Context:

• Overlapping prey availability  could dictate a positive association between dholes (Asiatic wild dog) and tigers, facilitating co-existence or even cooperative behaviors between the two species of carnivores, a new study has found. 

What are the findings and conclusions of a study?

• To assess the relative abundance index, habitat use and factors (space and time) influencing dhole co-existence with other sympatric carnivores in Manas National Park.
• The global population of adult dholes is estimated to be between 949 and 2,215 individuals, scattered in localized areas of India and Thailand. 
• Diurnal activity of the dholes had the highest temporal overlap with leopards and the lowest with clouded leopards. 
• The dhole or Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus) is the only endangered wild pack-living canid in the tropical Indian forests and is considered at high risk of extinction.
• Factors such as habitat loss, declining prey availability, persecution, disease, and interspecific competition have contributed to the ongoing fragmentation of dhole’s populations.    

News Source: The Hindu

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Context:

• India is embarking on launching its maiden National Framework for Climate Services towards providing climate services and information.

What is the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS)?

• National Framework for Climate Services draws inspiration from the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), which existed during the third World Climate Conference in 2009.
• Nodal Agency: India Meteorological Department (IMD)
• Mandate
  • To strengthen the observational network on land and the seas, improve the data inflow and eventually use it to run weather and climate models for deriving climate predictions.
  • To support efforts to prepare for new climate conditions and adapt to their impacts on water supplies, health risks, extreme events, farm productivity, infrastructure placement, power and energy generation, etc.
• Significance
  • National Framework for Climate Services will work in bridging functioning gaps between the various agencies who require climate services. 
    • These include the hydrological, power, renewable energy, transport, dams and irrigation, health agencies are central, state and other levels.
• Countries, where the National Framework for Climate Services implementation is in the advanced stages, include
  • Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Madagascar, Moldova, Niger, Senegal, Chad, Togo, Tanzania, Vanuatu and South Africa.

Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS)

• GFCS is a partnership of governments and organizations at a global level, for the production and better usage of climate information and services. 
• Aim: To facilitate researchers and users of climate information and services to join hands to make informed and actionable decisions for long-term betterment.
• GFCS envisages to generate high-quality data from national and international databases on temperature, rainfall, wind, soil moisture and ocean conditions and other vital weather parameters. 
• Major Components of GFCS
  • Observations and Monitoring
  • Research, Modelling and Prediction
  • Climate Services Information System
  • User Interface Platform 
  • Capacity Building

News Source: The Indian Express

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Context:

• The government is expected to open the ninth round of bidding under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy.

What is Open Acreage Licensing Policy?

• Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) is a policy reform introduced by the Government of India (GoI) to provide relief to hydrocarbon companies. 
• Under it the company can undertake prospecting for fuels in areas the GoI does not notify.
  • Prospecting refers to drilling the selected area to check the availability of hydrocarbon fuels. 
• The OALP is used by companies engaged in extracting hydrocarbon fuels to locate new areas where hydrocarbon fuels can be obtained. 
• Under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy, Companies can put in an expression of interest (EoI) for any area throughout the year but such interests are accumulated thrice in a year. The areas sought are then put on auction.
• It is part of the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy.

News Source: Business Standard

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Context:

• According to the study, Perinthalmanna in Kerala has an effective system for managing biomedical waste.

What is biomedical waste?

• Biomedical waste is any waste produced during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human or animal research activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of biological or in health camps. 
• The basic principle of good BMW practice is based on the concept of 3Rs, namely, reduce, recycle, and reuse.

Perinthalmanna model of Biomedical Waste Management

• Healthcare facilities in Perinthalmanna segregate their waste at the time of generation itself. 
  • Colour-coded trash cans are used for this purpose.
• Special containers and puncture-resistant bags are installed in various locations.
• Each container has a unique QR code for each healthcare facility. So whenever the bags are filled, the healthcare facility scans the QR code and uploads the information into the mobile application of the agency authorized with waste management.
• The agency is then notified and dispatched to the respective healthcare facility to collect, treat and dispose of the waste in accordance with the procedures. 
• An agency under the Indian Medical Association is responsible for safely managing biomedical waste, which they treat at a facility in the Palakkad district of Kerala.

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Context:

• This article is based on the news “How India-Israel ties progressed: from Palestine-leaning to a strategic embrace of the Jewish nation” which was published in the Indian Express. Israel declared a state of war after Palestinian terrorist militant organization Hamas launched an attack on it.

Tensions Surge in the Israel Palestine Conflict

• The attack has raised concerns over Israel’s defence system, with many questioning the intelligence failure. Some observers have referred to the latest escalation as the beginning of the “Third Intifada”. 

What is an Intifada?

• It is an Arabic word that means to ‘shake off’. It came into popular usage in December 1987, with Palestinians using it to describe their uprising against the Israeli presence in the West Bank and Gaza.
• The First Intifada lasted from 1987 to 1993, and the Second Intifada from 2000-2005.

