Weekly Current Affairs (15th to 21st March 2023) Part - 1 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Centre Opposes Same-Sex Marriage

Context: The Centre has opposed same-sex marriage in the Supreme Court, stating that marriage between a biological man and woman is a holy union, a sacrament, and a sanskar in India.

• A Bench led by Chief Justice of India refers petitions to legally recognise same-sex marriages to a Constitution Bench of five judges of the Supreme Court

What is the Stand of Government Regarding Same Sex Marriage?

• The government argued that the Court had only decriminalised sexual intercourse between same-sex persons in its 2018 judgement in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, and not legitimised this “conduct”.
  • The court, while decriminalising homosexuality, did not accept same-sex marriage as part of the fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.
• The government argues that marriage depends on customs, rituals, practices, cultural ethos, and societal values.
  • Same-sex marriage cannot be compared to a man and woman living as a family with children born out of the union.
• The Parliament has designed and framed the marriage laws in the country to recognise only the union of a man and a woman.
  • Registration of marriage of same-sex persons would result in a violation of existing personal as well as codified law provisions.
• The Special Marriage Act of 1954 provides a civil form of marriage for couples who cannot marry under their personal law.
  • The government argued that any deviation from this norm can only be made through the legislature, and not the Supreme Court.

What are the Arugments in Favour of Same Sex Marriage?

• Equal Rights and Protection Under the Law: All individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, have the right to marry and form a family.
  • Same-sex couples should have the same legal rights and protections as opposite-sex couples.
  • Non-recognition of same-sex marriage amounted to discrimination that struck at the root of the dignity and self-fulfillment of LBTQIA+ couples.
• Strengthening Families and Communities: Marriage provides social and economic benefits to couples and their families. Allowing same-sex couples to marry strengthens families and communities by promoting stability and security.
• Global Acceptance: Same-sex marriage is legal in many countries around the world, and denying this right to individuals in a democratic society goes against the global principles.
  • In 133 countries homosexuality decriminalised, but only in 32 of them same-sex marriage is legal. Countries legalised same sex marriage:

What are the Arugments Against Same Sex Marriage?

• Religious and Cultural Beliefs: Many religious and cultural groups believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.
  • They argue that changing the traditional definition of marriage would go against the fundamental principles of their beliefs and values.
• Procreation: Some people argue that the primary purpose of marriage is procreation, and that same-sex couples cannot have biological children.
  • Therefore, they believe that same-sex marriage should not be allowed because it goes against the natural order of things.
• Legal issues: There are concerns that allowing same-sex marriage will create legal problems, such as issues with inheritance, tax, and property rights.
  • Some people argue that it would be too difficult to change all the laws and regulations to accommodate same-sex marriage.

Way Forward

• Cultural Sensitivity: India is a culturally diverse country with different religious and societal values.
  • Any legislative or judicial decision on same-sex marriage must consider the cultural sensitivities of different communities while also ensuring that the fundamental rights of individuals are protected.
• Social Acceptance and Education: India still has a long way to go in terms of social acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.
  • Education and awareness campaigns should be developed to promote acceptance and understanding of heterosexuality then same-sex marriages should be considered on table.
• International Obligations: India is a signatory to various international human rights treaties and conventions, which require it to protect the rights of all individuals, including the LGBTQ+ community.
  • As many other countries such as Canada, the United States, and Australia have recognized same-sex marriage, it is imperative that India legalizes it to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all individuals regardless of their sexual orientation.

World Air Quality Report

Context: According to the World Air Quality Report prepared by IQAir, Delhi ranked 4th out of 50 of the world’s most polluted cities in terms of PM2.5 levels in 2022.

• Out of 131 countries, India ranked 8th with a population weighted average PM2.5 level of 53.3 μg/m3 in 2022. 

What are the Key Findings of the Report?

About:

• IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, prepares the annual world air quality reports based on data from monitoring stations operated by governments and other institutions and organisations across the world.
  • The 2022 report is based on PM2.5 data from 7,323 cities and 131 countries.

