Current Affairs 24 February 2025

Content:

1. A new age of imperialism
2. What has SC previously ruled on gag orders?
3. Why has the UGC-CARE list of journals been discontinued?
4. Women achievers to take charge of PM’s social media accounts for a day
5. Health Ministry bans export of drugs containing Tapentadol, Carisoprodol
6. Why personal accident insurance is a lifeline
7. First detailed map of moon’s south pole made from Chandrayaan data

A new age of imperialism

Context : Decline of the Rules-Based International Order

• The post-WWII order, founded on economic integration, collective security, and self-determination, is weakening.
• The U.S., once its key proponent, now repudiates UN Charter principles, especially after the second Trump presidency.

Relevance : GS 2(International Relations , Global Governance)

Historical Context of the World Order

• Formation (1941-1945): U.S., U.K., Soviet Union, and China established collective security (Four Policemen concept).
• Yalta Conference (1945): Inclusion of France; spheres of influence implicitly accepted (e.g., Soviet control in Eastern Europe).
• Despite flaws, institutions like the UN and Bretton Woods fostered predictable international relations.

Trump’s Disruption of Global Norms

• Withdrew from key agreements (Paris Agreement, WHO).
• Imposed unilateral tariffs, disrupting global trade.
• Pursuing nationalist policies, focusing on U.S. hemispheric dominance.

U.S.-Russia Rapprochement and Ukraine Crisis

• Trump bypasses Ukraine in peace talks; labels Zelenskyy a dictator.
• Concessions to Russia (e.g., no NATO troops in Ukraine) undermine European security.
• European reliance on NATO now challenged; forced to rethink defense strategies.

Resurgence of Spheres of Influence

• U.S. refocuses on the Western Hemisphere and West Asia.
• Russia gains a freer hand in Europe; seeks to reclaim imperial-era territories.
• China eyes Taiwan amid waning U.S. presence in East Asia.

Implications for India and the Region

• China’s historical claims (e.g., McMahon Line dispute) raise regional security concerns.
• India faces heightened insecurity with shifting global alignments and China’s assertiveness.

Emerging World Order: Might Over Right

• Multilateralism gives way to power politics and territorial ambitions.
• The global system transitions from cooperation to competition and coercion.

What has SC previously ruled on gag orders?

Context : Ranveer Allahbadia Case Overview:

• SC granted interim protection from arrest (Feb 18) in FIRs related to alleged obscenity on his YouTube show India Got Latent.
  • Stringent conditions imposed:
    • Prohibited from posting on social media until further orders.
    • Directed to surrender passport.
  • These conditions contrast previous SC caution against undue restrictions while granting relief.

Relevance : GS 2(Judiciary ,Polity )

• Allahbadia’s Plea:
  • Filed under Article 32 for fundamental rights protection.
  • Sought consolidation of FIRs from Maharashtra, Assam, and Rajasthan to prevent harassment.
  • Precedent: In Parteek Bansal v. State of Rajasthan (2022), SC criticized multiple FIRs for the same offence as harassment.

• Interim Relief Conditions:
  • No statutory guidelines; judges use discretion based on:
    • Flight Risk: Potential of absconding.
    • Intimidation of Witnesses: Possibility of threats.
    • Tampering with Evidence: Risk of interfering with investigation.
  • Usual conditions: passport surrender, high bail bonds, mandatory police appearances.
  • SC cautions against disproportionate restrictions:
    • Satender Kumar Antil v. CBI (2022): Conditions “impossible of compliance” defeat bail’s purpose.
    • Frank Vitus v. NCB (2024): Google Maps PIN sharing deemed unconstitutional; violates Article 21 privacy rights.

• Gag Orders & SC’s Prior Rulings:
  • Allahbadia’s content ban is a prior restraint—restricting speech before it occurs.
  • SC’s free speech stance:
    • Rehana Fathima Case (2021): Kerala HC’s social media ban stayed.
    • Mohammed Zubair Case (2021): Request to restrict tweets rejected; gag orders create a “chilling effect” on speech and hinder profession.
  • Principle: Prior restraints permissible only in exceptional cases to balance freedom of speech and justice.

