19-April-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

WHY HAVE PRIVATE INVESTMENTS DROPPED?

TOPIC: (GS3) INDIAN ECONOMY – SOURCE: THE HINDU

Private investment rose until the global financial crisis of 2007-08 but began declining from 2011-12.Hit a low of 19.6% of GDP in 2020-21, indicating a worrying trend.

GFCF stands for Gross Fixed Capital Formation, representing growth in fixed capital in an economy, including private and government investment.

Fixed capital, such as buildings and machinery, drives economic growth by increasing productivity and output.

Trend in Private Investment:

• Private investment in India surged post the economic reforms of the late-1980s and early-1990s.
• Public investment surpassed private investment until the 1980s but declined post-liberalization, with private investment leading in fixed capital formation.

PRIVATE GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION (GFCF)

 

Private GFCF represents the total value of new fixed assets acquired by the private sector for production purposes within a specific time frame.

Examples of Assets:

• Machinery and equipment
• Buildings and structures
• Construction of roads and bridges

Purpose:

• These assets are not for consumption but are utilized to enhance production capacity.

Impact of Consumption Spending on Private Investment:

Increased Demand:

• Strong consumer spending indicates higher demand for goods and services.
• This encourages businesses to invest in expanding production capacity to meet the growing demand.

Profitability:

• Robust consumption enhances profitability for businesses.
• Improved profitability enables companies to generate more internal funds, which can be reinvested for future expansions.

Perspectives on Government Investment:

• government investment as necessary to compensate for low private investment, it may lead to wasteful spending and hinder economic growth.
• Taxes imposed to fund public spending can also be a drag on the economy, compared to private investment which is seen as more efficient in capital allocation.

INDIA’S NUANCED APPROACH IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS – SOURCE: THE HINDU

Initially, India’s engagement with the Southeast Asian region was primarily economic through its Look East Policy.

• Indian state-owned enterprises, like ONGC Videsh, participated in oil and gas exploration projects in Vietnam’s EEZs, signaling economic interests.

Shift to Act East Policy:

India’s Act East Policy (AEP) has a complex impact on its relationship with China, creating both competition and potential areas for cooperation in the South China Sea.

Countering China:

• A core aim of the AEP is to strengthen India’s ties with Southeast Asian nations, seen as a way to counter China’s growing dominance in the region.

Security Cooperation:

• India’s increased naval presence in the South China Sea, joint military exercises with ASEAN countries, and participation in the Quad (an informal security grouping with the US, Japan, and Australia) are viewed by China with suspicion, as a potential challenge to its claims.

Economic Rivalry:

• AEP focuses on boosting economic ties with Southeast Asia, potentially competing with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for influence.

Potential Cooperation:

Shared Interests:

• Both India and China rely heavily on the South China Sea for trade. Maintaining stability and freedom of navigation could be an area for future cooperation.

Strategic Engagements:

• India strengthened its capacities through forward positioning, mission-based deployments, and reinforced maritime domain awareness.
• Enhanced security cooperation with countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines has been a focus.

Complex Ties with China:

• India and China have a history of border disputes, intensified since the Galwan Valley incident of 2020.
• China’s assertive territorial claims and incursions into Indian territory have escalated tensions.

Counter to China’s Assertiveness:

India’s evolving stance on the South China Sea serves as a counter to China’s assertive posture and territorial claims.

• Demonstrations of capability, such as sending warships to the South China Sea, emphasize India’s commitment to regional security.
• The relationship between India and China regarding the South China Sea is a delicate dance. Traditionally, India maintained a neutral stance, but recently there’s been a shift. Here’s why:

India’s Interests:

• Free and open navigation in the South China Sea is crucial for India’s trade. Additionally, China’s growing assertiveness pushes India to counterbalance it.
• India is increasingly involved in the region through joint exercises with Southeast Asian nations, signalling a move away from neutrality. This aligns with India’s “Act East Policy” to expand its influence in the Indo-Pacific.

SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTES

Claimants:

• China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei (and to a lesser extent, Indonesia)

Disputed Features:

• Islands, reefs, banks, and other maritime features including:
• Spratly Islands (over 750 features)
• Paracel Islands
• Scarborough Shoal

China’s Claim:

• The “nine-dash line” encompassing most of the South China Sea, overlapping with the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of other claimants.

China’s Influence:

• China has been increasingly assertive in the region through various means:

Military Buildup:

• Stationing troops and building military facilities on disputed islands.
• Increasing naval presence and conducting military exercises.
• Engaging in large-scale fishing and resource exploration within disputed waters.

