Daily Prelims Notes 14 September 2024

Daily Prelims Notes

14 September 2024

Table Of Contents

1. India’s Position on WTO Fisheries Subsidies
2. Jute production to be 20% lower this year on floods
3. Brazil’s hydropower faces risk from drying river basins
4. Human Brain-Inspired Computing Platform by IISc: A Revolutionary Boost to AI
5. Reducing CO2 Emissions in India’s Transport Sector by 2050: A High-Ambition Approach
6. Renaming Port Blair: A Step to Remove Symbols of Colonial Slavery
7. WHO clears Bavarian Nordic’s shot for Mpox
8. Rights groups slam Centre over delay in filling NHRC posts
9. Climate hopes of European Union run into headwinds as bloc changes leadership

1. India’s Position on WTO Fisheries Subsidies

Sub: Eco

Sec: External Sector

India’s stance on the WTO fisheries subsidies negotiations, aimed at regulating subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, has garnered support from many developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

• Disciplines on Large-scale Industrial Fishing:
  • India advocates for stricter regulations on large-scale industrial fishing fleets, which are responsible for deep-sea fishing and depleting marine resources.
  • The aim is to check unsustainable fishing practices without restricting the growth of small-scale fishers in developing countries.
• Support from Developing Nations:
  • Several developing countries and LDCs have aligned with India’s concerns, especially regarding the imposition of unfair conditions on small fishers.
  • India’s submission highlights that the current WTO proposals may leave loopholes allowing large industrial fishing operations to continue receiving subsidies.
• Sustainability and Equity Concerns:
  • India has pointed out that the sustainability-exemption clause benefits developed countries with better monitoring capabilities. This allows them to avoid cutting harmful subsidies, disproportionately affecting poorer countries.
  • India seeks a fair agreement that addresses the core issue of industrial fishing while supporting small-scale sustainable fishing.
• Global Fishing Crisis:
  • Around 37.7% of global fish stocks are overfished, up from 10% in 1974. The WTO estimates that $22 billion of global subsidies contribute to unsustainable fishing practices, while total global fishing subsidies amount to $35 billion.
  • India’s subsidies are minimal compared to major subsidizers like China, the EU, the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, with government estimates of less than $15 per fisher family annually.

Challenges and Negotiation Highlights:

• Loopholes in the Current Draft: India calls for a review to ensure the WTO draft text aligns with sustainability goals while avoiding undue burden on developing nations.
• Special and Differential Treatment Provisions: India and other developing countries argue that these provisions are inadequate and don’t address the core issues of industrial fishing subsidies.

In conclusion, India’s stance reflects a broader effort to secure a balanced WTO agreement that disciplines harmful subsidies supporting industrial fishing while protecting the interests of small-scale fishers in developing nations.

Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT):

S&DT refers to provisions in international trade agreements that offer preferential treatment to developing countries, acknowledging their distinct challenges.

Objective: To help developing nations address developmental, financial, and trade-related constraints.

Key Features:

• Flexibilities: Allows countries to adjust their commitments based on their developmental stage.
• Transitional Periods: Grants extended timelines for implementing provisions.
• Technical Assistance: Provides support in capacity building, technology transfer, and financial aid.
• Market Access: Offers preferential access, including tariff reductions and exemptions.

2. Jute production to be 20% lower this year on floods

Sub: Geo

Sec: Eco geo

Context:

• Jute production is expected to decrease by 20% this financial year.
• Reason: Natural calamities, including floods, affected cultivation in West Bengal and Assam.

About Jute crop and Jute production trends in India:

3. Brazil’s hydropower faces risk from drying river basins

Sub: Geo

Sec: Mapping

Context:

• Soil moisture in Brazil’s main hydropower river basins has hit nearly two-decade lows.
• This drought threatens long-term impacts on Brazil’s energy sector, even after the rains return.

Details:

• Hydropower typically generates about two-thirds of Brazil’s electricity.
• Years of weak rainfall have hurt the sector, leading to higher energy costs and inflation.
• Key Affected Areas:
  • The Paranaiba, Grande and Tocantins hydroelectric basins, stretching across the southeast, centre-west and north Brazil, make up a large part of the sector’s capacity, and they are experiencing the lowest September soil moisture levels since 2005.
  • A decade of below-average rainfall, with only one year above the long-term average.
  • Run-of-river generators are the worst hit, including the partial shutdown of the Santo Antonio plant.
• Mitigating Factors:
  • Growing wind and solar capacity offers some relief, but transmission bottlenecks limit their use.
  • Current reservoir levels (53% capacity) are better than during the 2021 water crisis (16%).
• Economic Impact:
  • Electricity prices are expected to remain high until abundant rains arrive.
  • Power rates are likely to stay at top ‘red flag’ levels through year-end.
  • This could add 14 to 32 basis points to 2024 inflation forecasts.

