UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 29th December 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

How Imroz’s love built Amrita Pritam, as a woman and a poet

Subject: History, Art and Culture

Why in  News?

The central idea revolves around the enduring 45-year relationship between Amrita Pritam and Imroz, marked by deep respect and devotion. Imroz’s recent passing is seen as a second loss of Amrita, emphasizing their inseparable connection and the profound impact of supportive relationships in shaping artistic legacies. The narrative explores unconventional expressions of love, challenges societal norms, and highlights the importance of understanding and preserving unique bonds between artists.

Key Highlights:

• The 45-year-long relationship between Amrita Pritam and Imroz is marked by deep respect, admiration, and devotion.
• Imroz’s preferred term for Amrita was “Madam,” reflecting his acknowledgment of her seniority.
• Amrita’s enduring presence is attributed not only to her literary work but also to Imroz’s reflections on her after his recent passing at 97.

Key Challenges:

• The loss of Imroz feels like losing Amrita again, emphasizing the inseparable connection between the two artists.
• The challenge lies in preserving and understanding the unique bond that shaped Amrita Pritam’s identity and creativity.

Key Phrases:

• “Too empty an expression”: Imroz’s perspective on not using the term ‘love’ with Amrita, opting for deeper connections.
• “Lost Amrita all over again”: Imroz’s passing is seen as a second loss of Amrita, underlining their inseparable connection.

Key Quotes:

• “We never used the term ‘love’ or that we loved each other. It was too empty an expression.” – Imroz’s perspective on the depth of their connection.
• “While passing through your poem, I fear that I’m stepping onto Imroz’s wet canvas.” – Gulzar’s tribute, expressing the intertwining of poetry and art.

Key Statements:

• Amrita’s courageous exploration of sexuality and self-realization was groundbreaking in Indian literature.
• Imroz’s unwavering support and understanding of Amrita’s complex relationships contributed to their enduring bond.

Key Examples and References:

• Amrita’s relationship with poet Sahir Ludhianvi and Imroz’s dignified response to her affections.
• Imroz’s role in supporting Amrita during her last years, caring for her children and her ailing husband.

Key Facts:

• Imroz, born Indarjeet Singh, was an illustrator for the Urdu magazine Shama before meeting Amrita.
• Amrita Pritam passed away in 2005, but her legacy lives on through her extensive body of work.

Critical Analysis:

• The relationship between Amrita and Imroz challenges societal norms, with Imroz providing unwavering support and understanding.
• The loss of Imroz is seen as a profound impact, suggesting that their connection was vital in preserving Amrita’s legacy.

Way Forward:

• The challenge lies in understanding and preserving the unique bond between artists like Amrita and Imroz for future generations.
• Recognition of the profound impact of supportive relationships in shaping artists and their work.

Source: The Hindu

GS-II

Project PRAYAS

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

Recently, UN migration agency launched Project PRAYAS.

Background:-

• It was launched to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration for Indian workers and students.

About Project PRAYAS:-

• Launched by: The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) launched Project PRAYAS (Promoting Regular & Assisted Migration for Youth and Skilled Professionals) in partnership with Ministry of External Affairs.
• It is a joint collaboration between the IOM India and Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).
• Objective: to facilitate safe, orderly, and regular migration for Indian workers and students.
• It envisages development of a roadmap for improved coordination between Central and State Governments to encourage sharing of best practices between States and enhanced engagement with the MEA on matters related to the international migration cycle.
• It will consolidate all the state-level initiatives for safe, orderly, and well-managed international migration.
• The project adheres to the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Migration Governance Framework (MiGOF).
• It also aligns with Goal 10.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people.

Significance:-

• It will strengthen international migration
• More than 32 million Indians and people of Indian origin residing abroad.

Source: Economic Times

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently approved a 4-billion-euro capital increase that will enable the bank to double its Ukraine investments.

About the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD):

• It is an international financial institution with the mandate to promote transition towards a sustainable, open-market economy and to foster innovation.
• The EBRD was created in April 1991 to help Eastern European and ex-Soviet countries transition into democracies by developing free-market economies after the fall of communism.
• Headquarters: London
• It provides project financing mainly for private enterprises, usually together with other commercial lending partners, in countries that are committed to, and apply, democratic principles. 
• It also works with public partners to support privatization, restructuring, and improvement of municipal services.
• It does this by financing investments, providing business services, and getting involved in high-level policy dialogue in these countries to support the private sector development.
• It prioritizes support for countries in Central and West Asia, and North Africa.
• It focuses on advancing developmental goals in finance and policy reform.
• The organization also promotes environmentally sustainable development and gender equality and promises to be fully transparent.
• Membership:
  • The EBRD is owned by 72 countries, the European Union and the European Investment Bank.
  • Each shareholder is represented individually on the Board of Governors of the EBRD, which has overall authority over the Bank and is responsible for approving its overall strategic direction.
  • India became the EBRD's 69th shareholder when it joined the Bank in July 2018.

Source: Economic Times

Qatar commutes 8 former Indian Navy men’s death sentence

Subject: International Relations

Why in News?

