UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 13 November 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 13 November 2024 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 1 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 13 November 2024)

1. Women Empowerment

GS Paper 3:

2. State of the Climate 2024 Report

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Adaptive Defence Strategy

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. India’s Achievements in Renewable Energy

2. Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile

3. World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) – 2024

4. Comb jellies

5. Moran and Mottock Communities

6. CISF All Women Battalion

Mapping:

1. Hokersar Wetland

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 13 November 2024

GS Paper 1:

Women Empowerment

Syllabus: Social Empowerment

Source:  IE

 Context: India has witnessed remarkable progress in women’s empowerment across education, societal participation, and personal efficacy. However, access to employment opportunities remains stagnant, limiting women’s potential contribution to the economy.

Women empowerment and its types:

• Economic empowerment: Equal access to employment, markets, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Political empowerment: Women’s participation in decision-making and leadership roles in politics.
• Social empowerment: Ensuring equal rights in health, family decisions, marriage, and societal engagement.

Social constraints are not holding women back:

• Educational gains: Gender gap in education has disappeared; 26% of young women now have college degrees (up from 12% in 2011-12).
• Marriage and Autonomy: Marriage age is delayed; more women (52%) have a say in choosing their partners.
• Societal engagement: Women’s mobility and political engagement have increased; Self-Help Group (SHG) participation doubled to 18%.
• Family support: 80% of women report family approval for work, indicating social norms are no longer the main barrier.

Lack of employment opportunities holding women back:

• Stagnation in wage labour: Women’s participation in wage labour declined from 18% in 2012 to 14% in 2022.
• Mismatch in job availability: Women are willing to work but lack suitable job opportunities.
• Role in unpaid work: Most women contribute to family farms but lack access to formal employment.

Other challenges to women empowerment:

• Economic challenges:
  • Persistent pay gaps and overrepresentation in informal sectors.
  • Motherhood penalty and unpaid care work reduce women’s economic participation.
• Political challenges:
  • Low representation in legislative bodies and lack of intra-party democracy.
• Social challenges:
  • Health burdens from limited access to menstrual hygiene and healthcare.
  • Threats to safety, including domestic violence and workplace harassment.

Government schemes for women empowerment:

• Economic empowerment:
  • Maternity Benefit Act (2017) for paid leave.
  • Mudra Yojana for financial support to women entrepreneurs.
• Political empowerment:
  • Nari Shakti Vandana Adhiniyam (33% reservation in Lok Sabha and Assemblies).
  • 73rd and 74th Amendments provide reservations in local bodies.
• Social empowerment:
  • Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006) and MTP Amendment Act (2021) ensure reproductive and marital rights.
  • Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme for securing women’s land rights.

Way ahead:

• Enhance employment opportunities: Create public and private sector jobs tailored to women’s needs and implement skilling initiatives.
• Ensure workplace safety: Strict enforcement of the POSH Act (2013) for harassment-free work environments.
• Improve basic amenities: Focus on health, hygiene, and education for rural women to enhance workforce participation.
• Promote women-led development: Shift the narrative from women’s welfare to enabling them as drivers of progress in all sectors.

Insta Links:

PYQ:

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 13 November 2024 GS Paper 3:

State of the Climate 2024 Report

Syllabus: Environment

Source:  WMO

Context: The WMO State of the Climate 2024 Update once again issues a Red Alert at the sheer pace of climate change in a single generation, turbo-charged by ever-increasing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.

Summary of State of the Climate 2024 Report:

• Temperature and Greenhouse Gases:

• 2024 is on track to be the warmest year, with global temperatures 1.54°C above pre-industrial levels.
• Greenhouse gas levels (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) hit record highs in 2023, continuing to rise in 2024.

• Ocean and Sea Level Rise:

• Ocean heat content reached record levels in 2023, absorbing 3.1 million TWh of heat.
• Global sea level rise accelerated to 4.77 mm/year (2014-2023), doubling the rate of 1993-2002.

• Cryosphere (Polar Ice and Glaciers):

• Arctic and Antarctic Sea ice extent in 2024 remained below historical averages.
• Glaciers lost an unprecedented volume of ice equivalent to five times the water in the Dead Sea in 2023.

