Daily Prelims Notes 12 March 2025

March 12, 2025
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

12 March 2025

Table Of Contents

1. Why former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested

Sub: IR

Sec: Int org

Context:

Rodrigo Duterte, former President of the Philippines, was arrested on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC had been investigating allegations of “crimes against humanity” related to his controversial “war on drugs.”
The ICC, with 125 member countries, has international jurisdiction over crimes like genocide, war crimes, crimes of aggression, and crimes against humanity. It intervenes when national authorities are unwilling or unable to prosecute such crimes.

Background:

Duterte, who was mayor of Davao for 22 years before becoming president in 2016, gained fame for his tough stance on crime. During his presidency (2016-2022), more than 6,000 people, mostly young, poor males, were killed as part of his anti-drug campaign.
A UN report accused the police of forcing suspects into self-incrimination or facing lethal force.
Duterte denied the accusations and withdrew the Philippines from the ICC in 2019.

International Criminal Court (ICC):

The International Criminal Court (ICC), located in The Hague,is the court of last resort for prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
It is the first permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.
Its founding treaty, the Rome Statute, entered into force on July 1, 2002.
The International Criminal Court can only intervene where a State is unable or unwilling genuinely to carry out the investigation and prosecute the perpetrators.
It does not have the capacity to arrest suspects and depends on member states for their cooperation.

Composition and voting power:

The Court’s management oversight and legislative body, the Assembly of States Parties, consists of one representative from each state party.
Each state party has one voteand every effort is taken to reach decisions by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, decisions are made by vote.
The Assembly is presided over by a president and two vice-presidents, who are elected by the members to three-year terms.

How to become member of ICC:

To become a member of the ICC or State party to the Rome Statute, countries have to sign the statute and ratifyit under their respective legislatures.
125 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, with African countries making up the largest bloc.
Notably, countries including India, China, Iraq, North Korea and Turkey never signed the Rome Statute.
Others including the US, Russia, Israel and Syria signed, but never ratified

2. Baloch Insurgency & Pakistan Train Hijacking

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context: Insurgents of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) stopped along-distance train in a rugged, mountainous area south of Quetta and took passengers hostage on Tuesday

Overview of the Incident

Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) insurgents hijacked a long-distance train between Pehu Korni and Gadalar.
Casualties: 20 Pakistani Army personnel killed, 12 hostages taken.
Train: Jaffar Express (running between Quetta and Peshawar).
Location: Near Tunnel No. 8 in a rugged area of Balochistan.
Significance: First major attack on a passenger train in recent years.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)

Type: Baloch nationalist militant group.
Objective: Independence of Balochistan from Pakistan.
Formation: Early 2000s.
Declared a terrorist organization by Pakistan, UK, and the US.
Key attacks:
- 2006: Targeted a Pakistani military convoy.
- 2024: Suicide bombing in Gwadar killed 5 Chinese nationals.

Balochistan Insurgency & Political Context

Geopolitical Background:
- Balochistan remained independent until March 1948 before being merged with Pakistan.
- Khan of Kalat initially resisted joining Pakistan but later acceded under pressure.
- Strong Baloch nationalist sentiment has persisted.
Economic & Resource Significance:
- Largest province by land area but least populated.
- Rich in gold, gas, and minerals.
- Underdeveloped compared to Punjab and Sindh.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC):
- Baloch groups oppose Chinese investments, citing exploitation.
- Repeated attacks on Chinese workers and assets.

3. Habitual Offender Laws in India

Sub: Polity

Sec: Legislation

Context:

Legislations on “habitual offenders” continue to operate in at least 14 States and Union Territories (UTs) in India, despite the Supreme Court urging States to reconsider their necessity.
These laws have been criticized for being “constitutionally suspect” and for targeting members of denotified tribes.

States and UTs Where the Law is in Effect

States and UTs with Habitual Offender Laws: Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Telangana, and others.
Gujarat’s Stand: The law “does not intend to” harass or harm any community; hence, Gujarat opposes its repeal.
Telangana’s Stand: The law is more preventative than punitive, and no community is specifically notified as habitual offenders.
Goa’s Stand: Since there are no denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes in the State, repealing the law is unnecessary.

States Without Habitual Offender Laws

States Reporting No Such Law: West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Bihar, and Sikkim.
States That Have Repealed the Law: Haryana and Ladakh.

Supreme Court’s View on Habitual Offender Laws

In a landmark judgment on caste segregation in prisons (2024), the Supreme Court questioned the basis of “habitual offender” classification.
It termed the classification “constitutionally suspect” due to its vague and broad language and its targeting of denotified tribes.
The court urged States to reconsider the necessity of the law altogether.

Prison Statistics on Habitual Offenders

According to NCRB (2022):
- 1.9% of India’s 1.29 lakh convict population is classified as habitual offenders.
- Delhi has the highest proportion, with 21.5% of convicts classified as habitual offenders.

Responses from Various States

Punjab: No register of habitual offenders maintained; no orders passed in the last five years.
Andhra Pradesh: No one in jail under the habitual offender law.
Odisha: No cases registered under this law in the last five years.
Uttar Pradesh: Provisions already covered under the U.P. Control of Goondas Act, 1970.
Telangana: The law is termed redundant but also preventative.

Union Government’s Position

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) monitors the status of these laws from time to time.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment revealed the latest status of these laws for 26 States and UTs in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.

Conclusion

The debate on habitual offender laws continues, with some States calling them redundant while others defend their utility.
The Supreme Court’s concerns regarding constitutional validity and targeting of vulnerable communities remain a significant aspect of the discourse.

