Current Affairs – 30th Apr 2024
Articles Covered
- IMF’s Stand-By Arrangement:
- Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge, LSAM 20 (Yard 130):
- Great Rift Valley
- Fourth general k sundarji memorial lecture on ‘general sundarji’s legacy and ‘vision 2100’ in the dynamic evolution of warfare’ conducted at manekshaw centre
- Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance
- G7 nations reach deal to shut down their coal-fired power plants by 2035
- Chithirai festival | Sea of devotees gather at Madurai’s Vaigai river for glimpse of Lord Kallazhagar
- Delhi records maximum number of ‘Good to Moderate’ air quality days in April, 2024 as compared to the corresponding period of last 06 years starting from 2018 (except 2020 – the year of lockdown due to covid), denoting a marked improvement
- Article 31C: Why the SC is deciding if a fundamental right still exists in a case about private property?
- Critical Minerals Summit Concludes on a note of Strategic Collaboration and Policy Insights to Advance India’s Critical Mineral Agenda
- Sierra Madre, an old ship fuelling China-Philippines tensions in South China Sea?
- The poultry industry needs urgent reforms
- Salmonella
IMF’s Stand-By Arrangement:
The International Monetary Fund has approved an immediate disbursal of USD 1.1 billion to Pakistan as part of a bailout package supported by the IMF’s Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).
IMF’s Stand-By Arrangement:
- The Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) provides short-term financial assistanceto countries facing balance of payments problems.
- Historically, it has been the IMF lending instrument most used by advanced and emerging market countries.
- Eligibility:All member countries facing actual or potential external financing needs. Most often used by advanced and emerging market countries, but low-income countries sometimes use the SBA together with the Standby Credit Facility (SCF).
Conditionality
- Countries’ economic policies must address the problems that led the country to seek funding.
- Disbursements conditional on the observance of quantitative performance criteria.
- Progress in implementing structural measures that are critical to achieving the objectives of the program is assessed in a holistic way, including via benchmarks.
Duration of the assistance: Flexible. Typically covers a period of 12–24 months, but not more than 36 months.
Key facts about IMF
- It fosters economic growth and employment by providing temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease the balance of payments adjustment and technical assistance.
- Foundation:Formed in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference with the goal of reconstructing the international monetary system.
- Important Reports:World Economic Outlook and Global Financial Stability Report
- Headquarters:Washington, DC, USA
Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge, LSAM 20 (Yard 130):
Recently, ‘Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge, LSAM 20 (Yard 130)’, 6th Barge of 11x ACTCM Barge Project has been launched.
The contract for building 11 x ACTCM Barge was signed between MoD and M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane in March, 2021.
Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge, LSAM 20 (Yard 130):
- Built by:MSME Shipyard, M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane for Indian Navy (IN).
- Indigenously Designed: These Barges are indigenously designed and built under relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping.
- Testing:The model testing of the Barge during the design stage was undertaken at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam.
- Significance: It would provide momentum to operational commitments of IN by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of articles/ammunition to IN Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.
- These Barges are proud flag bearers of Make in India initiative of Government of India (GoI) and add another milestone to the Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
Indian Register of Shipping (IRS):
- Establishment: IRS is a not-for-profit entity that was founded in
- Represents: IRS is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), which represents classification societies worldwide.
- Task:IRS is an international ship classification society providing ship classification and certification as well as technical inspection services.
IR Class Systems and Solutions Pvt Ltd. (ISSPL):
- Set Up: ISSPL is an entity promoted by the IRS and was set up in
- Mandate:The two companies, IRS and ISSPL, form the brand IR CLASS, which provides survey, inspection, and certification services to the maritime and industrial sectors.
- IR CLASS is committed to promoting safe and environmentally friendly engineering practices through its services to the business community.
- Significance:IR Class is continually paving the way for progress –setting standards for safety, environment protection and tackling issues affecting the maritime industry.
- IR Class provides complete solutions for requirements and is committed to be ‘Partner in Maritime Risk Management’.
Great Rift Valley
At least 42 people died when a dam burst its banks near a town in Kenya’s Rift Valley, as heavy rains and floods battered the country.
