Current Affairs 26 December 2024

Content:

1. ₹45,000-cr. Ken-Betwa link project launched.
2. Government must not ape private sector’s insecure gig work conditions, says SC.
3. The lapses in the disaster management Bill
4. Surveillance reform is the need of the hour.
5. India, Saudi Arabia explore joint ventures in defence sector
6. Govt. will boost spending quality, cut fiscal deficit’
7. Pakistan air strikes kill 46, mostly women and children, in Afghanistan, say Taliban
8. What is Australia’s Online Safety Amendment about?
9. How the 2004 Indian Ocean quake transformed tsunami science

₹45,000-cr. Ken-Betwa link project launched

Context: Ken-Betwa link national project Launched in two phases.

Relevance : GS 3 ( Infrastructure, Ecology )

• Purpose: Provide irrigation, drinking water, and industrial water to regions in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

• Water Transfer: Water from the Ken River will be redirected to the Betwa River via a 221 km long canal.

• Construction of Daudhan dam under the project.

• Impact: Irrigation facilities will cover 8.5 lakh hectares in Madhya Pradesh and 2.5 lakh hectares in Uttar Pradesh.

• Beneficiaries: 2013 villages in Bundelkhand, including districts like Chhatarpur, Panna, and Sagar, will benefit.

• Power Generation: 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power will be generated.

• Economic Transformation: The project will boost agriculture, provide drinking water to 44 lakh people, and promote tourism in the region.

• Budget: Estimated at Rs. 1 lakh crore, with the central government funding Rs. 90,000 crore.

Additional data:

Strategic Importance:

• Water Security for Bundelkhand: Crucial for irrigation and consumption in a drought-prone region.
• Enhanced Irrigation Infrastructure: Aims to double farmers’ incomes by boosting agricultural output.

Linking National Goals:

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Promotes water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and groundwater recharge.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addresses SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Criticism and Challenges:

• Geopolitical Concerns: Potential tensions over water-sharing between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• Ecological Costs: Habitat destruction in Panna Tiger Reserve.
• Cost Escalation: Project budget may increase due to delays or unforeseen challenges.

Economic Impact on Local Communities:

• Job Creation: Employment during construction and operation.
• Boost to Ancillary Industries: Development of agro-based industries, food processing, and tourism.

Future Prospects:

• National Perspective: Ken-Betwa project as a pilot for the National River Linking Project.
• Scalability: Insights for larger projects like the Ganga-Cauvery interlink.

Government must not ape private sector’s insecure gig work conditions, says SC

Context: The Supreme Court, in a recent judgment, addressed the issue of precarious employment arrangements, especially in the public sector, and the need for fair treatment of workers.

Relevance : GS 2 (Governance, Social Security )

• Gig Economy Concerns: The Court criticized the rise of the gig economy in the private sector, which often leads to exploitative employment with a lack of job security, benefits, and fair treatment.

• Government’s Role: As a large employer, the government must avoid adopting similar exploitative practices and ensure fair treatment of workers.

• Case of Temporary Staff: The case involved cleaning and gardening staff at the Central Water Commission, whose termination was challenged. The Court ruled that their continuous service and essential duties warranted regularization, despite them being classified as part-time workers.

• Judicial Ruling: The Court emphasized the importance of considering long-term service and job requirements over formal designations like “temporary” or “part-time” when deciding on regularization.

• International Labour Standards: The Court highlighted India’s role in the International Labour Organization (ILO) and reinforced the need for stable, fair employment practices.

Supplementary Data:

Gig Economy in India:

• Size & Growth: By 2024, India’s gig workforce is estimated to reach 23.5 million, growing at 17% annually.
• Job Security: Only 1 in 4 gig workers report receiving adequate job security or benefits.

Judicial Precedents:

• Olga Tellis vs Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985): Recognized the “right to livelihood” under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• State of Karnataka vs Uma Devi (2006): Established principles for regularization of workers employed irregularly in government roles.

ILO Conventions:

• C122: Employment Policy Convention emphasizes full, productive, and freely chosen employment.
• C131: Minimum Wage Fixing Convention ensures fair wages in both private and public sectors

The lapses in the disaster management Bill.

