22 April 2024 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials ENVIRONMENT 1. Preparing India for water stress, climate resilience 2. Empower the guardians of the earth, do not rob them 3. The challenges of renewable energy ECONOMY 1. Sobering assessment F. Prelims Facts 1. Australia to deepen ties with ‘top-tier partner’ India 2. The mpox virus uses a ‘genomic accordion’ to evolve and infect humans G. Tidbits H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
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B. GS 2 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: ENVIRONMENT
1. Preparing India for water stress, climate resilience
Syllabus: Conservation
Mains: Need for a Comprehensive approach to water stressÂ
Introduction:
- India faces hotter summers and longer heat waves, necessitating preparation for water stress.
- The country traditionally treats acute stresses as temporary disasters rather than chronic risks.
- Climate resilience demands a shift from panic reactions to understanding the long-term nature of challenges.
- Environmental sustainability cannot be limited to short-term initiatives like tree planting drives.
The Interconnectedness of Water in India’s Economy:
- Water is intertwined with hydrology, food production, and energy systems in India.
- Both blue (surface and groundwater) and green (soil moisture and vegetation) water are vital for agriculture, which employs nearly half of India’s population.
- Changing rainfall patterns affect agriculture, making resilience to water stress crucial for job security and economic growth.
- Water plays a pivotal role in clean energy initiatives like green hydrogen production and pumped storage hydropower.
Addressing the Impacts of Climate Crisis on Water Security:
- A significant portion of natural disasters in recent decades are water-related, emphasizing the importance of water security.
- India has witnessed a substantial increase in flood-associated events, highlighting the urgency of addressing freshwater management.
- Effective water governance policies must recognize the nexus between water, food, and energy systems.
- Policies should incorporate evidence-based approaches and community engagement to address the interdependencies of water use.
Strategies for Achieving Water Security and Climate Resilience:
- India must focus on judicious water use through water accounting and efficient reuse, aligning with national missions like the National Water Mission and AMRUT 2.0.
- Financial tools should be leveraged to raise funds for climate adaptation in the water sector, complementing existing mitigation efforts.
- Adaptation-specific interventions such as wastewater management and climate-resilient agricultural practices require increased funding.
- Market innovations like the Green Credit Programme can mobilize investments for water-related adaptation measures, bridging the funding gap.
Conclusion: Towards a Water-Secure and Climate-Resilient Economy
- Immediate systemic change may be unrealistic, but India can begin by aligning water, energy, and climate policies.
- Establishing data-driven baselines for water savings and facilitating new financial instruments can pave the way for a water-secure and climate-resilient economy.
Nut Graf: As India grapples with impending water stress and climate challenges, understanding the interconnectedness of water in its economy and implementing strategic policies for water security and climate resilience are imperative for sustainable development.
2. Empower the guardians of the earth, do not rob them
Syllabus: Conservation
Mains: Conservation reserve vs Tribal RightsÂ
Introduction:
- The islands of Meroë and Menchal hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for the indigenous southern Nicobarese people, who have traditionally managed and protected these lands for millennia.
- Community elders serve as guardians and caretakers of these islands, ensuring the sustainable use of resources and preserving their ecosystems.
- Spiritual beliefs shape the indigenous approach to conservation, with islands like Menchal being revered as the abode of spiritual entities that guide responsible resource management.
Imposition of Conservation Colonialism:
- Despite indigenous land ownership and management systems, the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) administration unilaterally declared plans to establish wildlife sanctuaries on Meroë, Menchal, and Little Nicobar islands.
- The administration failed to consult or inform the southern Nicobarese community, ignoring their traditional rights over the islands and their objections to the proposed sanctuaries.
- Official notifications designated significant portions of these islands as wildlife sanctuaries, disregarding their cultural and ecological significance to the indigenous population.
Environmental and Social Impacts of Conservation Measures:
- The selection of Meroë and Menchal Islands as conservation reserves has been criticized for its arbitrary nature, with questions raised about the actual biodiversity and abundance of key species.
- The establishment of wildlife sanctuaries coincided with controversial projects, such as the denotification of the Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary for a mega-development project on Great Nicobar.
- This mega-project is anticipated to cause extensive environmental damage, including the destruction of forests, coral reefs, and nesting sites for endangered species, as well as the displacement of indigenous communities.
