Archives
(PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)
EUROPEAN FREE TRADE ASSOCIATION (EFTA)
Syllabus
Prelims & Mains – INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Context: Commerce & Industry minister Piyush Goyal will visit Switzerland to take forward a $ 100 billion investment commitment for India made by the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) under a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).
Background:-
In the FTA that India signed in March with EFTA – India secured the investment pledge from EFTA over next 15 years in return for tariff concessions to the members of the grouping.
About European Free Trade Association (EFTA) :
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organization and free trade area consisting of four European states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The organization operates in parallel with the European Union (EU), and all four member states participate in the European Single Market. They are not, however, party to the European Union Customs Union.
EFTA was historically one of the two dominant western European trade blocs, but is now much smaller and closely associated with its historical competitor, the European Union.
It was established in 1960 to serve as an alternative trade bloc for those European states that were unable or unwilling to join the then European Economic Community (EEC), the main predecessor of the EU.
The Stockholm Convention (1960), to establish the EFTA, was signed on 4 January 1960 in the Swedish capital by seven countries (known as the “outer seven”: Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom).
After 1995 only two founding members remained, namely Norway and Switzerland. The other five, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom, had joined the EU at some point in the intervening years.
The initial Stockholm Convention was superseded by the Vaduz Convention, which aimed to provide a successful framework for continuing the expansion and liberalization of trade, both among the organization’s member states and with the rest of the world.
While the EFTA is not a customs union and member states have full rights to enter into bilateral third-country trade arrangements, it does have a coordinated trade policy.
As a result, its member states have jointly concluded free trade agreements with the EU and a number of other countries.
To participate in the EU’s single market, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway are parties to the Agreement on a European Economic Area (EEA), with compliances regulated by the EFTA Surveillance Authority and the EFTA Court.
Switzerland has a set of multilateral agreements with the EU and its member states instead.
How is EFTA different from the EU?
EFTA and the EU are two distinct entities with different objectives and different Member States.
EFTA focuses primarily on promoting free trade and economic cooperation among its Member States, and with the EU and third countries through agreements that reduce trade barriers and enhance economic relations. Decision making in EFTA involves consensus among its Member States.
The EU consists of 27 Member States and emphasises broader political, economic and social integration objectives. Decision making in the EU is more complex and involves institutions such as the European Commission, European Parliament and European Council, with laws and regulations that are binding on all Member States.
Source: Financial Express
UPPER SIANG HYDROPOWER PROJECT
Syllabus
Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT
Context: Locals are protesting against the Upper Siang hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh.
Background:
Authorities are in the process of launching a massive public outreach campaign to drum up support for the project.
About Upper Siang project
The Upper Siang project is a proposed 11,000 megawatt hydropower project on the Siang river in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Siang originates near Mount Kailash in Tibet, where it goes by the name of Tsangpo. It traverses more than 1,000 km eastward, before forming a horseshoe bend around the towering Namcha Barwa peak, and enters Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang. Further downstream, in Assam, the river becomes the mighty Brahmaputra.
In 2017, the government proposed to replace the planned 5,500 MW Siang Upper Stage-I and 3,750 MW Siang Upper Stage-II hydel projects with a single, multi-purpose project of higher capacity — the aforementioned Upper Siang project.
Set to be built by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), the project would entail the construction of a 300-metre high dam, the largest in the subcontinent, when completed.
According to a 2022 report by the Central Electrical Authority, there are 29 hydroelectric projects (installed capacity of over 25 MW) in the Siang river basin, with a combined installed capacity of 18,326 MW. The proposed Upper Siang project’s installed capacity is roughly 60% of this figure.
More than its hydropower potential, the dam is being projected as a strategic imperative to counter China’s hydel projects on the Tsangpo.
China plans for a 60,000 MW ‘super dam’ in Tibet, right on the border with Arunachal Pradesh. The super dam’s installed capacity is almost three times that of the largest hydropower station on the planet — the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze river in China’s Hubei province. It will be used to divert water to China’s water-scarce northern regions.
Upper Siang project will act as a reservoir to counter the effects of a potentially-reduced flow if Chinas dam project materialises.
Environmental & social concerns
Activists are concerned that the proposed dam project will displace over 300 villages belonging to the Adi tribe, threatening their way of life and cultural heritage.
Activists are particularly concerned by a provision of last year’s Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act which exempts from clearance the diversion of forest land for strategic projects within 100 km from India’s borders.
The Upper Siang district administration has called multiple meetings to lay the ground for a pre-feasibility survey in the area, a preliminary analysis to assess the probable cost of a project and its feasibility in a given area.
The NHPC has chosen three sites along the Siang — Ugeng, Dite Dime and Parong — for its feasibility study.
