GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

The global economy, despite facing unprecedented shocks, has exhibited remarkable resilience, with inflation waning and economies performing better than anticipated. However, amidst this positive outlook, the plight of the 75 poorest and most vulnerable economies, eligible for grants and low-interest loans from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), remains largely unnoticed.

Challenges Faced by IDA Countries:

• Economic Reversal: IDA countries, home to a quarter of humanity, are experiencing a historic economic reversal amidst overlapping crises, pre-pandemic vulnerabilities, and wider issues such as climate change and conflict. By the end of 2024, these countries are expected to have witnessed the weakest half-decade of growth since the early 1990s.
• Income Convergence Stagnation: Despite global growth trends, income convergence relative to advanced economies has stalled, and one in three IDA countries is now poorer than before the pandemic. Extreme poverty rates are eight times higher in these nations, and half are either in debt distress or at high risk.
• External Challenges: Rising conflict and violence, coupled with escalating investment needs to address climate change vulnerabilities, exacerbate the challenges facing IDA countries. Stagnant growth projections highlight the risk of prolonged economic stagnation.

Unlocking Potential through Investment:

• Harnessing Demographic Dividends: With growing working-age populations and significant natural resource endowments, IDA countries possess untapped potential. Effective management of resources and investments in healthcare and education are vital to capitalize on demographic dividends.
• Fostering Stability and Growth: Investment growth in IDA countries has been weak, necessitating comprehensive policy reform packages to enhance fiscal stability, macroeconomic resilience, and structural reforms. Both public and private investments, coupled with quality infrastructure, are imperative for sustainable growth.
• International Cooperation: Enhanced international financing and cooperation are essential to complement IDA countries’ policy efforts. Addressing global challenges such as climate change, trade, debt restructuring, food insecurity, and conflict resolution is crucial for fostering an enabling environment for IDA countries to thrive.

Investment in IDA countries is not only a matter of economic development but also a global imperative for long-term peace and prosperity. By addressing their economic challenges, harnessing demographic dividends, and fostering international cooperation, these nations can unlock their potential and contribute to global objectives. It is imperative for the global community to prioritize support for IDA countries, ensuring a brighter future for all.

India’s gaming industry has exhibited a rise in development in their games and content creation targeted to the local preferences and culture sensibilities of the Indian market.

1: Dimension- Mobile Gaming Dominance:

• India has become a game changer in the global gaming landscape. It recently surpassed China as the primary consumer of mobile games.
• The Indian gaming market is currently 2.5 times larger than China and three times larger than the United States.
• This surge is attributed to the rising number of youth engaging with games and the widespread availability of affordable mobile data.
• Key drivers of Gaming Industry in India: Smartphone penetration, affordable internet, young demography of India, introduction of new games with a shorter learning curve.

2: Dimension- Impact on economy

• Positive impact on economy: High Revenue generation, boost in start-ups since pandemic, help people to build a professional career and build skills, employment generation, increasing peer-to peer bonds.
• Negative impact on economy: 'Internet Gaming Disorder' due to addiction to online gaming, societal concerns, tax evasions (most apps operate from outside the country), lack of regulations, absence of framework

3: Dimension- Measures to shape trajectory of online gaming

• Digital India: The Indian government’s vision of “Digital India” has catalyzed the gaming industry.
• Inter-Ministerial Task Force (IMTF): The IMTF aims to recommend universal, national-level legislation for regulating online gaming.
• Affordable Mobile Data: India boasts affordable and decent mobile data compared to other countries.

The Naxalite–Maoist insurgency in India is an ongoing conflict between Maoist groups known as Naxalites or Naxals and the Indian government.

1: Dimension- Origin and Ideology:

• Naxalism represents both a socio-economic issue and a law and order problem.
• Naxals are far-left radical communists who support Maoist political sentiment and ideology.
• Their followers primarily include Adivasis, Dalits, and the poorest of the poor—often landless laborers working below India’s mandated minimum wages.
• Impacted region: Naxalism is concentrated in Eastern India, particularly an area known as the Red Corridor spread across the states of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Some districts of Kerala, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, etc. are also impacted by Naxalism.

2: Dimension- Causes of Naxalism

• Development deficit: Evasion of land ceiling laws by politically and economically stronger classes, Encroachment and occupation of Government and community lands, Disruption of the age-old tribal-forest relationship
• Social exclusion: Unemployment and Poverty, Infrastructure deficit, Lack of education and Poor health facilities
• Governance deficit: Violation of human rights, Abuse of dignity of life, Disconnect with mainstream society, Discontent against government
• Exploitative Deficit: Incompetent, ill-trained, and poorly motivated public personnel, Mismanagement and corruption, Poor implementation of laws and schemes

3: Dimension- Challenges and Criticisms:

• Inefficient Service Delivery: Naxal-affected areas remain deprived of basic services, justice delivery, and community participation among others.
• Lack of coordination: States have not done satisfactorily in joining hands. This lack of coordination between State police and Central forces results in security voids which are exploited by the Naxals.
• Inability to maintain created infrastructure- It hampers the trust of locals and disrupts channels of communication for security forces.
• Inability to curb sources of financing for Naxals – Demonetisation also proved to be insufficient.
• Inadequate use of Technology-The use of drones, ground sensors, smart guns, AI, etc. has been inadequate in Naxal areas.

