UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 26th April 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

INCOIS scientists map Indian Ocean floor to study currents

Subject: Geography

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

Recently, scientists from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) conducted a study on the Indian Ocean floor, known as bathymetry.

• The study titled 'Impact of bathymetry on Indian Ocean circulation in a nested regional ocean model' emphasizes the significance of bathymetry in ocean models for a better comprehension of ocean movements.
• Understanding these movements is crucial for enhancing forecasts related to ocean conditions, weather patterns, and climate, especially for countries along the Indian Ocean rim and the subcontinent.

Bathymetry

• Bathymetry involves the study and mapping of water depth in oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams.
• Similar to topographic maps, bathymetric maps utilize lines to depict the shape and depth of underwater features, with these lines connecting points of equal depth.
• Bathymetry serves as the basis of hydrography, encompassing the measurement of physical attributes of a water body.
• Hydrography encompasses not only bathymetry but also factors like shoreline characteristics, tides, currents, waves, and the physical and chemical properties of water.

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)

• INCOIS is an autonomous body under the Government of India, offering ocean information and advisory services to various sectors such as the scientific community, industry, government agencies, and society.
• Part of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO), INCOIS was established in 1999 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is headquartered in Hyderabad.

Key Findings of the Study

• Contrasting Currents of the Indian Ocean
  • The currents in the Indian Ocean are not solely influenced by surface factors.
  • The study indicates that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well as the Maldives play significant roles in altering the direction and speed of these currents, particularly in the deep ocean.
  • These underwater dynamics often contradict surface observations, demonstrating a complex interplay of various oceanic forces.
• Revolutionizing Ocean Modeling: Correcting Coastal Currents Around India
  • Significant disparities were identified in existing ocean modeling systems, especially in representing coastal currents around India.
  • Thorough bathymetric studies have led to notable improvements in accurately depicting upper ocean characteristics like salinity, temperature, and currents, particularly in coastal areas.
  • A more realistic flow of the East India Coastal Current (EICC) was estimated at depths of 1,000 meters and 2,000 meters, contrary to surface observations.
• Insights from Andaman, Nicobar, and Maldives
  • The study revealed a significant boundary current along the coast of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at a depth of 2,000 meters, uncovering previously unrecognized deep-sea dynamics.
  • The presence of the Maldives Islands is crucial in extending the Equatorial Under Current (EUC).
  • The EUC, a strong eastward-flowing current in the upper thermocline around the equator, exhibits seasonal variations in characteristics, with a more defined structure observed during different months.
• The Crucial Role of Ocean Forecasting in Weather, Climate, and Industry
  • Oceans significantly impact weather, climate, and maritime activities, underscoring the necessity for accurate forecasts of oceanographic parameters like currents, temperature, and salinity across various time frames.
  • Precise predictions rely on enhanced observations and refined modeling techniques, essential for supporting economic endeavors and scientific comprehension.

Ross Ice Shelf

Subject: Geography

Source: NDTV

Why in News?

Recently, scientists made a surprising discovery in Antarctica regarding the Ross Ice Shelf. This enormous ice formation, comparable in size to France, moves forward by a few centimeters multiple times per day.

About Ross Ice Shelf:

• The Ross Ice Shelf, the largest of its kind in Antarctica, is situated in the Ross Sea, extending from the continent's coast into the ocean.
• Covering about 487,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of France, it stands as the world's largest floating mass of ice. Only a small portion, around ten percent, is visible, with the majority concealed beneath several hundred meters of ice.
• Varying in thickness from approximately 100 meters to several hundred meters, the thickest sections are typically where the shelf connects to the continent.
• Formation: The ice shelf is created through the accumulation and compression of snow, gradually transforming into ice.
• Continuously supplied with ice from glaciers flowing from both the East and West Antarctic Ice Sheets, it undergoes a process where new ice is added while existing ice is melted at the base or breaks off at the front.
• Playing a crucial role in stabilizing the Antarctic ice sheet, the shelf supports the constantly shifting ice over the land surface.

