Archives
(PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)
ANTARCTICA’S DEEP-WINTER HEATWAVE
Syllabus
Prelims & Mains – GEOGRAPHY
Context: For the second time in two years, Antarctica is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave during its winter season. Since mid-July, ground temperatures have been 10 degrees Celsius above the seasonal norm, with some days seeing spikes as high as 28 degrees above average.
Background:-
In East Antarctica, where higher elevations dominate two-thirds of the world’s coldest continent, temperatures are currently ranging from minus 25 to minus 30 degrees Celsius. Typically, deep-winter temperatures in this region fall between minus 50 and minus 60 degrees Celsius.
Reasons for the Heatwave
Weakening of the Polar Vortex:
The polar vortex, a band of cold air and low-pressure systems around Earth’s poles, usually remains strong during the southern hemisphere winter, trapping cold air over Antarctica.
This year, large-scale atmospheric waves disturbed the vortex, allowing trapped cold air to escape and warmer air to enter, raising temperatures as this warm air descended from the upper atmosphere.
Reduction in Antarctic Sea Ice:
The extent of Antarctic sea ice in June was the second-lowest on record for that time of year, slightly above the lowest extent in June 2023.
Sea ice plays a critical role in cooling the polar regions by reflecting sunlight and acting as a barrier between cold air and warmer water. Reduced sea ice likely contributed to warmer winter weather over Antarctica.
Impact of Global Warming:
Antarctica is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, with temperatures increasing at a rate of 0.22 to 0.32 degrees Celsius per decade.
Global warming’s impact on Antarctica is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heatwaves.
Possible Consequences
Ice Sheet Loss and Sea Level Rise:
The ongoing heatwave could accelerate the loss of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, potentially leading to a significant rise in global sea levels.
Antarctica has already lost 280% more ice mass in recent decades compared to the 1980s and 1990s, with catastrophic events like the 2022 collapse of a Rome-sized portion of the ice sheet.
Impact on Global Ocean Circulation:
Melting Antarctic ice is slowing down the global ocean circulation system, which is crucial for regulating climate by transporting heat, carbon, nutrients, and freshwater.
A slowdown in this system could lead to less heat and CO2 absorption by the oceans, intensifying global warming and increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events like floods and droughts.
Source: Indian Express
BIOFUELS
Syllabus
Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT
Context: Every year on August 10, World Biofuel Day is observed to underline the significance of biofuels as a sustainable source of energy.
Background:
In recent years, biofuels have garnered significant attention due to growing concerns about climate change and the health impacts of air pollution from fossil fuels, which are not only costly but also finite in supply.
Understanding Biofuels
Biofuels are renewable fuels derived from the biomass of plants or animal waste. Common sources include corn, sugarcane, and animal waste like cow dung. Unlike fossil fuels, biofuels are sustainable energy sources.
The two most common types are ethanol and biodiesel.
Ethanol: Produced by fermenting crop residues such as corn and sugarcane. It is often blended with petroleum to reduce emissions, with Ethanol-10 (E10) being a common blend containing 10% ethanol.
Biodiesel: Made from used cooking oil, yellow grease, or animal fats, biodiesel is produced by burning these materials with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst.
Importance of Biofuels
Environmental Benefits: Biofuels can mitigate the negative environmental impacts of fossil fuels, such as greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion, while also improving waste management.
Energy Security: As the world’s third-largest consumer of crude oil, India’s reliance on imports for over 85% of its needs poses energy security challenges. Biofuels offer a way to reduce this dependency.
Economic Benefits: Increased biofuel use can decrease reliance on imported oil, lower import bills, and boost farm income by creating demand for crops like corn and sugarcane.
Government Initiatives and Policies on Biofuels
National Policy on Biofuels (2018): Aimed at reducing import dependency and promoting fuel blending, this policy supports ethanol, biodiesel, and bio-CNG production. In 2022, the policy was amended to advance the 20% ethanol blending target from 2030 to 2025-26.
Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA): Launched in 2022, this multi-stakeholder alliance, including governments and international organizations, promotes global cooperation and sustainable biofuel use. Additionally, it aims to facilitate global biofuel trade and provide technical support for national biofuel programs.
Reduced GST on Ethanol: The government lowered the GST on ethanol for blending from 18% to 5% under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme.
Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana: This initiative supports Second Generation (2G) ethanol production from cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials, offering financial incentives.