About Brazil:

Source: Reuters

4. Human Brain-Inspired Computing Platform by IISc: A Revolutionary Boost to AI

Sub: Sci

Sec: Awareness in IT

Why in News

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has made a groundbreaking technological advancement in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Researchers at IISc have developed a new brain-inspired computing platform, which offers the potential to significantly enhance AI tools and computing power.

Key Developments and Breakthroughs

Introduction to the New AI Platform: Researchers from IISc’s Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) have created an analogous computing platform capable of mimicking the human brain. This platform, embedded in a molecular film, showcases functions like data processing and storage, similar to brain-like operations.

High Conductance States in Molecular Film: The molecular film developed by IISc researchers provides 16,500 conductance states. In contrast, traditional digital computing operates on binary states (0 and 1), requiring more energy and time, limiting the speed and efficiency of current AI tools.

Advancement in Neuromorphic Computing: The new platform represents a major step in neuromorphic computing, which follows human brain-like computing techniques. It addresses many limitations in present-day digital computing, making AI tasks more efficient and flexible for deployment on personal electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, and desktops.

About Analogous Computing Platform

An analogous computing platform mimics the way the human brain processes and stores information. Unlike traditional digital computing, which relies on binary states (0 and 1), analogous computing systems operate in a continuous spectrum of values, much like the brain’s neural networks.

This platform is embedded in a molecular film that behaves similarly to biological neural networks. It stores and processes information by tracking the movement of ions or molecules within the film. These molecular movements simulate the brain’s complex signaling pathways, allowing the system to replicate brain-like functions such as multi-state memory, adaptive learning, and real-time processing.

Key features include:

Multiple Conductance States: Traditional computers have two states, but this molecular film offers 16,500 conductance states, providing a vast range of intermediate values and improving the complexity and flexibility of data processing.

Neuromorphic Traits: By controlling molecular transitions with kinetic control, the platform achieves neuromorphic traits, allowing it to mimic the brain’s synaptic functions more accurately.

How It Works:

Free Ionic Movement: The movement of ions within the molecular film is analogous to the flow of signals in the human brain’s neurons.

Memory Pathways: The molecular film expands memory storage capacity by creating unique states, as opposed to binary memory systems.

Efficient Processing: With nanosecond voltage pulses, it can control molecular kinetics, enabling efficient memory and processing operations without the high energy demands of digital systems.

About Molecular Film:

A molecular film is a thin layer of material composed of molecules that are specifically arranged to exhibit particular properties, such as electrical, optical, or magnetic behavior. These films are typically just a few nanometers to micrometers thick and can be engineered to perform specific tasks by manipulating their molecular structure.

Key Features of Molecular Films:

Thin Structure: Molecular films are incredibly thin, often only a few molecules thick, which allows for precise control of their properties.

Functionalized Molecules: The molecules in the film are carefully chosen or engineered to exhibit desired characteristics such as conductivity, light sensitivity, or responsiveness to voltage.

Electrical Conductance: In the context of neuromorphic computing, molecular films are used for their ability to conduct electrical signals and create multiple conductance states. This mimics the function of biological synapses in the brain.

About Neuromorphic Computing:

Neuromorphic computing mimics the brain’s structure to enhance AI efficiency. It uses spiking neurons and synapses to replicate how biological neurons communicate and learn.

Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs): Neurons store and process data, spiking when their charge reaches a threshold. This spike sends signals across synapses, mimicking brain activity.

Synapses: Synapses in neuromorphic systems are represented by transistor devices that adjust their weights, enabling learning and adaptability.

Event-Driven: Unlike traditional systems, neuromorphic computing processes information only when neurons spike, saving energy.

Neuromorphic computing allows for real-time, brain-like learning with improved energy efficiency.

5. Reducing CO2 Emissions in India’s Transport Sector by 2050: A High-Ambition Approach

Sub: Env

Sec: Climate Change

Why in News

A recent study conducted by the World Resources Institute (WRI) India reveals that India’s transport sector has the potential to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 71% by 2050. This reduction can be achieved through high-ambition strategies focused on electrification, fuel economy improvements, and transitioning to cleaner modes of transport. This aligns with India’s larger goals, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

Overview of CO2 Emissions in the Transport Sector: India’s transport sector accounted for 14% of the country’s total energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020. The study emphasizes the need for a roadmap that targets emissions reductions in the transport sector to align with India’s long-term environmental objectives.

Business as Usual (BAU) Scenario: In the absence of high-ambition strategies, India’s transport sector is expected to remain largely dependent on fossil fuels until 2050.

71% Emissions Reduction: If high-ambition strategies are adopted across all three parameters (electrification, fuel economy, and modal shifts), India’s transport-related CO2 emissions could reduce by up to 71% by 2050 compared to a “business as usual” (BAU) scenario.