Upholding Indigenous Rights and Wisdom:
- Indigenous peoples, comprising 6% of the global population, are the original guardians of approximately 22% of the planet’s landmass and 80% of its biodiversity.
- Governments worldwide often violate indigenous rights in the name of development or conservation, displacing communities from their ancestral lands.
- Instead of robbing indigenous peoples of their territories and lifeways, global efforts should focus on supporting and empowering them to continue stewarding their ancestral lands and preserving biodiversity.
Nut Graf: The unilateral imposition of wildlife sanctuaries in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands disregards indigenous rights and ecological wisdom, undermining millennia-old stewardship of ancestral lands and threatening biodiversity conservation efforts.
3. The challenges of renewable energy
Syllabus: Environmental Pollution and Degradation
Mains: Solar Energy and land acquisition issue
Introduction: The Urgency of Addressing Climate Change
- Simon Stiell, United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary, emphasizes the critical nature of the next two years for saving the planet.
- Development, sustainability, and climate change mitigation are interconnected yet not fully understood.
- Current development models contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, unsustainability, and inequality.
Challenges of Large-Scale Solar Parks:
- India’s reliance on large-scale solar parks as a cornerstone of its mitigation strategy.
- Disparate experiences of local communities near solar parks: loss of common lands, economic disparity, and water security issues.
- Competition for natural resources, including water and land, at regional and national scales.
- Potential impacts on biodiversity loss and ecosystem services.
Approaches to Mitigating Challenges and Promoting Sustainable Development:
- Exploring alternative ownership models for solar parks to promote community involvement and economic empowerment.
- Need for revising legal and regulatory frameworks to address environmental and social impacts, ensure fair compensation for landowners, and involve local governance units in planning processes.
- Overhauling wasteland classification and recognizing commons under the Forest Rights Act to improve equity and environmental outcomes.
- Encouraging research and implementation of agrivoltaics to integrate solar energy production with agricultural practices.
Seizing the Opportunity for a Sustainable Energy Revolution:
- Recognizing the potential for unintended consequences of renewable energy development.
- Aligning technological, economic, and institutional structures to maximize synergies between sustainability, climate change mitigation, and development goals.
- Emphasizing the importance of adequate skilling and training programs to mitigate adverse employment shifts and protect vulnerable populations.
Nut Graf: Amidst urgent climate action, India’s reliance on large-scale solar parks faces challenges. Disparate local experiences, resource competition, and environmental impacts necessitate revised approaches. Seizing this opportunity requires aligning energy development with sustainability and equitable development goals.
Category: ECONOMY
Syllabus: Inclusive Growth and issues arising from it
Mains: Growing Global Disparity and possible solutions
Introduction:Global Economic Outlook
- The IMF has upgraded its forecast for global growth in 2024 to 3.2%, reflecting resilience amid adverse shocks and central bank actions.
- Advanced economies, especially the U.S., have driven growth, stabilizing demand worldwide.
Growing Disparity between Economies:
- Low-income developing countries, particularly in Africa and parts of Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific, face downward growth revisions and upward inflation.
- These nations have endured severe economic setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hindering their recovery efforts.
Escalating Debt Burden and Impacts:
- Mounting debt service obligations are constraining spending on critical public goods such as education, healthcare, and social safety nets.
- The World Bank highlights that half of the world’s 75 poorest countries are experiencing widening income gaps with wealthier nations, marking a “historic reversal” in development.
- These countries, home to 1.9 billion people, are disproportionately affected by hunger and malnutrition, with governments struggling under debt distress.
Call for Global Assistance:
- Urgent support from wealthier nations is crucial to prevent further economic deterioration in the poorest nations.
- The World Bank emphasizes the need for financial backing to enable these countries to break free from the cycle of poverty and become self-sustaining contributors to global prosperity.
- Historical examples like South Korea, China, and India underscore the transformative power of international assistance in propelling nations from aid recipients to economic powerhouses.
Nut Graf: The global economy’s resilience masks a widening gap between rich and poor nations. Mounting debt burdens hinder recovery in low-income countries, demanding urgent support from wealthier nations to prevent further economic deterioration and foster global prosperity.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Australia to deepen ties with ‘top-tier partner’ India
Context:
- Australia’s National Defence Strategy (NDS) for 2024 emphasizes the importance of strengthening ties with key partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
- India is highlighted as a top-tier security partner for Australia in the NDS.
