TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 04.10.2024

1. ENVIRONMENT

RIGHTS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS MUST GUIDE CLIMATE DEBATE

• The upcoming Summit of the Future at the United Nations in New York on September 22-23, 2024, aims to address global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, pollution, and income inequalities.
• A key theme is the rights of future generations to live in a safe and secure world.
• Moral and Legal Imperatives:
• Moral Imperative: Present generations have a moral duty to ensure a livable planet for future generations.
• Legal Debate:
• Stephen Humphreys’ View: Protecting future generations is ambiguous and detracts from current responsibilities.
• Wewerinke-Singh’s Counter: Future generations’ rights have emancipatory power and are rooted in traditional beliefs and international law.
• Judicial Precedents:
• Colombia: Inter-generational pact for the life of the Colombian Amazon.
• Pakistan: Bar on cement plants in fragile zones to uphold climate justice.
• India: National Green Tribunal upholds intergenerational equity.
• Kenya: Obligation to maintain natural resources for future generations.
• South Africa: Long-term impact of pollution on future generations.
• Maastricht Principles:
• Preamble: Human rights extend to all members of the human family, including future generations.
• Key Principles: Protect human rights of future generations against substantial risks.
• Future generations must be represented in decision-making processes.
• Planetary Boundaries and Overshoot Day:
• Planetary Boundaries: Eight out of nine boundaries for Earth’s healthy survival have been breached.
• Overshoot Day: Moved from December 30 in 1970 to August 1 in 2024, indicating unsustainable resource use.
• Ethical and Social Implications:
• Intergenerational Equity: Ensuring that future generations inherit a healthy planet.
• Sustainable Development: Balancing current development needs with the rights of future generations.
• Climate Justice: Addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations and future generations.
• Policy and Governance:
• International Cooperation: Multilateral pathways to address global challenges.
• National Policies: Integrating the rights of future generations into national environmental and development policies. 
• Youth Involvement: Ensuring young people have a voice in climate-related decision-making.

2. STATUS OF THE INTRODUCTION OF AFRICAN CHEETAHS

• Project Cheetah aims to introduce African cheetahs into Indian ecosystems to conserve the species and restore savanna habitats. However, the project has faced significant challenges, including prolonged captivity and cheetah fatalities.
• Project Overview:
• Objective: To conserve African cheetahs and restore savanna ecosystems in India.
• Key Locations: Kuno National Park (Madhya Pradesh), Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Banni grasslands (Gujarat), Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh).
• Challenges Faced:
• Prolonged Captivity: The cheetahs have spent extended periods in captivity, which is counterproductive to their rewilding.
• Cheetah Fatalities: Several cheetahs have died due to various reasons, including pre-existing health conditions, heat stroke, and other complications.
• Current Status:
• Cheetah Population: Out of the 20 cheetahs brought from Africa, 12 adults and 12 cubs remain, with many having spent almost all of the last 12 months in captivity.
• Captivity Issues: Long-term captivity has rendered the cheetahs unfit for release into the wild, as per Namibian policy which restricts captivity for wild large carnivores to three months.
• Reasons for Cheetah Deaths:
• Health Issues: Pre-existing conditions like chronic renal ailments and hypokalaemia.
• Environmental Stress: Heat stroke and dermatitis leading to myiasis and septicaemia.
• Management Failures: Inadequate assessment and selection of individual animals before import.
• Habitat and Release Sites: Kuno National Park: Found to be the most suitable due to its habitat and prey base.
• Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary: 80 sq. km fenced area, with plans to release cheetahs by late 2024 or early 2025.
• Banni Grasslands: Captive breeding facility under construction.
• Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary: Potential future site for cheetah introduction.
• Management and Oversight: Expert Committee: Chaired by Rajesh Gopal, responsible for guiding the project.
• Institutions Involved: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Wildlife Institute of India, Madhya Pradesh Forest Department.
• Success Criteria: Short-term Goals: 50% survival rate in the first year, establishment of home ranges, successful reproduction, and eco-tourism benefits.
• Long-term Goals: Stable cheetah population, viable metapopulation, improved habitat quality, and sustainable conservation efforts.
• Sunset Clause:  Long-term Timeline: The project is expected to span 15 to 40 years, with continuous management required to establish a viable free-ranging cheetah population

