Daily Current Affairs 05 February 2024 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 05 February 2024 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
National Conference on Promotion of Seaweed Cultivation
Source: PIB
GS II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate
Overview
- News in Brief
- About Seaweed and Distribution
- Seaweeds Beds in India
Why in the News?
National Conference on Promotion of Seaweed Cultivation was recently held in Gujarat’s Kutch region at Koteshwar (Kori Creek).
News in Brief
- Its goal was to establish seaweed farming throughout India, focusing on encouraging the practice to increase fish farmers’ income and diversify their marine output.
About Seaweed and Distribution
- Seaweeds, often called macroalgae, are a broad category of photosynthetic organisms that are found in abundance in marine habitats.
- Seaweeds are found in many habitats throughout the world’s oceans, ranging from deep-sea ecosystems to intertidal zones.
- Several variables, including temperature, light availability, nutrient levels, and substrate type, affect the spread of seaweeds.
- Seaweeds hold immense ecological significance, contributing to the health and functioning of marine ecosystems in several ways.
- Absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
- Provide habitat and shelter for a diverse array of marine organisms.
- Play a vital role in nutrient cycling within marine ecosystems.
- Seaweeds help stabilize coastlines by reducing the impact of waves and storms.
Seaweeds Beds in India
- The beaches of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, as well as the area surrounding Lakshadweep and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, are rich in seaweed resources.
- There are notable seaweed beds around Mumbai, Goa, Varkala, Karwar, Vizhinjam, and Pulicat in Tamil Nadu, Ratnagiri, Andhra Pradesh, and Chilka in Orissa.
What are the challenges for Seaweed?
- Environmental Stressors: Seaweed cultivation can be susceptible to environmental stressors such as temperature fluctuations, changes in water quality, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events. These stressors can affect the growth, health, and survival of seaweed crops.
- Competing Species and Predation: Seaweeds are often in competition with other marine organisms for space, nutrients, and sunlight. Herbivorous marine animals like sea urchins and certain fish species may also feed on seaweed, leading to biomass loss and crop damage.
- Disease and Pathogens: Seaweed farms can be vulnerable to diseases and pathogens that affect seaweed health and productivity. Diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens can spread rapidly within seaweed populations, leading to crop losses.
- Invasive Species: Invasive species, both marine and terrestrial, can pose a threat to native seaweed species and ecosystems. Invasive seaweeds may outcompete native species for resources or alter habitat dynamics, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
- Pollution and Contamination: Pollution from industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, sewage discharge, and marine debris can adversely affect seaweed growth and quality. Contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics can accumulate in seaweed tissues, posing risks to human health and the environment.
- Overharvesting and Unsustainable Harvest Practices: Unsustainable harvesting practices, including overharvesting and destructive harvesting methods, can deplete natural seaweed populations and disrupt marine ecosystems. Sustainable management practices, including regulation of harvesting quotas and implementation of protected areas, are essential for preserving seaweed biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
- Regulatory and Legal Challenges: Regulatory frameworks governing seaweed cultivation, harvesting, and trade can vary widely between countries and regions. Lack of clear regulations, inconsistent enforcement, and bureaucratic barriers can hinder sustainable seaweed farming and commercialization efforts.
- Market Demand and Economic Viability: Despite the growing interest in seaweed-based products and applications, challenges related to market demand, price volatility, supply chain logistics, and infrastructure development can affect the economic viability of seaweed cultivation ventures
Pollution emitting Industries
Source: PIB
GS III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessmentImportant International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate
Overview
- News in Brief
- What is the gross non-compliance?
- Reason for the enactment of EPA
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
Why in the News?
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has devised a ‘Standard Protocol for Conducting Inspections, Report Preparation and Action’.
News in Brief
- The action against violators is taken based on the guidelines prescribed in this protocol.
- In general, for minor non-compliances, a show-cause notice is issued to the unit, in line with the principles of Natural Justice and to allow the unit, before issuance of closure directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- However, closure directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 are issued directly to the unit if it is found grossly non-complying with prescribed environmental standards and other shortcomings which have the potential to cause grave injury to the environment.
- CPCB has inspected 215 industrial units since 2020, out of which 83 units were found non-complying with environmental norms.
- Based on the severity of violations, closure directions were directly issued to 7 units without issuance of show-cause notice.
- All these 7 units have later complied with prescribed environmental norms.
What is the gross non-compliance?
- Any bypass discharge of partially treated or untreated effluent and emission observed.
- Injection of treated or untreated water or both into groundwater (reverse boring).
- Operating unit having defunct Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) or Air Pollution Control Device (APCD) and/or operating without installation of ETP or APCD.
- Unauthorized disposal or dumping of hazardous waste is likely to cause grave injury to the Environment.
Reason for the enactment of EPA
- EPA Act was enacted under Article 253 of the Indian Constitution which provides for the enactment of legislation for giving effect to international agreements.
- India participated United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in June 1972.
