Current Affairs 31 December 2024

Content:

1. ISRO’s docking mission on; spacecraft reach right orbit.
2. Private Members’ Bills get short shrift in both Houses of Parliament.
3. Women electors turned out more than men in LS polls.
4. On India’s obligations towards the Rohingya.
5. Demographic data to stop influx from Myanmar’.
6. Behaviour that causes mental pain to spouse ground for divorce: SC
7. Financial system stable on healthy balance sheets: RBI.
8. Grave new world: human-induced loss of elders threatens various species.
9. NASA probe flies closer to the sun than any spacecraft.

 ISRO’s Docking Mission On; Spacecraft Reach Right Orbit

Context :The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on Monday.

Relevance : GS 3 (Space)

Mission Details:

• Launched on Monday by the PSLV C60 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• Carried two satellites: SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), each weighing 220 kg, along with 24 payloads.
• Satellites deployed into a 475-km circular orbit around 10 p.m.

Operational Progress:

• Successful deployment of spacecraft solar panels.
• Satellites are maneuvering into position, with a distance increase of 20 km over the next few days.
• The docking process is expected to begin by January 7.

Technological Significance:

• Aims to showcase technologies for rendezvous, docking, and undocking—achievements mastered by only a few advanced spacefaring nations.
• Technologies critical for manned moon missions, sample returns, and building space stations.

Strategic Goals:

• Enhances India’s capability for future space missions, including sending an Indian astronaut to the moon and creating an Indian space station.

ISRO’s Achievement:

• Further establishes ISRO as a leader in advancing cutting-edge space technology.

Private Members’ Bills get short shrift in both Houses of Parliament

Context : An analysis by PRS Legislative Research highlights minimal time spent on the private bills in the 17th and early 18th Lok Sabha sessions, reflecting an overall lack of engagement with this parliamentary instrument.

Relevance: GS 2 (Polity & Governance)

Time Spent on Private Members’ Bills (2019–2024):

17th Lok Sabha:

• 9.08 hours spent in the Lok Sabha.
• 27.01 hours spent in the Rajya Sabha.

Decline in the 18th Lok Sabha:

Two Sessions:

• 0.15 hours spent on Bills in the Lok Sabha.
• 0.62 hours in the Rajya Sabha.

Significance of Private Members’ Bills and Resolutions:

• Provide a platform for individual MPs to propose legislation and express views independently.
• Used for political messaging (e.g., the 1966 Bill proposing eligibility criteria for the Prime Minister’s post).
• Historical impact: Only 14 Private Members’ Bills have been passed since independence, with none since 1970.

Reasons for Decline:

• Lack of seriousness: MPs often fail to attend sessions where their Bills are listed.
• All-round indifference: Highlighted by Jairam Ramesh, Chief Whip of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha.

Implications:

• Reflects a weakening of parliamentary tools designed  for individual expression.
• Represents a missed opportunity for political and legislative innovation.

Women Electors Turned Out More Than Men in LS Polls

Context: The Election Commission’s data on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections reveals significant trends in voter turnout, particularly a growing gender gap favoring female voters in certain states.

Relevance: GS 2 (Governance),GS 1 (Migration)

Female Turnout Surpasses Male Turnout:

• The gender gap in turnout has widened in favor of women from 0.16 points in 2019 to 0.23 points in 2024.
• In 15 out of 28 major states and UTs, female turnout was higher than male turnout.

State-wise Gender Patterns:

• Higher Female Turnout: Notable in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, and West Bengal.
• Bihar stands out with the most significant gender gap despite low overall turnout.
• Higher Male Turnout: Observed in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, and states like Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.

Electorate Composition and Turnout Ratios:

• States like Bihar had a higher female voter turnout in absolute numbers despite having more registered male electors.
• In Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, both the electorate and turnout favored women.
• Conversely, states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh saw more men registered and turning out to vote.

Impact of Migration:

• Male-dominated migration from states like Bihar and Jharkhand could explain the higher female turnout.
• Many male workers were unable to return to their home states to vote due to migration for work.
• Migration patterns from Bihar dominate the list of sources and destinations for migrant workers in 2023, with many traveling to non-neighboring states.

Political and Structural Factors:

• Political engagement and mobilization efforts targeting women may contribute to higher female turnout.
• Structural factors like male out-migration significantly influence turnout dynamics in states like Bihar and Jharkhand.

Implications for Policy and Research:

• Understanding these trends requires further analysis of migration data and its effect on voter turnout.
• Strategies to enhance voter participation among migrants and address gender-based turnout gaps may be essential for future elections.