High-Ambition Strategies to Reduce Emissions: The study identifies three primary strategies for cutting CO2 emissions:

Electrification: Adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and electrification of transport infrastructure. EV adoption has an estimated abatement potential of. 121 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e) annually.

Fuel Economy Standards: Enhancing fuel efficiency across various vehicle categories.

Modal Shift to Cleaner Transport: Promoting shifts to cleaner transport modes such as public transportation and non-motorized forms of mobility.

Transport Emissions

CO2 emissions:

Global CO2 Emissions: Carbon dioxide accounts for nearly 76% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Major Source of CO2 Emissions: The burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation is the largest single source of global CO2 emissions.

Top CO2 Emitters: China, the USA, and the India are among the largest CO2 emitters globally.

India’s CO2 Emissions Contribution: India is the third-largest emitter of CO2, contributing around 7% of global CO2 emissions.

Transport Sector: In 2020, India’s transport sector contributed 14% of the country’s total energy-related CO2 emissions.

Paris Agreement Target: The goal is to limit global warming to well below 2°C, requiring significant reductions in CO2 emissions by 2050.

India’s Net-Zero Target: India aims to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2070.

Carbon Sequestration: Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing about 25-30% of the world’s CO2 emissions annually.

Per Capita CO2 Emissions: India’s per capita CO2 emissions are approximately 1.9 tonnes, significantly lower than the global average.

Global Carbon Budget: To stay within the 1.5°C global warming threshold, the remaining carbon budget is limited, requiring rapid reductions in CO2 emissions.

6. Renaming Port Blair: A Step to Remove Symbols of Colonial Slavery

Sub: History

Sec: Modern India 

Why in News:

The Indian government, as part of its ongoing efforts to eliminate symbols of colonial slavery, has renamed Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to Sri Vijaya Puram. The announcement was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, aligning with Prime Ministers’ vision of removing remnants of colonial rule.

Renaming of Port Blair:

Port Blair, formerly named after Archibald Blair, a British naval officer, is now officially known as Sri Vijaya Puram. This renaming is part of a broader effort to remove symbols of colonialism, as per the government’s initiative to cleanse the country of its colonial past.

Capital: Port Blair is the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Location: Situated in the Bay of Bengal.

Historical Site: Home to the Cellular Jail, a significant freedom struggle monument.

Climate: Tropical with high humidity and monsoon rains.

Economic Activities: Majorly driven by tourism, fisheries, and agriculture.

About Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

V.D. Savarkar spent years imprisoned in the infamous Cellular Jail in these islands.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian Tricolor on the islands during India’s independence movement, marking a historic moment in the struggle against British rule.

The Andaman Islands are the extension of the submerged Arakan Yoma Tertiary Mountain range of Myanmar and the Nicobar are the continuation of the Mentawai Islands to the south and southeast of Sumatra.

These two island groups situated in the Bay of Bengal span 6°45′ N to 13°41′ N (740 km) and 92°12′ E to 93°57′ E (190 km).

These islands are separated from one another by very narrow straits.

Andamans are separated from Nicobar by a 10-degree channel (10-degree latitude).

South Andaman and Little Andaman are separated by Duncan Passage.

The Grand Channel is between the Great Nicobar Islands and the Sumatra islands of Indonesia.

The Coco Strait is between the North Andaman Islands and the Coco Islands of Myanmar.

Port Blair, located in South Andaman is the administrative capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The southernmost point of India is The Indira Point, (formerly known as Pygmalion Point and Parsons Point) which is the southern point of the Great Nicobar Islands.

The highest peak of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is Saddle Peak, located in the North Andaman.

Srivijaya Empire:

The new name, Sri Vijaya Puram, draws inspiration from the Srivijaya Empire, which was centered in Sumatra and influential across Southeast Asia.

Historical Period: Flourished from the 7th to 13th century AD.

Significance: Major maritime power in Southeast Asia.

Cultural Impact: Promoted Buddhism across the region. The empire played a significant role in the expansion of Buddhism and had far-reaching maritime influence until it declined in the 11th century due to a series of naval raids by the Cholas.

Andaman Islands served as a strategic base for the Chola emperor Rajendra I during naval campaigns against the Srivijaya Empire.

Rajendra I, a Chola emperor from the 11th century, used the Andaman Islands as a naval base to launch successful raids on Srivijaya’s ports. This connection to the Cholas reinforces the historical relevance of the name Sri Vijaya Puram, emphasizing the maritime and strategic importance of the islands.

7. WHO clears Bavarian Nordic’s shot for Mpox

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health 

Context:

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved Bavarian Nordic’s MVA-BN as the first vaccine against mpox, adding it to its prequalification list for expanded access in communities with urgent need.
• The prequalification paves the way for developing countries to access the shot as most of these nations do not have the resources to do rigorous checks into the safety and efficacy of vaccines.

