TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12.11.2024

1. INTERNATIONAL

RUSSIA JAILS FRENCH RESEARCHER FOR BRECHING FOREIGN AGENT LAW

• Russia’s “foreign agent” lawis a controversial piece of legislation that allows the government to label individuals and organizations as “foreign agents” if they receive funding from abroad and engage in activities deemed to be “political.”
• Key aspects of the law: Targets individuals and organizations, including NGOs, media outlets, and think tanks.
• “Political activity” broadly definedand can encompass a wide range of activities, making it difficult for individuals and organizations to determine whether they fall under the law’s purview.
• Foreign funding as a trigger for “foreign agent” designation. Onerous reporting requirements by designated “foreign agents”. Failure to comply can result in hefty fines and even criminal charges.
• Stigmatizing effect:The “foreign agent” label carries a strong negative connotation in Russia, often associating those designated with espionage or disloyalty. This can damage reputations, limit access to funding, and restrict activities.

2. AGRICULTURE

STUBBLE BURNING ON THE RISE IN PUNJAB AND HARYANA : DELHI’S AIR QUALITY DIPS

• Stubble burning typically intensifies in the third week of October and continues until mid-November in the affected states.
• The CAQM is under scrutiny for its effectiveness in controlling stubble burning.
• Current Situation: Punjab:While initially lower than previous years, fire counts have risen sharply in recent weeks, indicating increased stubble burning activity as the rice harvest progresses. The coming weeks are crucial to observe whether farmers can sell the stubble or resort to burning it.
• Haryana:Experiencing the highest number of stubble burning incidents since 2020, exceeding even the counts from that year.
• Uttar Pradesh:Also witnessing the highest number of stubble burning incidents in five years.
• Delhi’s Air Quality:Deteriorating air quality in Delhi, categorized as “poor,” has triggered the implementation of Stage-1 GRAP restrictions.
• Concerns and Challenges:
• Spike in Burning:Despite initial optimism, the recent increase in fire counts suggests that stubble burning remains a significant challenge.
• Stubble Management:The success of efforts to control stubble burning hinges on whether farmers can find alternative uses for the stubble, such as selling it to industries.
• Implementation Gaps:The Supreme Court’s criticism of the CAQM highlights the challenges in effectively implementing and coordinating anti-pollution measures.
• GRAP Restrictions:While Stage-1 GRAP restrictions have been implemented in Delhi, their effectiveness in mitigating the impact of stubble burning remains to be seen.

3. NATIONAL

BIS SHOULD ENSURE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)is India’s national standards body.
• The issue highlighted in the news snippet is the importance of BIS ensuring access to high-quality products for consumers, using the example of potentially misleading claims in the air purifier industry.
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): Role:Sets quality standards for various products and services in India. These standards are designed to ensure consumer safety, product reliability, and prevent misleading practices.
• “One Nation, One Standard”:This policy aims to create a unified standard framework across the country, promoting consistency and synergy among stakeholders.
• Issue with Air Purifiers: Misleading Claims:The Consumer Affairs Minister pointed out that some air purifier manufacturers might be making exaggerated or false claims about their products’ effectiveness.
• Consumer Deception:Consumers, concerned about air pollution, may be purchasing air purifiers based on these misleading claims, without necessarily receiving the advertised benefits.
• Minister’s Call to Action: BIS Responsibility:The minister urged the BIS to ensure that consumers have access to safe, reliable, and high-quality products and services. This implies a need for stricter enforcement of standards and greater scrutiny of product claims.

4. ENVIRONMENT

HOW DID THE HAER – BOSCH PROCESS CHANGE THE WORLD

• The Haber-Bosch processrevolutionized agriculture and significantly impacted global population growth by enabling the mass production of ammonia-based fertilizers. However, its widespread use has also led to significant environmental challenges.
• The Nitrogen Problem and the Haber-Bosch Solution: Inert Nitrogen:Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is inert due to its strong triple bond, making it inaccessible to plants.
• Reactive Nitrogen:Plants require reactive nitrogen (ammonia, nitrates) for growth. Natural sources like lightning and nitrogen-fixing bacteria are limited.
• Haber-Bosch Process:This process converts inert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia (NH3) by reacting it with hydrogen (H2) under high temperature and pressure using a catalyst.
• How the Haber-Bosch Process Changed the World – Increased Food Production:Enabled the creation of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, leading to a massive increase in crop yields and supporting the global population explosion in the 20th century.
• Economic Impact:Reduced the cost of fertilizer production, making food more affordable and accessible.
• Environmental Consequences: Nitrogen Pollution:Excessive fertilizer use leads to nitrogen runoff into waterways, causing eutrophication (algal blooms), oxygen depletion, and harm to aquatic life.
• Acid Rain:Reactive nitrogen released into the atmosphere contributes to acid rain, damaging ecosystems and infrastructure.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions:The Haber-Bosch process is energy-intensive, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Disruption of Nitrogen Cycle:The massive influx of synthetic nitrogen disrupts the natural nitrogen cycle, with long-term consequences for ecosystems.

5. SOCIAL ISSUES

A BLUPRINT FOR SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN

• A multi-pronged approach to combatting Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM), building on a recent Supreme Court judgment
• Key Issues: Normalization of CSEAM:A Madras High Court ruling, later overturned by the Supreme Court, had raised concerns about minimizing the seriousness of downloading and viewing CSEAM.
• Demand-Supply Chain:Accessing CSEAM fuels the demand for child sexual abuse, perpetuating the cycle of exploitation.
• Re-victimization:The persistent nature of online images leads to ongoing trauma for victims and their families.
• Lack of Support for Victims:Current efforts focus heavily on punishing offenders, often neglecting the needs of victims.
• Evolving Nature of Exploitation:Emerging technologies, like AI-generated content, pose new challenges in combating CSEAM.
• Lack of Global Coordination:CSEAM is a transnational crime requiring international cooperation.
• Proposed Solutions:
• Legal Reforms: Explicitly define cybercrimein Indian law, including CSEAM as an economic and organized crime.
• Criminalize online enticement and traffickingresulting from it.
• Amend laws to treat the creation of CSEAM, including AI-generated content, as equivalent to real child abuse.
• Social Media Accountability: Mandate real-time reporting of CSEAM by social media platforms to law enforcement.
• Enhanced Domestic Infrastructure: Establish a dedicated forensic lab with advanced technology to handle the increased reporting of CSEAM. This would reduce reliance on international agencies and improve response times.
• Offender Tracking and Restrictions: Enter details of individuals convicted of CSEAM offenses into the National Database on Sexual Offenders.
• Bar these individuals from employment in sectors involving children.
• International Cooperation: Advocate for a legally binding international convention to combat CSEAM.
• Establish an International Database of Sex Offenders.
• Engage financial institutions in tracking and disrupting the financial networks supporting CSEAM.

ONE LINER

1. 19^th World Hunger Index – India in the Intensive Analysis category
2. Chennai Port has received the IAPH Sustainability Award in the Community Infrastructure category

BANKING

1. Who was honored with the Global Prestige Award at the House of Lords?

Ans: Vinod Bachchan.

2. Which Indian cricketer joined the elite club with 400 international wickets?

Ans: Jasprit Bumrah.