15 Apr 2024: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

B. GS 2 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

Category: ENVIRONMENT

1. Decoding the judgment on Jim Corbett

Syllabus: Conservation

Mains: Environmental compensation

Introduction: Unveiling the Unholy Nexus

• The Supreme Court’s March ruling exposed collusion between politicians, forest officials, and contractors leading to the illegal felling of 6,000 trees in Jim Corbett National Park.
• Despite conservation laws like the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger, revenue generation often supersedes environmental preservation.

Eco-Centrism over Anthropocentrism:

• The Court criticized the focus on ecotourism for revenue generation and conservation, advocating instead for an eco-centric approach.
• It banned tiger safaris in core areas and formed a committee to evaluate the feasibility of allowing them in peripheral zones across India.
• Disagreement with the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s guidelines regarding tiger safaris resembling zoo experiences was expressed.

Application of the Precautionary Principle:

• The Court invoked the precautionary principle to minimize environmental harm by banning safaris in core areas, citing the irreversible damage posed by biodiversity loss.
• Reference was made to the endangerment of numerous species in India, emphasizing the principle’s relevance beyond tigers.

Limitations in Assessing Damage and Recovery:

• Despite the directive to recover costs for environmental restoration, a lack of a well-defined methodology poses challenges.
• Existing methodologies like compensatory afforestation levy and net present value fail to accurately account for the correlation between tree removal and harm to environmental goods and services.

Advocating for Ecosystem Services Valuation:

• Given the degradation of biodiversity hotspots and the promotion of revenue-generating ecotourism, the Court missed an opportunity to prioritize ecosystem services valuation.
• The importance of ecosystem services in revenue generation could have been emphasized, and the need for precise laws and policies regarding them could have been highlighted.
• The International Court of Justice’s reasoning in similar cases could have been utilized to better understand methodologies for evaluating environmental damage and compensations.

Nut Graf: The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Jim Corbett exposes political-forest contractor collusion, advocating an eco-centric approach over ecotourism. It invokes the precautionary principle but falls short on precise damage assessment and prioritizing ecosystem services valuation.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Breach of convention

Context: Ecuador’s recent raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito is a blatant breach of diplomatic norms outlined in the Vienna Convention.

About:
The controversial move to arrest former Vice-President Jorge David Glas underscores President Daniel Noboa’s crackdown on corruption, yet raises concerns of political manipulation.
Tensions escalated when Mexico granted asylum to Glas, prompting Ecuador’s expulsion of the Mexican ambassador and a diplomatic showdown.
However, as Ecuador grapples with internal turmoil, including escalating gang violence and political instability, the raid appears as a diversion from pressing domestic issues.
While addressing corruption is crucial, violating international law undermines Ecuador’s credibility and distracts from urgent challenges.

Significance: As Ecuadorians prepare to vote on security measures, the government must prioritize lawful strategies to combat violence and restore order, rather than resorting to diplomatic recklessness.

2. What is doxxing and what measures can you take if it happens to you?

Context: Doxxing, the act of publicly revealing private information online without consent, poses severe threats to individuals’ safety and privacy.
About:
It involves sharing personal details like addresses, phone numbers, or medical information, often leading to harassment, stalking, or even physical harm.
Victims face immense challenges in securing their digital and physical well-being, requiring legal recourse and support from social media platforms.
Companies like Meta and Google have mechanisms to address doxxing, but stronger enforcement and awareness are essential.
Victims must document incidents, report to authorities, and take steps to protect themselves online.

Significance: While recovery is possible, vigilance and community support are crucial in combating this pervasive digital threat.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. ‘Doxxing’ often seen in news refers to:

1. Creating digitally manipulated synthetic media to replace one person’s likeness convincingly with that of another.
2. The act of publicly providing personally identifiable information about an individual or organization via the Internet, without their consent.
3. The practice in which firms and governments misleadingly mark all kinds of activities as climate-friendly.
4. A type of malware attack in which the attacker locks and encrypts the victim’s data.

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation: Doxxing is the act of publicly providing personally identifiable information about an individual or organization via the Internet, without their consent.

Q2. ‘Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)’, ‘BOOMERanG’, and ’Planck’ are:

1. Telescopes in space
2. Models to measure how fast the universe is expanding
3. Cryogenic engines
4. Space missions to Mars

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation: ‘Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)’, ‘BOOMERanG’, and ’Planck’ are three telescopes in space.

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. Ecuador is on South America’s west coast.
2. Galápagos Islands are a part of Ecuador and a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Which of these statements is/are incorrect?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation: Both the statements are correct.

Q4. Which of these rivers flow through the Corbett National Park:

1. Ramganga
2. Sonanadi
3. Mandal

Choose the correct option:

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: The Ramganga river along with its significant tributaries Sonanadi, Palain, and Mandal forms the prominent hydrological resource for the Corbett.

Q5. Chabahar Port often seen in news is located in:

1.  Israel
2. Bangladesh
3. Iran
4. Iraq

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: The port of Chabahar is located in South eastern Iran in the Gulf of Oman.  It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the ocean.