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Apr 13 2024

Context

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), women and children are 14 times more likely than men to die in a disaster caused due to Climate change

Relevance For Prelims: Climate Change In India, Climate Change & Mitigation Strategies, Status Of Women In India, and Women Empowerment And Gender Equality.

Relevance For Mains: Effects of Climate Change on Women.

Climate Change Impacts On Women: Indian Perspective

  • Food Insecurity: Agriculture serves as a vital livelihood for women in rural India. Climate-induced crop yield reductions exacerbate food insecurity, particularly among impoverished households already grappling with nutritional deficiencies.
  • Disproportionate Effects: The climate crisis affects individuals unequally, with women and girls facing heightened health risks due to poverty, existing roles, responsibilities, and cultural norms
    • NFHS 4 and 5 data showed that over half of women and children living in drought prone  districts were more underweight and Experience intimate partner violence.
  • Extreme Weather Events: A 2021 report from the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) revealed that 75% of Indian districts are susceptible to hydromet disasters, posing risks to over half of women and children residing in these areas. 
  • Health Risks: Prolonged heat poses grave risks, especially for pregnant women, increasing the likelihood of preterm birth and eclampsia. 
    • Additionally, it impacts mental health and emotional well-being.
  • Pollution Exposure: Exposure to air pollutants, both indoor and outdoor, detrimentally affects women’s health, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Unborn children are also vulnerable, with pollutant exposure impairing their physical and cognitive development.

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Conclusion

It is necessary to move beyond stereotypes, identify the vulnerabilities of all genders, and employ gender-transformative techniques to ensure a complete and equitable approach to climate adaptation. Instead of being branded as victims, women may take the initiative in climate action.

Also Read: The India Employment Report 2024- Outlook On Women

 

Prelims PYQ (2017):

Which of the following gives ‘Global Gender Gap Index’ ranking to the countries of the world? 

(a) World Economic Forum 

(b) UN Human Rights Council 

(c) UN Women 

(d) World Health Organization

Ans: (a)

 

Mains Question: ‘Climate Change’ is a global problem. How will India be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (15 M, 250 Words)

 

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UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers UPSC Test Series 2024

 

Context

In India, the frequency of human-wildlife interactions is on the rise. Addressing conflicts with wildlife requires solutions beyond reactive capture and relocation.

Relevance For Prelims: Wildlife Management in India, Wildlife Conservation In India, Rising Human Animal Conflict, Amendments In Wildlife Trade Rules, and WJC Report.

Relevance For Mains: Challenges related to Wildlife Management in India.

 

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Wildlife Management in India – Wildlife Capture and Rescue

  • Rescue: It refers to the act of assisting wild animals in distress, such as those who have been hurt, orphaned, or are stuck in a perilous position.
  • Capture: Capture is the act of taking wild animals into custody, which is commonly done in response to confrontations with humans, such as when an animal threatens human safety or property. This could include catching, sedating, or physically restricting the animal. 

Case Studies Related to the Wildlife Management in India

  • Elephant Incident in South India: An elephant, ostensibly rescued from a coffee plantation, faced tragic consequences post-release.
  • Leopard Encounter in Balrampur (UP): A leopard ‘rescued’ from an agricultural field died within hours, highlighting the fallacy of labeling every capture as a rescue.

What Are the Problems of Wildlife Management in India?

  • Unsustainability of Reactive Methods: Methods like capture and relocation are often unsustainable or harmful to animals. Distinguishing between wildlife rescue and capture presents a nuanced challenge.
  • Complexities of Successful Capture: Successful capture involves various techniques like chemical and physical immobilization. Expert teams with specific roles are essential for safely capturing animals.
  • Examples of Rescue Situations: Rescue situations include animals such as leopards, elephants, and snakes trapped in precarious situations like wells, tanks, or homes.
  • Rescue Beyond Necessity: Encounters with wildlife outside their usual habitats may not demand immediate rescue. Instances like minor disruptions such as livestock predation or crop damage might not necessitate capture.
  • Efficient Conflict Resolution: Effective conflict management doesn’t always resort to capture or relocation. Proactive approaches aim to diffuse tense situations while safeguarding animal welfare.
  • Disregard for Established Guidelines: Official guidelines discourage the capture of animals like leopards or elephants solely based on sightings and advocate preventive measures as the primary approach, reserving capture as a last resort.
    • The practice of avoiding capture unless absolutely necessary is often disregarded and recent incidents underscore the repercussions of neglecting this counsel.

Challenges Related to the Snake Management in India

  • Misconceptions and Confusion: The distinction between capture, removal, and rescue is often blurred in snake conflict management.
  • High Frequency of Interactions: Snakes frequently encounter humans, posing various management challenges.
  • Issues with Handling and Removal: Increased interactions lead to inadequate handling during purported ‘rescue’ operations. Unnecessary removal and relocation of snakes exacerbate the situation.
  • Survival Struggles After Relocation: Relocated snakes face survival challenges in unfamiliar environments. Relocation fails to resolve conflicts and may even escalate tensions in the vacated area.
  • Detrimental Effects on Snakes: ‘Rescue’ operations often inflict physical trauma, injuries, and stress on snakes. These adversities diminish the animals’ chances of survival upon release.

Rethinking the Notion of Wildlife Rescue in India

  • Reevaluating Terminology: The term ‘rescue’ implies conflict between species or with human activities. Such framing may demonize certain parties and undermine conservation endeavors.
  • Embracing Holistic Community Integration:  Instead of fostering division, community management should integrate both human and animal needs. Sustainable conservation necessitates comprehensive approaches that address the welfare of all stakeholders.

Karnataka’s Wildlife Conflict Resolution Framework

  • Pragmatic Human Wildlife Conflict Resolution: Conflict resolution with a pragmatic assessment of the situation. 
    • This entails identifying issues, minimizing stressors for animals, exhausting proactive measures, and basing interventions on ethical considerations.
  • Proactive Mitigation Initiatives: Emphasizing proactive measures to preempt conflicts is crucial.
    • Examples include deploying early warning systems, conducting regular monitoring, implementing fencing, improving lighting, educating the public, and managing waste.
  • Considerations in Relocation: Relocation disrupts ecosystems and has significant animal welfare implications.  Effective conflict resolution should consider animal welfare alongside relocation strategies.
  • Seeking Win-Win Solutions: Strive for human wildlife conflict resolution approaches that benefit both humans and animals. Focus on leaving everyone better off through thoughtful and ethical interventions.

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Conclusion

Enhanced training, habitat restoration, research, and collaboration are critical for negotiating the hazy lines between wildlife “capture” and “rescue,” assuring compassionate and successful management of human-animal conflict in India.

Also Read: Notification of Rules Framed Under Section 49M of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972

 

Prelims PYQ (2022):

With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements: 

1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government. 

2. When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled for equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside. 

3. Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 and 2 

(b) 2 only 

(c) 1 and 3 

(d) 3 only

Ans: (a)

 

Mains Question: Why is human-wildlife conflict on the rise? What solutions are there to help humans and wildlife coexist? (10 marks, 150 words)

 

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Context 

The Strategic Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) are undergoing massive military infrastructure upgrades.

Relevance For Prelims: Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI), The Challenge Of Maritime Security In The Global South, India And Israel Discussed Maritime Safety & Security, Maritime Piracy, Safeguarding India’s Maritime Interests, Exploration Rights In Indian Ocean, 7th Indian Ocean Conference 2024, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and India’s Response To China’s Naval Expansion

Relevance For Mains: Integrated Theatre Command, Strategic Location and Significance of Andaman and Nicobar islands.

