Current Affairs 25 October 2024

CONTENTS

1. Cyclone Dana
2. Supreme Court Expands State Tax Powers Over Alcohol
3. Forest Fires
4. International Snow Leopard Day
5. World Economic Outlook
6. Korowai Tribe

Cyclone Dana

Context:

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Dana is expected to make landfall as a severe cyclone (wind speed: 89 to 117 kmph) along the Odisha coast near Bhitarkanika National Park and Dhamra Port. 

Relevance:

GS-I: Geography (Physical geography – Climatology, Important Geophysical phenomena), GS-III: Disaster Management

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What are Tropical Cyclones?
2. Conditions for cyclone formation
3. How are Tropical Cyclones Formed?
4. Why tropical cyclones don’t form in the eastern tropical oceans?
5. Names of Tropical Cyclones
6. Structure of the tropical cyclone
7. Landfall, what happens when a Cyclone reaches land from the ocean?
8. Cyclone Management in India

Cyclone Dana Overview

• Cyclone Dana marks the third cyclonic event in the North Indian Ocean region for the year 2024 and is notably the second to impact the Indian coast, following Cyclone Remal.
• It is recognized as the inaugural cyclone of the post-monsoon season.
• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reveals that the cyclone was named ‘Dana’ by Qatar, which in Arabic translates to ‘generosity’ and is also synonymous with ‘the most perfectly sized, valuable, and beautiful pearl.’

What are Tropical Cyclones?

• The Tropical Cyclones are violent storms that originate over oceans in tropical areas and move over to coastal areas bringing about large-scale destruction caused by violent winds, very heavy rainfall and storm surges.
• These are low pressure weather systems in which winds equal or exceed speeds of 62kmph.
• Winds circulate around in anti-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.
• “Tropical” refers to the geographical origin of these systems, which form almost exclusively over tropical seas.
• “Cyclone” refers to their winds moving in a circle, whirling round their central clear eye, with their winds blowing counter clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
• The opposite direction of circulation is due to the Coriolis effect.

Tropical Cyclones in India

• Tropical cyclones striking India generally originate in the eastern side of India.
• Bay of Bengal is more prone to cyclone than Arabian Sea because it gets high sea surface temperature, low vertical shear winds and has enough moisture in middle layers of its atmosphere.
• The frequency of cyclones in this region is bi-modal, i.e., Cyclones occur in the months of May–June and October–November.

Conditions for cyclone formation:

• A warm sea surface (temperature in excess of 26o –27o C) and associated warming extending up to a depth of 60m with abundant water vapour.
• High relative humidity in the atmosphere up to a height of about 5,000 metres.
• Atmospheric instability that encourages the formation of cumulus clouds.
• Low vertical wind between the lower and higher levels of the atmosphere that do not allow the heat generated and released by the clouds to get transported from the area.
• The presence of cyclonic vorticity (rate of rotation of air) that initiates and favours rotation of the air cyclonically.
• Location over the ocean, at least 4–5 o latitude away from the equator.

How are Tropical Cyclones Formed?

1. Tropical cyclones typically form over large bodies of relatively warm water. Warm water > Evaporation > Rising up of air > Low Pressure area.
2. They derive their energy through the evaporation of water from the ocean surface, which ultimately re-condenses into clouds and rain when moist air rises and cools to saturation.
3. Water takes up heat from the atmosphere to change into vapour.
4. When water vapour changes back to liquid form as raindrops, this heat is released to the atmosphere.
5. The heat released to the atmosphere warms the air around.
6. The air tends to rise and causes a drop in the pressure.
7. More air rushes to the centre of the storm.
8. This cycle is repeated.

Why tropical cyclones don’t form in the eastern tropical oceans?

