GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

South Korea was thrust into a political crisis when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, sparking six hours of uncertainty, chaos, and political turmoil. The military imposed restrictions on political activities, and South Korean troops secured the National Assembly. However, President Yoon quickly withdrew the martial law order, citing threats from North Korea and accusing opposition forces of destabilizing the state. This decision came amid rising political tensions and public dissatisfaction with Yoon’s administration.

Historical Division of Korea:

• The Korean Peninsula has been divided since the end of World War II in 1945. The region was split by global powers—the US and the Soviet Union—along the 38th parallel, without consulting Koreans.
• This division laid the foundation for ideological and political tensions between North and South Korea.
• The Korean War and Its Aftermath:
• In 1950, tensions erupted into the Korean War when North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea.
• The US and its allies intervened, and after three years of intense fighting, an armistice agreement was signed in 1953, creating a heavily fortified border (DMZ) but not a peace treaty. The war resulted in millions of deaths and displacement.

What Keeps North and South Korea Apart?

• Ideological Divide: Since the split, North Korea has remained a communist regime under the Kim dynasty, focusing on military strength and nuclear capabilities. Meanwhile, South Korea became a democratic, economically advanced country with strong ties to the West.
• Failed Attempts at Reunification: Numerous efforts at reunification through talks and summits have failed, as ideological differences and mutual mistrust continue to hinder progress.
• Ongoing Tensions: Military provocations from the North, alongside a lack of progress in reunification talks, have kept the two Koreas apart, with occasional escalations in tensions.

The Boilers Bill, 2024 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and was passed. It will now be moved for consideration in the Lok Sabha.

About the Bill

• This Bill aims to replace the old Boilers Act, 1923, a pre-constitution law, to ensure the safety of life and property in relation to boilers.
• It addresses the need for reviewing outdated provisions, and aligning the law with the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 which aims to decriminalize certain offenses.
• The existing Boilers Act was last amended in 2007, introducing third-party inspections, but further changes are necessary to improve its relevance and clarity.

Key Changes in the Boilers Bill, 2024:

• Simplification and Reorganization: The new Bill has been divided into six chapters, unlike the old Act which had no chapters, making it easier to understand.
  • Redundant provisions from the original 1923 Act have been removed, including applicability to feed-pipes and economizers, and a section on the applicability of the Act to the whole of India.
• Definitions and Clarifications: New definitions have been added, such as terms for "notification," "regulations," and "State Government." Some existing definitions have been updated for clarity, including those for "boiler components," "competent authority," and "inspecting authority."
• Decriminalization and Penalties: The Bill introduces decriminalization provisions in line with the Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Act. Some offenses, instead of leading to criminal prosecution, will now incur a penalty that is imposed through an executive mechanism (instead of court proceedings).
  • The Bill keeps criminal penalties for severe offenses, especially those that could lead to loss of life or property, but allows for penalties (rather than fines) for non-criminal offenses.
  • New provisions for appeals and adjudications (i.e., resolving disputes) have been added.
• Expanded Powers: The Bill grants more detailed powers to the Central Government, State Governments, and the Central Boilers Board to make rules and regulations. These powers have been clearly defined in the Bill.
  • It also allows for the removal of difficulties in implementing the new law over the next three years, and saves existing rules under the 1923 Act until new rules are framed.

Impact and Benefits:

• The reorganization into six chapters and clearer definitions will make the law easier to follow.
• The introduction of decriminalization provisions aligns the law with the goal of simplifying business processes and reducing legal burdens on the industry, especially for smaller businesses (like MSMEs).
• Enhanced safety measures ensure that boilers are operated and repaired only by qualified personnel, thus improving safety for those working with boilers.

In a recent statement, NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam highlighted the potential opportunities for India arising from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to impose high tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. This would disrupt global trade relations, creating new avenues for India’s growth in international trade.

Key Points from Subrahmanyam's Statement:

• Opportunities for India: Trump’s tariff proposals, including a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, present huge trade opportunities for India. India must be prepared to capitalize on the incoming trade shift, leading to significant growth if the country acts strategically.
• S.-India Relationship: The U.S.-India relationship is not solely reliant on trade but is multi-dimensional, involving various other aspects of cooperation. This broader engagement would be taken into account in the face of shifting global trade dynamics.
• India's Trade Statistics and Trends:
  • According to the NITI Aayog’s Trade Watch Quarterly report, in the first quarter of 2024-25, India’s exports to North America constituted 21% of total exports, with the EU following at 18.61%. While exports grew by 5.95%, imports increased by 8.40%, contributing to a growing trade imbalance. The report also noted a significant decline in exports of iron and steel, particularly due to weak domestic demand and oversupply in global markets, primarily from China.

