UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 October 2024

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 October 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 – 9 October 2024)

1. Global Digital Compact

GS Paper 3:

2. India Textile Sector

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

1. India contributes to WHO

2. Vidyan Mahadan

3. Deforestation in 2023

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

1. Charon moon

2. Trachoma Elimination

3. Nobel Prize for Physics, 2024

4. Indian Wild Ass

5. MACE Project

Mapping:

1. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 October 2024

GS Paper 2:

Global Digital Compact

Syllabus: Governance

Source: TH

Context:  The Global Digital Compact (GDC), adopted during the UN’s ‘Summit of the Future,’ focuses on harnessing digital technologies for the common good while promoting sustainable development and responsible data governance.

• It aims to address challenges like the digital divide, data privacy, and ethical AI use.

Key points on Global Digital Compact (GDC):

• Nature: The GDC is a non-binding diplomatic instrument aiming to guide governments, institutions, and stakeholders in digital technology use and governance. Over time, its guidelines could evolve into soft laws.
• Core objectives: Promotes global cooperation in technology governance based on international laws, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the UN 2030 Agenda, emphasizing inclusive participation, sustainability, and responsible data governance.
• Digital public goods: Advocates for the development of digital public infrastructure, including open-source software, data, and AI models, to bridge the digital divide and support sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Panels established: Two panels have been set up: an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance, aimed at guiding responsible AI use and innovation.
• Challenges and criticisms:
  1. Public-private partnerships: The openness of such partnerships may be limited by confidentiality and intellectual property concerns.
  2. Self-regulation: Relies on tech companies to self-regulate, which has been ineffective in curbing misuse of digital platforms.
  3. Data governance: Emphasizes interoperable data systems but lacks robust personal data protection measures.
  4. Monopoly risks: Calls for greater corporate involvement in data governance without sufficient countermeasures against monopolistic control.
• Alignment with SDGs: Links digital technology advancements with SDGs, highlighting their potential role in achieving these goals, though recognizing the challenges posed by the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

• UN’s role: Positions the UN as a central figure in digital governance, advocating for “data flow with trust,” although some nations resist this concept due to digital sovereignty concerns.
• Global cooperation needed: Emphasizes the necessity for multilateral and regional negotiations in addition to the GDC to address varied jurisdictional and local needs effectively.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 October 2024 GS Paper 3:

India Textile Sector

Syllabus: Textile Industry

Source: TH

Context: The Indian textile industry, which was estimated at $153 billion in 2021, has recently faced challenges, impacting its growth and export potential. Although aiming for a $350 billion target by 2030, the industry has experienced a slump due to various economic and geopolitical factors.

Current status of the textile sector:

1. Market size: The Indian textile and apparel industry was valued at $153 billion in 2021, with $110 billion coming from the domestic market.
2. Global position: India is the third-largest textile exporter in the world, holding a 5.4% share of the global market.
3. Employment: The sector employs about 105 million people directly and indirectly, making it one of the largest employment generators in the country.
4. Economic contribution: The textile industry contributes around 2.3% to India’s GDP and accounts for 10.6% of the total manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA) as of FY23.
5. Production clusters: Major textile hubs like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra are crucial for spinning and garment manufacturing, with Tiruppur being a key knitwear production center.
6. Recent performance: FY22 saw growth with exports reaching $43.4 billion; however, there has been a notable decline in both domestic demand and exports in FY23 and FY24.

Reasons behind the slump in the textile sector:

1. Global economic slowdown: Geopolitical issues and reduced demand from international markets have severely impacted India’s textile exports.
2. High raw material costs: Increased prices of cotton and Man Made Fibres (MMF) have led to higher production costs, making Indian products less competitive.
3. Import duties: The 10% import duty on cotton has made domestic cotton more expensive than global prices, further hampering the industry’s competitiveness.
4. Supply chain disruptions: Quality control orders on MMF and supply chain bottlenecks have affected raw material availability and price stability.

Other challenges in the textile sector

1. E-commerce and retail shift: Direct retailing through e-commerce has disrupted traditional business systems, impacting small-scale manufacturers.
2. Changing consumer preferences: Increased demand for comfort wear and sustainable fashion has led to a decline in demand for conventional textile products.
3. Sustainability and ESG compliance: Foreign brands are increasingly adopting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) sustainability, pressuring Indian manufacturers to meet strict compliance standards.
4. Labour costs: Rising labour costs in the textile sector are affecting overall production expenses, prompting the need for technological interventions to enhance productivity.