Key Facts about Ross Sea:

• Positioned just 320 kilometers away from the South Pole, the Ross Sea is a vast bay that is remote and lies south and slightly east of New Zealand.
• Serving as the largest polar marine ecosystem globally, it is relatively shallow and strongly affected by the coastal East-Wind Drift, resulting in a large clockwise gyre and deepwater upwelling.
• Noteworthy for being the first protected area in Antarctica, the Ross Sea is home to a significant population of penguins and various whale species. The region hosts multiple scientific research stations along its coasts.

Atacama Desert

Subject: Geography

Source: New ATLAS

Researchers recently made a significant discovery of microbial life thriving 13 feet beneath the surface of Chile's Atacama Desert.

GS-II

Why Centre filed an application to modify 2G spectrum scam judgement

Subject: Polity and Governance

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

Attorney General R Venkataramani, on April 22, mentioned an application filed by the Centre to modify the Supreme Court’s 2012 judgement in the 2G spectrum scam case.

Background of the 2G Scam Case:

• In 2008, Telecom Minister A Raja allocated 2G spectrum licenses on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Allegations of Irregularities:

• Central Vigilance Commission directed CBI to investigate illegalities in license allocation.
• Various petitions filed in Supreme Court alleging a significant scam.

Findings and Actions Taken:

• CAG report suggested a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crores to the public exchequer.
• Supreme Court cancelled licenses and charged A Raja.

Reasons for Centre's Modification Request:

• Non-commercial Use Importance: Highlighting spectrum's significance for public interest functions beyond commercial services.
• Situational Preferences: Instances where auctions may not be the preferred method economically or technically.
• Court's Auction Clarification: Supreme Court's view on auction methods not being universally applicable to all natural resources.
• Clarity on Administrative Process: Seeking permission to allocate spectrum administratively based on due process and legal compliance.

Conclusion:

Need to implement transparent processes for the allocation of public resources such as spectrum. Clearly outline the criteria, procedures, and timelines for allocation, and ensure that these are accessible to all stakeholders.Establish independent oversight bodies or regulatory agencies to monitor and audit the allocation process.

SC declines plea against Collegium system to protect public’s best interest

Subject: Polity and Governance

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

The petition, filed by advocate Mathews Nedumpara, seeks a revival of the NJAC.

• SC Registrar says the issue is already settled, and a repeat litigation is a “needless waste of judicial time and energy”.

Role of the Registrar of the Supreme Court

• The registrar is the chief executive officer of a judicial forum, responsible for managing the entire registry of the department.

NJAC (National Judicial Appointments Commission)

• In August 2014, Parliament passed the Constitution (99th Amendment) Act, 2014, along with the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014.
• The NJAC was intended to establish an independent commission for appointing judges to the Supreme Court and high courts.
• In 2015, the Supreme Court invalidated the NJAC and the 99th Amendment.

Collegium System for SC Judges Appointment

• The Collegium system is utilized for appointing Supreme Court Judges.

First Judges Case (1981)

• Also known as the S.P. Gupta case (December 30, 1981), this case highlighted that consultation does not imply concurrence but merely an exchange of views.
• It established the "primacy" of the Chief Justice of India's recommendations on judicial appointments, which could be rejected only with "cogent reasons".
• This ruling gave the Executive authority over the Judiciary in judicial appointments.

Second Judges Case (1993)

• The SC reversed its previous decision, redefining consultation as concurrence.
• It mandated that the advice given by the Chief Justice of India must be followed by the President in appointing Supreme Court judges.
• The collegium, consisting of the CJI and two senior colleagues, can veto government decisions for reconsideration.

Third Judges Case (1998)

• Following a reference by the President, the Collegium expanded to a five-member body for the SC and HC collegiums.
• HC collegiums are led by the Chief Justice and four senior judges.
• Recommendations from HC collegiums require approval from the CJI and SC collegium.