Great Rift Valley:
- It is one of the most extensive rifts on Earth’s surface that runs along part of East Africa.
- It runs for 4,000 miles(6,400 kilometers), from Jordan in southwestern Asia to the coast of the Indian Ocean in central Mozambique.
- It runs across many countries: Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo(DRC), Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique.
- It is part of a larger feature called the East African Rift System (EARS).
Formation:
- The valley is situated in a region where three tectonic plates meet.
- It was formed about 40 million years ago when tectonic plates split and gave rise to the East African Rift.
- The valley is 30 to 40 miles (48 to 64 kilometers) wide on average but reaches nearly 300 miles (480 kilometers) at its widest section in the Danakil Desertin northeastern Africa.
- The steep walls of the valley rise about 3,000 feet (900 meters) above the valley floor. In some places there are cliffs that reach 9,000 feet (2,700 meters) high.
- The area is geologically active and features volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, and frequent earthquakes.
- A series of some thirty lakes lies along its length; the three largest in Africa are known as the Great Lakes and include Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world, and Lake Victoria, the second-largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world.
- Many of Africa’s highest mountains—including Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya,and Mount Margherita—are in ranges fronting the Rift Valley.
Rift Valley
- A rift valley is a lowland region that forms where Earth’s tectonic plates move apart, or rift.
- Rift valleys are found on land and at the bottom of the ocean, where they are created by the process of seafloor spreading.
- Rift valleys differ from river valleys and glacial valleys in that they are created by tectonic activity and not the process of erosion.
Fourth general k sundarji memorial lecture on ‘general sundarji’s legacy and ‘vision 2100’ in the dynamic evolution of warfare’ conducted at manekshaw centre
- The 4thGeneral Sundarji Memorial Lecture was organised by the Indian Army in Manekshaw Centre to commemorate the legacy of one of India’s foremost military thinkers General K Sundarji. The lecture was conducted under the aegis of Mechanised Infantry Centre & School (MIC&S) and Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS).
- The event was attended by serving and retired officers of the three Services as well as literati and various think tanks. The lecture remembered the dynamic and visionary General K Sundarji, the 13thChief of the Army Staff, who is also fondly called as the ‘Father of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment’.
- General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) delivered the keynote address and underscored the foresight of General Sundarji. He highlighted General Sundarji’s vision in the fields of digitisation of the battlefield, Information Warfare, technology infusion, conventional strategies and force structure, reflected in his work ‘Vision 2100’.
- The COAS while underscoring the thoughts of General Sundarji on transformation, asserted that, “The Indian Army is alive to the imperative of transformation, and it is with a progressive outlook, that we intend, to not only change, but to change at a good pace too. The holistic transformation of the Indian Army, that we put into effect two years ago, is part of our efforts to give shape to a modern, agile, adaptive, technology enabled and self-reliant future ready force”.
- The eminent speakers Shri NN Vohra, former Governor of J&K, shared his experiences with General Sundarji & also expressed his thoughts on ‘Need for National Security Policy’ while Lieutenant General Subrata Saha (Retired), former Deputy Chief of Army Staff and Member National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) delivered a talk on, “Modernising India’s Armed Forces: Lessons from Gen K Sundarji”. The informative talks were followed by an invigorating Question & Answer session.
- General Sundarji, an accomplished soldier and a visionary is known for his deep insights & strategic foresights into future warfare and security paradigms. His contributions went far beyond his distinguished service in ‘olive greens’. The lecture was a befitting occasion to remember the former COAS.
Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance
Recently, the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the Global Leaders Group (GLG) on AMR jointly organised a high-level event, ‘Forging partnerships between science and policy’, in Barcelona, Spain.
Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance:
- It consists of world leaders and experts from across sectors working together to accelerate political action on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
- The group performs an independent global advisory and advocacy role and works to maintain urgency, public support, political momentum and visibility of the AMR challenge on the global health and development agenda.
Background
- The Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance was established in November 2020 following the recommendation of the Interagency Coordination Group (IACG) on Antimicrobial Resistance to strengthen global political momentum and leadership on AMR.
- The inaugural meeting of the Group took place in January 2021.
