Context

According to the latest Global Wind Report 2024, the world installed 117 gigawatts of new wind power capacity in 2023, a 50% increase from the year before.

Key Highlights of Global Wind Report 2024

• Year-on-Year Expansion: Observed across 54 countries on all continents.
• Global Installed Onshore Wind Capacity: Surpassed 100GW mark for the first time, growing by 54% year-on-year.
• Global Offshore Wind Installations: Reached 10.8GW in 2023.
• Cumulative Global Wind Power Capacity: Exceeded 1-terawatt (TW) milestone, reaching 1021GW, with a 13% year-on-year increase.
• Yearly Growth Rate: Needs to triple to install 320GW of new capacity yearly by 2030 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
• Regional Progress on Wind Energy:
  • China: Installed record 75GW of new installations.
  • Top Markets: US, Brazil, Germany, India.
  • Asia-Pacific: 106% year-on-year increase, led by China.
  • Latin America: 21% increase, led by Brazil.
  • Africa and Middle East: Surged by 182%.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Challenges in the Wind Energy Sector

• Supply Chain Constraints: Global supply chain disruptions have impacted the availability and cost of wind turbine components, especially from dominant producers like China.
• Permitting and Regulatory Hurdles: Slow and complex permitting processes delay project deployments, significantly hindering growth in the wind sector.

• Technological Limitations: Existing wind turbine technologies face limitations in efficiency, especially in lower wind speed regions.
• Market and Financial Challenges: The wind sector often experiences financial instability due to fluctuating policy support, market volatility, and competitive pricing pressures.
• Environmental and Social Impact Concerns: Wind projects can face opposition due to their environmental impact on wildlife and the local community concerns about noise and aesthetic disruption.
• Interconnection and Grid Integration Issues: Integrating large-scale wind power into the existing grid poses technical challenges due to the variability and location-specific nature of wind energy.

Way Forward to the Wind Energy Sector

• Integrated Approach: The report advocates for a comprehensive strategy involving public/private partnerships to drive substantial investment into wind energy.
• Policy and Market Development: It emphasizes the need for stable and attractive policy environments that ensure reasonable investment returns and recognize the socioeconomic benefits of wind energy.
• Global Supply Chain Security: The report suggests building a robust supply chain with managed competition and advises against protectionist trade policies that could increase costs for consumers.
• Technological and Production Innovations: The report calls for industry collaboration in technical development and standardization to streamline production and ensure environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance.
• AI and Machine Learning: It recommends harnessing AI for supply chain and siting optimization while managing workforce transition and cybersecurity risks.
• Grid Infrastructure Development: The report stresses making grid development a cross-cutting policy priority, with emphasis on investment in grid flexibility and cross-border integration.
• Equitable Industry Transition: The report emphasizes on achieving socioeconomic cohesion and inclusivity within the wind industry, promoting pathways for workers transitioning from high-carbon sectors.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context

In line with the directions of the Supreme Court (SC), the Centre notified a committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary to examine the various issues relating to queer community.

Centre Forms Panel To Address Issues of Queer Community

• Formation of Committee: The Centre had given an undertaking to create a committee to set out the rights which will be available to queer couples in unions, when the Supreme Court agreed with the centre’s position and declined to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages.
• Composition: The Centre notified a six member committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and composed of secretaries from the Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Women and Child Development; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Law Ministry.
• Objective: The committee shall set out the scope of the benefits which accrue to same-sex couples.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Supreme Court’s Judgement

• Fundamental Right to Marry: On October 17, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud declined to recognise the right to marry as a fundamental right for same-sex couples.
• Minority Opinion: However, in a minority opinion, the SC ruled in favor of civil unions, stopping short of marriage, to grant legal rights to same-sex couples.
• SC View on Marriage: As per SC, although marriage itself doesn’t give any rights to the parties, it gives certain “intangible benefits in the form of expressive advantages” and “a bouquet of rights” that a married couple can exercise.
• Civil Unions for Queer Couples: Civil Union refers to the legal status allowing same-sex couples specific rights and responsibilities normally conferred upon married couples. 
  • The SC disagreed with prescribing a choice of civil unions to same sex couples and advocated for the state to facilitate the choice for those who wish to exercise it

Mandate of the Constituted Committee

• Defining entitlements of Queer Couples: The committee shall be set up for the purpose of defining and elucidating the scope of the entitlements of queer couples who are in unions. 
• Members: The Committee shall include experts with domain knowledge and experience in dealing with the social, psychological, and emotional needs of persons belonging to the queer community as well as members of the queer community. 
• Stakeholder Consultation: The Committee shall before finalizing its decisions conduct wide stakeholder consultation amongst persons belonging to the queer community, including persons belonging to marginalized groups and with the governments of the States and Union Territories.
• Key Topics for Consideration: The Committee shall consider the following legal entitlements of the queer community:
  • The right of queer partners to be treated as part of the same family for a ration card and setting up of a joint bank account.
  • Right to be considered “next of kin” by medical practitioners, in the event patients who are terminally ill have not executed an Advance Directive.
  • Jail visitation rights and the right to access the body of the deceased partner and arrange the last rites.
  • Legal consequences such as succession rights, maintenance, financial benefits such as under the Income Tax Act 1961, rights flowing from employment such as gratuity and family pension and insurance.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs launched Swachhata Pakhwada, from 16th to 30th April, 2024.

