UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 17th October 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Disruption in Earth’s Water Cycle

Subject: Geography

Why in News?

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released a report underscoring the substantial influence of climate change and human actions on the Earth's hydrological systems. This has immediate ramifications, resulting in droughts, intense precipitation occurrences, and disturbances in the planet's water distribution processes.

What is the Water Cycle?

• The water cycle, also referred to as the hydrologic cycle, represents the ongoing transfer of water across the Earth's surface, both above and below it.
• This cycle comprises a range of mechanisms that facilitate the movement of water among the atmosphere, land, seas, and other water sources.

Why is it under stress?

• The unpredictable hydrological cycle, influenced by climate change and human actions, has brought about droughts and heavy rainfall events, leading to extensive disturbances impacting people's lives and economies.
• The continuous melting of snow, ice, and glaciers intensifies the potential for extreme weather occurrences, including floods, which pose enduring challenges to water resources, especially for the millions already dealing with severe water shortages.

Global Impact

• Global Deviations: Over 50% of global catchment areas experienced deviations from normal river discharge conditions in 2022, primarily due to climate anomalies, such as heatwaves, droughts, La Nina, and El Nino events.
• Horn of Africa Drought: Severe drought in the Horn of Africa led to reduced river discharge, affecting food security for 21 million people, while other regions, like the Niger Basin, saw above-average discharge and major floods.
• Water Reservoirs Affected: More than 60% of major water reservoirs experienced below-normal inflow, posing challenges to water availability in a changing climate.

Impact on Asian Water Tower

• The "Asian Water Tower (AWT)" pertains to the extensive network of high mountain regions in Asia, including countries like India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of Central Asia.
• These elevated areas serve as the origins of several major Asian rivers, such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Yangtze, Mekong, Indus, and Amu Darya.
• The continuous supply of freshwater to downstream regions is sustained by the melting snow and glaciers in these mountains.
• In 2022, there was a significant decrease in the glaciers within the AWT.
• Elevated temperatures are speeding up disruptions in the water cycle, resulting in more substantial precipitation, increased occurrences of flooding, and more severe droughts. This has a notable impact on the overall water balance in the region.

Source: Indian Express

Manohar Singh Gill 

Subject: Personalities in News

Why in News?

Former Chief Election Commissioner of India Manohar Singh Gill passed away.

About Manohar Singh Gill:

• Early Life and Career:
  • A former Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer, he served as the Chief Election Commissioner of India from 1996 to 2001.
  • He joined the Congress party in 2004 and represented Punjab in the Rajya Sabha from 2004 to 2016. During this time, he held positions as the Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Minister of Statistics and Program Implementation.
• Term as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC):
  • He was the 11th Chief Election Commissioner of India.
  • He pioneered the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in India, a significant innovation that greatly contributed to reducing electoral fraud in the country.
• Books Written by Him:
  • He authored books such as "Himalayan Wonder: Travels in Lahaul and Spiti" and "An Indian Success Story."
  • "Agriculture Cooperatives: A Case Study of Punjab" is one of his prominent works, focusing on Punjab and agricultural issues in India.
• Awards Received:
  • He was honored with the Padma Vibhushan for his distinguished service as an Election Commissioner.
  • He also received the Nishan-e-Khalsa on the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa.

Source: The Hindu

GS-II

India seeks inclusion of Traditional Medicine on WHO’s ICD List

Subject: Governance

Why in News?

The Indian government aims to incorporate traditional Indian medicinal practices into the 11th revision of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

About International Classification of Diseases (ICD)

India’s quest to update ICD-11

• Universal Language: The ICD serves as a global lingua franca, allowing healthcare professionals across the world to communicate using standardized information.

• Traditional Medicine Module: In its 11th revision, the ICD introduces a dedicated module for traditional medicine conditions. This module provides a standardized approach for collecting and reporting data on these conditions at the international level.

• Formal Recognition: Ayurveda and other related Indian traditional healthcare systems have received official recognition and are widely practiced in India. This strongly supports their inclusion in the ICD.

• Chinese Medicine Inclusion: After a ten-year period of consultation, the ICD-11 incorporates Module-1, which addresses traditional medicine conditions that have their origins in ancient China

Source: Indian Express

Passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka 

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

An international, high-speed passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in the northern province of Sri Lanka, has resumed.

