21 May 2024 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related C. GS 3 Related SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. An overlooked molecule could solve the Venus water mystery D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials POLITY 1. Critical times call for strong judicial adjudication ECONOMY 1. India-China consumption comparison F. Prelims Facts 1. Questions arise over future of Parliament security unit 2. The baobab’s journey from Madagascar to Africa and Australia 3. Plea for warrant against Netanyahu, Hamas leaders at ICC G. Tidbits H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
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B. GS 2 Related
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C. GS 3 Related
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. An overlooked molecule could solve the Venus water mystery
Syllabus: Developments in Science and Technology
Prelims: Venus
Mains: Mystery of Venus water
Context: The mystery of Venus’ water loss has long puzzled scientists. Despite being similar in size and composition to Earth, Venus is 100,000 times drier. This disparity raises questions about planetary habitability and the history of water on both Venus and Earth. Recent research offers a potential solution to this mystery, highlighting an overlooked chemical reaction involving the formyl cation (HCO+).
Historical Context
- Early Venus: Over four billion years ago, Venus may have had enough water to cover its surface with an ocean 3 km deep. Today, it has only enough for a 3 cm deep ocean.
- Water Loss: Scientists have accounted for much of the water loss over 4.5 billion years but not all.
Recent Findings
- New Research: A team of scientists in the U.S. reported findings that could explain the previously unaccounted water loss.
- HCO+ Role: The study suggests that a chemical reaction involving the formyl cation (HCO+) in Venus’ upper atmosphere may have significantly contributed to water loss.
Mechanism of Water Loss
- Atmospheric Conditions: Venus’ carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere causes a strong greenhouse effect, resulting in surface temperatures hotter than the boiling point of water.
- Proximity to Sun: The Sun’s heat and ultraviolet radiation break down water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, which then escape into space.
- Hydrodynamic Escape: Initially, hydrogen gas leaked to space as the outer atmosphere expanded and heated by the Sun, lasting until about 2.5 billion years ago.
Key Discoveries
- HCO+ Dissociative Recombination (DR): The overlooked reaction, where HCO+ absorbs an electron and breaks into CO and a hydrogen atom, accelerates hydrogen escape.
- Model Predictions: The research team’s models show that HCO+ DR could have doubled the rate of water loss, meaning Venus’ oceans could have lasted longer than previously thought.
- Present Water Levels: The model suggests that the amount of water on Venus has remained roughly the same for nearly 2 billion years.
Challenges and Indirect Evidence
- Lack of Direct Proof: There is no direct evidence of HCO+ ions in Venus’ atmosphere.
- Indirect Evidence: Data from past missions like NASA’s Pioneer Venus orbiter suggest the presence of molecules necessary for HCO+ formation.
Future Missions
- Upcoming Missions: Most upcoming missions to Venus focus on the lower atmosphere, not the upper atmosphere where HCO+ would be found.
- Call for Research: Scientists urge future missions to include searches for HCO+ to confirm its role in water loss.
Significance
Planetary Habitability
- Understanding Water Loss: Solving the mystery of Venus’ water loss helps in understanding planetary habitability and the differences between Earth and Venus.
- Implications for Earth: Insights from Venus’ water history could inform our understanding of Earth’s water and its long-term stability.
Scientific Advancement
- Innovative Research: The findings represent a significant advance in planetary science, potentially filling a long-standing gap in our knowledge.
- Global Collaboration: The study highlights the importance of international cooperation in advancing space research and exploring fundamental questions about our solar system.
Nut Graf: The discovery of the potential role of HCO+ in Venus’ water loss offers a promising solution to a longstanding planetary mystery. This research underscores the need for continued exploration and study of Venus, particularly its upper atmosphere, to fully understand the planet’s history and its implications for planetary habitability.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: POLITY
1. Critical times call for strong judicial adjudication
Syllabus: GS-2, Functioning of Judiciary
Mains: Need for timely judicial review
Introduction:
- The Supreme Court of India will soon examine the constitutionality of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and its rules.
- Concerns arise from the unclear fate of applicants whose citizenship requests are denied, potentially leading to their detention.
- Questions about dual citizenship for foreign applicants, conflicting with the parent Act’s spirit, have been raised.