• Swachhata Pledge: The launch of Swachhata Pakhwada was marked by administration of Swachhata Pledge to all the Officers/ officials of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in New Delhi.
• Objective: The event highlighted the importance of Swachhata in all walks of our personal and social life.

Key Activities Proposed to be Undertaken

• Review of Pending files: During this period, all pending physical files of the Ministry would be reviewed/recorded and weeded out if so required. 
• Cleanliness of Rooms: Special Cleanliness drive would be undertaken in rooms. Old and obsolete electronic and other items would be collected and auctioned, if required.
  • Swachhata campaign inside/outside the rooms/chambers allotted to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
• Intra School Essay Competition: It has been proposed to conduct an Intra-School Essay Competition in one of the identified schools in Delhi during Swachhata Pakhwada. 
  • This is being done with the objective to make the youth more aware about the importance and efficacy of Swachhata all around.
• Award Ceremony: The Pakhwada will conclude on 30th April, 2024 with distribution of Prizes by Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to the top three sections who stood best on Swachhata parameters.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

About Swachhata Pakhwada

• Launch: The initiative was launched in April 2016, by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (now under the Ministry of Jal Shakti). 
• Aim: To dedicate a fortnight to intensively highlight cleanliness issues and practices by involving various Government of India Ministries/Departments within their respective jurisdictions.
• Monitoring: The activities during Swachhata Pakhwada are rigorously overseen through the Swachhata Samiksha online monitoring system, where action plans, photos, and videos pertaining to cleanliness efforts are uploaded and disseminated.
• Coverage: All ministries participate in this initiative, ensuring a comprehensive government-wide effort to promote Swachhata (cleanliness). 

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context

April 14 is observed as World Chagas Disease Day, because the first diagnosis of the disease was done by a Brazilian physician, Carlos Chagas on 14 April 1909.

About Chagas Disease

Chagas Disease is also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma Cruzi.

• • About 6–7 million people worldwide, mostly in Latin America, are estimated to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.

• Transmission: 

• • It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected triatomine bugs, also known as “kissing bugs.” 
    • However, it can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplantation, congenital transmission from mother to child, and consumption of contaminated food or beverages.

• Stages of Chagas Disease: 

  • Disease progresses through two main stages: acute and chronic.
  • Acute stage: The acute stage typically occurs shortly after infection and may exhibit mild or no symptoms at all, making it difficult to diagnose.
    • Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash, loss of appetite, vomiting, and swelling at the site of infection (chagoma).
  • Chronic Stage: If left untreated, the infection progresses to the chronic stage, which can manifest years or even decades after the initial infection
    • Chronic Chagas disease can lead to severe complications, including cardiac issues such as cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, heart failure, and gastrointestinal problems such as megaesophagus and megacolon. 

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

• Diagnosis of Chagas disease:

  • Asymptomatic Chronic Stage: Diagnosing Chagas disease can be challenging due to its often asymptomatic or nonspecific symptoms, especially in the chronic stage. 
  • Serological Tests: Diagnosis typically involves a combination of serological tests to detect antibodies against T. cruzi and molecular techniques to identify the parasite’s DNA. 
  • Criticality of Early Diagnosis: Early detection is crucial for preventing the progression of the disease and reducing the risk of complications. 

• Treatment: 

  • The primary medication used to treat Chagas disease is benznidazole or nifurtimox, both of which are antiparasitic drugs that work by killing the parasite. 
  • Treatment aims to reduce the parasite’s burden, alleviate symptoms, and prevent the development of complications.

• Geographical Spread of Disease: 

• • Endemic Regions: Chagas disease is endemic to Latin America, primarily in rural areas of Mexico, Central America, and South America. 
  • Global Spread: However, due to increased migration and globalization, Chagas disease has become a growing concern in non-endemic regions, including North America, Europe, and the Western Pacific.

Why is the disease referred to as the “silent and silenced disease”?

• Asymptomatic Onset: Chagas disease typically begins with either no symptoms or mild, nonspecific ones, making it easily confused with other common illnesses. Consequently, many individuals do not realize they are infected until serious complications develop much later.
• Limited Recognition and Funding: Historically, Chagas disease has not received as much attention or funding as other infectious diseases, despite its substantial health impact and risk of severe complications.
• Gaps in Healthcare Provision: The insufficient awareness and funding have resulted in significant gaps in surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment, especially in areas where the disease is endemic and healthcare access is constrained.

