GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

The Karnataka government temporarily halted a Bill mandating reservation for locals in the private sector due to strong opposition from industry leaders and trade bodies.

Key Highlights of the Bill

• Reservation Mandate: Proposed 50% reservation in management and 70% in non-management positions for local candidates in industries and factories.
• Industry Opposition: Industry leaders, including KiranMazumdar-Shaw and bodies like NASSCOM, opposed the Bill citing the need for skilled talent.
• Government Response: Decision deferred for further consultation; industries assured no immediate implementation.

Reasons Behind the Situation

• Local Employment: Aimed at providing job opportunities for local candidates to address unemployment.
• Industry Concerns: Fear of losing competitive edge due to restricted hiring pool.
• Legal and Constitutional Issues: Challenges in balancing state policies with the constitutional right to work across India.

Impact of Such Policies

• Economic Growth: Potential hindrance to economic growth due to limited talent pool.
• Social Equity: Risk of increasing social and economic inequalities by favoring locals over merit.
• Federal Structure: Possibility of creating regional barriers, affecting national integration.

Required Measures

• Skill Development: Invest in education and vocational training to enhance local employability.
• Incentives for Compliance: Offer incentives to industries for hiring locals voluntarily rather than mandating quotas.
• Holistic Policies: Develop comprehensive policies addressing root causes of unemployment without compromising competitiveness.

UPSC Mains Question

Q: "The implementation of local reservation policies in private sector jobs can lead to significant governance and equity issues. Discuss with examples."

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) substantial military spending in 2023 resulted in significant carbon emissions, highlighting the environmental cost of defense expenditures.

Key Highlights of the Report

• Report Title: ‘Climate in the Crosshairs’
• Military Spending and Emissions: NATO's $1.34 trillion military expenditure in 2023 generated 233 million metric tonnes of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.
• Comparative Emissions: This emission surpasses the annual emissions of countries like Colombia and Qatar.
• Additional Emissions: An increase in military spending by $126 billion in 2023 resulted in an additional 31 million tCO2e, equivalent to the annual emissions of approximately 6.7 million average US cars.

Reasons Behind the Situation

• Increased Military Expenditure: NATO's military spending increased by $126 billion in 2023, leading to higher emissions.
• Inefficiency of Military Systems: Military systems like the F-35 combat aircraft consume significantly more fuel than older systems, locking in high emissions for decades.
• Focus on Military Rather than Climate Action: High military spending diverts funds that could be used for climate action and adaptation.

Impact of Such Emissions

• Contribution to Global Warming: NATO's emissions contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change.
• Diversion of Resources: Increased military spending diverts critical resources away from climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
• Instability During Climate Breakdown: High military spending fuels the arms trade, which can lead to instability in a climate-stressed world.

Required Measures

• Reduction in Military Emissions: A 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 is needed to keep global temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius. This includes an annual reduction of military emissions by at least 5%.
• Investment in Green Technologies: NATO should invest in greener military technologies to reduce the carbon footprint of its operations.
• Comprehensive Climate Policies: NATO must adopt comprehensive policies that prioritize climate action alongside defense.

UPSC Mains Question

Q: "The environmental impact of military spending is often overlooked in global climate policies." Discuss in the context of NATO's 2023 emissions report.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has highlighted the compounded impact of armed conflict and climate risks, which significantly weakens people’s ability to cope with disasters.

Key Highlights of the Report

• Report Title: ‘When Rain Turns to Dust’
• Study Focus: The report is based on research conducted in 2019 and 2020, focusing on the Central African Republic (CAR), southern Iraq, and northern Mali.
• Double Threat: Countries affected by conflict are disproportionately impacted by climate change, exacerbating issues such as displacement, food production disruption, and weakened healthcare services.

Reasons Behind the Situation

• Geographical Vulnerability: The geographical location of CAR, Iraq, and Mali makes them particularly susceptible to climate change.
• Impact of Conflicts: The lasting consequences of conflicts in these regions exacerbate their vulnerability, disrupting communities, systems, and institutions.
• Human Movement Patterns: In CAR, changing human movement patterns due to conflict have increased tensions between farmers and herders.
• Resource Scarcity: In Mali, the fear of attacks forces pastoralists to congregate near water sources, increasing tensions with farmers and fishermen over scarce resources.
• Historical Impact: In Iraq, the destruction of date palms for military purposes during the Iran-Iraq war has had long-term effects on water and farming.