As per a recent study published in India Meteorological Department (IMD) journal Mausam, the quantity of solar radiation available that can be economically converted by solar panels to electricity is showing an “alarming decreasing trend” in several locations in India.

Solar Radiation Trends (Key-findings)

• Study base: The study investigates global radiation (GR), diffuse radiation (DR), bright sunshine hours (BHS), and the technical potential of solar power (Solar Photovoltaic potential (SPV)) using in-situ data collected by the India Meteorological Department from 1985 to 2019.
  • GR is high over the northwest and inland areas of peninsular India, while DR is high over coastal stations and extreme northern parts of the country.
  • BHS is more pronounced in northwest India but less in the north, northeast, and southern peninsular regions.
  • India’s SPV potential ranges from 1800 to 3400 W/m², exhibiting substantial regional variations. High SPV potential is observed in the northwest regions and southern peninsular India.
• However, there’s an alarming trend: GR and BHS have a significant decreasing trend across most parts of India. The rate of decrease has weakened in the recent decade.
• The technical potential of solar power has also shown a significant decreasing trend in most selected stations, emphasizing the need for more efficient solar panels to meet energy requirements from solar resources.

Challenges and Solutions:

• Increased aerosol load (fine particles from carbon emissions, fossil fuel burning, and dust) and clouding contribute to the declining solar radiation.
• Aerosols absorb sunlight and deflect it away from the ground, while dense clouds block sunlight.
• Installing more efficient solar panels can mitigate the impact of reduced solar radiation.

In Bengaluru, an extraordinary celestial phenomenon known as “Zero Shadow Day” recently captivated observers.

About

• During this event, the sun’s rays create minimal shadows, effectively turning the world into a place without shadows and filling the sky with light.
• This rare occurrence happens twice a year in regions situated between +23.5 and -23.5 degrees latitude.
• On Zero Shadow Day, the sun stands directly overhead at noon, causing shadows to vanish.
• The Astronomical Society of India (ASI) explains that when the sun is precisely overhead, it does not cast a shadow on any surface.
• It’s a fascinating moment when the natural world seems to defy its usual patterns.

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of microbial life thriving 13 feet below the parched surface of Chile's Atacama Desert, representing the deepest known microbial community found in the region.

Key Highlights:

• The newly uncovered microbial world is nestled beneath the arid terrain of the Atacama Desert's Yungay Valley.
• It presents an unprecedented finding and could offer valuable insights into the search for life on Mars.
• Previously, microbial life had been observed at depths of up to 2.6 feet (80 centimeters) in the Atacama Desert. However, the newly discovered biosphere in the Yungay Valley lies entirely isolated from the surface, making it a unique and significant discovery.
• This hidden microbial community occupies soils ranging from 6.6 feet to at least 13 feet deep, predominantly comprising Actinobacteria—a diverse group of bacteria known to inhabit extreme environments such as Arctic regions, hot springs, and saline environments.

About Atacama Desert:

• Situated in the Yungay Valley, the Atacama Desert stands as one of the most arid regions on Earth, located on the Tropic of Capricorn in northern
• The desert is characterized by its extreme dryness, with only one river from the Andes mountains managing to reach the ocean through this barren landscape.
• As the driest hot desert globally, the Atacama receives abundant sunshine comparable to that of Venus.
• While its harsh conditions support only a handful of resilient animal species, including Darwin's leaf-eared mouse and the South American gray fox, certain bacteria thrive in the desert's saline and mineral-rich soils.

In a significant move for India's biosciences research and innovation ecosystem, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Blockchain for Impact (BFI), to join its BFI-Biome Virtual Network Programme.

Key-highlights:

• The BFI-Biome Virtual Network Programme is a pioneer initiative uniting incubators and research institutes under a single umbrella.
• Aim: This collaboration aims to enhance the impact of transformative scientific advances on key healthcare challenges in India by joining the BFI-Biome Virtual Network.
• The collaboration between C-CAMP and BFI signifies a concerted effort to revolutionize healthcare delivery in India and the global south.
• Over the course of three years, BFI will allocate over USD 200,000 to develop essential programmes for healthcare-based startups, leveraging C-CAMP's expertise in deep science research and innovation.

The food department in Tamil Nadu has appealed to the denizens not to consume  nitrogen-based smoke biscuits or smoke paan or other related products.

