Daily Prelims Notes 2 December 2024

Daily Prelims Notes

2 December 2024

Table Of Contents

1. India’s Battle Against HIV: A Success Story in Reducing Infections and AIDS-Related Deaths
2. Could the Seas Turn the Tide in Our Fight Against Climate Change?
3. Assessing the Sustainability of Steel Production Through Ship Recycling
4. Bhopal Gas Tragedy at 40: Not just methyl isocyanate, other unknown compounds also played a significant role in long-term health impacts on survivors, 2010 ICMR study found
5. Earth’s desertification emergency: Unprecedented land degradation now threatens Earth’s capacity to sustain humanity
6. As Telangana joins India’s mineral auction regime, two limestone blocks auctioned in November
7. Trump threatens 100% tariffs on BRICS if dollar is undermined
8. Centre working on national policy document on female labour force participation
9. Rebel offensive in Syria: What is happening now and why?

1. India’s Battle Against HIV: A Success Story in Reducing Infections and AIDS-Related Deaths

Sub : Sci

Sec: Health

Why in News

• On World AIDS Day, Union Health Minister highlighted India’s achievements in combating the HIV epidemic, revealing significant declines in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths. These advancements underscore India’s sustained efforts to tackle HIV through effective prevention, treatment, and awareness programs.

About Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):

• HIV is a lentivirus, a sub-classification of retrovirus, that leads to the HIV infection and, over time, progresses to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Types of HIV:

• Type One (HIV-1):This is the most common type, further categorized into four groups – Group M (Major), Group N (Non-M & Non-O), Group O (Outlier), and Group P.
• Group M is responsible for approximately 90% of HIV cases worldwide.

Type Two (HIV-2): Found primarily in Western Africa, with some cases in India and Europe, HIV-2 is further categorized into eight groups (A to H).

• It is closely related to the simian immunodeficiency virus endemic in a monkey species.
• AIDS: This is a severe condition where the immune system fails, making the affected person susceptible to life-threatening infections and cancers.
• Transmission:HIV can be transmitted through blood, breast milk, vaginal fluids, semen, or pre-ejaculate. It exists as free particles and within infected immune cells in bodily fluids.
• Survival Period: Without treatment, the average survival period for a person with HIV is nine to eleven years, depending on the subtype of HIV.
• Treatment:Antiretroviral therapy can prevent the progression of HIV to a severe form.

First-line HIV Treatment – TLD:

• Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate, Lamivudine, and Dolutegravir (TLD) is a single-pill antiretroviral treatment.

About Antiretroviral Therapy (ART):

• A medical treatment involving a combination of antiretroviral drugs to manage HIV infections.
• Suppresses the replication of the HIV virus, reduces viral load, and strengthens the immune system.
• Prevent progression to AIDS and reduce HIV
• Improves the quality of life for individuals living with HIV.
• Reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
• Helps achieve viral load suppression, where HIV is undetectable in the bloodstream.
• As of 2024: 88% of identified HIV-positive individuals are on ART (as per 2023 estimates).
• Free ART Program: India offers free ART through government-supported centres under the National AIDS Control Program (NACP).
• Over 680 ART centers and 1,200 Link ART centers are operational across the country.
• Contributed to a 79% decline in AIDS-related deaths since 2010.

HIV Drug

• A twice-yearly injectable drug called lenacapavir, which has shown 100% effectiveness in a recent study against HIV infections. Developed by Gilead, this drug marks a breakthrough in HIV prevention and treatment. It is already sold under the brand name Sunlenca to treat HIV infections in the US, Canada, Europe and elsewhere. The company plans to seek authorisation soon for Sunlenca to be used for HIV prevention. However, access to the drug is limited, with generic versions intended for distribution in 120 poorer countries, mostly in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. Unfortunately, nearly all of Latin America is excluded from this rollout, sparking concerns over global health equity.
• Experts emphasize that lenacapavir could significantly benefit marginalized populations, including sex workers, young women, and others who may face barriers to accessing healthcare. Advocacy groups have criticized the exclusion of Latin American countries, where HIV infection rates are rising, calling for immediate action to ensure widespread availability of the drug. The article highlights the urgent need to establish equitable healthcare pathways to maximize the impact of this groundbreaking treatment.

2. Could the Seas Turn the Tide in Our Fight Against Climate Change?

Sub : Env

Sec: Climate change

Why in News

• With climate change intensifying and traditional land-based carbon capture approaches nearing saturation, focus is shifting to marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR). The ocean, as a critical carbon sink, is being explored for its immense potential to combat global warming.

About Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR):

• Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) involves engineering the marine environment to enhance the ocean’s capacity to absorb and store carbon dioxide (CO₂).
• The process is gaining attention as a complement to reducing emissions, aiming to help achieve net-zero targets by utilizing the vast carbon sink potential of oceans.
• Biotic (Nature-Based) Approaches: Utilizes ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and macroalgae for carbon capture.
• Abiotic (Engineered) Approaches: Employs physical or chemical interventions like Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE). Adds alkaline materials to seawater to lock CO₂ in dissolved inorganic forms.
• Below are key aspects of mCDR summarized in concise points:
• Biological Carbon Pump: Enhancing natural processes like phytoplankton photosynthesis, where carbon is absorbed and sequestered in deep-sea sediments for centuries​.
• Iron Fertilization: Adding iron to nutrient-limited areas to boost phytoplankton growth. Risks include harmful algal blooms and ecological imbalances​.
• Artificial Upwelling: Bringing nutrient-rich deep waters to the surface to stimulate phytoplankton activity. Challenges include energy demands and potential disruption of marine ecosystems​.
• Alkalinity Enhancement: Introducing minerals like limestone to increase ocean alkalinity and improve CO₂ absorption​.
• Seaweed Cultivation: Farming large-scale seaweed to capture CO₂ via photosynthesis. Some biomass is harvested, while the rest sinks, storing carbon long-term​.
• Indian Ocean Potential: Holds promise for deep carbon burial, potentially capturing 25–40% of marine CO₂ emissions.
• Global Carbon Budget: At the current rate, the remaining 570 billion tonnes of CO₂ budget will be exhausted by 2031. Marine interventions could delay this timeline, aiding the transition to net-zero emissions by 2050.

3. Assessing the Sustainability of Steel Production Through Ship Recycling

Sub : Env

Sec: Climate change

Why in News

• The potential of green steel production using scrap from dismantled ships is under debate following discussions on decarbonization at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. South Asian shipbreaking yards, including those in India, are being highlighted as key contributors to this process, albeit amid concerns about environmental degradation and regulatory loopholes.

About Green Steelmaking:

• Utilizes electric arc furnaces powered by renewable energy.
• Involves using a mix of ferrous scrap in the production chain to reduce carbon emissions.
• Alternative methods include the direct reduction of iron with hydrogen or natural gas.
• Scrap-based electric arc furnaces can reduce carbon emissions by up to 75%.
• Scrap recycling is cost-effective for decarbonizing steel in developing economies.
• Sources of Ferrous Scrap: Dismantled ships and automobiles are major scrap sources.
• South Asian nations like India (Alang), Bangladesh (Chattogram), and Pakistan (Gadani) dominate the ship recycling market, sharing it equally.

Ship Recycling and Associated Challenges:

• Shipbreaking is one of the most polluting industries with significant disregard for environmental and worker safety.
• “Beach dismantling,” a common practice in South Asia, causes environmental harm by dragging ships to sensitive beaches for recycling.
• Unsafe working conditions and lack of proper protective measures remain widespread in South Asian shipyards.
• European shipowners often sell vessels to cash buyers operating in nations with lenient environmental laws through “Flags of Convenience” (FOC).

Regulatory Framework for Ship Recycling:

• Hong Kong Convention (HKC): Adopted in 2009, focusing on environmentally safe ship recycling.
• Ratified by India; will come into force in
• Requires shipyards to list hazardous materials, prepare dismantling plans, and prioritize worker safety.
• European Union (EU) Regulation: Effective since
• Mandates ships to inventory hazardous materials when calling at EU ports.
• Compliance in India: Around 50% of Alang’s shipyards have been certified as HKC-compliant by agencies like Lloyds Register.

Limitations of Current Regulations:

• Evasive Practices: The HKC does not prohibit beach dismantling, focusing more on planning and safety standards.
• Western nations continue to evade environmental responsibility through FOC ships.
• Environmental Sustainability: Reliance on beach dismantling undermines sustainability. Dry dock dismantling, practiced in developed nations, is more environmentally sound but less common in South Asia.

Future Directions for India’s Green Steel Industry:

• Improving Infrastructure: Transition from beach dismantling to dry dock methods in shipyards. Encourage direct docking of European ships without intermediaries.
• Alternative Strategies for Green Steel: Invest in hydrogen-based or renewable energy-powered steelmaking.
• Reduce dependence on recycled scrap from environmentally damaging sources.
• Global Cooperation: Strengthen international regulations to hold polluting shipowners accountable. Advocate for stricter implementation of the HKC and EU norms.

