UPSC Key— 12th April, 2024: Chital in Andamans, Swiss summit, first Lok Sabha election and more

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology and biodiversity.

Mains Examination: GS III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story- The management of Ross Island, also known as the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, has asked the Wildlife Institute of India for assistance in managing the vast number of chital (spotted deer) on the island.

Note: In this article, the abbreviation ‘IAS’ is used for invasive alien species.

Prerequisites: 

— What is Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)?

— What are invasive species?

— Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

— Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island (Map work)

— What is IPBES?

Key takeaways: 

— Chital is native to mainland India. They were introduced to the tiny island by the British in the early 20th century. The chitals don’t have natural predators or competitors, and being good swimmers.

Invasive alien species

— The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines invasive alien species (IAS) as “species whose introduction and/or spread outside their natural past or present distribution threatens biological diversity”. These include animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms, and can influence all kinds of ecosystems.

— The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (amended in 2022) defines ‘IAS’ as “species of animal or plant which is not native to India, and whose introduction or spread may threaten or adversely impact wildlife or its habitat.”

How do ‘IAS’ impact native species?

Ecological & Economical impacts

— According to K Sivakumar, a professor in the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University, the invasive species act as disruptors in the food chain and disturb the balance of the ecosystem.

— For instance, “in Keoladeo Park, Bharatpur in Rajasthan, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, the African catfish has been known to prey on water fowls and migratory birds as well.”

— The proliferation of chital in the Andamans has affected the regeneration of native vegetation, as the deer are known to consume seeds and seedlings.

— In September 2023, Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) brought out an exhaustive report on invasive species which showed that around 37,000 established alien species were introduced worldwide, with roughly 200 new alien species introduced each year.

— For example, as per India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan of 2019, published by the National Biodiversity Authority, the cotton mealy bug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) is an invasive species native to North America, which has severely affected cotton crops in the Deccan, leading to yield losses.

For Your Information: 

The IPBES report said that invasive alien species are one of the five major direct drivers of biodiversity loss globally, alongside land and sea use change, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, and pollution.

The water hyacinth is the world’s most widespread invasive alien species on land. Lantana, a flowering shrub, and the black rat are the second and third most widespread globally. The brown rat and the house mouse are also widespread invasive alien species.

The reduction of food supply, has been cited by the report as the most common impact of alien invasive species. For example the European shore crab impacting commercial shellfish beds in New England or the Caribbean false mussel damaging locally important fishery resources in Kerala, by wiping out native clams and oysters. The Caribbean false mussel was originally from the Atlantic and Pacific coast of South and Central America, but are believed to have travelled to India via ships, later spreading to estuaries through smaller fishing vessels.

Invasive alien species like Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegyptii spread diseases such as malaria, Zika and West Nile Fever, while others also have an impact on livelihood such as the water hyacinth in Lake Victoria in East Africa led to the depletion of tilapia, impacting local fisheries.

Facts about chital

— It is a herbivore animal.

— They are found in deciduous or semi evergreen forests and open grasslands.

— It is protected under Schedule-III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Examples of invasive wildlife in India

— African catfish

— Nile tilapia

— Red-bellied piranha

— Alligator gar

— Red-eared slider (turtle species)

Points to Ponder: 

— IUCN status of chital

— Habitat of chital

— Who can permit translocation of animals for the purpose of scientific management?

— Why is Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework important?

— Other important islands of Andaman and Nicobar.

— By the way: Why is Andaman and Nicobar also in news due to Defence/International Relations ?

Post Read Question:

With reference to the chital, consider the following statements:

1. They are primarily grazers and feed on short grasses.
2. They are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
3. They are found only in grasslands.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

How biodiversity loss jeopardises human health

As abundant chital cost authorities dearly, a tiny Andaman island struggles to keep up

Biodiversity loss: 37,000 ‘alien species’ introduced by human activities, says report

 

Why Kerala BJP chief wants Sulthan Bathery renamed

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History of India

Mains Examination: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues.

What’s the ongoing story- The BJP president of Kerala, K Surendran said the renaming of Sulthan Bathery in Kerala’s Wayanad district is “inevitable”.  He said, “Sulthan Bathery should be renamed as Ganapathyvattam. This is not the land of Tipu Sultan who massacred Hindus and Christians. Congress and CPM want the place to be known after a criminal (Tipu).”

