UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 January 2025

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 January 2025 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks :  Insta Links help you think beyond the  current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents 

GS Paper 2 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 January (2025)

1. Dissent in Judiciary

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Overseas Voters in India

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. Private Members Bills

2. Google Willow Chip

3. Exercise Surya Kiran

4. Belly Landing

Mapping:

1. Trinidad and Tobago

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 January 2025

GS Paper 2 :

Dissent in Judiciary

Syllabus: Judiciary

Source:  TH

Context: Dissent is vital to democracy, including in constitutional courts. While powerful in both India’s Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, their underlying reasons differ.

What Is Dissent in Judiciary?

• Definition: A dissent is a disagreement by one or more judges with the majority opinion in a judicial decision.
• Significance: It reflects an alternate interpretation of law, strengthens democratic dialogue, and influences future legal developments.

Types of Judicial Dissents:

• Intellectual Dissent:

• Based on logical or textual differences in interpreting laws.
• Example: Justice B.V. Nagarathna’s dissent in Lalta Prasad Vaish (2024) on taxing industrial alcohol under “intoxicating liquor.”

• Political Dissent:

• Stems from judicial resistance to political influences.
• Example: Justice H.R. Khanna’s dissent in ADM Jabalpur (1976) upheld the sanctity of Article 21 during the Emergency.

• Social Dissent:

• Reflects contrasting views on societal or cultural issues.
• Example: Justices Khehar and Nazeer’s dissent in Shayara Bano (2017) upheld triple talaq as integral to Sunni personal law.

Differences Between Indian and U.S. Judicial Dissents:

Consequences of Political Dissents:

• Democratic Strengthening: Upholds judicial independence, ensuring that courts act as a check on executive and legislative powers.
• Catalyst for Reform: Influences constitutional amendments and future legislation by exposing flaws in majority judgments.
• Public Perception: Shapes public understanding of judicial impartiality, but dissent in politically charged cases may raise concerns about bias.
• Judicial Integrity Risks: Political dissents might be perceived as partisan, undermining trust in judicial neutrality.
• Professional Repercussions: Judges expressing dissent in politically sensitive cases may face criticism or isolation within judicial and public domains.

Way ahead:

• Fostering Judicial Independence: Strengthen the judiciary’s autonomy by protecting it from political and executive pressures.
• Encourage Open Discourse: Promote constructive debates within judicial forums to enrich legal reasoning and jurisprudence.
• Training and Awareness: Provide judges with exposure to global judicial practices to balance individual rights with societal needs.
• Institutional Safeguards: Develop mechanisms to shield dissenting judges from external criticism or professional isolation.
• Leveraging Technology: Enhance accessibility of dissenting opinions to educate citizens about alternative legal interpretations.

Conclusion:

Judicial dissent is a cornerstone of a vibrant democracy, allowing alternative perspectives to refine jurisprudence and protect constitutional values. In India, dissents have significantly shaped constitutional interpretation, enhancing public trust in the judiciary.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 January 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Overseas Voters in India

Context: Overseas Indian voter participation in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections remains low despite rising registrations, highlighting challenges and sparking calls for voting reforms for Non-Resident Indians.

Overseas Voters in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections:

• Definition: Overseas voters, officially termed as overseas electors, are Indian citizens residing abroad but registered to vote in their respective constituencies in India.
• Eligibility: Must hold an Indian passport and register in their home constituency’s electoral roll.
• Data (Source: Election Commission of India)
  • Registrations:
    • 2024: 1,19,374 registered overseas electors (highest in Kerala: 89,839).
    • 2019: 99,844 registrations.
  • Turnout: Only 2,958 overseas electors voted, with 2,670 from Kerala.
• Significance: NRIs represent a significant part of India’s global footprint, and their participation strengthens India’s democratic inclusivity.

• Challenges in Participation:

• Travel costs and employment commitments deter voting.
• Current laws require Non Resident Indians (NRIs) to vote in person, which is restrictive.

• Proposed Reforms:

• Introduction of Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) for NRIs.
• Proxy voting rights, as proposed in 2018, remain unimplemented.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 January 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Private Members Bills

Source:  TH

 Context: During the 17th Lok Sabha (2019–2024), only 9.08 hours were spent discussing Private Members Bills in the Lok Sabha and 27.01 hours in the Rajya Sabha.

What is a Private Member’s Bill?

• A legislative proposal introduced by Member of Parliament (MPs) who are not part of the government.
• Represents individual MPs’ legislative priorities or public issues outside the official government agenda.
• Can be introduced by both ruling and opposition party MPs.

