18-Oct-2023-Daily-Current-Affairs

CANNOT LEGALISE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: SC

GS 2 (POLITY AND GOVERNANCE): SOURCE – THE HINDU

The Supreme Court of India, in a Constitution Bench ruling, asserted that the recognition and regulation of same-sex marriage and civil unions fall under the purview of the legislature.

• The majority opinion, voiced by three judges, underscored that courts cannot intervene as there is no fundamental or unqualified right to marry. Despite unanimous agreement on ending discrimination against same-sex couples, the Court did not reach a consensus on legally recognizing “civil unions” for such couples.
• Chief Justice Chandrachud and Justice Kaul, in a minority opinion, advocated for recognizing the fundamental right of queer individuals to form relationships, urging the State to grant legal status to such unions.
• They emphasized the importance of equality for same-sex couples and contended that the conception of marriage is not static.

• Regarding the Special Marriage Act, the Court maintained that changes should be within the legislative domain, refusing to interpret provisions in a gender-neutral manner to enable same-sex marriage.
• The majority opinion held that the 2018 decriminalization of homosexuality did not automatically extend to legal recognition of same-sex unions.
• This decision underlines the necessity for legislative action to recognize and regulate same-sex relationships in India, leaving the task to the legislature while emphasizing the need for equitable treatment of all citizens.

THE ALLEGATIONS ON ADANI COAL IMPORTS

GS 3 (ECONOMY): SOURCE – THE HINDU

Financial Times report alleges Adani Group imported coal at prices above market value, potentially overcharging consumers and businesses for electricity.Examination of 30 shipments from Indonesia to India between 2019 and 2021 formed the basis of the report.

Allegations and Modus Operandi:

• Allegations focus on Adani Group’s Integrated Resource Management (IRM) business, labeled as the country’s largest thermal coal importer.
• Import records showed significantly higher prices than corresponding export declarations, suggesting potential price manipulation.
• The investigative trail revolves around three offshore entities that supplied coal to Adani Group, making substantial profits above market prices.
• Taiwanese businessman Chang Chung-Ling, a secret shareholder in Adani companies, was linked to one of the entities.

 Adani Group’s Response:

• Adani Group denies allegations, emphasizing adherence to transparent global bidding processes for coal procurement.
• Points to a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence circular in 2016 and subsequent legal actions, indicating their compliance with regulatory scrutiny.
• Argues that tariffs are determined through rigorous evaluation involving multiple stakeholders, eliminating possibilities of over invoicing or price manipulation.

Conclusion:

• The allegations, centered on potential price manipulation in coal imports, necessitate a thorough investigation to ensure fairness and transparency in the energy sector.
• Adani Group’s response underscores the importance of following regulatory procedures and transparency in procurement processes to maintain public trust and confidence in the industry.

HOW SYNERGISTIC BARRIERS ARE AFFECTING PROGRESS ON SDGS

GS 3 (ENVIRONMENT): SOURCE – THE HINDU

World leaders at the SDG Summit in New York have acknowledged that the world is falling behind in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Only 15% of the 169 targets comprising the 17 SDGs are expected to be met. This issue highlights the presence of synergistic barriers, hindering the holistic advancement of SDGs.

Synergistic Barriers and Lack of Progress:

• The SDG Summit reaffirmed a commitment to ending poverty and hunger, but doubts persist regarding substantial progress.
• A UN report estimates a massive investment gap in SDGs, particularly in developing countries, amounting to over $4 trillion. Almost $2 trillion is required for the energy transition alone, presenting seemingly insurmountable challenges.
• SDGs are interconnected, emphasizing the need for synergistic actions and integrated approaches to achieve sustainable development.

Understanding Synergies and Trade-offs:

• Academic literature has explored synergies and trade-offs between specific SDGs. A study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identified various (dis)synergies along the value chain of SDG interventions, including resource allocations, enabling environments, co-benefits, cost-effectiveness, and saturation limits.
• A UN Expert Group Report emphasizes the need for synergistic action, especially considering modeled evidence.

Barriers and Policy Challenges:

• Policymaking processes must recognize and leverage synergistic outcomes.
• India’s renewable energy push, driven by energy security and climate commitments, sometimes fails to incorporate health benefits from reduced air pollution, resulting in missed opportunities.
• Misalignment of renewable energy targets and small-scale applications can create barriers to achieving health outcomes.

Addressing Synergistic Barriers:

• Recognizing interlinks is not enough; understanding institutional barriers is crucial.
• Addressing barriers identified in the UN report at the national level can help strengthen the environment for synergistic action.
• Transparent assessment of opportunities and limits in SDG interventions is necessary.

Balancing Clean Energy and Climate Goals:

• Investments favoring high-carbon outcomes may lead to dis-synergies and trade-offs in energy and climate goals.
• Careful consideration of cost estimation and vulnerability to climate impacts in alternative pathways is vital.
• Investing in clean energy options can have a significant synergistic impact on air pollution and human health, making such interventions more attractive.

