Current Affairs – 22nd Jan 2024

Articles Covered:

  1. MOSQUITOFISH: INDIA’S BATTLE AGAINST INVASIVE SPECIES
  2. A revival of the IMEC idea amid choppy geopolitics
  3. INDIA-MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (IMEC)
  4. Statue of Social Justice: World’s Tallest BR Ambedkar Bronze Statue
  5. NASA-ISRO SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR (NISAR) MISSION
  6. CASTE CENSUS IN ANDHRA PRADESH
  7. Rabbitr1
  8. M pemba effect
  9. THE GROWTH OF INDIA-BANGLADESH TIES

MOSQUITOFISH: INDIA’S BATTLE AGAINST INVASIVE SPECIES

GAMBUSIA FISH – MOSQUITO FISH

The release of these invasive alien fish species has raised concerns about the potential harm that will be sustained by native species that abound in the state’s freshwater bodies.   Indian states such as Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Punjab have introduced mosquito fish to combat mosquito infestations.

Gambusia Fish:

  • It is also known as mosquito fish,and is widely used as a biological agent for controlling mosquito larvae.
  • It is native to the waters of the south-eastern United States.
  • It has been a part of mosquito-control strategiesfor over a century in various parts of the world, including India.
  • A single full-grown fish eats about 100 to 300 mosquito larvae per day.
  • Also, it has been part of various malaria control strategies in India since 1928, including the Urban Malaria Scheme.
  • The International Union for Conservation of Nature declared Gambusia one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world. 

Mosquito fish in India- Historical Introduction:

  • In 1928, Gambusia was introduced in India during British rule, mainly for malaria control.
  • Multiple Authorities Involved: Various governmental and private organizations, including the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), municipal corporations, and health departments, introduced mosquito fish across India.

ANDHRA PRADESH: The Andhra Pradesh government has released (JULY 2023) approximately 10 million Gambusia fish into the state’s water bodies to combat mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. The fish, also known as mosquito fish, is widely used as a biological agent for controlling mosquito larvae.

A revival of the IMEC idea amid choppy geopolitics:

IN NEWS: The Yemen conflict has made the case for viable alternatives to the Suez Canal even stronger.

Ben Gurion Canal Project is a proposal to create a canal through the Negev Desert in Israel, connecting the Gulf of Aqaba and the Eastern Mediterranean. Named after the Israel’s founding father David Ben-Gurion, it was 1st envisioned in 1960s to create an alternative route to the Suez Canal.

It has been speculated that one of the reasons behind Israel’s desire to eliminate Hamas from the gaza strip and completely control the Palestinian enclave is to give itself the chance to better explore a dramatic economic opportunity that has been talked about for several decades, but for which peace and political stability in the region is an essential prerequisite.

The SUEZ canal connects Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Egyptian city of Suez on the Red Sea.

 

Geographical location:

  • The Suez Canal is situated in north-eastern Egypt, spanning across the Isthmus of Suez.
  • It extends approximately 120 miles (193 kilometers) from the city of Port Said in the north to the city of Suez in the south.
  • The canal separates the African continent from the Sinai Peninsula.
  1. The Suez Canal is a man-made canal that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, providing a crucial shortcut for shipping between Europe and Asia.
  2. It cuts north-south across the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt.
  3. Year of construction – Construction of the canal began in 1859 and it took around 10 years to complete the project.
  4. Management– The canal is owned and maintained by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), which is under the government of Egypt.
Significance of Suez Canal:

  1. Global trade– The canal is a vital link between the West and East, carrying 10% of the global trade every year.
  2. An estimated 12% of world maritime trade passes through the Suez Canal.
  3. Time efficient– The canal ensured that ships travelling between Europe and Asia would not have to travel all the way around the continent of Africa.
  4. The canal cut the distance between London and Mumbai by a more than 41%.
  5. Economy lifeline– As per World Bank, the canal accounts for nearly 2% of Egypt’s GDP.
  6.  Traffic management– The canal handles an average of 50 ships per day, with a total value of 9.5 billion dollars.

INDIA-MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (IMEC):

The primary objective of the IMEC is to enhance economic growth through improved connectivity and economic integration among Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe, with a focus on strengthening manufacturing, ensuring food security, and optimizing supply chains.

COMPONENTS OF THE INDIA-MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (IMEC):

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project will comprise two distinct corridors, namely:

  • The Eastern Corridor: This corridor links India with the Arabian Gulf. It features railroads, ship-to-rail networks, and road transport routes.
  • The Northern Corridor: This corridor connects the Gulf region to Europe. This incorporates similar transportation infrastructure, including rail, ship-to-rail links, and road networks.

