Daily Current Affairs 18 January 2024 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 18 January 2024 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Forest Fire in Himalayas

Source: Down To Earth
GS III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI)
3. About Forest Fires
4. How does India fight against Forest Fires?

Why in the News?

Forest fire incidents have increased seven times this year; there have been 2,050 incidents in 3 months, data shows

News in Brief

• It is surreal as one can see smoke plumes everywhere.
• This may be a common sight in the plains during the stubble-burning season in autumn.
• But seeing this in the mountains at this time is a completely new experience.
• Forest fires have a damaging impact on forest biodiversity and soil.
• Thousands of hectares of forests as well as dozens of houses have been burnt to the ground in these fires.
• Incidents have been reported from all districts of the state, with major fires in Kinnaur, Manali, Kullu, Chamba and Shimla in the last three weeks.

Data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI)

• There have been 2,050 incidents of forest fires between October 16, 2023 and January 16, 2024.
• There were just 296 incidents of forest fires during the same period last year.
• Himachal reported 123 major fire incidents during the winter of 2022-2023.
• Uttarakhand was second, Andhra Pradesh third and Jammu and Kashmir fourth.
• Some 15 per cent of Himachal’s 37,033 square kilometres of forest area is covered with chir pine, an extremely fire-prone and flammable type of tree.
• Himachal, there has been a 100 per cent rainfall deficit in January, according to the meteorological department.

About Forest Fires

Forest fires, also known as wildfires or wildland fires, are uncontrolled fires that spread rapidly through vegetation in forests, grasslands, and other natural landscapes.

• These fires can cause significant damage to ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and human structures.
• There are several reasons for the occurrence of forest fires, and they can be categorized into natural and human-caused factors.

What is the reason for the Forest Fire?

• Natural Causes
  • Lightning Strikes: Lightning is a common natural ignition source for wildfires. When lightning strikes dry vegetation, it can ignite a fire that quickly spreads through the surrounding area.
  • Volcanic Activity: Volcanic eruptions can release hot lava and ash that can start fires in nearby vegetation.
• Human Causes
  • Campfires: Improperly extinguished or unattended campfires and barbecues can spark wildfires, especially in dry conditions.
  • Discarded Cigarettes: Carelessly discarded cigarette butts in dry vegetation can lead to fires.
  • Burning Debris: Uncontrolled burning of yard waste, agricultural debris, or other materials can escalate into wildfires.
  • Arson: Deliberate setting of fires by individuals for various reasons, such as vandalism, revenge, or for personal satisfaction.
• Equipment and Machinery
  • Sparks from Equipment: Sparks generated by equipment such as chainsaws, grinders, or vehicles in areas with dry vegetation can ignite fires.
  • Power Lines: Electrical lines and equipment can cause wildfires if they malfunction or if power lines come into contact with vegetation.
• Drought and Dry Conditions
  • Prolonged periods of drought or dry weather create conditions where vegetation becomes highly flammable.
  • Lack of moisture in the soil and plants contributes to the rapid spread of wildfires.
• Winds
  • Strong winds can carry embers over long distances, allowing fires to quickly jump from one area to another.
  • Wind-driven wildfires are often more challenging to control.
• Climate Change
  • Changes in climate patterns, including rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, can contribute to more frequent and intense wildfires.

