09-December-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

REIMAGINING PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA

TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU

India, one of the largest producers and consumers of plastic, faces critical challenges in managing plastic waste effectively. This issue has far-reaching environmental, health, and economic consequences. A sustainable and innovative approach is essential to address the growing plastic crisis.

Key Sectors Relying on Plastic

• Packaging Industry: Accounts for 59% of India’s total plastic consumption. Growth in e-commerce and the COVID-19 pandemic increased reliance on plastic packaging.
• Construction Sector: Plastics are used for pipes, insulation, and fittings due to their durability and cost-effectiveness. The “Housing for All” initiative has amplified plastic use in affordable housing.
• Automotive Industry: Lightweight plastic components improve fuel efficiency and are key in electric vehicle designs.
• Agriculture: Plastics support drip irrigation, greenhouse films, and mulching, enhancing water conservation and crop yields.
• Healthcare: Essential for producing medical devices, PPE, and vaccine vials, especially during the pandemic.

Challenges of Plastic Waste Mismanagement

• Environmental Issues: India generates 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with 40% left uncollected. Rivers like the Ganga contribute significantly to global plastic pollution.
• Health Hazards: Burning plastic waste emits carcinogenic toxins. Microplastics in food and water threaten human health, potentially causing hormonal imbalances.
• Economic Costs: Informal recycling dominates but operates under unsafe conditions. Industries like fisheries and tourism face pollution-related losses.
• Regulatory and Cultural Gaps: Enforcement of bans on single-use plastics and EPR regulations remains inadequate. Limited public awareness and ingrained dependence on plastic hinder progress.

Strategies for Effective Management

• Improving Waste Segregation: Promoting household-level segregation can streamline recycling. Successful models like Indore’s should be replicated.
• Enhancing Recycling: Invest in advanced technologies like pyrolysis for better recycling outcomes. Formalize the role of the informal sector to improve efficiency and safety.
• Promoting Alternatives: Develop biodegradable plastics and eco-friendly options like bamboo and jute. Support startups through subsidies and incentives.
• Leveraging Technology: AI and blockchain can improve tracking, sorting, and compliance.
• Establishing Waste-to-Energy Plants: Convert non-recyclable plastics into energy while minimizing emissions.

Conclusion

India’s plastic waste crisis demands a multifaceted approach involving government, industry, and citizens. By promoting segregation, recycling, and biodegradable alternatives, India can lead the way toward sustainable plastic waste management and environmental stewardship.

ECONOMIC GROWTH VS. EMISSIONS: INDIA’S DECOUPLING JOURNEY

TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY: THE HINDU

India’s economy has shown remarkable growth over the years, but this progress raises concerns about its environmental impact, especially in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Economic Survey 2023-24 claims that India has achieved relative decoupling between its economic growth and emissions.

What is Decoupling?

• Decoupling refers to the separation of economic growth from environmental harm, such as GHG emissions.

Types of Decoupling:

• Absolute Decoupling: Economic growth increases while emissions decrease, signifying sustainable development.
• Relative Decoupling: Both GDP and emissions grow, but GDP grows at a faster rate than emissions.

Significance:

• Decoupling is vital for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.
• It addresses the debate between green growth (sustainable economic progress) and degrowth (reducing economic activity to lower environmental impact).

India’s Claim of Decoupling

• Economic Survey Findings: Between 2005 and 2019, India’s GDP grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%, while emissions rose by 4%. From 1990, GDP grew six-fold, whereas GHG emissions tripled, indicating relative decoupling.
• Sector-Wise Decoupling: Key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing contribute significantly to emissions. The decoupling assessment examines whether the growth of sectoral Gross Value Added (GVA) has outpaced emission growth.
• Implications:
  • India’s relative decoupling reflects progress but not the ideal scenario of absolute decoupling.
  • Absolute decoupling, where emissions decline alongside economic growth, remains a distant goal for India.

