Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 4th October 2024

World Green Economy Forum, 2024:

The World Green Economy Forum 2024, held in Dubai, brings together global leaders to address pressing environmental issues under the theme “Empowering Global Action: Unlocking Opportunities and Advancing Progress”.

• Summit held in: Dubai, UAE, on October 2nd and 3rd, 2024.
• Theme: “Empowering Global Action: Unlocking Opportunities and Advancing Progress”
• Aim is to promote global cooperation, innovation, and sustainable practices across energy, decarbonization, climate finance, and more. The forum’s goal is to drive positive transformation towards a net-zero future.
• Sessions on decarbonization in heavy industries, use of AI for sustainability, and the role of youth in climate action.
• A focus on the future of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), aiming for 300 million tonnes production by 2050.
• Emphasis on public-private partnerships and philanthropy to drive climate solutions.
• Panels on renewable energy, power grid challenges, and carbon footprint management.
• This forum aligns with global climate goals, such as the Paris Agreement, and encourages collaboration between governments, industries, and civil society for sustainable development​

Judge’s Asset Disclosure:

The Kerala High Court topped the list with the asset declarations of 37 out of 39 judges available on its website while those of only two of 50 judges in the Karnataka High Court and five of 62 judges in the Madras High Court have been provided.

• Only 13% of High Court judges’ assets are publicly available, with Kerala, Punjab and Haryana, and Delhi High Courts contributing over 80% of the total asset declarations (Source: The Indian Express).
• Several High Courts, like Bombay, Gujarat, and Telangana, have not disclosed asset declarations, citing reasons like personal privacy and the confidential// nature of such information.
• Parliament’s Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, and Law and Justice recommended mandatory asset disclosure for judges in August 2023, but many courts have not complied, labeling the information as outside the scope of the RTI Act.
• The Supreme Court adopted a resolution for voluntary asset disclosure in 1997, and several High Courts followed in 2009, but updates have been sparse since 2018.

Sonam Wangchuk : Ladak and Sixth Schedule

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained on the Delhi border on Monday night as he led a group of protesters to petition the Central government for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution among other demands for autonomy to the region.

• Ladakh’s indigenous population, including the Buddhist and Shia Muslim communities, seeks cultural preservation and governance autonomy.
•  Activists, including Sonam Wangchuk, argue that inclusion under the Sixth Schedule will provide constitutional safeguards, ensuring economic and social development while protecting their cultural heritage.
• Ladakh has a significant tribal population, and the Sixth Schedule would empower Autonomous District Councils to govern with greater local autonomy, much like northeastern tribal areas.
  Positives of being under the Sixth Schedule:
• States and regions under the Sixth Schedule enjoy legislative, executive, and judicial autonomy, helping preserve tribal culture. E.g. The Autonomous District Councils in Meghalaya regulate land and forests, ensuring local control over resources.
• Tribal communities can manage their affairs, including laws on land inheritance, social customs, and marriage. E.g. Mizoram’s ADCs regulate shifting cultivation, a traditional tribal practice.
• The Sixth Schedule provides for tailored developmental programs, creating more opportunities for regional growth. E.g. Meghalaya’s ADCs have autonomy over primary education and local roads.
• The Sixth Schedule areas benefit from government schemes that focus on education, infrastructure, and healthcare, improving the overall socio-economic status.

The Fifth and Sixth Schedules:

• Asymmetrical federalism refers to a system where different states or regions within a federation have varying degrees of autonomy and powers.
• In India, certain states and areas enjoy more autonomy under constitutional provisions, particularly through the Fifth and Sixth Schedules. This differs from symmetrical federations like the U.S., where all states enjoy equal powers.
• The Fifth and Sixth Schedules derive from the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, which classified areas into ‘excluded’ and ‘partially excluded’ regions. These were meant to protect tribal populations from external interventions.
• Fifth Schedule (Article 244): It applies to ‘Scheduled Areas’ declared by the President, focusing on tribal welfare, land rights, and advisory councils. States covered include Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and others.
• Sixth Schedule (Article 244A): It covers ‘Tribal Areas’ in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura. Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) manage legislative and administrative tasks in these regions, providing more autonomy than the Fifth Schedule.

