UPSC DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS (7TH OCTOBER, 2024)

Superbugs and Antimicrobial Resistance

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• A  silent pandemic of superbugs is going on for decades causing more havoc than one can anticipate.

About

• Quarter of antibiotics consumed in the world are in India, and there are annually 300,000 direct deaths attributable to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
• Superbugs are a factor in 10 lakh additional deaths each year.
• There have not been any innovative antibiotics developed since the last few decades.
• More patients with seemingly minor infections are going for complicated treatments and surgery.

What are Superbugs and Antibiotics?

• Superbugs are bacteria that are resistant to several types of antibiotics; they can be fungi as well.
  • This happens when bacteria change over time and become resistant to drugs that are supposed to defeat them and cure the infections they cause.
• Antibiotics are medications that destroy or slow down the growth of bacteria. Doctors prescribe them to treat bacterial infections. They do this by killing bacteria and preventing them from multiplying.
  • Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first natural antibiotic, in 1928.
  • Antibiotics cannot fight viral infections.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to medicines, making people sicker and increasing the risk of disease spread, illness and deaths. 

• Nearly 700,000 people die of AMR every year. The toll can rise to as many as 10 million by 2050 and eat up 3.8 percent of annual global gross domestic product (GDP).
• Antimicrobials: Antimicrobials are agents used to prevent, control and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants.
  • They include antibiotics, fungicides, antiviral agents and parasiticides. Disinfectants, antiseptics, other pharmaceuticals and natural products may also have antimicrobial properties.

Causes for Antimicrobial Resistance

• Overuse and Misuse of Antibiotics: The excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animals is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance.
  • This includes using antibiotics without a prescription, not completing the full course of prescribed antibiotics, and using antibiotics for non-bacterial infections.
• Inadequate Dosage and Duration: When antibiotics are not taken in the correct dosage and for the recommended duration, it can lead to incomplete eradication of the targeted microorganisms, allowing the surviving bacteria to develop resistance.
• Self-Medication: Self-prescription without proper medical guidance contributes to the misuse of antibiotics. 
• Antibiotics Consumption in Food-Animals: Use of antibiotics as growth promoters in food animals and poultry is a common practice and later it evolves in the food chain.
• Poor Sanitation: The large proportion of sewage is disposed of untreated into receiving water bodies, leading to gross contamination of rivers with antibiotic residues, antibiotic-resistant organisms.

Challenges Posed by AMR

• Antibiotic resistance is emerging as the threat to successful treatment of infectious diseases, organ transplantation, cancer chemotherapy and major surgeries.
• There is more focus on R&D for cancer drugs compared to antibiotics because as a society we put less value on antibiotics as drugs.
• The issue of AMR causes out of pocket expenditure on health care, especially on medicines.
  • The use of high order drugs or second-line expensive antibiotics pushing treatment costs high.

Way ahead

• Addressing the challenges posed by AMR requires a coordinated global effort involving healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and the public. 
• Further initiatives to promote responsible antimicrobial use, surveillance of resistance patterns, development of new drugs, and international collaboration are crucial to mitigating the impact of AMR on public health.

India-U.S. Sign MoU on Critical Minerals Supply Chains

Syllabus: GS33/Science and Technology, GS2/ IR

Context

• India and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand and diversify the critical minerals supply chain.

What are Critical Minerals?

• These are minerals that are essential for economic development and national security.
• The lack of availability of these minerals or the concentration of extraction or processing in a few geographical locations could potentially lead to “supply chain vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies”.

Applications of Critical Minerals

• Clean technologies initiatives such as zero-emission vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels etc.
  • Critical minerals such as Cadmium, Cobalt, Gallium, Indium, Selenium and Vanadium and have uses in batteries, semiconductors, solar panels, etc.
• Advanced manufacturing inputs and materials such as defense applications, permanent magnets, ceramics.
  • Minerals like Beryllium, Titanium, Tungsten, Tantalum, etc. have usage in new technologies, electronics and defense equipment.
• Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) are used in medical devices, cancer treatment drugs, and dental materials.

List of Critical Minerals

• Different countries have their own unique lists of critical minerals based on their specific circumstances and priorities.
• A total of 30 minerals were found to be most critical for India, out of which two are critical as fertilizer minerals: Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium.