Prerequisites: 

— Vijayanagar architecture

— Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali

— Location of Ganapathyvattam

— Malabar region

Key takeaways: 

— One of the three municipal towns in Wayanad, along with Mananthavady and Kalpetta, is Sulthan Bathery. It is home to a stone temple that was formerly known as Ganapathyvattam.

— The temple was established by Jains who came to Wayanad from regions in what is now Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the 13th century. It is designed in the dominant Vijayanagara architectural style.

— The temple was partly destroyed during the invasions of Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysuru in the second half of the 18th century.

— It remained abandoned for nearly 150 years. Later, it was taken over by the Archaeological Survey of India, which declared it as a monument of national importance.

For Your Information: 

— Tipu Sultan was born Sultan Fateh Ali Sahab Tipu on November 10, 1750 in Devanahalli, present-day Bangalore. He was born to Hyder Ali, who rose through the ranks of the army of the Wodeyars, the then Hindu rulers of Mysore. Hyder Ali ceased power in 1761 with Tipu succeeding his father in 1782.

— While fighting the British in 1767, Tipu first came in contact with European culture and lifestyle, something that would fascinate him. This fascination would be reflected in his rule of Mysore: Tipu undertook various policies and reforms which would modernise the princely state and go on to become a lasting aspect of his legacy.

— Hyder Ali died in 1782, during a period of conquest and expansion of his realm. Thus, Tipu inherited the throne under trying circumstances, with his primary motivation being to consolidate the territory he had inherited from his father.

— Over the past 20 years, the kingdom of Mysore had slowly expanded by capturing disputed areas at its borders. Tipu inherited rebellious provinces in Malabar, Kodagu, and Bednur, all of which were crucial to Mysore’s strategic and economic interests. His rule in these areas is what is often cited as proof of his bigotry and authoritarianism.

— The Mysuru ruler’s military used Ganapathyvattam as a battery for their ammunition and the town became known as ‘Sultan’s Battery’ in British records.

—Tipu Sultan died defending his fortress of Srirangapatna against British forces in the Fourth Anglo Mysore War in 1799. His forces were heavily outnumbered and his French allies had not been able to come to his aid. 

Points to Ponder: 

— Anglo-Mysore war

— Other important temples of Vijaynagar empire

— Monument of national importance

Post Read Question:

The place ‘Sulthan Bathery’ was recently in the news. It is located in:

(a) Karnataka

(b) Kerala

(c) Tamil Nadu

(d) Gujarat

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Tipu Sultan: How history remembers him, why controversy doesn’t forget him

Kerala BJP chief’s poll priority: Will rename Sulthan Bathery to Ganapathyvattam if elected

 

Adjudicating authority (PMLA)

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance.

Mains Examination: GS II: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

What’s the ongoing story- The Adjudicating Authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) confirmed the attachment of assets worth Rs 751.9 crore belonging to the Congress party-promoted National Herald newspaper.

— The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had provisionally attached these properties in November 2023 in a PMLA case against Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) that publishes National Herald, and Young Indian (YI), that owns the newspaper.

Prerequisites: 

— What is PMLA?

— Enforcement Directorate (ED)- functions

— How to define money laundering?

Key takeaways: 

Role of the Adjudicating Authority

— Section 5 of the PMLA provides for the attachment of any property that is suspected to have been acquired with the proceeds of crime in a case of any offence that is listed in the schedule of the law.

— The attachment order is issued if the ED Director feels that “such proceeds of crime are likely to be concealed, transferred or dealt with in any manner which may result in frustrating any proceedings relating to confiscation of such proceeds of crime”.

— This provisional attachment order is valid for a period of 180 days.

— It must be confirmed within this time by an Adjudicating Authority appointed by the central government, failing which the property is automatically released from attachment.

— The accused may keep using the property while the Adjudicating Authority validates the initial attachment, which is only temporary. Following this, the ED may assert custody of the property.

For Your Information: 

— The accused has the right to challenge the Adjudicating Authority’s confirmation order at the PMLA’s Appellate Tribunal within 45 days.

— If the Appellate Tribunal too confirms the order, the accused can file a plea in the High Court, and so on.

— Following final confirmation, in the instance of a residential property, the ED will ask the owner to remove the premises and his things before taking possession.

