UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 31 December 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 31 December 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 2 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 31 December  2024)

1. India’s Refugee Policy on Rohingya

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Women and Gaza Refugee Camps

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. Norovirus

2. WAVES

3. Parker Solar Probe

4. Air Independent Propulsion System

5. Carter Doctrine

6. Fishing Cat

7. H1B Visa

Mapping:

1. Vembanad Lake

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 31 December 2024

GS Paper 2 :

India’s Refugee Policy on Rohingya

Syllabus: International relations

Source:  TH

 Context: A recent report by The Azadi Project and Refugees International highlights critical gaps in India’s refugee policies concerning the Rohingya community.

Rohingya Issue:

• Background: The Rohingya are an ethnic Muslim minority in Myanmar, considered the world’s largest stateless population due to Myanmar’s refusal to grant them citizenship.
• Persecution: They have faced decades of violence, including genocidal campaigns by Myanmar’s authorities, compelling them to flee to neighbouring countries.
• Global Refuge: Nearly 2.8 million Rohingyas are dispersed across countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia.
• In India: As per UNHCR, approximately 22,500 Rohingyas reside in India, facing challenges like lack of legal status, arbitrary detention, and human rights violations.

India’s Refugee Policy on Rohingyas:

• Legal Framework: India lacks a domestic refugee law and is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol.
• Governance: Rohingyas are treated under the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Passport Act, 1967, allowing the government to categorize them as illegal migrants.
• Judicial Stance:
  • The Supreme Court ruled in Mohammad Salimullah v. Union of India (2021) that Rohingyas cannot be deported without due process but deferred to national security concerns.
  • High Courts, in cases like Ktaer Abbas Habib Al Qutaifi v. Union of India, have interpreted non-refoulement as part of Article 21 (Right to Life).
• Exclusions: The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 explicitly excludes persecuted Muslim minorities, including Rohingyas, from its ambit.

International Conventions on Refugees:

• 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol: Enshrines the principle of non-refoulement, preventing the return of refugees to places where they face persecution or torture.
• Other Treaties:
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Protects individuals from torture or inhuman treatment upon return.
  • Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC): Advocates for the welfare of refugee children.

Challenges and Issues in India’s Refugee Policy:

• Legal Vacuum: Absence of a unified refugee law leads to arbitrary and inconsistent treatment.
• Detention and Living Conditions: Detained Rohingyas face dehumanizing conditions, including in transit camps like Matia in Assam.
• National Security Concerns: Rohingyas are often perceived as potential security threats, influencing judicial and policy decisions.
• Civil Society Constraints: Revocation of FCRA licenses has hampered NGOs’ efforts to provide legal and humanitarian aid.
• Exclusionary Policies: The exclusion of Muslim refugees from CAA undermines India’s secular constitutional framework.

Way Ahead:

• Legislative Framework: Formulate a comprehensive domestic refugee law that aligns with international conventions.
• Strengthen Judicial Oversight: Reinforce the judiciary’s role in upholding non-refoulement under Article 21.
• Improve Living Conditions: Ensure humane detention centres with adequate resources for food, healthcare, and education.
• Community Involvement: Empower local communities and NGOs to support refugee rehabilitation.
• International Collaboration: Work with global bodies like UNHCR to develop sustainable solutions for the Rohingya crisis.

Conclusion:

India, as a democracy committed to human dignity, must align its policies with global humanitarian norms, ensuring the safety and well-being of Rohingya refugees while balancing national security concerns. A fair and inclusive approach is imperative to uphold India’s constitutional and international obligations.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 31 December 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Women and Gaza Refugee Camps

Context: The ongoing conflict in Gaza has displaced over 90% of the population, with women and girls facing dire challenges in crowded refugee camps.

Issues Faced by Women in Refugee Camps

• Lack of Privacy:
  • Tents shared with extended families and strangers deprive women of personal space.
  • Women remain covered even while sleeping to maintain modesty amidst men.
• Hygiene Challenges:
  • Scarcity of menstrual products forces women to use cloth scraps.
  • Makeshift toilets pose sanitation risks, impacting women’s health.
• Health Concerns:
  • Prolonged use of unsanitary materials leads to infections and skin diseases.
  • Stress and trauma from displacement disrupt menstrual cycles, affecting reproductive health.
• Financial Strain:
  • Women must choose between buying hygiene products or basic necessities like food.

Relevance in UPSC Exam:

• GS Paper 1 – Society: Impact of displacement on vulnerable groups, particularly women.
• GS Paper 2 – Governance: Role of international aid and policy frameworks in addressing refugee crises.
• GS Paper 3 – Health: Public health challenges in conflict zones.
• Essay: Refugee crisis and gender-based vulnerabilities.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 31 December 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Norovirus

Source:  ET

 Context: Norovirus, often referred to as the “winter vomiting bug,” has seen a significant rise in outbreaks across the USA.

About Norovirus:

• Definition: Norovirus is a highly contagious virus causing gastroenteritis, inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
• Common Name: Also known as the “stomach flu” or “winter vomiting bug.”

• Primary Vector: Spreads through stool or vomit of infected individuals.
• Transmission Modes:
  • Consuming contaminated food or water.
  • Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth.
  • Close contact with infected individuals.
• High-Risk Locations: Crowded environments such as schools, healthcare facilities, cruise ships, and restaurants.
• Symptoms of Norovirus:

• Vomiting and
• Nausea and stomach cramping.
• Additional symptoms: body aches, headaches, fever, reduced urination, and dehydration.

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WAVES

Source:  News on Air

Context: India is set to host the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) for the first time in November 2025 in Goa.

About WAVES:

• Full form: World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit.
• What it is: A global platform fostering dialogue, trade collaboration, and innovation in the media and entertainment industry.
• Established in: To be held for the first time in 2025.
• Aim: To position India as a global powerhouse in media and entertainment (M&E), promoting innovation, investment, and skill development.

Features of WAVES 2025:

• Host Location: Goa, India.
• Organizers: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, in collaboration with the Goa government.
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Content Production and Innovation.
  • Animation, VFX, and Gaming.
  • Music and Intellectual Property (IP) Creation.

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Parker Solar Probe

Source:  IE

Context: NASA scientists announced that the Parker Solar Probe survived the closest-ever approach to the Sun. The craft was operating normally after it passed just 6.1 million km from the solar surface.

About Parker Solar Probe:

• Launch Year: August 12, 2018.
• Organisation: NASA, under its Living with a Star program.
• Aim:
  • Study the Sun’s corona and magnetic fields.
  • Explore the origins of solar winds and their impact on the solar system.
  • Enhance forecasting of space weather that affects life and technology on Earth.
• Features:
  • Protected by a 4.5-inch carbon-composite heat shield.
  • Travels at speeds up to 692,000 km/h, enduring temperatures up to 1,377°C.
• Significance of Achievement:
  • Offers insights into the Sun’s high-temperature corona and the mystery of solar winds.
  • Crucial for understanding and mitigating solar activity’s effects on Earth’s power grids, satellites, and communication systems.
  • Data gathered supports advances in space weather forecasting and solar physics research.

Insta links:

Air Independent Propulsion System

Source:  TH

 Context: The Indian Ministry of Defence recently signed contracts worth ₹2,867 crore for integrating an indigenously developed Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) module and electronic heavyweight torpedoes on Scorpene-class submarines.

About Air Independent Propulsion System (AIP):

• Definition: AIP is a technology that allows conventional diesel-electric submarines to operate without surfacing or using a snorkel for oxygen.
• How it works:
  • Uses fuel cells or other systems to generate electricity underwater.
  • Carries liquid oxygen and either diesel, methanol, or hydrogen as fuel.
  • Generates power through either electro-chemical cell (e.g., fuel cells) or heat engines.
• Features:
  • Enhances underwater endurance significantly.
  • Reduces vulnerability to detection during operation.
  • Uses compact systems like fuel cells for efficiency and safety.

About Scorpene Class Submarines:

• What it is: A series of advanced diesel-electric attack submarines designed for stealth, endurance, and precision in maritime defence.
• Launched in: Built under Project-75 in collaboration with the French Naval Group since 2005.
• Features:
  • Equipped with modern sensor suites and weapons systems.
  • Modular design allows upgrades like AIP and advanced torpedoes.
  • Includes six submarines: INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela, INS Vagir (commissioned), and Vagsheer (in trials).

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Carter Doctrine

Source:  DTE

Context: Former president Jimmy Carter passed away recently. He was an influential leader and a towering figure in politics, but he had a special relationship with music.

About Carter Doctrine:

• What it is: A U.S. foreign policy proclamation asserting that the United States would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf.
• Established in: Announced in Carter’s State of the Union Address on January 23, 1980.
• Originated by: President Jimmy Carter in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
• Key Impacts on the World:
  • Deterrence: Aimed to deter Soviet advances in the Persian Gulf, safeguarding U.S. interests and oil supplies.
  • Military Preparedness: Led to increased U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf and basing agreements with regional allies.
  • Escalation of Cold War Tensions: Heightened geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
  • Foundation for Future Policies: Preceded the U.S. Gulf War interventions and solidified American influence in the Middle East.

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Fishing Cat

Source:  TH

Context: The Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) in Andhra Pradesh, India, is witnessing an increase in the population of the endangered Fishing Cat, attributed to its thriving mangrove ecosystem.

• The sanctuary is set to host India’s first Fishing Cat Collaring Project, aimed at studying the behaviour and ecology of this elusive species, crucial for wetland conservation efforts.

About Fishing Cat:

• Scientific Name: Prionailurus viverrinus
• Habitat: Found in wetlands, swamps, mangroves, and marshy areas; prefers oxbow lakes, reed beds, and tidal creeks.
• Characteristics:
  • Skilled swimmer, often dives to catch fish.
  • Nocturnal predator; feeds on fish, frogs, crustaceans, and small mammals.
  • Breeds year-round; muscular, short tail with 6-7 dark bands.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable
• Significance in Ecology: Acts as an indicator species for wetland health and plays a vital role in balancing aquatic ecosystems.

About Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS):

• Location: In the Godavari estuary, where the Coringa River meets the Bay of Bengal in Kakinada district, Andhra Pradesh.
• Unique Features:
  • India’s second-largest mangrove forest.
  • Habitat for endangered species like the Fishing Cat, Indian smooth-coated otter, and Olive Ridley turtles.
  • Rich biodiversity including mangroves and unique fauna like the Brahminy kite and black-capped kingfisher.
  • Contains Hope Island, a natural barrier protecting the sanctuary from direct sea erosion.

Insta links:

H1B Visa

Source:  IE

Context: Weeks before he returns as US President, Donald Trump’s supporters are locked in a public row about skilled immigration and H-1B visas.

What is the H-1B Visa?

• Definition: A non-immigrant visa allowing U.S. employers to hire skilled foreign workers for specialized occupations.
• Nation: United States of America.
• Aim: To bridge the skills gap by employing foreign talent in industries like IT, engineering, healthcare, and research.
• Key Features:
  • Requires at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
  • Issued for an initial period of 3 years, extendable up to 6 years.
  • Allows dual intent, meaning visa holders can apply for permanent residency (Green Card).
  • Annual cap of 65,000 visas, with an additional 20,000 for advanced degree holders from U.S. universities.
• Conditions:
  • Employers must demonstrate a lack of available qualified U.S. workers.
  • Minimum salary requirements may apply to prevent wage suppression.
  • H-1B visa holders cannot switch employers without filing a new petition.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 31 December 2024 Mapping:

Vembanad Lake

Source:  TH

Context: Kerala’s Alappuzha district administration has launched a mega plastic cleaning drive as part of the Vembanad Lake rejuvenation project.

About Vembanad Lake:

• Location & State: Largest Lake in Kerala and the longest lake in India, spanning Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts.
• Rivers Draining: Receives water from Meenachil, Achankovil, Pampa, and Manimala rivers.
• Unique Characteristics:
  • Known as Vembanad Kayal (local name), Punnamada Lake (Kuttanad), and Kochi Lake (Kochi).
  • A barrier island separates it from the Arabian Sea, forming Kerala’s iconic backwaters.
  • Hosts the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race (Vallam Kali).
  • Designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2002.
  • Home to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, an ecological haven.

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Daily Current Affairs + PIB Summary 31 Dec 2024

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