Significance of partnership

• India’s participation in the network will help in diversifying and securing its supply of critical minerals from nations like Argentina, Chile, Australia, and select African countries. 
• The partnership marks a critical step forward for India in its quest to reduce reliance on China for these minerals and build a robust, self-sustaining supply chain for its green energy initiatives.

Other steps taken by India

• India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership, a US-led plurilateral effort of 14 countries and the European Union.
• India has joined the US-led Minerals Security Finance Network, an initiative aimed at strengthening global cooperation in securing critical mineral supply chains.
• Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL): It was formed in 2019 as a joint venture of state-run miners NALCO, HCL and MECL to source strategic minerals such as lithium and cobalt etc. from abroad. 

Way Ahead

• Critical minerals have become essential for economic development and national security in the country. 
• Minerals such as Lithium, Cobalt etc.  have gained significance in view of India’s commitment towards energy transition and achieving net-zero emission by 2070. 

Nepal, India and Bangladesh Energy Cooperation

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• Nepal, India and Bangladesh have signed a tripartite agreement to facilitate cross-border electricity trade.

About the Agreement

• Nepal will export its surplus electricity to Bangladesh via India from June 15 to November 15 every year.
  • In the first phase, Nepal will export 40 MW of hydroelectricity to Bangladesh via Indian territory.
  • The rate per unit of electricity has been fixed at 6.4 cents. 
  • Electricity will be exported to Bangladesh via the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur 400 KV transmission line, with the metering point in Muzaffarpur.
• From the export of electricity, Nepal will make an annual income of around USD 9.2 million.

Energy Requirements of India

• India’s energy imports more than doubled to 40 percent of total energy requirements in 2022 from 18 percent in 2002.
  • In the same period, the country diversified its energy partners from 14 to 32. 
• These energy supplies and diversifications are essential to India’s overall economic security.
  • As the country will require more and more energy supplies to reinforce its economy, which is growing at an annual rate of approximately 8 percent.

India’s Energy Cooperation in Neighbourhood

• India is building green energy infrastructure (hydel power plants and solar parks) in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
  • India is connecting these countries’ national energy apparatus to India for exporting excess energy generated in these nations.
• India loaned, invested, or extended Lines of Credit worth US$ 7.15 billion between 2005 and 2023 to further collaboration with its neighbours.
  • Development assistance ranges across cross-border transmission lines, hydel power plants, oil and gas pipelines, and undersea lines for grid integration. 
• Resultantly, electricity trade among the aforementioned countries has grown from 2 billion units to 8 billion units between 2016 and 2023. 
• Energy Cooperation with Nepal: It culminated in the 25-year long-term power purchase partnership agreement between the two countries, wherein India will annually buy 10,000 MW of hydel energy from Nepal by 2030.
  • Nepal, currently, has over a hundred hydel power plants and another one hundred and fifty in the pipeline. 
  • This massive and rapid hydel power capacity development will lead to a surplus that energy-needing neighbouring countries—India and Bangladesh—can utilise.
• India-Bhutan: In FY22, India imported 1500MW of electricity worth US$ 83 million from Bhutan. These imports comprised 70 percent of Bhutan’s hydel power generation capacity. 
  • Bhutan is currently also coordinating with multilateral development banks and India, to increase its installed hydel power capacity to cater India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
• India-Bangladesh: It involves importing through the India Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP) and the newly developed electricity transmission network.
  • India is also endeavouring to link Bhutan and Nepal with Bangladesh through Indian territory for greater energy connectivity across South Asia.

Significance

• Connectivity: India’s cross-border collaboration for energy infrastructure development is pivotal for connecting the geographies of India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal. 
  • Bangladesh and India are energy-deficient countries, which heavily rely on conventional energy sources in their energy production matrix. 
  • Bhutan and Nepal produce an energy surplus annually.
• Countering Chinese Influence: India wants to counter China’s BRI through increased development aid in the neighbouring countries because of their geopolitical and geostrategic relevance to India’s territorial integrity.
  • Furthering energy cooperation is a step towards regional connectivity and economic integration, something that can act as a hedge against Chinese influence in the region. 

