23-December-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

INDIA’S CHALLENGE IN THE GLOBAL WARMING FIGHT

TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU

The global effort to combat climate change is facing significant obstacles, India’s development goals must align with climate commitments, especially as international expectations grow for early peaking of emissions and transitioning to net-zero emissions by 2070.

Global Climate Negotiations and Challenges

• The COP29 in Azerbaijan yielded limited progress, reflecting global challenges in reaching consensus on climate action.
• Developed nations aim for net-zero by 2050, China by 2060, and India by 2070, but pressure is increasing for India to shorten this timeline.
• Mechanisms like the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), effective from 2026, impose trade penalties unless exporting nations meet high carbon pricing standards.
• G7 countries urge India and China to establish peaking emissions by 2025.

India’s Twin Challenges

• Balancing Growth and Sustainability: India’s electricity consumption is far below the global average. While developed countries aim to diversify energy sources, India needs to both grow its energy output and transition to cleaner sources.
• Peaking Emissions: Peaking refers to stabilizing emissions before reducing them. India may have only a decade to achieve emissions stabilization, requiring accelerated efforts.

Energy Transition Strategies

• Scaling Up Generation: To sustain economic growth, India must rapidly expand electricity generation capacity. Transitioning to clean energy requires substantial investments in renewables and nuclear power.
• Nuclear Energy as a Key Player: Nuclear power is cost-efficient and less land-intensive compared to renewables. Scaling nuclear energy requires government backing, joint ventures, and public-private partnerships.

Cost and Land Constraints

• Renewable energy demands vast land and storage infrastructure.
• Nuclear energy offers a more cost-effective solution with lower land requirements.

Financial and Policy Support

• Developing nations demand $1.3 trillion annually for energy transition, while COP29 commitments remain at $300 billion.
• Financing options, including green loans and higher tariffs, require public and political consensus.

Carbon Space Equity

• Developed nations have already established their share of the global carbon budget through early peaking.
• India must ramp up clean energy generation to claim its equitable share of carbon space for future growth.

Conclusion

India’s energy transition is a race against time, balancing growth, sustainability, and international pressure. Strategic investments in nuclear energy, equitable carbon policies, and strong financing mechanisms are crucial to securing India’s development and climate goals.

INDIA STATE OF FOREST REPORT (ISFR)

TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: PIB

The ‘India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023)’ was recently released by the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.

About India State of Forest Report (ISFR)

• Published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) every two years since 1987.
• Provides a detailed analysis of forest and tree resources using remote sensing satellite data and National Forest Inventory (NFI).
• The 18th edition of the report presents data on:
  • Forest cover, tree cover, mangroves, and growing stock.
  • Carbon stock, forest fire incidents, and Agroforestry.

Key Findings of ISFR 2023

Forest and Tree Cover: Total forest and tree cover in India: 25.17% of the country’s geographical area.

• Forest cover: 21.76%.
• Tree cover: 3.41%.

Increase in forest and tree cover compared to the 2021 assessment.

States with Notable Changes

• Maximum increase in forest and tree cover: Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• Maximum increase in forest cover: Mizoram, Gujarat, and Odisha.

States with Largest Coverage

• Forest and tree cover (area-wise): Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
• Forest cover (area-wise): Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
• Forest cover (percentage-wise): Lakshadweep (91.33%), Mizoram, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Other Highlights

• States/UTs with over 33% forest cover: 19 (8 have more than 75% forest cover).
• Mangrove cover: Total of 4,992 sq km.
• Bamboo resources: Increase in bamboo-bearing areas since 2021.

Carbon Stock

• India’s carbon stock: 30.43 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
• Significant progress towards the target of 2.5-3 billion tonnes additional carbon sink by 2030 (baseline: 2005).

Significance

The ISFR 2023 highlights India’s efforts in forest conservation, carbon sequestration, and sustainable resource management, contributing to global climate goals.