About MVA-BN:

• Modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) is manufactured by Denmark-based Bavarian Nordic.
• The Bavarian Nordic vaccine, known as Jynneos in the United States, was originally approved as a smallpox shot.
• All vaccines used for mpox are weakened versions of vaccinia, a live virus that also served as the basis for the smallpox vaccine.
• It has approval for mpox from both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA).
• The vaccine is already being used in Congo for mpox.

Efficacy:

• According to the WHO, a single-dose MVA-BN vaccine given before exposure has an estimated 76% effectiveness in preventing mpox, while a two-dose schedule increases effectiveness to 82%.
• However, vaccination after exposure is noted to be less effective.

Other vaccines:

• LC16m8, which is produced by KM Biologics, a company in Japan. Only Japan’s regulatory authority has approved this vaccine for mpox.
• ACAM2000, which is made by a US company, Emergent BioSolutions. It was approved for mpox by the FDA last month.
• Another vaccine by BioNTech, a German biotechnology company, is currently in early clinical development.

8. Rights groups slam Centre over delay in filling NHRC posts

Sub: Polity

Sec: National Body 

Context:

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has not had a full-time chairperson since June and has only one member to fill five positions.
• Human rights groups are warning that the delay in filling vacant posts will hurt India’s global reputation.

Lack of transparency

• Earlier this year, the Geneva-based UN-linked Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) deferred the NHRC’s accreditation for the second year in a row.
• The group cited several reasons, including the lack of transparency in appointing members to the Commission, and the poor gender and minority representation of the panel.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC):

• It is a statutory body established in 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.
• NHRC acts as a watchdog of human rights in the country.
• It is in conformity with the Paris Principles.

Composition:

• NHRC consists of a chairperson, five full-time Members and seven deemed Members.
• The chairperson is a retired chief justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court.
• They are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a six-member committee consisting of: Prime Minister (head), Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Leaders of the Opposition in both the Houses of Parliament, Union Home Minister.

Term of office:

• They hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
• The President can remove them from the office under specific circumstances.

Removal:

• The president can remove the chairman or any member from the office under the following circumstances:
  • If he is adjudged an insolvent; or
  • If he engages, during his term of office, in any paid employment outside the duties of his office; or
  • If he is unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body; or
  • If he is of unsound mind and stand so declared by a competent court; or
  • If he is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence.
• In addition to these, the president can also remove the chairman or any member on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
• However, in these cases, the president has to refer the matter to the Supreme Court for an inquiry.
• If the Supreme Court, after the inquiry, upholds the cause of removal and advises so, then the president can remove the chairman or a member.

9. Climate hopes of European Union run into headwinds as bloc changes leadership

Sub: IR

Sec: Int Groupings

Context:

• New European Commission set to be unveiled next week.
• The event is being watched closely by environmentalists as the shift in Parliament may downplay climate ambitions.

Shift in policy

• During 2019 EU Elections Youth Climate Marches had a significant influence on election results. As a result, Greens captured over 70 seats in the European Parliament.
• The outgoing Commission pushed through an ambitious legislative “Green Deal” including flagship measures such as a ban on new combustion engine cars from 2035.
• However, Greens lost 20 seats in the recent elections while right and far right parties saw increased support.
• The shift in commission’s composition is likely to affect the green policies of the commission since many of the Green Deal’s laws still at various stages of implementation.

Greens/European Free Alliance:

• The Greens/European Free Alliance is a political group of the European Parliament composed primarily of green and regionalist political parties.

Green Deal

‘Green Deal Industrial Plan’ oversees trade policy of the EU, the proposal involves building a simpler regulatory framework, providing faster access to funds, enhancing skills and improving the EU’s trade network.

Features 

1. Simpler regulatory framework: 

• A “Net-Zero Industry Act”, which will not only simplify rules but also speed up the issuance of permits for green projects, such as renewable energy generation arrays, carbon capture and renewable hydrogen production facilities.
• A “Critical Raw Materials Act”, which will provide access to materials like rare earths that are crucial for developing net-zero technology.

2. Providing faster access to funds: 

• The state aid rules will be loosened in order to help EU’s 27 governments with investing in the clean energy projects.
• The plan allows countries to take money from existing EU funds. It seeks to direct €250 billion to serve the green industry from the existing EU money, which is around €800 billion.
• “European Sovereignty Fund” in the future to “give a structural answer to the investment needs”

3. Enhancing skills: The plan aims to establish “Net-Zero Industry Academies” that will provide up-skilling and re-skilling programmes in strategic industries. As 30 to 40 per cent of the existing jobs might get affected due to green transition, there’s a need for well-paid quality jobs.
4. Improving the trade network: The plan underlines the importance of open trade and seeks to further “develop the EU’s network of Free Trade Agreements and other forms of cooperation with partners to support the green transition.”