The NHPC has sanctioned a Rs 325 crore CSR package which will be used for the implementation of livelihood schemes, as well as the development of health, education, and sports infrastructure.
Source: Indian Express
HANNIBAL DIRECTIVE
Syllabus
Prelims – CURRENT EVENT
Context: On October 7 last year, as Hamas raided southern Israel, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) activated the “Hannibal Directive,” a doctrine of using maximum force to prevent soldier capture, even at the cost of military and civilian lives, according to a recent media investigation.
Background:
The IDF has not confirmed or denied the claims in the report, and has said that the results of internal investigations would be presented once complete.
what is the Hannibal Directive?
The expression refers to a IDF operational policy that aims to pre-empt politically painful prisoner swaps by immediately eliminating everyone in the vicinity of a captive Israeli soldier, even if it poses a risk to the soldier himself.
The full text of the purported doctrine has never been published, even though its existence has been an open secret.
Describing the procedures to be used in the minutes and hours immediately following a possible abduction, the directive states: “In case of capture, the main mission becomes rescuing our soldiers from the captors, even at the cost of hitting or wounding our soldiers.”
Why is it called Hannibal Directive?
The policy is named after the Carthaginian general Hannibal, who reportedly chose to kill himself to avoid capture by the Romans in 181 BCE.
Hannibal, who led Carthage against Rome in the 17-year Second Punic War, had taken refuge with Prusias I of Bithynia in northwest Anatolia.
When the Romans pressured Prusias to surrender him, Hannibal, determined not to be captured, consumed poison upon realizing he was surrounded.
When was the purported doctrine embraced by Israel?
The Hannibal Doctrine was formulated as a response to the Jibril Agreement of 1985 in which 1,150 Palestinian prisoners were exchanged for three Israelis who had been seized in Lebanon by the Syria-based militant group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC).
The deal, which was negotiated over almost a year, was nicknamed after the leader of the PFLP-GC, Ahmed Jibril. Among the Palestinians released by Israel was Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who went on to found Hamas in 1987.
The swap negotiations were exhausting, and the deal was seen as costly by many Israelis, who did not want to see a repeat.
In mid-1986, after Hezbollah attempted to abduct two Israeli soldiers to southern Lebanon, Yossi Peled, then head of the IDF’s Northern Command, drafted the operational order that would become the basis of the Hannibal Doctrine.
Peled essentially advocated the suspension of safety procedures that protect IDF soldiers from being fired on by their own in the possibility of capture, as opposed to actively targeting them.
How is this doctrine justified?
After proof of its existence came to light, the directive did not attract criticism from Israelis, primarily because of the perception that any soldiers captured by militants would not be extended the dignity of being treated as prisoners of war.
It also made sense to many soldiers to avoid being captured, even at the cost of risking dying in the process.
The Hannibal Doctrine has been criticised for its disregard for human life.
What allegedly transpired on October 7, 2023?
According to media report, the attack left the IDF red-faced, and prompted use of the Hannibal Directive, with an explicit order relayed across its Gaza Division: “Not a single vehicle can return to Gaza.”
In the current iteration, the Hannibal Directive allows a division commander to assume extraordinary authority to block an enemy raid, even employing heavy fire inside Israeli territory if necessary.
Source: Indian Express
CARBONATE COMPENSATION DEPTH
Syllabus
Prelims – Science & Technology
Context: Carbonate Compensation Depth is expanding according to latest research
Background:
Below the CCD no calcium carbonate is preserved—generally there is no CaCO3 beneath about 15,000 feet (4500 meters)
About Carbonate Compensation Depth
The carbonate compensation depth (CCD) is the depth, in the oceans, at which the rate of supply of calcium carbonates matches the rate of solvation. That is, solvation ‘compensates’ supply.
Below the CCD solvation is faster, so that carbonate particles dissolve and the carbonate shells (tests) of animals are not preserved.
Carbonate particles cannot accumulate in the sediments where the sea floor is below this depth.
Detailed information:
When CaCO3-shelled organisms die, their skeletal remains begin sinking towards the bottom of the ocean. This creates a calcareous ooze that can, under pressure from the overlying water, form limestone or chalk.
Not everything that sinks in the sea reaches the bottom, however, because the chemistry of ocean water changes with depth.
Surface water, where most plankton live, is safe for shells made from calcium carbonate. These minerals are almost insoluble there.
But the deep water is colder and under high pressure, and both of these physical factors increase the water’s power to dissolve CaCO3. More important than these is a chemical factor, the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the water.
Deep water collects CO2 because it’s made by deep-sea creatures, from bacteria to fish, as they eat the falling bodies of plankton and use them for food. High CO2 levels make the water more acidic.