• Precipitation and Water Resources:

• 2023 was the driest year for global rivers in over 30 years.
• Extreme precipitation events caused significant flooding, but overall water availability declined globally.

• Extreme weather events:

• Devastating floods, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires affected millions globally in 2024, with extensive socio-economic impacts.

• Early Warning Systems and Climate Services:

• Progress made in implementing Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), with 108 countries adopting them.
• Significant gaps persist, especially in vulnerable regions like Africa and small island nations.

• Renewable Energy and Climate Finance:

• Renewable energy capacity increased globally, with improvements in wind and solar generation.
• Climate finance and integrated policies emphasized to meet adaptation and mitigation targets.

Factors Impacting Climate:

Anthropological factors:

Natural factors:

Recommendations from the State of the Climate 2024 Report

• Mitigation of Climate Change:

• Accelerate efforts to limit global warming below 1.5°C through stronger commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• Climate adaptation:

• Scale up climate adaptation strategies, including investments in resilient infrastructure and integrated water management.

• Early warning systems:

• Expand Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) globally, with a focus on vulnerable regions like Africa and small island nations.

• Renewable energy:

• Triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030 to meet climate mitigation targets.

• Strengthen climate services:

• Enhance National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) to improve data collection, modelling, and forecasting for effective decision-making.

• Cryosphere protection:

• Implement policies to mitigate glacial loss and ensure sustainable management of polar and high-altitude ecosystems.

Insta Links:

PYQ:

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 13 November 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Adaptive Defence Strategy

Context: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has emphasized the government’s commitment to developing an ‘Adaptive Defence’ strategy to address the complex and evolving security challenges faced by India.

About Adaptive Defence:

• What it is:

• • Adaptive Defence refers to a strategic approach where military and defence systems evolve continuously to counter dynamic and emerging threats proactively.

• Need for Adaptive Defence:

• • Changing nature of threats: Shift from traditional warfare to hybrid and grey-zone threats like cyber-attacks, terrorism, and information warfare.
  • Technological evolution: Rapid advances in AI, drones, swarm technologies, and quantum computing demand agile responses.
  • Geopolitical uncertainty: Increased cross-border tensions and global interdependence require a responsive and collaborative defence strategy.

• Key features:

• • Proactive and anticipatory: Focus on predicting future threats and preparing in advance.
  • Integration of emerging technologies: Use of AI, drones, quantum technologies, and cybersecurity tools.
  • Strategic flexibility: Adaptation at tactical and operational levels for changing scenarios.
  • Collaboration and jointness: Integration among the armed forces and collaboration with global defence systems.
  • Focus on self-reliance: Promoting indigenous defence manufacturing under initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’

Relevance in UPSC Syllabus

• General Studies Paper II (Governance and International Relations)
  • Role of technology in governance and defence diplomacy.
  • India’s collaborations and partnerships in defence production.
• General Studies Paper III (Security)
  • Challenges to internal and external security, including hybrid and grey-zone warfare.
  • Defence modernization and indigenous manufacturing.
  • Role of AI and cybersecurity in national security.
• Essay
  • Topics on national security, technology in warfare, and self-reliance in defence.
• Ethics Paper IV
  • Ethical dimensions of advanced military technologies like AI in warfare.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 13 November 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

India’s Achievements in Renewable Energy

Source: PIB

Context: India’s renewable energy sector saw notable growth from October 2023 to October 2024, with significant additions in solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear capacities.

