Daily Prelims Notes 21 February 2025

Daily Prelims Notes

21 February 2025

Table Of Contents

1. Record Low Global Sea Ice Cover
2. backs protest against amendments to Advocates Act
3. Supreme Court Judgment on Remission Without Application
4. Second Food Systems Summit Stocktake to unlock investments for food systems transformation
5. SEBI Proposes Fast-Track Follow-On Offers for REITs & InvITs
6. Is Consumption Enough to Drive Growth?
7. Nocturnal Bull Ants Use Polarized Moonlight for Navigation
8. Glimpses of Violence Around the Milky Way’s Central Black Hole

1. Record Low Global Sea Ice Cover

Sub: Geo

Sec: Climatology

Why in News

• The global sea ice cover has reached a record low, raising concerns about climate change and its broader environmental consequences. Over the five days leading up to February 13, the combined extent of Arctic and Antarctic Sea ice dropped to 15.76 million sq km, breaking the previous record of 15.93 million sq km observed in January-February 2023.

What is Sea Ice?

• Sea ice refers to the floating ice found in the polar regions, which expands in winter and melts during summer. Unlike icebergs, glaciers, ice sheets, and ice shelves that originate on land, sea ice forms directly on the ocean surface.
• Sea ice helps regulate the Earth’s temperature by trapping heat within the ocean, preventing it from warming the atmosphere.

Extent of the Decline:

• The Arctic is currently experiencing its lowest recorded sea ice extent for this time of the year.
• Between 1981 and 2010, the minimum Arctic Sea ice extent (September) declined at a rate of 12.2% per decade (NASA data).
• Until 2015, Antarctic Sea ice exhibited a slight increase in extent.
• Between late 2014 and 2017, the Antarctic lost approximately 2 million sq km of sea ice—an area about four times the size of Spain (Copernicus Marine Service data).
• In 2023, Antarctic Sea ice reached historically low levels, over 2 million sq km below normal—about ten times the size of the UK.
• While the extent in 2024 showed some recovery compared to 2023, it was still 1.55 million sq km below the 1981-2010 average maximum extent.

Causes Behind the Decline:

• Higher temperatures accelerate the melting of sea ice, particularly in the Antarctic, where warmer air and water towards the end of the southern hemisphere summer (December–February) intensified ice loss.
• Unlike the Arctic, where sea ice is surrounded by continents, Antarctic Sea ice is more mobile and thinner, making it more vulnerable to strong winds that break it apart.
• The Hudson Bay in northeastern Canada experienced a delay in freezing due to unusually warm ocean temperatures, which took longer to cool.
• Storms in regions like the Barents Sea (near Norway and Russia) and the Bering Sea (between Alaska and Russia) contributed to breaking up the Arctic ice.
• Over the years, Arctic ice has become increasingly thin and fragile, making it more susceptible to breaking under storm conditions.
• Areas such as Svalbard, Norway, experienced unusually high air temperatures, further accelerating ice loss.

Implications of Declining Sea Ice:

• Sea ice has a high albedo (reflectivity), meaning it reflects sunlight back into space. Reduced sea ice exposes more ocean surface, leading to increased absorption of solar radiation, which further warms the region.
• Melting sea ice releases freshwater into the ocean, reducing salinity and surface water density. This weakens the ocean overturning circulation, affecting global climate patterns.
• A slowdown in ocean circulation impacts the marine food chain, affecting species dependent on ocean currents for nutrients.
• Ice shelves, which help stabilize ice sheets, become more unstable due to warmer waters and reduced ice cover.

2. Cong. backs protest against amendments to Advocates Act

Sub: Polity

Sec: Judiciary

Context

• The Congress has extended support to the legal fraternity protesting against the proposed amendments to the Advocates Act, 1961.
• The party criticized the Bill for being “poorly drafted” and failing to address the key issues faced by lawyers.
• The Law Ministry has put the draft Bill on its website for public feedback.

Demands by Congress

• The Centre should put the amendments on hold.
• Extensive nationwide consultations must be conducted.
• Inputs from relevant stakeholders should be sought before finalizing the law.

Three Primary Concerns Highlighted by Congress

• Restrictions on Lawyers’ Rights
  • The proposed Bill takes away lawyers’ rights to raise legitimate demands.
  • Lawyers may face penal consequences for boycotting or abstaining from work.
• Excessive Government Interference
  • The Bill allows excessive government control over professional regulatory bodies.
  • This deviates from the Supreme Court-upheld principle of self-autonomy and independence.
• Lack of Proper Forum for Grievances
  • Instead of providing a platform for lawyers to express grievances, the Bill imposes restrictions.