Issues related to Forest Fires

• Loss of Biodiversity
  • Forest fires can lead to the destruction of habitats, causing the loss of plant and animal species.
  • Some species may not be able to escape fast-moving fires, resulting in population declines or local extinctions.
• Air Quality
  • Large-scale forest fires release significant amounts of smoke, particulate matter, and pollutants into the air.
  • This can have serious implications for air quality, leading to respiratory problems and other health issues for both humans and wildlife.
• Carbon Emissions
  • Forest fires release large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
  • This contributes to climate change by adding to the concentration of greenhouse gases and exacerbating global warming.
• Soil Erosion
  • The intense heat from forest fires can destroy vegetation and the organic layer of soil, making it more susceptible to erosion.
  • This can result in mudslides and the loss of fertile topsoil, impacting the health of the ecosystem.
• Water Quality
  • Ash and debris from forest fires can contaminate water sources, affecting water quality.
  • Increased runoff and erosion can also lead to sedimentation in rivers and streams, negatively impacting aquatic ecosystems.
• Displacement of Wildlife
  • Animals may be forced to flee their habitats due to the rapid spread of fires.
  • This displacement can lead to conflicts with humans, as wildlife may enter populated areas in search of food and shelter.
• Loss of Timber Resources
  • Forest fires can destroy valuable timber resources, impacting the forestry industry and local economies that depend on these resources.
• Economic Costs
  • The suppression and recovery efforts for large-scale forest fires can be expensive.
  • Additionally, communities affected by wildfires may experience economic losses due to damage to infrastructure, homes, and businesses.
  • Fire Safety Department report says 369 incidents of fire in Himachal fires caused damages to the tune of Rs 10 crore.
• Human Health Impacts
  • The smoke and air pollution generated by forest fires can pose serious health risks, especially for individuals with respiratory conditions.
  • Evacuations and property loss can also take a toll on the mental and emotional well-being of affected communities.
• Infrastructure Damage
  • Forest fires can damage or destroy infrastructure such as homes, roads, power lines, and communication systems.
  • Rebuilding and repairing these structures can be costly and time-consuming.

How does India fight against Forest Fires?

The frequency of forest fire incidents in India has increased by 52% in the last two decades, from 2000 to 2020, according to a 2021 analysis by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water.

The National Action Plan on Forest Fire

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has prepared a National Action Plan on Forest Fire to minimize forest fires started in 2018.
• Actions by informing, enabling and empowering forest fringe communities.
• incentivizing these communities to work in tandem with the Forest Departments.

Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme (FPM)

• Government-sponsored programme dedicated to assisting states in dealing with forest fires.
• It replaced the Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS) in 2017.
• Funds allocated under the FPM are according to a center-state cost-sharing formula.
  • 90:10 ratio of central to state funding in North East and Western Himalayan regions.
  • 60:40 ratio for other states.
• Funds are used for
  • Creation and maintenance of fire lines
  • Construction of water conservation structures
  • Procurement of firefighting equipment
  • Awareness creation
  • Incentivizing villages/communities for protection against forest fire etc.

16th Finance Commission

Source: PIB
GS II: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Finance Commission
3. 16th Finance Commission

Why in the News?

The Union Cabinet approved the creation of three posts at the level of Joint Secretary

News in Brief

• Two posts of Joint Secretary and one post of Economic Adviser for the 16th Finance Commission.
• It was constituted in pursuance of Article 280 of the Constitution.
• The newly created posts are required to assist the Commission in carrying out its functions.
• All other posts in the Commission have already been created as per the delegated powers.

Finance Commission

As per the clause (1) of article 280 of the Constitution, the Finance Commission is to be constituted every fifth year or earlier.

• Finance Commission is a constitutional body.
• The Finance Commissions are commissions periodically constituted by the President of India under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution.
• To define the financial relations between the central government of India and the individual state governments.
• Founded: 22 November 1951
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• The Finance Commission normally takes about two years to make their recommendations.
• As the recommendations of the 15th FC cover the six years up to 31st March 2026, the 16th FC is proposed to be constituted now.
• This will enable the Finance Commission to consider and appraise the finances of the Union and the States for the period immediately, preceding the period of its recommendations.

16th Finance Commission

• The Advance Cell of the 16th FC was formed in the Ministry of Finance on 21.11.2022, to oversee preliminary work, pending formal constitution of the Commission.
• Arvind Panagariya has been appointed as the Chief of the commission with the main task of determining revenue sharing between Central Government and State Government for a period of five years from April 1, 2026.
• Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey who is currently the joint secretary in the Ministry of Finance will be secretary to the commission.
• The tenure of each Finance Commission is five years.

Terms of Reference for the Sixteenth Finance Commission

• The distribution between the Union and the States of the net proceeds of taxes which are to be, or maybe, divided between them under Chapter I, Part XII of the Constitution and the allocation between the States of the respective shares of such proceeds;
• The principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India and the sums to be paid to the States by way of grants-in-aid of their revenues under Article 275 of the Constitution for purposes other than those specified in the provisos to clause (1) of that article.
• The measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats and Municipalities in the State based on the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State.