 Government schemes in the textile sector:

1. Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS):
   • Supports technology upgradation in textiles with financial incentives.
   • Aims to improve production capabilities and boost employment.
2. Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP):
   • Provides world-class infrastructure for textile units in clusters.
   • Enhances competitiveness and efficiency of the textile industry.
3. SAMARTH Scheme (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector):
   • Focuses on skill development, targeting 10 lakh people in textile-related jobs.
   • Aims to bridge the skill gap in the organized and traditional sectors.
4. Power-Tex India:
   • Aims to strengthen the power loom sector through technology upgrades.
   • Provides subsidies for modernization and market expansion.
5. Silk Samagra Scheme:
   • Integrated program to promote silk production and quality improvement.
   • Supports R&D, seed production, and market promotion in the silk industry.
6. PM-MITRA (Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Parks):
   • Aims to create world-class industrial infrastructure for the textile industry.
   • Establishes integrated textile parks to attract investments and boost exports.

 Way ahead for the textile sector

1. Policy interventions: Remove or reduce the import duty on cotton during off-season months to stabilize raw material prices.
2. Investment in technology: Invest in modern technologies and innovations to improve production efficiency and reduce wastages.
3. Skilling and workforce development: Upskill the workforce to align with the changing demands of the global market.
4. Sustainability initiatives: Promote the adoption of sustainable practices in manufacturing and supply chains to meet international standards.
5. Market diversification: Explore new markets and diversify exports to reduce dependency on traditional markets.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 October 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

India contributes to WHO

Context: India has pledged over $300 million to the WHO’s core programme for 2025-2028, making it the largest contributor in Southeast Asia.

• Allocation breakdown:
  • $250 million for the Centre of Excellence for Traditional Medicine.
  • $38 million for a new premises for WHO’s regional office.
  • $10 million for digital health initiatives.
  • $4.6 million for thematic funding.
• WHO funding gap: WHO seeks to fill a $7.1 billion funding gap and has received pledges totaling over $2.2 billion.
• WHO’s 2025-2028 Mandate:
  • The funds will be used to:
    • Save at least 40 million lives.
    • Deliver vaccines to priority countries.
    • Support 55 countries in training and employing 3.2 million health workers.
    • Prequalify 400 health products per year.
• Regional contributions: Countries in WHO’s South-East Asia Region have pledged over $345 million in funding for WHO’s core programme.
• Upcoming events: A pledging ceremony will take place in November at the G-20 summit in Brazil.

Relevance to UPSC Syllabus

• GS II (Governance): India’s role in international organizations like WHO.
• GS II (International Relations): Bilateral and regional contributions to global health initiatives.
• GS II (Health): Public health funding and India’s commitment to global health.
• GS IV (Ethics in International Relations): Ethical responsibilities of countries in supporting global health and “Health for all” initiatives.

Vidyan Mahadan

Context: Ajay Grewal, a Head Constable with the Delhi Police, has been running a free coaching center called Vidyan Mahadan on the terrace of his house in Bahadurgarh, Haryana since 2016. He teaches general knowledge, reasoning, mathematics, English, and Hindi to over 10,000 students from economically weaker backgrounds, both in person and online, to help them prepare for government job exams.

 Relevance to UPSC Ethics Syllabus and Essay Paper

1. Ethics (GS4):

• Altruism and Public Service: Highlights how public servants can support society beyond official duties.
• Empathy and Compassion: Shows ethical values through free education for the underprivileged.
• Role of Civil Servants: Demonstrates civil servants’ role in nation-building and aiding marginalized groups.

2. Essay Paper:

• Education and Social Mobility: Reflects the role of education in reducing inequality.
• Leadership and Motivation: Grewal’s actions inspire grassroots leadership.
• Ethical Leadership: Highlights selfless leadership in guiding students’ aspirations.

Deforestation in 2023

Context: Deforestation continued last year at a rate far beyond pledges to end the practice by 2030, according to a major study published.

