16 Apr 2024: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
C. GS 3 Related
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. How does hydrocarbon extraction happen?
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
GEOGRAPHY
1. India’s Arctic imperative
ENVIRONMENT
1. What share of global CO₂ emissions come from aviation?
SECURITY
1. Siachen: 40 years of Op Meghdoot
F. Prelims Facts
1. March wholesale price inflation quickens to 3-month high of 0.53%
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Category: ENVIRONMENT

1. What share of global CO₂ emissions come from aviation?

Syllabus: GS-3, Environmental Pollution 

Mains: Role of aviation sector in Environmental Pollution 

Introduction: 

• Aviation contributes 2.5% to global CO2 emissions but has a higher impact on global warming due to factors beyond just CO2 emissions.
• Despite the relatively low percentage of emissions attributed to aviation, it remains one of the most carbon-intensive activities globally.

Factors Driving Aviation Emissions:

• Demand Trends and Efficiency Improvements:
  • Passenger and freight demand in aviation have quadrupled between 1990 and 2019, reaching over 8 trillion passenger kilometres in 2019.
  • Energy efficiency in aviation has more than doubled during the same period, with the energy required per passenger-km decreasing from 2.9 to 1.3 megajoules (MJ).
  • Improved design, technology, larger aircraft, and higher passenger load factors have contributed to increased energy efficiency.
• Carbon Intensity and Fuel Usage:
  • Carbon intensity, indicating the amount of CO2 emitted per unit of energy, has remained constant over the years.
  • Standard jet fuel, the primary fuel used in aviation, has not undergone significant changes in terms of carbon emissions per unit of energy.
  • Alternative fuels like biofuels remain a minor fraction of global aviation fuel usage.
• Impact on CO2 Emissions:
  • Despite efficiency gains, the increase in demand has led to a doubling of emissions from 1990 to 2019.
  • In 1990, global aviation emitted around 0.5 billion tonnes of CO2, which increased to approximately 1 billion tonnes in 2019.
  • The gains in efficiency have partially offset the emissions from increased demand but have not been sufficient to reduce overall emissions.

Long-Term Perspective and Global Share of Emissions:

• Global CO2 emissions from aviation have quadrupled since the 1960s, indicating a significant long-term impact on climate change.
• Aviation’s share of global CO2 emissions has fluctuated between 2% and 2.5% since the mid-1990s, with a notable increase since 2010.

Nut Graf: Aviation’s 2.5% share of global CO2 emissions belies its significant impact on climate change. Quadrupled since the 1960s, emissions have doubled since 1990, despite efficiency gains, highlighting the sector’s ongoing environmental challenge.

Category: SECURITY

1. India’s Arctic imperative

Syllabus: GS-3, Security Challenges and Their Management in Border Areas

Mains: Operation Meghdoot

Introduction:

• Siachen Glacier: Located in the Karakoram ranges, it holds strategic significance, lying between India, Pakistan, and China. Read more on the Siachen Glacier in the link.
• Historical Background: Siachen’s status stems from the Partition in 1947, with conflicting interpretations of territorial claims by India and Pakistan.

Genesis of Operation Meghdoot:

• Mountaineering Expeditions: Pakistani mountaineering activities prompted India’s preemptive action in 1984.
• Operation Meghdoot: Launched on April 13, 1984, it aimed to secure the glacier, led by Col. Narinder ‘Bull’ Kumar and Captain Sanjay Kulkarni.
• Key Events: In 1987, Indian forces captured Quaid post, later renamed Bana Top, under Operation Rajiv.

Learn more about Operation Meghdoot in the linked article.

Challenges and Endurance:

• Harsh Conditions: Extreme weather and high altitudes pose significant challenges.
• Military Operations: Initial phases relied on limited equipment, with subsequent advancements including IAF operations and modern equipment.
• Human Endurance: Soldiers endure extreme conditions, with ongoing advancements in logistics and medical support.

Recent Developments and Future Outlook:

• Technological Advancements: Improvements in communication, mobility, logistics, and medical facilities enhance operational efficiency.
• Climate Change Impact: The glacier has receded significantly, highlighting environmental concerns.
• Geopolitical Implications: Siachen’s status remains a point of contention amid broader regional tensions, complicating any potential resolution.

Nut Graf: The Siachen conflict, spanning four decades, centres on territorial disputes between India and Pakistan. Operation Meghdoot, launched in 1984, secured the glacier, presenting enduring challenges amid recent technological advancements and ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Q1. India has operated a research base in the Arctic named:

Q2. As per the ‘Kaya identity’, often seen in news, CO2 Greenhouse gas emissions 
can be expressed as a product of how many of these factors?

Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to Operation Meghdoot:

Q4. How many of the following hydrocarbons are used for commercial fuel purposes?

Q5. Arrange the following from north to south: