UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 8 November 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 8 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 2 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 8 November 2024)

1. Corporate Social Responsibility

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Impacts of Social Media on Kids

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. One Rank One Pension

2. Urad and Tur Imports

3. Processing-In-Memory (PIM) Technology

4. Gujarat and Semiconductor

5. Commission for Air Quality Management

6. Shanan Hydropower Project

7. Airships

Mapping:

1. Namibia Offshore Oil

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 8 November 2024

GS Paper 2:

Corporate Social Responsibility

Syllabus: Governance

Source:  TH

 Context: India, the first country to mandate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), has seen over ₹1.84 lakh crore invested through CSR from 2014 to 2023. With agriculture employing nearly half of the workforce and contributing 16.73% to GDP, interest in directing CSR funds toward agricultural sustainability is rising.

CSR Contribution to Agriculture:

• Employment significance: Agriculture employs 47% of India’s workforce, far above the global average.
• Economic role: Contributing 16.73% to GDP, agriculture is central to India’s economic growth and sustainability.
• Focus on Sustainability: Corporates are increasingly supporting sustainable agricultural practices, including climate action and resource conservation, through their CSR funds.
• CSR initiatives: Corporates increasingly support agriculture through CSR, focusing on projects like grain banks, farmer education, sustainable irrigation, and water conservation.

Challenges:

• Tracking issues: Lack of specific classification for agriculture-related CSR efforts complicates tracking and monitoring.
• Sector overlap: CSR activities in agriculture often fall under multiple categories in Schedule VII, diluting agriculture-specific reporting.
• Inadequate reporting focus: Current CSR reports lack dedicated attention to agriculture, limiting accurate assessment of impact on agricultural sustainability.
• Ambiguity in Schedule VII: Broad categories under Schedule VII result in a mix of activities, affecting transparency and the potential to track agriculture-specific CSR contributions effectively.

Way Ahead:

• Designate Agriculture as a Separate CSR Sector: Define agriculture clearly within CSR guidelines to ensure more targeted and transparent funding.
• Revise Reporting Framework: Shift to a sector-based reporting structure to enhance accuracy in fund allocation and impact tracking for agricultural projects.
• Identify Critical Issues: Recognize key sustainability challenges in agriculture to direct CSR funds toward the most pressing areas for improvement.
• Encourage Sustainable Practices: Leverage CSR to drive sustainable agricultural practices, such as conservation, water management, and agroforestry, to support India’s environmental goals.

Conclusion:

To enhance CSR’s impact on agriculture, India should refine its reporting framework by designating agriculture as a distinct sector, promoting transparency, and focusing funds on specific sustainability challenges. This approach aligns CSR with national priorities, better supports farmers, and advances sustainable agriculture.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 8 November 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Impacts of Social Media on Kids

Context: The Australian government has announced plans to introduce legislation that would restrict social media access for children under 16, aiming to reduce the potential harm caused by online platforms.

Issues Due to Social Media for Children Under 16

• Mental health: Social-media can lead to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem as children may experience comparison and cyberbullying.
• Idealized realities: Constant exposure to idealized lives can cause dissatisfaction, self-doubt, and pressure to conform to unrealistic standards.
• Cyberbullying and Online Exploitation: Persistent bullying online and potential exposure to manipulative or harmful content pose serious safety concerns.
• Exposure to Inappropriate Content: Children may accidentally access violent, explicit, or age-inappropriate material, leading to potential trauma.
• Academic and Social Impact: Excessive social media use can hinder academic performance and real-world communication skills, affecting social relationships and cognitive development.

Relevant for UPSC Exam Syllabus

• GS II (Governance): Government policies and interventions regarding child safety and social media regulation.
• GS IV (Ethics): Ethical considerations in protecting children from online harm versus digital literacy and exposure.
• Essay: Topics on the impact of technology on youth, social media ethics, and government roles in safeguarding minors.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 8 November 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

One Rank One Pension

Source: PIB

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated a decade of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, highlighting it as a tribute to the dedication and sacrifices of India’s veterans and ex-service personnel.

About One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme:

• Definition: OROP ensures that uniform pensions are paid to personnel retiring in the same rank with identical service lengths, regardless of when they retired.
• Implementation year: The government approved OROP in 2015, with benefits retroactively effective from July 1, 2014.
• Pension Re-fixation: Pensions are re-fixed based on the average of the minimum and maximum pensions of 2013 retirees of the same rank and service length.
• Arrears: Arrears are paid in four half-yearly instalments, except for family pensioners and Gallantry awardees, who receive it in one instalment.
• Future revisions: Pensions will be re-fixed every five years.
• Nodal agency: Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence.
• Payment: Integrated within the standard pension, not a separate component.
• Exclusions: Personnel discharged voluntarily under specific military rules post-OROP implementation are not eligible.

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Urad and Tur Imports

Source:  News on Air

Context: The Indian government reported a significant increase in Urad imports from Brazil, reaching over 22,000 metric tonnes.

• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs highlighted Brazil’s potential as a major supplier of Urad and Tur for India, benefiting from different cropping seasons that align with India’s crop demands.

About Urad:

• Scientific name: Vigna mungo, commonly known as black gram.
• Origins: Native to South Asia; widely cultivated and highly valued in India.
• Culinary use: Essential in Indian cuisine, often used as a dal and paired with rice or curry.
• Season: Grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons in India.
• Global cultivation: Also grown in tropical regions like the Caribbean, Fiji, Myanmar, and Africa, introduced by Indian immigrants.

About Tur:

• Scientific name: Cajanus cajan, known as toor dal or pigeon pea.
• Origins: Indigenous to the Eastern Hemisphere; cultivated widely in tropical and semi-tropical regions.
• Culinary use: Commonly consumed as a staple in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
• Global spread: Cultivated in Latin America and the Caribbean, widely used in regional dishes.

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Processing-In-Memory (PIM) Technology

Source:  DD News

Context: Israeli researchers have created software that allows data processing directly in memory, bypassing the CPU.

• This advancement, developed at the Israel Institute of Technology, aims to address the energy-intensive and time-consuming data transfers between memory and CPU, which are bottlenecks in modern computing.
• By reducing the CPU’s workload, this in-memory approach promises substantial time and energy savings.

About Python Programming Language with Digital Processing-In-Memory (PIM) Technology:

• What it is: Combines Python with processing-in-memory (PIM) technology, enabling computations to take place directly in memory, bypassing the CPU.
• Need: Tackles the “memory wall” problem, where data transfer rates fall behind advancements in processor speeds and memory capacity.
• How it works:
  • PyPIM platform introduces new instructions for in-memory operations.
  • Allows developers to use Python to create software for PIM systems.
  • Includes a simulation tool to estimate performance gains from in-memory processing.
• Significance:
  • Reduces data transfer bottlenecks.
  • Accelerates processing for mathematical and algorithmic tasks.
  • Saves energy, making it efficient for high-performance computing needs.

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Gujarat and Semiconductor

Source:   DD News

Context: Aligning with the vision for a developed India by 2047, the Gujarat government has introduced the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022-2027 to position Gujarat as a leader in semiconductor manufacturing.

More about news:

• The Gujarat government has introduced India’s first ‘Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022-2027.
• In Dholera’s emerging ‘Semicon City,’ Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL) and Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) are establishing India’s first AI-enabled semiconductor fabrication facility with an investment exceeding Rs 91,000 crore.
• Dholera, is being developed as India’s first Greenfield Smart City.
• About India Semiconductor Mission (ISM):

• • Launch: Initiated in 2021 under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) with a budget of Rs. 76,000 crores.
  • Objective: Develop a robust semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.
  • Financial support: Provides incentives for companies investing in semiconductor and display manufacturing, and design capabilities.
  • Focus on IP and Technology Transfer: Encourages the creation of indigenous Intellectual Property (IP) and supports the Transfer of Technologies (ToT).
  • Key schemes:
    • Semiconductor fabs: Scheme to establish semiconductor fabrication units in India.
    • Display fabs: Scheme to support display manufacturing facilities.
    • Compound semiconductors & ATMP: Scheme for setting up facilities for compound semiconductors, silicon photonics, and ATMP/OSAT units.
    • Design linked incentive (DLI): Incentives to boost the design ecosystem in semiconductors.

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Commission for Air Quality Management

Source:  TH

Context: Following repeated directives from the Supreme Court to address stubble burning more effectively, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), has doubled fines for farmers engaging in this practice.