 

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History of India’s Association with Andaman and Nicobar Islands

  • Aftermath of 1857 Revolution: The British developed a penal colony on the Andaman and Nicobar islands, where numerous Indian revolutionaries and freedom fighters were imprisoned for life.
  • Andaman and Nicobar IslandsJapanese Occupation: The Japanese conquered the Andaman and Nicobar islands as a potential springboard for an invasion of India following their occupation of Singapore.
  • Liberation from British Rule: When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited Port Blair and hoisted the INA tricolor, the islands became India’s first ‘liberated’ territory from British administration.
  • British Reoccupation of the Island: The British reoccupied the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after the Japanese surrendered in 1945.
  • Post Independence Scenario: British Chiefs of Staff supported preserving it as a Crown possession. However, British Prime Minister Clement Atlee ignored the recommendations and gave India the island.
  • Neglect of the Island: From Independence till 1962, the island was treated with benign neglect by New Delhi due to Kalapani’s grim connotation and the islands’ remoteness.
  • Formation of Naval Garrison: When the Indian Navy (IN) reported the sighting of a Chinese submarine in 1962, the government authorized the formation of a ‘naval garrison’ with 150 sailors.
  • Establishment of a Unified Command: The Andaman Nicobar Command (ANC), India’s first joint and unified operational command, was established in Port Blair following a post-Kargil War security review.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) as Key to Indo-Pacific Security

  • Group of Islands: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) consists of two groups of islands, the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands, covering an area of 8,249 sq km.
    • The entire island chain consists of 836 islands, including islets and rocky outcrops, of which some 38 are permanently inhabited.
  • Strategic Location and Maritime Chokepoints: Situated at the entrance of the Strait of Malacca, the long chain of ANI connects one of the world’s most crucial trade chokepoints.
    • They offer India the capability to monitor traffic flow from the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean) to the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean).
    • Nearly 70,000 1,20,000 ships sailing through the Indian Ocean pass-through the Strait of Malacca and the neighbouring Six Degrees channel. 
  • Potential for Power Projection and Maritime Domain Awareness: Port Blair, the capital of these islands, is just 20 nautical miles away from Myanmar, and the southern point, known as Indira Point, is 90 nautical miles away from Indonesia. 
  • Geoeconomic Significance: The island gives India an exclusive economic zone of 300,000 square kilometres with the potential for undersea hydrocarbon and mineral resources.

Suggestions to Improve Andaman Nicobar Command

  • Maintaining of Maritime Domain Awareness: To obviate the possibility of intrusions by state and non-state entities, ANC will need to maintain three-dimensional maritime domain awareness
    • It can be done through networked assets, including radars, aircraft, satellites and unmanned vehicles.
  • Equipping ANC with Defensive and Offensive Power: The command must be invested with adequate defensive and offensive firepower, as well as rapid-reaction forces with amphibious and airlift capabilities. 
  • Counter Transits of PLA Navy (PLAN): Frequent transits of PLAN warships, submarines, and research vessels hint at a long-term Chinese naval presence.
  • Need for Indian Navy  Preparedness: The presence may include nuclear attack submarines, necessitating the Indian navy to bolster anti-submarine warfare capabilities in the A&N.

Strategic Upgradation of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI)

  • Enhancing Security Infrastructure: Reported upgrades in security infrastructure should ideally align with a comprehensive strategy to transform the A&N islands into a robust maritime stronghold.
  • Strategic Objectives: This transformation aims not only to expand India’s defensive perimeter but also to facilitate power projection and diplomatic outreach to maritime neighbors.
  • Cooperation with Partners: Recognizing the need for collaboration, India must engage with like-minded partners to ensure peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Port Blair as a Regional Hub:  Port Blair could serve as a central hub for regional navies to foster interoperability in various areas such as disaster relief, medical aid, counter-piracy efforts, search and rescue operations, and other cooperative maritime endeavors.

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Conclusion

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands serve as a strategic stronghold in the Indo-Pacific, representing India’s commitment to protecting maritime interests. Strengthening defence capabilities, developing regional collaboration, are critical to sustaining long-term peace and prosperity.

Also Read: China’s Maritime Expansion And Global Concerns

 

Prelims PYQ (2014):

Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the ‘Ten Degree Channel’?

(a) Andman and Nicobar Islands

(b) Nicobar and Sumatra 

(c) Maldives and Lakshadweep 

(d) Sumatra and Java

Ans: (a)

 

Mains Question: Discuss the geo-strategic importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for India, and analyze how the ongoing infrastructure developments can help India counter the growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean Region. (15 M, 250 Words)

 

Must Read
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Daily Current Affairs Quiz Daily Main Answer Writing
UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers UPSC Test Series 2024

 


 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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