About:
- Australia views India as a crucial player in ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Australia and India underscores their commitment to practical cooperation.
- The NDS aims to deepen defence cooperation with India through various means such as bilateral and multilateral initiatives, defence industry collaboration, and information sharing.
- Australian envoy Philip Green reaffirmed India’s status as a top-tier security partner for Australia.
Significance:
- Australia plans to invest in enhancing defense relationships not only with India but also with partners across Southeast Asia, the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and North Asia.
- Recognizing the increasing risk of conflicts, including along the border with India, the NDS underscores the importance of proactive measures to maintain regional stability.
2. The mpox virus uses a ‘genomic accordion’ to evolve and infect humans
Context:
- Introduction to Poxviruses:
- Poxviruses, including infamous smallpox, have historically posed significant threats to human health.
- The smallpox vaccine led to a global effort to eradicate the disease, showcasing the power of public health initiatives.
- Emergence of Mpox:
- Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, emerged with sporadic outbreaks among humans.
- A global outbreak in 2022-2023 led to widespread concern and the WHO declaration of a public health emergency.
Issues:
- Genomic Evolution of Mpox:
- Mpox viruses possess unique genomic characteristics, including the ability to expand or contract their genome.
- These genomic changes, facilitated by duplications, mutations, and deletions, allow mpox to adapt to selective evolutionary pressures.
- Impact of 2022 Outbreak:
-
- The 2022 outbreak, primarily driven by a highly transmissible clade IIb, infected thousands globally.
- Despite a decline in new infections, mpox continues to circulate among unvaccinated populations, raising concerns about the emergence of more virulent strains.
Significance:
- Genomic Studies:
- Recent research, including a study published in Nature Communications, sheds light on mpox’s genomic architecture.
- Specific genomic regions, previously overlooked, were found to influence the virus’s transmissibility and evolutionary trajectory.
- Clade Diversity and Virulence:
- Mpox genomes are categorized into two broad clades, each with distinct lineages and virulence profiles.
- Clade I was implicated in a significant outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, highlighting the importance of genomic surveillance in tracking viral spread and evolution.
- Public Health Implications:
- Timely genomic investigations aid in understanding viral dynamics and guiding public health interventions to contain outbreaks.
- Coordinated efforts, combining genomic research and public health initiatives, are essential for mitigating the threat of emerging pathogens and safeguarding global health security.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements:
- Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydro power.
- Yellow hydrogen is produced by extracting hydrogen gas from water through electrolysis using solar power.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
- Only 1
- Only 2
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: Both the statements are correct.Â
Q2. Both India and Australia are members of which of the following?
- Quad
- AUKUS
- Indian Ocean Rim Association
- ASEAN
Choose the correct answer:
- 1,3 and 4 only
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation: India is not a member of AUKUS.
Q3. Consider the following statements:
- International Development Association (IDA) is a multinational financial institution providing aid to poor countries in the form of loans.
- Collectively IBRD and IDA are known as the World Bank.Â
- IBRD and IDA share the same leadership.
How many of these statements is/are incorrect?
- Only 1
- Only 2
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation: All statements are correct
Q4. Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, often seen in news is located in:
- Andaman and Nicobar
- Odisha
- West Bengal
- Kerala
CHECK ANSWER-
Answer: a
Explanation: It is located in Andaman and Nicobar. It was denotified for a ₹72,000-crore mega project on Great Nicobar.
Q5. Consider the following statements with respect to Mpox:
- Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease with symptoms similar to smallpox.
- Primary infection is through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of an infected animal.
Which of these statements is/are incorrect?
-
- Only 1
- Only 2
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWER-
Answer: d
Explanation: Both the statements are correct.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- With the onset of hotter summers and longer heat waves, discuss the challenges and strategies for ensuring water security in India. Examine the importance of integrating water management with the agriculture and energy sectors to build a climate-resilient economy. (15 Marks, 250 Words) (General Studies – III, Environment)​
- Evaluate the underlying factors contributing to disparities between the economic growth trajectories of advanced economies and those of the developing countries and discuss the potential policy measures that could be adopted by international institutions like the IMF and the World Bank to mitigate these disparities. (15 Marks, 250 Words) (General Studies – III, Economy)​
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