Additionally, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) has the potential for further expansion to facilitate the transportation of energy resources through pipelines and the transmission of data via an optical fiber network.

Significance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

Significance:

  • Alternative to BRI: This project reflects emerging geopolitical trends as it offers an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). BRI is often perceived as a tool for exerting influence and creating debt traps in developing nations.
  • Deepening Arabian Peninsula Engagement:The Indian government’s efforts to strengthen political and strategic ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia can now be further solidified by creating enduring connectivity between India and the Arabian Peninsula.
  • Indo-US Collaboration in the Middle East:This initiative dispels the notion that India and the United States may collaborate in the Indo-Pacific but not in the Middle East. The project showcases how India and the U.S., along with Israel and the UAE, can partner in developing joint economic projects through forums like the I2U2.
  • Stability in the Middle East: The mega connectivity project has the potential to reduce political tensions in the Arabian Peninsula and serve as “Infrastructure for Peace” by promoting intra-regional connectivity, according to the U.S.
  • Integration of Europe:The corridor signifies Europe’s active involvement in infrastructure development in the region. The European Union’s support for this initiative positions it as a major stakeholder in integrating India with both the Arabian Peninsula and Europe.
  • Engagement with Africa: The U.S. and the EU have proposed plans to establish a Trans-African corridor connecting Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia. The success of IMEC could lead to further collaboration between India, the U.S., and the EU in Africa, aligning with India’s increasing engagement with the continent.
  • Bypassing Pakistan: IMEC effectively bypasses Pakistan’s veto over India’s overland connectivity to the West, which has been a longstanding obstacle to India’s regional integration. Despite India’s efforts over the years, Pakistan has consistently denied access to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia, making IMEC a significant breakthrough.

Ports – Part of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC):

  • India:Ports in Mundra (Gujarat), Kandla (Gujarat), and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (Navi Mumbai).
  • Middle East: Ports include Fujairah, Jebel Ali, and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, as well as Dammam and Ras Al Khair ports in Saudi Arabia.
  • Railway Line:The railway line will link Fujairah port in the UAE to Haifa port in Israel, passing through Saudi Arabia (Ghuwaifat and Haradh) and Jordan.
  • Israel: The Israeli port involved in this corridor is Haifa.
  • Europe: Ports in Europe that are part of this corridor comprise Piraeus in Greece, Messina in Southern Italy, and Marseille in France.

Statue of Social Justice: World’s Tallest BR Ambedkar Bronze Statue:

Location of Statue of Social Justice: The Statue of Social Justice is the tallest Dr BR Ambedkar bronze statue in the world, and is situated at the Ambedkar Smriti Vanam in Vijayawada (Swaraj Maidan), Andhra Pradesh.

The Statue of Social Justice, featuring Dr BR Ambedkar Ambedkar, will be unveiled by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in Vijayawada.

Statue of Social Justice or Dr. BR Ambedkar Smriti Vanam:

  • Location of Statue of Social Justice:The Statue of Social Justice is the tallest Dr BR Ambedkar bronze statue in the world, and is situated at the Ambedkar Smriti Vanam in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
  • The statue is 125 feet tall and is installed on an 81-foot pedestal.
  • With a total height of 206 feet, it is the fourth tallest, and the second tallest standing statuein India.
  • Cost:The complete cost of the project is ₹404.35 crores.
  • Material: The statue of social justice is made of steel frame and bronze cladding and is completely made in India. 
  • Base of the Statue: The 81-foot pedestal building Is designed as Kalachakra Maha Mandal of Buddhist architecture.
  • Complex areas also include the Dr BR AmbedkarAmbedkar Experience center under the statue where the exhibits of BR Ambedkar Ambedkar’s life are displayed.

Background:

Dr Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in the town of Mhow (now officially known as Dr Ambedkar Nagar) in Madhya Pradesh as the last child of Ramji Maloji Sakpal, an army officer.

The family of Dr Ambedkar belonged to the Mahar caste, who were treated as untouchables and subjected to socio-economic discrimination.

His family traced their origin to the town of Ambadawe in Ratnagiri district of modern-day Maharashtra.

Fight Against Untouchability: After experiencing caste discrimination during his service, Ambedkar started an Association for the welfare of the depressed classes, with Sir Chimanlal Setalvad.

The Mahad Satyagraha:

  • Mahad Satyagraha or Chavdar Tale Satyagrahawas a social reform movement led by Dr B. R. Ambedkar in 1927 to allow untouchables to use water in a public tank in Mahad, Maharashtra.
  • Dr Ambedkar held a meeting at Mahad in 1927, and later proceeded to the ‘Chowder tank’, where he drank water.
  • As a response, upper caste members poured pots of cow dung and cow urineas a means to ‘purify’ the tank and make it fit for upper caste consumption.
  • Ambedkar decided to hold another satyagraha in Mahadbut was not given permission as the tank was declared a public property. Ambedkar instead burnt ‘Manu Smriti’ as a token of protest.