About Liquid Nitrogen

• Liquid nitrogen is essentially nitrogen in a liquid state, achieved by cooling it to an extremely low temperature of -196°C.
• It finds various uses: Coolant for Computers, Medical Applications, Cryogenics Research
• Hazards and Safety Measures:
• Frostbite and Cryogenic Burns: Liquid nitrogen is intensely cold and can cause frostbite or cryogenic burns if not handled properly.
• Asphyxiation Risk: In confined spaces, using or spilling liquid nitrogen can lead to asphyxiation. It’s colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Marrakesh Agreement, a pivotal moment in global trade history.

About Marrakesh Agreement

• Formally established by the Final Act of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, the Marrakesh Agreement laid the foundation for the creation of the WTO.
• On April 15, 1994, the Marrakesh Agreement was signed by 123 countries, paving the way for the establishment of the WTO on January 1, 1995.
• Over the past three decades, the WTO has played a crucial role in facilitating a significant expansion in global trade, aiming to enhance living standards, bolster employment opportunities, and foster sustainable development.

The Supreme Court's exercise of Curative Jurisdiction in the DMRC vs DAMEPL case has sparked debate over the Court's role in correcting its own judgments.

The Power of Curative Jurisdiction

• Origin: The Supreme Court gained the power of Curative Jurisdiction in 2002, allowing it to rectify its judgments even after they have become final.
• Reversal benefit: Unlike the power of review, Curative Jurisdiction enables the Court to reverse its own decisions, going beyond mere rectification of errors apparent on the record.
• Undermined authority: This jurisdiction challenges the traditional understanding of judicial review and underscores the Court's authority to correct perceived injustices.

The Delhi Metro Rail Judgment

• Ground: In the DMRC vs DAMEPL case, the Supreme Court set aside an arbitral award for the first time ever, citing grounds of perverse interpretation and ignored evidence.
• Questionable consistency: The exercise of Curative Jurisdiction led the Court to overturn its own earlier verdict, questioning the consistency and reliability of judicial decisions.
• Challenges and Implications: While correcting errors is essential, an institution like SC, tasked with shaping legal principles, should prioritize consistency and coherence. The fluctuation in judicial decisions erodes public trust in the Court's authority and undermines its role as the guardian of law and justice.

Mains Question:

Discuss the significance and implications of the Supreme Court's exercise of Curative Jurisdiction, citing the DMRC vs DAMEPL case as an example. Assess the challenges posed by the Court's reversal of its own judgments and its impact on the stability of legal principles in India.

The Supreme Court's rejection of the demand for 100% verification of the paper trail left by votes cast through electronic voting machines (EVMs) has sparked debate over the integrity of the electoral process.

Upholding Integrity of Electoral Process

• The Supreme Court's rejection reaffirms its faith in the integrity of the electoral process, particularly with the introduction of the voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) system.
• Vote accuracy: Previous rulings by the Court have emphasized the indispensability of a paper trail for ensuring free and fair elections, highlighting the importance of addressing voter apprehensions regarding vote accuracy.
• No interference: Despite demands for increased verification, the Court has consistently declined to interfere with the existing system, citing administrative and technical safeguards that mitigate concerns of tampering.

Technological Advancements and Transparency

• Concerns: The introduction of the VVPAT system aimed to enhance transparency and address voter suspicions, but the extent of verification remains contentious, raising questions about the Election Commission of India's impartiality.
• Ensuring technological advancements in the verification process is crucial to bolstering public confidence in the electoral system and mitigating apprehensions of manipulation.
• Election Watchdog Impartiality: The increasing level of mistrust in the election watchdog underscores the need for transparent and accountable measures to address apprehensions of manipulation and ensure the integrity of elections.

Mains Question:

Discuss the need for balance between technological advancements in verification methods and the imperative of maintaining the impartiality of the Election Commission of India in ensuring free and fair elections.

The discovery of high sugar content in Nestlé's baby food products sold in India has raised concerns about the global food industry's practices and their impact on public health.

Dubious Practices and Consumer Awareness

• Contrast: Nestlé's baby food brands sold in India were found to contain high levels of added sugar and honey, contrasting with sugar-free options available in European markets.
• Public health concerns: The disparity in sugar content between products marketed in low-income and middle-income countries versus those sold in developed nations underscores the industry's disregard for public health concerns.
• Consumer awareness plays a pivotal role in driving industry practices, as informed individuals demand nutritious alternatives and accurate information about ingredients in food products. 

Health Implications and Regulatory Oversight

• High sugar consumption in infancy poses risks such as tooth decay and poor nutrient intake, as sugary foods often replace healthier options in children's diets.
• Guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) advocate against added sugars in food for children under three, emphasizing the importance of stringent regulatory oversight.
• Strengthening enforcement strategies by food regulators is imperative to ensure compliance with health guidelines and protect consumers from harmful dietary practices.

Mains Question:

Analyze the role of consumer awareness in driving food industry practices and the importance of multinational corporations adhering to global dietary guidelines to ensure nutritional integrity.