Prevention and Control: 

• Vector Control Measures: Preventing Chagas disease primarily involves vector control measures to reduce the risk of triatomine bug bites and interrupt transmission. 
  • This includes improving housing conditions to minimize insect infestations, using insecticide-treated bed nets, and implementing community-based vector surveillance and control programs. 
• Other Preventive Measures: Includes screening blood donors and implementing measures to reduce the risk of vertical transmission from mother to child.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context

The start of the fourth global coral bleaching event in 2023-2024 has been confirmed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch (CRW) of the United States and the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Global Coral Bleaching Event

• Extent of Bleaching: CRW and ICRI have recorded bleaching of corals in 53 countries, territories and local economies across five different ocean/sea basins between February 2023 and April 2024.
• Affected Region: The Report confirms widespread bleaching across parts of the Indian Ocean, including Tanzania, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Tromelin, Mayotte, and off the western coast of Indonesia. 
• Frequency of Events: The earlier event (3rd global bleaching)  had lasted from 2014 to 2017 making the present occurrence second such event in the last 10 years.
  • Previous events of global bleaching occurred first in 1998, then in 2010, and between 2014-2017.
• Future Projection: Climate models suggest that bleaching events may become an annual occurrence for most reefs somewhere around 2040-2050.
• CRW Declaration: The CRW declares a global mass coral bleaching event only when it records or gets inputs from all ocean basins of coral bleaching.

Coral Bleaching

• Coral bleaching occurs when the coral Polyp expels the marine algae ie. zooxanthellae from its   tissue and breaks the symbiotic relation. This results in them loosing their colour and source of nutrients and energy.
• Stress Response: The bleaching event indicates a stress response enabling them to recover, depending on the intensity of heat stress and its duration.
  • Corals can recover back to their original health if other stressors such as marine pollution and ocean acidification are kept under check and certain adaptation measures taken.

Causes of Coral Bleaching

• Temperature: The corals can survive only in a specific temperature range and global sea surface temperature is rising because of global warming stressing the corals.
• Extensive Marine Heatwaves: During a marine heatwave, temperatures in vast areas of sea and ocean surfaces increase and remain high for elongated periods of time.
  • World Meteorological Organization (WMO)’s State of the Global Climate 2023 Report said that 2023  was the hottest on record for the atmosphere and the oceans with nearly one-third of the global ocean gripped by it any day. 
• Subaerial Exposure: Low tides, sea level drops and tectonic uplift can result in sudden exposure of coral to the atmosphere. Subaerial exposure often results in bleaching and consequent coral death due to sudden changes in atmospheric conditions.
• El Nino: Ocean Heating and mass coral bleaching are closely tied to the occurrence of El Nino events since 1997, each of these pairs of El Nino years has also witnessed mass bleaching of corals.
• General Ocean Warming: Ocean warming will pose a serious threat to coral reef ecosystems around the planet, as bleaching events will increase in severity, frequency, and magnitude.
  • Example: Localised coral bleaching events have also been witnessed in recent La Nina years in the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Australia, in 2020 and 2022.
• Sedimentation: Human Activities such as coastal construction and mining can result in high rates of erosion, increasing sediment content in water and disrupting the natural process of photosynthesis.
• Inorganic Nutrients: Increases in inorganic nutrients such as ammonia and nitrate cause zooxanthellae to multiply by 2-3 times which can cause secondary adverse effects such as lower coral resistance and increased disease susceptibility.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context

Recently, A Report namely, The Arctic’s Plastic Crisis: Toxic Threats to Health, Human Rights, and Indigenous Lands from the Petrochemical Industry was released.

About the Arctic’s Plastic Crisis Report

• Released by: Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) and the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) before the commencement of the 4th INC session.
• 4th INC session: The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop A legally binding Global Plastic Treaty, including in the marine environment, is scheduled to take place from April 23-29, in  Ottawa, Canada.
  • INC-4 was preceded by INC-3 (November 2023) in Nairobi, Kenya, INC-2 in Paris, France (May  2023) and INC-1 (November 2022) in Punta del Este, Uruguay.  

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Key Highlights of the Arctic’s Plastic Crisis Report

• A Hemispheric Sink: The Arctic region is accumulating toxic chemicals & plastics from local as well as global sources posing a grave risk for the 13 million inhabitants of the region coming from 40 ethnic groups.
• Climate-Induced Community Displacement: Rapid warming of the Arctic is forcing indigenous peoples out of their traditional lands and losing access to traditional foods, sacred places, and other cultural practices.
• The Arctic Pollution Problem: The problems of plastic pollution, toxic chemicals, and climate change are interconnected and attributable to fossil fuel production and use 
  • Global Factors: 
    • Global Distillation or the Grasshopper Effect: It is a process whereby the plastics and chemicals produced all over the world gets transported and accumulate in the Arctic on atmospheric and oceanic currents from lower latitudes.
    • Climate Change: The Arctic region is warming at a rate nearly four times faster than the rest of the world with devastating consequences particularly felt in the Arctic.
  • Local Factors: 
    • Colonisation: The fossil fuel/petrochemical industry has set up their base to explore the region in search of coal and petroleum.
      • Climate warming and melting sea ice in the Arctic is opening new areas for exploration and development, with transportation and petroleum industry being the foremost contenders.
        • Exploitation of Local Natural Resources: Air pollution, oil spills and releases of hazardous substances from the operations of oil and gas corporations active in Alaska threaten Arctic People’s existence,  yet no damage assessment has been made.