• The depth of warm water (26-27°C) should extend for 60-70 m from surface of the ocean/sea, so that deep convection currents within the water do not churn and mix the cooler water below with the warmer water near the surface.
• The above condition occurs only in western tropical oceans because of warm ocean currents (easterly trade winds pushes ocean waters towards west) that flow from east towards west forming a thick layer of water with temperatures greater than 27°C. This supplies enough moisture to the storm.
• The cold currents lower the surface temperatures of the eastern parts of the tropical oceans making them unfit for the breeding of cyclonic storms.
• ONE EXCEPTION: During strong El Nino years, strong hurricanes occur in the eastern Pacific. This is due to the accumulation of warm waters in the eastern Pacific due to weak Walker Cell.

Names of Tropical Cyclones

Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by different names:

1. Cyclones in the Indian Ocean
2. Hurricanes in the Atlantic
3. Typhoons in the Western Pacific and the South China Sea
4. Willy-willies in Western Australia

Structure of the tropical cyclone

Tropical cyclones are compact, circular storms, generally some 320 km (200 miles) in diameter, whose winds swirl around a central region of low atmospheric pressure. The winds are driven by this low-pressure core and by the rotation of Earth, which deflects the path of the wind through a phenomenon known as the Coriolis force. As a result, tropical cyclones rotate in a counter clockwise (or cyclonic) direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise (or anticyclonic) direction in the Southern Hemisphere.

1. The Eye: A characteristic feature of tropical cyclones is the eye, a central region of clear skies, warm temperatures, and low atmospheric pressure. Typically, atmospheric pressure at the surface of Earth is about 1,000 millibars.
2. The Eyewall: The most dangerous and destructive part of a tropical cyclone is the eyewall. Here winds are strongest, rainfall is heaviest, and deep convective clouds rise from close to Earth’s surface to a height of 15,000 metres.
3. Rainbands: These bands, commonly called rainbands, spiral into the centre of the storm. In some cases the rainbands are stationary relative to the centre of the moving storm, and in other cases they seem to rotate around the centre.

Landfall, what happens when a Cyclone reaches land from the ocean?

• Tropical cyclones dissipate when they can no longer extract sufficient energy from warm ocean water.
• A storm that moves over land will abruptly lose its fuel source and quickly lose intensity.
• A tropical cyclone can contribute to its own demise by stirring up deeper, cooler ocean waters. tropical cyclone can contribute to its own demise by stirring up deeper, cooler ocean waters.

Cyclone Management in India

India is highly vulnerable to natural disasters especially cyclones, earthquakes, floods, landslides, and drought. Natural disasters cause a loss of 2% of GDP every year in India. According to the Home ministry, 8% of total area in India is prone to cyclones. India has a coastline of 7,516 km, of which 5,700 km are prone to cyclones of various degrees.

• Loss due to cyclones: Loss of lives, livelihood opportunities, damage to public and private property and severe damage to infrastructure are the resultant consequences, which can disrupt the process of development
• Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is the nodal agency for early warning of cyclones and floods.
• Natural Disaster Management Authority is mandated to deal with the disaster management in India. It has prepared National Guidelines on Management of Cyclone.
• National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) was launched by Home ministry to upgrade the forecasting, tracking and warning about cyclones in states.
• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has done a commendable performance in rescuing and managing relief work.
• National Disaster Response Reserve (NDRR)– a fund of 250 crores operated by NDRF for maintaining inventory for an emergency situation.
• In 2016, a blueprint of National Disaster Management Plan was unveiled to tackle disaster. It provides a framework to deal with prevention, mitigation, response and recovery during a disaster. According to the plan, Ministry of earth science will be responsible for disaster management of cyclone. By this plan, India joined the list of countries which follow the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
• Due to increased awareness and tracking of Cyclone, the death toll has been reduced substantially. For example, Very severe cyclone Hudhud and Phailin claimed lives of around 138 and 45 people respectively, which might have been more. It was reduced due to the early warning and relocation of the population from the cyclone-hit areas. Very severe cyclone Ockhi claimed many lives of people in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This was due to the unprecedented change in the direction of the cyclone.
• But the destruction of infrastructure due to cyclonic hit is not been reduced which leads to increase in poverty due to the economic weakening of the affected population.