On India’s Obligations towards the Rohingya

Context: The plight of Rohingya refugees in India highlights gross violations of constitutional and human rights, as detailed in a recent study by The Azadi Project and Refugees International.

Relevance: GS 1 (Society), GS 2 (Social Justice)

History:

• Rohingya refugees, a stateless population from Myanmar, face persecution and are detained under India’s domestic laws despite international principles such as non-refoulement.
•  The lack of a standardised refugee policy, inconsistent treatment, and poor living conditions compound their struggles.

International Protections for Rohingya Refugees:

• Non-refoulement: Prohibits deporting individuals to countries where they may face harm; recognized under the 1951 Refugee Convention, customary law, and ICCPR.
• India, though not a signatory to the Refugee Convention, is bound by some international obligations, including the ICCPR.

India’s Legal Position:

• Rohingya are classified as “illegal migrants” under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and Passport Act, 1967.
• The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 excludes Rohingya Muslims from citizenship pathways.

Judicial Stance:

• Courts have recognized non-refoulement under Article 21 (e.g., Gujarat and Delhi High Courts).
• The Supreme Court has allowed deportations, citing national security (Mohammad Salimullah v. Union of India).

Living Conditions and Challenges:

• Detention centres, such as Assam’s Matia Camp, have inhumane conditions.
• NGOs face funding restrictions under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, limiting legal and humanitarian aid.

Policy Gaps:

• India lacks a uniform refugee policy, leading to inconsistent treatment of refugees.
• Geopolitical interests dictate preferential treatment for some groups (e.g., Tibetans) over Rohingya.

India’s handling of Rohingya refugees highlights the need for a comprehensive refugee law to ensure fair treatment, adherence to international obligations, and improved living conditions.

Demographic data to stop influx from Myanmar

Context: The Union Home Ministry has prioritized strengthening Myanmar border security, phasing out the Free Movement Regime (FMR), and fostering peace and development in the Northeast.

Relevance : GS 3 (Internal Security)

Myanmar Border Security:

Demographic Mapping:

• Mapping demographic data in Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur to support border fencing and curb infiltration.

Free Movement Regime (FMR):

• Plans to scrap the FMR with Myanmar while regulating movement within a reduced 10 km limit.
• Final notification pending approval by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Unfenced Border:

• Myanmar shares a 1,643 km largely unfenced border with Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.

Development and Resource Mapping in the Northeast:

• Mineral Mapping:
  Extensive mapping of mineral, oil, and coal reserves to boost revenue through royalties.
• Peace and Prosperity:
  Efforts to promote unity and prosperity in the Northeast, emphasizing regional stability.

Success Against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE):

• Key Achievements:
  Security forces eliminated 287 Naxalites, including 14 top leaders, and arrested 992.
  Government targets eradicating LWE by March 31, 2026.
• Development Scheme:
  Joint scheme by the Union and Chhattisgarh governments to aid LWE-affected populations within three months.

Drug Trafficking and Control:

• Major Operations:
  Seizures include:
  • 3,132 kg of drugs (joint operation by NCB, Navy, and Gujarat Police).
  • 700 kg methamphetamine in Gujarat.
  • 82.53 kg cocaine in Delhi.
    4,134 kg of narcotics seized from deep seas.
• Destruction of Seized Drugs:
  Over 1,17,284 kg of narcotics destroyed in 2024, signaling strong action against drug cartels.

Conclusion:

The Ministry’s multifaceted initiatives underscore its commitment to bolstering border security, combating extremism and drug trafficking, and fostering development in sensitive regions, paving the way for stability and progress.

Behaviour that Causes Mental Pain to Spouse: Ground for Divorce

Context : The Supreme Court ruled that persistent emotional distress caused by a spouse constitutes mental cruelty, a valid ground for divorce.

Relevance : GS 1 (Society ) , GS 2 (Social Justice )

Mental Cruelty as Divorce Ground

• The Supreme Court held that behavior causing immense emotional distress to a spouse amounts to mental cruelty.
• Cruelty includes sustained actions that make cohabitation impossible, extending beyond physical harm.

Case Background

• A husband sought divorce, citing his wife’s behavior, including leaving their home and filing criminal complaints, as mental cruelty.
• The Madras High Court granted the divorce, which the wife later challenged in the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Judgment

• The SC upheld the High Court decision, stating that:
  • Sustained emotional torment and loss of trust constitute cruelty.
  • Marriage becomes a mere legal formality when mutual trust and companionship are absent.