Annual Survey Of Industries Report 2022-23:

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for 2022-23 which presents significant insights into the recovery and growth of the manufacturing sector in India.

• The survey fieldwork was conducted from November 2023 to June 2024 for ASI 2022-23.

Highlights of the ASI Report 2022-23:

• The ASI indicates that employment in manufacturing grew by 7.5% from 1.72 crore in 2021-22 to 1.84 crore in 2022-23, the highest rate of growth in the last 12 years.
• In 2022-23, the manufacturing sector created 13 lakh jobs, an increase from 11 lakh in FY22.
• The manufacturing GVA grew robustly by 7.3%, reaching Rs 21.97 lakh crore in 2022-23, up from Rs 20.47 lakh crore in 2021-22.
• The total industrial input increased by 24.4%, while the output grew by 21.5% in the sector in 2022-23 compared to 2021-22, reflecting a significant rebound in manufacturing activities.
• The primary drivers of manufacturing growth in 2022-23 were basic metals, coke and refined petroleum products, food products, chemicals, and motor vehicles. Together, these industries accounted for about 58% of total output.
• Top 5 states in terms of employment were Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.
• The number of factories increased from 2.49 lakh in 2021-22 to 2.53 lakh in 2022-23, marking the first full recovery phase after Covid-19 disruptions.
• The informal sector saw a 1.5% decline in employment, dropping by 16.45 lakh to 10.96 crore in 2022-23, indicating a shift towards formal employment in manufacturing as per the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Enterprises (ASUSE) 2022-23 report released in July 2024.
• Average emolument per person rose by 6.3%, reaching Rs 3.46 lakh in 2022-23 compared to 2021-22.
• Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) surged by over 77% to Rs 5.85 lakh crore in 2022-23, while net fixed capital formation saw 781.6% rise to Rs 2.68 lakh crore, supporting sustained manufacturing growth.
• Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), or “investment,” refers to the acquisition of produced assets, including second-hand purchases, as well as the production of assets by producers for their own use, minus disposals.
• Net fixed capital formation is the amount of Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) minus the amount of consumption of fixed capital.
• Profits in the manufacturing sector increased by 2.7% to Rs 9.76 lakh crore.

SARTHIE 1.0:

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), Government of India, and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) launched the SARTHIE 1.0.

• SARTHIE 1.0 is an initiative intended to empower disadvantaged communities, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Senior Citizens, Transgender Persons, Victims of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, persons engaged in the act of Begging, Denotified and Nomadic Tribes and more.
• It aligns with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly the goals focused on eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, and promoting social protection policies that ensure greater equality for all.
• The collaboration aims to bridge the awareness gap and provide legal assistance to ensure the effective implementation of social welfare programmes.
• It offers a synergy between the executive and the judiciary and ensures that social justice is further strengthened.
• NALSA was constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987
• It has a mandate to provide legal aid to disadvantaged groups and spread legal literacy.
• The Chief Justice of India is the patron-in-chief of NALSA, while the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman.
• It is housed at the Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.

Honey Badger : Captured

For the first time, a honey badger has been captured on camera in the Terai East Forest Division (TEFD) of Uttarakhand.

• Honey Badger is also known as the Ratel, are related to skunks, otters, ferrets, and other badgers.
• Honey badgers are omnivorous and nocturnal mammals that belong to the weasel family.
• These creatures are known for their powerful, curved claws, which they use to dig burrows for shelter. Their diet is diverse, consisting of small animals, fruit and honey.
• They are known for their solitary nature and their ability to twist and turn to escape predators.
• They are found in parts of Africa and Asia.
• Also they have been recorded in a few other locations in India, such as Bannerghatta National Park in Karnataka, Chilika Lagoon in Odisha and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra.
• They play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance by preying on smaller animals and pests, helping to control populations and protect crops.
• They contribute to nutrient cycling by enriching the soil through their diet and waste.
• They are important indicators of ecosystem health, ensuring a diverse and thriving environment for other species.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Least Concern
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans Tracker:

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) Tracker revealed that only 10% of nations fulfil their biodiversity commitments ahead of COP16.

• National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans Tracker is a new tool developed by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), which is monitoring the progress of countries in developing their NBSAPs that align with the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
• It aims to make biodiversity policies accessible to all stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability as countries prepare for COP16.
• NBSAPs are crucial blueprints for countries to outline their strategies to tackle biodiversity loss and meet international targets.
• These plans are aimed at ensuring that nations can mobilise action and funding to help restore ecosystems and safeguard wildlife.
• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, or COP15, to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022.
• It aims to support the achievement of sustainable development goals and build on previous strategic plans.
• It sets a bold path towards global harmony with nature by 2050.
• In adopting the GBF, all parties committee to setting national targets to implement it.
• The GBF consists of 23 targets(set for 2030) and four global goals (set for 2050) to preserve biodiversity for current and future generations.
• The targets address reducing threats to biodiversity, meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing, and tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming.

Annular solar eclipse : On Oct 2(2024)

An annular solar eclipse was visible in parts of South America on October 2 while a partial solar eclipse was visible in parts of South America, Antarctica, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean.

• Solar Eclipse takes place when the Moon moves in the middle of the Earth and the Sun.
• The Moon blocks the light of the Sun, either fully or partially, which casts a huge shadow on some parts of the world.
• A solar eclipse is witnessed only during the new moon — when the Moon and Sun are aligned on the same side of Earth.
• A new moon occurs about 29.5 days because that is how long it takes the Moon to orbit Earth. It takes place only between two to five times annually.
• It is because the Moon does not orbit Earth in the same plane as the Earth orbits the Sun. In fact, the Moon is tilted by about five degrees with respect to Earth.
• As a result, most of the time when the Moon is in between the Sun and Earth, its shadow is either too high or too low to fall on the Earth.
• There are four different types of solar eclipses,
  • Total Solar eclipse: It occurs when the Moon blocks the Sun entirely, the areas in the centre of the Moon’s shadow at the time witness a total solar eclipse. The sky darkens and people who are in the path of a total solar eclipse can get a glimpse of the Sun’s corona — the outer atmosphere — which is usually not visible due to the bright face of the Sun.
  • Annular solar eclipse: It occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun but is at or near the farthest point from Earth. In this scenario, the Moon covers the Sun in such a way that only the periphery of the Sun remains visible — looking like a ring of fire.
  • Partial solar eclipse: It takes place when the Moon blocks just a part of the Sun, giving it a crescent shape. During both partial and annular eclipses, the regions outside the area covered by the Moon’s umbra — the middle and the darkest part of the lunar shadow — will see a partial solar eclipse. Partial solar eclipse is the most common type of solar eclipse.
  • Hybrid solar eclipse: It is the rarest type of solar eclipse and it is witnessed when an eclipse shifts between annular and total as the shadow of the Moon moves across the globe.

Lake Prespa:

According to experts, of the 450 hectares of Little Prespa Lake in Albania, at least 430 hectares have been transformed into swamps or dried up.

• Lake Prespa is one of the oldest tectonic lakes in Europe, and also the highest tectonic lake on the Balkan Peninsula.
• It lies at the junction of three major geological masses: a granite massif on the East, a karstic massif belonging to Galicica on the West, and the Suva Gora on the South.
• The region is famous for having rocks from the oldest Paleozoic form to sediments belonging to the young Neogene era.
• It is made up of the Great Prespa Lake (Albania, Greece and the Republic of Macedonia) and Small Prespa Lake.
• The majority of Little Prespa Lake, also known as Small Lake Prespa, sits in Greek territory, with just its southern tip crossing into Albania.
• Rising temperatures and increasingly mild winters with little snowfall and a scarcity of precipitation have battered the lake.

Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan : Jharkhand

Prime Minister of India recently launched the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan in Jharkhand with an outlay of around Rs 80,000 crore.

• Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan aims to foster holistic development in tribal villages, bringing transformative changes to the socio-economic landscape of the region.
• The Abhiyan will cover around 63,843 villages, benefiting more than 5 crore tribal people in 549 districts, and 2,911 blocks spread across all tribal majority villages and aspirational blocks in 30 States/UTs.
• It envisions saturation of critical gaps in social infrastructure, health, education, and livelihoodthrough 25 interventions implemented by 17-line ministries of Govt of India by convergence and outreach; and ensures holistic and sustainable development of tribal areas and communities.
• The scheme has a total outlay of Rs.79,156 crores (Central Share: Rs.56,333 crore and State Share: Rs. 22,823 crore).
• It has been planned based on the learning and success of Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), which was launched in November 2023.
• With a budget outlay of Rs. 24,104 crores, the PM-JANMAN focuses on the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) population.

New AI Initiative Launched for a Safer Cricket Community Ahead of Women’s T20 World Cup 2024:

The ICC (International Cricket Council) has launched a new software as part of a social media moderation programme for the Women’s T20 World Cup to help protect the cricket community from “toxic content” to safeguard the mental health of individuals and “ensure a safer, kinder and healthier online community for the sport.”

Small Savings Scheme Interest Rates Unchanged for Q3 FY25:

The government has announced that interest rates on various small savings schemes, including the Public Provident Fund (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC), will remain unchanged for the third consecutive quarter, starting from October 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.

SEBI Imposes ₹12 Lakh Fine on NSE Data And Analytics for Regulatory Violations:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a penalty of ₹12 lakh on NSE Data And Analytics Ltd due to multiple regulatory infractions identified during an inspection. This fine highlights ongoing concerns about compliance within financial institutions and the importance of maintaining stringent operational standards in the market.

98% of the ₹2,000 notes have been returned : RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that 98% of the ₹2,000 notes have been returned since their withdrawal in May 2023. This has led to the total value of the denomination in circulation dropping significantly from ₹3.56 lakh crore to ₹7,117 crore as of September 2023.

Reconstitution Of Monetary Policy Committee:

The central government has reconstituted the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) ahead of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) monetary policy review scheduled for October 7-9. This decision comes as part of the RBI’s mandate to maintain consumer price index (CPI) inflation within a target range of 2-6% and aims to stabilize inflation at 4%

Projects worth Rs 83,700 Crore Has Been Unveiled By PM in Jharkhand:

Honorable Prime Minister of India Shri. Narendra Modi unveiled the developmental projects worth Rs. 83,700 crore in Jharkhand. Including the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan for tribal development. He launched this project on the day of Gandhi Jayanti. And also laid the foundation stone for multiple projects.

SAFF Men’s U-17 Championship 2024:

The Indian Men’s Football U-17 (Under 17) lifted the SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Men’s U-17 Championship after defeating Bangladesh in the final game of the tournament. The final was played at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan.

New Norms for Handling Delayed Tax Refund Claims:

The Ministry of Finance has released comprehensive guidelines to streamline the handling of delayed tax refund claims and loss carry forward applications. These guidelines aim to reduce bureaucratic delays, especially in cases where taxpayers missed filing their income tax returns (ITR) but had refunds due.

Women Entrepreneurship Platform in Telangana Launched By NITI Aayog:

In a groundbreaking initiative to further strengthen the ecosystem for women entrepreneurs in Telangana, NITI Aayog, in collaboration with Telangana government, launched the first State chapter of Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), with WE Hub serving as the nodal organization.

MV Shreyams Kumar New President of Indian Newspaper Society:

The Indian Newspaper Society (INS), a premier organization representing the print media industry in India, has announced significant leadership changes for the year 2024-25, marking a new chapter in its illustrious history of safeguarding press freedom and promoting print media interests.

India to Host Historic First-Ever Kho Kho World Cup in 2025:

Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI) in collaboration with the International Kho Kho Federation revealed plans to organize the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in India come 2025. This historic event marks a significant milestone in the journey of this traditional Indian sport toward global recognition.