Legislative Presumption and Judicial Interdiction:
- Generally, laws made by Parliament are presumed valid unless they clearly breach constitutional provisions (Manish Kumar vs Union Of India, 2021).
- The Supreme Court has stated that legislative malice is beyond the jurisdiction of law courts (Gurudevdatta VKSSS Maryadit vs State Of Maharashtra, 2001).
Contemporary Challenges and Judicial Response:
- Populist regimes often pass motivated or targeted legislation, requiring a proactive judicial approach.
- Adhering to outdated presumptions of law validity undermines the counter-majoritarian role of constitutional courts.
- Failure to interdict harmful laws timely can lead to irreversible consequences, as seen in the demonetisation and Kashmir special status cases.
Examples of Judicial Interdiction and Missed Opportunities:
- The Supreme Court’s radical judgment in Anoop Baranwal vs Union of India (2023) called for an independent body to select the Election Commission of India.
- The new Chief Election Commissioner Act (2023) undermines this judgment, yet the Court refused to interdict its operation (Jaya Thakur vs Union of India, 2024).
- Failure to act against unconstitutional statutes threatens the democratic foundation of free and fair elections.
Targeted Legislation and Judicial Response:
- According to the article, the CAA is a clear example of targeted legislation, excluding Muslims from the citizenship process based on religion.
- The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act (2019) criminalized instant triple talaq, which the Supreme Court had already invalidated, leading to adverse effects on Muslim women.
- Anti-conversion laws in certain states follow similar divisive agendas.
Lessons from the U.S. and Indian Precedents:
- U.S. scholar Susannah W. Pollvogt argues that “animus can never constitute a legitimate state interest” in equal protection analysis, citing the exclusion of “hippies” in the United States Dept. of Agriculture vs Moreno (1973) as discriminatory.
- The Indian Supreme Court has successfully interdicted parliamentary legislation in cases like Ashoka Kumar Thakur vs Union of India (2007) and Rakesh Vaishnav vs Union of India (2021).
Conclusion:
- Judicial review must be strong, immediate, and unambiguous for statutes that are unconstitutional or divisive.
- The Supreme Court should learn from past insensitivity and understand the political consequences of delayed judicial review.
- Timely intervention is crucial to uphold constitutional adjudication against malicious and unconstitutional laws.
Nut Graf: The Supreme Court must adopt a proactive and rigorous judicial review to counteract populist and targeted legislation, ensuring the protection of constitutional democracy by timely interdicting laws that are discriminatory or undermine democratic principles.
Category: ECONOMY
1. India-China consumption comparison
Syllabus: Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment
Mains: India as sweet spot of investment amidst rising consumption vis-a-vis China
Introduction:
- India’s Population Surpasses China: In 2023, India became the world’s most populous country, surpassing China.
- China’s Declining Birth Rate: China faces a declining birth rate (6.4 births per 1,000 people) and a total fertility rate of about 1%, leading to a negative population growth rate for the first time in six decades.
- India’s Growing Population: India’s population, despite reaching replacement levels (total fertility rate of 2.1), is expected to grow and peak around 2060.
Consumption Expenditure Comparisons:
- Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE): PFCE as a percentage of GDP is higher in India (58%) than in China (38%).
- Aggregate Consumption Data: Despite China’s economy being five times larger than India’s, China’s PFCE is only about 3.5 times that of India’s.
- Recent Trends: From 2018 to 2022, India’s PFCE increased from $1.64 trillion to $2.10 trillion, while China’s PFCE showed fluctuations, including a decline in 2022.
Economic and Consumption Patterns:
- Government Consumption: Final consumption, including government expenditure, constitutes 68% of India’s GDP and 53% of China’s GDP, indicating a larger role for government consumption in China.
- Nominal vs. PPP Figures: In nominal terms, China’s PFCE is significantly higher, but in PPP terms, the gap is smaller with China’s PFCE being approximately 1.5 times that of India’s.
Sectoral Expenditure and Growth Rates:
- Spending Categories: India’s spending is higher on food, clothing, footwear, and transport, while China spends more on housing, white goods, recreation, education, and healthcare.
- Real Growth Rates: India’s real growth rates in individual spending categories often outpace China’s nominal growth rates.
- Consumption Patterns: India’s consumption pattern reflects that of a developing market, while China’s resembles that of a more developed market.