• Recommendation of the Arctic’s Plastic Crisis Report: 

• • Stop Climate Disastrous Subsidies: To end government subsidies to the fossil fuel and petrochemical and agriculture industries and supporting clean, renewable energy and a toxics-free materials economy.
  • Limit Expansion of Polluting Industries: The expansion of the petrochemical industry in the region must be stopped.
    •  As per projections, oil and gas used for petrochemicals will increase from less than 20 percent today to as much as 50 percent by 2050 
  • Regenerative Economy: The Report advocates shifting the Arctic and the world from an extractive to a regenerative economy that fosters healthy, equitable communities by establishing a fair Transition framework.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context

A recent study highlighted that soil acidification could erode soil inorganic carbon, a stable carbon pool, which could affect the health of soil and its ability to regulate nutrient levels.

• Acidic Soil: Over 30% of cultivable land in India is said to carry acidic soil, impacting plant growth.
• Loss of SIC: Industrial activities and intensive farming are causing soil acidification in India, potentially causing a loss of 3.3 billion tonnes of soil inorganic carbon (SIC) from the upper 0.3 meters of soil over the next three decades.

About Soil Acidification

• Soil acidification: It refers to the process by which soil becomes more acidic, typically due to natural factors like rainfall and biological processes, as well as human activities such as industrial emissions and the extensive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers.
  • This process leads to a decrease in soil pH, which can adversely affect plant growth, nutrient availability, and soil biology. 
• Geographical Spread of Soil Acidification in India:
  • Soil acidification is already a concern in the country, affecting about 48 million hectares (mha) out of 142 mha of arable land.
  • Acidic soils in India are widespread in the humid southwestern, northeastern and Himalayan regions. The northeastern region, in particular, has recorded acidity in approximately 95 per cent of the soils.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Impact of Soil Acidification

• Affects crop growth: This is worrying because acidic soils affect crop growth and productivity by reducing the availability of plant nutrients. 
  • It also predisposes plants to other biotic and abiotic stress factors.
• Depletion of Soil Inorganic Carbon (SIC): Soil acidification leads to SIC depletion as most of the SIC (by weight) is carbonate. 
  • Acidic soil dissolves solid carbonate and removes it either as carbon dioxide gas or releases them directly into the water.
• Affects Nutrient levels and Carbon storage capacity: Soil Acidification not only reduces SIC but also affects nutrient levels and carbon storage capacity, crucial for plant growth and carbon sequestration.
• Increase Solubility of Toxic Elements: Over time, acidification can increase the solubility of potentially toxic elements like aluminum.

About Soil Carbon

• Carbon in Soil: It can be stored in the form of Soil Inorganic Carbon or Soil Organic Carbon (SOC). 
• Soil Inorganic Carbon: It  includes mineral forms of carbon like calcium carbonate produced by weathering parent material in soil or from the reaction of soil minerals with atmospheric carbon dioxide.
  • SIC is important for soil health, ecosystem services and functions along with carbon sequestration.

• Soil Organic Carbon: It plays a role in nutrient cycling and is the main component of soil organic matter such as plant and animal waste, microbes and microbial byproducts.
• Together, soils store more than thrice the quantity of carbon in vegetation or double the quantity of carbon in the atmosphere.
• India is likely to be most affected by SIC losses due to relatively large stocks of SIC and the magnitude of soil acidification associated with nitrogen additions.
• Climate Change causing SIC loss: Globally, future global warming and soil pH changes will deplete SIC in the top 0.3 m of soil by 1.35, 3.45 and 5.83 gigatonnes of carbon (GtC) under different scenarios, where temperatures could likely reach around 1.8°C, 2.7°C and 4.4°C warming by 2100, respectively.
• Loss of SIC to inland waters: Further, every year, approximately 1.13 billion tonnes of inorganic carbon are lost from soils to inland waters. 

Way Forward

There is a need for a comprehensive soil management strategy to address soil acidification and depletion of SIC and SOC from the soil.

• Soil pH Monitoring and Management: Soil Health Cards provide the status of nutrients and pH of soil which can be used for regular monitoring of soil quality. Furthermore, soil can be treated with calcium carbonate to neutralize acidity and raise the pH.
• Optimized Fertilizer Use: Reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers by integrating organic fertilizers such as compost and manure.
• Crop Rotation and Diverse Cropping: Rotating crops and including legumes or deep-rooted plants in rotations can enhance soil structure, increase biodiversity, and improve nutrient cycling, which helps maintain a healthy pH balance.
• Controlled Water Management: Implement water management practices that optimize moisture levels without leading to waterlogging or excessive dryness, which can exacerbate acidification.
• Soil Organic Matter Management: Promote conservation tillage and cover cropping practices among farmers to build up organic matter and improve soil structure.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context

Recently, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its Election Manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha Election promised for expansion of Ayushman Bharat health Insurance Scheme to All Senior Citizens.

Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
• It is an umbrella scheme of two major health initiatives, namely 
  • Health and Wellness Centers (Ayushman Arogya Mandir)
    • These centers provide comprehensive health care, including for non-communicable diseases and maternal and child health services. 
  • National Health Protection Mission (AB-PMJAY):
    • It provides a defined benefit cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. 
    • This cover will take care of almost all secondary care and most of tertiary care procedures. To ensure that nobody is left out (especially women, children and elderly) there will be no cap on family size and age in the scheme. 
    • The benefit cover will include pre and post-hospitalisation expenses. 
    • All pre-existing conditions will be covered from day one of the policy.
    • A defined transport allowance per hospitalization will be paid to the beneficiary.
    • Beneficiaries:
      • The families covered under this scheme have been included on the basis of occupational criteria of Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011). 
      • PM-JAY also included the beneficiaries of the then existing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, which were not present in the SECC 2011 database.
• Objective:
  • To alleviate the burden of out-of-pocket expenditure on the impoverished. 
  • To provide the poor with access to critical medical treatments and emergency care that were previously financially unattainable.
  • It aims to achieve universal health coverage.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Reasons for Inclusion of All Senior Citizen under Ayushman Bharat health Insurance Scheme

• Ageing Population: According to the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), the population over the age of 60 years will nearly triple from 103 million (8.6%  of total population) in 2011 to 319 million i.e. expected to increase to 19.5% of total country’s population in 2050. 
• Low Insurance Cover: According to the India Ageing Report 2023, Insurance coverage Just over 20% of people over the age of 60 years are covered under health schemes.
• Health challenges: The elderly are not only affected by chronic, non-communicable diseases and their complications, they are also more prone to infectious diseases because of a weakened immune system. 
• Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: The out-of-pocket health expenditures account for more than 70% of health expenditures in India, leading to health vulnerabilities in the older population.

Significance of Expansion of Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Scheme to All Senior Citizens

• Healthcare Accessibility: Extending insurance coverage to all senior citizens promotes overall well-being and quality of life by enhancing accessibility to healthcare services. 
• Financial Security & Economic Impact: It will help in reducing the financial burden of healthcare expenses as it covers costs associated with medical treatments, prescription drugs, and hospitalization.
• Social Inclusivity: It will ensure equality and dignity among the elderly population to actively participate in societal activities without worrying about healthcare expenses regardless of financial status. 
• Reducing the Burden on Public Health Care Institutions: It will contribute to more efficient allocation of healthcare resources and improved healthcare delivery for all segments of the Society.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context

The Supreme Court will hear petitions for 100% cross-verification of VVPAT slips with EVM vote counts.

EVM Machine – Electronic Voting Machine

An EVM Machine is a portable instrument for the purpose of conducting elections to the parliament, legislature and local bodies like panchayats and municipalities.

• Design: 
  • An EVM Machine has three units – a ballot unit, a control unit for the officer-in-charge to ensure a voter is able to vote only once, and a voter-verifiable-paper-audit-trail (VVPAT) unit, which produces a paper slip that is visible to the voter via a transparent screen for about seven seconds before it gets stored in a sealed drop box.
  • The control unit of the EVM is kept with the presiding officer and the balloting unit is kept within the voting compartment for electors to cast their votes.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

• Legal Sanction: Section 61A was included in the Representation of the People Act 1951, empowering the ECI.
• Manufacturer:  Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), Bangalore, a Defence Ministry PSU, was elected along with ECIL to manufacture the EVM Machine.

Brief History of EVM Machine

• Trial-Run: The EVM Machine was introduced on a trial basis in 1982 in the Assembly constituency of Paravur in Kerala. 
• Nationwide Deployment: They were deployed in all booths during the Assembly elections of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and West Bengal in 2001. 
  • In the 2004 general elections to the Lok Sabha, EVMs were used in all 543 constituencies. 
  • The 2019 elections had EVMs backed with 100% VVPAT in all constituencies.
• Ruling by Supreme Court: The Supreme Court in various judgments has upheld the validity of using EVMs in elections.
  • In Subramanian Swamy versus Election Commission of India (2013), the Supreme Court ruled that a paper trail is an indispensable requirement for free and fair elections. 

Benefits of EVM Machine

• Eradication of Booth Capturing: The EVM Machine has virtually eradicated booth capturing by limiting the rate of vote casting to four votes a minute and thus significantly increasing the time required for stuffing false votes. 
• Elimination of Invalid Votes: Invalid votes that were a bane of paper ballots and also a bone of contention during the counting process have been eliminated through EVMs. 
• Eco-Friendly: Considering the size of our electorate which is close to one billion, the use of EVMs is eco-friendly as it reduces the consumption of paper. 
• Enhanced Efficiency: It provides administrative convenience for the polling officers on the day of the poll and has made the counting process faster and error-free. 