Challenges and the Way Forward

• Current Status: As a developing nation, India has not yet reached its peak emissions. Emissions are expected to rise alongside economic growth, making absolute decoupling challenging.
• Necessary Actions: Invest in renewable energy and low-carbon technologies. Strengthen policies to reduce emissions in key sectors like agriculture, industry, and energy. Promote sustainable development practices to align growth with environmental goals.
• Long-Term Vision: Achieving absolute decoupling is crucial for India to meet its climate commitments and ensure sustainable progress. Global collaboration and innovation will play a key role in this transition.

Conclusion

India’s achievement of relative decoupling is a step forward in balancing economic growth and environmental sustainability. However, efforts must continue to achieve absolute decoupling, ensuring a future where economic prosperity and ecological preservation coexist.

THE ROLE OF CHARITY IN ADDRESSING INEQUALITY

TOPIC: (GS2) INDIAN POLITY: THE HINDU

In an increasingly unequal world, the role of charity in redistributing wealth has gained prominence. Billionaire Warren Buffet’s philanthropic actions highlight this issue, sparking discussions on the processes that generate wealth inequality and the effectiveness of private charity in addressing societal imbalances.

Warren Buffet’s Philanthropy

• Significant Donations: Warren Buffet has pledged to donate most of his fortune, having already given approximately $52 billion to charitable causes. Recently, he transferred $870 million to foundations managed by his children.
• Wealth and Social Philosophy: Buffet believes wealth should create equal opportunities, especially after one’s lifetime, to help the less fortunate.
• While wealth accumulation is acceptable, its unchecked inheritance across generations can harm societal equality.

The Philosophy of “Luck Egalitarianism”

• Understanding Luck: Luck egalitarianism argues that individuals should not suffer inequality due to circumstances beyond their control, like birthplace or social conditions.
• Buffet attributes much of his success to favourable conditions, including being born a white male in the U.S., a country with opportunities for compounding wealth.
• Global Inequality: Research shows that inequality is significantly influenced by geographic and socio-economic factors.
• Buffet emphasizes using his fortune to level opportunities rather than perpetuating wealth concentration among descendants.

Issues with Charity

• Private Wealth and Inequality: Charity can address immediate needs but fails to tackle the structural causes of inequality.

• Wealth concentration often results from policies that Favor the wealthy, such as deregulation and weak labour protections.

• Economic Systems and Wealth Creation: In developed countries, economic deregulation since the 1980s has led to growing income disparities.

• In India, liberalization has spurred economic growth but worsened inequality and uneven access to opportunities.

• Corporate Practices: Examples like Amazon highlight how monopolistic practices and poor labour conditions contribute to extreme wealth for owners while workers face stagnation.

The Role of Policy

• Limitations of Private Philanthropy: Relying solely on charity leaves systemic inequities unaddressed and depends on individual goodwill.
• Policy Solutions: Economist Thomas Piketty advocates for progressive taxation and state-backed redistribution to ensure fairness.
• Measures like raising minimum wages and limiting excessive executive compensation are crucial to address inequality sustainably.

Conclusion

While charity can mitigate some effects of inequality, systemic reforms through effective policies are essential for long-term solutions. Addressing wealth concentration requires focusing on fair opportunities and structural economic reforms, rather than relying solely on private philanthropy.

OILFIELDS (REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT) AMENDMENT BILL, 2024

TOPIC: (GS2) INDIAN POLITY: THE HINDU

The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024, aims to boost domestic production of petroleum and other mineral oils while encouraging private sector participation. the Bill seeks to reduce India’s dependence on oil imports. However, it has sparked debates regarding federalism and environmental implications.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Updated Definition of Mineral Oils: The Bill defines mineral oils to include naturally occurring hydrocarbons like crude oil, petroleum, and natural gas.

• It excludes coal, lignite, and helium, which are governed by the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.

• Introduction of Petroleum Leases: Replaces “mining leases” with “petroleum leases,” covering activities such as exploration, production, and disposal of mineral oils.

• Grants clear guidelines on issuing and regulating petroleum leases.