4. Bhopal Gas Tragedy at 40: Not just methyl isocyanate, other unknown compounds also played a significant role in long-term health impacts on survivors, 2010 ICMR study found

Sub :Env

Sec : Pollution

Bhopal Gas Tragedy:

• The Bhopal Gas Tragedy was one of the worst industrial disasters in history, which occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Incident Overview:

• A deadly gas leak occurred at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant
• Methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas was released into the atmosphere
• Approximately 40 tons of toxic gas spread across the nearby residential areas

Findings from ICMR Study (2010):

• MIC caused N-carbamoylation and S-carbamoylation of proteins and tissues, permanently altering their structure and function.
  • ‘Carbamoylation’ occurs when a chemical like MIC reacts with proteins, enzymes, or other biological compounds, altering their structure and function permanently.
• It impacted vital proteins like haemoglobin, impairing oxygen transport.
• Reduced effectiveness of glutathione, a critical antioxidant, increasing vulnerability to damage.
• Survivors faced irreversible physiological disruptions, leading to long-term health issues.
• Initial Mismanagement:
  • Autopsies on victims revealed signs of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) poisoning, but initial denial by Union Carbide delayed antidotal treatments.
  • Administration of sodium thiosulfate (NATS) showed effectiveness but was delayed, limiting benefits.
  • Victims suffered severe organ damage and long-term health issues, including chronic asthma, vision problems, and mental health disorders.

Toxic Waste Disposal Issues:

• Remaining Waste:
  • 337 MT of toxic waste collected in 2005 remains undisposed on the UCIL premises.
  • An additional 11 lakh tonnes of contaminated soil, 1 tonne of mercury, and 150 tonnes of underground dumps remain unaddressed.
• Delayed Action:
  • ₹126 crore was released in 2023 for waste disposal, but implementation is yet to start.
  • Groundwater and soil contamination continue to spread, affecting nearby residents.
• Previous Efforts:
  • In 2005, a portion of waste was incinerated, but most remained stored on-site.
  • Recommendations from a peer review committee (2010) and oversight committee (2023) for reassessment and remediation remain unimplemented.

Impact of Contamination:

• Groundwater Pollution:
  • Groundwater in nearby residential areas is contaminated with heavy metals and toxic substances, increasing cancer risks.
  • The government has sealed hand pumps and tube wells in affected areas, yet residents still use groundwater for non-drinking purposes.
• Court and Activist Responses:
  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) and courts have criticized the authorities for their inaction.
  • Activists report that contamination is spreading, creating new victims every day.

Source: DTE

5. Earth’s desertification emergency: Unprecedented land degradation now threatens Earth’s capacity to sustain humanity

Sub :Env

Sec : Int convention

COP16 UNCCD Report on Land Degradation: Urgent Crisis of Land Degradation

• Land degradation now affects 15 million sq km, more than the size of Antarctica and comparable to the Russian Federation.
• Annually, 1 million sq km of land is newly impacted by degradation.
• 1.2 billion people, primarily the world’s poor, are affected by land degradation.
• Causes:
  • Key drivers include deforestation, urbanization, and unsustainable farming practices.
  • Agriculture, particularly conventional farming, is the primary contributor through:
    • Deforestation (close to 90% attributed to cropland expansion).
    • Soil erosion, pollution, and unsustainable irrigation practices.
    • Overuse of nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers, destabilizing ecosystems.

Planetary Boundaries and Land-System Breach:

• Planetary Boundaries Framework:
  • Introduced by Johan Rockström in 2009 to define ecological thresholds critical for Earth’s stability.
  • Planetary boundaries are a framework that describes the limits to the impact of human activities on the Earth system. These boundaries are designed to ensure that the environment can continue to self-regulate and that human society can remain stable.
  • Of the nine planetary boundaries, six have already been breached, including the land-system boundary.
• Land-System Breach Details:
  • Breached since 1990, primarily due to deforestation.
  • Benchmark: Maintain 75% of original forest cover; current status: only 60% remains.
• Interlinked Boundaries:
  • Land degradation affects seven of nine planetary boundaries, including:
    • Climate change, freshwater change, biosphere integrity, and biogeochemical flows.
  • Land acts as a keystone for planetary stability; degradation exacerbates stress across these systems.
  • Land degradation has primarily been attributed to agriculture.
    • Conventional agriculture is the leading culprit of land degradation, contributing to deforestation, soil erosion and pollution.
    • Unsustainable irrigation practices deplete freshwater resources, while excessive use of nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers destabilizes ecosystems.

