UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 21st October 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Jet Streams

Subject: Geography

Why in News?

The James Webb Telescope recently unveiled a stunning image of Jupiter, featuring snapshots of extraordinarily fast jet streams racing across the planet's equator.
About Jet Streams:

• Jet Streams Definition: High-speed wind bands, typically west-to-east, spanning the globe.
• Types of Jet Streams:
  • Polar Jets: Near north and south poles.
  • Subtropical Jets: Closer to the equator.
• Impact Areas:
  • Weather: Influences atmospheric conditions.
  • Air Travel: Affects flight routes and durations.
  • General Atmospheric Events: Various processes in Earth's atmosphere.

What causes Jet Streams?

• Jet streams develop when warm air masses encounter cold air masses in the atmosphere.
• Solar radiation is not distributed uniformly across Earth, leading to hot conditions near the equator and cold conditions near the poles.
• When warmer air rises and cooler air sinks, it generates air currents or winds.
• A jet stream is a specific type of high-altitude air current.
• These streams are typically located 5 to 9 miles above Earth's surface in the mid to upper troposphere, the atmospheric layer essential for human life.
• Average jet stream speed is around 110 miles per hour, but they can reach much higher speeds, exceeding 250 miles per hour, due to significant temperature disparities between warm and cold air masses.
• Jet streams are most robust during northern and southern hemisphere winters, when the boundaries between hot and cold air are most pronounced.

How do Jet Streams Affect Weather?

• Critical Role: Jet streams are pivotal in shaping weather patterns.
• Influence on Weather Systems: They impact the movement of weather systems, including high-pressure and low-pressure areas.
• Storm Influence: Jet streams can affect the direction and intensity of storms.
• Storm Path: Storms typically track along the edge of the jet stream, which is characterized by the contrast between cool and warm air, creating turbulent storm conditions.

How do Jet Streams Affect Air Travel?

• Airplanes operate within mid to upper-level atmospheric winds, including powerful jet streams.
• When an airplane flies in the same direction as a strong jet stream, it can receive a beneficial boost.
• Consequently, an airplane traveling from west to east along a specific route generally experiences a faster journey compared to an airplane heading from east to west on the same route.

Source: Times of India

Rare Alupa Dynasty Inscription discovered

Subject: Art and Culture

Why in News?

An eminent archaeologist made a remarkable discovery during an archaeological expedition near Mangaluru.

• They uncovered a rare inscription linked to the Alupa dynasty, shedding new light on the region’s historical tapestry.

About Alupa Dynasty

• Alupa Dynasty: The inscription represents the initial documented reference to the Alupa dynasty, an influential ruling family in the Tulu Nadu region.
• Regal Demise: Significantly, the inscription memorializes the passing of a king from the Alupa dynasty, offering a distinctive perspective into the history of this ancient lineage.
• Siri Cult References: The inscription also includes terminology associated with the Siri cult, such as Siri, Dalya, and Chattara (Chatra), shedding light on the cultural and religious customs of that time.

Archaeological Findings

• Keerthi Sthamba: The inscription emphasizes Kesava's role in constructing a monument dedicated to Kulashekara Alupendra. This monument, known as Keerthi Sthamba, is a pillar located in Kulashekara, a suburb of Mangaluru.
• Intricate Details: The inscription contains two panels at the top, featuring Kannada script from the 12th century, announcing the death of Alupendra I.
• Royal Depictions: The inscription includes depictions of Kulashekara Alupendra. One panel shows him in a Tribhanga posture, with a sword and a gurani (shield). In an adjacent panel, the king is depicted in a meditative pose with his palms resting on his legs.

Significance in Tuluva History

• Tuluva Culture: Unearthing this revelation offers significant understandings regarding the traditions, beliefs, and social organization during the era of the Alupa dynasty.
• Soma Cult: Established by Soma Sharma in the 11th century AD in Gujarat, there is a linkage to this area. The construction of the Someshwara temple in honor of Soma during Kulashekara Alupendra's rule serves as evidence of this merging of cultures.

Who was Kulashekara Alupendra?