Features:

• Non-Binding: Rejection does not affect the government’s confidence or stability.
• Legislative Independence: Reflects the independent voice of parliamentarians.
• Historical Significance: Only 14 Private Members’ Bills have become law; the last was passed in 1970.
• Scheduling: Reserved for discussion on Fridays, limiting its time and priority.

Procedure in the House:

• Drafting and Notice: The member drafts the Bill and gives a one-month notice before introduction.
• Introduction: Introduced in the House, followed by initial discussion and possible referral to a committee.
• Debate: If selected, the Bill is debated during the allotted Friday session.
• Decision: The member may withdraw it on the minister’s request or proceed for voting.

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Google Willow Chip

Source:  TH

 Context: Google recently unveiled its latest quantum processor, named ‘Willow.’

About Willow Quantum AI:

• Willow is Google’s latest quantum processor with 105 physical qubits designed to enhance quantum error correction and scalability.
• Error Correction Protocols: Employs surface code with data and measurement qubits to detect and mitigate errors without collapsing qubit states.
• Superconducting Qubits: Operates at near absolute zero temperatures (-273.15° C) for maximum stability.
• Improved Coherence Time: Achieves 100 microseconds of coherence time, allowing qubits to hold information longer during computations.
• Leakage Error Management: Includes additional measurement qubits to manage leakage errors effectively.

Significance of Willow:

• Computational Breakthrough: Successfully completed the Random Circuit Sampling (RCS) task in minutes a task that would take classical computers 10 septillion years.
• Error Reduction Below Threshold: Demonstrates a decline in error rates with an increase in qubits, a critical milestone for practical quantum computing.
• Applications in Complex Problems: Paves the way for solving challenges in drug discovery, climate modelling, materials science, and optimization problems.
• Foundation for Scalability: Addresses key hurdles, ensuring quantum computers can grow larger and remain reliable.
• Societal Impact: Potential to revolutionize industries and solve problems of global significance.

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Exercise Surya Kiran

Source:  BS

 Context: Exercise Surya Kiran is an annual joint military exercise between India and Nepal, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation and interoperability between the two nations’ armed forces.

About Exercise Surya Kiran:

• Nations involved: India and Nepal.
• Location: Conducted at the Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi, in the Shivalik ranges of Western Nepal.
• Current Edition: 18th edition.
• Aim: To enhance interoperability in counter-terrorism operations and jungle warfare in mountainous regions.
• Features: Includes jungle warfare training, simulation of counter-terrorism operations, and capacity-building exercises for joint disaster responses.
• Humanitarian Assistance: Focuses on disaster management and humanitarian relief during emergencies.
  • Humanitarian Assistance: Focuses on disaster management and humanitarian relief during emergencies.

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Belly Landing

Source:  IE

 Context: The Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 crash in South Korea, claiming 179 lives, highlights the risks and challenges of emergency belly-landings in aviation.

About Belly Landing:

• What it is:
  • Definition: A belly landing occurs when an aircraft lands without deploying its landing gear, skidding on its underside (fuselage).
  • Risk Level: It is inherently dangerous, with risks of fire, structural damage, and injuries.
• Why it is done:
  • Landing Gear Failure: When the landing gear fails to deploy or extend correctly.
  • Aircraft Damage: If landing on wheels risks worsening existing damage.
  • Controlled Emergency: Considered safer than landing with gear down under specific emergency conditions.
  • Extreme Scenarios: May be preferred during water landings (ditching) or severe runway conditions.
• Technique behind it:
• Level Alignment: The aircraft must touch down with wings absolutely parallel to the ground to avoid flipping or breaking apart.
• Controlled Descent: Speed and angle of descent are carefully managed to minimize impact forces.
• Flap Management: Adjustments to flaps, slats, and other aerodynamic surfaces ensure the plane doesn’t stall while approaching at slower speeds.
• Braking Systems: Utilizes aerodynamic drag, thrust reversers, and wheel brakes (if functional) to bring the aircraft to a stop.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 January 2025 Mapping:

Trinidad and Tobago

Source:  DH

Context: Trinidad and Tobago declared a state of emergency, following a surge in violence, including gang-related shootings.

About Trinidad and Tobago:

• Capital: Port of Spain
• Location: Southernmost island nation in the Caribbean, situated 11 km northeast of Venezuela and 130 km south of Grenada.
• Trinidad and Tobago are located in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Geographic Features:
  • Rivers: Ortoire River, Caroni River, and Nariva River (major rivers on the island of Trinidad).
  • Mountains: Northern Range (Trinidad), including the highest peak, El Cerro del Aripo (940 meters).

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