- Secretariat:The Quadripartite Joint Secretariat (QJS) on Antimicrobial Resistance, a joint effort by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the (WOAH) provide secretariat support for the Group.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
- It is the ability of bacteria and other microbesto resist the drugs used to inhibit or kill them.
- These microbes are sometimes referred to as ‘superbugs’ and are responsible for causing drug-resistant infections that are difficult to treat.
Causes of AMR
- AMR is a naturally occurring phenomenon, the main cause of resistance to antimicrobials is antimicrobial drug use.
- Current high usage of antimicrobial drugs in humans, animals and plantsis leading to a concerning rise in drug-resistance and making infections harder to treat.
G7 nations reach deal to shut down their coal-fired power plants by 2035
Energy ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) countries reached a deal to shut down their coal-fired power plants by 2035 in a significant step towards the transition away from fossil fuels.
- The accord will be included in the G7 energy ministers’ final communique.
- Emissions by G7 Nations: Combined, the seven economic superpowers accounted for 21% of global power sector emissions in 2022.
- While coal represents a very small proportion of the energy mix of France, Italy, Canada and the UK, Germany, the US, and Japan still rely on the planet-warming fuel for 27%, 19%, and 34% of their total energy, respectively.
- Significance of Agreement: The agreement marks a significant step towards the transition away from fossil fuels, of which coal is the most polluting.
- It will help accelerate the shift of investments from coal to clean technology.
Group of Seven (G7):
- The G7 is an informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.
- The G7 does not have a formal charter or a secretariat.
- G7 Presidency: It rotates among member countries each year, and is in charge of setting the agenda.
Significance of G7 for India:
- Alignment of India’s Foreign Policy Goals:India’s foreign policy goals align with the G7’s commitment to global peace and security, enabling cooperative efforts in conflict prevention and resolution.
- Strategic Alliances:Strategic alliances with G7 countries are essential for addressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. It may help in containing China’s influence in the region.
- Economic Cooperation:It provides India a platform for economic cooperation with some of the most advanced economies in the world creating opportunities for trade, investment, and technological cooperation.
- Addressing Global Challenges:It provides India with a platform to discuss carious international issues like climate change, terrorism, technology, etc contributing to collective solutions.
Chithirai festival | Sea of devotees gather at Madurai’s Vaigai river for glimpse of Lord Kallazhagar
Thousands of residents participated in the annual ritual of Lord Kallazhagar entering the Vaigai river
Thousands of devotees descended on the Vaigai riverbed in Madurai to witness the annual ritual of Lord Kallazhagar entering the river as part of the Chithirai festival.
Chithirai Festival:
- The Chithirai Festival in Madurai celebrates the celestial union of Lord Sunderswarar (Lord Shiva) and Goddess Meenakshi, considered to be Lord Vishnu’s sister.
- The festival also known as Chithirai Thiruvizha, Meenakshi Thirukalyanam or Meenakshi Kalyanam falls at the beginning of April or the Tamil month Chithirai.
Vaigai River:
- Source: Rises in the Varushanad Hills of western Tamil Nadu.
- River Course: It initially flows northeast through the Kambam and Varushanad valleys, flows into Palk Strait, which separates the southeastern coast of India from Sri Lanka.
- Tributaries: Siruliar, Theniar, Varaha Nadi, and Mangalar
Kolattam Dance:
- It is a folk art performed in the Tamil Nadu state of India. It is also called Kolannalu or Kolkolannalu.
- Kolaattam is performed only by women.
- Owing to the usage of sticks, this dance is also called “stick dance”.
- Commencement:The festival commences by hoisting a flag (Kodi Yetram) at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. The ‘kodimaram’ (flag pole) on which the flag is hoisted is decorated with beautiful flowers.
- Lord Kallazhagar is considered to be Goddess Meenakshi’s brother,an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
- The last days of the festivals are celebrated in Kallazhagar temple, in the Alagar Hills in Madurai.
- Festival Celebration: During the procession,traditional Tamil dance forms like Kolattam are performed.
- It is a 15-day celebration that sees a union of the two Hindu sects, Shaivites and Vaishnavites, the devotees of Shiva and Vishnu respectively.
