04-Oct-2023-Daily-Current-Affairs

CIRCULAR MIGRATION

GS 1 (SOCIETY): SOURCE – THE HINDU

• Circular migration involves people moving between locations based on the availability of employment, often in brief periods.
• Circular migration differs from other forms of migration in terms of temporary residence, multiple entries, legal rights, protection of migrants’ rights, and a healthy demand for temporary labour.
• It has become a key policy issue due to concerns about brain drain, cultural conflicts, and infrastructure challenges.

Positive Aspects:

1. Economic Benefits: Circular migration can boost the economies of both origin and destination countries through remittances and foreign capital flow.
2. Flexibility: Migrants have the flexibility to move back and forth between locations, adapting to changing job opportunities.
3. Skill Transfer: Migrants may acquire new skills and bring them back to their home communities, promoting development.
4. Urban Development: Influx of circular migrants can stimulate demand for goods and services in urban areas, leading to development.

Negative Aspects:

1. Social Disruption: Circular migration can lead to family separation and long-term social and psychological impacts.
2. Exploitative Labor Practices: Circular migrants may face exploitation, low wages, and poor living conditions.
3. Urban Congestion: Rapid migration to urban areas can strain infrastructure and resources.
4. Rural Neglect: Rural areas may suffer from population loss and underdevelopment due to circular migration.
5. Healthcare and Education Gaps: Families left behind in rural areas may struggle to access essential services.

Policy Implications:

• Policymakers need to balance economic benefits with social and infrastructural challenges associated with circular migration.
• Efforts should be made to protect migrants’ rights and improve their working conditions.
• Integration of circular migrants into destination communities should be a priority.
• Policies should address the precarity of circular migrant jobs and provide social safety nets.
• Clear documentation and data collection on circular migration are essential for informed policymaking.

Circular Migration in India:

• Internal migration in India has traditionally been circular, driven by rural-to-urban job opportunities.
• Inter-state migration is common, with some states having high out-migration rates.
• Circular migrants from rural areas often work in low-skill jobs in destination states.
• Benefits include higher-paying jobs, remittances, and increased autonomy for women.
• Challenges include exploitation by middlemen, resentment from local wage groups, and job precarity.
• States need to formulate policies to protect migrant rights, address job precarity, and integrate migrants into host communities

HOW HAS NAGORNO-KARABAKH STANDOFF ENDED?

GS 2 (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS): SOURCE – THE HINDU

• On September 20, Azerbaijan declared control over Nagorno-Karabakh after local Armenian forces agreed to disarm and disband.
• Hundreds of local Armenians fled the region, fearing ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan.
• Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has a majority Armenian population.

Historical Background:

• The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh dates back a century.
• During World War I, the Ottomans, with Azeri support, targeted ethnic Armenians in the South Caucasus.
• A war in 1920 led to Nagorno-Karabakh becoming an autonomous Oblast within Azerbaijan during Soviet rule.
• When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, full-scale fighting erupted, leading to a ceasefire in 1994 without clear borders.

2020 Conflict:

• In 2020, Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, launched an offensive to retake Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to a six-week war.
• Azerbaijan reclaimed 40% of the region but did not give up efforts to capture it.

Role of Turkey and Russia:

• Turkey supported Azerbaijan militarily and politically in the 2020 conflict but denied direct involvement.
• Russia, Armenia’s ally, played a limited role, and Armenia’s vote to join the International Criminal Court strained relations.
• Over 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, triggering a humanitarian crisis

NASA’s Asteroid Sample Landing

GS 3 (SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY): SOURCE – MINT

• NASA’s first asteroid sample, collected by the Osiris-Rex spacecraft, has landed on Earth after a 86-billion-mile journey.
• Osiris-Rex collected about 9 ounces (250 grams) of dust from the asteroid Bennu’s rocky surface.
• The analysis of the asteroid’s debris will help scientists understand the formation of the solar system and potential asteroid threats to Earth.
• Most of the sample will be preserved for future study, with some used for immediate experiments and shared with mission partners Japan and Canada.
• Bennu, approximately 500 meters in diameter, is rich in carbon and contains water molecules, making it an important celestial body for study.
• Although there’s a slight chance of Bennu colliding with Earth in 2182, NASA has shown the ability to change an asteroid’s course for planetary defense.