Conclusion 

• India’s energy cooperation with its South Asian neighbours is a cornerstone of its foreign policy and energy security. 
• By investing in regional energy infrastructure and fostering interdependence, India aims to underpin economic growth, counterbalance China’s influence, and enhance its global standing. 
• While challenges like geopolitical tensions and competing interests persist, the mutual benefits of energy collaboration are clear. 
• As India continues its rise on the world stage, its energy diplomacy is set to play an increasingly pivotal role in shaping the region’s future.

Planetary Defense System

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and technology

Context

• Recently, the news regarding the potential threats of near-Earth objects (NEOs) was widespread due to asteroid 2024 ON.

Impact of asteroids on Earth

• Around 100 tons of space material hits Earth every day in the form of tiny meteoroids. These small fragments burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
• Asteroids about 50 meters in diameter are estimated to strike Earth once every 10,000 years.
  • In 2013, a 20-meter wide asteroid entered the atmosphere and exploded about 30 km above a Russian town.
• The most dangerous are those larger than 1 kilometer in diameter, like the Chicxulub asteroid that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. 

Planetary Defense Efforts 

• Planetary defense, the detection of asteroids and comets whose impact with Earth could significantly affect the planet and the prevention or mitigation of any such impacts.

• In 2022, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission successfully crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid called Dimorphos. It demonstrated that a collision-based mission could change the direction of a celestial body and defend our planet.
  • ESA is scheduled to launch a reconnaissance mission called Hera in 2024 to inspect the aftermath left by DART.
• Several space missions have been sent to study asteroids up close and collect samples, such as
  • NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission to asteroid Bennu and 
  • Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission to asteroid Ryugu. 

India’s initiatives

• Also India is expected to collaborate with global planetary defense initiatives like International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), a virtual network of institutions that work to detect, track, and characterize near-Earth objects (NEOs). 
• India and the US signed a Space situational awareness agreement in 2022.

Way Ahead

• Advances in space monitoring have improved the ability to predict and respond to potential threats.
• Scientists estimate that 95% of large, kilometer-sized NEOs have already been discovered, and none are expected to collide with Earth in the foreseeable future.

Proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone(ESZ) around Gir forest

Syllabus :GS 3/Environment 

In News 

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) proposed a 3,328 sq km Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Gir forest.

• Later, the area was reduced to 2,061 sq km to accommodate local community needs.

Eco-Sensitive Zones

• They are areas identified for their unique environmental resources that require special conservation efforts, as defined by the National Environment Policy (2006).
• The concept was established during the XXI meeting of the Indian Board for Wildlife in January 2002, leading to the Wildlife Conservation Strategy.
• Legal Framework: The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 provides the basis for declaring lands within 10 km of protected areas as eco-fragile zones.
  • National Environment Policy 2006  established guidelines for ESZs to protect areas outside national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

• State forest departments prepare ESZ proposals, which are submitted to the MoEFCC for scrutiny.
• After a draft notification is issued, public suggestions and objections are invited for 60 days.
• Based on public input and expert recommendations, the MoEFCC issues a final ESZ notification.

Objectives 

• To protect the environment from degradation caused by human activities.
• To create a buffer for specialized ecosystems (Protected Areas).
• To serve as transition zones between areas of higher and lower protection.
• To maintain ecological balance within permissible limits regarding environmental parameters.
• To notify areas as ESZs while regulating sustainable developmental activities, considering local needs and aspirations.

Protests

• Previous proposals for Gir’s ESZ have faced public protests due to concerns about wildlife protection versus human activities.
• Politicians argue that farmers need the right to protect themselves from wild animals while working.
• Leaders have requested exemptions for certain villages to protect non-agricultural activities and local businesses.

Conclusion

• The proposed ESZ around the Gir forest has sparked significant debate about the balance between wildlife conservation and local development needs, highlighting the complexities involved in managing protected areas.
  • Conservation efforts should not hinder local development.
• ESZs serve as crucial zones for protecting biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance while allowing sustainable development that considers the needs of local communities.

FACTS IN NEWS

Banjara Virasat Museum

Syllabus :GS 1/Society 

In News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Banjara Virasat Museum in Pohardevi, Washim, Maharashtra, highlighting the heritage of the Banjara community.

About the Banjara community.