Context: The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 has raised concerns regarding its effectiveness and inclusivity in improving disaster management in India.

Relevance : GS 3 (Disaster Management)

• Lack of Participatory Governance: The Bill uses top-down terminology like “monitor” and “guidelines,” which undermines community involvement, especially considering that local communities are often the first responders in disasters.

• Inadequate Recognition of Local Roles: The Bill defines terms like ‘hazard’ and ‘vulnerability,’ but it does not acknowledge the crucial roles of local communities, panchayats, and NGOs in disaster response.

• Failure to Address Intersectional Vulnerability: The Bill ignores intersectional discrimination affecting marginalized groups, such as women, the disabled, and LGBTQIA communities, weakening its claim to be inclusive.

• Omission of Accountability Measures: Key sections related to minimum relief standards, evaluation of district authorities’ performance, and provisions for vulnerable groups (widows, orphans, etc.) have been removed, eroding accountability.

• Exclusion of Law and Order Issues: The Bill excludes law and order from the definition of ‘man-made causes’ but still involves police officials in disaster management, raising questions about the role of law enforcement in such contexts.

• Neglect of Animal Welfare: The Bill does not address the deaths of animals in disasters, nor does it ensure that District Authorities follow the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, undermining disaster preparedness for animals.

• Urban Disaster Management Authority (UDMA): The proposed UDMA’s need is unclear, particularly as Municipal Corporations often contribute to urban flooding through poor urban planning and encroachment on water bodies and aquifers.

• Lack of Regional Collaboration: The Bill misses an opportunity to enhance regional collaboration on disaster management, particularly with South Asian groupings like SAARC and BIMSTEC, which are crucial for addressing cross-border disaster impacts.

• Global and Regional Cooperation: The Bill should have emphasized international collaboration and decentralization, referencing agreements like the 2011 SAARC Agreement on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters. The lack of focus on regional cooperation is a significant gap.

Surveillance reform is the need of the hour

Context: The article discusses the rising concerns about surveillance practices in India.

Relevance: GS 3 (Security)

• Pegasus Spyware: The article highlights a U.S. court ruling on December 20, 2024, holding Israel’s NSO Group responsible for installing Pegasus spyware on phones, targeting over 300 Indians, including journalists and activists.

• Threat to Privacy and Press Freedom: The use of Pegasus against journalists undermines press freedom, which is crucial for democracy. It threatens the privacy and safety of journalists, especially those critical of the government.

• Flaws in Existing Surveillance Laws: Current surveillance laws, such as the Indian Telegraph Act and IT Act, are opaque and fail to provide sufficient judicial oversight, giving the executive branch unchecked power for surveillance.

• Violation of Constitutional Rights: Covert surveillance violates fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, including freedom of speech, privacy, and personal liberty.

• Need for Judicial Oversight: The article argues for judicial oversight over surveillance practices to ensure they are proportionate and necessary, balancing state security and individual rights.

• Risk of Mass Surveillance: As surveillance technologies become cheaper and more efficient, mass surveillance could become widespread, threatening individual freedoms and democratic values.

• Call for Surveillance Reform: The authors advocate for immediate and comprehensive surveillance reform, including stronger legal protections, better judicial checks, and the prevention of authoritarian practices through transparency and accountability in surveillance actions.

India, Saudi Arabia explore joint ventures in defence sector

Context: India-Saudi Arabia aims to boost indigenous defence industries under their respective initiatives—Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and India’s Make in India.

Relevance: GS 2 (International Relations)

• Strengthening Defence Cooperation: India and Saudi Arabia are increasingly focusing on defence industrial cooperation. Both countries are seeking to establish joint ventures and collaborations, particularly in technology sharing.

• Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: Saudi Arabia aims to localise 50% of its defence spending under Vision 2030, and India’s Make in India initiative aligns with this goal, providing numerous investment opportunities in India’s defence sector.

• Technological Collaboration: Saudi Arabia is keen to collaborate in areas like shipbuilding, electronics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Saudi defence companies are interested in forming partnerships with India in these critical sectors.