• The Alupa Legacy: Kulashekara Alupendra I, a prominent ruler of the Alupas in South Canara, played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s history.
• City Establishment: He founded the city of Kulashekara in Mangaluru and enacted stringent regulations for temple administration, which continue to influence temple governance in the region.
• Language and Culture: Alupendra I was a patron of the Tulu language and culture, contributing to their preservation and promotion. His reign spanned from 1156 to 1215 A.D., with this inscription datable to the 12th century based on palaeography.

Source: Indian Express

GS-II

Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013

Why in News?

The Supreme Court recently held that the Union and States are duty-bound to the pledge to completely eradicate manual scavenging through the stringent implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

About the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013:

• It was passed in 2013 to provide for the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and the rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their families.
• The broad objectives of the act are to eliminate unsanitary latrines, prohibit the employment of manual scavengers and the hazardous manual cleaning of sewer and septic tanks, and maintain a survey of manual scavengers and their rehabilitation.
• Provisions:
  • No person or agency can engage or employ any person for manual scavenging.
  • Any person or agency who engages any person in manual scavenging in violation of the provisions of the MS Act, 2013 is punishable with imprisonment up to 2 years, a fine up to Rs. One Lakh, or both.
  • It outlines the provisions for the rehabilitation of sanitation workers and their families.
  • After a survey of manual scavengers, the local administration must give them a photo identity card with details of their family members and monetary compensation. Their children must get a government scholarship, and they must get a residential plot and money to construct on it.
  • It is also illegal for a sewer or septic tank to be cleaned by a person without the employer providing protective gear and cleaning devices and observing safety precautions.
  • Under the Act, every local authority must make sure that there are no insanitary latrines in its jurisdiction and no manual scavengers are employed. A local authority is a municipality or a panchayat, which is responsible for sanitation in its jurisdiction.
  • Local authorities must construct community sanitary latrines (which don’t require the manual removal of human excreta) and make arrangements for their hygienic upkeep at all times. They must also ensure the use of technological appliances for cleaning sewers, septic tanks and other such spaces in their jurisdictions.
• How do the states ensure the Act is implemented?
  • Every state must have a monitoring committee consisting of the chief minister, the minister representing Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and the director-general of police, among other officials. 
  • Every state government or union territory administration must send periodic reports to the central government about its progress on implementing this Act.
  • The government has to ensure that local authorities and district magistrates implement the law. For this, a vigilance committee has to be set up at the sub-division, district, state, and central levels.

Source: The Hindu

Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

The India-Canada crisis took a fresh turn as 41 diplomats were withdrawn from the country.

• India insisted that its actions are consistent with the tenets set forth in Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

What is the Vienna Convention?

• The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is an international treaty signed by 61 countries in 1961.
• It puts forth a framework for diplomatic interactions between independent nations and aims to ensure the ‘development of friendly relations among nations’.
• At present 193 countries are party to the document including India.

Key Features

What is Article 11.1 about?

• It deals with the size of international missions within other countries.
• In the absence of a specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered to be reasonable and normal.

Source: The Hindu

Canada visa services now available only in Delhi

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

Canada has stopped visa and consular services at its Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru consulates. These services will now be available only at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi.

• This has happened after Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi said it would revoke their diplomatic immunity.
• Canada has since called for New Delhi to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
  • India insists that its actions are consistent with the tenets set forth in Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

• The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is an international treaty signed by 61 countries in 1961.
• It puts forth a framework for diplomatic interactions between independent nations and aims to ensure the ‘development of friendly relations among nations’.
• At present 193 countries are party to the document.

What is Article 11.1 about?

• Article 11.1 of the convention says that if there is no clear agreement on how big a mission should be, the country hosting the mission can ask that the mission size stays within what they consider reasonable and usual.
• This decision will depend on the situation in the hosting country and the mission's specific needs.

News Summary: Canada visa services now available only in Delhi

• Recently, Canada said it had withdrawn 41 diplomats following an Indian threat to unilaterally revoke their status. This decision is the most recent fallout of the diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
  • The diplomatic dispute was triggered by PM Trudeau’s allegation that India may have had a hand in the killing of a Khalistani separatist in Canada this June.

What is the expected fallout of this situation?

• The downsizing of Canada’s diplomatic corps and halting of visa and consular services in three major Indian cities will lead to a significant slowdown of Indian visa applications for Canada.
• A very large chunk of these visa applications are from Indian students who seek to study in Canadian universities.

How many Indian students are there in Canada?