Findings:

• Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh are the 5 most polluted countries in 2022.
• Delhi had an average PM2.5 level of 92.6 μg/m3 in 2022, a little below the average of 96.4 μg/m3 in 2021.
  • The report makes a distinction between New Delhi and Delhi, with New Delhi having an annual average PM2.5 level of 89.1 μg/m3.
  • The WHO guideline for annual PM2.5 levels is 5 μg/m3.
• Lahore was the most polluted city in the world, followed by Hotan in China, and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan.
• New Delhi is the second most polluted capital city in the world, with N’Djamena in Chad topping the list.
• A total of 39 Indian cities (including ‘Delhi’ and ‘New Delhi’) are on the list of 50 of the world’s most polluted cities based on annual average PM2.5 levels in 2022.

What is PM 2.5?

• PM 2.5 is an atmospheric particulate matter of diameter of fewer than 2.5 micrometres, which is around 3% the diameter of a human hair.
• PM 2.5 particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, and long-term exposure to PM 2.5 can lead to lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other chronic health conditions.

What are Initiatives taken by India for Controlling Air Pollution?

• System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) Portal
• Air Quality Index
• Push for Electric Vehicles (EVs)
• Commission for Air Quality Management
• Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) Machine

How Air Quality Can be Enhanced in India?

• Link Zero Emissions with Human Rights: Air pollution needs to be recognized more as a human right issue rather than merely as an environmental challenge, and should be linked with the mission of net zero emission (by 2070).
  • The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has also passed a resolution recognizing the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a human right.
• Green-Transition Finance: There is a need to create a financial architecture that can mobilise private finance for clean-air solutions in India. Green sectors such as clean energy and e-mobility offer tangible solutions to improve air quality.
• Bio Enzyme-PUSA: A bio-enzyme called PUSA has been developed by the Indian Agriculture Research Institute as a solution to stubble burning.
  • As soon as it is sprayed, this enzyme starts decomposing the stubble in 20-25 days, turning it into manure, which further improves the soil.
• Ready-Made Concrete for Construction: Construction dust is a major contributor to pollutants in air in expanding cities.
  • To deal with this situation, Niti Aayog has suggested the use of ready-made concrete that can minimise environmental impacts of building activities.

Governor’s Power to Call for Floor Test

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has said that the Governor cannot call for a Floor Test on the basis of internal differences in the Party Members.

• The SC while hearing a case about a dispute between two factions in a political party, discussed the powers and role of the Governor in calling for a trust vote.

How can the Governor Call for a Floor Test?

About:

• Article 174 of the Constitution authorizes the Governor to summon, dissolve and prorogue the state legislative assembly.
  • Article 174(2)(b) of the Constitution gives powers to the Governor to dissolve the Assembly on the aid and advice of the cabinet. However, the Governor can apply his mind when the advice comes from a Chief Minister whose majority could be in doubt.
• According to Article 175(2), the Governor can summon the House and call for a floor test to prove whether the government has the numbers.
• However, the Governor can exercise the above only as per Article 163 of the Constitution which says that the Governor acts on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister.
• When the House is in session, it is the Speaker who can call for a floor test. But when the Assembly is not in session, the Governor’s residuary powers under Article 163 allow him to call for a floor test.

Governor’s Discretionary Power:

• Article 163 (1) essentially limits any discretionary power of the Governor only to cases where the Constitution expressly specifies that the Governor must act on his own and apply an independent mind.
• The Governor can exercise his discretionary power under Article 174, when the chief minister has lost the support of the House and his strength is debatable.
• Generally, when doubts are cast on the chief minister that he has lost the majority, the opposition and the Governor would rally for a floor test.
• On numerous occasions, the courts have also clarified that when the majority of the ruling party is in question, a floor test must be conducted at the earliest available opportunity.

What are the SC’s Observations on the Governor's Floor Test Call?

