or proteins during high-temperature cooking methods like frying and roasting.
    • These products are commonly found in ultra-processed and fast foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt.
    • AGEs are directly linked to inflammation, a primary cause of type 2 diabetes.

 

  1. Health Impact:
    • The consumption of AGE-rich foods leads to glycation, a chemical process that triggers harmful reactions in the body.
    • High levels of AGEs in the diet can cause inflammation, leading to an increased risk of developing diabetes.
    • Prevalence of diabetes, pre-diabetes, and obesity is high in India, with an estimated 101 million diabetic patients.

 

  1. Research Findings:
    • The study, funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, found that low-AGE diets can reduce the risk of diabetes and improve insulin sensitivity.
    • Low-AGE diets include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
    • Individuals who followed a low-AGE diet showed significant improvement in insulin sensitivity and a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

 

  1. Dietary Recommendations:
    • Switching to a low-AGE diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat milk) can help individuals reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.
    • Cutting down on fried, processed foods and sugary items is key to managing diabetes risk.
    • Boiled or steamed foods are recommended over fried foods, along with a focus on green leafy vegetables and non-starchy options.

 

  1. Clinical Trial Evidence:
    • The study involved adults who were overweight or obese but non-diabetic. They were divided into two groups:
      • One group followed a low-AGE diet.
      • The other group followed a high-AGE diet.

After 12 weeks, those on the low-AGE diet showed improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammatory markers compared to those on the high-AGE diet.

4. India-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and Investor Dispute Arbitration

Context:

  • India has eased arbitration norms for UAE investors under the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to prevent arbitration in international courts.
  • The treaty was signed on February 13, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and came into effect on August 31, 2024.

 

Key Points:

  1. Changes in Arbitration Norms:
    • Under the new BIT, UAE investors must exhaust domestic legal remedies for at least three years before initiating arbitration.
    • This eases the previous requirement of using India’s legal system for at least five years, allowing earlier access to international arbitration.
    • The changes reflect a more investor-friendly approach while balancing state sovereignty.

 

  1. India’s Approach to Investor Disputes:
    • India’s earlier BITs, based on the 1993 model, led to several multibillion-dollar disputes in international courts, resulting in annulments of BITs over time.
    • The 2015 model BIT requires investors to seek resolution of disputes through Indian legal systems before escalating to international arbitration.
    • These treaties focus on protecting India’s regulatory space and balancing investor rights with India’s sovereignty and policy flexibility.

 

  1. Bilateral Relations and Economic Commitments:
    • The treaty aims to increase UAE investments in India and improve the protection framework for investors.
    • UAE made an initial investment commitment of $2 billion for setting up a food processing facility in India to produce high-quality products.
    • The High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments (HLTFI) between India and the UAE focuses on strengthening bilateral investment ties and addressing specific investment issues.

 

  1. Key Features of the Treaty:
    • The treaty includes provisions like:
      • Closed asset definition of investment.
      • Inclusion of non-discriminatory treatment and minimum standards of treatment.
    • State dispute settlement mechanisms (SDS) allow investors to seek arbitration but only after exhausting domestic legal remedies.
    • The treaty includes additional protections to ensure policy space for sovereign regulation in India.

 

  1. Impacts on Investor Confidence:
    • Easing arbitration norms will make the treaty more investor-friendly, allowing India to settle disputes domestically and reducing the risk of challenging India’s regulatory decisions.
    • The treaty reduces the litigation burden on India’s international arbitration frameworks by encouraging early domestic dispute resolutions.

 

  1. India’s Bilateral Investment Protection Efforts:
    • India has replaced older BITs with more balanced investment protection frameworks, reflecting India’s priorities to protect domestic regulatory autonomy while fostering an investor-friendly environment.

This BIT aligns with India’s broader efforts under G20 and global investment treaties to modernize investment protection frameworks.

5. Agri Sector Performance Under Narendra Modi Government

Context:

  • A recent NITI Aayog study highlights the performance of India’s agricultural sector over the last two decades, particularly under the Narendra Modi government (2014-2023).
  • Growth in agriculture has been led primarily by livestock, horticulture, and fisheries, rather than traditional crop farming.