Meenakshi Temple of Madurai:
- Location:Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River, Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
- Presiding deity:The temple is dedicated to goddess Meenakshi, a form of Shakti/Parvati and her consort Shiva in the form of Sundareshwarar.
Delhi records maximum number of ‘Good to Moderate’ air quality days in April, 2024 as compared to the corresponding period of last 06 years starting from 2018 (except 2020 – the year of lockdown due to covid), denoting a marked improvement
The average AQI of Delhi during the month of April, 2024 has also been the second lowest as compared to the corresponding month of April since 2018
Month-wise daily average AQI in Delhi for April was 182 in 2024, 180 in 2023, 255 in 2022, 202 in 2021, 110 in 2020, 211 in 2019, and 222 in 2018
The 30 days period of April in 2024 also witnessed significant reduction in daily average PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations as compared to the corresponding period in the previous years
- As a result of favourable meteorological/ weather conditions coupled with consistent, comprehensive and concerted efforts by Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) and various stakeholders to control air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR), Delhi recorded maximum number of ‘Good to Moderate’ air quality days in April, 2024 as compared to the corresponding period of last 06 years starting from 2018 (except 2020 – the year of lockdown due to covid), denoting a marked improvement. The number of days with ‘Good to Moderate’ air quality in Delhi during April, 2024 were 23 as against 17 in 2023; 0 in 2022; 18 in 2021; 30 in 2020; 12 in 2019; and 08 in 2018.
- Keeping ‘Poor to Severe’ air quality days under control, during April 2024, Delhi experienced only 07 days with AQI > 200, as per the CPCB data. Number of days with AQI > 200 were 13 in 2023, 30 in 2022, 12 in 2021, 18 in 2019 and 22 in 2018.
- The average AQI for Delhi during this period also remained in Moderate AQI category i.e. below 200. During April, 2024 Delhi experienced its second lowest monthly average Air Quality Index (AQI) as compared to the corresponding month of April for the last 06-year period from 2018 (barring 2020 – the year of lockdown due to covid). Month-wise daily average AQI in Delhi for April was 182 in 2024, 180 in 2023, 255 in 2022, 202 in 2021, 110 in 2020, 211 in 2019, and 222 in 2018.
- Considering the daily average PM5 and PM10concentration levels, the 30 days period of April in 2024 also witnessed significant reduction in daily average PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations as compared to the corresponding period in the previous years.
- CAQM is working closely with various stakeholders concerned to take effective measures for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and to improve the overall air quality in NCR.
Article 31C: Why the SC is deciding if a fundamental right still exists in a case about private property?
What is this article, which was introduced in the constitution through an amendment in 1971? What legal complications followed?
- While hearing a case to decide whether the government can acquire and redistribute private property, a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Courthas chosen to address the question: does Article 31C still exist?
Article 31C protects laws enacted to ensure the “material resources of the community” are distributed to serve the common good (Article 39(b)) and that wealth and the means of production are not “concentrated” to the “common detriment” (Article 39(c)).
Article 39 of the Constitution lists certain directive principles of state policy, which are meant to be guiding principles for the enactment of laws, but are not directly enforceable in any court of law.
As per Article 31C, these particular directive principles (Articles 39(b) and 39(c)) cannot be challenged by invoking the right to equality (Article 14) or the rights under Article 19 (freedom of speech, right to assemble peacefully, etc).
Article 31C:
- About: It protects laws enacted to ensure the “material resources of the community” are distributed to serve the common good (Article 39(b)) and that wealth and the means of production are not “concentrated” to the “common detriment” (Article 39(c)).
- As per Article 31C, these directive principles (Articles 39(b) and 39(c)) cannot be challenged by invoking the right to equality (Article 14) or the rights under Article 19 (freedom of speech, right to assemble peacefully, etc).
- Article 39 of the Constitution: It lists certain directive principles of state policy, which are meant to be guiding principles for the enactment of laws, but are not directly enforceable in any court of law.
- Introduction of Article 31C: Article 31C was introduced by the Constitution (Twenty-fifth) Amendment Act, 1971.
- The Statement of Objects and Reasons for the amendment mentioned the “Bank Nationalization Case” (Rustom Cavasjee Cooper vs Union Of India, 1970).