Contributions of Dr BR Ambedkar Ambedkar:

Fight for Depressed Classes
  1. Separate Electorates: Ambedkar argued for separate electorates and reservations for untouchables and other religious communities in front of the Southborough Committee, which was preparing the Government of India Act 1919.
  2. Mahad Satyagraha: He led the Mahad satyagraha to fight for the right of the depressed classes to draw water from the main water tank of the town.
  3. Burning of Manusmriti: As part of his protests, Ambedkar publicly burnt the Manusmriti (Laws of Manu) in 1927, for ideologically justifying caste discrimination and “untouchability“.
  4. Temple Entry: In 1930, Ambedkar launched the Kalaram Temple movement in Nashik for opening the doors of the temple for depressed classes.
  5. Idea of Reservation: During drafting of the constitution, Ambedkar favoured introduction of a system of reservations of jobs in the civil services, schools and colleges for members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and Other Backward Class.
Political Participation
  1. Communal Award: Ambedkar lobbied for getting separate electorates for depressed classes. The British colonial government announced separate electorate for “Depressed Classes” in the McDonald’s Communal Award, 1932.
  2. Poona Pact: Mahatma Gandhi undertook a fast in Yerwada Jail to oppose the separate electorate for untouchables, saying it will divide the Hindu Community.
  3. After a series of meetings, an agreement known as the Poona Pact was signed between Ambedkar (on behalf of the depressed classes) and Madan Mohan Malaviya (on behalf of the other Hindus).
  4. Under the Poona Pact, the Congress Party reserved seats for the depressed classes in the Provincial legislatures within the general electorate.
  5. Minister of Labour: Ambedkar formed the formed Independent Labour Party to safeguard the interest of the depressed classes and also served on the Defence Advisory Committee and the Viceroy’s Executive Council as minister of labour.
  6. Law Minister: After independence in 1947, Ambedkar got elected to the Constituent Assembly from Bengal and was appointed Law Minister.
  7. In 1951, he resigned from his position citing differences on Kashmir issue, India’s Foreign Policy and Nehru’s Policy towards the Hindu Code Bill.
  8. Chairman of Drafting Committee of Constitution: Ambedkar was also appointed Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution for the future Republic of India.
Literature
  1. In 1920, Ambedkar started the weekly publication Mooknayak in Mumbai with the help of Shahu of Kolhapur.
  2. He also started Bahishkrit Bharat and Equality Janta for the welfare of depressed classes.
  3. In 1936, he wrote a book Annihilation of Caste to strongly criticised Hindu orthodox religious leaders and the caste system in general.
Associations
  1. Ambedkar established the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha to promote education and socio-economic improvement, as well as the welfare of depressed class.
Anthropology
  1. Aryan Invasion Theory: Ambedkar rejected the Aryan invasion theory by highlighting the flaws in the theories given by western scholars.
  2. He also rejected the view that Aryan homeland was outside India, and concluded the Aryan homeland was India itself.
Economic Contribution
  1. Reserve Bank of India: The core idea of Reserve Bank of India was based on the concept presented by Babasaheb to the Hilton Young Commission.
  2. Industrialisation: Ambedkar believed that industrialisation and agricultural growth could enhance the Indian economy and stressed focusing on agriculture as the primary industry of India.
  3. Socio-economic Development: Ambedkar wanted India to focus on social development, education, public hygiene, community health, residential facilities as the basic amenities for socio-economic development.
  4. Currency Exchange: Ambedkar analysed Indian Rupee’s fall in value in his work The problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Solution.
  5. He favoured the gold standard and opposed the gold-exchange standard favoured by Keynes, claiming it was less stable. 
  6. Taxation: Ambedkar was in opposition to the idea of income tax for low-income groups.
  7. Land Revenue Reforms: Ambedkar felt that the caste system, due to its division of labourers and hierarchical nature, prevented movement of labour and movement of capital.
  8. Family Planning: He advocated birth control to develop the Indian economy by making better use of resources. 

NASA-ISRO SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR (NISAR) MISSION:

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission is a joint endeavour between NASA (the United States’ space agency) and ISRO (the Indian Space Research Organisation).