• In 2016, the SC in Nabam Rebia and Bamang Felix vs Deputy Speaker case (the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly case) said that the power to summon the House is not solely vested in the Governor and should be exercised with aid and advice of the Council of Ministers and not at his own.
• The Court highlighted the facts that the Governor is not an elected authority and is a mere nominee of the President, such a nominee cannot have an overriding authority over the representatives of the people, who constitute the House or Houses of the State Legislature.
• In 2020, the Supreme Court, in Shivraj Singh Chouhan & Ors versus Speaker, Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly & Ors, upheld the powers of the Speaker to call for a floor test if there is a prima facie view that the government has lost its majority.
  • The Governor is not denied the power to order a floor test where on the basis of the material available to the Governor it becomes evident that the issue as to whether the government commands the confidence of the House requires it to be assessed on the basis of a floor test.

What is a Floor Test?

• It is a term used for the test of the majority. If there are doubts against the Chief Minister (CM) of a State, he/she can be asked to prove the majority in the House.
  • In the case of a coalition government, the CM may be asked to move a vote of confidence and win a majority.
• In the absence of a clear majority, when there is more than one individual stake to form the government, the Governor may call for a special session to see who has the majority to form the government.
  • Some legislators may be absent or choose not to vote. The numbers are then considered based only on those MLAs who were present to vote.

India - Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership

Context: Recently, India and Australia have reached a significant milestone in working towards investment in critical minerals projects to develop supply chains between the two countries.

What are Critical Minerals?

• About: Critical minerals are elements that are the building blocks of essential modern-day technologies and are at risk of supply chain disruptions.
• Examples: Copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements are critical components in many of today's rapidly expanding clean energy technologies, ranging from wind turbines and power grids to electric vehicles. As the transition to clean energy accelerates, demand for these minerals will skyrocket.
• Indian Policy: India’s Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, drafted the Critical Minerals Strategy for India in 2016, with a focus on India’s resource requirements till 2030.
  • The Indian Critical Minerals Strategy has identified 49 minerals that will be vital for India’s future economic growth.

What are the Key Highlights of the Critical Minerals Investment Partnership (CMIP)?

• Two lithium and three cobalt projects are among the five target projects that CMIP has chosen for thorough due diligence.
  • Australia produces almost half of the world’s lithium and is the second-largest producer of cobalt and the fourth-largest producer of rare earths.
• The Partnership's investments will aim to create new supply chains supported by essential minerals processed in Australia, which will support India's efforts to reduce emissions from its energy network and establish itself as a hub of manufacturing, including for electric vehicles.
• Together, the two countries are dedicated to reducing emissions, ensuring energy security, and expanding the global markets for essential minerals and clean technology.

How have the India-Australia Trade Relations been so far?

• Cordial Relations: India and Australia have excellent bilateral relations that have undergone transformational evolution in recent years, developing into a friendly partnership on a positive track.
• This is a unique partnership defined by shared values such as parliamentary democracies, Commonwealth traditions, increased economic engagement, long-standing people-to-people ties, and increased high-level interaction.
• India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: It was launched during the India-Australia Leaders' Virtual Summit in June 2020, and it is the foundation of India and Australia's bilateral relations.
• Trading Partners: India-Australia bilateral trade in both goods and services is expected to reach USD 27.5 billion in 2021 consisting largely of raw materials, minerals and intermediate goods.
• Others: India and Australia are partners in the trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) arrangement along with Japan which seeks to enhance the resilience of supply chains in the Indo-Pacific Region.
• Further, India and Australia are also members of the QUAD grouping (India, the US, Australia, and Japan), to enhance cooperation and develop partnerships across several issues of common concern.

What are Countries Around the World doing About Critical Minerals Supply?

• United States: In 2021, the US ordered a review of vulnerabilities in its critical minerals supply chains and found that an over-reliance on foreign sources and adversarial nations for critical minerals and materials posed national and economic security threats.
• India: It has set up KABIL or the Khanij Bidesh India Limited, a joint venture of three public sector companies, to ensure a consistent supply of critical and strategic minerals to the Indian domestic market.
• It ensures the mineral security of the nation; it also helps in realizing the overall objective of import substitution.
• Other Countries: In 2020, the US, Canada, and Australia launched an interactive map of critical mineral deposits intending to help governments to identify options to diversify the sources of their critical minerals. Uk's critical minerals strategy' sets out the government's plans for improving the resilience of critical minerals supply chains and increasing our security of supply. Through this strategy, the UK will: accelerate the growth of UK's domestic capabilities.