Bar Council of India (BCI) Opposition

• On February 19, 2025, BCI submitted its objections to Law Minister .
• BCI chairman raised concerns over material changes introduced in the draft Bill.
• The autonomy and independence of the Bar are being undermined.
• Lawyers across the country are agitated, and strong protests are expected.

Advocates Act, 1961 & Its Amendments

Advocates Act, 1961

The Advocates Act, 1961 is a key legislation in India that regulates the legal profession and sets uniform standards for advocates. It was enacted to unify the legal profession and establish a structured framework for legal practice.

Key Features:

• Bar Councils: Establishes the Bar Council of India (BCI) at the national level and State Bar Councils to regulate legal education and professional ethics.
• Enrollment & Qualification: Defines eligibility criteria and procedures for enrollment as an advocate.
• Rights & Restrictions: Advocates have the right to practice in courts but are subject to disciplinary actions for misconduct.
• Legal Education Standards: Regulates law schools and legal education programs.
• Uniform Legal Practice: Ensures a standardized legal framework across India.
• Repeal of Previous Laws: Repealed the Indian Bar Councils Act, 1926 and parts of the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879.

Advocates (Amendment) Act, 2023

The Advocates Amendment Act, 2023 introduces new provisions to regulate legal practice and prevent unauthorized legal practitioners.

Key Amendments:

• New Section 45A:
  • Imposes a six-month imprisonment for unauthorized practice of law.
  • Empowers High Courts and district judges to publish lists of touts.
  • Ensures individuals get an opportunity to contest their inclusion before being listed.
• Regulation of Touts:
  • Courts can restrict individuals listed as touts from entering court premises.
  • Touts continuing their activities may face three months of imprisonment or a fine of ₹500.
• Revival of Section 36 of the 1879 Act:
  • This provision, missing in the 1961 Act, has been reinstated to regulate touts effectively.
• Repeal of Obsolete Laws:
  • The amendment aligns with the government’s policy of removing outdated pre-independence laws.
  • The Legal Practitioners Act has been repealed after consultation with the BCI.

3. Supreme Court Judgment on Remission Without Application

Sub: Polity

Sec: Executive

Context:

• The Supreme Court has directed states with remission policies to consider the premature release of prisoners even if they do not apply for remission.
• This ruling marks a significant shift from earlier judgments that required prisoners to apply for remission.

What is Remission?

• Remission refers to the power to reduce the period of a sentence for a convicted person.
• Governed by Section 473 of the BNSS, 2023 and Section 432 of the CrPC, 1973.
• State governments have the power to grant remission “at any time” with or without conditions.
• If conditions are not fulfilled, remission can be canceled, and the convict can be rearrested without a warrant.
• Separate from the power of the President (Article 72) and Governor (Article 161) to grant clemency.

Legal Restrictions on Remission

• Section 475 of BNSS (formerly Section 433A of CrPC) restricts remission for life convicts guilty of offences punishable by death.
• Such convicts must serve at least 14 years before being considered for release.
• The law previously stated that remission could begin only when a convict applies for it.

Supreme Court’s Ruling

• Delivered by a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan in the suo motu case “In Re: Policy Strategy for Grant of Bail” (2021).
• The court ruled that an application is not necessary for remission if a state has a remission policy with eligibility criteria.
• Failure to consider remission suo motu would be “discriminatory and arbitrary”, violating Article 14 (Right to Equality).

Previous SC Judgments on Remission

• Sangeet & Anr. v State of Haryana (2013)
  • Held that remission cannot be granted suo motu by the state.
  • Stressed that remission requires an application from the convict or on their behalf.
  • Prevented en masse releases on festive occasions.
• Mohinder Singh v State of Punjab (2013)
  • Reaffirmed that courts cannot grant remission suo motu.
• The recent SC decision overrules these precedents in light of state remission policies.

Directions Issued by the Supreme Court

• Mandatory Remission Policies
  • States must create “exhaustive” remission policies within two months if not already in place.
• Guidelines for Remission Conditions (Based on Mafabhai Motibhai Sagar v. State of Gujarat, 2024)
  • Conditions must consider:
    • Motive of the crime
    • Criminal background
    • Public safety
  • Conditions must promote rehabilitation and prevent criminal tendencies.
  • Conditions must not be vague, oppressive, or impossible to fulfill.

• Cancellation of Remission
  • Breach of conditions should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Minor breaches should not lead to cancellation.
  • A notice must be given to the convict before remission is canceled.

