CURRENT AFFAIRS - 19 Nov 2024

Context:
• Increased Violence: Manipur has seen a surge in violence, leading to
curfews being extended in multiple districts.
• Deployment of Forces: The Union Home Ministry announced the
deployment of 5,000 additional troops from the Central Armed Police
Forces (CAPFs) in Manipur to restore order.

Key Developments:
1. Curfew and Internet Ban:
○ Curfews extended in districts like Imphal East, Imphal West, and
Bishnupur.
○ Internet and mobile services suspended to control the spread of
misinformation and violence.
2. Investigation and Judicial Actions:
○ Bodies of victims from recent violence, including women and
children, handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for
detailed investigations.
○ The Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justice D.
Krishnakumar as the new Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court to
address legal and administrative concerns in the state.
3. Political Fallout:
○ The National People's Party (NPP), part of the ruling coalition, has
expressed discontent and may withdraw support unless demands
are met, including the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers
Act (AFSPA) in some districts.
Underlying Causes:
• Ethnic tensions between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities continue to
exacerbate the unrest.
• Previous unresolved killings of women and children have fueled public
outrage.
Immediate Demands:
• Opposition parties, including the Congress, demand the resignation of the Lagacharla Tribals and NHRC
Union Home Minister and immediate action from the Prime Minister, • Issue: Lagacharla tribal people in Vikarabad district protested against
including a visit to the state. "forcible" land acquisition for a pharma village project.
• A civil disobedience movement has been initiated by local groups to • Actions Taken: Complaints brought to the attention of:
protest the administration's handling of the crisis. ○ National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Solutions and Recommendations: ○ National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
1. Restoring Order: • Allegations: Police raids, indiscriminate arrests, and alleged assaults on
○ Immediate deployment of central forces and coordinated villagers.
operations to control violence and ensure safety. • Demand: Fair treatment, restoration of their rights, and halt to land
○ Address the root causes of ethnic tensions through dialogue and acquisition without consultation.
inclusive political measures.
2. Judicial Oversight:
○ Expedite judicial proceedings related to the violence to ensure
justice for victims.
3. Socio-Political Engagement:
○ Engage civil society groups and representatives from affected Kerala Women’s Commission Advocacy for TV Serial Regulation
communities to build trust and propose long-term peace initiatives. • Concerns:
○ Strengthen infrastructure for grievance redressal. ○ Television serials propagate negative societal practices and poor
This situation reflects the urgent need for administrative and judicial workplace conditions for women.
coordination alongside sensitive handling of the state’s ethnic • Recommendations:
complexities. ○ Implementation of the POSH Act in the television industry.
○ Regulation or censorship mechanisms to ensure constructive societal
messaging.
• Issues Raised:
○ Wage disparity, unsafe working environments, and the negative
portrayal of women.
Manipur and Article 356
• Issue in Manipur: Continuing violence since May 2023, including
communal unrest, destruction of homes, and targeted attacks on women
and children.
• Call for Article 356: Constitutionally, Article 356 allows President’s Rule
when state governance fails. The article is under debate in Manipur due to
the government’s inability to maintain law and order.
• Legal Perspective:
○ Dr. B.R. Ambedkar emphasized the use of Article 356 during severe India’s Commitment to Africa
constitutional breakdowns. • PM Modi’s Visit to Nigeria: Strengthens India’s role in the Global South
○ Courts emphasize the need for proactive and swift governance. and builds ties with Africa.
• Ongoing Violence: Over 250 killed and thousands displaced, highlighting • Key Highlights:
administrative inefficiency. ○ Declared a strategic partnership.
• Union’s Responsibility: The article obligates the Union to act to preserve ○ Addressed issues like terrorism, piracy, and drug trafficking.
law and order while protecting rights. ○ Significant diaspora involvement with 60,000 Indians in Nigeria.
• Economic Ties:
○ Indian companies have invested $27 billion in Nigeria.
○ Sectors include pharma, healthcare, agriculture, and energy.