Alimony

• The husband was directed to pay ₹50 lakh as permanent alimony.
• The Court clarified that financial independence of the wife cannot negate her right to maintenance if it ensures dignity, social standing, and stability post-divorce.

Financial System Stable on Healthy Balance Sheets

Context

The RBI reported a stable financial system in 2024, characterized by improved asset quality, strong capital buffers, and shifting deposit preferences driven by rising interest rates.

Relevance : GS 3( Banking )

Asset Quality

• GNPA Ratio: Declined to a 12-year low of 2.6% (as of September 2024).
• NNPA Ratio: Stable at 0.6%.
• Provisioning Coverage Ratio (PCR): Improved to 77%, aided by proactive provisioning, particularly by Public Sector Banks (PSBs).

Profitability Trends

• Positive Trends:
  • Improvement in return on assets (ROA).
  • Increase in earnings before provisions and taxes.

• Challenges:
  • Decline in Net Interest Margin (NIM).
  • Shift in deposits to higher interest rate buckets.

Banking Resilience

• Supported by:
  • Strong capital buffers.
  • Robust earnings.
  • Sustained asset quality improvement.

Deposit Profile Shift

• Decline in CASA deposits in favor of term deposits offering higher interest rates.
• Moderate growth recorded in loans and deposits during H1 2024.

Implications

• Banking Sector Stability : Strong fundamentals enhance resilience against economic shocks.
• Asset Quality : Reduced NPAs and proactive provisioning improve investor confidence.
• Deposit Behavior : Rising interest rates alter deposit preferences, influencing bank margins.

Outlook

• Focus on maintaining capital buffers and provisioning.
• Monitor deposit profile shifts to adapt to evolving interest rate dynamics.

Grave New World: Human-Induced Loss of Elders Threatens Various Species

Context : The loss of elder individuals in animal populations, driven by human activities, disrupts social structures, survival strategies, and reproductive success.

Relevance : GS 3 ( Environment)

Impact of Elder Loss

• Habitat destruction and human activities accelerate elder loss.
• Disruption of social structures and survival dynamics.

Role of Elders in Animal Populations

• Elders guide survival strategies, maintain social stability, and enhance reproductive success.

Scientific Evidence

• Studies highlight:
  • Elephants (Matriarchs): Provide guidance during threats.
  • Orcas (Grandmothers): Improve calf survival rates.

Conservation Challenges

• Hunting and habitat destruction exacerbate elder loss.
• Multi-species fisheries pose complexities in conservation efforts.

Longevity Conservation

Focus Areas

• Protect age structures, especially in long-lived species, to ensure:
  • Robust survival strategies.
  • Better adaptation to environmental challenges.

Policy Suggestions

• Safeguard older, larger individuals.
• Integrate elder loss considerations into conservation policies.

Conservation Case Studies

• Elephants: Matriarch loss increases stress and conflicts.
• Orcas: Grandmothers enhance reproductive success and calf survival.
• Fish/Reptiles: Older individuals contribute to higher reproductive output.

NASA Probe Flies Closer to the Sun Than Any Spacecraft

Context : On December 24, the Parker Solar Probe flew closer to the Sun than any spacecraft, reaching a distance of 6.1 million km. It faced temperatures exceeding 930°C, protected by an advanced heat shield.

Relevance : GS 3 (Science)

Scientific Mission

• Launch Date: August 2018, for a seven-year mission.
• Objective:
  • Explore the Sun’s corona.
  • Improve predictions of space-weather events impacting Earth.

Significance of the Flyby

• Flyby Date and Time: December 24, 5:23 AM IST, with confirmation expected by December 28.
• Despite extreme external temperatures, the spacecraft’s instruments remained cool (~29°C).

Unique Capabilities

• Speed: Travels at 690,000 km/h, fast enough to cover the distance from New Delhi to Chennai in just 10 seconds.
• Orbit Adjustment: Uses Venus flybys to tighten its orbit around the Sun.

Scientific Goals

• Study:
  • Origin of solar winds.
  • Why the Sun’s corona is hotter than its surface.
  • Formation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

Future Plans

• Two additional record-setting close passes are scheduled for:
  • March 22, 2025.
  • June 19, 2025.
• Continues returning valuable data from previously unexplored regions of the Sun.

Significance for Space Science

• The Parker Solar Probe represents bold scientific exploration, tackling critical questions about the Sun and its influence on the solar system.
• It advances our understanding of solar phenomena and their effects on Earth.