3. INTERNATIONAL

ISRAEL FIGHTING THREE MILITIAS COULD IMPERIL THE WEST ASIAN SECURITY SITUATION

• Israel and Hamas (Gaza)
• Background: Hamas, a Palestinian militant organization, has been in conflict with Israel for decades. The latest escalation began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a significant attack on Israel, prompting a retaliatory invasion by Israel.
• Current Status: Israel has been engaged in a prolonged military campaign in Gaza for over 11 months, aiming to dismantle Hamas’ infrastructure and capabilities.
• Israel and Hezbollah (Lebanon) ○ Background: Hezbollah, a Shia militant group based in Lebanon, has been a long-standing adversary of Israel. The group is backed by Iran and has a significant military presence in southern Lebanon.
• Current Status: Israel is involved in a “slow-burning” conflict with Hezbollah in its northern region. This conflict has not reached the intensity of the Gaza conflict but remains a significant security concern.
• Israel and Houthis (Yemen)
• Background: The Houthis, a Shia rebel group in Yemen, have been in conflict with a Saudi-led coalition since 2015. The group has received substantial support from Iran.
• Recent Developments: The Houthis have recently escalated their involvement by launching missile and drone attacks on Israel. This marks a significant expansion of the conflict, bringing Yemen into the broader West Asian security crisis.

4. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

NEW TECH TO ADDRESS STRAY CATTLE MENACE

• Technological Interventions for Stray Cattle
• Technological Interventions:
• In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and sex-sorted semen production are being promoted to address the problem of stray cattle.
• These technologies aim to improve the quality of cattle breeds, ensuring that farmers do not abandon bulls if their quality is good.
• Artificial Insemination (AI) Services:
• For the first time in India, artificial insemination services are being delivered free of cost at farmers’ doorsteps.
• As of now, 7.53 crore animals have been covered under this program.
• A total of 9.15 crore artificial inseminations have been performed. ○ 5.4 crore farmers have benefited from this initiative.
• Objective: The goal is to ensure better breed quality, which in turn will help farmers and reduce the issue of stray cattle.
• Ministry’s Achievements:The briefing highlighted the important decisions and achievements of the Ministry in the first 100 days of the third term of the Narendra Modi government.

5. BOARDER ISSUES

NO PROGRESS IN RESOLUTION OF DEMCHOK AND DEPSANG FRICTION POINTS IN 2 YEARS

• Disengagement Status:
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that approximately 75% of disengagement has been completed between India and China along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.
• Both sides have mutually agreed and verified disengagement from five friction points.
• Remaining Friction Points:
• Two friction points, Demchok and Depsang, remain unresolved, with no progress towards their resolution in the past two years.
• Disengagement Areas:
• Disengagement has been completed from the following areas:
• Galwan Valley after the violent clash in June 2020. ○ North and South Banks of Pangong Tso in February 2021. 
• Patrolling Point (PP) 17 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area in August 2021.
• PP15 in September 2022, following the 16th round of Corps Commander-level military talks on July 17, 2022.
• Future Expectations:
• There is optimism about a possible breakthrough in further disengagement in the run-up to the BRICS Summit in October, which both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to attend.
• There is an expectation of possible disengagement from Demchok, though no immediate Corps Commander-level talks have been confirmed.

ONE LINER

1. The 4^th summit of the QUAD Alliance, which includes India, Japan, USA and Australia, will be held in Wilmington, Delaware, USA
2. Union Home & Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the White Revolution 2.0 to empower women and fight against malnutrition