• Encouraging Private Investment: Provisions aim to attract private sector participation by ensuring existing leases remain unchanged and valid.

• Removes criminal penalties for violations, replacing them with financial penalties, including:
  1. Fines up to ₹25 lakh.
  2. Additional fines of ₹10 lakh per day for continued violations.

• Environmental Safeguards: Expands the Centre’s authority to introduce rules to curb carbon emissions and promote renewable energy projects in oilfields.

Criticisms and Concerns

• State Rights and Federalism: Opposition parties, such as DMK, argue that replacing “mining” with “petroleum” reduces states’ taxation rights.

• States derive the power to tax mineral rights from the State List under the Constitution, but petroleum activities fall under the Union List, creating a conflict.

• Potential Environmental Risks: Critics highlight that prioritizing private players could lead to environmental degradation. Some suggest public sector undertakings like ONGC should be given preference.
• Insufficient Review: Opposition members have demanded a review by a select committee to address ambiguities in the Bill’s provisions.

Conclusion

The Oilfields Amendment Bill, 2024, represents a significant step in boosting India’s oil and gas production. While it encourages private investment and simplifies regulations, concerns about state rights, environmental impact, and public oversight remain critical to address.Top of Form

WHY A FREE FALL IN THE RUPEE SEEMS UNLIKELY

TOPIC: (GS3) INDIAN ECONOMY: THE HINDU

India’s rupee has faced depreciation pressures recently due to external factors, such as foreign portfolio outflows. However, the likelihood of a significant fall in the rupee remains low due to the country’s strong foreign exchange reserves, manageable current account deficit, and stable sources of capital inflows.

India’s Balance of Payments (Bop) Position

• India’s Bop, which tracks current and capital account transactions, is stable despite fluctuations in trade balances.
• The current account deficit (CAD) has reduced significantly, standing at $23.29 billion in 2023-24 compared to $88.16 billion in 2012-13.
• A robust services surplus, driven by software exports and remittances, has helped offset merchandise trade deficits.

Trends in Forex Reserves

• Forex reserves rose to $658.09 billion as of November 29, 2024, reversing eight weeks of decline.
• Reserves have been used by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to stabilize the rupee against external pressures.

Trade Balance Overview

• India’s merchandise exports ($441.48 billion) lag behind imports ($683.55 billion), resulting in a trade deficit of $242.07 billion in 2023-24.
• The services sector has consistently posted surpluses, with net software exports growing from $60.96 billion in 2011-12 to $142.07 billion in 2023-24.
• Private remittances also contributed significantly, increasing from $56.57 billion in 2016-17 to $106.63 billion in 2023-24.

Capital Account Dynamics

• Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into India declined, from $56.23 billion in 2021-22 to $26.47 billion in 2023-24.
• Foreign portfolio investments (FPIs), which are more volatile, recorded net sales of $14 billion during October-November 2024.

Why a Free Fall in the Rupee is Unlikely

• India’s low CAD ensures that external vulnerabilities are limited.
• Strong forex reserves provide a cushion to manage sudden outflows or exchange rate pressures.
• Long-term structural surpluses in services exports and remittances contribute to financial stability.

Conclusion

Despite challenges like capital outflows and trade deficits, India’s financial stability mechanisms, supported by strong forex reserves and a manageable CAD, reduce the likelihood of a free fall in the rupee.

LAYSAN ALBATROSS (PHOEBASTRIA IMMUTABILIS)

TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT: THE HINDU

The Laysan albatross is a large seabird primarily found in the North Pacific region. Known for its incredible lifespan, the species is a symbol of endurance and adaptability. Recently, a Laysan albatross named Wisdom, aged 74, laid her 60th egg, showcasing their longevity and unique life history.

Habitat and Distribution:

• Found mostly in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where 99.7% of the population resides.
• Breeding occurs on Laysan Island, Midway Atoll, and other small Hawaiian islands, with additional populations on islands off Japan and Mexico.
• Prefers sandy or grassy areas for nesting.