• The Banjara are a nomadic community primarily found in Rajasthan, North-West Gujarat, Western Madhya Pradesh, and Eastern Sindh (pre-independence Pakistan). 
• They claim descent from the Agnivanshi Rajputs and are known by various names, including Banjari, Pindari, and Lambani. 
• Together with the Domba, they are sometimes referred to as the “Gypsies of India.” 
• The Banjara are divided into three tribes: Maturia, Labana, and Charan.
• They have migrated to several Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, adopting local languages such as Lambadi, Hindi, and Telugu. 

Rani Durgavati 

Syllabus: GS1/ History 

Context

• Rani Durgavati, the Queen of the Gond Kingdom of Garha-Katanga, was commemorated on her 500th Birth Anniversary on October 5.

About Rani Durgavati 

• Born in 1524 into the Chandela dynasty of Mahoba, she was the daughter of Raja Salbahan of Ratha and Mahoba. 
• She was married to Dalpat Shah, son of Gond King Sangram Shah, who ruled over the powerful Garha-Katanga kingdom, spanning the Narmada Valley and parts of northern Madhya Pradesh. 
• After Dalpat Shah’s death in 1550, Rani Durgavati became regent for her young son, Bir Narayan, and ruled the kingdom with courage.
• According to Tarikh-i-Firishta Durgavati repulsed Baz Bahadur, the ruler of Malwa, who had attacked her kingdom between 1555 and 1560.
• She fiercely defended her kingdom against the Mughal Subedar Abdul Mazid Khan, dying on the battlefield.
• Later Akbar restored control of the region to Chandra Shah, the younger son of Sangram Shah, after he accepted Mughal suzerainty.

100 Years of Surrealism

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• The year 2024, marks 100 years of Surrealism, an art and literature movement in which unusual or impossible things are shown happening. 

What is Surrealism?

• Surrealism is an influential 20th-century art and literary movement known for depicting strange or impossible scenarios, often blending the dreamlike with reality. 
• It aimed to unlock the power of the subconscious mind, liberating thought from the confines of reason and conventional logic.

Origins of Surrealism

• The roots of Surrealism can be traced to the Dada movement, an anti-establishment art movement, developed around 1915.
  • However, there are some fundamental differences between the two. 
• Its formal birth is traced to the publication of the surrealist manifesto in October 1924 by French poet and writer Andre Breton.

Prominent artists and artworks

• One of the most prominent artists of Surrealism were;
  • Spanish artist Salvador Dalí, 
  • German painter and sculptor Max Ernst, 
  • Belgian artist René Magritte and 
  • Spanish Catalan modernist Joan Miró 

The enduring legacy

• Over the years, Surrealism’s emphasis on freeing the creative process from rational thought, has continued to influence artists, writers, and filmmakers. 
• Surrealism also played an essential role in the birth of other art movements such as Abstract Expressionism and Neo-Surrealism. 

S-400 Air Defense Missile System

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• Indian Air Force Chief Marshal AP Singh said that India will receive the remaining two squadrons of the S-400 air defense missile system by 2025.

What is the S-400 system?

• The S-400 Triumf is a surface-to-air missile system developed by Russia. 
• It is considered one of the world’s most advanced air defense systems with the key features;
  • Simultaneous Target Engagement: It can track and neutralize a wide range of airborne threats, including aircraft, missiles, and UAVs, across very long ranges and in dense countermeasure scenarios.
  • Multi-Layered Defense: The system is equipped with four types of missiles, offering interception ranges of 40 km, 120 km, 250 km, and 400 km, and it can engage threats up to 30 km altitude, creating a layered defense mechanism.
  • Tracking Capability: Its 3D phased array radar can detect and track up to 300 targets at a distance of up to 600 km.
  • Mobility: The system is fully mobile and includes a command and control center, automatic tracking and targeting systems, launchers, and support vehicles.
• A standard S-400 battalion consists of eight missile launchers, each typically loaded with four missiles.

Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)

Syllabus :GS 3/Defense

In News 

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted three flight tests of the 4th Generation Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan. 

About VSHORADS 

• It is an indigenously developed Man-Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).
• VSHORADS is a Man Portable Air Defence System developed by the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories.
• It aimed at high-speed targets, demonstrated critical capabilities in maximum range and altitude interception. 

Tanks Armouring the Ladakh Sector

Syllabus :GS 3/Defense

In News 

The ongoing Ukraine war has highlighted the importance of armored vehicles in modern warfare, demonstrating that tanks remain crucial alongside long-range firepower. 