-Source: Indian Express

Supreme Court Expands State Tax Powers Over Alcohol

Context:

A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India has made a significant ruling in an 8:1 decision, allowing states the authority to tax not only alcoholic beverages but also ‘industrial’ alcohol. This decision broadens the fiscal powers of states, marking a considerable shift in both taxation practices and the principles of federalism in India.

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Taxation Dispute on Industrial Alcohol
2. SC’s Holding on Taxing Industrial Alcohol
3. SC’s Judgment on Industrial Alcohol Taxation

Taxation Dispute on Industrial Alcohol: A Constitutional Conundrum

Why is Industrial Alcohol Taxation Controversial?

Overlapping Constitutional Authorities:

• Constitutional Entries Involved: The heart of the dispute lies in the overlapping constitutional entries within the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution. This schedule divides legislative authority between the State and the Union.
  • State List (Entry 8): States have the authority to legislate and tax intoxicating liquors.
  • Union List (Entry 52): Grants the Union the power to regulate industries deemed vital to the national economy.
  • Concurrent List (Entry 33): Both the Centre and states can legislate on industries declared by Parliament to be of national importance.

Claims of Jurisdiction by the Centre:

• Central Government’s Stance: The Centre asserts jurisdiction over industrial alcohol citing its broader implication in the industrial sector.
• Legal Foundation: This assertion is backed by the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act of 1951, which was legislated under the Union and Concurrent Lists, emphasizing the national importance of regulating such industries for economic coordination and development.

SC’s Holding on Taxing Industrial Alcohol:

Core question in this case:

• Whether “intoxicating liquor” could include “industrial alcohol”
• Actually the court was concerned with whether “industrial alcohol” could also include “intoxicating liquor”.
• Because of the potential for misdirection of its use in the illegal manufacture of intoxicating drinking liquor, the states thought they had an interest in industrial alcohol.

Majority opinion:

• The majority, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, along with eight other justices, ruled in favour of the states.
• They reasoned that the term “intoxicating liquor” under Entry 8 of List II (State List) should be interpreted broadly, covering everything from the production of raw materials to consumption.
• The court affirmed that states have the power to tax both alcoholic beverages and industrial alcohol, which can produce intoxication or pose health risks.
• The court disagreed with the Centre’s argument that industrial alcohol falls under its jurisdiction due to its inclusion in the 1951 Act.

Dissent

• Justice B V Nagarathna dissented by holding that the Centre’s control over industrial alcohol has to be preserved.
• Industrial alcohol’s very nature, she argued should prevent it from being considered an intoxicating liquor despite all the abuse that can be given to the term.
• She thought that the Centre’s overall control of industries under the 1951 Act should prevent the states from regulating industrial alcohol.

SC’s Judgment on Industrial Alcohol Taxation: The Altered Lawmaking Power

Decision Overturned

• Reversal of Existing Judgment: The Supreme Court has overturned the 1990 judgment in Synthetics & Chemicals Ltd vs State of Uttar Pradesh, which had earlier banned the states from taxing industrial alcohol.
• State Powers Affirmation: The judgment affirms that states have the legal power to tax and control industrial alcohol, which again says that such alcohol is not fit to be consumed and hence is not similar to beverage alcohol.

State Revenue and Implications

Betterment of State Financial Resources

• The judgment has a very deep impact on state revenues since such revenues are highly dependent on the tax collected on alcohol.
• Karnataka Case Study: In this respect, Karnataka increased its Additional Excise Duty on Indian-made liquor by a whopping 20% within the year 2023, which reflects the monetary effects for all state economies involved.