Additional Insights from the Report:

• Declining Share in Certain Exports: India’s share in global exports of certain labour-intensive sectors, including pearls, lac, gums, resins, and leather goods, has declined since 2015. This suggests challenges in maintaining competitiveness in these sectors on the global stage.
• Growth in Services Exports: A notable positive trend highlighted in the report is India’s growing share in global services exports.
  • India’s global services export share has more than doubled since 2005, reaching 4.6% in 2023.
  • This includes significant contributions from IT services (10.20%) and other business services (7.16%).

The Supreme Court underscored the severity of illegal sand mining in India, labeling it a significant issue that “needs to be dealt with effectively”.

Sand Mining in India

• Sand mining is a widespread issue across India and globally.
• It has been prevalent in various regions, including the Garo Hills in Meghalaya, Sutlej in Punjab, Yamuna in Delhi, Ganga in Haridwar, Chambal and Narmada in Madhya Pradesh, Musi in Telangana, and Cauvery in Tamil Nadu, among others.
• Globally, sand consumption is over 40 billion tons annually, with demand exceeding natural replenishment by rivers, according to a United Nations study.
• Sand, the second most consumed natural resource after water, is essential for construction, glass production, paint, and road paving, among other things.
• River sand, specifically, is preferred over desert or marine sand due to its angular grains, which are more suitable for industrial uses.
• However, sand generation is static and not uniform, leading to shortages and illegal mining. The extraction of sand from riverbeds, which is a crucial source, causes environmental and socio-economic issues.

Why the World Is Running Out of Sand?

The rapid demand for sand is driven by growing populations, urbanization, and infrastructure development. However, sand production is insufficient to meet global consumption due to:

• Static Natural Generation: Natural sand replenishment by rivers is slow and insufficient compared to the rising demand.
• Desert Sand vs. River Sand: Desert sand is unsuitable for construction as its grains are too rounded, and marine sand is corrosive. River sand is ideal, but its extraction causes long-term damage to ecosystems.
• Price Variability: Due to supply constraints, the price of sand fluctuates significantly, leading to black markets and illegal mining.

Environmental Impact of Sand Mining

• Alteration of Riverbeds: Excessive sand mining deepens rivers, erodes banks, changes river courses, and can lead to flooding.
• Biodiversity Loss: Mining harms river ecosystems, destroys habitats, and negatively impacts species like the Gharials in the Chambal River.
• Water Quality Degradation: Sand mining leads to increased erosion, which raises suspended solids in water, impacting water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
• Altered Sediment Budget: Mining disrupts sediment flow to oceans, affecting beaches and river deltas, and contributing to coastal erosion.
• Saline Intrusion: Excessive mining can lead to saltwater intrusion from nearby seas into freshwater systems.

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Fact Box:

Geology and Composition of Sand

• Sand is mainly composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles, often rich in silica (silicon dioxide or SiO2), usually in the form of quartz.
• Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), sand is classified as a "minor mineral."
• Legal Classification of Minerals in India
  • Minor Minerals: Sand falls under the category of "minor minerals" as per the MMDR Act, with the State Governments overseeing their regulation and extraction. The central government has the power to notify such minerals.
  • Major Minerals: Major minerals, including coal, uranium, iron ore, and gold, are managed by the central government. There is no official definition for "major minerals" in the MMDR Act; any mineral not listed as a minor mineral is considered a major mineral.

Regulations and Provisions for Sand Mining in India

• Since sand is a minor mineral, different state governments in India have their own rules for regulating sand concessions and mining activities. To curb illegal mining, various judicial bodies have intervened:
• National Green Tribunal (NGT): In August 2013, the NGT banned sand mining without proper environmental clearance.
• Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines 2016: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) introduced guidelines to promote scientific and environmentally friendly sand mining practices.
• Mining Surveillance System (MSS): The Ministry of Mines has implemented a system to monitor illegal mining activities using space technology.
• Punitive Measures: Under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Sections 120B and 34), illegal sand mining without a legal permit is punishable.

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake jolted Telangana's Mulugu district, with tremors reported in Hyderabad and parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Why it is unusal?