- Article 48A of the Constitution specifies that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
- Article 51A further provides that every citizen shall protect the environment.
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- The Environment (Protection) Act was enacted in 1986 to provide for the protection and improvement of the environment.
- It empowers the Central Government to establish authorities [under section 3(3)] charged with the mandate of preventing environmental pollution in all its forms and to tackle specific environmental problems that are peculiar to different parts of the country.
Some Features
- Central Government take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment in coordination with the State Governments.
- No individual or organisation shall discharge/emit or permit to discharge/emit any environmental pollutant in excess of the prescribed standards.
- Any person empowered by the Central Government shall have a right to enter (with the assistance deemed necessary) at any place.
- Establishment of Environmental Laboratories.
Punishment
- Any offences under the EPA are punishable with imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 1 lakh rupees or both.
- The offence committed by a company person directly in charge of the company at the time of the commitment of the offence is deemed to be guilty unless proven otherwise.
- If a government department committed an offence the Head of the department shall be guilty unless proven otherwise.
Use Of Children In Election: ECI
Source: PIB
GS II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections
Overview
- News in Brief
- ECI Instructions
- Election Commission of India (ECI)
Why in the News?
The Election Commission of India (ECI) conveys zero tolerance towards the use of children in election-related work or campaign activities and issues directives to parties, candidates and election machinery.
News in Brief
- In continuation of its earlier directives to parties and candidates to address plummeting levels of campaign discourse and to maintain respectful discourse towards Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), the Election Commission of India has issued strict directives regarding use of children in any election-related activities.
- Political Parties have been advised not to use children in election campaigns in any form whatsoever including the distribution of posters/pamphlets or to participate in slogan shouting, campaign rallies, election meetings, etc.
- The Commission has conveyed Zero Tolerance towards the use of children in any manner during the electoral process by parties and candidates.
ECI Instructions
Prohibition of Child Participation in election related Activities
- Political parties are explicitly directed not to engage children in any election campaign.
- It includes rallies, slogan shouting, distribution of posters or pamphlets, or any other election-related activity.
- Political leaders and candidates should not use children for campaign activities, including holding a child in their arms or carrying a child in a vehicle or in rallies.
- This prohibition extends to the use of children to create the semblance of a political campaign in any manner including use through poem, songs, spoken words, display of insignia of political party/candidate, exhibiting ideology of political party, promoting achievements of a political party or criticizing the opponent political parties/candidates.
Legal Compliance
- All political parties and candidates are required to ensure strict compliance with the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, as amended by the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016.
- The Commission directives also highlighted the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in its Order Chetan Ramlal Bhutada Vs. The state of Maharashtra and others have stressed the need to ensure that political parties do not allow the participation of minor children in any election-related activities.
Exeption: Mere presence of a child accompanied by their parent or guardian in proximity of a political leader and who is not involved in any election campaigning activity by the political party, will not be construed as a violation of the guidelines.
Election Commission of India
- The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional body.
- ECI is responsible for administering elections in India at national, state and district levels.
- It was established on 25th January 1950 by the President of India under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution.
- It is headquartered in New Delhi.
- The commission is responsible for conducting free and fair elections, monitoring election campaigns, and enforcing model code of conduct among political parties and candidates.
- The Election Commission of India consists of a Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners, appointed by the President of India.
- A majority vote takes decisions of the commission, and it operates with a secretariat comprising officers and staff members responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the commission.
ABHYAS- High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT)
Source: PIB
GS III: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology
Overview
- News in Brief
- About ABHYAS
Why in the News?
DRDO carries out successful flight trials of High-speed Expendable Aerial Target ‘ABHYAS’ from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur
News in Brief
- Four flight trials of High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) – ABHYAS were successfully carried out by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha.
- The trials were conducted with four different mission objectives in a revised robust configuration using a single booster designed by Advanced Systems Laboratory, Hyderabad to provide reduced launch acceleration.
About ABHYAS
- Abhyas is a High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) being developed at ADE.
- The project was sanctioned with an initial DRDO funding of ₹15 crore.
- It is powered by a gas turbine engine to sustain a long endurance flight at subsonic speed.
- It can cover the distance of 400 km.
- It offers a realistic threat scenario for the practice of weapon systems.
- It has a Radar cross-section and a visual and Infrared augmentation system required for weapon practice.
- It has a laptop-based Ground Control System with which the aircraft can be integrated and pre-flight checks, data recording during the flight, replay after the flight and post-flight analysis can be carried out.
- Abhyas uses MEMS gyroscope based inertial navigation system for guidance and a flight control computer linked to ground station.
- ABHYAS requires minimum logistics and is cost-effective compared to imported equivalents.
- Abhyas is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot, under development at ADE.
- Abhyas was successfully flight-tested on 13 May 2019.
- ABHYAS is ready for production.
- The system has export potential and can be offered to friendly countries.
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Source : The Hindu
GS III : Science and Technology
Overview
Why in News ?
About Copernicus System
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