What is the Iron Dome?

• The Iron Dome is a short-range, ground-to-air air defense system developed by Israel to protect against rockets, artillery, mortars (C-RAM), aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. 

Sinai Peninsula

• The Sinai Peninsula, which is part of Egypt, serves as a land bridge between the Middle Eastern portion of Asia and North Africa. 
• It is bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea, and to the east by Israel and the Gaza Strip, to the southwest by the Gulf of Suez, and South by the Red Sea.

A Timeline Israel Palestine Conflict

• 1949: Israel signs truces with Arab countries, and the Gaza Strip was under Egypt’s control.
• 1956: Israel invades the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip in response to Egypt’s nationalization of the Suez Canal.
• 1957: Israel withdrew from Egyptian land, except from the Gaza Strip and the area of the Gulf of Aqaba, arguing that the Gaza Strip never belonged to Egypt.
• 1967: During the Six-Day War, Israel gains control of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula.
• 1987: Palestine initiate the first intifada against Israel.
• 1993: Arafat signs the Oslo Accords with Israel, committing to negotiating a two-state solution; Hamas launches suicide bombings in Israel.
• 2021: Israeli police raid Al-Aqsa Mosque, leading to an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas; casualties on both sides.
• 2023: Recent attacks by Hamas on Israel

Why did Hamas launch a surprise attack on Israel?

• Deteriorating Relations: Palestine-Israeli relations have been steadily deteriorating in recent years, marked by frequent Israeli military raids in the occupied West Bank.
  • In April, Israeli police raided Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque compound (Islam’s third holiest place of worship). 
• Exploiting Public Anger: Hamas sought to capitalize on the public anger against the occupation and emerge as the leading force in the Palestinian cause. Hamas aimed to position itself as the primary advocate for Palestinian rights.
• Israeli Domestic Divisions: Israel is experiencing internal divisions, with a right-wing government pursuing an ambitious legislative agenda and facing protests against attempts to curtail the powers of the judiciary. 
• Geopolitical Considerations: The timing of the Hamas attack coincided with Israel and Saudi Arabia being in advanced talks for normalization. 
  • A potential normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, supported by the United States, would reshape regional dynamics and potentially weaken Hamas. 

India’s Stand over the Israel Palestine Conflict

• India has expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause and supported the establishment of a sovereign Palestine state.
• In 1975, India became the first non-Arab country to recognise the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinian people.
• In 1988, when the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared an independent state of Palestine with its capital in East Jerusalem, India granted recognition immediately.

Also read: India-Israel Bilateral Relations

What is the Conflict between Israel and Palestine?

• Jerusalem has been at the center of the Israel Palestine conflic: 
  • UN Partition Plan (1947): Original UN plan proposed Jerusalem as an international city.
  • First Arab-Israeli War (1948): Israelis captured the western half of Jerusalem.
    • Jordan took the eastern part, including the Old City and Haram al-Sharif.
    • Six-Day War (1967): Israel defeated a coalition of Arab states, including Jordan.
    • Jordan lost control of the al-Aqsa Mosque.
    • Israel captured and annexed East Jerusalem.
  • Post-Six-Day War: Israel considers the entire city as its “unified, eternal capital.”
    • Palestine insist on East Jerusalem as the capital of any future Palestinian state.

Impact of Israel Palestine conflict

• Oil Prices: Escalation in the Middle East can lead to a surge in crude oil prices, affecting global economies, including India.
• Inflation: Rising oil prices can trigger high imported inflation in major economies like the US, India, and China, impacting production costs and energy expenses.
• Global Markets: Equity markets may experience volatility, with investors shifting toward safe-haven assets like gold, and foreign institutional investors selling in response to higher bond yields and oil prices.
• Global Geopolitics: The conflict’s geopolitical implications may influence regional dynamics, including India’s foreign policy and relations with key players in the Middle East.
• On India:
  • Economic Impact: Disruptions in trade with Israel may lead to price increases for goods, affecting India’s economy.
    • Israel is the third-largest Asian trade partner of India and 10th overall.
    • India’s exports to Israel account for 1.8% of India’s total merchandise exports led by petroleum products. 
    • Israel buys around $5.5 – 6 billion of refined petroleum products from India. In FY23, India’s total exports to Israel stood at $8.4 billion
  • Defense Equipment: India relies on Israel for defense equipment; any interruptions could impact its defense capabilities.

Also read: India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Project

Way Forward

• Implementation of Oslo Accords (1993): Oslo Accord is an ongoing American-mediated effort to broker a peace treaty between Israel and Palestine. 
• Two-State Solution:The two-state solution has for decades been the primary focus of efforts to achieve peace in the Israel Palestine conflict
  • The two-state solution aims to establish an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, ensuring two states for two peoples.