Why has the UGC-CARE list of journals been discontinued?

Background:

• The UGC-CARE list, introduced in 2018, aimed to recognize reputable academic journals for faculty selection, promotions, and research funding.
• On February 2024, the UGC discontinued the list, replacing it with 36 suggestive parameters under eight criteria for evaluating journals.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance , Education )

New Suggestive Parameters (36 under 8 Criteria):

1. Journal Preliminary Criteria: Title, ISSN, periodicity, transparency in review policy.
2. Editorial Board Criteria: Availability and composition details of editorial board.
3. Editorial Policy: Ethical publishing standards and peer-review process.
4. Journal Standards: Consistency, citation practices, and quality indicators.
5. Journal Visibility: Indexing, reach, and accessibility.
6. Research Ethics: Measures against plagiarism and predatory practices.

Why did UGC withdraw the CARE list?

• Criticisms of CARE List:
  • Over-centralisation: Excessive control in journal recognition decisions.
  • Delays: Slow process in adding or removing journals.
  • Limited Representation: Exclusion of respected Indian language journals.
  • Lack of Transparency: Opaque decision-making processes.

• UGC’s Justifications for New Approach:
  • Decentralisation: Institutions can develop their own evaluation mechanisms aligned with UGC parameters.
  • Flexibility: Allows consideration of discipline-specific needs and emerging fields.
  • Combating Predatory Journals: Places responsibility on HEIs to ensure publication quality.

Response & Concerns:

• Students’ Federation of India (SFI):
  • Condemned the move, citing lack of consultation with academic communities.
  • Feared proliferation of low-quality journals without central oversight.
  • Warned of academic integrity erosion and inconsistent evaluation processes.

• Broader Concerns:
  • Part of deregulation trend under NEP 2020.
  • Risk of arbitrary journal evaluations by different institutions.

Women achievers to take charge of PM’s social media accounts for a day

Women Achievers & International Women’s Day (March 8)

• PM Narendra Modi to hand over his social media accounts to women achievers for a day.
• Aim: Allow women from diverse fields to share insights and inspire others.
• Initiative highlights the role of Nari Shakti (women power) in nation-building.
• Reference to Hansa Mehta’s contribution to the national flag and women’s role in the freedom struggle.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance , Social Issues)

Space Sector Growth & Women Participation

• India launched around 460 satellites in the past decade, including foreign ones.
• Increasing involvement of women scientists in ISRO and space missions.
• Encourages youth to explore careers in science through visits to labs and planetariums.

Focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• India’s progress in AI recognized at an international conference in Paris.
• Example: Thodasam Kailash, a schoolteacher using AI to create music in the Kolami language.

National Games & Youth Achievements

• Over 11,000 athletes participated in the Uttarakhand National Games.
• Rise of teenage sports champions:
  • Gavin Antony (15) – Shooting
  • Anushka Yadav (16) – Hammer throw
  • Dev Kumar Meena (19) – Pole vault

Wildlife Conservation & Cultural Significance

• Emphasis on the cultural connection with wildlife in Indian traditions.
• Appreciation for tribal communities’ role in protecting wildlife.

Health Ministry bans export of drugs containing Tapentadol, Carisoprodol

Context : Export Ban on Tapentadol-Carisoprodol Combinations

• Health Ministry banned the export of unapproved combination drugs containing Tapentadol and Carisoprodol.
• Action taken after reports of Aveo Pharmaceuticals (Mumbai) exporting these drugs to certain West African countries.

Relevance : GS 2(Health, Governance)

Drug Profiles

• Tapentadol: Opioid used for moderate to severe pain; approved in various tablet forms (50-200 mg).
• Carisoprodol: Muscle relaxant targeting pain centers in the brain and spinal cord.
• The combination is not approved in India and not listed under the NDPS Act.

Regulatory Actions & Compliance Measures

• CDSCO and State regulators initiated risk-based inspections since December 2022:
  • 905 manufacturing units inspected.
  • 694 regulatory actions taken (including production halts, licence suspensions, and warnings).
• Aveo Pharmaceuticals audited (Feb 21-22); operations halted following non-compliance findings.