This asteroid sample provides valuable insights into the solar system’s history and potential Earth-threatening asteroids.

RBI POLICY: WHY MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE IS LIKELY TO MAINTAIN REPO RATE PAUSE

GS 3 (ECONOMY): SOURCE – THE INDIAN EXPRESS

The RBI Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.5% for the fourth consecutive time.

• Inflation remains a concern, with consumer price index (CPI) based inflation at 6.83% in August, above the RBI’s comfort zone of 2-6%.
• Factors influencing this decision include soaring food inflation, an uneven monsoon affecting crops, higher interest rates, and rising global crude oil prices.
• The RBI will closely monitor food inflation risks and the impact of a weak monsoon on agriculture production.
• Global challenges, such as geopolitical tensions and global commodity supply and demand, also impact India’s growth prospects.
• The RBI is unlikely to change its GDP growth forecast, expected to remain at 6.5% for FY24.
• Inflation projections may see a minor revision, particularly for the second quarter and FY2024, but significant changes are not anticipated.
• Liquidity conditions in the banking system have tightened, and while the RBI may not announce specific measures, liquidity management operations may be conducted as needed.

Overall, the RBI is expected to maintain a cautious stance given the uncertainties in the global and domestic economic environment.

TRIO WINS NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS FOR FINDING A WAY TO ‘SEE’ ELECTRONS

GS 3 (SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY): SOURCE – THE HINDU

• The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier for their work in using ultra-quick light flashes to study electrons inside atoms and molecules.
• Their technique involves attosecond pulses, which are incredibly short units of time.
• This research has enabled the examination of rapid processes previously impossible to observe, with potential applications in electronics and medical diagnostics.
• The process is likened to capturing the rapid wing flaps of a hummingbird using high-speed photography.
• Anne L’Huillier is the fifth woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics since 1901 and encouraged young women interested in science to pursue their careers.
• Pierre Agostini is a professor at Ohio State University, Ferenc Krausz is a director at the Max Planck Institute, and Anne L’Huillier is a professor at Lund University in Sweden.

India’s manufacturing activity in September eased to a five-month low, with the S&P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) declining from 58.6 in August to 57.5.

MANUFACTURING PMI SLIPS TO 5-MO. LOW

GS 3 (ECONOMY) THE HINDU

• Input cost inflation slowed to the lowest in more than three years, but firms raised output charges at a sharper pace, which could impact sales prospects.
• Despite the slowdown, firms expressed optimism about business prospects for the year ahead, leading to increased hiring growth.
• Manufacturers cited higher labour costs, upbeat business confidence, and strong demand as reasons for price increases in September.
• New export orders softened but remained sharp, with business gains from clients in Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
• The increase in output charges, despite lower cost pressures, may restrict sales in the future.
• Overall, while there are signs of a slowdown, the manufacturing industry in India maintains a positive outlook for production and job creation.

STATES SAY WILL SETTLE FOR LOWER, BUT AN ASSURED PENSION

GS 2 (POLITY AND GOVERNANCE): SOURCE – THE INDIAN EXPRESS

• Some Indian states have proposed a new pension system that offers a lower but assured pension linked to the minimum of a pay level instead of the last-drawn salary.
• Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh have already reverted to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) from the New Pension System (NPS).
• Under OPS, government employees receive defined benefits post-retirement, including 50% of their last-drawn salary as a monthly pension.
• Under NPS, contributions are defined, but benefits depend on market performance.
• The Finance Secretary-led committee is reviewing the pension system for government employees, exploring models like the Guaranteed Pension Scheme (GPS).
• Reverting to OPS may put a cumulative fiscal burden on states that could be 4.5 times that of NPS by 2050, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).