The Court of Appeal of Qatar commuted the death sentence of eight former Indian Navy personnel.

• These personnel were arrested last year in connection with an alleged case of espionage.

India – Qatar Bilateral Relation

• High-level visits
  • The two countries have had friendly relations for decades.
  • Since PM Manmohan Singh’s visit to Qatar in November 2008, the first by an Indian Prime Minister, the relationship has burgeoned.
  • The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, visited India in 2015, and PM Modi went to Qatar in 2016.
  • The late Sushma Swaraj became the first Indian Foreign Minister to visit Qatar in 2018.
• Bilateral trade
  • In 2021, India was among the top four export destinations for Qatar; it is also among the top three sources of Qatar’s imports.
  • India’s total imports from Qatar in FY2022-23 were valued at $16.81 billion, of which LNG imports alone were worth $8.32 billion, or 49.5%.
    • Qatar is India’s largest source of liquefied natural gas (LNG)
  • India’s exports to Qatar were valued at just $1.97 billion in FY2022-23.
    • The major exports include cereals, copper articles, iron and steel articles, vegetables, fruits, spices, and processed food products.
• Defence co-operation
  • Defence co-operation has been officially described as a pillar of Indian-Qatar ties.
  • The India-Qatar Defence Cooperation Agreement, signed during PM Singh’s November 2008 visit, was a significant turning point. The agreement was extended for another five years in 2018.
    • Experts at that time described the agreement as just short of stationing troops.
  • Indian Naval and Coast Guard ships regularly visit Qatar. QENF delegations participated in two maritime exercises in India in 2021.
  • Two editions of a joint naval exercise called Zair Al Bahr have been held.
• Indian migrants in Qatar
  • Qatar has around 8 lakh Indian migrants, who send remittances back home.
  • In FY 2021-22, it sent the eighth-highest amount of remittances among all countries.

Challenges in India – Qatar Bilateral Relation

• BJP spokesperson’s derogatory references to the Prophet on a TV show
  • The first big challenge to the relationship came in June 2022 over BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s derogatory references to the Prophet on a TV show.
  • Qatar was the first country to object, and demand a “public apology” from India soon after the controversy erupted.
• Jailing of the eight ex-Navy personnel
  • The jailing of the eight ex-Navy personnel is the second big challenge of recent years.
  • The development blindsided New Delhi in a country where 800,000 Indians live and work. Indians are the largest expatriate community in Qatar.
• The boil over the Israeli bombardment of Gaza
  • The news of the death penalty for the Indians has come at a time when the Middle East is on the boil over the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
  • Qatar, which is deeply sympathetic to the Palestinians, has mediated the release of two American hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza, and the country’s diplomats are said to be working as a regional mediator in the crisis.

Qatar commutes 8 former Indian Navy men’s death sentence

• Qatar has commuted the death sentence awarded to eight former Indian Navy officers over charges of espionage.

Background of the case

• Arrest of eight navy personnel
  • On August 30, 2022, eight former Indian Navy personnel, along with two others, were arrested on undeclared charges.
    • They were put in solitary confinement.
  • These personnel were working at Al Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a defence services provider company.
    • As per different sources, the Indians had been working in their private capacity with the company to oversee the induction of Italian small stealth submarines U2I2.
    • The company’s old website,which no longer exists, said it provided training, logistics and maintenance services to the Qatari Emiri Naval Force (QENF).
• Charges against the men
  • The officers were jailed on charges that have not been made public.
  • However, as per the media reports, the eight Indians had been charged with spying for Israel.
• Navy veterans were awarded death penalty
  • In March 2023, the last of multiple bail pleas filed for the veterans was rejected.
  • The trial began later that month and on October 26, 2023, the death sentence was handed to all eight men.
• Appeal filed by India
  • In November 2023, the MEA announced it had filed an appeal and that its legal team had details of the charges.
  • The Indian ambassador in Doha also met them in prison on December 3.
  • This consular access came days after PM Modi met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai on December 1.

What avenues have been available to India?

• One has been the legal challenge, which has been admitted and helped reduce the sentence for now as a first step.
• At the same time, India has been employing diplomatic channels to reach out to the Qataris.
• The families also filed a mercy plea with the Emir of Qatar, who is known to give out pardons during Ramadan and Eid.
  • This was also being pursued by the Indian government’s help.

Source: The Hindu

GS-III

Minimum Support Price (MSP)

Subject: Economy

Why in News?

Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs( CCEA) has approved the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Copra for the 2024 season.

Background:-

• Briefing media in New Delhi yesterday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said, the MSP for the coming season is an increase of 300 rupees per quintal for milling copra and 250 rupees per quintal for ball copra over the previous season.