Data points:

• Forest loss: Approximately 15.7 million acres of forests, nearly the size of Ireland, were destroyed in 2023 due to deforestation.
• Impact on biodiversity: Forests are vital for 80% of the world’s terrestrial plant and animal species, as well as crucial for regulating water cycles and sequestering CO2, a primary greenhouse gas driving global warming.
• Tropical forest loss: Around 9.1 million acres of tropical primary forest — rich in carbon and biodiversity — were destroyed, indicating a significant deviation from the 2030 global deforestation goals.
• Global commitments: Despite the 2021 pledge by over 140 leaders to end deforestation by 2030, the rate of deforestation continues to exceed targets, undermining global commitments.
• Regional insights:
  • Bolivia: Deforestation in Bolivia rose by 351% between 2015 and 2023, showing a drastic increase in forest destruction.
  • Indonesia: Although deforestation decreased between 2020-2022, it sharply increased again in 2023, highlighting a worrying reversal in progress.

Relevance to UPSC Syllabus

• General Studies Paper III (Environment and Ecology): Topics on biodiversity conservation, climate change, and environmental degradation.
• General Studies Paper II (Governance): Role of international environmental agreements and global cooperation in mitigating deforestation.
• Essay Paper: Topics on sustainable development, global environmental challenges, and the impact of deforestation on climate and ecosystems.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 October 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Charon moon

Source: TH

Context: Scientists have recently detected carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Charon, Pluto’s largest moon, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

About Charon

• Largest moon of Pluto: Charon is the largest of Pluto’s five moons, roughly half the size of Pluto itself.
• Discovery: It was discovered on June 22, 1978, by James W. Christy and Robert S. Harrington at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.
• Size and mass: Charon is about 1,214 kilometers (754 miles) in diameter, and its mass is more than one-tenth of Pluto’s mass.
• Double dwarf planet system: Due to its size and mass relative to Pluto, they are often referred to as a double dwarf planet system.
• Mutual tidal locking: Charon and Pluto always show the same face to each other, a phenomenon known as mutual tidal locking.
• Orbital period: Charon orbits Pluto every 6.4 Earth days at a distance of about 19,640 kilometers (12,200 miles).
• Surface composition: Recent findings include carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide, in addition to previously known substances like water ice and ammonia-bearing compounds.
• Kuiper belt object: Charon is located in the Kuiper Belt and serves as an invaluable target for studying icy bodies beyond Neptune’s orbit.

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Trachoma Elimination

Source: PIB

Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that India has eliminated Trachoma as a public health problem in 2024, making it the third country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve this milestone.

• The achievement aligns with the WHO’s 2021–2030 Neglected Tropical Disease Roadmap, which targets the elimination of 20 diseases by 2030.

 About Trachoma

• Cause: Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and is a leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide.
• Transmission: It spreads through direct contact with infected eye or nasal discharges and via flies that come into contact with these secretions.
• Symptoms: Starts as conjunctivitis (pink eye), leading to repeated infections that cause the eyelashes to turn inward (trichiasis), scraping the cornea and potentially leading to blindness.
• Prevention and Treatment: Early-stage trachoma is treatable with antibiotics like azithromycin. Improving hygiene, sanitation, and access to clean water are key strategies in controlling its spread.

India’s Achievement

• National Effort: The Union Government declared India free from infectious trachoma based on the National Trachoma Prevalence Surveys conducted from 2014 to 2017, showing an active trachoma prevalence of just 0.7%.
• Global Recognition: WHO praised India’s success, citing strong government leadership as a key factor.

Other Recognitions at WHO Regional Conference

• Bhutan was recognized for cervical cancer elimination targets.
• Timor-Leste for eliminating lymphatic filariasis.
• Maldives and Sri Lanka for controlling Hepatitis B in children.
• Six countries were acknowledged for reducing under-five mortality and stillbirth rates.

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Nobel Prize for Physics, 2024

Source: TH

Context: The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for their pioneering work in artificial neural networks (ANNs), crucial to machine learning and AI advancements.

Nobel Physics 2024 Winners

• John Hopfield (Princeton University, U.S.)
• Geoffrey Hinton (University of Toronto, Canada)

Work of the Laureates:

• Hopfield Network: John Hopfield developed a recurrent neural network using Hebbian learning principles, applying statistical physics to tasks like pattern recognition.
• Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM): Geoffrey Hinton advanced deep learning by refining neural networks to handle complex data, enabling significant AI capabilities.

Significance of their work:

1. AI foundation: Their innovations laid the groundwork for machine learning, allowing AI systems to learn and adapt.
2. Deep learning: Hinton’s developments enabled AI models to perform complex tasks like natural language processing.
3. AI applications: Their work powers technologies like chatbots and image recognition.
4. Integration of physics in AI: Hopfield’s methods improved computational efficiency in handling large datasets.