• Global South and BRICS:
○ Nigeria, a key partner in BRICS, adds to India's agenda of amplifying
voices from developing nations.
High-Performance Buildings (HPBs) • Future Engagements:
• Definition: Buildings that integrate sustainable practices, energy
○ G-20 involvement.
efficiency, and climate-resilience to minimize environmental impacts.
○ Reviving India-Africa Forum Summit.
• Core Objectives:
○ Reduced energy consumption.
○ Resource conservation (water and materials).
○ Adaptability to unpredictable weather and sustainable living.
Key Features of Climate-Resilient Design
1. Integrative Design:
○ Collaborative approach involving architects, engineers, consultants, Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor
and owners.
○ Focuses on measurable goals like reducing cooling requirements by
optimizing design.
○ Incorporates passive design strategies (orientation, shading) and
active systems (HVAC, lighting).
2. Sustainable Material Usage:
○ Attributes:
§ Durable and energy-efficient.
§ Minimal embodied carbon (during production).
§ High recycled content.
○ Assessment: Materials are evaluated for environmental impact and
occupant health.
3. Energy Efficiency:
○ HPBs use energy-efficient technologies like HVAC, lighting, and
appliances.
○ Smart energy systems for real-time monitoring and control.
○ Example: Infosys Hyderabad campus achieves net-zero energy by
generating more energy than consumed.
4. Water Management:
○ Techniques:
§ Low-flow fixtures.
• Operational Status: The Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor is now
§ Rainwater harvesting systems.
functional.
§ On-site wastewater treatment and recycling.
• Purpose: To carry oil, food, and machinery; aims to enhance maritime
○ Example: Infosys recycles 100% of its wastewater using advanced
trade efficiency.
systems, achieving near-zero discharge status.
• IMEC Contribution: India aims to be the best maritime nation under the
5. Climate Resilience:
India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) by 2047.
○ Methods:
• Significance:
§ Durable materials for extreme weather resilience.
○ Reduces transportation time between India and Russia's Far East by
§ Backup energy systems during power outages.
up to 16 days (from 40 to 24 days).
§ Renewable energy sources to reduce dependency on fossil
○ Reduces distance by 40%, promoting connectivity and trade
fuels.
efficiency.
○ Example: Buildings with solar power and rainwater systems ensure
• Geopolitical Context: Comes amid geopolitical challenges in West Asia,
functionality during natural disasters.
especially involving Israel and Gaza.
Importance of Monitoring: • Remarks by Minister Sarbananda Sonowal: India strives to lead globally in
• Real-time monitoring tools to assess energy, water, and air quality.
cargo handling, ship repair, recycling, and maritime reforms.
• Ensures optimal performance, identifies inefficiencies, and provides
corrective solutions.
Case Studies:
1. Infosys Hyderabad Campus:
○ Focus on energy efficiency, net-zero energy, and low carbon
footprint. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is a constitutional authority
○ Smart controls optimize lighting and HVAC systems. established under Article 148 of the Indian Constitution. The CAG serves as the
2. Crescent Building: chief auditor of the country, responsible for ensuring transparency,
accountability, and financial discipline in the management of public funds.
○ Designed for extreme weather with solar power and rainwater
Key Functions of the CAG:
harvesting systems.
1. Auditing Government Accounts:
○ Low-energy lighting reduces operational costs.
○ Audits the accounts of the Central and State Governments, including
ministries, departments, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and
autonomous bodies.
○ Audits revenue receipts and expenditure of the government.
2. Reporting to Parliament and Legislatures:
○ Submits audit reports to the President or the Governors of states,
which are then tabled in Parliament or state legislatures.
3. Ensuring Financial Accountability:
Global South Issues Highlighted by PM Modi at G-20 Summit ○ Examines whether government funds are used efficiently,
• Key Points: economically, and for the intended purposes.
○ Focus on food, fuel, and fertilizer crises affecting the Global South ○ Investigates cases of financial irregularities and inefficiencies in
due to global conflicts. government spending.