• Telangana lies in the Indian Peninsular Shield, which is composed of ancient, stable rock formations with minimal tectonic activity compared to plate boundary regions like the Himalayas.
  • Earthquakes in stable regions are typically of low magnitude, and significant quakes are rare.
  • While minor tremors may occur due to localised stress or human-induced activities like mining or reservoir-induced seismicity, the probability of a high-magnitude natural earthquake is extremely low.
• Telangana rarely experiences seismic activity, making the quake a rare event in the region. Telangana is grouped in Zone II.
  • Zone II typically represents areas with low seismic activity. The average magnitude of earthquakes in such regions depends on the geographical context but generally falls within the magnitude range of 0 to 5.0 on the Richter scale.
• The quake struck the Mulugu district, with its epicentre near Medaram, which is part of the Godavari rift zone 3.
• The Godavari rift zone is prone to moderate earthquakes. The recent quake was caused by the release of strain energy along the fault system, occurring at a depth of 40 kilometre.

Seismic zones in India

• There are four Seismic zones in India: Zone II, Zone III, Zone IV, and Zone V.
• Zone V expects the highest level of seismicity, whereas Zone II is associated with the lowest level of seismicity.
• Approximately, 11% of the country falls in zone V, approximately18% in zone IV, approximately 30% in zone III and the remaining in zone II.
• A total of approximately 59% of the landmass of India (covering all states of India) is prone to earthquakes of different intensities.

In a landmark move, India voted in favour of a pivotal United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem.

Key Points of the UNGA Resolution

• The resolution demandsIsrael’s immediate withdrawal from Palestinian territories, a move that includes the controversial East Jerusalem.
• It emphasises the realisation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination and to establish an independent state.
• The resolution goes further by demanding that Israel adhere to international law, particularly the advisory opinion issued by the International Court in July 2024.
• The court called for an end to Israel’s unlawful presence in Palestinian territories, urging the cessation of settlement activities and the evacuation of settlers.
• In addition, the resolution rejects any demographic or territorial changes in Gaza, reaffirming that the region is an integral part of Palestinian territories occupied in 1967.

India's Stance

• India's endorsement is significant, as it reflects the country's longstanding stance on the Palestinian issue and its consistent support for the realisation of a two-state solution.
• In addition to its support for Palestinian rights, India also backed a resolution demanding Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
  • It stressed the illegality of the Israeli settlement construction and other activities in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967.

The Telangana entered into a strategic agreement with Google for establishing India’s first Google Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) at Hyderabad.

About

• GSEC in Hyderabad would be the second-of-its-kind in the Asia-PAcific region, after Tokyo, and only the fifth in the world, with similar facilities in Dublin, Munich and Malaga.
• This GSEC is a specialized international cybersecurity hub that will play a vital role in developing advanced security and online safety products for the Indian context.
• The centre will focus on cutting-edge research, AI-driven security solutions, and creating a collaborative platform for leading experts and researchers in cybersecurity.
• It also aims to foster skill development, boost employment, and enhance cybersecurity capabilities in India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nigeria marks the first visit to the country in 17 years and is significant as the first African visit of his third term. It highlights the strengthening of strategic ties between India and Nigeria, underlining India’s rising global stature and the importance of its relations with African nations.

India-Nigeria Strategic Partnership

• Importance of the Visit: Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Nigeria is the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 17 years, symbolizing the strengthening of ties between the two nations.
• Nigeria’s Recognition of India: Nigeria honored Modi with its second-highest national award, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, underscoring the growing significance of India in global diplomacy.
• Areas of Cooperation: India and Nigeria have expressed interest in deepening cooperation in defense, energy, technology, trade, health, and education, with particular focus on security challenges such as terrorism and piracy.

Defense and Development Cooperation

• India as a Defense Supplier: India has become an emerging defense supplier to African nations, with Nigeria showing interest in purchasing Indian weapons, particularly following a defense delegation’s visit to Nigeria.
• Development Assistance: India’s support to Nigeria includes concessional loans (worth USD 100 million) and capacity-building training, cementing India’s role as a significant development partner for Nigeria.
• Security Cooperation: India is expected to enhance cooperation with Nigeria on counterterrorism efforts, especially in combating Boko Haram and other Islamist groups.

Challenges and Competition from China

• China’s Influence in Nigeria: China has a large presence in Nigeria, with significant investments in infrastructure and technology. Chinese loans and companies are involved in major projects such as the Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Abuja Light Rail project.
• Economic and Trade Dynamics: Despite Nigeria’s growing ties with China, India remains an important partner, though trade between the two countries has declined due to increasing oil imports from Russia.
• Global South Impact: Strengthening India-Nigeria relations is expected to enhance the larger Global South's position, promoting mutual development and cooperation among developing nations.