Call to Action and Solutions:

• UNCCD Recommendations:
  • Promote sustainable land management to build resilience and reduce pressure on other planetary systems.
  • Address drivers like unsustainable agriculture through:
    • Reduced fertilizer use.
    • Improved irrigation practices.
    • Preservation and restoration of forest cover.

Source: DTE

6. As Telangana joins India’s mineral auction regime, two limestone blocks auctioned in November

Sub : Geo

Sec : Eco Geo

Context:

• Telangana became the 14th state to join the Centre’s mineral auction regime.
• In November, the state successfully auctioned two limestone blocks at Sultanpur and Saidulnama.

Mineral Auctions Across States in FY25:

• A total of 81 mineral blocks have been auctioned across 13 states, including critical and major minerals like:
  • Limestone, manganese, tungsten, gold, cobalt, graphite, vanadium, bauxite, and iron ore.
• Prominent states involved: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.

Controversy over Tamil Nadu Tungsten Block:

• Nayakkarpatti tungsten block (20.16 sq km) was auctioned to Hindustan Zinc.
• Tamil Nadu raised concerns about mining in a biodiversity reserve, citing environmental risks.
  • Only 1.93 sq km of the block overlaps with the Aritapatti-Meenakshipuram Biodiversity Heritage Site, and guidelines exclude such areas from exploration.
• The Ministry clarified adherence to Environment Ministry guidelines and awaits land schedule details from the state.

About Tungsten:

• Also known as ‘wolfram’.
• It is a very dense lustrous greyish white to steel-grey metal.
• Tungsten does not occur naturally as free metal.
• The major sources of tungsten are minerals scheelite (Calcium tungstate, CaWO4) and Wolframite [mixture of ferrous tungstate and manganous tungstate, (Fe,Mn)WO4] which are predominantly hydrothermal in origin.
• Tungsten has a melting point of 3,422^OC, the highest of all metals and is resistant to all acids at ordinary temperatures.
• It has good corrosion resistance, good thermal & electrical conductivity and low coefficient of expansion.
• It is elastic, ductile and has high tensile strength and can be drawn into very thin wires.
• As tungsten has an extremely high melting point and is ductile, it is widely used in filaments of light bulbs and vacuum tubes, and for heating elements in electrical furnaces.
• When exposed to air, a protective oxide is formed on the surface of the metal, but tungsten can be oxidised more fully at high temperature. When alloyed in small quantities with steel, tungsten greatly increases the hardness of steel.
• Policy:
  • As per the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-20, the imports and exports of tungsten ores and concentrates (HS Code 26110000) are allowed free.
• The entire domestic requirement of tungsten ore/concentrates is met by imports.
• China ranks first in the world in terms of tungsten resources and reserves and has some of the largest deposits. 
• The world reserves of tungsten in terms of metal content are about 3.2 million tonnes, distributed broadly amongst China (59%), Russia (7%), Vietnam (3%) & Spain (2%).
• China was the leading producer (78%) followed by Vietnam (7%), Russia (3%) and Korea Dem. P. R., UK & Rwanda.

Reserves:

• Resources of tungsten-bearing minerals are mainly distributed in Karnataka (42%), Rajasthan (27%), Andhra Pradesh (17%) and Maharashtra (9%).
• The remaining 5% resources are in Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
• Rajasthan:
  • Degana
  • Balda of sirohi district
  • Dewa-Ka-Bera of Sirohi district
  • Udwarya of Sirohi
• West Bengal: Bankura deposit
• Kuhi-Khobana-Agargaon belt, Sakoli basin in the district of Bhandara and Nagpur of Maharashtra.
• Gold ore (Kolar Gold Fields) at Mysore mine of BGML in Karnataka.

Mining:

• Degana in Rajasthan and Chendapathar in West Bengal were the only mines of tungsten in India that had produced meagre quantities of concentrate.

Uses of Tungsten

1. Industrial Applications

• Ferro-Tungsten:
  • Used in special and alloy steels.
  • Critical for military applications.
  • Contains 25%-75% tungsten.
• Tungsten Carbide:
  • One of the hardest synthetic materials.
  • Widely used in:
    • Cutting tools & devices.
    • Wear-resistant materials (operable at high temperatures).
    • Construction, mining, and oil drilling industries.
  • Binders: Uses cobalt or nickel metal powders to bind tungsten carbide grains.

2. Chemical and Decorative Applications

• Used in dyes and pigments.
• Manufacturing of paints and printing inks.
• Adds yellow tint in the ceramic industry.
• Found in ornaments and other decorative items.