Implications for Foreign Businesses:
- India’s Growing Appeal: The increasing spending power of India’s consumer class could enhance its attractiveness to foreign businesses compared to China.
- China+1 Strategy: The evolving consumption trends in India amidst the China+1 narrative may position India as a more appealing destination for foreign investment over time.
Nut Graf: India’s burgeoning consumer class, marked by higher consumption expenditure and population growth, is increasingly appealing to foreign businesses. Despite China’s larger economy, India’s consumption patterns and growth rates suggest a promising shift in global investment preferences amidst the China+1 strategy.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Questions arise over future of Parliament security unit
Context: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) recently took over the security of most parts of the Parliament, raising concerns about the future of the unarmed Parliament Security Service (PSS). The PSS, historically known as the Watch and Ward staff, has been integral to Parliament security since its establishment in 1929, following a bombing incident by Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt.
Historical Context
- Origins: The PSS was initially formed in 1929 after a bombing incident in the Central Legislative Assembly, now the old Parliament building.
- Evolution: Renamed from Watch and Ward to Parliament Security Service (PSS) in 2008 during P.D.T. Achary’s tenure as Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha.
Recent Changes
- CISF Deployment: CISF has been deployed in the new Parliament building for security purposes. This shift follows an in-principle approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after a security breach in December 2023.
- Previous Security Arrangements: Before the CISF, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) handled peripheral security, and the Delhi Police were responsible for frisking and scanning bags.
Recognition and Interaction
- MP Identification: CISF personnel may not be adept at recognizing MPs and former MPs, unlike the PSS staff who are trained for such interactions.
- Public Interaction Experience: CISF’s limited experience in public interaction, primarily handling security at airports and Metro stations, raises concerns about their suitability for the unique environment of Parliament.
Autonomy and Precedent
- Orders from MHA: Deployment orders issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, rather than the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, set a contentious precedent regarding the autonomy of Parliament.
- Role of Lok Sabha Secretariat: Traditionally, the overall security is administered by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, raising questions about the new chain of command.
PSS Staff Concerns
- Future Employment: PSS officials are worried about potential forced retirements at age 55 and a lack of new hiring, causing uncertainty about their job security.
- Changes in Administration: Recent administrative changes have seen the PSS’s attendance application rebranded from “Parliament of India” to “Government of India,” signalling shifts in their employment status.
Security and Tradition
- Historical Role: The PSS has a long-standing role in ensuring the security of Parliament and facilitating the functioning of elected representatives.
- Security Protocols: The change in security protocols could impact the operational efficiency and security dynamics within the Parliament.
2. The baobab’s journey from Madagascar to Africa and Australia
Context: The baobab tree, known for its distinctive appearance, is native to Madagascar, Africa, and Australia. Its peculiar morphology, resembling an inverted tree with roots reaching towards the sky, has long intrigued scientists. Recent genomic analyses, combined with ecological and geological data, have unravelled the baobab’s mysterious journey from Madagascar to Africa and Australia.
Historical and Geological Context
- Origin: The baobab lineage originated in Madagascar approximately 21 million years ago.
- Dispersal: The baobab reached Africa and Australia around 12 million years ago.
- Madagascar’s Biodiversity: Madagascar is known for its unique flora and fauna, making it a crucial location for understanding the evolution of various species, including the baobab.
Mechanism of Dispersal
- Seed Dispersal: The study suggests that baobab seed pods floated across the Indian Ocean, aided by ocean currents.
- Indian Ocean Gyre: This oceanic current played a significant role in transporting seed pods from Madagascar to Africa and Australia.
- Vegetation Rafts: The plants likely reached these distant destinations by floating on or with vegetation rafts.
Extinction and Survival
- Extinct Lineages: Two baobab lineages went extinct in Madagascar.
- Surviving Species: The baobab managed to establish itself in Africa and Australia, where it continues to thrive.
Ecological Role and Threats
- Ecological Importance: Baobabs provide essential resources for wildlife and humans, including food, shelter, and medicine.
- Environmental Threats: The survival of baobabs is threatened by climate change and human activities, which could impact their ecological role and longevity.
Scientific Insights
- Evolutionary History: Understanding the baobab’s journey enhances knowledge of plant evolution and long-distance seed dispersal mechanisms.
- Climate Adaptation: Studying baobabs can provide insights into how plants adapt to different climates and environments.