Challenges Related to Biofuels
Environmental Concerns: Biofuel production can strain land and water resources and contribute to air and groundwater pollution. It may also alter cropping patterns, affecting agricultural balance.
Food vs. Fuel Dilemma: The competition between food security and energy security arises depending on the choice of feedstock and production processes.
Source: Indian Express
LAKE TURKANA
Syllabus
Prelims – GEOGRAPHY
Context: Findings of the first comprehensive survey of Lake Turkana in 50 years was released recently.
Background:
Lying in a hot, arid, and remote region, Lake Turkana provides resources for communities on the lakeshore and surrounding areas. However, its semi-saline waters, driven by high evaporation rates and fluctuating lake levels of up to 8 meters per decade, have historically hindered sustainable development initiatives.
About Lake Turkana
Location: Lake Turkana is located in the Great Rift Valley in northern Kenya, extending into southern Ethiopia.
Size and Rank:
Lake Turkana is Africa’s 4th largest lake.
It is the world’s largest permanent desert lake and the largest alkaline lake.
Geographical Features:
The lake is surrounded by volcanic rock and desert.
It is fed by three main rivers: the Omo, Turkwel, and Kerio.
The lake has no outlet, which contributes to its high salinity and alkalinity.
Biodiversity:
Lake Turkana is home to diverse wildlife, including Nile crocodiles, hippos, and various fish species.
It is also a critical habitat for migratory birds and other endemic species.
Cultural Significance:
The region around Lake Turkana is known as the “Cradle of Mankind” due to the discovery of some of the oldest human fossils.
It is inhabited by indigenous communities, including the Turkana, El Molo, and Dassanach people, who rely on the lake for fishing and livestock.
Environmental Concerns:
The lake faces environmental challenges, including declining water levels due to dam construction on the Omo River in Ethiopia.
Climate change and overexploitation of resources are also significant threats to the lake’s ecosystem.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Lake Turkana is part of the Lake Turkana National Parks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, recognized for its ecological and archaeological importance.
Economic Importance:
The lake supports local economies through fishing, tourism, and livestock grazing.
It also holds potential for hydroelectric power generation, though this has led to environmental debates.
Source: UNESCO
DEBT SWAPS
Syllabus
Prelims – ECONOMY
Context: IMF recently released, the “Debt for Development Swaps” framework.
Background:
This framework is designed to help stakeholders optimize their decision-making on when, where, and how to use debt-for-development swaps effectively.
Key takeaways :
Debt swaps are financial transactions where the terms of an existing debt are exchanged for different obligations or assets.
Some common types of debt swaps:
Debt-for-Equity Swap:
In this swap, a creditor agrees to cancel a portion or all of a debtor’s outstanding debt in exchange for equity in the debtor’s company. This is often used in corporate restructuring to reduce debt burdens.
Debt-for-Debt Swap:
This involves exchanging one type of debt for another, often with different terms, such as interest rates, maturities, or currencies. This can help the debtor manage risk or improve cash flow.
Debt-for-Nature Swap:
A debtor country agrees to fund conservation or environmental protection projects in exchange for a portion of its debt being forgiven. This is typically arranged between a debtor nation and a creditor, often with the involvement of an environmental organization.
Debt-for-Development Swap:
Similar to debt-for-nature swaps, but the funds saved from debt forgiveness are redirected towards social or economic development projects, such as education, healthcare, or infrastructure.
Debt-for-Bond Swap:
Existing debt is exchanged for new bonds, often with more favorable terms. This can be used to extend the maturity of debt, reduce interest payments, or restructure a country’s or company’s obligations.
Debt swaps are used as tools for debt restructuring, risk management, or achieving policy objectives, such as promoting environmental sustainability or economic development.
Source: IMF
E-SANKHYIKI PORTAL
Syllabus
Prelims – CURRENT EVENT
Context: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has launched e-Sankhyiki portal.
Background:
This initiative is designed to provide real-time inputs for planners, policymakers, researchers, and the public, enhancing the accessibility and usability of statistical data.
About e-Sankhyiki Portal
The e-Sankhyiki Portal was launched by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on National Statistics Day, June 29, 2024.
This portal aims to establish a comprehensive data management and sharing system to facilitate the dissemination of official statistics in India.