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Indian Wild Ass

Source:  PIB

Context: The population of wild asses in Gujarat, India, has seen a significant rise, reaching 7,672 as per the 2024 Wild Ass Population Estimation (WAPE). This marks a 26.14% increase from the 6,082 wild asses recorded in 2020.

About Indian Wild Ass:

• Species and Habitat:
  • It is a sub-species of the Asian Wild Ass, locally called Khur in Gujarat.
  • Found predominantly in the Little Rann of Kutch and Great Rann of Kutch.
  • Habitats include desert and grassland ecosystems.
• Population Data (2024 WAPE):
  • Highest numbers found in Surendranagar (2,705), followed by Kutch (1,993), Patan (1,615), Banaskantha (710), Morbi (642), and Ahmedabad (7).
  • Gender and age distribution in forest areas: 2,569 females, 1,114 males, 584 babies, and 2,206 unclassified wild asses.
• Conservation Status:
  • CITES: Appendix II
  • Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Schedule I
• Ecological Role:
  • Contributes to seed dispersal, promoting vegetation growth.
  • Helps in habitat creation by clearing pathways through grazing.
• Threats:
  • Human activities like salt farming, agriculture, and cattle grazing.
  • Soil salinity issues due to irrigation canals bringing water to the area.
• Conservation Efforts:
  • Continuous rise in population due to state government’s efforts since 1976.
  • Use of modern technology like drones and camera traps for population estimation.

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MACE Project

Source: PIB

 Context: The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory was inaugurated at Hanle, Ladakh.

• The MACE project is a significant achievement for India in cosmic-ray research, aiming to advance scientific understanding and support the socio-economic development of Ladakh.

About the MACE project:

• Location: Hanle, Ladakh, at an altitude of ~4,300 m, making it the highest imaging Cherenkov telescope in the world.
• Development: Indigenously built by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) with support from ECIL and other Indian partners.
• Objective: To study high-energy gamma rays and contribute to the understanding of the universe’s most energetic phenomena, such as supernovae, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts.
• Technology: Uses Cherenkov imaging technology to detect cosmic rays and observe high-energy astrophysical events.
• Significance: Enhances India’s cosmic-ray research capabilities and strengthens its position in multi-messenger astronomy on a global scale.

Significance of the MACE project

• Scientific advancement: Puts India at the forefront of cosmic-ray research, enhancing its ability to study high-energy gamma rays and contribute to global space research.
• Technological achievement: Demonstrates India’s capability to develop world-class astronomical instruments, promoting self-reliance in advanced technology.
• Socio-economic impact: Supports the development of Ladakh by encouraging local talent to pursue careers in astronomy, astrophysics, and space sciences.
• Global collaboration: Aims to foster international partnerships in space research, contributing to the global scientific community’s efforts to understand the universe’s most energetic events.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 9 October 2024 Mapping:

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park

Source: News on Air

Context: The Red Panda Program of Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park has been selected as a finalist for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Conservation Award 2024.

About Red Panda

• Diet: Primarily herbivorous, consuming bamboo, berries, acorns, and occasionally small mammals.
• Behavior: Shy, solitary, and arboreal; uses its bushy tail for balance and warmth in winter.
• Habitat: Lives in the mountainous forests of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal, with nearly 50% of its habitat in the Eastern Himalayas.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972 (India): Schedule I
• Threats: Habitat loss due to deforestation and decline in bamboo forests are major threats to red panda populations.

About Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park:

• Location: Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.
• Established: 1958; situated at an elevation of 7,000 feet (2,134 m).
• Size: 67.56 acres (27.3 hectares), making it the largest high-altitude zoo in India.
• Specialization: Focuses on breeding animals adapted to alpine conditions, with successful programs for species like snow leopards, Himalayan wolves, and red pandas.
• Conservation Efforts:
  • Plays a central role in India’s red panda conservation and breeding efforts.
  • Houses a Biobanking and Genetic Resource Facility to preserve gametes, tissues, and DNA of endangered species.
• Recognition: Attracts around 300,000 visitors annually and is a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
• Legacy: Named after Padmaja Naidu, the daughter of Sarojini Naidu, in recognition of her contributions to Indian society.

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Daily Current Affairs + PIB Summary 9 Oct 2024

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