Article 280

(1) The President shall, within two years from the commencement of this Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of every fifth year or at such earlier, time as the President considers necessary, by order constitute a Finance Commission which shall consist of a Chairman and four other members to be appointed by the President.

(2) Parliament may by law determine the qualifications which shall be requisite for appointment as members of the Commission and the manner in which they shall be selected.

India and Netherlands Medical Products Regulation

Source: PIB
GS II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)
3. Netherlands
4. India-Netherlands Bilateral Relations

Why in the News?

The Union Cabinet was apprised of a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) signed between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, Kingdom of the Netherlands.

News in Brief (India and Netherlands Medical products Regulation)

• The MoI was signed on 7th November, 2023.
• The MoI seeks to establish a framework for fruitful cooperation and exchange of information.
• The MoI between the regulatory authorities of the two countries will facilitate a better understanding of medical product regulation about pharmaceuticals
• This includes raw materials for pharmaceutical use, biological products, medical devices and cosmetic products.
• Convergence in regulatory practices could help in increasing the export of medicines from India
• MoI helps in better employment opportunities for educated professionals in the Pharmaceutical sector.
• The MoI will facilitate the export of medical products leading to foreign exchange earnings.
• This would be a step towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)

• The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO) under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• It is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India.
• Its headquarters is located at FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi 110002
• It has nine zonal offices, seven sub-zonal offices, eighteen Port offices, seven central laboratories and six mini-labs spread across the country.
• The Drugs & Cosmetics Act,1940 and Rules 1945 have entrusted various responsibilities to central & state regulators for the regulation of drugs & cosmetics.
• It envisages uniform implementation of the provisions of the Act & Rules made there for ensuring the safety, rights and well-being of the patients by regulating the drugs and cosmetics.
• CDSCO is constantly striving to bring out transparency, accountability and uniformity in its services to ensure the safety, efficacy and quality of the medical products manufactured, imported and distributed in the country.
• Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, CDSCO is responsible for
  • Approval of Drugs
  • Conduct of Clinical Trials
  • Laying down the Standards for Drugs
  • Control over the quality of imported Drugs in the country
  • Coordination of the activities of State Drug Control
• Organizations providing expert advice with a view of bringing about uniformity in the enforcement of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
• Further, CDSCO along with state regulators, is jointly responsible for granting licenses of certain specialized categories of critical Drugs such as blood and blood products, I. V. Fluids, Vaccine and Sera.

Netherlands

• Former name Holland
• The Netherlands, is a country in northwestern Europe.
• The official language is Dutch
• Borders
  • Germany to the east
  • Belgium to the south
  • North Sea coastline to the north and west
• Maritime borders with the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium.
• 26% situated below sea level.
• Amsterdam is the country’s capital.
• It is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy.

India-Netherlands Bilateral Relations

• Water, Agriculture and Health (WAH) are 3 priority sectors of cooperation besides technology and innovation.

Indian Diaspora

• The Netherlands hosts the second-largest Indian Diaspora (after the UK) in Europe.
• Totalling around 2,60,000 comprising 60,000 Indians and 2,00,000 strong Surinami-Hindustani community of Indian origin.
• The Netherlands is a popular education destination for Indian students, particularly in the field of science & technology.

Trade and Commercial Relations

• Netherlands is India’s 4th largest trading partner in Europe in 2021-22.
• It is the 4th largest investor in India.
• Exports worth USD 12 billion and imports worth approx. USD 5 billion.
• Cumulative FDI inflows from the Netherlands to India from April 2000 to June 2022 amounted to USD 43 billion.
• 300 Dutch companies are present in India.
• 300 Indian companies, including all major IT companies such as TCS, HCL, Wipro, and Infosys.

Ports/Shipping/Inland Waterways

• Both sides signed an MoU in the fields of Ports and Maritime Transport and Logistics in 2008.
• Special focus on research and development, shipbuilding, innovation and sustainability.
• The 4th Indo-Dutch Forum on Smart & Sustainable Port-Led Development was held in September 2020.