○ Modi emphasized prioritizing Global South's needs in G-20 4. Auditing Local Bodies:
discussions. ○ Audits the accounts of Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local
• Highlighted India's initiatives: bodies as per constitutional amendments (73rd and 74th).
○ Distribution of food grains to 800 million people. 5. Public Sector Enterprises:
○ Largest health insurance scheme covering 300 million women ○ Audits financial statements of government-owned companies and
entrepreneurs. evaluates their performance.
Role and Significance:
○ Promotion of organic farming and climate-resilient crops.
○ Initiative to combat poverty and hunger globally discussed. • The CAG acts as the guardian of public money, ensuring that taxpayers’
money is utilized responsibly.
• Significance:
• Plays a critical role in maintaining transparency and preventing corruption.
○ Strengthens India's leadership in addressing Global South
• Contributes to strengthening parliamentary oversight over public
challenges.
expenditure.
○ Promotes sustainable agriculture and financial inclusion.
Appointment and Tenure:
• The CAG is appointed by the President of India.
• Holds office for a term of 6 years or until the age of 65 years, whichever is
earlier.
• The CAG can only be removed through a process of impeachment similar
to that of a Supreme Court judge.
SpaceX’s Falcon-9 Deploys GSAT-N2 Satellite Current CAG:
• Details: • K. Sanjay Murthy (appointed in 2024).
○ Falcon-9 launched the Indian GSAT-N2 satellite from Cape
Canaveral, Florida.
○ Features include:
§ Enhanced broadband services.
§ In-flight connectivity across the Indian region.
§ Multiple spot beams and wideband Ka transponders. Curbing Insurance Misselling:
○ Mission life of 14 years. • Context: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the need for
○ Collaboration between SpaceX and ISRO. transparency and ethical selling of insurance products by banks. The
• Importance: practice of "misselling" occurs when customers are pressured into
○ Boosts India's communication infrastructure. purchasing insurance products they don't need, leading to financial strain.
○ Showcases international collaboration in space technology. • Importance:
○ Builds trust between customers and financial institutions.
○ Reduces unnecessary financial burden on consumers.
○ Encourages banks to focus on their core functions like deposits and
loans rather than overburdening customers with unnecessary
products.

GST Rate Rationalization:

• Context: The GST Council plans to review and possibly reduce GST rates
on health and life insurance from the current 12% to 5%. Other items of
common use might also see tax rate adjustments.
• Significance:
○ Aims to make essential services like insurance more affordable. Infrastructure Bond Issuance by SBI:
○ Simplifies the tax structure, benefiting consumers and businesses. • Definition: Infrastructure bonds are long-term investment instruments
○ Ensures tax rates are aligned with economic priorities and public issued by financial institutions to fund infrastructure projects like roads,
welfare. bridges, and power plants.
• Details:
○ State Bank of India (SBI) raised ₹10,000 crore through its seventh
infrastructure bond issuance at a coupon rate of 7.23%.
○ These bonds received overwhelming investor interest, indicating
strong market confidence.
RBI Guidelines for Banks (Governor Shaktikanta Das) • Impact:
• Proactive Monitoring: Banks must monitor portfolios, identify over- ○ Provides funding for large-scale infrastructure development.
concentration, and address risks. ○ Offers investors a stable and secure return.
• Ethical Practices: ○ Boosts economic growth by facilitating infrastructure expansion.
○ Curb unethical activities like mis-selling of products and improper
KYC verification.
○ Incentives for staff should discourage unethical behaviors.
• Risk Management:
○ Vigilance on IT outsourcing and third-party vendor reliance.
○ Avoid over-reliance on specific sectors to minimize operational risks. Stock Market Performance
• Governance: Boards should assess internal strengths and regulatory • BSE Sensex Decline:
changes to strengthen risk frameworks. ○ Fell by 241 points (0.31%) to close at 77,339.01.
○ Decline attributed to IT and oil sector sell-offs, weak U.S. market
cues, and unabated foreign fund outflows.