Federal Forces and Center-State Relations

• No Balancing Federal Powers: This judgment helps establish the differential powers of the state versus the central government and reiterates the concept of the federal balance.
• Consistency in Constitution: The Supreme Court would be on the side of the states and would stand by a construction of the Constitution that rejects redundancy as well as supports a balanced approach toward co-governance.
• Preferment of Federal Decisions: This is accompanied by other decisions of late, including the July 2024 judgment in which it ruled in favor of the right of the states to collect royalties from mineral extraction, thus cementing the role of states in managing and realizing income from their resources.

-Source: Indian Express

Forest Fires

Context:

Recently, a study by the Centre for Wildfire Research has found that global CO2 emissions from forest fires have surged by 60% since 2001. Emissions from boreal forests in Eurasia and North America have nearly tripled, with climate change being identified as a major driver behind this increase.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Key Findings from the Pyrome Study on Global Forest Fires
2. About Forest Fires
3. Advantages of forest fires
4. Disadvantages of forest fires
5. Forest Fire Vulnerability in India
6. Ways to mitigate the risk of forest fires

Key Findings from the Pyrome Study on Global Forest Fires

Understanding Pyromes

• Definition of Pyromes: The study introduces the term “pyromes, which groups global forest ecoregions into 12 specific zones. All of these zones share similar fire behaviors that depend on a combination of climatic conditions, sorts of vegetation, and human activities.
• Role of Pyromes: The taxonomic classification of the regions helps in understanding the fire dynamics, predicting the changes due to shifts in climatic conditions or alteration in land use and improving fire management and risk assessment.

Pattern and Effect Trend of Forest Fire

• Extratropical Carbon Emissions: This study indicates a sharp increase in carbon release by forest fires within the extratropical regions. Most such increase is attributed to the consequence of climate change.
• Global Rise in Carbon Combustion: The global rate of carbon combustion is rising by a 47% rate through global forest fires, whose emissions are now stronger for forests than those of savannahs and grasslands.
• Severity and Fuel Consumption: Fire severity has increased by the per square meter fuel consumption rate, increasing fire intensities.

Climatic Influences and Fire Weather Conditions

• Anthropogenic climate change has been implicated as favoring more frequent and intense droughts, which create an optimal “fire weather,” namely, lower fuel moisture, together with highly flammable dry vegetation.
  • Lightning and Fire Incidence: Increasing lightning activity, especially at high elevations, has been associated with the trend of forest fires.

Implications to Carbon Stocks and Climate Policy

• Destabilization of Carbon Stocks: The ranges of variation include temperate coniferous, boreal, Mediterranean to subtropical forests that show destabilized carbon stocks because of heightened fire severity.
• Difficulty in Carbon Accounting: There are significant challenges in carbon accounting practices and the credibility of the GHG inventory submitted to the international bodies, for example, the United Nations, in the face of surging carbon emissions through forest fires.
• Case Study – Canada’s Wildfires: The 2023 Canadian wildfires allegedly cancelled out most of the carbon sequestration gains achieved during the past decade in its forests, directly demonstrating the above-proposed mechanism of increased fire activity affecting national carbon balances.

About Forest Fires

A forest fire is an uncontrolled fire that occurs in areas with a significant amount of combustible vegetation, such as forests, grasslands, or shrublands.

Causes of Forest Fires

Forest fires are caused by Natural causes as well as Man-made or anthropogenic causes.

• Natural causes such as lightning which set trees on fire. High atmospheric temperatures and low humidity offer favourable circumstance for a fire to start.
• Man-made causes like flame, cigarette, electric spark or any source of ignition will also cause forest fires.
• Traditionally Indian forests have been affected by fires. The problem has been aggravated with rising human and cattle population and the increase in demand for grazing, shifting cultivation and Forest products by individuals and communities.
• High temperature, wind speed and direction, level of moisture in soil and atmosphere and duration of dry spells can intensify the forest fires.

Advantages of forest fires:

• Some species of trees and plants have adapted to thrive in the aftermath of fires. For example, some pine trees rely on fires to open their cones and release seeds.
• Forest fires can help to clear out dead wood, brush, and other debris, reducing the risk of future fires.
• Fires can help to promote new growth and biodiversity by creating openings in the forest canopy that allow sunlight to reach the forest floor, stimulating the growth of new vegetation.

