Weekly Current Affairs (1st to 7th December 2023) Part - 1 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Sugar’s Pressmud for Green Energy Production

Context: India's pursuit of sustainable energy sources has led to the exploration of Pressmud, a residual byproduct of the sugar industry, as a pivotal resource for green energy production. The emergence of Compressed Biogas (CBG) from this residue has captured attention due to its renewable and eco-friendly attributes.

• India, a prominent player in the global sugar economy, is redefining its stance by transforming Pressmud into Compressed Biogas (CBG). 
• With a significant surge in sugar production, India has stepped ahead of Brazil, becoming the foremost sugar producer worldwide since 2021-22 and securing the second-largest exporter position.

Exploring Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG)

CBG, an environmentally sustainable gaseous fuel, originates from the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. The Biomethanation process involves breaking down diverse organic sources, including agricultural waste, animal manure, and food waste, generating biogas rich in methane through bacterial action. Purification techniques refine this biogas into CBG, compressing the methane to high pressure for usage.

Unveiling Pressmud

Pressmud, also recognized as filter cake or press cake, stands as a residual byproduct within the sugar industry. Leveraging it for biogas production through anaerobic digestion presents a promising avenue for Indian sugar mills to generate additional revenue.

Advantages of Pressmud for CBG Production

• Streamlined Process & Supply Chain: Pressmud's distinct advantages lie in its consistent quality, simplified sourcing, and reduced complexities compared to alternative feedstocks like agricultural residue. It simplifies the supply chain, unlike biomass harvesting machinery requirements for agricultural residue.
• Enhanced Quality & Efficiency: Pressmud boasts quality consistency and higher conversion efficiency, necessitating less feedstock quantity compared to counterparts such as cattle dung. Its cost-effectiveness, approximately Rs 0.4-0.6 per kilogramme, outperforms other feedstocks, eliminating pretreatment costs due to the absence of lignin.
• Challenges in Pressmud Utilization: Despite its potential, challenges encompass escalating prices, competition across industries for usage, and storage complexities due to gradual decomposition, mandating innovative storage solutions.
• India's Pressmud Production Landscape: India's sugar production in the fiscal year 2022-23 reached 32.74 million tonnes, yielding about 11.4 million tonnes of Pressmud. Key sugarcane-growing states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar significantly contribute to India's sugar output.
• Strategies for Harnessing Pressmud's Potential: To maximize Pressmud's contribution to CBG production, interventions like state-level supportive policies, price control mechanisms, technological advancements in storage, and training initiatives for plant operators are imperative.

Conclusion

Pressmud's conversion into Compressed Biogas serves as a compelling stride toward sustainable energy. By addressing challenges and capitalizing on its advantages, India can further solidify its position in the global sugar economy while fostering a greener, more eco-conscious energy landscape.

Disclosure of Political Funding

Context: In today's political landscape, the disclosure of political funding stands as a crucial tenet in maintaining the transparency and integrity of democratic processes. As the Supreme Court deliberates over challenges to electoral bonds, it is imperative to delve into the far-reaching impacts of resolving these issues on India's democracy and the rule of law.

Understanding Political Funding

Political funding is the lifeblood that sustains the activities and campaigns of political parties and candidates. Its significance lies in enabling effective participation in democratic processes, campaigning, and various political endeavors. In India, statutory provisions like the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Income Tax Act, 1961, and Companies Act, 2013 govern the regulations surrounding political funding.

Methods of Raising Political Funding

Several methods define the landscape of political funding, including individual contributions, state/public funding, and corporate donations. The introduction of electoral bonds in 2018 allowed for anonymous donations to registered political parties, raising concerns regarding transparency and accountability.

The Imperative Need for Disclosure

Globally, norms emphasize full disclosure of political donations. Such transparency not only upholds democratic principles but also fortifies citizens' trust in the political system. Disclosure acts as a bulwark against corruption, ensures a level playing field for all parties, and prevents undue influences from infiltrating the electoral process.

Challenges and Reforms

The controversy surrounding electoral bonds has sparked debates on electoral justice. Reforms are essential, encompassing mechanisms for reporting, independent audits, and potential state funding of elections. These reforms aim to safeguard the democratic essence of transparency and fairness in the electoral process.

Upholding Democratic Values

The Supreme Court's role in scrutinizing electoral funding underscores the vital aspect of transparency. It aligns with citizens' rights to know and necessitates the preservation of the democratic fabric in India's electoral mechanisms.

Addressing Electoral Integrity

The Election Commission of India shoulders the responsibility of ensuring the trustworthiness of elections. Challenges such as the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) underline the need for constant vigilance and evolution of electoral processes to maintain their integrity.

Conclusion

Political funding disclosure forms the cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Its transparency not only safeguards against corruption but also reinforces trust between citizens and their representatives. Upholding these values remains crucial in preserving the essence of India's democratic ethos.