Concerns Raised Against EVM Machine

• Potential for Hacking: EVM Machine are susceptible to hacking as it is an electronic device. 
  • The ECI has clarified that it is a standalone device like a calculator with no connectivity to any external device and hence free from any kind of external hack. 
• Limitations of Current Sample Size: The sample size for matching of the EVM count with VVPAT slips at present is five per assembly constituency/segment. 
  • This is not based on any scientific criteria and may fail to detect defective EVMs during counting. 
• Identification of Booth-wise Polling Behaviour: The present process also allows for booth-wise polling behaviour to be identified by various parties that can result in profiling and intimidation.

Mechanisms to Uphold the Integrity of EVM Machine and VVPAT Process

• Random allocation of EVMs to booths before polls.
• Mock Polls: Conduct of a mock poll to display the correctness of EVMs and VVPAT before commencement of the actual poll.
• Transparency Measures: The serial number of EVMs along with total votes polled needs to be shared with agents of candidates to verify the same at the time of counting of votes.
• Scientific Approach to EVM-VVPAT Matching: 100% match of EVM count with VVPAT slips would be unscientific and cumbersome. 
  • The sample for matching of EVM count and VVPAT slips should be decided in a scientific manner by dividing each State into large regions as suggested by experts. 
• Enhancing Confidence in Counting Process: In case of even a single error, the VVPAT slips should be counted fully for the concerned region and form the basis for results. 
  • This would instill a statistically significant confidence in the counting process. 
• Introducing Totaliser Machines for Enhanced Voter Privacy and Security: In order to provide a degree of cover for voters at the booth level, ‘totaliser’ machines can be introduced that would aggregate votes in 15-20 EVMs before revealing the candidate-wise count.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context

Recently, A study Published in Journal Corals Reefs shows that Three fish species that live in the Laccadive Sea, are capable of using tools.

What are three new Wrasse Fish Species?

• Three New Wrasse Fish Species Spotted using tools: 
  • The Jansen’s wrasse (Thalassoma jansenii), 
  • The checkerboard wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus) 
  • Moon wrasse (Thalassoma lunare).
• These species used ‘live or dead coral structures’ as anvils to break the hard shells of sea urchins so they could get to the edible bits inside. 
  • Predators of Sea Urchins:  All three species were recorded carrying the assay urchins to a nearby coral or benthic substrate and striking them repeatedly to break off their spines and crack their tests before consuming them.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

About Wrasse Fish

• Wrasse fish are small marine fishes, identified by their vivid and detailed colors, such as the moon and cuckoo wrasse.
• Wrasse fish has a small mouth when compared to the size of the body &  very strong teeth that tend to jut out of their thick lips.

Why Does Finding Matter? 

• To know habitat use by fish, 
• To study about the development of Animal intelligence, 
• To know the Predator-Prey interactions.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context

According to an analysis of data released by the Central Water Commission (CWC), at least 13 east-flowing rivers between Mahanadi and Pennar have no water at the moment.

• They include Rushikulya, Bahuda, Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Sarada, Varaha, Tandava, Eluru, Gundlakamma, Tammileru, Musi, Paleru and Munneru.  

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

River Systems: Socio-Economic Impact & Water Shortages in India

• Drainage of Rivers: The rivers drain directly into the Bay of Bengal after flowing through the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha through an area of 86,643 square kilometre (sq km). 
• River Systems in India: The river systems in India provide water for irrigation, drinking and domestic consumption as well as cheap transportation and electricity. 
  • Water shortage in the river basins gravely affects the socio-economic conditions, livelihoods and agricultural activity of the region, which is dependent on the rivers for water supply. 

Status of Indian River Basins

• States with Largest Deficit: According to the India Meteorological Data (IMD), Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have experienced ‘large deficits’ (65 and 67 percent respectively) in rainfall since March 1.
• Reduction in Water Storage: The Ganga basin, which is the largest basin in the country, recorded water storage at less than half (41.2 percent) of its total capacity. 
  • Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Mahanadi and Sabarmati river basins recorded 46.2 percent, 56 percent, 34.76 percent, 49.53 percent and 39.54 percent storage relative to their capacities, respectively.
  • The east flowing rivers between Pennar and Kanyakumari have just 12 percent storage and a departure of over 50 percent with respect to an average of ten years.
• Drought Condition Within River Basins: According to India Drought Monitor, several areas within the boundaries of the river basins have been experiencing ‘extreme’ to ‘exceptional’ drought.
• • At least 35.2 percent area in the country is under ‘abnormal’ to ‘exceptional’ degrees of drought currently. 
  • States like Karnataka and Telangana are facing drought and drought-like conditions because of rainfall deficits, which also left the country’s major reservoirs dry.  
• Reduction in Live Storage Capacity: The live storage capacity in India’s 150 major reservoirs has dropped to 36 per cent of their total capacity, with at least six reservoirs recording no water storage. 
  • There are at least 86 reservoirs in which the storage is either 40 per cent or below. 
  • Most of these are in the southern states and in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Reasons for Water Crisis in India