Details:

  • The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission involves launching a sophisticated radar satellite into orbit with the primary goal of studying changes in two crucial ecosystems: forests and wetlands.
  • NISAR will offer detailed insights into these ecosystems to understand how they are affected by climate change and human activitiesand how they contribute to the global carbon cycle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key objectives of the NISAR mission:

Carbon Capture and Release
  • NISAR aims to monitor how forests and wetlands capture and release carbon. Forests store carbon in the wood of trees, while wetlands store it in their organic soil. Any disruption to these systems can lead to the release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.
  • By tracking land-cover changes, NISAR will provide valuable data on how these ecosystems impact the global carbon cycle.
Deforestation and Climate Change
  • Approximately 11% of net human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to forestry and land-use changes.
  • NISAR’s data will improve our understanding of how the loss of forests worldwide influences the carbon cycle and contributes to global warming.
  • It will help in monitoring deforestation and forest degradation and encourage more sustainable logging practices.
Wetland Flooding and Carbon Release
  • Wetlands, despite covering a small percentage of the Earth’s land surface, hold a significant amount of carbon in their soil.
  • When wetlands flood, they release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. When they dry out, they release carbon dioxide.
  • NISAR will monitor the flooding and drying of wetlands, helping researchers understand how these carbon-rich ecosystems react to climate change and human activities.
Global Coverage
  • NISAR’s radar systems will scan nearly all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces every 12 days, providing a comprehensive view of changes in forests and wetlands worldwide. This continuous monitoring will be invaluable for tracking both short-term and long-term trends.
Other Applications
  •  In addition to ecosystem monitoring, NISAR will provide data on the motion of the Earth’s surface, helping researchers understand geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and subsidence and uplift.
  • It will also track the movements and melting of glaciers and sea ice.

Conclusion: – NISAR is set to launch in early 2024 and represents the first time that NASA and ISRO have collaborated on hardware development for an Earth-observing mission. The mission’s data will be instrumental in advancing our understanding of the Earth’s ecosystems and their role in climate change, as well as in various other fields of scientific research and environmental monitoring.

CASTE CENSUS IN ANDHRA PRADESH:

Andhra becomes 2nd State to take up ‘caste census’:

The Andhra Pradesh government has started a 10-day-long “caste survey”, to create a comprehensive caste-based database of people.

  • The SECC was first inaugurated in 1931aimed to gather economic information about Indian families in rural and urban areas, identifying indicators of deprivation.
  • It also documented specific caste names to assess the economic conditions of different caste groups.

Explanation: –

  • Methodology and Verification Process: Volunteers will visit every home to collect caste details, emphasizing the role of the village secretariat system in verifying and correcting the information.
  • Second State to Undertake Caste Census:Andhra Pradesh is the second state after Bihar to undertake the caste census.
  • Scale and Coverage of the Census:Details on the extensive coverage, involving volunteers, village secretariat employees, and covering millions of families in both rural and urban areas.
  • Purpose and Welfare Goals:Focusing on addressing the welfare needs of castes that have not received government schemes. The significance of the census in ensuring inclusive governance and social justice.

Demand for Caste Census:

  • Earlier it did not include information about the population of lower and intermediate castes, known as Other Backward Classes (OBCs), which make up about 52% of the population.
  • This has led to calls for a separate census to gather data about the OBC population.

Caste Census:

  1. Caste census meansinclusion of caste-wise tabulation of India’s population in the Census exercise. Indiahas counted and published caste data from 1951 -2011 of the SC AND ST only.

Differences: –

Rabbit R1

Rabbit R1 has been launched by a US-based startup as a pocket-sized AI assistant that runs on a customised operating system. The device, developed in partnership with Teenage Engineering, aims to eliminate the need to interact with apps on a smartphone. Instead, the Rabbit R1 uses a “Large Action Model” that uses AI powered “rabbits” to replicate the process of interacting with apps and complete tasks on behalf of the user via a cloud platform, according to details shared by the company.

Mpemba effect:

  • In a new research,scientists have suggested that hot water may sometimes freeze faster than cold because of random impurities in the water.
  • Fast-freezing of hot water is known as the Mpemba effect,after a Tanzanian schoolboy called Erasto Mpemba.
  • Physicists have come up with several possible explanations,including faster evaporation reducing the volume of hot water,a layer of frost insulating the cooler water,and differing concentration of solutes.

The Mpemba effect is the name given to the observation that a liquid (typically water) which is initially hot can freeze faster than the same liquid which begins cold, under otherwise similar conditions. There is disagreement about its theoretical basis and the parameters required to produce the effect.