Conclusion

The ongoing Israel Palestine conflict has escalated geopolitical  tensions. Achieving a peaceful resolution in the Israel Palestine issue requires collective efforts from the international community. The current reluctance of the Israeli government and other stakeholders exacerbates the problem. A balanced approach is crucial, not only for fostering favorable relations with Arab countries but also for maintaining a constructive engagement with Israel.

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Context:

• This article is based on the news “Sikkim review: How safe are dams in India?” which was published in the Mint. The Chungthang dam in Sikkim collapsed recently due to a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) killing 30 people. 

International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS)

• The dam was about 20 years old and several environmental concerns had been raised over the years about the formation of glacial lakes and likely GLOFs.  
• International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS): It was recently organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC) in Jaipur which laid emphasis on the issue of dam health and safety.

Why do we need dam safety in India?

• Dam failure: The International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) defines dam failure as the collapse or movement of part of a dam or its foundation so that the dam cannot retain water.
  • Such failure may be caused by age, construction deficiencies, inadequate maintenance, extreme weather or seismic events, and faulty operation. 
• Threats from dam failure: Unhealthy dams pose significant threats to human life, crops, houses, buildings, roads, the environment and the economy. 
  • Therefore, dam safety is a matter of utmost and universal importance.
• Dams on interstate rivers: Ninety-two percent of India’s large dams have been built on  inter-state rivers. 
  • The negative repercussions of a dam’s hazard potential may spill over to other States and even other countries. 

Also read: List Of Major Dams In India Type, Roles And State Wise 

What are the issues associated with dam safety?

• Ineffective compliance of Dam Safety Act, 2021: Only 20 States have constituted the State Committee on Dam Safety (SCDS) in compliance with the provisions of the act.
  • Moreover, only 16 States have established the State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO).
  • While state governments are empowered to enact dam safety legislation, only Bihar has enacted Bihar Dam Safety Act, 2006.

• Lack of oversight powers over state departments: At the state level, the respective water resources or irrigation departments are in charge of dam safety. 
  • They are reported to usually follow Central Water Commission(CWC) standards, but the CWC has no oversight powers over them.
• Lack of clearance mandate for small dams: Dams which have an irrigation command area less than 10,000 Ha or power generation capacity between 50 to 25 MW require a clearance from the state government only. 
  • They do not require an environmental clearance at all. 
  • No existing statutory provisions require regular and systematic reporting of dam failures.
• No single agency keeps track of all dam failures: CWC maintains a record of dam failure events but the list is collected from states, and is not regularly updated. 
  • The Central bill provides that every State Dam Safety Organisation has to report dam failures within its jurisdiction.
  • However, there is no details about how these requirements will be implemented and whether states will choose to adopt them at all.
• Dam failure analysis: It is done as part of Environment impact assessment(EIA) for projects requiring environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). 
  • There is no standardization in how dam failure analyses are conducted and reported. While the CWC has developed some guidelines on this, they are not legally binding.
  • Performing dam failure analysis is compulsory for getting an environmental clearance for constructing new dams and for modifying/upgrading existing dams. 
  • There are, however, no regulations for conducting these analyses for dams which are operating but where no new engineering works are being undertaken.
• Structural deficiencies: In India, the State governments and their water and irrigation ministries own most dams and are primarily responsible for their upkeep. 
  • Many of these dams have structural deficiencies and shortcomings in operation and monitoring.
  • In 2017, the Comptroller and Auditor of General of India found that out of the 17 States it audited, only two states conducted pre- and post-monsoon safety audits of their dams.

Also read: India’s First National Water­body Census

Way Forward

• Legally binding  standards for dam failure analysis: 
  • MoEF needs to institute legally binding standards for conducting and reporting dam failure analysis.
• Regular sharing of dam-related data between the states and the centre: This must include dam failure analysis data and inundation maps.
  • These data need to be made publicly available for transparency, and for facilitating research in dam safety and risk mitigation.
• Dam Decommissioning policy: This needs to be put in place for removing or reconstructing dams which cannot be repaired or upgraded.
  • It includes removal of hydro-electric generation facilities and recontouring of river channels through ecologically viable interventions in the catchment areas. 
• Integrated database: It should link information from dam failure analyses for cleared projects with the static dam-related information from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Water Resources Information System (WRIS).
• Pan-India statutory framework for reporting and recording dam failure events:  For this, India needs to enact legislation, and put in place systems for regular reporting of dam failure events.
  • Neither is there a centralized repository for information regarding dam failure events. As a result, many dam failure events go unreported. 
• Risk-based decision-making system: It needs to be developed for making objectively sound decisions on all aspects of dam design, construction and operation like those used in Australia and USA.

Conclusion

Ensuring the safety of dams is crucial for protecting lives, the environment, and the economy. India needs robust legislation, standardized analyses, and transparent reporting mechanisms to address dam safety challenges and prevent potential disasters.

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