India’s Achievements in Renewable Energy: Key Points

• Total Renewable Energy Capacity:
  • Increased by 24.2 GW (13.5%) in a year, reaching 203.18 GW in October 2024, up from 178.98 GW in October 2023.
• Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity:
  • Total capacity, including nuclear energy, rose to 211.36 GW in 2024 from 186.46 GW in 2023.
• Solar Power:
  • Added 20.1 GW (27.9%) to reach 92.12 GW in October 2024, up from 72.02 GW in October 2023.
  • Total solar capacity, including projects under implementation and tendered, stands at 250.57 GW, up from 166.49 GW last year.
• Wind Power:
  • Installed capacity grew by 7.8%, reaching 47.72 GW in 2024, up from 44.29 GW in 2023.
  • Total capacity in the pipeline for wind energy reached 72.35 GW.
• Capacity Additions (April-October 2024):
  • Added 12.6 GW of renewable capacity, with 1.72 GW installed in October 2024 alone.
  • Projects under implementation expanded to 143.94 GW, with 89.69 GW tendered, compared to 99.08 GW and 55.13 GW, respectively, in 2023.
• Hydro and Nuclear Energy:
  • Large hydro projects contribute 46.93 GW, and nuclear power adds 8.18 GW to the renewable energy mix as of October 2024.

Insta links:

Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile

 Source:  PIB

Context: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM), a state-of-the-art indigenous missile with a range of 1,000 km.

About LRLACM:

• Range and Performance:
  • Range: 1,000 km with precision strike capability.
  • Equipped with advanced avionics and software for reliability and efficiency.
  • This is a new variant of Nirbhay LRLACM with improved features
• Development:
  • Developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, with contributions from DRDO labs and Indian industries.
  • Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited are key development-cum-production partners.
• Design and Navigation:
  • Configured for ground launch using mobile articulated launchers and naval launch from ships using universal vertical launch modules.
• Strategic Significance:
  • Provides the armed forces with long-range standoff capabilities, comparable to the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile.

• Approval:

• • Approved by the Defence Acquisition Council in July 2020.

About Nirbhay Cruise Missile:

• Type and Range: Sub-sonic long-range cruise missile with a strike capability of up to 1,000 km.
• Development: Designed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), under DRDO, Bengaluru.
• Launch and Propulsion: Uses a solid booster for launch, transitioning to a turbojet engine for sustained flight.
• Capabilities:
  • Deep penetration to target high-value assets with precision.
  • Capable of loitering and operating at very low altitudes (~100 meters).
• Warhead options: Can carry both conventional and nuclear payloads weighing 200-300 kg.

Insta links:

World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) – 2024

Source:   PIB

Context: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published the World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2024, highlighting significant growth in intellectual property filings worldwide.

World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2024: Key Highlights

• India’s patent growth:
  • 15.7% growth in patent applications in 2023, the fastest among the top 20 origins globally.
  • India ranked 6th in patent filings with 64,480 applications, over 55% from residents.
  • Patent-to-GDP ratio increased from 144 to 381 in a decade.
• Industrial design applications:
  • India recorded 36.4% growth, driven by sectors like textiles, tools, machines, and health.
• Trademark filings:
  • India ranked 4th globally, with a 6.1% rise in trademark filings in 2023.
  • Key sectors: Health (21.9%), Agriculture (15.3%), and Clothing (12.8%).
  • Over 3.2 million active registrations, the 2nd largest globally.
• Global trends:
  • A record 3.55 million patent applications were filed globally in 2023, marking a 2.7% increase.
  • Asia led IP filings, with India, China, South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. driving the growth.

About World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):

• A specialized UN agency headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, established in 1967.
• Objective: Ensures that the IP framework evolves with global needs, fostering innovation and economic growth.
• Membership: Comprises 193 member states, making it a nearly universal body.
• Role and Functions:

• Serves as a global forum for discussions on intellectual property issues.
• Facilitates cooperation between governments, industries, and civil society on IP matters.

• Policy Development: Hosts standing committees and working groups for members to negotiate changes and draft new IP rules.

Insta links:

Comb jellies

Source:  TOI

Context: A groundbreaking discovery reveals that the comb jelly Mnemiopsis leidyi has the unique ability to reverse its aging process by regressing from an adult stage back to a larval form under stress.

About Comb jellies:

• Classification: Marine invertebrates belonging to the phylum Ctenophora, distinct from jellyfish.
• Physical traits:

• Characterized by rows of cilia (“combs”) for swimming and often exhibit bioluminescence.
• Use sticky cells called colloblasts to capture prey, unlike jellyfish that use stinging cells.