Behavior and Adaptations:

• Spends most of its life over the open sea, using expert soaring skills to travel long distances with minimal effort.
• Monogamous birds that mate for life.

Physical Characteristics:

• Blackish-brown upper wings and back with white underwings and black margins.
• Features a distinct dark tail band visible during flight.

Conservation Status:

• Classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, primarily due to habitat loss and environmental threats.

INDIRA GANDHI PRIZE FOR PEACE, DISARMAMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT

TOPIC: (GS2) POLITY: INDIAN EXPRESS

The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development is an award instituted in 1986 in memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It honors individuals or organizations for contributions toward global peace, development, and social betterment.

Key Features:

1. Instituted by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust in 1986.
2. Includes a monetary prize of ₹25 lakh and a citation.
3. Recognizes efforts in promoting international peace, economic development, and using scientific progress for the benefit of humanity.

Significant Recipients:

• Mikhail Gorbachev (1987) – Former Soviet Union leader.
• UNICEF (1989) – UN agency for children’s welfare.
• Jimmy Carter (1997) – Former U.S. President.
• Kofi Annan & UN (2003) – Former Secretary-General of the UN.
• Angela Merkel (2013) – Former German Chancellor.
• ISRO (2014) – For space research advancements.
• Manmohan Singh (2017) – Former Indian Prime Minister.
• Sir David Attenborough (2019) – Environmentalist.
• Pratham NGO (2021) – Education reforms.
• Indian Medical and Nursing Associations (2022) – COVID-19 contributions.

2024 Recipient:

• Michelle Bachelet, former Chilean President and a human rights advocate, will receive the award.

KAWASAKI DISEASE

TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: THE HINDU

Kawasaki disease is a rare condition primarily affecting children under the age of five. It leads to fever and inflammation of blood vessels, potentially causing severe complications if untreated. First described in Japan in 1967 by Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki, it is one of the leading causes of acquired heart disease in children.

Causes and Nature:

• The exact cause of Kawasaki disease is unknown.
• More cases are reported in late winter and early spring.
• It triggers the immune system to attack blood vessels, leading to inflammation and swelling.

Symptoms:

Symptoms develop in two phases, lasting for several weeks. Key symptoms include:

• High fever lasting more than five days.
• Red eyes without discharge.
• Rashes on the chest and groin area.
• Swollen hands and feet, sometimes red in appearance.
• Red, cracked lips and a swollen tongue.
• Swollen lymph nodes, often on one side of the neck.

Effects on the Body:

• Primarily affects coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart.
• Can also impact lymph nodes, skin, and the lining of the mouth and throat.

Treatment:

• Treated in hospitals using intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).
• Aims to reduce fever, swelling, and prevent heart damage.

NICOBARESE: AN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY

TOPIC: (GS3) SOCIETY: INDIAN EXPRESS

The Nicobarese are an indigenous community residing in the Nicobar Islands, part of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. Recent genetic research has revealed their ancestral connection to Austro-Asiatic populations in South and Southeast Asia.

Geographical Details:

• The Nicobar Islands lie about 1,200 km from India’s east coast and cover a landmass of 1,841 sq. km, forming nearly 25% of the archipelago’s area.
• Out of the 24 islands, 12 are inhabited by the Nicobarese.

Cultural and Linguistic Identity:

• The Nicobarese belong to the Southeast Asian cultural complex.
• They speak an Austro-Asiatic language.
• Internally, they consist of four cultural groups, based on their island of residence:
• Car Nicobar.
• Chowra, Bompoka, and Teressa.
• Katchal, Nancowry, Kamorta, and Trinket.
• Little Nicobar, Kondul, Pulo Milo, and Great Nicobar.

Population and Lifestyle:

• As per the 2011 Census, their population is 23,681, with nearly half living on Car Nicobar.
• The Nicobarese are largely self-sufficient, relying on hunting, fishing, gathering, and pig rearing for sustenance.