INDIA’S UNDERSEA WARFARE POWER

TOPIC: (GS3) SEQURITY: THE HINDU

The Indian Navy has significantly advanced its undersea warfare capabilities, strengthening its role as a key security partner in the Indian Ocean. These developments align with India’s vision of regional stability under SAGAR and an inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Key Developments in Undersea Warfare

Commissioning of INS Arighaat

• India inducted its second indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighaat, in August 2024.
• INS Arighaat enhances the nuclear deterrence triad with advanced features like improved sonar, propulsion systems, and acoustic dampening.
• The submarine successfully tested the K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) with a range of 3,500 km, potentially bringing most of China within striking range.

Project-77 Approval

• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the construction of two nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) under Project-77 at a cost of ₹40,000 crore.
• These SSNs are expected to feature 90% indigenous content and be delivered by 2036-37.
• With these additions, India will become the only non-P5 nation to operate both SSBNs and SSNs, enhancing its strategic capabilities.

Conventional Submarines and Emerging Technologies

Expansion of Project-75

• The sixth Scorpene-class submarine, INS Vaghsheer, will soon join the fleet under Project-75.
• Plans are underway to commission three more such submarines, with 60% indigenous content, to replace aging ones.

Project-75(I)

• This initiative focuses on inducting Air Independent Propulsion (AIP)-enabled submarines, with contenders from Spain (Navantia) and Germany (Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems).
• Indigenous content for these submarines is expected to increase progressively, starting at 45%.

Development of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)

• India has approved the construction of 100-tonne UUVs at a cost of ₹2,500 crore.
• These low-cost, high-impact systems will strengthen India’s ability to counter evolving maritime threats.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Budgetary and Procedural Issues: Addressing mismatched budgets, streamlining acquisition processes, and ensuring sustained funding are critical to achieving modernization goals.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaboration with friendly nations aligns with India’s vision of SAGAR and supports its emergence as a prominent maritime power in the Indo-Pacific region.

Conclusion

India’s focus on undersea warfare marks a pivotal step in strengthening its maritime defense. However, addressing budgetary constraints and ensuring timely execution of projects will be essential to maintaining a balanced and effective naval force capable of meeting regional security challenges.

FROM WASTE TO ENERGY TO POLLUTION: THE ROLE OF THERMAL AND WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANTS

TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU

Delhi consistently records some of the worst air pollution levels in India, far exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Major contributors include human activities, coal-based thermal plants, and waste-to-energy (WtE) facilities. Despite interventions, pollution levels remain alarming, requiring a reassessment of these facilities’ roles in worsening air quality.

Causes of Air Pollution in Delhi

• Burning of coal, biomass, petrol, diesel, and gas in industries.
• Vehicular emissions and large-scale construction activities.
• Kitchen smoke, crop residue burning, and firecrackers.

• Winter Worsening: Temperature inversion during winters traps pollutants closer to the ground, deteriorating air quality further.

Thermal Power Plants: A Major Polluter

• Sulphur Dioxide Emissions: Thermal plants emit sulphur dioxide at levels significantly higher than stubble burning.

• Compliance with flue-gas desulfurization systems, as mandated by the Ministry of Environment, is often delayed. Deadlines have now been pushed to 2035.

• Limited Accountability: Unlike heavy penalties imposed on farmers for stubble burning, thermal plants continue to operate despite repeated non-compliance.

Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Plants: A Hidden Threat

• Delhi’s WtE plants at Ghazipur, Narela, Okhla, and Tehkhand burn garbage to produce electricity but release toxic gases and particulate matter.
• Incineration produces bottom ash (20-30% of original waste) and fly ash, which contain harmful substances like cadmium and dioxins.
• WtE plants fail to comply with ecological norms, leading to severe air and water pollution.
• Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) does not address emissions from WtE plants.