Prison Population in India

• As per NCRB data (2022):
  • 5,73,220 prisoners in India against a capacity of 4,36,266 (occupancy rate 131.4%).
  • 75.8% of prisoners are undertrials, awaiting the final decision in their cases.
• Premature Releases Due to Remission
  • 2020 – 2,321 prisoners
  • 2021 – 2,350 prisoners
  • 2022 – 5,035 prisoners (sharp increase)

4. Second Food Systems Summit Stocktake to unlock investments for food systems transformation

Sub :IR

Sec: Int conventions

Context:

• The Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from July 28-30, 2025.
• The event aims to identify and open up investment avenues crucial for sustaining initiatives that will transform global food systems. This transformation is key to achieving the United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Urgency of Food Systems Transformation:

• The 2021 UN Food Systems Summit called for a new approach to global food systems, positioning food at the heart of efforts to combat issues such as poverty, hunger, inequality, climate change, and biodiversity loss.
• With escalating challenges like rising living costs, social inequalities, climate change, and geopolitical tensions, transforming food systems has become an even more pressing priority.

Goals of the Second Stocktake:

• Open avenues for investment into food systems transformation.
• Monitor progress on commitments made during the previous stocktake in 2023.
• Produce a report assessing the progress and contributions of stakeholders in the transformation of food systems.
• Focus on national food system pathways and their contributions to SDG targets.

Previous Stocktake:

• The first UN Food Systems stocktake was held in Italy in
• The First Stocktake helped identify critical needs such as:
  • Encouraging public-private-community partnerships.
  • Improving private sector participation in food systems transformation.
  • Securing concessional finance, investments, and debt restructuring.
  • Addressing food security during crises.
• This led to the Secretary-General’s ‘Call to Action’ with six areas of focus, including securing financial resources and addressing food security issues during crises.

UN Food Systems Summit:

• The United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) is a pivotal event aimed at transforming global food systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The inaugural summit took place on September 23, 2021, during the UN General Assembly High-level Week, serving as a historic opportunity to empower all people to leverage the power of food systems to drive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and get back on track to achieve all 17 SDGs by 2030.
• Food systems comprise all food products that originate from crop and livestock production, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the broader economic, societal and natural environments in which these diverse production systems are embedded.

5. SEBI Proposes Fast-Track Follow-On Offers for REITs & InvITs

Sub: Eco

Sec: Capital Market

Why in the News?

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a framework to enable fast-track follow-on offers (FPOs) by Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs).
• The move aims to make fundraising more efficient for these investment vehicles.

Proposals by SEBI:

Lock-in Period for Preferential Issue of Units:

• 15% of units allotted to sponsors & sponsor groups will be locked-in for 3 years from the date of trading approval.
• Remaining units will be locked-in for 1 year from the date of trading approval.

6. Is Consumption Enough to Drive Growth?

Sub: Eco

Sec: National Income

Why in News?

• India’s economic growth over the past decade has been driven mainly by domestic consumption rather than investment-led expansion.
• The debate continues on whether consumption alone is sufficient to sustain high economic growth has gained prominence.

Investment vs. Consumption:

• Investment has a stronger “Multiplier Effect” – A ₹100 investment can raise GDP by ₹125 or more.
• Consumption has a weaker effect – Increased consumption does not significantly raise incomes in the economy.

India V/s. China led models 

China’s Growth Model (Investment-Driven):

• In 1992, investment was 39.1% of GDP in China vs. 27.4% in India.
• 2007-08 Global Crisis: India’s investment rate fell, while China increased spending on infrastructure, manufacturing, and AI.
• 2023 Investment Rates: 41.3% (China) vs. 30.8% (India).
• Consumption in GDP (2023): 39.1% (China) vs. 60.3% (India).

India’s Growth Model (Consumption-Driven):

• India’s economy is mainly driven by private consumption due to weak investment and a trade deficit.
• Stagnation in private and public sector investment, except in household real estate.
• Limited government intervention in boosting capital spending.

The Need for Investment-Led Growth

• Investment Creates Jobs & Infrastructure – Encourages business confidence and future expansion.
• Sustains Long-Term Growth – Unlike consumption, which depends on short-term spending capacity.
• Reduces Income Inequality – Higher investment in public infrastructure, renewable energy, and advanced industries benefits a larger population.

7. Nocturnal Bull Ants Use Polarized Moonlight for Navigation

Sub : Env

Sec: Species in news

Why in News

• Scientists at Macquarie University, Sydney, have discovered that two nocturnal bull ant species—Myrmecia pyriformis and Myrmecia midas—use polarized moonlight to navigate at night. This is only the second instance of an animal being found to use polarized moonlight for orientation, after the dung beetle.