Background  

• Revival of Maritime Links: The initiative aims to reestablish maritime connections with historical roots dating back to the early 1900s.
• Discontinuation of Indo-Ceylon Express: The Indo-Ceylon Express, also known as Board Mail, ceased operations in 1982 due to the civil conflict in Sri Lanka.
• Resumption of Ferry Services: The decision to resume ferry services follows the 2011 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sea-based passenger transportation signed by both nations.
• Origins of the Plan: The idea for reintroducing these services was first proposed in 2011, a time when Sri Lanka was actively working to change its reputation as a nation associated with generating refugees.

Current Developments 

• The high-speed ferry service is operated by the Shipping Corporation of India and can accommodate up to 150 passengers.
• The distance between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai is roughly 60 nautical miles (equivalent to 110 kilometers) and the travel time is approximately 3.5 hours, subject to sea conditions.
• The designated vessel for this ferry service is named Cheriyapani.
• The Indian Government's initiative to launch this ferry service aligns with its strategic focus on improving connectivity with neighboring countries and across the broader Indian Ocean Region.

Importance 

• A direct passenger ferry connecting Sri Lanka and India will establish an efficient and affordable mode of travel for the citizens of both nations, fostering tourism and trade connections while strengthening interpersonal bonds.
• The introduction of the ferry will promote economic growth in the vicinity of the two ports, energizing local economies and generating new opportunities.
• This ferry service will reinforce cultural, commercial, and civilizational bonds between India and Sri Lanka, enhancing their mutual relationships.
• The launch of this service exemplifies India's commitment to its 'neighbourhood first' policy, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation.
• Moreover, it will contribute to enhanced collaboration in areas such as disaster management, maritime security, and facilitating cross-border business between the two nations.

Future Outlook 

• The Governments of India and Sri Lanka will continue to work towards commencement of ferry services between other ports, including the traditional route between Rameswaram- Talaimannar.

Source: The Hindu

India needs more doctors

Subject: Governance

Why in News?

The demand for doctors exceeds the supply in large parts of India.

Expanding Medical Education

• In the past decade, India has achieved remarkable progress in augmenting the capacity of medical education.
• The number of undergraduate (UG) seats has nearly tripled, while postgraduate (PG) seats have almost quadrupled since 2010-11.
• The count of medical colleges has doubled during this period.
• However, despite this substantial expansion, as of 2021, India had only 4.1 medical graduates per lakh population.
• This places India behind countries such as China, Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom in terms of medical graduates per population.

Challenges in scaling

• Regulatory and Financial Constraints: Indian medical colleges, on average, provide 153 undergraduate seats per institution, significantly fewer than Eastern European (220) and Chinese (930) counterparts due to restrictions and financial limitations.
• Infrastructure Limitations: Increasing undergraduate seats in public medical colleges from 150 to 200 necessitates additional resources such as an expanded library, increased daily outpatient department (OPD) visits, and more nursing staff, as outlined in the 2015 draft guidelines for establishing new medical colleges.
• Quality Maintenance: Concerns exist regarding the potential impact of disproportionate scaling on the quality of education and, consequently, the quality of doctors produced.
• Faculty Shortages: Both public and private colleges experience shortages of teaching staff, even though public colleges offer better compensation. Expanding capacity can further strain the already limited pool of qualified instructors.
• Economic Viability for Private Colleges: Private colleges may face financial risks when investing in expansion if seats go unfilled and costs aren't recovered, potentially leading to high capitation fees and price distortions.
• Curriculum Limitations: The nature of a competency-based curriculum imposes restrictions on scalability, such as a maximum of 15 students allowed around a bed or in any practical class.
• Equity Concerns: The aim of producing doctors evenly across regions may not lead to efficient production, potentially resulting in the migration of doctors from states with higher production.