Impact on Societies

• Displacement and Migration: Armed conflicts and climate change force people out of their homes, leading to temporary settlements and further displacement due to natural disasters.
• Health and Livelihoods: Conflicts disrupt food production and healthcare services, leading to amplified diseases and weakened health systems.
• Tensions Over Resources: Increased competition for limited resources like water exacerbates tensions and conflicts within communities.

Required Measures

• Institutional Support: There is a need for strong institutional support to help communities adapt to the consequences of climate and environmental crises.
• Diversification of Livelihoods: Communities need to adapt by changing or diversifying their livelihoods to cope with changing environmental conditions.
• Mobilization for Climate Action: The ICRC calls for mobilization from both within and beyond the humanitarian sector to ensure climate action and finance reach conflict zones.
• Support for Hardest-Hit Communities: It is crucial to ensure that communities most affected by the combined impacts of conflict and climate change receive the necessary support to adapt.

 UPSC Mains Question

Q: "Discuss the compounded effects of armed conflict and climate risks on vulnerable societies

Privatised micro-environmentalism may exacerbate social and economic inequalities and deepen polarisation, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its 2024 report titled "Navigating New Horizons: A Global Foresight Report on Planetary Health and Human Wellbeing."

Key Highlights of the Report

• Commoditisation of Nature: The report predicts increasing commoditisation of nature and ecosystem services, leading to wealth concentration among the wealthy.
• Private Access and Enclosures: Privatised environmentalism involves creating private access to enclosed and sometimes artificial habitats, providing stable ecosystems to high-paying members.
• Human Rights Impact: This trend threatens the concept of environmental justice, limiting fair and equal access to nature-based quality of life and disrupting shared responsibility for conservation efforts.

Socio-economic Inequalities

• Wealth Concentration: Privatised micro-environmentalism may lead to further concentration of wealth among the affluent, as access to exclusive natural environments becomes a status symbol.
• Access to Nature: Lower-income groups may find themselves increasingly excluded from natural spaces, exacerbating existing socio-economic divides.
• Increased Polarisation: The disparity in access to natural resources can deepen social and economic polarisation, leading to increased tension and reduced social cohesion.

Environmental Impact

• Resource Burden: The creation and maintenance of private, exclusive ecosystems require substantial resources and energy, contributing to resource depletion and increased pollution.
• Neglect of Natural Ecosystems: Focus on artificial and enclosed environments can divert efforts and resources away from conserving and restoring natural ecosystems, leading to further environmental degradation.
• Pollution Increase: High resource demands for maintaining these private ecosystems can lead to more pollution, exacerbating the overall environmental crisis.

Measures to Address Issues

• Inclusive Conservation Efforts: Ensuring that conservation benefits are accessible to all socio-economic groups is crucial for equitable environmental stewardship.
• Sustainable Resource Management: Implementing sustainable resource management practices can prevent resource depletion and reduce pollution associated with private ecosystems.
• Public Awareness: Raising awareness about the importance of collective responsibility in environmental stewardship can foster a sense of shared duty towards conservation and sustainable living.

UPSC Mains Questions

Q. "Discuss the socio-economic implications of unequal access to natural resources in India."

The National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune confirmed the first fatality of a four-year-old girl due to Chandipura virus in Gujarat. The virus has led to 15 suspected deaths across nearly a dozen districts in the state.

About:

• Virus Characteristics: Chandipura virus (CHPV) is an arbovirus transmitted primarily through sandfly bites. It causes acute encephalitic illness, mainly affecting children.
• Symptoms and Diagnosis: Symptoms include high fever, seizures, vomiting, and altered sensorium. Diagnosis is typically confirmed through PCR testing and viral culture.
• Treatment and Prevention: There is no specific antiviral treatment; management is supportive. Prevention focuses on controlling sandfly populations and avoiding bites through insect repellent and protective clothing.

Operation NanheFarishtey, launched by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), aims to rescue children in distress found on railway premises across India. This initiative has gained significant attention for its impact on child safety and welfare.

About:

• The Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched Operation NanheFarishtey to rescue children found in distress on railway premises.
• The operation covers railway stations and trains across India, emphasizing prompt identification and rescue of vulnerable children.
• Hundreds of children are rescued monthly under this operation, with a focus on immediate safety and long-term welfare.

