12-March-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT 2019: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS, CONTROVERSIES

TOPIC: (GS3) POLITY AND GOVERNANCE– SOURCE: BUSINESS STANDARD

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, has been a topic of significant discussion and debate since its passage more than four years ago.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has now notified the rules to implement this law, adding to the ongoing discourse surrounding its contentious nature and the challenges it faces in the Supreme Court.

More about the Citizenship Law

Amendment Overview:

• The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, amended The Citizenship Act, 1955, allowing citizenship for migrants from specified religious communities in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India before December 31, 2014.
• Eligibility criteria were relaxed based on religious lines, with exemptions for certain areas, including tribal regions and those protected by the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.

Legal Challenge

Violation of Article 14:

• The amendment faced legal challenges primarily on the grounds of violating Article 14 of the Constitution, ensuring equality before the law.
• The argument centers on the use of religion as a qualifier for citizenship, seen by petitioners as a breach of the fundamental right to equality.

Right to Equality:

• The Supreme Court assesses whether the special treatment of persecuted minorities from specific countries is a reasonable classification and if it discriminates against Muslims.
• Any differentiation between groups must be based on an intelligible differentia with a rational nexus to the law’s objective.

CAA and Assam

Section 6A Challenge:

• Part of the challenge to the CAA relates to the fate of Section 6A of The Citizenship Act, 1955, which is under scrutiny before the Supreme Court.
• This section, post the Assam Accord in 1985, determines the cut-off date for detecting and deleting foreigners in Assam.

Conflict with Section 6A:

• The potential conflict between Section 6A and the CAA concerning the timeline for citizenship regularization in Assam adds complexity to the legal challenge.

Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019

Overview:

• The Act amends the definition of illegal immigrant for certain religious groups from neighboring countries.
• Fast-track Indian citizenship is granted to Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist, Jains, and Christian immigrants, excluding Muslims.
• The cut-off date for citizenship is December 31, 2014.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The CAA 2019 applies to those persecuted on the grounds of religion, seeking shelter in India before December 31, 2014.
• Exclusions apply to areas under the Constitution’s sixth schedule and states with an inner-line permit regime.

MISSION DIVYASTRA: AGNI-5 GETS MULTIPLE WARHEADS CAPABILITY

TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – SOURCE: BUSINESS STANDARD

India’s recent announcement of the successful test of the Agni-V missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology marks a significant stride in its missile capabilities.

The integration of MIRV technology allows for multiple warheads on a single missile, enhancing its destructive potential and strategic flexibility.

Understanding MIRV Technology

MIRV Technology Basics:

• MIRV technology enables missiles to carry multiple warheads, each independently targetable for striking separate locations or converging on a single target sequentially.
• Originating in the 1960s and first deployed in the 1970s by major nuclear powers, MIRV-equipped missiles require miniaturized warheads with independent guidance and navigation controls, amplifying their effectiveness in strategic warfare scenarios.

Strategic Implications

Enhanced Deterrence Posture:

• The development of MIRV capability enhances India’s strategic deterrence posture by expanding its nuclear options and increasing the potency of its missile systems.
• MIRV-equipped missiles can cause devastating damage by striking multiple targets simultaneously, posing challenges to enemy defenses and complicating interception efforts.

Advantages of MIRV Technology:

• MIRV technology offers strategic advantages, including effective penetration of missile defense systems.
• Unlike traditional missiles, MIRV-equipped missiles can overwhelm defenses with multiple warheads and decoys, making interception more challenging.
• MIRV capability provides a credible second-strike capability, deterring potential adversaries from initiating conflict.

Integration with Agni Missile Systems

Agni Missile Program:

• Agni missiles, developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), serve as crucial land-based delivery systems for India’s nuclear arsenal.
• Agni-V, with extended range and MIRV capability, strengthens India’s strategic deterrent against regional and global threats.