• Unique abilities:

• Mnemiopsis leidyi can reverse aging, regressing from adulthood to a larval stage when under extreme stress.

• Evolutionary significance:

• Among Earth’s oldest animals, existing for approximately 700 million years.
• Shares age-reversal traits with species like the immortal jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii), forming a rare group of “time-traveling” organisms.

• Scientific implications:

• Offers insights into aging, rejuvenation, and developmental biology.
• Promises to advance research on molecular mechanisms of reverse development and their potential application in human longevity studies.

Insta Links:

Moran and Mottock Communities

Source:  TOI

Context: The Moran and Mottock communities in Assam staged a large-scale protest in Tinsukia, demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

About the Moran Community:

• Ethnic Background:
  • Indigenous group from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Of Tibeto-Burman origin, part of the Kachari family.
• Language and Culture:
  • Historically spoke Moran language, closely related to Dimasa, but now predominantly speak Assamese.
  • Former customs are now interwoven with Vaishnavism after conversion.
• Current Demand:
  • Seeking ST status for better educational, employment, and social welfare opportunities.

Other Communities in News:

• Mottock: Indigenous group sharing similar demands for ST status.
• Tai Ahoms: A prominent community in Assam with historical ties to the Ahom kingdom, demanding ST status.
• Koch Rajbongshis: Indigenous to Assam and Bengal, seeking recognition for their cultural and social identity.
• Chutias: Historically significant community, also fighting for ST categorization.
• Adivasis: Indigenous tribes, largely comprising tea garden workers, aiming for similar inclusion under ST status.

Insta Links:

CISF All Women Battalion

Source:  India Today

Context: The Indian Home Ministry has approved the establishment of the first all-women battalion in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), comprising 1,025 personnel.

About Central Industrial Security Force (CISF):

• Overview:
  • A Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) established on March 10, 1969 under an Act of Parliament.
  • Became an armed force of the Republic of India in 1983.
• Strength and Structure:
  • Current strength exceeds 1,88,000 personnel, with women comprising 7%.
  • Headquartered in New Delhi, headed by a Director-General (IPS officer).
  • Organized into seven sectors.
• Functions and Roles:
  • Provides security to 359 establishments, including nuclear facilities, airports, seaports, and heritage monuments like the Taj Mahal.
  • Manages airport security since 2000 post IC-814 hijacking.
  • Operates a VIP Security vertical for high-profile protectees.
  • Offers fire protection services and consultancy to private entities.
• Public Interface:
  • CISF personnel interact daily with the public at airports, Delhi Metro, and historical landmarks.
  • Ensures safety while maintaining a visible and approachable presence.
• Special Initiatives:
  • Post-2008 Mumbai attacks, its mandate expanded to secure private establishments.
  • The newly announced all-women battalion will focus on diverse roles like VIP security and public-facing assignments.

 Insta Links:

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 13 November 2024 Mapping:

Hokersar Wetland

Source:  DTE

Context: The Hokersar wetland, a Ramsar site in the Kashmir Valley, has witnessed a sharp decline in migratory bird populations due to an 81% rainfall deficit in the region.

About Hokersar Wetland:

• Location:

• Situated in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, within the northwest Himalayan biogeographic province.
• Receives water from Doodhganga River, a tributary of Jhelum.

• Ecological Importance:

• Known as the ‘Queen Wetland of Kashmir’, it is the only site with remaining reedbeds of Kashmir.
• Acts as a pathway for 68 waterfowl species, including Little Cormorant, Common Shelduck, and endangered White-eyed Pochard.
• Provides food, spawning grounds for fish, and feeding and breeding habitats for migratory birds.

• Biodiversity:

• Hosts over 232 bird species and shelters 2 million migratory waterfowl annually.
• Attracts birds from Siberia, Central Asia, and Europe.

• Threats:

• Rainfall Deficit: Reduced water levels due to insufficient rainfall.
• Habitat Degradation: Encroachments, illegal sewage dumping, and mining activities.
• Illegal Mining: Increased stream widths and silt deposition have harmed the wetland ecosystem.

Insta Links:

Daily Current Affairs + PIB Summary 13 Nov 2024

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