Global Comparison and Technological Gaps

• Advanced Technologies Abroad: New-generation WtE plants in other countries use stoker or oxygen enrichment technology for cleaner operations. Many plants adopt smelting processes to minimize emissions.
• Technological Deficit in Delhi: Lack of modern incinerators or pollution control systems in Delhi’s WtE plants intensifies environmental hazards.

Impact on Marginalized Communities

• WtE plants are often located near underprivileged areas, disproportionately affecting residents with toxic air and water contamination.
• Environmental justice demands an immediate evaluation of WtE plants’ efficacy and suspension until cleaner technologies are adopted.

Conclusion

Thermal and WtE plants, while addressing energy needs, significantly contribute to Delhi’s pollution crisis. Immediate adoption of advanced technologies and stricter regulatory oversight are necessary to mitigate their impact and ensure environmental justice.

STARLINK DEVICES AND THE NEW INTERCEPTION RULES IN INDIA

TOPIC: (GS2) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE HINDU

The discovery of a Starlink satellite device in Manipur has sparked worries about unauthorized internet access, while new interception rules in India raise concerns over security, compliance, and privacy in the use of technology.

Starlink in India:

• Starlink does not have official authorization to operate in India.
• Unauthorized use of Starlink devices in remote regions like Manipur has sparked concerns over their potential misuse.
• Starlink employs measures to block access in unauthorized regions, but how effectively these measures are implemented remains unclear.

New Interception Rules, 2024:

• Empowered Authorities: The Union Home Secretary and State Home Department Secretaries can authorize message interception.
• In urgent cases, senior officers (not below Joint Secretary rank) can issue orders, with later approval by the competent authority.

• Operational Flexibility: In remote areas or operationally critical situations, the head or second senior-most officer of authorized agencies can issue interception orders.

• These orders must be reviewed and confirmed within seven days, failing which interception must cease.

• Data Retention: Records related to intercepted messages must be destroyed every six months unless required for legal or operational purposes.

Key Changes in the New Rules

• Relaxed Conditions: Interception is no longer restricted to “emergent cases”; it now includes operational and remote area needs.
• Reduced Number of Officers: Only the head or second senior-most officer of authorized agencies can issue interception orders at the state level.
• Safeguards for Unconfirmed Orders: Messages intercepted without confirmation cannot be used as evidence.

Concerns Regarding the New Rules

• Lack of Accountability: There is no provision for penalties if agencies misuse interception powers within the seven-day window.
• Privacy Risks: Relaxed prerequisites for interception raise concerns about arbitrary use of these powers.

Conclusion

While the new rules aim to address operational challenges in interception, they also expose gaps in accountability and safeguards against misuse. Simultaneously, the unauthorized use of Starlink in India highlights the need for strict regulation of emerging technologies to prevent potential security breaches. Balancing operational efficiency with privacy and security remains crucial.

WHY IS THE INDIAN RUPEE FALLING AGAINST THE US DOLLAR?

TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: INDIAN EXPRESS

The exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar depends on the demand for both currencies. When the demand for the dollar exceeds the demand for the rupee, the rupee depreciates in value. Recently, the rupee has breached the ₹85 mark against the dollar, reflecting a weakening trend that has persisted over the years.

What is an Exchange Rate?

• The exchange rate refers to the value of one currency relative to another.
• It indicates how much of one currency is needed to purchase a unit of another currency.
• For example, an exchange rate of ₹85 per dollar means ₹85 is required to buy $1.
• Exchange rates are dynamic and influenced by market forces such as demand and supply.

Factors Determining Exchange Rates

• Demand and Supply: If the demand for dollars exceeds the demand for rupees, the rupee depreciates. Conversely, higher demand for rupees strengthens its value against the dollar.
• Trade Imbalances: When India imports more goods and services from the US than it exports, the demand for dollars increases, weakening the rupee.

• For instance, increased oil imports or demand for foreign technology can cause a trade imbalance.

