GS Analyst
Daily Current Affairs

The anathema of defections has been a prominent feature of Indian political discourse and has become a big farce in the recent years.

1: Dimension- Fundamental factors that create the breeding grounds for defection.

• According to the 1985 Bill, a ‘defection’ by one-third of the elected members of a political party was considered a ‘merger,’ but as per the 2003 amendment, at least two-thirds of the members of a party have to be in favour of a ‘merger’ for it to have validity in the eyes of the law.
• In essence, the anti-defection law does not apply if the defectors account for more than two-thirds of the party they are leaving.
• Furthermore, the decision to disqualify MPs or MLAs lies with the speaker of the house, who customarily belongs to the ruling party or the party benefiting from the defections.

Needless to say, this raises concerns about the impartiality of the speaker. As a result, defections have continued unabated.

2: Dimension-Ethical paradox

• There are two types of defections:
  • The first that is solely done solely for immediate political gains
  • The other that takes places due to ideational or ideological grounds.
• However, the mere idea of political defections has always involveda paradoxical ethical question in the practice of democratic politics.
• The act of sudden abandonment of the party to which the defector belonged and switching to another party (often rival parties) after winning the election under the banner of the earlier party, is largely perceived as an act of political impropriety and opportunism.
• However, the very act of defection can not only be a product of unethical politics.
  • Moral Protest: Defections might also be perceived as instruments for upholding democratic principles of equality, accommodation and justice.
  • From the defector’s point of view, defection may be treated as a moral protest is aimed at restoring democracy, both within the party in question and in promoting democratic spirit in the polity.
  • Such defectors, in their feat of self-righteousness, may also locate the value of justice in the act of crossing over to other parties. Put differently, such moves of defection are seen as desirable as though they were driven by larger concerns for justice; justice that anticipates the party bosses to treat their leaders with fairness and dignity.

This creates an intractable ethical dilemma in electoral democracies with regard to the act of defection.

3: Dimension-Required Measures

• Urgent Need for Stricter Anti-Defection Law: The current anti-defection law, outdated since 1985 and amended in 2003, fails to curb defections. Immediate action is required to strengthen the law as defections persist, undermining democracy.
• Deeper Analysis of Party Dynamics Required: Understanding party structures and leadership styles is crucial to uncover the root causes of defections. A thorough examination beyond surface concerns is necessary.
• Coherent Reforms Essential for Party Improvement: Positive reforms are vital for enhancing party functioning and addressing defection challenges in the long term. A comprehensive approach is needed to implement these reforms effectively.

The flocks of birds are dwindling in numbers as they navigate through regions that are becoming ‘increasingly uninhabitable’ for them. Nearly half of all migratory species are in decline. 

1: Dimension-Factors responsible for decline

• Loss of natural habitat and overexploitation: These species face shifting landscapes due to urbanisation, farming and climate change among several other challenges.
• Habitat loss happens when land becomes urbanised, transformed for human use or degraded through pollution. Farming is a primary driver of this sort of fragmentation.
  • Migratory birds have experienced significant declines across certain regions, particularly those using the Afro-Palearctic migratory route. These birds typically travel southwards across Africa from Europe and Asia.
• Agricultural and industrial activity also release dangerous chemicals into habitats.

2: Dimension-Role of climate change in affecting migratory species

• Decline: Climate change is the second most significant factor contributing to the decline of migratory species.
• Changes to natural landscape: The changes in temperature, precipitation and weather patterns can affect the suitability of breeding and stopover sites along migration routes.
• Direct mortality of species or less breeding: Species may no longer be able to follow their usual migratory patterns.

3: Dimension-Impact of this decline on human and environment

• Ecological, economic and cultural importance: They help keep ecosystems from degradation and collapse. This can especially support carbon sequestration, the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which mitigates climate change. This occurs through thicker vegetation or healthier coral reefs, for instance.
• Strong coastal ecosystems: They can also hold back floods and storm surges.
• Other “ecosystem services”: Pollination, seed dispersal, and pest-control.

The average global sea surface temperature (SST) — the temperature of the water at the ocean surface — for February 2024 stood at 21.06 degree Celsius, the highest ever in a dataset that goes back to 1979. The previous record of 20.98 degree Celsius was set in August 2023.

1: Dimension- Reason behind the warming oceans

• Trapped heat: Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution a few hundred years ago, humans have burned massive amounts of fossil fuels; cut down huge swaths of forest; and undertaken many other activities that pump heat-trapping carbon dioxide into Earth’s atmosphere. Most of the rest of the trapped heat has been absorbed into the planets’ vast oceans.
• El Nino: The climate crisis is being compounded by the natural El Niño climate pattern.
• Marine heat waves—defined as periods of persistent anomalously warm ocean temperatures (warmer than 90 percent of the previous observations for a given time of year)—have occurred recently in several areas.
• Weaker-than-average windshave reduced the amount of Saharan dust in the atmosphere, which usually reduces sea temperatures by blocking some of the sun’s energy.

2: Dimension-Impact of Warm Oceans

• Marine life: Hotter marine temperatures can have a devastating effect on marine life, and there have been multiple mass mortalities of marine animals and plants due to ocean heatwaves.
• Displacement of species: Heatwaves can also cause damaging algal blooms, coral bleaching, the displacement of marine species – as they search for colder water – and the disruption of food chains.
• Extreme climatic events: Increased marine temperatures can be harmful on land too, causing extreme weather, such as storms and hurricanes.
• Vicious cycle of warming events: Less sea ice not only means possible future sea level rises, it means that there’s less ice to reflect the sun’s energy, resulting in higher sea temperatures and more frequent marine heatwaves, a vicious cycle that could have global ramifications.