• Climate Change:  Higher temperatures, frequent extreme weather events, and changed patterns of precipitation lead to disruption in natural flow of water reducing water availability and causing drying.
• Indiscriminate Construction of Dams: Natural river flow patterns are changed when dams, reservoirs, and diversions are built for hydroelectric production, irrigation projects, and urban water supply.
  • The connectivity of groundwater with the river is being broken by concrete structures resulting in drying of most of the rivers.
• Deforestation and Land use Changes: Widespread deforestation causes soil erosion, decreased groundwater recharge, and altered Hydrological Cycle.
  • Reduced river flow and habitat loss are further exacerbated by infrastructure development, urbanization, and agricultural growth.
• Inefficient Water Management Practices: This includes excessive extraction for irrigation, industrial use, and domestic consumption. 
• Groundwater Depletion: Over-exploitation of groundwater, prolonged droughts and unsustainable groundwater extraction techniques leads to reduced base flow of rivers.
• Sand Mining: The excessive extraction of sand from the river disturbs the natural balance, impacting aquatic plants and microorganisms and food chains in the riverine system.
  • Ex- Extraction of sand from the Yamuna has led to a decline in groundwater levels.
• Pollution: River ecosystems are weakened by pollution-induced stress, which increases their vulnerability to drying out during dry spells.
  • River waters are contaminated by pollution from untreated sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff, which lowers water quality and damages aquatic ecosystems.

Measures Needed to Address Issue of Drying Rivers

• Restoration of Rivers: This includes: 
  • Identification and marking of encroachment on the two kilometer-buffer on both sides of the river(s) on the drainage map using revenue/cadastral maps.
  • Identification of the critical stretch which needs immediate attention such as channel obstruction, channel fragmentation, etc. 
  • Marking of origin points of a river/stream as well as confluence points in the respective districts for special conservation zoning/priorities.
• Traditional Water Conservation Techniques: The regeneration of ponds, reservoirs, and traditional water systems can save ten times more water, and at a fraction of the cost.
  • Restoration, rejuvenation and renovation of existing water bodies needs to be given high priority in water scarce areas. 
• Technological Innovations: Advanced irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler irrigation to water-efficient appliances and smart water management systems, technology offers solutions to optimize water usage and minimize wastage. 
  • Remote sensing and GIS technologies can aid in monitoring water resources and implementing targeted interventions.
• Creating Inventories and Geo-Mapping of Water Bodies: Inventory of water bodies in villages and nearby areas needs to be prepared and geo-mapped. 
  • These water bodies when utilised for water storage would facilitate recharging for meeting the demand for drinking and irrigation purposes and act as natural sinks for excess water during the rainy season.
• Sustainable Groundwater Usage: It necessitates demand management, supply augmentation, enhanced water use efficiency in the agriculture sector. 
  • Regulation and management of ground water on the basis of aquifer mapping, with active participation of farmers is critical.
• Power Feeder Separation: Separation of power feeders for agriculture and regulating the use of power and its proper pricing is essential for sustainable extraction of groundwater.
• Community Participation: Local communities must engage in water conservation efforts, adopting sustainable practices, and raising awareness about responsible water usage. 
• Education and Awareness:  Educational institutions like schools and colleges and community organizations can play a role in disseminating information about water conservation practices and encouraging behavioral change. 
• Other Measures include:
  • Mapping of free-flowing rivers. 
  • Incentivising good practices such as reuse and recycling water, and dis-incentivising bad ones such as pollution.
  • Financial institutions, investors, to have decision-making frameworks based on water risks and adoption of better water management practices.
  • India needs to adopt the latest techniques of desalination in coastal areas.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes

Conclusion

India needs a 3J strategy Jal Sanchay (water storage), Jal Sinchan (efficient water use) and Jan Sanrakshan (water conservation)  to manage and govern water to prevent the drying of rivers.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Context

Recently, the Supreme Court has said there is a need to take a “stricter view” while dealing with bail pleas of police personnel accused in custodial death cases. 

Custodial Deaths in India: Recent Cases and State Trends

• Recently, UP DGP reiterated guidelines to prevent custodial deaths.
• Also, in Tamil Nadu, a police inspector was suspended over ‘custodial death’.
• In February this year, a Sub-Inspector from Surat had been booked for attempted murder subjected to custodial torture.
• State has highest custodial death in India: From 2017-22, the highest number of custodial deaths have been reported in Gujarat followed by Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Bihar.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Custody & Its Types

The Custody means someone assigned for the protection of care or guardianship of something.