Land Reclamation:

• Building artificial islands on reefs and submerged features, bolstering its territorial claims.

 

India doesn’t take sides in specific territorial disputes, it advocates for peaceful resolution based on international law (UNCLOS), which aligns with China’s stated position (although their interpretations differ).

ACTIVITY-BASED CURRICULUM DRAWN UP FOR ANGANWADIS

TOPIC: (GS2) POLITY AND GOVERNANCE– SOURCE: THE HINDU

National Framework of Early Childhood Stimulation, 2024 aims to identify children with developmental delays early on to provide timely interventions.

• It provides a structured approach to support holistic development in the crucial early years of a child’s life.

Learning Commencement:

• Emphasizes that a child’s learning journey begins at birth, highlighting the significance of early stimulation.
• 75% of brain development occurs in the first three years, emphasizing the critical role of early stimulation.
• Activities outlined for children from birth to three years old, focusing on reaching developmental milestones.

Development of Curriculum:

• Finalized by an internal committee comprising representatives from various ministries and organizations, aligning with the National Education Policy, 2020.
• Titled ‘Navchetana’, the curriculum promotes a continuum of learning and is activity-based.

Training for Anganwadi Staff:

• Staff in 14 lakh Anganwadi’s to undergo training in the curriculum.
• Aimed at enabling them to effectively conduct activities that stimulate early childhood development.

Content and Approach:

• Activities involve talking, playing, moving, listening to music, and sensory stimulation.
• Focus on developing early language, emergent literacy, numeracy, and reaching developmental milestones across domains.
• Detailed instructions provided for caregivers and frontline workers on conducting activities to support brain development.

Initiatives By Indian Govt

New India Literacy Program – ULLAS

• ULLAS stands for ‘Understanding, Learning, Leadership, and Action in School Education’.
• ULLAS focuses on improving understanding, learning outcomes, leadership skills, and fostering action-oriented approaches in school education.
• The Ministry of Education (formerly known as the Ministry of Human Resource Development) oversees the implementation of ULLAS in collaboration with various educational bodies and stakeholders.

NIPUN Bharat:

• Ensure all children in India attain foundational literacy and numeracy skills by Grade 3 by 2026-27.
• Reading with comprehension, writing, and basic mathematics.
• Launched in 2021 under the National Education Policy (NEP 2020).
• Implementation: Led by the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSE&L) at the Ministry of Education (MoE).

Fostering Cognitive and Analytical Skills in Schools

Instructional Strategies:

• Active Learning: Encourages critical thinking and problem-solving through activities and discussions.
• Differentiated Instruction: Tailors teaching to diverse learning styles, ensuring all students are challenged.

Curriculum Design:

• Focus on Critical Thinking: Emphasizes analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating information across subjects.
• Peer Collaboration: Promotes learning from diverse perspectives and challenging ideas.
• Safe Exploration: Provides a non-judgmental space for questioning, making mistakes, and learning.
• Effective Instruction: Equips teachers with techniques to promote critical thinking and provide feedback.

WHO DEFINES PATHOGENS THAT TRANSMIT THROUGH AIR

TOPIC: (GS2) INTERNATIONALORGANISATIONS – SOURCE: THE HINDU

WHO introduces the term ‘Infectious Respiratory Particles’ (IRPs) to describe airborne.

• Terminology standardization resolves confusion in describing airborne pathogen transmission.
• Input gathered from various stakeholders across multiple steps.

 Importance of Standardization:

• Standardized terminology aids in clear communication and effective transmission control measures.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO):

Established in 1948: The WHO emerged from the League of Nations’ Health Organisation after World War II.

Leading Global Health Efforts:

• The WHO plays a central role in global health leadership, providing guidance and technical assistance to countries.

Disease Prevention & Control:

• A core function is working to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases. This involves surveillance, outbreak response, and promoting vaccinations.

Public Health Programs:

• The WHO advocates for and supports public health programs like maternal and child health, nutrition, and mental health.

Structure:

• World Health Assembly: The decision-making body, where member states meet annually to set policies and approve budgets.
• Executive Board: Provides guidance and implements the decisions of the Assembly.
• Director-General: Leads the WHO Secretariat, which carries out the day-to-day work of the organization.
• Regional Offices: Six regional offices around the world support member states in specific regions.
• Technical Programs: Divided into various technical programs focusing on specific health issues like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

Additional Pointers:

• Funding: The WHO’s funding comes from member state contributions, private donations, and philanthropic organizations.
• Criticisms: The WHO has faced criticism for its handling of global health emergencies and its dependence on member state contributions.