S&T and Space

• Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) collaborates with major national funders of research in India.
• The Netherlands was India’s partner country in the Technology Summit 2019.
• The Netherlands was a partner country with India for the Global Bio India 2021 Virtual Summit.

Healthcare cooperation

• MoU for Cooperation in the Field of Healthcare and Public Health was signed in January 2014.
  • Aims to promote global research collaboration in emerging health challenges associated with communicable diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
• India and the Netherlands cooperate through a Joint Working Group on Health led by the Ministry of Health
• 3rd meeting of this JWG was held in April 2021.

Renewable Energy

• The Netherlands signed the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in May 2018.
• India is one of the convening countries of the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA), headquartered in the Netherlands.
• NITI Aayog and the Embassy of Netherlands, signed a Statement of Intent in 2020 to work together to support the decarbonisation and energy transition agenda.

Cultural Cooperation

• Yoga is very popular in the Netherlands.
• The Gandhi Centre has been functional in The Hague since 2011.

Prelims

Jagannath Temple

News: The Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor project at Puri in Odisha will be open to the public on 17 Jan 2024.

• It is a part of Char Dham
• dedicated to Lord Jagannath (a form of Lord Vishnu), Balabhadra, Subhadra.
• Built in the 12th century by Anatavarman Chodaganga.
• Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
• It was rebuilt over the centuries by later rulers like Gajapatis.
• It is believed to be the site of an earlier temple linked to King Indrayumna.
• The temple stands in the center of an inner courtyard on a high-raised platform.
• It has four components:-
  • Vimana or Deula (Garbagriha)
  • Jagamohana
  • Natamandapa
  • Bhogamandapa
• The architectural style of the Jagannath temple is a combination of two types-Rekha and Pidha.
• It has Four intricately carved gates.

Digi Yatra

News: Recently, there was a surge in complaints from passengers using various airports about the “coercive and deceptive” manner in which both private staff and CISF personnel were enrolling them for Digi Yatra.

• Industry-led initiative that uses facial recognition technology to make terminal entry & security clearance at the airport.
• Decentralised mobile-based ID storage platform where air travellers can save their IDs and travel documents.
• Implemented by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) and DigiYatra Foundation.
• It benefit of reduced wait time.
• It results in lower-cost operations.
• Digi Yatra convenient and reduces congestion at airports.

African Cheetah

News: Recently, experts have appealed to IUCN  to upgrade Horn of Africa cheetah status to ‘endangered’.

• Conservation status:-
  • IUCN status: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
• Its Habitat is African Savannahs.
• They are the fastest of all land animals.
• Physique
  • They have a long, slender body measuring 1.2 meters (4 feet), with a long tail (65–85 cm ) to balance, that generally ends in a white tuft.
  • Their weight ranges from 34 to 54 kg (75 to 119 pounds), males being slightly larger than females.
  • They are bigger in size as compared to Asiatic Cheetah.
  • They have small black round spots all over their body, black markings running from the inside of the eye to the corner of the mouth.

Soligas & Yeravas

News: A recent book has looked into the diets of the Soligas and the Yeravas communities. 

• They have been living in the Cauvery Basin and the surrounding hills of peninsular India for thousands of years. 
• The book Forgotten Trails: Foraging Wild Edibles was authored by Malemleima Ningombi and Harisha RP. 
• Language – Sholaga, which belongs to the Dravidian family. 
• Soligas
  • They are an indigenous tribe of Biligiri Rangan Hills (B.R. Hills) in Karnataka who have been dependent on the forests for their livelihood traditionally. 
  • They are also called as Children of bamboo. 
  • They are considered the 1st settlers of India. 
  • Their home, BR Hills, was among the 1st areas to be declared a wildlife sanctuary in India, in 1974. 
  • They were the 1st community to win resident rights in a tiger reserve when the region got the status in 2011. 
• Yaravas 
  • They came to Karnataka from the Wayanad district in Kerala and settled in the Kodagu district of the state whose settlements are called ‘Kunju’. 
  • Language – Revula language. 
  • Occupation – Most of them are agricultural workers in coffee plantations and tea estates. 
  • Culture – There are many customs and rituals practised among the Adiyas who believe in witchcraft. 

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