• NSE Nifty:
○ Dropped by 78.90 points (0.34%) to 23,453.80.
PM’s Internship Scheme Pilot Project ○ Registered its seventh consecutive day of decline.
• Objective: Provide on-the-job training for youth to create one crore
employment opportunities in five years.
• Eligibility: Unemployed youth aged 21-24 years, with a family income
below ₹8 lakh per annum.
• Process:
○ Over 6.5 lakh applications received for 1.27 lakh internship
opportunities.
○ Internships offered by major firms like Tata Steel, ICICI Bank, and
Mahindra Group. India-Bangladesh Relations
○ Monthly stipend: ₹5,000 (₹500 paid by companies and ₹4,500 1. Continued Ties Amid Political Shifts:
through Direct Benefit Transfer). ○ India and Bangladesh have maintained strong ties despite political
○ Additional grant: ₹6,000 for incidental expenses. changes, including the recent removal of former Bangladeshi Prime
• Focus Areas: Academic training, civil service preparation, and job-specific Minister Sheikh Hasina from power.
skills. ○ Cooperation in energy, trade, and people-to-people exchanges
remains strong.
2. Energy and Connectivity:
○ India recently inaugurated a power supply line to Bangladesh from
Nepal.
○ Trade and economic interdependence between the two nations
India-Sri Lanka Relations have been sustained.
1. Formation of New Government: 3. Minority Concerns:
○ Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected Sri Lanka’s President, with ○ India expressed concerns about the safety of minorities in
his National People's Power (NPP) party forming a new government. Bangladesh, citing increased targeting and insecurity.
○ The new cabinet focuses on key areas like defense, finance, 4. Challenges with Sheikh Hasina:
planning, and the digital economy. ○ Reports suggest Sheikh Hasina’s continued political influence from
2. Economic Cooperation: India, causing discomfort for the current Bangladeshi government.
○ Sri Lanka's government aims to rebuild its economy and continue ○ The interim Bangladeshi government plans to address this
reforms, supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). diplomatically.
○ India has been a consistent partner in helping Sri Lanka recover from 5. Vision for Future Relations:
its financial crisis. ○ Bangladesh envisions a relationship akin to the European Union,
3. Social and Developmental Initiatives: with free movement and deeper integration between the two
○ The Sri Lankan government pledged to prioritize combating child nations.
poverty and malnutrition. 6. Cross-Border Collaboration:
○ Focus on effective social spending and better support for ○ Initiatives like energy connectivity and trade agreements highlight a
differently-abled individuals. collaborative approach despite political changes.
4. IMF Engagement:
○ The IMF is reviewing its ongoing program with Sri Lanka, with
expectations of releasing additional funds.
5. Strengthening Bilateral Ties:
○ India-Sri Lanka relations are witnessing positive momentum through
trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.
○ Continued cooperation on regional security and economic
development.

India's Path to Net-Zero by 2070

Net-Zero Importance:
• Climate change requires urgent action to cap global temperature rise to
1.5°C.
• India has pledged net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
Challenges:
• Balancing economic growth, energy needs, and food/nutritional security.
• Rising energy demands could increase 6-7 times by 2070.
• Land-use conflicts and biodiversity loss due to industrial activities.
Equity in Emissions:
• Per capita emissions in India are among the lowest globally.
• The poorest 10% of India emit 20 times less than the richest 10%.
Proposed Solutions:
• Expand renewable energy: 3,500 GW of solar and 900 GW of wind needed.
• Improve energy efficiency: Use green building materials, energy-efficient
appliances, and public transport.
• Promote nuclear and hydro energy for steady and clean supply.
• Incorporate long-term land-use strategies to preserve biodiversity.
Action Plan:
• Transition from coal to clean energy while maintaining equitable growth.
• Focus on technological innovations, sustainable consumption, and demand
management.
Key Takeaway:
• India’s net-zero pathway is complex but achievable with a balanced focus
on environmental sustainability and socio-economic priorities.