• Localisation of Defence Production: Both countries, historically major importers of defence equipment, are now focused on localising production. India has made significant progress in this area, and it is willing to share these technologies with trusted allies like Saudi Arabia.

• Growing India-Saudi Arabia Ties: Defence and security have become central to the India-Saudi Arabia relationship over the past decade. There have been high–level visits and strong cooperation in various areas, reflecting the growing trust between the two nations.

• Saudi Arabia’s Shift: Saudi Arabia is transitioning from being a defence consumer to a defence producer, with an emphasis on developing its own capabilities under Vision b.

Govt. will boost spending quality, cut fiscal deficit’

Context: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the 2025-26 Budget on February 1, and the government is committed to reducing the fiscal deficit to 4.5% of GDP by FY2026.

Relevance: GS 3 ( Budget,Economy)

• Fiscal Deficit Reduction: The government’s goal is to reduce the fiscal deficit to 4.5% of GDP by FY2026, continuing the fiscal consolidation efforts started in FY2021–22.

• Focus on Quality Spending: The government will prioritize improving the quality of public spending, while simultaneously strengthening the social security net for the poor and vulnerable.

• Macroeconomic Stability: This strategy aims to bolster India’s macroeconomic fundamentals and ensure overall financial stability despite ongoing global uncertainties.

• Growth with Fiscal Consolidation: India’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals helped shield it from global risks, allowing the country to maintain growth while pursuing fiscal consolidation.

• Expenditure Estimates: The 2024-25 Budget estimates total expenditure of ₹48.21 lakh crore, with about ₹37.09 lakh crore allocated for revenue account and ₹11.11 lakh crore for capital account.

• Capital Expenditure (Capex): The effective capital expenditure for 2024-25 is projected at ₹15.02 lakh crore, including grants for the creation of capital assets.

• Fiscal Deficit for 2024-25: The fiscal deficit for 2024–25 is pegged at ₹16.13 lakh crore, or 4.9% of GDP. In the first half of FY25, the fiscal deficit is estimated at ₹4.75 lakh crore (29.4% of the budgeted figure).

Pakistan air strikes kill 46, mostly women and children, in Afghanistan, say Taliban

Context :

• Recent airstrikes by Pakistan in eastern Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of 46 individuals, mostly women and children.

• Highlights the ongoing instability in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.

Relevance : GS 2(International Relations )

Historical Tensions

• Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations:
  • Persistent mistrust and conflicting interests.
  • Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants.
  • Afghanistan alleges Pakistan’s interference in its internal affairs.

Militant Activities

• Presence of TTP:
  • TTP’s alliance with the Afghan Taliban complicates security efforts.
  • Cross-border operations by Pakistan often cause collateral damage and civilian casualties.

• Militant Safe Havens:
  • Both countries accuse each other of sheltering militants, hindering stabilization efforts.

Humanitarian Impact

• Civilian Casualties:
  • Airstrikes disproportionately affect civilians, including women and children.
  • Leads to displacement and worsening living conditions.

• Refugee Crisis:
  • Refugees fleeing conflict zones add to regional instability.

Geopolitical Dynamics

• Influence of External Powers:
  • US, China, and Russia’s involvement complicates regional dynamics.
  • Strategic interests shape local conflicts and political alignments.

• Taliban’s Role:
  • Taliban’s governance and cross-border interactions impact regional stability.

Economic and Development Challenges

• Underdevelopment:
  • Lack of economic opportunities fuels militancy and hinders peacebuilding.

• Infrastructure Damage:
  • Conflicts destroy critical infrastructure, impeding development and relief efforts.

Political Instability

• Governance Issues:
  • Weak governance and political instability in both countries.
  • Corruption, lack of rule of law, and factional politics worsen instability.

What is Australia’s Online Safety Amendment about?

Objective of the Amendment:

• The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill, 2024 aims to reduce harm to children under 16 years of age using social media platforms by mandating age verification for account creation.

• The amendment adds a new Part 4A to the Online Safety Act of 2021 targeting social media platforms with age-restricted users (children under 16 years).

Relevance : Facts for Prelims

Provisions of the Bill:

• Mandatory Age Verification:
  • Social media platforms are required to take reasonable steps to prevent users under 16 from creating accounts.
  • Platforms impacted by the bill include major services like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram, X (Twitter), etc.