The portal consists of two main modules:
Data Catalogue Module: Lists major data assets of the Ministry, allowing users to search and download data.
Macro Indicators Module: Provides time series data of macro indicators for four key products of the Ministry, with features for filtering, visualizing, and accessing metadata.
This initiative is designed to provide real-time inputs for planners, policymakers, researchers, and the public, enhancing the accessibility and usability of statistical data.
Source: PIB
AYUSHMAN BHARAT SCHEME
Syllabus
Mains – GS 2
Context: Beneficiaries aged 70 years and above made up over 12 percent of all admissions under the government’s flagship Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, with their treatment costs accounting for nearly 14 percent of the total expenditure till January, according to data presented in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Background:
India’s population over the age of 60 years is estimated to increase from 8.6 per cent in 2011 to 19.5 per cent by 2050. Health coverage is crucial for older age group.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri — Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY):
Ayushman Bharat, a flagship scheme of the Government of India, was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
This initiative has been designed to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its underlining commitment, which is to “leave no one behind.”
It is the world’s largest health insurance scheme fully financed by the government.
It is an entitlement-based scheme that targets the beneficiaries as identified by the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.
The National Health Authority (NHA) has been constituted as an autonomous entity under the Society Registration Act of 1860 for the effective implementation of PM-JAY in alliance with state governments.
Objectives of AB-PMJAY:
To reduce the financial burden of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on healthcare for the beneficiaries.
To improve the access and affordability of healthcare services for the beneficiaries.
To enhance the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery systems in the country.
To promote preventive, promotive, and curative health interventions for the beneficiaries.
Provisions/Features of AB-PMJAY:
It is a centrally sponsored scheme where the funding ratio is 60:40 for most states, 90:10 for northeastern states and Himalayan states, and 100:0 for union territories without a legislature.
It provides a health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to more than 12 crore families.
It covers medical and surgical procedures for almost all health conditions through a comprehensive list of 1,949 packages, including cancer care, cardiac care, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, burns management, mental disorders, etc.
It uses a robust IT platform to ensure seamless delivery of services and prevent fraud and abuse. The platform includes features such as a beneficiary identification system, hospital empanelment module, transaction management system, claim management system, grievance redressal mechanism, etc.
It has a network of more than 27,000 empanelled hospitals across the country, out of which more than half are private hospitals.
It has a dedicated workforce of Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitras (PMAMs) who guide and assist the beneficiaries at every step of their journey under the scheme. They are responsible for beneficiary verification, registration, pre-authorisation, claim submission, etc.
It has a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to ensure accountability and transparency.
It has a National Anti-Fraud Unit (NAFU) that designs, implements, and oversees anti-fraud initiatives.
It has a call centre that makes calls to every beneficiary who has availed of treatment within 48 hrs of discharge to verify the quantity and quality of the treatment. Another call is made after 15 days to know about the prognosis.
Issues/Challenges faced by AB-PMJAY:
Many eligible beneficiaries are not aware of their entitlements or how to avail them. It faces a low awareness level among the potential beneficiaries, especially in rural areas.
There is an uneven distribution and availability of healthcare infrastructure and human resources in the country which results in a supply-side constraint.
It faces the challenge of ensuring timely and adequate reimbursement of claims to empanelled hospitals, especially private ones.
There is a loophole in preventing and detecting fraud and abuse by some unscrupulous elements who try to exploit the scheme for personal gain.
Source: Indian Express
Practice MCQs
Daily Practice MCQs
Q1.) Lake Turkana, recently seen in news is located in
Kenya
Nigeria
Morocco
Azerbaijan
Q2.) Consider the following statements:
The e-Sankhyiki Portal was launched by the Ministry of Finance.
The e-Sankhyiki Portal aims to establish a comprehensive data management and sharing system to facilitate the dissemination of official statistics in India.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Q3.) Which among the following statements describe Debt swaps?
It is involve exchanging principal and interest payments in one currency for those in another currency.
It is used to transfer the credit risk of a borrower from one party to another.
Debt swaps are financial transactions where the terms of an existing debt are exchanged for different obligations or assets.
These involve exchanging cash flows based on the performance of an equity index or a basket of stocks.
Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!
ANSWERS FOR ’ 10th August 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs
ANSWERS FOR 9th August – Daily Practice MCQs
Answers- Daily Practice MCQs
Q.1) – a
Q.2) – d
Q.3) – c