Role of Polarized Light in Animal Navigation:

• Many nocturnal animals, including insects such as ants and bees, use the moon’s position to navigate.
• However, changing lunar phases and environmental obstructions often make direct moon tracking difficult.
• The study found that nocturnal bull ants rely on polarized moonlight, even when the moonlight is significantly dim.

Polarization:

• Polarization refers to the orientation of oscillations in transverse waves, perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
• In simple words, Light polarization means that light waves are vibrating in only one direction, like a rope shaking up and down in a single plane, instead of wiggling in all directions at once.
• Natural Light: Emitted unpolarized; oscillations occur in multiple planes.
• Polarized Light: Achieved through filters or scattering; oscillations confined to a single plane.
• Applications:
  • Optics: Polarizing filters in photography reduce glare.
  • Communication: Polarization used in antenna design to minimize signal interference.
  • Navigation: Some animals detect polarized light patterns for orientation.
• Both sunlight and moonlight are unpolarized when emitted.
• As light passes through Earth’s atmosphere, it scatters and becomes polarized.
• Polarization refers to the orientation of the electric field of light waves.
• The scattered light forms distinctive patterns, known as e-vector patterns, which animals use for navigation.
• Myrmecia pyriformis and Myrmecia midas were already known to use polarized sunlight for navigation.
• However, sunlight fades at dusk, necessitating an alternative navigation method at night.
• This study establishes that these ants continue navigation using polarized moonlight, similar to the dung beetle.
• Honeybees and desert ants are known to use solar cues along with environmental landmarks.

About Ants:

• Over 12,000 known species worldwide.
• Live in colonies with roles divided among queens, workers, and males. Inhabit various environments, including forests, deserts, and urban areas.
• Use pheromones to leave scent trails for navigation and coordination.
• Can lift objects up to 50 times their body weight.
• Worker ants live for several months; queens can live for years.
• Omnivorous; consume nectar, seeds, fungi, and other insects.
• Act as decomposers, soil aerators, and predators of pests.
• Nocturnal Bull Ants: Primarily found in Australia, favouring forests and woodlands.
• Forage at night; known for aggressive nature and potent sting.
• Utilize polarized moonlight patterns for nocturnal orientation. Possess large compound eyes adapted for low-light conditions.

8. Glimpses of Violence Around the Milky Way’s Central Black Hole

Sub : Sci

Sec: Space sector

Why in News

• NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has provided an unprecedented view of the chaotic activity surrounding Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way.

Observations by the JWST:

• Launched in 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope began collecting data in 2022, offering astronomers a prolonged view of the Sgr A* region for the first time.
• Instead of a stable structure, the black hole’s surroundings were found to be highly dynamic, with constant flickering light emerging from the accretion disk—a swirling disk of gas around the black hole.
• The flickering originates from material near the event horizon, the point beyond which nothing can escape the gravitational pull of the black hole.
• The observations detected one to three major flares in a 24-hour period, along with several smaller bursts.

Nature of Accretion Disk Activity:

• The accretion disk is an extremely chaotic and turbulent region, where gases become highly compressed as they approach the black hole under extreme gravitational forces.
• Magnetic fields within the disk force gas clouds to collide and compress, a process comparable to the formation of solar flares on the Sun.
• Unlike solar flares, these bursts occur in an entirely different astrophysical environment and are far more energetic.
• Refer: Black holes

Sagittarius A*:

• Sgr A* has an estimated mass of four million times that of the Sun.
• It is located approximately 26,000 light-years away from Earth.
• While the observed events are significant, Sgr A* is relatively inactive compared to black holes at the centres of other galaxies.
• Unlike some other black holes that consume entire stars, the accretion disk of Sgr A* is primarily composed of stellar wind material from nearby stars, which is pulled in by its gravitational force.

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST):

• Largest and most powerful telescope in space.
• It has a huge mirror that is five times bigger than that of its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope.
• JWST was launched on, the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2.
• The telescope has been looking at the early epochs in the history of the Universe, when the first galaxies had barely formed.
• Its images were, however, very different from what astronomers had thought they would see.
• The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST or “Webb”) is a joint NASA–ESA–CSA space telescope that is planned to succeed the Hubble Space Telescope as NASA’s flagship astrophysics mission.
• JWST will study various phases in the history of the universe, from the formation of solar systems to the evolution of our own Solar System.
• The James Webb Space Telescope (sometimes called JWST or Webb) is an orbiting infrared observatory that will complement and extend the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope, with longer wavelength coverage and greatly improved sensitivity.