TELECOM MAJORS LIKELY TO PLEAD FOR REVIEW OF SC LICENCE FEE RULING

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

The Supreme Court emphasized that the terminology and payment methods are irrelevant in determining the nature of a payment.

Delhi High Court Order Set Aside:

The Supreme Court set aside the Delhi High Court’s order, which categorized license fees before and after July 31, 1999, differently, as capital expenditure (Capex) and revenue expenditure.

Capex vs. Revenue Expenditure:

Capex refers to expenses incurred to purchase, maintain, or improve fixed assets like buildings and vehicles.

Revenue expenditures are expenses to cover the operational costs of a business, such as rent, utilities, and property taxes.

Background of the Issue:

• The National Telecom Policy 1999 mandated telecom firms to pay a one-time license fee for entry and an annual license fee linked to their Annual Gross Revenue (AGR).
• Income Tax Authorities implied that the annual license fee should be included in Capex, while companies included it in their revenue expenditure.

Implications of the Judgment:

• The judgment disallows license fees as a revenue expense for tax calculations.
• Revenue expenses are typically deducted from a company’s revenue to calculate its profit for a specific period.
• Telecom companies may see an increase in tax liabilities.
• The ruling may lead to retrospective tax liabilities for the companies, as taxes are to be paid since 1999.

Conclusion:

• The Supreme Court’s ruling has tax implications for telecom companies, potentially leading to higher tax liabilities and retrospective tax payments dating back to 1999.

TARGETED METHANE MITIGATION CAN AVOID 0.1°C WARMING IN 2050, SHOULD BE ADOPTED WITH DECARBONISATION EFFORTS: REPORT

GS 3 (ENVIRONMENT): SOURCE – DOWN TO EARTH

Targeted actions to reduce methane emissions from fossil fuel production are crucial for limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

A report by the International Energy Agency, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition highlights the significance of methane abatement efforts.

Warming Mitigation:

• Such targeted solutions can potentially avoid around 0.1°C of warming by 2050.
• These efforts are essential to combat climate change, surpassing the impact of removing all cars and trucks globally from the road.

Methane as a Greenhouse Gas:

• Methane is a potent greenhouse gas responsible for 30% of global warming since the Industrial Revolution.
• Although it remains in the atmosphere for a shorter duration than carbon dioxide, it is significantly more powerful.

Methane Emissions Statistics:

• Approximately 580 million tonnes of methane are emitted annually, with 60% originating from human activities.
• In 2022, fossil fuel operations alone accounted for about 120 million tonnes of methane emissions.
• Projections suggest a potential 13% increase in anthropogenic methane emissions between 2020 and 2030.

Importance of Targeted Methane Mitigation:

• Reducing fossil fuel use, even in a Net Zero Emissions scenario by 2050, won’t suffice to meet climate goals.
• Targeted methane mitigation is cost-effective and essential to achieving emission reductions.

Economic and Health Benefits:

• Controlling methane emissions provides health benefits and enhances food security, preventing nearly one million premature deaths through 2050.
• Economic benefits of methane reduction include preventing 95 million tonnes of crop losses, valued at over $260 billion between 2020 and 2050.

Implementation and Financing:

• Actions like eliminating venting and flaring and repairing leaks require appropriate regulatory frameworks.
• While most measures can be financed by the industry, low- and middle-income countries may need concessional financing for certain interventions.

Conclusion:

Targeted methane mitigation in the fossil fuel sector is essential for climate goals, offering economic, health, and environmental benefits. Appropriate actions and financing mechanisms are needed for effective implementation.

AYUSHMAN BHAV CAMPAIGN

GS 2 (SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE): SOURCE – INDIAN EXPRESS

The President of India virtually launched the Ayushman Bhav campaign and the Ayushman Bhava portal. These initiatives align with the goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensuring healthcare accessibility for all.

Objective:

• The Ayushman Bhav campaign aims to deliver healthcare services to the last mile, making healthcare accessible and affordable for underserved populations.
• It seeks to raise awareness about essential health schemes and diseases.

Digital Inclusion:

• The initiative leverages India’s digital inclusion efforts to extend healthcare accessibility.
• Digital platforms play a key role in reaching underserved populations.

Implementation:

• The ‘Ayushman Bhav’ campaign will be implemented during the ‘Seva Pakhwada.’
• It follows a whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approach, emphasizing collective efforts to enhance healthcare access and awareness.

PROTISTS

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

Recent DNA analysis of a protist has revealed unexpected deviations in its genetic code.

About Protists:

• Protists are a diverse group of organisms that don’t belong to the animal, plant, bacteria, or fungi categories.
• They are part of the Kingdom Protista, one of the six kingdoms of life, with the others being Eubacteria, Archaea, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
• Protists are considered to be the common ancestral link from which plants, animals, and fungi evolved during the process of evolution.

Eukaryotic Nature:

Protists are eukaryotes, meaning they possess a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles with specific functions.

Significance:

• The surprising genetic variations in protists can offer insights into the evolutionary history and relationships between different life forms.
• Understanding protists’ genetic makeup can shed light on the early stages of life on Earth and how various branches of life, such as plants, animals, and fungi, originated from this common ancestral group.