- In this case, the Supreme Court stopped the Centre from acquiring control of 14 commercial banks by enacting The Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1969.
- The court held that the ‘right to compensation’ was not appropriately ensured by the Banking Act.
- Invalidation of Act by Supreme Court Bench: An eleven-judge Bench struck the Act down by referring to the now-repealed Article 31(2).
- As per Article 31(2), the government could not acquire any property for public purposes under any law unless the law fixes compensation for the property, or specifies the principles on which compensation will be based.
The Journey of Article 31C:
- Challenges to 25CAA: The 25th amendment was challenged in the Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) which held that the Constitution has a “basic structure” that cannot be altered, even by a constitutional amendment.
- As a part of this verdict, the court struck down the last portion of Article 31C which states “no law containing a declaration that it is for giving effect to such policy shall be called in question in any court on the ground that it does not give effect to such policy”.
- This allowed the court to scrutinize legislations enacted to advance Articles 39(b) and 39(c), assessing whether these laws genuinely aligned with the principles advocated in these provisions.
- The Constitution (Forty-second) Amendment Act: It was enacted in 1976, which expanded the protection under Article 31C to “all or any of the principles laid down in Part IV of the Constitution”, under clause 4.
- As a result, every single directive principle (Articles 36-51) was protected from challenges under Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution.
- Reasons for the amendment stated that it was meant to give precedence to the directive principles “over those fundamental rights which have been allowed to be relied upon to frustrate socio-economic reforms for implementing the directive principles”.
- Minerva Mills v. Union of India,1980: In this case, the SC struck down clauses 4 and 5 of the amendment.
- The five-judge Bench held that Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution was limited, and it could not be used to remove these limitations and grant itself “unlimited” and “absolute” powers of amendment.
- Dilemma that needs to be resolved: Did the court’s annulment of a portion of the 25th Amendment effectively nullify Article 31C in its entirety?
- Did it reinstate the post-Kesavananda Bharati stance where Articles 39(b) and (c) remained safeguarded?
The Ongoing Case in SC:
- Challenge to MHADA: The court is hearing a challenge to Chapter VIII-A of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Act, 1976 (MHADA).
- This chapter, introduced by an amendment in 1986, allows the government to acquire “cessed” properties (old, dilapidated buildings) in Mumbai at the request of the occupants, citing the obligation under Article 39(b).
- Occupants of cessed properties that house poor tenants despite becoming increasingly unsafe are required to pay a cess to the Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board which oversees repair and restoration projects.
- Challenge to 1986 Amendment: In 1991, the Property Owners’ Association in Mumbai challenged the 1986 amendment at the Bombay High Court.
- However, the Bombay High Court upheld the amendment, citing the protection granted by Article 31C to laws enacted in furtherance of Article 39(b).
- This decision was appealed at the SC in December 1992, where the question eventually became whether “material resources of the community” under Article 39(b) included private resources such as cessed properties.
Various Arguments in SC:
- Status of the Original Article 31C after the 42nd Amendment: It has been argued that the original version of Article 31C was ‘substituted’ with the expanded version provided in the 42nd Amendment.
- This means the older version ceased to exist once the Amendment came into force. Therefore, when this new Article 31C was struck down in Minerva Mills, the older provision would not automatically be revived.
- Application of the Doctrine of Revival: The doctrine of revival must apply in this case, and the post-Kesavananda Bharati position on Article 31C must be restored.
- To explain the doctrine and justify its application, observations in the case where the court struck down the Constitution (Ninety-ninth) Amendment Act have been relied upon.
- The old collegium system for judge appointments would be revived once the 99th amendment was struck down.
- 99th Amendment introduced the National Judicial Appointments Commission.
- Automatic Revival of Pre-Amendment Provisions: If the process of substitution and insertion through a constitutional amendment is deemed invalid, the provisions existing before the amendment automatically resurface and regain validity.
- This inference stands as a reasonable conclusion.
Critical Minerals Summit Concludes on a note of Strategic Collaboration and Policy Insights to Advance India’s Critical Mineral Agenda
- The ‘Critical Minerals Summit: Enhancing Beneficiation and Processing Capabilities’ concluded today in New Delhi on a note of strategic collaboration and policy insights, marking significant strides towards India’s critical minerals objectives.