More about news:

• Revised Fines for Stubble Burning:
• Farmers with less than two acres: Increased fine from ₹2,500 to ₹5,000 per incident.
• Farmers with between two and five acres: Fine doubled from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000.
• Farmers with more than five acres: Fine raised from ₹15,000 to ₹30,000.
• Implementation: Nodal officers in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and NCR regions of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are authorized to enforce and collect these fines as environmental compensation.

About Commission for Air Quality Management:

• Origin:Established under the CAQM Act, 2021 for NCR and adjoining areas, replacing the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA).
• Aim:Coordinate and oversee efforts to improve air quality, prevent and control air pollution in Delhi-NCR and surrounding states (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh).
• Jurisdiction:Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Powers:

• • Restrict activities impacting air quality.
  • Conduct research on pollution.
  • Issue binding directions to authorities and individuals.
  • Enforce compliance and take preventive actions.

• Composition:

• • Chairperson: Secretary/Chief Secretary rank official.
  • Five ex officio members from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and UP.
  • Three full-time technical members.
  • Members from NGOs and technical bodies like CPCB, ISRO, and NITI Aayog.

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Shanan Hydropower Project

Source:  TH

Context: The Himachal Pradesh government has intensified efforts to reclaim the 110 MW British-era Shanan Hydropower Project from Punjab, asserting its rightful ownership over the project.

About Shanan Hydropower Project:

• Established: Commissioned in 1932, it is India’s first megawatt-capacity hydroelectric project.
• Location: Joginder Nagar in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh.
• River: Built on the Uhl River, a tributary of the Beas.
• Issue: Leased to Punjab for 99 years in 1925, the agreement ended in March 2024; Himachal Pradesh seeks ownership now, arguing that the land originally belonged to it.
• Present Status: Under Punjab’s control, Himachal is seeking support from the Centre to secure the project’s transfer.

Insta Links:

Airships

Source: 

Context: As climate change drives the need for more sustainable transport options, airships are resurfacing as a viable choice, particularly for cargo transportation.

About Airships:

• Origin and History:
  • Developed as the first aircraft capable of powered, controlled flight in the early 20th century.
  • Initially seen as the future of travel until airplanes took precedence; notable incidents like the Hindenburg disaster (1937) further diminished public trust in airships.
• How they work:
  • Operate on the “lighter-than-air” principle, utilizing gases like helium (non-combustible) or, earlier, hydrogen (flammable) for lift.
  • Lift occurs as the gas inside the airship is less dense than atmospheric air.
• Buoyancy challenge:
  • Variations in buoyancy needed for cargo handling complicate airship operations; previously, releasing and refilling helium was unfeasible due to cost.
  • Innovative solutions involve water ballast or compressed gas systems to adjust buoyancy without excessive helium usage.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 8 November 2024 Mapping:

Namibia Offshore Oil

Source:   TH

Context: Namibia, viewed as one of the last frontiers of untapped oil potential, has recently faced challenges in its journey to becoming a prolific oil producer. Despite significant offshore discoveries in recent years, an unexpectedly high gas-to-oil ratio in these fields has created complications for oil development.

About Namibia and Its Oil Reserve Locations

• Orange Basin: Major discoveries have been made here, contributing significantly to Namibia’s estimated 2.6 billion barrels of oil reserves.
• Luderitz Basin: Another prospective area along the Namibian coast known for its oil exploration potential.
• Kavango Basin: Inland exploration in this area has generated interest for its untapped reserves.
• Walvis Basin: Also, a target for oil exploration, adding to Namibia’s appeal as a new frontier for oil production.

About Namibia:

• Location: Situated on the southwestern coast of Africa in the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres.
• Borders: Neighboring countries include South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Angola; bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
• Topography:
  • Namib Desert: Stretches along the western coast.
  • Central Plateau: Located inland, transitioning from the coastal desert.
  • Kalahari Desert: Positioned further east.
• Rivers: Permanent rivers include the Kunene, Okavango, Mashi, Zambezi (north), and Orange River (south).
• Mountain: Brandberg, Namibia’s highest peak, lies on the plateau’s western edge.

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Daily Current Affairs + PIB Summary 8 Nov 2024

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