— In the event of a conviction, the trial court may order the confiscation of the linked property and deposit the rights in the central government.

—Do you know? With the advent of global terrorism in the 1990s, there was a focus internationally on choking terror financing and the movement of illicit money across borders. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was created in 1989 to coordinate anti-money laundering efforts across the world — and as a member, it was incumbent upon India to do its bit. The PMLA was also enacted in response to the political declaration adopted by the special session of the United Nations General Assembly held on June 8 and 10, 1998, calling on member states to put in place national anti-money laundering legislation.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is Section 45 of the PMLA?

— What is the legal precedent?

— Although the law has been changed multiple times over the years, it was through amendments made in the PMLA in 2009 and 2012 that the ED acquired the powers to take coercive action against politicians. What were these key amendments? 

Post Read Question:

Consider the following statements about the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002:

1. The provisional attachment order is valid for a period of 90 days.
2. The accused cannot use the property while the Adjudicating Authority validates the initial attachment.
3. The accused does not have the right to challenge the Adjudicating Authority’s confirmation order.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

K Kavitha’s bail plea rejected: What court said on PMLA’s bail concession for women

How anti-money laundering law came to have a vast scope, granting police powers to ED

 

Nehru in ‘haste’, a sceptical CEC: 4 yrs after freedom, first election

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History of India and Indian National Movement

Mains Examination: GS I: The Freedom Struggle — its various stages and important contributors/contributions from different parts of the country. Post-independence consolidation and reorganisation within the country.

What’s the ongoing story- India’s first Lok Sabha election, conducted over four months in 1951-52, began the democratic process by which the reins of the newly independent nation were put in the hands of its people.

— Besides the Indian National Congress led by Jawaharlal Nehru, others in the race included the Socialist Party, with Jayaprakash Narayan as one of its leaders; Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party (KMPP) of J B Kripalani; Communist Party of India (CPI); Akhil Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS, the precursor of the BJP); Hindu Maha Sabha (HMS); Karpatri Maharaj’s Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad (RRP); and Tridib Choudhuri’s Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP).

Prerequisites: 

— First Lok Sabha elections

— 1937 elections

— What is multiple-member constituencies?

— What is an adult franchise?

Key takeaways: 

— Few countries had universal adult franchise at the time — the US, for instance, granted all its adult citizens the right to vote only in 1965.

— The office of the Election Commission of India (ECI) was set up on January 25, 1950.

— Sukumar Sen became Chief Election Commissioner on March 21, 1950.

— On April 19 that year, while proposing The Representation of the People Act, India’s election law, Prime Minister Nehru told Parliament that polls would be held in the spring of 1951.

— The polling was finally conducted between December 1951 and February 1952. However, voters in Himachal Pradesh’s Chini and Pangi Assembly constituencies cast their ballots in October 1951, before snow could block them from the rest of India. Voting in the rest of the country commenced on December 10, 1951, with the Thiruvella and Trichur Lok Sabha constituencies of Travancore-Cochin (present-day Kerala) casting the first votes.

— The first election had 1,874 Lok Sabha candidates and 15,361 state Assembly candidates. Kottayam (Travancore-Cochin), Alleppey (Travancore-Cochin), and Gudivada (Madras) saw the highest voter turnouts of 80.5%, 78.1%, and 77.9% respectively.

— The first Lok Sabha also had multiple-member constituencies, a practice that was done away with in the elections of 1962.

For Your Information: 

— The 1937 election in nine ‘Part-A States’ — Assam, Bihar, Bombay, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, Orissa, Punjab, United Provinces and West Bengal — were smaller, with limited franchise based on land ownership, literacy, etc.

— India’s literacy rate in 1951 was only 18.33%.

— The ECI had granted 14 parties the status of ‘national parties’, and designated more than 50 parties as ‘state parties’. But after the elections, only the Congress, Praja Socialist Party (formed with the merger of the Socialist Party and KMPP), CPI, and BJS were able to retain their national party status.

— The Election Commission’s Report on the First General Elections 1951-52 quoted Sen as saying, “Adult suffrage was a remarkable success and proved a potent factor in itself for advancing the political education of an illiterate mass which had little or no background of political experience.”