Conclusion

• The CMIP between Australia and India represents a significant milestone in bilateral relations.
• The two countries should work together to ensure that the alliance is properly implemented and to investigate opportunities for collaborative research and development. The vital minerals industry may change as a result of the CMIP, which will also help both countries' economies grow and thrive.

Africa's Rift Valley and the Creation of a New Ocean Basin

Context: In 2020, a study revealed that the gradual separation of the African continent is leading to the formation of a new ocean basin.

• The division of the continent is connected to the East African Rift (also called the Great Rift Valley), a crack that stretches 56 kilometres and appeared in the desert of Ethiopia in 2005, triggering the formation of a new sea.

What are the Factors Responsible for Africa’s Rifting Plates?

Factor:

The three plates — the Nubian African Plate, Somalian African Plate and Arabian Plate — are separating at different speeds.

• The Arabian Plate is moving away from Africa at a rate of about an inch per year, while the two African plates are separating even slower, between half an inch to 0.2 inches per year.
• In the past 30 million years, the Arabian Plate has been gradually moving away from Africa, which has already led to the creation of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Possible Outcome:

• As the Somali and Nubian tectonic plates continue to pull apart from each other, a smaller continent will be created from the rift, which will include present-day Somalia and parts of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
• The Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea will eventually flood into the Afar region in Ethiopia and the East African Rift Valley, leading to the formation of a new ocean.
  • This new ocean will result in East Africa becoming a separate small continent with its own unique geographic and ecological characteristics.
• The necessary separation of the Somali and Nubian tectonic plates will take 5 to 10 million years to create a new ocean basin.

Current Situation:

• While the rifting process has been occurring for some time, the potential division made headlines worldwide in 2018 when a large crack emerged in the Kenyan Rift Valley.

What are the Opportunities and Challenges of this Rifting?

Opportunities:

• The emergence of new coastlines will unlock a myriad of opportunities for economic growth in countries (e.g., landlocked countries, such as Uganda and Zambia), that will have access to new ports for trade, as well as fishing grounds and subsea internet infrastructure.

Challenges:

• Displacement and Habitat Loss: Displacement of communities, settlements, and habitat loss of various flora and fauna are consequences that will lead to environmental degradation.
• The necessary evacuation of people and the potential loss of lives will be an unfortunate cost of this natural phenomenon.
• As of 2015, more than 15 million people were internally displaced in Africa, according to the United Nations Environment Programme report on displacement and environment.
• Pressure on Natural Resources: Rapid urbanisation and increased settlements will put pressure on natural resources, leading to a scarcity of water, energy, and food.
• Uncontrolled waste disposal will also be a significant concern.
• New Faults: The separation of the Nubian and Somali plates can result in the formation of new faults, fissures, and cracks or the reactivation of pre-existing faults, leading to seismic activity.

What is Rifting?

• The Earth's lithosphere is divided into several tectonic plates that move in relation to each other at varying speeds.
  • Tectonic forces not only move the plates but also have the potential to cause them to rupture, resulting in the formation of a rift and potentially leading to the creation of new plate boundaries.
• Rifting refers to the geological process in which a single tectonic plate is split into two or more plates separated by divergent plate boundaries.
  • This process leads to the emergence of a lowland region known as a rift valley.
  • Example: Narmada Rift Valley(India), Baikal Rift Valley(Russia).

What is Great Rift Valley?

• The Great Rift Valley is a massive geological formation that stretches around 6,400 kilometers from northern Syria to central Mozambique in East Africa.
• The valley is home to the Jordan River, which flows through the Jordan Valley and eventually empties into the Dead Sea on the border between Israel and Jordan.
• The Gulf of Aden is an eastward continuation of the Rift, and from there it extends southeastward as part of the mid-oceanic ridge of the Indian Ocean.
• In eastern Africa, the valley divides into the Eastern Rift and the Western Rift. The Western Rift, also known as the Albertine Rift, contains some of the deepest lakes in the world.