There needs to be a reduction in emissions, but also more investment in nature-based solutions as well as more research into monitoring marine heatwaves. Furthermore, to ensure a stable climate and make real on the commitment of the Paris Agreement, UNEP has identified six sectors with the potential to reduce emissions enough to keep the world below the 1.5°C mark. They are: energy; industry; agriculture and food; forests and land use; transport; and buildings and cities.

For nearly a week now, forest fires have been raging in the Coonoor forest range in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu.

1: Dimension-Causes of Forest Fire

• According to the Forest Survey of India, nearly 36 per cent of India’s forests are prone to frequent fires.
• Several factors like temperatures, precipitation, vegetation, and moisture contribute to the scale and frequency of these fires.
• Higher fire incidents are reported in March, April and May due to ample availability of dry biomass (fuel load) following the end of winter and the on-going summer season.
• Most forest fires are man-made due to changes in agriculture and unchecked land-use patterns.

2: Dimension-Impact of Forest Fire

• Loss and displacement of species:The impact of recurrent forest fires leads to the direct loss of trees and wildlife.
• Pushing towards extinction:Forest fires can meddle with the life cycle of species and push many of the threatened and endemic species closer to extinction.
  • Affecting growth:By destroying the leaves and foliage, a forest fire can significantly reduce the photosynthetic activity of surviving trees and thereby affect their growth.
  • Affected seedlings:It can also damage the seed bank, both above and below the ground, and wipe out the seedlings and saplings growing on the forest floor.
• Impact on recovery rate:The loss of keystone organisms in forest ecosystems, such as invertebrates, pollinators, and decomposers, can significantly slow the recovery rate of the forest.
• Serious impact of reproduction:Forest fires can also interfere with the reproduction and propagation of certain plants and animals. Such recurrent events can be deadly to the species that are native or endemic to the region.

India and the US are carrying out a bilateral tri-service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, Tiger Triumph-24, on the Eastern Seaboard, US.

• 'Tiger Triumph - 24' is in line with the established India-US partnership.
• It is a bilateral tri-service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) military exercise between the two countries.
• Objective: To develop interoperability for conducting HADR operations.

The Model Code of Conduct becomes active as soon as the dates for elections are announced and stays in place until the results are declared.

About Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

• The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is like a rulebook for political parties and leaders during elections in India.
• It has guidelines to make sure that elections are fair and free from unfair influence.
• The MCC covers many things like what politicians can say in their speeches, how they should behave on voting day, and even what they can promise in their election manifestos.
• Legal enforceability: The MCC does not have legal enforceability on its own. Nevertheless, specific provisions within it may find enforcement through corresponding clauses in other statutes, including the Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973, and the Representation of the People Act of 1951.
  • Additionally, the ECI holds authority under paragraph 16A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order of 1968 to suspend or withdraw a party's recognition.

Key rules in the MCC include:

• Fair Play: Political parties in power can't use their position to gain an advantage in the elections. They can't announce new policies, projects, or schemes that could sway voters.
• Equal Opportunities: The ruling party has to treat opposition parties fairly. They can't use government resources or facilities for their own campaigns.
• No Discrimination: Campaigns should focus on the work of political parties and candidates, not on stirring up caste or religious sentiments.
• Respect for Silence: There's a 48-hour period before voting starts called "election silence." During this time, no campaigning is allowed to give voters a chance to think calmly before casting their votes.

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has developed SAKHI, a multi-purpose app to help astronauts on the Gaganyaan space flight mission.

What is SAKHI App?

• The Space-borne Assistant and Knowledge Hub for Crew Interaction (SAKHI) will help astronauts on the Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Mission carry out a range of tasks such as looking up vital technical information or communicating with one another.
• The app will, among other things, monitor the health of the astronauts, help them stay connected with Earth and even alert them about their dietary schedules.

Indian Immunologicals Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board has finished the first phase of clinical trials of dengue vaccine to determine the safety of the vaccine. The vaccine could be available commercially as early as mid-2026.

About Dengue

• Dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti mosquito) to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates.
• Symptoms: High fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash.
• Treatment: There is no specific treatment for dengue. In severe cases, dengue can be fatal. 
• Global burden: There are around 100–400 million infections per year and nearly half the world's population is at risk.

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified new rules for the transfer of captive elephants.

The new Rules

• For initiating transfer of elephants from one state to another, the chief wildlife warden (CWW) of the state, where the elephant is being transferred, has to be notified.
• S/he, would, in turn, forward the application to the CWW of the state from where the animal is being transferred.
• The transfer, according to the new rules, would be permitted if the donor is no longer capable of taking care of the captive elephant. For a transfer to be allowed, the genetic profile of the elephant has to be entered into an MoEFCC application, electronically.

Russia has taken the townlet of Mirnoye in Zaporizhzhia from Ukrainian forces.

• Mirnoye, which translates into English as ‘peaceful,’ had a population of about 500 before the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
• The village is located 14 kilometers southwest of the town of Guliaipole and 77 kilometers southeast of the city of Zaporozhye.
• Both Guliaipole and Zaporozhye remain under Ukrainian control.