With reference to the Habitual Offender laws in India, consider the following statements:

All States and Union Territories in India have implemented habitual offender laws.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for 2022 indicates that Delhi has the highest proportion of habitual offenders.
The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is responsible for monitoring the implementation of habitual offender laws across States.

4. Enhanced Remuneration for ASHA Workers

Sub : Schemes

Sec: Health

Context

Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda announced in Rajya Sabha on March 11, 2025, that ASHA workers will receive enhanced remuneration.

About ASHA Workers:

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are community health workers under the National Health Mission (NHM).
They play a crucial role in reducing infant and maternal mortality through government outreach programs.

Government’s Decision on Remuneration

The Mission Steering Group, the highest policy-making body under NHM, recommended increasing ASHA workers’ incentives.
The government will proceed with the recommendation.

Minister’s Acknowledgment of ASHA Workers’ Contribution

J. P. Nadda appreciated ASHA workers for their efforts at the grassroots level.
Their work has significantly contributed to reducing:
- Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)
- Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
- Under-Five Mortality Rate

Political Demands

Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) MPs protested in Parliament, demanding:
- An increase in ASHA workers’ honorarium to ₹21,000 per month.
- Retirement benefits of ₹5 lakh.

Understanding ASHA ,Anganwadi and Auxillary Nurse Midwives Workers: Roles, Responsibilities, and Remuneration

Roles and Responsibilities:

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs): Serve as community health volunteers, promoting maternal and child health, facilitating immunizations, and connecting communities to healthcare services.
Anganwadi Workers (AWWs): Operate at the village level, focusing on providing food supplements to young children, adolescent girls, and lactating women.
Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs): Based at health sub-centres or primary health centres, ANMs are trained in maternal and child health, including midwifery, and handle tasks like family planning, immunization, and infectious disease prevention.

Training:

ASHAs: Receive 3–4 weeks of training, with additional sessions periodically.
AWWs: Undergo similar training durations as ASHAs, focusing on nutrition and early childhood care.
ANMs: Complete 18 months of training, primarily centered on maternal and child health.

Remuneration:

ASHAs: Primarily receive performance-based incentives. For instance, they might earn ₹700–₹800 for facilitating institutional deliveries and ₹250 for ensuring a child’s complete immunization. Additionally, they now receive around ₹1,200 per month for routine tasks, independent of specific incentives.
AWWs: Considered volunteers but receive an “honorarium” ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹2,500 per month.
ANMs: Receive a government salary, reflecting their formal employment status and extended training.

Comparison:

ASHAs vs. AWWs: Both roles involve community health, but ASHAs focus more on healthcare facilitation and awareness, while AWWs concentrate on nutrition and early childhood development.
ASHAs vs. ANMs: ANMs have more extensive training and a broader scope of medical responsibilities, including clinical tasks, whereas ASHAs primarily engage in community mobilization and basic healthcare facilitation.

5. Turning Urine into a Sustainable Plant Fuel

Sub : Sci

Sec: Msc

Why in News

A new electrochemical process, recently published in Nature Catalysis, has demonstrated an innovative method to extract urea from urine and convert it into per carbamide, a crystalline peroxide derivative. This breakthrough not only enhances wastewater treatment but also transforms urine into a valuable agricultural resource, aligning with sustainability goals.

Details:

Urine is often referred to as “liquid gold” because it is rich in essential plant nutrients—phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen.
Researchers have developed an innovative electrochemical technique to extract urea from urine in solid form using a low-energy, environmentally friendly process.
This method converts urea into per carbamide, a crystalline peroxide derivative with high purity.

Pee-Cycling: A Sustainable Solution

An adult produces around 450-680 litres of urine annually, containing approximately 4 kg of nitrogen and 0.3 kg of phosphorus—sufficient to grow wheat for daily bread consumption for a year.
The challenge in utilizing urine as a fertilizer lies in its complex composition, especially due to salts that interfere with urea extraction.

Urea Extraction:

Urea consists of nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen and tends to form hydrogen bonds with other molecules.
When urea interacts with hydrogen peroxide, it forms per carbamide, a solid crystalline compound.
Per carbamide Properties:
- Steadily releases active oxygen, making it useful for oxidation reactions.
- Enhances the recovery of urea from urine, making it more accessible for agricultural use.
When used as a fertilizer, per carbamide releases nitrogen slowly, promoting root respiration and crop growth.
This innovation provides a missing link in the nitrogen cycle, efficiently recycling human-generated nitrogen back into the ecosystem.

Electrochemical Technique:

Researchers developed an in-situ electrochemical process using graphitic carbon-based catalysts to convert urine-derived urea into per carbamide.
This process achieved almost 100% purity, effectively extracting per carbamide from both human and animal urine.
Initially, researchers aimed to stabilize hydrogen peroxide in liquid form. They realized that using urea from urine as a binding agent could serve dual purposes—stabilizing hydrogen peroxide while also addressing urine treatment and nitrogen cycling.
This led to the development of activated graphitic carbon catalysts that enhance chemical reactions leading to per carbamide formation.

Chemical Pathways for Urea Conversion:

Pathway I: Urea reacts directly with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst, promoting effective bonding.
Pathway II: Urea binds with hydroperoxyl (-OOH) intermediates, facilitating a reaction that forms per carbamide.
The activated graphitic carbon catalyst was optimized to enhance both pathways, ensuring maximum yield.
The extracted per carbamide combines urea’s nitrogen-rich benefits with the oxidative properties of hydrogen peroxide, making it a promising sustainable resource.