- The summit was organised by the Ministry of Mines in collaboration with the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (Shakti), Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), and Indian Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD).
- On the second and final day of the summit, panel discussion on policy incentives and the benefits of investing in India showcased a robust dialogue among stakeholders. Invest India presented the Critical Mineral Processing – opportunity in India, shedding light on fiscal and non-fiscal incentives available in the country.
- Leading mining states such as Odisha and Andhra Pradesh shared incentives provided by these states for the industry, underlining the nation’s growth trajectory and state-level interventions to foster enabling infrastructure.
- Emphasis was placed on a cluster-based approach to promote synergies in mineral extraction, refining and end-use, particularly in low-carbon technologies. The discussion underscored the importance of regulatory certainty, financing frameworks and ESG standards to attract investors.
- Panellists highlighted facilitation services offered by organizations like Invest India and the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL), facilitating the establishment of processing and beneficiation capabilities in India.
- Veena Kumari Dermal, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, delivered the closing remarks, encapsulating the summit’s key takeaways and future directions. She emphasized both domestic and international efforts to secure the critical mineral supply chain, enhance skill development in India and focus on critical minerals recycling.
- Dermal highlighted India’s available processing technologies for these minerals and referenced amendments to offshore mining regulations.
- The objective of the Summit was to equip government and industry stakeholders with the knowledge, connections and tools necessary to accelerate the domestic production of Critical Minerals, supporting India’s economic growth and sustainability objectives.
- The Summit served as a platform for transformative dialogue and collaboration, setting the stage for further conversations for short listing the steps required to be taken for India’s emergence as a global leader in critical mineral sector.
Sierra Madre, an old ship fuelling China-Philippines tensions in South China Sea?
In 1999, the Sierra Madre was left on the Second Thomas Shoal, which is a part of the mostly uninhabited Spratly islands in the South China Sea. China has demanded the ship’s removal in the past – something the Philippines has rejected.
- According to recent analysis by the Washington Post, Chinese coast guard and militia ships have frequently surrounded and collided with Philippine resupply vessels.
- China’s Increased Ship Deployment: China heightened the deployment of its ships and aimed water cannons at Filipino boats during supply missions to the Sierra Madre.
Sierra Madre
- Landing Ship: It was constructed in the US for World War II (1939-45), commissioned in 1944 as a landing ship and sent to Vietnam during the US participation in the Vietnam War (1954-75).
- In 1976, it was transferred to the Philippines, an ally of the US. In 1999, it was left on the Second Thomas Shoal, part of the mostly uninhabited Spratly islands.
- Philippines’ Strategic Moves: The Philippines, then brought this ship to the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef located in the South China Sea to further its territorial claims.
- Since then, the Philippines has sent smaller boats to the ship for repairs, and sending supplies to the crew onboard.
- Mischief Reef Dispute: China laid claims on the nearby Mischief Reef and has since demanded the ship’s removal which the Philippines has rejected.
- Challenge for Philippines: Today, the ship is largely dilapidated and rusting. However, for the Philippines, its removal would risk weakening its claims over the islands and Chinese presence being established.
Battle over Spratly Islands:
- Overlapping Claims in the South China Sea: Countries in the region have extended overlapping claims on the South China Sea, claiming ownership over its islands such as the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands.
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ):
- An EEZ is an area of the ocean extending 200 nautical miles (370 km)beyond a nation’s territorial sea (12 nautical miles or 12 miles from the coast).
- Within this area, a coastal nation has jurisdiction over both living and non-living resources, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- Along with issues over sovereignty,the rich oil and gas reserves in the region and its rich fishing waters have also encouraged countries to lay their claims.
- China claims nearly 90% of the South China Sea.
- The Hague Tribunal’s Ruling: In 2016, an international tribunal in the Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines citing China’s actions in the dispute.
- The Tribunal declared that certain sea areas are within the EEZ of the Philippines because any possible entitlement of China does not overlap those areas”. The tribunal highlighted:
- China’s construction of artificial islands equipped with helipads caused irreversible damage to the marine environment
- establishing a significant artificial island within the Philippines’ EEZ
- It had eliminated evidence of the natural state of features in the South China Sea that were part of the dispute between the parties.