• Other Conflicts like Armenia-Azerbaijan, and Israeli offensives have highlighted threats from drones, long-range projectiles, and loitering munitions.

Developments in India 

• In September 2024, the Indian Army showcased its armored capabilities near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, deploying T-90 tanks and BMP-2 armored carriers at high altitudes (up to 13,700 feet) while addressing challenges related to extreme weather conditions. 
• The T-90, known as Bhishma, is touted as one of the best tanks globally, featuring advanced capabilities like deep-fording and firing Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs).
• Since 2012, India has significantly improved its military infrastructure and deployments in Ladakh, transitioning from six-month troop rotations to longer tenures to enhance acclimatization and operational readiness. 
• Following the May 2020 Galwan clash, there was a substantial military buildup in response to Chinese troop movements. 
• The Indian Air Force played a vital role in airlifting troops and equipment, including K9 Vajra self-propelled Howitzers, which are being procured in greater numbers due to their effectiveness.

Challenges of High Altitude Warfare

• Oxygen scarcity at high altitudes affects both personnel and machinery.
• Extreme Temperatures: Conditions can drop to -40 degrees Celsius, complicating operations.
• Military Hardware Limitations: Most foreign-made military equipment isn’t designed for such harsh conditions.
• High-altitude environments cause quicker degradation of machinery, necessitating rapid turnaround for spares.
• Transporting tanks and ensuring operational readiness in remote areas is a significant task.

Future Outlook 

• The Indian Army is focused on adapting its tank and armoured platforms to meet the challenges posed by high-altitude warfare, with an emphasis on modernization and indigenous development to maintain a strategic edge.
• The DRDO is developing the ‘Zorawar,’ a 25-tonne light tank, set for user trials by August 2025.
• The Indian Army aims to develop Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCVs) and Future Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICVs) to replace ageing systems, with expected advancements by 2030.
• The Army is evaluating new platforms, including U.S. Stryker infantry combat vehicles, to enhance operational capabilities in response to evolving threats.

Black Carbon

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• India’s potent black carbon emissions from kerosene lamps make up 10% of total residential emissions: Study

About Black Carbon

• Black Carbon (BC) is a short-lived pollutant formed through incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels, and biomass.
• Unlike CO₂, it has a short atmospheric lifetime (days to weeks), but its warming potential is much higher.
• It causes respiratory and cardiovascular diseases due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
• The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), founded in 2012, is a voluntary partnership convened within the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Its primary goal is to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), which are potent contributors to global warming and air pollution.

Greening of Antarctica

Syllabus: GS3/Environment and Conservation

Context

• Antarctica is undergoing a significant transformation, with vegetation cover on the Antarctic Peninsula increasing dramatically. 

About

• Researchers report that this greening has accelerated by over 30% in recent years, highlighting a profound environmental shift.
  • Vegetation cover on the Antarctic Peninsula expanded from less than one square kilometer in 1986 to nearly 12 square kilometers by 2021.
• The acceleration in vegetation growth coincides with a marked decrease in sea-ice extent in Antarctica between 2016 and 2021.
• The Antarctic Peninsula is warming faster than the global average, leading to more frequent extreme heat events.

Antarctica

• Antarctica, the world’s southernmost and fifth largest continent. Its landmass is almost wholly covered by a vast ice sheet.
• The continental contains about 90 percent of the world’s ice and 80 percent of its fresh water. 
• An ice shelf is a huge sheet of ice, connected to land but extending out into the ocean.
  • Ice shelves develop mainly from glaciers flowing slowly downhill toward the ocean. 

World Cotton Day

Syllabus: GS3/Agriculture

Context

• October 7 is celebrated each year as World Cotton Day.

About

• The idea for World Cotton Day originated from the Cotton Four nations, Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad, and Mali aiming to promote cotton by-products and their markets.
• The first World Cotton Day (WCD) event was initiated in Geneva and observed on October 7, 2019.

Cotton Production in India

• India is the second largest producer of cotton in the world after China.
• India accounts for 23% of the total global production.
• The Central Zone (which comprises states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh) are the biggest producer of cotton in India.
• Cotton cultivation requires a hot and sunny climate with an extended frost-free period. It thrives best in warm and humid conditions. The crop can be successfully cultivated in a variety of soil types, such as well-drained deep alluvial soils in the northern regions, black clayey soils of varying depths in the central region