• Investment Flows: Higher foreign investments in India boost demand for rupees, strengthening it. If investors withdraw funds from India due to better returns elsewhere, the rupee weakens.

Key Factors Impacting the Rupee’s Value

• Inflation Differences: Higher inflation in India reduces the purchasing power of the rupee, making it less attractive to investors. Comparatively lower inflation in the US enhances the dollar’s value.
• Trade Policies: Protectionist policies, such as US tariffs on Indian goods, reduce demand for Indian exports and, consequently, the rupee.
• Interest Rates and Returns: Higher returns in US markets attract global investors, increasing demand for dollars. Low returns in India or high inflation discourages foreign investment, further weakening the rupee.

Conclusion

The depreciation of the rupee against the dollar is driven by multiple factors, including trade imbalances, inflation, and investment flows. Addressing these issues through policy measures can help stabilize the currency and strengthen its value in the long term.

INDIA’S GROWTH PROSPECTS IN 2025

TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU

India’s economic slowdown is a pressing issue as 2025 approaches. Unlike advanced economies like the US, slow growth in a developing country like India, with a per capita GDP of just $2,700, has severe implications.

To achieve long-term economic success and become a developed nation by 2047, India must adopt a clear, export-driven growth strategy while ensuring macroeconomic stability and policy certainty.

Current Challenges to Growth

• Subdued Consumption: Urban consumption demand remains weak, affecting overall economic activity.
• Weak Private Investment: Despite healthy corporate balance sheets, private sector investments are low due to underutilized capacities in existing factories.
• Fiscal Limitations on Government Spending: Government-led investments, though significant, face constraints from limited fiscal resources.
• Declining Growth Trends: India’s GDP growth declined from over 8% in mid-2023 to below 5.5% by late 2024, indicating a serious growth slowdown.

Opportunity in Global Trade

• India’s Export Potential: India’s global GDP share stands at 4%, but its goods exports account for less than 2% of the global total.

• Aligning export share with economic share could significantly boost export volumes and GDP.

• Target for Export Growth: A 1% increase in India’s global export share within five years could raise export growth by 9% annually.

• Goods exports contribute 13% to GDP; such growth could add over 1% to annual GDP growth.

• Multinational Shift from China: Companies moving out of China present a historic opportunity for India to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in manufacturing.

Key Obstacles and Solutions

• Inward FDI in 2023-24 remained stagnant at $66 billion, with only 20% allocated to manufacturing.
• Export growth averaged just 4.5% over two years.

Policy Recommendations

• Stable Trade Policies: Avoid frequent changes in import/export tariffs.
• Re-liberalization: Reduce protectionist policies and encourage free trade.
• Exchange Rate Reform: Ensure a market-driven approach for currency valuation to maintain export competitiveness.
• Transparent Governance: Avoid sudden policy changes to provide stability for foreign and domestic investors.

Conclusion

India has a unique chance to drive economic growth through an export-led strategy. By reducing policy uncertainties, ensuring macroeconomic stability, and embracing a free-trade mindset, India can enhance FDI and global market integration, paving the way for sustainable growth.

QUANTUM SATELLITE

TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOFY: SCIENCE DIRECT

India plans to launch a quantum satellite for quantum communication within the next 2-3 years.

About Quantum Satellite

A quantum satellite is a communication satellite that uses quantum physics principles to secure its transmissions.

Purpose:

• Strengthen Signal Security: Safeguard against potential risks posed by advancements in quantum computing.
• Enable Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): Provide unbreakable encryption using QKD technology.

Quantum Cryptography and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)

• Quantum Cryptography: Utilizes quantum physics to ensure secure communication.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD):

• Allows encryption keys to be shared securely while ensuring any attempt at interception is detected, halting the transmission if tampered with.

• Quantum Measurement: The act of measuring a photon alters its state, exposing any unauthorized access.
• Quantum Entanglement: When photons are entangled, any change in one is instantly mirrored in the other, enabling secure key sharing.