Overall, the WHO plays a critical role in coordinating global health efforts, promoting health equity, and improving health outcomes worldwide.

 

TACHYONS

TOPIC: (GS2) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY– SOURCE: THE HINDU

In a recent development, physicists have put forward a bold proposition suggesting that tachyons, a theoretical type of particle that consistently surpasses the speed of light, may be the predominant entity shaping our universe.

Understanding Tachyons

Definition and Origin:

• Tachyons are theoretical subatomic particles envisioned to travel faster than light.
• Physicist Gerald Feinberg introduced the term “tachyon” in 1967.

Distinction from Bradyons:

• Bradyons are particles, like protons and electrons, that move at speeds slower than light.
• Tachyons, in contrast, are hypothesized to exceed the speed of light.

Special Properties:

• Unlike bradyons, tachyons have never been observed.
• They are believed to possess imaginary mass, indicated by a negative squared mass value.

Theoretical Implications:

• According to special relativity, particles with mass cannot surpass the speed of light in a vacuum due to infinite energy requirements.
• However, tachyons, with their hypothetical imaginary mass, could potentially exceed this limit.

Cerenkov Radiation:

• In mediums where light speed is slower than in a vacuum, particles can travel faster than light for that medium.
• This leads to cerenkov radiation, akin to a sonic boom or shockwave, signaling the presence of faster-than-light particle motion.

IMPOSSIBLE TO TAMPER WITH EVMS AT ANY STAGE, EC TELLS SC

TOPIC: (GS2) POLITY AND GOVERNANCE– SOURCE: THE HINDU

The Election Commission assured that electronic voting machines (EVMs) cannot be tampered with at any stage.

• The Supreme Court, reserved its judgment on petitions advocating for a more transparent electoral system, including cross-verification of 100% EVM votes with VVPAT paper slips.

Voting Process in EVM and VVPAT Machines at Booths:

• Check-in: Voters verify their identity with election officials at the polling booth.
• Casting Vote on EVM: Voters press the button next to their chosen candidate on the EVM’s display panel.
• Verification on VVPAT: VVPAT machine displays a paper slip with the selected candidate’s details for visual verification.
• Drop Paper Slip: VVPAT machine drops the printed slip into a sealed box for backup.
• Completion: Voter exits the booth after casting their vote and verifying the VVPAT slip.
• Cross-Verification: VVPAT paper slips from randomly selected booths are cross-verified with EVM votes after voting ends.
• Secure Handling: EVMs and VVPATs are securely stored and transported to counting centres for result tabulation.

MOUNT RUANG CRATER

TOPIC: (GS1) GEOGRAPHY – SOURCE: THE HINDU

Hundreds of earthquakes were detected in the weeks preceding the eruption of the volcano in North Sulawesi province.

• Location: Sangihe Islands arc, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Island: Forms a dedicated island 4 x 5 kilometers wide
• Elevation: 725 meters (2,379 ft)

Crater:

• Partially filled by a lava dome
• History of explosive eruptions
• Most recent – April 2024

CRATER

A crater is a bowl-shaped depression on the surface of a planet, moon, or other celestial body. It can be formed in two main ways:

 

• Impact crater: Caused by the collision of an object like a meteorite or asteroid with the surface.
• Volcanic crater: Created during volcanic eruptions by expelled ash, lava, and gas, or by the collapse around the vent.

 

TORRENTIAL RAIN

TOPIC: (GS1) GEOGRAPHY – SOURCE: THE HINDU

Torrential rain refers to extremely heavy rainfall, often exceeding a certain amount within a specific time period (e.g., exceeding 50 mm/hour or 100 mm/day).

Causes:

Low-pressure systems:

• Convergence of winds within low-pressure systems
• lead to rising air,
• Condensation,
• Heavy precipitation.

Tropical cyclones: These intense storms can bring torrential rain due to the high amount of moisture they carry.

Convection: Rapid heating of the ground can cause warm air to rise, condense, and produce heavy rain.

Impacts:

• Floods: Torrential rain can overwhelm drainage systems, leading to flash floods or riverine floods.
• Landslides: Saturation of soil due to heavy rain can trigger landslides, especially on slopes.
• Infrastructure damage: Torrential rain can damage roads, bridges, and buildings.