Supreme Court Judge raises concerns about Sutlej being reduced to a rivulet due to constructions.

About:

• The Sutlej River originates from Lake Rakshastal in Tibet, near Mount Kailash. It traverses through the Himalayas, entering India through the Shipki La pass in Himachal Pradesh, and finally merges with the Chenab River in Pakistan to form the Panjnad River, which eventually joins the Indus River.
• It is also known as
• Sutlej is an antecedent river, which existed before the Himalayas and entrenched itself while they were rising.
• The main tributary in India are Ravi and Beas.
• Irrigation: Supports extensive irrigation systems in Punjab, including the Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal, Sirhind Canal, Bhakra Main Line and the Rajasthan canal.

The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), launched by key G20 members including India, the US and Brazil in September 2023, is all set to get its diplomatic status, with New Delhi likely to sign a headquarters agreement with the agency soon.

About:

• GBA is an India-led Initiativeto develop an alliance of Governments, International organizations and Industry to facilitate adoption of biofuels.
• Objective:Bringing together the biggest consumers and producers of biofuels to drive biofuels development and deployment, the initiative aims to position biofuels as a key to energy transition and contribute to jobs and economic growth.
• Joining Members: 19 countries and 12 international organisations have already agreed to join.
  • G20 countries (07) supporting GBA: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India, Italy, South Africa, USA
  • G20 Invitee Countries (04) supporting GBA: Bangladesh, Singapore, Mauritius, UAE
  • Non G20 (08) supporting GBA:Iceland, Kenya, Guyana, Paraguay, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Uganda have agreed to be initiating members of GBA, and Finland.
  • International organizations: World Bank, Asian Development Bank, World Economic Forum, World LPG Organization, UN Energy for All, UNIDO, Biofutures Platform, International Civil Aviation Organization, International Energy Agency, International Energy Forum, International Renewable Energy Agency, World Biogas Association.

In a bid to address global food insecurity, scientists are exploring the potential of python farming as a sustainable and efficient source of protein.

About:

• It is among the world’s largest snake species which can live up to 30 years in wild.
• It is found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia.
• Reticulated python is the world's longest snake, capable of reaching over 9 meters in length.
• It is Adaptable to various environments including forests, grasslands, and wetlands which makes it invasive species for e.g. Burmese pythons in Florida Everglades causing ecological disruption.
• It is an important indicator species which contributes to ecosystem balance by controlling population of small to medium-sized mammals.
• IUCN Status: Varies by species, some listed as Vulnerable or Near Threatened
• Economic Value: Skin used in luxury leather goods industry

The Supreme Court is deliberating on the issue of sub-caste reservations for SC/STs, which must be justified both legally and academically. The basis for sub-caste reservations is debated due to the lack of strong academic support. Existing policy instruments focus on legal safeguards, reservations, and economic empowerment.

Historical Perspective on Reservation Policy:

• Ambedkar's Vision: B.R. Ambedkar proposed three complementary policy measures: legal safeguards, reservations, and economic/educational empowerment for untouchables as a whole.
• Policy Interconnection: These measures were designed to work together, addressing present discrimination and past denials of rights.
• Group vs. Individual Focus: Reservations were intended for untouchables as a social group, while economic empowerment targeted individuals lacking capital assets and education.

Challenges of Sub-Caste Reservations:

• Underlying Causes: Under-representation of certain sub-castes in jobs may be due to lack of education and capital assets rather than discrimination by other sub-castes.
• Ineffective Solution: Implementing sub-caste reservations without addressing underlying economic and educational disparities may not improve outcomes for disadvantaged groups.
• Potential Consequences: Sub-caste reservations could lead to demands from thousands of sub-castes/tribes across SC/ST/OBC categories, potentially recreating a caste-like hierarchy within the reservation system.

Alternative Approaches:

• Asset and Education Focus: Improving ownership of capital assets and education levels for disadvantaged individuals within SC communities may be more effective than sub-caste quotas.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Any consideration of sub-caste reservations should be based on factual data regarding the causes of under-representation.
• Balancing Legal and Social Realities: Legal authorities must consider both discrimination and capability factors when addressing under-representation issues.