- China rejected the ruling.
US Response:
- S. Support for the Philippines: US voiced its support to the Philippines which is an important strategic ally.
- S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, 1951: As per this, an armed attack in the Pacific Area on either of the Partieswould be dangerous to its own peace and safety.
- Moreover, each party agrees that it will act to meet the common dangersin accordance with its constitutional processes.
- In May 2023, the two countries agreed on new guidelines under the treaty.
- US stated that the guidelines reconfirm that a military assault in the Pacific, encompassing the SCS would trigger mutual defense obligations under Articles IV and V of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.”
The poultry industry needs urgent reforms
India’s environmental laws and regulations must reflect what the public health crisis is showing us: that animal welfare is closely interlinked with public health, ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation
The poultry industry in India:
In light of the public health crisis brought by the current outbreak of H5N1 and the climate emergency, it is crucial for addressing the challenges in the poultry industry and bringing about necessary reforms, so as to cater to the One Health Principle.
The poultry industry in India:
- Poultry refers to domesticated birds raised for various purposes, primarily for their meat and eggs.
- Some common types of poultry include chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and quails. It is one of the fastest-growing agricultural sub-sectors.
- India is currently the world’s third-largest producer of poultry meat and eggs, with an annual production of over 4.78 million tons of chicken and 129.6 billion eggs.
- The total poultry feed production in the country stands at 27M MT/year in 2022.
- Growth Rate: The poultry meat sector in India has been growing at an annual average growth rate of 8%, with egg production increasing by 7.45 % between 2014-15 to 2021-22.
- The India poultry market size reached INR 2,099.2 billion in 2023, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9% during 2024-2032.
- Top 5 egg producing States: Andhra Pradesh (20.13%), Tamil Nadu (15.58%), Telangana (12.77%), West Bengal (9.93%) and Karnataka (6.51%).
Challenges with regard to the poultry Industry:
- Contaminated environments: They are a result of cramming chickens in battery cages in high densities in unsanitary conditions resulting in air quality and waste problem due to the odour, particulate matter, and other greenhouse gas emissions.
- The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has classified poultry units with more than 5,000 birds as a polluting industry requiring compliance and regulatory consent to establish and operate.
- Cruel Treatment: The operational activities at these industrial facilities cause unnecessary pain and suffering to the animals because of mutilation, starvation, thirst, overcrowding, and other ill-treatment.
- Keeping animals in intensive confinement constitutes a crime under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
- Industrial Constraints:The Poultry Industry is subject to large debts, informal facilities, contract farming, requires a very specialized skill set resulting in farmers finding themselves in huge losses and unable to exit the market. The farmers suffer due to market volatility and the prevalent practices pushed by industry giants.
- Use of Antibiotics: They are regularly given to birds as a prophylactic and growth promoter to maximize production and profit.
- Antibiotics for preventative use: Antibiotics classified as critically important by the WHO are also widely sold to farmers and is prescribed to day-old chicks to reduce the likelihood of disease and mortality.
- Unsanitary conditions: The unsafe and unhygienic conditions in which the farms operate have a detrimental effect on the health of animals and the welfare of the consumers too.
- The workers at these facilities and the people residing in the vicinity are also unduly impacted.
- Waste generated:Poultry Industry generates waste in the form of emissions in the atmosphere (methane and CO2), effluents in the water systems, and solid wastes in the soil.
- Inefficient Waste Disposal Mechanism: The amount of piled-up manure (faecal matter collected periodically by local farmers for use as fertilizer) exceeds the carrying capacity of the land and becomes a pollutant.
- Breeding ground for disease:The piles of waste become a breeding ground for disease vectors such as flies and mosquitoes which spread in the nearby areas spreading diseases. Residents are compelled to adopt measures such as spraying insecticides inside homes, leading to breathlessness and a nauseating smell.
Key Government Initiatives:
- Mega Food Park Scheme:42 mega food parks (35 approved) are being put up by Ministry of Food Processing Industries with around 1,200 developed plots (of approximately 1 acre each) with basic infrastructure, that entrepreneurs can lease for the setting up of food processing and ancillary units.