— Do You Know? The 1920 elections were the starting point for direct elections in India. Until then, the colonial policy was to select a few educated Indians for the legislature and use them to understand the needs of the masses. However, it became difficult to ignore public sentiment on more Indian representation in legislatures. Our colonial administrators responded in 1909 by increasing Indian members through limited elections. A controversial measure was a separate electorate for Muslims.

 The report on Indian Constitutional Reforms 1918 (popularly called the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) highlighted the shortcomings of the 1909 election process. The report noted, “At present electorates of a general character hardly exist. Almost all are designed to represent special classes or interests and consist of very few persons. Those which represent Muhammadans were intended to be fairly inclusive but even those are limited to a few hundred electors.”

— The Montagu-Chelmsford report recommended setting up a national legislature with two Houses. One of the Houses in this law-making body would have members directly elected by the people. The report also suggested setting up legislatures at the state level with elected members. The British Parliament accepted these recommendations and passed the Government of India Act, 1919. Until then, there was no need for a full-scale electoral law. However, with these recommendations coming into effect, lawmakers had to be elected by the people. The government needed an electoral framework to hold the first large-scale elections in our country.

(1920: The start of India’s election journey by Chakshu Roy)

Points to Ponder: 

— Simultaneous elections

— Cabinet ministers in first Lok Sabha elections

— Ballot papers and ballot boxes

— What is voter turnout?

Post Read Question:

Consider the following statements:

1. Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India.
2. India’s literacy rate in 1951 was less than 25 per cent.
3. Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency saw highest voter turnouts in the first general elections.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

History Headline | 1920: The start of India’s election journey

BJP and the idea of simultaneous elections: A short history going back 40 years

 

FRONT PAGE

Ukraine: Swiss plan June meet, Russia presence ‘sooner or later’

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of international importance

Mains Examination: GS II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

What’s the ongoing story- The government of Switzerland announced that it will host a major summit on June 15-16 as a “first step” for lasting peace in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

— More than 100 countries could participate, and India has also been invited, but there remains a question mark over the presence of Russia at the summit.

— According to the Associated Press, the summit will be “following up on a plan laid out in recent months by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis”.

Prerequisites: 

— Map work: Location of Ukraine and Russia and important places in news in Ukraine-Russia region.

— India and Ukraine-Russia war (It’s stand)

Key takeaways: 

— The summit aims to create a common understanding of the framework conducive to this goal and a concrete roadmap for the peace process. By organising this conference, Switzerland is also making an important contribution to greater security and stability in Europe and the world.

— There have been various attempts made for peace since 2022. For instance,  Turkey was able to negotiate the movement of grains from Ukraine through the Black Sea, given Ukraine’s significance as a major producer of wheat and corn, for global trade and food security.

— Ukraine has stated that unless Russian hostilities are ended and Russia relinquishes the regions it captured during the war — reportedly fewer than a fifth of all Ukrainian territory — it will not participate in the peace negotiations.

— Putin, the Russian president, stated that the objective of the military operation was going to be “to protect the people that are subjected to abuse, genocide from the Kiev regime for eight years, and to this end we will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine and put to justice those that committed numerous bloody crimes against peaceful people, including Russian nationals.”

For Your Information: 

From the Explained:

Who is likely to attend the Swiss summit in June?

— Swiss Foreign Minister Cassis said of the proposed summit, “It has to be clear from the start that Russia — sooner or later — has to be there.

— A peace process cannot happen without Russia, even if the country’s leaders were not present for the first meeting.

— Early talks toward arranging the conference involved the European Union and envoys from the so-called Global South, including Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

— India has expressed concerns over the ongoing violence, it has refrained from blaming either side.

Points to Ponder: 

— G7 summit 2024

— What is the 10-point “peace formula”?

Post Read Question:

Consider the following countries:

1. Poland
2. China
3. Georgia
4. Germany

How many of the above countries border Russia?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

What Vladimir Putin wants from the Ukraine War

Explained: The planned summit for ‘lasting peace’ in Ukraine, why Russia’s participation is uncertain

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

A maritime bastion

UPSC Syllabus

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance, History of Modern India

Mains Examination: GS I- History of Modern India, GS III – Security Issues

What’s the ongoing story– Arun Prakash writes: The aftermath of the 1857 War of Independence saw the British establish a penal colony in the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) islands, where many Indian revolutionaries and freedom fighters were incarcerated for life. The dark symbolism of kalapani, as the A&N came to be known, coupled with the remoteness of the islands, led to years of benign neglect by a distant New Delhi. It was only in 1962, when the Indian Navy (IN) raised an alarm about the reported sighting of a Chinese submarine, that the government sanctioned a detachment of 150 sailors to form a “naval garrison” to guard this huge archipelago of 836 islands spread across 450 miles of sea. Against this backdrop, recent reports regarding the government’s heightened security focus on these strategic islands are to be welcomed, especially because in the past, these islands nearly slipped from India’s grasp.