The depth where all three of these effects show their might, where CaCO3 starts to dissolve rapidly, is called the lysocline.
As you go down through this depth, seafloor mud starts to lose its CaCO3 content—it is less and less calcareous.
The depth at which CaCO3 completely disappears, where its sedimentation is equaled by its dissolution, is the compensation depth.
Source: Down To Earth
REGIONAL ANALYSIS OF INDIAN OCEAN (RAIN) SYSTEM
Syllabus
Prelims – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Context: Recently, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has upgraded its Regional Analysis of Indian Ocean (RAIN) system for gathering information on the health of the Indian Ocean.
Background:
RAIN data is a valuable resource for various stakeholders, contributing to scientific research, sustainable development, and informed decision-making in the Indian Ocean region.
About Regional Analysis of Indian Ocean System (RAIN)
Regional Analysis of Indian Ocean System (RAIN) is a data assimilation system developed by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).
RAIN is designed to gather information on the health of the Indian Ocean.
The recent upgrade incorporates sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) in addition to the previous parameters of salinity and sea surface temperature.
This enhancement improves the accuracy of ocean current analysis.
The system collects observations at the ocean’s surface and below the water at depths ranging from 3 meters to 2,000 meters, depending on the requirement.
Important applications of the Regional Analysis of Indian OceaN (RAIN) :
Ocean Forecasting:
RAIN provides improved initial conditions for ocean forecast, enhancing the accuracy of predictions related to ocean currents, sea surface temperature, and other oceanographic variables.
Better forecasts benefit marine navigation, offshore operations, and disaster management.
Climate Research:
Researchers use RAIN data to study long-term trends, variability, and climate change in the Indian Ocean.
It contributes to understanding ocean-atmosphere interactions, monsoons, and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events.
Fisheries Management:
Accurate oceanographic data helps fisheries managers make informed decisions about fishing zones, stock assessments, and sustainable fishing practices.
RAIN aids in identifying productive fishing grounds and potential fish migration patterns.
Environmental Monitoring:
Monitoring ocean health, pollution levels, and changes in water quality.
Detecting harmful algal blooms, oil spills, and other environmental hazards.
Disaster Preparedness and Response:
RAIN data assists in predicting and monitoring cyclones, storm surges, and tsunamis.
Early warnings help coastal communities prepare and mitigate risks.
Shipping and Maritime Operations:
Ocean currents, temperature, and salinity data are crucial for safe navigation, route optimization, and avoiding hazardous areas.
RAIN contributes to efficient shipping operations.
Renewable Energy:
Understanding ocean currents and temperature gradients aids in harnessing tidal and wave energy.
RAIN data informs the placement of offshore wind farms.
Source: Indian Express
SARUS CRANE
Syllabus
Prelims – ENVIRONMENT
Context: The latest census in Uttar Pradesh has revealed a positive trend in the Sarus crane population.
Background:
The sarus crane count has shown a consistent upward trend over the years from 17,329 in 2021 to 19,188 in 2022, 19,522 in 2023, and reaching 19,918 in 2024. This rise is a testament to the ongoing conservation efforts.
About Sarus Crane:
The Sarus Crane is the tallest flying bird in the world.
It was declared as the state bird of Uttar Pradesh in 2014.
Distribution:
It is found in Southeast Asia, northern India, and northern Australia.
Habitat:
Prefers wetlands such as canals, marshes, and ponds, often near human habitation.
Sarus Cranes are least social among crane species, usually found in pairs or small groups.
Threats:
Habitat Loss: Due to agricultural expansion and urbanization.
Predation: By feral dogs, mongoose, and snakes.
Human Activities: Hunting and disturbance from human activities.
Conservation Efforts:
Projects: The Sarus Crane Conservation Project in Uttar Pradesh involves local volunteers, NGOs, and the U.P. Forest Department.
Census: Regular population monitoring and habitat protection efforts are ongoing.
Conservation Status:
The Sarus is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.
Source: Hindustan Times
Practice MCQs
Daily Practice MCQs
Q1.) Upper siang hydropower project, recently seen in news, is coming up in
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Tripura
Meghalaya
Q2.) With reference to the Sarus Crane, consider the following statements:
The Sarus Crane is the tallest flying bird in the world.
It is listed as the critically endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.
Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Q3.) Consider the following:
Prediction and monitoring of cyclones
Detecting harmful algal blooms
Understanding ocean currents and temperature gradients
How many of the above are the applications of the Regional Analysis of Indian OceaN (RAIN) system?
Only one
Only two
All three
None
Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!
ANSWERS FOR ’ 12th July 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st
ANSWERS FOR 11th July – Daily Practice MCQs
Answers- Daily Practice MCQs
Q.1) – a
Q.2) – b
Q.3) – a