3. Plea for warrant against Netanyahu, Hamas leaders at ICC
Context: A recent plea has been made to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This landmark request has stirred significant controversy and varying reactions from different stakeholders.
Background of the ICC Plea
- Prosecutor’s Request: The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, has applied for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of crimes including “starvation,” “willful killing,” and “extermination and/or murder.”
- Hamas Leaders: The plea also targets Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh for crimes such as “extermination,” “rape,” and “taking hostages as a war crime.”
Historical Context
- ICC Investigation: The ICC initiated an investigation in 2021 into potential war crimes by both Israeli forces and Hamas in the Palestinian territories. This investigation has now expanded to include recent escalations of violence since the October 7, 2023, attacks.
- Specific Allegations: The charges against Netanyahu and Gallant focus on systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians, while the charges against Hamas leaders relate to the killing of Israeli civilians during the October 2023 attacks.
Legal and Political Controversy
- Outrage in Israel: Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Israel Katz, have condemned the ICC’s actions as a “historical disgrace,” arguing that the accusations are unjust and politically motivated.
- Enforcement Challenges: The ICC relies on member states to enforce arrest warrants, and with no enforcement mechanism of its own, the practical impact of these warrants remains uncertain.
Impact on International Relations
- Travel Restrictions: If the warrants are issued, Netanyahu’s travel to the 124 ICC member states could be complicated, as these states would be legally obliged to arrest him.
- Symbolic Significance: While the warrants may not result in immediate arrests, they carry symbolic weight, highlighting ongoing international concerns about actions taken by both Israeli and Hamas leaders.
Legal and Humanitarian Implications
- Accountability: The plea underscores the ICC’s role in seeking accountability for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, aiming to uphold international law and protect civilian populations.
- Deterrence: Such legal actions may serve as a deterrent against future violations by signalling that international bodies are monitoring and willing to act against alleged perpetrators.
Solutions
Diplomatic and Legal Strategies
- International Cooperation: Increased cooperation among ICC member states is crucial for the enforcement of any potential warrants.
- Dialogue and Negotiation: Diplomatic efforts should be intensified to address the underlying conflicts and promote a peaceful resolution, reducing the likelihood of future atrocities.
Strengthening ICC Mechanisms
- Enhanced Enforcement: The international community needs to strengthen mechanisms to ensure compliance with ICC rulings, possibly through sanctions or other diplomatic pressures.
- Public Awareness: Raising awareness about the ICC’s findings and the importance of international justice can help garner global support for its initiatives.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. ‘Akatsuki’ spacecraft was launched to study the atmosphere of which of these planets?
- Mars
- Venus
- Saturn
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: Akatsuki is a spacecraft that studies the atmospheric circulation of Venus with four cameras and a radio science technique. It entered the Venus orbit in 2015.
Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to Judicial Review:
- It is the power of the judiciary to review any act or order of the legislative and executive wings and to pronounce upon the constitutional validity when challenged.
- It is considered as a basic structure of the Indian Constitution.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: Both the statements are correct. Judicial review is considered a basic structure of the Constitution (Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain Case).
Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to Total Fertility Rate (TFR):
- It is the level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next.
- According to the United Nations Population Division, a TFR of about 2.1 children per woman is called replacement-level fertility.
Which of these statements is/are incorrect?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation: Both the statements are correct. TFR lower than 2.1 children per woman indicates that a generation is not producing enough children to replace itself, eventually leading to an outright reduction in population.
Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to All India Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (CES):
- It is a biennial survey.
- It is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
- It is designed to collect information on the consumption spending patterns of urban households across the country.
How many of these statements is/are incorrect?
- One only
- Two only
- All three
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: The CES is a quinquennial (recurring every five years). It is designed to collect information on the consumption spending patterns of urban households across the country, both urban and rural.
Q5. Consider the following statements with respect to planet Venus:
- Its atmosphere has a carbon dioxide-rich composition.
- The planet’s surface is hotter than water’s boiling point.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: Both the statements are correct.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- While India’s private consumption is much higher than that of China, the overall per capita consumption of India is lagging behind China. How do you interpret this? (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-3, Economy]
- Independence of the Judiciary means independence from the Executive and Legislature, but not independence from accountability. Comment. (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-2, Polity]
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