UPSC Mains Questions:

Q. Critically examine the proposal for sub-caste reservations within the SC/ST categories. How might this impact the original intent of the reservation policy as envisioned by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar?

The discussion on the devolution of Union tax revenue to States has recently gained attention in political and economic spheres. A crucial point in this discussion is the need to balance intragenerational and intergenerational equity within the horizontal distribution formula set by the Finance Commission (FC) every five years.

Intergenerational Fiscal Equity:

• Principle and Importance: Intergenerational equity involves ensuring that current generations do not burden future generations with debt. It emphasizes that every generation should pay for the public services it receives.
• Revenue Raising Methods: Governments can raise revenue through taxes or borrowing. Using borrowings to finance current expenditure leads to future generations bearing the tax burden to repay these borrowings.
• Ricardian Equivalence Theory: This theory suggests that households save more when governments borrow to finance current expenditure, preparing for higher future taxes. However, this does not hold in India's federal structure, where developed states often subsidize less developed ones.

Intragenerational Equity:

• Revenue Expenditure Analysis: During the 14th FC period (2015-20), high-income states financed a larger portion of their revenue expenditure through their own taxes compared to low-income states. High-income states managed 59.3% while low-income states only managed 35.9%.
• Union Financial Transfers: Low-income states received 57.7% of their revenue expenditure from Union transfers, while high-income states received only 27.6%.
• Deficit Implications: High-income states faced higher deficits due to lower Union transfers despite higher own tax revenues and curtailed expenditures.

Balancing Equity in Tax Devolution:

• Current Indicators: The FC uses per capita income, population, and area to distribute Union financial transfers, emphasizing equity. However, these indicators do not fully reflect the fiscal realities of states.
• Fiscal Variables: Incorporating fiscal indicators like tax effort and fiscal discipline in the distribution formula can promote efficient fiscal behavior and ensure a fairer allocation of resources.
• Sustainable Debt Management: Assigning larger weights to fiscal indicators can incentivize states to maintain fiscal discipline, ensuring intergenerational equity and sustainable debt levels.

UPSC Mains Questions:

Q. Discuss the importance of intergenerational equity in the context of fiscal federalism in India. How can the Finance Commission ensure a balance between intergenerational and intragenerational equity?

India, despite ranking second in global agriculture production, holds only a 2.4% share in global agricultural exports. Significant post-harvest losses and supply chain inefficiencies are major factors contributing to this gap. Addressing post-harvest losses is crucial for meeting the food and nutrition demands of a growing population.

Challenges in India's Post-Harvest Losses:

• High Losses in Perishables: The biggest losses occur in perishable commodities like livestock produce (22%), fruits (19%), and vegetables (18%). Storage, transportation, and marketing inefficiencies exacerbate these losses.
• Supply Chain Inefficiencies: India's fragmented supply chain, involving multiple logistical requirements from farmgate to consumer, faces significant challenges. Small and marginal farmers (86% of the farmer population) struggle with economies of scale and assured market connectivity.
• Food Price Volatility: Supply constraints and inefficiencies in the supply chain contribute to food price volatility, affecting both farmers and consumers.

Railways' Initiatives to Reduce Losses:

• Truck-on-Train Service: This service transports loaded trucks on railway wagons, with successful trial runs for commodities like milk and cattle feed. The Indian Railways is expanding this service.
• Parcel Special Trains: Introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, these trains transport perishables and seeds between markets and producers.
• Kisan Rail: This initiative connects surplus production regions with consumption regions, reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing farmer incomes. For instance, grape growers in Nashik, Maharashtra, secured a net profit of ?5,000 per quintal using Kisan Rail.

Future Directions and Untapped Opportunities:

• Specialized Wagons and Rail-Side Facilities: Investment in temperature-controlled transport and safe cargo handling facilities are essential to minimize spoilage and contamination risks, supporting both domestic and export markets.
• Streamlining Operations: Recommendations include streamlining loading and unloading processes and addressing staffing shortages through recruitment and training.
• Environmental and Economic Benefits: The Indian Railways generates up to 80% less carbon dioxide for freight traffic than road transport. Public-private partnerships can enhance operational efficiency and strengthen rail infrastructure.

UPSC Mains Questions:

Q1. Discuss the challenges and potential solutions for reducing post-harvest losses in India's agricultural sector. How can the Indian Railways contribute to mitigating these losses?