Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for October 8, 2024. If you missed the October 7, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here THE WORLD Climate change scorches world’s biggest river, blocking Amazon’s vital water highway Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require subject specialization Main Examination: General Studies II: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What’s the ongoing story-THE WORLD’S largest river is parched. The Amazon River, battered by back-to-back droughts fuelled by climate change, is drying up, with some stretches the mighty waterway dwindling to shallow pools only a few feet deep. Know Basics- • Map Work-Amazon River • How long is the Amazon River? • Why is the Amazon River famous? • Amazon River-Source, basin, drainage area and river mouth • What tribes live in the Amazon River? • The Amazon River and the Amazon rainforest are closely related-How? Key Points to Ponder- • What is causing the Amazon drought? • What are the factors that contribute to drought in the Amazon Rainforest? • How El Nino and high sea surface temperatures affects Amazon River? • What are the impacts of the drought caused in Amazon Rainforest? • What are the potential consequences of the drought in the Amazon Rainforest for India? • Why the Amazon matters? For Your Information- • The Amazon rainforest is reeling from an intense drought. Numerous rivers vital for travel have dried up. As a result, there is no water, food, or medicine in villages of Indigenous communities living in the area. The Rio Negro, one of the world’s largest rivers by discharge levels, has fallen to a record low level of 13.59 metres near the city of Manaus • The latest calamity is another addition to the long list of causes that are accelerating the destruction of the Amazon, called the planet’s lungs. It covers nearly seven million square kilometres, or about the area of Australia, and stores more than 150 billion metric tonnes of carbon. • The river basin contains the largest rainforest in the world, making it a global hotspot of biodiversity and a key part of the global hydrological and carbon cycle. The river levels are reported to be at lowest levels in 120 years, threatening the estimated 30 million people living in the Amazon basin across several nations including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia, by disrupting transportation, isolating communities and killing wildlife. Do You Know- • Droughts aren’t unheard of in the Amazon. Most recently, the rainforest witnessed a dry spell in 2021, which was the worst in at least 90 years. The latest drought, however, is probably even more severe as two simultaneous natural events have hindered cloud formation, further reducing the already low rainfall levels in the region. • One of them is the onset of El Nino, which refers to an abnormal warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The weather pattern is known to increase the likelihood of breaking temperature records and triggers more extreme heat in many parts of the world and in the ocean. The other weather event is the unusually high water temperatures in the northern tropical Atlantic Ocean. Due to warmer ocean waters, heated air rises into the atmosphere, which then reaches the Amazon rainforest. The warm air inhibits the formation of clouds, causing rainfall to drop sharply. • Over the years, several studies have indicated that with rising global temperatures, the Amazon will experience longer and more frequent droughts. A 2022 study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), said if humans continue burning fossil fuels at the current rate, the rainforest would experience major drought nine out of every 10 years by the year 2060. Trivia- • According to Britannica, the Amazon River is the largest river in South America and, in terms of both basin area and flow volume, the world's largest drainage system. Measuring at least 4,000 miles (6,400 km) from the headwaters of the Ucayali-Apurímac river system in southern Peru, the river is marginally shorter than the Nile River. Its mouth lies in the Atlantic Ocean on Brazil's north-eastern coast, and its westernmost source is high in the Andes Mountains, only 100 miles (160 km) from the Pacific Ocean. • A river is a vast, uninterrupted body of water. Rivers are present on every continent and on virtually every type of land. Some are perpetually flowing. Some flow seasonally or during periods of high precipitation. • The source or headwaters of a watercourse are its origin. The Gangotri Glacier, which is the source of the Ganges River in Asia, is one possible source. The source of the water may be the thawing of snow, such as the snows of the Andes, which supply the Amazon River. A river system is comprised of a river and its tributaries. • A drainage basin or watershed is another term used to describe a river system. The watershed of a river encompasses the river, all of its tributaries, and any groundwater resources in the vicinity. • River's end is its mouth. At this location, the river empties into a larger river, a lake, or the ocean. The ocean is the destination of numerous of the major rivers. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Drought, deforestation, climate change: Why South America is burning 📍40% Amazon rainforest unprotected: why is this significant for climate change? FRONT PAGE As Russia seeks to expand trade in rupee-rouble, RBI & SEBI remain wary Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests. What’s the ongoing story-GIVEN THE sanctions on Russia and the complexities around expanding the rupee-rouble trade, the Central government and India’s financial regulators continue to be wary with several proposals of Sberbank AG, Russia’s largest bank, still not being cleared. Know Basics- • Indo-Russia Relations-Know the background • Russia plays a very important role in logistical as well as technological support when it comes to defence forces-Know India and Russia Military trade • Map Work-Russia and neighbouring Countries Know the Background- • The Rupee-Rouble trade agreement is a payment mechanism that facilitates the settlement of dues in rupees rather than in dollars or euros. The concept was initially formulated in 1953 within the framework of the Indo-Soviet trade pact. • Sberbank had set up a branch in India in 2010 with an objective to support Indo-Russian trade and create a strategic presence. • According to sources, sensing opportunities to sell gold in the Indian market, Sberbank AG sought a licence from the RBI to export 100 tonnes of Russian gold bars to India and directly sell in national currencies to jewellers. Its application for an import licence in December 2023 was rejected by the RBI in March this year citing “supervisory concerns”. Key Points to Ponder- • Why market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India had restricted Sberbank’s FPI? • Why Russia’s Sberbank also not involved in the e-rupee pilot project of the Reserve Bank of India? • What is ECGC country risk classification? • What Financial regulators SEBI and RBI saying? • What mechanism India and Russia have established for rupee-rouble trade? • What obstacles exist in the commerce between rupees and rouble? For Your Information- • The dynamics of India-Russia trade have been skewed since the onset of the Ukraine war in 2022. Russia has rapidly ascended to become India’s top oil supplier, but Indian exports to Russia have struggled, resulting in a $57 billion trade deficit in the bilateral trade worth $66 billion in FY24. While India has managed to save over $10 billion by importing cheaper Russian oil in the last two years and has benefited from exporting petroleum products by processing Urals crude, meager exports to Russia mean that a historic geopolitical opportunity to cut dependence on the expensive US dollar has remained elusive. • The biggest challenge has been the reluctance of private banks to facilitate trade with Russia due to fears of Western sanctions. Most private banks have significant business interests in Western countries and multiple branches that could face sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) and the US. Do You Know- • During Modi’s visit, both countries decided to eliminate non-tariff and tariff barriers in trade and to initiate negotiations for a trade deal with the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which could ease the flow of Indian products into the EEU. The EEU consists of five member states: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia, representing a $5 trillion economy. According to the joint statement, India and Russia agreed to cooperate in manufacturing sectors such as transport engineering, metallurgy, and chemicals. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍The Yuan Challenge: How India-Russia trade gap may threaten rupee internationalisation efforts EXPRESS NETWORK Fresh green nod for Uttarakhand hydro project will hinge on forest, wildlife clearances: Experts panel Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What’s the ongoing story-A fresh environmental approval for the 76 MW Phata Byung hydropower project on the Mandakini river, which was severely damaged during the 2013 Uttarakhand disaster, will largely depend on forest and wildlife clearances owing to the dense vegetation surrounding the project site, an expert panel from the environment ministry has stated. Know Basics- • The 76 MW Phata Byung hydropower project • Map Work-Mandakini river • The 2013 Uttarakhand disaster Do You Know- • Envisaged as a run-of-the-river project, it will draw water from the Mandakini, a tributary of the Alaknanda, which is one of the headwaters of the Ganga. It is the first hydropower dam located downstream of Kedarnath. • The project suffered extensive damage during the 2013 floods, which were triggered by a cloudburst and subsequent glacial lake outburst. The dam structure was compromised, the reservoir area became filled with debris, and machinery was washed away. In 2021, the central government recommended the resumption of work on seven under-construction hydropower projects in Uttarakhand, with Phata Byung being one of them. Other notable projects include Tapovan Vishnugad (520 MW), Vishnugad Pipalkoti (444 MW) and Singoli Bhatwari (99 MW). • The Expert Appraisal Committee on river valley and hydroelectric projects, one of the 11 sectoral panels responsible for granting prior environmental approvals, gave preliminary permission for the hydropower project in April this year. A fresh application for environmental approval was submitted to the environment ministry after Lanco Infratech, the previous project proponent, went into liquidation. Key Points to Ponder- • What exactly an expert panel from the environment ministry has stated? • What do you understand by the term ‘Environmental Impact Assessment’ (EIA)? • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Protection Act, 1986-How they are related with each other? • Why Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is Important? • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and India-connect the Dots • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Rules Amendment, 2006-Key features • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2020-Key Highlights • Environmental Impact Assessment-Achievements, Issues