Fast Radio Bursts

Context: In the vast expanse of deep space, beyond our galaxy, there exist enigmatic phenomena known as Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). These transient and powerful bursts of radio frequency emissions, lasting mere milliseconds, emanate from distant corners of the universe, shrouded in mystery and intrigue.

Exploring Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs)

Fast Radio Bursts, abbreviated as FRBs, are intense bursts of radio waves originating from the depths of space. Despite their brevity, these signals release an astronomical amount of energy, akin to hundreds of millions of suns. The source of these perplexing emissions has long been a subject of scientific curiosity.

• Astronomers hypothesize that magnetars, a specific type of neutron star formed from the remnants of stellar explosions, might be potential sources of FRBs. Unlike other neutron stars, magnetars have a slower rotation and possess a magnetic field thousands of times stronger than conventional neutron stars, reaching magnitudes a trillion times more powerful than Earth's magnetic field.

Neutron Stars and the Genesis of FRBs

• Neutron stars, born from the cataclysmic collapse of massive stars, form when the core collapse compresses protons and electrons into neutrons. Among these neutron stars, magnetars stand out due to their exceptionally intense magnetic fields, potentially contributing to the creation of FRBs.
• The collision of two neutron stars might yield both gravitational waves and FRBs. This intriguing phenomenon has been observed previously, notably in 2015 when the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in the United States and the Virgo instrument in Italy detected gravitational waves resulting from the collision of two neutron stars. This groundbreaking discovery offered a glimpse into the potential link between neutron star mergers and the emission of both gravitational waves and FRBs.

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) - A Glimpse into the Future

• Scheduled for launch in the early 2030s, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) stands poised to revolutionize our understanding of cosmic events. Developed collaboratively by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, LISA aims to detect gravitational waves by precisely measuring minute fluctuations in the distance between three spacecraft forming a triangular configuration in space.
• Anticipated to unlock insights into cosmic occurrences such as the merger of massive black holes and other celestial phenomena, LISA's deployment heralds a new era of exploration, promising to deepen our understanding of the universe's most enigmatic phenomena.

The LIGO Saga - Unveiling the Ripples in Space-time

• LIGO, short for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, represents a pioneering effort in observing and studying gravitational waves. Its groundbreaking detection of gravitational waves in 2015, resulting from the merger of two black holes, earned the institution a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017.
• Gravitational waves, as predicted by Albert Einstein in his General Theory of Relativity in 1916, arise from cataclysmic cosmic events such as black hole mergers or the collapse of massive stars. LIGO's detections have offered unprecedented insights into these cosmic occurrences, expanding our knowledge of the universe.

Conclusion

• The exploration of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) remains at the forefront of scientific inquiry into distant celestial phenomena. Magnetars, neutron star collisions, and gravitational wave observations from LIGO and Virgo provide crucial pieces in deciphering the origin and nature of these mysterious radio signals.
• The imminent launch of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) holds the promise of further unraveling the cosmic mysteries hidden within gravitational waves, propelling our understanding of the universe to new heights.

Terms of Reference for 16th Finance Commission

Context: In a pivotal move, the Union Cabinet has sanctioned the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 16th Finance Commission. This crucial body is tasked with formulating the revenue distribution formula between the Centre and the States, slated to govern the upcoming five-year period, commencing from April 1, 2026.

Unveiling the Key Mandates of the 16th Finance Commission

The 16th Finance Commission shoulders diverse responsibilities encapsulated within its Terms of Reference. These pivotal mandates include:

Division of Tax Proceeds

• Proposing the distribution of taxes between the Union Government and the States in accordance with Chapter I, Part XII of the Constitution. This involves the allocation of shares among the States from the tax proceeds.

Principles for Grants-in-Aid

• Formulating principles governing grants-in-aid to the States from the Consolidated Fund of India, encompassing determining the amounts for purposes beyond those specified in the Constitution's Article 275.

Enhancing State Funds for Local Bodies

• Identifying measures to amplify a State's Consolidated Fund, aimed at augmenting resources available to Panchayats and Municipalities within the State, based on recommendations from the State's Finance Commission.

Evaluation of Disaster Management Financing

• Conducting a review of current financing structures linked to Disaster Management initiatives. This involves a meticulous examination of funds created under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and presenting recommendations for potential improvements.

Understanding the Role of the Finance Commission in India

• The Finance Commission, entrenched in Article 280 of the Indian Constitution, stands as a constitutional body entrusted with the crucial task of advising on the distribution of financial resources between the central government and state governments.
• The Fifteenth Finance Commission, established in 2017, provided recommendations for a six-year period from April 1, 2020. Its recommendations are effective until the financial year 2025-26.