Seizure & Preventive Measures

• Seized materials:
  • 1.3 crore tablets/capsules.
  • 26 batches of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol APIs.
• Maharashtra FDA ordered immediate production stop and withdrawal of export NoCs.
• Nationwide instructions issued to prevent further distribution of the unapproved combination.

Why personal accident insurance is a lifeline

Context : Rising Accident Rates in India (2023-24)

• Road accidents: ~1.73 lakh deaths, 4.63 lakh injuries in 2023.
• Home accidents:
  • Falls: 30%
  • Burns: 20%
  • Accidental poisoning: 15%
  • Drowning (mainly children): 10%
• Workplace accidents (2024): 400+ deaths, 850+ serious injuries.
• Adventure sports risks: Activities like trekking, rafting, and paragliding contribute to rising accident numbers.

Relevance : GS 2(Health )

Why Personal Accident Insurance is Vital

• Provides a financial safety net against sudden accidents.
• Affordability: Cheaper than health or life insurance; accessible to all income groups.

Key Benefits of Personal Accident Insurance

• Accidental death/permanent disability cover: Fixed payout ensures financial stability for dependents.
• Support for dependents: Education and marriage funds for children, widows, and parents.
• Medical expense coverage:
  • Hospitalisation costs covered.
  • Lump sum benefits for burns, broken bones, or coma.
• Recovery support:
  • Coverage for home/vehicle modifications.
  • Expenses for prostheses, wheelchairs, crutches.
• Income protection: Payouts during recovery to offset lost wages.
• Debt coverage: Some policies cover outstanding loans if the policyholder is a breadwinner.
• Emergency services: Air ambulance for remote-area accidents.

Exclusions & Premium Factors

• Exclusions:
  • Self-inflicted injuries, suicide attempts.
  • Accidents under alcohol/drug influence.
  • Injuries from criminal activities or high-risk sports.
  • Pre-existing conditions/disabilities.

• Premium determination:
  • High-risk jobs (e.g., miners, factory workers) attract higher premiums than office jobs.

Bottom Line:

• Personal accident insurance is an affordable, crucial safeguard against unexpected financial burdens arising from accidents across various environments (road, home, work, or adventure).
• Understanding coverage details and exclusions is vital for making informed choices.

First detailed map of moon’s south pole made from Chandrayaan data

Context :

• First-ever detailed geological map of the moon’s south polar region created using Chandrayaan-3’s Pragyan rover data.
• Collaborative effort by PRL Ahmedabad, Panjab University, and ISRO’s Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems.
• Focused on Vikram lander’s site (landed August 23, 2023) revealing an undulating landscape of highlands and low plains.

Relevance : GS 3(Science , Technology)

Major Scientific Findings:

• Primordial magma presence confirmed:
  • Chandrayaan-3 detected an ancient underground ocean of molten rock beneath the landing site.
  • Confirms earlier suspicions from Apollo, Luna, and Chang’e missions but provides first polar region data.

• Age of the region:
  • Estimated at 3.7 billion years, coinciding with early microbial life emergence on Earth.

• Cratering history:
  • Secondary craters traced to the Schomberger crater as the primary debris source.
  • Landed near the South Pole–Aitken Basin, one of the oldest and largest craters in the solar system.

Earth-Moon Evolutionary Links:

• Common origin theory supported:
  • Earth and moon possibly formed from debris after a Mars-sized body collided with Earth 4.5 billion years ago.
  • Geochemical similarities: Presence of common isotopes and aligned orbital inclinations.

Environmental Concerns:

• Lunar littering and contamination risks:
  • Decades of space missions have left debris, affecting the regolith and thin lunar exosphere.
  • Water vapour exhaust from landers may skew lunar ice readings at the poles.
• Colonisation efforts could further disturb the pristine lunar surface and hinder future scientific studies.

Scientific Significance:

• Helps date geological features on other rocky planets using crater analysis.
• Provides new insights into the moon’s formation, evolution, and internal structure.
• Crucial for future lunar exploration and resource management strategies.