       

Strategic Significance

Evolved Strategic Priorities:

• India’s acquisition of MIRV technology reflects evolving strategic priorities and commitment to maintaining a credible deterrence posture.
• The successful Agni-V test underscores India’s technological prowess and the ability to develop advanced defense capabilities.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s acknowledgment highlights the achievement’s strategic significance for India’s national security.

Working of Agni Missile

Ballistic Missile Basics:

• Ballistic missiles follow an unpowered trajectory after initial propulsion by rockets, arcing upwards before descending to their target.
• Propellant burning generates hot exhaust gases, creating thrust at the missile’s base, propelling it upwards until burnout.

Three Stages of Flight:

• Boost Phase: Short-lived, propellant-driven phase setting the trajectory. For ICBMs, this may last only a few minutes.
• Midcourse Phase: Missile stops accelerating, propelled by its own momentum.
• Terminal Phase: Begins when warhead(s) reenter the Earth’s atmosphere, coasting through space before impact or detonation.

KERALA SEES MUMPS OUTBREAK

TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – SOURCE: NEWS18

Kerala reports a substantial mumps outbreak, with 190 cases recorded on March 10th, 2024.

This surge contributes to a total of 2,505 cases reported in March and 11,467 cases in just over two months this year, as per Kerala health department data.

Confirmation and Response

Health Ministry Alert:

• Officials from the Union Health Ministry confirm the outbreak and alert the National Centre for Disease Control in the state.
• Acknowledgment underscores the severity, necessitating immediate response measures to curb infection spread.

Nature of Mumps and Transmission

Mumps Cause and Transmission:

• Mumps, caused by the paramyxovirus, is transmitted through direct contact or airborne droplets.
• Incubation period: Two to four weeks, with initial symptoms like low-grade fever, headache, body ache, and malaise.
• Distinctive symptom: Swelling of salivary glands, affecting children, adolescents, and adults.

Epidemiological Distribution

Concentration in Specific Districts:

• Majority of cases concentrated in Malappuram district and other parts of north Kerala.
• Signifies the need for targeted interventions and heightened surveillance in these areas.

Vaccination Status and Challenges

Vaccine Existence and Exclusion:

• Mumps vaccine part of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine but excluded from government’s universal immunization program.
• Children can receive MMR vaccine at private centers, but its exclusion is attributed to lower efficacy against mumps and prevalent vaccine hesitancy.

Clinical Course and Complications

Self-Limiting Nature:

• Mumps is mostly a self-limiting disease, but complications can arise, including brain swelling, hearing loss, and painful testis inflammation in adult males.
• Emphasizes the need for timely diagnosis, treatment, and preventive measures.

Conclusion

Kerala mumps outbreak highlights the importance of robust surveillance, prompt responses, and broader vaccination coverage to mitigate infectious disease spread and safeguard public health.

PM MODI HANDS OUT DRONES TO OVER 1000 WOMEN FROM SHGs

TOPIC: (GS3) POLITY AND GOVERNANCE– SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed agricultural drones to 1,000 women from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka under the Namo Drone Didi scheme.

The event showcased drone flying skills of women beneficiaries at 10 locations nationwide.

Distribution and Certification

Drone Handover:

• PM Modi handed over drones to women selected for operating them in agriculture.
• 108 women received certificates, enabling them to legally fly drones for agricultural purposes.

Role of “Nari Shakti”

Empowering Women in Technology:

• PM Modi emphasized the role of “Nari Shakti” in leading India’s technological revolution.
• Cited achievements in IT, space, and science sectors by women.

Namo Drone Didi Scheme Details

Launch and Objectives:

• Launched in March 2024, Namo Drone Didi aims to provide economic opportunities for women in rural areas.
• Focuses on distributing 15,000 drones to women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) over three years.

Technology and Agriculture Focus:

• Enables women to offer drone services for tasks like crop monitoring, precision spraying, and seed sowing.
• Enhances efficiency, reduces wastage, and minimizes environmental impact.

Training and Skill Development:

• SHG members receive training to operate drones safely and efficiently.
• Equips women with valuable technical skills and knowledge.