Peek into Previous Criteria and Recommendations

Examining the criteria used by the previous commissions sheds light on the evolution of fiscal strategies:

• The 15th Finance Commission introduced 'Population (2011)' and 'Tax and fiscal efforts' while the 14th Finance Commission considered 'Population (1971).' These criteria held varying weightage percentages during specific periods.

Notable Recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission

The 15th Finance Commission made noteworthy recommendations, including:

• Share of States in Central Taxes: Proposing a states' share in central taxes at 41% for the 2021-26 period, a marginal reduction from the preceding period.
• Fiscal Deficit and Debt Levels: Advancing specific fiscal deficit limits for states as a percentage of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) within the 2021-26 period.
• Forward-Thinking Recommendations by the 15th Finance Commission

Beyond traditional allocations, the 15th Finance Commission recommended:

• Defense and Internal Security Funding: Advocating for a Modernisation Fund for Defence and Internal Security (MFDIS).
• Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS): Proposing transparent funding patterns and stable financial allocations to phase out redundant schemes.

Conclusion: Charting India's Financial Trajectory

With the approved ToRs, the 16th Finance Commission is now poised to embark on its critical mandate. This journey will significantly influence India's financial framework, reinforcing its federal structure.

2023 World Malaria Report

Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) recently unveiled the 2023 World Malaria Report, offering a stark portrayal of the global malaria landscape. This report, a clarion call to action, underscores the pressing need for intensified efforts and strategic interventions to combat this life-threatening disease.

Key Highlights Unveiled

Global Malaria Overview

• The report paints a troubling picture, revealing a surge in global malaria cases, surpassing pre-pandemic levels to an estimated 249 million cases in 2022. Multiple factors, including Covid-19 disruptions, drug resistance, humanitarian crises, and climate change, pose severe threats to global malaria response efforts. Alarmingly, twenty-nine countries accounted for a staggering 95% of malaria cases globally, with Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Mozambique contributing nearly half of these cases.

India's Malaria Scenario

• India remains a significant contributor to the global malaria burden, accounting for a staggering 66% of cases in the WHO South-East Asia Region. Despite a commendable 55% reduction in cases since 2015, India faces challenges, particularly linked to unseasonal rainfall, resulting in a surge in cases in 2023. The country, along with Indonesia, accounted for approximately 94% of all malaria deaths in the region.

Regional Impact and Climate Change

• Africa continues to bear the highest malaria burden, representing 94% of cases and 95% of global malaria deaths in 2022. However, the WHO South-East Asia Region, including India, has showcased progress, managing a 77% reduction in cases and deaths since 2000. Nonetheless, the emergence of climate change emerges as a significant driver, exacerbating malaria transmission and overall burden.

Global Eradication Goals and Challenges

• Despite ambitious goals set by WHO to reduce malaria incidence and mortality rates by 75% in 2025 and 90% in 2030, the world finds itself off-track. There's a notable 55% gap for 2025 incidence reduction and a 53% deficit for fatality rate reduction. Challenges like funding gaps for malaria control, soaring from USD 2.3 billion in 2018 to USD 3.7 billion in 2022, and dwindling research and development funding at a 15-year low, raise concerns about innovation and progress in combatting malaria.

Malaria Vaccine Advancements and Call for Action

• Despite these challenges, there have been strides in malaria prevention, notably the phased introduction of the WHO-recommended malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01, in African nations. This, coupled with existing interventions, has shown promise in reducing severe malaria and childhood deaths. Additionally, the endorsement of a second effective malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, in October 2023, is expected to bolster supplies and enable broader deployment across Africa.

Understanding Malaria: Preventable Yet Menacing

What is Malaria?

Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, poses a significant threat globally. Spread through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito, it affects tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, South America, and Asia. Symptoms include fever, flu-like illness, chills, headaches, muscle aches, and tiredness. However, it is both preventable and curable.

Initiatives to Combat Malaria

Global Initiatives

• WHO's Global Malaria Program (GMP): Coordinates global efforts to control and eliminate malaria.
• Malaria Elimination Initiative: Led by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, focuses on eradicating malaria through diverse strategies.
• E-2025 Initiative: Aims to halt malaria transmission in 25 countries by 2025.

Initiatives in India

• National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016-2030: Aims to eliminate malaria across India by 2030.
• National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme: Addresses various vector-borne diseases, including malaria.
• National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP): Launched in 1953, focused on prevention, surveillance, and treatment.
• High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) Initiative: Concentrated efforts in states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India): Collaborates on malaria control research.

Conclusion

The 2023 World Malaria Report serves as a clarion call for intensified efforts, increased resources, political commitment, data-driven strategies, and innovative tools to combat this menacing disease. The looming threat of climate change accentuates the urgency for resilient responses aligned with mitigation efforts. With concerted global and local initiatives, it's imperative to pivot toward eradicating malaria for a healthier, malaria-free world.