Quality vs. Scale vs. Equity: A triad of challenges

• Quality:
  • Maintaining the highest standards of medical education to produce competent, skilled, and ethical practitioners.
  • The competency-based curriculum in India necessitates small-group teaching for in-depth learning and hands-on training.
  • Concerns arise that expanding too rapidly may compromise education quality and consequently the competence of future doctors.
  • Given the life-or-death nature of medical practice, quality assurance is paramount.
• Scale:
  • Increasing the number of medical graduates to address the nation's healthcare demands.
  • Despite augmenting undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats, a demand-supply gap persists.
  • Scaling up faces regulatory, infrastructural, and financial hurdles.
• Equity:
  • The National Medical Commission emphasizes an equitable distribution of medical colleges and seats to ensure each region has sufficient healthcare professionals.
  • Policies such as capping undergraduate seats and restricting the location of new colleges underscore this emphasis.
  • Nonetheless, challenges in achieving efficient doctor production may arise due to factors like interstate migration of doctors.

Way forward

• Regulatory Reforms: Simplify regulations to support the establishment and growth of medical colleges while ensuring high-quality standards are maintained.
• Faculty Development: Place a priority on investing in faculty development programs to address shortages and retain experienced educators.
• Technology Integration: Embrace technological advancements to enhance the scalability and accessibility of medical education, incorporating e-learning and telemedicine tools.
• Competency-Based Curriculum: Continue the implementation of curricula based on competencies to produce doctors equipped with practical skills and real-world readiness.
• Incentives for Rural Service: Create and execute policies that offer incentives for medical graduates to serve in underserved rural areas, thus addressing healthcare disparities.
• Public-Private Collaboration: Promote collaboration between the public and private sectors to expand the availability of medical education slots and enhance educational infrastructure.

Source: Indian Express

GS-III

Kanwar Lake: Bihar’s only Ramsar Site drying up

Subject: Environment

Why in News?

Kawar Lake, Bihar’s only Ramsar Site, is experiencing a significant decrease in water levels and degradation.

• However, it is drying up due to negligence.

About Kanwar Lake/ Kabartal Wetland

• Kanwar Lake, located in the Begusarai district of Bihar, stands as Asia's largest oxbow lake.
• It took shape as a residual oxbow lake, a result of the meandering course of the Gandak River, which is a tributary of the Ganga.
• In 2020, it earned the Ramsar site designation, marking a significant achievement as Bihar's first wetland to join the Ramsar convention.
• The lake is fed by the waters merging from the Gandak, Bia, and Kareh rivers and is situated in close proximity to Manjhaul, approximately 22 kilometers northwest of Begusarai, the district's administrative center.

Various threats to Kanwar Lake

• Challenges include migratory bird hunting, agricultural activities around wetland areas, and government policies related to wetland management and conservation.
• This decline has negatively impacted the livelihoods of around 20,000 Nishad community members in nearby villages who depend on fishing.

Bihar’s Wetland Potential

• Bihar possesses a substantial area of wetlands, covering around 4.4% of its total geographical area, according to data from ISRO.
• Despite its wetland potential, Bihar has only one recognized Ramsar site out of a total of 75 in India.

Potential Wetlands

• Bihar has proposed several wetlands for Ramsar designation, including Kusheshwarsthan, Barela, Goga Bil, Nagiand Nakti dams, Udaipur Lake, Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, and Gokul Reservoir.
• These wetlands are home to a range of wildlife, including migratory birds and endangered species like dolphins.

Source: The Hindu

Kaziranga National Park

Subject: Environment

Why in News?

The Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve reopened with a literary tribute to a British-era forest officer, Patrick D. Stracey.

Patrick D. Stracey:

• Instrumental in renaming Kaziranga Game Sanctuary to a wildlife sanctuary in 1950.
• Authored books like "Elephant Gold," "Nagaland Nightmare," and "The Authoritative Tigers."
• Established Assam Forest School, which marked its 75th anniversary in 2023.

Kaziranga National Park:

• Located in Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Nagaon districts in Assam.
• One of India's oldest wildlife reserves, originally designated in 1905 and later as a Reserved Forest in 1908.
• Earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1985 and is an Important Bird Area per BirdLife International.
• Officially became Kaziranga National Park in 1974 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
• Home to over 70% of the world's One-Horned Rhinoceros.
• The Greater One-Horned Rhino is on Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and is vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List.
• Boasts the highest tiger population density in India.

Source: The Hindu