- WATER CRISIS IN BENGALURU LINKED TO URBANISATION OF KODAGU
- Kodagu’s Land Conversion Blamed for Bengaluru’s Water Woes
- The Save Kodagu and Cauvery Campaign is raising concerns about the potential impact of unchecked development in Kodagu on Bengaluru’s water supply
- Reasons – Rampant commercial land conversion in Kodagu, the source of the Cauvery River, is a major factor behind Bengaluru’s water shortage
- Kodagu acts as the primary catchment area for the Cauvery, supplying 70% of Bengaluru’s water needs.
- The campaign urges the government to Stop issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for commercial land conversion in Kodagu
- Implement a moratorium on further expansion of Bengaluru city
- Arguments
- Uncontrolled urbanization in Kodagu will destroy its natural landscape and reduce its water retention capacity
- Increased population due to development will put additional strain on Kodagu’s water resources
- Fear of a scenario where Kodagu requires all its water, leaving Bengaluru without its crucial supply
- Potential Consequences – Reduced water supply to Bengaluru, impacting millions of residents Shortage of water for irrigation in Kodagu, affecting coffee production
- Invocation of the National Disaster Act, allowing government to seize water resources in Kodagu during droughts
- Need for protecting Kodagu’s ecology is essential for Bengaluru’s water security
- Need to highlight the potential environmental consequences of unchecked development and the interconnectedness of ecological systems
- Need for a multi-pronged approach to address Bengaluru’s water shortage
- Including sustainable practices in both Kodagu and Bengaluru
2. ARUNACHAL PRADESH HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF CHINA : LIN JIAN
- China continued to claim that Arunachal Pradesh is part of its territory, notwithstanding India dismissing Beijing’s claim as “absurd” and “ludicrous”
- He said/claimed: Zangnan, China’s official name for Arunachal Pradesh, was always part of China before it was “illegally occupied” by India
- China has all along had an effective administration over the region
- It is an “indisputable fact” that India has established the “so-called Arunachal Pradesh” in 1987 on the illegally occupied territory
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated the claim
- He was reacting to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s assertions
- EAM Jaishankar dismissed China’s repeated claims on Arunachal Pradesh as “ludicrous” and that the frontier State was a “natural part of India”
- Beijing has lodged a diplomatic protest with India over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh on March 9 reiterating its claim over the area
- This is the fourth time this month that China has spoken about its claim over Arunachal Pradesh
3. ROBUSTA COFFEE PRICE TOUCHES ALL TIME HIGH AMID GLOBAL SHORTAGE
- Robusta coffee farmers in South India are jubilant post-harvest with their produce fetching an all-time high price
- Several factors are contributing to the high price of Robusta coffee in India ○ Reduced Supply
- Lower harvest in South India Decline of 30% in Robusta production this year owing to unfavourable weather conditions
- Lack of rain for berry formation – The scanty blossom shower in Robusta-growing regions
- Decreased Robusta production in Vietnam and Indonesia, major Robusta growers
- By nearly 2 million bags
- The price of Arabica seeds has dropped below the price of Robusta
- Farmgate price of the Arabica variety of coffee was ₹305 per kg on Saturday Traditionally the Arabica variety fetched a premium price
- It is now Robusta that is selling at a higher price due to its low availability
- Increased Demand
- Gobal coffee demand is rising, putting pressure on a limited supply
- Coffee Board of India
- It is a government organisation under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- It’s responsible for promoting and overseeing coffee production in India
- Key functions § Research & Development: They manage the Central Coffee Research Institute and other regional stations that focus on improving coffee growing techniques, yield, and quality
- Market Promotion: The Coffee Board promotes Indian coffee for both export and domestic consumption
- They work to enhance India’s reputation as a coffee producer
- Supporting Coffee Growers: They provide extension services and development programs to coffee farmers
- Regulation: The Coffee Board regulates certain aspects of the coffee industry, such as issuing export permits and maintaining quality standards
4. ON CAMPAIGNING IN THE NAME OF RELIGION
- Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Section 123)
- Appeals to vote based on religion, race, caste, community, or language deemed corrupt electoral practice
- Promoting enmity or hatred on these grounds during elections is prohibited
- Guilty parties may face a ban from contesting elections for up to six years
- Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
- Set of norms for political parties and candidates to follow during elections
- Activities that aggravate or create communal tension are not allowed
- Appeals for votes on the basis of caste or communal feelings are forbidden
- Places of worship cannot be used for election campaigning
- Although not legally binding, the MCC is enforced by the Election Commission of India (ECI)
- Historical Context – The term ‘systemic’ removed from Section 123(3) via a 1961 amendment, making even stray appeals on communal grounds a violation
- Instances of appeals for votes on religious grounds exist, with rare convictions like that of Bal Thackeray in 1995
- ECI typically enforces brief campaign bans for violations
- Supreme Court Rulings – Abhiram Singh vs. C. D. Commachen (2017): a seven-judge Bench by a majority of 4:3 held that candidates shall not appeal for votes on the basis of not just his/her religion but also that of the voters
- Elections to be secular; religious considerations must not mix with State functions
- Religion should be personal and not a tool for electoral gain
- Requirements – Political parties should address legitimate citizen concerns without affecting secular values
- Religion-based appeals are divisive and polarise society
- Mechanisms for swift action against violations by the ECI and courts are essential
5. EU PROBE INTO TECH GAINTS FOR VIOLATION OF NEW LAW MAY TRIGGER HEFTY FINES
- The European Union launched probes into whether Apple, Alphabet and Meta violated a new law, the Digital Markets Act (DMA)
- It is the latest instance of governments trying to exercise greater control over the functioning of big tech companies
- The companies could be fined up to 10% of their global revenues and 20% for repeat infringements of the DMA
- The DMA aims to regulate large online platforms (“gatekeepers”) with over 450 million EU users
- The EU is investigating potential anti-competitive practices like: – Anti-steering: Restricting app developers from directly communicating with users
- Limited user choice: Making it difficult for users to uninstall apps or change default settings (Apple)
- Forced consent: Meta’s “pay or consent” policy for targeted advertising
- Search bias: Google prioritising its own services (Google Shopping, Flights, Hotels) in search results
- Potential penalties include fines up to 10% of global revenue (20% for repeat offenses)
- This follows a recent €1.84 million fine against Apple for app store restrictions and a US DOJ case against them for stifling smartphone competition. Apple’s Response
- Apple claims they are compliant with the DMA and have implemented new features to comply with the regulation Investigation Timeline
- The investigations are expected to be completed within 12 months Significance
- This signifies the EU’s commitment to regulating big tech and promoting fair competition in the digital market
- The outcome of these investigations could set precedents for future enforcement of the DMA
ONE LINER
- Rajasthan was the first state to develop a system which would bring the information on the availability of water to the public domain.
- British explorer Chris Brown become first person to reach Point Nemo the remotest place of earth.