Practice Question:

Q. Analyze the significance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nigeria for India’s foreign policy and its implications for India’s strategic and economic interests in Africa, considering the growing competition from China.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent statements about India's declining fertility rate and the need for population growth have sparked a debate on demographic transitions, socioeconomic implications, and regional imbalances. His comments have triggered political concerns, especially regarding the potential impact on political representation and economic growth, prompting discussions on whether the population control measures should be revisited.

Fertility Rate Concerns and Political Impact

• Fertility Rate and Regional Imbalances: Bhagwat's concerns about India’s falling fertility rate, especially in Southern states, stem from fears about losing political representation as the delimitation process is based on population growth.
• Impact of Political Slogans: The call for increasing fertility rates by promoting larger families in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab, where fertility rates are already below replacement levels, ignores the complex socio-economic realities of these regions.
• Population Growth and Regional Disparities: Advocating for larger families in poorer states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh could exacerbate regional population imbalances, leading to greater disparities in economic development and political power.

Socioeconomic Challenges and Labour Market Issues

• Labour Shortage Concerns: The fear of a looming labour shortage due to declining fertility rates is unlikely to materialize in the near future, as the total fertility rate in many states is stabilizing above replacement levels.
• Labour Mobility and Skills Development: Instead of focusing on population growth, addressing labour shortages can be achieved through improved mobility, skill development, and reducing state-imposed barriers on interstate migration.
• Women in the Labour Market: Despite improvements, India's work participation rate for women remains low compared to other developing economies, and demographic changes present an opportunity to improve women’s skills and integrate them into the labour force.

Policy Responses and Future Roadmap

• Challenges for the Elderly: The rising number of elderly workers poses a challenge to the labour market. While many elderly individuals continue working due to household survival needs, the focus should be on relieving them from strenuous work and providing suitable employment.
• Support for Elderly Families: The government could consider schemes like the Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana to support families of elderly workers, providing financial relief after the demise of family members.
• Need for Strategic Planning: Rather than panicking over demographic changes, there is a need for a high-level committee to analyze demographic trends across states and devise a roadmap for future socioeconomic stability.

Practice Question:

Q. Evaluate the socio-economic implications of India’s declining fertility rate, particularly with respect to regional imbalances, labour market challenges, and the impact on political representation. How can India address these issues through policy interventions?

The United Nations Environment Programme's ambitious Global Plastics Treaty, aimed at addressing plastic pollution globally, has failed to reach a consensus despite several years of discussions. The treaty was expected to phase out plastic, particularly in marine environments, but disagreements over its implementation have led to an impasse, with the final round of talks in Busan proving unfruitful.

The Global Plastics Treaty and Its Goals

• Historical Resolution: In 2022, nearly 170 UN member countries passed a historic resolution to tackle plastic pollution, emphasizing the need for global action to reduce plastic waste, particularly in oceans.
• Divisive Views on Solutions: Despite the urgency of the issue, countries remain divided on the approach, with half of the nations advocating for production cuts, while others oppose such measures.
• Recycling vs. Production Cuts: The European Union and Pacific island nations argue that plastic’s indestructibility makes recycling an inadequate solution, proposing cuts in plastic production instead, to tackle the pollution at its source.

Disagreement Among Developing Countries

• Economic Concerns: Many large developing countries, particularly those reliant on petrochemical industries, view production cuts as an unfair economic burden and a disguised trade barrier.
• Production Cuts Viewed as Overreach: These nations, including India, argue that the call to regulate plastic production exceeds the original intent of the 2022 resolution, which was focused more on pollution management rather than controlling industrial output.
• India’s Position: India aligns with countries resisting production cuts, emphasizing its economic reliance on plastic but acknowledges its low recycling capacity (only about one-third of the annual plastic waste is recycled).

Future Prospects and the Need for Action

• Impassable Stalemate: The ongoing disagreements have stalled progress on the treaty, but reconvening next year offers a chance for a more creative and nuanced solution.
• India’s Growing Responsibility: India must balance its economic dependence on plastic with the urgent need to address its environmental and health impacts, especially considering the low recycling rate.
• Planned Transition: The need for a phased exit from plastic reliance is critical to avoid environmental disaster and to ensure India is not left behind in the global effort to combat plastic pollution.

Practice Question:

Q. Discuss the challenges and implications of the Global Plastics Treaty in addressing the issue of plastic pollution. In this context, evaluate India's position on the issue and the steps it must take to reconcile economic needs with environmental concerns.