Disadvantages of forest fires:

• Forest fires can destroy habitats and negatively impact biodiversity by killing animals and plants that are unable to escape the flames.
• Smoke from fires can cause respiratory problems and other health issues for humans and animals.
• Forest fires can damage or destroy homes, buildings, and other infrastructure, and can pose a significant threat to human safety.
• The release of large amounts of greenhouse gases during forest fires can contribute to climate change.

India’s Initiatives to Tackle Forest Fires

• National Action Plan on Forest Fires (NAPFF) was launched in 2018 to minimise forest fires by informing, enabling and empowering forest fringe communities and incentivising them to work with the State Forest Departments.
• The Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM) is the only centrally funded program specifically dedicated to assist the states in dealing with forest fires.

Forest Fire Vulnerability in India

• Forest fire season in India is from November to June
• Council of Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) report notes a tenfold increase in forest fires over the past two decades in India
• More than 62% of Indian states are prone to high-intensity forest fires according to CEEW report
• Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Telangana, and Northeastern states are most prone to forest fires
• Mizoram has the highest incidence of forest fires over the last two decades with 95% of its districts as forest fire hotspots
• ISFR 2021 estimates over 36% of the country’s forest cover is prone to frequent forest fires, 6% is ‘very highly’ fire-prone, and almost 4% is ‘extremely’ prone
• An FSI study found nearly 10.66% area under forests in India is ‘extremely’ to ‘very highly’ fire-prone.

Ways to mitigate the risk of forest fires:

• Prevention: One of the most effective ways to mitigate forest fires is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. This can be done by creating fire breaks, clearing debris, and reducing the amount of flammable material in the forest.
• Early Detection: Early detection of forest fires can help prevent them from spreading and causing more damage. This can be done by installing fire detection systems, using drones or satellite imagery, and training local communities to report fires quickly.
• Fire Suppression: Fire suppression is a critical component of forest fire mitigation. This involves using firefighting equipment such as helicopters, water tanks, and fire retardants to put out fires.
• Forest Management: Proper forest management practices can also help mitigate the risk of forest fires. This includes thinning out dense forests, creating fire-resistant vegetation, and reducing the amount of deadwood and other flammable materials in the forest.
• Community Education: Educating local communities on the risks of forest fires and how to prevent them can also be effective in mitigating the risk of forest fires. This includes providing information on safe campfire practices, prohibiting the use of fireworks in fire-prone areas, and encouraging the use of fire-resistant building materials in areas at high risk of forest fires.

-Source: The Hindu

International Snow Leopard Day

Context:

International Snow Leopard Day is every year celebrated on 23rd October, 2024.

Relevance:

GS III- Environment and Ecology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. International Snow Leopard Day
2. About the Snow leopard
3. Snow Leopards in India and their conservation

International Snow Leopard Day

• International Snow Leopard Day was inaugurated in 2013, spurred by the Bishkek Declaration in Kyrgyzstan, where twelve countries united for a common cause.
• Bishkek Declaration: This pivotal agreement set the stage for collaborative conservation efforts, focusing on the preservation of the snow leopard and its habitat.

Participating Countries

• The snow leopard is native to a range spanning across twelve countries, which include Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• These countries have committed to safeguarding this vulnerable species, which faces threats from habitat loss and poaching, by implementing strategies aimed at their effective conservation.

About the Snow leopard

• The snow leopard is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia.
• It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
• The snow leopard, like all big cats, is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which makes trading of animal body parts (i.e., fur, bones and meat) illegal in CITES signatory countries.
• Global population is estimated to number less than 10,000 mature Snow Leopards.
• It inhabits alpine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m.
• It is threatened by poaching and habitat destruction following infrastructural developments.