Conclusion

• The primary concern with the NJAC was its potential to compromise judicial independence by involving the executive branch in judicial appointments.
• Any alternative system, such as a revised NJAC, must prioritize safeguarding judicial independence.

GS-III

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution

Subject: Environment and Ecology

Source: UNEP

Why in News?

The fourth session of the INC to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), opened in Canada's capital, Ottawa.

About Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution:

• In 2022, during the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly, a significant resolution was passed for creating an International Legally Binding Instrument (ILBI) concerning plastic pollution, particularly in marine settings.
• This resolution mandated the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to organize an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) with the goal of formulating "the instrument," which is designed to encompass a comprehensive strategy addressing the entire life cycle of plastic—from production and design to disposal.
• The primary objective of the global plastics treaty is to establish a worldwide framework of regulations pertaining to accountability, duties, funding, material/chemical specifications, import/export limitations, and objectives.
• An INC convenes on five occasions to elaborate on the specific contents of the new ILBI by the conclusion of 2024.
• 
  
  • The inaugural session of the INC (INC-1) occurred in Punta del Este, Uruguay, spanning from 28 November to 2 December 2022.
  • This was followed by the second session (INC-2) held from 29 May to 2 June 2023 in Paris, France, and the third session (INC-3) conducted from 13 to 19 November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.
  • INC-5 is slated for 25 November to 1 December 2024 in Busan, Republic of Korea, signifying the conclusion of the INC process.

Phi-3-Mini

Source: The Indian Express

Why in News?

A few days after Meta unveiled its Llama 3 Large Language Model (LLM), Microsoft introduced Phi-3-Mini, their latest 'lightweight' AI model.

What are Language Models?

• Language models serve as the foundation of AI applications like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. They are trained on existing data to address common language tasks such as text classification, question answering, text generation, and document summarization.

What is Phi-3-Mini?

• Phi-3-Mini is part of the Phi-3 family of open AI models by Microsoft, positioned as highly capable and cost-effective small language models (SLMs).
• Reportedly the initial model among three small models scheduled for release, Phi-3-Mini has demonstrated superior performance in language, reasoning, coding, and mathematics.

Features of Phi-3-Mini

• Phi-3-Mini, a 3.8 billion parameter language model, stands out as the first in its category to support a context window of up to 128,000 tokens with minimal quality impact.
• The context window refers to the amount of text an AI can process at a time, measured in tokens.

Distinguishing SLMs from LLMs

• Phi-3-Mini is categorized as a small language model (SLM), distinct from large language models (LLMs) like Llama 3.
• SLMs are streamlined versions of LLMs, offering benefits like cost-effectiveness, enhanced performance on smaller devices, and suitability for resource-constrained settings such as on-device and offline inference scenarios.

Pulicat Wetland

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

Settlement of claims for local communities within Pulicat Wetland and Birds Sanctuary boundary raises concerns.

• Location: Pulicat Wetland and Birds Sanctuary is positioned in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh and Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu.
• Geographical Features:
  • Pulicat Lake is the habitat for diverse bird species such as flamingos, pelicans, storks, herons, and ducks.
  • The sanctuary, spread over 759 square kilometers, is enclosed by the Arani River, Kalangi River, and Swarnamukhi River.
  • Pulicat Lake, running parallel to the Bay of Bengal, forms a lagoon with a sand bar, hosting migratory birds like gulls, terns, plovers, shanks, curlews, and storks during winters.
• Human Settlements: The sanctuary encompasses 16 island villages and 30 adjacent villages whose residents rely on the lake for their livelihood.
• Threats and Concerns:
  • The state government's proposal to denotify a portion of the sanctuary and the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) for industrial park construction raises apprehensions about the habitat's preservation.
  • Development plans could potentially disrupt the ecological balance and endanger the diverse bird population that frequents the sanctuary.