• Penalties for Non-Compliance:
  • Platforms that fail to comply with these requirements could face civil penalties of up to $49.5 million.

• Age Verification Guidelines:
  • The eSafety Commissioner will issue guidelines for what constitutes “reasonable steps” for age verification and how platforms should enforce these steps.

Implementation Timeline:

• The law will be enforced no earlier than 12 months from the day of the legislation’s passage.

• A government-led age assurance trial will guide platforms on acceptable verification methods.

Privacy Concerns:

• Age Assurance Technologies:
  • These technologies, used to verify age, raise concerns about privacy as they collect, store, and potentially share sensitive personal data.

• Privacy Obligations:
  • Entities collecting personal data for age verification must comply with privacy rules under the Privacy Act, 1988.

• There will be penalties for improper use or disclosure of personal data, and platforms must destroy this data once it has been used for verification.

No Impact on Content Access:

• The amendment does not prevent children from accessing content on age-restricted social media platforms; it only prohibits them from creating accounts.

• Parents will not face penalties for allowing children under 16 to use social media.

Criticism and Concerns:

• Effectiveness of a Blanket Ban:
  • Some experts argue that a complete ban on social media for children is too blunt an instrument and may not address risks effectively.

• Criticism from Australian Greens:
  • The Greens have criticized the bill as being “rushed” and “reckless”, questioning whether it truly addresses the root causes of harm.

• Emerging Research on Social Media’s Impact on Children:
  • Growing research highlights concerns about the mental health effects of social media on children, making the bill’s focus on reducing social media access timely, but not without contention.

Future Developments:

• The Australian government also plans to introduce a Digital Duty of Care to further ensure digital platforms proactively protect Australians from online harms.

How the 2004 Indian Ocean quake transformed tsunami science

Unexpected Scale and Impact:

• The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, triggered by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off the Sumatran coast, was the third–largest earthquake since 1900.

• The tsunami impacted 17 countries, with a death toll of 227,000+ and 1.7 million displaced. The event was unprecedented for many affected regions, including India’s eastern seaboard, where no similar historical events were recorded.

Relevance : GS 3(Disaster Management )

Advancements in Tsunami Science:

• Tsunami Warning Systems:
  • The Indian government established the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) in 2007, providing real-time monitoring of the Indian Ocean region.

• ITEWC uses seismological stations, bottom pressure recorders, and tidal stations to detect potential tsunami-inducing earthquakes and issue warnings within 10 minutes.

• Tsunami Geology:
  • Researchers began using tsunami geology to trace past tsunami events. Evidence of ancient tsunamis was discovered through inspections of mangrove swamps and archaeological sites like Mahabalipuram.

• This led to a surge in studies on historical tsunamis and the application of GPS and earthquake instrumentation to enhance seismic monitoring.

New Research Directions:

• Tsunami Modelling:
  • Mathematical tsunami modelling was used to study potential inundation limits, particularly in vulnerable coastal areas and nuclear power plant locations.

• Risk Awareness:
  • The 2004 event raised awareness of the vulnerability of nuclear power plants (e.g., Kalpakkam) to tsunami risks, leading to discussions on the potential for nuclear disasters, as highlighted by the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Tsunami Hazard Awareness:

• The earthquake and tsunami prompted focus on understudied regions like the Makran Coast in the northern Arabian Sea and Myanmar coast, both of which could generate significant tsunamis.

• There is growing concern over unbroken subduction zones between Myanmar and India, with the potential for future large-scale earthquakes and tsunamis.

Advances in Earthquake Prediction:

• Slow slips: The study of tectonic fault movements and slow ruptures has provided insights into earthquake behavior and possible precursors to large seismic events.

• The 2004 earthquake provided critical data for seismological research, contributing to a better understanding of seismic slip and the processes of earthquake generation.

Global Tsunami Awareness:

• The tsunami underscored the vulnerability of global coastal regions to natural hazards and the importance of early warning systems.

• It also marked a milestone in earthquake and tsunami research, influencing disaster preparedness and resilience strategies worldwide.