THE GROWTH OF INDIA-BANGLADESH TIES:

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned to power in Bangladesh for a historic fourth straight term earlier this month after her party, the Awami League, secured two-thirds of the seats in the January 7 national elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first world leaders to congratulate Ms. Hasina, illustrating the close bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Background:

  • The foundation of India’s relationship with Bangladesh was laid in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. India provided critical military and material support to assist Bangladesh in its fight for independence from Pakistan.
  • India played a great role in the emergence of independent Bangladesh during its Liberation War in 1971 and was the first country to recognize Bangladesh as a separate state. Bangladesh liberation day, 16th December, is celebrated as “Vijay Diwas” in India.
  • Despite this, relations soured within a few years as military regimes took control. There was a rise in anti-India sentiment in the mid-1970s over issues ranging from boundary disputesand insurgency to the sharing of water.

The instability continued for a few decades until Sheikh Hasina came to power in 1996 and scripted a new chapter in bilateral ties with a treaty on the sharing of Ganga waters. Since then, India and Bangladesh have built cooperation in trade, energy, infrastructure, connectivity and defence.

Economic relation: –

Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh has grown steadily over the last decade. Bangladesh has emerged as India’s largest trade partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade reaching $18 billion in 2021-2022 from $10.8 billion in 2020-21, though there was a dip in 2022-23 due to the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

  • India is also the second biggest trade partner of Bangladesh, with exports amounting to $2 billion in Indian markets.
  • In 2022, both nations concluded a joint feasibility study on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
  • The agreement, typically designed to reduce or eliminate customs duties on traded goods and simplify trade norms, is anticipated to open up broader social and economic opportunities.
  • The CEPA gains additional significance as Bangladesh is set to lose its Least Developed Country (LDC) status after 2026, thereby losing its duty-free and quota-free market access in India.
  • Dhaka will be eager to finalise a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Delhi, and also pursue the China-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). This dual approach raises concerns for India.

Infrastructure: –

Since 2010, India has extended Lines of Credits worth over $7 billion. PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina made history last year when they inaugurated the Akhaura-Agartala rail link that connects Bangladesh and the northeast through Tripura. The link has given India access to Chattogram and Mongla ports in Bangladesh for the movement of cargo. It is likely to boost small-scale industries and develop Assam and Tripura.

In the energy sector, Bangladesh imports nearly 2,000 megawatts of electricity from India. The BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity focuses on connecting major transport projects in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand, thereby establishing a shipping network. India’s attention will primarily be directed towards the Matarbari Port, located about 100 km from Tripura, which Bangladesh is building. The port will establish a crucial industrial corridor linking Dhaka and the northeast part of India.

Tensions between both the nations: –

  • Teesta dispute will take centre-stage in the agenda of the Hasina-led government. The issue revolves around the sharing of Teesta’s waters, with Bangladesh seeking an equitable distribution.
  • Teesta river dispute: In order to keep the river’s water flow to a minimum, an agreement was concluded in 2011 that gave India 42.5% of the water, Bangladesh 37.5%, and the remaining 20% of the river’s water flow-free rein. Due to some disagreement, this agreement has not been put into effect to this point.
  • Farakka barrage dispute: Diversion of water from the Ganges to the Hooghly River is a major source of concern raised by Bangladesh many times in the past.
  • Another contentious matter is the Rohingya issue. The Hasina government aims for the peaceful repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar, but its talks with the military junta have been unsuccessful so far. Bangladesh seeks India’s cooperation to influence Myanmar, but the Modi government, which has ties with the junta, asserts that it will deport Rohingyas from its mainland.
  • Cross-border terrorism and infiltration are additional threats to internal security. The rise of majoritarian forces adds another layer to the complex landscape.

SIGNIFICANCE OF BANGLADESH TO INDIA:

Bangladesh is important to India for several reasons, including

  • Geopolitical:Bangladesh is India’s neighbour and shares a long land, riverine and maritime boundary. This makes it important for India’s security and foreign policy. For example, India needs cooperation from Bangladesh to counter the Chinese ‘String of Pearls’.
  • Economic: India-Bangladesh have close economic ties, with India being one of Bangladesh’s largest trading partners. For example, The bilateral trade in 2021-2022 was USD 18.2 billion.
  • Cultural: India and Bangladesh have a shared history, culture, and heritage. The people of the two countries are linked by strong cultural and familial ties, and there is a large population of Indian-origin people living in Bangladesh.
  • Strategic:Bangladesh is located at the crossroads of South Asia and Southeast Asia and is important for India’s Act East Policy, which aims to build closer ties with the countries of Southeast Asia.
  • Environmental concerns:Bangladesh and India share trans-boundary rivers and ecological systems, making it important for the two countries to cooperate on issues such as water management and flood control. For example, coordinated efforts are needed for the conservation of Sunderbans.
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