- Infrastructure Development:Scheme for Cold Chain, Value addition and Preservation Infrastructure and setting up/modernization of abattoirs (for Government abattoirs)
- Entrepreneurship Development and Employment Generation (EDEG)- Poultry Venture Capital Fund under the National Livestock Mission to improve production of poultry and productivity of processing units through technology upgradation.
- Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD): It will have activities for vaccination against economically important diseases of livestock and backyard poultry duly prioritized by the State/UT as per the disease prevalence and losses to the farmers.
Fiscal Initiatives:
- 100% FDI permitted through automatic route in food processing sector.
- 100% income tax exemption available to new food processing, preservation and packaging units for the first 5 years of operation, and at the rate of 25%-30% thereafter.
Opportunities in Poultry Sector:
- Technology upgradation: Farm Automation, modernisation of abattoirs, improved logistics channel, processing and point of sale cold storage infrastructure are the upcoming opportunities given the changing preference of Indian consumers for clean, safe and hygienic meat.
- New products: value added products like frozen/chilled products, RTC/RTE, Indian ethnic products/snacks, Egg powder plants etc.
- New feed formulations and manufacturing
- Hatcheries
- New veterinary technology/services
- Food testing labs
Path to Reform:
- To meet the 269th Law Commission of India Report 2017 Guidelines: It laid down certain guidelines as per existing laws and international best practices for animal care, waste management, and antibiotic use, among others.
- It contained evidence that non-therapeutic antibiotics given to poultry cause antibiotic resistance since living conditions are unhygienic.
- It further said that with more open, cleaner, and ventilated living spaces, animals are less likely to need constant antibiotics, making their eggs and meat safer for consumption.
- Environmental Regulations: Strict oversight for compliance and enforcement of environmental regulations is necessary given the CPCB’s reclassification of the poultry industry as a highly polluting ‘orange category’ industry.
- Focus on One Health & Nutrition: Consumer awareness of the nutritional benefits of poultry products and also its antibiotic-free status needs to be heightened to secure responsibly sourced, high-quality protein.
- Emphasis on Biosecurity & Feed Hygiene: Biosecurity measures and feed hygiene play a pivotal role in preventing diseases, ensuring optimal growth, and ultimately safeguarding the sustainability of the poultry industry.
- Feed Milling & Quality of Feed: The poultry industry increasingly recognizes the importance of pellet durability, optimizing throughput, minimizing energy consumption, good steam quality, proper water activity, and moisture optimization processes to improve feed quality.
H5N1 virus (Bird flu)
- About: H5N1 is a sub type of The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (HPAIV) of Type A, it causes serious illness in birds resulting in deaths.
- H5N1 viruses can circulate in humans, wild water birds, domestic poultry, swine, horses, dogs and bats and most recently found in polar bears in the Arctic and seals and seagulls in Antarctica.
- The First case: H5N1 infection was first reported from Hong Kong in 1997, whereby it was transmitted to humans via chicken. In India, the first H5N1 patient was reported in Maharashtra in 2006.
- A worldwide outbreak was reported in December 2020 and early 2021, India reported infections spread across 15 States.
- Transmission: It can transmit through migratory wild birds.The main risk factor for transmission from birds to humans is direct or indirect contact with infected animals or with environments and surfaces contaminated by feces.
- Mortality rate: The WHO has estimated the fatality rate for H5N1 in humans at 52%, based on the 463 deaths recorded since 2003 among the 888 people diagnosed with the virus.
Salmonella
The United States has reportedly refused almost a third of shipments from Mahashian Di Hatti Pvt Ltd (MDH) since October 2023 due to salmonella contamination.
Salmonella:
- Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis.
- It naturally lives in animals’ intestines and can be found in their feces (poop).
- The bacteria then spread to humans if they come in contact with salmonella-infected animals or items in their environment.
- It is a ubiquitous and hardy BACTERIA that can survive several weeks in a dry environment and several months in water.
Risks associated with Salmonella
- People infected with Salmonella might have diarrhea, fever, and stomach Some people—especially children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 years and older.
- People with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illness that requires medical treatment or hospitalization.