• However, for every arrest is custody but not every custody will be held for arrest. 
• Types of Custody: Following are the two type of custody the Indian judicial system has for the prisoners:
  • Police Custody: In this custody, a police officer arrests the accused by following the receipt of information or complaint or report by police about crime and prevents him/her from committing further offenses and brings him to the police station. 
    • Here, the accused is kept in the lock-up.
    • Specific Timeframe: The police officer has the time of 24 hours to interrogate the suspect and if finds that the suspect is guilty then the duty of the police is to file a charge-sheet after taking him to the Magistrate. 
  • Judicial Custody: In this custody, an accused is kept in jail by the order of the concerned magistrate. When an accused is presented before a magistrate, he/she can either be sent to jail or kept under police custody by the magistrate.
    • When the accused is in judicial custody the police have no right of interrogation and police find that interrogation is necessary as per the facts or instances of the case.

About Custodial Death

• Definition: It is defined as a death that takes place while a person is in custody, and is either directly or indirectly related to or significantly attributable to activities that were carried out while the person was in custody. 
• Coverage: It covers fatalities that take place in a jail, on a police or even other vehicle, at a private or medical facility, or in a public space.
• Occurrence: It can happen due to negligence by the concerned authorities in any form of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment by the police officers.
  • Custodial deaths can happen naturally, without any participation from the police, for example, when a criminal defendant or accused person passes away from sickness. 
• Instruction by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): In 1993, NHRC had issued a general circular requiring all the District Magistrates and the Superintendents of Police to report to the Commission, incidents relating to custodial deaths within 24 hours of their occurrence.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes

Concerns Associated with Custodial Deaths

• Violation of Fundamental Laws: Custodial death due to torture and violence by police is against the fundamental structure and values of the Indian Constitution.
  • It is a violation of articles 20, 21 and 22 of the Indian Constitution.
• Against Moral Values: Sometimes, the police authority abuses the convicted even before the formal arrest, claiming injuries occurred prior to custody. 
  • Recently, the Punjab and Haryana high court has held that custodial deaths represent a reprehensible abuse of power given the vulnerability of detainees and the unequal power dynamics.
• Severe Offenses Committed by Police Misusing the Custody: Sometimes, police misused the Custody and causing torture to the victims. 
  • Rape: Rape is one of the prevalent forms of custodial torture. 
    • The Mathura Rape Case: An incident of custodial rape in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra in 1972, wherein a tribal girl named Mathura was allegedly raped by two policemen in the Police Station.
  • Harassment: It is prevalent among the police and leads to many sufferings to the victims.
    • Nilabati Behera vs. the State of Orissa: In this case, the victim had died due to the harassment and beatings by the police. 
  • Illegal Detention: Depriving an individual of their personal liberty without following the process of law amounts to illegal detention. It includes unlawful imprisonment, continuous restraint of a person at a place or restraining a person from reaching a place. It is a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution and leads to immense pain and suffering.
    • Rudal Shah vs. the State of Bihar: In this case, the accused was kept in jail for 14 years, after his acquittal by the Sessions Court.
  • Fake Encounters: It is a type of custodial death, and has recently been used in the headlines. 
    • Pradeep Sharma, a former Mumbai Police ‘encounter specialist,’ has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Bombay High Court for his involvement in the fake encounter in 2006. 
      • This landmark judgment marks the first conviction of police officers in a fake encounter case in India.

Way Forward To Prevent Custodial Deaths in India

• Adopt Strict Approach: To prevent custodial deaths, implementation of guidelines and directives recommended in Prakash singh case is required.
  • Directives laid down in Prakash Singh vs. Union of India, 2006:
    • Establishment of a Police Establishment Board
    • Formation of the National Security Commission
    • Formation of a State Security Commission
    • Formation of a Police Complaint Authority
    • Separation of the investigation and law and order functions of the police
    • Merit-based system for the appointment of the Director-General of the Police
    • Two-year minimum tenure for SP and station house officers
    • Compensation to the victim
• Time for Reforms in Police Attitude: There is a need to enhance police training programs to emphasise respect for human rights and dignity.
  • There is an urgent need to change the rude police attitude and promote a culture of accountability, professionalism, and empathy within law enforcement agencies.
• More Monitoring & Enquiry: With rising high cases of custodial deaths in India, time has come to encourage civil society organisations to actively advocate for victims of custodial torture.
  • The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)  should be allowed to inquire into any matter even after one year from the date of the alleged human rights violation and also the jurisdiction should be expanded on human rights violations by armed forces with appropriate measures.
• Assistance to Victim & its Family: To maintain the soul of justice, there is a need to provide more legal support to victims and their families. 

• • In Nilabati Behera vs. the State of Orissa, the court held that when the state violates the constitutional right to life of a citizen, it has an obligation to provide compensation. 
• Learn from Other Countries’ Best Practices: The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013 is an Act passed by the Jatiya Sangsad in 2013 to prohibit torture in custody in Bangladesh.
  • The Prevention of Torture Bill, 2017 was one of the primary legislation that was enacted as law of parliament in relation to custodial torture in the country. Now, time has come to take strict actions regarding the bill.
• Time for Collaboration: Collaborating with international human rights bodies and organisations is required to seek redress and justice. The Government of India signed the UN Torture Convention in October 1997 but is yet to ratify it.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

DOWNLOAD PDF