and Challenges • Supreme court of India on Environment Impact Assessment (ex-post facto environmental clearance) • Did hydel projects have a role in Uttarakhand disaster? • How hydropower projects in Uttarakhand have increased disasters there? Trivia- • The Mandakini River is a tributary of the Alaknanda River in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The river runs for approximately 81 kilometres between the Rudraprayag and Sonprayag areas and emerges from the Chorabari Glacier. At the end of its course it drains into the Alaknanda, which flows into the Ganges. • Between June 13 and 17, 2013, the state of Uttarakhand had received an unusual amount of rainfall. This led to the melting of the Chorabari glacier and the eruption of the Mandakini river. The floods affected large parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western Nepal. The heavy rainfall caused massive flash floods and landslides resulting in the death of residents and tourists as well as extensive damage to property. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Despite Supreme Court freeze, 7 Uttarakhand projects get ok, 1 flash-flood hit THE EDITORIAL PAGE ON WAY TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate What’s the ongoing story-With the severity of climate impacts being evident worldwide, the urgency for adaptation strategies has gained momentum. The first global stocktake at COP28 highlighted the fragmented and unequally distributed adaptation process globally and that “significant adaptation gaps still exist across sectors and regions”. Know Basics- • What are COPs? • What is the global goal of adaptation? • COP28-key takeaways Know the Background- • The 2015 Paris Agreement, Article 7 established the global goal on adaptation of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change, with a view to contributing to sustainable development and ensuring an adequate adaptation response in the context of the temperature goal referred to in Article 2.. To better understand, conceptualize and ultimately achieve this goal, the countries that were signatories to the Paris Agreement (collectively, the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement, or the CMA) launched the Glasgow-Sharm el-Sheikh work programme on the global goal on adaptation at COP 26 in Glasgow in 2021, to be carried out by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI). Key Points to Ponder- • What is global goal on adaptation? • “Means of Implementation” in the framework is an issue-Elaborate • Implementing GGA within the adaptation strategies of developing countries presents both challenges and opportunities-what are they? • India faces a range of climate-related challenges-what are they? • “India has advocated for strong policy frameworks, capacity building, and enhanced financial support from developed nations”-Discuss • What are the major engagements of India in COP 28? For Your Information- • The GGA is a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability with a view to ensure an adequate response guiding countries in their efforts. This is crucial for developing nations like India who are at the frontline of climate impacts. The UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience is also expected to guide and strengthen efforts. This includes: a) impact, vulnerability and risk assessment; b) a country driven planning process; c) implementation of adaptation plans, policies and strategies by 2030; d) establishing and operationalising a system for monitoring, evaluation and learning. • The framework also outlines specific targets for 2030, such as reducing climate-induced water scarcity, attaining climate-resilient food production, enhancing health services to mitigate climate-related impacts. • The first global stocktake called for increased ambition and support, particularly in adaptation finance. The 2023 Adaptation Gap Report reveals a growing finance gap, currently estimated at $366 billion per year. This is a significant barrier to implementing effective adaptation measures in developing countries. • The recent negotiations in Bonn in June 2024 provided a flavour of the intense divergence between developed and developing countries especially on the Means of Implementation (MoI), the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and the role of the adaptation committee. Developing countries emphasised the critical need for public finance, technology transfer, and capacity building to support their adaptation efforts. Trivia- • The COP 28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, was the biggest of its kind. Some 85,000 participants, including more than 150 Heads of State and Government, were among the representatives of national delegations, civil society, business, Indigenous Peoples, youth, philanthropy, and international organizations in attendance at the Conference from 30 November to 13 December 2023. • COP 28 was particularly momentous as it marked the conclusion of the first ‘global stocktake’ of the world’s efforts to address climate change under the Paris Agreement. Having shown that progress was too slow across all areas of climate action – from reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to strengthening resilience to a changing climate, to getting the financial and technological support to vulnerable nations – countries responded with a decision on how to accelerate action across all areas by 2030. This includes a call on governments to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels to renewables such as wind and solar power in their next round of climate commitments. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍COP28: What were the most important decisions, where they fell short EXPRESS NETWORK Number of Indian wild asses in Gujarat up by 26%: Govt Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change Mains Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What’s the ongoing story-The population of wild asses in Gujarat has been estimated at 7,672, as per the 10th Wild Ass Population Estimation (WAPE) conducted by the Gujarat government earlier this year. This is a rise of 26.14% in its population. In the last WAPE, done in 2020, the population was estimated at 6,082. Know Basics- • Wild asses are animals protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. As per a report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2008, wild asses are found in very few numbers. They are listed as an “endangered species”. In the past, the wild ass could be found in North-West India, Pakistan, and even in Central Asia. However, now they are found only in the Little Rann of Kutch and Great Rann of Kutch. Key Points to Ponder- • Why Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972? • What are the Salient Features of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972? • How many bodies are established under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972? • What are the six schedules of Wildlife Protection Act? • What is Schedule 1of the Wildlife Protection Act? • Why amendment is required in the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972? • Know the Difference between Extinct, Extinct in the Wild and Critically Endangered For Your Information- • Minister of State for Forest and Environment Mukesh Patel said that WAPE-2024 was conducted in a 15,510 square kilometre area using the Direct Count Method. Patel added that a special camp was organised for the enumerators. Apart from training on conventional methods of enumeration, the enumerators were reportedly provided with modern technology like drone cameras, camera traps, and forest modules. • The state government said that following their efforts, the population of wild asses has been witnessing an upward trend since 1976, when there were 720 of them in the state. The release added that the enumerations of other wild animals like Asian antelope, Indian gazelle, blackbuck, wild boar, Indian jackal, and Indian desert fox were also done. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Forest dept to scan 15,500 sq km to count Indian wild asses next week EXPLAINED MicroRNA: tiny RNAs that hold key to how organisms develop Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies III:Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. What’s the ongoing story-The Nobel Prize for Medicine this year has been awarded to scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA — tiny molecules which play a crucial role in how genes function. “Gene regulation by microRNA, first revealed by Ambros and Ruvkun, has been at work for hundreds of millions of years. This mechanism has enabled the evolution of increasingly complex organisms,” the Nobel press release for the announcement stated. Know Basics- • Nobel Prize Key Points to Ponder- • microRNA - What it is and how it works • Why did Ambros and Ruvkun study microRNA? • Why is understanding gene regulation significant? • How was microRNA discovered? Trivia- • In the late 1980s, Ambros and Ruvkun were working under Nobel Prize-winning researcher Robert Horvitz, studying a tiny roundworm called C. elegans. Despite being just 1 millimetre long, this worm had many of the same cell types found in larger animals, making it an ideal candidate for understanding how tissues develop. • Ambros and Ruvkun were particularly interested in two genes in these worms: lin-4 and lin-14. These genes played important roles in determining when different cells matured. The scientists’ curiosity was piqued when they noticed that certain mutant worms had problems with this timing. Ambros discovered that lin-4 seemed to inhibit lin-14, but the scientific process behind this was unclear. After setting up his lab at Harvard, Ambros began further investigating the lin-4 gene. To his surprise, he found that lin-4 produced a tiny RNA molecule that did not code for proteins like most genes do. Instead, this “micro” RNA simply blocked the activity of lin-14. • Meanwhile, Ruvkun, in his own lab, was closely examining the lin-14 gene when he discovered that lin-4 was not stopping the production of lin-14’s mRNA which carried genetic instructions for making its protein. Rather, it was preventing lin-14 from making the protein itself. As Ambros and Ruvkun compared their findings, a breakthrough emerged — the short RNA from lin-4 matched a specific part of lin-14’s mRNA, allowing it to latch on and effectively turn off lin-14’s protein production. • This discovery revealed a fascinating new way in which genes could be controlled through tiny RNA molecules now called microRNAs. Initially published in 1993, the discovery got little notice as most scientists believed that this peculiar process was limited to C. elegans. • However, everything changed in 2000 when Ruvkun’s team discovered another microRNA, called let-7, which was found across many species, including humans. This finding sparked widespread interest, leading to the identification of hundreds of microRNAs. Today, we know that microRNAs play a crucial role in gene regulation for nearly all multicellular organisms, including humans. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Nobel for microRNA discovery promising for new therapeutics, say Indian scientists For any queries and feedback, contact priya.shukla@indianexpress.com Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