About Minimum Support Price (MSP):-

• Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
• The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs announces the MSP at the start of each sowing season, considering the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
  • CACP is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• The Food Corporation of India (FCI), along with state government agencies (SGAs), procures food grains under MSP.
• The Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) recommends MSPs for 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane.
• The mandated crops include 14 crops of the kharif season, 6 rabi crops and 2 other commercial crops.
• The Centre currently fixes MSPs for 23 farm commodities based on the CACP’s recommendations —
  • 7 cereals – paddy, wheat, maize, bajra, jowar, ragi and barley
  • 5 pulses – chana, arhar/tur, urad, moong and masur
  • 7 oilseeds – rapeseed-mustard, groundnut, soyabean, sunflower, sesamum, safflower and nigerseed
  • 4 commercial crops – cotton, sugarcane, copra and raw jute

Significance of MSP:

• For Better price for their crops.
• For Promotion to grow oilseeds.
• For Crop Diversification.
• For Differential Remuneration and protection to farmers.
• To Mend demand supply imbalance.
• To boost pulses and oilseeds production and reduce the country’s dependence on imports.

Issues -with India’s MSP Regime:-

• Middlemen-Dependent.
• Ineffectively Implemented.
• More of a Procurement Price.
• Makes Agriculture Wheat and Paddy Dominated.

Source: AIR

Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)

Subject: Environment

Why in News?

Recently, six armed poachers, timber mafia were held by forest officials at Similipal National Park.

Background:-

• In a significant breakthrough, forest officials at Similipal National Park apprehended four armed poachers and two members of the timber mafia in separate locations.

About Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR):-

• Location:  Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. 
• Nomenclature: Similipal derives its name from the abundance of ‘Simul’ (red silk cotton trees) that bloom here.
• It is part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve.
• It is a national park and a Tiger Reserve.
• 1956: It was formally designated a tiger reserve. 
• 1973: It was brought under Project Tiger. 
• Government of India declared it as a biosphere reserve.
• 2009: It is a part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
• At least twelve rivers cut across the plain area, all of which drain into the Bay of Bengal.
  • These include: Burhabalanga, Palpala Bandan, Salandi, Kahairi and Deo.
• Prominent tribes: Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia and Sahara.
• Vegetation: it is a mix of deciduous with some semi-evergreen forests.
  • Sal is the dominant tree species
• Fauna: it is famous for gaurs (Indian bison), causing as well as an orchidarium.

Source: Indian Express

AI in 2024: The dangers and the hope

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

The central idea is that in 2023, the AI landscape saw significant growth and investment, particularly in large language models. However, the industry’s emphasis on speculative threats, termed “doomwashing,” overshadowed concrete harms, leading to calls for greater democratic involvement in shaping AI policy for a balanced and ethical approach in the future.

Key Highlights:

• AI Impact: AI, especially large language models (LLMs), had a significant impact on social and economic relations in 2023.
• Investments: Microsoft invested $10 billion in OpenAI, and Google introduced its chatbot, Bard, contributing to the AI hype.
• Industry Growth: NVIDIA reached a trillion-dollar market cap due to increased demand for AI-related hardware.
• Platform Offerings: Amazon introduced Bedrock, while Google and Microsoft enhanced their services with generative models.

Key Challenges:

• AI Dangers: Concerns about the dangers of LLMs and publicly deployed AI systems emerged, but the specific perils were contested.
• AI Safety Letter: Over 2,900 experts signed a letter calling for a halt on powerful AI systems, focusing on speculative existential threats rather than concrete harms.
• Doomwashing: The industry’s newfound caution led to “doomwashing,” emphasizing self-regulation and downplaying the need for external oversight.

Key Terms:

• LLMs: Large Language Models.
• AGI: Artificial General Intelligence.
• Doomwashing: Emphasizing AI dangers without addressing concrete issues for self-regulation purposes.
• Ethicswashing: Using ethical claims to deflect from underlying issues.

Key Phrases:

• Political Economy of AI: The impact of AI on data privacy, labor conditions, and democratic processes.
• AI Panic: Inflating the importance of industry, reinforcing the idea that AI is too complex for government regulation.

Key Quotes:

• “The danger of AI was portrayed as a mystical future variant, ignoring concrete harms for an industry-centric worldview.”
• “Doomwashing, akin to ethicswashing, plagued AI policy discussions, emphasizing self-regulation by industry leaders.”

Key Statements:

• The AI safety letter focused on speculative threats, neglecting the immediate political-economic implications of AI deployment.
• Industry leaders embraced caution, promoting self-regulation through doomwashing, sidelining government intervention.

Key Examples and References:

• Microsoft’s $10 billion investment in OpenAI.
• NVIDIA’s trillion-dollar market cap due to increased demand for AI-related hardware.
• Amazon’s introduction of Bedrock and Google’s enhancement of its search engine with generative models.

Key Facts:

• In July, the US government persuaded major AI companies to follow “voluntary rules” for product safety.
• The EU passed the AI Act in December, becoming the only AI-specific law globally.

Critical Analysis:

• The AI safety letter focused on speculative threats, diverting attention from concrete harms and the political-economic implications of AI.
• Doomwashing reinforced the industry-centric narrative, diminishing the role of government regulation.

Way Forward:

• Advocate for greater socialization of AI policy, involving democratic voices in shaping regulations.
• Address concrete harms of AI deployment, ensuring a balance between innovation and ethical considerations.

Source: The Hindu