• Around two million Canadians, 5% of the overall population, have Indian heritage.
• Canada is the second largest overseas destination for Indian students after the United States.
  • India is by far Canada’s largest source of global students, making up for roughly 40% of study permit holders.
• As of December 31, 2022, a total of 319,130 Indian students comprised 39.5% of the international student population in Canada.
• Other preferred destinations for Indian students: United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
• In 2022, India was the top country for permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, and international students in Canada.

Why do so many Indian students seek to study in Canada?

• Apart from the fact that quality education in English is available at many levels and in a wide range of subjects, Canada’s government has worked proactively to attract foreign students.
• In 2022, it launched the Student Direct Stream (SDS), a fast-track visa processing programme for students from India, China, Philippines, and Vietnam.
• In April 2023, it announced a Post-Graduation Work Permit Extension programme, under which international students may stay on for up to three years after graduation, gaining valuable work experience and potentially a secure job in Canada.

How does having international (including Indian) students help Canada?

• Indian students make a substantial and positive contribution to the Canadian economy:
  • Through tuition fees for colleges and universities, and
  • by spending on living expenses such as food, accommodation, and transportation.
• Tuition fees for international students in Canada are typically two to three times what is paid by domestic students.
• Canada is a vast country, the world’s second-largest by area, with a very small population — less than 4 crore, which is comparable to that of Kerala.
• It is generally welcoming of immigrants, and the Canadian economy benefits from the labour of international students in critical sectors.

Source: Indian Express

GS-III

Siena Galaxy Atlas: A Window into the Cosmos

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

The Siena Galaxy Atlas (SGA) is an impressive digital collection showcasing approximately 400,000 galaxies located in the vicinity of our Milky Way.

Siena Galaxy Atlas

• The SGA was created by amalgamating data from 3 distinct astronomical surveys conducted between 2014 and 2017.
• These surveys took place at two observatories, namely the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) and the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO).
• These surveys are collectively known as the DESI Legacy Surveys, laid the foundation for the SGA.

Purpose of this Cosmic Atlas

• Cosmic atlases like the SGA play a crucial role in enabling astronomers to discern intricate patterns within the universe.
• They assist in categorizing various celestial phenomena, including transient stars, and identifying objects that merit further in-depth studies.
• The SGA excels in terms of precision and accuracy, ensuring that it remains aligned with the latest astronomical revelations.
• It facilitates investigations into the birth and evolution of galaxies, the distribution of mysterious dark matter, and the transmission of gravitational waves throughout space.

Source: Indian Express

Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR)

Subject: Environment and Ecology

Why in News?

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recently gave approval to reintroduce eight tigers into the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) in Maharashtra.

About Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR):

• Location: It is located in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra.
• The reserve spreads over Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, forming the northern portion, and Chandoli National Park, forming the southern part of the reserve. STR was created by merging the areas of these two forests in 2007.
• The region of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve includes the area around the Koyna Dam, the Warna River, and many other small rivers and streams originating from the Western Ghats and flowing to the east.
• History:
  • The history of the area dates back to the Maratha Empire, and many forts built or captured by the first Maratha Emperor Shivaji Bhonsle can be found here.
  • The legendary temple from which Shivaji received the Bhavani Sword from divine providence is also said to be among the many ruins in this region.
• Habitat:
  • The total area of STR is undulating, with steep escarpments along the western boundary.
  • The most distinct feature of the Tiger Reserve is the presence of numerous barren rocky and lateritic plateaus, locally called “Sadas”, with less perennial vegetation and overhanging cliffs on the edges, along with numerous fallen boulders with dense thorny bushes.
  • STR is the only place where climax and near-climax vegetation are plentiful and prospects of adverse anthropogenic influence in the future are minimal.
• Flora:
  • The forest cover here is that of moist evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist, and dry deciduous vegetation.
  • There are many medicinal and fruit-bearing trees along with the commercial hard wood trees in the reserve.
• Fauna:
  • The main carnivores are the tiger, leopard, and some lesser cats along with the wolf, jackal, and wild dog.
  • The large herbivores are several deer species like Barking Deer, Sambar, and other large and small animals like Indian Bison, Sloth Bear, Mouse Deer, Giant Indian Squirrel and Macaque.

Source: Times of India