Snow Leopards in India and their conservation

• In India, their geographical range encompasses a large part of the western Himalayas including the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas. The last three states form part of the Eastern Himalayas – a priority global region of WWF and the Living Himalayas Network Initiative.
• Project Snow Leopard (PSL): It promotes an inclusive and participatory approach to conservation that fully involves local communities.
• SECURE Himalaya: Global Environment Facility (GEF)-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded the project on conservation of high-altitude biodiversity and reducing the dependency of local communities on the natural ecosystem. This project is now operational in four snow leopard range states, namely, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.

-Source: Down To Earth

World Economic Outlook

Context:

In its January update of the World Economic Outlook (WEO) report, the IMF has marginally improved the forecast for global growth in 2023 — a relief, given the fears of a global recession in 2023. The turnaround reflects “positive surprises and greater-than-expected resilience in numerous economies”.

Relevance:

GS III: Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Highlights of the latest report
2. World Economic Outlook
3. About International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Highlights of the latest report:

• The growth is likely to continue being weak, but stable, at 3.2% both in the next two years, that is, 2024 and 2025.
• For India, the IMF kept its estimate of gross domestic product growth at 7% for 2024, followed by 6.5 percent next year. However, it attributed the moderation in growth from last year to the exhaustion of “pent-up demand accumulated during the pandemic.”.
• The world’s largest economy, the United States is already indicated to grow at 2.8% in 2024 and 2.2% in 2025. The IMF expects China’s economy, the world’s second-largest economy, to grow at 4.8% in 2024 and 4.5% in 2025.
• The overall forecast of the International Monetary Fund on emerging markets and developing economies remained stable in the most recent outlook for the next two years, staying within 4.2 percent, steadying at 3.9 percent by 2029.

World Economic Outlook

• It is a survey by the IMF that is usually published twice a year in the months of April and October.
• It analyzes and predicts global economic developments during the near and medium term.
• The IMF releases the WEO twice every year, in April and October, apart from updating it twice — in January and July.

About International Monetary Fund (IMF)

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
• It consists of 189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. It periodically depends on the World Bank for its resources.
• Through the fund and other activities such as the gathering of statistics and analysis, surveillance of its members’ economies, and the demand for particular policies, the IMF works to improve the economies of its member countries.

Functions of the IMF

• To provide financial assistance to member countries with balance of payments problems, the IMF lends money to replenish international reserves, stabilize currencies and strengthen conditions for economic growth.
• Countries must embark on structural adjustment policies monitored by the IMF.
• It oversees the international monetary system and monitors the economic and financial policies of its 189 member countries.
• As part of this process, which takes place both at the global level and in individual countries, the IMF highlights possible risks to stability and advises on needed policy adjustments.
• It provides technical assistance and training to central banks, finance ministries, tax authorities, and other economic institutions.
• This helps countries raise public revenues, modernize banking systems, develop strong legal frameworks, improve governance, and enhance the reporting of macroeconomic and financial data.
• It also helps countries to make progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

-Source: The Hindu

Korowai Tribe

Context:

An Indian travel vlogger recently travelled deep into the jungles of Indonesia to meet the Korowai tribe, often referred to as a ‘human-eating’ tribe, and documented his experience on social media.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

About Korowai Tribe:

• The Korowai is an indigenous tribe dwelling in the southeastern Papuan region of Indonesia. They have a close affinity with the forest, from which they sources all their means of living through hunting and gathering wild animals and plants.
• Until about 1975, there were virtually no contacts between Korowai and the outside world.
• The Korowai people are popularly known for their treehouses.
• Built 8-15 meters off the ground. This is despite some houses having been up to 45 meters in a tall tree. 
• The Korowai people do not have a special kind of hierarchy system because they regard equalityand harmony among themselves.
• They sensationalized in present media for their connection with cannibalism, an act of consuming human meat.
• Cannibalism is said to have been practiced traditionally by the tribe as a part of spiritual and social belief systems, but it has largely disappeared with time.

-Source: The Hindu