Key Points:

  1. Growth in Agriculture (2014-15 to 2022-23):
    • The average annual growth of the agricultural sector (including crops, livestock, fisheries, and forestry) at constant prices averaged 94% during 2014-2023, which was an improvement over previous decades (1.88% in 1994-2004 and 2.52% in 2004-2014).
    • Livestock, horticulture, and fisheries were the top-performing sub-sectors:
    • Crop sector performance was relatively weak compared to non-crop sectors.
  2. State-Level Performance:
    • Top agricultural growth states (2014-15 to 2022-23):
      • Andhra Pradesh
      • Madhya Pradesh
      • Karnataka
    • Growth was driven by diversified sectors such as horticulture, livestock, and fisheries in these states.

 

  1. Policy Takeaways:
    • The agricultural growth during the last two decades has been driven by diversification into horticulture, livestock, and fisheries, rather than the traditional crop-based farming model.
    • Dietary diversification has shifted consumer preferences towards vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, and fish, resulting in the growing demand for these products.
    • Technological advances such as drip irrigation, high-density tissue culture planting in bananas, and layer breeding in poultry have significantly contributed to productivity gains in these non-crop sectors.
    • Horticulture crops, especially fruits and vegetables, have driven growth in this period.
    • Increased investment in non-food use crops like sugarcane and oilseeds has also played a part.
  2. Challenges in Crop Sector:
    • Crop sub-sectors such as oilseeds and pulses remain weak, with demand outstripping domestic supply.
    • The average year-on-year growth in crop gross value added (GVA) during 2014-2023 was lower than during the previous UPA
    • Cereal production rose marginally from 185 million tonnes in 2004-05 to 5 million tonnes in 2022-23.
    • Production of pulses has also increased, but not enough to meet demand, necessitating imports.

 

  1. Household Data:
    • The 2018-19 Situational Assessment Survey revealed that of the total average agricultural household income, only 6% came from crop production, while 44.2% was earned from livestock, fisheries, and horticulture.
    • A majority of households are increasingly relying on non-crop activities for income, signaling a structural shift in India’s agricultural economy.

 

  1. Government Initiatives:
    • The Minimum Support Price (MSP) system, while important for cereal crops, is not as effective in boosting agricultural growth in non-crop sectors.

Growth in oilseeds and pulses production needs more attention through research and development as well as better technology.

6. India's Academic Freedom Decline

Context:

  • According to the “Free to Think 2024” report by the Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Monitoring Project, India has experienced a significant decline in academic freedom over the past decade.
  • India now ranks as “completely restricted” in the Academic Freedom Index, its lowest since the mid-1940s.

 

Key Points:

  1. SAR Report Findings:
    • Scholars at Risk (SAR) is a network of 665 universities across the globe, including institutions like Columbia University and New York University.
    • The report documents 391 attacks on higher education communities across 51 countries between July 2023 and June 2024.
    • India’s academic freedom score dropped from 6 points to 0.2 points between 2013 and 2023.

 

  1. Reasons for the Decline:
    • The report highlights political interference, especially the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s efforts to impose a Hindu nationalist agenda on universities.
    • Restrictions include curbs on student protests, the penalization of dissent, and stringent campus measures.
    • Government measures that limit academic expression have also been cited as contributing to the drop in India’s academic freedom score.

 

  1. Institutional Restrictions:
    • Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and South Asian University (SAU) implemented policies restricting student protests and expression.
      • JNU restricted protests near academic buildings.
      • SAU went further by banning protests on campus altogether.

 

  1. State vs. Union Government Conflicts:
    • The report also references disputes between the BJP-led Union government and various state governments over the control of higher education.
    • In Kerala, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan (a Union government appointee) was at odds with the state government over amendments regarding his removal as Chancellor of the state’s universities.
    • Similar battles were witnessed in other states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Punjab.

 

  1. Constitutional and Legal Aspects:

The Kerala government filed a Supreme Court appeal in response to President Droupadi Murmu withholding assent to the state’s proposed amendment concerning the role of the Governor in university appointments.

7. High-Performance Buildings: Paving the Path to a Sustainable Future

8. Unraveling the Mystery of MicroRNA: Key to Gene Regulation

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