3. Advanced Applications

• Tungsten Alloys:
  • Heat sinks, radiation shielding, weights & counterweights.
  • Superalloys for turbine parts.
  • Tool steels and wear-resistant parts/coatings.
• Substitute for lead in bullets and shot.

4. Electrical and Consumer Products

• Filaments: Used in incandescent light bulbs.
• Cathodes for electronic tubes, HID lamps, cell phones, and TVs.

5. Defense and Chemical Industries

• Armor-piercing ammunition.
• Superalloys with copper or silver.
• Extensive use in the chemical industry.

Source: TH_BL

7. Trump threatens 100% tariffs on BRICS if dollar is undermined

Sub : Eco

Sec : external sector

Context:

• President-elect Donald Trump has threatened 100% tariffs against the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE) if they pursue efforts to undermine the U.S. dollar, including creating a new currency or backing alternatives.
• BRICS countries are exploring non-dollar trade options, citing the U.S.’s control of the financial system as problematic.

Importance of US Dollar:

• The U.S. dollar represents about 58% of global foreign exchange reserves, as reported by the IMF. Additionally, many commodities, including oil, are still traded in dollars, reinforcing its dominance in international markets.
• However, emerging economies, particularly in the BRICS alliance, have sought alternatives to reduce dependence on the US dollar.

Current Outlook for the Dollar:

• Research suggests that while there are movements toward de-dollarisation, the US dollar is unlikely to lose its dominant role as the global reserve currency in the near future.
• The infrastructure and trust in the US dollar remain significant barriers to any immediate challenges to its supremacy.

De-dollarisation:

• De-dollarisation refers to the process by which countries reduce their reliance on the US dollar for international trade, finance, and as a reserve currency.

Key drivers of De-dollarisation:

• US sanctions on countries like Russia, Iran, and others have encouraged these nations to seek alternatives.
• Perceived overreach by the US in using the dollar as a political tool.
• Emerging economies like China and India want to promote their currencies in international trade.
• Reduced dependence on a single currency minimizes exposure to exchange rate volatility.

8. Centre working on national policy document on female labour force participation

Sub : Eco

Sec : Unemployment and Inflation

Context:

• The Centre is set to introduce a national policy document focused on increasing female labour force participation by creating an enabling environment, particularly through a structured care economy.
• An inter-ministerial team from the Ministries of Skill Development, Labour, Rural Development, and Women and Child Development is working on the initiative.

Details:

• The care economy includes paid and unpaid activities like childcare, cooking, cleaning, healthcare, and education.
• The move follows a World Bank report highlighting a significant decline in women’s labour force participation post-marriage in India, with a 12 percentage points drop. This decline occurs even in the absence of children.

Significance of the initiative:

• Aims to address structural barriers preventing women’s participation in the workforce.
• Promotes economic inclusion and gender parity.
• Helps create a viable ecosystem for working women, especially in the informal sector.

Key measures under consideration include:

• A core skilling package for caregivers.
• Childcare facilities for women in the informal sector, such as workers under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Existing Initiative: Palna Scheme

• A National Programme on Anganwadi-cum-Creche.
• Provides day-care facilities for children of working parents.
• As of now, 1,000 Anganwadi creches are operational under the scheme.

9. Rebel offensive in Syria: What is happening now and why?

Sub : IR

Sec : Places in news

Context:

• Syrian rebel forces launched a surprise offensive toward Aleppo, seizing parts of the city, marking a significant escalation in the Syrian civil war, which had been relatively dormant since a 2020 ceasefire.
• The offensive was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an extremist group controlling Idlib province since 2020.
• HTS is a former al-Qaeda affiliate previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra (Al Nusra Front) and designated a terrorist group by the US, Russia and Turkey, among other nations.

Syrian Civil War: Background

• Began in 2010 during the Arab Spring, with protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule, which began in 2000.
• Later revolved into a prolonged civil war with multiple factions involved, including foreign actors like Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the US.
• Assad is supported by Russia, Iran, and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. While Assad retains control over much of Syria, HTS dominates Idlib.

2020 Ceasefire in Idlib:

• Brokered by Turkey (backing rebels) and Russia (supporting Assad), this agreement largely contained the conflict in Idlib.

Arab Spring:

• The Arab Spring refers to a series of pro-democracy uprisings, protests, and movements that swept across the Middle East and North Africa starting in 2010.
• These movements aimed to challenge authoritarian regimes, address social and economic grievances, and demand greater political freedoms.
• In some nations, such as Tunisia and Egypt, ruling governments were forced out.
• In most others, governments and militaries crushed the movements.