The Central Question: Why are Andaman and Nicobar Islands key to Indo-Pacific security?

Prerequisites:

— What is PLAN, Exclusive economic zone? 

— Brief on Houthi attacks in the Red Sea

— Map work- Red Sea, Malacca Strait, Great Nicobar Island, A&N islands with reference to neighbouring countries and other islands (Indoenesia, Thailand, Malaysia), Indira Point, Port Blair (roughly map its location from Chennai and Kolkata).

For Your Information: 

— With revamped airfields and jetties to additional logistics and storage facilities, habitat for troops to a robust surveillance infrastructure, the strategic Andaman and Nicobar Islands are in the middle of a major military infrastructure upgrade, senior officials familiar with the developments have told The Indian Express.

— The enhanced infrastructure is aimed to facilitate deployment of additional military forces, and facilities for larger and more warships, aircraft, missile batteries and troops.

— The ongoing large-scale construction activities come amid growing Chinese attempts to expand its influence in the region, which includes the construction of a military facility at Myanmar’s Coco Islands lying 55 km north of A&N Islands.

— There are 836 Islands in A&N,  of which only 38 are inhabited.

— Sources said there are plans to significantly enhance the surveillance infrastructure at one of the northern islands of A&N, and to construct a permanent habitat for troops there.

— Centre is learnt to have asked the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to increase its manpower to analyse satellite imagery, technical capacity of NRSC analysis and dissemination of analysed data to enhance surveillance of 55 inhabited islands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

— Importance of the chain of islands: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are of great strategic importance since they straddle one of the busiest sea lanes in the world and give India the reach to monitor the flow of traffic from the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean) to the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) via the Strait of Malacca that’s key to trade and oil shipments in the Indo-Pacific.

Key takeaways: The Editorial mentions – 

— Liberation by INA: “In February 1942, just a month after the fall of Singapore, the islands were occupied by the Japanese as a prospective springboard for the invasion of India. Towards the end of 1943, they became the first part of India to be “liberated” from British rule, when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited Port Blair and hoisted the INA tricolour. However, this was mere symbolism because the British reoccupied the A&N after the Japanese surrender in 1945.”

— After the Kargil War: “In 1976, the A&N naval garrison, having been supplemented by army troops, was upgraded to Fortress Andaman & Nicobar. In 2001, the post-Kargil War security review saw the establishment of India’s first joint/unified operational command — the Andaman Nicobar Command (ANC) in Port Blair.”

— A theatre command: “To obviate the possibility of intrusions by state and non-state entities, ANC will need to maintain three-dimensional maritime domain awareness through networked assets, including radars, aircraft, satellites and unmanned vehicles. The severe disruption and re-routing of shipping, occasioned by the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, have served as yet another harsh and expensive reminder that “maritime choke points” constitute critical vulnerabilities for world trade and commerce.”

— “Port Blair could become a regional hub for navies to acquire interoperability in areas like disaster-relief, medical aid, countering piracy and human smuggling, aircraft/submarine search and rescue and other such cooperative maritime endeavours.”

Post Read Questions:

— On the eve of Independence, the fate of these islands hung in balance. Why?

— In September 1965 after the commencement of India-Pakistan hostilities, President Ayub Khan sent retired Air Marshal Asghar Khan as an emissary to seek support from fraternal Indonesia.What happened then?

— Why is A&C geography unique?

— What is the “Malacca Dilemma”?

Point to ponder: 

Delhi has woken up to the need for developing its ignored island territories. Why focus on Andaman and Nicobar is welcome?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Turning seaward

Strategic military infra upgrade in the works for Andaman & Nicobar Islands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h_eHKkXKLg?si=1vaVgIPzpanJIOy_&w=560&h=315