Entrepreneurship and Financial Independence:

• Women can rent out drones to farmers, generating income and achieving financial self-sufficiency.
• Promotes entrepreneurship and economic independence.

Boosting Agricultural Productivity:

• Drone technology enhances efficiency and precision in farming practices.
• Potential benefits include increased crop yields, particularly benefiting women farmers.

ASTRONOMERS SPOT OLDEST ‘DEAD’ GALAXY YET OBSERVED

TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY– SOURCE: SCIENCEDAILY

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) made a remarkable discovery of an early “dead” galaxy, ceasing star formation 13.1 billion years ago, just 700 million years after the Big Bang.

This galaxy’s cessation of star formation at such an early stage raises intriguing questions about its history and evolution.

Key Details

Galaxy Characteristics:

• The “dead” galaxy, observed by JWST, ceased star formation approximately 13.1 billion years ago, making it the earliest known “dead” galaxy.
• It consists of 100 million to one billion stars and experienced a brief burst of star formation lasting 30 to 90 million years.

Galactic Evolution:

• After star formation ceased, the galaxy transitioned into a stellar graveyard as existing stars died without being replaced.
• This hierarchical death of stars altered the galaxy’s color from blue to yellow to red over time.

Research Intrigue:

• Astrophysicists, led by Tobias Looser, are intrigued by the rapid and early halt of star formation in this galaxy, prompting questions about its evolution.

James Webb Space Telescope

Mission Overview:

• JWST, operational since 2022, is a collaborative project between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
• Its primary objective is to observe the universe in the infrared spectrum, enabling the study of distant galaxies, stars, and planetary systems.

Instrumentation:

• Equipped with a large segmented mirror spanning 6.5 meters in diameter, JWST captures more light and provides unprecedented resolution.
• Instruments include the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), and Fine Guidance Sensor/Near InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (FGS/NIRISS).

Positioning and Observation:

• Positioned at the second Lagrange point (L2) approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, JWST ensures optimal observation conditions for studying the universe’s early stages and distant phenomena.

SAMUDRAYAAN PROJECT

TOPIC: (GS3) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY– SOURCE: THE HINDU

The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has successfully completed a crucial test for India’s first manned submersible mission, Samudrayaan.

Objective:

• Samudrayaan is India’s inaugural manned mission designed to explore the deep ocean, reaching depths of 6,000 meters.
• Aims to develop a self-propelled submersible equipped with scientific sensors and tools for deep ocean exploration.

Mission Goals:

• Focuses on studying deep ocean resources and conducting biodiversity assessments without disturbing the ecosystem.
• Part of the larger Deep Ocean Mission aligned with the Central Government’s Blue Economy policy.

Nodal Ministry:

• Overseen by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

MATSYA 6000 – Manned Submersible Vehicle

Development:

• MATSYA 6000 is the manned submersible developed by NIOT under the Samudrayaan mission.

Endurance and Emergency Capability:

• Possesses an operational endurance of 12 hours and can sustain emergency situations for up to 96 hours.

Purpose:

• Facilitates human exploration in the deep ocean, specifically for studying mineral resources.

Scientific Advancement:

• Allows scientific personnel direct interventions and observations in unexplored deep-sea areas, enhancing capabilities for deep-sea man-rated vehicle development.

Global Significance:

• Expected to launch in 2024-25, making India one of the six countries globally, including the US, Russia, Japan, France, and China, to have piloted a crewed under-sea expedition beyond 5,000 meters.

GOLDEN LANGURS

TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT– SOURCE: THE HINDU

According to the latest survey, India is home to approximately 7,396 Golden Langurs.

Protection Status:

• IUCN: Endangered
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule-I

Characteristics:

• Belong to the colobines, a group of Old World monkeys.
• Coat color varies seasonally, turning cream-colored in summer and dark golden in winter.
• Diurnal and arboreal, they live in troops ranging from 3 to 15 individuals.

Habitat:

• Endemic to subtropical and temperate broadleaf forests in Assam (Brahmaputra River Valley) and Bhutan.